Eastern Europe / News
Ukraine president refuses PM resignation, slams high government salaries
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy refused to accept Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk resignation tendered last week and decided to give him "a chance if you resolve some things that are very important today and are of concern to our society"
Berlin summit agrees attempt to stabilise Libya truce but oil blockade overshadows progress
Foreign powers agreed at a summit in Berlin on January 19 to try to solidify the unstable truce in Libya between the internationally recognised government, which is backed by Turkey, and the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) forces of warlord Kh
Iran was spooked by US stealth fighter reports when it shot down airliner says Lavrov
Russian foreign minister says at least six American F-35 aircraft flying in Iranian border area at time Tehran was expecting response to missile strikes on Iraq bases.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk quits in midst of tape scandal criticising President Volodymyr Zelenskiy
Honcharuk quit his post on January 16 a few days after being caught on tape saying Zelenskiy knows nothing about the economy.
Head of Russian tax service Mikhail Mishustin appointed prime minister
The finale of a dramatic news day for Russia was the appointment of the head of the Russian tax office Mikhail Mishustin as prime minister to replace the outgoing Dmitry Medvedev, who resigned along with the whole government a few hours earlier.
UPDATED: Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and entire Russian government quit
In what looks like a coordinated piece of political theatre, Medvedev said he thought it was “appropriate” to leave after President Vladimir Putin announced changes to the constitution that would have given Medvedev a lot more power.
Erdogan warns he’ll “teach lesson” to Libya warlord Haftar if he resumes fighting Tripoli government
Turkish president angered that general departed Moscow without signing brokered ceasefire agreement.
Ukraine’s GDP warrants hit par as the country’s economic future brightens
The GDP warrants that Ukraine gave its sovereign bond holders as compensation for a 20% haircut have appreciated in price and hit par on January 14.
A maximum of RUB2-3bn are stolen from the Russian federal budget every year, says Kudrin
Audit Chamber Director Alexei Kudrin says a maximum of RUB2-3bn ($32.6-48bn) are stolen from the Russian federal budget annually, Vestnik reported on January 14.
A maximum of RUB2bn-3bn stolen from the Russian federal budget every year says Kudrin
The value of the Russian economy was $1.657 trillion in 2019, making the stealing equivalent to 1.9%-2.9% of GDP.
Moscow sees record housing built in 2019
Moscow saw a record of 4.96mn sqm of housing space completed in 2019, up by 40% year-on-year, and highest level of residential construction since the 1965 mass housing blitz carried out by Nikita Khrushchev.
Iran’s admission it shot down airliner with missile sparks anti-regime street unrest
Pro-regime protesters, meanwhile, set alight union jack after UK ambassador detained after leaving vigil for victims at which chanting started.
Russia real estate legends to raise €140mn for fund with focus on last mile warehouses for the e-commerce sector
Three of Russia’s best known veteran real estate businessmen have come together to form L.O.P. to develop urban warehousing that targets Russia’s booming last mile e-commerce sector.
House arrest for Baring Vostok Calvey and partners prolonged
Moscow’s Basmanny Court on January 9 prolonged the house arrest of Michael Calvey, US citizen and founder of leading Russian fund Baring Vostok private equity firm, until February 13.
Lukashenko slams Russia for "making three times more money" from gas sales to Belarus than from Germany
Belarusian President says Russian natural gas monopoly Gazprom earns "three times as much in Belarus than in Germany" from gas sales amid the lack of agreement with Moscow on new oil and gas subsidies for Minsk.
US, Canada ‘confident Iran downed Ukraine flight PS752 with missile’
Iranian civil aviation chief insists: “Scientifically, it is impossible that a missile hit the Ukrainian plane, and such rumours are illogical.”
Iran’s refusal to hand over black boxes incites suspicions over fate of Ukraine flight PS752
Aircraft crashed hours after Iranian missile attack on Iraq airbases began. Ukrainian president cautions against "speculation or unchecked theories" but little has yet been ruled out.
Ukrainian commercial flight crashes after takeoff in Iran killing all on board
A Ukrainian commercial airliner carrying at least 170 passengers crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran's Imam Khomeini airport in the early hours of January 8 killing everyone on board.
Russia’s VTB files lawsuit against Mozambique to try and recover $535mn loan
Russian state lender VTB has filed a lawsuit in Britain’s High Court against a Mozambican government company to try and recover a $535mn loan it made to the government for an ambitious project to develop the country’s natural resources.
Russia’s Sheremetyevo international airport named most punctual and best employer in Russia
Once famous for its dark arrival halls and legendarily long immigration queues, Russia’s leading international airport Sheremetyevo has transformed itself into one of the world’s best airports.