host: hello and welcome to "focus on europe." it's wonderful to have you with us. here in germany, a particularly dangerous kind of bank robbery has been on the rise in recent months. organized criminal gangs are blowing up atm's with powerful explosives. they usually come at night, loot atms and disappear within minutes. what is left behind is utter chaos and destruction. in some cases, these powerful explosions have not only damaged atms, but have put local residents and passers-by at grave risk.

in 2022, these organized gangs stole millions of euros in cash from banks in germany. more than one such robbery takes place on average every day, an increase of 27% compared to the previous year. many of these highly professional bank robbers swoop in from outside germany -- for example, from the city of enschede, at the dutch-german border. ♪ >> there's no finesse. just brute force. germany is in the midst of a cash-machine crime wave. the thieves get away with tens of thousands of euros on average. but the property damage is often much higher. >> these criminals are extremely reckless and ruthless. until recently, we had 11,000 atms in the state of north-rhine westphalia. but in the past 6 months,

that's dropped to 9500. that's still quite a lot, and they're an appealing target. >> there were 500 atm robberies in germany last year. many of the gangs come from across the border, including the netherlands. >> banks in the netherlands have secured their atms better, so the netherlands isn't as attractive a target. in germany though, there are lots of atms, and they're filled with lots of cash. >> in cash-loving germany, the atms are well stocked and there's no speed limit on the autobahn. these suspects sped away at 250 kilometers an hour to outrun the police. we accompany police officers janna hinrichs and bert bruins out on duty.

they're part of a special unit. for the past 15 years, german and dutch police have been teaming up to patrol the border and fight organized crime , including smash-and-haul atm robberies. the police are careful not to reveal too much about their tactics. >> you need good instincts. here on the autobahn, you only have a few seconds to glance at cars and look inside them. >> a radio call comes in from the dutch police in the city of enschede, just across the border. a car with german license plates has caught their eye. the officers speed up to intercept it. >> yes, we'll pull them over in another 600 meters.

where are you going? >> home. >> the officers search the vehicle using a sniffer dog. the dogs are also trained to find explosives. the police do find something -- but just cannabis seeds. no trace of explosives or tools to rob an atm. in this game of cat and mouse, the police often arrive too late. they're worried that one day, an explosion will prove deadly. that's also true for this man from a town about a hundred kilometers from the dutch border. he doesn't want to give his name. not long ago, two atms were robbed nearby. his family lives above an atm machine. a gas line runs between the two stories, which could explode during a robbery.

>> we are so scared, we sleep terribly, of course. we're not doing well. we're worried, all the time. at night, the slightest noise wakes us up. >> local and state officials are aware that people are worried. >> the german banking sector has pledged to the federal minister of the interior that they will better secure their atms, step up safety measures, keep less cash in the machines and render stolen cash unusable. >> we contacted the national association of german cooperative banks to find out more. they declined to be interviewed, but gave us a written statement -- "it has been our goal for years to prevent attacks and permanently reduce the number of atm bombings through appropriate preventive measures."

for now, though, there's no end in sight. and given the rising number of atm robberies in germany, the next one is probably just hours away. host: northern sweden is known for its herds of reindeers and unspoiled nature. reindeer herding has had a long history in this area and has helped shape the rugged landscape. but this landscape might change. and that's because recently, sweden says it has discovered about one million tons of rare earth mineral deposits near kiruna, its northernmost city. these rare earth metals are key components in everything from ev batteries to mobile phones to wind turbines. the problem is that mining these deposits would put the livelihood, culture and heritage of reindeer herders like javna allas at risk.

>> in april, sweden's far north is still covered in ice and snow. it may look bleak but it's teeming with life. ♪ reindeer follow their ancient routes through the land of the sámi, the last indigenous people of europe. jåvna allas is sami. he's heading out to tend to his herd, which roams freely in the snow-covered landscape. but this way of life is in danger. for years, the reindeer's habitat has been shrinking. >> this is our land, and we work the land. we need large areas for our herds. but with every intrusion here, the situation gets worse.

>> jåvna's dog lexi pricks up her ears. a few reindeer have lost their way. they're headed to an area where there's a dangerous road crossing and a railway line. >> the reindeer were going in the wrong direction, but we've sent them back onto the right track. >> only a few kilometers away, a new mine is being built, with many roads and power lines -- which will also endanger the herds. a team from the state mining company is already digging deep into the frozen earth. they believe there's a huge deposit of valuable rare earths underground. sweden hopes to profit from the deposits and drive forward the green energy transition.

