the at. this is g.w. news coming to you live from berlin the women fleeing abuse at almost see if they're still not safe in germany some of the women seeking asylum here say they are still being tretton by their families and indeed to be exclusive they say the country's embassy in berlin is complicit also coming up with largemouth protein ticks a combative tone will get the rest in his annual state of the union speech but he also promises a russian's improved living conditions as polls show

a slight in support for the longtime president. and in paris and other friends cities towns joined rallies against anti semitism the purchase come after a spike in incidents taunting the country's jewish community. plus fans paid tribute to the fashion icon current lagerfeld after the death in paris of the design legend at the age of eighty five one of his fellow german designers here to new york joins me to discuss his legacy. of a warm welcome to you i'm honored that she. you may remember the case of the saudi teenager who locked herself in an airport hotel room last month to escape her family the halfway home but newman was ultimately given asylum in canada sadly

she's not the only woman from the ultra conservative islamic kingdom who has fled for her life a number of saudi women have come to germany to seek asylum but they say they're being threatened by their families and they too are d.w. exclusively they believe the saudi embassy here is helping them. they fled from saudi arabia to germany here they hope for safety and freedom but these women still live under threat from their families. to her to i thought i was safe that the technological warfare the violence and oppression would be over but i still feel like they could get me. the women offer to talk to us only on condition of anonymity we have changed their names and voices . say shortly after arriving in germany they received threatening messages from their families. for no matter how many knew i was in germany in one city all of that info so they're threatened me with my location can animate not i am sure of

that through their connections with the saudi embassy and through the saudi embassies connections and it spies that are everywhere they can get information but i do not know the kind of information and what they know exactly in my heart of no way you talk to me a tin man to loose. some activists claim that the cases of murder and russia are part of a wider pattern. people are followed we have people breaking into apartments and the families back home always know exactly what is happening these patterns are repeating themselves. and we just ask ourselves does every family do this individual year and pay someone here in germany . that would take a huge effort or could someone else be behind us and the suspicion is of course that maybe the saudi embassy is the one starting all this. we spoke to several

parties dealing with saudis seeking asylum abroad they suggested that the saudi embassy could be directly or indirectly involved trying to get refugees to return we reached out multiple times to the embassy in berlin efforts to contact them over the phone and via e-mail came to nothing. but still the question why would saudi authorities help families trace women who flee abroad. underside radius concentration it's citizens government their mana key the king their absolute in return they tell the men that they can have complete control over their women so when a saudi woman needs her family this article just will go out of their way to ensure that she is returned because not doing so means that people themselves may start to question why their own beauty and to the king and why they don't have their own. say turning back isn't possible they fear they might be tortured or even killed

joining me now is a correspondence under peterson who had to search that story welcome sam now these women are living in fear of these their lives have the has anyone thought of going to the german authorities for protection we did they did it let's start with us here we of course contect with the ministry of the interior and the linen they said they have no knowledge of anything going on in that century reception center in and hold well all asylum seekers from from saudi arabia they have to go to and we then contacted the ministry of the interior of that particular federal state and they said yes they have no. and let me quote here it's a well known problem procedures and appropriate measures are in place and then when we are so what are these procedures and appropriate measures we didn't get any further on so to our request for you know please give us an answer because we really would like to know and also that was one of the women that we basically

spoke to intensively we went to the police station with her when she actually fight a complaint ok so how odd then these women staying safe. it's different for each and every individual case because what can you to know and i'm rita is that you know when the asylum requests process they have to stay in the state in sex and sex and the and hold and then after that let's say they are granted right of residence they have to stay there that's a legal requirement for three years only then are they free to you know to move elsewhere and their own you very few exceptions from the roots of course these women try and get that exception from the rule but as long as that is not granted they are all you know concentrated in this state and so that makes it rather easy to find them and to spy on them and they all basically know rate at the same to us and they don't know each other not all of them know each other is that they felt especially in that central reception center in high brush that where they are it's

their reference point they felt spied upon by fellow refugees and the allegation here is that the embassy is involved because information get that there ended up with a family in saudi arabia so how does that happen now these women obviously very scared to speak in public but this spoke exclusively to d.w. what this is about the specific circumstances to why they're fleeing their homeland again individual reasons but they didn't side for instance domestic abuse they didn't side to the feeling of all pression because as you know every woman in saudi arabia needs a legal guardian you know if they want to study if they want to go to the doctors if they want to study they need male consent and in one particular case there was a threat of a forced marriage and that's then when this woman decided to flee and to come abroad and to stay in germany right saudi arabia's off a strong on women's rights sunder peterson thank you very much for those insights.

