Boris Johnson To Give Speech At Crypto Conference In Latest Post-Premiership Gig

Boris Johnson is to continue his burgeoning career away from Downing Street by giving the keynote speech at a blockchain and cryptocurrency conference in Singapore.

The former prime minister, who remains the MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, will appear at the International Symposium on Blockchain Advancement on December 2.

The conference is being organised by ParallelChain Lab, a blockchain technology company that “is reimaginging the use of blockchain in the digital economy”.

Dick Cheney, the former US vice president, is also speaking at the conference.

In September, Johnson was paid £130,000 to give a speech to a group of US insurance brokers in Colorado.

The Times reported that the speech was greeted with a standing ovation as he gave his assessment of the situation in Ukraine.

Johnson has also set up his own office, likely to be the vehicle for accepting earnings, registering The Office of Boris Johnson Ltd with Companies House.

Meanwhile, Johnson has confirmed he will attend the Cop27 conference in Egypt, piling further pressure on Rishi Sunak to backtrack on his decision to snub the climate summit.

The ex-PM said he was “happy to go” to Sharm El Sheikh for the United Nations meeting opening on Sunday.

However, Sunak is leaving his own decision to the last minute, having initially ruled out attending before signalling he could U-turn in the face of widespread criticism.

Johnson told Sky News “yes, as it happens” he will be attending, adding: “I was invited by the Egyptians so I’m very happy to go.”

Asked if his successor in No 10 should go too, he said Sunak has a “massive amount to do” with the government’s domestic agenda, adding: “I happen to have a particular interest.”

It came as Johnson said he does not believe Vladimir Putin will use a tactical nuclear weapon in the conflict with Ukraine, as it would be “crazy” to wreak “total disaster” on his own country.

The former prime minister said the act would “immediately tender Russia’s resignation from the club of civilised nations” and plunge the country into a “kind of cryogenic economic freeze”.

He added that he suspects it would trigger an “absolutely hysterical reaction” in Russia itself.

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6 Bits Of News From The War In Ukraine You May Have Missed

A lot has been happening between Ukraine and Russia recently.

Kyiv is successfully pushing back the frontline of the war, forcing Russia’s troops off Ukrainian land. Meanwhile, Moscow is upping the ante through more and more extreme measures.

Here’s what you need to know about all the latest developments.

1. Chaos for Russia’s mobilisation push

Russian president, Vladimir Putin announced a “partial mobilisation” for the country’s reserve troops on September 21.

This was meant to enlist 300,000 men with previous military experience to boost the Russian forces, although the official decree did not specify a required figure.

But just a week later, Putin announced there would be “corrections” to the call-out after there were reports that people with no experience or those beyond the draft age have been called up.

He said: “For example, I’m thinking of fathers of many children, or people suffering from chronic diseases, or those who are already past conscription age.”

Now he has deferred conscription for additional categories of students, too.

More than 200,000 people have already been drafted in, according to the Kremlin.

Meanwhile, Russians have allegedly been fleeing the country in droves to avoid being called up to war and anti-war protests have broken out all over Russia. Data shared by Bloomberg.com revealed that 400,000 Russians have escaped to nearby states.

According to OVD-Info, 2,418 people were detained for protesting against mobilisation between September 21 and 26.

2. And Russia still isn’t sure about its new external borders

Moscow annexed four regions of Ukraine last week, after holding sham referendums in each area – Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk.

Putin has since claimed that all four regions wanted to join Russia, although almost the entire international community still believes these areas are part of Ukraine.

And, in claiming the land for Russia without Ukraine’s permission, Putin has officially broken international law.

However, Russia does not control any of these areas completely – many pockets are still rebelling against Moscow rule. As a result, Russia has still not entirely confirmed where it thinks its new borders are, especially as Ukraine continues to reclaim land.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov refused to give a solid answer about where the borders of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions should be following the annexations.

Asked by CNN, he said: “I will leave this question unanswered.”

He then added: “But I repeat once again: certain territories there will be returned and we will continue to consult with the population, that expresses a desire to live in Russia.”

This is only made more confusing by the decision to include these annexed areas in the Russian TV weather forecasts.

3. Ukraine’s counteroffensive continues

Ukraine has reclaimed astounding quantities of land in the east over the last few weeks, amid claims that Russian soldiers fled or surrendered.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has remained confident about Ukraine’s success, believing the whole country – including the annexed land – can be reclaimed.

But, as Zelenskyy, noted, this reclaimed land is severely damaged.

He shared images of the recently liberated city of Lyman, showing how – even where Ukrainians comfortably declared victory – there is extensive tragedy left.

Zelenskyy wrote: “Our Lyman after the occupier. All basics of life have been destroyed here. They are doing so everywhere in the territories they seize.”

4. EU announces price cap on Russian oil and ban

The 27 states of the bloc all agreed to a sanctions package on Wednesday. This is part of the ongoing sanctions meant to reduce Putin’s ability to attack Ukraine by reducing its income and forcing it to sell its oil abroad for less.

It’s also the eighth round of sanctions from the EU since Moscow invaded in February, signed off on Wednesday.

In response, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen wrote: “We will never accept Putin’s sham referenda nor any kind of annexation in Ukraine. We are determined to continue making the Kremlin pay.”

