minneapolis honors george floyd. ♪ >> ♪ you don't have to worry ♪ brent: friends and family of george floyd come together in his home state. celebrities are among the mourners. we will go live to minneapolis. also, huge crowds in hongng kong

defy a ban on gatherinings to hd a mass vigil on the 31st anniversary of the tiananmen square massacre. recovering from covid-19, the biggest economic stimulus package since the second world war, german chancellor angela merkel says the aim is to give the next generation a future. one of germany's best-known rock band celebrates 40 years in music. ♪ >> [singing in german] brent: we will report how they are turning melodic in their old age. ♪ brent: i am brent goff.

welcome. in minneapolis, in the united states, thousands remember the life of george floyd, the first of three planned memorial services for the african-american who died in police custody last month. today, his coffin arrived at the north central university in the city. the service is led by the reverend al sharpton. in a eulogy referring to george floyd's death, he said it is time for black people to stand up and say "get your knee off i'mour necks. " our correspondent is standing by. it is good to see you. what has been the reaction to the eulogy?

correspondent: at the moment, we have a moment of silence and reflection. the reverend just finished his eulogy. the crowd is listening out here on speakers to what he said, and of course they reacted. when you said what you just quoted, there was a lot of applause here. i think what it captured is the people here in minneapolis, right behind me, but also in the state and entire country are really asking for change. they feel it is the right time to actually accomplish that. there is a feeling as if there was a paradigm change going on, and that is what reverend sharpton referred to, that this is the time they all come together and have a really good

chance to push, work, and fight for what they really want, and that is an end to systemic, structural racism in the united states, not just police brutality, and he pointed that out, the flaws of our justice system. i give you one example. there are private prison companies in america that have contracts with the state that guaranty always 95% they have to be filled. at the same time, the crime rate is going down and we know disproportionately black americans are more often then arrested than white people. not only al sharpton, but for the entire african-american population, that is how it is. brent: we are looking at live pictures from the memorial service for george floyd taking

place in minneapolis right now. let me ask you, there are many who say this is the beginning of a mass movement in the united states, perhaps globally, but are there any signs that you would see that tell us this will be a sustainable movement, or could this be like we have seen before, a flash in the pan that just goes away and waits for the next incident? correspondent: it is a really excellent question. i wish i had the answer for you. i think, and that is of course subjective to a large degree, i think there is sustainability here. i think with what i have seen, what i have heard from a wide range of people here because they will not give up any more. this will not let up anymore. just imagine something like

this, what happened to mr. floyd , would have been anywhere else now in america, i can't imagine what that would do. i think that even when memorials are over, and there are two more to come, when in north carolina and one in houston, texas on monday and tuesday, but i don't think people will let it go anymore. i don't think minorities in america, even white people don't want to let it go anymore, because it is not sustainable anymore. they have had a taste of this in the last weeks across the country. this is ground zero. it started here. i think people keep coming and keep doing this, even if the cameras are gone. brent: our correspondent in minneapolis with the first of three memorial service now taking place for george floyd in

minneapolis. thank you. the german football association has cleared the way for bundesliga players to show their support for the u.s. several players did this past weekend. one player got a yellow card for removing his shirt with the message you see right there. the association is not taking disciplinary action against players. which is good. our sports journalists is not only attuned to the bundesliga, he is a native of the united states. let's talk about this bundesliga. we know protests and sports are like oil and water, they don't go together, but how important is it that we see the bundesliga

say yes, you can protest? correspondent: it is a step in the right direction. if the german football league had handed down sanctions, it would have been a stab in the face of humanity. it is completely understandable. i think the one example, we saw another picture of another black athlete that did that, it could have been him. it could have been him. unfortunately, it was a move for survival more than a protest against any form of politics, obviously, but it is important for those not personally affected to involve themselves. we saw the picture of one white footballer who urged his club to do something ahead of playing. that would help with the green light given by the league. you will see more protest.

i just communicate the message of unity and just stop killing people senselessly. brent: that's right. let's go from european football to american football. we have seen people in the united states standing together condoning peaceful, political protest, right? but when the nfl quarterback colin kaepernick, when he peacefully protested police brutality by taking a knee during the national anthem -- that was three years ago -- it was a different story, wasn't it? correspondent: yes, he lost his job. he tried to fight his way back into the league as a professional american footballer . but he was condemned for the majority across the community, bubut in light of the george fld incident, a lot of people have backpedaled. a lot of players who said they did not understand that move.

