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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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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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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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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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Ukraine war: Putin preparing for long haul, US intelligence says

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According to US intelligence, Vladimir Putin is preparing for a long war in Ukraine, with even a victory in the east potentially not ending the conflict.

The warning comes as fighting rages in the east, where Russia is attempting to seize territory. After Ukraine resisted attempts to take its capital, Kyiv, Moscow refocused its troops on capturing the Donbas region.

Despite this, US intelligence reports that its forces are stuck in a stalemate. Mr Putin still intends “to achieve goals beyond the Donbas,” according to Avril Haines, director of national intelligence, who testified before a US Senate committee on Tuesday, but he “faces a mismatch between his ambitions and Russia’s current conventional military capabilities.”

She went on to say that Putin was “likely” counting on US and EU support for Ukraine to dwindle as inflation, food shortages, and energy prices rose. As the war continues, Russian President Vladimir Putin may resort to “more drastic measures,” though nuclear weapons would only be used if Russia faced a “existential threat.”

At the same hearing, Director of the Defence Intelligence Agency Scott Berrier stated that Russia and Ukraine were “at a bit of a stalemate.”

Ukraine claims to have recaptured four settlements in the north-eastern Kharkiv region in recent fighting.

Ukraine’s armed forces claim to have reclaimed Cherkasy Tyshky, Ruski Tyshky, Rubizhne, and Bayrak from Russia.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy claimed that Ukrainian victories were gradually pushing Russian forces out of Kharkiv, which has been bombarded since the conflict began.

“We should not create an atmosphere of excessive moral pressure, where victories are expected weekly, if not daily,” he said.

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Dennis Waterman: Minder and New Tricks star dies aged 74

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Dennis Waterman, who starred in shows like Minder, The Sweeney, and New Tricks, has died, according to his family. His age was 74.

“We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved Dennis passed away very peacefully in hospital in Spain,” according to a statement. They said he died on Sunday afternoon with his wife Pam by his side. “At this very difficult time, the family respectfully requests that our privacy be respected,” they added.

Waterman, who was born in London and attended the Corona Theatre School, began his career working for the Children’s Film Foundation before being invited to join Stratford’s Royal Shakespeare Company at the age of 12.

In his teens, he rose to fame as William, the BBC’s adaptation of Just William.

When he played Det Sgt George Carter opposite John Thaw in ITV’s police drama The Sweeney in the 1970s, he became one of the most well-known faces on British television.

Waterman went on to star in the comedies On the Up and Stay Lucky before returning to New Tricks, where he played another Cockney detective from 2003 to 2015.

He co-starred with fellow actors James Bolam and Alun Armstrong in the role of Gerry Standing.

Waterman became famous for singing the theme songs to many of his shows, and as a result, he was caricatured by David Walliams in Little Britain.

He continued to pursue his interest in music throughout his acting career, and had number one hits in Australia and New Zealand, as well as reaching number three in the UK charts with I Could Be So Good For You, the Minder theme song.Tributes have poured in for the actor, who has been described as a “brilliant actor who was a staple on our screens throughout the 1970s and 1980s” by broadcaster Kay Burley.

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Russia-Ukraine war: European Union likely to sanction Vladimir Putin’s alleged girlfriend Alina Kabaeva

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Alina Kabaeva, the alleged girlfriend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is named in the sixth proposed package of European Union sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Kabaeva, who has been romantically linked to Putin, was included in a proposed EU sanctions list, according to two European diplomatic sources.

At this point, names can be removed or added at the discretion of member states, and it is expected to be a point of negotiation when a new sanctions package is proposed, according to an EU Commission source. The EU has not yet given its approval to the draught proposal. “There are ongoing discussions. It won’t be easy, but we’ll have to wait and see “On Friday morning, one of the diplomatic sources said.

Kabaeva, who was born in 1983, was first linked to Putin when she was a medal-winning gymnast more than a decade ago. Putin, who is divorced, has denied ever dating her. Kabaeva and Putin are said to have met when she was a young gymnast competing in European competitions and at the Olympic Games. At the 2004 Athens Games, she won the gold medal in rhythmic gymnastics.

She was selected as one of the torch bearers when Russia hosted the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia in 2014, an event that occurred shortly before Russia illegally annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula.Since the start of the Ukrainian conflict, the EU has increased its economic sanctions against Russia. Recently, the EU proposed a ban on Russian oil imports, which would have a significant impact on Russia’s economy, though Hungary, an EU member with close ties to Putin, is likely to sabotage any such plans.

