Ukraine and Russia conducted an exchange of detainees on Saturday, with each country releasing 35 detainees. On the morning, 35 Ukraine detainees held in Russia left the Lefortovo Prison in Moscow for Boryspil International Airport in Kiev. They included 24 sailors seized by Russia during the Kerch Strait incident on November 2018 for allegedly violating the Russian border.

Russia-Ukraine swaps detainees, landmark deal between two countries

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ten-sailors-dead-after-2-ships-catch-fire-near-crimea-indian-crewmen-may-be-among-casualties-191893">Ten sailors dead after 2 ships catch fire near Crimea; Indian crewmen may be among casualties&nbsp;</a>

Ten sailors have been found dead and 14 rescued after two ships caught fire in the Kerch Strait near Crimea.&nbsp;

Indian crewmen may be among the dead.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/world-on-course-to-miss-its-best-chance-of-preventing-runaway-climate-change-study-191884">World</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/world-on-course-to-miss-its-best-chance-of-preventing-runaway-climate-change-study-191884"> is going to miss its 'best chance' of preventing runaway climate change: Study</a>

The world is on course to miss its "best chance" of preventing runaway climate change by ensuring global greenhouse gas emissions peak in 2020, researchers warned Tuesday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-govt-shutdown-enters-2nd-month-tuesday-no-quick-end-in-sight-yet-191897">US govt shutdown enters 2nd month Tuesday, no quick end in sight yet</a>

The United States on Tuesday enters the second month of a partial government shutdown over a lack of congressional funding, with no quick end in sight to the historic crisis weighing on the nation's economy and morale.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/cbi-director-nageswara-rao-transfers-20-officers-191880">Interim CBI Director Nageswara Rao transfers 20 officers</a>

In a major reshuffle, interim CBI Director Nageswara Rao has transferred around 20 officers, including the investigation officer of the 2G scam case, Vivek Priyadarshi.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/in-china-air-pollution-is-driving-happiness-levels-down-191887">In China, air pollution is driving happiness levels down</a>

Eye-watering, throat-scratching air pollution is a major driver of big city blues in China, according to a study published Monday that matched social network chatter with fine-particle pollution levels.&nbsp;

Ten sailors dead after 2 ships catch fire near Crimea; Indian crewmen may be among casualties Ten sailors have been found dead and 14 rescued after two ships caught fire in the Kerch Strait near Crimea.

Ten sailors dead after 2 ships catch fire near Crimea; Indian crewmen may be among casualties Ten sailors have been found dead and 14 rescued after two ships caught fire in the Kerch Strait near Crimea. Indian crewmen may be among the dead. World is going to miss its 'best chance' of preventing runaway climate change: Study The world is on course to miss its "best chance" of preventing runaway climate change by ensuring global greenhouse gas emissions peak in 2020, researchers warned Tuesday. US govt shutdown enters 2nd month Tuesday, no quick end in sight yet The United States on Tuesday enters the second month of a partial government shutdown over a lack of congressional funding, with no quick end in sight to the historic crisis weighing on the nation's economy and morale. Interim CBI Director Nageswara Rao transfers 20 officers In a major reshuffle, interim CBI Director Nageswara Rao has transferred around 20 officers, including the investigation officer of the 2G scam case, Vivek Priyadarshi. In China, air pollution is driving happiness levels down Eye-watering, throat-scratching air pollution is a major driver of big city blues in China, according to a study published Monday that matched social network chatter with fine-particle pollution levels.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Eleven sailors have been found dead and 14 rescued after two ships caught fire in the Kerch Strait near Crimea. Indian crewmen may be among the dead.&nbsp;

Both ships were flying the Tanzanian flag.&nbsp;

PTI quoted the Russian news agency Tass as saying one of the ships, the Candy, had a 17-member crew, including nine Turkish citizens and eight Indian nationals.&nbsp;

The other ship, the Maestro, had a 15-member crew, including seven Turkish nationals, seven Indian citizens and an intern from Libya.

