narrator: funding for is presentation is made possible by. woman: babbel, a language app that teaches real life conversations in a new language, like spanish, french, german, italian and more. babbel's 10 to 15 minute lessons are available as an app or online. more information on babbel.com. narrator: furoing was alsoded by... the freeman foundation. by judy and peter blum-kovler foundation. pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. and by contributions to this pbs station from viewers like you, thank you.

nada: this is "bbc world news america." ireporting from washingt'm nada tawfik. former new york city mayor michael bloomberg is considering a presidential run. the current holder of office can't wait. pres. trump: there is nobody i would rather run against than little michael nada: police confirm the identities of 39 people from vietnam found ad inside a refrigerated truck in the u.k. two 15-year-old boys are amonge thvictims. and training those with disabilities to become aides to others. an academy in washingtc., is hoping its courses make a real difference. nada: for those watching on pbs and around the globe, welcome to "world news america." for months we watched as the

democratic preside hial candidate battled it out, but now michael bloomberg may joining the fray. could we see two wealthy new yorkers go head-to-head in 2020? first, he would have to make it through the rest of the field, , and let's not forg have been here before. crowded field of dticike a presidential candidates was finally narrowing, michael bloomberg has thrown the race a giant curveball. e billionaire businessman and former mayor of new york city has long teased a possible run, both in 2016 and earlier this year. remr. bloomberg: i think ts an awful lot to be said for experience and accomplishment. nada: bloomberg is saito have grown concerned that joe biden's lead is fading.e the former vicesident was asked about that on the trail. mr. biden: last polls i looked at i am pretty farhead. efda: as a centrist, bloomberg does not believeleaning candidates like bernie sanders and elizabeth warren can beat donald trump. mr. blooerg: i have my

reseations about the people running and the way they are campaigning in the promises they are making they cannot fulfill. nada: those progressive candidates welcomed michael bloomberg to the race with tweets aacking his wealth. the businessman has poured his money into liberal causes such as clima change and gun control. once himself a republican, he has called donald trump a threat to the nation.te at the wouse, the president had his own words for his fellow new yorker. pres. trump: he will n do well, and if he did, i would be happy. there is nobody i would rather run against than little michael. nada: normally in politicals rame is money. bloomberg will self-fund his campaign. nevertheless, he will have to announce a final decision soon. bloomberg run with a nationalal correspondent for "new york" if michael bloomberg decides to dive into this race, how does that change the primary?

>> that is something every campaign has been asking fho the last 2s or so. obviously it is still an if, but the immediate concern is still biden.lly has to be for joe michael bloomberg is trying to edge in if he does moderate part of the party. the big concern for biden is he needs all the money he can get to run his campaign, anda here art of his supporters particularly in financial circles who are big fans of michael bloomberg. they might be steppi back from biden. at the end of the day this is a mobig name who is rate, very centrist and wants the world to know it. he will be running in that part. from some of the candidates on the left. bernie sanders and elizabeth warren are ready going after him, saying don't need another billionaire in this race. let's not forget, there already is one in tom steyer, and of course donald trump. nada: how does michael bloomrg try to sell himself to voters? is it too late getting in now? >> it is a very risky propositio

we have never seen someone get this late in the race and get in. what he is likely to do, although we don't know exactly, is pitchimself as a successful businessman who has not only builds up his own siness from scratch, something that president trump cannot say, but also someone who has successfully run t country's largest city for three terms he is essentially trying to say i am a true progressive because look at all thmoney i spent on but also someone who has gotten things done and built a business empire. nada: we heard president trump saying he would love to run against him. do you think that is true? gabe: he said that about lisically everyone. this is his go-t. it is clear that they have had a relationship in the past, both bombastic new orrkers with hiof making a lot of money and being in similar circles. i don't think it is true that president trump would love to run against any of these people, but it is of course what he is going to say. nada: he has been a republican, independent, now a docrat.

