[ music ] >> welcome to the journal here on dw. they're are the headlines. a major rebel bombing in damascus with both sides claim. >> we have heard sharp criticism. >> and the world's biggest kindle festival gets under way in argentina.

>> syrian state tv state none of the u.n. observers were hurt in the blast. >> this is terrorism. it has to be stopped. and the international community should help us. the terrorists can strike here near u.n. observers, they can strike anywhere. >> wednesday's bombing comes four weeks after the attacks

that killed four of the regime's top security officials. the syrian army has claimed responsibility for the blast. the conflict in syria continues to divide the international community. many western countries are hoping that a democratic syria will emerge. but the isla islamic world is ao split. they're hoping to split. >> ithe people of islam are living in a state of discord and division. because of this, there is blood shed during the holy months of our islamic world. >> the saudi king has reached out to other muslims rivals, including iran. but in syria itself, dialogue between the conflicting parties

seem further away than ever. fighting continues, and the country's future remains an open question. >> here in germany she is just back from vacation, and chancellor merkel is facing criticism within her own party. they deplored what they called merkel system, which is described as calculating and aimed and preventing any rise in the ranks. merkel had broke with the coalition treaty, and that he doubted whether germany's conservatives could win any elections with merkel at the top. going straight to simon young with some analysis. that is a scathing indictment from the leading german conservatives. >> what it really signals is

that merkel has come back from her summer vacation to find that people's thoughts are beginning to turn to next year's general election. with that in mind i think that's why these comments about the fdp are interesting. he says that the chancellor is ready to unhitch the free democrats, and you know, there are huge differences on a number of sort of key areas, not just about chancellor merkel's style, there have been grumblings about that from within her party for many years. but it's about substance. about personal freedoms, and also the euro, of course. >> many conservatives are unhappy with merkel's handling the crisis and putting liability at 1 trillion-dollar euros. can she continue on her course. >> they are due to rule on the

12th of september on the legality of the permanent bail out mechanism and the fiscal pact. but more than that, they're worried that they would pay unlimited amounts to keep the euros keep going. chancellor merkel has got to convince them that it's in their interest. >> staying in germany, a leading newspaper here is reporting a spike in the number of tax evaders turning themselves in to authorities. reports say tax offices have seen a rise in self declared tax fraud. and more data allegedly stolen from swiss banks. government here in berlin has criticized the decision. they will ban the purchase of

what switzerland says is stolen bank information. >> some corporate news in germany's secondal line, air berlin is stepping up its cost-cutting program. the company wants to reduce it's operating outlay this year by $230 euros. the airline has already cut numerous routes and sold off aircraft. they have not ruled out cutting jobs. air berlin currently employs 9,000 people. we go to the frankfurt stock exchange. what are investors there making of the plans of air berlin? >> the share has been up and down all day, if you pardon the pun. at the moment it's trading down in the minus zone. people are not quite convinced that air berlin will be able to make a profit some time unit. there is a high oil price,

that's a difficulty. if it drops, it means that the economy is in a slump, and customers boo not be as willing to pay the higher prices that air berlin would like to see. >> some how it doesn't seem to make it, what is wrong? >> well, what's wrong is that the companies have made very good second quarter. so far the year has been good. young had a finding that the biggest companies in germany have turned over and sold as never before in the second quarters, but the outlooks are dimmer and the outlooks were not so great in the second quarter. either they were not at record levels, and what is behind it is the sovereignty of the crisis. how will that impact growth and how willing are consumers willing to spend. that's the big question and that's hindering the 7,000 mark. as we look at the diagnostics ax, it's going down by half of a

percent. european share is not losing as much and the euro is losing steam as we speak. >> thank you very much for the update. >> well, you could call it a pretty picture. one of the world's biggest private equity investors, the car rile group a has announceed it's buying a stake in the getty images. >> it is one of the largest distributors of images and photo products. last year the seattle-based agency did some $765 million euros worth of business. >> arrests to the new tensions between tokyo and beijing. >> they were sparked by a visit of japanese lawmakers to a

controversial war shrine to mark the japanese surrender. many met in hong kong to voice their anger over the arrests. >> the protesters chanted slogans, we haven't forgotten history, they shouted. the five arrested had traveled from hong kong to plant a chinese flag on the disputed islands which lie in an area rich in natural resources. the landing prompted complaints from japan. it came as tokyo apologized for wartime atrocities during the world war ii anniversary surrender. they say that they had caused particular pain to their asian neighbors. but efforts to make amends was undermined by members of their own cabinet.

