BusinessJaponia

Tarifele Trump: Partenerii comerciali ai SUA analizează opțiunile de negociere

Tanika Godbole cu AFP, AP, Reuters | Wesley Rahn07/08/20258 iulie 2025

Trump a trimis scrisori mai multor țări, inclusiv Japoniei și Coreei de Sud, amenințând cu tarife începând cu 1 august. Uniunea Europeană a declarat că dorește să încheie un acord în prealabil.

https://p.dw.com/p/4x6P1Trump vrea să impună un tarif de 25% aliaților săi, Japonia și Coreea de SudImagine: picture alliance/Kyodo

Prim-ministrul japonez Shigeru Ishiba a răspuns unei scrisori din partea președintelui american Donald Trump, care amenință Tokyo cu taxe de import mai mari dacă nu se ajunge la un nou acord comercial.

Ishiba a declarat marți că va continua negocierile tarifare cu SUA pentru a ajunge la un acord care să funcționeze pentru ambii parteneri.

În aprilie, Trump a anunțat o pauză de 90 de zile, până pe 9 iulie, pentru tarifele cuprinse între 10% și 50% pentru zeci de țări, inclusiv majoritatea partenerilor comerciali majori.

Dar, pe măsură ce se apropia acest nou termen limită, Trump a declarat luni că va introduce tarife mai mari pe 1 august pentru partenerii comerciali care nu negociază noi acorduri.

UE dorește un acord „rapid”

Uniunea Europeană își propune să să încheiem un acord înainte de termenul limită de 1 august.

Comisarul UE pentru economie, Valdis Dombrovskis, a declarat marți reporterilor de la Bruxelles că „cu cât ajungem mai repede la acord, cu atât mai bine”.

„Acest lucru ar elimina incertitudinea din jurul acestor chestiuni tarifare și, într-adevăr, vedem că acest lucru afectează economia și, de asemenea, deciziile de investiții ale companiilor”, a declarat Dombrovskis.

„Am lucrat având în vedere acest termen limită de 9 iulie, dar, așa cum am subliniat, se pare că SUA au amânat acum, într-un fel, acest termen limită până la 1 august, ceea ce ne oferă puțin mai mult timp, dar din partea noastră rămânem concentrați”, a adăugat Dombrovskis.

Potrivit agenției de știri Reuters, citând surse din UE, nu se așteaptă ca blocul comunitar să primească o scrisoare tarifară de la Trump. Diplomații au declarat agenției de știri AFP că Comisia Europeană, care poartă negocieri comerciale în numele blocului celor 27 de state membre, se așteaptă să elaboreze un tarif de bază de 10% cu Trump, care va fi în vigoare pentru mărfurile UE, cu câteva excepții limitate.

Dacă nu se poate negocia niciun acord, tariful SUA pentru importurile UE este de așteptat să fie de 20%.

Merz solicită un acord comercial „rapid și simplu” al UE cu SUA

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Trump spune că 1 august este termenul limită final

Marți, Trump a scris pe platforma sa Truth Social că „nu vor exista modificări” la termenul limită de 1 august, pe fondul speculațiilor că ar exista o altă prelungire.

Trump avertizase că luni vor fi trimise scrisori, alertând alte națiuni cu privire la cele mai recente planuri din războiul său comercial.

Apoi a adăugat că SUA va impune un tarif de 25% la importurile din doi dintre cei mai apropiați aliați ai săi, Japonia și Coreea de Sud, începând cu 1 august, dezvăluind aparent primii doi parteneri comerciali care vor primi o „scrisoare”.

„Dacă, din orice motiv, decideți să vă creșteți tarifele, atunci, indiferent de cifra cu care alegeți să le creșteți, se va adăuga la cele 25% pe care le percepem”, a declarat Trump Japoniei și Coreei de Sud în scrisori publicate pe platforma sa Truth Social.

Urmărește cele mai importante știri

Aceste tarife nu vor fi combinate cu tarifele sectoriale anunțate anterior, cum ar fi cele pentru automobile și oțel și aluminiu.

„Deși vestea este dezamăgitoare, nu înseamnă că jocul s-a terminat”, a declarat fosta negociatoare comercială americană Wendy Cutler, vicepreședinta Institutului de Politică a Societății Asiatice, pentru agenția de știri Reuters.

Secretarul Trezoreriei SUA, Scott Bessent, a declarat anterior că obiectivul din august „nu este” „un nou termen limită” pentru negocieri.

Ishiba a declarat că discuțiile sale anterioare cu Trump au ajutat la evitarea unei rate tarifare și mai mari, de aproximativ 30-35%.

El a spus că va căuta un acord care să beneficieze ambele națiuni, „protejând în același timp interesul național al Japoniei”.

Cine altcineva a primit scrisoarea?

Trump a declarat că SUA vor impune tarife de 25% la exporturile din Tunisia, Malaezia și Kazahstan, cu 30% la Africa de Sud, Bosnia și Herțegovina.

El a anunțat tarife și mai mari, de 32% la Indonezia, 35% la Serbia și Bangladesh, 36% la Cambodgia și Thailanda și 40% la Laos și Myanmar.

Africa de Sud a fost, de asemenea, unul dintre destinatarii scrisorii lui Trump și i s-a impus un tarif reciproc de 30%. Președintele Cyril Ramaphosa a declarat la X că „nu este o reprezentare exactă a datelor comerciale disponibile”.

Filosofia economică a lui Trump: Un plan real sau pur și simplu haos?

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Editat de: Elizabeth Schumacher

Tanika Godbole Jurnalistă multimedia cu sediul în New DelhiWesley Rahn Redactor și reporter specializat în geopolitică și actualitateTrimiteți-ne feedback-ul dvs.

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Sursa: DW

PoliticăAfrica

Kenya: Tensiuni după mai multe proteste mortale

Isaac Kaledzi07/08/20258 iulie 2025

Tulburările cu ocazia aniversării revoltei pro-democrație din Saba Saba din 1990 au dus la 11 morți în această săptămână. Pe măsură ce calmul a revenit în majoritatea părților țării, situația a rămas tensionată în nord-estul comitatului Embu.

https://p.dw.com/p/4x8N6Imagine: Brian Inganga/AP/picture alliance

În ciuda unui calm relativ după tulburările de luni din Nairobi și din alte părți ale Kenyei, afacerile au rămas închise, iar barierele rutiere au fost în vigoare. În Embu, la nord-estul capitalei, protestatarii s-au adunat din nou marți, după ce un parlamentar a fost arestat, spune Andrew Wasike de la DW.

„Locuitorii furioși au aprins focuri de tabără și au baricadat drumurile cu pietre, paralizând traficul în anumite părți ale orașului”, spune Wasike. Protestatarii acuză guvernul de persecuție politică și cer eliberarea parlamentarului Gitonga Mukunji.

Autoritățile l-ar fi acuzat pe parlamentar că a incitat cetățenii la proteste cu ocazia celei de-a 35-a aniversări a revoltei pro-democrație de la Saba Saba.