russian president vladimir putin has made a thinly veiled threats towards the united states in his state of the nation address pushing said russia will respond to any u.s. deployment of short or intermediate range nuclear weapons in europe by targeting not only the country's various station but the united states itself but one it took a combative tone with the west pushing reached out to russians with promises of improved living conditions. it's one of the most important domestic political events for the russian president in his fifteenth state of the nation address but amir putin promised a raft of measures to improve economic and social conditions for his people above all families should benefit putin promised them tax breaks as well as better child care. but what are their. thanks to the many years of joint efforts and the successes we have achieved as a result we can now heavily invest in our country. people should already notice how

things are getting better. the russians are certainly hoping things will improve incomes have fallen since two thousand and thirteen putin's popularity has cratered there have been protests against pension reforms that raise the retirement age then there's foreign policy putin sees the us withdrawal from the i.n.f. treaty as russia's most crucial issue. russia does not want to be the first to place these missiles in europe. reduced and stationed in europe and the us has not denied doing this. that would intensify the international security situation to go through the process putin once again cast himself as the country's patriarch appealing for the solidarity of the russian people in difficult political times. joining me now is that even at risk of a liberal opposition politician who also co-author of the report protein corruption

or welcome to you now address is always very eagerly awaited usually it's fairly predictable but for you what was the last surprising thing he said. you know i could say that russia face on some crucial challenges these days i mean not only corruption but i mean. economy. almost no there is no economic growth for the last ten years russian economy these days has the same scale as ten years ago when it's them in the police station we need structural economic and social reforms we need public control or with state corporations and the need more liberal more open foreign policy list confrontative whinnied elimination of western sanctions against russia but look today

putin said nothing about structural reforms in the economy he said nothing about changes in foreign policy he said no one wall war about syria conflict and about ukrainian conflict. all his measures what he. what he raised this today was about technical measures there was a risk of this of the children this is not the bill appears that you're mentioning maybe the reason why there's a drop in support for the jimmy put in according to some post but he did announce political programs like ignoring taxes increasing social spending do you think these measures could help him win back support. i don't think so because if you take concretely measures he he promotes

this measure of starch in there or. in their part part of russian population when he told about finalists it's a feminist with three and more children when he told about. health health programs he told mostly about on quality but not about all system. called figure of all the expenditures he promised to do is about one hundred twenty billion rubles which is not big some even for russian budget it's comparable with the russian support to bill or us or the nearest crimea transnistria and so on so all this measures are not systemic and huge structural all this measures. more or less comparable to technical and small and narrow so i don't think that majority of russian population will feel real approve of their lives for instance i

could i could say you that russian real incomes are degrees in six years now and if you take statistics for january of this year russian real incomes for russian populations again dropped. fell down about one percent so it really wasn't much more you not only don't i. could imagine it but let's talk about foreign policy you talked about his confrontation that he may put hundreds confrontational foreign policy in today's address he said because of deployed weapons targeting russia and appeared to suggest that russia would respond directly to map perhaps even against the united states what do you make of those comments. you know i think that for for for for for for mr bolton a whole for russian leadership security issue is number one much

more important than domestic issues then social issues the pension reform. they still believe that the main task of russian state is to have equal military bio or with the united states and use your saw that he promised new military ships new rockets new world heads new submarines and most of these new weapons we'll address again against the united states so that means country or city for me. you can't you can't promote waste social policy and at the same time find them it's a huge military programs it's a contradiction i can't imagine how good balance this two to two tasks it's impossible at the same time with a very weak and not raise an economy to finance to give money at the same time on

the way social programs and on military budgets it's impossible right flemmi discover liberal opposition politician joining us from moscow thank you very much for your perspective. now let me begin with some other stories making news around the world british prime minister to resign may's razor thin majority has been dealt a blow as three off of conservative lawmakers quits the party they will sit as independents that defection in protest over briggs it may damage may's chances of forcing a highly unpopular deal through parliament. bank u.b.s. has been fined a record three point seven billion euros by a french court for helping wealthy clients evade taxes prosecutors say the bank helped clients can see the assets in switzerland from french tax authorities several of the banks top executives also received fines for their involvement.

