ah, ah ah ah ah, this is either we news live from berlin bands in russia. the foreign ministry of moscow announces it is shutting down this network of germany's international broadcaster deutsch avella. the move comes in retaliation for berlin's decision to

ban german language programming from russia, state media broadcaster, and a major blow to the so called islamic state. last march operation took a major terrorist leader off the battlefield. u. s. president, jo bonuses the i s leader blew himself up as us forces approach during a read in northwest syria. several other people also killed during the operation near the turkish border. ah, unlocked, thank you so much for joining us. russia has announced it is banning this network deutsch traveler, germany's international broadcaster as a retaliatory move if, when ministry said it was closing deutsche of alice moscow bureau and revoking accreditation for our staff there. this is in response to germany's decision to ban

german language programming from russia, state media broadcaster our team. earlier i spoke to d, w. 's, director general peter lindberg to get his reaction. or we had been expecting some measures by the russian side, but i think this sir, is a total over reacting from the russian government because they're closing the bureau. they, they want us not to, to broadcast anything any more in russia. and i think also that our correspondence must leave. obviously, russia is something which is a really over erection, and it's not even a tit for tat measure if you want to see that like this. because 1st of all, you can't compare oe r t german with the dodge of l. i mean, we have public service broadcaster and not a state govern meant broadcaster. and on the other hand, we have to see that the russian journalists, sir,

will continue to work freely in germany and can broadcast whatever they want. so, and this is not the case with our colleagues, so it's really disappointing to see this, how the russian government is reacting and what will happen next. is there anything that you can do, or we will take legal step, sir, and to try to, to see whether this measures are legal even from russian standards, sir. but this is something which we will have to discuss, sir, in the coming coming hours. but i think legal steps is something we will take and then we will discuss this also, obviously with the, with our institutions here in germany. you know, we have so many dedicated, hardworking staff working for years in russia. have you heard from them? have you been in touch with them? how are they feeling about this decision? obviously they're also shocked by the, by the measures because everybody was expecting that there might be coming something. and this is also the foreign ministry in moscow yesterday announced that

there will be some kind of reaction. but i think for people who really love to work in russia and they love the german, they love the russian culture they, they are really into, into a reporting from this, this beautiful and so interesting country, it's hard to accept that they have to stop one day or 2 the other, and so i think they are shocked and do. yes, it is something which is which is also said for a journalist to leave the country on short notice. and in terms of press freedom, of course, in the press, has been under attack for some time in russia. but what does the signal to you now? well, the press freedom in russia is minimal. i mean, there, there are some independent outlets, but they're struggling. and this is another sign that russia is not interested in. the russian government is not interested in press freedom and freedom of opinion, but i can only say, even if we have to leave the country,

we will intensify reporting on the country. so i think this must be also clear to the russian side that we will not just ignore what's happening. russia, we will report and we will do more and more. did have your director general peter lambert. thank you very much. thanks so much. and d, w is moscow. bureau chief is uri rachelle and we can talk to him right now. are you, how did you find out about this decision? well, have learned about it layla from the russian media, the rest of information about it was also the website of the russian minister of foreign affairs are in the mean time, i have received an official letter from the russian foreign minister where i was officially as a bureau chief, informed that our office has to be closed, starting at 9 o'clock to morrow. that means i can still talk to you from this studio now by to and not to any more starting tomorrow. what does this mean for your work? you are a, do you have to leave immediately?

will have to clarify this forester at the moment. it is not clear if and if yes, when i personally and my colleagues from germany have to leave the country. of course, of this decision by the russian got authorities came as a great surprise surprise to us. we are shocked for all of us here at this news is very personal. are we expected countermeasures from the russian authorities? it was announced that there would be a response days ago, but just how tough this response is. surprising as there are a lot of open questions at the moment. technical questions, legal best sions. so far, we only know from the authorities that we have to give back our press accreditation cards to morrow during the day to the russian foreign ministry. those are the cards that give us the right to work as journalist. here in russia, w. moscow bureau chief uri shadow

while the decision from moscow comes as german chancellor, all of shorts prepares to head to russia's capital for talks on ukraine. cesar shorts called the build up of russian troops on ukraine's border. very serious and said any invasion would come with serious consequences. the german chancellor has been under pressure from other nato members to take a harder line on russia. no date has been set yet for his trip to the russian capital. ok, we can talk more about this sir, with the d w's, political correspondence. simon. young simon, pressure mounting on the chancellor to take more action to be more pro active when it comes to russia. now, he's headed to moscow. what do you think he hopes to achieve? with his visit well, chelsea michelle is still talking very clearly about de escalation is the top priority and avoiding conflict in ukraine. i think that is the main thing he'll be

