susan, dangerous. people overseas that yeah, we are here. we're patrolling the area. now, the courts are being re, shuffles, has the best headed russia is quite active economic in the arctic. if you see something that looked like james bond, it has to do with the military. starts december 23rd on d w. ah ah 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 way strong surface from across the globe to cock avail of speech

near lisbon up another 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 film was so feast that we're sorry 1st, it's pretty hard if you haven't done it before, we go to the gov. lead up again, but it's no problem if you've been at it for years. it's on. we ran kaya 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 several before they head out into

the water, the surface and help us warm up. yeah, member ice traina, theresa abrazzo us 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. i in the element out here on the surf both 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 just bring him here. so you're so happy and you're free to do so that because you're out in the c. s often than mine ah. and the trainer teresa also keeps experiencing new things with the group. i've learned a lot of these able people. they've made me sometimes think of all 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 my own 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 glue for, for m, is repeat, i want to help others learn to search, even despite their disabilities. move approved, growth will preserve for 2 hours later, maria is exhausted, but she's already looking forward to next training session on cock avail of speech . and miss william delgado. my dream is to learn to serve even better. so she stop. but then o find the way they are. i move in, i see the, the main thing as you see, i want to keep going. well funding was 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 pollutants, 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. but the state, but it doesn't mean some may call me a traitor. and when we do, but i think those who go to war are the traders that origin, their betraying their homeland and humanity joy to it. so who am i betraying? you're going to the person. yes, i'm betraying him. now. i've run away from him. it'll, it'll mm. yeah, 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 emily truth merit. ah, my name's alexander, i'm from st. petersburg and i'm 26 years old. with alexander worked as a late operator in st. petersburg. when russia invaded ukraine in february,

he joined a protest rally and was detained. when putin ordered the mobilization in late september, he decided it was time to leave. he packed his things as well as if he is all i live in now, hippy community here. all of that, this is my bike. i cycled over the russian georgian border on i depended, he had to wait at the border for 2 days. will of course, now with a string of, whoops, i was afraid they wouldn't let me out of russia shows a little show all along the q to lease were checking papers and threatening to issue conscription orders from them. but i didn't care. i just wanted to reach my destination by you guys will cut the liberal of the book, the white post within the roof of phil. phil. traditionally, when we crossed the border, the sun rose and these mountains freedom once in tbilisi, alexander within luck. that in the detail of this is uncle enrique idea as to what

play no gas in a gave us clothes. but unless you move 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 or we'll go from there all intelligence and nice group. i don't know who's staying in russia. unlike baltic countries and finland, georgia has been 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. a big change in the amount of labor here, right? as long as you really like sometimes with would be having babies to a part of georgia with your generous toys. this

people 1st full when they coming to communicate with you. talk with you the starting talk. get you in the russian bro, it's a georgia we can pick anguish, right? is sorry, respect was so rude or national media is been you mind, cause i appreciate that i'm a guest here and that my country is also guilty because of its actions against georgia linear look at them. i understand that this could be a trigger for some georgians, and that they might be suspicious of me because of that gospel. but up to now everyone's been friendly, his choice from you. ah, yes, all the lucille, my name is alexi and i'm 32 years old. years i wanna ship like saudi in the traverse republic. alexi was a professional soldier until 2016 and experienced gunner he was needed on the front line. yeah, boy did we'll. i was surprised that the conscription order wasn't sent immediately

by guests coming up. it arrived after i gone, is that up at a slow? my sister sent me a futon telegram and then they were too late. you won't get bunker graham. ah. 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 concern you prefer not to imagine what awaits them in war or any of them scold? lower everything they are is just chaos. being rushing weapons, drinking, brawling, busiest. 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 might shy by shade, she would even go to war in my place, literally, motherland mazama. she believes me to an u. s. want to conquer us. i said, was that the good? what you're seeing as a huge lie all of the tv. he feels safe airing. his political views in georgia. alexi 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 is 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 had no 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. estonia 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 canceled, many people there are okay with making those sacrifices this winter out of solidarity with ukraine. i making an omelet is a pleasure mario, teens, family enjoys together. father erin and daughter, elvira watches 4 year old tier door 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, mi latino had a 10 eggs goes into an omelet breakfast for the family, but the price has gone up of what nobody goes with. i think of it is going to look over. the prices have quadrupled in estonia, where people earn much less than in germany. maya works half days at university in tulsa, where she earns $850.00 euros a month. her husband erin is a photographer with in the fall, he raised his phoenix to make ends meet him on over to him as a signer. they said thought so i saw the money melting away, the little dose you work, but there's nothing left. so i had to charge more or less. yeah, for me not the cinder, the electricity and heating bills in particular, eat up the budget are and watches and 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. we like most of the problems are complex. florida that, that the syllabus i blame you would like to regime in russia has caused this energy crisis. when i'm using energy as a weapon, mit am, i was a boy in energy and guess got the braille ana. ha, ha ha. winter has settled into a stony as capital talon. dark cold months, lie ahead. in the supermarkets, the selection is as wide as ever, but estonia has to import many of these goods. the increase prices are passed along at a record high of over 20 percent. inflation is hitting every one, but not everyone controlled route on their own. the steep is helping thousands of

