Unlikely look who we appreciate your company. President joe biden says us commitment to israel is iron clad in the face of iranian threats. The us and its allies, fear, or ron or groups acting on its behalf could launch a significant attack within days to run his val, to retaliate for a presumed is really strike on the wrong, an embassy in series that killed 7 members of its revolutionary guard. Ron Supreme Leader ire total economy has renewed the threat. Jane, israel must be punished. Israel has not commented but bite and says americas commitment is on waiver. The cross want to address the radius, right . The largest exist, they are threatening to launch a significant attack. And israel, as i told Prime Minister netanyahu our commitment to Israel Security against these threats. Moran and his proxies is iron clad, beset, again our class. Were going to do all we can to protect israel. Secure photo is yours, as is professor of International Relations at the London School of economics. Full, i treasures i suppose biting statement is a good place to store it. Whats your assessment of what iron clad means and what does that entail . What are those who use the that are on that plots . So the president s statement is really a message of the time. So youre not just present and by the but even the secretary of state blinking coal, these right, you defense minister and reassured these by your defense. No said that the us will stand with israel also the us defense secretary there is even is right. We have a news now that is rightly this have us that american counterparts to make public statements in order to the, to iran from retaliating for the use, right. The attack on the, at the wrong, and consulate in serial last week, which as you said, killed 7 senior at rodney in columbus and i, i, i might take on it is that youre on, well, we tell you, the question is not whether youre on will do so or not, the question is how, when and what targets that youre on. Uh will, are you to attack in the next few hours or next few days. Well get to that in just a moment is really Prime Minister. Netanyahu said today that israel is preparing also for scenarios of challenges from other arenas as he put it. What does he mean by that to . Well, i mean, i think what you have now is that youll have the war in gaza, but the war has expanded. Contrary to what the american strategy, the american strategy from day one, from the 7th of october to how much that that is val was that it does not when you want to expand, it has expanded. We, im in the read in new york is here. Yeah. So what, what you, on line we have not nation, is that a, by attacking iranian sovereignty, the you are on the leadership viewed is rouse at that on the wrong and consulate in syria as an attack on the wrong in solving a direct attack on the wrong it was really a pro vocation. It was designed to provoke iran, retaliate, and now youre on, does not really retaliate. It will stand humiliated and shown by israel to be a paper tag. So the question facing that youre on your leadership is how to retaliate without provoking all outdoor, was israel on the united state because iran does not 21, a bought a tool that was his route or with the United States as a result of that propagation as you put it a run Supreme Leader has vowed to retaliate for the attack on the Damascus Embassy is around likely to do so from ronnie in sorrel or through the so called access of resistance. Well, this is really the big question. Its the 1000000. 00 question i might take. Is that reading iranian statements and listening to what youre wrong, you leave those have said they basically keep talking about the excess of resistance, youre ons, regional, local networks, 11 and young man in europe and what have you. So this might imply that youre on could use its own networks or supporters to retaliate. But my take on based on what the americans say is that youre on, is preparing for a significant attack. That means youre on, well buy that the attack iraq is route because the or on your supreme, the, the fly said that that is the route that tacked on the wrong. And Council Council that was a direct attack on you on itself would translate, lets from say what the supreme via the come, any says that says Israel Attack you wrong sovereignty, we have to retaliate directly from your on this, whether that into the allies and what the americans use of it asked me what the americans had been trying to do. The americans do not 21, a reasonable allow cool. So what the americans, i try to do is to try to detect that youre wrong and, and prevent a significant attack by iran on his route. Were going to have to ended there. Thats middle east n o is for washes, as many, many thanks user. Thank you. A property tycoon has been sentenced to death in vietnams biggest financial fraud case. Strong milan was on trial a long side 85. 00 others were embezzling 12 and a half 1000000000. 00. The death sentence, a scene is unusually severe lawns arrest last year was part of an empty corruption drive that has engulf the top levels of eating these politics. Journalism michael to tar sky, spoke to me about the magnitude of this sketch, a shirt. So ellen made right at the start that the numbers are been a little confusing at times of long before the verdicts had been accused of embezzling 12 and a half 1000000000. 00 from a bankruptcy, with the controlling owner. In todays verdict, as a rule that she needs to reimburse the bank 27. 00 and a half 1000000000 or 27000000000. 