Latest news with #43rd
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Vladimir Putin rages ‘all of Ukraine is ours' as he threatens to seize key city while Kyiv slams tyrant as ‘deranged'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TYRANT Vladimir Putin cemented his territorial ambitions by proclaiming "all of Ukraine" belonged to Russia and threatening to invade more land. Ukraine slammed Putin's comments as "deranged" and called for Kyiv's allies to slap "devastating sanctions" on Russia. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 10 Ukrainian soldiers of 43rd artillery brigade fire self-propelled howitzer towards Russian positions Credit: AP 10 An explosion of a drone lights up the sky over the city during a Russian drone strike Credit: Reuters 10 Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the main session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) Credit: Getty 10 Speaking at Russia's flagship economic forum in Saint Petersburg, Putin reaffirmed his long-held claim that Russians and Ukrainians are "one people". He declared: "In that sense, all of Ukraine is ours. "There is a saying: wherever a Russian soldier sets foot, that is ours," he added. The narrative is central to Putin's rhetoric, which he has used to justify his invasion of Ukraine. However, he said Russia is ready to recognise Ukraine's sovereignty. But he reiterated his demand that Kyiv accept the realities of Moscow's territorial gains and abandon plans to join Nato. Putin said: "We aren't seeking Ukraine's surrender, we want them to recognise the realities on the ground," adding that Moscow has repeatedly warned Kyiv to make a deal. Asked about Moscow's goals in Ukraine, Putin threatened to take Sumy - a key Ukrainian city - as part of the creation of a "buffer zone". He repeated that Moscow was "advancing on all fronts" and that his troops had penetrated up to seven miles into the Sumy region. Putin said: "We have to create a security zone along the border. Putin has lost a MILLION men - Ukraine has killed so many it is running out of ammo "We have no objective to take Sumy, but in principle I do not rule it out... They pose a constant threat to us, constantly shelling the border areas." Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga described Putin's comments as "deranged" and called for Kyiv's allies to slap "devastating sanctions" on Russia. "The only way to force Russia into peace is to deprive it of its sense of impunity," he wrote in a post on X. Putin's widening territorial ambitions are likely to roil Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has accused Moscow of not wanting to end the fighting. The two sides held rounds of direct talks in Istanbul in May and in June, but Kyiv accused Moscow of sending "dummy" negotiators with no real power to enact a peace deal. Putin has declined to take part in the peace talks in person and on Thursday said he would only meet Zelensky during a "final phase" of negotiations on ending the three-year conflict. He has also insisted that Ukraine give up territory it already controls for peace. Kyiv says it cannot and will not accept Russian occupation of any part of its land. 10 Firefighters try to extinguish after a Russian drone attack in Kharkiv Credit: Getty 10 Ukrainian service members firing an anti-tank guided missile weapon system Credit: Reuters 10 Artillerymen of the 15th Operative Purpose Brigade Kara-Dag firing towards Russia Credit: Reuters It comes as Putin's battlefield casualties have soared past the bloody one million milestone after 40 months of meatgrinder war. Ukraine's fierce resistance forced Russia to pay a mighty toll for every inch of land it has taken, and its advances remain painfully slow. The staggering milestone includes troops who have been killed or wounded so severely that they cannot fight on. According to the Ukrainian General Staff, one million Russian military troops have been put out of action since February 24, 2022, with 628,000 of those casualties occurring in the last six months. Burning through a million troops has won Putin just 20 per cent of Ukraine's total territory - mainly in southern and eastern areas - which is a humiliating conversion rate. Despite the devastating losses which have already ripped a scar in Russian society, experts fear that Putin is likely unaffected by the numbers. Zelensky confirmed that Moscow has been attempting to gain ground in the border regions of Sumy in the northeast. Even with the death toll climbing higher by the day Putin appears to be doubling down. The bloody milestone comes as Putin calls for a major upgrade to Russia's ground forces, Ukrainian outlet Pravda reports. 10 The Kremlin tyrant declared them the 'dominant force' in modern warfare and demanded faster development of 'advanced weapons systems' with 'the highest tactical and technical specifications.' In a meeting on the state armaments programme, Putin also directed resources toward strengthening Russia's navy, further signalling his long-term military ambitions. It all comes as Russia is reportedly building up a 50,000-strong force alongside the border of Kharkiv amid fears of a fresh summer offensive to attack the city. With the US backing out of direct negotiations to broker a peace deal and Putin stalling ceasefire talks, experts fear a major Russian offensive could mobilise in the coming weeks. The Ukrainian military in April reported that the Kremlin was amassing troops to prepare for a fresh assault on Kharkiv - Ukraine's second largest city. Military analysts believe he is trying to press home his advantage and capture more Ukrainian land. They warn that Putin only has a "four-month window" to get a breakthrough in Ukraine this year. And this could be the beginning of Russia's summer offensive targeting the border city of Kharkiv - the "fortress" city of Ukraine which put up the maximum resistance at the start of the invasion. 10 Fire burns in the debris of a private house that was destroyed in a Russian rocket strike Credit: Reuters
