Source: European Parliament
The field of direct taxation is not directly governed by European Union rules. Nevertheless, a number of directives and the case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) establish harmonised standards for taxation of companies and private individuals. Moreover, actions have been taken to prevent tax evasion and double taxation.
Source: European Parliament
Taxation is a prerogative of the Member States, the EU having only limited powers in this area. As EU tax policy is geared towards the smooth running of the single market, the harmonisation of indirect taxation was addressed before that of direct taxation. Efforts to combat the problem of tax evasion and tax avoidance then followed. EU tax legislation must be adopted unanimously by the Member States. The European Parliament has the right to be consulted on tax matters; for budgetary-related issues it is even co-legislator.
Source: European Parliament
The Pacific Islands region occupies almost 15 % of the Earth’s surface. The European Union (EU) recognises 15 Pacific Island Countries (PICs), mostly small developing states formed by archipelagos consisting of a large number of inhabited islands. The region includes three French Pacific Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) associated with the EU. Population dispersion and economic dependency on a narrow range of industries – particularly tourism and fishing – are common characteristics of these countries. Climate change poses an existential threat to the survival of these countries, whose progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals has been quite slow. The region has been largely neglected by the major powers, but it has recently emerged as one of the areas where the geopolitical rivalry between the United States (US) and China is playing out. Beijing’s outreach and influence in the region has been increasing, not least to exert pressure on some countries to abandon their diplomatic recognition of Taiwan. In 2022, the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) – the main political and economic policy organisation of the region – launched the ‘2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent’. Traditional players in the Pacific – Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom (UK) and the US – welcomed the initiative and consequently launched the ‘Partners in the Blue Pacific’ initiative. The EU is the third largest donor of development assistance to the Pacific countries. EU relations with the PICs are based on the much wider framework of the Samoa Agreement, which covers relations with 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. The EU has negotiated an EU-Pacific States Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which entered into force with some PICs.
Source: European Parliament
European territorial cooperation (ETC) is one of cohesion policy’s goals and aims to solve problems across borders and to jointly develop the potential of diverse territories. Cooperation actions are supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through three key components: cross-border cooperation, transnational cooperation and interregional cooperation.
Source: US FBI
A Massachusetts man pleaded guilty today to sending a communication containing a bomb threat to an election official in the Arizona Secretary of State’s office.
“Americans who serve the public by administering our voting systems should not have to fear for their lives simply for doing their jobs,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “As this case demonstrates, the Justice Department is investigating and prosecuting violations of federal law against election officials and election workers. Only by protecting those who administer the election process can we ensure that the right to vote, itself, is protected.”
According to court documents, on or about Feb. 14, 2021, James W. Clark, 38, of Falmouth, sent a message via the website contact form of the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office, Election Division, addressed to the election official, and warned her that she needed to “resign by Tuesday February 16th by 9 am or the explosive device impacted in her personal space will be detonated.”
“Threatening public officials is a serious matter, never warranted by the situation no matter how heated or politically charged,” said U.S. Attorney Gary M. Restaino for the District of Arizona. “Cases like this are important in protecting not only the public official victimized by the conduct, but also the integrity of our election processes as a whole.”
Shortly after transmitting the message, Clark conducted online searches that included the full name of the election official in conjunction with the words “how to kill” and “address.” Additionally, on or about Feb. 18, 2021, Clark conducted online searches involving the Boston Marathon bombing.
“Defending the rights of Americans, particularly the right to vote, is a fundamental part of the FBI’s mission to protect the American people and uphold the constitution,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Election workers are dedicated members of our community who have the solemn responsibility of ensuring the integrity of the U.S. voting process. The FBI will fiercely protect election officials from threats of violence and intimidation, and in doing so, protect the fidelity of U.S. elections.”
Clark pleaded guilty to one count of making a threatening interstate communication. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 26 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, and Special Agent in Charge Akil Davis of the FBI Phoenix Field Office joined in the announcement.
The FBI Phoenix Field Office is investigating the case, with assistance from the FBI Boston Division.
Trial Attorney Tanya Senanayake of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean K. Lokey for the District of Arizona are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force. Announced by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and launched by Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco in June 2021, the task force has led the Department’s efforts to address threats of violence against election workers, and to ensure that all election workers – whether elected, appointed, or volunteer – are able to do their jobs free from threats and intimidation. The task force engages with the election community and state and local law enforcement to assess allegations and reports of threats against election workers, and has investigated and prosecuted these matters where appropriate, in partnership with FBI Field Offices and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. A year after its formation, the task force is continuing this work and supporting the U.S. Attorneys’ offices and FBI field offices nationwide as they carry on the critical work that the task force has begun.
Under the leadership of Deputy Attorney General Monaco, the task force is led by the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and includes several other entities within the Department of Justice, including the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the Criminal Division, the Civil Rights Division, the National Security Division, and the FBI, as well as key interagency partners, such as the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. For more information regarding the Justice Department’s efforts to combat threats against election workers, read the Deputy Attorney General’s memo.
To report suspected threats or violent acts, contact your local FBI office and request to speak with the Election Crimes Coordinator. Contact information for every FBI field office may be found here: www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/. You may also contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or file an online complaint at www.tips.fbi.gov. Complaints submitted will be reviewed by the task force and referred for investigation or response accordingly. If someone is in imminent danger or risk of harm, contact 911 or your local police immediately.
Source: US FBI
ALBUQUERQUE – Following a four-day trial and less than three hours of deliberation, a federal jury returned a guilty verdict against two Nigerian nationals who participated in an international romance scheme.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the scheme, which began in January 2016, involved the creation of a fictitious persona named “Glenn Brown” on the dating website eHarmony.com. Olutayo Sunday Ogunlaja, 39, and Abel Adeyi Daramola, 37, both Nigerian nationals, worked with another individual who used this fake profile to initiate a romantic relationship with a victim in Albuquerque, New Mexico and subsequently request money from them. Throughout the course of the fraud, the victim was led to believe that their financial assistance was necessary for “Glenn Brown” to complete a purported construction project in Malaysia and return safely to the United States.
The victim sent approximately $560,000 to various accounts in the United States, Canada, and Malaysia between January 2016 and April 2017. On September 27, 2016, the victim wired approximately $28,000 to a Woodforest Bank account in the name of Daramola Cars, as instructed by the fraudulent “Glenn Brown” persona. Daramola subsequently wired $18,000 to a seafood importer in Denmark and issued a check for $14,000.
Daramola denied any knowledge of the romance scheme, however the FBI’s investigation uncovered extensive evidence, including text and WhatsApp correspondence on Daramola‘s phone, revealing his role as a provider of bank accounts for various fraud schemes including romance fraud schemes.
Ogunlaja‘s involvement included using his Bank of America account for receiving fraudulent funds. Specifically, on March 9 and March 15, 2016, “Glenn Brown” instructed the victim to deposit $20,000 cash into Ogunlaja‘s account. Following these deposits, Ogunlaja made multiple cash withdrawals and transfers to Daramola’s account.
Following the verdict, the Court ordered that Ogunlaja and Daramola remain on conditions of release pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, Ogunlaja and Daramola each face up to 20 years in prison.
There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Peña is prosecuting the case.
# # #
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The three trade deals that we have struck in three weeks will benefit a range of manufacturing sectors that employ nearly 9% of all people in York and North Yorkshire.
The three trade deals that we have struck in three weeks will benefit a range of manufacturing sectors that employ nearly 9% of all people in York and North Yorkshire.
Reducing India’s tariffs on machinery, slashing tariffs on car exports in both deals and our agreement with the US to remove the 25% tariff on steel provides stability for more than 1,500 businesses in the region employing 43,000 people.
This means greater job security for workers and stronger economic growth to create more jobs across York and North Yorkshire – delivering on the priorities in our Plan for Change.
The trade deals that we have closed delivers stability for nearly 9% of people in York and North Yorkshire who are employed in manufacturing.
It also will create opportunities for more seamless trade, attracting inward investment that will grow the local economy and make a difference to people’s lives.
These changes will be felt everywhere, whether it’s lower food prices at the checkout, more choice for consumers and higher living standards that will improve livelihoods across York and North Yorkshire.
Over 31,000 people employed in agriculture across the region will also benefit from our agreement with the EU, which reduces red tape and burdens on business, meaning regional specialties like crab, Yorkshire Pudding and cheeses will face easy access to the UK’s biggest trading market.
The agreement also protects British steel exports from new EU rules and restrictive, providing further security for 8,400 jobs in the steel industry across Yorkshire and the Humber.
The three landmark deals secured this month with the US, India, and the EU have shown this government is serious about striking the deals that our businesses want and need.
We are delivering billions for the UK economy and wages every year as part of our Plan for Change. For businesses in North Yorkshire, these deals will mean stability and jobs protected as they seize new opportunities to sell to some of our biggest trading partners.
The Prime Minister will tell the English Mayors and the Leaders from the Devolved Governments at a meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in London today (Friday 23 May) that his trade deals with India, the United States and the EU will deliver economic growth that will improve people’s lives at home.
He will challenge those in attendance to drive economic growth in their local areas to deliver for working people.
