Ukraine claims gains in Bakhmut after Russia denials
Ukraine says it has recaptured ground in Bakhmut, a rare advance after months of grinding Russian gains in the eastern city.
Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said Ukrainian forces advanced two kilometres (1.2 miles) in a week.
The claims signal a momentum shift in Bakhmut - but more widely, there is no clear evidence of the much-anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive.
Russia denied Ukrainian claims but said its troops had regrouped in one area.
Units of the southern group of Russian forces had taken up a better defensive position in the Maloilinivka area, something which took into consideration "the favourable conditions of the Berkhivka reservoir", Russia's defence ministry said.
Imran Khan given bail in corruption case and assurance he will not be re-arrested
Judges’ decision comes amid rising tensions as former Pakistan PM faces claims over illegal land transfers
A court has granted bail to Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan for two weeks in a corruption case and ordered his protection from arrest on any charges until Monday, amid concerns he would be immediately re-arrested on his release.
Security was tight as Khan appeared at a hearing at Islamabad high court on Friday seeking bail in multiple cases. He had been in police custody since Tuesday after being arrested on the premises of the court by almost 100 paramilitary officers.
To the anger of the government, Khan was granted relief on Thursday when the supreme court ruled that the manner of his arrest, on court premises, was illegal, and ordered him to seek bail from the high court. He stayed overnight at a police guesthouse but was no longer a detainee.
Iran releases 2 imprisoned French citizens, Paris says
Benjamin Briere and Bernard Phelan are on their way back to France after being released from an Iranian jail. Several other foreign nationals are still being held.
Iran has released two French citizens who had been imprisoned in unrelated cases, sending them back to Paris, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said on Friday.
Benjamin Brier, who was arrested in 2020, and Bernard Phelan, who was arrested last October, were "on their way to France," Colonna said.
The pair are just two of several foreign nationals, including four more French citizens, imprisoned in Iran, who campaigners say are being held as hostages.
Mali army, foreign fighters killed at least 500 people in March 2022, says UN report
The Malian army and foreign fighters killed at least 500 people during an anti-jihadist operation in central Mali in March 2022, according to a report released on Friday by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
The OHCHR "has reasonable grounds to believe that at least 500 people were killed in violation of norms, standards, rules and/or principles of international law" between March 27 and 31, 2022, in the town of Moura, the report said.
The victims, including some 20 women and seven children, were "executed by the FAMa (Malian Armed Forces) and foreign military personnel" who had complete control over the area, said the report, which was based on an investigation by the human rights division of the UN peacekeeping mission MINUSMA.
OHCHR also has "reasonable grounds to believe that 58 women and girls were victims of rape and other forms of sexual violence," it said.
‘Constant fear’ in Gaza as Israel continues assault for 4th day
Islamic Jihad commander killed in latest Israeli attack as foreign mediators press ahead with ceasefire efforts.
At least two Palestinians have been killed and several others wounded on the fourth consecutive day of Israeli bombardment on the besieged Gaza Strip, Palestinian medical officials have said.
One of the people killed in Friday’s air raid on an apartment was a senior leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group (PIJ), local media reported. It brought the total number of Palestinians killed in this week’s bombardment to at least 33, including several children, with more than 110 also wounded.
Self-driving test of Shinkansen proves successful for JR Tokai
By AYATERU HOSOZAWA/ Staff Writer
May 12, 2023 at 17:41 JST
Railway officials deemed a self-driving Shinkansen test as successful here, in a step toward having automated high-speed bullet trains debut in Japan in 2028.
The driver pressed a button in the cab of the newest N700S Shinkansen train at Hamamatsu Station in Shizuoka Prefecture shortly after midnight on May 11.
The automatic train operation (ATO) system took over and the train started driving itself before arriving 26 minutes later at Shizuoka Station.
It stopped only 9 millimeters from the correct location at the station platform and was only 2 seconds late, according to Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai), which operates the Tokaido Shinkansen line.
The driver was ready to take control of the train at any time, but he didn’t need to.
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