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As Europe races to end the sale of petrol cars by 2035, the road to mass-adoption of electric vehicles remains riddled with obstacles.
City mappers
An elite police unit has been investigating two Italian men suspected of gathering sensitive data for Russian intelligence services in exchange for cryptocurrency payments, write Amy Kazmin and Giuliana Ricozzi.
Context: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is a staunch supporter of Ukraine. But there remain strong ties between politicians, businesses and parts of Italian society with Russia, and the country is seen as susceptible to Moscow’s influence operations.
In the case that became public this week, the two suspects were allegedly in contact with their Russian handlers since early 2023. The Carabinieri, one of Italy’s police forces, said evidence indicated the men, who have not been identified, were asked to map “the system of video surveillance of Milan and Rome, with a particular focus on grey zones, the areas of a city not covered by video cameras”.
To fulfil that mission, the suspects approached Milan taxi drivers and offered them free dashboard cameras for their vehicles, without drivers being aware that the data would be sent to Russian intelligence, the Carabinieri said in a statement.
They were also asked to provide “photos of military installations” and procure the contacts of “technical experts in the field of drones and electronic security”, according to the Carabinieri.
Authorities offered no hint of how much relevant information, if any, may have been shared with Moscow.
While the two men have not yet been detained, the Carabinieri said details of the case were being shared “in the public interest”. Milan prosecutors are now expected to ask for the suspects to be charged with corruption by foreigners, subversion and terrorism.
In a separate case, Italy’s top court this week confirmed the 29-year prison term for convicted spy Walter Biot, the Italian naval officer arrested in 2021 while attempting to deliver classified documents on a USB stick to his Russian handler.
What to watch today
Interior ministers from Austria, Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary meet in Budapest to discuss Schengen enlargement.
The prime ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania meet in Vilnius.
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Publish date : 2024-11-21 22:00:00
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