Section: KXAN (USA)
Russian govt details spending cuts in view of crisis
MOSCOW (AP) — The Russian government, facing its worst economic crisis in a decade, on Wednesday detailed how it intends to cut spending over the next three years in all parts of the economy except military and social programs. Russia’s economy has been battered by lower energy prices, a collapse in the value of the ruble and Western...
Australian leader vows to consult more widely on knighthoods
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s prime minister on Wednesday promised to consult more widely before bestowing knighthoods in the future as he weathered an avalanche of criticisms over his decision to make the husband of Queen Elizabeth II an Australian knight. Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s announcement that the Duke of Edinburgh...
Obama, Merkel discuss increased violence in Ukraine
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AP) — The White House says President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have spoken about their concern over the “significant increase in violence” in eastern Ukraine. The leaders spoke by phone Tuesday as Obama traveled back to the U.S. from a trip to India and Saudi Arabia. Air Force One stopped briefly...
Ukraine moves to shut Russia-backed rebels out of talks
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — The Ukrainian parliament on Tuesday declared the Russia-backed separatist republics in the east to be terrorist organizations, formally eliminating the possibility of holding peace talks with their representatives, as fighting escalated. The move came after Russian President Vladimir Putin pushed the Ukrainian government to...
Putin marks Auschwitz liberation to press points on Ukraine
MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has used the commemorations marking the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz to press the Russian points on Ukraine. Putin, who was absent from Tuesday’s commemorations in Poland because of a deep strain between Russia and the West over Ukraine, visited the Jewish Museum and...
Dutch judge approves hacking suspect’s extradition to US
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A Dutch judge on Tuesday approved the extradition to the U.S. of a Russian suspected of involvement in a multimillion-dollar computer hack. The ruling at The Hague District Court clears the way for Vladimir Drinkman to be sent to New Jersey, where he is one of four Russians and a Ukrainian charged in a sophisticated...
Moscow court refuses to lift Navalny’s house arrest
MOSCOW (AP) — The Moscow City Court has refused to lift the house arrest of anti-corruption campaigner and leading opposition figure Alexei Navalny. Navalny was convicted in late December of fraud and given a 3 1/2 -year suspended sentence, but was ordered to remain under house arrest until his appeals were exhausted. Navalny claimed this was...
Russia announces anti-crisis plan after rating downgrade
MOSCOW (AP) — After a top ratings agency cut Russia’s credit grade to “junk” status, the government in Moscow on Tuesday announced a plan that will see the economy return to a budget surplus in 2017. Standard & Poor’s downgraded Russia’s rating to BB-plus late on Monday, a non-investment grade, for the first time since...
EU leaders threaten more anti-Russian sanctions over Ukraine
BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders are threatening fresh sanctions against Russia because of what it sees as “growing support” of Moscow for separatists in eastern Ukraine during intensified fighting over the past days. In Tuesday’s rare joint declaration outside their regular summit meetings, the 28 leaders asked an extraordinary...
Leaders mark Auschwitz liberation 70 years on without Putin
OSWIECIM, Poland (AP) — Holocaust survivors and world leaders are preparing to mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz by the Soviet Red Army, but Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be among those present. Poland apparently snubbed Putin, failing to send him an invitation. Poland’s government is extremely critical of...