>> we're not saying it will be easy or problem-free. and yes, it could be hard for the sámi. but this is about more than reindeer herders: it's about sweden and the eu. everyone around the world has to adapt. we have to stop emitting so much co2. we all have to make sacrifices. ♪ >> the town of kiruna, north of the arctic circle, is at the center of sweden's mining industry. iron ore has been mined here for more than 100 years. now the mines are slated to expand, to extract the rare earths. new shafts are being drilled. life here has long been defined by the mining industry. when a new shaft is drilled, local residents have to give way. buildings threatened by the mine are slated for demolition, including 2500 apartments.

even the old wooden church will be relocated. birgitta dahlberg grew up in kiruna. her former home now stands behind a construction fence. she had to move out a year ago. the mine operators have given her a new apartment. >> the ore has to come out. ordinary people can't stop it. who wants to live here the way it looks now, anyway? we have to build a new kiruna. we'll manage, but it's still sad to lose your own history. >> it's even worse to lose your livelihood, which is what jåvna is worried about. it's something he often talks about with karin, a herder from the next village.

her herd is also at risk and she believes it's not truly necessary. >> we have to start using and recycling the rare earths we already have. only 1% of rare earths are recycled. we need to do better with recycling before we destroy even more land and water. >> jåvna's daughter also hopes to become a reindeer herder one day. the sámi pass down their knowledge through the generations. jåvna plans to continue protesting the mine to protect the sámi's way of life here in sweden's far north. ♪ >> if we stop fighting, we stop believing in the future. the reindeer herds need a lot of room to roam.

we have to fight for that, so that we can keep this going. >> when the snow melts, the herds will move high into the mountains and jåvna allas will go with them. host: all over the world, most professional firefighters are men. there is a misconception that women can't handle the physical demands of the work. spain is no exception. but that might soon change. catalonia, in the country's northeast, has decided that 40% of new recuits should be women. this photo of a mixed practice drill -- which today is quite an exception -- might soon become the norm. but the new initiative has certainly sparked a debate. some say the catalan government has gone a bit too far in the name of equality. others say it's high time for spain to step up and close this

gender gap. >> the fire department here in the northeastern spanish city of granollers is conducting a training drill. it's all in a day's work for maria casellas. she is one of catalonia's few women firefighters. soon there will be more, thanks to a new gender quota. >> when i was a young girl, i couldn't have imagined becoming a firefighter. women didn't do that. but i think when people see women doing this job, it will encourage other women to give it a try. >> for now, though, women are still an exception in the catalan fire department. they make up less than 3% of the force. today, maria is training with

female firefighters from the region. in this drill, they have to rescue an injured driver using heavy equipment. it's high-intensity work that takes a lot of skill. >> i love it. when you start at 7:00 in the morning, you never know what's coming. and you work in a team, so you're never alone. >> the catalan regional government has now introduced a quota to attract more women to the fire department. 40% of new vacancies are slated for female applicants. maria muñoz is pleased about the new quota. she's one of the few high-ranking women in the department, and heads a team of men in the command center.

>> teamwork is key to this job. the more diverse we are, the more efficiently we will handle emergencies. that's scientifically proven. every call-out is different, so we'll benefit from having people with a variety of talents. there's strength in diversity. >> but the quota has ignited debate in the department. many male firefighters say that entry requirements for men and women should be the same. they say that's what equality means. eugenio zambrano of the civil servants' union believes the quota overshoots its goal. >> society should approach this more intelligently and look for talented people, whether they're men or women. we need to change our way of thinking i need a good doctor, and it doesn't matter if they're a man or a woman. i need good firefighters, whether male or female. our government administrators need to focus on ability and

skills that's what our society needs. >> it's a hot topic among the firefighters. maria doesn't want to comment -- unlike her male colleagues. >> so now women with lower grades might pass the admission test just because spots are reserved for them. and a man with a better grade might not get in. >> the top brass in the department say that's not a worry. the quota sends a message, but skills and aptitude are what count. a female candidate will only get the job if she's just as qualified as a man. at today's meeting, the head of the catalan fire department has good news -- last year, just one in nine candidates was a woman.

this year, it's one in four. >> we have a problem, and we need to solve it. we can't wait for the free free market to fix it -- in 10 or 15 years we'll still have hardly any women in the fire department. so we're trying to speed up the process. >> c[chanting] >> "for our rights" is the rallying cry at this training session. the women firefighters of catalonia take pride in their achievements. >> it doesn't matter if we're a man or a woman -- we run toward the fire when others are running away. >> maria says it takes courage and passion to work as a firefighter. and she's delighted that soon, more women will be working at her side.

>> and now to another traditionally male domain. the football club newcastle united had long languished in the bottom of the english premiere league. but in 2021, a saudi arabian-backed takeover made newcastle the world's richest football club overnight. some longtime fans, like daniel spraggon, aren't celebrating. newcastle is now bankrolled by a saudi arabia public investment fund. and daniel suspects that the saudis might have had other motives than purely a passion for the sport. >> newcastle is back. fans of the english football club are rediscovering their pride in the team. for years, newcastle united had been struggling. but that's all changed since a saudi consortium took over the club -- and shelled out some 300 million euros to sign top talent. >> i think it's a feeling that we've been waiting for such a

long time, that now it's here it's just an immense feeling. >> we just want to see some trophy back here. that's all we're worried about right now. so it be good. >> but not everyone's happy, including daniel spraggon. for 30 years, he was a regular at the stadium. now he just comes by for a quick look and then leaves, as a sign of protest. >> i can't sit anymore, inside the grounds. it's disappointing. it's sad, but i feel i can't be there. i feel uncomfortable. it's about -- yeah, it's about values. >> hundreds of other fans feel the same way. these days, daniel watches matches at the local pub. in essence, the saudi state now holds the majority stake of his club. >> but i think once another country, a state, takes ownership of your club, you've got to be aware. you've got to be open to how they behave and how that impacts on you, and what it means to your city.

