ah, ah, ah ah, this is dw news why? from berlin? germany's chancellor lands in washington for christ as talks on ukraine, shoals has been criticized for not always supporting allied efforts to counter russia's troop builds up on ukraine's borders. he's looking to reassure president biden of germany's result also coming up on the show from northern ethiopia, our correspondent joins locals, trying to repair the physical and mental scars after fears of fighting in a true brian region. chinese tennis star punks. why gives an interview at the

beijing olympics denying? she accused a communist party boss of sexual assaults. but did she speak under duress? bus synagogue declares a special national holiday today. oh wow. football fans in the capital decor celebrate for the senegalese team wins. it's 1st ever title africa cup of nations. ah, hello, i'm clear richard santa, very warm. welcome to the show. a week of urgent diplomacy takes off today as european leaders try to defuse the crisis over ukraine, french president and my new i'm. a kron will hold talks in moscow with vladimir putin amid fears. russia is preparing to invade its southern neighbour. meanwhile, german chancellor, all of shawls, is preparing for talks in the white house, seeking to reassure president joe biden, that germany is

a reliable ally. shaw has reiterated that military aggression against ukraine would have a high cost for russia. but germany is nato allies, including the us, are unhappy with berlin's refusal to provide ukraine with defensive weapons and short stress. that decision is in line with a longstanding german policy on arm sales. they've honestly give up that for years the german government has followed a clear course of not delivering to crisis owns on not delivering lethal weaponry to ukraine from one to forget. that was my predecessors, policy, it was right then and remains right. by the way, this is really important to me that the majority of german see it exactly as i do as the government does. and as my predecessor didn't exist either, but not everyone sees it that way and their voices are very low at the moment of my but my duty is to do what's in the interest of the german people. and what in this case is also the view of the citizens of this country on this longest. let's get straight across to dw political correspondent, nina hossa. nina,

where at the start of an intense week of diplomacy over ukraine rush attentions, the white house saying russia could attack ukraine any day now or what's the german government's threat assessments? the german government is castle in its wording. all our sorts. the chancellor says that the situation is very serious. and demi's foreign minister on elena babylon has recently called the russian troops and the ukrainian border a threat. but the message that we're getting from the german government is still war, can still be avoided and should still be avoided. so germany is now throwing all its weight behind this edge in crisis diplomacy. so these next couple of days are full with bilateral and multilateral meetings. including with russia at the negotiating table. despite that germany has drawn a lot of criticism from its allies for not taking a tougher line against russia. what are the chances for bite and, and a shorts they will find a joint solution for approaching this crisis. many people have criticized all sorts

the german chancellor to take too long to actually travel to washington because this is his inaugural visit. and it shows responded by saying that this meeting has been diligently prepared. so he probably does have something in the suitcase with him. what it is we'll find out later today, but choice will of course, underline that germany plays in t nato, so to speak. and president biden and electrodes will jointly reiterate that the response would be tough, a 1st of what it did to invade rec crane. and that will options would be on the table as far as sanctions would go, but germany will not deliver lethal weapons to ukraine. russia reiterated that just before departure. but what biden, until it could perhaps announcing concrete terms, is that nato could continue increasing its true presence in the baltic states. germany at least, seems ready to double its true presence. in lithuania, we will of course, be following that meeting for you here on d. w, now, meanwhile,

german foreign minister, angelina bare balk, is joined by her check slovak and austrian counterparts in a key of to day. what can they offer ukraine? an alina babel is in care of to day, and in east and ukraine, and on the front line to morrow. now, she said before departure that ukraine sovereignty must absolutely not be violated, and that the response would be tough, much like left shots. and she is going to stress again, that germany will continue its support of ukraine. now, what many people don't realize is that germany has been one of ukraine's biggest economic support is over recent years. if not, the biggest one is given almost 2000000000 euros to ukraine. since 2014, to help the country develop economically. and in terms of democratic structures, that is something that the german government hasn't really put in the windows and very much. and they're trying to change that, that adopting a different strategy and boast a bit more if you will. and of course, by going together with her counterparts from other european countries on alina

