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“Numerous signs of torture and ill-treatment were found on the victim’s body, including abrasions and hemorrhages on various parts of the body, a broken rib, neck injuries, and possible electric shock marks on the feet. However, due to the condition of the body, experts have not yet been able to establish the cause of death." Yuriy Belousov, the head of the War Crimes Unit at the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office, described the results of the forensic medical examination to us.

The body was missing some organs: the eyeballs, the brain, part of the larynx, and the hyoid bone was broken, said a source close to the investigation into Viktoriia Roshchyna’s death. It was launched by the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine in March 2025.

A forensic expert, who requested anonymity, suggested in a conversation with journalists that the removal of specific organs could be an attempt to conceal strangulation: “Removing the larynx during an autopsy is not standard practice. The larynx can be good evidence of strangulation. When a person is strangled, the hyoid bone is most often broken. In cases of strangulation, bleeding can be found in the whites of the eyes, and a lack of oxygen in the brain.”

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A person is abducted [in by Russia occupied territories of Ukraine] by people without insignia, they do not identify themselves, do not present any documents, and do not explain anything to relatives. The person simply disappears. No one “knows” about them in the military commandant’s offices, the prosecutor’s office, the police, or the investigative committee. Sometimes, the local police even opens a “missing person” case.

It is unknown who exactly detained Viktoriia. Sevgil Musayeva recalls that in conversations with the journalist, she mentioned that she was trying to establish the identities of FSB officers involved in the abduction and torture of Ukrainians in Enerhodar.

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“She arrived [in the detention center] already pumped full of some unknown medications,” says another former detainee who was held with Vika in the Taganrog pre-trial detention center. “At some point, she stopped eating. Her cellmates started telling the guards and the prison staff — that she’d stopped eating, that something needed to be done. They didn’t give a damn until her condition got seriously bad.”

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But even in this state [of poor health], she maintained her courage. Yevgeny Markevich, a prisoner of war who was held in a cell next to Roshchyna’s in [the detention center of] Taganrog, heard her talking to the guards.

She told the prison guards right to their faces: “You are occupiers, you came to our country, you are killing our people... I will never cooperate with you!” She was probably saved by the fact that she was a woman. If I had said something like that, they would’ve killed me on the spot.

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Ukrainian prisoners call Taganrog Detention Center No. 2 (SIZO-2), where Viktoriia ended up, hell on Earth. “Even the term ‘concentration camp’ would be too mild for SIZO-2,” said one of the prisoners.

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Nuria Zyden came to Ireland in 2009, became a naturalised Irish citizen and has three children who were born in the Republic.

A Uyghur, she grew up in Xinjiang, a majority Muslim province where locals are regarded with extreme suspicion by the Chinese Government.

“As a Uyghur person, growing up we were seen as politically disloyal and culturally disadvantaged,” Ms Zyden told Newstalk Breakfast.

“The State media frequently portrayed Uyghurs as extremists and discrimination in jobs and education left us with limited opportunities.

“After 9/11, the Chinese Government rebranded its repressions as a war on terror, using it as a pretext to expand mass surveillance.”

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Determined to keep her culture alive and speak out against Beijing’s oppression of her people, she helped found the Irish Uyghur Culture Association in 2014.

Like many Uyghurs living outside of China, she soon found that her advocacy had not gone unnoticed by Chinese officials.

“My activism has become a target [with] phone calls from the Chinese Government and all different types of harassment,” she said.

Most disturbingly, she feels they are blackmailing her elderly mother.

“My gentle, 74-year-old mother told me to not come home,” Ms Zyden said.

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“I don’t know what is really happening to her but I guess she has been questioned and probably she was in detention.

“I’m not really sure; she begged me, do not forget about the Chinese Communist Party raising us and wherever we go, we should appreciate [them].”

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Donald Trump’s order, which will come into effect on May 2, which will end the duty-free status of goods from China and Hong Kong under $800 in the United States, could fundamentally shake the American operations of Chinese e-commerce giants. In response to the shrinking market, companies – led by Shein, Temu and AliExpress – are expected to redirect their unsold stocks to Europe. This could have serious consequences for EU trade, industry and the budget.