00. Its not entirely clear where the difference in those numbers comes from. But by the way, the dollar amounts are mass of a by far the largest Financial PrivateBusiness History and indeed, and among the largest and world history, i believe the numbers are massive and the punishment is huge. You might say why the death sentence yeah. As you know, that this is a rare, certainly, and financial crimes. I mean, you know, does have the death penalty. Its not widely used and certainly not been sort of black and better for his White Collar Crime like this. But prosecutors recommended it late last month. A given the, this year of scale of the crime, and this morning the court said that they believed law deserve the highest punishment, which kind of made it clear of what the verdict would be. So its, i guess clear that they want to make an example of her and given again the scale of this um took this kind of been transferred uninstalled with a verdict. Michael, im curious. What in general is known about the other . 85 people accuse of some involvement in this case or so many of them are relatively unknown, but there are few other high profile defendants. Um, strongly lines use for example, she got receive 17 years in jail. She was the ceo of another Major Company within the vantage side. Echo system also loans, husband who is actually a Hong Kong National which will be interesting and got 9 years in jail for his involvement. The i think he kind of was trying to plead ignorance of the immune system in laws here and processes. Itll be interesting to see the International Reaction to that one. And perhaps you have the most notable one is an official from the state bank of vietnam was accused of receiving a 5000000. 00 bribes from lawn to overlook her activities. She was the lights in jail and the other defendants range from probation songs as to other a few other life songs as well. Im sure this is one of the few things people there in the region or talk a whats likely to be the political ramifications of all of this politically interface to be seen. I mean, this is, its comes within the broader context of a church and campaign. The president resigned last month uh, related to this campaign, not this trial, that this campaign. But this is largely in the private sector and the impact here in ocean city. It has been profound bantam side and its various subsidiaries control Something Like a 1000 properties in the city, all of which have been seized by the police for investigation. Its not clear what kind of Legal Process those buildings will go through. This includes unfinished, skyscraper is a very high profile properties. Political fallout at the moment appears to be relatively minimal, but certainly on the private sector side here in ocean city, which is going to be solved for a very long time. Thats a journalist. So michael to tar sky. Michael. Many thanks. Lets take a brief look at some of the other stories making news around the world at this hour. Israel has confirmed that it killed 3 sons of how boss is political truth is mile and the in an air strike in gusto. The brothers were travelling in a vehicle when they were targeted by a drone. Israels military says the men belong to him off his military way. Your training, present, and full of them is the lensky has signed a 10 year security deal with what via the agreement follows a barrage of attacks by russia targeting Energy Facilities across ukraine. So lensky says, strengthening the national air defenses is a top priority. At least 17 people have been killed and as many injured in a bus accident in pockets done. The vehicle was carrying pilgrims through religious side. On the 1st day of each celebrations of public holiday. In pack a stuff while the European Central bank is keeping its key Interest Rate on hold at 4. 5 percent for the 5th consecutive month, the bank wants to be sure, inflation is under control before cutting Interest Rates to boost economic growth. Lower rates make credit cheaper investments, easier for businesses, financing conditions, remained risk. Lets get more on this with a rob watts from dw business. Its good to see rob, um, so rates on hold again. Are there any signs that the e c, b will be blowing rates anytime in the near future, but those are precisely the size of the annual watching the slightest announcement from the e. C. B, were looking for, we finally got to see Interest Rate as low as for the 1st time. Actually in a gives us a year since the cds actually cuts rates because we have a long period of 0 rates. And then all of the hikes that came with the various challenges that we little faced over the past 5 years. Were there any hints at back from this meeting . Well, with any central bank announcement, its always really hard to spot them. They like to be crazy because they dont like to surprised market. So that like surprise anything they also didnt like to tie that hands for the next meeting. So we didnt see them this time round. What christine, my god did say was that the bank would continue to follow basically the data and what the data sets of the environment is that inflation is reaching that to present target to the c b has last month. It was a 2. 