Antoaneta Roussi

How a hacking gang held Italy’s political elites to ransom Wiretaps and arrest warrants reveal the intricate plot to build a database of high-level secrets — and blackmail Italy’s rich and powerful.

"The platform, called Beyond, pulled together hundreds of thousands of records from state databases to create detailed profiles on 🇮🇹 politicians, business leaders and other prominent figures."

✍️ @antoanetaroussi.bsky.social & Hannah Roberts

www.politico.eu/article/ital...

Protesting over Gaza’s starvation feels like screaming into a void – but we mustn’t stop | Nesrine Malik Political platitudes and a few trucks of aid won’t save the children dying now. But they show leaders can’t ignore public opinion for ever, says Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik

"It almost doesn’t matter what it is called any more, because all you need to see to know that what is happening is a crime that requires immediate action, is the bones of a child sticking out of its thin skin..." Poignant by @nesrinemalik.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

People turn to destructive politics not because they were misled by foreign disinformation, but because they saw democratic systems fail to serve their interests in a moment of crisis.

This is one of those moments when the hollowness of our democratic systems becomes visible to the public. Facts are verified, but deliberation is pure performance, and accountability is nowhere. The system absorbs truth without ever acting on it.

EU Commission discusses curbs on Israel research funding amid Gaza pressure European Commissioners will on Monday discuss a proposal to partially suspend Israel's access to the EU's Horizon research funding program following calls from EU governments to increase pressure on Israel over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

New: European Commissioners are discussing today a proposal to partially suspend Israel's access to the EU's Horizon research funding program following calls from EU governments to increase pressure on Israel over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Geneva races to help redundant UN workers hit by Trump aid cuts “It’s a dark time,” says one official at the World Health Organization.

NEW: Geneva is holding job-hunting clinics to support international civil servants suddenly thrust into the Swiss labor market by the Trump administration's massive foreign aid cuts. Some agencies such as the WHO are being forced to merge units.
www.politico.eu/article/gene...

EU budget shake-up to shift billions to eastern states Leaked Brussels proposal suggests new method for distributing €750bn of farm and development funds

Scoop🚨 Brussels will shift billions in EU funds eastward as it seeks to counter security threats from Russia, a leaked formula underpinning the distribution of the future budget shows. www.ft.com/content/c668...

ICC hit by cyberattack around NATO summit The International Criminal Court (ICC) said it was hit by a “sophisticated and targeted” cyberattack as NATO leaders gathered in The Hague for a summit last week. The ICC, which is based in The Hag…

The International Criminal Court (ICC) said it was hit by a “sophisticated and targeted” cyberattack as NATO leaders gathered in The Hague for a summit last week.
www.politico.eu/article/icc-...

Trump publicly posts NATO Sec Gen Rutte's grovelling private messages.

Europeans must feel so proud.

China’s cyber spies are targeting Russia’s aerospace and defense firms State-backed hackers seek intel on nuclear weapons and military capabilities, researchers say.

Also, check out this story by @antoanetaroussi.bsky.social from earlier this year with my quick comment

www.politico.eu/article/chin...

Iran orders officials to ditch connected devices Both Israel and Iran have powerful cybersecurity capabilities.

Iran’s cyber command ordered top officials and their security teams to avoid IT equipment connected to telecom networks in a sign they fear digital disruption from Israel. www.politico.eu/article/iran...

Prague accuses China of hacking Czech foreign ministry EU also slams Beijing for “malicious cyber campaign.”

"China's state-sponsored Advanced Persistent Threat 31 targeted the foreign ministry from 2022 — the year the country held the rotating EU presidency — and was able to read unclassified emails sent between embassies and EU institutions" @antoanetaroussi.bsky.social i www.politico.eu/article/prag...

Prague accuses China of hacking Czech foreign ministry EU also slams Beijing for “malicious cyber campaign.”

Prague accuses China of hacking Czech foreign ministry.

Prague accuses China of hacking Czech foreign ministry EU also slams Beijing for “malicious cyber campaign.”

NEW: The Czech government on Wednesday condemned China for carrying out a cyberattack against its foreign ministry exposing thousands of unclassified emails
www.politico.eu/article/prag...

