lardo da vinci's, mysterious masterpiece. ah, it is perhaps the greatest leonardo masterpiece in the collection of the louvre and no, it is not the mona lisa. it is the virgin of the rocks, 2 versions, multiple copies, and a hidden drawing. was there another symbolic meaning to this beautiful lady that perhaps we just don't understand? a search for answers starts july 7th on d, w. ah, hello and welcome to focus on europe where the focus this time round is still inevitably on the conflict in ukraine. and one of the closest allies of russia in

the gruesome war of aggression launched by vladimir putin is alexander lucas shanker, the autocratic leader of bellows. the relationship between the 2 men goes back a long way and they still meet on a regular basis, which is a huge source of irritation and anger to the opposition that has however, largely been crushed by cushion that has in turn of course force many to seek asylum in ukraine, including for instance, scientists and artists, and men like alexei, he had already been living in ukraine for a number of years and had signed up to join the military. they're so wild bellows, the country stand side by side with russia. many bellow, russian, people are fighting shoulder by shoulder with the ukrainian armed forces. and for his courage and his commitment, alexei has paid a high price. alexei has to learn to stand on to feed again.

originally from bella, ruth, he's been part of the ukranian army off and on for about 8 years now, the war has taken its toll. 2 weeks after the fighting started, he was on a reconnaissance patrol when a russian shell struck near by. now he's learning to walk on an artificial leg. when there was up 2 or 3 weeks ago, i still needed to crutches. not like this one, but then it's real crutches that you wedge under your arms just now i manage without social. when i used this one like a cane, of course, now alexei trains recruits them so many bella ruffians have joined ukraine's armed forces since the war started. that they formed an entire regiment of their own. maria. alexa came to ukraine in 2014. after keeps euro my dan, protests great america of my as crane is one of the last free countries remaining of the former soviet republics use if it had lost its freedom it. oh,

if to my dad protests had been put down, this was the bill that would have been no future left for the region. possibly neither for ukraine nor for bell roost, belittles your labors, never slip was linear of eminent. now the bela ruffian regiment numbers several 100 troops. many of them fled to ukraine in 2020, after president, alexander look ashamed, go crushed, mass protests all across bella. ruth roster, as his fellow troopers call him as part of the regiment. he also took part in the protests and bella, ruth, nor roughly toiling a portion was mortal mutiny, a horse killed, but in the shower loom not share. we were hoping we could toppa lucas, shank o. p. solissi you got unfortunately had them through our hopes did not come true and the regime is still in power. my task now normally is to do everything i can to

bring down this regime of cynthia marshall tray booth. nissan. back from to the soldiers of the bella ruffian regiment, the ukrainians fight is also very much theirs. they can't go back to their country now. anyway, that means to try to push it through with them in their community that i could expect a life sentence at the very least, given that the worst execution to law whatsoever my participation in the protests extreme, you could charge me with extremism asada and now on top of that, with being a mercenary in the war, when you look over the fighters, have many different political opinions. what unites them as their opposition to the regime in bella? ruth in 2014, alexei 1st joined the right. we nationalist as of battalion since february. he's been with a bela ruffian regiment. he describes himself as a nationalist. but almost as that isn't over credible. there was mueller's accosted

shoulder, which l. a russian nationalists want to live in a free country. the former takes since his group, whether democracy or something else is not so important to lower. the main thing is that people can choose and develop as they wish. he wasn't at the moment. there's no development and been a roost. lewis of wilson. now alexis morning starts with physiotherapy. his body has to learn to keep its balance without help from the left leg. he's down to receive a new, electronically controlled prosthesis. eventually, if alexei had his way, he'd like to go back to the front. i won't be able to return to active duty like i used to, but there are many different jobs at the front or below. different kinds of weapons is that i want to be able to fight in my former unit. that's physically no longer possible, but on the floor is august involves for the time being it's training,

training, and more training. he still has many steps to take before he can return to the front. well, on a very different node. what you can see here are young bulgarians enjoy one of the very popular students bulls that mark the end of school days. and the pursuit of new challenges a bit here to the war in ukraine. cast a shadow because just like in the rest of europe, the conflict to send consumer prices spiraling, selling the capital sophia done gala says no coolness will be cut when it comes to making sure that her daughter natalie will have a day to remember. means lots of glamour and glitz at 7 30 am. to a 19 year old natalie graduates from school, one of the most important days of her life. she and her mother have been preparing for it long in advance. today she is going to feel like a princess. me. no,

