News Trending War

Ukraine war: One Russian’s anti-war protest on the side of his shopping centre

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You can reach Russko-Vysotskoye by driving eight hours north of Moscow.

Apart from the chicken farm and the church that was reduced to rubble during WWII, there isn’t much to see here.  However, there is one feature of this town that stands out: the local shopping centre.

The building is owned by Dmitry Skurikhin, and you should see what he’s done to the front. “Peace to Ukraine, Freedom to Russia!” he writes in huge letters. He’s written the names of Ukrainian towns that have been attacked by the Russian army in bright red paint.

Mariupol, Bucha, Kherson, Chernihiv, and other cities are among them. Dmitry explains, “I thought this would be a good way of getting information out.”

“Because our people had no idea what was going on during the first few weeks of the war. They assumed that a special operation was underway to remove drug addicts from the Ukrainian government. They were completely unaware that Russia was shelling Ukrainian cities.” Dmitry has even transformed his store’s roof into a massive yellow and blue Ukrainian flag. Dmitry pulls out a paint pot and brush and begins to add more names.

Irpin, Borodyanka, Odesa… The excess paint drips blood red down the wall, amplifying the impact of this statement.

Dmitry is well aware that his actions are fraught with danger. Protests in Russia frequently result in prosecution or threats. Or both. His door has already been defaced with the word “traitor.” The cops have also paid us a visit. He was fined later for smearing the Russian military.Paint, Dmitry Skurikhin knows, will not bring peace. But, he believes, if his protest causes people in the town to stop, think, and even question, it will have been worthwhile.

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Russia has cut off gas deliveries to Finland

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Russia has stopped supplying natural gas to Finland, according to Gasum, the Finnish state-owned energy company.

Finland has refused to pay in roubles for its supplies. However, it comes after Finland’s announcement that it will apply to join NATO. Gasum said the move was “regrettable,” but that customers would not be inconvenienced.

Despite the conflict in Ukraine, Russia continues to provide gas to a number of European countries. Following Western sanctions over the war, Russia announced that “unfriendly” countries must pay for gas in Russian currency, a move the EU regards as blackmail.

Many consumers are experiencing a cost-of-living crisis as a result of their reliance on Russian energy. The majority of Finland’s gas is imported from Russia, but gas accounts for less than a tenth of the country’s total energy consumption.

“It is extremely unfortunate that natural gas supplies under our supply contract will now be halted,” Gasum CEO Mika Wiljanen said. “However, we have been meticulously preparing for this situation, and we will be able to supply all of our customers with gas in the coming months assuming there are no disruptions in the gas transmission network,” he added. “It is obvious that nobody is going to deliver anything for free,” a Kremlin spokesman said when asked about the situation.

Russia also cut Finland’s electricity supply on Sunday. If Finland applied to join Nato, it had threatened retaliation.

Separately, Russia’s state-owned oil company Rosneft announced on Friday that former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder had informed them that he would no longer serve on its board of directors.

Mr. Schröder’s lucrative role has sparked growing public outrage. He has refused to criticise Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, whom he considers a personal friend, over the conflict.

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Russian soldier pleads guilty in first war crimes trial of Ukraine conflict

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In the first war crimes trial in Ukraine since the conflict began, a 21-year-old Russian soldier admitted to killing an unarmed civilian.

A few days after the invasion began, Vadim Shishimarin admitted to shooting a 62-year-old man. He is facing life in prison. Handcuffed and flanked by heavily armed guards, the prisoner was led into the tiny Kyiv courtroom. He kept his head bowed and appeared nervous.

The widow of the man who was killed was only a few metres away.
As the soldier entered court, she wiped tears from her eyes and sat with her hands clasped as the prosecutor laid out his case, describing Kateryna’s husband, Oleksandr Shelipov, being shot in the head.

The judge inquired, “Do you accept your guilt?” Shishimarin replied, “Yes.”

“Totally?”

From behind the glass of his grey metal-and-glass cage, he replied quietly, “Yes.”

Shishimarin was commanding a unit in a tank division when his convoy was attacked, according to prosecutors. He and four other soldiers stole a car and encountered the 62-year-old on a bicycle near Chupakhivka, according to them. Shishimarin was ordered to kill the civilian, according to prosecutors, and he did so with a Kalashnikov assault rifle.

The Kremlin previously stated that it was unaware of the situation.

