This Week in Explainers: Why Vladimir Putin wins election after election in Russia

A week has gone by and it’s been another seven days of news, news and more news.

It is the final day of the presidential election in Russia and there’s little surprise as to who’s the winner (psst, if you were still wondering, it’s going to be Vladimir Putin). There’s also the news of Russia building a rail line to bring it closer to India.

This week also saw a new controversy in the United Kingdom over an image taken by the Princess of Wales, Kate, to mark Mother’s Day. Her absence from the public eye has triggered rumours about trouble in the royal marriage and Prince  William’s alleged affair with Rose Hanbury .

Besides this, Australia was also in the news this week after farmers ripped out millions of grapevines. In the US, time is ticking on TikTok as the US House of Representatives passed a bill that allows for the popular app to be banned if Bytedance, its parent company, doesn’t divest from it.

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If you feel overwhelmed by all the news, we are here to make things easier. So, sit back and enjoy our weekly roundup that goes way beyond the headline.

1) Russia is currently holding its presidential elections . Starting on 15 March (Friday) and continuing until 17 March (Sunday), people across the country will be casting their vote, either physically or electronically, in the polls. However, there’s no doubt that Vladimir Putin will be the next Russian president, extending his grip on power in the nation until 2030. With these polls, Putin will also become the longest-serving leader in the country, beating even Joseph Stalin’s record. But how is it that the Russian strongman wins election after election? Read our essay to find out how Putin is guaranteed a victory at the polls.

2) Here’s another significant news piece coming out of Russia. Moscow is helping Iran to finance and build a 164-km rail line . This rail line is part of the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and will help bridge the gap between Russia, Iran and eventually India. How, you ask? Here’s everything you need to know about this new infrastructure project and why it matters to New Delhi.

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3) This week, the United States came a step closer to joining other countries in banning the popular video platform, TikTok. On Thursday, the US House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to ban TikTok if its China-based owner ByteDance doesn’t sell its stake in the social media platform. Why is the US gunning for TikTok? Does this new legislation mean the app is now banned in America? More importantly, what does it mean for its over 170 million users? Read up on all this and more, here .

4) If you are intrigued by crime, here’s something you will enjoy. This week came the news of a mother-of-three, Michelle Mack, being arrested in the US from her mansion in San Diego. Her crime? She was the mastermind of an all-women gang, named California Girls , who ran amok across hundreds of stores, including Ulta Beauty, TJ Max, stealing makeup products. Mack would then resell these stolen items on Amazon, building an empire worth over $8 million (Rs 66.22 crore).

5) A picture is worth a thousand words, goes the popular adage. However, for Kate Middleton and the British royals, a photo turned into a royal headache. For Mother’s Day, the Princess of Wales, who has been missing in action since her abdominal surgery in January, resurfaced in an image with her three children. However, news agencies, including Associated Press (AP), Reuters, Agence France-Presse (AFP), and Getty Images, withdrew the photo, citing manipulation. Our essay explains exactly what went wrong and the subsequent row over it.

6) It’s often said that there’s no such thing as too much wine. But farmers in Australia and France think otherwise. This week came the news that the farmers in these two countries are destroying millions of vines.

In fact, one report stated that 1.1 million vines that once comprised one of Australia’s largest vineyards are piled in heaps of gnarled and twisted wood. What has led to this situation? Read on to find out.

And that’s a wrap from us. If you like what you read and are looking for more such stories, here’s where you can find them.

Also, before we forget, here’s something for AI fans. A South Korean company has come up with an AI doll that helps old adults beat loneliness. Find out more about Hyodol here .