Headline

Tracing Putin’s 25-year Reign As Russians Vote

Published

1 year ago

March 15, 2024

The voting process in Russia is ongoing, with incumbent President Vladimir Putin widely anticipated to secure his fifth term as the country’s leader.

Putin is running as an independent candidate.

According to Al Jazeera, other candidates are perceived as “figureheads” and included in the process solely to show Putin’s popularity.

The three-day voting started on Friday, March 15, 2024.

However, based on the 2020 constitutional amendment that invalidated his previous terms, the upcoming March 15–17 election will be considered his first one.

112 million people aged 18 and above in Russia are eligible to vote.

People in annexed Crimea and occupied parts of Ukraine will also vote.

Putin has served four terms.

If he wins, the 71-year-old is anticipated to hold power for an additional six years, courtesy of the 2020 constitutional amendment.

Putin, born on October 7, 1952 in Leningrad, Russia, is a Russian intelligence officer and politician.

He held the position of President of Russia from 1999 to 2008 and again from 2012 onwards.

Additionally, he has also served as the country’s prime minister in 1999 and from 2008 to 2012.

Below is a timeline of Putin’s 25 years as a leader of the Eastern Europe federation:

Putin has an extensive background in foreign intelligence, having spent 15 years working for the KGB (Committee for State Security).
Shortly after, Putin began working as an advisor to Sobchak, who was the first democratically elected mayor of St. Petersburg.
By 1994, he had ascended to the position of first deputy mayor.

In 1996, Putin relocated to Moscow and became a part of the presidential staff, serving as the deputy to Pavel Borodin, the chief administrator of the Kremlin (The Kremlin is a fortified complex located in Moscow, Russia.
It serves as the official residence and workplace of the President of Russia. It is located at the heart of Russian political power and government).

In July 1998, President Boris Yeltsin appointed Putin as the director of the Federal Security Service
Shortly after, Putin assumed the role of secretary of the influential Security Council.

Yeltsin, in his quest for a successor to carry on his legacy, selected Putin as prime minister in 1999.
As reported by Voice of America, Yeltsin said in a televised speech on August 9, 1999, “I have decided to now name the person who is, in my opinion, able to consolidate society and, drawing support from the broadest political forces, to ensure the continuation of reforms in Russia.

“He will be able to unite around himself those who are to renew Great Russia in the new 21st century.”

According to Britannica, Putin’s public approval ratings experienced a significant boost when he successfully executed a highly organised military operation against secessionist rebels in Chechnya, despite his previous lack of recognition.
Tired of Yeltsin’s unpredictable actions, the Russian public admired Putin’s calmness and resolute nature in challenging situations, as per Britannica.

Putin’s backing of the new electoral bloc, Unity, played a crucial role in securing its triumph in the December parliamentary elections.
Yeltsin made the unexpected decision to step down on December 31, 1999, appointing Putin as the acting president.

Putin secured a decisive victory in the March 2000 elections, garnering approximately 53 per cent of the vote.

Putin was reelected in March 2004 after overseeing an economy that experienced growth following a prolonged recession in the 1990s.
In the December 2007 parliamentary elections, United Russia, Putin’s party, secured a significant majority of seats.

In 2008, Putin selected Dmitry Medvedev as his successor due to a constitutional provision that required him to step down.
Shortly after Medvedev’s victory in the March 2008 presidential election, Putin announced that he would be assuming the role of chairman of the United Russia party.

As anticipated, Medvedev wasted no time in nominating Putin as the country’s prime minister shortly after assuming office on May 7, 2008. The appointment was confirmed by Russia’s parliament the next day.

In September 2011, Medvedev announced that he and Putin would switch positions.
This decision put an end to the speculation about Medvedev running for a second term.

On March 4, 2012, Putin was elected to a third term as Russia’s president.
Prior to his inauguration, Putin stepped down as United Russia chairman, transferring control of the party to Medvedev.

On May 7, 2012, he took office as president and nominated Medvedev as prime minister.

On March 18, 2018, Putin secured a significant majority of the vote in an election that marked the beginning of his fourth term.

In January 2020, Putin announced his intention to bring about modifications that would eliminate term limits for presidents.
Medvedev promptly resigned as prime minister.

Putin signed the law that could extend his time in office until 2036, allowing him to run for the presidency twice more in his lifetime.

According to The Guardian UK, officially, the new law limits Russian citizens to two presidential terms in their lifetime.

