Section: KXAN (USA)
Belarus: Leader threatens to expel media over election news
MINSK, Belarus (AP) — The longtime leader of Belarus warned Thursday that Western media could be expelled from the country over what he described as their “tendentious” coverage of the presidential election next month in which he is seeking a sixth term. President Alexander Lukashenko, 65 became the first president of Belarus 26 years ago and has...
Police: Armed man holding some 20 people hostage in Ukraine
LUTSK, Ukraine (AP) — An armed man seized a bus and took some 20 people hostage in northwestern Ukraine on Tuesday, Ukrainian police said. Police sealed off the center of Lutsk, a city 400 kilometers (250 miles) west of Kyiv,. The assailant is armed and carrying explosives, they said in a Facebook statement. Police officers are trying to get in...
Putin attends keel-laying of new warships in annexed Crimea
MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s President Vladimir Putin pledged Monday to continue an ambitious program of building new warships on a trip to Crimea, which Russia has annexed from Ukraine. Speaking during the keel-laying of two landing vessels at a shipyard in Kerch, Putin said that Russia needs a strong navy to defend its interests and “help...
Dutch government to take Russia to European court over MH17
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The Dutch government is taking Russia to the European Court of Human Rights for its alleged role in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine six years ago, the foreign minister announced Friday. The move is intended to support individual cases being brought to the European court by...
Russian court fines coronavirus-denying rebel monk
MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian court on Tuesday fined a coronavirus-denying monk who has challenged Kremlin lockdown orders for spreading false information about the pandemic. The court in the Ural Mountains region ordered Father Sergiy to pay 90,000 rubles ($1,250). The 65-year-old monk, who has attracted nationwide attention by urging followers to...
In Russia and Ukraine, no social distance on crowded beaches
SOCHI, Russia (AP) — Tens of thousands of vacation-goers in Russia and Ukraine have descended on Black Sea beaches, paying little heed to public health measures despite the numbers of reported coronavirus cases remaining high in both countries. Desperate for a break from the confinement of months-long lockdowns, few wear masks or try to maintain...
Ukraine’s parliament accepts chief banker’s resignation
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s parliament on Friday accepted the resignation of the country’s top banker, who has stepped down citing political pressure. National Bank head Yakiv Smolii submitted his letter of resignation Wednesday, pointing at “systematic political pressure” as the reason for his decision. Ukrainian President...
EU prolongs sanctions against Russia over Ukraine conflict
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union on Monday prolonged economic sanctions against Russia for six months for failing to live up to its commitments to the peace agreement in Ukraine. The measures target Russia’s financial, energy and defense sectors, as well as goods that can be used for both civilian and military purposes They are part of a...
Trump denies he was briefed about reported Russian bounties on US troops
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has denied that he was made aware of U.S. intelligence officials’ conclusions that Russia secretly offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing American troops in Afghanistan. The Trump administration was set to brief select members of Congress on the matter on Monday. The intelligence...
Residents of eastern Ukraine vote on extending Putin’s rule
DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) — Residents of separatist-controlled regions in eastern Ukraine who have Russian citizenship are travelling to Russia to vote on constitutional amendments that would allow President Vladimir Putin to remain in power until 2036. Authorities of the self-proclaimed Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics have organized bus...
