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Global Issues & Cooperation

Hamas seeks Palestinian prisoners’ release, calls non-Israeli captives ‘guests’

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The terrorist group may attempt to use the Israelis it abducted as negotiating chips to obtain the release of Palestinian inmates, according to a prominent Hamas commander who said on Monday that the organization “has what it needs” to liberate all Palestinians detained in Israeli jails.

Hamas took the non-Israelis hostage on October 7 and included Israelis and people from other countries. Shortly after Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal commented, the group’s armed wing declared the non-Israelis were “guests” who would be freed “when circumstances allow.”

After rampaging through southern Israeli villages and military posts and murdering over 1,300 people, Hamas gunmen grabbed many captives. Israel’s military claims that the hostage-takers are holding 199 people in Gaza. According to Hamas, it has 200–250.

According to Meshaal, a former Hamas leader who now runs the organization’s diaspora office in Doha, Hamas “has what it needs to empty the prisons of all prisoners,” as other groups have long demanded the release of the approximately 6,000 Palestinians detained in Israeli jails.

Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier detained for five years, was freed in 2011 when Israel exchanged hundreds of Palestinian detainees. Such an exchange—which some Israelis at the time criticized as being excessively lopsided—seems like an impossibly difficult deal with so many people detained.

Israel, which has declared it will take action to release the prisoners while destroying Hamas, has devastated Gaza with attacks that have killed hundreds of Palestinians.

It is thought that the prisoners include citizens of Germany and Thailand. Other nations have reported the disappearance of their nationals. It is also thought that Israelis with dual citizenship have been abducted in nations like the United States.

A Franco-Israeli lady taken hostage in last week’s incident made a statement in a video Hamas posted late on Monday. Her family was one of several people who pleaded with the president of France to release their lost loved ones.

In a video message, Abu Obeida, the Hamas’ armed wing spokesperson, said that the organization has “a group of detainees of different nationalities; these are our guests, and we seek to protect them.”

He continued: “We will release detainees of different nationalities when circumstances on the ground allow.” He said nothing further.

According to Moussa Abu Marzouk, a prominent member of the Hamas leadership, “foreign prisoners cannot be released due to the ongoing Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip.”

Global Issues & Cooperation

UK’s King Charles urges compassion and care for the environment in conflict.

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UK’s King Charles urges compassion and care for the environment in conflict. Utilizing his Christmas Day address to emphasize the significance of kindness, compassion, and care for the environment, King Charles of the United Kingdom issued a call to action on Monday, urging everyone to assist those less fortunate amid economic struggle and worldwide strife.

During his second Christmas speech since becoming king, Charles also paid respect to those who worked for charitable organizations, volunteers, and those who spent the holidays doing duties that included caring for others.

“This is all the more important at a time of real hardship for many, when we need to build on existing ways to support others less fortunate than ourselves,” the queen of 75 years commented.

In a first for the history of royal seasonal greetings, which dates back to a radio address given by his great-grandfather George V in 1932, Charles gave his message next to a living Christmas tree that Buckingham Palace stated would be replanted. This was a first for the practice.

Pine cones and paper were among the natural and eco-friendly decorations affixed to the tree as a further tribute to Charles’s decades of work on environmental concerns.

According to Charles, who spoke from the Center Room of the palace, which opens onto the famed balcony where the royal family makes public appearances on significant occasions, “We care for the Earth for the sake of our children’s children,” he added.

Charles, who succeeded his mother, Queen Elizabeth, as king in September 2022, made the statement. “During my lifetime, I have been so pleased to see a growing awareness of how we must protect the Earth and our natural world as the one home that we all share,” said Charles.

Charles said, “At a time of increasingly tragic conflict around the world, I pray that we can also do everything in our power to protect each other.” The eleven-week-long war in Gaza was a partial allusion to him.

Charles, the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, who carries the title of “Defender of the Faith,” stated that the Christian doctrine of doing good to others reflected universal principles and seemed more critical now than ever.

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Geopolitics & Foreign Policy

According to the finance ministry, Ukraine received $1.34 billion under the World Bank project.

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Ukraine received $1.34 billion under the World Bank project in the finance ministry. Under the World Bank’s public expenditures for administrative capacity endurance in Ukraine, Ukraine was awarded $1.34 billion, according to the Ukrainian finance ministry, which announced this on Monday.

In a statement, the ministry explained that the financing comprised a loan from the World Bank for $1.086 billion, a grant from Norway for $190 million, a grant from the United States for $50 million, and a grant from Switzerland for $20 million.

The ministry said the money would partially compensate for Ukrainian state budget expenditures unrelated to security and defense. These expenses include payments to state emergency service personnel and members of the elderly social security system.

In a statement, Ukraine’s Minister of Finance, Serhiy Marchenko, stated, “International financial assistance is a significant contribution to maintaining Ukraine’s financial and economic stability and allows us to provide priority social expenditures during the war.”

The reception of $1.34 billion under the World Bank project signifies a significant stride for Ukraine’s economic landscape. This substantial funding infusion, channeled strategically by the Finance Ministry, is poised to catalyze transformative changes across various sectors. The focus on infrastructure, socio-economic reforms, and sustainable growth initiatives underscores Ukraine’s commitment to fostering progress and resilience in the face of economic challenges.

