President Donald Trump said he held "very positive" <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-putin-discuss-possible-new-nuclear-accord-white-house-215736">talks Friday with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin</a> on the crisis in oil-rich Venezuela, where Washington is pushing to oust the Moscow-backed president.

The US leader adopted a strikingly conciliatory tone following a more than an hour-long conversation with Putin, coming days after an abortive military uprising in support of Juan Guaido, the opposition leader seeking to drive Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from power.

"It was a very positive conversation," Trump said. "He is not looking at all to get involved in Venezuela other than he'd like to see something positive happen for Venezuela."&nbsp;

"And I feel the same way. We want to get some humanitarian aid. Right now people are starving."&nbsp;

Trump's tone came in stark contrast to that of his top advisors, in particular, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who charged this week that the socialist Maduro had been poised to flee to Cuba, but was talked out of it by the Russians. &nbsp;

Recognized as an interim leader by more than 50 countries including the United States, Guaido has vowed to keep the pressure up on Maduro, urging his supporters to stage peaceful demonstrations at military bases Saturday in a fresh bid to rally the armed forces behind him.

US-Russian tensions have spiked over the months-long standoff in Venezuela, and the Kremlin's assessment of the Trump-Putin call differed substantially from that coming from the White House.

"Interference in internal affairs, attempts to change the leadership in Caracas through force, undermine the prospects for a peaceful settlement of the conflict," said a Russian statement.

"Vladimir Putin stated that only the Venezuelan people have the right to decide the future of their country," it added.

Options limited?

The United States has imposed tough sanctions and Trump has refused to take the threat of military action off the table, in an intensifying campaign to drive Maduro from power.

Washington is insisting Maduro's days are numbered -&nbsp;but experts say US options for breaking the stalemate are limited, and that Washington may have overestimated the opposition leader's strength.

Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan hosted Pompeo at the Pentagon Friday along with National Security Advisor John Bolton and Admiral Craig Faller, commander of the US Southern Command.

Reiterating Trump's position -&nbsp;that "all options" are on the table -&nbsp;Shanahan declined to provide any details on possible military intervention.

"I'm trying to avoid walking into 'We could do this or we could do that,'" he said. "What people should feel confident about is we have... there's depth to these plans."

"We have a comprehensive set of options tailored to certain conditions and I'm just going to leave it at that."&nbsp;

'Peacefully, civically'

Guaido plans to have his supporters mass outside military bases on Saturday, and deliver a proclamation to those inside, pleading with them to break with Maduro.

"Peacefully, civically... we are going to deliver a simple document, a proclamation to the Armed Forces to listen to the Venezuelan call, that a rapid transition is possible to produce free elections," Guaido told a press conference in Caracas.

Tensions in Venezuela have soared since Guaido, the 35-year-old head of the National Assembly, invoked the constitution to declare himself acting president on January 23, claiming Maduro's re-election last year was illegitimate.

On Tuesday the opposition leader called on the military to rise up against Maduro, and a small group heeded his call.

But the movement petered out -&nbsp;with 25 rebel soldiers seeking asylum at the Brazilian embassy in Caracas - sparking two days of protests during which four people were killed and some 200 injured.

The influential opposition figure Leopoldo Lopez - who made a dramatic appearance alongside Guaido after being freed from house arrest - has since taken refuge at the Spanish embassy.

Venezuela's military leadership has since reiterated its support for the government, and Maduro is standing his ground.

In Lima, ministers from Latin American nations and Canada held an emergency meeting to discuss Tuesday's failed effort.

The lack of progress left nations backing Guaido facing "a very confusing situation," a diplomatic source told AFP on the sidelines of the meeting.

"The reality is that the military leadership resisted the attack and are united," he said.

"There are cracks, but not in the military leadership," said the source. "International pressure via economic sanctions is the way to weaken the Chavist regime."

&nbsp;

President Donald Trump said he held "very positive" talks Friday with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on the crisis in oil-rich Venezuela, where Washington is pushing to oust the Moscow-backed president.

President Donald Trump said he held "very positive" talks Friday with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on the crisis in oil-rich Venezuela, where Washington is pushing to oust the Moscow-backed president. The US leader adopted a strikingly conciliatory tone following a more than an hour-long conversation with Putin, coming days after an abortive military uprising in support of Juan Guaido, the opposition leader seeking to drive Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from power. "It was a very positive conversation," Trump said. "He is not looking at all to get involved in Venezuela other than he'd like to see something positive happen for Venezuela." "And I feel the same way. We want to get some humanitarian aid. Right now people are starving." Trump's tone came in stark contrast to that of his top advisors, in particular, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who charged this week that the socialist Maduro had been poised to flee to Cuba, but was talked out of it by the Russians. Recognized as an interim leader by more than 50 countries including the United States, Guaido has vowed to keep the pressure up on Maduro, urging his supporters to stage peaceful demonstrations at military bases Saturday in a fresh bid to rally the armed forces behind him. US-Russian tensions have spiked over the months-long standoff in Venezuela, and the Kremlin's assessment of the Trump-Putin call differed substantially from that coming from the White House. "Interference in internal affairs, attempts to change the leadership in Caracas through force, undermine the prospects for a peaceful settlement of the conflict," said a Russian statement. "Vladimir Putin stated that only the Venezuelan people have the right to decide the future of their country," it added. Options limited? The United States has imposed tough sanctions and Trump has refused to take the threat of military action off the table, in an intensifying campaign to drive Maduro from power. Washington is insisting Maduro's days are numbered - but experts say US options for breaking the stalemate are limited, and that Washington may have overestimated the opposition leader's strength. Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan hosted Pompeo at the Pentagon Friday along with National Security Advisor John Bolton and Admiral Craig Faller, commander of the US Southern Command. Reiterating Trump's position - that "all options" are on the table - Shanahan declined to provide any details on possible military intervention. "I'm trying to avoid walking into 'We could do this or we could do that,'" he said. "What people should feel confident about is we have... there's depth to these plans." "We have a comprehensive set of options tailored to certain conditions and I'm just going to leave it at that." 'Peacefully, civically' Guaido plans to have his supporters mass outside military bases on Saturday, and deliver a proclamation to those inside, pleading with them to break with Maduro. "Peacefully, civically... we are going to deliver a simple document, a proclamation to the Armed Forces to listen to the Venezuelan call, that a rapid transition is possible to produce free elections," Guaido told a press conference in Caracas. Tensions in Venezuela have soared since Guaido, the 35-year-old head of the National Assembly, invoked the constitution to declare himself acting president on January 23, claiming Maduro's re-election last year was illegitimate. On Tuesday the opposition leader called on the military to rise up against Maduro, and a small group heeded his call. But the movement petered out - with 25 rebel soldiers seeking asylum at the Brazilian embassy in Caracas - sparking two days of protests during which four people were killed and some 200 injured. The influential opposition figure Leopoldo Lopez - who made a dramatic appearance alongside Guaido after being freed from house arrest - has since taken refuge at the Spanish embassy. Venezuela's military leadership has since reiterated its support for the government, and Maduro is standing his ground. In Lima, ministers from Latin American nations and Canada held an emergency meeting to discuss Tuesday's failed effort. The lack of progress left nations backing Guaido facing "a very confusing situation," a diplomatic source told AFP on the sidelines of the meeting. "The reality is that the military leadership resisted the attack and are united," he said. "There are cracks, but not in the military leadership," said the source. "International pressure via economic sanctions is the way to weaken the Chavist regime."

