Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
NANNING, May 23 (Xinhua) — Mountain floods and mudslides hit a village in Longsheng County, capital of Guilin City, early Friday morning. According to preliminary estimates by local authorities, eight people are believed to be missing after landslides and 10 houses were damaged.
Rescue operations continue. -0-
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
MINSK, May 23 (Xinhua) — Belarus and Italy have confirmed their readiness to continue political contacts. Such an agreement was reached at a meeting between Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus Igor Sekret and Chargé d’Affaires of Italy in Belarus Tomaso Pietro Marchegiani. The corresponding information was published on Thursday by the press service of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry.
During the meeting, the diplomats discussed the state and prospects for the development of bilateral relations, confirming their readiness to continue political contacts. The interlocutors also exchanged views on current topics on the international agenda. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
UBTech’s humanoid robots steal the show at Beyond Expo 2025’s opening ceremony in Macao, May 21, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Beyond Expo]
The fifth annual Beyond Expo kicked off in the Macao Special Administrative Region this week with its biggest turnout yet, reflecting China’s rising prominence in global tech innovation.
More than 1,200 exhibitors, 500 startups and 80 unicorn companies crammed into the Venetian Macao Cotai Expo on Thursday, with organizers expecting 30,000 visitors. The event has tripled in size since its 2021 debut.
“When we first established Beyond Expo in 2021, we wanted to showcase the technological advancement of Asia,” said the expo’s co-founder Gang Lu. “We are delighted to be celebrating our fifth year with over 800 companies — the largest number of participants to date from all over the world.”
This year’s expo rides China’s tech sector hot streak, following DeepSeek’s splashy launch earlier this year. And the Wednesday night opening ceremony wasted no time showcasing the country’s technological prowess, with UBTech’s humanoid robots stealing the show.
The Shenzhen company recently partnered with Huawei to combine AI systems with robotics expertise — a marriage that could cement China’s already formidable position in the sector. Mass production will begin this year, company officials said.
The opening ceremony also celebrated China’s cosmic ambitions. Wang Jian, founder of Alibaba Cloud and now head of Zhejiang Lab, outlined plans for a 1,000-satellite network functioning as a space-based computing system. His lab launched the first dozen satellites earlier this month.
A humanoid robot performs a piano demonstration at the Beyond Expo in Macao, May 22, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Beyond Expo]
These high-profile innovations reflect broader trends in Asian tech development. Asia filed 70% of global patents in 2024, with China alone holding 60% of worldwide AI patents.
“Asia is no longer just a manufacturing base — it’s now a global hub for innovation in AI, robotics and smart manufacturing,” said AI expert Kai-Fu Lee in a video address. “The scale of our markets, the speed of our adoption and the boldness of our entrepreneurs are shaping the future of technology.”
But Lee emphasized that innovation cannot happen in silos. “It takes openness, exchange and collaboration. That’s why Beyond matters. It brings together the best of Asia and the world to share ideas, build partnerships and co-create the future.”
This is not just aspirational talk — Beyond has assembled a speaker lineup that crosses borders, sectors and rivalries.
Featured speakers include OpenAI’s former marketing chief Zack Kass, NBA champion and tech investor Metta Sandiford-Artest, Chinese internet pioneer Mike Cai, and esports leader Mario Ho, son of Macao’s casino magnate Stanley Ho.
“Beyond is a platform from Asia and for Asia — creating a global stage where the world can see the region’s immense potential,” said co-founder Jason Ho, outlining the event’s core mission.
Haofeng Fu, CEO of Japan’s Regacy Innovation Group, backed Ho’s perspective: “Asia has immense technological potential, but there’s still no truly representative platform that unites Asian innovations and connects them with the global stage. I hope that Beyond Expo can take on that mission.”
The expo is delivering on these aspirations. This fifth edition has seen the launch of several new initiatives, including the Beyond Global Network for market entry support and the Beyond Founder’s Club, a network for high-growth startup founders across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
Beyond has also become a significant funding hub. More than 300 investment firms will attend this year’s Global Investment Summit, looking for new opportunities in the region. Meanwhile, the expo’s Fund at First Pitch contest will see over 150 startups compete for immediate investment, after last year’s winners cashed in with $15 million in funding.
A futuristic air taxi prototype is displayed at the fifth annual Beyond Expo in Macao, May 22, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Beyond Expo]
Beyond’s Macao setting is no accident. The city anchors the southern edge of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), China’s $1.9 trillion economic zone that is home to 87 million people and the country’s densest concentration of tech talent.
“All the new kids on the block are linked to Shenzhen and the Greater Bay Area,” said Laurent Le Pen, CEO of Shenzhen-based tech wearables firm Omate. “You can think about DJI, Insta360, the smartphone kings — Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus, Nothing — and now cars like XPeng and Huawei.”
Le Pen emphasized the importance of hosting the expo in the GBA, adding: “We’re all cooperating in the internationalization of Shenzhen and the Greater Bay Area.”
Beyond Expo 2025 runs until May 24.
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, May 23 (Xinhua) — Chinese tech firm Xiaomi has officially unveiled its first 3-nanometer mobile chip, dubbed Xring O1.
The unveiling took place in Beijing on Thursday evening. Xiaomi founder and chairman Lei Jun said the new chip, which features a 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU, will deliver an improved user experience.
According to experts, Xring O1 is a major breakthrough for Xiaomi in terms of chip R&D capabilities.
The new chip has already entered serial production and is integrated into the company’s latest flagship products – the Xiaomi 15S Pro smartphone and the Xiaomi Pad 7 Ultra tablet.
It took Xiaomi 10 years to develop Xring O1. Since 2021, the company has invested over 13 billion yuan (about 1.8 billion US dollars) in the project, and the R&D team has more than 2,500 people.
According to Lei Jun, Xiaomi plans to invest 200 billion yuan in R&D in key technologies including operating systems, artificial intelligence and chips in the next five years. -0-
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
LOS ANGELES, May 22 (Xinhua) — At least two people were killed and eight others were injured when a small plane crashed into a residential area in the southwestern U.S. city of San Diego early Thursday, local authorities said.
The San Diego Police Department reported on social media site X that the crash damaged about 10 buildings in the area.
Local authorities confirmed that a small Cessna plane crashed in the Murphy Canyon area at around 04:00 local time.
Several homes and cars caught fire as a result of the crash, city fire spokesman Dan Eddy told the media.
“There is jet fuel everywhere. We have hazmat specialists on site now and we have requested additional resources for that,” Eddy said.
He said all the victims were on the plane, which could hold up to 10 people. Officials do not yet know how many people were on board.
About 100 local residents were evacuated after the crash. Authorities confirmed that the damaged residential buildings were in a military town. –0–
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
PYONGYANG, May 23 (Xinhua) — A North Korean investigative team has launched a “full-scale investigation” into a serious incident that occurred during the launch of a new destroyer at the Chongjin shipyard on Wednesday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Friday.
The investigation team into the accident includes representatives of the prosecutor’s office and relevant experts, KCNA said in a statement.
“A detailed underwater and internal inspection of the destroyer confirmed that, contrary to the initial announcement, there were no holes in the bottom of the vessel, the starboard side of the hull was scratched, and a small amount of water flowed into the stern through a structural channel,” KCNA reported, citing the results of the investigation.
Experts estimate that it will take two to three days to pump out the sea water, and more than 10 days to restore the ship’s side. –0–
Source: US FBI
“Wherever in the country you may live—from California to Nebraska to Georgia to points in between—the cyber risk and the national security risk for farms and ranches and our food processing facilities is growing exponentially,” said Gene Kowel, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Omaha Field Office, which partnered with the Nebraska Farm Bureau to host the August 12 symposium. “The threats are evolving. They’re becoming more complex and more severe.”
Examples shared during the daylong event included ransomware attacks that cripple operations, network hacks that take control of systems, and the theft of seeds worth millions of dollars in intellectual property and research.
