International
US offers $15 million for Chinese nationals accused of aiding Iran
The United States government has placed a bounty on Liu Baoxia, also known as Emily Liu, and three other Chinese nationals accused of supporting Iran.
The 43-year-old woman, a “procurement agent and arms broker”, is on the most wanted list of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Liu, Li Yongxin (Emma Lee), Yung Yiu Wa (Stephen Yung) and Zhong Yanlai (Sydney Chung) allegedly aided IRGC armaments production and sales through delivery of U.S. dual-use technology.
The Department of State, through its Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program, is offering a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to their arrest.
The U.S. is working to disrupt the financial mechanisms of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its branches, all designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
The government accused the IRGC of financing terrorist attacks globally, “including via its external proxies such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran-backed militia groups in Iraq.”
A statement by the department said the IRGC partly funds its terrorist activities through sales of military equipment, including unmanned aerial vehicles or drones.
On Thursday, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced it had sanctioned a “teapot” oil refinery and its chief executive officer.
The allegedly purchased and refined hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian crude oil from vessels linked to the Ansarallah, aka the Houthis, and the Iranian Ministry of Defense of Armed Forces Logistics.
Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent stated that the teapot refinery’s purchases of Iranian oil “provide the primary economic lifeline for the Iranian regime.”
Bessent reiterated America’s commitment to “cutting off the revenue streams that enable Tehran’s continued financing of terrorism and development of its nuclear program.”
International
Uganda’s President Museveni sworn in for seventh term
Museveni, born 1944 in Mbarra district area of Uganda has served as president since 1986.
Yoweri Museveni has been sworn in for his seventh term as President of Uganda on May 12, 2026, at the Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala, following his victory in the January 2026 elections.
Museveni won with 71.65 percent of the vote, defeating his main challenger, 43-year-old Bobi Wine, who received 24.72 percent of the vote, according to the official results.
The 81-year-old leader took his oath for another five-year term, continuing his tenure as one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.
Museveni, born 1944 in Mbarra district area of Uganda has served as president since 1986.
International
South Korea giving 36 million people cash to ease rising fuel prices
A welfare ministry official, however, noted that eligibility will primarily be based on national health insurance payments.
• Image of South Korea flag
South Korea is set to roll out a second batch of cash assistance for the bottom 70 percent of income earners in an effort to ease financial strain caused by rising fuel prices amid the war in the Middle East.
According to officials on Monday, the National Assembly approved a 26.2 trillion-won (17.8 billion dollars) supplementary budget bill to address the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict, including the introduction of the cash assistance plan.
Under the first programme launched in April, the government handed out up to 600,000 won to recipients of basic livelihood security and other vulnerable groups.
The government will begin accepting applications next Monday for the second round of the assistance programme.
Eligible individuals living in the broader Seoul area will receive 100,000 won, while those in areas with declining populations may receive up to 250,000 won each.
Assistance eligibility will be determined by a household’s national health insurance payment in March this year.
For single-person households, those who paid 130,000 won or less will be eligible.In terms of annual income, a single-person household earning 43.4 million won or less per year is expected to qualify for the assistance programme.
A welfare ministry official, however, noted that eligibility will primarily be based on national health insurance payments.
International
FG hails Elias’ election to UN International Law Commission
Elias emerged successful in a competitive election conducted to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Kenya’s representative, Professor Phoebe Okowa. Candidates from Ghana and Botswana also contested the seat.
The Federal Government has hailed the election of Nigerian international legal expert, Taoheed Elias, into the United Nations International Law Commission during the commission’s 77th session held in Geneva.
Elias emerged successful in a competitive election conducted to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Kenya’s representative, Professor Phoebe Okowa. Candidates from Ghana and Botswana also contested the seat.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the government described the election as a recognition of Nigeria’s contributions to the development of international law and multilateral diplomacy.
The government said Elias brings decades of experience in international legal affairs to the commission, having previously served as Registrar of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals with the rank of United Nations Assistant Secretary-General.
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