'Very positive' Venezuela talks with Russian President Putin: Donald Trump

PM Modi, Vladimir Putin discuss bilateral issues over phone

Russian President reaches India: Will sign over 20 agreements

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - October 5th, 2018

Russian President Vladimir Putin met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday at the latter's residence in New Delhi ahead of summit talks.

"Welcome to India, President Putin. Looking forward to our deliberations, which will further enhance India-Russia friendship" said Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi in a tweet.

On Friday India and Russia will hold high-level delegation talks and are expected to sign a deal worth more than $5 billion on the delivery of Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missiles.

Local media reported that the two nations are also expected to announce a&nbsp;new space cooperation programme.

The United States has warned India against a planned purchase of S-400 surface-to-air missiles from Russia when President Vladimir Putin visits New Delhi this week, saying such an acquisition would attract sanctions under US&nbsp;law.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: Russian President <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VladimirPutin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VladimirPutin</a> meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi. He is on a two-day visit to India. <a href="https://t.co/HlvfOGsEcQ">pic.twitter.com/HlvfOGsEcQ</a>
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India's military wants the missile batteries, both as a deterrent against China and to gain an edge over traditional rival, Pakistan, as they are able to track and shoot down combat aircraft, even stealth planes, at unprecedented ranges.

The United States has warned countries trading with Russia's defence and intelligence sectors they would face automatic sanctions under a sweeping legislation called Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) that President Donald Trump signed into law last August.

The law is designed to punish Putin for the 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, involvement in the Syrian civil war and meddling in the 2016 US&nbsp;presidential election.

"We urge all of our allies and partners to forgo transactions with Russia that would trigger sanctions under the CAATSA," a US&nbsp;State Department representative said.

"The administration has indicated that a focus area for the implementation of CAATSA Section 231 is new or qualitative upgrades in capability – including the S-400 air and missile defence system."

Last month, the United States imposed sanctions on China's military for its purchase of combat fighters as well as the S-400 missile system it bought from Russia this year.

The United States is also concerned about NATO ally Turkey’s decision to buy the Russian missile system, seeing it as incompatible with the alliance systems.

Modi's government, caught in the US-Russia crossfire, hopes the Trump administration will give it a pass on the proposed arms transfer from Russia, officials in New Delhi said.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters India was closing in on the deal to buy the air defence system from Russia, with which it has long-standing military ties.

"Negotiation on S-400 air defence systems has been on for a long while and it is at a stage where it can be finalised," Sitharaman said last week. "We have a big legacy of buying defence equipment from Russia."

More than 80 per cent of India's military equipment was of Soviet origin during the days of the Cold War, but since its breakup, New Delhi has diversified its weaponry.

The United States is one of its top arms suppliers, closing $15 billion worth of deals in just the last decade.

&nbsp;

Russian President Vladimir Putin met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday at the latter's residence in New Delhi ahead of summit talks. "Welcome to India, President Putin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday at the latter's residence in New Delhi ahead of summit talks. "Welcome to India, President Putin. Looking forward to our deliberations, which will further enhance India-Russia friendship" said Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi in a tweet. On Friday India and Russia will hold high-level delegation talks and are expected to sign a deal worth more than $5 billion on the delivery of Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missiles. Local media reported that the two nations are also expected to announce a new space cooperation programme. The United States has warned India against a planned purchase of S-400 surface-to-air missiles from Russia when President Vladimir Putin visits New Delhi this week, saying such an acquisition would attract sanctions under US law. #WATCH: Russian President #VladimirPutin meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi. He is on a two-day visit to India. pic.twitter.com/HlvfOGsEcQ — ANI (@ANI) October 4, 2018 × India's military wants the missile batteries, both as a deterrent against China and to gain an edge over traditional rival, Pakistan, as they are able to track and shoot down combat aircraft, even stealth planes, at unprecedented ranges. The United States has warned countries trading with Russia's defence and intelligence sectors they would face automatic sanctions under a sweeping legislation called Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) that President Donald Trump signed into law last August. The law is designed to punish Putin for the 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, involvement in the Syrian civil war and meddling in the 2016 US presidential election. "We urge all of our allies and partners to forgo transactions with Russia that would trigger sanctions under the CAATSA," a US State Department representative said. "The administration has indicated that a focus area for the implementation of CAATSA Section 231 is new or qualitative upgrades in capability – including the S-400 air and missile defence system." Last month, the United States imposed sanctions on China's military for its purchase of combat fighters as well as the S-400 missile system it bought from Russia this year. The United States is also concerned about NATO ally Turkey’s decision to buy the Russian missile system, seeing it as incompatible with the alliance systems. Modi's government, caught in the US-Russia crossfire, hopes the Trump administration will give it a pass on the proposed arms transfer from Russia, officials in New Delhi said. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters India was closing in on the deal to buy the air defence system from Russia, with which it has long-standing military ties. "Negotiation on S-400 air defence systems has been on for a long while and it is at a stage where it can be finalised," Sitharaman said last week. "We have a big legacy of buying defence equipment from Russia." More than 80 per cent of India's military equipment was of Soviet origin during the days of the Cold War, but since its breakup, New Delhi has diversified its weaponry. The United States is one of its top arms suppliers, closing $15 billion worth of deals in just the last decade.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in India, meets PM Modi ahead of summit talks

While Russian President Vladimir Putin is making headlines for his two-day visit to India, he is also in the limelight for the Vladimir Putin Official Calendar 2019.&nbsp;

The Calendar has recently hit the stands and showcases the many shades of the Russian President captured in an array of photographs.&nbsp;

From January to December, the calendar captures Putin's outgoing personality. While in one of the pictures he is seen taking a dip in the chilled waters of Lake Seliger, in others he is seen fishing, riding a horse, living like the best example of a leader who is also a true outdoorsman. &nbsp;

But this is nothing new for the Russian leader. The tales of his bravado is not just peculiar to Russia but have travelled across the length and breadth of the world.

For those who don't know, flying fighters jets like the Sukhoi Su 27 or the Supersonic 52 bomber is a special craft requiring years of practice, but for the Russian President, it is certainly not outside the ambit.

In 2008, Putin was at the Ussuri national park, where he shot a tranquillizer dart at a tiger for scientists to carry out some research. The international media was thrilled by Putin's charisma and described it as a stunt.&nbsp;

Putin is also passionate about scuba diving. He has explored the depths of Lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world in a deepwater submersible. He has also tried his hand at ice hockey and is reportedly no dilettante at the game.&nbsp;

Ever wonder what makes him so agile? It is because he is a black belt in Judo, swears by a healthy diet and pumps iron with gusto.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

While Russian President Vladimir Putin is making headlines for his two-day visit to India, he is also in the limelight for the Vladimir Putin Official Calendar 2019.

