tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82556923175702976772024-03-18T15:18:54.532+05:30Local GlobA Complete Magazine.News Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10499303690546777531noreply@blogger.comBlogger5611125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255692317570297677.post-69571444479713797722024-03-18T11:42:00.003+05:302024-03-18T11:42:35.107+05:30 FACTBOX: History of Crimea’s reunification with Russia<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZ6C9h9ojtTHJAoLxx6MiiIcUaSxdOPwV32QiMRCpA9Bqqj3u4DMbw-mJ3wTjNJPhsmvX75yqb3hRB4Ury8F3HCwuPp9k3a-NwYRAHroDlH9-C0v_S9kvKi-NwowohyZDB0P0xnTdZD0ci49Q7ClxYcjEojsm7rkBIJ38bHJ6p2omZe9UFcNGGwh1BMOV/s850/russia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="850" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZ6C9h9ojtTHJAoLxx6MiiIcUaSxdOPwV32QiMRCpA9Bqqj3u4DMbw-mJ3wTjNJPhsmvX75yqb3hRB4Ury8F3HCwuPp9k3a-NwYRAHroDlH9-C0v_S9kvKi-NwowohyZDB0P0xnTdZD0ci49Q7ClxYcjEojsm7rkBIJ38bHJ6p2omZe9UFcNGGwh1BMOV/s320/russia.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />MOSCOW: March 16, 2024 marks ten years since the Crimean referendum, where the majority of citizens of Crimea and Sevastopol voted in favor of reunification with Russia. A treaty on Crimea’s and Sevastopol’s accession to Russia was signed on March 18, 2014.<p></p><p>The Republic of Crimea is located on the Crimean Peninsula in the south of Eastern Europe and is surrounded by the Black and Azov Seas. Its capital city is Simferopol.</p><p>Crisis of power in Ukraine</p><p>In November 2013, a political crisis began in Ukraine, triggered by Kiev’s refusal to sign an association agreement with the European Union. Supporters of the Euro-integration course demanded the resignation of the president and the government. The tide of unrest that kicked off in Kiev promptly spilled over to other Ukrainian cities and regions. However, authorities of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, where the Russian-speaking population constitutes the majority, refused to support the opposition. On February 4, 2014 the Presidium of the Supreme Council initiated holding a referendum on the peninsula’s status.</p><p><br /></p><p>On February 22, 2014 a government coup propelled to power the supporters of Euromaidan protests. President Viktor Yanukovich was forced to flee the country. The next day, the Ukrainian parliament voted for the cancellation of the law granting Russian the status of a regional language in some regions of the country. Although it did not take effect, the decision sparked mass protests by Russian speakers, first and foremost in the southeast of Ukraine, and also in Crimea.</p><p><br /></p><p>Protests in Crimea</p><p>On February 23, 2014 pro-Russian residents in Crimea, reluctant to recognize the new Ukrainian authorities, started their own open-ended protest in front of the autonomy’s legislature to demand Crimea’s separation from Ukraine. On February 26, the supporters of new Ukrainian authorities and pro-Russian residents demanding secession from Ukraine gathered in the main square of the peninsula’s capital Simferopol. The ensuing unrest upset the operation of the Crimean parliament. Clashes left two dead and more than 30 others injured.</p><p><br /></p><p>The next day, after the parliament building was retaken by the authorities the legislators sacked the old government and appointed Sergey Aksyonov, the leader of the local movement Russian Unity, as Crimea’s new prime minister.</p><p><br /></p><p>Referendum</p><p>Amid continuing unrest in Crimea, the local legislature set a date for holding a referendum on Crimea’s status — May 25 of the same year.</p><p><br /></p><p>On March 1, Aksyonov asked Russian President Vladimir Putin for assistance in maintaining peace and calm in the peninsula. As tensions kept soaring, a decision was made to hold the referendum much earlier, on March 30. On the same day the upper house of Russia’s parliament — the Federation Council — empowered the Russian president to use troops in Ukrainian territory until the social and political situation in that country returned to normal. On March 1 the members of the city legislature in Sevastopol voted for refusal to obey the authorities in Kiev and for supporting Crimea’s referendum on expanding the autonomy’s status.</p><p><br /></p><p>On March 6, 2014 the Crimean parliament asked the Russian president to admit the republic as a constituent territory of the Russian Federation and set March 16 as the referendum date. On the same day the city council of Sevastopol adopted a resolution in favor of participating in the Crimean referendum. The Crimean parliament formed the republic’s own government ministries, and also prosecutor’s office, security service, security department, customs and other agencies independent from the authorities in Kiev.</p><p><br /></p><p>On March 11, the legislatures of Crimea and Sevastopol voted for a declaration on the independence of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and of the city of Sevastopol.</p><p><br /></p><p>The two questions put to the electorate in the referendum were:</p><p><br /></p><p>1. Are you for the reunification of Crimea with Russia as a constituent territory of the Russian Federation?</p><p><br /></p><p>2. Are you for the restoration of Crimea’s Constitution of 1992 and for Crimea’s status as a region of Ukraine?</p><p><br /></p><p>Support from more than 50% of those who cast their ballots was declared enough for the approval of either decision. The ballot papers were printed in three languages — Russian, Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar. In the end, 96.77% of the voters (1.233 million) in Crimea and 95.6% (262,000 in Sevastopol) backed reunification with Russia. In Crimea, the turnout reached 83.1% and in Sevastopol, 89.5%. The referendum was monitored by a group of 50 observers from 21 countries, including Israel, France and Italy. Most of the UN member-states refused to recognize the plebiscite.</p><p><br /></p><p>Declaration of Crimea’s independence</p><p>The next day, March 17, 2014 the Crimean parliament adopted a resolution to declare Crimea a sovereign state. The same resolution contained a call addressed to Russia with a request for admitting Crimea to the Russian Federation as a new constituent territory enjoying the status of a republic. On March 17 the legislatures of Crimea and Sevastopol were given new names. Crimea’s State Council declared Ukrainian assets located in the peninsula as republican property and ruled that no Ukrainian laws adopted after February 21, 2014 were applicable in Crimea. The Sevastopol city council unanimously voted for the city’s accession to Russia as separate member of the federation — a federal city.</p><p><br /></p><p>On March 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to recognize Crimea as a sovereign and independent state.</p><p><br /></p><p>Reunification with Russia</p><p>On March 18, 2014 Russian President Vladimir Putin, Crimea’s Prime Minister Sergey Aksyonov, chairman of Crimea’s State Council Vladimir Konstantinov and Mayor of Sevastopol Aleksey Chaly, put their signatures to the treaty on the accession of the new territorial entities to the Russian Federation. Ukraine, the United States and the European Union refused to recognize Crimea’s independence and its reunification with Russia.</p><p><br /></p><p>On March 21, Putin signed into law an act of ratification of the treaty and the constitutional law on the accession of Crimea and Sevastopol to Russia as members of the federation. On the same day Putin signed a decree to form the Crimean Federal District consisting of the Republic of Crimea and the federal city of Sevastopol (on 28 July, 2016 the Crimean district was abolished and the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol made part of Russia’s Southern Federal District).</p><p><br /></p><p>On April 11, 2014 the Constitution of the Republic of Crimea was adopted. It established Crimea’s three official languages — Russian, Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar.</p><p><br /></p><p>On March 18, the peninsula marks the Day of Crimea’s reunification with Russia.</p><p><br /></p><p>-News Feed</p>News Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10499303690546777531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255692317570297677.post-30006865796702971702024-03-18T11:40:00.002+05:302024-03-18T11:40:25.466+05:30Issue of Crimea’s affiliation resolved forever, says Russia’s top diplomat<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GajyQMslKJcuQt32lHlOjnKGd87ri_Lltk87MInkm34EYTTSdbt7UDirm2wXhTWylTdViQEgiXSa4pTbgfaDrw6zTRJcCC21E-h3I4muzPeZdKumSPdspyOorunbuLwDivAkujwhyphenhyphen3DKVGKNv8JiCJi8dzco2vbKELD0R1ibVzVxWYzL1u_-34woFgx_/s883/crimea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="883" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GajyQMslKJcuQt32lHlOjnKGd87ri_Lltk87MInkm34EYTTSdbt7UDirm2wXhTWylTdViQEgiXSa4pTbgfaDrw6zTRJcCC21E-h3I4muzPeZdKumSPdspyOorunbuLwDivAkujwhyphenhyphen3DKVGKNv8JiCJi8dzco2vbKELD0R1ibVzVxWYzL1u_-34woFgx_/s320/crimea.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />MOSCOW: Crimea and Sevastopol are integral parts of Russia and the issue of their affiliation is closed forever, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in a video address on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the peninsula’s reunification with Russia on Saturday.<p></p><p>"The issue of the affiliation of Crimea and Sevastopol is closed. The peninsula is an integral part of Russia," the top diplomat stressed.</p><p>Crimea has clear-cut prospects of its further development and Russia has resolved many problems inherited from Ukraine, Lavrov pointed out.</p><p>"Over the past years, many problems inherited from Ukraine have been resolved. With clear-cut prospects of their further development, Crimean residents can look into the future with confidence and optimism," he added.</p><p>"Ten years ago, on March 16, 2014, Crimean residents determined their future independently and consciously, having reunited with Russia. I congratulate the peninsula’s residents on the decade of the historic reunification with Russia. I wish them health, well-being, prosperity and all the best," Russia’s top diplomat said.</p><p><br /></p><p>-News Feed</p>News Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10499303690546777531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255692317570297677.post-22565392756446077662024-03-18T11:38:00.002+05:302024-03-18T11:38:46.296+05:30Online voter turnout in presidential election reaches 90%<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_y5x5iUrOsucr-8CdsP0VBmH3ZwWiPP_kJjBoWmvS44ZR86Idba44-l6a0w7IcszkgoCCXBkiRylMO2-QOPTabma2Ct7I167gR0weJfVxq9L4q_ylzRwX5x5KFS7NlcAlfKT0cmbr09KCFkxfgIi-zduT4ELOt_BcOd_Qz3ldA1j_-Iw7NW3pQVvng_CM/s905/online.