Gavin Gray: UK Correspondent on Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania leave from Russia's electricity grid, a British couple home murder, and the auctioned-off first edition Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have begun to unplug from Russia's electricity grid and join the EU's network, more than three decades after leaving the Soviet Union. 

The three nations will officially transition away from the grid that has connected them to Russia since the years after World War Two and integrate with the European supplied via Poland.

UK Correspondent Gavin Gray talks to Andrew Dickens about the separation, a British couple that was found murdered in their French home, and the auctioned-off first edition Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

LISTEN ABOVE. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
International Correspondence with ins and Eye Insurance Peace of Mind
for New Zealand business. Kevin Gray joins us from the UK. Kevin, Hello,
Hi there, Andrew. Congratulations on beating France and rugby. That
was a good thing.

Speaker 2 (00:15):
Ah, thank you. It's slightly exciting.

Speaker 1 (00:20):
Let's talk serious stuff. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on the coast.
They have finally and they left the Soviet Union a
while ago, they have finally decided to stop taking the
Soviet Union's power.

Speaker 2 (00:33):
Yes, this sounds pretty minor, doesn't it? Minor stuff? But
actually I suggested as the lead story because frankly, this
is a major landmark change of direction, the direction in
which these countries are facing. As you said, they were
all part of the former USSR, but now Estonia, Latvia
and Lithuania, who have continued to get their electricity through Russia,

(00:54):
are now switching off this weekend still Sunday afternoon here
and adjoining the European Union network. They will now be
connected up to the energy sources through Poland. Why does
that matter? Will in the past, even though they haven't
been taking much electricity from Russia over the last couple
of years, it is still thought to be that dependence
and a hold over those countries that Russia continue to

(01:15):
have and threats some would say from the Kremlin about
what might happen if they fall out of line. Well,
now that energy line has been switched off from Russia
and turned on from Poland. Local residents were told to
charge devices, stock up on food and water prepare as
if it was a severe weather forecast, because they weren't

(01:36):
quite sure how smoothly andrew it was going to be
in effect. Though it's all gone pretty well at the moment,
and certainly now it is going to be perhaps a
change of face, and now even more that they're in NATO,
perhaps a move towards johining the European Union, as.

Speaker 1 (01:51):
That will make Fla to be even more angry.

Speaker 2 (01:53):
Now.

Speaker 1 (01:53):
I was interested in this story about a British couple
who have found murdered in their home in France. At
those times called jets, they've been retired and they seem
completely mild and ordinary. That will was a murdered suicide.
What the hell happen? But now this suggestion, now there's
a suggestion it's a professional hit.

Speaker 2 (02:12):
Yes, not confirmed by the police. Post Mortem examinations are
being carried out in about twenty hours time Monday, French time.
And well, this has been a mystery. It's certainly a
double murder. The retired couple had gone from the UK
to seek quieter life in the south of France, but

(02:33):
then all of a sudden they were discovered. It is
reported that the wife's body, Dawn Searle, was found naked
and outside, with jewelry scattered beside her. Andrew Searle is
reported this is not confirmed. Andrew but reported to have
been found inside, gagged and hanging. Now why apart from bizarre,

(02:54):
the initial thoughts were a burglary gone wrong. Why is
this raised interest? Well, it now reveals that the Hull
Andrew Searle used to be a major figure in fighting
organized crime finances. He was an investigator in looking at
the money made by organized crime in the UK and
all of a sudden, of course, that has led to

(03:14):
fears that this might have been a hit, a paid
for killing from the UK but taking place in France.
Now we don't know, but there are reports that his
body wore marks of being injured, perhaps even darres tortured.
Horrific for the son and daughter who remain in the
UK hearing this, I don't want to jump the gun,
as I said, post mortem examination in a few hours time,

(03:38):
but certainly the fact that somebody is so prominent in
looking at anti bribery fraud all those sorts of things
should have been murdered in this way without seeming there
to be any motive at all has generated lots of
rumors on social media.

Speaker 1 (03:52):
Geting great from the UK, I thank you for your time.
For more from earlier edition with Ryan Bridge, listen live
to news Talks it'd be from five aar weekdays, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.