Section: KXAN (USA)
Ukraine: cutting graft top priority to reach new bailout
DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — Ukraine’s head of reforms says that tackling corruption is the country’s top priority as it tries to convince its international rescue creditors to give it more loans. The economy and public finances of Ukraine have been drained by uncertainty over the country’s future amid a war in its eastern region....
10 reported killed in rocket fire on Mariupol in Ukraine
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian officials say the strategically important coastal city of Mariupol has come under rocket fire, and one says 10 people were killed. Mariupol lies on the Azov Sea and is the major city between mainland Russia and the Russia-annexed Crimean Peninsula. Heavy fighting in the region in the autumn raised fears that...
Top official: Russians will ‘eat less’ for Putin
DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, on Friday warned the West against trying to topple President Vladimir Putin and said that Russians are ready to sacrifice their wealth in Putin’s support. Russia has for the past year been sliding into recession amid a slump...
Ukraine rebels say 24 fighters killed by rockets at airport
DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) — Russian-backed separatists in east Ukraine say 24 of their fighters have been killed in a rocket attack on the recently captured airport outside their main stronghold city of Donetsk. Rebel defense spokesman Eduard Basurin said the terminal was targeted by Ukrainian government forces Friday with Uragan multiple rocket...
DAVOS WATCH: Anxiety over Greece, currency wars, QE support
DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — The World Economic Forum held in the Swiss ski resort of Davos has the official goal of “improving the state of the world.” In practice, it’s a massive networking event that brings together 2,500 heads of state, business leaders, philanthropists and artists. Here are some glimpses of what’s happening and...
Ukrainian forces almost defeated at Donetsk airport
DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian forces have all but abandoned Donetsk airport after months of bitter battle, although military officials continue to insist they hold part of the terminal. The Defense Ministry said Thursday that six soldiers had died over the previous day of fighting for the airport, which lies on the northern edge of the...
As new flashpoint emerges, Russian FM backs withdrawing heavy weaponry from Ukraine front line
MOSCOW (AP) — Separatist forces in eastern Ukraine are sending large quantities of arms and manpower to an emerging flashpoint, undermining hopes for a new peace initiative taking shape. The deployment of Russian-backed separatists to a tense checkpoint area northwest of the rebel-held city of Luhansk (loo-HAHNSK’) has prompted...
Ukraine president points to Russian hand in conflict
DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — Ukraine’s president is courting European support against what he says are 9,000 Russian troops occupying 7 percent of his nation’s territory. Addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday, President Petro Poroshenko held up a piece of a bullet-riddled bus as evidence of shelling last week by...
Russian FM pledges cooperation with West to combat terror
MOSCOW (AP) — Moscow is continuing to cooperate with the West on fighting terrorism despite tensions over Ukraine, Russia’s foreign minister said Wednesday. Sergey Lavrov said that in particular Russian security agencies have maintained contacts with their counterparts in France, where five Russian citizens from the predominantly Muslim...
EU court upholds Syria sanctions against Assad relative
BRUSSELS (AP) — A top European Union court has upheld sanctions imposed on the uncle of Syrian President Bashar Assad, including an asset freeze and visa ban. The EU’s General Court in Luxembourg on Wednesday dismissed the Syrian’s appeal to have his name removed of a list of close associates against whom the 28-nation EU imposed...