Între timp, în orașul central Kiambu, marți, cazul unei fete ucise de un glonț rătăcit în timpul tulburărilor de Ziua Saba Saba a alimentat furia publică marți. „Protestatarii au ieșit în stradă cu sutele pentru a cere dreptate pentru familia copilului de 12 ani”, spune Wasike.

Potrivit poliției, peste 560 de persoane au fost arestate în timpul protestelor de la Ziua Saba, unde protestatarii i-au cerut președintelui William Ruto să demisioneze.

Cel puțin 11 persoane ucise în protestele din Kenya, pe fondul unei represiuni acerbe

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Răspunsul guvernului — „autoritarism”

În ultimul an, Kenya a cunoscut valuri de proteste antiguvernamentale mortale. Pe 25 iunie, cel puțin 19 persoane au fost ucise și peste 400 rănite în ciocniri dintre protestatari și poliție.

Isabel Brenda, consilier senior pe probleme de alegeri și guvernare la Institutul de Drept Electoral și Guvernare pentru Africa, critică răspunsul guvernului.

„Reacția guvernului este foarte regretabilă, deoarece guvernul, desigur, a intrat în panică și recurge la autoritarism și supra-poliție, ceea ce, din păcate, a dus la pierderi de vieți omenești, ceea ce cred că este destul de regretabil”, a declarat Brenda pentru DW.

Mulți dintre protestatari sunt tineri sau așa-numiții GenZ, care spun că sunt frustrați de corupție, dificultăți economice și guvernare proastă. Protestatarii și-au reiterat apelurile din această săptămână pentru încetarea brutalității poliției și pentru egalitate și oportunități.

„Există diferențe serioase în șomaj și probleme cu tinerii. Costul vieții este foarte ridicat. Așadar, acestea sunt câteva dintre problemele care îi presează cu adevărat pe cetățenii kenyeni”, spune Brenda.

Poliția a folosit gaze lacrimogene și tunuri cu apă pentru a dispersa protestatarii care cereau demisia președintelui William Ruto. Imagine: Monicah Mwangi/REUTERS

Proprietarii de afaceri sunt îngrijorați

Magazinele au fost incendiate și jefuite în timpul tulburărilor. „Uite, totul este ars”, a declarat un comerciant din Nairobi pentru Reuters săptămâna aceasta. „Așa că, vă rog, guvernul să încerce să vorbească cu GenZ. Pentru că tot ce se întâmplă este din cauza GenZ.”

Urmărește cele mai importante știri

Unii proprietari de afaceri spun că tulburările le amenință mijloacele de trai. „Lucrurile sunt atât de dificile în țara noastră acum. Uneori vii de dimineața până seara și nu ai vândut nimic. Și acestea sunt lucruri în care am investit atât de mult timp. Facem apel la calm”, a declarat un comerciant pentru Reuters.

Potrivit Brendei, natura descentralizată a protestelor a contribuit la volatilitate. „Știți că Generația Z nu are lideri; nu are partide, nu are triburi. Nu cred în a intra în coconi etnici”, a declarat ea pentru DW.

Tinerii din Kenya reflectă asupra protestului și schimbării — The 77 Percent

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Există o soluție?

În perioada premergătoare Zilei Saba Saba, ministrul de Interne, Kipchumba Murkomen, a declarat că guvernul s-a angajat să protejeze viața și proprietatea.

„Agențiile noastre de securitate sunt în alertă maximă pentru a se ocupa decisiv de infractori și alte elemente cu intenții rele care ar putea încerca să se infiltreze în procesiuni pașnice pentru a provoca haos, haos sau distrugerea proprietății.” „a spus Murkomen.

Brenda avertizează că guvernul riscă să subestimeze amploarea nemulțumirii publice. „Voi repeta ceea ce cred că simte țara în ceea ce privește faptul că guvernul nu își ascultă poporul. Este surd. Aceștia sunt tineri care spun că ne-am săturat de proasta guvernare și vrem schimbări”, a spus ea.

„Adică, nu poți să-ți ascunzi capul în nisip doar pentru că ești nemulțumit de ceea ce spun tinerii. Aș prefera să-ți scoți capul din nisip și să asculți ce se spune. Veniți la masa discuțiilor, găsiți soluții.”

DW surprinde împușcăturile brutale de la protestul din Nairobi

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Editat de: Benita van Eyssen

Isaac Kaledzi Reporter independent cu sediul în Accra, Ghana.@isaackaledziTrimiteți-ne feedback-ul dvs.

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Sursa: DW

Nature and EnvironmentUnited States of America

Fact check: Texas floods – cloud seeding theories dismissed

Matt Ford07/08/2025July 8, 2025

Conspiracy theorists have blamed the devastating flash floods in Texas on cloud seeding, a technique used to chemically induce rainfall. Scientists have dismissed the theories as baseless. A DW Fact Check.

https://p.dw.com/p/4x7WtImage: Marco Bello/REUTERS

Over 100 people have now been confirmed dead following flash floods in central Texas over the weekend, including 27 young campers and staff at a local girls’ summer camp.

Unfortunately, despite meteorological professionals explaining in news outlets all over the world how and why such devastating flooding occurs, parts of social media have become breeding grounds for disinformation.

One popular conspiracy theory which has been given credence by current and former US political figures—including Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and former National Security Advisor General Mike Flynn—concerns “cloud seeding” — the practice of chemically inducing rainfall from clouds in areas affected by drought.

DW Fact Check takes a look.

Claim: Cloud seeding over parts of Texas two days before the floods caused or contributed to the disaster

DW Fact Check: False

Viral posts such as this have suggested that the deadly floods in Texas were linked to cloud seedingImage: X

As of Tuesday, over 2.6 million people had viewed a post on X by a well-known conspiracy theorist account which suggested a link between the deadly floods and cloud seeding operations conducted two days earlier by Rainmaker, a weather modification start-up funded partly by US software billionaire Peter Thiel.

In another post, viewed over 2.8 million times, the same account claimed that the state of Texas is “running seven massive cloud seeding programs” in an attempt to “enhance rainfall across millions of acres” and questioning: “Did they push the clouds too far and trigger this flood?”

Accompanying the post was a video originally published on TikTok on May 2 in which the user questioned whether “blue rain” at a camping site in Texas was linked to “chemtrails” or, in the video description, “cloud seading” (sic). The video had been viewed over 3.1 million times by Tuesday.

The claims gained traction among certain right-wing US politicians including Christian nationalist and conspiracy theorist Marjorie Taylor Greene who said in a post on X, viewed over 8.3 million times, that she would be introducing a bill to Congress to “end the dangerous and deadly practice of weather modification and geoengineering.”

General Mike Flynn, former National Security Advisor to US President Donald Trump during his first term, further peddled the theory to his 2.1 million followers on X here and here.

Texas floods: what is cloud seeding?

Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique used to induce rainfall.

