Kyiv: &nbsp;A Ukrainian court sentenced a Russian soldier to life in prison on Monday for killing an unarmed civilian in the first war crimes trial arising from Russia's Feb. 24 invasion.Vadim Shishimarin, a 21-year-old tank commander, had pleaded guilty to killing the 62-year-old man in the northeastern Ukrainian village of Chupakhivka on Feb. 28 after being ordered to shoot at him from a car.—REUTERS

 A Ukrainian court sentenced a Russian soldier to life in prison on Monday for killing an unarmed civilian in the first war crimes trial arising from Russia's Feb. 24 invasion.

Ukraine court jails Russian soldier for life in war crimes trial

Europe

Cannes: &nbsp;The ongoing 75th Cannes Film Festival witnessed yet another disruption on Sunday due to protestors on the Red Carpet, only two days after a naked woman demonstrated against violence towards women in Ukraine.According to Deadline, while raising their fists in the air, a group of women dressed in black unfurled a banner and let off black smoke grenades. They had a banner that featured a long list of women's names interspersed with the words 'A Woman'. The outlet reported that the names on the banner correspond to women killed by men in France in cases of domestic violence.Later, a spokesperson for the film 'Riposte Feministe', a documentary about the feminist collages in France to denounce feminicides, claimed credit for the protest.As per Deadline, the entire incident took place at the premiere of the Competition film 'Holy Spider' and videos of it were shared on Twitter. 'Holy Spider' is a feminist thriller movie about a woman in Iran who tracks down a man who is killing prostitutes.—ANI

The ongoing 75th Cannes Film Festival witnessed yet another disruption on Sunday due to protestors on the Red Carpet, only two days after a naked woman demonstrated against violence towards women in Ukraine.

Cannes 2022: Female protestors disrupt Red Carpet event

Cannes: "Squid Game" star and seasoned South Korean actor Lee Jung-jae has broken into the big league as a director with his debut film "Hunt", which premiered at the ongoing 75th Cannes Film Festival's Midnight Screenings section."Hunt", an action-packed spy thriller set in the early 1980s, revolves around two agents of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA) who differ drastically in their approaches to the job of protecting the nation. The film, written and directed by Lee, also features the star in one of the two lead roles. The other protagonist is played by Lee's longtime friend and business partner Jung Woo-sung. Lee and Jung first worked together in 1999's "City of the Rising Sun". This is the "Squid Game" lead actor's second trip to the Cannes Film Festival. He was here in 2010 as the male lead of Im Sang-soo's "The Housemaid". The film competed for the Palme d'Or. Despite being set 40 years ago, "Hunt" has clear contemporary relevance. That, Lee insists, isn't a coincidence. The contemporary relevance of the story was, of course, in my mind when I wrote and directed Hunt, he says. When I bought the rights for the original screenplay, it had a different subject matter and spin, says the actor-turned-director. The character played by Jung was much smaller and the focus was solely on the role (of Park Pyong-ho) that I play, he says. I decided to work on it. In the times that we live in there is so much fake information going around and I wanted to weave that into the film. I retained the 1980s setting because that was a period in which not only Korea but also many other countries saw information being routinely manipulated by those in power. This, says Lee, happens now as well. So, we have to question ourselves: will we allow all the misinformation to shape our values? Once I decided what 'Hunt' will be about, I developed the parallel character of Kim Jung-do (played by Jung) as a person with his own values and convictions. He is a man with a strong will to right what he thinks is wrong. That is how 'Hunt' became a two-character story. Lee agrees that writing and directing a film while also acting in it is no cakewalk.Initially, I only wanted to produce 'Hunt'. I did not think about writing and directing it. I took on those responsibilities because I could not find the right director and scriptwriter. But once Lee had locked the scenario, he knew he had to wear the director's hat, too. I felt I was the best person to helm the project, but writing a screenplay takes a lot out of you. So, I am not confident that I will be writing and directing another one soon. About Park Pyong-ho, the character that he embodies on the screen in his directorial debut, Lee says: He is instigated to become a part of the spy ring operated by North Korea aimed at reunification. Pyong-ho's KCIA colleague Kim Jung-do, on the other hand, is loyal to the authoritarian regime. He is a soldier. He decides he has to suppress the enemies of the state in a very brutal way. It is apparent that both men are pawns in a larger game, explains Lee. To what extent has the international success of "Squid Game" changed his life?I wouldn't say my life has changed so much, says Lee. It is just that I am now known to a global audience. Career-wise, he is on an undeniably exciting new curve.I can now also work in overseas productions. Global projects are reaching me and they want me to be on board. I am open to these opportunities. Therefore, the principal change that has occurred is that I now have more projects to choose from, says the actor. He adds: I am looking forward to the future. I have been in this business for quite some time but this feels like an all-new start.Trying to put a finger on the increasing popularity of Korean films and web series, Lee says: I think it is all about the story. We have a lot of fun, novel and unique stories. That is why audiences are drawn to K-dramas and overseas producers are enthused to remake Korean content. Although the budget of "Hunt" was a fraction of that of a Hollywood espionage drama, it is the passion and flair with which it is made that lends it an appeal that is universal. Lee says he made "Hunt" even as he was shooting for "Squid Game".Asked if it was tough switching between two dissimilar characters in two dissimilar projects, the actor-director quips: Do not forget, I have 30 years' experience in this field.—PTI

 "Squid Game" star and seasoned South Korean actor Lee Jung-jae has broken into the big league as a director with his debut film "Hunt", which premiered at the ongoing 75th Cannes Film Festival's Midnight Screenings section.

Squid Game' star hunts down fresh glory in Cannes

Paris: &nbsp;A tourist plane crashed near the town of Les Adrets in southeast France, officials said. Five dead bodies, including a child, were discovered at the site of the crash on Saturday afternoon, French news channel BFMTV reported.Local media reported that four people were of the same family, Xinhua news agency reported.According to BFMTV, eyewitnesses to the crash tipped off local authorities, and nearly 60 firefighters were deployed to the site to douse the fire. The plane, which belonged to an aero club, was conducting its first flight. It took off from Versoud airdrome near the city of Grenoble, BFMTV reported. An investigation has been underway, according to local officials.—IANS

  A tourist plane crashed near the town of Les Adrets in southeast France, officials said.

Tourist plane crashes in France, 5 dead

Helsinki: Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said on Saturday he had held "open and direct" talks with Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan to discuss Finland's bid for NATO membership. Erdogan has publicly questioned whether Finland and Sweden should be allowed to join the military alliance. "I stated that as NATO allies Finland and Turkey will commit to each other's security and our relationship will thus grow stronger," Niinisto tweeted after the call. "Finland condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Close dialogue continues."—REUTERS

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said on Saturday he had held "open and direct" talks with Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan to discuss Finland's bid for NATO membership.