howard china is part of a whole system which believes his time has come. he relies on an authoritarian system of total surveillance on economic expansion without scruples and again and again, she provokes and threatens with military aggression. the chinese president believes his way is for superior than that of western democracy. china's president changing ping starts july 30th on d, w. a with hello and welcome to focus on europe. thank you for joining us for this week's edition. let me begin by saying that i am really thankful this studio here is air conditioned because outside the sweltering heat wave continues across europe. people are suffering from

the heat with countries continually reporting record high temperatures. and while fires are igniting not just in southern europe, but in central european countries, and even in the typically cooler northern parts, heat, waves, and drought each, a consequence of human induced climate change are becoming bigger problems every year. some of the consequences of climate change have almost biblical proportions like on the italian island of sardinia, where the province surrounding ortelia has been plagued by locusts since 2019 rising temperatures have pushed up locust numbers and come summer huge swarms reek havoc on wild life, including on farmers crops, months of hardware can be wiped out in a matter of hours and the question is, can these insects be stopped aah!

of barren landscape. and the last stragglers of a recent locust swarm, the insects left a trail of devastation in their wake. also want farmer anthony hello, browse pastures ah, what on the much there is nothing left. look at the soil and wondered they devoured everything. what look, look here. see how many locus there are? well like one to cover with to so slurry tank is full of locusts. anton hello, had to move his 800 goats to the surrounding countryside as there was nothing left for them to graze on here. the insect even ate the hay for the winter, which will mean higher costs on a job that's already hardly profitable craft. but normally it's impossible to calculate the damages, the constant o'clock. we've had locust invasion since 2019 recover, but it's never been as bad as this year. so like was to live in a request on north brookfield,

an estimated 50000 hector's of land in sardinia have been effected. the epicenter of the plague is the tier, so river valley. so not that it's only the 5th, but this whole area has been ravaged by the locust oscillate. the gallow figure of spunk element they. they moved along the river with a flood plains below this mountain range for ideal conditions for local seal ali. a soap talk was that got they? nothing like that. a little mardina, gavin owen, fabio worked for the regional agriculture agency. part of their job is to try to gain control over the past. really kick with thought here this female is laying her eggs sweet because our fe mina, she digs a whole clear said outside of a nuclear then and go the eggs we met they leeward for every female deposits up to 30 eggs 3 times each season will take talk is stripped of them. these are the pods they laid their eggs in africa, 3 next to each other. call the internal dish inside that the eggs. if the locus

anthony aline, the life cycle last from april to july, harlem at the lulu, they lay eggs 3 times, and then they die. that bone of both evolved if we morial. locusts will even eat other dead locusts, fabio says proper ploughing of the land is an important tool for combating invasions that it would have an effect. but it may ploughing is important in order to get the eggs out of the ground and onto the surface. they, because only the can they be eaten by the natural predators that birds, pigs, wild boys, or other on the horse from yale, yet that i should m. break any miley, i shall, ne woody. arturo cocoa from the university of, sorry, research is locusts. he explains multiple factors contribute to locust infestation, which began on sardinia in 2019 sequence man. they can be, i mean, to climate change plays a big role you mall because we now have long, dry periods eatable receive. on top of that son know more and more land has been abandoned, tanya called him. it's no longer being cultivated or managed to luck with the bazzi

on. i've been very thought. mm. the use of chemicals is only effective against young locusts. plus, there are large areas where pesticides cannot be used anyway because they're devoted to organic farming. researchers are therefore relying on natural predators . first and foremost, this beetle malebranche variable us up on that, but then also a boat that we must do whatever it takes to protect and propagate the locus natural predators soon. and their la had that. but i thought the only way we can control vis infestation would red linkedin seat that request they'd be questing for us. that's your garvey, no. and fabio collect the beatles as they are currently the most successful weapon for preventing future locust plagues. that born in lou over arlene, this is a delay, its eggs in the hole where the locusts have their egg salad. in the linda beat, love i eat the locusts eggs. they lay they were. we tried to capture as many beetles as possible in places where they're not needed federal and used to where we

need their help out only over my guy, the tennis channel, or general the male in 2021 sardine as regional government made a plan to combat the locust plagues. this includes an app for reporting swarms, organic pesticides, and farmers being required to plow their land even now gabino and fabio are working hard so that next summer their native island will be spared from the insects. new many european countries and the us are supplying ukraine with tanks, rocket launchers, and rifles to resist russia's invasion. and humanitarian aid is also being sent to ukraine ins. one thing they're lacking though, are some very specific kinds of cars altering and automobiles like su, views, and pickups. these vehicles are mainly needed near battle lines to bring food or ammunition or to evacuate the wounded. ja checks you go. bater is bringing such

