brent: this is dw news live from our land. president trump welcomes his brazilian counterpart to the whitee house, with trump promising to support brazil's efforts to formalize ties with nato. also coming up, sounding the alarm for survivors of the cycling t that for throrough southeasast africa last week. floodwaters are endangering

thousands of people and rescue workers are struggling to reach remote areas. and d living with the scars of n acid attack. she was 15 when it happened to her. now she is on a mission to help other survivors by involving the indian government to completely ban the sale of acid. brent: i'm brent goff. to our viewers on pbs in the united states and around the world, welcome. they are considered two of a kind, to leaders of the americas and to leaders both with polarizing personalities. u.s. president donald trump has welcomed his brazilian counterpart to the white house today. trump telling the far right leader who has been dubbed the trump of the tropics, that he is looking at nato membership for brazil. they plan on discussing

improving trade relations and increasing cooperation on resolving the crisis in venezuela. joined by our correspondent in washington, oliver. we knew there would be somewhat of a leaders lovefest here. how did it work out? oliver: the atmosphere was a very friendly one here in washington, as you can imagine. olson aro repeatedly -- bolsonaro declared donald trump a role model and is now seeking closer relationships with the united states. it was also his first trip abroad to the united states and that's something that would have been unheard of just a few years ago. the relationship used to be a complicated one but it might change after today's meeting. also because both presidents are

on t the same page in so many issues and topics, they are both nationalists, they oppose multilateralism. bolsonado today said he supports donald trumpmp's migration polititics, sayaying most migras he believes come to the united states to do arm, and that is exactly donald t tmp's s rhetorc that he used in his election campaign andnd continues to use and he certainly likes to hear that from the mouth of someone that will now be one of his closer allies. brent: we know top of the agenda today, to be topics, venezuela and nato. here's what the u.s. president said a short while ago about venezuela. take a listen. president trump: this afternoon the president and i discussed many of our mutual priorities, including venezuela. brazil has been an extraordinary leader in supporting the venezuelan people's efforts to reply -- reclaim their liberty and their democracy.

along with united states, braral was one e of the first nations o recognize venezuela's legitimate interim president, juan guaido. brent: was there anything tangible decided upon regarding venezuela, and what about the question of nato? oliver: right, so regarding venezuela, with just heard it in the sououndbite,, both sides hee again on the same page. they both want a regime change there. donald trump reaffirmed that all options are on the table, including the military option, but that is something that is debated right now at the white house with the question about how far donald trump should walk down that road. there were discussions about nato. donald trump said he would look into getting or helping brazil to get another, closer affiliation with nato, the

status of the so-called non-nato ally, perhaps. and also that the u.s. would help brazil in becoming an oecd member and that is a major policy win for the for the brazilian president, bolsonado. brent: it was reportedly not expected by the allegation from brazil today. oliver, thank you. as we heard there, both the u.s. and brazil support efforts by venezuela's opposition to oust president nicolas maduro. as that countries crisis -- economic and humanitarian crisis drags on, many are making the difficult decision to flee. many are seeking refuge in neighboring colombia. >> these people have picked an unusual route out of venezuela. with the border to columbia close, they are using what are

known as illegal trails that lead right through the river. it's dangerous, as they are controlled by criminal gangs, and they demand a high price. but such is their desperation that they are willing to take the risk. around one million venezuelans have sought refuge in columbia. many say they have lost all hope.. >> i come from an agricultural zone. it was oncnce a very p productie area with lots of smsmall farms i am a small farmer from there myself. unfortunately, i had to leave because we had nothing, no seats, no o fertilizer, nothing. >> some believe c corruption is largely to blame for the sisituation. >> you can't find cornmeal in the supermarket, but you canan find it on the black m market. there it cost two or three times as much. >> is s that corruption?