Reuters meanwhile quoted Russia's transport ministry as saying the two ships had a combined total of 31 crew members, 16 of whom were Turkish nationals, and 15 Indian.&nbsp;

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Another video of a fire on two ships in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kerch?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kerch</a> Strait on January 21, 2019. <a href="https://t.co/mF8imSnYzJ">pic.twitter.com/mF8imSnYzJ</a>
— Capt(N) (@Capt_Navy) <a href="https://twitter.com/Capt_Navy/status/1087398352881373184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2019</a></blockquote>
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One of the ships was a liquefied natural gas carrier, the other a tanker. News reports Tuesday said the fire probably broke out as the ships were transferring fuel from one to the other.

"Presumably, an explosion occurred (on one of the vessels). Then the fire spread to another vessel. A rescue tug is en route," PTI quoted a spokesman for the Russian Maritime Agency as saying.

Reuters reported Russia's transport ministry as saying earlier that crew members jumped into the sea to escape the fire.

Reuters reported an industry source as saying the sea had been stormy when the fire broke out.&nbsp;

Reuters added that the severe weather conditions had prevented rescue ships from taking the victims to shore for medical treatment.

The Kerch Strait between Russian-annexed Crimea and southern Russia controls access from the Black Sea to the Azov Sea, where there are both Russian and Ukrainian ports.

In November, Russia detained three Ukrainian navy vessels and their crews in the Black Sea near the Kerch Strait, fuelling tensions between the two countries. Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Eleven sailors have been found dead and 14 rescued after two ships caught fire in the Kerch Strait near Crimea. Indian crewmen may be among the dead. Both ships were flying the Tanzanian flag.

Eleven sailors have been found dead and 14 rescued after two ships caught fire in the Kerch Strait near Crimea. Indian crewmen may be among the dead. Both ships were flying the Tanzanian flag. PTI quoted the Russian news agency Tass as saying one of the ships, the Candy, had a 17-member crew, including nine Turkish citizens and eight Indian nationals. The other ship, the Maestro, had a 15-member crew, including seven Turkish nationals, seven Indian citizens and an intern from Libya. Reuters meanwhile quoted Russia's transport ministry as saying the two ships had a combined total of 31 crew members, 16 of whom were Turkish nationals, and 15 Indian. Another video of a fire on two ships in the #Kerch Strait on January 21, 2019. pic.twitter.com/mF8imSnYzJ — Capt(N) (@Capt_Navy) January 21, 2019 × One of the ships was a liquefied natural gas carrier, the other a tanker. News reports Tuesday said the fire probably broke out as the ships were transferring fuel from one to the other. "Presumably, an explosion occurred (on one of the vessels). Then the fire spread to another vessel. A rescue tug is en route," PTI quoted a spokesman for the Russian Maritime Agency as saying. Reuters reported Russia's transport ministry as saying earlier that crew members jumped into the sea to escape the fire. Reuters reported an industry source as saying the sea had been stormy when the fire broke out. Reuters added that the severe weather conditions had prevented rescue ships from taking the victims to shore for medical treatment. The Kerch Strait between Russian-annexed Crimea and southern Russia controls access from the Black Sea to the Azov Sea, where there are both Russian and Ukrainian ports. In November, Russia detained three Ukrainian navy vessels and their crews in the Black Sea near the Kerch Strait, fuelling tensions between the two countries. Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. (With inputs from agencies)

Video: 11 sailors dead after 2 ships catch fire near Crimea; Indian crewmen may be among casualties 

A&nbsp;brawl erupted between members of Ukrainian parliament on Thursday&nbsp;over a poster placed on the tribune.

Parliament member Nestor Shufrych from the Opposition Bloc Party tore off a poster depicting Ukrainian oligarch and politician Viktor Medvedchuk and naming him '(Russian President Vladimir) Putin's agent'.

This triggered a brawl in which a member of parliament from People's Front party Yuriy Bereza punched Shufrych in the face.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said during his annual news conference that he held a meeting with Medvedchuk lately to discuss the possible release of Ukrainian sailors seized by Russian after an incident in the Kerch Strait.

