Putin reaches 25 years in charge of Russia, but has he ‘taken care’ of country, asks Steve Rosenberg newsthirst.

Getty Images Boris Yeltsin (L) announced he would be resigning immediately and handing over presidential powers to Vladimir Putin on 31 December 1999 I will never forget New Year’s Eve 1999. I was working as a producer in the BBC’s Moscow bureau. Suddenly there was breaking news: Russia’s President Boris Yeltsin had stepped down. His…

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Firefighters still wary of Grampians outbreak after fire destroys at least three homes | Bushfires newsthirst.

At least three homes and nearly a dozen outbuildings have been destroyed by the fire in Victoria’s Grampians, as a new fire threatens homes and lives in Western Australia. The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, said on Sunday morning that assessments of the damage were still continuing, and the full impact of the blaze was not…

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