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According to current EU regulations, imported small packages under the value threshold of 150 euros are duty-free. The French newspaper L’Express estimates that around 12 million such small packages arrive in the EU every day, worth a total of €4.6 billion a year. The fact that around 65% of packages are deliberately undervalued helps to circumvent customs borders. The trend is already visible in France: according to the CEO of La Poste, one in four packages arriving comes from the Shein or Temu platforms.

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In response to the expected import pressure, the European Commission has set up a monitoring task force to monitor early signs of a Chinese parcel tsunami. Olof Gill, the Commission’s customs spokesman, confirmed that if it is proven that the increasing imports are causing industrial damage, they are ready to introduce protective measures – such as safeguard duties or quotas. The French economy ministry is particularly active in calling for a swift response, stressing that Europe should not bear the consequences of US political decisions.

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British firms working for the UK’s military or intelligence services are advising staff not to connect their mobile phones to Chinese-made electric cars over fears that Beijing could steal sensitive national security data.

Executives at two of the nation’s leading defence giants have told The i Paper that the entire sector is taking a “cautious” and “belt and braces” approach to the possibility of the Chinese state spying on staff via the country’s electric vehicles (EVs).

The security clampdown within the UK’s highly secretive defence sector follows revelations from The i Paper that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has banned cars relying on Chinese technology from sensitive military sites across the country. In some cases, the MoD has asked staff to park their EVs at least two miles from their workplace.

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The latest disclosure of security worries relating to Chinese EVs could also raise concern among some EV buyers, who are increasingly turning to brands like BYD because of their affordability and longer range.

The role of Chinese companies and equipment in critical infrastructure was brought sharply into focus after the government was recently forced to take control of British Steel from its Chinese owner, Jingye Group, to prevent it from closing blast furnaces at the country’s last virgin steelmaking site.

It is understood that the UK’s leading military production groups, including BAE Systems, Rolls Royce, and Raytheon, as well as US defence giant Lockheed Martin and French defence and cyber security firm Thales, are among those firms that have taken precautions against the potential for Chinese EVs to spy on their staff.

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I am trying to find jobs in Europe (preferably remote) that are open to hiring Americans. I know many companies seek residents and citizens of Europe first, but I know there has to be some companies that are open to seek Americans as well. With horror show going on in the US, I hope there are some European companies that are open to hiring Americans trying to escape it. For context, I am looking for jobs that deal with any of these sectors: customer support, privacy, IT&tech, and arts&humanities. If anyone knows of any companies or job portals that can help Americans find jobs in Europe, that would be greatly appreciated!

• Zurich Airport is struggling with a massive flood of parcels from China that is delaying handling.
• Swiss retailers are calling for stricter rules for foreign online platforms.
• Despite initial measures, new providers such as the TikTok store are threatening to further exacerbate the situation.

Around 100,000 parcels from online retailers such as Temu and Shein arrive at Zurich Airport every day - a sheer volume that is increasingly paralyzing customs clearance.

According to a recent logistics market study, most of these small consignments below the duty-free threshold land directly in Kloten. As a result, the infrastructure is overloaded and freight forwarders are reporting massive delays in the delivery of important goods such as medicines and machine parts.

"Shipments from China are often inadequately declared, which makes handling extremely difficult," criticizes Tom Odermatt from the Spedlogsuisse association to theSonntagszeitungnewspaper. Large customers such as Temu also determine which freight is unloaded first - smaller deliveries fall by the wayside and are sometimes delayed by a week. Some of these shipments include important consignments such as medicines or machine parts, the newspaper writes.

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There were already bottlenecks in the supply of medicines last Christmas due to the flood of parcels. Now experts fear a further escalation: following the introduction of new US tariffs on Chinese goods , even more cheap goods could be diverted to Switzerland. The trend is reinforced by the planned launch of a TikTok store in Switzerland.

The retail trade is sounding the alarm: the Swiss Retail Federation is calling for a "level playing field" for all suppliers. "Temu and Co. do not comply with Swiss safety or environmental standards," says Director Dagmar Jenni. Consumer protection organizations also criticize the aggressive advertising methods of Chinese platforms.

