Cincunri Sakia

Kamis, 15 April 2021

Vladimir Putin blocks ALL foreign warships from reaching Ukraine after Joe Biden’s U-turn... - The Sun

VLADIMIR Putin has blocked ALL foreign warships from reaching Ukraine after Joe Biden's Black Sea U-Turn.

Russia has now closed part of the Kerch Strait after the US president sent two Navy battleships to the region but called them off.

Putin has blocked all foreign warships from entering the Kerch Strait near Crimea, cutting off access to UkraineCredit: Reuters

US Navy Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer Donald Cook set sail in the Bosphorous but turned back

Russian tanks have been gathering at the border with UkraineCredit: Reuters

The Kremlin had earlier warned US warships to stay well away from Crimea “for their own good”, calling their deployment in the Black Sea a provocation designed to test Russian nerves.

White House officials decided not to send the ships to avoid needlessly escalating the situation with Russia over the Ukraine, a US defence official told Politico.

It comes as a US military chief has warned there is a “low to medium risk” of a Russian invasion of Ukraine in the next few weeks.

Now the Ukrainian foreign ministry has revealed Russia will close part of the Black Sea near the Kerch Strait for foreign warships involved in military exercises from next week until October.

The area in question is near Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, and Kyiv has said Russia's actions were illegal.

The closure of the waterway comes as tensions are rising in the region as it is feared Putin may be preparing for another land grab from Ukraine as he masses troops along eastern border with the former Soviet state.

The Russian leader has reportedly now moved tens of thousands of troops and heavy military equipment to the border with Ukraine, prompting a phone call from President Biden to tell the Russian leader to stand down.

Expert Dr Jade McGlynn, director of research at the Henry Jackson Society, told the Sun Online Putin is threatening to invade Ukraine as he looks to reassert Russia's "superpower" status.

Dr McGlynn insists the build-up of troops and arms in eastern Ukraine is Putin "showing off" and doubts the Russian strongman would risk a full-scale conflict.

She said: "Putin would rather manipulate and fool around than go into full-on war.

"War is a big risk. This is more about showing off. And showing Biden 'don't think you can come in and try and speak down to Russia and try and put Russia in its place because Russia is a global power.”

Ukrainian forces patrol the borderCredit: Getty

General Tod Wolters, head of US forces in Europe, says there is a "low to medium risk" of Russian invasion of UkraineCredit: Rex

However, there is a “low to medium risk” of a Russian invasion of Ukraine in the next few weeks, a US military chief warned today as Vladimir Putin continues sending troops, artillery and tanks to the border.

The head of US forces in Europe, General Tod Wolters, was giving evidence to the Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington.

The general insisted the chances of invasion were “low to medium”, adding that it would depend on a number of factors.

"My sense is, with the trend that I see right now, that the likelihood of an occurrence will start to wane," he said.

Ukraine and Russia have traded blame over a spike in violence in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian troops have battled Russian-backed forces in a conflict that Kyiv says has killed 14,000 people since 2014.

Tensions over the acceleration of Russian troops on Ukraine's eastern border have pushed up the cost of raising domestic debt and prompted the government to increase efforts to secure more International Monetary Fund loans, a presidential adviser told Reuters on Thursday.

Russia’s tanks, missiles and soldiers prepare for Victory Day parade as Putin flexes muscles amid Ukraine war threat

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2021-04-15 18:59:00Z
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George Floyd death: Ex-officer Chauvin will not take the stand - BBC News

The ex-officer accused of killing George Floyd says he will not testify on his own behalf as the defence rests their case and court is adjourned.

Derek Chauvin denies killing Mr Floyd. Jurors are due to begin deliberating his fate on Monday morning.

Video of Mr Chauvin kneeling on the neck of Mr Floyd led to worldwide protests against racism and policing.

Tensions in Minneapolis are running high after an unrelated police shooting of a black man in a nearby suburb.

