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The body of 39-year-old Anastasia Berezovskaya, a Ukrainian national wanted by authorities in Monaco concerning the recent bombing, has been found dead near Kyiv in Ukraine with gunshot wounds to the head.

The June 29 blast targeted Ukrainian business tycoon Vadym Yermolayev, injuring him, his partner, and a child. An international manhunt was launched after the attack, while Interpol issued a Red Notice.

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) confirmed the death of Berezovskaya on Tuesday, days after the country’s law enforcement agencies, led by the National Police, began a pre-trial investigation into her participation.

The probe revealed the suspect arrived in Ukraine on July 1 and spoke with her family and two men. The first is an ex-law enforcement officer; the second works at the Military Directorate of the Internal Affairs Ministry.

The SBU noted that the individuals were possibly involved in the attempted murder in Monaco, as both men had repeatedly made transfers to Berezovskaya’s crypto and bank accounts.

During search actions, an employee of the GUR MOU (Ukraine’s military intelligence service) reported the killing of Berezovskaya, which he claimed to have committed together with another defendant.

The latter, according to the SBU, disclosed that he did not inform his superiors about his contacts with Berezovskaya, the transfer of funds to her, and any other actions he took, and acted on his own accord.

Also, a basement room in the form of a “torture chamber” was discovered amid a raid of the former law enforcement officer’s home. The suspects are being held on suspicion of murder in a premeditated conspiracy.

Ukraine said its relevant agencies are working with the Principality of Monaco and the Prosecutor General’s Office, while continuing to identify all the culprits and other persons involved in the attempted homicide.

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US forces launched “powerful” strikes on Tuesday against Iran in response to attacks on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz, the US military said.

“The US strikes are in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels that were transiting the Strait of Hormuz” and will “impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping,” US Central Command said in a post on X.

“Iran’s demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire,” it added.

A ceasefire took effect on April 8, but sporadic violence has continued in the Gulf region, including attacks on ships by Tehran’s forces and US strikes on Iran.

Tuesday’s strikes were the first by US forces on Iran since a series of air raids late last month that Washington also said were in response to attacks on commercial vessels by Tehran’s forces.

AFP

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US President Donald Trump has pardoned 11 people, most of whom were convicted of violating the Clean Air Act by tampering with or disabling emissions controls on diesel trucks.

The White House said all but two of those granted clemency had been prosecuted for offences linked to vehicle emissions, marking the latest use of Trump’s presidential pardon powers.

Announcing the move on his Truth Social platform, Trump defended six of the men, arguing they had been unfairly prosecuted during former President Joe Biden’s administration. “They were prosecuted under the Biden administration for fixing their car.”

Most of the pardons involved individuals convicted of modifying or disabling federally required emissions control systems on trucks, conduct prohibited under the Clean Air Act.

The pardons come months after the Trump administration rolled back key environmental regulations. In February, it repealed the scientific finding that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health and scrapped federal tailpipe emissions standards for cars and trucks.

Among those receiving pardons was Adam Kidan, vice chairman of the Staffing Advisory Group, who was sentenced to prison in 2006 alongside Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff after being convicted of wire fraud.