well that's it you're up to date now on d.w. more world news at the top of the hour up next reporter examines the threat to beirut's cultural heritage after this summer's devastating explosion and more news coming up at the top of the hour on michael me and the rest of the team here in the land thanks so much for watching and stay with us. in the far north. and the inhabitable world it's lonely. literate and breathtakingly beautiful. the arctic.

to take a journey around the north pole meet profiteers and talk with people experiencing a changing environment. that i'd show for the ice disappears earlier and it keeps retreating our future depends on what happens here the moon of the most fragile ecosystems on earth. the. northern lights in the arctic circle starts december 21st on d w. here. much of beirut lies in ruins rebuilding the city is a race against time i mean it's not just us i think that everybody in beirut feels like their soul has been severely injured on august 4th 2020 a huge explosion at its port rocked the city months on beirut historic buildings

remain unprotected in the rainy season they could be damaged beyond repair. so so palace is a beirut landmark perched on a hill overlooking the port. it's been home to marry cochran's family for 5 generations the 3 story structure which dates from the 19th century bore the full brunt of the blast. so we are we are 415 meters in kind of. directly in front of the blast the silo is right in front of us and no buildings in front of us there's nothing that took the blast or we did so that's why we got a direct hit and and that's why it's all banks and was out $23.00 centimeters.

so the palace had stood 460 years surviving one and a half decades of civil war and 2 world wars 1st surely unscathed now its fate lies in the hands of a few volunteers and some talented craftsman. beirut's nobility and this old merchant family made their fortune in the ottoman empire over the centuries they've collected treasures from around the world which now need saving. every generation added something and also in the process has their story so it's been a. evolution of a collection of the people that lived in the house over the time almost everything was affected and it's just. unbelievable. every day in coming here to months let's deal find something that i didn't notice it's

a new cot i didn't see that was there her family was also torn apart mary's mother in law lady evil and so cochrane a legendary figure in beirut society died from injuries she sustained in the explosion and mary too was badly hurt. really. for the blasts were directly in front of the sign on 50 meters and i lost consciousness for a 2nd and i. broke my. tendons dislocated and i punctured a couple ribs broken as well as cuts from glass so. i'm just lucky i didn't have all glass in my face because i open the door to the balcony. roofs must be covered in cultural treasures secured before beirut's rainy season begins.

in the rain today but he's going to be easy for it right here i'm right every i got to i don't want to give it up i mean it's not just us i think everybody in beirut feels like their soul has been severely injured. yes i mean mecca haun is an engineer who's working fervently to save beirut's cultural heritage the ban is hanging on badly damaged buildings around to the port i meant to give people hope. for the 2 degrees again so. you know here's a theory. could make 2. to nudge and to to hope so to miracles sometimes within the. next really big. people us. this spirit.

certainly we. saw. all the dreams. you can pull by. didn't bring enough things to hold on. the extent of the devastation is almost in comprehensible. as mean mcelhone isn't alone she has a crisis group which analyzes the damage collects donations and coordinates reconstruction efforts. everyone here is working pro bono voluntarily and for free . act the crisis center the group has noted the situation of every single building 8000 of them need restoring as a result of the explosion. from here or the blast.

heated. in a very strong way we have more than $100.00 unit in very critical situation when the rains come the foundations of these 100 buildings could be damaged beyond repair and then trying to run to put on brain and visiting. to run as fast as possible that's why we look at the forecast every day to see if we have one thing or 2 there is more and to protect as much as fast as possible. for us me meca on these buildings are more than just ruins. in your. example of one of the most collapsed building that. they are bringing me. a sense offline being didn't go through

a sense of leaving. and say bringing me from the past all the memories the space how the spirits of the sea and inherited to the music which cannot say too much to stop and it's all over and it's not enough to try. years mimiko on hasn't got around to examining all the buildings yet today she's a company architect michele dougherty at the neighborhood with a tiny high x. house sees a vision together they plan to assess the damage and see what they can do about it . emergency actions in order to help the host who want to the winter they can also get only when you enter the hospital you don't look at the people that have a small injury you put them aside you say wait you go to the very very.

