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BRATISLAVA, Slovakia Slovakia says it has seen a 50 percent drop in Russiangassupplies in the past day.

Prime Minister Robert Fico says the nationalgascompany, SPP, wouldn't restrictgassupplies domestically. He told reporters Wednesday the government would hold a crisis meeting if the trend continues, adding the Russians blame technical problems.

"The Russian side talks about technical problems, about the necessity of filling up storage for the winter season," Mr. Fico said, according to Reuters. "I have used this expression and I will use it again: gas has become a tool in a political fight."

Russia's state-owned gas company Gazprom has not yet commented on the reported drop.

Slovakia, Poland and other East European countries have reported similar drops in Russiangasflows in recent weeks. So far, they have proved temporary.

Slovakia, which is almost entirely dependent on Russiangas, was among the nations hit hardest byRussia's2009 cutoff ofgas travelling through Ukraine to Europe. Now, it can get supplies from the West if needed.

Slovakia also deliversgasback to Ukraine and Fico said his country is ready to meet its commitments.

Concerns about another gas disruption have sent energy prices upward in Europe.Central European spot gas markets rose to over $31.52 per megawatt-hours, according to Reuters. That's their highest levels since the Ukraine crisis broke out in February/March.

Late last week, Russia, Ukraine, and the EU appeared close to a deal to resume gas supplies to Ukraine, which have been cut off since June. Those talks are expected to continue this week, although analysts are skeptical the three sides will reach any longterm agreement.

"There is no final compromise yet," Andriy Kobolyev, chief executive of Ukraine's state-owned gas company Naftogaz said in an interview Monday, according to a press release from the company."There is only a proposal of the EU Commission for a solution, which needs to be discussed and approved by the governments of both countries."

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Ukraine crisis: Slovakia says Russian gas supply drops by half

At least 11 adults were killed in Ukraine on Wednesday when artillery shells struck a schoolyard and bus stop in suburban Donetsk on the belated first day of school for the city at the center of a pro-Russia rebellion against rule from Kiev, Russian and Ukrainian news agencies reported.

The blasts at Donetsk School No. 57 and at the nearby bus stop detonated when all 70 schoolchildren were inside the building, RIA Novosti news agency reported.

At least one teacher was among the dead, and news agencies said another of the casualties was a gunman with the Russian-backed separatist militia that has been fighting government forces for control of eastern Ukraine since March. City authorities in Donetsk reported on their website that six people were killed at the bus stop.

A Russian Foreign Ministry official, Konstantin Dolgov, accused Ukrainian military officials of "particular cynicism" in the shelling of the school grounds on the first day local authorities were attempting to start the school year already delayed a month by the hostilities.

The latest fatalities, which Ukraine government forces in turn blamed on the Russian-backed separatists, suggested that a Sept. 5 cease-fire agreed to by the two sides is unraveling. The separatists have been waging fierce assaults on Donetsk international airport for the last five days, and a leader of the rebellion told Interfax news agency that his fighters were close to seizing the strategic venue.

"In two, at most three, days the Donetsk airport will come under our control, Alexander Zakharchenko, purported prime minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, was quoted as telling the Russian news agency.

In Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, a spokesman for the National Security and Defense Council insisted the airport, which has been closed since May, remained in government hands.

Col. Andriy Lysenko said the Ukrainian military hadn't suffered any fatalities over the previous two days, although five soldiers were wounded in Wednesday's fighting over the airport. He said the government troops had "brilliantly defended" their hold on what was Ukraine's second-largest airport until the rebellion began five months ago.

The Associated Press reported from Donetsk that although its reporter couldn't get close to the airport due to the artillery exchanges, shells could be heard coming from government positions outside the airport, suggesting that Ukrainian troops may have lost control of part or all of it.

The cease-fire signed four weeks ago in Minsk, the Belarus capital, called for an end to hostilities and a nearly 20-mile zone of separation between the Ukrainian government troops and rebel forces who Kiev officials and their Western allies contend are armed and instigated by Moscow.

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Ukraine cease-fire unraveling; 11 killed at schoolyard and bus stop

By Victoria Butenko and Jason Hanna, CNN

updated 3:22 PM EDT, Wed October 1, 2014

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Kiev, Ukraine (CNN) -- A shell landed near a school as children began their school year in the war-weary eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk on Wednesday morning, killing at least three adults and shattering what would have been a step toward normalcy for dozens of students.

Shells also hit a public transit bus in the city about the same time, killing six people in or near the vehicle, city officials said.

The shelling in Donetsk, held for months by pro-Russian rebels, came despite a ceasefire that Ukraine's government reached with separatist leaders last month.

A shell landed 5 meters from Donetsk's School 57 about 10 a.m., shattering windows and doors on the first and second floors, local officials said. It was the first day of the school year in rebel-controlled areas of the Donetsk region, a debut that was delayed by a month because of shelling and clashes between separatists and the Ukrainian military.

Conflicting reports emerged over how many people were killed at the school. Officials at the rebel-held city office said a biology teacher and two parents died, and five other people were injured.

Crisis in Ukraine

Crisis in Ukraine

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Shells hit Ukraine bus, school

By Jasmine W. Payo |Philippine Daily Inquirer

Battles for the rebound between Kiefer Ravena of Ateneo de Manila and Jeth Rosario of NU Bulldogs

MANILA, PhilippinesUntil the end, National University (NU) just proved too baffling for Ateneo de Manila University to figure out.

The Bulldogsthe only team Ateneo hasnt beaten in six games since last seasonstunned the No. 1 Blue Eagles yet again, salvaging a 65-63 decision in a huge Final Four shocker to advance to the UAAP mens basketball championship for the first time in 44 years on Wednesday at the packed Smart Araneta Coliseum.

When you look back two weeks ago, this was far-fetched, NU coach Eric Altamirano said after his No. 4 Bulldogs overcame the Eagles twice-to-beat semifinal advantage.

I have to give it to the boys. They refused to lose, they refused to give up. There were times in the game when we were already down, but they stay focused. They kept on fighting and stayed together, he added.

Far Eastern University (FEU), though, made sure there will be no upset in their own Final Four series as the No. 2 Tamaraws dethroned the La Salle Green Archers in another heart-stopping duel, 67-64, to nail the last title berth.

Stellar all season, Mac Belo again emerged as the hero for the Tamaraws , knocking in the game-winning triple at the buzzer to lead FEU back to the finals after three years.

With only 24 seconds left to execute the game-winner, FEUs ace guard Mike Tolomia ran out the game clock before dishing out the ball at the perfect time to Belo, who was waiting at the right corner.

FEU coach Nash Racela admitted it was actually a broken play for the Tamaraw, who nearly blew their twice-to-beat incentive after the Archers forged a knockout game with a 94-73 rout last Saturday.

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NU makes UAAP history, beats Ateneo, to face FEU in finals; ADMU vs DLSU for 3rd

Narendra Modi and Barack Obama will hold a joint press conference

By: PMO India

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Narendra Modi and Barack Obama will hold a joint press conference - Video