Western governments have lined up to condemn Vladimir Putin’s landslide election victory as unfair and undemocratic, but China, India and North Korea congratulated the veteran Russian leader on extending his rule by a further six years. The contrasting reactions underscored the geopolitical fault lines that have gaped wider since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago, triggering …

The Kremlin has rejected what it said were lies that President Vladimir Putin had lookalike body doubles who stood in for the 70-year-old leader and that he spent much of his time shielding in a nuclear bunker. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov listed what he said were fabrications about Russia in a speech that touched on the country’s history since the …

Australia is being called on to increase its military and economic support for Ukraine as other nations step up their assistance. Next month marks one year since Russia invaded Ukraine and the United States and Germany have expanded their support with additional tank commitments. Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko said similar military equipment help was expected from Poland, Finland and the …

Russia’s defence ministry says its forces have taken control of the salt-mining town of Soledar in eastern Ukraine. Russian forces captured the town, long the focus of heavy fighting and bombardment, on Thursday evening, the ministry said, according to a state media report on Friday. This would now allow its troops to cut off Ukrainian forces from the nearby, much …

Ukraine has accused Vladimir Putin of invoking a “new state of terror” as the Russian president declared martial law in four annexed regions where Moscow’s troops are losing ground. Mr Putin made the decree in four territories that Russia claims are its own but where it’s struggling to take control as Ukraine regains territory. These regions are Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia …

Britain’s longest-reigning monarch Queen Elizabeth II has died “peacefully”, age 96, bringing an end to the Elizabethan era which lasted more than 70 years. Buckingham Palace confirmed the Queen passed away at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on Thursday afternoon (local time) after doctors had recommended she remain under medical supervision. “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” the palace …

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin has apologised for the behaviour of guests who partied at her house following a rock concert. Images have emerged of two women kissing in what is reportedly the downstairs bathroom of Ms Marin’s official residence in Helsinki. The women are topless and covering their breasts with a “Finland” sign. “The picture is inappropriate and should …

A Russian billionaire suing Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister claims sanctions imposed over the invasion of the Ukraine have caused him severe reputational damage. Steel mogul Alexander Abramov launched legal action against senator Penny Wong after the former government’s April sanctioning of 67 Russian elites and oligarchs over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. His lawyer Ron Merkel QC told the Federal Court …

A 36-year-old man has been arrested and placed in psychiatric care after he smeared the Mona Lisa with cake in a purported protest against artists not focussing enough on “the planet”. The most famous portrait in the world had her cake and ate it too after a man disguised as an elderly woman attempted to smash the painting’s protective glass before smearing the surface with dessert on Sunday. …

One of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest allies has warned NATO that if Sweden and Finland joined the US-led military alliance then Russia would have to bolster its defences in the region, including by deploying nuclear weapons. Finland, which shares a 1300-kilometre border with Russia, and Sweden are considering joining the NATO alliance. Finland will make a decision in the …