First state of the union address. Plus, guilty of corruption. The former head of world athletics is sentenced to two years in prison following a doping scandal. His lawyers say the court has made him escape vote. And how to keep her lens party scene going during the pandemic berlins party scene going during the pandemic. One businessman thinks he may have found the answer. Brent im brent goff. To our viewers watching on pbs in the United States and all around the world, welcome. We start here in germany, where police have launched raids against some of their own colleagues. Officers suspected of trading neonazi imagery and online chat rooms. 29 Police Officers have been suspended and 11 are now under criminal investigation. Images shared include pictures of adolf hitler and nazi symbols, such as swastikas. This is not the first time germanys Security Forces have been at the center of a scandal involving farright extremism. A disgrace and a slap in the face for germanys police forces. Thats what the interior minister in the city called the discovery of chat content in which 29 Police Officers shared right wing extremist material. Including, for example, pictures of hitlers, swastikas, imperial war flags, and many more horrible images, like the fictioional depiction of a refue and the gas chamber of a concentration camp. Police officers from different cities and 34 Police Departments took part in the chat groups. They were all suspended pending the results of the investigation. They could face charges of inciting racial hatred. A spokesman for the federal interior Ministry Says the reports are worrying. What we are hearing is very alarming. It is a disgrace for the police force there, but also has an effect on the entire Police Profession throughout germany. It is not the first case of farright extremism spreading within germanys police and military forces. In july, a Police Officer was arrestefor threatening politicians across germany, r referencing a neonanazi in his emails. Brent earlier, i spoke to a sociologist, and asked him what he makes of thisis scandal affecting germrmanys s police force. When it comes to right wing extra mss extremism, it is not the first time polilice officers have appeared in this way. We have threatening emails from a Police Station in the last few months, etc. ,. , and also a polie officecer saying right wingg slogans and wearing symbols in the past few years. Brent its not surprising. Do we have an idea of the size of this problem within the German Police force . Well, thehe problblem, we ony know that there is a problem, and its not a minor problem. We know therere are problems wih racism, with right wing extremism andnd also o lice brutality and policece violence. The thingng is, theres not much resesearch, because the police d also the ministry of the interior dont have a great interest in doing research on thisis topic. So we dont know much about the e extent of right wing extrememism in the police, but what we can say is there is a problem. We knonow that some say that he, there are police officicers that are members of riright wing extremist groups, so why shoulud we have a problem wiwith t them . There are incidents, like the oneses that have been covevere todaday. To the extent, we dont really know exactly. Brent do we have an explanation for why it seems Police Officers in particular themes except double seem susceptible to right wing extremist ideas . We hear that time and time again. Not a all p police are rigg extremists, that is of coursrse clclear. But t of course,e, there is an organinization that canan legaly use violence, and that atattras people whoho are prone to violee and alsoso might have an authoritararian set of mind. They are also prone to right wing extra ms. Him extremism and racism. This is not only true for thehe police, but t for the e german. Wewe know they y have also had a problem with rightwing extremists, especially among residents, for example. Brent mr. Yendel, we appreciate your time and your insights. Thank you. Lets take a look at some of the other stories making headlines around the world. Hurricane sally has been downgraded to a category one storm. It i is pummeling the United States, causing flooding in the city of pensacola, flolorida. The rain is dumping huge amounts on the coastal floodplain area as it pushes north. South africa is president , cyril ramaphosa, has announced a further easing of the countr countrys lockdown, which is one of the strictest. The government of barbados wants to remove Britains Queen elizabeth as its head of state and become a republic. The caribbean island gained independence from britain in 1966, but retained the queen as its head of state. The Prime Minister says it is time for the country to have a barbadian head of state. Greek authorities have formally charged four afghan migrants with arson for their alleged involvement in the fires that destroyed a migrant camp on the island of lesbos last week. Temporary camps have been set up, but some migrants say they need a different solution. Rowow upon row of tenents one grgreek island of l lesbos haven set up for migrants displaced from the camp, but they are mostly empty. Migrants are choosing to stay on the streets in squalid conditions. Many say they would rather remain here then run the risk of being detained for months in a completely new camp. Some have even returned to what remains of moria. They say the temporary tents are not enough. They want longterm solutions. We want to free life. We have come here to live. We are human. We are not animals. They put us in a place where there is no life and it is like a jungle. A human cannot live in such tents. So far, only about 1200 of the roughly 13,000 migrants rendered homeless by the fires have moved to the new temporary accommodation. Do you and Refugee Agency says thisis is a capacacity the u. Refugee agencyays theree is a capacity for another 8000, and this is the only way forward. People who were in moria can come to this camp, and from here, solutions can be found and people can leave the island. The idea is not that people remain forever on the island of lesbos. But while several european states have offered to take in migrants, others say they will not. They are offering to provide more aid, and even more tents instead. Brent the president of the European Commission has laid out her vision for europe to tackle the