The West in general is also trying to reduce its reliance on exported Russian fossil fuels, so that Moscow can no longer use it for leverage.

5. Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant concerns grow

Ukraine’s largest nuclear power plant is still in the line of fire. Russia have attempted to annexe the region, and it has been occupied since the start of the war, although the plant itself is still operated by Ukrainian technicians.

Head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi is also expected to visit the Kremlin to discuss de-escalating the situation.

Ukraine’s government of Zaporizhzhia said this week that, “the enemy fired rockets at the regional centre and the outskirts of the city” during the night, meaning “infrastructure facilities were destroyed”.

Former RAF Air Marshal Edward Stringer told Sky News that Putin’s continued attacks on the region meant Putin was trying to “keep the world worried” about his aggression, and “employing terror against the civilian population.”

Despite these attacks near the power plant, the Kremlin has promised it is “fully committed” to not fighting a nuclear war.

It’s worth remembering, only last month Putin promised he was “not bluffing” when it came to using “all the means available to us” to win the war.

Ukrainian firefighters push out a fire after a strike in Zaporizhzhia on October 6, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian firefighters push out a fire after a strike in Zaporizhzhia on October 6, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

MARINA MOISEYENKO via Getty Images

6. Russia sounds warning to the US

Russia’s ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, said Washington’s attempts to send more military aid to Ukraine were only increasing military tensions between Russia and the West.

He added that this was an “immediate threat” to Moscow, adding: “We call on Washington to stop its provocative actions that could lead to the most serious consequences.”

Moscow also warned that the US is a “participant of the conflict” after Washington announced it was sending another $625 million (£547 million) in military aid to Ukraine, along with advanced US weaponry.

In total, Washington committed nearly $17 billion (£15.15 billion) in military support since the war began.

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Putin Admits ‘Mistakes’ As Russian Troops Are Driven Out Of Another Ukrainian City

Vladimir Putin finally admitted there have been “mistakes” over the partial mobilisation of Russian reserves, according to the Ministry of Defence.

His admission also came shortly before Russia lost another Ukrainian territory over the weekend, Lyman on Saturday. It was twice as humiliating for the Kremlin, as Moscow had actually just attempted to consolidate its power over land in the east by illegally annexing it on Friday and claiming it as a Russian soil.

Here’s what you need to know about the latest development in the ongoing war.

Why is Putin’s admission important?

The Ministry of Defence, which revealed the Russian president made the confession while addressing his National Security Council last Thursday, explained that this is a rare acknowledgment the war is not going well for Russia.

According to the UK officials, Putin said: “A lot of questions are being raised during this mobilisation campaign, and we must promptly correct our mistakes and not repeat them.”

Putin mobilised 300,000 reservists and threatened to deploy nuclear weapons too on September 21 – but this has not deterred Ukraine’s astounding counteroffensive.

The MoD explained: “Putin’s unusually rapid acknowledgement of problems highlights the dysfunction of the mobilisation over its first week.

“Local officials are likely unclear on the exact scope and legal rationale of the campaign.

“They have almost certainly drafted some personnel who are outside the definitions claimed by Putin and the Ministry of Defence.

“As drafted reservists continue to assembly at tented transit camps, Russian officials are likely struggling to provide training and in finding officers to lead new units.”

What is particularly surprising is this admission happened the day before Putin officially declared four regions of Ukraine part of Russia, after holding sham referendums.

Putin also confidently threatened to come down hard on Ukraine if it tried to reclaim any of the territory he had claimed as new Russian land only last week.

Russian annexed regions in Ukraine.
Russian annexed regions in Ukraine.

via PA Graphics/Press Association Images

What’s the latest from the frontline?

While the MoD only revealed Putin’s claims on Monday, he had actually said them last week – before the Russian Defence Ministry admitted it had withdrawn its troops from the strategic eastern town of Lyman, in the Donetsk region.

To recap, the Donetsk region is one of the four areas Russia annexed on Friday. In fact, Kyiv reclaimed the town just a day after Moscow “annexed” it.

Russia’s Defence Ministry tried to explain its retreat on Saturday, claiming: “In connection with the creation of a threat of encirclement, allied troops were withdrawn from the settlement of [Lyman] to more advantageous lines.”

“The enemy, having a significant superiority in forces and means, introduced reserves and continued the offensive in this direction,” it added.

It also alleged that it had inflicted heavy losses on the Ukrainian frontline but there is no evidence for this yet.

Lyman was a strategic and logistical hub for Russia, and without it, Moscow’s supply lines will take yet another hit.

As US Defence secretary Lloyd Austin told Reuters: “And without those, [supply] routes it will be more difficult. So it presents a sort of dilemma for the Russians going forward.

“And we think the Ukrainians have done great work to get there and to begin to occupy the city.”

What does this mean for Ukraine?

Reclaiming Lyman is not just a boost for Ukrainian morale, but a strategic bonus.

Now they can move into the Luhansk region – which would cause particularly embarrassment to the Kremlin considering it announced this region fully occupied in early July, and also annexed it last Friday.

A spokesperson for Ukraine’s eastern forces, Serhii Cherevatyi, told Reuters: “Lyman is important because it is the next step towards the liberation of the Ukrainian Donbas. It is an opportunity to go further to Kreminna and Sievierodonetsk and it is psychologically very important.”

