A stunning new report challenges Europe’s corruption-free image – Is that Mexican sailor who washed up on the Marshall Islands telling the truth? – Police find dozens of packets of what are probably illegal drugs in Philip Seymour Hoffman’s apartment  – And a lot more in your Careerspot World News Briefs.

Corruption in the European Union sucks A$185 Billion out of the economy every year.  That’s the finding of the EU’s first ever report on graft and corruption in the 28-nation alliance.  European home affairs commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom says the problem is eroding trust in Democracy.

An armed student killed a police officer and a teacher at a school in Moscow, before more cops had his father talked him into surrendering.  Investigators say the youth was an excellent student who appeared to have had an “emotional breakdown”.  School shootings are incredibly rare in Russia, and the incident prompted a visit from President Vladimir Putin, who suggested that better education in the Arts might have prevented this.

Police in southern China arrested a man suspected of shooting six people dead.  Shao Zongqi apparently thought his wife was having affairs with two men, and allegedly shot nine people in all – two men who he suspected of having affairs with his wife, their wives, children and the father of one of the men. 

Some doubts are being raised about the account given by Mexican sailor who washed up on a Marshall Islands beach last week.  Jose Salvador Alvarenga said was adrift in the Pacific since setting off from Mexico 8,000 miles away in December 2012, but despite earlier accounts of him being emaciated, he appears to be well-fed and mostly in good shape.   Alvarenga mixes up details of his story, such as his age and departure date, though this may not be unusual after more than a year at sea.

Police found from 50 to 70 packets of heroin in the Manhattan apartment were actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman died apparently of an overdose of the drug.  They also found the accompanying paraphernalia, plus prescription drugs ordinarily used to treat anxiety and attention-deficit disorder.  Hoffman’s ex-partner and the mother of their three children reportedly told police the Oscar-winning 46-year old appeared to be on drugs in the days before his death.  Police are now hunting the person who sold the heroin to Hoffman.

The late South African president Nelson Mandela left an estate of A$4.7 Million, sizeable but much less than many other African leaders.  It’s believed that Mandela’s third wife Graca Machel would waive the 50 percent to which she is entitled.  His children, grandchildren, the African National Congress, and some others will benefit – however, ex-wife Winnie Mandela has been cut out.

Britain is barring French “comedian” Dieudonne M’Bala M’Bala from entering the country.  Dieudonne has been repeatedly fined for anti-Semitic hate speech in France, and his old stage show has been banned.  He came up with the “quenelle” gesture that critics say is an inverted nazi salute.  Dieudonne was trying to visit a West Bromwich striker Nicolas Anelka who is being investigated by the Football Association because he did the quenelle on the pitch.

Controversial Osaka Mayor and political drama queen Toru Hashimoto stepped down to make way to snap elections, because his cost-cutting and political reform agenda has been stalled.  Hashimoto gained international infamy last year when he said it was necessary for Japan to force women from conquered nations to work in brothels for the Imperial military in World War II, and that all nations did it, which of course they did not.