ah ah this is the w news life from berlin? russia points a new commander to lead its invasion of ukraine to shake up comes amid conflicting claims over the fate of the eastern town. i was on the dock, poland office to supply labor tanks to create the pledge piles pressure on western allies to send in more heavy weapons. german police,

clear out activists trying to stop the expansion of a giant coal mine activists saving you brush will coal makes a mockery of germany's climate goals and the leader of an influential hindu group comes out in supportive india's gay community. it comes as the supreme court looks at legalizing same sex marriage in the face of right wing resistance. ah, i'm been pursuing. thanks for joining us. russian president vladimir putin has appointed a new commander to take charge of the war in ukraine. general valerie's get him off, replaces a general who had only been appointed in october. good, awesome off has been russia's top general since 2012. bosco said his job will be to better coordinate the russian attack after a series of freeze by ukrainian forces. roster is struggling to regain ground,

which is a key battle has been raging around the town of solid dye in east and ukraine, ukraine's his fighting is ongoing disputing. russian claims that it had taken control. that is a closer look at the situation. another salvo launch at ukrainian trenches in their muslim campaign to take the city of bottom. would russian forces have concentrated their fire power on the nearby town of solid and they are claiming progress. others, it looks like it's airborne units have blocked. solid are from the northern and southern parts of the city. what russia's air force is targeting and im, strongholds, storm troops are fighting in the city. the assault is led by the wagner group. mercenaries under the command of putin at i get gainey for goshen. progression has released this picture of him in assault minor solider and claims that the town is surrounded. but ukraine denies that solid hours last and points to rush and losses

of them a bunch more up. so we see an absolutely irresponsible to put it mildly, attitude of the russian elite toward their military personnel when they die there by the thousands, with a lot of blood, a lot of artillery jewels, a lot of contact combat especially and solid are to day full about is that when that my, this is the hottest point in the war to day for the new the ukrainians, amounting a stiff resistance here, a german supplied how it sir, is battering russian positions before shifting location. shoot and scoot along a slow moving front line. but a more modern, the deadly impact of such high precision strikes is captured by a drone used by ukrainian soldiers and solider to acquire targets. russian unit comes under fire and is forced to withdraw after heavy losses. with ukraine is

determined to fight for every inch of territory will pay a high price for any progress again, battlefield over the years of virus blood. sonya pharmaca is our correspondent and keith. i asked her for more on the situation in sony dot dot. right. i mean that that's right. there are contradictory reports about who hold solid are and we have no independent confirmation by the russian site or other by the wagner group that they are in control of that city. the ukrainian military for its part says they are still very much controlled and fighting is continuing. the forces are holding out the putting up a stiff resistance and, and i think will ukraine now, you know, the fighting inside the door and the fighting in and around bucks which is also inflicted heavy losses in the old troops has become something of a national symbol of defiance, you know, last night a president lensky and his daily address was very defiant. he said the fighting l

for so the dar continues, he rubbish, you know, russian claims of achieving some success in the area. and he says that on yet front is, is very much holding up and that everything is being done to strengthen ukraine's defenses. the russians still haven't been able to take me by, but would either. and now they've appointed a new commander for their forces in ukraine. has ukraine reacted to that? well, there has been no official reaction from the government to this. let us shake up a by russia, it's mandatory command in ukraine. but it is certainly is being interpreted here among analysts as the liter sign of rushes, faltering admission and and to be cleared. i mean, there was no love lost here in ukraine for this ousted commander, said good earth a sort of akin, you know, shortly after he was appointed. last october, russia began its campaign of targeting ukraine's critical energy infrastructure, launching waves of messiah and drawn attacks against ukrainian cities targeting

power plants and sub stations, and really leaving millions without power and running water for extended periods in the depths of winter. so i pink of the, i'll store of this, the commander is very much being seen here as the liter sign of disagree in in rushes waterford. and what about the humanitarian situation in and around our mortar? believe thousands of people have been flee. that's right, i mean we have no clear picture off that there are some scattered reports here in the media. lots of images on social media kind of towards showing total widespread devastation in solid are the governor of the donates region has been speaking to the acquainted media and he says that more than 80 percent of the town has been completely destroyed. he says most residents have left and are those that are those that are still there are really kind of hunkering down in their basements, not leaving their homes and are really reliant, i think on, on out kind of