endangered ones so well that's what we have. so let's go inside to see michel martin and also. from gere. this kind of heritage it's a living heritage because it is their house of the grandmother grandfather it's called the concord. church and heritage is just even the most important to keep you can may have no money but if you have your history or your roots you belong to me. tony hajek i just read about it his time there was. nothing at the heart of the l.a. surviving as we underestimated the damage. it's beyond what we thought our capabilities could handle. we have to remove all of this

honestly we are looking for the minimum amount of work that can keep a building standing and covered through the rain. it's so easy to take your case and the. strain on the going to bring sleeping but it's more difficult to stay and. ok michele is coming for free and we support them with construction materials but they fuse is short they count each plank each beam that's holding the 1st. and then we add to the middle the attorney we can't blame anyone. we are all on the ground. not a lot of just to be clear the mission isn't to rebuild the house on the job we just prevented from collapsing and keep it standing for a don't we that had deep tony high accused to be a successful businessman now he's reliant on years means help did happen in

a very but. this is when i had to do it in a very. good money at the bank you. were trying to help. our neighbors. you know what the government should be doing with your. 4 months lebanon has been mired in a deep economic and financial crisis that's because the banks loaned out more money than they actually possessed so customers can no longer withdraw large amounts from their accounts because banks like the cash they can only take out small sums in the national currency the lebanese pound. that also applies to wealthy families like to sir stocks so in beirut everyone is currently in need of assistance the world bank estimates that the blast caused some $4600000000.00 in damage. you don't have the

financial means to be stored this entire house it's going to take millions and tens of millions and we don't have those funds. are not these days the only ray of hope is the solidarity among the people here but you're telling me it's being volunteered to help and we've really seen the worst of the worst of what we have and i've been on which is any fish and. corrupt political political system and a non government and we've got great lebanese that are volunteering to come and save the house so we have to thank you thank you very much. a few days later so so palace is hosting one of the 1st events to take place off to the blast a workshop for traumatized children they draw whatever is troubling the images of death and destruction. roll up the organizer

chose the palace for its heritage. ok so did you see the man get thrown across the square. oh sweetheart you see how much kids there are knowing. their deep emotions the sadness and anger inside them i wanted a place authentic i wanted a place it's a head of that's off lebannon it's. destroyed and this is what this is the purpose of my it's an. architecture belongs to everybody. the fact that we can share space with people inside what makes it important and what makes it go on living it's nice to have life back in the garden it was good that it was 8 back to what he. was. not what the ugandan.

on the road with our superheroes my mission is clear. and nicole surely should explore germany if they died and. everything else there's a lot going on in. germany tried and tested again at the. d.w.p. . give us your country the oil will make you rich mason says to take. the took hold of the west coast of scotland in 2000 so that investors make big promises but here's later reality looks very different speeches the drinking water shortage cut. oil prices.

in 45 minutes on d w. bloodlines the us is on its way to bring you more conservation plays how do we make cities greener how can we protect habitats we can make a difference good line genius mental series a game global sales a long d.w. and all mine. usually at this time of year check in hosts would be talking about the best christmas markets in germany about in this crazy coronavirus year of 2020 most

markets will be staying shopped. so to get into the christmas spirit we've compiled a collection of our favorite. christmas trips from the preterite no piracy here on . remember when blue cash they made it cat from ozzy patton it blew back. well when nails paris visited a border town you don't remember well you're in for a treat. we start off in dresden we've lukash at the streets and mocked one of the oldest christmas markets in germany. usually a draw is about $2000000.00 visitors each year.

tradition and nostalgia that is how many people around the world imagine german christmas to be well and in bad sense the streets unmarked here in the case is the perfect christmas setting. there are now 11 christmas markets in the east it's almost too much to see and bets why i go tell christiane america is a city guide her 1st trip to the christmas market annoying market square at the foot only cares a church. as a kid and this market seems more old fashioned than others ways that i would use old fashioned well there was actually a plan behind this christmas market. if they took old photos and post consummate built up in the style of around $1800.00 not you see the markings there wouldn't be

youths the vendors that wearing the late 19th century clothing. look at this level the old advertising for punch an exotic fruit where we don't have that anymore. ken my word on it is no that is older and memphis also in around 1921 of the busiest market square as in the city center. just bought and long ago the christmas market to you place on the last day before christmas at the end of the fasting perrie and in advent not to say you could buy. was just all rich in the christmas markets one doesn't have all it's not. the christmas market it's right next to the phone kisha a place of quiet in all the hustle and bustle you can take part in a guided tour. or you can come back in the evening festive concerts take place during the effin season. and on the weekends there's organ music at night by candlelight i imagine it's very beautiful.