they visited the war shrine in tokyo. they see it as a symbol of japan's wartime aggression. the shrine honors the dead, including 14 convicted war criminals. >> in australia they will soon be face-to-face with ugly side affects of the bad habits. >> tobacco products must be packaged withou without colorfus and catchy brandings. >> 15% of australian adults are smokers. the habit kills 15,000 people a year. they plan to cut these numbers by banning attractive packaging. there will be no logos just

graphic photographs and health warnings and the brand name written in small type. the tobacco industry claims that it is constitutional. >> this is a victory for all of those families who have lost someone to tobacco-related illness. it's for anyone who has lost someone to smoking. this one is for you. >> we still believe it's very bad law, and there is a number of serious unintended consequences will flow from the first of disease samely around tobacco and the issue of pricing in the industry. >> saying goodbye to the branded cigarette packets will mean fewer smoking welcome that's what many in sydney are hoping. >> i think it's a good idea. i work in the health industry, and i see hundreds suffering from what smoking causes.

>> i might discourage people. people who are addicted to smoking are well addicted to the packet or the cigarette itself. i don't know how much of a difference it's going to make. >> reporter: australia's new rules will be the toughest in the world. but other countries are looking at taking similar steps. including india, canada, and britain. >> time to get healthy in a different way. get out your dancing shoes. in a moment we'll look at the world's biggest tango festival. >> and a look from different stories from around the world. >> india has been celebrating 65 years of independence from british rule, addressing the nation's prime minister promised to take all measures to boost india's economic growth. he said that it's a matter of national security. >> outside moscow's largest cathedral was a flash mob.

the three singers were arrested in february for anti-putin protest at the same capital and they're all facing prison sentences. >> work on the world's third largest dam has been suspended. the court court ordered work toe stopped until those in the community could voice their objection. many see negative consequences from the dam. >> now it's time to tango in buenos aires. the event gets some of the world's best dancers out on the floor. >> the dance has seen a major revival since 2009 when they declared tango as part of the world's cultural heritage. [ music ] >> tango enthusiasts from all over the world has converged on

bebuenos aires. [ music ] [applause] >> every year it gets bigger and better. it's good that people know about the championship and come and see the dancers. the old ones, the new ones, and those who want to learn. >> as well as the traditional kind of tango, it will include show tango, too. performed on stage it's highly theatrical with lots of acrobatics. with traditional tango, it's the fancy foot work that the fans are looking out for. and they've got the next two weeks to enjoy it. >> well, coming up major german

corporations are granting scholarships to some leaders in sub-saharan africa. >> and medalists are going only in style in a minute.

>> thanks for staying with us. >> to kenya now. the country with the strongest economy in sub i sub-saharan af. german industry has launched an initiative for training future managers there. >> the program invites young leaders to germany to provide national and international experience. we have this report from nairo nairobi. >> the souvenirs of lucy's year in germany. after securing an educational scholarship, she completed an internship at an german auto parts company. lucy said that she appreciates the value placed on order and functionality ipunkpuncuality.

>> i had problems in my apartment. i couldn't believe that happened in germany. that one day there was no water in my apartment. >> lucy was offered a job in germany, but she wanted to return home. she has been back in the kenyan capital of nairobi for three years now. she's department head at a company on the outskirts of the city. it's the first company in kenya that specializes in portable toilets for large events or family reunions. the company is working to expand and they're working on a new branch of business, waste water treatment plants. it's a rapidly growing sector in kenya. lucy said it's a challenge but her international experience has helped. >> the first thing i noticed was how we do our meetings and the minutes. so i changed the meeting minutes

template from this task-item responsible target date. it's really helped us because in every meeting we've closed an item, we need to move to the next. >> lucy's boss said that her fondness for order irritates her colleagues, but they value employees who are efficient and have international experience. >> we need to focus on people who have longer-term plans. it's where you find one-year on a job and moving to the next job for 5% increment or even a 1% increment. they're looking at building careers. >> his company is competing with international companies. >> it's sad that we allow 80% import, yet we have people who

