berlin. tonight, the backlash in the boycotts. french president macron facing growing anger across the muslim world for his comments about islam. more muslim countries are joining the boycott of french products after micron called islam a religion in crisis. also coming up, chancellor angela merkel are is planning to announce strict rules to slow the spread of the coronavirus. daily cases in germany are

expected to hit 20,000 by week's end. also coming up, amy coney barrett is sworn in as a new justice on the u.s. supreme court, a boost for this record -- for the supreme court's conservative majority. ♪ i'm brent goff. to our viewers in pbs -- on pbs in the eight states and around the world, welcome. we begin tonight with the backlash around french president emmanuel macron. anger in the muslim world is growing after controversial comments he made about islam following the brutal murder of a french school teacher. since then, a number of french countries have criticized the president and joined a drive to boycott french goods. >> the target of their anger is clear.

here in pakistan, protesters in karachi and islamabad accuse the french president of attacking islam. >> the behavior of the french government is actually an insult to billions of muslims across the world. it is open terrorism and an attack against the muslim world. >> we should boycott french products. muslims should boycott their petrol stations, which is one of their main products. we should not use that fuel at all. >> in the bangladeshi capital, there were tense scenes as protesters renewed calls for a boycott of french products. demonstrations also took place in gaza and tel aviv. all in response to macron's defense of satirical cartoons, including some of the prophet muhammad.

his comments follow the brutal murder of a french school teacher who taught a lesson on free speech. leaders in several was him countries including saudi arabia and iran have condemned france. turkey weigh in witpresident erdogan saying macn needs mental checks over his attitude to is long -- to islam. the french president is saying, we will not give in, ever. his interior minister echoed his opinion. >> it is our sovereign right to define what freedom of expression is, what is public order, what is freedom of worship. >> words that will not serve to calm the growing wave of anger sweeping the muslim world. france is warning its citizens in several muslim majority countries to take extra security precautions. brent: for more on that, i am joined by dw's religious affairs analyst.

is this really just about different values, a clash of cultures or are there political interests behind it? martin: i think macron has given opportunity for leaders found themselves in difficult situations a home. president erdogan has had an ongoing confrontation with france in the greek terrorial waters. saudi arabia is seen as e of the actor warming up to the israelis. that is also causing discomfort in the regio finding now the french taking this addition is convenient. given the fact that -- muslim understanding. islamic understanding of blasphemy is that it should be met with violence. the question france is asking is

whether at kind of isl is actually compatible with french republican vues that have a lot to do with tolerating those things we find offensive. this is a question that will be quite difficult to answer, not just politically but culturally. brent: what about the leaders in these muslim majority countries that are criticizing the french president? they are pointing to the words of emmanuel macron but saying very little if anything about the crime that was committed here, the beheading of a french school teacher. what does that say about these leaders? martin: it is quite clear that the leaders are pandering to a base. it is quite remarkable e focus of the discussion and this includes the mia, -- the sins of offense. the -- the sense of offense the

muslim community has taken. the fact at we have had sporadic outbursts of extreme violence including iamic terrorism targeti jewish chdren in france, journalts, concertgoers and so on is something that falls through the waysid the problem that macron confronts is he is not only dealing with the question of linda's violence, he is dealing with theact that much of the religious violence in the last iteratn has proceeded from parents of the schl for the acher was teaching and udents. we are no longer talking only about trorism. we are talking about part of the community. this makes the questn a lot mo complex but also a lot more dangerous because actually, it runs the risk of forcing let of the french voters further to the right of the hands of xenophobic.

