Putin is alarmed by rising COVID-19 death rate in the country. He asks officials to bring the outbreak under control. As Russia is near about 2 million COVID-19 cases and becomes the country with the 5th highest number of coronavirus cases in the world.

Putin alarmed by rising COVID-19 death rate in Russia

Russia on Monday tested <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-sovereign-internet-tested-amid-fears-of-online-isolation-269779">its internet services</a> to check if it could withstand a cyberattack and also whether it can remain unaffected in case the country is&nbsp;cut off from the international internet network.

The move comes after Russia last month introduced the sovereign internet bill amid fears of censorship and domestic online isolation.

"The results of the tests have shown that on the whole both authorities and service providers are ready to effectively react to emerging risks and threats and ensure reliable work of both the internet and the single telecommunication network," Russia's communications minister Alexei Sokolov said.

"Our goal was to provide an uninterrupted internet service on Russian territory under any circumstances," the Russian minister added.

The results of the tests will be presented to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-hints-at-presidential-term-limit-in-marathon-press-conference-269232">President Putin</a>. The Russian president during a press conference last week had defended the country's new internet guidelines claiming that a "free internet" and "sovereign internet" were not "mutually exclusive".

Putin said the new internet law was aimed at "preventing negative consequences of being disconnected from the global network" which was primarily managed abroad. The new law routes Russian web traffic and data through state authorities.

Russia had asked all domestic networks and email providers to take part in the test on Monday to test the viability of its internal system.

"The purpose of the task is to ensure the reliable operation of the internet in Russia in any conditions and under any circumstances," Sokolov said, adding, "our task is to make sure everything works. That's what today's drills are aimed at."&nbsp;

"The outcomes of the review showed that government agencies and communications operators are ready to respond effectively to threats and to ensure the internet and communications operate effectively," Sokolov said. 
&nbsp;

Russia on Monday tested its internet services to check if it could withstand a cyberattack and also whether it can remain unaffected in case the country is cut off from the international internet network.

Russia on Monday tested its internet services to check if it could withstand a cyberattack and also whether it can remain unaffected in case the country is cut off from the international internet network. The move comes after Russia last month introduced the sovereign internet bill amid fears of censorship and domestic online isolation. "The results of the tests have shown that on the whole both authorities and service providers are ready to effectively react to emerging risks and threats and ensure reliable work of both the internet and the single telecommunication network," Russia's communications minister Alexei Sokolov said. "Our goal was to provide an uninterrupted internet service on Russian territory under any circumstances," the Russian minister added. The results of the tests will be presented to President Putin. The Russian president during a press conference last week had defended the country's new internet guidelines claiming that a "free internet" and "sovereign internet" were not "mutually exclusive". Putin said the new internet law was aimed at "preventing negative consequences of being disconnected from the global network" which was primarily managed abroad. The new law routes Russian web traffic and data through state authorities. Russia had asked all domestic networks and email providers to take part in the test on Monday to test the viability of its internal system. "The purpose of the task is to ensure the reliable operation of the internet in Russia in any conditions and under any circumstances," Sokolov said, adding, "our task is to make sure everything works. That's what today's drills are aimed at." "The outcomes of the review showed that government agencies and communications operators are ready to respond effectively to threats and to ensure the internet and communications operate effectively," Sokolov said.

Internet test review shows government ready to respond to threats: Russia

Russian President<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/impeachment-against-trump-absolutely-on-made-up-grounds-putin-269164"> Vladimir Putin, 67</a>, in his year-end press conference dropped broad hints that he might not seek another term in 2024.

"Your humble servant served two successive terms and then stepped down and had the constitutional right to return to the post of president," he said, adding, "but some of our political scientists and activists do not like this and maybe this could be removed, possibly."

The press conference attended by 1,800 journalists especially accredited for the event were taken by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nobody-knows-origins-of-global-climate-change-putin-in-annual-press-conference-269149">surprise as Putin </a>made the remark which proved to be the biggest talking point of the marathon event.

“One thing that could be changed about these (presidential) terms is removing the clause about 'successive' (terms)," Putin said.

