ah ah ah ah, this is dw news coming to live from berlin, a new surgeon, western military support for ukraine. you as president, joe, by the else is washington will deliver 31 of its powerful abrams tanks to the battlefield. this just hours after german chancellor of schultz confirmed berlin wilson, 14 of it's the leopard to test is also coming up

a deadly cold snap sweeps across asia from pap, ghana stand to japan, sub 0 temperatures and heavy snow for causing chaos for millions and at least 2 people are killed and several others wounded in a knife attack on a train in northern germany. the attacker was known to police and was recently released from prison. ah hello, i'm terry martin. thanks for joining us. western made battle tax will soon be confronting russian armor on the battlefield in ukraine. the u. s. is confirmed. it's sending 31 of its m one abrams tanks to key up. the announcement follows germany's decision to liberal leopard to tanks. this coordinated move aims to support ukraine encountering an expected russia offensive in the spring. kia is called it

a historic day, but russia's ambassador in washington said the u. s. decision was another blatant provocation. and moscow's response to berlin's move was equally furious with the kremlin, saying berlin had abandoned its quote, historical responsibility to russia. after days of diplomatic wrangling to big announcements from either side of the atlantic to day to day, i'm announcing at the united states will be sending you $31.00, abram tags to ukraine, the equivalent of one ukrainian battalion surgery austin has recommended to step because on has ukraine's capacity and offenders territory in chief is strategic objectives. the u. s. president statement came just as after germany announced it would deliver 14 of its leopard to battle tanks to ukraine. does this, does a given us, this is the result of renewed and intense consultations with our allies and

international partners. as i would like to underline that it was right. and it is right that we didn't let ourselves be forced into action. now that we instead county it and, and will continue to count on close corporation on these issues. international pressure had been growing and germany to agree to send leopard to tangs to ukraine or to at least lift an export ban on the jam and may tanks or other countries could supply them. that last week, meeting of defense leaders from more than 50 countries at ramstein air base and germany failed to produce any agreements chance loan of shots was unwilling to send german tanks. unless the u. s. made a similar commitment that diplomatic gamble seemingly paid off the agreement to supply the tangs as a huge political turnaround for germany. and it's a major boost for ukraine. western battle tanks like the leopard and the abraham's

or what ukrainian president followed him here. zalinski has long been pleading for and many say they could be a game changer in the war. yet because i am grateful to all our allies of our willingness to provide us with modern and much needed tanks. always proofs for most important fat for a while to day. for fact, for freedom is only getting stronger and the way we are all working together to strength and freedom to defend ukraine in europe is a historic achievement of a part of a leaders who are working on it right now. that zalinski also stressed that speed as now key. while the 1st leopard tangs could arrive in ukraine and the next 2 to 3 months. the white house has already said that it will likely be many more months before it's abrams tanks will arrive at the front or more of joy now by our

political correspond it, thomas sparrow, sir thomas tanks for ukraine. how's this decision going down here in germany? within the parliament, it was probably approved by most politicians, even by the german opposition, except for probably the extremes of the far left. on the far right, there were differences on how that agreement was reached on how mister shows communicated his decision on why it took so long. but in general, the idea that decision to send these tangs was supported within german parliament, a different question altogether is how it was received within the german why the population german people are in general divided about this. we've seen that all along, even before the decision was, was taken, because some people believed this could spiraled out of control. this could mean a wider participation of germany and even nato countries in this conflict and such as this topic that for many germans, it's very controversial. this has to do also, by the way, with germany's post were history with germany's reluctance to get involved in

conflicts and so on. so one thing is, the german parliament with even the german opposition, for example, the cd. you supporting the idea, not the method by the 8, but the idea a different situation altogether is how the germans, the why the population actually believe this or what this means for germany. in particular, this decision was a long time in coming. berlin held out on delivering tanks until the u. s. agreed to send its own. do we know how this decision came about? well, we don't know all the details. that's for sure. it was probably a mixture of a background discussion between germany and other partners, including the u. s. and also discussions that happened, for example, in the german, a u. s. base of ramstein here in germany. that was last week. so it was probably a wide ranging set of discussions. what is important from a german perspective here is the fact that germany had stressed and that was something that mr. shows also are getting the german amount and also an interview

