Ukraine and world news 2017

31.12. From January 1, 2018, the minimum wage in Ukraine will increase by UAH 523 - up to UAH 3723.

5.ua

31.12. The outgoing year was especially difficult for the "blue helmets": 60 UN peacekeepers were killed in the performance of their duties. Nevertheless, this year the Mission in Côte d'Ivoire completed its work. Haiti, the military contingent left, leaving only a group of policemen. The UN Mission in Liberia will soon be closed down.

ООН

31.12. Germany and France will work together to unite the European Union.

pravda.com.ua

29.12. Saudi Arabia plans to implement in Mecca a large-scale project that will allow to receive up to 30 million pilgrims arriving to the shrines of Islam for Hajj and Umrah.

aa.com.tr

29.12. In 2017, Ukraine recorded almost 300 cases of violations of freedom of speech. The main attackers on journalists and violators of freedom of speech were individuals, local authorities and law enforcement.

УНИАН

28.12. Tensions over Ukraine, North Korea reflect a broader debate over East-West dialogue. The U.S. and Russia aired disagreements this week over key world conflict zones, framing differences that spell increasing uncertainties for the start of 2018 in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

wsj.com

28.12. 220 thousand children in the Donbas live under constant threat - UNICEF. According to the UNICEF report, attacks on children in conflict zones in 2017 reached a "shocking level".

news.liga.net

28.12. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron urged the parties to the conflict in eastern Ukraine to exchange the remaining prisoners.

ТАСС

27.12. Former US President Barack Obama has warned against the irresponsible use of social media, in a rare interview since stepping down in January. He warned that such actions were distorting people's understanding of complex issues, and spreading misinformation.

bbc.com

27.12. Turkey will gear up diplomatic efforts to increase the number of countries recognizing Palestine as a state and to strengthen its economy as part of a three-phase roadmap for its Jerusalem bid following a U.N. General Assembly vote that overwhelmingly voted against Washington’s recognition of the holy city as Israel’s capital.

hurriyetdailynews.com

27.12. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the Regulations on the national biometric verification system and identification of citizens of Ukraine, foreigners or Stateless Persons.

Укрінформ

26.12. Germany's Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel proposed that the European Union's upcoming Brexit deal with the UK could serve as a template for relations with other non-EU states, namely Turkey and Ukraine.

Deutsche Welle

26.12. Pope Francis has called for "peace in Jerusalem" and a dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians in his traditional Christmas address “Urbi et Orbi” (To the City and The World).

ВВС

26.12. After nearly four years of war with Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, the spread of weapons stolen from the army has led to an increase in gun violence unusual for a European country.

nytimes.com