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Ukraine closes all schools to fight swine flu; Some observers see political overtones

Ukraine closes all schools to fight swine flu

Poll reveals generation gap on democracy, capitalism in ex-communist European countries

Poll: generation gap in Eastern Europe on politics

WHO experts visit Ukraine as country erupts in swine flu panic; Some see political overtones

Ukraine in panic over swine flu; WHO team visits

Lavrov, EU leaders talks focus on improving bilateral ties, gas supplies

BRUSSELS — Talks between the European Union and Russia are on track to conclude a new partnership and cooperation agreement to replace the one that expired last year, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Monday.

AP Interview: A fresh face among Ukraine’s warring leaders vows to break political deadlock

KIEV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s youngest leading presidential hopeful says he flies economy class, vows not to take advice from either Moscow or Washington and promises to fight corruption with “a truncheon in my hands.”

Reports: Russia warns US missile-defense talks with non-NATO nations

MOSCOW — A top Russian diplomat suggested Thursday that the U.S. should not talk with non-NATO nations about a prospective missile shield, Russian news agencies reported.

IMF efforts to help E. Europe weather the recession run into political turbulence

LONDON — The International Monetary Fund is facing key political crunch points in its dealings across Eastern Europe even though it has done much to lose its previous reputation as an advocate of austerity.

Mich. man fighting deportation denies shooting Jews as part of WWII Ukrainian police unit

DETROIT — An 88-year-old retired auto engineer told a judge Tuesday that he never shot Jews while serving in a Nazi-controlled police force during World War II, during an initial hearing over whether the government can deport him.

Ukraine president oversees naval exercises off tense Crimea peninsula

KIEV, Ukraine — Ukraine sent hundreds of troops, five ships and 15 aircraft into the Black Sea region Thursday for day-long military drills off its Crimean peninsula, a potential flashpoint with Russia.

Ukraine’s Naftogaz indicates default on $500 million bonds, but restructuring likely

KIEV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s debt-laden state energy company Naftogaz on Thursday effectively defaulted on its $500 million Eurobond issue after it failed to make a payment on time, but a deal on restructuring the debt was expected soon.

Kiev marks 68th anniversary of Babi Yar Nazi massacre with new monument

KIEV, Ukraine — Stone-faced Nazi soldiers wielding rifles marched Kiev’s sobbing Jews to be killed in the Babi Yar ravine as passers-by held back tears in a dramatic theatrical performance meant to mark the anniversary of the massacre Tuesday.

Ukraine’s Yushchenko asks Russia to hand over key figures in his dioxin poisoning

KIEV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has urged Russia to turn over important figures in his nearly lethal dioxin poisoning five years ago.

Official: Kiev scraps plans to build hotel near site of Babi Yar massacre

KIEV, Ukraine — Kiev authorities have scrapped a widely criticized plan to build a hotel near what experts say was a killing field used by Nazis during the Babi Yar massacre, officials said Monday.

Ukraine: Jewish groups protest Kiev plans for hotel at Babi Yar, site of Holocaust massacre

KIEV, Ukraine — Jewish groups condemned Thursday a plan by authorities in the Ukrainian capital to build a hotel on what a leading scholar said was a killing field in the Babi Yar massacre, a horrific chapter of the Holocaust.

AP Interview: Ukraine leader Yushchenko optimistic about NATO membership, re-election chances

NEW YORK — Ukraine President Viktor Yushchenko says he is optimistic that his country will join NATO, declaring the tide of public opinion in the former Soviet republic is swinging in favor of membership in the Western military alliance.

Analysis: US missile move gives Russia what it wants; will Kremlin offer anything in return?

MOSCOW — The Kremlin got exactly what it wanted when the United States scrapped plans for missile defenses on Russia’s borders.

Ukraine: Elton John too old, too single to adopt HIV-infected boy from Ukrainian orphanage

KIEV, Ukraine — Elton John won’t be able to adopt a 14-month-old HIV-positive child from Ukraine because the pop star is too old and isn’t married, the government said Monday.

Ukraine family minister says Elton John can’t adopt HIV-infected boy

KIEV, Ukraine — A Ukrainian official says Elton John cannot adopt a 14-month-old Ukrainian child because the pop star is too old and isn’t married.

Elton John wants to adopt Ukrainian toddler with his partner David Furnish

LONDON — Look out, Madonna and Angelina Jolie — pop star Elton John has decided he wants to join the ranks of A-list celebrities with adopted children.

Ukraine’s political chaos deepens ahead of January presidential vote

KIEV, Ukraine — The lawmaker strode through parliament, smiling politely and clutching a chair — his contribution to a barricade designed to paralyze proceedings.

Kremlin bill on using military force abroad clears preliminary hurdle

MOSCOW — A Kremlin bill expanding the legal reasons for using military force abroad won a quick preliminary approval in the lower house of parliament Wednesday.

Russia’s chief rabbi condemns Ukrainian mayor accused of anti-Semitic remarks

KIEV, Ukraine — Jewish leaders in Ukraine and Russia on Thursday condemned the mayor of a Ukrainian city who called a presidential hopeful “an impudent little Jew,” and Russia’s chief rabbi said he would travel there in a show of support for the local Jewish community.

Mich. man facing possible deportation because of alleged ties to Nazis says he shot no one

TROY, Mich. — Crying on his front porch, an 88-year-old Michigan man targeted for deportation firmly denied shooting anyone when he was a member of a Nazi-controlled police force during World War II.

Ukraine’s president rejects Russian criticism, says Russia to blame for strained ties

KIEV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko on Thursday rejected sharp criticism from his Russian counterpart, saying the Kremlin is to blame for a downturn in bilateral ties.