when asked live from the dw studios here in berlin, this is the "journal." >> welcome to the show. iran's president slams the nuclear watchdog as the first diplomatic talks between tehran and washington are set to begin within the hour. >> former liberian strongman charles taylor loses his appeal against his conviction for war crimes. >> oracle team usa wins the americas cup.

a diplomat at the united nations are all abuzz, iran and syria both making headlines. >> we start with cbo, with reports coming in that all five are minute members of the security council have agreed on a resolution requiring syria to destroy its chemical weapons. >> united nations investigators are returning to syria, resuming inspections of alleged chemical weapons attacks that were halted amid fears of a possible military strike on damascus this month. investigators confirmed last week that nerve gas sarin was used in the august massacre, so the united nations is negotiating on the response. united nations secretary-general ban ki-moon has met with or and ministers from the security

council, and they appear to be making some progress behind closed doors. >> we have a few details to solve, but i think we shall reach a permanent resolution may be today or tomorrow. it does not solve the problem, but it is a step. >> syria refuses to accept any blame. in an interview with venezuelan television, the syrian president repeated his claim that rebels were responsible for chemical attacks in damascus and said he has provided proof to the russians, but agreeing to a peaceful solution could become more complicated. a number of islamist rebel brigades have withdrawn support of the syrian national council,

which so far has been the main negotiating partner for the west . >> they are the highest level talks between washington and tehran in more than 30 years. >> u.s. secretary of state john kerry and the iranian foreign minister are due to meet in new york in about an hour on the sidelines of the united nations general assembly. >> joined by warm and ministers from five worldy will be addressing international concerns over iran's nuclear program. >> earlier on thursday, i ran positive president called for -- iran's new president called for the total elimination of nuclear arms. western powers believe iran is secretly developing a nuclear weapon. >> for more on this, we want to check in with our correspondent in new york. max, what are you hearing at the united nations about these high- level talks with iran? what should the world expect to come out of these talks?

>> first of all, it is a lot of symbolism, of course, because it is the first time in a long time that you have high-level talks like that between the u.s. and iran. of course, this is a very special framework. the five permanent security council members and germany that have been discussing and negotiating the nuclear program of iran now since 2006. i think it is about two things -- the first is to check out how serious the iranians really are about this new opening, and it will also be about the united states may be toning down expectations a little bit. they want to make sure that they get the deeds right and not only the words of iran. >> good analysis. another country making headlines at the united nations is serious -- syria. we are getting word that the

five permanent members of the security council are close to reaching a deal requiring syria to dismantle its chemical weapons. is this the global unity we have been waiting for? >> i do not know if it is unity in all sense of the term, but we have been hearing the same thing. apparently the core of a resolution is there, and i'm sure we will hear more about that on friday. there were some complications, though. it is all about chapter seven integration into the resolution. chapter seven is a resolution that enables the united nations to basically enforce consequences it. does not do what it promises to do, and the russians always resisted enforcement beforehand, and americans always wanted to have it in there. what we have been hearing is they want a two-step process,

meaning that they will mention chapter seven, but it will take another step to measure consequences. >> the issue of enforcement remaining with us in this topic of serious -- syria. thank you very much. >> another story of international cooperation now -- interpol has issued an international arrest notice for a british woman that the media have dubbed the white widow. her first husband was one of the suicide bombers in the 2005 london terror attacks. authorities in kenya are now seeking her arrest in connection to a bomb plot there and 2011. >> but the timing has led to suspicion that she is also wanted in connection with the nairobi shopping center seed. authorities are still investigating the attack i islamist militants who say they will strike again. >> this man's wife was shot and

killed in the siege of a shopping mall in nairobi. this friend of the family said she phoned for help after she was hit, but no one could enter the mall. she lay there for two hours and bled to death. the militant islamist group al- shabaab was behind the violence. it has threatened more attacks in kenya does not withdraw troops from neighboring somalia where the group is based. just this morning, to more attacks near the somali border killed two more people. many people in kenya fear moving about freely. >> we are really afraid. if i wanted to buy flour, i would not go to a supermarket. i will look for a moorish -- a small shop near my house. >> forensic experts, some from germany, are searching the shopping mall for evidence and for more bodies of victims. one thing is clear -- the attack

was carefully planned. militants had been preparing for weeks, studying routes to the building and smuggling material inside. >> liberia's former president is facing the rest of his life behind bars. he has lost his appeal against a war crimes convention -- conviction. the court found he planned and eight at atrocities in the sierra leone civil war in return for blood diamonds and political influence. >> charles taylor showed little emotion as the court read out its decision. 50 years in prison for the former leader of liberia, per site in judge george king confirmed. the sentence is to begin immediately. the appeals court was convinced taylor did support rebels in neighboring sierra leone with weapons and that he sent liberian soldiers to fight in the bloody civil war there. rebel groups in sierra leone committed horrible atrocities

