» Ukraine fighting rages as leaders gather for last-ditch truce talks 11/02/15 15:25 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks | US sending around 600 paratroopers to Ukraine to train troops

US sending around 600 paratroopers to Ukraine to train troops

Ukraine fighting rages as leaders gather for last-ditch truce talks

Wednesday February 11th, 2015 at 4:25 PM

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The leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany arrived in Minsk on Wednesday for last-ditch talks aimed at agreeing a ceasefire in the 10-month conflict in eastern Ukraine, even as fighting raged on the ground.

The meeting came with the International Monetary Fund expected to announce as soon as Thursday a new rescue package for Ukraine which is likely to lead to a restructuring of the country’s privately-held debts.

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The summit of Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko, Russian president Vladimir Putin, German chancellor Angela Merkel and French president François Hollande in the Belarusian capital is the culmination of a frantic week of diplomacy aimed at defusing the crisis.

It came amid an escalation of a conflict that has already claimed more than 5,300 lives and plunged relations between Moscow and the west to lows not seen since the cold war.

The stakes are high, with any failure to achieve a ceasefire likely to stoke demands in Washington for the US to arm Ukraine — a move that France and Germany fear will only worsen the war.

But even if a truce is agreed, there is no guarantee it will hold. A ceasefire signed in Minsk on September 5 was repeatedly violated and collapsed completely four months later amid renewed rebel assaults on Ukrainian positions.

Even as the leaders gathered in Minsk, fighting continued to rage near the government-held rail hub of Debaltseve. Officials in Kiev said 19 Ukrainian soldiers were killed there in the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, Ukraine, which has seen its foreign currency reserves and the value of its currency plunge in recent weeks, was in talks on Wednesday with the IMF on a new bailout. Tim Ash of Standard Bank said it would be a four-year rescue valued at about $18bn. There could be several billion dollars of additional bilateral support from G7 countries.

The new deal replaces a $17bn programme which was launched less than a year ago but abandoned when the conflict in the east began to escalate and Ukraine’s public finances deteriorated.

Arseniy Yatseniuk, the country’s prime minister, on Wednesday predicted that preliminary agreement with the IMF on a new bailout package would be reached within “48 hours,” adding that reform of the country’s heavily-subsidised energy sector remained the main sticking point.

“The talks are difficult because nobody gives anyone money just like that,” he said.

Before the Minsk summit began, European officials were damping down expectations. Ms Merkel’s spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said “the fact that this trip is going ahead means there is a glimmer of hope, but no more”.

Laurent Fabius, French foreign minister, warned French media that the summit was “really a last-chance negotiation”. A Russian official familiar with the talks said it was “more likely than not” that a ceasefire deal would be reached.

However, western observers say the gap between the rebels’ demands and those of Ukraine is so wide that the peace talks are highly unlikely to succeed.

In depth

Crisis in Ukraine

Pro-Moscow separatists in eastern Ukraine have escalated the political turmoil that threatens to tear the country apart
Further reading

Officials briefed on the Minsk talks said the parties were discussing a solution under which the warring parties would pull back heavy artillery from the current front. This would not create a completely demilitarised zone but would bring each side out of the range of the other’s heavy weapons, which have caused most casualties.

Russia and the rebels demand that the separation line be drawn according to the current front, an agreement which would cede to the rebels large swaths of territory which they have gained since the September ceasefire.

But even more contentious is the question of how a new truce would be policed. The parties are discussing beefing up the presence of monitors from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and the separatists are demanding a force formed of states of the former Soviet Union.

“You would need thousands to do that job,” said one military official. But since many states in that group lack the resources to man such a mission, it would mean a large Russian presence in this role — a scenario Ukraine opposes.

Fundamental disagreement also remains over what political status should be given to the self-declared separatist republics in eastern Ukraine. Moscow continues to insist that Ukraine must change its constitution to give the regions the power to veto key policy areas such as foreign affairs and defence — an arrangement Russia hopes could help block any future attempts by Kiev to move closer to Nato or the EU.

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BBC News - Ukraine conflict: Putin shakes hands with Poroshenko as talks begin

Wednesday February 11th, 2015 at 3:55 PM

BBC News - Europe

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11 February 2015 Last updated at 13:33 ET

(From left) Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Minsk

Urgent talks on ending the deadly conflict in east Ukraine have opened in the Belarusian capital Minsk, after a week of EU shuttle diplomacy.

As talks began, Russian President Vladimir Putin shook hands with Ukrainian leader Petro Poroshenko.

Russia has been accused of arming and reinforcing pro-Russian rebels in east Ukraine - a claim it denies.

Brokering the ceasefire bid are German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande.

The talks are set to focus on securing a ceasefire, withdrawal of heavy weapons and creating a demilitarised zone.

Fighting claimed more than 20 lives in the hours leading up to the talks. Shelling killed at least five people in the rebel-held city of Donetsk while 19 Ukrainian soldiers died along the front line.

Ukrainian armoured vehicles headed towards the transport hub of Debaltseve on Wednesday

The Ukrainian government is trying to stop rebels encircling its forces at Debaltseve

A woman carries her shopping in Donetsk city

While the Ukrainian government is seeking a demarcation line based on the failed ceasefire agreed on 5 September in Belarus last year, the rebels want a new truce to reflect the gains they have made in recent weeks, the BBC's James Reynolds reports from Donetsk.

More than 5,400 people have died since the conflict began, and there has been a dramatic rise in casualties in recent days, with 263 civilians killed in populated areas between 31 January and 5 February.

Ceasefire hopes: James Reynolds, BBC News, Donetsk

A woman cleans shattered glass after her shop is damaged by shelling in Donetsk

Donetsk may be the tidiest city-at-war in the world. In the centre of town, the streets are swept, the benches are clean, the bins are empty. From the city centre you can hear the regular, deep boom of artillery fire in the distance.

"We want to live alone," insists one woman who puts down her shopping bags to talk. "Most people here don't want to be ruled by Ukraine and Poroshenko," she concludes.

"We're hoping for a resolution," says another man, "But it all depends on Ukraine."

A mother, walking with her young son, says she's exasperated with both sides. "They need to shut all the leaders in a room," she suggests, "like they do when they choose a Pope. Lock them in. Don't let any of them out until they've reached an agreement."

The handshake between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders was brief, with Mr Poroshenko coming up to Mr Putin without smiling.

The handshake was brief and showed little warmth

Speaking earlier, Mr Poroshenko said the situation threatened to spin "out of control" if the parties did not agree to de-escalation and a ceasefire.

Warning that his government was prepared to impose martial law, he said the Minsk summit was one of the final chances to bring about an unconditional ceasefire and withdrawal of heavy weapons.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini told AFP news agency that if a deal was reached, the Minsk summit would be "a turning point for good or for bad".

Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of sending troops and arms to support the rebels, but Russia denies this.

US President Barack Obama has refused to rule out supplying "lethal defensive weapons" to Kiev if diplomacy fails, but Russia says that would worsen the crisis.

Footage of the burnt-out shells of vehicles in a bus shelter in Donetsk

Rival agendas at Ukraine talks

Ukraine: Restore government authority over breakaway areas, though Donetsk and Luhansk regions could get greater self-rule; disarm rebel forces; withdrawal of Russian troops; restore Kiev's control over Ukraine-Russia border; full prisoner exchange.

Pro-Russian rebels: Separation from rest of Ukraine and recognition of "people's republics" of Donetsk and Luhansk; no disarmament of separatist forces; amnesty for separatist leaders.

Russia: Legal guarantees for rights of Russian-speakers in eastern Ukraine; full autonomy for Donetsk and Luhansk in a federal system - not necessarily independence; no return of Crimea to Ukraine; withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from combat zone.

EU and US: Restore Ukraine's territorial integrity; end Russian intervention in eastern Ukraine - withdrawal of all Russian troops and heavy weapons; effective monitoring of Russia-Ukraine border and demilitarised zone between the combatants; full democracy in Donetsk and Luhansk.

September 2014 ceasefire: The 12-point plan

Why has conflict returned to eastern Ukraine?

With both sides seeking territorial gains before a potential ceasefire, there are fears that the violence could undermine attempts to secure a long-term deal.

The majority of Ukrainian military casualties were near Debaltseve, a major transport hub where thousands of soldiers are under rebel siege.

The separatists say they have cut off the main supply road into the town from the west as they try to capture a tongue-shaped area that cuts into the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

At least two people were killed and several more injured when a shell hit a bus station in rebel-controlled Donetsk early on Wednesday. Three more deaths were reported during the night, city officials said.

Volunteer pro-government fighters have also seized territory this week, capturing villages from the rebels outside the government-held of Mariupol.

Ukraine's war: The human cost

• At least 5,486 people people killed and 12,972 wounded in eastern Ukraine but true numbers could be much higher
• Fatalities include 298 people on Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 shot down on 17 July
• 5.2 million people estimated to be living in conflict areas
• 978,482 internally displaced people, including 119,832 children
• 600,000 fled to neighbouring countries, of whom more than 400,000 have gone to Russia

Source: Figures from UN report, 6 February

Do you live in eastern Ukraine? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk

Please include a contact number if you wish to be contacted by a BBC journalist.

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Leaders Begin High-Stakes Summit on Ukraine Cease-Fire

Wednesday February 11th, 2015 at 2:55 PM

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European leaders began a high-stakes summit Wednesday to try to negotiate a cease-fire in the 10-month conflict in eastern Ukraine, raising hopes that Kiev and the rebels were close to hammering out some kind of deal.

Russian President Vladimir Putin , French President François Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko gathered in Minsk for the talks, which began mid-evening and were expected to last for hours.

The meeting is seen as a possible last chance to end a conflict that has already left more than 5,000 civilians dead, though Western officials have played down chances for a breakthrough.

“During my time as a president, I never have had and never will have a meeting more important than the summit today in Minsk,” Mr. Poroshenko told his cabinet before leaving Kiev. “I think, unfortunately, we must be prepared for either outcome—for peace…and to defend the country.”

The leaders had said they would attend the summit only if the basics of an agreement appeared close after lower-level talks.

The fact that it is going ahead “is a ray of hope, but not more,” Ms. Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert said. “It is uncertain whether any result will be achieved.”

Speaking in Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said “noticeable progress” had been made during the preparations.

In recent weeks, fighting has surged as rebels seemed to be pushing to expand their territory and Ukrainian forces pushed back before a deal was reached.

Mr. Poroshenko overnight visited Kramatorsk, a city near the front line where 15 people were killed Tuesday in a rocket attack that Kiev blamed on separatists. He said he would bring a piece of a missile fired in the attack to the talks in Minsk and to a European Union summit Thursday in Brussels as evidence. Rebels denied responsibility.

Russia denies accusations that it is actively supporting and supplying the rebels. But Western leaders are trying to put pressure on Mr. Putin, with a senior EU official saying that they could order work to start on scaling-up economic sanctions on Russia this week if the peace talks fail.

The official also said that even if there is an apparent breakthrough, leaders would likely be cautious until they see Russia is implementing its side of the deal.

Late Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama called Mr. Putin for the first time in months to push for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, warning of consequences for Russia if violence continued, the White House said.

Mr. Obama didn’t specifically address the possibility that the U.S. might send lethal military assistance to Kiev, something that the administration has said it is considering. Moscow has warned it would see that as a direct threat to its security.

Market Talk

Ukraine Talks Could Be Key for Ruble
Uncertainty over the Ukraine peace talks haven’t had much effect on the ruble yet, and Russia’s currency remains primarily oil driven, says ING. It adds that the market probably hasn’t formed much of a near-term view yet, and may only evaluate USD/RUB’s immediate future is peace talks fail and Russia faces yet more Western sanctions. (olga.razumovskaya@wsj.com)

Market Talk is a stream of real-time news and market analysis that’s available on Dow Jones Newswires

“If Russia continues its aggressive actions in Ukraine, including by sending troops, weapons, and financing to support the separatists, the costs for Russia will rise,” the White House said, without elaborating.

Mr. Obama said this week he would delay a decision on possible lethal aid until the latest attempt at diplomacy is exhausted.

ENLARGE

A bus station hit during shelling between Russian-backed separatists and the Ukrainian government forces in Donetsk on Wednesday. Photo: Associated Press

A September cease-fire deal reached in Minsk never took hold, but officials in Kiev and the West say that agreement must remain the basis for any new deal.

All sides say they are seeking an immediate cease-fire and the pullback of heavy weapons, followed by steps to give the separatist regions greater political and economic autonomy.

On Wednesday, a Ukrainian defense official said 19 troops had been killed and 78 wounded outside Debaltseve, a government-held enclave that has been the site of some of the heaviest recent fighting.

In the separatist capital of Donetsk, officials said four people were killed and nine wounded when a bus station was hit in a mortar attack.

Main Points From September’s Cease-Fire

The last cease-fire agreement that was reached in Minsk between Ukraine, Russia and the pro-Russian separatists from east Ukraine never really took hold. But all sides in the talks Wednesday say that deal, which was set down in two separate documents signed Sept. 5 and Sept. 19, 2014, must form the basis of any new agreement.

Here are the main points of the original Minsk agreements. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe mediated the talks and was to help monitor the implementation of the agreements.

• Impose immediate cease-fire
• Ensure monitoring and verification of cease-fire by OSCE
• Conduct decentralization of government in Ukraine, including by passing a law on special status for the separatist regions
• Ensure OSCE monitoring of the Russia-Ukraine border with security zones on each side
• Unconditionally release all hostages and illegally detained persons
• Pass a law on amnesty for separatists
• Continue an inclusive national dialogue in Ukraine
• Take steps to improve the humanitarian situation in the Donbas region
• Conduct early local elections in the separatist region according to the special-status law
• Withdraw all illegal armed groups, equipment and fighters from the territory of Ukraine
• Approve a plan of economic rebuilding for the separatist region
• Provide guarantees of personal security for the participants in the talks

Among other points, the Sept. 19 agreement expanded this list to include:

• Pullback of heavy weapons by both sides from the front lines to create a 30-kilometer demilitarized zone
• Withdraw all foreign military units, equipment and mercenaries from Ukraine under OSCE monitoring

The Sept. 19 agreements also included a map of the ‘line of contact’ from which the two sides were to pull back, but that was never made public.

Write to Gregory L. White at greg.white@wsj.com and Andrey Ostroukh at andrey.ostroukh@wsj.com

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Disconnect between diplomacy, reality in Ukraine

Wednesday February 11th, 2015 at 2:53 PM

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Washington (CNN)I left Ukraine last weekend with a deep sense of foreboding. I wasn't imagining a severe deterioration of the crisis on the ground. I was hearing it from American and western diplomats, Ukrainian officials and Ukrainian citizens.

"It is a life or death moment for us," one Ukrainian MP told a senior western diplomat.

Ukraine is at war. It's not a 21st century, media-driven war -- or even an air war with surgical strikes -- but an old-fashioned, mid-20th century land war, complete with tank battles and the intentional bombardment of civilians. For comparison, one senior western diplomat recommended I see the movie "Fury," the Brad Pitt Hollywood vehicle set in World War II Germany, to get a sense.

It's an alarmingly apt comparison.

Let's make the stakes clear. As I constantly remind friends and colleagues, this is not a war in some distant land. Ukraine is in Europe and surrounded by NATO allies.

As they met in Washington Monday, both President Obama and German Chancellor Merkel described the war as a threat not just to Ukraine but to Europe as a whole.

READ: Merkel in the middle of U.S., Russia standoff

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A piece of an exploded missile sits lodged in the ground outside an apartment building in the Vostochniy district of Mariupol on Sunday, January 25.

