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Putin signs ‘independence’ decrees for Zaporizhia, Kherson
Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared the “independence” of the Ukrainian regions Zaporizhia and Kherson as Moscow prepares to formally proclaim the annexation of Ukrainian territory in a major escalation of its seven-month invasion.
“I order the recognition of the state sovereignty and independence” of Zaporizhia and Kherson in southern Ukraine, Putin said in presidential decrees issued late on Thursday.
The two regions are set to be incorporated into Russia, along with the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, at a lavish ceremony in the Kremlin, on Friday, after hastily-organised referendums in the Russian-occupied regions, which claimed majorities of up to 99 percent in favour of joining Russia. Putin recognised the ‘independence’ of Donetsk and Luhansk in February.
The ceremony – eight years after Russia seized Crimea from Ukraine following an invasion and a similar vote – will take place at 3pm local time (12:00 GMT) in the columned Georgievsky Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace, where marble plaques engraved in gold commemorate Russian military heroes.
In unusually strong language, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters in New York City that Russia’s annexation would violate the United Nations Charter and had “no legal value”.
Guterres described Russia’s move as “a dangerous escalation” of the conflict that began on February 24 that “has no place in the modern world.”
“It must not be accepted,” he said.
The UN Security Council is due to meet on Friday ahead of another discussion on the leaks discovered in the Nord Stream gas pipeline.
The United States and Albania have been working on a draft resolution that “condemns the Russian Federation’s organization of illegal so-called referenda” in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson, saying they “have no validity,” according to the AFP news agency. It will also call for Russia’s immediate and unconditional withdrawal from Ukraine.
Given Russia has a veto in the security council, all eyes will be on the responses from India and China, as well as a later General Assembly vote.US President Joe Biden on Thursday reiterated the US would never recognise Russia’s claims on Ukraine’s territory.
“The results were manufactured in Moscow,” Biden said of the referendums.Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan also pressed Putin in a call to take steps to reduce tensions in Ukraine.
‘Freak show’ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called an emergency meeting on Friday of his National Security and Defence Council. Few details were given, but officials said “fundamental decisions” were to be made amid concern about the potential use of tactical nuclear weapons.
Kyiv earlier dismissed the plan as a “Kremlin freak show”, saying the only appropriate response from the West was to impose new sanctions and supply Ukrainian forces with more weapons.Ukraine embarked on a major counteroffensive this month that has pushed Russia out of the northeastern Kharkiv region. It is also making advances in the south and is on the doorstep of Lyman in the Donetsk region.
Russia controls only about 60 percent of Donetsk and 70 percent of Zaporizhia, where fighting has raged close to Europe’s biggest nuclear plant. The sudden annexations mean front lines will now run through territory that Russia is claiming as its own, and which Putin has said he is ready to defend with nuclear weapons if necessary.
Putin last week declared a mobilisation of reservists, a move which has led to huge queues at Russia’s borders as thousands of fighting-age men try to flee the country. Even staunch Kremlin allies have criticised the chaotic nature of the call-up, and Putin himself admitted on Thursday that “all mistakes must be corrected”. The Kremlin-installed leaders of the four Ukrainian regions, and their officials, have gathered in the Russian capital for the ceremony.
“Victory is ours. We are Russia,” Kirill Stremousov, an official from the Kherson region, declared in a video of himself next to Red Square.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has told reporters that Putin will deliver a major speech on Friday, but did not say whether the president would attend a concert being held on the square, where giant video screens have been set up, and billboards proclaim the names of the regions: ‘Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, Kherson – Russia!’. Putin is due to address parliament separately at a later stage, paving the way for it to ratify the annexation process on or before October 7, when he marks his 70th birthday. Source: Al Jazeera
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
