Russian President Vladimir Putin is all set to visit India on December 6, this is for the annual summit between the two countries. Putin will meet Indian PM Narendra Modi in their first in-person meeting since the BRICS summit.

Russian president Vladimir Putin to meet Indian PM Narendra Modi

NATO foreign ministers are meeting as Russia and the alliance continues to spar over reports of military activity along the Ukraine border. Russia, meanwhile, has warned NATO against expanding its military infrastructure in Ukraine.

NATO and Russia spar as foreign ministers meet in Latvia, Putin warns west

President Vladimir Putin will pay an official visit to New Delhi on December 6 for the 21st India-Russia Annual Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The leaders will exchange views on topical issues on the international agenda, including joint work within the G20, BRICS, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

Vladimir Putin to visit India on Dec 6 for summit with PM Modi

In one of Russia's worst mining disasters since Soviet days, at least 52 people were killed as a result of a gas leak in a coal mine in Siberia, Russian news agencies reported.&nbsp;

Among those killed were six rescuers who were sent down to rescue dozens of men. Also among the dead, 11 miners had already been confirmed dead, 35 had been reported missing.

According to the regional Investigative Committee, three people, including the director of the Listvyazhnaya mine and his deputy, were arrested for violating industrial safety rules.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/siberia-at-least-11-people-dead-after-getting-trapped-in-coal-mine-431848">Siberia: At least 11 people dead after getting trapped in coal mine</a>

The committee's report described how miners suffocated when a ventilation shaft became full of gas. A methane explosion was believed to have occurred, according to state television.

There were dozens of people who were treated in hospitals for smoke inhalation, four of them were in critical condition.

Located about 3,500 kilometres (2,200 miles) east of Moscow, the coal-producing region of Kemerovo has suffered fatal mining accidents for years.

Listedvyazhnaya is a part of SDS Holdings, which is owned by the privately held Siberian Business Union. There was no immediate comment from the owner.

The Emergencies Ministry reported that 285 people were inside the mine when smoke spread through the ventilation shaft, of these, 239 had managed to reach the surface.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/what-will-happen-if-russian-troops-invade-ukraine-431684" hreflang="en">What will happen if Russian troops invade Ukraine?</a>

In his statement, Vladimir Putin said he had spoken to the governor and emergency personnel.&nbsp;

As per the Kremlin, the President has also ordered the emergencies minister to fly to the region to help.

A three-day mourning period has been declared in Kemerovo.

More than 100 people lost their lives in the region in 2007 when an explosion at the Ulyanovskaya mine caused the worst mining accident since the collapse of the Soviet Union. During another incident in 2010, explosions at the Raspadskaya mine killed more than 90 people.

In one of Russia's worst mining disasters since Soviet days, at least 52 people were killed as a result of a gas leak in a coal mine in Siberia, Russian news agencies reported.

In one of Russia's worst mining disasters since Soviet days, at least 52 people were killed as a result of a gas leak in a coal mine in Siberia, Russian news agencies reported. Among those killed were six rescuers who were sent down to rescue dozens of men. Also among the dead, 11 miners had already been confirmed dead, 35 had been reported missing. According to the regional Investigative Committee, three people, including the director of the Listvyazhnaya mine and his deputy, were arrested for violating industrial safety rules. Also read | Siberia: At least 11 people dead after getting trapped in coal mine The committee's report described how miners suffocated when a ventilation shaft became full of gas. A methane explosion was believed to have occurred, according to state television. There were dozens of people who were treated in hospitals for smoke inhalation, four of them were in critical condition. Located about 3,500 kilometres (2,200 miles) east of Moscow, the coal-producing region of Kemerovo has suffered fatal mining accidents for years. Listedvyazhnaya is a part of SDS Holdings, which is owned by the privately held Siberian Business Union. There was no immediate comment from the owner. The Emergencies Ministry reported that 285 people were inside the mine when smoke spread through the ventilation shaft, of these, 239 had managed to reach the surface. Also see | What will happen if Russian troops invade Ukraine? In his statement, Vladimir Putin said he had spoken to the governor and emergency personnel. As per the Kremlin, the President has also ordered the emergencies minister to fly to the region to help. A three-day mourning period has been declared in Kemerovo. More than 100 people lost their lives in the region in 2007 when an explosion at the Ulyanovskaya mine caused the worst mining accident since the collapse of the Soviet Union. During another incident in 2010, explosions at the Raspadskaya mine killed more than 90 people.

Death toll in Russian mine tragedy jumps to 52, six rescue workers among the dead

At least 11 people have died while several have gotten injured after a mining accident in Siberia.

The Listvyazhnaya coal mine in the Kemerovo region, Russia collapsed following a fire in the ventilation shaft.

According to local governor Sergei Tsivilev, there were 285 people inside the mine when the accident took place and at least 46 remain underground.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-accuses-us-bombers-of-rehearsing-nuclear-strikes-us-russia-news-431620/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

''There is no heavy smoke, so we will hope that there is no fire,'' he added.

"We have no communication lines with these people, the underground communications system is not working."

The regional branch of Russia's Investigative Committee said it had opened a criminal case into negligence that had caused deaths.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/what-will-happen-if-russian-troops-invade-ukraine-431684" hreflang="en">What will happen if Russian troops invade Ukraine?</a>

"According to preliminary data, a number of workers suffered from smoke poisoning. The number of victims is being specified," it said in an earlier statement.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters President Vladimir Putin "expresses his deepest condolences" to the families of the deceased.&nbsp;

Set up in 1956, the Liztvyazhnaya mine is owned by the SDS-Ugol company based in the city of Kemerovo.

(With inputs from agencies)

At least 11 people have died while several have gotten injured after a mining accident in Siberia. The Listvyazhnaya coal mine in the Kemerovo region, Russia collapsed following a fire in the ventilation shaft.

At least 11 people have died while several have gotten injured after a mining accident in Siberia. The Listvyazhnaya coal mine in the Kemerovo region, Russia collapsed following a fire in the ventilation shaft. According to local governor Sergei Tsivilev, there were 285 people inside the mine when the accident took place and at least 46 remain underground. ''There is no heavy smoke, so we will hope that there is no fire,'' he added. "We have no communication lines with these people, the underground communications system is not working." The regional branch of Russia's Investigative Committee said it had opened a criminal case into negligence that had caused deaths. Also see | What will happen if Russian troops invade Ukraine? "According to preliminary data, a number of workers suffered from smoke poisoning. The number of victims is being specified," it said in an earlier statement. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters President Vladimir Putin "expresses his deepest condolences" to the families of the deceased. Set up in 1956, the Liztvyazhnaya mine is owned by the SDS-Ugol company based in the city of Kemerovo. (With inputs from agencies)

Siberia: At least 11 people dead after getting trapped in coal mine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has received a booster shot against COVID-19 virus, Russian news agencies said.

According to local media reports, Putin said he has been revaccinated with Sputnik Light vaccine.

“Today, on your recommendation and that of your colleagues, I got another vaccination, Sputnik Light. This is called revaccination," Putin was quoted as saying by state-owned Russian&nbsp;News Agency TASS after meeting with the deputy director of the Gamaleya Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, which developed both vaccines.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-orders-week-long-paid-holiday-in-russia-to-combat-virus-surge-422430">Putin orders week-long paid holiday in Russia to combat virus surge</a>

"I was revaccinated two hours ago. I feel nothing. I am in normal condition. Everything is all right," he added.

Putin&nbsp;received his second dose of Covid vaccine in April of this year, though at the time he did not disclose which vaccine he received.

A Kremlin spokesperson said they were deliberately not saying which vaccine Putin received, saying all three COVID-19 vaccines available in Russia were good options.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-reports-highest-daily-covid-deaths-as-delta-variant-surges-418674">Russia reports highest daily Covid deaths as Delta variant surges</a>

The Sputnik Light is a one-shot COVID-19 vaccine. It has been authorised for use in more than 15 countries with the registration process on in another 30 countries.

Russia first announced the deployment of COVID-19 vaccine booster shots in July, terming the shots "Sputnik Light." The jabs were made available to individuals who had been fully vaccinated&nbsp;at least six months ago.

