标签： Europe

Spain’s meteorological agency, Aemet, has declared a red alert for heavy rainfall on the popular holiday islands of Ibiza and Formentera, with up to 180mm (7 inches) of rain expected within a 12-hour period. The alert, which began at 11:00 local time on Tuesday, remained in effect until 16:00, accompanied by a yellow alert for thunderstorms lasting from 08:00 to 18:00. Emergency services were mobilized to rescue individuals trapped in vehicles and homes, while access to key towns like Sant Antoni de Portmany and Santa Eulària was blocked due to severe flooding. Ibiza’s main E-10 road was also inundated, disrupting travel and daily life. Meanwhile, Mallorca, another Balearic island, was placed under a yellow alert for similar weather conditions, with authorities warning residents to avoid flood-prone areas and seek higher ground if necessary. This comes just a year after Valencia experienced catastrophic floods that claimed over 230 lives, highlighting the recurring threat of extreme weather in the region. Emergency services have urged caution, advising against travel and outdoor activities as the situation remains critical.

A Ukrainian national, identified as Volodymyr Z, has been arrested in Poland in connection with the 2022 explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines under the Baltic Sea. The arrest was made under a European arrest warrant in a town near Warsaw, according to his lawyer. The incident, which occurred during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, saw three of the four Nord Stream pipelines ruptured by explosives, cutting off a crucial natural gas supply to Europe amidst an energy crisis. The explosions remain shrouded in mystery, with no party claiming responsibility. Ukraine denied involvement, while Russia faced Western suspicion and accused the US and UK. German prosecutors issued their first arrest warrant in August 2024, naming Volodymyr Z as a suspect. Reports suggest he was a diving instructor living near Warsaw, but authorities had previously been unable to locate him. This arrest follows the detention of another Ukrainian national, Serhii K, in Italy last month, who is accused of coordinating the attack. Prosecutors believe the suspects were part of a team that sailed a yacht from Rostock, Germany, to the Baltic Sea near Bornholm. German reports indicate that seven suspects have been identified, with one since deceased. Investigations by Germany, Denmark, and Sweden have yet to link any state to the attacks.

A devastating Russian drone strike in the village of Chernechchyna, located in Ukraine’s north-eastern Sumy region, has claimed the lives of an entire family. The victims included a married couple and their two young sons, aged four and six. Regional head Oleh Hryhorov confirmed that a residential building was directly hit, and the bodies were later recovered from the wreckage. Ukraine’s air force reported that 46 out of 65 Russian drones were intercepted across the country, but 19 managed to hit six different locations. Russia’s military, which has not commented on the specific attack, stated that 81 Ukrainian drones were destroyed overnight in five Russian regions, with no casualties reported. This incident marks another grim chapter in the ongoing conflict that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Hryhorov accused Russian forces of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, describing the loss of the family as ‘a tragedy that we will never forget or forgive.’ Ukraine’s state emergencies service DSNS reported that two residential buildings were partially destroyed, and images shared online showed firefighters battling blazes in the aftermath. In recent weeks, Russia has escalated its aerial assaults, deploying hundreds of drones and missiles. Ukraine continues to appeal to its Western allies for advanced air defense systems and long-range missiles capable of striking major Russian cities, arguing that such capabilities could weaken Russia’s military industry and pressure President Vladimir Putin into negotiations. Last week, US Vice-President JD Vance revealed that Washington is considering Ukraine’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles. Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a €2 billion investment in drones for Ukraine, aimed at enhancing its defense capabilities. Despite international efforts to broker peace, Putin has repeatedly rejected ceasefire calls, as the conflict persists with high casualties and slow battlefield progress.

Nina Kutina, a 40-year-old Russian woman, and her two young daughters, aged five and six, have returned to Russia after being rescued from a cave in Karnataka, India, in July. The family was discovered during a routine police patrol in the Gokarna forest, near the tourist hub of Goa. The rescue made international headlines due to the unusual circumstances of their living conditions. Kutina, who lacked valid documentation to remain in India, was detained along with her daughters at a foreigners’ detention center. Last week, the Karnataka High Court intervened, directing the federal government to issue travel documents for their repatriation. They departed for Russia on September 28, accompanied by Kutina’s minor son from a previous relationship, who was later found living in Goa. The court’s decision followed a custody petition filed by Dror Shlomo Goldstein, an Israeli businessman based in Goa, who claimed paternity of the two girls. Goldstein argued against their deportation, citing India’s commitments under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Goa Children Act, 2003. However, the court ruled in favor of Kutina, noting her expressed desire to return to Russia. The Russian embassy facilitated their travel, offering an emergency window between September 26 and October 9. Kutina had defended her unconventional lifestyle, stating that she and her children were content living in nature. However, authorities emphasized the dangers of their isolated living conditions, particularly during the monsoon season. The case has sparked debates over child welfare, parental rights, and the complexities of international custody disputes.

In the shadow of Ukraine’s ongoing conflict with Russia, a unique and controversial initiative is unfolding within the nation’s penal system. At Penal Colony No. 4, a medium-security prison with an imposing atmosphere, inmates like Andrii Askerov and Roman Chech are trading their prison jumpsuits for military fatigues. Under a law enacted last year, over 10,000 prisoners, including drug dealers and even murderers, have volunteered to join the Ukrainian army in exchange for early release. Their mission? To fight on the front lines until the war ends. For many, this is not just a path to freedom but a chance for redemption and revenge. Roman, whose sister was killed by a Russian missile in Kharkiv in 2023, sees this as an opportunity to avenge her death. ‘I would have a lifelong label as a convict, but if I serve, I’d be a serviceman,’ he says. The recruits, many of whom have no prior military experience, undergo a month of training before being deployed to some of the most dangerous sectors of the front line. According to the governor of Penal Colony No. 4, half of the thousand inmates who volunteered have already perished. Despite the high mortality rate, morale among these convict soldiers remains surprisingly high. For them, the battlefield offers a chance to rewrite their legacies. Andrii Andriichuk, a former career burglar turned soldier, proudly displays his ‘Hero of Ukraine’ medal, the nation’s highest honor. ‘I’ve committed many evil deeds for this country,’ he admits. ‘There is a price to pay for everything. I’ll just go back to the job I’m good at: fighting.’ The initiative has drawn comparisons to Russia’s earlier strategy of recruiting prisoners, which was widely criticized. However, Ukraine’s Deputy Justice Minister, Evhen Pikalo, insists there is a fundamental difference. ‘The Russians are paid per hundred meters, and Ukrainians are driven by patriotic feelings,’ he claims. Pikalo views the program as a form of rehabilitation, offering convicts a chance to contribute to their country’s defense. Yet, the moral implications of releasing serious offenders remain contentious. Pikalo emphasizes that these are conditional releases, not pardons, and that the program aims to resocialize rather than exploit. As Ukraine’s war effort continues, the search for motivated soldiers grows increasingly desperate. For these convicts, the battlefield is both a proving ground and a path to redemption, even as the odds of survival remain grim.