Fear and lockdowns push Black Friday shopping further online

Sheltering in their homes in Kyiv and Baryshivka, Ganna from the Dakh Daughters cabaret troupe and rapper Alyona Alyona speak to us about the cultural sector's role amid the war in Ukraine. The Dakh Daughters' participation in an upcoming theatre production in France is now hanging in the balance; Ganna tells us why the all-female punk cabaret has always dealt with politics and current events in their performances. And as one of the only rappers to write and perform in her mother tongue, Alyona Alyona explains how her Ukrainian cultural identity has become an important facet of her music.

Social media posts may seem insignificant when compared with the brutality on the ground in Ukraine, but what goes viral is directly affecting the war and Russia knows this. This Friday, the chairman of the Russian parliament Vyacheslav Volodin railed against foreign social media, calling it a "weapon" that Russia "must oppose". This comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky secured a series of victories against Russia on the international stage, thanks in no small part to his internet star power.

Stock markets in Shanghai and Hong Kong slumped on Tuesday, as investors fear the impact of the latest Covid-19 lockdowns on China's economy. Nearly 30 million people are now living under restrictions in the country, including in the technology manufacturing hub of Shenzen. Also today, Volkswagen has suspended production of vehicles at some plants in Germany over a shortage of parts that are supplied from Ukraine.

Stock markets in Shanghai and Hong Kong slumped on Tuesday, as investors fear the impact of the latest Covid-19 lockdowns on China's economy. Nearly 30 million people are now living under restrictions in the country, including in the technology manufacturing hub of Shenzen. Also today, Volkswagen has suspended production of vehicles at some plants in Germany over a shortage of parts that are supplied from Ukraine.

Researchers spent years collecting evidence of Russian war crimes in Syria, using everything from social media to satellite images. Open-source research has evolved. Could it help bring justice to Ukraine faster?

The Oscar winner's slapping of Chris Rock at the Academy Awards has triggered heated debate on social media. Almost everyone agrees, however, that violence is no answer to a poor joke.

Germany's crime rate has fallen for the fifth year in a row, down by nearly 5% in 2021 alone. Still, online crime and the distribution of images of child sex abuse are on the rise.

QOTMII is an app that detects online buzz through an AI system using millions of calculations scanning online media and social media. In the past, it has accurately assessed the outcome of presidential elections in France and the US. French far-right candidate Eric Zemmour used data assembled by QOTMII indicating that he could reach the second round of France's presidential election and presented it to supporters as a favourable poll. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.

Zimbabwe has introduced virtual trials and court hearings in the hope of cutting its huge case backlog. Many cases were postponed because of COVID-19 restrictions.

In our hyper-connected world, it’s increasingly difficult not to leave digital footprints, whether it's on the internet or social media. Every move we make is tracked by our smartphones: our online searches, interests and movements. Often, we are unaware of how our data can be used. But more and more users are becoming conscious of threats to their freedom, from data collection by internet giants to mass surveillance. Some are now trying to pass under the radar of algorithms. Our reporter met pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong, teenagers in Morocco and activists in Germany.

Although El Salvador has seen a fall in the number of homicides, the country suffers from another type of crime that the government avoids talking about. Gangs are stepping up kidnappings and forced disappearances, terrorising the most vulnerable, who increasingly end up dead. Faced with the authorities' silence, who keep no official register, victims' loved ones are speaking out. Our regional correspondents Laurence Cuvillier and Matthieu Comin report.

A weekly news show produced with photos, videos and personal accounts from FRANCE 24 Observers around the world – all checked by our staff here in Paris.