a few wanted to groups in the area that were showing hanging out of food supplies and, and offering some medical stabilization points. so you found a car there on the situation is on a dime by more. thank you very much for your reporting from keith. poland is offering to supply you claim with german made leopard tanks, but only as part of a wider international coalition. the announcement follows talks between polish president on j duda and ukraine's lot of a so then sky on wednesday. the pledge puts pressure on germany, which is so if i refuse to deliver the advanced, thanks to you, great for feel, ukraine needs heavier weapons that has been, keeps message to its western allies. for months on top of the list, the german built levered to battle tank. so far, western nations have been reluctant, fearing further escalation with a new killer armed russia. but that might be all about to change. with

that being darcia to be sure, we have decided that the moment for poland to decisively support ukraine has come through the course. k. now, stumpy, a company of la tanks, will be handed over as part of a coalition. lo, barber, her grandma would have on your car, you'd see the offer from poland. president on j. duda is a welcome one for keith. but there's a catch without germany's approval. other nations cannot supply leopard tanks to ukraine. poland coal for an international coalition to deliver the weapons, piles additional pressure on german chancellor, olaf schultz. so far he's been reluctant to commit but as russia claims it's making fir, the gains in easton, ukraine. keith says berlin's foot dragging is costing lives on the la who only the transfer of weapons will end this war who didn't die. otherwise the war will go on

and on. luxury do not will ukrainian cities will be destroyed ish and ukrainian. people killed elizabeth, but we will definitely keep going to the end of the but it's just that the cost will be very high. i'll, if in love, poland and other nato allies are leaning ever harder on the german chancellor to change his tune or rather lost joins as from the european council on foreign relations. poland needs berlin's approval before it can send german made tanks to ukraine. do you think it will get the green light? what we've seen in the past couple days and weeks, certainly pressure mounting on the german chancery. it's not only poland now almost formal request to re export german produce lepper tax to crane, but also a growing horace of voices from from fin, than from denmark. other european countries that use those lever to tags that were originally produced in germany to finally grad of who watered export them to

ukraine, to support ukrainian. it's defensive struggle against russian aggression. and indeed the chancellor has been dragging his feet here am, but previous reversals, i think have indicated that he is responsive to some extent to mounting pressure. why though, has germany been on the fence for so long about quitting keith with these tanks? the gentry and other leading a, particularly s p d. politicians are off the governing coalition, half voice, the number of concerns related to an escalation. regarding the bonus, there's own stocks and january the argument to not go with a lot, but they interpreted. and in such a way that it essentially requires the biter might house to take a 1st step. as we've seen with the announcement off the bradley transfers to ukraine and where germany jumped on board with its own announcement to provide modest to ukraine. and here i think not going it alone could,

might as well mean to take the initiative as poland is asking now germany to do with this leper to initiative ukraine's western partners have steadily ups their weapons deliveries. of course president zalinski once more. is this testing european result in the war? i think from russia's perspective, it certainly yes, i think any hesitation that the west shows and supporting ukraine is being interpreted as a slightly open window. that may be the russian pressure campaign through the energy war through for mentoring and migration crisis, by destroying your credit in a different structure. and just general atrocities might make you. prince wisdom support us, hesitate, and reverse some of the decisions or let ukraine go at some point when the cost is too high. and so it's really important, i think, not only for ukraine, but also in our signaling to russia that we make clear that our resolve is

undeterred. and that the decision to provide that for to tank would be part of showing that result going forward into this long war that ukraine is still fighting because it's feeding into russian propaganda. or if it's, is that what you're saying? it nurture a certain hope that maybe enough pressure from russia can make the west change. it might have been supporting ukraine. ok with our last thank you very much. your insights from the european council of our relations appreciated give at a quick look at some other headlines from around the world. a court has convicted the head of turkeys medical association of spreading what it called terrorist propaganda. ship them over in charge. it was sentenced to the 3 years in prison. jordan is being released while she appeals function code for prob, into allegations that turkey use chemical weapons against her dish militants in iraq. massive storms continue to batter, northern california,

causing widespread flooding the floods of so if i claim to 18 lives in driven tens of thousands from their homes. torrential rains and powerful wind started in late december rather for the down pause or expected on thursday and friday us defense secretary lloyd austin has said he does not believe china is about to invade taiwan speaking. it talks between the u. s. and japanese officials depends foreign minister. yes, it is trying to represent an unprecedented strategic challenge plan to double its defense spending in the next full string book. and a german parliamentary delegation arrived in taiwan earlier this week for a 4 day visit. the group of about 10 lawmakers met with the time, but he's president and the top officials in taipei. it comes against the backdrop of rising tensions in the region. china claims no one has its own territory, that it will seize one day by force if necessary. aging has condemned the trip and

