Europe

BRUSSELS, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) and its member states on Wednesday welcomed the completion of the investment agreement negotiations with China, hailing it as an important milestone in the development of EU-China relations.

The announcement of the completion of negotiations was made during a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron, President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen via video link.

HELSINKI (AP) — A landslide smashed into a residential area near the Norwegian capital Wednesday, injuring at least 10 people, leaving 21 unaccounted for and destroying several homes, authorities said. Some 700 people were evacuated amid fears of further landslides.

Norwegian police were alerted at 4 a.m. to the slide in the village of Ask, in the municipality of Gjerdrum, some 20 kilometers (12 miles) northeast of Oslo.

BRUSSELS (AP) — The New Year could finally bring a fresh start and a commitment to let bygones be bygones for Britain and the European Union.

But don’t bet on it.

The U.K. has chosen to leave the EU, setting a course away from the continental mainland. But the two sides’ histories have been too intertwined for 1,000 years for the split to be simple.

Eleven months after Britain’s formal departure from the EU, Brexit becomes a fact of daily life on Friday, once a transition period ends and the U.K. fully leaves the world’s most powerful trading bloc.

MOSCOW, December 30. /TASS/: The number of Russian satellites that are used for social, economic and scientific purposes, as well for research and navigation, was increased to 99 in 2020, Russia’s state-run space corporation Roscosmos said in a statement on Wednesday.

"The Russian orbital constellation used for social, economic, scientific and navigational purposes now comprises 99 spacecraft," the statement says.

MOSCOW, December 30. /TASS/: The new version of the Russian multirole helicopter Ansat with the extended flight range has completed the maiden flight, Rostec company says on Wednesday.

The Ansat-M helicopter is fitted with a new fuel system, new avionic equipment enabling to fly in zero visibility condition, and improved directional stability.

MOSCOW, December 30. /TASS/: Two Borei-A-class strategic nuclear submarines for the Russian Navy will be laid down next year, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko said in an interview with the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper.

"The construction of four underwater cruisers of this class is under way, two more will be laid down as part of a new state contract signed this year," he said.

In line with Russia’s current state defense procurement program, a total of 14 Borei-A and Yasen-M nuclear submarines are to be built by 2027, Krivoruchko added.

MOSCOW, December 30. /TASS/: Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn’t give a darn about the situation surrounding the new criminal case against Alexey Navalny, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

According to the Kremlin official, the head of state has other things to focus on, particularly the goals that he and the cabinet are going to tackle.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union and China agreed on Wednesday to an investment deal that will give European companies greater access to Chinese markets and help redress what Europe sees as unbalanced economic ties.

The agreement has been nearly seven years in the making and is likely to take at least another year to enter into force. It forms part of a new relationship with China, which the EU views as both a partner and a systemic rival.

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Wednesday it had expanded its list of British citizens barred from entering the country in response to what it described as unacceptable and ungrounded sanctions imposed in October over the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

In a statement announcing the move, the Russian foreign ministry did not name the individuals it has barred.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - With a call for both sides to look forward to a new chapter in their relationship, EU chiefs signed the Brexit trade deal agreed with Britain and sent the text off to London on Wednesday for Prime Minister Boris Johnson to add his signature.

Against a backdrop of EU flags, top EU officials signed the treaties struck on Dec. 24 to preserve Britain’s tariff- and quota-free access to the bloc’s 450 million consumers.