phil: this is dw news live from berlin. alexei navalny claims he knows how he was poisoned. also on the program, the pfizer covid vaccine gets the green light from europe, granting final approval following a recommendation from its medicines regulator. also tonight, the maximum sentence for a an anti-semitic

atrocity. a deadly attack on a synagogue. he killed two people after entering the building and showed no remorse. a celebrating of the season from the safety of your car. germany gets into the christmas spirit by heading through a drive through wonderland. ♪ i'm phil gayle. welcome to the program. russian opposition leader, alexei navalny, says he has spoken with one of th russian security agents allegedly. when website said they had been tailoring no vomit for years,

posing as security officials. -- no phony -- alexei navalny for years, posing a security officials. >> he took off, then i landed the plane. there you go. the situation ended up not going in our favor. that is what i think. things could have turned out differently. >> if what had been longer, flying for longer, well, yeah maybe, if they had not suddenly landed, and so on. things could have turned out differently. phil: some red faces in moscow tonight. let's go to the russian capital, where we find our dw correspondant. tell us more about that conversation. reporter: that conversation

seemed to reveal new details about navalny's poisoning, with him asking the questions brazenly himself. we found out it seems that the poison that got into alexei's system was put into the inner seamof his undwear. we also heard later on, operatives collected his clothing and washed it several times in order to kind of the race traces of the poison -- e rase traces of the poison. the conversation confirmed a lot of the details that we saw revealed in the recent investigation led. phil: what are russian authorities saying? >> we have just heard a statement from the fsb itself. they said that phone call that we saw in the youtube video nava

lny published is fake. they say it is a provocation at discrediting the fx-- the fsb ad fsb officers. it is not the first time that navalny has been accused of being supported by foreign security officers. put-- putin accused him of that last week. he said if he wanted tkill him, then he would have. so far, there's been a denial. what we see today is in line for that. one of navalny's allies was arrested live on the

dw's russia programming. my colleague was talking to her as she was being arrested live on the air. phil: what are the implications then of this kremlin an -- and antifa russian security forces? reporter: it could be a huge blow to the fsb. this video has millions of views on youtube. it got those views just in a few hours. it is really making waves in russia and beyond. of course, this is confirming they botched of the operation, huge embarrassment to the fsb and putin, used to head the fsb himself. phil: thank you.

the european commission has now approved the use of a pfizer coronavirus vaccine. germany, italy, and austria plan to begin vaccinations the summer 27. -- december 27th. there is no evidence to suggest the vaccine will not work against a new mutants strain of coronavirus that has emerged in the u.k. let's have a look at both of the issues with an epidemiologist and director of the institute of public health at berlin's charite hospital. this decision was expected. given that, what is the thinking behind are many waiting another six days before starting to vaccinate? >> the decision today is very important. a lot of countries are preparing, certainly, to have to vaccine then distribute the vaccine.

there's a big organizational background. the holidays are just ahead of us. a few more days certainly to organize things are necessary. so i am very happy to see the cision today. phil: if vaccinations start inside the next week, how long do you think before infection rates start falling? >> because of the vaccineaking some time, because we need to vaccinate a lot of people, 15-16,000,000 people -- 50-60,000,000 people. we expect by the end of summer, and of fall, maybe. it could also take me time than that. phil: to the back end of next year. what will you be looking at? what will say to you that this is working? >> well, certainly right now we have numbers that are far too high.

when he to address this with a reset, which is a lockdown. seeing that the vaccine kicks in. we will look very closely at the incident rates. whether these peaks are disappearing over time and if that is happening, then we have indication that a so-called herd immunity is kicking in. phil: let's take a look at this mutation of the coronavirus that's been identified in britain. it is in the nature of these viruses to mutate. why is this one causing so much concern? >> that is correct that during a pandemic, the virus is mutating. it was expected. nowadays, some evidence that there may be a faster distribution of the viruses. people are getting faster infeed with this mutant. there is speculation about it. we have to wait. if that the case, certainly we have to act somewhat

differently. it's even more important for all of us to stay home and see as little people as possible that we do not know. phil: will you be staying home for christmas? >> yes. absolutely. unfortunately, i would love to see my family, but that is not possible. if people are able to cancel traveling and see their family and friends, i would strongly suggest to stay home and not risk your health and the health of others. phil: think you for joining us -- thank you for joining us. a growing number of countries are closing their doors to the u.k. due to the concern of any string of coronavirus. frames's blocked crossings -- france has blocked crossings from britain. blocked highways leading to the port of dover. air travel imposed restrictions

as well for travelers here in berlin. reporter: people traveling home for christmas, arriving at the airport. despite the pandemic, the airport has seen an uptick in passenger numbers now that the holiday season has started. but not everyone will make it back this year. all flights arriving in germany from the u.k. had been canceled. while travel to the u.k. is still allowed, some flights have also been disrupted. in berlin, people are more worried about possible travel bans been being infected with the coronavirus low-flying. >> i'm not really worried about the outbound trip, rather the return trip. i was here two days ago for a coronavirus test and waited outside for four hours. i'm much worried of catching a cold then of possible explosions -- exposure to the coronaviru.

