this is d w news while i'm from berlin more than 50 people die in a stampede at the funeral of the iranian general killed by a us drone attack it happened as huge crowds of mourners gathered for the funeral procession and it comes as the united states says the killing was the right thing to do also coming up tonight france marks the 5th anniversary of the attack on the satirical magazine charlie of dough it was the 1st in a series of terrorist attacks acts in france and it provoked a massive security response plus misinformation on social media as all straw you

continues to burn as a nation pays its respects to a firefighter who died battling the inferno some people using the web to scam cash and spread unfounded conspiracy theories look at the modern day side effects of a national tragedy. i'm bring to our viewers on p.b.s. in the united states and all around the world welcome tonight the death toll in that stampede at the funeral of the assassinated general customs alemany has reached $56.00 that's according to iran's state media more than 200 people have been injured huge crowds gathered in the hometown of the general to pay their final respects the general was killed on friday by a u.s.

drone attack. they were here to say good bye to a military command they called their own instead they lost their own lives caught up in a stampede as hundreds of thousands of mourners descended on cameron. parish her yard this is the home town of kasim saloon mining the general killed by a u.s. military drone last friday. after a 3 day state funeral procession he's jannie has come to an end but for iranians their anger over the killing of the national hero lives on. was shouting death to america iranian lawmaker has have been quick to pass a law declaring those involved insulin my niece death as terrorists. i mean

all men on wall. in this crime who are with the pentagon and the u.s. military are counted as terrorists however in washington there was no backing down in the event the ready to make another bad choice that the president respond in a way that if he did last week which was decisive serious and message iran about the constraints that we're going to place on that regime so that it doesn't continue to put american lives at risk more u.s. troops already on their way to the middle east but tensions with iran have also thrown the u.s. military presence in iraq into question there was confusion after a leaked letter from the u.s. defense department appear to suggest an imminent withdrawal of american troops from iraq. we are not leaving iraq and a draft unsigned letter does not constitute a policy change and there is no sign a letter to the best of my knowledge i've asked the question so there may be people trying to create confusion we should focus on this much what i said

a few times now our policy has not changed the white house says that in life select my knee was considered a danger to america in death many and now wondering whether he has become an even greater threat. of a more now i'm joined by hussein but not he's an iran expert and innes is a professor at indiana university joins me tonight from indianapolis professor it's good to see you again let's talk about these these images that we've been seeing all day these huge crowds gathering for the funeral and down the stampede people being killed what kind of person what kind of general what kind of hero are the iranians now mourning because outside of iran when people see this a lot of people are shocked. yes i think the crowd sizes have been incredibly impressive and beyond imagination i think even leaders of the

regime just a couple of weeks ago it's remarkable that we see this massive ship mood from protests against the regime to now people pouring on the streets and support and mourning of the general and i think that represents only moneys. both legenda someone who was safeguarding iranian national interests and the region but i think more importantly as a gesture of grievance. against the extrajudicial killing of a military personnel by the united states. and they are still talking about what could happen as a result of this killing and the and but it being completely unpredictable iran has mourned the united states to prepare for a dark day of revenge. can't do we dare venture what that could look like what possible scenarios do you see we can't and i'm not sure that even if

they themselves know yet but. i think they are in a period of grief and mourning and the outrage. that is being displayed now publicly i think is also in response to the details that are coming out of washington about just what a messy process this isn't to kill soleimani was and i think the iranian rank and file would like to demonstrate to the world that they have been wronged once again by the united states against what they see as international law and and a blatant act of the russian not just against. shatto we militia in iraq but against the official military of this sovereign nation today the u.s. secretary of state mike pumping held a press conference and reporters asked him to provide more information about this

intelligence on that alleged imminent attack by iran that that's being thrown out there to justify the drone attack but he didn't give us much i mean his in his answer was basically you know you must be kidding and we all know what the general was was really doing when he was killed i mean what does it tell you do knows what the general was doing to me do you believe the u.s. secretary of state when he says that. you know it's hard to believe and i mean the administration has basically directly contradicted its its own justifications immediately after the attack took place which was that they had credible intelligence that an imminent attack. was to be carried out by still a money or under his orders and now they're saying that there was no such imminent attack coming and there was no great intelligence but that this was essentially. a

