>> welcome to the journal coming to you live from dw here in berlin. good to have you with us. >> our top stories. the eu passes its toughest economic sanctions yet against russia over the conflict in ukraine. >> israeli shells strike gaza's only power station, adding to the misery of the palestinians. >> and in libya, a fire continues to rage as libyans battle for control across the country. captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org--

>> the eu has adopted a new round of economic sanctions against russia, europe's toughest to date. >> the aim is to increase the cost of what the west has called continued support for pro-moscow rebels in eastern ukraine. >> moscow is denying the charges by that you and by the west that it is supplying weapons to the rebels and allowing russian volunteers to cross the border. >> for those caught in the crossfire in eastern ukraine, the sanctions are little consolation. the fighting could go on for months before russia feels their effects. many people have faced the horrors of war trapped between the front lines. >> an old woman told me there was a man lying in the street. at first i did not know who it was, but then i recognized his shoes and realized it was the man i had been married to for 45

years. >> russian state tv shows images of the fighting. the ukrainian army has been able to regain control of parts of the area. pro-russian separatists confirmed this but claim they have said -- have destroyed some tanks. the eu accuses russia of supplying rebels with less -- with weapons. it's another reason they say they have to act to punish moscow. >> we want to make it absolutely clear that destabilizing the ukraine is unacceptable. therefore the european union, with the united states, will be in posing -- imposing further sanctions unless the situation changes.

>> they say the sentience can only be reversed of moscow changes course. among the sanctions are ones that could curtail the countries access to crucial western capital markets. >> although these measures will have an impact on economic growth and jobs across europe, so far they have the support of business leaders in countries like germany. >> but how long will that be the case? >> we will have more on that from our political correspondent in a moment, but first, here is a look at what the sanctions are like. >> the eu once the sanctions to restrict moneys applies to state owned banks. they will make it harder to raise funds. this marks a new phase in the confrontation between moscow and the west. russian banks will no longer be able to sell bonds or equities

in eastern markets. the eu has banned bond sales. the sanctions don't target reg it's -- russia's natural gas sector. europe relies on natural gas to meet its energy needs, but the sanctions will still inflict pain on eu country and company -- countries and companies. >> politically, there is no alternative. europe rejects armed force as a way to solve problems. if you hold that position, you need to respond accordingly. >> the u.s. says it is joining europe in imposing tougher sanctions. >> ok, these are the toughest sanctions to date, but would today's survive a real drop in jobs hide to exports to russia? how much support to the

sanctions have among germany's political and business elite? >> chancellor merkel made us damon today saying the decision -- made a statement today saying the decision to move to the sanctions was inevitable and that there could be further measures of vladimir putin doesn't help to de-escalate the situation in europe. saying it's inevitable, i think she is direct to matt first and foremost at german businesses, which of course -- directing that first and foremost the german businesses which of course rely on exports to russia. they've been very nervous about using economic measures against russia. looking at today's deal, for instance, some of the german oil industry would like a similar deal to the one the french have managed to thrash out for their military sector, namely that existing contracts should be protected and should be allowed to go ahead. having said that, many german business leaders have begun to

say in the last few days that they do agree and believe that economic pressure should be used to get russia to change its mind in ukraine. >> even though these are the toughest to date, some are calling them goldilocks sanctions, just enough to please washington but not enough to infuriate vladimir putin. >> i don't think it is as much about him. a more pleasing anyone, i think it is intended to show that the eu can follow up on it rhetoric. it was important for the eea or to follow up with measures especially because -- for the eu to follow up with measures, especially to the united states, knowing the business ties were closer so it would hurt a lot more. berlin has always been clear. the tactic is to ratchet up the pressure slowly and let russians know that the annexation of

crimea and support for separatist swampy tolerated in the long term >> simon young on the latest round of eu sanctions. thanks so much. >> earlier we spoke to our moscow correspondent and asked her if the sanctions were likely to have any affect on russia. >> one should not be overly optimistic. vladimir putin really is in a situation now where it is hard for him to back down without losing face and now his popularity ratings are so i'd do to how he acted in ukraine over the last month -- so high due to how he acted in ukraine over the last month before the tragedy with the malaysian airline. he was talking the eu out of further sanctions. at the moment, that does not seem possible anymore and he did not respond in a way that would have made that possible. now it seems as if he can do

anything and give in and change the whole policy or he would lose face here in russia and lose popularity. >> the shooting down of the malaysia airlines jet over ukraine has raised areas questions about passenger planes flying over conflict zones. >> now the u.n. aviation body is holding a special meeting in montréal to discuss what needs to be done to ensure that the airspace we fly in is indeed secure. airlines say they need reliable, neutral information to decide whether to use or avoid certain routes. last week many companies stopped flights after israel fired a hamas rocket into the airport. flight safety is squarely back on the global agenda.

