Europe

MOSCOW, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Russia's success in evading a Western oil price cap is helping drive a recovery in economic growth as President Vladimir Putin prepares to run for re-election, despite the problems caused by labour shortages, inflation and high interest rates.

Russia's parliament has formally set next year's presidential election date for March 17. Putin, who on Thursday said the economy was set to grow 3.5% this year, is widely expected to run for a new six-year term.

HELSINKI, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Finnish Transport Workers' Union (AKT) announced on Thursday that it would join strikes of Nordic transport unions in support of demands on U.S. automaker Tesla's operations in Sweden.

According to their statement, Finnish dockworkers will cease loading Tesla equipment on their way to Sweden from Dec. 20. Announcements of support were given by Danish and Norwegian unions earlier this week while dockers and postal workers in Sweden have already begun supportive actions.

LISBON, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa on Thursday signed a decree to dismiss the government following Prime Minister Antonio Costa's resignation last month over a possible judicial investigation against him.

The dissolution allows the government to carry out only essential administrative tasks until a new government assumes office.

The president postponed the formal dismissal until the approval of the 2024 state budget by parliament to ensure stability during the transition period.

VLADIVOSTOK, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- A Russian passenger plane with 176 people on board made a safe emergency landing at Novosibirsk airport on Friday morning after its engines caught fire shortly after takeoff, local media reported.

The incident occurred around 07:00 local time (0000 GMT), according to preliminary data, when the Boeing 737 plane, operated by S7 Airline, was flying from Novosibirsk to Moscow as it experienced a technical malfunction.

KIEV, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said Thursday that Kiev signed a memorandum with the United States to boost Ukraine's military production.

"There will be more weapons! Ukraine and the U.S. signed the memorandum on joint production and exchange of technical data," Umerov wrote on Facebook.

The document was signed during the Defense Industries Conference DFNC1: U.S. Edition in Washington, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed Thursday to exchange prisoners of war and work toward signing a peace treaty in what the European Union hailed as a major step toward peace in the long-troubled region.

The two countries said in a joint statement they “share the view that there is a historical chance to achieve a long-awaited peace.” They said they intend “to normalize relations and to reach the peace treaty on the basis of respect for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Thursday he would “do what is necessary” to revive a blocked deal to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda, even if it means ignoring U.K. human rights laws.

During a hastily scheduled news conference, Sunak vowed to press on with a plan that has roiled the governing Conservative Party and threatened his leadership.

LONDON (AP) — Russia’s intelligence services have targeted high-profile British politicians, civil servants and journalists with cyberespionage as part of years-long attempts to interfere in U.K. politics, Britain’s government said Thursday.

The Foreign Office said Russia’s FSB agency was responsible for a range of sustained cyberespionage operations in the U.K., including targeting British lawmakers from multiple parties from at least 2015 through to this year and selectively leaking and amplifying sensitive information to serve Russian interests.

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A Moscow court extended on Thursday pre-trial detentions for three lawyers who once represented imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The three were arrested in October on charges of participating in an extremist group, a case widely seen as a means to ramp up pressure on the politician.

The Basmanny District Court ruled that Vadim Kobzev, Igor Sergunin and Alexei Liptser will remain behind bars at least until March 13.

(AP) --- Lawmakers in Russia set the country’s 2024 presidential election for March 17, moving Vladimir Putin a step closer to a fifth term in office.

Members of the Federation Council, Russia’s upper house of parliament, voted unanimously Thursday to approve a decree setting the date.

“In essence, this decision marks the start of the election campaign,” Valentina Matviyenko, the chamber’s speaker, said.