>> this is dw news live from berlin. tonight, remembering the holocaust. the world pauses to pay tribute to those who were murdered and survived. world leaders are commemorating the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the auschwitz nazi death camp.

the evils of the nazi era are still with us. also, coming up tonight, several cities in a p prevent to prevent ththe coronavirus from spreadin. plus, a matter of survival. that is how angela merkel is describing efforts to stop climate change. she says it is time to take young climate activists serious. to our reviewers on pbs in the

united states and around the world, welcome. they came from around the globe, presidents, prime ministers, heads of states in jerusalem to pledge solidarity with israel and commemorate 6 million jews killed in the holocaust and a promise to fight anti-semitism today. >> a holocaust survivor sings the scottish -- the kadish, the mourners prayer. the ceremony was dedicated to jews and other victims of the holocaust. leaders spoke of the need to fight today's anti-semitism, but current politics were clear and present. >> i'm concerned we have yet to see a unified and resolute

stance against the most anti-semitic regimes on the planet. i call on all governments to join on the vital effort in confronting iran. >> the u.s. vice president agreed. >> we must also stand strong against the leading state purveyor of anti-semitism, against the one government in the world that d denies the holocaust and turns to work israel off of the map. the world must stand strong against the islamic republic of iran. >> russian president vladimir putin delivered an offer to all governments to talk about the spirit >> we -- governments to talk about it.

>> they could take place in a country -- in any country in the world where convenient. >> germany's president spoke of responsibility. >> our age is a different age. the words are not the same. trade is not the same -- [indiscernible] this responsibility was woven into the very fabric of the federal republic of germany from day one. it tests us here and now. germany will only live up to itself if it lives up to its historical responsibility. >> they host the talk of

inclusion and peace. -- they pose the talk of inclusion and peace. >> this is a promise, and obligation, a duty that this we will never forget what you have said here today, leaders of the world, the world is in your arms, and your hands. decide for love and friendship and peace forever. >> and solemn message from the german president. we have team coverage today.

we are german -- we are joined by peter. this is the first time a german leader has given an address. how was his speech received? >> i think it was received very well. i think he got some praise for that speech in israel. the holocaust never going away. i think that had been expected before and he was frank and open ranging from jews being spattered at schools. he said that obviously germany had not learned from its past

and people are talking about that. i think some people appreciated that he recited a prayer in hebrew and also get some attention here in israel. overall, steinmeyer speech received some praise here. >> he was very frank and honest when he asked if we learned the lessons of history. it was a historic speech, very honest. how did that go down with germans? >> it is seen as a historically important event and also give a

speech ahead of the 75th anniversary of the auschwitz death camp, but of course germans themselves, many are not aware that it was taking place. germany finds itself in a new period of reckoning and dealing with its past. german society and politics as a whole is being asked what kind of germany does it want to be and what kind of values this country wants to stand for. >> it's interesting that they were talking about self reflection and reconciliation, but it seems after the speech the messages turned political. >> i'm concerned that we have yet to see a uninified and

resolute stance against the most anti-semitic regime o on the planet, a regime that openly seeks to developop nuclear weaps and annihilate the one and only jewish state. i call on all democrats on joining the vital effort of confronting iran. >> your we are at an event marking the 75th anniversary marking the liberation of the auschwitz concentration camp and we have netanyahu talking about modern-day geopolitics and iran. what was the reaction to his message? >> not all of the leaders present, they have a different perspective on iran.