what proposals are being considered? >> they are delaying this decision and postponing the meetings to february of next year. i think this is not appropriate to the situation we are facing. just yesterday, emirates announced that they do not want to fly over iraq as they consider it too big of a risk, and that is one of the biggest airlines on the planet right now. >> is flying more dangerous than it has been in the past? >> it is not more or less dangerous. we have more awareness now. there has been a shootdown of an airline over a crisis area. this can happen anywhere, anytime, because people have these weapons and the information is not there. at the same time, the countries should provide the information

whether it is safe to fly over the airspace or not. here is a conflict of interest as well, because if the airline goes down, they will lose money because the airlines have to pay for it. >> what can we do as individuals? what can air travelers do to protect themselves in cases where they are flying in areas that might be questionable. >> unfortunately, we cannot do anything. the decision to capone -- to postpone this important meeting -- what could you do? oh spun your flights until next february? >> -- postpone your flights until exit ray? >> that would be one option, but a pretty drastic one. to gaza now where more than 100 palestinians have been killed in one of the bloodiest days of fighting. two members of the u.n. agency

were among the casualties. >> is israeli forces launched dozens of airstrikes targeting various sites, including the only power station on the gaza strip, forcing it to shut down. more than 100 palestinians and 55 israelis have been killed in three weeks of fighting. >> the only power plant in gaza has been consumed by flames. until now, this was the source of two thirds of gaza's energy, just enough for three hours of electricity a day. the bombing of the plant will also affect people's water supplies as water pumps rely on electricity. >> i would like to say to the world that this was a plant that served the people. its existence helped people, hospitals, and a normal, basic life of the people of gaza.

>> on tuesday, israel unleashed its heaviest bombardment yet in the three-week offensive. hamas radio and tv stations were among the targets, as were hamas offices. the home of the top hamas leader in gaza was also leveled. it had been evacuated, but the attack left neighbors terrified. >> our children were so scared and screaming. now they cannot hear because of the loud explosions. they are shaking. we evacuated while they were sleeping and ran away. how do you think they feel now? we are the adults and we are scared, how about them? >> attacks continue on both sides and israel has vowed to press on. >> we must be prepared for a prolonged campaign in gaza. we will continue to act decisively and wrist on sadly until we complete our mission. -- decisively and responsibly until we complete our mission.

>> one of israel's main aims is to destroy a series of tunnels it says palestinian's used to enter israel. israel appears prepared to accept heavy losses among its own soldiers in the population of gaza. >> former kosovo military leaders could soon face an indictment for organ trafficking. >> and eu prosecutor believes he can prove up to 10 captives were killed for their organs in the aftermath of the war in the 1990's. but clint williamson says he cannot fire -- file any charges until a special court is set up. the charges relate to alleged activities by the kosovo liberation army just after it took over the territory it is now in control of from serbian forces. none of the leaders involved have been named publicly. chinese state media reporting that dozens of people have been killed by militants in the west of the country. according to those reports, i gang armed with knives and axes

began their attack in town and moved to a nearby settlement. >> beijing has blamed terrorist. human rights group say oppression of a minority is fueling the unrest. china's ruling communist party appears to be breaking with an unwritten rule against prosecuting top party leaders. >> the party has announced an investigation into a former domestic security chief, once china's powerful circle of elite leaders. until 2012, he was one of nine members of the party's top leadership. authorities say he is under investigation for violating party discipline but did not give any further details. we are going to a short break. when we come back, fighting escalates in libya and in syria. >> and bad news for germany's

biggest bank. we will check in on all the latest business news for you. stay with us. stay with us. >> welcome back. to libya where fighting between rival militias is spiraling out of control. >> there have been more fierce battles in benghazi where at least 30 people were killed in a firefight between government forces and militants. a libyan fighter jet also crashed during the battle. it is not clear if the plane was shot down or suffered a malfunction. witnesses say the pilot managed to parachute to safety. >> a huge blaze spread through a fuel storage depot near the airport. it is still raging. watering groups have been battling for control in various

arts -- warring groups have been battling for control of various parts of the country. it is the worst fighting since moammar gadhafi was ousted from power in 2011. >> on monday, a second tank fire hit on the outskirts of tripoli. the depot is now at the center of a battle for control near tripoli airport. for weeks, militias of thought there. the government has called for help. -- have fought there. the government has called for help. >> there is a request for international forces to protect the citizens. this would prevent chaos and disorder and give the nation a chance to rebuild its institutions. >> to militias are now contending for control of tripoli. one is based in western libya. the other comes from the mediterranean coast. they have fallen out and the government can't stop them fighting. this is an important figure on one side.

