Nationwide lockdown there, with the second wave hitting the nation hard, 38,000 fresh infections. Thousands filled the streets to demand the resignation of the Prime Minister, protesting the signing of a controversial peace deal. For the next 15 days at least, friendss second covid19 lock down will remain firmly in place. The Prime Minister address to the nation earlier, to say that his government will not be caving to pressure and saying it would be irresponsible to relax current measures. He has also painted a grim picture by telling his fellow countrymen and women that one in four deaths nationwide is currently due to the coronavirus. Someone is admitted to hospital every 30 seconds. He said of the situation worsens in the days ahead, further measures could be brought in. Lets take a quick listen to the french Prime Minister. [speaking french] host the latest figures from French Health officials show that 33,100 ebony to make cases 33,172 new cases have been confirmed. A little earlier here on france 24, we spoke to a professor of Public Health at the university hospital. This is what he had to say about a potential third wave of infections. We have the tools. We have the means. Now, we need strong decisions and purpose. We need to be prepared now because it will be complex, but it is a question of survival for physicians and the hospital. I am not sure they would be able to support a third wave. Host with many bars, restaurants, and cafes set to close, there are concerns for the french economy. The students are also feeling the pinch. Many are now relying on food handouts. We report from one southwestern city. The cues are getting longer queues are getting longer. Students come here once a week to collect free parcels. They have been left out of pocket by the covid19 pandemic. Summer jobs are few and far between for these students. Normally, i work on a seasonal basis. This summer, i could not find a job, and that is going to affect my income for the rest of the year. I normally do restaurant work, but that is not possible. Each month, i am living on 100 euros less than usual, so this has become is essential for me. It helps me lead myself. The food parcels contain healthy produce to give the students a wellbalanced diet. Turnips, carrots, bananas, kiwi, as well as other goods. We feel we are providing a good service. The demand is growing. There is a need for it. Since march, 13,007 hundred students have benefited from this service, but food banks will not be able to provide for much longer without a subsidy from authorities. The aim is for the free food parcels to go to the students who need them the most. We are providing food to 19,000 other people in the region. Social services at the university of ordo have compiled a list of the students most in need. Campus restaurants are also charging less. Host with 636 new fatalities in 36,000 new cases, covid19ly continues to hit italy hard as well. One region has just over 9200 infections registered there this thursday. Earlier this week, the countrys federation of doctors came out to call for a nationwide lockdown to bring the infection rate down and prevent an already Strained Health care system from collapsing. With more from rome, here is our correspondent. If you look at the grim figure that came out again today, six hundred 36 covid19 related deaths in just the last was 623s, and the day before, it these are significantly high figures, figures we have not seen since early april area the health care professionals, doctors, nurses, those on the ground, in the hospitals are sounding the alarm, describing the situation is critical, as dramatic. The president ial board of doctors in italy says if they continue without a lockdown we are going to see an additional 1000 deaths in the space of a month. The concern, as you mentioned, particularly in the poorest in the further south of italy. That area was fared in the first wave of the pandemic. This te arod, the fact that it is illequipped is really showing. We are seeing dramatic images coming out of naples and the surrounding region. People are in their cars waiting to be admitted to the hospital. The foreign minister said today that the situation in naples is out of control and the government needs to intervene. There are towns like palermo and sicily. The mayor there described the situation as being an inevitable massacre. Host in russia, more than 21,600 new infections have been confirmed with 439 new deaths linked to the coronavirus. The mayor of the capital is monitoring the situation closely, saying the people of moscow could base face further restrictions. Officials there could well be downplaying the gravity of the outbreak. In the last 14 days, over a dozen states in the u. S. Have seen their coronavirus cases double. Data compiled by reuters shows that infection rates have soared by over 100 in 13 states with iowa, minnesota, and michigan the worst hit. In new york city, the mayor has warned that schools wl close if a percentage of positivity passes 3 . Some schools are being told to close businesses are being told to close early to stem the wave. Our correspondent is following this story closely and this is what she had to say a little earlier. It looks as though a second wave is now approaching here. New york governoandrew cuomo has orred all gyms, bars, and restaurants to close at 10 00 a. M. Starting friday in an attempt to stave off a second wave. If they dont shut down at that time, they will be issued a summons. He said money can be replaced. Losing a loved one is forever. If the lights are on and people are still drinking, those restaurants and bars will get a summons. Although