babel also wants to signal to ukrainian lead. lead is the message, the west, a standing united because of course, we'll have so it's also said before the passing to washington that all of germany's efforts a very closely coordinated with the allies to make sure that the so called west does not give pu 10 even the remotest idea that the west can be divided, and that is of course, also true for the meeting between french president man where my conte, letting me putin that a, something that he close, he coordinate it with all of our political correspondent nina has. i thank you so much for that update. andy w correspondent, mac bullen guy is covering this story for us from the region. he traveled at you, eastern ukraine, near areas controlled by russian backed separate tests. and he sent us this report from the village of granite. now, the village school of ranita, the last village here on ukrainian control territory, is close to the front line. it has come under fire before. now the classrooms empty,

not because of the war, but because of new cove it restrictions, the war is something. people have been living with for 8 years. they will not on board the push, not that they did, they began to wire commerce at the time the children go to school the to the speech, but we don't know what will happen in 5 or 10 minutes. she but to morrow nice, a lot more always worried. the always scared saperstein listed are just a few 100 meters down this road is the last ukrainian position with who is in the line. the fi of the opposite side. there is a heavy military presence immigrant. a ceasefire is in place, but shelling can sometimes be heard at night. lamb could read for a year for saturday. we already know who shoots and when. so we just sit at home.

louis, it was worse a few years ago. we always hit in the cellar when there was fighting. but that was then the shelley shifted with the key to lovely. but with the latest russian build up, a bigger escalation is on the table again. discomfited on the cell when things come down, we bought a house here. oh joseph. but now we don't know what will happen. deduction. ukrainian territory ends with the last houses of the village. behind the small river lies the demilitarized strip. the pedestrian bridge is the only link to the next village in the so called grey zone. the sort of the next village is not small. people come here every day to work live, and kids go to school. one of the people crosses the border every day is

teacher ludmilla car truck. she is from across the river and does not want to give her your name because her life depends on good relations with both sides. shelling is even more frequent in her villain. guerrero bought a yell was on that of my work is here. i come here every day. yes, it's hard. yes, it's dangerous, very dangerous. well, i can't just quit work and leave. i just can't put this way. i don't know whom. she says she has not yet lost hope that somehow this conflict might come to an end peaceful. let's bring you up to speed now with some of the other stories that are making headlines at this hour. the death toll has risen to at least 20 people for a cycle and hit se madagascar, nearly 50000 others have been forced to leave their homes. the storm has brought widespread flooding to the indian ocean island. it is the 2nd storm to hit

madagascar in recent weeks. mexican security forces have evicted nearly 400 people from a makeshift camp in the border city of tiquana. it had been occupied for more than a year by migrants trying to reach the u. s. account was formed after the biden administration limited, the cross border flow of migrants due to the pandemic. australia has announced it is reopening to all fully vaccinated. international visitors starting february 21st . the country shut its borders when the pandemic began nearly 2 years ago. and entry rolls were only relaxed in november for skilled workers and students. while canada, as a capital city has declared a state of emergency, a mayor of ottawa says a blockade by truck drivers is threatening the safety and security of residents. their protest began after they were told and they needed to get vaccinated to be able to cross the u. s. border. but it has gathered wider support in

a country where many are weary of corona virus restrictions. ah, making themselves heard in canada's capital. these protesters have paralyzed central ottawa and the cities man has declared a state of emergency. the so called freedom convoy started as a protest by truckers at a new coven 19 vaccine mandate for crossing the border from the us. but it's growing into a rallying point against pandemic restrictions and the government people should be able to make their own choice to take your needle or not take the needle and not lose, not to lose her house, not lose her income. just for vaccination. oh, she was mad at the situation on the streets was out of control. as demonstrate as outnumbered police. there are reports of protesters displaying confederate and nazi symbols. we have a serious emergency where we have to put all options on the table. and that may

