Sir Michael Gambon, celebrated for his portrayal of Professor Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter film series, has passed away at the age of 82, according to a statement from his family.

Born in Dublin and later becoming a British citizen, Gambon’s illustrious career spanned six decades, encompassing television, film, theatre, and radio. Over the years, he garnered four BAFTA awards and was knighted in 1998 for his contributions to the entertainment industry.

His family shared that the esteemed actor passed away peacefully in a hospital, surrounded by loved ones, after suffering from pneumonia.

Gambon’s journey into the limelight began with a stage performance in Dublin’s production of Othello in 1962. His career trajectory soared when he joined Laurence Olivier’s National Theatre acting company in London, eventually winning three Olivier awards for his roles in the company’s productions.

Beyond his iconic role as Dumbledore, which he assumed after the passing of Richard Harris in 2003, Gambon was recognized for his roles in ITV’s Maigret series, BBC’s The Singing Detective, and films like Gosford Park and The King’s Speech.

Fellow Harry Potter co-star, Fiona Shaw, remembered him as a “magnificent trickster” with unparalleled skill in handling text. Jason Isaacs, who played Lucius Malfoy, recalled Gambon’s “fearless, filthy sense of fun” and his profound impact on Isaacs’ understanding of acting.

Dame Eileen Atkins, a close friend of Gambon, reminisced about his commanding stage presence and his gentle nature, stating, “There was something incredibly sweet inside Michael.”

Gambon’s final stage appearance was in 2012 in a London rendition of Samuel Beckett’s All That Fall.

Tributes have poured in from across the entertainment world, with the Irish Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar, lauding him as a “great actor” who gave his all, whether in Beckett, Dennis Potter, or Harry Potter.

In a recent development, Russia’s defence ministry has released footage purportedly showing Viktor Sokolov, the commander of the Black Sea Fleet, attending a conference. This comes after Ukraine’s claims on Monday that Admiral Sokolov, along with 33 other officers, had been killed in a missile strike on the fleet’s headquarters in Sevastopol, Crimea.

The video, aired on a TV channel run by Russia’s defence ministry, displays Adm Sokolov participating in a video link with Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu and other senior officials. The ministry asserts that this meeting took place on Tuesday. However, the exact date of the footage remains unverified.

Ukraine’s initial claims about the missile strike suggested a significant blow to the Russian navy. However, following the release of the video by Russia, Ukraine appears to be reassessing its stance. While Kyiv has not directly named Adm Sokolov in its claims, it now cites “open sources” for its assertion that the commander was among the 34 casualties. This shift in narrative indicates a potential recalibration in Ukraine’s information dissemination strategy.

The video, which spans eight minutes, showcases a Defence Ministry collegium, allegedly conducted on Tuesday morning. Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu is observed conversing with top officials in a Moscow conference room. The commanders of Russia’s five fleets, including the Black Sea Fleet, are visible on video links, though none provide any commentary.

Facial recognition software has identified a match between previous images of Adm Sokolov and the individual in the recent video, suggesting its authenticity. However, the BBC has yet to confirm the actual date of the meeting and the real-time presence of Adm Sokolov in the video link.

Last Friday, Ukraine announced a strike on the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet, a significant component of the Russian navy and a symbolic representation of Russia’s long-standing military influence in the region. Social media footage from the incident depicted smoke billowing over the building. Russia countered this claim, stating it had intercepted five missiles, with one serviceman reported missing post-attack.

Ukrainian forces have consistently launched strikes against Russian bases in Crimea. The Black Sea fleet, besides being a strategic point for assaults on Ukraine, symbolizes Russia’s historic military dominance in the area. Notably, the fleet was stationed in Crimea under a lease agreement even before Russia’s controversial annexation of the peninsula in 2014.

Nagorno-Karabakh, an internationally unrecognized republic, has declared its dissolution effective January 1, 2024. Following a defeat by pro-Armenian forces against Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh’s government announced the termination of all its “state institutions and organizations,” effectively ceasing its existence.

The decision, signed by Prime Minister Samwel Shakhramanjan, was made in light of the severe political and military situation, aiming to protect the safety and lives of the Nagorno-Karabakh population. The dissolution was a part of the terms of surrender.

Nagorno-Karabakh, while legally a part of Azerbaijan, has a predominantly Armenian population. The region has been a point of contention between Azerbaijan and Armenia for years. A significant military offensive by Azerbaijan on September 19 led to the rapid defeat of pro-Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh. This resulted in a mass exodus, with over 65,000 people, more than half of Nagorno-Karabakh’s population, fleeing to Armenia. Experts anticipate that nearly all Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh will leave the region, which had a recent population of 120,000.

Following the dissolution, residents will need to familiarize themselves with Azerbaijan’s laws regarding the region’s integration, allowing them to decide if they wish to return.

Meanwhile, satellite images reveal long traffic jams along the Latshin Corridor, the sole route from the remote mountainous region to Armenia. The Azerbaijani military, which had previously blocked the corridor, causing a humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, has now opened it for Armenians’ departure, albeit under strict surveillance. Notably, Azerbaijani authorities arrested Nagorno-Karabakh’s former Prime Minister, Ruben Wardanyan, at the border crossing. Azerbaijani media report that Wardanyan, once a businessman active in Russia, is now accused of financing terrorism among other charges.