i'm not nervous, but the family get together at the restaurant to be a bit nerve wracking. she's got just enough time for coffee before going to have her hair and makeup done. she's aiming for hollywood glamour, her mother daniela, took out a loan to pay for it all. i mean, it wouldn't at all if you count all the preparations and the party afterwards. it costs around $3000.00 euros cup that includes the restaurant, her outfit make up here. do you all the accessories and other details to the daily news at what does that mean for an ordinary bulgarian family to spend so much? anybody in air meal they lessen all over him? money you have to save up the money for a long time than most people take out alone to do it. that's how we finance everything in life. at any rate, you couldn't pay for it from your salary. as an accountant natalie's mother errands, an average income and bulgaria, that means about $500.00 euros

a month. mother and daughter both have to get by him, but her 1st appointment is for me good. and she starts to get ready for the big day . this only happens once in life, and i want it to be unter gettable. really, as a girl, you have your maker hair and a manicure done, and you pick out a dress. these preparations are very important to us about an hour later, natalie's ready at last, but she still got to hurry, the most important part as yet to come. bog areas, one of the european union's poorest countries. currently, less than half the population earns enough to cover their living expenses. the moment natalie's been waiting for the whole morning has come. it's time to put on the dress at cost and yellow, $400.00 euros. the pair of them took 3 months to find exactly what they wanted.

yes. oh, you are so beautiful. well then, did he just gorgeous mark, let me straighten the netting a little. he was up in the back to bravo. at the meal, the family showers natalie with presents it doesn't show at the party that many here are worried about their futures. the warren ukraine has made a difficult situation far worse. now. inflations running at 14.4 percent was beautiful. so sage the course we feel it we're of think there's a kind of fear that affects us all. my veggie is a psychological stress and we feel it so safe them. but if we look back at history up, we see that we're not the 1st to experience or felicia, under more watches are the winner. natalie's mother,

daniella has gone into debt for her daughter's sake. the costs for the celebration have exploded over just the past few weeks. everything's got more expensive. everything. bread, cheese, meat, for example, chicken breast used to cost 3 years, 50, a kilo. now it's 7 euro's. the price is doubled. a few months ago, the party might have cost me around half as much after the meal natalie gets together with their schoolmates. many of them have rented a car, especially for the stay. so they construct their stuff in front of the alexander, netscape cathedral, sophia's most famous landmark. the graduates count down the 12 years at school and the party begins. oh, well,

they may party like there is no to morrow pressure. the country is increasing. in late april, russia could natural gas applies to bulgaria for now in the country can manage. but the sanctions on russia lead to a cuts and the flow of oil. things could get much worse. most of the graduates here don't want to think about it. how do you imagine your life in 10 years from now? we might be a family and a job. a see my future in bulgaria. you can accomplish a lot here. you don't have to go abroad. they leave the problems for another day. the money was rising prices, news of the war to night. they just want to enjoy the celebrations. now, temperatures are high in many parts of europe, and people are looking for places to cool down. but many rivers lakes across the

continent are in poor shape, not least in the u. k. a close look at the river thames that runs through london shows that a number of places along its course. a badly clogged up by a sick me mix of cleansing, wipes leaves, toilet paper, sludge and effluent. but as we see now, some hardy spirits taken up the battle against the muck. debbie leach is not impressed. few would guess where she is pulling up here. the river thames and london has a few undesirable spots along its banks, and this here is wet life. it's caught on this twig. it's about one half me to thick mound of wet wipes, mixed with twigs and some salt few leaves. but it's basically solid, used wet wipes. locals have dropped the area which wipe island it come to real house is this south like in people's bathrooms?

it, some people are using wet wipes in their bathrooms and then i think he accost our flush that down the low. there's no bite of esoteric there at all. all the small animals you'd expect to see on river banks, and unfortunately, he is gone. debbie is part of a group of britons monitoring the condition of the rivers. something the authorities here rarely do these days. many are outraged that toilet we could end up here on the riverbank retired police officer. ashley smith heads up a group that conducts daily detective work the washer company for the thames region . once a purification plant, not far from here. we see quite a nasty coating of grey fine sediment on the bottom and brown and grey owl gay, which is coating the gravel choking any we've life out of it. ashley smith is on his way to a spot where the company releases the purified waste water into the stream. but

