👨⚖️ Alan Dershowitz, the veteran celebrity lawyer who defended former President Donald Trump during his impeachment trials, and famously assisted the defence team in the 1995 OJ Simpson murder trial, has lashed out against California Congresswoman Maxine Waters, accusing her of using tactics from the Ku Klux Klan playbook to try to “intimidate” the Chauvin jury.
“The judge should have granted the motion for a mistrial based on the efforts of Congresswoman Waters to influence the jury. Her message was clearly intended to get to the jury. ‘If you acquit, or if you find the charge less than murder, we will burn down your buildings, we will burn down your businesses,’” Dershowitz said, speaking to conservative television network Newsmax TV.
“It’s borrowed precisely from the Ku Klux Klan of the 1930s and the 1920s, when the Klan would march outside of courthouses and threaten all kinds of reprisals if the jury ever dared convict a white person or acquit a black person,” Dershowitz alleged
“The judge should have granted the motion for a mistrial based on the efforts of Congresswoman Waters to influence the jury. Her message was clearly intended to get to the jury. ‘If you acquit, or if you find the charge less than murder, we will burn down your buildings, we will burn down your businesses,’” Dershowitz said, speaking to conservative television network Newsmax TV.
“It’s borrowed precisely from the Ku Klux Klan of the 1930s and the 1920s, when the Klan would march outside of courthouses and threaten all kinds of reprisals if the jury ever dared convict a white person or acquit a black person,” Dershowitz alleged
❗️ URGENT | Blinken: White House working with Congress to provide $300mln in civilian aid to Afghanistan.
As the US prepares to withdraw the last of its troops from the 20-year-long war in Afghanistan, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday the Biden administration would work with Congress to send the Central Asian country additional financial aid
As the US prepares to withdraw the last of its troops from the 20-year-long war in Afghanistan, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday the Biden administration would work with Congress to send the Central Asian country additional financial aid
Sputnik International
❗️ URGENT | Blinken: White House working with Congress to provide $300mln in civilian aid to Afghanistan. As the US prepares to withdraw the last of its troops from the 20-year-long war in Afghanistan, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday…
UPDATE | That amount would double the foreign aid pledged to Afghanistan by the US this year, and comes after a November 2020 conference that organized another $12 billion to the war-torn country over the next four years. At that conference, US diplomats said another $300 million could be added to its present pledge if the peace deal with the Taliban held.
However, that amount is significantly less than the roughly $800 million per year in civilian aid the US has supplied in the past. In addition to civilian aid, the US also pays the salaries of the Afghan Armed Forces and provides Kabul's military with funding to purchase more American equipment. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said last week Washington will continue to do so, although he did not say for how long.
However, that amount is significantly less than the roughly $800 million per year in civilian aid the US has supplied in the past. In addition to civilian aid, the US also pays the salaries of the Afghan Armed Forces and provides Kabul's military with funding to purchase more American equipment. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said last week Washington will continue to do so, although he did not say for how long.
📰 The organisers of the Golden Globe Awards – the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) – has fired its president Philip Berk after he shared a controversial anti-Black Lives Matter (BLM) article that called the movement a “racist hate group,” wrote The Hollywood Reporter.
“Effective immediately, Phil Berk is no longer a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association,” said a brief statement by the HFPA.
Earlier, Berk’s expulsion was demanded by NBC, the TV network that broadcasts and finances the Golden Globes.
“NBC strongly condemns Phil Berk’s actions … [and] swift action on this front is an essential element for NBC to move forward with the HFPA and the Golden Globes,” stated NBC
“Effective immediately, Phil Berk is no longer a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association,” said a brief statement by the HFPA.
Earlier, Berk’s expulsion was demanded by NBC, the TV network that broadcasts and finances the Golden Globes.
“NBC strongly condemns Phil Berk’s actions … [and] swift action on this front is an essential element for NBC to move forward with the HFPA and the Golden Globes,” stated NBC
🚓 Welcoming the three guilty verdicts against Derek Chauvin, US President Joe Biden said: "We can't stop here" and pointed to the need for police reform.
In the wake of Floyd’s death last year, many Black Lives Matter activists called for police to be “defunded”.
In reality, however, few Democrats support police defunding, as their only desire is to reform the police, removing institutional racism and overly aggressive officers.
What would a police reform bill actually look like?
