>> live from the dw studios here in berlin, this is your world news. >> good to have you with us. headlines at this hour -- >> some 30 workers are missing and near dead after a coal mine explosion in eastern ukraine. we'll go live to our reporter on the ground. >> who is winning the battle or the iraqi city of tikrit? we will get a status update from baghdad about the government offensive against islamic state. >> in german soccer, it too end second division team was knocked out of the cup.

at least one minor has been killed in a further ready feared dead after an explosion in ukraine. >> the explosion took place on the edge of donetsk and territory held by pro-russian rebels. local officials say over 70 people were working in the mine at the time of the blast. >> we go now to our correspondent on the ground in mariupol, ukraine, new the site of the mine. what more do we know about the minors the number of casualties, the number who are maybe still trapped, and what more do we know about the calls? >> at this point, we know that there is one casualty. 16 have been taken to hospital. they report being blown off their feet at approximately 5:25 a.m. this morning local time.

that's halfway between the central virginia in the airport. at this point, they're still at least 30 people unaccounted for. they were believed to be working deep underground underneath the point of impact the need the explosion, which is believed to be a methane gas explosion. at this point, they've not been able to reach those men or make any sort of contact. the other problem is that ukrainian rescue services from about 60 kilometers away have not been granted access to the donetsk people's republic, so rescue services on the ground are very scant. >> of course, not granting access -- that has everything to do with the war in eastern ukraine. we are reporting this explosion is an accident. is that how it is being treated now, or is anyone talking about the possible connection to the military conflict in the area? >> at this point, there's no connection being made to the conflict directly.

a criminal investigation has been opened by the ukrainian authorities, but i think the main problem is that essential services in the rebel-held areas are barely functioning so safety and rescue services at the mine shaft were very -- were barely functioning themselves. we can only speculate, but yes. >> before we let you go, what about information it's being given to the family members and loved ones of the miners who are still trapped? winterson they are about 1000 meters below surface. are they being told what's going on? >> conflicting information coming through. originally it was announced by the donetsk people's republic that 77 miners had died underground and, of course, that really caused a lot of emotional outburst from the relatives who were gathered

around. at this point, we don't really have any information. we're getting some information through from the ukrainian miners union. we have people there on the ground but we believe that the miners that were trapped were deep below the explosion so without the extra rescue people coming in from the ukrainian territory, it's going to be a very difficult situation. >> thank you very much. >> cheers. >> this mining tragedy is another blow to a war-torn region. >> the united nations human rights office says more than 6000 people have been killed in writing since the conflict between pro-russian separatists and ukrainian forces began last year. >> and despite two cease-fires and diplomatic pressure from berlin to washington, the carnage and destruction in eastern ukraine knows no end. >> rebel fighters patrol what is left of donetsk airport.

once the city showpiece, it has been reduced to rubble. in recent months, this was the scene of the fiercest fightig between pro-russian separatists and government forces. the rebels won this battle, but the fight is far from over. even though officially, there's a truce, the sound of shelling still rings out nearby. >> you heard it yourselves. some shells still land here, but not where the civilians are -- at least not yet. life is most people knew it here has ended. empty streets and abandoned buildings littered with evidence of the violence. under the rubble, dead bodies. the other side calls them heroes or cyborgs, but if this is their heroes why don't they come and collect their bodies? it's because they are trying to hide the real picture. ukrainian president claims they've had almost zero casualties here.

villages outside and yes come also been hard hit. it's an opportunity for people to repair their homes. how long the calm will last no one knows. >> in his first public comment on the killing of the opposition leader, president vladimir putin of russia has called the crime a disgrace for the country. >> he was shot dead while walking with a friend new the kremlin on friday. he was a critic of the war in ukraine and a fierce opponent of president putin. today, the president said a most serious attention must be paid to high-profile crimes including those with a political motive. an offer of $80,000 for information has so are not helped identify any suspects. >> we want to shift to the middle east. who is winning the battle anorak or the city of tikrit -- who is winning the battle in iraq for the city of tikrit? it's clear -- it's difficult to

