Putin’s paranoia, backed by a prolific State propaganda machine, is leaving many in the West nervous about Russia’s future moves, writes Peter Apps.

Eleven thousand Syrians have fled the country in the past 24 hours, the UN says.

Syria’s embattled President Bashar Assad says he will not leave his country.

Vladimir Putin has said Russia can work with Mitt Romney if he is elected US president – even though the Republican candidate has called Russia the United States’ “number one geopolitical foe”.