Latest news with #FederationCouncil
Times of Oman
6 days ago
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Shashi Tharoor meets Deputy Chairman of Russian Federation Council in Moscow
Moscow: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is on a visit to Russia, met several top Russian leaders, including the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federation Council (the Upper House) and also interacted with students. The Congress MP took to the social media platform X to share about his meeting with the Russian lawmaker. "An excellent and remarkably candid discussion with Konstantin Iosifovich Kosachev, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council (the Upper House). Ranged from #OperationSindoor to regional geopolitics and relations between our Parliaments. A first-rate exchange of views," Tharoor posted. Shashi also interacted with Russian students who are studying about India and Indian students in Russia. In another post on X, Tharoor wrote, "Enjoyed a ninety-minute interaction with some 150 Russians studying about India and Indian students in Russia. Their questions ranged from India-Pakistan relations to global neocolonialism and the risk of militarisation of space. A remarkable discussion which was recorded by @RT_com for likely broadcast in a couple of months. And when it concluded, i was gratified to find i had readers and fans even in Moscow! (The last pic features the Russian Edition of #TheFiveDollarSmile -- but the reader's smile is worth a lot more!)" Earlier on Wednesday, Tharoor met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and several other Russian lawmakers. Tharoor posted on X, "Good to catch up with old friend Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the #PrimakovReadings in Moscow." He further said, "Enjoyed catching up with old friend Andrey Denisov, former Russian Ambassador to the @UN and to China , and now the First Deputy Chair of the Committee on International Affairs of the Russian Federation Council."
The Hill
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Putin was one of the losers of the Israel-Iran war
Although it's a relief to know that President Trump has instructed God to bless Israel and Iran, it's obviously too soon to know whether the resultant ceasefire will hold and whether Iran will agree to abandon its quest for nuclear weapons. If things work out, the U.S. president will be a hero. If they don't, he won't. The implications of the American attack on Iran may be more certain for Russia and Ukraine. We know that the Kremlin is upset. Oblivious to the irony, Russian President Vladimir Putin called it 'an absolutely unprovoked aggression against Iran.' Putin evidently failed to see that his criticism of Trump applies with equal force to his 'absolutely unprovoked aggression' against Ukraine. On the other hand, Putin might take solace from the fact that Trump's indifference to international law mirrors his own. In effect, if not in intent, Trump legitimized Russia's invasion of Ukraine — as if either man cared about such legal subtleties. So much for the semi-good news for Russia. In contrast, the bad news is really bad. For starters, Trump demonstrated that the U.S. is a legitimate military superpower — unlike Putin's Russia, which has lost over 1 million men and thousands of tanks and vehicles in its hopeless struggle against Ukraine. Trump showed that Russia is a bit player with oversized delusions of grandeur. One Russian supremacist, the self-styled philosopher Aleksandr Dugin, concluded that Trump's attack could even undermine Russia. 'Some still cling to the illusion that World War III might somehow pass us by. It won't,' Dugin said. 'We are already in the thick of it. The U.S. has carried out a bombing strike against Iran — our ally. Nothing stopped them. And if nothing stopped them from bombing Iran, then nothing will stop them from targeting us next. At some point, they may decide that Russia, like Iran, shouldn't be allowed to possess nuclear weapons — or find some other pretext to strike. Make no mistake: we are at war.' Equally oblivious to irony was Konstantin Kosachev, the vice speaker of the Federation Council, who noted: 'Let's state the obvious: Iraq, Libya — and now Iran — were bombed because they couldn't hit back … The message to so-called 'threshold' nations couldn't be clearer: If you don't want to be bombed by the West, arm yourself. Build deterrence. Go all the way — even to the point of developing weapons of mass destruction. That's the grim conclusion many countries will draw. It's a dangerous lesson, and one that flies in the face of global security and the very idea of a rules-based international order.' Ukraine has no intention to acquire the bomb, but according to Kosachev it should. Is Putin listening? Both Dugin and Kosachev implicitly suggested that, just as Trump might turn out to be the hero, Putin was definitely the incompetent emperor with almost no clothes. After all, who if not Putin misjudged Trump, lost Iran, induced NATO to expand and entangled Russia in an unwinnable war? One can well imagine the Russian dictator's sense of betrayal by his pal Trump. The key question at present is whether Trump will react to Putin's criticism of his assertion of American power with the realization — finally — that Putin is no different from the ayatollah, and that Russia is as much of a threat to Ukraine and the West as Iran was a threat to Israel and its allies. Such an eventuality still seems unlikely in view of Trump's consistently cuddly treatment of Putin and his fascist regime, but miracles do occasionally happen. Russia has also been exposed as a fair-weather friend. To be sure, its Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Iran — signed earlier this year — did not obligate Moscow to provide military assistance, but Tehran surely expected a bit more from the country it supplied with thousands of deadly Shahed drones at Russia's time of need. Did Russia just admit to being a paper tiger? Its allies and friends will remember that Moscow's promises may be less trustworthy than Washington's threats. Bad news for Russia always means good news for Ukraine. True, the war in Ukraine has dropped out of the public eye. Oil prices have risen. But Putin is very likely to commit an atrocity that will remind the West of Ukraine's fight, and the spike in oil prices appears to be temporary. All in all, Putin and Russia are losers, whereas the U.S. and Ukraine are probable winners. Alexander J. Motyl is a professor of political science at Rutgers University-Newark. A specialist on Ukraine, Russia and the USSR, and on nationalism, revolutions, empires and theory, he is the author of 10 books of nonfiction, as well as 'Imperial Ends: The Decay, Collapse, and Revival of Empires' and 'Why Empires Reemerge: Imperial Collapse and Imperial Revival in Comparative Perspective.'
