the fight against the corona virus pandemic. has the rate of infection in developing. measures are being triggered. what is the latest research. information and context. coronavirus of the big special monday to friday on w. . you're watching news asia coming up today it's election day in an election week and we sat down with india's foreign secretary harshvardhan shrink a lot to discuss his country's important relationship with the united states we also asked him about 2 of india's most difficult relationships pakistan and china.

i'm melissa chan welcome to news asia thank you for joining us it's election day in the united states and today and all this week we'll be looking at the impact of the vote on countries across asia one of the most important relationships for the u.s. in the entire pacific is it's in gage meant with india the 2 countries together with japan and australia from part of what is known as a quad for democracies in a clear counterpoint to china the region's large authoritarian state we sat down with india's foreign secretary harshvardhan to discuss regional politics we started by asking him whether there'd be any change with a biden presidency especially given president dollar trump and prime minister narendra modi's great personal admiration for each other. other relations with the united states are really based on bipartisan support you see it in congress you see

it in public lives we do believe that the force that elation ship that today is had visits to the test of time is very comprehensive and marcie faceted. be not only share the same values and principles but we also i think have the same city dick vision in what could be a byelection a region and multilateral relationship now prime minister more these relationship with president trump our being special but you have to remember that from some of these relationship with president obama was also very special i remember that state dinner that president obama held. in my correct and hearing that you believe that regardless of who wins the presidency of the united states the relationship will fundamentally not change. vice president biden who is the democratic candidate has also made it very clear in many of his statements that he values a strong india u.s.

strategic partnership so that is common to both president trump and president by now want to talk a little bit about the quad and the recent meeting there you have australia japan and knighted states in india like minded countries that their shared values of being democracies i imagine that if you were sitting in beijing it kind of looks like in circle moment how would you respond to people who say that. well. the chord is a grouping of countries which have as have the same vision of a free open transparent indo-pacific region an international rules based order. international freedom of navigation in global commons and also issues such as open connectivity speaking the sort of indian territory and dignity of states you seem to be working to bolster the capacities and the abilities of countries in the

new pacific with as it's in tragedy in a manner that is what constructive and for peter you mentioned open connectivity and borders let's talk about borders 1st on the last 24 hours there's been a report in bloomberg about the fact that some 300 square kilometers that used to be administered by india is now administered by china and i'd be interested in your response or comment to that report. clearly there believe that you know the. situation has involved some level of deterioration in terms of. it has contributed to duration in terms of the ties between our 2 countries because of the unusual step of china to seek to you need to actually order the status quo you have to keep in mind that there is no common perception of the border but here if you seek to change the current you know plane with troops then of course it does impact on the

larger vision should we are concerned that china has taken this step. very very clear that we will stand firm and there is a loop in our resolve not to allow or did it totally digit to your sovereignty to be compromised but i want to make sure do you confirm or deny the characterization from the reports that china is actually administrate 300 kilometers square kilometers more of territory that they did not have at the start of this year well i'm not aware of where it is getting its information from but i can tell you that as far as we are concerned says indian officials familiar with the situation you're asking me and i'm telling you that as far as we're concerned we will not compromise on the dignity i want to ask about another neighbor of yours in terms of relationships up pakistan's prime minister imran khan recently called india a fascist state inspired by the nazi regime this is what he said to

a german news outlet what is your response to that election only see that is coming from the prime minister of a country that does not recognize the state of israel that still no does not acknowledge that the holocaust took place that has provided the sea of century force on bin laden and mullah omar the taliban. years after $911.00 a country that today has a date which is higher than the g.d.p. a country that has enormous social economic problems and political problems not with an entire coalition of all the opposition parties seeking to unseat prime minister in one party and those who back him from the deep state and it is clearly and if they would distract international attention and domestic attention from his own problems that run part of making this statement i mean i mean considering his situation and pakistan's own approach towards trying to convince them terrorism and

issues that are important to the international community he really shouldn't be making such it is sponsored by statements you allow me this question of someone who is born in hong kong. you talk about rules based a lot of rules can be interpreted you have been broken in hong kong is this a matter of concern for india as a matter of policy we don't comment on on what becomes the internal affairs of states we have said that there is a large community of indian origin there's a large indian community in hong kong so we are watching the situation with some level of attention. and concern and we will continue to do so. secretary thank you very much thank you so very much melissa. we have a non-christian an inch and i joining us to provide more context following our interview with the foreign secretary he is the hindu's china correspondent and also the author of india's china challenge ananta please just heard the foreign