>> saudi arabia's motives are, after all, not just about the game. the desert nation has enormous oil wealth. but it draws criticism internationally for its human rights record. the saudi prime minister, crown prince mohammed bin salman, has reputation for ruthlessness. it's said there's evidence he ordered the murder of jamal khashoggi, a critic of the regime. the crown prince denies the allegations, but they're bad for his image. that's just one of the reasons the saudi sovereign wealth fund bought newcastle's beloved football club. the public investment fund has one mission -- to ensure saudi arabia's prosperity. oil reserves will dry up at some point. bin salman runs the fund personally. journalist aaron stokes has been observing how the new saudi owners have been burnishing their image. >> invested money in the playing squad behind the scenes.

i mean, even, you know, changing the name of the bar to shearer's bar was a big, big thing. put the hand in the pocket and really helped. you know, the fans food bank, they donated £150,000 a couple of months ago. >> a fanzone will also be built next to the stadium. a move that won over many a sceptic. >> i certainly think that is something that they'll look to do, you know, with the schools and the housing further down the line. i think, you know, if you come back here in 15 years time, this area, i imagine, will be fully renovated and regenerated. >> newcastle is an ideal location. the city desperately needs investment, especially in housing. and there's plenty of land for building in desirable areas. but getting hold of it is not so easy. >> it didn't need to buy a football club to do that. there are appropriate channels through which to go, but of course those channels are bureaucratic, they take a long period of time. it's much easier if you can say, "hey, come to the game on saturday."

it's a great way of building relationships. it's a great way of establishing a dialogue. it's a great way of influencing. >> the benefits that come from owning a football club are also evident in manchester. mancity is owned by the united arab emirates. they bought land from the city in a central location and built 1600 apartments. richard goulding and his colleagues took a closer look at the deal. what they found shocked them. >> it seemed they released at quite low rates. all of this for only 5 million pounds. >> the city says it couldn't get a better price. the club owners will now profit for years to come. >> we estimate there's around £10 million a year in rent is being paid to them, which is a big cash flow like a lot of investors would really jump at the chance for that. >> so owning a football club can open doors -- at home, and even abroad if the club is a winner. >> the saudi arabians are in the business of financial or

economic return on investment, or maybe a political return on investment. >> daniel spraggon is disappointed in his city. the way he sees it, newcastle has succumbed to saudi sportswashing. but he's not about to jump on that bandwagon. host: breakdancing is all about power, creativity and rhythm. this acrobatic dance was born in the 1970s on the streets of the bronx, in new york city. back then, no one would have ever guessed that these moves would one day become an olympic discipline. now, though, breakdancing is set to make its debut at the summer olympics in paris in 2024. making it the first dance sport ever to be at the olympic games. >> dancing in the streets has long been about more than just fun for b-girl sissy. next summer, the 15-year-old wants to use her breakdancing

skills to win a medal for france. >> breakdancing is my life. it's like breathing, like eating, it helps me express myself. it's been my passion ever since i was a small child. i can't imagine not breakdancing. >> breakdancing originated in the united states as part of hip-hop culture in the 1970s, when young people would challenge each other on the streets. in 2024, they will battle each other at the paris olympics. kilian lives on réunion. the 21-year-old travels regularly from the french island to train with his national teammates. >> i'm used to taking part in competitions alone. the island is small. when you live on réunion, you have to come to the mainland to make progress. >> the training schedule is tough. power, speed, and technique are required for eight hours a day. the olympic judges give points for specific criteria.

yet the dancing is always freestyle and on beat. critics say that becoming a sport has created restrictions, but others see it as a chance. >> i think we can benefit from it. it's a real sport discipline, with support for the athletes from doctors and so on. that's something we never had at competitions before. >> the athletes must also make official appearances. they have to tell their story and represent france as a leading breakdancing nation. they don't yet know which one of them will get to compete. >> for me, dancing is about sharing my dance with other dancers and with the public. ♪ >> hip hop beats echo in the famous musee d'orsay for a show battle. it's a preview of what to expect at the games -- a fresh spin on sport in grand locations. ♪ host: and that's certainly something to look forward to. that's it for this week. thanks for watching and take

care. ♪ [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org]

05/11/23 05/11/23 [captioning made possible by democracy now!] amy: from new york, this is democracy now! >> i am overwhelmed with joy and happiness and delight for the women in this country. amy: "overwhelmed with joy." those are the words of e. jean carroll after a new york jury found donald trump liable of sexual abusing and defaming her. despite the jury's decision, trump mocked carroll during a prim