<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/kremlin-furious-as-britain-blames-putin-for-ex-spy-attack-36103">Kremlin furious as Britain blames Putin for ex-spy attack</a>

Britain provoked Russia&#39;s wrath on Friday by directly implicating Vladimir Putin in the poisoning attack on an ex-double agent, with the Kremlin saying the claims were &quot;shocking and unforgivable&quot;.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/oscars-chief-being-investigated-for-sexual-harassment-report-36105">Oscars</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/oscars-chief-being-investigated-for-sexual-harassment-report-36105"> chief being investigated for sexual harassment: Report</a>

John Bailey, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the body which hands out the Oscars, is being investigated for sexual harassment, Variety reported on Friday.ntarian, experts lambast Pakistan for sheltering terrorists

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/european-parliamentarian-experts-lambast-pakistan-for-sheltering-terrorists-36107">European parliamentarian, experts lambast Pakistan for sheltering terrorists</a>

Experts and a Member of European Parliament (MEP) have shown concern over the growing extremism and terrorism in Pakistan, which are hurting not only the country but also the Western nations.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/turkish-air-strike-hits-hospital-in-syrias-afrin-monitor-medics-36110">Turkish air strike hits </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/turkish-air-strike-hits-hospital-in-syrias-afrin-monitor-medics-36110">hospital</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/turkish-air-strike-hits-hospital-in-syrias-afrin-monitor-medics-36110"> in Syria&#39;s Afrin: Monitor, medics</a>

A Turkish bombing raid struck the main hospital in the Kurdish-controlled Syrian town of Afrin, killing sixteen civilians, a monitor said.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/call-data-records-case-nawazuddin-siddiquis-lawyer-arrested-36108">Call data records case: Nawazuddin Siddiqui&#39;s lawyer arrested</a>

The Thane Crime Branch of the Mumbai Police on Friday arrested the lawyer of actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Rizwan Siddiqui, for allegedly obtaining the call data records of the actor&#39;s wife from private detectives.

&nbsp;

Kremlin furious as Britain blames Putin for ex-spy attack Britain provoked Russia's wrath on Friday by directly implicating Vladimir Putin in the poisoning attack on an ex-double agent, with the Kremlin saying the claims were "shocking and unforgivable". Oscars chief being investigated for sexual harassment: Report John Bailey, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the body which hands out the Oscars, is being investigated for sexual harassment, Variety reported on Friday.ntarian, experts lambast Pakistan for sheltering terrorists European parliamentarian, experts lambast Pakistan for sheltering terrorists Experts and a Member of European Parliament (MEP) have shown concern over the growing extremism and terrorism in Pakistan, which are hurting not only the country but also the Western nations. Turkish air strike hits hospital in Syria's Afrin: Monitor, medics A Turkish bombing raid struck the main hospital in the Kurdish-controlled Syrian town of Afrin, killing sixteen civilians, a monitor said. Call data records case: Nawazuddin Siddiqui's lawyer arrested The Thane Crime Branch of the Mumbai Police on Friday arrested the lawyer of actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Rizwan Siddiqui, for allegedly obtaining the call data records of the actor's wife from private detectives.

WION morning news brief, March 17, 2018

Moscow will expel British diplomats in response to London`s move to kick out 23 Russian officials over the poisoning of ex-double agent Sergei Skripal, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday.

&quot;Of course we will,&quot; Lavrov told journalists when asked whether Moscow will respond in kind to the expulsion of Russian diplomats announced by British Prime Minister Theresa May.

Lavrov was speaking in the Kazakh capital Astana following talks on Syria with the foreign ministers of Iran and Turkey.&nbsp;

The Russian foreign minister on Thursday said Moscow would respond by expelling British diplomats &quot;soon&quot;.

He said his country had no motive to target Skripal, but suggested others could use the poisoning to &quot;complicate&quot; the World Cup.

Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier said Vladimir Putin would ultimately choose the option that &quot;most suits Moscow`s interests&quot;.

In a rare joint statement, the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and the US on Thursday condemned the attack on Skripal and his daughter Yulia as an &quot;assault on UK sovereignty&quot;.&nbsp;

The escalating international scandal is unfolding as Skripal and his daughter remain in critical condition after exposure to the Soviet-designed chemical Novichok on March 4 in the English city of Salisbury.

 
&nbsp;

'Of course we will,' Lavrov told journalists when asked whether Moscow will respond in kind to the expulsion of Russian diplomats announced by British Prime Minister Theresa May

Moscow will expel British diplomats in response to London`s move to kick out 23 Russian officials over the poisoning of ex-double agent Sergei Skripal, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday. "Of course we will," Lavrov told journalists when asked whether Moscow will respond in kind to the expulsion of Russian diplomats announced by British Prime Minister Theresa May. Lavrov was speaking in the Kazakh capital Astana following talks on Syria with the foreign ministers of Iran and Turkey. The Russian foreign minister on Thursday said Moscow would respond by expelling British diplomats "soon". He said his country had no motive to target Skripal, but suggested others could use the poisoning to "complicate" the World Cup. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier said Vladimir Putin would ultimately choose the option that "most suits Moscow`s interests". In a rare joint statement, the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and the US on Thursday condemned the attack on Skripal and his daughter Yulia as an "assault on UK sovereignty". The escalating international scandal is unfolding as Skripal and his daughter remain in critical condition after exposure to the Soviet-designed chemical Novichok on March 4 in the English city of Salisbury.

Russia will 'of course' expel British diplomats: Sergei Lavrov

The United States today accused Russia of disdaining the international order and disrespecting the territorial integrity of sovereign nations.

State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert&#39;s remarks came hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin&#39;s campaigned in Crimea, which the US alleges was annexed by Russia some four years ago.

In his election rally in Crimea, home to about two million people, Putin reportedly said that there was still a lot of work to do and that his government was working on various long-term projects.

&quot;In his campaign rally in Crimea today, President Putin reiterated Russia&#39;s false claims to Ukrainian territory in another open admission that the Russian government disdains the international order and disrespects the territorial integrity of sovereign nations,&quot; Nauert said.

&quot;Four years ago this week, Russia held an illegitimate, fabricated &quot;referendum&quot; in Ukraine in a futile attempt to legitimize its purported annexation of Ukrainian territory,&quot; she alleged.

Nauert alleged that the residents of Crimea were made to vote under duress during 2014&#39;s Crimean status referendum.

Russia claimed Crimea on March 18, 2014.

&quot;Crimean residents were compelled to vote under scrutiny by heavily armed Russian troops.Russia&#39;s claim that Ukrainians made a free choice in that sham &quot;referendum&quot; has always lacked credibility,&quot; Nauert said.

Nauert said Russia has engaged in a campaign of coercion and violence over the past four years, &quot;targeting anyone opposed to its attempted annexation&quot;.

&quot;In light of Putin&#39;s remarks, it is important to call attention to the illegitimacy of the staged &quot;referendum,&quot; but also to the tremendous human costs the Russian government has imposed on the people of Crimea,&quot; Nauert said. 
 
&quot;Russian occupation authorities have subjected Crimean Tatars, ethnic Ukrainians, pro-Ukrainian activists, civil society members, and independent journalists to politically motivated prosecution and ongoing repression, while methodically suppressing nongovernmental organisations and independent media outlets,&quot; Nauert said.

The State Department spokesperson applauded people who speak out against the situation in Crimea.

&quot;We stand behind those courageous individuals who continue to speak out about these abuses and we call on Russia to cease its attempts to quell fundamental freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and association, and religion or belief,&quot; she said.

Nauert said the US will continue its Crimea-related sanctions until Russia returns control of the peninsula to Ukraine.

&quot;We reaffirm our commitment to Ukraine&#39;s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. Crimea is part of Ukraine,&quot; she said.

The United States today accused Russia of disdaining the international order and disrespecting the territorial integrity of sovereign nations

The United States today accused Russia of disdaining the international order and disrespecting the territorial integrity of sovereign nations. State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert's remarks came hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin's campaigned in Crimea, which the US alleges was annexed by Russia some four years ago. In his election rally in Crimea, home to about two million people, Putin reportedly said that there was still a lot of work to do and that his government was working on various long-term projects. "In his campaign rally in Crimea today, President Putin reiterated Russia's false claims to Ukrainian territory in another open admission that the Russian government disdains the international order and disrespects the territorial integrity of sovereign nations," Nauert said. "Four years ago this week, Russia held an illegitimate, fabricated "referendum" in Ukraine in a futile attempt to legitimize its purported annexation of Ukrainian territory," she alleged. Nauert alleged that the residents of Crimea were made to vote under duress during 2014's Crimean status referendum. Russia claimed Crimea on March 18, 2014. "Crimean residents were compelled to vote under scrutiny by heavily armed Russian troops.Russia's claim that Ukrainians made a free choice in that sham "referendum" has always lacked credibility," Nauert said. Nauert said Russia has engaged in a campaign of coercion and violence over the past four years, "targeting anyone opposed to its attempted annexation". "In light of Putin's remarks, it is important to call attention to the illegitimacy of the staged "referendum," but also to the tremendous human costs the Russian government has imposed on the people of Crimea," Nauert said. "Russian occupation authorities have subjected Crimean Tatars, ethnic Ukrainians, pro-Ukrainian activists, civil society members, and independent journalists to politically motivated prosecution and ongoing repression, while methodically suppressing nongovernmental organisations and independent media outlets," Nauert said. The State Department spokesperson applauded people who speak out against the situation in Crimea. "We stand behind those courageous individuals who continue to speak out about these abuses and we call on Russia to cease its attempts to quell fundamental freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and association, and religion or belief," she said. Nauert said the US will continue its Crimea-related sanctions until Russia returns control of the peninsula to Ukraine. "We reaffirm our commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. Crimea is part of Ukraine," she said.

Russia disrespects territorial integrity of sovereign nations: US

Russian voters are set to propel Vladimir Putin to another term as president in an election on Sunday, giving him credit for standing up for Russia against Western governments that view him as a dangerous autocrat.

Opinion polls show Putin, 65, with a commanding election lead, all but guaranteeing him another term that will take him to nearly a quarter century in power -- a longevity among Kremlin leaders second only to Josef Stalin.

The only thing that could dampen Putin&#39;s poll triumph is if voter apathy at a predictable contest leads to a low turnout, or if the minority of Russians who vocally oppose him take to the streets to protest against what they see as an undemocratic farce.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/russian-president-vladimir-putin-in-10-dates-35556" target="_blank">Russian President Vladimir Putin </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/russian-president-vladimir-putin-in-10-dates-35556" target="_blank">in</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/russian-president-vladimir-putin-in-10-dates-35556" target="_blank"> 10 dates</a>

In an election campaign where Putin has benefited from glowing coverage on mainstream television, he has cast himself as the only person who can defend Russia&#39;s national interests in a hostile world.

&quot;We will withstand this onslaught,&quot; Svetlana Andrus, a ribbon round her neck in the colours of the Russian flag, said during a rally in Moscow in support of Putin. &quot;We will support our country and Vladimir Vladimirovich (Putin).&quot;

Putin&#39;s supporters point to Russia&#39;s military intervention in Syria and its annexation of Ukraine&#39;s Crimea region in 2014 as proof of his patriotic credentials. They say U.S. and European sanctions imposed over the Ukraine crisis are a price worth paying.

A row with Britain over allegations the Kremlin used a nerve agent to poison a Russian double agent in a sleepy English town -- denied by Moscow -- has not dented his standing.

BOYCOTT CAMPAIGN

A March 9 survey by state-run pollster VTsIOM gave Putin, who was first elected president in 2000, support of 69 percent. His nearest rival Pavel Grudinin, the Communist Party&#39;s candidate, is on just 7 percent.

Another candidate, Ksenia Sobchak, a TV presenter and family friend of Putin, has upended expectations by robustly criticising the Kremlin, but she has only 2 percent support, the same survey showed.

Kremlin officials acknowledge that Putin&#39;s dominance could turn people off voting. A low turnout would dent his legitimacy within the ruling elite, founded in part on his ability to command popular support.

In Yekaterinburg, an industrial city in the Ural mountains, unemployed 38-year-old Sergei Khaziev described the election as a &quot;circus performance which for some reason is described as elections... I won&#39;t turn out this time.&quot;

The first politician in years to challenge the Kremlin&#39;s grip on power, Alexei Navalny, is not on the ballot. He was barred because of a corruption conviction he says was fabricated by the Kremlin.

Navalny, who uses social media to whip up anger among his mainly young followers over official corruption, is pushing an election boycott.

&quot;Our boycott campaign is working,&quot; he said this week. As evidence, Navalny pointed to a drive by officials to encourage people to turn out to vote by offering discounted food at polling stations. He also said state officials were applying pressure on civil servants and students to vote.

BURDENS OF OFFICE

Though winning another term is virtually assured, governing Russia for another six years will throw up plentiful challenges.

Buffeted by lower oil prices and the effect of Western sanctions, Russia&#39;s gross domestic product expanded by only 1.5 percent last year, well below the robust growth Russians had come to expect in the earlier years of Putin&#39;s rule.

Putin has spoken of the need to revive economic growth but the steps that many economists prescribe - especially shrinking the state&#39;s role in the economy - are resisted by those in the president&#39;s circle who owe their status and wealth to the state.

His next term may also be overshadowed by uncertainty over his plans once it ends. Term limits bar him from running for another consecutive term, and Putin has said he will not change the constitution to extend his time in office.

Sources inside Russia&#39;s ruling elite say they anticipate he will repeat the manoeuvre he deployed in 2008, the last time he faced term limits, when a loyal lieutenant took over the presidency while Putin governed from behind the scenes.

If Putin, who will be 71 when his next term ends, wants a peaceful retirement, however, he will have to try to engineer a succession. That risks unleashing simmering tensions between rival groups in the ruling elite.

Voting starts in the far east of the vast Russian Federation at 8 am local time (2000 GMT on Saturday) and will roll westwards over 11 time zones, with polling booths in the Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad due to close at 1900 GMT on Sunday.

Opinion polls show Putin, 65, with a commanding election lead, all but guaranteeing him another term that will take him to nearly a quarter century in power — a longevity among Kremlin leaders second only to Josef Stalin.