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A resident walks by a burning building in Mariupol on Saturday, January 24.

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A pro-Russian rebel takes cover from shelling in the Kievsky district of Donetsk on Thursday, January 22.

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People in downtown Donetsk react as Ukrainian prisoners of war are handed over by pro-Russian rebels on January 22.

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A trolleybus is damaged in Donetsk's Lenin District after its station was hit by a shell on January 22.

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A rebel takes aim while protecting a supply position in the Kievsky district of Donetsk on January 22.

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Rubble and debris cover the airport in Donetsk on Wednesday, January 21.

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Vladimir Bovrichev cries next to the body of his 4-year-old son, Artiam, during Artiam's funeral on the outskirts of Donetsk on Tuesday, January 20. The boy was killed during a Ukrainian artillery strike.

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Women sit in a shelter during a battle in Donetsk on Sunday, January 18.

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A building hit by Ukrainian artillery is seen in the Voroshilovsky area of Donetsk on January 18.

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Men from the Azov Volunteer Battalion board a bus in Kiev to join the fight against the rebels on Saturday, January 17.

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Rebels sit atop a tank at a checkpoint north of Luhansk, Ukraine, on Wednesday, January 14.

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A Ukrainian soldier looks down from a military truck at the Donetsk airport on Tuesday, January 6. The airport has been the scene of some of the fiercest fighting in eastern Ukraine.

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Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko gives a speech as he hands over new military equipment to forces near the city of Ghytomyr, Ukraine, on Monday, January 5.

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A Ukrainian volunteer fighter fires a machine gun at pro-Russian rebels near the village of Pisky, Ukraine, on Saturday, January 3.

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People stand beside the body of a woman killed during shelling in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, on Tuesday, February 10. Fighting between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian rebels in the country has left more than 5,000 people dead since mid-April, according to the United Nations.

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A volunteer gets a medical checkup at a military base for pro-Russian rebels February 10 in Donetsk, Ukraine.

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A pro-Russian rebel walks past a car destroyed during shelling in Donetsk on Monday, February 9.

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Ukrainian volunteer fighters and policemen arrest two men in Kiev, Ukraine, on February 9. The men allegedly arrived from Donetsk and were suspected of participating in pro-Russian rebel activities and organizing terrorist attacks in the Ukrainian capital.

32 photos

Residents unload humanitarian aid in the town of Debaltseve, Ukraine, on Friday, February 6.

32 photos

A man rides a bicycle in Vuhlehirsk, Ukraine, on February 6.

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A pro-Russian rebel guards a former Ukrainian army checkpoint outside Vuhlehirsk on Thursday, February 5.

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A child waits on a bus to leave Debaltseve on Tuesday, February 3, after increased fighting in the region.

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A pro-Russian rebel tank rolls along a road near Donetsk on Monday, February 2.

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A man stands next to his car in Donetsk on Sunday, February 1, after it was destroyed by shelling.

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The body of a civilian killed during shelling lies on the ground in Donetsk on Friday, January 30.

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An injured soldier is wheeled on a stretcher outside of a hospital in Artemivsk, Ukraine, on January 30.

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A rebel comforts the wife of a civilian killed in shelling in Donetsk on January 30. Artillery fire in the rebel stronghold of Donetsk killed at least 12 civilians that afternoon.

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People in Mariupol, Ukraine, pour soil into the grave of a recent shelling victim on Monday, January 26.

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Ukrainian servicemen prepare ammunition at a position on the front line near Mariupol on January 26.

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A man injured during shelling in Mariupol sits in an emergency hospital on January 26.

32 photos

A piece of an exploded missile sits lodged in the ground outside an apartment building in the Vostochniy district of Mariupol on Sunday, January 25.

32 photos

A resident walks by a burning building in Mariupol on Saturday, January 24.

32 photos

A pro-Russian rebel takes cover from shelling in the Kievsky district of Donetsk on Thursday, January 22.

32 photos

People in downtown Donetsk react as Ukrainian prisoners of war are handed over by pro-Russian rebels on January 22.

32 photos

A trolleybus is damaged in Donetsk's Lenin District after its station was hit by a shell on January 22.

32 photos

A rebel takes aim while protecting a supply position in the Kievsky district of Donetsk on January 22.

32 photos

Rubble and debris cover the airport in Donetsk on Wednesday, January 21.

32 photos

32 photos

Vladimir Bovrichev cries next to the body of his 4-year-old son, Artiam, during Artiam's funeral on the outskirts of Donetsk on Tuesday, January 20. The boy was killed during a Ukrainian artillery strike.

32 photos

Women sit in a shelter during a battle in Donetsk on Sunday, January 18.

32 photos

A building hit by Ukrainian artillery is seen in the Voroshilovsky area of Donetsk on January 18.

32 photos

Men from the Azov Volunteer Battalion board a bus in Kiev to join the fight against the rebels on Saturday, January 17.

32 photos

Rebels sit atop a tank at a checkpoint north of Luhansk, Ukraine, on Wednesday, January 14.

32 photos

A Ukrainian soldier looks down from a military truck at the Donetsk airport on Tuesday, January 6. The airport has been the scene of some of the fiercest fighting in eastern Ukraine.

32 photos

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko gives a speech as he hands over new military equipment to forces near the city of Ghytomyr, Ukraine, on Monday, January 5.

32 photos

A Ukrainian volunteer fighter fires a machine gun at pro-Russian rebels near the village of Pisky, Ukraine, on Saturday, January 3.

32 photos

People stand beside the body of a woman killed during shelling in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, on Tuesday, February 10. Fighting between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian rebels in the country has left more than 5,000 people dead since mid-April, according to the United Nations.

32 photos

A volunteer gets a medical checkup at a military base for pro-Russian rebels February 10 in Donetsk, Ukraine.

32 photos

A pro-Russian rebel walks past a car destroyed during shelling in Donetsk on Monday, February 9.

32 photos

Ukrainian volunteer fighters and policemen arrest two men in Kiev, Ukraine, on February 9. The men allegedly arrived from Donetsk and were suspected of participating in pro-Russian rebel activities and organizing terrorist attacks in the Ukrainian capital.

32 photos

Residents unload humanitarian aid in the town of Debaltseve, Ukraine, on Friday, February 6.

32 photos

A man rides a bicycle in Vuhlehirsk, Ukraine, on February 6.

32 photos

A pro-Russian rebel guards a former Ukrainian army checkpoint outside Vuhlehirsk on Thursday, February 5.

32 photos

A child waits on a bus to leave Debaltseve on Tuesday, February 3, after increased fighting in the region.

32 photos

A pro-Russian rebel tank rolls along a road near Donetsk on Monday, February 2.

32 photos

A man stands next to his car in Donetsk on Sunday, February 1, after it was destroyed by shelling.

32 photos

The body of a civilian killed during shelling lies on the ground in Donetsk on Friday, January 30.

32 photos

An injured soldier is wheeled on a stretcher outside of a hospital in Artemivsk, Ukraine, on January 30.

32 photos

A rebel comforts the wife of a civilian killed in shelling in Donetsk on January 30. Artillery fire in the rebel stronghold of Donetsk killed at least 12 civilians that afternoon.

32 photos

People in Mariupol, Ukraine, pour soil into the grave of a recent shelling victim on Monday, January 26.

32 photos

Ukrainian servicemen prepare ammunition at a position on the front line near Mariupol on January 26.

32 photos

A man injured during shelling in Mariupol sits in an emergency hospital on January 26.

"We are in absolute agreement that in the 21st century, we cannot stand idle..and simply allow the borders of Europe to be redrawn at the barrel of the gun," said Mr. Obama.

On point, Chancellor Merkel followed, "For somebody who comes from Europe, I can only say, if we give up this principle of territorial integrity, we will not be able to maintain the peaceful order of Europe. It`s essential."

The deep sense of urgency does not appear to be matched by urgent action on the ground. At their press conference, Mr. Obama and Mrs. Merkel did not announce any new economic sanctions against Russia. A new round of incremental sanctions is on hold to allow time for the continuing diplomatic process. And they did not announce plans to send arms to out-gunned Ukrainian forces, though President Obama said he is leaving the option open. On this point, in fact, Merkel and Obama publicly disagreed.

In private, Ukrainian officials told me they are disappointed. In public, they are more diplomatic but still forthright. When I asked Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk last Thursday if the West is damning Ukrainian forces to fail, he wouldn't answer but he did say Ukraine is simply trying to defend itself.

"Why we are asking for increased defense capabilities of Ukraine? It's not for the offensive operation. This is for the defensive operation," he said. "To get peace you have to defend your country and you have to deter Russia, not allowing Russian troops to move further and further."

The trouble is, Ukraine is losing that fight. Since the Minsk accord, Russian and pro-Russian forces have taken over hundreds of square miles in new territory. The concern is that Moscow is creating new borders and new facts on the ground that President Putin will not give up in any negotiation.

READ: Jindal pushes Obama on Ukraine

Russia is carrying out what increasingly resembles a full-scale military occupation of sovereign Ukrainian territory. Since the last time Russia, Ukraine and the West negotiated a ceasefire in Minsk, Russia has sent in hundreds of tons of munitions, heavy artillery and rockets. It has established elaborate command and control. Russian forces are now running what amounts to a formal "train and assist" mission for separatists, akin to what the West is providing local forces in Iraq and Afghanistan to fight ISIS and the Taliban.

And so on to Minsk once again Wednesday, where the same players will meet in the same city to try to resurrect the same peace agreement with only worsening conditions on the ground.

Chancellor Merkel, who hails from the former East Germany, recalled her own country's enormous progress to express hope.

"Think of President Reagan, when he said, 'Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall,' many people said at the time, 'How can you possibly say that?' But it was right." She continued, "I cannot give you a guarantee for the outcome of the Wednesday talks or further talks, and maybe nothing will come out of it, but then we're called upon again to think about a new possibility."

Not the most ringing endorsement of the negotiations from the most powerful leader in Europe: war just as likely as peace. Visit Ukraine and you'll likely agree.

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What Is the Purpose of Society?

Wednesday February 11th, 2015 at 2:51 PM

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The world of food and agriculture symbolizes most of what’s gone wrong in the United States. But because food is plentiful for most people, and the damage that conventional agriculture does isn’t readily evident to everyone, it’s important that we look deeper, beyond food, to the structure that underlies most decisions: the political economy.

Progressives are not thinking broadly or creatively enough. By failing to pressure Democrats to take strong stands on everything from environmental protection to gun control to income inequality, progressives allow the party to use populist rhetoric while making America safer for business than it is for Americans. No one seriously believes that Hillary Clinton will ever put the interests of Main Street before those of her donors from Wall Street, do they? At least not unless she’s pushed, and hard.

It’s clear to most everyone, regardless of politics, that the big issues — labor, race, food, immigration, education and so on — must be “fixed,” and that fixing any one of these will help with the others. But this kind of change must begin with an agreement about principles, specifically principles of human rights and well-being rather than principles of making a favorable business climate.

Shouldn’t adequate shelter, clothing, food and health care be universal? Isn’t everyone owed a society that works toward guaranteeing the well-being of its citizens? Shouldn’t we prioritize avoiding self-destruction?

Plenty of Democrats, even those who think of themselves as progressive, would not answer yes to those questions. Some would answer, “Don’t be naïve, that’s impossible,” and others would say, “All we need to provide is equal opportunity for all and let the market sort it out.” (To which I’d reply, “Talk about naïve!”) I’m fine with disagreement, but I’m not fine with standard public questions like “How do we create a better climate for business so it can provide more jobs?” Consider what this implies about the purpose of people, to say nothing about the meaning of life. The business of America should not be business, but well-being.

Think about it this way: There are two kinds of operating systems, hard and soft. A clock is a hard system. We know what it’s for, we know when it isn’t working, and we know that 10 clock experts would agree on how to fix it — and could do so.

Soft systems, like agriculture and economics, are more complex. We don’t all agree on goals, and we don’t agree on whether things are working or in need of repair. For example, is contemporary American agriculture a system for nourishing people and providing a livelihood for farmers? Or is it one for denuding the nation’s topsoil while poisoning land, water, workers and consumers and enriching corporations? Our collective actions would indicate that our principles favor the latter; that has to change.

Defining goals that matter to people is critical, because the most powerful way to change a complex, soft system is to change its purpose. For example, if we had a national agreement that food is not just a commodity, a way to make money, but instead a way to nourish people and the planet and a means to safeguard our future, we could begin to reconfigure the system for that purpose. More generally, if we agreed that human well-being was a priority, creating more jobs would not ring so hollow.

Sadly, even if we did agree, complex systems are not subject to clever fixes. Rather, changes often have unexpected results (that shouldn’t happen with a clock), so change necessarily remains incremental. But without an agreement on goals, without statements of purpose, we are going to continue to see changes that are not in the interest of the majority. Increasingly, it’s corporations and not governments that are determining how the world works. As unrepresentative as government might seem right now, there is at least a chance of improving it, whereas corporations will always act in their own interests.

It’s been adequately demonstrated that more than minor tweaks are needed to improve life for most people. Let’s try to make sense of where the world is now instead of relying on outdated doctrines like “capitalism” and “socialism” created by people who had no idea what the 21st century would look like. Let’s ambitiously and publicly philosophize — as the conservatives do — and think about what shape a sensible political economy might take.

The big ideas and strategies for how we should manage society and thrive with the planet are not a set of rules handed down from on high. To develop them for now and the future is a major challenge, and we — progressives and our allies — have to work harder at it. No one is going to figure it out for us.

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· · ·

World Leaders Meet in Belarus to Negotiate Cease-Fire in Ukraine

Wednesday February 11th, 2015 at 2:33 PM

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MINSK, Belarus — The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany gathered here late Wednesday in a last-ditch effort to negotiate a peace agreement for Ukraine and quiet an escalating, year-old conflict that threatens to destabilize the European continent.

President François Hollande of France and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany arrived in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, joining President Valdimir V. Putin of Russia and Ukraine’s president Petro O. Poroshenko, after a day of some of the heaviest fighting of the war to date.

The Ukrainian government reported that 19 of its soldiers had been killed and 78 wounded in the last 24 hours of fighting with Russian-backed separatists around the contested town of Debaltseve in southeastern Ukraine.

“The entire world is waiting to see whether the situation moves toward de-escalation, weapons pullback, cease-fire or spins out of control,” Mr. Poroshenko said upon arriving in Minsk.

Negotiations on what exactly would be discussed continued even as the various governments announced that their leaders were heading to Minsk. The talks are based on a 12-point peace agreement called the Minsk Protocol, signed here in September but violated almost immediately.

The latest updates to the current visual survey of the continuing dispute, with maps and satellite imagery showing rebel and military movement.

The broad outlines of an agreement were clear enough, involving a cease-fire, the withdrawal of heavy weapons, the creation of a demilitarized zone and a degree of autonomy for the rebel-controlled regions of eastern Ukraine. But the details, such as where to draw the demilitarized zone, the degree of autonomy and Ukraine's control of its border with Russia, remained contentious.

Before leaving for Minsk, Mr. Poroshenko told his cabinet that the meeting would be his most important one since becoming president last June. Both peace and continued war were possible, he said, warning that if the session failed and fighting in the east continued to escalate, he might impose martial law nationwide, which could jeopardize a $40 billion aid package being negotiated with Western lenders.

“We must be ready for both options, for peace and for the country’s protection,” local news reports quoted Mr. Poroshenko as saying.

