Under the intergovernmental Bologna process, the common agreement is that i f a Romanian university’s branch in Italy offers a programme accredited in full compliance with the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG)[1] by the Romanian quality assurance system, it would provide the necessary evidence for trust, which is the basis for recognition by other European Higher Education Area (EHEA) countries.
However, this remains a non-binding commitment, meaning there is no legal barrier preventing Italy from establishing its own accreditation procedures.
In the Rome Ministerial Communiqu é[2], part of the Bologna process, ministers reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that external quality assurance arrangements, when conducted in accordance with the ESG , apply equally to transnational higher education within the EHEA as they do to domestic provision. However, this political commitment does not translate into a legal obligation.
Directive 2005/36/EC[3] applies only when the purpose of recognition is for professional reasons, which does not correspond to the situation described. Accreditation procedures are not addressed in this context.
In the case of recognition for further study, there is no legally binding instrument at EU level. The non-binding Council Recommendation of 2018[4] states that higher education qualification acquired in one country should be automatically recognised at the same level in another one .
Regarding the Lisbon Recognition Convention of the Council of Europe and Unesco[5], the EU did not accede to this Convention and is not in a position to interpret its provisions. Relevant information can be provided by National Academic Recognition Centres (NARICs).
[1] Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area, https://www.enqa.eu/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/ESG_2015.pdf.
[4] Council Recommendation of 26 November 2018 on promoting automatic mutual recognition of higher education and upper secondary education and training qualifications and the outcomes of learning periods abroad, OJ C 444, 10.12.2018, p. 1, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=oj:JOC_2018_444_R_0001.
[5] United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation https://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list?module=treaty-detail&treatynum=165.
The Commission acknowledges the role of nuclear energy in contributing to energy security and decarbonisation. All zero and low carbon energy solutions are needed to decarbonise the energy system[1].
Projections show that decarbonised sources will generate over 90% of electricity in the EU in 2040[2], primarily from renewables complemented by nuclear energy.
The choice of the energy sources in the energy mix, including the decision to use or not use nuclear energy, remains within the remit of each Member State in accordance with the provisions of the EU Treaties[3]. The Commission does not intervene in such decisions.
The EU and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) legal frameworks do not empower the Commission to make any recommendations towards the decommissioning of nuclear power plants. The EU supports and co-finances nuclear decommissioning programmes in Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovakia.
[1] Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: ‘Securing Europe’s 2040 climate target and path to climate neutrality by 2050 building a sustainable, just and prosperous society’ (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2024%3A63%3AFIN).
The constitutive meeting of the European Parliament’s Delegation to the EU-Kosovo Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee (SAPC) and the EU-Bosnia & Herzegovina (BiH) SAPC was held on
Monday, 30 September 2024, 15.30-15.50, inRoom ASP 5/G3 (Altiero Spinelli Building)
It is a special pleasure for me to be with you hosting the presentation of the Transition Report 2024-25 by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
The Transition Report 2024-25 provides an in-depth analysis of a highly dynamic issue of nowadays: the reformulation of industrial policies in a global context shaped by new challenges and opportunities. The EBRD, while placing it at the heart of this year’s Report, highlights the increasing complexity and strategic rebound of industrial policies as a tool to address structural changes in both advanced and developing economies in the 21st century.
Nowadays, these policies in addition to being considered as a merely tool supporting the existing industries, should also be seen as a lever for establishing diversified and innovative economies. For more than two decades, in Albania and the region, we have prioritized structural reforms that build strong institutions, improve the business climate, and create an open and competitive economy. Over the past five years, these reforms have contributed to an average economic growth of 3.5–4%, a reduction in unemployment to 11.3% in 2024, and a 7% growth in private consumption. These reforms have been-and remain-essential, but today, they are no longer sufficient, as we face a completely different global reality.
Geopolitical tensions have caused a 30% increase in the cost of global supply chains since 2020.
According to WTO, trade fragmentation has reduced the global trade flow by 5.4% in 2023.
Reindustrialization policies in advanced economies (e.g., the Inflation Reduction Act in the USA and the EU Green Deal) which now channel over 80% of global investments in clean technologies.
Many economies-including our economy-are currently facing a demographic decline, changes in the labour market, and sectoral imbalances. In this context, the debate on industrial policies has shifted from discussion to clear, data-driven strategies.
What does this mean in practice?
First, we need to understand that today’s industrial policies are not about protecting old industries, in contrary they promote sectors of the future-those that can grow, scale up, and create sustainable value. For many EBRD countries, including Albania, the path to growth through traditional industrial exports has become more difficult. In its place, a new opportunity is emerging: the export of digitalized and internationally tradable services.
These “global innovation services”- such as information technology, design, logistics, and data analysis-are at the heart of productivity growth and added value. But to develop them, strong foundations are needed, such as: investments in education, a skilled workforce, modern digital infrastructure, and high institutional capacities. Some Central and Eastern European economies have already become leading exporters in the field of computer services. Albania also has the potential to follow this path.
Second, the policies we undertake must be aligned with the European integration process. As a small and open economy, with 70% of trade oriented towards the EU, Albania has much to gain by moving towards the European Union convergence. Moreover, membership in SEPA brings us closer to European markets and reduces international transaction costs by 30%.
Third, we should ensure inclusion and sustainability. Industrial policies, in addition to focusing on sectors where we have potential to win in global markets, should also focus on those that are vital for employment and social cohesion within Albania. Specific-tailored local policies should underpin industrial policies, such as special economic zones-and be carefully designed, by emphasizing local and regional specific characteristics.
Fourth, state aid should be directed on firms with high potential. Data show that new and dynamic firms are the main drivers of employment and innovation. Policies aimed at stimulating them-such as loan guarantees, subsidized interest loans, or government-backed venture capital funds-can make a big difference.
Dear guests,
In this debate on industrial policy and development directions, the role of the central bank, although not direct, is special and irreplaceable.
The central bank does not compile industrial policies, but it contributes to them as a guarantor of macroeconomic and financial stability-a fundamental condition for any sustainable development. Today, we can say that the Albanian economy continues to grow (GDP grew by 4% in 2024, inflation remained at 2%, private credit increased by 16.7%, and the non-performing loans ratio has dropped to a historic low of 4%). These facts reflect a sound, stable financial system able to support the real sector.
Price stability, functional financial systems, a banking sector, and a modern payment system that serves the real economy-are important prerequisites for long-term investment and sustainable development of the country. Beyond this, the Bank of Albania is also providing a significant contribution to improving financial inclusion through innovations in payment systems and membership in SEPA, the institutionalization of the basic account, effective supervision, financial education, and the promotion of financial innovation. These interventions open new markets and opportunities, so the Bank of Albania will continue to contribute to all these areas with dedication and professionalism.
Concluding, I invite you to be ambitious yet prudent; to design industrial policies that are smart, inclusive, and aligned with our long-term aspirations. Above all, let us invest not only in sectors of economy, but also in people as the basic unit of the workforce, as well as in institutions and infrastructure that will define the Albania of tomorrow, in our path towards European integration, as a space of opportunities for continuous transformation.
It is a special pleasure for me to be with you hosting the presentation of the Transition Report 2024-25 by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
The Transition Report 2024-25 provides an in-depth analysis of a highly dynamic issue of nowadays: the reformulation of industrial policies in a global context shaped by new challenges and opportunities. The EBRD, while placing it at the heart of this year’s Report, highlights the increasing complexity and strategic rebound of industrial policies as a tool to address structural changes in both advanced and developing economies in the 21st century.
Nowadays, these policies in addition to being considered as a merely tool supporting the existing industries, should also be seen as a lever for establishing diversified and innovative economies. For more than two decades, in Albania and the region, we have prioritized structural reforms that build strong institutions, improve the business climate, and create an open and competitive economy. Over the past five years, these reforms have contributed to an average economic growth of 3.5–4%, a reduction in unemployment to 11.3% in 2024, and a 7% growth in private consumption. These reforms have been-and remain-essential, but today, they are no longer sufficient, as we face a completely different global reality.
Geopolitical tensions have caused a 30% increase in the cost of global supply chains since 2020.
According to WTO, trade fragmentation has reduced the global trade flow by 5.4% in 2023.
Reindustrialization policies in advanced economies (e.g., the Inflation Reduction Act in the USA and the EU Green Deal) which now channel over 80% of global investments in clean technologies.
Many economies-including our economy-are currently facing a demographic decline, changes in the labour market, and sectoral imbalances. In this context, the debate on industrial policies has shifted from discussion to clear, data-driven strategies.
What does this mean in practice?
