Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday dismissed criticism by the Group of 7 nations as "creative babbling" and said it was time to start cooperating again.

"I believe it's necessary to stop this creative babbling and shift to concrete issues related to real cooperation," Putin told reporters in the Chinese city of Qingdao, when asked to comment on a G7 joint statement.&nbsp

He also said the G7 countries had "again" failed to provide any evidence that Russia was behind the poisoning of a former double agent and his daughter in Britain in March.

G7 leaders demanded Saturday that Russia stop what they described as attempts to undermine democracy and support for the Syrian regime as they closed the door on Moscow's readmission to the club.

The G7 endorsed Britain's accusation that Moscow was behind the poisoning attack in the southwest of England on former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.

"We share and agree with the United Kingdom's assessment that it is highly likely that the Russian Federation was responsible for the attack, and that there is no plausible alternative explanation," the G7 statement said.

As in the past, Putin took issue with the phrase "highly likely", saying that G7 nations' solidarity was based on "flimsy ground."

We never left

"Everyone demonstrated solidarity with London over a certain event in Salisbury but nothing concrete was said again," Putin said.

The statement made no mention of Russia being invited back into the group from which it was kicked out in response to its 2014 annexation of Crimea, despite US President Donald Trump's insistence that the club would be better off if it brought Russia back into the fold.

Putin said it was not Russia's decision to quit the G7, saying he would be happy to see G7 leaders in Russia.

"As for Russia's return to the G7, G8 -- we never left it," he said. "Back in the day colleagues refused to come to Russia due to certain reasons. Please, we would be happy to see everyone in Moscow."

The Kremlin leader did not miss an opportunity to thumb his nose at the club of leading industrialised democracies, saying that the combined purchasing power of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation ---which includes Russia and China -- outstripped the G7.

At the same time he downplayed tensions at the acrimonious G7 meeting in Quebec City, after Trump disowned the joint summit statement and lambasted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

"Things happen," Putin said. "One has to treat this in a calm manner and without any irony whatsoever."

&nbsp

Putin also said the G7 countries had 'again' failed to provide any evidence that Russia was behind the poisoning of a former double agent and his daughter in Britain in March

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday dismissed criticism by the Group of 7 nations as "creative babbling" and said it was time to start cooperating again. "I believe it's necessary to stop this creative babbling and shift to concrete issues related to real cooperation," Putin told reporters in the Chinese city of Qingdao, when asked to comment on a G7 joint statement. He also said the G7 countries had "again" failed to provide any evidence that Russia was behind the poisoning of a former double agent and his daughter in Britain in March. G7 leaders demanded Saturday that Russia stop what they described as attempts to undermine democracy and support for the Syrian regime as they closed the door on Moscow's readmission to the club. The G7 endorsed Britain's accusation that Moscow was behind the poisoning attack in the southwest of England on former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. "We share and agree with the United Kingdom's assessment that it is highly likely that the Russian Federation was responsible for the attack, and that there is no plausible alternative explanation," the G7 statement said. As in the past, Putin took issue with the phrase "highly likely", saying that G7 nations' solidarity was based on "flimsy ground." We never left "Everyone demonstrated solidarity with London over a certain event in Salisbury but nothing concrete was said again," Putin said. The statement made no mention of Russia being invited back into the group from which it was kicked out in response to its 2014 annexation of Crimea, despite US President Donald Trump's insistence that the club would be better off if it brought Russia back into the fold. Putin said it was not Russia's decision to quit the G7, saying he would be happy to see G7 leaders in Russia. "As for Russia's return to the G7, G8 -- we never left it," he said. "Back in the day colleagues refused to come to Russia due to certain reasons. Please, we would be happy to see everyone in Moscow." The Kremlin leader did not miss an opportunity to thumb his nose at the club of leading industrialised democracies, saying that the combined purchasing power of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation ---which includes Russia and China -- outstripped the G7. At the same time he downplayed tensions at the acrimonious G7 meeting in Quebec City, after Trump disowned the joint summit statement and lambasted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. "Things happen," Putin said. "One has to treat this in a calm manner and without any irony whatsoever."

Putin dismisses G7 criticism as 'babbling', calls for cooperation

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday said he was ready to meet his US counterpart Donald Trump as soon as Washington was ready, adding <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/vienna-being-considered-as-venue-for-possible-putin-trump-summit-kremlin-143280">Vienna could be a possible venue for such a summit</a>.

"As soon as the American side is ready this meeting would take place depending on my working schedule of course," Putin told reporters in the Chinese city of Qingdao.

"The US president himself repeatedly said that he would consider such a meeting helpful. I can confirm this. It's true," Putin said.

He said he did not discuss a possible meeting venue with Trump but "many" countries including Austria were keen to help in organising such a summit.&nbsp

"But I believe it's a technical issue," he said.

"It's important for such meetings -- if they take place -- to have concrete contents."

The Wall Street Journal, citing a senior European official, reported that Putin asked Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz on a visit to Vienna earlier this week to help organise such a meeting and that Washington was considering it.

Under the conservative Kurz, Austria has strived to act as a mediator between Russia and the West.

While the EU-state imposed sanctions on Russia over Crimea along with the rest of the bloc, Austria did not expel Russian diplomats like other Western nations following the March poisoning of a Russian former double agent and his daughter in Britain, an attack London has accused Moscow of being behind.

'As soon as the American side is ready this meeting would take place depending on my working schedule of course,' Putin said

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday said he was ready to meet his US counterpart Donald Trump as soon as Washington was ready, adding Vienna could be a possible venue for such a summit. "As soon as the American side is ready this meeting would take place depending on my working schedule of course," Putin told reporters in the Chinese city of Qingdao. "The US president himself repeatedly said that he would consider such a meeting helpful. I can confirm this. It's true," Putin said. He said he did not discuss a possible meeting venue with Trump but "many" countries including Austria were keen to help in organising such a summit. "But I believe it's a technical issue," he said. "It's important for such meetings -- if they take place -- to have concrete contents." The Wall Street Journal, citing a senior European official, reported that Putin asked Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz on a visit to Vienna earlier this week to help organise such a meeting and that Washington was considering it. Under the conservative Kurz, Austria has strived to act as a mediator between Russia and the West. While the EU-state imposed sanctions on Russia over Crimea along with the rest of the bloc, Austria did not expel Russian diplomats like other Western nations following the March poisoning of a Russian former double agent and his daughter in Britain, an attack London has accused Moscow of being behind.

Putin says ready to meet Trump 'as soon as' Washington is ready

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday it was too early to discuss in detail a possible prisoner exchange with Ukraine, amid hopes for the release of film director Oleg Sentsov and others during the World Cup.

But the Kremlin leader indicated that backdoor negotiations were apparently underway, raising hopes for the release of dozens of prisoners including Sentsov, who is undertaking a high-profile hunger strike at a prison in Russia's far north.

"It's so far premature to say how this issue will be solved," Putin told reporters at a security summit in the Chinese city of Qingdao, adding he would not want to comment for now "so as not to violate anything here and not to disrupt anything."

Putin and Ukrainian leader Petro Poroshenko discussed a possible exchange of prisoners in a rare phone call Saturday and agreed that officials from the two countries would visit their prisoners "in the near future".

Putin said it was Poroshenko who initiated the discussion.

Fears have grown in recent weeks that Sentsov, a 41-year-old Ukrainian director and author who is serving a 20-year prison sentence on terrorism charges in Russia, could die behind bars.

He went on hunger strike on May 14 to demand Russia release dozens of Ukrainian political prisoners, timing his protest to coincide with the month-long football extravaganza that begins on Thursday.

The father of two said he was ready to die in prison, drawing comparisons with Soviet-era dissident Anatoly Marchenko, who starved himself to death in prison in 1986 after he demanded Moscow release its prisoners of conscience.

Sentsov, who is also a pro-Ukrainian activist, was detained in Crimea in 2014 after Russia annexed the peninsula and moved to support pro-Moscow separatists in the east of Ukraine, in a conflict that has since claimed more than 10,000 lives.

According to Kiev's estimates, Moscow is currently holding around 70 Ukrainian political prisoners.

Kiev said it was ready to exchange "23 Russians who were conducting spying activities in Ukraine".

