♪ >> this is dw news, live from berlin. italy's election winners promise to restore national pride. giorgia meloni is poised to become the country's first far-right prime minister since world war ii, but promises unity rather than division. growing opposition to vladimir putin's call up of reservists to fight in ukraine. more than 100 protesters are arrested at one antiwar rally.

and the controversial policy of transporting migrants from america's southern borders to democratic strongholds in the north, where it is becoming a big issue amid campaigning for november's midterm elections. ♪ i am phil gayle. welcome to the program. the leaders of italy's right-wing alliance are on course to win a clear majority in both houses of parliament, led by giorgia meloni of the brothers of italy who is promising to restore national pride. in her victory speech, she said she would bring unity, rather than division. guest: giorgia meloni takes the state in an historic election win, now set to become italy's first female prime minister, in the first leader of a far-right italian government since world war ii. her right-wing coalition secured

44% of the vote, well ahead of her left wing rivals, signaling a tectonic shift in italian politics. melanie's party, brothers of italy, has its root in a new foundation -- neo-fascism. the party is quick to disavow any connection with italy's fascist past. >> if you look at our percentage , brothers of italy took a 26% of the vote in italy. unless you want to say all italians are fascist or most of them, it is not true. we are not that. we are a new way to think of right politics. and that is it. guest: others fear that the election results may tape the balance in -- may tip the balance in european union decision-making to the rate. >> italy will be led by the

right. the trend that arose in sweden a few weeks ago has also come here. today is a sad day for italy and for europe. there are hard days ahead of us. guest: though meloni has been known for her hardline views on social issues like immigration and same-sex marriage, when she took the podium, she promised to govern for all italians. it is a message that has resonated with many voters. >> i always supported the left, but they disappointed me. i am 75 years old. i would like to see change. let's give this a try. sure, it is risky, but meloni seems quite confident. we need to change. guest: with the cost-of-living crisis, and the war in ukraine, melanie pop takes ukraine at a time of trouble for italy, and

europe. her leadership may set a new course for both. phil: so, what can the eu expect from a right-wing italian government? dw correspondent in room. -- in rome. reporter: at least in the beginning of her tenure, you can expect a more pragmatic approach because she still wants money, to put it bluntly. she is expecting 200 million euros from her recovery fund financed by the e.u., grants and cheap loans to rebuild italy, and she needs that money desperately. she knows that. she has said also in the campaign that she will work together with the e.u. commission. on the other hand, she said the party is over in brussels and she will fight fiercely for italian interests without specifying what she meant by that. on the other hand you also have governments in poland and hungary rejoicing now because

they think they have gotten a new, very strong ally. italy is the third biggest country in the e.u., and a founding member. they think they can fight with meloni for their concept of illiberal democracy and fight all these things that come from brussels. and also in the dispute in the commission about the rule of law, that italy will support them from now on. we have to see how that plays out. phil: and the massive issue facing europe at the momin y to threaten e.u. unity? guest: i don't think so. italy will not order its foreign policy at this point. giorgia meloni has did note the war. she says putin is wrong for his aggression against ukraine, she

is supporting sanctions of the e.u. against russia and also supporting the supply of weapons and money to ukraine. but she has two coalition partners, liga and forza italia, but it is not so clear if they support this stance. phil: the turnout was low but italian standards, about 64%. why? reporter: it was 10% lower than the last elections four years ago, because italian voters are actually fed up with the whole system. they had three governments in the last four years, all parties somehow involved in that, except the brothers of italy, so this was the only new party and that was the reason giorgia meloni could gain here, she could always say, i was never involved.