preemptive move against someone that they have had a long list of grievances for stretching back to the last 20 years so the message coming out of washington is one of incoherence contradiction and increasingly erratic and rash expressions that really defy logic professor of this that we're not an iran expert joining us tonight from indianapolis indiana university professor as always we appreciate your insights thank you. for here are some of the other stories now that are making headlines around the world that russian president vladimir putin has spent orthodox christmas a public holiday in russia in syria and putin met syrian president bashar al assad and russian troops and this is the only the 2nd time that putin's travels syria since last fails the what terry intervention in the country's civil war officially

began back in 2015 puerto rico's governor has declared a state of emergency after a series of earthquakes in the u.s. territory the most powerful tremor with a magnitude 6.4 hit early on tuesday at least one person has been confirmed dead 8 others injured. the even as whalen opposition leader one has been sworn in for another term as parliamentary speaker it followed a tense standoff with security forces today who tried to stop him from entering the building. leads the opposition to president nicolas maduro who attempted to seize control of the national assembly on sunday. spain socialist leader pedals on chavez has been confirmed as the country's prime minister after a narrow parliamentary vote sanchez will now head a minority left wing government spain's 1st coalition government since it made the transition to democracy in the mid 1970 s.

. it is 5 years to the day since islamist terrorists went on a rampage against a journalist at the french satirical magazine charlie 12 people died in that attack al qaida claimed responsibility it was the 1st of a series of deadly incidents over the next few years committed mostly by french born extremists. remembering the horrific events of 5 years ago. family members and callings of the victims marked the occasion with an emotional ceremony in paris among them some of the magazine staff members who were injured in the attack. on january 7th 2015 in front of charlie and doze headquarters in paris. terrorists targeted the magazine after it published caricature is of the prophet

mohammed it took less than 2 minutes for them to shoot dead 12 people and injure another 11 this was the 1st of a series of deadly attacks that lasted 2 days. in the aftermath of the killing thousands took to the streets to share their grief world leaders gathered in paris vowing never to give way to terrorism. the phrase just so we shall be i am shining became a global sign of solidarity the magazine bankrupt before the attack gain public support around the world. well you know if you look at this line we've been here since as this morning making a political statement. it's very important to show solidarity for freedom of expression of those for sure the attack was a major blow to press freedom and france but beyond that the killing of shiny doe's journalists revealed that the country was ill prepared to respond to terrorist

threats for the next 2 years france remained in a state of emergency thousands more military personnel and police officers were deployed to tackle terrorism. but more attacks followed and clued in the november 2015 attack on the buttock long concert hall where 130 people died. the following year a nice dozens were killed. when a truck driver rammed into a crowd and i still think both attacks were claimed by factions of the so-called islamic state. 5 years later france is still on alert for terror attacks on the survivors try to keep the memory of the victims on line. or earlier today we spoke with longer sarthe a french journalist living in paris he was working in the same building on the same floor as charlie of the on the day of the attack here's how he remembers what

happened in paris 5 years ago today on that. i was one of the 1st on the on the scene and with all the people in the street and then inside the charlie newsroom we discovered or. basically the consequences of the attack and that was really a nightmare. trying to identify people who were life and we trying to do our best with some colleagues of popular in my former agency to have the survivors and to do everything we can even if we were not doctors and we were waiting for 4 for the doctors or for emergency units to try to talk to some people to identify those who were to do everything we can to the survivors but there are still sorry there at sea i think in france and all of the world were guarding what happened to to charlie and what happened to all the journalists in all the news room but. of

course it was them right after the attack who you were seeing for millions of people joining in the street showing this sort of their it's. showing how they wanted to protect press freedom and i think that this period and what we call the. spirit is still there even if you. we need to to to rethink every day i'll much press freedom is extremely important and i do think that in that period were a lot of people don't trust anymore in july anymore in news organization we have to remember that people journalists were killed for their work you for making sure people get access to information we need to remember that john that is could be extremely dangerous and journalists are walking for the public interest. wise words there that was the wrong rashard a french journalist who witnessed the charlie abou attack 5 years ago today the

