the, the, this is dw news lie from berlin, the kremlin spears has to critic alexei now volley is laid to rest in moscow, the thousands gather outside of the church. in defiance of riot police. crowds bid farewell to the opposition leader who died in a remote arctic a penal colony. the volley is buried in a sara cemetery near the river. so coming up, the european commission frees up a $50000000.00 euro payment to the you, an agency for palestinian refugees. the funds were on hold over is really claims that some of his staff took part in the october 7th from last attack.

and a ron holds elections and a test of public sentiment following nationwide anti government protest. authority struggle to get motors to the ballad. fox, fox, cocaine imports, floods europe, and demand from users. it's record highs through where much of the drug oriend originates calls for an international task force to take down the supply chain. the . i'm sarah kelly. welcome to the program, the russian opposition leader. alexei, nev only has been laid to rest in moscow. the fiercest critic of president vladimir putin died 2 weeks ago in a remote arctic prison. his supporter shouted. alexei, thank you. as his coffin was brought into the cemetery near the musk,

over river of all these parents and others pay their last respects earlier. thousands gathered outside the church where his funeral was held in defiance of riot police and official warnings from the kremlin. the vall and his wife, hughley, and vania, thank tim on social media for 26 years of happiness. i spoke earlier with the caterina schuman from the carnegie russian eurasia center, and ask her, asked her what role really involved the might play now going forward? of course, she can serve as a kind of unifying figure because she has the weight of the minds of all name at rather striking public presence a certain gift of words. and she was not in the public car when the alex he was alive. but to those few who knew the fair, it was evident that sometimes she was the more where they called one of the 2. so

now that she began, for example, now speaking out on social media, you noticed that has become evident bob's at the same time. of course, political leadership takes much more than that, and it is not easy to inherit political capital with the main body, recognize the bill and see more roll forward. see, and well, a bravery i'm willing this to go on. that counts for much, you know, russia well, and i ask you about the images that we're seeing coming out of moscow today. tell us more about what the kremlin is and is not allowing to take place today this day of alexi, yvonne, his funeral. what level of obstruction from the kremlin have we been witnessing as it is? i think a characteristic to compare this funeral with the funeral and we're getting the goals. and that took place in all of us last year at the time kremlin was also

afraid, old force used to go to because he was a well known and in some circles or the popular figure. and i'm like the liberal social strata. pretty good and people were all armed. so that was definitely a reason to expect some sort of imply. it's huge to put it mildly perhaps it's. it appears that it was extremely easy to convince both the family and then near circle that quiet funeral will be more to the advantage. what's more, there was this little game different and lots to play when the amounts. one places, as the 7th, 3 with somebody will be very them found the body is carried to another place, etc. so with only highly militarized image and welder the the we will see now pretty gorge him and he's support as it was all quieted down with the extreme is. so evidently there was an idea to do the same thing with nobody to my

family, to convince them that a quiet funeral with only a few relatives present would be best to the best of the interest. perhaps these didn't play outside steps. they also just obstructed the funeral. as far as the could 1st, it was impossible to find a cemetery. a place cemetery advantage was impossible to find at public hills anywhere in moscow where people say good bye to to alex and i make them. they were difficulties with the phrase. there were difficulties with the cars with absolutely everything right now, in the most cold, the now 73 is going to be closed because it will be 5 pm multiple time when the gates are closing and they are not letting the people to put flowers on the weight, so they're doing everything of a can to make this cold problem kind of disappeared because the authorities are facing the situation when they've done the way with the are some but most with the problem is that there are some examples for, for them side of them so if people came to the outskirts of most coal,

to pay the respect to the departed politician, found this picture, or rather, those pictures will know going away, they will stay in the people's memory. thank you so much. i got to read a show and then from the carnegie center, we appreciate it. the european commission is releasing a 50000000 euro payment to the u. n. agency for palestinian refugees on rob machines. the funds were froze and the following is really claims that some agency staff took part in the october 7th and last terrorist attacks. the commission says that the funds will be released early next week, as on raw has agreed to conditions including an audit. a further $32000000.00 euros will be paid out later if the review is satisfactory. w process correspond, christine. one do. i explains why the commission is not releasing all the funding it wants sarah, the european union had committed 82000000 for the under agency and immediately

off to the is ready to government, made the allegations that some of on rose stuff were involved in the october 7 attacks that your opinion suspended that funding. they have now agreed to release 50000000 off. that's 82000000 funding. this is we're told following discussions with the agencies that an e u official said went right up until this morning, essentially. now, the agency has agreed to take a few steps. chief among them is that they are going to open in an investigation into the agencies controls and this investigation will be conducted by external you experts will essentially look into and restructures to try to see if controls that are meant to prevent the agencies stuff as well. as assets are not being used for for terrorist activities, as he was saying, there is a remaining 32000000 that the european union says will be dispersed into batches of