While Russian President Vladimir Putin is making headlines for his two-day visit to India, he is also in the limelight for the Vladimir Putin Official Calendar 2019. The Calendar has recently hit the stands and showcases the many shades of the Russian President captured in an array of photographs. From January to December, the calendar captures Putin's outgoing personality. While in one of the pictures he is seen taking a dip in the chilled waters of Lake Seliger, in others he is seen fishing, riding a horse, living like the best example of a leader who is also a true outdoorsman. But this is nothing new for the Russian leader. The tales of his bravado is not just peculiar to Russia but have travelled across the length and breadth of the world. For those who don't know, flying fighters jets like the Sukhoi Su 27 or the Supersonic 52 bomber is a special craft requiring years of practice, but for the Russian President, it is certainly not outside the ambit. In 2008, Putin was at the Ussuri national park, where he shot a tranquillizer dart at a tiger for scientists to carry out some research. The international media was thrilled by Putin's charisma and described it as a stunt. Putin is also passionate about scuba diving. He has explored the depths of Lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world in a deepwater submersible. He has also tried his hand at ice hockey and is reportedly no dilettante at the game. Ever wonder what makes him so agile? It is because he is a black belt in Judo, swears by a healthy diet and pumps iron with gusto.

Putin's world: Russian President's 2019 calendar captures him as true outdoorsman

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday called an alleged influence on the US&nbsp;2016 election by Russia a "total nonsense".

Speaking in a live TV question-and-answer marathon, he said that possible Russian interference in the US&nbsp;election process "can only be called a joke".

Putin, who easily won re-election in March, has used the annual phone-in with citizens to cast himself as a decisive troubleshooter on the home front and a staunch defender of Russia's interests on the world stage.

In April, the United States imposed sanctions on some of Russia's biggest companies and businessmen, striking at allies of Putin to punish Moscow for its alleged meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and other "malign activities".

Speaking in a live TV question-and-answer marathon, he said that possible Russian interference in the US election process "can only be called a joke".

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday called an alleged influence on the US 2016 election by Russia a "total nonsense". Speaking in a live TV question-and-answer marathon, he said that possible Russian interference in the US election process "can only be called a joke". Putin, who easily won re-election in March, has used the annual phone-in with citizens to cast himself as a decisive troubleshooter on the home front and a staunch defender of Russia's interests on the world stage. In April, the United States imposed sanctions on some of Russia's biggest companies and businessmen, striking at allies of Putin to punish Moscow for its alleged meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and other "malign activities".

Vladimir Putin says it's complete nonsense that Russia meddled in US election

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a rare meeting with Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad on Thursday and said the "military success" in Syria allowed for a large-scale "political process" leading to the withdrawal of foreign forces and the reconstruction of the country.

A day after UN special envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura warned a regime assault on the rebel-held area of Idlib could affect 2.3 million people, Putin met Assad in the southern Russian city of Sochi.

"After the success of the Syrian government army in the fight against the terrorists" the condition are in place for "the start of a political process on a major scale," Putin said in a statement released by the Kremlin following the meeting.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that "there were detailed discussions" between the two leaders, who last met in December at a Russian military air base in Syria's coastal province of Latakia.&nbsp

"With the start of the political process in its most active phase, foreign armed forces will withdraw from Syrian territory," Putin said, without specifying which foreign forces.

Russia has been involved in Syria's civil war since September 2015. Its military support not only ensured the survival of Assad's regime but also changed the course of the war.

Putin also congratulated Assad on the "successes of the Syrian government's army in the fight against terrorist groups".

"The next task, of course, is the economic recovery and humanitarian aid for those people in a difficult situation," Putin added.

'Stability is improving'

The latest round of Syria peace talks in the Kazakh capital Astana wrapped up on Tuesday&nbspbut did not,&nbsphowever, make any concrete progress towards ending the seven-year conflict that has cost 350,000 lives.

Russia, Iran and Turkey have been attempting to resolve the conflict in the talks that started last year in Astana in competition with a US and UN-backed Geneva initiative.

In a statement from the Syrian presidency, Assad added on Thursday "we have evaluated the political process" and will select candidates for a constitutional committee, a suggestion proposed in January at a summit in Sochi, that will work with the United Nations.

According to the Kremlin statement, Assad said "stability is improving" in Syria, "opening the door to the political process we started some time ago".

"We know it will not be easy because some countries do not want stability to return to Syria. But with you and other partners and friends, we will continue to make strong progress in the peace process," Assad was quoted as saying in the statement.

"Thanks to military successes, we are managing to normalise the situation in the country, opening the way for the return of many of our compatriots." &nbsp&nbsp

Russian television broadcast short clips from the two men's discussion.&nbsp

Regime forces recaptured Ghouta from rebels last month after a ferocious offensive that displaced tens of thousands, both to government-controlled zones around Damascus and to opposition-held parts of northern Syria.

De Mistura, speaking Wednesday to the UN Security Council's monthly meeting on the Syria conflict, described what he called the classic Syrian regime tactic of a bombardment of a rebel territory followed by negotiations and then mass evacuations from the defeated area.

But the special envoy noted that half of the people in the northern rebel province of Idlib had already fled from other parts of Syria, "and will have nowhere else to go because there is no other place to go."

Putin and Assad met on the eve of a meeting in Sochi between Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the first face-to-face talk of the year between the veteran leaders.

The Russian President said the 'military success' in Syria allowed for a large-scale 'political process' leading to the withdrawal of foreign forces and the reconstruction of the country

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a rare meeting with Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad on Thursday and said the "military success" in Syria allowed for a large-scale "political process" leading to the withdrawal of foreign forces and the reconstruction of the country. A day after UN special envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura warned a regime assault on the rebel-held area of Idlib could affect 2.3 million people, Putin met Assad in the southern Russian city of Sochi. "After the success of the Syrian government army in the fight against the terrorists" the condition are in place for "the start of a political process on a major scale," Putin said in a statement released by the Kremlin following the meeting. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that "there were detailed discussions" between the two leaders, who last met in December at a Russian military air base in Syria's coastal province of Latakia. "With the start of the political process in its most active phase, foreign armed forces will withdraw from Syrian territory," Putin said, without specifying which foreign forces. Russia has been involved in Syria's civil war since September 2015. Its military support not only ensured the survival of Assad's regime but also changed the course of the war. Putin also congratulated Assad on the "successes of the Syrian government's army in the fight against terrorist groups". "The next task, of course, is the economic recovery and humanitarian aid for those people in a difficult situation," Putin added. 'Stability is improving' The latest round of Syria peace talks in the Kazakh capital Astana wrapped up on Tuesday&nbspbut did not,&nbsphowever, make any concrete progress towards ending the seven-year conflict that has cost 350,000 lives. Russia, Iran and Turkey have been attempting to resolve the conflict in the talks that started last year in Astana in competition with a US and UN-backed Geneva initiative. In a statement from the Syrian presidency, Assad added on Thursday "we have evaluated the political process" and will select candidates for a constitutional committee, a suggestion proposed in January at a summit in Sochi, that will work with the United Nations. According to the Kremlin statement, Assad said "stability is improving" in Syria, "opening the door to the political process we started some time ago". "We know it will not be easy because some countries do not want stability to return to Syria. But with you and other partners and friends, we will continue to make strong progress in the peace process," Assad was quoted as saying in the statement. "Thanks to military successes, we are managing to normalise the situation in the country, opening the way for the return of many of our compatriots." Russian television broadcast short clips from the two men's discussion. Regime forces recaptured Ghouta from rebels last month after a ferocious offensive that displaced tens of thousands, both to government-controlled zones around Damascus and to opposition-held parts of northern Syria. De Mistura, speaking Wednesday to the UN Security Council's monthly meeting on the Syria conflict, described what he called the classic Syrian regime tactic of a bombardment of a rebel territory followed by negotiations and then mass evacuations from the defeated area. But the special envoy noted that half of the people in the northern rebel province of Idlib had already fled from other parts of Syria, "and will have nowhere else to go because there is no other place to go." Putin and Assad met on the eve of a meeting in Sochi between Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the first face-to-face talk of the year between the veteran leaders.

