Global Pulse

标签： Europe

欧洲

  • Russian strike near Kharkiv kills four, including children, official says

    Russian strike near Kharkiv kills four, including children, official says

    A Russian drone strike on the town of Bohodukhiv, located west of Kharkiv, has resulted in the deaths of at least four individuals, tragically including three very young children, according to a statement from a senior Ukrainian official. Oleg Synegubov, head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, identified the victims as two one-year-old boys, a two-year-old girl, and a 34-year-old man who were inside a residential house at the time of the attack. A 35-year-old pregnant woman and a 76-year-old woman sustained injuries and are receiving medical treatment.

    This devastating incident occurred on Tuesday night, marking a severe escalation as Russian forces resume widespread offensive operations across Ukraine. The renewed strikes follow the expiration of a brief, week-long pause in hostilities. This pause had been reportedly initiated at the request of U.S. President Donald Trump to Russian President Vladimir Putin, intended to provide a humanitarian reprieve for Ukrainians enduring a severe cold snap with temperatures plummeting to -20°C.

    In a separate and simultaneous attack on Tuesday, Russian forces deployed seven bombs on the city of Slovyansk in the Donetsk region around noon, as confirmed by Regional Governor Vadym Filashkin via Telegram. That assault claimed two more lives, including an 11-year-old girl.

    The town of Bohodukhiv has been subjected to repeated attacks. Just a day prior, on Monday, overnight drone strikes nationwide resulted in the deaths of at least four other people, including a mother and her 10-year-old son in the same town, and left tens of thousands without power.

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Russian forces are intensifying pressure on the Kharkiv region, specifically targeting critical transport and energy infrastructure with a record number of ballistic missiles. This sustained campaign has prompted local authorities to declare a state of emergency over the dire energy situation. The recent attacks signify a brutal end to the temporary ‘energy truce’ that had offered a short-lived respite to Ukraine’s beleaguered energy grid.

    Amid the violence, President Zelensky has revealed that the United States is seeking an end to the war by June and has extended invitations to both sides for talks in the U.S. next week. In a related development, Russian authorities reported a massive Ukrainian drone attack on the town of Volzhsky in the Volgograd region on Wednesday night. Andrei Bocharov, the regional governor, reported damage to an apartment building and a fire at an industrial facility.

  • Anti-drug activist campaigns in French election despite threats, 2 brothers lost to gang violence

    Anti-drug activist campaigns in French election despite threats, 2 brothers lost to gang violence

    In the gritty housing projects of Marseille, a 22-year-old activist is challenging the narcotics empires that control his community while mourning the loss of two brothers to drug-related violence. Amine Kessaci, son of Algerian immigrants, has become the face of resistance against organized crime in France’s second-largest city, where he’s running in municipal elections on an uncompromising anti-drug platform.

    Kessaci’s personal tragedy fuels his political mission: his older brother Brahim was found burned in a car in 2020, and his younger brother Mehdi was killed just three months ago in what authorities believe was a targeted hit to intimidate the activist. Despite receiving death threats and requiring constant police protection—including wearing a bulletproof vest at his brother’s funeral—Kessaci refuses to be silenced.

    The Frais Vallon housing project where Kessaci grew up exemplifies Marseille’s struggle: 6,000 residents living in 1960s-era concrete towers controlled by drug gangs, representing some of France’s most crime-ridden neighborhoods. Here, Kessaci founded the nonprofit ‘Conscience’ at age 17 to support families affected by drug violence.

    France faces escalating narcotics problems, with cocaine trafficking at historic highs and 110 drug-related homicides recorded in 2024 alone. Particularly alarming is the recruitment of minors—19% of drug trafficking suspects were teenagers in 2023, some as young as 12. The Interior Ministry reports teenagers constituted a quarter of murder and attempted murder arrests in 2024.

    Kessaci, now a law student, advocates a dual approach: strengthening police presence while addressing root causes through education, job training, and urban renewal. He proposes doubling Marseille’s police force to 1,600 officers and establishing local precincts in every district. His platform also includes practical improvements like replacing mobile dumpsters with fixed bins to eliminate barriers drug gangs use to block access.