>> i'm not afraid to travel. i'm afraid i will not be able to come back. reporter: yesterday, flights from the u.k. were canceled. >> and can't be totally safe, but i'm not afraid of traveling. >> i'm just looking forward to seeing my family for christmas. but it's something i system to be going home to or the nicest time for anyone. reporter: monday, the european medicines agency gave the go-ahead for the pfizer-biontech axing to be administered -- va ccine -- vaccine to be administered in european countries. the president was optimistic about the up coming rollout of the vaccine. >> we are in a difficult situation, if we look at the infection rate. but today is also a day of hope. with vaccinations about to

start, the light at the end of the tunnel is getting a little brighter. reporter: germany has set up dozens of vaccination centers across the country. it plans to begin administering them on december 27th, starting with residence in care homes. phil: speaking of which, spanish health authorities are accused of effectively abandoning residents of care homes during the covid-19 pandemic. one of the most serious allegations in the report is that lots of people and facilities for the elderly have been denied access to hospital care. philip schultz reports. reporter: there's just time for a coffee before he has to go back to his care home. now at least the 81-year-old can leave e home for a short while and when the pandemic began it was different.

every hospital in the city was told not to admit any more care home residents. >> of course, i heard about it and it made me think. i asked myself, what happens if i am sick? will theree no one to help me anymore? that makes you scared to be three months alone with these thoughts. at least i could speak to my family. but it was all very hard. reporter: he says his little drawings wipe away his dark thoughts. he wte a rept for amney international on spain's handling of the pandemic. in his view, the country violated several basic rights of elderly people. >> there is no way a human rights violation can be the solution for a problem.

these people could not go to the doctor, could not go to see the doctor, go to the hospital. it is discrimination against a specific group. in this case, elderly people. reporter: in madrid and barcelona particularly, elderly people's rights were being abused. but spain's health minister offered criticism. >> i am aware of investigations. of course, i cannot make any pronciation on these issues before the write body to make a dgment has them the proper investigation. there was a clear inspection from the advisory board of the health -- discarding any kind of discrimination. reporter: more than 30,000 care home residents in spain have died of covid-19. though the situation has got

better recently, dr.'s say many cases would have been avoidable if the care homes were better equipped. withhristmas around the corner, spain seems to regain optimism. infection rates are falling. some rtrictionare being relaxed. but the discussion regarding the violation basic hum rights of elderly people during the pandemic will certainly continue. after an hour outside, he must make his way back to the care home. he likely will not leave for christmas. the risk is apparently too high. he would rather be alone in his small room then see a return to the conditions of spring. phil: we will take a look at some of the other stories making headlines. in courts in england found two men guilty of killing 39 men, women, and children from vietnam who suffocated in a sealed truck near london. the driver and another man were convicted of manslaughter. the death two years ago exposed in illicit trade in people smuggling.

the united states has brought criminal charges against a former libyan intelligence officer over the 1988 bombing of a passenger plane in scotland. one person was jailed over the bombing but later released. 270 people were killed in the attack, mostly americans. to volcanic eruption in hawaii has cast a red glow over the night sky. hundreds of people reported feeling an earthquake tremor. at shot 15 meters into the air. the eruption created a new lava lake inside the crater. the muslim minority rohingyas people are forced to flee from their homes and myanmar, facing missouri at the hands of people traffickers. hundreds of thousands have crossed into bangladesh after a crackdown in their homeland, forced to endure miserable conditions. many now wish to start a new life in countries like malaysia. those leaving by boat often can

end up being cruelly mistreated by smugglers. reporter: they have been promised and escape to a better life. what they got was anything but. these images were filmed by one of the traffickers. he later abandoned the ship. and 19-year-old survivor -- a 19-year-old survivor suffered. there were kind sailors that came on the lower deck with the belts and started beating us indiscriminately. the women went silent instantly. the men kept resisting. they beat us mercilessly. ripping off gear, breaking hands. they wreaked havoc on us. like many, he wanted to escape the camp for malaysia, where smugglers promised a bright future. now, he is back in his squalor

home in a bangladesh refugee camp, stuck with about a million others like him. most of them had escaped a military crackdown in myanmar in 2017 which amounted to genocide. they avoided death, but for many, their new life is one of misery. the rohingyas cancer very overcrowded. -- camps are very overcrowded. there are many victims every day. it is a ltimillion dollar trade and involves people from various sectors. including fishermen who want a slice of the proceeds. even rohingyas refugees themselves. somewhat to help families reunite. -- some wanto help families reunite. this is her family. she was told it would take less than a week to meet in malaysia. her failed journey turned