Barnama
6 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
Sarawak Ready To Share Energy Surplus With Other ASEAN Countries
GENERAL Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof and Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg with ASEAN delegates at the Dinner held in conjunction with the 43rd ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting on Energy (SOME) here tonight. --fotoBERNAMA (2025) COPYRIGHT RESERVED Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof (left) with Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg at the Dinner held in conjunction with the 43rd ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting on Energy (SOME) here tonight. --fotoBERNAMA (2025) COPYRIGHT RESERVED KUCHING, June 16 (Bernama) -- Sarawak is ready to play a pivotal role in ASEAN's energy future, by offering its substantial surplus of renewable and low-carbon energy with neighbouring countries, said Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. He said Sarawak has an ambitious plan to increase its power supply to 10 gigawatts by 2030, while maintaining a strong focus on renewable sources, with up to 70 per cent from hydropower. This expansion, according to him, includes the ongoing construction of 1.5 gigawatts of gas turbine capacity in Bintulu and Miri and a new 1.2 gigawatt hydroelectric plant. "If we have a surplus of power, we will share with our brothers and sisters in ASEAN," he told delegates of the 43rd ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME) at a welcoming dinner here, tonight. He said in addressing the global challenge of climate change, Sarawak is taking a proactive approach to adopt alternative energy sources, with one of its key initiatives in developing its hydrogen production potential. "Sarawak is trying its best to use the resources that we have and to adopt new technology to produce a substitute to hydrocarbon," Abang Johari said. He said the state is collaborating with partners like Japan and Korea to produce hydrogen from its abundant water resources through electrolysis. While acknowledging the current cost challenges, he expressed his optimism that advancements in technology will make hydrogen production more feasible over time. -- BERNAMA
The Sun
7 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
International collaboration crucial for ASEAN's sustainable energy future
KUCHING: International collaboration is vital for ASEAN to realise a sustainable energy future, as this aspiration requires member states to adopt innovative technologies and strengthen power infrastructure, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said. Fadillah said expertise, technological advancements and investment support from ASEAN dialogue partners and international organisations were essential to navigate complex challenges and achieve shared energy goals. 'It is through these multi-faceted collaborations that we can collectively accelerate progress towards a cleaner, greener and more secure energy future,' he said at a welcoming dinner for delegates attending the 43rd ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME), held here tonight. The dinner was attended by Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. Fadillah, who is also Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, said he looked forward to a productive exchange of ideas and meaningful outcomes from discussions with ASEAN dialogue partners and international organisations over the next two days. 'We believe that by working hand-in-hand, sharing knowledge and leveraging each other's strengths, we can unlock the immense potential within our energy sectors and drive meaningful change,' he said. He added that Malaysia remained firmly committed to the energy transition, with ongoing efforts to increase renewable energy capacity, improve energy efficiency and pursue cutting-edge solutions for a low-carbon economy. The 43rd ASEAN-SOME and its associated meetings began today and will run until June 18, drawing around 250 delegates, including senior energy officials and representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat and the ASEAN Centre for Energy. All 10 ASEAN member states — Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam — are participating, with Timor-Leste attending as an observer. Dialogue partners China, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the United States are also attending, alongside representatives from the International Renewable Energy Agency, International Energy Agency, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.