Experts say it would be unusual for a suspect to take the stand in their own defence during a trial.

Before the jury was brought into the courtroom on Thursday, Mr Chauvin was asked a series of questions about his decision not to testify.

His defence lawyer, Eric Nelson, began by asking whether he and Mr Chauvin had previously discussed his decision.

"Correct," Mr Chauvin said several times.

"To say we've gone kind of back and forth on the matter is kind of understatement, isn't that right?" asked Mr Nelson.

"Yes it is," Mr Chauvin responded, as they both briefly smiled.

"I will invoke my Fifth Amendment privilege today," Mr Chauvin then told the court, referring to the constitutional right to stay silent in fear of self-incrimination.

Asked by the judge whether this was his decision alone, and whether anyone else had unfairly influenced his decision, Mr Chauvin responded: "No promises or threats, your honour."

After prosecutors recalled an earlier witness - Dr Martin Tobin, who disputed the notion that Mr Floyd died of carbon monoxide poisoning - the judge adjourned the court until Monday.

What happens next?

The defence rested on Thursday, setting the stage for closing arguments from each side to happen on Monday.

Once the state and Mr Chauvin's defence have presented their closing arguments, the judge will send the jury into sequestration.

"Expect that when you report for duty on Monday that it will be followed by sequestration," Judge Peter Cahill told the jury this week. "So pack your bag."

While sequestered, the jury will be kept in a private location - typically a hotel - and must rely on their own memories of the lawyer's arguments and witness testimonies to render their verdict. They are given computers that contain all of the video and audio evidence that has been heard in court.

The jury has been only partially sequestered until now.

They are allowed to return home every night but are escorted into the courthouse everyday from a secure location. They are forbidden from reading media reports about the case, and every move they make inside the courthouse is watched by a bailiff.

On Monday, Mr Chauvin's lawyer argued that unrest over the shooting of Duante Wright in the nearby suburb of Brooklyn Center just 10 miles (16km) from the courthouse should trigger full sequestration during the final week of arguments.

But the judge disagreed, saying "this is a totally different case".

What does the jury have to decide?

All 12 jurors must agree to Mr Chauvin's guilt in order for him to be convicted. There are three separate charges that they must consider.

Second-degree murder - This is the most serious charge. It will require prosecutors to prove that Mr Chauvin was assaulting Mr Floyd when he caused his death. Mr Chauvin could face up to 40 years in jail if convicted on this count.

Third-degree murder - To convict on this charge, the jury must be convinced that Mr Chauvin showed a reckless disregard for human life. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 25 years.

Second-degree manslaughter - For the final charge, prosecutors will try to demonstrate that Mr Chauvin took an "unreasonable risk" when he restrained Mr Floyd, putting him at risk of death or serious harm.

With the manslaughter charge, prosecutors do not need prove he actually caused Mr Floyd's death. Someone found guilty of this charge may be sentenced to up to 10 years in jail.

It's unknown how long jury deliberation may last. Experts say it could be brief - as little as one hour - or it could take weeks.

Judge Cahill has said that if verdict comes late in the day, the result will be announced the following morning.

What do we know about the jury?

Fourteen jurors have sat in the courtroom over the past three weeks. They are never shown on camera and must remain anonymous for their own safety and privacy.

Selecting them was no easy feat due to the high-profile nature of the case. Over 11 days of jury summons, lawyers for both sides settled on a panel that skews younger, more white and more female.

It also includes a black grandmother in her 60s who once lived a few blocks from where Mr Floyd died.

Another juror, a white woman in her 50s, worked at a suburban business damaged last summer after Mr Floyd's death.

And a black man in his 40s was added to the jury after he agreed that minorities are mistreated by the police, but police departments should not under any circumstances be defunded.

At least one of them lives in Brooklyn Center, the suburb that has seen police deploy tear gas after protesters took to the streets following the death of Mr Wright, who was allegedly shot after the officer mistook her gun for her Taser.

