Europe

Boeing 737-500 crash in Kazan in 2013 was due to pilot’s bad training — investigators

MOSCOW, November 14. /TASS/: Investigators have completed the inquiry into the criminal case opened over a Boeing 737-500 passenger liner’s crash at Kazan airport in 2013, which claimed 50 lives, the press-service of the Investigative Committee told TASS.

"The criminal case has been handed over to the prosecutor’s office for the endorsement of the bill of indictment," the IC said.

Russia plans to beef up Baltic submarine forces — source

MOSCOW, November 14. /TASS/: The Baltic Fleet may become the third naval force in Russia after the Black Sea and Pacific Fleets, for which shipbuilders will build a series of Project 636.3 stealth submarines armed with Kalibr cruise missiles, two sources in the shipbuilding industry told TASS on Thursday.

Russia among leading suppliers of crude oil to China — energy minister

MOSCOW, November 14. /TASS/: Russia is holding leading positions in terms of crude oil exports to China and managed to boost supplies by 27.4% year-on-year in 2018, Russian Minister of Energy Alexander Novak said adding that the country is also a leader in export of electricity to China.

On Wednesday, Novak participated in a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, which was held at the venue of the BRICS summit.

Armenian Thai boxing champion shot dead in Moscow

MOSCOW, November 14. /TASS/: A three-time world Thai boxing champion, who led an association of Armenian sports federations, Ashot Bolyan, has been shot dead in Moscow, Russian investigators said on Thursday.

The 40-year-old former athlete was killed by an unknown attacker, who fired several shots, including into his head, as the man approached his car in southwestern Moscow.

One dead, three injured as student opens fire in Far Eastern college

MOSCOW, November 14. /TASS/: One person was killed and three injured on Thursday when a student opened fire at a college in Blagoveshchensk, a city in Russia’s Far Eastern Amur Region, the Amur Region department of the Russian interior ministry said.

The shooter committed suicide by turning the gun on himself.

Climate change, corruption blamed for Venice flood devastation

14 November 2019; AFP: Much of Venice was left under water after the highest tide in 50 years ripped through the historic Italian city, beaching gondolas, trashing hotels and sending tourists fleeing through rapidly rising waters.

The government in Rome was expected to declare a state of emergency at a cabinet meeting on Thursday after Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte described the flooding as "a blow to the heart of our country".

Croatia to hold presidential vote on Dec. 22: PM Plenkovic

ZAGREB (Reuters) - Croatia will hold its presidential election on Dec. 22, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Thursday.

The election will pit the incumbent Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, candidate of the ruling center-right Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), against the candidate of the Social Democrats and former prime minister Zoran Milanovic. Two independent candidates also have solid support in the polls.

The job is largely ceremonial. The president cannot veto laws but has a say in foreign policy and defense.

France to take back 11 suspected jihadists from Turkey: minister

PARIS, Nov 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France will take back 11 suspected French jihadists from Turkey, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said after Ankara said it was deporting foreign citizens linked to the group.

Turkey’s unilateral offensive has angered Washington and Turkey’s main European NATO allies who fear a return of in the region. European countries are especially concerned about foreign Daesh fighters and adults returning to Europe.

Sberbank to resume talks on Ukrainian subsidiary sale after sanctions lifting by Kiev

MOSCOW, November 13. /TASS/: Sberbank will restart negotiations on the sale of its Ukrainian subsidiary after Kiev lifts sanctions, First Deputy CEO of the bank Lev Khasis told reporters on Wednesday.

"Following the introduction of Ukrainian sanctions against Sberbank, resumption of negotiations with anyone about [Ukrainian subsidiary] sale will be possible after the removal of Ukrainian sanctions," the banker said.

Russian embassy concerned about political crisis in Moldova

CHISINAU, November 13. /TASS/: The Russian embassy in Moldova is concerned about the political crisis in the country following a split in the ruling coalition and the government’s resignation, the embassy issued a statement on Facebook.

"The Russian embassy in Moldova is closely monitoring the political process in the country. We call for maintaining domestic stability for the sake of the country’s people and the rule of law," the statement reads.

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