the old way can be the generation, the ends that so good. malaria must die. so millions can live the, you're watching the w news coming to live from portland. nato stage is the largest air force exercises in its history, led by germany. the drills involved 25 countries and over 10000 soldiers and are seen as a clear signal toward most out. also coming up on the show, ukraine says it's re taken several towns from russian forces. there's

a 1st report of gains in months and or part of keeps new counter offensive loss form or italian prime minister silvio berlusconi dies at the age of $86.00. we look back at the legacy of a controversial leader and a billionaire. media mobile, the hello, i'm claire richardson. thank you so much for joining us, nato. is it starting? it's the biggest ever air girls. they involve 10000 fruits and 250 aircraft from 25 countries known as operation air defender. most of the drills are being stage in the skies over germany. authorities and industry groups save the deployment could cause flight delays and cancellations for holiday makers across europe have a small for air base when stores in the state of lower sacks me is serving as the central logistics hub for the maneuvers at the launch of the exercise the head of

germany's air force and the exercise was aimed at demonstrating native's defense capabilities and independent from their defender 2023. we are showing we approve a we are demonstrating the defense of ability of this alliance. these it is, this exercise is the signal not aimed at any one. it is a signal to us in the record, internally, into nato, and it is meaning it will confuse, taking part in this terminal that exercise a signal that we are capable of defending this country. this alliance and our correspondent benjamin over as brewer is reporting for us from the one source airbase in central germany. benjamin's tell us more about the scale of these roles . you already mentioned a few numbers, 10000 soldiers, 250 across 25 nations that are taking parts here in boast of where we are in lower sacks. i mean, this is kind of the logistical hardware questions like refueling with it, with soldiers have been coming into germany from the us,

from the us national job as well. we've seen many plains and as you can probably also see or no, probably also here behind me, there is still a lot of movement going on this exercise. so we'll take a long time. and what they want to show is how quickly made or can respond to the threats of any kind. and that was something that the commanders, the where here today, impulse of also stress. and do you think this will be successful in sending that sort of signal? i mean, up particularly against the backdrop of the war in ukraine. that's right. what's important you mentioned here. this exercise was plan was initiated by germany in 2018 by dingle gal. have the chief of the german air force that we just heard there. that was the idea of, of having also a more active role of calls as a signal. and that's something with amy goodman the, some about that or to germany. you mentioned that older will be that should be also

taking notice of the exercises and i'll take it forward to you even though rush it was not mentioned in direct be that, but of course it's sending a signal to show how quickly nature can get the full assistant can defend, as they say, every inch of nato's harry tree was so many exercises taking place in the skies. above you're of what sort of disruptions can we expect that this is going to cause to commercial flights for people who are looking to go on their next holiday this summer they will definitely be some kind of destruction. what the problem say, what the german air force is saying is they try to minimize it as much as possible down 3 areas over germany. well, they explain our fly with this exercise is all taking place of schools, the rates, the ability to engage and that that will be, of course, some implications to that. some slight delays are also expected, but what they say is that they want to have it as many moments as possible. so these effect on civilization also the possibility of german airports,

civil airports, all to operate dom or a, the normal so that place can land also after the normal opening hours of the german airport. thank you so much for reporting. that is our benjamin brewer for us air base so you cranes military size. it's re taken a 4th village from russian forces in the south east. the gains reported over 2 days or the 1st in months and a part of keeps new counter offensive. villages allegedly recaptured are in a cluster of settlements. introduced a region partially occupied by russia. ukrainian troops released a video, purportedly of them, housing with their flag and sorrows. i have had a rest with military size. it has repelled ukraine's attempts to advance in the area. a lot of you spoke earlier to former british intelligence officer, frank ludwig from oxford, and we asked him whether the ukrainian counter offensive is off to a good start. i think what we can say, we can say 2 things. first of all,

that much of what we know is through a glass darkly. but another thing we can say is that what we haven't seen yet is the commitment of made ukrainian forces. there are full separate axes, which service but seem to be a salting on, but all is done on, on, not full on salts, partly because i think they've yet to reach in most places. the 1st lines of russian defense, that's the strong, strong points we saw being developed over the of the winter. but they all making good progress. back to the i know at least goes what you might at least as much as what might be expected. but we've not saved the main assault yet. we've not seen made of 94. so you create new brigades yet committed us, frankly, french speaking to us earlier, we can take a look now at some other stories making headlines around the world. and the democratic republic of congo, at least 40 civilians were reportedly killed in an attack at a camp for displaced people,

official se malicious launch the attack. and it tore province. a camp reportedly just miles from a un peacekeeping, keeping base in columbia. new details are continuing to emerge about the rescue of for children who were lost in the amazon for 40 days after their plane crashed in the jungle. their knowledge of the rain for us to help them survive and find food that was safe to eat. clinic is that kind of well, italy is remember in former liter silvio berlusconi who has died at the age of 86. he passed away after months of illness, rose gone, he was the country's longest serving prime minister. and he's due to be given a state funeral at milan cathedral on wednesday, on the streets of room citizens reflect on the passing of a man who was a constant figure of the country's political landscape for over 3 decades. a maybe a really awesome media. you seem to multiple but anyway, i'm sorry to hear it because even though i don't show his views, the tools,