Russian voters are set to propel Vladimir Putin to another term as president in an election on Sunday, giving him credit for standing up for Russia against Western governments that view him as a dangerous autocrat. Opinion polls show Putin, 65, with a commanding election lead, all but guaranteeing him another term that will take him to nearly a quarter century in power -- a longevity among Kremlin leaders second only to Josef Stalin. The only thing that could dampen Putin's poll triumph is if voter apathy at a predictable contest leads to a low turnout, or if the minority of Russians who vocally oppose him take to the streets to protest against what they see as an undemocratic farce. Also read: Russian President Vladimir Putin in 10 dates In an election campaign where Putin has benefited from glowing coverage on mainstream television, he has cast himself as the only person who can defend Russia's national interests in a hostile world. "We will withstand this onslaught," Svetlana Andrus, a ribbon round her neck in the colours of the Russian flag, said during a rally in Moscow in support of Putin. "We will support our country and Vladimir Vladimirovich (Putin)." Putin's supporters point to Russia's military intervention in Syria and its annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region in 2014 as proof of his patriotic credentials. They say U.S. and European sanctions imposed over the Ukraine crisis are a price worth paying. A row with Britain over allegations the Kremlin used a nerve agent to poison a Russian double agent in a sleepy English town -- denied by Moscow -- has not dented his standing. BOYCOTT CAMPAIGN A March 9 survey by state-run pollster VTsIOM gave Putin, who was first elected president in 2000, support of 69 percent. His nearest rival Pavel Grudinin, the Communist Party's candidate, is on just 7 percent. Another candidate, Ksenia Sobchak, a TV presenter and family friend of Putin, has upended expectations by robustly criticising the Kremlin, but she has only 2 percent support, the same survey showed. Kremlin officials acknowledge that Putin's dominance could turn people off voting. A low turnout would dent his legitimacy within the ruling elite, founded in part on his ability to command popular support. In Yekaterinburg, an industrial city in the Ural mountains, unemployed 38-year-old Sergei Khaziev described the election as a "circus performance which for some reason is described as elections... I won't turn out this time." The first politician in years to challenge the Kremlin's grip on power, Alexei Navalny, is not on the ballot. He was barred because of a corruption conviction he says was fabricated by the Kremlin. Navalny, who uses social media to whip up anger among his mainly young followers over official corruption, is pushing an election boycott. "Our boycott campaign is working," he said this week. As evidence, Navalny pointed to a drive by officials to encourage people to turn out to vote by offering discounted food at polling stations. He also said state officials were applying pressure on civil servants and students to vote. BURDENS OF OFFICE Though winning another term is virtually assured, governing Russia for another six years will throw up plentiful challenges. Buffeted by lower oil prices and the effect of Western sanctions, Russia's gross domestic product expanded by only 1.5 percent last year, well below the robust growth Russians had come to expect in the earlier years of Putin's rule. Putin has spoken of the need to revive economic growth but the steps that many economists prescribe - especially shrinking the state's role in the economy - are resisted by those in the president's circle who owe their status and wealth to the state. His next term may also be overshadowed by uncertainty over his plans once it ends. Term limits bar him from running for another consecutive term, and Putin has said he will not change the constitution to extend his time in office. Sources inside Russia's ruling elite say they anticipate he will repeat the manoeuvre he deployed in 2008, the last time he faced term limits, when a loyal lieutenant took over the presidency while Putin governed from behind the scenes. If Putin, who will be 71 when his next term ends, wants a peaceful retirement, however, he will have to try to engineer a succession. That risks unleashing simmering tensions between rival groups in the ruling elite. Voting starts in the far east of the vast Russian Federation at 8 am local time (2000 GMT on Saturday) and will roll westwards over 11 time zones, with polling booths in the Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad due to close at 1900 GMT on Sunday.

Putin rides 'Russia First' wave towards election victory

Soon after Vladimir Putin is re-elected on Sunday, his thoughts will turn to the question that is likely to dominate his next term as Russia&rsquo;s president: what will he do when it ends?&nbsp;

Putin&rsquo;s victory in the presidential election is not in doubt as his ratings are high and he has the state machinery behind him, but how long the man who has dominated Russia for nearly 18 years wants to stay power is uncertain.

The constitution limits the president to two successive terms, obliging him to step down at the end of his mandate &mdash; as he did in 2008 after serving two four-year terms.

His mandate will not expire until 2024 but the problem needs immediate attention because the uncertainty about his long-term future is a source of instability in a fractious ruling elite that only he can keep in check.

&ldquo;The Russian political scene is entering a new phase,&rdquo; said Gleb Pavlovsky, a former Kremlin adviser who is now critical of the country&rsquo;s leadership.&ldquo;Most discussion within the ruling elite focuses not on the next stage of the Putin era but on what will constitute the post-Putin era.&rdquo;

Vygaudas Usackas, the European Union&rsquo;s ambassador to Russia until last October, says the stakes are high.

&ldquo;This is a risky moment for the system,&rdquo; said Usackas, who is now director of the Institute of Europe at Lithuania&rsquo;s Kaunas University of Technology.

Putin has at least three main options. He could take a leaf out of Chinese President Xi Jinping&rsquo;s book and seek an end to term limits, hand over to a place-holder for a term and then return, or anoint a successor and bow out of public life.

Each choice carries risks and Putin may have other options up his sleeve. A former spy, he is secretive and likes to pull surprises. But the uncertainty about his plans is potentially more destabilizing than anything for the ruling elite, the political, security and business leaders around Putin.&nbsp;

Two sources close to the Kremlin said there was, as yet, no plan for when Putin&rsquo;s term ends. The matter is so sensitive that they agreed to talk only on condition of anonymity.

Russia&rsquo;s ruling system, while projecting an image of unity, is divided along many lines &mdash; between security hawks and economic liberals, between people with personal vendettas, and between competing for business interests.

Putin holds the disparate interests together, so any hint of a vacuum at the centre of the system is risky.

PUTIN FOREVER

Putin is so entrenched within Russia&rsquo;s ruling system that many of its members can imagine no other leader. Many in-state companies and major banks say they anticipate no real change at the top when Putin&rsquo;s next term ends.

&ldquo;There are no discussions in the corridors about the succession. It&rsquo;s as if people know that he (Putin) will be around forever,&rdquo; said a source in a government ministry.

If Putin wants the constitution changed to allow a third successive term, he will need two-thirds support in the lower house of parliament, three-quarters in the upper chamber and approval in two-thirds of regional legislatures.&nbsp;

All are institutions where Kremlin allies are the overwhelming majority but Putin has said will not change the constitution to stay in power. 
&nbsp; 
If he did so, he would risk a backlash from voters who might see it as Russia turning its back on democracy. He also avoided the temptation to tinker with the constitution to extend his rule in 2008, when he last faced term limits.

Instead, he stepped aside and let a loyal lieutenant, Dmitry Medvedev, run for president, certain he would win with the Kremlin&rsquo;s backing. Putin, who became prime minister for four years, secure re-election when Medvedev&rsquo;s term ended in 2012, and Medvedev has been prime minister since then.

Putin controlled the country from the wings between 2008 and 2012 and might see a similar move as an option now. Medvedev&rsquo;s ratings are much lower than Putin&rsquo;s but the ruling elite could accept him as a tried-and-tested proxy for Putin.

&ldquo;Only Medvedev,&rdquo; a source in government circles told Reuters when asked who could be president after Putin.&ldquo;Everyone is afraid of change.&rdquo;&nbsp;

FATIGUE

Age, though, might now get in the way of Putin.&nbsp;

He is in robust physical shape but will be 71 when his fourth term ends. If he again stepped aside for a full term, he would be 77 on his return &mdash; the presidential term was extended to six years in 2008 during Medvedev&rsquo;s presidency.

One of the sources close to the Kremlin said Putin does sometimes feel extremely tired, but largely through exasperation at officials&rsquo; incompetence and bureaucratic sloth.

During a meeting with Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko in 2016, Putin was caught on an open microphone confiding to his ally:&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t get enough sleep. The day before yesterday I slept for four hours, last night I got five hours.&rdquo;

Putin might also be loath to rule in his late seventies as he has portrayed himself as a healthy and energetic leader since replacing the ailing Boris Yeltsin and providing the vitality lacked by most leaders in the dying days of the Soviet Union.

He will soon have ruled longer than Soviet Communist leader Leonid Brezhnev, whose 18-year rule from 1964 to 1982 is primarily associated with stagnation, though dictator Josef Stalin ruled the Soviet Union for three decades.

To enjoy a restful retirement, Putin would need to anoint a fully fledged successor who can hold on to power in his or her own right and also protect the interests of the ruling elite.

Kremlin insiders say Putin has selected no heir apparent, and that any names being circulated are the product of speculation, not knowledge of Putin&rsquo;s thinking.

The names include Igor Sechin, head of state oil firm Rosneft; Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu; Igor Dyumin, a former Putin bodyguard who became a regional governor, and Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin.&nbsp;

Anointing a successor also entails dangers for Putin as doing so too soon would risk him becoming a lame duck, allegiances shifting from him to the heir apparent and new turf wars being set off in the ruling elite.

Above all, Putin will want to ensure any successor can hold on to power, will protect him and will not dismantle the system built around him.

Handing over to an heir, while eventually inevitable, will therefore also be Putin&rsquo;s riskiest path.

&ldquo;The longer he stays in power, the harder it will be to exit,&rdquo; said Andrei Kolesnikov, senior fellow at the Carnegie Moscow Center, a think tank.&ldquo;How can he abandon such a complicated system, which is essentially his personal project?&rdquo;&nbsp;

The constitution limits the president to two successive terms, obliging him to step down at the end of his mandate — as he did in 2008 after serving two four-year terms

Soon after Vladimir Putin is re-elected on Sunday, his thoughts will turn to the question that is likely to dominate his next term as Russia’s president: what will he do when it ends? Putin’s victory in the presidential election is not in doubt as his ratings are high and he has the state machinery behind him, but how long the man who has dominated Russia for nearly 18 years wants to stay power is uncertain. The constitution limits the president to two successive terms, obliging him to step down at the end of his mandate — as he did in 2008 after serving two four-year terms. His mandate will not expire until 2024 but the problem needs immediate attention because the uncertainty about his long-term future is a source of instability in a fractious ruling elite that only he can keep in check. “The Russian political scene is entering a new phase,” said Gleb Pavlovsky, a former Kremlin adviser who is now critical of the country’s leadership.“Most discussion within the ruling elite focuses not on the next stage of the Putin era but on what will constitute the post-Putin era.” Vygaudas Usackas, the European Union’s ambassador to Russia until last October, says the stakes are high. “This is a risky moment for the system,” said Usackas, who is now director of the Institute of Europe at Lithuania’s Kaunas University of Technology. Putin has at least three main options. He could take a leaf out of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s book and seek an end to term limits, hand over to a place-holder for a term and then return, or anoint a successor and bow out of public life. Each choice carries risks and Putin may have other options up his sleeve. A former spy, he is secretive and likes to pull surprises. But the uncertainty about his plans is potentially more destabilizing than anything for the ruling elite, the political, security and business leaders around Putin. Two sources close to the Kremlin said there was, as yet, no plan for when Putin’s term ends. The matter is so sensitive that they agreed to talk only on condition of anonymity. Russia’s ruling system, while projecting an image of unity, is divided along many lines — between security hawks and economic liberals, between people with personal vendettas, and between competing for business interests. Putin holds the disparate interests together, so any hint of a vacuum at the centre of the system is risky. PUTIN FOREVER Putin is so entrenched within Russia’s ruling system that many of its members can imagine no other leader. Many in-state companies and major banks say they anticipate no real change at the top when Putin’s next term ends. “There are no discussions in the corridors about the succession. It’s as if people know that he (Putin) will be around forever,” said a source in a government ministry. If Putin wants the constitution changed to allow a third successive term, he will need two-thirds support in the lower house of parliament, three-quarters in the upper chamber and approval in two-thirds of regional legislatures. All are institutions where Kremlin allies are the overwhelming majority but Putin has said will not change the constitution to stay in power. If he did so, he would risk a backlash from voters who might see it as Russia turning its back on democracy. He also avoided the temptation to tinker with the constitution to extend his rule in 2008, when he last faced term limits. Instead, he stepped aside and let a loyal lieutenant, Dmitry Medvedev, run for president, certain he would win with the Kremlin’s backing. Putin, who became prime minister for four years, secure re-election when Medvedev’s term ended in 2012, and Medvedev has been prime minister since then. Putin controlled the country from the wings between 2008 and 2012 and might see a similar move as an option now. Medvedev’s ratings are much lower than Putin’s but the ruling elite could accept him as a tried-and-tested proxy for Putin. “Only Medvedev,” a source in government circles told Reuters when asked who could be president after Putin.“Everyone is afraid of change.” FATIGUE Age, though, might now get in the way of Putin. He is in robust physical shape but will be 71 when his fourth term ends. If he again stepped aside for a full term, he would be 77 on his return — the presidential term was extended to six years in 2008 during Medvedev’s presidency. One of the sources close to the Kremlin said Putin does sometimes feel extremely tired, but largely through exasperation at officials’ incompetence and bureaucratic sloth. During a meeting with Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko in 2016, Putin was caught on an open microphone confiding to his ally:“I don’t get enough sleep. The day before yesterday I slept for four hours, last night I got five hours.” Putin might also be loath to rule in his late seventies as he has portrayed himself as a healthy and energetic leader since replacing the ailing Boris Yeltsin and providing the vitality lacked by most leaders in the dying days of the Soviet Union. He will soon have ruled longer than Soviet Communist leader Leonid Brezhnev, whose 18-year rule from 1964 to 1982 is primarily associated with stagnation, though dictator Josef Stalin ruled the Soviet Union for three decades. To enjoy a restful retirement, Putin would need to anoint a fully fledged successor who can hold on to power in his or her own right and also protect the interests of the ruling elite. Kremlin insiders say Putin has selected no heir apparent, and that any names being circulated are the product of speculation, not knowledge of Putin’s thinking. The names include Igor Sechin, head of state oil firm Rosneft; Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu; Igor Dyumin, a former Putin bodyguard who became a regional governor, and Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin. Anointing a successor also entails dangers for Putin as doing so too soon would risk him becoming a lame duck, allegiances shifting from him to the heir apparent and new turf wars being set off in the ruling elite. Above all, Putin will want to ensure any successor can hold on to power, will protect him and will not dismantle the system built around him. Handing over to an heir, while eventually inevitable, will therefore also be Putin’s riskiest path. “The longer he stays in power, the harder it will be to exit,” said Andrei Kolesnikov, senior fellow at the Carnegie Moscow Center, a think tank.“How can he abandon such a complicated system, which is essentially his personal project?”

Vladimir Putin has Russia guessing before election: How long will he hold on to power?

Russia seems to have gone too far in its efforts to encourage Russians to vote in the upcoming Presidential elections. A picture of Russia regional deputy wife is doing the rounds on the internet. Yulia Dyatlova poses with a &quot;We&#39;re going to the polls&quot; banner along with eight other &#39;suggestively&#39;&nbsp;nude women.&nbsp;

The image has sparked media attention as well as condemnation from all across. In the picture, Yulia Dyatlova, the wife of Aleksandr Dyatlov -- who is a deputy with the United Russia party in a local assembly -- is seen surrounded by eight long-legged young women, apparently nude.&nbsp;

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The image was posted online by an image-making agency owned by Dyatlova.

In a press release, Dyatlova shared that her husband is neither embarrassed nor jealous of her photoshoot. According to Dyatlova, the image represents Russian women and their diversity. The motto was to suggest that women from all walks of life will go out to poll this Sunday, others should follow in large numbers. &nbsp;

The image was posted online by an image-making agency owned by Dyatlova.

