Placeholder Content Image

Time announces Person of the Year

<p dir="ltr">Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been announced as TIME Magazine’s Person of the Year for 2022, alongside the “spirit of Ukraine”, for “proving that courage can be as contagious as fear”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Editor-in-chief Edward Felsenthal said the choice was “the most clear-cut in memory” after the announcement was made on Wednesday.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ba84db44-7fff-f491-e3d8-f7951d142d96"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“Whether the battle for Ukraine fills one with hope or with fear, the world marched to Volodymyr Zelensky’s beat in 2022,” he said.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">TIME's 2022 Person of the Year: Volodymyr Zelensky and the spirit of Ukraine <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TIMEPOY?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TIMEPOY</a> <a href="https://t.co/06Y5fuc0fG">https://t.co/06Y5fuc0fG</a> <a href="https://t.co/i8ZT3d5GDa">pic.twitter.com/i8ZT3d5GDa</a></p> <p>— TIME (@TIME) <a href="https://twitter.com/TIME/status/1600470652363866113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The comedian-turned-politician was elected as the country’s President in 2019 and has been working to rally support among his people and the world at large since the Russian invasion began in February.</p> <p dir="ltr">Zelenskyy’s decision “not to flee Kyiv but to stay and rally support was fateful”, according to Felsenthal.</p> <p dir="ltr">“For proving that courage can be as contagious as fear, for stirring people and nations to come together in defence of freedom, for reminding the world of the fragility of democracy — and of peace — Volodymyr Zelensky and the spirit of Ukraine are TIME’s 2022 Person of the Year,” he added.</p> <p dir="ltr">The magazine also honoured the people of Ukraine, highlighting engineer Oleg Kutkov - who worked to help keep Ukraine connected - Kyiv Independent editor Olga Rudenko, and David Nott, a British combat surgeon.</p> <p dir="ltr">The annual award, which has sparked debate and controversy over the nearly 100 years since it began, is given to an event or person deemed to have had the most influence on global events each year.</p> <p dir="ltr">Along with Zelenskyy and the spirit of Ukraine, the finalists for this year’s award included protestors in Iran, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and the US Supreme Court.</p> <p dir="ltr">Women in Iran were the magazine’s 2022 Heroes of the Year, while K-pop band Blackpink were deemed the Entertainer of the Year.</p> <p dir="ltr">To see TIME’s full list of recipients for 2022, head <a href="https://time.com/person-of-the-year-2022-volodymyr-zelensky/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-7eed59e0-7fff-4271-c60a-c94a993432e8"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Twitter</em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

“When you win, bring it back to Malibu”: Sean Penn loans Oscar to Ukraine

<p dir="ltr">Actor Sean Penn has shown his support for Ukraine in its war with Russia by loaning one of his two Oscars to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, telling him it could stay on one condition: “When you win, bring it back to Malibu”.</p> <p dir="ltr">A video of the encounter between Zelenskyy and Penn, who is making a documentary about the Russian invasion, was shared by Zelenskyy’s office online and described the gift as “a symbol of faith in the victory of our country”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It will be in Ukraine until the end of the war.”</p> <p dir="ltr">During his most recent visit to Ukraine, Penn told Zelenskyy that every time he leaves he feels “like a traitor”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But if I know this is here with you then I will feel better and stronger for the fights,” he said before presenting the leader with his award.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-8089cf48-7fff-1c78-0b94-e0072bc02a66"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“When you win, bring it back to Malibu. Because I feel much better knowing there is a piece of me here.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CktdU1RLvIQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CktdU1RLvIQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Володимир Зеленський (@zelenskiy_official)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">After initially hesitating, Zelenskyy accepted the statue and quipped: “We have to win, quick.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Wednesday’s meeting, which marked Penn’s third visit to Ukraine since the invasion began, also saw the actor accept an award from Zelenskyy.</p> <p dir="ltr">The <em>Mystic River</em> star was presented with the Ukrainian Order of Merit of the third degree, which is given to citizens for outstanding achievements in economics, science, culture or military or political activity.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was with great pleasure that I presented Sean Penn with the Order of Merit of the III degree,” the caption of the clip shared on Zelenskyy’s official Instagram read.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Thank you for such sincere support and significant contribution to the popularization (sic) of Ukraine in the world!”</p> <p dir="ltr">The video also showed the pair walking around Kyiv and arriving at Constitution Square where there is a “Walk of the Brave” - a walkway lined with plaques for world leaders who have supported Ukraine.</p> <p dir="ltr">Penn also has a plaque laid on the ground along the walkway, engraved with his name and the date February 24, 2022, which was the start of the invasion, as Penn was one of the first people to visit Ukraine after Russian troops moved in.</p> <p dir="ltr">Pointing to the plaque, Penn said there were three sources of pride for him in the world.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The place where my daughter was born, the place where my son was born and this. Thank you,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e58f0d92-7fff-56d3-d8c3-2674483699ac"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Ukraine’s first lady sparks controversy with Vogue cover