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy also vowed to take more areas after pushing Russia out of Lyman. On Saturday, he said: “During this week, there were more Ukrainian flags in Donbas. It will be even more in a week.”

The Ukrainian president continued: “Ukraine will return its own. Both in the east and in the south. And what they tried to annex now, and Crimea, which has been called annexed since 2014.

“Our flag will be everywhere.”

Amid continued reports of low morale among Russian troops, and a lack of training for new recruits, videos of Ukrainian soldiers dancing even before Lyman was successfully reclaimed have been widely shared online.

What does Russia think?

According to journalists who watch Russian state TV, commentators are struggling to spin Russia’s losses in Lyman.

Julia Davis said the former deputy commander of Russia’s southern military district couldn’t explain the defeat, while the BBC’s Francis Scarr noticed how some TV channels just didn’t mention the battle at all.

Scarr claimed only Rossiya 1 was close to the truth when the host admitted there was a “difficult” situation emerging in the Donbas, but even the anchor still insisted that Russia was still “beating off the desperate onslaught of Ukrainian army troops”.

Meanwhile, Russians are said to be trying to flee the country in droves to avoid being called up to fight.

More than 2,000 anti-war protesters have also been arrested since Putin’s partial mobilisation announcement, according to the human rights group OVD-Info.

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Ukraine Accelerates Application To Join Nato. Will It Happen?

A defiant Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced Ukraine is formally applying for fast-track membership of the Nato military alliance, cranking up fears of a full-blown conflict between Russia and the West.

The Ukrainian leader’s move appeared to have been prompted by Russian president Valdimir Putin holding a ceremony in Moscow to proclaim four partially-occupied Ukrainian regions as annexed Russian land, following a series of sham referendums. The land-grab breaks international law.

A video showed president Zelenskyy announcing the membership bid and then signing a document flanked by his prime minister and the speaker of parliament.

“De facto, we have already proven compatibility with alliance standards,” Zelenskyy said. “We trust each other, we help each other, and we protect each other. This is the alliance.”

The announcement is likely to stoke Putin, who sees Nato as a hostile military alliance bent on encroaching in Moscow’s sphere of influence and destroying it.

In his video speech, Zelenskyy accused Russia of brazenly rewriting history and redrawing borders “using murder, blackmail, mistreatment and lies”, something he said Kyiv would not allow.

What is Nato?

The military alliance goes by the acronym of Nato.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was formed in 1949 to prevent a resurgence of nationalism and militarism in Europe after two world wars, and to deter the Soviet Union’s expansion.

Its membership has swelled to 30 member nations, and over the 1990s and 2000s its enlargement stretched further east to include the former Soviet republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

They agree to mutual defence – military action – in response to an enemy attack. The principle goes: “An attack against one ally is considered as an attack against all allies.” This is Article 5 of the Nato constitution.

Sweden and Finland, which shares a 1,300-km (810-mile) border with Russia, sought membership to Nato earlier this year following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but have faced a hurdle as its application needs the approval of all 30 current members, with Turkey raising objections.

Efforts to join the US-led military alliance marked a radical break in the policy of both north east European countries given their staunch military neutrality.

Nato member countries in Europe
Nato member countries in Europe

PA Graphics via PA Graphics/Press Association Images

Because Ukraine is not a member of Nato, Western support for Zelenskyy has fallen short of putting their troops on the ground.

Nato’s enlargement was Putin’s biggest publicly-stated grievance with the West during the build-up up to war, claiming the eastward expansion and potentially sweeping up the largest other former Soviet republic breaks promises.

Nato has been adamant it will not accept limits on the nations that it admits and has always maintained an “open door policy”.

Will tensions flare up more?

Many will fear the countries are on a collision course that could lead to a bona fide world war.

Putin vowed to protect newly-annexed regions of Ukraine by “all available means”, a nuclear-backed threat where he also railled furiously at the West, accusing the United States and its allies of seeking Russia’s destruction.

Russia has repeatedly made clear that any prospect of Ukraine joining the world’s largest military alliance is one of his red lines and it was among the justifications he has cited for his invasion — the biggest land war in Europe since the Second World War.

Will Nato membership actually happen?

The immediate ramifications of the “accelerated” Nato application weren’t clear, since it requires the unanimous support of all members. The supply of Western weapons to Ukraine has, however, put it closer to the alliance’s orbit.

But it seems unlikely Nato will accept Ukraine’s application while a war is raging. Article 5 compels fellow members to actively defend it against Russia, a commitment that goes well beyond the supply of weapons.

Ukraine’s admission to Nato has been a stated goal going back to its constitution in 2002, but at the start of the war Zelenskyy accepted his country couldn’t join at present.

“For years we heard about the apparently open door, but have already also heard that we will not enter there, and these are truths and must be acknowledged,” he said at the time.

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‘Send Putin To The Trenches’: Russia’s Military Call-Up Sparks Protests

Protesters in Moscow have chanted “send Putin to the trenches” amid widespread disapproval of Russia’s biggest conscription drive since World War Two.

Within hours of president Vladimir Putin ordering a partial mobilisation of reservists on Wednesday, rare protests were reported across the country that led to almost 1,200 arrests.

Shortly after Putin’s address, Russian media reported a spike in demand for plane tickets abroad as some draft-age men headed for the border.