the rate s increased to twooint 9 , the highest it has been in months, death rates are not ireasing at the same rate as infection. In queens, brooklyn, the bronx, and staten island, the rate is much higher than in manhattan, perhaps to a large extt because they are poor areas and many manhattanites have lived moved out, but also because some people in those areas have no choice but to continue to work. Mayor de blasio has also snded the alarm saying this is our last chance to stop a second wave. Host in other world news, the u. S. President is pushing ahead with his transition to the white house as joe biden slowly starts to build his future house of cards. He has picked ronald klain to be his chief of staff. This as donald trump still refuses to throw in the towel and admit he lost. The first major appointment for joe biden. The president elect announced on wednesday that ron klain, a longtime advisor, will serve as his chief of staff. He has someone biden has described as invaluable. He has worked with people all across the political spectrum. His experience is precisely what i need in a white house chief of staff as we confront this moment of crisis and bring our country together again. The seasoned politician was in charge of leading the response to the ebola crisis in 2014. He is now expected to be a key figure in the fight against coronavirus. Since he was declared the winner on saturday, biden has been eager to get to work as he moves ahead with his transition, setting up a Coronavirus Task worse, vetting cabinet members and delivering policy speeches. On wednesday, he took part in a veterans day ceremony in philadelphia. Trump attended a separate event outside washington, his First Official appearance since the november 3 vote. Trump has repeatedly challenged the election results, filing yet another lawsuit in michigan on making all claims of widespread fraud. Over the past few days, biden has stressed that nothing can stop the transition of power. The transition is expected to take place on the 20th of january. Host as joe biden puts together his future administration, a host of european leaders and organizations have been taking part in a third paris peace forum. Speaking at the meeting, germanys foreign minister has forecast that relations with washington should improve under biden even though they say there is still a transatlantic there are still transatlantic issues to iron out. We spoke to a member of the European Council on foreign relations. He joins us from new york. I was saying that hopes are clearly high here in europe that things could or should or may change under joe biden and that the u. S. Foreign policy might also change. What is your feeling . I think it is clear we are going to see a seachange in u. S. Foreign policy. For four years, we have had President Trump trying to undermine agreements like the paris Climate Change deal. Its obvious that in his first months in office, joe biden is going to reverse those policies and be emphasizing u. S. Reengagement with the international community. Of course, that is very, very welcome news to the europeans and to u. N. Leaders. Host during the trump era, european governors governments did a good job. Thats likely to continue. I think world leaders, especially european leaders, deserve some serious credit for standing by the u. N. And standing by agreements like the paris deal or the Iranian Nuclear bargain when they were under pressure from trump. Trump could really pull the International System apart, but he didnt. One of the main reasons for that is the eu, eu members, and the u. K. Despite exit brexit cooperating to keep multilateral agreements and institutions alive. We have seen that with covid, with trump taking a unilateral approach while europeans try to Forge International cooperation. So, we have had a real Foreign Policy success, something you do not always hear when it comes to defending the International System. Host will and how might host how might external influences like pressure from china change that . I think that is the single biggest question about the future of the International System. China has gained influence over the west in considerable part because the u. S. Has been disengaged. Now european diplomats and american diplomats share a lot of business about the chinese role. They worry that beijing wants to roll back human rights laws, for example. Going forward, the question is can washington and its European Partners find a way of working with china on areas of common concern like Climate Change but also push back on beijing on human rights and other norms that i might be under threat. Host thank you. For the third consecutive day, the streets of the armenian capital have been awash with protesters determined to voice their anger over a ceasefire deal their Prime Minister signed with azerbaijan. Thousands marched, with the opposition saying the accord to end the fighting is not only treacherous, it is also humiliating. The hostilities have taken their toll on the civilian population. This next report looks at those who have been displaced by the virus. Villages, homes, loved ones, the losses for refugees are all but inevitable. [speaking foreign language] around 100,000 armenian civilians fled as azerbaijani troops advanced. [speaking foreign language] as far as the human cost, it is too early to tell. [speaking foreign language] she had four children at the front line. Of two of them, she knows nothing. [speaking foreign language] she left with her daughter while she could while her husband and their other children remained behind. She found armenians across the border waiting. The fate of