While we are yet to see the full detail of the agreement, having less red tape when exporting will be welcome to us as a UK beef production business; this will hopefully allow us to reduce time and costs when exporting our products and therefore could open up more markets in the EU to ultimately benefit the farmers producing beef for us.
Our increased trade with India will unlock opportunities for every region in the UK to access the world’s fastest growing economy, including in York and North Yorkshire’s manufacturing sector.
Under the Free Trade Deal that was concluded, India has agreed to remove tariffs on a wide variety of UK agri-food products. This will deliver significant benefits for the region’s farming and horticultural sector that produces 20% of all the UK’s agri-food.
In the same week, we negotiated a first of its kind agreement with the US that will reduce tariffs on UK car exports and remove tariffs on steel, protecting two key industries in the region that employ thousands of people.
The US deal also opens the way to a wider UK-US Economic Deal, opening up access for our world leading services industries – including those in York and North Yorkshire.
Just this week, the Prime Minister acted in the national interest by confirming a new agreement with the European Union that will deliver on his core mission to grow the economy, creating more jobs in York and North Yorkshire, raising living standards and putting more money in people’s pockets.
At today’s meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions the Prime Minister will also lead discussions about spreading AI to help working people access the services that they need in their local areas.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The three trade deals that we have struck in three weeks will benefit manufacturing that accounts for around 5% of all employment in the West of England.
The three trade deals that we have struck in three weeks will benefit manufacturing that accounts for around 5% of all employment in the West of England.
Reducing India’s tariffs on machinery, reducing the US tariff on cars and removing American tariffs on UK aerospace will support employers with a significant presence in the region like Airbus, Rolls-Royce and GKN Aerospace.
This means job security for workers, jobs creation supported in local communities and higher living standards across the West of England – priorities that we are delivering through Plan for Change.
The trade deals that we have closed provides certainty for the 5% of all working people who are employed in manufacturing, delivers security for their families and puts more in people’s pockets.
It also will create opportunities for more seamless trade, attracting inward investment that will grow the local economy and make a difference to people’s lives.
These changes will be felt everywhere, whether it’s lower food prices at the checkout, more choice for consumers and higher living standards that will improve livelihoods across the West of England.
68,000 people employed in agriculture (a fifth of all agriculture workers in England) across the South West will benefit significantly from our trade deal with the EU, that removes red tape and burdens on business, meaning regional specialties like Cheddar Cheese now have easy access to the UK’s biggest trading market.
In another win for local producers, the deal means goods like Gloucestershire sausages that previously could not be exported can now be sold to customers in the EU.
The three landmark deals secured this month with the US, India, and the EU have shown this government is serious about striking the deals that our businesses want and need.
We are delivering billions for the UK economy and wages every year as part of our Plan for Change. For businesses in the West of England, these deals will mean stability and jobs protected as they seize new opportunities to sell to some of our biggest trading partners.
The Prime Minister will tell the English Mayors and the Leaders from the Devolved Governments at a meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in London today (Friday 23 May) that his trade deals with India, the United States and the EU will deliver economic growth that will improve people’s lives at home.
He will challenge those in attendance to drive economic growth in their local areas to deliver for working people.
We welcome this new chapter in the UK-EU relationship. In an uncertain world, closer cooperation gives businesses greater certainty and unlocks new opportunities for investment, innovation and growth.
For Airbus, with our unique industrial footprint across both the UK and EU, this reset provides a vital platform to strengthen partnerships in defence, space and civil aerospace, areas where collaboration is essential to Europe’s long-term security and competitiveness.
Our increased trade with India will unlock opportunities for every region in the UK to access the world’s fastest growing major economy, including the West of England.
Under the Free Trade Deal that was concluded, the barriers to trading have been dropped, with India agreeing to reduce tariffs on products including advanced machinery, aerospace and medical devices that are made in the West of England.
Based on 2022 trade alone, this amounts to India cutting tariffs worth over £400 million when the deal comes into force, which will more than double to around £900 million after 10 years.
India reduced tariffs on medical devices and machinery exported from the UK, that will deliver significant benefits for firms across Bristol and the wider region.
The deals both support collaboration on green energy tech, aligning with the region’s initiatives in renewables and energy innovation. They also bring benefits to the financial, digital and services companies that are based in Bristol which employ local people and generate economic growth across the region.
Just this week, the Prime Minister acted in the national interest by confirming a new agreement with the European Union that will deliver on his core mission to grow the economy, creating more jobs in the West of England, raising standards and putting more money in people’s pockets.
At today’s meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions the Prime Minister will also lead discussions about spreading AI to help working people access the services that they need in their local areas.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The three trade deals that we have struck in three weeks will boost the Tees Valley’s manufacturing industries (9% of local jobs), with tariffs on car exports slashed alongside a range of other measures.
The three trade deals that we have struck in three weeks will boost the Tees Valley’s manufacturing industries (9% of local jobs), with tariffs on car exports slashed alongside a range of other measures.
Reducing India’s tariffs on machinery, slashing tariffs on car exports in both deals and our agreement with the US to remove the 25% tariff on steel provides stability for the biggest employers in the region like Nissan, the engine manufacturer Cummins and Caterpillar.
This means greater job security for workers, stronger economic growth to support more jobs and higher living standards across the Tees Valley – priorities that we are delivering through our Plan for Change.
The trade deals that we have closed delivers stability for manufacturing in the Tees Valley that employs 9% of all people.
It also will create opportunities for more seamless trade, attracting inward investment that will grow the local economy and make a difference to people’s lives.
These changes will be felt everywhere, whether it’s lower food prices at the checkout, more choice for consumers and higher living standards that will improve livelihoods across the Teesside.
10,123 people employed in agriculture across the North East are also set to benefit from our trade deal with the EU. It means less checks and red tape, meaning farmers and producers who grow food across the region now have easy access to the EU, the UK’s biggest trading partner.
This deal also protects British steel exports from new rules and restrictive tariffs, helping to protect 3,050 people working in the steel industry across the North East.
The three landmark deals secured this month with the US, India, and the EU have shown this government is serious about striking the deals that our businesses want and need.
We are delivering billions for the UK economy and wages every year as part of our Plan for Change. For businesses in Teesside, these deals will mean stability and jobs protected as they seize new opportunities to sell to some of our biggest trading partners.
The Prime Minister will tell the English Mayors and the Leaders from the Devolved Governments at a meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in London today (Friday 23 May) that his trade deals with India, the United States and the EU will deliver economic growth that will improve people’s lives at home.
He will challenge those in attendance to drive economic growth in their local areas to deliver for working people.
Our increased trade with India will unlock opportunities for every region in the UK to access the world’s fastest growing major economy, including for businesses in the Tees Valley like independent production company Wander.
Trade deals like these are game changing for ambitious businesses because they open doors, spark innovation and make international growth possible.
The support Wander received from DBT on our recent trade missions to SXSW Austin and Amsterdam gave us the perfect platform to expand our services globally. We connected with major industry players, explored new markets and showcased our expertise at roundtables.
We attended bootcamps ahead of the missions and were introduced to other agencies and potential clients & partners.
Under the Free Trade Deal that was concluded, tariffs on cars sold to India will come down from over 100% to 10% under a quota, while other tariff reductions on aerospace parts will also benefit Teesside’s manufacturing sector.
Based on 2022 trade alone, this amounts to India cutting tariffs worth over £400 million when the deal comes into force, which will more than double to around £900 million after 10 years.
In the same week, we negotiated the first of its kind agreement with the US that will reduce tariffs on UK car exports and remove tariffs on steel, protecting two key industries in Teesside that employ thousands of people.
Just this week the Prime Minister acted in the national interest by confirming a new agreement with the European Union that will deliver on his core mission to grow the economy, creating more jobs in Teesside, raising living standards and putting more money in people’s pockets.
At today’s meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions the Prime Minister will also lead discussions about spreading AI to help working people access the services that they need in their local areas.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Trade deals with India, US and the EU that have seen tariffs on key industries slashed are set to help drive growth in Wales.
Trade deals with India, US and the EU that have seen tariffs on key industries slashed are set to help drive growth in Wales.
These deals will deliver benefits that communities across Wales will feel – supporting job creation, reducing costs and expanding export opportunities.
This means stronger economic growth across Wales – delivering our Plan for Change.
These trade deals deliver long term security for people in Wales. They will create opportunities for more seamless trade and attract inward investment to grow the economy, making a difference to people’s lives.
These changes will be felt everywhere, whether it’s lower food prices at the checkout, more choice for consumers and higher living standards that will improve livelihoods across Wales.
The Prime Minister will tell the English Mayors and the Leaders from the Devolved Governments at a meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in London today (Friday 23 May) that his trade deals with India, the United States and the EU will deliver economic growth that will improve people’s lives at home.
He will challenge those in attendance to drive economic growth in their local areas to deliver for working people.
As an export-led economy, the government’s commitment to free and fair trade will be welcomed by firms across Wales.
Amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and economic headwinds, these agreements with the US, India and the EU will reduce existing barriers to trade and provide Welsh firms with a renewed sense of optimism as they look to seize new international opportunities.
