to go beyond, as we take on the world i, we're all about the stories that matter to you. whatever it takes, 5 policeman follow up with you. we are here is actually on fire made for mines with hello and welcome to focus on europe. 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. aah! surfing in portugal, it's more than a sport. it's a way of life. the atlantic's way straw surface from across the globe to cock avail

speech near lisbon. up. oh, and 14 year old maria sosa is here too. for her, it's 2nd nature to jumped 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 go to the gov. let up again, but it's no problem. if you've been at it for years, suddenly van kaya sees, 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, an 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. yet being there, life 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 to socialize, this isn't a therapy, not only for the surfers but also funding. 1 frontiers 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. darcy, 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 see. this often than mine, ah, and the trainer teresa also keeps experiencing new things with the group. i've learned a lot of disabled people. they made me sometimes sync 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 my own and to go surfing. but 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 firm is miserable. i want to help others learn to search even despite their disabilities. more a pre approach 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 my dream is to learn to serve even better. so she stop. but then i find the way they are going when i see the, the main thing is you see i want to keep going. blo, 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 are against the ukraine war and they've left their country because of it. the 2 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 to believe it 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, published it, but it doesn't mean some may call me a traitor and the wind. but i think those who go to war are the traitors, the origin there betraying their homeland and humanity joy to it. so who am i betraying vehicle to the putin? yes, i'm betraying him. now. i've run away from him. it'll be low. yes, but 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 for a new 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 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 slack. oh, this is all i live in now, hippy 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 glove, the through the roof, a 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. this is in the the tim. oh,

this is uncle enrique ideas. the what play? no gas in a gave us clothes for them. i feel me wrong. i feel sorry for them. they don't want to fight her to die for prison. navarro mobilization, forced him to come here, or on these laden think it will come to this. people running away like rats from us, inclusion for we are home. 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 the plan is only really, really afford like sometimes for help with having babies to parts of georgia. i know the pin on your agenda is toys. this people 1st

full when they coming to communicate with you, talk with you, they starting talk you to in the russian bro, it's a georgia we can pick anguish, right? you saw in respect to 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 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. um 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 a professional soldier until 2016 and experienced gunner he was needed on frontline

yarbrough juvenile. i was surprised at the conscription order wasn't sent immediately by yes to come yet 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 concerns if they don't imagine what awaits them in war, when you from scott, scott lowered 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 upgrades to be taken prisoner,

that your liam neeson again. ah, his mother would have preferred him to fight. but you might shemelle, i said she would even go to war in my place. that will in motherland nozzle not. she believes ne, to a new s one to conquer us. i said that the good, what you're seeing is a huge lie report all of the t v. he feels 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 b. c. 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 stony 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 canceled, many people there are okay with making those sacrifices this winter out of solidarity with ukraine. away making an omelet is a pleasure. maria teens family enjoys together. father, erin, and daughter, elvira watches 4 year old teared or seasons. the eggs in the past,

the family also like to order something for lunch, but neither coffers are tighter, yet it has the even notice it. when they make an omelet, may latina who had a 10 eggs, goes into an omelet breakfast for the family. but the price has gone up a lot not to get those with any of it is going to look over the prices of 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 bought, so i saw the money melting away, the little dollars you work, but there's nothing left. so i had to charge more or less. yeah, no. wow. you know, the cylinder, the electricity and heating bills in particular eat up the budget. now,

aaron 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. the novelty 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 i blame who would like to regime in russia has caused this energy crisis . when i'm using energy as a weapon, mit am awesome boynton energy and guess got off the rail of 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 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. the steep is helping thousands of ukrainian refugees and many needy citizens in the last month, the requests of quadrupled to say least, that cash for a all i haven't seen such a rise since the financial crisis of 2008. it pleases us of ashley skate that is cash only the latest figures show the elderly and pensioners are especially vulnerable. the on the statistic guard at ha so that most the single pensioners live in relative poverty, said she, with 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

what women like biker, used to work in a textile factory. to day they have to somehow go to living muscle for it. ne ain't got done it. i always watch for special offers. that's at my door. if i had to pay full price that i couldn't get by you, maria, back on my caps in regards to the ukrainians. c, no grind in estonia, we know how terrible it is there. it didn't damage. this is our war to quick, quick or last one. 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 elsie or not. i'll wait. 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 helps marya teens family a little too. but they only get real relief if they turned on their heating in the winter of evening. 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 that when you think about how they're living in ukraine, you can't complain about 19 degrees in the house. nathan, good, you, mickey sag was on what this actually is 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 rack hatcher t agree. border works nonstop. he goes from seller to seller, laying out the poisoned rat bait. so come on both the can't have wheat nerves in this job. at any moment, a rack can jump out at you. and there are many more rats than before. the locked 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, few 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 if it's a plague he lost the strasbourg, is actually quite clean. but it's a pity that the residents aren't more attentive. 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. with her everywhere,

we always remarked when you worked for the neighbourhood, you see them at every corner in the european capital of strasburg, the capital looking surprising, almost hostile, it's a disgrace. accessing our money to buy new uses. just wrangle on like this. you can't have people living with rats and cockroaches. how me the boat gotta, has been living in this neighborhood for 30 years. he is furious with the city or authorities. love it. these are the only people here have to live among rational 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 for dinner. these people live on another planet. ok. other crazy you saw one of the, to the clinic, these toys 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. possible to act. counsellor bonham also lay doesn't want to exterminate the rats but rather to force them to stay under ground starting at this rubbish dump. yeah, they are about overhauls there by which the rats came through. so you could up this great and now they can't get out lou, lou, lou lou deposit. 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 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. we all know you mentioned 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 rat groups says anymore 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 on you. but when he was only bancwest you, 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 kelvin. that's exactly what exterminator tells me. boy dog 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 have 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. i think quite 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 $25.00 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 that 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

who, a 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 success in our weekly coven, 19 special, 90 minutes on d. w. ah. in a globalized world, where everything is connected, all it takes is a smart to set things in motion. local hero show how their ideas can change the world. global 3000. on d, w. thank eyes an avalanche. are my welcome to my podcast, love matter by and by celebrities influences and experts to talk about all plain love back from day to yesterday. nothing less the south. all these things and more

and the new season of the plot can make sure to tune and wherever you get your past and join the conversation. because you know it love matter in our games on the melting with a reporter tracks down the arctics. major players with c route begins a dangerous game. people overseas that yeah, we are here, we're patrolling the area now, the cards are being re, shuffles, who has the best headed? russia is a quite active economic in the arctic. if you see something that looked like james bond, it has to do with the military. it starts december 23rd on d w. ah ah

ah ah, this is the w news live from berlin. fresh shelling and it has all the cuts off the power and leaves to people that solving ukrainian cities face repeated attacks by russian forces since it was liberated in november. also on the program b u leaders meeting in brussels, confirm.