include some violence, we want to minimize that. but at the end of the day, the people are not going to leave. we're gonna have to be forced to leave plain and simple. this cannot go on for months and months is. this is causing such having such grief, but the movement has gained international support and millions of dollars in donations through its go fund me page. the crowd funding site has now removed the page and said it will refund old donations. many auto residents have said, members of the freedom convoy, have harassed them and complained of nonstop horn blaring. some have staged counter protests. i just have to stand up. i was born just after the 2nd world war. i heard this like not to be free and they are thing freedom. they're afraid they don't know what it is, not to be frank. about 90 percent of cross border truck is and almost 80 percent of

canada's population a fully vaccinated. but these loud minority say this: staying put in till coven 19 restrictions are lifted. and we turn now to ethiopia, where the suffering continues more than a year after the government launched an attack in the northern t cry. region rights groups, se atrocities have been committed by parties on both sides, including the mass rate of women and girls. the government is still restricting media and humanitarian access to t cry. meanwhile, regions bordering teague ry are. i'll walk away, she cried. fighters have withdrawn back into their home region, but their neighbors are still full of mistrust. d, w. east africa correspondent mario miller, reports from the i'm hora town of labella, where some people are taking up arms. ah, labelle as rock hewn churches look peaceful in the morning light. they seem

untouched by the events of the past months. labella has twice been captured by fighters loyal to the t gray people's liberation front, or tpl ethanol. the town has now been liberated by government forces. he had better go against the morning prayers just ended. this church is one of 11 medieval churches cut into rock. it has great symbolic value with europeans. that is also why a t p l f was needing to conquer this town. at this time of year, one of the holiest will orthodox christians. labella is normally full of international visitors and diaspora europeans. but most of them have stayed away. worry that fighters could been again, from the neighboring te gray region, even though the t p a left promised in december to withdraw all of their fighters back into t grey. his own so many people have fled. those who stayed here, you know,

we suffered a lot of stress, isn't that elaine or daughter into my, my sad i let us ok point out their guns at us. the 2nd time they came, they raped women and beat and killed people. deferral. so debreto, so good luck at the mazda they looted in a town and raped and beat women diluted their hotels. we had no power and water, but go, i lemme run away from the church. as we meet may yoni read that he used to work as the security guard at this now destroyed hotel. he tells us some of that he grain fighters used it as their headquarters. they left messages on the wall before they left. welcome to state of tea grey, and no more at european, i'm to grain the writing says and nestor, this is the way yes, her fatigue ry fighters were having a conference here preparing for the war with them. but then they got hit and the hotel was destroyed. and if we were here together, we would have died as even

a not out in with what they'll tell was probably hit van on drone experts from the dutch and jail parks have identified these missile fragments as part of a bomb fitted to a turkish drone turkey. has been criticized for possibly selling the drones to with your peers government. the drones are also thought to be responsible for numerous civilian deaths in ethiopia, civil war. in fact, all parties involved in the conflict have been accused of committing atrocities. according to the united nations and rights organizations. this kindergarten is now a temporary camp for volunteer fighters called funnel. wow, wow. wow. no group has signed up many new recruits since the to grey rebels 1st attack labella

including women, imo today sir, is one of them and listening in quality. looking at them, it's been debunked with her and my uncle and my aunt husband who reads me like my own father are dead. my friend who was like a sister to me was raped, had he and he so young that we're going to be and if i get a chance to find them, i will fight them to my last breath. and he bugging nettle. he would disconnected us. no, but any michigan, again, the thunder fighters as celebrating 50 of them, i modeled them on them a traveling to the border between m hora in t grey. the volunteer if i to say they want to defend the border region in case the t p l f attacks again. oh, well chinese tenant star punctual i seems to have retracted her sexual assault allegations in her 1st appearance in western media since she made the accusations

