UKRAINE

Calling Republican defense spending plans a "road to nowhere," Defense Secretary Ash Carter appealed on Wednesday for lawmakers to work with him toward a new bipartisan budget deal to provide stable funding for a U.S. military hurt by years of steep cuts.

Fighting has climbed to its most intense level since a truce that never really held was signed in February.

"It’s worth recalling that NATO’s basic task is to protect the security of residents on the territory of the alliance members."

A Malaysia Airlines jet that crashed in Ukraine was hit by a Buk missile, an analysis by Russia's military suggests.

Iraqi civilians suffered the worst displacement in 2014, as at least 2.2 million people fled their homes.

If all goes according to plan, Russia will have a completely revamped military and cybersecurity infrastructure by 2022.

Last year Moldova placed Banca de Economii, Banca Sociala and Unibank under central bank administration after a series of non-performing loans bankrupted the lenders.

Fighting between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists has reached its worst level since February.

The conflict has killed more than 6,000 people on both sides in recent months and displaced a million residents.

In Turkey, Italy, Ukraine and elsewhere, protesters clashed with police over corruption and wasteful spending.

The Chinese navy in the Mediterranean Sea? Yes, to hold joint drills with Russia.

The Scandinavian country takes over the first line of air defense against Russia.

The United States has so far declined to provide weapons to Ukraine, a move that advocates say could help end the conflict.

Russia invited 68 world leaders to attend what is expected to be a spectacular Victory Day parade on May 9, but only 30 are expected to attend.

Government propaganda campaigns and the stifling of political opposition have made for a steady decline in Russian freedoms since 1995.

Russia will produce two new Tu-160s by the end of 2015 and modernize five others, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.

Hundreds of firefighters, supported by trucks and helicopters, are battling the blaze.

"Avengers: Age of Ultron" brings the gang back together for what could be their last adventure together.

It is believed the refusal of entry to the pro-Putin biker gang at the Polish border is tied to violence in East Ukraine and Russian actions in Crimea.

The European Union tells Ukraine to shape up if it wants EU aid in its fight with pro-Russians.

According to European monitors stationed in the Donetsk region, "intense shelling" using large-caliber artillery was seen on Sunday.