A hatred of men. The french actress Catherine Deneuve attacks the Metoo Movement. She accuses it of conducting a witchhunt against the memen. Is she right . Haveve the accuserers of abusers gone too far, or has she simply missed the point . Brent im brent goff. Its good to have y you with us. A long day ahead and a lot of work to do. Those were the only comments by politicians as they arrived this morning to begin day four of exploratory talks about forming a new Coalition Government here in germany. The parties have agreed not to brief the press for fear of discovering scuffering any deal. Angela merkels conservatives and centerleft social democrats have set themselves a deadline of tomorrow to find out if they have enough Common Ground to Start Formal Coalition talks to give germany a government. Reporter day four of the exploratory talks between chancellor merkels conservatives and the social democrats. But much remains unclear. The parties have agreed on a news blackout, so information about any breakthroughs is scarce. As are statements from party leaders. I suppose this is going to be a long day. So first of all, good morning for all of you. I hope we make some progress today. Reporter the talks are scheduled to run until thursday night. On friday, the two sides then announce whether they intend to launch full coalition negotiations. They will also have to rank and file in a conference on january 21. At an earlier conference in december, delegates already voted in favor of current exploratory talks. If they back full coalition talks, the conservatives and social democrats then start a fresh round of negotiations which could take several weeks. Just like four years ago, the social democrats will then put the final agreement to the entire membership. In 2013 they followed their Party Leadership recommendation to enter a coalition with Angela Merkels conservatives. So there are still a few unknowns before germany has a new government. Brent our correspondent Charlotte Potts joins us now from our parliamentary studios here in berlin. Good evening to you. So we know that politicians are being tightlipped about what is going on but we have the deadline tomorrow. What are you hearing . Are we going to have an agreement by the deadline . Charlotte at the moment it does look like there will be some kind of agreement and a positive conclusion of these exploratory talks at some point thursday night or maybe in the Early Morning hours of friday. We have heard from a senior christstian democratic official tonight, he has been saying there are tough negotiations ahead, for example, on the issues of education, on some parts of the issue of migrants that will be discussed tomorrow. But that progress has been made. What everybody is stressing is that both parties share a responsibility to at least try and form a new government. And at this point, to be honest, politicians would lose a bit of their credibility. The leadership has put all their weight behind these talks and they need a positive outcome. The tricky part that comes after Martin Schulz has to sell it to his party base. The grassroots of the social democrats are very reluctant. And in the end, a new government could fail because of the social democratic grassroots. Even if these talks are successful and everything works out, it will be weeks until germany has a new government. Brent and for people watching and who may know something about german politics, theyll know that the conservatives and social democrats, they already govern together. They have done that for the past four years. So they know what the problem areas are. So what are the hurdles after four years that are still keeping them from coming to an agreement . Charlotte well, first of all there are a lot of issues where they see eye to eye. For example, increasing police force or a new Immigration Law they apparently agreed upon, we found out about that yesterday. So they are seeing eye to eye. I think it is fair to say parties have in their whole hihistory not t been closer togr than they arare today. But t of course ththere are rdls left, for example on the iss of migration and specific family reunifications for refugees. And several other things, like the health care system. So that is thoroughly disiscuss. Overall l though, we can say the talklks gave o off a tired feelg after having, as you said, worked together for four years. It looks like the parties are failing to paint a vision of what they want germany to look like in the next four years. And it rather looks like a forced marriage than they share grand ideas for the future of germany. So, maybe that will change, maybe they will present results that will surprise us tomorrow night. But this is what it looks like right now. Brent we will certainly be on that story tomorrow. And you will be, if and when there is an agreement. Our correspondent Charlotte Potts in berlin tonight. Thank you, charlotte. Here are some of the other stories now making headlines around the world. At least 15 people are dead after a powerful rainstorm triggered flash floods and mudslides in southern californiaia. Thousands fled from their homes as the heavy rains sent to mud and rocks pouring down hills stripped of vegetation by recent wildfires. There has been some relief for the roughly 13,000 tourists trapped in a swiss ski resort. That is due to heavy snowfall there. Trains are due to resume Service Later today after being cut off for two days with helicopter airlifts ongoing. Two senior british officials have urged germany to support a deal protecting londons finance sector after