E freeman foundation. By judy and Peter Blum Kovler foundation; pursuing solutions for americas neglected needs. And by contributions to this pbs station from viewers like you. Thank you. Laura i am lauraly tre and this is bbc world news america. With six days to go before the election more than 70 million and counting, early voting is all the rage across the united states. Germany and france impose a Second National lockdown as vid19 cases in europe continue to rise. What you need tonight. We will meet the guitar girls who are using music to change their lives. One day i am be a fous. Not just in afghanistan. Laura welcome to world news america. It is just six days to go until the official u. S. Electiobut more than 70 million have already voted including President Trump and joe biden, including me and my first ever ballot as a u. S. Itizen i went to downtown boklyn in the cold and rain to find out what was getting everyone out and about so early. The line in brooklyn for early voting goes around the block and beyond. New york is hardly a battleground state. Joe biden is counting on winning here, but new yorkers are turning up to have their say. 7 00 a. M. , cold, dark anden look at thiusiasm for democracy. It is my first time voting in a. President ial election as an american citizen. Im so excited to be online with my fellow americans. It is important to y to vote in this election . It is important to vote in t ery election, but this one in particular i felwas important. T felt like democracy was stake. I feel there has been a level of chaos i have not sfore in government and i feel like i would like to at least get it back to what, i feel like, is a normal presidency. [laughs] laura what has motivat you to get out so early . To get trump out of office. Laura why . He is a white supremacist and doing so many bad things i do not even know where to start. Laura good morng. Voting itself was very straightforwarand having done my civic duty it was time to head to staten island. They were the only t vote for donald trump in 2016. Support is still strong. I do not like what is happening in my country so i voted down the line. Laura what are you hoping for as an outcome . Onald trump to win and move forwd with the economy, jobs, get rid of all the racism. Just to be cohesive. Laura many new yorkers have waited in line for hours and the board of elections was not prepared. S. The top officialen we had folks showing up saturday morning when the polls opened at 10 00 a. M. At 6 00 a. M. The lines were forming. This is important to peopl they are willing to put the time into it and they are going to make their voices heard. Laura in new york city and across america, despite the pandemic, miions are voting in what could be a record turnout for a president ial election. That solemn moment that the people give their verd their leaders. As americans flocked toe vote rest of the world is keeping a close eye on what it means. We are talking to our trrespondence around the globe and tonight, we south korea and germany, countries that were rebuilt after world war ii with the help of american leadership. We begin with e bbc south korea correspondent. How is trump style of leadership gone down . Reporter when it comes to the alliance publicly people will tell yout is ironclad, but there are several cracks for a number of reass. First, the cost of sharing the number of troop u. S. Troops, based on the peninsula that donald trump has pushed f a 5 billion increase. Many see that as extortion. It is still an issue that has not been resolved. His have been quite harsh when it comes to south korea the most recent of which was at dinner when he called them terrible and said he dliked working with the president. I was with officials yesterday and all they could ask was, who is going to win . We have to work out strategy. It has led the south korea amssador to the u. S. To even w questither the alliance will still be there in 70 years. Laura what is the feeling about a possible joe biden presidency d what it could mean for south korea . Reporter first they are hoping it will heal the rift within the lice and second, they are looking toward north korea. The presidenhas made clear that is one of his priorities. St is already asked the united es to look again at speaking to kimongun and looking at the end of war declaration. Theoretically, thisensula is still at war. I know this is not the feeling in the international community, but here although Donald Trumps execution of the meetings were flawed in deribing him as a Good Relationship and a good infriend, perhaps the me themselves, if they had been more substantial and they appeared to come close to a deal like more done by the u. S. Push with a deal. Laura thank you so much. Moving on to germany where there is a lot riding on theutme of the u. S. President ial race. President trump is unpopular after withdrawing from the paris Climate Change agreement and threatening to leave we are joined by berlines condent, jenny hill. German politicians feel the u. S. Has stepped back from its the world . L leadership re in reporter very much so. The generalonsensus is the last four years have been extremely disruptive and there is a concern that were there to be another four years of the Trump Administration not only would we see mothe same, but there might be an acceleration in terms of the way the u. S. Administration has been behaving toward germany. Initially, behind the scenes in berlin, there were efforts to try and make a connection with the Trump Administration. It was not easy. That was the experience for manu pean capitals, but germany was dismayed because it has been singled out sony times so many times. The gas pipeline that will double the amount of russian gas coming in, d they feel that maybe they have more to lose from a seconderm for donald trump in office. There is a huge concern about what that mighmean. I suppose you cannot really imagine two leaders less alike than Angela Merkel and donald trump. There was never really a relationsh forged between them and it came in stark contrast