MILAN (AP) — Edoardo Ronzoni inspects a construction site near Milan that he shut down in March as costs for materials skyrocketed. He can’t complete a half-built roundabout at an intersection known for fender-benders because asphalt, cast-iron pipes and concrete are too expensive — prices exacerbated by Russia’s war in Ukraine. Public works projects in […]
Yellen’s global tax plan meets resistance abroad and at home
KOENIGSWINTER, Germany (AP) — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen celebrated a “historic day” last summer when more than 100 nations agreed to a global minimum tax deal, aimed at putting the world’s countries on a more equal footing in attracting and keeping multinational companies. President Joe Biden tweeted that the idea was “diplomacy reshaping our global […]
US, S Korean leaders meet in face of N Korea nuclear threat
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — When the U.S. and South Korean leaders meet Saturday, North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile program, already a major focus, may receive extra attention if intelligence predictions of an imminent major weapons demonstration by the North, which is struggling with a COVID-19 outbreak, are right. What’s less clear, however, is […]
West rushes more aid as Mariupol teeters and fighting rages
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The West moved to pour billions more in aid into Ukraine on Friday, as Russia shifted forces freed up by the imminent fall of the pulverized port city of Mariupol and fighting raged in the country’s industrial heartland in the east. Ukraine said its troops repelled a Russian attack in the […]
Mining companies back away from Brazil’s Indigenous areas
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Some of the world’s biggest mining companies have withdrawn requests to research and extract minerals on Indigenous land in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest, and have repudiated Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s efforts to legalize mining activity in the areas. The Brazilian Mining Association (Ibram), which represents around 130 companies, conducted an internal […]
EXPLAINER: What might happen to 100s of Ukrainian POWs?
GENEVA (AP) — Breaking its recent silence on prisoners of war, the Red Cross said Thursday it has registered “hundreds” of Ukrainian prisoners of war who left the giant Azovstal steel plant in the southern city of Mariupol after holding out in a weeks-long standoff with besieging Russian forces. The announcement by the International Committee […]
Ukrainian troops surrendering at Mariupol registered as POWs
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The fate of hundreds of Ukrainian fighters who surrendered after holding out against punishing attacks on Mariupol’s steel factory hung in the balance Thursday, amid international fears that the Russians may take reprisals against the prisoners. The International Committee of the Red Cross gathered personal information from hundreds of the soldiers […]
EU’s Russia sanctions effort slows over oil dependency
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s efforts to impose a new round of sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine appeared to bog down on Monday, as a small group of countries continued to oppose a ban on Russian oil imports. Since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, the 27-nation bloc has implemented five […]
Turkey objects as Sweden, Finland seek NATO membership
STOCKHOLM (AP) — Turkey´s president on Monday complicated Sweden and Finland´s historic bid to join NATO, saying he cannot allow them to become members of the alliance because of their perceived inaction against exiled Kurdish militants. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan doubled down on comments last week indicating that the two Nordic countries´ path to NATO […]
Ukraine: More than 260 fighters evacuated from Mariupol mill
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — More than 260 Ukrainian fighters, including some who are badly wounded, were evacuated Monday from a steel plant in the ruined city of Mariupol and taken to areas under Russia’s control, the Ukrainian military said. Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said 53 seriously wounded fighters were taken to a hospital in […]