俄羅斯1-5月預算赤字佔GDP的1.5%

Recently Yahoo News on-line picked up the following:

Russian budget deficit for January-May was 1.5% of GDP

Reuters -Reporting by Darya Korsunskaya

Tue, June 10, 2025 at 8:10 a.m. PDT·1 min read

(Reuters) -Russia ran a budget deficit of 3.4 trillion roubles ($43.3 billion), or 1.5% of gross domestic product, for the first five months of the year, the finance ministry said on Tuesday, citing preliminary data.

The budget shortfall was almost five times as wide as in the same period of 2024, when Russia ran a deficit of 730.4 billion roubles, or 0.4% of GDP.

The ministry said the deficit was mainly caused by advance payments to finance budget spending in January and a decrease in oil and gas revenue amid lower prices for oil, Russia's main export commodity.

Russia raised the 2025 budget deficit estimate to 1.7% of gross domestic product in April from 0.5% after reducing the energy revenue forecast by 24%, expecting a prolonged period of low oil prices.

State spending on national defence was hiked by a quarter in 2025 to 6.3% of GDP, the highest since the Cold War, as the country continued its war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year.

The government is planning to tap its fiscal reserves for 447 billion roubles ($5.51 billion), or about one-tenth of its liquid assets, to balance the budget in 2025

Spending in the first five months was 20.7% higher than in the same period of 2024, the ministry's data showed. Revenues for the period were 3.1% higher than a year ago.

The Finance Ministry is planning another revision of the budget in autumn.

($1 = 78.5000 roubles)

Translation

俄羅斯1-5月預算赤字佔GDP的1.5%

（路透社）- 俄羅斯財政部週二援引初步數據稱，今年前五個月，俄羅斯預算赤字為3.4萬億盧布（433億美元），佔GDP的1.5%。

預算缺口幾乎是2024年同期的五倍，當時俄羅斯的赤字為7,304億盧布，佔 GDP的 0.4%。

財政部表示，赤字主要是由於1月預算支出的預先付款，以及由於俄羅斯主要出口商品石油價格下跌導致石油和天然氣收入減少造成的。

俄羅斯預計低油價將持續一段時間，因此在4月將能源收入預期下調24%後，將2025年預算赤字佔GDP的比重從0.5%上調至1.7%。

由於俄羅斯在烏克蘭的戰爭仍在持續，2025年國家國防支出將增加四分之一，達到GDP的6.3%，創下冷戰以來的最高水準。目前，烏克蘭戰爭已進入第四年。

政府計劃動用4,470億盧布（約55.1億美元）的財政儲備，約佔其流動資產的十分之一，以實現2025年的預算平衡。

財政部數據顯示，今年前五個月的支出比2024年同期成長了20.7%。同期營收比去年同期成長了3.1%。

財政部計劃在秋季再次修訂預算。

              So, Russia has a budget deficit of 3.4 trillion rubles ($43.3 billion), or 1.5% of gross domestic product, for the first five months of the year based on preliminary data. State spending on national defense has hiked by a quarter in 2025 to 6.3% of GDP, the highest since the Cold War. Apparently, its war with Ukraine is causing a financial burden.

隨著經濟逆風加劇，中國5月出廠物價通縮創22個月新高

 Recently Yahoo News on-line picked up the following:

China's factory-gate deflation worst in 22 months as economic headwinds mount

Reuters - Reporting by Qiaoyi Li, Tian Qiao and Ryan Woo

Updated Sun, June 8, 2025 at 7:49 p.m. PDT·2 min read

BEIJING (Reuters) -China's producer deflation deepened to its worst level in almost two years in May while consumer prices extended declines, as the economy grappled with trade tensions and a prolonged housing downturn.

Uncertainties from a tariff war with the United States and weak consumption at home have rattled sentiment and fuelled expectations of more policy stimulus to combat deflationary pressures.

The producer price index fell 3.3% in May from a year earlier, worse than a 2.7% decline in April and the deepest contraction in 22 months, National Bureau of Statistics data showed on Monday. That compared with an estimated 3.2% fall in a Reuters poll.

"China continues to face persistent deflationary pressure," said Zhiwei Zhang, chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management.

"The price war in the auto sector is another signal of fierce competition driving prices lower. I am also concerned about the property prices which resumed their downward trend in recent months after a period of stabilization," he said.

With households cautious about spending due to income pressures, some companies have resorted to price discounts to boost sales, prompting the authorities to urge an end to the auto industry's bruising price wars.