The Ukrainian leader repeated a few of Kiev’s central demands, which underscored the gulf between its position and that of Moscow. Ukraine endorsed decentralization but not federalization, he said, noting that the separatist regions could be granted rights similar to those in autonomous communities in Russia.

In Moscow, Sergey V. Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, said at a news conference that talks among experts had made “noticeable progress.”

But he also took exception to certain Ukrainian positions, suggesting that a truce, the withdrawal of heavy weaponry and the beginning of a political process, as well as the restoration of economic ties between Kiev and the separatist regions, were far more important than control over the border.

Ms. Merkel has emphasized repeatedly that she regards the chances of success in the talks as slim, even after she and Mr. Hollande met with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia in Moscow and with Mr. Poroshenko in Kiev on Friday. But she said the effort would continue given the civilian death toll in the conflict, which the United Nations has estimated at more than 5,400 since violence erupted last spring.

As fighting raged in eastern Ukraine, the authorities said the death toll from a rocket attack on Tuesday on the industrial city of Kramatorsk, about 50 miles northwest of Debaltseve, had risen to 16. The city, which is also home to a major Ukrainian military base, had not experienced fighting since last summer.

In Donetsk, shells fell shortly after 7 a.m. not far from the city center. Residents who were reached by telephone said the shells first hit near the Donetsk Metallurgical Plant and then, a few minutes later, smashed through the roof of a bus depot a few blocks away. Rebel leaders said six people died in the blasts. The reason the death toll was not higher in the normally crowded depot, the residents said, was that the earlier blasts at the plant had scared away the crowds.

Although the European leaders and Mr. Putin had said they would not come to Minsk unless the prospects of reaching a deal were strong, the sides still have considerable differences to bridge.

Ukraine wants the complete disarmament of the separatists and the withdrawal of Russian troops and armaments — which both the Kremlin and the rebels continue to deny were ever sent. Russian officials have said that any Russian soldiers who joined the fighting were adventurers who were “on vacation.” But it is unlikely the separatists could have held out this long, much less gone on the offensive, without significant Russian support in men, money and matériel.

Ukraine has promised some degree of self-rule to the breakaway areas, but it wants to control the lengthy border with Russia. It also seeks a full exchange of prisoners.

The rebel areas want to exist separately from the rest of Ukraine and to keep their weapons, and they are demanding amnesty for their leaders. They also want Ukraine to resume pension payments and other forms of financial support, while pushing for a buffer zone wide enough that the main cities cannot be shelled by Ukrainian forces.

One possible point of contention in the talks is where the cease-fire line will fall, given that the rebels have captured more than 200 square miles of territory since the September agreement. Ukraine has insisted on reestablishing that line, but the separatists are unlikely to give back the territory because it makes their borders easier to defend.

Mr. Putin has tried to distance Russia from the conflict, while also laying down demands that could lead to its settlement. Moscow has emphasized that Ukraine should create a federal system that would allow separatist areas to have their own foreign and economic policies, and would protect the Russian language and culture, while Kiev pays the bills.

Russia also plans to keep Crimea, which it annexed in March, and has called on the Ukrainian Army to withdraw from the southeast.

Europe seeks to keep Ukraine whole, to preserve the postwar principle that no borders can be altered by force. After Ms. Merkel, speaking last week, recalled her childhood in East Germany, some analysts suggested that she envisioned a solution for Ukraine that included a European-oriented west Ukraine and a Russian-influenced east, with some manner of robust, peaceful separation between them.

The Europeans also seek a much wider demilitarized zone than the 30 kilometers, or 19 miles, first agreed to by the main negotiators in a separate annex to the September cease-fire agreement.

The United States has threatened to arm Ukraine, although President Obama said on Monday that Washington would not decide on the matter until the outcome of the summit meeting in Minsk was clear.

The outcome in Minsk depends largely on what Russia is willing to offer and what the Ukrainian president can accept. The two sides are reeling economically, with Kiev nearly bankrupt and Moscow trying to survive the collapse in oil prices and attendant budget problems, compounded by Western economic sanctions.

The general view is that Moscow wants to create a frozen conflict in Ukraine much like ones in the Transnistria region in Moldova and in Abkhazia and South Ossetia in Georgia. Those enclaves were wrenched from their countries but not incorporated into Russia, and could be used to stir unrest at any time.

Moscow wants the means to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO, and preferably the European Union as well. But since the revolution fomented by Ukrainians last February was partly inspired by the demand to draw closer to Europe, and hundreds of soldiers have died defending that goal, the question is whether Mr. Poroshenko can sell it.

“The question is not what the Russians want, but what the Ukrainians can accept,” said Dmitri Trenin, the director of the Carnegie Moscow Center.

“The strategy is to keep Crimea Russian and to keep eastern Ukraine as a center of resistance to the nationalist, anti-Russian tendencies which now prevail in Kiev,” he said. “The game is a long one. It will not end this month, nor this year.”

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America must lead Europe in fight for Ukrainian sovereignty

Wednesday February 11th, 2015 at 2:13 PM

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European pressure for Russia to end the Ukrainian conflict is waning, and President Obama must be strong in encouraging partners to hold the line against Putin’s aggression. 

Ukrainians are reaching a “breaking point,” says Amnesty International. Some five months after a Minsk ceasefire agreement failed to quell the fighting between Ukrainian troops and Russian-backed separatists, the conflict has intensified through the prolific use of unguided rocket attacks. With the loss of human life rapidly escalating, Obama must lead the initiative to seek an end to the conflict through pressure that changes the calculus of the separatists—and of Russian President Vladimir Putin.  

ADVERTISEMENT

Human Rights Watch 

reports

 that at least 341 people, including 71 women and 6 children, were killed in January alone.  A new round of ceasefire talks 

broke down

 over the weekend as 28 soldiers were killed in some of the most intense fighting since the conflict began last March. Overwhelming

evidence

 shows a Russian hand in fomenting the conflict, while international 

pleas

 for assistance to the beleaguered Ukrainian government have gone unheeded.  

European support for increasing the costs to Russia has been lackluster.  A recent policy paperreleased by the office of EU foreign relations chief Federica Mogherini suggested “selective and gradual” sanctions roll-backs and an “informal dialogue” between the European Union and institutions representing the Putin-concocted Eurasian Economic Union (a mirror-image EU comprising former Soviet states).   

Luckily, the EU foreign ministers last week in Brussels rejected Mogherini’s rapprochement, but they failed to impose greater costs on Russia beyond adding several mid-level bureaucrats to the sanctions list and agreeing to continue the current sanctions program through September of this year.  

Similarly, Europe’s most powerful leader, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, declared in a meeting last week that the “conflict cannot be solved militarily” and confirmed that Germany will not supply much-needed military assistance to the Ukrainian people.  Representatives from the EU’s weaker links have made their distaste for the bloc’s current Russia policy well known, particularly newly appointed Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kostzias.  

European reluctance on pressuring Russia is expected—Putin’s Gazprom exerts a tight grip over the gas markets of Europe and one fourth of the oil and gas consumed in Europe originates in Russia.  This dependence on Russian energy has long been an excuse levied by pro-Russian dissenters for their heel-dragging with regard to punishing the regime.

And yet, it is those nations most dependent on Russian energy who are the loudest voices calling for increased pressure on Putin. Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski, whose nation receives more than 90 percent of its energy imports from Russia, has called on the EU to impose tougher sanctions on Russia. Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves said Tuesday that “the United States and NATO must provide military assistance to Ukraine or else Ukraine will be destroyed.” His urgency reflects a fear of further Russian aggression held by an increasing number of Eastern and Western Europeans. Many gas-dependent nations of Russia’s near abroad are placing themselves in the precarious position of opposing Putin because they understand firsthand the dangers of appeasing a resurgent power determined to build hegemony over former subjects.

So amid division in the European Union, there is little question as to which nation should claim the mandate of coalition-building authority. The United States, with its national interest in Ukraine’s sovereignty (described in the Ukraine Support Act) and it’s safety from the grasps of Russia’s energy behemoth, is positioned as the natural candidate. Leadership from Obama on this issue would be consistent with his promises to the Ukrainian people, America’s commitment to defend Ukraine under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, and his own preference for multilateralism.

Obama should respond strongly to the recent atrocities in Ukraine by supplying the fledgling democratic government in Kyiv with the defensive capabilities necessary to halt the Russian-backed insurgency. This position is espoused by Obama’s Defense Secretary Nominee Ashton Carter, leading foreign policy voices within his own party, and a bipartisan commission formed to investigate America’s role in the conflict which includes former top-ranking members of the president’s administration.  

Reports last week indicating that the president may dismiss these recommendations, combined with the EU foreign ministers’ decision to extend only previous sanctions, reflect a lack of leadership that the people of Ukraine cannot afford. Should the leaders of Germany, France, Russia, and Ukraine fail to agree to an acceptable path forward when they meet in Minsk on Wednesday, the time will be ripe for Obama to claim the historic leadership that the Donbass, Ukraine, and indeed all of Eastern Europe desperately need.

Richardson is an associate at the Foreign Policy Initiative in Washington, D.C. You can follow him at @wryanrichardson.

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LIVE: “Normandy format” Ukraine peace talks start in Minsk - YouTube

Wednesday February 11th, 2015 at 1:59 PM

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Started on Feb 11, 2015

France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine hold a new round of talks on February 11 in Minsk, Belarus in order to attempt to find a political solution regarding the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

The summit was arranged after leaders of the four countries discussed the ongoing conflict by telephone on February 8 and after German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President François Hollande visited Moscow last Friday for crisis talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

New violence in Ukraine diminishes hopes before 4-way summit

Wednesday February 11th, 2015 at 1:38 PM

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Rockets killed more than 10 civilians and soldiers deep in Ukrainian government-held territory on Tuesday and rebels pushed on with an assault on an army-held rail junction, setbacks that showed Kiev's position worsening on the eve of peace talks.

Advances by pro-Russian rebels diminished hopes of a deal when Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany hold a summit in Belarus on Wednesday under a new Franco-German initiative to halt fighting in a war that has killed more than 5,000 people.

Representatives of the "Contact Group" meeting in Belarus on the Ukraine crisis denied a report by Russia's TASS news agency that a ceasefire deal had been reached in talks in Minsk. Rebel representative Denis Pushilin told Russian channel Rossiya24 it was too early to talk of any agreements and said the sides were taking a break.

European officials say it is difficult to imagine the rebels agreeing to halt and go back to earlier positions after weeks during which they have been advancing relentlessly.

A Russian source quoted by the state RIA news agency said there were no plans to sign a document to resolve the conflict at the peace talks, and the main subject would be creation of a demilitarised zone.

The war and years of endemic corruption have nearly bankrupted Ukraine, where the currency collapsed last week. Ukraine is negotiating a rescue package with the International Monetary Fund and sources said that could be expanded dramatically to provide as much as $40 billion in aid.

The White House said U.S. President Barack Obama urged Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call on Tuesday to agree to a peace deal.

"If Russia continues its aggressive actions in Ukraine, including by sending troops, weapons, and financing to support the separatists, the costs for Russia will rise," the White House statement added.

The Kremlin, in its statement about the call, said Putin and Obama highlighted the need for the need for a political solution to the "internal" conflict in Ukraine.

The Kremlin also said the two leaders also noted the necessity to safeguard the rights of inhabitants of all Ukrainian regions, including Russian-speakers in the east.

Rockets crashed into Kramatorsk, some 50 km (30 miles) north of the front, hitting the main headquarters of the Ukrainian military campaign in the east, as well as nearby residential areas. Local officials said at least seven civilians were killed, while 26 civilians and 10 soldiers were wounded. A parliamentary deputy said four soldiers were also killed.

A Reuters photographer saw the body of a woman who had been killed, laid out in light snow where she fell. The tail of a rocket stuck out of a small crater in the ground.

The rebels denied firing on the town, but their apparent ability to strike so far into Ukrainian-held territory will complicate the peace talks that aim to reestablish a ceasefire that the separatists repudiated with a new offensive last month.

At the front in Vuhlehirsk, a small town captured by rebels last week, volleys of artillery crashed in both directions. The rebels are pushing to encircle government forces holding out in nearby Debaltseve, a rail hub that is the main rebel target.

Rebels sounded triumphant and said they had no intention of halting with government troops on the back foot.

"The Debaltseve bubble has been shut firmly. We will not let them out. There is no way they can get out," said a commander of a reconnaissance unit who identified himself by the nom de guerre of Malysh - "Little One".

Asked about a ceasefire, Malysh, who said he was a Russian fighter and not a Ukrainian, replied: "We are absolutely against it. They will have time to regroup. We have them now."

The Kremlin, which the West accuses of sending arms, weapons and soldiers across the frontier to help fight for territory it calls "New Russia", announced month-long war games on Tuesday involving about 2,000 troops on its side of the border. Russia denies involvement in the fighting in Ukraine.

Paris and Berlin have kept expectations low for their new peace initiative. French President Francois Hollande said the leaders were heading to the talks "with the strong will to succeed, but without being sure that we will be able to do it".

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said simply holding the summit was no guarantee of success and that nothing had been resolved yet.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Wednesday's talks would be one of the last chances to declare an unconditional ceasefire and withdraw heavy weaponry, proposals that appear to have more appeal to retreating Kiev than to advancing rebels.

The renewed fighting has brought calls in the West for more pressure against Moscow. Obama is weighing whether to deliver weapons to Kiev.

He met German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday but announced no decision on weapons, despite several senior officials in his administration coming out last week in favour of sending some arms. European countries oppose sending arms to Kiev, arguing that would escalate the war while providing nowhere near enough fire power for the Ukrainians to win it.

Kiev announced on Tuesday its forces launched a counter-offensive in the southeast to relieve separatist pressure on the port of Mariupol, the biggest city in the rebellious provinces still in government hands. Details could not be confirmed, but it is unlikely to provide much relief on the main battle front where government forces have been steadily pushed back.

On the outskirts of Vuhlehirsk, a rebel reconnaissance unit was busy securing trenches and bunkers that had been abandoned by Ukrainian troops. They scavenged weapons, ammunition, wires for field telephones and even discarded boots, sleeping bags and mats. An armoured rebel column of tanks and trucks approached the newly captured town.

Seven Ukrainian soldiers had been killed and 23 wounded in the past 24 hours, military spokesman Anatoly Stelmakh said before the rocket strike on Kramatorsk.

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Fighting Rages in E. Ukraine as Leaders Gather in Minsk

Wednesday February 11th, 2015 at 1:34 PM

Voice Of America

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Deadly fighting continued Wednesday in Ukraine, as the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany prepared to hold a summit on the conflict that has killed more than 5,300 people since last April.

At least two people died in the rebel-held eastern city of Donetsk when a shell hit a bus station, according to rebel officials and emergency personnel.

Military officials also said rebel attacks near Debaltseve had killed at least 19 soldiers and wounded 78 others.

A surge in fighting, including a rocket attack that killed 11 people deep in government-held territory on Tuesday, in the 24 hours before the leaders were to gather in Belarus' capital could be intended to force Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko to accept a deal recognizing the rebel advance.

Ahead of Wednesday's talks in Belarus, Poroshenko said Ukraine and the European Union would speak "with one voice." He had earlier described the four-nation summit as one of the last chances to end the fighting between his country's forces and pro-Russian separatists. 

Martial law

Poroshenko said Wednesday he would not hesitate to introduce martial law throughout the country if the conflict escalates.

The talks were scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. Minsk local time (1530 GMT), a spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel told the French news agency AFP.

By midafternoon local time, all four leaders -- Poroshenko, Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Russian President Vladimir Putin -- had arrived in the Belarusian capital.

