International News

Putin praises pace of development of Russia-Turkey relations

SOCHI: Trade turnover between Moscow and Ankara increased by 86pc last year, this year the positive trend continues, Russian President Vladimir Putin said opening talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
"I had like to call your attention to the fact that, if I am not mistaken, our trade turnover climbed by more than 80pc last year - by 86pc. The positive trend continues in the first half of this year," he said.

Russian army has recruited 280,000 soldiers since January: Medvedev

MOSCOW: Russia former president and Security Council chairman Dmitry Medvedev said Sunday that Moscow had recruited some 280,000 people into the army since the start of the year.
Russia has not announced another mobilisation, seen as an unpopular measure, but has led an active campaign to attract more men into the military as its Ukraine
offensive drags into a 19th month. "According to data from the ministry of defence, 280,000 people have joined the Russian army on contracts from January 1," Medvedev said, according to the TASS news agency.

Nobel Foundation cancels Russian ambassador invite to prize ceremony

STOCKHOLM: The Nobel Foundation said Saturday it was reversing its decision to invite ambassadors from Russia and Belarus to this year Nobel award ceremony in Stockholm, after the move sparked anger.
In 2022, the Nobel Foundation, which organises the annual Nobel prize ceremony and banquet in Stockholm, decided not to invite the Russian and Belarusian ambassadors to the Stockholm award event because of the war in Ukraine.
They made the same decision regarding the Iranian envoy over the country crackdown on a wave of protests.

Russia ready to boost gas exports to Turkey: Lavrov

MOSCOW: Russia is ready to scale up natural gas exports to Turkey, including through creation of a gas hub there, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during talks with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan.
"On our side, we confirmed the commitment of Russia to all the agreements of increasing natural gas exports, including through implementation of the initiative of the heads of our states on creation of an integrated gas hub in Turkey," Lavrov said.