Cooling factory activity also highlights the impact of U.S. tariffs on the world's largest manufacturing hub, dampening faster services growth as suspense lingers over the outcome of U.S.-China trade talks set to resume in London on Monday.

In a phone call on Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping discussed trade tensions and critical minerals, leaving key issues for further negotiations.

The consumer price index dipped 0.1% last month from a year earlier, after falling by the same amount in April and slightly better than a Reuters poll forecast of a 0.2% decline.

CPI slid 0.2% on a monthly basis, compared with a 0.1% increase in April, and matched economists' predictions of a 0.2% decline.

Fragile domestic demand remains a drag on China's economy despite a recent flurry of policy support measures.

Retail sales growth slowed last month as spending continued to lag amid job insecurity and stagnant new home prices.

The core inflation measure, excluding volatile food and fuel prices, registered a 0.6% year-on-year rise, slightly faster than a 0.5% increase in April.

However, Zichun Huang, China Economist at Capital Economics, said the improvement in core prices looks "fragile", adding "we still think persistent overcapacity will keep China in deflation both this year and next."

Translation

隨著經濟逆風加劇，中國5月出廠物價通縮創22個月新高

北京（路透社）—因經濟受貿易緊張局勢和房地產市場長期低迷的影響, 中國5月份生產者物價通貨緊縮進一步加劇至近兩年來的最高水平，同時消費者物價指數延續跌勢。

中美關稅戰的不確定性以及國內消費疲軟，擾亂了市場情緒，並引發了人們預期有更多政策刺激措施出台以應對通縮壓力。

國家統計局週一公佈的數據顯示，5月生產者物價指數年減3.3%，降幅大於4月2.7%的降幅，創下22個月以來的最大降幅。相比之下，路透社調查的預估為下降3.2%。

Pinpoint Asset Management 首席經濟學家 Zhiwei Zhang 表示: 「中國繼續面臨持續的通貨緊縮壓力」。

他說: 「汽車業的價格戰是激烈競爭導致價格下跌的另一個信號。我還對房地產價格感到擔憂，房地產價格在經歷了一段時間的穩定後，近幾個月又恢復了下降趨勢」。

由於收入壓力，家庭支出趨於謹慎，一些公司採取了降價措施來刺激銷售，這促使當局敦促汽車行業停止激烈的價格戰。

工廠活動降溫也凸顯了美國關稅對全球最大製造業中心中國的影響，在周一於倫敦恢復的中美貿易談判結果懸念重重，抑制了服務業的快速增長。

週四，美國總統特朗普與中國國家主席習近平通電話，討論了貿易緊張局勢和關鍵礦產問題，並將關鍵問題留待進一步談判。

用去年同期比較, 上月消費者物價指數（CPI）下降0.1%，4 月也出現了同樣的跌幅，是略優於路透社調查預測的0.2%的降幅。

用每月比較, CPI上月下滑0.2%， 而四月則增加0.1%, 與經濟學家預測的下降0.2%相符。

儘管近期出台了一系列政策支持措施，但疲軟的國內需求仍拖累中國經濟。

由於就業不穩定和新房價停滯不前，消費支出持續滯後，上月零售成長放緩。

扣除波動較大的食品和燃料價格的核心通膨指標較去年同期上漲0.6%，略高於4月0.5%的漲幅。

然而，Capital Economics 的中國經濟學家 Zichun Huang 表示，核心價格的改善看起來“脆弱”，並補充道： “我們仍然認為持續的產能過剩將使中國今明兩年都陷入通貨緊縮。”

So, as the Chinese economy grapples with trade tensions and a prolonged housing downturn, China's producer deflation deepens to its worst level in almost two years in May while consumer prices continue to decline. Apparently, persistent overcapacity etc. will continue to keep China in a deflation mode in the near future.

Abrego Garcia returns to the US to face criminal charges after mistakenly deported to El Salvador

 Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

誤ってエルサルバドル送還、アブレゴガルシア氏が米国に帰国　刑事訴追に直面

2025.06.07 Sat posted at 10:55 JST

 （ＣＮＮ） ボンディ米司法長官は６日、３月中旬に誤ってエルサルバドルへ強制送還された米メリーランド州在住のキルマー・アブレゴガルシア氏が、連邦刑事訴追を受けるため米国に戻されたと明らかにした。

トランプ政権はアブレゴガルシア氏の帰国を「促進」させるよう求める裁判所命令をめぐり、数カ月にわたって連邦司法当局と激しく対立してきた。連邦判事の一人はこの状況について、行政府と司法府の間の「危機の発端」になりかねないと警告していた。

