Ukrainians sign petition to give citizenship, PM role to UK's Boris Johnson
July 27, 2022, 8:33 am

Ukrainians sign petition to give citizenship, PM role to UK's Boris Johnson

Watch: PM Boris Johnson tells Volodymyr Zelensky that "Ukraine will rise again"

An informal petition to grant outgoing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson Ukrainian citizenship and make him the country's prime minister has garnered more than 2,500 signatures hours after it was put up on the official Ukrainian petitions website on Tuesday (July 26), the US news reported, citing Reuters.

Despite losing his domestic popularity and eventually being forced to announce his resignation after dozens of ministers' departures in early July, Johnson remains a cult figure in Kyiv for his outspoken support of Ukraine in fighting the Russian invasion.

The paintings, murals and even cakes in the Ukrainian capital resemble the man some Ukrainians affectionately call "Johnsoniuk."

The petition, addressed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, lists Johnson's strengths as "worldwide support for Boris Johnson, a clear position against the military invasion of Ukraine, (and) wisdom in the political, financial and legal spheres."

PM visit to Ukrainian troops
This week I visited Ukrainian troops being trained by British Armed Forces in North Yorkshire. The UK is committed to doing all we can to help Ukraine continue to repel Russian aggression.
Posted by Boris Johnson on Saturday, July 23, 2022

The petition, however, does acknowledge one negative side of such an appointment: its non-compliance with Ukraine's constitution.

In an apparent coincidence, several hours after the petition was put up on Tuesday, Johnson presented Zelenskiy with the Sir Winston Churchill Leadership Award for what his Downing Street office described as "incredible courage, defiance, and dignity" in the face of Russia's invasion.

Churchill award given to Volodymyr Zelensky by Boris Johnson

Zelenskiy did not mention the new petition when accepting the award, but he will be obliged to officially respond if it receives 25,000 signatures.

Accepting the award via video link from Kyiv, Zelenskiy quoted wartime British premier Churchill, saying that Johnson "had no thought of quitting the struggle" when the going got tough.

Source: usnews

Antony Blinken meets with family of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh Amnesty: Taliban crackdown on rights is ‘suffocating’ women

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”