It also outlawed the shuffling between the presidency and the role of prime minister that Putin employed earlier in his career.
However, according to the law, terms served before it entered into force are not counted. This means that Putin’s previous four terms, including the current one, are not considered, allowing him to potentially serve two more terms.
If he holds onto power until 2036, his time in office will exceed even that of Joseph Stalin, who governed the Soviet Union for 29 years.

This would make Putin the longest-serving leader in Moscow since the days of the Russian empire.

Headline

US Diverted 20,000 Anti-drone Missiles From Ukraine To Middle East -Zelensky

Published

20 hours ago

June 9, 2025

Editor

President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed that the United States, under the administration of President Donald Trump, redirected 20,000 anti-drone missiles that were originally intended for Ukraine to American forces stationed in the Middle East.

In an interview published by ABC News on Sunday, Zelensky said Ukraine had relied on the missile delivery to bolster its defence against ongoing Russian drone assaults, particularly swarms of Iranian-designed Shahed drones.

He noted that the plan, developed under President Joe Biden’s administration and coordinated with then-Defence Secretary, Lloyd Austin, was meant to deliver a cost-effective and specialised missile system to counter aerial threats.

“We have big problems with Shaheds… we will find all the tools to destroy them. We counted on this project, 20,000 missiles. Anti-Shahed missiles. It was not expensive, but it’s a special technology,” Zelensky stated.

According to a June 4 report by The Wall Street Journal, the Trump administration ordered the diversion of the munitions, including special fuzes for the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System, citing an urgent need to supply American forces in the Middle East.

The decision, reportedly communicated to Congress through a classified Pentagon message, was made under current Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth.

A source from Ukraine’s military intelligence agency told The Kyiv Independent that Russia is preparing to escalate drone warfare, potentially launching more than 500 long-range drones in a single night as Moscow accelerates drone production and expands its launch capacity.

Since the beginning of Trump’s second term in January, his administration has halted the approval of new US military aid packages to Ukraine.

Trump has voiced reservations about prolonged military support for Kyiv and briefly paused shipments earlier this year.

Deliveries resumed after Ukraine agreed to a ceasefire framework during peace negotiations held in Jeddah on March 11.

Headline

Los Angeles Invaded By Illegal Aliens, Criminals, Says Trump

Published

21 hours ago

June 9, 2025

Editor

National Guard troops were deployed to Los Angeles on Sunday amid ongoing protests against immigration raids, despitethat California Governor Gavin Newsom’s objections.

Newsom formally requested the Trump administration rescind the order to deploy the troops.

The governor requested a letter to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, which he then shared on X.

“We didn’t have a problem until (U.S. President Donald) Trump got involved.

“This is a serious breach of state sovereignty – inflaming tensions while pulling resources from where they’re needed,” Newsom wrote.

“Rescind the order. Return control to California.”

Trump signed a memorandum on Saturday deploying 2,000 National Guardsmen “to address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester,” the White House said.

An expert cited by The New York Times said this is the first time in 60 years that a president has deployed a state’s National Guard without the governor’s consent.

The last instance was in 1965, when President Lyndon B Johnson used troops to protect predominantly Black demonstrators during the civil rights movement in Alabama.

The protests began on Friday after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers executed search warrants across the city as Trump pushed forward with his goal of mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.

Newsom appealed to protesters to remain peaceful and not give the government an excuse to act.

“Trump is trying to manufacture a crisis in LA County — deploying troops not for order, but to create chaos,” he wrote on X.

“Don’t take the bait. Never use violence or harm law enforcement.”

Los Angeles Police said protests continued on Sunday, even when authorities had declared it an unlawful, gathering.

Protesters had blocked traffic on a freeway and had gathered outside the Metropolitan Detention Centre where soldiers had formed a perimeter around the building.

“Officers are reporting that people in the crowd are throwing concrete, bottles, and other objects. Arrests are being initiated,” police wrote on X.

Cars had also been stopped and set alight on roads, the police said.

An Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Guard “has deployed approximately 300 soldiers to 3 separate locations in the greater Los Angeles area, the U.S. Northern Command posted on X.

“They are conducting safety and protection of federal property and personnel,” it added.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Los Angeles had been “invaded and occupied by Illegal Aliens and Criminals.”

“Now violent, insurrectionist mobs are swarming and attacking our Federal Agents to try and stop our deportation operations. But these lawless riots only strengthen our resolve,” he wrote.

He had directed his officials “to take all such action necessary to liberate Los Angeles from the Migrant Invasion, and put an end to these Migrant riots,” he said.

“Order will be restored, the Illegals will be expelled, and Los Angeles will be set free.”

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the city would “always stand” with those who call it home.

