ah yes, can see that they're still counter this is dw news live from berlin, germany re alexis, president, incumbent frank volter star, mar. when's a 2nd term with the backing of the governing coalition? in his acceptance speech, he said he would fight for democracy. also on the program, living with the threat of war ukrainians rally for unity in the face of russian aggression. their president, appeals for com as western nations warn and invasion maybe a minute. ah,

nick spicer, welcome to the program. german president frank falter stein meyer has been re elected for a 2nd 5 year term. the 66 year old social democrat and former foreign minister received more than 2 thirds of the votes cast by an electoral assembly made up of politicians. civil society figures and celebrities stein meyer had the support of all 3 parties of germany's governing coalition. nominally the head of state, the role of president is largely ceremonial in german politics. but in his acceptance style, meyer urged germany and its allies to do everything to prevent war in europe. and i think what we share is the community of liberal democracy. the stack of the fact that with knowledge is the strength of the just over the justice of the strong and democratic institutions in many countries are seen as weak. where ever all power is concentrated in one hand,

a conventional like this will be seen as meaningless ritual. and countries like this democratic decision making process is considered a week. and the law is something that just slows things down, working towards the prosperity and happiness of all is considered naive by some systems. but ladies and gentlemen, let me warn, would the president put and do not underestimate the strength of democracy? and for more on this, i'm joining the studio by d. w. chief, political correspondent, melinda crane. and nina hazard, who is at the parliament buildings in downtown berlin. nina, shy mar, was re elected with a large majority, but were there any surprises? well in terms of election results and there were a few minor surprises, of course of, from photo stine my are being reelected, was not

a big surprise. after all, he did have the backing of all the parties that are involved in the current government coalition. so the stds, the greens and the if the piece, but also he got the support of from the conservatives from a homely angle on michael's parting of the glitch. massive party. and that gave him a solid majority, got more than a 1000 votes. now 1400 or more than 1400 votes were up for grabs. what was interesting though, in terms of results, and i'm sure that we'll get to the details of his speech later. but just in terms of results was that the candidate who had been nominated by the free voters, the only woman in the race, she got more votes than many people had expected. z m would have only got to some $36.00 am, but she made it more than 50. and also the candidate who is appointed by the far right. a f d party that had been the most controversial candidacy. max auto who is a member of the conservatives, he got far fewer votes, then m, the amount of

a 50 votes would have been. okay, what are some interesting and says turn to melissa melinda crane. now about the speech, i mean that was a pretty interesting speech. i sort of ventured into foreign policy quite a bit was it was the president breaking the mold somewhat. you were breaking the mold, perhaps with the clarity of his messages on foreign policy. but actually his unifying theme was democracy. he started up by saying, if you are fighting to preserve democracy, i'm on your side. and the office of the presidency in germany actually was created to stabilize the than the young german democracy. so this is a traditional thing for many presidents, but it's been especially strong theme for him also in his 1st term in office. so his messages on the external threats to democracy essentially were all addressed to russia. and president putin with stein myers, saying very clearly,

russia is responsible for the current threat, also to direct appeals to putting, saying president putin do not underestimate the strength of democracies and president putin. and i think this certainly was the most headline worthy probably of these messages. loosen the noose around the throat of ukraine. and he pointed out that that threat is not only to ukraine but also to other easter neighbors. and in fact, his 1st foreign trip, this coming week will be to latvia, one of the baltic. republics that does feel threatened, but he went on to join that theme with the threats to democracy at home. talking about the fact that both the pandemic and also the transformational process we're seeing as germany moves away from fossil fuels, to new energy systems, to a more green economy. that these are sources of pain and division within the society. and he talked about how he wants to be

a president who listens to those who are fearful about the future, who listen to their concerns, and that he would make his 1st domestic trip to eastern germany. where many people do feel that the feature is less secure, perhaps in the past. and i'll just go back to, to, to, to nina if i may, who said they're at the bonus tag for us. can you tell us a little bit more about how the day unfolded? i understand the voting was, i mean, we watched it live is bit tricky with the pandemic. it's not in the usual place, there were celebrities and so on. what more can you tell us? well yeah, i report from the bundis talk on a very regular basis and to day was very different from our user reporting of course one because the federal convention is such a unique body. it only gets together once every 5 years and it's sole purpose is to elect the demo president. now the federal convention is made up of all the members of parliament here, and all the parties get the same amount of votes that they can then essentially

hand to people from all walks of life or from representatives of society who they think is stand for their own values and so we've had a very colorful, a very and diverse mix of people here. and when to start today there were rappers that were football superstars. uncle immacule, the former chancellor was here, it's a very different and usually it's a day where gemini celebrates its democracy. now we all famously em are not the kind of nation that puts too much glamour into its democratic processes. but at the federal convention meeting is usually one such day where we celebrate democracy with symbols and rituals. but because of anti cove, it rules that are still in place. there was a lot of focus on keeping your distance from each other and also from everybody had to get tested. who came in here and also when they played the national anthem, you weren't allowed to sing, but you were allowed to hum. yeah, and i'll note in passing that while it was all about frank volter,