First, we need to understand that today’s industrial policies are not about protecting old industries, in contrary they promote sectors of the future-those that can grow, scale up, and create sustainable value. For many EBRD countries, including Albania, the path to growth through traditional industrial exports has become more difficult. In its place, a new opportunity is emerging: the export of digitalized and internationally tradable services.
These “global innovation services”- such as information technology, design, logistics, and data analysis-are at the heart of productivity growth and added value. But to develop them, strong foundations are needed, such as: investments in education, a skilled workforce, modern digital infrastructure, and high institutional capacities. Some Central and Eastern European economies have already become leading exporters in the field of computer services. Albania also has the potential to follow this path.
Second, the policies we undertake must be aligned with the European integration process. As a small and open economy, with 70% of trade oriented towards the EU, Albania has much to gain by moving towards the European Union convergence. Moreover, membership in SEPA brings us closer to European markets and reduces international transaction costs by 30%.
Third, we should ensure inclusion and sustainability. Industrial policies, in addition to focusing on sectors where we have potential to win in global markets, should also focus on those that are vital for employment and social cohesion within Albania. Specific-tailored local policies should underpin industrial policies, such as special economic zones-and be carefully designed, by emphasizing local and regional specific characteristics.
Fourth, state aid should be directed on firms with high potential. Data show that new and dynamic firms are the main drivers of employment and innovation. Policies aimed at stimulating them-such as loan guarantees, subsidized interest loans, or government-backed venture capital funds-can make a big difference.
Dear guests,
In this debate on industrial policy and development directions, the role of the central bank, although not direct, is special and irreplaceable.
The central bank does not compile industrial policies, but it contributes to them as a guarantor of macroeconomic and financial stability-a fundamental condition for any sustainable development. Today, we can say that the Albanian economy continues to grow (GDP grew by 4% in 2024, inflation remained at 2%, private credit increased by 16.7%, and the non-performing loans ratio has dropped to a historic low of 4%). These facts reflect a sound, stable financial system able to support the real sector.
Price stability, functional financial systems, a banking sector, and a modern payment system that serves the real economy-are important prerequisites for long-term investment and sustainable development of the country. Beyond this, the Bank of Albania is also providing a significant contribution to improving financial inclusion through innovations in payment systems and membership in SEPA, the institutionalization of the basic account, effective supervision, financial education, and the promotion of financial innovation. These interventions open new markets and opportunities, so the Bank of Albania will continue to contribute to all these areas with dedication and professionalism.
Concluding, I invite you to be ambitious yet prudent; to design industrial policies that are smart, inclusive, and aligned with our long-term aspirations. Above all, let us invest not only in sectors of economy, but also in people as the basic unit of the workforce, as well as in institutions and infrastructure that will define the Albania of tomorrow, in our path towards European integration, as a space of opportunities for continuous transformation.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Speech
UN Human Rights Council 59: Sri Lanka Core Group statement for the Interactive Dialogue on the High Commissioner’s Annual Report
Sri Lanka Core Group statement for the Interactive Dialogue on the High Commissioner’s Annual Report. Delivered by the UK’s Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders.
Thank you Mr President,
This statement is on behalf of the Sri Lanka Core Group comprising Canada, Malawi, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and the United Kingdom.
High Commissioner,
We are grateful for your office’s work on Sri Lanka.
We welcome the holding of local elections in Sri Lanka in May and note the more peaceful approach taken this year towards events commemorating the loss of life at the end of the armed conflict in 2009.
At the same time, we remain concerned by the Government’s limited progress in fulfilling its commitments on human rights, accountability, reconciliation, good governance and constitutional reform.
We urge the Government to address longstanding impunity and to ensure that journalists, human rights defenders and civil society organisations can operate freely and safely. It is crucial that an inclusive and comprehensive reconciliation and accountability process has the confidence of affected communities.
We are concerned with the continued application of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, despite the Government’s stated intention to abolish it.
Furthermore, we urge the Government to address the many unresolved cases of enforced disappearance by reinvigorating the Office on Missing Persons.
We reaffirm our willingness to work constructively with the Government on these issues. Thank you.
The cloud-based e-invoicing platform xSuite eDNA now supports both the receipt and transmission of e-invoices directly from SAP
Ahrensburg/Germany, June 17, 2025 – In many countries around the world—including Germany, Poland, and France in Europe—electronic invoicing will become mandatory within the next one to five years. To support SAP users in this transition, xSuite Group is now offering an extension to its xSuite eDNA (electronic Document Network Adapter) product. This extension enables the creation and dispatch of outbound invoices from SAP SD in XML formats compliant with EN 16931. The cloud-based e-invoicing platform supports a wide range of e-invoicing formats and serves as a central hub between SAP and the global world of electronic invoicing. It is compatible with both SAP S/4HANA and SAP ECC.
Since June 2024, xSuite eDNA has supported the receipt of various e-invoicing formats via the Peppol network, transferring invoice data directly into the customer’s SAP system to enable fast and efficient processing of inbound e-invoices.
Now, xSuite eDNA also enables the creation and delivery of e-invoices from SAP. To achieve this, an xSuite add-on (transport) is installed in the SAP SD module. This add-on leverages SAP’s message control functionality. As soon as an invoice is created in SAP, the relevant data is captured via message control and sent to the cloud-based xSuite eDNA platform. The platform performs various validation steps in accordance with EN 16931—such as checking data integrity, mandatory fields, data types, and business rules. Format conversion and all subsequent processing take place entirely in the cloud. Any updates or enhancements (e.g., new e-invoice formats or versions) are implemented centrally in the cloud and are immediately available to all customers. This significantly reduces maintenance efforts on the customer side and ensures high flexibility.
xSuite eDNA offers two transmission options: via email in formats such as BIS Billing, ZUGFeRD, and XRechnung (with more formats planned), and via the Peppol network. The portfolio of supported countries and portals is being continuously expanded with a strategic focus. Currently available networks and formats include:
Peppol (various countries and formats)
SdI – Sistema di Interscambio / Fattura PA (Italy)
ANAF – Agenția Națională de Administrare Fiscală / RO e-Factura (Romania)
NAV – Nemzeti Adó- és Vámhivatal (Hungary)
Others available upon request
Sven Holtmann, Product Manager at xSuite, presents the new solution for sending e-invoices from SAP SD in a release webinar:
Release Webinar Date: August 14, 2025 Time: 3 PM – 4 PM Link: https://bit.ly/xSuite-eDNA-Outbound Participation is free of charge for both customers and interested parties.
About xSuite Group
xSuite is a software manufacturer of applications for document-based processes and provides standardized, digital solutions worldwide that enable simple, secure, and fast work. We focus mainly on the automation of important work processes in conjunction with end-to-end document management. Our core competence lies in accounts payable (AP) automation in SAP (including e-invoicing), for leading companies worldwide, as well as for public clients. This is supplemented by applications for purchasing and order processes as well as archiving – all delivered from a single source, including both software components and services. xSuite solutions operate in the cloud or in hybrid scenarios. We take pride in the high-quality solutions we offer, as evidenced by the regular certifications we receive for our SAP solutions and deployment environments.” With over 300,000 users benefitting from our solutions, xSuite processes more than 80 million documents per year in over 60 countries.
Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Ahrensburg, Germany, xSuite has around 300 staff across nine locations worldwide – in Europe, Asia, and the United States. Our company has an established information security management system that is certified in accordance with ISO 27001:2022.
Contact: Barbara Wirtz xSuite Group GmbH Marketing & PR Tel. +49 (0)4102/88 38 36 barbara.wirtz@xsuite.com www.xsuite.com
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
Representatives from 20 countries gathered at the XIX International Media Forum of Young Journalists “Dialogue of Cultures”, which was held in Moscow in May. Bloggers, journalists, directors, producers, cameramen and correspondents visited the sites of the Moscow film cluster. They noted the support measures introduced by the Moscow Government for foreign filmmakers to attract them to the capital, including a rebate system – compensation for part of the costs of filming.
The guests visited the main sites of the Moskino cinema park, including the Center of Moscow, Cowboy Town, Chroma Key, TU-154 Airplane, Berlin Streets, Moscow Cathedral Square and Prince Andrey’s Chambers, Far Eastern City, Moscow of the 1940s, Remote Village, and County Town, and assessed its scale and capabilities.
“The most important feature of the cinema park is the large number of sites for creating projects on a variety of topics. Here you can shoot science fiction films using natural chroma key, and historical films, filming on the sites of “Cathedral Square”, “Streets of Berlin” and “Moscow of the 1940s”. Each set is made with authenticity and close attention to detail. This is a large-scale project that has no equal in Europe. Relations between Russia and India are strengthening and developing every year, so I hope that our partnership will bring interesting joint projects,” said director Arun Chadha from India.