On Friday, November 12, Putin had urged the World Health Organization (WHO) to speed the approval of new COVID-19 vaccines. He added that access to dosages in impoverished nations is limited due to unjust compassion.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has received a booster shot against COVID-19 virus, Russian news agencies said. According to local media reports, Putin said he has been revaccinated with Sputnik Light vaccine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has received a booster shot against COVID-19 virus, Russian news agencies said. According to local media reports, Putin said he has been revaccinated with Sputnik Light vaccine. “Today, on your recommendation and that of your colleagues, I got another vaccination, Sputnik Light. This is called revaccination," Putin was quoted as saying by state-owned Russian News Agency TASS after meeting with the deputy director of the Gamaleya Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, which developed both vaccines. Also read | Putin orders week-long paid holiday in Russia to combat virus surge "I was revaccinated two hours ago. I feel nothing. I am in normal condition. Everything is all right," he added. Putin received his second dose of Covid vaccine in April of this year, though at the time he did not disclose which vaccine he received. A Kremlin spokesperson said they were deliberately not saying which vaccine Putin received, saying all three COVID-19 vaccines available in Russia were good options. Also read | Russia reports highest daily Covid deaths as Delta variant surges The Sputnik Light is a one-shot COVID-19 vaccine. It has been authorised for use in more than 15 countries with the registration process on in another 30 countries. Russia first announced the deployment of COVID-19 vaccine booster shots in July, terming the shots "Sputnik Light." The jabs were made available to individuals who had been fully vaccinated at least six months ago. On Friday, November 12, Putin had urged the World Health Organization (WHO) to speed the approval of new COVID-19 vaccines. He added that access to dosages in impoverished nations is limited due to unjust compassion. (With inputs from agencies)

Russian President Putin gets booster shot, revaccinated with Sputnik Light

According to reports, CIA Director William Burns spoke with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow about Russia’s military buildup on its border with Ukraine in an effort to gauge the Kremlin’s intentions in the region.

CIA Director Willian Burns meets Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow

Protests in Ukraine as Putin marks Russia's Unity Day in Crimea

To reduce the spread of the Coronavirus, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a nationwide paid non-working period for October 30-November 7.

Russia under nationwide paid holiday to curb COVID-19 surge

May, Modi, Merkel, Macron: Past and present world leaders with impeccable fashion sense

Taliban has welcomed Russia's stance to remove it from the list of extremist groups. A day after Russian President, Vladimir Putin, said Afghanistan's foreign assets should be unfrozen, the leader has claimed that Russia is pondering over removing Taliban from list of extremist groups.

Taliban welcomes Russia's stance to remove it from list of extremist groups

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed hope on Friday that new Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will continue in his predecessor's footsteps to maintain close and 'trustworthy' ties with his country, as the two leaders meet for their first meeting.

Israel's PM Bennett meets Russian President Putin, hails Russia-Israel ties as 'Unique'

A day after Russian President, Vladimir Putin, said Afghanistan's foreign assets should be unfrozen, the leader has claimed that Russia is pondering over removing Taliban from list of extremist groups.

"We all expect Taliban, those people who undoubtedly control the situation in the country, in Afghanistan, we expect the situation to develop positively. Depending on that we will jointly take the decision on excluding them from the list of terrorist organisations. It seems to me that we are getting close to it. Russia's position will be to move in that direction," he said.

However, he also added that this is not a final decision and experts are still mulling over it. He also added that this is an important decision which should be taken the same way the decision of blacklisting the terrorist organisation was taken.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/close-to-crime-against-humanity-teaching-children-about-gender-identity-is-monstrous-says-putin-423080" hreflang="en">Teaching children about gender identity is 'monstrous', says Putin</a>

Putin also appreciated US President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan.

"The United States president hit the right path. He did it right when he withdrew forces from Afghanistan. He surely had been understanding, maybe without the details but he had been understanding that one way or another it would have become one of the lines for the political attack (in the U.S.) but he did it, he took the responsibility."

His statements have come a day after the leader had urged western governments to unfreeze Afghanistan's financial assets and resume economic support for the South Asian country. Putin claims this will help bring stability in the country, which will further help Afghanistan's neighbouring countries too.

Meanwhile, the US has made it clear that the Biden administration has no plans to release Afghanistan's gold, investment and foreign currency.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/explosion-causes-major-power-outage-in-kabul-423032" hreflang="en">Explosion causes major power outage in Kabul</a>

Putin has called on to the US and Europe to&nbsp;"not avoid responsibility for current and future developments" in the country.

The terrorist organisation took control of US-backed Afghanistan government on August 15 and has since formed its own government in the South Asian country. However, Taliban have not been able to bring financial stability in the country, which has been a target of several blasts and attacks by ISIS.

Taliban government has also been unable to pay electricity bills to the neighbouring countries, raising fears of complete blackout in the country very soon.

A day after Russian President, Vladimir Putin, said Afghanistan's foreign assets should be unfrozen, the leader has claimed that Russia is pondering over removing Taliban from list of extremist groups.

A day after Russian President, Vladimir Putin, said Afghanistan's foreign assets should be unfrozen, the leader has claimed that Russia is pondering over removing Taliban from list of extremist groups. "We all expect Taliban, those people who undoubtedly control the situation in the country, in Afghanistan, we expect the situation to develop positively. Depending on that we will jointly take the decision on excluding them from the list of terrorist organisations. It seems to me that we are getting close to it. Russia's position will be to move in that direction," he said. However, he also added that this is not a final decision and experts are still mulling over it. He also added that this is an important decision which should be taken the same way the decision of blacklisting the terrorist organisation was taken. Also read | Teaching children about gender identity is 'monstrous', says Putin Putin also appreciated US President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan. "The United States president hit the right path. He did it right when he withdrew forces from Afghanistan. He surely had been understanding, maybe without the details but he had been understanding that one way or another it would have become one of the lines for the political attack (in the U.S.) but he did it, he took the responsibility." His statements have come a day after the leader had urged western governments to unfreeze Afghanistan's financial assets and resume economic support for the South Asian country. Putin claims this will help bring stability in the country, which will further help Afghanistan's neighbouring countries too. Meanwhile, the US has made it clear that the Biden administration has no plans to release Afghanistan's gold, investment and foreign currency. Also read | Explosion causes major power outage in Kabul Putin has called on to the US and Europe to "not avoid responsibility for current and future developments" in the country. The terrorist organisation took control of US-backed Afghanistan government on August 15 and has since formed its own government in the South Asian country. However, Taliban have not been able to bring financial stability in the country, which has been a target of several blasts and attacks by ISIS. Taliban government has also been unable to pay electricity bills to the neighbouring countries, raising fears of complete blackout in the country very soon.

Russia may remove Taliban from list of extremist groups: Putin

New emails have revealed that US President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden had tried to sell the refined analysis of Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska.

Rosemont Seneca, the company that tried to sell ''political and corporate risks, elite networks associated with Oleg Deripaska,'' is run by Christopher Heinz and Hunter Biden.

Hunter had sent an email to Alcoa's Vice President Daniel Cruise according to a report by 'The New York Post.'&nbsp;The asking price for phase one of the project was $25,000 while for a&nbsp;refined analysis it was $55,000.

Deripaska was of interest to Alcoa as he is the founder of Russian aluminum giant Rusal.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-hunter-bidens-business-links-with-china-330056/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Cruise's colleague Pei Chang had shown interest in ''the list of Russian elites connected to OD [Deripaska] that would not otherwise be on the Government Affairs team's radar, including various Russian Committee Heads, Union leaders or Ministers.''

The emails have emerged after the FBI raided Washington and New York City homes linked to Oleg Deripaska, a billionaire and a close ally of Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-hunter-biden%E2%80%99s-memoir-7-takeaways-from-%E2%80%98beautiful-things%E2%80%99-374496">Also read |&nbsp;Hunter Biden’s memoir: 7 takeaways from ‘Beautiful Things’</a>

According to US Treasury Department, "There are allegations that Deripaska bribed a government official, ordered the murder of a businessman and had links to a Russian organised crime group."

Deripaska filed a lawsuit in March 2019 against the Treasury Department, accusing it of illegally targeting him, but the suit was tossed out this year by a federal judge.

The suit claimed that Deripaska's net worth had dropped by $7.5 billion after the sanctions were imposed on him and six other Russian oligarchs by the Trump administration in April 2018.

Washington imposed sanctions on Deripaska, 53, and other influential Russians because of their ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin after alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election which Moscow denies.

