A plane crash in Russia has left 52 people dead.

The Boeing 737 crashed while making an approach at an airport in the city of Kazan, which is about 800-kilometers east of Moscow.

46 passangers and 6 crew were onboard at the time.

Initial indications are suggesting the plane crashed after being ordered fly a second go-around at the airport.

However, it's unclear what factors may have led to the crash.

Flights in and out of the airport at Kazan have been suspended while the investigation gets underway.

The nationalities of the victims haven't been released.

 

Philippine fatality from typhoon Haiyan approaching 4,000

Authorities in the Philippines now say the death toll from Typhoon Haiyan has hit close to 4-thousand.

As of Sunday at noon, the official death toll has come in at 3-thousand-974.

Close to 12-hundred are still listed as missing.

The new figures come as aid agencies and officials continue to try to help feed and shelter the tens-of-thousands who have been displaced by the massive storm.

Super Typhoon Haiyan hit the central Philippines two Friday's ago, packing unprecidented winds.

It cut a swath of destruction across the central Philippines, levelling significant portions of the eastern Philippine city of Tacloban.

The massive storm also hammered small fishing villages throughout the central Philippines before eventually blowing through to southern China before burning out.

 

Snow storm batters traffic in NE China

A snow storm has closed expressways and schools in northeast China.

As much as 10 centimeters of snow has been dumped across many parts of Heilongjiang, including the provincial capital Harbin.

Several highways in neighboring Jilin have also been shut down.

Flights in the region are also being delayed or cancelled.

Forecasters expect the snow will continue through today before blowing through on Tuesday.

 

Israeli leader lauds French stand over Iran nuclear issue

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has delivered his personal thanks to French President Francois Hollande for France's rejection of a recently-proposed plan connected to the Iranian nuclear issue.

The two have met in Netanyahu's office in Jerusalem.

Speaking to the media, Netanyahu has applauded Hollande for "personally taking a tougher and firmer stance" on the Iranian nuclear issue.

Talks this past week among Iran and the 5 permament members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany, broke down, after the French representative rejected an interim agreement.

The French side refused to sign on to the proposed agreement, saying the deal wasn't tough enough.

The interim agreement would have seen a temporary halt to Iran's nuclear activities while a final deal was worked out.

However, the French side refused to sign on, saying the agreement would have allowed Iran to continue its uranium enrichment.

 

Chileans vote for a new president

Chileans are voting for a new president. 

Polling ahead of the vote has New Majority coalition candidate Michelle Bachelet leading a field of nine candidates.

Bachelet says she expects to avoid a runoff.

If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, the two front-runners will compete in a runoff on December 15th. 

The winner will succeed President Sebastian Pinera in March.

Bachelet served as Chile's president from 2006 to 2010.

 

UN chief hails conclusion of presidential runoff in Maldives

UN chief Ban Ki-moon has taken time to applaud the weekend Presidental election in the Maldives, saying he hopes the new government will engage the opposition in a constructive manner.

Ban says the close election highlights the need for the new administration to work with the opposition in the interest of the entire country.

Abdulla Yameen has been sworn-in as the island nation's new president on Sunday, a day after narrowly winning a run-off election against former President Mohamed Nasheed.

Yameen took the run-off with 51.6-percent of the vote.

The election on Saturday ended months of political turmoil in the Maldives, as the courts held up the run-off vote, following allegations of electoral fraud in the first round of voting.

The Maldives has been roiled by political discord since Nasheed was controversially ousted from power in early 2012.

 

Foreigners evacuate from Indian steel factory after blast

Italian nationals working at a steel plant in eastern India have been moved to a different location following unrest at their facility.

Massive protests have been taking place outside the steel plant in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, days after a massive explosion at the operation.

The protests come amid allegations the owners of the plant are involved in a massive cover-up following the explosion.

Plant officials say one worker was killed and 15 others hurt in the explosion.

However, the union at the plant claims the death toll is around 100.

Three Chinese engineers are said to be among those currently listed as missing.

Indian officials say close to 100 workers have been killed at the same steel plant since 2005.

 

U.S. to implement 45 mln USD project in Jordan

The US government has announced a 45-million US dollar project in Jordan.

The 5-year project is meant to help finance businesses operating in the IT, health care and clean energy technology sectors.

The US side anticipates the injection of funding will create some 40-thousand new jobs in Jordan.

The administration of Jordan under King Abdullah II has been a strong ally of the United States in the region.