this is the w. news line from berlin a turn for the worse germany sets a new record for daily coronavirus cases the head of germany's disease control agencies raises the alarm as covert continues to reach around the country and the death toll now also coming up still talking prime minister boris johnson and e.u. leaders of underline feel to break the brakes at logica well now lugo shooters get to have a shot at closing the gap on a deal. plus what goes up must come down these basics so

a prototype starship made good miles out into the air but the landing didn't go as far. on my locker thank you so much for joining us this hour well we start with some grim news or german deaths from the corona virus have now passed the 20000 mark weeks of a partial lockdown have not been enough to bring infection numbers back down johnson america has already made a passionate plea for people to limit their social contact and now today germany's robert costa institute which specializes in infectious diseases warrant that the country would have no choice but to introduce tougher restrictions if people don't reduce their social contacts voluntarily. german scientists are once again sounding the alarm despite the partial lockdown coronavirus cases are

rising again and deaths are soaring to record highs. in country the infection activity we are currently seeing can quickly rise back into the exponential phase again if you extra cases could be enough to spark this. ladies and gentlemen this we must avoid the virus has spread widely across the population . germans are being told to drop their christmas travel plans for now shops are still open and some stand selling mulled wine have sprung up across many cities the little pools diena germany's academic advisory panel to the government says this has to stop it has called for schools to go on their winter break early and for all non-essential shops to close now talk is rife that another full nationwide lockdown is looming speaking in parliament on tuesday chancellor angela

merkel made a passionate plea to get all states to take immediate action so how does how does this leave i know how much love gets poured into those christmas stands and i'm sorry from the bottom of my heart but if we have to pay the price so $590.00 people dying every day us just not acceptable in my eyes and we must take action. of this so this. the question seems to be whether germany's 16 states will shut down more public life before or right after christmas either way people are prepared for a different holiday season this year. i think i'll go back 3 but i will not see them like you. or maybe just being nice to you the same room not really you know or being really close to many people have decided not to visit my grandparents zinah i think it's better to make an effort to keep them safe. and

it's not about how it feels it feels terrible for everyone but we have to get this under control somehow. our daughter will only come for a short period of time we have to accept i hope this will not be my last a christmas when we have to buy enough to move. some german states have gone ahead and already introduced their own tougher restrictions it remains unclear whether america will try to get all 16 states to commit to more nationwide measures before christmas or whether each state will continue to go its own way. let's find out more about this with someone younger who is covering the story for you assignment is surely losing the fight against kobe 1000 particularly when it comes to the elderly the most vulnerable group. well you know the numbers have got a lot more worrying in recent days and that's really what i think the robot call institute the big public health institute has been saying today that the overall

picture is very worrying that warning of a possible exponential growth in infections as you've said a record number of infections over the last 24 hours and what we're seeing also is a picture where no longer the infections are concentrated into just a few hotspot locations which obviously is easier to deal with pretty much the corona virus is now spread across germany and so it means it's time for drastic action another thing that experts are pointing out is that there are twice as many infections now in care homes in people's homes than there were in the spring and of course those people. are more likely to suffer serious effects and death and now deaths in germany from covered 19 or above 20000 it's a very worrying sign indeed now the merits of easing lock down over christmas are

currently being hotly debated i don't know definitely off the table considering the rising number of infections. well the hugs of easing easing restrictions over christmas are still there but again as the president of the cork institute loads of dealers said you know the aim is to get contacts down and they haven't reduced by 60 percent which is his target he said if that can happen through voluntary changes made by the population and a tough lock down will have to happen they looked at the united states experience over there over the thanksgiving weekend which seems to have led to a significant spike in infections germany wants to avoid a repeat of anything like that over christmas and so that's why at least those experts are saying that we can't afford to lose in the measures during the christmas period sam and young are reporting thank you.

meanwhile in italy a months of isolating to avoid the current of our wrists have taken their toll on the nation's most vulnerable for some elderly italians loneliness brings more fear than covert $900.00 in the italian city of genoa many senior citizens are now turning to charities for help nina fire de lay is 94 she's a former partisan here fought in the italian resistance during the 2nd wild war today she's being kept company by veronica a volunteer for a community initiative aimed at helping elderly people feel less isolated and they stick her in a virus restrictions mean a rarely sees her family who fear they might infect her. top and when i call giorgio my son he mediately answers he is worried about something

happening to me but i'm on my own he works they are busy they have no time and i try to disturb them as little as i can. as. well it's been a solitary year. volunteers engine noah assist almost 2000 elderly across the city mario piano is 80 and his volunteer ing for the 1st time. almost a 3rd of the city's residents are over 65 so it's no surprise that the elderly here are not just those who need help but also those who provide it today's visit as chair retired seaman. more broadly. for it is a lot of worry and sadness. especially for those on their own or.

