body and soul as that dang leaders can construct or more than just buildings. he is the son of jewish holocaust survivors. how lucky that i was able to bill to jeffrey's in berlin. his architecture is a celebration of democracy and peace. and architect of emotions. daniel starts december 25th on d w. ah, hello and welcome to focus on your up. it is nice to have you here with us for today. so we're starting with a little story from portugal. one that's not only about making the most out of your

life, but more importantly about having the courage to try something that's new and difficult . this story takes place on the atlantic coast of portugal, which is a renowned surface paradise. that is especially true in winter when the huge waves attract athletes from all around the world. and if you want to follow some of the toughest surfers out there, then i'd like to introduce you to maria sousa. the young woman is more than happy to plunge head 1st into the waves of portugal, despite facing an extra hurdle in getting up on her board. she suffers from a nerve disorder, but on the beach of kirk, available near lisbon she together with the other members of her serf group, know that it is not the size of the wave that matters most. it's the feeling of writing it. ah, so thing in portugal, it's more than a sport. it's

a way of life. the atlantic's waves draw surface from across the globe to cook, available speech near lisbon up. oh, and 14 year old maria sosa is here too. for her, it's 2nd nature to jump into the waves despite her spastic paraplegia with some was so fee statler surfers. it's pretty hard if you haven't done it before. we've already got that up again. but it's no problem if you've been at it for years. it's on we ran kalia i seized has down syndrome and brain damage because he didn't get enough oxygen at birth buddies. 47 now and unstoppable. kaya and maria are involved in surf addict and association for adapted surfing reform. round b. e. i've been

a regular ever since. i 1st met the group with fargo before they head out into the water, the surface and help us warm up. yes ma'am, there lies. traina theresa brussels knows what it comes down to. having fun about being there and doing something for your body and mind everybody loves surfing. everybody loves to be at the beach. everybody loves the socialist. this isn't a therapy, not only for the surfers, but also father volunteers and their family. mm hm. and then it's time kaya and his friends want to finally ride some waves. oh, they're in the element out here on the surf board. they get a better feeling for what they truly capable of

doing. i knew that that's freedom, that you're in the water and you to the spring here. so you're so happy and you're free to do so bad because you're out in the sea as often and my and the trainer teresa also keeps experiencing new things with the group. i've learned a lot of disabled people. they made me sometimes think about my everyday life. what if i can blame with because of such a small thing? why? why should i can play? i should be grateful to be able to those things on mile and to go surfing with her work also entails a great deal of responsibility and things don't always go smoothly. alfonso just

got washed off his board. everyone pitches in including kaya. he wants to be a role model for people with disabilities or women for, for, for his mirror. i want to help others learn to search, even despite their disability move upper will preserve for 2 hours later, maria is exhausted, but she is already looking forward to next training session on koch availa speech wrestling. no, god, i dream is to learn to serve even better. so she stop. but then o find the way they are. i'm when i see the, the main thing is you see i want to keep going. blo funds in washing ah, kaya maria and the others say basically anyone can serve

and in portugal, surfing is a way of life. they don't want to die for putin. alexander and alexi are young russians, and they're against the ukraine war. and they've left their country because of it that you were deeply worried that they'd be used as cannon fodder on the front lines. and so they fled russian mobilization to the neighboring country of georgia . they're, they're trying to build a new life in the capital tbilisi, just like tens of thousands of other russians. but at the moment, that's not very easy. many georgians are opposed to the recent influx of russians largely due to a bitter past with their hostile next door neighbor. to please see the george in capital rushes war against ukraine has changed the south copies of the nation. the signs of popular opposition to putin's aggression are everywhere. now,

in their mid young men who have left russia fearful of being forced to join the war, their country is waging against ukraine, published it, but a dyson. some may call me a traitor in the wind, but i think those who go to war are the traders your origin. they betrayed their homeland and humanity. join it so who am i betraying vehicle? did they put in? yes, i'm betraying him. and now i've run away from him, hulu yet, but the only, i'm against this war. yes. so in this conflict and completely for ukraine, they want to send me to my death for putin's ambition. yet for this notorious russian world that so alien to me thought a new truth merit. ah, my name's alexander. i'm from st. petersburg and i'm 26 years old. logistics ah, alexander worked as a late operator in st. petersburg. when russia invaded ukraine in february,

