News summary for
Spanish police raid former minister's home in corruption probe
The state's machinery is being tested by high-level corruption probes and infrastructure failures. Spanish police raided a former minister's home in a widening graft investigation. A Finnish court put the country's former intelligence chief on trial for leaking state secrets. Austrian justice caught up with real estate mogul René Benko, handing down a fraud conviction. In Ireland, suspected Russian bomb hoaxes grounded an airline and forced fighter jets into the sky, while a bomb threat grounded a flight in the Netherlands and a substation failure left large parts of Prague in the dark.
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In more detail
Police raid ex-minister's home in corruption probe
Spanish police raided the home of former minister José Luis Ábalos and detained a former driver for the prime minister. The government denies any connection to the detained individuals, leaving the opposition to demand explanations. The investigation into state contracts is inching steadily closer to the centre of power.
Former intelligence chief goes on trial for leaking state secrets
The former head of the Finnish Security Intelligence Service went on trial for disclosing state secrets. Antti Pelttari, who now serves as parliamentary secretary-general, told the court he was only doing his job. Prosecutors also allege the agency obtained wiretapping permits using misleading information.
Russian intelligence suspected as airline bomb hoaxes disrupt travel
Suspected Russian intelligence operatives directed a series of hoax bomb threats at airlines and Cork Airport, timing the disruption with an EU ministers' meeting. One Aer Lingus flight to Rome required an escort by French fighter jets. The pilot is now under investigation for initially refusing orders to land at a military base.
Substation failure leaves capital in dark and halts parliament
A technical failure at two substations cut power to large parts of Prague, halting trams and interrupting a parliamentary session on energy issues. Lawmakers were left to debate the reliability of the national grid while sitting in the dark.
Key themes Bomb hoaxes Corruption raids Fraud convictions Power outages State secrets