>> hello, and welcome to "the journal" on dw-tv. i am and linda -- melina crane. 2010 was the deadliest year yet for nato forces in afghanistan. >> more germans working than ever before, and that is thanks to the resurgent economy. >> if no respite for australians affected by severe flooding -- and no respite. more rain and flooding on the way. the year has gotten off to a

bloody start in afghanistan. bombings in a western province on monday and in the north of the country on sunday killed at least five people, including civilians. an independent monitoring organization reported on monday that 2010 was the most violent year in the history of the afghan conflict. international forces in the cotry say that comes as no surprise, given their adoption of a new strategy last year. >> 2010 was the deadliest year in afghanistan since the fall of the taliban regime. the exact number of civilian casualties caused by combat operations have gone up and bomb attacks. it is estimated to be in excess of 8000. 2010 was also the deadliest year before the force. over 700 international troops were killed, but commanders say that was to be expected, with more troops battling the taliban in more areas. >> we expect it, but, obviously,

this is a necessary step in the overall strategy, and before it gets better, unfortunately, it has to get worse, and this is what we saw towards the end of 2010. >> the afghan government says nearly 1300 of its police were also killed. local security forces are still being trained up. soon, they will have to take on more responsibility for security. the u.s. wants to start pulling out its forces in july. with germany set to follow suit by the end of the year. this month, the german parliament is expected to set a date for the complete withdrawal of the bundeswehr. >> the last call-up for troops. construction has been a key element for decades. but it is being suspended as berlin trans forms -- as berlin

transforms to a professional force. -- conscription has been a key element. >> the german army. >> in the bundeswehr, you learn things you can lose -- use in life, and you can put your own interests second. >> when west germany established the bundeswehr in 1955, conscription was part of it. since the end of the cold war, it has been getting smaller. the plan now is to trim troop levels, currently around 245 also soldiers, down around 170,000 -- currently around 245 thousand soldiers. >> a development like this

always has two sides to it. on one hand, it opens up new opportunities for young men in the country in regards to careers and lives plans. on the other hand, compulsory military service was a success story, and that success has led to a new chapter being written. >> more big changes lie ahead, as the defense ministry is also changing staff numbers. >> egypt is on high alert ahead of the coptic christian celebrations at the end of the year. there was a bomb that killed more than 21 and wounded more than 100. christiansm say the government s not doing enough to protect them. egyptian police say they are focusing their investigation on a group of islamic hardliners. meanwhile, growing concerns of attacks in europe. french police are investigating

attacks against coptic churches in paris. we went to the coptic church in berlin to gauge the mood there. >> for many copts, having a place where they can worship without fear has become a place in germany. many have fled religious persecution in egypt or iraq. but after the attack on fellow copts in alexandria, they are once again fearful. >> we are afraid. of course, we are afraid. >> they can see our address on the internet, and our names are also there. >> even though german authorities have increased security at coptic churches, worshipers are still uneasy. other christian churches in germany have expressed their concern about the increased

persecution of christians in the least, and they want the government to act. >> we expect germany to step up political pressure on egypt. expressions of regret need to be followed up by action, and that should clearly demonstrate that christians in egypt will be protected. >> it has been a sad start to the new year for the father. his next service will be to remember the victims of the attack in egypt. >> there has been a groundswell of support for the embattled mcchristian -- the embattled coptic christians. >> that is right. german chancellor angela merkel has written a letter of condolence, calling on him to do everything in his poweto prevent an event like this from happening again in the future. there have also been words from

top parliamentarians. it is said that the time has comelk to the meeting representatives of islam and tell them that the persecution of christians must be stopped, and the opposition green party, their spokesperson said egypt, which she described as a dictatorship, and other countries in the region must do more to confront this courage of religious intolerance. there is a growing debate here in germany goi on about whether the time has not come to cut off development aid to countries like egypt which are perceived as not doing enough to prevent the persecution of christians. >> that was our report -- parliamentary correspondent, peter craven. some deaths from swine flu. in the last few days, but some other deaths have been reported in britain, sweden, and france. there are risk groups, which

include the elderly and pregnant. they are urged to get a flu shot. some positive economic data once again for the german economy. >> yes, once again, melinda, we are looking at a great deal of job creation. the german work force is expanding rapidly. it is stimulated by economic growth both at home and abroad. according to the federal statistics office, there were 40.4 million people officially at work in germany's largest economy. there has also been a corresponding drop in unemployment, the figure dropping below 3 million a few months ago, the jobless rate is now 7.2%. >> germany's health-care sector is hiring again, and people are retraining to learn how to care for the sick, the elderly, and the disabled, and this is not the only industry where employment is on the rise. three-quarters of germany's work force is now employed in service

