Russia: minister arrested on charges of taking bribes
A deputy defence minister, Timur Ivanov, has been detained in Moscow, accused of accepting large-scale bribes. Ivanov, who denies the charges, has been overseeing military infrastructure projects since his appointment in 2016. There have been few such high-profile cases since the invasion of Ukraine. Ivanov, an ally of defence minister Sergei Shoigu, faces serious charges. Reports link him to profiting from construction schemes in occupied Ukrainian territories, particularly in Mariupol. A court has remanded him and a friend, Sergei Borodin, for two months. His detention signifies a significant move against Russia's elite, who are often accused of using their positions to amass vast fortunes. It may also impact Shoigu's standing, as Ivanov (described by the USA and UK as ‘tenth in the overall hierarchy of the Russian military leadership’) is seen as his close associate.
Russia: priest demoted for taking part in Navalny’s funeral
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church has sanctioned a priest who conducted a memorial service for Alexei Navalny, the late opposition leader. Patriarch Kirill, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, has banned Dimitry Safronov, the priest of a Moscow church, from his duties for three years, demoted him and stripped him of his robes and cross. He gave no official reason for these harsh sanctions, but Safronov was at Navalny’s funeral, and in March conducted a memorial service at his grave. He had also co-signed a letter asking the government to give Navalny’s body (which local authorities initially refused to release) to his family and let them bury him in the Christian tradition. Before his death Navalny had publicly spoken about his faith on several occasions.
Greece: orange dust from Sahara envelops Athens
A dense orange haze has enveloped Athens as clouds of Sahara desert dust swept across Greece, marking one of the worst episodes since 2018. Similar clouds hit Greece, Switzerland, and southern France in late March and early April. As the air quality has deteriorated, Greeks with respiratory issues have been advised to stay indoors, wear masks, and avoid strenuous activities. The Sahara annually releases 60 to 200 million tonnes of mineral dust, some of which travels long distances. A meteorologist has compared the view from one weather station to Mars. The fire service has reported 25 wildfires in 24 hours, including one in Crete, where temperatures soared above 30C. The situation underscores the environmental challenges posed by such natural phenomena, requiring vigilant monitoring and response efforts.
USA / Ukraine / Gaza: Biden signs huge aid package
Joe Biden has signed a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, emphasising its importance in enhancing global security. He promised to send the military assistance for Ukraine ‘right away’, with $61 billion allocated for this purpose. The bipartisan bill, approved by the Senate in a 79-18 vote after months of congressional debate, signals America's commitment to its allies. Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the aid as a reinforcement of America's democratic leadership. The package also includes provisions for confiscating Russian assets and imposing new sanctions on Russia, China, and Iran. The aid is expected to provide critical support to Ukraine's forces, which have faced shortages of ammunition and defence systems. Meanwhile, Biden has faced significant protests against his stance on Gaza at different universities, notably Columbia: see