Scottish Sun
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
With a million Russians dead & wounded – Putin won't hesitate pouring ANOTHER million into meatgrinder war, insiders say
Watch our interviews with Russia experts who discuss the latest in the war DRENCHED IN BLOOD With a million Russians dead & wounded – Putin won't hesitate pouring ANOTHER million into meatgrinder war, insiders say EVIL Vladimir Putin would not think twice before flooding another million soldiers to die on the battlefield, defence experts have warned. It comes as Putin's battlefield casualties have soared past the bloody one million milestone after 40 months of meatgrinder war. Advertisement 10 Firefighters try to extinguish after a Russian drone attack in Kharkiv Credit: Reuters 10 Ukrainian soldiers of 43rd artillery brigade fire self-propelled howitzer towards Russian positions Credit: AP 10 An explosion of a drone lights up the sky over the city during a Russian drone strike Credit: Reuters 10 Ukraine's fierce resistance forced Russia to pay a mighty toll for every inch of land it has taken, and its advances remain painfully slow. The staggering milestone includes troops who have been killed or wounded so severely that they cannot fight on. According to the Ukrainian General Staff, one million Russian military troops have been put out of action since February 24, 2022, with 628,000 of those casualties occurring in the last six months. Burning through a million troops has won Putin just 20 per cent of Ukraine's total territory - mainly in southern and eastern areas - which is a humiliating conversion rate. Advertisement Despite the devastating losses which have already ripped a scar in Russian society, experts fear that Putin is likely unaffected by the numbers. And that's because mass sacrifice is ingrained in his Soviet-style battle plan. Russian people are also too scared to stand up to the monster they've created and would rather die killing Ukrainians Ukrainian government source Leading defence expert Philip Ingram told The Sun: "Putin does not care about the numbers. He has a huge number of people ready to go to war. "Though he has been having difficulties in recruiting soldiers full-time, he is recruiting soldiers from rural Russia on contracts and paying them heavily. Advertisement "Russia is sending waves and waves of soldiers, often without the support of artillery and other fire weapons. They are being slaughtered." Mr Ingram said the Russian population may not be aware of the actual casualty rate of the war, which is being kept away the Kremlin's propaganda machine. Putin's Ukraine war toll tops 1 MILLION Russians dead & wounded 40 months into 'days-long operation'…with no end in sight, with Stephen Hall He explained how soliders are being recruited from isolated parts of Russia where the population is often poor with low literacy levels. And how Putin is "buying their silence" by offering them "life-changing compensations". Advertisement The expert said: "Soldiers are coming in from vast parts of Russia where there is no connectivity. Their literacy levels are extremely low. "What's keeping them coming is the amount of compensation they are getting, which is often life-changing. "It means they or their families would never have to work again for the rest of their lives. "That's how Vladimir Putin is buying their silence; he seems to have the population behind him. Advertisement Russia expert Bill Borwder told The Sun that Putin would lose "another five million soldiers" if it helps him to stay in power. Putin will sacrifice one, two or even five million Russians just to make sure that he stays in power Bill Browder He said: "Part of the reason that Putin is at war is not because he wants a piece of Ukraine ot he's upset with NATO. "He's at war because he's desperately afraid of his own people, and the best way of having his people have their anger deflected is have them angry at some foreign adversary. "Putin is so scared for losing his own life, he's ready to sacrifice one, two or even five million Russians just to make sure that he stays in power." Advertisement A Ukrainian government source told The Sun: "Putin doesn't care and never cared for the people of Russian Federation, be it ethnic Russians or representatives of other minorities. "For him, it is a matter of personal survival and he would be willing to send anyone to death - from a Russian soldier to a Ukrainian child - for his own miserable existence. "Unfortunately, Russian people in majority are also too scared to stand up to the monster they've created, and would rather die killing other nation's people than risk their lives standing up against it." 10 Firefighters try to extinguish after Russian drone attack in Kharkiv Credit: Getty Advertisement 10 Ukrainian service members firing an anti-tank guided missile weapon system Credit: Reuters 10 Servicemen of Armed Forces prepare to fire a self-propelled howitzer towards Russian troops Credit: Reuters 10 Artillerymen of the 15th Operative Purpose Brigade Kara-Dag firing towards Russia Credit: Reuters 10 Advertisement Dr Stephen Hall, politics lecturer at the University of Bath, said that as far as the warmongering dictator is concerned, things are heading in the right direction, so he will keep on condemning young Russians to their deaths. He told The Sun: "Putin believes he's winning the war. The Russian army is moving forward like it or not. "He believes that he can outlast the West, that the West is weak." Russia's strategy, Dr Hall said, has been one of "meat assault". Advertisement This relies on the logic that if you flood the front line with overwhelming numbers, "eventually some will get through". Dr Hall said Putin has learned this strategy from his ruthless Soviet predecessors in World War Two. Their idea was "ten men to every rifle", which meant: "You pick up the rifle of a fallen soldier. You keep going, you get shot. You're next. Your buddy picks up your rifle. "The Soviet army would