(national) capital (city); metropolis
steel; sword steel; sword
to refuse; to reject; to decline; to prevent (from doing); to deny (e.g. access); to block
taking the podium; mounting the rostrum; going on stage to give a speech, etc.
strongest ever; most powerful in history
in (e.g. secret); with (e.g. success)
songwriting (words and music)
party (social gathering); party (group of people participating in an activity, esp. mountain climbing); (political) party
meaning; point (e.g. of a statement); gist; effect
important points; main points; gist; list of requirements
chair; chairman; chairperson; speaker (of an assembly); president (of a council, senate, etc.)
(for the) first time this year
example; illustration; precedent
capital crime; crime resulting in a death penalty
strict crackdown on and elimination of misconduct; strict enforcement of discipline
summarization; summary; generalization; review (by labour or political movements of past activities, results, etc.)
SAT; Scholastic Assessment Test; Scholastic Aptitude Test
Putin; Putin, Vladimir (1952-; president of Russia)
guidepost; signpost; guide; manual; tiger beetle (esp. the Japanese tiger beetle, Cicindela japonica)
to reject; to repulse; to repel; to bounce back; to counterattack; to strike back
blinding someone's eyes (to make an escape); smoke screen; distraction; magic (trick); sleight of hand
assignment (of a person to somewhere); attachment (of a person to another unit, organization, etc.)
floral pattern; flourish; ornament; star (actor, player, etc.)
demotion; relegation; downgrading
handing out flyers; distributing leaflets
bill; handbill; flyer; flier; leaflet; poster
core; heart (of the matter); point; crux; kernel
veteran; battle-worn; schooled by adversity in many battles; hard-bitten; rich in experience; very experienced
woman's heart; female instincts or psychology
how (beautiful, tasty, etc.); what a ...; nothing worth mentioning; nothing special; of what name
to be useful; to be helpful; to serve the purpose
characteristic quality; special character; one's function; one's duty; fief; inherited estate