Growing pressure is building on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to demonstrate stronger accountability as a major corruption scandal poses the most serious challenge to his administration since Russia launched its full-scale invasion. Last week, Zelenskyy fired two senior officials and imposed sanctions on several associates after investigators uncovered that $100 million had been siphoned from the national energy sector through contractor kickbacks.
These actions, however, have not eased the political turmoil. After more than three years of war and ongoing power outages caused by Russian attacks, the public is increasingly intolerant of corruption in the energy industry. Many are now urging Zelenskyy to dismiss his influential chief of staff, Andrii Yermak, often viewed as Ukraine’s unofficial second-in-command.
Neither Zelenskyy nor Yermak has been accused of involvement by investigators, but both political opponents and uneasy allies argue that additional high-level accountability is needed to rebuild public confidence. Critics also stress that demonstrating integrity is crucial to maintaining support from Western partners who are essential to Ukraine’s defense and to any future peace negotiations.
Anastasia Radina, head of the parliament’s anti-corruption committee, wrote on Facebook that it is difficult to believe such a scheme could have operated without political protection. She warned that Zelenskyy risks deepening the internal crisis by keeping Yermak by his side. Corruption has long troubled Ukraine, and Zelenskyy was elected on the promise of rooting it out. Two officials from his office, speaking anonymously, said no decision has been made about removing Yermak.
The investigation, led by Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies, found that top officials pressured contractors for kickbacks of up to 15% in exchange for business with the state-run nuclear power company, Energoatom. More than 1,000 hours of recorded conversations revealed coded discussions, including references to a powerful individual identified only as “Ali Baba,” whose identity is still unknown. Following the scandal’s disclosure, parliament approved Zelenskyy’s removal of the energy and justice ministers, and the president’s office sanctioned several implicated associates, including Tymur Mindich, a co-owner of Zelenskyy’s TV production company.
The revelations surfaced just as Russian strikes left millions without electricity, intensifying public outrage. Zelenskyy had already faced backlash earlier in the year for attempting to weaken the same watchdogs now running the investigation. Opposition figures insist it is difficult to believe a scheme of this magnitude happened without Yermak’s awareness, although they have provided no evidence. Yermak has not responded publicly to demands for his resignation.
Reports suggest he has attempted to reinforce his political standing by seeking a meeting with former army chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi—now serving as Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK—but the request was rejected, according to an official familiar with the matter. Inside parliament, pressure is increasing. Zelenskyy’s sweeping 2019 victory gave him control of roughly two-thirds of the seats, but many members of his own party now favor Yermak’s removal. Some lawmakers are attempting to organize a “national stability coalition” to move beyond political bargaining, though the party leadership says this effort does not reflect their official stance. Discussions on next steps continue.
Yermak’s influence within Zelenskyy’s inner circle is vast. The two first met over 15 years ago when Zelenskyy was a well-known comedian and Yermak was a lawyer entering the media industry. Since then, Yermak has become central to managing Ukraine’s foreign relations, shaping diplomatic strategy with Western allies, and exploring possible ceasefire scenarios with Russia. He has joined Zelenskyy on every international trip since the 2022 invasion, earning a reputation as the president’s most trusted adviser. Domestically, he is considered a gatekeeper with heavy influence over major government appointments. This is not the first time people close to Yermak have faced scrutiny. Two former deputy chiefs of staff, Oleg Tatarov and Rostyslav Shurma, resigned in 2024 after being targeted in corruption investigations. Another deputy, Andriy Smirnov, remains in his position despite facing bribery allegations.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
Actor Anupam Kher attended the 56th International Film Festival of India on Thursday before the screening of three of his films. Calling it a homecoming, he recalled his 40-year association with IFFI and the selection of his debut film Saaransh in the Panorama section. He noted that people often overlook the festival’s significance, but IFFI is highly respected, and it was here that he met legendary filmmakers like Federico Fellini, Akira Kurosawa, and Elia Kazan.
Speaking about his films being showcased this year, Kher said that staying excited even after four decades keeps him contemporary. He added that some achievements in life make a person humble, and this moment is one of them. He expressed happiness about the screening of Tanvi The Great on Friday and hinted at announcing his 555th film soon.
The lineup at the festival includes Kher’s Tanvi The Great and The Bengal Files, along with the Canadian film Calorie, directed by Indo-Canadian filmmaker Eisha Marjara. Kher also shared his joy over receiving recognition for three films, calling it a major milestone. He is scheduled to conduct a masterclass titled “Giving up is not an option.” IFFI 2025, set for November 20–28, will showcase more than 240 films from 81 countries.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
As Nitish Kumar was sworn in as Bihar Chief Minister for the tenth time on Thursday, his son Nishant Kumar celebrated the occasion and expressed gratitude to voters for delivering a stronger-than-expected mandate. “Nitish Kumar has become Chief Minister for the 10th time. I congratulate the people and the entire NDA family. We have honoured our promises before and will continue to do so,” Nishant Kumar said.
Speaking after the ceremony in Patna, Nishant noted that the people of Bihar had once again shown confidence in Nitish Kumar’s leadership and in the NDA alliance. He emphasized that the alliance was committed to continuing its development-focused governance. Calling the moment personally meaningful, Nishant extended warm wishes to his father, adding, “I congratulate my father on taking oath as CM for the 10th time. The public supported us beyond expectations. I thank and congratulate them.” His remarks came soon after the grand swearing-in event at Gandhi Maidan, where Nitish Kumar took oath as Chief Minister for a record tenth term.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated Nitish Kumar and the newly formed Bihar government, calling him an experienced and capable administrator with a strong record of good governance. In a post on X, PM Modi extended best wishes to Nitish Kumar for the new term. In another message, the Prime Minister congratulated the new Deputy Chief Ministers, Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Sinha, praising their long-standing work at the grassroots level.
