Section: San Francisco Chronicle (USA)
Dutch sleuth hopes for breakthrough in biggest US art heist
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A Dutch art sleuth whose search for purloined paintings and sculptures has led to Ukrainian militiamen and Nazi memorabilia collectors has joined the hunt for what he calls the “Holy Grail”: A collection worth $500 million that represents the largest art heist in U.S. history. Arthur Brand thinks a...
Gung-ho culture at tour agency Warmbier used on N.Korea trip
Saint Patrick’s Day pub crawls in Pyongyang featuring drinking games with cheery locals. Since 2008, the Young Pioneer Tours agency built up a business attracting young travelers with a competitively priced catalog of exotic-sounding, hard-partying adventures in one of the world’s most isolated countries. […] the death on Monday...
News of the day from across the globe, June 21
Fighting between government forces and rebels in Ukraine’s industrial heartland has killed more than 10,000 people and displaced more than 1 million since it began in 2014. The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a resolution Wednesday welcoming the deployment of a 5,000-strong force from five countries in Africa’s vast Sahel...
Ukrainian government, separatists agree on new cease-fire
Darka Olifer, spokeswoman for Ukrainian government envoy Leonid Kuchma at talks with separatist rebels, said Wednesday they agreed to a cease-fire in the east starting Saturday to allow residents to begin harvesting crops. …read more Source: San Francisco...
The Latest: Russia-US meeting canceled over sanctions
Russia’s deputy foreign minister says he has cancelled upcoming talks with the U.S. undersecretary of state over a new round of U.S. sanctions against Russia. The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it has imposed sanctions on 38 Russian individuals and firms over Russia’s activities in Ukraine. The Russian Foreign Ministry on...
Gung-ho culture at Warmbier’s tour agency on N. Korea trip
Saint Patrick’s Day pub crawls in Pyongyang featuring drinking games with cheery locals. Since 2008, the Young Pioneer Tours agency built up a business attracting young travelers with a competitively priced catalog of exotic-sounding, hard-partying adventures in one of the world’s most isolated countries. […] the death last week...
Russia regrets new US sanctions, mulls retaliatory moves
President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that the U.S. move wasn’t constructive, adding that “various options are being considered on expert level.” The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it has imposed sanctions on 38 Russian individuals and firms over Russian activities in Ukraine....
Trump meets Ukrainian leader amid Russia investigation
[…] the two presidents posed for photographs in the Oval Office and made brief remarks following Poroshenko’s more extensive meetings with Vice President Mike Pence and the administration’s top national security advisers. Trump has maintained that he hopes to establish better ties with Moscow, repairing ill will from the Obama...
Thousands attend gay pride march in Ukraine’s capital
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Thousands of people have attended a gay pride parade in the Ukrainian capital amid tight security. Much of downtown Kiev was cordoned off and about 5,000 police officers were on duty for Sunday’s event, which has traditionally been a focal point for attacks by ultranationalists. …read more Source: San Francisco...
Germany, Austria slam US sanctions against Russia
The United States Senate voted Wednesday to slap new sanctions on key sectors of Russia’s economy and individuals over its interference in the 2016 U.S. election campaign and its aggression in Syria and Ukraine. “[…] we can’t accept the threat of illegal and extraterritorial sanctions against European companies,” the...