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="905" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_y5x5iUrOsucr-8CdsP0VBmH3ZwWiPP_kJjBoWmvS44ZR86Idba44-l6a0w7IcszkgoCCXBkiRylMO2-QOPTabma2Ct7I167gR0weJfVxq9L4q_ylzRwX5x5KFS7NlcAlfKT0cmbr09KCFkxfgIi-zduT4ELOt_BcOd_Qz3ldA1j_-Iw7NW3pQVvng_CM/s320/online.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />MOSCOW: Online voter turnout in Russia’s presidential election on the federal platform has reaches 90%, according to the portal on online vote monitoring.<p></p><p>As of 9:27 p.m. Moscow time (6:27 p.m. GMT), as many as 4,268,291 ballots were issued to voters in 28 Russian regions, who had applied for voting online. Thus, voter turnout on the federal platform of electronic voting was 90%</p><p>Residents of Moscow can vote on Moscow’s own platform and were not required to apply for remote voting beforehand.</p><p>The Federation Council, the upper house of Russia’s parliament, officially designated March 17, 2024 as the day of the presidential election. The Central Election Commission (CEC) then announced that voting would take place over three days on March 15-17.</p><p>Four candidates are vying for the top office, namely New People party nominee Vladislav Davankov; self-nominated candidate and incumbent President Vladimir Putin; Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) nominee Leonid Slutsky; and Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) nominee Nikolay Kharitonov.</p><p><br /></p><p>-News Feed</p>News Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10499303690546777531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255692317570297677.post-50734585622430925112024-03-18T11:36:00.000+05:302024-03-18T11:36:21.998+05:30 Europe short of 56 bln euros per year to achieve NATO target defense spending rate<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6-q6Hdm6o_IFTJ43bTle4nK1Y3-Jf4aQiefMJHRaBNtb7cmYI8PpKeDO1IoFWg9Ga8Xx_Z67wpiQnwGdeZo7NWPwsXh3Xul0e9h9r1VFfcm6JvclVSUbNSuiwNJejHjUarmlLKR0rTtZdjEsuoLbHn8LgkJ-HU01RjHcNoQD6_iStTaXIKtWQCG6Nfey/s856/europe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="856" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6-q6Hdm6o_IFTJ43bTle4nK1Y3-Jf4aQiefMJHRaBNtb7cmYI8PpKeDO1IoFWg9Ga8Xx_Z67wpiQnwGdeZo7NWPwsXh3Xul0e9h9r1VFfcm6JvclVSUbNSuiwNJejHjUarmlLKR0rTtZdjEsuoLbHn8LgkJ-HU01RjHcNoQD6_iStTaXIKtWQCG6Nfey/s320/europe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />LONDON: European NATO member states require additional 56 billion euros per year in order to achieve the target defense spending level of 2% of GDP, the Financial times reported, citing the research by the Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich (ifo).<p></p><p>According to the ifo research, many EU countries with the largest shortfall, including Belgium, Spain and Italy, also have some of the highest levels of debt and budget deficit in Europe.</p><p>Germany has the greatest shortage: in 2023, Berlin spent 14 billion euros less on NATO defense than it was necessary to achieve the target figure. The research notes that, in the past decade, Germany has covered half of this gap (adjusted for inflation), and plans to resolve this issue entirely by the end of this year. In terms of shortage, Germany is followed by Spain (11 billion euros), Italy (10.8 billion euros) and Belgium (4.6 billion euros).</p><p>"The countries with high debt levels and high interest rates do not have much space to increase their debt, so the only real way for them is to cut expenses in other areas," economist Marcel Schlepper said, according to ifo. He noted that this is a difficult process and provided the example of Germany, which faced farmer protests over the government’s plans to cut the subsidies and to cancel a number of tax benefits.</p><p><br /></p><p>-News Feed</p>News Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10499303690546777531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255692317570297677.post-71749227590687894422024-03-18T11:34:00.002+05:302024-03-18T11:34:30.924+05:30 FACTBOX: What is known about attempted Ukrainian drone attacks on main election day<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wH_d4nE8EvC-v3UbbRE5evWVNk-hrwPYkVsxjs7G7Cs43IlvDT0fQcKlTeg5tcejMwcOPBRkww7gpVRv_-lbgRwvBo7L4LSkqGLI2gZ2CJzIUIfutVsTyyCCGY-GG5ri__jcd6OYpYvYxUS9fRksJbADJjWSxgwKs8qnJhquze0JxfvABis4_zJodvHw/s851/fact%20box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="851" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wH_d4nE8EvC-v3UbbRE5evWVNk-hrwPYkVsxjs7G7Cs43IlvDT0fQcKlTeg5tcejMwcOPBRkww7gpVRv_-lbgRwvBo7L4LSkqGLI2gZ2CJzIUIfutVsTyyCCGY-GG5ri__jcd6OYpYvYxUS9fRksJbADJjWSxgwKs8qnJhquze0JxfvABis4_zJodvHw/s320/fact%20box.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />MOSCOW, March 17. /TASS/. The Ukrainian armed forces continue their attempts to attack Russian regions during the presidential elections. Several regions of Russia were attacked by drones during the night.<p></p><p>According to the Russian Defense Ministry, drones were downed over Moscow (4), Belgorod (3), Kaluga (2), Oryol (1), Rostov (1), Yaroslavl (4), Kursk (3) and Krasnodar (16) regions.</p><p>Here are the key facts known about these incidents at this point.</p><p>Reports from the regions</p><p>- Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported two drones downed in the Domodedovo city district and one in Ramensky and Stupino city districts each. According to preliminary reports, no injuries or damage was caused.</p><p>- Several drones attacked the Slavyansky oil refinery in the Krasnodar Region, according to the regional anti-crisis center. A fire broke out, but was promptly extinguished.</p><p>- One person died from heart attack in the Krasnodar Region; refinery workers were evacuated.</p><p>- Three drones were downed during attempted attacks on infrastructure facilities in the Kirovsky District of the Kaluga Region, one more was downed on the outskirts of Kaluga. No damage or injuries were caused, Governor Vladislav Shapsha reported.</p><p>- Four drones were downed in the Yaroslavl Region, no damage or injuries were caused, Governor Mikhail Yevrayev said.</p><p>- One drone was downed in the Rostov Region, the consequences are currently being investigated, Governor Vasiliy Golubev said on his Telegram channel.</p><p>Strikes at border regions</p><p>- According to the Belgorod Region Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, the Grayvoron city district was under attack during the night, which left about a dozen settlements without power. Residential buildings and outbuildings were damaged.</p><p>- Later, four Ukrainian drones damaged gas pipelines and power lines in the settlement of Oktyabrsky of the Belgorod District.</p><p>- Russian air defenses downed a S-200 ballistic missile over the Bryansk Region, Governor Alexander Bogomaz reported.</p><p><br /></p><p>-News Feed</p>News Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10499303690546777531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255692317570297677.post-3406397326524023172024-03-18T11:26:00.000+05:302024-03-18T11:26:00.785+05:30 Shoigu orders to add firepower to Russia's Black Sea Fleet for downing enemy drones<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lo9P_CD40Z_0xJuU7ShbGbm5RtCZBi1cipCqoUZ68WAInAXC0WVhLX0AjiP9gl2ewvfo7JY1gU_2MwS-CyDGybJtmfc2_qp_Iwx_UPffW0FKvkG3ZU_lIPklOzZDlxX2Y3efbwnPJZP0ZO4QgJR56gedRzjqt5S2WQQs5lTlPJnO9xzUqYxUUu908e6y/s891/drones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="891" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lo9P_CD40Z_0xJuU7ShbGbm5RtCZBi1cipCqoUZ68WAInAXC0WVhLX0AjiP9gl2ewvfo7JY1gU_2MwS-CyDGybJtmfc2_qp_Iwx_UPffW0FKvkG3ZU_lIPklOzZDlxX2Y3efbwnPJZP0ZO4QgJR56gedRzjqt5S2WQQs5lTlPJnO9xzUqYxUUu908e6y/s320/drones.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />MOSCOW: While inspecting troops of the Southern Military District, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu ordered to install additional firepower on Black Sea Fleet war ships to strike enemy drones, the Russian Defense Ministry said.<p></p><p>"The Russian defense minister ordered additional firepower, including large-caliber machine guns, to hit enemy drones," the ministry said.</p><p>Also, the Russian defense chief gave orders to conduct training, day and night, for the personnel of the Black Sea Fleet to repel air raids and attacks using unmanned motor boats. Shoigu urged efforts to improve the survivability of Black Sea vessels.</p><p><br /></p><p>-News Feed</p>News Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10499303690546777531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255692317570297677.post-67552832705600115042024-03-18T11:24:00.002+05:302024-03-18T11:24:12.827+05:30Voter turnout in presidential election across Russia rises to 65% — CEC<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PrmWgrlt6oNqMg63u0EeXXJATCkRPKa4j-8-vVhPdBMvhkfRXuqSnG0tSA0-czQ4IJHTkpZA1yrN5X_HFnPIcUeV_1qtpGKziJr7Zp9w7FFQWFILEYkS2TkE9khfTX9Yk9QMYPU968I_BHC7ddDP5MVD_qskr-97Iy-Yrp8OmxVyEzlF5sAGJdhfT-Ns/s876/voter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="407" data-original-width="876" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PrmWgrlt6oNqMg63u0EeXXJATCkRPKa4j-8-vVhPdBMvhkfRXuqSnG0tSA0-czQ4IJHTkpZA1yrN5X_HFnPIcUeV_1qtpGKziJr7Zp9w7FFQWFILEYkS2TkE9khfTX9Yk9QMYPU968I_BHC7ddDP5MVD_qskr-97Iy-Yrp8OmxVyEzlF5sAGJdhfT-Ns/s320/voter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />MOSCOW: Nationwide voter turnout in the Russian presidential election stood at 65.05% as of 12:50 p.m. Moscow time (9:50 a.m. GMT - TASS) on Sunday, according to live update from the Russian Central Election Commission.<p></p><p>"[Voter turnout] as the election is going on: 65.05%," data on the information board of the election authority reads.</p><p>The data excludes the number of online voters though.</p><p><br /></p><p>-News Feed</p>News Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10499303690546777531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255692317570297677.post-5031597404819714482024-03-18T11:22:00.002+05:302024-03-18T11:22:20.155+05:30North Korea launches two ballistic missiles — Japanese coast guards<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsFdIJ04pQ2UPxNLkRLfH5mhTW9AiZnbEeVrlMHgch9dhCUxATVLIFBaxDxkObL0PDgEejjxAmHJJ0dxRgxwHJmayVEL9LfTm9kd1kAcpuCVKrTiKYerQCR9yzmeyJptlUyGZE_zs7Qgsk7pse9KX6kL5gniWzR-tZfMx52J_ow2BMYsTeaOI9B8kmZh4/s899/korea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="516" data-original-width="899" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsFdIJ04pQ2UPxNLkRLfH5mhTW9AiZnbEeVrlMHgch9dhCUxATVLIFBaxDxkObL0PDgEejjxAmHJJ0dxRgxwHJmayVEL9LfTm9kd1kAcpuCVKrTiKYerQCR9yzmeyJptlUyGZE_zs7Qgsk7pse9KX6kL5gniWzR-tZfMx52J_ow2BMYsTeaOI9B8kmZh4/s320/korea.