Defense, Foreign and Finance ministers retain their positions in new Russian government
January 22, 2020, 9:00 am

Defense, Foreign and Finance ministers retain their positions in new Russian government

FILE PHOTO Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (L) and Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu (R).

President Vladimir Putin has approved a new Russian government after the surprise resignation of the previous cabinet last week. While there was a significant reshuffle, the defense, foreign and finance ministers kept their posts.

"The new government is a well-balanced one, although it went through a major reshuffle," Putin said during a meeting with the new cabinet.

Both Sergey Lavrov and Sergey Shoigu are political heavyweights and among the most trusted political figures in Russia, trailing only behind President Putin himself when it comes to popularity with the public. Anton Siluanov has been Russia's finance minister since 2011.

A career diplomat with decades of experience in international relations, Lavrov served as Russia’s envoy to the UN for ten years before taking the helm at the Foreign Ministry in 2004.

He led Russian diplomacy through turbulent periods on the international stage and has been instrumental in building Moscow's reputation as an influential global power in recent years.

Shoigu, meanwhile, is credited with strengthening and modernizing Russia's Armed Forces through a set of ambitious reforms to increase combat readiness and spearheading a massive rearmament program to equip forces with cutting-edge weapons.

Siluanov has worked in the Russian Finance Ministry since the early 1990s heading several ministerial departments, including on macroeconomic policy and banks, as well as on budgetary policy. He held the post of deputy finance minister for several years before becoming finance minister in 2011.

They are joining new Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin along with nine other members of the previous cabinet and nine freshmen ministers.

The new prime minister and new government members are all technocrats and professionals with rich management experience, said the head of the CIS strategic development center Aleksandr Gusev, adding that the ones who have stayed on are also effective government officials. He believes the new government has all of the necessary backgrounds to work effectively to improve the quality of life in Russia, something the previous government didn't succeed in doing.

The abrupt resignation of the government last week after Putin's state of the union speech was an earthquake for Russian politics. Former Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev announced last week that the entire government would resign in a surprise statement shortly after Putin's address.

What was an annual routine event turned into one of the most significant moments in Russia’s modern political history as Putin unexpectedly proposed major amendments to the nation’s constitution?

The proposed reform envisages broader powers for the State Duma – Russia's lower house of parliament – including giving it the ability to choose the PM and form the government. Putin also proposed that Russia should abide by international law only to the extent that it does not restrict Russians' rights and freedoms and does not contradict Russia's constitution.

source: Reuters

Trump trial opens with fiery clashes over witnesses Trump meets Khan, reiterates unwarranted offer to ‘help’ Pakistan & India over Kashmir

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.