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Ukraine war: Zelensky plea as Russians seek Mariupol endgame

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Russian forces have launched an all-out assault on the Azovstal steelworks, the last Ukrainian stronghold in Mariupol, according to Ukrainian officials.

According to the commander of the Azov regiment, Ukrainian forces inside the plant are fighting “difficult bloody battles” for the second day. After days of sustained attacks, Russian forces are said to have entered “the territory of the plant.”

Around 200 civilians, including children, are believed to be sheltering inside. The BBC was unable to independently verify reports of a Russian attack on a steel plant.

“I am proud of my soldiers who are making superhuman efforts to contain the enemy’s pressure… the situation is extremely difficult,” Azov commander Denis Prokopenko said in a brief video message posted on Telegram.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has made a new appeal to the United Nations to assist in the rescue of those still alive. “To us, everyone is significant. We request your assistance in rescuing them “In a phone call, Mr. Zelensky informed UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

Mr. Guterres was thanked by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko for a successful UN-led and Red Cross-led evacuation of more than 100 people from the steelworks earlier this week, but he asked the UN to “assist in the removal of all the wounded from Azovstal.”

On Wednesday, 344 evacuees from various south-western cities, including Mariupol, arrived in the relative safety of Zaporizhzhia, a south-eastern city still under Ukrainian control, according to Ukraine’s deputy prime minister.

Irina Vereshchuk thanked the UN and the Red Cross for their assistance in a Telegram post, saying: “Women, children, and the elderly from Mariupol, Manhush, Berdiansk, Tokmak, and Vasylivka are among them… We will now provide them with emotional and psychological support during this trying time.”

The evacuations were confirmed by Osnat Lubrani, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine.

“While this second evacuation of civilians from Mariupol and beyond is significant, much more must be done to ensure that all civilians caught up in fighting are able to flee in the direction of their choice,” she said in a statement.

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Meghan Markle’s animated series Pearl has been cancelled by Netflix

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In an effort to save money, Netflix has cancelled the development of Pearl, an animated series created by Meghan Markle.

The show, which was announced last year, is one of several projects that the streaming behemoth has cancelled. Netflix announced a sharp drop in subscribers last month, warning that millions more are on the verge of abandoning the service.

The company’s market value plummeted by more than $50 billion, and experts warned it would be difficult to get back on track. Meghan will serve as an executive producer on Pearl, according to Archewell Productions, the company founded by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

The series was supposed to follow the exploits of a 12-year-old girl who is inspired by historical figures.

Netflix did confirm, however, that it will continue to collaborate with Archewell Productions on a number of projects, including a documentary series called Heart of Invictus. The series will focus on athletes competing in the Invictus Games for injured veterans, which will be held in The Hague in 2022 and was founded by Prince Harry.

A BBC request for comment was not immediately returned by Archewell Productions.

Netflix also announced that two animated children’s series, Dino Daycare and Boons and Curses, would be cancelled.

Netflix announced in April that its total number of subscribers had fallen by 200,000 in the first three months of this year, far short of its goal. It also predicted that two million more users would abandon the service in the three months leading up to July.

Some analysts warned that the company had run out of easy ways to grow the business after a period of rapid expansion during the pandemic. Consumers who are strapped for cash are cutting back on streaming services to save money, while others believe there is too much content to choose from in the face of fierce competition from companies like Disney and Amazon.

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After a two-year hiatus, the White House press dinner is back

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After a six-year hiatus, US President Joe Biden has resumed his tradition of speaking at the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner. 

Since 2016, he is the first leader to speak at the event, where the president is mocked by a friendly audience of journalists.  It was postponed for two years due to the pandemic, and Donald Trump boycotted it while he was in office. 

Trevor Noah, a comedian and host of The Daily Show, was the event’s main attraction.  The gala, which has been an American press tradition since 1921, brought together celebrities, renowned journalists, and high-ranking US officials. Among the celebrities in attendance were Kim Kardashian, Pete Davidson, Drew Barrymore, and Chris Tucker. With a jab at Donald Trump, Mr. Biden addressed the fact that he is the first president to attend the event since 2016. 

“This is the first time in six years that a president has attended this dinner. It’s understandable given that we experienced a terrible plague followed by two years of Covid “he stated. “It’s actually nice too, once again, to have a president who isn’t afraid to come to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and hear jokes about himself,” Noah added later on stage. 

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