Putin and Poroshenko spoke on the phone ahead of key talks Monday in Berlin between the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers that will also include German and French representatives.

The talks are aimed at reviving a stalled peace process in eastern Ukraine and putting an end to lingering clashes between Ukrainian government troops and pro-Russian rebels.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday it was too early to discuss in detail a possible prisoner exchange with Ukraine, amid hopes for the release of film director Oleg Sentsov and others during the World Cup.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday it was too early to discuss in detail a possible prisoner exchange with Ukraine, amid hopes for the release of film director Oleg Sentsov and others during the World Cup. But the Kremlin leader indicated that backdoor negotiations were apparently underway, raising hopes for the release of dozens of prisoners including Sentsov, who is undertaking a high-profile hunger strike at a prison in Russia's far north. "It's so far premature to say how this issue will be solved," Putin told reporters at a security summit in the Chinese city of Qingdao, adding he would not want to comment for now "so as not to violate anything here and not to disrupt anything." Putin and Ukrainian leader Petro Poroshenko discussed a possible exchange of prisoners in a rare phone call Saturday and agreed that officials from the two countries would visit their prisoners "in the near future". Putin said it was Poroshenko who initiated the discussion. Fears have grown in recent weeks that Sentsov, a 41-year-old Ukrainian director and author who is serving a 20-year prison sentence on terrorism charges in Russia, could die behind bars. He went on hunger strike on May 14 to demand Russia release dozens of Ukrainian political prisoners, timing his protest to coincide with the month-long football extravaganza that begins on Thursday. The father of two said he was ready to die in prison, drawing comparisons with Soviet-era dissident Anatoly Marchenko, who starved himself to death in prison in 1986 after he demanded Moscow release its prisoners of conscience. Sentsov, who is also a pro-Ukrainian activist, was detained in Crimea in 2014 after Russia annexed the peninsula and moved to support pro-Moscow separatists in the east of Ukraine, in a conflict that has since claimed more than 10,000 lives. According to Kiev's estimates, Moscow is currently holding around 70 Ukrainian political prisoners. Kiev said it was ready to exchange "23 Russians who were conducting spying activities in Ukraine". Putin and Poroshenko spoke on the phone ahead of key talks Monday in Berlin between the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers that will also include German and French representatives. The talks are aimed at reviving a stalled peace process in eastern Ukraine and putting an end to lingering clashes between Ukrainian government troops and pro-Russian rebels.

Putin says 'premature' to divulge details of Ukraine prisoner exchange

Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko discussed Saturday a possible exchange of prisoners, the Kremlin said, raising hopes that hunger-striking film director Oleg Sentsov and others could be released ahead of the start of the World Cup next week.

"Special attention was paid to humanitarian issues including an exchange of people being held" by the two sides, the Kremlin said in a statement following the rare phone conversation by the two leaders.

Putin stressed that Russian journalists arrested in Ukraine should be released immediately, the Kremlin said, adding that the conflict in eastern Ukraine was also discussed.

Poroshenko for his part stressed that Sentsov, who has been on hunger strike since May 14, and other "Ukrainian political prisoners" should be released "as soon as possible."

"The head of the Ukrainian state drew attention to Ukrainians' hunger strikes and expressed concern over their deteriorating health," his office said in a statement.

Both Moscow and Kiev said the two leaders agreed that a rights ombudsmen would visit the two countries' prisoners "in the near future". No other details were provided.

Sentsov, who is serving a 20-year sentence on terrorism charges in Russia's far north, is demanding that Moscow release dozens of Ukrainian political prisoners languishing in Russian prisons.

His supporters said the father of two was prepared to die in prison, clouding Russia's chance to shine on the world stage during the World Cup which begins on Thursday.

Ukrainian activist Oleksandr Kolchenko, who is serving a 10-year sentence in a Russian prison after being convicted of terrorism together with Sentsov, also launched a hunger strike in solidarity with Sentsov.

He, however, halted his protest earlier this week due to his poor health.

Putin and Poroshenko spoke on the phone ahead of talks Monday in Berlin between the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers that will also involve Germany and France.

The talks are aimed at reviving a stalled peace process in eastern Ukraine. Efforts to put an end to a four-year conflict between Ukranian government troops and pro-Russian rebels that has claimed more than 10,000 lives since 2014 have come to a halt.

The announcement raised hopes of hunger-striking film director Oleg Sentsov and others could be released ahead of the start of the World Cup next week

Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko discussed Saturday a possible exchange of prisoners, the Kremlin said, raising hopes that hunger-striking film director Oleg Sentsov and others could be released ahead of the start of the World Cup next week. "Special attention was paid to humanitarian issues including an exchange of people being held" by the two sides, the Kremlin said in a statement following the rare phone conversation by the two leaders. Putin stressed that Russian journalists arrested in Ukraine should be released immediately, the Kremlin said, adding that the conflict in eastern Ukraine was also discussed. Poroshenko for his part stressed that Sentsov, who has been on hunger strike since May 14, and other "Ukrainian political prisoners" should be released "as soon as possible." "The head of the Ukrainian state drew attention to Ukrainians' hunger strikes and expressed concern over their deteriorating health," his office said in a statement. Both Moscow and Kiev said the two leaders agreed that a rights ombudsmen would visit the two countries' prisoners "in the near future". No other details were provided. Sentsov, who is serving a 20-year sentence on terrorism charges in Russia's far north, is demanding that Moscow release dozens of Ukrainian political prisoners languishing in Russian prisons. His supporters said the father of two was prepared to die in prison, clouding Russia's chance to shine on the world stage during the World Cup which begins on Thursday. Ukrainian activist Oleksandr Kolchenko, who is serving a 10-year sentence in a Russian prison after being convicted of terrorism together with Sentsov, also launched a hunger strike in solidarity with Sentsov. He, however, halted his protest earlier this week due to his poor health. Putin and Poroshenko spoke on the phone ahead of talks Monday in Berlin between the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers that will also involve Germany and France. The talks are aimed at reviving a stalled peace process in eastern Ukraine. Efforts to put an end to a four-year conflict between Ukranian government troops and pro-Russian rebels that has claimed more than 10,000 lives since 2014 have come to a halt.

Russia and Ukraine discuss 'exchange' of prisoners: Kremlin

The mediation panel on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute on Thursday submitted its report in a sealed cover to the Supreme Court.

The report was given to the Supreme Court registry.

A Constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, had on July 18 asked by the three-member committee, headed by retired apex court judge FMI Kalifulla, to continue with the mediation process and submit a report on the progress made till July 31.

The bench, which also comprises Justices SA Bobde, DY Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer, will take up on Friday a batch of petitions seeking an end to the mediation process and the start of hearing in the Ayodhya title suit.

The petitions have submitted that no progress has been made in the mediation ordered by the apex court to explore an amicable settlement to the land dispute.

Among the petitioners is Rajendra Singh, son of one of the original plaintiffs — Gopal Singh Visharad.

On July 11, K Parasaran, the senior lawyer for Singh, had argued that the mediation process is unlikely to yield any positive result.

"Since mediation is unlikely to bring any positive result, the court should give a date for a hearing in the case," he had submitted.

However, senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, appearing for one of the Muslim parties, had contested the stand taken by Parasaran.

The court had on March 8 constituted the mediation panel which also comprises Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and senior Madras High Court advocate Sriram Panchu.

Fourteen appeals are pending before the apex court against the 2010 Allahabad High Court verdict which ordered equal division of the 2.77-acre disputed land in Ayodhya among the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.

The 16th-century Babri Masjid was demolished on December 6, 1992.

