Sabtu, 30 Maret 2024

Putin the autocrat comes of age – POLITICO - POLITICO Europe

But it also resulted in him suffering “delusional beliefs” about the state of affairs in his country, as underlings feared sharing any information that could be seen as negative, Umarov said. 

He added that although there are clear parallels between the autocracies in Central Asian countries and Russia today, there is also an important difference.

Speaking several days before the Crocus terror attack, he said that “these countries didn’t declare such sky-high results after an attempted coup, a hugely popular opposition leader dying in prison, people coming out in protest, or a war that put the country under strain.”

“Rather than a reflection of real consolidation, it feels as if Putin is trying to overcompensate for the destabilized situation in his country,” Umarov said.

Not ISIS

Two days after the attack, a more confident Putin appeared on television once again. This time he spoke of “radical Islamists” who had acted on the instruction of the “neo-Nazi Kyiv regime.” 

By then, his propagandists had already found culprits in Ukraine, Britain and the United States, who had apparently used the radical islamists to cover their tracks.

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2024-03-30 00:29:00Z
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Haiti: Gang leader Jimmy 'Barbecue' Chérizier demands peace talks role - BBC

Jimmy ChérizierReuters

One of Haiti's most powerful gang leaders says he would consider laying down weapons if armed groups were allowed to take part in talks to establish a new government.

Groups led by Jimmy Chérizier, also known as Barbecue, are in control of most of the capital Port-au-Prince.

He predicted the violence which has gripped Haiti in recent weeks could escalate in the coming days.

However, he told Sky News: "We are ready for solutions."

Haiti, an impoverished Caribbean nation home to more than 11 million people, has been without a prime minister since 12 March.

Ariel Henry resigned after being blocked by armed gangs from returning from Kenya, where he had signed a deal to import a military peacekeeping force in a bid to restore law and order.

Gangs have capitalised on the power vacuum and expanded their control over swathes of the country, which has effectively been rendered lawless in places.

A Presidential Transitional Council has been established to draw up a plan to return Haiti to democratic rule, backed by other Caribbean nations and the US.

Mr Chérizier - the most prominent figure in a loose alliance of gangs known as Viv Ansanm (Live Together), which is in control of around 80% of Port-au-Prince - believes his group should have a seat at the table in any future talks.

He told Sky News: "If the international community comes with a detailed plan where we can sit together and talk, but they do not impose on us what we should decide, I think that the weapons could be lowered."

He said he was "not proud" of the spiralling violence in Haiti, and warned the crisis could continue if groups like his - which rail against "corrupt politicians" - are not part of a future government.

He also said any Kenyan forces drafted into the country to bolster security would be considered "aggressors" and "invaders".

The situation in Haiti has been described as "cataclysmic" by the United Nations in a report issued earlier this week.

It said there had been more than 1,500 people killed and 800 injured in the first three months of 2024.

The report detailed the "harrowing practices" of the gangs, which are accused of using extreme violence and sexual abuse as a means of punishment and control.

Aid groups have reported difficulty in getting food and water into the capital, warning that millions are unable to find sustenance, with some on the verge of famine.

Haiti: The basics

  • The Caribbean country shares a border with the Dominican Republic and has an estimated population of 11.5 million
  • It has a land area of 27,800 sq km, which is slightly smaller than Belgium and about the same size as the US state of Maryland
  • Chronic instability, dictatorships and natural disasters in recent decades have left Haiti the poorest nation in the Americas
  • An earthquake in 2010 killed more than 200,000 people and caused extensive damage to infrastructure and the economy
  • A UN peacekeeping force was put in place in 2004 to help stabilise the country and only withdrew in 2017
  • In July 2021, President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated by unidentified gunmen in Port-au-Prince. Amid political stalemate, the country continues to be wracked by unrest and gang violence
Haiti map

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2024-03-30 02:23:40Z
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Baltimore bridge: Massive US crane to haul wreckage after deadly collapse - BBC

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The largest crane on the eastern US seaboard has arrived in Baltimore as part of a massive clean-up effort after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.