Deals like these will be critical to driving growth, creating jobs and raising living standards across our nation.
Over 200 Welsh businesses exported goods worth £226 million to India last year and this could grow even further under the new trade deal.
Welsh farmers will benefit from the India deal with tariffs on lamb reduced from 33% to 0%. Wales has a vibrant creative sector, and the deal provides enhanced copyright protections for producers so they can be confident that works will continue to be protected for at least 60 years.
Welsh food and drink producers will also no longer face huge delays and red tape to export into the EU while some products like Welsh sausages and lamb mince will no longer be blocked. The deal has been welcomed by the Head of Wales at the Federation of Small Businesses and by the National Farmers Union Cymru who highlighted that Wales exports £813m of food and drink a year to the EU – 75% of all exports and more than the UK level of 57%.
Wales is also home to a thriving clean energy sector employing over 58,000 people and generating over £4.8 billion in revenue – this deal will support further development as we gain unprecedented access to India’s procurement market as they transition towards a net zero economy. The sector will also benefit from the new EU deal which agrees cooperate on clean energy and link our schemes for emissions trading – worth up to £3.8 billion a year to our economy in the long run.
The trade deals with India, the US and the EU are great news for Welsh consumers, Welsh business, and Welsh jobs.
Taken together these deals mean a huge boost for our key industries, from farming to green energy and the creative sector. We want to grow our economy and create secure well-paid jobs and by unlocking new markets and opportunities we can deliver on that promise.
Our increased trade with India will unlock opportunities for every region in the UK to access the world’s fastest growing economy, including for Wales.
Wales’s steel industry has also been supported by the US trade deal which has eliminated the previous steel tariffs of 25% and our deal with the EU adds further protection for steel by safeguarding steel exports from new EU tariffs.
Under the historic deal reached with the US last week, we have agreed reciprocal market access on beef that will benefit farmers in Wales, will a total UK quota of 13,000 metric tonnes. There will be no weakening of UK food standards on imports.
The three landmark deals secured this month with the US, India, and the EU have shown this government is serious about striking the deals that our businesses want and need.
We are delivering billions for the UK economy and wages every year as part of our Plan for Change. For Welsh businesses, these deals will mean stability and jobs protected as they seize new opportunities to sell to some of our biggest trading partners.
Just this week, the Prime Minister continued to act in Britain’s national interest by confirming a new agreement with the European Union that will deliver on his core mission to grow the economy, create more jobs in Wales, raising living standards and put more money in people’s pockets.
At today’s meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions the Prime Minister will also lead discussions about spreading AI to help working people access the services that they need in their local areas.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Trade deals with India, US and the EU slashing tariffs on key industries and opening markets are set to help drive growth in Scotland and put money in Scots’ pockets.
Trade deals with India, US and the EU slashing tariffs on key industries and opening markets are set to help drive growth in Scotland and put money in Scots’ pockets.
These deals represent tangible benefits for communities throughout Scotland, supporting jobs, reducing costs, expanding export opportunities for iconic Scottish products and making it easier to go on holiday.
This means stronger economic growth for firms across Scotland – delivering on our Plan for Change.
These trade deals deliver long term security for people in Scotland. They will create opportunities for more seamless trade and attract inward investment to grow the economy, making a difference to people’s lives.
These changes will be felt everywhere, whether it’s lower food prices at the checkout, more choice for consumers and higher living standards that will improve livelihoods across Scotland.
The new agreement with the European Union, the UK’s largest trading market, will directly address challenges faced by Scottish exporters since 2019. The Scottish salmon industry has estimated that between 2019 and 2023, Scottish Salmon export values experienced a net loss of around £75 million. Our deal makes it significantly easier to sell Scottish goods to European markets. We’ve also unlocked a new salmon market through our deal with India, with tariffs dropping from 33% to 0%.
We welcome the UK Government’s efforts in moving at pace to secure trade deals that will grow and strengthen market opportunities for our farmers.
Ministers rightly recognise salmon as the jewel in the crown of our world-class produce and its vital role in the economy of coastal communities and across the UK.
Securing frictionless access to key markets such as the EU, along with expanding opportunities in India, is crucial to protect our producers from unnecessary barriers like tariffs and red tape.
Scottish salmon’s high standards of quality and sustainability set it apart globally, helping to drive investment and support 12,500 jobs across the Highlands and Islands and beyond.
We look forward to continuing to work with government to build on this momentum, including further progress with the US, and to ensure Scotland’s salmon sector continues to thrive on the world stage.
The landmark deal with India has slashed tariffs on Scotland’s most iconic products. Scottish distillers will immediately see these halved from 150% to 75% and eventually to just 40% over the next decade.
Other industries boosted by the deal include soft drinks and food that will ramp up Scotland’s export economy, supporting jobs and increasing prosperity across the country.
Our trio of trade deals shows we are championing Scottish products and businesses on the global stage. From our world-renowned whisky distilleries to our cutting-edge green energy sector, Scotland has so much to offer international markets. But more importantly as part of our Plan for Change this means more money in people’s pockets.
By securing better access to the European Union, United States and India, we’re creating real opportunities for Scottish businesses to grow, supporting jobs in communities from the Highlands to the Borders.
The Prime Minister will tell the English Mayors and the Leaders from the Devolved Governments at a meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in London today (Friday 23 May) that his trade deals with India, the United States and the EU will deliver economic growth that will improve people’s lives at home.
He will challenge those in attendance to drive economic growth in their local areas to deliver for working people.
The three landmark deals secured this month with the US, India, and the EU have shown this government is serious about striking the deals that our businesses want and need.
We are delivering billions for the UK economy and wages every year as part of our Plan for Change. For Scottish businesses, these deals will mean stability and jobs protected as they seize new opportunities to sell to some of our biggest trading partners.
In the US Tariffs on British steel and aluminium will be removed. In addition to vital assurances for life science, there are reductions for the automotive industry with US tariffs cut from 27.5% to 10% for 100,000 vehicles every year and Indian tariffs dropping from 110% to 10% under a quota.
New reciprocal market access has also been agreed on beef – with UK farmers given a tariff free quota for 13,000 metric tonnes without compromising the sector’s high standards.
At today’s meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions the Prime Minister will also lead discussions about spreading AI to help working people access the services that they need in their local areas.
Source: Scotland – Highland Council
Members of Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee will have the opportunity to discuss compensatory planting schemes and biodiversity enhancement when they meet on Thursday 29 May.
Economy and Infrastructure Committee Chair, Cllr Ken Gowans said: “Environmental schemes are important for our communities as they ensure that biodiversity is improved when new infrastructure projects are developed. This paper will give Members the opportunity to discuss the benefits of advance scheme endorsement which could support developers to deliver positive impacts more effectively and assist the Council in supporting our commitment to sustainable development.”
Members will be asked to agree to the principle of the Council endorsing proposed schemes in advance of planning permission, as well as a fee structure for major development proposals.
Cllr Gowans added: “Developers delivering major infrastructure projects often find it challenging to secure sufficient land for their environmental scheme obligations which can result in delays to projects and sub-optimal biodiversity improvements. I look forward to discussing how we could potentially mitigate these delays and avoid negative environmental impacts whilst fulfilling our statutory obligations.”
The papers for the Economy and Infrastructure Committee are available on the Council’s website.
23 May 2025
Source: Scotland – Highland Council
The Highland Council has launched phase 2 of a public consultation on how Community Councils across the Highlands are created and governed.
The Community Council Scheme Review was on the agenda of the Highland Council meeting held on the 15 May 2025, Members agreed to the phase 2 review of the Scheme and that the proposals informed by the phase 1 review be subject to further public consultation.
The Council is keen to hear views from Community Councils and the wider public on these proposals to make changes to the Scheme.
The council paper can be found on the Council’s website –
A summary of minor amendments and scheme documentation with all proposals can be found here
Anyone wishing to provide feedback on the proposals are able to do so by completing the comments boxes available online at the link above.
The consultation runs up until 13 August 2025. Following this, a further report will go to a special meeting of The Highland Council on 18 September at which Members will make a final decision to approve a New Scheme of Establishment for Community Councils
23 May 2025
Source: Scotland – Highland Council
Nancy Rattray, former Market Trader has been posthumously commemorated at the Victorian Market in Inverness.
Provost of Inverness and Area Cllr Glynis Campbell Sinclair unveiled two plaques in honour of Nancy one of which is a star with “Nancy’s Place 1964-2020” engraved on it and placed on the site where her shop was previously located.
Another plaque depicts an image of Nancy and the words:
“Nancy Rattray, Joke shop Legend who provided joy and laughter to generations 1966 to 2020 was so unassuming yet so influential and respected by all, Nancy’s warmth and understanding will live on in our hearts forever leaving an indelible mark on the Victorian Market.”
Provost Sinclair said: “Nancy was one of those rare individuals that achieved great status in her local community. She was incredibly modest but had a gift to bring joy happiness and well-being to so many people.
“I hope that Nancy will be proud of what we have achieved here in the Market as we honour her enduring service for over 60 years at the spot where she had her shop and recognise her commitment to the Inverness community.