アブレゴガルシア氏はテネシー州中部地区で、利益目的で不法移民の違法移送を共謀した罪、および利益目的で不法移民を違法移送した罪の２件で起訴されている。

６日午後に公開された起訴状では、アブレゴガルシア氏らが近年、「米国内に滞在する許可を持たない不法移民数千人を故意かつ違法に移送する」ことを共謀していたと非難。「その多くはＭＳ１３ギャングの構成員や関係者だった」と指摘している。

一方、アブレゴガルシア氏と家族は、エルサルバドルではギャングの暴力から逃れていたと主張。自身がＭＳ１３の構成員だとの疑惑を否定している。

トランプ政権の当局者は、一連の罪状がアブレゴガルシア氏の国外退去を正当化する理由になると指摘するが、事情に詳しい関係者によると、訴追の決定はナッシュビルの司法省刑事部門トップの辞任を招いたという。

アブレゴガルシア氏の弁護士は、トランプ政権が法制度を「もてあそんでいる」と非難し、同氏は刑事裁判所ではなく移民裁判所に出廷すべきだと訴えた。

弁護士はＣＮＮに寄せた声明で、「政権は裁判所命令に反してキルマーを国外の刑務所へ移送した。数カ月の遅延と隠ぺいを経たいま、彼らは誤りを是正するためではなく、訴追するために彼を帰国させた。これは政権が当初から裁判所をもてあそんでいたことを示す」と指摘。「適正手続きとは、処罰される前に自己弁護する機会を与えられることであって、処罰の後ではない。これは権力の乱用だ。正義ではない」と述べた。

 

Translation

Abrego Garcia returns to the US to face criminal charges after mistakenly deported to El Salvador

(CNN) US Attorney General Bondi announced on the 6th that Maryland resident Kilmer Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador in mid-March, had returned to the US to face federal criminal charges.

The Trump administration was at odds for months with federal law enforcement over a court order to "facilitate" Abrego Garcia's return to the US. One federal judge warned that the situation could be the "start of a crisis" between the executive and judicial branches.

Abrego Garcia was charged in the Middle District of Tennessee with respectively conspiring to illegally transport illegal immigrants for profit, and illegally transporting illegal immigrants for profit.

The indictment, made public on the afternoon of the 6th, accused Abrego-Garcia and others of conspiring in recent years to "intentionally and illegally transport thousands of unauthorised immigrants into the United States," many of whom were members or associates of the MS-13 gang.

On the other hand, Abrego-Garcia and his family said they were fleeing gang violence in El Salvador. He denied the allegations that he was an MS-13 member.

Trump administration officials pointed out that the series of charges justified the deportation of Abrego Garcia, but according to a person familiar with the matter, the decision to prosecute prompted the resignation of the head of the Justice Department's criminal division in Nashville,

Abrego-Garcia's lawyers accused the Trump administration of "trifling with"  the legal system and argued that Abrego-Garcia should appear in immigration court instead of criminal court.

His lawyer in a statement to CNN pointed out that "The administration transferred Kilmer to a prison overseas in violation of a court order. Now, after months of delays and cover-ups, they have brought him home not to correct a mistake, but to prosecute. This shows the administration has been toying with the courts from the start." He also said, "In reasonable procedures, you have the opportunity to defend yourself before you are punished, not after. This is an abuse of power. This is not justice."

              So, the US Attorney General announced that Kilmer who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador in mid-March was back to the US to face federal criminal charges. Apparently, Trump has failed in his arguments with the court in deporting Kilmer without due process. The legal right of an individual has been upheld.

美國4月貿易逆差大幅收窄；進口創歷史新低

Recently Yahoo News on-line picked up the following:

US trade deficit narrows sharply in April; imports post record drop

Reuters - Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Andrea Ricci

Thu, June 5, 2025 at 7:16 a.m. PDT·3 min read

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. trade deficit narrowed sharply in April, with imports decreasing by the most on record as the front-running of goods ahead of tariffs ebbed, which could provide a lift to economic growth this quarter.

The trade gap contracted by a record 55.5% to $61.6 billion, the lowest level since September 2023, the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis said on Thursday. Data for March was revised to show the trade deficit having widened to an all-time high of $138.3 billion rather than the previously reported $140.5 billion.

Economists polled by Reuters forecast the deficit narrowing to $70.0 billion. The goods trade deficit eased by a record 46.2% to $87.4 billion, the lowest level since October 2023.