It involves dispersing insoluble salts such as silver iodide among existing clouds, either via aircraft, drone or shot up from the ground. Water vapor particles in the clouds are thereby “tricked” into forming larger droplets around the silver iodide particles, eventually becoming large and heavy enough to fall as rain.

“Cloud seeding itself cannot create rain out of nothing,” adds Edward Gryspeerdt, a Research Fellow at the Department of Physics at Imperial College London (ICL), pointing out to DW: “Cloud seeding aims to identify clouds that are not currently raining, but are very close to doing so.”

The first attempts at cloud seeding were made by US scientists at the General Electric Research Laboratory in the 1940s. Today, the method is used in various countries across the world to relieve drought, including in China and the Middle East.

Manmade rain in the desert

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Rainmaker, the company at the center of the Texas flooding claims, is contracted across the western United States by various municipalities and state governments to produce more water in regions impacted by drought, including in California, Arizona, Oklahoma, Colorado and Texas, its CEO Augustus Doricko confirmed on an X Space hosted by a conservative influencer on Monday, July 7.

Vezi toate știrile de pe verificare faptelor inundațiile

The most recent operation in the vicinity of Kerr County, where the floods took place, was on July 2 – two days before the floods, hence the speculation that the cloud seeding activity could have exacerbated the heavy rainfall.

Could cloud seeding have contributed to the Texas floods?

“The flooding, unequivocally, had nothing to do with Rainmaker’s activities or any weather modification activities,” insisted Doricko, 20 minutes into Monday’s X Space – a claim backed up scientific consensus.

“Cloud seeding might be able to modify a cloud that already exists, but a large thunderstorm requires a huge amount of water and energy,” explains ICL’s Gryspeerdt. “Cloud seeding cannot provide either of these — it only creates small modifications to existing clouds.”

Travis Herzog, award-winning chief meteorologist at broadcaster AB13 in Houston, Texas, concurs, stating in a Facebook post on July 6: “Cloud seeding cannot create a storm of this magnitude or size. In fact, cloud seeding cannot even create a single cloud. All it can do is take an existing cloud and enhance the rainfall by up to 20% — and even that is on the high end. It is physically impossible for [cloud seeding] to have created this weather system.”

“Cloud seeding played ZERO role in [the] deadly Texas floods – rudimentary, basic physics explains that,” agreed Matthew Cappucci, an atmospheric scientist and senior meteorologist at MyRadar, a leading Florida-based weather app.

“In dry environments, adding cloud condensation nuclei can help clouds drop subtly more rain,” Cappucci added in one of several posts on the subject on X. “You don’t spontaneously make 4 trillion gallons of water appear in Texas.”

Texas: cloud seeding particles would have long since dispersed, say experts

What’s more, CEO Doricko claimed, given the almost two-day gap between Rainmaker’s last operation over Kerr County, any rain-inducing silver iodide particles dispersed on July 2 would have long since dispersed into entirely inconsequential densities — a statement which is also backed up by scientific consensus.

“The horizontal winds at cloud level would have moved the air volume that was cloud seeded at least 1,000 kilometers away from the location of the cloud seeding between 2 and 4 July,” explained Dr. Sandra Yuter, Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Sciencesat North Carolina State University, speaking to DW.

Dr. Yuter’s calculation was based on average horizontal wind dispersal speeds of approximately 10 m/s (36 km/h, 22.3 mph), after consulting nearby weather balloon data from July 3.

Given that the state of Texas is about 1,320 kilometers (820 miles) wide at its broadest point, Dr. Yuter concludes: “Any cloud seeding on July 2 in the vicinity of Kerr County would not have changed the rainfall from the storms that hit the region on July 4.”

Climate change: Extreme weather events to become ‘more common’

ICL’s Edward Gryspeerdt concludes that “the floods in Texas were driven by record amounts of atmospheric moisture over a region that is known for flash floods” and warns that, as the atmosphere warms due to climate change, such extreme rainfall events are likely to become worse:

“Climate models predict that while Texas may become slightly drier on average due to climate change, the intensity of rainfall will likely increase, suggesting that these types of thunderstorms will become more common in the future.”

Matt Ford Reporter for DW News and Fact CheckSend us your feedback

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Sursa: DW

PoliticsGermany

Germany updates: Pistorius outlines plans for military draft

Timothy Jones dpa, AFP, Reuters, AP, epd, KNAPublished 07/08/2025Published July 8, 2025last updated 07/08/2025last updated July 8, 2025

A bill by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius foresees some military conscription in cases of need, German media reported. Follow DW for more.

https://p.dw.com/p/4x6PkPistorius wants to increase the number of available soldiers to 460,000 by 2029Image: Michael Bihlmayer/CHROMORANGE/picture allianceSkip next section What you need to know

What you need to know

A bill to be put forward by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius would allow the Cabinet, with parliamentary agreement, to call up conscripts if a situation arises that requires a rapid boost to the country’s armed forces, media have reported.   

The bill is being seen as a compromise between some conservatives’ calls for the return of compulsory military service, which was suspended in Germany in 2011, and the opposition of many leftist lawmakers to such a move.

The German government is planning to have a new military service scheme in place by 2026 in response to the changed security situation in Europe largely due to Russia’s territorial aggression.

Meanwhile, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is in Latvia for talks focusing on the security situation in the Baltic region, which would seem particularly under threat from Moscow’s imperialist ambitions. 

Below, you can read a roundup of news, analysis and background  from Germany on Tuesday, July 8.

Skip next section Record 17,000 Germany fans set for Euro 2025 clash in Basel07/08/2025July 8, 2025

Record 17,000 Germany fans set for Euro 2025 clash in Basel

The previous record for a women’s game was over 4,800 German fans at the Euro 2022 final in LondonImage: Thor Wegner/DeFodi Images/picture alliance

A record 17,000 Germany fans are expected for the women’s Euro 2025 match against Denmark on Tuesday — more than 12,000 above the previous mark for German support at a women’s game abroad.

The Group C match in Basel, just across the border in Switzerland, will fill St. Jakob Park to its 34,250 capacity, with about half the crowd backing Germany, the country’s football federation said.

The old record was 4,816 fans at the 2022 European Championship women’s final at Wembley, when Germany lost to England.

Basel will also stage this year’s final on July 27, with German fans hoping to return in force. The team started the tournament with a 2-0 win over Poland.

https://p.dw.com/p/4x9HcSkip next section German tourist dies after balcony fall in Mallorca07/08/2025July 8, 2025

German tourist dies after balcony fall in Mallorca

A young German holidaymaker has died after falling from a hotel balcony on the Spanish island of Mallorca, officials confirmed Tuesday.

The man, believed to be around 20, died of his injuries at Son Espases hospital in Palma, local media Cronica Balear reported.

Police said witnesses reported the tourist may have been trying to jump into the hotel pool from the balcony, but the investigation is ongoing. His identity and hometown have not been officially released.

Spanish media said he was partying with a large group of German tourists in Playa de Palma and returned to the hotel drunk with a friend in the early hours of Saturday.

