News Trending War

Ukraine war: We’ve retaken 6,000 sq km from Russia, says Zelensky

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According to the president of the nation, Ukrainian forces are continuing their counteroffensive and have taken additional Russian land. According to Volodymyr Zelensky, forces have now liberated more than 6,000 sq km (2,317 sq miles) of territory in the east and south from Russian rule in September.

Some military experts believe that Russia’s admission that it lost important cities in the Kharkiv region of eastern Ukraine could be a turning point in the war. Moscow refers to its recent troop pullout from the area as a “regrouping” with the intention of concentrating on the Luhansk and Donetsk areas in eastern Ukraine. Even in Russia, where many social media users have mocked the idea, the purported pullout has been called “shameful.”

Later on Monday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the counter-offensive by Ukrainian forces had made “substantial progress,” but cautioned that it was still too early to determine the outcome.

According to Mr. Blinken, “The Russians continue to utilise extremely considerable forces, as well as equipment, ammunition, and munitions, against not just the Ukrainian armed forces, but also against civilians and civilian infrastructure.

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the order to invade Ukraine completely. About a fifth of the country is still under Russian control. In his late-night video message on Monday, President Zelensky stated: “Our fighters have already liberated more than 6,000 sq km of the territory of Ukraine from the beginning of September till today.

The counteroffensive seems to have started quickly. President Zelensky claimed on Thursday that Ukrainian forces had retaken 1,000 square kilometres, but by Sunday, that claim had increased to 3,000 square kilometres.

Several Ukrainian brigades that participated in the counteroffensive were thanked by Mr. Zelensky, who called their soldiers “real heroes.” He withheld the names of the liberated Ukrainian towns and villages.

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Ukraine war: Russians ‘outnumbered 8-1’ in counter-attack

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According to Russia’s top occupation official there, Ukrainian forces outnumbered Russian ones eight to one during the counterattack last week in the Kharkiv region.  According to Vitaly Ganchev, who appeared on Russian television, the Ukrainian army had taken settlements in the north and reached the Russian border.

In a potential turning point in the six-month war, Ukraine claims to have reclaimed control over 3,000 sq km (1,158 sq miles) of land. The Ukrainian army claims that during its ongoing counteroffensive in the country’s northeast, 20 villages have been retaken in the last 24 hours alone.

Additionally, it said that its troops had taken control of almost 500 square kilometres in the southern Kherson region of the nation.

The success of the Ukrainian army, according to UK defence sources, will have “major ramifications” for Russia’s broader military strategy.

However, Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the Kremlin, remained unfazed and declared that operations in Ukraine will continue “until all the tasks that were initially established” had been accomplished. He continued that President Vladimir Putin was regularly informed of the most recent events.

Russia said that its soldiers were conducting strikes in the recent retaken Ukrainian territory. This included the Izyum and Kupiansk targets that Ukraine captured on Saturday. Russia declared that its troops had left both towns and that this would give them time to “regroup.”

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News Trending War

Kharkiv offensive: Ukrainian army says it has tripled retaken area

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Ukraine’s military claims that following a quick counteroffensive in the east of the country, its soldiers had retaken nearly 3,000 sq km (1,158 sq miles). If the impressive advance is true, Kyiv’s soldiers will have tripled their claimed gains in just over 48 hours.

President Zelensky stated the area to be 1,000 sq km on Thursday night and 2,000 sq km on Saturday night. Journalists have been barred access to the front lines, and the BBC is unable to confirm the Ukrainian figures.

Ukrainian army entered the crucial Russian-held supply towns of Izyum and Kupiansk on Saturday during the eastern counterattack. However, violence has persisted outside of those towns, according to UK defence officials. Ukrainian military, according to officials in Kiev, are battling to take control of several nearby communities.

The Russian defence ministry stated that its forces had left Kupiansk and Izyum, which would allow them to “regroup” in areas controlled by separatists backed by Moscow.

Additionally, the Russian ministry acknowledged the removal of forces from Balaklyia, a third significant town, in order to “bolster efforts” on the Donetsk front. On Friday, Ukrainian forces entered the town.