Meanwhile, the commander of the U.S. Army in Europe said Russian military forces are directly involved in the fighting in the Debaltseve area.

Lieutenant General Ben Hodges said Wednesday during a visit to a NATO base in Poland that "direct Russian military intervention" in Debaltseve is "very obvious" from the amount of ammunition and type of equipment being used there, Reuters reported.

Hodges added that he fears the Russian-backed rebels will "shift their attention" to the Ukrainian-controlled port city of Mariupol if the offensive in Debaltseve succeeds.

He also said 10 battalions of Russian soldiers are stationed near the border with Ukraine.

The White House said Tuesday President Barack Obama spoke by phone with Putin, urging him to support a peace deal for Ukraine.

'Rising human toll'

The White House statement said Obama "underscored ... the rising human toll" of the fighting, as well as the importance of Putin "seizing the opportunity" to back peace proposals when he meets Wednesday with the leaders of France, Germany and Ukraine in Minsk.

Ukraine and a host of Western governments accuse Russia of backing the nearly yearlong rebellion in Ukraine's east with troops, strategic planning and military hardware. 

Russia has repeatedly denied direct involvement and says Russian troops fighting alongside separatists in the Russian-speaking east are doing so as volunteers.

Merkel and Hollande met with Putin last week to present a peace plan based on a failed September cease-fire between Ukraine and the rebels.

On Monday, Obama said he will await the outcome of Wednesday's summit before deciding whether to supply Kyiv with lethal defensive weaponry in its fight to end the separatist uprising.

Poroshenko, who made an impromptu visit to the war-torn region early Wednesday, stopped in the city of Kramatorsk, visiting people injured in the rocket attacks as well as the local military headquarters that was shelled.

Some material for this report came from Reuters, AP and AFP.

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· · ·

US sending around 600 paratroopers to Ukraine to train troops

Wednesday February 11th, 2015 at 1:30 PM

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Feb. 11, 2015: People look at burned buses hit by shelling at a central bus station in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine. (AP)

A battalion of around 600 American paratroopers will be heading to Ukraine next month to train national guard troops there, a Pentagon spokesman told Fox News Wednesday.

The unit heading to the war-torn country is from the U.S. Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, based out of Vicenza, Italy.

The training is to take place at the Yavariv training center in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, U.S. Army Europe Commander Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges said, according to The Associated Press.

Hodges said the Americans will train the Ukrainians how to better defend themselves against "Russian and rebel artillery and rockets." Training also will include securing roads, bridges and other infrastructure and treating and evacuating casualties.

He spoke during a visit to NATO's Multinational Corps Northeast Headquarters in the Polish city of Szczecin.

The announcement came as fighting raged in eastern Ukraine Wednesday, killing five people at a bus station in the rebel stronghold of Donetsk. Western leaders confirmed that they would take part in peace talks later in the day.

Steffen Seibert, a spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said she and French President Francois Hollande would travel to the Belarusian capital, Minsk, to attend the four-way summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

European leaders have warned that there is no guarantee a deal will be reached with Moscow, which the West says is fueling a separatist rising in eastern Ukraine with troops and arms. Germany and France have rushed to mediate after a recent uptick in violence in the region, where fighting has killed at least 5,300 people since April.

In Donetsk, rebel officials said that five people were killed and nine wounded in a shelling attack early Wednesday on a bus station, where an Associated Press reporter saw one body. Donetsk city officials said in a statement that three people had been killed in shelling overnight.

Officials in Kiev said Wednesday that 19 troops had been killed and 78 wounded in a day of fighting in Debaltseve, a hotly contested transport hub in the region.

Poroshenko posted a statement on his website saying that he had made an impromptu visit to the region early Wednesday. He stopped in the city of Kramatorsk, some 30 miles from the nearest front line, where Kiev says 16 people were killed and 48 wounded in a rocket strike Tuesday.

"We demand an unconditional peace," Poroshenko said. "We demand a cease-fire, a withdrawal of all foreign troops, and closing of the border.... We will find a compromise within the country."

Later, in comments carried by Interfax-Ukraine news agency, Poroshenko said he was "ready to impose martial law across the country if we are not able to reach an agreement today in Minsk."

At a news conference in Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that there was "notable progress" in the peace process, but gave no details.

Lavrov said the most important goal of the talks would be to implement a cease-fire, and that it would be impossible for Ukraine to re-establish its control over the border with Russia.

"In these conditions, to give away the Russian part of the border also would be to cut them [the rebels] off even from humanitarian help and allow them to be surrounded," Lavrov said.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said early Wednesday that "quite a number of problems remain" in negotiations, including the future of eastern Ukraine, guarantees about the Ukraine-Russia border, and the prospects of a possible cease-fire, weapons pullback and prisoner exchange.

Fabius said the aim of the talks is to win an accord, but "not just one on paper."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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· · · ·

Fighting in Ukraine continues ahead...

Wednesday February 11th, 2015 at 1:13 PM

Minsk Talks - Google News

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Fighting in Ukraine continues ahead of peace talks

The Detroit News - ‎13 minutes ago‎

Steffen Seibert, a spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said she and French President Francois Hollande would travel to the Belarusian capital, Minsk, to attend the four-way summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President ...

Ukraine, French, German meet for peace summit

The Daily Star - ‎4 minutes ago‎

MINSK: The leaders of Ukraine, Germany and France arrived in Minsk Wednesday for a peace summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at ending 10 months of conflict in Ukraine. Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko, German Chancellor Angela ...

Meeting of World Leaders in Belarus Aims to Address Ukraine Conflict

New York Times - ‎5 minutes ago‎

Negotiations on what exactly the leaders would discuss continued even as the various governments announced that their leaders were heading to Minsk. The talks are based on a 12-point peace agreement called the Minsk Protocol, signed here in ...

Ukraine to seek 'unconditional ceasefire' during talks: President

Business Standard - ‎7 minutes ago‎

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Wednesday that Kiev would seek a "ceasefire without any conditions" during the upcoming talks in Belarus's capital Minsk on the conflict in eastern Ukraine. "We need an unconditional ceasefire without any ...

Merkel, Hollande and Putin arrive in Minsk for Ukraine crisis talks

The Straits Times - ‎8 minutes ago‎

MINSK (REUTERS) - French President Francois Hollande and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel have arrived in Minsk to take part in peace talks on the Ukraine crisis on Wednesday, a Reuters witness at the airport said. Leaders of Russia, Ukraine, ...

'Normandy four' leaders arriving at Minsk's Palace of Independence for talks on ...

Belarus News (BelTA) - ‎9 minutes ago‎

President of Russia Vladimir Putin, Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko, France President Francois Hollande, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are going to meet in Minsk today. The foreign leaders intend to discuss proposals concerning the resolution ...

Russia's Putin arrives in Minsk for Ukraine crisis talks

Daily Mail - ‎9 minutes ago‎

MINSK, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Minsk to take part in peace talks on the Ukraine crisis on Wednesday, a Reuters witness at the airport said. Leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France are meeting to try to ...

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'Normandy 4' Ukraine peace talks in Minsk LIVE UPDATES — RT News

Wednesday February 11th, 2015 at 1:06 PM

RT - News

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TheCrux

I don´t call someone who only defend their homes and families and lifes, terrorists.

The meaning behind the word is terror,

in this view of the words meaning, the only party which creates terror, are the ukrainian forces.more...

That is certainly what LifeNews is telling the Russian spectators to keep them engaged, paranoid and thankful that Putin is protecting them. Truth is that Russian mercenaries such as Girkin and and a whole bunch of Chechen gangsters poured into Donbass and started a war against Ukrainian law enforcement. They are terrorist. May I again enquire what business Mr. Putin's new best friends from Chechnya have in Ukraine?

Leaders gather in Minsk for Ukraine crisis summit

Wednesday February 11th, 2015 at 1:05 PM

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Story highlights

• Ukraine's President joins leaders of France and Germany in Minsk, Belarus
• Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to Minsk for the meetings, the Kremlin says
• Separatist leaders gather with Ukrainian and Russian officials before the peace talks officially kick off

Minsk, Belarus (CNN)All eyes are on Minsk on Wednesday as officials from Russia, Ukraine and separatist groups meet to hammer out proposals for a possible peace deal for Ukraine.

Three of the main players -- French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkeland Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko -- were in the Belarus capital by early Wednesday evening. They were awaiting Russian President Vladimir Putin, who a Kremlin spokesman told CNN would fly to Minsk to take part in the meetings.

The Ukraine crisis: Everything you need to know

The high-stakes summit comes against a backdrop of worsening conflict in eastern Ukraine that has claimed a growing number of civilian lives.

Speaking at a Cabinet meeting Wednesday prior to his arrival in Minsk, Poroshenko said the summit was "the most important one so far I have had as a President," Ukraine's state-run Ukrinform news agency reported.

The President said he and Ukraine's lawmakers were ready to introduce martial law across the country if "further irresponsible actions" lead to more escalation of the conflict.

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mikenova shared this story . The leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany arrived in Minsk on Wednesday for last-ditch talks aimed at agreeing a ceasefire in the 10-month conflict in eastern Ukraine , even as fighting raged on the ...

» BBC News - Ukraine conflict: Putin shakes hands with Poroshenko as talks begin
11/02/15 14:55 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from BBC News - Europe. 11 February 2015 Last updated at 13:33 ET (From left) Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Ukrainian President Petro ...

» Leaders Begin High-Stakes Summit on Ukraine Cease-Fire
11/02/15 13:55 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story . European leaders began a high-stakes summit Wednesday to try to negotiate a cease-fire in the 10-month conflict in eastern Ukraine, raising hopes that Kiev and the rebels were close to hammering out some kind...

» Disconnect between diplomacy, reality in Ukraine
11/02/15 13:53 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story . Washington (CNN) I left Ukraine last weekend with a deep sense of foreboding. I wasn't imagining a severe deterioration of the crisis on the ground. I was hearing it from American and western diplomats, Ukrai...

» What Is the Purpose of Society?
11/02/15 13:51 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story . Continue reading the main story The world of food and agriculture symbolizes most of what’s gone wrong in the United States. But because food is plentiful for most people, and the damage that convention...

» World Leaders Meet in Belarus to Negotiate Cease-Fire in Ukraine
11/02/15 13:33 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story . MINSK, Belarus — The leaders of Russia , Ukraine , France and Germany gathered here late Wednesday in a last-ditch effort to negotiate a peace agreement for Ukraine and quiet an escalating, year-old con...

» America must lead Europe in fight for Ukrainian sovereignty
11/02/15 13:13 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story . European pressure for Russia to end the Ukrainian conflict is waning, and President Obama must be strong in encouraging partners to hold the line against Putin’s aggression.  Ukrainians are reachin...

» LIVE: “Normandy format” Ukraine peace talks start in Minsk - YouTube
11/02/15 12:59 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story . Started on Feb 11, 2015 France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine hold a new round of talks on February 11 in Minsk, Belarus in order to attempt to find a political solution regarding the conflict in eastern Ukrain...

» New violence in Ukraine diminishes hopes before 4-way summit
11/02/15 12:38 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story . Rockets killed more than 10 civilians and soldiers deep in Ukrainian government-held territory on Tuesday and rebels pushed on with an assault on an army-held rail junction, setbacks that showed Kiev's positi...

» Fighting Rages in E. Ukraine as Leaders Gather in Minsk
11/02/15 12:34 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Voice of America. Deadly fighting continued Wednesday in Ukraine, as the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany prepared to hold a summit on the conflict that has killed more than 5,300 people sinc...

» US sending around 600 paratroopers to Ukraine to train troops
11/02/15 12:30 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story . Feb. 11, 2015: People look at burned buses hit by shelling at a central bus station in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine.  (AP) A battalion of around 600 American paratroopers will be heading to Ukraine next mont...

» Fighting in Ukraine continues ahead...
11/02/15 12:13 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from minsk talks - Google News. Fighting in Ukraine continues ahead of peace talks The Detroit News  - ‎13 minutes ago‎ Steffen Seibert, a spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said sh...

» 'Normandy 4' Ukraine peace talks in Minsk LIVE UPDATES — RT News
11/02/15 12:06 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from RT - News. TheCrux I don´t call someone who only defend their homes and families and lifes, terrorists. The meaning behind the word is terror, in this view of the words meaning, the only party which c...

» Leaders gather in Minsk for Ukraine crisis summit
11/02/15 12:05 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story . Story highlights Ukraine's President joins leaders of France and Germany in Minsk, Belarus Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to Minsk for the meetings, the Kremlin says Separatist leaders gather wi...

» 3 admirals censured in 'Fat Leonard' scandal - Military Times
11/02/15 12:00 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Top Stories - Google News. 3 admirals censured in 'Fat Leonard' scandal Military Times Three flag officers have become the highest-ranking officials thus far punished in the Glenn Defense Marine Asia (GDMA...

» Towers of Secrecy: Mexican Political Family Has Close PRI Ties, and Homes in the U.S.
11/02/15 12:00 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from NYT > World. José Murat Casab, left, a former governor of Oaxaca and an influential member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party. Members of his immediate family have bought at least six properties i...

» Solicitor demands divorce after wife 'touted herself as lesbian prostitute on the Internet'
11/02/15 11:59 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from News | Mail Online. John Lindner from Bromley, London, 63, told a court his wife Sharon had ‘multiple lesbian relationships for money and kind’ after advertising her services as a prostitute on the website...

» 3 sentenced to prison in slaying of black man - Hattiesburg American
11/02/15 11:59 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Top Stories - Google News. 3 sentenced to prison in slaying of black man Hattiesburg American JACKSON – Three young white men who admitted they were out hunting black people to attack when they beat, ran o...

» Broadway Play Explores Islamophobia, Tensions, in Post 9-11 US
11/02/15 11:58 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Voice of America. As a novelist and playwright, Pakistani American Ayad Akhtar has focused on the cultural interplay -- and tensions -- between Islam and the West. In 2013, he became the first American pla...

» 3 Navy rear admirals reprimanded in corruption scandal - Bismarck Tribune
11/02/15 11:56 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Top Stories - Google News. 3 Navy rear admirals reprimanded in corruption scandal Bismarck Tribune SAN DIEGO (AP) — The secretary of the Navy has reprimanded three rear admirals in a case linked to a massi...

» Ukraine: Obama Warns Putin Ahead Of Talks
11/02/15 11:55 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from World News - Breaking international news and headlines | Sky News. The United States issues a warning to Russia's Vladimir Putin as leaders gather in Belarus to discuss a Ukrainian peace deal.

» Parents of Obese Children in Puerto Rico Could Face Fines of Up to $800
11/02/15 11:53 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from TIME. Parents in Puerto Rico will be fined up to $800 if their children are obese, if a bill currently being debated in the legislature is implemented. Local senator Gilberto Rodríguez Rodriguez stated tha...

» Greece and Ukraine have something in common: They could both sink the euro zone
11/02/15 11:52 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from GlobalPost - Home. LISBON, Portugal — Europe's twin nightmares have collided this week, forcing the continent's leaders into desperate efforts to head off the risk of wider conflict with Russia and a...

» Free speech or treason? Welcome to Ukraine’s information war
11/02/15 11:52 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from GlobalPost - Home. KYIV — To outside observers, Ruslan Kotsaba’s recent appeal on YouTube to boycott Ukraine’s current military call-up seemed like one man’s protest against the sys...

» Rebel attacks kill 19 Ukrainian soldiers near rail junction in east: Kiev military
11/02/15 11:51 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Reuters: World News. KIEV (Reuters) - Nineteen Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and 78 wounded in rebel attacks near the key railway town of Debaltseve, which government troops are defending, a military...