The jurors who will decide Derek Chauvin's fate

What questions do you have about the Derek Chauvin trial?

In some cases your question will be published, displaying your name, age and location as you provide it, unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published. Please ensure you have read our terms & conditions and privacy policy.

Use this form to ask your question:

If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or send them via email to YourQuestions@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any question you send in.

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2021-04-15 16:09:09Z
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George Floyd death: Ex-officer Chauvin will not take the stand - BBC News

The ex-officer accused of killing George Floyd says he will not testify in his defence as the murder trial hears from its final witnesses.

Derek Chauvin denies killing Mr Floyd. Jurors are due to begin deciding his fate early next week.

Video of Mr Chauvin kneeling on the neck of Mr Floyd led to worldwide protests against racism and policing.

Tensions in Minneapolis are running high after an unrelated police shooting of a black man in a nearby suburb.

Experts say it would be unusual for a suspect to take the stand in their own defence during a trial.

Before the jury was brought into the courtroom on Thursday, Mr Chauvin was asked a series of questions about his decision not to testify.

His defence lawyer, Eric Nelson, began by asking whether he and Mr Chauvin had previously discussed his decision.

"Correct," Mr Chauvin said several times.

"To say we've gone kind of back and forth on the matter is kind of understatement, isn't that right?" asked Mr Nelson.

"Yes it is," Mr Chauvin responded, as they both briefly smiled.

"I will invoke my Fifth Amendment privilege today," Mr Chauvin then told the court, referring to the constitutional right to stay silent in fear of self-incrimination.

Asked by the judge whether this was his decision alone, and whether anyone else had unfairly influenced his decision, Mr Chauvin responded: "No promises or threats, your honour."

What happens next?

The defence could wrap up their witnesses by the end of Thursday, setting the stage for closing arguments from each side to happen on Monday.

Once the state and Mr Chauvin's defence have each fully presented their arguments, the judge will send the jury into sequestration.

"Expect that when you report for duty on Monday that it will be followed by sequestration," Judge Peter Cahill told the jury this week. "So pack your bag."

While sequestered, the jury will be kept in a private location - typically a hotel - and must rely on their own memories of the lawyer's arguments and witness testimonies to render their verdict.

The jury has been only partially sequestered until now.

But the judge disagreed, saying "this is a totally different case".

What does the jury have to decide?

All 12 jurors must agree to Mr Chauvin's guilt in order for him to be convicted. There are three separate charges that they must consider.

Second-degree murder - This is the most serious charge. It will require prosecutors to prove that Mr Chauvin was assaulting Mr Floyd when he caused his death. Mr Chauvin could face up to 40 years in jail if convicted on this count.

Third-degree murder - To convict on this charge, the jury must be convinced that Mr Chauvin showed a reckless disregard for human life. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 25 years.

Second-degree manslaughter - For the final charge, prosecutors will try to demonstrate that Mr Chauvin took an "unreasonable risk" when he restrained Mr Floyd, putting him at risk of death or serious harm.

With the manslaughter charge, prosecutors do not need prove he actually caused Mr Floyd's death. Someone found guilty of this charge may be sentenced to up to 10 years in jail.

It's unknown how long jury deliberation may last. Experts say it could be brief - as little as one hour - or it could take weeks.

Judge Cahill has said that if verdict comes late in the day, the result will be announced the following morning.

What do we know about the jury?

Fourteen jurors have sat in the courtroom over the past three weeks. They are never shown on camera and must remain anonymous for their own safety and privacy.

Selecting them was no easy feat due to the high-profile nature of the case. Over 11 days of jury summons, lawyers for both sides settled on a panel that skews younger, more white and more female.

It also includes a black grandmother in her 60s who once lived a few blocks from where Mr Floyd died.

Another juror, a white woman in her 50s, worked at a suburban business damaged last summer after Mr Floyd's death.