that he gave last night. that he had to make the decision in close coordination with his ghost allies in particular with the u. s. because germany did not want to be seen as being the only country sending heavy tanks to ukraine. so that's why all this happened in close coordination with germany's allies and in particular with united states. germany didn't want to go it alone. there is a lot of talk of german ucsd around this decision. what about fears that this could lead to an escalation in the ukraine war or those peers justify, or that was attorney, one of the issues that was that went into those discussions. and again, that has to do with germany's post war reluctance with changes that we've seen also in recent months. that's also one of the reasons why many germans are very skeptical still of the decision to send battle tanks to ukraine. german made battle tanks to ukraine. so whether they're justified or not, that is something that will ultimately be seen on the battlefield. the german chancellor, german government will not necessarily believe that they're justified. they say they are helping ukraine and that this is

a necessary step in the war at this particular time. by that germany and other countries will certainly try and avoid any further escalation. they do not want to see this as developing into a war between russia and nato. and that's why the german government and in particular, german chancellor have stressed basically that further steps, like, for example, sending ground troops is out of the question. that is something that is not going to happen. that that is something of the german government is not going to approve or political correspond, thomas sparrow. thank you so much. let's get more now from journalist and military analyst. thomas, the gold. thanks. ring with us. tell us what impact you see these tanks having on the war? well, they have 1st and foremost psychological impact. ukrainians have been asking for these tangs for a long while. and the arrival of a layout, pardon, adams of western made metal tags, will surely boost the morale on the technical side. yes,

of the cravings. expect that those tanks will be superior to those rational tags, a c on the battlefield. of course, russia also has a very modern, very sophisticated tags. however, they are in very limited numbers, they are not deployable, they are not seen on the front line. so quite obviously the cravings expect and hope to have the upper hand one, those tanks arrive. now multiple types of tanks are being sent to ukraine. how much of a problem is that in terms of training and logistics? it's a nightmare, frankly, but the ukrainians i use too bad. they have integrated a lot of different the western style weaponry into the al serra and they were

pretty good in combining different types. actually, they were better than nato and integrating weapons from different countries into a coherent strategy into what's happening on the battlefield. so they probably manage . on the other hand, they have to deal with the spare parts. ammunition is mostly the same, but spare parts are main problem and more different types. again, the more problems they will have. how great is the risk that this war could lead to a confrontation between nato and russia. nato. every nato country says that the main point to avoid, we are not at war with russia, and we want no direct confrontation. on the other hand, russia has been saying that they are in a war with the west,

with nato. have been things is for quite a year now, and every new weapon system which has been delivered to ukraine or the reason for moscow to use the phrase again. so i don't expect that the delivery of tanks will really change the situation. yes, again, there is talk of russia, possibly resorting to nuclear weapons in this conflict. how worried should we be about that? well, it russia all for has used to thread with every new delivery of it. so it doesn't seem very likely, or i would even say it doesn't seem likely that russia would resort to a nuclear reaction on the delivery of not even $100.00 main battle tanks that would seem so out of proportion and not to expect. at least i hope everybody helps as

well. and finally, ukraine is now asking its partners for fighter jets. we'll get them. oh, i'm not sure we had this discussion almost a year ago when ukraine was already asking for 5 hundreds and polen was even about to deliver those soviet made make 29. then the u. s. intervened and said the are made clear. they did not want this delivery at that point in time. now things have changed. if this comes up again. if there might be a bigger chance that you crate and we'll get those fido debts either. those are subject made make 29 or f 16 from the u. s. thomas, the gold, a military analyst and journalist. thank you so much. you're welcome.

now to asia where a deadly cold snap is sweeping across the region, causing record low temperatures and disruption. the freezing weather has effected millions of people from japan and south korea to afghanistan, which is experiencing it's coldest winter in 15 years. people in china's northernmost city more he and no strangers to the cold. the temperature here can stay below freezing for up to 8 months of the year. but this week things are especially chile, temperatures plunged to minus 53 degrees celsius. it's colder. stay ever recorded. with yet so northern china has been hit hard by the freezing front, affecting asia roads, a covered and snow rail tracks, a frozen with thick ice, actually abroad through seizure. go here and junk. a cycling isn't an option

either. the cold sweep has caused sea ice and northeast and li alden bay to expand rapidly. it's not just china that's freezing. japan is also experiencing record low temperatures. heavy snow is blanketing large parts of the country. with $93.00 seemed to meet its falling on the city of money were in just 24 hours in south korea, nearly $500.00 flights in and out of the resort island j ju were cancelled on tuesday to to the wither. meanwhile and central asia, the weather is proving deeply in afghanistan, temperatures have dropped to minus 34 degrees in parts and more than a 120 people are reported to have died. we are having so many problems with this cold weather. we have no call, no stove, and our children have no warm clothes. the cold is deepening,