during the 11-year war, which ended in 2002. torture, rape, mass murder, and the burning of entire villages. rebels also used child soldiers in the fighting. an estimated 50,000 people were killed. taylor possibly war -- diamonds -- taylor's re-ward -- diamonds that were mined by slave laborers. 65-year-old taylor is set to sit time bars for the rest of his life. >> the world's biggest economy grew at an annual rate of 2.5% in the second quarter. >> analysts had expected second- quarter gdp in the united states would expand at a slightly stronger 2.6%. that data is apparently not strong enough for the fed to

ease back from its stimulus campaign. democrats and republicans are still at odds on raising the national debt limit. if they fail to reach agreements, the government would face a shutdown by mid-october. for more now on how that tug-of- war in washington is moving markets, we go to the frankfurt stock exchange. >> the dispute over the u.s. budget dominates the market. traders are very worried in case lawmakers do not come to one agreement. the recovery of the u.s. economy is threatened, and it would cause financial markets a lot of stress. political problems in italy also weighed on the market. the cost higher losses at a milan stock market. shares of deutsche telekom performed very well. investors are seeing deutsche telekom is the winner of the

consolidation process. >> let's look at the market numbers starting in frankfurt. the dax was down by .0 two percent, finishing at 8664. euro stoxx 50 also down .15%. over in new york city, the dow jones trading up .15%. the euro slightly down against the dollar. looking at the big picture, germany is a wealthy country where no one needs to go hungry, but even here, there are some who fall below the poverty line. >> a german charity project has been providing food for the country's poor and says it has never been busier. it is urging politicians to finally do something about the gap between rich and poor.

families in need lineup for food handouts. men when -- manuela is a sales assistant by trade, but she has been struggling to get by for years. >> at the beginning, i felt ashamed. now i'm used to it, and it's ok. >> around 13 million people in germany are considered poor or in danger of falling into poverty. poverty is increasingly affecting single-parent households. the head of the organization is angry that poverty played almost no role in the recent election campaign. he is demanding a national minimum wage.

>> we believe it is wrong for people to be reliant on food handouts or social welfare to make ends meet. we are demanding a total rethink . >> although being poor in germany does not mean going hungry like in other countries, the charity warns of a poverty trap, a form of social exclusion that is hard to escape. >> it is often called the alternative nobel prize. we're talking about the right livelihood award. >> this year, it goes to foreman from the congo, the palestinian territories -- to four men. >> u.s. political scientist paul walker campaigns against the use of chemical weapons. this lawyer fights for human rights in the arab world. this was agronomist has increased sustainability in agriculture through his

pioneering work, and this gynecologist treats survivors of wartime sexual violence in the congo. the right livelihood award honors people who have helped tackle urgent problems but have been ignored by the nobel committee. this hospital in eastern congo has treated 40,000 victims of mass rape committed by warring militias. the clinic provides women and girls with medical, legal, and psychological help. he has also been lauded for speaking out about the conflict in his country. >> he has made repeated efforts to show the international community that what is going on in the congo is not an ethnic conflict but won over resources, and one which is partly fueled by western interests. >> he has called on the outside world to do more to end the conflict. the foundation said he and other winners had been chosen for their work in securing the fundamentals of human life.

>> all right, austria is heading to the polls this week and to elect a new parliament. >> and there was a stunning comeback in the americas cup. >> this and more when we come back. stay with us. >> don't go away.

>> welcome back, everyone. it was an issue that many will tell you decided last week's election -- the promise of raising taxes on top wage earners. >> germany's social democrats and greens both campaigned on that promise and lost votes to chancellor angela merkel, who rode to victory partly on the promise of keeping taxes exactly where they are. >> but now they need a coalition partner, and guess what is suddenly back on the table -- tax hikes. >> sources close to conservative leadership state taxes remain a no go area, but the cd you will have to give some ground to find

a partner. >> i don't want to see higher taxes, but voters did not give us an absolute majority. that is why we cannot rule out anything and we talk with potential partners. >> is the cdu preparing the ground for talks or simply reneging on campaign promises? >> if i were in their position, i would make some kind of concessions. for such a strong party, they have to deal somewhere, otherwise they will not find a partner. >> if they want to govern, they have to approach the opposition. they need to show some flexibility. >> the cdu would be cheating voters. it would amount to election fraud. >> the issue of taxes is one of the defining fiscal policy differences between the conservatives and is good democrats, and the spd is

refusing to budge. >> taxing top bracket incomes to reduce debt and finance more investment is part of the spd election platform and remains one of our demands. >> merkel's return will not be easy. the debate over tax increases shows the debate ahead may well be slippery. >> as coalition talks draw closer, both sides had better tread carefully. that slippery path could feature a few snares. >> coalitions are not marriages made in heaven, and coalition talks often resemble a poker game. this is beginning to look like one even before talks have actually begun. germany's social democrats made it a key aspect of their political platform leading up to last sunday's elections, but they want to raise the taxes on germany's higher wage earners. that was very unpopular, and