📢 This morning at 9:30 AM, the #EUGeneralCourt will deliver its judgment in case T-36/23 (Stevi & The New York Times v Commission) — on access to text message exchanges between @vonderleyen and the CEO of @Pfizer, concerning #COVID vaccine procurement.

‘Pfizergate’ verdict: EU Commission wrong to block access to von der Leyen’s secret texts General Court judgment could have huge repercussions for Commission president. It’s a “slam dunk” for transparency, says MEP.

Journalism won today. www.politico.eu/article/pfiz...

Hands off Greenland, ex-NATO chief defies Trump The U.S. president’s musings on annexing the Arctic island are alarming Copenhagen.

Donald Trump's increasingly overt threats to seize Greenland for the US are unsettling Denmark, former Danish Prime Minister and NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told us.

The Vatican’s cyber crusaders A group of volunteers is working to fend off hackers attempting to hit the Holy See.

As newly elected Pope Leo XIV takes control of the Vatican, a club of zealous IT nerds is doing the Lord's work in protecting the Holy See from cyberattacks.

The Vatican’s cyber crusaders A group of volunteers is working to fend off hackers attempting to hit the Holy See.

“We’re like the Swiss Guard that provides security for the Vatican, but digital..."
www.politico.eu/article/vati...

EU needs defense autonomy as US shifts focus, EU Council chief says António Costa says Europe needs to make its own weapons.

The EU needs to boost defense production as Washington threatens to phase out its presence in Europe @eucopresident.consilium.europa.eu president
told me at an arms factory in Bulgaria. www.politico.eu/article/eu-c...

2/ Repressive regimes like #Iran constantly attempt cross-border hacking.

Unfortunately, we don't hear about these cases nearly as much as we should given the seriousness of the danger to democratic institutions.

By @antoanetaroussi.bsky.social & @nicholasvinocur.bsky.social

Appeasement never works. Just saying.

NATO downplays climate and gender language to appease Trump The U.S. president has gone on the warpath against DEI and the alliance is falling into line.

Phrases dealing with climate, women and security have been rephrased in new NATO legislation, in a bid to avoid retaliation by the Trump administration.

EXCLUSIVE: NATO staff is watering down language around climate, gender and diversity as a precaution to avoid retaliation by the Trump administration pro.politico.eu/news/197367 (€)

Ukraine allies hold talks to secure a non-existent peace The coalition of the willing will start laying out potential contributions in writing.

Ukraine's allies from the so-called coalition of the willing held talks Thursday on how to create a security mission to police any peace agreement with Russia — issue is, no peace deal yet. w/ Laura Kayali www.politico.eu/article/nato...

Trump and the mob boss approach to global markets The US president discovers that it is easier to shake down a law firm than to reshape the international trading system

Seriously good @gideonrachman.bsky.social
"Trump’s approach to America’s allies is to treat them like errant members of a protection racket. Some of them have fallen behind on their payments to Nato? They better fix that fast"
www.ft.com/content/9946...

Dutch ministers ramp up controls on weapons exports to Israel “This is desirable given the security situation in Israel, the Palestinian Territories and the broader region,” say trade and foreign ministers.

The Dutch government will now assess exports of military equipment and dual-use goods to Israel on a case-by-case basis, following the collapse of a ceasefire in the Middle East.

Turmoil churns below the surface as Rubio meets NATO allies Trump’s envoy Marco Rubio faces European NATO allies amid tension over Greenland, Ukraine and the future of the alliance.

When US Secretary of State Marco Rubio joins NATO allies in Brussels today, both sides will do their best to smile for the cameras.

But behind the scenes, a storm is brewing.

Hungary to quit International Criminal Court as Netanyahu arrives The Israeli prime minister is set to meet Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán on Thursday.

Hungary announced today it would officially withdraw from the International Criminal Court.

The announcement comes shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Budapest for a state visit.

As Trump cuts aid, EU leaders make plans to contain ISIS-linked camps 55,000 Islamic State-linked detainees are being held in Al Hol and Roj camps in northeastern Syria.

EXCLUSIVE: The EU’s diplomatic arm will hold an emergency meeting on Thursday to deal with 55,000 ISIS-linked detainees, some of whom are EU citizens, after the United States abruptly paused much of its aid to two camps in #Syria. www.politico.eu/article/dona...