criticised visits to the self ruled island by foreign politicians as the liberal provocations. the w spoke with 2 members of the delegation in taipei. thank you both for joining need of his interview. my 1st question goes to a doctor, struck them and for your visit this time you talk about solitary. but now when the trenton is defenses, do you think germany should provide high went with full scale weapon systems? we had a very interesting many conversations. the last 3 days, and that's not the question. the question on the view of the politic here is that we are, that we are looking for a, maybe a different kind of economic investment of china. this is a big threat. and the military things are no topic, and i think there are a really good partner here in this area. but you said the war in your current is a wake up call for the whole world. but germany resisted providing ukraine with

weapons until after russia invade. it wasn't too late. shouldn't germany learn the lesson with taiwan? only you can compare it to crime and see europe and countries in the heart of europe. it's really close to, to germany. and the difference if it's not a question of moral or war war and that is that, and it's everything, it's terrible about. the thing is that it's in europe and we have to protect. we have to help crime. busy because otherwise m, russian won't stop by think if you, if you, if my colleague said it's a wake up cautious, 100 percent. right. and it's a wake up call in that sense that it under law, on the lines the venus of the systemic competitions were in and that there is not only putin, there is also the rapid change. the nature of the chinese government is undertaking

undisturbed in pain and what is necessary for your opinions is 2 and 3 germany to care about this pacific question. the chinese it is objecting to your visit. what's your response? the good news is it's not so astonished moment for us and we, we are there. how could i say that the ambassador is not happy, the chinese ambassador that we had traveled to taiwan? it's not really a surprise, but the good thing is that we our in a free country and it sold the ambassador quotas, say whatever you want, this is his right in a free country. and the 2nd good news are that we are free, elected a palate, a member of parliament. and so as a parliamentarian, we could travel wherever we want chinese president, should you been, says taiwan as a purely internal matter for china. and he reserves the right to bring about

reunification by force. what do you say to that? that's where the aggressiveness is coming from, um, from beijing. and that he talks about the possibility of military reunification in his words are and that you can learn and see here. or we've learned that nearly every day, that concrete maneuvers or even across the media medium line off the taiwan strait . so obviously he wants to have these military option to been 0, been taken serious, and we say that is unacceptable. thank you very much. as an interview. thank you. police in western germany are continuing to forcibly evict climate activists from a town at the center of a battle over coal mining protest is moved into stop energy giant, aren't we? we from demolishing the homes to make wait for operations. the government insists

the cold. there is essential to maintain energy supplies. activists dispute this. they say germany's climate goals need to come 1st. ah, one by one police removed the activists occupying you target. authorities say several 100 left the village voluntarily. most others resisting peacefully as officers moved in to dislodge them from tree houses, suspended platforms and the roof tops of abandoned homes. their gold to stop energy giant r w e from excavating late night. the dirtiest form of coal. from deep beneath the village, the lane sean merced, by burning the cold from under the village, germany is breaking the paris climate agreement. and at a time when the climate crisis is escalating, we have to make sure that emissions address to kelly reduced. and that's why coal

mining has to stop here. now that's often the german government has struck a deal with the energy company to phase out coal by 2030. the demolition of this village is part of a compromise. excavate here now spare others in the future but host oh does. i'm also tired of signs that a large part of the villages actually dos commercials on protests from ball apollo . i do think the protest mead symbols but looks at odd where nobody lives anymore. kind of the wrong symbol and my novice to fight, as in boy with the war in ukraine and the energy crisis. coal has seen a revival in germany. still experts, diet that the coal underneath lew target is really needed. our studies and also other studies show that it's not necessary to mind the call, especially beyond and below or the village of little heart and not our best failure because we do have enough coal in other areas of gods by law and the other mining

regions, sir that it's necessary to, to meet the energy transition and also the climate goals. but in the end, it's energy company r w e, who legally owns the village and they want to stick to that fans. they expect profits with several 1000000000 euros from the additional co the police operation to clear the activists has proved complex and highly divisive. as germany grapples with its energy transition. the world health organization says uganda as late as the bowler outbreak is over, more than 50 people have died since the disease to cold or september. but no new cases have been registered in the last 6 weeks. no more patient in def makeshift a bowler, clinic insight, the beds are finally empty and this is a moment to celebrate. the deadly outbreak of

a bullet in uganda has ended. authorities give credit to the committed health workers. i'm really, i really feel so so great because he has one of the people who was the 1st line health walker. i'm really happy was i'm still alive. so some of our own one that was in uganda was hit by the outbreak in september last year. around a 140 people were infected, more than 50 people lost their life for the high. the outbreak was caused by the rear, so downstream for which there is no proven vaccine. as the number of cases spiked, the country, imposed locked downs and affected tedious and health stuff was mobilized. the global community is learning a lot from this success. their success