the humanitarian crisis, facing the country since the taliban took control. he after winter makes everything a lot more difficult and we're very conscious of the season of the timing. as you say, we see some of the consequences, loss of life. this is where the, the cultures of 6000000 people. it's an astonishing number of people located on fallon's door, the bitter temperatures, the plunging much of afghanistan, struggling population further into poverty. this year marks the harsh winter and a long time in large parts of asia and for the millions effected spring can't come soon enough. well, the cold snap is hitting korea hard to offer more were joined by frank smith, the freelance journalist reporting from sol. tell us frank, about how the severe weather is affecting the south korean capital. well, it reached minus $25.00 and minus $28.00 in including windshield here in the so the

green capital, this is one of those stories that, that hits close to home here in i live in a, in a high rise, a modern, high rise just completed a couple of years ago, and the pipes froze in the lobby of my building, and they burst and water spewed out across the, the lobby area of the building. and then that froze, creating something of an ice rink. as your earlier report mansion, there's been record snow fall on change while and that's a semi tropical island. it's the southernmost point of, of south korea, causing delays in suspension of flights. they've recently, i think, wednesday and, and early today resumed those flights despite the cold temperatures here in the south korean capital and even extended the time that the airport in the, in sol accepted, accepted those flights. the also,

the south brain government has responded to this opening up and preparing 7000 cold shelters in the capital region, as well as salting roads. back on january 15th, there were hundreds of auto accidents with a deluge of snow here in south korea. and so they wanted to prevent that and were a little bit more ready for this current to snowfall. terry does sound extreme, franco. what about the korean peninsula in general, understand north korea has been hit hard as well. well, as possibly even a bigger problem. certainly a cold snap in, in north korea, north korea, if you've ever seen satellite imagery, nighttime, satellite imagery of north korea. you know, that electricity outside of the capitol pyongyang is, is kind of rare. and looking at north and south ham young province. those are in the northern regions of, of north korea close to russia. those areas,

again suffer from a lack of the electricity. people heat their homes using wood and, and dried plants. so there have been reports, especially of concern for that area. radio free asia reported last year. cases of many people going missing and assumed frozen while they were outside of food insecurity is also a related concern. as so as north korea sealed, it's bordered with china for a long period of time. due to the coven, 19 pandemic. so that food insecurity is, is something that experts in food security experts here in south. we're also worried about about there in north korea's northern provinces. terry? just very quickly, frank, what's the forecast? the forest guest is for things to warm up a bit. there they are still though,

forecasting either some type of precipitation, either rain or snow and just on a related issue. so 3 is kind of experienced something of a energy price boom, as well with the ukraine war, affecting energy prices around the world. south korea imports 100 percent of its oil. so the government has had to step up and provide subsidies for, for people to, to heat their homes, especially the. ready underprivileged sheer in south korea, tearing. thank you very much, shaw, freelance journalist, frank smith, they're reporting from sole south korea to catch up on some other stories making headlines today. india is celebrating a 74th republic day with the military and cultural parade in delhi. thousands of lined the streets of the capital for the annual event, which marks the adoption of india's constitution and the end of british rule. and social media giant meta says it will restore the facebook and instagram accounts of

former us president donald trump. after a 2 year suspension. the company says the band will be lifted in the coming weeks. trump was suspended from the platforms after the january 6 capital ryan ah, 2 people have been killed and several injured in a knife attack on a train in the northern german state of last week. holstein, the instant took place as the train was traveling from keel to hamburg. police were able to arrest the attacker in the town of books that authority say he's a palestinian man in his thirties, who may be suffering from mental illness. around 120 people are on board, the regional train. when a man armed with a knife suddenly began attacking passengers, people scrambled to escape in panic. my

daughter, my daughter, called and screamed that they had to get out of the train because somebody was running a mock, stopping people randomly. waters of mentioned anguish, talking out to lot of you by the people sitting near me all ran outside. so i followed them and there was blood everywhere. road throughout the whole train. so good luck. the 33 year old attacker injured 9 people. some of them sustained head injuries to passengers were injured so badly that paramedics weren't able to help them. they both died at the scene. the attack himself was also injured. some of the passengers managed to restrain him and turned him over to police. at the next station. vanessa had a vi people on the scene helped to pin him down. and right now, an investigation is ongoing to determine exactly what happened, who was involved in how so many people were injured and even killed. in the 600, the alleged attacker is thought to be a palestinian asylum seeker who came to germany 8 years ago from garza,

