MINSK, Belarus

Ukraine, Russia and rebels agree to create buffer zone

Participants in Ukrainian peace talks have reached agreement to create a buffer zone to separate government troops and pro-Russian militants.

Representatives of Ukraine, Russia and the Moscow-backed rebels agreed that the buffer zone should be 19 miles wide. They said after the talks that ended early Saturday that all heavy weapons should be withdrawn from that zone.

The negotiators also reached agreement on the withdrawal of all foreign fighters and mercenaries – a diplomatic reference to Russians fighting alongside the rebels.

The talks in Minsk were intended to spell out details of a cease-fire agreement reached Sept. 5 that has been frequently interrupted by clashes.

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SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic

Mosquito-borne virus sickens almost 500,000

The mosquito-borne virus known as chikungunya has sickened nearly 500,000 people in the Dominican Republic, including 109 newborn babies, an official with the health ministry said Friday.

The virus was transmitted to the newborns by their mothers, who had the illness when they gave birth, said Carmen Adames, who is coordinating the Health Ministry’s response to the outbreak.

The nation has been particularly hard hit by chikungunya since the first locally transmitted case was documented in the Western Hemisphere in late 2013. The first cases in the Dominican Republic appeared in March.

The Pan American Health Organization says there have been at least 1 million cases throughout the hemisphere. Symptoms include high fever, severe headaches and joint pain. There is no vaccine and no cure.

– From news service reports


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