Deripaska once employed Manafort, who was convicted in 2018 of criminal charges arising from the US investigation into the alleged interference but was pardoned by then-president Trump in December.

(With inputs from agencies)

New emails have revealed that US President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden had tried to sell the refined analysis of Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. Rosemont Seneca, the company that tried to sell ''political and corporate risks, elite networks associated with Oleg Deripaska,'' is run by Christopher Heinz and Hunter Biden.

New emails have revealed that US President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden had tried to sell the refined analysis of Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. Rosemont Seneca, the company that tried to sell ''political and corporate risks, elite networks associated with Oleg Deripaska,'' is run by Christopher Heinz and Hunter Biden. Hunter had sent an email to Alcoa's Vice President Daniel Cruise according to a report by 'The New York Post.' The asking price for phase one of the project was $25,000 while for a refined analysis it was $55,000. Deripaska was of interest to Alcoa as he is the founder of Russian aluminum giant Rusal. Cruise's colleague Pei Chang had shown interest in ''the list of Russian elites connected to OD [Deripaska] that would not otherwise be on the Government Affairs team's radar, including various Russian Committee Heads, Union leaders or Ministers.'' The emails have emerged after the FBI raided Washington and New York City homes linked to Oleg Deripaska, a billionaire and a close ally of Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Also read | Hunter Biden’s memoir: 7 takeaways from ‘Beautiful Things’ According to US Treasury Department, "There are allegations that Deripaska bribed a government official, ordered the murder of a businessman and had links to a Russian organised crime group." Deripaska filed a lawsuit in March 2019 against the Treasury Department, accusing it of illegally targeting him, but the suit was tossed out this year by a federal judge. The suit claimed that Deripaska's net worth had dropped by $7.5 billion after the sanctions were imposed on him and six other Russian oligarchs by the Trump administration in April 2018. Washington imposed sanctions on Deripaska, 53, and other influential Russians because of their ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin after alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election which Moscow denies. Deripaska once employed Manafort, who was convicted in 2018 of criminal charges arising from the US investigation into the alleged interference but was pardoned by then-president Trump in December. (With inputs from agencies)

Hunter Biden tried to sell refined analysis of Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska

In this 21st century where people are coming together to celebrate freedom to choose gender, Russian President Vladimir Putin said teaching gender fluidity to children is 'monstrous' and 'terrible'.<o:p></o:p>

"It is terrible when children in the West are taught the idea that a boy can become a girl," Putin said.<o:p></o:p>

Speaking from his pre-prepared notes at an even of Valdai International Discussion Club in Sochi, Russia, Putin said he believes that it is close to ‘crimes against humanity’ that children are allowed to believe that they can choose their own gender.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/this-has-to-be-altered-china-set-to-ban-video-games-that-show-gay-relationship-unmanly-characters-417571">'This has to be altered': China set to ban video games that show 'gay relationship', 'unmanly characters'</a></o:p>

The President blamed people for pushing small children to believe that a boy can become a girl, and vice versa. "(It is a) simply monstrous moment when children are pushed to believe from early on that a boy can easily become a girl, and vice versa,"&nbsp;he said. "They are pushed to believe they have a choice, imposed while parents are swept aside. And a child is forced to make a decision that can break their life."<o:p></o:p>

He accused people of teaching this to gender without consulting child psychologists and without making sure whether or not a child can handle to make such decisions.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/diversity-spaces-germany-reserves-parking-spots-for-lgbt-community-and-migrants-417550">'Diversity spaces': Germany reserves parking spots for LGBT community and migrants</a></o:p>

"No-one even consults child psychologists on whether a child of a certain age is able to make these kind of decisions,"&nbsp;Putin accused. "Calling a spade a spade, this is close to a crime against humanity dressed up in the name and under the flag of progress."<o:p></o:p>

Putin claims that he is not prejudiced against the LGBTQ community but also believes that such important decisions related to gender identity can only be taken by adults and, therefore, children should not be taught these concepts. <o:p></o:p>

However, people have lashed out at Putin for his comments, especially considering that in 2020 same-sex marriages were prohibited and trans people were told they cannot adopt children.<o:p></o:p>

In this 21st century where people are coming together to celebrate freedom to choose gender, Russian President Vladimir Putin said teaching gender fluidity to children is 'monstrous' and 'terrible'.

In this 21st century where people are coming together to celebrate freedom to choose gender, Russian President Vladimir Putin said teaching gender fluidity to children is 'monstrous' and 'terrible'. "It is terrible when children in the West are taught the idea that a boy can become a girl," Putin said. Speaking from his pre-prepared notes at an even of Valdai International Discussion Club in Sochi, Russia, Putin said he believes that it is close to ‘crimes against humanity’ that children are allowed to believe that they can choose their own gender. Also read | 'This has to be altered': China set to ban video games that show 'gay relationship', 'unmanly characters' The President blamed people for pushing small children to believe that a boy can become a girl, and vice versa. "(It is a) simply monstrous moment when children are pushed to believe from early on that a boy can easily become a girl, and vice versa," he said. "They are pushed to believe they have a choice, imposed while parents are swept aside. And a child is forced to make a decision that can break their life." He accused people of teaching this to gender without consulting child psychologists and without making sure whether or not a child can handle to make such decisions. Also read | 'Diversity spaces': Germany reserves parking spots for LGBT community and migrants "No-one even consults child psychologists on whether a child of a certain age is able to make these kind of decisions," Putin accused. "Calling a spade a spade, this is close to a crime against humanity dressed up in the name and under the flag of progress." Putin claims that he is not prejudiced against the LGBTQ community but also believes that such important decisions related to gender identity can only be taken by adults and, therefore, children should not be taught these concepts. However, people have lashed out at Putin for his comments, especially considering that in 2020 same-sex marriages were prohibited and trans people were told they cannot adopt children.

'Close to crime against humanity': Teaching children about gender identity is 'monstrous', says Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the COP26 climate summit, the Kremlin has announced that Putin will not be able to fly to Glasgow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend COP26 climate summit

Russian president Vladimir Putin has urged the leaders of the commonwealth of independent states not to hurry to officially recognise the Taliban.

Don't rush to recognise Taliban: Russian president Vladimir Putin

Russian president Vladimir Putin said that the country is ready to hold direct talks with NATO. The statement came as Putin said that ties between Moscow and Washington will gradually improve.

Russian president Vladimir Putin says that country ready to hold direct talks with NATO

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the country needs to step up its vaccination campaign against COVID-19. This comes after 973 COVID deaths and more than 28-thousand cases were recorded on Tuesday alone. These are the single-highest covid-19 deaths the country has seen since the beginning of the pandemic.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says country needs to step up vaccination campaign

Russian President Vladimir Putin is blaming Europe for its current energy crisis. Putin said that one of the factors influencing the prices was the termination of 'long-term contracts' in favour of the spot market.

Putin blames Europe for gas price crisis

On Tuesday, a group of 45 nations, including Britain, Germany and Canada,&nbsp;at OPCW, the global toxic arms watchdog,&nbsp;called on Russia to provide answers about the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

Delegates said that as per the rules of the Hague-based Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Russia has to respond within 10 days to questions posed by the countries.

"Today, 45 States Parties, including Britain have informed the OPCW executive council that they will formally put questions to Russia about the poisoning of @navalny under Article 9 of the Convention," British delegates said in a tweet.

"Russia has 10 days to answer," they added.

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Today, 45 States Parties, including 🇬🇧, have informed the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OPCW?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OPCW</a> Executive Council that they will formally put questions to Russia about the poisoning of <a href="https://twitter.com/navalny?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Navalny</a>, under Article IX of the Convention. Russia has 10 days to answer. Details will appear here: <a href="https://t.co/hfvYMeEVwP">https://t.co/hfvYMeEVwP</a> <a href="https://t.co/rhY3rk3HX5">pic.twitter.com/rhY3rk3HX5</a>
— UK Delegation OPCW (@UK_OPCW) <a href="https://twitter.com/UK_OPCW/status/1445396570900422673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Canada and Germany also tweeted that they were part of the 45-country statement.