Russia seems to have gone too far in its efforts to encourage Russians to vote in the upcoming Presidential elections. A picture of Russia regional deputy wife is doing the rounds on the internet. Yulia Dyatlova poses with a "We're going to the polls" banner along with eight other 'suggestively' nude women. The image has sparked media attention as well as condemnation from all across. In the picture, Yulia Dyatlova, the wife of Aleksandr Dyatlov -- who is a deputy with the United Russia party in a local assembly -- is seen surrounded by eight long-legged young women, apparently nude. × The image was posted online by an image-making agency owned by Dyatlova. In a press release, Dyatlova shared that her husband is neither embarrassed nor jealous of her photoshoot. According to Dyatlova, the image represents Russian women and their diversity. The motto was to suggest that women from all walks of life will go out to poll this Sunday, others should follow in large numbers.

Presidential polls: Russian deputy's wife 'suggestively' poses naked on banner

Russian President Vladimir Putin is facing condemnation over his recent remark where he suggested the involvement of Russian Jews in the 2016 US presidential elections. Putin suggested the 2016 US presidential polls have been likely manipulated by the Russian Jews.

Putin made these remarks during a television interview on Saturday. During the interview, he also stated the possibility of anyone in the country to have been behind the 2016 US Presidential Elections manipulation except the Russian government.&nbsp;

&quot;Maybe they&#39;re not even Russians. Maybe they&#39;re Ukrainian, Tatars, Jews - just with Russian citizenship,&quot; Putin stated during the interview.&nbsp;

&quot;Maybe they have dual citizenship, or maybe a green card. Maybe it was the Americans who paid them for this work. How do you know? I don&#39;t know,&quot; the Russian President added.&nbsp;

Putin has been facing severe backlash for his comments. The American Jewish Committee on Sunday called Putin&#39;s statements similar to &quot;the Protocols of the Elders of Zion&quot;.

Members of Israel&#39;s parliament have also thrown flak at Putin&#39;s comments.

&quot;We are quite familiar with the oldies &#39;Maybe Jews run the world, maybe Jews use blood for their rituals, maybe Jews had slaughtered Jews in Poland&#39;. Now comes the latest hit &#39;maybe Jews meddled in US elections&#39;. Our government has to condemn strongly this statement #putin #jews,&quot; Ksenia Svetlova, a Zionist Union lawmaker tweeted.&nbsp;

(With inputs from ANI)&nbsp;

Members of Israel's parliament have also thrown flak at Putin's comments

Russian President Vladimir Putin is facing condemnation over his recent remark where he suggested the involvement of Russian Jews in the 2016 US presidential elections. Putin suggested the 2016 US presidential polls have been likely manipulated by the Russian Jews. Putin made these remarks during a television interview on Saturday. During the interview, he also stated the possibility of anyone in the country to have been behind the 2016 US Presidential Elections manipulation except the Russian government. "Maybe they're not even Russians. Maybe they're Ukrainian, Tatars, Jews - just with Russian citizenship," Putin stated during the interview. "Maybe they have dual citizenship, or maybe a green card. Maybe it was the Americans who paid them for this work. How do you know? I don't know," the Russian President added. Putin has been facing severe backlash for his comments. The American Jewish Committee on Sunday called Putin's statements similar to "the Protocols of the Elders of Zion". Members of Israel's parliament have also thrown flak at Putin's comments. "We are quite familiar with the oldies 'Maybe Jews run the world, maybe Jews use blood for their rituals, maybe Jews had slaughtered Jews in Poland'. Now comes the latest hit 'maybe Jews meddled in US elections'. Our government has to condemn strongly this statement #putin #jews," Ksenia Svetlova, a Zionist Union lawmaker tweeted. (With inputs from ANI)

Putin says Russian Jews manipulated 2016 US Presidential polls, faces backlash

Russia said Sunday it successfully launched a hypersonic missile which President Vladimir Putin called &quot;an ideal weapon&quot; as he unveiled a new array of next-generation arms earlier this month.

The high-precision Kinzhal (Dagger) missile was launched from a MiG-31 supersonic interceptor jet that took off from an airfield in the South Military District in Russia&#39;s southwest, the defence ministry said.

&quot;The launch went according to plan, the hypersonic missile hit its target,&quot; the ministry added.

The ministry released video footage showing two pilots gearing up for a flight and then running towards a jet with a large missile slung beneath its underbelly.&nbsp;

Set to rousing, patriotic music, the video then shows a missile detaching from the airborne plane and gliding across the dark sky, leaving a fiery trail behind.

The Kinzhal missile was one of an array of new weapons Putin unveiled in his state-of-the-nation address earlier this month, ahead of a presidential election on March 18 that he is all but guaranteed to win.

Putin said the missile flies at 10 times the speed of the sound and can overcome air-defence systems.&nbsp;

The missile has been deployed in the Southern Military District since December 1, he added.

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Facebook that work had also been done to modernise the &quot;unique&quot; MiG-31 supersonic jet that will carry the missile.&nbsp;

Since the start of the year, more than 250 sorties have been carried out by the aircraft to perfect the work of the missile systems, the defence ministry said.

The high-precision Kinzhal (Dagger) missile was launched from a MiG-31 supersonic interceptor jet that took off from an airfield in the South Military District in Russia's southwest

Russia said Sunday it successfully launched a hypersonic missile which President Vladimir Putin called "an ideal weapon" as he unveiled a new array of next-generation arms earlier this month. The high-precision Kinzhal (Dagger) missile was launched from a MiG-31 supersonic interceptor jet that took off from an airfield in the South Military District in Russia's southwest, the defence ministry said. "The launch went according to plan, the hypersonic missile hit its target," the ministry added. The ministry released video footage showing two pilots gearing up for a flight and then running towards a jet with a large missile slung beneath its underbelly. Set to rousing, patriotic music, the video then shows a missile detaching from the airborne plane and gliding across the dark sky, leaving a fiery trail behind. The Kinzhal missile was one of an array of new weapons Putin unveiled in his state-of-the-nation address earlier this month, ahead of a presidential election on March 18 that he is all but guaranteed to win. Putin said the missile flies at 10 times the speed of the sound and can overcome air-defence systems. The missile has been deployed in the Southern Military District since December 1, he added. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Facebook that work had also been done to modernise the "unique" MiG-31 supersonic jet that will carry the missile. Since the start of the year, more than 250 sorties have been carried out by the aircraft to perfect the work of the missile systems, the defence ministry said.

Russia test-fires 'ideal' hypersonic missile

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that under no circumstances would he give Crimea back to Ukraine, speaking in a new documentary released Sunday ahead of his expected re-election in next week&#39;s poll.

&quot;What, have you gone mad?&quot; he told a journalist who asked him if there were any circumstances under which the Russian leader would be ready to give up Crimea.

&quot;There are no such circumstances and never will be,&quot; he said in the new two-hour documentary &quot;Putin&quot;.

It was published on the social media accounts of notorious pro-Kremlin TV host Dmitry Kiselev ahead of a presidential election on March 18.

Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and supported Russian-speaking insurgents in the east of the ex-Soviet country after a Western-backed popular uprising ousted a Kremlin-backed regime from power in Kiev.

The peninsula&#39;s annexation led to European and US sanctions against Moscow amid the most serious crisis in ties with the West since the end of the Cold War.

The documentary -- produced by journalist Andrei Kondrashov, who is a spokesman for Putin&#39;s campaign -- features interviews with a number of the Russian leader&#39;s allies including former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and childhood friend cellist Sergei Roldugin.

The secretive chief executive of oil giant Rosneft, Igor Sechin, said he had served under Putin in various capacities for nearly 30 years and that the president was &quot;a very careful person&quot;.

&quot;Honestly speaking, I don&#39;t know a single mistake he has made over these years,&quot; Sechin said in rare public comments.

&quot;He is very careful at making decisions.&quot;

Speaking on everything from his family to childhood to love and happiness, Putin said he was capable of forgiving.

&quot;But not everything,&quot; he quickly added, noting he could not forgive a betrayal.

&quot;Generally speaking, I cannot complain that I&#39;ve come across any serious events that could be called a betrayal,&quot; Putin said.

Running against a motley crew of seven challengers, Putin is expected to take nearly 70 percent of the vote with a turnout of more than 60 percent, according to state-run pollsters.

The peninsula's annexation led to European and US sanctions against Moscow amid the most serious crisis in ties with the West since the end of the Cold War

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that under no circumstances would he give Crimea back to Ukraine, speaking in a new documentary released Sunday ahead of his expected re-election in next week's poll. "What, have you gone mad?" he told a journalist who asked him if there were any circumstances under which the Russian leader would be ready to give up Crimea. "There are no such circumstances and never will be," he said in the new two-hour documentary "Putin". It was published on the social media accounts of notorious pro-Kremlin TV host Dmitry Kiselev ahead of a presidential election on March 18. Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and supported Russian-speaking insurgents in the east of the ex-Soviet country after a Western-backed popular uprising ousted a Kremlin-backed regime from power in Kiev. The peninsula's annexation led to European and US sanctions against Moscow amid the most serious crisis in ties with the West since the end of the Cold War. The documentary -- produced by journalist Andrei Kondrashov, who is a spokesman for Putin's campaign -- features interviews with a number of the Russian leader's allies including former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and childhood friend cellist Sergei Roldugin. The secretive chief executive of oil giant Rosneft, Igor Sechin, said he had served under Putin in various capacities for nearly 30 years and that the president was "a very careful person". "Honestly speaking, I don't know a single mistake he has made over these years," Sechin said in rare public comments. "He is very careful at making decisions." Speaking on everything from his family to childhood to love and happiness, Putin said he was capable of forgiving. "But not everything," he quickly added, noting he could not forgive a betrayal. "Generally speaking, I cannot complain that I've come across any serious events that could be called a betrayal," Putin said. Running against a motley crew of seven challengers, Putin is expected to take nearly 70 percent of the vote with a turnout of more than 60 percent, according to state-run pollsters.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he will 'never' give Crimea back to Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that he had no plans to change the constitution to stay in the Kremlin beyond 2024.

Asked by the US television network NBC whether he would follow in the footsteps of China&#39;s Xi Jinping, Putin insisted he had no such intentions.

&quot;I never changed the constitution, I did not do it to suit myself and I have no such plans to do so today,&quot; he said in an interview whose transcript was released by the Kremlin on Saturday.

Putin also rejected suggestions that he could not quit power because it would put him in danger, saying he heard &quot;a lot of ravings on this subject&quot;.

&quot;Why do you think after me power in Russia will be necessarily taken over by people who are ready to destroy everything that I have done over the past years?&quot; Putin said.

He said though he had been thinking about his potential successor, ultimately the decision would be taken by the Russian people.

&quot;It never hurts to think but at the end of the day it will be the Russian people who will decide that,&quot; he said.

The Russian president, who is accused by critics of having ambitions to stay in power indefinitely, is expected to be reelected for a fourth term in an upcoming ballot.

Putin, who was first elected president in 2000 and is running for a fourth term in the March 18 polls, has always prided himself on respecting the constitution, which bars him from serving more than two presidential terms in a row.

Putin&#39;s top critic Alexei Navalny has been barred from contesting the poll because of a criminal conviction his supporters call punishment for challenging the strongman.

Putin declined to say whether he could pardon Navalny.

&quot;Any man can be pardoned if he deserves this,&quot; said Putin.

The Russian president, who never called Navalny by his name in public, referred to the 41-year-old opposition politician as &quot;certain political forces&quot;.

&quot;What do I like in principle? It&#39;s that they expose problems and this is good, indeed it&#39;s right,&quot; Putin said.

&quot;But it&#39;s not enough for the country&#39;s positive development. Absolutely not enough. Because concentrating one&#39;s attention on problems, it&#39;s not only insufficient, it&#39;s even dangerous because it could lead to certain destruction and we need creation.&quot;

Asked by the US television network NBC whether he would follow in the footsteps of China's Xi Jinping, Putin insisted he had no such intentions

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that he had no plans to change the constitution to stay in the Kremlin beyond 2024. Asked by the US television network NBC whether he would follow in the footsteps of China's Xi Jinping, Putin insisted he had no such intentions. "I never changed the constitution, I did not do it to suit myself and I have no such plans to do so today," he said in an interview whose transcript was released by the Kremlin on Saturday. Putin also rejected suggestions that he could not quit power because it would put him in danger, saying he heard "a lot of ravings on this subject". "Why do you think after me power in Russia will be necessarily taken over by people who are ready to destroy everything that I have done over the past years?" Putin said. He said though he had been thinking about his potential successor, ultimately the decision would be taken by the Russian people. "It never hurts to think but at the end of the day it will be the Russian people who will decide that," he said. The Russian president, who is accused by critics of having ambitions to stay in power indefinitely, is expected to be reelected for a fourth term in an upcoming ballot. Putin, who was first elected president in 2000 and is running for a fourth term in the March 18 polls, has always prided himself on respecting the constitution, which bars him from serving more than two presidential terms in a row. Putin's top critic Alexei Navalny has been barred from contesting the poll because of a criminal conviction his supporters call punishment for challenging the strongman. Putin declined to say whether he could pardon Navalny. "Any man can be pardoned if he deserves this," said Putin. The Russian president, who never called Navalny by his name in public, referred to the 41-year-old opposition politician as "certain political forces". "What do I like in principle? It's that they expose problems and this is good, indeed it's right," Putin said. "But it's not enough for the country's positive development. Absolutely not enough. Because concentrating one's attention on problems, it's not only insufficient, it's even dangerous because it could lead to certain destruction and we need creation."

No plans to do so: Putin on changing constitution to cling to power

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday praised female bosses and their &quot;typically feminine traits&quot; during a visit to a pastry factory ahead of International Women&#39;s Day.&nbsp;

March 8 is a public holiday in Russia but is mainly celebrated by giving flowers and chocolates to women rather than stressing the need for gender equality.

&quot;To be a major shareholder... or the head of a business, you have to have particular qualities,&quot; said Putin as he met with female entrepreneurs in the city of Samara on the Volga river.

&quot; I think that women do have these qualities, and even certain advantages,&quot; said the president, who cultivates a macho image and is often photographed topless and playing sports.&nbsp;

&quot;Men are, as they say, tougher. But if these leadership qualities are combined with typically feminine traits, then the result is often much superior to the assertiveness of strong men.&quot;

Russia&#39;s last female leader was Catherine the Great, who died in 1796, and the only woman standing in a presidential election this month, Ksenia Sobchak, has around one percent of the projected vote.

Communist candidate Pavel Grudinin has pulled out of televised presidential debates, which Putin has refused to take part in, but briefly returned Wednesday to wish Sobchak the best on the upcoming holiday.&nbsp;

He apologised to the former reality TV host and socialite &quot;on behalf of all men&quot; for the insults she suffered during a previous debate, at which an ultra-nationalist candidate called her a &quot;whore&quot;.&nbsp;

Grudinin then handed Sobchak a bouquet of flowers and left the stage.

