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puts ukraine on the path to membership. european leaders have approved both ukraine and moldova as official candidates to one day joined the you. what international aid, reaching up, pianos, dan, following the deadliest earthquake there in decades. the countries taliban rulers have been internationally isolated since taking power last year and that is hampering relief. plus the u. s. supreme court rules that americans have the right to carry guns in public. the decision comes as well. makers are trying to tight restrictions on gun ownership. following a series of mass shoot. ah, i bring gov to our viewers watching on tv us in the united states and to all of you around the world. welcome. we begin tonight with a historic shift in the making here in your today's european union leaders approved

ukraine's bid for candidate status. the 1st official step towards joining the european union, moldova was also granted candidate status to dick for ukraine. this is a victory in the political arena. as it battles russia's invasion high profile. you leaders from germany, france, and italy. they all backed ukraine's application, but all 20 southern member states of the e. u. they had to say yes to moving forward. yes, yes, yes, we protested outside the new council building here in brussels, found their views reflected by the 27 european leaders meeting inside. all of them agreed to grant ukraine. you candidate status along with mold over the decision was not unexpected. given the comments made by many leaders ahead of the meeting for that. and we will again show solidarity with ukraine. and we will also take an

important decision for ukraine's european prospective. fisher perspective though, craner tougher. germany's chancellor schultz along with 2 other powerful e u leaders. italy's mario draggy and francis emmanuel macro had travel to keith earlier in june where they endorsed ukraine's u membership bid. others have the more skeptical, however, due to issues linked to corruption and the rule of law. but the war has loomed large in discussions. they are now at a stage where a granting can the say, this is possible, of course, given the geopolitical situation since the end of a very horrible and completely despicable aggression of russia against ukraine. of course, that is also part of the say, the situation in which we discussed is it clear ukraine will have to fulfill a long list of criteria before being able to enter the union. a process that could

take years even decades. but many ukrainian see the step as a sign. the country belongs to the european family. even during such a brutal war, ukraine, democratic institutions have been resolved. even now we are extending their each of the europeans various. yet you leaders still have to decide whether expansion is possible any time soon. many here and brussels believe the block needs internal reform 1st. so europe can compete on the world stage, and believe the war rating on its doorstep, make this even more urgent. artless pully no correspondent now and christine were where she's been covering to these historic events wars from brussels is going to see you christine. i mean, we are looking at a decision that could change the mouth of europe and in the future. but

in the near term, talk to me about what the significance is for you quit. well, this historic decision is so important for ukraine. if you consider the fact that ukraine's aspiration to join the european union officially began in 2004, it been followed up again, 20121314 at absolutely no avail. and it's taken this invasion by moscow to, to get that process done in, in, in a matter of weeks. basically, ukraine officially applied again, and just a few days off to russia invaded its territory. this is a process getting candidate status that's taken other countries. yes. so to get it in, in, in months is really, really significant, and it is important, especially right now think about those ukranian troops fighting on the front lines . how they are desperately pleading for, for more weapons to be able to a, to, to come through. that's not been coming. this will be a huge morrow boost and we've heard that similar rhetoric from the ukranian

president that the country needs this right now that these ukrainians who had to flee the country are now refugees and other countries right now looking at what's going on at home that this will be a boost in some kind of a hope of the ukrainian people. it is also important for the european union's leadership at a time like this, where the unity and the cracks. what was starting to appear in that unity, especially as they, as they have difficulty agreement sanctions. this was important to get everybody on board this particular decision. and it sends a strong message to moscow at that the block will come together rally around a ukraine. of course, moscow's expressed its displeasure at ukraine ever joining the european union. but this is the you standing up to the bully that it's russia and saying will pull ukraine closer, the west, and further away from russia's sphere of influence. in christine, we know that being a candidate is not the same as being a member of the you. it could be a decade or more before ukraine ever does join the you. what will change though for ukraine? a, immediately after this decision, while brain,

it now means that that journey has officially be gotten right that they are now. if it is an official process, i has now begun and of course, now it's not about the wish and the desire, but a formal process has opened. what would follow? this would be the formal exception talks, but loads of reform is needed before that can happen. it, of course, in the midst of a war, very much, very little sorry can, can happen along those lines. so what it just means really now is that this formal process has begun it as you say, it will take years before ukraine can efficiently be given the status of, of an e u member state. but it now means that everything that's happening is working towards a goal and, and, and if you will, that, that journey has begun. and let's not underestimate that, that boost, that it is, but not too much changes, but the hopes have been raised and there's something to work towards. now. there are other countries here in europe that have been waiting longer than ukraine to