in an interview published today in a french newspaper that came, she said, sexual assaults. i never said any one had sexually assaulted me in any way. the former doubles world number one had previously alleged on a social media post that she had been forced into sax by china's former vice premier. the post was quickly deleted, and pung then disappeared from public view for 3 weeks. parking concerns for her safety. on met with the chief of the international when the committee on saturday, in beijing to plenty of questions around this case, to get some answers. let's bring in journalist fabi and crush more in beijing up punch. why now? saying she never made any allegations, but we know such allegations it did appear on her social media account before being deleted. so what is going on here? it's quite strange and a kind of surreal plot twists happening here. am, in my opinion, the interview she gave to the french sport magazine. doesn't really at much value.

because 1st of all, she was accompanied by an official, the chief of staff of the national olympic committee. he also interpreted for her, even though, if you look on youtube in the archive um, she seems to speak quite um, good english. so i mean, that gives us some idea. it's a little bit of a strange situation. but yet her message has basically nothing to see her, everything is normal and m a please don't or give me any attention. but am her social media post is say it's out there. she brought it and she doesn't even doubt herself that am it's from her. so am yeah, i think we have to wait and pretty get an independent investigation in it. in the past, people under duress in china has been coerced into making false public statements. i think what everyone is wondering is, could this also be the case with a punch? why possibly? yes, but i think it's really important to am. stick to the fact. see, i think both cases are both scenarios will be possible on the one hand. yeah,

we have to acknowledge those false confessions and they exist, they're actually quite white spread and sometimes they're also and broadcast. and in the state tv, we know those cases are well documented. and, and of course she's under a lot of pressure. i mean, this is all really effects. on the other hand, we know that she's quite a proud a patriot. she is proud of her government, that's what she posts in the past on her way, boy, account, et cetera. so there would be the per scenario also that maybe she realized that she, i'm hum to the reputation of her home country and now she wants to retract from it . we simply don't know, and i think it's not good to speculate too much. we really need an investigation upon just met with the chief of the international olympic committee, thomas bar. what role is the i o c playing and getting to the bottom of this yet really not a very helpful role. i would argue, i mean, thomas spot was the 1st one who had a video called with punch. why? and then basically said everything is fine. and i mean, there was a big mistake. he was basically facilitating the propaganda apparatus. and i'm,

i mean, he never really very critical to woodstock, chinese government. i mean, he's not really a credible voice when it comes to neutrality and also independence em. so my advice would be the t should not make any interpretations regarding her case. i mean, i think that there someone else needed another institution would who would be a better judge. thank you very much. a javion crash mark journalist in beijing. let's get more from the beijing winter olympics. now where day force or athletes break records beat the odds and make history on the snow and on the ice. here's a quick look at some of the stand out performances. in snowboarding, canadian max pero soar to canada's 1st gold of the games, capturing the top prize in the men slope style pero who was diagnosed with cancer after winning the silver metal in 2018. kept off his emotional olympic come back by

winning his 1st winter games. gold. in alpine skiing, one of the biggest winter olympic events, switzerland viet voice flew to gold in a dramatic race which was delayed from sunday due to high winds. foyt narrowly edged out frenchman johan clary, by just 110th of a 2nd to win his 1st olympic gold. 15 year old russian camilla valia van made history by becoming the 1st few my figure skater to land of quadruple jump at the games. she landed 2 and stumbled a 3rd, but the russians still won a team. gold and in football, cynical have one of the africa cup of nations for the 1st time ever after they beat 7 at time champions, egypt and sundays final in yon day. and results that had fans in their home country celebrating throughout the night. ah, elation in the car, off the senate goals 1st ever africa cup of nations when. but the party atmosphere

