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narrator: funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation. by judy and peter blum kovler foundation; pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. and by contributions to this pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. announcer: and now, bc world news". laura: i am laurn new york city, and this is bbc america. >> we the jury find the defendant travis mcmichael guilty. laura: drama in the courtroom as a jury finds all three defendants guilty of killing ahmaud arbery, a black man jogging in the u.s. state of georgia. more than 30 migrants are believed to have drowned trying to cross the bluish channel, the

deadliest incident as people try to reach the u.k. from france. olaf shots will be germany's new chancellor, replacing angela merkel. he will lead a coalition focused on fighting climate change. the amazing story of the afghan girls football team as they settle into life in portugal after escaping taliban rule. welcome to "world news america" on pbs and around the globe. we begin in georgia where a jury has found three white men guilty in the killing of ahmaud arbery. he was a black man shot jogging in february of 2020. a leaked video of his shooting became a rallying point in the black lives matter protest. the defendants claimed they were acting in self-defense while the prosecution said the men were

dangerous vigilantes. lamech will has the latest from georgia. >> there have been times when this moment seemed a very distant prospect. >> we the jury find the defendant travis mcmichael guilty. >> they shout of relief came from the father of all ahmaud arbery who was shot dead in february of last year. two others were also found guilty of murder. they had all seen 25-year-old ahmaud running through the neighborhood and claimed he fit the description of a crime suspect. they chased him and killed him. the man who fired the fatal shots travis mcmichael was the only one of the three to take to the witness stand. >> i shot him. >> why? >> he had my gun. he struck me. it was obvious that he was -- it was obvious he was attacking me

and if he got the shotgun, it was a life or death situation. >> his justification was that he killed in self-defense, but that was only after he, his father and a neighbor chased on mud arbery for five minutes in their pickup truck. ahmauyd's family waited more thn 10 weeks and had to rely on public pressure for the police to make any arrests. >> i never thought this day would come, but god is good. thank you to those who marched, those who prayed. >> yes, lord. laura: it was a mostly white jury that reached this verdict. what is the reaction in georgia? >> a huge sense of relief from

those gathered outside the courtroom. we saw some relief inside the courtroom, as well. those pushing for justice for ahmaud arbery's felt that this would not happen because assumptions were made about a white jury in the south, 11 white members of that jury, and also indications that they felt like the system was working against of the arbery family. we sub body cam footage of the police officers arriving, and instead of attending to ahmaud arbery who was still alive, they comforted the men who had just chased and killed him. it took more than 10 weeks for those men to be arrested, and only after that video went viral and there was a national outcry. laura: how much did the prosecution in court talk about

the racial dimension to our ahmaud arbery's killing? >> everybody here feels the racial dimension cast a long shadow over this case, and lots of people talked about how if the roles were reversed, we would have a difficult -- different outcome if it was three black men who chased a white man and shot and killed him. the prosecution for the most part felt they didn't need to look at e issue of race in this case. they did towards the end say that these men had made assumptions about ahmaud arbery because he was black, but for the most part, they were looking at issues like whether they had the right to make a citizens arrest. they knew there was no evidence ahmaud arbery had done anything wrong. there is going to be a hate crimes trial that goes on separately.

it will certainly come up during that trial. there'nobody around here who doesn't feel that race played a factor in it. >> we turn now to the unfolding tragedy in the english channel where 31 migrants are feared to have drowned after their boat capsized. more than 25 others were saved from the freezing waters. thousands of migrants tried to cross the channel every year. the u.k. and french governments have been trying to address the issue. lucy williamson has more. lucy: this is a tragedy that began with hope. the water, nothing to be afraid of yet. several boats set off this

morning. this one reached british shores without disaster. dozens of desperate people, the warning signs have always been there, and today, one of these boats never arrived. >> as far as we know, 33 peoe capsized off of dunkirk. as of right now, 31 people died but were not resuscitated their lives are unfortunately in danger. >> a local fisherman spotted the passengers floating motionless in the water. helicopters and boats were scrambled for a rescue operation, but many had already drowned. >> of this disaster underscores how dangerous it is to cross the channel in this way, and it shows how vital it is to step up our efforts to break the business model of the gangsters who are sending people to sea.

lucy: this was the fear that hung over all of the politics and debate. more than 30 people have been declared dead. two others are fighting for their lives. the crossing season has stretched well into the winter weather. it is a lucrative business for the people smugglers, but it is men, women and children who have paid the price. people in this calais migrant camp are so determined to reach the u.k. that no one we met tonight said theyould change their plans. this man tried crossing yesterday but gave up because of the waves. france's coastline has never been as easy to cover. smugglers have made the most of that. >> the poor migrants who have been coming for decades and have spent months and months to come through here, they are so close to their dream.

