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☆ Sergei Shoigu: Putin replaces Russia’s defense minister with a civilian, citing rising military costs and need for innovation
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Anna Chernova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Russian President Vladimir Putin has replaced his defense minister Sergei Shoigu with a civilian, Andrey Belousov, citing the country’s rising military spending and the need for “innovation.”Shoigu had been “relieved” of his post of Minister of Defense by presidential decree and been appointed Secretary of Russia’s Security Council, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday night local time. Shoigu would also become Putin’s deputy in Russia’s Military-Industrial Commission, Peskov said, while Nikolai Patrushev, the previous Secretary of the Security Council, would “transfer to another job.”Belousov, who previously served as first deputy prime minister, is a civilian. “Today on the battlefield, the winner is the one who is more open to innovation,” Peskov said. Peskov added that the new appointment did not signal a shift in Russia’s current military system. In his new role, Shoigu will oversee Russia’s military industrial complex, Peskov said.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Andrey Belousov, ” Shoigu, ”, Dmitry Peskov, Shoigu, Peskov, Nikolai Patrushev, ” Belousov, Putin, ” Peskov, It’s, Valery Gerasimov, Shoigu’s, Timur Ivanov, Ivanov, Ukraine –, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin Organizations: CNN, Defense, Russia’s Security, Russia’s, Industrial Commission, Security, Russian Ministry of Defense, of Economic, Staff Locations: Ukraine, Russia

☆ Turkey's local elections — and whoever wins Istanbul — could dictate the future of the country
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

As the sunsets, a ferry boat glides across the waters of the Golden Horn with the Suleymaniye Mosque and the city of Istanbul, Turkey in the background. Vw Pics | Universal Images Group | Getty ImagesTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan once said that whoever wins Istanbul wins Turkey. This is odd but also shows how important it is to win Istanbul," Tunca said. Major Turkish cities like Istanbul and the capital Ankara will be key races to watch. Istanbul Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu speaks at the 19 May Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day celebrations held at the Maltepe Event Area on May 19, 2023 on Istanbul, Turkey.

Persons: Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Imamoglu, Erdogan, People's Party's, Murat Kurum, Arda Tunca, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Tayyip Erdogan, Umit Bektas, Tunca, Kristin Ronzi, RANE, Erdogan's, Ekrem İmamoğlu, Hakan Akgun, Turkey's, Ronzi Organizations: Getty, Istanbul, sympathizing, Development Party, AK Party, Imamoglu, AK, CNBC, European Union, NATO, Reuters, Party, Imamoglu's CHP, Turkey's, CHP Locations: Istanbul, Turkey, Ukraine, Russia, Arab, Turkish, Ankara, East, North Africa

☆ Ambition Got Me My Dream Job. Then It Nearly Killed Me.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Tanmoy Goswami | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

It's still not easy for me to admit it, but that night I used my pain to feed my professional ambition. In a previous job, burnout nearly killed me, and I vowed to never let ambition swallow me again. There's a fine line between the motivation needed to build a successful career and the uncontrolled ambition that ends in burnout. As I unpacked this predicament in therapy, I began to wonder: How did ambition become such a force in our world? In the ancient world, ambition was seen as a curse.

Persons: I'd, It's, I've, Cicero, Seneca, William Casey King, Virtue, shrewdly, King, don't, They're, wasn't, he'd, Coke, Ambition, —, I'm, Gabor Maté, Mark L, There's, unethically, India's Organizations: Oxford, New York Times, Guardian Locations: hustling, India, New Delhi

☆ Senegal sets election date after protests sparked by delay
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Mitchell Mccluskey | Nimi Princewill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Senegalese President Macky Sall has scheduled the country’s presidential election for March 24, the government said in a statement on Wednesday. “The President of the Republic informed the Council of Ministers that the date of the presidential election has been set for Sunday, March 24, 2024,” the statement read. However, Senegal’s Constitutional Council barred his attempts to delay the election, ruling that it must be held before April 2, when Sall’s second and final term expires. In a communique from the council of ministers, Ba “reaffirmed his support” for Sall’s decisions and “reiterated his thanks and gratitude” for the president. Nineteen candidates are registered to run in the election, according to the Constitutional Council.