so she jumped from 4% in the last election to 25% now. it is a huge game. phil: thank you for that. the kremlin says it hasn't yet made any decisions on closing russia's borders, despite men leaving to avoid being called up to fight in ukraine. the mobilization could see as many as 300,000 reservists sent in. neighboring georgia is one of the countries sing a big influx of russian men. >> long lines of vehicles at the entry point to georgia. these men are fleeing russia and vladimir putin's military mobilization. >> we paid $1200 to be excluded to the point, which is three kilometers before the russian checkpoint. on the russian georgia border. because if you honestly stay in the queue, leaving russia could take at least 72 hours. paying our fee, we made it in 30

hours. reporter: russian authorities acknowledged a significant influx of cars trying to cross into georgia, after an announcement of a partial mobilization spaed an exodus of fighting age men. some feel that the situation will get even worse. >> i expect martial law to be declared as a resul of unification with those eastern parts of ukraine to russia, which will be followed by a global mobilization. for me personally i see neither ideological nor legal grounds for myself to get involved in this war. reporter: a sentiment shared by many in russia, where protests our. there were clashes in dagestan region with police. a human rights monitor says over 100 people were arrested. ukrainian president volodymyr zelenskyy called for russians not to submit mobilization. >> we see the people, in

particular in dagestan, begin to fight for their lives. we see that they are beginning to understand that this is a question of their lives. why should their husbands, brothers and sons day in this war, in a war that no one wants? in a war against our people, our lands? he does not send his children to war. reporter: trying to stop the exodus, pressure toughened penalties for voluntary surrender, and refusal to fight. with those who do that now facing up to 10 years in prison. but for many, the alternative is far more intimidating. phil: dw news nick connolly is in kyiv. he told me he would talk me through some of the ukrainian roof -- response to russia's military mobilization.

nick: on social media there is a lot of interest and surprise at the lack of protests in russia. if you go beyond the northern caucasus region where most of the protests are. people asking, why would russians leave their country, where would they wait days at border points to cross if they could maybe go out on the streets and change things at home. lots of critical reactions there. experts in the military here in kyiv, there is worried long term here that russia will have greater numbers of boots on the ground, but there is a lot of question and concern that this might take a lot longer than the russians are hoping. and it will only really be felt by early next year after the winter season where basically it is not expected that the frontline will move. there is also the question of how well people are being trained and what equipment they are being given. there are photos and videos of

social media of rusty ak-47s being given out or uniforms that have been in the cupboard for decades. in the longer -- short-term, the feeling that this is more about politics in russia and less about the facts on the ground. phil: meanwhile, so-called referendums about joining russia are being held in ukraine's occupied east. what is being said about that? nick: no one in he takes them seriously. it is being seen as a b of political theaterone where the result was already clear. this had been on the cards for months but then it was hastily announced and held a couple of days after the announcement came through. saying that this is now russia and that if you try to regain this territory, or threatening

russia. that is a threat people are taking seriously. russia in a tight corner with military options being lost day by day, resorting to the kind of ultimate threat there. there is definitely the potential for great escalation. phil: so t that is the worry, tt if the vote happens as we all expect it to, then that is the big change. russia is able to notch up this war another couple of years. nick: definitely in its own logic. obviously no one outside russia will recognize this. even kazakhstan has said they will not take this as anything legitimate. belarus has not recognized russia annexation of crimea since 2014. this only concerns russia. but in their case, it would allow them to up the rhetoric and threaten escalation. and the other thing is

mobilization people on the ground in courson and zaporizhzhya are increasingly being pushed to take russian passports and could be subject to mobilization as russian soldiers. . we have seen russia trying to get as many troops as possible from donetsk and luhansk, where they have been in charge since 2014. they have very few options to get out safely and could soon be forced to fight against their own country, ukraine. thanks for that, nick. some more stories making headlines around the world today, resident putin has granted russian citizenship to u.s. whistleblower edward snowden. the former government security contractor fled there in 2013 after leaking secret files of surveillance operations by american security agents. he is wanted in the u.s. on espionage charges. iranian officials say they have arrested more than 1200 people protesting over the death of 22-year-old nasa and in police

