Ukrainian spacecraft in the top 3 of NASA competition

The Ukrainian aircraft project for Mars, Mars Hopper, entered the top three of the Audience Award of the World Development Forum NASA SpaceApps Challenge.

According to information on the SpaceApps Challenge website, as of Monday at 20:00 (Kiev time) the project scored 8,809 votes. However, the voting is still ongoing and after registration anyone may vote up until May 20th at 5:00 (UTC+4).

The leader right now is the Martian Oasis project from Bangladesh (9,940 votes). Second place is …


Chubarov: 18 Crimean Tatars are behind bars in the Crimea

According to the chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Refat Chubarov, there are currently 18 Crimean Tatars imprisoned in Crimea, Krym.Realii reported.

“There are now 18 Crimean Tatars behind bars. Unfortunately, according to our data, this number will increase. The imprisoned Crimean Tatars include the deputy head of the Mejlis, Ahtem Chiygoz, as well has civil society activists, Ali Asanov and Mustafa Degermendzhi,” Chubarov said.

According to their information, 14 Crimean …


Russia and Belarus agree on need for joint response to missile defense system in Europe

Russia and Belarus have agreed on a joint response to the deployment of NATO missile defense systems near their borders. This was said by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, Vladimir Makei. DW reports that he made these statements after meeting with the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Sergey Lavrov.

“Because we are a union state[with Russia], we have agreed that we will jointly develop adequate response measures,” Makei said.

Moscow and Minsk are planning to work closely …


NATO exercises begin in Poland

NATO’s Brilliant Jump 2016 exercises began in Poland on Tuesday, Radio Polsha reported. 1,500 soldiers of the Polish, Spanish, and British armed forces will participate in the ten-day exercise in Lubusz in western Poland.

The maneuvers will take place under the Dutch Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum.

Brilliant Jump will focus on quickly transporting personnel and military equipment to areas of potential threat, which will help Poland to develop its own immediate reaction forces.

A similar …


Ukrainians keep billions of dollars in offshore accounts

According to international research organizations, the amount of Ukrainian money invested or kept off shore ranges from $117 billion to $167 billion. Doctor of Economic Sciences Sergey Korablin reports in the Ukrainian edition Zerkalo Nedeli that the total is equal to approximately double the country’s gross domestic product.

Annual losses of Ukraine from offshore operations amounted to $11 billion to $12 billion. That is equal to the loans that were provided to the country through the two …