<p dir="ltr">Olena Zelenska, Ukraine’s First Lady, has sparked backlash after she appeared on a new ‘digital cover’ of <em><a href="http://v" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vogue</a></em> with her husband, President Volodymyr Zelensky, amid the ongoing war with Russia.</p> <p dir="ltr">The accompanying article, titled ‘Portrait of Bravery’, was created in collaboration between <em>Ukrainian Vogue</em> and the <em>Conde Nast Vogues</em>, featuring moody, graceful portraits of the First Lady taken by Annie Leibovitz, including one where she stands next to female soldiers at Antonov Airport.</p> <p dir="ltr">Unlike her 2019 debut on the magazine’s cover, where she was styled in brands such as Prada, Lemaire and Jimmy Choo, this year’s feature sees her exclusively wear Ukrainian designers and a focus on the pain and trauma her country is currently experiencing.</p> <p dir="ltr">With <em>Vogue</em>’s historical connections to elitism, wealth and frivolity, the sombre tone and focus on the realities of war in Ms Zelenska’s latest feature has prompted backlash from some who have labelled it as tasteless.</p> <p dir="ltr">“While Ukraine is going through hell, Vogue is doing a photoshoot for the President &amp; his wife,” columnist Amrita Bhinder wrote on <a href="https://twitter.com/amritabhinder/status/1552215355288088577" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a>.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-60e80651-7fff-c53c-865e-54e32704ef34"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">US Republican <a href="https://twitter.com/MayraFlores2022/status/1552267933501489152" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mayra Flores</a>, a representative from Texas, was among a number of conservatives who jumped on the opportunity to attack the Biden administration for supporting Ukraine financially, insinuating it was funding vanity, as reported by <em><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/28/style/olena-zelenska-vogue.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The New York Times</a></em>.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">wartime vogue photo shoots. very serious. let’s keep sending ukraine weekly billion dollar aid packages to protect “democracy.” don’t question it. <a href="https://t.co/MXVaW16K0y">pic.twitter.com/MXVaW16K0y</a></p> <p>— Logan Hall (@loganclarkhall) <a href="https://twitter.com/loganclarkhall/status/1552009719509925888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Others defended Ms Zelenska, arguing the photoshoot was a symbol for national pride and a means of raising awareness of the struggles facing Ukraine to audiences that might otherwise not be reached.</p> <p dir="ltr">Supporters included Lesia Vasylenko, a Ukrainian MP, who tweeted that Ms Zelenska’s interview with <em>Vogue </em>was “about duty, keeping sane and staying together”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s about personal strength. It’s about what being Ukrainian is really like,” she continued.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-723af7bd-7fff-f677-2ce9-31586b385290"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s about what #Ukraine needs.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Zelensky <a href="https://twitter.com/voguemagazine?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@voguemagazine</a> interview is a true story of one family, of a couple who woke up in war 150 days ago. It’s about duty, keeping sane and staying together. It’s about personal strength. It’s about what being Ukrainian is really like. It’s about what <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ukraine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ukraine</a> needs <a href="https://t.co/lr2rgx4UOd">pic.twitter.com/lr2rgx4UOd</a></p> <p>— Lesia Vasylenko (@lesiavasylenko) <a href="https://twitter.com/lesiavasylenko/status/1552402194707746817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">When asked about why she decided to appear on Vogue, Ms Zelenska told the <em><a href="https://twitter.com/LucyHockingsBBC/status/1552711694790557702" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC</a></em> it was about speaking to people directly.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Millions read <em>Vogue</em>, and to be able to speak to them direct, that was my duty,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I believe it is more important to do something and be criticised for it than to do nothing.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f3fbcc95-7fff-0e5f-a214-6f786a7e370d"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: British Vogue (Instagram)</em></p>

