Ukraine exposes military procurement corruption scheme
Ukrainian authorities uncovered corruption in the defense sector amounting to about $40 million (€37 million), Ukraine’s SBU security service said. The SBU said officials signed a deal to purchase 100,000 mortar shells for the military and paid in advance, but no arms were ever provided.
Gunmen attack Italian church, killing one person in Istanbul
An Italian church in Istanbul was attacked by gunmen during a religious ceremony. One person was killed, Turkish officials said.
Finland votes in presidential election amid Russia tensions
The new president will replace incumbent Sauli Niinisto, who is stepping down after two terms. The vote comes after Finland broke with decades of non-alignment to join NATO in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Activists throw soup at Mona Lisa in Paris
A video showed two protesters demanding “the right to healthy, sustainable food.” It’s not the first time Leonardo da Vinci’s 16th-century masterpiece has been targeted by environmental activists.
Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger quit ECOWAS
The leaders of the three Sahel nations said it was a “sovereign decision” to leave the Economic Community of West African States “without delay.”