Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND
FORT BONIFACIO, MANILA, Philippines — Philippine, U.S., Japan, Korean and United Kingdom military leaders launched KAMANDAG 9 on Monday with an opening ceremony hosted at Marine Barracks Rudiardo Brown, marking the official start of the ninth iteration of the Kaagapay ng mga Mandirigma ng Dagat (“Cooperation of Warriors of the Sea”) exercise.
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 30 (Xinhuanet) — The tradition of drinking matcha originated in ancient China and was later spread to Japan. Jiangkou County in Tongren City, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, has become the world’s production center for this type of tea. In 2024 alone, the county sold more than 1,200 tons of matcha, worth over 300 million yuan (about 41.7 million U.S. dollars). The county’s products enter overseas markets including Japan, the United States and France.
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
On May 27, a sea dragon boat race was held in Dinghai Village, Lianjiang County, Fujian Province, to celebrate the upcoming Duanwu Festival. It is known that the tradition of sea dragon boat racing in Dinghai dates back to the Ming Dynasty. Today, every year during the Duanwu Festival, villagers voluntarily hold colorful competitions to preserve this centuries-old tradition.
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
Duanwu Jie is one of the most ancient Chinese holidays, with a history of over 2,000 years. It is celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar calendar (usually in June).
There are several legends about the origin of the holiday. The most popular is the story of Qu Yuan, a famous ancient poet and nobleman of the Chu kingdom who lived during the Spring and Autumn period (722-481 BC). Seeing his homeland under attack from the powerful Qin kingdom, Qu Yuan gave the ruler of Chu valuable advice on strengthening the military power of the state and resisting the enemy. However, the advice was disputed by other nobles and as a result, the ruler of the kingdom dismissed Qu Yuan from his post and expelled him from the capital. In exile, Qu Yuan composed immortal works in which he expressed his longing for his homeland: Lisao (Elegy of the Detached), Tianwen (Questions to Heaven), Jiuge (Nine Elegies), etc.
In 278 BC, when the Qin army captured the capital of Chu, Qu Yuan wrote his last work, Huaisha, and, unable to bear the shame of his country’s fall, threw himself into the Miluo River on the fifth day of the fifth month. Upon learning of the poet’s death, the subjects of Chu came to the river. Fishermen tried to find the body of the drowned man. People threw rice, eggs, and other food into the river so that the fish and crayfish would not harm Qu Yuan’s body. One of the doctors poured strong rice wine into the river so that the inhabitants of the river, having drunk the wine, would not be able to eat the poet’s remains. Thus, gradually a custom developed of holding dragon boat races, drinking rice wine, and eating the festive delicacy “zongzi” every year on the fifth day of the fifth month.
Zongzi is a steamed dish made from glutinous rice, wrapped in reed, bamboo or palm leaves and tied with colorful silk threads. According to historical records, zongzi originated during the Spring and Autumn period. The filling for zongzi can be dates, bean puree, meat, egg yolk. Nowadays, every year at the beginning of the fifth month of the lunar calendar, many Chinese families soak the glutinous rice, wash the reed leaves and cook zongzi. This festive dish can also be bought in stores.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that eight defendants were charged by indictment or criminal complaint for their roles in a narcotics conspiracy operating in the Rochester, NY, area, and other related offenses.
Named in two separate indictments and charged with narcotics conspiracy are:
• Carlos Serrano, Jr.
• Sam Sierra, Jr.
• Carlos Melendez, Jr.
• Eban Sterina
If convicted, the indicted defendants face a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a fine of $10,000,000.
In addition:
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas T. Cooper, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictments and complaints against the nine defendants, who are all from Rochester, investigators executed 20 search warrants on 14 residences and six vehicles, seizing:
This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The indictments and complaints are the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino, New York Field Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan Miller, New York Field Division, the U.S. Marshals Service, under the direction of Marshal Charles Salina, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Kevin Sucher, the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Wood, the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff David Cirencione, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, under the direction of Acting Field Office Director Steven Kurzdorfer.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
# # # #
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) announced 21 Alabamians have accepted their appointment to a U.S. service academy. Senator Tuberville nominated these students to represent Alabama in the class of 2029 at one of the four service academies: the United States Air Force Academy, Military Academy, Merchant Marine Academy, and Naval Academy. This is Senator Tuberville’s fourth round of appointments since assuming office and first group of appointments since being named to serve on the Board of Visitors for the U.S. Air Force by President Trump earlier this year.
“America’s national security depends on brave young men and women who answer the call to serve in our armed forces,” said Senator Tuberville. “I couldn’t be more proud that Alabama will be well-represented in our military service academies for the Class of 2029. Receiving an appointment to one of these academies requires hard work, discipline, and determination, and I’m confident these students will carry these values with them to our service academies. It was an honor to nominate these Alabamians for an appointment, and I have no doubt that they’ll continue to make our state and country proud.”
A complete list of the appointees can be found below.
United States Naval Academy:
United States Military Academy:
United States Air Force Academy:
Four students also received scholarships to respective Academy Preparatory Schools:
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
Vancouver, B.C. , May 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Trillion Energy International Inc. (“Trillion” or the “Company”) (CSE: TCF) (OTCQB: TRLEF) (Frankfurt: Z62), announces that it proposes to issue an aggregate of 2,237,082 common shares of the Company in settlement of $101,854.10 in debt owed by the Company to consultants and an officer of the Company (the “Debt Settlement“). The common shares will be subject to a four month and one day hold period from the date of issuance as per applicable Canadian securities legislation.
In connection with the Debt Settlement, a total of 573,002 common shares of the Company are being issued for certain management services from an officer of the Company (the “Insider Settlement“).
The Insider Settlement is considered a “related-party transaction” within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (“MI 61-101”). The Company has relied on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 in respect of the related party participation in the Debt Settlement based on that the fair market value of such insider participation does not exceed 25% of the Company’s market capitalization.
About the Company
Trillion Energy International Inc is focused on oil and natural gas production for Europe and Türkiye with natural gas assets in Türkiye. The Company is 49% owner of the SASB natural gas field, a Black Sea natural gas development and a 19.6% (except three wells with 9.8%) interest in the Cendere oil field. More information may be found on www.sedarplus.ca, and our website.
Contact
Sean Stofer, Chairman
Brian Park, VP of Finance
1-778-819-1585
E-mail: info@trillionenergy.com
Website: www.trillionenergy.com
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain certain forward-looking information and statements, including without limitation, statements pertaining to the Company’s ability to obtain regulatory approval of the executive officer and director appointments. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information and such information involves various risks and uncertainties. Trillion does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
These statements are no guarantee of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, delay, change of strategy, and assumptions that are difficult to predict and which may change over time. Accordingly, actual results and strategies could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. These factors include unforeseen securities regulatory challenges, COVID, oil and gas price fluctuations, operational and geological risks, changes in capital raising strategies, the ability of the Company to raise necessary funds for development; the outcome of commercial negotiations; changes in technical or operating conditions; the cost of extracting gas and oil may increase and be too costly so that it is uneconomic and not profitable to do so and other factors discussed from time to time in the Company’s filings on www.sedar.com, including the most recently filed Annual Report on Form 20-F and subsequent filings. For a full summary of our oil and gas reserves information for Turkey, please refer to our Forms F-1,2,3 51-101 filed on www.sedarplus.ca, and or request a copy of our reserves report effective December 31, 2023 and filed on April 25, 2024.
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements
Record additional funding for forces family housing to tackle state of accommodation, and builds on the Defence Consumer Charter to transform living conditions for service families.
Thousands of British military personnel and their families will have their lives improved through more than £1.5 billion of additional funding to improve accommodation for the UK Armed Forces.
The investment will be confirmed as part of the launch of the Government’s upcoming Strategic Defence Review (SDR), helping renew the nation’s contract with those who serve, supporting the government’s Plan for Change.
Through the upcoming SDR more than £1.5 billion of new investment into service family accommodation will unlock rapid work to tackle the poor state of forces housing – with investment increasing from this year – helping to support recruitment, retention and morale.
This will include urgent repairs and maintenance, from fixing unreliable boilers and leaky roofs to tackling damp and mould in service family accommodation, alongside development of new forces housing, as part of unlocking the wider potential for housing development on surplus MOD land.
The additional funding for accommodation means more than £7 billion will be spent across this Parliament on service family accommodation and new build single living accommodation to deliver a generational renewal of Armed Forces accommodation. This will be guided by the forthcoming Defence Housing Strategy – which is proceeding at pace and has already seen the announcement of a new Consumer Charter to strengthen housing standards for forces families.
The SDR will set a path for the next decade to transform defence and make the UK secure at home and strong abroad. It will end the hollowing out of our Armed Forces and make defence an engine for growth across the UK.
Our Armed Forces personnel make extraordinary sacrifices to serve our country.
For too long, many military families have lived in sub-standard homes, but this government is taking decisive action to fix the dire state of military accommodation and ensure that our heroes and their loved ones live in the homes they deserve.
We are investing and acting fast, to fix forces housing and renew the nation’s contract with those who serve and deliver on our Plan for Change.
The delivery of the Government’s new Consumer Charter will see immediate investment in urgent renovation of 1,000 homes in most need of repair. The Charter will also see basic consumer rights rapidly introduced for forces families, including essential property information and higher move-in standards, more reliable repairs, a named housing officer for every family, and access to a robust complaints system – helping to deliver homes fit for our heroes.
The record investment follows the Government’s landmark deal to bring back 36,000 military homes into public ownership, as part of the Prime Minister’s pledge to deliver home fit for heroes.
