>> live from dw here in berlin, this is the world news. welcome. >> good to have you with us. our top stories -- accusing each other of inflaming the situation in ukraine. >> grounded again -- half of lufthansa's long-haul flights are canceled in the second >> germany's leading consumer product review magazine celebrates a round birth they -- birthday. >> welcome to the show. the ukraine crisis has taken center stage in a meeting of top diplomats from osce nations after u.s. president barack

obama said moscow was unlikely to shift its dance until sanctions began inflicting more pain on the country. >> moscow shot back immediately with president vladimir putin saying the united dates was leading the world into a new arms race. >> at the conference, the german foreign minister urged restraint and called for new lines of communication to be opened up. >> for now, a handshake on arrival is likely to be the closest the u.s. secretary of state will come to agreeing with his russian counterpart. the countries' positions on the ukraine conflict appear in irreconcilable. >> thank you very much. >> russia continues to supply new weapons and increase support for armed separatists. in doing so, it fails to meet its international and osce obligations, and to live up to an agreement that it actually negotiated and signed. >> it is a tense atmosphere wasn

blaming each other for the crisis. the russian foreign minister grumbled that nato and the eu had no monopoly on the truth. >> the way is offense developed gives the osce a unique opportunity to overcome negative tendencies, which will allow it to produce a positive agenda based on helsinki principles in all their totality. the german foreign minister said the risk of escalation had not been dispelled and called for further dialogue. he said "we need opportunities like this one that will allow us to look for solutions to the conflict in ukraine based on the implementation of the minsk agreements." >> so far, there are few signs the meeting will lead to real rapprochement in the ukraine conflict. >> let's go live to moscow and our correspondent standing by.

first off, the president of russia has been using the west of exploiting ukraine, but at the same time, he said he is willing to work with washington and with brussels. what is his message? >> pugin -- putin was giving his annual speech, and it sounded like an extremely anti-western speech. he accused the west of manipulating russia's neighbors and fomenting unrest. at the same time, he barely mentioned the conflict in eastern ukraine, and he never used a word which commenters believe is a sign he is leaving the door open for dialogue with the west. >> some doors open. he also talked about the economy and mentioned it is suffering from sanctions. what else did he say?

>> he said that russia will respond to western sanctions by liberalizing its economy and offering incentives to businesses in the form of tax breaks for startups and removing pressure from overzealous regulators. he also promised amnesty for assets which many russians keep in offshore tax havens, no matter what the origin of the assets is. >> the capital flight to stop, get money heading back into russia. thanks so very much. just hours before the address. >> at least 16 people were killed in the gunbattle between militants and security forces. violence directed after militants attacked a police checkpoint and government-run publishing house. nato took refuge in a school. residents in the area have been

told to stay indoors. russia has been fighting separatist groups in chechnya since the collapse of the soviet union. >> international leaders are meeting in london for a conference on the future of afghanistan. the event is being cochaired by the country's leader and british prime minister david cameron. >> international representatives are expected to pledge more aid to help afghanistan fight a fresh wave of attacks by the taliban. afghanistan relies on foreign aid from what -- for more than 90% of its income. >> also, some turbulence for some travelers. pilots from germany's biggest airline have walked off the job with a second time this week. the airline has canceled about half of its long-haul flights that was scheduled for thursday. >> the walkout comes less than a day after executives unveiled plans to launch a low-cost subsidiary, offering long-haul flights. it's likely to allow both the carrier and travelers to save

money, but not everyone is happy. >> in their 10th strike this year, pilots are fighting for a lot more than pay or early retirement. that's because the airline is greatly expanding its budget operations, including long-haul flights at far lower prices than those offered by the parent company, but lower cost flights mean lower payroll costs. after 10 years on the job, basic pay plus bonuses totals about 190,000 euros a year. pilots fear that a successful no-frills strategy would result in deep pay cuts for themselves. passengers affected by the strike have little sympathy. >> pilots are still among the top earners, so what's the need for a strike?