-- xenophobes. brent: thank you. here in germany, millions are bracing for strict new rules aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus. the country is seeing a surge in new infections. the economics minister warning that new daily cases could approach 20,000 by the end of this week. german chancellor merkel and state leaders were revealed on wednesday which restrictions they plan to impose. ordinary germans are preparing for life under what is called a lockdown light. >> this is one of 10 busy streets in the german capital or people have to wear a face mask. germany has seen record numbers of coronavirus cases and berlin has been hard-hit. now, all 12 districts are considered hotspots. pressure is growing here in germany for politicians to introduce stricter measures against the coronavirus,

especially as numbers continue to grow. this is something that is being debated on a daily basis here in germany both on the streets and in the german press. the latest topic to be discussed is the possibility of introducing a so-called lockdown light. under this proposal, schools and daycare would remain open except in the worst hit areas. restaurants and bars would have to shut and large events would be banned. so far, most bars and restaurants have to close only between 11:00 a.m. and -- 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. >> we all have to give ourselves a push and see that it goes in the right direction. the numbers are always going up so you have to do your part to make them go down again. >> i hope that we will be spared, but unfortunately we cannot rule this out completely. although i am not sure if it

will help to contain the pandemic. i assumed that there will be new measures. there is nothing you can do about it. we have to get the infection under control. >> new restrictions are expected on wednesday after chancellor merkel meets with germany's 16 original leaders. brent: some people who contract the coronavirus can end up from suffering what is being called long covid. these patients still have shortness of breath, extreme fatigue and other debilitating symptoms. it is not for sure how many cases end up coming long covid. >> for valerie, a short walk around the neighborhood is a challee. she has to have a rest every now and again. it is seven months since the 29-year-old contracted the

coronavirus, but she is still constantly exhausted. >> that is the most tiring thing i have done today. i can feel my heart pounding and i have to breathe more deeply. it is crazy. just walking around the block is a big deal, like a champion's leak game -- league game. valerie >> never got tested at the time because there were never -- she has never doubted that for a second. >> it is as if my health had fallen off a cliff. i just felt completely exhausted. imagine having a really bad flu and double that. i have never felt so ill. after being seriously ill for two weeks, valerie was back to normal, fit and full of energy. during the summer, she even cycled from copenhagen to berlin. a month later, she started feeling worse again. >> that feels like a different

time. i cannot ride a bike anymore. i cannot even go shopping on my own. >> valerie used to live and work in copenhagen. now she has moved back in with her parents in berlin and is being treated by several different doctors. she has been given a diagnosis of post covid fatigue syndrome. >> i need to have a lie down in the afternoon. i often fall asleep touring the day as well. even the thought of getting on the train to meet someone, having a talk and getting back, it is just too much. >> valerie cannot work and is on sick leave. she chats online to other people who have gone through the sam experience. we all want to know how much longer it will go on. the world health organization says even for young people like valerie, covid-19 symptoms can linger or recur for months after the initial recovery. she finds a support group a big help. >> it is like a comforting

routine for me in the evening, talking to others in t same position. i do not feel so alone and i try to take an optimistic view. >> valerie is getting a little better each day and her hope is that people will continue to take covid-19 seriously. brent: that is a disturbing story. to talk about that, i am joined by the deputy director of the center of cardiology in german city. how unusual or exceptional is the case we just saw in that report? >> altogetr, it isery important to state here also in this program that covid-19 is a very new disease and all that we learned today is all new to the medical arena.

so, still, we are facing a populationf individuals that is so to say urecedented in the history of medicine. it is very hard to say of these cas are rare or frequent. but, altogether, what can be said from this case is we have to consider long-term sequels of covid-19. brent: does that impact people of all ages or there are different between young and old? >> what is knowno far -- and are rent publications from the king's college -- that women and people of older age seem to be more arisk for the long-term covid so to say, like a long covid disease. brent: we know that this condition, covid-19, this

disease has been called a respiratory condition. there is more andore evidence to suggest it is also a cardiac, a heart condition. you as a cardiologist can speak to that. is that what we are learning, that this is more than just a condition of the lungs? >> right, so this has been appreciated in spring, maybe in may and june this year more and more. there ve been reports from all of the world, from germany but also from thunited states that it is indeed more less a vascular disease affecting the vessels, the blood vessels in all of the body and the heart in particular. from autopsy studies, we know that many people who have eventually died from severe covid has also diseases like pulmonary embolism's, stroke.