The SDR will say that the Ministry of Defence should improve the overall standard of military accommodation, including prioritising sites that are in most urgent need of repair. The Terms of Reference for the Review committed to put ‘Defence personnel…at the heart of Defence’s plans.’
The announcement comes alongside another above-inflation pay rise for the Armed Forces, announced by the Government last week. This is the second inflation busting pay rise awarded by the Government since last July, with last year’s award representing the biggest pay rise for Armed Forces personnel in over 20 years.
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements
Under the Government’s Plan for Change, move will stop the flood of litter on to nation’s streets and protect young people from getting hooked on nicotine
Discarded single-use vape in a field
Single-use vapes will be banned from the shelves of all shops from tomorrow (Sunday 1 June) thanks to a government blitz on sale and supply.
The new crackdown makes it illegal to sell single-use vapes at corner shops and supermarkets, putting an end to their alarming rise in school playgrounds and the avalanche of rubbish flooding the nation’s streets.
The government’s announcement of its intention to ban the use of disposable vapes has already had real effects – with retailers and consumers shifting away from environmentally destructive single-use options.
New data from charity Action on Smoking and Health shows the number of vapers in Great Britain who mainly use single-use devices fell from 30% in 2024 to 24% in 2025, while the use of disposables by 18-24-year-old vapers fell from 52% in 2024 to 40% in 2025. However, usage among young vapers remains too high and with the coming ban into force tomorrow it will continue to drive these figures down further.
As part of tough enforcement measures, any rogue traders breaking the rules will be hit with a fine of £200 in the first instance, and all products will be seized. Those who show a blatant disregard for the rules and reoffend face being slapped with an unlimited fine or jail time.
Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh said:
For too long, single-use vapes have blighted our streets as litter and hooked our children on nicotine. That ends today.
The Government calls time on these nasty devices.
Caroline Cerny, Deputy Chief Executive, Action on Smoking and Health said:
It’s promising to see that many people switched away from disposable vapes to re-usable products well ahead of the ban. This is particularly marked among young people, who were more likely to use disposable products due to their attractiveness, affordability, and heavy marketing.
This new law is a step towards reducing vaping among children, while ensuring products are available to support people to quit smoking. It will be up to manufacturers and retailers to ensure customers are informed and able to reuse and recycle their products securing a real change in consumer behaviour and a reduction in environmental waste. If behaviour does not change then further regulations will be possible following the passage of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
The Government has worked closely with retailers to ensure they are ready for the ban coming into force. This includes producing clear guidance on the devices they cannot sell or supply, as well as how to deplete their stock before 1 June.
Association of Convenience Stores Chief Executive James Lowman said:
Convenience retailers have been preparing for the disposables ban for several months, adapting their ranges and training colleagues on the products that they can sell.
We have been working with Trading Standards officers across the country to ensure they know what to look for once the ban comes into force, and support robust enforcement activity to take illegal vapes off the streets.
Libby Peake, senior fellow and head of resources at Green Alliance, said:
Single use vapes should never have been allowed on the market. They’ve been a blight on our countryside, wasted resources needed for important uses like EV batteries and caused scores of fires at waste sites. And they’ve done all this while having a lasting impact on the health of young people, creating a new generation of nicotine addicts.
The government should rightly be proud of taking this vital step to get rid of these polluting products and encourage people who want to quit smoking to opt for reusable and refillable options instead.
Justin Greenaway, Commercial Manager at SWEEEP Kuusakoski, said:
We hope this ban will succeed in reducing the amount of vapes being discarded. Every vape has potential to start a fire if incorrectly disposed of. Logically vape unit waste will reduce as single use stops and multi-use must start but it does rely on consumers changing from a disposable mindset to refilling.
Unrefillable and unable to be recharged, single-use vapes have been typically thrown away with general waste in black bins or littered rather than recycled, contributing to the flood of litter blighting the country.
Even when they are recycled, the process is notoriously arduous, slow and costly, with waste industry workers required to take them apart by hand. Their batteries also present a fire risk to recycling facilities and can leak harmful chemicals into the environment.
With the looming ban already encouraging users to seek alternatives, making the sale of single-use vapes illegal will now prevent these toxic products from littering the country’s streets.
The ban complements the Government’s world-leading Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which will further tackle youth vaping and safeguard children’s health.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
SAN DIEGO – Hector Alejandro Paez Garcia, a Mexico City-based attorney, has pleaded guilty in federal court, admitting that he and others conspired to transport, transmit, and transfer tens of millions of dollars in drug trafficking proceeds from the United States to Mexico.
Paez’s plea is part of a long-term FBI investigation targeting a Mexico-based money laundering organization (MLO) that is believed to have laundered at least $52.7 million for the Sinaloa Cartel before the organization’s leaders were arrested.
According to court documents, the MLO utilized a network of shell companies in San Diego to launder tens of millions of dollars in bulk cash from across the country generated through the Sinaloa Cartel’s drug importation and distribution operations. MLO employees travelled to dozens of U.S. cities to pick up this bulk cash in amounts up to $200,000. The money was then funneled through the San Diego-based shell companies and delivered to money laundering accounts in Mexico controlled by Paez, who in his plea agreement admitted serving a managerial role in the MLO’s operations.
During the investigation, FBI agents seized 66 money laundering bank accounts throughout the United States. As the FBI began to target and seize the MLO’s assets, Paez turned to the use of cryptocurrency in an attempt to shield those assets from law enforcement. But the FBI was able to infiltrate and take down the MLO’s cryptocurrency laundering network.
To date, the investigation has resulted in the arrests of 11 people on money laundering charges and the seizure of more than $3.1 million in illicit assets. A related DEA investigation led to 24 additional arrests and asset seizures totaling $450,000.
In March 2025, six individuals and seven entities, including several of Paez’s co-conspirators, were the target of sanctions imposed by the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Treasury Sanctions Criminal Operators and Money Launderers for the Notorious Sinaloa Cartel | U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Paez is scheduled to be sentenced on August 15, 2025.
To date, in addition to Paez, additional participants in the scheme have been charged, including the following:
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Benjamin and Robert Miller. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Owen Roth contributed significantly to the case. The FBI worked in close partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Imperial County District Office, as well as Panamanian authorities, to seize the MLO’s assets and arrest multiple participants in the scheme.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Italy to secure the arrest and extradition of Velasquez Pantza.
DEFENDANT Case Number 23cr0446
Hector Alejandro Paez Garcia Age: 43 Mexico City, Mexico
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
International Money Laundering Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1956(h), and 1956(a)(2)(B)(i)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $500,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Federal Bureau of Investigation
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. [use if applicable] Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership that brings together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and enterprises.
Source: US Whitehouse
AMERICAN JOBS, AMERICAN STEEL.
The landmark agreement comes alongside a host of companies from across industries that are onshoring their production and investing in American manufacturing as President Trump relentlessly pursues his America First trade policies.
Look no further than the automotive industry:
It’s not just the auto industry; scores of others are lining up to invest in America:
That doesn’t even include the U.S. investments planned by foreign countries:
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
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Dmitry Chernyshenko and Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov took part in the award ceremony for the finalists of the Professionals championship in Nizhny Novgorod
The final of the All-Russian Championship of Professional Skills “Professionals” in creative industries and information technology competencies has ended in Nizhny Novgorod. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov, and Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Gleb Nikitin took part in the award ceremony.
Dmitry Chernyshenko read out a greeting from Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
“Today, Nizhny Novgorod has become a center of attraction for talented young men and women from different Russian regions and foreign countries. At the unique site of the federal technology park, college, technical school and school students were able to demonstrate their skills and ability to solve problems of any complexity. Excellent preparation and strong character allowed you to get ahead of your rivals and prove that you are the best in your field. The all-Russian championship movement is growing in our country from year to year. Competitions give participants an impetus for personal and professional growth, help to reveal their abilities, implement bold plans and projects, and the performances are an example for many young people who want to work in the creative industries and information technology,” Mikhail Mishustin noted in his welcoming speech.
Dmitry Chernyshenko also congratulated the participants and wished them success in their endeavors and professional growth.
“Dear friends, I would like to send my personal wishes of happiness, goodness and gratitude to all participants. We had the opportunity to communicate with some of you in the wonderful space of the technology park, to see cool specialists, wonderful mentors, interested employers. Search, try, you will succeed, you are all definitely winners. The country is proud of you, you are the best, everyone will look up to you. Good luck!” – said the Deputy Prime Minister.
24 participants became winners in the main and junior standings, 48 participants became prize winners. In addition, winners and prize winners were announced in the international, industrial and team standings.
“Dear children, I would like to congratulate all the finalists and especially thank your parents, teachers and mentors. Today, thanks to them, you are in this room. Representatives of your future employers – large enterprises – are also present here. They watch and choose the best of the best. Today, secondary vocational education is developing, and it is in great demand. The President of Russia pays great attention to the training of workers. The “Professionality” project, organized on his instructions, has become a real driver of the development of our country’s economy,” said Sergey Kravtsov.
The head of the Ministry of Education emphasized that for the first time in Nizhny Novgorod the final of the Professionals championship is being held, he addressed words of gratitude to the team of the Nizhny Novgorod region for the brilliant organization of the event.
The final of the professional skills championship “Professionals” was held for a week in the Federal Technopark of Professional Education, created on the basis of the property complex “Nizhpoligraf” within the framework of the federal project “Professionalism” of the national project “Youth and Children”.