>> that is corruptioion. >> a venezueuelan reporter has been investigating t the caus of the crisis. he spoke to an opposition member who also says graft plays a big role. >> wise the country in the state it is? because of the corruption. it's not the sanctions. it's not donald trump. it's because they have stotolen everything. ask the crisis in venezuelaas become an international issue with the u.s., russia, and china all pupursuing their own interests. ththe reporter outlines how he thinks it could come to a head. >> the first s scenario is thaht madurotatays in power and rolls over a land in ruins. the second scenario is that there is a transition inititiatd by the venezuelans themselves. but that will result in deaths. so a coup executed by the

militaryry, but with a trtransitional g government in h cicivil authorities would also take part. should there be a coup in such a scenario would b be the most successful one. >> but as yet, no such resolution is inside and the struggle for power in venezuela looks set to continue. brent: there's more to see there. you can watch the -- the entire feature online on www.dw.de or on our youtube channel. you're watching dw ynews, live from berlin. we will look at a new study that aims to discover how animals are able to regrow body parts, and how this might one day benefit us humans. the devastation caused by the cyclone after it tore through zimbabwe and mozambique five days ago is becoming clearer. in mozambique along, 84 people have been confirmed dead, though the government fears t the death toll will rise to morehan

1000. according to the red cross, it damaged or destroyed 90% of the buildings in a port city. in neighboring zimbabwe, about 300 people are dead or missing tonight. >> survivors the graves are the victims of the cyclone. this is the worst hit district in zimbabwe. scores are dead and still many more are missing. >> my mother, my fatheher, my to yogerr sistersrs, including the one that had broughtht u us fooo earlier and the one with the child, a all dead. >> my house wawas destroyeyed ie flfloods and i was buried underneath. my daughter was s washed away fm me. a bibigger flood cararried me furtheher way. >> the cyclone has wreaked havoc

on zimbabwe's infrastructure, making it hard to assess the extent of the devastation, or the human cost. >> i''m going to see my family. i don't how they are doing because there is no communication and the roads -- that the rows are accessible because of the heavy rains, and i'm not sure i will find my way. >> rescuers are struggling to meet -- to reach people in the afflicted areas. these boys were trapped for t to days, but thehey are among the lucky onones. a bouldeder crasheded thrhroughr school dorm, k killing three people. many more lives are at stake. >> the situation in zimbabwe and mozambique in the aftermath of cyclone idai is getting desperate, particularly here, where people are having to walk

long distances because they have been cut out from essential services. bridges have been washed away. vehicles can't reach those areas where people need assistance. in this area, you can see there is mud. cars cannot pass this place. they are sticking in the mud. we have spoken to people along the way, doctors without borders are trying to reach people who are affected, but they can't reach those areas because it is virtually impossible. brent: it is a vicious type of assault meant to maim, scar, and even keel. i'm talking about acid attacks, and you hear about them happening in many places. by one estimate, more than 1500 acid attacks take place around the world, and women are the targets in more than 80% of the cases. and remember, that's only the

cases they get reported. it's a crime that india has been trying to address through stricter chemical regulations and tougher punishments, that cannot erase the scars that survivors of such attacks will carry for the rest of their lives. our reporter met one woman in india who took her tragedy and transformed it into empowerment. >> a comomic with an unconventional hereroine, the story of a young woman who has been attacked. she transforms from being a victim to being a superheroine. her mission is to help the survivors of acid attacks. videos of the comic show readers who is behind the story. she suffered a real-life attack in 2005. >> after i refused his advances, he and h his younger brother's girlfriend turned up with acid in a beer bottle.

for the e acid into a a glass ad threw it onto o my face. i fainted, and when i came to again, it felt as if i had been burned alive. >> she was only 15 when she was attacked by man 17 years her senior. she had refused his advances, so in a cruel act of revenen, he attacked her and changed her life forever. hundreds of acid attacks like the one she suffered are reported in inindia every y yea. >> he didn't kill me, he attacked me, so i would have to live my life in agony. he knew that society wouldn't accept it and that the same society would reject and victimize me. >> but she refused to be a victim, and became an activist. she is part of a campaign to help make greatat chahanges in india. the sale of acidd is now