In the capital Moscow, hundreds of people gathered on the central Stary Arbat street amid heavy police presence. Protesters could be seen chanting “No war”, “Send Putin to the trenches” and “Let our children live” in videos published to social media.

Putin’s risky order follows humiliating setbacks for his troops nearly seven months after they invaded Ukraine.

The first such call-up in decades heightened tensions with Ukraine’s Western backers, who derided it as an act of weakness and desperation.

Liz Truss accused Putin of “sabre rattling” as the UK prime minister addressed the United Nations General Assembly, aded that the Russian president is desperately trying to justify a “catastrophic failure” in Ukraine.

The total number of reservists to be called up could be as high as 300,000, officials said.

Despite Russia’s harsh laws against criticising the military and the war, protesters outraged by the mobilisation overcame their fear of arrest to stage protests in cities across the country.

Nearly 1,200 Russians were arrested in anti-war demonstrations in cities including Moscow and St Petersburg, according to the independent Russian human rights group OVD-Info.

As protest calls circulated online, the Moscow prosecutor’s office warned that organising or participating in such actions could lead to up to 15 years in prison.

Police officers detain a man in Moscow on September 21, 2022, following calls to protest against partial mobilisation announced by President Vladimir Putin. - President Vladimir Putin called up Russian military reservists on September 21, saying his promise to use all military means in Ukraine was "no bluff," and hinting that Moscow was prepared to use nuclear weapons. His mobilisation call comes as Moscow-held regions of Ukraine prepare to hold annexation referendums this week, dramatically upping the stakes in the seven-month conflict by allowing Moscow to accuse Ukraine of attacking Russian territory. (Photo by Alexander NEMENOV / AFP) (Photo by ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Images)
Police officers detain a man in Moscow on September 21, 2022, following calls to protest against partial mobilisation announced by President Vladimir Putin. – President Vladimir Putin called up Russian military reservists on September 21, saying his promise to use all military means in Ukraine was “no bluff,” and hinting that Moscow was prepared to use nuclear weapons. His mobilisation call comes as Moscow-held regions of Ukraine prepare to hold annexation referendums this week, dramatically upping the stakes in the seven-month conflict by allowing Moscow to accuse Ukraine of attacking Russian territory. (Photo by Alexander NEMENOV / AFP) (Photo by ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Images)

ALEXANDER NEMENOV via Getty Images

<img class="img-sized__img landscape" loading="lazy" alt="Russian police officers detain a protester during a protest rally at Arbat street in Moscow, Russia.” width=”720″ height=”480″ src=”https://www.wellnessmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/send-putin-to-the-trenches-russias-military-call-up-sparks-protests-4.jpg”>
Russian police officers detain a protester during a protest rally at Arbat street in Moscow, Russia.

Contributor via Getty Images

The Associated Press news agency witnessed at least a dozen arrests in the first 15 minutes of a nighttime protest in the capital.

“I’m not afraid of anything. The most valuable thing that they can take from us is the life of our children. I won’t give them life of my child,” said one Muscovite, who declined to give her name.

Asked whether protesting would help, she said: “It won’t help, but it’s my civic duty to express my stance. No to war!”

In Yekaterinburg, Russia’s fourth-largest city, police hauled onto buses some of the 40 protesters who were detained at an anti-war rally. One woman in a wheelchair shouted, referring to the Russian president: “Goddamn bald-headed ‘nut job’. He’s going to drop a bomb on us, and we’re all still protecting him. I’ve said enough.”

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6 Major News Stories That May Have Slipped Under Your Radar During National Mourning

The Queen’s death marked the end of an era for many in the UK, but that didn’t mean life stopped for the world.

While a few stories – such as the death of Chris Kaba, the ongoing cost of living crisis, and Liz Truss’ new cabinet – did get a look-in, the state funeral meant others slipped off the agenda.

So, as the country comes out of this period of national mourning, here’s a list of essential news stories you might have missed altogether over the last 11 days.

1. Community tensions soar in Leicester

Leicester is famous for its multicultural population, but a spate of clashes in recent weeks has shaken the city to its core.

Violence first broke out after the India vs Pakistan cricket match a month ago, on Sunday, August 28, and more scuffles followed in the next few weeks.

But, locals claim that the tensions began rising long before the match, with members of both the local Hindu and Muslim communities allegedly squaring up against one another, although the exact cause is still unclear.

The tensions seemed to come to a head on the night of September 17, when around 200 people – mainly masked or hooded men – gathered for an unauthorised protests in the east of the city.

All local officers available were called to the scene, and a stand-off followed, with police having to separate rival groups as they threw bottles at one another.

Police officers were even diverted from the Queen’s funeral in London to provide back up to the force in Leicestershire. They made 47 arrests in total and 16 officers were injured in the violence on Saturday night alone.

Claudia Webb, independent MP for Leicester East, said tensions had been simmering for “months”, and has previously claimed that some social media accounts were “preying on this unease” by “spreading misinformation”.

In a Twitter post, she wrote: “There are reports of incitement to hate being targeted at those of Muslim and Hindu faith, which is being shared on social media to cause fear.

“Places like Facebook and via WhatsApp designed to ‘entrap’ members of the local community to attend a protest, sparked by hate.”

