Europe

MOSCOW, January 15. /TASS/: Russian president should retain the right to sack the country’s prime minister and federal ministers, while Russia should remain a strong presidential republic, President Vladimir Putin said in his annual State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly.

"Russia should remain a strong presidential republic, and therefore the president should certainly keep the right to outline tasks and priorities of the government’s activity as well as to sack the chairman of the government, his deputies and federal ministers," Putin said.

MOSCOW, January 15. /TASS/: Russia has been able for the first time in history to become the world’s leader in advanced weapons, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his annual State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly on Wednesday.

"We are not threatening anyone and are not seeking to impose our will. At the same time, I can assure everyone that our steps for strengthening national security were made timely and in a sufficient amount," the Russian president said.

Today Russia is the world’s leader in developing advanced weaponry, Putin stressed.

MOSCOW, January 15. / TASS /: Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his annual State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly on Wednesday, proposed to provide monthly payments for children aged 3-7 starting on January 1, 2020. According to the President, these payments will be received by families whose incomes do not exceed one living wage per person, and the procedure for receiving these funds will be as simple as possible.

MOSCOW, January 15. /TASS/: Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed entrusting the State Duma (lower house) with power to nominate prime minister, deputy prime ministers and federal ministers, adding that the president will be obliged to appoint the nominated candidates, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his annual State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly (parliament) on Wednesday.

MOSCOW, January 15. /TASS/: Russian President Vladimir Putin has delivered his annual State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly on Wednesday.

The Address to the Federal Assembly is one of the most important annual events on the president’s schedule. The document, which outlines the goals and tasks for the country, becomes the guideline for the government and the parliament to follow.

Here are the highlights from this year's Presidential Address:

On Russia’s demographic situation

MOSCOW, January 15. /TASS/: The Russian government has resigned, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev announced. 

President Vladimir Putin thanked Dmitry Medvedev’s government for its work. "For my part, I also want to thank you for everything that was done at this stage of our joint work, I want to express satisfaction with the results that have been achieved," the president told a meeting with the cabinet of ministers.

"Not everything was done, but everything never works out in full," Putin said.

15 January 2020; AFP: German prosecutors on Wednesday said they were investigating three people who allegedly spied for China, with media reporting that a German former EU diplomat was among the suspects.

"We can confirm an investigation into suspected espionage" for Chinese state security bodies, a spokesman for the federal prosecutor's office told AFP.

15 Jan 2019; MEMO: A veteran pro-Israel lobbyist in Westminster believes the recently-elected Conservative government represents an important opportunity to advance Israel’s interests amongst British decision-makers.

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday asked Chancellor Angela Merkel for Germany’s support in bringing the perpetrators of last week’s plane crash in Iran to justice, according to a statement issued by Zelenskiy’s office.

After initially denying blame, Iran acknowledged on Saturday that it had mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane, killing all 176 people on board shortly after it took off from Tehran for Kiev.

New Delhi, Jan 15 (PTI) A trip to much of Europe will be more expensive from next month with Schengen visa fees set to increase to Euro 80 from the current Euro 60, officials said.

A Schengen visa is needed for 26 European countries, including Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Switzerland and Spain.

The new fees will come into effect from February 2.