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Global Issues & Cooperation

Putin press conference: Ukraine, the West and the Russian economy

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The following are some of the most essential points that were discussed during the annual news conference and phone-in that Russian President Vladimir Putin conducted in Moscow on Thursday:

REGARDING THE UKRAINE COUNCIL
There will be serenity as soon as we accomplish what we set out to do. Again, let’s return to these objectives; they have not been altered. I’ll bring to your attention the topics we discussed back then: the denazification of Ukraine, the demilitarization of Ukraine, and Ukraine’s neutral position.

In terms of demilitarization, if they do not wish to reach a consensus, then we are compelled to take additional steps, which may include military ones. Or, we will reach a consensus on a set of terminology. During our discussions in Istanbul, we agreed on these. These accords, however, were eventually abandoned. However, we agreed with this. Further options are available, such as agreeing or resolving the issue through coercion. We are going to work hard to achieve this goal.

It would be an understatement to say that our military forces are slowly but surely strengthening their position over the entirety of the front line. The majority of people are now engaged in some form of action. In every respect, the situation of our troops is getting better.

ON THE OPPORTUNITY OF A SECOND DRAWING FOR THE MILITARY
We are not seeing a decrease in the number of guys who are prepared to protect our motherland with their guns in hand. In addition to the volunteers, there ought to be around half a million people. At this point, there is no requirement for mobilization.

“The unbridled desire to creep towards our borders, taking Ukraine into NATO—all of these things led to this tragedy,” said the speaker about relations with the West. The catastrophe that we are currently witnessing is the result of all of these factors, including the violent events that took place in Donbas over the past eight years. They compelled us to carry out these activities.

Regarding what the United States of America dreamed of and arranged, Europe either stood and observed in silence or played and sang together with them there. The question is, “How can we improve our relations with them?”

“The fundamental conditions will be in place to restore fully-fledged relations.” “When internal changes occur (in the United States), when they begin to respect other people and other countries, when they begin to look for compromise rather than trying to resolve their issues through sanctions and military intervention, then the fundamental conditions will be in place to restore fully-fledged relations.” Even though such conditions have not yet been established, we are prepared for them.

“About the so-called “rules-based order,” it is true that there are no such rules. Politics and the short-term interests of those who discuss (such an order) are subject to change daily.

VIDEO OF EVAN GERSHKOVICH, AN AMERICAN REPORTER WHO IS DETAINED
“About the possibility of extraditing these nationals, Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, to their country of origin… You express the question: Why don’t they go back to their country of origin? If this is the case, does it not make sense for them to commit crimes within the borders of the Russian Federation? However, this is nothing but empty bluster. The reason for this is not that we would not accept their return. We didn’t say no to it. Our goal is to agree, and for this to happen, the agreements must be mutually acceptable and suitable for all sides. We have been communicating with our American partners and will continue to have conversations about this topic. I won’t get into the specifics right now because it is difficult. May we be able to find a solution? But I will repeat it: the American side needs to listen to us and make an acceptable and suitable decision for the Russian side.

REGARDING THE OLYMPICS
“Everything that the international bureaucrats are doing to Russian sports goes against Pierre de Coubertin’s idea, ‘O Sport, you are Peace!'”

CONCERNING THE CONTROL OF CAPITAL

“Neither the government nor the central bank knows what is taking place with the sums of money our exporters generate from their exports. “We… have a legitimate desire to glimpse how roubles are accumulated, how they are moved around, where they go, and in what quantities they are found.”

Regarding the Russian Hospital in Gaza

During my trip to the United Arab Emirates, I learned they have established a field hospital close to the Rafah checkpoint in Gaza. During our conversation, we also discussed the possibility of Russia establishing a hospital in the exact location, at a stadium. However, it is essential to note that this would require approval from both Egypt and Israel. I have talked with the President of Egypt, and he favors this concept. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, and I have discussed this matter. They have discussed it with several agencies, and the Israeli side does not support this move. Although they think that establishing a Russian hospital in Gaza would be risky, this does not imply that we would stop making efforts in this direction.

REGARDING THE INTERESTS OF CHINA
“We know and I will simply repeat this, I must repeat this, the level of our ties with China is at an all-time high.”

REGARDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH EMMANUEL MACRON, the President of France
In terms of our professional relationship, we were pretty lovely and friendly… At some point, the president of France severed all contact with us, even though we were prepared to continue our interactions with France.

Although I did not stop, he did. Please let us know if there is any interest; we are prepared. If there is no interest, we will make do with what we have. We do not shy away from these relationships; nevertheless, if European nations, and the president of France in particular, do not wish to speak with us, that puts an end to the matter. We have work to do.

WORTH OF THE ECONOMY
“The most significant indication is the degree of economic expansion. It is anticipated that the GDP growth rate will be 3.5% by the end of the year. This is a positive signal, as it indicates that we have recovered from the previous year’s decline. and that we have made a very significant stride ahead.

“Unfortunately, there has been a rise in inflation. It is anticipated that it will reach 7.5% by the end of the year, with the possibility of a slight increase to 8%; nevertheless, the government and the central bank are taking the necessary measures.

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