would he be someone who could go to washington and work with republicans? at we hear time and time again from voters how much they hate the toxic nature of politics. gabe: sure, that is a greatd question, is certainly something he would say, and there are a lot of moderate republicans who would be happy with the prospect of presiden bloomberg. but we have to not get ahead of ourselves here he is someone likely to struggle a lot with the liberal voters in thear democratic pr for him to say i want to work with republicans in washington, that is a fine talking point for a lot of voters but there are a lot of voters who look at that and say we don't want that right now. nada: finall if he doesn't succeed in this primary, if he does jump into it, is there an risk at all that he could try to run as a third party candidate? gabe: he has made clear that all he wants to do is make sure that donald trump is not reelected, and that is why he is looking at this. he is concerned that the current democratic field is not going to be in a position to beat donald trump. last time in 2016 he looked at anrunning as an independen

got close but ultimately determined, i will not get in this race because it will hand the raceo donald trump. it is very likely that he has made a similar calculationnlhis time andely he will run as an independent. nada: in his wide-ranging comments today, prestrump said he was considering going to russia in may for the victy to day events including the military parade. it comes a day after comments by french president emmanuel macron sent shockwaves through the international community. in an interview withthe economis said "to my mind what we are currently experiencing is the brain death of nato strategically and politically. we need to recnize we have a problem." that spark a quick backlash from many including germany's chcellor angela merkel, who called those drastic words. for more on the state of the alliance and president trump's ssible trip to russia, i'm

spoke to former ambassador to nato ivo alder, who is now the president of the chicago council. want to get your reaction to the president saying that he may travel to russia. shivld he go? when the 70th anniversary of the end of world war ii happened five years ago, president obama did not go. this is the 75th anniversary of the end of world war ii and ufssia was an ally during the war, major ally,red in large numbers of casualties.se in thae there is something to remember. relationship between the united states and russia, between russia and its european allies, of course its continued occupation of crim and support for a war in ukraine, this is really not the time for a president of the united states to go and watch a military remember the 75th anniversary of the end of world war ii. nada: turning to the french president's commhat nato is brain-dead, is he right?er

is that it exaion, in your view? ivo: i think it is a gross exaggeration. nato today has forces in europe, increasing numbers of forces in europe, because of russian actionin ukraine. we have forces in estonia, lithuania, latvia, the baltic states. the u.s. has announced it will send more troops to poland to make clear to ththrussians that united states, nato, the alliance, everyone is prepared to defend every inch of its territory. we still have forces in afghanistan and 20,000 troops under nato command have been there 2004. we have forces in the balkansyi who are to maintain the peace that was established after the interventions by nato at the end of the last century. we are around everywhe. ignores the reality that nato is very much alive in many parts of nada: despite troops on the

ground, though, this does show, these comments, that there is is withdrawing from thea international stage. do you think it is time for europe to worry about putting more resources into their own security?he ivo: clearlynited states under president trump has not waled the alliance the sam his predecessors have. in fact, the president has denigrated the allnce and s called into question even america's commitment to the defense of europe. i think we are seeing president macron and others reacting to it. the question is how do we rebuild the alliance, how do we make sure the united states remains commitd? one way is for europe to do more. i congratulate and welcome the argument by president macron that europe should do more for its defense. i don't think that should nessarily be only for europe and against nato. i think there is a way to build up european forces and spend

more on defense d do more for collective defense that is consistent with strengthening europe while also strengthening nato. i wohtd've liked to see sl different emphasis by the french president, but the reality isnd europe canhould do more for its own defense as well as for building of the collective defense of nato. nada: ambassador daalder, thanko so much. we will have to leave it there. now, two 15-year-old boys are among 39 people from vietnam who were all found dead in a refrigerated lorry in the u.k. last mon. today police released all of the names, which included a 26-year-old woman who sent heartbreaking texts to her parents saying she was dyingnd couldn't breathe. the bbc's daniel sandford reports. daniel: some of the faces of the 39 people who died in the refrigerated trailer 6000 miles from home. allie were fromam and were being smuggled into britain. the oldest was 44, but 10 of

them were teenagers, and the two youngest were just 15 years old. one of the 15-year-olds was nguyen huy hung. his relaves said he had been trying to join his parents who live in britaiho g van tiep was 18 and had abeen living in paris for year. he told his family he was getting a taxi to the u.k., but they have not heard from him since. bui thi nhung was one of two 19-year-old women and the lo py posttures of herself sightseeing in brussels days before she died. and pham thi tra my was a 26-year-old woman who tragically texted her family to say that she was suffocating in the trailer. detectives started this investigation with 39 unknown people dead in the bac refrigerated lorry on this industrial state. now after more than two weeks of intensive work, they have been

