right, i'll never see him again. no, when, oh you lost under the stops december 18th, on dw, the business v w. news line from berlin. islam is fighters advance and a surprise offensive in northern syria. rebel eunice are said to have entered the 2nd biggest city a level. hundreds are reported dead and battles with government forces. also coming up, protestors gather for a 2nd day in georgia, is andrew gross over the suspension of talks on joining the european union. and 5 years after the devastating fire dr. dom cathedral shows off its new face to the world's friends president emanuel my call towards the parents landmark days before the official reopening. the

welcome to all our viewers in p b. s and the united states and everyone. joining us from around the world is great to have you with us. um nicole furthers a war monitor says islam is fighters have entered and taken over a number of districts in 0 2nd biggest city a level. they are in a service order for human rights reports. heavy fighting between rebels and government forces. serious military says it's inflicted heavy losses on the islamists who have been advancing on a level for days. they've also taken control of strategic towns along the way. the observatories said syrian and russian war plains have bombed the rebel enclave of a live, with hundreds from ford, have killed the escalation and fighting is some of the deadliest in years and comes after weeks of simmering violence. let's take a look now at the groups involved in the offensive and why it's happening now. major fighting erupt again in serious civil war. day after staging this surprise

attack on government held positions in the north. the rebels moved on to a level showing the city of the syrian state media said the army, backed by its color. russia responded with strikes unintelligence positions and the leper eclip countrysides. the syrian army says the assault is being led by the high yacht to tennessee, and i'll show him or h t. s a militant group which controls much of northwest and syria. the i t. s is led by, i'll tell you this form of syria branch. it consists of multiple different insertion groups, some with the seller 1st and jihad is spelled yellow latrice. many reject the influence of foreign forces, such as turkey, russia all the united states, but others approve. it's a complicated coalition, but what does unify them is their opposition to syria liter busha assad? government has been displaced for 5 years. but thank god,

i'm not fighting to re claim on land from the grip of the criminal regime. we will persevere on this policy and called on young people to join us in the struggle to take back our country. i don't show a lot of in general. since 2020, the h t, and signs of a ripple groups have been mostly paced and the blood province. the area was subject to a turkey and rush. it broke a truce, but outside of it live, there are large pots of syria still controlled by rebels. opposed to assets government, including along the border with the rock you aspect. curtis forces maintain large parts of the north and turkey, along with the syrian national army control a so called buffer zone, along the turkish border with the offensive. the rebels may be trying to capitalize on the of the complex current free writing elsewhere with assets. highlight iran, reeling from israel's defensive on hezbollah and 11 on and with rushes resources

stretched with a drawer and ukraine. but the offensive and the syrian government's response has left many the civilians and the following lines. groups of refugees helping fling the fighting, heading to shelters and the province on the scene is what happens. all of the people started leaving, but we stayed until the morning. but as i was preparing breakfast for my children, a plane flew overhead. as soon as we stood, we ran into the visit to the front of the united nations is calling for an immediate, the escalation, and an end to the most intense fighting northwest and syria has seen in view at our house is a senior analyst for syria. the international crisis group, the syrian government seems to have been taken by surprise by those rebel offensive . when i asked him if he had seen him coming. um, yes we actually it was

a bit on dissipated this offensive even even the even government forces as well as rashaw we're. we're conducting pre emptive talks uh the last several months to try to prevent this uh, this offensive. what took us by surprise is that the success and how quickly reval groups managed to, to gain control of lands. uh villages and please look for the city. what do you think is behind that? why were they so successful in their with man? um i would say there's a, there's a couple of reasons. the false, the government false is what extremely weak in defending the outs cards of offer. they pulled the they quickly routed, they did not so much of a defense. keep in mind. uh, i'm interested. religious were taking over at

a more than a date um the level of support preparing training and timing. uh for months fault for this at all. so i would say it just comes down to revel groups for a very well prepared for this a time. while a government forces, whatnot, you and you said there was a way to see this coming. why do you think they launched their attack now? how related is the timing to other conflicts in the area and around the world? yeah, very good question. um, i would say there's 2 main reasons. the 1st one is internal, is the internally. so the actually, yes is legitimacy, unpopularity was decreasing in a blip. and is a want this any waiting any, any defensive could, could we gain this popularity of the other reason,

which is the main reason on with all you are the bigger one is the more june political one. so you have the, the government's allies, the acts of resistance. iran is below are weakened because of the, the, the, the conflict with israel. israel has been bombing at reunion on his bal assets interior for the past year on almost a daily basis. his beloved troops from these the same exact fronts and they pulled troops to, to compensate for their losses in lebanon, and assigned to the rough shop. i'm serious, most important online. the, the, they pulled the weapons, they experience the also now a to create. so their level saw this as a, as an opportunity to, to start this operation. yes. yes. and you said that there normally aside would