was also mixed with a sense of relief after a tricky stop to the final against egypt in the 7th minutes stop. play a sadie o monee mister penalty, but recovered from the set back with the help of his teammates. oh wow. what's on his account, he'll i do, can you know what made the difference when i missed the 1st penalty? we've been all my teammates came to me and told me mc with audio. and if you miss but who cares? we are a team. we went together and we lived together his only keep on going else on, on federal, someone got off on after a go las 120 minutes money became the hero with a winning penalty in the shootout. and despite winning the champions league and premier league with liverpool, this title ranks higher. phillip, this is dusty bos with at least the best day of my life, philadelphia, i think it's the most important trophy of my life. to day, i continue to live a dream. i can't even believe it is another of a wait was long, but finally we did it and then we're all happy and proud to witness trophy, dea begonia,

supporting the reaction to the victory. so fans celebrate wildly and dare to dream of winning even more titles. i was very happy about the scope. we knew that synagogue would when the trophy is elected, we've been waiting a long time to get his title. well, it's about time. now we're going to win the world cup. i don't want to reach that upcoming world cup and could so cynical will have to again beat egypt over 2 legs in march, his final qualification round a task that now may feel more than achievable to these delighted supporters i and in germany's buddhist league sundays early match saw a blow at wayne, for by our labour cruising against home team will reschedule 25 to the final score . at deals a heavy blow to documented title, hopes, spirits were high endorsement ahead of the game,

but in just 90 minutes time fans would waive their title hope's good bye. it only took 10 minutes for lever cousins to take the lead following chaos. indictments defense manuel icons. he poked a ball beyond his own keeper, a nightmare stuart for the swiss dot one did get one back quite quickly. thanks to yet another on goal. this time by jeremy frank hung but just 4 minutes later of and i can't flew on votes, found the back of the net after great combination play to retake leave. i was in sleet. the goals just kept coming. a fantastic free kick by ho. but under the mate, the score $3.00 to $1.00 heading into half time an injured elling. holland was too stunned to speech. leave a cruise and showed no mercy instead. great financing with ya. not santa's smashing home the 4 to one. and it was the frenchman mussa dabby who score lever cruises 5th of the night. dot one did score one more themselves, but that was purely damage. limitation 5 to to the final result and embarrassment

forgot months in front of their home crowd. they now trail by on, by 9 points leave. i was not the other hand, had themselves a night to remember and celebrate. and before we go, let's leave you with a curious twinkle in the night sky that has social media buzzing. check this out with bright lights shooting across the sky above. cabo san lucas and mexico's baja, california. he shared videos and their theories about what the lights could be. some think they saw a falling meteorite or space debris, but so far it's true. origin still unknown. and time for a quick reminder of the top story we are following for you. german chancellor, olaf shoulds has arrived in washington for talks with us president joe biden. i'll discuss the threat of a new russian invasion of ukraine. actually has repeated his refusal to provide ukraine with defensive weapons as your his update at this hour coming up next in detail. you news asia or on chinese tennis, t. r. pung, shy, denying,

sexual assault claims where they really just a huge misunderstanding as she now claims. and a special report from india as a nation, warns one of its most beloved singers and stories and more in detail. you asia with my colleague, melissa chad. thanks so much for joining us. ah ah ah ah

ah. with who we know. it's here to stay has become part of our lives the convent 19 virus. they know where it really came from and how it spreads. while they have taken a giant step towards getting to the bushes of lung cause it to morrow to day in 60 minutes on dw.

ah, what secrets lie behind these walls discover new adventures in 360 degrees? ah, and explore fascinating world heritage sites with b w world heritage. 360. get the up now on the road with our travel super heroes. my mission is clear who crushed iga and nicoli. felicia explored germany. they dive in and they check everything out. there's a lot going on in ha, germany tried and tested with d. w. every journey begins with the 1st step and every language with the 1st word. clinical niko is in germany to learn

german with why not learn with him. with it's simple online, on your mobile and free t w e learning course, nico speak, german made easy. ah, you're watching d w news asia coming up today and more controversy at the aging olympics, this time over chinese tennis star. punish. why is she or isn't she speaking under coercion? we take a closer look at our comment and her big career announcement. and in india, a legend has passed away millions more in the death of bollywood singer a lot on the guest car. ah.