"The world is changing" is the most common phrase heard on the streets of Moscow when locals talk about the country's foreign affairs

The mediation panel on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute on Thursday submitted its report in a sealed cover to the Supreme Court. The report was given to the Supreme Court registry. A Constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, had on July 18 asked by the three-member committee, headed by retired apex court judge FMI Kalifulla, to continue with the mediation process and submit a report on the progress made till July 31. The bench, which also comprises Justices SA Bobde, DY Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer, will take up on Friday a batch of petitions seeking an end to the mediation process and the start of hearing in the Ayodhya title suit. The petitions have submitted that no progress has been made in the mediation ordered by the apex court to explore an amicable settlement to the land dispute. Among the petitioners is Rajendra Singh, son of one of the original plaintiffs — Gopal Singh Visharad. On July 11, K Parasaran, the senior lawyer for Singh, had argued that the mediation process is unlikely to yield any positive result. "Since mediation is unlikely to bring any positive result, the court should give a date for a hearing in the case," he had submitted. However, senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, appearing for one of the Muslim parties, had contested the stand taken by Parasaran. The court had on March 8 constituted the mediation panel which also comprises Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and senior Madras High Court advocate Sriram Panchu. Fourteen appeals are pending before the apex court against the 2010 Allahabad High Court verdict which ordered equal division of the 2.77-acre disputed land in Ayodhya among the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. The 16th-century Babri Masjid was demolished on December 6, 1992.

Russians look forward to closer ties with China

South Korea's President Moon Jae -in will visit Russia at the invitation of Russia's President Vladimir Putin from June 23 to 25, South Korea's presidential Blue House said on Friday.

In what will be the first state visit by a sitting South Korean president to Russia since 1999, the two leaders are expected to discuss issues such as North Korea's denuclearization and peace on the Korean peninsula, the Blue House said.

"We expect that the summit with President Putin will serve as a chance to further strengthen strategic communication and cooperation between the two countries as peace is developed on the Korean Peninsula," the Blue House said.

The two leaders are expected to discuss issues such as North Korea's denuclearization and peace on the Korean peninsula

South Korea's President Moon Jae -in will visit Russia at the invitation of Russia's President Vladimir Putin from June 23 to 25, South Korea's presidential Blue House said on Friday. In what will be the first state visit by a sitting South Korean president to Russia since 1999, the two leaders are expected to discuss issues such as North Korea's denuclearization and peace on the Korean peninsula, the Blue House said. "We expect that the summit with President Putin will serve as a chance to further strengthen strategic communication and cooperation between the two countries as peace is developed on the Korean Peninsula," the Blue House said.

South Korea's President Moon to visit Russia, meet Putin, on June 23-25

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

<a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/india-seeks-facebooks-response-over-reports-of-data-sharing-without-consent-142919">India seeks Facebook's response </a><a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/india-seeks-facebooks-response-over-reports-of-data-sharing-without-consent-142919">over</a><a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/india-seeks-facebooks-response-over-reports-of-data-sharing-without-consent-142919"> reports of data sharing without consent</a>

The Indian government has asked social media company Facebook to respond by June 20 to media reports of sharing users data without their explicit consent on Thursday.

<a href="http://wionews.com/world/china-says-no-clue-on-mystery-illness-striking-us-diplomats-142906">China says 'no clue' on mystery illness striking US diplomats</a>

In response to the reports of US diplomats getting sick from a mysterious disease, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said that it has conducted an investigation and "found no cause or clues" regarding the reports.

<a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/centre-concerned-about-future-of-jk-youth-home-minister-rajnath-singh-142888">Centre concerned about future of J&K youth: Home Minister Rajnath Singh</a>

The Centre had decided to withdraw cases against those "misled into stone pelting" as it was concerned about the future of Jammu and Kashmir's youth, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today.

<a href="http://wionews.com/world/vladimir-putin-says-its-complete-nonsense-that-russia-meddled-in-us-election-142914">Vladimir Putin says its complete nonsense that Russia meddled in US election</a>

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".

<a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/world/spain-swears-in-new-cabinet-with-record-number-of-women-142858">Spain swears in </a><a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/world/spain-swears-in-new-cabinet-with-record-number-of-women-142858">new</a><a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/world/spain-swears-in-new-cabinet-with-record-number-of-women-142858"> cabinet with </a><a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/world/spain-swears-in-new-cabinet-with-record-number-of-women-142858">record</a><a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/world/spain-swears-in-new-cabinet-with-record-number-of-women-142858"> number of women</a>

King Felipe VI on Thursday swore in Spain's new pro-EU government with a record 11 women members including in key posts such as defence and economy, and six male ministers.

 
&nbsp;

India seeks Facebook's response over reports of data sharing without consent The Indian government has asked social media company Facebook to respond by June 20 to media reports of sharing users data without their explicit consent on Thursday. China says 'no clue' on mystery illness striking US diplomats In response to the reports of US diplomats getting sick from a mysterious disease, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said that it has conducted an investigation and "found no cause or clues" regarding the reports. Centre concerned about future of J&K youth: Home Minister Rajnath Singh The Centre had decided to withdraw cases against those "misled into stone pelting" as it was concerned about the future of Jammu and Kashmir's youth, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today. Vladimir Putin says its complete nonsense that Russia meddled in US election 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". Spain swears in new cabinet with record number of women King Felipe VI on Thursday swore in Spain's new pro-EU government with a record 11 women members including in key posts such as defence and economy, and six male ministers.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday on the sidelines of the SCO Summit during which they will take stock of the implementation of decisions taken at the informal summit just over a month ago in Wuhan.

Modi is expected to hold nearly half a dozen bilateral meetings with leaders of other SCO countries. However, there is no official word on whether there will be any interaction between Modi and Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain, who is scheduled to attend the meeting in China.

The bilateral meeting with President Xi would take place on June 9, while meetings with other leaders on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Qingdao were being finalised, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said at a media briefing here.

Officials have said Modi and Xi are expected to take stock of the implementation of decisions taken at their informal summit in Wuhan.

Among other issues, the SCO summit is expected to focus on opportunities for cooperation among the member countries and the situation in the region, Kumar said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is also expected to attend the summit.

Modi had last month met Putin in an informal summit in Sochi.

The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan became its members last year, and are participating as full members for the first time.

Kumar, while talking to reporters after the briefing, said China appreciated Prime Minister Modi's speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue held in Singapore last week.

This was conveyed by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during a meeting held on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting in South Africa this week, he said.

This was also conveyed by China's Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou to Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale in a meeting held here, Kumar said.

In his address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Modi said Asia and the world will have a better future when India and China work together with trust and confidence while being sensitive to each other's interests.&nbsp

Russian President Vladimir Putin is also expected to attend the summit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday on the sidelines of the SCO Summit during which they will take stock of the implementation of decisions taken at the informal summit just over a month ago in Wuhan. Modi is expected to hold nearly half a dozen bilateral meetings with leaders of other SCO countries. However, there is no official word on whether there will be any interaction between Modi and Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain, who is scheduled to attend the meeting in China. The bilateral meeting with President Xi would take place on June 9, while meetings with other leaders on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Qingdao were being finalised, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said at a media briefing here. Officials have said Modi and Xi are expected to take stock of the implementation of decisions taken at their informal summit in Wuhan. Among other issues, the SCO summit is expected to focus on opportunities for cooperation among the member countries and the situation in the region, Kumar said. Russian President Vladimir Putin is also expected to attend the summit. Modi had last month met Putin in an informal summit in Sochi. The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan became its members last year, and are participating as full members for the first time. Kumar, while talking to reporters after the briefing, said China appreciated Prime Minister Modi's speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue held in Singapore last week. This was conveyed by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during a meeting held on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting in South Africa this week, he said. This was also conveyed by China's Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou to Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale in a meeting held here, Kumar said. In his address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Modi said Asia and the world will have a better future when India and China work together with trust and confidence while being sensitive to each other's interests.

PM Modi to meet Xi on SCO Summit sidelines in China

President Vladimir Putin&nbsp;on Thursday&nbsp;opened his annual televised phone-in, a carefully choreographed Kremlin event in which he promised Russians the country was going in the "right direction".&nbsp;&nbsp;

The annual event allows Russians to submit questions via phone, text and online to the president, who addresses their concerns and weighs in on geopolitical issues.&nbsp;

This year's "direct line" is the first in Putin's fourth presidential term, which has already seen crackdowns on civil society and internet freedoms, and comes a week before Russia hosts the World Cup.

"Overall, we are moving completely in the right direction. We are on track for durable growth in the economy," he said in opening remarks to two moderators introducing questions from the public.&nbsp;

"There are, of course, a number of problems to address," he said of an economy that continues to stall after a crash in 2014 following sanctions introduced by the West over the annexation of Crimea.