turn to fruit and the moments like this. how big a role can rochelle play right now to support the site regime and pushing back the rebels? i would say old or russian as strikes or russian presence has been weak. right now the last several days. it has not been a game changer all over that said, i still view russian presence on the ground will still be a game changer. if pressure and asked strikes if pressure decides to up the excess strikes and it's um its presence in the skies. i think this will be, uh, this will be detrimental for uh, for us of dental government forces. um, however, it is very important to highlight that a lot could happen, especially this week because on our how as

a senior analyst for syria at the international crisis group. thank you so much. great speaking to you. thank you father. the germany, france, and the okay of wrapped up a day of talks with iran as they hope to reach a deal on terence nuclear program. the meeting between diplomats took place in geneva and, and it's only with the announcement that the parties would meet. again. europe's biggest economies are hoping to stop iran from pursuing nuclear weapons and following through on a reported plans to build thousands of new centrifuges to enrich uranium around for as part one for lee from western sanctions. and the renewed efforts to reach a deal are coming at a time of extreme tensions in the middle east. just over 50 days before us president elect donald trump returns for the white house. cornelius ida bar is a security analysts focusing on around at the german council on foreign relations. and he told me about the current state overruns nuclear program where we know that

iran has ramped up its nuclear program over the past 2 years. ever since the united states withdrew from what we call the nuclear deal, the j. c. p. o, a, in short, it has increased the production of enriched uranium. it has also increased the level of enrichment way beyond the secrets that were agreed initially and the 2015 and it has done so in response. as i said, to the united states imposing sanctions under president trump and then keeping these functions. i'm the president by that. and it has at least mostly also the signal willingness to rejoin negotiations about the nuclear deal and developing invitations they've sanctions are listed again. so all of that in mind, what is that? those 3 countries, germany, france, and britain are trying to achieve in these talks as well. what one could call it the talks about talks. um,

everyone is aware that the new us administration is coming in. uh, president trump, as i just said um during his 1st time left the deal um he didn't negotiate a better one as he initially said, but he imposed a policy of what is called maximum pressure. and we may with this, the return of this policy imposing our sanctions, trying to get to the wrong to his knees as it were. but, but the europeans feel that there was no time to lose the result of us leaving. and 2018 has led to a wrong doing more nuclear work, becoming closer to what is called the nuclear special. so they want to explore, what are the possibilities? what is the willingness intent wrong? what are concessions that each side could make? what is maybe a timeline that one could start talks with the new president, the next to us president and office. um, how could bundle achieve anything within say, 6 months until the summer? in your opinion, does it make sense to start these negotiations or talks about talks without donald

trump in the white house before he returns to the presidency? as well as not only does it make sense? uh, it is a necessity. i would say um, because uh when once pump is in office, he may feel pressured, one way or another. there are voices that tell him to go in heart. there are others that would say, given what has happened over the past year, as much as the most recent war uh, with the involving israel and iran. tit for tat strikes, but also strikes back in 20192020. when the arab neighbors of the ron felt a heat of this kind of conflagration and they said, we need to live with the wrong. there is no sense also for us as the runs neighbors to get into a violent conflict. so people lean into donald trump and being they have ready maybe with a plan or where they come towards of a plan is certainly an advantage for the europeans. is iran or reliable negotiating

part? or though i'm from a perspective for the europeans, it's hard to, to answer with an affirmative. yes, there is frustration. there was disappointments um, uh, probably the wrong would say the same of the europeans and definitely of the united states leaving the deal when it was working um at least to professionally. uh so both sides would have to overcome these recommendations. um uh they would have to overcome. uh, what is uh, what is the past um, but that's not an issue of trust. it is an issue of making a new deal that is verifiable, that is enforceable. and where both sides can say that they can live with it and it, it provides more security on balance to both sides. it's not a deal will not be one way one side lose us. this is not the kind of negotiation that they would enter into. yeah, as no such agreement is reached, how likely is it that iran will soon be in possession of a nuclear bomb to this

a very fundamental question you're asking there and it's, there is no definitely the answer also to this one. um, officially the wrong is not pursuing a nuclear weapon and it has maintained that it's a nuclear program is possibility and purpose is only for the one civilian nuclear energy rector that they have. this is nothing that the world would put trust in at the same time going for a nuclear weapon for a new club, um, uh, which is called the breakout uh and grew entails inherent risk. also for the rom, it would probably face an immediate detect, uh from uh say israel or the united states together. um, did what? uh, it was a simple, the neighborhood, even more saudi arabia and said that, but uh, once a nuclear weapon in that case. uh, egypt, turkey, all these neighbors states might go the same route. so it doesn't make you wrong, much safer, especially because there was a time like a on the way to actually getting to that phone. so it's a, it's, it wouldn't be