And a black man in his 40s was added to the jury after he agreed that minorities are mistreated by the police, but police departments should not under any circumstances be defunded.

The jurors who will decide Derek Chauvin's fate

What questions do you have about the Derek Chauvin trial?

Use this form to ask your question:

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Ukraine shows off military prowess to Russia - Sky News

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2021-04-14 23:40:10Z
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Afghanistan: 'We have won the war, America has lost', say Taliban - BBC News

Driving to Taliban-controlled territory doesn't take long. Around 30 minutes from the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif, passing large craters left by roadside bombs, we meet our host: Haji Hekmat, the Taliban's shadow mayor in Balkh district.

Perfumed and in a black turban, he's a veteran member of the group, having first joined the militants in the 1990s when they ruled over the majority of the country.

The Taliban have arranged a display of force for us. Lined up on either side of the street are heavily armed men, one carrying a rocket propelled grenade launcher, another an M4 assault rifle captured from US forces. Balkh was once one of the more stable parts of the country; now it's become one of the most violent.

Baryalai, a local military commander with a ferocious reputation, points down the road, "the government forces are just there by the main market, but they can't leave their bases. This territory belongs to the mujahideen".

It's a similar picture across much of Afghanistan: the government controls the cities and bigger towns, but the Taliban are encircling them, with a presence in large parts of the countryside.

The militants assert their authority through sporadic checkpoints along key roads. As Taliban members stop and question passing cars, Aamir Sahib Ajmal, the local head of the Taliban's intelligence service, tells us they're searching for people linked to the government.

"We will arrest them, and take them prisoner," he says. "Then we hand them over to our courts and they decide what will happen next."

The Taliban believe victory is theirs. Sitting over a cup of green tea, Haji Hekmat proclaims, "we have won the war and America has lost". The decision by US President Joe Biden to delay the withdrawal of remaining US forces to September, meaning they will remain in the country past the 1 May deadline agreed last year, has sparked a sharp reaction from the Taliban's political leadership. Nonetheless, momentum seems to be with the militants.

"We are ready for anything," says Haji Hekmat. "We are totally prepared for peace, and we are fully prepared for jihad." Sitting next to him, a military commander adds: "Jihad is an act of worship. Worship is something that, however much of it you do, you don't get tired."

For the past year, there has been an apparent contradiction in the Taliban's "jihad". They stopped attacks on international forces following the signing of an agreement with the US, but continued to fight with the Afghan government. Haji Hekmat, though, insists there is no contradiction. "We want an Islamic government ruled by the Sharia. We will continue our jihad until they accept our demands."

On whether or not the Taliban would be willing to share power with other Afghan political factions, Haji Hekmat defers to the group's political leadership in Qatar. "Whatever they decide we will accept," he repeatedly says.

The Taliban don't see themselves as a mere rebel group, but as a government-in-waiting. They refer to themselves as the "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan," the name they used when in power from 1996 until being overthrown in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.

Now, they have a sophisticated "shadow" structure, with officials in charge of overseeing everyday services in the areas they control. Haji Hekmat, the Taliban mayor, takes us on a tour.

We're shown a primary school, filled with young boys and girls scribbling in UN-donated textbooks. While in power in the 1990s, the Taliban banned female education, though they often deny that. Even now, there are reports that in other areas older girls are not allowed to attend classes. But here at least the Taliban say they're actively encouraging it.

"As long as they wear hijab, it's important for them to study," says Mawlawi Salahuddin, in charge of the Taliban's local education commission. In secondary schools, he says, only female teachers are allowed, and the veil is mandatory. "If they follow the Sharia, there is no problem."

Girls pictured in a classroom in a Taliban-controlled area

Local sources told us the Taliban removed art and citizenship classes from the curriculum, replacing them with Islamic subjects, but otherwise follow the national syllabus.