The event has in the past lasted over four hours, with the president fielding questions on subjects as varied as his love life, teachers' salaries, Crimea and provincial roads.

State television ran a breathless countdown to the session, updating the number of questions submitted -- some two million as the programme began.

Written questions appeared on screens beside the president during the broadcast, some of them less than flattering about the state of the nation.&nbsp;

"When will Russia start allocating its money to Russians?" one read.&nbsp;

"Why didn't Alexei Navalny get registered for the presidential elections?" asked another, referring to Putin's top critic who was barred from contesting presidential polls in March.

In contrast to previous phone-ins, this year Putin has called on regional leaders and ministers to stand by to go on live with the president to address nitty-gritty questions.

"They will be sitting by the television with bated breath... the phone in their hand and a sedative in the pocket," the Komsomolskaya Pravda tabloid joked.

Last year the president jokingly offered ex-FBI chief James Comey political asylum and confirmed that he had grandchildren -- a rare glimpse into an otherwise strictly guarded private life.&nbsp;

The phone-in has in the past seen Putin reject calls to annex Alaska and take a question from the US whistleblower Edward Snowden.

Putin, who was re-elected in a landslide in March, has promised to slash poverty and revive a stalled economy in the face of Western sanctions.

The annual event allows Russians to submit questions via phone, text and online to the president, who addresses their concerns and weighs in on geopolitical issues

President Vladimir Putin on Thursday opened his annual televised phone-in, a carefully choreographed Kremlin event in which he promised Russians the country was going in the "right direction". The annual event allows Russians to submit questions via phone, text and online to the president, who addresses their concerns and weighs in on geopolitical issues. This year's "direct line" is the first in Putin's fourth presidential term, which has already seen crackdowns on civil society and internet freedoms, and comes a week before Russia hosts the World Cup. "Overall, we are moving completely in the right direction. We are on track for durable growth in the economy," he said in opening remarks to two moderators introducing questions from the public. "There are, of course, a number of problems to address," he said of an economy that continues to stall after a crash in 2014 following sanctions introduced by the West over the annexation of Crimea. The event has in the past lasted over four hours, with the president fielding questions on subjects as varied as his love life, teachers' salaries, Crimea and provincial roads. State television ran a breathless countdown to the session, updating the number of questions submitted -- some two million as the programme began. Written questions appeared on screens beside the president during the broadcast, some of them less than flattering about the state of the nation. "When will Russia start allocating its money to Russians?" one read. "Why didn't Alexei Navalny get registered for the presidential elections?" asked another, referring to Putin's top critic who was barred from contesting presidential polls in March. In contrast to previous phone-ins, this year Putin has called on regional leaders and ministers to stand by to go on live with the president to address nitty-gritty questions. "They will be sitting by the television with bated breath... the phone in their hand and a sedative in the pocket," the Komsomolskaya Pravda tabloid joked. Last year the president jokingly offered ex-FBI chief James Comey political asylum and confirmed that he had grandchildren -- a rare glimpse into an otherwise strictly guarded private life. The phone-in has in the past seen Putin reject calls to annex Alaska and take a question from the US whistleblower Edward Snowden. Putin, who was re-elected in a landslide in March, has promised to slash poverty and revive a stalled economy in the face of Western sanctions.

Putin touts Russia's 'right direction' in annual phone-in

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday there were no plans to shut down social media sites or limit internet freedoms in Russia, and that a "civilised" solution was needed to make the internet safer.

Russia blocked the online messaging service Telegram in April after it refused to grant state security services access to its users' encrypted messages.

Critics called the move internet censorship.

Putin was asked by a blogger on national television during his marathon annual call-in on Thursday whether Russia might block Instagram and YouTube.

Putin said he was up-to-speed with the situation with the move to ban Telegram and added: "We are not going to close anything."

He said his primary concern was people's safety.

"At the same time, I also worked in the security services and know it is easiest to ban, and harder to find civilised solutions," he said.

"Therefore, I'm going to urge all my colleagues to take this route, the route of ... using modern methods to combat offences, including terrorism, without restricting freedoms, including those on the internet."

Putin was asked by a blogger on national television during his marathon annual call-in on Thursday whether Russia might block Instagram and YouTube

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday there were no plans to shut down social media sites or limit internet freedoms in Russia, and that a "civilised" solution was needed to make the internet safer. Russia blocked the online messaging service Telegram in April after it refused to grant state security services access to its users' encrypted messages. Critics called the move internet censorship. Putin was asked by a blogger on national television during his marathon annual call-in on Thursday whether Russia might block Instagram and YouTube. Putin said he was up-to-speed with the situation with the move to ban Telegram and added: "We are not going to close anything." He said his primary concern was people's safety. "At the same time, I also worked in the security services and know it is easiest to ban, and harder to find civilised solutions," he said. "Therefore, I'm going to urge all my colleagues to take this route, the route of ... using modern methods to combat offences, including terrorism, without restricting freedoms, including those on the internet."

Vladimir Putin says Russia must not use blanket bans to make internet safer

President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday (June 7) that Russian businessmen were being persecuted and put into difficult circumstances in Western countries.

Putin said that pressure on Russian businessmen was undermining trust in Western countries by both Russian and world businessmen.

Wealthy Russians have long favoured London as a place to live or do business.

However, relations between Britain and Russia hit a low after London accused Moscow of poisoning former double-agent Sergei Skripal in March. Russia has denied any involvement in the poisoning.

Putin said that pressure on Russian businessmen was undermining trust in Western countries by both Russian and world businessmen

President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday (June 7) that Russian businessmen were being persecuted and put into difficult circumstances in Western countries. Putin said that pressure on Russian businessmen was undermining trust in Western countries by both Russian and world businessmen. Wealthy Russians have long favoured London as a place to live or do business. However, relations between Britain and Russia hit a low after London accused Moscow of poisoning former double-agent Sergei Skripal in March. Russia has denied any involvement in the poisoning.

Vladimir Putin says Russian businessmen persecuted in Western countries

Russian President Vladimir Putin said&nbsp;on Wednesday&nbsp;a decision by US&nbsp;President Donald Trump to set up a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was "brave and mature", and said that he was expecting a "positive outcome".

The historic summit will take place on&nbsp;June 12&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/kim-trump-summit-to-take-place-in-singapores-capella-hotel-on-sentosa-island-142478">in Singapore</a>, in the latest twist in a high-stakes diplomatic drive by the United States to curtail Pyongyang's nuclear arms programme.

On Friday, Trump, in a complete reversal, said he would hold the meeting with Kim after initially cancelling it, citing what he called Pyongyang's "open hostility".

"I still hope that this meeting – a very brave and mature decision US&nbsp;President Donald Trump has made, to have direct contacts with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un – will take place, and we all expect a positive outcome," Putin said in an interview with China Media Group.

Putin is due to take part in a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation later this week.

The Kremlin leader said last month that his own proposed meeting with Trump was not working out for now and was beset by problems.

Trump said in March that the two leaders would meet soon, but since then already poor ties between Washington and Moscow have deteriorated further over the conflict in Syria and the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain.

Trump will meet Kim on June 12 in Singapore. Putin said he was expecting a 'positive outcome' from the 'brave and mature' decision

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday a decision by US President Donald Trump to set up a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was "brave and mature", and said that he was expecting a "positive outcome". The historic summit will take place on June 12 in Singapore, in the latest twist in a high-stakes diplomatic drive by the United States to curtail Pyongyang's nuclear arms programme. On Friday, Trump, in a complete reversal, said he would hold the meeting with Kim after initially cancelling it, citing what he called Pyongyang's "open hostility". "I still hope that this meeting – a very brave and mature decision US President Donald Trump has made, to have direct contacts with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un – will take place, and we all expect a positive outcome," Putin said in an interview with China Media Group. Putin is due to take part in a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation later this week. The Kremlin leader said last month that his own proposed meeting with Trump was not working out for now and was beset by problems. Trump said in March that the two leaders would meet soon, but since then already poor ties between Washington and Moscow have deteriorated further over the conflict in Syria and the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain.

