this is you know we news live from berlin adroitly push pushes back at us pressure over relations with russia just my uncle americal please don't criticism of germany's and north stream to gas pipelines u.s. diplomats have slammed it saying that by even more gas from russia or undermine european security also coming up britain and the european union agreed to a fresh talks about their relationship after brics that but european commission sheaffer son could do occur again rules out any tinkering with teresa mayes

withdrawal deal. clefts the curtain goes up on this year's brylin film festival there are seventeen films in competition this year including the kindness of strangers by director lone scherfig well have a preview of that and then many other treats hitting the silver screen of this year . thank you so much for your company everyone. u.s. ambassador to berlin has stoked a diplomatic dispute over where germany gets its energy from echoing one of president donald trump's favorite talking points richard grinnell urged germany to abandon its north stream to pipeline the problem with the pipeline it will run from russia under the baltic sea behind me and supply gas to. directly to germany is due

to start pumping later this year and in an opinion piece written for d w grinnell along with two other u.s. ambassadors in europe said the project would drastically increase russia's leverage over germany and would pose a security threat to europe and nato now has previously threatened german companies involved in the pipelines construction what sections. are all grinnell's intervention has forced german chancellor angela merkel onto the back foot she responded to the criticism by insisting that the pipeline would not undermine europe's energy security. and then opting to go to will be become dependent on russia because of this gas pipeline i say no if we diversify at the same time. germany will expand its gas terminals with regard to liquefied gas. this that means that we don't want to make ourselves dependent on russia and that

any circumstances. but russia was a source of gas during the cold war and it will remain so today without his entering into a one sided dependence. in. our chance on the market speaking there before we're all with me here on the set is our political correspondent bruce to help untangle some of this a war of words that erupted overnight almost germany's gas pipeline deal with russia has been a thorn in the side of u.s. president donald trump so this criticism from the u.s. ambassador is not not very surprising but what's the objective i think on the face of it we can see apparent u.s. concerns for security it was pointed out that these of where expressed by the u.s. ambassador to germany but also to denmark and the e.u. and these concerns are shared by the e.u. polman by the commission but at the same time it's worth remembering that critics have pointed out that the u.s. could in fact. it has its own interests in mind here of course the u.s.

has become an exploiter of gas will be interested too in exporting that gas to the e.u. so there is certainly an element here of the u.s. keeping its own interests at heart just america didn't miss a beat she pushed back quite resolutely saying this is not majorly beholden to russia so i'm wondering kate how far apart are washington and berlin on this particular issue well that gap between the two on this particular issue has certainly widened in the conflict between berlin and washington over north stream too has increased particularly as you mentioned before since donald trump became the us president and also since richard grenell came to berlin as the us ambassador last may and we've seen that really escalate even earlier this year already we heard reports that grinnell was actually threatened in german companies who were involved or who are involved in the north stream to pipeline he was reportedly

threatening them with sanctions and at the same time they're germany hasn't ruled out buying gas from the u.s. to bump up its supply that it would be getting that it is getting from russia but peter out my of the german economy minister has already made it clear that they would only accept that offer at the right price how isolated is germany at the moment on this particular deal well officially it's not a e.u. project but it has the backing of several countries austria belgium cyprus greece netherlands and also friends but one of the something that could become another problem for the pipeline is the reports today that france is now about to withhold its support for this project now if paris were to withdraw from this project and that could have grave effects especially seen as germany and friends work so closely together and they've recently renewed those vows as well just a couple of weeks ago to continue close a tie. yes when it comes to work involving different e.u.

countries but now after all of this time and all of the investment in this project and also the environmental effects that this project has caused and it radiate if unclear to what extent and if this project could be completely pulled after all aren't key pretty to be continued thank you so much for your reporting. and we're going to stay in germany because the country's anti trust watchdog is cracking down on facebook moving to restrict these social media giants ability to collect data in the country authorities say it cannot gather information from third party sites without the users consent while more evidence that facebook's business model could be under threat. it is a long awaited decision three years that's how long it took germany's federal cartel office to decide to clamp down on facebook's data collection the question was whether obtaining data from activity on social media widgets on third party

