Section: San Francisco Chronicle (USA)
France says EU to move to increase sanctions on Russia
BRUSSELS (AP) — France says European Union sanctions against separatists in eastern Ukraine and their Russian backers will be reinforced in an attempt to force all sides back to the negotiating table. French European Affairs Minister Harlem Desir said ahead of Thursday’s meeting of EU foreign ministers that the bloc needs “the maximum...
Greek bailout in focus as EU parliament head visits Athens
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The European Parliament’s president arrived in Athens Thursday for a visit closely watched for signs of a potential clash between Greece’s new left-wing government and its bailout lenders. Martin Schulz is the first European Union official to meet Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, whose new Cabinet alarmed the Greek...
Russia suspends role in Europe’s human rights watchdog
STRASBOURG, France (AP) — The head of Russia’s delegation to Europe’s human rights watchdog says the country will suspend its role after losing its right to vote. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on Wednesday voted to renew sanctions against Russia, which included stripping its voting rights over the conflict in...
Ukraine rebels claim new key victory is within grasp
DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) — Separatist forces in eastern Ukraine said Wednesday they have almost fully encircled government forces in a town that hosts a strategic railway hub, putting them within grasp of a decisive new victory. Debaltseve is one of multiple flashpoints that have flared up across eastern Ukraine since the start of the month, when...
Lavrov: Syrian meeting in Moscow should help peace
MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s foreign minister says Moscow consultations between representatives of the Syrian government and the opposition should help pave the way for a peaceful settlement. Russia, which has staunchly backed Syrian President Bashar Assad throughout the nearly four-year civil war, hoped that hosting the consultations could help...
Russia considers condemning “annexation” of East Germany
Sergei Naryshkin earlier this week faced scathing criticism of Russia’s annexation of Crimean peninsula when he spoke at the Parliament Assembly of Europe. Russian news agencies say Communist deputy Nikolai Ivanov on Wednesday proposed a resolution to condemn what he called the “annexation” of East Germany in 1990. …read...
Russian govt proposes spending cuts in view of crisis
Russia’s economy has been battered by lower energy prices, a collapse in the value of the ruble and Western sanctions over its involvement in Ukraine. Speaking at the upper house of the Russian parliament, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said that the government does not expect oil prices to go back to $100 a barrel so “we and our...
News of the day from across the globe, Jan. 28
Russia accused the United States of having no evidence against three Russian citizens charged with spying and says the Americans are using the charges for political purposes. U.S. prosecutors said the defendants were directed to gather sensitive economic intelligence on potential U.S. sanctions against Russian banks and U.S. efforts to develop...
Ukraine moves to shut Russian-backed rebels out of talks
KIEV, Ukraine — The Ukrainian parliament on Tuesday declared the Russia-backed separatist republics in the east to be terrorist organizations, formally eliminating the possibility of holding peace talks with their representatives, as fighting escalated. The move came after Russian President Vladimir Putin pushed the Ukrainian government to speak...
Putin marks Auschwitz liberation to press points on Ukraine
Putin, who was absent from Tuesday’s commemorations in Poland because of a deep strain between Russia and the West over Ukraine, visited the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center in Moscow where he talked about Ukrainian nationalists’ collaboration with the Nazis in killing Jews during World War II. …read more Source: San Francisco...