Shipments in and out of one of the country's busiest ports are suspended while the wreckage hangs over the cargo ship that crashed into it.

The search for the bodies of four workers remains on hold because of the dangers of diving amongst the wreckage.

Some $60m (£48m) in federal emergency funds will go towards recovery efforts.

President Joe Biden said he is headed to Baltimore next week to view the crash's fallout and speak to federal efforts.

The port is a main economic generator for the state of Maryland and a vital artery for imports and exports of US and global trade.

Eight construction workers were repairing potholes on the Key Bridge early on Tuesday when the Dali container ship veered into one of its columns, sending most of the structure crashing into the water.

Two were rescued. The bodies of two others were recovered and the remaining four are presumed dead.

Sonar scans indicate the vehicles that fell into the water are encased in a "superstructure" of concrete and other debris, say state police.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore said each stage of the recovery and salvage operation would be difficult.

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"We're talking 3,000 to 4,000 tons of steel that's sitting on that ship," Mr Moore told reporters on Thursday.

The Dali container vessel - which is nearly as long as the Eiffel tower - remains on the water. Its 22-person crew, all Indian nationals, are reportedly still aboard.

The recovery has been further complicated by the amount of debris in the dark waters of the Patapsco River. Divers have been unable to see more than a foot or two in front of them.

The effort will be paid for by the US Army Corps of Engineers, which is sending several officials to oversee the efforts. US Navy contractors will also join the efforts, and they will be joined by more than 1,100 engineering specialists.

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The largest crane on the eastern US seaboard, which can lift 1,000 tons, is being erected at the site on Friday. The crane, called the Chesapeake 1000, was built in 1972 and is 191 feet (58 metres) long. It will be followed by a smaller crane on Saturday.

Those involved in the operation must figure out how to cut debris from the bridge into pieces so they can be lifted by the crane, officials said.

It must be done carefully to ensure none of the hazardous material held in shipping containers atop the Dali spills into the river.

Some of those containers stored sheen, which is used in paint. A few have already broken open, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has said.

Authorities have deployed floating booms in an effort to corral any leaks.

Experts estimate it could take a month for the Port of Baltimore to reopen and years to rebuild the bridge. The incident investigation may take two years.

People in Baltimore are still reeling from the disaster.

The city's Major League Baseball team, the Baltimore Orioles, marked the start of their season on Thursday with a moment of silence for the victims, who were from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico.

The wife of one of the construction workers who was pulled from the water said it is a miracle that he is alive as he does not know how to swim.

Julio Cervantes' spouse told NBC News that "all the men were on a break in their cars when the boat hit".

The wife said her nephew is still among the missing.

"We haven't been able to sleep, waiting for word if they're going to find a relative," she said.

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2024-03-29 19:41:30Z
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Jumat, 29 Maret 2024

Baltimore Key Bridge collapse live updates: ‘Structural failure’ to blame as cranes arrive to begin cleanup - The Independent

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  1. Baltimore Key Bridge collapse live updates: ‘Structural failure’ to blame as cranes arrive to begin cleanup  The Independent
  2. Baltimore bridge: Massive US crane to haul wreckage after deadly collapse  BBC
  3. Baltimore bridge collapse: Who will pay for the destroyed bridge, harmed businesses and lost lives?  The Independent
  4. America's infrastructure is crumbling and it's too broke to fix it  The Telegraph
  5. Baltimore port crisis: World's largest container ship company, MSC, dumps diverted cargo problem on U.S. companies  CNBC

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2024-03-29 17:40:13Z
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Polish fighter jets scrambled to Russian missile attack on Ukraine - The Telegraph

Poland said it scrambled fighter jets to the Ukraine border after Russia launched a barrage of missile strikes.

The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces said “allied” aircraft joined the response to 99 Russian drones and missiles striking targets including thermal power plants.