The friend said he heard a crash before others rushed to help. The man went into cardiac arrest but was resuscitated by emergency crews and later died in the hospital.

So-called “balconing” — risky jumps from hotel balconies into pools or other rooms — has long been a problem on Mallorca, especially in the Magaluf area.

Awareness campaigns have cut accidents there, but serious incidents still happen in Playa de Palma, where fatal falls were also reported last year.

Toxic tourism — Mallorca’s housing crisis

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https://p.dw.com/p/4x9PxSkip next section WATCH: Poland starts controls at border crossings with Germany07/08/2025July 8, 2025

WATCH: Poland starts controls at border crossings with Germany

According to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, the controls are temporary and aimed at stopping human trafficking and irregular migration. Germany has ramped up immigration controls along its borders, including with Poland, under the new conservative government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

For many EU observers in Brussels, the tit-for-tat measures reflect a deeper shift away from European solidarity and toward national self-interest.

Poland starts border controls at border with Germany

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https://p.dw.com/p/4x9HXSkip next section Defense, infrastructure: Germany plans record investment07/08/2025July 8, 2025

Defense, infrastructure: Germany plans record investment

Sabine KinkartzFinance Minister Lars Klingbeil outlined the government’s budget plans in the BundestagImage: Michael Kappeler/dpa/picture alliance

The Bundestag is debating the government’s budget plans, which see record expenditure and record debt.

The aim is to get the country back on its feet through massive investment.

DW takes a deep dive into Berlin’s budget goals and challenges.

https://p.dw.com/p/4x9HUSkip next section Germany’s Lufthansa Group plans to resume Tel Aviv service from August07/08/2025July 8, 2025

Germany’s Lufthansa Group plans to resume Tel Aviv service from August

Germany’s Lufthansa Group has said it will gradually resume flights by its airlines to Tel Aviv in Israel starting on August 1.

The aviation group canceled flights to Israel in early May after Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched a missile at Israel that landed near Ben Gurion Airport, Israel’s main international airport.

A company spokesman has confirmed the planned resumption of flights, already reported by Israeli media, while stating that the group would still closely monitor the security situation in the Middle East.

The Lufthansa Group includes the airlines Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Eurowings, ITA Airways, Brussels Airlines and Lufthansa Cargo.

SWISS has decided to suspend flights to Tel Aviv until at least October 25, while Lufthansa’s low-cost subsidiary Eurowings has also canceled Tel Aviv flights until the same date.

While you’re here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter, Berlin Briefing.

https://p.dw.com/p/4x8HbSkip next section Former Economy Minister Habeck to move to Denmark07/08/2025July 8, 2025

Former Economy Minister Habeck to move to Denmark

Robert Habeck is a former co-leader of the Green Party and a current parliamentarianImage: Michael Kappeler/dpa/picture alliance

German Green politician Robert Habeck has announced his intention of moving to Denmark to work, while saying he was also hoping to take up visiting professorships at universities outside Europe.

Habeck, 55, who held the position of economy minister and vice chancellor in the previous three-way coalition government under Chancellor Olaf Scholz, can speak Danish after spending some time studying in the Scandinavian country.

He has said he would like to work at the Danish Institute for International Studies in Copenhagen.

It is not clear whether he will retain his seat in the German parliament as the member for the northern constituency of Flensburg-Schleswig. Habeck was the Green Party’s candidate for the chancellorship at February elections but withdrew from the party’s leadership echelon after it received just 11.6% of the vote.

From October, he is planning to host a series of discussions at the Berliner Ensemble theater under the title “Habeck live.”

https://p.dw.com/p/4x7psSkip next section German government must honor visa promise made to Afghan family, court says07/08/2025July 8, 2025

German government must honor visa promise made to Afghan family, court says

A German court ruled on Tuesday that an Afghan family previously promised visas to enter Germany under a program for those at risk under the Taliban regime must be allowed to travel to the country.

Berlin’s administrative court said the family had been given a “legally binding” commitment that overrides the conservative-led government’s decision earlier this year to stop the scheme.

The ruling can be appealed by the Foreign Ministry.

After the Taliban returned to power in 2021, Germany established various admission procedures for Afghan nationals considered as being in danger from the Islamist group, which is known to repress civil liberties — most notably, women’s rights.

According to the Foreign Ministry, as of June 20 about 2,400 Afghan nationals are
waiting in Pakistan to receive a visa for Germany, including democracy advocates, judges, female journalists and artists. 

The admission schemes were canceled as the German government under conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz takes an increasingly hard line on migration in general.

More on the court ruling here.

Afghan refugee family faces migration reality in Germany

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https://p.dw.com/p/4x7BcSkip next section Germany summons China ambassador over laser incident07/08/2025July 8, 2025

Germany summons China ambassador over laser incident

Germany has accused the Chinese military of targeting a German aircraft with a laser as the aircraft took part in a EU security operation and summoned China’s ambassador over the incident.

“Putting German personnel at risk and disrupting the operation is completely unacceptable,” the Foreign Ministry wrote on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

No further information was immediately available.

The aircraft was involved in the EU’s ASPIDES mission, which aims to help protect freedom of navigation and maritime security, especially for commercial vessels in the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Gulf region.

Urmărește cele mai importante știri

Read the full story of the German aircraft laser targeting here.

https://p.dw.com/p/4x6wLSkip next section Flights ever more expensive from German airports — analysis07/08/2025July 8, 2025

Flights ever more expensive from German airports — analysis

Prices for air passengers traveling from airports in Germany within Europe are continuing to rise, even those for budget airlines, according to an analysis by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR).

The average cost now of a one-way tickets without luggage is between just under €67 ( 

Lufthansa subsidiary Eurowings is the most expensive provider, charging an average of €130 for a one-way flight, up from €110 last year.

The analysis showed that advance planning is of advantage, with bookings made three months ahead costing in the range of €46 to €90, while those at short notice cost between €119 to €169.

The factors driving the price increases are a continuing shortage of flights, high taxes and fees, according to the analysis.

https://p.dw.com/p/4x6pOSkip next section Most people in Germany want ban on private fireworks — survey07/08/2025July 8, 2025

Most people in Germany want ban on private fireworks — survey

Altogether 59% of people living in Germany would like to see a ban on private fireworks similar to the one set to be introduced in the neighboring Netherlands, a survey released on Tuesday showed.

The survey by the polling institute Forsa and commissioned by the Stern magazine
showed that women are more in favor of such a ban than men (67% to 51%) and that a small majority (51%) of young men from the 18-29 age group oppose one.

Supporters of the far-left Left Party were the most likely to back a ban, with 86% in favor, while 60% of people who vote for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party were against it.  

The Netherlands will ban private individuals from setting off fireworks as of New Year 2026/2027.

The prohibition came partly in response to increasing violence in the country associated with New Year’s fireworks, including attacks on police officers, firefighters and emergency workers.