>> when you look at the union's demands and their tactics in relation to the effect that the strike has on the passengers, it's not very good. >> that gives the labor dispute a new dimension. one that makes a settlement even less likely. >> well, staying with business now, the european central bank has revised down its inflation and growth forecasts for the eurozone. it expects the economy and single currency to expand 5.8% and inflation to remain at about .5% next year. >> at the ecb's headquarters in frankfurt, the bank's president disappointed investors as well, expecting an announcement on quantitative easing, he said the ecb would wait until next year before deciding to take any further stimulus message -- measures. >> when the ecb is speaking, the

markets are listening, but this time, investors did not like the sound of what they heard. we have this rap at the day's action at the frankfurt stock exchange. >> those investors who had hoped that the ecb president would pull the bazooka already now were disappointed. bazooka is the word that many people at the exchange views when they talk about further quantitative easing by the reserve bank such as the purchase of government bonds. the ecb announced it wants to wait until it decides on further unconventional monetary policy measures and promptly the disappointed among the investor's started to sell shares. the dax changed direction. it had marked another record high shortly before the press conference of the ecb president, way above 10,000 points, but it ended trading on the downside this thursday. >> here's a quick look now at

the numbers for you. germany's dax ended the trading session down .2% at 9851. euro stoxx 50 following suit, even bigger losses here. down 1.75%. across the atlantic, the dow currently flat at 17,911. the euro is currently trading at $one point 2368 -- $1.2368. matteo vince he can breathe a sigh of relief. he has one parliament three support to push ahead with labor market reforms aimed at pulling his country out of recession. >> deputies backed the so-called jobs act, but the reforms are highly controversial. many italians believe they will only bring more hardship. >> it's a gray day in the italian capital, rome, one that matches the mood across the country.

traders at this markets a business is slow and that they do not believe the government's reforms will improve their situation. >> absolutely not. it's another revolving gunman trying to fill state coffers to stay in europe and make themselves look good. they are killing us like all the other said. >> -- like all the others did. >> i don't have any conflict with them. in this type of government, i have no confidence. >> one problem in italy is weak demand. consumers have stopped spending money. they are hoarding their savings because of concerns like the job losses, a real fear in a country with an unemployment rate of 12 percent. some economists want a european central bank to act. >> it is right that individual countries like italy enact reforms but it's also right that the european union carries out reforms that are even more important. >> businesses are lowering prices to lure customers back in

, but after years of wage freezes, the idea of splashing out is still difficult for many to stomach. >> a change of pace and some soccer technology now -- was it in or out? from neck season, that question should not provoke any more controversy. >> that's because the 18 clubs in the bundesliga's first division have decided to adopt the hawkeye technology, which will help referees determine whether a goal crossed a line or not. >> a goal that was not a proper goal, and a proper goal that was never counted. even referees make mistakes. goal line technology does not -- at least that is the hope. the decision marks a small revolution in german soccer. bundesliga clubs rejected the idea in march. >> with regard to goal line technology, i can inform you

that this meeting of the league association -- that is, the clubs of the bundesliga -- has voted for its introduction. by a vote of 15-3 with no abstentions. >> the league will use the hawkeye system that is already in operation in england's premier league. when high-speed cameras mounted on the stadium roof determined that the ball has entered the goal, it sends a signal to the referee. referees welcome the decision, but germany's second division will not introduce hawkeye for now. it costs 8000 euros a game to operate the system, and that is too expensive or second-tier clubs. >> to israel now where millions of liters of crude oil have spilled out in an accident in the south of that country, and error during maintenance work. it caused a leak that polluted nearby bodies of water. >> israel's environmental ministry says cleanup will take