starlight seemed like everybody wanted a sophie with anglo merkel, political correspondent, nina has the bonus tag there for us. and melinda craner, chief, political correspondent here in the studio. thanks so much. the latest diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis in ukraine have so far failed to ease tensions. on saturday, the american and russian president spoke for an hour on the phone afterward. joe barden, warren, that russia will face what he called swift and severe caught if it invades ukraine . vladimir putin has dismissed us warnings as what he called hysteria. meanwhile, ukrainians have rallied to support their government, which is calling for calm, even as many foreign nationals leave the country. a shoe of unity and ukraine's capital. the brave faces here though belie growing fears about her rush, an attack on their country. what are we afraid? probably yes, i feel the anxiety inside me. others are already plotting their escape. if

i will try to call you back then to prepare all documents and making plans for their children to with ukrainian forces training near the black sea. these are been warfare exercises, heads at the kind of unrest they are preparing for. president sa lensky, however, called for com heads to prevail. the best friend for enemies that is benny in our country. and all these information details only for fanny doesn't help us during an hour long phone call on saturday. you as president joe biden, warren vladimir putin, of swift and severe costs. if russia does invade,

perkins team accused the u. s. of unprecedented hysteria. the u. s. is taught diplomat antoni blink and also spoke with his russian counterpart on our call for minister lover off said the tub russians are working on a response to the paper that we sent to moscow. more than 2 weeks ago, proposing concrete areas for discussion. it remains to be seen if they'll fall through on that, but if they do, we'll be ready to engage on sunday contingency plans turned real u. s. staff at the organization for security and economic cooperation based in the rebel held city of dawn net. we're packing up and heading home, just the latest group to decide that the risk of all out war is now 2. great. let's have a look at some of the other stories making news around the world. hundreds of women in the indian state of karachi had been protesting against abandon wearing. he jobs

in educational institutions. the protest come after a number of government run schools in the region. bards. students wearing a garment from entering classrooms. demonstrators have condemned the banners, dis empowerment of muslim women. police in ontario have moved into clear and arrest remaining protesters blocking a major bridge. crossing between the united states and canada trackers have been demonstrating for weeks against coven, 19 vaccine mandates and other pandemic restrictions. the ambassador bridge remains closed traffic, norway's martyr, all spool royce land has picked up her 3rd goal that the beijing olympics by winning the by ath lawn 10 kilometer pursuit. she was again near perfect with a rifle by a long combines shooting with cross country skiing, and no one has dominated begging like the norwegian. it was all too much for some of her rivals in the snowy conditions. and the

women's mano, bob competition, has made his olympic debut and kaley, humphreys, hold the lead at the half way. mark humphreys, $12.00 goals at the previous games for canada. but she switched to compete with the united states and begging after, alleging harassment within the canadian bar system. she became a us citizen in december, and it's now a big favorite for goal culture. now the berlin film festival, also known as the berlin alley, is in full swing. as the movie world comes to the german capital, french actress, judy had been ash, is among the stars in the red carpet. her new film, both sides of the blade, gets its premier at the festival. be not place, a journalist caught up in a love triangle. the door opens on sarah and john seemingly perfect relationship. when her ex, the man she left for him, reappears hans had proposed lately

she should go without the kicker shoes. news. maybe they both should be scared. julia version that is elizabeth will you? oh. oscar winners you yet the note is riveting as a woman caught off guard by her sudden yearning for a man she hasn't seen in years. it graps you. ah, and is nothing psychological about it? it's visceral school preschool. more than a love story. it's a story of the passion, the erotic passion in both sides of the blade gives way to another kind of passion ra fury director cleared, the ne delivers a slow burning romantic thriller. that's one of the most anticipated premieres at

this year's berlin, international film festival. and in european cinema, oh, it's the 3rd time be nose has worked with clare daneen, a filmmaker known for her intensity and complexity level chill, the adventure of couples, love freight sha. there is not a stable static had vent shaft. it's an adventure and movement, sla, and sometimes there are shocks, shook the question is, can saga and jones love survive the shock of an old flame that never went out? taking gym quine from to what you say, eisen and what that means that we love the skin coline can contents and his passion the pit. and a reminder, the top story we're following for you. sherman president frank walters toddler has been reelected for a 2nd term. enormous in his acceptance speech,

he referred to tensions between russia and ukraine, and urged germany at its allies to do everything to present war in europe. it watching dw news live from berlin up next reporter investigates the $1000000000.00 business of a legal waste disposal in europe. i'm nick spicer. thanks for watching. sun are driven by merciless greed builders fighting the destruction land grabbers are exploiting. the amazon ring, forming peoples are now briefly opposing them a term report from the heart of brazil stuart to march 9th on d. w. a. we're all set with a to go beyond of yes with all in as we take.