secretary there not really giving a clear response about whether china really did capture all that territory your thoughts. they melissa it is understandable for 2 reasons i think the 1st is negotiations are ongoing that had set in really unsuccessful rounds of talks at the military level that have gone nowhere and i think that that's why they're being a little conic i think that the 2nd reason is it is a domestic political issue in india and the more you government has been coming out of fire from the opposition for really knocked out handling that china problem at the border and so i think the government doesn't really want to come out and say that lost so much territory but i think from my own point of view melissa right from the start it think that the government really could have been a little bit more transparent and it could actually help india dealing with this by showing to the word that it was china didn't occupy the senate she and sought to redraw the line of actual control and the government could have actually publicly taken a stand it toward china listen these are the deadlines we have to return to status

quo so i think i find it a little puzzling why the government's actually been sort of locked into actually spell out what actually down the constitution is a long line of actual control and where china is meeting guess is an occupied territory. do you think there's a lack of trust on the indian side when they look at the activities of the chinese and the south china sea that they can ever really speak to the chinese and come up with a resolution on the border issue but unfortunately melissa that's the only way i don't think either country really wants. and i as difficult as it is i think it's going to be a combination of continuing to talk and be this levels between military commanders between diplomats in beijing and delhi but at the same time keeping up a very fond defensive posture as india has done it in an office in the actually occupied several strategic writes that have given it somebody in power that it was fish and that it did not have previously so i think the whole both sides can find

a meeting of minds but i think there is still some skepticism in india that china after mobilizing all these troops in early may really walk back from alterity that again i think that's something that is going to be very difficult for india to achieve of return to status quo which is what india has publicly demanded while this is election week so i'm curious do you agree with secretary assessment that the bilateral relationship between india and us won't change we're guy less of who wins either trump provided. i would draw army agree that i think that the sec sort of our motivations and a resolution ship won't change it's quite interesting melissa that india is a bit unique among many countries and actually having quite a foreigner and a sort of experience dealing with some of the last 4 years there have been issues on trade i mean who hasn't had issues with trump on trade but in terms of the defense relationship in terms of the city relationship actually they gave us visions of us down tell us. and with the prime minister modi just one at that

instant that just last week the week before the election now you had secretary of state my phone there and the defense secretary mark s. were come to delhi for talks just a week before the election and i think the message really was with us that this is going to be a long term strategic relationship and the fact that they signed this really important military defense agreement for sharing geospatial information i think really shows how even though they are officially allies there is a very close defense partnership that is growing it even more close and we're growing even more stronger and regardless of whether it's from a bite in the white house i think that he's going to continue they's going to be broader conspiracy even if there will be some differences and i think one minor point of concern to india is a democratic administration tends to be more out spoken on issues such as human rights situation in question is something red really didn't want to get involved so i think they mean government is aware they will be small changes but i think there is a realization that the broader quantiles of the relationship really have

a bipartisan investments in washington right now and i think that's a huge positive for the india a solution ship and a sign of how much has grown over the last 1015 years where else do you see the u.s. and india working together. i think that is one big gap when it comes to economic cooperation and i think that india us all straight enterprise and the so-called quiet have done quite a bit in terms of security dies they want to be having huge exercises the malabar naval exercises this week where the only i think they have lagged behind is actually coming out into writing an alternative to countries in the region in easier when it comes to financing whether over land on chinese financing still even though there has been some pushback to the belgians ownership we have from countries such as sri lanka where incensed where else can they go also spawning there really are many other sources besides china and i think the other countries should step up if they really want to provide a credible alternative to china and the region right shankly must say they haven't

done enough and i'm thank you. that's it for now be sure to check out our other stories on t w dot com for slash asia or on facebook and twitter tomorrow wednesday will be an all election program to look at how the u.s. election and who wins will impact countries in asia and consequently the lives of people in each place thanks for watching and goodbye. combating the corona pandemic. where does research stand. what are scientists learning. background information and. our corona updates. from the 19 special next on d w. this presidential election is