She claimed such posts were “designed to provoke additional clashes and to cause disharmony and distrust”.

Mayor of Leicester Sir Peter Soulsby has said these recent events have left him “baffled”, while Labour MP for Leicester South, Jonathan Ashworth, said the troubles were a “dark episode” where he and residents “rightly pride ourselves on celebrating our diversity”.

Extremists, territorial rivalries and the influence of people from outside the city have all been blamed for supposedly inciting violence.

Webb also warned on Tuesday that the violence could spread beyond Leicester without central government intervention.

The Hindu and Muslim communities in Leicester released a joint statement two days after the violence at the weekend, saying: “We are from one family. We settled here in this city together, we fought the racists together, we build it up together. The recent violence is not who we are as a city.”

The Indian government has also released a statement, strongly condemning the violence.

“We have strongly taken up this matter with the UK authorities and have sought immediate action against those involved in these attacks.”

2. Mahsa Amini’s death

Protests have broken out across Iran’s capital Tehran, following the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman, last Friday.

She had been in a coma for three days after “morality” police held her for supposedly breaking hijab rules. She was detained outside a Tehran metro station, as part of the police’s clampdown on clothing.

Witnesses said officers beat her inside a police van which later took her to a detention centre, although police brigadier-general Hossein Rahimi dismissed such claims as “cowardly accusations”.

Police also claimed that Amini had suffered from “sudden heart failure” while at the detention centre where she was to be “educated” with other women.

The authorities later released footage showing a woman they claim is Amini talking to a female official, who had tried to reach for her clothing. Amini then holds her head with her hands and falls to the floor.

The police, who described her death as “unfortunate”, said that Amini had “previous physical problems”, but her father denied such a claim, and claimed the CCTV footage is edited.

In protest to Amini’s death and the strict regime of Iran, women have since been seen removing their headscarves and cutting their hair while shouting “death to the dictator”, in what is believed to be a reference to the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Demonstrations in Tehran and western Iran over the weekend reportedly led to the death of two people during a clash with riot police.

Protests in Saqez, a western part of Iran, led security forces to allegedly open fire on a crowd as they tried to move towards the local governor’s office.

Further demonstrators took place in Kurdistan’s capita, Sanandaj. Amini was an ethnic Kurd from Saqez.

3. Hurricane Fiona

A devastating storm, Hurricane Fiona, has swept across parts of the Caribbean in recent weeks – and it doesn’t look like it’s going to slow down any time soon.

Residents on the Turks and Caicos Islands were urged to seek shelter on Tuesday, after Fiona had already wrecked havoc in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. The hurricane is expected to reach the southern Bahamas too, and the eastern Bahamas by Wednesday.

In Puerto Rico, the storm killed at least three people and caused significant flooding with more than 75cm of rain falling.

It also caused a total blackout which isn’t expected to be fixed any time soon, especially as the territory is still struggling with its power grid after the brutal category 5 storm, Hurricane Maria, which knocked out 80% of power lines in 2017.

The weather in the US territory was still chaotic on Monday, with frequent lightning and rain. Torrential rain and wind then hit the Dominican Republic too, and it now seems to be building up in power.

The category 2 storm is expected to become a category 3 with winds beyond 111mph, which will make it the first “major hurricane” of the 2022 season, according to the National Hurricane Centre. By the time it reaches the eastern Bahamas, it could be category 4.

A man wades through a flooded street in Nagua, Dominican Republic, on September 19
A man wades through a flooded street in Nagua, Dominican Republic, on September 19

ERIKA SANTELICES via Getty Images

4. Typhoon Nanmadol

At least two people were killed as record winds and rain hit the west of Japan on Monday.

Prime minister Fumio Kishida even delayed his flight to New York for the UN General Assembly so that he could look at the damage of the 14th typhoon Japan has faced this season.

There was major landfall near Kagoshima city on Sunday, before it hit the islands of Kyusha and Honshu, while rivers overflowed and roofs were ripped off by the strong wind.

“We need to remain highly vigilant for heavy rains, gales, high waves and storm surges,” a Japanese Meteorological Agency official said, according to Reuters news agency. At least 115 people have been reported injured and around 340,000 households lost power.

Water flowing along the Sendai River in the wake of Typhoon Nanmadol in Ebino, September 19
Water flowing along the Sendai River in the wake of Typhoon Nanmadol in Ebino, September 19

YUICHI YAMAZAKI via Getty Images

5. Putin moves submarines away from Crimea – but nuclear fears continue

Russian president Vladimir Putin has allegedly moved the country’s submarines away from the annexed peninsula Crimea.

As Crimea was seized by Russia in 2014 (and seen by some as the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine), it was thought to be secured under Moscow’s rule.

But, as the UK’s defence ministry tweeted on Tuesday, Russia’s Black Sea Fleet “has almost certainly relocated” its submarines from Crimea to southern Russia.

The officials explained: “This is highly likely due to the recent change in the local security threat level in the face of increased Ukrainian long-range strike capability. In the last two months, the fleet headquarters and its main naval aviation airfield have been attacked.

“Guaranteeing the Black Sea Fleet’s Crimea basing was likely one of Russian president Vladimir Putin’s motivations for annexing the peninsula in 2014. Base security has now been directly undermined by Russia’s continued aggression against Ukraine.”

