WhatsApp update to expand data sharing sparks criticism

Can Russia still win the information war? Public opinion in the West was quick to swing solidly against Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, with even the fringes of the far right and far left here muting their admiration of Moscow's strongman, but that doesn't mean Moscow's spin machine has gone quiet.

With the invasion of Ukraine raising concerns about energy security, the US oil and gas industry is hoping for a boom. DW's Ines Pohl traveled to the state of North Dakota to find out how producers there hope to cash in on the renaissance in fossil fuels.

Capitol Police told staff to evacuate on Wednesday evening, citing an "aircraft that poses a probable threat." The flight, it later transpired, was routine. Politicians were quick to lambast the communication breakdown.

Wishma Sandamali, a 33-year-old Sri Lankan woman, died in a Japanese detention centre in March of last year. Her death sparked debate on the treatment of the 1,500 asylum seekers currently in detention in Japan. Many of them claim they are being treated inhumanely. Despite its economic might, Japan takes in few refugees. In 2020, it accepted less than 100 asylum seekers, while France, whose population is half the size of Japan's, took in 24,000. Our correspondents report from the city of Nagoya, where Wishma died.

Television reporter Shireen Abu Akleh was killed while covering a raid by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank. A row has broken out between Israelis and Palestinians about who was responsible for her death.

Several Western European countries are facing a sweltering weekend as summer arrives early. Much of Spain, France and Italy have been put on high alert for wildfires.

A violent attack on several women in northern China earlier this month has raised questions over gender-based violence in the country. CCTV footage from a restaurant in the city of Tangshan showed a man getting rebuffed after he put his hand on the back of a woman. He then slapped her, then with other men beat the group of women before punching, kicking and dragging them outdoors. For more on women's safety and their rights in China, we talk to Professor Maria Jaschok from the University of Oxford.

Ferda Ataman brings a wealth of personal and professional experience to the role of heading Germany's anti-discrimination office. But her nomination has triggered heated debate.

Members of Scotland's ruling party have condemned a remark by the favorite to become next UK prime minister. Liz Truss said the best thing to do with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was to "ignore her."

Find these stories and much more when you grab a copy of The Guardian on Wednesday.⁣

Jose Ruben Zamora Marroquin's elPeriodico newspaper is famous for investigations that have revealed several cases of government corruption.

Jose Ruben Zamora Marroquin's elPeriodico newspaper is famous for investigations that have revealed several cases of government corruption.