Business news from Ukraine

Permits for construction of 14 residential complexes on territory of National Aviation University have been revoked

The State Inspectorate of Architecture and Urban Development of Ukraine (SIAU) has revoked the construction permits for 14 residential complexes on the territory of the National Aviation University (NAU) in Kyiv.

“The State Inspectorate of Architecture and Urban Development of Ukraine has canceled the permit for construction works on the territory of the National Aviation University upon the application of the acting rector of NAU Ksenia Semenova. The cancellation of the construction was preceded by a corresponding decision of the NAU Supervisory Board,” the university’s press service said.

It is noted that at the meeting of the Supervisory Board of the National Academy of Sciences, all documents on the investment agreement for the development of the territory, which was concluded in 2007, were reviewed and studied in detail.

“Taking into account all the available facts and materials, it was decided to take the following actions: to conduct claim work on the investment agreement, which is contrary to the interests of the university, to cancel the permit for the construction of 14 residential complexes, to hold officials responsible for making decisions that led to the loss of state property and stagnation of the university,” the statement said.

,

“Ovostar Union” reduced number of laying hens by 4%, but increased egg processing by 42%

In January-March 2024, Ovostar Union, a vertically integrated holding company, one of the leading producers of eggs and egg products in Ukraine, increased its total number of hens by 2.7% to 7.31 million, while reducing the number of laying hens by 4.1% to 6.12 million.

According to the group’s report published on the Warsaw Stock Exchange website on Friday, the volume of egg production in the first quarter of 2024 amounted to 331 million eggs, which is 9% less than in the same period of 2023. Accordingly, sales in the egg segment amounted to 211 million units, which is 12.4% less than last year.

Export sales of shell eggs in January-March 2024 also decreased by 22.9% and amounted to 81 million units, which was 38% of the total number of eggs sold in this period in 2024. A year earlier, this figure was 44%, the report says.

At the same time, in the first quarter of 2024, the agricultural holding increased egg processing by 42% to 132 million eggs, while in 2023 this figure was 92 million. Ovostar produced 571 tons of dry egg products and 3.41 thousand tons of liquid egg products, while last year the processing amounted to 406 tons and 3.07 thousand tons, respectively.

Sales of dry egg products amounted to 629 tons, up 18.5% year-on-year, of which 478 tons (76%) were exported. In the first quarter of 2023, 354 tons (67%) of dry egg products were exported to foreign markets.

Sales of liquid egg products amounted to 3.4 thousand tons, up 11% year-on-year, of which 1.14 thousand tons (34%) were exported. A year earlier, 1.29 thousand tons (42%) of liquid egg products were exported.

“In the first quarter of 2023, the volume of egg production decreased due to a slight decrease in the number of laying hens. Given the downward trend in egg prices, the company increased the volume of egg processing, which led to a steady increase in egg production. In the current situation, the management is satisfied with the operating results achieved in the first three months of the year,” said Boris Belikov, CEO of Ovostar Union.

Ovostar Union, a vertically integrated holding company, is one of the leading producers of eggs and egg products in Ukraine. “In the first nine months of 2023, Ovostar earned $29.08 million in net profit, up 12.2 times year-on-year. Its revenue for the nine months increased by 36.3% to $123.06 million, mainly due to higher prices for its products.

,

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is running for European Parliament elections

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said at a party conference in Pescara that she would stand as a candidate in June’s European Parliament elections, Reuters reports.

“We want to do in Europe what we have done in Italy … to create a majority that will unite the center-right forces and send the left into opposition,” Meloni said.

Meloni’s name will be the first on ballots from Italy’s leading Brothers of Italy party in all five Italian constituencies in the European elections.

The Italian prime minister will try to bolster her party’s support, but she will not win a seat in the European Parliament if elected, the agency noted.

She has promised that she will not use “a single minute” of her time as prime minister to campaign.

According to the latest polls, Reuters notes, her party is the most popular in Italy with 27% support.

, , ,

China will pay up to $1.4 thousand for replacing old cars with electric vehicles

The Chinese authorities plan to pay car owners up to 10 thousand yuan ($1.4 thousand) if they replace their cars with all-electric or hybrid ones this year, The Wall Street Journal reports.

In addition, the government will provide subsidies of 7 thousand yuan to those who change cars to traditional ones with engines of no more than 2 liters.

Following the news, American Depository Receipts (ADRs) for shares of Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers rose in price on Friday, including Nio – by 9.4%, XPeng – by 11.1%, Li Auto – by 7%, BYD – by 3.7%.

 

, ,

U.S. Secretary of State to travel to Middle East next week

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken will travel to the Middle East next week on his seventh diplomatic mission to the region since the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip began more than six months ago, the Associated Press reported on Saturday, citing the State Department.

According to the AP, Blinken leaves for Saudi Arabia on Monday, just two days after returning to Washington after a trip to China. Blinken will attend a World Economic Forum conference and meet with Arab foreign ministers in Riyadh, the Saudi capital.

An Israeli foreign ministry spokesman said that Blinken will visit Israel on Tuesday, and this stop is not mentioned in the State Department’s announcement of Blinken’s itinerary.

Since mid-October, Blinken has been traveling between Israel and most of its Arab and Muslim neighbors in an effort to increase aid to civilians in Gaza, prevent the spread of conflict throughout the region, and build support for plans to rebuild and govern post-war Gaza. – while openly supporting Israel’s right to self-defense.

Israel’s offensive in Gaza has increased political pressure in the United States, with pro-Palestinian protests at universities sparking resistance from those who claim the demonstrations have turned into anti-Semitism.

,

As of April 2024, more than 2,500 gambling websites have been blocked in Ukraine

As of April 2024 in Ukraine blocked more than 2 500 websites that provided the activity of gambling, also investigated more than 450 criminal offenses on the facts of their illegal organization, reports the Office of the Prosecutor General.

“As of April 2024, more than 450 criminal offenses are being investigated for illegal organization of gambling. Suspicion of 21 persons has been reported. The indictments against 72 people, including 7 indictments against 68 participants of criminal groups were sent to court,” – said in the message published on the website of the Office of the Prosecutor General.

“According to the results of recommendations sent by law enforcers to block illegal resources so far blocked more than 2,500 websites that provided the activity of conducting gambling and which hosted online casino resources without the appropriate license,” – noted in the message.

In 2023, law enforcers registered 169 offenses on the facts of illegal organization of gambling, 74 persons were notified of suspicion. 52 indictments against 97 people were sent to court. Law enforcers seized more than 7 thousand units of computer and other equipment, conducted about 500 searches and 700 inspections of addresses. The activity of 10 casinos was stopped. 10 indictments were sent to court against 42 people who are members of criminal groups.

“Prosecutors also provide procedural guidance in proceedings on a number of large companies involved in the organization and operation of illegal online casinos. Among examples: provided procedural guidance in criminal proceedings on the legalization of funds from illegal online gambling for a total of UAH 4.8 billion,” – stated in the message.

In addition, law enforcers are carrying out a pre-trial investigation into the sub-sanctioned legal entity, which is under the control of structures and citizens of the Russian Federation, organized and conducted illegal betting activities on the basis of resources of the international bookmaker’s office.

As reported, on April 20, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky enacted the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine “On countering the negative consequences of gambling on the Internet”.

,