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Euronews
06-06-2025
- Euronews
The domestic violence pandemic saw mother killed in front of daughter
In February 2024, 23-year-old pregnant mother Teodora Marcu was shot dead in front of her three-year old daughter and other children on a street in Romania by her ex-partner. The killer, 49-year-old Robert Lupu, had a documented history of abuse: Marcu had filed multiple complaints against him. She died on the sidewalk, alone and unheard, although she had 'screamed' about the problem in vain for months. Marcu's story is not an exception—it is a brutal reminder of a crisis that knows no borders. Across Europe, domestic violence continues to claim lives and ruin futures. Despite years of awareness campaigns, legislative efforts, and protest movements, recent data show that domestic violence remains stubbornly pervasive - and in some countries, it's getting worse and cases – much more brutal. In Germany, new figures released in June 2024 by the Federal Criminal Police Office mark a disturbing high: 256,276 people were victims of domestic violence last year, a 6.5% increase from 2022. Of those, 70.5% were women, and in cases of intimate partner violence, nearly four out of five victims were female. Most chillingly: 155 women were killed by their current or former partners in 2023. Despite Germany's strong legal frameworks, the data signal systemic failure. 'The rising numbers mean more women are stepping forward,' said a spokesperson from a Berlin-based crisis centre. 'But it also means we're not stopping the violence. We're only counting it.' In Greece, police data for 2023 show the number of domestic violence incidents remained nearly unchanged from 2022—but still double the figure recorded in 2020. Of the 9,886 women who contacted police, the vast majority were in relationships with their abuser. 59.6% of incidents occurred within romantic partnerships, 29.7% of perpetrators were spouses, and 13.8% were live-in partners. Greece also saw 12 femicides, most committed by a male family member. A digital 'panic button' app was rolled out in 2023 to help women discreetly alert police during violent episodes. In 2024, the app was expanded nationwide and opened to male victims. Whether police response times and follow-through match the urgency remains an open question. In Portugal, domestic violence is also on the rise, at least in terms of awareness. From 2021 to 2024, the number of victims seeking help from the Portuguese Association for Victim Support (APAV) jumped by 29.3%, totalling 43,110 cases. Experts attribute the increase to greater media coverage of violence—particularly war and conflict—and the lingering effects of pandemic lockdowns, which intensified domestic tensions and isolated victims. 'People are more aware of abuse now,' an APAV counsellor explained. 'But there's still a long way to go before they feel fully protected.' Spain presents a complex picture. In 2024, 34,684 women were registered as victims of domestic or gender-based violence—a 5.2% decrease from the previous year. Yet paradoxically, the number of convicted abusers surged to 39,056, the highest figure since 2015. Relationships between victims and abusers were varied: 39.9% were partners or ex-partners, 37.8% were (ex-)girlfriends, 21.4% were (ex-)spouses. Spain's specialized gender violence courts and longstanding advocacy movements may account for the increase in convictions. But activists warn that fewer reported cases do not necessarily mean less violence—just fewer women speaking up. In Bulgaria, domestic violence remains an underreported and poorly addressed issue. A 2023 case shocked the nation when an 18-year-old woman named Débora was stabbed with a razor blade by her ex-boyfriend. She survived, but ended up with 400 stitches and her long hair was shaved. The case triggered mass protests and renewed calls for legislative reform. Bulgaria's laws have long excluded protections for victims not living with their abuser, and twelve of the country's regions lack any crisis shelter. Activists point to the country's failure to ratify the Istanbul Convention, an international treaty designed to combat violence against women, as a root cause of systemic neglect. 'The laws are written for a version of abuse that barely reflects real life,' said one protester in Sofia. 'We are burying women every year while politicians debate definitions.' Despite differing legal frameworks and public responses, the through-line is clear: domestic violence in Europe remains a persistent, deadly epidemic. While awareness and reporting are improving in some nations, gaps in law enforcement, legal protections, and survivor support continue to put lives at risk. Debora from Bulgaria is 'lucky' because she's alive. But for two years now she has been forced to face her violator in court, as the case is not yet closed. He was even released for a while, before being rearrested. Teodora Marcu from Romania is dead. And while there are still protests, dozens of women and men are still being abused by their partners on a daily basis. Some prefer to remain silent, others shout about it, yet some continue to end up as victims.