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />TOKYO: North Korea launched two missiles, presumed to be ballistic ones, in the early hours of Monday, the Japanese coast guards said.<p></p><p>Both projectiles have already fallen. No information about their type is available at this point. Their flight lasted around five minutes.</p><p>According to the country’s NHK television, the missiles have splashed down outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.</p><p>North Korea’s latest ballistic launch took place on January 14. Back then, the country tested a solid-fuel missile with a hypersonic guided warhead. Subsequently, several cruise missiles were test-fired, including from a submarine.</p><p><br /></p><p>-News feed</p>News Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10499303690546777531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255692317570297677.post-63111577795005207222024-03-18T11:15:00.002+05:302024-03-18T11:15:21.789+05:30 North Korea fired 3 missiles, they flew 350 km — Kyodo<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7l23FFRQn7Y-lH5tIUa7L880mQuieG3ByaoDc_Q73pkGvwE_DWfEo6I9G9-ACwSZIAk4AM2BV9-Ec_V3ibXuCLULL7zcMgaRViGqZ0kY2I71Y5oLBix_VDXnxo0bewdRNhNSLXFDKKcVyyKhnHIbXoKr0FioxKckDuL4OWggjTlim13XOCBbpKIo5rek/s884/north.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="884" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7l23FFRQn7Y-lH5tIUa7L880mQuieG3ByaoDc_Q73pkGvwE_DWfEo6I9G9-ACwSZIAk4AM2BV9-Ec_V3ibXuCLULL7zcMgaRViGqZ0kY2I71Y5oLBix_VDXnxo0bewdRNhNSLXFDKKcVyyKhnHIbXoKr0FioxKckDuL4OWggjTlim13XOCBbpKIo5rek/s320/north.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />TOKYO: According to verified information, North Korea launched three ballistic missiles in the early hours of Monday, the Kyodo news agency reported citing the defense ministry of Japan.<p></p><p>The missiles covered the distance of 350 kilometers, at the altitude of up to 50 km.</p><p>They splashed down not far from the eastern coast of the Korean peninsula, the ministry said.</p><p><br /></p><p>-News Feed</p>News Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10499303690546777531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255692317570297677.post-52982591966654450242024-03-18T11:12:00.007+05:302024-03-18T11:12:56.337+05:30 By 7:00 a.m. Moscow time Putin leads Russian presidential vote with 87.32%<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-q8QXDRBmesOpZnGNYOCLTZC-h5ulJINMokRMTtd5bqtz5eHtUeU8EllMRQ1K7i6PKrWSub2wejM8aF8DJfh7UHwf63sPkzP1P6OVgl2Z2lmgSPcs_cwVM65dTeAfYMmmSlP7LS-dfk5QmySRLsS0HCcoxXSWU1FZTo0bJmbDyxSSwp8tT-QcF41JNF0-/s879/putin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="879" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-q8QXDRBmesOpZnGNYOCLTZC-h5ulJINMokRMTtd5bqtz5eHtUeU8EllMRQ1K7i6PKrWSub2wejM8aF8DJfh7UHwf63sPkzP1P6OVgl2Z2lmgSPcs_cwVM65dTeAfYMmmSlP7LS-dfk5QmySRLsS0HCcoxXSWU1FZTo0bJmbDyxSSwp8tT-QcF41JNF0-/s320/putin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />MOSCOW: With 99.43% of ballots counted as of 7:00 a.m. Moscow time (4:00 a.m. GMT), Russian presidential race frontrunner and incumbent President Vladimir Putin leads the 2024 presidential race with 87.32% of the vote, according to information published on the Russian Central Election Commission’s official website.<p></p><p>Communist Party candidate Nikolay Kharitonov is the runner-up with 4.32%, followed by the New People party candidate Vladislav Davankov with 3.79%. LDPR candidate Leonid Slutsky is fourth, garnering 3.19%.</p><p><br /></p><p>-News Feed</p>News Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10499303690546777531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255692317570297677.post-6287950295898998612024-03-18T11:10:00.002+05:302024-03-18T11:10:39.764+05:30 IN BRIEF: Olympic truce, Navalny and buffer zone: what Putin told reporters after polls<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1cSE6EVBBSutaCEDgpR_yrHzrf8NHVLC0SoPrJbg0mngReXftE5zl305hB9RQX1zPVnfOb2QJC6_DXmBH1UtYc1WFjqawVHxZI1D8zz1MqMYIIvXrIAXL0rQJvyaGXKw2OaPKO-Z1TbnaHXq8PvYkgry5CgMzilXUJvC4kvIkzrBhiEvCjHfHfiZCMssI/s879/putin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="879" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1cSE6EVBBSutaCEDgpR_yrHzrf8NHVLC0SoPrJbg0mngReXftE5zl305hB9RQX1zPVnfOb2QJC6_DXmBH1UtYc1WFjqawVHxZI1D8zz1MqMYIIvXrIAXL0rQJvyaGXKw2OaPKO-Z1TbnaHXq8PvYkgry5CgMzilXUJvC4kvIkzrBhiEvCjHfHfiZCMssI/s320/putin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />MOSCOW: Russia may consider a proposal about Olympic truce in Ukraine, but does not plan to launch negotiations simply because the enemy is trying to buy time amid ammunition shortages, Russian presidential race frontrunner and incumbent President Vladimir Putin said.<p></p><p>During a media stakeout at his campaign headquarters, Putin also spoke about the possibility of creating a buffer zone in Ukraine amid Kiev troops attacks on borderline Russian regions, and outlined priorities for his next presidential term. The Russian leader confirmed he was ready to swap blogger Alexey Navalny and described the current situation in the United States as a ‘disaster, not democracy.’</p><p>TASS gathered Putin’s main remarks to the press, delivered at his campaign headquarters.</p><p>Attacks on border regions</p><p>Kiev amassed "around 5,000 troops" in the border area. The so-called Russian Volunteer Corps (designated as a terrorist group in Russia) and similar organizations comprise around 2,500 people. During latest attacks these ‘so-called volunteers’ lost approximately 800 people.</p><p>In Putin’s opinion, heavy losses sustained by the enemy during cross-border attacks play in the hands of Russia: "Well, if they want to have it that way, we have nothing against it <…>. This plays in our hands to a certain extent. Let them have a good try. It means that there will be less personnel taking part in hostilities in other areas."</p><p>Due to ongoing cross-border attacks in the Belgrod Region, Russia may be forced to create "a buffer zone of some sort," which will be "fairly hard to cross." However, its possible width is unknown and "it is a separate question."</p><p>Situation in special operation zone</p><p>The Russian military is advancing day by day, and its strategy currently implies "something more than just active defense." "Progress is made every day. They are moving gradually and cautiously, but they advance every day," he said.</p><p>"In general, the Russian armed forces have taken the initiative completely. At some areas, our troops are literally shredding the enemy into pieces."</p><p>Government and its future personnel</p><p>Personnel matters in the Russian government will be resolved without haste. "The question is to determine who should be appointed to which post to achieve maximum efficiency as a team."</p><p>Russia’s future governmental structures should me made up of people currently taking part in the special operation in Ukraine, who "are not sparing themselves, who are fighting to defend the interests of their motherland, sustaining losses and suffering from wounds."</p><p>About Navalny</p><p>"As far as Mr. Navalny is concerned: well, he passed away, and this always is a sad occurrence."</p><p>"A few days before Mr. Navalny passed away, some of my colleagues - not members of the administration, but certain people - voiced the idea of swapping Mr. Navalny to some individuals held in prisons in Western countries," Putin said. "Believe it or not, I said ‘I agree’ even before the man, who was talking to me, finished his phrase."</p><p>Macron’s proposal</p><p>Putin said he had no information about French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to declare an Olympic truce during the games in Paris.</p><p>"We are ready to consider all proposals, but always, under all circumstances, we will be guided by national interests and the situation on the battlefield."</p><p>"I’ve said it before and I will say it again that we favor peace talks, but they should not be organized simply because our adversary is running out of ammo." The question on who will be Russia’s partner in the eventual reconciliation talks with Ukraine remains open.</p><p>Election incidents</p><p>Voting incidents, such as attempts to spoil ballots, are "undemocratic at the very least."</p><p>"When you don’t want to vote <…> because you don’t support any of the candidates - it is one thing. But when you want to create problems for people who came to exercise their electoral rights, when you show no respect for their choice - it is quite a different matter."</p><p>However, the opposition deserves a pat on the back for their calls to come to polling stations at noon: "If the opposition thought that everyone should come and vote, no matter who they support, this is good." "As far as I know, there was no particular effect."</p><p>Elections in US</p><p>Voting in Russia is democratic, in contrast with the electoral process in the United States, where administrative resources are used for attacking one of the candidates. "A disaster, but not democracy - that's what it is."</p><p>The US practice of vote by mail creates an opportunity for vote rigging. "We have no preferences with regard to any presidential candidate in the United States. We will work with those who win the trust of US voters."</p><p><br /></p><p>Relations with West</p><p>West’s reaction to the Russian presidential election is no surprise: "What did you expect from them, a standing ovation? They are fighting against us, fighting militarily."</p><p>As "a new generation of specialists" with a "more realistic view on current events" are replacing the old ones, West will act against Russia "in a more sophisticated way." However, its ultimate goals will remain unchanged.</p><p>A full-scale conflict between Russia and NATO cannot be ruled out. "I think that everything is possible in the modern world. But I’m saying - and this is obvious to everyone - that, in this case, we will find ourselves just one step away from a full-scale World War Three. I think that hardly anyone is interested in having it."</p><p>New term’s priorities</p><p>"First of all, we need to fulfill the objectives of the special military operation, to strengthen our defense capabilities and our armed forces."</p><p>"All main goals for the country’s development were outlined quite recently in the address to the Federal Assembly. And, having the trust of the people of Russia, our aim is to do our best to finish all the tasks and achieve all the goals that were set."</p><p>"I dreamed about a strong, independent, sovereign Russia. And I hope that election results will allow us to meet all these goals together with the people of Russia.".