directly next to it actually points to a 2nd pipe. this one sometimes spews out untreated waste water, the actual chemicals, your hormones, the drugs, the bacteria, the human waste, the ah, heavy levels of phosphate and nitrogen, and an ammonia that all comes out here. and that makes his way down into the river windrush then into the river thames sewage last clued from it 2 days ago. he says he's collecting film evidence. i'm going to put them gloves on because i'm going to post the camera after it's been in the companies are allowed to release untreated waste water into the rivers, but only in exceptional circumstances. when there's flooding, the sewers are full after heavy rain. otherwise it's illegal. our analysts can tell if it's happened by looking at water industry data flow data taken on 15 minute intervals. he can establish whether it's happened to early if they've discharged it

before treating sufficient for their permit. and we found a lot of illegal activity in that way. the washer company insists its activities are legal. the environment agency relies on companies to self monitor at the public outcry has now prompted an investigation. u. k. rivers are among the most polluted in europe. the government and water companies are accused of feeling to modernize the sewage system over decades. this is basically a consequence of victorian infrastructure, and it's a, it's a huge undertaking to remove all of these storm overflows. they are therefore emergency flash flooding events at so they've always been part of the system. but we're taking action right now to, to eliminate some of these and reduce their harm. but it's predicted to take 10 or 20 years. so ashley wants to keep up the pressure by exposing as many illegal activities as possible. he recently found an undocumented pipe from thames water is

about 3 meters down into the thames. here the water is in a shocking state containing feces, old food and grease. every time we have come, it's been worse than the last there's. it's dreadful it's, it's really bad. the washer company claims not to have released any untreated sewage years since march last year. so it's a mystery. her, this condo came out of the pipe, were presented to the environment agency, and i expect them to be very little life. become almost redundant on a spectator in the engagement now between campaigners the water industry and counselors and local people who are now really pushing for the changes to of those local people arrive on the scene. oh you oh, they were hoping to go swimming, looking a bit round unusual. that is not looking good. is it?

no, at least the water company, no issues, warnings, when it's releasing sewage into the times. it's disgusting and we shouldn't have to put up with this as a river here was so clean. you could see the river bed only a couple of decades ago, especially when they are group has come up with another strategy to get this stretch of the river cleaned. up the aim is that we're going to try and get designated bathing water status, which will mean that the environment agency are obliged to monitor regularly and try and impose either some sanctions on tim's water. they devised their plan along with trevor williams. he takes regular samples and sends the results to the authorities. so you can see it's quite dirty today because it's just rained but hopefully not for much longer. because their strategy worked. this stretch of

the river has now been granted bathing water status to things ought to get a lot cleaner here soon. that'll be the 2nd river in the whole of the u. k. to have a bathing or to status so and hopefully other rivers will follow seats and other water companies will take note that they can't get away with dumping that their waste in the river and placing polluting our environment the campaigners are having to go to great lengths and even resort to tricks, but thee, along with many britons just want the you keys rivers to be cleaner again. well, even i admit it shopping can be fun, but it can also be intimidating. what, with all the attractions and distractions? so for people like joe well, who are vulnerable to anxiety issues such as autism, it can be particularly stressful, but a supermarket in the small swiss village of, or doff is part of a chain of stores that has adopted a new approach. cloud brightly lit and colorful. the average

supermarket can be tortuous for people with autism. a sensory overload hard to bear . so twice a week, the supermarket, missouri scales, everything down, lights, music, commercials. it's known as a quieter. the idea came from new zealand self, thus bonsai yaga sailing 9. i read about it 2 years ago in a magazine or a morton all i was so touched by the article, i found it really heart warming. and i thought if they can do to new zealand, we can do it in switzerland, a long time tom, and couldn't get those in the slide so. so without further ado hands rudy shellman and his brother introduced a quiet hour to across 12 stores for people like jewell, who now ventures into the supermarket with her support dog, rocky. he's allowed inside, even in the quiet our shopping used to be almost impossible for joel, but michael alice blight loud everything comes at me at the same volume,

speed and intensity. then i can't filter things out of the radios on the shelves are being stocked. and i can't block out what's happening house blended to well doesn't want special offers. she wants everything to stay in the same place. she always shops with a list and sticks to it. now mrs. elsa stayed the so difficult when they reorganized the shelves and felt i organized my shopping list so that i can just add half through. once. that way i minimize my stress is it even can dwell needs to come atmosphere because her brain processes sensory input differently with many of the customers also appreciate the quieter and so do the soft my with along with the customers and condon them here. florida. her the 3rd time they did it, i thought or is this a power tighter that smith i was quite confused idiots. esther named? it's nice that a lot less hectic taking of the stress with a low sensory our

a great idea that seems destined to catch on more widely fantastic idea. now let's go to the longer region of north western italy to meet him uncalled roberto and for so he's very unusual in fact unique in this day and age because as a doctor he makes house calls on horseback. he carries all his equipment in a saddle bag flung over the horses back when he rides out to do his daily rounds. and i'm sure you can imagine it's an important service that he provides. after all, the average age of his patience is 70 and some are over a 100. ah amber and roberto and inseparable duel from long gay in italy's piedmont region. but this is no pony dragon. they're on their way to work. you're fetching 3 mario.

