the, the, this is the, the, the news line from berlin blind and promises israel, iron clad support. that pledge comes as gates feared. wrong could retaliate for, it is really striking on the iranian nbc and syria. also coming up for real estate tycoon, sentenced to death in vietnam's biggest fraud case found guilty of investigating 12 and a half $1000000000.00 and tens of thousands forced to flee their homes in southern russia and caustics done in the worst flooding in a 2nd. the

unlikely look who we appreciate your company. president joe biden says us commitment to israel is iron clad in the face of iranian threats. the us and its allies, fear, or ron or groups acting on its behalf could launch a significant attack within days to run his val, to retaliate for a presumed is really strike on the wrong, an embassy in series that killed 7 members of its revolutionary guard. ron supreme leader ire total economy has renewed the threat. jane, israel must be punished. israel has not commented but bite and says america's commitment is on waiver. the cross want to address the radius, right? the largest exist, they are threatening to launch a significant attack. and israel, as i told prime minister netanyahu our commitment to israel security against these threats. moran and his proxies is iron clad, beset, again our class. we're going to do all we can to protect israel. secure photo is

yours, as is professor of international relations at the london school of economics. full, i treasures i suppose biting statement is a good place to store it. what's your assessment of what iron clad means and what does that entail? what are those who use the that are on that plots? so the president's statement is really a message of the time. so you're not just present and by the but even the secretary of state blinking coal, these right, you defense minister and reassured these by your defense. no said that the us will stand with israel also the us defense secretary there is even is right. we have a news now that is rightly this have us that american counterparts to make public statements in order to the, to iran from retaliating for the use, right. the attack on the, at the wrong, and consulate in serial last week, which as you said, killed 7 senior at rodney in columbus and i, i,

i might take on it is that you're on, well, we tell you, the question is not whether you're on will do so or not, the question is how, when and what targets that you're on. uh will, are you to attack in the next few hours or next few days. we'll get to that in just a moment is really prime minister. netanyahu said today that israel is preparing also for scenarios of challenges from other arenas as he put it. what does he mean by that to? well, i mean, i think what you have now is that you'll have the war in gaza, but the war has expanded. contrary to what the american strategy, the american strategy from day one, from the 7th of october to how much that that is val was that it does not when you want to expand, it has expanded. we, i'm in the read in

new york is here. yeah. so what, what you, on line we have not nation, is that a, by attacking iranian sovereignty, the you are on the leadership viewed is rouse at that on the wrong and consulate in syria as an attack on the wrong in solving a direct attack on the wrong it was really a pro vocation. it was designed to provoke iran, retaliate, and now you're on, does not really retaliate. it will stand humiliated and shown by israel to be a paper tag. so the question facing that you're on your leadership is how to retaliate without provoking all outdoor, was israel on the united state because iran does not 21, a bought a tool that was his route or with the united states as a result of that propagation as you put it a run supreme leader has vowed to retaliate for the attack on the damascus embassy

is around likely to do so from ronnie in sorrel or through the so called access of resistance. well, this is really the big question. it's the $1000000.00 question i might take. is that reading iranian statements and listening to what you're wrong, you leave those have said they basically keep talking about the excess of resistance, you're ons, regional, local networks, 11 and young man in europe and what have you. so this might imply that you're on could use its own networks or supporters to retaliate. but my take on based on what the americans say is that you're on, is preparing for a significant attack. that means you're on, we'll buy that the attack iraq is route because the or on your supreme, the, the fly said that that is the route that tacked on the wrong. and council council that was a direct attack on you on itself would translate,

let's from say what the supreme via the come, any says that says israel attack you wrong sovereignty, we have to retaliate directly from your on this, whether that into the allies and what the americans use of it asked me what the americans had been trying to do. the americans do not 21, a reasonable allow cool. so what the americans, i try to do is to try to detect that you're wrong and, and prevent a significant attack by iran on his route. we're going to have to ended there. that's middle east n o is for washes, as many, many thanks user. thank you. a property tycoon has been sentenced to death in vietnam's biggest financial fraud case. strong milan was on trial a long side $85.00 others were embezzling 12 and a half $1000000000.00. the death sentence, a scene is unusually severe lawn's arrest last year was part of an empty corruption drive that has engulf the top levels of eating these politics. journalism michael

to tar sky, spoke to me about the magnitude of this sketch, a shirt. so ellen made right at the start that the numbers are been a little confusing at times of long before the verdicts had been accused of embezzling 12 and a half $1000000000.00 from a bankruptcy, with the controlling owner. in today's verdict, as a rule that she needs to reimburse the bank $27.00 and a half 1000000000 or $27000000000.00. it's not entirely clear where the difference in those numbers comes from. but by the way, the dollar amounts are mass of a by far the largest financial private business history and indeed, and among the largest and world history, i believe the numbers are massive and the punishment is huge. you might say why the death sentence yeah. as you know, that this is a rare, certainly, and financial crimes. i mean, you know,