The speed of the counterattack caught the Russians off guard, and Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Chechnya and a fervent Putin supporter, seemed to question Moscow’s military plan.

In a message shared on Telegram, Mr. Kadyrov warned that if Russia’s circumstances did not improve, he would be forced to interrogate the country’s authorities about what was going on.

On Saturday, the leader of the administration that Russia has put in the Kharkiv region suggested that its citizens leave for Russia in order to “save lives.”

Unverified social media video appeared to show long traffic lines forming at border crossings. Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russia’s Belgorod border area, claimed that “thousands” of migrants had entered the nation.

The military chief of Ukraine, Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, reported that his troops had moved to within 50 kilometres (31 miles) of the Russian border.

However, Russians still control about 5% of the nation, and few people think that the war will finish quickly.

Oleksii Reznikov, the defence minister of Ukraine, praised his forces while announcing the possibility of a Russian counterattack in an interview with the Financial Times.

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Kharkiv offensive: Russian forces retreat as Ukraine takes key towns

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In response to a quick Ukrainian counterattack, Russian forces have left strategic eastern towns. According to Ukrainian sources, on Saturday, troops entered Kupiansk, a crucial supply base for Russian forces in the east.

The Russian defence ministry then declared that its troops had left nearby Izyum so they could “regroup.” The ministry has acknowledged the removal of troops from Balaklyia, a third significant town, in order to “bolster efforts” on the Donetsk front.

If maintained, the Ukrainian advances would be the biggest since Russia retreated from regions near Kiev in April.

Fighting was fierce in the early phases of the invasion at Izyum, a significant military centre for the Russians.

The Russian statement stated that a three-day operation was conducted to draw down and organise the transfer of the Izyum-Balakliya group of troops to the Donetsk People’s Republic’s territory.

“A powerful fire defeat was inflicted on the enemy to avert damage to the Russian soldiers.”

Shortly after, according to the Russian state-run TASS news agency, the head administrator of the Kharkiv region’s areas under Russian authority advised its citizens to flee to Russia “to save lives”.

Additionally, the governor of the nearby Russian region of Belgorod declared that those waiting in line to cross the border would have access to mobile food, heating, and medical care.

While Ukraine continues to request military assistance from the West, the successes will be seen as proof that its army can retake Russian-occupied territory. The victory for Ukraine would be a humiliating blow for Russia because Russian soldiers entered and conquered the region in the first week of the war.

Earlier, UK defence authorities said that Ukraine had entered previously Russian-held territory 50 kilometres (31 miles) in advance. The Russian military was probably caught off guard, according to the UK Ministry of Defence. “Ukrainian soldiers have captured or encircled many towns, and the area was only tenuously held.”

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Queen Elizabeth II: World leaders remember a ‘kind-hearted Queen’

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Leaders and dignitaries from around the world have been honouring Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away at the age of 96. They have honoured the Queen’s warmth and humour as well as her strong sense of responsibility and tenacity.

Emmanuel Macron of France took the lead during the honours, recalling “a generous queen” who was “a friend of France.” When he first visited Elizabeth Majesty 40 years ago, US President Joe Biden referred to her as “more than a monarch – she defined an age.” She “charmed us with her humour, moved us with her generosity, and freely shared with us her wisdom,” Mr. Biden said of his visit to the UK in 2021 while serving as president.

“Queen Elizabeth II was a stateswoman of unmatched dignity constancy who deepened the bedrock of the Alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States. She helped make our relationship special,” Mr Biden added.

Following the Queen’s demise, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his “sincere sympathies to the British government and people,” adding that “her passing is a big loss to the British people.”

There have been 12 prime ministers in Canada under Queen Elizabeth II’s rule. An emotional Justin Trudeau said the Queen had “an obvious deep and abiding affection for Canadians.” He has known the Queen for decades and first met her when he was a child, when his father was prime minister.