» Three Muslim family members killed near UNC-Chapel Hill
11/02/15 11:48 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from NY Daily News- Top Stories. Three young members of a Muslim family were killed by their neighbor Tuesday afternoon in their home over a simmering dispute about parking near the University of North Carolina...

» Joe Lieberman: America must answer Putin now
11/02/15 11:16 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from NY Daily News- Top Stories. The thoroughly unsettled world in which we now live was on display in Munich this past weekend. At the city’s annual security conference, there was much talk of both Iran&...

» Vladimir Putin Losing Control Of Insurrection He Started: Pro-Russian Rebels Ignore Russia
11/02/15 11:12 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from GND.com News Home Page. By Matthew McCabe Published May 18th, 2014   23         To most political and social observers of the mess in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin is trying to re-establ...

» Ukraine crisis: Minsk peace talks - live
11/02/15 11:10 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Ukraine Crisis - Latest news and developments from Ukraine and Crimea. Ms Mogherini also urged Moscow to take the chance to become a "responsible actor" and help end the 10-month war between Kiev and pro-R...

» BBC News - Ukraine conflict: Death toll rises ahead of peace talks
11/02/15 10:44 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from BBC News - Europe. 11 February 2015 Last updated at 08:04 ET Footage of the burnt-out shells of vehicles in a bus shelter in Donetsk More than 20 people have died in violence in eastern Ukraine as the lead...

» Battle Rages in Ukraine Ahead of Talks
11/02/15 10:20 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from WSJ.com: World News. Heavy fighting continued in eastern Ukraine just hours before leaders were expected to gather for a high-stakes summit to negotiate a cease-fire in the 10-month-old conflict between pr...

» Leaders due in Minsk for Ukraine peace talks as heavy fighting continues
11/02/15 10:20 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Network Front | The Guardian. Last-ditch diplomatic push in Belarusian capital as Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany meet in attempt bid to secure ceasefire Leaders from Ukraine, Russia, France and German...

» President Obama Expected to Ask Congress for New Anti-Terror Authorization
11/02/15 10:19 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Voice of America. President Barack Obama is expected to ask Congress to approve a new three-year authorization for the use of military force (AUMF) against Islamic State (IS) and other extremist groups. Th...

» Ukraine peace summit overshadowed by some of war's worst fighting
11/02/15 10:10 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story . DONETSK, Ukraine (Reuters) - The leaders of France , Germany, Russia and Ukraine were due to attend a peace summit on Wednesday, but Ukraine's pro-Moscow separatists diminished the chance of a deal by launchi...

» Ukraine president Poroshenko to brief EU summit in Brussels
11/02/15 09:15 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Reuters: World News. BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko will brief EU leaders at a summit in Brussels on Thursday, alongside the German and French leaders, on the results of Wednesda...

» Live Updates: Costa Concordia Trial Verdict
11/02/15 09:15 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from World News - Breaking international news and headlines | Sky News. The cruise ship, captained by Francesco Schettino, rammed into the island of Giglio off Italy in January 2012, killing 32 people.

» Three Family Members Shot Dead Near University of North Carolina - NBCNews.com
11/02/15 09:14 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Top Stories - Google News. NBCNews.com Three Family Members Shot Dead Near University of North Carolina NBCNews.com A suspected gunman has been charged with the triple murder of three family members near a...

» Costa Concordia Captain Expects To Learn Fate
11/02/15 09:14 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from World News - Breaking international news and headlines | Sky News. Francesco Schettino is due to address a court in Italy, where he faces 26 years in jail over the disaster that killed 32 people.

» Trial Opens for Ex-Marine Accused in 'American Sniper' Death - ABC News
11/02/15 09:14 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Top Stories - Google News. Sacramento Bee Trial Opens for Ex-Marine Accused in 'American Sniper' Death ABC News A Texas rodeo store has temporarily run out of baseball caps honoring Chris Kyle, the Navy SE...

» France to close embassy in Yemen over security concerns
11/02/15 09:13 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Reuters: World News. PARIS (Reuters) - France will close its embassy in Yemen from Feb. 13 due to security concerns and has asked its citizens to leave the country as soon as possible, the embassy said on ...

» Survey Shows American Firms Feel Unwelcome and Targeted in China
11/02/15 09:12 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Voice of America. Top-level managers at some 500 American companies in China say that although their businesses are turning a profit, they increasingly feel unwelcome and targeted for scrutiny by the Beiji...

» Somebody give Twitter's chief financial officer a Twitter lesson
11/02/15 09:12 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Network Front | The Guardian. Social media company executive Anthony Noto’s account suspended after he loses account to hacker Of all the people one would expect to understand how Twitter works, the compan...

» Jeb Bush Releases Emails - But Stunt Backfires
11/02/15 09:11 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from World News - Breaking international news and headlines | Sky News. The self-styled eGovernor releases emails from his time in office, complete with people's social security and phone numbers.

» Obama seeks some limits on ground troops for Islamic State fight
11/02/15 09:11 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Reuters: World News. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama will propose to Congress on Wednesday a new three-year authorization for the use of force against Islamic State with limits on U.S. c...

» 102,284,811102,284,8112015-02-10The long view with Russia: "What the West needs now is not merely
11/02/15 06:16 from Mike Nova - Google+
10 2,284,811 10 2,284,811 2015-02-10 The long view with Russia: "What the West needs now is not merely a military policy but a comprehensive, long-term strategy designed to reinforce Ukrainian statehood and integrate Ukraine into Europe ...

» Netanyahu Says Speech to Congress Is His Duty
11/02/15 01:25 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from NYT > World. Israel’s premier sought to put the roiling controversy in historical context and evoked his longstanding sense of mission regarding Iran.

» Obama to pull out Ebola troops
11/02/15 01:25 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Network Front | The Guardian. All but 100 of the 1,300 personnel deployed in west Africa to be recalled, says White House, as outbreak eases Barack Obama is set to bring back nearly all of the 1,300 US tro...

» Mexico detains brother of ex-governor over alleged embezzlement
11/02/15 01:24 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Reuters: World News. MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican authorities said on Tuesday they had detained the brother of a former governor of Mexico's restive western state of Guerrero for his role in an alleged ...

» US to Withdraw Most Troops Fighting Ebola
11/02/15 01:23 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Voice of America. President Barack Obama is expected to announce plans Wednesday to withdraw most of the American troops assigned to battle the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, and to declare that the U.S. m...

» Anne Applebaum: The long view with Russia
10/02/15 23:49 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Anne Applebaum: Most Recent Articles and Archives. In an ordinary year, not all that much happens at the annual Munich security conference. NATO defense ministers murmur earnest platitudes. Experts furrow ...

» The long view with Russia
10/02/15 21:56 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Anne Applebaum: Most Recent Articles and Archives. In an ordinary year, not all that much happens at the annual Munich security conference . NATO defense ministers murmur earnest platitudes. Experts furrow...

» Ukraine crisis: 'Don't arm Kiev' Russia warns US - BBC News
10/02/15 21:50 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Russia - Google News. BBC News Ukraine crisis: 'Don't arm Kiev' Russia warns US BBC News A close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin has told the European Parliament that "all-out war" could result if...

» Посол Ирана: взаимопонимание с РФ ведет к результативным соглашениям - РИА Новости
10/02/15 21:50 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from В мире – Новости Google. РИА Новости Посол Ирана: взаимопонимание с РФ ведет к результативным соглашениям РИА Новости Посол Ирана в РФ Медхи Санаи отметил, что Иран придает большое значение роли России в и...

» Hundreds of Russian troops stage exercises near Ukraine - Reuters
10/02/15 21:50 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Russia - Google News. Channel News Asia Hundreds of Russian troops stage exercises near Ukraine Reuters Separately, more than 600 soldiers had started training in the southern Crimea peninsula, and in Kamc...

» Alexander Zakharchenko: Kremlin Puppet or Symbol of Ukraine Uprising?
10/02/15 21:49 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from The Moscow Times Top Stories. Separatist leader Alexander Zakharchenko will not be present at a summit on east Ukraine this week but his actions will help determine the success or failure of any peace deal.

» Moscow Woman Electrocuted After Dropping iPhone 4 in Bathtub
10/02/15 21:49 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from The Moscow Times Top Stories. A 24-year-old woman has died in Moscow after reportedly being electrocuted by a smartphone charger after her iPhone 4 fell into the bathtub.

» Video: Circus performer mauled by lion a decade after her husband died performing same routine
10/02/15 21:49 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from - Europe RSS Feed. A terrifying video has been released showing the moment a circus lion tamer was mauled by one of her animals – a decade after her husband was killed doing the same routine.

» From Russia With Love: Vladimir Putin Gives Sissi AK-47 - ABC News
10/02/15 21:48 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Russia - Google News. ABC News From Russia With Love: Vladimir Putin Gives Sissi AK-47 ABC News While Ukraine continues to sink deeper into chaos by the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin has skipped to...

» Putin Gives Egypt's Fattah al-Sisi 'Glorious' Kalashnikov AK-47
10/02/15 21:48 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from The Moscow Times Top Stories. Russia's Vladimir Putin presented Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi with an authentic Russian-made Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle while visiting the Egyptian capital of...

» Russia attempts to silence critics of president Putin on Twitter as Kremlin cracks down on social media
10/02/15 21:48 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from - Europe RSS Feed. Russian repeatedly attempted to silence critics of Russian president Vladimir Putin on Twitter, according to data released by the social media giant.

» Fighting Intensifies in Eastern Ukraine Ahead of Peace Talks | News
10/02/15 21:45 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story . SARTANA, Ukraine — Fighting in eastern Ukraine intensified Tuesday ahead of much-anticipated peace talks, with both sides claiming significant advances and the government accusing th...

» How the U.S. Struggles to Crack the Putin Code | News
10/02/15 21:42 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story . Alexei Nikolsky / RIA Novosti / Kremlin / Reuters Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the report claiming Putin suffers from Aspergers as “nonsense.” "Who is Mr. Putin?" The ongoing Ukr...

» Why the Ukraine Crisis Hinges On the U.S. Election | News
10/02/15 21:40 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story . Alexei Chernyshev / Reuters Ukrainian servicemen launch Grad rockets towards pro-Russian separatist forces outside Debaltseve, eastern Ukraine Feb. 8. The outcome of the Ukraine crisis talks in ...

» Russia Would See U.S. Moves to Arm Ukraine as Declaration of War | Business
10/02/15 21:12 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story . U.S. provision of military aid to Ukraine would be seen by Moscow as a declaration of war and spark a global escalation of Ukraine's separatist conflict, Russian defens...

» Hundreds of Russian Troops Stage Military Drills Near Border With Ukraine | News
10/02/15 20:04 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story . Andrei Makhonin / Vedomosti 2,000 Russian reconnaissance troops have started exercises in southern Russia. Hundreds of Russian troops started military exercises in southern Russia near the border with Ukraine...

» Who Wants What in the Minsk Negotiations on Ukraine?
10/02/15 20:01 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from The Moscow Times Top Stories. The leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine plan to hold a summit on the Ukraine crisis in the Belarussian capital of Minsk on Wednesday. Here is an outline of the side...

» Greek Finance Minister Tests EU's Ways of Winning Friends
10/02/15 19:59 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Voice of America. Greece's new finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, heads to a Eurogroup finance ministers meeting on Wednesday to ask for something almost no one there wants to give - at its most basic, a ...

» Зятя Березовского объявили в международный розыск по обвинению в организации убийства - Московский комсомолец
10/02/15 19:59 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from В мире – Новости Google. Московский комсомолец Зятя Березовского объявили в международный розыск по обвинению в организации убийства Московский комсомолец Зять Бориса Березовского, муж его дочери Екатерины...

» Donetsk Native, Backed by Putin, Unites Ukraine Rebels
10/02/15 19:58 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Voice of America. Separatist leader Alexander Zakharchenko will not be present at a summit on east Ukraine this week but his actions will help determine the success or failure of any peace deal. While Russ...

» Greek Foreign Minister To Visit Moscow On February 11
10/02/15 19:58 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty. Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias will travel to Moscow on February 11 at the invitation of his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov.

» Russia's Putin Hopes Next Round of Syria Talks Bring Resolution
10/02/15 19:58 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Voice of America. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday he expected that there would be a new round of talks on the Syria conflict following from a meeting of some opposition figures and the Dam...

» Kremlin Official: US Using Ukraine to Weaken Russia
10/02/15 19:32 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Voice of America. A ranking Kremlin official has accused the United States of attempting to drag Russia into the Ukraine conflict with the aim of weakening Moscow and effecting regime change, according to ...

» U.S. Senate Panel Advances Carter For Defense Secretary
10/02/15 19:31 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty. A U.S. Senate committee has backed President Barack Obama's pick to run the Pentagon.

» Ukraine: draft dodgers face jail as Kiev struggles to find new fighters
10/02/15 19:31 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Russia | The Guardian. Journalist Ruslan Kotsaba, arrested after refusing to fight in video addressed to Petro Poroshenko, is among many weary of conflict that has killed 5,000 Ruslan Kotsaba posted a vide...

» Putin and Sisi follow illiberal trend
10/02/15 19:31 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Europe News. Russian and Egyptian leaders find much to admire in each other, especially hostility to Islamism

» Shifting Focus in Ebola Countries
10/02/15 19:30 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Voice of America. An organization providing medical assistance to Ebola-affected countries is expanding its operations to include other health needs. Direct Relief is taking the action as fewer new Ebola c...

» Philip Hammond: Britain not ruling out providing 'lethal force' in Ukraine
10/02/15 19:30 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Russian news, all the latest and breaking Russia news. The Foreign Secretary strongly suggests that the UK could be prepared to assist the Ukrainian government in its fight against pro-Russian forces

» Трагедия в Краматорске
10/02/15 19:30 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Uploads by Радио Свобода. Трагедия в Краматорске Главная военная прокуратура Украины возбудила уголовное дело по статье «теракт» по факту обстрела города... From: Радио Свобода Views: 301 33 206 3 ratings ...

» Leaders set for Minsk talks on Ukraine ceasefire
10/02/15 19:29 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Russia | The Guardian. Fighting continues in Kramatorsk and Mariupol before summit billed as last chance to prevent conflict from spiralling out of control Russian, Ukrainian, German and French officials a...

» 'House of Religions' bringing eight faiths together under one roof in Bern
10/02/15 19:28 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from - Europe RSS Feed. As the Paris attacks and anti-Islam Pegida marches in Germany have spread division and fear among followers of different faiths in Europe, a revolutionary project in Switzerland is uniti...

» Rockets hit residential area in Kramatorsk, Ukraine - video
10/02/15 19:27 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Russia | The Guardian. Amateur footage purports to show a rocket strike on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk. The video, shot from the window of a nearby house, shows a series of explosions in the d...

» Source: French Rafale Fighter Jet Sale to Egypt ‘Imminent’
10/02/15 19:27 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Voice of America. The sale of 24 Dassault Aviation-built Rafale fighter jets to Egypt is “imminent,” a French source said, adding that the French and Egyptian defense ministries, and Dassault were holding ...

» Депутаты фракции Ляшко предложили Раде дать добро на разрыв дипотношений с Россией - УНИАН
10/02/15 19:25 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from В мире – Новости Google. УНИАН Депутаты фракции Ляшко предложили Раде дать добро на разрыв дипотношений с Россией УНИАН В Верховной Раде зарегистрирован проект постановления о временном прекращении диплома...