sites could be considered anti-competitive behavior is being used as a given is. the whole conclusion is that facebook can still collect data on its platform invited them and facebook facebook can also continue to gather data on its other services like what's up or instagram or on third party sites. but they may in the future collect such days out only with a user's explicit consent. dustin. indy's it's. very clear eyed bit. like in most countries facebook is the leading social media network in germany it has more than thirty million users and the second most popular social network instagram with some seventeen million users is now also owned by facebook that leaves the competition far behind. the

decision to restrict facebook's data collection in germany is the latest in a long line of walls for the company that began with a major privacies gondolas last year since then authorities around the world have been turning the heat up on the tech firm facebook has already responded to the move by german authorities saying it to appeal the decision. british prime minister theresa may and european commission president jean-claude juncker have pledged to continue talks about the u.k.'s which are all from the e.u. but you once again refused to renegotiate the terms of the drawl and a ninety minute meeting both sides despite the talks as robust but destructive and have agreed to meet again later this month with forty nine days to go to bragg's it may came to brussels seeking concessions that would earn the backing of britain's parliament. all right let's take you now to brussels so we can talk to. max hofmann our bear chief there max mr younger didn't appear in the mood for concessions how

would you characterize the talks you know when you compare to how he greets his guests usually with hugs and kisses he was very serious there and you described yourself a lot you said at the joint declaration says that the discussion was robust but constructive brussels is very concerned not necessarily by the fact that the reset may comes back to renegotiate some parts of whatever agreement she wants to renegotiate here but it's also the fact that the feeling here in brussels is that threesome a has absolutely no authority to actually garner a majority back home in the house of commons so whatever she negotiates it feels like she won't be able to get a majority for that and the most interesting part to come out of those negotiations so far or those discussions so far is the fact that the reason they apparently said that she did not want to get rid of the backstop so that insurance policy to prevent a hard border between northern ireland and the republic of violent because the feeling here was that she had gotten a completely different mandate from the house of commons and that was to get rid of

the backstop or to change the back stuff but she didn't say as much here in brussels now max may and younker agreed to meet again what will one other meeting achieve. probably not what theresa may has in mind but because that would require as we understand to change that now infamous withdraw all agreement so that divorce agreement that's the legally binding part that does include the backstop and the e.u. institutions and also the member states have said this is not open for renegotiation and repeated it again today so the only thing they can talk about is the political declaration about the future relationship between the u.k. and the european union that that most likely is not going to be enough for the house of commons because it hasn't been enough in the past. else did prime minister may have discussions with today she talked to representatives of the european

parliament. the president and also the braggs the negotiator of the european parliament. but those two at the moment are on the sidelines because the european parliament will only get to vote on something once house of commons in the u.k. has agreed on it and of course the different member states in the european union so if any change is to come from the european union it is from the member states but so far they have maintained their unity maybe to the surprise of some also backing ireland on the question of the hard border between northern ireland and ireland already saying on wednesday that this was not a bilateral issue that this was a european union issue so if the recent days hoping that at some point the european union might cave in and that this unity would no longer be part of the negotiations so far we cannot see any indication that this might happen due to the use of bureau

chief in brussels max hoffman thank you. ari let's bring up as we know some of the other stories making news around the world. france is recalling it some best that are to italy amid mounting tension after italy's deputy prime minister met french yellow vest protesters while paris is also angry about a string of critical comments directed towards president in iran might cause government by italy's to deputy prime minister's. swedish police say a norwegian airplane bound for france with one hundred sixty nine passengers on board has returned to stop calling our land airport after receiving a bomb threat the plane was evacuated and is being searched by bomb defuse all experts among the passengers or the members of the national swimming team. the austrian government has been ordered to pay more than a million euros to the former owner of the house were out of hitler was born the

government bought the building at a not down price using a compulsory purchase order but a court has ruled that the owner had been significantly underpaid. are to venezuela as political crisis next and a tense standoff over a convoy of humanitarian aid stranded on the country's border venezuela's government led by nicolas maduro has ordered the army not to allow it into the country the aid has been organized by the united states and venezuela's opposition who want to see it all removed from power with the aid convoys stranded at the border from as well as military has to pick whether to a big government orders or let the aid go through we have this report. venezuelan soldiers keep watch at the barricades of the ten deep this bridge border crossing president nicolas maduro has called aid supplies offered by the united states

a form of foreign intervention he's ordered the soldiers to turn the assistance away. but the soldiers have also been given another order by one the opposition leader who last month declared himself that as well as interim president. and. i give a direct order to the armed forces seen being allowed the necessary humanitarian aide to enter to take care of your family. that is put the focus on the military personnel at the border and their commanders which president will they obey. pedestrian bridges of the border remain open venezuelans can still cross to buy goods they can't get at home but many who have no money to go shopping in neighboring colombia don't understand why the aid shipments are being stopped. i am asking you to please open the border. let the food parcels.