While the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, passed by the House of Representatives, was rejected by the Senate, the Biden administration may still try to resurrect it or, more likely, get Republicans on board with a more moderate police reform bill.
In the wake of Floyd’s death last year, many Black Lives Matter activists called for police to be “defunded”.
In reality, however, few Democrats support police defunding, as their only desire is to reform the police, removing institutional racism and overly aggressive officers.
What would a police reform bill actually look like?
While the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, passed by the House of Representatives, was rejected by the Senate, the Biden administration may still try to resurrect it or, more likely, get Republicans on board with a more moderate police reform bill.
🇺🇸🇷🇺 When asked if the US administration thinks sanctions against Russia are working, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that it was never expected that one set of sanctions would be able to change the Kremlin’s behaviour.
While the US imposed new sanctions on 32 Russian entities and individuals as part of a new round of sanctions for Moscow's alleged cyber-attacks and other hostile acts against US interests, Russia, in response, banned eight US citizens from entering the country.
While the US imposed new sanctions on 32 Russian entities and individuals as part of a new round of sanctions for Moscow's alleged cyber-attacks and other hostile acts against US interests, Russia, in response, banned eight US citizens from entering the country.
🇮🇷 Has the White House finally decided that it is enough for Iran?
The Biden administration has sent signals to Iran indicating its willingness to reduce punitive sanctions, especially in the crucial financial and oil sectors, to advance the revived talks on Iran's nuclear program, the report said.
However, difficult negotiations still lie ahead in Vienna before the United States can make a deal with Iran about reentering the nuclear agreement, according to senior diplomats.
Stay tuned!
The Biden administration has sent signals to Iran indicating its willingness to reduce punitive sanctions, especially in the crucial financial and oil sectors, to advance the revived talks on Iran's nuclear program, the report said.
However, difficult negotiations still lie ahead in Vienna before the United States can make a deal with Iran about reentering the nuclear agreement, according to senior diplomats.
Stay tuned!
Sputnik International
🇮🇷 Has the White House finally decided that it is enough for Iran? The Biden administration has sent signals to Iran indicating its willingness to reduce punitive sanctions, especially in the crucial financial and oil sectors, to advance the revived talks…
UPDATE | The US will quickly remove its sanctions on Iran if a deal is reached, but will not rush the talks at the expense of a solid agreement, a senior State Department official told reporters.
Sputnik International
UPDATE | The US will quickly remove its sanctions on Iran if a deal is reached, but will not rush the talks at the expense of a solid agreement, a senior State Department official told reporters.
UPDATE | The Vienna talks will clarify what the US and Iran must do to return to full compliance in the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, although significant disagreements remain, a senior State Department official said in a telephone briefing.
💵 Southern cartels are reportedly offering money to American teenagers via social media apps to smuggle illegal immigrants across the US border.
About $3,000 for a “quest” to pass checkpoints in a vehicle loaded with migrants and drop them off at a pre-specified location, from where the immigrants are purportedly taken by a cartel member to hiding places.
Is it a “crisis” yet?
About $3,000 for a “quest” to pass checkpoints in a vehicle loaded with migrants and drop them off at a pre-specified location, from where the immigrants are purportedly taken by a cartel member to hiding places.
Is it a “crisis” yet?
🌏 Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the 40-nation ‘Earth Day’ climate change summit at the invitation of US President Joe Biden.
The decision comes a week after Washington’s special envoy for climate change, former senator and US presidential candidate John Kerry, traveled to Shanghai to meet with China’s climate envoy and vice-premier, where the two nations agreed to cooperate with each other and with other countries "to tackle the climate crisis, which must be addressed with the seriousness and urgency that it demands.”
The decision comes a week after Washington’s special envoy for climate change, former senator and US presidential candidate John Kerry, traveled to Shanghai to meet with China’s climate envoy and vice-premier, where the two nations agreed to cooperate with each other and with other countries "to tackle the climate crisis, which must be addressed with the seriousness and urgency that it demands.”
The crew of the Coast Guard cutter Tampa offloaded some 5,500 pounds of cocaine in Miami, Florida, following an interception well over a week ago.
The estimated street value of the find is $94.6 million.
Three suspects from the Dominican Republic were detained and their vessel destroyed as a hazard to navigation.
The estimated street value of the find is $94.6 million.
Three suspects from the Dominican Republic were detained and their vessel destroyed as a hazard to navigation.
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✈️ Spotted: Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) has released drone footage of what it says is a US Navy aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf.
