Europe

MOSCOW, September 6. /TASS/: Two Sukhoi Su-34 fighter bombers have collided on Friday over the Russian Lipetsk Region in an accident caused by the pilots’ error, a special commission will determine the extent of the jet crews’ responsibility, a source in the region’s power structures told TASS.

VLADIVOSTOK, September 6. /TASS/: Russia and China plan to hold consultations between the press services of both countries’ foreign ministries in order to discuss the interference of foreign media in their domestic affairs, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in an interview with TASS on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).

"We have just planned them," she said. "I think they will take place this fall. We have to agree on the dates."

VLADIVOSTOK, September 6. /TASS/: Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised to solve the problem of the preservation of Russian monuments in the historical area in northeastern China — Manchuria, he said on Friday at a meeting with members of the public on issues of the Far East’s development at the Eastern Economic Forum.

"We solve such issues under corresponding intergovernmental agreements. Unfortunately, we have many burials of our soldiers in Europe and Asia," Putin said.

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson acted lawfully when he ordered the suspension of parliament for five weeks before Brexit, London’s High Court ruled on Friday, but it allowed the the legal challenge to be taken to the Supreme Court.

Johnson announced at the end of August that he would suspend parliament from mid-September to mid-October, just before Britain is due to leave the European Union on Oct. 31, so the government could announce a new legislative program.

LONDON (Reuters) - British opposition parties said on Friday that they would block Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s second bid to call a snap general election in mid-October, setting up showdown with the government over delaying Brexit.

Brexit remains up in the air more than three years after Britons voted to leave the bloc in a 2016 referendum. Options range from a turbulent no-deal exit to abandoning the whole endeavor.

6 Sep 2019; MEMO: France and the UK on Thursday criticized Iran’s recently announced intention to further reduce its level of compliance with the nuclear deal of 2015.

Iran’s plan to suspend limits on nuclear research and development is “deeply concerning”, said a statement by the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

6 Sep 2019; MEMO: Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that his country is ready to use force to defend its ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

During a speech at the Eastern Economic Forum, Putin claimed that his country is closely monitoring the developments occurring in Hormuz. The Russian President stressed the need to reduce escalation and find ways to ensure the security and freedom of navigation in the region.

6 Sep 2019; MEMO: Protesters took to the streets of London today to stand up against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s surprise visit.

Netanyahu announced yesterday that he would be visiting the UK to speak with the embattled Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as both men’s political careers hang by a thread.

LONDON, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Thursday that the NHS, the British national health service, is "not on the table" during any post-Brexit trade deal talks with the United States.

Johnson took the strong approach as he met visiting U.S. Vice President Mike Pence in Downing Street.

"Of course, we will do everything to increase free trade but the National Health Service is not on the table as far as our negotiations go," he said.

LONDON, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government is to make a second bid on Monday to call a general election is what will be a duel over Brexit between Britain's two political giants.

Johnson believes a mid-October election will allow the British public to decide whether he heads to Brussels, with his threat of a deal or no deal Brexit, or pave the way for main opposition Labour to negotiate a delay to Britain's departure from the European Union.