A number of people are also injured or even killed each year while setting off fireworks.

https://p.dw.com/p/4x6dFSkip next section President Steinmeier talks security in Latvia on last day of Baltic trip07/08/2025July 8, 2025

President Steinmeier talks security in Latvia on last day of Baltic trip

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is wrapping up a three-day trip to the Baltic region with talks in the Latvian capital, Riga.

He is set to meet Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics and Prime Minister Evika Silina for discussions that are expected to center on the security situation in the region against the backdrop of Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

During his stay in Riga, Steinmeier is also due to visit the Braunschweig, a German corvette currently stationed in the city as it participates in the US-led Baltic Operations exercise.

Latvia, a former Soviet republic, shares the fear of other Baltic states that it could become the target of Russia’s expansionist policies under President Vladimir Putin.

The country is a member of both the EU and NATO.

On Sunday, Steinmeier was in Lithuania as the country celebrated its national day.

Among other things, he visited the headquarters of the Armored Brigade 45 (Panzerbrigade 45) in the capital, Vilnius, which was activated in April of this year as the first German brigade-sized unit to be based abroad permanently since World War II.

https://p.dw.com/p/4x6cjSkip next section Military service bill foresees emergency draft option07/08/2025July 8, 2025

Military service bill foresees emergency draft option

A draft bill devised by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius would allow the Cabinet and parliament to call up conscripts in certain security situations, media have reported.

Such conscription could occur “when the defense situation requires it” and there are not enough volunteers, the news magazine Der Spiegel said, citing the 50-page text of the bill.

The bill also aims to make voluntary service more attractive, with volunteers receiving more than €2,000 (the Spiegel said.

Under new NATO guidelines, the German Bundeswehr would need altogether 460,000 troops in the case of a conflict.

Currently, Germany has more than 182,000 active soldiers and more than 49,000 active reservists. Pistorius would like to see at least 60,000 more active soldiers and altogether 200,000 reservists.

Many in Pistorius’ Social Democratic Party (SPD), particularly its youth wing, oppose the reintroduction of compulsory military service that is advocated by a number of conservative politicians, and the bill is being seen as a compromise between the two viewpoints.

Germany suspended compulsory military service in 2011.

While you’re here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter, Berlin Briefing.

https://p.dw.com/p/4x6XSSkip next section Welcome to our coverage07/08/2025July 8, 2025

Welcome to our coverage

Timothy Jones | Elizabeth Schumacher Editor

Einen wunderschönen Guten Morgen from the DW newsroom in Bonn.

Some of Tuesday’s news from Germany relates to the security situation amid Russia’s growing territorial aggression, with a new military service scheme on the way and the president in Latvia to talk defense matters.

But this DW blog will also bring you up-to-date news, analysis and explainers on other stories large and small from Europe’s biggest economy.

We wish you enjoyable reading!

https://p.dw.com/p/4x6YATimothy Jones Writer, translator and editor with DW’s online news team.Send us your feedback

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Sursa: DW

Colaboratoarea politică CNN Maggie Haberman explică raționamentul din spatele atacurilor lui Donald Trump asupra judecătorului și a familiei sale în timpul unui discurs la stațiunea sa din Mar-a-Lago, după ce a fost pus sub acuzare pentru infracțiuni grave.

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Sursa: CNN

Oamenii de știință au capturat specia necunoscută de pește-melc la o adâncime de peste 27.000 de picioare, ca parte a unei expediții în tranșee în largul coastei Japoniei.

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Sursa: CNN

00:55 – Source: CNN World News 16 videos 00:55 Now playing – Source: CNN 02:32 Now playing – Source: CNN Ivan Watson and Jadyn Sham ” data-timestamp-html=” Updated 11:32 AM EDT, Tue April 18, 2023 ” data-check-event-based-preview=”” data-is-vertical-video-embed=”false” data-network-id=”” data-publish-date=”2025-07-04T07:11:15.523Z” data-video-section=”world” data-canonical-url=”https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/04/world/video/chinese-pla-navy-fleet-hongkong-digvid” data-branding-key=”” data-video-slug=”chinese-pla-navy-fleet-hongkong-digvid” data-first-publish-slug=”chinese-pla-navy-fleet-hongkong-digvid” data-video-tags=”” data-breakpoints='{“video-resource–media-extra-large”: 660}’ data-display-video-cover=”true” data-details=””> 01:30 Now playing – Source: CNN 01:27 Now playing – Source: CNN 01:02 Now playing – Source: CNN By Hanako Montgomery and Bryan Dent Wood, CNN ” data-timestamp-html=” Updated 11:32 AM EDT, Tue April 18, 2023 ” data-check-event-based-preview=”” data-is-vertical-video-embed=”false” data-network-id=”” data-publish-date=”2025-07-03T10:59:15.948Z” data-video-section=”world” data-canonical-url=”https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/03/world/video/japan-manga-megaquake-july-5-digvid” data-branding-key=”” data-video-slug=”japan-manga-megaquake-july-5-digvid” data-first-publish-slug=”japan-manga-megaquake-july-5-digvid” data-video-tags=”” data-breakpoints='{“video-resource–media-extra-large”: 660}’ data-display-video-cover=”true” data-details=””> 04:31 Now playing – Source: CNN By Samantha Lindell, CNN ” data-timestamp-html=” Updated 11:32 AM EDT, Tue April 18, 2023 ” data-check-event-based-preview=”” data-is-vertical-video-embed=”false” data-network-id=”” data-publish-date=”2025-07-04T21:00:54.448Z” data-video-section=”sport” data-canonical-url=”https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/03/sport/video/mexican-boxer-detained-ice-sports-digvid” data-branding-key=”” data-video-slug=”mexican-boxer-detained-ice-sports-digvid” data-first-publish-slug=”mexican-boxer-detained-ice-sports-digvid” data-video-tags=”” data-breakpoints='{“video-resource–media-extra-large”: 660}’ data-display-video-cover=”true” data-details=””> 01:45 Now playing – Source: CNN 01:25 Now playing – Source: CNN 01:27 Now playing – Source: CNN 00:46 Now playing – Source: CNN 02:00 Now playing – Source: CNN ” data-timestamp-html=” Updated 11:32 AM EDT, Tue April 18, 2023 ” data-check-event-based-preview=”” data-is-vertical-video-embed=”false” data-network-id=”” data-publish-date=”2025-06-29T07:10:29.569Z” data-video-section=”world” data-canonical-url=”https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/29/world/video/thailand-cannabis-policy-u-turn-digvid” data-branding-key=”” data-video-slug=”thailand-cannabis-policy-u-turn-digvid” data-first-publish-slug=”thailand-cannabis-policy-u-turn-digvid” data-video-tags=”” data-breakpoints='{“video-resource–media-extra-large”: 660}’ data-display-video-cover=”true” data-details=””> 01:31 Now playing – Source: CNN 00:53 Now playing – Source: CNN 00:43 Now playing – Source: CNN 02:56 Now playing – Source: CNN 01:39 Now playing – Source: CNN See More Videos

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CNN  — 

Cruising at a depth of 8,336 meters (over 27,000 feet) just above the seabed, a young snailfish has become the deepest fish ever filmed by scientists during a probe into the abyss of the northern Pacific Ocean.