become a candidate. and they're still wait, i'm talking about a particular of the balkan countries of what were you leaders able to say to them to do while in short, not very much and that those need has walked away. i left brussels to day very, very disappointed. i mean, you have to think about a country like north macedonia, that has been given candidate status and, and health status for about 17 years now. i'm old macedonia also had to change its name so that it could meet some of those requirements and make it easier for that e u. s. session. these country say we've been waiting in the wings for a long time. they see how quickly things can happen as has happened in the case of ukraine, and wondering what has been the delay or a day how to press conference, the leaders of the west, balkan countries where they express their absolute frustration with how slow the process is. taking for then this was acknowledged, how many you needed? i went on to have another 3 hour discussion about that the situation in the west mulkins while they were not able to deliver anything today. and it is clear that

this is something that they're going to have to put their heads together about and perhaps towards the end of the year, there might be some movement on that. a very on has been with the late tonight in brussels, is always pretty thinking but he w nick connelly. he is in cave and i asked him about reaction in ukraine to today's decision. i'm coming out on the streets celebrate. this isn't an option because there's a curfew here in just a matter of basically an hour. this is still very much a city at war air raid sirens. and as you will know, a fact daily life here. but this is definitely a big deal at the polls show that there is huge support for you. membership across age groups across regions of ukraine is basically the question that united country more than any else, even in the east, you'll find upwards of h 5. and people in favor of e membership, lots of ukrainians, basically joined the youth by migration and family lynx already there are millions of cranes working in poland in spanish. lisa, there's a lot of connection there, but it's definitely about a morale boost right now. we've seen of disappointment from ukraine,

from ordering ukrainians, and it's political class in terms of the weapons deliveries coming from most european countries. basically, only the u. s. has matched expectations so far, and there's been lots of visits and decorations solidarity, but nothing very concrete so far. so this is deaf in the 1st kind of step that ukraine's when he said this is something we can build on to this something we can imagine our future in europe are going through. let's have a listen to ukraine's about the e. he put it very succinctly what this means for the country is very important for the whole ukrainian society for the army. and they have a clear reason to fight for our soldiers. they're called going home and asking from the front line, what is happening with our candidate status? it's amazing how important it is for, for ukrainian people. so it's a matter of dignity it's, it's a matter of fighting for this country which has european's huge hash.

you speaking beer to the emotions that are tied to this nick, but even with the full backing now coming from brussels, getting to full e u membership is by no means a given a done deal for ukraine is or is it is going to be very difficult and ukraine is it's been helping say, but is a huge country, this country over 40000000 people in terms of area. it's the biggest country in europe. and so it would basically be in 5th place in terms of population size, where it to join. so, so this is a big deal for the europeans, allowing ukrainian, even if you crane does meet all the criteria and does all the reforms and allowing such a big country. and it's going to need a huge amount of finance to bring. it's going to be up to a comparable level with even poland to say that is not to be underestimated. but i think very putin has really pushed the western europeans is re forced to hand. they were definitely not keen on this before this war. the country was seen to be too

big, too poor to corrupt and too close to russia. and now those images, a butcher, marable. they really have changed public opinion across europe have focused attention on this country and its future and basically left european leaders with no other option. yeah, we have a situation today where you've got to people thinking about the future of the country in the west, but the acute existential threat to ukraine. that is very much in the east with the russian military, apparently gaining grail. what's the latest tonight? duffy those cities of sen than ask lucy chance close to remaining big centers of low hans creegan, which is basically a been taken by russian the resources entirety, those 2 cities rating. they are now and they're very close to falling into russian hands. it seems to be a matter of days if maybe weeks at most russians really making very strong about their focusing all their firepower in a very small area and just out gunning the ukrainians. this has been the ukrainian strategy of, after all, for, for the entire, to this war, to basically bind the russians hope that they exhaust themselves and make sure that

victories, like in mary polo. now may be attention to virginia become peers victories. that is the summer. whereas on the, the russians will exhaust themselves and ukraine will finally get those western weapons on the scale that it needs to really start a counter offensive. i think ukraine is definitely not given up on this war, not planning for defeat, but they definitely are at not and a sacrifice soldiers and people the front lines just to hold on these towns it, given that it looks very likely of able to hold him the long term, so short term losses, but still appearing key. if that as the sum of moves on that the tide will turn in the favor. dw, the currently reporting tonight from keith is always nic. thank you. from a security crisis to an energy crisis, rushes aggression in the ukraine, his 4th germany, to activate its emergency plan for dwindling natural gas supplies. the country's economy minister, robert hubbard says that gas is now a scarce commodity. here in germany, russia has reduced gas low to the country,