seeking to do when he goes to moscow. it's the 1st face to face meeting between sholtes and, and putin. it will be when, when it happens sincere shots became chancellor. and it'll be a chance me to look him in the eyes and a call to mind what the price could be for, for the russian aggression in ukraine. and he said that all options are on the table if that were military action. so de escalation and at the same time talking tough, i think they go hand in hand and this is part of a white, a diplomatic effort by chance flu shots. he'll be going to washington to talk with president biden at the beginning of next week. there are also suggestions that could be a 3 way meeting with the french and polish president to discuss ukraine. and of course, you'll also be talking to the ukrainian government at the same time. so

a multi pronged diplomatic offensive, so to speak of a simon the as you like there, the germans going for the carrot and stick approach. it seems what kind of leverage does chancellor shawls have? well, the key thing that we for repeatedly talked about, of course, is sir nod string to the gas pipeline to bring russian gas to germany and europe. and as i said, just the shows have said options are on the table that includes that pipeline and saying that it won't go into operation if there were russian aggression. it's a tough call for chancellor shells. get germany is very reliant on gas imports, particularly from russia. i think germany plays a role in other ways. it's key for nato deployments, as we've seen with this decision by the us to deploy more troops into europe that happens usually through germany. and also of course, germany is a key lead country in the you, in terms of diplomatic reactions at simon,

my final question that to you the chance those party are the social democrats. they of course, are under fire for being too amiable when it comes to russia. let's put it that way . does that bother the chancellor? well, chelsea shalt says sir, no. the s p d is so totally united and they want to stand up to aggression and avoid war. but you know where it was put to him, for instance, is he getting too much advice from the former chancellor. gerhard schroeder is of course is a big backer. of that nod stream to project, he says, well, he seemed rather irritated and said look, there's only one chancellor in germany. and that's me. so i think there are divisions within the his party, but also within the 3 party coalition government here in germany, and not everybody's exactly on message when it comes to russia. and simon, we lead our broadcaster with the news that the w has been that banter in russia,

in a few words will that were sent already strained bilateral relations. well, we've had some reaction from the coach. your minister claudia wrote, she says it's completely unacceptable and is clearly an attempt by moscow to retaliate for germany's decision not to allow r t in the russia today, a broadcaster to operate here in germany. and so there's already pushed back is a strained relationship for the now valley poisoning and so on. have caused real problems in the russian gen relationship. this doesn't help. i to simon young. i did of his political correspondence. thank you. and some breaking developments from you out of washington. u. s. president joe biden gave a statement a short while ago saying the leader of the so called islamic states has died or was killed rather during a targeted rate by us forces in syria senior us officials say abil ibrahim, she mccrae, she blew himself up as the operation got underway in the north west of the country

. here is more of what the u. s. president said. our forces carried out the operation with their signature preparation of precision. and i directed the department of defense to take every precaution possible to minimize civilian casualties. knowing that this terrorist had chosen surround himself with families, including children, we made a choice to pursue a special forces raid at a much greater risk than our to our own people. rather than targeting him with an air strike. we made this choice to minimize civilian casualties. let's go straight to the w over salad in washington. are any more details at the u. s. present shared during his remarks. layla is the biggest u. s rayed and syria since the killing of our bach. her albert daddy, back in 2019, we know that some 13 people were killed. president biden praised his service members. he said that all us soldiers were able to get out safely. and he also

explained in detail how courageous she blew himself up there. you heard of them the sound slide, and this raid was a good example of how the u. s. is capable to take down terrorists as a reminder, this rate also comes in half about half a year after that tara attack of isis terrorist at the cobble airport. like at the time when thousands of of county citizens, men, women, children were trying to escape the country. and some 13 u. s. soldiers died and during this attack, ironically exactly the same amount of people that were killed in that u. s. rate biden. at the time bald retaliation and i'll taking down for the highest ices leader is that kind of retaliation that prison bud and was hoping for an offer it did the president remark it all on the timing of the raid as always worth looking at the bigger picture and looking at the situation and

present biden funds, it's finds himself in domestically because he is under enormous pressure. as you know, several of his policy packages stalled the bill back, so called bill back, better act, which was part of his election promise. and his, his tor is for popularity is on a historic low as well. only president trump was less popular than biden. and now of course, the, the troop withdrawal out of gaston and, and the subsequent chaotic scenes, including the terra tag, a couple airport are considered a failure in biden's policy. and the retaliation certainly that we saw here now is somewhat of a correctional that image. and as that kind of success that he urgently needs because we're also in an election year the mid term elections are getting closer this fall. and that is certainly the kind of news that present biden urgently needed to have these office out reporting from washington. thank you.