“In a complicated world, her steady grace and resolve brought comfort to us all,” the prime minister said, adding that he would miss their “chats” where she was “thoughtful, wise, curious, helpful, funny and so much more”.

“She was one of my favourite people in the world, and I will miss her so,” he said, holding back tears.

African leaders also paid respect to Queen Elizabeth, who was supportive of their cause as head of the Commonwealth and knew many of them personally.

William Ruto, the incoming president of Kenya, acknowledged her “historic legacy” and expressed regret for the “friendly ties she enjoyed” with the nation.

For the king, Kenya, a former British colony that gained independence in 1963, was a particularly important country. It was the first place she became queen. When her father, King George VI, passed away in his sleep there in 1952, the young princess, who was just 25 years old at the time, was on vacation there.

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Justin Bieber suspends world tour due to health issues

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In order to “make my health a priority,” according to Justin Bieber, he is taking another vacation from touring. The musician stated in June that he has facial paralysis as a result of Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

The 28-year-old, who has been performing on his Justice world tour, now claims that recent performances have “really taken a toll” on him and that he needs more time to “relax and get better.” It happens one month after the artist declared his intention to perform again.

Following a recent performance in Brazil, he claims to have contributed “all I have” in a post on his Instagram. When a shingles outbreak affects the facial nerve close to a person’s ears, it causes Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which causes paralysis of some facial muscles.

He says, “After leaving the stage, tiredness overcame me and I realised I need to put my health first right now.

“So I’m going to take a break from touring right now. I’ll be well, but I need to take some time to recover.” Although Ramsay Hunt Syndrome is a consequence of the communicable disease shingles, it cannot be transmitted from one person to another.

The virus that causes chickenpox, which many individuals can contract as children, is connected to shingles.

The body can become vulnerable to a reactivation of the chickenpox virus if the immune system becomes depressed and is less able to fight off infection, according to the nonprofit Facial Palsy UK.

It says stress is often a trigger as it can weaken the immune system, and people who are stressed are more likely to suffer from infections.Justin had earlier told fans he had been doing facial exercises to regain movement, but that it would still take time to recover.

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Dutch city of Haarlem may be world’s first to ban most meat ads

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Due to the way meat affects the climate, Haarlem, Netherlands, plans to outlaw the majority of meat advertisements in public places. It will begin enforcing the ban in 2024, in what is believed to be the first such action by a city.

The meat industry and other people who claim it stifles free speech have opposed the motion put out by GroenLinks, a green political party. According to the UN, animals produce more than 14% of all greenhouse gases created by humans, including methane.”Meat seriously damages the ecosystem. We cannot inform people of the climate catastrophe while urging them to purchase items that contribute to it “The motion’s author, GroenLinks councilman Ziggy Klazes, told the publication Trouw.

The 160,000-person city’s administration claims that a decision has not yet been made regarding whether sustainably produced beef would be exempt from the ad banAdditionally, members of the Christian Democratic Challenge party backed the measure.

The meat business quickly retaliated. Spokesman for the Central Organization for the Meat Sector: “The authorities are going too far in telling people what’s best for them.”

According to the right-wing BVNL party, it “would be disastrous for pig farmers” and was a “intolerable violation of entrepreneurial freedom.” Councilman Joey Rademaker of the Haarlem BVNL claimed that outlawing advertisements with political overtones was practically totalitarian.

According to Statistics Netherlands, although more than half of Dutch people consume meat, only about 95% of them do so daily.

Ads for the aviation and fossil fuel industries have already been outlawed in Amsterdam and The Hague.

Methane emissions from greenhouse gases, which include those from beef, are the highest. The environmental impact of lamb is the second largest, but these emissions are 50% lower than those of beef.

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News Trending War

Ukraine: Ben Stiller and Sean Penn latest Americans banned from Russia

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US actors Ben Stiller and Sean Penn are no longer permitted to travel Russia after being added to the “stop list” by Kremlin officials. They join celebrities including former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, US President Joe Biden, and fellow Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Russia and a few Western countries have been exchanging rounds of sanctions. Similar travel restrictions have been imposed on oligarchs connected to Vladimir Putin in the West.