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Despite repeated requests, there has been no investigation by 🇷🇺 into the attack on Alexei <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Navalny?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Navalny</a> with a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Novichok?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Novichok</a> nerve agent. 🇨🇦 joins 44 other countries in taking the next step, asking 🇷🇺to clarify the circumstances of this attack under Article 9 of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CWC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CWC</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EC98?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EC98</a> <a href="https://t.co/Fki24JKrfW">pic.twitter.com/Fki24JKrfW</a>
— Canada in OPCW (@CanadaOPCW) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanadaOPCW/status/1445398887871700996?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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Case of Alexey Navalny: Today in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OPCW?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OPCW</a> Executive Council several states including Germany demanded answers from Russia under a special consultation procedure. Russia must explain the finding of a prohibited chemical warfare agent.
— Susanne Baumann (@GERMANYonUN) <a href="https://twitter.com/GERMANYonUN/status/1445407533921931266?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"It is essential that Russia sets out in detail the steps taken to investigate and shed light on the use of a chemical weapon on its territory," said a portion of the statement quoted on the British delegation's Twitter account.

Western governments claim that opposition leader Navalny was poisoned with an old Soviet-era nerve agent, known as Novichok, last August in Russia.

After receiving treatment in Germany, he returned to Russia, where he is in jail now.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-says-preparing-new-russia-sanctions-over-navalny-poisoning-392792">US says preparing new Russia sanctions over Navalny poisoning</a>

Western states have also called on Syria, a close ally of Russia, to allow arms inspectors in, saying Damascus is continuing to violate its obligations to the OPCW.

Many countries have called for the Russian government to provide more information about and clarify Navalny's poisoning.

However, the Kremlin has always denied involvement.

Vladimir Putin is directly accused by Navalny of being responsible for the attack. On his return from treatment in Germany, the opposition leader was arrested and jailed on old fraud charges.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-hits-kremlin-critic-alexei-navalny-with-new-charge-that-could-add-to-jail-term-404725">Russia hits Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny with new charge that could add to jail term</a>

The executive council of the OPCW, which has 41 member states, meets this week to discuss progress in eliminating chemical weapons, including taking action when member states do not comply.

Meanwhile, Britain has said it will not relent in pressing Russia over the Novichok attack on&nbsp;Sergei Skripal,&nbsp;a former double agent in the English city of Salisbury.&nbsp;

As a result of the attack, both Sergei Skripal and his daughter were left battling for their lives, while the police officer investigating the case fell gravely ill. A local woman who was exposed to the nerve agent died later.

(With inputs from agencies)

On Tuesday, a group of 45 nations, including Britain, Germany and Canada, at OPCW, the global toxic arms watchdog, called on Russia to provide answers about the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

On Tuesday, a group of 45 nations, including Britain, Germany and Canada, at OPCW, the global toxic arms watchdog, called on Russia to provide answers about the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Delegates said that as per the rules of the Hague-based Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Russia has to respond within 10 days to questions posed by the countries. "Today, 45 States Parties, including Britain have informed the OPCW executive council that they will formally put questions to Russia about the poisoning of @navalny under Article 9 of the Convention," British delegates said in a tweet. "Russia has 10 days to answer," they added. Today, 45 States Parties, including 🇬🇧, have informed the #OPCW Executive Council that they will formally put questions to Russia about the poisoning of @Navalny, under Article IX of the Convention. Russia has 10 days to answer. Details will appear here: https://t.co/hfvYMeEVwP pic.twitter.com/rhY3rk3HX5 — UK Delegation OPCW (@UK_OPCW) October 5, 2021 × Canada and Germany also tweeted that they were part of the 45-country statement. 🧵1/2 Despite repeated requests, there has been no investigation by 🇷🇺 into the attack on Alexei #Navalny with a #Novichok nerve agent. 🇨🇦 joins 44 other countries in taking the next step, asking 🇷🇺to clarify the circumstances of this attack under Article 9 of the #CWC. #EC98 pic.twitter.com/Fki24JKrfW — Canada in OPCW (@CanadaOPCW) October 5, 2021 × Case of Alexey Navalny: Today in the #OPCW Executive Council several states including Germany demanded answers from Russia under a special consultation procedure. Russia must explain the finding of a prohibited chemical warfare agent. — Susanne Baumann (@GERMANYonUN) October 5, 2021 × "It is essential that Russia sets out in detail the steps taken to investigate and shed light on the use of a chemical weapon on its territory," said a portion of the statement quoted on the British delegation's Twitter account. Western governments claim that opposition leader Navalny was poisoned with an old Soviet-era nerve agent, known as Novichok, last August in Russia. After receiving treatment in Germany, he returned to Russia, where he is in jail now. Also read | US says preparing new Russia sanctions over Navalny poisoning Western states have also called on Syria, a close ally of Russia, to allow arms inspectors in, saying Damascus is continuing to violate its obligations to the OPCW. Many countries have called for the Russian government to provide more information about and clarify Navalny's poisoning. However, the Kremlin has always denied involvement. Vladimir Putin is directly accused by Navalny of being responsible for the attack. On his return from treatment in Germany, the opposition leader was arrested and jailed on old fraud charges. Also read | Russia hits Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny with new charge that could add to jail term The executive council of the OPCW, which has 41 member states, meets this week to discuss progress in eliminating chemical weapons, including taking action when member states do not comply. Meanwhile, Britain has said it will not relent in pressing Russia over the Novichok attack on Sergei Skripal, a former double agent in the English city of Salisbury. As a result of the attack, both Sergei Skripal and his daughter were left battling for their lives, while the police officer investigating the case fell gravely ill. A local woman who was exposed to the nerve agent died later. (With inputs from agencies)

At OPCW, 45 nations push Russia for answers on Navalny poisoning

Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly linked to undisclosed assets in Monaco, according to the Pandora papers. While Putin is not mentioned directly in the documents, several of his close friends are, including a childhood buddy and a former sweetheart, reports claimed.&nbsp;

In September 2003, a secret transaction allegedly took place in Monaco. A flat was purchased for €3.6 million. However, the identity of the flat’s buyer was a mystery.

&nbsp;The official “purchaser” was an offshore company listed in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), named Brockville Development Ltd, reports said.&nbsp;

The company was in turn allegedly owned by two further Panama-registered entities – Sefton Securities and, later, Radnor Investments SA.&nbsp;

Through the Pandora papers, the buyer has been identified as a woman named Svetlana Krivonogikh.

It has been observed that in a time span of few years, Krivonogikh became extremely wealthy. She reportedly acquired a flat in a compound in her home city of St Petersburg, properties in Moscow, a yacht, and other assets, worth an estimated $100 million.

The woman has been romantically linked with Putin since he was still deputy mayor of her hometown of St. Petersburg and reportedly has a daughter with him.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shakira-to-sachin-tendulkar-famous-names-emerge-in-the-investigation-of-pandora-papers-418007">Also read |&nbsp;Shakira to Sachin Tendulkar: Famous names emerge in the investigation of Pandora Papers</a>

Pieces of evidence have reportedly revealed that they travelled together on the same planes, for example, as Putin climbed towards power.&nbsp;

The Kremlin has not commented. Putin refrains from discussing his private life. He and his wife, Lyudmila, who have two daughters, Masha and Katerina, divorced in 2013.

This has a political angle too as Prince Albert, Monaco’s ruler, has good relations with Putin, according to reports.

Also, over the past two decades, Russian influence in Monaco has grown. Dominique Anastasis, a local lawyer was quoted by The Guardian as saying, “It has become Moscow-on-Sea. The mentality is to show off,”. Foreigners including rich Russians were attracted by the warm climate and the lack of tax, he said.&nbsp;

“Nobody asks where your money comes from. There’s no culture of checking. You don’t make a tax declaration.”