16000000 if and when the conditions on business voted to know that the european union has not done an investigation into israel's allegations that investigation is being conducted by the united nations. it has not yet been concluded. the you itself says it is a waiting the results of that investigation, but the e. u has been under pressure since it made that announcement that it was suspending this funding. it is especially from those who are working on the ground in gaza saying that when refunding is absolutely essential to the work that is done. and i'll point out to you as well that you have a number of other member states who also took the decision to assess been funding right now. so it is crucial at least an announcement that at least this money from the european union will be dispersed and that was costing $1.00 why in brussels. here's a look at some other stories making headlines to chad's main opposition parties. headquarters has been demolished,

following the killing of its leader. your ideal was there, the party accused as soldiers of executing him in an assault on the building. on wednesday, the violence came a day after chad's military rollers announced a presidential election would be held in may. french farmers have protested in central paris for recently bringing traffic to a halt with tractors and have bells. police made thousands of progress at the demonstration, which farmer say is a bid to save french agriculture as it struggles with cheap imports and increasingly stringent environmental rules. in iran, voters are casting their ballots for members of parliament. any religious body called the assembly of experts. the elections are attached to public sentiments toward the ron's establishment, following huge demonstrations. authorities are hoping for a big turn out on like the last part of the mentoring elections. 4 years ago that poll solve the lowest turn out since the 1979 is logic. revolution around is in the

middle of an economic crisis and has been racked by protests. the signs are everywhere and the messaging is clear. iran has been scrambling to boost voter turnout ahead of friday's election. it's introducing electronic voting and several cities. and the number of female candidates vying for a seat is more than double what it was in the last parliament re election in 2020. but the government's efforts appear to be falling on deaf ears. my shocked by she personally, i will not take part in this election without this because the results of the last 2 elections would not good to you on the schools. now the term, the biggest problem with the election is the people's lack of trust in parliament. a political distrust and an ailing economy have helped fuel voter apathy. although the elections are seen as a crucial barometer for legitimacy. the government's own surveys show participation will be well below 50 percent. friday's vote includes polls for members of

parliament, and the assembly of experts will have the power to appoint, runs supreme leader. the countries system of pre approve and candidates has led to mass disqualifications and the removal of true choice, according to critics of the current hardline government. you know, you don't even know. yeah. into all the time. the word election is completely meaningless as well. but it should be called an anti election or non election, but in the bottom of the election is rejected by the people in these lumnick republic, and you don't sell it to them, but not doing that for sure. the memory of mazda many is also casting a long shadow over this years boat. the 22 year old curtis iranian died after she was taken into police custody for allegedly violating the islamic dress code of death, led to

a wave of mass protests against the hid. job law and other social issues in 2022. the movement was violently crushed by authorities. but the demands for change and an end to these logic republics rule injure and the mazata, which is a former anchor for a ron international tv, who told me whether a ronnie is, are likely to accept these elections as legitimate my so, i mean, his mother had this story on the story is like, well, the story says if the root could change anything they would then have let you to work to do is that they'll come in. plumber drawings this morning, a bundle will things start. it shows as more stuff they, the polling stations are empty. many people didn't float. there has been a massive buy coach on this election, mainly because everyone is totally disappointed with the government. there is no, with the government to, to change or reform. and there is, and that's

a huge number of people who they've been, that they think that there's some of the public has to go. there is no way that these to government is going to change its behavior and put on or somehow people's way to freedom or change or political circumstances that they are living in. there was a pull yesterday taken by the government, which says that almost about 15 percent of the people into around are going to turn at the polling stations or they're going to watch. and i assume that 15 percent is going to be people who do our supporters of the stuff that they're public. there was another pull by status which a lot found out that the people who they are going towards men do belong to the people with the higher education or rather than normally, i mean people who didn't, they didn't go to her, but they belong to the people with the less education this signifies that the

economic situation of the country, the massive poverty that people are living in bro to be huge gap between that society and also the government based on the work bank and stopped as they've been beach came in december 23 about 2 months ago, almost 68 percent of a range in are going to leaving poverty, or they're already in poverty. and that was journalist seem is of it in london. in germany, share prices have been setting new records despite an economic downturn and the global crisis, such as wars and climate change, which are unsettling investors. frank, for its main stock market index, the dax has been enjoying a prolonged riley. here's the thing about the frankfurt stock exchange, whether the bulls are running wild or the bayers are mulling everything inside. you

