Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has dissolved the lower house of parliament, paving the way for a snap election on October 22.

The Kremlin-controlled Russian parliament has rammed through a harsh bill that raises fines 150-fold for people taking part in unsanctioned rallies, in a move aimed at discouraging the opposition from challenging President Vladimir Putin.

Russian politicians voiced strong support today for the Kremlin's action to shield Syrian president Bashar Assad's regime from international sanctions over its crackdown on an 11-month old uprising.