get a rough answer. >> the shiite militia and sunni tribes have come together to fight islamic state versus. >> but they have not been able to make a major advance since the campaign began sunday. >> it's the iraqi forces' biggest offense of so far against i.s. these pictures are sent to shown in advance by enforcement up of iraqi army troops, shiite militias and sunni tribal fighters. the government and air force say they have recaptured some territory from i.s. and destroyed several jihadist positions, but there has been no independent confirmation of the claims. >> they were able to pound the hideouts of islamic state militants with rockets and artillery. our attacking force was backed by jet fighters. god willing, we will defeat i.s. militants from this district and other areas and we will

continue chasing them. >> but that could take a long time because fighters are mounting a determined resistance. using guerrilla tactics such as snipers, roadside bombs and suicide attacks, they have managed to halt the offensive according to the iraqi military. ikrit has been in the hands of i.s. since last summer. it lies north of baghdad on a strategically important highway. the new offensive is a test of the iraqi forces ahead of a planned attack on i.s.'s stronghold of most of -- of mosul. first, tikrit must be captured, and iraqi forces are said to be attacking from three sides, acting on their own with no support in the united states or other allies. >> recapturing saddam hussein's hometown will be no small feat. we go to baghdad to follow this

major operation launched by the iraqi military. what's the latest you can tell us about this offensive? >> according to the information i got run the central command here in baghdad, the troops were first heading north. they were clearing everything and then they were heading towards tikrit, clearing the surroundings, and now, they even conquered, as i heard the birthplace of saddam hussein. it is a suburb of tikrit. but they have cleared it now. it's in the hands of the government. i just talked to somebody inside . he said there is fighting in the center of tikrit and in the north and in the south. >> not so long ago, you might remember direct's's second-largest city, iraqi troops, american trained and equipped, simply dropped their weapons and allowed i.s. to take control. is the iraqi army up to the task

this time around? what has changed? >> with everybody i talked to here in baghdad there are still doubts about the capacity of the iraqi army. they say that the equipment is not sufficient that the ammunition is not enough, and the morale of the troops is a big question mark as well. we will see how the next days or weeks will follow-up and if the iraqi army stands the challenge. >> before we let you go, are the sunnis on board this time around? >> they are all on board this time in this operation. we have the sunni militias, the tribal leaders. some of them at least -- not all of them, but some of them, and, of course, the shia militias. >> reporting on the ongoing iraqi operation to recapture i.s.-held territory. thank you for your update.

>> now to the speech yesterday that much of the world watched. israeli prime minister benjamin is now defending his speech to the u.s. congress, stressing that he made practical suggestions for resolving the dispute over iran's nuclear program. >> u.s. president barack obama had earlier criticized netanyahu's speech, saying it contained nothing new and lacked a viable alternatives to an agreement with iran. negotiations toward such a deal are continuing today. the west is offering tehran a relaxation of economic sanctions . in return for a limited the country's nuclear enrichment program. >> china's turbo economic growth may have slowed slightly, but the military appears poised for its own turbo run. >> on wednesday, beijing reported plans to increase military spending in 2015 by 10% to around 145 million u.s.

dollars. >> china's neighbors are already concerned by beijing's push to grow its army, air force and navy. today's announcement can only add to those worries. >> the announcement that china is beefing up its military budget has jangled nerves around the region. china is engaged in a number of territorial disputes over the resource-rich spratly islands in the south china sea with japan over a strategically important group of islands, which both countries claim as theirs. at the same time, beijing is drawing up a new antiterrorism law as it faces an insurgency at home as well as the risk of cyberattacks from without. >> in essence, it should reflect our concern to prevent terrorism . >> as to the military budget, the leadership has not revealed which parts of the armed forces are to receive more money.

experts expect much of the cash to go towards beefing up the navy and modernizing cyber security capabilities. what's more, china's actual military budget may in fact be much larger than its declared budget. the pentagon estimates beijing spends 50% more than it declares because the official budget does not include the cost of high-tech weapons imports research and development, and other key programs. some analysts argue real spending could be even higher. >> the real budget is probably 100% more than the publicized budget. >> china's parliament is expected to sign off on the 10% budget hike when it convenes on thursday. this is set to be the 50 year in a row in which china increases its military budget significantly -- the it -- the fifth year in a row.

