Ukrainian media: gas fields in Poltava will be awarded to Interior Minister’s associates

The State Service of Geology and Mineral Resources of Ukraine will give 11 gas-bearing areas in the Poltava region, without competition, to the company connected with the associates of Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, as stated in an article in Economichna Pravda newspaper.

All eleven sites belonged to the Golden Derrick firm during Viktor Yanukovych’s presidency. They were confiscated during Petro Poroshenko’s first year as president.

According to sources, applications for the out-of- …


Putin: Russia’s economic growth will outpace the world

Speaking at a rally of the ruling party, United Russia, President of Russia Vladimir Putin stated that the Russian economy will grow faster than the world economy.

“Economic crises and foreign restrictions prevented us from achieving the task of our economy surpassing the world economy in terms of growth. But we must do this. And we will do this,” the President promised. Putin also said that he expected Russia to bridge the gap between it and the world’s leading countries in terms of GDP per …


Turkey signs agreement on the provision of $3 million in aid to the Ukrainian army

Turkey has signed an agreement on the provision of $3 million in assistance to the Ukrainian army, Andrii Sybiha, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Turkey, reported this on his Twitter page.

"A worthy end of the year; for the second year in a row, we are signing an agreement with Turkey on the provision of assistance to the Ukrainian army (this year in the amount of about 3 million USD). A strategic partnership in action, assistance is calculated for 5 years with an …


Moldovan parliament approves the bill banning Russian news broadcasts

On December 22, the Moldovan parliament voted again for the bill banning Russian propaganda, which the country's president, Igor Dodon had previously refused to sign, reported Noi.md news website.

Maxim Lebedinsky, the Moldovan president’s legal advisor said that this project is contrary to the Constitution and has nothing to do with ensuring the information security of the country. He also stated that the provisions of the document contradicted the European Convention on Human Rights.

" …


Russia agrees to pay $15 million fine to International Olympic Committee

The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) has agreed to pay $15 million to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the development of a global anti-doping system, as stated by the head of the ROC, Alexander Zhukov, reports TASS news agency.

"We will pay. There is a contractual process currently in process with the IOC, and a payment deadline will be established," he reported.

On December 5, 2017, the IOC Executive Committee decided to suspend the membership of the Russian Olympic Committee, …