♪ helena: this is dw news life from berlin. derman's chancellor remembers the victims of one of the worst crimes against humanity. angela merkel makes her first official visit to the auschwitz death camp, passing beneath the infamous logan, work sets you free. the nazis murdered more than millions of people in auschwitz, most of them juice. greta thunberg joins others in a

march through madrid, to manning where leaders take action on climate change. celebrations in india after police shoot dead for men suspected of raping and killing a young woman. the officers are being hailed as heroes, but there are concerns they may have taken the law into their own hands. and germany's social democratic party confirms it to new leaders , who are skeptical about the parties governing coalition with chancellor merkel's conservatives. helena: i am helena humphrey, glad you could join a. angela merkel has made her first official visit to the former auschwitz death camp. the site in poland with the nazi largest death camp in the second world war. this marks the anniversary of the foundation that preserves

the memorial. she pay tribute to the victims and spoke of the necessity for men bring atrocities committed there. >> it is almost midday when german chancellor angela merkel arrives at the place that revokes the crimes of the nazi era like no other. auschwitz. formerer concentration and exterminatation camp. the murder machine. by 1945, as many as 1.5 million people had been killed here by the nazis. silently, merkel approaches the so-called wall of death, with the polished prime minister. at this while, the germans shot dead thousands of polls -- p oles. this is michael's first visit to auschwitz as chancellor. for 24 years no german chancellor has walked through this gate, beneath the sign with that cynical slogan, work sets you free. a survivor who recalls the cruelty he expensed as a child at the hands of the germans but

tells merkel how much these prisoners your and to be free. >> since the beginning, since august, 1944, when i first arrived, we were asking, when it is that we can be free. and the capo's would laugh at us and say, well, you want to be free. you see the chimneys? that is how you will be free. >> merkel says she feels deep shame at the horrors of auschwitz.z. ththe crimes should be silently remembered, she says. but that should not be the only response. >> this site obliges us to keep the memories alive. we have to remember the crimes, we have to member the perpetrators, and to commemorate the victims in a dignified manner. that is our enduring responsibility.

it is not open to negotiation. >> keeping his memories alive is becoming more difficult, as fewer and fewer survivors remain. that is why this memorial site is so important. the german chancellor promised to make 60 million euros available for renovations. this will go toward repairing barracks, gas chambers, and fences, so they remain a visual reminder of germany's crimes. helena: dw correspondent thomas sparrow was at the memorial ceremony. he sent his impressions of that chancellor's speech. >> this was angela merkel's first visit to auschwitz birkenau since she became prime minister and was also the first time a german chancellor visited into any five years. this is why her visit was described as one of historic dimensions. she gave a speech today in which she stressed germany's guilt, germany's historic responsive building, and how that response

building is an important part of germany's identity as a nation. she also stressed the nest lessons that can be drawn from the past, in particular the lessons for today's context. the context today in germany and europe is marked by a rise in anti-semitism. helena: thomas sparrow in auschwitz. we can talk about this now with the demo political correspondent. good to seo. many people are asking why it took merkel so long to visit in an official capacity. she has been chancellor for 14 years and this was her first visit to auschwitz. >> in fact it has been 24 years since a german chancellor visited auschwitz. so it was long overdue. angela merkel is no stranger to such ceremonies. she visited concentration camps in germany of dachau, buchenwald, also the federal presidents of germany was in poland for the commemoration of

the beginning of world war ii earlier this year, in september. but it is true that this visit was long overdue. it comes at a time where the auschwitz memorial foundation is celebrating its 10th anniversary. and angela merkel came with that announcement that the german government will give 60 million euros for the foundation. so a long overdue visit but i last this happened. helena: that was one facet of the visit. but it also comes at a time when anti-semitism is on the rise in germany. she touched on that, dingy -- didn't she? >> she talked about that. and one survivor of auschwitz had said this has happened, therefore it can happen again. that was very much in that spirit that angela merkel warns against the rise of anti-semitism. she said auschwitz teaches us that we cannot turn a blind eye to those who are persecuted today, at a time of rising

anti-semitism and increased attacks on liberal democracy. here in germany, indeed, we see the rise of anti-semitism. we saw a few weeks ago and attack were two people were killed in front of a synagogue in an anti-semitic attack. definitely, the present was very much here today. helena: and it is a most hard to fathom. because the horrors of the holocaust here in germany are well-known. what is behind this rise in anti-semitism? >> while i was watching the ceremony today, i was also talking to one of the representatives of the jewish community here in germany. he was telling me that the jewish community here in germany wishes for more education, more pedagogical work in german schools, so as to tell people what has happened eight years ago. -- 80 years ago.