Putin praises 'brave' Trump over planned meeting with North Korea's Kim

President Vladimir Putin&nbsp;on Monday&nbsp;downplayed suggestions Russia was seeking to disrupt the European Union’s cohesion, saying it was in his country’s interests for the bloc to remain “united and prosperous”.

“We have an interest in an EU that’s united and prosperous since the EU is our most important commercial and economic partner,” Putin told Austria’s ORF television a day before an official visit to Vienna.

“The more problems at the heart of the EU, the more risks and problems there are for us. We need to build cooperation with the EU,” he said.

“We don’t have a goal of dividing anything or anyone in the EU.”

Putin, who was recently re-elected to a fourth Kremlin term, also played down reported links between his United Russia party and Austria’s far-right Freedom Party (FPOe), which is now part of the governing coalition in Vienna.

The FPOe — the junior partner to Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s People’s Party — supports Russia’s claim of sovereignty over Crimea and advocates the easing of economic sanctions levied against Moscow over its role in the Ukrainian crisis.

Austria was one of the few EU nations not to expel Russian diplomats following the poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Britain in March.

Putin will meet Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen as well as Kurz&nbsp;on Tuesday.

“We have an interest in an EU that’s united and prosperous since the EU is our most important commercial and economic partner,” Putin said

President Vladimir Putin on Monday downplayed suggestions Russia was seeking to disrupt the European Union’s cohesion, saying it was in his country’s interests for the bloc to remain “united and prosperous”. “We have an interest in an EU that’s united and prosperous since the EU is our most important commercial and economic partner,” Putin told Austria’s ORF television a day before an official visit to Vienna. “The more problems at the heart of the EU, the more risks and problems there are for us. We need to build cooperation with the EU,” he said. “We don’t have a goal of dividing anything or anyone in the EU.” Putin, who was recently re-elected to a fourth Kremlin term, also played down reported links between his United Russia party and Austria’s far-right Freedom Party (FPOe), which is now part of the governing coalition in Vienna. The FPOe — the junior partner to Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s People’s Party — supports Russia’s claim of sovereignty over Crimea and advocates the easing of economic sanctions levied against Moscow over its role in the Ukrainian crisis. Austria was one of the few EU nations not to expel Russian diplomats following the poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Britain in March. Putin will meet Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen as well as Kurz on Tuesday.

Russia wants ‘united and prosperous EU’: Putin

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang on Thursday, the Russian foreign ministry said, and invited him to visit Russia.

Lavrov visited the secretive state ahead of a possible landmark summit between US&nbsp;President Donald Trump and the North Korean leader in June.

Russia has appeared to be on the fringes of a flurry of international diplomacy as North Korea and the United States have taken steps to set up talks aimed at ending years of tension over Pyongyang's nuclear programme.

Lavrov on Thursday passed on good wishes to Kim from Russian President Vladimir Putin and invited him to visit Moscow, TV footage showed.

"Come to Russia. We would be very happy to see you," Lavrov, seated across a table from Kim, said.

He expressed Moscow's support for the declaration between North and South Korea last month in which they agreed to work for the denuclearisation of the peninsula.

Lavrov also held talks with his North Korean counterpart, Ri Yong Ho, in what was his first trip to North Korea since 2009, Russian news agencies said.

Lavrov said Moscow hoped all sides would take a delicate approach to possible forthcoming talks on a nuclear settlement on the peninsula and not try to rush the process.

"This will allow for the realisation not only of the denuclearisation of the whole Korean peninsula but also to provide sustainable peace and stability across north-east Asia," Lavrov was quoted as saying by his ministry.

Lavrov visited the secretive state ahead of a possible landmark summit between US President Donald Trump and the North Korean leader in June

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang on Thursday, the Russian foreign ministry said, and invited him to visit Russia. Lavrov visited the secretive state ahead of a possible landmark summit between US President Donald Trump and the North Korean leader in June. Russia has appeared to be on the fringes of a flurry of international diplomacy as North Korea and the United States have taken steps to set up talks aimed at ending years of tension over Pyongyang's nuclear programme. Lavrov on Thursday passed on good wishes to Kim from Russian President Vladimir Putin and invited him to visit Moscow, TV footage showed. "Come to Russia. We would be very happy to see you," Lavrov, seated across a table from Kim, said. He expressed Moscow's support for the declaration between North and South Korea last month in which they agreed to work for the denuclearisation of the peninsula. Lavrov also held talks with his North Korean counterpart, Ri Yong Ho, in what was his first trip to North Korea since 2009, Russian news agencies said. Lavrov said Moscow hoped all sides would take a delicate approach to possible forthcoming talks on a nuclear settlement on the peninsula and not try to rush the process. "This will allow for the realisation not only of the denuclearisation of the whole Korean peninsula but also to provide sustainable peace and stability across north-east Asia," Lavrov was quoted as saying by his ministry.

Russia's Lavrov meets North Korea's Kim in Pyongyang, invites him to Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said it was still possible to save the Iran nuclear deal signed in 2015, despite US President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the agreement.&nbsp

"The US president is not closing the door on negotiations," Putin said at the Saint Petersburg Economic Forum. "I think that all is not yet lost," he added.&nbsp

Earlier this month Trump controversially pulled the United States out of the landmark 2015 pact with Iran that placed limits on its nuclear programme in return for easing economic sanctions.&nbsp

Saving the deal provides a rare point of agreement between Moscow and European countries, which have seen relations tank in recent years over crises in Ukraine and Syria, as well as accusations of meddling in foreign elections and the poisoning of an ex-Russian spy in Britain.

Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron launched a joint defence of the Iranian nuclear deal on Monday but expressed differences on how to move forward as Trump weighs up whether to scrap it.

The Kremlin said Putin and Macron were both calling for "strict observance" of the hard-fought 2015 agreement after a phone call between the two leaders.

Macron's office, however, said that while the pair agreed on the need to "preserve the gains from the agreement", the French leader was also pushing for international talks on a potential wider deal.

Trump has derided the Iran deal as "insane" partly because its restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities begin expiring in 2025.

Earlier this month Trump controversially pulled the United States out of the landmark 2015 pact with Iran that placed limits on its nuclear programme in return for easing economic sanctions

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said it was still possible to save the Iran nuclear deal signed in 2015, despite US President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the agreement. "The US president is not closing the door on negotiations," Putin said at the Saint Petersburg Economic Forum. "I think that all is not yet lost," he added. Earlier this month Trump controversially pulled the United States out of the landmark 2015 pact with Iran that placed limits on its nuclear programme in return for easing economic sanctions. Saving the deal provides a rare point of agreement between Moscow and European countries, which have seen relations tank in recent years over crises in Ukraine and Syria, as well as accusations of meddling in foreign elections and the poisoning of an ex-Russian spy in Britain. Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron launched a joint defence of the Iranian nuclear deal on Monday but expressed differences on how to move forward as Trump weighs up whether to scrap it. The Kremlin said Putin and Macron were both calling for "strict observance" of the hard-fought 2015 agreement after a phone call between the two leaders. Macron's office, however, said that while the pair agreed on the need to "preserve the gains from the agreement", the French leader was also pushing for international talks on a potential wider deal. Trump has derided the Iran deal as "insane" partly because its restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities begin expiring in 2025.

Putin says 'all is not lost' to save Iran nuclear deal

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-never-recognised-so-called-arunachal-pradesh-gold-mining-part-of-geological--scientific-research-china-138621">Never recognised 'so-called Arunachal Pradesh', gold mining part of geological & scientific research: China</a>

China today emphatically declared that mining operations close to the Arunachal Pradesh was "completely" within its sovereignty, and it "totally" belongs to China.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-live-pm-modi-meets-russian-president-putin-138616">PM Narendra Modi meets Russian President Vladimir Putin, hails 'friendship'</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia's Sochi as part of his informal summit with the Russian President. The two leaders also held a meeting.&nbsp

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/raise-national-flag-on-all-mosques-declares-state-run-china-islamic-association-138657">Watch: Raise national flag on all mosques, declares State-run China Islamic Association</a>

All mosques in China should raise the national flag and study socialist core values to strengthen their "concept of nation" and carry forward "the spirit of patriotism," the China Islamic Association declared, as the Communist Party seeks to tighten its grip on religion.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/2-dead-2-injured-in-a-blast-in-azerbaijans-capital-baku-138669">2 dead, 2 injured in a blast in Azerbaijan's capital Baku</a>

A blast occurred in a small cafe in Binagadi district of Azerbaijan's capital Baku on Monday, news agency Reuters reported.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-little-ziva-dances-with-ms-dhoni-to-celebrate-chennais-win-against-punjab-138654">Watch: Little Ziva dances with MS Dhoni to celebrate Chennai's win against Punjab</a>

MS Dhoni sent a warning before the knock-out matches of Indian Premier League when he displayed a magnificent batting show against Punjab in the last league match.