Moscow Metro said it had set up temporary beauty salons in one of the capital&#39;s major underground stations to offer free make-up and styling to female passengers.

A group of feminist activists were detained on International Women&#39;s Day last year after protesting near the Kremlin with banners calling for an end to male rule.

March 8 is a public holiday in Russia but is mainly celebrated by giving flowers and chocolates to women than stressing the need for gender equality

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday praised female bosses and their "typically feminine traits" during a visit to a pastry factory ahead of International Women's Day. March 8 is a public holiday in Russia but is mainly celebrated by giving flowers and chocolates to women rather than stressing the need for gender equality. "To be a major shareholder... or the head of a business, you have to have particular qualities," said Putin as he met with female entrepreneurs in the city of Samara on the Volga river. " I think that women do have these qualities, and even certain advantages," said the president, who cultivates a macho image and is often photographed topless and playing sports. "Men are, as they say, tougher. But if these leadership qualities are combined with typically feminine traits, then the result is often much superior to the assertiveness of strong men." Russia's last female leader was Catherine the Great, who died in 1796, and the only woman standing in a presidential election this month, Ksenia Sobchak, has around one percent of the projected vote. Communist candidate Pavel Grudinin has pulled out of televised presidential debates, which Putin has refused to take part in, but briefly returned Wednesday to wish Sobchak the best on the upcoming holiday. He apologised to the former reality TV host and socialite "on behalf of all men" for the insults she suffered during a previous debate, at which an ultra-nationalist candidate called her a "whore". Grudinin then handed Sobchak a bouquet of flowers and left the stage. Moscow Metro said it had set up temporary beauty salons in one of the capital's major underground stations to offer free make-up and styling to female passengers. A group of feminist activists were detained on International Women's Day last year after protesting near the Kremlin with banners calling for an end to male rule.

Russian President Vladimir Putin hails 'advantages' of female bosses ahead of women's day

British police raced on Tuesday to identify the substance suspected of striking down a former Russian double agent convicted of treason in Moscow for betraying dozens of spies to British intelligence.

Britain&#39;s top counter-terrorism officer, Mark Rowley, said investigators needed to be &quot;alive to the fact of state threats&quot; after Sergei Skripal, once a colonel in Russia&#39;s GRU military intelligence service, was taken ill.

The 66-year-old former spy and his 33-year-old daughter, Yulia, were found on Sunday unconscious on a bench outside a shopping centre in the English city of Salisbury after exposure to what police said was an unknown substance.

Both were critically ill in intensive care.

Skripal, who passed the identity of dozens of spies to the MI6 foreign intelligence agency, was given refuge in Britain after he was exchanged in 2010 for Russian spies caught in the West as part of a Cold War-style spy swap at Vienna airport.

While the British authorities said there was no known risk to the public, police sealed off the area where the former spy was found and a pizza restaurant called Zizzi in the centre of Salisbury. Some investigators wore yellow chemical suits.

&quot;We&#39;re speaking to witnesses, we&#39;re taking forensic samples at the scene, we&#39;re doing toxicology work and that will help us to get to an answer,&quot; Rowley told BBC radio. He said counter-terrorism police were assisting the investigation.

&quot;We have to remember: Russian exiles aren&#39;t immortal, they do all die and there can be a tendency to conspiracy theories. But likewise we have to be alive to the fact of state threats,&quot; he said, pointing to the murder of Alexander Litvinenko.

A British inquiry said President Vladimir Putin probably approved the 2006 murder of ex-KGB agent Litvinenko with radioactive polonium-210 in London. The Kremlin has repeatedly denied any involvement in the killing of Litvinenko.

Litvinenko, 43, an outspoken critic of Putin who fled Russia for Britain six years before he was poisoned, died after drinking green tea laced with the rare and very potent radioactive isotope at London&rsquo;s Millennium Hotel.

It took some time for British doctors to discern the cause of Litvinenko&#39;s illness.

British police did not release the names of those who were being treated but two sources close to the investigation told Reuters that the critically ill man was Skripal. It was unclear what the substance was, they said.

The BBC, which first reported Skripal&#39;s name, said his daughter Yulia was the 33-year-old woman found beside him.

The Kremlin said it was ready to cooperate if Britain asks it for help investigating the incident with Skripal.

&quot;Nobody has approached us with such a request,&quot; Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a conference call with reporters when asked if the British authorities had been in touch seeking help. &quot;Moscow is always open for cooperation.&quot;

Calling it a &quot;tragic situation,&quot; Peskov said the Kremlin did not have information about the incident.

RUSSIAN SPY

Asked to respond to British media speculation that Russia had poisoned Skripal, Peskov said: &quot;It didn&#39;t take them long.&quot;

Skripal was arrested in 2004 by Russia&#39;s Federal Security Service (FSB) on suspicion of betraying dozens of Russian agents to British intelligence. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2006 after a secret trial.

Skripal, who was at the time shown wearing a track suit in a cage in court during the sentencing, had admitted betraying agents to MI6 in return for money, some of it paid into a Spanish bank account, Russian media said at the time.

But he was pardoned in 2010 by then-President Dmitry Medvedev as part of a swap to bring 10 Russian agents held in the United States back to Moscow.

SPY SWAP

The swap, one of the biggest since the Cold War ended in 1991, took place on the tarmac of Vienna airport where a Russian and a US jet parked side by side before the agents were exchanged.

One of the Russian spies exchanged for Skripal was Anna Chapman. She was one of 10 who tried to blend in to American society in an apparent bid to get close to power brokers and learn secrets. They were arrested by the FBI in 2010.

The returning Russian spies were greeted as heroes in Moscow. Putin, himself a former KGB officer who served in what was then East Germany, sang patriotic songs with them.

Skripal, though, was cast as a traitor by Moscow. He is thought to have done serious damage to Russian spy networks in Britain and Europe.

The GRU spy service, created in 1918 under revolutionary leader Leon Trotsky, is controlled by the military general staff and reports directly to the president. It has spies spread across the world.

Since emerging from the John le Carre world of high espionage and betrayal, Skripal lived modestly in Salisbury and kept out of the spotlight until he was found unconscious on Sunday.

The Sun newspaper said his wife was killed in a car accident shortly after her arrival in Britain. His son was killed in a car accident in Russia.

&quot;On the bench there was a couple, an older guy and a younger girl. She was sort of leant-in on him. It looked like she&#39;d passed out maybe. He was doing some strange hand movements, looking up to the sky,&quot; witness Freya Church told the BBC.

&quot;They looked so out of it that I thought even if I did step in I wasn&#39;t sure how I could help, so I just left them. But it looked like they&#39;d been taking something quite strong.&quot;

A white and yellow police forensics tent covered the bench where he was taken ill.

Both were critically ill in intensive care.

British police raced on Tuesday to identify the substance suspected of striking down a former Russian double agent convicted of treason in Moscow for betraying dozens of spies to British intelligence. Britain's top counter-terrorism officer, Mark Rowley, said investigators needed to be "alive to the fact of state threats" after Sergei Skripal, once a colonel in Russia's GRU military intelligence service, was taken ill. The 66-year-old former spy and his 33-year-old daughter, Yulia, were found on Sunday unconscious on a bench outside a shopping centre in the English city of Salisbury after exposure to what police said was an unknown substance. Both were critically ill in intensive care. Skripal, who passed the identity of dozens of spies to the MI6 foreign intelligence agency, was given refuge in Britain after he was exchanged in 2010 for Russian spies caught in the West as part of a Cold War-style spy swap at Vienna airport. While the British authorities said there was no known risk to the public, police sealed off the area where the former spy was found and a pizza restaurant called Zizzi in the centre of Salisbury. Some investigators wore yellow chemical suits. "We're speaking to witnesses, we're taking forensic samples at the scene, we're doing toxicology work and that will help us to get to an answer," Rowley told BBC radio. He said counter-terrorism police were assisting the investigation. "We have to remember: Russian exiles aren't immortal, they do all die and there can be a tendency to conspiracy theories. But likewise we have to be alive to the fact of state threats," he said, pointing to the murder of Alexander Litvinenko. A British inquiry said President Vladimir Putin probably approved the 2006 murder of ex-KGB agent Litvinenko with radioactive polonium-210 in London. The Kremlin has repeatedly denied any involvement in the killing of Litvinenko. Litvinenko, 43, an outspoken critic of Putin who fled Russia for Britain six years before he was poisoned, died after drinking green tea laced with the rare and very potent radioactive isotope at London’s Millennium Hotel. It took some time for British doctors to discern the cause of Litvinenko's illness. British police did not release the names of those who were being treated but two sources close to the investigation told Reuters that the critically ill man was Skripal. It was unclear what the substance was, they said. The BBC, which first reported Skripal's name, said his daughter Yulia was the 33-year-old woman found beside him. The Kremlin said it was ready to cooperate if Britain asks it for help investigating the incident with Skripal. "Nobody has approached us with such a request," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a conference call with reporters when asked if the British authorities had been in touch seeking help. "Moscow is always open for cooperation." Calling it a "tragic situation," Peskov said the Kremlin did not have information about the incident. RUSSIAN SPY Asked to respond to British media speculation that Russia had poisoned Skripal, Peskov said: "It didn't take them long." Skripal was arrested in 2004 by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) on suspicion of betraying dozens of Russian agents to British intelligence. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2006 after a secret trial. Skripal, who was at the time shown wearing a track suit in a cage in court during the sentencing, had admitted betraying agents to MI6 in return for money, some of it paid into a Spanish bank account, Russian media said at the time. But he was pardoned in 2010 by then-President Dmitry Medvedev as part of a swap to bring 10 Russian agents held in the United States back to Moscow. SPY SWAP The swap, one of the biggest since the Cold War ended in 1991, took place on the tarmac of Vienna airport where a Russian and a US jet parked side by side before the agents were exchanged. One of the Russian spies exchanged for Skripal was Anna Chapman. She was one of 10 who tried to blend in to American society in an apparent bid to get close to power brokers and learn secrets. They were arrested by the FBI in 2010. The returning Russian spies were greeted as heroes in Moscow. Putin, himself a former KGB officer who served in what was then East Germany, sang patriotic songs with them. Skripal, though, was cast as a traitor by Moscow. He is thought to have done serious damage to Russian spy networks in Britain and Europe. The GRU spy service, created in 1918 under revolutionary leader Leon Trotsky, is controlled by the military general staff and reports directly to the president. It has spies spread across the world. Since emerging from the John le Carre world of high espionage and betrayal, Skripal lived modestly in Salisbury and kept out of the spotlight until he was found unconscious on Sunday. The Sun newspaper said his wife was killed in a car accident shortly after her arrival in Britain. His son was killed in a car accident in Russia. "On the bench there was a couple, an older guy and a younger girl. She was sort of leant-in on him. It looked like she'd passed out maybe. He was doing some strange hand movements, looking up to the sky," witness Freya Church told the BBC. "They looked so out of it that I thought even if I did step in I wasn't sure how I could help, so I just left them. But it looked like they'd been taking something quite strong." A white and yellow police forensics tent covered the bench where he was taken ill.

Ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal, daughter ill after exposure to 'unidentified substance' in Britain

The Kremlin insisted US sanctions against Russia were &quot;illegal&quot; today, a day after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to extend measures put in place during the Ukraine crisis.

&quot;We have never been the initiator of these sanctions, we consider them illegal and harmful not just to the people of our two countries but the whole world,&quot; Russian presidential press spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today, Interfax news agency reported.

Washington imposed sanctions on Moscow following Russia&#39;s 2014 annexation of the Crimean peninsula and Moscow&#39;s backing of rebels in eastern Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin this week set the course for a new arms race with Washington as he boasted of a new generation of &quot;invincible&quot; Russian weapons developed in response to the threat posed by the US.

The moves come as relations between the global powers plummeted to levels not seen since the Cold War, despite candidate Trump&#39;s promises to mend fences.

As well as the Ukraine crisis, Russia and the US have clashed over the conflict in Syria and accusations that Moscow interfered in the US election in 2016.

Washington imposed sanctions on Moscow following Russia's 2014 annexation of the Crimean peninsula and Moscow's backing of rebels in eastern Ukraine

The Kremlin insisted US sanctions against Russia were "illegal" today, a day after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to extend measures put in place during the Ukraine crisis. "We have never been the initiator of these sanctions, we consider them illegal and harmful not just to the people of our two countries but the whole world," Russian presidential press spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today, Interfax news agency reported. Washington imposed sanctions on Moscow following Russia's 2014 annexation of the Crimean peninsula and Moscow's backing of rebels in eastern Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin this week set the course for a new arms race with Washington as he boasted of a new generation of "invincible" Russian weapons developed in response to the threat posed by the US. The moves come as relations between the global powers plummeted to levels not seen since the Cold War, despite candidate Trump's promises to mend fences. As well as the Ukraine crisis, Russia and the US have clashed over the conflict in Syria and accusations that Moscow interfered in the US election in 2016.

Russia slams 'illegal and harmful' extended US sanctions

President Vladimir Putin on Saturday promised &quot;victories&quot; for Russia at a star-studded rally attended by tens of thousands of supporters ahead of a March 18 election he is all but certain to win.

Olympic athletes, celebrities and cosmonauts had taken to the stage to voice their support for Putin, who has ruled Russia for almost two decades and is seeking to extend his Kremlin term to 2024.

&quot;We want our country to be bright and looking to the future, for our children and grandchildren...we will do everything we can for them to be happy,&quot; he told the cheering crowd at Moscow&#39;s Luzhniki stadium.

&quot;Nobody else will do this for us. And if we do this, the coming decade and the whole 21st century will be marked by our bright victories,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

&quot;Together we are a team. Are we a team?&quot; he asked the crowd, which replied, &quot;Yes!&quot;.&nbsp;

Organisers said around 100,000 people were expected to turn out. An AFP journalist said the stadium was completely full for Putin&#39;s speech, which was to be followed by a concert by big-name Russian popstars.

Supporters held signs saying &quot;I am for Putin&quot;, &quot;Putin is our president&quot; and &quot;I&#39;m voting for the future&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;I do not see another candidate who could be our commander in chief. He&#39;s the only one. Putin is our president,&quot; Oscar-winning director Nikita Mikhalkov said from the stage.&nbsp;

&quot;Only with him can our country achieve cosmic successes,&quot; said cosmonaut Sergei Ryazansky.&nbsp;

The event is the first rally in an otherwise lacklustre campaign for Putin, who has yet to produce a programme and has declined to take part in televised debates with seven other candidates.

None of the other contenders, including former socialite Ksenia Sobchak and millionaire communist Pavel Grudinin, has more than eight percent support, according to official polls.

On Thursday Putin used a state of the nation address to set the course for a new arms race with WMoscowngton, boasting of a new generation of &quot;invincible&quot; Russian weapons developed in response to recent actions by the United States.