a repeat criminal who's known to the police. he has previous convictions for violent and sexual offences. authorities confirmed he had been released from prison just 6 days earlier as such an honest, hardy, and this was the decision made within the framework of the law. and what needs to be carefully considered. now is whether offenders need continued monitoring even after being released. clearly in this case, it was decided that he had fully served his sentence and gazette ads on top of her, cuz she asked me, host i in state premier, expressed his condolences and he helped me to teach her a tower. i was devastated to hear the news of the senseless attack him at her house that took to innocent people's lives and impacted so many other engine does leim accosted heartland to feed. my thoughts are with all those who are caught up in this awful situation. the band with their loved widest hunger hooligan desert vicky

sri ems adored soon. the alleged attack her will now be questioned by police and hospital in order to determine a possible notice. a reporter william glue croft is on the scene in books that where the suspect was arrested. william, what's the latest on this deadly knife attack or the latest is a 4th. things are back to normal. as you can see behind me, the trains are running again. hopefully you can hear me. the trains are running again, as you can see, they've been running again through this area since late last night, around 9 pm, the police and did the, the, the, the investigation at least right here at the station of walk stead. you can see there's some train personnel, a security personnel who are, are here this morning and some police off to the side, just keeping a watch on things. and you can see perhaps here there's a memorial candle actually being having been lit at the station where people have gathered were that a legit we're at incident actually happened yesterday. and 2 flags are flying at

half staff today in the state of basic holstein and in the northern part of germany on the danish border. as investigators continue their pursuit of what exactly happened yesterday, a suspect has been arrested. what do we know about him? any word on a possible motive about him? most. well, as is often the case in incidents like this, there's much, we don't know the police have not given a motive yet. there's they so far say there's no reason to believe there was any kind of political motive. and as he heard in that report, the man apparently has had a, a long history of criminal acts in germany, has been in, out of prison and a german media reporting that he may have been suffering from some kind of mental illness. so there is posi more information coming out today. police told me that they're not quite sure when there's gonna be a news conference at some point today. um members of security and authority

officials will be coming out in st. laser college dine for more information. but when exactly it takes place that we are still waiting to note. william, thank you very much. that update our reporter william, blue cross there. now some sports news, and in the bonus league dockman paid a visit to mines on wednesday. the hosts have struggled to make gains the season, but they had dormant, deadlocked until the very last minute. that's what an american joe reno scored another winner to give them a to one victory. i don't them lined up in mind snowing. i had to attack the men in read without their best known defender. woke up when a match hummel's was dropped, heading to the bench, wondering how his side would confront a long held weakness in defending set paces without him. it took 2 minutes to get the answer. not well. an early blow

pleased the manager, jason lea squeezing his head or in at the neopost minds had made the perfect start that stirred the visitors into action. just 2 minutes later norwegian julian rice and had time to try his luck from distance. 11 after 4 minutes, the reply revealing his luck was most definitely in boast. fencin hufton puffed pleading for a might hero. don't mind. brought one of the bench, sebastian helen on light as he continues to take steps on the way back from kansas surgery. but he wasn't to be the hero this time. that on felt the same man. who did it last time. g, a reiner with his 2nd game winning strike in just 5 days. dockman climbing the table once more and the young american is again, his also on wednesday, fryeburg and frankfort had to settle for a point each when they played well one all draw randall, colo moroni scored,

opened the scoring for frankfort a few minutes before half tone. france international banging in his 6th goal of the campaign in style. and shortly after the re starch, fryeburg mathias headed home till level the score this young gunter with a perfect cross and given to approving. he knows how to use his hip. you're watching the w news focus on europe is up next. i'm terry martin. thanks for walking me. with

who signaling a he had to beat scott is worry, rushing, propaganda, spreading like with will to sins media will divide the country.

after all, every 4th person here has russians. ruth, and nearly everyone has a tv with conflict zone with a rash. banner g belittles, has supported russia since the start of the war in ukraine is the support to be sent to escalate into something more active from us to be our ciocca. he's chief political advisor to bela lucian, opposition, leader trip la massey, kind of sky up. she claims to be the national leader of bella luce, but hondage intimate is her claim with into 60 minutes on dw, with getting ahead, using tech. as our documentary series founders,

valley foliage africa to meet the founders empowering their continent through digital innovation, transforming work and health, and living conditions in their country and inspiring the world with their ideas. founded valley africa started february, 13th, all the w with . hello and welcome to focus on europe. it's good to have you with us. there's no and inside to the water ukraine almost a year has passed since the.