a crucial why not just for the united states but for the world leading the race in america's full rise fall to the streets who will be right here for you and we'll tell you everything you need to know as america decides who bring you the number of issues the background as it happens and until the last vote is counted join us for special live coverage from berlin the u.s. election today i'm tired of the news. is it that hot to wear a must. it's not if you've lost a loved one to cope at 19 and understand the gravity of this pandemic but for people with no connection to the coronavirus it's easier to say that all these health precautions are over the top and despite the science. then there are surveys

that show men are less likely to wear masks than women some claim it robs them adequate. experts put it down to talk sick basque. nitty. in the west they said mosques start really protect you then they said they do and you've got to wear them whatever the case if it means i'm less likely of passing on something i'll do it a lot of other men so willing there are lots of selfish people in this world but what about when the masculinity in question here is that of the most powerful president in the world you know use mirror very afraid as this report. on election day the u.s. is battling another surge in corona virus cases the number of new delhi recorded cases has been reaching record highs. some i.c.u. units in the us are already approaching 90 percent of a capacity. well things are very very bad in the united states right

now we are having some of the largest outbreaks that we've had during the entire and i think 910 months into this pandemic we are still largely not quite there. the u.s. doesn't top the list when it comes to fatalities among those who tested positive for the disease but it's much higher up when it comes to kind of the deaths per $100000.00 residents. so can what went wrong the links to the trumpet ministrations crisis management. critics say the white house hasn't had a proper sense of emergency especially at the beginning of the pandemic. it's going to disappear one day it's like a miracle it will disappear. and by referring to 2 as the china virus the u.s. president may have been trying to shift responsibility away from his government damage control instead of disease control and treatment i.d.'s without any

scientific evidence. supposing 'd we hit somebody with a tremendous whether it's. just a very powerful like. and i think you said. supposing it. could which you can do either through the skin or. in some other way. i think you said you. think president trump also ignored medical advice to wear face masks for a long time instead he made fun of his democratic rival joe biden who wears mosques in public we will speak but you've got to be prepared to deal with future now biden is soft and weak and too scared to be prejudiced or to be president let's face it. but many trump supporters admire the president's aggressive style and see him as

a model of my old dominance. he is here this is why we're going to fight for you and this is why i have another 4 more years because he is not as brainy. critics have pointed to trump's response to the pandemic like downplaying its dangers as an example of stereotypical masculine behavior. but that may have come at a high price for the u.s. with his approach potentially contributing to more than 230000 deaths in the country. is a professor of sociology at stake university why do you believe become such a gender issue especially in the u.s. . it's really interesting to see a bias become a political issue as well in every search we found and it's not just an gender issue it's all so partisan for example democrats in the united states are more like

you know republicans the where but it's also i keep the gender issue women are more likely to wear masks it's not just an estranged gender but it's about gender right when we asked matt how masculine and they are the ones who say that they're very masculine are the most really refuse to wear masks but can you tell me what it's got to do with masculinity i mean you know washing your hands off to going to the bathroom is just disgusting and they're responsible. it is but we also know that men are less likely to wear whereas and also wash your hands in a symbol of traditional best urine it isn't up softness it's about being raised this into the higher areas it's about hell he seems especially and in most of the western world we do define traditional masculinity through good health and there really so a virus can't really take you down where you need to get the higher. you want to even see it so are you the judicial masculinity really very harmful. i guess it

doesn't help either when the president compares manhood with invincibility absolutely a traditional masculinity and i think yes the masculine you are at play there as well so when we think about like that your president we've had presidents who were cowboys that wrote this is a clear book so this is actually one of these ideas of that go back to that and this is also something that really harms if you know candidates running for office so really it doesn't help that the president is a part of this as well but if we just go back to the cowboys and the pioneers of the united states taking protective measures is a survival strategy yet mosque averse men prefer to risk what deaths from a virus that expose their vulnerability. absolutely private research actually shows that they are less likely to go to the doctor they're less