between Angela Merkel and barack obama who woed together very well and fged a deep and trusting relationship. Lthere is of concern about what happens next. Donald trump threatened and said he is going to remove u. S. Troops from german soil. That i do not think is so muc of an issue but symbolically is huge. There is a huge amount of concern abt what might happen next and what that will mean for germany. Laura jenny, and 30 seconds,rm dees thank a biden presidency will be radically different . Reporter ithe words of one senior diplomatic figure, do no expect a return to a trans atlantic paradise. There is a lot of passion for biden presidency, but there is support because it will not be a Trump Presidency i think the last four years have served as a wakeup call to berlin. America can no longer be counted on as the traditional ally that it once was and it served to highlight emerging differences between those old allies. There are concerns here that ldiplomaticale will be much easier to handleen bethe two countries, but there are issues like Climate Change, the relationship with chinad russia, on. Those differences are not going away anytime soon. Laura jenny hill, thank you so much. Coronavirus cases are rising fast across europe and leaders are scrambling to stop the spread with new restrictions. Earlier today, germany announced a partial lockdown nationwide that will come into force next week. And cinemas close their doors. To give you a sense of how fast the vis is spreading the areas in dark red show where infections are over40 per 100,000 of the population. In france, officials announced 244 deaths, down from over 500 on tuesday. In response to the grong emmanuel macron, announced at, lockdown will be in place for at least the month of november. Our prayers correspondent explains paris correspondent explains. Reporter it will be similar to the lockdown we wenthrough in april and may. We will be required to be in our homes and produce a piece of pefor police if we leave our homes. There will be the possibility of leaving your home with a valid reason. The reasons wille essential and school viss. L visits, work, that is going to be the reality. Bars and restaurants are shut down aoss the country. This is not region by region. This is nationwide. Ll we r feel like we are moving back in time in the face of this worrying acceleration of the virus. The key difference is that schools willemain open. That is obviously going to make life easier foril fs and also make it easier for people to work. That is part of the measures to keep the economy moving. More generally, although we did not go into detail, there will be greater scope for businesses to keep going. Home working, using factories, d the Civil Service are going to be encouraged to stay open. Less restrictive but in day to day lives it is a step back. Laura that was hugh repeating repting preparest. The heads of google, facebook, twitter or grill bys. Senat they faced lawmaker questions for almost four hours and defended a law enabling them to moderate content without being responsible for what users post. Republican lawmakers used most of their time to accuse the companies of selective censorship against conservatives. Democrats focus on insufficient action against misinformation that interferes with the election. U. S. Officials have arrested five chinesegents for the roles in an operation targeting beijings opponents in the united states. They are accused of spying on and harassing a chinese Family Living in america. The plot was aimed at coercing the family members to return toc china to facrges. The Justice Department announcement comes at a time of vesing tensions between the u. S. And chinathe pandemic. President donald trump has repeatedly blamed this on beijing. The president of south africa is selfisolating after coming into contact with someone who tested posive for covid19. It happened at a fundraising dinner last saturday. He is reported to be showing no symptoms. A spokesman w says hel be tested if he shows signs and will continue to work while in you areor watching bbc news america. Still to come. I. I. I believe. I believe. Laura black voters in the u. Play a huge role in the president ial election after protests for racial justice. We are in arizona to find out. Laura after 112 days of lockdown covid19 restricveons een lifted in melbourne. Some bars and restaurants are opening at midnight to welcome them back. The second wave in the state of victlaimed 800 lives. Reporter anpeople could not wait until the stroke of midnight. Ertheyat restaurants, bars, pubs popping champagne and celebrating the very fact many peopleake for granted of being able to go out and meet friendso and have a nig. Remember, this has been one of the longest and strictest wnlock not just in victoria or australia, but in the world. 112 days of everything being closed. T people alming confined to their homes. Even when they left they had a five kilometer radius away from their homes where they could go. Laura philadelphia has put a curfew in place after experiencing the protests and looting following another Fatal Police Shooting of a black man. Lt wallace died on monday after two Police Officers shot him responding to a call reporting a man with a knife. The family says he was suffeeang a mentalh crisis. Larry reports from philadelphia. The city is asking pharmacies and restaurants to be open at their own discretion fore delivery and hasures in place to protect staff and facilities. The curfew will run until 6 00 a. M. There have bn protests across the city where more than 170 were arrested, half of them last night. 53 different officers were also injured and most have been discharged after treatment. However, there has bee looting over the past two nights including at a walmart where people were capturedideo carting away Television Sets and other items. One of the tactics being used is blowing up atm machines. 