In a significant development, Ukraine’s Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk and Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko have resigned following a major corruption investigation in the country’s energy sector. President Volodymyr Zelensky called for their removal on Wednesday, just days after anti-corruption bodies accused several individuals of orchestrating a massive embezzlement scheme, including at the national nuclear operator Enerhoatom. The scandal has implicated close associates of Zelensky, raising questions about his administration’s commitment to anti-corruption reforms. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (Nabu) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (Sap) revealed that the 15-month investigation uncovered the involvement of four government members, with approximately $100 million laundered and transferred abroad, including to Russia. The funds were allegedly funneled through an office in Kyiv linked to the family of former Ukrainian lawmaker and current Russian senator Andriy Derkach. The scandal has erupted amidst escalating Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, further complicating the nation’s efforts to secure its energy supply. This incident also highlights the persistent issue of corruption in Ukraine, despite the efforts of Nabu and Sap over the past decade. Earlier this year, nationwide protests erupted over changes that threatened the independence of these anti-corruption bodies, leading to concerns about Ukraine’s EU candidacy status. While Zelensky eventually reinstated their independence, the latest scandal has reignited doubts about his dedication to combating corruption.
标签： Europe
欧洲
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Woman found guilty of murdering two men in 2014
A 46-year-old woman, Ruth Lawrence, has been convicted of the 2014 murders of two men, Eoin O’Connor and Anthony Keegan, in County Meath. The victims, aged 32 and 33 respectively, were discovered shot dead on Inchicup Island in Lough Sheelin, five weeks after they went missing. Lawrence, who resided in St Patricks Cottage, Mountnugent, denied the charges but was found guilty by a majority verdict after nearly 14 hours of jury deliberation. She faces a mandatory life sentence, with sentencing scheduled for December 8. The victims’ families were present in court and were visibly emotional as the verdict was announced. The trial revealed that O’Connor, a Dublin drug dealer, had drugs stolen from him six days prior to his murder. He had sold drugs to Lawrence’s South African boyfriend, Neville van der Westhuizen, who owed him €70,000. Prosecutors stated that Lawrence shot O’Connor in the stomach, which was not fatal, and van der Westhuizen then shot him in the head. Anthony Keegan, who arrived with O’Connor, was shot in the neck and head. The prosecution argued that the murders occurred in a field near Patrick’s Cottage, with the bodies later moved to the island. The last call between O’Connor and van der Westhuizen on April 22, 2014, suggested a specific meeting point. Garda Det Sgt Kevin O’Brien testified that the couple fled to South Africa after the murders. Lawrence was extradited to Ireland in May 2023, while van der Westhuizen is serving a 15-year sentence in South Africa for unrelated crimes. His extradition to Ireland is pending the completion of his current sentence.
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Food-snatching seagulls are more likely to leave you alone if you shout at them, researchers say
A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Exeter’s Center for Ecology and Conservation has uncovered an effective strategy to deter seagulls from stealing food: shouting. The research, published in the peer-reviewed journal Biology Letters, explored whether a human voice could discourage European herring gulls from snatching snacks in seaside towns. The findings revealed that while speaking can momentarily halt the birds, shouting is far more effective in making them flee. The study involved placing fries in a Tupperware box across southwest England and testing the reactions of 61 gulls to recordings of a robin’s song, a male voice speaking calmly, and a male voice shouting. The results showed that the gulls were more vigilant and less likely to approach the food when exposed to human voices, particularly when the tone was urgent. The birds tended to walk away from a speaking voice but flew away from shouting, indicating their ability to differentiate between vocalizations. Neeltje Boogert, a researcher involved in the study, noted that the gulls seemed to pay attention to the manner of speech, a behavior not previously observed in wild species. The study also highlighted that the experiment was designed to demonstrate non-aggressive methods of deterring gulls, a species of conservation concern in the U.K. Further research could explore whether gulls react differently to female voices.
