berlin. tonight, the white house sues the state of texas over its new restrictive abortion law. it is a move by the biden justice department to block a law banning nearly all abortions in the state and puts the white house on a collision course for supreme court, which has allowed the texas law to stand. also coming up, the first flight out. planes with foreign passengers are again departing the airport in kabul. on the ground, ominous signs of

how the television intend to treat women who refused to give up their freedoms. also tonight, a big step back from morocco. the liberal opposition party surges to victory in parliamentary elections. the young germans fighting to put the climate crisis at the top of the political agenda. we will look at their drastic bid to get lawmakers attention just weeks before what could be the most important election in generation. ♪ i'm brent goff. tour viewers on bbs in the united states and around the world, welcome. we begin with the breaking news. the u.s. justice department is suing the state of texas to challenge a new law that places severe restrictions on abortions.

attorney general merrick garland made the announcement a short while ago saying the law is unconstitutional. last week, the u.s. supreme court refused to block the law, which bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. that is before many women even know they have conceived. the law also allows no exceptions in cases of rape or insist. -- or insist. cest. good evening to you, stephan. i would agree -- what are we looking at here? are we looking at the justice department here on a collision course with the -- >> federal department of justice versus texas. because the doj is seeking that the law is to be declared invalid now and void.

it is seeking for an injunction prohibiting any and all enforcement of the law appeared that puts it at odds with what texas is or tried to do. number two, you are absolutely right. there was a 5-4 decision by the supreme court last week to not interfere, to not hear or honor the requests by pro-abortion institutions or ngos asking this law to be stopped. the supreme court decided 5-4 it will not do it that way. the department of justice, federal department of justice is stepping in. brent: remind us how restrictive this law in texas is. >> it is the most restrictive law in the entire united states. the problem many people see or many observers or pro abortion

organizations see as other states will jump on this. those south, those states are likely already rumored or reported to checkout and to try to figure out if they can go along with similar laws. that is very restrictive. it is something which i think many women have not believed possible in the united states of america in 2021 but here we are. it is targeting unfortunately or willingly specifically poor, disenfranchised women who cannot afford to jump on a plane and go to new york and get an abortion there. the problem if you will, if you are rich and have enough money and you need an abortion, you can go anywhere and get it rated legal. if you are poor and cannot afford a bus ticket, you cannot. brent: it seems here the supreme

court by not acting to block this law, they have in effect overturned the 1973 roe v. wade ruling, which legalized abortion in the united states. that is what we are dealing with. where is this heading. -- where is this heading? >> it is a very complex question at is hard for me to answer because i cannot tell you where it is headed. it is headed toward conflict. this court is probably pressed or will subject itself to deciding if roe v. wade will still stand and that was the law of the land for many decades. you see, mr. gland, t attorney general said, we are suing texas because this law is clearly unconstitutional. it is found unconstitutional. by the supreme court in other president decisions they made.

that is roe v. wade appeared it is going to be very interesting legally speaking but also politically speaking. brent: the latest tonight in washington. thank you. from texas to afghanistan, the first international civilian flight to leave afghanistan since the u.s. withdrawal has landed in delhi. more than 100 passengers were on the flight including u.s., canadian and german citizens. 15 germans were on board. the flight comes as the taliban consolidate their grip on power less than a month after they seized control of kabul. and other flight is expected to depart on friday. any thousands of afghans remain desperate to leave the country fearing for their future under taliban rule. we want to bring in a journalist based in kabul. and of the few western observers still left in the country. good evening to you.