Putin meets Assad, calls for 'political process' on Syria

President Vladimir Putin travelled to his inauguration on Monday for a new six-year term in a Russian-made limousine, ditching his old stretch Mercedes to send a patriotic message of self-sufficiency amid increased tensions with the West.

Putin, in power since 2000, wants Russia to reduce its dependence on imported goods and technology, a drive that has gathered pace since Russia was hit by Western sanctions.

Some guests broke into applause at the sight of the car conveying Putin the short distance from his office to the Kremlin hall for the inauguration, Russian news agencies said.

"It's cooler than (US&nbsp;President Donald) Trump's," one guest was quoted as saying by the RIA news agency.

Putin has in the past publicly driven Russian-made cars in front of television cameras in an effort to nurture patriotism and support the domestic auto industry.

Monday marked the first public outing of the new limousine, part of the "Kortezh" series of cars which is also expected to include a sedan, minivan and offroad vehicle.

Under development since 2012, the limousine is being produced by a Russian research institute known by the acronym NAMI, and will be distributed in partnership with Russian carmaker Sollers.

The new limousine is set to become the heir to the Russian-made ZIL sedans that for decades transported Soviet leaders.

Trade Minister Denis Manturov said state officials would be able to switch to Kortezh vehicles when enough of them became available, TASS news agency reported.

The Ministry of Trade said the cars would be marketed under the brand Aurus and made available for sale from the beginning of 2019, RIA reported.

In his inauguration address, Putin said technological innovation and research were essential for Russia's future to keep pace with global change.

Putin's last six-year term has been marked by a sharp downturn in relations with the West over conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, accusations of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election, and the poisoning of a former Russian spy in England. Moscow denies meddling in the elections or poisoning the spy.

Some guests broke into applause at the sight of the car conveying Putin the short distance from his office to the Kremlin hall for the inauguration, Russian news agencies said

President Vladimir Putin travelled to his inauguration on Monday for a new six-year term in a Russian-made limousine, ditching his old stretch Mercedes to send a patriotic message of self-sufficiency amid increased tensions with the West. Putin, in power since 2000, wants Russia to reduce its dependence on imported goods and technology, a drive that has gathered pace since Russia was hit by Western sanctions. Some guests broke into applause at the sight of the car conveying Putin the short distance from his office to the Kremlin hall for the inauguration, Russian news agencies said. "It's cooler than (US President Donald) Trump's," one guest was quoted as saying by the RIA news agency. Putin has in the past publicly driven Russian-made cars in front of television cameras in an effort to nurture patriotism and support the domestic auto industry. Monday marked the first public outing of the new limousine, part of the "Kortezh" series of cars which is also expected to include a sedan, minivan and offroad vehicle. Under development since 2012, the limousine is being produced by a Russian research institute known by the acronym NAMI, and will be distributed in partnership with Russian carmaker Sollers. The new limousine is set to become the heir to the Russian-made ZIL sedans that for decades transported Soviet leaders. Trade Minister Denis Manturov said state officials would be able to switch to Kortezh vehicles when enough of them became available, TASS news agency reported. The Ministry of Trade said the cars would be marketed under the brand Aurus and made available for sale from the beginning of 2019, RIA reported. In his inauguration address, Putin said technological innovation and research were essential for Russia's future to keep pace with global change. Putin's last six-year term has been marked by a sharp downturn in relations with the West over conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, accusations of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election, and the poisoning of a former Russian spy in England. Moscow denies meddling in the elections or poisoning the spy.

To send message of self-sufficiency, Putin drives to inauguration in Russian-made limousine

President Vladimir Putin travelled to his inauguration on Monday for a new six-year term in a Russian-made limousine, ditching his old stretch Mercedes to send a patriotic message of self-sufficiency amid increased tensions with the West.

Putin, in power since 2000, wants Russia to reduce its dependence on imported goods and technology, a drive that has gathered pace since Russia was hit by Western sanctions.

Some guests broke into applause at the sight of the car conveying Putin the short distance from his office to the Kremlin hall for the inauguration, Russian news agencies said.

"It's cooler than (US&nbspPresident Donald) Trump's," one guest was quoted as saying by the RIA news agency.

Putin has in the past publicly driven Russian-made cars in front of television cameras in an effort to nurture patriotism and support the domestic auto industry.

Monday marked the first public outing of the new limousine, part of the "Kortezh" series of cars which is also expected to include a sedan, minivan and offroad vehicle.

Under development since 2012, the limousine is being produced by a Russian research institute known by the acronym NAMI, and will be distributed in partnership with Russian carmaker Sollers.

The new limousine is set to become the heir to the Russian-made ZIL sedans that for decades transported Soviet leaders.

Trade Minister Denis Manturov said state officials would be able to switch to Kortezh vehicles when enough of them became available, TASS news agency reported.

The Ministry of Trade said the cars would be marketed under the brand Aurus and made available for sale from the beginning of 2019, RIA reported.

In his inauguration address, Putin said technological innovation and research were essential for Russia's future to keep pace with global change.

Putin's last six-year term has been marked by a sharp downturn in relations with the West over conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, accusations of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election, and the poisoning of a former Russian spy in England. Moscow denies meddling in the elections or poisoning the spy.

President Vladimir Putin travelled to his inauguration on Monday for a new six-year term in a Russian-made limousine, ditching his old stretch Mercedes to send a patriotic message of self-sufficiency amid increased tensions with the West. Putin, in power since 2000, wants Russia to reduce its dependence on imported goods and technology, a drive that has gathered pace since Russia was hit by Western sanctions. Some guests broke into applause at the sight of the car conveying Putin the short distance from his office to the Kremlin hall for the inauguration, Russian news agencies said. "It's cooler than (US&nbspPresident Donald) Trump's," one guest was quoted as saying by the RIA news agency. Putin has in the past publicly driven Russian-made cars in front of television cameras in an effort to nurture patriotism and support the domestic auto industry. Monday marked the first public outing of the new limousine, part of the "Kortezh" series of cars which is also expected to include a sedan, minivan and offroad vehicle. Under development since 2012, the limousine is being produced by a Russian research institute known by the acronym NAMI, and will be distributed in partnership with Russian carmaker Sollers. The new limousine is set to become the heir to the Russian-made ZIL sedans that for decades transported Soviet leaders. Trade Minister Denis Manturov said state officials would be able to switch to Kortezh vehicles when enough of them became available, TASS news agency reported. The Ministry of Trade said the cars would be marketed under the brand Aurus and made available for sale from the beginning of 2019, RIA reported. In his inauguration address, Putin said technological innovation and research were essential for Russia's future to keep pace with global change. Putin's last six-year term has been marked by a sharp downturn in relations with the West over conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, accusations of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election, and the poisoning of a former Russian spy in England. Moscow denies meddling in the elections or poisoning the spy.