able to give those people names and faces, and to tell they're -- tell they're worried-- their worried families that they won't be coming back. a father has been helping grieving relatives w in the u.k. >> it is really very, very painful, very sad to know about this tragedy. many of them escaped from a very poor area. daniel: two lorry drivers are being held, accused of manslaughter. mo robinson is thought to have collected e trailer when it arrived in essex. yesterday, police in the republic of ireland raided chris hughes, still wanted by essex police. daniel sandford, bbc news. nada: a quick look at other news. form brazilian president religious of the has beeja released fro after

spending a year and a half -- president lula da silva has been released from? spending a year and half behind bars the left-wing iconrv had been g an eight-year sentence for corruption, a charge he has consistently denied. the biggest name in america's e-cigarette market, juul, saysli it will stop s its mint flavored nicotine products with immediateffect. it comes after a survey suggested that the number of teenagers in the u.s. who vape is at an all-time high, with mint one of e most popular avors. the u.n.'sul top court has it has jurisdiction to hear a case brought by ukraine against russia over alleged support forr rebels in eaukraine. kiev accusesoscow of breaching international laws and supplying arms and cashed a pro-russia fighte13. more than ,000 people have died since the war broke out five years ago. towns have been evacuated and

thousands of residents have been told to leave as bushfires pose a major danger in two australian states. new south wales is saito be in the grip of an unprecedented emergency, but firefighters struggling to reach people captain locations, and strong -- trapped in locations, and strong winds are only making t situation worse. reporter: they have never seen anything like it here before. huge swathes of new south wales burning. mong than 90 blazes are ragi across the state, many in drought-affected areas where degrees centigradearound 35 and winds are fanning the fires. houses are being destroyed. for some, the force of the blaze means nothing can be done. for many, it is wait and see. >> i will make a judgment call. i might be out of here in 10 minutes, i might be out of here in half an hour. i'm not sure. reporter: whole towns have been the fire service s that

although many people of called for help, the size and speed of the flames means they have not been able to get to everyone even by helicopter. the commissioner says it is uncharted territory. >> we have never seen is many fires concurrently argency warning alert level. 95 burning across new south wales. 50 of th remain uncontained. was than 1000 firefightersin woon fires. more than 70 aircraft working on the fires. dozens of heavy machinery trying to do the best they can to save and protect as many people as possible. reporter: some people ar trapped. they have been warned to seek shelter rather than flee, as it is too late to leave. new south wales is tst worst-hit ate. bushfires had already been burning since september.er but ncy warnings have also been issued for bushfires queensland. this is just outside the surf town popular with tourists. authorities are worried about the severity of the fires ahead of the hottest months.

last year australia experienced its warmest mmer on record. it's devastating for animals, too. last week, one blaze ripped through 2000 hectares of bush in new south wales containing a koa sanctuary. hundreds of them died, and many suffered burns. >> we managed to salvage 10 koalas in this particular fi ground. they pretty well completed the search until one area they had to go yesterday has gone up in smoke again. reporter: bushfires are couson tralia, but this is a dramatic sta to the fire season, which scientists warn will grow longer and more intense because of climate change. nada: you are watching "bbc world news america." still to come on tonight's program, talk about a science experiment. one project is out to sequence the dna of all life on earth.k we will chec to see how they

are doing. nada: thousands of veterans are preparing to take part in membrance day commemorations this weekend. one of them is a 94-year-old who was one of the first british soldiers to landma at ny on d-day. he is raising funds to build a w memorial there. reporter: in the remarkable life of harry, this has been a remarkable yr. >> 35 acquitted there, harry. >> i'm overwhelmed, really. >> he is the best. you are the best. he is the hero nobody else. >> saw you on the telly. reporter: it was an appearance on bbc breakfast telly for the the normandy beaches 75th

anniversary in june that saw harry go viral. >> i's m no hero. i cky. all the heroes are dead. live. as long as i reporter: since that moment of modesty, harry's fundraising for building a memorial in france has seen a surge. >> 30,000 now, i believe. i was saved, i believe by the grace of god, for this purpose. reporter: this morning harry was back on "bbcrefast" to see the memorial as it is being clearly an emotional moment. >> ok? >> i did it. i had a job do. all the fellows did a good job. all these men, these wonderful man, young boys of 60.

