Europe

KIEV, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a telephone conversation with the newly appointed President of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen to discuss cooperation, the Ukrainian presidential press service said Tuesday.

Zelensky congratulated von der Leyen on her new role and wished her success.

"I hope that the European Union's support of reforms and protection of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty will only continue during your presidency," Zelensky said.

LONDON (AP) — Thumping his chest on the world stage as he faces an impeachment inquiry at home, President Donald Trump claimed credit Tuesday for transforming NATO as the military alliance marks its 70th anniversary. But he also clashed with America’s NATO allies, especially French President Emmanuel Macron, about defense spending and the alliance’s very mission.

03 Dec 2019; MEMO: Britain’s opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn pledged on Sunday to halt arms sales to Saudi Arabia if he wins in the upcoming parliamentary elections slated for 12 December, local media reported.

Speaking in the city of York, on the sidelines of his election campaign, Corbyn said if the party won the elections it would also work to end the war in Yemen and will not support it as the Conservative government has.

Moscow, Dec 3 (AFP/PTI) Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a controversial law allowing independent journalists and bloggers to be labelled as "foreign agents", a move that critics say will violate media freedom.

Russian legislation passed in 2012 already gave authorities the power to brand media organisations and NGOs as foreign agents, a term that has Soviet-era overtones.

MOSCOW, December 3. /TASS/: The crew of the cutting-edge missile corvette Ingushetia successfully test-fired artillery systems during state trials at a Black Sea Fleet naval range, the Fleet’s press office reported on Tuesday.

"The artillery firings were conducted as part of the ship’s state trials before its inclusion in the Black Sea Fleet’s combat structure," the press office said in a statement.

MOSCOW, December 3. /TASS/: More than 50 instances of violations of airspace over crucial public facilities by drones have been registered in Russia since 2017, the chief of the CIS Anti-Terrorist Center, Andrei Novikov, told TASS in an interview.

"Experts identified a certain growth in the number of legal violations involving unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in Russia. According to some estimates, more than 50 instances of violations of air space over important public facilities by drones have been registered since 2017," Novikov said.

MOSCOW, December 3. /TASS/: Russia and Ukraine may hold talks to resolve gas issues on December 5, if Gazprom and Naftogaz are ready, Russia’s Minister of Energy Alexander Novak said on Tuesday.

"No date has been set yet, as work is still going on between the companies," Novak said.

"If the companies are ready by this time, then we are ready to hold the meeting on the 5th (December - TASS)," he added, commenting on the proposal of the Ukrainian side to conduct negotiations on December 5.

MOSCOW, December 3. /TASS/: Investigators have wrapped up an investigation into the criminal case regarding the Sheremetyevo Airport crash against the captain of Sukhoi Superjet-100, Denis Yevdokimov, who pled not guilty to violating security regulations. Attorney Pavel Gerasimov, who is representing six families, told TASS on Tuesday.

"A preliminary investigation into the case against Yevdokimov has been completed. The victims have started studying the case materials, which contains 20 volumes which were photographed in full, yesterday," the lawyer said.

AMSTERDAM, Dec 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia has refused a Dutch request to hand over a suspect in the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, in violation of European law, prosecutors said.

Volodymyr Tsemakh, a Ukrainian national, had been identified as a suspect by the Netherlands, which is leading an investigation into the disaster on July 17, 2014 which killed all 298 people onboard. Two-thirds of the passengers were Dutch.

LESBOS ISLAND (Greece), Dec 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Amid the filth around the dismal camp of Moria on the Greek island of Lesbos, a refugee and his son pick up firewood and transport it in a stroller, hoping to resist winter’s chill.

At nightfall, the men put together a new makeshift shelter in the olive grove adjacent to the camp, which has become a slum for thousands.

Illuminated by flashlights, women cook on open fires. Children’s clothes hang to dry on lines stretched between tents and huts.