News in Brief -2023-12-08)

FE Team | Published: December 07, 2023 22:45:53

Russian presidential vote on Mar 17
MOSCOW, Dec 07: Russian lawmakers on Thursday set the date of the country's 2024 presidential election for March 17, moving Vladimir Putin a step closer to a fifth term in office. Members of the Federation Council, Russia's upper house of parliament, voted unanimously to approve a decree setting the date. "In essence, this decision marks the start of the election campaign," said Valentina Matviyenko, speaker of the Federation Council. — AP
UK minister quits over Rwanda bill
LONDON, Dec 07: Britain's ruling Conservative party was in disarray Wednesday after its immigration minister quit over legislation regarding sending migrants to Rwanda as hardliners turned the screw on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The UK leader's position looked increasingly vulnerable after Robert Jenrick said he had resigned due to "strong disagreements with the direction" of the government's policy on immigration. —AFP
Erdogan visits Greece to mend ties
ATHENS, Dec 07: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Greece on Thursday on a trip designed to mend strained relations between the two nations and with hopes of resetting ties with Western allies. Despite deep-rooted differences between the two neighboring NATO members, Erdogan promised to a "win-win" approach that could lay the foundation for broader cooperation. — AP
Iran arrests pop singer Tataloo
TEHRAN, Dec 07: Iranian authorities have arrested famous pop singer Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, known by his stage name Tataloo, after Turkish police turned him over to Iran, the judiciary said Wednesday. Maghsoudloo, 36, a singer, rapper and songwriter, had been living in Istanbul since 2018 following numerous arrests in the Islamic republic and an official refusal to grant him a performing licence. — AFP