The IRGC command claimed that its forces could destroy any US military object in the region.
The IRGC command claimed that its forces could destroy any US military object in the region.
🌎 40 leaders VS 1 global problem
The leaders of 40 countries will gather online on Thursday to participate in a Leaders Summit on Climate organized by the United States.
The White House noted that major sessions will be dedicated to “raising ambitions” in climate change, as well as financing, investment and innovation.
"The science is quite clear: if we seek to avoid damages, we need rapidly to reduce the emissions,” an official said during a press briefing, adding that only global cooperation will allow humanity to overcome the challenges we face.
The leaders of 40 countries will gather online on Thursday to participate in a Leaders Summit on Climate organized by the United States.
The White House noted that major sessions will be dedicated to “raising ambitions” in climate change, as well as financing, investment and innovation.
"The science is quite clear: if we seek to avoid damages, we need rapidly to reduce the emissions,” an official said during a press briefing, adding that only global cooperation will allow humanity to overcome the challenges we face.
🛫US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan has left the diplomatic mission and is on his way to Washington, the US embassy said
Check out our brief summary of some of the latest news:
▪️ China calls the US "the biggest empire of hacking and tapping" after it was accused of hacking attacks that reportedly attempted to infiltrate networks linked to the US defense sector
▪️Mike Pompeo joined House Republicans for the unveiling of the "Maximum Pressure Act" - GOP legislation seeking to enact further sanctions on Iran
▪️The US reportedly abrogated the 2007 F-35 deal with Turkey and concluded a new one with the remaining participants in the program — Australia, Canada, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and the UK
▪️US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan has left the diplomatic mission, he is set to return to Moscow in the coming weeks
▪️ China calls the US "the biggest empire of hacking and tapping" after it was accused of hacking attacks that reportedly attempted to infiltrate networks linked to the US defense sector
▪️Mike Pompeo joined House Republicans for the unveiling of the "Maximum Pressure Act" - GOP legislation seeking to enact further sanctions on Iran
▪️The US reportedly abrogated the 2007 F-35 deal with Turkey and concluded a new one with the remaining participants in the program — Australia, Canada, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and the UK
▪️US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan has left the diplomatic mission, he is set to return to Moscow in the coming weeks
Sputnik International
Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz has slammed famous basketball player LeBron James for his recent tweet to one of the officers who responded to the fatal shooting of 16-year-old Ma'Khia Bryant in Columbus, Ohio which read "you're next"
Cruz told Fox News Primetime that the tweet reflected a "pattern" of behaviour among left-wingers and that James’ tweet could be interpreted by some as a call for violence
Sputnik International
Cruz told Fox News Primetime that the tweet reflected a "pattern" of behaviour among left-wingers and that James’ tweet could be interpreted by some as a call for violence
Ted Cruz: "The left consistently goes after, attacks and demonises police officers ... often before the facts are known, often before there is any evidence of what happened, but their immediate reaction, whenever there is an incident, is that the police officer is in the wrong"
💴 The US dollar is continuing its slide against other major currencies, including the euro, with early Thursday European trading seeing a continued drop in currency-currency value attributed to fading bond yield support.
The euro hit 1.21 euros per USD, close to surpassing highs unseen since February, with the British pound reaching 1.39 USD, its strongest showing since 18 March. The dollar can buy 108 Japanese yen, edging toward a seven-week low, while the onshore yuan has hit 6.48 per dollar – the Chinese currency’s strongest level since 12 March. The Canadian, Australian and New Zealand dollars have also ticked up against the dollar this week amid improving economic outlook projections in all three nations.
Overall, the dollar index tracking the greenback’s health against a basket of half a dozen other major currencies saw a decline to 91.013 points, slightly above the seven-week low of 90.856 seen Tuesday
The euro hit 1.21 euros per USD, close to surpassing highs unseen since February, with the British pound reaching 1.39 USD, its strongest showing since 18 March. The dollar can buy 108 Japanese yen, edging toward a seven-week low, while the onshore yuan has hit 6.48 per dollar – the Chinese currency’s strongest level since 12 March. The Canadian, Australian and New Zealand dollars have also ticked up against the dollar this week amid improving economic outlook projections in all three nations.
Overall, the dollar index tracking the greenback’s health against a basket of half a dozen other major currencies saw a decline to 91.013 points, slightly above the seven-week low of 90.856 seen Tuesday