Probation authorities. And the pathway towards parliamentary and president ial elections in libya looks clearer with the u. N. s and voicing political talks in tunis have resulted in a breakthrough. Thomas first, it is a hollowed space in paris that is already resting place for several prominent french heroes. This wednesday, on the anniversary of the end of the great war, the remains of wartime writer Maurice Genevoix have been interred on the capitals left bank. Incident Emmanuel Macron presided over the special ceremony after laying flowers at the top of the Champs Elysees avenue at the tomb of the unknown soldier. France 24 has put together this next report which takes a look at the frontline soldier and is written memoirs. Reporter world war i seems like a distant and old conflict, but Maurice Genevoixs writings from the frontline line can throw readers back in time. I was covered for four days with slocum blood, with a smashed brain. Face was hid with human guts. Im disgusted. Reporter that is genevoixs style. The soldier who was enrolled in the army age 24, fighting in the infantry and marching on verdun, describes the horrors of war precisely without hiding the horrific details. Parts of his frontline memoirs, men of 14, whose first parts were printed during the war in 1916, were censored. Reporter the other difference genevoix has with other world war i writers is that he is considered apolitical, not accusing the germans of being solely responsible for the conflict. The writer focused on soldiers suffering and acted like a spokesperson for victims, something that can still inspire people more than a century on. Thomas moving on, for the second time in recent weeks, western diplomats have been targeted in the saudi city of jeddah. An explosion at a nonmuslim cemetery earlier during the world war i Memorial Service left at least two people injured. A string of foreign embassies issued a joint statement on the attack shameful and without justification. Reporter the attack occurred during the world war i Memorial Ceremony in the city of jeddah. It was condemned by the embassies of the five countries in attendance. Such attacks on innocent people are shameful and entirely without justification. Reporter several people are reported to have been injured. The British Government says one u. K. National suffered minor injuries, while greece is Foreign Ministry says there have been wounded. An investigation is underway. French consulate in jeddah urged nationals in saudi arabia to exercise maximum vigilance. Wednesdays attack comes two weeks after a stabbing that lightly wounded a guard at the french consulate in jeddah. The assault was carried out by a saudi man who was arrested but whose motives remain unclear for the both incidents, made heightened tensions between france and the muslim world following the republication of caricatures of the prophet mohammed satirical newspaper charlie hebdo. Thomas our chief Foreign Editor gave his take on this blast in saudi arabia. Lets listen to what he had to say about this Second Attack in jeddah in recent weeks. Two attacks in less than a month, but before that, there have been nothing in jeddah for a very long time. France was involved in both incidents, perhaps significant. It was the french consulate attack on octor 29 when guard was stabbed by an attacker. He is ok. And in this case, it was the french consulate authorities who organized the Remembrance Day meeting at the nonmuslim cemetery. But as you pointed out in your introduction, it wasnt just french diplomats there. There were italians, greeks, british, and american diplomats is as well. Im not surhow much significance we should attach to that. There is a tradition of islamic radicalism in saudi arabia. The authorities have clamped down very hard on it in recent years. It used to be much more aggressive and widespread than it is day. But the fact of the matter is it is still active. Perhaps this is what we are seeing in this incident. But it is not clear by any means it could be the islamic state, it could be al qaeda. Perhaps it was just one individual acting by himself. Thomas in other world news, 17 Political Parties in armenia have staged a massive protest against the leadership of the Prime Minister this wednesday. It is now two days since Nikol Pashinyan agreed to what he himself has called a failure and a disaster when he signed an accord with azerbaijan to end six weeks of fighting in nagornokarabakh. Anger at the move has boiled over onto the streets of yerevan, with thousands marching on the capitol and parliament building. Protesters gave pashinyan until midnight local time to resign, with Parliament Holding a special session this wednesday evening to discuss those growing demands for him to quit. To asia now, and Opposition Mps in hong kong say beijing is once again attempting to sound the deathknell of the citys fight for greater democracy. Hours after four of their colleagues were disqualified for allegedly posing a threat to National Security, the remaining prodemocracy lawmakers have all decided to collectively quit in anger at the move. The