</p><p><br /></p><p>-News Feed</p>News Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10499303690546777531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255692317570297677.post-85732694811000096772024-03-16T11:56:00.003+05:302024-03-16T11:56:31.285+05:30 About 200,000 Muscovites vote online last night in Russia’s presidential election<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX86lUsDuRzwqEO3wTgUC7tJqEyGYW7qTc0w-gl0nIHppt8YCg-QIKkSXIxvCPBFSC4Ko17g1A3CkghvcciB_pecCrili0t81GOksO9d9DPX56tyaxGGOmBRJyJRyV_YolssEJWZ7HT1zjfLZM68MVzJy8ZYb_ZYdtEShZhnKxTFWAWS_9MI4L2ZYBwDcv/s893/federation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="893" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX86lUsDuRzwqEO3wTgUC7tJqEyGYW7qTc0w-gl0nIHppt8YCg-QIKkSXIxvCPBFSC4Ko17g1A3CkghvcciB_pecCrili0t81GOksO9d9DPX56tyaxGGOmBRJyJRyV_YolssEJWZ7HT1zjfLZM68MVzJy8ZYb_ZYdtEShZhnKxTFWAWS_9MI4L2ZYBwDcv/s320/federation.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />MOSCOW: About 200,000 Muscovites cast their votes online over the past 12 hours in Russia’s presidential election, with no violations registered during the vote, Head of the Moscow Public Center for Election Monitoring Vadim Kovalyov said on Saturday.<p></p><p>"No breaches were registered at polling stations last night. About 200,000 people voted online over the night: from 8:00 p.m. Moscow time [5:00 p.m. GMT] [to 8:00 a.m. Moscow time] [5:00 a.m. GMT]," he said.</p><p>The Federation Council, the upper house of Russia’s parliament, officially designated March 17, 2024 as the day of the presidential election. The Central Election Commission (CEC) then announced that voting would take place over three days on March 15-17.</p><p>Four candidates are vying for the top office, namely New People party nominee Vladislav Davankov; self-nominated candidate and incumbent President Vladimir Putin; Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) nominee Leonid Slutsky; and Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) nominee Nikolay Kharitonov.</p><p><br /></p><p>-News Feed</p>News Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10499303690546777531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255692317570297677.post-41629110952907491652024-03-16T11:46:00.000+05:302024-03-16T11:46:00.106+05:30Lavrov casts ballot in Russian presidential vote<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VsHR7lOGRSEcFauPbXW4w607pq4yNdkwWShCQwE2Gpd71TSOwKdrdTtGvo6gOKrgLSK8NdoV0HXH02VFUFEYgQKXo3SNhQ57akSH1s9hZ-UXt7RZuXBhYATfsfY9qa2N1KFdyQgW2tEEprRN3ALzF_JrSNgP4iy4kp2EjYoCqgCoriRHN1MKJGrx5BsM/s895/lavrov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="895" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VsHR7lOGRSEcFauPbXW4w607pq4yNdkwWShCQwE2Gpd71TSOwKdrdTtGvo6gOKrgLSK8NdoV0HXH02VFUFEYgQKXo3SNhQ57akSH1s9hZ-UXt7RZuXBhYATfsfY9qa2N1KFdyQgW2tEEprRN3ALzF_JrSNgP4iy4kp2EjYoCqgCoriRHN1MKJGrx5BsM/s320/lavrov.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has cast his ballot in Moscow in the presidential vote, a TASS correspondent reports.<p></p><p>The minister traditionally voted at the polling station No.73 in school No.1520 in Maly Kislovsky Lane.</p><p>The Russian Federation Council, or upper house of parliament, officially designated March 17, 2024 as the day of the presidential election. The Russian Central Election Commission (CEC) then announced that voting will take place over three days on March 15-17. Four candidates will vie for the top office, namely New People party nominee Vladislav Davankov; self-nominated candidate and incumbent President Vladimir Putin; Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) nominee Leonid Slutsky; and Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) nominee Nikolay Kharitonov.</p><p><br /></p><p>-News Feed</p>News Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10499303690546777531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255692317570297677.post-34960061550931090972024-03-16T11:43:00.002+05:302024-03-16T11:43:37.658+05:30 Russia supports UN role, rejects US rules on world platforms — senior diplomat<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsipJoUeeqrGx5bRoUYHYsSGkL2WAcAqRiBHFRBfGHdzrnLMGqi4w3i7T5RifgYdJG7s98YEhC64GG6p9oYDIp7nKL_pnGUt0qL8xZ3sMkr_Q3_sT4LO_4H2OxDK2YqDcbt8KDGAAZotCO3NrPR43i0_b1VCCzmQSW2EmjCT-N-vC2zFDj-tb8eND9Z7Bw/s874/diplomat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="874" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsipJoUeeqrGx5bRoUYHYsSGkL2WAcAqRiBHFRBfGHdzrnLMGqi4w3i7T5RifgYdJG7s98YEhC64GG6p9oYDIp7nKL_pnGUt0qL8xZ3sMkr_Q3_sT4LO_4H2OxDK2YqDcbt8KDGAAZotCO3NrPR43i0_b1VCCzmQSW2EmjCT-N-vC2zFDj-tb8eND9Z7Bw/s320/diplomat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />VIENNA: Russia pays great attention to activities on international platforms provided the UN retains its central role, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin told Russian media on the sidelines of the 67th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs.<p></p><p>"At this meeting of the commission at the high-level segment of the 67th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs we are represented by an inter-ministerial delegation. This confirms that we are seriously minded about activities on this track. We are adamant that it is necessary and possible to work on international platforms, provided that the UN retains the central role with its principles, which are enshrined in the UN Charter and which, of course, have nothing to do with the ‘rules’ that the Western countries, primarily the United States and their satellites, are trying to impose on us, that is, by the rules that they themselves establish and that they themselves change arbitrarily," Vershinin said.</p><p>He remarked that the current high-level segment "does not contain breakthrough solutions," but it is very important to properly consolidate the understanding of the international community's actions in the fight against drugs.</p><p>"This is a viable and important platform, and we seek to create a common front and harmonize efforts. This platform is not simple for us, but it is crucial. I draw attention to the fact that the number of like-minded countries, that is, countries that think, want and move roughly in the same direction that we want to move in, is increasing. Today, there are over 40 countries that share our views. This is good, we will continue to work on it, persuading everyone of the need to work in this way," Vershinin said.</p><p>He also stated that a "group of like-minded associates" is preparing a final document in the form of a statement by several dozen countries "on cardinal issues related to the fight against drugs."</p><p><br /></p><p>-News Feed</p>News Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10499303690546777531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255692317570297677.post-47466155282076711442024-03-16T11:39:00.001+05:302024-03-16T11:39:18.830+05:30 Press review: Russia votes for president and EU three nix iced Russian funds for Kiev arms<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNGnuhymjp_pkCxHuNoA8rY0QLf0PGKheg_289lrPGfEIfsuixiX1SE8F_SiZbUAKowsd6prrNGFnWdaMEhxJ9ozx-jy45IFfBaCZd2bRcKnnzaSmSPafbjvO9F-vPGgPl0BUFHv9zCzKQkFfA2UIePy2dhOLx22HAIuTJAkEaaQD2Yl3HvIIz_iGs9LG/s881/press%20review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="881" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNGnuhymjp_pkCxHuNoA8rY0QLf0PGKheg_289lrPGfEIfsuixiX1SE8F_SiZbUAKowsd6prrNGFnWdaMEhxJ9ozx-jy45IFfBaCZd2bRcKnnzaSmSPafbjvO9F-vPGgPl0BUFHv9zCzKQkFfA2UIePy2dhOLx22HAIuTJAkEaaQD2Yl3HvIIz_iGs9LG/s320/press%20review.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />MOSCOW: Russia kicks off three-day voting period for presidential election; three EU member states come out against using investment returns on frozen Russian assets to buy weapons for Kiev; and the US is attempting to reach out to the Houthis via Iran. These stories topped Friday’s newspaper headlines across Russia.<p></p><p>Izvestia: Presidential election kicks off across Russia with three-day voting period</p><p>Russia’s presidential election - the country’s biggest political event of the year - has kicked off with the start of voting on March 15, the first of three voting days. Polling stations will be open across the country’s 89 regions and 11 time zones and voters will have three days to cast their ballots to choose among four candidates to serve as Russia’s head of state for the next six years. This election campaign is being closely followed by Russians as well as observers from around the world. Russia’s Central Election Commission (CEC) is geared up to ward off the significant cyberattacks that are expected on voting systems as well as various manifestations of fake news and disinformation aimed at interfering with and discrediting the country's electoral procedures, Izvestia writes. However, CEC officials have issued assurances that the system is fully prepared and well protected.</p><p>As usual, poll watchers will be out in force, with over 156,000 people present at 94,000 polling stations nationwide to help ensure that voting proceeds fairly, transparently and smoothly. At the same time, observers from over 100 countries will be monitoring the process, the CEC told Izvestia.</p><p>Russian voters will be choosing from among four candidates: State Duma (lower house of parliament) Deputy Speaker Vladislav Davankov, nominee of the New People party; incumbent President Vladimir Putin, who is running as a self-nominated candidate; Leonid Slutsky, nominee of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR); and Nikolay Kharitonov, nominee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF). This is the first large-scale election in which Russian voters will be able to make their democratic choice over several days, from March 15 to 17, in any format that suits them: at designated polling stations, at home, and online in one-third (29) of all Russian regions.</p><p>As of the beginning of 2024, the country had 112.3 mln registered voters, including in the new regions: the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), Lugansk People's Republic (LPR), Zaporozhye Region and Kherson Region. At the same time, more than 2.3 mln citizens, mostly people living in remote areas, particularly in the Far North, Far East and Siberia, have already had the opportunity to vote through the early voting process.</p><p>Moreover, even before the election, since the beginning of the presidential campaign, 12 mln external hacking attacks on the CEC’s website have been recorded, compared to 1.2 mln last year.</p><p>In light of this, the CEC has made every effort to firmly protect all electoral processes from any possible interference, experts told Izvestia.</p><p>"Our work was dictated precisely by being prepared for such circumstances, such risks were included in the work plans, which we fully understood. We see this as an attack on Russian democracy because it involves the direct participation of [outside] intelligence services," Maxim Grigoriev, head of the Russian Civic Chamber's working group on public control of elections, told Izvestia.