regulated, and prosecutions of acid attacks have been made easier, but she wants a complete ban. her comic book focuses on male and female in equality rolled wide. she hopes children will learn about the topic in classrooms. her aim is to give girls i'm including her own daughter, a different image of the world. she is also a single mother, which is far from the norm in india. >> my dream hasn't yet come true, but there has been a huge change these last few years. and that shows me that equality and the changes we are talking about now, will happen. reporter: she wants to see and in to all violence against women and spare future generations from the suffering she and others have injured. how will she do it? well, the superheroine can help make it happen. brent: this is the story of many

heroines, and one of those joins me right now. she is an acid attack survivor who story formed the basis for the comic. she is also a fashion designer and founder of a group that helps victims of rape and domestic violence. it is good to have you on the show. we appreciate you telling your story. >> thank you for having me. brent: it is an honor to have you here. the first question people ask is, when was it possible for you after the attack, when did you say i can go out in public and show my face again and it doesn't bother me anymore? when did that happen? monica: h honestly speakiking, t totook me a whwhile, because all this time i was prepararing m mf , i underwent multiple

reconstructive surgeries, as you can see on my face. i was slowly preparing while studying at the college. it took k me a while to accept e fact that i'm ready to go out, but i excepted what happened to me a long time ago, because i knowow this wass something i cat just deny and move on. it's s something that was goioio stay permanently, so i i had t acaccept that a long time ago. ththat roaoaming around inin puc where people don't stare at m and they don't judge me because of my deformity on my face, it took a while, definitely. brent: the attack left you fighting for your life. if you would, tell us what happened, and what was thehe rod to rececovery like? monica: in 2015, i was attacked by one of the acquaintatances i used t to know. i refusesed his propoposal of

marriage, i didn't want to marry and just run away with him or something like that. i became his obobsession, he was kind of a s stalker, then i dend that. he hired a couplple o of goons o throw a bucket full of acid all over my face and my body. i was hospitalized over a year and then for 8.5 or nine years, i have been hospitalized, cocomg and going. i had 50 reconstructive surgeries on my face and b bodyo that i could recover. every timime i wentnt under the knife, it was the moment t i'm lilivinghe d day it happened, it wawas definitely the most t pail thing. it's like i have died many times

as well during those preparations and during those surgeries as well. brent: but the strength that you have found in y yourself every time, it certainly comes through now. it's not something one would immediately associate with acid attacks, a comomic. how has s it been received? monica: it has been received really well, worldwide. actually, when we started with this project, the creator of this comic book, they approached me and becamame a good friend. he said this is what we're tryingngo d do. tetechnology andnd theewew w wan always helelp the younger generation to connect with ththe social i issue. they w wanted to design the w we comic book around my story becacause it was leaeading theho the empowerment side of the woman as well. when we design that, everybody

was reading about it. it was not just entertainment is a comic book for the youngerer generation but for a all age groups. because of t the 3-d augmentatin reality technology, the comic book becomes 3-d, so people find it very fascinating. you can relate to it and be part of the story as well while reading it. so we got great reviews about that. brent: it looks fascinating. done so many good things. got this comic and you are also studying fashion in new york. how were you able to take this terrible thing that was done to you and turn it into something positive, and how were you able to get up in the morning and not hate men b because of f what happened to you? monica: honestltly spepeaking, i don't belilieve in living in the past. i'm working on the present and

i'm planning for my future. the idea is if i keep thinking about what happened to me, it's not going to take me anywhere. i really dodoes a realized beina woman t tt physical appeaearance is really important for every girl and woman, but you cannot cry about t that all the time. you can cry, but there isis a limit to it. when i went ththrough a littttlt of depression, i was like, i i spent a whole year on crcrying about something that's not going to be cured by crying, so i have to find a solution. it is alsoso imporornt for girls to realize t that yes, there was some physical damage that happened, but there iss a certan level you can get it cureded but if your brain is s working, get yourself an education because this is whwhat makeses you more popowerful and empmpowered as a woman because you know what is happening out there. there hahas to be a a timee when people start looking at you

beyond your scars ananbeyond your f face. ththis stigma bebecomes only i r past. you should nonot drag it furthe. i told my dad that i would continue study a and then n i wd for seven years and india in the fashion industry. it was hard. not everybybody was ready to accept a girl with a deformedd face, but then i focused on my skill, that i want to be best in my work so that there is no question not to o hire m me. i worked at harper's s bazaar magazizine in india. i decided after certain time, after my 50th surgery or something, that i need to move further, i need to go out and learnn from difffferent countnts and differerent cultures and traditions as well. i got a an admission n at parso. when i got an offer letter, it was a dream come true because it was in new york.