>> staying with that topic columbia has obtained a chinese% freighter loaded with unregistered weapons -- colombia has obtained a chinese freighter. it was carrying thousands of canon shells, 100 tons of gunpowder, and other materials to make explosives. >> the captive faces arms trafficking charges. china's foreign ministery -- ministry says the ship was not in violation of any international laws. coming up, people and punishment -- in brussels, the european commission says that it is beating up work on a new immigration framework as ever more migrants die trying to cross the mediterranean to get to europe. >> and indonesia says it will not be deterred from executing two australians convicted of drug smuggling despite high-level appeals for mercy.

>> stay with us. >> see you in a minute.

a >> welcome back. they are coming, and many are dying along the way. >> the number of migrants from north africa trying to reach safety in europe is not ending neither are the risks. >> today, the italian coast guard rescue to run 100 people whose boat from libya capsized. 10 people are reported to a drowned. this kind of tragedy repeats itself almost daily on the mediterranean. >> what happens once the survivors do make it to europe? as the european union's immigration policy broken? how to fix it? who can fix it? >> many people fleeing war and poverty seek shelter in europe. many of them perish on the way. often drowning in the mediterranean. in the past year alone, it is estimated that around 5000 people lost their lives in this way.

eu politicians in brussels have been indecisive in their response with stopgap measures. for over 10 years they have been searching for a common policy. the new european commission believes that the responsibility lies with the member states. >> i think there's been too many differences in the application of what we agreed at european level in the memory states. we need to make sure that member states see eye to eye on how we apply our asylum procedures, how we treat asylum seekers. >> the european commission says it wants to hold further polemic or he discussions with member states. critics say that just goes to show what a failure eu migration policy has been up until now. >> everybody has had the time to get to grips with the issues. we all know what the problem is -- the political will to do something for the refugees is simply not there.

critics say would be immigrants and asylum seekers will continue to die as long as europe fails to come up with a viable policy. >> migration challenges in europe are on the agenda of talks in brussels between angela merkel and the european commission. >> it's the german chancellor's first meeting in brussels with jean-claude juncker since he took over as commission president back in november. they are also due to discuss the crisis in ukraine as well as plans for a controversial free-trade deal between the european union and the united dates. our correspondent is in brussels following this meeting. max, we've been talking for years about the european union's dysfunctional immigration policy. we heard that story right there that there is just not the will to fix it. are you hearing anything different this time around? >> the commission insists there is a will to fix it. but talk is cheap here. as you say this problem has been around for a long time. many think it is almost integral to call this new effort and

orientation debate. that is what they had on wednesday. they asked themselves why the commission needs orientation with this problem when it has been around for such a long time but it's true -- they are trying to speed things up. they rely on member states here, and what they are trying to do is get everybody on board, but the problems surrounding europe are getting worse. you have failed states like syria, like libya. no matter what europeans say it's always better for these people to come to europe, no matter what awaits them here. for now europeans are just trying to see a loft their borders. that's the main solution to the problem. but there has been some talk defining legal ways for these migrants into the european union. that would be a new approach, but nothing concrete on the horizon here. they want to figure something out until may. >> orientation meeting -- that will be the take away word for today. let's talk about ukraine as well. western leaders again pushing for the cease-fire to survive.