Scientists from University of Western Australia and Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology released footage of the snailfish on Sunday filmed last September by sea robots in deep trenches off Japan.

Along with the filming the deepest snailfish, the scientists physically caught two other specimens at 8,022 meters and set another record for the deepest catch.

Previously, the deepest snailfish ever spotted was at 7,703 meters in 2008, while scientists had never been able to collect fish from anywhere below 8,000 meters.

“What is significant is that it shows how far a particular type of fish will descend in the ocean,” said marine biologist Alan Jamieson, founder of the Minderoo-UWA Deep Sea Research Centre, who led the expedition.

Caladan Oceanic

Scientists are filming in the trenches off Japan as part of a 10-year study into the deepest fish populations in the world. Snailfish are members of Liparidae family, and while most snailfish live in shallow water, others survive at some of the greatest depths ever recorded, Jamieson said.

During the two-month survey last year, three “landers” – automatic sea robots fitted with high-resolution cameras – were dropped into three trenches – the Japan, Izu-Ogasawara and Ryukyu trenches – at varying depths.

In the Izu-Ogasawara trench, footage showed the deepest snailfish hovering calmly alongside other crustaceans on the seabed.

Jamieson classified the fish as a juvenile and said younger deep sea snailfish often stay as deep as possible to avoid being eaten by bigger predators that swim at shallower depths.

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Another clip shot at between 7,500 and 8,200 meters in the same trench showed a colony of fish and crustaceans munching at bait tied to an undersea robot.

Images of the two captured snailfish – identified as Pseudoliparis belyaevi – provide a rare glimpse of the unique features that help the deep sea species survive the extreme environment.

They have tiny eyes, a translucent body, and their lack of swim bladder, which helps other fish float, works to their advantage, Jamieson said.

The professor said the Pacific Ocean is particularly conducive to vibrant activity due to its warm southern current, which encourages sea creatures to go deeper, while its abundant marine life provides a good source of food for bottom feeders.

Scientists would like to know more about creatures living at extreme depths, but cost is the constraint, Jamieson said, adding that each lander alone costs them $200,000 to assemble and operate.

“The challenges are that technology has been expensive and scientists don’t have a lot of money,” he said.

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Sursa: CNN

Andrew Redington/Getty Images North America/Getty Images St. Louis Post-Dispatch/AP Bettmann Archive/Getty Images Augusta National/Getty Images Augusta National/Getty Images Augusta National/Getty Images David Cannon/Allsport/Getty Images David Cannon/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images Harry How/Getty Images Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Warren Little / Getty Images Donald Miralle/Getty Images Andrew Redington / Getty Images Harry How / Getty Images Jim Watson / AFP via Getty Images Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images Christian Petersen / Getty Images

Golf's biggest meltdowns

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Editor’s Note: This story was originally published in April 2023.

CNN  — 

Slumped on his club, head buried in his arm, Rory McIlroy looked on the verge of tears.

The then-21-year-old had just watched his ball sink into the waters of Rae’s Creek at Augusta National and with it, his dream of winning The Masters, a dream that had looked so tantalizingly close mere hours earlier.

As a four-time major winner and one of the most decorated names in the sport’s history, few players would turn down the chance to swap places with McIlroy heading into Augusta this week.

Yet on Sunday afternoon of April 10, 2011, not a golfer in the world would have wished to be in the Northern Irishman’s shoes.

Flying

A fresh-faced, mop-headed McIlroy had touched down in Georgia for the first major of the season with a reputation as the leading light of the next generation of stars.

An excellent 2010 had marked his best season since turning pro three years earlier, highlighted by a first PGA Tour win at the Quail Hollow Championship and a crucial contribution to Team Europe’s triumph at the Ryder Cup.

Yet despite a pair of impressive top-three finishes at the Open and PGA Championship respectively, a disappointing missed cut at The Masters – his first at a major – served as ominous foreshadowing.

McIlroy shot 74 and 77 to fall four strokes short of the cut line at seven-over par, a performance that concerned him enough to take a brief sabbatical from competition.

Harry How / Getty Images

But one year on in 2011, any lingering Masters demons looked to have been exorcised as McIlroy flew round the Augusta fairways.

Having opened with a bogey-free seven-under 65 – the first time he had ever shot in the 60s at the major – McIlroy pulled ahead from Spanish first round co-leader Alvaro Quirós with a second round 69.

It sent him into the weekend holding a two-shot cushion over Australia’s Jason Day, with Tiger Woods a further stroke behind and back in the hunt for a 15th major after a surging second round 66.

And yet the 21-year-old leader looked perfectly at ease with having a target on his back. Even after a tentative start to the third round, McIlroy rallied with three birdies across the closing six holes to stretch his lead to four strokes heading into Sunday.

Andrew Redington / Getty Images

The youngster was out on his own ahead of a bunched chasing pack comprising Day, Ángel Cabrera, K.J. Choi and Charl Schwartzel. After 54 holes, McIlroy had shot just three bogeys.

“It’s a great position to be in … I’m finally feeling comfortable on this golf course,” McIlroy told reporters.

“I’m not getting ahead of myself, I know how leads can dwindle away very quickly. I have to go out there, not take anything for granted and go out and play as hard as I’ve played the last three days. If I can do that, hopefully things will go my way.

“We’ll see what happens tomorrow because four shots on this golf course isn’t that much.”

Timothy A. Clary / AFP via Getty Images

Falling

The truth can hurt, and McIlroy was about to prove his assessment of Augusta to be true in the most excruciating way imaginable.

His fourth bogey of the week arrived immediately. Having admitted to expecting some nerves at the first tee, McIlroy sparked a booming opening drive down the fairway, only to miss his putt from five feet.

Three consecutive pars steadied the ship, but Schwartzel had the wind in his sails. A blistering birdie, par, eagle start had seen him draw level at the summit after his third hole.

A subsequent bogey from the South African slowed his charge, as McIlroy clung onto a one-shot lead at the turn from Schwartzel, Cabrera, Choi, and a rampaging Woods, who shot five birdies and an eagle across the front nine to send Augusta into a frenzy.

Despite his dwindling advantage and the raucous Tiger-mania din ahead of him, McIlroy had responded well to another bogey at the 5th hole, draining a brilliant 20-foot putt at the 7th to restore his lead.

The fist pump that followed marked the high-water point of McIlroy’s round, as a sliding start accelerated into full-blown free-fall at the par-four 10th hole.

His tee shot went careening into a tree, ricocheting to settle between the white cabins that separate the main course from the adjacent par-three course. It offered viewers a glimpse at a part of Augusta rarely seen on broadcast, followed by pictures of McIlroy anxiously peering out from behind a tree to track his follow-up shot.

Andrew Redington / Getty Images

Though his initial escape was successful, yet another collision with a tree and a two-putt on the green saw a stunned McIlroy eventually tap in for a triple bogey. Having led the field one hole and seven shots earlier, he arrived at the 11th tee in seventh.