he was to say that he did really historic things that have all these years. and he was a great political impresario story, and i don't know what bad things this will lead to, but i'm sure this will be very destabilizing for food. so talia silvio. berlusconi died out of milan hospital after suffering from leukemia. and a recent lung infection done. yeah, it'll really learn from that. it should never have limits imposed on it. but it learned that it should never give up with him. we thought one last many battles and for him to we will bring home the goals that we had set ourselves together. goodbyes. you'll be busy on this, on the day, a great italian, one of the greatest tools has decided to beat us farewell. wishing everyone

a good day. i asked for a minute silence before seat of your bed and was calling me you see later? corny fairly scone dominated the world's business and politics. billionaire tomatoes fortune from the thriving media empire and the countries long disturbing premier controversial role in the 2 worlds has inspired feelings across the spectrum. how many loved him, many hated him. everyone today must recognize that his impact on political, but also economic sporting and television life was unprecedented. berlusconi presented himself as a self made man transformed at a least political landscape. building the country's biggest commercial tv network. to his critics, the businessman leading forts. i tell you, a centre right political party used his vast media empire to further his political

career. the most notorious of the scandals in that career centered on his so called bunker bundle parties. fairly scone face trial for allegedly soliciting sex with a minor. and was even accused of paying off eye witnesses to stop them testifying against him. after initially being convicted, he was eventually acquitted of the charges. and that the snowballing scandal, you step down as prime minister in 2011. when you've done millions of battalions had been waiting for that moment, and would you think yours? berlusconi was in and out of hospitals. as his health became increasingly fragile, he died at the age of 86, still wielding a lot of power, where the political and media environment of italy. he will receive

a state funeral on wednesday at the historic milan cathedral. let's get across the room for more from journalist the same a group to see more for decades. berlusconi was an dominant figure in italian politics, famous for his popular style. can you tell us more about what his political legacy will be? well, he's definitely loomed large over life. you're in it's lee was elected 4 times as prime minister, a media tide. cool. so he had his impact on the media landscape. he found it, me just set it to the largest commercial broadcast up. and then of course the impact on football, he owned ac milan for many years and so with the champions league and then went onto own the the other club models. uh, so really an impact on many levels of societies, upland boy, man. but he also had, was dogged by so many scandals, whether it was about corruption, tax fraud or sex scandals, and actual legal cases many cases. but indian most of them. well,

i did throw not because they ran under the statute of limitations. all he simply the, the issues what not follow through. and he only said was touch the final level on one conviction of tax evasion. so you really was a debate to figure that with those in italy who supported him through and to felt that he was persecuted by the judges and prosecute as well as detractors said that he simply, he bade justice and destroy the culture of the country with his style of politics now is also interesting to note politically, perhaps one of these legacies. but is that he let the far right parties into government forming alliances in the past with the know the lee as well as the post specialist early on. so nothing on it. so but understand when you're looking at a figure who has so often made headlines for alleged sex and corruption scandals. how was bruce clinic, burl is gonna be able to hold onto power and have such a long political career as well. he was

a very charismatic big guy and when it came to those legal cases and accusations, as i said, statute of limitations, they didn't fall up on some of the cases work with it. so in that sense, he never actually had to be taken to task for any of those allegations. then perhaps the fact that he, he said, and felt that he was prosecuted by these judges, that appealed to most of your talents, perhaps believed his, his ideas. and also they may have been oppressed street to the particular cause of your tenants for street that with a high taxes and bureaucracy and saw him as perhaps a successful businessman who could deliver on some of his promises. on top of that, he really was a famous politician. he was in politics, was so long, so many people. he was simply a name that they knew and they understood what is important to remember. back in 2008, perhaps his party foresight dahlia had some 37 percent of the actual votes base. but in 2022 in the last election,

they only had about 8 percent of the vote share. however, that still meant that they will part of the current coalition government. he's foresight, the party is in government to get the with the prime minister, georgia maloney and the fall right. lead party of my to solve the this. thank you so much for that update. that's journalist, the same, a group that with the latest in our coverage of the death, a former italian prime minister, silvio berlusconi. many thank see my sort of sports now. and in germany's men's book, national football team are gearing up for their one thousands match tonight, when they take on ukraine and germany will be daunting. a special jersey in the friendly match in bremen. charity proceeds from the game will go to victims before and ukraine. the german football federation says it wants to send a clear message of peace as host the germans don't have to qualify for next year therapy and championship us. and just before we go, a reminder of our top story. at this hour,

nato is conducting the largest air force exercise in the alliances history. the girls are being led by germany and more than 10000 soldiers from 25 countries are taking parts. the now warren news headlines coming up in 45 minutes time. stay tuned for dw business news with my colleague, kate ferguson. that is coming up next for a short break. thank you so much for watching the highly toxic asbestos. it's been banned for decades in many countries. damage cost to people in the environment is catastrophic.