Putin promises ‘Total Support’ for African countries  Russian President Vladimir Putin, on Sunday, promised Moscow’s “total support” for African countries at a conference held in Sochi, southwestern Russia. The statement was delivered on his behalf by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, addressing various foreign ministers and senior officials from the African continent. “Our country will continue to provide total support to our African friends in different sectors,” Putin stated. The Russian president emphasized potential areas of cooperation, which include sustainable development, combating terrorism and extremism, controlling epidemics, addressing food insecurity, and...