lucy: many more migrants arrived in the u.k. today, good public city for the people smuggling rings, but it often takes many attempts. those who have often capsized before tell me what it is like waiting in the water to arrive. what if help does not get here in time? laura: lucy joins us live from calais. what is the reaction of the french government tonight to this tragedy? lucy: the interior minister has been here in calais. he called it a day of national grief for france and the world. emmanuel macron has been speaking. he has vowed that he will not let the channel become a cemetery, and i think this is something that people have feared for many months, this fear that with all of the

crossings, the rise in demand, the expansion of the people smuggling, the expsion of the crossing season and enter the winter months, this is the kind of tragedy hanging over that industry since it began two or three years ago, and now the government is having to face that. we are told four suspected people smugglers believed to be linked to this crossing have been arrested, but for all of the arrests over the years and all of the deterrents, this industry seems to keep growing. laura: lucy williamson, thank you. now to germany where three political parties have struck a deal to form the next government, putting the environment at center stage. social democrats, greens and free democrats have unveiled their agreement, which marks the end of the chancellor angela merkel era. damien mcginnis has the latest from berlin.

damien: the end of an era in germany. ft's -- after 16 years of conservative government under angela merkel, germany's new leaders are younger and more radical, and they want to modernize the country. it is unusual alliance, a left-wing social docrat chancellor olaf scholz in government with the greens and business friendly liberals. in germany, it is called a traffic light coalition after the colors of each party. mr. scholz drew parallels between the incoming coalition and germany's first ever traffic light in berlin in 1924. >> my aspiration as chancellor is to make sure that this traffic light coalition can play a groundbreaking role in germany. daen: the climate change measures are ambitious. by 2030, coal will be phased

out, and 80% of germany's electricity will come from renewable sources. tackling social inequality is a top priority. health care workers will get a bonus, and the minimum wage will be increased. with germany seeing record covid infection and death rates, for many voters, the biggest challenge is how the incoming government will fight the pandemic. >> the first thing we should be to sort out the pandemic. that is the top priority for me. >> i think the most important thing at the moment is the covid prices -- crisis, and how will we proceed with vaccinations? >> the leaders of the new coalition appear to have energy, ambition and confidence, qualities they wil need given they are taking over in a time of crisis. bbc news, berlin.

laura: in other news, sweden's first female prime minister has resigned hours after being voted into office by parliament. the departure follows the collapse of her tentative coalition government after one of its members withdrew its support. she said she was ready to be reappointed, but it must be at the head of a single party government. schoolgirls in tanzania will be able to attend classes if they are pregnant. the late president enforced a ban on this in 2017, saying they would be a bad influence. the education minister said girls who dropped out due to pregnancy can drop out. malawai has asked mike tyson to become the face for tir cannabis crop. he said it has helped to improve mental health.

malawi allowed the processing of cannabis for medicinal use. tyson has yet to respond to the offer. you are watching bbc world news america. still to come, as the u.s. holiday goes on, millions of travelers are traveling. we will bring you expert advice on how to stay safe over the holiday. parts of europe have seen record numbers of covid infections as the continent once again becomes the epicenter of the pandemic. that has prompted new limits on movement. bethany bell has more now from bulgaria. bethany: in bulgaria, less than 30% are vaccinated. this country also has the eu's

highest covid-related death rate. there is widespread skepticism here. there is also great mistrust in state institutions. in romania, vaccination rates are also low. in austria, around two thirds of people are fully vaccinated, but the government says that is not enough, and it is introducing mandatory covid vaccinations by february. laura: americans have been hitting the road ahead of thursday's holiday. people cannot wait to connect with family, at covid cases and hospitalizations are rising in the u.s.. the u.s. travel oganization aaa says more than 53 million people will be on the move this

weekend. that is an increase of 13% from last year, and air travel is forecast to search to pre-pandemic levels. the transportion security administration expects t screen 20 million passengers over thanksgiving weekend, twice the total from last year, as people flock to airports across the country. how can travelers stay safe? for answers, we are joined by alina when, public health professor, and author of lifelines. perhaps you can give me and others like me some advice. i will be on a packed train tonight. i just had a booster jab, but people around me won't be vaccinated. how do we travel safely if we want to eat and drink? >> the single most important thing is to mask up when you are indoors with people of unknown

vaccination status. where a high quality mask. the cloth mask will not do. ideally, you are wearing anand naidoo five mask that is well fitting. throw away the mask if it is soiled or damaged. try to restrict eating and drinking. only eat or drink when you are away from those crowded settings laura: excellent advice. let's turn to thanksgiving dinner. i know some of the people i am with won't be vaccinated. what is the best way to approach this? >> if you are around people who are fully vaccinated, that will be the safest for you, and people who are unvaccinated are six times more likely to carry covid compared to someone fully vaccinated. i would say that if you have to

