[ti:Kerry Has 'Frank' Talks With Putin, Lavrov] [ar:] [al:In The News] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said he had "frank" -- [00:06.01]or direct -- discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin [00:11.17]Tuesday in the city of Sochi. [00:13.37]The two leaders discussed Ukraine, Syria and Iran. [00:17.73]Mr. Kerry has not visited Russia since tensions rose [00:22.50]between the two countries over disagreements on Ukraine and Syria. [00:27.33]Mr. Kerry met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier. [00:32.32]Mr. Lavrov later said it was "absolutely necessary" [00:37.17]to avoid steps that could further harm relations between the two countries. [00:42.37]He also said that Tuesday's meeting had helped leaders [00:46.77]in Moscow and Washington better understand each other. [00:51.08]The Philippines and Japan have held their first-ever bilateral naval training. [00:58.31]Both countries are in a maritime territory dispute with China. [01:03.02]The day-long exercises Tuesday in the South China Sea [01:08.02]reportedly involved two Japanese destroyers and a Philippine Navy warship. [01:14.52]Philippines officials said the training [01:17.41]was not meant to send a message to China [01:20.42]but to improve military abilities. [01:23.45]However, a Chinese foreign ministry official said [01:27.23]her country remained concerned about the drills. [01:31.50]She also accused the Philippines [01:33.76]of repeatedly violating international laws and inciting tensions. [01:39.80]A five-day cease-fire began Tuesday [01:43.62]between a coalition of Arab countries and Houthi rebels in Yemen. [01:48.88]Hours earlier, the new UN envoy to Yemen arrived in the country. [01:54.12]Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed will seek to move Yemen's warring groups toward peace. [02:01.23]The cease-fire is designed to permit humanitarian aid [02:05.62]to reach civilians inside the country. [02:08.60]Many are in need following the more than six weeks [02:12.72]of ground battles and Saudi-led airstrikes. [02:16.42]Also, on Tuesday, Islamic militant websites [02:21.14]reported the deaths of four leading al-Qaida members in Yemen. [02:26.20]The report says a suspected U.S. drone strike Monday killed the men. [02:32.41]Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif arrived in Kabul Tuesday, [02:39.90]along with the Pakistani army chief, General Raheel Sharif. [02:44.71]Mr. Sharif condemned the Afghan's Taliban's spring offensive. [02:49.95]He warned that the Pakistani government will consider continuation [02:55.13]of the attacks as "terrorist acts." [02:58.09]He promised to take shared action with Afghanistan [03:01.96]against militant hideouts along the countries' border. [03:05.95]Mr. Sharif's comments were considered his strongest ever [03:10.47]in support of peace in Afghanistan. [03:12.99]¸ü¶àÌýÁ¦Çë·ÃÎÊ51voa.com