&nbsp

&nbsp

Never recognised 'so-called Arunachal Pradesh', gold mining part of geological & scientific research: China China today emphatically declared that mining operations close to the Arunachal Pradesh was "completely" within its sovereignty, and it "totally" belongs to China. PM Narendra Modi meets Russian President Vladimir Putin, hails 'friendship' Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia's Sochi as part of his informal summit with the Russian President. The two leaders also held a meeting. Watch: Raise national flag on all mosques, declares State-run China Islamic Association All mosques in China should raise the national flag and study socialist core values to strengthen their "concept of nation" and carry forward "the spirit of patriotism," the China Islamic Association declared, as the Communist Party seeks to tighten its grip on religion. 2 dead, 2 injured in a blast in Azerbaijan's capital Baku A blast occurred in a small cafe in Binagadi district of Azerbaijan's capital Baku on Monday, news agency Reuters reported. Watch: Little Ziva dances with MS Dhoni to celebrate Chennai's win against Punjab MS Dhoni sent a warning before the knock-out matches of Indian Premier League when he displayed a magnificent batting show against Punjab in the last league match.

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

NATO on Wednesday denounced a new bridge linking mainland Russia to Moscow-annexed Crimea as "another violation" of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Atlantic alliance echoed the European Union's earlier condemnation of the bridge, which Russian President Vladimir Putin drove a truck over on Tuesday.

"NATO condemns Russia's construction and partial opening of the Kerch Strait bridge between Russia and Crimea," NATO deputy spokesman Piers Cazalet said.

"Crimea is part of Ukraine and this bridge represents another violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Cazalet said in a statement.

The bridge, which limits sea traffic to Ukrainian ports on the Azov Sea, amounts to "the infringement of its navigational rights in its territorial waters," he added.&nbsp

"Russia continues to demonstrate a clear disregard for international law," Cazalet said, adding that NATO will not recognise Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea.

Russian state television showed Putin dressed in jeans and a casual jacket sitting behind the wheel of a construction truck to drive across the bridge and officially open it.

The 29-member NATO is pursuing a dual-track policy towards the Kremlin of defence and deterrence coupled with an offer of dialogue.

Tensions between NATO and Russia are at levels not seen since the Cold War, including over Moscow's support for pro-Russian separatists in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

The Atlantic alliance echoed the European Union's earlier condemnation of the bridge, which Russian President Vladimir Putin drove a truck over on Tuesday

NATO on Wednesday denounced a new bridge linking mainland Russia to Moscow-annexed Crimea as "another violation" of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Atlantic alliance echoed the European Union's earlier condemnation of the bridge, which Russian President Vladimir Putin drove a truck over on Tuesday. "NATO condemns Russia's construction and partial opening of the Kerch Strait bridge between Russia and Crimea," NATO deputy spokesman Piers Cazalet said. "Crimea is part of Ukraine and this bridge represents another violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Cazalet said in a statement. The bridge, which limits sea traffic to Ukrainian ports on the Azov Sea, amounts to "the infringement of its navigational rights in its territorial waters," he added. "Russia continues to demonstrate a clear disregard for international law," Cazalet said, adding that NATO will not recognise Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea. Russian state television showed Putin dressed in jeans and a casual jacket sitting behind the wheel of a construction truck to drive across the bridge and officially open it. The 29-member NATO is pursuing a dual-track policy towards the Kremlin of defence and deterrence coupled with an offer of dialogue. Tensions between NATO and Russia are at levels not seen since the Cold War, including over Moscow's support for pro-Russian separatists in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

NATO 'condemns' Russia bridge to Moscow-annexed Crimea

By: Natasha Ezrow*

All around the world, democracy is looking shaky. While consolidated democracies are struggling to stay healthy, many flawed ones have turned into outright authoritarian regimes – most notably Russia under Vladimir Putin and Turkey under Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. But the news isn’t all bad: On several continents over the last decade, longstanding dictators have resigned, lost elections, or been deposed.

But has their demise led to any kind of democratic reform? It’s a mixed picture to say the least. While a handful of promising cases deserve praise, only a few of the dictatorships that have fallen in recent years have given way to lasting, stable democracies.

The 2010s began with tremendous optimism for the future of global democracy, reaching an apogee with the Arab Spring protests in 2011.

Across the Middle East and North Africa, several dictators fell in a row: After Tunisia’s Zine El Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia and Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak, Muammar Gaddafi of Libya was toppled in a civil war. Fighting also erupted in Yemen, leading to the eventual flight of longtime strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh.

It seemed for a moment that in one fell swoop, a clutch of countries were suddenly shaking off authoritarianism at last. But with the exception of Tunisia – whose situation is still somewhat fragile – none of them have developed into democracies.

Egypt’s brief spell under the elected Muslim Brotherhood came to an end in 2013, when a military intervention brought General Abdel Fatteh al-Sisi to power. He remains president today, legitimised by largely meaningless elections. Libya is still a weak state beset by instability and violence Yemen has slipped into devastating conflict and humanitarian crisis.

Though protests exploded throughout the Middle East, only modest reforms took place elsewhere. And in Syria, the Assad regime’s crackdown on the 2011 protests helped spark a nightmarish conflict that has torn the country apart.

Iraq and Afghanistan, meanwhile, saw a change in leadership with the elections that forced Nouri al-Maliki and Hamid Karzai out of power. But neither country’s democracy has notably improved. Afghanistan is still authoritarian and unstable, and in Iraq, Maliki is still very powerful behind the scenes.

Mixed bag

Latin America was home to a clutter of military dictatorships for decades, but since the mid-to-late 1980s, most of its countries have been flawed but functioning democracies.

The two notable holdouts were Venezuela under Hugo Chávez and Cuba under Fidel Castro – and in the last decade, the two have diverged considerably.

While Cuba has reformed a little under the rule of Fidel’s brother Raúl, who has now handed over to Miguel Díaz-Canal, Venezuela is falling apart under the dictatorial leadership of Chavez’s hand-picked successor, Nicolás Maduro. Other regimes in Latin America continue to hold free and fair elections, but struggle to uphold the rule of law.

In Asia, meanwhile, a few less-than-democratic countries have made strides towards reform, but most authoritarian regimes have stayed the same. Still, some reforms and resignations are noteworthy.

In the Caucasus, Armenia’s Serzh Sargsyan was recently forced to resign after mass protests against his rule. Almazbek Atambayev of Kyrgyzstan also stepped down after elections, the first peaceful handover of power in the country’s history.

In South-East Asia, most of the attention since 2015 has been on surprising events in Myanmar, when the military regime that ran the country for decades allowed open elections for the first time since 1990. Myanmar’s military government was oppressive even by authoritarian standards, so it was quite something to see it holding elections, releasing political prisoners and allowing more press freedom.

The regime’s leader, Thein Sein, stepped down to make way for Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy.

But the democratic transformation was short-lived. The regime has continued to violate the human rights of its minority groups, most notably the Rohingya minority, and civil liberties and press freedoms are in serious jeopardy.

Turfed out

One place where things are looking up for democracy is Sub-Saharan Africa. The last decade has seen the overall standing of democracy in Africa improve. In the early 1980s, only five countries in Africa could be considered democratic: Botswana, Gambia, Mauritius, Senegal and Zimbabwe.

The end of the Cold War saw the expansion of elections and civil liberties. But more recent years has seen the fall or peaceful resignation of important authoritarian figures, many of them old men who had clung on to power for decades.

Yahya Jammeh of the Gambia eventually fled the country in 2017 after he lost the presidential elections to the opposition. Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso resigned after political protests broke out in 2014, following nearly three decades in power.