» Litvinenko inquiry: suspect 'drank a lot and wanted to be porn star'
10/02/15 19:10 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Russia | The Guardian. Hearing told Dmitry Kovtun’s first marriage collapsed due to alcohol abuse and hanging around Hamburg’s red-light district looking to work in sex industry One of the two Russians who...

» UK government defends role in Ukraine-Russia crisis
10/02/15 19:09 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Russia | The Guardian. Foreign secretary Philip Hammond says Germany is best placed to hold peace negotiations with Kremlin The British foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, has defended the government agains...

» Russia To Help Iran Attack Saudi Arabia If U.S. Arms Ukraine [REPORT] - ValueWalk
10/02/15 19:09 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Russia - Google News. ValueWalk Russia To Help Iran Attack Saudi Arabia If U.S. Arms Ukraine [REPORT] ValueWalk President Barack Obama confirmed Monday that the U.S. was weighing the possibility of providi...

» Туск пригласил Порошенко обсудить ситуацию в Донбассе на заседании ЕС - РИА Новости
10/02/15 19:08 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from В мире – Новости Google. РИА Новости Туск пригласил Порошенко обсудить ситуацию в Донбассе на заседании ЕС РИА Новости Туск и Порошенко обсудили ситуацию на востоке страны. Порошенко выразил надежду на уре...

» President Obama Hosts Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, "One of Our Strongest Allies"
10/02/15 19:08 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from White House.gov Blog Feed. President Barack Obama and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany participate in a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 9, 2015. (Official White House Ph...

» Remarks by President Obama and Chancellor Merkel in Joint Press Conference | The White House
10/02/15 18:59 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from White House.gov Blog Feed. And I just want to emphasize here once again for the benefit not just of the American people but for the German people, we are not looking for Russia to fail.  We are not lo...

» Devastation in Ukraine in runup to Minsk summit – in pictures
10/02/15 18:44 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Russia | The Guardian. Fighting has continued in eastern Ukraine as both sides try to make gains before a possible deal in Minsk, Belarus, which is being billed as a last chance to prevent further escalati...

» Николай Патрушев: США пытаются втянуть Россию в военный конфликт - Российская Газета
10/02/15 18:44 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from В мире – Новости Google. Российская Газета Николай Патрушев: США пытаются втянуть Россию в военный конфликт Российская Газета Николай Патрушев: Для США Украина сама по себе не интересна, их цель - ослабить...

» Встреча Обама-Меркель: мнения экспертов
10/02/15 18:43 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Uploads by Голос Америки. Встреча Обама-Меркель: мнения экспертов На совместной пресс-конференции руководители обеих стран подчеркнули, что у конфликта в Украине может... From: Голос Америки Views: 1 0 0 r...

» US Embassy in Yemen Closing Due to Turmoil
10/02/15 18:40 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Voice of America. The United States Embassy in Yemen is closing due to deteriorating security conditions since the resignation of the country’s president. A U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anon...

» Newsweek Twitter Feed Hacked By Pro-IS Group
10/02/15 18:40 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty. Newsweek's Twitter account was apparently hacked, posting threatening messages toward U.S. President Barack Obama's family and in support of the militant group Islamic St...

» White House Confirms American Woman Held By IS Killed
10/02/15 18:39 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty. U.S. President Barack Obama has confirmed the death of Kayla Jean Mueller, a 26-year-old American woman was held hostage in Syria by the Islamic State (IS) militant group.

» Battered Ukrainian City of Mariupol Braces for Worst as Rebels Close in Again
10/02/15 18:37 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from NYT > Europe. Mariupol, a strategic port on the Sea of Azov, has seen periodic fighting over the last year, and may now face a full assault from Russian-backed rebels.

» Ukraine: workers take cover as rockets hit soup kitchen - video
10/02/15 18:36 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Russia | The Guardian. Rockets slam into a soup kitchen in eastern Ukraine, forcing terrified workers to duck for cover. The building in Pervomaisk is hit by two separate rocket attacks within hours of eac...

» Egypt, Russia Sign Military, Economic and Nuclear Accords
10/02/15 18:36 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Voice of America. Russia and Egypt signed several agreements to reinforce military and economic ties, along with a deal to help Cairo develop nuclear power capabilities.  The agreements capped a two-day vi...

» Stripped bare: Dominique Strauss-Kahn forced to reveal his sexual proclivities
10/02/15 18:36 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from - Europe RSS Feed. Dominique Strauss-Kahn could have been explaining a point to a dim world leader at a world summit.

» Putin, Sisi Discuss Nuclear Cooperation In Cairo
10/02/15 18:35 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty. Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed Moscow's involvement in building atomic energy plants with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo on February 10.

» Russia's Sudden Spate of Treason Cases Are Scare Tactic, Analysts Say
10/02/15 18:35 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from The Moscow Times Top Stories. As the gulf between Russia and the West continues to deepen over the Ukraine crisis, the list of Russians being charged with treason has suddenly and visibly begun to expand.

» Ukraine peace talks threatened by deadly attacks
10/02/15 18:35 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from - Europe RSS Feed. Desperate four-way peace talks planned today in Minsk appeared increasingly doomed to failure last night after fighting intensified in eastern Ukraine.

» On Ukraine Battle Fringes, Civilians Struggle for Normalcy
10/02/15 18:34 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Voice of America. While battles rage daily in some parts of eastern Ukraine, not far away -- in areas the government took back from the Russian-backed rebels last summer -- people are doing their best to l...

» Russia's Space Startup Dauria Lowers Horizons Amid Crisis
10/02/15 18:34 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from The Moscow Times Top Stories. Russia's first private commercial satellite company, Dauria Aerospace, has made the drastic decision to redefine itself as a space technology export firm in the face of low fu...

» Russia's Putin, Egypt's Sisi say committed to fighting terrorism - Reuters
10/02/15 18:34 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Russia - Google News. Reuters Russia's Putin, Egypt's Sisi say committed to fighting terrorism Reuters CAIRO (Reuters) - United by a deep hostility toward Islamists, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi...

» Greece threatens tilt to Russia and China unless Europe yields - Telegraph.co.uk
10/02/15 18:33 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Russia - Google News. Telegraph.co.uk Greece threatens tilt to Russia and China unless Europe yields Telegraph.co.uk Greece's radical new government has threatened to seek money from Russia and China to av...

» Ukraine crisis: Amateur video shows deadly shelling in Kramatorsk
10/02/15 18:33 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Russian news, all the latest and breaking Russia news. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Pro-Russian separatists launched a rocket strike on the town of Kramatorsk

» Opposing Lawyer on Strauss-Kahn’s Claims
10/02/15 18:33 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from NYT > Europe. A lawyer representing some of the prostitutes in the trial of Dominique Strauss-Kahn argued that the former I.M.F. chief must have known their profession when he met them.

» Agreement on Tentative Deal for Ukraine Cease-Fire Is Reported
10/02/15 18:32 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from NYT > Europe. Negotiators meeting in Belarus were said to have reached a tentative deal on Tuesday night, setting the stage for a meeting of the leaders to sign the agreement on Wednesday.

» Carter Strikes Forceful Tone on Russia
10/02/15 18:07 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story . A Pro-Russian separatist tank on Monday in Uglegorsk. (Photo: DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images) WASHINGTON — The United States and NATO should reject Russian assertions that Moscow is entitled to a "sph...

» Carter Strikes Forceful Tone on Russia - DefenseNews.com
10/02/15 18:06 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Russia - Google News. DefenseNews.com Carter Strikes Forceful Tone on Russia DefenseNews.com WASHINGTON — The United States and NATO should reject Russian assertions that Moscow is entitled to a "sphe...

» Доктрина мира или войны? - YouTube
10/02/15 17:59 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story . Published on Feb 10, 2015 Американские эксперты споряm...

» Доктрина мира или войны?
10/02/15 17:58 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Uploads by Голос Америки. Доктрина мира или войны? Амери...

» Нью-Йоркское метро – подземный музей искусств
10/02/15 17:58 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Uploads by Голос Америки. Нью-Йоркское метро – подземны...

» Is America in a Math Crisis?
10/02/15 17:58 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Voice of America. It is often said mathematics is a cornerstone of learning. Communications, computer science, the arts, the Internet, space exploration - all are based on underlying mathematical concepts....

» Why Is The Death Toll Tumbling In The North Caucasus?
10/02/15 17:57 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty. Expert opinions differ on the reasons for a decline in the total number of people killed and wounded in the North Caucasus in clashes between the Islamic insurgency and p...

» The Guardian view on Bashar al-Assad’s BBC interview: the lies of a tyrant | Editorial
10/02/15 17:57 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Russia | The Guardian. The Syrian dictator is profiting from the west’s lack of strategy, while the bloodshed he unleashes leads a country to ruin Bashar al-Assad’s BBC interview may not have broken any ne...

» Britain not ruling out providing 'lethal force' in Ukraine
10/02/15 17:57 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Russian news, all the latest and breaking Russia news. Foreign Secretary suggests UK could be prepared to assist Ukrainian government in its fight against pro-Russian forces

» Has Russia Divided the West?
10/02/15 17:56 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Home - Institute of Modern Russia. On February 6, German Chancellor Merkel, French President Hollande, and Russian President Putin spent five hours negotiating a Ukraine peace deal in Moscow. At the end, t...

» Obama Calls Putin To Urge Peaceful Solution In Ukraine
10/02/15 17:47 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty. The White House says U.S. President Barack Obama called Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the situation in eastern Ukraine, urging him ahead of major talks in M...

» Controversy Over Netanyahu Speech to Congress Grows
10/02/15 17:47 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Voice of America. Since U.S. House Speaker John Boehner invited Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu to speak to Congress next month about nuclear talks with Iran — without first consulting the White House — the li...

» ON THE SCENE: VOA Correspondent Sees Carnage, Frightened Residents in Ukrainian City
10/02/15 17:46 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Voice of America. Editor's note: On the eve of planned peace talks in Minsk, at least 15 people died amid battles in the Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk Tuesday. Most of the victims were hit by rockets that a...

» France still respects Dominique Strauss-Kahn but new trial will destroy him - Telegraph.co.uk
10/02/15 17:46 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from anti-Americanism - Google News. Telegraph.co.uk France still respects Dominique Strauss-Kahn but new trial will destroy him Telegraph.co.uk The sheer tawdriness of the New York case was already a turn-off,...

» Why Obama Thinks All Muslim Terror Attacks Are 'Random' - Breitbart News
10/02/15 17:45 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from anti-Americanism - Google News. Breitbart News Why Obama Thinks All Muslim Terror Attacks Are 'Random' Breitbart News There are strains of extremism, and anti-Americanism , and anti-Western sentiment. And ...

» Life under shelling in eastern Ukraine: a battle to survive
10/02/15 17:34 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Stars and Stripes. At the Trudovskoi bus station in Donetsk, the gossip these days focuses on whose house has been hit by shelling and where you can get food handouts.

» GOP continues push for more defense spending
10/02/15 17:34 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Stars and Stripes. The Senate Armed Services Committee under John McCain continued its push Tuesday to reverse a decline in U.S. defense spending since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

» 2,273,1052,273,105Mike Nova
10/02/15 17:33 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Mike Nova - Google+. 2,273,105 2,273,105 Mike Nova Shared publicly -  2015-02-09 #Russia » 'Russia's growing threat': The West faces a very dangerous crisis – and it's ... - The Independent 09/02/15 15:39 ...

» 2,273,1042,273,1042015-02-09Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn: “You cannot defeat an enemy you do not admit
10/02/15 17:32 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Mike Nova - Google+. 2,273,104 2,273,104 2015-02-09 Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn: “You cannot defeat an enemy you do not admit exists.” Lt Gen Michael Flynn Fox News Sunday Published on Feb 8, 2015 We’ll discuss...

» Maureen Dowd: NBC News Knew Brian Williams was ‘Pathological’
10/02/15 17:31 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Breitbart News Network. Maureen Dowd: NBC News Knew Brian Williams was ‘Pathological’ According to Maureen Dowd in the New York Times, NBC News executives knew Brian Williams had a problem with the truth b...

» Islamist Assassination Attempt on Pope Francis Thwarted
10/02/15 17:30 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Breitbart News Network. Islamist Assassination Attempt on Pope Francis Thwarted The Southeast Asian Jihadist terrorist organization Jemaah Islamiyah reportedly planned to kill Pope Francis during his recen...

» Obama Awaits Outcome of Ukraine Peace Talks Before Deciding on Arms
10/02/15 17:26 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story . WASHINGTON — President Obama said Monday that he would wait for the outcome of peace talks before deciding whether to provide lethal weapons to Ukraine . Such assistance would represent a striking break...

» Once Friendly With Putin, German Goes to Court Over Seized Assets
10/02/15 17:18 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story . Continue reading the main story Take the quiz Submit Now sight-seeing dining out spa treatments interesting seminars free-time to myself an airport the gym live music concerts the wine bar my desk trusty trav...

» Putin security aide warns US over arms for Ukraine
10/02/15 17:15 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story . A key security adviser to Russian president Vladimir Putin has accused the US of seeking to drag Russia directly into war in Ukraine through a possible plan to arm Kiev, underlining the seriousness with which...

» Moscow’s Afghan Endgame | The Diplomat
10/02/15 14:48 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Comments on: Moscow’s Afghan Endgame. Few will have been watching the troubled Afghan presidential elections with greater attention than Russia. Although Moscow has not shown a strong preference for either...

» Photos and roses for GRU’s ‘spetsnaz’ casualties
10/02/15 14:45 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story . ©ITAR TASS President Vladimir Putin, left, and Sergei Ivanov, defence minister, visit Russia's GRU (main intelligence agency) In an anonymous military classroom somewhere in Moscow, 12 portraits in ident...

» This spy agency is Putin's secret weapon
10/02/15 14:43 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from The Week. There are two ways an espionage agency can prove its worth to the government it serves. Either it can be truly useful (think: locating a most-wanted terrorist), or it can engender fear, dislike, ...

» From Russia With Love: Vladimir Putin Gives Sissi AK-47
10/02/15 12:47 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from ABC News: International. While Ukraine continues to sink deeper into chaos by the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin has skipped town for a two-day visit to Cairo, Egypt . And with him, he brought a spe...

» costa concordia - Google Search
10/02/15 12:40 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story . In the news Costa Concordia Captain's Defense Asks for Mercy as Verdict Looms <a href="http://NBCNews.com" rel="nofollow">NBCNews.com</a> ‎ - 5 hours ago ... for the shipwreck of the Costa C...

» Costa Concordia captain's actions - YouTube
10/02/15 12:34 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story . Published on Feb 10, 2015 On the night of 13th January, at around nine o'clock, the Costa Concordia approached Giglio, sounding its horn in a salute to the Tuscan island's 800 inhabitants. Captain Francesco S...

» JOWELL Y RANDY - CONCIERTO EN PUERTO RICO
10/02/15 12:05 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Videos matching: puerto rico. JOWELL Y RANDY - CONCIERTO EN PUERTO RICO El duó puertorriqueño Reggaetoneros Jowell y Randy , se presentaron el 30 enero 2015 en el Coliseo José Miguel Agrelot de Puerto Rico...

» Pierluisi Introduces Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Process Act
10/02/15 12:05 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Videos matching: puerto rico. Pierluisi Introduces Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Process Act Resident Commissioner Pedro R. Pierluisi announces the introduction of the bipartisan “Puerto Rico Statehood A...