By the time his tee drive at the 13th plopped into the creek, all thoughts of who might be the recipient of the green jacket had long-since switched away from the anguished youngster. It had taken him seven putts to navigate the previous two greens, as a bogey and a double bogey dropped him to five-under – the score he had held after just 11 holes of the tournament.

Mercifully, the last five holes passed without major incident. A missed putt for birdie from five feet at the final hole summed up McIlroy’s day, though he was given a rousing reception as he left the green.

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Related video Sunday at the Masters

Mere minutes earlier, the same crowd had erupted as Schwartzel sunk his fourth consecutive birdie to seal his first major title. After starting the day four shots adrift of McIlroy, the South African finished 10 shots ahead of him, and two ahead of second-placed Australian duo Jason Day and Adam Scott.

McIlroy’s eight-over 80 marked the highest score of the round. Having headlined the leaderboard for most of the week, he finished tied-15th.

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Robyn Beck / AFP via Getty Images

Bounce-back

Tears would flow during a phone call with his parents the following morning, but at his press conference, McIlroy was upbeat.

“I’m very disappointed at the minute, and I’m sure I will be for the next few days, but I’ll get over it,” he said.

“I was leading this golf tournament with nine holes to go, and I just unraveled … It’s a Sunday at a major, what it can do.

“This is my first experience at it, and hopefully the next time I’m in this position I’ll be able to handle it a little better. I didn’t handle it particularly well today obviously, but it was a character-building day … I’ll come out stronger for it.”

Once again, McIlroy would be proven right.

Just eight weeks later in June, McIlroy rampaged to an eight-shot victory at the US Open. Records tumbled in his wake at Congressional, as he shot a tournament record 16-under 268 to become the youngest major winner since Tiger Woods at The Masters in 1997.

Jim Watson / AFP via Getty Images

The historic victory kickstarted a golden era for McIlroy. After coasting to another eight-shot win at the PGA Championship in 2012, McIlroy became only the third golfer since 1934 to win three majors by the age of 25 with triumph at the 2014 Open Championship.

Before the year was out, he would add his fourth major title with another PGA Championship win.

And much of it was owed to that fateful afternoon at Augusta. In an interview with the BBC in 2015, McIlroy dubbed it “the most important day” of his career.

“If I had not had the whole unravelling, if I had just made a couple of bogeys coming down the stretch and lost by one, I would not have learned as much.

“Luckily, it did not take me long to get into a position like that again when I was leading a major and I was able to get over the line quite comfortably. It was a huge learning curve for me and I needed it, and thankfully I have been able to move on to bigger and better things.

“Looking back on what happened in 2011, it doesn’t seem as bad when you have four majors on your mantelpiece.”

Tom Pennington / Getty Images

The missing piece

McIlroy’s contentment came with a caveat: it would be “unthinkable” if he did not win The Masters in his career.

Yet as he prepares for his 15th appearance at Augusta National this week, a green jacket remains an elusive missing item from his wardrobe.

Despite seven top-10 finishes in his past 10 Masters outings, the trophy remains the only thing separating McIlroy from joining the ranks of golf immortals to have completed golf’s career grand slam of all four majors in the modern era: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods.

Mike Mulholland / Getty Images

A runner-up finish to Scottie Scheffler last year marked McIlroy’s best finish at Augusta, yet arguably 2011 remains the closest he has ever been to victory. A slow start in 2022 meant McIlroy had begun Sunday’s deciding round 10 shots adrift of the American, who teed off for his final hole with a five-shot lead despite McIlroy’s brilliant 64 finish.

video

Related video Rory McIlroy: I will win the Masters

At 33 years old, time is still on his side. Though 2022 extended his major drought to eight years, it featured arguably his best golf since that golden season in 2014.

And as McIlroy knows better than most, things can change quickly at Augusta National.

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Sursa: CNN

CNN  — 

It is one of China’s most popular shopping apps, selling clothing, groceries and just about everything else under the sun to more than 750 million users a month.

But according to cybersecurity researchers, it can also bypass users’ cell phone security to monitor activities on other apps, check notifications, read private messages and change settings.

And once installed, it’s tough to remove.

While many apps collect vast troves of user data, sometimes without explicit consent, experts say e-commerce giant Pinduoduo has taken violations of privacy and data security to the next level.

In a detailed investigation, CNN spoke to half a dozen cybersecurity teams from Asia, Europe and the United States — as well as multiple former and current Pinduoduo employees — after receiving a tipoff.

Multiple experts identified the presence of malware on the Pinduoduo app that exploited vulnerabilities in Android operating systems. Company insiders said the exploits were utilized to spy on users and competitors, allegedly to boost sales.

“We haven’t seen a mainstream app like this trying to escalate their privileges to gain access to things that they’re not supposed to gain access to,” said Mikko Hyppönen, chief research officer at WithSecure, a Finnish cybersecurity firm.

“This is highly unusual, and it is pretty damning for Pinduoduo.”

This is highly unusual, and it is pretty damning for Pinduoduo.

Mikko Hyppönen, cybersecurity expert

Malware, short for malicious software, refers to any software developed to steal data or interfere with computer systems and mobile devices.

Evidence of sophisticated malware in the Pinduoduo app comes amid intense scrutiny of Chinese-developed apps like TikTok over concerns about data security.

Some American lawmakers are pushing for a national ban on the popular short-video app, whose CEO Shou Chew was grilled by Congress for five hours last week about its relations with the Chinese government.

The revelations are also likely to draw more attention to Pinduoduo’s international sister app, Temu, which is topping US download charts and fast expanding in other Western markets. Both are owned by Nasdaq-listed PDD, a multinational company with roots in China.

While Temu has not been implicated, Pinduoduo’s alleged actions risk casting a shadow over its sister app’s global expansion.

There is no evidence that Pinduoduo has handed data to the Chinese government. But as Beijing enjoys significant leverage over businesses under its jurisdiction, there are concerns from US lawmakers that any company operating in China could be forced to cooperate with a broad range of security activities.

Mike Segar/Reuters/File

The findings follow Google’s suspension of Pinduoduo from its Play Store in March, citing malware identified in versions of the app.

An ensuing report from Bloomberg said a Russian cybersecurity firm had also identified potential malware in the app.

Pinduoduo has previously rejected “the speculation and accusation that Pinduoduo app is malicious.”

CNN has contacted PDD multiple times over email and phone for comment, but has not received a response.

Rise to success

Pinduoduo, which boasts a user base that accounts for three quarters of China’s online population and a market value three times that of eBay (EBAY), wasn’t always an online shopping behemoth.

Founded in 2015 in Shanghai by Colin Huang, a former Google employee, the startup was fighting to establish itself in a market long dominated by e-commerce stalwarts Alibaba (BABA) and JD.com (JD).

It succeeded by offering steep discounts on friends-and-family group buying orders and focusing on lower-income rural areas.