he has been leading a dignity movement for secular politics and against islamist militias. he has backing from liberal politicians. the ms. rodham militia want an islamic state. they -- this militia once an islamic state. they claim majority support. libya's government looks on powerless. the country is edging ever closer to civil war. >> staying in the region, rebels and syria are making a key advance on the military airport in homs. >> they say it is used by the syrian army to make barrel bombs and launch airstrikes. rebels are also [inaudible] [no audio]

[no audio] managed to leave germany despite an arrest warrant. german authorities warned they cannot stop jihadist leaving to fight in such conflicts. germany's domestic intelligence chief told a german daily, in many cases, we just don't know what people are planning to do

in syria and there is a lack of evidence. we also notice that we quickly lose track [no audio] in germany. >> some business news now, and scandals and immense legal battles have taken a toll on deutsche bank's image and are hitting its numbers. >> earnings for germany's largest lender show a sharp dip in net profits, about one third less than the same time last year. >> in a brief statement, deutsche bank notes the cost of legal disputes. it has earmarked billions more to cover for their court

battles. >> the numbers were better than many analysts have expected, but were still not good. profits were drowned out by taxes and legal costs. deutsche bank is accused of for financial reporting and faces large fines and allegations it defined u.s. sanctions through involvement in business operations in iran. and that's not all. several authorities are looking at whether the bank took part in the manipulation of currency exchange rates. observers expect the bank to be tied up in legal disputes for a long time yet. it is involved in around 6000 cases and has earmarked more than $2 billion to cover those costs. >> not very good news for one of europe's largest banks. >> traders in frankfurt were not particularly pleased about the

news from deutsche bank. sure, investment banking is going a little better than expected and profits are little more on the bright side dan people expected, but the rating agency moody's downgraded the credit worthiness of this day german -- big german bank and people here are very unsure what to make a future prospects with possible fines or civil suits looming with all those legal cases the deutsche bank is battling at the moment. the share price is reflect and that -- reflecting that. for the year, it is one of the biggest losers in the dax. >> let's take a closer look at the market numbers now. here in germany, the blue-chip dax is up a little over half a percent. the pan-european index is at 3190. over in new york, the dow jones

is currently down to 16,009 hundred 59 and on the currency markets, -- 16,00959. argentina is hoping for a last-minute solution. >> that appears more and more unlikely with one of its main creditors. american investor paul singer says he wants to collect all of his return on what were thought to be almost worthless argentinian bonds. >> u.s. courts have ruled he is the right to collect more than $600 million. the argentinian government says it is not paying. it's one government decision that has almost unanimous support. >> there is deep-seated resentment against the argentinian government these days -- against the u.s.

government in argentina these days. in 2002, born as iris first evolved on foreign debt repayments -- buenos aires first defaulted on foreign debt repayments. it took three years or negotiations with creditors to get underway. bondholders agreed to a 70% haircut, but if you refused and held out. new york billionaire paul singer is argentina's public enemy number one. he wants $600 million per bonds he picked up cheaply after the default for a mere $36 million. a u.s. court agreed when he demand did repayment -- demanded repayment. president cristina fernandez de kirchner uses. -- refuses. germany holds 37% of the bonds.

japan, the netherlands, italy and spain also hold argentinian debt. the financial world is waiting to see who wins. >> moving onto some other news now, this summer europe has been commemorating a series of anniversaries related to this article world war i and turning points in world war ii, the dual catastrophes that of his dated europe. >> today the presidents of poland and germany opened a new exhibit here in berlin marking the anniversary of the warsaw uprising. >> veterans of the warsaw uprising traveled to berlin to mark the occasion. under the nazi regime, this area was home to german police and ss leadership. now it commemorates those who fought against the nazi occupation.

it was an important chapter in polish and world history. >> the presence of the resistance fighters here in this place makes us realize that in the end totalitarian systems are helpless in the face of people's desire for freedom and reconciliation. >> the german president said it was extraordinary that the two countries had managed to reconcile even though some 170,000 resistance fighters died during the conflict. >> germans showed remorse and the polish were able to forgive. the polish overcame hatred, anger and distrust. >> he added that such an exhibition was long overdue to bring attention to an uprising that is often overshadowed and

other wartime events. >> before we go, beware. you might have to share your lunch with some uninvited guests at this parisian park. >> the park is infested with rats. with so many tourists leaving rubbish behind, the critters have plenty to feast on. they are getting bolder to, making daylight appearances. for now, it looks like there is no stopping these little guys. >> time to get more exterminators out there. >> i squirm just looking at those pictures. >> that's all we have time for.

>> thanks for joining us, live

from paris. where intense bombardment has seen the palestinian death toll reached more than 1100, with many killed civilians. israeli tanks hit the only power station in the gaza strip, cutting off electricity to most of the enclave. hopes were raised and then da shed of a possible cease-fire, aying factions had agreed to 24 hour truce, although it was rejected by hamas.