Massive Protest in Kyiv After Zelensky Signs Anti-Corruption Bill
Massive Protest in Kyiv After Zelensky Signs Anti-Corruption Bill – Video https://t.co/b3WA02yUKW pic.twitter.com/Y6YRiJfHz1
— Cedar News (@cedar_news) July 23, 2025
Thousands gathered in the capital, waving Ukrainian flags and chanting slogans in support of transparency and the independence of anti-graft institutions. Protesters say the new legislation gives the government excessive control over the appointment and oversight of key anti-corruption officials.
The massive protest in Kyiv comes amid mounting public frustration over perceived political interference and concerns from civil society groups that Ukraine's commitment to reform is slipping.
International watchdogs and EU representatives have also expressed alarm, stating that weakening Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies could jeopardize the country's prospects for further European integration and financial aid.
The massive protest in Kyiv is expected to continue into the night, with organizers calling for Zelensky to revoke the bill and recommit to judicial and institutional reforms.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Ya Libnan
an hour ago
- Ya Libnan
Ukrainian drones target St Petersburg as Putin attends scaled-down Navy Day
A man wearing a sailors' cap and striped vest takes a selfie photo in front of a warship during celebrations of Russia's Navy Day in Kronstadt outside Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 27, 2025. REUTERS/Anton Vaganov MOSCOW – Ukrainian drones targeted St. Petersburg on Sunday, Russian authorities said, forcing the airport to close for five hours as Vladimir Putin marked Russia's Navy Day in the city, despite the earlier cancellation of its naval parade due to security concerns. St. Petersburg usually holds a large-scale, televised navy parade on Navy Day, which features a flotilla of warships and military vessels sailing down the Neva River and is attended by Putin. Last year, Russia suspected a Ukrainian plan to attack the city's parade, according to state television. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Sunday that this year's parade had been cancelled for security reasons, following first reports of its cancellation in early July. Putin arrived at the city's historic naval headquarters on Sunday by patrol speed boat, from where he followed drills involving more than 150 vessels and 15,000 military personnel in the Pacific and Arctic Oceans and Baltic and Caspian Seas. 'Today we are marking this holiday in a working setting, we are inspecting the combat readiness of the fleet,' Putin said in a video address. The Russian Defence Ministry said air defence units downed a total of 291 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones on Sunday, below a record 524 drones downed in attacks on May 7, ahead of Russia's Victory Day parade on May 9. Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the Leningrad region surrounding St. Petersburg, said that over ten drones were downed over the area, and falling debris injured a woman. At 0840 GMT on Sunday Drozdenko said that the attack was repelled. St. Petersburg's Pulkovo airport was closed during the attack, with 57 flights delayed and 22 diverted to other airports, according to a statement. Pulkovo resumed operations later on Sunday. Russian blogger Alexander Yunashev, part of an official group of reporters travelling with Peskov, said Peskov had told him their flight from Moscow to St. Petersburg had been delayed by the drone attack for 2 hours on Sunday. Reuters
Ya Libnan
an hour ago
- Ya Libnan
Trump announces EU trade deal with 15% tariffs
U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, after the announcement of a trade deal between the U.S. and EU, in Turnberry, Scotland, on July 27, 2025. Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters President Donald Trump announced Sunday that the U.S. reached a trade deal with the European Union , following pivotal discussions with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen days before the Aug. 1 tariff deadline. Trump said that the deal imposes a 15% tariff on most European goods to the U.S., which is lower than the 30% rate he had previously threatened against the United States' largest trading partner. Trump also said that the 27-member bloc has agreed to purchase $750 billion worth of U.S. energy and invest an additional $600 billion worth of investments into the U.S. above current levels. He said that the bloc would also be 'purchasing hundreds of billions of dollars worth of military equipment,' but did not provide a specific dollar amount. 'It's a very powerful deal, it's a very big deal, it's the biggest of all the deals, Trump said alongside von der Leyen. 'It's a good deal, it's a huge deal, with tough negotiations,' von der Leyen said after the meeting. While questions remain about the specific details and timeline of the EU investments, the agreement marks a pivotal moment for Trump, following weeks of uncertainty surrounding the U.S.-EU trade talks. Trump during a press conference before his meeting with the European leader said that there was a 50-50 chance they would reach a framework of a deal. Brussels had been preparing for a no-deal scenario if the trade talks devolved ahead of Aug. 1. Lawmakers had approved a major package of counter-tariffs, which would have targeted a range of U.S. goods. The bloc also considered deploying the EU's ' Anti-Coercion Instrument ,' a move seen as the trading bloc's 'trade bazooka.' Ireland's Prime Minister said that the agreement 'brings clarity and predictability to the trading relationship between the EU and the US.' 'It does mean that there will now be higher tariffs than there have been and this will have an impact on trade between the EU and the US, making it more expensive and more challenging,' the Department of the Taoiseach said in a statement . Still, the agreement 'creates a new era of stability,' the statement continued. CNBC
L'Orient-Le Jour
9 hours ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Other European countries will soon commit to recognizing the State of Palestine, says Paris
European countries "will confirm their intention to recognize the State of Palestine" at a U.N. conference on Monday and Tuesday in New York, following in the footsteps of France, which announced it would do so in September, according to the French foreign minister. During this conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia and aimed at reviving the idea of a two-state solution in the Middle East, "for the first time, the Arab countries will condemn Hamas and call for its disarmament, which will enshrine its definitive isolation," Jean-Noel Barrot also said in an interview with the weekly La Tribune Dimanche. The minister did not say which countries intended to join the group of European states that have already recognized the State of Palestine or are about to do so, which includes Spain, Ireland, Poland, Sweden, and France. The latter will become the first G7 country to do so at the next U.N. General Assembly. Franco-Saudi common vision for the 'postwar' period in Gaza British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reiterated on Friday that recognition by London should be "part of a broader plan," and Berlin said it did not foresee it "in the short term." A conference on a two-state solution was initially scheduled for June at the highest level but was postponed due to the war between Iran and Israel. An initial ministerial meeting begins Monday in New York, ahead of a summit expected in September. "The prospect of the existence of a State of Palestine has never been so threatened or so necessary," in the context of "the destruction of the Gaza Strip, rampant Israeli settlement in the West Bank which undermines the very idea of territorial continuity, and the resignation of the international community," Barrot said. "To expect a lasting cease-fire and the release of Hamas hostages and its surrender without first outlining a political prospect is an illusion," he added. In New York, "with Saudi Arabia, a major player in the region, we will present a common vision for the 'postwar' period to ensure the reconstruction, security, and governance of Gaza and thus pave the way for the two-state solution," he said. "Our approach is perfectly compatible with the logic of the Abraham Accords," which saw Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Sudan establish formal ties with Israel in 2020, and "will facilitate, when the time comes, the conclusion of new agreements supported by the U.S. administration," he said. According to AFP's count and verification, at least 142 of the 193 U.N. member states (including France) now recognize the Palestinian state proclaimed by the Palestinian leadership in exile in 1988.