The Pandora papers obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) show that over 130 billionaires and celebrities from Russia, the United States, India, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and Mexico used shell companies and incognito bank accounts to buy secret assets and conduct secret financial transactions.&nbsp;

Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly linked to undisclosed assets in Monaco, according to the Pandora papers. While Putin is not mentioned directly in the documents, several of his close friends are, including a childhood buddy and a former sweetheart, reports claimed.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly linked to undisclosed assets in Monaco, according to the Pandora papers. While Putin is not mentioned directly in the documents, several of his close friends are, including a childhood buddy and a former sweetheart, reports claimed. In September 2003, a secret transaction allegedly took place in Monaco. A flat was purchased for €3.6 million. However, the identity of the flat’s buyer was a mystery. The official “purchaser” was an offshore company listed in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), named Brockville Development Ltd, reports said. The company was in turn allegedly owned by two further Panama-registered entities – Sefton Securities and, later, Radnor Investments SA. Through the Pandora papers, the buyer has been identified as a woman named Svetlana Krivonogikh. It has been observed that in a time span of few years, Krivonogikh became extremely wealthy. She reportedly acquired a flat in a compound in her home city of St Petersburg, properties in Moscow, a yacht, and other assets, worth an estimated $100 million. The woman has been romantically linked with Putin since he was still deputy mayor of her hometown of St. Petersburg and reportedly has a daughter with him. Also read | Shakira to Sachin Tendulkar: Famous names emerge in the investigation of Pandora Papers Pieces of evidence have reportedly revealed that they travelled together on the same planes, for example, as Putin climbed towards power. The Kremlin has not commented. Putin refrains from discussing his private life. He and his wife, Lyudmila, who have two daughters, Masha and Katerina, divorced in 2013. This has a political angle too as Prince Albert, Monaco’s ruler, has good relations with Putin, according to reports. Also, over the past two decades, Russian influence in Monaco has grown. Dominique Anastasis, a local lawyer was quoted by The Guardian as saying, “It has become Moscow-on-Sea. The mentality is to show off,”. Foreigners including rich Russians were attracted by the warm climate and the lack of tax, he said. “Nobody asks where your money comes from. There’s no culture of checking. You don’t make a tax declaration.” The Pandora papers obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) show that over 130 billionaires and celebrities from Russia, the United States, India, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and Mexico used shell companies and incognito bank accounts to buy secret assets and conduct secret financial transactions.

Pandora papers reveal Putin's alleged mistress has assets worth $100 million: Report

Elections in Russia are always tricky for the Kremlin. Offer too much choice, and citizens may pick the wrong candidates. Offer too little, and the underlying authoritarianism of the regime becomes grimly apparent.

This year, for the parliamentary elections that began on Friday and end on Sunday, President Vladimir Putin is not taking any chances. From the moment Aleksei Navalny, the opposition leader and the Kremlin’s best-known critic, returned to the country in January, the president has overseen a wave of repression.

Scores of independent media outlets have been labeled foreign agents, hobbling their activities, and opposition figures have either been banned from political activity or intimidated into exile. Mr. Navalny is in jail, most of his closest associates have left the country and his organization has been disbanded. The opposition is in tatters.

There has been no sustained outcry within the country against these moves. Mr. Putin’s approval ratings remain solid, and the election is likely to return a majority for his party, United Russia. The system grinds on.

At the heart of the Kremlin’s continued social and political control sits the Russian media. A sprawling network of television stations and newspapers, often lurid in style and spurious in content, the Kremlin’s propaganda system is a central pillar of Mr. Putin’s power. Against all the dissent and discontent with his regime, inside and outside the country, it acts as an impermeable shield. Combined with repression, it is how he wins.

Nearly all of Russia’s television stations and newspapers are under state control. Some, like REN TV, are owned by private companies with links to the Kremlin. Others, like Rossiya and Channel One, are state-owned and often deliver outright propaganda as the news.

Behind the scenes, Mr. Putin’s accomplices — like Alexei Gromov, who as deputy chief of staff in the presidential administration oversees the media — carefully manage the message. Failures are downplayed, criticism avoided and, at every turn, praise heaped on the president, who is cast as a sensible and wise leader.

This machine doesn’t need coercion. An army of reporters, editors and producers, happy to toe any political line in return for promotion and payment, churns out an endless stream of fawning accounts of Mr. Putin, the prime minister and influential regional governors. Conformists and careerists, these journalists are not blind to the realities of contemporary Russia. But they choose to work on the side of the winners.

Funded to the tune of billions of dollars by those close to Mr. Putin, the media preys on the population’s worst fears. The threats of economic disaster and territorial disintegration, in a country that suffered both in the 1990s, are constantly invoked: Only loyalty to the Kremlin can keep the monsters at bay. The European Union, Britain and the United States are portrayed as sites of moral decay, rife with political instability and impoverishment.

In a country where 72 percent of the population doesn’t have a passport and where the financial means to travel abroad remain generally out of reach, such messages find a receptive audience.

This wall-to-wall coverage has profound effects on public opinion. In 2008, as conflict between Russia and neighboring Georgia escalated, the media went into overdrive, depicting Georgia as a haven of anti-Russian activity intent on violence. The results were stunning: A year later, after the war ended, 62 percent of Russians considered Georgia, a small republic in the south Caucasus, to be Russia’s main enemy.

Now ruled by a government more friendly to Russia, Georgia has largely disappeared from state television. The view of it as the main enemy has steadily dropped and is now held by just 15 percent of Russians.

Both broadcast and print are comprehensively under the Kremlin’s control. So too, nearly, is the internet. Ten years ago, social networks helped bring people to the streets in protest against rigged parliamentary elections. Since then, a set of technological and legislative measures — tapping users’ phones and computers, introducing criminal charges for content labeled “extremist” and curtailing the independence of Russia’s biggest tech company, Yandex — have turned the internet into heavily policed terrain. A social media post can cost a few years in prison.

But that’s not the whole story. The great success of Mr. Navalny’s film about Mr. Putin’s alleged mansion by the Black Sea, which has been watched by at least 118 million people since it was released in January, shows that the state’s domination over the media is not enough to prevent undesired content from reaching ordinary Russians. No matter how extensively the Kremlin intervenes in internet platforms — through bots, paid trolls and law enforcement — it remains possible to spread information injurious to the regime.

There are still a few independent local and nationwide media outlets in Russia. Though they can hardly compete with state-funded television channels and newspapers, they are able to reach a sizable slice of the population.

Meduza, for example, one of Russia’s most respected independent news outlets, draws millions of readers to its website a year, and MediaZona, an independent outlet that focuses on corruption and the misuse of law enforcement powers, added more than two million readers earlier this year through its coverage of Mr. Navalny’s trial. TV Rain, an independent television channel, manages to command the attention of 2.3 million viewers.

This success, however small and circumscribed, proved too much for Mr. Putin — and he turned to repression. Through the “foreign agent law,” introduced in 2012 and initially aimed at foreign-funded media such as Voice of America and Radio Free Europe, the Kremlin has been able to decimate the ranks of independent media. Six outlets were given the designation this year, along with 19 journalists. For the smaller publications, it was the end. Bigger outlets, including Meduza, are scrapping for survival.

The situation, though bleak, is not lost. Independent journalists and outlets continue to find a way to operate, inventively sidestepping the constraints cast on them by the Kremlin through canny crowdfunding and humor. In this, they offer an example to other independent journalists around the world fighting to keep authoritarian politicians accountable.

Even so, Mr. Putin’s media method — propaganda on one hand, repression on the other — continues to bear fruit. Faced with a stagnant economy, an aging population and simmering discontent, it surely can’t go on forever. But, for now, it’s working.

Elections in Russia are always tricky for the Kremlin. Offer too much choice, and citizens may pick the wrong candidates. Offer too little, and the underlying authoritarianism of the regime becomes grimly apparent.