Persons: Macky Sall, “, Sall, Amadou Ba, Sidiki Kaba, Ba “, ” Organizations: CNN, of Ministers, Sunday, Sall, Council, Interior, Constitutional Council Locations: Republic, West African

☆ Nikolai I. Ryzhkov, Soviet Premier Who Presided Over Economic Chaos, Dies at 94
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Robert D. Mcfadden | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Nikolai I. Ryzhkov, a premier of the Soviet Union who in 1990 took the brunt of the blame for economic chaos that engulfed the last years of Communist rule, leading to the nation’s political collapse and the end of the Cold War, has died. His death was confirmed on Wednesday by Valentina Matvienko, the head of the Federation Council, Russia’s upper chamber of Parliament, in a statement on Telegram. Starting as a welder in a factory in the Urals, Mr. Ryzhkov rose as a party loyalist with economic expertise to peaks of success as a protégé of the last leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail S. Gorbachev. The general secretary of the Communist Party, Mr. Gorbachev in 1985 named Mr. Ryzhkov as chairman of the Council of Ministers — a title more commonly known as premier — the second-most-powerful post in the Soviet hierarchy.

Persons: Nikolai I, Valentina Matvienko, Ryzhkov, Mikhail S, Gorbachev, Ministers — Organizations: Soviet Union, Federation Council, Communist Party, Ministers Locations: Soviet, Urals, Soviet Union

☆ Poland Starts Probe Into Allegations of Illegal Phone-Hacking
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

"Our work in the investigative commission will cause not only an earthquake, but also a tsunami." PiS say the changes are a political witchhunt and that it always acted legally. I'm sure that every surveillance conducted by secret services was accepted and ordered by court," former Deputy Justice Minister Sebastian Kaleta said. However, Polish media have recently reported that the spyware may have also been used against PiS politicians, news that if proved true could strain lawmakers loyalties. "It seems to me that this may be, unfortunately, a trial by fire that (PiS) won't necessarily pass," said Anna Materska-Sosnowska, a political scientist at Warsaw University.

Persons: Witold Zembaczynski, Jacek Karnowski, Sebastian Kaleta, Anna Materska, Jaroslaw, Kaczynski, Alan Charlish, Pawel Florkiewicz, Anna Wlodarczak, William Maclean Organizations: Monday, Pegasus, Civic Coalition, Associated Press, Warsaw University Locations: WARSAW, Israel

☆ Singapore transport minister resigns after being charged with corruption in a first for the city state
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Singapore’s Transport Minister S. Iswaran has resigned after being charged with corruption on Thursday, the prime minister’s office said, confirming a historic development for a city state that prides itself on having a squeaky-clean government. The charges against Iswaran are part of the biggest corruption probe to engulf Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) in decades. Singapore’s anti-graft agency, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), which reports directly to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, has been leading investigations into Iswaran’s case. Lee is the eldest son of Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s first prime minister and founding father. The corruption probe into Ong and Iswaran comes at a sensitive time for Lee as he plans to step aside after nearly 20 years leading the country.

Persons: Iswaran, Tan Kiat Pheng, Ong Beng Seng, Ong, Lee Hsien Loong, Lee, ” Lee, Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s, ” Eugene Tan, ” Organizations: CNN, Singapore’s, Iswaran, Action Party, Singapore, Prix, Practices, Party, Government, Ong, Singapore Management University Locations: Singapore

Such is the scene at the annual COP conference, this year being held Nov. 30-Dec. 12 in the Emirati city of Dubai. Here's how the climate summit unfolds on the ground. THE OPENING CEREMONYThe UAE has spent the last year laying the diplomatic groundwork for this year's summit. But it officially takes on the COP presidency only at the opening ceremony, which features welcome speeches and opportunities to bang the gavel. THE SCENEDuring the first few days, national leaders jet in for what is called the "High-Level Segment" involving back-to-back speeches in the venue's main plenary hall.

Persons: William James, Katy Daigle, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: UAE, Thomson Locations: Emirati, Dubai, UAE, COP26

Persons: William James, Katy Daigle, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: UAE, Thomson Locations: Emirati, Dubai, UAE, COP26

A huge billboard advertising Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as candidate of the World Expo 2030 is seen in Paris as the host country of The World Expo 2030 will be elected by BIE Member States that will gather in the 173rd General Assembly in Paris, France, November 25, 2023. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's Riyadh won the right to host the Expo 2030 world fair, vote results showed on Tuesday, in another diplomatic victory for a Gulf country after the Qatar soccer World Cup last year. South Korea's Busan and Italy's Rome were also in the running to host the world fair, a five-yearly event that attracts millions of visitors and billions of dollars in investment. The Saudi capital has proposed to host the event between October 2030 and March 2031. Saudi had in particular won French support, irking Rome.

