Foreign
Zelensky thanks world’s media for fostering support for Ukraine
Zelensky thanks world’s media for fostering support for Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelensky has hailed the important role of the world’s media in fostering international support for Ukraine, as he met representatives of U.S. broadcaster — Fox News and English newspaper — The Sun.
It included Fox Corporation chief executive Lachlan Murdoch.
He met Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall and The Sun journalist Jerome Starkey in his Kyiv office and thanked them for comprehensive coverage of the war.
Including shining light on “Russian atrocities’’ in spite of the personal risks, the president’s official website said in a statement.
He also told The Sun how that he has survived at least five assassination attempts by Russian President Vladimir Putin, likening his reaction to the attempts as “just like COVID’’.
He told the newspaper: “the first one is very interesting, when it is the first time, and after that it is just like COVID.
“First of all people don’t know what to do with it and it’s looking very scary.
“And then after that, it is just intelligence sharing with you detail that one more group came to Ukraine to (attempt) this.’’
But he could not tell the newspaper exactly how many plots he had survived.
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The Sun also reported after the meeting that Zelensky accused the Kremlin of helping Hamas launch attacks in Israel in October, and that the Ukraine-Russia conflict could spiral into a third world war.
He also said Ukraine needed more Western aid and weapons.
According to his website, Zelensky thanked reporters across the globe for garnering support.
“All this time, journalists, cameramen, editors, photographers, drivers have been on the frontline,’’ he said.
“As this is a hybrid war, information is also a weapon in Russian hands.
“My sincere condolences to the families and friends of those very brave men and women who lost their lives trying to show what is happening in Ukraine.
“In particular, it is thanks to journalists from many countries that we now have such support in the world.’’
He also emphasised the importance of keeping the world’s attention on the conflict at a time when it is blurred by other events.
“For some reason, people treat it like a movie and expect that there will be no long pauses in the events that the picture before their eyes will always change.
“That there will be some surprises every day.
“But for us, for our warriors, this is not a movie. These are our lives.
“This is daily hard work. And it will not be over as quickly as we will like, but we have no right to give up and we will not,’’ he said.
Zelensky awarded Hall with the Order of Merit, third class, after he was caught up in a shelling attack while reporting on the war in March 2022.
“This, which caused him to suffer burns all over’’, lose half a leg and his feet and sustain damage to one eye.
Murdoch, son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch, was appointed chairman of both Fox and News Corp in September.
Zelensky thanks world’s media for fostering support for Ukraine
Putin Signs Decree to Boost Russian Armed Forces Personnel by 180,000
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to increase the staffing levels of the country’s armed forces, raising the total number of personnel to 2.38 million, including 1.5 million military personnel. The decree, published on the government portal, represents an increase of 180,000 personnel across the Russian armed forces.
The new staffing levels, set to take effect on December 1, 2024, reflect Russia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its military amid global tensions and geopolitical challenges. This adjustment marks a rise from the previous staffing levels of 2.2 million, which included 1.32 million military personnel.
The decree is part of a broader strategy to enhance the country’s defense capabilities as Russia continues to prioritize military readiness.
Pakistan Police Arrest Key Lawmakers from Imran Khan’s Party Amid Ongoing Crackdown
Authorities in Pakistan have arrested several prominent lawmakers and leaders from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the political party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Party officials confirmed the arrests on Tuesday following a series of late-night raids in Islamabad. While a police spokesperson stated that four individuals were detained, PTI officials claim that 13 members were arrested from various locations, including outside the parliament.
The arrests come in the aftermath of a large PTI rally held on Sunday, calling for the release of the 71-year-old former cricketer-turned-politician, who has been in jail for over a year. Among those arrested was PTI president Gohar Khan. The crackdown reflects ongoing tensions since Khan’s ousting as prime minister in 2022, following a fallout with military leaders, who often hold significant influence in Pakistan’s political landscape.
Footage broadcasted by local media showed police officers forcibly detaining lawmakers outside parliament, prompting condemnation from opposition leaders. Omar Ayub Khan, a senior opposition figure, described the arrests as “despicable,” while PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari denounced the detentions as illegal in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Bukhari further reported that senior PTI members Shoaib Shaheen and Sher Afzal Marwat were also among those taken into custody. Despite a strong showing in February’s general election, where PTI-backed candidates secured the most seats, the party was unable to form a government due to a coalition led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Iraq Denies Allegations of Smuggling Oil to Iran
The Iraqi Oil Ministry has strongly refuted allegations made by several U.S. Congress members, who claimed that Iraq is smuggling oil to Iran to help the country bypass U.S. sanctions. The ministry labeled these accusations as “fabrications with no foundation.”
The rebuttal comes in response to a letter reportedly sent by five U.S. lawmakers to President Joe Biden, accusing Iraqi officials, including Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani, of facilitating illegal oil sales to Iran. The letter further urged Biden to block Ghani’s planned visit to Washington until an investigation into the matter is completed.
In a statement, the Iraqi Oil Ministry expressed “astonishment and condemnation” at the allegations, stressing that its oil operations are under the scrutiny of international inspectors. The ministry also pointed out that Iraqi waters are strictly monitored by naval forces to prevent any illegal activity.
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