<span style="color: #222222;">In Russia, Parliament has approved a package of constitutional amendments in a first reading today. The Duma unanimously voted for the amendments after discussing them for two hours. <br />''</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">President Putin submitted the amendments to the State Duma, Russia's Lower House of Parliament on Monday. The second reading of the bill is scheduled for the 11th of February.<br />'' <br />'' President Putin suggested that lawmakers could name Prime Ministers and Cabinet members, proposed a greater role for the State Council. He argued the proposed changes would bolster democracy.<br />'' <br />''<br />''The draft modifies the constitution to limit a President to two terms altogether, unlike the current version containing a limit of two consecutive terms.</span>