News in Europe: Kiev Updates, Heatwave, Art Smuggling + More

Greetings, Persephoneers! Your regular News in Europe Unicorn, Karo, is still on vacation, and so you have me again. Let us take a look at the newsy bits that caught my interest this week, shall we?

In Kiev, pro-Russian gunmen overtook Ukrainian soldiers, though no shots were fired.

Former News of the World editor and ex-David Cameron political strategist Andy Coulson told the jury assembled for the phone-hacking trial that he listened to personal voicemails from former home secretary David Blunkett, but that “although no one told him they were illegal, his first reaction was they were an invasion of privacy.”

In other nefarious UK press matters: Russell Brand has taken the money won in a libel suit against The Sun and donated it to the JFT96 campaign, which seeks justice for the 96 people who lost their lives in 1989 at Hillsborough Stadium.

Also in Britain: It’s about to get very hot. So you’ve got that to come back to, Karo. Yay?

I found this recent BBC article on art smuggling and looting interesting.

In Italy, former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi must do part-time community service in punishment for his tax fraud. Berlusconi will be working at a home for the elderly.

Hey guess what? The Most Haunted Place in The World is for sale, if you like that sort of thing.

Finally, here’s an eye-catching headline for you: “Norwegian Fisherman Discovers Dildo Inside Cod Stomach.”

Anyone else have any strange-but-true news of a European persuasion? I must admit, it’s hard to top the cod story, but I bet some of you will try.

Until next time, friends.