UK leader Rishi Sunak signals plan to backtrack on some climate goals
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is preparing to water down some of Britain’s climate commitments, saying the country must fight climate change without penalizing workers and consumers
2023-09-20 16:15
Logan Paul vs Dillon Danis: How much do tickets cost and where to buy them?
The tickets for Logan Paul vs Dillon Danis match have almost sold out
2023-09-20 16:15
IShowSpeed's inclusion of women players in EA FC 24 Ultimate team raises eyebrows: 'That's a girl, oh my god'
The addition of women players in IShowSpeed's EA FC 24 card has generated a significant buzz online
2023-09-20 15:57
Brighton relish 'incredible' rise from exile to Europa League
Brighton's "incredible" journey from homeless exiles facing oblivion to their current status as Premier League trendsetters will reach a memorable climax when they host AEK Athens in...
2023-09-20 15:57
Football transfer rumours: Kane wanted Man Utd move; Toney price tag revealed
Wednesday's roundup of transfer rumours includes news on Harry Kane's alternate destinations before deciding on Bayern Munich, how much Ivan Toney will cost, Trent Alexander-Arnold's Liverpool contract talks and more.
2023-09-20 15:57
How tall is Tory Lanez? ‘LUV’ rapper was once brutally trolled online for his height
Tory Lanez's height surfaced online due to an arrest report after he shot at Megan Thee Stallion at a party
2023-09-20 15:56
Moscow court refuses to hear appeal by detained US journalist Evan Gershkovich
A Moscow court has shot down an appeal by Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich challenging a decision to extend his pre-trial detention. Gershkovich, 31, was arrested almost six months ago in Russia on spying charges. Russian officials accused him of collecting state secrets about the military. He – along with the Wall Street Journal and the US government – denies these allegations. The decision to extend his pre-trial detention had been made in August. Last week, US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield and Gershkovich’s family called for his immediate release from Moscow’s Lefortovo prison. The Moscow city court on Tuesday upheld its initial ruling. A judge in Lefortovo Court in Moscow extended the journalist’s pre-trial detention until 30 November. The hearing was held behind closed doors. The WSJ journalist will remain in jail until then, reported Russia’s Tass news agency. “The Moscow City Court considered the lawyers’ complaint in a closed court session and decided to remove the material regarding E Gershkovich from appeal consideration, and send the material to the Lefortovo District Court of Moscow to eliminate the circumstances impeding the consideration of the criminal case in the appellate court,” the court said in a statement. It remains unclear why the court refused to consider Gershkovich’s appeal. The case is expected to be returned to a lower court. The 31-year-old American citizen had been granted accreditation by Russia’s foreign ministry to work there as a journalist. He was arrested by agents of the Federal Security Service (FSB), the successor agency to the KGB, during a reporting assignment in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg on 29 March this year. This is the first instance of a Western journalist being arrested on espionage charges in Russia since the end of the Cold War. If Gershkovich gets convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison. According to Russian law, people found guilty of espionage can potentially receive a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. US envoy to Russia Lynne Tracy, who was present in the courtroom on Tuesday, told the media: “The US position remains unwavering. The charges against Evan are baseless. The Russian government locked Evan up for simply doing his job. Journalism is not a crime.” “Evan is fully aware of the gravity of his situation, yet he remains remarkably strong,” she said. To mark Gershkovich’s 100 days in jail since July this year, the White House press secretary said: “The world knows that the charges against Evan are baseless – he was arrested in Russia during the course of simply doing his job as a journalist, and he is being held by Russia for leverage because he is an American.” After visiting the journalist in prison, Ms Thomas-Greenfield said: “No family should have to watch their loved one being used as a political pawn. And that’s exactly what President [Vladimir] Putin is doing. Russia’s actions are beyond cruel, and they are a violation of international law.” US president Joe Biden said in July that he was “serious on a prisoner exchange”. “And I’m serious about doing all we can to free Americans being illegally held in Russia, or anywhere else for that matter, and that process is underway,” he said. “President [Joe] Biden spoke to us and gave us a promise to do whatever it takes” to bring Gershkovich home, his parents, Ella Milman and Mikhail Gershkovich, said in a July interview with ABC News. “He told us he understands our pain,” said Ms Milman, the mother of the WSJ journalist. In a letter earlier this month to the UN’s working group on arbitrary detention, lawyers for the WSJ’s publisher accused Mr Putin of using Gershkovich as a pawn and of “holding him hostage.” The lawyers argue that Mr Putin wants to use Gershkovich “to gain leverage over – and extract a ransom from – the United States, just as he has done with other American citizens whom he has wrongfully detained”. The letter said Gershkovich’s ongoing detention “is a flagrant violation of many of his fundamental human rights”. In June this year, nearly three dozen US senators wrote a letter to Gershkovich expressing their “profound anger and concern” over his detention in the Russian prison. The letter said a “free press is crucial to the foundation and support of human rights everywhere” and that every day he spends in a Russian prison “is a day too long”. “We applaud you for your efforts to report the truth about Russia’s reprehensible invasion of Ukraine, a conflict that has resulted in untellable atrocities, tragedies, and loss of life,” the letter read. It said the senators “understand the enormous burden you may feel as the Russian government uses you as a political tool”. Read More U.S. ambassador to Russia visits jailed WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich Father of imprisoned reporter Evan Gershkovich calls on world leaders to urge Russia to free him A new Iran deal shows the Biden administration is willing to pay a big price to free Americans The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary The harrowing discovery at centre of The Independent’s new documentary
2023-09-20 15:48
On this day in history, September 20, 1984, 'The Cosby Show' premieres on NBC starring Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashad
Bill Cosby became known as 'America's Dad' for his role as Cliff Huxtable in 'The Cosby Show'
2023-09-20 15:45
J Balvin's new album is 'a lot of greatness'
J Balvin has declared he's feeling 'excited' about releasing his next album because it features 'a lot of greatness'
2023-09-20 15:28
The Marvels director Nia DaCosta got 'stressed' filming the sequel
Nia DaCosta sought the advice of other Marvel directors when things got "crazy".
2023-09-20 15:26
Oprah's month gets worse after Cindy Crawford accuses her of treating her like property, as Internet piles on
Resurfaced interview shows Oprah Winfrey asking Cindy Crawford to stand up and show her figure
2023-09-20 15:22
Chinese officials voice faith in economy and keep interest rates steady as forecasts darken
Leading Chinese planners have voiced confidence in the outlook for the world's second-largest economy, holding key interest rates steady amid signs of improvement in some areas such as services
2023-09-20 15:20