Human Rights Groups are pressuring macron to take a hard line on human rights abuses. Hello and thank you for joining us. It is crunch time for a post brexit trade deal. At this point the prospects are looking tenuous at best. A transition period ends december 31. Boris johnson says he will travel to brussels this week after a phe call tonight with the European Commission chief ursula v der leyen failed to produce a breakthrough. Main Sticking Points on fishing rights and business rules remain. Meantime the British Parliament is voting on a market built tonight that could allow britain to allow certain requirements on Northern Ireland and other issues. For more we are joined by our correspondent in london. As we mentioned, johnson is headed to brussels this week. What does this indicate . Yes. Interestingly we have learned after this 90 minute phone call, the second in 48 hours between the british Prime MinisterBoris Johnson and the Eu Commission president ursula von der leyen, that there will be a physical facetoface meeting between the two in brussels in the coming days. I do not think it will be tomorrow, but you have the Coronavirus Vaccine rolling out tomorrow, so it uld be wednesday afternoon. Of course thursday and friday in brussels there is the you Council Summit where the 27 Member States have got many things to discuss. And i think we know that on wednesday there needs to be either a deal or some sort of resolution. That is what has been stipulated tonight by the eu brexit negotiator. We also know that ursula von der leyen and Boris Johnson have asked their respective brexit negotiating teams to review the differences, and they are the same ones we have seen since march that have dogged these negotiations from the very beginning. Britain very attached to his for anna its sovereignty, its freedom, taking back control. And very much the eu wanting to protect its single market. Remember the 31st of december date is when it will be the end of this grace period, if you will, this transition period. The u. K. Left the eu on the 31st of january, and those 11 months were given to the u. K. To hammer out the future, what the relationship would look like. We again have the problems of fisheries, which apparently is not the worst Sticking Point and stalemate situation, but governments and also the policing of a new deal. How would that be enforced, for example, if the United Kingdom were not to respect it . With the eu does not want is, on its doorstep, a country that in the name of freedom then ashley has access, privileged actually has privileged access. The United Kingdom will become a third country on the 31st of january, 2021, then a lot of competition. Monte can you talk us through this bill in parliament and what could happen if the house of commons passes it . Guest we have had this bill here before. It is again tonight in the lower chamber, the house of commons. It has gone to the upper chamber, the house of lords. As certain clauses breach International Law by the government has recognized that is the case, and says it is just doing it in case there is no deal. Whats interesting in the movement that has happened is tonight the British Government and mr. Johnson have offered to take out some clauses if the ones that are controversial that breach International Law, if indeed there is a deal. But meanwhile, mps are about to start to vote after hours of debate, because the clauses were taken out by the house of lords. So were going to see what happens. Because this is something that the eu, the 27 Member States, the trust really was blown when back in september the Prime Minister introduced this bill. Now, were going through this process of pingpong, so it could . Back to the upper house. We will have to see so it could very much go back to the upper house. We will have to see what happens. Very close monitored by brussels, because a lot of that trust has actually been tested very seriously. So, well see what comes out of the house of commons in the coming half an hour in those votes, then we will see what the negotiating teams. But really it is about political will. Ultimately if there is to be a deal, it will be the political leaders. Boris johnson just needs to consult his cabinet and make his own decision, but ultimately 27 eu leaders who need to decide if they are prepared to agree to this deal. Both sides say they want a deal, both sides say they will not which at any price. Its best to have a no deal than a bad deal. Many things have not changed, but if you have. First, we will see what comes out of the house of commons. Monte i know youre watching it for us. Thank you so much. Staying in the u. K. , britain is getting ready to vaccinate people against covid19 starting tomorrow. Some 800,000 doses of the shot have already arrived at hospitals across the country from a pfizer plant in belgium. Britain is the first in the west to rollout the covid vaccine. Officials are wning you will not be a quick fix, and that the program will be a marathon strehing well into next year. Our reporter as the story. Reporter just days after the u. K. Approved the Pfizer Vaccine for emergency use, hospitals acro the country began receiving the first doses over the weekend. University hospital in south london is one of 50 Clinical Hubs set to administer the first wave and is being described as the biggest Musician Program in history. It is incredible. Obviously i cannot hold them in