custody. at least 76 people have died in days of protests. they have also been large pro-government rallies. more bdies have been recovered after a boat carrying migrants sank. nearly 100 people are known to have died. survivors have been taken to hospitals in lebanon. the boat left tripoli, carrying syrians and palestinians. immigration is not the big issues in the midterm elections of united states. republican governors have sent more than 10,000 migrants to democrat run cities in the north, seeing democrats should share the buen of america's chaotic immigration system. we met one family who wereare a recently biased from texas to washington. reporter: they arrived in washington dc with their newborn

daughter just last month. they are hoping to make a home here and leave the economic crisis in their home country behind. >> in venezuela, there is work, but money does not get you anywhere. money is not enough for anything. in venezuela you can work the most normal jobs but it is useless because you will never have anything. reporter: after crossing into the u.s., they heard about buses heading north from san antonio, texas and jumped at the chance to go to the capital. they paid little attention to the politics behind that bus ride. >> it is difficult to control, because out there it is horrible, you know? out there beyond this country, it is ugly. everyone there. is looking to come here. what can you do? reporter: and yet politics has taken center stage. republicans in border states have transported more than

10,000 migrants from the southern border to democratic strongholds this year. some migrants have been dropped off in front of vice president kamala harris's residence in d.c. florida governor ron desantis took credit for a flight of migrants to martha's vineyard, a vocation island in a democratic bastian, massachusetts. a oup of ose migrants has filed a wsuit. the biden administration and democrs say it is a hhly publicized political stunt using migrants as palms and leaving cities and aid organizations strangling to help -- struggling to help. organizations like ayuda. it is providing legal services, therapy and basic supplies like food and water. >> anna christina is the social services director. she says her organization is at

capacity and needs more funding, not political battles. >> i do understand that the border is also at capacity. i don't think they were prepared to receive that many migrants. what is inhumane is the treatment. instead of politicizing these issues, they should sit down and discuss what is best for the border, for the migrants, and for the community in general. reporter: especially as the situation in the border has shifted dramatically. venezuelans are now arriving in large numbers, fleeing their country's economic crisis. anna is also from venezuela. >> i came to this country and i needed help and resources, and that is one of my drives, to help others, and to be able to live safe. as i speak with you, i am just

feeling all my emotions coming, because it is really -- it is difficult to see your people suffering that way. reporter: the venezuelan community is pitching in, too, diana owns and runs a business serving traditional venezuelan food, and donated food and supplies to a church helping newcomers. >> it is important to help them, because immigrating is really difficult, and so is starting from scratch. i also want people to know that it is not what everyone says. immigrating is rough. i mean, you have to work hard to be able to achieve your dream. this country gives a lot of opportunities, as long as you work hard. reporter: for jefferson and katerina, their hopes now rest on a bright future for their daughter.

>> may she grow up healthy and strong, and then we can put her here and put her to study here, since she is already an american. we can put her to study here and then she can go to high school reporter: for now they arer she hoping jefferson will get a work visa, their first step towards starting a new life here. phil: colombia and venezuela have reopened their shared border after years of diplomatic dialogue. cargo trucks crossed over after a seven-year starter, and commercial flights will also resume. diplomatic relations have tghawed since colombia's leftist president took office. reporter: for the first time in seven years, trucks and cars were allowed to cross two key bridges linking the colombian region of norte de santander,

and a venezuelan state. >> the people on both sides of the border will have a wonderful reunion. this will benefit the children who, for the last three months, have been able to cross the border to study, as well as the rest of the people. reporter: the passage for vehicles was restricted back in 2015 and entirely blocked in 2019, after the colombian government tried to deliver truckloads of aid to the venezuelan opposition. with the new leftist president in columbia, gustavo petro, tensions between the two countries are said to ease. >> this is the right step, because many people suffered since they closed the border. now, this is becoming a lively latin american border area again. it's great to see that they are reviving their commercial activities again. >> everybody has some sort of