Persons: Gonzalo Fuentes, Cristiano Ronaldo, Crown Prince Mohammed bin, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Prince Mohammed, Jamal Khashoggi, Emmanuel Macron, Elizabeth Pineau, Michel Rose, Christina Fincher, Richard Chang Organizations: BIE Member, 173rd, Assembly, REUTERS, Rights, Saudi Arabia's, Qatar, Korea's, Riyadh, Busan, Rome, Saudi, Al, Crown, Saudi Foreign, irking, Thomson Locations: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Paris, BIE, BIE Member States, France, Saudi, Saudi Arabia's Riyadh, Korea's Busan, Italy's Rome, irking Rome, Lebanon

Borrell said all EU members attending the meeting of Mediterranean nations in Barcelona and almost all attendees overall had agreed on the need for a two-state solution. In response to that attack, Israel bombarded the enclave and mounted a ground offensive in the north. A two-state solution envisages a state for the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip alongside Israel. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan spoke as a representative of a group of ministers from the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Jordan's Safadi added, however: "Some among us are still refusing to call for a ceasefire... We demand it be implemented immediately."

Persons: Josep Borrell, Mohammad Shtayyeh, Nasser Nasser, Borrell, Ayman Safadi, Riyad al, Maliki, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Jordan's Safadi, Joan Faus, David Latona, Aislinn Laing, Ed Osmond, Alex Richardson, Nick Macfie Organizations: Palestinian, West Bank, Rights, European Union, Palestinian Authority, Hamas, Reuters, Union of, Saudi Foreign, Arab League, of Islamic Cooperation, Thomson Locations: Ramallah, Rights BARCELONA, Spain, Palestinian, Gaza, Barcelona, Israel, Jordanian, Qatar, Egypt, United States

☆ Geert Wilders: A ‘Trump moment’ in the Netherlands shows that Europe still has a populist problem
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The shock election results in the Netherlands have taken Europe by surprise, and left many onlookers unsure exactly what happens next. Far-right populist Geert Wilders and his Freedom Party (PVV) are now seeking to form a government after an unexpected win in Wednesday’s national vote. It would be very unusual for a party that comprehensively won the most seats to be locked out of government. Beyond those immediate concerns, there are questions as to what Wilders’ victory means for the direction of Dutch and European politics more broadly. Congratulations to Geert Wilders on winning the Dutch elections,” Hungarian PM Viktor Orban said late on Wednesday.

Persons: Geert Wilders, “, Donald, Trump, ” Catherine de Vries, Wilders, Mark Rutte, Robert Fico, Giorgia, Tiziana Fabi, Viktor Orban, Marine Le Pen, Carl Court, Emmanuel Macron, Le Pen, Giorgia Meloni, Nigel Farage, Farage Organizations: CNN, Freedom Party, Wednesday’s, Italy’s Bocconi University, European Union, Democracy Party, VVD, New, Labour, Green, Italy's, Albania's, Edi, Getty, –, EU, ”, Conservative, firebrand, Conservatives, Conservative Party Locations: Netherlands, Europe, Ukraine, Italy, Slovakia, Rome, AFP, EU, Brussels, ” Hungarian, France, United Kingdom

☆ Israel's far-right finance minister demands expanded war cabinet
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attends an inauguration event for Israel's new light rail line for the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, in Petah Tikva, Israel, August 17, 2023. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsJERUSALEM, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Israel's far-right finance minister, who has so far been excluded from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's war cabinet, called on Monday for lawmakers taking a harder line towards Hamas to be included in decisions about the war. "I think this grave mistake necessitates the expansion of the war cabinet," said Smotrich, arguing that letting in fuel gave Hamas a lifeline during the war. Smotrich, in a statement, said the war cabinet should include "opinions that until today have not been heard", including from those with a record of calling for Hamas to be eliminated. Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch and Steve Scheer Editing by Peter GraffOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bezalel Smotrich, Amir Cohen, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Netanyahu, Smotrich, Ari Rabinovitch, Steve Scheer, Peter Graff Organizations: Tel, REUTERS, Rights, Likud, Finance, Thomson Locations: Tel Aviv, Petah Tikva, Israel, Israel's, U.S, Gaza