captain of the refugee rescue ship lifeline has been cleared of charges that he failed to properly register his vessel klaus helped save more than 230 refugees from the mediterranean in june of 2018 he faced 810000 euro fine in malta over claims that the ship was incorrectly registered but a court has now ruled that he does not have to pay that far. in june 2018 more than $230.00 refugees drifted on a rubber boat off the coast of libya before the lifeline found them the captain wanted to save lives but felt that everywhere he looked obstacles were in his path it's in the at multan refused to allow a ship to dock for days. and the way people are treated around here makes me want to cry people talk about trump and mexico and his wall but i have the impression that europe is no better. off to several other e.u.

states announced that they would take in some of the migrants didn't open the harbor. the refugees were finally safe but the lifeline was confiscated and a new ought to see began for kept on the highest. he was charged with not properly veges string the lifeline which sailed under a dutch flag an accusation that highish that was upset after a court imposed 810000 euro fine in may 2019 not just an appeal. now he has finally been vindicated the court and the letter acquitting the captain but a battle isn't over and now the ship captain by him was seized by italian authorities last september after he had rescued 100 people from the sea separate proceedings underway there. or earlier i spoke with the captain of that rescue ship the lifeline thoughts peter highish and this is what he told me about today's verdict

today i think the success that. we could accept their appeal. so they don't frighten me and i think this is very important this is a very important signal also for the other n.g.o.s so. basic it was just to treat me several times because it was 12 times in my time to cook sitting in this or was cause a lot of money in those the 3 days of tripoli and i'm very happy with this result no do you think that this verdict will mean that we will see more rescue ships in the mediterranean trying to rescue refugees. i hope so but i think it's a long way up to this the european countries should should make and you should

start a new. series to your mission in the military and cease until 2015 tell you did it with this commission and this is this thing i want to see because we are all of volunteers and we pay all with donations from from normal people like you and me and then this is not for volunteers this is so great for professionals we do it in a professional way of course we saved a lot of lives sounds maybe 10000 but this should be a truck for professional seed rescuers hate by the european countries and that was a lifeline captain klaus painter high speaking with me earlier tonight you're watching news coming up. showing kindness to the use of these gentle giants in geo in thailand is doing away with the dark side of elephant tourism.

firefighters in southeastern australia are racing to take advantage of a brief drop in temperatures before another heat wave is expected to hit later this week but on tuesday many poles to pay respects to enjoy a dire one of at least 25 people who were killed in the blazes the 36 year old volunteer firefighter died along with his colleagues just before christmas when their vehicle was overturned by a fire tornado. and that scene being repeated all over the country australia's fire tragedy is not even near and and now a wave of misinformation in scams is making the situation even worse my colleague joe dull roar joins us now for more so joe what's going on what are you seeing on social media there's a blame game going on brenton's the church straight is trying to come to terms with who was responsible for this terrible tragedy and unfortunately some of what we're

seeing is misinformation so there's a conspiracy mean doing the rounds claiming that environmentalists have purposely been starting these fires to quote perpetuate a fake linkage between the fison climate change and promote their green agenda and now police in australia actually have taken action against about $200.00 people foot starting fires during the 5 ban that include some awesomeness and some people who foolishly study campfires but there's no suggestion it is some kind of orchestrated political action here so as well as these conspiracy theories we're also seeing a lot of social media chatter blaming the a straight in green party for allegedly going against fire controlled burns that's where firefighters start small fires in order to prevent bigger fires later on now this has been debunked the greens support fire control. and anyway there are minor party that's never been in power so all of this is just misinformation to divert from the real cause of these bushfires which is the studies on preset in