A rush to beat import duties helped to widen the trade deficit in the first quarter, which accounted for a large part of the 0.2% annualized rate of decline in gross domestic product last quarter. The contraction in the deficit, at face value, suggests that trade could significantly add to GDP this quarter, but much would depend on the state of inventories.

Imports decreased by a record 16.3% to $351.0 billion in April. Goods imports slumped by a record 19.9% to $277.9 billion. They were held down by a $33.0 billion decline in imports of consumer goods, mostly pharmaceutical preparations from Ireland. Imports of cellphones and other household goods fell $3.5 billion.

Imports of industrial supplies and materials declined $23.3 billion, reflecting decreases in finished metal shapes and other precious metals.

Motor vehicle, parts and engines imports fell $8.3 billion with passenger cars accounting for much of the decline. The front-loading of imports is probably not over. Higher duties for most countries have been postponed until July, while those for Chinese goods have been delayed until mid-August.

President Donald Trump's administration had given U.S. trade partners until Wednesday to make their "best offers" to avoid other punishing import levies from taking effect in early July.

Imports from Canada were the lowest since May 2021, while those from China were the lowest since March 2020. But imports from Vietnam and Taiwan were the highest on record.

Exports rose 3.0% to $289.4 billion, an all-time high. Goods exports increased 3.4% to a record $190.5 billion. They were boosted by a $10.4 billion jump in industrial supplies and materials, mostly finished metal shapes, nonmonetary gold and crude oil.

Capital goods exports advanced $1.0 billion, lifted by computers. But exports of motor vehicles, parts and engines fell $3.3 billion, held down by passenger cars as well as trucks, buses and special purpose vehicles.

Exports of services increased $2.1 billion to $98.9 billion, lifted by travel, despite reports of decreased tourist visits because of the trade tensions and an immigration crackdown.

The United States had record goods trade surpluses with Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. But it had record deficits with Vietnam, Taiwan and Thailand, while the gap with Canada was the smallest since April 2021.

 Translation

美國4月貿易逆差大幅收窄；進口創歷史新低

華盛頓（路透）－ 美國4月貿易逆差大幅收窄，因關稅前搶購商品的現象減弱，進口降幅創歷史新低，這可能提振本季經濟成長。

美國商務部經濟分析局週四表示，美國貿易差额創紀錄地縮減了55.5%，至616億美元，為2023年9月以來的最低水準。 3月的數據經過修正，顯示貿易逆差擴大至1,383億美元的歷史最高水平，而非先前公佈的1,405億美元。

路透社調查的經濟學家預測，貿易逆差將收窄至700億美元。商品貿易逆差因創紀錄的46.2% 的874億美元而緩解了，這是2023年10月以來的最低的。

為逃避進口關稅而採取的措施導致第一季貿易逆差擴大，這在很大程度上導致了上季GDP折合成年率下降0.2%。從表面上看，逆差的收縮表明貿易可能在本季度顯著促進GDP成長，但這在很大程度上取決於庫存狀況。

4月份進口額創紀錄地下降了16.3%，至3,510億美元。商品進口額創紀錄地暴跌了19.9%，至2,779億美元。消費品進口額下降了330億美元，主要是來自愛爾蘭的藥品製劑。手機和其他家居用品的進口額下降了35億美元。

工業用品和材料的進口額下降了233億美元，反映了金屬形狀成品和其他貴金屬進口額的下降。

汽車、零件和引擎進口額下降了83億美元，其中乘客車佔了很大一部分。提前進口可能尚未結束。大多數國家的關稅上調已被推遲到7月，而對中國商品的關稅上調也被推遲到8月中旬。

特朗普總統政府已要求美國貿易夥伴在周三之前提出 “最佳方案” ，以避免其他的美國懲罰性進口稅在7月初生效。

來自加拿大的進口額為2021年5月以來的最低水平，而來自中國的進口額為2020年3月以來的最低水平。但來自越南和台灣的進口額創歷史新高。

出口額成長3.0%，達2,894億美元，創歷史新高。商品出口額成長3.4%，達到創紀錄的1,905億美元。工業用品和材料（主要是金屬形狀成品）、非貨幣黃金和原油出口額增加了104億美元，推動了出口成長。