be around people who are unvaccinated, especially if they are unvaccinated children, there are some additional steps that you can take to reduce your exposure. one is rapid testing. getting a test of the day of the thering helps to reduce the risk. try to be outdoors as much as possible. if you are not able to be outdoors, open the windows. opened the door if it is possible. improving ventilation helps a lot, too. laura: about this question of breakthrough infections? my college aged children have been back. they tell me they have been enjoying college, but isn't it possible that they could've -- could in fact elderly cousins because they could develop an infection despite the negative test? >> a test measures whether you have covid at that point in

time. if your children got tested prior to leaving campus, perhaps before their gathering, they can get another test to make sure they do not have a viral load at that time. breakthrough infections do happen. they will be less common when people get a booster dose. it is late to get a booster in time for thanksgiving, but i would recommend every adult without a booster to get there booster now. it will help them over the course of time when it comes to other winter holidays. laura: thank you so much for that excellent advice. the young afghan women who escaped their country when the taliban seized power just ove 100 days ago. the national afghan girls football team was granted asylum in portugal after the taliban

band women. >> football is the girls identity. the girls had seen most everything you could possibly witness. >> the situation was so bad, especially for girls. >> they rescued afghanistan's national girls football team. >> in the past, they killed my friends. it is hard for us, really. she got news of an escape plan. >> when we heard it, it was a light in the dark sky of our lives. >> do you mi afghanistan? >> yes. >> the girls were flown to portugal where they have been given asylum. i went to vit them. female footballers were advised to bring their kit for their own

protection, but for some, it meant too much. >> i have a special respect for that because it changed my life really. >> she orchestrated the escape from her home in canada and is now their coach. >> these are fantastic girls. they dedicate so much just a football. >> in afgnistan, they would not be able to play football. they would not be educated. if you were an athlete and the community knew you were an athlete, they would come after you. >> a plan was devised to get them out of afghanistan. >> we attempted 10 times to rescue them. >> they filmed one of their first attempts. they went through the mountains to get to kabul airport. they needed another escape plan. another option was the uzbekistan border, but by the

time they arrived, it was closed. they had to go into hiding. >> we would hop onto zoom with them, run a yoga session. >> eventually, there was a brkthrough, and on september 19, the group boarded a flight to portugal. after they landed, she only intended to stay for a few days, but found she couldn't leave then. >> as soon the girls got out, the first thing they said was, we want to be a voice for the girls left behind, and that is brave. they've defied all odds to play. >> the girls have not all been able to stay together. some have been given homes in different parts of the country. i traveled north to find out how they are getting on. >> we know that we can continue

ou education, our football here again and again, and we can have a good future. >> they are missing their friends. she hopes they can play together in the future. >> when i play football, i forget everything in my life. i am so happy that i am relaxed. >> it is shocking to think that this simple thing they are doing is not allowed in afghanistan anymore. the girls were able to bring three family members with them and are worried for those they've left behind. >> this is my mother.

>> not everyone was able to get out. the girls know how lucky they are to be here and free to pursue their dreams. >> there will still be an afghan girl's national team, but it would be similar to y program. we will have training camps where they will come together. this is the beginning of something special. laura: afghan girls chasing their dreams after a traumatic few months. as we were saying just a moment ago, it's the eeev of thanksgiving, and thousands have been taking part in a much loved tradition in new york city. every year, people flock to the museum of national history floats come to life.

they byoda and ronald mcdonald are new classics. the parade will be in per 8 -- in person after last year's scaled-back affair. i am laura trevelyan. thank you so much for watching "bbc america. have a wonderful narrator: funding for this presentation of this program is provided by... narrator: financial services firm, raymond james. man: bdo. accountants and advisors. narrator: funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation. by judy and peter blum kovler foundation; pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. and by contributions to this pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. ♪ ♪

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captioning sponsored by newshour productions, llc >> nawaz: good evening, i'm amna nawaz. judy woodruff is away. on the newshour tonight... >> we the jury, find the defendant travis mcmichael guilty. >> nawaz: ...all three men involved in the murder of ahmaud arbery have been convicted in a case that was seen as a measure of racial justice in the united states. then, desperate journey-- kurdish migrants return home after being used as pawns in a geopolitical struggle between belarus and the european union. >> ( translated ): we reached lithuania. they beat us and sent us to belarus. then belarus sent us back to lithuania. it's like they were playing football with us. >> nawaz: and, defending earth. nasa launches a mission to deflect an asteroid in a major test of game-changing technology that could protect our planet from future celestial threats. all that and more on tonight's