“We thank you, Nancy, with these small tributes, your memory will live on in our hearts.”
23 May 2025
Source: Scotland – Highland Council
At the meeting Economy and Infrastructure Committee next week (Thursday 28 May) members will decide how over £3 million of funding from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) will be used over the next 12 months to deliver a positive impact across communities.
The proposed 2025/26 Highland UKSPF Delivery Plan is made up of a range of projects geared to delivering positive impacts across the Highlands, building on the successes of the 2022-25 Delivery Plan and introducing new interventions, all aimed at maximising the return on the 2025/26 investment.
Chair of the Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: “At our meeting in February we noted the progress being made across a range of interventions under the 2022 – 25 UKSPF priorities of Communities and Places, Supporting Local Business and People and Skills. Now we know the Highland allocation for 2025/26, we need to agree a solid delivery plan that will deliver within the timescale as it is critical that funding is used in this current financial year.
“To ensure optimal use is made of our allocation, the report that will be presented to members recommends that we build on the successes of the 2022-25 UKSPF Delivery Plan. This will allow us to include a mix of new and extended initiatives based on impacts projects have had so far, lessons learned, and to tie in with our economic development priorities.
He added: “This funding is a very important additional investment specifically targeted to benefit the people of Highland by supporting communities, businesses, employment and tourism. As a Council, we have been very successful in using UKSPF to support initiatives and community development throughout Highland across a very broad range of applications, so I hope the committee will support the recommendations.”
23 May 2025
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Top job creators in the North East of England’s automotive industry are set to benefit from new trade deals with India and the US that slashes tariffs and boosts access to the world’s fastest growing economy.
Top job creators in the North East of England’s automotive industry are set to benefit from new trade deals with India and the US that slashes tariffs and boosts access to the world’s fastest growing economy.
This means long-term stability for 14,000 people employed in the sector and security for their families.
It will also deliver opportunities for major job creators in the region like Nissan, Hitachi and Caterpillar to grow – the first priority of our Plan for Change.
These trade deals that we have closed delivers stability for the 14,000 workers employed in the automotive manufacturing in the North East. It also will create opportunities for more seamless trade, attracting inward investment that will grow the local economy and make a difference to people’s lives. These changes will be felt everywhere, whether it’s lower food prices at the checkout, more choice for consumers and higher living standards that will improve livelihoods across the North East Combined Authority.
10,123 people employed in agriculture across the North East are also set to benefit from our trade deal with the EU. It means less checks and red tape, meaning farmers and producers who grow food across the region now have easy access to the EU, the UK’s biggest trading partner.
This deal also protects British steel exports from new rules and restrictive tariffs, helping to protect 3,050 people working in the steel industry across the North East.
The three landmark deals secured this month with the US, India, and the EU have shown this government is serious about striking the deals that our businesses want and need.
We are delivering billions for the UK economy and wages every year as part of our Plan for Change. For businesses in the North East, these deals will mean stability and jobs protected as they seize new opportunities to sell to some of our biggest trading partners.
The Prime Minister will tell the English Mayors and the Leaders from the Devolved Governments at a meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in London today (Friday 23 May) that his trade deals with India, the United States and the EU will deliver economic growth that will improve people’s lives at home.
He will challenge those in attendance to drive economic growth in their local areas to deliver for working people.
The benefits of the India deal for local businesses and workers have been praised by Professor Carl Stephen Patrick Hunter, Chairman of Coltraco Ultrasonics Limited & Director General of The Durham Institute of Research, Development & Innovation.
Coltraco Ultrasonics is strongly supportive of the India Free Trade Agrement and proud to have modestly contributed to and advising the British negotiating team on various chapters. The UK private sector can now, because of the India FTA, the Windsor Framework CPTPP, and a variety of other UK FTAs, look out to the world, balancing our exporting and investment opportunities between the USA, the EU and Asia Pacific. It is a tremendous success and we thank British and Indian Civil Servants for their public service in the UK-India FTA.
Our increased trade with India will unlock opportunities for every region in the UK to access the world’s fastest growing economy, including the North East.
Under the Free Trade Deal that was concluded, tariffs on cars sold to India will come down from over 100% to 10% under a quota.
In the same week, we negotiated a first of its kind agreement with the US that will reduce tariffs on car exports to 10% for the first 100,000 vehicles per year, almost the total number of UK vehicles exported to the country last year.
Just this week, the Prime Minister acted in the national interest by confirming a new agreement with the European Union that will deliver on his core mission to grow the economy, creating more jobs in the North East, raising living standards and putting more money in people’s pockets.
At today’s meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions the Prime Minister will also lead discussions about spreading AI to help working people access the services that they need in their local areas.
Source: City of Wolverhampton
Trading Standards officers are warning businesses that after this date it will be against the law to sell these types of vapes to shoppers, and any items not sold before then must be disposed of safely.
The ban includes all single-use or disposable vapes which are not refillable and use a battery which cannot be recharged. It will come into force on the same day across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The Government is introducing the ban to try and tackle a number of issues that affect public health and safety. Single-use vapes can pose health risks and are often discarded as litter or thrown into regular waste bins, which increase the risk of fires.
Discarded vapes introduce harmful substances into the soil, rivers and streams, and causes harm to biodiversity. When single-use vapes are thrown into regular bins they often end up in landfill or are incinerated, meaning critical resources are lost. They can also cause fires, risking the safety of waste management workers, firefighters and the public.
Trading Standards officers are currently working with partners including the council’s licensing team and representatives from the police and fire service to make sure shops across the city prepare for the change in the law.
Officers are carrying out visits and sharing information leaflets and will also be reminding businesses to run down existing stocks before 1 June.
They will also be carrying out inspections after the ban has come into force to ensure that businesses are adhering to the new laws. Action will be considered against businesses who don’t comply.
Any business continuing to supply single-use vapes after 1 June will risk the stock being seized. They may also face being fined or prosecuted.
Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, cabinet member for resident services at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “Single-use vapes have become a familiar sight in our communities and, unfortunately, they can cause a number of problems, from littering and environmental damage to health and fire risks.
“We want to see city businesses trading successfully and it is vital that they pay attention to the new law and stop selling single-use or disposable vapes from 1 June.
“This will hopefully help to reduce the amount of these products we see discarded in our streets and parks. As well as looking unpleasant, these items can have a hugely damaging effect on our environment and wildlife as they leak poisonous chemicals.
“I would encourage all businesses that have been selling single-use vapes to make sure they take advice from our officers and pay attention to the new legal requirements.”
Businesses looking for advice on how to comply with the law in this area can find out more at Ditch single-use vapes as ban deadline looms – GOV.UK.
Anyone who has concerns about the sale of vapes or tobacco products can email Trading Standards at trading.standards@wolverhampton.gov.uk.
Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland
“The Murphy Review is nothing short of a sham — designed not to address unionist concerns, but to entrench the arrangements Unionists oppose.
“That said, the TUV have submitted a detailed response exposing the review’s biased and unacceptable terms. The Protocol was imposed without a shred of cross-community consent. Yet now, we’re told that any deviation from it must have cross-community support. This is a gross double standard that betrays the very principle of parity.
“The terms of reference make it abundantly clear that the review is not a genuine examination of Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market. Instead, it is a managed process to uphold the Windsor Framework at all costs. The insistence on treating that flawed deal as an unalterable international obligation reveals the political stitch-up at work.
“Worse still, by requiring that any recommendation must have cross-community backing, the review hands nationalists a veto over any change. This is not parity of esteem — it is the institutionalisation of imbalance.
“TUV has made it clear: we do not accept the legitimacy of a process rigged in this way. The review is constrained, compromised, and incapable of producing an outcome that respects the constitutional position of Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom.“
You can read the full submission here.
Source: United Nations (Video News)
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher today (22 May) called on the Security Council to act, as “the scaffolding built last century to protect us from inhumanity is crumbling,”
Fletcher noted that last year, the United Nations recorded “more than 36,000 civilian deaths in 14 armed conflicts,” warning that the real number is “much higher.
The humanitarian official said, “some parties to conflict have committed flagrant violations of the rules of law. Some have justified immense civilian harm through permissive interpretations of the law, loosely defining who is a lawful target, what constitutes a military objective, or what level of civilian harm is proportional.”
Some states, he continued “consider the law selectively, depending on the parties concerned or the interests at stake, stressing that “all this undermines the very purpose of the rules of war, to limit human suffering in armed conflict,” and “jeopardizes the protection architecture that took decades to build.”
Fletcher said that “another path” was possible, “provided that this Council and Member States take action to salvage what they have built.’
In her briefing to the Council, UN Women’s Executive Director Sima Bahous said, “in war, women and girls are not just caught in the crossfire. They, their bodies, their health, their choices, and their voices are actively targeted. Conflict related sexual violence is a protection crisis that rightfully warrants its own attention.”
Bahous said, “across too many conflicts, women’s bodies become battlegrounds, through sexual violence and also through the deliberate denial of reproductive rights and health services. 61 percent of all maternal deaths occur in just 35 conflict affected countries. In the past year we have seen bombed maternity wards, blockaded medical supplies, and massive funding cuts.”
