Several injuries among 159 passengers and crew as plane skidded off the runway, breaking a wing and damaging landing gear, at Osh airport.

The airline - known for its Novosibirsk-based S7 brand - has been once of the success stories of Russian aviation in recent years.

Now the Far East of Russia linked to beaches and cities in the sun with direct routes from Vladivostok on low-cost airline Vietjet.

Siberian Natalia Fileva, 55, co-owner of S7 airline, perished alongside her father in private plane tragedy in Germany.

Starting on 16 July, the leading Kazakh carrier will offer twice weekly connections with glittering capital city Astana. 

The beaches here are thronged with sun-seekers, children paddle in the warm waters — even the babushki are relaxed.

Move can boost tourism as free port and pacific capital Vladivostok opens up.

Gazprom, Transneft, RusHydro, Alrosa and Rosneft all on a list for shift from Moscow to boost the Far East economy.

What I wasn't expecting was just how beautiful everything looked under the sparkling white blanket of snow.