access to what on the web. >> it is opening night at the berlinale. we join our correspondent down the red carpet.

athletes from around the world are ready to compete in the 98 olympic sports disciplines, they are on hand in sochi. >> some of the competitors have been heading into the snow or ice to test the conditions and get in a few practice runs before the games begin. >> there is already plenty of parties for those on hand to cheer on their favorite athletes and national teams. [cheering] >> sochi is ready for the winter olympic games and spirits are high ahead of the official opening ceremony. ioc president held the torch before handing it over to the u n secretary-general banking moon. the iconic symbol of the games have traveled further than any other time in its history.

german sports stars like maria höfl-riesch say they are ready for the competition. she has been given the honor of carrying the flag of germany. >> to carry the flag is something really special. it is a huge honor for me. i am proud and excited to be chosen to lead the march tomorrow. it is a dream come true. >> spectators are looking forward to 17 days of the best in winter sports. and sochi has promised an opening ceremony that is out of this world. >> russia has been playing down a security warning from the u.s. saying that the sochi olympics are as safe as any place in the west from militant attacks. >> washington warmed about the possibility of toothpaste bonds. although it had no specific information about a pending

attack. >> what russian forces are focusing on is a threat from militant groups based in the nearby north mountains. suicide bombers killed 34 people in december northeast of sochi. >> the deputy prime minister says security services were working with colleagues from north america to address all possible threats. >> welcome to sochi, where security cameras are watching your every move. many of the games venues are on the black sea coastline. from the water, naval warships are keeping tabs on what is going on. for months, sochi has been under tight security, vladimir putin has promised athletes and visitors will be safe at the winter olympics. >> this is about a lot more than the games, terrorists also want a big crowd. they want as much attention as

possible. so sochi is not a decisive factor. what matters is carrying out an attack during the games. >> twin attacks in december showed how big of an issue security is. first an attack on the train station, and then a bus bombing killed over 30 people, both towns are located near the north caucuses where russian forces have been fighting for years. many fear is the mrs. -- many fear islamists could attack the games. vehicles registered outside of sochi needed official permits to enter the area and there are numerous checkpoints in town. >> it really got on my nerves when a bunch of police arrived. >> there are police everywhere now. things are under control.

everything is safe when i go home at night. >> i hope it stays as safe after the games are over. >> there is also security in the mountains surrounding sochi. russian soldiers and security agents are on highland, and the seeker services are monitoring phone calls and internet activity. but it has become more difficult to profile potential terrorists. >> we have seen more and more among the perpetrators among recent attacks. often they are russians with slavic features. that means detecting them is hard. >> millions have been spent on security and sochi, but there is no guarantee that is enough to ensure a safe olympic games. >> in other news, the steering government has agreed to allow humanitarian aid to be delivered to the city of homs. >> medicine will be delivered to

thousands of residents trapped in the rebel held part of the city. civilians will be allowed to leave under the agreement. homs is mostly under government control but the old city, the center, is controlled i rebel forces. >> a step backwards for an already tightly controlled media. that is how one official reacted to a new law in turkey that gives the government powers over the internet and how people use it. >> the law gives the government of free hand to block websites and secretly track what people read, watch, and right. >> the turkish armament, which has passed a landmark bill, the governing body pushing through legislation giving the state greater control over the internet. it has been headline news ever since. the legislation would give the

telecommunications authorities the power to block any internet site without a legal warrant. it would also oblige internet providers to store user data for two years. there have been repeated protests against the government over a series of bills. the opposition says it is a ploy to introduce the internet censorship. most men media -- mass media are under control of the government. 63 journalists are in prison. >> internet is the platform where we live our freedom of expression and access to news and opportunity equality with respect to trade and education. >> last summer, the country was struck by anti-government demonstrations. without the internet, the protest would have almost been impossible to organize.

that may be one of the motives behind the new legislation. >> another motive is intimidation. letting people think they are being constantly monitored. for more, let's bring in dorian jones. human rights groups are calling on the president to veto the legislation. is there any chance of that? >> well, that is what they are looking to the president to do, human rights issued a statement a few hours ago making an appeal for the president to veto this. but he comes from the same party of the ruling government, and there have been many controversial pieces of legislation and despite pleas to be president to intervene, he has refused. even if he does, if the government passes it again, he will be obliged to pass it. that could be at the back of his

mind as well. he has not vetoed legislation for a long time. >> are people afraid this will affect turkey possibly to join the european union? >> it is not going to help. the you -- the eu see it as a step back. the council of europe also called for it to be revoked. there has been growing concern, turkey has been 40,000 webpages and the latest legislation will add to growing fears about which direction turkey is going and. >> very concerning development. dorian jones in a stempel -- in istanbul. the government has started its former peace talks with the pakistani taliban. >> representatives met in islam