Putin takes inaugural ride in Russian-made limousine to send patriotic message of self-sufficiency

President Vladimir Putin stuck with his long-serving prime minister in his first act after being sworn in for a new term on Monday, signalling that he would keep faith with a policy direction that has brought Russia into conflict with the West.

Standing in the ornately-decorated Andreyevsky Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace, with his hand on a gold-embossed copy of the constitution, Putin, 65, swore to serve the Russian people, to safeguard rights and freedoms, and protect Russian sovereignty.

Putin won the new six-year term after more than 70 percent of voters backed him in a March 18 presidential election. His most dangerous challenger, Alexei Navalny, was not allowed to take part. Navalny was detained on Saturday at a protest called under the slogan: "Putin is not our tsar."

Soon after the inauguration ceremony, the Kremlin issued a statement saying that Putin had nominated Dmitry Medvedev to be prime minister in his new term. Medvedev, a loyal Putin lieutenant, has held the job since 2012.

The appointment needs to be approved by the lower house of parliament, but that is likely to be a formality because the chamber is dominated by Kremlin loyalists.

Some Kremlin-watchers had speculated Putin might bring in a fresh face as prime minister to kick-start reforms of the sluggish economy and revive foreign investment curtailed by stand-offs with the West.

By choosing Medvedev - seen by people close to the Russian elite as a safe pair of hands whose chief quality is loyalty to his boss - Putin indicated he favoured continuity.

The choice is also likely to be parsed by Kremlin-watchers for any clues about what happens after Putin's current term ends in 2024. The constitution bars him from seeking a third consecutive term.

When Putin came up against the same term limits in 2008, he got around the problem by anointing Medvedev as president, before taking back the job after one term.

Some observers believe Putin, who has not anointed any heir apparent, could attempt the same manoeuvre a second time.

LIMOUSINE

Putin embarks on his new term, his fourth in total, buoyed by widespread popular support but also weighed down by the costly confrontation with the West, low economic growth, and uncertainty about what happens when his terms ends.

In a speech after the swearing-in ceremony, Putin said that in the next six years Russia would prove a strong, muscular player on the world stage, backed by a powerful military, while pushing hard to improve life for its citizens at home.

"Taking up this post, I feel a colossal sense of responsibility," Putin told his audience of Russian officials and foreign dignitaries, among them former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

For the short journey from his office to the inauguration ceremony, Putin travelled in a new Russian-made limousine. From now on, the limousine will replace the fleet of imported vehicles Putin uses, state television reported.

The choice of transport chimes with a message, often repeated by Putin, that Russia is ready to stand on its own feet and shake off its dependence on the West.

Foreign diplomats see little prospect that Russia's standoffs with the West that have dominated the past four years will ease during Putin's new term.

Clashes in the past few weeks over U.S. sanctions on Russia, the conflict in Syria, and the poisoning in England of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal have left some diplomats worried that the confrontation could spiral out of control.

TROUBLES AHEAD

Opinion polls show Putin has high levels of support among Russian citizens, and Navalny has not been able to inspire a nationwide upsurge of protests.

But the Russian economy is a potential weakness for Putin.

Buffeted by lower oil prices, falls in the rouble, inflation and the impact of sanctions, average monthly wages have fallen from the equivalent of $867 in 2013 to $553 last year.

Russia's economy, the world's eleventh largest, returned to growth of 1.5 percent last year, helped by a recovery in oil prices. But that fell far short of the growth Russians grew accustomed to earlier in Putin's rule.

Putin, first elected president in 2000, will soon have ruled longer than Soviet Communist leader Leonid Brezhnev, whose 18-year rule from 1964 to 1982 is primarily associated with stagnation. By the time his term ends, Putin will be 71.

Foreign diplomats and analysts say uncertainty over what happens after 2024 is likely to destabilise the ruling elite and spark infighting among rival Kremlin clans.

Soon after the inauguration ceremony, the Kremlin issued a statement saying that Putin had nominated Dmitry Medvedev to be prime minister in his new term. Medvedev, a loyal Putin lieutenant, has held the job since 2012

President Vladimir Putin stuck with his long-serving prime minister in his first act after being sworn in for a new term on Monday, signalling that he would keep faith with a policy direction that has brought Russia into conflict with the West. Standing in the ornately-decorated Andreyevsky Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace, with his hand on a gold-embossed copy of the constitution, Putin, 65, swore to serve the Russian people, to safeguard rights and freedoms, and protect Russian sovereignty. Putin won the new six-year term after more than 70 percent of voters backed him in a March 18 presidential election. His most dangerous challenger, Alexei Navalny, was not allowed to take part. Navalny was detained on Saturday at a protest called under the slogan: "Putin is not our tsar." Soon after the inauguration ceremony, the Kremlin issued a statement saying that Putin had nominated Dmitry Medvedev to be prime minister in his new term. Medvedev, a loyal Putin lieutenant, has held the job since 2012. The appointment needs to be approved by the lower house of parliament, but that is likely to be a formality because the chamber is dominated by Kremlin loyalists. Some Kremlin-watchers had speculated Putin might bring in a fresh face as prime minister to kick-start reforms of the sluggish economy and revive foreign investment curtailed by stand-offs with the West. By choosing Medvedev - seen by people close to the Russian elite as a safe pair of hands whose chief quality is loyalty to his boss - Putin indicated he favoured continuity. The choice is also likely to be parsed by Kremlin-watchers for any clues about what happens after Putin's current term ends in 2024. The constitution bars him from seeking a third consecutive term. When Putin came up against the same term limits in 2008, he got around the problem by anointing Medvedev as president, before taking back the job after one term. Some observers believe Putin, who has not anointed any heir apparent, could attempt the same manoeuvre a second time. LIMOUSINE Putin embarks on his new term, his fourth in total, buoyed by widespread popular support but also weighed down by the costly confrontation with the West, low economic growth, and uncertainty about what happens when his terms ends. In a speech after the swearing-in ceremony, Putin said that in the next six years Russia would prove a strong, muscular player on the world stage, backed by a powerful military, while pushing hard to improve life for its citizens at home. "Taking up this post, I feel a colossal sense of responsibility," Putin told his audience of Russian officials and foreign dignitaries, among them former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. For the short journey from his office to the inauguration ceremony, Putin travelled in a new Russian-made limousine. From now on, the limousine will replace the fleet of imported vehicles Putin uses, state television reported. The choice of transport chimes with a message, often repeated by Putin, that Russia is ready to stand on its own feet and shake off its dependence on the West. Foreign diplomats see little prospect that Russia's standoffs with the West that have dominated the past four years will ease during Putin's new term. Clashes in the past few weeks over U.S. sanctions on Russia, the conflict in Syria, and the poisoning in England of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal have left some diplomats worried that the confrontation could spiral out of control. TROUBLES AHEAD Opinion polls show Putin has high levels of support among Russian citizens, and Navalny has not been able to inspire a nationwide upsurge of protests. But the Russian economy is a potential weakness for Putin. Buffeted by lower oil prices, falls in the rouble, inflation and the impact of sanctions, average monthly wages have fallen from the equivalent of $867 in 2013 to $553 last year. Russia's economy, the world's eleventh largest, returned to growth of 1.5 percent last year, helped by a recovery in oil prices. But that fell far short of the growth Russians grew accustomed to earlier in Putin's rule. Putin, first elected president in 2000, will soon have ruled longer than Soviet Communist leader Leonid Brezhnev, whose 18-year rule from 1964 to 1982 is primarily associated with stagnation. By the time his term ends, Putin will be 71. Foreign diplomats and analysts say uncertainty over what happens after 2024 is likely to destabilise the ruling elite and spark infighting among rival Kremlin clans.