Elections in Russia are always tricky for the Kremlin. Offer too much choice, and citizens may pick the wrong candidates. Offer too little, and the underlying authoritarianism of the regime becomes grimly apparent. This year, for the parliamentary elections that began on Friday and end on Sunday, President Vladimir Putin is not taking any chances. From the moment Aleksei Navalny, the opposition leader and the Kremlin’s best-known critic, returned to the country in January, the president has overseen a wave of repression. Scores of independent media outlets have been labeled foreign agents, hobbling their activities, and opposition figures have either been banned from political activity or intimidated into exile. Mr. Navalny is in jail, most of his closest associates have left the country and his organization has been disbanded. The opposition is in tatters. There has been no sustained outcry within the country against these moves. Mr. Putin’s approval ratings remain solid, and the election is likely to return a majority for his party, United Russia. The system grinds on. At the heart of the Kremlin’s continued social and political control sits the Russian media. A sprawling network of television stations and newspapers, often lurid in style and spurious in content, the Kremlin’s propaganda system is a central pillar of Mr. Putin’s power. Against all the dissent and discontent with his regime, inside and outside the country, it acts as an impermeable shield. Combined with repression, it is how he wins. Nearly all of Russia’s television stations and newspapers are under state control. Some, like REN TV, are owned by private companies with links to the Kremlin. Others, like Rossiya and Channel One, are state-owned and often deliver outright propaganda as the news. Behind the scenes, Mr. Putin’s accomplices — like Alexei Gromov, who as deputy chief of staff in the presidential administration oversees the media — carefully manage the message. Failures are downplayed, criticism avoided and, at every turn, praise heaped on the president, who is cast as a sensible and wise leader. This machine doesn’t need coercion. An army of reporters, editors and producers, happy to toe any political line in return for promotion and payment, churns out an endless stream of fawning accounts of Mr. Putin, the prime minister and influential regional governors. Conformists and careerists, these journalists are not blind to the realities of contemporary Russia. But they choose to work on the side of the winners. Funded to the tune of billions of dollars by those close to Mr. Putin, the media preys on the population’s worst fears. The threats of economic disaster and territorial disintegration, in a country that suffered both in the 1990s, are constantly invoked: Only loyalty to the Kremlin can keep the monsters at bay. The European Union, Britain and the United States are portrayed as sites of moral decay, rife with political instability and impoverishment. In a country where 72 percent of the population doesn’t have a passport and where the financial means to travel abroad remain generally out of reach, such messages find a receptive audience. This wall-to-wall coverage has profound effects on public opinion. In 2008, as conflict between Russia and neighboring Georgia escalated, the media went into overdrive, depicting Georgia as a haven of anti-Russian activity intent on violence. The results were stunning: A year later, after the war ended, 62 percent of Russians considered Georgia, a small republic in the south Caucasus, to be Russia’s main enemy. Now ruled by a government more friendly to Russia, Georgia has largely disappeared from state television. The view of it as the main enemy has steadily dropped and is now held by just 15 percent of Russians. Both broadcast and print are comprehensively under the Kremlin’s control. So too, nearly, is the internet. Ten years ago, social networks helped bring people to the streets in protest against rigged parliamentary elections. Since then, a set of technological and legislative measures — tapping users’ phones and computers, introducing criminal charges for content labeled “extremist” and curtailing the independence of Russia’s biggest tech company, Yandex — have turned the internet into heavily policed terrain. A social media post can cost a few years in prison. But that’s not the whole story. The great success of Mr. Navalny’s film about Mr. Putin’s alleged mansion by the Black Sea, which has been watched by at least 118 million people since it was released in January, shows that the state’s domination over the media is not enough to prevent undesired content from reaching ordinary Russians. No matter how extensively the Kremlin intervenes in internet platforms — through bots, paid trolls and law enforcement — it remains possible to spread information injurious to the regime. There are still a few independent local and nationwide media outlets in Russia. Though they can hardly compete with state-funded television channels and newspapers, they are able to reach a sizable slice of the population. Meduza, for example, one of Russia’s most respected independent news outlets, draws millions of readers to its website a year, and MediaZona, an independent outlet that focuses on corruption and the misuse of law enforcement powers, added more than two million readers earlier this year through its coverage of Mr. Navalny’s trial. TV Rain, an independent television channel, manages to command the attention of 2.3 million viewers. This success, however small and circumscribed, proved too much for Mr. Putin — and he turned to repression. Through the “foreign agent law,” introduced in 2012 and initially aimed at foreign-funded media such as Voice of America and Radio Free Europe, the Kremlin has been able to decimate the ranks of independent media. Six outlets were given the designation this year, along with 19 journalists. For the smaller publications, it was the end. Bigger outlets, including Meduza, are scrapping for survival. The situation, though bleak, is not lost. Independent journalists and outlets continue to find a way to operate, inventively sidestepping the constraints cast on them by the Kremlin through canny crowdfunding and humor. In this, they offer an example to other independent journalists around the world fighting to keep authoritarian politicians accountable. Even so, Mr. Putin’s media method — propaganda on one hand, repression on the other — continues to bear fruit. Faced with a stagnant economy, an aging population and simmering discontent, it surely can’t go on forever. But, for now, it’s working.

There’s a reason Putin keeps winning

The official website of the Kremlin on Sunday (September 26) published a series of appealing photos in which Russian President Vladimir Putin can be seen hiking and fishing in Siberia.&nbsp;

Kremlin stated that the Russian President stopped over in Siberia for a short vacation, following a working trip to the Primorye Territory and the Amur Region in early September.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-koreas-kim-yo-jong-says-peace-will-come-only-if-south-shows-respect-416140">North Korea's Kim Yo-jong says peace will come only if South shows 'respect'</a>

The statement also revealed that Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu accompanied Putin on his trip.&nbsp;

Well, such adventurous trips&nbsp;is nothing new for the multi-talented Putin, who previously has been pictured riding a horse bare-chested and in sunglasses, as well as carrying a hunting rifle and piloting a fighter jet.&nbsp;

Now, the Kremlin has published photos of Putin standing in a river and catching a fish, walking through lush meadows.&nbsp;

<img alt="Vladimir Putin" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="43d34833-d65b-473b-8787-12a1b1149340" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2021-09-26T075004Z_1_LYNXMPEH8P02S_RTROPTP_4_RUSSIA-PUTIN-VACATIONS.JPG" />

Image:&nbsp;Russian President Vladimir&nbsp;Putin&nbsp;spends a short vacation at an unknown location in Siberia, Russia. Source: Reuters

<img alt="Vladimir Putin" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="597d992c-420a-4e19-9ac4-11e109981438" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2021-09-26T075004Z_1_LYNXMPEH8P02R_RTROPTP_4_RUSSIA-PUTIN-VACATIONS.JPG" />

Image: Russian President Vladimir&nbsp;Putin&nbsp;fishes during a short vacation at an unknown location in Siberia. Source: Reuters

<img alt="Vladimir Putin" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8ddd1ee3-0868-4a0d-bf8b-5b5461c2b1c6" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Putin_0.jpg" />

&nbsp;

Image:&nbsp;Russian President Vladimir&nbsp;Putin&nbsp;spends a short vacation at an unknown location in Siberia Russia. Source: Reuters

<img alt="Vladimir Putin" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f64e77de-1480-4960-947f-1af3191aa723" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/putin%20%282%29.jpg" />

Image:&nbsp;Russian President Vladimir&nbsp;Putin&nbsp;spends a short vacation at an unknown location in Siberia Russia. Source: Reuters

In September mid, the 68-year-old Putin cancelled all in-person events and said he was self-isolating after announcing an outbreak in the Kremlin.

Several people in Putin's entourage tested positive for the Coronavirus, the Russian leader had revealed amid rising infection rates in Russia.&nbsp;

"Cases of the coronavirus were detected in my inner circle. Not just one or two but several dozen people," Putin said, speaking via video link at a meeting of a Moscow-led security alliance.&nbsp;

Putin, 68, has had two shots of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine. The Kremlin has said he was feeling healthy.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The official website of the Kremlin on Sunday (September 26) published a series of appealing photos in which Russian President Vladimir Putin can be seen hiking and fishing in Siberia.

The official website of the Kremlin on Sunday (September 26) published a series of appealing photos in which Russian President Vladimir Putin can be seen hiking and fishing in Siberia. Kremlin stated that the Russian President stopped over in Siberia for a short vacation, following a working trip to the Primorye Territory and the Amur Region in early September. ALSO READ | North Korea's Kim Yo-jong says peace will come only if South shows 'respect' The statement also revealed that Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu accompanied Putin on his trip. Well, such adventurous trips is nothing new for the multi-talented Putin, who previously has been pictured riding a horse bare-chested and in sunglasses, as well as carrying a hunting rifle and piloting a fighter jet. Now, the Kremlin has published photos of Putin standing in a river and catching a fish, walking through lush meadows. Image: Russian President Vladimir Putin spends a short vacation at an unknown location in Siberia, Russia. Source: Reuters Image: Russian President Vladimir Putin fishes during a short vacation at an unknown location in Siberia. Source: Reuters Image: Russian President Vladimir Putin spends a short vacation at an unknown location in Siberia Russia. Source: Reuters Image: Russian President Vladimir Putin spends a short vacation at an unknown location in Siberia Russia. Source: Reuters In September mid, the 68-year-old Putin cancelled all in-person events and said he was self-isolating after announcing an outbreak in the Kremlin. Several people in Putin's entourage tested positive for the Coronavirus, the Russian leader had revealed amid rising infection rates in Russia. "Cases of the coronavirus were detected in my inner circle. Not just one or two but several dozen people," Putin said, speaking via video link at a meeting of a Moscow-led security alliance. Putin, 68, has had two shots of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine. The Kremlin has said he was feeling healthy. (With inputs from agencies)

Kremlin releases photos of Vladimir Putin hiking and fishing in Siberia

Russian President Vladimir Putin's United Russia Party has won majority in Russian parliamentary elections. At the time when 85 per cent of the votes were counted. United Russia party had bagged nearly 50 per cent votes while its nearest rival the Communist Party had just under 20 per cent votes in their favour.