» Alejandro García Padilla "Complejo Ferial"
10/02/15 12:03 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Uploads by Redacción Noti Uno. Alejandro García Padilla "Complejo Ferial" From: Redacción Noti Uno Views: 0 0 ratings Time: 44:54 More in News & Politics

» Lavado de Manos
10/02/15 12:02 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Uploads by La Fortaleza. Lavado de Manos From: La Fortaleza Views: 0 1 0 ratings Time: 00:21 More in People & Blogs

» Puerto Rico suffers an economic crisis
10/02/15 11:57 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Voxxi. &amp;amp;amp;lt;img class="size-full wp-image-271242 " title="San Juan, Puerto Rico Economic Crisis" alt="Protest of government pensions in Puerto rRico." src="http://ionevoxxi.files.wordpress.c...

» Spain to help Puerto Rico with it’s embattled economy
10/02/15 11:56 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Voxxi. &amp;amp;amp;lt;img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-280749" src="http://ionevoxxi.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/cruise-ship.jpg?w=640&amp;amp;amp;amp;#038;h=427" alt="Puerto Rico looks a...

» Feb, 9 2015
10/02/15 11:48 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from The San Juan Daily Star. Feb, 9 2015 Science Travel Pfizer Bets $15 Billion on New Type of Generic Drugs Britain Set to Approve Technique to Create Babies From 3 People Congressional Trips to Cuba in Doubt...

» Feb, 6-8 2015
10/02/15 11:48 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from The San Juan Daily Star. Feb, 6-8 2015 Lotto Wine Anthem Health Insurer Says Cyberattack Stole Data of Millions Maternal Depression Often Starts Before Giving Birth, Study Says TransAsia Airways Under Scru...

» Feb, 5 2015
10/02/15 11:48 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from The San Juan Daily Star. Feb, 5 2015 Movies Staples to Buy Office Depot for $6.3 Billion Can Attention Deficit Drugs ‘Normalize’ a Child’s Brain? Jordan Executes 2 Prisoners After Isis Video Shows Pilot Be...

» Feb, 4 2015
10/02/15 11:48 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from The San Juan Daily Star. Feb, 4 2015 Fashion & Beauty Modern Love NY Attorney General Targets Supplements at Walgreens, Walmart, GNC What’s in Those Supplements? ISIS Video Is Said to Show Jordanian Pi...

» Feb, 3 2015
10/02/15 11:47 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from The San Juan Daily Star. Feb, 3 2015 Kitchen Pets Exclusive Negotiating Pact Signed with Roosevelt Roads Developer A Discredited Vaccine Study’s Continuing Impact on Public Health Training Teachers to Take...

» Feb, 2 2015
10/02/15 11:47 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from The San Juan Daily Star. Feb, 2 2015 Travel PR Launches Initiative to Protect Honey Bees Medicare Payments Surge for Stents to Unblock Blood Vessels in Limbs Oil Cash Waning, Venezuelan Shelves Lie Bare Ch...

» Jan, 30-Feb, 1 2015
10/02/15 11:47 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from The San Juan Daily Star. Jan, 30-Feb, 1 2015 Lotto Wine 71 Groups Meeting in PR in February-March for $12 Million Impact Why Your Workout Should Be High-Intensity In Violent Venezuela, Police Killings Surg...

» Puerto Rico News Digest For February 10, 2015
10/02/15 11:46 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from The Puerto Rico Monitor. FARMERS WORRIED OVER IVA TAX From The San Juan Daily Star : Puerto Rico Farmers Association President Héctor Cordero lashed out against the proposed valued-added tax (IVA by its Sp...

» 2.5M Tremor Registered 7 Miles North of Ponce
10/02/15 11:46 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from The Puerto Rico Monitor. The US Geological Survey registered a 2.5 magnitude earthquake  last night at approximately 10:45PM local time, about 7 miles north of the city of Ponce. The epicenter's coord...

» PR Spoils The Rich As Middle Class Flees
10/02/15 11:46 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from The Puerto Rico Monitor. Photo: The Real Deal Guide To Puerto Rico From The Associated Press : PALMAS DEL MAR, Puerto Rico (AP) — Bond trader Ben Eiler swapped life in suburban Georgia for an island in the...

» CUBAN BASEBALL PLAYERS DEFECT IN PR
10/02/15 11:46 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from The Puerto Rico Monitor. From ABC News : Two Cuban baseball players in Puerto Rico for the Caribbean Series apparently have abandoned their team mid-tournament, Cuba's team said Wednesday. The missing play...

» Puerto Rico News Digest For February 3, 2015
10/02/15 11:45 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from The Puerto Rico Monitor. CELAC CALLS FOR DECOLONIZATION Photo: The Costa Rica News From The San Juan Daily Star : With the support of Cuba and Venezuela, the heads of state and government of the 33 member ...

» After decades of neglect, a promising new US strategy for Central America?
10/02/15 11:40 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from The Hill: Congress Blog. The Obama administration released its FY2016 budget request this week. It included $1 billion to fund a new strategy for Central America. According to the administration, the aid i...

» The Santayana lesson
10/02/15 11:39 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from The Hill: Congress Blog. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” So said George Santayana, giving us a line oft repeated by high school history and civics teachers and forgotten by...

» Jeb Bush is the fragile front-runner
10/02/15 11:39 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from The Hill: Congress Blog. In a tight race with no clear leader, Jeb Bush is the “front-runner,” if only for the satisfaction of handing someone, anyone, that fragile title. The 2016 GOP contest is undeniabl...

» After 17 years on Argentine bomb case, prosecutor was sure ‘truth will triumph’
10/02/15 11:38 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from The Americas News: News and Headlines from Canada, South America & More - The Washington Post. BUENOS AIRES — Moments before Argentine prosecutor Alberto Nisman presented his findings in the case that ...

» Argentine prosecutor considered call for president’s arrest, investigator says
10/02/15 11:38 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from The Americas News: News and Headlines from Canada, South America & More - The Washington Post. BUENOS AIRES — An Argentine prosecutor found dead under mysterious circumstances last month had drafted a ...

» Pierluisi Introduces Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Bill
10/02/15 11:24 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Res. Comm. Pedro Pierluisi - Representing the At Large District of PUERTO RICO. Washington, DC —Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi today introduced the Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Process Act , a bi...

» Text of the Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Process Act
10/02/15 11:24 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Res. Comm. Pedro Pierluisi - Representing the At Large District of PUERTO RICO. View the text of the Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Process Act here:   Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Process Act  

» ‘El Nuevo Dia’ calls out Puerto Rican government; calls it ‘bankrupt’
10/02/15 11:21 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Voxxi. &amp;amp;amp;lt;img class="size-full wp-image-331331" src="https://ionevoxxi.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/puerto-rico-capitol.jpg?w=640&amp;amp;amp;amp;#038;h=450" alt="El Nuevo Dia published...

» Puetro Rican daily calls out the government; says island is 'bankrupt' - VOXXI
10/02/15 11:20 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from puerto rico statehood - Google News. VOXXI Puetro Rican daily calls out the government; says island is 'bankrupt' VOXXI Less than a week after Puerto Rico's House of Representatives approved a bill to requ...

» Puerto Rico Aims to Become 51st US State in 2021 - Latin American Herald Tribune
10/02/15 11:20 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from puerto rico statehood - Google News. Puerto Rico Aims to Become 51st US State in 2021 Latin American Herald Tribune In 2020 Puerto Rico would be responsible for organizing everything so that in the electio...

» Nation's dirty little secret -- Puerto Rico -- longs for its star - Orlando Sentinel
10/02/15 11:20 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from puerto rico statehood - Google News. Orlando Sentinel Nation's dirty little secret -- Puerto Rico -- longs for its star Orlando Sentinel The White House released the following statement a month after the v...

» Leader: “Commonwealth” Would Control Radio, TV, Minimum Wage
10/02/15 11:15 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Puerto Rico Report. SAYS STATEHOOD WOULD WIN VOTE ON THE STATUS Says Statehood Would Win Vote on the Status The Government of Puerto Rico would have ultimate control over radio and television standards, wa...

» Obama Would End Companies Avoiding Tax In Puerto Rico
10/02/15 11:14 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Puerto Rico Report. WOULD LIMIT “COMMONWEALTH” ARGUMENT AGAINST STATEHOOD Manufacturers based in the States would no longer be able to avoid Federal taxation of income through U.S. territories and foreign ...

» Puerto Rico Could be a State in 2021 under US House Bill
10/02/15 11:14 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Puerto Rico Report. A bill to make Puerto Rico a State January 1, 2021 if Puerto Ricans vote for the status again was formally proposed today in the U.S. House of Representatives by a symbolic 51 members. ...

» Puerto Rico Paid More Federal Taxes than Six States
10/02/15 11:13 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Puerto Rico Report. Each State and territory contributes to the U.S. Treasury through taxes paid by their residents. Each State and territory also receives Federal funds. Some get more back than they give,...

» Biden: Puerto Ricans Should Fight for Statehood; Will Get It
10/02/15 11:13 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Puerto Rico Report. Territory’s Current Status is “very  bizarre” Puerto Ricans should “fight hard” for statehood, Vice President Joseph Biden told White House staff in July 2012. If they do, “we shall act...

» As middle class flees, Puerto Rico tries luring rich people - Town Hall
10/02/15 11:12 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from puerto rico politics - Google News. Town Hall As middle class flees, Puerto Rico tries luring rich people Town Hall PALMAS DEL MAR, Puerto Rico (AP) — Bond trader Ben Eiler swapped life in suburban Georgia...

» PR Journal: More blame game politics in Puerto Rico - by worleyf
10/02/15 11:12 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from puerto rico politics - Google Blog Search. The issues with Puerto Rico's economy and culture all start and end in Puerto Rico Local The government under Both political parties have utterly failed to bring ...

» Dream Nation: Cultural Fictions, History, and Politics in Puerto Rico ...
10/02/15 11:12 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from puerto rico politics - Google Blog Search. Yet the rhetoric and iconography of independence have been defining features of Puerto Rican literature and culture. María Acosta Cruz's new book, Dream Nation: P...

» For relatives of terror victims, Cuba detente revives painful memories
10/02/15 11:11 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Puerto Rico Newswire. Joe Connor was just a few days past his ninth birthday when the news hit on January 24, 1975: His father, Frank, a financial executive, had been killed that afternoon by a bomb blast ...

» Will Cuba Extradite? Detente could bring American fugitives home
10/02/15 11:11 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Puerto Rico Newswire. Joe Connor was just a few days past his ninth birthday when the news hit on January 24, 1975: His father, Frank, a financial executive, had been killed that afternoon by a bomb blast ...

» Puerto Rico News & Economy: Gov. García Padilla's Leadership 'A ...
10/02/15 11:08 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from puerto rico news - Google Blog Search. Puerto Rico Gov. Alejandro García Padilla and his administration's policies have been labeled as a "failure" by a non-partisan advocacy organization.

» FBI — Nine Individuals Indicted for the Murder of an Officer and Employee of the United States
10/02/15 11:07 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story . WASHINGTON—On Jan. 28, 2015, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned a six-count indictment charging nine individuals for the murder of Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati-Casanas, a correc...

» Murder, Fraud, Conspiracy Haunt Doral Bank In Puerto Rico After FBI Raid
10/02/15 11:06 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from The Inquisitr News. On Tuesday, the FBI raided the IT offices of Doral Bank in Puerto Rico, citing an ongoing investigation. The officials didn’t reveal much more, but given Doral’s checkered p...

» Nine Different People Indicted For Killing A Single Officer Who Took Their Cell Phones
10/02/15 11:06 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from The Inquisitr News. It’s rare that more than one or two people get indicted for murder. But one strange news story out of Puerto Rico involves nine individuals possibly earning the death penalty for ...

» Puerto Rico: Nine Different People Indicted For Killing A Single ...
10/02/15 11:05 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from puerto rico news - Google Blog Search. It's rare that more than one or two people get indicted for murder. But one strange news story out of Puerto Rico involves nine individuals possibly earning the death...

» 'Ex-Gay' Puerto Rico Priest Defends Past As Gay Adult Film Star| Gay News | Towleroad
10/02/15 10:47 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Towleroad News #gay. 02/03/2015 'Ex-Gay' Puerto Rico Priest Defends Past As Gay Adult Film Star By Jim Redmond Jose Santiago (above right), a priest at the House of Prayer Monte Santo in Puerto Rico , has ...

» Priest revealed to be former gay porn star · PinkNews
10/02/15 10:45 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from PinkNews. A priest in Puerto Rico is refusing to resign – after he was exposed as a former gay porn star. San Juan Pastor Jose Santiago faced an outcry after explicit videos spread ...

» 'Ex-Gay' Puerto Rico Priest Defends Past As Gay Adult Film Star ...
10/02/15 10:44 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from puerto rico news - Google Blog Search. Pastor-santiago2-468x670. Jose Santiago (above right), a priest at the House of Prayer Monte Santo in Puerto Rico , has refused to resign after details of his former ...

» Two former police officers sentenced for 2012 robbery in Puerto Rico
10/02/15 10:43 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from puerto rico news - Google Blog Search. Regional news archives from Caribbean News Now!: The source for the latest news throughout the Caribbean.

» Puerto Rico declares flu epidemic; 1 dead, 140 ... - WINK News
10/02/15 10:43 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from puerto rico news - Google Blog Search. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – Puerto Rico's health secretary has declared a flu epidemic in the U.S. territory that has temporarily shut down at least one school. Ana ...

» In Puerto Rico, Health Overhaul Gets An Incomplete
10/02/15 10:43 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Puerto Rico News. Javier Villa has worked at his family's used car dealership in San Juan, Puerto Rico, ever since he finished high school. Villa, 35, always assumed the insurance plan he had through work ...

» Puerto Rico debt restructuring law thrown out by federal judge
10/02/15 10:42 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Puerto Rico News. Also, for the convenience of our readers and the online community generally, we have reproduced the complete Caribbean Net News archives from 2004 to 2010 here . The Caribbean is especial...

» San Juan: Inmate charged with making death threats against U.S. attorney.
10/02/15 10:42 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Puerto Rico News. Special Agent in Charge Carlos Cases of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's San Juan Division announced that the FBI has pressed charges against Jose Villafane-Cotto. On February 6, 201...

» Puerto Rico News & Economy: Gov. García Padilla's Leadership 'A Failure', Says ... - Latin Post
10/02/15 10:42 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from puerto rico economy - Google News. Latin Post Puerto Rico News & Economy : Gov. García Padilla's Leadership 'A Failure', Says ... Latin Post Garcia Padilla is reportedly meeting with members of Congres...

» Puerto Rico gov't tries to sell public on value added tax - La prensa
10/02/15 10:42 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from puerto rico economy - Google News. La prensa Puerto Rico gov't tries to sell public on value added tax La prensa On an island with a population of 3.5 million, only 1 million people file tax returns becaus...

» Puerto Rico to appeal ruling voiding bankruptcy law - Reuters
10/02/15 10:41 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from puerto rico - Google News. Puerto Rico to appeal ruling voiding bankruptcy law Reuters Late on Friday a U.S. federal judge ruled that Puerto Rico's so-called Recovery Act, which made some of its agencies e...

» Court Rejection of Puerto Rico Bankruptcy Heightens Uncertainty - Bond Buyer
10/02/15 10:41 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from puerto rico - Google News. Court Rejection of Puerto Rico Bankruptcy Heightens Uncertainty Bond Buyer Court Rejection of Puerto Rico Bankruptcy Heightens Uncertainty. by Robert Slavin. FEB 9, 2015 4:11pm E...

