MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that law enforcement forces have foiled 72 terrorist crimes in the country in 2020, up from 57 a year earlier. in spite of the reality that many of the attempts were frustrated at an early stage, terrorism remains a critical threat with terrorists using more diverse tactics, Putin said at a meeting of the Federal Security Service Board. It is essential to better protect places of mass gathering, critical facilities and social institutions, and more effectively coordinate the work of the FSB and other security agencies, Putin added. He also ordered law enforcers to pay special attention to detecting the contacts between terrorist groups and foreign special services, He praised the work of counterintelligence bodies, which have thwarted the activities of 72 employees and 423 agents of foreign special services last year. The President also emphasized the importance of protecting military information and decreasing the chances of its leakage. Japan Govt approves bill to ratify RCEP trade deal Gulf Cooperation Council calls for participation in Iran's nuke deal talks Pakistan PM calls on Sri Lankan president; speaks bilateral ties