Although United Russia's performance was enough to secure majority, it was weaker than 2016 elections when it had bagged about 54 per cent votes

Elections this time were preceded by massive crackdown on the opposition.

&nbsp;

<img alt="Vladmir Putin" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="efedc234-1e58-405e-a766-67852fa81566" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_9N24A9.jpg" />

(Vladimir Putin casts his vote online on September 17)

Putin's fiercest critic Alexei Navalny is in jail. In the run-up to the elections, Navalny's top allies were arrested while some of them fled the country. His organisation was termed 'extremist' and anyone associated was kept from running for elections.

Navalny's team had called for opposition supporters to back other candidates who could potentially defeat United Russia, most of them from the Communists, and results indicated the "Smart Voting" campaign may have had some success.

United Russia's general council secretary Andrei Turchak congratulated supporters at party headquarters on a "clean and honest victory".

But Navalny's allies said the vote was being falsified on a massive scale, pointing especially to repeated delays in releasing the results of electronic voting in liberal and opposition-friendly Moscow.

"We have rattled their political system. We forced them to either admit defeat or to falsify, in front of everyone, absolutely brazenly, without any shame. To admit moral bankruptcy," key Navalny aide Leonid Volkov said during a live stream on YouTube.

Authorities had taken drastic measures to deter the "Smart Voting" campaign, which provided lists of candidates with the best hope of denying Kremlin-aligned politicians a seat.&nbsp;

The campaign's website was shut down and on Friday Apple and Google removed the Smart Voting app from their stores, causing an uproar among the opposition who accused them of giving in to Kremlin "blackmail".

Sources familiar with Google and Apple's decision told AFP the move was taken under pressure from Russian authorities, including threats to arrest the tech giants' local staff.

The popular Telegram messenger also removed Navalny's Smart Voting bot, and on Sunday Google Docs and YouTube videos containing the lists of recommended candidates were blocked.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russian President Vladimir Putin's United Russia Party has won majority in Russian parliamentary elections. At the time when 85 per cent of the votes were counted.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's United Russia Party has won majority in Russian parliamentary elections. At the time when 85 per cent of the votes were counted. United Russia party had bagged nearly 50 per cent votes while its nearest rival the Communist Party had just under 20 per cent votes in their favour. Although United Russia's performance was enough to secure majority, it was weaker than 2016 elections when it had bagged about 54 per cent votes Elections this time were preceded by massive crackdown on the opposition. (Vladimir Putin casts his vote online on September 17) Putin's fiercest critic Alexei Navalny is in jail. In the run-up to the elections, Navalny's top allies were arrested while some of them fled the country. His organisation was termed 'extremist' and anyone associated was kept from running for elections. Navalny's team had called for opposition supporters to back other candidates who could potentially defeat United Russia, most of them from the Communists, and results indicated the "Smart Voting" campaign may have had some success. United Russia's general council secretary Andrei Turchak congratulated supporters at party headquarters on a "clean and honest victory". But Navalny's allies said the vote was being falsified on a massive scale, pointing especially to repeated delays in releasing the results of electronic voting in liberal and opposition-friendly Moscow. "We have rattled their political system. We forced them to either admit defeat or to falsify, in front of everyone, absolutely brazenly, without any shame. To admit moral bankruptcy," key Navalny aide Leonid Volkov said during a live stream on YouTube. Authorities had taken drastic measures to deter the "Smart Voting" campaign, which provided lists of candidates with the best hope of denying Kremlin-aligned politicians a seat. The campaign's website was shut down and on Friday Apple and Google removed the Smart Voting app from their stores, causing an uproar among the opposition who accused them of giving in to Kremlin "blackmail". Sources familiar with Google and Apple's decision told AFP the move was taken under pressure from Russian authorities, including threats to arrest the tech giants' local staff. The popular Telegram messenger also removed Navalny's Smart Voting bot, and on Sunday Google Docs and YouTube videos containing the lists of recommended candidates were blocked. (With inputs from agencies)

Vladimir Putin's party wins majority in Russian elections

Russian President Vladimir Putin has gone into self-isolation. Putin's inner circle at Kremlin has tested positive for the Wuhan Virus. Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: Wuhan Virus breaches Kremlin

Dozens of people in Vladimir Putin's entourage have tested positive for the coronavirus , the Russian leader said on Thursday, as his country struggles with high infection rates and a vaccine-sceptic population.

Earlier this week, 68-year-old Putin cancelled all in-person events and said he was self-isolating after announcing an outbreak in the Kremlin.

"Cases of the coronavirus were detected in my inner circle. Not just one or two but several dozen people," Putin said, speaking via video link at a meeting of a Moscow-led security alliance.

Putin had been due to attend the meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) in Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe in person, but said Tuesday he would instead join remotely.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Thursday told reporters that the outbreak was mainly among members of Putin's security detail.

He added that "practically everybody" who works with Putin is vaccinated.

While it remains unclear how long Putin will be in quarantine, Peskov said he will be self-isolating for "at least" another week.

News of the extent of the outbreak at the Kremlin comes a day before parliamentary elections open Friday in Russia.

They are staggered over three days to limit the spread of the virus.

Authorities have gone to great lengths to protect Putin— who said he has been vaccinated with Russia's homegrown Sputnik V jab— since the start of the pandemic.

Foreign leaders, journalists and officials have all had to self-isolate before meeting the longtime Russian leader.

Putin this week met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and athletes returning from the Tokyo Paralympic Games, just before the Kremlin said he was self-isolating.

Highest European death toll

Russia has the fifth-highest number of recorded COVID cases, according to an AFP tally, and has struggled to rein in infections despite easy access to vaccines.

According to the latest figures, the country has recorded more than seven million cases and 195,835 deaths, the highest death toll in Europe.

Infections have been falling in recent days after a spike this summer, but health officials still reported 19,594 new cases and 794 new deaths on Thursday.

Authorities have struggled with a vaccine-sceptic population, with independent polls showing that a majority of Russians do not plan to be inoculated.

As of Thursday, about 40.2 million of Russia's 146 million people had been fully vaccinated, according to the Gogov website, which tallies Covid data from the regions.

Russia has several homegrown vaccines freely available to the public, but does not distribute any Western-made jabs.

Sputnik V has been approved in dozens of countries, including European nations, but is still pending approval from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Western regulators.

Moscow, the epicentre of Russia's outbreak, and a host of regions have introduced mandatory vaccination measures to speed up the inoculation drive, and Putin has repeatedly called on Russians to get vaccinated.

The Kremlin initially set a goal of fully inoculating 60 percent of Russia's population by September, but later dropped that target even though free jabs have been available since early December.

Russian authorities have been accused of vastly downplaying the effects of the pandemic and, after a tight first lockdown in 2020, have refrained from introducing new restrictive measures.

Dozens of people in Vladimir Putin's entourage have tested positive for the coronavirus , the Russian leader said on Thursday, as his country struggles with high infection rates and a vaccine-sceptic population.