have studied technical substance but we have to keep importing. like the way i'm dealing with waste water. it's a very simple mechanism. we can design it here and manufacture it. but in our country, the financial support is not very set in place very well. >> people like lucy that represent the new kenya. a country with confidence as well as know-how. >> europe's biggest computer games fair is opening today. one of the focuses this year online games and games made for mobile phones. >> the market is booming, including here in germany. we have the report from a frost growing company in hamburg. >> mobile games are cheap to make. that makes it easy for smaller companies. it started with the game "lords

and knights" which has sold millions of copies. >> some games can be programmed with relatively little effort but go on very quickly to become huge hits selling in the millions. >> the games industry is increasingly important in germany's port city of hamburg. three years ago around 25,000 people. >> online games is the fastest growing part of the market. >> they're hoping for a share of that market. looking for international success. a specialist from mumbai is working on an indian version of "lords and knights." they have created a version

especially for china. >> team germany has returned from london and they've been traveling in style on board to the cruise liner. >> you can say that. after one and a half days of partying as they cross the north sea germany's olympic squad arrived in hamburg to a heroes' welcome. >> thousands crowded into hamburg's port to welcome the olympic squad home. their journal back from the river thames took 11.5 hours. the mood was relaxed, although it was perhaps a little early for some. many of the athletes hadn't slept much since leaving london on monday evening. after months of hard training the journey appears to have been one long party. and there was some nifty dance moves and acrobatic in the pool.

today it was back to the serious stuff. the athletes were welcomed by hamburg's mayor and city officials, and they showed off their medals for the crowd. >> it's a great feeling and amazing atmosphere. there are masses of fans. they followed us the whole time as we were coming in. it's a great feeling. it's great to get the recognition. >> reporter: there are more celebrations in hamburg, autographs for the fans and reception for the athletes. >> fantastic. the german national soccer team is preparing for world qualifiers against acting. >> press conference is ahead of the game, the atmosphere has been charged with both the coach and players defending their lackluster campaign at the european championships. >> first germany coach took a swipe at critics of the team, and now midfielder is weighing

in, too. at a press conference in frankfurt, the midfielder had a go at what he sees as harsh press treatment, especially since he didn't sing the german national anthem at 2012 matches. >> it's a good sign when people sing germany's national anthem, but i think you can't then say singing the hymn makes you a good german. a good german is someone who speaks the language and embodies this country's valleys. >> he said the match in frank toward is now a chance to make amends in a new start in qualifying for the 2014 world cup finals. >> we're really looking forward to this game. we want to test ourselves against soccer's best. and everyone in the squad who has a chance to play will give it their all and have a chance at great soccer. >> the visitors have a point to

prove. argentina and germany met at t the 2010 world cub when their side won 4-1. >> it was ten years ago when parts of eastern germany saw the flood of the century when the river burst it's banks. >> 21 people lost their lives in the deluge. thousands had to take shelter in temporary accommodations. hardest hit from th were the cid towns up river. >> it has taken years and hundreds of millions of euros to restore homes and business there is. >> some of the most striking images from the 2002 2002 elbe s shocked the country. the town was submerged under meters of water. 12,000 people were forced to flee their homes, rescuers

paddled residents to safety. they left behind damage and destruction amounting to $175 million euros. shopkeeper evelyn was one of thousands effected. the flood destroyed what had once been her clothing store. >> 80% of the shop keepers and business owners won't survive. none of us have the capital to enable us to start over. >> reporter: but ten years later, she's back in business. her shop is up and running againic thanks to government aid that she and other flood victims received. >> the financial aid i got was quite extensive. without it, there's no way this could ever have worked. >> after the flood kramer changed her business concept. she decided to expand from just selling men's wear to including

women's fashion, too. kramer's business is booming. she hardly has time these days to think back to the flood. there's one thing that she still remembers. >> there was so much solidarity. people really helped each other. i can't stress that enough. help came in from everywhere. from individuals to whom i'm still grateful. it was something special. >> donations came in from all across germany. receiving more than $4 million donations. by now the damaged buildings have been renovated to its historic old town restored. and some say the city is more beautiful today than it was before the flood. and residents want to keep it that way. they have put up floodgates at its lowest point.

>> before the elbe burst it's banks this will be closed. that's the direction the water would come from. so we would be on the safe side here. >> the flood gate is one measure being taken to prevent an inundation, but the structure is still years away from completion. lines marking the high water levels from years ago testify to ththe destructive river elb. >> that's all for now. >> see you next time. bye-bye.