So i could ask any washing r. T. International has just gone 2 oclock am of sky turkeys landmark has guess if a museum which through its long history has also been a cathedral and a mosque has been converted back into a place for muslim prayer. To enjoy i mean like all of other mosques the doors of the hagia sophia will be open to all locals all foreigners muslims and non muslims hagia sophia humanitys common legacy will continue to embrace everyone with its new status in a more sincere and more unique way by finalizing preparations quickly we plan to open hagia sophia for worship on friday july the 24th 2020 with friday prayers. Well since worshipers have to wait another 2 weeks then for the head case of faith to reopen for prayers this friday did see them gathering outside the new mini reconverted mosque the president s announcement comes shortly after to high court an old 934 decision to turn it into a museum. At a. Turkey council they reached the decision to a no 1934 Ministers Council decision that turned up your mosque in the museum so this decision being an old. Has now been reverted back to a mosque now what will change with. Looking forward well the main thing thats going to change is now the eyes of the it will be open for islamic worship now there are many very important christian icons and mosaics and rest goes inside islamic laws that worship did not take place in the presence of icons but turkish government is planning on using light Mapping Technology to provide an artificial barrier blocking these icons from the view of worshippers during prayer hours so the mosque will still be open for tourism but also during prayer hours for worshippers that want to come here is what many turkish officials see the decision to turn. Back into a mosque messick issue but there has been a lot of International Criticism the United States views a change in the stages of the hagia sophia as diminishing the legacy of this remarkable building and its supposed to be the tea so rare in the modern world to serve humanity as a much needed bridge between those of differing faith traditions and culture you know School Deeply regrets the decision of the turkish similar tastes made without prior discussion and calls for the universal thing more World Heritage to be preserved the ruling by the Turkish Council of states to over. One of modern decisions and present decision to place the monument under the management of the religious Affairs Presidency is regrettable the decision which came as a result of the political will of preston other one. Is the unique value and nature of the monument circus president ial spokesman ibrahim cones giving it sure and says that there is going to try to are to make sure that the religious identity and the historical significance of this beautiful minute it is preserved all of our major mosques such as the blue mosque for t. V. And silly money in mosques they are open to both visitors and worshippers opening our paga sophia to worship doesnt keep local or Foreign Tourists from visiting the site so a loss from the worlds heritage is not in question the i. S. O. Is actually a very old structure dating back to the 6th century when they sent him for justinian. Help construct this very important character in the service the church for the record the docks they keep it in the empire and its actually a very important symbol to the Greek Orthodox religion. Consider what the vatican is the roman catholics the i. S. O. The Greek Orthodox. Wedding were looking at the reactions coming domestic we regarding the decision to revert by sophia back into a mosque we see members of the ruling party very very happy we see weeds from the turkish president weve seen tweets from the finance minister the president S Communications director as well. Oh expressing pleasure weve seen the opposition take a very white many positive reactions coming out of the muslim world theyre celebrating this decision that. Once again. Worship a former green can bassa to tell to tell us that he believes turkeys move will reignite tensions between religions. And spain belonged to the initiative. Civilization it was an initiative that was started about 10 or 15 years ago which object. To stop the one clicks we can it be. I dont think it has been successful what it is a shame that turkey and see who found it new should be taking such a mission we are going to have tensions between. Me and the world and this is something that. Were going to campaign but the rebels had mentioned in his 1st reaction. Possibly be. A yes or becoming a mosque. A move to change the perceived metro station and its. Transport authorities proves to be controversial have a look at this in more detail like. The slowly being lifted in the u. K. Concern remains a back to potential 2nd wave of 19 and many feet saying that a shortage of personal protective equipment might once again be an issue shadi at. Story. As a u. K. R. Knocks the lock down it seems many are bracing for a 2nd wave of the corona virus but also a 2nd wave of a shortage of p p its not new news the us throughout the entire pandemic and has stopped on the front line really struggle to get hold of protective gear to adequately safeguard against the virus for months on and it seems like the lockdown lessons havent been over the Department Says it is committed to building the stocks to meet longer term demand we are not convinced that it is treating the market with sufficient urgency or that. The government is adamant that the stock of p. P. Has never run out on a National Level but with demand increased by 20000 percent those on the front line would beg to differ in fact 50 percent of and it starts so there was not enough p. P. And although day to run its usage is hard to get hold of a survey of nurses and carers found that nearly 90 percent worried about catching the virus at work while the government stresses that their main challenge it faced was getting the right people to the right place at the right time initially masks were issued and then the statement was made that actually we have tested them. And these masks are ok having said that they now say we need to improve this mask so theres a lot of loss of freight and