The international delegation also visited the oldest and largest film production company, the Gorky Film Studio, which is celebrating its 110th anniversary this year. By the end of 2025, its area will increase to 100 thousand square meters.
“Moscow is a city where you can and should shoot films, there is everything for this. I really liked the sites of the Moscow film cluster, which I managed to visit, there are very few like it in other capitals of the world, I would even say, only a few. A unique project has been created in Moscow. We need to make films about this,” Serbian documentary filmmaker Milan Jankovic noted the uniqueness of the Moscow infrastructure for filming.
He was supported by Turkish director Muhammet Beyazdag.
“I am impressed by the meeting with Moskino and the capabilities of the Russian capital for creating film projects. The Moscow film cluster allows film industry professionals from all over the world to shoot films of any complexity, to implement any ideas. The city’s film sites amaze with their scale and uniqueness. I want to tell Turkish filmmakers about this,” Beyazdag Muhammet emphasized.
In early May, directors also visited the Moscow film cluster facilities Oliver Stone And Emir Kusturica, who plans to shoot his films in the Moskino cinema park.
The Russian capital has provided support measures for foreign filmmakers. Since April 1, a grant has been in effect for the production of international films in Moscow. Film crews consisting of Moscow and foreign film companies can apply for it. Industry representatives will be able to reimburse up to 30 percent of film production costs. The maximum payment for one project will be 50 million rubles. The new support measure will expand the capabilities of the Moscow film cluster and make the city even more attractive to international market players.
The Moskino cinema park is part of Sergei Sobyanin’s “Moscow – City of Cinema” project and an object of the Moscow cinema cluster, which is being developed by the capital Department of Culture. The first stage of creation has already been completed here: 24 natural sites, four pavilions and six infrastructure facilities have been built, including the sets “Center of Moscow”, “Moscow of the 1940s”, “Vitebsk Station”, “Cathedral Square of Moscow”, “County Town”, “Cowboy Town”, “St. Petersburg Bar” and others. On weekends and holidays, the cinema park hosts staged filming, concerts, music and film festivals, performances, meetings with filmmakers and professional master classes.
The Moscow Film Cluster is an infrastructure facility, services and facilities for filmmakers, which are being developed by the Moscow Government within the framework of the Moscow — City of Cinema project. Its structure includes the Moskino film park, the Gorky Film Studio (sites on Sergei Eisenstein Street and Valdaisky Proyezd), the Moskino film factory, the Moskino cinema chain, the film commission and the Moskino film platform.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect
EP and Council teams have reached an agreement on grounds for suspending visa-free travel for short stays into the EU.
A reform of the mechanism to suspend short-stay visa-free travel into the EU, agreed today between Parliament and Council negotiating teams, will allow the EU to respond more flexibly when countries backslide on important principles of their visa waiver agreement, which can include security concerns and human rights violations.
New grounds for suspension
In future, violations of the United Nations Charter, severe breaches of international human rights or humanitarian law, and not complying with international court decisions will be valid grounds for suspending visa-freedom. This helps align the grounds for suspension with the grounds for granting the visa waiver in the first place, and can create a deterrent effect.
With the new law, additional grounds for suspending the visa waiver will include hybrid threats, such as state-sponsored instrumentalisation of migrants aimed at destabilising or undermining society; and investor citizenship schemes (“golden passports”), which raise security concerns. A country’s lack of alignment with EU visa policy, potentially making it a transit country for illegal entry into the EU, will also be a valid ground for suspending visa-free regimes. Existing grounds, including a lack of cooperation on readmissions, will be maintained.
No impunity for third-country government officials
To deter third-country governments from violating the terms of their short-stay visa waiver agreement, the agreed law gives the EU more flexibility to target government officials (who may bear responsibility for a government’s human rights breaches or other violations) with suspensions of visa freedom.
Based on an EP proposal, it was agreed that the Commission can prevent member states from exempting from visa suspension diplomatic and service passport carrying government and state officials.
Under current legislation, “substantial” increases in numbers of people staying without permission, of asylum applications from a country with a low recognition rate, or of serious criminal offences can also trigger visa freedom suspension. During negotiations, it was agreed that the threshold for assessing such an increase will be set to 30 %. The threshold for calculating a low recognition rate of asylum application will be set at 20 %. In well-justified cases, the Commission can also deviate from these thresholds.
Quote
After the vote, rapporteur Matjaž Nemec (S&D, Slovenia) said: “Reformed visa rules will give the EU a revamped tool to respond to geopolitical situations and new threats. Visa policy can contribute to upholding EU values by ensuring that there are consequences when a foreign government breaches human rights and international law. In such cases, their government representatives and diplomats should have their visa-free access to the EU revoked, and this agreement makes that more likely.”
Next steps
Before it can enter into law, the provisional agreement needs to be formally adopted by both Parliament and Council.
Background
Nationals of 61 third countries can currently travel to the Schengen area for short stays (up to 90 days in any 180-day period) without a visa (source: EP Research Service). See also this Council website for a map of current visa agreements.
According to the current law, the European Commission (following a proposal by a concerned member state or on its own initiative) can start the process of suspending visa-free travel from third countries into the Schengen area, first temporarily, pending further investigation and dialogue with the country in question, and then permanently if the issues are not resolved. To date, visa freedom has only been revoked once, in the case of Vanuatu.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Calgary, Canada on Tuesday (local time) to participate in the G7 Summit, where he will meet with global leaders and share India’s views on key international challenges.
As part of his ongoing three-nation tour — which began in Cyprus and will conclude in Croatia — PM Modi said that he would highlight the concerns of the Global South during the Summit. In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, “Landed in Calgary, Canada, to take part in the G7 Summit. Will be meeting various leaders at the Summit and sharing my thoughts on important global issues. Will also be emphasising the priorities of the Global South.”
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that PM Modi will participate in G7 discussions on the future of energy security. These discussions will focus on diversification, technological innovation, infrastructure, and investment, aimed at ensuring access and affordability in a changing global landscape.
“At the invitation of PM @MarkJCarney, PM @narendramodi arrives in Alberta, Canada for the G7 Summit,” Jaiswal wrote on X. “PM will be participating in @G7 discussions on energy security… and will also hold several bilateral meetings on the sidelines.”
PM Modi’s arrival in Canada comes at a time of diplomatic recalibration between the two nations, following a period of strained relations.
Other invitees to the G7 meeting are Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, and Lee Jae-Myung of South Korea, and Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese of Australia and Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa.
The G7 Summit is an annual gathering of leaders from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, Canada, and the European Union. This year’s edition marks PM Modi’s sixth straight attendance at the Summit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Calgary, Canada on Tuesday (local time) to participate in the G7 Summit, where he will meet with global leaders and share India’s views on key international challenges.
As part of his ongoing three-nation tour — which began in Cyprus and will conclude in Croatia — PM Modi said that he would highlight the concerns of the Global South during the Summit. In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, “Landed in Calgary, Canada, to take part in the G7 Summit. Will be meeting various leaders at the Summit and sharing my thoughts on important global issues. Will also be emphasising the priorities of the Global South.”
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that PM Modi will participate in G7 discussions on the future of energy security. These discussions will focus on diversification, technological innovation, infrastructure, and investment, aimed at ensuring access and affordability in a changing global landscape.
“At the invitation of PM @MarkJCarney, PM @narendramodi arrives in Alberta, Canada for the G7 Summit,” Jaiswal wrote on X. “PM will be participating in @G7 discussions on energy security… and will also hold several bilateral meetings on the sidelines.”
PM Modi’s arrival in Canada comes at a time of diplomatic recalibration between the two nations, following a period of strained relations.
Other invitees to the G7 meeting are Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, and Lee Jae-Myung of South Korea, and Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese of Australia and Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa.
The G7 Summit is an annual gathering of leaders from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, Canada, and the European Union. This year’s edition marks PM Modi’s sixth straight attendance at the Summit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Calgary, Canada on Tuesday (local time) to participate in the G7 Summit, where he will meet with global leaders and share India’s views on key international challenges.
As part of his ongoing three-nation tour — which began in Cyprus and will conclude in Croatia — PM Modi said that he would highlight the concerns of the Global South during the Summit. In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, “Landed in Calgary, Canada, to take part in the G7 Summit. Will be meeting various leaders at the Summit and sharing my thoughts on important global issues. Will also be emphasising the priorities of the Global South.”
