Author: DW

This is the type of message one might come across on Ukrainian Telegram channels:  “The Armed Forces of Ukraine are recruiting homeless people.” “Ukrainians are going to surrender Kharkiv.” “Ukrainian border guards were allowed to open fire on those trying to flee Ukraine.” These messages, monitored by the Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation, are distributed by allegedly pro-Russian Telegram channels, apparently to sow panic and disinformation about Ukraine’s military affairs and political establishment. The speed and anonymity of Telegram have heightened the debate over whether to block the platform in Ukraine. This issue has reached political circles, with discussions now…

US Treasury chief Janet Yellen on Friday warned that China’s huge subsidies for its industry could pose a risk to the global economy, and called for a “level playing field” above all for American firms. Yellen was speaking to a gathering of the American business community in the city of Guangzhou, where she will hold several days of talks with Chinese officials during what is her second visit to China in less than a year. What did Yellen say? In her speech at the American Chamber of Commerce, on Friday, Yellen accused China of disadvantaging foreign firms in favor of its…

The European Union’s law enforcement agency Europol on Friday published an analysis of 821 criminal groups that it says pose a major threat to the bloc’s internal security. The Hague-based agency — which wants the study to be a springboard for more finely tuned investigations — found that crime networks vary significantly in structure, activity, territorial control, and longevity. What the analysis found Some 25,000 individuals were found to be involved in the identified networks, which were selected for the threat they were thought to pose. In terms of membership counts for each group, these were thought to most often…

Ukraine has conducted “coordinated strikes” overnight against a military airbase inside Russia, targeting Russian fighter planes, a Ukrainian source has told Sky News.The operation, which took place early on Friday morning, included attacks against Russian SU-34 fighter-bombers, which have been used by the Russian military to hit Ukrainian forces in Ukraine, the military source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Image: Map showing the Morozovsk airfield “The Morozovsk military airfield hosts potent fast jet capabilities, SU-34s, which launch strikes on to frontline Ukrainian troops,” the source said.”This strike will impede Russia’s ability to conduct such strikes in the future and…

Can someone who committed genocide ever be reintegrated into society? The people convicted of genocide in Rwanda have served the maximum sentence and have been released.  The authors of DW’s Science unscripted podcast, Conor Dillon and Gabriel Borrud, discussed this with Hollie Nyseth Nzitatira, professor of sociology at Ohio State University. She interviewed 168 convicted Rwandans before and after they were released from prison. DW: How were the individuals who once used a machete against former neighbors welcomed home in Rwanda? Or, what exactly is a successful reintegration into society after genocide? Hollie Nyseth Nzitatira: It’s a dual process. As they’re coming back from prison, they…

The trunks worn by boxing legend Muhammad Ali in his famous “Thrilla in Manila” boxing match with rival Joe Frazier are now on auction at Sotheby’s in New York. Ali’s shorts are expected to be sell for more than $6 million (€5.5 million). The auction of the Muhammad Ali’s shorts from an iconic fight comes as Sotheby’s has decided to auction off a bunch of sporting items. Bids have been arriving online since March 27, and the auction is open until April 12. The white shorts with black stripes have an inscription by Ali’s assistant trainer and corner man, Drew “Bundini” Brown…

This is the type of message one might come across on Ukrainian Telegram channels:  “The Armed Forces of Ukraine are recruiting homeless people.” “Ukrainians are going to surrender Kharkiv.” “Ukrainian border guards were allowed to open fire on those trying to flee Ukraine.” These messages, monitored by the Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation, are distributed by allegedly pro-Russian Telegram channels apparently to sow panic and disinformation about Ukraine’s military affairs and political establishment. The speed and anonymity of Telegram have heightened the debate over whether to block the platform in Ukraine. This issue has reached political circles, with discussions now…

Many South Koreans, including President Yoon Suk-yeol, cast their ballots on Friday on the first of two days of early voting for next week’s parliamentary elections. More than 3.5 million people, or some 8% of eligible voters, had voted as of 1 p.m., according to the National Election Commission — the highest turnout in the time period since early voting was introduced in 2013. Surveys have shown that the April 10 election will be a close-run affair, with Yoon’s People Power Party (PPP) seeking to win a majority in the 300-seat assembly. The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) currently holds a a 167-seat majority, enabling…

A dog missing from California has been reunited with its owners after turning up almost nine months later – and more than 2,000 miles away from the family home.Terrier mix Mishka went missing from San Diego in mid-July last year and her owners’ social media pleas for information failed to deliver any leads. Fast forward nearly nine months and just before Easter, authorities in suburban Detroit, Michigan, responded to a call about a stray dog.Police in Harper Woods picked the pooch up and contacted animal welfare group The Grosse Pointe Animal Adoption Society.They soon discovered three-year-old Mishka had been chipped…

One of the accomplices in the deadly Christmas market attack in Strasbourg was handed 30 years in prison, a French court ruled Thursday.  The 42-year-old accomplice from the Ivory Coast, Audrey M., went to trial in February along with three others over their roles assisting in the attack. He was the main defendant in the trial, and is accused of helping the perpetrator of the attack with a firearm.   The 29-year-old attacker, Cherif Chekatt, was shot dead by police after a massive manhunt. He killed five people and wounded 11 others when he opened fire on the open-air market. What did the court rule?  The court…