Kowel said the FBI is monitoring four major threats to the nation’s agriculture sector, which—like water, power, and transportation—is considered part of the nation’s critical infrastructure. The threats include ransomware attacks, malicious software (malware) from foreign adversaries, theft of data and intellectual property, and bioterrorism.
Foreign actors—most notably the People’s Republic of China—are actively seeking ways to disrupt the United States’ agriculture industry, Kowel said. He urged farmers, cattle ranchers, and others to add cyber hygiene to their long list of chores. Cyber hygiene includes basic steps like using multi-factor authentication to access networks and backing up critical data.
“We all know that in agriculture today, almost all of our data is stored in the cloud,” Kowel said. “Almost all of our complex machinery is connected to the internet, connected to the cloud, so protecting that control and protecting that data is critical.”
Source: US FBI
The FBI and our partners disrupted a Chinese botnet and freed thousands of impacted devices from its clutches, Director Christopher Wray announced September 18.
The botnet, which was operated by a Chinese government-sponsored hacker group known as Flax Typhoon, targeted internet-connected devices such as storage devices, cameras, and video recorders to compromise victims’ systems and steal their confidential data, Director Wray said during a keynote at the 2024 Aspen Cyber Summit in Washington, D.C.
“Ultimately, as part of this operation, we were able to identify thousands of infected devices, and, then, with court authorization, issued commands to remove the malware from them, prying them from China’s grip,” Wray said.
Approximately half of the devices under the botnet’s control were based in the United States, he noted. The hacker group’s targets included organizations in the public and private sectors, as well as academia and the media, he added. Wray also revealed the hacker group’s true identity to be an information security company known as the Integrity Technology Group. “But their chairman has publicly admitted that for years his company has collected intelligence and performed reconnaissance for Chinese government security agencies,” Wray added.
Wray called the cyber disruption a success but cautioned that the effort was “just one round in a much longer fight.”
“The Chinese government is going to continue to target your organizations and our critical infrastructure—either by their own hand or concealed through their proxies,” Wray said. “And we’ll continue to work with our partners to identify their malicious activity, disrupt their hacking campaigns, and bring them to light.”
Saving victims time and money
During his remarks, Wray also underscored the Bureau’s dedication to working with victims of cyber intrusions, whether they’re individuals or organizations. According to Wray, reporting ransomware attacks to the FBI can potentially help us:
“I’m extremely proud to report that, in just the past two years, the FBI has handed out nearly 1,000 decryptors, and we’ve saved victims around the world something like $800 million in ransom payments,” Wray said.
Decryptors—also known as decryption keys—function like passwords to unlock data that ransomware criminals hold captive. But, Wray explained, some of those keys require information about the victim to work.
So it’s paramount that organizations contact the FBI if they fall victim to ransomware attacks. Otherwise, he cautioned, the Bureau “might not be able to make that match—and we might not be able to save you that ransom payment.”
Wray also discussed how information sharing between the Bureau and our public and private sector partners can help the FBI combat ongoing cyberattacks and lessen the impact of future cyber incidents.
As an example, he pointed to a recent interagency effort to alert the private sector that a pro-Russian hacktivist group was targeting “operational technology networks.”
“They had set their sights across our critical infrastructure—from dams and wastewater systems to the energy, food, and agriculture sectors,” Wray explained.
But, he said, the FBI’s joint advisory about the cyber threat allowed private sector organizations to fix the vulnerability these bad actors were using to infiltrate networks, thereby protecting the companies and the American public, alike.
“So, if there’s only one thing you take away from my time here today, I hope it’s this: The FBI needs and wants to work with you,” Wray said. “Let us save you money, save you time, and save you from future attacks so that you can keep your organization’s focus where it should be: on your operations, and—together—we can help keep our nation safe.”
West Palm Beach investigation updates
During his remarks, Wray also addressed the Bureau’s investigation into the September 15 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
“For the second time in just over two months, we’ve witnessed what appears to be an attempt to attack our democracy and our democratic process,” he said. “I’m relieved that former President Trump is safe, and I want the American people to know the men and women of the FBI are working tirelessly to get to the bottom of what happened.”
Wray acknowledged that the ongoing nature of the investigation limited how much the Bureau could say about the matter.
“What I can say is that we have dedicated the full force of the FBI to this investigation, and that runs the gamut from criminal to national security resources, from tactical support to Evidence Response Teams, from forensic scientists to operational technology personnel,” he said.“Together, we’re working around the clock to investigate this.”
Source: US FBI
Michael McMahon, a Former New York City Police Department Sergeant, Was Convicted at Trial for Participating in a Scheme to Stalk and Coerce a U.S. Resident to Return to the PRC as Part of the PRC’s “Operation Fox Hunt”
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Michael McMahon was sentenced by United States District Judge Pamela K. Chen to 18 months in prison for acting as an illegal agent of the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), as well as for interstate stalking and conspiracy to commit such acts in connection with his participation in a scheme to coerce a U.S. resident to return to the PRC as part of its international repatriation effort known as “Operation Fox Hunt.” McMahon and co-defendants Zhu Yong and Congying Zheng were convicted by a federal jury in June 2023 following a three-week trial. As part of his sentence, McMahon was also ordered to pay a fine of $11,000.
John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Sue J. Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; Terence G. Reilly, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Newark Field Office (FBI); and Michael Alfonso, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York) announced the sentences.
“McMahon, a former law enforcement officer who swore an oath to protect the public, went rogue and dishonorably engaged in a scheme at the direction of the People’s Republic of China, terrorized victims living in the New York metropolitan area, and shattered their sense of safety and security,” stated United States Attorney Durham. “Thanks to the efforts of law enforcement, the defendants’ plan to coerce the victims to return to China failed, and the defendants have instead been brought to justice for their role in China’s insidious Operation Fox Hunt. My Office remains unwavering in its commitment to exposing and undermining efforts by foreign governments to perpetrate transnational repression schemes that threaten our national security interests and harm individuals living in the United States.”
Mr. Durham expressed his appreciation to the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and the FBI’s New York Field Office for their work on the case.
“Most private investigators operate within the bounds of the law and ethical conduct. McMahon knew exactly what he was doing—and at trial, we proved his knowing and willing participation in this scheme,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Reilly. “His client, the People’s Republic of China, has invested years and millions of dollars trying to silence dissent beyond its borders. When those efforts cross into our country, they threaten our national security. The PRC needs to understand: we will not tolerate it.”
“This defendant allowed himself to become a partner in the PRC’s cruel harassment and intimidation campaign,” stated HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Alfonso. “HSI, together with our federal counterparts, will continue to outfox our adversaries’ attempts to circumvent U.S. regulations, undermine national security, and target the American public.”
As proven at trial, between approximately 2016 and 2019, McMahon and his co-conspirators participated in an international campaign to threaten, harass, surveil, and intimidate John Doe #1 and his family in order to force him and his wife, Jane Doe #1, to return to the PRC to face purported corruption charges. Beginning in 2012, John Doe #1 and Jane Doe #1 had been targeted for repatriation as part of the PRC’s transnational repression programs known as “Operation Fox Hunt” and “Operation Sky Net.” John Doe #1 and his family had accordingly sought to keep their address out of public records.
Yong hired McMahon, a retired NYPD sergeant working as a private investigator, to locate John Doe #1. McMahon obtained sensitive information about John Doe #1, which he then reported back to Zhu and others, including a PRC police officer. McMahon also conducted surveillance outside the New Jersey home of John Doe #1’s relative and provided Zhu and PRC officials with detailed reports of what he observed. The operation was supervised and directed by several PRC officials, including a PRC police officer and a PRC prosecutor.