Putin sworn in as Russia President for new term, sticks with old prime minister

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday praised female bosses and their &quot;typically feminine traits&quot; during a visit to a pastry factory ahead of International Women&#39;s Day.&nbsp;

March 8 is a public holiday in Russia but is mainly celebrated by giving flowers and chocolates to women rather than stressing the need for gender equality.

&quot;To be a major shareholder... or the head of a business, you have to have particular qualities,&quot; said Putin as he met with female entrepreneurs in the city of Samara on the Volga river.

&quot; I think that women do have these qualities, and even certain advantages,&quot; said the president, who cultivates a macho image and is often photographed topless and playing sports.&nbsp;

&quot;Men are, as they say, tougher. But if these leadership qualities are combined with typically feminine traits, then the result is often much superior to the assertiveness of strong men.&quot;

Russia&#39;s last female leader was Catherine the Great, who died in 1796, and the only woman standing in a presidential election this month, Ksenia Sobchak, has around one percent of the projected vote.

Communist candidate Pavel Grudinin has pulled out of televised presidential debates, which Putin has refused to take part in, but briefly returned Wednesday to wish Sobchak the best on the upcoming holiday.&nbsp;

He apologised to the former reality TV host and socialite &quot;on behalf of all men&quot; for the insults she suffered during a previous debate, at which an ultra-nationalist candidate called her a &quot;whore&quot;.&nbsp;

Grudinin then handed Sobchak a bouquet of flowers and left the stage.

Moscow Metro said it had set up temporary beauty salons in one of the capital&#39;s major underground stations to offer free make-up and styling to female passengers.

A group of feminist activists were detained on International Women&#39;s Day last year after protesting near the Kremlin with banners calling for an end to male rule.

March 8 is a public holiday in Russia but is mainly celebrated by giving flowers and chocolates to women than stressing the need for gender equality

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday praised female bosses and their "typically feminine traits" during a visit to a pastry factory ahead of International Women's Day. March 8 is a public holiday in Russia but is mainly celebrated by giving flowers and chocolates to women rather than stressing the need for gender equality. "To be a major shareholder... or the head of a business, you have to have particular qualities," said Putin as he met with female entrepreneurs in the city of Samara on the Volga river. " I think that women do have these qualities, and even certain advantages," said the president, who cultivates a macho image and is often photographed topless and playing sports. "Men are, as they say, tougher. But if these leadership qualities are combined with typically feminine traits, then the result is often much superior to the assertiveness of strong men." Russia's last female leader was Catherine the Great, who died in 1796, and the only woman standing in a presidential election this month, Ksenia Sobchak, has around one percent of the projected vote. Communist candidate Pavel Grudinin has pulled out of televised presidential debates, which Putin has refused to take part in, but briefly returned Wednesday to wish Sobchak the best on the upcoming holiday. He apologised to the former reality TV host and socialite "on behalf of all men" for the insults she suffered during a previous debate, at which an ultra-nationalist candidate called her a "whore". Grudinin then handed Sobchak a bouquet of flowers and left the stage. Moscow Metro said it had set up temporary beauty salons in one of the capital's major underground stations to offer free make-up and styling to female passengers. A group of feminist activists were detained on International Women's Day last year after protesting near the Kremlin with banners calling for an end to male rule.

Russian President Vladimir Putin hails 'advantages' of female bosses ahead of women's day

The United States said on Monday it was sharply scaling back its visa services in Russia after Moscow cut the number of its diplomatic staff in retaliation over new US sanctions.

The US embassy in Russia said in a statement it was suspending all nonimmigrant visa operations across Russia on Aug. 23 and that they would resume on Sept. 1 &quot;on a greatly reduced scale.&quot;

The move means Russian citizens wanting to visit the United States for tourism will have to travel to Moscow and will no longer be able to&nbsp;use local US consulates outside the Russian capital.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, reacting to new sanctions imposed by the US Congress, has ordered Washington to cut its diplomatic and technical staff in Russia by 755 people by Sept. 1.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that a US decision to sharply scale back its visa services in Russia was an attempt to stir up ill-feeling among ordinary Russians against the authorities.

He added that Russia would carefully study the US decision and promised that Moscow would not take out its anger on ordinary US citizens.

US took the move after Moscow cut the number of its diplomatic staff in retaliation over new US sanctions

The United States said on Monday it was sharply scaling back its visa services in Russia after Moscow cut the number of its diplomatic staff in retaliation over new US sanctions. The US embassy in Russia said in a statement it was suspending all nonimmigrant visa operations across Russia on Aug. 23 and that they would resume on Sept. 1 "on a greatly reduced scale." The move means Russian citizens wanting to visit the United States for tourism will have to travel to Moscow and will no longer be able to use local US consulates outside the Russian capital. Russian President Vladimir Putin, reacting to new sanctions imposed by the US Congress, has ordered Washington to cut its diplomatic and technical staff in Russia by 755 people by Sept. 1. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that a US decision to sharply scale back its visa services in Russia was an attempt to stir up ill-feeling among ordinary Russians against the authorities. He added that Russia would carefully study the US decision and promised that Moscow would not take out its anger on ordinary US citizens.

US scales back visa services in Russia after diplomatic row

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday met US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson after complaining of worsening ties with Donald Trump&#39;s administration as the two sides spar over Syria.

Putin received Tillerson at the Kremlin along with Russia&#39;s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov after the top diplomats held several hours of talks dominated by the fallout of an alleged chemical attack in Syria.

Despite initial hopes in Moscow of better ties with the US under Trump, the two powers have descended into a furious war of words over the incident and a retaliatory US missile strike against the forces of the Kremlin&#39;s ally Bashar al-Assad last week.&nbsp;

Russia has slammed Washington&#39;s attack on a Syrian airbase and, as Tillerson met Lavrov, Putin admitted that relations have worsened in the three months that Trump has been in office.

&quot;You can say that the level of trust on a working level, especially on the military side, has not improved but most likely worsened,&quot; Putin said in the transcript of an interview with Mir television released by the Kremlin.

&quot;Where is the proof that Syrian troops used chemical weapons? There isn&#39;t any. But there was a violation of international law. That is an obvious fact.&quot;

&#39;Clarify differences&#39; 
 
Tillerson, a former oil executive, might once have looked like the perfect envoy to mend strained ties, having worked closely with the Kremlin while negotiating deals for energy giant ExxonMobil.