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that PM Modi will participate in G7 discussions on the future of energy security. These discussions will focus on diversification, technological innovation, infrastructure, and investment, aimed at ensuring access and affordability in a changing global landscape.
“At the invitation of PM @MarkJCarney, PM @narendramodi arrives in Alberta, Canada for the G7 Summit,” Jaiswal wrote on X. “PM will be participating in @G7 discussions on energy security… and will also hold several bilateral meetings on the sidelines.”
PM Modi’s arrival in Canada comes at a time of diplomatic recalibration between the two nations, following a period of strained relations.
Other invitees to the G7 meeting are Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, and Lee Jae-Myung of South Korea, and Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese of Australia and Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa.
The G7 Summit is an annual gathering of leaders from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, Canada, and the European Union. This year’s edition marks PM Modi’s sixth straight attendance at the Summit.
The 2025 edition of the Moldova Digital Summit delivered an unprecedented tech experience in Chișinău, where innovation, entrepreneurship, and global expertise converged over three dynamic days during June 05 – June 07, 2025. The event brought together more than 3,000 participants from 15 countries — including Sweden, Qatar, Romania, the United Kingdom, and Germany — driven by an agenda focused on digital skills development, business acceleration, investment attraction, infrastructure modernization, and e-governance.
Anzhela Kashperuk, Vice President for Business Development, Mastercard, noted:
“Moldova has already achieved remarkable digitalization results, which are truly impressive. For example, 99% of transactions with our cards are contactless — positioning Moldova among the top five countries globally.”
Natalia Corobco, Co-founder and CEO at Francis xGoogle, shared:
“The energy at the Summit was inspiring. I was genuinely impressed by the innovative ideas and strategic vision for Moldova’s digital future. The quality of speakers, participants, and represented organizations was exceptional.”
A Summit for All
The Moldova Digital Summit 2025 offered personalized experiences for every participant profile — from entrepreneurs and investors to public sector leaders and tech experts. The event showcased the latest tr
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Chinese tennis star Zheng Qinwen has climbed to a career-high world No. 4 in the latest WTA rankings.
The 22-year-old’s rise was fueled by a strong showing at the Queen’s Club Championships last week, a key grass-court warm-up event ahead of Wimbledon.
Zheng Qinwen of China returns the ball during the women’s singles first round match between Zheng Qinwen of China and Tamara Zidansek of Slovenia at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, on May 28, 2023. (Photo by Julien Mattia/Xinhua)
Zheng, the reigning Olympic champion, reached the semifinals on grass for the first time in her career, highlighted by a 6-2, 6-4 win over home favorite Emma Raducanu.
The achievement builds on her momentum from earlier this month at the French Open, where Zheng reached the quarterfinals for the first time with a 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-3 victory over Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova.
U.S. Army Pfc. Jenifer Calzaretta, assigned to Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment, (Mountain), 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont National Guard, poses for a photo while demonstrating climbing equipment during a static display event in Kavadarci, North Macedonia, June 1, 2025. The static display was a community outreach event connecting local citizens with military forces from Albania, Austria, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia and the U.S, all joined together for training at exercise Immediate Response 2025. Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe and the Arctic region alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025. DEFENDER 25 increases the lethality of the NATO alliance through large-scale tactical training maneuvers and long-range fires, builds unit readiness in a complex joint, multinational environment and leverages host nation capabilities to increase the U.S. Army’s operational reach. During three large-scale combat training exercises—Swift Response, Immediate Response, and Saber Guardian—Ally and partner forces integrate and expand multi-domain operations capability, demonstrating combined command and control structures and readiness to respond to crisis and conflict. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Maj. Joe Legros) VIEW ORIGINAL
KRIVOLAK, North Macedonia — Among the thousands of troops participating in Immediate Response 2025, one Soldier stands out — not for rank or years of military experience, but for the expertise she brings from her civilian life to the rugged mountains of North Macedonia.
U.S. Army Pfc. Jenifer Calzaretta, assigned to Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Vermont National Guard, joined the military just one month before her 38th birthday. Now, for the first time, she finds herself training in North Macedonia, where she and her fellow soldiers are working alongside members of the Armed Forces of North Macedonia during one of NATO’s premier military exercises.
“I graduated basic training and went straight into the mountain unit,” said Calzaretta. “While I’m relatively new to the military, my civilian experience as a climbing instructor comes in handy and made the transition into a mountain unit much easier.”
U.S. Army Pfc. Jenifer Calzaretta, assigned to Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment, (Mountain), 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont National Guard, poses for a photo while demonstrating climbing equipment during a static display event in Kavadarci, North Macedonia, June 1, 2025. The static display was a community outreach event connecting local citizens with military forces from Albania, Austria, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia and the U.S, all joined together for training at exercise Immediate Response 2025. Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe and the Arctic region alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025. DEFENDER 25 increases the lethality of the NATO alliance through large-scale tactical training maneuvers and long-range fires, builds unit readiness in a complex joint, multinational environment and leverages host nation capabilities to increase the U.S. Army’s operational reach. During three large-scale combat training exercises—Swift Response, Immediate Response, and Saber Guardian—Ally and partner forces integrate and expand multi-domain operations capability, demonstrating combined command and control structures and readiness to respond to crisis and conflict. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Maj. Joe Legros) VIEW ORIGINAL
Calzaretta is here as a participant in Immediate Response 2025, part of the greater Defender series of exercises, featuring multinational training in the Balkan region of Europe.
Her expertise in navigating rugged terrain is particularly valuable during the exercise, which focuses on live-fire drills, airborne and amphibious operations, as well as chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear training. For mountain soldiers, terrain mastery is critical, and Calzaretta brings a unique skill set to the multinational training environment.
“I’m also a 240B gunner, so I’m not afraid of a physical challenge,” she added. “I’m the only enlisted female in Alpha Company and everyone has way more military experience, but they value my expertise on the mountain. Together, I’m excited to build a lethal mountain force with the North Macedonians.”
Training alongside NATO forces, including troops from Albania, Austria, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia and the U.S, Immediate Response 2025 is designed to test NATO’s readiness and operational coordination, including responses to cyberattacks. For Soldiers like Calzaretta, it’s an opportunity to forge lasting bonds with allied forces and enhance multinational readiness in complex operational environments.
“Immediate Response 25 is a joint exercise involving eight partners and allies,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight, adjutant general of the Vermont National Guard. “It truly validated not only the training value of Krivolak Training Area, but the interoperability of our forces as we become better together.”
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight, the adjutant general of the Vermont National Guard, greets a soldier from the Republic of North Macedonia after a multinational live-fire exercise during Immediate Response 25 at the Krivolak Training Area, North Macedonia, June 2, 2025. Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.- based combat power in Europe and the Arctic region alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025. DEFENDER 25 increases the lethality of the NATO alliance through large-scale tactical training maneuvers and long-range fires, builds unit readiness in a complex joint, multinational environment and leverages host nation capabilities to increase the U.S. Army’s operational reach. During three large-scale combat training exercises—Swift Response, Immediate Response, and Saber Guardian—Ally and partner forces integrate and expand multi-domain operations capability, demonstrating combined command and control structures and readiness to respond to crisis and conflict. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Osburn) VIEW ORIGINAL
The U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program between North Macedonia and the Vermont National Guard has been going strong since 1993. Along with the relationship, the two military forces also share similar mountainous topographies, enabling the sharing of best practices in areas such as climbing, mountaineering and cold weather survival.
Spread throughout the Balkan region for the exercise, the 86th IBCT also conducted mountain operations together with the Hellenic Armed Forces, including on Greece’s most famous peak, Mt. Olympus.
U.S. Army Pfc. Jenifer Calzaretta, assigned to Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment, (Mountain), 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont National Guard, explains the importance of climbing equipment and mountain training to U.S. Army Col. Daniel Sqyres, defense attache, U.S. Embassy Skopje, during a static display event in Kavadarci, North Macedonia, June 1, 2025. The static display was a community outreach event connecting local citizens with military forces from Albania, Austria, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia and the U.S, all joined together for training at exercise Immediate Response 2025. Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe and the Arctic region alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025. DEFENDER 25 increases the lethality of the NATO alliance through large-scale tactical training maneuvers and long-range fires, builds unit readiness in a complex joint, multinational environment and leverages host nation capabilities to increase the U.S. Army’s operational reach. During three large-scale combat training exercises—Swift Response, Immediate Response, and Saber Guardian—Ally and partner forces integrate and expand multi-domain operations capability, demonstrating combined command and control structures and readiness to respond to crisis and conflict. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Maj. Joe Legros)VIEW ORIGINAL
With her civilian and military experience converging in North Macedonia, Calzaretta embodies the spirit of the Citizen-Soldier, proving the kind of leadership, adaptability and expertise which extends far beyond time spent in uniform.