what was among those people who were able to leave kabul today yucca what did they have that allowed them to get on the plane and leave the country? >> it is 100 -- it was all a passport holders from foreign countries. u.s. citizens, some canadian and british citizens i was told. among them possibly many afghans who got citizenship and this was a special flight. this was a charter flight. this was based on an apparent agreement between these nations and the taliban to repatriate them. brent: are talking about foreigners who have the correct papers. what about afghan citizens who want to leave? >> the taliban have said they will allow and they have said

this several times that they will allow afghans who have all the right travel papers to come and go as they please. at the moment, this is a rather hypothetical question because today, this was a first flight but this was under special agreement. this was not like a regular flight. when regular flights will start is unclear. it might take several more days. then there will be the test how easy afghans with the right papers can lve. the land border crossings are currently only partly open and neighboring countries not let afghans in except when they have a visa but it does not seem to happen like often. this test is yet to come. brent: we focus a lot on the people who are leaving the country. the taliban, it has 40 million

afghans it has to govern. it is facing lots of crises. humanitarian crises. >> indeed. there is a huge problem in many afghans i talked to also say their biggest worry is unemployment was already before a huge problem but now it has increased even more. funds o the former government have been frozen. the taliban have to deal with the swiftly deteriorating economic situation. there is no sign what or how they would do anything against it. this will be one of the biggest tests and one of the biggest things to look at, how the economic situation of afghanistan will go forward. brent: the latest tonight from kabul. as always, thank you. there is mounting concern about

the fate of women under the taliban. those who have staged rallies demanding the right to work and go to school have been met with violence. many fear a return to repressive rural. -- repressive rule. >> takes cards to protest openly against the taliban, especially for women. these female protesters refused to be silenced. >> we demand the creation of secure jobs both for men and women and t right to participate in politics for women, the rate for women to be selected and elected f leaderip visns and the right to private ownerip. the rate for women to work in the judicial and legal sector and the rights to freedom of speech. but the taliban's strict gender roles have already started to affect everyday life. female students returning to university on the first day of

lectures after the summer break found they had been separed from their male classmates. >> before, wheels that together. we were comrades. and now this curtain. it is horrible but we have no choice. >> it isbsurd. every thing has stopped for us. many people have left. i feel lonely and desperate. >> when the taliban ruled afghanistan 20 years ago, women's rights were severely curtailed. women were not allowed to work. they were banned from education and only allowed in public fully covered and accompanied by a male chaperone. this time around, the hardliners have been keen to portray themselves as more moderate. they their first press conference after taking power, their spokesman promised women's rights would be honored with the norms of islamic law. he failed to elaborate on what exacy this would mean.

many women in afghanistan expect a return to the dark days of the taliban's first rain. we spoke to a student at the american university of afghanistan in kabul. >> when someone is dreaming for a better life and working for 21 years to just reach their dream ansuddenly in one night, everything is damaged. just imagine. and now i might still feel like i am in a room. no hope for a better future. this ithe feeling i have. >> that feeling of hopelessness is far from unwarranted. two weeks ago, the taliban told working women to stay at home

for security reasons. a measure they said was temporary. many fear this is jusone of many steps toward a society in which women will ultimately be deprived of their fundamental rights and freedoms and all but erased from public life. brent: morocco's ruling islamists have suffered a big defeat at the hands of the liberals in parliamentary elections with nearly all the ballots tallied. the justice and development party has seen its support collapse. it is a stinging setback for a party which led morocco's governing coalition for a decade. >> the opposition could not have imagined this. the moroccan interior minister announced huge gains for the countries liberals. losing more than 90% of its seats. the national rally of independents has reason to celebrate. after clinching 97 out of 395 available seats.

the liberal business party is now the strongest parliamentary group. >> these results prove the moroccans today want to change and an alternative. we believe the national rally of independence party is that alternative. it's platform resonated well with voters during the election campaign. >> elsewhere, the liberal authenticity and modernity party also has good reason to celebrate. it took 82 parliamentary seats. >> our results are very promising because we have a party which is -- which has just overcome organizational difficulties and we are still able to take second place. we consider this a success for democracy in morocco. >> the conservative nationalist party came in third place. at just over 50%, voter turnout was significantly higher than in previous election. the former ruling justice and