    Running on outgoing left-wing mayor Benoît Payan’s ticket, Kessaci distinguishes his grassroots approach from far-right solutions, focusing on community empowerment rather than mere enforcement. He aims to dismantle what he calls ‘narcocracy’—the systemic power drug traffickers wield over neighborhoods through intimidation and economic coercion.

    Despite recent security improvements (homicides dropped from 49 to 24 between 2023-2024), Kessaci remains determined: ‘In this campaign, my only enemy is drug trafficking.’ His candidacy represents a new generation’s attempt to reclaim their communities from the violent grip of organized crime.

  • US stocks flirt with a record after the unemployment rate unexpectedly improves

    US stocks flirt with a record after the unemployment rate unexpectedly improves

    Wall Street witnessed a significant rally on Wednesday as major indices climbed toward record territory, propelled by unexpectedly robust employment figures that alleviated concerns about economic momentum. The S&P 500 advanced 0.5%, hovering near its all-time peak established late last month, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 222 points (0.4%) and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.5% during morning trading.

    The market upswing followed a Labor Department report revealing U.S. employers added 130,000 positions in the previous month—substantially exceeding economists’ projections of 75,000 jobs. This development helped counterbalance prior anxieties triggered by disappointing consumer spending data that had suggested potential economic stagnation.

    However, the economic landscape revealed complexities upon deeper examination. The report contained significant downward revisions indicating employers created merely 181,000 jobs throughout the entire previous year, dramatically lower than the initially reported 584,000. This represents the weakest annual job growth since 2020, when COVID-19 pandemic restrictions paralyzed economic activity.

    Sector performance reflected economic sensitivities, with energy and industrial stocks leading gains. Caterpillar surged 3.9% and Exxon Mobil climbed 2.4%, both companies whose profitability correlates closely with economic health.

    The session witnessed several notable decliners. Moderna plummeted 10.5% after the FDA declined to review its application for a novel mRNA-based flu vaccine. Robinhood Markets dropped 11% despite exceeding profit expectations, as revenue shortfalls and concerns about sustained cryptocurrency trading declines weighed on investor sentiment. Kraft Heinz fell 4.1% as CEO Steve Cahillane announced a pause in planned business separation plans alongside a $600 million strategic investment.

    Bond markets responded to the strengthened employment picture, with the 10-year Treasury yield rising to 4.17% and the more Fed-sensitive 2-year yield jumping to 3.51%. The data prompted traders to scale back expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts this year, though markets still anticipate at least two reductions according to CME Group data.

    Internationally, stock indexes demonstrated broad strength across Asian and European markets, with South Korea’s Kospi gaining 1% and the UK’s FTSE 100 advancing 0.9%.

  • UK doubles troops in Norway to counter Russian ‘threat to Arctic’

    UK doubles troops in Norway to counter Russian ‘threat to Arctic’

    In a significant strategic shift, the United Kingdom will double its military footprint in Norway over the next three years, elevating troop numbers from approximately 1,000 to 2,000 personnel. This decision comes amid growing NATO apprehension regarding Russia’s escalating military activities in the High North region.

    Defence Secretary John Healey characterized the move as a direct response to mounting security concerns, stating, ‘Demands on defence are rising and Russia poses the greatest threat to Arctic and High North security that we have witnessed since the Cold War.’ The announcement follows observations of Russia reopening Cold War-era installations and substantially increasing its military presence throughout the Arctic sphere.

    The enhanced deployment forms part of the newly proposed ‘Arctic Sentry’ initiative championed by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, who recently conducted diplomatic visits to Norway. This security framework, inspired by existing NATO alliances including the Baltic Sentry and Eastern Sentry programs, aims to strengthen regional surveillance capabilities and collective defense mechanisms.

    Operational enhancements will feature prominently in upcoming multinational exercises. In March, 1,500 Royal Marine Commandos will participate in NATO’s Exercise Cold Response, a large-scale drill spanning Norway, Finland, and Sweden designed to test allied forces in extreme Arctic conditions. Subsequently, September will see the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force execute Operation Lion Protector, integrating air, land, and naval components from multiple European nations to practice critical infrastructure defense strategies across Norway, Iceland, and the Danish straits.

    These developments reflect deepening concerns among NATO members regarding Russia’s potential threat to subsea infrastructure, particularly underwater cables and pipelines. Tensions have remained elevated since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, prompting enhanced cooperative measures. Last year, the UK and Norway formalized a defensive pact specifically addressing undersea security, establishing a combined naval fleet to monitor Russian submarine activities.