It comes after Ukraine’s highly successful counteroffensive which has reclaimed large swathes of land from Russia in the north-east.

“The occupiers are clearly in a panic,” Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed on Monday.

Russia has also sparked fears of a nuclear war once again, after a missile exploded less than 900 feet from reactors of the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant, the second largest nuclear plant in the country.

This is separate to the worries around the Zaporizhzhia power plant, which sits on the frontline of the fight between Ukraine and Russia.

The South Ukraine plant is far from the frontline, but the attack demonstrates the extent of Russia’s reach (if it did indeed come from Moscow).

Still, there was no damage to safety equipment, and the exact source of the explosion could not be independently confirmed.

6. Mexico earthquakes

On the anniversary of two other significant earthquakes, dating back to 1985 and 2017, Mexico was hit by yet another earthquake which killed at least two people.

The National Autonomous University of Mexico said there is no scientific explanation for why all three quakes would happen on the same day.

A 7.6 magnitude hit western Mexico on Monday, knocking out power and leaving people in Mexico City desperately seeking safety.

Hospitals were damaged, and other buildings collapsed onto the people within.

The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre also issued a warning for coastal areas, saying waves reaching up to three metres above the tide level were possible.

The September 19, 1985 earthquake killed thousands, and more than 350 died in September 19, 2017.

 A view of damaged buildings aftermath of 7.6 magnitude earthquake in Colima, Mexico, on September 19.
A view of damaged buildings aftermath of 7.6 magnitude earthquake in Colima, Mexico, on September 19.

Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

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Refugees Minister Richard Harrington Quits Government

Richard Harrington, the minister in charge of the Ukrainian refugee programme, has resigned from the government.

Speaking to Times Radio on Sunday, Lord Harrington said his job of setting up the schemes was now complete and Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak could use the “machinery” how they wished.

“I felt it was an opportune moment,” he said of his decision to quit. “It certainly was not a political statement about this leader or that leader or anything like that.”

Harrington said the “argument is won” on welcoming Ukrainian refugees and it but all decisions are for the new prime minister”.

“Never again will we have people arrive in the UK and go into hotels without a plan, as happened with those coming from Afghanistan and from the Ukraine, where at the beginning we didn’t have any idea where to put them all,” he said.

“I was brought in to do a very specific job, which was to set up working machinery across Government to deal with helping the Ukrainians in need,” Lord Harrington said.

“I believe we now have a process and procedure in place that means there won’t necessarily be the need for a minister like myself.

“I’m not walking out on the role or either candidate and will continue to support where helpful. But what I was specifically asked to do is essentially complete so it seems right that I make clear to both leadership contenders that they may be able to save on a ministerial post when they take over.

“Or at least have the option to shape the role for the next phase with a new person now I’ve established a successful system.”

Over 100,000 Ukrainians have come to the UK under the Ukraine Family Scheme and Homes for Ukraine Scheme since March.

Truss is the overwhelming favourite to takeover from Boris Johnson as prime minister, following a bitter leadership campaign against rival Rishi Sunak.

The winner of the contest will be announced on Monday and the new PM will take office on Tuesday.

Johnson has been praised by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

He wrote a piece in the Mail On Sunday and also spoke to the Sunday Times about his gratitude to the outgoing Prime Minister.

Zelenskyy also expressed his hope for future “close relations” with Johnson’s successor, who could be in line for an invitation to visit Kyiv.

He told the Sunday Times that it would be a “priority” to extend an invitation to the next prime minister, while he also admitted he was “concerned” when he heard Mr Johnson was resigning.

“When we learned that there would be a change of government, all of us were concerned,” he told the paper.

“Johnson was supporting us and a lot depends on the leader. The leader is the one who communicates. The leader is the one that mediates between a country and its people, and a leader has an impact upon society.”

Speaking about Johnson’s successor, he said of that relationship: “I can only pray that it will be at the same level as I had with Prime Minister Johnson.”

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3 Things Happening This Week In The Ukraine War You Might Have Missed

The Ukraine war has just passed the six-month mark – but the last week may prove to be one of the fundamental turning points of the entire conflict.

Here are three of the major events which unfolded over the last seven days.

1. Counteroffensive

Ukraine long-awaited counterattack in the south began this week, as the Ukrainian armed forces tried to take back territories seized by Russia.

It comes after spending several weeks building up the attacks on Russia’s supply lines, weakening Vladimir Putin’s army behind the scenes.

Ukraine’s military hit out in eight directions at the same time, and claim to have broken through their opponent’s “first line of defence” and retaking small Ukrainian villages.

However, the second line of defence has been much harder to break.

Greece’s honorary consul in Kherson, Pantelis Boubouras told Al Jazeera: “The villages along the front line – these the Ukrainians broke easily. In the second line of defence, there was blood spilled. I heard 1,000 Ukrainians and 1,500 Russians [were killed].”

He added: “The second line isn’t falling easily. There are 25,000 to 30,000 soldiers, they’ve been there for five months and are very well-equipped and dug in.”

Russia has denied that any territory lost, and claims 1,200 Ukrainians died in a single day during Ukraine’s attempts to recapture some areas.

But the Ukrainian military intelligence spokesman Vadym Skibitsky said Russia is looking to mobilise 90,000 troops in the country, after losing more than 47,000 throughout the war.

