Tech journalist and author Chris Stokel-Walker joins us to examine what's going on with messaging app Telegram and its owner Pavel Durov. Telegram is touted as a secure, privacy-focused app, and while that is appealing to many and useful in countries where free speech is curtailed, it has also led to the platform being used as a base for a range of illegal content and activities. Durov was arrested in connection in France and is now under formal investigation.

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What is Telegram and why was its founder arrested?

Stardust is a new original podcast series from TheJournal.ie. Speaking to witness, family members, journalists and more, it delves into one of the worst tragedies in Ireland's history where 48 young people died in a nightclub fire. Coming soon...

An introduction to Stardust

Dublin in 1981 was a very different place compared with today- and the Stardust nightclub in Artane was the place to go, especially for a generation growing up at a time when the best chance of a decent job lay abroad.

Episode 1: The biggest show on the northside

Excitement had been building for the final of the Stardust's dancing competition at the Valentine's disco. No-one going that evening knew how their night would end - or anything about questions raised previously about the club's safety record.

Episode 2: A freezing cold Friday the 13th

Most people didn't even notice the fire at first. They kept dancing. But soon, smoke began to engulf the ballroom, and panic spread. The first thought on most people's minds were: 'Where are my friends, and how are we going to get out of here?'.

Episode 3: And then everything went black

By the time dawn broke on Valentine's Day 1981, the fire at the Stardust disco had been brought under control. For families and friends of people who had been at the disco, however, things were chaotic. It was hard to find what hospitals victims were at, how badly they were hurt, whether they were alive or dead. The massive scale of the disaster was becoming clear.

Episode 4: There's been a phone call from Dublin

The State promised a swift response in the wake of the Stardust fire. Within weeks, a tribunal was set up to investigate. However between the tribunal's findings and the 'take it or leave it' offer of compensation, this was just the beginning, rather than the end, of a battle for the families.

Episode 5: Money won't bring my brother back

Over the years, it seemed as though the Stardust fire slipped from the public's mind. The families and survivors never gave up, but at times it felt like their campaign was going no where - all that changed in September 2019.

Episode 6: They want it to go away, but it won’t

The Explainer is a weekly podcast from The Journal that takes a deeper look at one big news story you need to know about. What's the background?  Why is this in the news?  Get the facts behind the story from Ireland's biggest news website.

What is Telegram and why was its founder arrested?

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