He also outlined Russia&#39;s priorities for the six years that would be his next term, focusing on reducing poverty and tackling environmental problems.

Despite campaign promises when Putin returned to the Kremlin in 2012 after four years as prime minister, his last term was marked by a fall in living standards and Russia&#39;s international isolation.

Boosted by a slavish media and foreign military adventures such as the annexation of Crimea in 2014, his approval rating remains sky-high and official polls suggest he will take almost 70 percent of the vote.

Olympic athletes, celebrities, and cosmonauts had taken to the stage to voice their support for Putin

President Vladimir Putin on Saturday promised "victories" for Russia at a star-studded rally attended by tens of thousands of supporters ahead of a March 18 election he is all but certain to win. Olympic athletes, celebrities and cosmonauts had taken to the stage to voice their support for Putin, who has ruled Russia for almost two decades and is seeking to extend his Kremlin term to 2024. "We want our country to be bright and looking to the future, for our children and grandchildren...we will do everything we can for them to be happy," he told the cheering crowd at Moscow's Luzhniki stadium. "Nobody else will do this for us. And if we do this, the coming decade and the whole 21st century will be marked by our bright victories," he said. "Together we are a team. Are we a team?" he asked the crowd, which replied, "Yes!". Organisers said around 100,000 people were expected to turn out. An AFP journalist said the stadium was completely full for Putin's speech, which was to be followed by a concert by big-name Russian popstars. Supporters held signs saying "I am for Putin", "Putin is our president" and "I'm voting for the future". "I do not see another candidate who could be our commander in chief. He's the only one. Putin is our president," Oscar-winning director Nikita Mikhalkov said from the stage. "Only with him can our country achieve cosmic successes," said cosmonaut Sergei Ryazansky. The event is the first rally in an otherwise lacklustre campaign for Putin, who has yet to produce a programme and has declined to take part in televised debates with seven other candidates. None of the other contenders, including former socialite Ksenia Sobchak and millionaire communist Pavel Grudinin, has more than eight percent support, according to official polls. On Thursday Putin used a state of the nation address to set the course for a new arms race with WMoscowngton, boasting of a new generation of "invincible" Russian weapons developed in response to recent actions by the United States. He also outlined Russia's priorities for the six years that would be his next term, focusing on reducing poverty and tackling environmental problems. Despite campaign promises when Putin returned to the Kremlin in 2012 after four years as prime minister, his last term was marked by a fall in living standards and Russia's international isolation. Boosted by a slavish media and foreign military adventures such as the annexation of Crimea in 2014, his approval rating remains sky-high and official polls suggest he will take almost 70 percent of the vote.

Putin promises 'victories' for Russia at star-studded rally

Pamela Anderson, former Playboy model who has been married four times and has never been shy to talk about her relationships has now revealed some more explicit details about her love life to Piers Morgan.&nbsp;

Speaking on Piers Morgan&#39;s Life Stories, the 50-year-old model-actress turned activist&nbsp;spoke candidly about the men in her life as she hinted at past relationships. She hinted at a romance with the likes of&nbsp;Vladimir Putin, 65, Julian Assange, 46, Sylvester Stallone, 71, and of course her current flame, footballer boyfriend Adil Rami, 32.&nbsp;

Anderson spoke about her connect with Putin with whom she successfully lobbied to get him to ban the hunting of seals in 2009.&nbsp;

She then teased a romantic relationship with Assange by answering to Morgans&#39; question of them being together as&nbsp;being &quot;mostly&quot; good friends. She had previously stated: &quot;I wouldn&#39;t say it&#39;s romantic, but we are very close.&quot;

Anderson also spoke about her rapport with&nbsp;Sylvester Stallone who she claimed attempted to woo her by offering her an apartment and a car. She, however, declined the offer.&nbsp;

Anderson went on to explain that she always her aunt&#39;s mantra that &quot;One man can&rsquo;t do it all&quot;, as she explained that she has different men in her life that stimulate different parts of her.

She then said that her heart remains with her current boyfriend,&nbsp;Marseille footballer Adil Rami - who she now lives with, in France. She said, &quot;He is fantastic. I love him, of course. I probably should not be talking about it. I am so bad. I have no filter. So bad. You are so good. It is what it is. I am happy in France.&quot;

On another note, she also revealed that men in Hollywood must not feel that they can&#39;t make the first move in the wake of the sexual misconduct scandal. She said,&nbsp;&quot;Obviously, I am supportive of women and feel for women that have been made sexual advances on that they don&rsquo;t want, but I also feel for the men too. I have two young boys and I always was very worried about a woman falsely accusing them of something and ruining their lives, so I thought people ask me if I&rsquo;m a feminist and I don&rsquo;t want women or men telling me how to be a woman. I prefer men to be passionate and aggressive and make the first move, and you don&rsquo;t want men to feel like they can&rsquo;t, but obviously there are people that go too far.&quot;

Anderson, interestingly, also added that being vegan is &quot;better for your sex life&quot;.&nbsp;

She has been married four times and has been very vocal about her relationships

Pamela Anderson, former Playboy model who has been married four times and has never been shy to talk about her relationships has now revealed some more explicit details about her love life to Piers Morgan. Speaking on Piers Morgan's Life Stories, the 50-year-old model-actress turned activist spoke candidly about the men in her life as she hinted at past relationships. She hinted at a romance with the likes of Vladimir Putin, 65, Julian Assange, 46, Sylvester Stallone, 71, and of course her current flame, footballer boyfriend Adil Rami, 32. Anderson spoke about her connect with Putin with whom she successfully lobbied to get him to ban the hunting of seals in 2009. She then teased a romantic relationship with Assange by answering to Morgans' question of them being together as being "mostly" good friends. She had previously stated: "I wouldn't say it's romantic, but we are very close." Anderson also spoke about her rapport with Sylvester Stallone who she claimed attempted to woo her by offering her an apartment and a car. She, however, declined the offer. Anderson went on to explain that she always her aunt's mantra that "One man can’t do it all", as she explained that she has different men in her life that stimulate different parts of her. She then said that her heart remains with her current boyfriend, Marseille footballer Adil Rami - who she now lives with, in France. She said, "He is fantastic. I love him, of course. I probably should not be talking about it. I am so bad. I have no filter. So bad. You are so good. It is what it is. I am happy in France." On another note, she also revealed that men in Hollywood must not feel that they can't make the first move in the wake of the sexual misconduct scandal. She said, "Obviously, I am supportive of women and feel for women that have been made sexual advances on that they don’t want, but I also feel for the men too. I have two young boys and I always was very worried about a woman falsely accusing them of something and ruining their lives, so I thought people ask me if I’m a feminist and I don’t want women or men telling me how to be a woman. I prefer men to be passionate and aggressive and make the first move, and you don’t want men to feel like they can’t, but obviously there are people that go too far." Anderson, interestingly, also added that being vegan is "better for your sex life".

Pamela Anderson spoke about her wild love life to Piers Morgan, said 'one man can't do it all'

The United States on Thursday accused Moscow of openly breaching Cold War-era treaties by developing what Russian President Vladimir Putin called a new generation of &quot;invincible&quot; hypersonic weapons and submarines.

Putin unveiled the new arsenal earlier Thursday in a state of the nation address, challenging Washington to a new arms race ahead of a presidential election that will all but certainly confirm his grip on power.

Putin left his usual Kremlin perch to this year speak from a nearby exhibition centre -- allowing him to show a series of video montages of missiles crossing mountains and oceans, heading over the Atlantic before striking the US eastern seaboard.

He quoted a speech he gave in 2004, vowing that Russia would develop a new generation of weaponry, a promise that he said he has now fulfilled.

&quot;No one really wanted to talk to us basically. No one listened to us then. Listen to us now,&quot; Putin said, prompting a standing ovation from the audience of top officials, lawmakers and celebrities.

He presented Russia&#39;s military efforts as a response to recent actions by the United States, which last month unveiled plans to revamp its own nuclear arsenal and develop new low-yield atomic weapons.

&#39;Cheesy&#39; attack video 

The State Department expressed outrage at Putin&#39;s presentation and his &quot;cheesy&quot; animated video of warheads over US soil -- and said the Russian leader had confirmed long-held allegations about his program.

&quot;It was certainly unfortunate to have watched the video animation that depicted a nuclear attack on the United States,&quot; spokeswoman Heather Nauert told reporters.

&quot;That&#39;s something that we certainly didn&#39;t enjoy watching. We don&#39;t regard that as the behaviour of a responsible international player,&quot; she added.

&quot;President Putin has confirmed what the United States government has known for a long time but that Russia has denied prior to this,&quot; she added.

&quot;Russia has been developing destabilizing weapons systems for more than a decade in direct violation of its treaty obligations.&quot;

Specifically, Nauert said that Moscow had proven itself in violation of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), through its development of ground-launched cruise missiles.

The Pentagon reacted with more equanimity, with a spokesman insisting that the US military remains &quot;fully prepared&quot; to react to &quot;anything that comes our way.&quot; &nbsp;

The United States has long accused Russia of breaching the INF treaty and, while it is modernizing its own nuclear arsenal, says that it remains in compliance with the terms of the Cold War accord.

The spat came as relations between the powers lie frozen at levels not seen since the Cold War over the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria and accusations that Moscow interfered in the US presidential election in 2016.

Also Thursday, the US formally approved the sale of Javelin anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, which is fighting a Russian-backed insurgency in the east of the country.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Ukraine has asked President Donald Trump&#39;s US administration for permission to buy 210 missiles and 37 launchers at a cost of around $47 million

&#39;Fantastic&#39; submarines&nbsp;

In a speech that ran almost two hours, Putin showed tests of a new missile system that he said could fly at 20 times the speed of sound and manoeuvre up and down and is not owned by any other country.&nbsp;

&quot;This makes it absolutely invincible for any forms of air and missile defence,&quot; he boasted, calling it an &quot;ideal weapon.&quot;

Russia has also developed unmanned underwater devices that move much faster than submarines and torpedoes and can carry nuclear warheads, Putin said, adding: &quot;It&#39;s just fantastic!&quot;

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu later said Russian arms would be able to &quot;overcome all existing anti-missile systems&quot; such as those the US intends to deploy in eastern Europe and South Korea.

&quot;This anti-missile &#39;umbrella&#39; turns out to be a bit &#39;leaky&#39;,&quot; he said in comments released by his ministry.

Putin, who has led Russia for almost two decades and is seeking in the March 18 election a historic fourth Kremlin term that would extend his rule to 2024, also laid out a number of domestic measures in the speech.

Putin has refused to take part in TV debates with other candidates, but the address suggested cutting poverty and improving the environment would be among the top goals of his expected new six-year term.

- &#39;Unacceptable&#39; poverty - 
The 65-year-old vowed to cut the country&#39;s &quot;unacceptable&quot; poverty rate in half over six years but said 22 million fewer Russians were now living below the poverty line than when he was first elected president.

Putin, who coughed throughout the speech and was forced to pause to drink, was given an ecstatic reception in the hall during the televised address but some online comments were less complimentary.

&quot;The old man only perked up when he was talking about how he can destroy the world. A moment of truth!&quot; former Kremlin advisor Gleb Pavlovsky said on social media.

Despite Putin&#39;s campaign promises when he returned to the Kremlin in 2012 after four years as prime minister, his last term was marked by a fall in living standards and Russia&#39;s international isolation.

Boosted by a slavish media and foreign military adventures such as the annexation of Crimea in 2014, his approval rating remains sky-high and official polls suggest he will take almost 70 percent of the vote on March 18.

Putin unveiled the new arsenal earlier Thursday in a state of the nation address, challenging Washington to a new arms race ahead of a presidential election that will all but certainly confirm his grip on power.

The United States on Thursday accused Moscow of openly breaching Cold War-era treaties by developing what Russian President Vladimir Putin called a new generation of "invincible" hypersonic weapons and submarines. Putin unveiled the new arsenal earlier Thursday in a state of the nation address, challenging Washington to a new arms race ahead of a presidential election that will all but certainly confirm his grip on power. Putin left his usual Kremlin perch to this year speak from a nearby exhibition centre -- allowing him to show a series of video montages of missiles crossing mountains and oceans, heading over the Atlantic before striking the US eastern seaboard. He quoted a speech he gave in 2004, vowing that Russia would develop a new generation of weaponry, a promise that he said he has now fulfilled. "No one really wanted to talk to us basically. No one listened to us then. Listen to us now," Putin said, prompting a standing ovation from the audience of top officials, lawmakers and celebrities. He presented Russia's military efforts as a response to recent actions by the United States, which last month unveiled plans to revamp its own nuclear arsenal and develop new low-yield atomic weapons. 'Cheesy' attack video The State Department expressed outrage at Putin's presentation and his "cheesy" animated video of warheads over US soil -- and said the Russian leader had confirmed long-held allegations about his program. "It was certainly unfortunate to have watched the video animation that depicted a nuclear attack on the United States," spokeswoman Heather Nauert told reporters. "That's something that we certainly didn't enjoy watching. We don't regard that as the behaviour of a responsible international player," she added. "President Putin has confirmed what the United States government has known for a long time but that Russia has denied prior to this," she added. "Russia has been developing destabilizing weapons systems for more than a decade in direct violation of its treaty obligations." Specifically, Nauert said that Moscow had proven itself in violation of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), through its development of ground-launched cruise missiles. The Pentagon reacted with more equanimity, with a spokesman insisting that the US military remains "fully prepared" to react to "anything that comes our way." The United States has long accused Russia of breaching the INF treaty and, while it is modernizing its own nuclear arsenal, says that it remains in compliance with the terms of the Cold War accord. The spat came as relations between the powers lie frozen at levels not seen since the Cold War over the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria and accusations that Moscow interfered in the US presidential election in 2016. Also Thursday, the US formally approved the sale of Javelin anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, which is fighting a Russian-backed insurgency in the east of the country. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Ukraine has asked President Donald Trump's US administration for permission to buy 210 missiles and 37 launchers at a cost of around $47 million 'Fantastic' submarines In a speech that ran almost two hours, Putin showed tests of a new missile system that he said could fly at 20 times the speed of sound and manoeuvre up and down and is not owned by any other country. "This makes it absolutely invincible for any forms of air and missile defence," he boasted, calling it an "ideal weapon." Russia has also developed unmanned underwater devices that move much faster than submarines and torpedoes and can carry nuclear warheads, Putin said, adding: "It's just fantastic!" Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu later said Russian arms would be able to "overcome all existing anti-missile systems" such as those the US intends to deploy in eastern Europe and South Korea. "This anti-missile 'umbrella' turns out to be a bit 'leaky'," he said in comments released by his ministry. Putin, who has led Russia for almost two decades and is seeking in the March 18 election a historic fourth Kremlin term that would extend his rule to 2024, also laid out a number of domestic measures in the speech. Putin has refused to take part in TV debates with other candidates, but the address suggested cutting poverty and improving the environment would be among the top goals of his expected new six-year term. - 'Unacceptable' poverty - The 65-year-old vowed to cut the country's "unacceptable" poverty rate in half over six years but said 22 million fewer Russians were now living below the poverty line than when he was first elected president. Putin, who coughed throughout the speech and was forced to pause to drink, was given an ecstatic reception in the hall during the televised address but some online comments were less complimentary. "The old man only perked up when he was talking about how he can destroy the world. A moment of truth!" former Kremlin advisor Gleb Pavlovsky said on social media. Despite Putin's campaign promises when he returned to the Kremlin in 2012 after four years as prime minister, his last term was marked by a fall in living standards and Russia's international isolation. Boosted by a slavish media and foreign military adventures such as the annexation of Crimea in 2014, his approval rating remains sky-high and official polls suggest he will take almost 70 percent of the vote on March 18.