Beauty & Style

Placeholder Content Image

Albanese announces $100 million in military aid for Ukraine, pledging support for ‘as long as it takes’

<p>Australia has given Ukraine another $A100 million in military aid, and Anthony Albanese has pledged Australia will continue support for the embattled country “for as long as it takes for Ukraine to emerge victorious”.</p> <p>Albanese inspected devastated areas in and around the capital Kyiv, going to the towns of Bucha, Irpin, and Hostomel, and met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a visit that winds up his trip to Europe.</p> <p>But he did not say when Australia might reopen its embassy in the war-torn country. He has indicated Australia wants to do so as soon as possible, depending on security advice.</p> <p>Albanese, who travelled by train from Poland into Ukraine, met with Zelenskyy for two hours on Sunday, and they held a joint news conference.</p> <p>The latest military aid brings to about $388 million Australia’s total military assistance to Ukraine. Australia is the largest non-NATO contributor to Ukraine’s defence.</p> <p>The new package includes:</p> <ul> <li> <p>miliitary aid worth $99.5 million including 14 armoured personnel carriers, 20 Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles and other equipment supplied by Australia’s defence industry, plus a contribution to NATO’s Ukraine assistance fund</p> </li> <li> <p>$8.7 million to help upgrade border management equipment, improve cyber security and enhance border operations</p> </li> <li> <p>duty free access for Ukrainian imports to Australia, complementing similar trade measures taken by other countries</p> </li> <li> <p>Australian intervention at the International Court of Justice to support Ukraine’s case against Russia</p> </li> <li> <p>financial sanctions and travel bans on 16 more Russian ministers and oligarchs</p> </li> <li> <p>prohibition of imports of Russian gold to Australia – again in line with partner countries.</p> </li> </ul> <p>“Russia’s brutal invasion is a gross violation of international law,” said Albanese. “I saw first-hand the devastation and trauma it has inflicted on the people of Ukraine.”</p> <p>“My visit to Kyiv and recent visits by other world leaders sends a clear message that democratic nations like Australia will stand side-by-side with the Ukrainian people in their time of need.</p> <p>"President Zelenskyy’s leadership has rallied the Ukrainian people to defend their country and inspired the world to support humanity and freedom. The road ahead is hard but I am confident Ukraine will prevail.”</p> <p>The prime minister described Ukraine as fighting for the international rule of law. “We saw residential buildings that have been the subject of brutal assault from missiles and other weapons,” he said. “Clearly civilian areas have been targeted by Russian forces as part of this illegal and amoral war.”</p> <p><em><strong><span id="docs-internal-guid-db139764-7fff-9f83-ec9f-a82279bf8c24">This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/albanese-announces-100-million-in-military-aid-for-ukraine-pledging-support-for-as-long-as-it-takes-186291" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</span></strong></em></p> <p><em>Images: Twitter</em></p>

International Travel

Placeholder Content Image

Anthony Albanese makes historic visit to war-torn Ukraine

<p>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has met with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, and pledged to bolster Australia's military aid to the war-torn country. </p> <p>After visiting liberated regions of Kyiv where residential apartments were bombed, the Prime Minister said Australia stood ready to support the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes.</p> <p>“This is a war crime,” Mr Albanese said.</p> <p>“Here we have what’s clearly a residential building. Another one just behind it, brutally assaulted.”</p> <p>“These are homes and these are livelihoods and indeed lives that have been lost here in this town,” Mr Albanese said.</p> <p>“And the fact that you had such a significant force – you can see the use of tanks, missiles, heavy artillery being used in a civilian area — it’s just devastating.”</p> <p>Mr Albanese, who visited amid tight security and a media blackout among travelling Australian media for security reasons, also spoke at a press conference alongside Zelensky as the Prime Minister promised to provide Ukraine with 14 more armoured personnel carriers, 20 more Bushmaster vehicles and drones.</p> <p>This extra $100 million in aid is and increase to the $285 million in military assistance, which includes 40 Bushmasters, and $60 million in humanitarian assistance previously announced by the Morrison government.</p> <p>“Australia stands ready to continue to support the Government and the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes for Ukraine to emerge victorious in defence of your national sovereignty and your homeland,” Mr Albanese told Mr Zelensky.</p> <p>“Because you are fighting for the international rule of law, you are fighting for international rules in which we conduct our activity to be respected and to occur in an orderly way.”</p> <p>Mr Zelensky welcomed the pledge of additional military support.</p> <p>“I am pleased to welcome Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese to Kyiv. This is the first visit of the Australian Prime Minister to our capital in the history of our state relations. We appreciate and are grateful for your presence here with us at this time – the war of Russia against the Ukrainian people,” he said</p> <p>Mr Albanese had been planning the trip to Ukraine for some time, as the Ukrainian government offered a formal invitation. </p> <p>Albanese said, “One of the reasons why Australia has been invited to NATO is that Australia is the largest non-NATO contributor to give support to Ukraine in its defence of its national sovereignty against Russia’s illegal, immoral invasion, and we will continue to stand with the people of Ukraine.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

President, actor, dancer - what else can Voldoymyr Zelenskyy do?

<p dir="ltr">He’s a man of many talents and it's no secret Volodymyr Zelenskyy was an actor before becoming Ukraine’s President.</p> <p dir="ltr">But, did you know that he voiced the much loved Paddington Bear in the Ukrainian version of the hit 2014 and 2017 animated film?</p> <p dir="ltr">Yep, neither did we. But also, how cool is that?!</p> <p dir="ltr">The movie’s production studio, StudioCanal, confirmed the news to <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/ukrainian-president-volodymyr-zelensky-paddington-voice-1235100949/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hollywood Reporter</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Actor Hugh Bonneville, who plays Paddington’s foster parent was surprised at the news and thanked the President.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Until today I had no idea who provided the voice of @paddingtonbear in Ukraine,” he tweeted on February 28.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Speaking for myself, thank you, President Zelenskiy. #PaddingtonBear.”</p> <p dir="ltr">A dig into Zelenskyy’s career before becoming president revealed that he was in fact quite a popular and successful comedian in Ukraine. He also starred in several films and TV shows.</p> <p dir="ltr">In an incredible moment of life imitating art, Zelenskyy played a school teacher in the political satire series Servant of the People.</p> <p dir="ltr">Spoiler alert: he becomes Ukraine’s president in the series. </p> <p dir="ltr">And if that wasn’t enough, the talented President also won Ukraine’s version of Dancing With the Stars in 2006.</p> <p dir="ltr">Makes you wonder what other leaders have achieved compared to him…</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: YouTube</em></p>

Movies

Placeholder Content Image

Echoes of Churchill in epic wartime address

<p>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has delivered an historic wartime address to the House of Commons, vowing "we will not give up".</p> <p>Zelenskyy was given a standing ovation by MPs both before and after he gave his speech via Zoom, in which he likened Russia's invasion of Ukraine to Britain's fight against Germany in World War II.</p> <p>The Ukraine president's address mirrored the words of Winston Churchill's famous "we shall fight on the beaches" speech, following Britain's devastation in the Battle of Dunkirk in June 1940.</p> <p>Mr Zelenskyy said, "We will not give up and we will not lose. We will fight to the end, at sea, in the air, we will continue fighting for our land, whatever the cost."</p> <p>"We will fight in the forests, in the fields, on the shores, in the streets."</p> <p>He went on to say that Ukraine was fighting a "war that we didn't start and we didn't want", as he told British MPs "we do not want to lose what we have, what is ours."</p> <p>Comparing Ukraine to the UK standing alone more than 80 years ago, Mr Zelenskyy said Ukrainians are fighting to save their country "just the same way as you once didn't want to lose your country when Nazis started to fight your country and you had to fight for Britain."</p> <p>He said more than 50 children have now been killed in the Russian invasion, telling the House of Commons, "These are the children that could have lived, but these people have taken them away from us."</p> <p>UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson responded to the address, saying "Britain and our allies are determined to press on with supplying our Ukrainian friends with the weapons they need to defend their homeland as they deserve."</p> <p>He added, "We will employ every method that we can – diplomatic, humanitarian and economic – until Vladimir Putin has failed in this disastrous venture and Ukraine is free once more."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Caring

Our Partners