vehicles to ukraine. the initiative is funded by donations and for him and his friends, the more cars, the better. ah, erie corpus is inspecting the actual suspension here and walsall. he's helping to get this old korean off rhoda and shake the vehicle will soon be heading to ukraine. to go to check the suspension. it's not sitting right. like if the used car was purchased with donations, the men overhauled it for free. it's to be handed over to ukraine's armed forces at no charge on that. we're looking for off road vehicles that can be put to use at the front. but for example, to transport the wounded him on a daily they should have all wheel drive solutions. puzzles, well known polish journalist and author yacht, se coogel barbara came up with the idea for this initiative. since the invasion

began. he has been in the ukraine several times and eventually started collecting donations. where performs with ya, but the good i'm a reporter and the job is my life. look at the i and since i'll be going over there quite often i wanted the ukrainians to get something out of it. but that, that was, it was so i launched this fundraising initiative and was able to buy for vehicles and cleaning that one total and he learned what was needed most during his trips visual talkie, we are filling the major powers and tanks and artillery. but they don't have enough everyday vehicles and they really need them in my own. i realize there's no point in sending good new cars because they'll have a short lifespan in ukraine centric approach. i bring these cars to the troops of the 24th mechanized brigade and the dunbar. cl, dr. google, i have friends fighting there. has they received a beautiful new car from the u. k. that only survived for 2 days. one gotcha. or the south pink with some awkward novel dangling of duty, which i'm glad the evelyn of soccer a native ukrainian is packing donations from a canadian aid organization to be brought along very,

very expensive am and quite badly needed because suitable for anybody for the soldiers or for the general population, and we've thrown a couple of a toys for kids, just, you know, they're, they're going through a war. and so just a couple of things that the box had a little bit of space, so we put it in and, and here and is a drawing that one of the children in canada had gone for ukraine. so we'll be passing on a couple of these for 84 year old father and other relatives, us still and key f. it's a source of constant worry and very saddened and it's bewildering to me that in the 21st century we have something like this going on. he was also urgently needed in ukraine. the country is suffering fuel shortages, so yup. second, evelyn will be taking supplies, both for themselves and as of donation. jackie

co. emma is up here tomorrow. the 1st time i went to ukraine, there were only 2 billing stations along the entire road from levine to newport. but yet that's about 900 kilometers. one would only let you buy 20 leaders of the other 10 and even for that, ukrainians had to stand in line for 24 hours a little stretch. so you had to stay in line around the clock just to get 10 leaders of fuel dishes to flavor. everything's ready to go. fuel reserves, donations of medical supplies, and 2 vehicles, engines. okay, so far we'll see 290000 kilometers on the vehicle with both the it's a 5 hour drive to the ukrainian border and a few more hours to levine. a long journey for the old car and it's passengers. the next day they've almost reached their destination yet sick hands over the remaining fuel reserves and the vehicle on

a parking lot on the outskirts of town. we can't say exactly where for security reasons, even for the tally will help make sure the vehicles reach the forces on the front line. nissan altima hotel, michelle boys have as many vehicles as they can get a bomb pickup trucks, it all will light off road. has woody on that all wheel. many buses are all great options because taken great respect for the poles and all the other europeans who are helping us scar the bomb higher together will win amazon will next week. yeah. like hulu. vada plans to bring another 2 vehicles, julian crane, or a country fighting to defend its independence. since the beginning of the russian invasion around, one 3rd of the ukrainian population has had to flee. millions have found shelter abroad, and among them are sasha and her 17 year old daughter ana, who are staying with a host family in berlin. now on paper they're safe,

but how safe you actually feel when you're starting a new life in a foreign country and facing all of the challenges that that brings. how do you deal with making a fresh start? while many of those you care about remain in a war torn country, our reporter accompanied sasha and the honor as they took their 1st steps in the german capital. with rushes, violent invasion of a crane has forced millions of people to flee their homes. and sasha are now refugees and germany now wishing chrissy with a hearts are still in ukraine to suit in mind that he argued that my friend stayed enchanting. he, i think my classmates would be too much to pretty much i can't bear the thought that they did not have the chance to escape what i, even though they wanted to what britain. it's terrifying