brexit. The European Unions chief brexit negotiator has ruled out including such a deal in future talks on trade with britain. A government Spokesman Says britain does not intend to break ranks with the eu on this issue. South koreas president says he is willing to meet his north korean counterpart under certain conditions. President moon said that denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula would be his goal in any talks with the north. His comments came a day after the first highlevel talks between north and south korea in over two years. Youre watching dw news, live from berlin. Still to come, anger grows in tunisia. Hundreds are arrested, Dozens Injured after riots erupt in several towns. We will look at what is driving unrest in the nation that was the birthplace of the arab spring. Myanmars military says its soldiers summarily executed 10 Rohingya Muslims last september, referring to those killed as quote, terrorists. This is the first public admission of wrongdoing since they announced a crackdown last august. The admission appears in a statement on the Facebook Page of the militarys commanderinchief. More than 600,000 rohingya have fled their homes into neighboring bangladesh due to violence in Rakhine State. Meanwhile, prosecutors in myanmar have charged two journalists from reuters with violating the countrys official secrets act. That is despite Widespread International condemnation. The pair say they were trying to report on the militarys crackdown on Rohingya Muslims. Reporter the journalist managed to smile as soldiers paraded him outside the courthouse. But he and his colleague are facing serious charges. Prosecutors allege they collected secret documents related to the military situation in Rakhine State. But they say they are actually in jail about trying to tell the truth about what is happening in rakhine. This is unacceptable. I want to tell you that they are charging us like this to stop us finding the truth. Their actions are wrong and unfair. Reporter few journalists have ventured into Rakhine State since last summer. These are rare images of what the United Nations calls a textbook ethnic cleansing going on there. They show burning rohingyas villages and locals fleeing thee viololence. The myanmamaarmy stricictly controlsls access to rakhine ste. It allows few journalists in, and only under theirir conditio. The reuters journaliststs say ty were there to report ethically and truthfully. But they were arrested under old laws on secrecy after visiting rakhine. Their families have been devastated by the arrests. They are convinced their loved ones are innocent. He told me not to worry becacause he did notot do anythg wrong. G. He voted for this governrnment. He strongly believes that he will be released soon. I hope that also. Reporter the jailing of the reuters journalists has caused an outcry, both inside and outside myanmar. Colleagues gathered outside court. The fear among many myanmar is stepping up its crackdown on those who try to report a grave humanitarian crisis. Brent earlier, we spoke to journalist dave grunebaum, who is covering both of the stories in myanmar. We asked him how significant the admission by myanmars military is that they were involved in the killing of those 10 Rohingya Muslims and where it leaves the two reuters journalists who are charged in myanmar. Dave it is kind of like they are trying to play it on two sides here. They are acknowledging that these people were killed by the military and theyre saying there are admissions of murder between Security Forces and villagers. It is not quite clear who did what against these rohingyas. But theyre also saying these rohingyas were terrorists who had threatened buddhists. It doesnt hold up with thehe other arguments they had been making where there is zero wrongdoing and they have been saying this for months. But they are again t trying to qualify it by saying that these people were dangerous. So, it r really comes down to wt other evidence might be coming out over time. These two reuters reporters, it has been widely reported for weeks that they were looking into thihis mass grave, and we really dont know what kind of evidence those two journalists turned up. Brent lets switch gears now and talk business. U. S. Carmaker ford is facing diesel emissions allegations. We have been here so many times. Daniel they just keep coming, dont they . The fumes of dieselgate are now swirling around car giant ford. A u. S. Lawsuit alleges ford installed of Emissions Cheating Software in two ofof its pickup. It says emissions on the f250 and 350 trucks were often five times the limit when tested under realistic conditions. The lawsuit also names german carmakers bosch, which says that they take such allegations very seriously. Last year bosch paid almost 350 million for its part in the emissions cheating scandal. And carmakers are just one example of how companies are using the Consumer Electronics show in las vegas as a forum to show off their newfound tech and green credentials, as well. Of course, they are desperate to promise us Self Driving Technology within a matter of a couple years, not decades. This year, the show begins before you get to the convention center. Changing lanes. Reporter the utopian vision of a driverless future is already taking shape before a visitor even reaches the ces. Selfdriving taxis like this bmw are waiting to take them there. For now, there is still a human driver on hand for emergencies, but on this trip he is not needed. It has 360 degree sensing, radar sensing, light sensing, and vision. And we