</p><p>The international community is also paying close attention to Russia's election campaign. The Central Election Commission told Izvestia that observers from over 100 nations have been accredited this year. In addition, the observer mission of the Commonwealth of Independent States sent about 200 people to 28 Russian regions. Through the Federal Assembly, the Russian parliament, delegations from 36 countries are participating as foreign observers of Russia’s presidential election.</p><p>Vedomosti: Three EU members oppose spending returns on frozen Russian assets on Kiev arms</p><p>Representatives of EU member states Hungary, Luxembourg and Malta expressed doubts during a meeting of EU ambassadors on March 13 about the proposal by European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen to use interest earned on Russian assets frozen in the EU to buy ammunition for Ukraine, Politico reports, citing an unnamed European official. According to critics of the initiative, it complicates further discussion of the issue of the use of frozen Russian assets and investment returns from them. At the same time, it was previously agreed within the EU that the funds should be used specifically for the restoration of Ukraine, Vedomosti writes.</p><p>There is still no legal basis for the confiscation of such frozen Russian assets, but since the end of last year laws have taken effect in the European Union on the use of income earned from them, Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) Director Ivan Timofeev told Vedomosti.</p><p>These revenues could be transferred to Ukraine, but in practice this has not happened yet. According to the expert, if decisions on the use of the revenues are made, they will be enshrined in law, and the banks and other financial institutions where these assets are being held will have to comply with them.</p><p>Most foreign policy decisions in the EU are made unanimously. Therefore, at the current stage, the prospect for transferring or using income from Russian assets to purchase weapons and ammunition for Ukraine seems doubtful. However, Artyom Sokolov, a researcher at the Center for European Studies at the Institute of International Relations at Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University), noted that if such a decision has a critical mass of supporters within the EU and gains the backing of the United States, it will eventually be accepted. "The relations of Malta, Luxembourg and even Hungary with Russia depend on the general orientation of relations between the EU and Moscow," the analyst stressed. According to him, even Hungary's desire for a constructive approach to relations with Russia has its limits.</p><p>The reluctance of these countries to use revenues from Russian assets in this way can be explained by the fear of the reciprocal measures that Russia might take in response to the European Union's actions. "Such reciprocal measures will hit those who had active trade and economic relations with Russia especially hard. At the same time, there are still forces in the EU that are prone to escalation and believe that any Russian retaliation can be dealt with and overcome," Sokolov concluded.</p><p>Kommersant: US tries to reach out to Yemen-based Houthis through Iran</p><p>The United States is trying to influence Yemen's Houthis not only militarily, but also diplomatically. According to the Financial Times (FT), Washington held secret talks with Iran in January to persuade the Islamic Republic to influence the Yemeni rebels to stop attacking ships in the Red Sea. Iran did not deny that the meeting took place, but noted that it was about something else entirely. Iranian authorities insist that resistance groups in the region do not receive instructions from Tehran, but the facts suggest that Iran still has considerable influence over its proxy forces, Kommersant writes.</p><p>Washington, according to the FT, has asked Tehran to use its influence with the Yemeni rebels to restore the safety of navigation in Red Sea shipping lanes. Since last October, the Houthis have carried out more than 100 attacks in the Red Sea and surrounding waters. They have targeted 15 merchant ships, including four US vessels.</p><p>An unnamed US diplomat told the FT that Washington considers Tehran to be the principal architect of the current instability in the region. The war in Gaza has led to the activation of all pro-Iranian militias. Since October, Lebanon-based Hezbollah has been shelling northern Israel, and US military bases in Iraq and Syria have been attacked by forces of the Islamic Resistance of Iraq, which are linked to Iran.</p><p>Ali Alfon, senior researcher at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, told Kommersant, Tehran is not interested in changing the current position of the US towards Iran. At the same time, he said, contacts on this issue can be considered a form of leverage that allows Iran to negotiate on other issues. One of the concessions could be the unfreezing of Iranian funds held in accounts in South Korea. Last September, Tehran and Washington agreed on a prisoner swap and the release of Iranian assets. The funds were transferred to an account in Qatar, but were not ultimately transferred to Iran due to the outbreak of the war in Gaza.</p><p><br /></p><p>Izvestia: NATO may agree to Chinese mediation in Ukrainian crisis</p><p>NATO may agree to a mediation role for China in the Ukrainian crisis, but only if Washington gives it the green light, Chinese and German political scientists told Izvestia. This scenario will come to fruition if the United States wants to quietly withdraw from the conflict and the European members of the alliance would automatically agree, the newspaper writes.</p><p>Chinese officials have engaged in shuttle diplomacy with the immediate parties to the conflict, as well as with individual NATO countries. The latest tour by Chinese Special Representative for Eurasian Affairs Li Hui began with a visit to Russia on March 2. Li then visited Belgium, Poland, Ukraine, Germany and France.</p><p>Li Xin, director of the Center for Russian and Central Asian Studies at the Shanghai Academy of International Studies and board member of the SCO National Research Center, told Izvestia that China has always sought peace and promoted negotiations. According to the expert, if Russia, Ukraine, the European countries and NATO believe that China is capable of acting as a mediator in general, Beijing is ready to serve as such a mediator. The key question is whether NATO is actually ready for a ceasefire in Ukraine, because it has been hoping all along to use this protracted confrontation to weaken Russia, he added.</p><p>"Western countries not only rejected the Chinese peace plan, they did not even want to discuss it. That is, they clearly showed China its place, since they do not consider it an independent party to the conflict," Alexey Fenenko, political scientist and associate professor in the Department of International Security at the Faculty of World Politics of Moscow State University, told Izvestia.</p><p>German political scientist Eike Hamer told the newspaper he believes that China could be the best mediator, because it is strong and has enough power to use its leverage in the negotiating process. However, he added that there is a problem with the US position because it is already developing its own conflict with China.</p><p>According to Hamer, Hungary could act as a mediator, but Budapest has its own differences with Kiev. Despite the fact that Turkey had come close to succeeding in its efforts, its reputation as a mediator has deteriorated due to the fact that Ankara has repeatedly violated agreements with Moscow. The Arab countries, according to the political scientist, are too pro-American, and their relations with Russia are still too weak.</p><p>Vedomosti: Armenian prime minister speaks in favor of deepening relations with EU</p><p>The Armenian government has the will and determination to deepen relations with the European Union (EU), Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on March 14 at a government meeting, commenting on the European Parliament's resolution adopted the day before on strengthening the organization's ties with Yerevan. The resolution, which proposes to study the possibility of granting Armenia candidate status for EU membership, was approved by 504 deputies, with four against and 32 abstaining. The document mentions that Russia still has a strong influence on the Armenian economy, Vedomosti writes.</p><p>Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) generally remain Yerevan's largest trading partners. In 2023, Armenia's trade turnover with the EAEU increased by 42.7% to $7.6 bln, according to data from the country's statistics authority. Russia's share was 90% with $7.3 bln (an increase of 43.3%), including $3.4 bln in imports from Armenia (+39%).</p><p>According to candidate of legal sciences Alexey Ispolinov, the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is currently in force between Armenia and the EU. So far, the CEPA does not prevent Yerevan from remaining in the EAEU, and the organization has no ban on cooperation with other interstate associations. "But if Armenia concludes an association agreement and then receives EU candidate status, it will have to reconsider its relations with the EAEU," the expert noted.</p><p>Sooner or later, Yerevan will have to make a choice, Ispolinov continues, even though Armenia is still far from European integration. In his opinion, the association agreement with the EU will not become a critical point for breaking relations with the EAEU. "But Russia and its partners in the association will not stand idly by, because it would mean Armenia violating its agreement obligations," he added.</p><p>Stanislav Pritchin, researcher at the Center for Post-Soviet Studies at IMEMO RAS, told Vedomosti he believes that Yerevan will not be able to become a full member of the EU in the short or long term. According to him, the obstacle to the country's entry into the EU is not the presence of Russian troops on its territory, as the Western media say, but the geographical isolation of Armenia from Europe and its economic backwardness.</p><p>France is lobbying for Armenia's integration into the EU, Pavel Timofeev, head of the regional problems and conflicts sector at IMEMO RAS, noted. For Paris, this shows its own importance in confronting Russia in the Ukrainian conflict, and spites Turkey, whose membership in the EU the French have been blocking for decades, and attracts the attention of the significant Armenian diaspora in France.