if like you say you really love. if you really feel something inside of you if you look upon it a few harm cerruti who has just returned from the region has reported for us from venezuela as well always great having you here what is so threatening about aid well it's not the aid itself it's where it's coming from it's the u.s. and colombia home mr munder all is sure that our arcus training and military intervention in his country and he things because of the interest they have in the big oil reserves in manila he keeps denying there is a humanitarian crisis and so he has said that venezuelans are no beggars to be accepting this what are you hearing from your sources about what's unfolding right now along the border well we know the blockade is still on the convoy though has left the capital bogota with thirty to forty tons of humanitarian aid and it's about to arrive in the bordering town but that makes the urge for this blockade

to end even even more urgent because while it has to eventually pass the food will probably just they're. growing right yeah exactly so what's so striking about this power battle at the heart of the crisis right now in venezuela is that mr guard. so it's not democratically elected yet he enjoys widespread international support why well it was surprising how quickly he was boxed by all of the country starting by the u.s. and then other european countries but he's a first phase that is backing the opposition it was divided for too long the opposition that's why we didn't have a strong candidate for the elections last year and he's being recognized as the only chance to finally we can muddle and this humanitarian aid is

a test for him if he manages to get it in it might show that is weaker than we ever thought. this is being said and by the us why is washington getting involved in the domestic affairs of venezuela because especially taking into account the role that the us the checkered track record of the us in south america how do people feel about the potential prospect of military intervention by the us donald trump has said was a was a possibility yeah well we saw it in the report there are people in the middle of that feel threatened that do believe that the us is trying to intervene military but it's also true that aid is very very urgent and people are wasting time medicine is not coming in and so it has been widely criticized in the region as well not everyone is backing why do we so protests as well in argentina recently

from labor unions against what is happening but we will see the next days are going to be crucial in venezuela how many people i mean you were there i've got thirty seconds of power people doing right now in venezuela well by myself it can't be denied people are starving they're eating from the garbage it's really a humanitarian crisis and it will have to finally end otherwise the exodus will continue and the neighboring countries will be. threatened by this as well w's ophelia herm's a rudy thank you for. the next we're going to turn our attention to madagascar and fish the island lies off the coast of east africa and is surrounded by some of the continent's richest fishing stocks for generations a traditional community known as the these old was fished has fished the waters rather of the indian ocean but they say the arrival last year of chinese fishing trawlers off the coast now threatens to disrupt the already fragile balance between

man and see. the fisherman and a cow holes in his net. the small community in southwest america has been fishing like this for generations but now their way of life is under threat. several huge chinese fishing trawlers started casting their nets of the sure of on a cow last year the local fisherman with a small wooden boats can't compete with his industrial fishing operation. feel like it's bad for us it's a tough competition because the chinese nets a huge galloping catch many fish as for me i'm just using a small net i can't get that many fish. and they fear it will get much worse under a deal struck between the madagascar development agency and chinese investors three hundred thirty chinese high tech boats will be delivered to madagascan fisherman.

supplied free of charge they will replace their traditional wooden boats to increase the fisherman's haul part of the fish will be sold locally the rest will be bought by the chinese allegedly at a favorable price. sounds like a good deal but it has provoked an outcry among the fishermen here they fear that industrial scale trolling will result in overfishing and if fish stocks diminish their livelihoods will be at risk. if this goes on with all these traumas coming in . where will the fisherman go they have nothing else them fishing. community that makes its living from the sea is sailing into an uncertain future. now the early knowledge is back the sixty nine thirty berlin film festival kicks off today and i'm now joined by my colleagues are charlotte sell some phil and