resignations mean that hong kongs assembly will just be a collection of chinese loyalists. Together we stand reporter a show of solidarity from hong kongs prodemocracy lawmakers, 15 of them vowing to resign in protest after four of their colleagues were stripped of their seats. In order to fight against the central government, authoritative government, we stand for the people of hong kong today. We will resign from our positions because our partners, our colleagues are being disqualified by the central governments ruthless move. Reporter lawmakers were disqualified on wednesday moments after one of chinas top lawmaking bodies passed a resolution that allowed hong kong to remove legislators without going through the courts. Reasons to disqualified include supporting hong kong independence, refusing to what knowledge chinas sovereignty, asking Foreign Forces to interfere in the citys affairs, or threatening national to goodie. Hong kongs probating the dirt said the city proleaders said the city needed a legislature of patriots. Reporter the oustings are the latest blow to the citys prodemocracy movement, which has been under increasing threat since china passed a sweeping National Security law in late june. Since then, authorities have raided the newsroom of an antigovernment tablet, removed prodemocracy books from libraries, and arrested dozens of activists. Thomas to a breakthrough in tunisia on the future of libya. The uns acting envoy to the north african country has enough that political talks have resulted in an agreement on a road map towards fresh elections within the next 18 months. Lets take a quick listen to what Stephanie Williams s been telling journalists in tunis following the breakthrough. We are under no illusions, and we know that a lot of work remains to be done. The libyan political dialogue has many more issues in front of it, such as designing a new government and its cash governance structure to take the country as quickly as possible designing a new governance structure to take the country as quickly as possible to elections. I have heard strong condemnation of the terrible conditions and suffering of those who are arbitrarily detained and the demand for their immediate and unconditional release. Thomas earlier here on france 24 we spoke to a journalist in tunis, and this was the update. This is a preliminary agreement on a roadmap for elections, but the acting head of the u. N. Mission for libya, Stephanie Williams, said in a press conference tonight in tunis there is still ongoing discussion, especially on the executive branch and what that will look like in terms of its prerogatives and competencies. The delegates are being kept away from the press as they meet in a secludehotel. We are only getting official confirmation of the United Nations mission at the moment. But with regard to elections, this new announcement does appear to follow progress that had been made. Planned, but they were delayed for several reasons, most importantly because of an assault on the capital, tripoli, which was launched in april 2019, finally rebuffed the summer after the intervention of turkey. A ceasefire last month formalized the state of affairs from opening t doors for the current dialogue we are seeing now in tunis. This preliminary agreeme would appear to put things back on track. The last National Elections took place in 2014. The house of representatives, that body has never really had full power over the full of libya and has been dogged by questions of legitimacy, given the low turnout for those elections and the extension past its mandate. While many are hopeful for the current dialogue that is going on now in tunis, that it might build on peace, there are concerns on whether the deal might offer amnesty, especially for war criminals on either side , and a prosecutor for the International Criminal court today also announced that perpetrators in libya would face prosecution for serious crimes committed over the last several years. That comes one day after a prominent lawyer was assassinated yesterday in benghazi by what the u. N. Called i9 identified called unidentified men after she threatened to reveal on social media the corruption of general hav in the middle east. Thomas lets move to coronavirus news and another grim milestone in europe. The Health Ministry in madrid has confirmed over 14,000 people are now known to have died from covid19 across state, with a further across spain come with a further 349 fatalities registered in the latest 24our reporting period. Over 19,000 new infections have been confirmed, and doctors and nurses there are under increasing strain. A third of all intensive care beds are filled with coronavirus patients. Earlier this week, the pharmaceutical giants pfizer and biontech said phase 3 results of a new Coronavirus Vaccine were over 90 effective. Nthis wednesday russian scientists have come forward and said that they, too, could still win the race to find a reliable anticovid19 drug with the sputnik v vaccine, said to be 92 effective. The eu has meanwhile announced that the first vaccinations could be available across the block in the first months of next year. Reporter as scientists race to roll out a vaccine for covid19, the head of europes center for disease prevention and control delivered a message of hope, saying the inoculation could be available during the First Quarter of next year. But she also had a warning about what is to come in the next several months. The situation is very, very concerning. Actually, we see that the numbers have been rising since 3. 