☆ NATO's Stoltenberg concerned by secessionist rhetoric in Bosnia
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Daria Sito-Sucic | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg shakes hands with Bosnian Prime Minister Borjana Kristo during his visit to Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, November 20, 2023. Bosnia emerged from a 1992-1995 war with a federal structure uniting a Serb-dominated republic with a federation of Croats and Bosniak Muslims. "We are concerned by secessionist and divisive rhetoric as well as .. foreign interference including Russia," Stoltenberg told reporters in Sarajevo, his first stop during a tour of the Western Balkans region. NATO has warned about risks for Bosnia from foreign interference, particularly from Russia, and agreed to help to shore up its ability to defend itself. Every country has the right to choose its security arrangements without foreign interference," Stoltenberg said after meeting the chairwoman of Bosnia's Council of Ministers, Borjana Kristo.

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, Borjana Kristo, Amel, Milorad Dodik, Stoltenberg, Christian Schmidt, " Stoltenberg, Borjana, Daria Sito, Toby Chopra, Peter Graff Organizations: NATO, Bosnian, REUTERS, Rights, Representative, UN Security Council, Bosnia's, Ministers, Thomson Locations: Sarajevo, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Rights SARAJEVO, Serbia, Russia, Western Balkans, Yugoslavia, masse, EU, Ukraine, Balkans, Bosnian, Russian Bosnian Serbs

But a Nov. 9 briefing obtained by The AP details a watered-down proposal that would drop the entire financial sector from the initial law. Spain currently holds the council’s presidency, and is trying to get all the member states to agree on their desired version of the law. A deal on finance was previously supported by all member states, he revealed. A source in the French negotiation team said on the phone, “France supports the exclusion of the financial sector from the scope of the directive. If they agree on them, they will form the basis for the final negotiation with the European Parliament.

Persons: Banks, there’s, it’s, Richard Gardiner, ”, René, France “, Alban Grosdidier, Grosdidier, Marion Lupin, Romain Hubert Organizations: Associated Press, AP, of, European Union, French, France, “, European Coalition, Corporate Justice, Climate Economics, EU, Parliament Locations: Spain, Dutch, France, “ France, Europe, Paris

☆ UK PM Sunak appoints Victoria Atkins as new health minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Nov 13 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday appointed Victoria Atkins, formerly Financial Secretary to the Treasury, as the new Secretary of State for Health and Social care as part of a reshuffle of his senior team of ministers, his office said. Atkins replaces Steve Barclay, who was moved to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. She will assume oversight of the National Health Service (NHS), Britain's state-funded health system that is under pressure from industrial action by health workers and a growing list of patients waiting for treatment. There are currently around 7.8 million people waiting for NHS treatment, a new record high, compared to about 7 million a year ago. Reporting by Kylie MacLellan and Alistair Smout, Writing by Sachin RavikumarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Victoria Atkins, Atkins, Steve Barclay, Kylie MacLellan, Alistair Smout, Sachin Ravikumar Organizations: British, Monday, Treasury, State, Health, Department for Environment, Food, Rural Affairs, National Health Service, Thomson

☆ Factbox-Seven Turbulent Years: British Ministerial Churn Since the Brexit Vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

PRIME MINISTERCameron served as prime minister until July 13, 2016, three weeks after the Brexit vote on June 23. She holds the record for Britain's shortest-serving prime minister after she quit after 49 days, having triggered a financial market meltdown. Philip Hammond was foreign secretary from July 2014 until three weeks after the Brexit vote in 2016. INTERIOR MINISTERBritain's interior ministry has changed leadership eight times since the Brexit vote, including Cleverly who stepped into the role on Monday. There have been 13 housing ministers since the Brexit vote, including six since Feb. 8, 2022.

Persons: Sarah Young, Rishi Sunak, David Cameron, Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Sunak, James, Dominic Raab, Jeremy Hunt, Johnson, Philip Hammond, Suella Braverman, Grant Shapps, Truss, Hunt, Kwarteng, Victoria Atkins, Monday, Steve Barclay, Gillian Keegan, Kate Holton, Alex Richardson Organizations: Sarah Young LONDON, British, European Union, Conservative Party, FINANCE, National Health Service Locations: Westminster, Britain, European, Truss, Crete, Kabul, Cameron

☆ British environment minister Coffey resigns in reshuffle
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Britain's Environment Secretary Therese Coffey walks outside 10 Downing Street next to Larry the cat, in London, Britain November 13, 2023. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 13 (Reuters) - British environment secretary Therese Coffey resigned on Monday as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reshuffled his top team of ministers. "I consider it is now the right time to step back from government," Coffey said in a letter to Sunak which was published by his office. Coffey has held several ministerial jobs including health minister and work and pensions minister, and also served as deputy prime minister under Sunak's predecessor Liz Truss. In a letter responding to Coffey, Sunak thanked her for "dedicated service".

