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Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ukraine Reforms Tracker Weekly — Issue 27
Editor's note: This is issue 27 of Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak's weekly "Ukraine Reforms Tracker" covering events from May 19–May 25, 2025. The digest highlights steps taken in the Ukrainian parliament related to business, economics, and international financial programs. The Kyiv Independent is republishing with permission. Ukraine approves roadmap for customs reform planning amid implementation deadlock Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers, following a proposal by the Finance Ministry, has approved the development of a medium-term action plan for customs reform implementation under the National Revenue Strategy through 2030. The move comes despite mounting criticism from civil society and lawmakers that the government has deliberately stalled customs reform for over five months — specifically by failing to form the selection commission required by law and the International Monetary Fund's financial support program to reboot the State Customs Service. Zelensky submits bill to establish two specialized administrative courts in Kyiv Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has submitted draft law #13302 to parliament, proposing the creation of a Specialized District Administrative Court and a Specialized Administrative Court of Appeal, both to be headquartered in Kyiv with nationwide jurisdiction. Parliament is set to vote for the draft law in the first reading during the next plenary meetings scheduled for June 3-5. According to the explanatory note, the bill has been prepared to implement the legal framework for launching the two new courts. The proposal follows prior approval by the High Council of Justice, which endorsed the president's initiative to formally establish the courts and begin operational planning. The courts are expected to play a central role in handling public administration and anti-corruption cases, including high-profile disputes involving state institutions. Ukrainian parliament to review bills linked to Ukraine Facility in early June The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's Parliament, is scheduled to hold its next plenary sessions from June 3–6, with a legislative agenda that includes several bills tied to the country's commitments under the EU-backed Ukraine Facility program. Among the priority bills: draft law #13165 and alternatives on improving judicial integrity declarations (first reading); draft law #12377 on establishing the fundamentals of national housing policy (first reading); draft law #9363 on the digitalization of enforcement proceedings (repeated second reading); draft law #12374-d on the restart and strengthening of the institutional capacity of the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) (second reading). In addition, lawmakers are expected to consider in second reading draft law #13018-d on financial inclusion, which would allow the establishment of banking services via Ukrposhta. While not a binding obligation, the legislation is part of Ukraine's soft commitments under its IMF memorandum. Ukraine projects steady economic growth, slowing inflation through 2028 in budget forecast A draft of Ukraine's medium-term budget declaration, obtained by the Parliament's Temporary Investigative Commission on Economic Security outlines moderate economic growth and a gradual decline in inflation through 2028: Nominal GDP is projected to reach: Hr 10.44 trillion ($251.3 billion) in 2026, Hr 11.92 trillion ($287.0 billion) in 2027, and Hr 13.47 trillion $324.4 billion) in 2028. Annual inflation (Consumer Price Index) is expected to decline from 9.7% in 2026 to 7.1% in 2027, and 5.6% in 2028; End-of-year exchange rate is projected at: 43.7 Hr/dollar in 2025; 44.8 Hr/dollar in 2026; 45.3 Hr/dollar in 2027; 45.8 Hr/dollar in 2028. The draft is part of Ukraine's annual fiscal planning cycle. The Cabinet of Ministers must adopt the declaration by June 1, though figures remain subject to revision in the final version. Read also: Ukraine, US officially launch joint Reconstruction Investment FundWe've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
AsiaOne
4 days ago
- Politics
- AsiaOne
Italy's mafia abandoning rivalries to join forces, report says, World News
ROME — Italy's mafia is turning away from violent turf wars to collaborate in drug trafficking, prostitution rings and money laundering, the national anti-mafia agency (DIA) said in an annual report about the organised crime groups on Tuesday (May 27). Sicily's Cosa Nostra and the Camorra around Naples are forming alliances at home and abroad, while the 'Ndrangheta, based in Calabria in Italy's southern toe, is increasingly focused on controlling public works projects, the report said. "Coexistence has fostered synergies that have progressively become structured," DIA director Michele Carbone told a press conference. These structures had become "capable of absorbing overlaps, tensions and frictions," he added. Public works linked to Italy's EU-backed post-Covid Recovery Fund, plans for a huge bridge connecting Sicily to the mainland, and preparations for the 2026 Winter Olympics were all in danger of mafia infiltration, the DIA report said. The construction sector represented 38 per cent of administrative anti-mafia measures in 2024, with investigations into 200 building sites for public projects. Carbone said the DIA was ready to block any mafia involvement in the bridge to Sicily. "Soon all anti-mafia prevention activities in connection with the construction of the bridge over the Strait (of Messina) will be started," he said. The DIA also highlighted the mafia's growing technological expertise, using encrypted communication channels and maintaining contacts with prison inmates through drones. Chinese "underground banking" networks are increasingly being used for money laundering, it said. At the same time, the recruitment of marginalised young people to commit crimes in what are called "baby gangs" is facilitated by spectacular displays of power on social media, the report said. [[nid:716168]]