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In an interview with La Tribune Dimanche, Eric Lombard, the French Minister of Economy discussed the rising influx of Chinese low-cost products into France amid Donald Trump’s customs measures. The minister plans to announce new actions within the next ten days.

Is France on the verge of being flooded with Chinese products from Temu and Shein, e-commerce platforms known for their unbeatable prices? This concern looms large in France, especially within the retail sector, following Donald Trump’s announcement of a staggering 145% customs duty on Chinese goods. As a result, China might look towards flooding the European market, particularly France, with these small packages. When asked about this in an interview with La Tribune Dimanche on April 20, Economy Minister Eric Lombard expressed his determination not to stand idly by.

“We must curb this phenomenon,” he firmly stated. For him, the threats posed by these websites are threefold: social, health, and environmental. He elaborated, “These shipments directly compete with our businesses and merchants. Some products do not meet European standards, and the people manufacturing them work under conditions that are not aligned with our values. It’s also an environmental absurdity.”

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The minister also highlighted some staggering statistics: “The volume of goods is enormous: 400 million items were shipped last year. Nearly 800 million are projected this year. […] Just to the European market, that’s 600 jumbo jets taking off each night from China!”

[Edit typo.]

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Poland’s foreign minister ... used an annual address to parliament to send a sharp message to Russian leaders as war continues in neighboring Ukraine, asking: “Don’t you have enough land?”

Foreign Minster Radek Sikorski described the difficult situation Poland faces with the war across the border and the threat of its expansion, and voiced concerns about the “disintegration” of Western unity.

Poland, on NATO’s eastern flank, is one of Kyiv’s strongest supporters, and Sikorski used his speech to strongly criticize Russia.

He said, addressing Russian leaders: “Don’t you have enough land? Eleven time zones and still not enough? Take care of better governing what is within your borders according to international law.”

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“For Poland, the greatest threat would be the disintegration of the Western community. That is why we cannot afford illusions or inaction. We cannot afford to be alone,” Sikorski said.

He had a warning for Russia. “You will never rule here again, neither in Kyiv, nor in Vilnius, nor in Riga, nor in Tallinn, nor in Chisinau,” he said, listing the capitals of Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Moldova.

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He also noted that the situation on the front lines in eastern and southern Ukraine is “ambiguous,” and that Russian forces’ slow progress is paid for “with huge losses.”

“After three years of this stage of the war, which Putin planned for three days, Russian troops control only about 20% of Ukrainian territory and are still stuck in eastern Ukraine,” Sikorski said.

“It is estimated that the war has already cost Russia at least $200 billion, and almost a million Russian soldiers have been eliminated from the battlefield. Ukrainian losses are smaller, and they have not allowed either the capture of their capital or the installation of a puppet government.”

In its judgement of 29 April 2025, the European Court of Justice declared that

by establishing and operating an institutionalised citizenship investment scheme, such as the Maltese Citizenship by Naturalisation for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment scheme, [...], which establishes a transactional naturalisation procedure in exchange for predetermined payments or investments and thus amounts to the commercialisation of the grant of the nationality of a Member State and, by extension, that of Union citizenship, the Republic of Malta has failed to fulfil its obligations under Article 20 TFEU and Article 4(3) TEU.

The European Commission has brought Malta to court over what is called the ‘golden passport’ scheme. This scheme usually effectively means anyone can get EU citizenship provided they can afford to pay the price, but requires little physical residency in the country prior to gaining citizenship.

According to the Maltese rules, foreigners are required to purchase property, invest in government-approved financial instruments and make a donation of €10,000 to a registered philanthropic, cultural, scientific, animal welfare or similar NGO or society to gain for citizenship.

The EU has viewed such schemes with increasing scepticism, and the European Parliament has called for their discontinuance, arguing hat the outright sale of EU citizenship undermines the mutual trust upon which the European Union is built. The EU citizenship also grants individuals the right to vote and stand as a candidate in local and EU elections, and to travel visa-free within the bloc and to other countries. Selling such freedoms to a privileged base of a few wealthy individuals bears a host of corruption, money laundering and security risks, as well as risks of tax avoidance. It also has possible negative side-effects, such as distortion of local housing markets, the Parliament said.