Euronews
06-06-2025
- Euronews
Exclusive: Europe also needs Golden Dome missile defence
In February 2024, 23-year-old pregnant mother Teodora Marcu was shot dead in front of her three-year old daughter and other children on a street in Romania by her ex-partner. The killer, 49-year-old Robert Lupu, had a documented history of abuse: Marcu had filed multiple complaints against him. She died on the sidewalk, alone and unheard, although she had 'screamed' about the problem in vain for months. Marcu's story is not an exception—it is a brutal reminder of a crisis that knows no borders. Across Europe, domestic violence continues to claim lives and ruin futures. Despite years of awareness campaigns, legislative efforts, and protest movements, recent data show that domestic violence remains stubbornly pervasive - and in some countries, it's getting worse and cases – much more brutal. In Germany, new figures released in June 2024 by the Federal Criminal Police Office mark a disturbing high: 256,276 people were victims of domestic violence last year, a 6.5% increase from 2022. Of those, 70.5% were women, and in cases of intimate partner violence, nearly four out of five victims were female. Most chillingly: 155 women were killed by their current or former partners in 2023. Despite Germany's strong legal frameworks, the data signal systemic failure. 'The rising numbers mean more women are stepping forward,' said a spokesperson from a Berlin-based crisis centre. 'But it also means we're not stopping the violence. We're only counting it.' In Greece, police data for 2023 show the number of domestic violence incidents remained nearly unchanged from 2022—but still double the figure recorded in 2020. Of the 9,886 women who contacted police, the vast majority were in relationships with their abuser. 59.6% of incidents occurred within romantic partnerships, 29.7% of perpetrators were spouses, and 13.8% were live-in partners. Greece also saw 12 femicides, most committed by a male family member. A digital 'panic button' app was rolled out in 2023 to help women discreetly alert police during violent episodes. In 2024, the app was expanded nationwide and opened to male victims. Whether police response times and follow-through match the urgency remains an open question. In Portugal, domestic violence is also on the rise, at least in terms of awareness. From 2021 to 2024, the number of victims seeking help from the Portuguese Association for Victim Support (APAV) jumped by 29.3%, totalling 43,110 cases. Experts attribute the increase to greater media coverage of violence—particularly war and conflict—and the lingering effects of pandemic lockdowns, which intensified domestic tensions and isolated victims. 'People are more aware of abuse now,' an APAV counsellor explained. 'But there's still a long way to go before they feel fully protected.' Spain presents a complex picture. In 2024, 34,684 women were registered as victims of domestic or gender-based violence—a 5.2% decrease from the previous year. Yet paradoxically, the number of convicted abusers surged to 39,056, the highest figure since 2015. Relationships between victims and abusers were varied: 39.9% were partners or ex-partners, 37.8% were (ex-)girlfriends, 21.4% were (ex-)spouses. Spain's specialized gender violence courts and longstanding advocacy movements may account for the increase in convictions. But activists warn that fewer reported cases do not necessarily mean less violence—just fewer women speaking up. In Bulgaria, domestic violence remains an underreported and poorly addressed issue. A 2023 case shocked the nation when an 18-year-old woman named Débora was stabbed with a razor blade by her ex-boyfriend. She survived, but ended up with 400 stitches and her long hair was shaved. The case triggered mass protests and renewed calls for legislative reform. Bulgaria's laws have long excluded protections for victims not living with their abuser, and twelve of the country's regions lack any crisis shelter. Activists point to the country's failure to ratify the Istanbul Convention, an international treaty designed to combat violence against women, as a root cause of systemic neglect. 'The laws are written for a version of abuse that barely reflects real life,' said one protester in Sofia. 'We are burying women every year while politicians debate definitions.' Despite differing legal frameworks and public responses, the through-line is clear: domestic violence in Europe remains a persistent, deadly epidemic. While awareness and reporting are improving in some nations, gaps in law enforcement, legal protections, and survivor support continue to put lives at risk. Debora from Bulgaria is 'lucky' because she's alive. But for two years now she has been forced to face her violator in court, as the case is not yet closed. He was even released for a while, before being rearrested. Teodora Marcu from Romania is dead. And while there are still protests, dozens of women and men are still being abused by their partners on a daily basis. Some prefer to remain silent, others shout about it, yet some continue to end up as victims. The idea is simple and complex at the same time: ballistic missiles fired at targets anywhere in the United States would be detected and intercepted before they could strike the ground. This is the concept of US president Donald Trump's plan to build the 'Golden Dome for America', a missile defence programme that would come with an exorbitant price tag even by American standards. But military experts in the US believe that there is a next-generation threat level coming from rogue states like Iran and North Korea as well great powers like China and Russia that justify a reorienting of western missile defence strategy – not only in the United States, but also in Europe. "Great powers like China and Russia are investing in long-range strike capabilities. This is a complex threat we need to be able to defend against," the Center for Strategic and International Studies' Patrycja Bazylczyk told Euronews. 