    According to Ministry of Defence statistics, Russian submarine presence in UK waters has surged by 30% over the past two years, with current activity levels in the North Atlantic matching those recorded during the Cold War period. Defence Secretary Healey is scheduled to discuss these strategic proposals with NATO counterparts at the alliance’s Brussels headquarters on Thursday.

  • Moderna says FDA refuses its application for new mRNA flu vaccine

    Moderna says FDA refuses its application for new mRNA flu vaccine

    In a significant regulatory development, Moderna announced Tuesday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has declined to review the company’s application for an innovative mRNA-based influenza vaccine. The decision represents the latest indication of intensified FDA oversight under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has consistently expressed skepticism toward mRNA technology both before and after assuming his current position.

    The FDA issued a ‘refusal-to-file’ letter citing concerns about Moderna’s clinical trial design, which involved 40,000 participants comparing the new vaccine against a standard flu shot. While the study demonstrated superior efficacy in adults aged 50 and older, FDA vaccine director Dr. Vinay Prasad determined the application lacked an ‘adequate and well-controlled trial’ because it didn’t compare the vaccine to ‘the best-available standard of care in the United States at the time of the study.’

    According to Moderna, FDA officials under the Biden administration had provided 2024 guidance indicating that while another brand specifically recommended for seniors would be preferable for participants aged 65 and older, the company’s chosen standard-dose vaccine remained acceptable. Moderna proceeded with the original study design with FDA’s conditional approval.

    The company emphasized that the FDA identified no specific safety or efficacy concerns with their product and noted they had submitted additional data from a separate trial comparing the vaccine against a licensed high-dose shot for elderly patients. Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel stated the decision ‘does not further our shared goal of enhancing America’s leadership in developing innovative medicines.’

    This regulatory action occurs against a backdrop of significant policy shifts under Kennedy’s leadership, including the rollback of COVID-19 shot recommendations, additional warnings for leading mRNA COVID vaccines, and the removal of administration critics from FDA advisory panels. Kennedy previously announced the cancellation of over $500 million in contracts and funding for mRNA vaccine development.

    The refusal marks a departure from decades of FDA practice allowing vaccine manufacturers to update annual flu shots based on immune response data rather than long-term efficacy studies. Prasad’s internal memo last year indicated this streamlined approach would no longer be permitted, prompting criticism from more than a dozen former FDA commissioners.

    Moderna has requested an urgent meeting with the FDA while pursuing regulatory approval for the vaccine in Europe, Canada, and Australia.

  • Olympic host Italy avoids NHL players but still brings in foreign hockey help

    Olympic host Italy avoids NHL players but still brings in foreign hockey help

    MILAN — The Italian Olympic hockey team competing on home ice represents a unique fusion of international talent united by ancestral roots. Unlike many host nations that recruit established NHL stars with distant heritage connections, Italy has constructed its roster primarily from homegrown players supplemented by North American professionals who have embraced their Italian lineage through years of national team commitment.

    Dustin Gazley, a 37-year-old Michigan native who once shared practice ice with Alex Ovechkin, exemplifies this journey. After extensive professional experience in the ECHL and AHL, Gazley secured Italian citizenship during high school and now celebrates his decision to bring his skills to Bolzano in the Italian Alps. “I haven’t looked back,” Gazley reflected on his European transition.

    The team’s composition includes two U.S.-born players, eight from Canada, and one from Sweden, all having obtained Italian passports through familial connections. Thomas Larkin, born in London to an Italian mother and American father, described the squad as “a melting pot for sure—we are all proud to be Italian,” noting how this diversity reflects Italy’s historical identity.

    Eligibility requirements mandated that heritage players spend two years with the national team before Olympic participation. Nick Saracino, a 33-year-old St. Louis native, acknowledged the uncertainty: “I knew Italy was hosting an Olympics… but didn’t know if I was going to be able to make the team as I was getting older.”

    The women’s team similarly integrates international talent, featuring five Americans and three Canadians. Calgary native Gabriella Durante’s goalkeeping performance secured Italy’s historic advancement to the quarterfinals.