is not only of uganda, it's a global thanks. and the global health community will learn and follow your grandeur. directly to cease splits with the party li, fluids of infected persons. it often causes fever and bleeding, and has a fidelity read a foot on 50 percent. the end of outbreak offer expressed by to communities who have lost 100000 federal outbreaks that had hit the country. let's have a look at some other headlines. they'll either mask has broken the record for the biggest loss in history. according to in his will record, his wealth was refused or reduced by $165000000000.00 between the end of 2021. at the end of 2022 mosque recently bought social media service, twitter, which led to a major loss for indigenous rights activists and lawmakers. sonya was

a java as been sworn in as brazil was never minister of indigenous peoples. the creation of the ministry was a campaign pledge of new presidents, the reason as well over the silver as xander has told her appointment an historic moment of respiration in brazil. the leader of an influential hinder group has come out to back l g b t q writes in india, it could sway the government's opposition to gay marriage. the supreme court is hearing petitions from same sex couples on expanding their rights. bonds of society opposed the move, seeing it as a violation of indian culture all day and bards. low story is like any other be made at school, fell in love and built a life together in daily or 17 years. but as a gay couple in india, the relationship was considered a crime. until the supreme court, decriminalized homosexuality in 2018 farmer. despite this landmark judgement,

the other one dear relationship still has no legal recognition. the right to marriage would significantly improve our lives. it would significantly had power lives as a couple a. but we certainly see that it creates a conversation in the minds of people around us and will create a confidence in the minds of other young or gay people without the legal recognition of the relationship. they cannot log in. it asks that most, heterosexual couples, big for granted, such as opening a joint bank account or making medical decisions for each other. yeah. or they, and part of that one of the for gay couples who have filed editions asking the supreme court recognize, same sex marriages. so far, the gardening b, j b has not you and an official stance on legalizing same sex marriages,

but more than a few members of the ruling party, hopefully oppose any change in the law. activist us hope that the court will force india to follow the example of countries whilst that marriage is a legal mal. we got raj khodiyar, specializes in family law and says that barring the l. g b t q, community from marriage, wiley to the right to equality. right? to man is a fundamental right. and if the pleasant structure of the marriage does not recognize same sex marriage, then it violates the constitution. but merely because ville is not shared by more guns away. 2 elements of indian society on the outskirts of delhi, the right wing from new organization. hindu russia though, is getting ready for protest. if this law gets past today,

they are meeting to discuss strategies to oppose same sex marriage. they see it's not part of the hindu culture, un hotel men. some of them are organization rated hotels where we found same sex couples making love way home. we stopped them and got them arrested. you will be open up now. why should we encourage something that is not part of our culture? apaloosa? we investigated the matters and sent these couples behind bar city. uncle julia, despite the challenge is the community faces or they and barth remain optimistic. they see the fridge. sions have brought the issue into focus, live in a country what algae b d q. identity is still largely at apple. and remind her of our top stories. in its latest military shake off, russia has appointed and you commanded to lead its invasion of ukraine. meanwhile, kane has rebuffed claims from a russian most re group. it's taking control of on the dock and east and town seen

as the gateway to the knee by strategic town of back vote. poland is offering to supply heavy tanks. ukraine as part of an international coalition, keep as repeatedly cold on its allies to provide bought in tanks like the german made. listen to it watching he w. news from berlin. next stop focused on europe. i made visible in the next town. ah, with

who paying for time with time. this is the principal of italy's time, the banks, whether it's for playing cards, manual labor or to tar lessons. here everything has the same value. a person's time. focus on europe. next,

b w. conflict zone with sarah kelly. my guest this week on conflict zone is a renowned foreign policy expert who has spent most of her career analyzing vladimir putin, russia, fiona hill, jointly from washington, where she has advised for us presidents and co author to book on. where does she think the boys heading? was this plan all along or had decades in power changed hands? conflict zone a 60 minute to get on d. w with i went one on 6 times a landline from 500 to 600 euro. currently, more people than ever on the move worldwide in such a place in life. you know, this is

a very difficult journey. and 13 on the course, you know, it's very hard to be to day thing or everything. all your stuff find out about someone's story in so my grand reliable needs to migrate wherever they may be. with hello and welcome to focus on europe. thanks for joining me here today. as we enter the new year, russia's war against ukraine.