受電腦出口帶動，資本貨物出口增加10億美元。但機動車、零件和引擎出口下降33億美元，受乘客車、運貨車、巴士和專用車輛出口拖累。

服務出口增加21億美元，達到989億美元，儘管有報道稱，由於貿易緊張局勢和移民打擊，遊客數量有所下降。

美國與香港、英國和瑞士的商品貿易順差創歷史新高。但與越南、台灣和泰國的貿易逆差創歷史新高，與加拿大的貿易差額則為2021年4月以來的最小。

So, the U.S. trade deficit narrows sharply in April. The trade gap contracts by a record 55.5% to $61.6 billion, the lowest level since September 2023. Exports of services increase $2.1 billion to stand at $98.9 billion, lifted by travel, despite reports of decreased tourist visits because of the trade tensions and an immigration crackdown. The United States has record goods trade surpluses with Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and Switzerland while it has record deficits with Vietnam, Taiwan and Thailand. It seems that trading situations of the US is so far so good.

聯合國核監督機構譴責伊朗，伊朗報復性地宣佈建立新的濃縮設施 (2/2)

Recently Yahoo News on-line picked up the following:

UN nuclear watchdog board censures Iran, which retaliates by announcing a new enrichment site (2/2)

The Associated Press - Stephanie Liechtenstein And Jon Gambrell

Thu, June 12, 2025 at 7:05 a.m. PDT·6 min read

(continue)

Still a chance for Iran to cooperate with IAEA

A senior Western diplomat last week described the resolution as a “serious step,” but added that Western nations are “not closing the door to diplomacy on this issue.” However, if Iran fails to cooperate, an extraordinary IAEA board meeting will likely be held in the summer, during which another resolution could get passed that will refer the issue to the Security Council, the diplomat said on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to discuss the issue with the media.

The three European nations have repeatedly threatened in the past to reinstate, or “snapback,” sanctions that have been lifted under the original 2015 Iran nuclear deal if Iran does not provide “technically credible” answers to the U.N. nuclear watchdog’s questions.

In a joint statement to the IAEA board of governors, the three European nations said that they would “spare no efforts to work towards a diplomatic solution” but added that without a satisfying deal, they would “consider triggering the snapback mechanism to address threats to international peace and security arising from Iran’s nuclear program.”

The authority to reestablish those sanctions by the complaint of any member of the original 2015 nuclear deal expires in October, putting the West on a clock to exert pressure on Tehran over its program before losing that power.

The resolution follows the IAEA’s so-called “comprehensive report” that was circulated among member states last weekend. In the report, the U.N. nuclear watchdog said that Iran’s cooperation with the agency has “been less than satisfactory” when it comes to uranium traces discovered by agency inspectors at several locations in Iran.

One of the sites became known publicly in 2018, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed it at the United Nations and called it a clandestine nuclear warehouse hidden at a rug-cleaning plant. Iran denied this, but in 2019, IAEA inspectors detected the presence of uranium traces there as well as at two other sites.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, who campaigned on reaching out to the West, struck a harder line after the IAEA vote.

“I don’t know how to cooperate with the outside world to stop them from doing evil acts and let the people live independently in this country,” Pezeshkian said. “We will continue down our own path; we will have enrichment.”

Translation

聯合國核監督機構譴責伊朗，伊朗報復性地宣佈建立新的濃縮設施 (2/2)

（繼續）

伊朗仍有機會與國際原子能總署合作

一位西方高級外交官上週稱該決議是 “重要的一步” ，但他補充說，西方國家 “並未關閉就此問題進行外交談判的大門” 。然而，這位外交官亦表示，如果伊朗不合作，國際原子能總署理事會(IAEA)可能會在今年夏天舉行一次特別會議，屆時可能會通過另一項決議，將該議題提交安理會。由於這位外交官無權與媒體討論此事，他不願透露姓名。

這三個歐洲國家過去曾多次威脅，如果伊朗不就聯合國核監督機構的問題提供「技術上可信的」答覆，他們將恢復或「快速返回到」根據2015年伊朗核協議所被解除的製裁。

這三個歐洲國家在提交給國際原子能機構理事會的聯合聲明中表示，他們將 “不遺餘力地推動外交解決方案” ，但也補充說，如果無法達成令人滿意的協議，他們將“考慮啟動快速恢復機制，以應對伊朗核計劃對國際和平與安全造成的威脅” 。

在2015年原核協議之下, 任何成員國在提出申訴後, 可恢復這些制裁的權力將於10月到期，這意味著西方國家必須在失去這項權力之前，就伊朗核計劃向其施壓。

該決議是在國際原子能總署上週末在成員國之間分發所謂的「綜合報告」之後通過的。聯合國核監督機構在報告中表示，伊朗與國際原子能機構的合作 “並不令人滿意” ，因為國際原子能總署的核查人員在伊朗多個地點發現了鈾痕跡。