hope linked to this border here. we had wished the opening would go even further, because there are still many restrictions in place, but at least we can hope that things go back to normal eventually. reporter: before the closure, trade between peninsula and columbia made up $7.2 billion every year. now, both sides what the newly opened border to be a first step in that direction again. authorities have yet to deliver detailed plans for future rules on private and commercial transport at these crossings, as the public transport, it's not clear if that could also become part of the restored neighborly ties. phil: to mexico now, where families have taken to the streets to mark the eighth anniversary of the notorious kidnapping. a group of 43 student teachers disappeared after being taken off buses by police in one southern state investigators. believe they accidentally came

across a drug trafficking operation. a former attorney general has been arrested and several police officers charged. only three bodies from the missing group has been found. the case is one of almost 100,000 unsold disappearances in mexico. mothers have now joined forces to search for their loved ones. reporter: a short prayer before this search group sets off. >> it is difficult, but we are here to support you. reporter: guadalupe is looking for her son, who vanished four years ago. she doesn't know if he is still alive, or why he disappeared. . she has called on maria to help. her collective searches for the disappeared. they say the authorities do nothing. >> i am afraid he will be found dead, but i have hope that it will soon find out what happened to him, so i can be at peace. reporter: they recently received an anonymous tip indicating that

raymundo's buddy could be located in new mexico city. an official search crew is even lending its support today. usually, it is only relatives who poke metal rods on the ground, looking for the. >> order of decaying bodies. >>. >> the smell sticks around. this way we have already been able to discover secret graves. reporter: everyone here is a united by the same trauma. their sons, husbands, or friends have vanished. 100,000 people in mexico are regarded as missing. the country is caught in the stranglehold of cartels. many of the missing were just in the wrong place, at the wrong time. that isikely true for mari's sent, whom she found dead after five year search. >> it became clear to me that i wasn't the when going through this. that there are many mothers

going through the same uncertainty, pain, fear and desperation. reporter: protesters take to the streets in mexico city, where public officials are often involved in crimes, like in the case of the 43 students who disappeared eight years ago. a commission working on the case recently called it a state crime , because authorities the truth about what happened. maria nunes also does not trust the authorities. more than 90% of crimes committed in mexico go unpunished. >> the authorities' refusal to prosecute criminals, to look for victims, results in impunity. perpetrators can simply commit crimes because they know that nothing will happen. reporter: on this day, they find no indication of raymundo, just two sets of bones from dead dogs. but they will continue to search for his remains. phil: more stories making headlines today, cuba has become

the latest country to approve same-sex marriage, after a referendum on the island's family law system. almost 70% of cubans voted in support, despite strong resistance from church groups. the measures also allow same sex adoption, and surrogate pregnancies. german chancellor scholz tested positive for covid-19. he is to showing mild, cold-like symptoms after returning from meeting gulf leaders. he is now at home in berlin. normally, people think of extreme supporters like skydiving as a young man's game, or a young person's game, but that isn't always true. in bosnia, this man is still jumping out of airplanes competitively, at the age of 88! he says he has no intention of stopping. reporter: the moment before jumping out of an airplane, nothing new for ibrahim.

this is the 48th jump of his career. what makes it extraordinary is that he is 88 years old. >> i am officially the oldest active skydiver in europe. my wish is to jump for another 10 years, and to set a guinness record. reporter: before every jump, ibrahim checks whether his parachute is properly packed. then, he says he can jump withoutny fear. even though he has had some close calls. >> i recently had a pallet shoot --arachute flure. it wasn't because of the parachute or the packaging, but the position of my body. so the parachu could now be

pulled out. i was forced to drop the main parachute and land with the spare one. reporter: a local aero club has been lending kalesic a parachute for his jumps, and will continue to do so as long as he has a certificate of good health. but he still wants to buy his own chute, and another one to use for training new jumpers. phil: i will be back in just a moment with "the day." have a good one. ♪

ñl anchor: welcome to world news

and analysis.me to world news italy is set for its first far right leader since mussolini. the counties confirmed. over 40 dead, 1200 arrests in iran. the anger is triggered by the death of a 22-year-old kurdish woman arrested because her headscarf was loose.