Shishimarin’s trial was postponed shortly after the civilian’s widow heard the Russian soldier admit to the murder for the first time. On Thursday, the high-profile hearing will resume in a larger courtroom.  Before leaving the court for the day, Oleksandr’s widow spoke to the BBC about how she was coping.

“I pity him [Shishimarin],” she expressed her sorrow. “However, I cannot forgive him for such a crime.”  Ukraine has identified more than 10,000 possible Russian war crimes so far.

Although Moscow has denied targeting civilians with its troops, investigators have been gathering evidence of possible war crimes to present to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is sending a team of 42 investigators, forensic experts, and support personnel to Ukraine. In the meantime, Ukraine has established a team to preserve evidence in order to facilitate future prosecutions.

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Ivan Kuliak: Russian gymnast given one-year ban for wearing pro-war symbol on podium next to Ukrainian

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Ivan Kuliak, a Russian gymnast, was given a one-year suspension for wearing a national war symbol on the podium at a competition in Qatar in March.

Kuliak took bronze in the Apparatus World Cup parallel bars final in Doha, wearing a letter ‘Z’ taped to his chest as he stood next to Ukraine’s Illia Kovtun, who won gold. Kuliak must now return his medal, but he has 21 days to file an appeal.

With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the letter Z became symbolic. It was painted on the sides of tanks and military vehicles, and it was worn by pro-war Russian politicians.

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) investigated the incident, and Kuliak was sanctioned by the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation (GEF) disciplinary commission for violating FIG rules.

For the next 12 months, the 20-year-old is not permitted to compete in any FIG-sanctioned event or competition hosted by an affiliated FIG member federation. “If the protective measures preventing Russian athletes from competing are still in place on 17 May 2023, the ban shall continue and expire six months after said measures are removed,” the statement added.

Kuliak must also repay his prize money of 500 Swiss francs (£403) as well as a 2,000 Swiss francs (£1,612) contribution to the proceedings’ costs. Valentina Rodionenko, the head of the Russian delegation, and coach Igor Kalabushkin were found not to have broken any FIG rules.

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Amber Heard In Her Testimony: “I Filed For Divorce From Johnny Depp Because…”

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On Monday, Amber Heard testified that she filed for divorce from “monster” Johnny Depp in May 2016 because she was afraid for her safety.
“I had to leave him,” the 36-year-old actress Heard told the jury during her former husband’s defamation trial. “I knew I wouldn’t be able to survive otherwise.”

“I was terrified it was going to end badly for me,” she explained. Heard described filing for divorce as “the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to do.” “I’d tried everything I could to make this relationship work.”

“It was difficult because I adored Johnny,” she explained. “I was in love with him.”

Heard claimed that when the “Pirates of the Caribbean” star drank, he turned into a “monster,” and that her efforts to stop him from using drugs and alcohol had failed. “The monster was this thing that had become the norm rather than the exception,” she explained. “The violence had become routine.”

Heard claimed she sought a temporary restraining order the same week she filed for divorce after an argument in which Depp threw a cellphone at her, striking her in the face.

During his four days on the witness stand, the 58-year-old Depp denied ever striking Heard and claimed she was the one who was frequently violent.

Depp sued Heard in December 2018 after she wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post in which she described herself as a “public figure representing domestic abuse.”
Depp sued Heard for implying he was a domestic abuser and is seeking $50 million in damages. Heard, who had a starring role in “Aquaman,” did not name Depp in the op-ed.

Heard, who was born in Texas, countersued for $100 million, claiming she had been subjected to “rampant physical violence and abuse” at his hands.

Heard also testified about an incident that occurred while the couple was vacationing in France at a chateau.

She claimed they were watching a pre-release trailer for “London Fields,” in which the filmmakers had “unbeknownst to me” included a sex scene involving a body double.

She explained, “Johnny freaked out because it looked like me.” “So I have an extremely envious man who is already angry with me for breaking the rule that I must have a sex scene.

“It wasn’t me, I’m telling him. That scene was not shot by me “she said. “He was enraged, and among other things, he called me a liar and a whore.

She said Depp punched her in the jaw and slapped her across the face.

On Monday, Heard’s lawyers are expected to finish questioning her before handing her over to Depp’s legal team for cross-examination.

Judge Penney Azcarate has scheduled the case’s closing arguments for May 27, after which it will be decided by a jury. Depp’s lawyers have called experts to testify that he has lost millions as a result of the allegations, including a $22.5 million payday for the sixth instalment of “Pirates of the Caribbean.” Depp filed the defamation suit in the United States after losing a separate libel case against The Sun in London in November 2020 for calling him a “wife-beater.”Depp and Heard, a three-time Oscar nominee, met on the set of “The Rum Diary” in 2009 and married in February 2015. Two years later, their divorce was finalised.