they want to stick to the nuclear deal, but from netanyahu's perspective, iran is a threat to the existence. that is how he links it to this event and says in order to prevent a future holocaust by rent, one needs -- by rent -- one needs to stop iran from building a nuclear bomb. it was also fitting to the event, but as i said, other people, other present-day leaders thought otherwise. >> you can see some of the reactions in their faces. we know that beyond geopolitics, there was a lot sent by modern-day evils, the evils of anti-some the -- in the evils of

anti-semitism. >> there has been over the years and number of measures come through, especially whether it is schoolchildren visiting death camps. we have a commission here in germany against anti-feminism -- anti-semitism. it is a matter of measures from the top down and society itself has to be ready to take on these measures, especially here in germany we have heard this which means never again. for long time, it seems like it became a sense of complacency that maybe if we said this loud enough, we would be convinced this would never happen again and clearly the events we have seen, especially the past couple years, that is simply not the

case, there's still a lot a work to be done both from a political level and a societal level. >> on the story for jerusalem, thank you. here are some of the other stories making headlines around the world. the impeachment trial of president donald trump has resume for a third day in the republican-controlled senate democrats are pressing their arguments for the removal of office. he is charged with abuse of power and obstruction of congress in connection with his dealings with ukraine. the syrian defense has conontind theirr offensive despite a cease-fire agreement. video here of government helicopters dropping a bomb on a village earlier this week.

the international court of justice has ordered myanmar to prevent genocide against the rough engine people. the verdict comes after myanmar's leader defended her country against accusations of genocide. >> tonight, the world health organization says a new strain of the coronavirus which emerged in china is not yet a global health emergency. it comes after chinese authorities decided to lock down three major cities and canceled the chinese new year celebrations in beijing in an effort to contain a new s strain of t the virus. >> this is where it all began. authorities have traced the outbreak to a seafooood market d since ththen, the cityty has sht down transportation to cut them off on the world.

some compare it to the sars virus which killed over 800 people in 2003. >> i'm really worried. i'm really scared it will become the next sars. that is why we were mask. >> it is a a city of 11 million people. just about 4 million -- the fatalities are all old people. >> hospitals have had to deal with hundreds of cases, but the world health organization has not yet declared a global health emergency. >> if you look at who guidance, there has been no guidance for any travel restrictions and so the lockdown is in excess and therefore the lockdown of 11 million peoeople is unprecedent.

>> on thursday, the government announced that the transport would alsoso be cut and it has produced her medic scenes here -- dramatic scenes here. the outbreak comes as millions of people are on the move to visit friends and family for the lunar new year. the government has canceled many festivities in an effort to contain the virus. >> joining me tonight is a doctor. the world health organization says the new strain of the bars is not a global health emergency. what does that mean and what does it tell us about effort to contain the v virus? >> not and l limiting or declarg

a global health emergency means that who will rely on the national control strategies which is -- which means whatever is ongoing will be added to the existing approach and that also means it will not exploit power into the single platform and make it concrete efforort to control the disease. >> what you think? are you confident in what the chinese are doing? lockdown in several major cities trying to present -- prevent that strain from sweating -- - - that strain from spreading.

>> if you look a at all outbrbrs have c come in recenent time, ty have directly or indirectly have contact with peoplee already infecteded, so this highlights that they are at the epicenter. it is certainly appreciated, however i can clclearly state tt people already traveled, itit is anan exit layeyer of c complican bebeing puin p pce. it is s better now than ever -- then never. >> you are saying better late than never. what about the numbers being given? there are some concerns that the virus spread further and affected more people than what

china is officially reporting. do you believeve what the chinee are tetelling e worldld? > i always speaeak on to the scientic lines. there have been a feways or the e number of cases does not t into it which means the number of cases are significantly higher than now. however, that is not the concern because the number already reached, that is sufficient enough. at this moment, the major concern is whatever reported at this stage, they should be under control so the virus is not spread any further. >> joining us from england with his assessment on attempts to contain t the coronavirus.

we appreciate yoyour time. we go now to australia, where three american firefighters have been killed while battling a major bushfire. the government of new south wales says the men died when their water bombing lane crashed in a mountainous region south of australia's [inaudible] rescue teams are still trying go reach the site and difficult and windy conditions. >> australia's bushfire crisis rages on and it continues to claim lives as firefighters spent t another day battling blazes on the ground and from the air, news broke that a water bombing plane had crashed in southern new south wales. on board, three u.s. firefighters. they were sent to be working for a privately owned company contracted to assist crews from the air.