i'm not a brave --oung boys of 16. i'm not a brave man. i'm luck i owe my life to the boys i love and i will never forget. nada: 20 it comes to ambitious projects, sequencing the d of all -- when it comes to ambitious projects, sequencing the dna of all life on earth is definitely up there. but that is what scientists are doing with the aim of finding new medines to treat diseases and crops to resist climate change. the mission is called tr of life, and it has received extra funding. the bbc's science correspondent richard wescott has to see how it will be spent. >> now we are tang a sample of water from the pond. richard: even the most cutting edge global science can start with a pond and the selfie stick. mei assu that is teeming with life. i can't see anything with it.

is is a tiny part of one of the most ambitious scientific projects ever, to read the dna h, all nonhuman life on ea every plant, animal, fungi, and single-celled organism, including the ones in the pond where these guys work. >> it's been exciting. over the last 10 years of so a lot developed for single-cell sequencing to analyze the dna of cells from humans or mice. s.at we are doing is adapting those technolog >> there is things in here that don't have a name. having the dna sequencey don't even have a name yet? e ntirely possible. richard: by studying dna from wild species, they hope to find answers to global problems, li anw to breed crops that withstand diseasclimate change. nature also holds clues to new medicines for humans. >> this is basically malaria. one letter could be out here and that is why malaria uld kill >> one letter in this sequence

with this particular gene could mean the difference between it being resistant or susceptible to the drug and effectively and the difference between life and death. >> over the next decade, 10 u.k. partners will decipher the genetic code of 66,000 species , part of a global effort to sequence 1.5 million living things, with the results free for all to use. >>e it is hcitement, really, because this is classic discovery science, and it is very reminiscent of explorers such as darwin, who went out and collected species to describ them, and that led to theories which transfmed biology. richard: who knows? even the contents of the pond incould lead to life-changg discoveries. richard wescott, bbc news. nada:ho for with disabilities, finding the right job can be a challenge.

a program in washington, d.c., is working to change that. the city has partnered with the company to provide training in becoming a direct support professional which allows them to serve others. we went to meet those taking part and to hear about the opportun >> dear world.fforded. >> dear world. >> dear world. >> i am an 18-year-old heart of hearing person. >> i used to not be able to speak ry clearly. >> i was taughi would never amount to anything. >> ready, set, go. >> follow these steps to open the aiay. >> i start learning how to readi whas in fifth grade. i used to not be able to communate. i got out of high school, i wish i knew about this program.

i started working at a theater. they mistreated me. they would say, ok, this is your job, that is all you can b kind of made me feel like i was useless, when i knew that i had potential. >> you want to go under the person's arm -- >> the direct s basically one on one wh the person and understanding what they are going through. >> i was offered a position as a community navigator, where i would be working with foreign individuals. because i had a disality myself, i think i can utilize what i have learned y previous history. this person right here is robin.

she is able to use her talents and kind ounderstand the seasons happening right now. >> i want to be able to help people feel like they are worth something. nada: before we leave you, a quick update on our top story. fo chael bloomberg has officially qualify for the alabamaalt to take part in the democratic presidential primary, a first step if he decides to make a run. that is all for us tonight. i am nad tawfik. ng "world for watc news america." athave a g weekend. narrator: funding for this presentation is made possible by... babbel, an online program designed by language specialists

teaching spanishfrench. narrator: funding was also provided by... by judy and peter blum-kovler foundation. pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. and by contributions to this pbs station from viewers like you, thank you. narrator: be more, pbs. ♪

captioning sponshoed by ne productions, llc >> woodruff: good evening. i'm judy woodruff. on the newshour tonight: a view from inside the white house. the latest transcripts in the impeachment inquiry link the acting chief of staff mick mulvaney to auid pro quo with ukraine. then, revealing the secrets of a master. explore the hottest new exhibit in paris at the louvre-- leonardo da vinci. >> he decided to base his art on science. so he took a long time studying geometry, mathematics, optics, anatomy, everything, to be able to reproduce it in h paintings.