Malta must now comply with the judgment without delay and stop the practice, or risk further legal action and potential financial penalties.

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New Zealand will continue its military assistance to Ukraine until at least December 2026, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced this week, with up to 100 NZDF personnel remaining deployed across Europe to support training, intelligence, logistics, and liaison operations.

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Framed as a show of “unwavering support” for Ukraine, the announcement signals a long-term commitment to a conflict that remains fluid, with ceasefire negotiations reportedly under way.

Of the $152 million committed, $102.3 million has been spent on military training, logistics, and equipment. Only $31.9 million has gone toward humanitarian support, and a further $5.2 million to legal and human rights monitoring

While over 53,000 Ukrainian troops have reportedly been trained through allied efforts, New Zealand’s marginal impact must be weighed against the opportunity cost.

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Additionally, the United Kingdom government has announced a deal worth £30 million (NZ$66.8 million) for drones produced by New Zealand company SYOS Aerospace.

New Zealand is also expected to announce increased support for the joint Operation Interflex training Ukrainian forces in the UK, extending it until the end of the year. More than 54,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been trained there to date.

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Robotics business SYOS manufactures drones at its factory in Hampshire, southeast of London, and they have been deployed to combat zones.

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Royal New Zealand Navy frigate HMNZS Te Kaha will also join a UK carrier strike group leaving Portsmouth for the Indian Ocean.

"As the world becomes an increasingly dangerous place, I am proud how much we are doing together to support our national and economic security - stepping up our defence spending, deploying our navies together in the Indo-Pacific and continuing our work to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position to deter an increasingly aggressive Russia," [UK PM] Keir Starmer said.

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In a remarkable example of how times have changed, Japan is expanding its military with NATO.

There was a time when the notion of a militarily assertive Japan would’ve sent shivers through the spines of world leaders. Indeed, the Japanese themselves, mindful of both the suffering that their nation inflicted and then suffered in return during World War II, pursued a pacifistic foreign policy throughout the Cold War and for even much of the post-Cold War era.

What a difference eight decades, and the looming threat of Chinese aggression, make. Nations that once shuddered at the thought of a stronger Japan now welcome it. This can be seen in Japan’s newly bolstered ties with the Philippines as well as multinational partnerships such as “The Quad” (among India, Australia, Japan, and the United States). And now, in a perhaps even more remarkable example of how times have changed, Japan is expanding those military ties beyond the Indo-Pacific over to NATO.

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“China, North Korea, and Russia are stepping up their military exercises and their cooperation, undermining global stability, and that means what happens in the Euro-Atlantic matters for the Indo-Pacific and vice versa. So our security, I believe, is inseparable,” [NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said].

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“China is supporting Russia’s efforts. China is building up its armed forces, including its navy, at a rapid pace. We cannot be naïve, and we really have to work together, assess what is happening,” [Rutte said].

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cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/2599828

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As some European countries and the United States head towards isolationism, authoritarianism and turn to the East — even flirting with Russia — Canada’s continued Liberal leadership reinforces its position as a key ally for the European Union. Carney’s centrist and pro-EU attitude provides stability and relief for Europeans.

From defence to trade and climate, Canada and the EU share deep economic and strategic ties. With a Liberal government, these connections will strengthen, offering both sides what they need the most: a reliable, like-minded partner at a time of transatlantic unpredictability.

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Trade remains the foundation of the Canada-EU relationship, and both sides should aim to build on it. At the heart of this partnership is the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which has increased EU-Canada trade by 65 per cent since 2017.

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Beyond trade and energy, defence co-operation between Canada and the EU is expected to surge. A key priority for the new Liberal government is to finally reach NATO’s benchmark of spending two per cent of gross domestic product on defence, a longstanding commitment that has eluded previous administrations.

