Landslide win in election gives Putin six more years in power

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Written by Super User

Category: Europe

Published: 18 March 2024

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MOSCOW - Vladimir Putin’s landslide win in a Presidential election gave him six more years in power.

Putin won Russia's presidential election with 87.97% of the vote, according to the first official results on Sunday after polls closed.

The vote has taken place against the backdrop of the harshest crackdown on political opposition and freedom of speech in Russia since Soviet times.

Only three token candidates — and no one who opposes his war in Ukraine — were allowed to run against him as he sought a fifth term.

Russia's Central Election Commission said Putin had 87.97% of the vote with 24.4% of the precincts counted.

Putin hailed the overwhelming early results as an indication of "trust" and "hope" in him - while critics saw them as another reflection of the preordained nature of the election.

"Of course, we have lots of tasks ahead. But I want to make it clear for everyone: When we were consolidated, no one has ever managed to frighten us, to suppress our will and our self-conscience. They failed in the past and they will fail in the future," Putin said at a meeting with volunteers after polls closed.

Speaking on Sunday night, Putin said Russia's priority must be to solve the tasks associated with what he calls Moscow's 'special military operation' in Ukraine and make the army stronger.

Putin said he would do everything he could to solve those tasks and the targets he and his administration consider a priority.

He also warned the presence of Western troops in Ukraine could lead the world to the brink of World War Three, but said he did not think anyone was interested in such a scenario.

MEPs blast EU commission over Tunisia migrant deal

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Written by Super User

Category: Europe

Published: 18 March 2024

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BRUSSELS - MEPs are becoming increasingly frustrated with the EU Commission for pumping €150 million into Tunisia, amid accusations the EU Parliament is being sidelined.

The frustration is not limited to the moral dilemma of the EU supporting an autocratic regime steeped in human-rights abuses, spanning a widespread crackdown on civil society, opposition, and sub-Saharan migrants.

The Tunisia agreement was signed last summer and is seen as a template for future pacts.

Murals recreated on Belfast wall in show of solidarity with Palestine

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Written by northsouth

Category: Europe

Published: 03 March 2024

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BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - A series of artworks by Gazan artists have been unveiled on one of Belfast’s most famous walls in a show of solidarity.

The International Wall on Divis Street in the lower Falls area of west Belfast is a long stretch of murals reserved for highlighting significant events or struggles.

While it often shows a number of scenes from different parts of the world, it is currently dominated by artwork by artists from Gaza amid the ongoing conflict in the region.

A joint art piece on the wall had been planned for some time, with local artists and those from Palestine both to take part, however events overtook with the latest escalation in the conflict with Israel last autumn.

It was officially unveiled on Sunday afternoon.

Mural artist Danny Devenny said they were overwhelmed by volunteers wanting to help as they recreated the artworks.

“We got in touch with a lady we knew in Gaza to find Gazan artists because it is there where it is happening, so within 24 hours she had sent us back these images, and there was no stopping us, these had to go up on the wall,” he said.

Mr Devenny paid tribute to the number of volunteer to gave their time freely to help, adding: “everyone is in shock, everyone wants to do something and we benefited from that in this project”.

“Have to pick one out particularly, Anne Loughran from west Belfast, a 70-year-old lady who had never painted in her life before, painted one of those murals,” he said.

“It was our pleasure to put these things on the wall to show solidarity.

“Having so many in solidarity just shows how many are so shocked by what has been happening and want to change the world.”