Section: Main news
Russian performance artist Pavlensky set free after 6-month detention – RFE/RL
Russian performance artist Pyotr Pavlensky has been set free after more than six months in detention over his protest actions, but emerged from a Moscow courtroom warning that political repression remains the basis of the Russian government`s power, according to Radio Free Europe /Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).The Meshchansky district court ordered...
Reuters: Sharapova banned for two years by ITF
The career of Russian former world number one Maria Sharapova was in tatters on Wednesday after she was given a two-year ban by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) following her positive test for the banned drug meldonium, according to Reuters.In a statement the ITF said the five-times grand slam champion`s ban would be backdated to January...
Mariupol sector reportedly hottest spot in Donbas on Wednesday
The Mariupol sector is reported to be the hottest spot in Donbas on Wednesday, according to the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) headquarters.”The hottest spot today was in the Mariupol sector, where the enemy had been attacking our strongholds near the village of Novotroyitske from 122mm self-propelled artillery systems for...
Mariupol sector reportedly hottest spot in Donbas on Wednesday
The Mariupol sector is reported to be the hottest spot in Donbas on Wednesday, according to the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) headquarters.”The hottest spot today was in the Mariupol sector, where the enemy had been attacking our strongholds near the village of Novotroyitske from 122mm self-propelled artillery systems for...
Donetsk militants release OSCE SMM driver
Militants in the temporarily occupied city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine have released a driver of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM), who was reported missing on Tuesday, June 7, according to an OSCE SMM statement.”The SMM staff member who went missing on 7 June was returned today to the Mission in Donetsk,” reads the statement posted on...
Moscow, Minsk reach no agreement in gas dispute
Belarusian Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov announces Moscow and Minsk have failed to reach understanding on the price of Russian natural gas for Belarus, according to Russian business news agency PRIME.”We have discussed that and we will continue to discuss it. We have not reached clear agreements, but we have directions along which we will...
Ukraine’s Next Big Reform You Haven’t Heard of Yet
Ukraine watchers know all too well that for every success reported about the country, there are numerous setbacks. Yet there are encouraging signs currently occurring within the reform process, particularly at the local level.Perhaps the most successful reform is quietly taking place outside of Kyiv, and has the potential to reinvigorate civic...
Klitschko: Kyiv to become first city to curb AIDS epidemic by late 2017
Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko says Kyiv should become first among AIDS-affected cities in the world to stop the epidemic by the end of 2017.”The main thing today is to ensure treatment of 90% of HIV-positive people in the city. Mass examination and an awareness campaign for its need will help more people learn their HIV status and start treatment...
Savchenko: ”Ready to talk with enemy and friend” for release of hostages
Ukrainian MP Nadia Savchenko is ready to talk ”with the enemy and with a friend” in order to bring back those who are now held hostage by the enemy, according to an UaPosition correspondent.”I am ready to speak with anyone. I am ready to talk with the enemy and with a friend in order to return a child to his or her mother. So that the state could...
State budget expenditures on subsidies may reach 3.8% of GDP in 2017
Finance Minister Oleksandr Danylyuk says that the share of budget expenditures on payments of housing and utility subsidies is growing rapidly and may reach 3.8% of the country`s GDP by 2017.”Provision of subsidies for half of Ukraine`s population creates a huge burden on the state budget, which can reach 3.8% of GDP in 2017,” he said in a report...