The President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, for her part told the Council that “the precedent being set on battlefields today will haunt us for a long time,” and added that “there are no excuses for double standards. Every state has a stake in this.”
Spoljaric Egger said, “no one wants to live in a world where the rules of war apply only to your enemies, and not to yourself and to your allies,” and stressed that “civilians will suffer less when all sides commit to the basic principles of humanity and war.”
Ignoring these rules, she said, “is a race to the moral bottom, a fast track to chaos and irreversible despair.”
The President and Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children in the United States, Janti Soeripto, said, “over 470 million children, more than 1 in 6 now lives in live in areas affected by conflict. Grave violations against children are being committed at unprecedent scale and with impunity. Roughly half of the civilian population we seek to protect and assist are children. But children are not small adults. Children are uniquely vulnerable to the effects of war, with a far lower threshold for harm compared to adults.”
Soeripto said, “the laws and norms that humanity has constructed to protect civilians, and in particular children, from harm during situations of armed conflict are being systematically challenged, undermined and attacked.”
She said, “this is not an erosion, but an assault on the values of humanity.”
Outside the Council, before the meeting, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece, Giorgos Gerapetritis, read a statement on behalf of 80 Member States.
Source: NASA
The United States participated in an international Artemis Accords workshop May 21-22 to advance the safe and responsible exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Hosted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which was represented by the UAE Space Agency, the workshop took place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
The Artemis Accords are a set of non-binding principles signed by nations for a peaceful and prosperous future in space for all of humanity to enjoy. In October 2020, under the first Trump administration, the accords were created, and since then, 54 countries have joined with the United States in committing to transparent and responsible behavior in space.
“Following President Trump’s visit to the Middle East, the United States built upon the successful trip through engagement with a global coalition of nations to further implement the accords – practical guidelines for ensuring transparency, peaceful cooperation, and shared prosperity in space exploration,” said acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro. “These accords represent a vital step toward uniting the world in the pursuit of exploration and scientific discovery beyond Earth. NASA is proud to lead in the overall accords effort, advancing the principles as we push the boundaries of human presence in space – for the benefit of all.”
Participants from 30 countries joined the discussions and a tabletop exercise centered on defining challenges for operating in a complex environment.
As the Artemis Accords workshop concluded Thursday, participants reaffirmed their commitment to upholding the principles outlined in the accords and to continue identifying best practices and guidelines for safe and sustainable exploration. The first workshop was hosted by Poland in 2023, followed by Canada in 2024.
Artemis Accords signatories have committed to sharing information about their activities to the United Nations of Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and other appropriate channels. Transparency and communication are key to peaceful exploration.
The Artemis Accords signatories will gather for face-to-face discussions on the margins of the International Astronautical Congress in late September, where workshop recommendations and outcomes will be presented to the Artemis Accords principals. NASA anticipates additional countries will sign in the coming weeks and months.
The Artemis Accords are grounded in the Outer Space Treaty and other agreements, including the Registration Convention and the Rescue and Return Agreement, as well as best practices for responsible behavior that NASA and its partners have supported, including the public release of scientific data.
Learn more about the Artemis Accords at:
https://www.nasa.gov/artemis-accords
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Condemning the heinous April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Russia on Friday said that it stands in solidarity with India for elimination of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Moscow’s stand was conveyed as an all-party delegation from India, led by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, met with senior members of the Russian Federation Council, including Andrey Denisov, First Deputy Chair of the Committee on International Affairs in the Russian capital to reaffirm the united stand against terrorism.
“The All-Party Delegation led by Hon’ble MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi in the Federation Council of the Russian Federation met with First Deputy Chair of the Committee on International Affairs H.E. Mr. Andrey Denisov and other senators. The Russian side condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and stated that Russia stands in solidarity with India for elimination of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations! Russia and India have shared position in the fight against terrorism,” the Embassy of India in Russia posted on X.
“Together in the fight against terrorism!”, the post added.
Earlier in the day, the delegation was briefed by Indian Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar on various aspects of bilateral relations ahead of their commencement of official engagements highlighting India’s strong resolve in fighting terrorism in all its forms under the global outreach campaign of Operation Sindoor.
“Ambassador Vinay Kumar briefs MPs Kanimozhi, Rajeev Rai, Brijesh Chowta, Prem Chand Gupta, Ashok Kumar Mittal and Ambassador Manjeev Puri on various aspects of India-Russia relations, before they start the official engagements,” the Embassy of India in Russia posted on X.
Earlier on Friday, the third high-level delegation led by Kanimozhi arrived in Moscow to convey India’s firm stance in combating terrorism and was received by Indian Ambassador Vinay Kumar.
The delegation led by Kanimozhi Karunanidhi includes Samajwadi Party MP Rajeev Rai, BJP MP Captain Brijesh Chowta (Retd.); RJD MP Prem Chand Gupta, AAP MP Ashok Kumar Mittal, and former Ambassador of India to the EU, Belgium, Luxembourg and Nepal; Former Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the UN, Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri.
“On arrival at Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport the Members of Parliament Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, Rajeev Rai, Captain Brijesh Chowta, Prem Chand Gupta, Ashok Kumar Mittal, Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri, welcomed by Ambassador of India to Russia Vinay Kumar A busy schedule of meetings and interactions awaits them in Moscow on 23-24 May 2025,” the Indian Embassy in Russia posted on X.
“In the context of the Indian government’s continued efforts under Operation Sindoor and in furtherance of India’s principled and resolute stand against the menace of terrorism, an All-Party Delegation comprising Members of Parliament and a senior diplomat is undertaking a visit to Russia from May 22 to May 24, 2025. The delegation would carry forth the country’s strong message of zero-tolerance for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” the Embassy of India in Russia said in a statement on Thursday.
(IANS)
Source: US FBI
Buffalo, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced that Nikita Andreevich Sklyuev a/k/a Valeriy Dorojkin, 37, of Uzbekistan, was extradited from Ukraine and arraigned today on an indictment charging him with wire fraud and fraudulent use of unauthorized access device. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas A. C. Penrose, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, in June 2018, Sklyuev submitted a computer software application, “EOSIO Wallet Explorer,” to Apple to be sold through the Apple App Store. The EOSIO Wallet Explorer purported to be a cryptocurrency wallet, but was in fact a malicious computer software application designed to steal the cryptocurrency user’s private key, thereby giving Sklyuev access to the user’s cryptocurrency funds. In September 2018, an individual in the Western District of New York (Victim) purchased the EOSIO Wallet Explorer application and then installed it on his iPhone. Once the Victim entered his private key following the installation, Sklyuev had unauthorized access to the Victim’s cryptocurrency wallet, which contained approximately 2,092,395.5356 EOS cryptocurrency, which at the time was valued at approximately $11.8 million dollars. On September 25, 2018, Sklyuev changed the private key to the Victim’s wallet, which resulted in the Victim losing all control and access to his wallet. In February 2019, Sklyuev transferred the EOS cryptocurrency from the Victim’s wallet to numerous other online wallets that were under his control.
Sklyuev was arraigned this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and is being held pending a detention hearing on July 3, 2024. Today’s arraignment follows the successful June 20, 2024, extradition of Sklyuev from Ukraine. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with Romanian and Ukrainian authorities to secure his arrest and extradition.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia and the U.S. Marshals Service, under the direction of Marshal Charles Salina.
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.
# # # #
Source: US FBI
A Florida man was sentenced to 47 years in prison on Wednesday for his role in a scheme involving a series of home invasion robberies targeting cryptocurrency. Between Sept. 5 and Sept. 12, a total of 12 men have been sentenced for their role in the scheme.
According to court documents and evidence presented at the trial, Remy Ra St Felix, 25, of West Palm Beach, and his co-conspirators stole over $3.5 million from victims through SIM swapping and violent home invasions in which they held victims at gunpoint, assaulted them, and bound them with plastic cable ties. St Felix was convicted on June 25 by a federal jury in Greensboro, North Carolina, after a six-day trial. In addition to his sentence of incarceration, St Felix was sentenced to five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $524,153.39 in restitution.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, beginning in late 2020, St Felix’s co-conspirator, Jarod Gabriel Seemungal, 23, of West Palm Beach, and foreign co-conspirators stole cryptocurrency from victims’ accounts at exchanges. They obtained access to the accounts by gaining control of the victims’ phone numbers through SIM swapping. In 2022, Seemungal and his co-conspirators devised the home invasion scheme and recruited St Felix and others to assist with the invasions. St Felix later became the leader of the home invasion crew. In September 2022, St Felix and members of the crew committed violent home invasions in Delray Beach and Homestead, Florida. In Delray Beach, the victims were held at gunpoint in their home. In Homestead, a man and his family were held at gunpoint in their home, and then the man was abducted, held hostage, and beaten, before the man was found by law enforcement 120 miles from his home.
Later in 2022, St Felix and his crew targeted a Little Elm, Texas, man and made several trips to attempt the robbery. In December 2022, Seemungal and a Houston-based crew comprised of Deangelo Lee Contreras, 21, Tristian Rene Gamez, 21, Victor Gonzalez, 27, Jesus Salazar, 24, Cristian Valdez, 21, and Jesus Gerardo Valdez, Jr., 27, all of Houston, Texas, committed the home invasion. The Little Elm man and members of his family were held at gunpoint and restrained in their home for over three hours, during which time members of the crew tortured the man and his mother. The perpetrators stole approximately $150,000.00 in cash, two Rolex watches, and a valuable necklace and pendant.
