69/2018 • 24 MARCH, 2018 WEEKEND ISSUE
DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Vladimir Putin calls for unity and ʼdeep-seated changeʼ after election victory He also urged his opponents to work with the Kremlin
Russia needs a "real breakthrough" to improve the life quality of its citizens and face historical challenges, President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address.
UK must give ʼrealistic solutionʼ to Ireland border issue The European Council president has warned the UK against destabilizing the peace process in Northern Ireland. If London failed to provide a "realistic solution" to the border question, Brexit talks would likely flounder. European Council President Donald Tusk on Thursday urged the British government to lay out a "realistic solution" to the Irish border question, saying failure to do so could impede further progress on Brexit talks.
Barbie: Frida Kahlo descendants clash with Mattel The artistʼs family has threatened to take legal action against the toy company over the right to use Kahloʼs image in its new Barbie series. They say the doll does not accurately represent the Mexican legend. US toy maker Mattelʼs announcement on Wednesday that it was making a Barbie doll of legendary Mexican painter Frida Kahlo was met with rejection and possibly a lawsuit by the artistʼs family.
Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked his voters for their "unprecedented support" after the nationʼs electoral body published the final tally of the presidential vote on Friday. According to the data, the Sunday election sawPutin win nearly 76.7 percent of the vote and secure another six-year term. In a televised speech, Putin said he was "well aware" of the problems facing Russian citizens, including dropping incomes, gaps in health care provision, and issues with housing and utilities. "We need a real breakthrough," he said. "I understand my colossal responsibility to Russian citizens, to the country." "What we need is consequential, deep-seated change, thought-out moves that bring about steady positive results," Putin added. The Russian president, who has been the nationʼs most powerful politician since 2000, pledged to create more jobs, fight poverty, develop infrastructure and education, as well as boost the development of "cities and villages." "All of this will be based on a mighty leap in technology which we are about to make," Putin said, without providing details. Sundayʼs election saw Putin score an easy victory against his competitors, with the runner-up, Pavel Grudinin of the Communist Party, win-
ning less than 12 percent of the vote and the ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky placing third with 5.65 percent. Putinʼs bestknown pro-Western rival, Alexei Navalny, was barred from running over a fraud case. The young opposition leader claims the charges had been trumped-up. Putin urged his political opponents to cooperate with his efforts to improve Russia, saying that the move needed to have a "nationwide character and unite everyone." "Yes, criticisms, arguments, discussions are necessary, but there should be no place for irresponsible populism," he said. "The main orientation point for everyone, today most of all, should be in the national interest and for the benefit of the people." He added that he respected the voters who did not support him, but emphasized that "political preferences should not divide us." "We are all patriots of our country," he said. Vladimir Putin came to power as a successor to Russiaʼs first postSoviet president, Boris Yeltsin. He has effectively remained the most powerful man in Russia since, including his stint as prime minister between 2008 and 2012. His most recent election success makes him the longest-serving Russian ruler since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.
Afghan suspect confesses to Vienna stabbing
Franceʼs Macron seeks closer India ties amid global uncertainty
4 people were in a critical condition after two separate knife attacks near Viennaʼs Nestroyplatz metro station. An Afghan national has confessed to the stabbing, blaming his "rage about his life situation." Police arrested a 23year-old man on Thursday suspected of being involved in two knife attacks in Vienna on Wednesday evening that left four people critically injured. The suspect, an Afghan national, confessed to the stabbings. He blamed his "aggressive feeling and rage about his life situation,"spokesman told.
Climate change, maritime security and nuclear cooperation will be key topics during French President Emmanuel Macronʼs maiden visit to New Delhi starting tomorrow. Macronʼs itinerary during his state visit to India will include among other things a cruise on the river Ganges and a private dinner with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.