Section: KXAN (USA)
Putin calls opposition politician’s slaying a ‘disgrace’
MOSCOW (AP) — The killing of a key opposition figure is a “disgrace” to Russia, President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday. In televised remarks to Interior Ministry employees, Putin condemned the slaying of Boris Nemtsov, who was gunned down while walking near the Kremlin late Friday. While the Kremlin said Saturday that Putin had sent his...
Ailing Malaysia Airlines readies for drastic overhaul
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — After a year of calamity, Malaysia Airlines is shrinking to survive. The disappearance of Flight 370 one year ago, combined with the downing of Flight 17 over a rebel held area of eastern Ukraine four months later, brought the already financially struggling flag carrier to its knees. The government, which owned most...
Report: At least 1 killed in east Ukraine mine blast
DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) — An official mouthpiece for separatists in east Ukraine is citing a rebel official as saying an explosion at a coal mine has killed at least one person and trapped more than 70 workers underground. Donetsk News Agency cited rescue services official Yuliana Bedilo as saying the explosion was caused by a mixture of gas and...
New Malaysia Airlines CEO a “battle hardened” veteran
HONG KONG (AP) — When the owners of embattled Malaysia Airlines went looking for a new CEO to lead its restructuring, they chose a German turnaround specialist known as “The Terminator” to take on what’s been dubbed the toughest job in aviation. Christoph Mueller, 52, comes to the post fresh from a stint reviving Ireland’s Aer Lingus....
Portuguese jets will head to Romania for NATO mission in May
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Four Portuguese F-16 fighter jets and 150 Portuguese troops and civilians will be sent to Ukraine neighbor Romania in May and June to participate in NATO aerial policing missions, Romania’s top defense body said Tuesday. The defense body said it has approved a request from Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta to...
US commander: arming Ukraine would boost pressure on Putin
BERLIN (AP) — The commander of U.S. Army Europe says there’s no expectation Ukraine could defeat Russia militarily if given American weapons, but that they would add “muscle” to diplomatic efforts. Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges said Tuesday in Berlin that helping Ukraine with weapons would increase the stakes for Russian President Vladimir Putin at...
Russia troubles hinder Ford, GM efforts to recover in Europe
GENEVA (AP) — Russia’s sinking economy is putting up a major hurdle for Ford Motor Co. and General Motors as the U.S. automakers fight to return to profitability in Europe after years of losses. Karl-Thomas Neumann, CEO of GM’s Adam Opel GmbH subsidiary, said at the Geneva auto show that the Russian market “is basically collapsing.”...
MH17 next of kin finally view wreckage of downed flight
GILZE-RIJEN AIR BASE, Netherlands (AP) — Relatives of those killed when Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was downed over eastern Ukraine visited a Dutch air base Tuesday to view the wreckage of the plane. For almost all of them, it was the first chance to see the twisted and charred wreckage that lay for months in the battlefields of eastern Ukraine...
EU condemns Russia over Nemtsov funeral bans
BRUSSELS (AP) — EU-Russian relations took a further dip on Tuesday when the European Union strongly condemned Moscow for banning Polish and Latvian lawmakers from entering the country to attend the funeral of slain Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov. European Parliament President Martin Schulz called the bans a “high affront” and said he will intervene...
AP PHOTOS: Top pictures from Europe and Africa
LONDON (AP) — As the war between Russia-backed separatists and the Ukraine government still raged in eastern Ukraine, another shocking news story involving Russia developed last week: the killing of Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov on a bridge in Moscow. Russian police have promised a full investigation into the midnight shooting of Nemtsov in...
