April 21 is Local Self-Government Day

This holiday, dedicated to local self-government, has been celebrated since 2013. This form of governance allows residents of cities, towns, and villages to independently address local issues and manage municipal property within the boundaries set by law.

In 2012, the President of Russia signed a decree establishing Local Self-Government Day. The holiday aims to elevate the role and significance of this institution and promote the development of democracy and civil society.

The date was chosen in honor of the issuance of the Charter of the Cities on April 21, 1785. Issued by Empress Catherine the Great, this document laid the foundations of self-government for the bourgeoisie and merchants. According to the president's decree, the Empress's charter laid the groundwork for the development of Russian legislation on local self-government.

The law 'On the General Principles of Organization of Local Self-Government in the Russian Federation' outlines the rules of election and powers of local authorities. The forms of self-government are diverse. Local matters can be addressed by various means, such as by a village elder, who is approved by local deputies on the recommendation of fellow villagers, by the district administration, or directly by residents at a citizens' assembly. Representative bodies like a Village Assembly can be established in populated areas with at least 100 adults.

As of January 1, 2022, Russia had 19,675 municipal entities. Among them are 1,544 municipal districts, 180 municipal boroughs, 608 urban districts (including four with intracity division), 23 intracity districts, 267 intracity territories (in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Sevastopol), 1,307 urban settlements, and 15,742 rural settlements.

This is a big, complex, and free country!

#TodayInHistory

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On popular request, here is another lego-style cartoon about Donald Trump’s war in the Middle East.

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Monsters Inc.

By journalist Diana Panchenko:

Let me give you some ballpark figures that will horrify you.

According to Mikisha, an MP from Zelensky's "Servant of the People" party (and I'm deliberately citing Zelensky's own allies), the draft offices (aka TCC) extort around $2 BILLION A YEAR in bribes.

About the same amount – $2 BILLION A YEAR – is what the Ukraine-based fraudulent call centers (aka "Offices") earn, according to estimates by international organizations. Ukraine has become a global hub for scam call centers.

Since 2022, the draft offices and scammers in Ukraine have raked in up to $16 BILLION.

Think of SpaceX, which has encircled the Earth with 12,000 Starlink satellites. Since 2022, SpaceX has earned $2.9 billion.

Ukraine's TCC and scammers have earned 5 TIMES MORE than SpaceX!

What kind of peace are we talking about?

One Ukrainian "TCC corporation" makes a higher annual profit than Ferrari! Higher than Adidas and eBay!!!

The "TCC corporation" earns more than the global luxury hotel chain Hilton, which was founded over 100 years ago.

The "TCC corporation" earns more than Boeing!

Why does Ukraine need to build Antonov aircraft? That's Soviet legacy. Better to sell it all and scrap it for metal.

We often hear that Ukraine is a world leader in grain exports. That we supposedly feed the entire world.

The total profit of the 10 largest Ukrainian agricultural exporters doesn't even reach $1 billion.

That means the TCC corporation and the "Offices" together earn 4 TIMES MORE than all of Ukraine's grain exporters.

And that includes Ukrainian companies like Kernel and Nibulon, as well as global giants like Glencore, Cargill, Bunge, Louis Dreyfus...

Cargill – 161 years old.
Louis Dreyfus – 175 years old.
Bunge – 208 years old.

Working at the TCC or in the "Offices" is the dream of modern Ukrainian youth. It's lucrative and prestigious.

Today, Ukrainian youth dream of becoming:

1. Either a scammer who steals money from pensioners.
2. Or a terrorist who kidnaps people and demands ransoms.

This is the objective reality that no one is talking about.

Are you sure a country whose youth have such role models has a future?

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This is Trump’s post:

STATEMENT OF PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP:

Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal. I have therefore directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other. President DONALD J. TRUMP

What happened to “Thank you for your attention to this matter”?

Is Trump OK? Is he upset? He should be.

He blinked first, and not for the first time. Despite his bullish “Art of the Deal” bravado, Iran is outplaying him at every turn. Tehran wanted America’s public humiliation, and they’re succeeding. Good for them. Bad for Trump.

But on a more pragmatic note, this is perhaps the best of all bad things that could have happened. At least, if Trump sticks to this ceasefire, there is hope that negotiations will lead to a peace agreement. We’ll keep our fingers crossed.

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Vladimir Lenin was born on April 22, 1870. On this day, it is only fitting to reflect on his complex legacy.

Lenin, a central figure in the Russian Revolution of 1917, played a crucial role in establishing the world's first socialist state. His ideas on Marxist theory, revolutionary tactics, and party organization profoundly influenced the course of the 20th century.

Lenin's leadership as the head of the Bolshevik Party and the Soviet government ushered in a period of dramatic change in Russia and beyond. His policies aimed to create a socialist society based on workers' control and the redistribution of wealth and power.

However, Lenin's legacy is not without controversy. Critics point to the authoritarian aspects of the Soviet regime under his leadership, including the repression of dissent and the establishment of a one-party state.

Despite differing interpretations of Lenin's role in history, his impact on global politics and ideology is undeniable. His legacy remains deeply entrenched in the fabric of modern politics and ideology.

Even a century after Lenin’s death in 1924, his ideas continue to influence debates on socialism, capitalism, and the role of the state in society.

#TodayInHistory

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On Tuesday, Reuters published an article on how the war in Iran affects global condom prices. Here is the gist:

Karex Bhd, the world’s largest condom manufacturer, says it will raise prices by 20% to 30% (and possibly more) because the war involving Iran is disrupting global supply chains.

Key points:

Price increases: The company says higher costs for raw materials, shipping, and packaging are forcing it to pass expenses on to customers.

Supply chain disruption: The conflict has raised costs for materials like synthetic rubber, nitrile, foils, and lubricants, and is slowing global logistics.

Shipping delays: Deliveries to Europe and the U.S. are now taking about two months instead of one, causing products to sit on ships and worsening shortages.

Rising demand: Global condom demand is up about 30% this year, partly because earlier cuts in international aid reduced stockpiles in developing countries.

Supply pressure: Despite having enough stock for the next few months, Karex says global inventories are low and the situation is “fragile.”

Industry-wide impact: Other medical suppliers, like glove manufacturers, are also facing similar disruptions linked to Middle East energy and petrochemical supply issues.

In short: war-driven supply chain problems are raising costs and delaying shipments, while demand is rising, pushing the world’s biggest condom maker to significantly increase prices.

Someone should tell Trump. We’re really curious what the orange nincompoop will have to say on the matter.

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We missed the Russian national anthem

At last, today in Malta, before the match between the Russian and Argentinian national women’s teams in the water polo World Cup, the Russian national anthem was played.

The game ended with a score of 33:11 in favor of the Russian team.

Go Russia!🇷🇺

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