» FBI takes custody of man who threatened Puerto Rico prosecutor from prison - Fox News Latino
10/02/15 10:41 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from puerto rico - Google News. FBI takes custody of man who threatened Puerto Rico prosecutor from prison Fox News Latino FBI agents took custody of a man who, although in prison, issued death threats against ...

» FBI: Puerto Rico man makes death threats against US attorney - Yahoo News
10/02/15 10:40 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from puerto rico - Google News. Latin American Herald Tribune FBI: Puerto Rico man makes death threats against US attorney Yahoo News SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The FBI says charges have been filed against a ...

» Hedge funds still plan $2 bln financing deal with Puerto Rico -source - Reuters
10/02/15 10:37 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from puerto rican community in new york - Google News. Hedge funds still plan $2 bln financing deal with Puerto Rico -source Reuters NEW YORK Feb 9 (Reuters) - Hedge funds holding Puerto Rico's general obligati...

» Judge Threatens Plan for Puerto Rico to Avert Financial Catastrophe - New York Times
10/02/15 10:37 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from puerto rican community in new york - Google News. Bond Buyer Reuters Judge Threatens Plan for Puerto Rico to Avert Financial Catastrophe New York Times Broadly, the hedge funds appear to expect that the ne...

» US seeks 29 drug suspects in Puerto Rico, Florida, Colombia | WINK ...
10/02/15 10:37 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from puerto rican community in new york - Google Blog Search. Authorities said a portion of the cocaine was sold in Puerto Rico and the remainder transported to New York . They said drug sale revenues would be ...

» Puerto Rican Writer Emilio Díaz Valcárcel Dies at 86 | Repeating ...
10/02/15 10:36 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from puerto rican community in new york - Google Blog Search. Upon returning to Puerto Rico , he continued his university studies and worked as a writer and scriptwriter for the Community Education Division (DI...

» Federal judge voids Puerto Rico debt-restructuring law - New Zealand Herald
10/02/15 10:36 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from PR Economy and Business News Review. Reuters Federal judge voids Puerto Rico debt-restructuring law New Zealand Herald SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) " A federal judge ruled late Friday that a Puerto Rico...

» Puerto Rico Restructuring Law Thrown Out in Bondholder Win - Bloomberg
10/02/15 10:36 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from PR Economy and Business News Review. Quad City Times Puerto Rico Restructuring Law Thrown Out in Bondholder Win Bloomberg (Bloomberg) -- A Puerto Rico law that would have forced investors in some public co...

» SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: Federal judge voids Puerto Rico ...
10/02/15 10:36 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from PR Economy and Business News Review. A federal judge has ruled that a Puerto Rico debt-restructuring law that aims to protect the government from bankruptcy and make public corporations self-sufficient is ...

» Federal judge rules that Puerto Rico debt-restructuring law is unconstitutional - Fox Business
10/02/15 10:36 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from PR Economy and Business News Review. Federal judge rules that Puerto Rico debt-restructuring law is unconstitutional Fox Business SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A federal judge ruled late Friday that a Puerto Ric...

» Judge Strikes Down Puerto Rico's Debt Restructuring Law - New York Times
10/02/15 10:35 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from PR Economy and Business News Review. Judge Strikes Down Puerto Rico's Debt Restructuring Law New York Times Investors in billions of dollars of Puerto Rico bonds have secured a major legal victory, after a...

» Bond Markets Are Watching: Will Puerto Rico Enact Sweeping Tax Reform? - Forbes
10/02/15 10:35 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from PR Economy and Business News Review. Bond Markets Are Watching: Will Puerto Rico Enact Sweeping Tax Reform? Forbes Like most state sales taxes, Puerto Rico's sales and use tax provides broad exemptions for...

» One rule for Puerto Rican prosperity: thou shall not steal
10/02/15 10:23 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Conservative News and Views on Puerto Rico. An uncle by marriage once told me, its not the hardest worker that survives in Puerto Rico; ‘es el mas listo.’  While ‘listo’ means smart...

» UPDATE 6-Puerto Rico to appeal restructuring law ruling
10/02/15 10:20 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story . Tue Feb 10, 2015 5:28am IST (Adds statement from GDB) By Edward Krudy SAN JUAN/NEW YORK Feb 9 (Reuters) - Puerto Rico said on Monday it would appeal a U.S. ruling that voided the island's restructuring law, s...

» Judge Strikes Down Puerto Rico's Debt Restructuring Law
10/02/15 09:45 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Comments on: Judge Strikes Down Puerto Rico’s Debt Restructuring Law. Investors in billions of dollars of Puerto Rico bonds secured a major legal victory when a federal judge ruled that the commonwealth ...

» Judge Threatens Plan for Puerto Rico to Avert Financial Catastrophe
10/02/15 09:45 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Comments on: Judge Threatens Plan for Puerto Rico to Avert Financial Catastrophe. Critical elements of Puerto Rico’s plan to avert financial disaster are in jeopardy, after a federal judge struck dow...

» Jury seating complete in "American Sniper" murder trial
10/02/15 09:38 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Home - CBSNews.com. Ten women and two men will hear court proceedings in the murder trial of Eddie Ray Routh, accused of killing Chris Kyle and another man who is accused in the murder of Chris Kyle

» Ukraine troops, rebels both claim advances
10/02/15 09:37 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Home - CBSNews.com. Warring factions vie for leverage with battlefield claims before peace talks in Minsk

» The Dubious Science Behind Putin's Asperger's Diagnosis
09/02/15 20:41 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story . Last week USA Today seemed so proud of acquiring a report diagnosing Vladimir Putin with Asperger’s Syndrome that the reporter and editors apparently forgot to find out if the report had any validity. T...

» Teen shot and killed classmate in the face, posts selfie on SnapChat : News : News Every Day
09/02/15 20:38 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from News Every Day : Top News. A 16-year-old teenage boy from Pennsylvania is accused of murdering a classmate and posing with the victim's body for a "selfie" on SnapChat, according to news reports. Maxwell M...

» Report: 16-year-old murder suspect took selfie with body, posted it on social media
09/02/15 20:36 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Q13 FOX News. PITTSBURGH — A 16-year-old teen is accused of shooting a friend in the face, taking a selfie with the body and sending the photo out on the social media app Snapchat, the Tribune-R...

» Putin Warns Europe: Total War If Obama Arms Ukraine
09/02/15 20:28 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from The European Union Times - World News, Breaking News. A new Ministry of Foreign Affairs ( MoFA ) report prepared for the planned ‘Normandy Four’ meeting that may be held in the Belarus capital ...

» Is This The Next Big Battle of the Ukraine War? - Daily Beast
09/02/15 19:51 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Putin - Google News. Daily Beast Is This The Next Big Battle of the Ukraine War? Daily Beast PUTIN'S NUMBER ONE GUNMAN IN UKRAINE. And the threat to Mariupol is not just from the outside. According to rece...

» Why Putin Is Lying About Ukraine - Bloomberg View
09/02/15 19:49 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Putin - Google News. Bloomberg View Why Putin Is Lying About Ukraine Bloomberg View Russian President Vladimir Putin is now an official party in talks to bring about a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine. That m...

» Stories Claiming Putin Has Asperger's Reveal More About Pathology In Media ... - Forbes
09/02/15 17:51 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Putin - Google News. Stories Claiming Putin Has Asperger's Reveal More About Pathology In Media ... Forbes The story, Pentagon 2008 Study Claims Putin Has Asperger's Syndrome, suggests this report is somet...

» Netanyahu Mulling Changes to US Congress Speech After Criticism
09/02/15 17:49 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Voice of America. Israeli officials are considering amending the format of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's planned address to the U.S. Congress next month to try to calm some of the partisan furore the...

» Obama sidesteps Ukraine military option but backs German diplomatic effort
09/02/15 17:48 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Russia | The Guardian. US president avoids US president sidesteps issue of sending arms to Ukraine during joint news conference with Angela Merkel on how to counter Russian aggression Barack Obama has thro...

» Так был ли ультиматум Запада Кремлю?
09/02/15 17:48 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Uploads by Радио Свобода. Так был ли ультиматум Запада К...

» Из Дебальцево будет эвакуировано около 5 тыс жителей - Московский комсомолец
09/02/15 17:48 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from В мире – Новости Google. УНИАН Из Дебальцево будет эвакуировано около 5 тыс жителей Московский комсомолец Руководители Совместного центра по координации и контролю (СЦКК) на востоке Украины сообщили наблюд...

» Ukraine crisis analysis: The US and Nato cannot solve this – only Ukrainians can do that
09/02/15 17:47 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from - Europe RSS Feed. The severed section of the fuselage lay 20 yards from a part of the undercarriage, beyond that were two upturned seats. Across the road, an open suitcase was gathering rain, next to pair...

» Merkel and Obama United on Ukraine
09/02/15 17:47 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from NYT > Europe. Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and President Obama said the alliance between the United States and Europe remained strong, despite potential disagreements on whether to provide arms t...

» Война России против Украины: последние события в Донбассе
09/02/15 17:46 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Новости Украины 24 часа в сутки : ЛІГАБізнесІнформ. Что происходит в Луганск ...

» Дебальцевское направление остается самым горячим в зоне боевых действий (видео) - Новости Донбасса - Сегодня бой шел за трассу
09/02/15 17:44 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from СЕГОДНЯ | Самые актуальные новости, мнения, комментарии. Дебальцевское направле...

» Продолжаются обстрелы в направлении Мариуполя (видео) - Новости Донбасса - Местные жители обстрелов боятся, но уезжать никуда не собираются
09/02/15 17:41 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from СЕГОДНЯ | Самые актуальные новости, мнения, комментарии. Продолжаются обстрелы в...

» Why Putin is a danger to Europe
09/02/15 17:39 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from KyivPost / Independence. Community. Trust. At this writing, no one knows what will come of the peace initiative launched last week by François Hollande and Angela Merkel.  But what everyone shoul...

» Rebels Advance In East Ukraine, Leaving Death And Destruction Behind
09/02/15 17:31 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from BuzzFeed - Max Seddon. Max Avdeev for BuzzFeed News VUHLEHIRSK, Ukraine — There was a thud from far off, then a sharp, high-pitched whistle, then a series of loud bangs as the mortars crashed one by ...

» Angela Merkel assailed from all sides in drive to pacify Russia and US on Ukraine - The Guardian
09/02/15 15:40 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Russia - Google News. The Guardian Angela Merkel assailed from all sides in drive to pacify Russia and US on Ukraine The Guardian In part through her dozens of one-to-one telephone conversations with Russi...

» Tinkov on Russia's struggling economy: 'Don't believe the propaganda' - velonews.competitor.com
09/02/15 15:39 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Russia - Google News. velonews.competitor.com Tinkov on Russia's struggling economy: 'Don't believe the propaganda' velonews.competitor.com DOHA, Qatar (VN) — Russian billionaire Oleg Tinkov brushed off co...

» 'Russia's growing threat': The West faces a very dangerous crisis – and it's ... - The Independent
09/02/15 15:39 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Russia - Google News. The Independent ' Russia's growing threat': The West faces a very dangerous crisis – and it's ... The Independent The problem with Russia now is not its strength, but its weakness. Th...

» Russia's Monroe Doctrine - Huffington Post
09/02/15 15:39 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Russia - Google News. Huffington Post Russia's Monroe Doctrine Huffington Post The fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is, at best, progressing slowly; the war in Syria shows no signs ...

» Probe of Suspended USAID Contractor Deepens
09/02/15 15:38 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Voice of America. One of its biggest contractors tied to the U.S. Agency for International Development [USAID] faces increasing troubles amid allegations of mismanagement and impropriety. USAID last month ...

» At Saddam's Palace, Islamic State Militants Threaten To Take Over World
09/02/15 15:38 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty. A video shared on Russian-language pro-Islamic State (IS) social networks this week features an address by a group of Chechen IS militants outside a palace of former Iraq...

» European Foreign Ministers Postpone Russia Sanctions to Allow Talks
09/02/15 15:37 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from NYT > Europe. The ministers decided not to act until after a possible meeting this week of the leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine on ways to halt fighting.

» Watch live: Barack Obama and Angela Merkel's press conference on Ukraine
09/02/15 15:37 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Russian news, all the latest and breaking Russia news. Watch live as German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Barack Obama hold a press conference at the White House where they are expected to disc...

» На Черноморском флоте разоблачили очередного шпиона - Правда.Ру
09/02/15 15:37 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from В мире – Новости Google. Правда.Ру На Черноморском флоте разоблачили очередного шпиона Правда.Ру Российские спецслужбы пресекли деятельность предполагаемогошпиона на Черноморском флоте РФ - члена экипажа т...

» СМИ: премьер-министр Канады назначил новых глав минобороны и МИД - РИА Новости
09/02/15 15:36 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from В мире – Новости Google. РИА Новости СМИ: премьер-министр Канады назначил новых глав минобороны и МИД РИА Новости Пост руководителя МИД займет Роб Николсон - экс-министр обороны. Новым министром обороны ст...

» Как обществу остановить Путина?
09/02/15 15:36 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Uploads by Радио Свобода. Как обществу остановить Путина? Могут ли предлагаемая "Яблоком" Коалиция политической альтернативы и антивоенные марши предотвратить... From: Радио Свобода Views: 301 54 25 2 rati...

» Ukrainian Scenario in Baltic Countries ‘Impossible,’ Former Kremlin Advisor Says
09/02/15 15:36 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from The InterpreterThe Interpreter. Staunton, February 9 – Aleksandr Sytin, a former researcher at the Russian Institute of Strategic Studies (RISI), a think-tank which was set up by Russia’s Foreign Int...

» ДНР: "Дебальцевский котел" замкнут - Правда.Ру
09/02/15 15:35 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from В мире – Новости Google. Правда.Ру ДНР: "Дебальцевский котел" замкнут Правда.Ру Сегодня заместитель командующего армией ДНР Эдуард Басурин сообщил, что ополченцам удалось замкнуть так называемый ...

» Chart: Anti-Americanism is exploding in Russia - Vox
09/02/15 15:35 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Russia - Google News. Deutsche Welle Chart: Anti-Americanism is exploding in Russia Vox However bad you thought attitudes toward the US were in Russia , you're probably underestimating the severity and sud...

» Why the Ukraine Crisis Hinges On the U.S. Election
09/02/15 15:34 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from The Moscow Times Top Stories. The outcome of the Ukraine crisis talks in Minsk on Wednesday depends on whether the United States is prepared to exert enough influence on the divergent power elites in Kiev ...

» U.S. Military Aid to Ukraine Would Be Declaration of Proxy War - Analysts
09/02/15 15:34 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from The Moscow Times Top Stories. U.S. provision of military aid to Ukraine would be seen by Moscow as a declaration of war and spark a global escalation of Ukraine's separatist conflict, Russian defense analy...

» Russia Sanctions on Hold as EU Waits for Peace Talks
09/02/15 15:34 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Voice of America. European Union foreign ministers agreed Monday to postpone further sanctions against Russia for a week to give time to a peace push to defuse the crisis in Ukraine.  EU ministers meeting ...

» Obama and Merkel Express Unity in Seeking Diplomatic Solution to Russia ... - New York Times
09/02/15 15:34 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Russia - Google News. New York Times Obama and Merkel Express Unity in Seeking Diplomatic Solution to Russia ... New York Times “The prospect for a military solution to this problem has always been low,” M...

» Президенты России и Египта посетили Каирскую оперу - Утро.Ru
09/02/15 15:33 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from В мире – Новости Google. НТВ.ru Президенты России и Египта посетили Каирскую оперу Утро.Ru Сегодня начался двухдневный официальный визит президента России Владимира Путина в Египет. В честь приезда главы р...