00. And if it continues in that direction, then it will, at some points, be appropriate to lower Interest Rates. What we also have to bear in mind is that the yours in economy is seconds. It has been for about 18 months now. No, great, thats not a good thing for just about any perspective. And one of the ways that you can tackle that is to lower Interest Rates. So there is a certain imperative for a lowering of Interest Rates to happen at some point in the near future. So is the behavior of the us central bank, the federal reserve, something that the c, b is paying close attention to. Whether you see b itself would probably never answer that question with a straight. Yeah. So thats the straight glass is never because of course, they need to seem like all that theyre interested in, is the, your design. And whats going on that acting in the interest of that, you know, without the noise of whats going on with the federal reserve. But you can understand why people are asking that question because Interest Rates are high in the United States as they are in yours and, and for some of the reasons the tackle, similar challenges. But now the us and the yours and a very different beast. Economic economics wise, because in the us theyve got better than expected economic growth. So the saying the always and is stagnant, the jobs market that is very tight and other jobs going unfilled. And also they have to have some surprising rises in inflation. So for this, yeah, so its pretty right that the c b is saying were not paying as much attention to the facts because it actually got very different challenges to face investors say their pricing and their rates cut in june. Is there a risk if the c b that the used to be meet those expectations . Yeah, its not a risk if they space dont meet those expectations. So that one way to put this, because you dont want to surprise markets, you never do think that easily. Spoofs on the lights, it deliver what they expect because otherwise you, you get things i think that you, you know, you cant control. But the other side of it is this fact that if rates dont get cut soon, weve essentially missed out on growth in the yours and that we otherwise might have had. So yeah, you, you have to buy mine. But the key issue as far as the god is concerned, is that you know the data they have isnt stable enough and they didnt feel ready to make that cook yet. But they reckoned in june, it will be so. So she didnt say that a coach is going to happen in june. She, they also didnt rule this out. And sometimes thats really as much as you can ever expect to get. Has to be always good to see rob watched dw business. Many thanks as always, pleasure. A prisoner, joe biden, and japanese Prime Minister from york. The shita have vowed to boost defense ties and present a united front to counter china. The 2 leaders have held talks in washington before their 1st summit with philippine president Ferdinand Macos junior negotiations will focus on the perceived threat from beijing in the in the pacific region. You have no 3 leaders and a set of high stakes security challenges. President joe biden is hosting japanese Prime Minister who myoshi the philippine president bumble mark was in washington d. C for a trilateral summit following on from an official visit with casita. According to the white house President Biden prime and a circus. She dot and president marcos are meeting to underscore the alliances between the 3 countries to both are Economic Cooperation and to foster peace and security in the in the pacific. But theres a threat to that peace and security in the region. And this trade lateral stomach is at least in part, a response to that speaking after the bilateral meeting bite and encourage you to emphasize deepening defense ties between their 2 countries. Obviously, for modernize you come in and control structures. And during the increasing interoperability and planning of our military so, so you can Work Together in a seamless and effective way. This is the most significant upgrade in our line since the end of it says it was 1st established. Im also pleased to announce that for the 1st time, japan in the United States and australia will create a Network System of air, missile, and defense architecture. Were also looking forward to standing up a tri, loud or military exercise with your pan in the United Kingdom. And our Office Defense partnership with australia, the United Kingdom is exploring how japan can join our work. Although both leaders insisted that the show of, of Greater Partnership is not about seeking confrontation with anyone in the country. The warning to try know over its hostile behavior in the South China Sea is clear. The chinese coast guard has repeatedly targeted philippine vessels with Water Cannons near the contested 2nd, thomas stole raising fears, washington could be dragged into a direct confrontation would be doing it for us to defend its trinity allied. The philippines analysts say that means, but you, west has become interested in making sure its allies are able to help themselves. And each other. The us wants to deepen inter operability with these partners and help them become more capable allies themselves. So that in any future contingency, whether its the south tennessee, or eastern sea or taiwan or Something Else that we havent even imagined yet, the us has capable modernized partners who can stand with it. And we have to recognize that the unipolar moment is over. And the us is great, a strength is this alliances and partnerships. It can not do this stuff alone. Ahead of the summit, the filipino baset are to the west stress the need to find a peaceful resolution or risk or wider conflict. And so that is the message to give to one of our friends that anything happens to the philippines. You may want to stay away from it, but the fact of the mattress is going to become a major conflict that was not the thats it. The survival of the real, its just as a state here and beyond the strengthening of the 3 way security relationship. Tokyo in washington are also committing to increased infrastructure and Industrial Investment in the philippines and recognition that standing up to be jang comes out of costs. Both in defense and an economic terms j. C. Coaching a is a general is at the filipino new psych raptor who spent years covering the growing tension between beijing and manila. I asked him how the threat from china is felt in the philippines or um, you know, is here in the philippines. Um, theres a very strong anti China Sentiment right now. And that is