he joined the protest rally and was detained. when prudent ordered the mobilization in late september, he decided it was time to leave. he packed his things and with this is all i live in. now he p community here. oh that this is my bike. i cycled over the russian george and border on a defendant. he had to wait at the border for 2 days. will of course now of the sting of, whoops, i was afraid they wouldn't let me out of russia chiseled over all along the q police were checking papers and threatening to issue conscription orders or something, but i didn't care. i just wanted to reach my destination by you guys. okay. the level of the for the white blood, the thing legal for fit of thin dish lingering. when we crossed the border, the sun rose and what these mountains freedom once in tbilisi, alexander was in luck, stating that he, tim. oh,

this is uncle enrique ideas. the what? no gas in a gave us clothes for them. i feel me wrong. i feel sorry for them. they don't want to fight sort of dye for putin. navarro mobilization, forced him to come here on these laden think it will come to this. people running away like rats from us, inclusion for we are on the phone. they're all intelligent and nice home group. i don't know who's staying in russia. unlike baltic countries in finland, georgia hasn't closed its borders to russians. many georgians take a skeptical view of this, what it couldn't supporters or even spies, they're entering the country unchecked. is such a big change in the amount of leave i hear rise all constantly from all over the plan is long. lilian with 2 types filed with having bay these 2 parts of georgia. i see on the pin on your agenda is

toys with 1st full when day coming to communicate with you. talk with you the starting talk you too in the russian bro, it's a georgia we can pick anguish, right? is sorry, respect was so rude or national meaning is going to cause i appreciate that i'm a guest here and that my country is also guilty because of its actions against your job. then you're good. okay. i understand that this could be a trigger for some georgians, and that they might be suspicious of me because of that. oh gosh to what? but up to now everyone's been friendly, his choice come yeah. ah yes, all the lucille, my name is alexi and i am 32 years old. yes, i want chic. saudi in the traverse republic alexi was the professional soldier until 2016 and experienced gunner he was needed on frontline yarbrough juvenile. i

was surprised that the conscription order wasn't sent immediately by just coming up . it arrived after i gone is that i put a slow, my sister sent me a photo and telegram on them and they were too late. you won't get bongo rama. he's been in georgia for a few weeks now trying to make the best of things. after his years in the military, alexi wanted nothing more to do with the russian army. he preferred the life of the migrant worker. he simply doesn't understand compatriots who don't resist the mobilization, monica of the concerned if they don't imagine what awaits them in war, or any pumps got schooled lower of everything. there is just chaos. yang, rotting weapons, drinking, brawling with you're just seeing it brings tears to your eyes. more. yes, troubles are going to bleed, sent me to the front. there's only one way out of goodies to be taken prisoner,

that your liam neeson again. ah, his mother would have preferred him to fight but you will much shane bye shed. she would even go to war in my place. that will in motherland nozzle not. she believes me to an u. s. want to conquerors, and i said that the good, what you're seeing is a huge lie all of the t v. he feel safe airing his political views, and ga, alexey wants to go back to russia, but only after the end of the war and to regime change. alexander has made a number of friends in tbilisi. he still living at in the leak is, in is looking for work girlfriend will be joining him soon. also into lisi

alexys looking for new accommodation and keeping afloat with casual work. his mother has now accepted his decision to leave russia. they talk, but not about the war. rushes war in ukraine has not just triggered an energy crisis here in europe. it is meant that normal europeans simply have less money in their pockets due to inflation. as tony, as residents have been hit particularly hard with the loss of purchasing power in the baltic state, at a record high of 20 percent. for estonians like the family of marya tin, that has meant months of quiet suffering and saving. but even if the heating has to be turned down or the sunday roast cancelled, many people there are okay with making those sacrifices this winter out of solidarity with ukraine. i making an omelet is a pleasure. maria teens family enjoys together. father erin and daughter elvira

watches 4 year old theodore seasons. the eggs in the past. the family also like to order something for lunch, but neither coffers are tighter. it has the even notice it. when they make an omelet, millikan who had a 10 eggs, goes into an omelet breakfast for the family, but the price has gone up a lot. nobody get those with benefits go to look over. the prices have quadrupled in estonia, where people earn much less than in germany. marya works half days at university, in tulsa, where she earns $850.00 euros a month. her husband aaron is a photographer with in the fall he raised his phoenix to make ends meet. you run over to him as a signer and they said ok, so i so the money melting away, their little dollars you work, but there's nothing left. so i had to charge more or less. yeah. wow. you know, the cinder, the electricity and heating bills in particular, eat up the budget,