Persons: Therese Coffey, Larry, Suzanne Plunkett, Rishi Sunak, Coffey, Liz Truss, Sunak, Kylie MacLellan, Sarah Young, William James Our Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, British

☆ Zelenskyy slammed Ukrainian commanders for 'negligence' after Russian airstrike on an open-air ceremony left troops dead
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

In a social media video, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused military commanders of "negligence." AdvertisementAdvertisementUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy slammed military commanders for "negligence" after Ukrainian soldiers died in a Russian airstrike late last week. AdvertisementAdvertisementZelenskyy accused Ukrainian commanders of "negligence" and of failing to take the necessary precautions that could have stopped such a "tragedy." The Ukrainian president went on to say that changes would be made to avoid all future "negligence." This latest airstrike echoes an attack on Russian soldiers earlier this year.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Rustem Umerov, Zelenskyy, —, Oleg Nemchinov, Sam Fellman Organizations: Service, 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, Ukrainska Pravda, Facebook, New York Times, Telegram, BBC News Locations: Zaporizhzhia oblast, Ukrainian, Soviet

☆ Exclusive: Canadian winner of gas rights on Congo's 'killer' Lake Kivu failed criteria
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Sonia Rolley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

[1/5] Aerial view shows Lake Kivu and the skyline of the city of Goma, North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of the Congo October, 21, 2023. First to be auctioned were three methane blocks in Lake Kivu, sometimes dubbed a "killer lake" because of a risk of deadly eruption. The documents do not show why Alfajiri was included in the auction, who requested that the report be edited, or why. Lake Kivu is one of three lakes in Africa scientists say are at risk of limnic eruption. The report's second version - also dated Dec. 8 and seen by Reuters - raised Alfajiri's score to 55.75, putting it ahead of Winds.

Persons: Arlette, Felix Tshisekedi, Alfajiri, Didier Budimbu, Christian Hamuli, Hamuli, Joseph Nzau, Budimbu, Alfajiri's Hamuli, vulcanologist Dario Tedesco, Alfajiri's, Frank Ihekwoaba, Alessandra Prentice, Bate Felix, Joe Bavier, Frank Jack Daniel Our Organizations: Democratic, REUTERS, Reuters, Alfajiri Energy Corporation, Investigative Journalism, Exploration, Ray Group, Ray, Thomson Locations: Lake Kivu, Goma, North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Canada, Calgary, Rwanda, Kivu, Africa, Congolese, U.S

Bedbugs go where you go, and they have become a nightmare haunting France for weeks. Still, bedbugs have plagued France and other countries for decades. The French public began moving into panic mode about a month ago after reports of bedbugs at a Paris movie theater. “All human population movements are profitable for bedbugs because they go with us, to hotels, in transport," said Berenger. Beaune, the transport minister, is hopeful that steps can be taken to ease the public's fear.

Persons: Elisabeth Borne, Clement Beaune, bedbugs, that's, ”, Jean, Michel Berenger, they’ll, Berenger, Ipsos, It’s, Kevin Le Mestre, Lutte Antinuisible, Lucas Pradalier, Emmanuel Macron’s, Mathilde Panot, “, Alex Turnbull Organizations: PARIS, Olympic Games, Metro, Mediterranee University Hospital, National Agency for Health, Food Safety, Paris Olympics, Associated Press Locations: France, Beaune, Marseille, Paris, New York

☆ Kremlin: Russian government closely involved in tackling debt problems at Rusnano
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A board with the logo is on display on the office building of the Russian state-owned technology company RUSNANO in Moscow, Russia, November 17, 2016. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Oct 4 (Reuters) - The Kremlin on Wednesday said the Russian government was closely involved in tackling problems at state nanotechnology company Rusnano, which this week warned of its inability to make debt repayments and possible bankruptcy without state support. Citing the company's first-half report, the Interfax news agency reported on Rusnano's debt trouble on Tuesday. Rusnano said it was currently demonstrating signs of insolvency and warned that bankruptcy was possible should its shareholders - the Russian state - fail to adopt measures to improve its financial situation, Interfax reported. "There really are problems there, and it is an issue the cabinet of ministers is dealing with very closely."

