our society. women differently. what to do with their power. and how sustainable is this culture. that cleans up the rango starts marching on t.w. . this is news and these are our top stories european union leaders have agreed on the need for digital coronavirus vaccination certificates german chancellor angela merkel says the documents could be ready in time for europeans to take their summer vacations the also promised to improve the rate of vaccinations accruals the $27.00 member bloc. the armenian capital derivation has seen mass rallies with both opponents and supporters of an bottles prime minister. taking to the streets

in lead a gathering denouncing what he calls an attempted military coup after the armed forces demanded his resignation the prime minister has faced months of protests since army is defeated in last year's war with azerbaijan. to prized french bulldogs belonging to lady gaga has been kidnapped and her dog walker severely wounded by gunmen lady gaga is known to be extremely protective of her dogs and is now offering half a $1000000.00 for their return police say the dog walker tried to fight the gunman off but was shot by one wielding a semi automatic handgun you're watching the news you can follow us on instagram and twitter or visit our website w dot com. the biden ministration is releasing a cia report on the 2018 murder of saudi dissident and journalist. it's expected to

blame the saudi crown prince for ordering the murder another country would be facing possible sanctions from the u.s. demands for better human rights but saudi arabia is the biggest buyer of u.s. weapons in the world u.s. president joe biden is expected to call the saudis to discuss this report we understand the crown prince will not be on the line instead his father the king will take the call i'm burnt off in berlin this is the day. president's intention as is the intention of this government is to. recalibrate our . saudi arabia because one is the compass has nothing to do with this issue and the president is taking a fresh approach to how he engages with foreign leaders around the world this was

his wealth creation and that means he will not hold back this close individuals exceeding their authority and he will speak out when there are concerns he has about human rights abuse is. also coming up former u.s. president donald trump once declared that so-called islamic state had been defeated and he ordered u.s. troops to leave northern syria assuming the kurds would take care of the peace but the kurds say there is no peace isis is making sure of them that every day they find 2 or 3 dead bodies here people who have been kidnapped or killed and tossed aside. it will go. to our viewers on p.b.s. in the united states and to all of you around the world welcome we begin the day with the complicated relationship between the united states and saudi arabia sometimes less. implicated sometimes more tonight it's definitely more and that has

everything to do with what u.s. intelligence says it has found versus what the solti crown prince says is true the biden administration is declassifying a report on the murder of jamal khashoggi because he was a saudi dissident and a washington post columnist his criticisms of the royal family and its brutal rule were no secret according to the cia salty men murdered because shogi inside the saudi consulate back in 2018 on the orders of the saudi crown prince after initially denying involvement saudi arabia changed its story and admitted to the killing but it blamed rogue agents to this day the official saudi position has never included the crown prince the unspoken message here the prince knew and did nothing what if anything will the u.s. do once the report becomes public this is what his press secretary told reporters. and of course our administration is focused on recalibrating the relationship as

we've talked about here previously and certainly there are areas where we will express concerns and leave open the option of accountability there are also areas where we will continue to work with saudi arabia i've given the threats they face in the region you know there's a lot to discuss here tonight and to do that i'm joined by kenneth roth director of human rights watch in new york city and from washington d.c. i'm joined by middle east analysts try to parse the of the quincy institute for responsible strick state craft to both of you welcome let me start by asking you both what you expect the biden administration to do with this declassified report try to start with you. well what the biden astray ssion is doing is that they're following the u.s. law that congress mandated this early iran and it's from the construction essentially ignored it so as a 1st step an explanation they're following the law what they're saying though is that this is going to be part of a larger rethinking of their relationship with saudi arabia and i think in many

ways that would be tremendously welcome because this has been a very unhealthy relationship for quite some time the question is by starting off with this report is it an indicative of the idea that we are now personalizing the problem as if it is m.v.s. alone and that is responsible for this not have the relationship if that is the case i think it would be a mistake because this is an unhealthy relationship long before m.p.'s and to destabilize cerny has not made it better has made it much worse but it would be highly problematic if this begins and ends with m.b.a.'s rather than looking at the entire spectrum of problems between the 2 countries and the imbalance that exists that has unfortunately led to a scenario which the saudis ensure that they have a green light to do almost whatever they want with impunity and get into the you see this will there be anything more than just lip service being given to improving human rights. well 1st let me say i may differ a bit with trita and then you know yes there are a range of problems between the united states and saudi arabia but m.b.'s the saudi