In April 2023, St Felix and Elmer Ruben Castro, 23, of West Palm Beach, invaded the home of a wife and a husband in Durham, North Carolina. Prior to the invasion, St Felix’s co-conspirators obtained unauthorized access to the couple’s email account and conducted multiple days of surveillance on their home. During the invasion, the men violently assaulted the couple, threatened them with guns, and restrained them with plastic cable ties. They forced the man to provide access to his computer and cryptocurrency exchange account. Seemungal then remotely accessed the computer and stole over $150,000.00 worth of cryptocurrency. Conspirators laundered the funds through anonymity-enhanced cryptocurrencies, as well as “instant exchanges” and decentralized finance platforms that did not conduct know-your-customer checks.
In July 2023, St Felix traveled from Florida to Long Island, New York, to commit a home invasion of a family of five. Before St Felix could do so, however, he was arrested. At the time of his arrest, St Felix was in possession of two firearms and plastic cable ties.
Throughout the conspiracy, the conspirators communicated via an encrypted messaging application to plan their crimes. They identified targets and discussed how to gain entry to homes, the tools required to carry out the crimes, the technical aspects of cryptocurrency, and the patterns of life of their targets.
They also circulated pictures of their targets and their targets’ homes. In addition to the home invasions described above, conspirators used the encrypted messaging application to plan additional home invasion robberies in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Orlando, Florida; and Georgia. Seemungal and the foreign co-conspirators financed the purchase of rental cars, hotel rooms, and firearms by co-conspirators Haisel Daily, 22, of West Palm Beach, and Ruben Matias Nicolopulos Silva, 22, of Lake Worth, Florida, to use during the robberies.
Seemungal was also sentenced yesterday to 20 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $4,038,479.39 in restitution. Seemungal pleaded guilty on December 19, 2023, for his role in the scheme to steal cryptocurrency by hacking victims’ cryptocurrency accounts as well as the home invasion and robbery scheme.
On Feb. 6, Castro pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping and kidnapping. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 1.
On May 29 and 30, nine of St Felix’s and Seemungal’s co-conspirators pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and were sentenced as follows:
Also, on May 29 and 30, Salazar and Gamez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to interfere with commerce through robbery. Salazar was sentenced on Sept. 5, to five years in prison, followed by four years of supervised release and ordered to pay $355,800.00 in restitution. Gamez was sentenced on Sept. 11, to eight years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $355,800.00 in restitution.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Hairston for the Middle District of North Carolina; and Special Agent in Charge Robert M. DeWitt of the FBI Charlotte Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Charlotte Field Office investigated the case, with valuable assistance from the Durham Police Department and the FBI New York, Miami, Houston, Mobile, and Newark Field Offices.
The National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET) of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) is partnered with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina in prosecuting the case. CCIPS/NCET Trial Attorney and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Iverson for the Middle District of North Carolina and CCIPS Trial Attorney Brian Mund are prosecuting the case. The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Southern District of Florida, Southern District of Texas, and Eastern District of Texas provided valuable assistance.
NCET was established to combat the growing illicit use of cryptocurrencies and digital assets. Within CCIPS, NCET conducts and supports investigations into individuals and entities that enable the use of digital assets to commit and facilitate a variety of crimes, with a particular focus on virtual currency exchanges, obfuscation services, and infrastructure providers. NCET also sets strategic priorities regarding digital asset technologies, identifies areas for increased investigative and prosecutorial focus, and leads the department’s efforts to collaborate with domestic and foreign government agencies as well as the private sector to aggressively investigate and prosecute crimes involving cryptocurrency and digital assets.
###
Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Ben Horne, Assistant Professor in the School of Information Sciences, University of Tennessee
When Russia invaded Ukraine in the spring of 2022, President Vladimir Putin incorrectly assumed it would be a swift takeover.
In fact, three years on, negotiators from both countries are tentatively exploring the idea of a negotiated way out of a largely stalemated conflict.
So what did the Kremlin’s initial assessment get wrong? Aside from underestimating the vulnerabilities of Russia’s military, analysts have suggested that Moscow also miscalculated the support Russia would receive from Ukrainians in the country’s east who have close ethnic ties to Russia.
Our recently published study on Ukrainian sentiment toward Russia before and after the invasion backs up that assertion. It demonstrates that even those Ukrainians who had close ties to Russia based on ethnicity, language, religion or location dramatically changed allegiances immediately following the invasion. For example, just prior to the invasion of 2022, native Russian speakers in Ukraine’s east tended to blame the West for tensions with Russia. But immediately after the invasion, they blamed Moscow in roughly the same numbers as non-Russian-speaking Ukrainians.
Moreover, this shift was not just a short-lived reaction. Three years after the invasion, we followed up on our survey and found that Ukrainians still blame Russia for tensions to a degree that was never so unanimous before 2022.
Our study is part of a larger project exploring how effective Russian propaganda has been at influencing Russian-speaking adults in certain former Soviet states. Our inaugural survey was launched in the fall of 2020, while the question regarding tensions between Ukraine and Russia was first posed in February 2022, immediately prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Surveys were completed by over 1,000 Russian-speaking people in Ukraine − excluding Crimea and the breakaway Donbas region for security reasons − and in Belarus. While the spring surveys in Ukraine were conducted in person, the others were done by telephone due to the political situation in each country.
Belarus was chosen because it shares a similar historical, linguistic and ethnic background to Ukraine, but the two nations have diverged in their geopolitical paths. Shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Belarus, like Ukraine, forged ahead in attempting to build democratic systems. But after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko came to power in 1994, the country become an authoritarian state with a high dependence on Russia for political and economic support.
In broad terms, Ukraine has had an opposite trajectory. Relations between Ukraine and Russia fluctuated over the initial years of independence. But since the Maidan revolution of November 2013 to February 2014, a staunch pro-Western leadership has emerged.
Still, certain segments of the population in Ukraine continued to hold affinities toward Russia – most notably, the Russian-speaking older generation in the country’s east.
Our surveys provide a kind of natural experiment looking at the impact of a Russian invasion on previous pro-Russian public sentiment.
Ukraine serves as the “treatment” group and Belarus as a “quasi-control” group, with the distinguishing factor being a Russian invasion. The questions we asked: “Who do you think is responsible for the worsening tensions between Russia and Ukraine?” and “In general, how do Russian policies affect your country?”
We found that in Ukraine, but not in Belarus, geopolitical views were sharply unified by the experience of the invasion. On one level, this is not surprising – after all, the people of a country being invaded would be expected to hold some degree of resentment to the invading army.
But what we found most interesting is that this effect in Ukraine massively overrode the split among various identities before the invasion. This was most prominent in people’s perceptions of who was to blame for rising tensions.
Prior to the invasion, 69.7% of respondents in Ukraine overall blamed Russia for the tensions between the two countries, with 30.3% blaming NATO, Ukraine or the U.S. By August 2022, 97.3% of respondents in Ukraine blamed Russia for the tensions, with only 2.7% blaming NATO, Ukraine or the U.S.
By comparison, in the neighboring country of Belarus, 15.5% of respondents blamed Russia for the tensions prior to the invasion, and only 21.9% of respondents blamed Russia for the tensions after the invasion.
This near unanimity in Ukraine masks the massive shifts you see when broken down for demographic differences. For example, blame varied widely across regions of Ukraine before the invasion but converged after the invasion. Prior to the invasion, only 36.0% of respondents in the east of Ukraine and 51.4% of respondents in the south of Ukraine blamed Russia for the tensions. After the invasion, over 96% of respondents in both regions blamed Russia.
A similar effect can be seen across other demographic differences. Only 30.6% of Catholics in Ukraine blamed Russia for the tensions prior to the invasion, while 83.0% blamed Russia later on.
What were once stratified opinions before the invasion became uniform afterward.
To check that this trend was not just an immediate post-invasion blip, we conducted the surveys again in September 2024 and February 2025. The overall proportion of Ukrainians who blamed Russia for the tensions remained high, with 85.7% and 84.5%, respectively. And again, these results held across the various demographic breakdowns.
In February 2025, the most recent survey, 77.2% of respondents in the east of Ukraine and 83.0% of respondents in the south blamed Russia. Catholics across Ukraine continued to blame Russia, with 90.7% in September 2024 and 90.6% in February 2025. Overall, there has been a small drop in the percentages of those blaming Russia – with war fatigue a possible reason.
Our findings suggest that in times of collective threat, divisions within a society tend to fade as people come together to face a common enemy.
And that could have huge consequences now, as various parties, including the U.S., look at peace proposals to end the Russia-Ukraine war. Among the options being explored is a scenario in which the current front lines are frozen.
This would entail recognizing the Russian-occupied territory of Crimea and the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as part of Russia. But it would also effectively relinquish Ukraine’s southeastern provinces of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia to Russia.
