Xi, Putin hold first meeting since Ukraine war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he spoke about the Wagner rebellion with US President Joe Biden.

Russian former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov told DW he believed that Wagner and Yevgeny Prigozhin's mutiny had weakened President Vladimir Putin, and would have even left "the ruling elite" with tough questions.

Addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed that Russia is more united than ever. The event was Putin's first multilateral summit since a short-lived insurrection.

A study shows that only 17% of Western firms with local Russian units prior to the invasion of Ukraine have exited Russia. Those that remain are paying Moscow billions in taxes, indirectly bankrolling the Ukraine war.

The Wagner chief's uprising has been seen as the biggest challenge to Putin since the Russian president came power. Wagner commanders are said to have been offered "alternative options for employment."

Heavy rains brought destructive floods to northern India, triggering landslides and damaging houses. People are warned not to venture outside, as weather experts warned more rain is expected.

Speaking at the 25th anniversary ceremony of the International Criminal Court, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said "no one should be able to lead a war of aggression and get away with it in the 21st century."

International pressure on South Africa has eased now that the Russian leader will attend the BRICS summit via video link only. The decision leaves ties between the only African nation in the alliance and Russia intact.

The pledge comes after Moscow pulled out of a grain deal that had allowed the transport of millions of tons of Ukrainian food exports through the Black Sea.

After five days of consecutive losses, the Russian ruble has crashed below a psychologically important mark of 100 rubles for $1 US. What's causing the slide?

An aide to Chinese president Xi Jinping was stopped from entering the BRICS Summit venue in Johannesburg on Wednesday while following the leader onto a red carpet. Video shows Xi walking into the venue and security officials blocking the confused aide, closing the doors between him and his boss.

After not attending the BRICS summit in South Africa, Russian President Vladimir Putin has no plans to travel to India for the G20 summit, the Kremlin says.