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This Week in History Hackers Unite for Download Website
A story that really caught the imagination of the Ukrainian people last week was that of the Ukrainian government, allegedly bowing to pressure from the US, shutting down ex.ua; a Ukrainian file-sharing website that allows the downloading of pirated copies of music, movies and books for free. In response, Ukrainian hackers, renowned throughout the world for their expertise, started shutting down governmental websites one by one. They included the official websites of Viktor Yanukovych, the Security Service of Ukraine, the National Bank of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada, the Cabinet of Ministers and the Party of Regions. Prosecutors had ordered the domain registrar imena.ua to prevent access to ex.ua with police claiming the confiscation of 200 servers. But after numerous complaints, and attacks on government sites, lawmakers reversed their decision. Ex.ua is now back up and running and readily available to assist you in all of your download needs.
More of the White Stuff
Tropical fruit, such as pineapples, don’t tend to last when besieged by snow. At least, that’s what five people who were arrested over the weekend were hoping the authorities would think having shipped cocaine-stuffed pineapples into Ukraine. Coming from Costa Rica, more than 38 kilos, that’s 84 pounds of ‘ice’ was confiscated by the State Security Service at Illichivsk port, a coastal town just 12km from Odesa. There is little more to the story as of yet except to say that law-enforcement agencies value the drugs at more than $7.5 million. Those involved will simply have to settle for the real thing. There is more than enough this winter to go around.
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10 February 1810
The Odesa National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet opens. Sixty years later it burns to the ground and must be completely rebuilt. The new, more modern building is constructed by Viennese architects Fellner and Helmer in neo-baroque style and is believed to be one of the many calling card of Odesa.
Secret Agent at the Top
Long live the new Head of Ukraine’s Security Service! This is what everyone has been shouting over at the SBU as of late. So what’s all the fuss about? Under the orders of Viktor Yanukovych, it seems the organisation’s top and most prestigious position has been filled by a certain Ihor Kalinin. And the reason being cited? There exists a ‘special trust’ between the two. Party of Regions Deputy Yuriy Samoilenko has commented on the situation saying, “He used to be head of the State Guard Department. He passed that task with flying colours. This man is loyal and steadfast indeed.” Known as ‘secret service man’, Kalinin used to teach classes such as Special Preparation Tactics and Special Operations of Foreign Countries over at the SBU. But that’s not all! His resume also includes higher education; a rare case indeed, especially among those few elite members at the top. Instilling no less than profound knowledge into all of his students, perhaps this is the reasoning behind Kalinin’s promotion. Our dear president has been scared to death as of late, and well he should be. You can’t run a country with the best interests of yourself at heart. Let’s just hope that ‘loyal’ and ‘steadfast’ are good for the country as well as the president.
Bad News
According to Mykola Kulbida at Ukraine’s HidroMeteoCentre, we’re going to have to put up with winter a little longer. The northern, western and southern regions will be especially hard hit over the weekend (11 – 13 February) with temperatures dipping down as low as –30 degrees. There is light at the end of the tunnel called the sun (something we’ve forgotten about as of late), however, and by mid week (15, 16 February) things will start to warm up. Let’s hope the death toll, which has already hit 135 because of the cld weather, doesn't get any higher.
16 February 1813
Semen Hulak-Artemovsky, a prominent Ukrainian opera composer, singer and actor is born. After receiving vocal training from big-name composer Mikhail Glinka in Saint Petersburg, he makes his way to Italy and begins regular performances at the Florence Opera. He becomes even more well-known after his opera, Zaporozhian Beyond the Danube reaches the stage.
11 February 1963
One of the first conferences dedicated to the Ukrainian language is launched. The foremost intention of participants is to give the minority language an official status. Discussion brings about little success and the issue is postponed until 1989. Only at this time does the patriotic community of the Ukrainian SSR force the authorities to pass a law about language in Ukraine.
14 February 1992
Besides celebrating Valentine’s Day, Ukraine as its own country begins diplomatic relations with Russia. The date is very significant. But it is not clear yet whether a loyal and agreeable affair will indeed be had.
13 February 2001
Accused of stealing one billion dollars appointed for Russian gas bills, Yulia Tymoshenko is sentenced by the General Prosecutor of Ukraine. A month later all accusations are withdrawn. It would take another ten years before walking this same path. The process doesn’t finish so quickly this time round.
07.02.2012 18:32:39