Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced that EUR 500 thousand was raised for the creation of a prosthetics center in the capital during a charity fundraiser in Berlin.
“For our prosthetics center, which we are creating in Kyiv with the help of Berlin, we raised a total of EUR 500 thousand yesterday,” he wrote in his telegram channel on Thursday.
According to him, almost EUR305 thousand were donations in cash. “In addition, German business will provide, among other things, equipment to the prosthetics workshop for five additional employees,” he added.
Klitschko thanked the German benefactors, as well as the Life bridge Ukraine organization and its head Janine von Wolfersdorf, who, together with the Association of Berlin Merchants and Industrialists, organized a charity evening to raise funds for the prosthetics center.
“I am also grateful to the mayor of Kyiv’s sister city, Berlin, Kai Wegner, with whom we convinced Berlin businessmen of the importance of a joint project to create a prosthetics center in Kyiv,” Klitschko said.
Global grain production in the 2024-2025 marketing year (MY, July-June) will increase by 1% compared to the previous season and amount to 2312 million tons due to higher yields of wheat, barley and sorghum, which will compensate for the decline in corn production, the International Grains Council (IGC) said in a report on Thursday.
At the same time, grain consumption will increase, and end-of-season stocks are expected to fall to a ten-year low, including in major exporters.
According to the forecasts, the volume of contracted grain trade in 2024/25 MY will increase by 4% and reach 416 mln tonnes. At the same time, the demand for global consumption will amount to 2320 mln tonnes, and carry-over stocks will be 580 mln tonnes.
In 2024/25, the global soybean production is expected to reach the maximum of 414 mln tonnes. The main demand for soybean products in the upcoming season will come from the world’s leading buyers – the USA, Brazil and Argentina. At the same time, carry-over stocks continue to accumulate. The trade in soybeans in October-September will intensify and increase by 2%, reaching a new high, according to IGC.
Speaking about other oilseeds, IGC drew attention to the expected significant global production of rapeseed/canola against the background of almost unchanged sunflower production, which will be similar to last year’s volume.
According to IGC forecasts, global rice production in 2024/25 MY will reach a record peak and grow by 2%, driven by increased production in major exporting countries, particularly in South Asia. Rice consumption will increase due to population growth, while stocks may increase due to accumulation in India. Trade is likely to decline in January-December 2025 amid rising supplies to Africa and lower demand from Asian importers, particularly Indonesia.
The IGC forecasts a 5% decline in demand for lentils and beans in January-December 2024 to 21.2 mln tons.
The International Grains Council also drew attention to the temporary abolition of tariffs on imports of raw rice, brown and white rice to Brazil until the end of 2024, which aims to mitigate the effects of recent rains and floods in southern Brazil. In addition, IMG members noted recent changes in India’s pulses import policy.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will provide an additional EUR300 million loan to Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ) for the purchase of 80 modern electric freight locomotives, the UZ press service said on Wednesday.
The agreement, which the company announced in late May, was backed by a memorandum between Ukrzaliznytsia, the EBRD and the Ministry of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure, which was signed in Berlin on the sidelines of the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2024).
“The issue of renewing the locomotive fleet for Ukrzaliznytsia is critical and crucial (…) Obtaining new and high-tech electric locomotives will significantly increase the efficiency of freight transportation,” said Yevhen Lyashchenko, chairman of the board of UZ.
At the end of May, the company announced the allocation of a $190 million grant from the United States through the World Bank Trust Fund as part of the Restoration of Critical Logistics Infrastructure and Network Connectivity (RELINC) project.
The proposal for the purchase of 80 electric locomotives with a total value of about $400 million has already been published on the EBRD tender portal. The tender requirements stipulate that the winner, in addition to supplying the locomotives, must create conditions for their maintenance and warranty repair in Ukraine.
Almost every fifth fraud case goes to court this year
More than 38,000 cases were opened under Article 190 “Fraud” in the first five months of 2024, according to the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine (PGO). This is 1.6 times more than in all of 2021. Almost one in five fraud cases went to court this year.
A record 38,204 criminal proceedings on fraud were opened in Ukraine in the first five months of 2024. This is already 1.6 times more than in all of 2021, when 23,847 cases were opened. Criminal proceedings for fraud increased by 10% compared to the same period last year.
Just over 7 thousand or 18% of all registered cases in 2024 went to court. More than 4.5 thousand cases were closed.
According to the National Bank of Ukraine, social engineering and phishing have traditionally remained the most popular methods of payment card fraud in Ukraine. To reduce the fraud pandemic and help citizens protect themselves from thieves, the NBU, together with the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine, has launched an All-Ukrainian Payment Security Information Campaign. You can find out what rules you need to follow to protect yourself from thieves on a special project page.
The number of companies in the U.S. and Canada hit by cyber extortion has reached a record high in 2023, with unprecedented ransom demands, according to the report “Ransomware: a persistent problem in cyber insurance claims” by global insurance broker Marsh, according to its website.
It notes that nevertheless, as cybercriminals become bolder in their requests, more companies are refusing to pay.
Overall, 21% of Marsh’s clients reported cyber events in 2023, the vast majority of which were privacy claims and system attacks leading to unauthorized access and potentially exposed data.
According to Marsh , this rate has remained fairly stable over the past five years – between 16% and 21% – suggesting in part that companies’ cyber controls are keeping pace with the increasing sophistication and frequency of cyberattacks.
However, a record 282 ransomware incidents were reported to Marsh in 2023, a 64% increase from 2022. Although ransomware accounts for only 17% of all filed cybercrimes, ransomware remains a major concern for organizations given its increased frequency, sophistication, and potential severity.
Indeed, the average ransom demand rose to $20 million in 2023 from $1.4 million, while the average payment made was $6.5 million, reflecting the effectiveness of ransomware negotiations, Marsh notes in the report.
Only 23% of its clients affected by cyber extortion in 2023 paid ransom. Most (77%) refused, reflecting a growing trend. In 2021, only 37% of Marsh’s clients rejected cybercriminals’ demands.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said that his country is ready to host and organize the 2025 Ukraine Recovery Conference, the Italian Foreign Ministry website reports.
“The Italian government is firmly committed to supporting the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine, as evidenced by the wide and authoritative presence of our business community in Berlin. We have also put this issue at the center of our G7 presidency: we expect concrete results from the Conference and are ready to take over the organization of its holding in Italy in 2025,” Tayati said at the annual Ukraine Recovery Conference, which this time took place in Berlin.
The politician also added that Italy’s bilateral assistance amounts to more than two billion euros. This is the amount excluding military aid and the contribution to the pan-European aid.
“The 2025 Recovery Conference will be attended by heads of state and government from 77 countries: a total of about 1,800 participants are expected. 500 companies will be invited, including 150 from Germany, 150 from Ukraine and 200 from other participating countries,” the Foreign Ministry added.
