World
Controversy over Ukraine presidential couple’s Vogue photoshoot
The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s newest media look with first girl, Olena Zelenska, has cut up opinion, with many claiming the photographs shot for Vogue journal undermine the severity of the conflict.
Info has been a key weapon in Russia’s conflict on Ukraine, with each side working in depth media campaigns to garner assist.
The Ukrainian president has harnessed the ability of social media all through the conflict, posting common selfie video updates on platforms like Twitter and Instagram.
The hanging images by legendary US photographer Annie Leibovitz are accompanied by a written characteristic, Portrait of Bravery: Ukraine’s First Woman, Olena Zelenska.
Rachel Donadio’s article displays on the emotional toll of the conflict on Ukrainians, and Olena Zelenska’s struggles to adapt to immediately being thrust “centre stage in a tragedy”.
Nevertheless, some customers took to Twitter to query the seriousness of the Ukrainian president, suggesting his battle to guard the nation is a entrance.
US politicians have additionally weighed into the web debate, criticising the navy assist despatched to Ukraine.
Lauren Boebert, a Republican politician and avid gun supporter, said that Zelenskyy had taken her nation’s residents as “a bunch of suckers”.
Others merely discovered the Vogue cowl to be in poor style, given the character of the shiny excessive trend journal, in comparison with the gruelling actuality of life for Ukrainians on the bottom or these fleeing the worn-torn nation.
Professor Anjana Susarla from Michigan State College has studied Zelenskyy’s communication ways over the previous 5 months. She argues that his self-shot video messages have been succeeding in rallying assist for Ukraine.
“It was somebody we might relate to. He seems to be like several of us and sounds like several of us. That’s what made it so highly effective,” she stated. “The authenticity and immediacy of his messaging have been extraordinarily efficient in bringing in worldwide assist.”
Talking to Euronews, she added: “The distinction between ‘I’m one in every of you’ versus immediately ‘additionally I’ve time to do these glamourous issues’… I can see why that may be upsetting to folks as a result of immediately the distinction is simply too jarring.”
“The First Woman is wearing modern garments. And it’s tough to attach this with the earlier uncooked message that there’s a conflict occurring,” she continued.
The photograph sequence, nevertheless, does have its supporters.
Lots of them argue that Zelenskyy’s function is to boost consciousness concerning the conflict and hold protection of Ukraine within the mainstream media, which means a PR stunt like this one is vital.
On Twitter, one consumer posted that in instances of conflict, “you use every single means of getting the word out“, whereas one other argued that “protecting Ukraine within the information is significant for his conflict effort”.
Paul Sales space, professor of political communications at Chicago’s DePaul College believes that it’s a good PR transfer.
He informed Euronews: “The difficulty with something that is PR-related, or something that appears prefer it’s being generated for consideration, is that individuals will not be capable to see by way of that and suppose that it is only a superficial look, which I do not suppose this was.
“I believe this was a significant second in Zelenskyy’s social media profile, he is utilizing his celeb for an vital impact,” he added
Govt editor of New Voice Ukraine, Nika Melkozerova, tweeted that the social media discourse concerning the Vogue shoot is in a patronising tone, and divulges a lack of know-how concerning the nature of conflict.
“The truth that Ukrainians proceed to reside and combat on the similar time is unusual for these, who’ve by no means seen conflict, they see it like a film,” she stated. “They suppose that pleasure is unattainable throughout conflict and that actual folks combat solely like they noticed combating in [the film Saving] Non-public Ryan.”
An estimated 104 journalists lost their lives in 2024, with Palestine the most dangerous territory.
An estimated 104 journalists were killed worldwide over the past year, according to data shared earlier this month by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).
Another report by NGO Reporters Without Borders (RSF) puts the figure at 54, but its methodology means it only includes killings that are considered “directly related” to journalists’ professional activity.
Both organisations say that Palestine is the deadliest place on earth for journalists. More than half (55) of the 104 killings reported by IFJ were Palestinian media professionals in Gaza, while a further six were killed in Lebanon.
At least 138 journalists have been killed in Gaza since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out on 7 October 2023, making the country one of the “most dangerous in the history of modern journalism, behind Iraq, the Philippines and Mexico,” according to the IFJ.
Reporters without Borders has described the number of killings in Gaza as “an unprecedented bloodbath”.