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russian-president-putin-holds-annual-news-conference-269191/embed" width="560" height="350" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" autoplay=1 allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

The Russian presidency was handed to Putin by Boris Yeltsin in 1999, the Russian leader served as president from 2000 to 2008 and then as premier from 2000 to 2012 and then returned as president in 2019.

Putin is due to step down in 2024 which will be the end of his fourth presidential term. Putin is barred from immediately running again under the Russian constitution.

The four hours and twenty-five minutes press conference saw the Russian president answer several questions specifically on Trump impeachment and the WADA ban on Russian sports.

Putin looked to back Trump, declaring that the impeachment was based on "made-up grounds".

"It still needs to go through the Senate, where the Republicans have a majority," Putin said.

"And it is hardly likely that they are going to push out of office a representative of their own party, on grounds that are absolutely made-up," he added.

On the WADA ban, he said: "If WADA does not have any issues with our national Olympic committee our team must compete under its flag."

WADA had banned Russia for four years from major global events, including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar over doping manuplation.

"Any punishment should be individual," he added.

"If a majority of our athletes are clean how is it possible to slap sanctions against them for someone else's actions?"

"The WADA decision contradicts the Olympic Charter," Putin added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, 67, in his year-end press conference dropped broad hints that he might not seek another term in 2024. "Your humble servant served two successive terms and then stepped down and had the constitutional right to return to the post of president," he said, adding, "but some of our political scientists and activists do not like this and maybe this could be removed, possibly.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, 67, in his year-end press conference dropped broad hints that he might not seek another term in 2024. "Your humble servant served two successive terms and then stepped down and had the constitutional right to return to the post of president," he said, adding, "but some of our political scientists and activists do not like this and maybe this could be removed, possibly." The press conference attended by 1,800 journalists especially accredited for the event were taken by surprise as Putin made the remark which proved to be the biggest talking point of the marathon event. “One thing that could be changed about these (presidential) terms is removing the clause about 'successive' (terms)," Putin said. Watch Video: The Russian presidency was handed to Putin by Boris Yeltsin in 1999, the Russian leader served as president from 2000 to 2008 and then as premier from 2000 to 2012 and then returned as president in 2019. Putin is due to step down in 2024 which will be the end of his fourth presidential term. Putin is barred from immediately running again under the Russian constitution. The four hours and twenty-five minutes press conference saw the Russian president answer several questions specifically on Trump impeachment and the WADA ban on Russian sports. Putin looked to back Trump, declaring that the impeachment was based on "made-up grounds". "It still needs to go through the Senate, where the Republicans have a majority," Putin said. "And it is hardly likely that they are going to push out of office a representative of their own party, on grounds that are absolutely made-up," he added. On the WADA ban, he said: "If WADA does not have any issues with our national Olympic committee our team must compete under its flag." WADA had banned Russia for four years from major global events, including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar over doping manuplation. "Any punishment should be individual," he added. "If a majority of our athletes are clean how is it possible to slap sanctions against them for someone else's actions?" "The WADA decision contradicts the Olympic Charter," Putin added.

Putin hints at presidential term limit in marathon press conference

Vladimir Putin took over 60 questions from a hall of journalists Thursday, speaking on everything from rap to pensions to the prospect of taking over the world.&nbsp;

Here are the top quotes from <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/putin-says-west-trying-to-hold-back-powerful-russia-185542">the Russian president's end-of-year press conference</a>, which lasted three hours and 43 minutes.

International tensions 
On Moscow's ties with the West, Putin had this to say:

"Practically throughout its entire history, Russia has lived with some constraints and sanctions... this is connected with the growth of Russia's power, increase of competitiveness... A powerful player appears which needs to be reckoned with..."

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<h5>'As an honourable man I will have to (marry) at some point, I guess'</h5>
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"If there hadn't been the Skripals, they (the West) would have thought up something else. There is only one aim: to hold back Russia's development as a possible competitor."

"(In the West), they don't want to recognise (Trump's) victory. That's disrespect of voters." ... "It's the same in Britain: Brexit happened, but nobody wants to implement it. They don't recognise vote results, democratic procedures are diminished."