several months. it's one of the worst environmental disasters in israel's history. several people have been treated or inhalation of toxic fumes. and people in the philippines are bracing for the arrival of a powerful typhoon that is expected to make landfall on saturday. it's currently packing winds of up to 205 kilometers an hour. >> this looming storm has unleashed panic. the philippines still reeling from the typhoon which left thousands dead last year. >> these are the pictures behind the panic. a category five storm, known locally as ruby, is once again airing down on the philippines. it is a repeat of these devastating scenes that everyone fears -- more than 7000 people were left dead or missing when typhoon haiyan tour through the center of the country late last year. this latest storm is expected to follow the same route. this time, authorities say they

are better prepared, but many are still skeptical. today in the capital, the president met disaster officials to assess measures the and put in place, including evacuation procedures and additional supplies to at risk areas. >> i am pressing everybody with a checklist of what has to be done, preferably by yesterday, but we still have today and tomorrow to finish all these things up. after we have done all of that, go back to your list and see is there anything else that can be done. >> it's estimated that 50 of the philippines' 88 provinces will be hit, a larger area than affected by typhoon haiyan, but the storm is not expect it to be as strong, and the president has warned that unnecessary alarm will do more harm than good. >> will be back with more news after a one-minute break. >> keep it right here at dw. we'll be right back.

>> welcome back. we start in the united states with a trial of a man who shot dead a 17-year-old german exchange student has opened in the u.s. state of antenna. >> prosecutors say the men lured a teenager into his garage by leaving the door partially open. defensattorney are likely to argue theed ith what is called the stand your ground law, also ll the castle doctrine in the state of montana, which allows people to avoid prosecution if they believe their lives are in imminent danger. that's the latest from missoula. let's go to our correspondent who joins us live from the courthouse. what's the latest, and what is the atmosphere at this trial? >> it was quite a businesslike atmosphere in the courtroom this morning as the two sights set

out opening statements. there was a sense that both the jury and the victim's family were accustomed to the atmosphere in the courtroom after a couple of jury selection earlier in the week. there were a couple of moments of drama, both of them coming from the county attorney, the prosecuting side. at one point, the prosecutor held up the huge pump action shotgun that was used to kill the victim with the message essentially that this is not a weapon that you use lightly. one local veteran court reporter has been reporting for 37 years in events that he has only seen anything like that once before. the other moment was when we saw a photograph of the scene. there was a lot of blood, and obviously, that was a very difficult moment for the family. >> sounds like we certainly are getting down to business. what type of arguments are the two sites presenting?

>> essentially, this case revolves around one question -- did the defendant stay within the bounds of montana's castle doctrine that you just mentioned earlier? the law setting out how much force and in what context you are allowed to use force against intruders on the property. prosecutors say he effectively laid a trap, installing sensors in his garage, that he then came outside and iron into the garage, and at that point, he became the aggressor. the defense, of course, reject that. they say he had no choice but to install the sensors, that they had been targeted by a gang of local thieves, that he had every reason to fear for his safety and the safety of his partner and their child. it will be up to the jury to decide which version of events they believe. we're expecting the trial to last a couple of weeks. >> it looks like the castle doctrine will continue to play a

central role in this case. thanks a lot. staying in the u.s., tensions are running high in new york city, following a controversial court decision. a jury decided not to indict a white police officer in the choking death of unarmed black man, eric garner. >> the ruling has sparked protests with illustrator's taking to the streets again today to demand justice. the u.s. attorney general says his office is launching a civil rights investigation. >> black lives matter is the chat by this crowd of protesters in new york. they are outraged by the killing of eric garner and the decision by the grand jury not to charge the police officer involved. garner was stopped by police officers in staten island in

july. this video shows how the asthmatic was wrestled to the ground in a headlock. he can be heard saying he cannot breathe. medical examiners ruled the death and homicide caused in part by a headlock, but still, the grand jury chose not to indict the officer. >> i am truly disappointed in the grand jury's decision this evening. i don't know what video they were looking at, but evidently, it was not the same one the rest of the world was looking at. >> in brief comments following the grand jury decision, president barack obama addressed the mistrust many african-americans have of the police. >> when anybody in this country is not being treated equally under the law, that is a problem, and it's my job as president to help solve it. >> the anger on the streets is also being fueled by the killing