“I would like to express my admiration for the young people who have gathered in Nizhny Novgorod these days from all over the country. It is breathtaking what you can do in your fields at the age of fourteen, fifteen, sixteen. I wish you to dare, to conquer the whole world, to climb Everest with the flag of our state in your hands, to remain true Russians who love their country in any situation. Great achievements to you, interesting ideas, business startups! We will be rooting for you. A special source of pride for me is that Nizhny Novgorod is hosting the Professionals championship. This became possible thanks to the faith in our region on the part of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation and Sergei Sergeevich Kravtsov. Many thanks to Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Nikolaevich Chernyshenko, whom I can rightfully call a friend of the Nizhny Novgorod Region. He oversees the Volga Federal District and actively promotes the development of our region,” said Gleb Nikitin.
In 2025, competitions were held in Nizhny Novgorod in 15 competencies, 10 of which were new for the final. The organizer of the championship is the Ministry of Education of Russia with the support of the Government of the Russian Federation.
In the main classification, college and technical school students (category “Main”), schoolchildren aged 14 and over (category “Juniors”) competed. Young specialists from specialized industries competed in the industrial classification, and representatives of foreign countries – in the international classification.
Among the 195 contestants are representatives of 46 regions of Russia and 6 friendly countries.
Over the course of three days, the competition was held in an individual format, and on the last day – for the first time in the history of the championship – in a team format.
More than 50 enterprises representing specialized industries became partners of the final.
The Professionals Championship is the largest event in the system of secondary vocational education, the list of competencies is formed in accordance with the demands of the real sector of the economy. In 2025, the championship final will be held in three cities. In Nizhny Novgorod – in creative industries and IT, in Kaluga – in industrial technology competencies, in St. Petersburg – in education and service competencies. Winners and prize-winners get the opportunity to undergo an internship with major employers in the industry with subsequent employment.
The championship final is held within the framework of the All-Russian championship movement in professional skills “Professionals”.
The events of the All-Russian Championship Movement for Professional Skills “Professionals” unite over 1 million people in all regions of the country. This is more than 300 thousand contestants, as well as expert mentors, chief experts, competency managers, industry representatives, participants in business and career guidance programs, volunteers. The championships serve as a platform for exchanging experience, broadcasting industry requests to the education system, and also a place for employers and young specialists to meet.
Dmitry Chernyshenko, Sergey Kravtsov and Gleb Nikitin also visited the Federal Technopark of Professional Education in Nizhny Novgorod, where the final of the All-Russian Championship in Professional Skills was held. The Technopark was created within the framework of the federal project “Professionalism” in accordance with the instructions of President Vladimir Putin. This is a joint project of the Ministry of Education and the Government of the Nizhny Novgorod Region.
The Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister and the Governor assessed the venues where the competitions are taking place, and they also talked to the finalists and experts of the championship. The guys shared their impressions of participating in the competitions, talked about their competencies and preparation for the finals.
It is planned that the Federal Technopark of Professional Education will become a center for advanced training of secondary vocational education teachers. As part of the creation of the technopark, premises for 21 laboratories have been prepared in three buildings (B1, B2 and D). In total, 43 equipped laboratories and workshops in more than 50 competencies in 9 priority industries are planned to be created on the territory of the Nizhpoligraf property complex.
In addition to the buildings of the Federal Technopark of Professional Education, the guests were presented with the general project of the Park of Masters “Nizhpoligraf”. In 2023, the property complex was transferred to regional ownership and gained a new life. The facades of the buildings, utilities and internal structures were updated, the territory was landscaped.
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.
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
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Denis Manturov, as part of a working visit to Tatarstan, took part in the launch ceremony of the new generation Sollers SF5 light commercial vehicle production
First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, as part of a working visit to Tatarstan, together with the head of the republic Rustam Minnikhanov, took part in the ceremony of launching the production of the new generation Sollers SF5 light commercial vehicles. In addition, Denis Manturov, via videoconference at the plant site, handed over a Sollers Atlant bus to a large family from Ingushetia, with whom Russian President Vladimir Putin had spoken the day before.
Sollers SF5 is the first Russian car of its class, serially equipped with an automatic transmission. It is produced using full-cycle technology, equipped with a fully localized diesel engine with a volume of 2.7 liters and a power of 150 hp, corresponding to the environmental standard “Euro-5”. Already at the stage of launching production, components of Russian manufacture are installed on Sollers SF5. It is planned that by the end of this year the level of localization of the new model will be 70%.
“Sollers is taking a responsible approach to fulfilling its obligations, which were included in the special investment contract at the initial stage, and is gradually developing a new product range. Not long ago, last year, we launched the production of tourist buses in the Far East, before that – the previous generation of the Atlanta. I am confident that Sollers, both at other sites and in Alabuga, will confidently expand its product range, model range, increase the level of localization, and also provide work for other enterprises in the automotive component industry. In recent years, the automotive component industry has received a new lease of life in the development of the production of units and components. And Sollers is actively contributing to this, providing workload and orders to a wide range of Russian companies in this sector,” the First Deputy Prime Minister noted.
“For 20 years, Sollers has been a strategic partner of Tatarstan. Today, the company continues to increase its market share, engage in localization and launch new products. Today, we are meeting another model. We sincerely thank the Government of Russia for supporting our car manufacturers and assisting in the implementation of promising investment projects. Stable operation of enterprises is the key to guaranteed good wages and decent working conditions,” said Rustam Minnikhanov.
Denis Manturov handed over a 16-seat Sollers Atlant bus to a large family from Ingushetia via videoconference. Earlier, the family of Beslan Ruslanbekovich Bogolov and Maryam Khazhbikarovna Khamkhoeva, who are raising 11 children, asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to assist in purchasing comfortable transport for family trips. The President said that assistance would be provided, and today this informal order was fulfilled.
Denis Manturov congratulated Maryam Khazhbikarovna on being awarded the title of “Mother Heroine”: “Even raising one child is a huge responsibility and noble work. And you have 10 boys and a girl, so raising them on their feet is definitely not an easy task. You are doing it – and this is truly a parental feat worthy of the deepest respect. The state has a special place for such families. Our President directs all authorities to prioritize support for those whose home is full of love, care and children’s voices.”
As the First Deputy Prime Minister emphasized, the family will receive new transport within a week. “I hope that with its help you will show the children the beauty of the Caucasus. And it will be easier to solve everyday issues,” Denis Manturov added.
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.
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Central Bank of Russia –
The number of citizens forming pension savings in non-state pension funds (NPF) decreased by 564 thousand people, to 35.4 million people, according to the results of the first quarter. This mainly happened because NPF clients are actively joining the long-term savings program (LTSP) and transferring their funds there as a down payment.
As a result, the volume of pension savings decreased by 103 billion rubles over the quarter. The number of PDS participants increased by almost 1.5 times over the quarter and amounted to about 4 million people.
In the structure of NPF portfolios, the share of investments in OFZ increased and decreased in money market instruments. NPF income from investment was provided primarily by coupons on debt securities.
Read more in“Review of key indicators of non-state pension funds” for the first quarter of 2025.
Preview photo: Donat Sorokin / TASS
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Dmitry Chernyshenko’s working visit to Nizhny Novgorod. The Deputy Prime Minister spoke with students and teachers at the Nizhny Novgorod Automotive Technical School
During his working visit to the Nizhny Novgorod Region, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko visited a number of educational and scientific institutions.
In particular, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Education of Russia Sergey Kravtsov and Governor of Nizhny Novgorod Region Gleb Nikitin assessed the organization of the process of conducting the state final certification of schoolchildren. They visited one of the points where the Unified State Exam is held – at School No. 111 in Nizhny Novgorod, where the Russian language exam is being held for more than 200 children.
Dmitry Chernyshenko noted that the main stage of the Unified State Exam began on May 23 in all 89 regions of Russia and 55 foreign countries. Today, the Unified State Exam in Russian is taking place – this is the most massive exam, with more than 640 thousand people registered to take it on the main day.
During the trip, Dmitry Chernyshenko, Sergey Kravtsov and Gleb Nikitin assessed how the security point works and how security measures are organized at the exam point, and also watched the broadcast from other exam points in different regions. The school also demonstrated how work is organized at the headquarters of the exam point.
“The procedure for the Unified State Exam has been streamlined in our country over the years and is conducted at the highest level. All assignments are printed directly in the classroom and transmitted in encrypted form, which completely eliminates the possibility of leaks. This is a unique technology that has no analogues in any country in the world. It guarantees absolute transparency and objectivity of the exam, providing equal conditions for all graduates. This year, more than 700 thousand are taking the Unified State Exam. In general, the exam is held in the normal mode, we will do everything possible to ensure that schoolchildren receive their results as soon as possible,” said Sergey Kravtsov.
According to Gleb Nikitin, this year the region has organized 91 exam centers, which operate on the basis of educational organizations. The exam centers are equipped with video surveillance, metal detectors and mobile phone jammers. This is the most important condition for organizing high-quality and objective state final certification of school graduates.
In addition, Dmitry Chernyshenko, together with Governor Gleb Nikitin, visited the world-class IT campus “Neimark”, the Nizhny Novgorod State University named after N.I. Lobachevsky (NNSU) and the Nizhny Novgorod Automotive Technical School.
“A world-class inter-university campus is being created in Nizhny Novgorod, thanks to which new technologies will be developed. They will be aimed at achieving the national goal set by President Vladimir Putin – technological leadership, and will also be useful for the colleges of the federal project “Professionality”, – said Dmitry Chernyshenko.
