Section: KXAN (USA)
After 1,192 days, Brazil mega-event run ends at Paralympics
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — After 1,192 days, Brazil’s run of hosting mega-sports events came to an end Sunday at the Paralympic Games. It began with soccer’s Confederations Cup in 2013, extended to the 2014 World Cup, ran through IOC President Thomas Bach’s goodbye speech last month at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, and finished with...
Protesters block Russian embassy in Kiev on election day
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Dozens of right-wing activists are blocking the entrance to Russia’s embassy in the Ukrainian capital, where a polling station has been set up for Russian citizens who wish to vote in their country’s parliamentary elections. One demonstrator has been detained in a scuffle with police. A leader of the nationalist...
Both sides report violations of cease-fire in Ukraine
MOSCOW (AP) — Separatist rebels and government troops are both reporting violations of a cease-fire that was supposed to begin in eastern Ukraine at midnight on Wednesday. Rebels on Tuesday declared a unilateral cease-fire, and the visiting German foreign minister said the following day Ukraine had also agreed to observe the truce. Russian state...
In long and bloody Syria war, this truce may be different
BEIRUT (AP) — Five years of failed efforts to quell the fighting in Syria have persuaded many observers that the war, inconclusive and catastrophic on a historic scale, may not be resolvable. A truce earlier this year took effect, soon started to fray, then vanished. But some things are different this week as a cease-fire brokered by the United...
French, German ministers in Ukraine to revive peace deal
MOSCOW (AP) — French and German foreign ministers are visiting Ukraine to shore up a 2015 peace deal that has floundered amid continuing fighting in eastern Ukraine. Jean-Marc Ayrault and Frank-Walter Steinmeier met with Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko Wednesday to discuss ways to secure a durable cease-fire and implement the political...
Chinese dominate medal count at Paralympics
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — At the Riocentro Pavilion 2, the only sound in the table tennis arena was a steady tapping as the two competitors in the gold medal match struggled for points. On one side of the table was Xue Juan. On the other, Li Qian. Both Chinese Paralympians in wheelchairs. Their match was one of two to decide a gold medal on Monday...
Ukrainian rebel leader announces unilateral cease-fire
MOSCOW (AP) — The separatist leader in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday announced a unilateral cease-fire starting at midnight Wednesday, which could be a major step in solving the conflict that has been raging for more than two years. The conflict between Russian-backed separatist rebels and Ukrainian government troops has killed more than 9,500...
Germany, French FMs planning to visit Ukraine next week
BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his French counterpart are planning to visit Ukraine next week to discuss solutions to the conflict in the east of the country. A German diplomat confirmed the planned visit by Steinmeier and France’s Jean-Marc Ayrault, which was first reported Friday by Russian news...
Putin’s popularity: the envy of other politicians
MOSCOW (AP) — Donald Trump’s statement that Russian President Vladimir Putin enjoys an 82 percent approval rating among his people wasn’t hyperbole. Russia’s two main polling agencies consistently give the man in the Kremlin ratings that would be the envy of Trump or his rival in the U.S. presidential election, Hillary Clinton....
Moldova: separatist leader says region should join Russia
CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — The television channel of the Trans-Dniester separatist region of Moldova says the region’s leader has signed a decree saying it should join Russia, in line with the results of a referendum a decade ago. In 2006, some 97 percent of residents of Trans-Dniester, which split from Moldova in 1990, voted to join Russia....