A brawl erupted between members of Ukrainian parliament on Thursday over a poster placed on the tribune. Parliament member Nestor Shufrych from the Opposition Bloc Party tore off a poster depicting Ukrainian oligarch and politician Viktor Medvedchuk and naming him '(Russian President Vladimir) Putin's agent'.

A brawl erupted between members of Ukrainian parliament on Thursday over a poster placed on the tribune. Parliament member Nestor Shufrych from the Opposition Bloc Party tore off a poster depicting Ukrainian oligarch and politician Viktor Medvedchuk and naming him '(Russian President Vladimir) Putin's agent'. This triggered a brawl in which a member of parliament from People's Front party Yuriy Bereza punched Shufrych in the face. Russian President Vladimir Putin said during his annual news conference that he held a meeting with Medvedchuk lately to discuss the possible release of Ukrainian sailors seized by Russian after an incident in the Kerch Strait.

Watch: Ukrainian MPs scuffle in parliament over putin's agent poster

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday he briefed his US counterpart Donald Trump on the Ukraine crisis as he came under pressure over Moscow's robust foreign policy at the G20 summit in Argentina.

Putin said <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/war-will-continue-so-long-as-ukraine-government-stays-putin-180802">he explained Moscow's position to Trump</a> when the leaders met briefly at a summit dinner Friday.

"We spoke standing up. I replied to his questions about the incident in the Black Sea," Putin told reporters at the end of the summit.

Putin strode into the summit under a cloud, having drawn outrage from Europe over last week's incident in which his navy detained three Ukrainian ships and 24 sailors -- causing Trump to abruptly cancel their scheduled meeting.

Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko kept up the pressure from Kiev, saying Putin had refused to take his calls since the crisis started.

He said that when the incident happened, he instructed his office to set up a call with the Kremlin leader to say "we are ready for this negotiation to de-escalate... and unfortunately, until now, Putin do not answer my request for direct phone conversation."

Poroshenko told France 24 in an interview that Ukraine would try to resolve the standoff diplomatically but insisted Russian forces withdraw from Crimea, and return its ships and sailors "captured illegally in the neutral water of the Black Sea."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel took Putin to task at length over the naval spat, a day after French President Emmanuel Macron urged him to "de-escalate" the crisis.

Merkel used a breakfast with Putin on the sidelines of the G20 summit to voice her "concern" over the tensions in the Kerch Strait off Russian-annexed Crimea.

"Of course, we talked about the situation in the Sea of Azov, because it is important to avoid any aggravation," Merkel said in Buenos Aires.

Macron raised his concerns with the Russian leader at one of his first bilateral meetings, pressing him "to make the necessary gestures so that there is a de-escalation," said a French official.

Both European countries are members of the "Normandy Four" group with Moscow and Kiev, set up to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine involving Russian-backed rebels.

Merkel said she had also discussed Syria with Putin, "especially ... the Idlib region," where a fragile ceasefire has been negotiated between rebels and Syrian army forces backed by Moscow.&nbsp;

Her main focus, however, was on the situation in Ukraine.

"I want to make it quite clear, though, that free shipping to the Sea of Azov must be guaranteed to the Ukrainian coasts and cities. There is a basic contractual agreement from 2003 on this. Russia must comply with this basis," she said.

Away from the summit, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Moscow had shown "brazen contempt" for a deal "that allowed both Russian and Ukrainian ships free passage."

'Exhaustive explanations' 
Putin -- who has praised his navy for defending Russian territory -- "provided exhaustive explanations on this incident in the Black Sea, explaining everything in detail, in exactly the same manner as yesterday during his meeting with the French president," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Interfax.

According to a French aide, Friday's version entailed Putin drawing a map for Macron of the Kerch Strait, to buttress his position that the seized Ukrainian ships had intruded into Russian waters -- a claim denied by Kiev.

As for Macron, "the main message that he passed on is really that of a de-escalation," the aide said.

Far from offering comforting words, Putin said at a post-summit press conference he saw no end in sight to the four-year conflict in eastern Ukraine "as long as the current Ukrainian authorities remain in power."

"The current Ukrainian authorities have no interest in resolving the conflict, especially by peaceful means," he said.

