Reuters UK Top

BELGRADE (Reuters) -Russia is seeking partners for U.S.-sanctioned Serbia-based oil company NIS in a bid to resolve a stand-off with the United States over its Russian ownership, Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday. NIS, which operates Serbia’s sole refinery, is 44.9% owned by Russia’s Gazprom Neft and 11.3% by Gazprom, while the Serbian government …

Serbia’s president says Russia seeking partner for US-sanctioned NIS oil firm Read More »

BERLIN (Reuters) -Germany’s cabinet announced on Wednesday 50 projects to streamline rules for business, seeking to kick-start growth in a long-struggling economy by cutting red tape. Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger presented a report that the government says has already delivered a 3 billion euro ($3.5 billion) reduction in bureaucracy costs in the six months since …

German cabinet steps up efforts to cut red tape Read More »

By Olena Harmash KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine plans to replace its kopek coins to shake off a lingering symbol of Moscow’s former dominance, Central Bank Governor Andriy Pyshnyi said, adding that he hoped the change could be completed this year. Ukraine introduced its hryvnia currency in 1996, five years after it gained independence from the Soviet …

Ukraine to rename the kopeck coin in another break with Russia Read More »

VILNIUS (Reuters) -Latvian lawmakers on Wednesday postponed a vote to quit a European treaty aimed at combating violence against women until after a parliamentary election in October next year, a move welcomed by the prime minister who opposes leaving the accord. Opposition parties joined by a conservative party from the governing coalition pushed through a …

Latvia puts off plan to quit treaty on violence against women until after election Read More »

TIRANA (Reuters) -President Vjosa Osmani has nominated former parliamentary speaker Glauk Konjufca as Kosovo’s next prime minister to try to avert a snap election, despite resistance to his candidacy by opposition parties. Konjufca has 15 days to present a government for approval by parliament, which last month rejected the candidacy of Albin Kurti, a leftist …

Kosovo president proposes new prime minister to try to end impasse Read More »

ANKARA (Reuters) -President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Turkey had entered a “new phase” in efforts to end Kurdish militant violence and signalled he was open to the idea of jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan addressing lawmakers. Erdogan said he held “very constructive” talks last week with senior pro-Kurdish DEM Party leaders – who …

Turkey’s Erdogan heralds “new phase” in PKK peace process Read More »