The article discusses the pervasive issues of plagiarism, pseudoscience, and corruption within Ukrainian academia. Victor Dosenko, a member of the group false-science and head of a department at the Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences, estimates that around 90% of science professors in Ukraine are not legitimate researchers. The Ministry of Education and Science in Ukraine is implementing a new system to increase control over university ethics and the awarding of degrees. Instances of plagiarism and pseudoscience are highlighted, including a case involving Kateryna Kyrylenko, a professor accused of plagiarism, and Iurii Teslia, a former dean accused of promoting pseudoscience. The article also touches on the cultural and systemic issues that contribute to academic misconduct, such as low salaries and the legacy of Soviet control. Reforms are underway to address these problems, including changes in university funding and faculty salaries.

The article discusses the ongoing investigation into the downing of Ukrainian International Airlines flight PS752 by an Iranian missile on January 8, which resulted in the death of all passengers on board. Ukraine's Secretary of Defense, Oleksiy Danilov, visited Iran to push for cooperation and demand the plane's black boxes and increased compensation for the victims' families. The cooperation between Iran and Ukraine had stalled after an audio recording was leaked, but has since resumed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is under pressure to secure justice and compensation, and there is speculation that Ukraine might escalate the situation if Iran remains uncooperative. The article also touches on the political implications within Ukraine and the potential for international collaboration with countries like Canada and Great Britain to exert joint pressure on Iran.

The article by Emil Filtenborg and Stefan Weichert discusses concerns raised by the Ukrainian opposition regarding reforms proposed by President Volodymyr Zelensky and his party, Servants of the People. The opposition, including Inna Sovsun of the Holos party, fears that these reforms, particularly in the justice system and media law, may lead to the centralisation of power around the president. Experts and advisory bodies like the Venice Commission have also expressed concerns about the rule of law in Ukraine. Despite these concerns, some experts acknowledge that Zelensky's reforms could lead to positive changes, but they stress the importance of being critical and transparent. The article also touches on Zelensky's background, his election promises to combat corruption and improve the economy, and the challenges Ukraine has faced, including a declining economy and an armed conflict in the east.

Russia has increased its export of nuclear power plants, leveraging state-backed projects to outcompete French and American companies on price and safety requirements. Observers assess that Russia uses these exports to gain political influence in recipient countries. Rosatom, a state-owned Russian company, is involved in 36 projects abroad and six in Russia. The deals often include package agreements for construction, maintenance, and operation, with financing provided by Russia, allowing them to undercut Western competitors by up to 50%. Experts suggest the economics behind these projects are questionable, pointing to other motives such as geopolitics, national profiling, and military considerations. The lack of transparency and the potential for these projects to lead to weapon sales or nuclear proliferation are also concerns raised by experts.

Belarus, often referred to as 'Europe's last dictatorship', is led by President Aleksandr Lukasenko, who has been in power for 25 years. Despite maintaining a tight grip on power and facing criticism for human rights violations, Lukasenko has fostered a burgeoning IT industry, with companies like Wargaming.net and Viber emerging as success stories. However, the economy remains challenged, heavily reliant on Russian subsidies, and the IT sector, while growing, is not sufficient to modernize the overall economy. The political opposition continues to face repression, with activists like Maksim Viniarski being arrested multiple times. The upcoming presidential election in 2020 is seen as a potential turning point for the opposition.