</p><p>TASS is not responsible for the material quoted in these press reviews</p><p><br /></p><p>-News Feed</p>News Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10499303690546777531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255692317570297677.post-62657943083501474312024-03-16T11:34:00.000+05:302024-03-16T11:34:03.951+05:30Majority of Russians identify as Orthodox Christians, far fewer fast for Lent, poll shows<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBsZwLCUwIgXyqVah5Vq6pv9ecrAdu6Q7X5fIXEXXsaEwMewR-gnNFzV1kjTucEM9AunMaLiegos9Db4BPjNvRdHRN8NCBOvkxllZPhQBUKkbBpqs2umMWXL3YZid0Jf926eU3iDBaIG7SlrxDP7IbYrfdzRTsXRy_bLgCbtvFQiBmtnpgAPfkdqrxH_i/s867/orthodox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="867" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBsZwLCUwIgXyqVah5Vq6pv9ecrAdu6Q7X5fIXEXXsaEwMewR-gnNFzV1kjTucEM9AunMaLiegos9Db4BPjNvRdHRN8NCBOvkxllZPhQBUKkbBpqs2umMWXL3YZid0Jf926eU3iDBaIG7SlrxDP7IbYrfdzRTsXRy_bLgCbtvFQiBmtnpgAPfkdqrxH_i/s320/orthodox.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />MOSCOW: The majority of Russians surveyed (66%) identify as Orthodox Christians, according to a new poll conducted by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM).<p></p><p>"Orthodox Christianity is the most widespread confession in Russia, and the majority of citizens call themselves Orthodox, representing a figure of 66% (down by 9 percentage points [p.p.] compared to 2017)," VCIOM said in a press release on the poll findings.</p><p>According to VCIOM, four in ten Orthodox Russians (42%) observe fasting, which is almost twice as many than in 2022 (24%). Over one-half of Russians polled do not usually observe fasting (56%, down 18 p.p. versus 2022). Only 15% of Russians were able to remember the date when observance of Great Lent begins: March 18. Another 27% said that they knew the date, but could not remember it. About 22% of respondents found it difficult to answer the question.</p><p>As many as 18% of respondents intend to observe the Great Lenten Fast (13% in both 2019 and 2021), while 52% do not plan to fast this year.</p><p>According to the survey, Russians exercise personal restraint and limit their consumption of certain items during the Great Lenten Fast. As many as 21% abstain from alcohol, while 12% give up smoking for this period of time. About 18% forswear using swear words, 14% do not eat fatty foods, and 13% give up animal-based foods. Another 9% give up fun activities and 5% lay off sexual activity.</p><p>Meanwhile, some respondents stressed that they focus more on spiritual issues during Lent and rid themselves of negative thoughts (18%), give to charity (17%), attend religious services (10%), make confessions (10%) and receive Communion (8%).</p><p>The Russia-wide VCIOM-Sputnik telephone survey was conducted on March 9, 2024. The poll surveyed 1,600 Russians over the age of 18. The margin of error at a 95% probability rate does not exceed 2.5%.</p><p><br /></p><p>-News Feed</p>News Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10499303690546777531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255692317570297677.post-79775740619692869262024-03-16T11:32:00.000+05:302024-03-16T11:32:08.740+05:30 Seoul impresarios bow to Kiev demands to cancel ballet starring prima ballerina Zakharova<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLfMh4AGDLxz42GroTKFt2r4RlX0geGsMynlOAMGbdgKcEgCclVb9VS4shkedXy02nrg4EaTsVQCyf29T6cLjnvZ1WrzJcxderao5ujqqlUnCLkkw63EER1uw8x9948WLwUVRHl7_kVkQaghnBIS21p3a__mBa7KSYJp1C5-5IL4HmLYZEp9OwNp9G_ad/s869/bow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="869" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLfMh4AGDLxz42GroTKFt2r4RlX0geGsMynlOAMGbdgKcEgCclVb9VS4shkedXy02nrg4EaTsVQCyf29T6cLjnvZ1WrzJcxderao5ujqqlUnCLkkw63EER1uw8x9948WLwUVRHl7_kVkQaghnBIS21p3a__mBa7KSYJp1C5-5IL4HmLYZEp9OwNp9G_ad/s320/bow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />SEOUL: A production of the ballet Modanse starring Bolshoi Theater prima ballerina Svetlana Zakharova, which had been scheduled to play at a Seoul venue in April, has been canceled, the event organizers reported.<p></p><p>"We inform you that the production of Modanse, which was scheduled to take place in the Republic of Korea on April 17-21, has been canceled, taking into account the safety of the audience and artists. We sincerely apologize to all those who were looking forward to this event, and ask for understanding," a message on the website of the Seoul Art Center, where the performance was to have taken place, reports. The organizers promised to refund the holders of all purchased tickets.</p><p>A similar statement was issued by InArts Production, which had organized the tour. The firm said it had to cancel the performance for security reasons, despite having started "planning this event even before the pandemic."</p><p>On March 5, the Ukrainian Embassy in the Republic of Korea "with all respect for the pluralism of opinions" demanded the cancellation of "cultural cooperation" with Russia and Russian cultural figures. EU representatives joined Ukraine's demands.</p><p>The Russian Embassy in Seoul called attempts by Ukrainian and European diplomats to disrupt the performance featuring Svetlana Zakharova, prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Theater, unexpectedly tactless. The South Korean Foreign Ministry said that private organizations were sponsoring the tour.</p><p>The Modanse program, in which fashion and dance are intertwined, portrays the life of Coco Chanel and was created in collaboration with a well-known French brand.</p><p><br /></p><p>-News Feed</p>News Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10499303690546777531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255692317570297677.post-80888384035988562442024-03-16T11:30:00.000+05:302024-03-16T11:30:05.020+05:30Russian embassy slams Kiev's ‘obscurantist’ bid to cancel ballerina Zakharova's Seoul tour<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8sMG_Znp8jLdpawuybDP59ywbtKZ9rcVhNfBOb2j9UNzy3nOgZs34fwyhl1_lhDhoSEL4h5n7xUNzhoNo0JrA9nB8cevrC9K5v35mVtnGw9rnAzZBYjBAdLarwan8UHPgAmpcR6ZUft8-67en-qr8MV2qrWDaoBZ3UPDHWLRACMdDkqbU4M6vWOVRAPQW/s869/russia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="869" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8sMG_Znp8jLdpawuybDP59ywbtKZ9rcVhNfBOb2j9UNzy3nOgZs34fwyhl1_lhDhoSEL4h5n7xUNzhoNo0JrA9nB8cevrC9K5v35mVtnGw9rnAzZBYjBAdLarwan8UHPgAmpcR6ZUft8-67en-qr8MV2qrWDaoBZ3UPDHWLRACMdDkqbU4M6vWOVRAPQW/s320/russia.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />SEOUL: The Russian Embassy in the Republic of Korea has slammed the concerted campaign by the EU and Ukraine to cancel a long-scheduled performance of Bolshoi Theater prima ballerina Svetlana Zakharova in Seoul as "politicized obscurantism," according to a statement by the diplomatic mission.<p></p><p>On Friday, InArts Production and the Seoul Center for the Arts announced that they had decided to cancel the Modanse program "taking into account concerns about the safety of performers and spectators." The embassy expressed regret over the cancellation. "At the same time, the unscrupulous campaign launched by diplomatic representatives of a number of third countries accredited in South Korea to discredit the upcoming concerts of the Russian ballet with inappropriate demands to stop cultural exchanges with Russia have come to the fore of public attention," the statement said.</p><p>"We are convinced that such politicized obscurantism, which is unfortunately widespread in many Western countries, should have no place in the modern world," the diplomats added.</p><p>The embassy stressed that cultural cooperation between the two countries should not become "hostage to political games." "We express our sincere sympathy to the South Korean audience, who were looking forward to this event, who were deprived of the opportunity to come into contact with great art, to see the performance of world-famous representatives of the Russian school of ballet," the diplomatic mission said.</p><p>The diplomats indicated that they had no information about the grounds for the cancellation, except for the information previously published by the organizers. They stressed that the project had been initiated by a private company and the Seoul Center for the Arts without the participation of government agencies.</p><p>Ukraine’s demands</p><p>In early March, the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Korea demanded the cancellation of "cultural cooperation" with Russia and Russian cultural figures. The EU delegation in Seoul voiced its support for Ukraine's demands.</p><p>The Russian Embassy in Seoul called attempts by Ukrainian and European diplomats to disrupt the performance featuring Svetlana Zakharova, prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Theater, unexpectedly tactless. The South Korean Foreign Ministry said that private organizations were sponsoring the tour.</p><p><br /></p><p>-News Feed</p>News Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10499303690546777531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255692317570297677.post-74998442921340712242024-03-16T11:27:00.004+05:302024-03-16T11:27:39.327+05:30 Putin says sure Kiev’s attacks will not be able to hinder elections in Russia<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVEK2ovJHQwfMciILmF6DNfgQ6wa_nqTXsjZqlPsKpYGZNPP6r62vgwtsI2Pbxf0DhU8cSbEoZeWJjD-UsW_AxuWy4o-MTRBAfHz7NODjV-Ll3lWGp-I8u6asVTc9uQEnud3isaJPiSMB5wJsvoU6QApxDSgMqnRKaze9UpKTfEOuOrqQdi7i3mHmsptQ1/s878/putin%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="484" data-original-width="878" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVEK2ovJHQwfMciILmF6DNfgQ6wa_nqTXsjZqlPsKpYGZNPP6r62vgwtsI2Pbxf0DhU8cSbEoZeWJjD-UsW_AxuWy4o-MTRBAfHz7NODjV-Ll3lWGp-I8u6asVTc9uQEnud3isaJPiSMB5wJsvoU6QApxDSgMqnRKaze9UpKTfEOuOrqQdi7i3mHmsptQ1/s320/putin%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />MOSCOW: Kiev’s attacks will not hinder presidential election in Russia as they will only consolidate the people, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.<p></p><p>"These attacks, pointless from the military point of view and criminal from the humanitarian point of view, as has been said, are geared to hinder presidential election in Russia. I am convinced that our people will respond to this by being more consolidated," he said at a meeting of the Russian Security Council. "Who do they want to intimidate? The Russian people? The Multiethnic people of Russia?"</p><p>According to Putin, all attempts to intimidate Russians are futile. "This has never happened and I am sure will never happen," he stressed.