US accuses Russia of breaching treaties with 'invincible' weapons

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&quot;Don&#39;t worry, I am there,&quot; former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram reportedly told his son Karti who has been sent to 5-day police custody in connection with the INX Media money laundering case.&nbsp;

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President Vladimir Putin announced an array of new nuclear weapons on Thursday, in one of his most bellicose speeches in years, saying they could hit almost any point in the world and evade a U.S.-built missile shield.

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Canada&#39;s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced persistent criticism Thursday over a convicted Sikh extremist&#39;s attendance at a Canadian event in Mumbai, nearly a week after the premier&#39;s return from a trip to India.

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The Taliban needs to support the Afghan constitution and abandon terror and violence if it wants peace talks with the US, said Pentagon&#39;s Chief Spokesperson Dana White. White made the comment in reply to the Taliban&#39;s call for direct talks to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Afghanistan.

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PNB scam: Cannot confirm Nirav Modi is here, says US The United States government is aware of media reports that diamond jeweller Nirav Modi is in the country but is unable to confirm them, a State Department official said today. P Chidambaram tells son Karti: 'Don't worry, I'm there' "Don't worry, I am there," former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram reportedly told his son Karti who has been sent to 5-day police custody in connection with the INX Media money laundering case. Putin, before vote, unveils 'invincible' nuclear weapons to counter West President Vladimir Putin announced an array of new nuclear weapons on Thursday, in one of his most bellicose speeches in years, saying they could hit almost any point in the world and evade a U.S.-built missile shield. Khalistan terrorist 'fiasco' follows Trudeau back to Canada Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced persistent criticism Thursday over a convicted Sikh extremist's attendance at a Canadian event in Mumbai, nearly a week after the premier's return from a trip to India. For peace talks, Taliban must quit violence: US The Taliban needs to support the Afghan constitution and abandon terror and violence if it wants peace talks with the US, said Pentagon's Chief Spokesperson Dana White. White made the comment in reply to the Taliban's call for direct talks to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Afghanistan.

WION Morning News Brief, March 2, 2018

President Vladimir Putin announced an array of new nuclear weapons on Thursday, in one of his most bellicose speeches in years, saying they could hit almost any point in the world and evade a U.S.-built missile shield.

Putin was speaking ahead of an election on March 18 that polls indicate he should win easily. He said a nuclear attack on any of Moscow&#39;s allies would be regarded as an attack on Russia itself and draw an immediate response.

It was unclear if he had a particular Russian ally, such as Syria, in mind, but his comments looked like a warning to Washington not to use tactical battlefield nuclear weapons.

His remarks were greeted with scepticism in Washington, where officials cast doubt on whether Russia has added any new capabilities to its nuclear arsenal beyond those already known to the U.S. military and intelligence agencies.

The Pentagon, which recently announced a nuclear policy revamp based partly on the bellicose posture from Moscow, said it was not surprised by Putin&#39;s presentation.

&quot;We&#39;ve been watching Russia for a long time. We&#39;re not surprised,&quot; Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said.

&quot;These weapons that are discussed have been in development a very long time,&quot; she told a news briefing, without addressing any of Putin&#39;s specific claims of new capabilities.

John Rood, U.S. under secretary of defense for policy, declined to comment on U.S. intelligence on Russian capabilities.

But, addressing a forum in Washington, Rood generally played down Putin&#39;s presentation, saying: &quot;I think it&#39;s broadly consistent with things that have been stated before (by) Russian officials.&quot;

The Trump administration accused Moscow anew of violating a Cold War-era treaty which banned nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with a range of 500-5,500 km (300-3,400 miles).

&quot;President Putin has confirmed what the United States government has known all along, which Russia has denied: Russia has been developing destabilizing weapons systems for over a decade in direct violations of its treaty obligations,&quot; White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.

Putin has often used militaristic rhetoric to mobilise support and buttress his narrative that Russia is under siege from the West. His 2014 annexation of Ukraine&#39;s Crimea boosted his ratings to a record high and he has cast his military intervention in Syria as a proud moment for Moscow.

On Thursday, he sought to back his rhetoric with video clips of what he said were some of the new missiles. The images were projected onto a giant screen behind him at a conference hall in central Moscow where he was addressing Russia&#39;s political elite.

&quot;They have not succeeded in holding Russia back,&quot; said Putin, referring to the West, which he said had ignored Moscow in the past, but would now have to sit up and listen.

&quot;Now they need to take account of a new reality and understand that everything I have said today is not a bluff.&quot;

Among weapons that Putin said were either in development or ready was a new intercontinental ballistic missile &quot;with a practically unlimited range&quot; able to attack via the North and South Poles and bypass any missile defence systems.

Putin also spoke of a small nuclear-powered engine that could be fitted to what he said were low-flying, highly manoeuvrable cruise missiles, giving them a practically unlimited range.

The new engine meant Russia was able to make a new type of weapon - nuclear missiles powered by nuclear rather than conventional fuel.

&quot;Nothing like it in the world exists,&quot; Putin told the audience. &quot;At some point it will probably appear (elsewhere) but by that time our guys will have devised something else.&quot;

Other new super weapons he listed included underwater nuclear drones, a supersonic weapon and a laser weapon.

In one of his video clip demos, a weapon appeared to be hovering over what looked like a map of the state of Florida.

&quot;It was certainly unfortunate to have watched the video animation that depicted a nuclear attack on the United States,&quot; State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told a news briefing. &quot;We don&#39;t regard that as the behavior of a responsible international player.&quot;

Putin&#39;s audience, made up of Russian lawmakers and other leading figures, frequently stood up and applauded his presentation, which culminated with the Russian national anthem being played.

Earlier in the speech, he had struck a very different tone, ordering officials to halve the number of Russians living in poverty by sharply boosting social and infrastructure spending in an obvious pre-election pitch to voters.

NATO measures &#39;&#39;useless&quot;

Putin, who has dominated his country&#39;s political landscape for the last 18 years, said the technological advances meant that NATO&#39;s build-up on Russia&#39;s borders and the roll-out of a U.S. anti-missile system would be rendered useless.

&quot;I hope that everything that was said today will sober up any potential aggressor,&quot; said Putin.

&quot;Unfriendly steps towards Russia such as the deployment of the (U.S.) anti-missile system and of NATO infrastructure nearer our borders and such like, from a military point of view, will become ineffective.&quot;

Steps to contain Russia would also become unjustifiably expensive and pointless, he forecast.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said in a statement after the speech that the new weapons Putin had unveiled meant that NATO&#39;s missile defence shield, in Poland, Romania and Alaska and planned elements in South Korea and Japan was like an umbrella that was full of holes.

&quot;I don&#39;t know why they would now buy such an &#39;umbrella&#39;,&quot; Shoigu said, referring to Seoul and Tokyo.

NATO declined immediate comment.

The United States has long asserted that U.S. missile defenses are incapable of halting a large-scale attack by a major nuclear power, like Russia or China, due in part to the limited number of U.S. missile interceptors.

Instead, the technology is aimed at what the United States views as &quot;rogue&quot; states, such as Iran or North Korea.

&quot;They know very well that it&#39;s not about them. Our missile defense has never been about them,&quot; White said.

She added that the U.S. focus in addressing Russia&#39;s nuclear modernization was strengthening America&#39;s own nuclear forces to serve as a deterrent.

Lisbeth Gronlund, senior scientist and co-director of the Global Security Program of the Union of Concerned Scientists, said Putin&#39;s announcement of a missile with a nuclear-powered engine, even if true, would change little when it came to the Russian threat since Russia already has large numbers of ICBMs.

Putin also voiced concerns about a new U.S. nuclear doctrine, saying Russia&#39;s own doctrine was defensive and only envisaged the use of nuclear weapons in response to an attack.

Russia has repeatedly said it is keen to hold talks with the United States about the balance of strategic nuclear power and Putin put Washington and other nuclear powers on notice.

&quot;We will view any use of nuclear weapons against Russia or its allies, be it of small, medium or any force, as a nuclear attack on our country,&quot; he said.

&quot;Our response will be immediate. Nobody should have any doubts about that.&quot;

Putin said that Russia did not plan to attack anyone, however. Russia&#39;s growing military might was a guarantee of world peace, he said, designed to preserve a strategic balance of power on the planet.

Putin was speaking ahead of an election on March 18 that polls indicate he should win easily.

President Vladimir Putin announced an array of new nuclear weapons on Thursday, in one of his most bellicose speeches in years, saying they could hit almost any point in the world and evade a U.S.-built missile shield. Putin was speaking ahead of an election on March 18 that polls indicate he should win easily. He said a nuclear attack on any of Moscow's allies would be regarded as an attack on Russia itself and draw an immediate response. It was unclear if he had a particular Russian ally, such as Syria, in mind, but his comments looked like a warning to Washington not to use tactical battlefield nuclear weapons. His remarks were greeted with scepticism in Washington, where officials cast doubt on whether Russia has added any new capabilities to its nuclear arsenal beyond those already known to the U.S. military and intelligence agencies. The Pentagon, which recently announced a nuclear policy revamp based partly on the bellicose posture from Moscow, said it was not surprised by Putin's presentation. "We've been watching Russia for a long time. We're not surprised," Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said. "These weapons that are discussed have been in development a very long time," she told a news briefing, without addressing any of Putin's specific claims of new capabilities. John Rood, U.S. under secretary of defense for policy, declined to comment on U.S. intelligence on Russian capabilities. But, addressing a forum in Washington, Rood generally played down Putin's presentation, saying: "I think it's broadly consistent with things that have been stated before (by) Russian officials." The Trump administration accused Moscow anew of violating a Cold War-era treaty which banned nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with a range of 500-5,500 km (300-3,400 miles). "President Putin has confirmed what the United States government has known all along, which Russia has denied: Russia has been developing destabilizing weapons systems for over a decade in direct violations of its treaty obligations," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said. Putin has often used militaristic rhetoric to mobilise support and buttress his narrative that Russia is under siege from the West. His 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimea boosted his ratings to a record high and he has cast his military intervention in Syria as a proud moment for Moscow. On Thursday, he sought to back his rhetoric with video clips of what he said were some of the new missiles. The images were projected onto a giant screen behind him at a conference hall in central Moscow where he was addressing Russia's political elite. "They have not succeeded in holding Russia back," said Putin, referring to the West, which he said had ignored Moscow in the past, but would now have to sit up and listen. "Now they need to take account of a new reality and understand that everything I have said today is not a bluff." Among weapons that Putin said were either in development or ready was a new intercontinental ballistic missile "with a practically unlimited range" able to attack via the North and South Poles and bypass any missile defence systems. Putin also spoke of a small nuclear-powered engine that could be fitted to what he said were low-flying, highly manoeuvrable cruise missiles, giving them a practically unlimited range. The new engine meant Russia was able to make a new type of weapon - nuclear missiles powered by nuclear rather than conventional fuel. "Nothing like it in the world exists," Putin told the audience. "At some point it will probably appear (elsewhere) but by that time our guys will have devised something else." Other new super weapons he listed included underwater nuclear drones, a supersonic weapon and a laser weapon. In one of his video clip demos, a weapon appeared to be hovering over what looked like a map of the state of Florida. "It was certainly unfortunate to have watched the video animation that depicted a nuclear attack on the United States," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told a news briefing. "We don't regard that as the behavior of a responsible international player." Putin's audience, made up of Russian lawmakers and other leading figures, frequently stood up and applauded his presentation, which culminated with the Russian national anthem being played. Earlier in the speech, he had struck a very different tone, ordering officials to halve the number of Russians living in poverty by sharply boosting social and infrastructure spending in an obvious pre-election pitch to voters. NATO measures ''useless" Putin, who has dominated his country's political landscape for the last 18 years, said the technological advances meant that NATO's build-up on Russia's borders and the roll-out of a U.S. anti-missile system would be rendered useless. "I hope that everything that was said today will sober up any potential aggressor," said Putin. "Unfriendly steps towards Russia such as the deployment of the (U.S.) anti-missile system and of NATO infrastructure nearer our borders and such like, from a military point of view, will become ineffective." Steps to contain Russia would also become unjustifiably expensive and pointless, he forecast. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said in a statement after the speech that the new weapons Putin had unveiled meant that NATO's missile defence shield, in Poland, Romania and Alaska and planned elements in South Korea and Japan was like an umbrella that was full of holes. "I don't know why they would now buy such an 'umbrella'," Shoigu said, referring to Seoul and Tokyo. NATO declined immediate comment. The United States has long asserted that U.S. missile defenses are incapable of halting a large-scale attack by a major nuclear power, like Russia or China, due in part to the limited number of U.S. missile interceptors. Instead, the technology is aimed at what the United States views as "rogue" states, such as Iran or North Korea. "They know very well that it's not about them. Our missile defense has never been about them," White said. She added that the U.S. focus in addressing Russia's nuclear modernization was strengthening America's own nuclear forces to serve as a deterrent. Lisbeth Gronlund, senior scientist and co-director of the Global Security Program of the Union of Concerned Scientists, said Putin's announcement of a missile with a nuclear-powered engine, even if true, would change little when it came to the Russian threat since Russia already has large numbers of ICBMs. Putin also voiced concerns about a new U.S. nuclear doctrine, saying Russia's own doctrine was defensive and only envisaged the use of nuclear weapons in response to an attack. Russia has repeatedly said it is keen to hold talks with the United States about the balance of strategic nuclear power and Putin put Washington and other nuclear powers on notice. "We will view any use of nuclear weapons against Russia or its allies, be it of small, medium or any force, as a nuclear attack on our country," he said. "Our response will be immediate. Nobody should have any doubts about that." Putin said that Russia did not plan to attack anyone, however. Russia's growing military might was a guarantee of world peace, he said, designed to preserve a strategic balance of power on the planet.

Putin, before vote, unveils 'invincible' nuclear weapons to counter West

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will hold talks on Sunday with Russia&#39;s Vladimir Putin over implementing a UN ceasefire in Syria, France&#39;s presidency said, as new airstrikes pounded a rebel-held area.

The discussion, which was announced after the UN Security Council on Saturday unanimously demanded a 30-day truce, will centre on the &quot;implementation of this resolution and on the political roadmap needed to achieve lasting peace in Syria&quot;, it said.