a risky calculation, which is one more reason for, for the europeans, together with the americans when they have a new administration to embark on this diplomatic pop. fascinating insight, that is colonel is out of our with the german council on foreign relations. thank you. thank you. good night. let's take a look now. and so while the story is making headlines around the world, a shot is terminating a military and security agreement with france, the former colonial power is expected to mean that the withdrawal of hundreds of french soldiers stationed in the central african nation reflecting frances dwindling influence in its former african colonies, uganda as governments, as the number of people killed in a landslide earlier this week, has risen to 17. more than a 100 others are still missing. much covered dozens of homes around 300 kilometers east of the capital compound. the british parliament has voted to support draft legislation to make

a system dying legal. the bill will now move to further scrutiny among law makers before a final vote. supporters say the law would provide dignity to the dying while opponents worry vulnerable people might be coerced into taking their own lives. thousands of demonstrators have returned to the streets of the george and capital of lucy for a 2nd night of protests. we have live images from those demonstrations into play. see for you there. you can see them. protestors have been angry by the government. suspension of a membership talks until 2028. so russian prime minister says georgia was still trying to join the blog. but with quote dignity and on its own terms. last night police used water cannon, pepper spray and tear gas to disperse protesters outside parliament. maria cut their mazda is on the street to us of lucy, maria. we saw a violent crack down and protest last night. what's the atmosphere like tonight?

while the situation is quite tons, as you might see on the background, there is a riots police mobilized right next to the problem and we can hear that some of the protesters are some of the protesters are sorry, the parts of the police has been using the uh, watch a ton on a when what's trying for us is that people oh so can you guess they would leave the farm and square for few minutes and they'll come back again, which makes it quite a police to discuss the crowd. now the, as you can see, probably in the background, the police is a warning asking their protests as to leave the parliament square, otherwise they will use the force. so it's definitely quite, quite uh, sort of tense uh the problem is square um at this moment cuz people refuse to go away at this point. if at any point you feel like you need to go somewhere save,

just please let me know if you want to keep talking. let's do that before. now. it does look like it's just fireworks behind you. i can tell you that the georgia dream party says it's not pro russian. what is behind that decision then to haul talks with a you, especially when you know over 80 percent of georgians are, are for the accession to the european union. yes, indeed. the georgians are uncommon claims. it's not a pro crumbling uh, but uh, you know, the people here don't seem to believe that actually uh, i've been asking the protesters while, while you're here while you are not happy, obviously because you know, you has been there long standing dream to be part of the you and they're telling me that they are not happy with what they call uh, you know, russian government, they say that the, the government to the russian side. and they're not choosing. uh, you know,

a rush just side now. uh, the, the decision from the georgia is and comma came right after a maybe few hours later, um, after the european parliament has issued a resolution. it's a non guiding resolution, but still it's a, quite a symbolic sort of move non violent resolution suggesting and calling for new elections in georgia and suggesting, uh, sort of sanctions against the georgia dream officials. um, it seems like georgians and officials, uh, they uh, thought that uh, so it means that the west is most recognizing our uh, elapses which were disputed by these uh, disputed elections which are challenged by the president. and the court, which is still appeal is still pending by the way, and uh, the upside is also know to some, you know, your, your guy dividers, his local and mesh web service. so it seems like um, well, some countries uh, let's say you know, democratic countries, most of them recognize the,

the countries that are recognizing the georgia dream government is most of them, i'd say no, no in democratic uh, the west has chosen. so the closest approach of, uh, not recognizing, as of now at least on the georgia dream comments seem to be angry with that decision. and the thought to, you know, break away from europe as they say at least until 2028. but it doesn't seem to be, you know, something that people here believe. and they said that if we lose this bottle today, that's what they're protest to say. means that the doors to europe are forever closed. i mean, not maybe forever, but for a long, long time for them. those d w 's, maria cuts and lots of reporting from sibley c. thank you so much and please stay safe. not for them. cathedral in paris has shown off its new face to the world 5 years after

a devastating fire. the beloved gothic landmark is almost ready to open. rebuilding as costs around 700000000 euros. hundreds of skilled craft workers have painstakingly restored the cathedral speier and roof along with much of the interior. after 5 years, the assets of thousands of workers, millions of years, and a little bit of good faith. one of perez's most famous buildings, the notes are dom cathedral is ready for its grand reopening. one week ahead of the big day, french president emanuel mcclung took a tool or the renovated line to my meeting with some of the opposite ends, who have worked on the project. so he describes the effort to rebuild the procedural as a overwhelming he's saying to everyone who donated money, but saves the highest prize for the work. cuz autism ends in class, people, he made it happen. so the who invest to so how's the shock of the reopening will be,