coaches have come out and said we were wrong to disrespect colin kaepernick. there was this moment that you feel was universal, not only football, but across the globe as we can see from the people protesting. brent: beyond sports though, just looking at it from what you have experienced in the united states, living here, do you have real hope that george floyd's death will lead to significant change? i was telling somebody earlier today that you feel like there is this the cotto, one incident after the other, then people -- this staccato, one incident at the other, then people forget. correspondent: there could be some sort of remedy, educating people when they are young, reeducating in many cases, but i think you need to see more steps in the right direction, unity

from those not personally affected. i think that would be the strongest way to communicate this a human rights issue, more than just a race issue. brent: it is like this man earlier today who said it is not about like people, it is about all people. correspondent: right. brent: good reporting. good to have you. thank you. hong kong has also seen a mass gathering today to mark the 31st anniversary of the massacre at tiananmen square. authorities say they refused to allow a rally because the coronanavirus, but opponents insist thiss is simply an attemt to curb freedom. correspondent: an act of defiance, protesters pushed down the barriers meant to stop them from congregating. thousands flooded into victoria park, lighting up the evevening

with a sea of candles. candndlelight vigil's and minutes of silence were held across the city. -- vigils and minutes of silence were held across the city. scuffles, roadblocks. pepper spray, people arrested. it was the first time unrest took place on the tiananmen anniversary, and the first time hong kong authorities banned all commemorations. they said it was necessary to enforce social distancncing durg the coronavirus pandemic, but the protesters, it looked like an excuse to limit their freedom. >> people must be concerned and worried, but we can't stop commemorating just because we are afraid or worried. we can only do it step-by-step. we can only safeguard our freedom to march and assemble and remind the next generation and older generation how unbearable our regime is.

correspondent: china has started clamping down on protesters in hong kong after a year of demonstrations on the streets of the city. earlier on thursday, a controversial law was approved making it a crime to disrespect china's national anthem. beijing plans to impose national security laws on hong kong. the fear is they will allow china to tighten its grip and suppress freedom in hong kong. brent: here are some other stories making headlines around the world. german chancellor angela merkel has rejected suggestions she might seek a fifth term in office. in 2018, she said she will step down when her current government leaves office amadou to happen next year. it remains on -- office, due to happen next year. russia is trying t to clean up a major f fuel spill in northern siberia. environmentalists say it is the worsrst accident in the arctic n

the ecosystem will need a decade to fullyly recover. president putin has ordered a state of emergency. so far, one person has been arrested in connection with the accident. a u.s. navy veteran detained in iran for two years has been released as part of an agreement involving an iranian american prosecuted by the justice department, and followed months of negotiations over prisoners. a landslide in a norwegian town has swept eight homes into the sea. the resident who filmedd these pictures says he ran for his life when he realized what was happening. his house was among those lost. several minor landslides followed. no one was injured. amazing no one was injured. it is the biggest stimulus package in germany's postwar history. the measures agreed to last night but the government after

marathon talks should help the economy recover from the coronavirus shutdowns. the 130 billion euro plan cuts sales tax, gives cash to families, and provides funding for towns and municipalities. correspondent: after intense talks, 50 billion euros more than expected, and vat will be cut by 3% until the end of the year. >> the lockdown is reaching an end, so we need to make sure everyone has the courage to invest again in that consumer demand rises. correspondent: industry leaders have lobbied hard for emergency help. in the end, there was a little for everyone. >> there will be a great number of further measures reviving the

economy, and we will agree on a program using exiting means for middle and small businesses. correspondent: among the measures, families receive 300 euros per child, the government helps local municipalities cover shortfalls, bonuses for companies that keep training programs despite the pandemic, and purchase incentives for electric cars. the packakage has 57 promimisesd economists are p pleased with te outcome.e. >> the pacackage has two sides, onone to boost consumption in te short term. it is not about sustainability. then there is a part with future investments. that isslimate protectction by investing in infnfrastructure. it is well thought out. correspondent: missing long hoped for, purchase premiums for cars with petrol and diesel engines. here even the mighty automobile industry could not prevail. brent: i am joined by our

political correspondent here in berlin. good evening, simon. germany is known around the world for its frugal, fiscal nature. now we have a government that because of that history cannot afford to go into debt. are we witnessing, a paradigm shift in germany? simon: i think it is a massive change from the policy of recent years, 30 billion euros is a huge amount. the economy minister referred to it today as a power package. other politicians have been talking about a big bang to get germany's economy out of this fiscal crisis. all the fiscal prudence and balanced budget seem to have gone out of the window for the moment. germany is turning on the taps. these measures are in addition

to 750 trillion euros. it seems like they found the credit card and are ready to use it. brent: the plastic is heating up. 130 billion euros, what are the biggest takeaways from this? simon: the biggest is the drop in sales tax for six months. the chancellor says it is good because it is a tax that everyone pays when they buy things, but others point out it will really only make a difference if people do decide they are going to make significant purchases. in that case, it can stimulate the economy, but if they worry about possibly losing their jobs , maybe they won't spend, and it won't achieve much. poor germans, in any case, don't