    For many players, representing Italy fulfills deep cultural connections. Amie Varano from Massachusetts, whose family originated from Calabria, expressed: “I’ve always been proud of my Italian heritage… it was just like this proud feeling that I could someday represent this amazing country on the world stage.”

    Despite the current reliance on heritage players, Larkin envisions a future where Italy’s domestic development system eliminates the need for foreign reinforcements. “The dream is always to stay here and to make the place where you are at better,” he stated, while acknowledging the current value of committed international players: “if guys are proud to wear these colors and the blood runs Italian, that’s good with me.”

  • Campaigner ‘devastated’ over Donegal-Dublin flight changes

    Campaigner ‘devastated’ over Donegal-Dublin flight changes

    A contentious decision by the Irish government to alter the Donegal-Dublin flight route has ignited significant criticism from patient advocacy groups who fear devastating consequences for cancer patients requiring medical transportation. The newly announced Public Service Obligation (PSO) contract, awarded through competitive tender, eliminates afternoon flights and removes overnight aircraft placement in Donegal—changes that campaigners argue will severely disrupt vital medical travel arrangements.

    Mary Coyle of Donegal Cancer Flights and Services expressed profound dismay at the announcement, characterizing the decision as devastating for patients who rely on same-day round trips for critical cancer treatments. Despite widespread opposition evidenced by a 15,000-signature petition, the Department of Transport proceeded with the schedule modifications set to take effect March 29, 2026.

    The restructured service will maintain twice-daily return flights between Donegal and Dublin with international connections, preserving the early morning departure from Donegal and evening return from Dublin that many medical patients depend on. However, the elimination of afternoon flights and the change in aircraft overnight arrangements have raised alarms about forced overnight stays and exhausting alternative journeys for vulnerable passengers.

    Donegal Airport officials, notified of the contract decision on Tuesday, expressed concerns that the new arrangement fails to maximize regional connectivity and contradicts the fundamental purpose of PSO routes. The airport board is currently seeking legal advice regarding the changes, particularly objecting to the aircraft overnight policy that had provided reliability for time-sensitive travelers for 21 consecutive years.

    The Department of Transport maintains that the new contract demonstrates governmental commitment to northwest connectivity and stated it will closely monitor the new schedule’s performance during a three-month evaluation period. Meanwhile, campaigners plan to proceed with delivering their petition to Minister Darragh O’Brien, asserting that Donegal residents once again feel marginalized by centralized decision-making that overlooks regional healthcare necessities.

  • King Charles III seeks ‘moral high ground’ with pledge to help police as Epstein scandal deepens

    King Charles III seeks ‘moral high ground’ with pledge to help police as Epstein scandal deepens

    LONDON — In a dramatic departure from royal tradition, King Charles III has initiated an unprecedented response to the escalating scandal surrounding his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This modern monarchy approach contrasts sharply with historical practices where such controversies would typically be concealed through private arrangements.

    The royal transformation began in October when Charles systematically dismantled his brother’s royal status, revoking his princely title, evicting him from his 20-year residence at Royal Lodge, and issuing a formal statement expressing solidarity with Epstein’s victims. The palace’s commitment reached its zenith this week with Buckingham Palace’s groundbreaking announcement of full cooperation with any potential police investigation into Andrew’s connections with the financier.

    This royal accountability stems from the U.S. Justice Department’s release of millions of Epstein documents that detailed Andrew’s ongoing relationship with Epstein despite his 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor. Particularly damaging are allegations that Andrew shared confidential reports from his 2010 Southeast Asia trade mission with Epstein.

    Thames Valley Police confirmed Monday they are ‘assessing’ these recent allegations, prompting the palace’s immediate response. ‘The King has made clear, in words and through unprecedented actions, his profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light,’ the palace stated, emphasizing their readiness to support police inquiries.

    Constitutional monarchy expert Craig Prescott of Royal Holloway University notes these actions represent a strategic containment effort to isolate Andrew while protecting the institution’s integrity. Despite the damage to Andrew’s reputation, Prescott suggests the monarchy itself remains relatively secure if the scandal remains contained.

    The current crisis has been building since 2010 when Virginia Giuffre first accused Epstein of arranging her sexual encounter with Andrew when she was 17. The situation intensified with Andrew’s disastrous 2019 BBC interview where he showed poor judgment and lack of empathy for victims. While Queen Elizabeth initially removed Andrew from royal duties, Charles has taken more decisive action since ascending the throne.