Earlier in the day, JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar was sworn in as Bihar CM for the tenth time, while BJP leaders Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha took oath as Deputy Chief Ministers in the presence of Prime Minister Modi and other NDA leaders. The oath was administered by Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan. Along with Nitish Kumar, 25 ministers from the NDA alliance were inducted into the Cabinet. The list included leaders from JD(U), BJP, HAM(S), LJP(RV), and RLM, such as Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Shravan Kumar, Mangal Pandey, Dilip Kumar Jaiswal, Ashok Choudhary, Lesi Singh, Nitin Nabin, Ram Kripal Yadav, and several others.
The ceremony took place at Patna’s historic Gandhi Maidan, a venue that has hosted Nitish Kumar’s earlier inaugurations in 2005, 2010, and 2015, and is also known for Jayaprakash Narayan’s iconic 1974 call for “total revolution.” Chief Ministers from several NDA-governed states — including Haryana, Assam, Nagaland, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand — were also present. The 2025 Bihar Assembly elections were widely viewed as a crucial test for Nitish Kumar, who has remained a central figure in the state’s politics for two decades.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police’s State Investigation Agency (SIA) carried out a significant raid at the Jammu office of the Kashmir Times newspaper on Thursday. During the operation, authorities recovered several alarming items, including cartridges for an AK-47 rifle, pistol rounds, and grenade levers. The discovery of these materials has raised serious concerns and is part of an ongoing investigation into the activities allegedly promoted by the publication.
The raid began early in the morning and involved a thorough search of the newspaper's premises, including electronic devices and important documents. Alongside the ammunition, three grenade levers were also seized. These findings have prompted the police to register a First Information Report (FIR) against Kashmir Times editor Anuradha Bhasin. The FIR alleges that the newspaper was involved in spreading content that threatens India's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as glorifying secessionism.
This incident adds to the tense backdrop of previous actions taken against the Kashmir Times. For context, the newspaper’s office in Srinagar was sealed by the Jammu and Kashmir administration in October 2020 amid similar allegations. The Jammu office raid marks another serious step in the authorities’ crackdown on what they describe as activities hostile to national security.
From the Kashmir Times’ perspective, the raid is seen as an attempt to silence one of the few independent voices willing to critically engage with power dynamics in the region. The newspaper issued a statement underscoring its commitment to speaking truth to power despite pressures to delegitimize and intimidate independent media outlets.
On a broader note, this raid highlights the delicate balance between national security concerns and freedom of the press, especially in contested regions like Jammu and Kashmir. The recovery of military-grade cartridges inside a newspaper office is alarming and fuels questions about how such materials found their way there, triggering a deeper probe into potential networks or connections. In political circles, officials have cautioned that any action must be based on verified wrongdoing rather than pressure tactics. The Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Surinder Singh Choudhary, emphasized that accountability is important but should be fair and justified.
This unfolding situation will likely have wider implications for media operations and political discourse in the region, as well as on the ongoing struggle to maintain law and order while respecting democratic freedoms. The raid at the Kashmir Times office in Jammu, the recovery of lethal ammunition, and the resulting legal actions present a complex case involving national security, media freedom, and regional stability—a story that will continue to develop as investigations deepen.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from NDTV.
German Bundeswehr troops carried out an urban combat exercise at Berlin’s Jungfernheide metro station. As part of the “Bollwerk Baerlin” drill, soldiers stormed into the underground transit area, practicing tactical maneuvers designed to simulate real-life warfare scenarios in crowded public spaces and enhance readiness for potential urban operations.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
In Made in SG, Melanie Oliveiro interviews Singaporean writer Alexander Ee about his book A Glimpse of Heaven: Grief, Self and Community on the Camino. The book recounts his process of navigating sorrow and finding acceptance after his wife passed away from cancer in 2019. It also chronicles his two-month, 925-kilometre walk along the Camino de Santiago — a historic pilgrimage route made up of interconnected trails across Europe that end in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Ee reflects on how the journey helped him confront loss, discover deeper meaning in life, and understand the importance of gratitude and forgiveness, themes that are central to the book.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.
Australia exports more weapons and ammunition to the United Arab Emirates than to any other nation. This week, Team Defence Australia occupies a prominent spot at a weapons exhibition in Dubai. However, human rights groups are urging the government to halt defence exports to the UAE amid reports that its arms are being supplied to a militia accused of mass killings in Sudan. Senior journalists Ben Doherty and Henry Belot discuss with Nour Haydar Australia’s expanding involvement in the global arms trade.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
Frances Wong, who led a global anti-scam team at an international bank, discovered that her own mother had fallen prey to a scam. Motivated by this, she left her position and founded White Byte, a company dedicated to educating vulnerable individuals and businesses about scam prevention. Frances discusses how she connects with the elderly, migrant workers, and other at-risk groups, the advice she gives to victims, and the guidance she would offer her younger self.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.
Authorities are alerting the public to a new scam that uses fake digital identity cards. Could our tendency to casually share NRIC or passport scans via messages or email be making it easier for scammers? Daniel Martin discusses this with Matthias Yeo, CEO of CyberXCenter, a company dedicated to strengthening cybersecurity in Singapore.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.