saudi arabia's crown prince is in delhi for talks with indian leaders following his visit to pakistan saudi officials say mohamad bin cell mon hopes to play a diplomatic road in deescalating the situation between the neighbors tensions have flared to after last week's attack in india. turning now to france where thousands of people have taken to the streets to protest against a rise in anti semitic attacks this comes after dozens of graves were vandalized at a jewish cemetery president a man in mccraw described the incident as an attack on the nation france is home to the not just jewish population among nations. compound pouring of solidarity on paresis post in the republic. thousands of purchase just turned out to express their support for france's jews. their

anger magnified by yet another desecration of what you wish cemetery. these were just one of dozens of demonstrations nationwide in response to a search and tie semitic a crimes of. the for. i think that anti semitic actions are on the rise it's something that strikes fear that brings back bad memories we want to show younger generations there's another path to take on. this is what future the outreach the jewish cemetery in the village of quite some time in eastern france they faced with swastikas and other anti-semitic graffiti french president and went away mcallen has vowed to bring the vandals to justice once more to stop anti-semitism in its tracks. a group of individuals full of hates has unfortunately done what others have done before for too many years. i'm here to express

for solidarity of the whole nation. suppress our complete determination in fighting anti semitism whatever it takes. this was the second time a jewish cemetery has been desecrated in recent months and friends in december nearly forty graves and a holocaust memorial were vandalized in the same region. it is attacks like these that brought people together. not only ordinary citizens but also top politicians and religious leaders don't. they wanted to send a clear message they have heard enough. you're watching the news coming up ahead as the fashion world mourns karl lagerfeld german designer in yet or europe joins me to talk about apostle recollections of the man known as the king of fashion. but first the champions league knockout

stages and we were all hoping for a dramatic clash between two great clubs liverpool and by in munich it was liverpool hosting by in the first of the two leg match up but in the end defense was the ultimate winner. liverpool pressured by in munich from the get go it paid off the english side were creating them more and the better of their chances but liverpool's dominant display lacked the killer touch sadi a mini with perhaps the best chance of the game but he couldn't quite get his footing right by unabsorbed on the pressure adopting a more defensive approach it was effective liverpool where unable to breakdown by ends defense with both sides shutting each other down this one ended in a goal this draw but if the first leg is anything to go by it certainly sets up an exciting return leg in munich. and the other big match of the evening also looked

like it would produce lots of goals but despite barcelona's twenty five shots against a meal they could not find the net the french side doing the same in the second goalless draw of the night. turning away from sport and tributes have been pouring in for karl lagerfeld the influential fashion designer and the creative head of the fashion house chanel he died in paris at the age of eighty five a spokesperson for his lagerfeld brand says his body will be cremated without ceremony and that is ashes are likely to be scattered with those of his mother and . during a career spanning nearly seventy years the hamburg born designer was not the most well known names in the modern fashion world famous for his designs as. was. her. karl lagerfeld in one of his

final public appearances last november the star of paris just christmas lights set a mini. fame that he gained over a lifetime of pioneering and the world of fashion it takes something special to stand out. into the legend of lagerfeld. at the chanel flagship store in the french capital they mess him already eternal admiration read one tribute. at london fashion week the duchess of cornwall joined others in paying her respects to fashion royalty the. man for all of. outside to his presence is everywhere and thoughts about what his death will mean for sure now. how the art world i don't know what i should say but it's.