    Historian Ed Owens, author of ‘After Elizabeth: Can the Monarchy Save Itself?’, observes that Charles’s approach reflects modern democratic expectations of accountability. ‘The monarchy is signaling very clearly that it recognizes that public opinion demands that justice be served,’ Owens noted, acknowledging that while this cooperation may generate unwanted headlines, it represents necessary demon-exorcising for the institution’s future.

  • French former teacher charged with abusing 89 teens dating back to 1960s

    French former teacher charged with abusing 89 teens dating back to 1960s

    French authorities have taken the extraordinary step of publicly identifying 79-year-old Jacques Leveugle, currently in custody in southeastern France, to facilitate victim identification in a sprawling sexual abuse case spanning six decades and multiple continents. The Grenoble prosecutor’s office revealed that Leveugle faces charges involving 89 teenage victims, with offenses allegedly occurring between 1967 and 2022 across numerous countries including France, Germany, Switzerland, Morocco, Niger, Algeria, the Philippines, India, Colombia, and New Caledonia.

    The breakthrough in this decades-long investigation came in October 2023 when Leveugle’s nephew, harboring suspicions about his uncle, discovered a USB drive containing what prosecutor Etienne Manteaux described as “15 volumes of exceptionally dense material” – including photographs and detailed written accounts of sexual encounters with minors aged 13 to 17. This evidence led to Leveugle’s arrest in 2024 while visiting family in the Isère region near Grenoble.

    Manteaux explained the unusual decision to publicly name the suspect: “Of the 89 assaults documented, we have only identified approximately 40 victims. The appeal for additional victims to come forward is crucial as many entries in his journal contain only first names, creating significant identification challenges.”

    The investigation reveals Leveugle operated as an informal educator and holiday camp assistant throughout his adult life, using his position to gain access to vulnerable teenagers. “Victims describe how he devoted considerable time to helping them learn foreign languages and develop cultural awareness,” Manteaux noted, describing the suspect as possessing “a complex personality.”

    In a disturbing development, Leveugle has allegedly confessed to two historic murders during interrogation. He claims to have suffocated his cancer-stricken mother in 1974 and his 92-year-old aunt in 1992, explaining that he hoped someone would show him similar “mercy” if he faced comparable end-of-life circumstances. A separate judicial investigation has been initiated regarding these admissions.

    Legal complications arise from France’s statute of limitations, which prevents prosecution for alleged assaults occurring before 1993. However, authorities emphasize the importance of establishing a complete historical record of Leveugle’s activities. This case follows patterns seen in other high-profile French sexual assault investigations where meticulous record-keeping by offenders ultimately contributed to their convictions, similar to the Pélicot and Le Scouarnec cases that resulted in 20-year prison sentences.

  • Italy takes bronze in mixed doubles curling as the US and Sweden battle for gold

    Italy takes bronze in mixed doubles curling as the US and Sweden battle for gold

    CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — In a dramatic conclusion to the mixed doubles curling competition, Italian athletes Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner captured the bronze medal with a decisive 5-3 victory over Great Britain on Tuesday. The match, held before a passionate home crowd, delivered an emotional outcome for both teams involved.

    The Italian pair, who entered the tournament as defending Olympic champions, demonstrated exceptional precision with their throws, ultimately thwarting the British duo’s strategy. For Constantini, a native of Cortina d’Ampezzo, the victory held special significance as she solidified her status as a local hero, celebrated by supporters who filled the stadium throughout the competition.

    Conversely, the British team of Jennifer Dodds and Bruce Mouat faced profound disappointment. Having concluded the round-robin stage with the highest number of wins, they were widely anticipated to advance to the gold medal match. Their departure from the ice was visibly dejected following the unexpected defeat.

    The stage is now set for an unprecedented championship final between the United States and Sweden. The American pair, Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin—popularly known as ‘Cory and Korey’—have already secured a historic achievement by becoming the first US athletes to medal in Olympic mixed doubles curling. Thiesse additionally earns the distinction of being the first American woman to claim an Olympic medal in the discipline.

    They will compete for the gold medal against Sweden’s sibling duo, Isabella and Rasmus Wranå, ensuring a thrilling conclusion to the mixed doubles curling event at the Winter Games.