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Russia has invincible missile: Putin (Lead)
Moscow, March 1 (IANS) Russia has developed “invincible” nuclear weapons that can “reach anywhere in the world”, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday in his annual state of the nation address here.
The speech was the last before an election Putin is expected to win in 17 days time. He was laying out his key policies for his fourth presidential term.
The Russian President unveiled a weapon that he said “could not be stopped by the US missile defence shield in Europe and Asia”, the BBC reported.
He showcased a range of new weapons, including a missile that could “reach anywhere in the world”, and highlighted two nuclear-capable weapons — a cruise missile and a submarine-launched unmanned underwater vehicle.
The warhead, Putin said, was “a low-flying, difficult-to-spot cruise missile with a nuclear payload with a practically unlimited range and an unpredictable flight path, which can bypass lines of interception and is invincible in the face of all existing and future systems of both missile defence and air defence”.
Putin also said that he would regard a nuclear attack on any of its allies as a nuclear attack on Russia itself, adding that “the response would be immediate”.
During the two-hour televised speech to a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament, Putin said that he intends to halve poverty in the country within the next six years.
“We must solve one of the key tasks for the coming decade — to ensure a confident, long-term growth of real incomes of our citizens, and in six years, at least to halve the level of poverty,” he was quoted as saying by Tass news agency.
Putin said he wanted to increase employment and longevity as these are necessary to secure stable population growth in the next 10 years.
He faces seven challengers on March 18 although none is expected to attract widespread support. Prominent opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who has been barred from running, called on voters to boycott the poll, the BBC reported.
Putin has so far done little campaigning and said little about his plans for the next six years. The Russian President said he wanted his country to emulate life-expectancy rates in Japan and France.
He also said “Russia could not take its power for granted”.
“We have no right to allow the stability we have achieved to lead to complacency. Especially since we are far from resolving many problems.”
“Russia is now a leading country with a powerful foreign economic and defence potential. But from the point of view of the extremely important task of ensuring people’s quality of life and welfare we, of course, have not achieved the level we require.
“But we have to do this and will do this,” he said.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.