“Deploying federalised troops on the heels of these raids is a chaotic escalation,” she wrote on X.

“The fear people are feeling in our city right now is very real – it’s felt in our communities and within our families and it puts our neighborhoods at risk.

“This is the last thing that our city needs, and I urge protestors to remain peaceful,” Bass said.

“Los Angeles will always stand with everyone who calls our city home.”

Trump’s administration has threatened to deploy regular armed forces domestically, which would represent an even greater breach of norms.

Hegseth stated that, if necessary, U.S. Marines stationed in California could also be mobilised.

Newsom condemned Hegseth’s threat to deploy U.S. soldiers against its own citizens on U.S. soil, calling it “deranged behavior” in a post on X.

Hegseth responded to Newsom on X stating that the National Guard “and Marines if need be” stood with ICE.

“There is plenty of room for peaceful protest, but ZERO tolerance for attacking federal agents who are doing their job,” he wrote.

The U.S. Northern Command said about 500 Marines were “in a prepared to deploy status” should they be needed.

(NAN)

Headline

10 Countries Hiring Nigerians, Other Foreign Workers In 2025 With Easy Visa Process

Published

2 days ago

June 8, 2025

Editor

In 2025, the global race for skilled talent is intensifying as many countries grapple with labour shortages across key industries, prompting changes to visa policies to attract and retain foreign professionals.

In response, countries such as Canada, Japan, Australia, and Germany are expanding their immigration and visa pathways to attract foreign professionals.

According to TravelBiz, sectors like technology, healthcare, construction, and caregiving are seeing especially high demand in top destinations.

These countries aren’t just offering jobs—they’re also providing opportunities for long-term residency or even a pathway to citizenship.

Top 10 Countries Hiring Foreign Workers in 2025

1. New Zealand

New Zealand is streamlining immigration to address urgent gaps in its workforce.

In-demand roles: Civil Engineers, Registered Nurses, Plumbers, IT Professionals
Visa Pathway: Green List Straight to Residence Visa – direct pathway to permanent residency for critical occupations.

2. Spain

Spain has simplified work visa procedures to combat labour shortages.

Top roles: Construction Workers, Agricultural Labourers, Hospitality Staff
Visa Programs: Seasonal Worker Visa, General Long-Term Work Visa

3. Singapore

Asia’s innovation hub is actively hiring digital and biomedical professionals.

High-demand jobs: Biomedical Scientists, Software Developers, AI & Machine Learning Experts
Visa Options: Employment Pass (for professionals), S Pass (for mid-skilled workers)
Applicants should check the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) website for guidelines.

4. Romania

Romania is scaling up its workforce by issuing thousands of visas to foreign workers.

Key sectors: Construction, Agriculture, Hospitality
Visa Update: 100,000 annual guest worker visas approved for citizens of Nepal, Bangladesh, and India.
No university degree? No problem—these roles often don’t require one.

5. Estonia

Estonia is emerging as a digital economy leader with simplified work visa options.

Hiring in: Software Development, Web Design, IT Support
Visa Options: D-Visa (short-term employment), Digital Nomad Visa (for remote workers)

6. Ireland

With a booming economy, Ireland is opening its doors to international professionals.

Jobs in demand: Nurses, Chefs, Childcare Workers, Data Scientists
Visa Programs: Critical Skills Employment Permit, General Employment Permit

7. Japan

Japan is overhauling its immigration system to welcome more foreign talent.

Hiring for: Caregivers, Factory Operators, IT Engineers, English Instructors
Visa Options: Specified Skilled Worker (SSW), Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) Visa

8. Germany

Germany is making migration easier with a points-based system and international partnerships.

Top roles: Mechatronics Engineers, Technicians, Healthcare Workers, IT Specialists
Visa Type: Opportunity Card – a new system designed to simplify skilled migration
Knowing basic German is a plus; apply via the official Make it in Germany portal.

9. Canada

Canada remains one of the most immigrant-friendly countries, actively recruiting in multiple sectors.

In-demand jobs: Nurses, Truck Drivers, Welders, Software Engineers
Visa Options: Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), International Mobility Program (IMP)
Workers can switch jobs immediately after filing a new permit—no need to wait for approval.

10. Australia

Australia tops the list, thanks to booming demand in infrastructure and tech.

Top jobs: Construction Managers, Electricians, Cybersecurity Analysts, Aged Care Workers
Visa Route: Skills in Demand Visa, launched in December 2024, targets essential trades and high-growth fields
Apply early due to processing delays. Visit Home Affairs Australia and ensure your job title aligns with the official ANZSCO codes.