have disposable income they can use their. the car industry -- can use theerere. the car industry didn't get what they want. the government measures on retail, families. brent: the german chancellor has been known as the chancellor of austerity. to date was forced to defend this this goal largess -- this fiscal largess? what did she say? correspondent: they can take these unprecedented measures because they have balance the budget, but she also said these measures are temporary, and there is a limit to what even germany can do with its economic

might to support the economy. brent: that is true. thank you. that stimulus comes along with the ecb announcing extra stimulus measures for the eurozone. christine lagarde said they will issue emergency bonds to lessen the economic damage of the coronavirus crisis. that is on top of the 750 billion euro package announced in march. the ecb says the eurozone's combined economy is freaking -- shrinking at an unprecedented rate and the bond buying will continue until at least june 2021. a town in central germany has reimposed some coronavirus restrictions, not long after they were lifted. dozens of people celebrated the end of ramadan together, setting off a wave of new infections. correspondent: just as corona

restrictions were being l lsened in this germantown, now the threat of a second lockdown looms, and all because some residents in this block breached rules by meetingng oen mass. >> they are endangering everyone, not only themselves, and it is inconsiderate. >> i thought if everyone sticks to the rules, it will turn out ok. there are still people who appear to not be taking it seriously, and that is worrying. correspondent: 30 family members from this apartment blocks celebrated ramadan, violating hygienene and social distancing rules. several met in one bar and shared a mouthpiece, now over 100 have tested positive for coronavirus. daycare centers and schools have been closed. town sports have two shut again.

but these measures may not be enough. >> we can't rule out the fact we may reach a point where we have to impose a strict form of lockdown. correspondent: all residents in the apartment block must now be tested. whether everyone will cooperate is another matter, but the town is depending on them to prevent another total lockdown. brent: many governments have told people to keep two meters apart to stop the spread of the coronavirus, but some find it hard to stick to that rule. a shoemaker in romania has come up with the way of forcing people to take steps to keep their distance. take a look. ♪ >> ♪ these boots are made for walking and that is just what they will do ♪ correspondent: leather and two days of work go into making the shoe.

nope, it is not for a clown. it is a european size 75 social distancing shoe made by this romanian shoemaker. two people wear the shoes at the same time. they will be 1.5 meters apart. >> iselle people not respecting the social distancing rules and said to myself -- i saw people not respecting the social distancing rooooms and said to myself i can make a shoe so they can keep their distance. he has been making shoes since 16, and many of his designs are in theaters and opera houses. what about his social distancing shoes? well, he has already received five orders. brent: just five orders, imagine that? they are at one of the most famous german rock bands. they took the music world by storm 40 years ago. their name means collapsing new

buildings. it might sound like destruction, but they are seen as one of germany's most innovative groups . their sound has mellowed over the years and become more melodic. the latest album sounds like urban poetry. ♪ correspondent: all and all is the title of their latest album. it is an ode to berlin. all of the lyrics were written by a man who radiates calm. ♪ >> [singnging in german] >> it is much more immediate. i avoided sayiying d direct, but is much more immediate. i sisimply noticed i no longer

neededo keep my y distance. i am untouchable anyway. that is the difference now. i can mamake myself visible sine i am untouchable anyway. ♪ correspondent: he himself is music history. singer and guitarist of the band . the band was formed in the 1980's. they were anarchic sound experimenters, no junkyard was safe. they conquered the world with their new sound. ♪ he wasn't just a singer of the band, he also played with nick cave and the bad seeds until 2003. since then, he has been concentrating on the band and making sound experiments. the band would love to play in the junkyards like the old days,

but theyy are no lolonger able . ♪ >> w we did, i indeed, calll and the junkyard knew the polish border that agreed to it on the phone,, and then we drove there in a rented car to transport what we might find there. they only let us go as far as the gagarbage dump, garbage dum. correspondent:correspondent: the musicians still find creative space without access to junkyards. correspondent: -- correspondent:-- cocorrespondent: the musicians still find creative space without access to junkyards. >> i have always been happy when we release something, but this time i am fortunate. ♪ correspondent: 40 years, there is no reason why the band's history should not continue to be written, and many good

reasons to keep it up. ♪ brent: that is a name you won't forget. here is a reminder that the top story, a memorial service taking place in minneapolis for george floyd, who died in police custody last month. u.s. president donald trump has been widely criticized for threatening to send in the military to stamp out the unrest that has swept the u.s. since george floyd's death. you are watching "dw news." after a break, i will take you through "the day." tonight, america's anger and sorrow. we will be right back. ♪

. twenty four en france twenty four .com. the memorial is being held the george floyd whose death triggered the protests against racicism a and police brutality against black people in the u. s. the mother of former defense section four star general is a qc president trump of dividing the nation. the anniversary of the german square prorotests and massacred tens of thousands in hong kong defy orders and t tn out to mark the moment in nineteen eighty nine when students stood up to thehe chininese authorities. the internationally recognized government in libya s ss it's not in conontrol of the whole of the capitatal. tts