Section: San Francisco Chronicle (USA)
New Russian military doctrine says NATO top threat
MOSCOW (AP) — President Vladimir Putin has signed a new military doctrine that describes NATO’s military buildup near the Russian borders as the top military threat amid Russia-West tensions over Ukraine. …read more Source: San Francisco...
Ukraine cuts train and bus services to Crimea
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine has suspended train and bus services to the Russia-annexed Crimean Peninsula, citing security concerns. In a separate statement, the Infrastructure Ministry issued a directive to bus companies to stop bus services to Crimea starting Friday. …read more Source: San Francisco...
Talks on Ukraine settlement break down
The opening round was held on Wednesday, one day after Ukraine’s decision to drop its non-aligned status, which added a new element of tension to the attempts to resolve the violent crisis in the country. …read more Source: San Francisco...
Pope Francis focuses on plight of children in Christmas address
Pope Francis on Thursday used a traditional Christmas address to emphasize the plight of children in areas of conflict, pointing out their “impotent silence” that “cries out under the spade of many Herods,” a reference to the ancient king who slaughtered all the male newborns of Bethlehem, according to the New Testament. In calling for global...
Pope wishes Christmas hope and peace for Mideast
VATICAN CITY (AP) — A somber Pope Francis steeped his Christmas message to the world Thursday in sadness for those with little cause for joy — abused children, refugees, hostages and others suffering from violence in the Middle East, Africa, Ukraine and elsewhere. Anguish for children who suffer maltreatment or violence, including in the recent...
Text of pope’s Christmas Day message
Today I ask him, the Savior of the world, to look upon our brothers and sisters in Iraq and Syria, who for too long now have suffered the effects of ongoing conflict, and who, together with those belonging to other ethnic and religious groups, are suffering a brutal persecution. May Christmas bring them hope, as indeed also to the many displaced...
Ukraine peace talks conclude in Minsk without agreement
MINSK, Belarus — Talks aimed at reaching a stable cease-fire in Ukraine between its government forces and pro-Russian armed groups ended Wednesday after more than five hours, with no indication of progress and questions about when the next round might take place. The opening session occurred in the Belarusian capital, one day after...
Ukraine peace talks start in Minsk
MINSK, Belarus (AP) — Peace talks aimed at reaching a stable cease-fire in Ukraine between its government forces and pro-Russian armed groups began on Wednesday, with the discussions to include a pullout of heavy weapons and an exchange of war prisoners. Previous rounds of peace talks in September produced a cease-fire and an agreement to pull...
Russia’s central bank to help companies meet debts
The hope is that it will provide relief to those who can’t tap foreign capital markets to refinance loans because of Western sanctions. The move is the latest in a series of efforts by the Central Bank to ease the selling pressure on the ruble, which has been one of the world’s worst-performing currencies this year as a result of the...
Russia: NATO pushed Kiev to drop nonaligned status
MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian deputy defense minister says NATO members pushed Ukraine toward dropping its nonaligned status. Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said Wednesday unidentified NATO members had pushed Ukraine to make the move in a bid to turn it into a “forward line for confronting Russia.” …read more Source: San...
