International

NATO accuses Russia and North Korea of “dangerously expanding” the war in Ukraine

NATO, along with Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Ukraine, “strongly” condemned this Friday the decision of Russia and North Korea to “dangerously expand” the war against Ukraine by involving “thousands of troops” North Koreans in the war.

That decision by Russian President Vladimir Putin and his North Korean counterpart, Kim Jong Un, is a “dangerous expansion” of North Korea’s “already substantial support” for Russia’s war effort with “the supply of millions of ammunition and ballistic missiles” in its war against Ukraine, the Atlantic Council said in a statement, joined by Canberra, Tokyo, Wellington, Seoul and Kiev.

And it is that the deepening of military cooperation between Russia and North Korea “deeply” affects Euro-Atlantic security, but with implications also for the Indo-Pacific region, said the North Atlantic Council, NATO’s highest decision-making body.

Military cooperation between Russians and North Koreans

In addition, the increase in military cooperation between Russians and North Koreans constitutes “a violation of multiple resolutions” of the United Nations Security Council, including 2270 (2016), 1718 (2006) and 1874 (2009), which is “especially scandalous if one takes into account Russia’s status as a permanent member” of it, they stressed.

For that reason, they urged Russia to comply again with those resolutions and to abide by its international obligations.

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They also pointed out that Russia’s statement of September 26 in which it stated that the denuclearization of North Korea “is not on the table” is “unacceptable.”

That position, they noted, “undermines the global non-proliferation regime, directly contradicts the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and further exacerbates regional tensions.”

Russian declaration

For the North Atlantic Council, the Russian declaration is part of its broader effort to undermine the global non-proliferation regime and dismantle United Nations sanctions.

Therefore, NATO and the five signatories urged all other countries not to provide any kind of help to Russia’s aggression and condemned “all those who facilitate and, therefore, prolong Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine.”

In this context, NATO said it will continue to work with its partners, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, to promote peace and stability and prevent Russia and those who facilitate its war effort from undermining regional and global stability.

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While stressing that the allies remain “as determined as ever” to support Ukraine “for as long as necessary.”

International

Elon Musk’s comments on UK abuse scandal spark government response

A prominent British politician addressed Elon Musk’s recent criticism on Friday regarding the government’s handling of a historic child abuse scandal.

In recent days, Musk shared and reacted to posts on his social media platform X, condemning the UK government’s decision to reject a public inquiry into the child abuse scandal in Oldham, a town in northern England.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting dismissed Musk’s comments as “wrong and certainly misinformed” but extended an invitation to the tech mogul to collaborate with the government in combating child sexual exploitation.

The UK government argued that Oldham should follow the example of other cities by commissioning its own investigation into historical abuse. A 2022 report on safeguarding measures in Oldham between 2011 and 2014 highlighted failures by local agencies to protect children but found no evidence of a cover-up. The report noted “legitimate concerns” about far-right groups exploiting the high-profile convictions of predominantly Pakistani offenders across the country.

Musk has also criticized UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, accusing him of failing to bring justice to what many describe as “grooming gangs” during his tenure as Director of Public Prosecutions from 2008 to 2013. On Friday, Musk referred to the scandals as a “massive crime against humanity.”

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Speaking to ITV News, Streeting emphasized the government’s commitment to tackling child sexual exploitation. He welcomed Musk’s potential involvement, stating, “Some of the criticisms Elon Musk has made, I think, are wrong and certainly misinformed. But we are ready to work with him. With his social network, he has a significant role to play in helping the UK and other countries address this serious issue. If he wants to roll up his sleeves and work with us, we’d gladly welcome him.”

Musk’s apparent interest in UK politics has grown since the Labour Party’s landslide victory in the July 2024 elections, ending 14 years of Conservative rule.

International

Von der Leyen’s health forces two-week break amid severe pneumonia

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is battling “severe pneumonia” and has canceled her engagements for the next two weeks, her office announced on Friday.

Spokesperson Stefan De Keersmaeker confirmed that von der Leyen’s schedule has been cleared of meetings in Lisbon and Poland, the latter of which recently assumed the rotating presidency of the 27-nation European Union.

“She is dealing with severe pneumonia,” De Keersmaeker stated in a brief communiqué, providing no further details about her condition or how she contracted the illness.

The 66-year-old recently began her second five-year term leading the EU’s powerful executive branch.

International

Algerian influencer detained in France for alleged calls to attack

French police detained an Algerian social media influencer in the port city of Brest on Friday, accused of urging his followers to carry out attacks in France, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau announced.

The arrest comes as France prepares to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the deadly January 2015 attacks in Paris targeting the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo and a kosher supermarket.

On January 7, 2015, two French-born Al-Qaeda extremists stormed the Charlie Hebdo newsroom, killing 12 people, including the editor-in-chief, cartoonists, and a police officer nearby. In the following days, an associate aligned with ISIS killed a police officer and later attacked a kosher supermarket in eastern Paris, murdering four hostages. All three attackers were killed in police shootouts.

Retailleau stated on social media platform X that the detained influencer, who used the alias “Zazouyoussef,” had “called on his community to commit attacks in France.”