and energy prices have swords since the war began. 4 months ago. havoc says that gas rationing will hopefully be avoided, but he's not ruling it out. versions and we are in an economic stent of with russia, give it gas and energy is being used as a weapon against germany. let him, with the aim of destroying the unity that had stood out here in germany and euros, with the great unity and solidarity with ukraine and our willingness to pay a prize liner for defending freedom. stuff to different had to go from 5 to one price to time i, let's take a look down some of the other stories that are making headlines around the world. russian president vladimir putin says that he is re routing trade and oil towards countries from the bricks group of emerging economists says, is doing that in the wake of western sanctions over ukraine of the announcement was made during an online meeting of the leaders of brazil, russia india, china,

and south africa, u. s. sports, where maker nike has announced that it is pulling out of russia completely in suspended operations there 3 months ago in response to moscow invasion of ukraine. other big western brands, such as mcdonalds and google have already left the country. the world health organization is meaning to decide whether to declare monkey pox, a global health emergency. up until may, the disease had not caused a sizable outbreaks beyond africa. some experts are unhappy that the w h o is only taking action now that monkey pox is spreading to rich countries. and announcement is expected on friday. austria have scrapped, is compulsory coven, 19 vaccination for adult countries. health minister saying the measure which was suspended back in march is unlikely to raise the austrian vaccination rate, which is one of the lowest in western europe. the rule was the only such sweeping

mandate to exist here in the european union. rescue efforts are underway in eastern afghanistan, one day after that powerful earthquake, at least a 1000 people were killed. many more injured. international aid has now started arriving in the country. but since the tale bought took over last august, it has become harder for 8 agencies to operate in the country. and this quake it comes as the country is already facing drought and food shortages. oh survivors digging for survivors to fiddle with them in collapsed mountain villages in a country where millions already faced the misery of hunger and poverty and a health care system faltering since the taliban takeover. it's hard to imagine what could be worse than this came up here that you back on

with some of my children are dead. some are hurt. the other good in this house with 35 members of the family, were martyred among the bodies on my sunday. and grandchildren. when our entire house has collapsed, everything has been destroyed. i can't enter the house, trying to figure things out to taliban can't help us. not one of the one rotted. the taliban government has managed to mobilize and move some supplies in. and some of the injured out, but this is one of the most remote regions of the country. those 8 organizations that kept staff and f canister and after the taliban take over are doing what's possible, the evacuating people, medical facilities. so i've got to start at the moment, is that how systems come on the strain over the last year? again, connected to the development assistance in state assets have been frozen as those

affected wait for aid to arrive or the chance to be evacuated. local medical facilities, what do what they can but graves must be dug. the dead must be buried. what earlier i spoke with marianne horne. she's a senior advisor with the international red cross in afghanistan and she told me what is being done for people hit by the earthquake? yes, i can tell your view is just a level of desperation. there is enough chemist on this evening and has been over these past 36 hours. the teams from the red cross on the red crescent have been, you know, on this site over the impact for the 1st hours of basically of the earthquake carrying out needs assessments. being able to assist the search and rescue

operation which has largely been held and carried out by the local community. and today what the teams are doing is really detailed needs assessment to be able to help, not just those who are injured and that have come out alive, but also those who have been displaced. there has been rain, there has been hail. there's a risk of landslide and really this is an operation that has to be carried out at the quick pace to be able to re house and bring assistance to those who have been affected. we're talking about 200000 people, potentially in marion. i want to tell you people around the world are asking tonight. is the totally wrong helping or hurting relief efforts? yes, i think, you know, it's a question that that's being asked. i think the world over, i can tell you there is not a single person in afghanistan and elsewhere who is not doing all that. they can

to reach those who are still alive, as well as spring assistance to those who have suffered the most out. so this is after the red cross that red crescent teams have been in country before during the transition and have been in country for 30 years. we've worked with all communities or groups, regardless of politics. and therefore, the access that we have should in communities, is based on the needs. and therefore, we are able to reach those those most to need to today and have been and will be hopefully. and this, this is, you know, this is, this is one natural disaster. this will not be the last. and it's important that you know, the local humanitarian afghan national actors are empowered to, to respond to this. there have been many changes, but the capacity of the communities themselves, so the local actors to respond is absolutely critical to get right to they must be