eventually push through. So that remains the case in Russia." Advertisement Russians 'know how to suffer', which allows the regime to continue with its meatgrinder tactics Dr Stephen Hall And that approach suits Putin just fine, because he "doesn't care about his men", Dr Hall said. He said the Russian people "know how to suffer", which allows the regime to continue with its meat-grinder tactics. The Kremlin also meets less resistance from the Russian people than a million losses should merit, because it simply lies to them, Dr Hall said. He said: "They're simply not going to be told, especially in the poorer areas where Russia is recruiting - like Buryatia and Bashkortostan and elsewhere." Advertisement NO STOPPING Even with the death toll climbing higher by the day — over 1,140 Russian soldiers killed or wounded on Tuesday — Putin appears to be doubling down. The bloody milestone comes as Putin calls for a major upgrade to Russia's ground forces, Ukrainian outlet Pravda reports. The Kremlin tyrant declared them the 'dominant force' in modern warfare and demanded faster development of 'advanced weapons systems' with 'the highest tactical and technical specifications.' In a meeting on the state armaments programme, Putin also directed resources toward strengthening Russia's navy, further signalling his long-term military ambitions. Advertisement It all comes as Russia is reportedly building up a 50,000-strong force alongside the border of Kharkiv amid fears of a fresh summer offensive to attack the city. 10 With the US backing out of direct negotiations to broker a peace deal and Putin stalling ceasefire talks, experts fear a major Russian offensive could mobilise in the coming weeks. The Ukrainian military in April reported that the Kremlin was amassing troops to prepare for a fresh assault on Kharkiv - Ukraine's second largest city. Advertisement Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelensky also said that Moscow has been attempting to gain ground in the border regions of Sumy in the northeast. Military analysts believe he is trying to press home his advantage and capture more Ukrainian land. They warn that Putin only has a "four-month window" to get a breakthrough in Ukraine this year. And this could be the beginning of Russia's summer offensive targeting the border city of Kharkiv - the "fortress" city of Ukraine which put up the maximum resistance at the start of the invasion.
BBC News
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Superfans gather in Harrogate for Laurel and Hardy convention
If you see hundreds of people wearing fez hats in Harrogate this weekend, don't be town, better known for quaint coffee shops and Turkish baths, is hosting the 43rd Sons of the Desert Laurel and Hardy fan duo Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy made more than 100 films together between 1921 and 1950, and their slapstick humour remains popular a century on. Super fans have gathered for an international celebration at the Cairn Hotel, running across the bank holiday weekend. John Burton and John Burton, father and son, are members of Sheffield fan branch The Brats, named after the 1930 short were involved in setting up the weekend, which is jointly hosted by the Sheffield group and Bradford group County Hospital."The idea was to get everybody together once a year from all over the country because all the branches meet regularly, but we had never met together," said Mr Burton Snr."The one thing about these conventions is all about becoming family. "If anyone comes away from a Laurel and Hardy convention and they're unhappy, they've not been to a Laurel and Hardy convention." Sons of the Desert is a Laurel and Hardy appreciation society with branches across the fan group is named after one of the duo's conventions are held in a different location every year and began in Ulverston, Cumbria - the birthplace of Laurel - in fans promise "never to talk about football or politics" and spend three days watching their favourite films, discussing the best jokes and holding costume have flown in from all over the world to be at the event - including Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and the US. David Webb, who flew in from San Diego, California, said he had been to the UK for two previous conventions. He said: "I've been a Sons of the Desert member for many, many years."I love Laurel and Hardy and the Sons of the Desert. It's a lot of fun to watch the movies and be among other fans."There is a humanity about them. They cared about each other. They made 106 films together and toured the US and Europe and their legacy lasted 38 years. "I love them because as a child my dad introduced them to me. I laugh now, years after seeing them the first time 50 years ago." Samantha Bell is "Grand Sheikh" of Liverpool fan group Leave Em Laughing."I was very young when I joined, aged three, my dad took me in and it stuck," she first international convention was in 1983 when it came to Liverpool. And the family's love for the comedy pair has continued down the generations."My two daughters are 20 and 16 and whenever they were in grandad's house they were watching Laurel and Hardy," she said."It's lovely to be with people who like the same thing."Laurel and Hardy are timeless. Other comedians have come and gone because they're no longer funny, but even if you show a child a silent Laurel and Hardy film they know when to laugh because of the slapstick." Laurel and Hardy lookalikes Rob Graham and Garry Slade tour the UK entertaining and doing close-up magic tricks. The pair have been performing together for 22 years. They will be entertaining at the conference as well as enjoying meeting other Slade has been a member of Sons of the Desert since Graham said he loved impersonating Hardy and performing slapstick comedy because they always got a "great response from crowds". "We're also strippers," said Mr Slade. "We can do a full wall in half an hour." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