"Do we need American troops (in Syria)? I think we don't... If the US has decided to withdraw its troops (from Syria), that is right."

"I hope that something will improve (in US-Russian relations), sooner or later we will reach rock bottom in our relations and understand that we must ... rise up, breathe in the fresh air and think with a clear head about how to live."

"It's a collapse. We are currently looking at a collapse of the international system of arms control."

National concerns 
On Russia's economic goals:

"The main thing is that we need to get into a new league economically... we could very well take the fifth place in terms of size of economy. And I think we'll do that."

On reports of torture in Russia's penal colonies:

"Any breaches of the law, especially torture - that's a crime. These breaches, these crimes, must be punished... To say that (the penal system) must be broken into pieces is wrong. It has to be improved."

On the difficulty of recycling in Russia:

"For decades in the Soviet Union we threw trash into pits, figuratively speaking. Nobody ever did any recycling... we produce 70 million tonnes of trash every year and don't know where to put it."&nbsp;

On Russia's crackdown on hip-hop concerts:

"About the detention of these rappers, I agree with you. That's just pointless... there is nothing good in that."

Personal matters 
On the prospect of remarrying after announcing his divorce:

"As an honourable man I will have to (marry) at some point, I guess."

On his health:

"My health is the same as anyone else's. Thank God, I do sports, and everything is normal... as anyone else, there can be some sort of flu when the seasons change, but right now, everything is all right."

"I am rarely on the internet and watch little television, I simply don't have the time."

Vladimir Putin took over 60 questions from a hall of journalists Thursday, speaking on everything from rap to pensions to the prospect of taking over the world. Here are the top quotes from the Russian president's end-of-year press conference, which lasted three hours and 43 minutes.

Vladimir Putin took over 60 questions from a hall of journalists Thursday, speaking on everything from rap to pensions to the prospect of taking over the world. Here are the top quotes from the Russian president's end-of-year press conference, which lasted three hours and 43 minutes. International tensions On Moscow's ties with the West, Putin had this to say: "Practically throughout its entire history, Russia has lived with some constraints and sanctions... this is connected with the growth of Russia's power, increase of competitiveness... A powerful player appears which needs to be reckoned with..." 'As an honourable man I will have to (marry) at some point, I guess' × "If there hadn't been the Skripals, they (the West) would have thought up something else. There is only one aim: to hold back Russia's development as a possible competitor." "(In the West), they don't want to recognise (Trump's) victory. That's disrespect of voters." ... "It's the same in Britain: Brexit happened, but nobody wants to implement it. They don't recognise vote results, democratic procedures are diminished." "Do we need American troops (in Syria)? I think we don't... If the US has decided to withdraw its troops (from Syria), that is right." "I hope that something will improve (in US-Russian relations), sooner or later we will reach rock bottom in our relations and understand that we must ... rise up, breathe in the fresh air and think with a clear head about how to live." "It's a collapse. We are currently looking at a collapse of the international system of arms control." National concerns On Russia's economic goals: "The main thing is that we need to get into a new league economically... we could very well take the fifth place in terms of size of economy. And I think we'll do that." On reports of torture in Russia's penal colonies: "Any breaches of the law, especially torture - that's a crime. These breaches, these crimes, must be punished... To say that (the penal system) must be broken into pieces is wrong. It has to be improved." On the difficulty of recycling in Russia: "For decades in the Soviet Union we threw trash into pits, figuratively speaking. Nobody ever did any recycling... we produce 70 million tonnes of trash every year and don't know where to put it." On Russia's crackdown on hip-hop concerts: "About the detention of these rappers, I agree with you. That's just pointless... there is nothing good in that." Personal matters On the prospect of remarrying after announcing his divorce: "As an honourable man I will have to (marry) at some point, I guess." On his health: "My health is the same as anyone else's. Thank God, I do sports, and everything is normal... as anyone else, there can be some sort of flu when the seasons change, but right now, everything is all right." "I am rarely on the internet and watch little television, I simply don't have the time."

Putin holds marathon end-of-year press conference: Here are his key quotes