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Russia's Anastasiia Rustamova competes in the international fencing event "Friendship Cup" in the Russian city of Kazan on the Volga River on March 31. - For Russia's fencing champions, a ruling to allow them to return to international competition has meant little change for now as different European countries have cancelled their fixtures in protest. Russia today announced it will not be sending fencers to an Olympic qualifying event in Poland due to "unacceptable conditions". - Pic: AFP

President Vladimir Putin today signed off a new Russian foreign policy strategy aimed at curtailing Western "dominance" and identifying China and India as key partners for the future. The new document cements the deep Cold War-style rupture between Russia and the West over Moscow's offensive in Ukraine. - Pic: AFP

French football federation (FFF) interim president Philippe Diallo (L) and French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera attend the UEFA Euro 2024 qualification football match between France and Netherlands at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on March 24. Oudea-Castera today said the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommendation to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutrals is not binding for Paris' 2024 Olympics, adding that IOC recommendations were "a step which does not pre-judge what we will do" for Paris 2024. - Pic: AFP

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach gestures during an IOC executive board meeting where the issue of Russian athletes will be discussed, in Lausanne, on March 28, 2023. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)

Chelsea's English head coach Graham Potter reacts during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Everton at Stamford Bridge in London on March 18. Chelsea say government sanctions imposed on former owner Roman Abramovich were a factor in the club's losses of £121.3 million (RM657.29 million) for the 2021/22 season. Russian billionaire Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK government in March last year following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. - Pic: AFP

Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's President Xi Jinping make a toast during a reception following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21. Taiwan today condemned a joint-statement by Russia and China in which the two superpowers pledged to strengthen their strategic partnership as a signal China was dancing to Russia's tune. - AFP

Former UK prime minister Tony Blair - Facebook

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan - Facebook

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Russian President Vladimir Putin - EPA