'That's why it is important for Europe to bolster its missile defence system," said Bazylczyk, a researcher at the Missile Defense Project with the Washington-based think tank. William R. Forstchen, military technology researcher at Montreat College, North Carolina is even blunter. 'It's a no-brainer to me. We need a new strategic defence system. We need it, Europe needs it,' he told Euronews. Forstchen is the author of 'One Second After', a study of the power of missile weaponry to destroy the entire continental US. 'I'm also really concerned about Europe. An Iranian EMP missile could wipe out the entire power grid of western Europe,' he added. EMP stands for Electromagnetic Pulse. When "detonated", an EMP weapon produces a pulse of energy that creates a powerful electromagnetic field capable of short-circuiting a wide range of electronic equipment, particularly computers, satellites, radios, radar receivers and even civilian traffic lights. Forstchen said an EMP attack would set off a cascade of deadly events. The first necessity people would lose is water, followed by food supply and medication. Then, disease would set in. Long-term survival, he added, would depend on being in the right place at the right time with the right food supply. According to Tomas Nagy, an expert for nuclear, space and missile defense at the GLOBSEC think tank, the Golden Dome initiative, still in its early stages, faces its own set of considerable challenges: production bottlenecks, component shortages and typical Washington turf battles within the defense community. In Europe, the challenge is different. Should there be a large-scale conflict with Russia, missile threats would be just as, if not more, critical given Moscow's 'limited ability to project ground forces deep into NATO territory,' Nagy said. 'In such a scenario, Russia would very likely rely more heavily on stand-off missile strikes.' A concern that is shared by Ben Hodges, who commanded the US Army Europe from 2014 to 2018. 'Threats from Russia are already there, think about their sabotage action in the Baltic Sea. In three to four years, their next step will be airstrikes on Bremerhaven, Antwerp or Hamburg to see how NATO responds,' he told Euronews, adding: 'For sure, there is a need for missile defence.' Yet, missile defence has long been an orphan of European defence policy. Most countries lack enough interceptors to thwart massed attacks, and many have donated precious batteries to Ukraine. Only recently have European countries reacted. The European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI), initially proposed by then-German chancellor Olaf Scholz in 2022, is a project to build a ground-based integrated European air defence system which includes anti-ballistic missile capability. As of today, 24 European states participate in the initiative. But the ESSI pales in comparison to the Golden Dome project US president Trump wants to be operational before his term ends, which experts like Patrycja Bazylczyk consider 'ambitious'. 'There is certainly political momentum right now, but the project needs the cooperation of future administrations as well,' she said. Whether the successors of the Trump administration will continue to support and fund the Golden Dome is anybody's guess. Trump estimates the total costs to be $175 billion, $25 billion of which are allocated in the current budget proposal. Yet, the Congressional Budget Office has estimated a cost somewhere between $166 billion and north of $540 billion for the space-based components alone. What if the project is scrapped after Trump leaves the White House? William Forstchen shrugs it off. 'Whatever amount you spend by then is useful.' Most US allies at NATO have endorsed US President Donald Trump's demand that they invest 5% of GDP on defence and are ready to ramp up security spending, the alliance's Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Thursday. "There's broad support," Rutte told reporters after chairing a meeting of NATO defence ministers at the alliance's Brussels headquarters. "We are really close," he said, adding that he has "total confidence that we will get there" by the next NATO summit in three weeks. European allies and Canada have already been investing heavily in their armed forces, as well as on weapons and ammunition, since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. At the same time, some have balked at US demands to invest 5% of GDP on defence; 3.5% on core military spending and 1.5% on the roads, bridges, airfields and sea ports needed to deploy armies more quickly. In 2023, as Russia's war on Ukraine entered its second year, NATO leaders agreed to spend at least 2% of GDP on national defence budgets. So far, 22 of the 32 member