As proven at trial, McMahon knew the operation was intended not only to locate John Doe #1, but to coerce him to return to the PRC by exerting pressure on his family members. In April 2017, PRC officials threatened to jail John Doe #1’s sister, who lived in the PRC, in order to coerce John Doe #1’s then-82-year-old father to travel from the PRC to their relative’s home in New Jersey. John Doe #1’s father, who had recently suffered a brain hemorrhage, was so frail that a doctor accompanied him for the trip. McMahon followed John Doe #1’s father from the relative’s New Jersey home, and, by doing so, was able to learn John Doe #1’s address. McMahon immediately provided this information to a PRC operative.
On September 4, 2018, Zheng and another co-conspirator drove to the New Jersey residence of John Doe #1 and Jane Doe #1 – at the address that McMahon had provided – where they pounded on the front door, attempted to enter the house, and then peered through the windows in the back of the home. They left a note on the front door informing John Doe #1 that his “wife and children will be okay” if John Doe #1 surrendered himself to face a ten-year prison term in the PRC.
McMahon knew that the subjects of his investigation were wanted by the PRC government, a fact that he texted about with another investigator he hired to help him. Following his arrest, McMahon acknowledged knowing that his employers wanted to get the victim back to China “so they could prosecute him.” After providing the victims’ address, McMahon told his surveillance partner that he was “waiting for a call” to find out what to do next. McMahon’s partner responded, “Yeah. From NJ State Police about an abduction,” to which McMahon responded “Lol.” McMahon later suggested to a PRC co-conspirator that they “harass” John Doe #1 by “[p]ark[ing] outside his home and let[ting] him know we are there.” McMahon took other investigative steps designed to harass the victims, such as researching their daughter’s university residence and college major.
McMahon was paid more than $19,000 in total for his role in the illegal repatriation scheme. In an apparent attempt to conceal the source of payments from his PRC clients, McMahon deposited those payments into his son’s bank account, the only time he had done so with client payments.
Previously, in January 2025, Zhu and Zheng were sentenced respectively to 24 months’ and 16 months’ imprisonment. Three additional co-defendants pleaded guilty in connection with their roles in the PRC-directed harassment and intimidation campaign. They are awaiting sentencing. Five co-defendants in the indictment, Hu Ji, Li Minjun, Tu Lan, Zhu Feng, and Zhai Yongqiang are fugitives.
The FBI has created a website for victims to report efforts by foreign governments to stalk, intimidate, or assault people in the United States. If you believe that you are or have been a victim of transnational repression, please visit https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/counterintelligence/transnational-repression.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Meredith A. Arfa and Irisa Chen are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorneys Christine A. Bonomo and Scott A. Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. Paralegal Specialist Rebecca Roth also has provided valuable assistance.
The Defendants:
MICHAEL MCMAHON
Age: 57
Mahwah, New Jersey
ZHU YONG
Age: 68
East Elmhurst, New York
CONGYING ZHENG
Age: 29
Brooklyn, New York
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-265 (S-1) (PKC)
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Indian equity markets opened on a firm note on Friday, with benchmark indices trading higher amid mixed global cues and strong domestic macroeconomic fundamentals. Early gains were led by buying interest in FMCG, IT, and auto stocks.
At 9:29 AM, the BSE Sensex was up by 281.75 points, or 0.35%, at 81,233.74, while the NSE Nifty climbed 109.75 points, or 0.45%, to trade at 24,719.45.
The Nifty Bank index was also in the green, rising 69.85 points, or 0.13%, to 55,011.15. Broader markets mirrored the positive trend, with the Nifty Midcap 100 gaining 258.10 points (0.46%) to 56,582.95 and the Nifty Smallcap 100 advancing 58.30 points (0.33%) to 17,561.40.
Market experts attributed the upbeat sentiment to India’s robust economic indicators, including steady GDP growth and declining inflation and interest rates.
Top gainers in the Sensex included ITC, Adani Ports, Infosys, PowerGrid, Tech Mahindra, Tata Steel, SBI, HCL Tech, UltraTech Cement, Tata Motors, and L&T. On the flip side, Sun Pharma, M&M, NTPC, Bajaj Finance, Bharti Airtel, Maruti Suzuki, and ICICI Bank were among the major laggards.
In Asia, major markets such as China, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Seoul, Jakarta, and Japan were trading in the green, providing a supportive backdrop to Indian equities.
Overnight in the US, key indices posted a mixed close. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended almost flat at 41,859.09, down 1.35 points. The S&P 500 slipped 2.60 points to 5,842.01, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 53.09 points to 18,925.74.
Experts noted that US equities were volatile following the retreat of Treasury yields after the passage of tax and spending legislation by the US House of Representatives.
On the institutional front, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net sellers to the tune of ₹5,045.36 crore on May 22, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought equities worth ₹3,715.00 crore.
“Even when the market turns weak, domestic demand-driven segments like financials, telecom, and aviation remain resilient. This is evident in the strength of stocks like ICICI Bank, Bharti Airtel, and InterGlobe Aviation. The market is sending a clear signal,” said Dr. V.K. Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services.
-IANS
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
KUNMING, May 23 (Xinhua) — China launched the country’s first digital platform dedicated to tropical biodiversity on Thursday to mark the International Day for Biological Diversity.
The biodiversity platform, hosted by the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), offers global access to more than 90,000 species records.
Xishuangbanna in southwest China’s Yunnan Province is one of the country’s areas where an intact tropical ecosystem has been preserved. It is home to a sixth of the country’s plant species and a quarter of its animal species.
The new platform contains more than 90,000 records covering 5,236 animal species, 9,779 plant species and 607 fungi species.
The platform was jointly launched by the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden and the Ecology and Environment Bureau of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture. In order to promote the integration of scientific research, biology popularization and nature conservation, it will continue to expand functions such as intelligent biological image recognition, artificial intelligence-based science popularization, etc. -0-
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
FRONTLINE PLC REPORTS RESULTS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2025
Frontline plc (the “Company”, “Frontline,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), today reported unaudited results for the three months ended March 31, 2025:
Highlights
Lars H. Barstad, Chief Executive Officer of Frontline Management AS, commented:
“The first quarter of 2025 came in line with the previous quarter, somewhat muted relative to the economic and political backdrop during the period. In times of uncertainty, it’s comforting to operate in an industry that maintains business as usual, transporting oil and products around the world at a steady pace. Utilization on the larger ships has improved during the quarter and with continued pressure and enforcement on sanctioned trades, we have seen healthy developments in activity across the segments that Frontline deploys. Fleet growth remains slow, and ordering has again stalled, continuing to support the long-term fundamental story for tankers, where Frontline is ideally positioned with its cost-focused business model and spot-exposed, modern fleet.”
Inger M. Klemp, Chief Financial Officer of Frontline Management AS, added:
“Through our refinancings in 2025, we have further strengthened our strong liquidity, leaving the Company with no meaningful debt maturities until 2030, and further reduced our borrowing costs and cash breakeven rates. We continue to focus on maintaining our competitive cost structure, breakeven levels and solid balance sheet to ensure that we are well positioned to generate significant cash flow and create value for our shareholders.”
Average daily TCEs and estimated cash breakeven rates
| ($ per day) | Spot TCE | Spot TCE currently contracted | % Covered | Estimated average daily cash breakeven rates for the next 12 months | ||
| Q1 2025 | Q4 2024 | 2024 | Q2 2025 | |||
| VLCC | 37,200 | 35,900 | 43,400 | 56,400 | 68% | 29,700 |
| Suezmax | 31,200 | 33,300 | 41,400 | 44,900 | 69% | 24,300 |
| LR2 / Aframax | 22,300 | 26,100 | 42,300 | 36,100 | 66% | 23,300 |
We expect the spot TCEs for the full second quarter of 2025 to be lower than the spot TCEs currently contracted, due to the impact of ballast days during the second quarter of 2025. See Appendix 1 for further details.
