Putin celebrates 63rd birthday with ice hockey game and seven goals
Source: CNN
Not the kind of guy to miss a flattering photo op, Russian President Vladimir Putin put his skates on for his 63rd birthday and took to the ice. The leader, famous for posing shirtless on horseback and in other unashamedly macho situations, played in a hockey game Wednesday night alongside former NHL stars.
As you'd expect, Putin's team won. And the man himself scored seven goals.
The President's teammates included former Vancouver Canucks player Pavel Bure, as well as Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who earlier in the day had been briefing Putin on Russia's latest round of military strikes in Syria.
Despite his impressive scoring feats on the rink in the southern city of Sochi, Putin only "mastered" ice hockey in recent years, according to the Russian news agency Tass.
Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/08/europe/russia-vladimir-putin-ice-hockey-birthday/
MOSCOW: Vladimir Putin marked his 63rd birthday on Wednesday with a focus on Syria, as supporters sang his praises — comparing him to a range of heroic figures from Buddha to Batman.
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Ordinary Russians and celebrities traditionally sing Putin's praises on his birthday, and this year was no exception, with rapper Timati releasing a new video clip extolling the return of his "best friend" to the big stage. "He is in charge, so everything will be according to plan," the lyrics say. "My best friend is back in the game."
Supporters also rolled out a new exhibition of flattering paintings, depicting Putin in various heroic guises, including the black-clad Matrix protagonist Neo, the Buddha in lotus position, Che Guevara in his black beret and Mahatma Gandhi. The "Putin Universe" exhibition also shows him as artist Salvador Dali, space pioneer Yury Gagarin, sleuth Sherlock Holmes, comic book superheroes Batman and Hulk — and even French saint Joan of Arc.
"Vladimir Putin's character is the embodiment of heroism, fairness, slyness, intellect, courage and charm," the exhibition organizers said in a statement. Milos Kojic, a Serbian political expert who helped put together the display in central Moscow, told AFP: "We just want to thank him for the job he is doing for the whole planet."
Read more http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/Vladimir-Putins-supporters-praise-him-as-Gandhi-and-Buddha/articleshow/49262434.cms
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[hr][font color="blue"][center]You have to play the game to find out why you're playing the game. -Existenz[/center][/font][hr]
