This from CBC - Canadian Broadcasting Corp. which is a left-wing, arguably far-left MainStream Media news source with a definite anti-Russo bias
Anger in Russia over a government proposal to dramatically raise the retirement age has hit a new threshold after someone set a bomb off outside a national pension fund office.
No one was hurt in the blast this morning in the city of Kaluga, 180 km southwest of Moscow, but pictures and video show significant damage to the building's entrance, with shattered glass, displaced tiles and a twisted metal door.
The proposed reforms, which would see the retirement age rise from 60 to 65 for men, starting in 2028, and see women get their pension at age 60 instead of 55 as of 2034, were quietly introduced by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on June 14 — the first of day of the World Cup soccer tournament.
Russians, however, took notice. A national poll last month by Moscow's Levada Center found that almost 90 per cent of those surveyed oppose the changes. Much of the anger is fuelled by the fact that the current life expectancy for men in Russia is just 66.5 years.
Last weekend saw anti-pension-reform demonstrations in several cities across the country.
An elderly woman holds a poster that reads 'Want to Retire, it's time to change the authority!' during a rally protesting retirement age hikes in Moscow on Saturday, July 28, 2018. Tens of thousands of demonstrators have rallied throughout Russia to protest plans to substantially hike the age at which Russian men and women can receive their state retirement pensions. (Associated Press)
In Moscow, an estimated 12,000 people turned out for a rally organized by the Russian Communist Party and trade unions, carrying signs like "We want to live on our pensions, not die at work" and "the government must go." Some protesters dressed up like the grim reaper, carrying scythes.
Russia - lowest retirement age
As it stands, Russia has the lowest retirement age of any developed country and a huge demographic problem. The population is rapidly aging and by 2036, there will be twice as many retirees as workers.
By some estimates, the state pension fund is only covering 60 per cent of its current outlay, with the government making up the shortfall out of the general budget.
With an aging population, this means there will be more and more retirees on pensions and fewer and fewer working people to support them. The outlay from general funds will have to increase almost exponentially over the next decade or two without changes.
Russian politicians have long acknowledged the pressing need to reform the pension system, but few have wanted to court the inevitable public anger. The Kremlin has taken great pains to try and distance President Vladimir Putin from the reforms, saying he wasn't even involved in the discussions. But it isn't working. Over the past couple of months, his approval rating has dropped from 80 to 64 per cent — its lowest level in more than four years.
The pension bill easily passed its first reading in the Duma last month, but in a rare show of defiance, all the opposition parties and two members of Putin's United Russia movement voted against it. Parliamentary hearings are scheduled for later this month.
But there are signs that the government is worried.
News of today's explosion first came via Nika, a regional broadcaster. But a story and footage were later removed from its website, with no explanation.
There is no sign of the explosion on RT's news feed. I complain a lot about MSM and their social and political bias, but state-controlled media is no better. Both allow truth to be hidden or warped to the advantage of governments or deep state, and, of course, to the disadvantage of people.
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