While our surveys cannot speak to how this will go down among the people of Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, the study did include Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. And our findings show that the sense of Ukrainian identity strengthened even among Russian-speaking people in those areas.
Ben Horne has received funding from the Office of Naval Research through the Minerva Research Initiative (Grant: N000142012618).
Catherine Luther has received funding from the Office of Naval Research through the Minerva Research Initiative (Grant: N000142012618).
R. Alexander Bentley has received funding from the Office of Naval Research through the Minerva Research Initiative (Grant: N000142012618)
– ref. Russia’s invasion united different parts of Ukraine against a common enemy – 3 years on, that unanimity still holds – https://theconversation.com/russias-invasion-united-different-parts-of-ukraine-against-a-common-enemy-3-years-on-that-unanimity-still-holds-255092
Source: Green Party of England and Wales
Responding to the news that the price cap for energy bills is set to drop, Green Party Deputy Leader Zack Polanski said,
“£129 off energy bills will be felt as a welcome relief to families up and down the country who are struggling with the cost of living crisis. However, this reduction won’t scratch the surface for many who will still be worrying about how they will heat their houses over the winter ahead. It also highlights the folly of coupling our energy prices to the volatile gas market. Research shows that breaking this market mechanism that ties our energy bills to gas markets added £43 billion to UK energy bills. That’s £367 per household. This one step would allow us to utilise cheap renewable power to provide cheap renewable energy for British homes. Clean, green, renewable power not tied to the old fossil gas market is what we need to bring down bills sustainably.”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Largest multinational Ukraine trade mission boosts defence partnerships for British business
A record 51 UK and international companies joined the fifth UK-Ukraine trade mission in Kyiv this week, making it the largest British-led trade delegation to Ukraine to date.
Participating companies from across the defence economy specialising in areas like uncrewed systems and military goods are securing contracts which will boost high-skilled jobs in regions across the country, supporting the government’s Plan for Change.
This week’s mission brought together leading UK defence firms to deepen cooperation with Ukrainian industry and partners from Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland and Latvia. This collaboration is vital in demonstrating a united multinational industrial front with European allies, scaling up support for Ukraine’s defence needs and strengthening supply chain resilience with international partners.
This latest mission is a significant step in the UK’s 100 Year Partnership with Ukraine, reinforcing the UK’s long-term support for Ukraine’s defence, security and recovery and drawing on the collective industrial capacity and capability of European allies.
Defence is a key growth sector in the Government’s upcoming modern Industrial Strategy and a prime example of how Government and industry can work together to aid our allies and boost UK security.
Working with the Netherlands, Norway, and Ukraine we’re building resilient supply chains, putting Ukraine in the strongest possible position to achieve a just and lasting peace for years to come.
The UK is continuing to lead the way on support for Ukraine, from military support to leading the Ukraine Defence Contact Group where since the UK took the chair nearly £23bn has been pledged in military support for Ukraine.
It is a privilege for industry to lead the UK in engagement both within Ukraine and with our Ukrainian counterparts. Indeed, this week’s trade mission – the most multinational of its kind to date – has been nothing but inspiring.
The UK defence industry’s support to Ukraine is unwavering and stands ready to increase production capacity, develop innovative new capabilities, and build a resilient ecosystem.
Continued collaboration, both with our government counterparts and international allies, is pivotal as illegal Russian aggression continues to intensify. We will continue to deepen our industrial ties and fulfil our moral duty to the Ukrainian people.
European allies needs to stand together with Ukraine for as long as it takes. We work closely with Ukraine the UK and other European countries. The Russian aggression against Ukraine continues, and the need to rapidly strengthen Ukrainian and European defence capabilities are apparent.
The security situation demands that we innovate and adapt. We need to ensure that our industries can meet the growing demands from our governments and armed forces.
One of the purposes of the visit is to facilitate the establishment of projects and collaborations by more Norwegian companies in Ukraine. I am pleased to see how Norwegian companies work with Ukrainian partners to scale up productions.
The mission follows the new UK-EU Security & Defence Partnership that was agreed on Monday, which could lead to significant opportunities for the UK’s world-leading defence industries, generating more high-skilled jobs across all regions of the UK.
By joining forces with our European partners, the UK is strengthening its own defence industry while contributing directly to Ukraine’s long-term resilience.
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements
Trade deals with India, US and the EU that have seen tariffs on key industries slashed are set to help drive growth in South Yorkshire.
Trade deals with India, US and the EU that have seen tariffs on key industries slashed are set to help drive growth in South Yorkshire.
Reductions in tariffs on the steel and auto exports have provided security for nearly 5,000 workers, their families and the biggest two employers in the region.
It also will deliver opportunities for major job creators like Rolls Royce and Mclaren based in Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District to grow – a priority of our Plan for Change
These trade deals deliver long term security for nearly 5,000 workers, their families and for steel and auto manufacturing in South Yorkshire.
It also will create opportunities for more seamless trade, attracting inward investment that will grow the local economy and make a difference to people’s lives.
These changes will be felt everywhere, whether it’s lower food prices at the checkout, more choice for consumers and higher living standards that will improve livelihoods across South Yorkshire.
Over 31,000 people employed in agriculture across the region will also benefit from our agreement with the EU, which reduces red tape and burdens on business, meaning regional specialties like crab, Yorkshire Pudding and cheeses will face easy access to the UK’s biggest trading market.
The agreement also protects British steel exports from new EU rules and restrictive, providing further security for 8,400 jobs in the steel industry across Yorkshire and the Humber.
The three landmark deals secured this month with the US, India, and the EU have shown this government is serious about striking the deals that our businesses want and need.
We are delivering billions for the UK economy and wages every year as part of our Plan for Change. For businesses in South Yorkshire, these deals will mean stability and jobs protected as they seize new opportunities to sell to some of our biggest trading partners.
The Prime Minister will tell the English Mayors and the Leaders from the Devolved Governments at a meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in London today (Friday 23 May) that his trade deals with India, the United States and the EU will deliver economic growth that will improve people’s lives at home.
He will challenge those in attendance to drive economic growth in their local areas to deliver for working people.
The intention to remove tariffs is a very positive step, which when implemented secures both our own production in USA as well as our customers.
Getting this deal across the line needs to be a priority, because supply chains are currently in a state of flux awaiting the details and the effective date.
Our increased trade with India will unlock opportunities for every region in the UK to access the world’s fastest growing economy, including South Yorkshire.
Under the Free Trade Deal that was concluded, tariffs on cars sold to India will come down from over 100% to 10% under a quota.
In the same week, we negotiated a first of its kind agreement with the US that reduces tariffs on car exports to 10% for the first 100,000 vehicles per year, almost the total number of UK vehicles exported to the country last year.
Both of these deals secure greater certainty for the sector, the 5,000 workers in South Yorkshire and their families, while also enhancing opportunities for manufacturing in the region to grow.
Just this week, the Prime Minister continued to act in Britain’s national interest by confirming a new agreement that will deliver on his core mission to grow the economy, creating more jobs in South Yorkshire, raising living standards and putting more money in people’s pockets.
At today’s meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions the Prime Minister will also lead discussions about spreading AI to help working people access the services that they need in their local areas.
Source: Eurojust
This week’s actions follow the largest ever operation against botnets from May 2024, Operation Endgame. This year during Endgame 2.0, the measures targeted the successor groups of malware taken down by the authorities and other relevant variants: Bumblebee, Lactrodectus, Qakbot, DanaBot, HijackLoader, Trickbot, and WarmCookie. As these variants are at the beginning of the cyberattack chain, disrupting them damages the entire ‘cybercrime as a service’ ecosystem.
The malware taken down this week is known as ‘initial access malware’. It is used for initial infection, helping cybercriminals to enter victims’ systems unnoticed and load more malware onto their devices, such as ransomware.
Due to the global nature of cybercrime, cross-border investigations are key for taking action against disruptive cybercrimes. Since 2024, Eurojust has provided essential support to ensure effective judicial cooperation. Coordination by Eurojust ensured that authorities could exchange information and align their investigative efforts. Europol supported the operation from the outset, providing coordination, operational and analytical support, cryptocurrency tracing, and facilitating the real-time exchange of information between the various partners involved.
German, French, Dutch, Danish, British, American and Canadian authorities joined forces from 19 to 22 May to take action against the world’s most dangerous malware variants and the perpetrators behind them. In total 37 suspects were identified and international arrest warrants were obtained against 20 individuals criminally charged. Over 300 servers worldwide were taken down and 650 domains were neutralised. During the action week, EUR 3.5 million in cryptocurrency was seized making the total cryptocurrency seized during Endgame EUR 21.2 million.
Operation EndGame will now continue with follow up actions announced on the dedicated website from the international coalition. Several key suspects behind the malware operations are now subject to international and public appeals. The German authorities will publish eighteen of them on the EU Most Wanted list as of 23 May.
