VLADIMIR PUTIN

In a birthday photo opportunity, Russian President Vladmir Putin played ice hockey while airstrikes continued in Syria.

The conflict in Ukraine has become a prime issue in Canada's upcoming election as politicians court the country's 1.3 million Ukrainian-Canadians.

NATO’s Allied Joint Force commander in Italy called Russia the most dangerous threat to Europe as the country increases its naval reach.

"The current Russian [military] presence in Tajikistan is in compliance with international law and bilateral agreements," said one Kremlin spokesperson.

"We are open for offers," said the director of state-owned defense firm Morinformsystem-Agat.

With the passage of a draft law, Ukraine's parliament welcomed foreigners to officially serve in the civil war in the east.

Russian media have refocused their energy from coverage of Ukraine to airstrikes in Syria and criticism of the U.S.

Kadyrov's video is reminiscent of photographs taken of Russian President Vladimir Putin riding a horse bare-chested in 2009.

The Ukrainian military began pulling back light artillery from the frontline Monday in the hopes of ending a conflict that has resulted in the deaths of over 8,000.

The Syrian Free Army is a Russian militia group that has been fighting both Assad's regime and the Islamic State group in Syria.

Kiev says elections cannot take place in the east because of continued security problems there.

Russia said on Saturday it will step up air strikes in Syria, escalating a military intervention which Moscow says is weakening Islamic State militants but which Western powers say aims to support President Bashar al-Assad.

Russia bombed Syria for a third straight day on Friday, mainly hitting areas held by rival insurgent groups rather than the Islamic State fighters it said it was targeting, and drawing an angry response from the West.

A day after the Oregon shootings, President Barack Obama again called for action against gun violence, while Republican Jeb Bush advised against an impulsive reaction.

Following Russian airstrikes in Syria, the Republican presidential candidate aims to demonstrate his expertise in foreign policy.

Monitors said they saw the new, deadly weaponry system in eastern Ukraine as Russian and Ukrainian leaders met Friday in Paris to discuss a solution to the conflict.

In a joint statement with the United States, Britain, France, Germany and Gulf Arab allies, Turkey said Russia's actions constituted a "further escalation" of the conflict and would only fuel more extremism.

With increased Russian military activity in the Arctic, NATO member Norway reacted Thursday to a perceived threat.

The cost of the warring countries' mutual airline bans will be "in the tens, if not hundreds of millions, of U.S. dollars,” says one expert.

With Russian airstrikes in Syria, low oil prices and sanctions, Russian businesses are holding back on construction and expansion plans.

The Association of Muslim Scholars is warning that Russian airstrikes in Syria allegedly targeting ISIS could herald similar operations in Iraq.