my hands, because they are 70, the first in the country tong actually receive the vaccine, and therefore the first in the world, it is just amazing. So proud. Reporter around 800,000 doses of the vaccine are expected to be in place on tuesday. Delivering the Pfizer Biontech vaccine is accomplice process because it needs to be stored at a very low temperature, about 70 degrees celsius. Fortunately the vaccine is stable at normally refrigerated temperatures for a few days, meaning it can be stored locally. Once the vaccine has defrosted, which takes a few hours, additional time is required to prepare it to be given in a shop. In trials, the Pfizer Biontech trial was said to have around 95 efficiency. Governments and Health Agencies around the world will be monitoring the british vaccination program, which will take months, making note of s successes and failures, and adjusting their own plans accordingly. Monte in france, covid restrictions were supposed to be eased next week, but that might not happen as planned. Right now the country is under a lockdown and a curfew is set to take effect on december 15. That could change because the downward trends in new covid cases has flattened out. Scientists are warning that a third wave of the coronavirus could it france in midjanuary if people are too relaxed about social distancing over christmas and the new year. Our reporter has the story. Reporter it is the day many people in france have been eagerly waiting for. On the 15th of december, the country is supposed to wind down its second not national lockdown, allowing families to reunite. But frances health chief has thrown doubt on that possibility. After a sharp drop, a decrease in the number of positive cases has been stalling for a week now. Every day, more than 10,000 people tested positive compared to 5000 a week in the summer. We must be vigilant over this recent development, but were far from our goal which is to drop below 5000 cases per day. Reporter reaching under 5000 new cases per day was the condition set out by president emmanual macron for lifting frances lockdown, along with fewer than 3000 patients in intensive care units. Daily cases reported over the weekend were well above 10,000. 3200 patients are in intensive care. The government has eased some measures at the end of november, allowing nonessential shops to reopen, though bars, restaurants and gyms remain shut. Therell be a curfew next week which will be lifted for christmas and new years eve. He said the next few days will be critical, and warned this winter will be very difficult. Monte now to the u. S. , where it is backtoschool again for thousands of children in your city. They returned to classrooms today after a twoweek shutdown because of rising cases of the coronavirus. Our correspondent is in harlem with the latest. Reporter this hool in harlem is one of the many new york city public Elementary Schools to reopen after a threeweek closure due to rising covid19 rates. Almost 200,000 new york city students went back to in person classes this monday, but now it is just prek, kindergarten and Elementary School students who are back. Middle and High Schoolers are still doing remote learning. This school is in a low income area next to a housing project. Many working parents have really been struggling to do Online Learning with young kids. The parents rely on the older kids to help the younger kids. I mean, it is hard, especially if parents are working. I learn and play. Reporter how is it when you dont go to school . A little lonely. I do not think it is safe. Theres a lot of cases going up alover the place. This is just putting our health at risk. Again. Reporter mayor bill de blasio is scrapping the previous trigger point of 3 for shutting schools, provided that positivity rates in schools themselves stay low, but every parent now has to sign a testing consent form for their child, in school covid19 tests for 2 of staff and students weekly. We randomly test the kids when they come into school, and the staff as well. Reporter the reopening of elementary sools comes after angry new york parents argued it was ridiculous to shut down school buildingshile gyms and inor dining remain open. They said the city was ignoring data showing schools were among the lowest risk areas. This monday morning, the mayor visited school in the bronx and said Young Students told him they were happy to return to class. He also said he watched them putting on their mas, getting temperates checked, and using hand sanitizer. He said if little kids can do these things, we can too. Monte the egyptian president is here in paris on two of his threeday visit. He met with Emmanuel Macron today and they talked about the conflict in libya and the fight against terrorism. Macron said he did bring up the issue of human rights in egypt, but human Rights Groups are upset he did not take it further. Those groups want the improvement of human rights to be a condition of arms sales. Here is our report. Reporter a delicate balancing act for the french president as he welcomes the egyptian leader for a state visit. Emmanuel macron counts egypt as an ally in the war on terrorism, and relies on the countrys support in mediating the libyan conflict. Cairo is also an implant client for french arms sales. But Rights Groups have accused macron of turning a blind eye to his increasingly harsh crackdown on dissent in egypt. Rejecting the criticism, macron