and so we continue because gianna has another tip for marie. opposite of east cost there's the touching back probably august is the strong had this residence built for his mistress the countess of course up. to date it's a hotel the kempinski. a hard. place in an ice rink you set up your during advent. if. you. overstock i had to tell custis the strong had mistresses as status symbols and one we know of was town

tess kozel she lived here and showed off the splendor of the saxon call it but i'm still 6 and she was the 1st book. but. there are a few things that christmas into these wouldn't be complete without like the wooden christmas decorations little angel snatch crackers candle arches pyramids all wooden art from the or mountain range not far from here. the dress nurses are very proud of this. a case like fruit bread this christmas specialty even gave the market its name. the old german word for sure. only original story if it's baked in one of the $150.00 bakeries in and around police. and it has to

have the seal of the shore oil protection association. i'm going to learn how to bake a real story. master baker is my boss and i am his apprentice . almost his why is the story protected. it has to be protected so that not any old baker in germany can call their fruitcake dresden strawman. so we got the idea for this seal which everybody here in this geographically protected area gets a cold coffee. but before they do that with you they have to ensure that quality meets our standards. inspection for self interest. it's hard work the other stolen has its price we have to earn it. it must be always use the bones of your hands or bend your fingers and back again

slowly zacky use the bones of your hands. this is like a massage. it doesn't take a lot of effort if you did way drop dead after 500 stolen a day. almost done. so if so 8 loaves he's taking his out of the oven so we can put. him making storage is good exercise 1.8 kilograms each hand him a new opportunity half round. he'll yeah the grand finale icing sugar that's enough to sugars a good bottle of whiskey marches on healthy. that's incredible doesn't this is an original presidential run from the early had by the apprentice.

night has fallen and it feels very romantic. i've driven a few kilometers up the other river from the east and this is the pinots district with its castle once upon a time it was the summer residence of the saxon kings. now everything is lit up the light show is called christmas garden and it casts a magical glow over the park and castle. a 2 kilometer circular trail leads through the area past 20 light installations. and back at the streets of marked where the atmosphere is best enjoyed by night.

christmas time in peace and really is something special the whole city turns into one big christmas market just amazing. time for the old wine. for dessert says. right now for a journey back into the middle ages to the town of or october. there's romantic town in front tonia last year. or 2 more cup that was it tough to merge hauser's and lumber in santa lanes this medieval town in the

region from cornea insolvent germany barely seems to have changed since the 13th century. it's almost like being in a fairy tale. this is the town's main marketplace. known as the world it has hosted a christmas market for over 500 years of the. fortune work with its middle age flare as one of the most romantic places in germany and now the lights in the christmas decorations make it even more special it should be the most beautiful time to visit or don't work of that alba. there is no doubt about it autumn world is popular with tourists over 2000000 people visit every here.

there are tours in every language. with various means of transportation. or you can. by foot through the town's natural winding streets. well that man has some highlights he wants to point out to us starting at the market place and the town hall clock which tells off a legend about how the ta was safe from pillagers during the 30 years war. so it's about i don't drive he wouldn't stop i you know order book was captured in 1631 but saved by the mayor that he made a bet with a general who had conquered the town he said that he would drink 3 quarter leaders of wine in one go the general did not believe him but of course he did to the town was saved from plunder and locals were not murdered by enemy troops or more don't

do it. every year and would still and there was a reenactment of these events in the play. or now we move on. to hear about it marcus to this is the marcos tower the oldest part of the town hall and that's why it's in the middle of the city this is where the old town used to end when it's still beautiful today. because very proud of its wall with its 42 towers it is about 3 kilometers long. there are very few of such specimens and the whole of europe. in the modern world survived many centrists until the 2nd world war when large parts were destroyed in air raids sides told photos the city could be rebuilt almost exactly as it was in. the old forge of galah was one of the 1st buildings to

be reconstructed. with just what it is and that is a tough and he does a tough and isn't going to science can be seen on. over the old wall they commemorate the donors who gave money to preserve the wall after parts of the old town were destroyed in the 2nd world war. 3. years. it isn't easy to spot what's new in the city. i really like the halls timber tulsa's they ahd to to see just charm. and it doesn't get any high up on the tower hall tower. there are $220.00 steps in total to the viewing platform.

and then you have the city in all its glory at your feet. the buildings look like dollar houses from this hide. and this is the most photographed view in the whole town right in front square. and. it's called substance a show on instagram. play from we've from namibia in africa on kong from texas this by here from tokyo

is a pound. they all have one thing in common they love. how do you like it here oh we love it we're on vacation earth visiting wanted to see all the christmas markets and the fun medieval cities and. it's beyond what we expected it's really amazing the visited. about start the years ago. so this is the seer. this hour or so teeth are in for us or your. marriage has over 3 soli wanted to visit this tower again. there are certainly no shortage of photo opportunities in the world to mark. this vintage pass points to way to kids of all of christmas village.