voters punished them for it. now, angela merkel's finance minister says perhaps conservatives would be prepared to agree to higher taxes if that was the condition for the social democrats forming a grand coalition. that's very unpopular in germany, and what i think it is, really, is a shot being fired over the social democrats, saying to them, "if you insist on raising taxes, we will make it clear to the voters that it was you who was insisting on it, and they will punish you at the next elections." >> as germany waits to see the outcome of its talks over possible coalitions, neighboring austria is preparing to vote for a new government the sunday. >> that's right. many polls suggest the ruling party will win just enough votes for a new term, but there are serious competition from austria's far right freedom party, which draws on fears of new eurozone bailouts and voter

unease over immigration. >> the picturesque town, a conservative heartland. in the distance, the left- leaning capital, vienna, a scene that reflects austria's political landscape where conservatives rule social democrats. the mayor is a member of the conservative people's party. the election campaign is shaking things up, even in small towns like this one. opinion polls suggest voters could desert the big parties for smaller ones. the grand coalition might not survive the election. >> i think it is because people realize that many things can no longer be dealt with or decided on solely at a national level. we look to berlin, brussels, and washington. >> complexity, so the argument

goes. that is aiding extreme fringe parties. the election campaign is delivering plenty of material for comedians. they follow the small parties on the campaign trail and laugh in the face of the right wing populist. but the far right freedom party is no laughing matter. "love your neighbor" reads the slogan, a barely disguised message against anyone deemed foreign. then, there are the newcomers. a party set up by the austrian canadian billionaire, owner of car parts giant magna international. he's pumping 25 million euros into his campaign. his political program remains vague. what is known is that he has deep pockets. this man says he needs money for equipment for a local youth

project. >> i can say right now that we will support you. >> the comedienne has seen it all before. >> people used to look up to the royals for guidance. if a billionaire comes along, it's a bit like an emperor arriving. >> is party has around seven percent support in the polls. >> it's about time the old parties had something to fear. the socialist do not deserve the word social in their name and the people's party the word people. >> it's good that things are being shaken up. >> the smaller parties could be the big winners despite a robust performance under the grand coalition. austria has weathered the financial crisis well. some of the frustration of the

main parties follows a string of corruption scandals, and they're accused of being too friendly. even in the televised debate, there was little in the way of confrontation in the social democrat chancellor and his conservative deputy. >> you've been chancellor for so long you need to go. >> that's what this billionaire businessman once as well. he would like to enter a coalition with conservatives and has even taken his campaign to young people in discos. >> i have a conscience. when my grandchildren ask me what i have done to make society better, i can say i tried. >> he could become the king maker, taking boats off the big parties and stealing austria into unknown political territory -- taking votes off the big parties and steering austria into unknown political territory. >> a judge has denied bail to activists giving prosecutors more time to finalize charges after a protest at an arctic oil

drilling platform. >> those environmental campaigners tried to scale the platform just over a week ago in hopes of bringing attention to the dangers of offshore drilling in the arctic. we have this report from russia. >> russia is going after all 30 crew members of the cruise ship. about half can expect to sit in jail for up to two months pending the trials. state authorities are looking into charges of piracy. >> the suspects have been visited by representatives of their embassies, and they were satisfied that all the detainees ' rights will be respected. >> greenpeace activists tried to storm a remote oil rig in the arctic. they say it poses a great danger to the environment. armed russian border guards awarded their attacks. >> unfortunately, we have had very negative experiences with

our justice system. when prosecutors choose a course of action, they usually pursue it until the end of the trial. >> if the state does file privacy charges, the activists face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. >> oracle's big comeback in the america's cup. >> first, other news -- stories making news. authorities in pakistan say the death toll from tuesday's earthquake has risen to 350, more than 100,000 people have lost their homes and a province in the southwest of the country. the earthquake flattened entire villages in the region. >> divers have found bones near the coast to concordia shipwreck. they were looking for the remains of the last two unaccounted for victims from last year's disaster. a spokeswoman said recovery crews assume the bones are human. >> the european court of justice has ruled that well operators

must pay compensation to passengers for delays even if the cause of the delay is beyond the money's control, including acts of nature like storms or strike action by rail employees. >> to sports news now, the america's cup is staying in america. >> that's right, oracle team usa sailed to victory and san francisco bay. they sent the challenger team, new zealand, packing in berlin, being called the biggest comeback canonical history. >> a proud moment for oracle team usa's skipper and his crew. they battled against the odds to keep the america's cup in the united eights. -- in the united states. >> team oracle dominated in the winner takes all final against team new zealand. the americans overtook the kiwis

on the upwind third leg of the race and never looked back, crossing the finish line 44 seconds ahead of a vote that had once held what seemed to be an insurmountable lead. the shock was a bitter pill to swallow. >> i'm incredibly proud of our team and what they have achieved . said we did not get the last one that we needed. >> joining the celebrations with the winners were software billionaire larry ellison, who reportedly spent 200 million euros on defending the cup he won three years ago. >> all right, we will see you next time. >> thanks very much. captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org--