But the underlying tensions between the former Cold War foes never went away and last week&#39;s chemical attack has left ties once again in crisis.&nbsp;

At the start of his meeting with Lavrov, Tillerson said he wanted to &quot;clarify areas of common objectives, areas of common interest -- even where our tactical approaches may be different -- and further clarify areas of sharp difference.&quot;

During his visit -- the first to Moscow by a senior Trump administration official -- Tillerson was expected to challenge Russia to distance itself from Assad and his Iranian backers, an idea that the Kremlin dismissed as &quot;absurd&quot;.

Lavrov told Tillerson Moscow was hoping to understand Washington&#39;s &quot;real intentions&quot; and warned that the Kremlin considered it &quot;fundamentally important&quot; to prevent more &quot;unlawful&quot; US strikes against its ally Syria.&nbsp;

In a further indication of the stark differences, Russia also slammed as &quot;unacceptable&quot; a proposed UN resolution put forward by the US, Britain and France on the alleged chemical attack, and said it would veto it in its current form at a vote expected later Wednesday.&nbsp;

The Western-backed resolution -- which was slightly revised from a proposal presented last week -- demands that the Syrian government cooperate with an investigation into the alleged attack. &nbsp;

&quot;We are ready to throw our weight and resources behind diplomacy. We are ready to help bring this conflict to an end,&quot; US Ambassador Nikki Haley told the Security Council as it met.&nbsp;

Ahead of Tillerson&#39;s visit tempers rose sharply as US officials suggested Russian forces may have colluded in the latest atrocity blamed on Assad&#39;s regime that left 87 civilians dead including children in the town of Khan Sheikhun.

The White House compared Assad&#39;s tactics to those of World War II Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, sparking widespread criticism for apparently ignoring the Holocaust.&nbsp;

Putin meanwhile accused Assad&#39;s opponents of planning to stage chemical attacks to be blamed on Damascus in order to lure the United States deeper into the conflict.

Evacuations in Syria 
 
In a sign that the Kremlin is not set to drop its firm support for Assad, Syria&#39;s foreign minister is set to jet in to Moscow for talks with Lavrov on Thursday before a three-way meeting involving Iran&#39;s top diplomat on Friday. &nbsp;

As the powerbrokers wrangled over the six-year war in Syria that has cost some 320,000 lives, a deal on the ground to evacuate four besieged towns began Wednesday with an exchange of prisoners between rebels and government forces, local sources and state media said.

Thousands of people, both civilians and fighters, are expected to begin leaving government-held Fuaa and Kafraya and opposition-controlled Madaya and Zabadani later Wednesday.

The evacuations of the four besieged towns come under an agreement brokered by rebel backer Qatar and government ally Iran last month. 
 
(AFP)

 
&nbsp;

Even as Tillerson met Lavrov, Putin admitted that relations have worsened in the three months that Trump has been in office.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday met US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson after complaining of worsening ties with Donald Trump's administration as the two sides spar over Syria. Putin received Tillerson at the Kremlin along with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov after the top diplomats held several hours of talks dominated by the fallout of an alleged chemical attack in Syria. Despite initial hopes in Moscow of better ties with the US under Trump, the two powers have descended into a furious war of words over the incident and a retaliatory US missile strike against the forces of the Kremlin's ally Bashar al-Assad last week. Russia has slammed Washington's attack on a Syrian airbase and, as Tillerson met Lavrov, Putin admitted that relations have worsened in the three months that Trump has been in office. "You can say that the level of trust on a working level, especially on the military side, has not improved but most likely worsened," Putin said in the transcript of an interview with Mir television released by the Kremlin. "Where is the proof that Syrian troops used chemical weapons? There isn't any. But there was a violation of international law. That is an obvious fact." 'Clarify differences' Tillerson, a former oil executive, might once have looked like the perfect envoy to mend strained ties, having worked closely with the Kremlin while negotiating deals for energy giant ExxonMobil. But the underlying tensions between the former Cold War foes never went away and last week's chemical attack has left ties once again in crisis. At the start of his meeting with Lavrov, Tillerson said he wanted to "clarify areas of common objectives, areas of common interest -- even where our tactical approaches may be different -- and further clarify areas of sharp difference." During his visit -- the first to Moscow by a senior Trump administration official -- Tillerson was expected to challenge Russia to distance itself from Assad and his Iranian backers, an idea that the Kremlin dismissed as "absurd". Lavrov told Tillerson Moscow was hoping to understand Washington's "real intentions" and warned that the Kremlin considered it "fundamentally important" to prevent more "unlawful" US strikes against its ally Syria. In a further indication of the stark differences, Russia also slammed as "unacceptable" a proposed UN resolution put forward by the US, Britain and France on the alleged chemical attack, and said it would veto it in its current form at a vote expected later Wednesday. The Western-backed resolution -- which was slightly revised from a proposal presented last week -- demands that the Syrian government cooperate with an investigation into the alleged attack. "We are ready to throw our weight and resources behind diplomacy. We are ready to help bring this conflict to an end," US Ambassador Nikki Haley told the Security Council as it met. Ahead of Tillerson's visit tempers rose sharply as US officials suggested Russian forces may have colluded in the latest atrocity blamed on Assad's regime that left 87 civilians dead including children in the town of Khan Sheikhun. The White House compared Assad's tactics to those of World War II Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, sparking widespread criticism for apparently ignoring the Holocaust. Putin meanwhile accused Assad's opponents of planning to stage chemical attacks to be blamed on Damascus in order to lure the United States deeper into the conflict. Evacuations in Syria In a sign that the Kremlin is not set to drop its firm support for Assad, Syria's foreign minister is set to jet in to Moscow for talks with Lavrov on Thursday before a three-way meeting involving Iran's top diplomat on Friday. As the powerbrokers wrangled over the six-year war in Syria that has cost some 320,000 lives, a deal on the ground to evacuate four besieged towns began Wednesday with an exchange of prisoners between rebels and government forces, local sources and state media said. Thousands of people, both civilians and fighters, are expected to begin leaving government-held Fuaa and Kafraya and opposition-controlled Madaya and Zabadani later Wednesday. The evacuations of the four besieged towns come under an agreement brokered by rebel backer Qatar and government ally Iran last month. (AFP)

Putin meets Tillerson as US, Russia wrangle over Syria

Russia and China signed over 30 cooperation deals on June 25 as Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping met in Beijing. 
 
The deals covered areas such as economy and trade, foreign affairs, infrastructure, technology and innovation, agriculture, finance, energy, media, Internet, and sports, China&#39;s semi-official Xinhua news agency reported. 
 
After bilateral talks, Putin said both sides were moving towards working on 58 joint initiatives worth 50 billion dollars. 
 
Putin&#39;s aide told journalists earlier this week that energy, aerospace, North Korea, and Syria were some of the issues due to be discussed between the two leaders during the visit. 
 