94 were blown up. The family of Walter Wallace juniore sayingd Mental Health problems, they asked for an ambulance, and got d. E police inst now he is dead. Laura that was larry reporting from philadelphia. Arizona is a key swing state in the selection. Th is why President Trump campaigning today as well as kamala harris. Clive myrie has been looking at rates in this election. Reporter this cuil the stlness. The light is dimming but not the memory of those beaten or killed at the hands of Police Officers. Remember. Reporter his words are powerful. We are not going nowhere. Reporter he was arrested in august for taking part in a peaceful march. En he is inn reporter he leads a protest outside ther courthouse afe jailing of another protester. We fight and we are building a legacy. Fighting a battle in a w where you never get to see the outcome. If i continue to fight, hopefully that pastill belong to my five kids. If they contin to fight, they pass it on to their kids. We get to a point where maybe we can. Why are you doing this . Reporter until then this is what must be overcome. Fore george floyd, in 2017, ere was this man in arizona. [heavy bathing] relax, dude. Reporter he unarmed black man died after being held down by four police whom put his knee on his necig for close toht minutes. I cannot breathe reporter wa nobods disciplinedri and you are hng about this now because of controversy over george floyd. W it in this aa where he was pinned down in a clearly said, i cannot breathe. He knows his life is g. Ng to be tak reporter jasmine is 21 and part of a younger bed of civil rits activists, spurred by the urgency of the moment. It makes me feel like my life can be taken at any given time just because i have brown skin. Reporter not far away, a reunion. A proud father embraces a relieved son who is fresh out of jail. His name is Percy Christian and hes 27. Jail is a place where they want to rob you of your hope. Reporter the subject of the courthouse protest. He served seve days, arrested demonstration again police violence. I am willing to do whatever it takes. Im willing to put my life on the line to bring awareness to the issue and that is that Police Brutality israel. Is real. Our poce system is designed to hold a Certain Group of individuals back and that is my people. Reporter what of the dreams of the father . A pasr having seen his son efight the same battles h thought years ago. The battle has not changed, but what has happened is that there is a denial of the reality that people of color experience in this nation. We are proud of our son. I would not be oif he decided to shrink back. He cannot shrink back now. [door opening] reporter gentle tales of africanamerican manhood rarely reported. They are the norma and well both candidates for president say they want to baniscial injustice, bruce frank says hewi not wait for others to act. His own sons future is on the i just got to make sure he is equipped and ready for. I am not fearful because i teach them how to love and what love is and how to have love for his people. Reporter clive myrie, bbc news, phoenix, arizona. Laura the importance of the black vote in arizona and across america at this election. Do you remembe the 1980pop song sweet dreams . It haseen covered by a bandn who are afgenage girls. Streetn one of the moston the dangerous capitals in th world. Our correspondent has been following thr journey. Sweet dreams are made of this reporter sweet dreams are made of this, and number one hit from the 1980s now ansration from these girls. Some of them want to abuse u. Reporter they are part of a bandmi called thculous love kids and they just recorded this with famous musicians like rage against the macne f andu fighters. The musireflects their own suffering and the resilience. Getting here has not been easy for any of the i first met this girl four years ago. In 2012, her two sisters were killed by a suicide bomber. Their death abou brought this american musician tofthe streets fghanistan. Shwas his first student. Ts whole idea was about ndving a voice to kids that do not have a voice using the power of music to bring people together. Reporter despite the fragile situation in afghanistan, the girls have made striking progress. Love and mercy that is what you need tonight. Reporter now marcel has become a qata qatar coach. She has big dreams. One day i wil be famous. Not just in ahanistan. All of country. I was standing in a 90 reporter their lifes been full of nightmares. Their story is inspiring other working with these girls is part of a Lifetime Mission do use mic as a dividing rod for truth and justice and to see that connection and how they are inspiring to me. The way they have m embracedic and using it to transform their lives. All they have done. Reporter she and her friends look toward a future where they could be the voice of other world. Ffering around the with their voice and guitars. Fobere we go the show must go on at the cannes film festival. Fa are getting a tes taste of te festival showcasing for movies and a short film competition. The lavish afr parties are cut short due to frances 9 00 p. M. Curfew. The extravaganza was canceled in may due to the pandemic. The hope is the slimmeddown event will give the hardhit industry a boost. I am laura thank you for watching bbc world news america. Have a great nig narrator funding for this presentation of this program is provideby. Language specialists teaching spanish, french and more. Raymond james. The freeman foundation. By judy and Peter Blum Kovler foundation; pursuing solutions for americas neglected needs. And by contributions to this pbs station from vik ers like you. Thu. Yuyi i came to the unitedpbs. States when i was 24 years old. I did not speak any english. I felt very, very lost, really not knowing what to do with my life. One day on tv there was sesame street. Ernie and grover and cookie monster. And its not only that i learned to speak in english, now i know how to live in the united states. So this is how you do it now im powerful. Now i know i can do anything i want. I will make myself learn how to do it. And i got that from pbs. I bought my first set paints and i practiced. My path is childrens books. And i have found who i wanted to be. Whi