These would likely be made up of volunteers, reservists, and soldiers recruited over the summer, although low morale is thought to be affecting Russian ranks.

The offensive also came after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned: “If they want to survive, it is time for the Russian military to flee.”

But, for the most part, the country is keeping its cards close to its chest when it comes to this offensive.

It’s also worth remembering that this is not the case everywhere in Ukraine.

Citizens are still under attack elsewhere – Kharkiv city, in the northeast, is facing intense shelling, particularly in residential areas.

Vitali, 45, left, and Yuri 44, in the trenches on the Kherson frontline in Mykolaiv region, Ukraine, 8th of August 2022.
Vitali, 45, left, and Yuri 44, in the trenches on the Kherson frontline in Mykolaiv region, Ukraine, 8th of August 2022.

The Washington Post via Getty Images

2. Mysterious death

Ravil Maganov, the chair of Russia’s largest private oil company, fell to his death from a Moscow Central Clinic hospital on Thursday.

The independent news agency, Interfax, claimed he “fell from a window at Central clinical hospital,” and then “died from injuries sustained”.

As head of Lukoil, he was one of the country’s business elite.

Maganov supposedly “passed away following a severe illness” but the news agency did not say what he was being treated for.

Amid conflicting reports about his health prior to his death, it’s worth pointing out that Maganov is just one of several people with ties to the Russian energy industry who has died under unusual circumstances over the last six months.

One of the former top manages of Maganov’s company was found dead in May.

However, none of the deaths have been considered murders.

Lukoil was one of the few Russian energy companies which criticised the invasion of Ukraine, having called for a ceasefire just a week after it began.

Maganov also died on the same day Putin went to visit the same hospital to mark the death of former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

It comes as the consequences of the war are starting to play out within Russia’s energy industry too. The Kremlin briefly cut off all Russian gas exports to Europe this week to squeeze countries which are providing financial aid to Ukraine throughout the war.

However, this does will Russia will have seen a fall in profits, on top of the extensive list of sanctions from the rest of the world imposed against it.

Putin with Lukoil Ravil Maganov (R)
Putin with Lukoil Ravil Maganov (R)

MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV via Getty Images

3. Memes

In true 2022 fashion, memes have become a key part of keeping morale up for many Ukrainians over the last six months.

But it was only this week that the official Twitter account for the Defence of Ukraine (the government branch) retweeted one.

It wrote: “We usually express gratitude to our internationals partners for the security assistance. But today we want to give a shoutout to a unique entity – North Atlantic Fella Organisation #NAFO.

“Thanks for your fierce fight against [the] Kremlin’s propaganda and trolls. We salute you, fellas!”

NAFO is a play on NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Ukraine is not part of Nato but did attempt to join.

Many believe that it was fears Ukraine was getting too close to western organisations such as Nato and the EU (for which it is now officially a candidate for membership) prompted Putin to launch his invasion. After all, the Russian president did demand that Ukraine give up its attempts to join Nato just before the war.

But NAFO is not just a parody of a defence organisation, but uses memes to mock Russia’s military performance and take down its attempts to spread misinformation about the war online.

Always using an image of a Shiba Inu dog (from an older meme), the organisation has no formal name or leadership, according to The Economist, but activists online rally together to use it.

Jeremy Fleming, the head of the GCHQ, recently claimed that Putin has already lost the information war in the West. Writing for The Economist, Shashank Joshi concluded: “The self-appointed warriors of NAFO might claim a little credit for that outcome.”

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Boris Johnson Warns Of Need To ‘Endure’ High Energy Bills To Defeat ‘Evils Of Putin’

British households will have to “endure” soaring energy bills as part of efforts to defeat Vladimir Putin in his attack on Ukraine, Boris Johnson has said.

During a visit to Ukraine on the country’s independence day on Wednesday, the prime minister said the UK will “continue to stand with our Ukrainian friends” ahead of leaving office on September 6.

“We know the coming winter will be tough and Putin will manipulate Russian energy supplies to try to torment households across Europe,” Johnson was quoted by the BBC saying.

“Our first test as friends of Ukraine will be to face down and endure that pressure.”

The conflict, and the economic sanctions imposed on Russia, have contributed to soaring global gas prices which have driven up household bills.

Analysts expect the UK’s energy price cap to rise to £3,554 a year in October – and £6,089 in April – from the already high £1,971.

Johnson is also reported as saying that “if we’re paying in our energy bills for the evils of Vladimir Putin, the people of Ukraine are paying in their blood”.

While other European countries have made big interventions on the cost-of-living crisis, the Tory government is waiting until the next PM is installed to unveil a rescue package.

Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Russian invasion of Ukraine.

PA Graphics via PA Graphics/Press Association Images

Neither Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak have spelled out precisely how they will help, though Sunak appears more keen on direct support while Truss has focussed on tax cuts.

Making his last trip to Ukraine before departing, Johnson set out a further £54 million of military aid, including drones to target Russian forces.

His meeting with Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy came on the day marking 31 years since breaking from Moscow’s rule following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Johnson said Russian president Putin had been “insane” to launch the invasion and the resistance had been like “an indomitable Ukrainian boxer”.

