Putin vows victory in Ukraine and targets NATO at Moscow’s scaled-back parade

Russian President Vladimir Putin has voiced confidence of victory in Ukraine as he oversaw a military parade on Red Square commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War. Speaking in front of hundreds of military personnel and flanked by a few world leaders, the Russian president said he was fighting a “just” war as he identified Ukraine an “aggressive force” that is being “armed and supported by the whole bloc of NATO”. Security was tight in Moscow as Mr Putin and several foreign leaders attended the parade, even as a US-brokered three-day ceasefire eased concerns about possible Ukrainian attempts to disrupt the festivities. Mr Putin, in power for more than a quarter of a century, has used Victory Day, Russia’s most important secular holiday, to showcase the country’s military might and rally support for his military action in Ukraine. Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, Lao President Thongloun Sisouli...

Attackers kill at least 50, abduct women and children in Nigeria’s Zamfara state

By Ahmed Kingimi Reuters

– At least 50 people were killed and several women and ‌children abducted after armed men attacked a village ‌in Nigeria’s northwestern Zamfara state, a state lawmaker told Reuters on Friday.

Hamisu A. ​Faru, lawmaker representing Bukkuyum south, said the attackers raided Tungan Dutse village from around 5 p.m. on Thursday until about 3:30 a.m. on Friday, burning down buildings and shooting residents ‌who tried to ⁠flee.

“They have been moving from one village to another … leaving at least 50 people dead,” Faru ⁠told Reuters by phone.

He said the number of abducted victims was yet to be determined. Traditional leaders and local government ​officials were ​still accounting for the ​missing.

A Zamfara state police spokesperson ‌did not respond to calls seeking comment.

Abdullahi Sani, 41, a resident of Tungan Dutse, said three family members were killed in the attack.

“No one slept yesterday, we are all in pain,” he said.

A day earlier, residents contacted security forces ‌and local authority when they ​saw more than 150 motorcycles carrying ​armed men. But the ​warning was ignored, Sani said.

Insecurity is a ‌pressing concern in Nigeria and the ​government is ​under mounting pressure to restore stability.

There has been a surge in attacks blamed on “bandits”, who have carried out ​deadly assaults, abductions ‌for ransom, and displaced communities across northern Nigeria.



from The Times Of Earth https://ift.tt/MmkjGqZ

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