are and watches an app or the prices rise and cost him more every month. depending on the contract, the government helps out with a few cents per kilowatt hour. no more, but the family remains calm. then i was in today's the my, my rebel now against the state are specific companies would be wrong. me like most of the problems are complex, flabbergasted, that the, the lucas and blame who would like to regime in russia has caused this energy crisis. what i'm using energy as a weapon. mit am, i was a boy in energy and just got off the rail. ivana ha ha ha! winter has settled into a stony as capital talon. dark cold months, lie ahead. in the supermarkets, the selection is as white as ever. but estonia has to import many of these goods. the increased prices are pass along at a record high of over 20 percent. inflation is hitting every one. but not everyone

controlled routes on their own. for the state is helping thousands of ukrainian refugees and many needy citizens. no last month's the requests of quadrupled to say least the cost of all a all i haven't seen such a rise since the financial crisis of 2008. it pleases us of ashley escape. that is cash only the latest figures show the elderly and pensioners are especially vulnerable, the beam, honest at this taker as ah, so that most single pensioners live in relative poverty, said she with bent those on a meagre pension, often come here to talon senior, self help association. the place fills up every day at lunchtime, like a meal can be had here for a few cents. a liter over handicrafts in the next room. they often talk about their situation. in

when women like in fica used to work in a textile factory to day, they have to somehow you go to living muscle support it. ne, covered the live. i always watch for special offers gus at my door. if i had to pay full price, i couldn't get by you maria, back on my caps and scarves to the ukrainians, see no crying in estonia. we know how terrible it is. there is the meant. they are mad. this is our war to quick, quick all our son, but again, we'd rather put up with inflation than bomb johnny glee format. but many in estonia share the sentiment. few protests against the government, who not everyone can count on e, pensioners have received a one time subsidy and families receive more child support. the rest just have to manage, says the minister from the pro business reform party. oh. when

is less than other domino are not estonians are resilient in even healthy or not always. lakewood b, a vast majority are just trying to cope with the situation here that in we as the state try to help bigger more child support. health. marya teens family a little too. but they only get real relief if they turned on their heating in the winter of reasoning. i missed the home god was on them. and now we just put on a woollen sweater and woollen socks and we didn't do that. you had to think about others there. then when you think about how they're living in ukraine, you know, you can't complain about 19 degrees in the house. nathan, good, you, mickey sag was what, what the next is got with their resilience. they may have already made it through the hardest part. forecasts are optimistic that inflation will slew in the coming months. even though some european countries are seeing a slight increase in corona numbers. again, many people are taking

a much more relaxed approach to the pandemic. like in strasburg, france, where life has pretty much gone back to normal after all the locked downs and the restricted contacts. but some of those rules have had a pretty undesirable side effect. and if you're thinking the stories about gaining weight in a way, you're right, but it's not about french people packing on the pounds, which happened to many of us during those locked downs. it's about some animals doing that and multiplying in massive numbers. the rats are out in france during the corona pandemic. they've been thriving in almost all major cities. pest control and rac hatcher, teary border works nonstop. he goes from seller to seller, laying out the poisoned rat bait. oh, come on by what will can't have weak nerves in this job or 2 at any moment, a rack can jump out at you. and there are many more rats than before. the lock

downs, the rec catches were confined to their homes, leaving the rodents to breathe freely. see, it was a rat beers $8.00 to $10.00 young every 2 to 3 months. and 2 years, that's more than 100000 rats. it's a never ending battle to lift sofa in the picturesque alsatian metropolis of strasbourg, the rats have also enjoyed optimal conditions due to the pandemic. numbers have surged and they are everywhere. so it's a plague. lassie. strasburg is actually quite clean. but it's a pity that the residents aren't more attentive, so if it, i mean the rats must be annihilated. i hate them for they frighten me. girl. the infestation is particularly severe here in the poor quarters of strossberg. would have weighed about she them over there. where they're everywhere,