As Immediate Response 2025 progresses, Clazaretta and her fellow soldiers continue honing their skills, ensuring they are prepared for real-world challenges in dynamic, unpredictable terrain.
The 86th IBCT includes units in six states, including Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Colorado. The brigade’s mission is to provide a trained and ready mountain IBCT capable of deploying anywhere in the world, under any climactic conditions, to conduct decisive action when directed by appropriate command authority. The 86th IBCT frequently utilizes the Army Mountain Warfare School in Jericho, Vermont, to train in individual military mountaineering skills so the entire brigade can be skilled in such warfare.
Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe and the Arctic region alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025. DEFENDER 25 increases the lethality of the NATO alliance through large-scale tactical training maneuvers and long-range fires, builds unit readiness in a complex joint, multinational environment and leverages host nation capabilities to increase the U.S. Army’s operational reach. During three large-scale combat training exercises—Swift Response, Immediate Response, and Saber Guardian—Ally and partner forces integrate and expand multi-domain operations capability, demonstrating combined command and control structures and readiness to respond to crisis and conflict.
U.S. Army Maj. Ryan Reynolds, a public affairs officer assigned to the 126th Theater Public Affairs Support Element, 63rd Troop Command, Michigan National Guard, and his son, Spc. Joey Reynolds, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter maintainer assigned to Delta Company, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment (2-238 GSAB), Michigan National Guard, reunite at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, June 3, 2025. Ryan is in the Balkans for a two-week overseas deployment for training (ODT) supporting exercise Immediate Response 2025, part of NATO’s largest annual exercise series titled Defender Europe. Joey is currently serving on a nine-month deployment in Kosovo. Though deployed under very different circumstances, their commitment to service and a little coordination led to a memorable reunion on foreign soil.
Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe and the Arctic region alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025. DEFENDER 25 increases the lethality of the NATO alliance through large-scale tactical training maneuvers and long-range fires, builds unit readiness in a complex joint, multinational environment, and leverages host nation capabilities to increase the U.S. Army’s operational reach. During three large-scale combat training exercises—Swift Response, Immediate Response, and Saber Guardian—Ally and partner forces integrate and expand multi-domain operations capability, demonstrating combined command and control structures and readiness to respond to crisis and conflict. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Grace Wajler) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Grace Wajler)
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CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo – The military has a way of bringing people together in unexpected ways, and for U.S. Army Maj. Ryan Reynolds and his son, Spc. Joey Reynolds, that sentiment is especially true. Though deployed under very different circumstances, their commitment to service and a little coordination led to a memorable reunion on foreign soil.
Maj. Reynolds, a public affairs officer assigned to the 126th Theater Public Affairs Support Element (TPASE), 63rd Troop Command, Michigan National Guard, arrived in the Balkans for a two-week overseas deployment for training (ODT) in support of exercise Immediate Response 2025, part of NATO’s largest annual exercise series titled Defender Europe.
“I knew my son, Joey, was deploying with his unit to Kosovo, but I didn’t realize we might have the chance to meet,” said Reynolds. “That’s not something people normally get to do. But, I deployed with that same unit to Kuwait several years ago and reached out to a few colleagues about the possibility.”
U.S. Army Maj. Ryan Reynolds, a public affairs officer assigned to the 126th Theater Public Affairs Support Element, 63rd Troop Command, Michigan National Guard, and his son, Spc. Joey Reynolds, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter maintainer assigned to Delta Company, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment (2-238 GSAB), Michigan National Guard, reunite at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, June 3, 2025. Ryan is in the Balkans for a two-week overseas deployment for training (ODT) supporting exercise Immediate Response 2025, part of NATO’s largest annual exercise series titled Defender Europe. Joey is currently serving on a nine-month deployment in Kosovo. Though deployed under very different circumstances, their commitment to service and a little coordination led to a memorable reunion on foreign soil.
Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe and the Arctic region alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025. DEFENDER 25 increases the lethality of the NATO alliance through large-scale tactical training maneuvers and long-range fires, builds unit readiness in a complex joint, multinational environment, and leverages host nation capabilities to increase the U.S. Army’s operational reach. During three large-scale combat training exercises—Swift Response, Immediate Response, and Saber Guardian—Ally and partner forces integrate and expand multi-domain operations capability, demonstrating combined command and control structures and readiness to respond to crisis and conflict. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Grace Wajler) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Grace Wajler)
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Ryan and the 126th TPASE are responsible for providing photos and videos, documenting the enhanced multinational lethality and readiness at Immediate Response. His North Macedonia-based public affairs team wrapped up coverage of the culminating combined arms live-fire exercise earlier in the day, meaning Ryan had just enough time to visit his son later that afternoon.
Meanwhile, Spc. Reynolds, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter maintainer assigned to Delta Company, 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment (3-238 GSAB), Michigan National Guard, is currently serving on a nine-month deployment in Kosovo. Seeing his father in-person while on deployment was a moment few service members ever experience.
1 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Army Maj. Ryan Reynolds, a public affairs officer assigned to the 126th Theater Public Affairs Support Element, 63rd Troop Command, Michigan National Guard, and his son, Spc. Joey Reynolds, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter maintainer assigned to Delta Company, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment (2-238 GSAB), Michigan National Guard, reunite at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, June 3, 2025. Ryan is in the Balkans for a two-week overseas deployment for training (ODT) supporting exercise Immediate Response 2025, part of NATO’s largest annual exercise series titled Defender Europe. Joey is currently serving on a nine-month deployment in Kosovo. Though deployed under very different circumstances, their commitment to service and a little coordination led to a memorable reunion on foreign soil.
Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe and the Arctic region alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025. DEFENDER 25 increases the lethality of the NATO alliance through large-scale tactical training maneuvers and long-range fires, builds unit readiness in a complex joint, multinational environment, and leverages host nation capabilities to increase the U.S. Army’s operational reach. During three large-scale combat training exercises—Swift Response, Immediate Response, and Saber Guardian—Ally and partner forces integrate and expand multi-domain operations capability, demonstrating combined command and control structures and readiness to respond to crisis and conflict. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Grace Wajler) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Grace Wajler)
VIEW ORIGINAL
2 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Army Maj. Ryan Reynolds, a public affairs officer assigned to the 126th Theater Public Affairs Support Element, 63rd Troop Command, Michigan National Guard, and his son, Spc. Joey Reynolds, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter maintainer assigned to Delta Company, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment (2-238 GSAB), Michigan National Guard, reunite at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, June 3, 2025. Ryan is in the Balkans for a two-week overseas deployment for training (ODT) supporting exercise Immediate Response 2025, part of NATO’s largest annual exercise series titled Defender Europe. Joey is currently serving on a nine-month deployment in Kosovo. Though deployed under very different circumstances, their commitment to service and a little coordination led to a memorable reunion on foreign soil.
Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe and the Arctic region alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025. DEFENDER 25 increases the lethality of the NATO alliance through large-scale tactical training maneuvers and long-range fires, builds unit readiness in a complex joint, multinational environment, and leverages host nation capabilities to increase the U.S. Army’s operational reach. During three large-scale combat training exercises—Swift Response, Immediate Response, and Saber Guardian—Ally and partner forces integrate and expand multi-domain operations capability, demonstrating combined command and control structures and readiness to respond to crisis and conflict. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Grace Wajler) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Grace Wajler)
U.S. Army Maj. Ryan Reynolds, a public affairs officer assigned to the 126th Theater Public Affairs Support Element, 63rd Troop Command, Michigan National Guard, and his son, Spc. Joey Reynolds, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter maintainer assigned to Delta Company, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment (2-238 GSAB), Michigan National Guard, reunite at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, June 3, 2025. Ryan is in the Balkans for a two-week overseas deployment for training (ODT) supporting exercise Immediate Response 2025, part of NATO’s largest annual exercise series titled Defender Europe. Joey is currently serving on a nine-month deployment in Kosovo. Though deployed under very different circumstances, their commitment to service and a little coordination led to a memorable reunion on foreign soil.
Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe and the Arctic region alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025. DEFENDER 25 increases the lethality of the NATO alliance through large-scale tactical training maneuvers and long-range fires, builds unit readiness in a complex joint, multinational environment, and leverages host nation capabilities to increase the U.S. Army’s operational reach. During three large-scale combat training exercises—Swift Response, Immediate Response, and Saber Guardian—Ally and partner forces integrate and expand multi-domain operations capability, demonstrating combined command and control structures and readiness to respond to crisis and conflict. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Grace Wajler) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Grace Wajler)
U.S. Army Maj. Ryan Reynolds, a public affairs officer assigned to the 126th Theater Public Affairs Support Element, 63rd Troop Command, Michigan National Guard, and his son, Spc. Joey Reynolds, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter maintainer assigned to Delta Company, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment (2-238 GSAB), Michigan National Guard, reunite at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, June 3, 2025. Ryan is in the Balkans for a two-week overseas deployment for training (ODT) supporting exercise Immediate Response 2025, part of NATO’s largest annual exercise series titled Defender Europe. Joey is currently serving on a nine-month deployment in Kosovo. Though deployed under very different circumstances, their commitment to service and a little coordination led to a memorable reunion on foreign soil.
Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe and the Arctic region alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025. DEFENDER 25 increases the lethality of the NATO alliance through large-scale tactical training maneuvers and long-range fires, builds unit readiness in a complex joint, multinational environment, and leverages host nation capabilities to increase the U.S. Army’s operational reach. During three large-scale combat training exercises—Swift Response, Immediate Response, and Saber Guardian—Ally and partner forces integrate and expand multi-domain operations capability, demonstrating combined command and control structures and readiness to respond to crisis and conflict. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Grace Wajler) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Grace Wajler)
The 3-238 GSAB is in Kosovo to facilitate the movement of personnel, equipment and supplies across the entire area of operations. As a member of the Kosovo Force (KFOR), they serve under a NATO-led international peacekeeping mission established in 1999 to maintain a safe and secure Kosovo, ensure freedom of movement and support broader international efforts for stability in the region.
“I still keep in contact with a number of my deployment buddies,” said Ryan. “It’s a special feeling to now count my son among this number.”
The reunion in Kosovo may have been brief, but it underscored the powerful ties of service and family—a reminder that while deployments separate loved ones, they can also bring them together in unexpected and meaningful ways.
Combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child sexual abuse material and replacing Council Framework Decision 2004/68/JHA (recast) Jeroen Lenaers (A10-0097/2025)
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Amendments; rejection
Wednesday, 11 June 2025, 13:00
50
Amending Regulation (EU) No 228/2013 as regards additional assistance and further flexibility to outermost regions affected by severe natural disasters and in the context of cyclone Chido devastating Mayotte
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Amendments; rejection
Friday, 13 June 2025, 12:00
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Requests for “separate”, “split” and “roll-call” votes
Monday, 16 June 2025, 19:00
36
Electoral rights of mobile Union citizens in European Parliament elections Sven Simon (A10-0090/2025)
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Amendments
Wednesday, 11 June 2025, 13:00
30
Amendments to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure concerning the declaration of input (Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure) Sven Simon (A10-0086/2025)
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Amendments
Wednesday, 11 June 2025, 13:00
16
Strengthening rural areas in the EU through cohesion policy Denis Nesci (A10-0092/2025)
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Amendments by the rapporteur, 71 MEPs at least; Alternative motions for resolutions
Wednesday, 11 June 2025, 13:00
28
Financing for development – ahead of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville Charles Goerens (A10-0101/2025)
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Amendments by the rapporteur, 71 MEPs at least; Alternative motions for resolutions
Wednesday, 11 June 2025, 13:00
26
Implementation report on the Recovery and Resilience Facility Victor Negrescu, Siegfried Mureşan (A10-0098/2025)
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Amendments
Wednesday, 11 June 2025, 13:00
19
The Commission’s 2024 Rule of Law report Ana Catarina Mendes (A10-0100/2025)
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Amendments by the rapporteur, 71 MEPs at least, Alternative motions for resolutions
Wednesday, 11 June 2025, 13:00
25
2023 and 2024 reports on Montenegro Marjan Šarec (A10-0093/2025)
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Amendments
Wednesday, 11 June 2025, 13:00
17
2023 and 2024 reports on Moldova Sven Mikser (A10-0096/2025)
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Amendments
Wednesday, 11 June 2025, 13:00
Separate votes – Split votes – Roll-call votes
Texts put to the vote on Tuesday
Friday, 13 June 2025, 12:00
Texts put to the vote on Wednesday
Monday, 16 June 2025, 19:00
Texts put to the vote on Thursday
Tuesday, 17 June 2025, 19:00
Motions for resolutions concerning debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 150)
The rights of minorities are fundamental values of the EU and are part of the Copenhagen criteria for accession to the EU.
In June 2024, the Commission confirmed that Ukraine had fulfilled the requirement to enact a law addressing the remaining Venice Commission recommendations from June and October 2023 linked to respectively the law on national minorities and to the laws on state language, media and education[1].
As part of the accession process, the Commission conducted a screening of Ukraine’s alignment with the EU acquis in the field of fundamental rights, including the rights of persons belonging to national minorities. Subsequently, the EU invited Ukraine, in the negotiating framework, to prepare an Action Plan on national minorities[2].
The Commission consistently conveys the message, in bilateral contacts with Ukrainian counterparts, that it is expected that Ukraine will continue to implement the adopted legislation adequately and effectively at national and regional level, in line with European standards and as part of a constructive mutual dialogue with the representatives of national minorities.
The Commission will continue to follow closely the Ukraine government’s ongoing dialogues with representatives of minorities, including the representatives of Ukraine’s Romanian national minority and in the field of education.
The Commission is also assisting Ukraine in its reform efforts, by supporting the project ‘Support for implementing European standards relating to anti-discrimination and rights of national minorities in Ukraine’ implemented by the Council of Europe[3].
[1] https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/default.aspx?pdffile=CDL-AD(2023)021-e and https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/?pdf=CDL-AD(2023)028-e.
Question for written answer E-002278/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Gheorghe Falcă (PPE)
In May 2022, the Commission launched the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes, a strategic initiative to ensure the swift export of agricultural goods from Ukraine via EU transport routes. As then Transport Commissioner Adina Vălean noted, the goal was to move 20 million tonnes of agricultural products within three months. By February 2025, the Solidarity Lanes had become essential, facilitating 70 % of Ukrainian imports, 40 % of non-agricultural exports and 20 % of grain-related trade – demonstrating their ongoing role as a secure alternative to Black Sea routes.
The cooperation between Romania, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova within this framework has proven key to Ukraine’s economic resilience and future reconstruction. Given the shared European perspective of Moldova and Ukraine, it is important to explore how this cooperation might be deepened.
1.Is the Commission open to supporting the establishment of a trilateral Chamber of Commerce between Romania, Ukraine and Moldova to strengthen economic ties under the Solidarity Lanes framework?
2.Could the Commission consider targeted support – financial, logistical or technical – for structured exchanges and working visits among businesses and institutions in the EU, Ukraine and Moldova, to foster long-term cooperation and promote regional stability?
[1] This question is supported by Members other than the author: Daniel Buda (PPE), Dan Barna (Renew), Mircea-Gheorghe Hava (PPE), Ioan-Rareş Bogdan (PPE)
June 16, 2025 – Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces
Lieutenant-General Erick Simoneau assumed Command of Military Personnel Command (MILPERSCOM) from Lieutenant-General Lise Bourgon on Monday, June 16, 2025, during a morning ceremony at National Defence Headquarters Carling Campus in Ottawa. General Jennie Carignan, Chief of the Defence Staff, presided over the ceremony.
The Commander of MILPERSCOM oversees approximately 11,000 military and 4,800 civilian personnel who are responsible for the overall personnel management of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Personnel management covers a wide spectrum, including recruitment, training and education, pay and benefits, health services, honours and history, and corporate and personnel support.
Lieutenant-General Simoneau spent his early career with postings in Valcartier, Kingston, and Ottawa, while also deploying to Haïti, Kosovo, and Afghanistan as a pilot. His latest international deployment was to Kandahar as Commander of a tactical helicopter unit. He has participated in domestic operations and managed disaster response as Deputy Chief of Staff Continental Operations at Canadian Joint Operations Command in Ottawa.
Lieutenant-General Simoneau also commanded 2 Wing Bagotville from 2013 to 2015. He served as Director of Operations for Foreign and Defence Policy within the Privy Council Office of the Prime Minister from 2018 to 2020. Lieutenant-General Simoneau then became Director General Plans within the Joint Strategic Staff, the Chief of Staff- Professional Conduct and Culture, and in August 2024 was appointed Deputy Commander of Military Personnel Command.
When you think of dinosaurs, you might imagine towering predators or gentle giants roaming prehistoric landscapes. But what if these ancient creatures could teach us about one of humanity’s most persistent challenges: cancer?