we also know from people suffering from covid that later recovered, that thoseight experience to have cardiac inflammation later on. this could potentially be the case in this young lady we just heard in the report. brent: if i were to test positive for the coronavirus, is there anything i could do to protect myself to ensure that i do not have this condition known as long covid? >> this is very hard to tell. what we may suggest to people that have -- in the acute phase, at had a disease which csed hospital stay where they had been affected so much that they needed to be tated in hoital, that we wanto propose to those patients to stay -- to not do sports

activity for instance for the next cple of weeks or up to three months. something that we would also suggest to people having a [indiscernible] what we see sometim in those cases is you get a hrt infection simir to what known as ayocardis. there are special aspects to the corona myocarditis that are not fully understood. it seems to be getting clearer an clearer that there is also a cardiac involveme that is something like a mcarditis. brent: it is obvious we are still learning about this virus and as the virus continues to threaten so many people around the world. we appreciate your time and your insights tonight. you. >> thank you very much. brent: let's take a look at the other stories making headlines around the world.

. at least four people including two children died when a boat carrying migrants to england capsized off the french coast. 18 people have been plucked from the sea. the opposition leader on the tanzanian island of zanzibar has been released hours after being arrested while voting early in the presidential election. the official polling day is wednesday. security forces have shot at least nine people in election related clashes. authorities in orange county, california have ordered tens of thousands of residents to evacuate their homes as wildfires rage across areas dried out by drought. high winds are fanning the flames. firefighters are still battling to contain the blazes. the confirmation of amy coney barrett to the u.s. supreme court has ushered in a conservative majority for years to come on the u.s. supreme court. the senate approved turn

nomination by 52 votes to 48. barrett's appointment was strongly opposed by democrats. >> after a month in the spotlight, she finally got to say these words. >> so help me god. [applause] >> judge amy coney barrett is heading to the u.s. supreme court. >> it is a privilege to be asked to serve my country in this office and i stand here tonight truly honored and humbled. >> president donald trump was on hand to celebrate one of his signature achievements, locking in conservative majority on the supreme court for many years to come. >> this is a momentous day for the united states constitution and for the fair and impartial rule of law. >> coney barrett took her oath at the white house after the majority republican-controlled

senate confirmed her nomination. when republicans voted against it. >> democrats strongly opposed the confirmation, saying a supreme court justice should not be appointed this close to an election. >> let the record show that tonight, the republican senate majority decided to thwart the will of the people and confirm a lifetime appointment to the supreme court in the middle of the presidential election. >> opponents of coney barrett's nomination say it paves the way for conservative rulings on abortion rights, health care and lgbtq rights. coney barrett vowed she will remain independent. >> the oath i have solemnly taken tonight means at its core that i will do my job without any fear or favor and that i will do so independently of both

the political branches and of my own preferences. >> she will take the second of her two oh's on tuesday at a private ceremony, which will allow her to begin official duties at the supreme court. brent: joining me now is our washington bureau chief. good evening to you. we saw the images from the white house, which until recently was a covid-19 hotspot. that did not stop the president from throwing quite a big celebration for ohmic -- for amy coney barrett tell us about that. -- for amy coney barrett. tell us about that. >> only shortly before the senate had confirmed amy coney barrett, president trump and her emerged from the white house to celebrate this major victory for the president and his party. in doing so, trump again used the white house as a powerful bed groundhing else but

a political rally one week ahead of the political election. brent: what about justice barrett? does she get straight to work with the supreme court? what is coming up for her? >> yes, indeed she does. sorry, her impact could be felt right away. there are major election disputes awaiting immediate action by the supreme court from the battleground states of north carolina and pennsylvania. both concern the date by which absentee ballots may be accepted. the left is deeply concerned the court could be by the end of the day the determining factor in deciding who is an ex-president of this united states. brent: that is quite a power to have. the u.s. a week away from the presidential election. emotions are running high. do you think trump's success with appointing barrett to the supreme court will influence the

