News summary for
Spain's transport minister resigns over fatal rail crashes
The state is busy investigating itself, with varying degrees of enthusiasm. Poland's anti-corruption bureau arrested 25 people over a billion-zloty loss at a state power plant. Romania's leadership reportedly suppressed an audit into missing labor ministry funds, while a local prosecutor is accused of fabricating a case to oust a Coast Guard chief. Slovenia's interior minister is under scrutiny for accessing police files while on vacation. In Ukraine, the anti-corruption bureau says a state security official simply threatened its detectives with a weapon during a search.
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In more detail
Transport minister resigns after Urda train crash
Óscar Puente has resigned as Minister of Transport following a train accident in Urda that killed 115 people. The Prime Minister's office denied the departure was happening only hours before it became a reality. The exit removes a minister the cabinet had spent a week trying to shield, transferring the political damage from the railways to the government.
Public search begins for tens of thousands of state security informants
The government opened its communist-era secret police archives, publishing the names of tens of thousands of state security informants. The release immediately produced public confessions, including from a prize-winning photographer who admitted to informing under the alias 'Pál'. The files confirm that decades of state surveillance relied heavily on the quiet cooperation of bus drivers, farmers, and neighbors.
Court rules Wolt is employer in blow to gig economy
A court ruled that a former Wolt courier was a formal employee rather than an independent contractor. For the food delivery platform, the verdict challenges a business model built entirely on freelance labor. For the broader gig economy, it is a legal precedent that suddenly makes algorithms look like managers.
Alta Bank owner detained as 45 billion dinars vanish
Police detained the owner of Alta Bank following the disappearance of 45 billion dinars and the revocation of the lender's license. The same day, a flight to Moscow carrying three prominent Serbian officials was diverted back to Belgrade for security checks. One official claimed he slept through the detour; another said he was traveling to discuss gas supplies and the collapsed bank.
Key themes Cabinet resignation Secret police files Worker classification Bank embezzlement