crown prince is a big part of the problem or he is we're going to learn like the the one who ordered the murder he was the one who started the war in yemen in terms of you know bombing yemeni civilians and causing are contributing greatly to the world's probably most acute humanitarian crisis she's the one who has been at the same time he supposedly reforming locking up the various people who call for reform who dare to criticize the government this is a big part of the problem so i wouldn't minimize that now the big question is you know what are they going to do about it what's the biden ministership you do and obviously releasing this report is is step one it is a step toward the truth you know the idea that these were rogue agents off doing all bark on their own that just doesn't pass the laugh test you know that this is a how they've been summoned is a control freak she does not delegate it is serious operations like this so clearly

there's going to be high level responsibility there or at minimum you know what even the trumpet ministration did was to impose targeted sanctions that is asset freezes and travel bans on the other members who took part in this brutal murder what about the guy who ordered it that's the least they should do but also they should clearly be pushing for some kind of more formal accountability whether prosecution or or some effort to hold m.p.'s personally responsible. what about the possibility of personal sanctions against the crown prince is that even realistic. it certainly is realistic and i actually don't think there is that much disagreement between me and ken in the sense of recognizing clearly the tremendous part of the problem that n.b.s. is but at the same time it wasn't as if this sounds were some sort of human rights heaven before m.p.'s and to to stage is not as if the saudi government tree m.v.s.

was not spreading wahhabi ism which was the core ideology that gave birth to al-qaeda and isis along my point is that there's a deeper problem here and while it is obviously natural and important to take these initial steps it's important to focus on and yes i hope that that focus does not end up becoming at the expense of the broader problem that exists between the united states and saudi arabia or to the conduct of the saudi government because it's not just and yes even though he clearly has a very very significant part of the can we know that president biden wants the saudi kingdom to moderate its own extremism are you seeing evidence of this happening in the country other than the the opening of movie theaters and letting women drive cars. well i do think that there is an effort by the government to to reign in some of the hobbies to unity be less beholden to them as a source of legitimacy and that is why they've been pursuing these social reforms but it's a very limited kind of social reform it's

a reform that basically you know depends on the benevolence of the dictator and as we've seen this is not the most benevolent kind of guy so you know people like flu the women's rights activists who who did nothing more than seek the right to drive their right that was given but mohammed and someone wanted to give that himself he didn't want to be subject to pressure you know so that's the nature of the so-called reform it's entirely top down and while there are going to maybe opening up movie theaters and getting within a bit more liberties they are completely shutting down civil society independent critics anything that might look like activism you know to the point that critics like the shoji get murdered so this is what we're dealing with and i agree with rita that this is a it is a profound problem here and it's not going to be enough to just say ok we're not going to deal with the crown prince you know we'll deal with his he's quite much when i get older father who i think the real questions as to whether he really is

leading the country at this stage they're going to find some way to address really the cancer that saudi arabia has represented in the region as well as for its people well i mean we understand this this phone call that supposed to take place between biden and the king is going to take place without the crown prince and you know as. one day the u.s. will have to deal with the crown prince because he will one day be the kings of the bargain ministration almost kicking the can down the road here. to some extent but at the same time it is a very important signal and it's it's a way to really make clear how this satisfy the united states is with a lot of the things that the crown prince has done and let's not forget it's not just the war and yemen it's the blockade against qatar one thing that oftentimes is forgotten at that you know the crown prince kid now i'm not i want to emphasize kidnapped the prime minister of lebanon i mean how often does that happen in and international politics so without a doubt that there's

a need to be able to do this and if if it is a nation that is not part of the phone call you know that is perhaps one way but again this is much much more than that is needed and my hope is that it will be a significant reaching could not to push us saudi relationship into a bad relationship i don't think that's in the interest of the united states but it is a bad relationship right now it is an unhealthy relationship right now and part of the problem is that the united states essentially has signaled that they have the saudis have a green light to do almost anything that the u.s. will come to protect them and that is actually fueled saudi recklessness rather than incentivizing them to be more in favor of diplomacy more in favor of actually resolving problems with the neighbors to do we know that the united states is not going to stop arms sales to the soltys if that were to happen the the saudis they would have the russians and the chinese to turn to do you think they would really want to take that option if the have to. well i think it's important to recognize that yes the saudis can buy weapons from other places but the reason why the saudis

buy so much american weaponry is because they see it as a way of compelling or forcing the united states to be committed to saudi arabia's security it's an insurance policy as to best next thing to actually having a defense pact that is implicit in these arms things it is not included in any arms sales from russia or from china because they are not going to commit themselves to saudi arabia's security not going to commit that mistake and as a result the idea that the saudis which is russia those countries i simply don't buy yes to may buy some more weapons from those countries but at the end of a what is at the core of the u.s. is national security interest here isn't just to sell weapons how can we claim that we're actually seeking stability in the region if we are to country that is arming these countries to teach we cannot be the number one arm sales for a country and at the same time claim that was the instability in the region and that's a very good points and be killing me as my final question to you what about the