其中一個地點曾於2018年被公開，此前以色列總理內塔尼亞胡在聯合國披露了這一地點，並稱其為隱藏在一家地毯清洗廠的秘密核倉庫。伊朗否認了這一說法，但2019年，國際原子能總署的核查人員在該地點以及另外兩個地點檢測到了微量鈾。

在國際原子能總署投票後，在競選期間一直主張與西方接觸的伊朗總統 Masoud Pezeshkian 的立場變得更加強硬。

Pezeshkian 說: 「我不知道如何與外界合作，阻止他們去作惡，讓本國的人民能夠獨立生活」; 「我們將繼續走自己的路；我們將會有濃縮鈾」。

 So, the U.N. nuclear watchdog for the first time finds that Iran isn’t complying with its nuclear obligations, a situation that could lead to further tensions and set in motion an effort to restore United Nations sanctions on Tehran. Iran reacts angrily and says that it will establish a new enrichment facility in a secure location and is also planning other measures. Apparently, Iran is standing firm on its decision to obtain military grade Uranium.

聯合國核監督機構譴責伊朗，伊朗報復性地宣佈建立新的濃縮設施（1/2）

 Recently Yahoo News on-line picked up the following:

UN nuclear watchdog board censures Iran, which retaliates by announcing a new enrichment site (1/2)

The Associated Press - Stephanie Liechtenstein And Jon Gambrell

Thu, June 12, 2025 at 7:05 a.m. PDT·6 min read

VIENNA (AP) — The U.N. nuclear watchdog’s board of governors on Thursday formally found that Iran isn’t complying with its nuclear obligations for the first time in 20 years, a move that could lead to further tensions and set in motion an effort to restore United Nations sanctions on Tehran later this year.

Iran reacted immediately, saying it will establish a new enrichment facility “in a secure location” and that “other measures are also being planned.”

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has no choice but to respond to this political resolution,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said in a joint statement.

U.S. President Donald Trump previously warned that Israel or America could carry out airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities if negotiations failed — and some American personnel and their families have begun leaving the region over the tensions, which come ahead of a new round of Iran-U.S. talks Sunday in Oman. In Israel, the U.S. Embassy ordered American government employees and their families to remain in the Tel Aviv area over security concerns.

Nineteen countries on the International Atomic Energy Agency’s board, which represents the agency’s member nations, voted for the resolution, according to diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the outcome of the closed-doors vote.

Russia, China and Burkina Faso opposed it, 11 abstained and two did not vote.

In the draft resolution seen by The Associated Press, the board of governors renews a call on Iran to provide answers “without delay” in a long-running investigation into uranium traces found at several locations that Tehran has failed to declare as nuclear sites.

Western officials suspect that the uranium traces could provide further evidence that Iran had a secret nuclear weapons program until 2003.

The resolution was put forward by France, the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States.

 

Iran lists steps in retaliation for the IAEA vote

Speaking to Iranian state television after the vote, the spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said that his agency immediately informed the IAEA of “specific and effective” actions Tehran would take.

“One is the launch of a third secure site” for enrichment, spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said. He did not elaborate on the location, but the organization's chief Mohammad Eslami later described the site as "already built, prepared, and located in a secure and invulnerable place.”

Iran has two underground sites at Fordo and Natanz and has been building tunnels in the mountains near Natanz since suspected Israeli sabotage attacks targeted that facility.

The other step would be replacing old centrifuges for advanced ones at Fordo. “The implication of this is that our production of enriched materials will significantly increase,” Kamalvandi said.

According to the draft resolution, “Iran’s many failures to uphold its obligations since 2019 to provide the Agency with full and timely cooperation regarding undeclared nuclear material and activities at multiple undeclared locations in Iran ... constitutes non-compliance with its obligations under its Safeguards Agreement.”

Under those obligations, which are part of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran is legally bound to declare all nuclear material and activities and allow IAEA inspectors to verify that none of it is being diverted from peaceful uses.

The draft resolution also finds that the IAEA’s “inability ... to provide assurance that Iran’s nuclear program is exclusively peaceful gives rise to questions that are within the competence of the United Nations Security Council, as the organ bearing the main responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.”

The draft resolution made a direct reference to the U.S.-Iran talks, stressing its “support for a diplomatic solution to the problems posed by the Iranian nuclear program, including the talks between the United States and Iran, leading to an agreement that addresses all international concerns related to Iran’s nuclear activities, encouraging all parties to constructively engage in diplomacy.”