likely to see got preventive medicine and even if they have. they're less likely to ask for help so their definition of health is not going to be a very healthy one so it's similar to the need to fight it you know it's in their best interests and best interest of their families and children and communities you know like less likely to wear and that's also where you're individualistic society and you know where you got that is really going against that. kind of has to protect my community and other people in this case traditional mask is a little bit more individualistic exactly all these men are invincible but they're also irresponsible i mean does this some have something to do with the fact that in many western nations the individual is more important in the community you get very different opinions in china absolutely i didn't even realize it was a big part of this and i'm just wearing the mask protect myself i am wearing

protects you and in my community and this really goes against the egos of individual this and that i can be a book. and this is a problem of our community that we saw together but this is something i saw myself ok we've been talking a lot about men what about the women who refuse to wear mosque i know if you are that. you love them or they're going to most of them research shows that are going to be more republican that it may also lead to see any signs let's listen and mistrust. among women so we do see that it's some of them were questioning science and they don't really believe in the likelihood that he will get the virus. yes and what about you on a personal level how does it annoy you when you walk down the street or i don't know where ever you are if you go and people are wearing mosques or on sticking to the rules i don't go to many places these days i'm. going to be you know going

anywhere these days but hashtag saying why do i need that might i do you i know you said it i enjoyed it you said let me go out in the new normal for me and my family and i'm like i like evil in my community wearing the mask and we hope to be the martyrs. as my desk because you know thank you very much for joining us today professor of sociology at montclair state university pleasure talking to you thank you so much you're going to get. if you've got any questions on the coronavirus then feel free to write to us on our you tube channel w. science correspondent derrick williams will look into them. what impact on national health will reopening schools have at this stage of the pandemic. i've been sitting on this divisive question for a while to watch how things develop as kids in many countries in the northern

hemisphere including my own returned to schools is schools can act as super spreaders sites and with classrooms being closed to areas where the lots of kids gather for extended periods of time you'd have expected to see spikes in cases within societies as a whole in the few weeks after they reopened a couple of months ago but a lot of current data indicates that didn't happen numbers of cases in both the us and europe have of course risen dramatically since then but many experts believe that isn't down to reopen schools but to other factors a number of studies from different countries including ones that collect extensive contact tracing information they're painting the picture that although kids can of course catch the virus and of course they can give it to others they don't seem to

be driving community transmission but instead of mostly reflected especially younger children who appear to be less likely to infect others than older kids but all in all based on what we're seeing so far clusters seem to develop pretty rarely them schools that's at least one of the reasons why the german government for example has decided to leave them open even as spiraling numbers of infections across the country have now set it back into a november lockdown that's closed many businesses how long schools will remain open here though is anyone's guess as a scientist. never tire of telling us we're in a dynamic situation. finally culture makers here in germany say the government is silencing the arts with its new coronavirus rules musicians around the country have posted silent protest videos against germany's

partial lockdown including the hamburg for the money and conduct they can not at all this week germany shut down concert halls theaters museums and cinemas to let these the end of the month while allowing retail stores and other businesses to stay open the culture sector was already looking at hundreds of millions of euros of losses after the last lockdown. i've been fizzling for any developments on the virus go to our web site at www dot com slash covert 19 it's just practice that mosque wearing see if it takes away my masculinity.

after 6 mass days they're on top again to. buy a new limbs in cologne putting it at the top of the table. after 6 matches to. empty handed. loses an old school bottom of the table no points no.

one to minutes on d.w. . small hacks who can inspire change the people making the most of all long ago in africa fantastic right going to join them as they set out to save the environment learn from one another and to work together for a better future a good. many colleagues to you all but sitting in the cold comfort us. on d w. in the uk of climate change. comes from a list of. people. what to do years today how for the future of.

g.w. dot com can they go through the mechanisms could turn. it on when it is you know i mean in your minute as he. goes over the next cynical media. us all up with out about our. vision of getting. it on what. this you know i mean in your monotonous incline you think i have focused on a moment and out. what i'm focused on in the sort of what i'm like what in what can i see right now what is a time of. this you know i mean in your mind not a single when you are getting in when you cry i don't want to. me number one and unanimous. the show could go because as you've said. i should not.

have only said what i thought going on with her being fun to. say i said. this is the w.'s why from a lame australia in shock after a suspected islam is to gun attack kills 4 more than a dozen suspects around the arrest chancellor sebastian cortes calls it a repulsive terror attack and says it will not survive the nation also on the program polling stations open in the u.s. election after the most divisive presidential campaign 4 decades with almost