The Deputy Prime Minister assessed the site where the first stage of the IT campus is currently being completed – 18 student hostels. The work is being carried out under the federal project “Creating a Network of Modern Campuses” of the national project “Youth and Children”. It is planned that the first guests of the new complex will be participants of the World Youth Festival, which will be held in Nizhny Novgorod from September 17 to 21, 2025 and will bring together young people from Russia and foreign countries. Students of the Neimark University will move into the buildings from October.
Dmitry Chernyshenko and Gleb Nikitin sealed time capsules with messages to future generations from the governments of the country and the region. In particular, they emphasized that the IT campus in Nizhny Novgorod is not just a complex of buildings or a university, but a growth point for new meanings and technologies. These capsules will be given to the builders, they will be laid in the foundation of one of the IT campus facilities under construction.
According to Gleb Nikitin, the Nizhny Novgorod Region is one of Russia’s IT centers. The region is home to offices of about 2,000 companies working in the field of information and information and communication technologies.
“The industry currently employs about 38 thousand people, and even taking into account such an impressive figure, there is a shortage of personnel. In this situation, the implementation of the Neimark IT campus project is of strategic importance to us. It is important that the Neimark University began its educational activities in advance, last year, under two programs. Starting this year, training will be conducted under five programs, which were developed jointly with leading universities of the Nizhny Novgorod Region,” said Gleb Nikitin.
At UNN, Dmitry Chernyshenko assessed the pilot production of ultra-pure materials for microelectronics. At Lobachevsky University in Nizhny Novgorod, they plan to implement a full production cycle for high-purity substances. The project “Development of technologies for obtaining ultra-pure substances for the needs of the microelectronic industry and low-tonnage chemistry” is being implemented within the framework of the Priority-2030 program. The university also continues to conduct developments within the framework of advanced engineering schools aimed at creating space communications systems, radar, as well as developing a new component base and materials for microelectronics.
The Deputy Prime Minister was told about the university’s advanced developments in the field of artificial intelligence, aimed at developing health-saving technologies, increasing life expectancy, improving cognitive health and active longevity, as well as about developments in the field of neuromorphic and quantum technologies of artificial and hybrid intelligence and their implementation in the real sector of the economy.
At the Nizhny Novgorod Automotive Technical School (NAMT), Dmitry Chernyshenko talked to students and teachers. In particular, the ambassadors of “Professionalitet” answered the questions of the Deputy Prime Minister and described how they help schoolchildren with career guidance. And student Violetta Chernutskaya spoke about her career choice and explained why girls should learn to work on a lathe.
Since 2022, NAMT has been the center of the educational and production cluster “Mechanical Engineering” within the framework of the federal project “Professionality” of the national project “Youth and Children”. Within the framework of the project, new educational laboratories in mechatronics and robotics, industrial automation, automated design of technological processes were created. In total, the cluster “Mechanical Engineering” covers over 1.3 thousand students of six educational institutions of the Nizhny Novgorod region. Students consolidate the knowledge gained in the workshops of “Professionality” at the production sites of the Gorky Automobile Plant under the guidance of experienced mentors during practice, master classes, and the preparation of real projects.
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Denis Manturov and Rustam Minnikhanov visited the KAMAZ automobile plant and took part in the opening ceremony of the industrial technopark in Tatarstan
First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, as part of a working trip to Tatarstan, together with the head of the republic Rustam Minnikhanov, visited the KAMAZ automobile plant and also took part in the opening ceremony of a new industrial technology park.
At the KAMAZ scientific and technical center, the First Deputy Prime Minister and the head of the republic were presented with a number of the latest high-tech vehicles of the K5 generation, as well as quarry dump trucks of the Atlant family, a KAMAZ-6290 water truck and a KAMAZ-53199 (Chistogor) flatbed electric garbage truck.
KAMAZ presented a set of technical solutions that allow drivers with disabilities to operate trucks. The vehicle is equipped with a device that lifts and places the driver in the cabin. The vehicle is fully controlled using the steering wheel. Denis Manturov instructed the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Rosstandart, and the Ministry of Health to develop regulatory framework to ensure that drivers with disabilities are allowed to carry out commercial transportation in specially equipped vehicles. Such solutions may be in demand, including for participants in the SVO.
Denis Manturov and Rustam Minnikhanov took part in the grand opening ceremony of the industrial technopark “Olimp”, the residents of which will be enterprises in the field of radio-electronic industry. In particular, the Electronics and Power Elements Center of PJSC “KAMAZ” will be opened here, specializing in the development and production of electronic components for freight and passenger vehicles with hydrogen fuel cells and electric traction. In total, the federal authorities, the Republic of Tatarstan and KAMAZ invested over 2 billion rubles in the project to create a new technopark.
“Today we had the opportunity to get acquainted with the results of research and development work on technologies related to the development of hydrogen engines or accumulators. This area is developing quite actively in our country. At the same time, the application areas are very wide. This is not only the automotive industry, but also river vessels. We must maintain our potential without slowing down. This is an interdepartmental task. Today, colleagues identified a number of issues that need to be resolved. We will actively work on this area,” Denis Manturov emphasized.
“This is the result of systematic work to create a high-tech infrastructure for the development of the republic and the entire country. The project was implemented with federal support, and thanks to this, the first stage of the construction of the technology park was completed in the shortest possible time. It is important for us that the technology park is also an educational platform and a center for training engineering personnel. In recent years, much has been done in terms of supporting higher education. I am confident that “Olimp” will become a place of innovation, where breakthrough technologies will be born and a new generation of engineers will grow up. We will always support. I want to wish that those discoveries appear here that will ensure the technological independence of the country,” said Rustam Minnikhanov.
A meeting of the organizing committee for preparations for the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the founding of the city of Naberezhnye Chelny and the 50th anniversary of the release of the company’s first truck was also held at the KAMAZ site, chaired by the First Deputy Prime Minister.
“The significance of these events not only for Tatarstan, but for the entire country is emphasized by the President’s decree. Therefore, it is important for us to do everything necessary to ensure that the celebrations are held at the proper level. And most importantly, to leave behind a legacy in the form of new and overhauled facilities. We are talking about educational, cultural, sports and medical institutions. About the street and road network and residential buildings,” Denis Manturov noted.
“We are grateful to the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin for the decision to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the city’s foundation and the 50th anniversary of the first KAMAZ vehicle at the federal level. The plan of the main events for the preparation and celebration of these significant dates has already been approved. And the main objective of the plan is to preserve human capital in the city, create comfortable conditions for life and work in production,” the head of the republic said.
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Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Central Bank of Russia –
More than 51 million coins worth almost 242 million rubles were returned to circulation by citizens during the Coin Week, which took place in April this year. Thanks to the fact that new retail outlets joined the campaign, residents of 3,058 settlements were able to take part in it (2,568 in 2024).
People handed in 235 tons of change to banks and shops — 17.5% more than last autumn. Half of the total weight was coins of 1, 2 and 5 rubles, the most popular in shops. The largest number of coins was collected in Moscow and the Moscow Region, St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region, and Krasnodar Krai.
Some banks and shops continue to accept coins for exchange for banknotes or crediting to an account. The addresses of participants and the conditions of acceptance are presented on the website coinweek.rf.
In order to return coins to circulation, it is not necessary to wait for a special occasion; you just need to pay for goods and services with them.
Preview photo: MaxZolotukhin / Shutterstock / Fotodom
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Dmitry Patrushev spoke at the IV All-Russian Grain Forum – 2025
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev spoke at the IV All-Russian Grain Forum – 2025. The event was attended by representatives of relevant departments and organizations, as well as more than 60 companies that regularly purchase grain in our country.
“Russian farmers harvested almost 130 million tons of grain in 2024. This result fully meets our domestic needs and creates a reserve for solving export problems. According to international institutions, this season Russia ranks second in barley production on the world stage, fourth in wheat and is in the top 10 in corn volumes. The 2025 sowing campaign is proceeding ahead of schedule. About 48 million hectares are planned for grain, including winter crops. All areas affected by recurrent frosts have already been resown. I expect that the approved area structure will be observed. And we can count on decent grain harvests. We hope that the harvest will be higher than in 2024,” said Dmitry Patrushev.
The Deputy Prime Minister recalled that the Russian Government retains instruments to support farmers – preferential lending, control over the availability of mineral fertilizers, development of a preferential leasing mechanism, and others.
In 2025, the subsidy for rail transportation of grain from Siberia and the Urals was increased by 2 billion rubles. This will allow more than 2 million tons to be exported from traditionally surplus regions and thereby support local farmers.
Dmitry Patrushev noted that the intervention fund was transferred to sales mode in 2025. In addition, the export quota for wheat was reduced to maintain stability in the domestic market.
According to the decree of the President on the national development goals of the Russian Federation, by 2030, with grain harvests of 170 million tons, grain supplies to foreign markets should reach 80 million tons. In the 2023-2024 season, Russia exported more than 71 million tons.
The Deputy Prime Minister named measures that will allow removing barriers and intensifying current export deliveries. For example, a decree of the Russian Government was signed that increases the maximum volume of the additional quota for grain exports from 45 to 300%. This temporary measure will allow exporters to increase deliveries abroad due to the share of producers who have refused to export.
“I urge businesses to make maximum use of the capabilities of our attachés on agro-industrial complex issues abroad, as well as the Federal Center for Development of Export of Agricultural Products. We have created this tool specifically to assist exporters in entering new sales markets,” said Dmitry Patrushev.