The Board of Directors
Frontline plc
Limassol, Cyprus
May 22, 2025
Ola Lorentzon – Chairman and Director
John Fredriksen – Director
James O’Shaughnessy – Director
Steen Jakobsen – Director
Cato Stonex – Director
Ørjan Svanevik – Director
Dr. Maria Papakokkinou – Director
Questions should be directed to:
Lars H. Barstad: Chief Executive Officer, Frontline Management AS
+47 23 11 40 00
Inger M. Klemp: Chief Financial Officer, Frontline Management AS
+47 23 11 40 00
Forward-Looking Statements
Matters discussed in this report may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements, which include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts.
Frontline plc and its subsidiaries, or the Company, desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. This report and any other written or oral statements made by us or on our behalf may include forward-looking statements, which reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance and are not intended to give any assurance as to future results. When used in this document, the words “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “plan,” “potential,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “expect” and similar expressions, terms or phrases may identify forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements in this report are based upon various assumptions, including without limitation, management’s examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
In addition to these important factors and matters discussed elsewhere herein, important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include:
We caution readers of this report not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates. These forward-looking statements are no guarantee of our future performance, and actual results and future developments may vary materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.
This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
1 This press release describes Time Charter Equivalent earnings and related per day amounts and spot TCE currently contracted, which are not measures prepared in accordance with IFRS (“non-GAAP”). See Appendix 1 for a full description of the measures and reconciliation to the nearest IFRS measure.
Attachment
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Source: China State Council Information Office
Xi stresses high-quality cultural-ethical advancement
Xinhua | May 23, 2025
Chinese President Xi Jinping has underscored the importance of promoting high-quality cultural and ethical development to provide robust spiritual support for building a strong nation and achieving national rejuvenation.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a recent instruction on the work concerning promoting cultural-ethical progress.
Source: US FBI
Note: View the affidavit here.
The Justice Department today announced a court-authorized law enforcement operation that disrupted a botnet consisting of more than 200,000 consumer devices in the United States and worldwide. As described in court documents unsealed in the Western District of Pennsylvania, the botnet devices were infected by People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-sponsored hackers working for Integrity Technology Group, a company based in Beijing, and known to the private sector as “Flax Typhoon.”
The botnet malware infected numerous types of consumer devices, including small-office/home-office (SOHO) routers, internet protocol (IP) cameras, digital video recorders (DVRs), and network-attached storage (NAS) devices. The malware connected these thousands of infected devices into a botnet, controlled by Integrity Technology Group, which was used to conduct malicious cyber activity disguised as routine internet traffic from the infected consumer devices. The court-authorized operation took control of the hackers’ computer infrastructure and, among other steps, sent disabling commands through that infrastructure to the malware on the infected devices. During the course of the operation, there was an attempt to interfere with the FBI’s remediation efforts through a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack targeting the operational infrastructure that the FBI was utilizing to effectuate the court’s orders. That attack was ultimately unsuccessful in preventing the FBI’s disruption of the botnet.
“The Justice Department is zeroing in on the Chinese government backed hacking groups that target the devices of innocent Americans and pose a serious threat to our national security,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “As we did earlier this year, the Justice Department has again destroyed a botnet used by PRC-backed hackers to infiltrate consumer devices here in the United States and around the world. We will continue to aggressively counter the threat that China’s state- sponsored hacking groups pose to the American people.”
“Our takedown of this state-sponsored botnet reflects the Department’s all-tools approach to disrupting cyber criminals. This network, managed by a PRC government contractor, hijacked hundreds of thousands of private routers, cameras, and other consumer devices to create a malicious system for the PRC to exploit,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “Today should serve as a warning to cybercriminals preying on Americans – if you continue to come for us, we will come for you.”
“This dynamic operation demonstrates, once again, the Justice Department’s resolve in countering the threats posed by PRC state-sponsored hackers,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the National Security Division. “For the second time this year, we have disrupted a botnet used by PRC proxies to conceal their efforts to hack into networks in the U.S. and around the world to steal information and hold our infrastructure at risk. Our message to these hackers is clear: if you build it, we will bust it.”
“The disruption of this worldwide botnet is part of the FBI’s commitment to using technical operations to help protect victims, expose publicly the scope of these criminal hacking campaigns, and to use the adversary’s tools against them to remove malicious infrastructure from the virtual battlefield,” said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. “The FBI’s unique legal authorities allowed it to lead an international operation with partners that collectively disconnected this botnet from its China-based hackers at Integrity Technology Group.”
“The targeted hacking of hundreds of thousands of innocent victims in the United States and around the world shows the breadth and aggressiveness of PRC state-sponsored hackers,” said U.S. Attorney Eric G. Olshan for the Western District of Pennsylvania. “This court-authorized operation disrupted a sophisticated botnet designed to steal sensitive information and launch disruptive cyber attacks. We will continue to work with our partners inside and outside government, using every tool at our disposal, to defend and maintain global cybersecurity.”
“The FBI’s investigation revealed that a publicly-traded, China-based company is openly selling its customers the ability to hack into and control thousands of consumer devices worldwide. This operation sends a clear message to the PRC that the United States will not tolerate this shameless criminal conduct,” said Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy of the FBI San Diego Field Office.
According to the court documents, the botnet was developed and controlled by Integrity Technology Group, a publicly-traded company headquartered in Beijing. The company built an online application allowing its customers to log in and control specified infected victim devices, including with a menu of malicious cyber commands using a tool called “vulnerability-arsenal.” The online application was prominently labelled “KRLab,” one of the main public brands used by Integrity Technology Group.
The FBI assesses that Integrity Technology Group, in addition to developing and controlling the botnet, is responsible for computer intrusion activities attributed to China-based hackers known by the private sector as “Flax Typhoon.” Microsoft Threat Intelligence described Flax Typhoon as nation-state actors based out of China, active since 2021, who have targeted government agencies and education, critical manufacturing, and information technology organizations in Taiwan, and elsewhere. The FBI’s investigation has corroborated Microsoft’s conclusions, finding that Flax Typhoon has successfully attacked multiple U.S. and foreign corporations, universities, government agencies, telecommunications providers, and media organizations.
A cybersecurity advisory describing Integrity Technology Group tactics, techniques and procedures was also published today by the FBI, the National Security Agency, U.S. Cyber Command’s Cyber National Mission Force, and partner agencies in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
The government’s malware disabling commands, which interacted with the malware’s native functionality, were extensively tested prior to the operation. As expected, the operation did not affect the legitimate functions of, or collect content information from, the infected devices. The FBI is providing notice to U.S. owners of devices that were affected by this court-authorized operation. The FBI is contacting those victims through their internet service provider, who will provide notice to their customers.
The FBI’s San Diego Field Office and Cyber Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and the National Security Cyber Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division led the domestic disruption effort. Assistance was also provided by the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section. These efforts would not have been successful without the collaboration of partners, including French authorities, and Lumen Technologies’ threat intelligence group, Black Lotus Labs, which first identified and described this botnet, which it named Raptor Train, in July 2023.
If you believe you have a compromised computer or device, please visit the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) or report online to CISA. You may also contact your local FBI field office directly.
The FBI continues to investigate Integrity Technology Group’s and Flax Typhoon’s computer intrusion activities.
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Tashkent, May 22 (Xinhua) — An International Academic Hub for Pediatric Oncology will be opened in Uzbekistan, local media reported on Thursday, citing a decree by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
The hub will reportedly operate at the Scientific and Practical Medical Center for Children’s Oncology, Hematology and Immunology of Uzbekistan.
“In accordance with the Resolution, a digital patient route will be introduced, including the processes of registration, diagnosis, treatment, dispensary observation and routing of children with oncological and oncohematological diseases,” the statement says.
It is noted that the academic hub is a scientific and educational institution, and it is entrusted with such tasks as the implementation of international educational programs, analysis and forecasting of epidemiological trends in childhood cancer incidence for strategic planning and development of preventive measures. –0–
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
NINGBO, May 22 (Xinhua) — Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin said Thursday that China will continue to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation with Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, calling it a model of trans-regional multilateral cooperation.