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Doctor Who: David Tennant and Catherine Tate to return

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The BBC has confirmed that David Tennant and Catherine Tate will return to Doctor Who.

The duo is currently filming for the show’s 60th anniversary, which will take place in 2023. Tennant portrayed the 10th Doctor on the time travel drama from 2005 to 2010, and Tate portrayed Donna Noble, his companion. The news comes just a week after the BBC revealed that Ncuti Gatwa, star of Sex Education, will be the next Doctor.

With Tennant and Tate on board, Russell T Davies, the show’s head writer, will be reunited with them.

At the same time as Tennant, Davies, who was in charge of Doctor Who when it was successfully revived in 2005, left. Their most recent episode together aired in 2010. Tennant has previously appeared on the show, joining then-Doctor Matt Smith for the 50th anniversary celebrations in 2013.

It’s unclear whether this return will be similar to the previous one, with Tennant and Tate joining Gatwa.

Davies teased his fans by saying: “Perhaps there is an untold story here. Or a parallel universe. Or it could be a dream, a trick, or a flashback. The only thing I can guarantee is that it will be spectacular, with two of our greatest stars reuniting for a once-in-a-lifetime showdown.”

With an average audience of more than eight million viewers per episode, Tennant and Tate’s 2008 series of Doctor Who is the most successful since its revival in 2005.

The 13-episode run was also well-received by critics, and it was nominated for best drama at the Bafta TV Awards that year.

The duo’s popularity could help boost ratings for a show that has seen its audience decline in the last two years, despite the fact that overall linear TV viewing has been declining.

Such announcements are frequently made in advance of Doctor Who filming in public places. The show has previously used the strategy of revealing information prior to shooting.

Later this year, Jodie Whittaker’s current incarnation of the Doctor will appear in one more special episode as part of a celebration of the BBC’s centenary. In 2023, the show will return.

Tennant has appeared in TV shows such as Good Omens, Around the World in 80 Days, and Broadchurch since leaving Doctor Who. For his role as serial killer Dennis Nilsen in Des, he won a National Television Award in 2021.

Tate has appeared in sitcoms such as Big School and has continued to play Nan in films such as The Nan Movie, which was released earlier this year.

The two have also collaborated on a number of Doctor Who audio adventures, which have been released by Big Finish Audio Drama.

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Ukraine war: Putin warns Finland joining Nato would be ‘mistake’

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President Vladimir Putin of Russia has warned Finland’s Prime Minister Juha Sipila that joining Nato and abandoning its neutral status would be a “mistake.”

He assured Sauli Niinistö that Finland’s security was unaffected.  The conversation took place during a phone call by Finland’s president, ahead of a formal request that Finland is expected to make soon.

Finland and Russia share a 1,300-kilometer (810-mile) border. To avoid antagonising its eastern neighbour, it has stayed out of Nato until now. Mr Putin did not directly threaten retaliation in response to Finland’s move, but the Russian foreign ministry has indicated that retaliation will occur.

However, Russia’s decision to halt electricity supplies to Finland is being interpreted as a precursor. RAO Nordic, a Russian energy supplier, mentioned payment issues in its statement.

Reima Paivinen, the head of Finland’s national grid, told the BBC that the Russian suspension had caused no problems.
He claimed that Russian imports made up about 10% of the country’s supply, but that they could be replaced with alternative sources.

The Kremlin said after Mr Niinistö’s phone call with Mr Putin on Saturday that the Russian leader had stressed that “ending the traditional policy of military neutrality would be a mistake because there is no threat to Finland’s security.” “Such a shift in the country’s political orientation could have a negative impact on Russian-Finnish relations, which have been built over many years in a spirit of good neighbourliness and cooperation between partners,” it continued.

Mr Niinistö said he told Mr Putin about how Russia’s recent actions, combined with the invasion of Ukraine, “have changed the security environment of Finland.”

“The conversation was direct and to-the-point, and it was carried out without a hitch. The importance of avoiding tensions was emphasised “he said.

Turkey could be a stumbling block to Sweden and Finland joining Nato, after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused both countries of harbouring “terrorist organisations” and said he did not support their membership applications.