So do the Taliban send their own daughters to school? "My daughter's very young, but when she grows up, I will send her to school and the madrassa, as long as it's implementing the hijab and Sharia," says Salahuddin.

The government pays the salaries of staff, but the Taliban are in charge. It's a hybrid system in place across the country.

At a nearby health clinic, run by an aid organisation, it's a similar story. The Taliban allow female staff to work, but they must have a male chaperone at night, and the male and female patients have been segregated. Contraception and information about family planning is readily available.

The Taliban clearly want us to see them in a more positive light. When we drive past a crowd of schoolgirls making their way home, Haji Hekmat gestures excitedly, proud to be contradicting our expectations. Concerns over the Taliban's views on women's rights remain, however. The group has no female representation at all, and in the 1990s prevented women from working outside the home.

Patients at a clinic in a Taliban-controlled area

Driving through the villages in Balkh district, we do see plenty of women, not all of whom are wearing the all-encompassing burqa, walking around freely. At the local bazaar, however, there are none. Haji Hekmat insists there is no ban on them, though in a conservative society he says they generally wouldn't attend in any case.

'The Taliban tried to kill me - for being a woman'

We are accompanied by the Taliban at all times, and the few local residents we speak to all profess their support for the group, and gratitude to them for improving security and decreasing crime. "When the government were in control, they used to jail our people and demand bribes to free them," says one elderly man. "Our people suffered a lot, now we are happy with the situation."

The Taliban's ultra-conservative values do clash less with those in more rural areas, but many, particularly in the cities, fear they want to resurrect the brutal Islamic Emirate of the 1990s, undercutting freedoms that many young people have grown up with over the past two decades.

One local resident spoke to us later, on condition of anonymity, and told us the Taliban were far stricter than they admitted in our interviews. He described villagers being slapped or beaten for shaving their beards, or having stereos smashed for listening to music. "People have no choice but to do what they say," he told the BBC, "even over minor issues they get physical. People are scared."

Haji Hekmat was part of the Taliban in the 1990s. While the younger fighters milling around us are happy snapping photos and selfies, he initially moves to cover his face with his turban when he sees our camera. "Old habits," he says with a grin, before later allowing us to film his face. Under the Taliban's old regime, photography was banned.

Did they make mistakes when in power, I ask him? Would they behave in the same way again now?

"The Taliban before and the Taliban now are the same. So comparing that time and now - nothing has changed," says Haji Hekmat. "But," he adds, "there are changes in personnel of course. Some people are harsher and some are calmer. That's normal."

The Taliban have appeared to be deliberately vague about what they mean by the "Islamic government" they want to create. Some analysts see that as a deliberate attempt to avoid internal frictions between hardline and more moderate elements. Can they both accommodate those with different views and not alienate their own base? Coming into power could prove their biggest test.

As we eat a lunch of chicken and rice, we hear the rumble of at least four separate airstrikes in the distance. Haji Hekmat is unperturbed. "It's far away, don't worry," he says.

Airpower, particularly that provided by the Americans, has been crucial over the years in holding back the Taliban's advance. The US already drastically cut back its military operations after signing an agreement with the Taliban last year, and many fear that following their withdrawal the Taliban will be placed to launch a military takeover of the country.

Haji Hekmat derides the Afghan government, or "Kabul administration" as the Taliban refer to it, as corrupt and un-Islamic. It's hard to see how men like him will reconcile with others in the country, unless it's on their own terms.

"This is jihad," he says, "it is worship. We don't do it for power but for Allah and His law. To bring Sharia to this country. Whoever stands against us we will fight against them."

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2021-04-14 23:18:06Z
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Rabu, 14 April 2021

US plan to leave Afghanistan “risks civil war” - BBC News - BBC News

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2021-04-14 21:23:26Z
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Daunte Wright shooting - latest: Kim Potter’s mugshot released as ex-police officer faces manslaughter charges - The Independent

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2021-04-14 20:58:18Z
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