Speaking at the 4th China-Central Eastern Europe and Central Asia International Consumer Goods Expo and Fair in Ningbo, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Shen Yiqin promised that China will continue to increase imports from Central and Eastern Europe countries, expand bilateral trade, and strive to achieve new high-quality cooperation results in the joint construction of the Belt and Road and other fields.
According to the State Councilor, the mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Central and Eastern Europe countries has become a model of trans-regional multilateral cooperation, and bilateral trade, investment and connectivity are deepening day by day.
Shen Yiqin stressed that China, committed to building an open world economy, is willing to work with all countries in the world, including Central and Eastern Europe, to jointly safeguard the multilateral trading system, the stability of global supply chains and the international environment for open cooperation.
The 4th China-CEEC EXPO will run until May 25. –0–
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
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, May 22 (Xinhua) — The Russian Defense Ministry’s air defense forces repelled several attacks by Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) flying toward Moscow on Thursday, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported on his Telegram channel.
“The Ministry of Defense’s air defense continues to repel attacks by enemy drones,” he wrote.
According to the Moscow mayor, 10 attacks were carried out during the night and first half of the day on May 22 using 34 UAVs. All of them were destroyed. “Operational services are working at the sites of the debris fall,” added S. Sobyanin.
To ensure the safety of civil aircraft flights, temporary restrictions were introduced on the operation of the capital’s air hub airports.
The day before, on May 21, S. Sobyanin reported the destruction of 27 Ukrainian drones flying toward the capital.
In total, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, Russian air defense forces shot down 485 UAVs over Russian regions from 20:00 on May 20 to 08:00 on May 22. –0–
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday called on China and France to be reliable forces for maintaining the international order, open forces for promoting global growth and progressive forces for advancing multilateral cooperation in a phone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Xi Jinping called on the two countries to jointly safeguard the authority and status of the UN, uphold the rules of international trade and the world economic order, and adhere to genuine multilateralism.
The Chinese leader recalled that during his visit to France last May, the two sides agreed to carry forward the spirit of establishing Chinese-French diplomatic relations, which is characterized by independence and self-sufficiency, mutual understanding, strategic vision, mutual benefit and common gain, and to infuse this spirit with new and modern content. Over the past period, Chinese-French cooperation has made significant progress, the Chinese leader noted.
The two sides should strengthen strategic communication and seek consensus, seize opportunities to deepen cooperation in traditional areas such as investment, aviation, space and nuclear energy, while expanding cooperation in emerging sectors such as the digital economy, green development, biomedicine and the “silver economy” (economic activities related to the needs and interests of the elderly), Xi said.
The Chinese leader also stressed the need to expand cultural and humanitarian exchanges and strengthen friendship between the peoples of the two countries.
Xi Jinping stressed that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. He said that as permanent members of the UN Security Council and independent powers, China and France are the founders and builders of the post-war international order, and the two countries should strengthen unity and cooperation.
The more complex the international situation becomes, he added, the more China and France need to make the right strategic choices.
The Chinese President said that China always regards Europe as an independent pole in a multipolar world and supports the European Union in strengthening its strategic independence and enhancing its important role in international affairs.
China is ready to work with the EU to address global challenges and achieve results that will benefit both sides and the world, Xi Jinping said. –0–
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Defence Secretary John Healey and General Sir Jim Hockenhull remarks on the Chagos Islands deal signed by the Prime Minister today.
Thank you, Prime Minister.
As the world becomes more dangerous, the Diego Garcia military base becomes more important.
But I want to underline the urgency and uncertainty over the future control of this UK base.
Within weeks, we faced new legal rulings which would weaken the UK’s full operational sovereignty over this base, and within just a few years, this irreplaceable military and intelligence base would become inoperable.
That’s why we have taken action today.
That is why the Prime Minister has signed this treaty today, securing this base for the next 99 years and beyond.
Our allied nations are right behind us and behind this deal – the US, Australia, New Zealand, India, Canada.
Others want to see this base closed. They want to see this deal collapse – China, Russia, Iran.
The value of this deal is beyond doubt.
Full control of Diego Garcia for the next 99 years and beyond.
Full control and protection of the electromagnetic spectrum that priceless intelligence; communications, sensors; radar; a strengthened buffer zone so we can control the seas and the skies immediately around Diego Garcia and wider islands up to 100 miles – an effective veto over any developments or hostile activities.
And with the base in jeopardy, no action was no option, and anyone who would argue to abandon this deal would abandon this base. So let me be clear, the British people and our British forces are safer today and into the future because of this deal.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I think it’s useful to add a military perspective here.
The way we see this is very simple:
Diego Garcia provides a vital capability to our Armed Forces, to our US allies and for our shared contribution to global security.
The geography offers immense and irreplaceable global reach, enabling us to pivot forces westward toward Africa and the Middle East, or eastward towards Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
Added to that are the facilities on the base. It has a deep water port for nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers; a runway capable of operating every type of military aircraft, with the logistical support required for modern operations and the satellite and communications infrastructure that the Prime Minister mentioned, it is an unique asset for Britain’s defence and security.
It gives us the ability to deploy a wide range of capabilities over a huge geography.
Now Diego Garcia provides its worth through the long years of counter terrorism operations and proves its value today by supporting our ability to protect maritime trade, it will be of even greater strategic significance in the future.
It helps keeps the United Kingdom safe and prosperous, and it allows us to work closely with our international partners. The use of Diego Garcia by US forces is a unique contribution to the military relationship between our two countries, and one that underlines the UK’s commitment to burden sharing. Both our militaries will continue to benefit from our investment in these facilities for the years to come. Britain projects military power through Such alliances and through assets like this base, which give us a global reach. I welcome the long term certainty that this treaty brings it will help the British armed forces in our efforts to support stability abroad and security at home.
Thank you. Thank you very much.
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Global rating agency Fitch Ratings on Thursday raised India’s GDP growth potential by 0.2 percentage points to 6.4 per cent over the next five years, on the back of a sharper rise in the country’s labour force participation rate in recent years.
Fitch highlighted that the revised estimate for India shows a stronger contribution from labour inputs, mainly total employment, rather than labour productivity.
At the same time, the global rating agency has scaled down China’s growth projection by 0.3 percentage points to 4.3 per cent from 4.6 per cent earlier.
The changes are part of Fitch’s revised assessment of potential GDP growth for 10 emerging market economies over the next five years.
Fitch said, “Our estimate of India’s trend growth is slightly higher at 6.4 per cent, compared with 6.2 per cent previously. We think TFP growth will slow from recent years to be in line with its long-run average of 1.5 per cent.”
TFP, which stands for Total-factor productivity (TFP), also called multi-factor productivity, is usually measured as the ratio of aggregate output (GDP) to aggregate inputs. Under some simplifying assumptions about the production technology, growth in TFP becomes the portion of growth in output not explained by growth in traditionally measured inputs of labour and capital used in production.[
Fitch highlighted that the revised estimate for India shows a stronger contribution from labour inputs, mainly total employment, rather than labour productivity.
The rating agency has also made changes to its projections based on a revised assessment of labour force data. It noted that the contribution from the participation rate has been revised upwards, while the projected contribution of capital deepening has been lowered.
“Our revised estimate implies that there is a stronger contribution from labour inputs (total employment) rather than labour productivity. India’s labour force participation rate has increased sharply in recent years; we expect it will continue to increase but at a slower pace,” Fitch Ratings noted.
“Our update of potential growth in emerging markets is now 3.9 per cent, representing a further, albeit marginal drop from the 4 per cent estimate we published in November 2023. This mainly reflects lower potential growth in China,” said Robert Sierra, Director, Fitch Ratings.
China’s lower potential, the global ratings agency, can be attributed to a weaker capital deepening and steeper fall in labour force participation, the rating agency said.
India continues to remain the world’s fastest growing major economy and the only country expected to clock over 6 per cent growth in the next two years, according to an IMF report released last month. The IMF has trimmed the growth forecast for over 120 countries.
(IANS)
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements
PM’s remarks at his press conference on Diego Garcia.
A few moments ago…
I signed a deal…
To secure the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia.
This is absolutely vital…
For our defence and intelligence…
And therefore –
For the safety and security of the British people.
The full assessment of why this is so important is highly classified.
But I want to speak as frankly as I can.
The strategic location of this base is of the utmost significance to Britain.
From deploying aircraft to defeat terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan…
To anticipating threats in the Red Sea and the Indo-Pacific…
The base is right at the foundation of our security and safety at home.
It has helped us to…
Disrupt threats to the UK…
Support counter terror operations against Islamic State…
And to reduce the risk to brave British and American servicemen and servicewomen.
The base will help protect the safe passage of our Carrier Strike Group as it goes through the Middle East.
It enables rapid deployment across the Middle East, East Africa, and South Asia…
It helps combat some of the most challenging threats we face,
Including from terrorism and hostile states…
And its location creates real military advantage across the Indo-Pacific.
The base gives the UK and the US access to unique and vital capabilities – which benefit us directly.
Many of these capabilities are secret, but they include…
Airfield and deep-water port facilities…
Facilities that support the worldwide operation of GPS…
And the monitoring of objects in the earth’s orbit…
And equipment to monitor the nuclear test ban treaty.
The base is one of the most significant contributions we make to our security relationship with the United States –
Which is critical for keeping Britain safe.
Almost everything we do from the base is in partnership with the US.
President Trump has welcomed the deal –
Along with other allies.
Because they see the strategic importance of this base –
And that we cannot cede this ground to others who would seek to do us harm.
And let me be clear –
We had to act now…
Because the base was under threat.
The courts have already made decisions which undermine our position.
And if Mauritius takes us to court again…
The UK’s longstanding legal view…
Is that we would not have a realistic prospect of success…
And would likely face a Provisional Measures Order within a matter of weeks.
But this is not just about international law.
This is about the operation of the base.
Even if we chose to ignore judgments made against us…
International organisations and other countries would act on them.
And that would undermine the operation of the base –
Causing us to lose this unique capability.
One example of this is the electromagnetic spectrum.
Countries have the right to manage this spectrum as they wish within their borders…
A right that’s recognised in regulations…
And overseen in the International Telecommunication Union.
The use of spectrum is key to understand and anticipate those who seek to do us harm.
If our right to control it is put into doubt…
We would lose the first line of defence against other countries who wish to interfere and disrupt this capability…
Rendering it practically useless.
In addition – if we do not agree this deal…
The legal situation would mean that…
We would not be able to prevent China…
Or any other nation…
Setting up their own bases on the outer islands,
Or carrying out joint exercises near our base.
We would have to explain to you – the British people –
And to our allies…
That we had lost control of this vital asset.
No responsible government could let that happen.
So there is no alternative –
But to act –
In Britain’s national interest.
By agreeing to this deal now – on our terms –
We are securing strong protections, including from malign influence…
That will allow the base to operate well into the next century…
Helping to keep us safe for generations to come.
Other approaches to secure the base have been tried over the years –
And they have failed.
[political content redacted]
Now there is obviously a cost to maintaining such a valuable asset.
We pay for our other military bases.
Allies like the US and France do the same.
This cost is part and parcel of using Britain’s global reach to keep us safe at home…
And it will be less than cost of running one aircraft carrier for a year.
*
Today’s agreement is the only way to maintain the base in the long term.
There is no alternative.
We will never gamble with national security.
So we have acted –
To secure our national interest…
To strengthen our national security –
And to protect the British people for many years to come.
Thank you.
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BISHKEK, May 22 /Xinhua/ — A roundtable discussion on “Cooperation in the China-Central Asia Format” was held in the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, on Thursday. The event was organized by the Chinese Embassy jointly with the Institute of World Politics of Kyrgyzstan.
According to the Chinese embassy, more than 50 people took part in the event, including the Chinese Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Liu Jiangping, the State Secretary of Kyrgyzstan Marat Imankulov, representatives of the scientific community and the media.
In her keynote speech, Liu Jiangping spoke in detail about the fruitful results of cooperation between China and Central Asian countries, and also revealed the importance of the China-Central Asia cooperation mechanism.
The ambassador stated that in the current complex and unstable international situation, China, together with the Central Asian countries, intends to effectively implement the agreements reached by the heads of the six states, improve and strengthen the China-Central Asia cooperation mechanism, deepen the joint construction of the Belt and Road and cooperation in all areas, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for China and the Central Asian countries.
M. Imankulov and other participants of the round table in their speeches highly praised the achievements of cooperation between the Central Asian states and China, noting that the “China-Central Asia” cooperation mechanism will give a powerful impetus to comprehensive interaction between China and the countries of the region and will become a model of mutually beneficial multilateral partnership.
Scholars present at the event spoke on cooperation in security, investment, connectivity, education and culture. Liu Jiangping answered all the questions asked of her in detail. –0–
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) — The China Coast Guard (CCG) on Thursday slammed the Philippines’ illegal actions in the Zhubi and Tiexian reefs, calling them a violation of China’s territorial sovereignty and calling on the Philippines to immediately stop such violations.
On Wednesday, two Philippine service vessels illegally entered waters off Zhubi Reef and Tiexian Reef without permission from the Chinese government, with some personnel illegally landing on Tiexian Reef, BOC spokesman Liu Dejun said.
According to the official, BOC officers took action against these vessels and boarded the reef to resolve the situation in a professional, standard, reasonable and legal manner.
However, one of the Philippine ships, ignoring multiple serious warnings from the Chinese side, approached the BOC vessel at a dangerous distance while it was on duty, which led to the collision. Liu Dejun stressed that the Philippine side bears full responsibility for the incident.
He said China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and adjacent waters, adding that such actions by the Philippines seriously violate China’s territorial sovereignty, are contrary to the Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and undermine peace and stability in the region.
“We call on the Philippine side to immediately stop such violations. The BOC will continue to carry out law enforcement activities in the maritime area under China’s jurisdiction to legitimately protect China’s sovereignty and rights,” the BOC official concluded. –0–
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
ALMATY, May 22 (Xinhua) — The Senate (upper house of parliament) of Kazakhstan has ratified an agreement between the governments of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan on mutual promotion and protection of investments, the Kazinform news agency reported on Thursday.
The agreement was signed on April 19, 2024, during the official visit of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic to the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana.
The document defines the procedure and conditions for regulating issues related to the creation of favorable investment conditions for strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries, in particular for investments by one country in the territory of another.
Kazakhstan is Kyrgyzstan’s third largest trading partner. In 2024, trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $1.71 billion, while exports from Kazakhstan increased by 9.6 percent and amounted to $1.3 billion. According to the National Bank of Kazakhstan, in the first nine months of 2024, foreign direct investment from Kyrgyzstan amounted to $4.8 million, which is 18 percent more than in the same period of 2023. –0–
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Daniel Brown, Lecturer in Astronomy, Nottingham Trent University
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the European Space Agency (Esa). It has launched spectacularly successful missions, but is different to other space agencies which generally represent one country. Esa is funded by 23 member states and also has cooperation agreements with nations such as Canada.
Esa operates cutting edge spacecraft designed to monitor the Earth, as well as space telescopes that study the distant cosmos. It has launched robotic spacecraft to other planets and to objects such as comets. It is also involved in human spaceflight – training European astronauts to work on the International Space Station (ISS).
These are hugely successful achievements. But the agency now faces challenges as competition heats up among newer space powers such as China and India.
The history of Esa can be traced to events immediately after the second world war, when many European scientists moved to either the US or to the Soviet Union. Many of them realised that projects supported only by a single nation could not compete with those supported by the two big geopolitical players at the time.
This motivated the physicists Pierre Auger, from France, and Edoardo Amaldi, from Italy, to propose a European organisation that would carry out space research and would be “purely scientific”.
In 1962, two agencies were created. One of these, the European Launch Development Organisation (ELDO), would concentrate on developing a rocket. The other, the European Space Research Organisation (ESRO), would focus on developing robotic spacecraft. Both were joined together in 1975 to form the European Space Agency.
The push to build a European rocket would eventually yield the Ariane launcher, which is operated by the French company Arianespace.
The first satellite to be launched under the banner of the newly formed European Space Agency was Cos-B. This spacecraft was designed to monitor a high energy form of radiation called gamma rays, being emitted from objects in space.
In 1978, Esa cooperated with Nasa and the UK on the International Ultraviolet Explorer mission. This space telescope was designed to observe the cosmos in ultraviolet light, something that cannot be done from Earth.
The agency would later collaborate with Nasa and the Canadian Space Agency on one of the most successful space telescopes of all time: Hubble. Launched in 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope helped confirm the expansion rate of the universe and showed that black holes are at the cores of almost all galaxies. Hubble’s stunning images also changed the way that many people saw the universe. Esa funded one of the original instruments on the space telescope, the Faint Object Camera, and provided the first two solar arrays.
The space agency is also a partner on the revolutionary James Webb Telescope, which launched in 2021. Esa contributed two of the telescope’s instruments: the Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NirSpec) and the Mid-Infrared Instrument (Miri).
Esa has also launched pioneering missions to other planets and objects in our solar system. The first of these was the Giotto comet explorer. This robotic spacecraft flew past Halley’s comet in 1986 and was successfully woken up in 1992 to study a comet called Grigg-Skejllerup.
A second successful cometary mission followed when the Rosetta spacecraft entered orbit around Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in 2014. Rosetta despatched a lander called Philae to touch down on the comet’s surface.
Rosetta has been my favourite of all Esa achievements, simply due to the pure audacity of attempting to land on an object whose shape and composition was until then only sparsely known. In order to “land” on an object with low gravity, Philae was to have deployed harpoons that would attach the lander to the surface. These systems did not work, but the overall mission was a success, leading to high levels of engagement from the public.
Besides comets, Esa launched one of the most successful missions to the red planet: Mars Express. The spacecraft entered orbit around Mars in 2003 and has played a key role in enhancing understanding of our planetary neighbour. It is expected to continue working until at least 2034. Mars Express also carried the ill-fated British Beagle 2 spacecraft to Mars. This was supposed to land in 2003, but contact was never established with the probe, which is presumed to have been damaged while touching down.
In 2005, Esa’s Huygens spacecraft landed on Titan, Saturn’s largest moon. This was the furthest from Earth that a spacecraft has ever landed. These are all outward facing missions, but Esa has also had major success with projects to study what’s going on here on Earth. These include the Envisat satellite, which operated from 2002-2012, and the Sentinel series of spacecraft, which have operated from 2014 to the present.
These have helped map agriculture and forests, understand the Earth’s climate, track ice, and monitor atmospheric ozone. In addition, the Galileo navigation satellites are providing a high precision alternative to GPS.
Esa is also a major player in human spaceflight, having been a partner in the International Space Station project since 1993. It has built sections of the ISS, including the Columbus laboratory, launched in 2008, and the Cupola viewing window, which gives astronauts panoramic views of Earth. The agency’s astronauts regularly spend time on the ISS as crew and could even fly to the Moon under Nasa’s Artemis programme.
Since the 1990s, Esa has frequently collaborated with Nasa – often very successfully. However, this relationship has also faced challenges. In the wake of the financial crisis, for example, Nasa cancelled its participation in several collaborative missions with Esa. Under a proposed Nasa budget this year, the US space agency may again cancel its involvement with the joint Nasa-Esa Mars Sample Return mission.
Times have changed in the space industry since Esa’s founding 50 years ago. Major countries such as China, India and Japan all have their own space programmes. Esa faces considerable financial pressures to compete with them.
Nevertheless, Esa is working on strengthening its space exploration and launch capabilities through the use of a commercial space port in Norway.
It has also put together a long-term strategy for 2040. This document highlights important areas where Esa can play a major role, including protecting Earth and its climate, continued missions to explore space and also efforts to boost European growth and competitiveness.
All this should strengthen and secure the agency for the future. Through a mixture of developing its own missions and collaborating with other agencies and commercial partners on others, Esa should be a major player in space exploration for decades to come.
Daniel Brown 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.
– ref. After 50 successful years, the European Space Agency has some big challenges ahead – https://theconversation.com/after-50-successful-years-the-european-space-agency-has-some-big-challenges-ahead-256633
Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3
For Immediate Release:
May 22, 2025
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) issued General Correspondence Letters to two third-party testing companies in China after discovering data that was falsified or otherwise found to be invalid.
“Let me be clear. The FDA has no room for bad actors. Once we discover data integrity issues, we will respond accordingly,” said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “Such false and shoddy activity jeopardizes access to new devices for patients and healthcare providers, negatively impacts product sponsors, and potentially disrupts the medical device supply chain.”
The General Correspondence Letters were sent to Mid-Link Technology Testing Co., Ltd. (“Mid-Link”) in Tianjin, China, and Sanitation & Environment Technology Institute of Soochow University Ltd. (dba “SDWH”) in Suzhou, China. The letters stated in part, that because the FDA could not ensure the reliability and validity of biocompatibility testing and animal safety and performance testing studies conducted at their respective testing facilities, the agency will reject those testing facilities’ data generated for use in premarket device submissions.“The FDA is committed to working with the medical device industry to remain vigilant in protecting the public health, including proactive practices in ensuring the data that sponsors include in medical device submissions are truthful and accurate,” said CDRH Director Michelle Tarver, M.D., Ph.D. “Until the two firms have adequately addressed these issues, all study data from all studies conducted at these testing facilities will be rejected.”
Accurate study data in a premarket submission is essential so that the FDA has the ability to fully and properly assess the overall safety and effectiveness of a device. Data that are copied from the results of another study, or are otherwise falsified or invalid, raise concerns about the reliability and validity of associated premarket submissions, which could ultimately put the public health at risk. Medical device sponsors contract with third-party companies to conduct performance, biocompatibility, and other product tests. The resulting data are included in marketing submissions to the FDA. However, unreliable data cannot be used to support the agency’s authorization decision. The General Correspondence Letters are the latest step taken by the FDA to address concerns around testing data and the broader issue surrounding the integrity of data coming from foreign countries.
In September 2024, the FDA sent Mid-Link and SDWH warning letters citing both for laboratory oversight failures and animal care violations that raised concerns about the quality and integrity of data generated by the labs.
Last year, the FDA alerted the medical device industry to concerns regarding data from third-party testing labs, including those based in China, and stressed the need for firms to carefully review any data from testing that the firm itself did not perform.
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Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) has introduced three bipartisan bills in recent days focused on strengthening U.S. nuclear energy policy and international collaboration. The legislation focuses on enhancing civil nuclear exports, financing, and streamlining the nuclear licensing process to reduce red tape.
“To lower costs for consumers and combat climate change, the U.S. and the rest of the world need to be able to rely on sources of clean and abundant power, including nuclear energy,” said Senator Coons. “Right now, however, barriers that we have erected for domestic and international nuclear development stunt our energy independence here at home and give China and Russia the upper hand abroad. I’m pushing for these three bills because I know how important it is for the United States to on the cutting edge of clean, safe, affordable nuclear power.”
The three bills Senator Coons has introduced are:
The Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act with Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), which would remove the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) mandatory hearing requirement created by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 without limiting opportunities for public engagement in order to enhance and boost the efficiency of the NRC in reviewing new reactor applications. The text of the bill is available here.
The International Nuclear Energy Act with Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), which would support the U.S. domestic nuclear energy industry’s leadership and offset China’s and Russia’s growing influence on international nuclear energy development. The bill would create an office to coordinate nuclear export strategies and financing, promoting regulatory harmonization and standardization, and enhancing safeguards and security. The bill would also form programs to support international nuclear energy collaboration and calls for a cabinet-level biennial summit focused on nuclear safety along with industry and government relationships. The text of the bill is available here.
The International Nuclear Energy Financing Act with Senator Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), which would encourage more financing for nuclear energy projects to create more U.S. jobs. The legislation would do this by empowering the Treasury to leverage its influence to ensure that international financial institutions support U.S. nuclear exports. The text of the bill is available here.
Senator Coons is a Co-Chair of the bipartisan Senate Climate Solutions Caucus.
Source: US State of California
Thursday, May 22, 2025
Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov
SACRAMENTO – California Attorney General Rob Bonta and California Governor Gavin Newsom announced today that the state will file a lawsuit as Republicans in the U.S. Senate target California’s clean vehicles program.
“With these votes, Senate Republicans are bending the knee to President Trump once again,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “The weaponization of the Congressional Review Act to attack California’s waivers is just another part of the continuous, partisan campaign against California’s efforts to protect the public and the planet from harmful pollution. As we have said before, this reckless misuse of the Congressional Review Act is unlawful, and California will not stand idly by. We need to hold the line on strong emissions standards and keep the waivers in place, and we will sue to defend California’s waivers.”
“This Senate vote is illegal,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “Republicans went around their own parliamentarian to defy decades of precedent. We won’t stand by as Trump Republicans make America smoggy again — undoing work that goes back to the days of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan — all while ceding our economic future to China. We’re going to fight this unconstitutional attack on California in court.”
Background
Under the direction of President Trump, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) transmitted three California waivers – for the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACCII), Omnibus and Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulations – to Congress as rules subject to Congressional Review Act (CRA) procedures. Earlier in the month, the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives illegally used the CRA to attempt to undo these waivers, which authorize California’s clean cars and trucks regulations. This move breaks with decades of bipartisan recognition that these waivers are not “rules” subject to the CRA and directly contradicts the determinations of the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office and Senate Parliamentarian, both of whom concluded that the CRA’s process does not apply to California’s waivers.
The Clean Air Act requires the EPA to set federal emission standards for air pollutants from new motor vehicles or new motor vehicle engines that cause or contribute to air pollution and endanger public health or welfare. Under the Clean Air Act, California may adopt emission requirements independent from EPA’s regulations, and EPA is required to waive preemption for those requirements, absent certain limited circumstances not present here.
For more than 50 years, California has exercised its right under the Clean Air Act to pursue solutions that address the persistent air pollution challenges that our state faces.
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Source: World Health Organisation
Thursday’s Committee B noted the Results Report 2024, and the financing and implementation of the Programme budget 2024–2025. Member States commended the transparency, and the level of detail provided. At the same time, Member States noted with concern that while some important achievements have been realized, progress is insufficient in reaching the SDG targets. In addition, Member States also advocated for more equitable funding across the Organization. The committee approved decision 78/17 Add.1 and 78/17 Add.2.
Delegates welcomed WHO’s Investment Round (IR), which will fund the Organization’s Fourteenth General Programme of Work – 2025–2028 (GPW 14) – its global health strategy for the next four years that has the potential to save 40 million lives if fully funded. By April 2025, pledges of US$ 1.7 billion had been received. During the Health Assembly at least an additional US $210 million was committed, with further amounts expected. Since the start of the Investment Round, 62 pledges have been made by Member States, with a further 20 pledges by philanthropic organizations. Of the 62 pledgers, 35 had not previously provided voluntary contributions to WHO.
The pledges not only assure more sustainable financing but show global solidarity in the face of unprecedented challenges. The committee called for increased efforts to secure predictable, resilient and flexible funding.
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On 21–22 May 2025, the World Health Assembly discussed WHO’s work in health emergencies. Over the last year, WHO responded to 51 graded emergencies across 89 countries and territories, including global outbreaks of cholera and mpox – a public health emergency of international concern – as well as multiple humanitarian crises. Working with over 900 partners across 28 health clusters, WHO helped provide health assistance for 72 million people in humanitarian settings. Nearly 60% of new emergencies were climate-related, highlighting the growing health impacts of climate change.
Member States noted the WHO Director-General’s report on the implementation of the health emergency prevention, preparedness, response and resilience (HEPR) framework. The report outlined progress made in the key areas of collaborative disease surveillance, community protection, safe and scalable care, access to medical countermeasures and emergency coordination, and stressed that insufficient and unpredictable funding poses a significant risk to health systems worldwide.
Delegates noted the report of the Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee (IOAC) for WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme. The report presents several recommendations to the Director-General aimed at strengthening WHO’s work in emergencies. The chair of the IOAC commended WHO’s leadership – particularly that of Dr Mike Ryan, the outgoing Executive Director of the Health Emergencies Programme, for his pivotal role and contributions to global health.
The Director-General also reported on Universal Health and Preparedness Review (UHPR) to the Assembly, a unique process for Member States to assess their health emergency preparedness. UHPR was launched in November 2020 as a voluntary, country-led mechanism, in response to early lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Member States noted the Director-General’s report on progress made in implementing the International Health Regulations (2005), which outline the rights and obligations of countries in managing public health events and emergencies that have the potential to cross borders.
In 2024, WHO assessed over 1.2 million raw signals related to public health risks, identifying and verifying 429 events with potential or actual international public health implications.
All countries but one provided their self-assessment report to the Assembly. Numerous joint external evaluations, after- and intra-action reviews, and training were conducted to strengthen preparedness and response capacities.
Member States recommended to the Assembly the adoption of a decision for the Director-General to notify Palestine of the International Health Regulations (2005). This is a step prior to Palestine expressing interest in becoming a States Party to the Regulations. This follows the resolution approved during the World Health Assembly last year on aligning the participation of Palestine in WHO with its participation in the United Nations.
The Assembly also noted the Standing Recommendations issued by the Director-General on COVID-19 (valid until April 2026) and mpox (valid until August 2025).
At last year’s World Health Assembly, Member States adopted historic amendments to the Regulations, drawing on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. The amendments are expected to come into force in September 2025.
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Member States approved a decision related to public health and social measures, urging the strengthening of the research base on these interventions. Public health and social measures are nonpharmaceutical interventions used to reduce the spread of an infectious disease and lower hospitalizations and death. Examples include screening for diseases, personal hygiene measures and changing the way people gather or travel. These measures played an important role in buying time for countries to develop and distribute treatments, diagnostics and vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the evidence base on the effectiveness of these measures remains limited.
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Delegates noted the Director-General’s report on the implementation of a resolution on WHO’s response to the health emergency triggered by the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine. In 2024, WHO reached an estimated 4.7 million people with health support in Ukraine and more than 400 000 refugees in neighbouring countries. WHO delivered over US$ 32.5 million worth of medicines, medical equipment and supplies to health facilities across Ukraine, and over US$ 4.9 million worth of supplies and equipment to refugee-hosting countries. Since 24 February 2022, a total of 2254 attacks on health care have been verified, resulting in 710 injuries and 208 deaths.
Member States voted on related decisions. The draft decision proposed by Ukraine and other countries to continue, among other things, to restore and strengthen Ukraine’s health-care system was approved. Suggested amendments to the draft decision proposed by the Russian Federation and other countries were rejected.
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Delegates noted the Director-General’s report on the current health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, with the Gaza Strip facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, with widespread displacement, destruction and death. The health system has been severely degraded by attacks, critical shortages of medicines, supplies and fuel, and restricted access. The report stated that between 1 January 2024 and 28 February 2025, 376 attacks on health care were reported in the Gaza Strip, resulting in 286 deaths and 591 injuries.
The health crisis in the West Bank has worsened since January 2025, with escalating violence and stricter restrictions on movement impeding access to health care.
WHO’s response has focused on providing essential health services, public health surveillance, disease prevention and control, provision of supplies and logistics, and partner coordination. The report stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, unrestricted humanitarian access and protection of health.
Member States noted the report and commended WHO’s efforts towards the continuity of health services under difficult conditions. Delegates approved an accompanying resolution.
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