The prospects for increasing exports, according to the Deputy Prime Minister, should also be viewed through the prism of expanding logistics capabilities. To this end, the development of port infrastructure continues first and foremost. Thus, in 2024, grain handling capacity increased by 5 million tons.
In conclusion, Dmitry Patrushev noted the importance of international cooperation. The BRICS countries supported Russia’s proposal to create the association’s own grain exchange, aimed at strengthening food sovereignty and reducing dependence on Western trading platforms. At the level of the Russian Government, a concept is being developed that will be presented to partners.
Dmitry Patrushev also answered questions from business representatives. They concerned support for the export of grain legumes, provision of farmers with fertilizers, agricultural insurance, lifting the ban on the export of raw rice and other topics. The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that, despite the importance of export development, the domestic market is a priority in decision-making.
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Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Coal enterprises will receive additional support, which should ensure their further stable development in the current unfavorable economic situation. This decision was maderesults of the meeting on the situation in the coal industry, which was held by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. The necessary instructions for the implementation of additional measures were given to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Energy.
A targeted approach will be used in providing assistance measures to coal industry organizations, developed by the Government on the instructions of the President.
For this purpose, a decision was made to create a subcommittee to provide financial measures of state support to individual organizations in economic sectors. It will operate within the framework of the Government Commission on Increasing the Stability of the Russian Economy in the Context of Sanctions at the Ministry of Finance. The subcommittee will be headed by Finance Minister Anton Siluanov. It will include representatives of the Ministry of Economic Development, the Central Bank, the Federal Tax Service, the Federal Financial Monitoring Service and other structures.
Together with the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Finance will have until June 5 to develop and approve the criteria on the basis of which decisions will be made on the consideration of applications for state support for industry companies.
A number of proposals were made at the meeting, which it was decided to support.
Thus, until December 1, a deferment of the mineral extraction tax and insurance contributions will be granted to all enterprises in the coal industry. If necessary, it can be extended for a longer period by a separate decision of the subcommittee.
Coal industry organizations will be provided with targeted subsidies to compensate for part of the cost of logistics expenses when exporting coal products over long distances.
Another decision concerns the provision of compensation in the amount of 12.8% of the tariff for export transportation of coal in the north-west and south directions to Siberian coal companies. Their list will be formed by the Ministry of Energy and approved by the subcommittee.
On the instructions of Mikhail Mishustin, plans for the financial recovery of enterprises in the industry will be approved, including those providing for assistance from direct beneficiaries (shareholders), as well as restrictions on the payment of dividends, an increase in the salaries of senior management, and cost optimization.
In addition, it has been deemed appropriate to give coal industry enterprises that are experiencing a serious debt burden the opportunity to restructure their credit debt. When working on this measure, the position of the financial regulator, the Bank of Russia, will be taken into account.
Mikhail Mishustin instructed Sergei Tsivilev and Anton Siluanov to take personal control of the implementation of the decisions taken.
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Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –
05/30/2025 12:18
In accordance with the Methodology for determining the risk parameters of the stock market and the deposit market of PJSC Moscow Exchange by NCO NCC (JSC), on May 30, 2025, 12-18 (Moscow time), the values of the upper limit of the price corridor (up to 103.58) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 1141.36 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 18.75%) of the security RU000A107UA7 (GPB005P03P) were changed.
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HTTPS: //VVV. MEEX.K.M.M.
Source: IMF – News in Russian
May 30, 2025
Washington, DC: The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the Article IV consultation[1] for Bolivia on May 2. The authorities have consented to the publication of the Staff Report prepared for this consultation.[2]
Bolivia’s real GDP growth has moderated to 2.1 percent in the first three quarters of 2024, driven by a decline in hydrocarbons production, a slowdown in services activity, and a drop in soy crops and related manufacturing due to ‘El Niño’ effects. The economy has also faced disruptions from road blockages and scarcity of foreign exchange (FX)―given critically low international reserves―fuels and other critical inputs. High import costs, weak agricultural production, and road blockages pushed inflation to 10 percent at end-2024, the highest level in over a decade. Unemployment has fallen, but underemployment is rising, and real incomes retrenched on average. The combination of FX shortages, slowing activity, and depreciation of the parallel exchange rate resulted in a compression of the current account deficit to 2.7 percent for 2024. The fiscal deficit surpassed 10 percent of GDP in 2023-24 with declining hydrocarbon revenues, tax exemptions, increased social spending, and higher interest payments. The deficit has been mostly financed by the central bank amid tight external financing constraints. Public debt has increased to 95 percent of GDP.
The financial sector remains well buffered. However, deposits declined in real terms and net interest margins are pressured by interest rate controls, limiting banks’ ability to raise loan rates amid rising inflation and slowing credit growth. Banks have experienced improved profitability from FX trading gains, resulting in a strengthened capital adequacy ratio of 13.5 percent in 2024, while non-performing loans have remained low at 3.2 percent of total loans.
Executive Board Assessment[3]
Executive Directors agreed with the thrust of the staff appraisal. They expressed concern over Bolivia’s acute fiscal and external imbalances and unsustainable policy mix and called for urgent actions to address the overvalued exchange rate, bolster foreign reserves, and implement sustained fiscal consolidation. Directors cautioned that inaction could lead to a painful disorderly adjustment and underscored the Fund’s readiness to support the authorities through its various activities. They encouraged the staff to continue to closely engage the authorities on the needed adjustments. Careful communication of the policy reforms to stakeholders would be pivotal to enhance their acceptability.
Directors stressed that the untenable peg to the U.S. dollar and depleted international reserves call for a decisive shift in the monetary policy framework. They called for a realignment of the exchange rate with market fundamentals, moving toward greater exchange rate flexibility, and for front loaded fiscal consolidation and restrictive monetary policy settings, which would address inflationary pressures, alleviate FX shortages, and allow elimination of FX restrictions. Increasing interest rate flexibility will facilitate effective monetary policy transmission.
Directors recommended a credible and sustained fiscal consolidation by rationalizing the public wage bill, phasing out fuel subsidies, enhancing public investment management and spending efficiency, and mobilizing tax revenue. Eliminating monetary financing of fiscal deficits is also important. Directors also emphasized the need to mitigate the effects of the policy adjustments on vulnerable populations, including through improved targeting of the social safety net. A coherent fiscal framework can help underpin the consolidation plan.
Directors emphasized the need to strengthen financial sector supervision amid growing economic vulnerabilities. They called for close monitoring and contingency planning and encouraged the implementation of the remaining 2024 FSAP recommendations and strengthening the AML/CFT framework. Enhancing Bolivia’s public pension fund operations by diversifying investments and strengthening the pension supervisor’s independence is also important.
Directors called for comprehensive supply side reforms to enhance productivity and growth potential and facilitate external rebalancing by phasing out export ceilings, price controls, and credit quotas. They emphasized the need for a clear regulatory framework to attract private investment and to focus public investment on socially beneficial infrastructure projects. Further efforts to enhance transparency and the governance and anticorruption frameworks will also be important. Improving data adequacy also remains a priority.
It is expected that the next Article IV consultation with Bolivia will be held on the standard 12 month cycle.
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Table 1. Bolivia: Selected Economic Indicators, 2023-30 |
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[1] Under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country’s economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board.
[2] Under the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, publication of documents that pertain to member countries is voluntary and requires the member consent. The staff report will be shortly published on the www.imf.org/Bolivia page.
[3] At the conclusion of the discussion, the Managing Director, as Chair of the Board, summarizes the views of Executive Directors, and this summary is transmitted to the country’s authorities. An explanation of any qualifiers used in summings up can be found here: http://www.IMF.org/external/np/sec/misc/qualifiers.htm.
PRESS OFFICER: Meera Louis
Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org
https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/05/30/pr-25168-bolivia-imf-concludes-2025-art-iv-consult
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Bilal Essayli, United States Attorney for the Central District of California announced that federal grand juries in Milwaukee, WI and Los Angeles, CA each returned indictments charging two foreign nationals, Cui Guanghai, 43, of China, and John Miller, 63, of the United Kingdom and a U.S. lawful permanent resident, with interstate stalking and conspiracy to commit interstate stalking (Los Angeles) and conspiracy, smuggling, and violations of the Arms Export Control Act (Milwaukee).
“As alleged, the defendants targeted a U.S. resident for exercising his constitutional right to free speech and conspired to traffic sensitive American military technology to the Chinese regime,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “This is a blatant assault on both our national security and our democratic values. This Justice Department will not tolerate foreign repression on U.S. soil, nor will we allow hostile nations to infiltrate or exploit our defense systems. We will act decisively to expose and dismantle these threats wherever they emerge.”
“The defendants allegedly plotted to harass and interfere with an individual who criticized the actions of the People’s Republic of China while exercising their constitutionally protected free speech rights within the United States of America,” said FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino. “The same individuals also are charged with trying to obtain and export sensitive U.S. military technology to China. I want to commend the good work of the FBI and our partners in the U.S and overseas in putting a stop to these illegal activities.”
Allegations in the Eastern District of Wisconsin
According to court documents, beginning in November 2023, Miller and Cui solicited the procurement of U.S. defense articles, including missiles, air defense radar, drones, and cryptographic devices with associated crypto ignition keys for unlawful export from the United States to the People’s Republic of China from two individuals (Individual 5 and Individual 6).
In connection with the scheme, Cui and Miller discussed with Individuals 5 and 6 ways to export a cryptographic device from the United States to the People’s Republic of China, including concealing the device in a blender, small electronics, or motor starter, and shipping the device first to Hong Kong. Cui and Miller paid approximately $10,000 as a deposit for the cryptographic device via a courier in the United States and a wire transfer to a U.S. bank account.
