News Sports Trending

Former Barcelona footballer Dani Alves’s rape trial begins

By 169 0

Former Barcelona and Brazil footballer Dani Alves is currently facing charges of rape in a Barcelona nightclub, accused of assaulting a 23-year-old woman. The prosecution is relying on substantial scientific evidence, video footage, and witness statements to support their case. The alleged incident took place on December 30, 2022, in the VIP area of the Sutton nightclub. According to the prosecution, Alves bought the woman and her friends drinks, invited her to a bathroom without surveillance cameras, and is accused of assaulting her when she refused his advances.

Alves, aged 40, could potentially face a 12-year prison sentence if convicted. The trial began with the victim testifying from behind a screen with her voice electronically distorted for privacy. The alleged assault came to light when the victim immediately reported the incident, leading to a medical examination and the collection of extensive evidence by the police in the nightclub’s bathroom area.

The case has garnered significant attention as it is seen as a litmus test for the judiciary’s approach to sexual assault cases, particularly after the controversial “wolf pack” case. Alves has changed his defense multiple times since first being questioned by the police in January 2023. Initially denying knowing the accuser, he later admitted to various activities, citing different defenses, including intoxication.

The trial coincides with other high-profile sexual assault cases in Spain, such as the incident involving Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish football federation, who faces prosecution for forcibly kissing Jenni Hermoso during the World Cup victory celebrations. The Catalan equality minister, Tània Verge, has emphasized that these cases mark the end of impunity for alleged sexual aggressors, irrespective of their fame or power.

Notably, Alves joins a list of top-flight players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Mason Greenwood, Benjamin Mendy, and Robinho, who have faced rape accusations. In most cases, charges were dropped or settled financially, but Alves’s alleged victim has consistently refused any financial settlement. The trial is scheduled to last three days, and the outcome will be closely watched for its implications on justice for sexual assault victims.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright

News Trending War

Russian jet crashes carrying Ukrainian PoWs – Moscow

By 149 0

A Russian Ilyushin-76 military transport plane crashed in the southern Belgorod region near the Ukrainian border. The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that the plane was carrying 65 captured Ukrainian military personnel for a prisoner exchange, but these details could not be independently verified. Reports initially suggested that the plane may have been downed by Ukrainian forces, but these were later deleted. Ukrainian authorities stated they did not have accurate information and were investigating.

Video footage showed the plane crashing and exploding near the village of Yablonovo. The regional governor confirmed all on board had died. Some Ukrainian media suggested the plane was transporting missiles for Russia’s S-300 air defense systems. The head of Ukraine’s military intelligence confirmed a planned prisoner exchange had been canceled.

The Russian defence ministry alleged that Ukraine fired anti-aircraft missiles from the Lyptsi area, claiming two Ukrainian missiles targeted the plane. A prisoner exchange was scheduled at a border checkpoint near Belgorod. Russian officials mentioned a second plane carrying 80 Ukrainian prisoners, but it changed course.

Ukraine and Russia have engaged in several prisoner exchanges during the war. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, with ongoing conflict. The war’s toll includes casualties and intensified air attacks. Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov highlighted a shortage of ammunition for Ukrainian forces, while Russia reportedly used over 600 missiles and 1,000 drones in the past two months. Ukraine relies on drones in its defense strategy, and recent attacks caused explosions, including at a gas export terminal near St Petersburg.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright

News Trending War

Viktor Sokolov: Russian video ‘shows Black Sea fleet commander alive’

By 220 0

The Russian Defense Ministry has released a video featuring the commander of the Black Sea Fleet at a conference, despite Ukraine’s claim of his death. The timing of this footage, where Viktor Sokolov is seen in a video link with the defense minister, remains uncertain.

The Russian ministry stated that this meeting with high-ranking officials occurred on Tuesday. On Monday, Ukraine’s special forces announced that Admiral Sokolov and 33 other officers had been killed in a missile strike on the fleet’s headquarters in Sevastopol, Crimea, which is currently under Russian control.

On Wednesday, a television channel affiliated with Russia’s defense ministry aired an interview with Admiral Sokolov, where he claimed that the fleet was performing well. The exact date of this interview is unclear.

Kyiv did not directly name the admiral and lacked evidence of his death. Now, they are “clarifying” their earlier reports, referring to “open sources” for their claim about the admiral’s fate. This represents a notable shift in tone from their initial confidence.

The video, lasting eight minutes, depicts a Defense Ministry collegium meeting that purportedly took place on Tuesday morning, with Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu conversing with senior officials in Moscow. He is briefly shown on video link with the commanders of Russia’s five fleets, including the Black Sea Fleet, although none of them speak.

Facial recognition software suggests a match between the man in the video and other images of Admiral Sokolov. However, the BBC has not been able to confirm whether the meeting occurred on Tuesday or if the image of Admiral Sokolov on the video link is in real time.

Last Friday, Ukraine claimed to have targeted the fleet’s headquarters, which is considered a crucial target. Footage on social media showed smoke over the building. Russia stated that it had intercepted five missiles, though one serviceman was reported missing. Kyiv has been launching near-daily strikes against Russian forces in Crimea.

Aside from its role in potential attacks against Ukraine, the Black Sea Fleet symbolizes Russia’s long-standing military presence in the region. It was based in Crimea even before Russia’s annexation of the peninsula in 2014.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright

News Trending

Outrage in Paris following police shooting of teenager who defied traffic stop

By 212 0

Violent protests erupted in Paris overnight following the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old who failed to comply with a traffic stop order by police. Video footage circulating on social media shows a police officer aiming a gun at the driver of a car, followed by a gunshot and the car subsequently crashing. The teenager, identified as Naël M, succumbed to chest wounds despite receiving assistance from emergency services. The officer responsible for the shooting has been apprehended on charges of homicide.

Initially, the police claimed that the teen had driven his car toward them with the intent to harm. However, verified footage contradicts this account, revealing two officers attempting to stop the vehicle. One officer points his weapon at the driver through the window and seemingly fires at close range as the driver tries to flee. In the video, an unidentified person can be heard saying, “you’re going to be shot in the head,” but the speaker’s identity remains unclear.

Two other individuals were in the car at the time of the incident. One of them fled, while the other, also a minor, was detained by the police. The shooting triggered protests in the Nanterre area, located west of Paris, with incidents of arson, destruction of bus shelters, and the use of fireworks near the police station. Riot police employed tear gas to disperse the protesters, leading to the arrest of twenty individuals.

Following the teenager’s death, two separate investigations have been initiated—one into the potential misconduct of a public official resulting in a fatality, and another into the driver’s failure to stop the vehicle and alleged attempt to harm a police officer.

Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez expressed concerns about the officer’s actions, although he suggested the officer may have felt threatened. The family’s lawyer contested this justification, stating that the video unequivocally depicted a police officer deliberately killing the young man. The family filed a complaint against the police for providing false information initially, claiming that the car had attempted to run over the officers.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin described the video shared on social media as “extremely shocking” and called on people to respect the family’s grief and the presumption of innocence for the police. Left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon extended his condolences to the teen’s family, emphasizing that no officer has the right to kill unless in self-defense. He called for a comprehensive reform of the uncontrolled police force, which he believes undermines the authority of the state.

This incident follows another fatal police shooting two weeks earlier in Angouleme, where a 19-year-old driver was killed after allegedly hitting an officer during a traffic stop. Last year, a record number of 13 individuals died in police shootings during traffic stops in France, according to Reuters. Naël M’s death marks the second such incident this year.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright