Latest news with #Garfield
IOL News
14 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
The Spectacle of Innocence: How the Narrative of 'Stolen Children' Became the West's Weapon of War
The portrayal of children in the Ukraine-Russia conflict serves as a potent tool of propaganda, revealing the complexities behind the narratives that shape public perception and policy, writes Gillian Schutte. Image: IOL / Ron AI In war, the image of a suffering child has long been one of the most potent tools of propaganda. A child is the cipher of innocence, the mirror of adult failure, the vessel into which we pour our grief, outrage, and moral certainty. It is no wonder, then, that in the ongoing geopolitical conflict between NATO-backed Ukraine and Russia, children have become a front line in the information war. The Washington Post's tear-soaked profile 'Thousands of Ukraine's children vanished into Russia. This one made it back' follows the return of 12-year-old Illia Matviienko, a child allegedly abducted, reprogrammed, and rescued just in time from the clutches of Russian state adoption. It is a finely crafted narrative. Illia is traumatised but eloquent. His grandmother is tireless and brave. His toys are metaphors. His memories are edited for maximum effect. But behind the Lego blocks and Garfield plush toys lies a darker machinery of manipulation. The story reads like it was written by a Pentagon-funded scriptwriter, with emotional cues planted at every paragraph break, not to report on the tragedy of war, but to mobilise sentiment for war. Let us look past the misty-eyed storytelling and ask the harder questions. What really happened to Ukraine's children? Who is keeping the score? And who benefits from turning their suffering into clickbait diplomacy? The Propaganda Template, From Wag the Dog to Wag the Child The Washington Post, long known for its role in manufacturing consent for U.S. foreign policy, frames Illia's ordeal as evidence of systematic Russian child theft. His story becomes the keystone in a broader claim: that tens of thousands of Ukrainian children have been deported, re-educated, and erased by the Russian state. The article even cites figures: 'at least 19,500 children' according to Yale University's Conflict Observatory, whose funding, incidentally, is being cut under Donald Trump's administration. Ukrainian officials inflate the figure still further: 'maybe 50,000, maybe 100,000.' No one knows for sure. No one can prove anything. But certainty is not required in the spectacle of war propaganda, only repetition and righteous tears. The real figures? According to Russia's official delegation at the Istanbul peace talks, led by Vladimir Medinsky, the only list ever presented to Moscow by Ukraine contains 339 names. Russia says it has already returned 101 of these children. Ukraine, for its part, has returned 22 Russian children who ended up in its care. These are verifiable exchanges. And yet the Western press refuses to mention these facts. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Selective Suffering, Why Is Only One Child a Headline? The case of Illia Matviienko is tragic. But why is it the story? Because it performs well. It has all the ingredients of pathos: dead mother, lonely boy, forbidden adoption, grandmother's heroism, poetic justice. It sells. It moves. It inflames. But in Russia's version of events, there are also children traumatised by shelling, evacuated from war zones, not abducted. Many were found alone in buildings or hospitals. Others were taken to safety at great personal risk by Russian soldiers, some of whom died in the effort. And when relatives come forward, parents, aunts, grandmothers, the children are reunited. No obstacle, no cover-up. Just bureaucracy and war. Yet these stories are not told. There are no Washington Post front pages for the Russian soldier who saves a wounded child under fire. There is no Pulitzer bait in the case of a child returned to a reunited family in Donetsk. These children do not cry in English. They are not crying for NATO. Manufactured Numbers, Manufactured Consent Russia has repeatedly demanded evidence: names, documents, statements from parents. None have been forthcoming. The Ukrainian and U.S. positions rely on estimates, projections, and a deep well of emotional speculation. Russia, meanwhile, says: here is the list you gave us, here are the returns we've made. The disparity between accusation and evidence is not accidental. It mirrors the propaganda campaign that preceded the war in Iraq, the intervention in Syria, the bombardment of Libya. Western soft power thrives on emotional shorthand: Saddam's incubator babies, Gaddafi's Viagra-fuelled soldiers, and now Putin's child kidnappers. It is a pattern. The facts are fluid. The imagery is fixed. What Russia Says, and the West Won't Print Medinsky's statement in Istanbul was clear. Russia is open to verification. Russia is returning children. Russia is establishing regular exchanges. It has proposed temporary ceasefires in 'grey zones' so commanders on both sides can collect the corpses of fallen soldiers, a practical and humane suggestion, met with silence. Meanwhile, Western media focuses on Lego toys and bedtime trauma. It does not ask why Ukraine will not publish a full list of the missing children. It does not examine the political utility of these stories in maintaining Western support, arms supplies, and diplomatic cover. Nor does it question why the first move in any peace negotiation is not truth and reconciliation, but a spotlight on Russian war crimes. The narrative must be secured before the facts can catch up. The Illusion of Innocence Yes, Illia's story is heartbreaking. All war stories involving children are. But to isolate it from the broader matrix of wartime reality, to use it as a blunt weapon against the Russian state, to decontextualise and sentimentalise it into a moral fable, is to exploit that child all over again. War is complex. Children are not pawns. But in the battle of narratives, they become precisely that. They are used to distract from inconvenient truths, to derail diplomacy, to justify endless escalation. And while the West cries for Illia, what of Vitalii, the friend left behind in the Donetsk hospital? What if he was never abducted, just never found? What if he was just another casualty of the same propaganda war that made Illia a headline? Beyond the Toy Box The Washington Post piece may be compelling. It is certainly emotive. But it is not journalism. It is spectacle. A carefully staged morality play in which there are only villains and victims, no context, no complexity, no dissenting voice. The weaponisation of children is one of the oldest tricks in imperial warfare. And as long as mainstream media continues to traffic in half-truths and Hollywood storylines, the real victims of this war, on both sides, will remain unheard. We should care for every child affected by war. But we should be suspicious of which children we are told to care about, and why. The portrayal of children in the Ukraine-Russia conflict serves as a potent tool of propaganda, revealing the complexities behind the narratives that shape public perception and policy, writes Gillian Schutte. Image: IOL
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'My mum can't spell our cat's name but we named him seven years ago'
A woman was left baffled after her mum texted her about something her cat was doing, but completely misspelt his name, despite the fact they'd had him for over seven years Choosing a name for your fur baby can be a long process because you want something cute that captures their essence, but it can be tough to get the whole family behind the name you may have in mind. When one woman decided on her cat's name, she thought it'd be easy for the family to remember, as he was named after a cat who is famous in popular culture. But when she received a text from her mum telling her to let their cat in because he was driving her "crazy," she was left "wheezing" at how badly misspelt the name was. Taking to a popular Reddit name forum, she wrote: "Wheezing at how poorly my mum misspelt my cat's name". She shared the screenshot where her mum had written: "Please let Gardunia in. He's driving me crazy," and she'd simply replied "Gardunia". For context, she then explained: "His name is Garfield. We've had this cat for like 7+ years". Someone wrote: "I really thought the cat's name was Gardenia until I saw that it's supposed to be Garfield". A woman agreed, saying: "I was not prepared for that reveal! I thought it was gonna be a misspelling of Gardenia or something, not GARFIELD! I'm wheezing too!" "Aw, someone let poor little Garflunken in," another joked, and the original poster explained: "Don't worry, he was let in! He just gets anxious when I'm in the shower for too long, but he gets lots of pets once I get out!" "I thought Garblogen was trapped outside, but no, he was just on the other side of the bathroom door," a Redditor joked, and his owner said that he just likes being "dramatic". One man said: "I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THIS EVEN HAPPENED. Autocorrect must've been passed out drunk or something-". Others took the opportunity to share autocorrect or name fail stories that they had. Someone wrote: "Way back before smartphones, my mom had my sister saved in her phone as Rorp. Her name is Rosanna. My mom got the ro, couldn't figure out how to use T9 to get to s, tried to fix it and ended up with p. Still makes me giggle to this day. She did fix it eventually". Another shared a name fail story where their grandma was convinced their dog was called something else. They said: "My dog's name is Poe. It has always been Poe. My elderly grandmother calls him 'Poo'. We've tried correcting her, but she's convinced we're joking and his name is 'Poo'." A Reddit user said that if they ever get another female cat, they need to call her Gardunia in honour. "I have a cat named Panda, and my mum always calls him 'penguin' lmao I've had him for 13 years," a cat owner added.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Eerie abandoned lot where old funfair rides go to die – iconic 90s characters beloved by millions left to rot
THE INSIDE of an abandoned funfair has been revealed – with iconic '90s characters, once beloved by millions, now left to rot. An urban explorer has shared eerie footage of an abandoned funfair he discovered in South Wales, with around 60 rides left to rot. Advertisement 10 Around 60 rides were left to rot Credit: Jam Press/Bearded Reality 10 Inside the eerie abandoned funfair Credit: Jam Press/Bearded Reality 10 Daniel Sims. 36. found the derelict site in South Wales Credit: Jam Press/Bearded Reality Daniel Sims visited the eerie site and found old rides with seats still intact, which he said reminded him of those from the 90s and early 2000s. It is unclear how long the fair has been abandoned for, but the rides are rumoured to have come from nearby amusement parks. 'The atmosphere was amazing,' said 36-year-old Daniel, from Huddersfield, UK, speaking to What's The Jam. He added: "As soon as we realised everything was left, we were thrilled and excited to see what was left behind. Advertisement read more on UK news "There were easily a good 50-60 kids' rides, and the remains of probably four major rides. "One was still really intact, and there were plenty of arcade machines there, too. "As we entered the site, we were met with a massive octopus waltzer ride still intact with the seats, and many childhood kids' rides that would hold memories for lots of people, especially those who grew up in the 90s and early 2000s. "We saw Barney on a train, a Winnie the Pooh kids ride, and various other ones as soon as we entered. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Live Blog "Moving towards the side of the site was a treasure trove of rides, some sort of ghost trains, and various claw and penny machines, which would all be worth quite a bit of money." Daniel, who shared the footage on YouTube, where he goes by the moniker Bearded Reality, also found a partially collapsed ride towards the back of the site, surrounded by arcade machines. Abandoned iconic UK stadium left to rot 110 years after hosting FA Cup final getting new lease of life The YouTuber said: "In the middle of the site were even more machines and rides, Garfield, Banana in Pyjamas, Mickey and Minnie rides, and what seemed like the remains of an old small Ferris wheel, which was cool to see. "The back of the site had a massive caravan that maybe the old owner used to sleep in. Advertisement "We saw American dodgems and truck rides. "We also found a strange ride or accessory, which was patented like a very interesting wheel." Daniel isn't sure how long the site has been abandoned, but said it appears to have been some time, with heavy rust and visible damage to the rides. He said of the adventure: "I love taking photos of dramatic places such as this, and showing how these places were once filled with people enjoying their everyday lives. Advertisement "The place is a bit creepy with it just being left, but the actual exploration itself was very relaxing and chilled, and we spent a few hours exploring." It comes after disgruntled And an abandoned new-build estate 10 Daniel doesn't know how long the site has been abandoned Credit: Jam Press/Bearded Reality Advertisement 10 An abandoned American dodgem Credit: Jam Press/Bearded Reality 10 A partially collapsed ride towards the back of the site Credit: Jam Press/Bearded Reality 10 The rides are rumoured to have come from nearby amusement parks Credit: Jam Press/Bearded Reality 10 Daniel shared the footage on YouTube Credit: Jam Press/Bearded Reality Advertisement 10 Some old rides were left still intact Credit: Jam Press/Bearded Reality 10 It reminded him of those from the 90s and early 2000s Credit: Jam Press/Bearded Reality
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Eerie abandoned lot where old funfair rides go to die – iconic 90s characters beloved by millions left to rot
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE INSIDE of an abandoned funfair has been revealed – with iconic '90s characters, once beloved by millions, now left to rot. An urban explorer has shared eerie footage of an abandoned funfair he discovered in South Wales, with around 60 rides left to rot. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 10 Around 60 rides were left to rot Credit: Jam Press/Bearded Reality 10 Inside the eerie abandoned funfair Credit: Jam Press/Bearded Reality 10 Daniel Sims. 36. found the derelict site in South Wales Credit: Jam Press/Bearded Reality Daniel Sims visited the eerie site and found old rides with seats still intact, which he said reminded him of those from the 90s and early 2000s. It is unclear how long the fair has been abandoned for, but the rides are rumoured to have come from nearby amusement parks. 'The atmosphere was amazing,' said 36-year-old Daniel, from Huddersfield, UK, speaking to What's The Jam. He added: "As soon as we realised everything was left, we were thrilled and excited to see what was left behind. "There were easily a good 50-60 kids' rides, and the remains of probably four major rides. "One was still really intact, and there were plenty of arcade machines there, too. "As we entered the site, we were met with a massive octopus waltzer ride still intact with the seats, and many childhood kids' rides that would hold memories for lots of people, especially those who grew up in the 90s and early 2000s. "We saw Barney on a train, a Winnie the Pooh kids ride, and various other ones as soon as we entered. "Moving towards the side of the site was a treasure trove of rides, some sort of ghost trains, and various claw and penny machines, which would all be worth quite a bit of money." Daniel, who shared the footage on