crown prince moving forward he will one day rule the country and he we know he wants to restore his self crafted image as a reformer and moderniser of saudi arabia is that reality or is it just window dressing for more of the same repressive reality. well obviously step one is you know does he own up to what he did or does he still push this cover story that these were broke gauge ans it would be interesting to see how he responds to the report but you know i my sense is that the by the administration is not entirely resigned to the crown prince ultimately succeeding his father in law you know there was a prior problem prince who this when i was stood how the deniers who is someone the u.s. government is quite comfortable working with there was a long relationship i mean fighting terrorism he's in custody right now you know that's what with mohammed and simon dead is with his rivals but you know there's an element in this to try to just push this crown prince aside and see if another

alternative can emerge i don't think that's terribly realistic is this crown prince has been you know very successful at side lighting any conceivable opposition is that ruthlessness that that led to the murder of khashoggi but i think that there's an element of wishful thinking in washington that perhaps they won't be stuck with this guy if they can display enough displeasure you know that will take us into the next talk i'm sure we believe body both of you back to talk about the future with or without the ground friends if saudi arabia can throw off human rights watch in new york city and try to parse the quincy institute for responsible street speak craft in washington to both of you gentlemen thank you thank you so much. former us president came under fire when he declared so-called islamic state defeated and then ordered u.s. troops in syria and iraq to come hold the kurdish help the americans were left behind what has happened since should serve as a wake up call to those under the impression that isis is down for the count in

northeast syria the kurds are struggling to hold off and isis revival isis fighters are regrouping around the town and in the prison camp the kurds say they are facing isis alone and that they have been left to fend for themselves. which sets off a. fear travels with him the 43 year old father depends on his job as a bus driver to support his family but he risks his life on every journey. every day they find 2 or 3 dead bodies here people who have been kidnapped killed and tossed aside. islamic state militants have been spreading fear with increasingly frequent attacks on the main road through northeast in syria they strike villages and towns especially at night. money from residents set off bombs

and behead people. has already attacked us in the village killing residents driving them away they are causing us so much suffering we need help to stop this disaster. but the leaders of the kurdish autonomous region hopelessly overwhelmed thousands of fighters are said to have taken up residence in the vast desert the kurds lack aircraft and special equipment to track them down. allies such as the u.s. have withdrawn. the kurdish units are the only ones still fighting i-s. that's what we're experiencing here right now and we're suffering because of it. tens of thousands of supporters mostly women and children remain in. 250 kilometers to the north. after the terror groups defeated $29000.00 they were captured by kurdish fighters since then many have become further radicalized. coming

back hopefully you hope it will come back yes where where exactly what makes you think you will come back. victory is near. is now pulling the strings behind the scenes of the camp smuggling in weapons arming its followers kurdish control of the camp is in danger of slipping away. and islamic state in miniature has practically emerged here the religious police patrol the camp if men have non-permitted relationships with women cooperate with the security forces they are executed. in the villages of the province memories of the reign of terror are fresh in people's minds in heena women with whips and residents terrorized but even after

liberation in 2017 militants struck again and again. suman darwish was targeted for cooperating with the kurds in the local council one night he heard gunshots and. my wife was arguing with an armed man in uniform another was 2 meters behind her in between my son was lying dead on the ground they killed him with 5 shots. in january alone so-called islamic state carried out more than 100 attacks in northeastern syria 40 commuters died recently in an attack on a bus people in the crisis torn region once again fear for their lives. and for more i'd like to bring in justin johnson's she's a political scientist and research fellow at the german institute for global in the area of studies with a focus on the middle east she joins us tonight from the german city of mannheim doesn't is good to have you here on the day we all remember when former u.s.

president declared the defeat of so-called islamic state the kurds of course are telling a different story why are we seeing a resurgence of activity. donald trump probably talked about the. territorial defeat of the islamic state but everyone who knows the islamic state and who knows the history of islam as them and islamist terrorism in the middle east knows that territoriality is really the exception and not the rule. and the ground work and these hit and run operations and road kings through sleeper cells is really the rule here so i says basically doing what they know best what they know. back from the days and the 2 thousands from that time and iraq you know i don't they're just continuing this and people should be aware of that and i think. trump and his administration was also aware of

that but trump clearly had other interests when he said that in october 2001000 just tell widespread or the activities of all us in syria is there a real threat that they could reemerge as a formidable paul will. oh absolutely absolutely because as i sat a working in sleeper cells working secretly in especially in the rural areas of iraq. has a and data zoo it is absolutely desperate and also mind you that as was also said in the report that in syria democratic forces that are the only effective on the ground force against isis is greatly overwhelmed with what they have to take care about right now they have to take care of not only a big amount of i.d.p.'s a big amount of isis detainees and as well as a vast territory with 3 you know equipment but they also have to take care of the

