September 26, 2023

*) South Korea holds rare military parade amid North's nuclear threat South Korea kicked off its first large-scale military parade in a decade, showcasing weapons ranging from ballistic missiles to attack helicopters. The parade marks the country's Armed Forces Day, normally a muted event relative to the massive events the North has staged under leader Kim Jong-un. In a speech, President Yoon Suk Yeol warned the North against using nuclear weapons and pledged to ramp up support for the military and the defence industry. *) Ukraine says Russia's Black Sea Fleet commander killed Ukraine's special forces have killed Moscow's top admiral in Crimea along with 33 other officers in a missile attack last week. Admiral Viktor Sokolov allegedly died in the attack on the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in the port of Sevastopol. Sokolov was the commander of the Black Sea Fleet and one of Russia's most senior navy officers, had been killed. The Russian Defence Ministry did not immediately respond when asked to confirm or deny the allegations. *) Ratifying Sweden's NATO accession bid not 'urgent': Hungary's Orban Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has told parliament that ratifying Sweden's NATO bid was not "urgent". Hungary has still not voted to approve the Nordic country's entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Orban accused the Nordic country of having challenged his country's "democratic nature". *) China sentences Muslim Uighur scholar to life in prison: rights group China has sentenced a well-respected Uighur Muslim academic to life in prison on charges of "endangering state security", a US-based rights group has said. In a statement, the Dui Hua Foundation said Rahile Dawut, 57, lost her appeal against her original conviction in December 2018. Rights advocates have accused China of launching a mass internment campaign targeting Uighurs, along with abuses such as forced sterilisation and cultural repression. And finally… *) Striking Hollywood writers reach 'tentative' deal with