Oscar-winning Russian director Nikita Mikhalkov was named an honorary citizen of Belgrade for promoting the Serbian capital and the country's ties with Russia.
Sweden will raise defence spending by 10.2 billion kronor for the period 2016 to 2020, the government said amid concerns over Russia's military resurgence.
Top Russian defence officials lashed out at the USA, accusing it of undermining global security by funding revolutions and expanding NATO in a bid to contain Russia.
Kazakhstani political scientist Dosym Satpayev points to the sanctions against Russia and the ruble trouble as having effect on exports and domestic production in Kazakhstan.
The former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chaves does not want to fight against the WBA (Super), IBO and WBC Interim middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin from Kazakhstan.
Iran hailed Russia's decision to lift a ban on supplying Iran with sophisticated S-300 air defence missile systems as a step towards "lasting security" in the region.
German Foreign Minister has called on Russia and Ukraine to set in motion the next phase of the shaky Minsk peace accords aimed at stopping the fighting in east Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas in Moscow on Monday where the issue of Middle East peace talks will be raised.