development party has made claims of election fraud. king mohammed vi will have the final say. he has the authority to appoint the new head of government from the ranks of the victorious national rally of independence party. brent: let's take a look at some of the other stories we are following from you. belarusian lear alexander lukashenko has announced what he calls a breakthrough agreement to set up a union with russia. lukashenko said the overall package for integrating the two economies, government policies could be adopted as early as next month. the talks come as the two countries begin massive joint military exercises. officials and ethiopia say 120 civilians were massacred earlier this month. forces have rejected allegations they were responsible. it is the latest reported mass killing in the ten-month conflict in northern ethiopia between government forces and

rebels. france is staging rare national tribute to a film icon. his coffin as lying in state at the paris military complex where napoleon is buried. a host of celebrities as well as presidents past and present attended a special ceremony paying tribute to the actor. he died on monday at the age of 88. we are just weeks away from federal elections in germany, arguably the most ordinal in a generation. climate change is expected to be a big issue for many voters. a group of young activists in berlin say lawmakers are still not treating the issue with the urgency it deserves. our next report looks at the young germans putting their own health on the line to put the climate crisis at the top of the political agenda. >> a little bit of juice, some vitamins and water. that is all she is living on

these days. together with six other germans, the 18-year-old high school student is on a hunger strike for the climate. the last time they ate was almost two weeks ago. >> i have been scared every day since i've been on hunger strike. i am scared of the medical consequences, the psychological consequences. we're getting ourselves into an extreme situation. >> a situation that is starting to leave a mark. a team of supporters is staying with the hunger strikers to provide physical and emotional help. their goal, convincing politicians to talk to them about the climate crisis. they set up camp right outside the chancellor's office to push for their demands. >> first, a public two hour discussion with all three chancellor candidates and a promise they will set up a citizens council on climate after the election. the green party candidate has

spoken to the activists by phone but they want much more. taking their protest to the parliament nearby to attract more attention. onlookers are divided on whether the radical step of hunger strike is taking things too far. >> if this is not working, i don't know what else could. >> i think there are better ways than a hunger strike. >> i am really moved by what they are doing there. it really confronts us with what is important right now. they are making that very clear. >> for the activists themselves, emotions are raw and they have put their lives on hold. >> am really meant to be sitting in school right now and study. i think this year is way more important than learning something or other for a future i probably will not even have if things keep going like this. >> for now, the protest goes on. they will stay as long as it takes until the candidates for

the chancellor agree to their demands. brent: authorities in hong kong could soon be banning films they deem to national security. an amendment to the film censorship law would determine if the film screening should even be allowed. violators should face up to three years in prison and a hefty fine. this is the latest in an ongoing crackdown on democratic freedoms and ideas in the chinese city. at least one well-known from maker has managed to escape this crackdown at least in the short-term but he fears for the future of creative freedoms in hong kong. >> a letter from fence to hong kong to -- from france to hong kong. he found his film revolution of our times would premiere to a select few at the cannes film festival earlier this year. >> there was a chance i might not be enter -- may not be able

to enter hong kong again. my friends were so anxious about my safety. when the film gets more attention, it is a great honor but i know the stakes get higher. >> the two and a half hour documentary chronicles hong kong's 2019 antigovernment protests. it's release could lead to his arrest since he is the only film crew member who disclosed his real identity. it is unlikely the film will screen in hong kong cinemas. hong kong authorities are amending the film's censorship law, giving officials the power to ban or even -- to ban new or even old movies. >> it will close the door on the production and presentation of politically sensitive films. the freedom to create will suffer when films undergo political censorship. >> once hailed as the oriental

hollywood, hong kong's filmmaking industry has seen a sharp increase in censorship. many cinemas here boycotted 10 years, a dystopian 2015 drama about hong kong's political future even though it one top awards. chao personally received threats. he and other dissenting filmmakers have faced difficulties raising money and finding staff for their projects and have had private screenings rated by authorities. he took the title for his documentary revolution of our times from a popular protest slogan. a court ruled of that slogan to be an incitement to cessation. -- two secession. >> when people are scared of using those phrases, it is a strong reason for me to use them. at least i am keeping my work free from self-censorship.