continuing turkish and strikes in the turkish attacks as well as the attacks by turkish proxies from the syrian national army so course this is overwhelming the kurdish forces and this is enabling more space especially in the rural areas for isis to move when we talk about the kurds and the americans the leftist militias of the kurds doing the frontline fighting against. those make for very strange allies for the united states at the same time i wonder if the kurdish administration is it feasible for is that survival feasible without international backing. well the united states is negotiating with the taliban right now and there was definitely some people in western policy circles that you can think about we have militating pay attention to the sham so i would not say that foreign policy in most cases is really led by any greater political ideology and also if you look at

general leftist history then the question about how much pragmatism is feasible in the leftist foreign policy is really a central quest question so definitely the context in which is this is happening is clearly the context of isis taking over vast territory since 2014 and the us not really having a great alternative right now i mean we have seen what happens with the forces on the ground in iraq and syria and so far the only feasible powers in the last years have been the kurdish powers so it's definitely more about path dependency and pragmatism in. the long run. about. as you say realpolitik is alive and well in that area that's for sure does enjoy for the german institute for global and area of studies we appreciate your time and your insights tonight thank you thank you.

well how many of you bike to work i do and the number of people like me has grown by leaps and bounds since the pandemic began just ask the people in the kenyan capital nairobi despite the lack of bike lanes on most roads many are now pedaling to stay healthy and to bypass the city's notorious traffic jay. the daily commute to work is never uneventful for stephen odhiambo weaving his way through nairobi's ever troublesome gridlocks since the cove in 1000 pandemic hit kenya in march last year the 30 year old has avoided public transport he'd rather take his chances on 2 wheels on the capital's chaotic roads the fear was there. trying to manage the move at this sort of hours where the day was kelis they can push off the road. his commute is 15 kilometers long on roads with no cycle lanes so he has to contend with the unpredictable driving of trucks buses and motorcycles

. if i don't show you the benefit of why i'm cycling and what you see safe and healthier for you you want to see the benefit of it like for me pass on every possible story when it started in april until. december last year contributing i had lost 20 cages. in that span just cycling not g.m. not ironing not dieting many more nairobi residents have also taken up cycling since the pandemic started bicycle sellers report boom in business jim karumba said he's been went up by more than half in 2020. 2020 this i want to 29 to move tons of sales because you find that people wanted to save or more just to keep fit to. route from walk from point a to point me. mostly since cycling is

a sport we wanted to keep fit because people on lock know while cycling is often a more affordable means of travel it can be a dangerous activity in a city like nairobi kenya as national transport authority estimates $69.00 cyclists died in road accidents in the city last year that's prompting calls for more action to protect those on 2 wheels. we hear. that has been good for cycling as shown policymakers that people want to walk people watch to cycle and they have to whether they like it or not they have to find a way of ensuring people kind of get to their destinations safe and sound it's no longer forcing ourselves to share roads with. terrorists we do need a space dedicated specifically for cyclists and for interest and there are some changes to note back in 2015 or 30 is committed 20 percent of the road budget to non-motorized transport and today bike lanes are being set up in the city center

a sign of hope for a smoother ride in the future. in los angeles today lady ga ga as dog walker was shot and her 2 prized french bulldogs kidnapped it happened near the famed sunset boulevard the dog walker we understand is expected to survive his gunshot wounds lady gaga who is known to be extremely protective of her dogs is offering half a $1000000.00 to anyone who can help return her pictures. the day's almost done the conversation continues online you'll find us on twitter either give you news you can follow me a print off t.v. every member whatever happens between now and then tomorrow is another day we'll see you then everybody.

gets. to the point showing the pages is a clear position some international perspective sea. temperatures are once again rising between the u.s. and iran so will the 2 enemies be able to renegotiate the iran nuclear deal with the trump turned his back only 28 seen will the downward spiral consume you find out on to the point. to the point. next up on g.w. . if the ballot billions it's

a valid power. it's about the foundation of the world order. the silk road. china wants to use the network and train routes to expand its global influence including euro conflicts are inevitable. weightier up. 45 minutes on d w. they were forced into an aimless mass of their bodies to. the history of the slave trade is africa's history. describes how the greed for

power and for profit plummeted and entire continent into chaos and violence. this is the journey back into the history of slavery. our documentary series slavery routes starts march 10th on d w. the united states and iran have be on channel news for decades now and once again tensions are running high and the question is can the incoming bite the ministration and the devalued did leadership in terror renegotiate the nuclear agreement that donald trump walks away from 2018 and under what price certainly a lot hinges on what the 2 sides choose to do next so here on to the point where you ask your brand in america is a new nuclear deal possible.