Good to have you with us. We begin tonight with the politics and the pandemic. Lawmakers here in berlin have voted to give the German Government new power. So while we get to introduce specific restrictions to tackle the coronavirus crisis, the measures have been signed into law by the president in germany from vulture, steinmeyer, and will come into force this coming thursday. Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets to protest today as politicians debated the legislation thank water cannon and pepper spray deployed by police to disperse the demonstrators. Thousands gathered near the German Parliament building many in the crowd, not wearing masks, or maintaining social distancing. They were protesting against coronavirus restrictions, which they see as a violation of their civil rights. In my opinion, the restrictions are disproportionate. Surely it should have been possible to come up with other measures that dont cause so much suffering. You still believe i am here for my children and my grandchildren. I will not allow their freedom to be taken away. Yeah. Well Police Clashed with protesters outside lawmakers inside parliament who are largely in agreement and approve the new infection protections long. The law is meant to put the governments response of the coronavirus on a stronger legal footing. Previous legislation only listed broad general provisions and didnt foresee the severity of the pandemic, or the specific restrictions needed to rein it in. This led to local courts, overturning some of the measures. The new law defines more concretely which restrictions can be introduced, including mandatory face masks, limited social contacts, and restaurant closures. Health minister, yes, spawn, defended the measures and criticize those protesting against them. To be loud, to be against it, or even to deny the obvious. Oh, that is possible and must be possible in a free and open country. But those who are allowed are far from being right and certainly not in the majority. And this did not deter the demonstrators outside, despite polls showing they are in a minority. A recent survey found 56 percent of germs believe the restrictions are justified. And some actually want even stricter measures are for more now were going to get our political correspondent, simon young. Hes on the story force here in berlin. Good evening to you. So, i mean, so we know that were talking about the minority here in germany, but a very loud minority. What kind of people were at todays protest, yet different kinds of people, brant, many of them, very angry, as we saw all the ass, some of them throwing bottles soul stuns at police, who responded with woods or cannon, a different sorts of groups. Youve got some anti vacs is youve got corona skeptics, youve got some conspiracy theorists and people with connections to the far right. But many other people just saying that really theyre worried about what they see as an erosion of civil liberties. But they only know it was a pretty noisy and agitated and at times aggressive, often in central. And is that their main objection here with this new legislation that personal freedoms are being eroded . Well, i had the impression that a lot of the protesters on the streets werent particularly focused on the legislation being discussed a short distance away in parliament. What theyre mainly protesting about is the corunna measures. In general, they oppose the distancing rules. The rules on wearing mosques and the lot downs and they say that those are, you know, that the government is taking away their freedoms. But i think its worth saying that some of those ideas were certainly echoed in the parliamentary debate. You had opposition parties and not just the far right a. F. P. By the way, saying things like the government was giving itself Carte Blanche to impose unlimited measures or indeed accusing the government of, you know, imposing unprecedented curbs on peoples freedoms. So there is some sort of crossover from this mood in the street to the way they say shes being talked about a political level as well. And somebody, we know what the governments next step is in fighting this virus. Well we know that there will be another top level meeting with the charts that and Regional State lead is next week. And the big question there will be, will the current lockdown around gemini be extended . Will it be toughened up . We know that the infection numbers have improved in the last couple of weeks since the lockdown began, but maybe they havent improved quite enough yet. And some of the measures agreed in this new legislation today. Point towards, for instance, compensation that can be provided to people whove been affected by lock downs into 2121, going through to march and beyond. So that gives you some sense. The government is ready if they decide they need to extend the restrictions that are currently in place. All rights to the use political correspondent, simon young, on the story for us in berlin tonight. So i mean, thank you. Are going to take a look now at some of the other developments in the pandemic. The United States has reported its highest daily coronavirus related death toll since may. The u. S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the 1st 1000 home testing kit. It provides results within 30 minutes. South australia has imposed a 6 day lockdown after a sudden outbreak ended a long period without any infections. And japan has seen its biggest rise in new delhi cases as preparations begin for next summers olympic games. Our, lets take a look now at some of the other stories that are making headlines around the world. Ugandan president ial candidate and pop star bobby wine has been arrested again this time while campaigning, police had warned the candidates faced arrest if they broke guidelines limiting rallies to 200 people. During the pandemic. Mr. Wine hopes to replace ugandas long ruling. President u. S. Secretary of state was holding talks in jerusalem. Hes meeting with the israeli Prime Minister benjamin netanyahu. And bahrains foreign minister. The 2 countries have agreed to normalize a u. S. , backed deal where with just 2 months left in office, u. S. , President Donald Trump has called