Following is a summary of current people news briefs.
Plaudits vie with “pensioner” jibes as Russia’s Putin turns
60
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Supporters planted Vladimir Putin’s
portrait on a mountain peak on Sunday as Russia marked his 60th
birthday with adulation worthy of the Soviet era, but some
mocking protesters portrayed him as a pensioner fit for
retirement. A wave of satire including comparisons to Soviet
leader Leonid Brezhnev, whose 18-year rule until his death
could be surpassed by Putin if he seeks and wins a fourth term
in 2018, has hurt his macho image as he has faced the biggest
opposition protests since he was first elected president in
2000.
Colombian president leaves hospital after cancer surgery
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos
was released from a hospital on Saturday and said he was
“totally cured” after successful surgery for prostate cancer
that had not spread beyond the gland. Santos, 61, said on
Monday that doctors had discovered a tumor on his prostate. The
cancer announcement came two weeks before his government was to
start peace talks that could put an end to almost 50 years of
war with Marxist rebels.
