Russia's future rests on Ukraine war, Putin tells Victory Day parade
Vladimir Putin has said Russia's future "rests on" the soldiers fighting in Ukraine, during his annual speech to mark Victory Day in Moscow.
"There is nothing more important now than your combat effort," he said.
The military parade, which commemorates the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany, was scaled back this year for security.
Mr Putin also used his speech to justify his invasion of Ukraine, while accusing "Western globalist elites" of provoking conflicts.
Civilisation is again "at a decisive turning point", he said in Moscow's Red Square to a crowd composed of just officials and veterans, as the event was not open to the public.
Addressing the troops fighting in Ukraine - some of whom were present - Mr Putin said a "real war" had been "unleashed" against Russia. The reality is that it was Russia that invaded Ukraine.
Pakistan’s former PM Imran Khan arrested in Islamabad
Khan, ousted from power last year, was appearing in court to face charges in corruption case
Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan has been arrested as he appeared in court in Islamabad to face charges in a separate corruption case, with scores of security forces in riot gear dragging the high-profile politician into an armoured vehicle.
The arrest of Khan – who was ousted from power last year and has evaded arrest several times since – came hours after he released a video message reiterating his allegations that the country’s powerful military establishment had tried to assassinate him twice.
UN says Iran has executed over 200 people this year
The UN human rights commissioner has slammed the Iranian regime's 'abominable' record on capital punishment.
Iran carried out at least 209 executions so far in 2023, according to new figures released by the United Nations on Tuesday.
This comes in the wake of several high-profile execution that have drawn international condemnation.
At an average of over ten per week, it means Iran is on course to match or even surpass last year's total of 580 executions.
Given a lack of government transparency, the UN estimates the real figure is likely to be even higher.
One UN spokesperson told reporters that at the current rate, the number of executions could end up being the highest since 2015, when 972 death penalties were handed out.
Tempest in a teashop: Turks bitterly divided in Erdogan stronghold ahead of presidential vote
In the southeastern Turkish city of Gaziantep, a stronghold of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), some voters are ardent supporters of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Others, however, can be just as ferocious in their opposition. With the May 14 first round of the presidential election fast approaching, politics can be just as hot as the steaming chai in a Gaziantep tea shop.
The Gaziantep castle has survived centuries of invasions, but some of the Roman-era bastions of the formidable edifice in southeastern Turkey did not withstand the destructive force of the February 6 earthquakes. The main stone structure, however, is still there. Perched on a hill, the castle still watches over the old city.
In this stronghold of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won 63.9 percent of the vote in the 2018 election, well above his 52.6 percent nationwide score.
Sadness, anger in Palestine: Gaza mourns 13 killed in Israel raid
Israeli military said they knew of ‘collateral’ in their operation to kill three PIJ members.
Adeeb al-Rabai had just fallen asleep in his home in Gaza City when he was awakened by the sounds of bombing in the very early hours of Tuesday.
“I thought I was dreaming until I realised that the bombing was on my building,” the 60-year-old lawyer said.
Israel had launched air raids on several areas across the Gaza Strip, killing at least 13 people, including six women and four children, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Among the dead were three members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement.
After 1,000 days in China detention, family renews call for release of Australian TV anchor Cheng Lei
Friends and family of Australian television anchor Cheng Lei renewed calls for her release from detention in China, 1,000 days after she was taken into custody on espionage charges – a move that has cast a black mark on the two countries’ already tense relationship.
Cheng, a former business anchor for China’s state broadcaster CGTN and mother of two, is accused of illegally supplying state secrets overseas, a charge that carries a possible sentence of between five years to life in prison.
Australian authorities have previously expressed concern about her detention amid suggestions from analysts that strained ties between Canberra and Beijing may have provided impetus for the opaque case against her.
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