July 2023

Vladimir Putin’s recent impersonation of a rock star in front of throngs of adoring fans may come as a surprise to those who are familiar with his past. The Russian president defied protocol at a rare public appearance in the Dagestan region by warmly interacting with admirers in a sizable audience, shaking their hands and posing for photographs.He even gave a girl a cheek kiss once as she begged her mother to take a picture of him standing by her side. Despite never greeting his security staff during his two decades in power, he is seen shaking hands and straightening...

In a phone chat on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the situation in Ukraine and how Moscow had handled an armed mercenary rebellion.In response to the Wagner mercenary group’s mutiny last Saturday, the Kremlin said that PM Modi had expressed support for what it dubbed the Russian leadership’s determined actions. Narendra Modi “expressed understanding and support for the decisive actions taken by the Russian leadership to protect law and order, ensure stability in the nation, and ensure the security of its citizens” in relation to the events of June 24 in Russia.

During a conference call last week, Rishi Sunak’s expression suddenly turned angry in a Downing Street office lit by chandeliers and a large television.On the condition of anonymity, two present parties revealed that the UK prime leader grumbled to close colleagues that his government never receives credit for making difficult decisions in the public good. Sunak continued: His emphasis on combating inflation was preventing calamity with little political upside, they claimed, and he had picked up the pieces after his predecessor Liz Truss drove the UK economy to the verge of collapse.