Allegations in the Central District of California
According to court documents, beginning in October 2023, Cui and Miller enlisted two individuals (Individual 1 and Individual 2) inside the United States to carry out a plot to prevent the Victim from protesting President Xi’s appearance at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November 2023. The Victim had previously made public statements in opposition to the policies and actions of the PRC government and President Xi.
“The indictment alleges that Chinese foreign actors targeted a victim in our nation because he criticized the Chinese government and its president,” said U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “My office will continue to use all legal methods available to hold accountable foreign nationals engaging in criminal activity on our soil.”
Unbeknownst to Cui and Miller, Individual 1 and Individual 2 were affiliated with and acting at the direction of the FBI.
In the weeks leading up to the APEC summit, Cui and Miller directed and coordinated an interstate scheme to surveil the Victim, to install a tracking device on the Victim’s car, to slash the tires on the Victim’s car, and to purchase and destroy a pair of artistic statues created by the Victim depicting President Xi and President Xi’s wife.
A similar scheme took place in the spring of 2025, after the Victim announced that he planned to make public an online video feed depicting two new artistic statues of President Xi and his wife. In connection with these plots, Cui and Miller paid two other individuals (Individual 3 and Individual 4), approximately $36,500 to convince the Victim to desist from the online display of the statues. Unbeknownst to Cui and Miller, Individual 3 and Individual 4 were also affiliated with and acting at the direction of the FBI.
If convicted, Cui and Miller face the following maximum penalties: five years for conspiracy; five years for interstate stalking; twenty years for violation of the Arms Export Control Act; ten years for smuggling.
The FBI is investigating the case. The United States is coordinating with Serbian authorities regarding the pending extraditions of Cui and Miller in Serbia.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Taibleson for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and David Ryan and Amanda B. Elbogen for the Central District of California, along with Trial Attorneys Leslie Esbrook and Menno Goedman of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the cases, with valuable assistance provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
# # #
For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer
414-297-1700
Source: US State of Georgia
ATLANTA (May 30, 2025) — Today, Sen. Ed Harbison (D–Columbus) welcomed members of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC) to the Georgia State Capitol. The visit highlighted the strong partnership between the state of Georgia and WHINSEC’s international mission to advance leadership, uphold ethics and foster regional cooperation.
As part of their professional development, WHINSEC participants visited the Capitol to learn more about Georgia’s legislative process and the role of state government in supporting public institutions and international engagement.
“Georgia is proud to play a vital role in shaping leaders committed to peace, integrity and democratic values. WHINSEC is more than a training institute. It is where the next generation of global leaders is developed,” said Sen. Harbison. “As a veteran and lifelong public servant, I have seen firsthand the importance of investing in programs that enhance security and promote human rights and shared responsibility. WHINSEC reflects the very best of what Georgia has to offer: world-class training, strong civic principles and a deep respect for service. The men and women who pass through this program carry those lessons back to their home countries, strengthening the bonds we share across the Western Hemisphere. I was honored to welcome them to our Capitol and look forward to the positive impact they will make for years to come.”
WHINSEC, based at Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia, brings together military, civilian and law enforcement personnel across the Americas for high-level training focused on leadership, ethics and mutual respect. The Capitol visit underscores Georgia’s unique position as a host and a partner in WHINSEC’s efforts to promote regional security and cross-cultural understanding.
For more information on WHINSEC and its programs, visit WHINSEC’s official website.
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Sen. Ed Harbison serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on State Institutions and Property. He represents the 15th Senate District, which includes Chattahoochee, Macon, Marion, Schley, Talbot and Taylor counties, as well as a portion of Muscogee County. He may be reached at 404.656.0074 or via email at ed.harbison@senate.ga.gov.
For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.
Source: United Nations secretary general
Your Excellency Mr. Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan,
Your Excellency, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Shehbaz Sharif,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to the Government and the people of the Republic of Tajikistan for convening this High-Level International Conference and championing 2025 as the United Nations declared International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation.
Mr. President, I thank you for the opportunity to visit the Glaciers in the Pamir mountain range. This was a reality check to how fragile the ecosystem is and needs preservation.
Your commitment to glaciers – the water towers of the world, holding nearly 70% of Earth’s freshwater – stands as a beacon of hope, towards keeping global momentum, securing our planet’s vital water sources, and raising urgent climate ambition.
A decade has passed since the world embraced the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement, setting out a bold vision for a more just, resilient, and sustainable future.
In spite of the recent geopolitical tensions and the pushback on multilateralism, this Conference convenes at a pivotal moment—with a decisive call to turn commitments into action, and shape the trajectory of our planet, economies, and the well-being of generations to come.
The time for ambition is an imperative now, and the stakes have never been higher.
Allow me to recognize the invaluable contributions of the World Meteorological Organization, UNESCO, the Asian Development Bank, and all other dedicated partners whose collaboration has made this conference – and this growing momentum – possible.
Your steady dedication to glacier research and monitoring throughout the 2025-2034 Decade of Action on Cryosphere Sciences has been instrumental in raising awareness and advancing scientific knowledge to safeguard our planet’s equilibrium.
Excellencies, Friends,
Since 1975, over 9,000 billion tons of ice have disappeared – equivalent to a 25-meter-thick block covering all of Germany.
In the past six years, glaciers have been retreating at an unprecedented pace, marking the fastest loss in recorded history.
Between 2022 and 2024 alone, the world witnessed the largest three-year glacier mass loss ever observed – a staggering acceleration of ice melt.
At current rates, many glaciers may not survive this century, reshaping landscapes, ecosystems, livelihoods and water security on a global scale.
This is not just a mountain crisis – it is a slow-moving global catastrophe with far-reaching consequences for planet and people.
Glacier loss threatens water and food security, biodiversity loss, infrastructure, and the stability and health of communities worldwide.
Billions of people depend on glaciers for drinking water, irrigation, livelihoods, and energy production, making their preservation essential for human survival and sustainable development.
Yet those at the frontline of glacier loss – primarily in developing regions – face the greatest injustices.
With shrinking water resources, vulnerable communities endure worsening poverty, forced migration, and harsh living conditions all while relying on glacier-fed supplies that are rapidly disappearing.
Melting glaciers also drive sea-level rise, endangering coastal megacities and displacing millions downstream.
Each millimeter of rising seas puts hundreds of thousands at risk of annual flooding and much more.
In my own country Nigeria, I witness firsthand the impact of sea level rise in Lagos, which is threatened and in the Niger Delta which as seen unprecedented changes in its ecosystem. And we also see states once not affected by flooding are experiencing them at unprecedented levels.
Beyond the physical impacts, glacier loss is also an erosion of culture, of history, and identity.
Communities tied to mountain landscapes face the disappearance of ancestral lands, traditional knowledge, and linguistic heritage, severing connections that have existed for generations.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
With a third of mountain ice already lost due to climate change, these consequences will only intensify without immediate mitigation measures to keep global temperatures within the 1.5 degrees threshold.
Let me note at this time 83% of these emissions for this mitigation agenda, are within the hands of 35 countries.
Stepping up our ambition and scaling up action is imperative, before dwindling water resources destabilize ecosystems and economic disruptions become irreversible.
Strategies for glacier preservation must enable integrated, inclusive, data-driven and locally grounded adaptation responses that meet the needs of those most vulnerable.
Investing in adaptation should be recognized as a catalyst of sustainable growth and resilience.
Yet, adaptation and risk reduction tools cannot succeed without sustained, predictable financing to support resilience-building at every level.
The upcoming Financing for Development Conference in Seville is an opportunity to make the Clarion Call, for more investment in adaptation a reality.
This year’s Global Assessment Report on disaster risk reduction informs us that “Resilience Pays”.
Every dollar spent on resilience enhances early warning systems, safeguards infrastructure, and protects livelihoods from extreme climate events. It reinforces food and water security and strengthens economies against future shocks.
But we must significantly scale up financing and investments – integrating risk reduction into core policy decisions.
Failing to invest now, will result in exponentially higher costs – ranging from economic loss, development setbacks to humanitarian crisis.
As we embark on the Decade for Glaciers’ Preservation, I have three messages:
First, let us ensure that this conference signals an urgent call to action, uniting multilateral cooperation and strategic global partnerships.
These partnerships should be engines for the design and delivery of ambitious, economy-wide Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – as we go to Belem in Brazil later this year. These should not only as climate pledges, but as investment of roadmaps that drive SDG implementation.
Second, ensure that your national climate plans set measurable adaptation targets across water, infrastructure, energy, and food systems to build resilience, secure financing, and protect livelihoods. These plans need to be linked to national budgets to optimize resource allocations, avert losses, and build institutional capacities to fill gaps in technical expertise but also to create an enabling environment for large scale and urgent investments.
Third, identify pipelines of market-ready investments, backed by high-quality data and evidence-based tools that forecast returns, demonstrate co-benefits for job creation and economic growth, and unlock new financial services.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Together, we can galvanize impactful solutions to safeguard the cryosphere, polar regions, and mountain ecosystems.
Early warning systems could be strengthened with hydro-climatic experts to reinforce datasets that help anticipate water-related risks and ensuring a constant state of preparedness to enable early action.
Data-driven predicative analytics and AI could also complement skills, while generating baselines that help identify and anticipate fault lines, aligning with the Secretary General’s Early Warnings for All initiative.
