Section: Latest news

      European Parliament backs visa suspension mechanism
      Dec15

      European Parliament backs visa suspension mechanism

      New rules passed by European Parliament on Thursday say that visa requirements for non-EU nationals will be reintroduced faster when EU countries face irregular migration surges or security risks. EP rapporteur for the proposal, Agustin Diaz de Mera (EPP, ES), said: ”We have succeeded in creating a more flexible and operational tool, while...

      Hryvnia strengthens to UAH 26.30 to dollar on interbank market
      Dec15

      Hryvnia strengthens to UAH 26.30 to dollar on interbank market

      Hryvnia quotations against the dollar on the interbank currency market on Thursday strengthened to UAH 26.26/26.30 to the dollar by the middle of trade, a broker at a commercial bank has told an UNIAN correspondent. Hryvnia quotes against the euro have settled at UAH 27.5756/27.6150, while those against the Russian ruble have settled at UAH...

      EU to extend Russian sanctions, ready for deal-oriented relations with U.S. – Mogherini
      Dec15

      EU to extend Russian sanctions, ready for deal-oriented relations with U.S. – Mogherini

      High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini says the EU is prepared for a ”more deal-oriented relationship” with the United States after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office, but EU sanctions against Russia will be linked to peace implementation in eastern Ukraine, according to...

      President of the European Council vows to do his best to ensure ratification of EU deal with Ukraine
      Dec15

      President of the European Council vows to do his best to ensure ratification of EU deal with Ukraine

      President of the European Council Donald Tusk has assured Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko that he will do his best to ensure the ratification of the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement and facilitate prompt completion of the visa-free waiver procedure for Ukraine, according to Poroshenko`s press service. The parties have had a phone...

      Hopes rise for Aleppo evacuation – BBC
      Dec15

      Hopes rise for Aleppo evacuation – BBC

      Hopes have risen that a planned evacuation of rebel-held parts of the Syrian city of Aleppo will now begin soon, after an earlier deal collapsed, according to the BBC. Rebel sources said a new truce had been in effect from 03:00 GMT and evacuations would take place early on Thursday, the BBC wrote. Sources from the Syrian military, the...

      Ukraine sees 2.9% rise in farm produce output in January-November
      Dec15

      Ukraine sees 2.9% rise in farm produce output in January-November

      Ukraine saw a 2.9% rise in farm produce output in January-November 2016 compared to the same period of 2015, according to the State Statistics Service of Ukraine. Agri-businesses alone boosted output by 4%, while households increased farm produce output by 1.6% in the 11 months, year-over-year. Crop production over the period under review rose by...

      U.S. may target Russian weapons seized by Islamic State in Palmyra
      Dec15

      U.S. may target Russian weapons seized by Islamic State in Palmyra

      The head of U.S. forces fighting Islamic State said on Wednesday the United States may target weapons seized by the group when it captured the Syrian city of Palmyra, adding the equipment posed a danger to the U.S.-led coalition in the region, according to Reuters. Army Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend told a Pentagon video briefing that the...

      U.S. Federal Reserve  raises key interest rate, citing strengthening economy
      Dec15

      U.S. Federal Reserve raises key interest rate, citing strengthening economy

      Citing the steady growth of the American economy, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday that it would increase its benchmark interest rate for just the second time since the 2008 financial crisis, according to The New York Times. The widely expected decision moves the Fed`s benchmark rate to a range between 0.5% and 0.75%, still a very low level by...

      Ukraine’s Energoatom has its 2016 financial plan approved by year-end
      Dec15

      Ukraine’s Energoatom has its 2016 financial plan approved by year-end

      Ukraine`s Cabinet of Ministers on December 14 approved a financial plan of national nuclear power generation holding Energoatom for 2016, which sets power generation at 74.2 billion kWh as a target. Under the plan, total tax payments to the budgets of all levels are set at UAH 8 billion by the end of the year, the Ukrainian Energy and Coal...

      Russian militants fire on queue at Mayorsk checkpoint: One civilian killed, one wounded
      Dec15

      Russian militants fire on queue at Mayorsk checkpoint: One civilian killed, one wounded

      Combined Russian-separatist forces on Wednesday attacked the Mayorsk entry and exit checkpoint in Donetsk region, as a result of which one person has been killed and another one has been wounded, according to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. ”Today, terrorists have opened fire on people standing in a queue at the Mayorsk entry/exit...