Section: KXAN (USA)
Automakers vow not to give up on weak-selling electrics
GENEVA (AP) — Top automakers are vowing not to give up on weak-selling electric vehicles – even as they unveil an array of powerful luxury cars with conventional engines aimed at a growing global automarket. BMW AG CEO Norbert Reithofer said Tuesday at the Geneva International Motor Show that his company cannot do without battery-powered vehicles...
Mourners view body of slain opposition leader Boris Nemtsov
MOSCOW (AP) — Thousands of mourners and dignitaries filed past the white-lined coffin of slain Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov Tuesday, paying last respects to one of the most prominent figures of Russia’s beleaguered opposition. Nemtsov was shot to death late Friday while walking on a bridge near the Kremlin with a companion. No suspects have...
Volkswagen CEO stands by cautious outlook
GENEVA (AP) — The CEO of Volkswagen AG is staying with his cautious outlook for this year, saying it’s a “balanced statement” based on growth in the U.S., Europe and China versus trouble spots such as Russia and Brazil. Martin Winterkorn told The Associated Press that “I think it’s quite a good assessment, as usual we at Volkswagen do...
Polish top senator: Russia banned me from Nemtsov’s funeral
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s Senate speaker said Monday that Russia’s authorities have denied him entry into the country for the funeral of slain Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov. Bogdan Borusewicz — Poland’s leading opposition activist under communism — was to lead a delegation of Polish politicians and lawmakers attending...
Estonian premier aims for coalition talks to create new govt
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Estonia’s prime minister was preparing to form a new government Monday, a day after his ruling Reform Party won parliamentary elections. Taavi Roivas’ center-right group, which includes the Social Democrats, lost seven seats in the vote and now has 45 lawmakers in the 101-seat Parliament, prompting negotiations...
China state media seen stepping-up anti-Western rhetoric
BEIJING (AP) — Western values are a “ticket to hell,” a newspaper published by China’s Communist Party said in a recent editorial that held up Ukraine and some Arab countries as examples of outside ideas causing turmoil. It was the latest colorful example of a rising level of invective targeting critics of the authoritarian government. In...
China state media seen stepping-up anti-Western rhetoric
BEIJING (AP) — Western values are a “ticket to hell,” a newspaper published by China’s Communist Party said in a recent editorial that held up Ukraine and some Arab countries as examples of outside ideas causing turmoil. It was the latest colorful example of a rising level of invective targeting critics of the authoritarian government. In...
Russia, Ukraine hold emergency gas talks as cutoff looms
BRUSSELS (AP) — Russia and Ukraine’s energy ministers are holding emergency talks in Brussels as Russian gas giant Gazprom threatens to cut off deliveries to Ukraine for lack of payment. European Union energy spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said Monday that the EU’s executive Commission will mediate between the sides in an attempt to...
Ukraine’s leader urges peacekeeping mission for the east
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s president has a signed a decree opening the way to a formal request for international peacekeepers to be stationed in eastern regions where government forces are battling Russian-backed separatists. President Petro Poroshenko’s office said Monday the appeal for a contingent of peacekeepers will be...
Tourism thrives in Malaysia despite association with tragedy
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Two airplane catastrophes put Malaysia on the map in a bad way in 2014. But they didn’t hurt the country’s tourism, and the higher visibility may even have helped: visitor numbers had their strongest growth in years. For the past decade, Malaysia has run an elaborate campaign to market itself abroad as an...