there were survivors of the death camps today, but for how much longer? soon there will be no more who have actually witnesses the horrors of the nazis to testify that happened. that is why those commemorations are paramount, not on the for germany but for the rest of the world to remember and understand what happened, so that it never happens again. helena: right. there has been commemoration here in germany. up until this point, without taking a look at how germany needs to move forward on that, how has germany dealt with its past and its culture of remember it's up to this point? >> there is a culture of remembrance like i have not seen in many other places. there is a monument to that, to what angela merkel named a subjective shame for germany. in 2008 she stood at the israeli parliament, the knesset. and said germans, " this is a

moment of shame in our history." and she said that again today when she said that we cannot undo the past. but we have to root remember it. -- we have to be able to remember it so as not to repeat it. it took her a long time to attend that ceremony. she is the first chancellor traveling to poland for the sole objective of attending a sermon at auschwitz. it took her longtime peer but at least today she had very strong words and stood against anti-semitism, which is on the rise in germany. helena: thank you so much. let's take a look now at some of the other stories making news around the world. france is facing more disruption as the country's largest public sector strike for decades enters its second today. it has caused disruption to public transport, schools and hospitals. workers are protesting against president crohn's plan to reform the president -- the pension system.

a teenager admitted attempting to murder a six-year-old french boy who was thrown from a 10th floor viewing platform at london state modern gallery in august. a teen who was 17 at the time admitted the charge at the central criminal court and will be sentenced in february. three people have been killed by an aviation student at a major u.s. navy base in pensacola, florida. the shooter, who with a second lieutenant in n saudi arabia's r force, was shot dead by law enforcement. 12 people were hurt in the attack which is the second deadly shooting at a u.s. military site this week. young climate activists have taken to the street in madrid as the city hosts the u.n. climate conference, the cop 25. they are demanding urgent action from world leaders to cap tackle the climate emergency. swedish greta thunberg activist joined them. she will be taking part in the u.n. summit after making the

journey across the atlantic by catamaran. she refuses to flight due to the carbon emissions. at the end of the mark she made an impassioned plea to the international community. >> we are in thee middle of f a climimate and ecological emergency. and we need d to start treating this crisis like a crisis. and we need to step out of our comfort zones.s. and that is what we e are doing right now. we are steppining out of our comfort zones. tetelling the people in power tt they must take the responsibility and protect future and present generations. helena: greta thunberg there. the head of climate science and impact in the scientific advisor to climate and to lytic's -- climate analytics joins us now from old madrid. climate strikes like those taking place may help joel the

climate crisis -- - may help the climate crisis of the top of the agenda. but is there enough concrete action? >> thank you for havining me and greetings from madadrid. we are seeingg t that climate actionon needs to happen on different levels currently, we are not seeing g enough climatee action by govevernments. soso it is a matter of fact that the science is very clear. the climate targegets we are seeing by governments wilill fal to achieve the 1.5 d degree tart prints s so weeeeed to get increased action over the next year, and by 2020 countries around the world need to establish new climate targets to get us on track for the paris agreement. from the groundswell from the bottom up, and this is the youth really championing that, we have seen an unprecedented movement of the global populace, speaking out for climate action. so this is also an action that is happening. and it has definitely affected governments climate negotiations. helena: you do have to wonder why governments are not taking

greater steps. ui scientist. you feel that scientific community is being listenened to or notot, when it comes to clime change? >> well there a different vernments ound the world. and one special thing about these u would endegotiations which i think we all appciate -- the united nations negotiation's. the least developed countries, the coastal countries, are all calling for climate action. many are taking a vicious climate action home, try to become climate neutral and get themselves on track. there also here for decades calling big emittining couountrs for climate action. if you talk about governments, you should probably speak of those who are actually causing the climate crisis. helena: of coast those who are most affected are taking the biggest step spared but in terms of the countries that are the big emitters causing the bulk of the problem, whwhat should they do? >> they should, i think

scientifically we cannay they should takake --- the climate to logically and ecologically and economically sensible position. current technologies are becoming competitive in many countries the cheapest option for energy. investing in those rather than investing in fossil infrastructure, and also the negative side effects and air pollution and what have you. that's the way to go, that technology for the future and the 21st century. this happens in some countries faster than others. we really need to have a greath] >> a hero's welcome. hundreds gathered to shower police with gifts as news of the suspects deaths spread. people across india have praised the actions of these police. after years of anger over authorities' slow response to rising sexual violence against women.