>> devastating. these people not families and whatever, trying to help everybody up -- out. >> because of the crash has yet to be determined. emergency officials said weather conditions were making it hard to access the crash site. >> it is a horrible reminder of the conditions of our volunteers and personnel take on on a daily basis. >> the fire chief said his community is in shock. next it is a tightknit family -- >> it is a tightknit family and our hearts are with all those that are suffering. >> for firefighters s on the ground, there was no timime to mourn the loss of their colleagues, if they were even aware of it. onon wednesday morning, they wee

busy battling a number of blazes. their fight made harder by wind gusts of up to 90 kilometers per hour. one of the blazes forced the closure of an airport and residents were told to evacuate or seek shelter. >> he has been told it is too late to leave. >> they told us to come down here. >> firefighters are hoping for something good, namely a change in weather conditions. >> listen to the young. that was the message of the world economic forum today.

angela merkel warned of a rift between the young who see a very uncertain future and an older generation that denies the dangers of double warming. >> doggie doors were not going to stop angela merkel from delivering today's morning. this is the 12th time the german chancellor has spoken at the form, but never had the stakes been higher. she appealed to the world to make good on the paris climate accord. >> the question of achieving the goals of the paris agreement could be a question of survival for the whole planet, which is why we need to act. >> it is also why environmental themes have played bigger than ever this year.

the future kingg welcomed greta thunberg, the u.s. president is not a fan. the german president try to mediate -- tried to mediate. >> time is of the essence. we, the older ones, have to be careful. i am 65 years old. the impatience of young people -- they look at a a far d diffet horizon beyond 2015. >> did talk jarred some -- she saved her last with a call to arms for the business elite to work together to avoid a climate disaster. >> i would argue we are all this. politicians are this, you are

this. there are a whole host of opportunities open to us, but we cannot be inward looking at it going alone. mel b the completely wrong lesson. -- that would be the completely wrong lesson. >> the german government has banned a neo-nazi group. police conducted raids in six german states seizing weapons, computers and phones. the interior minister said right wing extremism has no place in german society. germany has seen an increase in right wing extremism violence including the murder of a politician.

with a little more than six months to go until the tokyo 2020 olympics, preparation is entering the final stages. japan is no stranger to earthquakes, one question they are asking is what happens if a quake hits during the games? >> preparing for the worst, bubt hoping t they won't have to do t for real. in distro, a rescue team from the tokyo fire department has rushed into action. victims are treated on the spot or taken away on stretchers to have their injuries assessed. these are the first 15 minutes of a hypothetical 7.3 magnitude earthquake in a country that is quite prone. organizers are leaving nothing to chance -- quake prone. organizers are leaving nothing to chance. >> we are going to conduct a

survey from the participants of the drill, including people with disabilities to review operations. >> this drill involved more than 500 volunteers. they played the role of evacuees with instructions in japanese and english. organizers acknowledged the capabilities mustn't stop there. >> we are aware that among foreigners, some people do not speak english,, so it will be necessary to take measures to deal with several languages. >> to the outside, this might look scary, but the message to visitors is don't be afraid. if any city in the world is repaired for an earthquake, it is tokyo. >> here's a reminder of the top story we are following.

world leaders have paid tribute to holocaust victims and survivors in jerusalem are and it is the start of commemorations marking the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the auschwitz death camp. in a speech, the german president underlined his country's historic responsibility to fight anti-semitism. you are watching dw news. after a short break i will be back to take you through the day. tonight, remembering when the nazi auschwitz death camp was liberated. we will be right back.

at two am et. be able to choose what to live from paris will use and analysis from france twenty four. a marketing piece of the headlights. germany's president tells the- commemorations in jerusalem that his country has still not learned the lessons of the holocaust. frank well to stylize emotional speech saw him spell out how germans. the responsible for the industrial scale slaugughter o of six milin jews but he said the- anti semitism in the country is on the rise. china stops to lose to stop the movement in and out of affected areas as the corona virus alert spreadsds. deaths haveve been reported out