emergency crews in ecuador are continuing to search for people still missing after deadly flooding and mud slides in the capital, quito. the country is observing an official period of morning after at least 24 people were killed in what's being described as the heaviest rainfall and 2 decades . it's a major operation to clear the debris from destroyed buildings and blocked roads in kito. and if possible, find any people trapped in homes and streets it comes after intense rain which began on monday and pounded the capital for more than 24 hours. it weakened a hillside and send waves of mud flowing through the city. this man from venezuela was in a small room, he shared with other migrants when disaster struck. but a more suddenly the water hit us, the building broken too,

and we ended up at the back. so we fell down to florida and then we were swept away . you know, a death announcement as residents faced the reality of this sudden disaster. and the threat might not yet be over. officials and not ruling out further landslides. dizziness goes in about a little bit of anything could still happen at the top part of the mountain documents double that there could be more landslides going. we'll continue monitoring the area with drones galleries on that. this is all for our safety on to bring tom one, a little not blinking. but with the rain having subsided for now, rescue teams at grabbing the opportunity to search for survivors. tonga has gone into logged down after confirming a number of coven 19 cases. the pacific island nation is still recovering from a devastating volcanic eruption and massive tsunami. last month and before the

disaster, tango was covert free ships bringing aid are likely to have carried the virus to the island. all is quiet on the streets of the tongan capital newco alova images reminiscent for many around the world of the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 but for residents here in tonga, the measures to deal with cove at 19 are now necessary. there is a little, i think it's a good thing. we need to be tricking and, and, and doing tracy. oh. those who were in contact with the read the 1st 2 will be cases, tonga entered, to locked. and after several, coven 19 cases were discovered. it's thought that ships bringing aid may be had the corona virus reached the country's shores. the south pacific nation was previously corona free. it's another blow to town guns who are still struggling to deal with

the aftermath of a catastrophic volcanic eruption in january. but there is some hope over 80 percent of people over the age of 12 are fully vaccinated. the locked and which only permits essential services to remain open will be reassessed by the tongan government every 48 hours. let's get, she were caught up with some of the other stories in the headlines right now. new zealand well began re opening its borders and phases, starting at the end of february, fully vaccinated citizens and visa holders from australia will be allowed in 1st. under the new rules of actually, the citizens entering the country will be allowed to quarantine at home instead of at a managed isolation facility. many dance has become the 1st is really defense minister to visit by name. it's the latest high profile diplomatic trip

since the countries normalized ties. israel's reconciliation with several arab nations breaks with decades of arab lea consensus, a guest recognizing israel until it signs a peace agreement establishing a palestinian state. shares in facebook owner meta plunged by 20 percent and after hours trading on wednesday, knocking a whopping $200000000000.00 off the company's value. the fall came after chief executive mark zuckerberg told investors that meta expected 1st quarter revenues to dip due to competition from rivals tick tock. a lease present says your mother ela has been sworn in for a 2nd term. the 80 year old didn't want another 70 years in office, but was persuaded to stay on after lawmakers failed to agree on a compromise candidate in last week's election in her speech to parliament. mother,

ella appealed for greater unity. germany has raised doubts over the future of its involvement in molly, where the buddhist, their soldiers are stationed as part of an international mission against islamic militants. berlin has been critical of the move by molly's military rulers, to expel the french ambassador. it comes amid growing tensions with the west african country, which we neg, on an agreement to organize elections for this month. germany's foreign minister has said, european governments should start to re evaluate their anti to hottest duties. in the country. christoph hoffman is a member of the german parliament for the free democrats, the junior partner partner in germany's governing coalition. he's also the vice chairman of the buddhist hoc committee for economic cooperation and development, and he joins us now certain very warm. welcome to the w. news now 9 years into its

mission to molly, germany and other partners seem to be running out of patience with the military government. what are some of the main sticking points for berlin? number one, we have been in molly for 50 years with a big corporation for the developmental molly. and this was of selfish employ commitment to germany. this was just for who military and thought and to improve the livelihood of man, people in money. and now we've been in 2013 with the 2 united nation emissions. it's not the german mission. if the united nation mission and the european training mission for molly to improve the self defense of the country security was deteriorating in 2013. before that, now we have some publications from the audi hunter, as was