Russia Today
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Russia Today
Hockey legend Ovechkin visits Russian Federation Council (VIDEO)
Russian ice hockey legend Alexander Ovechkin visited the Federation Council, the upper house of the national legislature, on Wednesday during a break from the National Hockey League (NHL) season. The Washington Capitals captain, who made history in April by breaking the NHL's all-time goal record, received a warm welcome from Russian lawmakers. Video footage released by the Federation Council showed Chairwoman Valentina Matvienko greeting the 39-year-old athlete, along with other officials. Ovechkin presented Matvienko with an autographed Capitals jersey. Matvienko praised Ovechkin for inspiring younger generations to pursue hockey, commending his dedication to the sport. When asked about the secret to his success, Ovechkin credited hard work. The Capitals were eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs last month following a second-round loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Ovechkin's agent, Gleb Chistyakov, told Russian media the player plans to spend a month abroad following his visit to broke Wayne Gretzky's long-standing NHL record on April 6 at UBS Arena, where he scored his 895th goal, concluding the season with a career total of 897 goals. The milestone was met with broad acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic. Russian President Vladimir Putin lauded the achievement, calling it not only a personal triumph but also Ovechkin's gift to hockey fans around the world. US President Donald Trump also congratulated the star, describing him as 'a great hockey player, a great gentleman.' Ovechkin's wife, Anastasia Shubskaya, previously told Russian media that the family plans to return to Moscow after the 2025-26 NHL season, when Ovechkin's contract with the Capitals is set to expire.
See - Sada Elbalad
01-06-2025
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Bridge Collapses in Russia Raise Fears of Ukrainian Sabotage
Ahmed Emam Two separate bridge collapses in Russia's Bryansk and Kursk regions have prompted serious concerns among Russian authorities, who suspect Ukrainian sabotage behind the incidents. The twin disasters, which occurred within hours of each other, have left several dead and dozens injured, intensifying already heightened tensions between Moscow and Kyiv. According to Alqahera News, Russian officials believe the two incidents may be linked and deliberate. The first collapse occurred in Bryansk, where a bridge gave way just as a passenger train was passing underneath. Russian authorities confirmed that the incident killed seven people and injured at least 63 others, with local media later reporting the number of injured had risen to 73. The governor of Bryansk said that the collapse was the result of an explosion caused by explosive devices planted beneath the bridge. The devices reportedly detonated just as the train, en route to Moscow, was beneath the structure, causing it to fall onto the carriages. All passengers were civilians. A member of Russia's Federation Council described the event as a 'terrorist act,' blaming Ukrainian intelligence and calling for an expansion of Russia's buffer zone to encompass the entirety of Ukrainian territory in response to the attack. Security sources in Russia also told local outlets that a group linked to Ukrainian intelligence had recently infiltrated Bryansk and was being actively pursued by Russian security forces in the days leading up to the incident, bolstering the theory of direct Ukrainian involvement. In the neighboring Kursk region, another bridge collapsed as a freight train was passing over it. While no casualties have been reported so far, authorities have yet to confirm the cause of the collapse. However, Russian media noted striking similarities between the circumstances of the two incidents, raising suspicions that the Kursk bridge may have also been sabotaged. In a related development, unconfirmed reports surfaced of a Russian military train being targeted in Melitopol, a city under Russian control in southeastern Ukraine. The reports claim Ukrainian intelligence may have been behind the attack, a development that could mark a serious escalation in hostilities between the two countries. These incidents come amid renewed tensions along the Russia-Ukraine frontlines, as both sides brace for further confrontations. Moscow has not ruled out a forceful response if Ukrainian involvement in the attacks is confirmed. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan
Metro
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Metro
Seven dead in train crash after 'explosions' destroy bridges on Ukraine border
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Seven people have been killed and dozens injured after 'explosions' brought down two bridges in Russia overnight. One of the bridges collapsed onto a passenger train in the Bryansk region after being 'blown up', the region's governor said. Screams could be heard from inside the train after it derailed with 388 passengers inside at 10.50pm local time. Rescue workers were working at the scene, close to the border with Ukraine, this morning to free those trapped in the crumpled carriages. The driver and six others were killed and a further 69 were injured, including three children. A second bridge then toppled down at around 3am local time in the Kursk region while a freight train was passing over it. The driver and his two assistants were injured during the collapse. Russia's Investigative Committee declared on Sunday that both bridges had been hit by explosions. It came after Bryansk's acting governor Alexander Bogomaz said the bridge in his region had been 'blown up' before collapsing onto the passenger train. A senior Kremlin politician accused Ukraine of acting as a 'terrorist enclave' after the blasts. Andrei Klishas, a senior member of the Federation Council, Russia's upper chamber of parliament, said: 'Ukraine has long lost the attributes of a state and has turned into a terrorist enclave'. Moscow Railways, a state-owned railway operator, initially pointed the finger for the Bryansk crash at 'illegal interference in the operation of transport' before removing reference to 'illegal interference'. Ukraine has targeted Russia with waves of sabotage attacks since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Many hit Russia's railway network because they carry troops and weaponry to the front. This week four Ukrainian allies reportedly removed range restrictions on deadly weapons supplied to Ukraine, opening the door for deeper strikes into Russia. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has indicated Britain has removed all restrictions on the distance Ukraine can fire UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles inside Russian territory. More Trending 'There are no longer any range restrictions on weapons supplied to Ukraine, neither by the British, nor by the French, nor by us. Nor by the Americans,' he said. In November, Ukraine began using British-supplied missiles to strike Russia for the first time. The US also announced that Ukraine could use American weapons to attack Russia around the same time. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Schoolgirl, 13, killed after javelin went through her eye in PE lesson pictured MORE: At least 13 newborns trafficked abroad to 'infertile' parents for £510,000 MORE: Russian court bans memes portraying Putin as modern-day Hitler
