Ukraine

Video PlayerClose KIEV, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- The cost of a Christmas dinner in Ukraine is set to increase as the country's average supermarket spread will be 5.6 percent more expensive than in 2018, national news agency Ukrinform reported Friday. On average, the cost of a Christmas dinner will amount to 1,621 Ukrainian hryvnia (about 69 U.S. dollars), the report cited a study published by Ukraine's national scientific center Institute of Agrarian Economics. According to the research, the price of the Christmas menu was counted based on the cost of the products needed for traditional holiday dishes of an average family -- salads, meat and fish, vegetables, fruits, baked goods and chocolates, and drinks. The cost of a fancier seasonal menu that includes delicacies like red caviar would cost 2,091 hryvnia. Last year, the institute calculated that the price of a Christmas dinner in 2018 was 1,535 hryvnia, 20 percent more than the cost of a similar menu in 2017. … [Read more...] about Cost of Christmas dinner to increase 5.6 pct in Ukraine

Video PlayerClose KIEV, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia said their countries would further develop bilateral strategic partnership, the Ukrainian presidential office said on Friday. The two sides signed an agreement on the creation of the Ukrainian-Georgian Highest Strategic Council, which should become a key mechanism of bilateral dialogue, it said. In a meeting, the two leaders discussed the possibilities of intensifying cooperation between the two countries regarding European and Euro-Atlantic integration, as well as their work within the U.N. and the Council of Europe, it said. Zelensky spoke highly about trade and economic relations between the two countries, noting that Georgia is an essential and promising market for Ukrainian exports. The two sides have agreed to the next meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Ukrainian-Georgian Commission on Economic Cooperation in Tbilisi in the first quarter of … [Read more...] about Ukraine, Georgia vow to further develop strategic partnership

WASHINGTON: There is an alignment of America's strategic interest with India, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Friday as he identified China, followed by Russia, as Pentagon's top two challenges in the coming years. "Next week in Washington DC, the United States will host the second ever India two-plus-two ministerial, where we will continue to advance our growing partnership as our strategic interests align," Esper said during his appearance at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) think-tank. On December 18, Esper will host his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh, at the Pentagon for a bilateral meeting. Following this, he and Singh will drive down to the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department to join External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for the second India US 2+2 ministerial. "As you could see, our resolve to uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific is deep-rooted and is only growing stronger in the face of efforts to undermine … [Read more...] about Alignment of strategic interest with India, says US Defense Secretary

Video PlayerClose BUDAPEST, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Britain, Hungary and Germany led the Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Championships in Hungary on the fourth day of the five-day event, according to the official results on Saturday. So far, Britain is on the top of the medals table, followed by Hungary and Germany. China sits in seventh place. The first final of the day was the KL2 men's 200m, where Australian Curtis McGrath finished first with a time of 42.35 seconds, 0.45 seconds ahead of silver medalist Federico Mancarella of Italy. Britain's Scott Martlew got the bronze in 43.51 seconds. The KL1 women's 200m final saw victory for Maryna Mazhula from Ukraine (55.99 seconds). The silver went to Edina Mueller of Germany (56.97) while Katherinne Wollermann of Chile won the bronze in 58.03, after a fierce competition against Chinese rower Xie Maosan, who came fourth in 58.25. In the third final of KL3 men's 200m, Serhii Yemelianov from Ukraine took the title in 40.03, dominating over … [Read more...] about Britain, Hungary, Germany on top of Canoe Sprint World Championships

Video PlayerClose BUDAPEST, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Britain, Germany, and Hungary led the Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Championships in Hungary on the third day of the five-day event, according to official results on Friday. The competition has been blessed with beautiful sunny weather, and Saturday will see as much as 14 finals. So far, Britain is on the top of the medal table, followed by Germany and Hungary. China is at 10th. The KL1 Men 200m Final A was the earliest of the day. Hungarian Peter Pal Kiss won the gold in 45.42 seconds, followed by Esteban Farias from Italy in 46.17, and Brazilian Luis Carlos Cardoso da Silva with 46.49 seconds. "The backwind did not make the start easier, I could not pull the paddle as I wanted, but I knew that if I didn't roll over then there would be no trouble, I could spin things up," Kiss said after his win. The next final was the KL2 Women 200m Final A, which had been quite satisfactory for Britain, who made a one-two finish thanks to the … [Read more...] about Britain, Germany, Hungary leading Canoe Sprint World Championships in Hungary