her son is ever on her mind. As is the fate of a region now under azerbaijani control. After six weeks, the war due to drew to a close before Armenian Forces lost control. The breakaway republics ultimate fate remains unknown. Host the Chinese Ambassador to the u. K. Has been summoned to 10 downing street, underscoring londons deep concerns about beijings latest actions. The u. K. Has accused china of breaking its International Treaty obligations after four prodemocracy lawmakers were pushed out of their jobs on security grounds. This has triggered the mass resignation of 15 other lawmakers. A final official act of defiance. The hong kong lawmaker with a Resignation Letter in one hand, umbrella in the other. Claudia is one of 15 legislators who made good on their threats to resign after four colleagues were dismissed from the city assembly. They have been accused of supporting hong kong independence and refusing to recognize beijings offer and t. Sovereignty. So, no fight in the streets, no fight for the time being at the legislative level. What is left for hong kongs democracy fight . That is the question. On thursday, another prodemocracy lawmaker left the legislative council. She said the chief executives infamy would last 10,000 years. The u. K. , u. S. , and eu all called for the dismissal of opposition figures. All condemned to discussion of opposition for condemned the dismissal of opposition figures. This was a violation of the 1997 handover agreement. Host next, floodwaters in the hardest hit areas of manila are now shoulder height. Officials have warmed of storm surges and landslides, but the countrys president has said his government is on top of the situation after the weather system made landfall overnight from wednesday to thursday. Photos from the Disaster Agency show 11 people have died and several others are still unaccounted for in two regions on the biggest island. They fear the death toll is likely to rise. The full extent of the destruction is not yet known. The Australian Government has appointed a new special prosecutor to look into war crimes committed in afghanistan. The government hopes the prosecutor will be able to deal with the problem internally to forestall any move by the International Criminal court. Creation of the new post came when the media unearth evidence of civilians and prisoners being killed. This is what Prime MinisterScott Morrison has been saying. We need to deal with this as australians. And we will. I think that will say a lot about australia. This report will be difficult news. In australia, we deal with difficult news honestly. As we have been saying, the french Prime Minister has announced that we will not be lifting coronavirus restrictions just yet. 30,000 retailers were hoping to hear their tills ring before this mess. Definitely befor christmas. Definitely, but with one in four dths in france now linked to covid19, the pri minister says it would irresponsible to ease restrictions now. Nessentl shops de expect to be allowed to reopen before nonessential shops will have to wait until at least december to reopen. As for bars and restaurants, they will likely have to wait longer. The Prime Minister stressed that the government would do everything it could to help small businesses. It will keep in as and ada of 10,000 euros in place fate of 10,000uros for companies with less than 50 employees and landlords wi not be allowed to raise rents at least through decemr. Many sho have continued t do business in secret, defying the government ban, because the rechristmas period is ucial for most retailers. The French Employers Association estimates that the lockdown would cost the economy between 50 billion euros and 75 billion euros for the month of november alone. Thats twice as much as the government estimates. Host President Trump has issued another executive order targeting chinese firms. Ask President Trump has President Trump has signed an executive order banning americans from investing in chinese firms that washington aims have links to. This targets 31 companies the Defense Department claims are backed by e chinese army. This includes ina telecom and china mobile. The bands set t take effect on january 11, ban is set to take effect on january 11, days before a new president will be sworn in. Host you have some news from the french economy. Tell us more. Re french carmaker. They accuse nissan of the carmaker posted a loss of about 360 Million Euros over three months through september. That is a sharp reversal om the 470 million euro profit it made at the same time last year. Renaut owns 43 of nissan. The alliance has already been badly shaken. Host finally, give us a quick update ohow the markets are faring. As he remember, earlier in the week, we saw Global Markets rally. We saw encouraging news about a covid vaccine. But worries about the resurgence are once again weighing on Global Markets. On wall street, the dow and s p both closed down about 1 . The nasdaqs faring slightly better. The latest unemployment data shows that the number of firsttime jobseekers in the United States dropped to a seven month low. Host thank you very much. That brings another slice of the program to a close. Stay with us. Coverage of the latest International News continues after the break here on france 24. 11 12 20 11 12 20 [captioning made possible by democracy now ] amy from new york, this is democracy now mr. Biden the reception and walking weve got from around the world has been real. I have a number of calls to return. I feel confident were going to back in a put america place of respect that it had before. Amy while President Trump is refusing to concede to