if such fear effectively bans certain slogans, i hope i can help to break those unjust taboos. >> before the cannes film festival, he saw the right of the documentary and shipped all the footage abroad over safety concerns. he himself is staying put. >> even though i cannot film that, i will keep creating in my brain. that cannot be controlled by the authorities. i'm not pursuing a career about my art and faith, that is what filmmaking means to me. staying in hong kong makes my mind free even if i one day end up in jail because that is not a choice driven by fear but free will. >> he is now trying to gear u for his next movie, and oth romance. grasping every moment to tell stories for his time could be up. brent: here are some of the

other stories we are following the hour. north koreans marked their national day as the country maintains a covid-19 lockdown and its borders remain shy. leader kim jong-un watched a subdued military parade as soldiers and workers marched through the streets of pyongyang. africa will receive fewer doses of vaccine than previously thought. the world health organization is forecasting a shortfall of 25% to it is partly because many wealthy countries are cheering up booster shots. only 3% of the africans have been vaccinated. police in italy have raided the homes of activists who have been campaigning against the vaccine program. investigators have said the group have been using the cut -- the telegram messaging app to call for armed attacks especially targeting the media. police say they found weapons at suspect's homes and have placed eight people under investigation. at least 14 people died and many

others were injured after a fire destroyed a hospital in north macedonia. the temporary hospital treated covid patients in western town. >> the covid-19 patients of this makeshift hospital in north macedonia had no time to flee when the fire lookout was night. flames were bursting through the windows. firefighters were helped i residence and managed to put out the blaze quickly but it was already too late to save many of the 26 people who retreated here. >> we are shocked. it is a tragedy that i cannot even explain. very sad. those were sick people who could not get out. it is a huge catastrophe. we saw the explosion and when we came here, everything was in flames. firefighters arrived and started to put the fire out.

it lasted for 15 to 20 minutes. everything burned. >> the prime minister said the blaze followed an explosion at this site, which according to luke media was caused by oxygen cylinders used treat patients. the forensics team has now arrived. they have the expertise. we have to wait for what they will say and then we will give you the right information. forensic experts are there to identify the remains, prosecutors are working on further investigating the cause of the fire and dock airs are fighting for the lives of the injured -- doctors are fighting for the lives of the injured. >> the city council had a session where three days of morning were decided while we wait for the official identification of the victims. >> north macedonia has seen a

rise in coronavirus cases in the government will now have to come to terms with how safe the makeshift hospital facilities are. brent: finally, is this a dog, hyena or a cat? no. it is a tasmanian tiger. take a look at this glimpse of an animal that has long been declared extinct. this footage of the last known living phyla sign was filmed in 1973 in tasmania. a team of archivists brought it to life by color rising the images. they are not real tigers but meat eating marsupials. they were hunted by colonial settlers on the australian island of tasmania. rumors of surviving tasmaian tiger surface every few years but they have never been confirmed. you never know. you may get a sign.

here is a reminder the top story we are following. the u.s. justice department has sued texas over a new law banning abortions in the state. merrick garland called the law clearly unconstitutional. the u.s. supreme court refused to block legislation. more than 100 foreigners have landed in qatar after departing kabul. it was the first civilian evacuation flight since the u.s. withdrawal from afghanistan at the end of august. you're watching dw news. i will be back to take you through the day. we will be right back. ♪

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>> you are watching france 24 live in paris. here are the headlines. more outbursts from the surviving defendant on day two into the trial of the 2015 paris attacks. he is want of tournament -- one of 20 man accused of carrying out the massacres that claimed the lives of 130 people. he was justice department sues the state of texas over a law that bans most abortions, calling it on scones at calling it unconstitutional. this comes days after the supreme court refused to block the law. brazilian president jair bolsonaro is set to meet with truckers who blocked h