does have the death penalty. it's not widely used and certainly not been sort of black and better for his white collar crime like this. but prosecutors recommended it late last month. a given the, this year of scale of the crime, and this morning the court said that they believed law deserve the highest punishment, which kind of made it clear of what the verdict would be. so it's, i guess clear that they want to make an example of her and given again the scale of this um took this kind of been transferred uninstalled with a verdict. michael, i'm curious. what in general is known about the other? 85 people accuse of some involvement in this case or so many of them are relatively unknown, but there are few other high profile defendants. um, strongly lines use for example, she got receive 17 years in jail. she was the ceo of another major company within the vantage side. echo system also loans, husband who is actually a hong kong national which will be interesting and got 9 years in jail for his

involvement. the i think he kind of was trying to plead ignorance of the immune system in laws here and processes. it'll be interesting to see the international reaction to that one. and perhaps you have the most notable one is an official from the state bank of vietnam was accused of receiving a $5000000.00 bribes from lawn to overlook her activities. she was the lights in jail and the other defendants range from probation songs as to other a few other life songs as well. i'm sure this is one of the few things people there in the region or talk a what's likely to be the political ramifications of all of this politically interface to be seen. i mean, this is, it's comes within the broader context of a church and campaign. the president resigned last month uh, related to this campaign, not this trial, that this campaign. but this is largely in the private sector and the impact here

in ocean city. it has been profound bantam side and its various subsidiaries control something like a 1000 properties in the city, all of which have been seized by the police for investigation. it's not clear what kind of legal process those buildings will go through. this includes unfinished, skyscraper is a very high profile properties. political fallout at the moment appears to be relatively minimal, but certainly on the private sector side here in ocean city, which is going to be solved for a very long time. that's a journalist. so michael to tar sky. michael. many thanks. let's take a brief look at some of the other stories making news around the world at this hour . israel has confirmed that it killed 3 sons of how boss is political truth is mile and the in an air strike in gusto. the brothers were travelling in a vehicle when they were targeted by a drone. israel's military says the men belong to him off his military way. your

training, present, and full of them is the lensky has signed a 10 year security deal with what via the agreement follows a barrage of attacks by russia targeting energy facilities across ukraine. so lensky says, strengthening the national air defenses is a top priority. at least 17 people have been killed and as many injured in a bus accident in pockets done. the vehicle was carrying pilgrims through religious side. on the 1st day of each celebrations of public holiday. in pack a stuff while the european central bank is keeping its key interest rate on hold at 4.5 percent for the 5th consecutive month, the bank wants to be sure, inflation is under control before cutting interest rates to boost economic growth. lower rates make credit cheaper investments, easier for businesses, financing conditions, remained risk. let's get more on this with a rob watts from dw business. it's good to see rob, um,

so rates on hold again. are there any signs that the e c, b will be blowing rates anytime in the near future, but those are precisely the size of the annual watching the slightest announcement from the e. c. b, we're looking for, we finally got to see interest rate as low as for the 1st time. actually in a gives us a year since the cds actually cuts rates because we have a long period of 0 rates. and then all of the hikes that came with the various challenges that we little faced over the past 5 years. were there any hints at back from this meeting? well, with any central bank announcement, it's always really hard to spot them. they like to be crazy because they don't like to surprised market. so that like surprise anything they also didn't like to tie that hands for the next meeting. so we didn't see them this time round. what christine, my god did say was that the bank would continue to follow basically the data and what the data sets of the environment is that inflation is reaching that to present target to the c b has last month. it was a $2.00. and if it continues in that direction, then it will, at some points,

be appropriate to lower interest rates. what we also have to bear in mind is that the yours in economy is seconds. it has been for about 18 months now. no, great, that's not a good thing for just about any perspective. and one of the ways that you can tackle that is to lower interest rates. so there is a certain imperative for a lowering of interest rates to happen at some point in the near future. so is the behavior of the us central bank, the federal reserve, something that the c, b is paying close attention to. whether you see b itself would probably never answer that question with a straight. yeah. so that's the straight glass is never because of course, they need to seem like all that they're interested in, is the, your design. and what's going on that acting in the interest of that, you know, without the noise of what's going on with the federal reserve. but you can understand why people are asking that question because interest rates are high in

the united states as they are in yours and, and for some of the reasons the tackle, similar challenges. but now the us and the yours and a very different beast. economic economics wise, because in the us they've got better than expected economic growth. so the saying the always and is stagnant, the jobs market that is very tight and other jobs going unfilled. and also they have to have some surprising rises in inflation. so for this, yeah, so it's pretty right that the c b is saying we're not paying as much attention to the facts because it actually got very different challenges to face investors say their pricing and their rates cut in june. is there a risk if the c b that the used to be meet those expectations? yeah, it's not a risk if they space don't meet those expectations. so that one way to put this, because you don't want to surprise markets, you never do think that easily. spoofs on the lights, it deliver what they expect because otherwise you, you get things i think that you, you know, you can't control. but the other side of it is this fact that if rates don't get