climate crisis. Urszula vendor liens wideranging speech also called on china to improve its human rights record and made a not so vaeiled attack towards poland on its stance towards gay people. She had her first ever state of the union speech, waiting to unveil more ambitious climate goals for the bloc. We need to go faster and need to do things better. The European Commission is proposing to increase the 2030 targets for Emission Reduction to at least 55 . Capping emissions and becoming climate neutral by 2050 is part of the European Green deal, one of the president s key priorities. But ramping up the eus climate targets is not enough for some. I expect her to keep on working with her commissioners and really to put pressure on the council, because we know there are Member States who are not willing to do what we need to do. When she took office late last year, she presented a long list, but many y have been brout to a hold. The Eu Commission chief also put a focus on human rights, not onlylyalling out chinas treatmtt of minonorities, but also crititicizing eu memember state for introducing lgbtq free zones. She also said the eu finally had to decide on the solution for how to handle migration, one of the most disputed topics among Member States. Saving lives at sea is not optional. Those countriess will fulfill their legal and moral duties, or those more exposed than others must be able to rely on the solidarity of our European Union. Von der leyens pack will present a new plan on migration, and she will be judged on its outcome. Brent dws brussels euro chief called up ursula von der leyen and asked her about europes priorities. This corona world of fragility,y, we do not want to stay in. We want to move on. We have a plan. We have a concept and we have the investment. Next generatioion yououth, 750 billion. Now it is europe that has to lead the way, show direction. We want to move on to a society that is more resilient, an economy that is more sustainable, therefore the European Green deal, and that is more modern, therefore the digital decade for the European Union. Still, there are many issues Member States dont agree on, like migration, for example. Have you received any signals that after what happened that moria, Member States are more willing toto change the couour the good news is that next week, the commimission is g goio puput forward a migration pact. This is a holistic concept to manage migration, and i expect the Member States will engage in the discucussion so o we can moe forward and have a common plan to deal with that topic. You made a point, startining your presidency with a trip to africa. What concrete steps are you planning to actually build Strategic Partnerships between europe and africa . We are already building a strategy with africa. But, for example, if it comes down to the pandemic right now, we are strongly investing in the corporations fighting the virus, and it is important that we create a global framework to find a vaccine, but also to make sure that if we have a vaccine, it is accessible to all, not only the high income countries, but the low and middle income countrieies. This, for example, his classical work that we do together with our friends and neighbors. Thank you. Brent that was ursula von der leyen speaking there. I want to bring in our guest from the center of International Studies at the university of oxford. He joins me right here in berlin. Good to have you on the program. We heard from the report that ursula von der leyen will face opposition to her Climate Policy goals. Does she have the power to change the minds that matter i n europe . . Well, she is lucky in the sense that she comes from germanany, becauause people in e country respect her, andnd the r industry there has to play a big role. Shshe h has been accused of not being ambitious enough, while others are saying she is going too far. Some may be right with this proposal of relies advising the come revitalizing the commitments the European Union is taking for to move from 40 to 55 in levels of Greenhouse Gas emissions from the European Union by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. She has her work cut out there, but this is feasible, put vicki lily particularly if she gets political traction in germany. Brent ursula von der leyen says she will present a new plan later this month that will bring unity to the eu when it comes to migration. How can her plan, how will it be different from all these failed attempts that we have seen in the past . She was purposely very vague today when she was talking about migration, because next week they will propose this big package. If you look at what has been going on in europe over the last three to four years, there is agagreement actually on an exceptional number of areas pertaining to migration. The key, the m main challenge es still the dublin regulation. There has been a political decision not to agree any of the elemenents of a possible comprehensive reform of the common European Union a silent system european a silent system european asylum system. You canan expxpect many propopoo focus on this one, because if she can nail them, she can bring along a broad conference of reform. Brent this was her first state of the union address. She is new in this position. How much of her speech today, can we say that she is guilty of bold yet Wishful Thinking . That might be a bit harsh. I think we should give her credit for having had the courage to say some things v vey clearly. She told Member States that they had to stop talking and take responsibility, because many Member States, that for instance, the migrant and refugee crisis, they did not support the work of the European Commission. She hasas been brave enough to mention the rule of law when it comes to both h poland and hunuy , and in that respect, i think it is a good start. Of course, we should ask this question again in one year and see if she has the strength to follow through her words. Brent we will be talkiking with you and may be a years time to see what kind of report card she gets. Thank you for your insights. Youre watching dw news. Still to come, hollywood fiction or scientific reality . The plan to stop asteroids from crashing into our very own earth. Its coming up in just a moment. The former head of world athletics has been found guilty of corruption and sentenced to two years in prison. The