Section: San Francisco Chronicle (USA)
Ukraine fighting reaches rebel-held Donetsk
Fighting in eastern Ukraine reached the main rebel stronghold of Donetsk on Tuesday as separatists and government troops exchanged rocket fire in neighborhoods on the edge of the city. The spread of fighting into the city itself marks a decisive turn for the conflict, but one that will arouse fears of an alarming escalation in the humanitarian...
Underground misery at dank Ukraine bomb shelter
Two journalists from The Associated Press joined Donetsk residents who spent the night in the shelter as fighting between government forces and separatist insurgents closed in on the outskirts of the largest rebel-held city. The rebels accuse Ukrainian forces of conducting a brutal bombing campaign against Donetsk; the government denies using...
Russian tourists stranded abroad as crisis deepens
Tour operators, some of whom are among the nation’s oldest, say they have experienced an unprecedented slump in demand, which they blame on the bad political climate and the depreciation of the ruble, which has lost up to 10 percent against the dollar since January. The move, which authorities justified as an attempt to keep government...
Thai surrogate mom would be happy to get twin back
SRI RACHA, Thailand (AP) — A Thai surrogate mother raising a Down syndrome baby she claims was abandoned by his Australian biological parents said Tuesday she would be happy to have the boy’s healthy twin returned to her, especially after learning the father is a convicted sex offender. The Australian government is considering policy...
Ukrainian troops edge closer to rebel city
DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian troops took control of a checkpoint Tuesday on the western edge of the pro-Russian rebel-held city of Donetsk as the government makes further gradual advances to quash separatist forces in the east. The West has also accused Russia of most likely providing the insurgents with surface-to-air missiles that...
Government soldiers cross border into Russia
Ukraine and Western countries have accused Russia of providing the rebels with equipment and expertise, a claim that the Russian government has repeatedly denied. The West has also accused Russia of most likely providing the insurgents with surface-to-air missiles that may have been used to shoot down a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet over...
Germany nixes Russia military simulator deal
BERLIN (AP) — The German government said Monday it has revoked permission for the delivery of a field exercise simulator to the Russian military, blocking a deal it had already put on hold and going beyond a European Union arms embargo that allows existing contracts to be fulfilled. Defense and auto parts company Rheinmetall AG’s...
Interfax: Russia starts air force drills
MOSCOW (AP) — Interfax says Russia’s air force has started military drills in central and western regions of the country, a move that could spark further fears that Moscow is ready to flex its military muscle in neighboring Ukraine. The drills will start Monday and last through Friday, air force chief Igor Klimov was reported as...
More belongings found at Ukraine disaster site
Speaking from the Ukrainian capital Kiev, Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg said 88 experts Sunday searched an area of six square kilometers (2 square miles) near the village of Rozsypne in the fields where the plane’s wreckage is scattered. …read more Source: San Francisco...
Remains from Ukraine crash site sent to Kharkiv
The trucks carried remains and personal belongings found during the first two days of a search aimed at finding those overlooked by local emergency workers after the plane carrying 298 people was shot down July 17. …read more Source: San Francisco...