Paywall? https://archive.is/P62dX

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Russia is ramping up immigration enforcement to pressure migrants to join the frontline in Ukraine and increase deportations of people from various Asian countries. As part of the Kremlin’s efforts to bolster military strength, foreigners continue to be coerced into fighting in Ukraine–with many being threatened with deportation should they refuse to fight. And since the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack in Moscow in March 2024, xenophobic rhetoric targeting migrants from Tajikistan and other countries in Central Asia has ballooned, leading to “sweeping” raids that have resulted in thousands of people being locked up in the country’s sprawling immigration detention system. In February, legislation came into force creating a new “expulsion regime,” increasing authorities’ ability to deport without judicial oversight.

Although the Russian economy relies heavily on migrant labour, particularly from Central Asia, prejudice against migrants is persistent. According to the extremism monitor Sova Research Center, since 2023 Russia has witnessed an increase in hate crimes and racial violence. In particular, the Center reports that violence has targeted persons “visually perceived as ethnic outsiders”–such as migrants from Central Asia, persons from the Caucasus and, more broadly, persons with non-Slavic appearance. Anti-migrant sentiment is also reflected in polls conducted by the Levada Center, who in early 2025 found that fifty-six percent of Russians believe that Central Asians should either be completely blocked from the country, or only permitted to enter temporarily.

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Faced with American uncertainty surrounding the war in Ukraine and the future of NATO, Europe is looking to wean itself off US defence. France has promised to ramp up spending, putting its industry into overdrive, but what are the financial and recruitment issues? From the factory floor to AI engineers, our reporters went to meet the companies that are trying to rise to the challenge. #France #Europe #Defence

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TDs in Ireland [a member of the Dáil Éireann -the Lower House of the Houses of the Oireachtas elected by the people of Ireland- is commonly referred to as a Teachta Dála (TD) or Deputy] increasingly regard China as an “international security issue” amid complaints about the bullying and intimidation of Irish residents, a journalist has said.

The Chinese State has long taken a different attitude to free speech to Ireland’s and individuals who criticise Beijing can face harsh consequences.

On The Pat Kenny Show, Irish Times journalist Colm Keena told the story of Nuria Zyden - a woman from China’s Uyghur minority.

“She came to Ireland in 2009, is a naturalised Irish citizen, has three Irish born children living here,” he said.

“She gets phone calls from the police in Xinjiang because they’re not happy with her Uyghur activities here [in Ireland] on behalf of the Uyghur community.”

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“[They would] ring people and [tell them], ‘I want you to come back to China to face charges,’” he said.

“Then, if you weren’t inclined to do that, then something bad might happen to family members back in China.”

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A report by a human rights group Safeguard Defenders concluded that sometimes such tactics work, with at least one Chinese person returning from Ireland to China to face charges.

“They published a new report last year, the same NGO, and they looked at the history of this activity,” Mr Keena said.

“One of the reports that was in it is a news report from China about a fella in Ireland from Fujian living in Dublin who was wanted by police back in Fujian.

“He got 19 telephone calls from police in Fujian saying, ‘We’ve been visiting your family.’

“He eventually agreed to return to China to face charges and it was all sub-diplomatic, not done through Interpol or anything like that.

“It was reported in Chinese media because, I suppose, the Chinese authorities want people to know this is happening.”

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A sizable number of Ireland’s Chinese diaspora come from Fujian province and the local police force has even set up a centre on Dublin’s Capel Street to keep an eye on them.

“It was created in, I suppose you could say, in a sub-diplomatic kind of way,” Mr Keena said.

Good news,
the cause was identified by the Portugal Grid Operator and it wasn't sabotage (see Update in the article)

Due to extreme temperature variations in the interior of Spain, there were anomalous oscillations in the very high voltage lines (400 kV), a phenomenon known as induced atmospheric vibration. These oscillations caused synchronisation failures between the electrical systems, leading to successive disturbances across the interconnected European network.

Archived

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Giving up the land that was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014 is also politically and legally impossible, according to experts. It would require a change to the Ukrainian constitution and a nationwide vote, and it could be considered treason. Lawmakers and the public are firmly opposed to the idea.

“It doesn’t mean anything,” said Oleksandr Merezkho, a lawmaker with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s party. “We will never recognize Crimea as part of Russia.”

Unlike a territorial concession, a formal surrender would permanently relinquish Crimea and abandon the hope that Ukraine could regain it in the future.

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