5 months. Reporter the announcement follows news that the Drug Company Pfizer and Germanys Biontech vaccine had shown 90 effectiveness, providing hope that there could be light at the end of the tunnel for European Countries who have struggled on their own to address the pandemic. Wednesday, the European Commission announced plans for a new agency to deal with future outbreaks and outlined a collective response to roll out a vaccine. Authorized a fourth contract with Pharmaceutical Company biontech pfizer. It covers the purchase of up to 300 million doses to be supplied once the vaccine has proven to be safe and effective against covid19. Reporter wednesday, there was another possible reason for hope, as researchers and pressure claim there sputnik v vaccine was 92 effective, hoping that there could be an into an outbreak that a skilled more than 117 that that has killed 117,000 people in europe. Thomas to france, or 35,875 new covid cases have been registered, a rise from just over 22,000 announced on tuesday for the328 more people have also died from the virus in the same reporting period. The country is nearly two weeks into its second nationwide lockout, and at 6 00 p. M. Local time this coming thursday, the Prime Minister will be holding a press conference to discuss the restrictions and their effectiveness. For at least the next 30 days, a stack of stringent covid19 restrictions will remain firmly in place for hungarians. In somewhat of a sharp volteface on the previous victor orban governments business as usual stance, they have to abide by measures like an 8 00 a. M. To 5 00 p. M. Curfew and the compulsory wearing of face masks. Reporter new, tighter covid19 measures for hungary after a sharp spike in the number of infections and deaths in recent weeks. I am asking you all to abide by the rules. Lets take care of each other, especially our parents from our grandparents, the elderly, and if we follow the rules and we stand united, we will succeed together again. Reporter the new restrictions include an 8 00 p. M. To 5 00 a. M. Curfew. Restaurants and bars limited to take out and home delivery. Mandatory mask wearing in public spaces. In a 10person limit family gatherings Remote Learning is compulsory for highschool and university students. The measures kicked in early wednesday and remain in place for at least 30 days. The governments new approach comes as a sudden reversal of a pandemic policy designed to protect the economy from the shock of lockdown. Some hungarians say tighter restrictions should already have been introduced. In my opinion, strict measures should have already been implemented during the first wave of the epidemic, and perhaps we would not be in the situation now. I think the restriction still not enough. There should be more. Reporter critics of Prime Minister viktor orban say the new measures are too little, too late. The government has promised the restrictions will be strictly implemented. So far hungary has recorded a total of 2697 thats nearly 123,000 cases of infection. Thomas next, i renew my closeness to victims of any abuse in the commitment of the church to eradicate this evil that is what pope francis said as he concluded his weekly general audience this wednesday. This just a day after the vatican published a report into the Catholic Churchs coverup of the Sexual Misconduct of a former american Cardinal Theodore mccarrick, who was defrocked last year after another vatican probe. Reporter as the Catholic Church once again it deals with the fallout from Sexual Misconduct claims, pope francis makes a solemn vow to end clerical sexual abuse. Reporter the popes remarks come on the heels of a damning 450page report into exu. S. Cardinal theodore mccarrick. He was defrocked in 2019 after being found guilty of abusing a teenager in the 1970s. Evidence also pointing to years of Sexual Misconduct. The report accused the vatican of mishandling the abuse cames against mccarrick. The mccarrick report is remarkable because it points to failings by a succession of popes, particularly john paul ii and benedict xvi, who allowed mccarrick along with vatican officials to rise through the ranks of the church in the united states, despite the fact that they were consistent rumors that he had practiced Sexual Misconduct with adult seminarians. Reporter victims Rights Groups said the mccarrick report stopped short of any meaningful change. Apologies dont mean anything if they come with a list of excuses why you was ok. It was ok. We need the church to punish those involved and we need the church to make changes for that they cannot investigate themselves. Any reported abuse can whether it is an