More than 500 civilians are thought to have died in a week of heavy bombardment by Syria&#39;s regime of the rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta, just outside Damascus.

After the council vote, which had support from Moscow, Syrian warplanes backed by Russian air power launched new raids on Eastern Ghouta, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.&nbsp;

The Britain-based monitor said at least 41 civilians were killed in Saturday&#39;s strikes, including eight children. Russia has denied taking part in the assault.&nbsp;

France and Germany have pushed for Russian support for the Syria ceasefire, which is mainly to allow aid to reach the besieged area and allow evacuations.

In its statement France&#39;s presidency said the ceasefire was &quot;an essential first step&quot;, adding that it would be &quot;extremely vigilant&quot; over its implementation.&nbsp;

More than 500 civilians are thought to have died in a week of heavy bombardment by Syria's regime of the rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta, just outside Damascus

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will hold talks on Sunday with Russia's Vladimir Putin over implementing a UN ceasefire in Syria, France's presidency said, as new airstrikes pounded a rebel-held area. The discussion, which was announced after the UN Security Council on Saturday unanimously demanded a 30-day truce, will centre on the "implementation of this resolution and on the political roadmap needed to achieve lasting peace in Syria", it said. More than 500 civilians are thought to have died in a week of heavy bombardment by Syria's regime of the rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta, just outside Damascus. After the council vote, which had support from Moscow, Syrian warplanes backed by Russian air power launched new raids on Eastern Ghouta, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The Britain-based monitor said at least 41 civilians were killed in Saturday's strikes, including eight children. Russia has denied taking part in the assault. France and Germany have pushed for Russian support for the Syria ceasefire, which is mainly to allow aid to reach the besieged area and allow evacuations. In its statement France's presidency said the ceasefire was "an essential first step", adding that it would be "extremely vigilant" over its implementation.

Macron, Merkel to talk Syria ceasefire plan with Putin

&nbsp;Russia, the Syrian regime&#39;s main backer, plans to help Damascus relaunch its energy industry which has been devastated by years of conflict, Energy Minister Alexander Novak has said.

&quot;We have signed a roadmap, not only in the field of electricity, but also oil and gas, covering the restoration of oil fields and the development of new deposits,&quot; Kovak was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies yesterday.

He did not name any Russian companies that may be involved.

As the main international backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad&#39;s regime, Russia has committed itself to aiding in the country&#39;s reconstruction.

Last week an agreement was signed on the &quot;rehabilitation, modernisation and construction of new energy facilities in Syria&quot; Russia&#39;s energy ministry said on its website.

&quot;We attach great importance to restoring the Syrian economy, especially the oil and gas sectors which will certainly contribute to the normalisation of the economic and social situation in the country,&quot; said Novak.

In December a Russian business and political delegation visited Damascus to discuss investment and reconstruction with Assad, including oil and gas projects but also electricity, phosphates, transport and trade.

&quot;Syria is a land of unlimited riches,&quot; Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, who led the delegation, said at the time.

&quot;Russian companies have the moral right to develop large-scale economic projects here,&quot; Rogozin said then.

Russia intervened in the Syrian conflict in September 2015 in support of Assad.

In December last year, President Vladimir Putin ordered the partial retreat of Russian troops from Syria.

'We have signed a roadmap, not only in the field of electricity but also oil and gas, covering the restoration of oil fields and the development of new deposits,' Alexander Novak

Russia, the Syrian regime's main backer, plans to help Damascus relaunch its energy industry which has been devastated by years of conflict, Energy Minister Alexander Novak has said. "We have signed a roadmap, not only in the field of electricity, but also oil and gas, covering the restoration of oil fields and the development of new deposits," Kovak was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies yesterday. He did not name any Russian companies that may be involved. As the main international backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime, Russia has committed itself to aiding in the country's reconstruction. Last week an agreement was signed on the "rehabilitation, modernisation and construction of new energy facilities in Syria" Russia's energy ministry said on its website. "We attach great importance to restoring the Syrian economy, especially the oil and gas sectors which will certainly contribute to the normalisation of the economic and social situation in the country," said Novak. In December a Russian business and political delegation visited Damascus to discuss investment and reconstruction with Assad, including oil and gas projects but also electricity, phosphates, transport and trade. "Syria is a land of unlimited riches," Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, who led the delegation, said at the time. "Russian companies have the moral right to develop large-scale economic projects here," Rogozin said then. Russia intervened in the Syrian conflict in September 2015 in support of Assad. In December last year, President Vladimir Putin ordered the partial retreat of Russian troops from Syria.

Russia wants to help Syria relaunch oil production

Russian police raided the Moscow headquarters of opposition leader Alexei Navalny on Sunday after his supporters began a day of nationwide protests, calling for a boycott of what they said would be a rigged presidential election in March.

Police forced their way into Navalny`s office using power tools, citing reports of a bomb threat, an online feed run by Navalny`s supporters showed.

Navalny also wrote on Twitter that he has been detained soon after joining a rally in Moscow on Sunday.

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Меня задержали. Это значения не имеет. Приходите на Тверскую. Вы не за меня выходите, а за себя и своё будущее.
&mdash; Alexey Navalny (@navalny) <a href="https://twitter.com/navalny/status/957578736001536000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Navalny has been barred from running in the March 18 election which polls show incumbent president Vladimir Putin is on track to easily win. Though Navalny says he knows Putin will be re-elected, his spoiler campaign is aimed at lowering voter turnout to try to take the shine off a Putin win.

Six of Navalny`s allies were detained during the police raid, OVD-Info, an independent monitoring group, said. It said they were among more than 60 people detained across Russia by 1300 Moscow time.&nbsp;

Police shut down a TV studio at Navalny`s office during the same raid which had been broadcasting online news bulletins, but another studio in a different location continued to operate.

In the Urals city of Yekaterinburg, just under 900 miles (1448.41 km) east of Moscow, around 1,000 protesters gathered in temperatures of nearly -10 Celsius (50 Fahrenheit) to back Navalny`s boycott call.

&quot;No election? No to elections,&quot; a placard being held by one young man read. Other protesters waved Russian flags or red and white placards calling for a boycott.

&quot;We don`t yet have the right to vote,&quot; Masha, 16, who declined to give her surname, told Reuters. &quot;But we need to think about the future and we want to live in a country where there will be honest elections.&quot;

Yevgeny Roizman, the city`s opposition-minded mayor, said he backed a boycott. &quot;When you see injustice and lies and you can`t change the situation you can at least not take part in it.&quot;

Navalny&#39;s supporters said they expected thousands of people to take part in similar demonstrations in 118 towns and cities.

&quot;Your own life is at stake,&quot; Navalny said in a pre-protest video. &quot;How many more years to do you want to live with these thieves, bigots and creeps?&quot;&nbsp;

It was unclear where Navalny was, but a group of police officers was stationed near his home. Navalny said he planned to attend the Moscow protest later on Sunday.&nbsp;

Possible violence

Police warned beforehand they would harshly suppress any illegal protest activity and authorities refused to authorise events in Moscow and St Petersburg, the country`s two biggest cities, raising the possibility of clashes.

A Reuters reporter saw a heavy police presence in central Moscow ahead of the protest, with a command centre and buses filled with policemen parked on side streets.&nbsp;

Navalny, a lawyer who has campaigned against official corruption, was barred from running for the presidency by the central election commission in December over what he said was a trumped-up suspended prison sentence.

The United States and the EU criticised the decision.

Putin, who has dominated the Russian political landscape for nearly two decades, described U.S. criticism of the election commission`s decision as crude interference in Russia`s internal affairs and suggested Navalny was Washington`s pick for the presidency.

Polls show Navalny had scant chance of beating Putin, but Navalny says the system is rigged against political opponents like himself which makes polls meaningless.

Police forced their way into Navalny`s office using power tools, citing reports of a bomb threat, an online feed run by Navalny's supporters showed

Russian police raided the Moscow headquarters of opposition leader Alexei Navalny on Sunday after his supporters began a day of nationwide protests, calling for a boycott of what they said would be a rigged presidential election in March. Police forced their way into Navalny`s office using power tools, citing reports of a bomb threat, an online feed run by Navalny`s supporters showed. Navalny also wrote on Twitter that he has been detained soon after joining a rally in Moscow on Sunday. Меня задержали. Это значения не имеет. Приходите на Тверскую. Вы не за меня выходите, а за себя и своё будущее. — Alexey Navalny (@navalny) January 28, 2018 × Navalny has been barred from running in the March 18 election which polls show incumbent president Vladimir Putin is on track to easily win. Though Navalny says he knows Putin will be re-elected, his spoiler campaign is aimed at lowering voter turnout to try to take the shine off a Putin win. Six of Navalny`s allies were detained during the police raid, OVD-Info, an independent monitoring group, said. It said they were among more than 60 people detained across Russia by 1300 Moscow time. Police shut down a TV studio at Navalny`s office during the same raid which had been broadcasting online news bulletins, but another studio in a different location continued to operate. In the Urals city of Yekaterinburg, just under 900 miles (1448.41 km) east of Moscow, around 1,000 protesters gathered in temperatures of nearly -10 Celsius (50 Fahrenheit) to back Navalny`s boycott call. "No election? No to elections," a placard being held by one young man read. Other protesters waved Russian flags or red and white placards calling for a boycott. "We don`t yet have the right to vote," Masha, 16, who declined to give her surname, told Reuters. "But we need to think about the future and we want to live in a country where there will be honest elections." Yevgeny Roizman, the city`s opposition-minded mayor, said he backed a boycott. "When you see injustice and lies and you can`t change the situation you can at least not take part in it." Navalny's supporters said they expected thousands of people to take part in similar demonstrations in 118 towns and cities. "Your own life is at stake," Navalny said in a pre-protest video. "How many more years to do you want to live with these thieves, bigots and creeps?" It was unclear where Navalny was, but a group of police officers was stationed near his home. Navalny said he planned to attend the Moscow protest later on Sunday. Possible violence Police warned beforehand they would harshly suppress any illegal protest activity and authorities refused to authorise events in Moscow and St Petersburg, the country`s two biggest cities, raising the possibility of clashes. A Reuters reporter saw a heavy police presence in central Moscow ahead of the protest, with a command centre and buses filled with policemen parked on side streets. Navalny, a lawyer who has campaigned against official corruption, was barred from running for the presidency by the central election commission in December over what he said was a trumped-up suspended prison sentence. The United States and the EU criticised the decision. Putin, who has dominated the Russian political landscape for nearly two decades, described U.S. criticism of the election commission`s decision as crude interference in Russia`s internal affairs and suggested Navalny was Washington`s pick for the presidency. Polls show Navalny had scant chance of beating Putin, but Navalny says the system is rigged against political opponents like himself which makes polls meaningless.

Russian opposition leader Navalny detained in Moscow

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas visits Russia on Monday in a bid to secure Russian President Vladimir Putin&#39;s support following Washington&#39;s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel&#39;s capital.

The Palestinian leader was set to visit Moscow two weeks after a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Abbas has refused any contact with US President Donald Trump&#39;s administration since Washington&#39;s recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital at the end of last year. Abbas is due to speak at the United Nations Security Council on February 20.

Palestinians see the US decision, which broke with years of international diplomacy, as a denial of their claim to East Jerusalem as the capital of an eventual Palestinian state.

Israel took control of East Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War, annexed it and later declared it the indivisible capital of Israel.

The US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, has accused Abbas of lacking the courage needed to forge a peace deal with Israel.&nbsp;

Abbas in turn has rejected any mediation by Washington in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and has promised his people to work towards full recognition of a Palestinian state by the United Nations.

Alexander Shumilin, a Middle East scholar at the Institute for US and Canadian Studies, called Abbas&#39;s visit &quot;an attempt to cosy up to Russia, a consistent ally, and to stop Netanyahu leading Moscow astray during an improvement in Russia-Israeli ties&quot;.

Netanyahu visited Russia on January 29 and along with Putin attended a memorial ceremony at the Jewish museum in Moscow for the victims of Nazi camps. He took the opportunity to accuse Iran of wanting to &quot;destroy&quot; the Jewish state.

In turn, the Russian president likened antisemitism to &quot;Russophobia&quot; and said Russia and Israel were &quot;cooperating closely&quot;, particularly against &quot;attempts to falsify history&quot;.

Chances &#39;close to zero

For Shumilin, Monday&#39;s visit &quot;is a necessary political gesture for Abbas but can do little in the practical sense&quot;.

&quot;It is also definitely not worth expecting a breakthrough from this visit,&quot; he added.

In 2016 Russia offered to host one-on-one talks without preconditions between Abbas and Netanyahu but these never materialised.

In January, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov estimated that chances of resuming direct talks between the two sides in the current situation were &quot;close to zero&quot;.

Lavrov also said &quot;we understand the emotions&quot; Palestinians feel towards Trump.

&quot;We keep hearing in recent months that the US is about to publish some &#39;major deal&#39; that... will satisfy everyone,&quot; he said. But he added that Russia &quot;has not seen or heard of such a document or even any statement&quot;.

With relations between Washington and Moscow at a record low for the post-Cold War era, Abbas may be expecting that &quot;Russia-US relations will get even worse and then Russia could do something to spite the US&quot;, Shumilin said.

On November 29, 2012, the United Nations designated Palestine as a non-member observer state after a vote by the General Assembly.

That enabled the Palestinians to join international organisations and the International Criminal Court, though they did not become a full UN member state.

Palestinian statehood is recognised by more than 130 countries.

Abbas has refused any contact with US President Donald Trump's administration since Washington's recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital at the end of last year

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas visits Russia on Monday in a bid to secure Russian President Vladimir Putin's support following Washington's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. The Palestinian leader was set to visit Moscow two weeks after a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Abbas has refused any contact with US President Donald Trump's administration since Washington's recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital at the end of last year. Abbas is due to speak at the United Nations Security Council on February 20. Palestinians see the US decision, which broke with years of international diplomacy, as a denial of their claim to East Jerusalem as the capital of an eventual Palestinian state. Israel took control of East Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War, annexed it and later declared it the indivisible capital of Israel. The US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, has accused Abbas of lacking the courage needed to forge a peace deal with Israel. Abbas in turn has rejected any mediation by Washington in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and has promised his people to work towards full recognition of a Palestinian state by the United Nations. Alexander Shumilin, a Middle East scholar at the Institute for US and Canadian Studies, called Abbas's visit "an attempt to cosy up to Russia, a consistent ally, and to stop Netanyahu leading Moscow astray during an improvement in Russia-Israeli ties". Netanyahu visited Russia on January 29 and along with Putin attended a memorial ceremony at the Jewish museum in Moscow for the victims of Nazi camps. He took the opportunity to accuse Iran of wanting to "destroy" the Jewish state. In turn, the Russian president likened antisemitism to "Russophobia" and said Russia and Israel were "cooperating closely", particularly against "attempts to falsify history". Chances 'close to zero For Shumilin, Monday's visit "is a necessary political gesture for Abbas but can do little in the practical sense". "It is also definitely not worth expecting a breakthrough from this visit," he added. In 2016 Russia offered to host one-on-one talks without preconditions between Abbas and Netanyahu but these never materialised. In January, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov estimated that chances of resuming direct talks between the two sides in the current situation were "close to zero". Lavrov also said "we understand the emotions" Palestinians feel towards Trump. "We keep hearing in recent months that the US is about to publish some 'major deal' that... will satisfy everyone," he said. But he added that Russia "has not seen or heard of such a document or even any statement". With relations between Washington and Moscow at a record low for the post-Cold War era, Abbas may be expecting that "Russia-US relations will get even worse and then Russia could do something to spite the US", Shumilin said. On November 29, 2012, the United Nations designated Palestine as a non-member observer state after a vote by the General Assembly. That enabled the Palestinians to join international organisations and the International Criminal Court, though they did not become a full UN member state. Palestinian statehood is recognised by more than 130 countries.