The names of 25 prominent US politicians, businesspeople, and actresses were released by the Russian foreign ministry on Monday, along with a statement that they were prohibited from entering Russia “permanently.” Six US senators, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, four deputy commerce secretaries, and more were listed.

The ministry declared that “the unfriendly acts of the American authorities, which continue to pursue a Russophobic course, damaging bilateral ties and growing conflict between Russia and the United States, will continue to be decisively rebuffed.”

Both Stiller and Penn have visited Kiev since the start of the conflict and have been strong opponents of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. On a visit to Ukraine in June to commemorate World Refugee Day, Stiller, a goodwill ambassador for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), expressed his thoughts for President Volodymyr Zelensky.

In a video of the two, the celebrity tells Zelensky, “You’re my hero, you’re fantastic,” and thanks him for “taking the time” to meet him.

While making a documentary about the conflict in Ukraine in March, Penn—who is well-known for both his films and his political activism—fled the country. Later, he admitted that he had pondered enlisting in the Ukrainian military to combat Russia.

Currently, 1,073 names, including the two actors, are on Russia’s “stop list.” Numerous UK, US, and EU officials are also there, along with US director of photography Rob Reiner and incoming British Prime Minister Liz Truss.

Russia’s most recent retaliatory actions are in response to sanctions imposed by the US government. The most recent ones were made public on Friday as part of a larger G7 proposal to control the price of Russian oil in an effort to hinder Moscow’s ability to fund its conflict.

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Germany announces €65bn package to curb soaring energy costs

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In an effort to lessen the prospect of rising energy prices as Europe struggles with limited supplies in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Germany has unveiled a €65 billion (£56.2 billion) package of measures.

The package, which is substantially larger than the two before it, will include one-time payments to the most vulnerable people and tax benefits for companies that use a lot of energy. Energy prices have soared since the February invasion, and Europe is trying to wean itself off Russian energy.

Ukraine encouraged Europe to maintain its resolve. Russia is attempting to disrupt every European citizen’s ability to lead a normal life, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. On Saturday, he stated in his nightly speech that Russia was preparing a “decisive energy attack on all Europeans” and that only cooperation among European nations would provide safety.

There are already hints of unhappiness, with demonstrators marching to the streets of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, on Sunday to demonstrate against rising energy prices and demand the lifting of sanctions against Russia. According to police, there were roughly 70,000 attendees, primarily from far-right and far-left organisations.

Meanwhile, several hundred demonstrators gathered in Lubmin, the Russian gas pipeline’s terminal in northeastern Germany.

They demanded that Nord Stream 2, a new pipeline that was set to be put into operation but was stopped by the German government during the invasion, be put into service.

Russia announced two days ago that it would permanently halt gas deliveries to Germany via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which is currently in use.

The stand-off with Russia has forced countries like Germany to find supplies elsewhere, and its stores have increased from less than half full in June to 84% full today.

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Klyuchevskaya Sopka: Climbers killed during a fall on Russian volcano

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At least six individuals have died while climbing Eurasia’s highest active volcano in eastern Russia’s Kamchatka region, local media claim. They said rescuers are unable to reach another six climbers on the Klyuchevskaya Sopka volcano because of terrible weather. At 3,300m (10,827ft) above sea level, two of the climbers are thought to be sleeping in a camp, and at 4,000m, four more are thought to be in a tent.

The climbers are all citizens of Russia. According to local media, the 12-person group, which included two guides, started their ascent to the 4,754-meter summit on Tuesday. But on Saturday, four days later, four climbers are thought to have died instantly after falling at a height of roughly 4,000 metres. Soon after, two more people passed away.

It has been claimed that one of the guides broke his leg, and it was not immediately clear how the other climbers were doing.

Klyuchevskaya Sopka is a part of the natural Volcanoes of Kamchatka Unesco World Heritage Site, and its symmetrical cone soars high above the Kamchatka peninsula. Some indigenous populations regard the volcano as sacred.

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