The November 25 incident in the contested Kerch Strait -- which connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Azov -- was the first open military confrontation between Kiev and Moscow since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Merkel said Germany had suggested a meeting of the Normandy group to discuss the crisis.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday he briefed his US counterpart Donald Trump on the Ukraine crisis as he came under pressure over Moscow's robust foreign policy at the G20 summit in Argentina.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday he briefed his US counterpart Donald Trump on the Ukraine crisis as he came under pressure over Moscow's robust foreign policy at the G20 summit in Argentina. Putin said he explained Moscow's position to Trump when the leaders met briefly at a summit dinner Friday. "We spoke standing up. I replied to his questions about the incident in the Black Sea," Putin told reporters at the end of the summit. Putin strode into the summit under a cloud, having drawn outrage from Europe over last week's incident in which his navy detained three Ukrainian ships and 24 sailors -- causing Trump to abruptly cancel their scheduled meeting. Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko kept up the pressure from Kiev, saying Putin had refused to take his calls since the crisis started. He said that when the incident happened, he instructed his office to set up a call with the Kremlin leader to say "we are ready for this negotiation to de-escalate... and unfortunately, until now, Putin do not answer my request for direct phone conversation." Poroshenko told France 24 in an interview that Ukraine would try to resolve the standoff diplomatically but insisted Russian forces withdraw from Crimea, and return its ships and sailors "captured illegally in the neutral water of the Black Sea." German Chancellor Angela Merkel took Putin to task at length over the naval spat, a day after French President Emmanuel Macron urged him to "de-escalate" the crisis. Merkel used a breakfast with Putin on the sidelines of the G20 summit to voice her "concern" over the tensions in the Kerch Strait off Russian-annexed Crimea. "Of course, we talked about the situation in the Sea of Azov, because it is important to avoid any aggravation," Merkel said in Buenos Aires. Macron raised his concerns with the Russian leader at one of his first bilateral meetings, pressing him "to make the necessary gestures so that there is a de-escalation," said a French official. Both European countries are members of the "Normandy Four" group with Moscow and Kiev, set up to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine involving Russian-backed rebels. Merkel said she had also discussed Syria with Putin, "especially ... the Idlib region," where a fragile ceasefire has been negotiated between rebels and Syrian army forces backed by Moscow. Her main focus, however, was on the situation in Ukraine. "I want to make it quite clear, though, that free shipping to the Sea of Azov must be guaranteed to the Ukrainian coasts and cities. There is a basic contractual agreement from 2003 on this. Russia must comply with this basis," she said. Away from the summit, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Moscow had shown "brazen contempt" for a deal "that allowed both Russian and Ukrainian ships free passage." 'Exhaustive explanations' Putin -- who has praised his navy for defending Russian territory -- "provided exhaustive explanations on this incident in the Black Sea, explaining everything in detail, in exactly the same manner as yesterday during his meeting with the French president," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Interfax. According to a French aide, Friday's version entailed Putin drawing a map for Macron of the Kerch Strait, to buttress his position that the seized Ukrainian ships had intruded into Russian waters -- a claim denied by Kiev. As for Macron, "the main message that he passed on is really that of a de-escalation," the aide said. Far from offering comforting words, Putin said at a post-summit press conference he saw no end in sight to the four-year conflict in eastern Ukraine "as long as the current Ukrainian authorities remain in power." "The current Ukrainian authorities have no interest in resolving the conflict, especially by peaceful means," he said. The November 25 incident in the contested Kerch Strait -- which connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Azov -- was the first open military confrontation between Kiev and Moscow since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. Merkel said Germany had suggested a meeting of the Normandy group to discuss the crisis.

Ukraine-Russia conflict: Putin explains his side of the story to Trump

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Russia-Ukraine swaps detainees, landmark deal between two countries

News brief: Big stories of the day

Video: 11 sailors dead after 2 ships catch fire near Crimea; Indian crewmen may be among casualties

Watch: Ukrainian MPs scuffle in parliament over putin's agent poster

Ukraine-Russia conflict: Putin explains his side of the story to Trump