fuse that information together. So we combine, basically, the readings and we track all the objects around the vehicle. Reporter when this toyota goes into service, there will be no need for human backup. It is a joint development between amazon, uber and pizza hut. The transporter can carry 20 passengers but it can also double as a mobile laboratory, office, or even a delivery van. It comes in 16 different versions. Expected to be debut by the 2020 olympics. Technology is changing quicickly, and a race is on. Reporter germrmanys mercedes s opting for private automobiles. The luxury carmakers strategy includes onboard driver entertainment with highly promising artificial intelligence. It should hit the road inside two months. If youre driving every day in the morning at 7 00 to your office, why do you have to type in your address to the vehicle at 7 00 in the morning . Or you have to ask. What does the cartel you on your own car tell you on your own, you just get into the car and it just drives the way you drive it and you dont have to interact with the Navigation System at all . Reporter hyundais pitch it this suv, emitting only steam. The nexos main advantage is that hydrogen can be pumped as fast as petrol. The drawback is there are not many hydrogen filling stations yet. Whichever model comes to according to one review website, at least. You might still feel you are in a European Capital when you tuck into one of their dishes. The restaurant is part of a growing trend for highclass Dining Experiences for an ever fussieier clientele. Reporter some restaurants are all about quantity. But the chefs here are more concerned about quality dining. They combine big flavors in small dishes. Many restaurants worldwide do the same. Its one way for chefs to garner recognition. But the cooks here in cape town are not only recognized by the restaurants guests, they have also received great reviews from the tourist review site tripadvisor. It means the world to the team. We put in 14, 16 hours a day, everery day. Just to be recognized for what we put in, its incredible. Reporter here is what the quail dish looks like when it is presented to the guests. The head chef is a south african, but he specializes in french cuisine. He soon wants to add asian touches to the menu. You are sitting down there, taking you through this whole suite of flavors, course after course with wine pairings. At the same time, there is also adventurousness with it. A combination of flavors you dont see in a lot of other places. Reporter every day they offer a menu w with 10 couourses. Special dishes activate the pallette to all five kinds of flavor. One of the restaurants Signature Dishes is actually called tuna in a can. The restaurant is part of south africas oldest winery. Even napoleon enjoyed wine from these cellars. Wines from the region paired with a special Dining Experience could very well be worth a trip. Daniel im afraid i am about to put you off your food. Fancy eating plastic for dinner . Well, thats what you may already be doing. Microbeads, the type you find in beauty products, are washing down our drains, polluting Water Supplies and the food chain. Now the United Kingdom is banning the manufacturer of the plastic particles. Reporter in this ocean lies an invisible threat microbeads. The plastic particles can be found in face scrubs, toothpaste and shower gel, and are deadly for marine life. Now the u. K. Is taking action. They have banned the manufacturing of products containing microbeads in. Sales later this year. It marks a move beyond regulating Plastic Packaging on the e outside to managing the ue of nondegradable plastics a as actual ingredients within products. We recommend this because of the unrecyclability of coffee cups. Hardmixed paper and Plastic Products should be forced to pay more for them. Reporter there are many biodegradable replacements for plastic microbeads. But they are mostly found in the more expensive brands. We have got pumice powder here, which we use in body products. It is a little bit more exfoliating. And we have got grain rice powder which we use in our facial scrubs as well. And the benefits of these is because we never use plastic they are all biodegradable. They break down in the ocean, they dont get into the food chain, and we dont end up eating them. Reporter the ban can also use future changes for companies who use cleaning products due to the widespread use of microbeads. Daniel that is all your Business News now. Back to brent and north africa. Brent more than 200 people have been arrested and Dozens Injured after riots erupted in tunisia. One protester has also been killed. Tunisia has earned praise for his transition to democracy after the arab spring in 2010. But tensions are rising after Economic Hardships by ordinary tunisians. Reporter anger at new austerity measures spilling over into unrest. Tunisias government introduced the measures on january 1 and placed a strain in the pocketbooks of many tunisians. In many places, demonstrators took to looting stores. One man died, possibly from breathing teargas from police. It was seven years ago that the arab spring began here. In the west, tunisia is seen as an example of a Successful Transition to democracy. Not everyone is happy, though. We had 10 governments in seven years but got nothing but promises. Problems are getting worse for poor people. But politicians are living the high life. Repoporter peop a also took t o the streets in the capital. The origin of the protests is a deal the governmnment agrereed t the international l monetary fud to help