to bring him home because i can't help them reach him from which in anna was finishing up high school such a work to the call center. the war completely changed their lives when beaten us was and as soon as they bombed us from day one new deal. so the very 1st week we moved to my mother's house and hid them in order. we were in the basement the whole time. a porcelain was valued as lead shot. the bombing started timothy after a while and we could tell what kind of shell had fallen just by the sound. those 1st days. we knew a lot of people who died in the street midway civilians, ordinary people, our neighbor, prophesied in our 80. 0, but after the 3rd attempt, another session managed to escape. they now live with a host family, amberlynn o. jones or your parents. listen to to honestly humans or social being with if

someone falls down next to you, you feel empathy and help them out. it's only natural for yourself. so since manon sasha have signed up for a german class, me the courses offered by the church for free. i think it i love and do you have children e i 2 children. well i the name of your wife, your husband. i morton isn't who i am single with. oh okay, thank you very much. no dish with though with we want to started your money. i play at them, so they play a, it's why we are losing that. also, it's your money,

ovarian, which is not just the current situation that weighs on them. they are also still grieving the death of anna's father. he died fighting separatists in 2017 as well. no, sir, as i stand here, i think of my husband ranch until he died very early in the swoon. we'd found our peace with it's a bit. was that all got my decision, but all those painful feelings are back again. i mostly. it's all so sound j. shannon and sasha want to say thanks to their hosts. so they are cooking a typical ukrainian dish that also brings up memories of their own lives earlier. and i want to see my grand and eat, grinned grandma,

as is the 4th. it is the the most beautiful thing in the world. yeah. and her, me, my friend, and talk about, oh, how is a feeling? and ellison is fine, or maybe something is terrible. and just took musical over all they have gotten used to their new life. and they get along well with their host family to the good one that it feels like we're having dinner with our own family. we're already entirely comfortable without german family. it's like being home got dormer tooth, and berlin is also growing on them. la couldn't yet most of this and there lot of different on there are new plans in the making. i want to to come back to ukraine to see my family

members. but i think about leaving in terms of my life in the future. because i like this country and you've thornburg and i'm too old to completely overturn my former life. and my relatives are in ukraine. i left my house to i want emma to decide for herself whether she wants to stay in germany or returned to ukraine. you leave that, but i want to go home sunday so that when the war is over, i will definitely do that. that's in at this deal. but as to when that might be, for now, mother and daughter have no idea. daughter, good deal ludovic. muhammad z ahead is a scholar of islam, a mosque founder, and he's openly gay. he was reported to be the 1st french muslim to be sibling married to another man. and while many would argue that was his right, there are those who say islam and homosexuality are not compatible. even in marcia

in the south of france, whereas i had lives, he has allies in his fight against prejudices. but the path he's chosen is long and risky. law one on law mom ludovic, mohammed's ahead, is praying for tolerance and he's happy to do so with a woman. that in itself is already pretty unusual. but the real surprise is that the muslim scholar is openly homosexual. and fighting for gays to be accepted in islam or the vis hipaa was effect. this can't go on it for the others too much violence, pressure and degradation gone off it on making people pretend we don't exist. sometimes there's even physical violence in our families and community healthy off . i mean, on the come know, there, after studying to become an, a mom, back in his native country of algeria saw, had fled here to mar, say, in southern france. in his new home he came out as homosexual and founded an

islamic institute. these days he also officiate gay weddings i've flown cur massey, that hello told me a thank you for coming her. she decided she dish. i'm very honored to take part in the ceremony. yes, it's every money. it's about acceptance and standing one's ground on it officially . same sex marriages are not allowed in islam bo was refer. congratulations, bob, book 30. that's why sammy moms in france have threatens i head and pitted muslims against him. is i to follow up with him? so people are very angry without knowing me. it's crazy that people can hate you. i want to see you dead without even knowing you. bought it saw father kenneth, according to one survey, over 2 thirds of muslims in france, have prejudices against homosexuals of the will. muslims,

we don't have that kind of thing. need be me. we behave with decency i i she no dish are referred to death. her 6 yet to for us to be homosexual and do such things. their mom is a terrible sind sang and that is why and muslims don't do that. he fe, kuth, emmys. you my, if, if i sound but i had wants to belong to the muslim community. he's already gone on 5 pilgrimages to the holy muslim city of mca, he wants to show that homosexuals can be good muslims. i said the company was important to me and those to be physically present been show to be exist and are part of the community. please call her back to let them know that we have the same practices and that for no less human or spiritual, just because we're of, as they put it different for the on the whole. the