again, people in brussels are worried about the war breaking out again. >> right and that is something of course, that chancellor merkel and commission president junker talked about especially the possibility of new sanctions on the horizon. that is something the european council would have to decide when they meet next on the 19th and 20th of march. sanctions will be on the agenda anyway because some of the sanctions will have to be extended. since the european union has ruled out any military solution this is really the only means they have to build up pressure on russia, but the problems are still the same here, too although the majority of the european union states are in favor of the sanctions that are in place right now, it will be tough to have new ones because some of the member states really do still rely on their trade in on the russian economy on russian energy, so this is nothing that will come easily. >> we've heard that one before as well. max hoffman on the story for us

in brussels. as always, thank you very much. the war in eastern ukraine has claimed many victims including the economy. >> ukraine's currency is on a race to the bottom, teetering on the brink of collapse. now in another drastic attempt the central bank has raised interest rates by 30%. >> signs of a sick economy and hints of how bad it could still get if the war continues. >> it may look peaceful in many parts of ukraine, but the conflict in the east is felt everywhere directly and indirectly. the cost of living is soaring. hyperinflation is looming, and the national currency is in virtual freefall, having lost nearly half its value against the dollar. in a dramatic push to prevent the economy from crashing, the central bank has jacked up its benchmark interest rate hoping to prevent further deposit runs

after three banks recently folded. the trouble began in 2013 when ukrainian economy logged a zero growth. last year, the economy contracted seven point 5%. a further contraction of 5.5% this year. but it's unclear what could help drive a turnaround. the country's industry has all but collapsed and is unable to compete. the government recently secured a $40 billion lifeline from international lenders, but even that is unlikely to be enough to get the war-torn nation back on its feet. the rate hike is unlikely to change that. >> with the imf chief reportedly saying that the collapse of ukraine's economy would not be in russia's interest what are investors making of all of this? we go to the frankfurt stock exchange. have there been any repercussions on the german stock exchange? how has it been doing under all these circumstances unfolding in

ukraine? >> the market in frankfurt is keeping up quite solidly. there is the perception on the market that the monetary policy, the general money supply by the european central bank will be something to rely on, even if crises like the one in ukraine persist. then with the ongoing crisis in eastern europe, more and more economist are hoping that the economic effects of the crisis can be contained, at least the effects on western europe. that's why the market has been holding up so well. i also have to say the nervousness is quite high on the markets, even more so as the dax here in germany had reached so many record highs. at the moment, the dax is slightly higher than last night. still, pretty far away from its record highs. the euro stoxx 50 index up front about .4%, and the euro trading at a bit more than $1.11.

>> thank you very much for that. >> indonesia is preparing to go ahead with the execution of two australian nationals in a move that has sparked a diplomatic row between the two countries. so far, a flurry of international appeals against the executions have been unsuccessful. >> the two members of the so-called bali nine were arrested for drug smuggling in 2000 five. they have arrived on the indonesian prison island off the main island of java. while there, indonesia says they are due to be executed by firing squad. >> shortly before the transfer michael chan turned away from the prison gates after trying to see his brother one more time. yes trillion convicts have since been moved after a court on

tuesday threw out their latest appeal. the two were arrested in 2005 for plotting to smuggle heroin. their imminent execution has sparked a diplomatic row. >> we think these two australians deserve to be punished, but they certainly do not deserve to be executed. that is our position, and i think right now, millions of australians are feeling sick in their guts at the prospect of execution for these two. >> they are due to be executed by firing squad as part of a group of 11 foreign drug crime convicts. indonesia's attorney general left little died over what he thought -- little doubt over what he thought of their latest appeal. >> for me, it looks like they are trying to slow down the process and waste time. we really don't want that to happen. >> indonesia has already executed six foreign nationals so far this year. it's looking increasingly unlikely that the president will

change his mind this time around. >> all right, we've got some german soccer news for you. there were no upsets as the bundesliga teams came out on top. >> dortmund beat third-league dynamo dresden 2-0. the only fixture between bundesliga teams -- freiburg beat cologne two-one. >> an amateur photographer in britain has captured an extraordinary moment on camera. you got to see this. walking through a park in london,he came across a green woodpecker midflight with an uninvited guest on its back -- a weasel. >> the bird had taken off to escape from the rodent, but the story had a happy ending for both when the woodpecker lannett, the weasel sped off into the tall grass. >> i that weasel gave him a good

tip. i hear woodpeckers are expensive these days. all right, that's going to wrap up this edition of the "journal ." >> thanks for watching. >> see you next time. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org]