With a landslide victory in an election without real competition, Russian President Vladimir Putin secures another term in power. And, following a downturn during the pandemic, marriage rates in the U.S. are on the rise. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Monday, March 18, 2024.

Vladimir Putin wins Russian election, remains in power for six more years

Vladimir Putin is celebrating a landslide victory in Russia’s presidential election, securing another six years in office that will have him surpassing Josef Stalin as the country’s longest-serving modern leader. The Kremlin announced that Putin won 87% of the vote, a win described by Putin as a sign of the Russian people’s “hope” and “trust” in him.

During his victory speech, Putin referenced his country’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, indicating his next term would focus on the “special military operation.” The election, however, has been widely criticized. Opponents of Putin have been exiled or imprisoned, leading to international condemnation. A U.S. official criticized the election as neither “free nor fair.”

Despite the expected outcome, thousands of protesters demonstrated against Putin on the final day of voting in the three-day election period, participating in a “Noon Against Putin” event. This demonstration was in response to a call by the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who urged people to show their dissent against Putin’s two-decade rule.

🗳🇷🇺Presidential Elections are over at the polling station #8148 located at the Russian Embassy in Ottawa.

🧮The electoral commission starts to count the votes.

👏 We congratulate and thank all Russian citizens who voted today!#Elections2024 pic.twitter.com/0NVzEXUAsu

— Russia in Canada (@RussianEmbassyC) March 18, 2024

Following the election results, Putin held a news conference where he commented publicly for the first time on Navalny’s death, claiming that he had considered a prisoner swap before the opposition leader died.

North Korea fires short-range missiles as Blinken visits Seoul

Early Monday, March 18, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Seoul attending a democracy conference, North Korea resumed its missile testing after two months by launching several short-range ballistic missiles into its eastern seas. This move follows closely on the heels of a joint 11-day military drill between South Korea and the U.S., which Pyongyang has repeatedly condemned as a rehearsal for invasion.

Officials from Japan and South Korea reported that the North fired three missiles, which traveled nearly 200 miles before landing off the east coast. These missile tests have been denounced as violations of U.N. Security Council resolutions, with South Korea’s military describing them as a “clear provocation” and reaffirming its strong alliance and vigilance alongside the U.S.

The missile launches have drawn sharp criticism from the U.S., Japan, and South Korea, highlighting them as threats to the peace and security of neighboring nations and the broader region.

Benjamin Netanyahi criticizes Chuck Schumer’s calls for new elections

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sharply criticized U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer after the senator described Netanyahu as a “major obstacle” to peace. During a Senate speech last week, Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in the U.S. and a longtime supporter of Israel, suggested Israel should hold new elections once the war with Hamas begins to subside.

Netanyahu, speaking to CNN on Sunday, March 17, labeled Schumer’s remarks as “totally inappropriate.” He argued, “It’s inappropriate for a — to go to a sister democracy and try to replace the elected leadership there. That’s something that Israel, the Israeli public, does on its own, and we’re not a banana republic.”

He continued, emphasizing that the focus should instead be on combating Hamas in Gaza, saying, “I think the only government that we should be working on to bring down now is the terrorist tyranny in Gaza, the Hamas tyranny that murdered over 1,000 Israelis, including some dozens of Americans, and is holding Americans and Israelis hostage. That’s what we should be focused on.”

In response to Netanyahu’s comments, Schumer released a statement saying, “It’s a good thing that a serious discussion has now begun to ensure Israel’s future security and prosperity once Hamas has been defeated.”

U.S. citizens fleeing Haiti amid gang violence land in Miami

The U.S. State Department’s first charter flight from Haiti, carrying over 30 Americans fleeing escalating gang violence, landed in Miami on Sunday. This evacuation comes in the wake of the U.S. Embassy in Haiti’s urgent recommendation for Americans to depart from the country, which is currently grappling with severe gang violence and a vacuum of leadership, culminating in the closure of its main airport.

This week at State, @SecBlinken headed to Jamaica to meet with regional leaders on the situation in Haiti, the Swedish flag is raised at @NATO, and the Secretary traveled to Vienna to address the synthetic drug crisis with UN partners. pic.twitter.com/eRMyB2DQRe

— Department of State (@StateDept) March 17, 2024

In an effort to assist its citizens, the U.S. arranged for a limited number of charter flights from the northern city of Cap-Haitien, less impacted by the unrest. However, officials emphasized that Americans needed to make their own way to the airport for evacuation.

Upon arrival in Miami, government officials have begun assisting the evacuees with their immediate planning and next steps.

In a related move to ensure the safety of its diplomatic missions, the U.S. military has recently increased its presence to bolster security at the U.S. Embassy in Haiti, reflecting ongoing concerns about the stability in the region.

CDC: Marriage rates are up following pandemic downturn

Americans are saying “I do” more frequently now than in recent years, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Marriage rates in the United States have rebounded to levels not seen since before the pandemic.

Marriages in the US are back to pre-pandemic levels, CDC says https://t.co/tJnTOGRlRR

— The Associated Press (@AP) March 16, 2024

In 2022, the number of marriages exceeded 2 million for the first time since 2019, signaling a return to pre-pandemic matrimonial highs. Nevada, known for its quick and easy wedding options, topped the list of states with the highest marriage rates, closely followed by Hawaii.

The CDC report also highlights a decline in divorce rates, suggesting that not only are more Americans choosing to get married, but fewer are deciding to part ways, based on the latest data available.

Teams selected for 2024 Men’s, Women’s NCAA Tournament

The excitement of March Madness is upon us as the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments have finalized their fields. Following Selection Sunday, 68 teams are set to compete for the coveted national championship.

The CBS crew make their Final Four predictions 👀#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/8mXK0l17ko

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 17, 2024

On the men’s side, the Connecticut Huskies, the defending champions, have secured a top seed, alongside Purdue, North Carolina, and Houston. These teams are poised to begin their journey toward another title in a fiercely competitive bracket.

Tweets by MarchMadnessWBB

For the women’s tournament, the unbeatable South Carolina leads as a top seed, with Iowa, Texas, and USC rounding out the number one spots. These teams have demonstrated exceptional skill and teamwork throughout the season, setting the stage for an exciting tournament.

The men’s tournament kicks off with the First Four games on Tuesday, March 19, leading into the first round starting Thursday, March 21. The women’s tournament follows, with the first round beginning on Friday, March 22. Fans across the nation are gearing up for the thrilling matchups and unforgettable moments that define March Madness.