>> we are all glad today. the victim was the daughter of our society. we have all gotten justice. from now on, whenever someone even think of doing such a thing, they will think long and hard before doing it. >> authorities say the men were brought into the suspected crime scene to reenact their logic killing. police say the suspects then try to seize their weapons and escape heard the officers responded by opening fire. for the family of the victim who cannot be named for legagal reasons, justice has been served. >> i would like to thank and congratulate the regional government, police, and all those who supported me. i hope my daughter's soul is now in peace. >> the men were suspected of raping, murdering and bururning the body of a 27-year-r-old womn last week. she was found underer bridge t e next day. [applause]

but not everyone is celebrating the suspects deaths. family members of the accused men wewere distraught atat the . the four men had not been formally charged with any crime. opposition groups accuse police of taking the law into their o n hands to pacify the public. they are calling for a thorough investigation. helena: now for look at some of the day's top stories. the united nations says at least 208 people have been killed and at least 7000 arrested in iran. masterman thracians broke out in november when the government suddenly increased fuel prices. the u.n. called for the imimmediately release of anyonen arbitrary detention. saudi arabia's state owned oil company, aramco, completed the world's biggest share sale, raising $25 billion, 1.5% of the firm. aramco is now confirmed as the most viable company in the world.

germany's social democratic party confirmed its new leadership duo. the new leaders want to change the parties coalition agreement with chancellor angela merkel's conservatives. the cdu party is expected to find the ideas, prompting speculation the governing coalition could be in danger. the spd says that his discussion for the another day. >> the spd in celebratory mode. now it is official. the two will usher in a new era for social democrats. 80% of the delegates voted for eskin. the other got 80% of vovote. >> we should for election so we could help the spd return to the values the social democrats once stood for, recognizability,,

credibility, steadfastness. >> one week ago, party members nominated the duo, decision that rocked german media, leading spd politicians expressed concerns that they would try to dissolve the grand coalition with the cdu and csu. but no one will be talking about this on the first day of the party conference. for now, all division and attention are off the agenda. [applause] >> we are in this coalition and we are in a democracy paired we must be prepared to make compromises. they have to be justified. and they must not blur what we stand for. >> the new leadership team is keen to appeal to its left-wing supporters but only to a point. they do not want to make a sudden break with the union. >> i was and still am skeptical about the future of the grand coalition. i not change my mind. with this proposal, we are giving the coalition a realistic chance of being able to continue, no more than that, but

also no less. [applause] >> now there will be meetings with the cdu, csu, to discuss possible tweaks to the coalition contractct. young socicial delicates are epticacal. >> i wondnder if that will happ. the signs we are getting from the union is that it will not but we will have tried. >> now we have to look at what we have not yet achieved, and what we can do and that two years. that should be the basis of any decision we make about continuing with the grand coalition. >> so the grand coalition has been given a new deadline. the spd another chance. helena: at our chief clinical editor is following the spd party conference for us this evening and berlin. that evening -- good evening. do these new leaders in the party will shift further to the left? >> they are certainly sounding more to the left on key issues, like the minimum wage. also the climate change packet -- package they would like to

reopen. also they want more investment. at the same time, they are making a lot of noise but they simply do not seem to have the stomach come about the new leadership and the delegates, to crash out of the so-called ran coalition with angela merkel's conservative cdu csu. so what could have been the beginning of a deep government crisis, simply was called off. the revolution did not happen. but the undertone is part of the rebranding the spd is striving for. helena: what does that potential lean to the left mean for the governing coalition with angela merkel's conservatives? >> it means another simmering crisis care let's face it, two years into this coalition, the coalition deal already at force-out reassessing what had been achieved and what needs to be changed. -- already foresaw. they will be sitting down with the cdu and csu of angela merkel and both sides will likely have to get something out of it to