cut soon, we've essentially missed out on growth in the yours and that we otherwise might have had. so yeah, you, you have to buy mine. but the key issue as far as the god is concerned, is that you know the data they have isn't stable enough and they didn't feel ready to make that cook yet. but they reckoned in june, it will be so. so she didn't say that a coach is going to happen in june. she, they also didn't rule this out. and sometimes that's really as much as you can ever expect to get. has to be always good to see rob watched dw business. many thanks as always, pleasure. a prisoner, joe biden, and japanese prime minister from york. the shita have vowed to boost defense ties and present a united front to counter china. the 2 leaders have held talks in washington before their 1st summit with philippine president ferdinand macos junior negotiations will

focus on the perceived threat from beijing in the in the pacific region. you have no 3 leaders and a set of high stakes security challenges. president joe biden is hosting japanese prime minister who myoshi the philippine president bumble mark was in washington d. c for a trilateral summit following on from an official visit with casita. according to the white house president biden prime and a circus. she dot and president marcos are meeting to underscore the alliances between the 3 countries to both are economic cooperation and to foster peace and security in the in the pacific. but there's a threat to that peace and security in the region. and this trade lateral stomach is at least in part, a response to that speaking after the bilateral meeting bite and encourage you to emphasize deepening defense ties between their 2 countries. obviously, for modernize you come in and control structures. and during the increasing interoperability and planning of our military so, so you can work together in

a seamless and effective way. this is the most significant upgrade in our line since the end of it says it was 1st established. i'm also pleased to announce that for the 1st time, japan in the united states and australia will create a network system of air, missile, and defense architecture. we're also looking forward to standing up a tri, loud or military exercise with your pan in the united kingdom. and our office defense partnership with australia, the united kingdom is exploring how japan can join our work. although both leaders insisted that the show of, of greater partnership is not about seeking confrontation with anyone in the country. the warning to try know over it's hostile behavior in the south china sea is clear. the chinese coast guard has repeatedly targeted philippine vessels with water cannons near the contested 2nd, thomas stole raising fears, washington could be dragged into a direct confrontation would be doing it for us to defend it's trinity allied. the philippines analysts say that means, but you, west has become interested in making sure its allies are able to help themselves.

and each other. the us wants to deepen inter operability with these partners and help them become more capable allies themselves. so that in any future contingency, whether it's the south tennessee, or eastern sea or taiwan or something else that we haven't even imagined yet, the us has capable modernized partners who can stand with it. and we have to recognize that the unipolar moment is over. and the us is great, a strength is this alliances and partnerships. it can not do this stuff alone. ahead of the summit, the filipino baset are to the west stress the need to find a peaceful resolution or risk or wider conflict. and so that is the message to give to one of our friends that anything happens to the philippines. you may want to stay away from it, but the fact of the mattress is going to become a major conflict that was not the that's it. the survival of the real, it's just as

a state here and beyond the strengthening of the 3 way security relationship. tokyo in washington are also committing to increased infrastructure and industrial investment in the philippines and recognition that standing up to be jang comes out of costs. both in defense and an economic terms j. c. coaching a is a general is at the filipino new psych raptor who spent years covering the growing tension between beijing and manila. i asked him how the threat from china is felt in the philippines or um, you know, is here in the philippines. um, there's a very strong anti china sentiment right now. and that is because, um, the harassment of chinese coast guard vessels on philippine naval resupply boats and coast guard vessels has just stepped up in the last year. and here you see on the video that's on a supply ship that's in bombarded by the water tenants from china. we did not see this, but this expense in recent years. in fact, the last one there,

there were actual injuries and there was a threat. there is now a statement from the united states that, um, if, if the, if the violence escalates, if it leads to a death, then there might be, you know, that this is, the situation might escalate and as with management, then allies might be pulled into kind of have to intervene into the situation. the election of president marcos marked a clear break with his predecessor, rodrigo, do judge a reversing years of pro china policies. but what should we make of this diplomatic new turn? how far are the philippines actually ready to go to be back vision to right, so on the water we are far outclass our, our navy is decades behind the us as china, defiance, which is really the reason why the philippine government, this media rallying its allies to get help to kind of push it back at the jing, um,

you know, be the, even though the philippine steve with the lord sign under the therapy and the alliance with, with the united states has always been the undercurrent and right right now, you know, be aligning with china would have to go against the decades of and living breathing relationship with the united states for better or for worse. the philippines and the united states already have. the military's already have strong inter operability. the relationship is deep bill over decades of joint operations, doing exercises. so right now, if you look at it, if you zoom out, it's more as though the 6 years under that there's a rep row, which meant with china was more like a blip in a more overarching alliance with the united states. and walk us briefly through this alliance between japan and the philippines, or the 2 countries on the same page. in other words, is your enough trust between the 2, considering their painful and bloody history?