yoyou can say it was a reboot of my life,, like not puttingng men aa box like she'ss not going too get married because she as deformed, so i had to get out of it. one has to realize that you have to stop caring about the s sociy becaususe eventually n no one is paying yourilills and no o one s feeding yoyou for ever. after certaiain time, not even your family thomas s say you hae to be yoururself. brent:t: you're not only a beautiful person, but you are a wise woman, monica. we appreciate you sharing your story and your thoughts and we wish you all the best. thank you. monica: thank you so much. brent: scientists at harvard university in the united states have released a new study into the way animals regenerate their bodies. the have uncovered what they call a dna switch which might one day lead to humans being able to regenerate lost limbs.

are plenty of examples in nature. some s species of salamander can regroup -- regrow severed legs and some can regrow tales. jellyfish can regenerate their entire bodies after being cut in half. cnm and knees can do the same. -- sea anemones can do the same. i'm joined by andrew from cambridge, massachusetts. it's good to have you on the show. does this study tell us that we are on the way to understanding and maybe one day being able to regrow a lost limb? if i were to lose my arm, one day i may be abable to grow a nw one? andrdrew: i think we're still a ways away from applications to human regenerative medicine, but

the study m makes an important step h he, because all of the genes we have identififd in this worm, humans have all t those se genes. we are startining to undederstad the connnnections betwtween thee genenes that make e it possibleo regenerarate sething like e an entire body. brent: if we have ththe sameme , do we know why some animals are able to turn this gene on, whereas we at ththe moment are ununable to do that? do we know why there is a difference? andrew:: i think that is what makes the study sort of unique. wewe did not really focus on the genes themselvlves, but the e rt of the dna, so ththat the vast mamajority of ththe dna which contains the switches thth turns the genes on and off. i starting to identify y and understand the switches that make these connections, we can start to understand how the

process is the sameme or differt in something like a human which cannot regenerate very well, and something like this worm which can regenerate any missing cell. brent: does it have something to do with the fact that, were talking about animals like jellyfish, they are not vertebrates. the fact that we are mammals, does that play a role in our inability to regrow our limbs? andrew: it's a fascininating question. ii think the more e sort of tise types you have, the hardeder its to r regenerate. but with these animals, they have sort of a constatant supply of stem cells in their bodies. if we can harness the e power of the e stem cells by understandig these control regions, we s shod be able to regeneratate any sort of missing tise,e, includingng bo. but again, that is much in the future when we understand the process better.

brent: when you talk about much in the future, i will try to piña down, can you give me a timeline? are we talking 10 years, 20 years? what is a realilistic time horizon? andrew: i think it would be irresponsible of m me to put a specific timetable on it. we are talking p probably lolonr than 20 yeyears. it is important to study these strange and different o organiss thatat maybe don't haveve backb, but can regenerate their entire bodies. by continuing to look at these strange critters, i think we can learn a lot about stem cells and regeneration for the future. brent: we wish you all t the bet withth your research, and the faster the better. andrew, thank you. andrew: thank you. brent: here is a reminder of the top story we a are following, u.

president donald trump has welcomed his b brazilian counterpart to the white house. he told the far right leader he is looking at nato membership for brazil and also to discuss trade ties and efforts to resolve the crisis in venezuela. after a short break, i will be back to take you through "the day." stick around, we will be right back. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org]

ll this week on fronts. twenty four what about you watching live from her so fronts twenty four the headlines ththis ho. cycyclone a d die trick is the t humanitarian catastrophe in mozambique's history rescue teams are struggling to reach survivors in the devastated city of beira. you and says millions are affected across the region. the e man dubbeded the trump the tropics visits the white house brazil's jabal scenario treated to a warm welcome the u. s. president. says he would even like to see the countrtry joined nato's. and thousands of people back on the streets of algeria's capital demanding president beautifully could go immediately the agency