(to be continued)

Translation

聯合國核監督機構理事會譴責伊朗，伊朗報復性地宣佈建立新的鈾濃縮設施（1/2）

維也納（美聯社）—聯合國核監督機構理事會週四正式裁定，伊朗20年來首次未履行其核義務，此舉可能導致緊張局勢進一步加劇，並促使聯合國在今年稍後恢復對伊朗的製裁。

伊朗立即回應，稱將「在安全地點」建立新的鈾濃縮設施，並且「也在計劃其他措施」。

伊朗外交部和伊朗原子能組織在一份聯合聲明中表示： “伊朗伊斯蘭共和國別無選擇，只能對這項政治決議作出回應。”

美國總統特朗普先前曾警告稱，如果談判失敗，以色列或美國可能會對伊朗核設施實施空襲。由於緊張局勢，一些美國人員及其家屬已開始離開該地區。美伊新一輪談判將於週日在阿曼舉行。在以色列，美國大使館出於安全考慮，下令美國政府員工及其家屬留在特拉維夫地區。

據不願透露姓名的外交官透露，代表國際原子能總署成員國的國際原子能總署理事會中有19個國家在閉門投票中支持該決議。

俄羅斯、中國和 Burkina Faso 反對該決議，11個國家棄權，2個國家沒有投票。

在美聯社看到的決議草案中，理事會再次呼籲伊朗「立即」就其長期調查作出答复，該調查針對在德黑蘭被發現有鈾痕跡的多個地點, 並未申報為核設施地點。

西方官員懷疑，這些微量鈾可能進一步證明伊朗在2003年之前一直擁有秘密核武計劃。

該決議由法國、英國、德國和美國提出。

伊朗列舉了針對國際原子能總署投票的報復措施

伊朗原子能組織發言人在投票後對伊朗國家電視台表示，該機構已立即向國際原子能總署通報了德黑蘭將採取的「具體而有效」行動。

發言人Behrouz Kamalvandi 表示，「其中一項措施是啟動第三個用於鈾濃縮的安全地點」。他沒有詳細說明具體位置，但該組織負責人Mohammad Eslami 後來稱該設施「已經建成、準備就緒，並位於一個安全且無法被攻擊的地方」。

伊朗在 Fordo 和 Natanz 擁有兩處地下設施，自從懷疑以色列會襲擊破壞該設施後, 伊朗一直在Natanz 附近的山區建造隧道。

另一步是將 Fordo 的陳舊離心機更換為先進的離心機。 Kamalvandi說: 「這意味著我們的濃縮鈾產量將大幅增加」。

根據決議草案，“伊朗自2019年以來多次未能履行其義務，就關於伊朗多個未申報地點的未申報核物料和活動, 未能全力及時地與該局合作……這構成了其不遵守《保障監督協定》規定的義務。”

根據這些義務，都是《不擴散核武條約》都一部份，伊朗有法律義務申報所有核子物料和核子活動，並允許國際原子能總署的核查人員核實其中任何一項, 均用於和平用途而沒有被轉作其他用途。

該決議草案還認為，國際原子能總署「未能…保證伊朗核計劃完全用於和平目的，這引發了屬於聯合國安全理事會職權範圍的問題，因為安理會是維護國際和平與安全的主要責任機構」。

該決議草案直接提到美伊會談，強調其「支持透過外交途徑解決伊朗核計劃帶來的問題，包括美伊會談，以達成一項解決所有與伊朗核活動有關的國際關切的協議，並鼓勵各方建設性地開展外交活動」。

（待續）

US prosecutors indict two Chinese researchers for attempting to smuggle biological pathogens

 Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following

生物学的病原体の密輸試みた疑い、中国人研究者２人を訴追　米検察

2025.06.04 Wed posted at 18:44 JST

（ＣＮＮ）  米ミシガン大学の実験室で研究する目的で生物学的病原体の密輸を試みたとして、中国人研究者２人が訴追されたことが、３日に提出された訴追請求状で明らかになった。

ミシガン州東部地区連邦検察によると、ジアン・ユンチン容疑者（３３）とリウ・ズンヨン容疑者（３４）は、中国から「フザリウム・グラミネアルム」と呼ばれる真菌を持ち込んだとして、共謀や密輸、虚偽申告、ビザ（査証）関連詐欺の疑いで訴追された。