countries have done so, and others are still struggling to meet the target. Trump and his NATO counterparts appear likely to endorse the new goal at a summit in The Hague on 24-25 June. Trump insists that US allies should spend at least 5% so America can focus on security priorities elsewhere, mostly in the Indo-Pacific and on its own borders. He has gained important leverage over other NATO countries by casting doubt over whether the United States would defend allies that spend too little. The new goal would involve a 1.5% increase over the current 2% goal for defence budgets. It means that all 32 countries would be investing the same percentage. The United States spends by far more than any other ally in dollar terms. But according to NATO's most recent figures, it was estimated to have spent 3.19% of GDP in 2024, down from 3.68% a decade ago. It's the only ally whose spending has dropped since 2014. While the two new figures do add up to 5%, factoring in improvements to civilian infrastructure so that armies can deploy more quickly significantly changes the basis on which NATO traditionally calculates defence spending. The seven-year time frame is also short by the alliance's usual standards. The far more modest 2% target, set after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014, was meant to be reached over a decade. According to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Trump has done nothing less than save NATO. He told reporters that European allies around the table on Thursday had said: "We hear you. We all need increased capabilities. We all need to spend more. Thank you, President Trump, for reviving this alliance. It was an alliance that was sleepwalking to irrelevance." The extra spending will also be needed should the Trump administration announce a force draw down in Europe, where around 84,000 US troops are based, leaving European allies to plug any security gaps. Asked what the Pentagon's plans are, Hegseth did not explain but he said: "It would only be responsible for the United States to continually assess our force posture, which is precisely what we've done." "America can't be everywhere all the time, nor should we be and so there are reasons why we have troops in certain places," he said, offering the assurance that any review would be done "alongside our allies and partners to make sure it's the right size." During the meeting, Hegseth and his defence counterparts also approved purchasing targets for stocking up on weapons and military equipment to better defend Europe, the Arctic and the North Atlantic. The "capability targets" lay out goals for each of the 32 nations to purchase priority equipment like air defence systems, long-range missiles, artillery, ammunition, drones and "strategic enablers" such as air-to-air refuelling, heavy air transport and logistics. Each nation's plan is classified, so details are scarce. The new targets are assigned by NATO based on a blueprint agreed upon in 2023, the alliance's biggest planning shakeup since the Cold War, to defend its territory from an attack by Russia or another major adversary. Under those plans, NATO would aim to have up to 300,000 troops ready to move to its eastern flank within 30 days, although experts suggest the allies would struggle to muster those kinds of numbers.
Reuters
29-01-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Goldman Sachs hires Amazon exec in senior AI engineering role
NEW YORK, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs (GS.N), opens new tab has hired Daniel Marcu from (AMZN.O), opens new tab as its global head of artificial intelligence engineering and science to help develop and refine artificial intelligence platforms and products, according to a memo seen by Reuters. Before joining Goldman, Marcu was vice president of Web and Knowledge Services in Alexa Information and then Amazon Artificial General Intelligence, the memo said. He joins a roster of technology experts at Goldman that includes Chief Information Officer Marco Argenti, who also worked at Amazon Web Services. Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon said during the bank's fourth-quarter earnings call earlier this month that Goldman is leveraging AI solutions to scale and transform its engineering capabilities, simplify and modernize its technology, and drive productivity. The Wall Street bank is also rolling out a generative AI assistant to its bankers, traders and asset managers, the first stage in the evolution of a program that will eventually take on the traits of a seasoned Goldman employee, Argenti told CNBC on Jan. 21. Goldman confirmed the comments. The bank has released a program called GS AI assistant to about 10,000 employees so far, with the goal that all the company's knowledge workers will have it this year, Argenti said. The memo announcing Marcu's appointment also said Rahul Sharma will continue to serve as head of GS AI platform engineering, reporting to Marcu, and Bing Xiang will continue to serve as head of AI Research within Engineering, also reporting to Marcu. Marcu brings more than three decades of experience in research and development organizations including leadership positions in academia, start-ups and large multinational services and technology companies. He also worked at the Information Sciences Institute and University of Southern California for more than 20 years.