you need to answer this but rather than to say the market has now been resolved with demand spiralling to u. K. Hard to look further afield and source people on International Markets but that came with its own set of problems a plane from turkey landed at the peak of the pandemic in april carrying a batch of 400000 much needed p. P. Counts upon arrival it emerged at the equipment didnt meet british Safety Standards in a very embarrassing blunder for the government so the u. K. Is able to produce a fair share of its own people there is no imminent guarantee that it wont need to source from abroad again with experts in the field saying that the quality is the key component of effectiveness in print. The virus perhaps the government should try before you buy theyve been dealing with the shortages by revising the accounting tactics why not double the numbers instead of counting each pair of gloves as one why not count each club individually and hey presto youve doubled your stock without even lifting a finger this catalogue of errors certainly were surely to get it right the 2nd time around if theres a 2nd time around that is but in line with most of the governments coronavirus responses they say its too soon i didnt consider the moment. If. Its a good use of official talk earlier this week the chancellor announced a 15000000000 pounds boost to p p but will it be a case of too little too late especially as some of those in government say were only halfway through this pandemic charge added. Well aside from the impact on health and leaving millions the coronavirus is also threatening to leave people hungry too a new report by oxfam does warn that cove 19 is threatening food crisis that could potentially double the number who die from hunger here. Is the head of humanitarian policy for Oxfam International and says its even affecting well developed countries. Whats really worrying us reports is were seeing new centers under developing in an otherwise middle income in developed countries some of the countries we do look at the reports include India South Africa brazil these countries where there recently developed economies and yeah impact that were seeing from coronavirus is going to have dire consequences on the most Vulnerable People in those societies and say its going to happen i mean theres this poor people in every country and the same impacts are going to slow down so what were seeing from coronavirus is that both it makes its more vulnerable for poor people but it also makes them more vulnerable to the economic side as well and thats going to be across the world 8 of the biggest food and drink manufacturers have paid after that 18000000000. 00 to their shareholders now looking back to what we were speaking about humanitarian aid the global humanitarian appeal is just over 7000000000. 00 so clearly theres something wrong and the money is flowing to the Big Companies and its really not getting down to the people that need it the World Food Program does this to me that the number suffering from crisis level hunger will double by the end of the year reaching 270000000 people and oxfam says to that 12000 a day could die from starvation if nothing is done of the worst hit are countries already deemed unstable before the pandemic nations such as yemen or afghanistan where many citizens had already been suffering from hunger for years will see the numbers at risk rise and some middle income and developed countries as we said such as brazil and india rule so on the danger list i think truscott again insists there are measures that need to minimise coves effect on hunger but governments do need to act fast. For the time being there are 3 things we need to do so firstly we urgently need to increase humanitarian aid and at the moment the United Nations has put out an appeal for about 7000000000. 00 and thats only been 24 percent funded so were not getting nearly enough money for the humanitarian aid that we need at the 2nd thing that we can do is looking into issues like canceling debt if we cancel d the debt of some developing countries we estimate that could free up up to a trillion dollars for those countries to be using to help those people and that can pay for things like food they can pay for Social Security social protection they can pay for things like health so sharing up the debt could make a huge difference and thats just a matter of wealthy nations really giving up some of the debt owed to them by other countries and the 3rd thing that we need to do and in and this is a long term change is we need to change our food system works we need to build a more fair more robust a more equal food system food system thats a bit of that able to deal with Climate Change thats able to respond to shocks this able to be sustainable and to support that the small scale farmers and small producers rather than just putting money into Big Companies if a 2nd wave does come we know the people who are going to be the most trouble for that and if there are restrictions put in place by governments to take that to address that 2nd wave those restrictions have to be have to be able to cater to the needs of the poorest people so we need to make sure that the food systems are there to get food where its needed to make sure that people have the resources to buy that shoot. Now the government is allowing british citizens to travel to 59 countries without having to quarantine upon return it does come as life has been slowly returning to normal in the u. K. In the past few weeks with many bars and restaurants and public spaces gradually reopening. As of this weekend our artists musicians and dancers can stop performing live outside to outdoor audiences we also have the resumption of recreational sport followed later by the reopening about gyms swimming pools and leisure centers. However despite this positive attitude towards easing coronavirus measures and reopening the borders the u. K. Does have one of the highest coby death rate in the world followed by spain this leave us and also france while the governments announcement will allow british tourists to visit many European Countries it does seem that they might not get the warmest welcome is because a