industries. last year, an average of 40.4 million people were employed in germany. that is almost 2 million more than in 1991. but for the self-employed, there is also a downside. some complain of too little bored, and wages in the services industries are often low. -- some complain of too little work. there are those looking for a second job. >> on to the markets, european stock markets closed well in positive territory, on the first trading day of the new year, with investor confidence helping. gour dw-tv correspondent has moe from the frankfurt exchange. >> portion of bills fast cars. a lot of people know that. -- porsche builds fast cars. it went up by a whopping almost

15%. it took bmw up with it. there was a damages claim against porsche. it has made investors erie county -- investors really cheer. there is investor confidence that corporate profits will rise. >> other reported there in frankfurt, and looking at several market indexes in more detail, the blue-chip dax index closed up, 6,989. we saw the euro stoxx leading, and two-thirds in positive territory. on wall street, positive news with construction spending. it is encouraging investors to buy the dow industrials. they are currently up just shy of one full percentage point.

in the currency markets, the euro is trading at $1.33. oil prices struck a two-year high on monday with a barrel of crude oil trading at more than $95 per barrel. traders say the prices are surging as the global economic recovery picks up speed. analysts say the demand will strengthen even further this year, especially in china and other emerging economies, and some people say that rising oil prices are also linked to investors' hedging by buying up all of the commodities that date see. natural disasters. a total of 950 natural disasters were recorded, including the earthquake in haiti and floods in pakistan. this made 2010 the second worst year since 1980. the earthquakes in chile and new

zealand were the most expensive for th8 insurance sector, even though they were not the most devastating on the human scale. and something new in germany after high levels of dioxin that can cause cancer were found in animal feed. it was sold for pigs, chickens, and turkey farms. lower saxony has not reacted by closing 1000 farms while tests are carried out -- lower saxony has now reacted. melinda? >> thank you, peter. african leaders have held another round of negotiations for the embattled ivory coast president in effort to persuade him to stand down. on monday, he once again refused to give up power to those who is seen by the international community as being the winner. many observers fear it could plunge ivory coast into civil war.

>> they came to send a signal to him, the embattled president must go. leaders from the african union and economic community of west against aids told him that he could make his exit and save face -- and economic unity -- community people told him that he could make his exit and save face. his appointed prime minister has told them not to let up in their efforts. >> if we fail in the ivory coast, it opens a door for a president for life in africa. we have no other choice. in our country, the president is elected must exercise power. >> but he is still clinging on with support of the army. there is a travel ban on him and his closest supporters. he sees the efforts to oust him

as an international conspiracy. in the meantime, more than 15,000 people have fled to neighboring countries, a tha number could rise if the latest mediation efforts fail. >> two boats carrying african migrants have capsized off the coast of niemann, according to the interior ministry. -- off the coast of yemen. most of the passengers are feeding grounds. another boat carrying up to 40 people capsized. in the northern australian states of queensland, military aircraft are ferrying supplies to people stranded by record flooding that has killed three and cut off roads and ports. officials have issued storm warnings, and they say that heavy rains and flash floods are expected in the days ahead. >> home to 75,000 people, now a ghost town. those who did not heed the call

to evacuate can no longer leave. the last road out of the city is now flooded. water levels are expected to peak, submerging about 40% of the city. >> we have message community impact. what is happening here is, well, i do not think we will see it again for another 50 to 100 years to get that is the nature of this event. >> the flooding subsided in another area, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. >> terribly hard. to end up with nothing in the end. >> the agricultural sector has also been hard hit. the floodwaters have with the livelihoods of many farmers and others. several coal mines have been forced to shut down. the government has declared around 1 million square kilometers of land disaster

areas. >> we go now to sports news and ski jumping. an australian has won the third event. this is ahead of thursday's finale. >> it was the moment he had been waiting for. after disappointing elsewhere, he grasped the opportunity to show why he is the world's number one. 126.5 meters on his second jump. >> you could see how fast the tide can turn when blood is on your side. today was great. >> -- when luck is on your side. today was great. >> the austrian has an equivalent of 50 meters, and it puts him within distance of overall victory. the german coaches with his jumper is.