The following authorities carried out the operation:
Source: Amnesty International –
Sexist insults, threats of sexual violence and unlawful and degrading strip searches against women protesters
Opposition leader, Elene Khoshtaria, described being violently restrained by police, stripped and forced to lie naked on the floor during detention on 28 March 2025
Full undressing during searches violates Georgian and international human rights law
Amnesty witnessed police officers calling women protesters “whores” and threatening them and their family members
‘The Georgian authorities must immediately end all forms of gender-based reprisals and all unlawful use of force by law enforcement, investigate every allegation of abuse during the protests, and ensure accountability at all levels’ – Denis Krivosheev
Police in Georgia are increasingly using gender-based violence including sexist insults, threats of sexual violence and unlawful and degrading strip searches against women involved in protests as part of their larger campaign to intimidate and punish peaceful protestors, Amnesty International said in a new briefing published today.
Scenes of police brutality as well as violent physical attacks by unidentified individuals against peaceful protestors in Georgia have become disturbingly common since a powerful surge of pro-European, anti-government protests broke out in the country last year. Defying state repression, women protesters have become symbols of courage – but also the target of humiliation, abuse and psychological violence both by law enforcement officers and unidentified assistants.
Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Deputy Director, said:
“The authorities may have hoped that by targeting women with threats of sexual violence, raids in their homes, unlawful strip searches, and arbitrary detention, they would crush the spirit of resistance, deter protesters from further gatherings, and silence them. Instead, women in Georgia have risen more boldly, denouncing the abuse, demanding justice and turning repressions into resistance and defiance.
“Unlawful, invasive and degrading strip searches in Georgia appear to be being weaponised to humiliate and intimidate protestors, especially women. This is a clear violation of both domestic and international law. The Georgian authorities must immediately end all forms of gender-based reprisals and all unlawful use of force by law enforcement, investigate every allegation of abuse during the protests, and ensure accountability at all levels.”
State violence and dehumanising strip searches
In recent months, Amnesty has documented numerous accounts of protesters subjected to sexist insults and threats of sexual violence, as well as humiliating strip searches. Such treatment appears to be increasingly targeting women protesters and affecting them disproportionately. These abuses not only violate Georgian law, which prohibits full undressing during searches, but also international human rights law and standards aimed at safeguarding human dignity and protecting people from gender-based violence.
Elene Khoshtaria, an opposition leader, described being violently restrained by police, stripped and forced to lie naked on the floor during detention on 28 March 2025. Despite her medical condition, officers denied her access to medication and restrooms even after she developed hypertension and suffered repeated vomiting.
Kristina Botkoveli, a co-founder of a protest Facebook group, was forced to strip naked in front of her elderly mother, in addition to being subjected to threats during a raid by police on their home on 1 February 2025. Kristina suffered a panic attack requiring emergency medical care.
Activist Nino Makharadze was detained during a peaceful protest on 13 January 2025 and subjected to an invasive strip search in a temporary detention centre. She was not allowed to inform her family and friends of her whereabouts and was only given access to her lawyer after the strip search. On 5 May, she reported being ambushed along with two women friends while returning home from a protest. An unknown assailant sprayed them with pepper spray and green paint while hurling insults. All three women reportedly sustained injuries, including chemical burns that required hospitalisation.
Verbal abuse and gendered intimidation
Sexist verbal abuse and threats of sexual violence against peaceful protesters are another common tactic used by law enforcement to intimidate and harass. During the 2 February 2025 demonstration near Tbilisi Mall, an Amnesty representative witnessed police officers calling women protesters “whores” and threatening them and their family members. Several women also reported being threatened with rape by masked officers.
Natia Dzidziguri, after being detained during protests on 19 November 2024, was forced to kneel in a police van surrounded by men while officers hurled sexually charged insults and gestures at her.
Mzia Amaghlobeli, a prominent journalist, was detained twice on 11 January 2025 during peaceful protests. On both occasions, she was subjected to sexist abuse by police, with the Batumi police chief allegedly spitting on her and threatening violence. The authorities have used the video in which Mzia Amaghlobeli smacks the police chief, following their verbal altercation, to prosecute her. They have ignored the video in which the police chief hurls sexist insults and verbal abuse at her. Mzia Amaghlobeli was remanded in custody following a swift hearing during which she faced further injustice in court when the judge refused to admit any of her defence evidence. The authorities to date have failed to investigate any police officers who allegedly ill-treated and otherwise abused her and other protesters. Not a single officer against whom serious allegations have been made, by Mzia Amaghlobeli or others, was suspended from their duties during the investigation.
A pattern of abuse
These reports are not isolated but appear to form a broader pattern of abuse by and impunity for Georgia’s law enforcement agencies. The humiliation, sexist rhetoric and physical violence directed at women protesters in Georgia align with broader efforts to intimidate those participating in ongoing protests. Local human rights defenders highlight that many victims of humiliating treatment by police, both women and men, remain silent out of fear or shame.
Such actions may constitute torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and violate not only Georgia’s Constitution and national legislation but also its obligations under international law, including the UN Convention Against Torture, and international standards.
Source: Amnesty International –
Police in Georgia are increasingly using gender-based violence including sexist insults, threats of sexual violence and unlawful and degrading strip searches against women involved in protests as part of their larger campaign to intimidate and punish peaceful protestors, Amnesty International said in a new briefing published today.
Scenes of police brutality as well as violent physical attacks by unidentified individuals against peaceful protestors in Georgia have become disturbingly common since a powerful surge of pro-European, anti-government protests broke out in the country last year. Defying state repression, women protesters have become symbols of courage – but also the target of humiliation, abuse and psychological violence both by law enforcement officers and unidentified assistants.
“The authorities may have hoped that by targeting women with threats of sexual violence, raids in their homes, unlawful strip searches, and arbitrary detention, they would crush the spirit of resistance, deter protesters from further gatherings, and silence them. Instead, women in Georgia have risen more boldly, denouncing the abuse, demanding justice and turning repressions into resistance and defiance,” said Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Deputy Director.
In recent months, Amnesty International has documented numerous accounts of protesters subjected to sexist insults and threats of sexual violence, as well as humiliating strip searches. Such treatment appears to be increasingly targeting women protesters and affecting them disproportionately. These abuses not only violate Georgian law, which prohibits full undressing during searches, but also international human rights law and standards aimed at safeguarding human dignity and protecting people from gender-based violence.
Elene Khoshtaria, an opposition leader, described being violently restrained by police, stripped and forced to lie naked on the floor during detention on 28 March 2025. Despite her medical condition, officers denied her access to medication and restrooms even after she developed hypertension and suffered repeated vomiting.
Kristina Botkoveli, a co-founder of a protest Facebook group, was forced to strip naked in front of her elderly mother, in addition to being subjected to threats during a raid by police on their home on 1 February 2025. Kristina suffered a panic attack requiring emergency medical care.
Activist Nino Makharadze was detained during a peaceful protest on 13 January 2025 and subjected to an invasive strip search in a temporary detention centre. She was not allowed to inform her family and friends of her whereabouts and was only given access to her lawyer after the strip search. On 5 May, she reported being ambushed along with two women friends while returning home from a protest. An unknown assailant sprayed them with pepper spray and green paint while hurling insults. All three women reportedly sustained injuries, including chemical burns that required hospitalization.
Sexist verbal abuse and threats of sexual violence against peaceful protesters are another common tactic used by law enforcement to intimidate and harass. During the 2 February 2025 demonstration near Tbilisi Mall, an Amnesty International representative witnessed police officers calling women protesters “whores” and threatening them and their family members. Several women also reported being threatened with rape by masked officers.
Natia Dzidziguri, after being detained during protests on 19 November 2024, was forced to kneel in a police van surrounded by men while officers hurled sexually charged insults and gestures at her.
Mzia Amaghlobeli, a prominent journalist, was detained twice on 11 January 2025 during peaceful protests. On both occasions, she was subjected to sexist abuse by police, with the Batumi police chief allegedly spitting on her and threatening violence. The authorities have used the video in which Mzia Amaghlobeli smacks the police chief, following their verbal altercation, to prosecute her. They have ignored the video in which the police chief hurls sexist insults and verbal abuse at her.Mzia Amaghlobeli was remanded in custody following a swift hearing during which she faced further injustice in court when the judge refused to admit any of her defence evidence. The authorities to date, have failed to investigate any police officers who allegedly ill-treated and otherwise abused her and other protesters. Not a single officer against whom serious allegations have been made, by Mzia Amaghlobeli or others, was suspended in their duties during the investigation
These reports are not isolated but appear to form a broader pattern of abuse by and impunity for Georgia’s law enforcement agencies. The humiliation, sexist rhetoric and physical violence directed at women protesters in Georgia align with broader efforts to intimidate those participating in ongoing protests. Local human rights defenders highlight that many victims of humiliating treatment by police, both women and men, remain silent out of fear or shame.
Such actions may constitute torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and violate not only Georgia’s Constitution and national legislation but also its obligations under international law, including the UN Convention Against Torture, and international standards.
“Unlawful, invasive and degrading strip searches in Georgia appear to be being weaponized to humiliate and intimidate protestors, especially women This is a clear violation of both domestic and international law. The Georgian authorities must immediately end all forms of gender-based reprisals and all unlawful use of force by law enforcement, investigate every allegation of abuse during the protests, and ensure accountability at all levels,” said Denis Krivosheev.