of that is part of an effort to end the gash islam a bad to end the insurgency. thousands have died between security forces and the. a joint statement called for an immediate cease-fire and condemned recent violence. >> severin -- seven migrants have drowned. they were a group of 250 men and women who attempted to swim the crossing from morocco. >> spent it -- spanish authorities managed to maintain them in the water. the italian navy rescued 1100 migrants on nine rafts from africa toward sicily. remember all of that talk about how the ecb's low interest rates would be to price inflation? it looks like the hapless at -- the opposite scenario has come

to pass. >> deflation has been squeezed by austerity cuts and unemployment. the prices plunge and that is the case for real estate and other assets in places like ireland, spain, and greece. >> this banker is not concerned. he says growth is around the corner. >> the head of the central bank, mario draghi, has brushed off suggestions there is a deflation problem. he denies the eurozone is experiencing a sustained fall in prices. >> is there a deflation? any answer is no. there will be a subdued inflation, a low inflation, for an extended period of time, but no deflation. >> he says the eurozone is experiencing so-called "dis- inflation."

threats still exist. >> developments in financial market conditions and related uncertainties, notably in the emerging market economies, may have the potential to negatively affect economic conditions. >> he dispelled rumors of an imminent change in ecb policy. he says the positive effect of keeping interest rates at record low levels are still to come. >> it was a year of ups and downs for dime i. >> it started off 2013 with a profit warning but ended up posting record numbers. quite that profit came in at 8.7 billion euros, up 20% but there is a lot more behind those figures. >> the diner -- daimler ceo has much to do. they are trailing behind audi

and bmw. not only do they sell more cars, they are making more profit on each one. >> we expect to see stronger growth from the world economy than we did last year. we expect more growth with four or five -- four percent-five percent. >> daimler is looking to the mercedes. it is the first mercedes to be built on four continence with plans in germany, china, and the u.s. but the road is looking a little bit bumpy with the emerging economies where daimler hopes to go, experiencing instability. >> it is a volatile world. we have to handle difficult developments. we are confident about 2014 and about the markets. >> his message is clear, daimler

is back in bearing to go. >> our correspondent has more from -- >> and up to mystic outlook, carmaker -- an optimistic outlook, the company has higher expectations. the ecb met expectations and left interest rates unchanged, even so causing some turbulence. because the ecb president did not have a cut although inflation rates are going down in the eurozone. the ecb does not fear a dangerous downward spiral of prices and no pressure to act quickly, sending the dax down and then up and strengthening the euro. >> in frankfurt, let's look at the numbers, starting with the dax. it was up by 1.5%. the euro stoxx 50 up by a similar amount, finishing at 3010.

in new york, the dow jones trading and a bit around one percent, the euro up against the dollar at the moment. >> the red carpet is waiting for pyou. we will take you there. >> thanks for being with us at the "journal". the united nations is marking zero tolerance for female genital mutilation. >> this is to draw attention to practice, and yet there are more than 3 million cases every year. >> most of them are in africa and the middle east. we go to egypt where the practice is illegal but widely practiced. >> this row was nine years old when her genitals were cut. a practitioner came to her home, her mother held her down for the procedure. >> it was a terrible day.

i keep on feeling it and i will never forget it. i try, but i'd he and. especially when i hear of another girl who has been mutilated and died from it. then i think, that could have been me. >> her mother told her respectable girls are circumcised. she told her it was for her own good. she eventually got help from a gynecologist, who is an anti-mutilation activist. he has been trying for years to bring attention to the traumatic offensive -- dramatic effects of genital mutation. the practice dates back thousands of years and continues despite an official ban in 2008. this sign reads our daughters are intact. activists are part of international coalition of groups that are trying to change

public opinion. this girl is one of the campaigners. she says it took a lot of courage to tell her story. she shows photos of her experiences, teaching people. they know they are in for a long struggle and then changing opinions takes time but she can count one small victory so far. she succeeded in saving her younger sisters. >> here in germany, the defense minister is making her first trip to german troops in africa. >> she has been in senegal where she visited troops at their base and was also in mali. her arrival comes a day after an approval in the increase of german soldiers there as part of an eu-led mission. >> she is wasting no time, just

a day after the german cabinet agreed, troop numbers the defense minister is on the ground, and meeting with leaders to discuss the details. it is part of a u.n. mission aimed at providing training to troops to help them find out the islamist insurgency. 250 german soldiers will now be involved. france plans to have 1600 troops here long term. on the first leg of the trip, she visited troops in senegal where some 80 german soldiers coordinate supplies. from this depot, the defense minister stressed rebels remain a threat. >> they have not been disarmed. we are in control of the situation and we have pushed them back, but they are not disarmed. that means there is still a threat. >> without the work of soldiers in senegal, she says the un's mission would not be possible.