outcome of the election? >> that is difficult to answer. there are different ways how voters will approach. for conservatives, it will be a strong reminder of the importance of the judges because they are, as we just learned, from our little piece, lifetime appointments. in fact, there is also a if reelected, trump can add another judge to the court. however, the pandemic still poses a major problem in this country and as much as donald trump tries to change the subject, he cannot change the fact that more than 250,000 americans have already died of the virus. brent: that is right. with every day, it seems there is a new record high in daily infections as well. our washington bureau chief on the story tonight. as always, thank you.

now to a u.s. conspiracy theory that has found fertile ground here in germany. i am talking about the qanon movement. the central and false theory is that u.s. president trump is battling a global kabal of pedophiles. there is growing alarm the qanon conspiracy could be a boon to the far right. >> this apartment block in berlin is supposedly were one of germany's leading figures in the qanon conspiracy theory lives. he is a programmer who calls himself resignation anon. they german news crew came here to ask him what he spreads the theories. over the intercom, he tells them they have the wrong person. later, he posts several of the news crew's messages.

it is not proof but evidence of his identity. >> resignation anon is an account that was involved in the movement from day one and created the technical basis for its operation, set up its infrastructure and translated the information from english into german. that means working in the background is actually rather pivotal in keeping the movement alive. >> resignation anon takes the conspiracy messages accessible to his 130,000 followers. the movement was spawned in a dark corner of the internet. its core theories claim to the political elite and jewish business owners kidnap children so they can drink their blood and secretly rule the world. levers say on the u.s. resident donald trump can stop the plot. throughout the president shall campaign, trauma followers have

openly admitted to being part of qanon. in germany, the coronavirus crisis and protest against restrictions appear to be behind the popularity. >> i consider the qanon movement to be extremely dangerous because it link together somebody branches of conspiracy theory myths and so many different groups who otherwise would have nothing to do with each other, which have qanon and anti-semitism is a bond, which is absolutely subversive and dangerous. >> the deadly consequences, which conspiracy theories can have, can be seen in the attack of a synagogue in a german city a year ago in which two people were shot dead. the attackers believed in conspiracy theories. germany's intelligence agencies say they are looking into whether the -- alongside ring extremist, it also influences people who otherwise do not have radical views. brent: earlier, we spoke to

jacob, who researches extremism at the london institute for strategic dialogue. i aed him why the conspirator the sea -- why the sea -- whether conspiracy theory is gaining ground in a germany. >> we can monitor through research there is an increasing interest of conspiracy theories since the beginning of the pandemic. you have to ask yourself, what is the function these kinds of conspiracy theories fulfill? it is the crisis and the introduction of the lockdown measures have led to a loss of control for many people, significant changes to the everyday le and conspiracy theories provide easy explanations for why this happens. they name clear scapegoats ether it be bill gates or ange merkel. it also suggests easy solutions. you need to get rid of these people. you need to uncover the wrongdoings and bring them to justice.

it simplifies the process. we do not have to think about looking for a vaccine anymore. you do not have to think about the difficult trade-offs that currently have to be discussed in terms of the public health situation. it is a much simpler story. therefore, these conspiry theories have a re-empowering function in a moment where people feel a loss of control. brent: you're watching dw news. after a short break, i will be back to take you through the day. tonight, italy and the coronavirus, the fear and now the anger. we will be right back. ♪ [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] ♪

>> it's 9:00 p.m. here in the french capital. you are watching "live from paris" on france 24. as the covid-19 epidemic worsens, the french government discusses conditions to stop the spread. president macron will address the nation tomorrow evening. with a week to go until election day, president trump and challenger joe biden crisscross the u.s. as the campaign reaches its final phases. and the prime minister vows justice for an explosion at an islamic seminary