He used his meeting with Zelenskyy to set out a further package of military aid, including 2,000 drones and loitering munitions.

He also received the Order of Liberty, the highest award that can be bestowed on foreign nationals, for the UK’s support for Ukraine.

Johnson said: “For the past six months, the United Kingdom has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine, supporting this sovereign country to defend itself from this barbaric and illegal invader.

“Today’s package of support will give the brave and resilient Ukrainian armed forces another boost in capability, allowing them to continue to push back Russian forces and fight for their freedom.”

Zelenskyy said Johnson was a “great friend of Ukraine”.

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5 Updates On Russia’s Invasion Of Ukraine From This Week

A week before the Russian invasion of Ukraine reaches the six-month mark, the war continues to rage on.

From claims about how Russia is managing the “information” war to unexpected events on the frontline, here are the major developments from the last week.

1. Stand-off at the Ukrainian power plant

UN chief Antonio Guterres visited a city in western Ukraine, Lviv on Thursday. This was his first meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy since April, and he discussed his fears over the fighting near the Ukrainian nuclear power plant Zaporizhzhia.

The plant is under Russian control but still has Ukrainian technicians operating it, and Kyiv wants to take it back.

Guterres said he was “gravely concerned” about the ongoing fighting in the area, claiming: “Any potential damage to Zaporizhzhia is suicide.”

Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan was also at the meeting, and expressed his fears on Thursday that there would be “another Chernobyl” by the nuclear power plant if fighting continued.

Ukraine and Russia have been trading blame over the attacks around the nuclear plant in recent weeks, with Zelenskyy claiming that Moscow was responsible for “deliberate” heavy artillery fire over the plant.

Moscow has rejected calls to demilitarise the area (calling it “unacceptable”) despite pleas from Guterres, Erdogan and Zelenskyy.

Ukrainian staff still at the plant also claim the area has become “the target of continuous military attacks”. Kyiv believes Russia wants to disconnect the nuclear complex’s power from the grid too, and could be planning a “provocation” by the plant.

Zelenskyy has warned that “the world is on a verge of nuclear disaster”, in case the plant is hit during battle, and he lashed out at “Russia’s irresponsible actions and nuclear blackmailing”.

Erdogan was also reportedly considering setting up a negotiation between Zelenskyy and Russian president Vladimir Putin, but the Ukrainian president said Moscow must withdraw troops first.

A Russian diplomat sparked hopes on Friday that Putin could allow nuclear inspectors to check on the plant next month, to secure its safety.

Zelenskyy with Guterres
Zelenskyy with Guterres

Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

2. The 25th cargo ship left Ukraine

The world’s bread basket, as Ukraine is often dubbed, was able to export its grain supply to other countries once again back in July.

It came after a surprise deal was struck between Ukraine and Russia, following months of Moscow blockading Ukrainian ports.

Although there initial fears that the agreement would be short-lived and the food crisis in various parts of the world would continue, the 25th cargo ship left Ukraine on Thursday.

Guterres praised the agreement during his visit to Ukraine this week, and called for more compromise between Ukraine and Russia.

“I appeal for this to continue and for them to overcome all obstacles in a spirit of compromise and permanently settle all difficulties.”

3. Putin ‘losing’ information war

On Thursday, Jeremy Fleming, the head of the UK’s GCHQ’s intelligence service wrote in The Economist: “So far, president Putin has comprehensively lost the information war in Ukraine and in the West.

“Although that’s cause for celebration, we should not underestimate how Russian disinformation is playing out elsewhere in the world.”

He claimed that Russia’s online plans have fallen short. Despite Moscow’s attempts to destroy and deface Ukrainian government systems, GCHQ said it has been able to intercept and warn Ukraine of such attacks ahead of time.

4. Kharkiv explosion

Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, continues to be the subjected to heavy artillery, months after Russia tried – and failed – to capture it.

Seventeen people were killed and 42 injured in two separate Russian attacks this week, one on Wednesday and one on Thursday.

Zelenskyy said the attack on Wednesday night was a “devious and cynical strike on civilians with no justification” and was the latest evidence Russia was targeting civilians to destroy Ukraine.

The Ukrainian president promised: “We cannot forgive. We will avenge it.”

The city’s mayor Ihor Terekhov said: “Russian troops shell Kharkiv with such hatred, with such aggressiveness, such cynical destruction of the city occurs because Kharkiv does not give up, Kharkiv is a Ukrainian city that continues to live.”

But, Russia’s “most expensive plane” was reportedly shot down over Kharkiv this week by the Ukrainian forces.

5. Explosions in Crimea

Videos circulated on social media of large explosions in the Russian occupied Crimea peninsula on Thursday.

The area was taken over by Russian forces back in 2014, so it was widely believed that the fires and explosions stemmed from Ukrainian fire.

The Ukrainian defence ministry did not confirm any involvement, but joked about how many explosions in the occupied land were caused by “careless smokers”.

At least four explosions were detected near the airbase of Belbek, near Crimea’s largest city of Svastopol.

Mikhail Razvozhayev, Russian installed governor of Sevastopol, said there were not injuries or damage from the blasts.

This was just one of several attacks this week – further explosions were detected by a major airbase and munitions depot.

Zelenskyy also hinted that more attacks could be on the way, saying he hoped Russians would realise Crimea is “not a place for them”.

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