a lot of fun for your state it go on that doctor on the horse as my assistant. she spoke my friend and the message that i bring to my patience. ah, the pair ride up and down the hilly terrain. as long as it's not an emergency doctor on 1st old prefers to ride to his appointments. so his 1st task of the day is to get his assistant ready for action. big towel on, but i i am morally sima. hello, gorgeous squad. little bon book with your book, like i brought you a little treat quite a bump. andra, a amber as my new horse, khalilah i got her 3 years ago for nicholas. the birthday. mandy covina could come a lot and maybe caught

a doctor that comes to tend to the sick on horseback is seen as someone who has time for his patients, medical venga corner, that fact alone that people know the doctor is taking the time to them. god does the patients good and makes them feel well cared for that manual, but center for cindy? read your swat will there till unfair. so has been a doctor for, for decades. 15 years ago, he decided to combine his hobby with his job. the response from patients has been very positive, but he has to be prepared for everything in monte cristo bizarre. to shackleton, the saddlebag has all the things i need from my appointment sick whitaker server that the now law firm, the other one contains everything i need to tie the horse up while i'm seeing my patient. mr. trisha corkalon. once the horse ran away, while i was examining some one starboard foot, she tore the snap hook and took right off dorna this got but to yeah, ah,

going from an easy tried to an elegant gallop umbrella. and roberto cover at least 80 kilometers a week a leg of of a horse and eliza strength, elegance, and vigor. one of those are all characteristics that my patient slack due to ill health or old age. so when i come with amber, it's as if we're bringing those attributes spectrum for our dong hello. hey, yes, i'll be with you in half an hour. i see a soon fairway roberto cares for some 1500 patients scattered across the hills and small villages of this famous wine region. the area had been a unesco world heritage site since 2014 wind rower our daily oh tarry is roberto his 1st patient of the day when john good

morning i good morning. yeah. how are you gonna then in good, nice you came to visit jerica. of course i did shop. just let me turn my horse off . i'll be with you shortly. harry was we'll be glad to day is just a routine checkup to monitor the patient's heart and blood pressure. but lamp and assure blood pressure is fine, but gentle. 120 over 80. that's okay. oh we forgot you over there. i'm always happy when he comes to visit. it's like in the old days when there weren't any cars big, there is something special about it. or not corella and his b breathin and then hold your breath for a moment. a lou mikka us and we are the only health care

center and all of italy where when you call a doctor that cover letter we sent in the cavalry free of charge. it was once said, no hour of life is wasted. that is spent in the saddle, roberto unfound so might just agree. lovely, wonderful and heart warming now if you've enjoyed the slightest edition of focus on your roku joined us next time brown. and so am i right and sure. ah ah. with ah, with

who i is the end of the pandemic in site. we show what it could look like. will return to normal. and we visit those who are finding it difficult.

with success in our weekly coven, 19 special. in 30 minutes on d. w. oh, we should a good nice on the islands in the middle of the immuno until the colonial masters came. they drove us out by night 1st i seem to exile. now we are homeless and who want only $1.00 fee to return to ah, in 75 minutes on d, w. sometimes a seed is all you need to allowed big ideas to grow. we're bringing environmental conservation to life with learning pass like global ideas. we will show you

how climate change and environmental conservation is taking shape around the world and how we can all make a difference. knowledge grows through sharing and download it now for free co, mike speaking, how can miss national hatred of a people be explained? a gold con, go a history of anti semitism, is a history of stigmatization and exclusion of religious and political power struggles in the christian christianity wants to come for that is why christianity use the figure of the jew as little tesla? it's a history of slender, of hatred and violence. is the bucky small arm then on the jews were considered servants of evil? we simply told you the most atrocious chapter. a 3rd of our people works. germinated. $6000000.00 jews like microbes to be annihilated. even 77

years after the holocaust hatred towards juice is still pervasive. a history of anti semitism starts july 2nd on d, w. mm. mm. oh ah, this is deed of the news live from berlin. the european union puts ukraine on the path to membership. european leaders of approved both ukraine and moldova as official candidates to join the e. u in future. also coming up international aid reaches.