In a new study, my team and I explored how fossilised soft tissues, preserved for tens of millions of years, could reveal new insights into ancient proteins that might one day help the study of cancer.
For decades, dinosaur research has focused on bones, which are much more likely to be preserved. But bones alone can’t tell the full story of how these animals lived, or how they died. Advances in technology, like paleoproteomics (the study of ancient proteins) are now allowing scientists to analyse delicate fragments of soft tissues preserved in fossils.
In 2016, I read an article about the discovery of a new fossil in Romania with a tumour in its jaw. Those remains were from a dinosaur called Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus, a duck-billed, plant-eating “marsh bird”. The specimen had lived between 66-70 million years ago in the Hateg Basin in present-day Romania.
I was fascinated by what we might learn from this. Although there were a handful of previous reports of cancers in other dinosaur bones, and previous findings of soft tissues like blood vessels in fossils, no one had ever described soft tissues in an ancient tumour.
The Telmatosaurus specimen. Pramodh Chandrasinghe, CC BY-NC-SA
To understand more, my team went to Romania and collected the specimen. We brought it back, and made a tiny hole into it with a drill the width of a human hair, taking a miniscule sample.
Then we mounted it onto a powerful microscope, called a scanning electron microscope. Inside it, we saw images of blood cells, which contain proteins.
In the original Jurassic Park film, the scientists create or clone dinosaurs from ancient genetic material. But in reality over millions of years the DNA is completely broken down.
Proteins however, unlike DNA, can be remarkably stable over time. Research has shown that they can persist in fossils for millions of years under the right conditions, acting as molecular time capsules. Studying these proteins can help us reconstruct biological processes, including diseases like cancer, that affected dinosaurs.
Cancer’s deep evolutionary roots
Cancer is often seen as a modern plague, but it has ancient origins. Large, long-lived animals, from elephants to whales, are a paradox. Their size and longevity should make them cancer-prone, yet many have evolved remarkable defences.
Elephants, for example, carry extra copies of the TP53 gene, a tumour suppressor. Bowhead whales which can live for over 200 years, have ultra-efficient DNA repair mechanisms and damage to DNA is the root cause of cancer. Dinosaurs, as some of the largest animals to ever exist, probably faced similar problems.
My team’s research builds on growing evidence that dinosaurs weren’t immune to cancer. Fossilised tumours have been found in species like Tyrannosaurus rex and Telmatosaurus, ranging from benign growths to aggressive cancers. My team is aiming to uncover the molecular tools dinosaurs used to suppress tumours in the future.
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Bones tell us about anatomy, but soft tissues hold the keys to biology. In my team’s study, the red blood cell-like structures we found in Telmatosaurus fossils represent gateways to understanding the dinosaur’s physiology.
Proteins preserved in these tissues could reveal how dinosaurs managed oxidative stress which is linked to cancer, inflammation, or even immune responses to cancer. For instance, certain proteins might indicate mechanisms for detecting and destroying faulty cells before tumours can form.
This work also highlights a a need for a critical shift in paleontology: to preserve soft tissues, not just skeletons. Museums and researchers often prioritise intact bones, but fragments of fossilised skin, blood vessels, or cells can harbour molecular secrets. As technology advances, these overlooked specimens could become invaluable for studying disease evolution.
Bridging past and present
The link between dinosaurs and humans might seem distant, but evolution often repurposes ancient biological tools. Modern oncology already draws inspiration from nature and many chemotherapies come from plants or trees. The drug trabectedin, for example, used to treat soft-tissue sarcoma, comes from a marine organism called the sea squirt.
Expanding our search to extinct species could open a library of evolutionary solutions. If we can identify cancer-suppressing or cancer-promoting proteins in dinosaurs, these molecules might inspire new lessons about human cancers.
It’s taken nearly a decade to get this far. Like so much work, this research underscores the importance of patience and we’re not there yet. A real breakthrough might come when advances in research allows us to study ancient proteins in detail, tracking how cancer mechanisms evolved over millions of years.
Bridging paleontology and oncology is not only uncovering ancient history. We’re potentially writing a new chapter in the fight against cancer.
Justin Stebbing does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The dark web marketplace was active for over five years. Archetyp was one of the only platforms to allow the sale of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. The marketplace had around 17 000 listings online, and with more than 600 000 users, it is considered one of the largest of its kind.
Investigations into Archetyp revealed that its creator and current administrator is a German national residing in Spain. International cooperation between authorities, financial tracking and digital evidence analysis led to the identification of the people behind Archetyp. Investigators discovered the location of the servers, moderators and vendors on the marketplace. A coordinated action week was planned to dismantle Archetyp and arrest those responsible for selling and operating the platform, under the coordination of Eurojust and Europol.
The action week took place between 11 and 13 June, targeting the platform’s administrator, moderators, key vendors and the servers running the website. Coordinated actions in five countries, carried out by around 300 officers, resulted in the arrest of the thirty year old administrator in Spain, seven other persons and the seizure of assets worth EUR 7.8 million. By taking Archetyp offline, authorities have dealt a severe blow to drug traffickers in Europe.
Eurojust ensured the international investigation was efficient and effective. The Agency organised multiple coordination meetings, which enabled authorities to exchange critical information for the investigation. During the action days and the preliminary investigations, Eurojust coordinated the execution of mutual legal assistance and European Investigation Orders.
Europol supported the investigation from the outset, facilitating the exchange of intelligence, conducting extensive cross-checks and helping to identify high-value targets. On the action days, Europol deployed a dark web specialist to Germany and set up a virtual command post to coordinate field activities and ensure real-time deconfliction across jurisdictions.
The following authorities, with the support of the United States, carried out the operation:
Germany: Prosecutor General’s Office Frankfurt am Main – Cyber Crime Center; Federal Criminal Police Office
Netherlands: Public Prosecutor’s Office of Rotterdam; National Police, Unit Police Unit Rotterdam
Spain: Investigative Court num 10 in Barcelona; International Cooperation Section of PPO Barcelona; National Police
Sweden: Swedish Prosecution Authority; National Public Prosecution Department, National Unit against Organised Crime in Gothenburg; Swedish National Police; National Operations Department / Swedish Cybercrime Unit
Romania: Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT); National Police
The new Bank Board was appointed in mid-2022. At that time, inflation in the Czech Republic was 17.5 percent. Today, it is back under control, down to just 2.4 percent.
The base repo rate is currently at 3.5%, and I expect it will remain at this level for some time.
Our strategy is clear: to keep interest rates higher for longer compared to the period before COVID, to avoid any unconventional policies, and to follow the vision that in monetary policy, less is more (Michl, 2024b).
This year, our currency – the koruna – appreciated by 11% against the US dollar and by 2% against the euro. This helps us in the fight against inflation.
The Czech National Bank is the most trusted institution in the country (STEM, 2025)1. We take this trust seriously.
The pros and cons of having an independent monetary policy
Two main advantages:
First, exchange rate flexibility. A stronger koruna makes imports cheaper, which helps fight inflation. On the other hand, a weaker koruna supports exports during a recession. We can call it an adjustment mechanism for the economy – or, to be exact, an adjustment mechanism for the balance of payments.
And the second one:
The current policy of the European Central Bank does not fit the Czech economy. Our key interest rate is 3.5%, while in the eurozone it is 2%. We still need high interest rates to keep inflation low. We also need positive real interest rates to maintain price stability.
In Croatia and Slovakia, inflation is around 4%, which means they currently have negative real interest rates. That makes it harder for them to fight inflation.
Our goal is price stability – not to support exporters. The key is to keep the growth of money in the economy under control.
One key disadvantage:
Everyone can make mistakes. In the history of the Czech National Bank, there were two major ones: keeping real interest rates negative for more than 10 years before COVID, and increasing the money supply (banking liquidity) by 100% in 2017 in order to weaken the koruna. This is one of the reasons why core inflation after COVID was higher in the Czech Republic than in the eurozone. We must not repeat these mistakes.
That is why our strategy is to keep interest rates higher for longer, avoid any unconventional policies, and follow the vision that in monetary policy, less is more.
The “perfect” timing of euro adoption
Just to remind you, the government makes the final decision about euro adoption, not the central bank.
My PhD thesis was about the perfect timing for euro adoption. And the main conclusion was that one day, the exchange rate adjustment mechanism may stop working for the economy.
Let me give two situations as examples:
First, a weaker koruna might help exporters – but at the same time, it brings very high inflation into the country (Michl, 2016).
Second, if there is already a large amount of loans in euros in the economy – like in Croatia (Croatia: 70%, vs 20% in the Czech Republic) – independent monetary policy effectively stops working. A weaker koruna in such a situation could lead to large-scale defaults.