home of the worse larger selection of christmas ornaments. there is nothing here that you want to find spread out all over 1000 square meters and filling few buildings. and this treasure trove is not only open in the run up to christmas but the whole year round. the atmosphere here of the christmas market an important book is particularly magical at nights locals call it i tell this market.

after the fire teller a mythical figure that people used to be afraid of now he's almost as tall pillar a subtle are. meeting up with friends for a multiply and i chaired. the perfect ends for my christmas trip to all jim book. stuff better not cry better not i am glad because santa claus is coming to. the. christmas markets and popular in northern germany to look back fondly on his trip to view back when nobody had even heard of the coronavirus and people could soak in the festive spirit. there are

a number of christmas markets in the big this one is in the north of the old town. how about a kiss. that's one. of the issues i've never seen this before a christmas market with maritime flare all in. all this reminds us that the sailors and fisherman used to live in this area because not only located on the river but also close to the baltic sea it's only about 20 kilometers away from here and this is st the mariners church. at this stately church is a memorial site for international seafarers who have died at sea. a lifeboat commemorates one particularly tragic incident in 1957

a sailing vessel called the palm sank in the atlantic ocean during a hurricane 80 men died some were still quite young. or st james church is one of 5 large churches in the center of the. town i'll come back later then it's supposed to be a really trying quill here. we'll continue by strolling through uzbeks festively decorated old town it's been declared a unesco world heritage site. the town hall dates back to the 13th century altered over the centuries it combines a variety of architectural styles just across the way i grabbed a chance to treat myself to the taste of christmas which is available in many shapes and sizes. big mars upin is known the world over need a go is probably the most famous manufacturer. of.

the building also houses the small mars opinions even. here you can learn all sorts of things about the history of mars upin and the need to eg a family business founded over 200 years ago. wow these are really intricate works of art and they've all been made from mars a pair i had like to try my hand at that. hello i'm luke us. hi i'm barbara have you ever done this i know never it's not hard 1st to roll it into a ball. on this mission a bit like making a snowball yes like a snowball most of mine looks different than yours looks more like an egg. i'm not yet finished. what are we making a cat with a santa hat. now i need to pull into a pear shape. and then i form the front legs.

next we make the ears and tail. it's pretty detailed work. the ice complete with pupils here's how it looks so far. this is barbara's cat. this one's mine that's not true ok ok i'll tell the truth here is before this one's barossa vis one's mind as you see mine is slightly deformed before me and the last step the santa had this could save my creation. well so this kid's a little quirky. thanks barbara pleasure you did great by.

old town is a tangle of narrow streets due to a lack of space during the middle ages houses were built a large courtyards. back then it probably felt cramped today it seems romantic many of these small houses are rented out as holiday homes . the old warehouses are still quite impressive. the most famous let. rubik the host gate in 2006 it was even stamped on the 2 year old cord so if you're a new vic go to the gate very you can really learn something about the history of this city. the gate was built in the 15th century and was one of 3 city gates which were also used for defense today it houses

a museum. even thing is falling which is the best time to visit many of the christmas markets in time to head back over to the town hall. mulled wine christmas decorations roast it all means it's all so enticed see. everything start rose and shines is that all you need to get in the christmas spirit comes if you are you getting in the mood for christmas i'm on a spending spree no i am fine and christmas i think lubeck always goes all out and it does a beautiful job he did this yet i come here every year to drink mulled wine and eat donuts with my family i think it's great. yes of course you can see there is

a lot of small shops and one can really enjoy the depression essen and. dubai it's bizarre under this yeah that's why i call harmony the whole town and the city of lights that's what i love especially at this time of year of ember december the dark march it's lovely and then. in the fairy tale forest you can see depictions of stories by the brothers grimm. and gretel. king thrush beard and the frog game. and who is this my namesake lucas or luke the engine driver. now we're at the mediæval market.

over here it's a bit more quiet in cosying the way it should be at christmas time. the day is over and i'm in the christmas removed the medieval flair of the old town certainly adds to the festive atmosphere well this mixture of seafaring tradition and christmas city is certainly something very special that i have never experienced before now there's only one thing missing. back to st where singing christmas carols is an annual tradition.

adios your country the fall will make you rich measures i used to think. the west coast of coming to fell sense of investors made promises but years later reality looks very different from the budget drinking

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killers. this is deja vu news live from berlin russia rolls out its sputnik vaccine against covert 19 with a mass campaign and moscow 2000000 doses are available for high risk groups but amid concerns about how fast the vaccine was approved will muscovites be lining up to receive the injection. pleasured speak out on the.