Jerusalem row: After Netanyahu's meeting, Mahmud Abbas to also meet Putin seeking Russia's support

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his government to organise an alternative competition for Russian athletes banned from the Winter Olympics over a doping scandal, his spokesman said on Wednesday.

The Kremlin leader also told athletes who are due to compete in Pyeongchang next month, as independent competitors, that he was sorry officials had failed to protect them from the fallout.

&quot;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/sorry-for-not-being-able-to-shield-you-from-doping-scam-putin-to-russian-athletes-31362">Forgive us for not having been able to shield you from this</a>,&quot; Putin said during a reception at his residence outside Moscow on Wednesday, adding that the scandal had contributed to &quot;very difficult conditions&quot; for athletes ahead of the Games.

&quot;You should focus on the result and on your victory,&quot; he added. &quot;Nothing should distract you from this.&quot;

&quot;I wish you luck,&quot; Putin said, adding he wanted them to be &quot;courageous&quot;.

He said the exclusion of many Russian&nbsp;sportsmen and women over doping was &quot;strange&quot;, reiterating his pledge to support those&nbsp;who have been prevented from taking part.

The International Olympic Committee<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/instances-doping-use-in-russia-admits-putin-31242"> banned Russia from the 2018 Winter Olympics</a> after a report on a vast, Moscow-backed doping scheme in previous Games.&nbsp;

Only 169 of Russia&#39;s athletes have been allowed to take part in the Games, under a neutral flag as an &quot;Olympic Athlete from Russia&quot;.

&#39;Russian Olympics&#39;?

Speaking to reporters, Putin&#39;s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the president had tasked ministers with organising an alternative competition for those banned from the 2018 Games.

Putin &quot;reminded the cabinet of the decision to organise a competition for those of our athletes who had not been allowed to take part in the Olympic Games,&quot; Russian news agencies quoted Peskov as saying.&nbsp;

The Kremlin spokesman added that athletes who win at the alternative event would receive compensation equal to what Moscow normally awards Olympic medalists.

Pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestiya reported this week that the alternative competition for banned athletes would take place in the Black Sea resort of Sochi which hosted the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.

Speaking to the athletes, Putin reiterated his complaint that the ban against Russia was politically motivated.

&quot;For us, certain things are truly strange,&quot; he said.

At the same time, he admitted Russian officials might have been guilty of &quot;oversight, mistakes&quot; and a lack of proper attention to &quot;things that are very important and key in modern&nbsp;sport.&quot;

He said he hoped that international sporting organisations would not become annexes of &quot;certain countries&quot;, a thinly-veiled jab at the United States.

Last year, Putin claimed the United States was behind Russian&nbsp;sports&nbsp;doping allegations to influence March presidential elections widely expected to extend the Russian leader&#39;s Kremlin term until 2024.

Putin has consistently denied the Russian state has run a vast doping scheme, instead blaming individual sporting officials.

&#39;Greatest sporting nation&#39;

The athletes thanked Putin for his support, with hockey player Pavel Datsyuk presenting the Kremlin chief with a jersey featuring the slogan &quot;Russia in my heart&quot; and players&#39; signatures.

Luger Roman Repilov for his part said the Russian athletes should emerge winners at Pyeongchang to show the world that &quot;Russia is the greatest sporting nation.&quot;

&quot;We should prove to them all that we are Russians, that we are strong, that those who are banning our teammates will not be able to break us,&quot; Repilov said.

&quot;We should pull ourselves together and go there and win.&quot;&nbsp;

Snowboarder Alena Zavarzina&nbsp;said the exclusion of other Russians was utterly unfair.

&quot;I believe that what happened with our colleagues who cannot go to these Games is an egregious injustice,&quot; she said.

&quot;We will fight and do everything in our power to bring home the medals that we deserve.&quot;

The 23rd Winter Olympics will open in Pyeongchang, South Korea, on February 9, featuring 102 events in 15&nbsp;sports&nbsp;and athletes from all over the world.

&nbsp;

Earlier, Putin said "sorry" on behalf of his government for not being able "shield" athletes after the doping scandal hit the country

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his government to organise an alternative competition for Russian athletes banned from the Winter Olympics over a doping scandal, his spokesman said on Wednesday. The Kremlin leader also told athletes who are due to compete in Pyeongchang next month, as independent competitors, that he was sorry officials had failed to protect them from the fallout. "Forgive us for not having been able to shield you from this," Putin said during a reception at his residence outside Moscow on Wednesday, adding that the scandal had contributed to "very difficult conditions" for athletes ahead of the Games. "You should focus on the result and on your victory," he added. "Nothing should distract you from this." "I wish you luck," Putin said, adding he wanted them to be "courageous". He said the exclusion of many Russian sportsmen and women over doping was "strange", reiterating his pledge to support those who have been prevented from taking part. The International Olympic Committee banned Russia from the 2018 Winter Olympics after a report on a vast, Moscow-backed doping scheme in previous Games. Only 169 of Russia's athletes have been allowed to take part in the Games, under a neutral flag as an "Olympic Athlete from Russia". 'Russian Olympics'? Speaking to reporters, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the president had tasked ministers with organising an alternative competition for those banned from the 2018 Games. Putin "reminded the cabinet of the decision to organise a competition for those of our athletes who had not been allowed to take part in the Olympic Games," Russian news agencies quoted Peskov as saying. The Kremlin spokesman added that athletes who win at the alternative event would receive compensation equal to what Moscow normally awards Olympic medalists. Pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestiya reported this week that the alternative competition for banned athletes would take place in the Black Sea resort of Sochi which hosted the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. Speaking to the athletes, Putin reiterated his complaint that the ban against Russia was politically motivated. "For us, certain things are truly strange," he said. At the same time, he admitted Russian officials might have been guilty of "oversight, mistakes" and a lack of proper attention to "things that are very important and key in modern sport." He said he hoped that international sporting organisations would not become annexes of "certain countries", a thinly-veiled jab at the United States. Last year, Putin claimed the United States was behind Russian sports doping allegations to influence March presidential elections widely expected to extend the Russian leader's Kremlin term until 2024. Putin has consistently denied the Russian state has run a vast doping scheme, instead blaming individual sporting officials. 'Greatest sporting nation' The athletes thanked Putin for his support, with hockey player Pavel Datsyuk presenting the Kremlin chief with a jersey featuring the slogan "Russia in my heart" and players' signatures. Luger Roman Repilov for his part said the Russian athletes should emerge winners at Pyeongchang to show the world that "Russia is the greatest sporting nation." "We should prove to them all that we are Russians, that we are strong, that those who are banning our teammates will not be able to break us," Repilov said. "We should pull ourselves together and go there and win." Snowboarder Alena Zavarzina said the exclusion of other Russians was utterly unfair. "I believe that what happened with our colleagues who cannot go to these Games is an egregious injustice," she said. "We will fight and do everything in our power to bring home the medals that we deserve." The 23rd Winter Olympics will open in Pyeongchang, South Korea, on February 9, featuring 102 events in 15 sports and athletes from all over the world.

Putin orders alternative Olympic Games for banned athletes

Finland&#39;s moderate President Sauli Niinisto cruised to a rare first-round election win on Sunday as his delicate balancing of ties with neighbour Russia and the US-led NATO military alliance resonated with voters.

The 69-year-old Niinisto, known for cultivating good relations with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, won his second six-year term with an overwhelming 62.7 percent of the vote. His closest rival, Pekka Haavisto of the Greens of Finland, secured just 12.4 percent.

&quot;I am very surprised at this kind of support. I must think hard how to be worthy of it,&quot; Niinisto told reporters.

&quot;I have no intention of making changes just for the sake of making changes. We will follow very closely what is happening outside of Finland, globally, and if needed, then we will surely react.&quot;

Pro-EU Niinisto became the first candidate to win a first round victory since the electoral system was changed to a direct popular vote in 1994.

Eurosceptic politicians, Laura Huhtasaari from the nationalist Finns Party and independent Paavo Vayrynen, won 6.9 percent and 6.2 percent of votes, respectively. Turnout was 69.9 percent.

During his first term, Niinisto was instrumental in maintaining relations with Moscow, despite the country backing western economic sanctions against Russia over its 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

Finland, which shares an 833-mile (1,340 km) border and a difficult history with Russia, has also developed closer ties with NATO but stopped short of full membership in line with a tradition of avoiding confrontation with Russia.

The president is in charge of foreign and defence policy together with the government, but otherwise the post has become largely ceremonial in the past few decades.

Niinisto has appeared as a low-profile middle-man between East and West, in sharp contrast to his Baltic counterparts who regularly speak out against Moscow.

He was the first Western leader to meet Putin following the annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula, and he has also actively pushed for an air safety agreement in the Baltic region.

Father of the nation

Niinisto hopes for the EU to strengthen its defence cooperation, and declines to lock in a stance on Finland&#39;s future NATO membership.

&quot;I think there is no reason to seek a (NATO) membership as long as circumstances are as they are now,&quot; Niinisto said on Sunday. &quot;But if there are crucial changes in the environment, then we might be in a different situation.&quot;

Niinisto originally belonged to the co-ruling, centre-right National Coalition Party but campaigned this time around as an independent.

&quot;When ties between European Union and Russia are tense, people are satisfied that Niinisto has been able to maintain pragmatic and functional dialogue with Russia,&quot; said Markku Jokisipila, director at the Centre for Parliamentary Studies of the University of Turku.

Apart from his long service in politics, Niinisto also taps into sympathy from many Finns because of a series of personal dramas.

A lawyer by training, he was finance minister in the 1990s, becoming known for his government&#39;s austerity measures following Finland&#39;s recession, as well as the decision to join the euro area.

He lost his first wife in a car accident in 1995. He was in Thailand during the deadly 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami and survived by climbing up an electricity pole with his son.

He expects a baby with his wife Jenni Haukio, 40.

&quot;His habits reflect his experience and ordeal, and that combined with his very moderate policy statements makes him a kind of &#39;father of a nation&#39; figure,&quot; said Juho Rahkonen, Research Manager at pollster Taloustutkimus.

The result underlined how presidential candidates are to a large extent given priority over their parties, analysts said.

Matti Vanhanen, a candidate from Prime Minister Juha Sipila&#39;s Centre Party, received only 4.1 percent of votes, while the biggest opposition party Social Democrats&#39; candidate, Tuula Haatainen, won just 3.3 percent.

While around 20 percent of Finns back the idea of joining NATO, the only pro-NATO candidate, Nils Torvalds from the Swedish People&#39;s Party, won only 1.5 percent of votes.

Sauli Niinisto won his second six-year term with an overwhelming 62.7 percent of the vote

Finland's moderate President Sauli Niinisto cruised to a rare first-round election win on Sunday as his delicate balancing of ties with neighbour Russia and the US-led NATO military alliance resonated with voters. The 69-year-old Niinisto, known for cultivating good relations with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, won his second six-year term with an overwhelming 62.7 percent of the vote. His closest rival, Pekka Haavisto of the Greens of Finland, secured just 12.4 percent. "I am very surprised at this kind of support. I must think hard how to be worthy of it," Niinisto told reporters. "I have no intention of making changes just for the sake of making changes. We will follow very closely what is happening outside of Finland, globally, and if needed, then we will surely react." Pro-EU Niinisto became the first candidate to win a first round victory since the electoral system was changed to a direct popular vote in 1994. Eurosceptic politicians, Laura Huhtasaari from the nationalist Finns Party and independent Paavo Vayrynen, won 6.9 percent and 6.2 percent of votes, respectively. Turnout was 69.9 percent. During his first term, Niinisto was instrumental in maintaining relations with Moscow, despite the country backing western economic sanctions against Russia over its 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. Finland, which shares an 833-mile (1,340 km) border and a difficult history with Russia, has also developed closer ties with NATO but stopped short of full membership in line with a tradition of avoiding confrontation with Russia. The president is in charge of foreign and defence policy together with the government, but otherwise the post has become largely ceremonial in the past few decades. Niinisto has appeared as a low-profile middle-man between East and West, in sharp contrast to his Baltic counterparts who regularly speak out against Moscow. He was the first Western leader to meet Putin following the annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula, and he has also actively pushed for an air safety agreement in the Baltic region. Father of the nation Niinisto hopes for the EU to strengthen its defence cooperation, and declines to lock in a stance on Finland's future NATO membership. "I think there is no reason to seek a (NATO) membership as long as circumstances are as they are now," Niinisto said on Sunday. "But if there are crucial changes in the environment, then we might be in a different situation." Niinisto originally belonged to the co-ruling, centre-right National Coalition Party but campaigned this time around as an independent. "When ties between European Union and Russia are tense, people are satisfied that Niinisto has been able to maintain pragmatic and functional dialogue with Russia," said Markku Jokisipila, director at the Centre for Parliamentary Studies of the University of Turku. Apart from his long service in politics, Niinisto also taps into sympathy from many Finns because of a series of personal dramas. A lawyer by training, he was finance minister in the 1990s, becoming known for his government's austerity measures following Finland's recession, as well as the decision to join the euro area. He lost his first wife in a car accident in 1995. He was in Thailand during the deadly 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami and survived by climbing up an electricity pole with his son. He expects a baby with his wife Jenni Haukio, 40. "His habits reflect his experience and ordeal, and that combined with his very moderate policy statements makes him a kind of 'father of a nation' figure," said Juho Rahkonen, Research Manager at pollster Taloustutkimus. The result underlined how presidential candidates are to a large extent given priority over their parties, analysts said. Matti Vanhanen, a candidate from Prime Minister Juha Sipila's Centre Party, received only 4.1 percent of votes, while the biggest opposition party Social Democrats' candidate, Tuula Haatainen, won just 3.3 percent. While around 20 percent of Finns back the idea of joining NATO, the only pro-NATO candidate, Nils Torvalds from the Swedish People's Party, won only 1.5 percent of votes.

Finns, worried by Russia, hand cautious president huge election win

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