National Bank of Ukraine reacts to government's decision to raise minumum wage
Starting on January 1st, the minimum wage in Ukraine has doubled to 3,200 hryvnias ($118). On February 3rd the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) in its inflationary report predicted that this could lead to a decrease in employment, particularly in small and medium-sized business. According to the NBU's estimates, around 630,000 Ukrainians (or 5.4% of employees) could be left without a job. Thus, the unemployment rate will amount to about 10% according to the methodology of the International Labor …
Polish PM: Poland's position regarding sanctions on Russia has not changed
The Prime Minister of Poland, Beata Szydło, stated that the Polish position regarding sanctions against Russia will not waver. Rzeczpospolita reports that she made this statement at the unofficial summit of the European Union in Valetta.
"We cannot forget that sanctions against Russia were a direct result of Moscow’s policy that violated international laws. We will not agree to lift sanctions until the Kremlin’s policy changes,” she said. "The Polish position regarding the sanctions imposed …
Latvia installs 23 km fence along border with Russia
Latvian State Border Guards spokeswoman Evgeniya Poznyak announced the installation of a border fence 23 km in length between Russia and Latvia. The fence has been installed in order to prevent attempts to illegally enter Latvia, Delfi reported.
"The work on the construction of the fence began in 2015, and its completion is scheduled before 2019. Currently, a frontier 65 km long is laid out and a 23 km fence has been installed on the border," she said.
Poznyak also noted that EUR 6.3 million …
Former Ukrainian PM Yulia Timoshenko met with Trump
The former Prime Minister of Ukraine, and leader of the All-Ukrainian Union Fatherland, Yulia Tymoshenko, met with U.S President Donald Trump. The meeting took place on the 2nd of February in Washington during the National Prayer Breakfast, BBC-Ukraine reported, citing several sources.
The details of the meeting have not yet been clarified. According to media reports, the meeting was short and Trump stated that he will not abandon Ukraine.
“Yulia Tymoshenko was waiting for Trump near the …
Media: Five Russian soldiers killed in a car explosion in Syria
Five Russian soldiers were killed in a car explosion on the road between the cities of Jableh and Baniyas in Latakia province, as reported by Al Jazeera citing a source in the Syrian opposition.
The incident happened on February 4. The source states that the army personal carrier was transporting ammunition and soldiers.
According to Al Jazeera, this was not a terrorist act. The likely cause of the explosion is a technical malfunction in the vehicle.
Al Jazeera reports that the place of the …