Section: KXAN (USA)
74 pct of Russians would vote Putin for next term _ pollster
MOSCOW (AP) — The latest research by a state-run polling agency says 74 percent of Russians would vote for President Vladimir Putin if he runs for the post again in 2018. Putin was elected in 2012 for his third term in office amid massive anti-government protests. His approval ratings skyrocketed after Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula in...
Imprisoned Ukrainian pilot threatens to go on hunger strike
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — The sister of an imprisoned Ukrainian pilot on trial in Russia says her sibling will go on hunger strike unless she is extradited back home after the verdict. Closing arguments in the trial of Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko begin on Wednesday with the verdict expected to follow shortly. Savchenko, who then fought in a...
Russian warplanes sit idle on Syria base during cease-fire
HEMEIMEEM AIR BASE, Syria (AP) — Dozens of Russian warplanes sat idle Tuesday on the tarmac at this Russian air base in Syria on the fourth day of a cease-fire brokered by Moscow and Washington. The apparent lull in action witnessed by the AP on a trip to the base, which was organized by the Russian defense and foreign ministries, contrasts with...
Russian warplanes sit idle on Syria base during cease-fire
HEMEIMEEM AIR BASE, Syria (AP) — Dozens of Russian warplanes sat idle Tuesday on the tarmac at this Russian air base in Syria on the fourth day of a cease-fire brokered by Moscow and Washington. The apparent lull in action witnessed by the AP on a trip to the base, which was organized by the Russian defense and foreign ministries, contrasts with...
The Latest: Hungary’s Orban orders fence on Romanian border
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Latest on Europe’s immigration crisis. (all times local): 5 p.m. Hungary’s prime minister says he has ordered the country’s interior and defense ministers to begin preparing defenses along the border with Romania to prevent migrants from entering. Prime Minister Viktor Orban says Sunday that “if...
Ukraine: Uptick in fighting in Donbas area
MOSCOW (AP) — Officials in Ukraine say that Russia-backed rebels in the eastern part of the country violated a fragile cease-fire agreement and used heavy mortar launchers to fire on Ukrainian forces. The fighting in eastern Ukraine comes after the German and French foreign ministers visited Kiev and appealed to Ukraine’s leaders to push...
German, French foreign ministers anxious about Ukraine
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — The foreign ministers of France and Germany, on a visit to the Ukrainian capital, are expressing concern about political tensions that are impeding reform efforts, and about the persisting conflict in eastern Ukraine. The two countries have been key in trying to resolve the fighting between Russian-backed separatists and...
France, Germany push Ukraine to implement reforms
BERLIN (AP) — Germany and France are pushing for Ukraine to move ahead with reforms needed in order to implement the year-old Minsk peace agreement. Speaking at Berlin’s Tegel airport before flying together to Kiev, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault said Monday they hoped Ukraine could...
Ukraine picks Crimean Tatar for Eurovision singing contest
MOSCOW (AP) — Ukrainians have chosen a Crimean Tatar singer and her song about the mass deportation of Tatars under Josef Stalin as the country’s entry for this year’s Eurovision song contest. Susana Jamaladinova, who performs under the stage name Jamala, was chosen Sunday night. Her song “1944” refers to the year in which Stalin...
Ukrainian nationalist activists set up tents on Maidan
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — About 100 nationalist activists have set up tents in central Kiev to press their calls for ousting the Ukrainian government brought to power two years ago following months of protests. They were joined by around 200 others in an anti-government protest Sunday on Independence Square, known as Maidan. Others came to Maidan to...