Israel firmly denies it has intentionally targeted any journalists, but has recognised some that have been killed in its airstrikes on Gaza.
The 104 total killings reported by the IFJ is a slight decrease on the 129 they reported on in 2023, which is considered the bloodiest year for journalists since 1990.
How do other world regions fare?
Asia Pacific is the world’s second most dangerous region for journalists, after the Middle East, according to the IFJ.
It recorded 20 deaths in the region in 2024, of which 70% happened in the southern Asian countries of Pakistan, Bangladesh and India.
The region has seen an “upsurge” in violence, according to the IFJ, with deaths increasing sharply from the 12 recorded in 2023.
Africa was the third most dangerous region for journalists at eight deaths, five of them in war-torn Sudan.
The number of journalists killed in south, central and north America has dropped sharply over the past two years, from 30 in 2022 to six in 2023, and another six in 2024. Mexico, considered to be one of the deadliest places in the world to do journalism, continues to see “threats, intimidation, kidnappings and murders” against journalists, particularly due to reporting on drug trafficking.
Number of journalists behind bars on the rise
According to IFJ estimates on 10 December, there were 520 journalists in prison across the world, considerably more than in 2023 (427) and 2022 (375).
China, including Hong Kong, accounts for most of journalists behind bars, followed by Israel and Myanmar.
The IFJ says the figures show how “fragile” the independent press is and how “risky and dangerous” the profession of journalism has become.
World
Christmas in Puerto Rico is a 45-day celebration with caroling, festive decorations, family feasts and more
Christmas, Navidad in Puerto Rico, extends far beyond Dec. 25.
The island proudly proclaims itself as having the “longest holiday season in the world,” according to the website Discover Puerto Rico.
On average, the holiday festivities in Puerto Rico last about 45 days, per the source, commencing right after Thanksgiving, and stretching all the way through mid-January.
The Christmas season in Puerto Rico typically lasts around 45 days. (iStock)
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The holiday season in Puerto Rico is full of rich traditions beloved by families.
One tradition those who visit Puerto Rico will immediately notice during the holiday season is decorations.
In Puerto Rico, decorations are typically put up by Thanksgiving, and kept up until the season concludes in mid-January, with opportune picture moments at every corner.
Parrandas, Christmas caroling, is a holiday staple.
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Carolers choose houses of family and friends to visit, typically starting around 10 p.m., performing aguinaldos (traditional Christmas songs), with not only their voices, but often with instruments as well, according to Discover Puerto Rico.
The group you begin caroling with is likely not the same group you end with.
In Puerto Rico, when carolers visit a house, they’ll often stop inside for conversation, food and drink before moving to the next residence.
Coquito is a popular beverage enjoyed during the holiday season in Puerto Rico. Coconut, vanilla and rum are among the ingredients. (Mayra Beltran/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
Usually, the residences of the house visited will join the group for the next house, according to Discover Puerto Rico.
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A night of serenading loved ones can last quite a while, often stretching into the early morning hours of the following day, according to the source.
The biggest day of the holiday season in Puerto Rico actually isn’t Christmas, but instead, the night before.
In Puerto Rico, Dec. 24 is Nochebuena. On that day, loved ones gather for the exchange of gifts, caroling and a large feast.
Many families will also attend a midnight Mass on the day, known as Misa de Gallo.
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After Christmas passes, the festivities go on in Puerto Rico.
Another big event in the holiday lineup is Three Kings Day on Jan. 6, a holiday that “commemorates the visit that the Three Wise Men paid to Jesus after his birth,” according to Discover Puerto Rico.
On the eve of the day, children fill up a shoebox with grass to be left for camels to munch on while the Three Kings leave behind gifts for them, according to PuertoRico.com.
For a particularly festive Three Kings Day, Juana Díaz is the place to go, as it hosts the largest celebration in Puerto Rico for the holiday. In Juana Díaz, there is an annual festival and parade in honor of Three Kings Day that brings together over 25,000 people every year, according to Discover Puerto Rico.
Gifts are primarily exchanged between loved ones on Christmas Eve in Puerto Rico. (iStock)
Then, eight days later is Octavitas, a post-holiday celebration where families get together and celebrate one last time for the season.
The end of the holiday season is marked with the San Sebastián Street Festival.
This festival, spanning over multiple days, takes place in Old San Juan, and is filled with live music, dancing, shopping and parades.
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