french court found he solicited bribes totaling 3 Million Euros from russian athletes suspected of doping. He then used the money to help them compete in events, like the 2012 london olympics. He was on of the most powerful men in sports during his tenure at the governing body of track and field. The International Association of athletics federations, and the french court says he used that power to rake in piles of money. That included a scheme that allowed russian athletes to keep competing and they should have been suspended for doping. Some of those athletes went on to claim medals at the 2012 london olympics, medals that should have gone to athletes who didnt cheat. You cant see the grin on my face with the mask i am wearing, but i am happy to have been recognized as a victim of a victim of the corruption by the iaaaf leaders, and i am also happy for all the other athletes who were. He has long professed innocence in this scandal, maintaining over 16 years, he turned the track and field body into a much admired organization. His son was given a fiveyear sentence for funneling out some 15 million during his fathers tenure, but he spent a lengthy trial comfortably in his home country, senegal, which has refused extradition request. On these accusations, i can say that based on everything i have read, i am reassured that the French Justice system has no basis for condemning lamine diack and his son. The judge told diack he had simply violated the rules of the game. Brent well, it sounds like a script for a hollywood disaster movie. The European Space agency has signed a deal with the German Company to build a set of spacecraft. Their mission . To redirect killer asteroids before they crashing to earth crash into earth. Science sometimes takes a while to catch up with fiction. More than two decades ago, the film armageddon proposed bombing asteroids to save planet earth from a collision. Now, a similar plot is being hatched by the European Space agency and nasa. Until now, humanity has been powerless against the impact of asteroids and other objects circling close to e earth. In thehe meantime, we e have the technology and the capital to defend ourselves. A series of spacecraft will be launched from june next year. Onone will crash into an asterod to see if it can change its trajectory. Another craft will analyze the debris from the collision. If it succeeds, it will be the first time Human Technology has shifted a celestial object. Its like billiards, a small force hits the asteroid that is heading for earth. We want to practice this so that we are ready if an asteroid is really heang for u us. The whole mission will take more than six years to complple betterer late than never, earts already being bombarded. We get tons of material for the sky falling on earth. Luckily, three fourths of the earth is covered in water and a large part is also desert and ice. But yeah, that is locked. That is not a scientific way t o apapproach thehe problem. The target asteroid isnt heading g to earth, but another one might be. This mission could help us prevent a real life armageddon. Brent yeah, a mission that has to be successful. Lets take a look now at some of the latest developments in the coronavirus pandemic. India has agreed to distribute 100 million doses of russias experimental vaccine. Indian Health Officials report now more than 5 million cases of the virus. The u. K. Reporting is highly daily cases highest daily cases count with more than 4000 new infections. Prime minister Boris Johnson says he is against another full lockdown. Germany has issued fresh travel warnings for several regions, which include major european cities. On the list are vienna, budapest, amsterdam, and rotterdam. South africas president has announced the country will open its borders to most nations next month, and that many Strict Lockdown measures will now be gradually eased. Berlin it is renowned worldwide as one of the greatest party capitals in europe. Its morst famous clubs attract millions of people each year, but the more famous clubs have had to close their doors due to the coronavirus pandemic. One businessman is bringing a new way to party to the much loved club scene. Take a look. Berlin night life is once again open for business. Well, kind of. Welcome to the teledisco, a sign of the times. Maybe it is actually safe. Its s great. It is the best thing i know. We can party any time. Many of the citys greatest clubs are on the verge of bankruptcy, but the inventor of the teledisco is escaping the coronavirus crisis. He bought a dozen phone booths and converted them into many nightclubs. It is a business that makes people happy. All you have to do is put in two euros and choose your music. Berliners and tourists alike are grateful for a chance to experience berlins club culture during the pandemic. With no reopening date insight from any of berlins clubs, for the citys raving urges, the teledisco will have to suffice. Brent we have often reported on the wildlife photographer of the year here on dw news, but it usually focuses on the pictures rather than the photographer. The opposite is the case with this cheeky monkey, who stole a smartphone from a man in malaysia and got up to some monkey business. After monkeying around with the camera, this media savvy sitting media savvy simeon took some prime snaps of itself. The owner found it in a bush later and discover the primates pictures on it, along with a few bite marks. Heres the top story we are following for you 29 police in the german state of north rhinewestphalia have been suspended over sharing rightwing extremism content in chat groups. We are watching dw news, live from berlin. After a short break, i will be back to take you through the day. Stick around. Froront twenty four. Com. Eight pm here in the french capital youre watching live from paris on france twenty four im told but just wilson these are the top stories. European Commission President gives her first anannual state of thehe union addresess tackling a number of issues from brexit to emissions targets. R. U. N. Report accuses the venezuelan Security Forces of carrying out systematic Human Rights Violations which it says. Amount to crimes ainst humanity. Japans Prime Minister of less than twenty four hours that youll see he tastes who got unveils a new cabinet which includes about hafiz predispositions are abbas ministerial line