Vladimir Putin sworn in as Russia's president for record fifth term

by Utkalika Mohanty

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Vladimir Putin took oath for a new term of six years as the President of Russia on Tuesday. He took oath for a record fifth presidential term at an inauguration ceremony held in Kremlin.

Moscow, May 7: Vladimir Putin took oath for a new term of six years as the President of Russia on Tuesday. He took oath for a record fifth presidential term at an inauguration ceremony held in Kremlin.

Constitutional Court Chairman Valery Zorkin announced that Putin has formally taken office as Russian president for another six-year term, TASS reported.

After Putin took the oath to the people, Zorkin handed him the symbols of presidential power including the presidential insignia, that is, the golden cross of St. George, depicting the Russian coat of arms and a gold chain with the words "Virtue, Honesty and Glory."

Following the oath-taking ceremony, the head of state delivered a speech.

The ceremony marks the start of Putin's fifth presidential term, reported TASS.

Moreover, his first two terms in office lasted four years. However, the presidential term was later extended to six years based on constitutional amendments.

Putin won the presidential elections in March, receiving 87.17 per cent of the votes based on the result of processing 70 per cent of the electoral protocols.

Putin's first six-year presidential term began in 2012 and the second one in 2018. In 2020, the Constitution was changed to make it possible for him to run for president in 2024, TASS reported.

The Communist Party of the Russian Federation candidate Nikolai Kharitonov secured the second spot with 4.1 per cent of the votes while New People Party candidate Vladislav Davankov stood third with 4.8 per cent votes.

According to preliminary data as of 6 pm (Moscow time) on Sunday, the voter turnout in the presidential elections, which for the first time took place over three days from March 15-17, stood at 74.22 per cent.

(ANI)

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Helicopter Carrying Iranian President Raisi Suffers 'Hard Landing' In Azerbaijan

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Tehran, May 19: A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi experienced an incident in the country's east Azerbaijan on Sunday, local media reported.

Raisi, who is on a one-day trip to neighbouring Azerbaijan, met his Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev and the two leaders inaugurated the Qiz Qalasi Dam, which is a joint project of both countries.

Iran's Tasnim News Agency said that there were three helicopters in the convoy, two of which carrying ministers and officials "arrived at their destination safely". The agency said that Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian was also reportedly on the helicopter with Raisi.

"However, some of the president's companions on this helicopter were able to communicate with Central Headquarters, raising hopes that the incident could have ended without casualties," it said in a post on X.

Without elaborating on the details, Iranian state television also reported that the helicopter carrying the Iranian President suffered a "hard landing".

Meanwhile, Iran's Mehr News Agency reported that Raisi has labelled reports of the accident as a "rumour" and said that the President and his convoy were travelling from Khodaafarin to Tabriz by land.

"Mehr reporter's investigations indicate that a few minutes ago, the helicopter carrying the President landed on the ground due to the foggy weather in the northern region of east Azarbaijan, and now the President's convoy is on its way to Tabriz," it said.

(IANS)

IPL 2024: Abhishek, Klaasen Power SRH To Four-Wicket Win Over Punjab

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Hyderabad, May 19: A scintillating half-century by opener Abhishek Sharma guided Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to a comfortable four-wicket win over Punjab Kings PBKS) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) match at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here on Sunday. SRH finished their league stage campaign with 17 points in 14 matches and is currently placed at second spot in the points table. However, the final standings will be decided after the conclusion of the second match between table toppers Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals.

Chasing 215 on their home ground, Hyderabad suffered an early blow as they lost opener Travis Head (0) on the first ball of the innings -- Arshdeep Singh clinching the wicket for Punjab in the power-play.

Rahul Tripathi came in to bat at No. 3 and joined Abhishek in the middle. The duo kept the scoring rate high, firing boundaries at regular intervals. In no time, SRH crossed the 50-run mark and went on in cruise mode before Harshal Patel gave PBKS a slight respite with the wicket of Tripathi in the fifth over. He was dismissed for 33 runs which included four fours and two sixes.

Nitish Reddy walked out to bat and kept the momentum going as SRH posted their third-highest power-play total after finishing 84-2 in six overs.

Meanwhile, Abhishek slammed his third fifty of the season, off 21 balls. He scored 66 runs in 28 balls including six sixes and five fours before losing his wicket to Shashank Singh in the 11th over. During his knock, he also created history by becoming the first Indian batter to smash 39 sixes in an IPL season. Previously, Virat Kohli held the record with 38 maximums in the 2016 edition of the tournament.

Nitish and Heinrich Klaasen continued the onslaught as SRH controlled the pace of the match throughout their innings. Reddy played a 37-run knock while Klaasen scored 42 off 26 runs to keep them ahead in the chase. Despite losing Shabaz Ahmed (3) and Klaasen (42) in the death overs, the win was a cakewalk for the home franchise. In the end, Abdul Samad (11*) and Sanvir Singh (6*) remained unbeaten as Hyderabad chased the target with five balls to spare.

