Finland will close its entire border with Russia over migrant concerns

HELSINKI (AP) — Finland said Tuesday it will close its last remaining border crossing with Russia amid concerns that Moscow is using migrants as part of “hybrid warfare” to destabilize the Nordic country following its entry into NATO. Finland already had shut seven of the eight...

U.S. gas prices have fallen or remained steady for 10 weeks straight. Here's why

NEW YORK (AP) — It's not just you. Across the U.S., prices at the pump have felt milder in recent months. Gas prices have fallen or remained steady since September 19 — marking about a 70-day trajectory of decline, Andrew Gross, spokesperson for motor club AAA, told The...

Latvia's chief diplomat pursues NATO's top job, saying a clear vision on Russia is needed

BRUSSELS (AP) — Latvia’s foreign minister on Tuesday staked his claim to the top job at NATO, saying that the military organization needs a consensus builder who is committed to higher defense spending and has a clear vision of how to deal with Russia. NATO is likely to name a...

Putin accuses the West of trying to 'dismember and plunder' Russia in a ranting speech

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, in a ranting speech before a presidential election campaign, cast Moscow's military action in Ukraine as an existential battle against purported attempts by the West to destroy Russia. Putin, who has been in power for more...

Finland’s prime minister says the country will close its entire border with Russia

Russian court extends detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Gershkovich until end of January

MOSCOW (AP) — A court in Moscow on Tuesday extended the detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, arrested on espionage charges, until Jan. 30, Russian news agencies reported. The hearing took place behind closed doors because authorities say details of the...

Tornadoes forecast in the Black Sea region as storm reportedly impacts Russian military operations

Tornadoes were forecast for the Black Sea region on Tuesday, a day after a storm that left more than 2 million people without electricity in Crimea, Russia and Ukraine. A think tank said that the weather also impacted Russian military operations. The storm killed at least 14 people...

Ukraine has a new way to get its grain to the world despite Russia's threat in the Black Sea

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Grain thunders into rail cars and trucks zip around a storage facility in central Ukraine, a place that growing numbers of companies turned to as they struggled to export their food to people facing hunger around the world. Now, more of the grain is getting...

Putin signs Russia's largest national budget, bolstering military spending

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed a national budget for the next three years that increases spending by around 25% and reportedly devotes a record amount to defense as the the country's military operation in Ukraine drags on. The budget foresees...

Powerful storm pounds the Black Sea region, leaving more than a half-million people without power

A weekend storm that pounded the Black Sea region toppled trees, tore down power lines and flooded coastal areas of southern Russia and Ukraine, leaving more than a half-million people without power Monday, officials and media reports said. The Moscow region, meanwhile, was blanketed...