Europe

KOVROV. August 17. /TASS/. Russia’s state hi-tech corporation Rostec is developing stronger individual protection for soldiers, Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov told TASS on the sidelines of a conference on diversification on Friday.

"We are developing new technology of forming aramid fibers for developing the next-generation armor. The research shows already now that the use of this technology helps increase the armor reliability by 12-15% compared to foreign analogs, with its weight remaining the same," Chemezov said.

MOSCOW, August 17. /TASS/. Russia’s Federal Protection Service (FSO) has trained bodyguards for Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and plans to provide training to Philippine navy officers, Philippine Ambassador to Russia Carlos Sorreta said in an interview with TASS.

According to the Philippine diplomat, training of military personnel is conducted under the military technical cooperation between Moscow and Manila. "It’s part of our defense cooperation agreement, the creation of working groups who will discuss the details and part of their agenda is training," he said.

By Alessandra Cardone

GENOA, Italy, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Italian government has declared the state of emergency in the Liguria region surrounding the northwest city of Genoa, a day after the dramatic collapse of a major motorway bridge that caused dozens of victims, the country's prime minister said on Wednesday.

A state of emergency request had been filed by the regional authorities earlier in the day.

DONETSK, August 14. /TASS/. Southern regions of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) came under intense mortar shelling by Ukrainian troops on Tuesday evening, a spokesman for the DPR’s operations command reported.

"The villages of Kominternovo and Leninskoye in the south of our republic came under shelling by Ukraine’s 36th brigade. More than a hundred mines of various caliber were fired. Shelling was also conducted from weapons of armored infantry carriers and grenade launchers," the Donetsk News Agency quoted him as saying.

MOSCOW, August 15. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin will receive member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau Yang Jiechi in his Sochi residence on Wednesday, August 15, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

"The president will also receive member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau Yang Jiechi, who is responsible for foreign affairs," he added.

BRUSSELS, August 15. /TASS/. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iran nuclear program continues to exist after the US ceased to be a part of it, Russia's Permanent Representative to the EU Vladimir Chizhov told journalists on Wednesday, commenting on the measures taken by the EU to protect European businesses from US sanctions.

GENOA, Italy, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- As the toll in the deadly bridge collapse in Italy's northwestern city of Genoa reportedly reached 35 and rescue workers frantically searched in the debris for survivors, the chance of finding more people alive looked slim.

Bloomberg reported the toll had reached 35. It could rise further in the following days, police and Red Cross officials told Xinhua.

11 Aug 2018; DG: Only days after Left politician Sahra Wagenknecht announced her new movement, dubbed Aufstehen or Stand Up, tens of thousands have vowed support. The movement could present a leftist case for limiting migration.

12 Aug 2018; DG: Germany has seen a marked reduction in the number of attacks on refugees and migrant shelters in 2018. Lawmakers have welcomed the lower numbers, but warn of an ongoing "intolerable state of everyday racism."

Germany saw just over 700 anti-migrant attacks in the first half of 2018, according to the latest Interior Ministry figures.

MOSCOW, August 13. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani have discussed Washington’s actions on the global scene, the situation in Syria and bilateral agreements on the sidelines of the Caspian Summit on August 12, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

"The situation linked to Washington’s actions was discussed, as well as bilateral Russian-Iranian relations and the situation in Syria - there was a wide variety of issues on the agenda," Peskov said.