José Eduardo dos Santos of Angola resigned after nearly 40 years in power (though he remains influential in Angolan politics). All three countries have become slightly more democratic as a result.

But the biggest tree felled in Africa was undoubtedly Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe. In his capacity as president since 1980, Mugabe had become increasingly dictatorial and brutal, and his misguided leadership plunged the country into chaos.

When he unceremoniously fired his vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa at the end of 2017, his previous backers in the military decided they had finally had enough. With parliamentary impeachment hearings in the offing, Mugabe eventually resigned, and new elections are scheduled for July 2018.

The bloodless Zimbabwean transition was a heartening spectacle, but there are nonetheless plenty of other countries to worry about. Hungary’s Viktor Orban is threatening to constrict his country’s democracy by clamping down on civil liberties, even as he wins landslide election victores.

China’s Xi Jinping recently orchestrated the removal of term limits, giving him the power to rule indefinitely. Thailand’s military is heading the most repressive government the country has seen in years. Still, while many countries have taken an authoritarian turn, others have made a success of their escape from dictatorship.

As recent events in Armenia attest, citizens the world over are becoming more involved in politics and taking their displeasure to the streets. And while it’s true that most dictators who fall are replaced by another dictator, there are enough examples to the contrary to give the defenders of democracy some hope.

*Natasha Ezrow is a&nbspSenior Lecturer, University of Essex

(This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/are-dictators-on-the-way-out-or-on-the-way-up-95128">original article</a>.)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

While a handful of promising cases deserve praise, only a few of the dictatorships that have fallen in recent years have given way to lasting, stable democracies

By: Natasha Ezrow* All around the world, democracy is looking shaky. While consolidated democracies are struggling to stay healthy, many flawed ones have turned into outright authoritarian regimes – most notably Russia under Vladimir Putin and Turkey under Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. But the news isn’t all bad: On several continents over the last decade, longstanding dictators have resigned, lost elections, or been deposed. But has their demise led to any kind of democratic reform? It’s a mixed picture to say the least. While a handful of promising cases deserve praise, only a few of the dictatorships that have fallen in recent years have given way to lasting, stable democracies. The 2010s began with tremendous optimism for the future of global democracy, reaching an apogee with the Arab Spring protests in 2011. Across the Middle East and North Africa, several dictators fell in a row: After Tunisia’s Zine El Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia and Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak, Muammar Gaddafi of Libya was toppled in a civil war. Fighting also erupted in Yemen, leading to the eventual flight of longtime strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh. It seemed for a moment that in one fell swoop, a clutch of countries were suddenly shaking off authoritarianism at last. But with the exception of Tunisia – whose situation is still somewhat fragile – none of them have developed into democracies. Egypt’s brief spell under the elected Muslim Brotherhood came to an end in 2013, when a military intervention brought General Abdel Fatteh al-Sisi to power. He remains president today, legitimised by largely meaningless elections. Libya is still a weak state beset by instability and violence Yemen has slipped into devastating conflict and humanitarian crisis. Though protests exploded throughout the Middle East, only modest reforms took place elsewhere. And in Syria, the Assad regime’s crackdown on the 2011 protests helped spark a nightmarish conflict that has torn the country apart. Iraq and Afghanistan, meanwhile, saw a change in leadership with the elections that forced Nouri al-Maliki and Hamid Karzai out of power. But neither country’s democracy has notably improved. Afghanistan is still authoritarian and unstable, and in Iraq, Maliki is still very powerful behind the scenes. Mixed bag Latin America was home to a clutter of military dictatorships for decades, but since the mid-to-late 1980s, most of its countries have been flawed but functioning democracies. The two notable holdouts were Venezuela under Hugo Chávez and Cuba under Fidel Castro – and in the last decade, the two have diverged considerably. While Cuba has reformed a little under the rule of Fidel’s brother Raúl, who has now handed over to Miguel Díaz-Canal, Venezuela is falling apart under the dictatorial leadership of Chavez’s hand-picked successor, Nicolás Maduro. Other regimes in Latin America continue to hold free and fair elections, but struggle to uphold the rule of law. In Asia, meanwhile, a few less-than-democratic countries have made strides towards reform, but most authoritarian regimes have stayed the same. Still, some reforms and resignations are noteworthy. In the Caucasus, Armenia’s Serzh Sargsyan was recently forced to resign after mass protests against his rule. Almazbek Atambayev of Kyrgyzstan also stepped down after elections, the first peaceful handover of power in the country’s history. In South-East Asia, most of the attention since 2015 has been on surprising events in Myanmar, when the military regime that ran the country for decades allowed open elections for the first time since 1990. Myanmar’s military government was oppressive even by authoritarian standards, so it was quite something to see it holding elections, releasing political prisoners and allowing more press freedom. The regime’s leader, Thein Sein, stepped down to make way for Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy. But the democratic transformation was short-lived. The regime has continued to violate the human rights of its minority groups, most notably the Rohingya minority, and civil liberties and press freedoms are in serious jeopardy. Turfed out One place where things are looking up for democracy is Sub-Saharan Africa. The last decade has seen the overall standing of democracy in Africa improve. In the early 1980s, only five countries in Africa could be considered democratic: Botswana, Gambia, Mauritius, Senegal and Zimbabwe. The end of the Cold War saw the expansion of elections and civil liberties. But more recent years has seen the fall or peaceful resignation of important authoritarian figures, many of them old men who had clung on to power for decades. Yahya Jammeh of the Gambia eventually fled the country in 2017 after he lost the presidential elections to the opposition. Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso resigned after political protests broke out in 2014, following nearly three decades in power. José Eduardo dos Santos of Angola resigned after nearly 40 years in power (though he remains influential in Angolan politics). All three countries have become slightly more democratic as a result. But the biggest tree felled in Africa was undoubtedly Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe. In his capacity as president since 1980, Mugabe had become increasingly dictatorial and brutal, and his misguided leadership plunged the country into chaos. When he unceremoniously fired his vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa at the end of 2017, his previous backers in the military decided they had finally had enough. With parliamentary impeachment hearings in the offing, Mugabe eventually resigned, and new elections are scheduled for July 2018. The bloodless Zimbabwean transition was a heartening spectacle, but there are nonetheless plenty of other countries to worry about. Hungary’s Viktor Orban is threatening to constrict his country’s democracy by clamping down on civil liberties, even as he wins landslide election victores. China’s Xi Jinping recently orchestrated the removal of term limits, giving him the power to rule indefinitely. Thailand’s military is heading the most repressive government the country has seen in years. Still, while many countries have taken an authoritarian turn, others have made a success of their escape from dictatorship. As recent events in Armenia attest, citizens the world over are becoming more involved in politics and taking their displeasure to the streets. And while it’s true that most dictators who fall are replaced by another dictator, there are enough examples to the contrary to give the defenders of democracy some hope. *Natasha Ezrow is a&nbspSenior Lecturer, University of Essex (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Are dictators on the way out or on the way up?

Russian President Vladimir Putin, driving a truck, unveiled the auto section of a new road-and-rail bridge linking Russia to the annexed Crimean peninsula on Tuesday, defying Ukraine which said the move showed cynical disregard for international law.

Putin, at the wheel of an orange heavy KAMAZ dump-truck, drove the full 19 km (12 miles) across the bridge from the Kerch Strait. Some Russians are calling it "Putin's bridge", designed to link Crimea into Russia's transport network.

At a ceremony broadcast live on state TV, Putin, dressed in blue jeans, was met by cheering workers on the Crimean side after driving the truck across the bridge in a convoy of vehicles.

"At last, thanks to your talent, this project, this miracle, has happened," Putin told the workers.

In Kiev, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said: "The illegal construction of the Kerch bridge is the latest evidence of the Kremlin's disregard for international law.

"It is particularly cynical that its opening is happening on the eve of the latest anniversary of the deportation of the Crimean-Tatar people by the Stalin regime."

Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, drawing sanctions and prompting a deterioration in ties with the West. Many in Russia saw the move as restoring Moscow's rule over a historically Russian region.

Built at a cost of 223 billion roubles ($3.60 billion), the bridge will be the longest dual-purpose span in Europe. The Kremlin said it would be opened to cars on Wednesday and the rail section was due to be completed at the end of 2019.