international will warm up by ordering a sharp reduction in american troop numbers in afghanistan and iraq. By mid january numbers will be cut to 2 and a half 1000 u. S. Soldiers in each country. As trump looks to make good on his Campaign Promise to end what he calls americas 4 ever wars. But he is facing opposition from nato allies. So there will be fewer u. S. Soldiers on the streets of kabul, as the pentagon prepares to reduce its presence in afghanistan even further. American soldiers have been deployed here since 2001, helping stabilize the country after overthrowing taliban rule, but suffering over 2000 deaths. Over time, the numbers have waned now outgoing President Donald Trump wants to reduce them to a skeleton force thats raising fears among afghans over the future. Security of the country. In my opinion, the withdrawal of foreign troops from afghanistan will cause the taliban to escalate their violence across the country. And it will also cause women to suffer more than nothing. But on the phone with us, this withdrawal from afghanistan, Creative Power vacuum and the taliban will escalate the violence and it will be to seize more political power in afghanistan. And that as u. S. Troop numbers have fallen extremists have gained in strength. This attack on Kabul University earlier this month killed 22 people. It was claimed by the socalled islamic state, which is emerged as a rival to the taliban. The taliban themselves have stepped up their attacks on Security Forces and civilians violating an agreement that foresaw the withdrawal of all u. S. Soldiers by may next year. Speaking in the afghan parliament, after the news of the drawdown broke the acting Afghan Defense minister played down the move. I want a home with my own eyes. Dont talk about 1st of all. I dont have a sense that anyone is leaving. Could automate and like to be ups and downs and numbers, but we are not worried about it. We have ready to defend afghanistan independently, but the fighting was stuck on this time. But many World Leaders are concerned. Nato chief u. N. Stoltenberg has warned of a potentially very high price for a premature and germanys foreign minister heiko mass cautioned against creating problems. For the peace talks with the taliban. Its specially important to us that the progress weve achieved so far isnt thrown into jeopardy by hasty actions. Thats why were particularly concerned about the u. S. Announcement could mean for the continuation of peace talks in afghanistan. In iraq, the u. S. Military presence was greatly reduced after the defeat of isis in 2017. This is increased this way of neighboring iran and militia groups aligned with to han, as u. S. Soldiers head home. They could risk leaving the field to americas enemies. All right, so what is the impact of this move on nato. To talk about that, i want to bring in historian and former nato staffer. Mr. Klaus. Mr. Bittman, its good to have you on the show. Let me ask you, why is nato so worried about a reduction in u. S. Troops in afghanistan . I mean, what will nato have to do if there are fewer u. S. Troops there . Let me start by saying something basic, i think there, hes an announcement by the still u. S. President , irresponsible. He seems to want to be part of leaving top us behind him and to fulfill promises to his voters without regard to losses is just not acceptable nato. It was a clear problem, the outset that we would go into afghanistan together and that we will leave together and in close consultation. And that is why parkinsons defense secretary esper was against it but that therefore he was sent away and puppets were installed in the m o d. Stuff reduced cause this as stone dingly foolish. Even the republican majority, leader in the senate says its against american interests, and you quoted secretary in there. Thats right. Let me just ask you, is there no consultation . Was there no consultation between the United States and nato, about this decision to withdraw u. S. Troops to my knowledge, to my knowledge, not at all. And there were sufficient warnings seen in palmo their discussions. And some of it you sent already. It will strengthen the taleban and eventually also i and the i s. It movie, can the afghan and west on position in the peace talks that have begun. It will damage the fulfilment of the missions of the of the United States because they depend on us capabilities like support, helicopter transport and so on and withdrawal and reduction without close consultation and joint planning is something impossible. And i do not think that with this was at all consulted in nato like the announcement to draw u. S. Troops and installations from germany. Mr. Maybe at only reason most to punish germany for not paying enough for defense. Let me just ask you about 20 seconds. Do you think that president elect joe biden, will he be able to repair any of this damage in the alliance . I hope so very much. I also hope in this afghanistan thing somebody will stop trump on the experts in the military will slow down the implementation of to his decisions so that damage can be limited. Ok, mr. Klaus fiddlin. We appreciate your time in your insights tonight. Thank you. Thank you. Youre watching the w. News live from berlin. Ill be back at the top of the hour with more world news followed by the day. The deceived there is up next. The fight against the corona virus pandemic has the rate of infection been developing. What does the latest research say . Information and context, the coronavirus update on t w n. Nothing else out there. Its not easy to go to another country. You know nothing about why folks do this because we cant stay on venezuela. Im not that closely. Global news that matters. D. W. Made for mines has the coronavirus already found a way to beat the vaccines . A mutation in may next has led to mess culling in denmark. The new strain doesnt appear any deadly it to humans, but it does raise serious questions. What we have to value is over time, just for the players as a difference in transmission or clinical. So where is the aware there is any implication for diagnostics or rexs, but were a long, long away way from making any determination of the kind of the recent broken hes that mutations have