curb rising debt. Economic reforms were introduced. One result fuel prices and many taxes went up as of the new year. It is our right to demonstrate. For a lot of people, it will be more difficult to make ends meet. Reporter discontent is growing in tunisia. More protests are planned for this comoming sunday, the sevh anniversary of the c countryss revolution. Brent the french actress Catherine Deneuve and at least another 100 women have signed an open letter criticizing the Metoo Movement. They accuse its supporters of underestimating womens ability to simply say no and ruining the lives of innocent men. But deneuves critics have condemned her remarks, some calling her an apologist for rape. Reporter men should be free to hit on women. This response to recent feminist social media campaigigns comes fromom catherine d deneuve, seen here portraying an attractive housewife a halfcentury agogo. The leleading french actress sad men have been simimilarly summarilly punished and forced out of their jobs when all they did with touch someones knee or tried to steal a kiss. Deneuve and the other womens main target, the Metoo Movement which emerged against Harvey Weinstein in october. They say the movement amounts to puritanism and poses a threat to sexual freedom. Their opinion triggered fierce reactions from french feminists who o denounced the letter a lot like an annoying uncle who doesnt understand whats happppening. In this letter publblished, u find all t the stereotypes thate have to deal with every day by the Office Coffee machine or at family dinners. Reporter the letter also prompted a backlash on social media. Actress asia argento, one of the first to accuse weinsein, wrote that the women who cited are telling the world how quote, their internalized misogyny has lobotomized them to the point of no return. Strong views on both sides. And that means the debate could still have a long way to go. Brent traditionally, skiing is a major highlight of any winter olympics. At the Upcoming Games in pyeongchang, still just 22, the american has been the sports dominant figure for several years. Her peers believe she is the best ski year skiier of alltime. Shiffrin believes her professional work ethic is the secret to her success. Reporter the reigning olympic, world, and world cup champion is one of the biggest draws for the upcoming winter games in pyeongchang. The 22yearold was crowned u. S. Slolam champion in 2011, just 15. 5. Former o olympic Gold Medalist bodede miller believes she alrly ranks among the grgreatest ever alpine serer. Shes a favoririte of mine. Maybe one of the best years ive evereen, male e or femalale. She is so balananced, dynamamic, intense e and focused. D. I think she e has a chancece aty even she skis in. Its likely she wins two golds. Outside shot of f five medals. I think prorobably at her best, maybe threree or four r of theme gold. Reporter if she makes hurtling down mountainside at breaking speed look effortless, she owes it to hard work as much as talent. The american also believeves confidence in her own abilities is key to success. I trust in myself more, which is a huge piece of going into races. Just feeling like when i a am nervrvous and trying to get ampd up i have to trust i know what im going to do. Reporter shiffrin won her r fih straightht event in austria tuesday, her 41st career win. Her dominance was labeled as frustrating by the runnerup. The question isnt whether she will get a medal, but how many. Brent now to the end of one of the most extraordinary athletic careers of alltime. After usain bolt, now the frenchman Robert Marchand has announced his retirement from competitive sports at the tender age of 106. Yep. The recordsetting cyclist has outdone just about everyone for his staying power but now he is finally saying goodbye to the bike. Reporter the end of an era for the man who has outlasted them all. 106yearold Robert Marchand has quit cycling with a string of World Records to his name. The last of those came one year ago when he set the record for his age group for distance cycled in one hour. 22. 5 kilometers. He said he could have gone further. The centenarians remarkable life has taken him far beyond cycling. He has had stints as a firefighter in paris, and a lumberjack in canada. He was also in prison during world d war ii. His long life and multitude of expeririences have g given him a sanguine perspective on mortality. You know, sir, it takes nine months to come into this world and then only 30 seconds to kick the bucket. Reporter his life on two wheels has come to an end. Now for Robert Marchand, it is on to the next adventure. Brent do your legs look that good at 105 . Heres a reminder of the top stories we are following for you. German chancellor Angela Merkels conservative bloc and social democrats are entering a decisive face in talks about forming a new Coalition Government in germany. The deadline for those talks tomorrow. After a short break i will be back to take you through the day. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] this is france24 honor said eighties the headlines. Was arrested in its unit here is prejudiced against Economic Hardship to violencettack police stations and government buildings wanted Jewish School is viable. French actress Catherine Deneuve finds itself under attack that is still to xi in ninety nine of the ten elected denouncing the hashtag me two movements. As a puritanical which sounds. And at least fifteen kills following mud slides in california rescue teams are still searching for survivors as thousands of course to be the homes