"Putin initiated this project himself. Many didn't believe these plans were possible," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday ahead of the ceremony.

"This is an extremely important day from this point of view and in a practical sense and in symbolic terms."

The road stretch of the bridge was due to be completed by the end of 2018, but the opening was brought forward at Putin's request.

Putin inspected the bridge in March ahead of the presidential election he won by a landslide, saying it was important to have the link to the Black Sea peninsula open for the summer tourist season.

The opening ceremony drew criticism from the West.

"France condemns the construction by Russia of the Kerch Bridge, which deprives Ukraine of full access and the use of its internationally recognised territorial waters," a French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said.

The spokesperson of the European External Action Service said in a statement on Tuesday the bridge was "another violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

"The European Union continues to condemn the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by Russia and will not recognise this violation of international law," the spokesperson said.

Putin, at the wheel of an orange heavy KAMAZ dump-truck, drove the full 19 km (12 miles) across the bridge from the Kerch Strait

Russian President Vladimir Putin, driving a truck, unveiled the auto section of a new road-and-rail bridge linking Russia to the annexed Crimean peninsula on Tuesday, defying Ukraine which said the move showed cynical disregard for international law. Putin, at the wheel of an orange heavy KAMAZ dump-truck, drove the full 19 km (12 miles) across the bridge from the Kerch Strait. Some Russians are calling it "Putin's bridge", designed to link Crimea into Russia's transport network. At a ceremony broadcast live on state TV, Putin, dressed in blue jeans, was met by cheering workers on the Crimean side after driving the truck across the bridge in a convoy of vehicles. "At last, thanks to your talent, this project, this miracle, has happened," Putin told the workers. In Kiev, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said: "The illegal construction of the Kerch bridge is the latest evidence of the Kremlin's disregard for international law. "It is particularly cynical that its opening is happening on the eve of the latest anniversary of the deportation of the Crimean-Tatar people by the Stalin regime." Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, drawing sanctions and prompting a deterioration in ties with the West. Many in Russia saw the move as restoring Moscow's rule over a historically Russian region. Built at a cost of 223 billion roubles ($3.60 billion), the bridge will be the longest dual-purpose span in Europe. The Kremlin said it would be opened to cars on Wednesday and the rail section was due to be completed at the end of 2019. "Putin initiated this project himself. Many didn't believe these plans were possible," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday ahead of the ceremony. "This is an extremely important day from this point of view and in a practical sense and in symbolic terms." The road stretch of the bridge was due to be completed by the end of 2018, but the opening was brought forward at Putin's request. Putin inspected the bridge in March ahead of the presidential election he won by a landslide, saying it was important to have the link to the Black Sea peninsula open for the summer tourist season. The opening ceremony drew criticism from the West. "France condemns the construction by Russia of the Kerch Bridge, which deprives Ukraine of full access and the use of its internationally recognised territorial waters," a French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said. The spokesperson of the European External Action Service said in a statement on Tuesday the bridge was "another violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity." "The European Union continues to condemn the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by Russia and will not recognise this violation of international law," the spokesperson said.

'Trucker' Putin opens Russia bridge link with annexed Crimea

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been sentenced to 30 days behind bars for organising anti-Putin protests.

Navalny had organised protests ahead of President Vladimir Putin's fourth inauguration.

Navalny was found guilty of arranging "unauthorised protests". He also faces a separate charge of disobeying police orders.&nbsp

Navalny, in court, argued that he had constitutional right to hold a protest and that his detention was illegal.

41-year-old Navalny called for rallies across Russia on May 5 to protest Vladimir Putin's continuation as the President for the fourth term.&nbsp

According to reports, over 1500 protesters were detained in more than 25 Russian cities during anti-Putin protests called "He's not our Tsar".

(With inputs from AFP)&nbsp

Navalny, in court, argued that he had constitutional right to hold a protest and that his detention was illegal

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been sentenced to 30 days behind bars for organising anti-Putin protests. Navalny had organised protests ahead of President Vladimir Putin's fourth inauguration. Navalny was found guilty of arranging "unauthorised protests". He also faces a separate charge of disobeying police orders. Navalny, in court, argued that he had constitutional right to hold a protest and that his detention was illegal. 41-year-old Navalny called for rallies across Russia on May 5 to protest Vladimir Putin's continuation as the President for the fourth term. According to reports, over 1500 protesters were detained in more than 25 Russian cities during anti-Putin protests called "He's not our Tsar". (With inputs from AFP)

Russian opposition leader Navalny gets 30-day sentence over anti-Putin protests

After holding informal talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Modi is all set to visit Russia to attend an informal summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The summit will be held in Sochi on May 21.

The informal summit is being organised to keep the tradition of regular consultations between Indian and Russia at the highest level.

The talks further aim at strengthening Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. Both leaders will also discuss their respective national developmental priorities and bilateral matters.

The two leaders&nbsp;are also expected to exchange views on international matters in a broad and long-term perspective.

Prime Minister Modi held a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Wuhan, last month.&nbsp;

The "informal summit" between the two leaders aimed at diffusing tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

After the meeting, the militaries of the two nation&nbsp;are reportedly setting up a "hotline" which was regarded as a major Confidence Building Measure(CBM) between the two sides, a Chinese media stated.

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The informal Summit in Russia's Sochi between PM Modi and President Putin is in keeping with the tradition of regular consultations between India and Russia at the highest levels.
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The summit will be held in Sochi on May 21

After holding informal talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Modi is all set to visit Russia to attend an informal summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The summit will be held in Sochi on May 21. The informal summit is being organised to keep the tradition of regular consultations between Indian and Russia at the highest level. The talks further aim at strengthening Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. Both leaders will also discuss their respective national developmental priorities and bilateral matters. The two leaders are also expected to exchange views on international matters in a broad and long-term perspective. Prime Minister Modi held a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Wuhan, last month. The "informal summit" between the two leaders aimed at diffusing tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). After the meeting, the militaries of the two nation are reportedly setting up a "hotline" which was regarded as a major Confidence Building Measure(CBM) between the two sides, a Chinese media stated. The informal Summit in Russia's Sochi between PM Modi and President Putin is in keeping with the tradition of regular consultations between India and Russia at the highest levels. — ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2018 ×

After China, PM Modi to hold informal summit in Russia with President Vladimir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin was seen playing ice hockey on Thursday in Sochi. The Russian President made an&nbsp;appearance at the seventh Russian National Amateur Ice Hockey Teams' Festival.

Putin was seen interacting with ice hockey players and later played a game with a team of retired hockey legends. He even managed to score five goals.

The Russian President, acting defence minister Sergei Shoigu and top Russian officials,&nbsp; along with a line-up of retired Russian hockey legends, played against the winner of the festival.

That honour went to Leningrad region amateur team "Flagman" who were beaten 12-7. The team also won a grant to build a new ice hockey arena along with the "Krutov" trophy.

The event was held in the Sochi's Bolshoy Ice Dome.&nbsp;The Night Hockey League was Putin's brainchild which was started in the year 2011 with an aim&nbsp;to promote ice hockey in Russia.

(With inputs from Reuters)

&nbsp;

The president made an appearance at the seventh Russian National Amateur Ice Hockey Teams' Festival

Russian President Vladimir Putin was seen playing ice hockey on Thursday in Sochi. The Russian President made an appearance at the seventh Russian National Amateur Ice Hockey Teams' Festival. Putin was seen interacting with ice hockey players and later played a game with a team of retired hockey legends. He even managed to score five goals. The Russian President, acting defence minister Sergei Shoigu and top Russian officials, along with a line-up of retired Russian hockey legends, played against the winner of the festival. That honour went to Leningrad region amateur team "Flagman" who were beaten 12-7. The team also won a grant to build a new ice hockey arena along with the "Krutov" trophy. The event was held in the Sochi's Bolshoy Ice Dome. The Night Hockey League was Putin's brainchild which was started in the year 2011 with an aim to promote ice hockey in Russia. (With inputs from Reuters)

Vladimir Putin plays ice hockey, scores five goals

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Vladimir Putin plays ice hockey, scores five goals