a flight of a german airplane bringing in soldiers from germany, which to could not fly over. molly and these sort of publications hinder us to do our duties within the united nation mission. and so we cannot work like that. i mean, if, if we will come in, we will stay my, if would not, with will probably will pull out. this is very easy because german tax payers don't like it to pay taxes for nothing. are you worried about the growing presence of russian met mercenaries in molly that are working for the controversial walk in our group? is that also complicating things on the ground? absolutely. i think the publications came under the russian influx. i think mister goto, who is the leader of the counter, there was not in the beginning against germany at all. i think he's

because germany has a very good reputation in molly. and so it has also within the military. but now that the russians coming in, and we've seen the same thing in the central african republic before and after 4 years of engagement of russian fighters in the central african republic, students are now learning the cur, like alphabet. so this is a strong russian influence. and i think russia is playing here, just try to game. and this is they don't want to see what their troops doing on the ground. and so they don't allow the german drawn flying in the command of the un mission, so that the drowns are on the ground. and we cannot see what the ice is and all these people are doing. so this is a dangerous situation that doesn't make sense to continue working like this. and what is it? it is to this point, sorry for interrupting you. the opposition city,

you, the christian democrats, they are very critical and oppose a potential drop because they argue that germany is, is navel gazing and that molly risks collapse and chaos if countries withdraw. now, do they have a point? i think, i mean the chaos was before, because we had seen a lot of corrupt regimes there. and so the whole country was brung down, there was no school to open. that was open. and what do you expect? i mean, then people start not believing in the government or so this is the sort of chaos which was created and you can find that chaos with military mean and so the to be ices. and all of these influence is sort of the result of the chaos which came in, but that government before and so we should work on bad governance rather than on

military engagement. so i don't think the christian democrats are right in this point. i think we, i hope we can continue with the un mission there and, but probably the russian influences really disturbing this point. and of course we can tolerate. i just have a couple of seconds less has the german mission. the un mission failed in molly the money people were, were asking for more security. and probably the u. t. m was not efficient enough to really deploy this sort of security. molly and people really wanted it. this was something we should have thought about, right? we have to leave their money because of hoffman. sorry for interrupting you that we have to leave with their christmas huffman, member of the german parliament for the free democrats. thank you very much for coming on. we greatly appreciate it. please do come back. you are welcome. bye bye . a major snow storm is causing widespread disruption in

parts of the united states, but some are reveling in the cold weather like this polar bear in a chicago zoom. you can't seem to get enough of the fresh, powdery stuff, hudson, that's his name was clearly in his element. the state of illinois and parts of northern indiana are expecting up to $45.00 centimeters by the end of thursday. a reminder of the top stories that we are covering right now. russia's foreign ministry has announced it is banning this network. deutsche of ela am shutting down d w's moscow bureau. the move comes and retaliation for jeremy's decision to ban german language programming from russia. state media broadcaster r t a new as president joe biden says us special forces have removed a major terror threat. he sent the leader of the so called islamic state blew himself up during a targeted raid in northwest syria. several other people were also killed in the

operation near the turkish border. coming up next and dw news asia more on the mood in beijing as we had to work the opening of the 2022 winter games and the painting of training as taiwan bolsters. it's military to counter a growing threads from china that and more coming up in just a moment with my colleague the ration banner g. i'm a little rock in berlin. i'll have the world headlines for you at the top of the hour to catch ah, with

ah, [000:00:00;00] with the battle against cove, with the only crew variant is putting healthcare systems around the world to the

test. vaccination campaigns are accelerating while restrictions are intensifying once again. but are these measures enough to stop the spread of oma kron fax data and reports cove. at 19 special in 60 minutes on d. w. several did in right wing extremists women's rights regression again wild mommy and couple rate and burned in south africa. people with disabilities more likely to lose their jobs. in the pandemic black lives matter. shine a spotlight on racially motivated police violence, same sex marriage is being legalized in more and more countries, discrimination, inequality or part of everyday life. for many, we ask why? because life is diversity to make up your own mind in

d. w. lead for mine. ah, soccer is a sport of colors and the children in this mountain village. oh them all. but can everyone be adorned with them regardless of gender. huh. where is blue? the color of her favorite but sex is traditions, prevent her from going to game. don't play with an insurmountable obstacle. bloomed girl football on the peak. starts february, 4th on d, w. ah, this is did up in years asia coming up to day counting down for the winter olympics