Azerbaijan (Azerbaijan) (AFP) – Azerbaijani security forces escort former Nagorno-Karabakh separatist leader, Ruben Vardanyan, as he is placed in pre-trial detention. On September 28, a Baku court charged Vardanyan with financing terrorism and creating an illegal armed organisation, for which the 55-year-old could be jailed for up to 14 years. Vardanyan headed the disputed region between November 2022 and February 2023.
Yerevan (AFP) – Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says “there will be no Armenians left in Nagorno-Karabakh” in the coming days as people continue to flee the region taken by Azerbaijani forces. An act of “ethnic cleansing,” he accuses. On 28 September, Armenian authorities reported that 65,000 refugees had arrived in the country, half of Nagorno-Karabakh’s ethnic Armenian population.
Yerevan (AFP) – The Armenian government says that “66,500” people have arrived from Nagorno-Karabakh after the region fell under Azerbaijani control. The figure represents more than half of the territory’s ethnic Armenian population.
Paris (AFP) – Ten days after pieces from his collection were stolen, Olivier Rousteing presents his Balmain Spring/Summer 2024 show in Paris. We take a look backstage at the excitement just hours before the show.
Mexico City (AFP) – People take to the streets in Mexico City on the ninth anniversary of the high-profile, unresolved disappearance of 43 students in 2014. The students, from the Ayotzinapa Rural Normal school, disappeared between the night of September 26 and the early morning of September 27, 2014, when they were traveling via bus to participate in demonstrations in Mexico City. Investigators say the students were detained by corrupt police and handed over to a drug cartel but many of the details remain unclear.
Qaraqosh (Iraq) (AFP) – Rescue workers search through charred remains of the event hall after a fire broke out during a wedding in the northern Iraqi town of Qaraqosh killing over 100 people. Injured guests are seen being treated in hospital.
Lachin corridor (Azerbaijan) (AFP) – More than 50,000 refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh – more than a third of the rebel enclave’s population – have streamed into Armenia in recent days after Azerbaijan’s lightning victory over the territory. Since the September 20 offensive that forced ethnic Armenian rebels to disarm, Armenia has warned of potential ‘ethnic cleansing’ by Azerbaijan. “Now we are homeless dogs. Now we have that status. Let the world know that we are homeless dogs,” says refugee Narine Shakaryan.
Ghent (Belgium) (AFP) – In Belgium, the University of Ghent launches a Taylor Swift-inspired English Literature course. The syllabus will look at the themes, styles and techniques employed by famous historical literary writers and their connections with the lyrics of the US pop superstar. The course is among a handful that have popped up at universities around the world as pop titan Swift has racked up hits and awards and as her Eras Tour is expected to set a record for the first billion-dollar tour.
Kaohsiung (Taiwan) (AFP) – Taiwan unveiled its first domestically built submarine, Hai Kun, as it seeks to bolster its defences against China. ++ TO COMPLETE 33WW7ER ++
Washington (AFP) – Fans from around the United States bid farewell to giant pandas at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington DC. Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, along with their cub Xiao Qi Ji, are due to return to China in early December.