by a white police officer of teenager michael brown in ferguson. "i can't brees," they shout. eric garner's last words have become a rallying cry for the demonstrators. -- "i can't breathe," they shout. >> shopping can be a dunking task because of the sheer amount of products to choose from when deciding what milk to put on your cereal, the butter to spread on your toast. consumers are often faced with a multiplicity of brands. it's difficult to know which is best. >> in germany, there's an organization, luckily, that comes to the rescue. for half a century, it has been helping consumers decide what to buy. >> not many products on the german market get past the test controllers. employees at the country's

independent consumer testing board hand out grades like a schoolteacher would. the organization is renowned for its rigor. hardly any other german organization enjoys such widespread support. 80% of germans say they trust them. many consumers consult the findings before making a purchase. >> it's definitely a good thing. i think it's a valuable thing to have. >> west germany in the early 1960's, with years of economic growth behind them, consumers now faced a huge choice. for some, it was overwhelming. the government responded by setting up an independent national consumer board. it started its work 50 years ago. first up for testing, hand mixers. consumers wanted to know which brand performed best on safety and efficiency. >> we see a again these kind of whisks have a significant advantage over their hooked equivalent. in this one, the dough never

rises up, whereas here, it comes up easily. >> the results were published and distributed widely. the testing procedures are known for being quite innovative. >> these children were testing the quality of a pair of tights. while this model produced sweat like an athlete. as an independent organization, it's criteria are often stricter than those required by law. strict guidelines are generally good news for consumers, but for manufacturers, a bad grade can be hugely damaging. in the past, there has been controversy. >> it's crucial that the consumer group adheres to legal requirements and frameworks. when that is not the case, the potential damage could amount to millions. >> take this chocolate maker -- it was accused of mislabeling the flavorings in its net chocolate bar. it was greeted poor.

it contested the findings, and the grade was later retracted. apart from that blip, the organization's reputation has remained largely unsullied, and most german consumers give it 10 out of 10. >> friday could be an historic day for reunited germany. the state parliament in the eastern german state is expected to elect a left party leader as its premier. >> he would be the first far left leader of the state government since the fall of the berlin wall 25 years ago. >> karl marx is never far away when the left party's representative appears. he is set to become during him's next state premier. >> we want to change the state. that's the problem. for many, a state premier from the left party would be nothing short of a disaster. >> he wants to take karl marx into the state chancellery. friends, he cannot be serious.

>> "the financial times" berlin correspondent says a state premier from the left party is a remarkable lyrical development compared to germany's neighbors. >> if you look at the experience of eastern europe -- poland, for example -- it's perfect the possible for former communists to return to power much more quickly than they happen in germany without any other terrible things that were protected happening. it's part of a political adjustment process. >> the left party is currently represented in 10 german state parliament. it is or has been a junior member of a governing coalition in three eastern states. the chief correspondent of the daily devout says a state premier from the left party would represent something of a sea change. >> we should try to comprehend a gravity of the situation.

it's not a minor matter somewhere in the provinces, which most western germans could not i know on the map anyway. underestimating the left is dangerous, and that's a qualitative change. >> the left is the successor to the east german policy which built the german wall and built the fear stasi secret police. that was a long time ago, and they have condemned east germany , but even saying this was highly controversial within his party. >> perhaps people are overestimating him. we'll see if he's the big bad wolf or just a purring kitten. >> all in say is if sufficient numbers of people are willing to put it crudely to forgive and forget and move on, then that shows that politically, they are ready for the at ministration. >> members of the left party are excited about their first state

premier, but for now, the party coalition partners have ruled out a similar coalition at the national level. >> time for some surfing action now, and american dusty payne put in an impressive performance in hawaii. >> the surf certainly was. he managed to log one of the highest scores of the day with his series of high-speed carving turns and cuts. he beat his brazilian rival, the current world number one. that's all for now. thanks for joining us. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org]

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