ukrainian refugees and many needy citizens in the last month the requests of quadrupled sally are cautious. 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 on the statistic guy had ha, so most the single pensioners live in relative poverty, said she would bent on those on a meagre pension, often come here to talon senior self help association. the place fills up every day at lunchtime. 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 biker used to work in a textile factory to day,

they have to somehow go to living muscle, or at ne, covered the live. i always watch for special offers. that's at my door. if i had to pay full price, i couldn't get by you maria, back on my caps and scarves, the ukrainians see no grind in estonia. we know how terrible it is. there is there, madame, this is our war to quick, quick or last on. but again, we'd rather put up with inflation than bomb johnny glee. oh man. i many, in estonia, share the sentiment, few protests against the government, who not everyone can count on eat. 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 or not? is stallions are resilient in even healthy or not always liquid. but he

a vast majority or just trying to cope with the situation here that in we as the state try to help up, it'll have more child support helps marya teens family a little too. but they only get real relief if they turned on their heating in the winter. i reasoning, i miss the hon garza now. we just put on a woollen sweater and woollen socks and we didn't do that. you had to think about others. then when you think about how they're living in ukraine, you know, you can't complain about 19 degrees in the house, isn't good. you met keith. i was on a what this axis 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 strossberg,

france were 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 t agree. border works nonstop. he goes from seller to seller, laying out the poisoned rat bait for a more thought or can have weak nerves in this job. 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. 2 years, that's more than 100000 rats. it's a never ending battle. see little fha 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, lusty strasbourg 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 up. i'll see them over there where they're everywhere. we always room off when you walk through the neighborhood,

you see them in every corner. in the european capital of strasburg, the capital look is arising. almost husband is a disgrace. accessing our money to buy new uses. just wrangle 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 authorities. love it is arguable me. people here have to live among rational is all 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 . because this'll dinner is these people live on another planet. ok, are there, chris? are you so one of the chicken clinic destroys all those on that. swan yes. and i didn't do 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 force them to stay under ground. starting at this rubbish dump. yes, they are about overhauls there by which the rats came through with. so you could up this great, and now they can't get out. lou. lou lou, lou audio 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 cook to more, during the locked down life included there is a corona effect as well as color people were cooking much more home and throwing it leftovers. radishi, the restaurants, recluse. it contributed to the rat infestation. perfect. you all know you next on to was wondering if anyone and that applies to the whole country. it's estimated to day that for every french city dweller, there are almost 2 rats. and now they even have

a political lobby. the strasburg city council is divided into pro and contra rack groups says anymore animals can't just go back to living in the wild to do so. they have no place to go. it because he go in on you. but when he was only bent his child, the real question is how to help the people not only, not how to make the rat feel more welcome to mon doesn't to get cancer. that's exactly what exterminator tyranny bulldog thinks he has just completed further training in more efficient methods for combating rats going. there will always be. rats actually lose more. there are so many houses. social housing estate center will always be noted. however, you are truly tale. and now bardon and his colleagues are putting their new knowledge into practice. so french rats could be facing tough at 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 for strangers, especially in the run up the christmas. hi guys, my name is mohammed ali. i think academy mo, i'm from ba, darby and fi here. 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. isn't sheffield sustainable sarah pony when midfield pony one month 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. i lost my family and then i used to live on those 3 in the village. so i need 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 move is 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 alleys. crazy followers on command on wheels give me like more like power. i can do more, more videos more, more like on her card formulas. like it yeah. getting hold of 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. busy 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, the by, ah ah ah, with

who 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 straight to reprisals, the senior figure in the community. hope that silence was immoral. the thinkers go,

which made me want all jews in russia to get out now conflict zone in 30 minutes on d. w. o. is the end of the pandemic in sight. we show what it could look like. return to normal. and we visit those who are finding it difficult with success in our weekly coping 19 special every thursday con d w. imagine how many portion of lunch us are now in the world right now the climate change. if any of the story this is my flex,

the way from just one week. how much work can really get we still have time to go. i'm going on with his subscribe along with a brief. mm hm. body and soul. the houses that daniel leaders can't construct far more than just building. ah, you have to be radical. that's a radical mean. go back to the room. he is the son of jewish holocaust survivors. how lucky that i was able to build your shoes in berlin is architecture is a celebration of democracy and one building. the biggest thing in the

world is the spirit of freedom and architect motions. it starts december 26th law d w. ah ah, this is d w. news live from berlin and fresh shelling in her song, cuts off the power and leads to people dead. the southern city has faced repeated attacks by russian forces since it was re captured by ukraine in november. also coming up turbulent times, the leaders as they meet in brussels that are contending with the ukraine war and all the time.