living alone is not easy. for. the piano says he hopes to visit more often since he's old who restrictions prevented him from coming for a while. movement for a cubicle that had many of those i've been speaking to over the full in late late pressed into tears because they can't leave the heights that they used to at least have the chance to chat with the shopkeeper if they're completely alone with if you're good with this law. he leaves hoping that this small connection will lessen the pain of social isolation. today marks human rights day and this year it's no surprise that the united nations theme for the annual occasion is linked to the coronavirus pandemic the focus is on rebuilding a better world by ensuring that human rights are central in the recovery process

the social and economic toll of the pandemic has hit the poorest members of society the hardest inequality and discrimination on multiple levels have been exposed and some governments have also used the pandemic to curtail basic rights. thank you mean we can now talk to mr lockhart so ver of external relations at the united nations office of the high commissioner for human rights a very good day sir good to have you with us i mean these are extraordinary times that we're going through the pandemic express has laid bare inequalities in countries both rich and poor how much of an effect has it had on human rights. well thank you 1st for having me on on your show i think it's a great pleasure to be here on this very special day human rights day reach for a reminder celebrates the adoption of the universal declaration of human rights in 1948 by the u.n.

general assembly. we been saying that the success of the health response. pretty condition to the respect of human rights and i think what we've seen is that depended nita's exposed to fragilities in our societies the weakness of countries where failed to place essential focus on her ponding human rights we after seeing that the countries who have had more success in combating the pandemic i've been to one who have listened to her science who have been transparent being. bold to her allow some parties are true decision making and honestly it is perhaps no coincidence that in a world where so few countries out there we need leaders civil of the countries viewed as having and the independent being the best are in fact led by women how

big is the threat of governments using the pandemic to increase control and censorship do you have examples of that. well we have seemed that you know of any. instances some countries where the pending need has been instrumentalist to consolidate authoritarian power and some governments have taken advantage of this situation to reaffirm reassert assert their authority in power or r.s.e. the society to those journalists now it's important to to bear in mind that you know in times of crises i imagine she's actually international human rights law does permit was traditions to human rights for example when it comes to the freedom of movement however it's very important to emphasize the distrust fictions must be proportionate to the risks legal and time so then most of the an end date to these restrictions now of course there's been

a lot of excitement and hope placed on the rollout of vaccines and in the beginning of the end of this pandemic that many believe it will be brought about by the vaccines but there is a danger that poor countries will be losing out by not getting equitable access are you worried about that. well i think you know it's of course a worry and what we say you said it in your introduction the theme of this human rights the 2 we call for better and how we can place human rights at the heart of the recovery and that when he comes to vaccine what is absolutely essential is done when you get to call of duty group or response to ensure that people who needs a vaccine get it because as we've seen and as these and then he has highlighted over and over again no one is safe until everyone is safe so the recall of a bit we can actually meet these global challenges through muti that are all

a solution. that will be discussed between states is what's at stake now and we want to avoid seen countries will strike deals to sit your vaccines only for their own populations and this is why it is so important for states to suppose the kovacs initiative for global liquidity all access to go to 1000 back scenes which is led by gavi to vaccine lines to call issued for it didn't it provide nisson of asians in the world health organization missile also chief of external relations at the united nations office of the high commissioner for human rights are always great to have you on please come back. thank you very much and happy human rights it will and want to tell you now about some of the other stories making news around the world. a female television news anchor has been shot dead in eastern afghanistan. my want was killed along with her driver as she travelled to

work in jalalabad she was also an activist who spoke out on women and children's rights it's the latest in a series of attacks targeting journalists will activists and politicians. azerbaijan has staged a military parade to mark its recent victory over a niña in their conflict over the disputed nagorno-karabakh reach of turkish president richard diab or to one joint these celebrations after backing i said by john in the 6 week war turkish made hardware was credited with giving us a bridge on the upper hand in the offensive. authorities in barcelona say at least 3 people have died in a fire at an abandoned warehouse occupied by homeless migrants witnesses said more than 150 people may have been sleeping inside the building when the blaze broke out the cause of the fire is unclear and authorities are still struggling to identify the victims.