* Russian President Vladimir Putin, who arrived in Japan on an official visit Sunday, said he was confident that Russian-Japanese relations would develop positively, and expressed his hope that both countries would solve the remaining bilateral problems
* Russia is interested in developing energy cooperation with member economies of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation organization, including Japan, Russian President Vladimir Putin said
* Russia, Germany, Poland and Belarus signed a joint statement on railway freight cooperation
* The leader of a local militant network and a police officer were killed in an armed clash in a village in Chechnya, the breakaway Russian republic, on the border with the republic of Dagestan
* Vladimir Putin telephoned veteran Russian ballet dancer Maya Plisetskaya to congratulate her on her eightieth birthday