Foreign
Finland ranks first in EU digital performance comparison
![](https://accessnews.ng/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Finland.jpg)
Finland ranks first in the European Union’s (EU) digital performance comparison, according to a statement by the Finnish Government on Thursday.
The maximum score in the European Commission’s annual Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) comparison is 100, and Finland’s score is 69.6 this year.
The EU average is 52.3. Finland finished ahead of Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden.
The DESI had monitored the digital performance of the EU member states since 2014.
Finland had topped the list for several years, ranking first in 2019 and 2020 and second in 2021.
Finland’s continued success proved that “work toward digitalisation is being done effectively across administrative boundaries and that technology and information are being harnessed to create a sustainable future for everyone.”
Minister of Local Government Sirpa Paatero commented in the release that Finland’s “success so far has only laid the foundation for work to come and that Finland needs to systematically continue our ambitious digital and technology policy.’’
The DESI monitored the digitalisation of the EU countries in connectivity, human capital (including digital skills), integration of digital technology and digital public services.
According to the DESI, Finland is a leader in 5G commercial service provision.
However, the report also noted that the coverage of very high-capacity networks in rural areas remained a challenge for the country.
“The Finnish government’s new project, to be launched later this year, will support the construction of high-speed fixed broadband networks in areas where commercial offerings are unlikely to be available in the next few years,” the release said.
(Xinhua/NAN)
Crime
Horror in Avignon: Woman Testifies Against Husband Who Drugged Her for Dozens of Men to Rape
![Horror in Avignon: Woman Testifies Against Husband Who Drugged Her for Dozens of Men to Rape](https://accessnews.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/05france-rape-bpjv-videoSixteenByNine3000-scaled.jpg)
Horror in Avignon: Woman Testifies Against Husband Who Drugged Her for Dozens of Men to Rape
In a shocking case that has gripped the southern French city of Avignon, a 71-year-old woman gave harrowing testimony in court, recounting years of abuse after her husband allegedly drugged her and allowed dozens of men to rape her.
“The image is unbearable, I’m lying lifeless in my bed, asleep, and they’re about to rape me,” the woman told the court. “It’s a barbaric scene. They look at me like a bag of rubbish, it’s unbearable, and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get up again.”
Her 72-year-old former husband, who she has since divorced, is standing trial, accused of orchestrating the horrific abuse over a period of 10 years by drugging his wife and arranging for other men to assault her. Fifty men have been accused of participating in the assaults, with 18 currently in custody.
According to the indictment, the husband, a pensioner, made contact with the men online. While no money was exchanged, he reportedly gained satisfaction from watching the rapes. The crimes were discovered after the man was arrested for filming under the skirts of women in a supermarket, leading investigators to uncover hundreds of videos of the assaults on his computer.
The woman, who appeared in court alongside her three children, bravely confronted the accused, some of whom claimed they were unaware that she had been drugged and believed she was pretending to be asleep as part of a consensual game.
“These people knew very well what they were doing and what a lethargic state I was in,” the woman testified, rejecting the defence’s claims.
The abuse only came to light after her husband’s arrest, although she had long complained of memory lapses and extreme fatigue, unaware that her husband had been drugging her.
“I was sedated, like before going into the operating theatre. Afterwards, you can no longer remember the operation. That’s exactly what happened to me,” she told the court.
While 72 men were recorded assaulting the woman, authorities have been unable to identify all the perpetrators from the videos. The trial continues, with most of the accused having admitted to their involvement.
Foreign
Ukraine foreign minister to announce departure from government
![Ukraine foreign minister to announce departure from government](https://accessnews.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Dmytro-Kuleba.jpg)
Ukraine foreign minister to announce departure from government
Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, is also leaving his post as part of a major government reshuffle after two and a half years of war.
The 43-year-old career diplomat took over the Foreign Ministry in 2020 before Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.
Parliamentary Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk on Wednesday posted a photograph on his Facebook page of Kuleba’s handwritten request to step down from the government.
The speaker said that the request would be discussed at a future parliamentary session.
Kuleba’s application is one of numerous resignations since Tuesday that were also published on Stefanchuk’s Facebook page.
Olexander Kamyshin, who is responsible for the defence industry, Justice Minister Denys Maliuska and Environment Minister Ruslan Strilets also announced their resignations.
Vitaly Koval, the head of the State Property Fund responsible for privatisation, also wants to leave office.
The resignations of the deputy heads of government Olha Stefanishyna and Iryna Vereshchuk also emerged late on Tuesday.
Vereshchuk is responsible for refugee issues, while Stefanishyna is responsible for Ukraine’s European integration.
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a reshuffle of the government in July.
The aim, he said, was to make the government more effective as the war against Russia continues.
Five ministries are already being run by acting ministers.
A list of new appointees is expected to be announced at a meeting of the Zelensky’s party on Wednesday.
Current Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has been in office since March 2020.
Foreign
French president announces dissolution of National Assembly
![](https://accessnews.ng/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Macron-pledges-to-supply-air-defence-systems-For-Ukraine.jpg)
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced the dissolution of the National Assembly, following defeat of his party in 2024 European Parliament (EP) elections, according to local media report.
“I have decided to give you back the choice of your parliamentary future through the vote. I am therefore dissolving the National Assembly,” Macron said in a short speech.
“This is a serious, weighty decision. But it is above all an act of trust,”
He added that the elections to the National Assembly are to take place in two rounds on June 30 and July 7.
Macron’s Renaissance party gained 15.2 per cent of the votes in 2024 European Parliament elections, far behind far-right National Rally who received 31.8 per cent.
“The unprecedented gap between the presidential majority and the leading opposition party reflects a stinging rejection of the policies led by Emmanuel Macron,” RN President Jordan Bardella said after the EP elections results were unveiled, quoted by local media.
“We’re ready for it. I call on French people to join us in forming around the RN, a majority in the service of the only cause that guides our steps: France.” parliamentary party leader of RN, Marine Le Pen, said on Sunday evening on social media platform X.
‘’The EP elections were held from June 6 to June 9, with voters of the 27 EU member states selecting 720 lawmakers to the 10th’’.
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