Persons: Sergei Karpukhin, Rusnano, Dmitry Peskov, Anastasia Lyrchikova, Alexander Marrow, Mark Trevelyan, Guy Faulconbridge Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Russian, Moscow, Russia

But officials have made clear recently that other forms of US aid are potentially in jeopardy if Ukraine does not do more to address corruption. The US has provided Ukraine with over $23 billion in direct budget support since the war began, according to the Congressional Research Service. In a statement to CNN, the Ukrainian embassy in Washington said that Ukraine has moved “ambitiously” to pass reforms, including on its IMF program. That money is also the “most closely scrutinized” form of aid to Ukraine, a senior Democratic Senate aide told CNN. The US intends to provide up to $3.3 billion in direct economic aid to Ukraine if Congress authorizes its $24 billion supplemental request for Ukraine.

Persons: Biden, Jake Sullivan, Antony Blinken, Volodymyr Zelensky, Matthew Miller, Miller, ”, Denys Shmyhal, Blinken, “, It’s, Megan Reed, Sen, Lindsey Graham, Zelensky Organizations: CNN, Ukraine, The State Department, Congressional Research Service, United States Agency for International Development, USAID, World Bank, Ukrainian Ministry of Finance, International Monetary Fund, IMF, National Bank of, General Prosecutors, National Security, Ukrainian, White, Ukrainska Pravda, Government of, EU, State Department, NATO, Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, Democratic, Republicans, Pentagon, The Defense, Ukrainian MoD Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian, Washington, National Bank of Ukraine, USA, Russia, Kyiv, Europe, Government of Ukraine, United States, EU

In particular, lawmakers want assurances that the European Commission is not planning to shelve green measures that it promised but has not yet delivered - including restrictions on harmful chemicals, microplastics pollution and animal welfare. The shake-up in Europe's green leadership comes as climate policies face mounting pushback from politicians warning of the large investments required. Some EU officials are wary of pushing through new green measures before EU Parliament elections in June. Recent EU proposals - including a landmark law to restore nature - have faced resistance from some lawmakers and governments arguing Brussels is tangling industries in red tape. But Sefcovic and Hoekstra also need backing from green and left-leaning lawmakers demanding urgent action to tackle the CO2 emissions fuelling extreme weather across Europe, and reverse the decline of nature.

Persons: Wopke Hoekstra, de, Maros Sefcovic, Pascal Canfin, Sefcovic, Canfin, Hoekstra, Robert Fico, Kate Abnett, Bart Meijer, Christina Fincher, Josie Kao Organizations: Ministers, REUTERS, Rights, European Commission, EU, Thomson Locations: The Hague, Netherlands, Rights BRUSSELS, Dutch, Brussels, Europe, Slovak, Ukraine, Russian Slovak

☆ Kyiv brushes off US, Slovakia wobbles as EU ministers come to town
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Olena Harmash | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/3] Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and European Union Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell shake hands before EU-Ukraine foreign ministers meeting, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine October 2, 2023. Monday's meeting in Kyiv was touted by Borrell as an historic first, and provided striking photo opportunities for a succession of ministers in front of EU flags in the war-time capital. Several high profile right-wing Trump supporters in Congress have called for a halt to Ukraine aid. President Joe Biden's administration says it expects the House to pass a measure to keep aid to Ukraine flowing. In Europe, pro-Russian former prime minister Fico won the most votes in an election in Slovakia on Sunday and will get a first chance to form a government.

Persons: Dmytro Kuleba, Josep Borrell, Robert Fico, Kuleba, Annalena Baerbock, Dmitry Peskov, Donald Trump, Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden's, Biden, Fico, Russia's Peskov, Peter Graff, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Ukrainian Foreign, Union Foreign, EU, Press, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of, REUTERS Acquire, Russian, U.S . Congress, U.S, Congressional, Borrell, Kyiv, German, Republican, Trump, Congress, Republicans, Democrats, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Handout, Germany, Russia, KYIV, Slovakia, United States, Russian Slovakian, Moscow, Washington, America, Europe, Russian, NATO

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