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Russian troops have amassed near Ukraine’s borders, but the government in Kyiv seems oddly calm and detached. Why are President Volodymyr Zelensky and other top politicians playing down the threat?

from DER SPIEGEL - International https://bit.ly/3HdpGCN

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Southern Madagascar is living through a horrific drought and a worsening famine. Aid organizations are there to help, but how sustainable is such assistance? A handful of projects in the region may point the way to a more sustainable future.

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Uganda's perpetual president, Yoweri Museveni, is grooming his son as his successor. When satirical writer Kakwenza Rukirabashaija went after the scion on Twitter, he was arrested and tortured. His opposition ally Stella Nyanzi spoke with DER SPIEGEL about the situation in her country.

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The Ukrainian city of Kharkiv is located close to the Russian border, and it could become a combat zone in the event of an attack. Many residents fled here from the fighting in the separatist areas. Some are packing their bags, but others are waiting to see what happens.

from DER SPIEGEL - International https://ift.tt/3467qN4

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The U.S. wants to impose harsh sanctions on Russia invades Ukraine. But the German government is putting on the brakes out of fears over the economic consequences and what punitive measures could mean for energy supplies for a country that gets much of its gas from Moscow.

from DER SPIEGEL - International https://ift.tt/3KptfYq

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Many in Algeria had hoped that the country would become a democracy after the toppling of authoritarian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in 2019. But the repression didn't end with the new government. Now many are leaving the country for Europe.

from DER SPIEGEL - International https://ift.tt/3KoKRUn

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Alexei Navalny is locked away in one of the most notorious prisons in Russia, and it isn't clear when he might ever be released. The Kremlin has destroyed his opposition movement, but the Putin opponent remains steadfast. How does he do it?

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NATO member states need to take a confrontational stance toward Russian President Vladimir Putin. In addition to economic sanctions, they should also supply weapons to Ukraine. This is the only way to prevent a Russian invasion.

from DER SPIEGEL - International https://ift.tt/3fxQuS7

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Infection rates are skyrocketing, though symptoms appear to be milder. Nevertheless, Anthony Fauci, an adviser to the U.S. president, warns in an interview against playing down the dangers of Omicron. He also expresses his hope that we are approaching the end of the pandemic.

from DER SPIEGEL - International https://ift.tt/3qt9reK

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Australia has moved to revoke tennis star Novak Djoković's visa once again and fans around the world are scratching their heads over his behavior. Meanwhile, he has become a hero to corona truthers. What comes next for the best player in the world?

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The crimes committed by Bashar al-Assad's power apparatus are finally getting the legal attention they deserve as a trial for crimes against humanity in Syria comes to a close in Germany. But there's an important hitch: The men being tried actually deserted from the regime.

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Until recently, residents of poor neighborhoods in Brazil had little access to the digital world. But young people are now finding ways to earn money and recognition, while at the same time escaping their reality in the virtual world.

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Tennis star Novak Djoković claims that he tested positive for the coronavirus on Dec. 16. But the digital test result suggests otherwise. This and a suspected false statement could create new visa problems for the athlete in Australia.

from DER SPIEGEL - International https://ift.tt/3HUL93b

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Since Wuhan, no Chinese city has experienced such a strict lockdown as the one currently in place in Xi'an. And Omicron hasn't even made its presence felt yet in the country. The upcoming Winter Olympics could change that.

from DER SPIEGEL - International https://ift.tt/31Mts6I

WORLD NEWS

The Omicron variant could help SARS-CoV-2 transform more quickly from a killer virus to an annual nuisance. But the pathogen has also created hiding places in the animal kingdom and we will likely be facing further mutations in the future.

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