david leavitt's down at the red carpet guys looking glamorous what is special about this year's berlin ali. well the films of course they are there are seventeen mean these competing this year for that really coveted golden bear and the ballon ana is known to attract the best of the movie was that we are really looking forward to those but of course there's one issue that i do really want to focus in on and that is the number of female directors who are competing in this year's ballot not the seven of the films the directed by women out of seven teen in competition and of the four hundred films that are being shown here in total one hundred ninety one of them are directed by women this is the last year under director due to cost like last year and i made me two he said he wanted to see fifty fifty and we're we're almost there we'll say way more than the venice film festival in the cannes film festival last year and of course the jerry as well the region and headed by none other than should yet be no surer self the great star of european cinema and it's

quite a journey she's got somebody who know one of germany's leading ladies on it she's also got sebastian lelio who won last year's foreign language oscar for a fantastic woman and they talked briefly about what they're looking for this year in a movie they talked about closing borders they talked about inhumane politics and they said they're looking for a movie that is humane that is really speaking to what humanity needs at this moment was at a festival where women in film is such a huge issue they couldn't not address the huge meeting they've been that's been consuming the media industry over the last couple of years and that a press conference a short time ago with the jerry during president juliette binoche was also to balance the need to movement she's of course worked extensively with harvey weinstein the huge hollywood producer who's accused of assaulting a number of women. here's what she had to say. he i could see had problems.

as a producer he was wonderful most of the time. and i think it was a great producer and that we shouldn't forget even though it's been difficult for direct some directors and actors and specially actresses but i want to see peace peace to his mind and let justice do what he needs to do interesting you have growth and just had a preview of tonight's opening film the kindness of strangers without any spoilers tell me more. well you're right it is a world premiere tonight which means we actually can't tell you what we thought of the film will be spilling the beans on that one later what i can tell you is this is a movie about faith bringing together people in very different very difficult circumstances all in one very hard winter in new york and it's about the kindness of strangers like the title says some of the times that the clip right now is directed by the bow director as you might expect given what we've just been saying headings on the show the sheen danish excuse me critically acclaimed the nominated degree

a cabbie award she has felt this one is still the better of the bad in other in the in previous years so bleak finding that she is a being this is the end she said this movie is kind of a love story not just between a man and a woman but between a mother and her sons between a nurse and her patients all different kinds of love i think it's a little bit like love actually with a lot more drama with a little bit of marital busa and some homelessness thrown around and say more than that oh well we can say well love back you had me at love actually so what i use huge a lift done was just one of the people we're expecting on the right comp in the next few days is christian bale who i'm going to have to be holding my ears when he walks by because charlotte's going to be screaming his name. yeah i don't like talking about well this is the place where the mere mortals get to meet their favorite celebrities and there's already some of the dark hard fans behind us who are lining up three hours ahead of the opening film and that crowd just going to

get bigger it's amazing to see people rubbing shoulders with the stars charla tells them phil and david leavitt's at the borough and film festival have fun guys. and before i let you go remind you of the top story that we're tracking for you this hour. german chancellor angela merkel has rejected american criticism of the north stream to gas pipeline which will carry russian gas to germany the u.s. ambassador berliners have urged germany to abandon the project he said it would undermine european security. six current focus on europe it is up next so please stay tuned for that on while our rock and roll and that's all for me for now don't forget you can get all your news just by heading to our web site that's d.w. dot com for now thank you for spending this part of your day with us a cut. cut

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organized crime in the nursing profession. nurses from boston are highly skilled so they have a good reputation strong europe. but not all the nurses. have been hit by a fraud scandal the. fake nursing school diplomas are being sold on the black market and it's impossible to tell the forgeries from the real thing. next on t.w. . once upon a time there was a young girl. with a burning ambition. to become a conductor. everson very curious child and very

excited and you know that you think and that i would go to concerts with my parents and i always. near him for being on stage stations and being part of that magic it wasn't difficult for. girls she was told to become kind. but this girl had other ideas and obsessive. and one day she really did become a world famous conductor brimming over with virtuosity and special ed among the other not. ok ok thanks my stuff. starts feb eighteenth d w. s.

o n a very warm welcome indeed to focus on europe with me peter craven and we begin with a problem that's facing societies right across europe the fact that they are rapidly aging and the question is who's going to look after the growing number of elderly men and women in the years that lie ahead it's a take.