occurred in the viruses spike protein. Thats the very target of the most developed vaccines. Officials have since discovered the corona virus on many farms in half a dozen countries. But the biggest producer, denmark is hardest hit, and its become political with the agriculture minister, stepping down after the government admitted it didnt have the legal basis to order the nationwide colic. There are more than 1300 main farms in denmark. Many of them are in the minister polity of the office, including piano paid us ans. The virus reached his farm in early september. He clearly remembers that day and it was like a wave passing through the stables. It began at one end with the animal, sneezing and losing their appetite and it kept spreading. But one week later on the following weekend, it was over. The animals were healthy again then mr. Reagan, bianna patterson also contracted the virus. Now to be on the safe side, all of his 10000 mink will be called. He never imagined that denmarks mink farms could develop into hotspots. It is thought that the corona virus stems from the animal world. It is believed to have 1st jumped from a bad species to humans via the pangolin in china. On denmarks make farms, it is now jumping back to animals from humans. Once a mink is infected, the virus spreads to almost all of the animals on a farm in less than 2 weeks. Viral and just are concerned about this extensive transmission. And as from scarves team analyzed the mutation on the mink farms and found it matched the virus found in some people in the region who fell ill. So the question, we can see exactly how the virus spreads. It comes from humans, it is transmitted to minks where it spreads on mass and mutates in a manner we dont see and humans. And then it jumps back to the human population and thus to the rest of the world. Every 3rd corona case in Northern New England can already be traced back to the mink farms. Exactly how it spread is still unclear, but with ever more mutations in circulation, especially those from animals, the pandemic will become difficult to stop. The vaccine could lose its effectiveness and the people who have been ill might not be immune to the mutation. So we would never achieve herd immunity. And that is why culling task forces are now rapidly traveling through denmark. The animals are killed with Carbon Monoxide in boxes like this one. There then immediately incinerated, along with their valuable for protective gear is mandatory as any animal might be infected. And here we have to kill 39000 minks. On this farm will be busy for 2 and a half days. We have 30 workers, 5 fats, and a standby team of 5 to 10 men. Here they will need at least another 4 weeks to work their way to all the farms. A total of 160. 00 farms are affected and there are suspicious cases on many more millions of manx have yet to be called. Peter pan and barack is an expert in food safety and there were no seats at the World Health Organization in geneva. Could you explain to us 1st of all, whats actually going on in the mix . How is the virus mutating . Well, what happens is that we put into any population, human violence and thats our cove eat 19 birds. And of course just virus. This human virus has not lived up to the, the environment and therefore traumatization when jumping from one being to the next indeed speak many forms. It mutates and try to adapt to the new environments. And thats what we are seeing. We have the virus, you know me and out of space from well into the make over a period. Ok. But the question is, could these mutations which occur in the spike proteins which are used to enter a host cell and are also targeted by most of the promising vaccines that are in development, undermine the progress that weve made on a vaccine. Thats very difficult to say because these mutations are difficult to predict, and we have seen so far and the traumatic. Weve seen one famous cluster finding variants in mark. And he says that these will tend to indicate that it so would be to sensible, sensitive to potentially flu vaccine. But thats only days when he has much more studies to to get better understanding of that. But what worries us is the potential for another mutation, another aryans that has not yet its a pia. And that would be much more problematic with regards to a vaccine or would be more. d elite or easier to translate between him and so is the potential for one day when the patient coming out that is not nice. Well, and that not so nice. We take a look at that occurring any other animal . Yes. Include her in any anywhere where the virus is allowed and attempt to meet. 8 wins. Jumping from one even if an end, and thats more like it will happen. And human population then continues to see create between humans and more likely to happen in minks or cows, goats sheep. It doesnt, from initial studies, it doesnt. The virus doesnt seem to be in 15 peaks. Easy. If you can, its, its very difficult. Its not at all it up to these miners and therefore jumping from one cow to the next one key to the next will be a difficult process and he, most likely the virus will die off and i are not marriage. Thats john white and me, ph. And he seems to be very well transmissible between mix and therefore he has indeed to jump quickly between one needs to the next in these big farms again. And each time it has not been seen, c 2, its much more likely to have all that much species where. Ready its not likely to, to, to infinity as a loss or to transmit between and humans. But why is that happening . What is it about that makes and to me seems to have since there is pretty, retracts, no learns very similar to human wants and therefore the virus and its already an easy way to, to, to answer response really sorry. And we use spirits, we use them regularly as model animals where we just call them the nurses. So its not surprising that their meat has these natural affinity and society didnt seem to have arms. So is this the right approach . Killing all this makes its seems to be the bush equal approach, because the only way to avoid it is to either protect the meeks from and the virus, meaning protecting the farms. So the viruses that infect all of these farms or protecting the humans wh