</p><p><br /></p><p>-News Feed</p>News Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10499303690546777531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255692317570297677.post-34298510577775165242024-03-16T11:25:00.004+05:302024-03-16T11:25:52.951+05:30 European Union is working on the 14th package of sanctions against Russia — EU official<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTr9b_FnYRjksyWuaK0c7jj8KXwBPabUCe4Vdy1sMvrsDgSM1hc-w9ZiaQ06WXX08lYECSJnpFBNonMVmMEQByooLjplBxGeYNNfrg6EHrKg3e80UJ1N3YrlUNR28Eksf92mLR9PMT9Y1paT0YK3pyvEvCaIc9pWYY7w7lBwLQX8VEUG-CZQQWbmjRntF/s871/eu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="871" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTr9b_FnYRjksyWuaK0c7jj8KXwBPabUCe4Vdy1sMvrsDgSM1hc-w9ZiaQ06WXX08lYECSJnpFBNonMVmMEQByooLjplBxGeYNNfrg6EHrKg3e80UJ1N3YrlUNR28Eksf92mLR9PMT9Y1paT0YK3pyvEvCaIc9pWYY7w7lBwLQX8VEUG-CZQQWbmjRntF/s320/eu.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />BRUSSELS: The European Union is working on the 14th package of sanctions against Russia, which will include measures to combat circumvention of previous restrictions, a high-ranking EU representative told reporters in Brussels ahead of the meeting of the foreign ministers of the community on March 18.<p></p><p>"We are already working on the 14th package of sanctions, and it will include measures to combat circumvention of all previous restrictions," he said.</p><p>When asked by reporter when the next package of sanctions will be introduced, the diplomat said: "I can’t name any dates."</p><p>Since February 2022, the European Union has introduced 13 packages of individual and economic sanctions against Russia due to the special military operation in Ukraine. The last package was approved on February 23. The measures affected 106 individuals and 88 legal entities from Russia and a number of other countries, including India, Kazakhstan, China, Serbia, Thailand, Turkey, and Sri Lanka.</p><p><br /></p><p>-News Feed</p>News Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10499303690546777531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255692317570297677.post-87526905684652707792024-03-16T11:23:00.005+05:302024-03-16T11:23:55.893+05:30 Putin casts his vote online in Russian presidential election<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQEjLc9ex9dQZcjLUWqlKsDuilVr_zc9sdxlowPV58WVMIu8ppiFpvBLq_MIW5zbzLZe6XNcTRgJ2t3YfJvP0_nkP0Kz6BMS_bB-_RQRx8RKOGs_N-tpVJmMbHSdtzmdd5sH6wLcu7PJRIIisTc6Ot3OyRXT2rNfRPZkR2G9gx1aMU9PRsWp8t-NfMDMi/s880/putin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="880" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQEjLc9ex9dQZcjLUWqlKsDuilVr_zc9sdxlowPV58WVMIu8ppiFpvBLq_MIW5zbzLZe6XNcTRgJ2t3YfJvP0_nkP0Kz6BMS_bB-_RQRx8RKOGs_N-tpVJmMbHSdtzmdd5sH6wLcu7PJRIIisTc6Ot3OyRXT2rNfRPZkR2G9gx1aMU9PRsWp8t-NfMDMi/s320/putin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />MOSCOW: The incumbent Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, who is vying for the country’s top office as an independent candidate, has cast his electronic vote in the presidential election.<p></p><p>The published video footage shows Putin walking to a computer in his office, casting his vote and then smiling and waving at the camera. The computer monitor displayed a standard notification for a successfully cast vote.</p><p>This is not the first time the president used this voting method. In the last few years, Putin cast his vote online during the autumn single election day. This is the first time online voting is available during presidential elections, (it is currently available in approximately one third of all regions of Russia).</p><p>The Russian Federation Council, or upper house of parliament, officially designated March 17, 2024 as the day of the presidential election. The Russian Central Election Commission (CEC) then announced that voting will take place over three days on March 15-17. Four candidates will vie for the top office, namely New People party nominee Vladislav Davankov; self-nominated candidate and incumbent President Vladimir Putin; Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) nominee Leonid Slutsky; and Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) nominee Nikolay Kharitonov.</p><p><br /></p><p>-News Feed</p>News Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10499303690546777531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255692317570297677.post-187301996576825602024-03-16T11:21:00.004+05:302024-03-16T11:21:51.827+05:30 Unfriendly countries' actions to not interfere in Russian election — ambassador to US<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFkbtCQBhanwQyE79B0sqa-Bk7_au9l6qgVzmG4pUeeNgDZOcXT2WIakGuO05v5vtIXDOvfyYT7PrnIUeeJIXvxr_FgwsTu3WgFjKq7tJ1WSJ-7e4qI4MKO18yZLbnfDGMXn8sQjOdA2hjBmwQtwMffUdWO3kjP4idzLKWYMA3kMMe4npmVGHAePzeo1M/s891/us.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="891" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFkbtCQBhanwQyE79B0sqa-Bk7_au9l6qgVzmG4pUeeNgDZOcXT2WIakGuO05v5vtIXDOvfyYT7PrnIUeeJIXvxr_FgwsTu3WgFjKq7tJ1WSJ-7e4qI4MKO18yZLbnfDGMXn8sQjOdA2hjBmwQtwMffUdWO3kjP4idzLKWYMA3kMMe4npmVGHAePzeo1M/s320/us.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />WASHINGTON: The efforts of unfriendly countries will not interfere with the Russian presidential election in the country and abroad, Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov said.<p></p><p>"Let me point out that the enemies' efforts cannot disrupt the elections of the President of Russia, which are successfully and actively conducted throughout the country as well as abroad. On March 17, Russian diplomats in Washington, D.C., New York and Houston will not only exercise their constitutional right, but will also ensure by all possible means that Russian citizens can go to the polls in a calm and safe environment and make their fateful choice," the Russian embassy quoted Antonov as saying on its Telegram channel.</p><p>"It is also clear that Washington spares no effort, trying in vain to spoil the holiday for the Russians, when our united and multi-ethnic people choose their future in the elections of the President of the Russian Federation. The voting is not over yet, but the US authorities are threatening not to recognize the results of the expression of will as well as to apply ‘punitive’ actions against observers," the ambassador added.</p><p>Voting in the Russian presidential election is taking place over three days on March 15-17. Four candidates vie for the top office, namely New People party nominee Vladislav Davankov; self-nominated candidate and incumbent President Vladimir Putin; Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) nominee Leonid Slutsky; and Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) nominee Nikolay Kharitonov.</p><p><br /></p><p>-News Feed</p>News Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10499303690546777531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255692317570297677.post-9117816906277104882024-03-15T11:44:00.000+05:302024-03-15T11:44:18.331+05:30Russian electoral body discloses number of ballots printed for voting in upcoming election<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_7N-g2TYF28X13jYeS19XVBG9KkPANDFzsoK5bIngxgpvT4ZLf8KxnvuK4oTU7iS364QCjQKtrbCB8HSXxHokJjsG1QfQ8lwkT-oY5P_4i4OEwHKHeSeCeRRcgdqqRznCtmNqIC1bSi3oD_UJy5grYxzCWmJyz2k8Elw221xYHk67BhGOpIb1rWKDI0C/s899/election.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="899" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_7N-g2TYF28X13jYeS19XVBG9KkPANDFzsoK5bIngxgpvT4ZLf8KxnvuK4oTU7iS364QCjQKtrbCB8HSXxHokJjsG1QfQ8lwkT-oY5P_4i4OEwHKHeSeCeRRcgdqqRznCtmNqIC1bSi3oD_UJy5grYxzCWmJyz2k8Elw221xYHk67BhGOpIb1rWKDI0C/s320/election.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />MOSCOW: The number of ballot papers prepared for holding the Russian presidential election has reached 113,574,550, Russian Central Election Commission (CEC) Chairwoman Ella Pamfilova said.<p></p><p>"[A total of] 113,574,550 ballot papers [have been prepared]," she said, adding that they are all secure. "Each ballot paper is protected by several security layers," the CEC chairwoman pointed out.</p><p>According to her, "it is impossible to forge ballot papers." "All ballot papers have been delivered [to polling stations], they are all in place," Pamfilova concluded.</p><p>The Russian Federation Council, or upper house of parliament, officially designated March 17, 2024 as the date of the presidential election. The CEC then announced that voting will take place over three days on March 15-17. Four candidates will vie for the top office, namely New People party nominee Vladislav Davankov; self-nominated candidate and incumbent President Vladimir Putin; Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) nominee Leonid Slutsky; and Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) nominee Nikolay Kharitonov.</p><p><br /></p><p>-News Feed</p>News Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10499303690546777531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255692317570297677.post-76495779808019888082024-03-15T11:42:00.001+05:302024-03-15T11:42:14.147+05:30Putin to give start to building Moscow-St. Pete high-speed railway — Kremlin<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIB5cwPFVjcgcUh6m-SLv4crvpcqXydE8c4rjETXnzasRrLCFS0mLpleUqDv_I4RLEJLdCieTq2y8u5qOxkbOHwN-ek314XQ1IKjNoDFtuCMfLxbX75jQjzzO5V4bzs_61skAmz0jRkvEYLRoRZW7A8McYe2_auKkryGzGCpW_EXhi25yK8agSBYFcUv2w/s882/kermilin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="882" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIB5cwPFVjcgcUh6m-SLv4crvpcqXydE8c4rjETXnzasRrLCFS0mLpleUqDv_I4RLEJLdCieTq2y8u5qOxkbOHwN-ek314XQ1IKjNoDFtuCMfLxbX75jQjzzO5V4bzs_61skAmz0jRkvEYLRoRZW7A8McYe2_auKkryGzGCpW_EXhi25yK8agSBYFcUv2w/s320/kermilin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin will today take part in the ceremony of launching construction of the Moscow-St. Petersburg high-speed railway (HSR) via video link, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.<p></p><p>"The President will take part in <…> [a ceremony that will mark] the beginning of concrete work on the Moscow-St. Petersburg high-speed rail project," Peskov said, clarifying that the event will be held in video conference mode.</p><p>The construction of the high-speed highway Moscow-St. Petersburg is envisaged by the draft Transport Strategy of the Russian Federation until 2030. The route should reduce travel time between the capitals to 2 hours 15 minutes, trains will run every 10-15 minutes, the first of them should be running by 2028. In his address to the Federal Assembly, Putin noted that the route of the high-speed railway will pass through Tver and Veliky Novgorod.