couldn't tell from the faces of traders here. and there's always an eerie silence in the building to. it's no different these days, even though there would be reason to celebrate germany's ducks. the main index training here in frankfort has been on a record run for months, setting afresh, old time, high. this week, every day it's in think closer 218000 points up from under 15000 to november. that's despite the ongoing war in ukraine. it's despite the unrest in the middle east and not to mention germany's economic problems with the recession in 2023 expectations for any growth in 2024. and we bought a books in many industries, products under the paradoxes that the german economy is not doing well because the ducks is basically rushing from record high to record high, is mostly due to the hope of a turn around and interest rates. and in principle, keen interest rates that will be lowered in the course of the year. so there is a paradox on the stock market and this was effect the german economy is not doing

well. but the deluxe is rushing from record to a record. how much longer will markets rise? it's the $1000000.00 question. as central banks that around the world have indeed suggested the lower interest rates. although later than expected markets will have to be patient. not an easy order at their current levels. but let's go more, we're joined by the w. so rob lots has joining us from dw business. i mean, explain to us what's going on here because you know, you have the docs in stark contrast with the german economy. so remind us, how are things looking economically in the country? yeah, i mean, is, it's not good for the gentleman economy. it's really struggling to get going once again after what have been a terrible few years. we'll know we've had a pandemic. the war on germany's doorstep and there's been an energy crisis, but whereas demons are looking at neighboring countries and similar economies and seeing growth, looking at their end economy and guy hold on west west lock rice. i mean,

the gym and government has just reduced these sites spec patients for this year from 1.3 percent gross for the north point 3 percent. that basically does not a lot. right. and how many is basically no gross? yeah, i'm doing these expect it to full actually in to a technical recession. this quote is that's 2 quarters of negative growth in a row. so what's causing that with germany isn't being as productive as it needs to be. anyone living in germany will have? no, it just has a lot of industrial action going on that i'm it, that isn't helping. it's also universe problems like electricity prices still being very high, full produces and then the problem that demons on spending as much money as the economy needs them to be doing for it to be growing. which is not to quite surprising because, or one of 2 positive points for the german economy of the facts that are by disagreeing and also employment is, is very high. so tenants do have more money in that pocket, but that choosing to save it, that of being cautious and all of these things together means you don't get course . so, i mean that's the view on the street, right. how,

how ordinary germans are experiencing things. but clearly investors are seeing value, i mean, what's going on with the tax? so what, when we refer to the tax, what we're actually referring to is the tax 40, and it's called the tax policy because it's the 40 biggest listed companies in germany and not me the, the big companies like that. big corporations that here's another multi nationals. so i see they make any, quite a small proportion of that revenue in gemini, and that means the relatively well insulated from the economic situation on the ground and making them money elsewhere. the economic situation elsewhere in the world is actually pretty good. so that's still able to make money. so that's one of the reasons. another thing is the stock market is quite often they have different lead to the local economy because trade is a really facing that decisions on expectations rather than what's going on. they want to buy something that they think is going to get more valuable in the future. what they're seeing is the thing like to say, guess that we've had yesterday, and today on inflation in germany and, and you'll have this thing that it's coming down and nothing and okay. an interest

rates decrease from the offering central bank is looking more and more likely let's invest and that's how you can end up with the tax rising and the to a, to him in economy doing off. and it's not just the tax that indeed is not. i mean, your fans don't see in general, all indexes have been up since the start of the year that having a great time, you should also look across the lawn ticket. what's going on in the united states as well, where index is a smashing record after record, after record, they've got that. i would expect patients if the federal reserve lowering and interest rates that too. but they've also got this extra thing that's going on over that particular with tech stocks and the excitements around. hey, i'm assuming that we're all talking about some stuff that 2024 we saw in video post, surprise only positive expectations for this year to actually listed stocks, not just in the united states, but all over the world. so it is not just the tax robots from daddy business. thank you. now to some other stories, because demand for cocaine has been growing to unprecedented levels in europe. as

does the dangers to communities, organized crime, gangs are fighting over the billions of dollars in black market money. germany is now one of the country is trying to rally international authorities to coordinate efforts to interrupt international supply lines. in general, louisa has got these hands full thousands of containers are loaded in the peruvian pulse of calais of every day and cocaine to be heated, in any of them demand in europe is increasing. and so these drug smuggling, the ways is anti drug team is on daily patrol intel, about any potential suspicious containers, we'd be gain changing fluid forces. but most of those is we absolutely need an international exchange of information with only investigating authorities. so they can seize the drugs and the criminals behind the getting the knowledge due to rising demand. coca cultivation improve is doubled since 2015. the drug is almost