Dozens of people in Vladimir Putin's entourage have tested positive for the coronavirus , the Russian leader said on Thursday, as his country struggles with high infection rates and a vaccine-sceptic population. Earlier this week, 68-year-old Putin cancelled all in-person events and said he was self-isolating after announcing an outbreak in the Kremlin. "Cases of the coronavirus were detected in my inner circle. Not just one or two but several dozen people," Putin said, speaking via video link at a meeting of a Moscow-led security alliance. Putin had been due to attend the meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) in Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe in person, but said Tuesday he would instead join remotely. Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Thursday told reporters that the outbreak was mainly among members of Putin's security detail. He added that "practically everybody" who works with Putin is vaccinated. While it remains unclear how long Putin will be in quarantine, Peskov said he will be self-isolating for "at least" another week. News of the extent of the outbreak at the Kremlin comes a day before parliamentary elections open Friday in Russia. They are staggered over three days to limit the spread of the virus. Authorities have gone to great lengths to protect Putin— who said he has been vaccinated with Russia's homegrown Sputnik V jab— since the start of the pandemic. Foreign leaders, journalists and officials have all had to self-isolate before meeting the longtime Russian leader. Putin this week met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and athletes returning from the Tokyo Paralympic Games, just before the Kremlin said he was self-isolating. Highest European death toll Russia has the fifth-highest number of recorded COVID cases, according to an AFP tally, and has struggled to rein in infections despite easy access to vaccines. According to the latest figures, the country has recorded more than seven million cases and 195,835 deaths, the highest death toll in Europe. Infections have been falling in recent days after a spike this summer, but health officials still reported 19,594 new cases and 794 new deaths on Thursday. Authorities have struggled with a vaccine-sceptic population, with independent polls showing that a majority of Russians do not plan to be inoculated. As of Thursday, about 40.2 million of Russia's 146 million people had been fully vaccinated, according to the Gogov website, which tallies Covid data from the regions. Russia has several homegrown vaccines freely available to the public, but does not distribute any Western-made jabs. Sputnik V has been approved in dozens of countries, including European nations, but is still pending approval from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Western regulators. Moscow, the epicentre of Russia's outbreak, and a host of regions have introduced mandatory vaccination measures to speed up the inoculation drive, and Putin has repeatedly called on Russians to get vaccinated. The Kremlin initially set a goal of fully inoculating 60 percent of Russia's population by September, but later dropped that target even though free jabs have been available since early December. Russian authorities have been accused of vastly downplaying the effects of the pandemic and, after a tight first lockdown in 2020, have refrained from introducing new restrictive measures.

Russian president Vladimir Putin says 'several dozen people' within the Kremlin inner circle have COVID-19 

Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend Beijing Olympics in February 2022 as he has accepted an invitation by China, Sergei Lavrov, the Foreign Minister of Russia said on Thursday (September 16).&nbsp;

During a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Tajikistan, Lavrov said, "Putin with delight has accepted the invitation of Xi Jinping to visit the Winter Olympic Games in February 2022."&nbsp;

Lavrov said he hopes Putin and Xi can meet in person and that Russian and Chinese athletes "will once against demonstrate their high sporting and personal qualities", according to the TASS news agency.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-the-united-nations-general-assembly-and-what-are-its-functions-and-responsibilities-413590">What is the United Nations General Assembly and what are its functions and responsibilities?</a>

The 2022 Winter Olympics will be held from February 4-20 in China's capital Beijing and in the neighbouring Hebei province.&nbsp;

However, it is important to note that Moscow remains under penalties for state-sponsored doping as Russian athletes are barred from competing at major international events, including the Olympics.&nbsp;

Russian government officials also cannot be issued an Olympic accreditation unless they are invited by the head of state of the host nation.&nbsp;

Russia was banned from international competitions for two years as punishment for state-sponsored doping and its cover-ups at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) handed Russia a four-year ban from top sporting events.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-boris-johnson-reshuffles-his-cabinet-dominic-raab-ousted-for-afghan-crisis-413578">UK's Boris Johnson reshuffles his cabinet; Dominic Raab ousted for Afghan crisis</a>

But those sanctions were relaxed to some extent by a sports arbitration court and were reduced to two years and the athletes who weren't involved in the scandal were able to compete in Olympic competition.&nbsp;

Some Russian athletes are allowed to compete as neutrals under the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) flag and represent the committee. They are not allowed to compete under their own flag, their national anthem won't play after they win.&nbsp;

Russia's participation at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics 2020, which took place this year in August and September, was criticised as more than 300 Russian competitors took part as neutral athletes.

They brought home 20 golds, ranking fifth in the medals tally.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend Beijing Olympics in February 2022 as he has accepted an invitation by China, Sergei Lavrov, the Foreign Minister of Russia said on Thursday (September 16).

Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend Beijing Olympics in February 2022 as he has accepted an invitation by China, Sergei Lavrov, the Foreign Minister of Russia said on Thursday (September 16). During a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Tajikistan, Lavrov said, "Putin with delight has accepted the invitation of Xi Jinping to visit the Winter Olympic Games in February 2022." Lavrov said he hopes Putin and Xi can meet in person and that Russian and Chinese athletes "will once against demonstrate their high sporting and personal qualities", according to the TASS news agency. ALSO READ | What is the United Nations General Assembly and what are its functions and responsibilities? The 2022 Winter Olympics will be held from February 4-20 in China's capital Beijing and in the neighbouring Hebei province. However, it is important to note that Moscow remains under penalties for state-sponsored doping as Russian athletes are barred from competing at major international events, including the Olympics. Russian government officials also cannot be issued an Olympic accreditation unless they are invited by the head of state of the host nation. Russia was banned from international competitions for two years as punishment for state-sponsored doping and its cover-ups at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) handed Russia a four-year ban from top sporting events. ALSO READ | UK's Boris Johnson reshuffles his cabinet; Dominic Raab ousted for Afghan crisis But those sanctions were relaxed to some extent by a sports arbitration court and were reduced to two years and the athletes who weren't involved in the scandal were able to compete in Olympic competition. Some Russian athletes are allowed to compete as neutrals under the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) flag and represent the committee. They are not allowed to compete under their own flag, their national anthem won't play after they win. Russia's participation at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics 2020, which took place this year in August and September, was criticised as more than 300 Russian competitors took part as neutral athletes. They brought home 20 golds, ranking fifth in the medals tally. (With inputs from agencies)

Vladimir Putin to attend 2022 Beijing Olympics as Russia remains under penalties for doping

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 13th BRICS summit via video conferencing along with Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs 13th BRICS summit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday chaired the 13th annual summit of BRICS leaders via video conferencing. Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the meeting.

13th BRICS Summit: Leaders cover Afghanistan crisis, pandemic in speech

In what can be characterised by many as Russia's first indication of mellowing stance towards the Taliban&nbsp;regime in Afghanistan, Russian President Vladimir Putin called for joint efforts to decide about "legalising" a political force there.

Putin made the comment at a forum in Vladivostok. He was asked if Moscow&nbsp;would recognise the Taliban government.&nbsp;

Taliban is formally recognised as a terrorist group in Russia.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-co-founder-mullah-abdul-ghani-baradar-to-lead-new-afghan-government-sources-410403">Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar to lead new Afghan government: Sources</a>

Soviet Russia had invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Many of the current Talibanis were involved in the resistance against the invading force. The Soviet troops exited Afghanistan in the year 1979. The Taliban soon gained prominence in next decade and became politically influencial which led to them capturing power in the country.

After Taliban's recent power grab in Afghanistan, most of the major countries have gone in wait-and-watch mode. The regime does not enjoy formal recognition all over the world.

Taliban meanwhile <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/china-is-our-most-important-partner-says-taliban-spokesperson-zabihullah-mujahid-410510">has been making overtures to China</a>. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told an Italian newspaper on Thursday&nbsp;that Taliban would rely on Chinese funding.

Mujahid stated the Taliban will strive for an economic recovery with China's backing in an interview published by La Repubblica on Thursday.

Mujahid claimed that the regime supported China's One Belt One Road initiative.

In what can be characterised by many as Russia's first indication of mellowing stance towards the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, Russian President Vladimir Putin called for joint efforts to decide about "legalising" a political force there.

In what can be characterised by many as Russia's first indication of mellowing stance towards the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, Russian President Vladimir Putin called for joint efforts to decide about "legalising" a political force there. Putin made the comment at a forum in Vladivostok. He was asked if Moscow would recognise the Taliban government. Taliban is formally recognised as a terrorist group in Russia. Also Read | Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar to lead new Afghan government: Sources Soviet Russia had invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Many of the current Talibanis were involved in the resistance against the invading force. The Soviet troops exited Afghanistan in the year 1979. The Taliban soon gained prominence in next decade and became politically influencial which led to them capturing power in the country. After Taliban's recent power grab in Afghanistan, most of the major countries have gone in wait-and-watch mode. The regime does not enjoy formal recognition all over the world. Taliban meanwhile has been making overtures to China. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told an Italian newspaper on Thursday that Taliban would rely on Chinese funding. Mujahid stated the Taliban will strive for an economic recovery with China's backing in an interview published by La Repubblica on Thursday. Mujahid claimed that the regime supported China's One Belt One Road initiative.

Must decide about 'legalising' political force in Afghanistan, says Putin

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