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Danish man given suspended sentence for sharing nude film scenes on Reddit
A Danish man has been found guilty of distributing nude scenes from copyrighted films and TV series on Reddit, marking a significant legal precedent in copyright law. According to a police report obtained by BBC News, the unnamed individual shared 347 explicit clips on a Reddit group he moderated, which garnered 4.2 million views. The Danish court handed him a seven-month suspended sentence for copyright infringement, citing a rarely invoked clause in Danish copyright law that protects artists’ ‘moral rights.’ The judge ruled that by removing the scenes from their original context, the man had harmed the integrity and reputation of the artists involved. Additionally, he was convicted of sharing over 25 terabytes of copyrighted data. Operating under the pseudonym ‘KlammereFyr,’ the man posted sexually explicit scenes featuring more than 100 actresses between March 2022 and May 2023. His subreddit, which had over 6,000 members, encouraged users to request clips of specific actors. The case was reported to the police in 2023 by The Rights Alliance (TRA), an anti-piracy group, on behalf of affected actors, directors, and producers, leading to the subreddit’s closure. Andrea Vagn Jensen, one of the actresses whose scenes were shared, described the posts as ‘abuse,’ emphasizing the distinction between appearing nude in a film and having those scenes distributed on Reddit. The man was arrested in September 2024 and pleaded guilty last month. Maria Fredenslund, head of TRA, hailed the ruling as an ‘important’ signal that violations of artists’ rights have consequences. The case is notable for its application of the ‘moral rights’ section of the Danish Copyright Act, which safeguards an artist’s work from misuse that could damage their reputation. Dr. Alina Trapova, a copyright law expert, told the BBC that the case is ‘rare’ for its focus on the integrity of artists rather than economic harm. While the broader implications for other countries remain unclear, Trapova suggested that similar cases may increase with the rise of artificial intelligence, which could make it easier to manipulate the integrity of creative works.
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UN watchdog hasn’t been able to verify Iran’s stockpile of near-weapons grade uranium in months
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has expressed grave concerns over its inability to verify the status of Iran’s near weapons-grade uranium stockpile following Israel’s strikes on Iranian nuclear sites during the 12-day conflict in June. According to a confidential report circulated to member states and reviewed by The Associated Press, the IAEA emphasized the urgent need to address the situation. Iran’s stockpile, as of September, stands at 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% purity—just a technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi warned that this stockpile could potentially enable Iran to produce up to 10 nuclear bombs, though he clarified that there is no evidence Iran has weaponized its program. Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear activities are peaceful, but the IAEA and Western nations contend that Tehran had an organized nuclear weapons program until 2003. Under its safeguards agreement with the IAEA, Iran is required to submit a ‘special report’ detailing the status and location of its nuclear materials, particularly after events like attacks or natural disasters. However, Iran suspended cooperation with the IAEA following the June conflict, though it later permitted inspections of undamaged facilities after a September agreement between Grossi and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. This cooperation was short-lived, as the reimposition of UN sanctions later that month prompted Iran to halt the implementation of the agreement. European powers justified the sanctions by invoking the snapback mechanism, citing Iran’s failure to engage in direct talks with the U.S., fully cooperate with the IAEA, and clarify the status of its near weapons-grade uranium stockpile.
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Italy probes claims that tourists paid to shoot at civilians in Bosnian war
The Milan Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into shocking allegations that Italian citizens participated in ‘sniper safaris’ during the Bosnian War in the early 1990s. These individuals allegedly paid exorbitant sums to shoot at defenseless civilians in the besieged city of Sarajevo. The complaint was filed by journalist and novelist Ezio Gavazzeni, who described the activities as a ‘manhunt’ orchestrated by wealthy weapon enthusiasts. Reports suggest that different rates were charged to target men, women, or children. Over 11,000 civilians perished during the brutal four-year siege of Sarajevo, as the city was encircled by Serb forces and subjected to relentless shelling and sniper fire. Gavazzeni’s evidence, including testimony from a Bosnian military intelligence officer, is now under scrutiny by Italian counter-terrorism prosecutor Alessandro Gobbis. The charges being pursued are for murder. The Bosnian officer revealed that his colleagues discovered the ‘safaris’ in late 1993 and relayed the information to Italy’s Sismi military intelligence in early 1994. Sismi reportedly halted the activities within months. Gavazzeni, who specializes in terrorism and mafia-related topics, revisited the issue after watching the 2022 documentary ‘Sarajevo Safari,’ which implicated individuals from multiple countries, including the US, Russia, and Italy. His 17-page dossier, submitted to prosecutors in February, includes a report by former Sarajevo mayor Benjamina Karic. Gavazzeni claims that ‘at least a hundred’ individuals participated, with Italians paying up to €100,000 in today’s terms. The investigation in Bosnia has reportedly stalled, but Milan prosecutors are actively pursuing the case, having identified a list of potential witnesses.
