A high-ranking Russian defense official, Timur Ivanov, has been apprehended on allegations of large-scale bribery. Ivanov, the deputy defense minister responsible for military construction, was taken into custody by the Investigative Committee, a prominent investigative body in Russia. The statute cited for Ivanov’s detention pertains to accepting bribes on a particularly large scale. This case represents one of the most significant corruption incidents since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Former trainer Darren Weir has been found not guilty of charges related to corrupt conduct in horse racing, while five stables have been charged over horses testing positive for a breast cancer drug. The Victorian Racing Tribunal ruled in favor of Weir, who was banned from training in 2019 for possession of jiggers. Trainers Smiley Chan, Mark and Levi Kavanagh, Julius Sandhu, Symon Wilde, and Ash and Amy Yargi face charges for positive tests for formestane, which is not legally available for use in Australia. The case against Weir is ongoing, with a hearing scheduled for penalties related to the use of jiggers. The positive swabs for formestane have raised concerns about contamination, with some trainers pointing to irregularities in the testing process.
Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov has been arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe of over one million rubles. Ivanov, who oversaw military construction projects, was sanctioned by the US and EU after Russia invaded Ukraine. The arrest comes as Russia intensifies its assault on Ukraine and amid concerns about a spring offensive. Kharkiv, a frontline city, has been heavily targeted by Russian missile and drone strikes, raising fears of it becoming a ‘second Aleppo’. The US is set to deliver weapons to Ukraine within days as part of a $61 billion aid package.
Ukraine’s Agriculture Minister, Mykola Solsky, has been accused of involvement in a scheme to illegally acquire state-owned land worth millions of dollars. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) alleges that Solsky, a former chairman of the parliamentary agrarian committee, led a group that expropriated farmland in the northeastern Sumy region between 2017 and 2021. NABU claims the group destroyed documents showing that two state-owned companies had rights to use the land and then used a government scheme to transfer the rights to individuals connected to them. Solsky, who owns several farming businesses, became agriculture minister in March 2022. He has denied the allegations, saying they pertain to a period when he worked as a lawyer. The case is the first against a minister under President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and comes amid speculation about an impending government reshuffle.
A portion of an under-construction bridge in Telangana’s Peddapalli district collapsed late Monday night, raising concerns about the safety of the project. The incident occurred around 9:45 pm when two concrete girders between two pillars, approximately 100 feet apart, gave way. Locals fear that the remaining three girders may also collapse. The bridge is located across the Manair river and was inaugurated in 2016, but construction has been stalled due to payment issues and allegations of corruption. Residents have been using a temporary mud road under the bridge for the past five years.
Haiti is facing a humanitarian crisis with escalating violence, food insecurity, and limited access to healthcare. Despite its rich history and resilient spirit, Haiti is struggling under the weight of political instability, corruption, and international neglect. The country’s complex past, marked by foreign intervention, civil wars, and natural disasters, has left deep scars on its society. Many Haitians are forced to flee their homes due to gang violence, while those who remain live in constant fear. Despite the challenges, Haitians continue to fight for a better future, drawing strength from their cultural heritage and the hope that their country can overcome its adversity.
Tasleema Mohammed, a Sub-Registrar Grade-I previously stationed in Mahabubabad, has been accused of accumulating assets beyond her known sources of income through corrupt practices and dubious means during her tenure. The case, registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, involves preliminary searches conducted at six locations associated with Mohammed and her relatives. The searches yielded documents pertaining to properties, cash, and other assets worth an estimated ₹2.94 crores. Further investigation into potential additional assets is ongoing.