into a nightmare. >> one day, my sick sister got into an argument with a smuggler. when she was coming back from the toilet and slapped him in the face. the smuggler beat my sick sister with a leather belt. she bled to death. reporter: still, stories like these are not enough to scare off the desperate. nearly 500 rohingya muslim crossed into malaysia this year. many blended into neighboring indonesia. but many more fails, returning home with horror stories to tell, or died at sea before they could. phil: here in germany, a far right extremist has been sentenced to life in prison for attempting one of the country's worst anti-semitic attacks since

the second world war. the 20-year-old was convicted of murder and attempted murder. he killed two people last year and he thwarted attack on a synagogue in the eastern city. >> his only regret is that he was not able to kill more people. at times, he smiled as the judge read out the verdict. she called his crime cowardly. she said he will spend the rest of his life in prison. had he succeeded in his attack, it would have been the deadliest hate crime in postwar germany. anti-semitism has become a problem that authorities do not have under control. it was 2019 don young coupe war, the holiest the of the jewish calendar, that more than 50 communities members worsen -- were celebrating in a synagogue. midday, the suspect heavily armed attack to the synagogue. he fired shots at the door and

threw hand grenades. but the synagogue's solid wooden door withsodto the attack and saved the lives of those inside. among them was max p., the chairman of the jewish community. the experience left him traumatized. >> never had a problem with the fireworks on new year's eve in the past. but iotice this year that they made me feel a bit, i wouldn't say they made me nervous, but i really do not fl comfortable. i associate them with the attack. reporter: when he failed to enter the synagogue, the rit-wing extremist shot a woman who had spoken to him while walking by. he then stormed to us not are and opened fire, killing a customer. he filmed everything on a helmet

camera, streaming the attack live on the internet. a sign on the window commemorates the two people who were killed. max asked twice found paper swastikas left in front of the jewish community office. once he saw quietly removing a swastika. he finds this unsettling. >> when you cant feel completely sure you can trust or dend on police or security authorities, then that is a bad thing. reporter: politicians throughout germany stress that combating anti-semitism is their highest priority. all the same, many jews say they are afraid to show their religious affiliation in public. the synagogue door that saved their lives has been replaced with a new one that is even stronger.

phil: rdw reporter attended the city of mend and berg -- attended the city where the verdict was read out. reporter: it came as a surprise when the judge handed out the verdict today. the judge several times underlined the severity of his crimes and called him to his face "an enemy of humanity." she was lost for words to describe what she called his emotional coldness. beyond just the verdict, this is what the plaintiffs want to make clear, many of whom were present and survivors of the attack last year, they and the solidarity protest just outside the court building want to make clear that germany has a problem with anti-semitism, with anti-semitic violence and sentiments. they also want to say that this

trial, the end of the trial should not mark the end of the reckoning with that reality. this is what survivors of the attack what to make clear today. phil: germany's traditional christmas markets normally draw visitors from around the world, but this year, the pandemic is keeping tourists away. one town has come up with a novel method of spreading holiday cheer -- a drive-through christmas market. >> it is a magical winter wonderland filled with bright lights and aromas, hot wine, popcorn, gingerbread -- all to be enjoyed from the safety of your own car. >> it is just like a real

christmas market. with got -- we have got almonds, toffee, etc. reporter: normally, people come from all around the world. just not this year, thanks to the coronavirus. that this leisure park in western germany has come up with a way for visitors to have fun without risking infection. >> we are certain we are 100% virus free. the guests sit in their car the entire time. families do not even get out. the whole trip is done in the car. reporter: as many as 650 carloads of visitors a day can take the 2.5 kilometer trip through the winter playground. open air christmas fun instead of eating second home. -- being stuck at home. with social distancing. >> times are tough, but you have to have some fun, as well.

it is nice to get away from everything. >> we just want to forget about the coronavirus for a while. reporter: to entertain for the car bound visitors. some more earthly creatures are also on hand. if you are hungry, there are fries from across the dutch border down the road. and jugglers ready to thrill with their daring exploit. christmas markets are all about spreading a little happiness. ♪ and a chance to put aside worries about the pandemic. at least for a while. ♪ phil: stargazers are gearing up for a close encounter of the celestial kind after sunset, when a great conjunction of planets becomes visible to the naked eye. jupiter and saturn will pass so close to each other, they will look like one enormous orb.

they meet every 20 years. astronomers say they have not been this close in almost 400 years. take a look out for that. we will have more world news at the top of the hour. i will be back in a moment to take you through "the day." taking a closer look at what is going on as the u.k. becomes isolated from the continent and the rest of the world because of the mutant coronavirus. we will do that in just a moment. have a good day. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org]

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>> the eu commission approved the use of the pfizer biontech vaccine, the jab demonstrated a 95% efficiency rate and could be disturbed at as early as next week. boris johnson assured brittany he is working as hard as possible to left a travel ban on the u.k. countries close their borders to britain as a new strain of coronavirus spread. the bri