100000000 early votes already cast we look at the stock choice facing america. i'm still gail welcome to the program. austria has declared 3 days of national mourning after a shooting rampage killed at least 4 people in the capital vienna least one suspected is limited gunman opened fire at multiple locations in the city center police shot and killed the assailant official say this so far no evidence of a 2nd attack or chancellor sebastian courts as condemned what he called a repulsive terror attack and he has insisted that it will not divide the country. it's the morning after in vienna and the city is on edge a huge manhunt is taking place behind the scenes and last night's events have

caused a sleepless night for many. i couldn't sleep i feel awful. i still feel the panic when the only way i'm nervous and worried as i live in the neighborhood next to our garden from there you could hear a lot. out straight as government has declared monday's shootings a terror attack and says at least one of the assailants had an islamist motive. we cleverly push deep it's not been confirmed that yesterday's attack was very clearly an islamist terrorist attack. the attack was launched on monday evening with people fleeing in panic as gunfire broke out in multiple locations in the city center. many people were out and about at the time enjoying one last evening in bars and restaurants before a nationwide coronavirus curfew. started in and british and figures that i was

inside and suddenly some customers came in and told me don't go out there's a gun battle going on i looked outside and heard shots in a few seconds 15 to 20 shots for sure seems to want to see what. the 1st gunshots were reported near vienna's main synagogue a rabbi so a man opened fire. attacker running in various restrooms we sure are lined up on our street. running away in this war 2 attackers are chasing them or the street it was shooting at least 100 rounds just in from the program. one gunmen was shot dead by police the government says he was wearing a fake explosive belt and had a previous terror conviction. the attacker was

a sympathizer of the terror group islamic state. the day after at least one other assailant is still thought to be at large. but he and as residents have been urged to stay at home while the manhunt continues. and as a country and shop begins 3 days of mourning to honor the victims of monday's attack. let's go straight to the austrian capital and journalist to carry skiving joins us from vienna welcome to day w what are our sources saying about the people behind this attack. well we've just heard from the police chief and from the interior minister carl and they have they've been giving quite a bit of detail the chief suspect the one shot last night during the attacks he was 20 years old not macedonian origins with 2 citizenships austrian and of macedonia and he was known to the police and in fact spent time in

an austrian prison last year but his connections to isis to the islamic state group he wanted to travel there and join them but that he was arrested under the terrorism laws in austria he was released because of his youth and because he signed up to the radicalization program the interior ministry has just said that he managed to prove that the radicalization program and that's what has happened here last night that he. became a terrorist and the attack took place near us a synagogue what's being said about the targets of this assault. there's no sign that the synagogue was the target it was closed it was not occupied at the time and it may just have been that this is what we're many people were gathered last night and he was out to kill as many people as possible as you heard the rabbi say this is an area where the viennese and many tourists go on and on in the evening to

enjoy the bars and the cafes and restaurants in the area of small cobbled streets in the old city of the 6 trini popular and it was a warm evening last night and a lot of people were out and this is certainly why we've seen this death toll and why so many people were injured 22 of the last count one attacker killed a dozen suspects are under arrest but are police still looking for anyone else. it's unclear they are looking for others in this investigation is ongoing but it's unclear as to whether there was another attack and there are reports that there was another at one point journalists were led to believe there were many of these attacks had taken place at 6 locations in the n.f.l. but now that seems to be the story appears to be changed with what we're being told by police and there was perhaps one perhaps 2. arrests probably people who

were known to this attacker and accomplices there been many house searches going on both in the enter and outside of the other so it's unclear one maybe 2 attackers and the response i'm presuming we've got 3 days of national mourning having been declared so people are taking this pretty hot. they have. it came as a shock i think because we are. one of those things which are in the past few years seen carob attacked fairly in paris and london more recently nice. to be nice i guess would become a little. complacent about this the police say they weren't but they had this police force ready special unit ready to tackle just such a terrorist network and carry skiving in vienna thanks very much for that.