said he favored honest dialogue over boycotts. I will not condition cooperation in matters of defense or economics on these disagreements. It would be ineffective on the subject of human rights and counterproductive in the fight against terrorism. Thats why i will not do it. Reporter cici was quick to dismiss the continued accusations of human rights abuses. It is not appropriate for you to present the Egyptian State with everything it does for its people and the stability of the region is not precious regime as an oppression of an oppressive regime. Reporter a researcher for the Egyptian Initiative for personal rights was arrested in february and charged with spreading fake news and calling for unauthorized protests. The decision comes after officials freed three other members of the rights group, including its executive director on thursday, after international pressure. Monte earlier we spoke to our chief Foreign Editor who said macron is trying to strike a delicate balance in these talks. Rob it is an immensely difficult balancing act. It is not just france who has to wrestle with this, the u. S. Is doing exactly the same thing. The problem for france is, first of all, it has very significant trade ties with egypt. It supplies very significant quantities of weapons. 2017, it sold 1. 4 billion euros of weapons to egypt. More that year than the united states. In addition to that, egypt is a very important player in the region. It is first of all the most populous arab state. It has a very large armed forces. And it is a player in the region whe voice is heard and listened to with attention. France cooperates with egypt on a number of spheres. You heard that report a second or two ago talking about the battle against terrorism. But it is not just that. In libya as well, france and egypt pretty much see eye to eye on the way forward against turkey. They have a completely different point of view. The eastern mediterranean, too. Turkey is at odds with france and egypt as well. The two sides have an awful lot in common, and france under president macron is loathe to jeopardize that by putting too much emphasis on human rights. Monte prosecutors in france have officially placed under investigation a man accused of stabbing three people to death in a church last month. He faces murder and terrorism charges. The incident prompted france to raise its terrorism alert warning to the highest level. Heres more. Reporter after being apprehended by police on a temer 29th, the 21yearold Tunisian National was transferred to hospital where he was treated for injuries received during his arrest. He also tested positive for covid19. His condition improved recently and he has been placed under formal investigation by antiterrorism police for the murders of threetime people of three people. He is also being investigated for being part of a terrorist group. He arrived in europe from tunisia in september, First Crossing the mediterranean to italy and then crossing into france by land. Then on october 29, he entered the basilica in the heart of nice and in a mere halfhour frenzy, used a 17 centimeter knife to cut the throats of two who died inside the church. A 44yearold woman fled to a nearby restaurant and died afterwards. He was shot several times and then was arrested. Last month, france raised the terrorist alert to its highest level, which came two weeks after a beheading. Monte former french president Nicolas Sarkozy denied all charges of his corruption trial in paris today. He is the first french head of state since 1945 to attend his own trial. Prosecutors accused him of trying to obtain competent confidential information by bribing a judge. Charli james was in court today and has this report. Charli its the moment the French Public has really been waiting for. Nicolas sarkozy today took the stand for questioning. He began with a 16 minute opening statement. At times he was angry, others defiant or annoyed. But the key message he wanted to send was that he has never in his whole political career committed an act of corruption. So we got to hear from sarkozy live and in person, but also on tape. The prosecution played several clips of wiretapped conversations of sarkozy that he had with his longtime personal lawyer. Prosecution says these conversations show the two talking about how to bribe a judge to get some information out of him. Sarkozy maintains these were innocent conversations, and that this is all part of investigators dragging him through the mud. This trial is expected to wrap up on thursday, and there is a lot at stake for sarkozy. If he is found guilty, he could face up to 10 years in prison. A one million euro fine. And a big hit to his political reputation. Monte the Swedish Furniture giant ikea is scrapping is famous annual catalog. At their height, more than 200 million copies were distributed across the globe, and in 32 linkages. But with more 32 languages. But they said now is the time to pull the plug. Reporter turning the page on 70 years of retail tradition, one of the Worlds Largest annual publications went to its last renting the summer. Ikea will no longer be assembling its famed catalog, as more and more shoppers go online to find their furniture and decorating ideas. From august of 2019 until august of 2020, online sales for ikea rose by 45 . The companys managing director called the decision emotional, but rational. Media consumption and customer behaviors