people are missing him keep it up keep it classy cubicles as we wore the classic chanel. cape eclipse and you had to be like a next trick star oprah and they knew that but you know pretty sad news for you. it's already close friends of. benetton the struggling italian brand that could do with like a felt midas touch remembered him too as they showed off their latest collection. is it again i will keep very close to my hoss is the example of a man who knew how to be an extraordinary artistic director to stick it's a father of all artistic directors just. many will try but you will leave a legacy like karl lagerfeld. and for more on karl lagerfeld legacy i'm very pleased to welcome a jet to europe she herself is

a fashion and jewelry designer welcome to you play you've met on lagerfeld many times what are your blistery collections of the men the last time i met him was that his show that he had of his pictures that he took of scat for the car company open and nobody could sort of show himself as flamboyantly as he did you know when he was around you felt like the king of everything as in the room and there was like a whisper around. the whole into raj you know trying to make sure that he was happy and. use very very intelligent and he flamboyant is a good way to describe you know that is this public image but how different was his public image from the man you met in private if you think about his roots back and good old hamburg you know him because a very conservative and industry city and he came from

quite a wealthy home and he seemed to have been what today would be called. a child he wanted to draw all the time he didn't want to play with other kids so you see that sometimes you should leave very creative people alone and not make them change. otherwise before we won't have another collage of one day so he was always seeking attention he always wanted to be in the public eye is what you're saying yeah but i believe he was probably a much more intelligent showed you know because he was reading all the time he spoke seven languages and one time he said that he was speaking way faster than his brain was sort of formulating the words sometimes the stuff he said was very very provocative. and controversial yes sometimes he didn't like fat people and like old people that he didn't like this and that and you know because he was such an

amazing creative mind he was allowed to do that imagine somebody else would do that today now you know you yourself are famous fashion designer what do you think made fence fashions so unique but he had this amazing sense of how he could sort of keep the branch and now totally up to snuff totally modern and fresh so he invited young talents all the time to be on stage and to wear his creations so there was an edge to the brand that kept a very young and fresh because if you imagine how old the brand. was and how much of it but it still desiring these bags that really have those things you know apart from his fashion he was such an amazing personality everybody felt that they knew him but apparently in private he was a very quiet indra clues of man well obviously if you know a lot about the world and especially

a lot about the fashion industry maybe it makes you want to be alone sometimes because you have to do if you have to deal with vanities all the time you maybe sometimes also deal was not only the good part and people but also with the vain difficult part so it's very clear that an artist. you maybe then want to be reclusive alone and in peace and he had very close friends of monte carlo. i guess felt at home very much. there will never be anybody like him again gosh this so many and it talks about him people talk about what he said what he did what is your favorite tree collection of can not defend well i like the way he was sort of. controlling this whole industry and how he was sort of making bad jokes at the same time he was sort of dissing everybody but making everybody for the love of them at the same time he has he said he was controversial he once described a french president as an embassy but i think that's people love to look at what was

amazing yet are you thank you so much for how you want to do that view and sharing your thoughts with i see a lot. coming up next news how hong kong neighborhoods deal with the hordes of selfie because in the search for that perfect must have shocked. that's indeed i've been using.

mega city these concrete jungles are often hosting after seeing. their economic powerhouses get me people with limited. powers of the world's population already lives in urban centers even climbers with a huge challenge. how can these monstrous cities be tape. made in germany in sixty minutes on d w. earth.

home to millions of species a home worth saving. here which is on those are big changes and most start with small steps global ideas tell stories of creative people and innovative projects around the world like to use the term the climate boost to green energy solutions and reforestation. they create interactive content teaching good next generation about environmental protection and more determined to build something here for the next generation global ideas the multimedia environment series on t.w. . with him how to be done to go sagal as well i asked how you know if i had known that the boat would be that small i never would have gone on a trip i would not have put myself and my parents over that danger to the bottom of the theme of the going to give us leave the world. that one little bit of that even

though i had serious problems on a personal level and i was unable to live their lives i'm going to. i want to know their story and for migrants further find a country liable information for margaret's. this is d w news asia coming up at the program violent protests over last week's kashmir attack kashmiris worry as anger spills out onto the streets you look at the rising tensions and how some indians are trying to counter the hatred plus india's the bigger countries the richer countries it's a bigger democracy should act like the think about that. pakistan's bilawal bhutto zardari calls on india to extend the hand of peace over kashmir.