</p><p><br /></p><p>-News Feed</p>News Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10499303690546777531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255692317570297677.post-20222155915686494502024-03-15T11:40:00.002+05:302024-03-15T11:40:20.915+05:30 Press review: Poles try out for role of top US ally in Europe and Biden, Netanyahu at odds<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHVLuD3Acepirax0_VAQplSMGyAAQJUV5U2YL-vp6mrEk8m-BwfLXnZm3Uya1rG9jdTqc6DTJu2-nQzqZsnoabDhhajpF61xOtRl8C-8fHTKqASF18Y8d5j3ViN48kGJUlt1u3QAlo3cY5Ipt_mG2ha0lzzyU00hmbdSQ-qUOa4HupdrYcmPmeGlsul5_/s850/odds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="850" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHVLuD3Acepirax0_VAQplSMGyAAQJUV5U2YL-vp6mrEk8m-BwfLXnZm3Uya1rG9jdTqc6DTJu2-nQzqZsnoabDhhajpF61xOtRl8C-8fHTKqASF18Y8d5j3ViN48kGJUlt1u3QAlo3cY5Ipt_mG2ha0lzzyU00hmbdSQ-qUOa4HupdrYcmPmeGlsul5_/s320/odds.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />MOSCOW: Warsaw is seeking to become Washington’s main ally in Europe; US President Joe Biden is increasingly at odds with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu amid discontent among US voters over Gaza war; and Moldova and France may be planning to enter into a defense alliance. These stories topped Thursday’s newspaper headlines across Russia.<p></p><p> </p><p>Vedomosti: Warsaw seeks to become Washington’s main ally in Europe</p><p>Following a state visit to Washington by Polish President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Donald Tusk, US President Joe Biden announced a $2 bln loan for Poland and offered to provide the country with 96 AH-64 Apache helicopters. Warsaw may now become Washington’s main NATO ally in Europe, Vedomosti writes.</p><p><br /></p><p>Ilya Kramnik of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO RAS) points out that during the Cold War, Poland had been one of the largest military powers in the Warsaw Pact. Now, the country is remilitarizing once again to the level of the 1980s, but in a totally different direction in terms of potential military operations. "It’s another question if Poland will be able to maintain armed forces of such a size and technical capacity without using them in combat and ‘on credit.’ It seems that the Polish authorities expect to use these expensive weapons in a future war," the expert said.</p><p><br /></p><p>Poland is gradually squeezing Germany out of its position as the key US NATO ally and main logistics center in Europe, Kirill Teremetsky, an expert with the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the Higher School of Economics (HSE University), noted. The reasons behind this process include debates in Berlin over ways to revitalize the Bundeswehr, relations with Moscow and the volume of support for Kiev, which, according to Tremetsky, is reducing Germany’s effectiveness in the eyes of the US administration. In April 2022, Poland signed an agreement with the US for the supply of 250 Abrams tanks and an accord to purchase more tanks was concluded in January 2023. As a result, Poland became the first European country to put Abrams tanks into service.</p><p><br /></p><p>Izvestia: Biden, Netanyahu at odds over Gaza</p><p>The Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza has forced US President Joe Biden to execute a complicated maneuver, breaking off ties with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who he has known for almost 50 years, US media outlets report. The move stems from growing public discontent with the Israeli premier’s policy line, Izvestia writes.</p><p>The Middle East conflict has become a hot-button issue in the current US presidential campaign. Voters are voicing protests against the White House’s support for Israel in its war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.</p><p>Middle East expert Andrey Ontikov, however, points out that Biden’s position with regard to the Israeli prime minister has not changed yet. "We keep hearing some rhetoric about Israel but in practice, nothing is changing. The US is protecting the Israelis in the UN Security Council and actively providing them with weapons to carry out strikes on Gaza. There is clearly serious bargaining going on about an operation in Rafah, with bogus stories in the media, talks and consultations," the political scientist explained. Attempts are being made to create an informational background in order to put pressure on Netanyahu, but there has been no success so far," the expert concluded.</p><p>Danila Krylov, researcher with the Department of the Middle East and Post-Soviet Asia at the Institute of Scientific Information on Social Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences, says that those in the military and political circles who are affiliated with the Biden administration could be expected to be willing to put some pressure on Israel. "However, such methods are highly ineffective with leaders like Netanyahu. The Biden administration is in a difficult position because, according to opinion polls, he doesn’t have much chances of winning the election. There are a lot of domestic problems that the US administration has been unable to solve, even making them worse, and as a result, it looks like [former US President and presumptive Republican Party presidential nominee Donald] Trump may secure a victory [in November]," the political scientist said.</p><p>Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Chisinau, Paris may be planning to enter into defense alliance</p><p>Moldova’s Public Council, which brings together over 50 public organizations, experts, members of the clergy and media workers, has called on the country’s authorities to stop implementing initiatives that are weakening its neutral status and facilitating efforts toward militarization. The move came in response to the establishment of a French defense mission in the Moldovan capital of Chisinau. Along with the growing number of drills that Moldovan troops participate in and large-scale weapons purchases, the French mission could increase the risk of the former Soviet republic being dragged into military conflicts, Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes.</p><p>Some say that the defense agreement signed by the Moldovan and French defense ministers during Moldovan President Maia Sandu’s visit to Paris will make it possible, if necessary, to use the country as a corridor for deploying NATO troops to Ukraine. Former Moldovan Defense Minister Anatol Plugaru told the newspaper that Chisinau had earlier opened its airspace to the alliance and is now opening a land corridor, dragging Moldova into the conflict and "turning Moldova into a legitimate target for the Russian Armed Forces."</p><p>Moldovan experts point out that if France decides to send troops to Ukraine, which is an option that French President Emmanuel Macron does not rule out, Moldovan soldiers may also end up serving under the French banner.</p><p>Moldovan society is also concerned about the fact that in early March, Chisinau suspended the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) at Sandu’s initiative. The move makes it possible for third countries to deploy an unlimited amount of conventional weapons to Moldova, a Swiss media outlet said. The Swiss article was republished by Chisinau media outlets, which linked its assumptions to the defense agreement between Moldova and France. Notably, Moldova’s new national security strategy sees Russia as the country’s main threat.</p><p><br /></p><p>Izvestia: India turning into economic alternative to China</p><p>India is seeking to become an economic alternative to China. The country has recently concluded several important trade and investment agreements with European countries. Talks are also underway with the UK, the EU and Persian Gulf nations, Izvestia notes.</p><p>As China’s growth is slowing down, India will enter global production chains. Its economy will largely continue to depend on manufacturing activities focused on the enormous domestic market and the export of diamonds, drugs and rice, Princeton University International Affairs Professor Atul Kohli told the paper.</p><p>There is currently a huge gap between the two economies. In particular, India’s GDP is $4 trln, while China’s stands at $18 trln. Still, India has a chance to reduce the gap with its neighbor, Rakesh Bhadauria, head of the Center for Strategic Studies and Simulation at the United Service Institution of India, said. India would like to become the leader in several fields, particularly taking advantage of the consequences of the pandemic as China’s economy is slowing down and its population is decreasing. For instance, India’s microchip industry may skyrocket. Still, it will not be possible to surpass China in the next ten to 15 years, the expert stressed.</p><p>Potential economic competition may cause the already existing tensions between India and China, including territorial disputes, to flare up again. However, experts point out that it is a long way to go before any economic tensions emerge. Besides, the two countries have different models of growth and India is dependent on China’s GDP, Alexey Kupriyanov, head of the South Asia and Pacific Region Group at the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Primakov Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO RAS), emphasized.</p><p>Media: Gold, bitcoin simultaneously reach new highs</p><p>Bitcoin and gold reached all-time highs last week. Both assets have since set several more records. The strong trend comes amid continuing high inflation rates in the US and Europe. In the long term, the trend may indicate a decline in investor trust in key currencies and the search for "a safe haven," Izvestia writes.</p><p>Talk has been going on for quite a while that gold could be an alternative anchor for the global financial system as the dollar is losing its position as the only truly global reserve currency. Such talk has intensified since the freezing of Russian assets.</p><p>"Regular gold purchases by banks can be attributed to their plans to diversify assets in a situation where the dollar has stopped growing and a potential key rate reduction may weaken the US currency even more. Geopolitical tensions are another factor to consider," BCS World of Investments analyst Anatoly Kim stressed.</p><p>"Over the past two years, the correlation between bitcoin and gold prices increased to an average of 77%. That said, it’s possible that the cryptocurrency’s image as ‘a protector’ is getting somewhat stronger," Finam analyst Nikolay Dudchenko noted. He also believes that international tensions are supporting gold, which is a traditional tool for accumulating and preserving funds.</p><p>As for bitcoin, its price may go down in the near future either because of a sharp drop in demand or some completely unforeseen developments, Gennady Fofanov, president of the InvoiceCafe investment platform, told Rossiyskaya Gazeta. Still, nothing is currently preventing bitcoin from growing and new price hikes are possible.</p><p><br /></p><p>TASS is not responsible for the material quoted in these press reviews</p><p><br /></p><p>-News Feed</p>News Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10499303690546777531noreply@blogger.com0