YouTube, where he goes by the moniker Bearded Reality, also found a partially collapsed ride towards the back of the site, surrounded by arcade machines. Abandoned iconic UK stadium left to rot 110 years after hosting FA Cup final getting new lease of life The YouTuber said: "In the middle of the site were even more machines and rides, Garfield, Banana in Pyjamas, Mickey and Minnie rides, and what seemed like the remains of an old small Ferris wheel, which was cool to see. "The back of the site had a massive caravan that maybe the old owner used to sleep in. "We saw American dodgems and truck rides. "We also found a strange ride or accessory, which was patented like a very interesting wheel." Daniel isn't sure how long the site has been abandoned, but said it appears to have been some time, with heavy rust and visible damage to the rides. He said of the adventure: "I love taking photos of dramatic places such as this, and showing how these places were once filled with people enjoying their everyday lives. "The place is a bit creepy with it just being left, but the actual exploration itself was very relaxing and chilled, and we spent a few hours exploring." It comes after disgruntled residents living next to an abandoned theme park slammed plans to bring it back to life. And an abandoned new-build estate has been dubbed a "horrendous chalk scar" full of half-finished houses. 10 Daniel doesn't know how long the site has been abandoned Credit: Jam Press/Bearded Reality 10 An abandoned American dodgem Credit: Jam Press/Bearded Reality 10 A partially collapsed ride towards the back of the site Credit: Jam Press/Bearded Reality 10 The rides are rumoured to have come from nearby amusement parks Credit: Jam Press/Bearded Reality 10 Daniel shared the footage on YouTube Credit: Jam Press/Bearded Reality 10 Some old rides were left still intact Credit: Jam Press/Bearded Reality
USA Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
TV that travels: Take Hulu + Live TV on-the-go
TV that travels: Take Hulu + Live TV on-the-go Never miss your favorite shows and movies. Stream anytime, anywhere with Hulu + Live TV. As someone who recently spent five days in a hotel, it was a clear reminder that TV in a hotel is not always good. The channels are limited and there's nothing that you can stream on demand (as my child demanded 'Garfield'). But, Hulu + Live TV goes wherever you go. The Hulu app is free to download on any smart device (TV, phone or tablet) for you to stream live TV, sports, news and more, or turn on any of the available content from the Hulu library, including Garfield. Whether you're resting after a day of travels in your hotel, or downloading content to watch on an upcoming flight, Hulu + Live TV can go everywhere with you. Plus, there are packages that include Disney+ and ESPN+ to help meet all your TV streaming needs (and your child's). The best part is, there's no set-up necessary or cable boxes, just log in and stream! Here's everything you need to know about a Hulu + Live TV subscription: What is Hulu + Live TV? Hulu + Live TV allows you to surf over 100 channels of TV, news, live sports and entertainment. Plus, you have access to the entire streaming library, including original content, available with a Hulu streaming subscription. 'King of the Hill' revival: Cast reveals what older Hank, Bobby, Peggy are up to now How does Hulu + Live TV work on-the-go? Hulu app: The Hulu app is available on iOS, Android and most smart devices, making it easy to take your TV with you wherever you go. Mobile streaming: You can stream live TV and on-demand content through the Hulu app on your smartphone or tablet. Just log in and start watching from anywhere with an internet connection. Multiple devices: You can stream on two devices simultaneously, or upgrade with the Unlimited Screens add-on for more flexibility. Download content for offline viewing: You can download select shows and movies from the Hulu streaming library using the Hulu app on supported mobile devices. Some exceptions include live TV content and on-demand content from premium add-ons. To download content, you must be connected to Wi-Fi. Note: This feature is only available for Hulu plans without ads. How much does Hulu + Live TV cost? Hulu + Live TV : This is the basic package, with no bundle. It starts at $81.99 per month. : This is the basic package, with no bundle. It starts at $81.99 per month. Hulu + Live TV with ESPN+ and Disney+ (with ads) : This package is $82.99 per month, but you can test it out with a 3-day free trial before your subscription starts. : This package is $82.99 per month, but you can test it out with a 3-day free trial before your subscription starts. Hulu + Live TV with ESPN+ and Disney+ (without ads): This package is $95.99 per month. There is no free trial associated with this subscription. Get Hulu + Live TV now What do you get with Hulu + Live TV? Here's what you need to know about a Hulu + Live TV subscription What content can I watch in Hulu's streaming library? Hulu offers thousands of TV shows and movies, including original content like 'Only Murders in the Building' and 'Paradise.' Here's a look at some of the top content available for streaming on Hulu: 'Love Island UK' Season 12: How to watch, release date, cast, more Get Hulu + Live TV now