It was interpreted as a reference to the PKK, which Turkey considers to be a terrorist organisation. The PKK has been fighting Turkey for a Kurdish homeland for decades.

In 1949, Nato, a Western military alliance, was formed in part to counter the Soviet Union’s threat.

One of the reasons for the invasion of Ukraine, according to President Putin, is Ukraine’s desire to join the alliance.

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Brittney Griner has had her detention in Russia extended

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Brittney Griner, an American basketball player, has had her pre-trial detention in Russia extended for another month. Ms Griner, 31, has been detained since February, when Moscow airport officials allegedly discovered cannabis oil in her luggage as she was returning to the United States after performing in Russia. 

Officials in the United States believe she was wrongfully imprisoned and should be released. If convicted, Ms Griner, one of the best female players in the world, faces up to ten years in prison. Ms Griner is seen in an Associated Press photo wearing an orange hoodie and looking down at the court hearing in Khimki, Russia, just outside of Moscow. 

A consular official from the US State Department attended the hearing and spoke with Ms Griner on the sidelines, according to the US State Department. Ms Griner was doing “as well as can be expected in extremely difficult circumstances,” according to a spokesman. Her lawyer told the Associated Press after the hearing that Ms Griner had not expressed “any complaints about the detention conditions.”

According to state-owned Russian news agency TASS, Russia is hoping to trade Ms Griner for Viktor Bout, an arms trafficker convicted in the United States. Bout, dubbed “the Merchant of Death,” was arrested in Thailand in 2008 and extradited to the United States, where he was found guilty of attempting to smuggle weapons to Colombian rebels for use against US citizens.

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Spain plans menstrual leave in new law for those with severe pain

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According to media reports, Spain is planning to introduce medical leave for women who suffer from severe period pain.

According to a draught bill, women would be entitled to three days of paid leave per month, which could be increased to five in certain circumstances. Politicians, on the other hand, warned that the draught, which had been leaked to Spanish media, was still being worked on.

If passed, it would be Europe’s first legal entitlement of its kind. Only a few countries around the world have passed such legislation.

The Spanish law is part of a broader reproductive health reform that includes changes to the country’s abortion laws.

The law is expected to be presented to cabinet early next week, according to media outlets that have seen portions of it.

The draught states that with a doctor’s note, three days of sick leave will be allowed for painful periods, with the possibility of extending to five days on a temporary basis for particularly intense or incapacitating pain.

However, it is unlikely to apply to those who experience only minor discomfort. El Pas reports that it is part of a broader effort to treat menstruation as a health issue, which includes the elimination of the “tampon tax” on some hygiene products and the provision of free hygiene products in public places such as schools and prisons. Surrogacy, which is illegal in Spain, will be subject to stricter regulations under the proposed law.

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Finland will apply for NATO membership “as soon as possible”

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Finland’s president and prime minister have urged the country to join NATO “as soon as possible.”

In a joint statement, Sauli Niinisto and Sanna Marin said they expected a decision within the next few days. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, public support for Nato membership has risen dramatically.

Finland and Russia share a 1,300-kilometer (810-mile) border. To avoid antagonising its eastern neighbour, it has stayed out of Nato until now.

After consideration by parliament and other senior political figures, Finland will formally announce its decision on Sunday.

Sweden has stated that it will make a similar announcement on the same day.

If the two governments abandon their long-standing policy of military non-alignment, Russia has threatened unspecified measures.

However, Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has stated that he expects Sweden and Finland to join Nato “quite quickly.”

In their statement, President Niinisto and Prime Minister Marin stated that they wanted to give the Finnish public time to discuss the issue, but that the time for a decision was approaching.

It stated that joining NATO would strengthen Finland’s security. “Finland’s membership in Nato would strengthen the entire defence alliance. Finland should apply for NATO membership as soon as possible.”

Later, in an interview with journalists, Mr Niinisto addressed Russian concerns and blamed the move on Moscow’s invasion.

“Anyone would not be against joining NATO. This was your fault. Examine yourself in the mirror “he said.

Last week, a poll found that 76 percent of Finns support joining NATO, with only 12 percent opposed, marking a significant shift toward membership since the invasion.

During World War II, Finland and the Soviet Union were on opposing sides, with the Finns famously repelling a Soviet invasion in 1939-40.

However, Finland lost 10% of its land in the final peace agreement and remained a non-aligned country throughout the Cold War.

Russia’s borders with Nato would be more than doubled if it joined the alliance. Sweden shares no borders with Russia.

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