we always am off. when you walk through the neighborhood, you see them in every corner, in the european capital of strasburg, the capital of human rights in almost hospital is a disgrace. accessing our money to buy new uses, just tranquil on like this. you can have people living with rats and cockroaches. how me the boot gotta, has been living in this neighborhood for 30 years. he is furious with the city or forty's. love it. these are the only people here have to live among rats. seal is all for the wires and cars and people have already been bitten. it was of in the city council, they're discussing whether rats are really harmful or if they belong in our ecosystem. this is full dinner. these people live on another planet. ok, other crazy use for one of the to the clinic, destroys all was on that swan yes, it did. boot gotta strikes back by filming the rats like here on a car engine and posting the videos online. his social media success is

forcing the city of st. i spoke to act counsellor bonham. also, les doesn't want to exterminate the rats, but rather to forced them to stay under ground starting at this rubbish dump. yeah, the all of us overhauls there by which the rats came through with. so you could up this great, and now they can't get out. sure. of you, larger person, but as many residents complain it doesn't get rid of the rats. the city council claims the problem is homemade because the french cooked more during the locked down life included. there is a corona effect where pascall people were cooking much more home and throwing at leftovers the dishes, the restaurants, recluse. it contributed to the rat infestation perfect. we'll know you next. what was wondering if an oven and that applies to the whole country. it's estimated to

day that for every french city dwellers, there are almost 2 rats. and now they even have a political lobby. the strasburg city council is divided into pro and contra right groups. season you move. the animals can't just go back to living in the wild to do it so they have no place to go. it because he go in here, but when he was only been christian, the real question is how to help the people not only, not how to make the rat feel more welcome. dr. munoz and to get gather. that's exactly what exterminator t agree. bulldog thinks he has just completed further training and more efficient methods for combating rats going. there will always be. rats actually lose more. there are so many houses. social housing estate saunter will always be needed. however you truly tale. and now bowden and his colleagues are putting their new knowledge into practice. so french rats could be facing tough times ahead.

for our last story today, i would like to introduce you to mo, he's a refugee from sudan, has made a new life for himself in england. in fact, he's now so famous that he's recognized on the streets there. mo is a social media star, and in this case, he's one who's actually admired. that's because he's using his craft to become a role model for charity and kindness. the strangers, especially in the run up the christmas. hi guys, my name is mohammed ali. people caught me mo, i'm from, but darby and phil. hey, got homeless. he grew up in sudan and was cutting here there to 11 years old, far from having his own salary in england. today. he's in sheffield. sustainable. sarah poly, mcfield 21 my best. yeah. he fled political persecution in his native sedan. in 2016,

some of his family were killed during the 25 genocide. it's been a long, hard road to a safe life. so i lost my family and then i used to live on those 3 in the village. so a nice to get help from the fable. like what i'm doing here, how homeless. that's why when i came here, i guess, except for people recognize and thank you. with 1500000 followers movies a social media celebrity. he posted his 1st video on tick tock last december and his content went viral in no time. his selflessness moves many crazy followers on command on we was give me like more like power. i can do more, more videos more, more like on her cards homeless like it.

yeah. didn't hold a fine results. and a happy moment for darren's and moved. who plans to continue doing good with his craft next year? a nice reminder for all of us to look after the needy this holiday season. that's it from focus on europe and on behalf of the entire team here. thanks for joining us. stay healthy. and until next time, goodbye ah ah, ah, ah, with

into the conflict zone with sebastian, russia, jewish community has been watching the war in ukraine with mounting along. but most of the island fearing stay to reprisals for senior figure in the community. hope

that silence was immoral. the think us go to read. we want all jews in russia to get out. now. the conflict zone in 30 minutes on d. w. is our waste getting flush all the way to the arctic circle. and that's exactly the question of filmmaker from dresden it wants to answer. he builds floating tracking devices and releases them into the elbow river. where will the current take them? the chronicle of an experiment. the north dress in 75 minutes on d w. o a . what our sports all about in winning fighting

scoring. we say they're about never giving up the most exciting sport. stories about people passion and their dr. sports life every weekend on d w. oh, hello guys. this is the 77 percent. the platform for africa. you beat issues and share ideas. ah, you know, or this channel, we are not afraid to happen delicate the tub because population is growing. and young people clearly have the solution, the future with the

77 percent. every weekend on d, w. american home, any portion of love us her in the world right now, the climate change. if any, off the story, this is much less the way from just one week. how much was going to really get we still have time to go. i'm going with his subscriber all morning was like a this is dw news, and these are our top stories. a turkish court has sentence the mayor of his temple to nearly 3 years in prison. effectively banding him from running again for political office.