What the credit downgrade to ‘junk’ means for Russia
By NATALIYA VASILYEVA Russia has seen its credit grade cut to “junk” status for the first time in over a decade, a big blow for a country that wants to…
Vladimir Putin
Russia appeals for calm as crisis forces it to cut budget
By JAMES ELLINGWORTH and VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV Russian government officials appealed for calm on Wednesday after predicting budget cuts and a further surge in inflation as the country faces its worst…
Merkel urges Putin, Poroshenko to implement peace plan
By KIRSTEN GRIESHABER German Chancellor Angela Merkel told the leaders of Russia and Ukraine that she’s not ready to take part in a four-way summit over the Ukraine conflict unless…
Hunt for 2 in French shooting that killed 12; 1 surrenders
By JAMEY KEATEN and ELAINE GANLEY One man sought in the deadly shooting at a French satirical paper has turned himself in, and police hunted Thursday for two heavily armed…
12 dead in terror attack on Paris paper; manhunt for gunmen
Masked gunmen shouting “Allahu akbar!” stormed the Paris offices of a satirical newspaper Wednesday, killing 12 people, including the paper’s editor, before escaping in a getaway car. It was France’s…
Russia bails out bank following ruble slide
By NATALIYA VASILYEVA Russia has bailed out a mid-sized bank for about $500 million to save it from bankruptcy— a clear sign that the slide in the value of the…
Obama says US can influence new generation in Cuba
President Barack Obama said his plan to normalize relations with Cuba gives the U.S. a chance to influence events at an important moment of change for the communist nation, and…
Putin: Russia military modernization plan to go on
President Vladimir Putin says Russia will continue its ambitious military modernization program with a particular emphasis on nuclear strategic forces. Speaking at Friday’s meeting with top military brass, Putin said…