Section: News & Summaries

      Five Ukrainian soldiers wounded in Donbas in last day
      May17

      Five Ukrainian soldiers wounded in Donbas in last day

      No Ukrainian soldiers were killed but five were wounded in the Donbas conflict zone over the last 24 hours, head of the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) headquarters, Colonel Oleksandr Motuzianyk said at a briefing on Tuesday, according to an UNIAN correspondent.”Over the last day, we haven`t lost any Ukrainian soldiers, but...

      Deficit of Ukraine`s foreign trade in goods grows by 11 times in Q1
      May17

      Deficit of Ukraine`s foreign trade in goods grows by 11 times in Q1

      The deficit of Ukraine`s foreign trade in goods in January through March 2016 amounted to $961.3 million, up by 10.6 times compared to a deficit of $90.2 million in the same period last year, according to the State Statistics Service of Ukraine.Exports of goods from Ukraine in the period under review decreased by 18.5% year-over-year to $7.719...

      Thailand to close Koh Tachai island over tourism damage
      May17

      Thailand to close Koh Tachai island over tourism damage

      Thai authorities are set to close the island of Koh Tachai, saying heavy tourism is negatively affecting natural resources and the environment, according to the BBC.The island, off Phang Nga province, is part of the Similan National Park, the BBC reports.Almost all Thai marine national parks close from mid-May to mid-October, for monsoon season,...

      Anger in Moscow, joy in Kyiv, after Ukraine`s Eurovision triumph – The Guardian
      May17

      Anger in Moscow, joy in Kyiv, after Ukraine`s Eurovision triumph – The Guardian

      Russia`s political establishment reacted with howls of indignation on Sunday to Ukraine`s victory at the Eurovision song contest, demanding an inquiry into how a politicized song was allowed to be included in the event and threatening to boycott next year`s contest, according to The Guardian.Victory for Jamala, the Crimean Tatar jazz singer who...

      ABC News: U.S. Navy poised to take ownership of its largest destroyer
      May17

      ABC News: U.S. Navy poised to take ownership of its largest destroyer

      The U.S. Navy is ready to take ownership of the Zumwalt, its largest and most technologically sophisticated destroyer, according to ABC News.Sailors` uniforms and personal effects, supplies and spare parts are being moved aboard the 610-foot warship in anticipation of crew members taking on their new charge, said Capt. James Kirk, the destroyer`s...

      Crimea becomes less attractive to Russian tourists – Kommersant
      May17

      Crimea becomes less attractive to Russian tourists – Kommersant

      Crimea becomes less attractive to Russian tourists, according to Russian newspaper Kommersant, which has analyzed data provided by air ticket sales agents.They have estimated that the number of air tickets to Simferopol bought by individual travelers from Russia has decreased by 25% this year.Having once spent holidays in the annexed Crimea,...

      Ukrainian banks post almost UAH 77.9 bln in loss in 2015
      May17

      Ukrainian banks post almost UAH 77.9 bln in loss in 2015

      Ukraine`s banking system posted almost UAH 77.935 billion in loss under the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) last year with the losses of solvent Ukrainian banks alone being estimated at UAH 71.891 billion, according to the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU).Insolvent banks` losses totaled UAH 6.044 billion.State-owned banks posted...

      Rada fails to adopt bill on ”thieves in law” criminal liability
      May17

      Rada fails to adopt bill on ”thieves in law” criminal liability

      Ukraine`s Verkhovna Rada has not supported draft law No. 1188 in the first reading on amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine that establish criminal liability for ”thieves in law” and increase responsibility for crimes committed by criminal groups, according to an UNIAN correspondent.The decision was supported by a mere 183 MPs out of...

      Ukraine may see record high peas yield in last decade – expert
      May17

      Ukraine may see record high peas yield in last decade – expert

      Ukraine is expected in 2016 to gather a record high peas harvest in the last 10 years thanks to significantly larger areas under this crop and favorable weather conditions, according to the UkrAgroConsult agency`s press service.”Given the significant expansion of areas sown with peas and favorable agro-meteorological conditions that promise a...

      Pope criticizes West for trying to export own brand of democracy to Iraq, Libya
      May17

      Pope criticizes West for trying to export own brand of democracy to Iraq, Libya

      Pope Francis criticized Western powers for trying to export their own brand of democracy to countries such as Iraq and Libya without respecting indigenous political cultures, according to an interview published on Monday, according to Reuters.Speaking to France`s Roman Catholic newspaper, La Croix, Francis also said Europe should better integrate...