interestingly enough, yes um. it was around $10.00 to 2016 under the thermos. um, former president uh, be needing the key. know that he stepped up, released with the partnership, a strategic partnership with somebody and um, we basically set aside wounds from world war 2 under that there the uh, she even called the van chinese japanese by mr. single. i've a, a friend who speaks closer than a brother. so this is the relationship, the partnership between the philippines and japan is strong. in fact, many of our new west, most modern coast guard vessels were from japan. um, it's an arrangement, it's id, but the terms are very, very friendly. and even now there's thoughts of even more minutes. i'm or at least coast guards, hardware that's going to be transferred from japan to the philippines. and along with that as well, a lot of economic cooperates on the subway is going to be built in manila as we

speak by is through a cooperation agreement. okay, that is a j. c. good thing, journalist at raptor in mental and many thanks to you sir. southern russia and context on or battling rising water levels that have brought widespread flooding. tens of thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes. melting snow has caused their euro river to search and flood defenses to collapse around the city of orange bark. a rescue operation is underway, but local say not enough was done to prevent the flooding or the flooded area is getting bigger by the hour. the rising water is now threatening the regional capital of our in board. a city of more than half a 1000000 authorities are urgent everyone in dangerous areas to leave their homes. material that it's hard for me around, but we have to stay strong vehicle. my son has come for that. i have to give an

example that we will overcome h is deal with the floods heat, several regions in west in siberia and neighboring cars like stones brushes, emergencies, ministry launched a massive rescue operation, but they help from the federal center is often seen as too little or too late a brief protest over the handling of the disaster broke out into regions. second largest city of our school on monday. all guys, almost the people in the city help each other regardless of some tensions we have. we can say the same about audit with station the administration should not just be a shame. they need to be sec dude, for the water is became uncontrollable after a dam intended to hold just over 5 meters of water broke over the weekend. its level has since doubled questions have been raised over whether negligence led to

the disaster, as well as the authorities response to a local residents. we'd also like to hear a word of support from the countries leader on the regions largest floods in decades. instead, they go to a message from the spokesperson pigeon fuck teachers. q also pollutant is not in the open book region physically. he's constantly involved in the matter issue. mind. he's dealing with these issues the entire day, which is at the moment a visit to the region is not on the agenda. it's the most critical moment. now. we will monitor developments in the next few days. and with the kremlin state control over the media and security services, it's unlikely that many people will be publicly questioning if the disaster perhaps, could have been prevented. the kremlin does indeed say president vladimir putin won't visit the effected area, dw correspondent, dimitri plenty of and has more on criticism of the government's handling of the

crisis as well. it has also been quite typical for president clinton to stay away from communicating with the origin. the russians, the last time we saw him talking to people on the ground was up to the mutiny by a private company. wagner by you have given you progression. of course, last year he spoke to people in douglas done, sue stan fulton, of though he appears of course in public it rarely goes tvs and then talk to come and russians. but for now, the anger on the ground in northern board and other regions was mostly directed at local officials. people there blame them for inaction, for being too late for being too slow with response to have any reports of looting . and that the authorities are they apparently know doing enough to stop it. so there's a lot of accurate, again, at the local officials. but for now it seems that of course they have been some coming 3 on put things response as well. but so far, i think he's stand away from this in terms of p r from the bad image. in this case

. up next focus on your travel sustain where even in the early spring, farmers are worried about water 4 digits. i'm michael luke and thanks for watching and bye. for now. the

kids need to be looked at. why not for the kindergarten, old age? it might sound crazy. and i tried it out with great success. focus on here right next. on d, w. dr. nation propagate and fake news rules. russia with an iron fist. since the attack on ukraine,

so freshman of defense has intensified. the last members of the opposition in the country are being harassed or driven into exxon indoctrination of a nation to teach russia in 45 minutes on d w. the name cassandra re determined that has below was operating like a global drug. course. the objective to financially drain has gone up and bring them down. the team agents from the american drug enforcement agency they had criminalized themselves. we needed to reveal that so world. why did the us government suddenly shut down project cassandra in 2016?

03 pod documentary series and mos king has. paula starts may 4th on d, w. the hello and welcome to focus on europe. how does the country best protect itself against threats? how do we safeguard our democracy, our freedoms and the lives of our citizens against criminals? and terrace, several european countries have been re evaluating their security measures following the recent attack near moscow. more than a 130 con.