recent poll does reveal many europeans are not thrilled at the prospect of taking in british travellers with the self isolating of the people we spoke to had mixed feelings. Or your brains are being broken it is in our nature to welcome people and they would also give us a big hand the economically in my opinion alter is who come to italy will be well received i think they will be regarded somewhat with suspicion. First of all we need to make sure that they do not have the virus that they have had to test until ok and then then they have the right to enjoy themselves here i think its better if that body stays at home not just the british right now everybody should stay at home i think thats the most reasonable course. They need to be checked but i dont see any reason to stop them from coming theyre still part of europe and now. Long as they respect social distancing and the wearing of masks it favors the development of tourism. Now scientists are calling for an investigation into the presence of the corona virus in se which that is after traces of code which were found in samples in barcelona dating back 9 months prior to the wind and outbreak the scientists at the University Barcelona found the virus in the sample of say which water collected in march last year if confirmed it does suggest the virus didnt originate in china but instead it was dormant across the world and only flared up in december dr Tom Jefferson from Oxford University believes we should be focusing and identifying all methods of transmission. If sars truly true was so widespread at least to be what we know or barcelona since march 2019 why has it all of a sudden appeared in the same book in january and you know literally in february of this year this is a question that were trying to answer looking at it possible theory was which earth like Temperature Humidity and so on which of the possible bearing on this what we should be focusing on are things like how is this fire is transmitted you know there are several ways it could transmit from person to person so is it one way or is it 2 ways or is it 3 ways whats the main way transmits does the temperature. And we interpret should have anything to do with transmission. But these are important Public Health questions which will help us to understand it. John stennis transmission focus the missions. Just ahead this hour from police the prison sentence that his former advisor roger stone who was convicted of lying to. Crashed during the russian collision tribe story plus of us just up the road. Join me every thursday on the alec simon show and ill be speaking to guest of the world of politics sports business im showbusiness ill see you then. Is your media a reflection of reality. In a world transformed. What will make you feel safe from. Isolation full community. Are you going the right way or are you being led. Direct. What is true what is faith. In the world corrupted you need to descend. To join us in the depths. Aura made in the shallowness. Oh again our hearts are almost 2 months since the rise of the black lives Matter Movement sparked by the killing of george floyd in the United States the impact is still being felt around the world in the german capital for example moves are underway to rename a metro station there which is now said to be racist but nor turn as if suggested by the transport authorities is proving to be no less controversial peter oliver explains. The killing of george floyd by us police and the rise of the black light amounts of movement around the world led to a reckoning from monuments to racism colonialism and slavery. And is also wrangling with the names of it strasser plots an alleyway here in the very heart of the german capital is more in strasser more or more in english is seen as a derogatory term for people from north africa while berlin city Authorities Say it may take a while to change the street name the capitals probably transport provider want to change the underground stations name quick sharp new transport maps are going to be issued by the end of this year out of understanding and respect for the occasional controversial debate about the street name the d. V. D. Has now decided not to use it any longer as the name of the underground station the problem is that the name that they going to replace it with is going to strasser which runs nearby the station now this is where things start to get complicate the russian born 19th century composer. Is regarded as one of the greats of Classical Music he spent his final days in berlin and as with a street named after him in the german capital the issues arise when you look at the motifs that appear in his work through modernize the opera prince comiskey employees deeply anti semitic things the brute is anti semitic even if anti semitism was prevalent and widely accepted at the time. I dont necessarily think we should get rid of the names of streets will station named after people like but renaming a station after him nowadays in berlin is quite a different matter there are all those who oppose the view of lincoln as an anti semite and say his work on beliefs being misrepresented blaming going for antisemitism is a bit of stretch really you have to understand the context you have to understand history whereas glencoe was not interested in it he had jewish friends and kept in touch with many Famous Artists of jewish origins for him its nice that it was not important this isnt the only part of names are an issue in the vetting district there is enough for a kid quarter where peter. And plots are named after germans who for the colonialism the city did say that some streets would be renamed in 28. 00 but they still here in. Golf they didnt didnt. Named after the victor in the battle of town and good world war one who later went on to be a figurehead for really nazis and appointed hitler as chancellor of friedrich schenkel who also has a square named after him the city was a colossus of neo classical and neo gothic architecture he designed the Brandenburg Gate but also the eigen cross the award now so closely associated with germanys period of nazi rule politicians from the green party have welcomed the move to rename the station but have said that k n e to be taken over what it will be called in the future it is welcomed to be the g. Has taken during the naming of the orange house sounder ground station into consideration has to actions are not appropriate in such matters theres been an underground station here for 112 years and whatever the name changes. 