Russian President vows to halve poverty in six years

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he intends to halve poverty in the country within the next six years.

Mr Putin made the commitment in his annual state of the nation speech in Moscow. The speech is the last before an election he is expected to win in 17 days.

Mr Putin is laying out his key policies for his fourth presidential term.
 
He faces seven challengers in the polls although none is expected to attract widespread support. 

They do not include prominent opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who has been barred from running and has called on voters to boycott the poll.
 
SOURCE: BBC NEWS
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