a period of drought and heat last year was the hottest and driest on record and scientists are pretty clear in saying that that has been exacerbated by climate change and we know that the bush fire season has another 2 months before we can we can talk about it nearing an end we know there's been plenty of political point scoring going on but scammers they're also taking advantage of this situation aren't they you know we're seeing fake donation websites pop up this one about to see here claim to be raising money for the funeral of a father and son who died while trying to defend their home from bush. now the family said that they did not authorize this and they reported it to the police a straight these consumer agency is also now issuing warnings about bushfire scams and they've advised people to under 8 to register charities a well known charities who of course many people want to help out in these times of tragedy and as a lot of celebrities who are writing the checks at the moment we have to remember is a very rich country but yet it still relies on volunteers to fight fires and to care

for its wildlife now this tragedy is causing some thinking about whether the country has been adequately spending its public finances in the right way to prepare for these kind of crises you know it's a very good point and it's just unbelievable that people would actually put up you know a go fund like that to try to scam people out during tragedies unbelievable job thank you. arthur sports news now byron munich have officially presented all over cohen as a new board member the former goalkeeper will then become board chairman in 2022 and khan was a polarizing figure on the pitch but he says that people can expect a different side of him off the pitch. oliver can has promised a toned down version of himself that's because on the pitch the former by an unique goalkeeper was seen as a hothead his stunts ranged from biding time launching time for kicks at his

opponents but times have changed he said it's mr ashton meeting i won't slide tackle through the meeting room it's helped me a lot on the field. but that was over 11 and a half years ago it's awfully well for. the men are so known as the titan stood between the posts for buy and for 14 years he won 8 bundesliga titles as well as the champions league but the club in his new role can was quick to defend the club's decision to bring in goalkeeper alexander nubile from chalco even though the young talent could challenge manuel neuer as number one spot next season when i looks under. is that if alexander nubile is available then we have to sign such a great goalkeeper from elative also he already said quite clearly that he is ready to stand back. and that he is ready to learn from manuel neuer so latin and

followed for monitoring oil out of a can has big shoes to fill in his new management position but with his winning mentality by an unique and familiar hands. oh please protect the package in thailand where elephant tourism is a big attraction to big business tourists are being showed the cruel reality that sometimes comes along with this tourism one in geo is trying a different more humane approach. tori is only 2 years old but she's a fast learner the exercises seem innocent enough but she's already undergone separation from her mother beatings and months and captivity all with one aim in mind so that she is opiate than talkin village in thailand's east as a center for elephant training activists are trying to end cruel practices but still much goes on away from the cameras meanwhile for the local minutes it's not

so black and white. we do not raise them to hurt them but we raise them like someone in a family if they're not stubborn we do nothing to that but the hook on the knife for our protection when we are in difficulty or in danger we can use that if we only use up their hands on an elephant rose the crowd we wouldn't have anything to stop them and. at this camp near chiang mai in the north of the country elephants perform tricks up to 5 times a day. it's a tourist draw and with visitors sometimes $5000.00 a day paying an entrance fee of $50.00 it's big business here like in many centers the bull hook is used to discreetly increasingly elephant rides are getting bad press and tour operators are steering clear.

some camps are rebranding themselves as refuges or sanctuaries but activists say the same old bad practices still occur. when n.g.o.s looking to a new approach here are tourists must stay at least 15 meters away from the animals and there is strictly no touching. our target is to return total freedom to the elephants. but we need to do this without causing problems to other communities living nearby . and so. remain a key factor here but the hook is only used as a last resort. how.

elephants a safe and also the tourists feel safer sometimes they feel stressed out when they see tourists and as a result they can hurt the tourists. ever since this program was implemented they have become calmer. by you know by any one local how there are nearly 4000 elephants in captivity in thailand then campaigners hope cruelty and the bull hook will be things of the past. and certainly in watching the news after a short break i'll be back to take you through the day strength of. the

. earth the hope for saving global indios tell stories of creative people and innovative projects around the world ideas to protect the climate and boost green energy solutions by global ideas being a series of global 3000 on t.w. and online letter we were brought when we were. 80 percent of americans or

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the trumpet ministrations still saying that last week's drone attack which killed a top iranian general has made the us a safer place and what about the rest of the world tonight across the middle east all u.s. forces are on high alert in iraq all nato training missions are suspended some of germany's soldiers are leaving and the u.s. military yesterday it was moving out of iraq today it's staying put i'm bored golf in berlin this is the day.