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UK’s Starmer refuses to say whether he will urge Trump to drop his $1 billion BBC threat
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer avoided addressing whether he would intervene in the escalating legal dispute between former U.S. President Donald Trump and the BBC during a parliamentary session on Wednesday. The controversy stems from the BBC’s editing of a speech Trump made following the 2020 presidential election, which Trump claims misrepresented his words and defamed him. Trump has threatened to sue the broadcaster for $1 billion unless it retracts the documentary and issues an apology by Friday. When pressed by Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey to clarify his stance, Starmer emphasized his support for a strong and independent BBC but acknowledged the need for accountability when mistakes occur. The BBC has faced internal turmoil, with Director-General Tim Davie and news chief Deborah Turness resigning over accusations of biased editing. BBC Chairman Samir Shah has since apologized for the misleading edit, which portrayed Trump’s speech as a direct call for violence. The dispute highlights the challenges faced by traditional media in an era of polarized politics and shifting viewer habits.
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Thousands protest in Romania’s capital against government austerity measures
In a significant display of public discontent, thousands of Romanians took to the streets of Bucharest on Wednesday, voicing their opposition to the government’s austerity measures and demanding higher wages, tax reductions, and effective strategies to combat inflation. Organized by the National Trade Union Bloc, which represents numerous professional federations, the protest saw demonstrators gather outside government headquarters before marching toward the Palace of Parliament. Participants honked horns, banged drums, and carried placards with messages such as “We want decent salaries!” and “Don’t hit those who save you,” the latter accompanied by an image of an ambulance worker. The rally highlights growing frustration over Romania’s economic challenges, including a budget deficit exceeding 9% in 2024—one of the highest in the European Union. The government has committed to reducing the deficit to 8.4% this year through measures such as tax hikes, public sector wage freezes, and cuts to public spending and administration jobs. Critics argue that these policies disproportionately burden ordinary citizens while failing to address systemic issues. The union bloc condemned the measures, stating, “Workers are once again being sacrificed for their jobs—even though we work harder, we are getting poorer. The impoverishment of the population has become state policy.” Protesters also called for an end to public sector job cuts and stronger efforts to combat tax evasion. Political analyst Cristian Andrei noted that the government’s inability to implement swift and decisive reforms has eroded public trust, leaving ordinary citizens to bear the brunt of economic hardships. The ruling coalition, elected earlier this year, had pledged to prioritize deficit reduction and institutional reform, but its approach has sparked widespread criticism and fear of further cuts.
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Watch: Russia’s AI robot falls seconds after being unveiled
In an unexpected turn of events, Russia’s highly anticipated anthropomorphic robot experienced a dramatic fall mere moments after its unveiling. The incident, captured on video, has sparked widespread discussion about the challenges of developing advanced robotics. The robot, designed to mimic human movements, was showcased as a significant milestone in Russia’s AI and robotics sector. However, its abrupt collapse during the demonstration highlighted potential technical limitations. Experts suggest that while the mishap is a setback, it underscores the complexities of creating human-like machines. The event has also raised questions about the readiness of such technologies for public presentation and their practical applications in real-world scenarios.
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Ukraine suspends justice minister over corruption probe involving top figures close to Zelenskyy
In a significant development, Ukraine has suspended its Justice Minister, Herman Halushchenko, following his alleged involvement in a sprawling corruption scandal linked to the state nuclear power company, Energoatom. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko on Wednesday, marking a critical step in the country’s ongoing anti-corruption efforts. The suspension comes on the heels of a major investigation by Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), which has detained five individuals and identified seven others suspected of orchestrating a $100 million graft scheme in the energy sector. Among the accused are a prominent businessman believed to be the mastermind, a former advisor to the energy minister, and a high-ranking executive at Energoatom. Additionally, eight individuals face charges of bribery, abuse of office, and possession of disproportionate assets. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly supported the investigation, urging full cooperation from officials. Halushchenko, who served as energy minister from 2021 until his appointment as justice minister in July, has not been formally charged but has vowed to defend himself in court. Deputy Minister of Justice for European Integration, Liudmyla Suhak, will assume his duties as acting minister. The scandal has also implicated Timur Mindich, a close associate of Zelenskyy, who is reportedly among those charged. Despite the investigation, Energoatom has assured that its operations remain unaffected.