2 it will be the 4th incarnation of this particular stop until Racism Campaign is want to see the street station named after. The 1st black man to be enrolled in a pressure university peter all over r t. U political observer steve my sniff is that the current trend could though have dangerous consequences for future generations. It could go very far because thats one of the more harmless meets really theres theres lots of names of generals there were like you know were even like involved that we call your war. There is the whole area of religion called off because if it goes that means like the african quarter its. Street names are named after polices in this form or asking call nice so you could say thats not right you could look at bismarck saying you also. Did this in this and said is there anybody that would like to be judged today by the standards that are going to exist in 100 years from now but we wont tell you what the standards 100 years from now are going to be but were going to judge you agree to that i dont think anybody would like me and you reached everything youve basically destroy peoples sense of history and their roots its the rubble of their roots and their basis of where they stand in the world. That donald trump is facing a backlash after granting clemency to his former aide what you stay home he does come just hours after the Appeals Court refused to delay the start of stones 14 month sentence which he was given for lying to congress chewing the russia collusion probe into more pain as more on the story. The decision from the white house comes just 4 days before roger stone was expected to present himself at a federal prison and start serving his sentence of 40 months in prison after being convicted of obstruction of justice now the white house presented a lengthy report describing roger stone as essentially a political operative who briefly worked with the Trump Campaign in 2016 and became a victim of the russian collusion hoax the white house to question the partiality of the decision and sentence which roger stone faced mr stone was judged by the same prosecutors from the miller investigation toast with finding evidence of collusion with russia because no such evidence exists however they could not charge him for any collusion related crime instead they charged him for his conduct during their investigation this improvement is that if the special counsel had not been pursuing an absolutely baseless investigation mr stone would not be facing time in prison now according to the white house report bob mahlers prosecutors charged roger stone simply with process crimes that were quote soley from their own improper investigation and the white house went on to say that the prosecutors quote took pains to make a public and shameful spectacle of his arrest they tipped off c. N. N. Allowing his arrest to be filmed on Live Television now at this point weve got democrats speaking up and saying that donald trump is essentially abusing the rule of law and legal processes in the United States essentially for the president saying if you lie for me you cover up for me i will reward you on the other hand if you are a rat and you cooperate then like a mafia boss i will come after you Richard Nixon at the height of watergate never pardoned or commuted the sentences of any of the people involved in watergate i have no doubt does. Donald trump is going to pardon himself he is going to pardon the volga trump he is going to pardon jared questionnaire the charges on which roger stone was convicted flowed from the special counsel Robert Muller investigation into allegations that trump colluded with russia during the 2016 elections now no evidence of trump russia collusion was ever discovered but a number of individuals associated with the Trump Campaign were charged with process crimes as well as unrelated charges now roger stone admitted that during the 2016 elections he did indeed promote the wiki leaks emails emails that were provided to wiki leaks from Clinton Campaign manager john podesta however he says he had no prior knowledge of any emails that we do it was going to publish and he certainly was not involved in any hacking or data dumping or anything to that effect a Senior Research fellow at the Global Policy institute in london towards the movie does believe that the pandemic alone does offer enough grounds for trying to save stone from going to prison. At the moment in the United States we have violent criminal felons who are daily being released from prison on the ground of their endangered moment due to the corona virus so it seems a little strange to be sending a man an elderly man to prison for having committed. Very at best white collar nonviolent crimes and above all there is the real question of the fraudulence of the model of programming we know that now that the model of growth was based on only premises able to demonstrate launched originally on the basis of the Christopher Steel dossier which now is a british trial judge has said is basically a concoction of nonsense so at the very least there are grounds for. Clemency in this case which is what it was i mean he wasnt followed and he was granted clemency while he continues to. Appeal against his conviction and that surely is the right of everyone i mean if you think that youve been convicted wrongfully you have the right to appeal. Your watch not International International it does bring up today but events today dont forget they plenty of stories too on our website you can find that at r. T. Talk. We are segregated to all my social class Law School Class people also will be a 1st floor if youre born into a poor family if youre born into a minority family if youre born into a family that only has a single parent that really constrains your life chances people that i am a stick for years old if youre born into generational poverty