well earlier we spoke with security expert margaret gilmore when i asked her whether this was likely to be a coordinated attack and if so perhaps even a failure of intelligence. that the authorities have at. least one of them had been jailed and been released in general less than a year ago and he's been jailed or. islamic state and for terrorists. linked crimes so in that respect you really expected him to be very much watched some day and it would be difficult for him operate what we are seeing is just as you have described at all of all marks a crisis a cell a small group of people who got together who've managed to obtain guns which is relatively easy in europe they can come across the border from the old soviet countries or even truth russia the outgassing able to get hold of arms through

criminal means and they have decided to attack today said yesterday i should say several of them at the same time and they clearly have these the terrorist ideology if you like that with. we'll take a look now at some of the other stories making news around the world starting in france where the defense minister florence stockpiling says her forces have killed more than 50 harvests aligned with al-qaeda in asterix on mali the operation took place near the borders with the kenya fast so underneath their government troops are battling an islamic insurgency. ugandan singer and opposition politician bobby wives' been arrested again just after being accepted as a candidate in next year's presidential election was dragged from his car amid scuffles between police and supporters mr wine aims to challenge president or yoweri museveni who's been in power since 1986. a 4 year old girl has been

rescued from the rubble of destroyed buildings in western turkey almost 4 days after a large earthquake the death toll has now reached 102 with more than a 1000 injured. and to the united states where in person voting has begun in one of the most polarized presidential elections in the country's history residents of a tiny new hampshire town the 1st to cast their ballots after midnight in an election taking place after record early voting and the campaign in which president trump made repeated i'm substantiated claims about 4 different men in voting despite this mr trump told voters to expect a beautiful victory meanwhile democratic challenger joe biden told supporters this was their chance to end the chaos the 2 rivals of course setting out starkly differing visions. one who has dedicated his life to public service and

the other has dedicated his to winning. 2 men with contrast in styles and competing visions of the future. we choose hope over fear unity over division science over fiction and yes truth over a long time this election is a choice between a trump super recovery which we're in right now or a by depression. joseph biden story is one of triumph and tragedy of overcoming a childhood stutter to reach the u.s. senate and just start to use all. only to lose his wife and daughter in a car accident weeks later. in 2015 by who was again left. when his son died of brain cancer. i found the best way through pain and loss and grief was to find purpose. donald trump inherited

a new york real estate empire and turned the neve into a brand. his life of waiting cocktail parties and marital affairs where talk of the town. gossip followed him everywhere and saw did bankruptcies. still. but it was hit t.v. show the apprentice that reversed his fortunes the prestigious helped turn trump from hapless new york businessman to long shot presidential hopefuls. wylder through adversity as a white man in their seventy's the similarities end there for decades fighting rode the train to work. well trump enjoys the trappings of wealth. biden spent his

career shaping his foreign policy beliefs. and forging friendships abroad. trump conspiracy theories about barack obama our president has finally released a birth certificate and run for office on a nationalist take it total and complete shutdown of muslims entering the united states so help me go to prayer life promising isolationism. it's going to be only america 1st which saw him embrace dictators and food while pushing need to allies around the tour deal after deal. i am announcing today the united states will withdraw from the iran nuclear deal from the paris. climate a court. take on treaties with russia. so we're going to terminate their grip or

we're going to pull out he's gone where few presidents have he was impeached and he repeatedly cozied up to violent white supremacists. very fine people on both sides. providing america 1st means america alone he's on a mission to rewind to trump years and he's hoping his folksy appeal will win over swing voters. we are in the battle for the soul of this nation. though he too is no stranger to fighting talk doing this big you know what you're wrong. when you stick to the script his pitches the after 4 years of chaos on hundreds of thousands of crudely 1000 day he is uniquely placed to mend the country battle for the soul of us vets the job of a president to hear. the trump campaign by contrast has been lights on unity and heavy on fear and misinformation for the president this is about coming fast at any

costs. reject left wing fascism vote for american freedom vote for america 1st vote for make america great again. both candidates have cost themselves as america's salvation but the truth is and this high stakes bought so the results will reverberate well beyond her borders. as we have the latest and from d.w. correspondence stuff. a new washington welcome rushed i found so we've got a day of voting followed by a long night of counting are we likely to know the result by this time tomorrow. short answer probably not at least not officially the official calendar of the votes takes a little bit of time remember this is a historic day our 100000000 people 100000000 people already voted before today

that's a starkly number and those ballots which are already in the polling stations are in india.