The Polish reaction is likely a response to a Russian cruise missile entering Polish airspace in recent weeks during an attack on Ukraine.

Ukraine’s largest private power firm DTEK said that three of its thermal plants were struck early on Friday morning and some of their equipment was “severely damaged,” in the latest aerial assault to target Ukraine’s critical infrastructure.

Power grid operator Ukrenergo also said that both thermal and hydropower plants had been damaged in missile and drone attacks.

The country’s interior ministry said the Russian assault had targeted 10 regions of the country, damaging power stations and private homes, and wounding several people. “Eighty four air targets were destroyed: 58 shaheds and 26 missiles,” the air force said in a statement, referring to Iranian-designed attack drones routinely deployed by Russian forces.

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2024-03-29 08:51:00Z
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Greece earthquake: Country rocked by massive tremors felt in holiday hotspots Athens & Crete - The Mirror

A 5.7-magnitude earthquake has rocked huge parts of southern Greece - close to where Brit tourists will be enjoying a spot of spring sun.

At this early point, there are no reports of injuries or damage though this may change as the day goes on. The tremors were felt in the capital of Athens and in Crete, an island off the country's southern tip around 214 miles away.

The quake's epicentre was 75 miles southwest of Patras, according to the Athens Geodynamic Institute. It originated around 10.5miles below the sea bed close to the Strofades island.

Concerns have been raised that the tremor could cause a tsunami. Authorities are currently evaluating the risks, it has been reported.

President of the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization Efthymios Lekkas told Greece's state broadcaster: "The earthquake should be of great concern because it has been recorded in a marine area with a large focal depth."

The country is based in a zone that is seismically active and quakes are common. However, many of them go unnoticed without causing any damage or injuries.

A 4.8-magnitude quake struck the coast of the Pelponnese as recently as January. Scientists had also predicted that the country could be struck by a devastating 8.5-magnitude rumble. Experts feared it could be as damaging as the tremors that tore through Turkey and Syria last year.

This is a breaking news story. Follow us on Google News, Flipboard, Apple News, Twitter, Facebook or visit The Mirror homepage.

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2024-03-29 08:33:00Z
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Eight-year-old only survivor after bus carrying Easter worshippers plunges off bridge, killing 45 - The Independent

An eight-year-old child emerged as the sole survivor after a bus carrying worshippers to an Easter festival, plunged off a bridge in South Africa, killing 45 people on Thursday.

The bus lost control on the Mmamatlakala bridge in the northern province of Limpopo and plunged 50m (164ft) into a ravine before bursting into flames. The driver was among the 45 dead.

The bus was transporting passengers from neighbouring Botswana to the town of Moria for an Easter pilgrimage, according to Limpopo authorities.

An 8-year-old girl, who was the only survivor, was receiving medical attention after sustaining severe injuries, authorities said.

Firefighters were working to hose down a fire and search operations ongoing until late night on Thursday, the provincial government said.

Firefighters hose down a bus after it crashed off the R518, killing a few dozen, in Waterberg District, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Many bodies still remained trapped inside the vehicle. However, rescuers were facing many challenges in identifying the bodies which were burned beyond recognition.

Minister of transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga, was in Limpopo province for a road safety campaign and changed plans to visit the crash scene, the National Department of Transport said.

She said there was an investigation underway into the cause of the crash and offered her condolences to the families of the victims.

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa also sent his condolences to Botswana and pledged support to the country, his office said in a statement.

The Zionist Christian Church has its headquarters in Moria and its Easter pilgrimage attracts hundreds of thousands of people from across South Africa and neighbouring countries.

This year is the first time the Easter pilgrimage to Moria is set to go ahead since the Covid-19 pandemic.

The South African government often warns of the danger of road accidents during the Easter holidays, which is a particularly busy and dangerous time for road travel.

More than 200 people died in road crashes during the Easter weekend last year.

Additional reporting by agencies

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2024-03-29 04:39:56Z
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