連邦捜査局（ＦＢＩ）の宣誓供述書ではフザリウム・グラミネアルムについて、トウモロコシやコメ、大麦のような特定の植物に病気を引き起こす「潜在的な農業テロ兵器」と形容されている。「毎年世界中で数十億ドル規模の経済損失をもたらしている」とされる。

今回の訴追は、トランプ政権が中国人留学生のビザを取り消す方針を示す中で行われた。ルビオ国務長官は先週、特に「中国共産党とのつながりが疑われたり、重要分野を専攻していたりする」学生が対象になると説明。国務省はここ数ヶ月、米国内の学術関係者による不正行為の可能性を調査しており、その中にはカエルの胚のサンプルを密輸したとされるハーバード大学の研究者も含まれている。

ＦＢＩのパテル長官はＸ（旧ツイッター）への投稿で、今回の事件は「中国共産党が工作員や研究者を米国の機関に潜入させ、我が国の食料供給を標的にしようと躍起になっている現状をまざまざと示すものだ。重大な影響を及ぼす可能性がある」と指摘した。宣誓供述書では、フザリウム・グラミネアルムを研究する意図が何だったのかについては詳しく触れられていない。

ＣＮＮはジアン容疑者を担当するミシガン州東部地区の連邦公選弁護人にコメントを求めている。ジアン容疑者はＦＢＩによって逮捕され、現在も勾留中。検察の報道官によると、リウ容疑者は現在米国にはいないという。

宣誓供述書によると、リウ容疑者は中国・浙江大学の研究者で、２０２４年７月に観光ビザで渡航した際、フザリウム・グラミネアルムの複数のサンプルを持ち込もうと試みた。持ち込み許可は申請していなかっとされる。

ジアン容疑者はリウ容疑者の交際相手で、ミシガン大学の博士研究員。２２年８月からはテキサス州の大学でも働いていた。両大学に在籍中、浙江大学でのフザリウム・グラミネアルムの研究を巡り中国政府から資金提供を受けていた証拠が見つかったという。

Translation

US prosecutors indict two Chinese researchers for attempting to smuggle biological pathogens

2025.06.04 Wed posted at 18:44 JST

 (CNN) According to a criminal complaint filed on the 3^rd, two Chinese researchers had been indicted for attempting to smuggle biological pathogens for research in a laboratory at the University of Michigan.

According to the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, Jian Yunqing (33) and Liu Zunyong (34) were indicted on charges of conspiracy, smuggling, false reporting and visa fraud for bringing a fungus called "Fusarium graminearum" from China.

In an FBI affidavit, Fusarium graminearum was described as a "potential agricultural terrorism weapon" that might cause disease in certain plants such as corn, rice and barley. It was said it might "cause billions of dollars of economic loss worldwide each year."

The charges came as the Trump administration planned to revoke visas for Chinese students studying abroad. Secretary of State Rubio said last week that the administration would aim at visas specifically at students "with suspected ties to the Chinese Communist Party or majoring in critical fields." The State Department had been investigating possible misconduct by academics in the U.S. in recent months, including a Harvard University researcher who allegedly smuggled frog embryo samples.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), FBI Director Patel said the case "is a vivid example of the Chinese Communist Party's efforts to infiltrate U.S. institutions and target at our nation's food supply, with potentially significant ramifications." The affidavit did not elaborate on what the researchers intended to study Fusarium graminearum.

CNN had reached out to suspect Jiang's federal public defender for the Eastern District of Michigan for comments. Suspect Jian was arrested by the FBI and remained in custody. A prosecutor's spokesman said Liu currently was not in the U.S.

According to the affidavit, Liu was a researcher at Zhejiang University in China and attempted to bring in several samples of Fusarium graminearum when he traveled to the U.S. on a tourist visa in July 2024. The permission for bringing in had not been applied for.

Jian is Liu's partner and a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Michigan. She had also worked at a university in Texas since August 2022. Evidence was found that while enrolled at both universities, she received funding from the Chinese government for her research on Fusarium graminearum at Zhejiang University.

              So, in the US, two Chinese researchers are indicted for attempting to smuggle biological pathogens into the country. The State Department has been investigating possible misconduct by academics in the U.S. in recent months. Apparently the US is tightening its monitoring over academic research activities done by foreign students in critical fields.

Note:

Fusarium graminearum is a filamentous ascomycete fungus that can cause a disease in wheat, barley, maize and rice and wipe out crops. It grows as thread-like hyphae and produces both sexual spores (ascospores) within structures called perithecia (teleomorph stage: Gibberella zeae) and asexual spores (macroconidia). (ChatGPT)