Section: San Francisco Chronicle (USA)
Sweden introduces military draft for both men and women
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Sweden’s left-leaning government introduced a military draft for both men and women Thursday because of what its defense minister called a deteriorating security environment in Europe and around Sweden. Sweden abolished compulsory military service for men in 2010 because there were enough volunteers to meet its...
Kremlin: Sessions controversy an impediment to new relations
A spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, told The Associated Press that the Russian Embassy would not comment on meetings with American political figures, but she also said they were part of the embassy’s “everyday business.” […] Moscow appears frustrated by the lack of visible progress, as well as...
At least 8 killed in Ukraine coal mine blast; 20 missing
The blast took place about midday Thursday in the Stepovaya mine in the Lviv region, 460 kilometers (285 miles) west of the capital Kiev, about 550 meters (1,800 feet) underground, news reports cited the service as saying. …read more Source: San Francisco...
Sweden reintroduces military draft for first time in 7 years
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Sweden’s left-leaning government on Thursday reintroduced a military draft for both men and women because of what Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist called a deteriorating security environment in Europe and around Sweden. In September, non-NATO-member Sweden stationed permanent troops on the Baltic Sea island of...
Russia-backed rebels take over factories, mines in Ukraine
The blockade has raised the already high tensions in Ukraine, where a war between government forces and separatist rebels has killed more than 9,800 people in eastern Ukraine since April 2014. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko’s government has spoken against the blockade, saying it hurts ordinary Ukrainians in the rest of the country by...
Maverick dancer Polunin seeks to be David Beckham of ballet
The 27-year-old Ukrainian star, who has been in the headlines for rebellious tweets, tattoos and leaving the Royal Ballet, wants to challenge the dance world’s established system to provide more creative freedom for its artists. Citing Beckham’s role as a soccer ambassador, Polunin says he is on a mission to make ballet more popular...
Ukrainian lawmaker visits rebel east, urges prisoner release
Savchenko, who has a hero’s status, has stirred controversy with criticism of the Ukrainian government and calls for a dialogue with the Russia-backed rebels to end the fighting in eastern Ukraine that has killed more than 9,800 people since April 2014. Agency spokesman Oleksandr Tkachuk says Savchenko’s trip is causing...
AP Analysis: Why Venezuelans have lost hope life will change
Staring numbly at the floor, Jhorman recounts how he watched his cousin’s skull come apart under his baseball cap from a bullet shot by security forces. Many of more than 100 political prisoners were arrested that year and remain in jail, according to human rights groups. Most are being held incommunicado in the dungeons of El Helicoide, a...
Austria approves US extradition for Ukrainian oligarch
Firtash was indicted in Chicago by a U.S. grand jury in 2012 two for allegedly paying off the officials through U.S. banks in a failed attempt to secure titanium mining rights in India. …read more Source: San Francisco...
Kremlin defends its recognition of Ukraine rebel passports
Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday the decision was a humanitarian move to help struggling residents in the rebel regions, who have faced a transport blockade imposed by Ukrainian nationalist volunteer battalions. …read more Source: San Francisco...