save their own faces, but i think that what we might see is yet another tough wrangling, a lot of noise, and the bottom line is, a still less stable but continuing government. helena: when we last spoke last week, there was this idea of dropping out of the grand coalition altogether. that idea appears to be scrapped for now. certainly the youth wing, they were very much behind it. so will they be disappointed? >> they did not sound disappointed when i spoke to them here. and that is mostly because kevin , the mastermind behind this new leadership duo winning this, he himself has now become part of the spd leadership. he is a deputy in that board. so he has somewhat switch sides. he says he is 30 now and needs to take more response ability. i think the next couple of weeks will show whether even the youth

organization has become more tame, faced with 13% in the polling and a claim to government power that nobody wants to give up. helena: our chief political editor tonight at the party conference at the spd. thank you. france is facing more disruption as the country's largest public sector strike for decades enters its second day. workers are protesting against resident emmanuel macron's plan to reform the pension system. hospitals and schools have been disrupted. >> france's high-speed trains at a standstill. confusion at the stations in paris as travel schedules are disrupted for a second day. transport as a whole has been hardest hit the public sector strike, with nearly one third of all workers staying home. pens are down at schools too,

with more t than half of public teacachers wking out t there tht means no extracurricular activities and childcare after school. trade unions are calling for continued protests, piling the presser on president emmanuel macron to back down on pension reforms. but the strain is taking its toll across the board. >> is just another wasted day, like yesterday. you cannot go to work and you cannot go to school. i will not be able to catch up. that annoys me, actually. >> life is difficult. i see people right here loving on the street. i am -- living on thee street. i'm concerned about the pensions, the unemployment. so i am in favor of the strike. >> i am supporting them. i am not taking part because i have to go to work. but i am behind them. >> the unions risk not being into with the public if the strikes carry on without bearing fruit. but the government cannot afford to see the country ground to a halt indefinitely.

at the moment, it is a battle of who can hold on the longest. helena: tennis star caroline wozniacki will retire from the game after next month's australian open. the former top-ranked player in the women's game won the event in 2018 but later announced she has arthritis. she is currently ranked 37th in the world. in a social media announcement, she said her retirement has nothing to do with her health but everything to do with starting a family. turning to football, the based game of the bundesliga season awaits fans this weekend with hosting champions by munich. gladback and won their last game with relative ease. this could be a crucial matchchp the titltle race. >> it will be the biggest game in years for berisha milken gladback. the soup is leaders of bundesliga are relishing the

visit of munich knowing that a win would put them a hefty seven points ahead of the champions after 40 games. gladback are used to fighting for the fourth spot in the champion league places but this season they are flying. freiburg where their latest victim last sunday. it was their classy display in the four-to win which stood out. well worked goals are becoming a key feature of flatback play and the coach -- of gladbach play. and d their coacach said there l be no o change. >> yes, we have to stay true to ourselves and our pencils and our way of changing debts our way of playing. that is important. -- our way of playing. that is important. >> it certainly was not buyers lucky day last weekend, they lost 2-1 at home to buyer late accusing. it was a first defeat for the coach hans your flick but they crated plenty of chances in the game so no one at fourth place

byron is planned panicking just yet. >> i have enough experience and we have enough quality to be able to rectify the situation. >> but another buy-in slip-up means gladback could end the weekend as a clear front runners in the bundesliga title race. helena: a reminder of the top story we are following. german chancellor angela merkel has made her first official visit to o the former auschwhwiz death camp in poland, marking the 10th anniversary of the foundation in charge of preserving the memorial. auschwitz was the nazis largest death camp during the second world war. you're watching dw news. i will be back in a few moments to take you through the day. you can always get the latest news on her website, dw.com. thanks and see you back soon. ♪

leader also scheduled for next thursday . with us also tore all told stories to noise- commuters across from facaced a second day old may have this friday's nationwide strikes all the public traransport system completely powerless. well unioions of files to a forehead with strtrike action aimed at forcing president mackerel to rethink pension reforms. must underground stations were closed outside of russia with bus and trarain services canceld off of any delays.e