Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that the research delegation would visit the Kurils in late June. Japanese media confirmed later in the month that a group of about 70 people would be led by Abe’s adviser Eiichi Hasegawa. The group is expected to visit the facilities that have been recognized as prospective for development of joint Russian-Japanese economic activity on the Kuril Islands. Source Sputnik
Banning social media trolls from voting could help reduce the amount of abuse faced by politicians, the election watchdog has said. The Electoral Commission says legislation around elections should be reviewed and new offences could be introduced. Source The Guardian
Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov has called on the US-led international coalition and the opposition supported by it not to hamper the actions of the Syrian government forces against terrorists. Source Tass
Bilateral trade between China and Russia over the course of the first seven months of this year has increased by almost 25 percent, compared to the same period of 2016, Chinese ambassador to Russia Li Hui said Monday. Source: Sputnik