adult or a child, should immediately be reported to secular authorities. Reporter critics say that in order to stamp out clerical abuse, Church Culture that protects the accused over the accuser must change. Thomas one German Association which helps polish women obtain an abortion has registered a threefold rise in the number of demands. Last month, the Constitutional Court in warsaw tightened the rules on terminations, triggering weeks of demonstrations. That ruling has not yet been implemented, but activists say that polish doctors are nevertheless increasingly reticent to carry out abortions in case they are in any way seem to be breaking the law. Reporter chanting my body, my choice, these protesters took to the streets in berlin to call for the right to abortion in poland. According to an organization helping polish women access abortions in germany, more women are turning to them for help, with doctors increasingly reluctant to perform the procedure. Reporter these polish women sought an abortion in germany five years ago. When isabella learned she was pregnant again, she was suffering from postpartum depression and was not ready for another child. She says women looking abortions in poland are seen as murderers. The hardest part for me was it was only my decision. I could not seek help that time and ask people, what would you do, what would you advise me to do, between my friends. Reporter poland has a some of europes most restrictive abortion laws, and last months terms of rate, incessant, andin whether the mothers life is at stake. Poland sees more than 2000 legal abortions every year, womes groups estime another 2000 women abort illegally or abroad. Thomas lets move on to Business News and or business desk. The eu has announced it has sealed the deal to buy up to 3 million doses of a new covid19 vaccine pt tell us more. Reporter the announcement from the eu comes two days after pfizer and its partner biontech said that their experimental covid19 vaccine proved 90 effective in a clinical trial. Under the deal, the 27member bloc could buy 200 million doses of the vaccine with an option to buy 100 million more. Of course, first the vaccine must be authorized and approved by the eus regulatory body. Meanwhile, the head of the European Central bank, christine e guard, warned against too much optimism over the virus, saying that the roado recove from the pandemic could be long and bumpy. The eurozone economy grew by almost 13 in the First Quarter of this year, follong an historic plunge in the previous quarter. But with a number of European Countries again under lockdown, the economic recovery may not continue the economy may slow down again in the final three months of the year. Christine lagarde said that the cash into the economy. Ject more lets take a listen. While the latest news on a vaccine looks encouraging, we could still face recurring cycles of accelerating viral spread and tightening restrictions until Widespread Community is achieved. We are also seeing indications that small and mediumsized firms are expecting access to finance to deteriorate. So, a continued powerful and targeted policy response is vital to protect the economy, at least until the Health Emergency passes. Thomas the optimism over a vaccine continues to drive rerter optimism continues to drive global stock markets, but on wall street this wednesday, news of tighter restrictions in new york state and in california put a dent on the earlier rally. The dow closed just below the flat line after two days of strong gains. The s p finishing in positive territory. The nasdaq rose by almost 2 , as tech shares rebounded following a sharp decline. But it is still down by almost 1 for the week. Thomas in other Business News, Airline Companies have also been badly affeed by this lingering pandemic, but left concept has reached a new costcutting luftansa has reached a new costcutting deal with workers. Reporter luftansa announced that with one union it reached a deal. The airline has been suffering a lot by the pandemic as well as other airlines. On the stock market, it may have enjoyed a bit of a respite over the past week after e vaccine and news, but its financial but financiallyt is still struggling a lot with passenger volumes far from returning to precovidevels, and it may not return for at least another year or so. At least today it reached an agreement with one union, labor union, to cut costs by 200 Million Euros to help the company move forward. Thomas ok, the latest Business News. Thank you very much. That wraps up the first slice of the program. I am back with more world news on france 24 after this very short break. Do stay with us. A 11 11 20 11 120 [captioning made possible by democracy now ] amy from new york, this is democracy now there will smooth transition to a second Trump Administration. We are ready. Amy secretary of state mike pompeo is backing president trumps refusal to concede the election. Is this how the coup begins or is this just the Trump Administration delaying the inevitable . We will speak to the slates
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