Putin arrived in Beijing after a visit to Tashkent, where he attended the 16th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

After bilateral talks, Putin said both sides were moving towards working on 58 joint initiatives worth 50 billion dollars

Russia and China signed over 30 cooperation deals on June 25 as Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping met in Beijing. The deals covered areas such as economy and trade, foreign affairs, infrastructure, technology and innovation, agriculture, finance, energy, media, Internet, and sports, China's semi-official Xinhua news agency reported. After bilateral talks, Putin said both sides were moving towards working on 58 joint initiatives worth 50 billion dollars. Putin's aide told journalists earlier this week that energy, aerospace, North Korea, and Syria were some of the issues due to be discussed between the two leaders during the visit. Putin arrived in Beijing after a visit to Tashkent, where he attended the 16th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. (Reuters)

Russia, China eye closer friendship sign strategic agreements

Craig Reedie, the head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, indicated today that he would be prepared to back a complete ban for the entire Russia team from August&#39;s Olympic Games in Rio. 
 
The founding president of WADA, Dick Pound, told Britain&#39;s Sunday Times newspaper that such a ban was &quot;not impossible&quot;. 
 
Friday saw the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) uphold an international ban on Russia&#39;s track and field competitors first imposed in November after a WADA team led by veteran Canadian sports administrator Pound revealed state-sponsored doping and mass corruption in Russian athletics.&nbsp; 
 
The Russia team is now ruled out of all events in athletics in Rio, although Russian athletes training outside the country can apply to compete as neutrals at the August 5-21 event in Brazil. 
 
The IAAF&#39;s decision was endorsed by the International Olympic Committee on Saturday. 
 
But there are fears that the scale of Russia&#39;s breaking of doping rules extend beyond just track and field. 
 
In May, WADA set up a new investigation under Professor Richard McLaren, a Canadian law professor and longstanding member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), into allegations of state-backed doping at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia. 
 
Grigory Rodchenkov, the former head of the Russian lab now living in Los Angeles, also gave an interview to the New York Times last month in which he said he switched tainted urine samples for clean ones at the doping lab used for the Sochi Games, with help from people he believed to be officers of the Russian security services. 
 
McLaren, who is due to deliver his full report by July 15, said in a preliminary statement on Friday he had evidence that Russia&#39;s Ministry of Sport was involved in instructing a Moscow laboratory to &quot;not report positive sample results over the period before, during and after&quot; the 2013 World Athletics Championships. 
 
&quot;In the coming weeks, we will learn the outcome of our independent McLaren investigation,&quot; Reedie, speaking at the WADA symposium at London`s Lord&#39;s Cricket Ground, said Monday. 
 
&quot;If his report indicates transgressions of any kind, then there will be a precedent-setting opportunity to demonstrate our collective commitment to cleaning up sport,&quot; added the veteran British sports administrator, who reiterated WADA&#39;s support for the IAAF ban on Russia. 
 
&quot;The world will be watching.&quot; 
 
Reedie said the fact anti-doping laboratories in Beijing, Bloemfontein, Lisbon, Madrid and Moscow had all had their WADA accreditation suspended was proof that the organisation had taken &quot;decisive action&quot; by hearing the &quot;strength of the athlete&#39;s voice&quot; in insisting labs maintain the &quot;highest standards&quot;. 
 
This, said Reedie, was all part of &quot;levelling the playing field for each and every athlete competing in Rio&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
Meanwhile Reedie repeated his calls for increased WADA funding from national governments and also suggested that, for the first time, broadcasters and media rights-holders might want to contribute to the budget. 
 
Reedie said WADA was &quot;punching above its weight&quot; on a budget of less than $30 million a year, which he noted was less than the annual income of Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova, recently banned for a doping violation. 
 
Reedie added that 0.5 per cent of the worldwide sports television rights market would produce a WADA budget of $175 million and that it was in the rights-holders&#39; interest to promote clean sport. 
 
Russian President Vladmir Putin&nbsp;has labelled the IAAF&#39;s ban on his country&#39;s athletes as &quot;unjust and unfair&quot;. 
 
But IAAF president Sebastian Coe, who won Olympic 1500 metres gold and 800m silver for Great Britain at the 1980 Moscow Games, wrote in Britain&#39;s Sunday Telegraph: &quot;We have not prevented clean athletes from Russia from competing, rather the Russian system has cataclysmically failed their clean athletes.&quot; 
(AFP)

Russian athletes training outside the country can apply to compete as neutrals at the August event in Brazil

Craig Reedie, the head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, indicated today that he would be prepared to back a complete ban for the entire Russia team from August's Olympic Games in Rio. The founding president of WADA, Dick Pound, told Britain's Sunday Times newspaper that such a ban was "not impossible". Friday saw the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) uphold an international ban on Russia's track and field competitors first imposed in November after a WADA team led by veteran Canadian sports administrator Pound revealed state-sponsored doping and mass corruption in Russian athletics. The Russia team is now ruled out of all events in athletics in Rio, although Russian athletes training outside the country can apply to compete as neutrals at the August 5-21 event in Brazil. The IAAF's decision was endorsed by the International Olympic Committee on Saturday. But there are fears that the scale of Russia's breaking of doping rules extend beyond just track and field. In May, WADA set up a new investigation under Professor Richard McLaren, a Canadian law professor and longstanding member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), into allegations of state-backed doping at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia. Grigory Rodchenkov, the former head of the Russian lab now living in Los Angeles, also gave an interview to the New York Times last month in which he said he switched tainted urine samples for clean ones at the doping lab used for the Sochi Games, with help from people he believed to be officers of the Russian security services. McLaren, who is due to deliver his full report by July 15, said in a preliminary statement on Friday he had evidence that Russia's Ministry of Sport was involved in instructing a Moscow laboratory to "not report positive sample results over the period before, during and after" the 2013 World Athletics Championships. "In the coming weeks, we will learn the outcome of our independent McLaren investigation," Reedie, speaking at the WADA symposium at London`s Lord's Cricket Ground, said Monday. "If his report indicates transgressions of any kind, then there will be a precedent-setting opportunity to demonstrate our collective commitment to cleaning up sport," added the veteran British sports administrator, who reiterated WADA's support for the IAAF ban on Russia. "The world will be watching." Reedie said the fact anti-doping laboratories in Beijing, Bloemfontein, Lisbon, Madrid and Moscow had all had their WADA accreditation suspended was proof that the organisation had taken "decisive action" by hearing the "strength of the athlete's voice" in insisting labs maintain the "highest standards". This, said Reedie, was all part of "levelling the playing field for each and every athlete competing in Rio". Meanwhile Reedie repeated his calls for increased WADA funding from national governments and also suggested that, for the first time, broadcasters and media rights-holders might want to contribute to the budget. Reedie said WADA was "punching above its weight" on a budget of less than $30 million a year, which he noted was less than the annual income of Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova, recently banned for a doping violation. Reedie added that 0.5 per cent of the worldwide sports television rights market would produce a WADA budget of $175 million and that it was in the rights-holders' interest to promote clean sport. Russian President Vladmir Putin has labelled the IAAF's ban on his country's athletes as "unjust and unfair". But IAAF president Sebastian Coe, who won Olympic 1500 metres gold and 800m silver for Great Britain at the 1980 Moscow Games, wrote in Britain's Sunday Telegraph: "We have not prevented clean athletes from Russia from competing, rather the Russian system has cataclysmically failed their clean athletes." (AFP)

World Anti-Doping Agency prepared to ban entire Russian team from Rio Olympics

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