For Hyderabad, Arshdeep and Harshal bagged two scalps apiece.

Earlier, Prabhsimran Singh's half-century coupled with Rilee Rossouw's 49 powered Punjab Kings to 214/5.

Playing his second game of the season, the left-handed opener Atharva Taide along with partner Prabhsimran gave PBKS a blazing start. The duo set the foundation for Punjab's total by unleashing carnage in the power-play. The openers scored at the rate of over 10 runs per over to make the most of the field restriction. After six overs, Punjab were 61 for no loss. Pacer T. Natrajan finally broke the partnership in the 10th over as Taide hit the ball into the hands of Sanvir Singh at point.

Rilee Rossouw joined Prabhsimran in the middle and carried the momentum forward in the middle overs. Meanwhile, the latter also completed his second half-century of the season. The batters steered Punjab to the 150-run mark and stitched a 54-run partnership for the second wicket before Prabhsimran departed after scoring a 45-ball 71 studded with seven fours and four sixes. This time, Sri Lanka spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth did the job for the home team.

The in-form Shashank Singh (2) failed to make his final game of the season memorable as his stay at the crease only lasted for four balls following a mix-up with Rossouw between the wickets in the 16th over.

Meanwhile, SRH skipper Pat Cummins trapped Rossouw on a slow full-toss in the 18th over and left Punjab without a set-batter for the final overs. The South African batter played a knock of 49 runs off 24 balls including four sixes and three fours.

Ashutosh Sharma (2) lost his wicket cheaply to Natrajan in pursuit of scoring at a brisk pace.

In the end, stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma's cameo of 14-ball 26 not out, laced with two sixes and as many fours, enabled them to touch the 200-run mark in the final over of the innings. For Hyderabad, Natrajan bagged two wickets while Cummins and Viyaskanth claimed one scalp each.

Brief scores:

Punjab Kings 214/5 in 20 overs (Prabhsimran Singh 71, Rilee Rossouw 49; T. Natrajan 2-33, Pat Cummins 1-36) beat Sunrisers Hyderabad 215/6 in 19.1 overs (Abhishek Sharma 66, Heinrich Klaasen 42; Arshdeep Singh 2-37) by four wickets.

(IANS)

Adequate Security Arrangements By Odisha Police For 5th Phase Of Polling Tomorrow

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Adequate Security Arrangements By Odisha Police For 5th Phase Of Polling On May 20

Bhubaneswar, May 19: In the wake of pre-poll violence at Khaliikote in Odisha's Ganjam district recently that resulted in death of a BJP worker, the police are on their toes to contain any untoward incident during the fifth phase of polling which will be held in five Parliamentary constituencies -- Bargarh, Sundargarh, Bolangir, Kandhamal, Aska -- and 35 Assembly seats of the state on May 20.

Speaking at a press conference here, Director General of Police, Arun Kumar Sarangi said: "I have strongly warned all the district Superintendents of Police during a virtual meeting that we will not tolerate any incidents of violence as we have a zero-tolerance policy towards poll-related violence. Stringent action will be taken against anyone found engaged in bloodshed and violent acts."

"I have instructed the officers to ensure the immediate arrest of those involved in poll-related violence and submission of chargesheets in the case so that the accused get punished at the earliest. Strong punitive action will be taken against any person or police officer found neglecting his duty. We hope the upcoming fifth phase of polling takes place peacefully," said Sarangi.

The DGP further said that Odisha Police have been keeping strict vigilance on the overall situation, and any act of violence will be dealt with iron hands.

As many as 33,000 police personnel have been deployed.

Voting will be held in the fifth phase at 9,162 polling stations in 7,339 locations across the state. Of the total booths, 556 booths located in Kandhamal Boudh, Bolangir, Bargarh and at some places in Rourkela districts are Maoist-affected.

DGP Sarangi said as many as 47 Additional SPs, 88 DSPs, 236 Inspectors, 2,000 Sub Inspectors and Assistant SI rank officials have been deployed for the fifth phase of polling.

Besides, the Odisha police also deployed 655 mobile patrolling parties, 257 flying squads and 251 static surveillance teams.

Several quick reaction teams and swift action force of Odisha police have been placed in the sensitive areas to check any untoward incident.

"We have made adequate security arrangements in the five Maoist affected districts -- Kandhamal, Boudh, Bolangir, Bargarh, Rourkela. A Maoist group from Chhattisgarh has been camping in Kandhamal and Boudh districts in central Odisha for the past one year. Recently, two Maoists were killed in an exchange of fire in the Boudh area a few days back. Earlier, another divisional commander of Maoist group had been neutralised. We have intensified anti-Maoist operations in these areas for the last four months," said Sarangi.

He also said that as many as 117 operational parties of CAPF and 38 units of Special Operation Group and District Voluntary Forces are in action in the Maoist-affected areas for the fifth phase of polling.