Ukraine

The Verkhovna Rada passed a draft law that provides for the liquidation of the Commission for Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries, the transfer of its functions to a central executive body, likely the Ministry of Digital Transformation, and the introduction of stricter rules and restrictions on gambling advertising and activities.

France plans to provide Ukraine with Aster 30 long-range missiles for SAMP-T ground and naval air defense systems as part of a military aid package.

Sugar dust has reached Ukraine and is visible on satellite imagery over southern, central and northern regions, but it will be washed out of the atmosphere faster through precipitation, potentially giving clouds a yellowish tint, and rain drops will contain dust particles until it retreats eastward by the weekend.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has supported a draft law that abolishes all upward and downward coefficients to the rates of rent for the use of Ukraine's radio frequency resource.

Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov, who was arrested in Russia for taking bribes on an especially large scale, faces up to 15 years in prison.

The head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, expects US President Joe Biden to sign a bill to provide $95. 3 billion in aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, including $61 billion for Ukraine, today to start sending weapons and equipment to Ukraine.

Presidential elections have begun in North Macedonia, with seven candidates running. It is expected that none of the candidates will overcome the 50 percent threshold in the first round, so the second round will tentatively take place on May 8.

Around 30 houses were damaged by a shock wave as a result of rocket fire by Russian troops in Odesa region, and one 43-year-old woman was injured and taken to hospital.

Entrepreneurs protested against the tax policy of Danylo Hetmantsev by dressing up as geese and going to the Mind Entrepreneur Summit 2024, where he was to speak. Entrepreneurs say that Hetmantsev's policy is forcing them to close their businesses or to confront him.

The Verkhovna Rada passed in the first reading a draft law that supplements the Tax Code with provisions on combating bribery of foreign officials, obliging regulatory authorities to notify the NABU of signs of bribery found during taxpayer audits.

Polish farmers restrict truck traffic at the Hrebenne-Rava-Ruska border crossing, allowing only a few vehicles per hour in both directions, with about 250 trucks queuing on the Polish side.

US Admiral John Aquilino believes that China wants to be able to invade Taiwan by 2027 based on President Xi Jinping's directive to the military.

The U. S. Department of State's 2023 Human Rights Report on Ukraine notes that the United News telethon, a platform for channels that follow the government line in covering the war, has provided an unprecedented level of control over prime-time television news.

The Verkhovna Rada adopted a new law updating the rules for the production and circulation of excisable goods such as alcohol, tobacco and fuel, introducing electronic licenses, automation and clear license conditions.

Georgia has extended the period of visa-free stay for Ukrainian citizens to three years, allowing them to enter and stay in the country without a visa for the full three years.

A Dutch auction house will put Viktor Medvedchuk's superyacht, which was arrested in Croatia, up for sale at a starting price of at least 130 million euros.

The speed of implementation of agreements with Western leaders on military assistance to Ukraine and the search for political solutions to protect it from Russian terror is important for Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The Verkhovna Rada passed a law simplifying the import and circulation of cotton varieties needed for gunpowder production in Ukraine for the period of martial law and for two years after its termination or lifting.

The SAPO will apply for custody with the possibility of bail in the amount of UAH 200 million for the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Mykola Solsky, who was caught in the possession of state land.

EU Diplomacy Chief Josep Borrell expects the EU Council to finalize the discussion on the use of funds from seized Russian assets for military support to Ukraine through the European Peace Fund, as the bloc believes it is legally justified.

Some houses in the Sviatoshynskyi district of Kyiv were left without electricity due to the accident, but power companies promise to restore it within two hours.

The Parliament increased the number of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine by 15,000 to 75,000 to strengthen border protection against Russian aggression.

russia intends to intensify its attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure and logistics and intensify offensive operations before the arrival of U. S. aid to inflict maximum damage and take advantage of restrictions on the supply of Ukrainian materials.

Due to Russian missile strikes that damaged power plants, Ukraine is experiencing electricity shortages and has been receiving emergency assistance from international partners for the third day in a row, while electricity consumption in the country continues to grow.

SBU drones strike two Russian oil depots in the Smolensk region, destroying 26,000 cubic meters of fuel and causing large fires.

Russian troops fired 20 times at the border of Chernihiv region with mortars, causing 60 explosions, but no casualties were reported.

Ukraine is receiving emergency aid from neighboring countries to supplement its own generation and imports of electricity, with restrictions currently in place in Kharkiv region and Kryvyi Rih due to a lack of power in the grid.

More than half (54%) of residential complexes under construction in Ukraine face land disputes, with some developers forgetting to renew land leases or starting construction without proper permits.

The Israeli Air Force struck a rocket launcher in southern Lebanon shortly after it was used to attack a community in Israel, and also struck a Hezbollah military complex.

Starting today, April 24, buses can choose the time of border crossing at 10 checkpoints with Moldova as part of the electronic queue service.