exclusively exposed to europe in germany records. 35 tons was seized last year alone. that's why germany's federal minister of the interior, nancy phaser, is traveling to south america, offering great to collaboration between nations. except as i've already seen, the spiraling violence in belgium and the netherlands public. prosecutors and journalists have been shot dead. and i would like to prevent that from happening in germany and he, non whitehall, 2000 drug related death. so not just a few. and it's not just about people dying. it's a huge impoverishment associated with violence and huge profits given in peru. rain forests are being cleared for drug cultivation. coca farm is just enough to survive well, international smugglers make billions. the rule of law is being undermined by corruption . as i mentioned, it was some other ones that are going to have a shared responsibility. countries that can see must cooperate with countries that produce because this is where the damage is done, the environmental destruction of the mud is supporting the customer. negotiations

for security agreements also begin soon more education and training a planned and a great to exchange of information. the importance of information sharing was demonstrated to the anti drug police at the end of january. a tip also enables the team to seize all of a 7 tons of cocaine in the ports of calais. of the cocaine is imbedded in wooden panels. the smugglers getting more, more creative and it's becoming harder to find and also limited. but i mean, it's a great satisfaction, not just for me, but for everyone who has worked with us. we're always off to the drugs with the aim of finding the people behind the that's why cooperation is so important and any help is welcome. because the drug business is poisoning society and the people who use them. for more analysis on this of the spring and robin hoffman, he is an assistant professor of criminal law and criminology at mastery university in the netherlands. welcome to dw and thank you for joining us. so according to the

european drug report, a records of $303.00 tons of cocaine was seized by e. u. member states. back in 2021. having to explain these record figures a yes. so the 1st of all, thank you for having me. um, these numbers are huge and they have only been growing. so these numbers are from 2021. so they have grown substantially in the past 2 years. and you also have to think that these of the numbers of c's, cocaine will cease drugs. so the amount of the drugs that actually came in and were actually distributed and you're a much higher. the reason for that, a clear that the drug trade is soaring in the south america, and we have one big gateway into europe, and that is the netherlands, also the port of on the web, some belgium. and of course, that's if there's a name to the pulled of handbook, these are the big gateways of,

of trucks into germany in june. and, and talk with us a little bit about the strength of organized crime and the role that it plays here . so we see that in the past 10 years or so, the violence has actually escalated. so we have power, full crime syndicates in the netherlands, but also in germany that grew with these enormous um, uh yeah, the enormous money that is actually in the cocaine trade. and um, they more and more put the violence out on the streets and more and more, infiltrating the rule of law and democratic institutions as it became a real threat to security. and to the rule of law in, within the european countries. there's a big effort trying to rally international authorities to coordinate efforts to interrupt international supply lines. germany is part of those efforts. do you

expect anything to come out of it? and so we will see that 1st of all, i think it's a good initiative by the german ministry of interior to go to south america. and that's where the supplies and it puts cocaine on the matter. we have to talk about the fact and the reasons why cocaine up become more or less alive. so if you walk in within the you, we have to do something against that. we have to fight, and we really have to, to enforce our, our fight against these be crime syndicates. we have to really cut the demands of the people to use the consumers. they as that's the points we really have to try to curve this enormous business in order to protect our level. robin hoffman, assistant professor of criminal law in criminology. thank you. you and

we are now with a success story from snow. we scandinavia scientists in norway have boosted the number of rare arctic foxes. climate change has left the endangered species struggling to find enough to eat in the wild. the population was down to around 40, but feeding stations have now lifted the count to more than 500. without the program, the animals could have been facing extinction. researchers are still warning. it's too early to know. if the space is, is saved. a reminder of our top story. thousands of mourners have gathered in defiance of riot police as the jail russian opposition leader alexei no volunteer was laid to rest in moscow. the crowd outside of the church bid farewell to the kremlin scarcest critics who died at a remote arctic penal colony to points is up next asking of sweden and finland. joining nato equals a strategic defeat for russia. stay with us and you can,

thanks for watching the

to see the points. strong opinions, clear positions, international perspective. with the nato alliance expanding into the high north and francis presidents mount cause thing, he can't rule outstanding ground troops. crane with get cold into direct conflict with russia. find out on the, to the point to the point next on

d w or the all just well get a few of the world of industry. you might think about in alexandra for turning point your mind around. just the beginning. in 16 minutes, d w. the ice coat has got an e. an expedition benches on 2 places that no one has explored. why is the ice melting more rapidly?

in the ice feels unknown past the it took awhile but this week sweet and got the green light on. it's been to join nato following finland succession. last year it is, nato is now firmly anchored in the high, nor will that strength and the alliance or risk provoking finland's neighbour rich . meanwhile, new trouble is brewing and south eastern europe as the break away republic of trans mystery. out just south of ukraine asked, was russia for protection as the challenges multiply. nato member sen diverging signals in the direction of moscow with frances president.