Section: News & Summaries

      Russian defense minister arrives in Crimea for key stage of Caucasus-2016 drills
      Sep09

      Russian defense minister arrives in Crimea for key stage of Caucasus-2016 drills

      Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has arrived in Crimea that is due to host one of key stages of the Caucasus-2016 strategic command and staff drills on Friday, Russia`s Defense Ministry official spokesman Igor Konashenkov told reporters, according to Russian news agency TASS. ”The defense ministry`s head will personally inspect the actions...

      Norwegian border fence ”hot topic” in Russia
      Sep09

      Norwegian border fence ”hot topic” in Russia

      Last week work started on setting up a 200-meter-long fence along the border with Russia on Storskog in Sor-Varanger. The Russian media are closely monitoring, according to Norway Today. Border fences are being built across Europe. On Storskog a 3.5-meter-high wire fence was set up along the Norwegian-Russian border, Norway Today reported....

      Ukraine releases evidence of Russia`s seizure of Ukrainian Black Sea shelf. Video
      Sep09

      Ukraine releases evidence of Russia`s seizure of Ukrainian Black Sea shelf. Video

      The State Border Service of Ukraine has prepared evidence to prove Russia`s illegal acts near the Holytsynske and Odeske gas fields in the Black Sea. The evidence outlining Russian aggression, the seizure of facilities and property belonging to Ukraine, and illegal industrial activity near the Holytsynske and Odeske gas fields in the northwestern...

      Oil pulls back after touching a near two-week high on U.S. crude stock draw – Reuters
      Sep09

      Oil pulls back after touching a near two-week high on U.S. crude stock draw – Reuters

      Oil prices pulled back on profit-taking on Friday after settling more than 4% higher a day earlier after government data confirmed a surprisingly huge drawdown in U.S. crude inventories, Reuters reported. London Brent crude for November delivery LCOc1 was down 36 cents at $49.63 a barrel by 0023 GMT. It settled up $2.01, or 4.2%, at $49.99 on...

      UAH official exchange rate is strengthened to UAH 26.63 to dollar – NBU
      Sep09

      UAH official exchange rate is strengthened to UAH 26.63 to dollar – NBU

      The National Bank of Ukraine on Thursday evening strengthened the official hryvnia exchange rate by nine kopiykas, bringing the national currency to UAH 26.63 to the dollar. The Central Bank set the following official exchange rates of the hryvnia against leading foreign currencies for September 9: $100 costs UAH 2,663.7804 (on September 8, it...

      Putin uses gas as weapon against Ukraine – Kobolev to BBC`s HARDtalk
      Sep09

      Putin uses gas as weapon against Ukraine – Kobolev to BBC`s HARDtalk

      Andriy Kobolev, the CEO of Ukraine`s state-owned oil and gas company Naftogaz, says Russia`s president, Vladmir Putin, is using gas as a weapon against Ukraine, according to HARDtalk. ”Gas is a very powerful weapon and Mr Putin is a very dangerous, experienced and efficient opponent,” Mr Kobolev told BBC`s HARDtalk. There is a protracted dispute...

      North Korea conducted the largest to date nuclear test – South Korea and Japan
      Sep09

      North Korea conducted the largest to date nuclear test – South Korea and Japan

      North Korea conducted its fifth nuclear test on Friday, South Korea and Japan said after meteorological agencies reported a surface-level seismic tremor near the North`s known test site that indicated it was its most powerful yet, according to Reuters. The U.S. Geological Survey and European agencies measured the quake, which was recorded at 0030...

      Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is former KGB agent – BBC
      Sep09

      Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is former KGB agent – BBC

      Israeli researchers have alleged that the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, worked for the Soviet intelligence agency the KGB in the early 1980s, according to BBC News. Researchers from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem say a Soviet-era document lists him as an agent, BBC News reports. The president`s spokesman described the...

      Uzbek premier appointed acting president contrary to constitutional provisions
      Sep09

      Uzbek premier appointed acting president contrary to constitutional provisions

      At a joint meeting of the Legislative Chamber and Senate of Uzbekistan on September 8, Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyayev was appointed the country`s acting president, according to the Uzbek president`s press service. During the consideration of the matter, Chairman of the Senate Nigmatulla Yuldashev, who under the Constitution was supposed to...

      Ukraine`s Anti-monopoly watchdog greenlights acquisition of Ukrsotsbank by Alfa-Bank
      Sep08

      Ukraine`s Anti-monopoly watchdog greenlights acquisition of Ukrsotsbank by Alfa-Bank

      Alfa-Bank has earlier acquired 100% of shares of Ukrsotsbank from the Italian banking group UniCredit. The Anti-Monopoly Committee of Ukraine has completed its consideration of the case regarding the purchase of 100% of shares of Ukrsotsbank from the Italian banking group UniCredit by a Luxembourg-based ABH Holdings SA, owner of Alfa Bank. The...