Pinduoduo posted triple digit growth in monthly users until the end of 2018, the year it listed in New York. By the middle of 2020, though, the increase in monthly users had slowed to around 50% and would continue to decline, according to its earnings reports.

VCG/VCG/Getty Images/File

It was in 2020, according to a current Pinduoduo employee, that the company set up a team of about 100 engineers and product managers to dig for vulnerabilities in Android phones, develop ways to exploit them — and turn that into profit.

According to the source, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals, the company only targeted users in rural areas and smaller towns initially, while avoiding users in megacities such as Beijing and Shanghai.

“The goal was to reduce the risk of being exposed,” they said.

By collecting expansive data on user activities, the company was able to create a comprehensive portrait of users’ habits, interests and preferences, according to the source.

This allowed it to improve its machine learning model to offer more personalized push notifications and ads, attracting users to open the app and place orders, they said.

The team was disbanded in early March, the source added, after questions about their activities came to light.

PDD didn’t reply to CNN’s repeated requests for comment on the team.

What experts found

Approached by CNN, researchers from Tel Aviv-based cyber firm Check Point Research, Delaware-based app security startup Oversecured and Hyppönen’s WithSecure conducted independent analysis of the 6.49.0 version of the app, released on Chinese app stores in late February.

Google Play is not available in China, and Android users in the country download their apps from local stores. In March, when Google suspended Pinduoduo, it said it had found malware in off-Play versions of the app.

The researchers found code designed to achieve “privilege escalation”: a type of cyberattack that exploits a vulnerable operating system to gain a higher level of access to data than it’s supposed to have, according to experts.

“Our team has reverse engineered that code and we can confirm that it tries to escalate rights, tries to gain access to things normal apps wouldn’t be able to do on Android phones,” said Hyppönen.

Luo Yunfei/China News Service/VCG/Getty Images

The app was able to continue running in the background and prevent itself from being uninstalled, which allowed it to boost its monthly active user rates, Hyppönen said. It also had the ability to spy on competitors by tracking activity on other shopping apps and getting information from them, he added.

Check Point Research additionally identified ways in which the app was able to evade scrutiny.

The app deployed a method that allowed it to push updates without an app store review process meant to detect malicious applications, the researchers said.

They also identified in some plug-ins the intent to obscure potentially malicious components by hiding them under legitimate file names, such as Google’s.

“Such a technique is widely used by malware developers that inject malicious code into applications that have legitimate functionality,” they said.

Android targeted

In China, about three quarters of smartphone users are on the Android system. Apple (AAPL)’s iPhone has 25% market share, according to Daniel Ives of Wedbush Securities.

Sergey Toshin, the founder of Oversecured, said Pinduoduo’s malware specifically targeted different Android-based operating systems, including those used by Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi and Oppo.

CNN has reached out to these companies for comment.

Toshin described Pinduoduo as “the most dangerous malware” ever found among mainstream apps.

“I’ve never seen anything like this before. It’s like, super expansive,” he said.

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Most phone manufacturers globally customize the core Android software, the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), to add unique features and applications to their own devices.

Toshin found Pinduoduo to have exploited about 50 Android system vulnerabilities. Most of the exploits were tailor made for customized parts known as the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) code, which tends to be audited less often than AOSP and is therefore more prone to vulnerabilities, he said.

Pinduoduo also exploited a number of AOSP vulnerabilities, including one which was flagged by Toshin to Google in February 2022. Google fixed the bug this March, he said.

I’ve never seen anything like this before. It’s like, super expansive.

Sergey Toshin, Android security expert

According to Toshin, the exploits allowed Pinduoduo access to users’ locations, contacts, calendars, notifications and photo albums without their consent. They were also able to change system settings and access users’ social network accounts and chats, he said.

Of the six teams CNN spoke to for this story, three did not conduct full examinations. But their primary reviews showed that Pinduoduo asked for a large number of permissions beyond the normal functions of a shopping app.

They included “potentially invasive permissions” such as “set wallpaper” and “download without notification,” said René Mayrhofer, head of the Institute of Networks and Security at the Johannes Kepler University Linz in Austria.

Sheldon Cooper/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images

Disbanding the team

Suspicions about malware in Pinduoduo’s app were first raised in late February in a report by a Chinese cybersecurity firm called Dark Navy. Even though the analysis didn’t directly name the shopping giant, the report spread quickly among other researchers, who did name the company. Some of the analysts followed up with their own reports confirming the original findings.

Soon after, on March 5, Pinduoduo issued a new update of its app, version 6.50.0, which removed the exploits, according to two experts who CNN spoke to.

Two days after the update, Pinduoduo disbanded the team of engineers and product managers who had developed the exploits, according to the Pinduoduo source.

The next day, team members found themselves locked out of Pinduoduo’s bespoke workplace communication app, Knock, and lost access to files on the company’s internal network. Engineers also found their access to big data, data sheets and the log system revoked, the source said.

Most of the team were transferred to work at Temu. They were assigned to different departments at the subsidiary, with some working on marketing or developing push notifications, according to the source.

A core group of about 20 cybersecurity engineers who specialize in finding and exploiting vulnerabilities remain at Pinduoduo, they said.

Toshin of Oversecured, who looked into the update, said although the exploits were removed, the underlying code was still there and could be reactivated to carry out attacks.

Oversight failure

Pinduoduo has been able to grow its user base against a backdrop of the Chinese government’s regulatory clampdown on Big Tech that began in late 2020.

That year, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology launched a sweeping crackdown on apps that illegally collect and use personal data.

In 2021, Beijing passed its first comprehensive data privacy legislation.

The Personal Information Protection Law stipulates that no party should illegally collect, process or transmit personal information. They’re also banned from exploiting internet-related security vulnerabilities or engaging in actions that endanger cybersecurity.

Pinduoduo’s apparent malware would be a violation of those laws, tech policy experts say, and should have been detected by the regulator.

“This would be embarrassing for the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, because this is their job,” said Kendra Schaefer, a tech policy expert at Trivium China, a consultancy. “They’re supposed to check Pinduoduo, and the fact that they didn’t find (anything) is embarrassing for the regulator.”

The ministry has regularly published lists to name and shame apps found to have undermined user privacy or other rights. It also publishes a separate list of apps that are removed from app stores for failing to comply with regulations.

Pinduoduo did not appear on any of the lists.

They’re supposed to check Pinduoduo, and the fact that they didn’t find (anything) is embarrassing for the regulator.

Kendra Schaefer, tech policy expert

CNN has reached out to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Cyberspace Administration of China for comment.

On Chinese social media, some cybersecurity experts questioned why regulators haven’t taken any action.

“Probably none of our regulators can understand coding and programming, nor do they understand technology. You can’t even understand the malicious code when it’s shoved right in front of your face,” a cybersecurity expert with 1.8 million followers wrote last week in a viral post on Weibo, a Twitter-like platform.

The post was censored the next day.

CNN’s Kristie Lu Stout and Sean Lyngaas contributed reporting.

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Sursa: CNN