supported. marian horn with the international red cross for athena stand. we appreciate your time and the valuable work you're doing. thank you. thank you. the u. s. supreme court today rule that americans have a constitutional right to carry fire arms in public. the court struck down a new york law requiring people to demonstrate a specific need to carry a concealed weapon outside of their homes. the landmark ruling will prevent other states from enforcing similar restrictions. you as president joe biden, have said that he is deeply disappointed buying today's decision. so how significant is this ruling on guns? i withdrew stevenson, a professor at the south, texas college of law in houston. well, the it is about a very specific part of gun regulation, which is the right for legal gun owners take to carry

a gun with them in public. and so today's decision at least for no leaves and place some of our other restrictions, for example like convicted felons can't purchase firearms and so on. but when he said, when you mentioned the logic of the opinion, that's the part of the opinion that matters. the most actually going forward, because for the last 12 years or more, maybe 14 years, all of our federal courts have been using a legal approach to 2nd amendment cases or challenges to gun restrictions that we lawyers would call intermediate scrutiny and such kind of a 2 step process of inquiry and today's decision, the most important important part of it is the methodology that they said they don't want courts to keep using this type of intermediate scrutiny, where the way that the states interests in reducing crime against the rights of the

gun owner and instead, we're supposed to use a historical approach and look at what types of gun laws were allowed by the generation that ratified the 2nd amendment. yeah, and so that's going to be a narrower range of laws that are permissible. and what is this going to mean then for efforts, you know, we've got congress that is about to pass the 1st legislation on gun control that we've seen in 2 decades. but what's going to do for the momentum in the country that was building following these, these recent math shootings and mean is that all been basically born out of the water by today's rule? no, i think a lot of the senate gun package that they're talking about would be left untouched by today's ruling. and so for example, if they are expanding the background check system, clarifying the who counts as

a gun and as a gun dealer and needs a license and restrictions penalties for gun trafficking, illegal gun trafficking, instruct purchasing. i think all of those will stay in place now. in terms of the sort of cultural effects or the effect on momentum, those are always hard to predict or on the same day that the case comes out people, a lot of people are upset and this could affect um, who goes to the polls in, in november for our midterm elections, we'll have to see through stevens and professor a boy at the south texas college of law in houston. we appreciate your time and your insights, helping us understand how this fits into the bigger story tonight. thank you. thank you for having me about our sports news now. transgender and non binary football is

here in germany. can now choose whether they want to play for men's or women's teams. eligibility used to be based on the gender stated on a players id. now that began changing and when gender options of diverse or no reference were added to id cards. this new rule for players it's only applicable for amateur and junior football. and footballers will be able to choose whether to stick with their current team or switch a large walrus as been causing a stir in a norwegian coastal town. hundreds of kilometers from her home in the arctic circle . now the walrus, who is known as freya by pronounce it right, has taken a fancy to sunbathing on boats, but there is a rather awkward problem here. most of the vessels are, let's say, on the smaller side and free yet. well, she weighs 700 kilograms and that's a whole lot of mammal. meet freya, a walrus with

a thing. chris sunbathing on the small boats. really what are we supposed to do if you ha, i law, the damage from a $700.00 kilo walrus on your boat can be extensive. he thinks that, especially when she chooses a vessel, it's not walrus worthy. and surprisingly, boat owners aren't excited share with freya. i mean, you, i don't want it on the dock on my boat. what if i just get it away from here? france travelled far and wide from the arctic circle, stopping in the u. k. the netherlands, denmark, germany, and now norway, where she's out staying her welcome. the plan for now is to get freya her own sunbathing spot, a floating dock, where she can rest without wrecking boats. we'll all be that girl that we have

a grace period to see if she gets used to the dock and after that they will come forward with lodging boats to lift up the doctor. i transportation to the coast of nord more woman. his hope is that freya will figure it out so she can carry on. her tour just proves even for wars, his size matters. before we go, let's get a quick look at our top stories. this, our european union leaders have approved ukraine's bid for candidate status. the 1st official step towards joining the european union waldo, but was also formerly accepted as a camp and response teams, a racing to reach survivors of a powerful earthquake. in a remote part of eastern afghanistan, at least a 1000 people were killed. many more injured. the taliban lead government there has appealed for international support. you want to d, w 's after a short break? i'll be back to take you through the days to go around. we will be right back with

ah, with ah ah, ah, the dirtiest quizzes in europe flows through the u. k. the

accusation, privatization of and completely outdated infrastructure. a truly tv entity in the united kingdom focus on europe. in 60 minutes on d. w. o. in. she's up to date, don't miss our highlights. the d w program online, d w dot com highlights she's got any issues or thoughts they will grade you

mm hm. there have been 2 historic weeks for.