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Italy's mafia abandoning rivalries to join forces, report says
ROME (Reuters) -Italy's mafia is turning away from violent turf wars to collaborate in drug trafficking, prostitution rings and money laundering, the national anti-mafia agency (DIA) said in an annual report about the organized crime groups on Tuesday. Sicily's Cosa Nostra and the Camorra around Naples are forming alliances at home and abroad, while the 'Ndrangheta, based in Calabria in Italy's southern toe, is increasingly focused on controlling public works projects, the report said. "Coexistence has fostered synergies that have progressively become structured," DIA director Michele Carbone told a press conference. These structures had become "capable of absorbing overlaps, tensions and frictions," he added. Public works linked to Italy's EU-backed post-COVID Recovery Fund, plans for a huge bridge connecting Sicily to the mainland, and preparations for the 2026 Winter Olympics were all in danger of mafia infiltration, the DIA report said. The construction sector represented 38% of administrative anti-mafia measures in 2024, with investigations into 200 building sites for public projects. Carbone said the DIA was ready to block any mafia involvement in the bridge to Sicily. "Soon all anti-mafia prevention activities in connection with the construction of the bridge over the Strait (of Messina) will be started," he said. The DIA also highlighted the mafia's growing technological expertise, using encrypted communication channels and maintaining contacts with prison inmates through drones. Chinese "underground banking" networks are increasingly being used for money laundering, it said. At the same time, the recruitment of marginalised young people to commit crimes in what are called "baby gangs" is facilitated by spectacular displays of power on social media, the report said. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Italy's mafia abandoning rivalries to join forces, report says
ROME (Reuters) -Italy's mafia is turning away from violent turf wars to collaborate in drug trafficking, prostitution rings and money laundering, the national anti-mafia agency (DIA) said in an annual report about the organized crime groups on Tuesday. Sicily's Cosa Nostra and the Camorra around Naples are forming alliances at home and abroad, while the 'Ndrangheta, based in Calabria in Italy's southern toe, is increasingly focused on controlling public works projects, the report said. "Coexistence has fostered synergies that have progressively become structured," DIA director Michele Carbone told a press conference. These structures had become "capable of absorbing overlaps, tensions and frictions," he added. Public works linked to Italy's EU-backed post-COVID Recovery Fund, plans for a huge bridge connecting Sicily to the mainland, and preparations for the 2026 Winter Olympics were all in danger of mafia infiltration, the DIA report said. The construction sector represented 38% of administrative anti-mafia measures in 2024, with investigations into 200 building sites for public projects. Carbone said the DIA was ready to block any mafia involvement in the bridge to Sicily. "Soon all anti-mafia prevention activities in connection with the construction of the bridge over the Strait (of Messina) will be started," he said. The DIA also highlighted the mafia's growing technological expertise, using encrypted communication channels and maintaining contacts with prison inmates through drones. Chinese "underground banking" networks are increasingly being used for money laundering, it said. At the same time, the recruitment of marginalised young people to commit crimes in what are called "baby gangs" is facilitated by spectacular displays of power on social media, the report said.
The Star
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Dozens of deals on the table as Macron visits next week
Infrastructure and energy are among issues France's President Emmanuel Macron is expected to discuss with Vietnam's leaders next week during a state visit to the former colony when dozens of deals may be signed, officials said. The first trip to Vietnam by a French president in nearly a decade is part of a larger tour of South-East Asia. Macron is set to arrive in Hanoi on May 25, move to Indonesia on May 27 and finish in Singapore, where he will speak at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's top defence conference, starting on May 30. Macron's Elysee office said dozens of deals were being prepared and could be signed during the visit. One official with knowledge of the talks said about 30 pacts were under discussion ahead of a signing ceremony on Monday. Vietnam's foreign affairs ministry did not reply to a request for comment. Caught off-guard by the threat of high tariffs from the United States, export-reliant Vietnam is trying to readjust its growth model to focus more on government spending, with massive investments planned in transport, communications and energy. Macron is following leaders of China, Japan and other European countries in visiting the region in recent weeks, in a sign of South-East Asia's strategic importance amid uncertainties on global supply chains and trade. One agreement under negotiation is for the replacement of an earth-observation satellite, built by Airbus Defence's predecessor and launched in 2013. A non-binding memorandum of understanding on that could be signed during Macron's visit, one official said. A second official said other satellite discussions were under way. Airbus did not reply to a request for comment but has said in the past it was working on the replacement of Vietnam's satellite. The Elysee did not comment about this specific agreement. France is also keen to discuss energy cooperation, with progress expected on renewables projects under the EU-backed Just Energy Transition Partnership, the two officials said. Nuclear energy will also be on the table, although no deals were expected, one of the sources said. Vietnam has decided to relaunch its nuclear power programme as it struggles to meet growing energy needs from its expanding economy. — Reuters