This year’s Fourth Financing for Development Conference presents an opportunity to ensure that development funding is not just allocated, but strategically risk-informed – across all types of shocks-strengthening resilience and safeguarding development gains.
Let us use other global milestones including – COP30 in Brazil, the Third UN Ocean Conference in Nice, the UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and the Second World Summit on Sustainable Development in Doha, Qatar – to elevate political will and sharpen our focus on glaciers for people, planet and prosperity.
In conclusion, as we look forward to the 2026 UN Water Conference, co-hosted by Senegal and the United Arab Emirates, I also wish to recognize the co-hosts of the 2023 UN Water Conference – Tajikistan and the Netherlands – for their continued political commitment to the International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development 2018–2028.
Let us act with the urgency that SDG 6 demands by protecting water-related ecosystems.
The UN – as always – stands ready to ensure that we meet this target. For our communities, for our economies, for our children’s future and those yet born.
Let our children not know thirst.
Thank you.
***
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
La Hulpe, Belgium – 30 May 2025, 10:30 p.m. CET – Banqup Group SA, formerly Unifiedpost Group SA, (Euronext: UPG) (Banqup, Company), a leading provider of integrated business communications solutions, today announced it has received approval from the Swedish Competition Authority for the sale of all shares in the 21 Grams Group to PostNord Strålfors AB.
The approval from the Swedish Competition Authority represents an important step toward completing the previously announced transaction. The Swedish Competition Authority has published its approval decision on its website.
Parties are planning to close in the first half of 2025.
Financial Calendar:
Contact
Alex Nicoll
Investor Relations
Banqup Group
alex.nicoll@unifiedpost.com
About Banqup Group
Banqup Group delivers integrated cloud-based SaaS solutions to streamline business transactions across the entire lifecycle, from e-invoicing and e-payments to tax reporting. Banqup, our solution for businesses, unifies purchase-to-pay, order-to-cash, e-invoicing compliance, and e-payments into one secure platform, removing the complexity of juggling disconnected tools. eFaktura World, our solution for governments, is a comprehensive digital platform designed for tax administrations to implement e-invoicing and streamline both B2G and B2B tax reporting flows. To learn more about Banqup Group and our solutions, please visit our website: Unifiedpost Group | Global leaders in digital solutions
Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements: The statements contained herein may include prospects, statements of future expectations, opinions, and other forward-looking statements in relation to the expected future performance of Banqup Group and the markets in which it is active. Such forward-looking statements are based on management’s current views and assumptions regarding future events. By nature, they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that appear justified at the time at which they are made but may not turn out to be accurate. Actual results, performance or events may, therefore, differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, Banqup Group does not undertake any obligation to update, clarify or correct any forward-looking statements contained in this press release in light of new information, future events or otherwise and disclaims any liability in respect hereto. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Attachment
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 30 /Xinhua/ — A delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) led by Sun Haiyan, deputy director of the International Liaison Department of the CPC Central Committee, visited Russia from May 28 to 30.
During the visit, the delegation took part in a meeting of the Standing Committee of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties and in the Eurasian International Socio-Political Hearings organized by the United Russia party.
Sun Haiyan also met with Vladimir Yakushev, Secretary of the General Council of United Russia. The two sides exchanged views on strengthening exchanges between the ruling parties of China and Russia and jointly implementing important agreements reached by the leaders of the two countries.
In addition, Sun Haiyan acquainted V. Yakushev with the key theses of the central meeting on work in relation to neighboring countries, which took place in April in China. –0–
Source: US State of North Dakota
United States Also Returned International Fugitives Wanted for Terrorism, Murder, Attempted Murder and Child Sexual Abuse to Canada, India, and Mexico
Note: The defendants whose names are underlined hyperlink to press releases.
WASHINGTON — Extensive coordination between the Justice Department and law enforcement authorities in Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Georgia, Guatemala, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Israel, Kenya, Kosovo, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Panama, Peru, Spain, Thailand, Türkiye, Ukraine and the United Kingdom (UK) resulted in the extraditions in April and May of dozens of individuals. The defendants returned to the United States are alleged to have committed crimes — including child sexual abuse and rape, murder, hate crimes, assault, narcoterrorism, drug trafficking, alien smuggling, cybercrime, money laundering, fraud, aggravated robbery and extortion — in a number of U.S. states and federal districts, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and the District of Columbia.
The fugitives extradited to the United States include:
Michail Chkhikvishvili, also known as Mishka, Michael, Commander Butcher, and Butcher, 21, a Georgian national and alleged leader of a white supremacist group, was extradited from Moldova to face charges in the Eastern District of New York for soliciting hate crimes and planning a mass casualty attack in New York City. As the alleged leader of the white supremacist group “Maniac Murder Cult,” an international, racially motivated violent extremist group that adheres to a neo-Nazi ideology and promotes violence against racial minorities, the Jewish community, and other groups that it deems “undesirables,” Chkhikvishvili allegedly traveled to Brooklyn in 2022 and actively solicited acts of mass violence with a person who was, unbeknownst to Chkhikvishvili, an undercover FBI employee. In November 2023, Chkhikvishvili allegedly began planning a mass casualty attack to take place on New Year’s Eve, which would involve an individual dressing up as Santa Claus and handing out candy laced with poison to racial minorities. In January 2024, as alleged, the scheme evolved and Chkhikvishvili specifically directed the undercover FBI employee to target the Jewish community, Jewish schools, and Jewish children in Brooklyn.
Liridon Masurica, also known as @blackdb, 33, a national of Kosovo and alleged administrator of an online criminal marketplace, was extradited from Kosovo to face charges of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and fraudulent use of 15 or more unauthorized access devices in the Middle District of Florida.
Adrian Alberto Cano Gomez, also known as Andrea, 45, a national of Colombia and an alleged member of the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN), a designated foreign terrorist organization, was extradited from Colombia to face charges in the Southern District of Texas of narco-terrorism and distributing kilogram quantities of cocaine from Colombia.
Aler Baldomero Samayoa-Recinos, also known as Chicharra, 58, a national of Guatemala and alleged leader of a prolific Guatemalan drug trafficking organization, was extradited from Guatemala to face charges in the District of Columbia of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms of cocaine for importation to the United States.
Daniel Flores, 49, a national of Mexico, was extradited from Mexico to face charges of first-degree murder for the 1995 killing of two brothers, both U.S. Marines, ages 22 and 19, in Cook County, Illinois.
Manuel Alejandro Vasquez, 47, a citizen of Mexico, was extradited from Mexico to face a charge of murder in Ventura County, California. Vasquez’s two co-defendants were convicted in 1999 and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the 1998 murder of a man in his home over an alleged unpaid debt. Vasquez fled to Mexico before charges could be filed against him.
Tyler Buchanan, 23, a UK national, was extradited from Spain to face charges of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft in the Central District of California. Among other crimes, Buchanan and his co-conspirators allegedly stole cryptocurrency worth millions of dollars following phishing attacks on over 45 companies based in the United States, Canada, and the UK.
Felix Manuel Mejia-Gonzalez, 33, a Dominican citizen, was extradited from the Dominican Republic to face charges of fentanyl trafficking in the District of New Hampshire.
Samuel Steven Huggler, 28, a U.S. citizen, was extradited from Spain, to face charges relating to the alleged murder and attempted murders of three of his siblings in Vanderburgh County, Indiana. Huggler is charged with aiding, inducing, or causing murder, three counts of conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of aiding, inducing, or causing attempted murder, and possession of an altered firearm.
Michel Patrick Desalles, 54, a Mauritian national, was extradited from Mauritius to face a charge of murder in the second degree in the State of New York. Desalles allegedly choked his employer to death with zip ties and immediately fled the United States in 2017.
Juan Miguel Roman-Balderas, 45, a citizen of Mexico, was extradited from Mexico to face two charges of murder in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Roman-Balderas is alleged to have stabbed to death his 28-year-old ex-girlfriend in April 2014 in Greenbelt, Maryland.
Rody L. Wilcox, 50, a U.S. citizen, was extradited from Georgia to face charges of lewd conduct with a minor under 16 years of age filed in Latah County, Idaho. Wilcox allegedly sexually assaulted a six-year-old child on multiple occasions in 2023. In 2024, Wilcox fled Idaho while on bond. Through OIA’s cooperation with the FBI, U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service and Georgian authorities, Wilcox was arrested in Georgia on Aug. 16, 2024, while en route to the Russian Federation.
Miguel Angel Urbano-Vazquez, 48, a citizen of Mexico, was extradited from Mexico to face charges of aggravated first-degree murder and rape in Pierce County, Washington. Urbano-Vazquez is alleged to have raped four victims between March and October 2002, one of whom he is also alleged to have murdered in the course of rape.
Gilberto Gutierrez, 46, a citizen of El Salvador, was extradited from El Salvador to face charges of rape, child abuse, and related sex offenses in Wicomico County, Maryland. Gutierrez allegedly repeatedly sexually abused two girls under the age of 10 years old between approximately 1999 and 2004.
Ramon Manriquez Castillo, 68, a dual U.S. and Mexican citizen; Edgar Rodriguez Ruano, 29, a Mexican citizen; Fernando Javier Escobar Tito, 48, an Ecuadorian citizen; and Anderson Jair Gamboa Nieto, 30, a Colombian citizen, were surrendered by Guinea-Bissau to face drug trafficking charges in the Southern District of Florida. The co-defendants are alleged members of a transnational drug trafficking organization comprised of several cartels in Mexico, Colombia, and Venezuela, and they allegedly conspired to distribute large quantities of cocaine through Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, the Bahamas, and Guinea-Bissau using a U.S.-registered airplane, with a U.S. citizen onboard, from about November 2023 to September 2024. They are also charged with distributing cocaine in these countries using an airplane with a U.S. citizen onboard.