the praise for troops can also be read as a message to allies that berlin is doing enough in the region, even if they are expecting more. >> here in germany, the country has committed a massive change in energy production. the country will shut down the nuclear power plants and reduce its reliance on carbon-based sources. that means the country is in a renewables boom. solar cells and wind turbines are sprouting up. but that construction work is not to everyone's liking. >> a major power line needed to transport the energy is facing opposition from communities and environmentalist. >> this is a 30 meter high tower , proposed to be twice as big and would be installed next to this one. >> this engineer who lives near

central germany. he has been fighting plans for a power line in the area. he is in favor of green energy, but not in his backyard. many other germans are also against electricity company planned lanes. it is meant to stretch from north of hamburg to bavaria but this person says it is not final. it could be built anywhere, and depending on feedback. >> we are committed to an open discussion. that means people have the plants so they can make up their own mind and we will organize discussions. >> many locals are angry. they think the company has not given them enough time to object. they will start building just months from now. some parents worry the power lines could damage their children's health. they want them further away.

environmentalists hope they were spare national parks. powerline is meant to be completed four years from now some critics and the company must agree on a read soon. -- on a route soon. >> a parade of top talent is in berlin to celebrate the opening of the berlinale. >> the ten-day film festival is kicking off with the premiere of the whimsical comedy "the grand budapest hotel." starring ralph fiennes, bill murray, and tilda swinton. more than 400 movies, the berlinale is one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world. >> scott roxborough is our man at the red carpet this evening. scott, what do you think about "the grand budapest hotel"? is that the type of film that usually opens the berlinale? >> it is usually a star-studded film to open the berlinale.

brilliant likes to bring in a lot of stars, although not this many. it is kind of crazy, ralph fiennes, edward norton, it goes on and on. i have not seen this many stars in one place in a long time in berlin. but what is interesting as well, this film is much more mainstream. it is a big hollywood production. those usually do not find an opening night slot in berlin. this film is going up against the very serious and dark dramas that occupy the opposition for the gold and silver pairs. i think it is a great film to open. it is a confection of a film, a delight to watch and enjoy. it is a great way to kick off the festival. >> what about the jury this year? it is an important body. >> yes, it is interesting this year, they like to mix things

up, some actors, christophe w altz, another actress, you have tony, one of the biggest stars from hong kong. and then you have the production side, barbara broccoli, who produces the james bond movies. and the jury president, james schamus, who founded focus features. that should make it interesting in the discussions in the coming days here to decide who will come away with the golden bear. >> are there any films you are looking forward to? >> there is george clooney's film, "the monuments men." and my personal favorite, claudia llosa's "aloft," which opens next week. >> we have to leave it there.

scott, thanks so much. >> there is another big event about to start, the winter olympics where athletes are making their final preparations at your months of hard work and training. >> among them, german luge athletes. we will introduce you to three medal hopefuls from bavaria. >> no time to chat. she rushes to cheer on her teammates as they cross the finish line in the doubles. once again, they come in first, securing their win in the overall world cup. she also has her world cup title in the bag. now she is looking forward to the olympics. >> it is getting closer and closer. i am getting tingly with anticipation. >> the doubles champions

normally trained together with her in the bavarian outs. they are the best in the world. >> what makes us so shrunk? -- so strong? we are there for each other through thick and thin, fire and ice. we have gone through a lot together. that is what binds us. >> even at competitions, natalie and the two are inseparable. they carry her sled for her. she also watches out for them. another teammate, felix, won olympic gold in 2010. he is expected to pick up another in sochi. >> i think this has been another top season for us. it has been going really well. our prep went well. i can't wait for the games to finally start. i'm looking forward to the crunch. >> unlike the world cup,

sledders go down the track four times, not two. that means twice the risk of making a mistake. >> from winter sport to the winter weather, you can't really complain about the weather this time around. we only had one real cold snap and now the son has been shining again. >> conditions have been less favorable elsewhere. from spain to ireland, the worst appears to be over and the cleanup has started in many areas but residents are being advised to be careful right now. >> that is all we have time for. thanks for joining us. >> from all of us at dw. captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org--

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>> first, serious says it will allow what it calls innocent civilians to leave the besieged says ithoms -- syria will allow what it calls innocent civilians. it follows a deal between damascus and the united nations, which also cleared the way for the delivery of aid. here is what the u.s. ambassador to the united nations had to say