a mom is calling for open discussion about a new reformed islam with more tolerance towards minorities. he moderates talks on social media, and today's gases are a catholic clergyman and so lima, one of few women who are a moms countries. she said that you get them. so asia, farts is sure that you're well better that way. that says we have created man, we have created the way, and we have created something in between. so lima values her brother in faith and says he is breaking new ground. what linda vic is doing is he is creating an institution. he's institutionalizing and new, modern i am inclusive islam and this is new. there is nobody offering those tools because i had also wants to protect those who are in danger because of their sexual orientation like this group of homosexual refugees.

some have had their lives threatened back in their home countries and their fellow believers here don't always show them tolerance either what is time to sound the alarm for toner and the mom has been supporting this artistic work for years here. the group is putting on a dance performance oh, for comp, often it makes me happy to see how much good at those to participants boxes. and it's interesting for the audience too, because some struggle to understand these identities other, hong with just a reality was the audience discovers here through our to before. and that's a wonderful thing to go to the cash off to think. as i said, amicable in order to win over more people for his cause,

ludovic mohammad that had wants to share this with others. he's determined to keep at it despite the risks. we want to sure there are moments when you're afraid of her, but not really. and that's not going to hold us back to buy food teams. i thought there are unfortunately only a few wild rivers left here in europe. the usa in albania, is one of the last that still flows untamed and free. it's a unique ecosystem that has remained largely undisturbed by human influences. and it's now been decided that it should stay that way. the government in toronto wants to turn the v o c and all of its tributaries into europe's 1st wild river national park. that's music to the ears of nature, lovers, and environmentalists. although they don't quite trust the government's plans.

the vio, so river and its tributaries are a rarity in europe as they are still largely wild. biologist, all c mika has been fighting to keep it that way for 12 years, and to keep the river safe from hydro. electric plants. construction had already started at the size of $3000.00 dams that are being projected in the balkans. so 90 percent of these dams on the so called small scale hydras, actually they are bringing almost nothing to the energy grid, but at the same time they are having the huge ecological footprint. albania, power grid is supplied almost entirely by hydro electric plants, but they can't meet demand. to keep the vio, san tapped. environmentalists have been calling for a national park for years. it's actually our last chance to steal, contain the free flowing river, not for the banana law, but it's on a european gun context. finally, in early june, the albanian government promised to establish a national park,

looked at kids. no new power plants are to be built on the visa, but we can't speak of a national park where there will be only plants and animals bar. there'll be economic development for people as well. the music went on me, but he is in jan. pearce, acres. his comin more local residues question, the projects integrity, ackman, belzoni of his rafting tours for backpackers, for years he's been campaigning to legally protect the viola for gentle tourism in the region and no dams. i got done robina, we, we have not all the confidence to believe what the government see because what the government now say they can change it. essentially, the views as future depends on whether it's protection as a national park has signed into law. and on that, those in power let this river stay wild. that brings us to the end of this edition of focus on europe. if you missed anything or want to share a report,

you can always find our program on our website. it's d w dot com. thank you for watching and on behalf of the entire team. try to stay cool. see you next week and good bye for now. ah ah, ah ah ah

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

a weekly coping 19 special. in 19 minutes on d, w, i was sexual assault survivor, them to step out and say the truth. her women in asia apathy, inexcusable. nothing can stop me. that is out with, with this week. ah, go, mike speaking, how can this passionate hatred of a people be explained? a gold hon. where does it come from? come also that the history of anti semitism, he's a history of stigmatization and exclusion of religious and

political power struggles interest in christianity wants to convey that is why christianity use the figure of the jew as any parent, some hope to sla. it's a history of slender of hatred and violence is the body's will then on the jews were considered servants of evil. we simply told you the most atrocious chapter under, within 6 years, a 3rd of our people were exterminating 6000000 jews, like microbes to be annihilated. even 77 years after the holocaust hatred towards jews is still pervasive. a history of anti semitism this week on d. w. ah ah

ah ah ah ah, ah, this is d, w is live from berlin. the european central bank increases interest rates for the 1st time in 11 years, hoping to put the brakes on runaway inflation in the euro zone. and today's increase is just the stuff also on the program, italy enters a new period of political uncertainty as prime minister mario drug resides inside the country, on course for an early election.