Artem Aleksandrovych Stryzhak, 35, a Ukrainian national, was extradited from Spain to face charges of conspiracy to commit fraud, extortion, and related activity in connection with computers in the Eastern District of New York and the Middle District of Florida. According to the charges in the Eastern District of New York, Stryzhak is one of the administrators of the Nefilim ransomware gang. The Middle District of Florida charges allege that Stryzhak used the Hive ransomware to engage in a computer hacking and extortion scheme that targeted businesses in the United States and abroad. The Hive ransomware group is estimated to have attacked approximately 1,500 victims and extorted approximately $110 million in ransom payments.
The fugitives extradited by the United States include:
Tahawwur Hussain Rana, 64, a Canadian citizen, native of Pakistan, and convicted terrorist, was extradited to India to stand trial on 10 criminal charges stemming from his alleged role in the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai that killed 160 people, including six Americans, and wounded hundreds more.
Aaron Seth Juarez, 26, a U.S. citizen, was extradited to Mexico to be prosecuted for femicide for the 2019 killing of his approximately 31-year-old stepmother, whose body he allegedly buried in the backyard of her Tijuana home.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA), along with the U.S. Marshals Service, provided significant assistance in securing the defendants’ arrests and extraditions. The U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Central District of California and the Eastern District of California litigated with OIA the successful outgoing extradition cases for Rana and Juarez, respectively. OIA and the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia provided significant assistance in securing the arrests and extraditions from Colombia. The Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) also provided assistance with the extraditions from Guatemala and Kosovo. The Justice Department thanks and acknowledges the instrumental role of its law enforcement partners in Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Georgia, Guatemala, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Israel, Kenya, Kosovo, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Panama, Peru, Spain, Thailand, Türkiye, Ukraine and the United Kingdom for making these extraditions possible.
An indictment and criminal complaint are merely allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: United Nations secretary general
The Peacebuilding Commission’s Country-Specific Configuration on Liberia held a meeting on 28 May 2025, chaired by the Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations, with the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection of the Republic of Liberia, the Executive Director of the Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Liberia and other senior officials from Liberia and the United Nations.
The meeting focused on Liberia’s peacebuilding and sustaining peace priorities, in particular women, peace and security. During the meeting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia, H.E. Mme. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to sustaining the peace and continuing to build on the progress achieved. The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection of Liberia, H.E. Mme. Gbeme Horace Kollie, briefed the Commission on the implementation of Liberia’s second National Action Plan for Women, Peace and Security, and on the efforts to develop a third National Action Plan.
The Peacebuilding Commission reiterated its commitment to supporting Liberia in building and sustaining peace. The Commission welcomed the recent adoption of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), Liberia’s fourth post-conflict National Development Plan (2025– 2029).
The Commission welcomed Liberia’s efforts to implement its second National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security. Under the Plan, further steps have been taken to ensure the full, meaningful, and equal participation of women in peacebuilding and sustaining peace. The Commission commended the commitment by the Government of Liberia to develop and implement a third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.
The Commission also welcomed Liberia’s commitment to develop a first National Action Plan (NAP) on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS). In this regard, the Commission lauded the launch in June 2024, of the Youth, Peace and Security National Coalition in Liberia, which will coordinate efforts at the national and local levels on the development of the NAP. The Commission commended Liberia’s work on transitional justice and the firm commitment of the Government of Liberia to implement the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
The Commission commended Liberia for the peaceful by-election in Nimba county on 22 April 2025. The Commission underlined the need for the International Financial Institutions, the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) and other bilateral and multilateral donors to continue to support Liberia’s peacebuilding efforts.
Source: United Nations – Geneva
The Committee on the Rights of the Child this afternoon closed its ninety-ninth session after adopting its concluding observations on the reports of Brazil, Indonesia, Iraq, Norway, Qatar and Romania under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as the report on Brazil’s efforts to implement the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.
The concluding observations will be available on the webpage of the session on the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on Thursday, 5 June 2025.
Presenting the report of the session, Sophie Kiladze, Committee Chairperson, said there had been a lot of improvements regarding the realisation of child rights in certain countries. However, after more than 35 years of entry into force of the Convention, the child rights situation was still very alarming in many States parties. Millions of children were victims of armed conflicts in many different parts of the world. The armed conflicts were taking their lives or lives of their parents and family members, leaving them in unimaginable sorrow for the whole of their lives. Many who survived were living in camps under deteriorating conditions. Millions of children were living in poverty, without access to education, health and digital environment, among others. The list was very long and many hours would not be enough to express the suffering of these children.
Ms. Kiladze said the United Nations was undergoing a huge liquidity crisis, which was affecting the Committee on the Rights of the Child, which had to work without knowing whether next sessions would be held. She asked the Secretary-General
and all relevant States parties to ensure that the Committee on the Rights of the Child, as well as other treaty bodies, continued their work. She said the Committee regretted the cancellation of the pre-sessional working group, expected to be held during the week following the end of the session, because of the liquidity situation.
Under the Optional Protocol on a communication procedure, the Committee adopted decisions on eight individual communications on the following issues: children in the context of migration, access to school during the COVID pandemic, and parental contact with children.
The Committee found no violation of the Convention in one case against Switzerland. It found three communications inadmissible in a case against Italy and two cases against Switzerland. It also discontinued the consideration of four cases against Finland and Switzerland after they had become moot. The Committee was satisfied that these discontinuances followed the positive resolution of these four cases. The Committee also discussed inquiries under article 13 of the Optional Protocol. It was currently dealing with four inquiries.
Also during the session, the Committee discussed amendments to its rules of procedure and working methods. It continued its discussion on follow-up to the treaty body strengthening process in the context of the United Nations liquidity crisis. It also continued its work on the next general comment no. 27 on children’s rights to access to justice and to an effective remedy.
The Committee continued its work on trends of the modern world regarding child rights, including artificial intelligence, and discussed a draft joint statement on artificial intelligence and child rights. Nine international organizations were co-signatories of the statement, co-led by the International Telecommunication Union and the United Nations Children’s Fund.
The Committee then adopted the report of the session.
On the first day of the session, which was held from 12 to 30 May, Ms. Kiladze (Georgia) was elected as Chair and Cephas Lumina (Zambia), Thuwayba Al Barwani (Oman), Philip D. Jaffe (Switzerland), and Mary Beloff (Argentina) were elected as Vice-Chairs.
The Committee also welcomed four new members – Timothy. P.T. Ekesa (Kenya), Mariana Ianachevici (Republic of Moldova), Juliana Scerri Ferrante (Malta), and Zeinebou Taleb Moussa (Mauritania) – and welcomed back Mr. Lumina, who previously served as a member from 2017 to 2021. They made their solemn declaration.
Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, and webcasts of the public meetings can be found here. The programme of work of the Committee’s ninety-ninth session and other documents related to the session can be found here.
The Committee is expected to hold its one hundredth session in September 2025. However, this session is currently pending confirmation because of the liquidity situation.
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Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media;
not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.
CRC25.016E
Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction
Kazakhstan has positioned itself as a regional leader by embedding transboundary cooperation into its national disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategy-an innovative step in a region like Central Asia, where natural hazards such as floods, earthquakes and extreme weather frequently transcend national borders.
A major milestone in Kazakhstan’s approach was the establishment of the Centre for Emergency Situations and Disaster Risk Reduction (CESDRR) in Almaty in 2016, in partnership with Kyrgyzstan and with support from the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). CESDRR operates as a regional coordination platform, enhancing disaster preparedness and response across Central Asia through joint training, information exchange, and shared risk assessments.
Kazakhstan’s national DRR strategy -developed after 2016 as part of broader DRR reforms extending through to 2030- is aligned with the Sendai Framework and explicitly prioritizes regional and international cooperation. It identifies shared hazards, particularly in seismically active zones and transboundary river basins such as the Syr Darya and Irtysh, as requiring coordinated risk management.
One practical application of this strategy is the development of joint early warning systems for glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) along the Tien Shan mountains. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan jointly manage hydrological monitoring responsibilities in these areas, enabling harmonized alerts to reach communities in both countries more quickly-reducing risk to life and property.
Kazakhstan also participates in cross-border emergency simulations facilitated by CESDRR. These exercises, led nationally by the Ministry for Emergency Situations, strengthen readiness and operational coordination for regional hazards, including earthquakes and large-scale wildfires.
In addition, Kazakhstan’s transboundary water governance efforts-particularly with Uzbekistan-have helped integrate DRR considerations into river basin management. Shared hydrometeorological data and coordinated flood prevention strategies mitigate the risk of downstream disasters during heavy rainfall or snowmelt periods.
International partnerships, such as with the European Union, have further supported Kazakhstan’s risk governance through regional projects focused on institutional capacity-building and early warning systems. These complement national efforts by enhancing data-sharing protocols and strengthening technical capacity.
Kazakhstan’s DRR strategy stands out for formalizing transboundary cooperation within national planning frameworks. This approach moves beyond ad hoc collaboration by institutionalizing cross-border risk reduction-a model cited in UNDRR reports as a good practice for other regions facing shared hazards. Through coordinated monitoring, planning and emergency response, Kazakhstan demonstrates how national strategies can actively contribute to regional resilience.