Obama and Putin huddle in China

(CNN) - Some intrigue today where President Obama and his Russian nemesis Vladimir Putin have three times so far been spotted negotiating on controversial topics, ranging from the bloody civil war in Syria to the terrorist threat posed by ISIS to Russia's continued ambitions to seize territory in Ukraine to Iran's nuclear weapons ambitions.

In fact, while the two world leaders were chatting, Moscow's state-run news agency trumpeted a deal where Russia will construct eight new nuclear reactors in Iran, for the "peaceful use of atomic energy."

The timing of the announcement fits a familiar pattern of agitation, casting more doubt on the November 24th deadline for the still unresolved nuclear negotiations between Iran and the West.

Meanwhile, Putin is stirring up attention of a different sort.

CNN's Senior White House Correspondent Jim Acosta reports live from Beijing for "The Lead"