another turns in the best german performance, taking eighth place, --

dw-tv. >> welcome back. international leaders had joined pope's the 16th -- the pope'. observers point out that it is not just in muslim countries where christians are being attacked. some totalitarian regimes, like china, they also have persecution. >> 2011 had barely begun when the car bomb exploded in front of the church in alexandria, egypt. nearly 1000 coptic christians were celebrating the new year's mass inside. at least 21 people were killed and dozens more injured in the attack. the bombing at alexandria is one

of numerous incidents of attacks directed at christians in various areas one group -- in riouareas. open doors is a group trying to help. they identified turkey and belarus as countries where persecution against christians takes place in europe. in many parts of the islamic world, in north africa and the middle east, in iraq, yemen, and afghanistan, life for christians is often dangerous. communist states such as north korea, china, in cuba are high on the list of countries where christians face persecution. they face persecution or dea around the world. after the bombing in alexandria, egyptian christians took to the streets in protest. there were violent clashes. egyptian president mubarak has called for unity without addressing the allegations of discrimination expressed by many

christians. formerly, christians in egypt enjoy freedom of religion, but many say they face obstacles in exercising their rights and feel like second-class citizens. >> of violence against christians is not confined to egypt. people love and threatened -- people have been threaned. and in predominately muslim countries, such as saudi arabia, pakistan, in sudan, the ecosystems may even enshrined in tolerance -- the law can even enshrine it intolerance. >> this person is a christian and has now been in jail for 1.5 years. she was sentenced to death for blasphemy, a charge see has consistently denied.

which she has consistently denied. she did it again during a press conference. >> we are very poor people. we do not want to convert to islam, that is true, but the charges against me are not true. >> she was born in a village, where she lived until her arrest in the summer of 2009. chris sister remembers well, the argument which mature rest began while they worked in the fields. -- the argument which led to the rest began while they worked in the fields. -- led to the rest -- the arrest. >> my sister fought back, and that is when all started. -- when it all started.

>> one person runs a school for children. a lot of people are convinced that she consulted them, the prophet mohammad. he supports the death sentence. >> we will pursue this case until she has been punished. we will fight all of the way to the highest court of the land. >> radical islamists throughout the country, like these in karachi, all calling for execution. she has even had a price put on her head. the demonstrator want to keep the pakistan blasphemy law, the statutes used to sentence her, on the books. >> america wants us to repeal the laws. we want them to know we will not let that happen. >> cristian protests against kurd death sentence are more muted. some millions live there, a mere

2% of the prosecution. -- mcchristian protest against her death sentence -- cristian protests. >> we have to change this. >> she has lodged an appeal against a sentence. her case is putting pressure on the government in islamabad. present zardari says he wants to wait the appeals court decision before granting clemency. but there has already been an investigation in the case, and he has no doubts what is behind it. this is based on personal enmity, and i believe she could not be involved in such a blasphemy case. >> a brother-in-law says that they have gone into hiding after receiving death threats.

he no longer feel safe there either. >> we always stop at home in this village. now, we are frightened. we will be leaving soon. >> her story illustrates how a dispute can be transformed into a relentless persecution when the two parties adhere to different religions. >> and i'm joined now by my colleague, and, john, they are blaming al qaeda for this attack. how critical is that? >> there is substantial evidence that al qaeda could have been behind it, although they have not claimed responsibility. just a few weeks ago, the iraqi branch of al qaeda did issue threats against coptic churches in egypt, saying they would be attacking them, but when president mubarak said on televisioné that was just a few hours after the attack, and i

think he was probably also tried to detract from the interpretation that this was done by people within the country, by the egyptians, because he talked about foreign elements. al qaeda is, in fact, not a foreign organization. the deputy leader of al qaedas an egyptian, and just 10 years ago, the radical islamic organization in egypt, the eij, they merged with al qaeda, so it is an egyptian organization, as well, and it reflects real tensions within the egyptian society. >> egypt is not an isolated case. there have been threats and attacks on christians elsewhere, as well. are we likely to see more? >> i think we will, and most analysts think we will. i think the 24th century,= thins have changed radically. religion has moved to the it

centre -- i think in the 21st century, things have changed radically. religion has moved to the center. >> are these disputes though really about matters of faith or ideology, or are they sometimes material circumstances at stake? >> i think often promises access to resources. a good example is the egyptian neighbor, the sudan, because just this year, there is going to be a referendum with southern sudan, which is largely a question, and they knew of another part of sudan, which is muslim, but it is much more a conflict of the resources of the region, because there is a large oil reserves, beverages is an integral part of cultural identity in many societies -- because religion is an essential part in cultural identity in

many societies. >> that is our special report. stay tuned for more news and information.