have changed, and ikea is already increasing Digital Investments while volumes and interest in the catalog have decreased. Reporter the founder printed the First Edition in 1951 with 285,000 copies. By 2016, its circulation had peaked at 200 million copies. The 2021 addition this year topped out at 40 million copies. It has not been without controversy. In 2012, the company airbrushed women out of its saudi arabia addition, causing protests. Though the catalog represents a major portion of ikeas budget, they say it is not a costcutting measure. The money saved will be redirected to other marketing channels. For those who absolutely must see the items on paper first, ikea says it is launching a smaller publication focused on interior Design Inspiration to be available in stores next year. Monte breakdancing is coming to the 2024 Olympic Games in paris. The artform began way back in the 1970s in new york, then spread all over the world. The olympic report estimated there were about one Million People neighboring dancing worldwide one Million People breakdancing worldwide. So, things are changing at the olympics, and things are also changing in the business world. Time for business now with kate moody. Good to see you. In the u. S. , lawmakers remain at a standstill over another round of coronavirus stimulus. What is the latest . Kate more households and businesses across the u. S. Are in financial difficulty as cities and states begin to tighten their restrictions once again. For several months, democrats and republicans have been at odds over how much should be sent in the next round of financial aid. Republicans latest offering was worth around 500 billion. Democrats, 2 trillion. Last week a Bipartisan Group of lawmakers tried to break the deadlock with a compromised stopgap measure which would be worth around 900 billion. A number of top ranking democrats including speaker of the house nancy pelosi said they will back that compromise proposal if it means getting something passed in the coming days or weeks. The Trump Administration though, and many republicans have refused to that more limited approa. Mitch mcconnell today saying he does not see the partisan agreements disagreements evaporating anytime soon. Joe biden has voiced support for the bipartisan legislation, saying it is a matter of urgency to approve more aid, even if it is a before he is sworn into office. Many democrats do expect a bigger spending bill to be passed once his administration is brought in. In particular, biden wants another round of direct stimulus checks to be sent to americans, especially needy americans, something not included in that compromise. But again, biden saying there is no time to lose. That is because at the end of this month, a number of the emergency measures that were enacted towards the beginning of the pandemic will expire. Some 12 million americans stand to lose their own Employment Benefits at the end of december. The bipartisan proposal would extend that Emergency Support for them, as well as extending a moratorium on evictions in the united states. Its not a where that has been fashionable in washington in recent years, but theres proposal, and some hope it could gather enough momentum and force votes to break the deadlock. Monte the u. S. Congress hasnt even more urgent spending matter to resolve has an even mor urge spendinmatter to resolve. Kate the u. S. Government could shut dow midnight on friday if lawmakers do not agree to a spending bill. There have been three major u. S. Government shutdowns over the last decade, two under the Trump Administration, including one that lasted for 35 days. We understand shortterm funding is likely to be passed. They will likely push the deadline back a week. A longer spending deal though does remain blocked by differences on about a dozen different policy issues. Many are linked to immigration. Of course this is a separate debate from the Coronavirus Relief funds, but inextricably linked because both of them will have a real impact on peoples livelihoods and on government debt. Monte how are markets reacting to all this uncertainty . Kate uncertainty never plays well in the markets and we have seen a mix close on wall street. The dow jones and s p 500 closing lower. Nasdaq did touch a new record high. Its preparing for two big ipos later this week, doordash and airbnb saying today they expect to be valued at 42 billion when they start trading on thursday. The major european indices closed mostly lower. Another dose of uncertainty on the side of the atlantic driving down trade. This is linked to the ongoing stalemate between the u. K. And e. U. Over the post brexit trade deal. That pushed the pound sterling down against both the u. S. Dollar and the euro. The british currency is a key barometer of brexit risk and for currency markets, the risk of a no deal brexit keeps getting stronger by the hour. Monte kate moody with business, thank you so much. That is it for now. Stay tuned for more news coming up here on france 24. Xxxxxxdnooooooooooooooo 12 07 20 12 07 20 [captioning made possible by democracy now ] amy from new york, this is democracy now 1. 5 Senate Debates were held in georgia sunday night ahead of the states Runoff Election which will decide who controls the u. S. Senate. In one debate, the richest senator in the united states, republican kelly loeffler, sparred with the reverend raphael warnock. In the other debate, republican