Smiling Putin re-emerges to quash health rumours

Russian president Vladimir Putin resurfaced, smiling and looking his normal self after a 10-day absence from public view that fuelled a wave of rumours about his health.

Kyrgyz president Almazbek Atambayev, who met Putin, 62, in St Petersburg’s ornate Konstantin Palace, referred to the swirling speculation about Putin by noting that the Russian leader was in good shape. He said Putin drove him around the palace’s park before the talks, adding that “the president of Russia not only walks, but speeds around.”

“It would be dull without gossip,” Putin retorted with a smile.