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Corruption Worsens Across EU, Hungary Ranks Lowest in Transparency International’s Index
Corruption in the European Union has worsened for the second consecutive year, according to Transparency International’s (TI) annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), released on Tuesday. The report highlighted Hungary as the EU’s worst performer, while Denmark maintained its position as the least corrupt country in the bloc.
The CPI, which measures perceptions of public sector corruption using data from 13 sources, including the World Bank and private risk firms, scores countries on a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). This year, the average score for Western Europe and the EU dropped to 64, down from 65 in 2023. TI noted that this marks the first decline in the region’s score in over a decade.
The report warned that Europe’s declining ability to combat corruption is undermining its capacity to address critical challenges, including the climate crisis, weakening rule of law, and overburdened public services. Analysts pointed to long-standing issues such as legal loopholes, poor enforcement, and resource shortages as key barriers to effective anti-corruption efforts. However, they also criticized some governments for actively undermining anti-corruption frameworks and politicizing the rule of law.
Hungary and Slovakia Under Scrutiny
Hungary scored 41, the lowest in the region, reflecting what TI described as “systemic corruption and a continuous decline of the rule of law” under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s 15-year leadership. The report referenced recent U.S. sanctions against Hungarian official Antal Rogán, a close ally of Orbán, for alleged corruption in awarding public contracts to political allies. Orbán and his ruling Fidesz party have consistently denied corruption allegations.
Slovakia, meanwhile, saw its score drop by five points to 49, its lowest since Prime Minister Robert Fico returned to power. TI flagged the country as one to watch, citing reforms that weaken anti-corruption checks and bypass public consultation. Recent large-scale protests in Bratislava have accused Fico of undermining democratic values and aligning closer to Russia. Fico has dismissed the protests as attempts to overthrow his government.
Major Economies Backslide
France and Germany, two of the EU’s largest economies, also saw declines in their scores. France dropped four points to 67, while Germany fell three points to 75. TI attributed these declines partly to the influence of corporate lobbyists on climate policy, highlighting the intersection of corruption and the climate crisis.
The report emphasized that inadequate transparency and accountability mechanisms increase the risk of misusing climate funds, while conflicts of interest and lobbying by polluting industries hinder ambitious climate action. “These factors obstruct the adoption of policies needed to address climate change, favoring narrow interests over the common good,” TI stated.
Global Trends
Globally, the CPI’s average score remained unchanged at 43, with over two-thirds of countries scoring below 50. Denmark topped the global ranking with 90 points, followed by Finland (88) and Singapore (84). At the other end of the spectrum, South Sudan scored just eight points, replacing Somalia as the world’s worst performer.
TI’s findings underscore the urgent need for stronger anti-corruption measures worldwide, particularly as corruption continues to hinder efforts to address pressing global challenges like climate change and democratic erosion.
News
Two Dead, Nearly 200 Injured as PSG Title Celebrations Turn Violent Across France

What began as jubilant celebrations of Paris Saint-Germain’s historic UEFA Champions League victory ended in violence and tragedy in parts of France, with two people killed and nearly 200 injured during street festivities that spiraled out of control.
Authorities confirmed on Sunday that a 17-year-old boy was fatally stabbed in the southwestern town of Dax during a PSG street gathering, while in Paris, a man died after his scooter was struck by a car amid the crowded celebrations. Both incidents are currently under investigation.
The unrest followed PSG’s dramatic win in Munich, where the club secured its first-ever Champions League title, marking a milestone in French football history. While fans across the country took to the streets to celebrate, several areas descended into violence.
According to the French Interior Ministry, a total of 294 people were arrested nationwide as of 2 a.m. Sunday. Of the nearly 200 injured, 21 were police officers—18 of them in Paris alone. One officer remains in a medically induced coma after being struck in the face by a firework.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau condemned the violence in a statement on social media. “True PSG fans are celebrating a magnificent achievement. Meanwhile, barbarians have taken to the streets to commit crimes and provoke law enforcement,” he said. “It is unacceptable that people cannot celebrate without being endangered by a violent minority.”
Despite the unrest, the majority of gatherings were peaceful, authorities noted, with large crowds celebrating the historic win in cities including Marseille, Lyon, and Lille.
The PSG squad returned to Paris from Munich on Sunday afternoon aboard a Qatar Airways charter flight, arriving at 4 p.m. The team is expected to continue celebrations in the capital with tens of thousands of fans, under heightened security measures.
The violent turn of events has reignited debate in France over crowd control during major sporting celebrations, and how best to ensure public safety without dampening national enthusiasm.
PSG’s Champions League triumph marks a defining moment for the club, which has long pursued European glory. As the team prepares for a hero’s welcome, officials are urging fans to celebrate responsibly and respect public safety.
News
Ukraine Launches Major Drone Assault on Russian Airfields, Hits Over 40 Strategic Bombers

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has claimed responsibility for a large-scale drone strike on four Russian air bases over the weekend, targeting dozens of strategic bombers across vast swaths of Russian territory — from Siberia to the Arctic.
According to Ukrainian officials, the operation, codenamed “Spiderweb” (Pavutyna), was launched on June 1 and struck 41 long-range bombers stationed at airfields in Russia’s Ryazan, Ivanovo, Irkutsk, and Murmansk regions. The attack is being hailed by Kyiv as one of its most ambitious and far-reaching strikes since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
“Enemy strategic bombers are burning en masse in Russia,” a senior SBU official said, noting that the operation was specifically designed to cripple Moscow’s airstrike capabilities. “This is a large-scale special operation aimed at destroying enemy bomber aircraft.”
The four airfields targeted were Dyagilevo in the Ryazan region, Ivanovo in central Russia, Belaya air base in Irkutsk — over 4,000 kilometers from the front lines — and Olenya air base on the Kola Peninsula near the Arctic, roughly 2,000 kilometers from Ukraine’s border.
Ukrainian officials described the complex logistics of the operation, which involved covertly transporting drones deep into Russian territory, hiding them until the time of launch, and remotely executing the strikes. While specific details remain classified, Ukraine previously revealed it had developed drones with a flight range of up to 3,000 kilometers, enabling long-range operations like this.
Satellite imagery analyzed after the attack shows the presence of several high-value Russian aircraft types at the affected bases, including the Tu-95, Tu-22M3, Tu-160, and A-50 radar planes. These aircraft have been central to Russia’s long-range missile campaign against Ukraine.
The Tu-22M3, for example, is capable of carrying Kh-22 and Kh-32 cruise missiles at speeds exceeding Mach 4. The Tu-95, a Cold War-era bomber once designed to carry nuclear weapons, has been retrofitted to launch conventional cruise missiles. The A-50 aircraft provides airborne radar surveillance and target coordination for Russian forces.
The scale of the strike underscores Ukraine’s growing long-range capabilities and signals a shift in Kyiv’s strategy to disrupt Russian air operations at their source. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had held meetings with the Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs, along with the General Staff and SBU, to coordinate further defense and counter-offensive planning.
There has been no immediate official response from Moscow regarding the extent of damage caused.
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