For now, the exchange rate adjustment mechanism still works. There is no need to rush to adopt the euro. We should remain a country with a strong koruna, an independent monetary policy, and robust FX reserves – not follow the example of Croatia.
Our experience with fighting high inflation
Inflation was 17.5% in July 2022 and still rising. The key interest rate was already at 7%. Then, a new Bank Board was appointed – and we changed the strategy.
The gamechanger was the strong koruna strategy, which we introduced in late 2022 (Michl, 2022). We announced that we would keep interest rates stable for an extended period. At the same time, we clearly communicated that a strong koruna is crucial for the Czech economy.
This strategy worked. In spring 2023, we saw the strongest koruna in our history. The strong koruna helped reduce inflation by making imported raw materials cheaper. It also created tougher conditions for exporters – a necessary trade-off.
The market understood and trusted our strategy because we communicated it openly and transparently. And that was enough. Sometimes, less is more in monetary policy. It is better to maintain a steady and credible restrictive stance than to keep interest rates at zero for a decade – and then hope to control inflation with a sudden, sharp rate hike.
On FX volatility and risk premia
Yes, FX volatility brings hedging costs for companies. But the mission of monetary policy is price stability – not cheap financing.
Let me measure the risk premium using the asset swap spread: the difference between the 5-year government bond yield and the interest rate swap rate, measured in percentage points. Currently, this spread stands at 0.2 percentage points in Croatia, 0.3 percentage points in Slovakia, and 0.2 percentage points in the Czech Republic.
We aim to keep the risk premium low through credible and independent monetary policy – and by putting pressure on the government to balance public finances.
Within the eurozone, governments often feel less pressure to save money or balance their budgets. The bailout system reduces the risk premium – but it also weakens the incentive for fiscal responsibility. In a country without market pressure, politicians become less motivated to reduce deficits, and a real estate bubble can form more easily.
We also learned the wrong lesson from the eurozone fiscal rules – the idea that a deficit under 3% of GDP is always acceptable. It’s not. What really matters is maintaining balanced public finances over time.
Cheap euro loans and the koruna’s higher borrowing costs
Yes, corporate loans in euros are cheaper, but interest rates on savings are higher in our country. In the Czech Republic, we need higher interest rates to fight inflation.
Those higher rates help slow down borrowing – for everyone: households, the government, and businesses (Michl, 2024a).
Monetary policy’s mission is price stability – not cheap financing.
Keeping money too cheap for too long was one of the mistakes in the past that led to high inflation.
References
Michl, A. (2016). Nová kritéria pro přijetí Eura [New Euro Convergence Criteria]. Politická ekonomie, 2016(6), 713–729.
Michl, A. (2022).Policy for a Strong Koruna. CNB Discussion Forum. Faculty of Economics and Administration at Masaryk University, Brno, 23 November 2022.
Michl, A. (2024).The Target. University of Pardubice, CNB Discussion Forum 2024, 23 April 2024.
Michl, A. (2024b).CNB’s Aleš Michl on Tackling Inflation, Friedman’s Legacy and Ditching DSGE. Central Banking, 19 December 2024.
The dark web marketplace was active for over five years. Archetyp was one of the only platforms to allow the sale of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. The marketplace had around 17 000 listings online, and with more than 600 000 users, it is considered one of the largest of its kind.
Investigations into Archetyp revealed that its creator and current administrator is a German national residing in Spain. International cooperation between authorities, financial tracking and digital evidence analysis led to the identification of the people behind Archetyp. Investigators discovered the location of the servers, moderators and vendors on the marketplace. A coordinated action week was planned to dismantle Archetyp and arrest those responsible for selling and operating the platform, under the coordination of Eurojust and Europol.
The action week took place between 11 and 13 June, targeting the platform’s administrator, moderators, key vendors and the servers running the website. Coordinated actions in five countries, carried out by around 300 officers, resulted in the arrest of the thirty year old administrator in Spain, seven other persons and the seizure of assets worth EUR 7.8 million. By taking Archetyp offline, authorities have dealt a severe blow to drug traffickers in Europe.
Eurojust ensured the international investigation was efficient and effective. The Agency organised multiple coordination meetings, which enabled authorities to exchange critical information for the investigation. During the action days and the preliminary investigations, Eurojust coordinated the execution of mutual legal assistance and European Investigation Orders.
Europol supported the investigation from the outset, facilitating the exchange of intelligence, conducting extensive cross-checks and helping to identify high-value targets. On the action days, Europol deployed a dark web specialist to Germany and set up a virtual command post to coordinate field activities and ensure real-time deconfliction across jurisdictions.
The following authorities, with the support of the United States, carried out the operation:
Germany: Prosecutor General’s Office Frankfurt am Main – Cyber Crime Center; Federal Criminal Police Office
Netherlands: Public Prosecutor’s Office of Rotterdam; National Police, Unit Police Unit Rotterdam
Spain: Investigative Court num 10 in Barcelona; International Cooperation Section of PPO Barcelona; National Police
Sweden: Swedish Prosecution Authority; National Public Prosecution Department, National Unit against Organised Crime in Gothenburg; Swedish National Police; National Operations Department / Swedish Cybercrime Unit
Romania: Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT); National Police
The dark web marketplace was active for over five years. Archetyp was one of the only platforms to allow the sale of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. The marketplace had around 17 000 listings online, and with more than 600 000 users, it is considered one of the largest of its kind.
Investigations into Archetyp revealed that its creator and current administrator is a German national residing in Spain. International cooperation between authorities, financial tracking and digital evidence analysis led to the identification of the people behind Archetyp. Investigators discovered the location of the servers, moderators and vendors on the marketplace. A coordinated action week was planned to dismantle Archetyp and arrest those responsible for selling and operating the platform, under the coordination of Eurojust and Europol.
The action week took place between 11 and 13 June, targeting the platform’s administrator, moderators, key vendors and the servers running the website. Coordinated actions in five countries, carried out by around 300 officers, resulted in the arrest of the thirty year old administrator in Spain, seven other persons and the seizure of assets worth EUR 7.8 million. By taking Archetyp offline, authorities have dealt a severe blow to drug traffickers in Europe.
Eurojust ensured the international investigation was efficient and effective. The Agency organised multiple coordination meetings, which enabled authorities to exchange critical information for the investigation. During the action days and the preliminary investigations, Eurojust coordinated the execution of mutual legal assistance and European Investigation Orders.
Europol supported the investigation from the outset, facilitating the exchange of intelligence, conducting extensive cross-checks and helping to identify high-value targets. On the action days, Europol deployed a dark web specialist to Germany and set up a virtual command post to coordinate field activities and ensure real-time deconfliction across jurisdictions.
The following authorities, with the support of the United States, carried out the operation:
Germany: Prosecutor General’s Office Frankfurt am Main – Cyber Crime Center; Federal Criminal Police Office
Netherlands: Public Prosecutor’s Office of Rotterdam; National Police, Unit Police Unit Rotterdam
Spain: Investigative Court num 10 in Barcelona; International Cooperation Section of PPO Barcelona; National Police
Sweden: Swedish Prosecution Authority; National Public Prosecution Department, National Unit against Organised Crime in Gothenburg; Swedish National Police; National Operations Department / Swedish Cybercrime Unit
Romania: Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT); National Police
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Moscow, June 16 /Xinhua/ — A second group of Russian citizens has been evacuated from Iran across the border with Azerbaijan, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
“On June 15, 2025, with the participation of the Russian Embassy in Iran and the Russian Embassy in Azerbaijan, the second group of Russian citizens crossed the state border between Iran and Azerbaijan through the Astara checkpoint, returning by land due to the closure of the airspace of the Islamic Republic of Iran as a result of the forceful action of the State of Israel,” the official Telegram channel of the Russian Foreign Ministry says.
A group of 238 people crossed the border, including family members of employees of Russian foreign missions and artists of the P. I. Tchaikovsky Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra. In addition to citizens of the Russian Federation, the group also included citizens of the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Tajikistan, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The first group of 86 people (including two children) has already crossed the border between Iran and Azerbaijan, the Russian Embassy in Azerbaijan said on Sunday. The group included a film crew from world-famous Russian director Fyodor Bondarchuk and citizens of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Serbia, the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Tajikistan. –0–
Between 11 and 13 June, a series of coordinated actions took place across Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain, Sweden, targeting the platform’s administrator, moderators, key vendors, and technical infrastructure. Around 300 officers were deployed to carry out enforcement actions and secure critical evidence.Archetyp Market operated as a drug marketplace for over five years, amassing more than 600 000 users worldwide…