i believe, and i want to believe as a strong as that of the fire of school. but it will be a shock of hope because all of you who are here today is have contributionship on the feel of. it is indeed to you that we owe this metamorphosis, that you were the outcome mission. so if the construction site and you transformed code into odd on the if i may put it that way. in april 2019 fire ravaged, the 850 valid medieval caustic procedure investigate to set the blaze was started either by an electrical short circuit or a cigarette money began pulling in some across the wild astrology site. more than 840000000. yeah, those in total, around a $140000000.00 you guys have which remains on spent. and that's because even though the in tavia is christine, the ex area is still unfinished. 20 parts of the building still covered with

scaffolding and make shift work a facility still feature spots. historians urge patients. the original construction of not true dom began in the mid 12th century until almost 200 years. the archbishop of paris is expecting some $15000000.00 visitors a year, apparently confident that most of them will overlook the unfinished exterior. and elizabeth and let's say as a journalist in paris and she describes her impressions of the freshly restored cathedral. it is stunning, it has been does a great deal of historical restoration, a stone work of iron work of architecture. and this has been assistance and they worked extremely hard to find the exact cross people who had spilled the mediaeval croft of everything being done by hand, etc. and so that is, that is remarkable. i am less than happy about the interior because lots of things

have been building noise and it's a collusion between the archbishop of iris and president nicole. and you can, you can see a taste inside and a voucher is not the cathedral i used to go and pray out. oh wow. do you expect for resumes to react? like you did? i know enough versions. who do, i mean it is, you know, it's, it's nice, it's very beautiful. it is, some of it wasn't necessary. so if it was not necessarily in particular, the other, all 6 windows by the great restore, and they'll put them in the 19th century, midnight and century of you later do which are where in talk they will not home by before, but the not going to be replaced, they're going to be replaced. i don't need to be put back in. they're going to be replaced by mother and a stained glass window is not the beautiful of the rose that you you're saying just now. uh, but uh, that's because that was, this was an impression from president nicole about the theatre all should be

modernized and taken into the 21st century. and quite honestly possible. i don't think the political or should dislike this so much. i'm 2nd in the you're, you're just see now the, the new furniture and all sorts of things. i don't see why we had some new to rebuilding noise. if this were a luxury hotel, a new needed to have new furniture and make it relevant to whatever is coming up and we, it's been stripped to so many small and big things that gave it an identity. no hold of these things were beautiful, but they all connect to the face of the people who prayed in the cathedral for 9 central. and that's where i really have a problem with the fact that you feel so strongly about it. i think reflects how important this cathedral is to people in france and in paris. specifically, what does the fact that it's now ready to reopen to the public and people can go back in and, you know, have whatever opinion about what's been done to the cathedral. and then what does that mean to present?

oh, no, overall, the fact that it has to be restored or something that is making everybody happy. because i do remember 5 years ago when the fire stops it an incredible sort of shock that it was because lots of people who had not so much sold to about it except to something completely permanent in, in faults of the, it was like, like losing a family member, it was like having something disappear. this happened, it was, it was all criminal from all accounts and the, the results that has been done. but it was something that suddenly added to the feeling of impermanence and insecurity. sometimes. 2 that has changed every day at people's everyday lives and politics. we will see this in our countries. and so the idea that you sort of bring it back, that all this effort has to be made on the fact that the donations came from all over the world. was something that was very halting and very important. those journalists and then these of it and say in ferris, thank you so much. i as soon as all from the news for now,

but stay with us after the break. i'll be back to take you through the day and we will be speaking to a filmmaker who gamed unprecedented access to the tyler bond in afghanistan. i recommend you stay with us. if you can't buy the

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the people in the trucks in judge was trying to feed the city center and more refugees are being turned away. support families, planes on attacks in syria credit straight to people to focus on around the world more than 100 and says we should have to come here is the most important stuff can be used across different geographies. the real challenge itself needs to be an incredibly scarce way. our business is on real

media and lots, just green washing. what's now on the it is the biggest rebel offensive against the outside regime. engineers. thousands of and surgeons have reported the entered serious 2nd biggest city a level, the lightning offensive to government forces by surprise. but experts say the rebels are predictably seizing international momentum with thousands killed and thousands displaced. in a matter of days, the finding and serious northwest is a sharp escalation and a war that had all but slipped off the international radar is another major conflict about to flare back up in the middle east. i'm looking for lation berlin and this.