as differently in the al-jazeera world meets the man you've been keeping a close eye on residential life in the big cities for decades but who may now be passing into history. the people who will be gone but is now managed by a security company the doman of egypt on al-jazeera. the. u.s. president joe biden calls on russia to deescalate tensions after imposing fresh sanctions for alleged election interference and cyber attacks. hello i'm barbara sara this is al jazeera live from london also coming up i will involve my 5th privileged. proceedings draw to a close in

a minneapolis court after the accused former police officer derek chauvin waves his fright to testify. battling a 3rd wave in france where deaths from the coronavirus have now hit 100000 the capturing an unprecedented here the images that caught the eye of the judges at this year's of world press photo competition. u.s. president joe biden has called on russia to deescalate tensions after he imposed fresh sanctions against moscow for alleged election interference and cyber attacks by then said his actions were proportionate and sists there is still room for the 2 countries to work together. i was clear. that we could have gone further but i chose not to do so to be i chose to be proportionate united states is not

looking to kick off. in conflict with russia we want a stable predictable relationship russia continues to interfere with our democracy i'm prepared to take further actions to respond it is my responsibility as pretty united states to do so and it was something that donald trump always appeared reluctant to do but his replacement has no issues with blaming russia for election interference joe biden's government has placed sanctions on 32 people and organizations for meddling in last year's presidential vote a total of 10 russian diplomats including intelligence officials have been expelled from the u.s. in retaliation for hacking and its formally named russia as being behind the so-called so winds hack which last year targeted a 100 american firms and 9 government agencies well a further 5 people in 3 entities have also been hit for their alleged links to

russia's ongoing occupation of crimea well that the situation by the u.s. to punish russia for its alleged election interference has prompted warnings of retaliation. which it. the response to the sanctions will be unavoidable washington must realize that they have to pay for the deterioration of bilateral relations the united states of america is fully responsible for what is happening well that is your castro is in washington d.c. and following developments for us said just listening there to that russian representatives from the foreign ministry you know they're talking about how the u.s. will be made to pay for this one can understand why president biden was so clear in his speech that his actions were proportionate. that's certainly the message that president biden is trying to convey to russia. and you saw him trying to strike

that balance in those very brief remarks made from the white house about an hour ago in which president biden said that the u.s. was determined to show that it was willing to make the russian government pay for what he called an attack on american sovereignty in the cyber attacks and the alleged election interference in the 2020 presidential election but we also heard biden say that he wants the channels of diplomacy to remain open and in fact he said it was he who had proposed in an earlier call with president putin of russia that there would be a summit between the 2 world leaders sometime this summer in a 3rd country likely in europe but of course this ball is now in russia's court and the u.s. certainly would be prepared is expecting some form of retaliation these sanctions that were assigned by executive order by president biden early in the day they're being called as serious they target russia's economy they target those 32

individuals and firms they kick out 10 russian diplomats who the u.s. a were intelligence officers working under diplomatic cover and these are only the seen consequences the white house says that there are also likely clandestine operations going on as well but again now the u.s. is waiting to see how russia officially responds with biden still hopeful it appears for that summit to take place in the coming months and joe biden gave the press conference about an hour ago and you mentioned ukraine of course russia's massing troops at the russia ukraine border how much of a red line would that be for the united states if we did see some kind of russian invasion of ukraine. right and that's something that security experts are saying would be likely seen as

a red line that these sanctions would be much more severe and perhaps further actions would be taken and certainly president biden has left open the part of the possibility of ask a lady in these sanctions further if russia were to can continue and what he calls its maligned activities toward the u.s. in these cyber attacks and certainly if there were another invasion of ukraine the white house has left open the possibility of escalating the sanctions against russia further how does your castro with the latest on that from washington heidi as always thank you. well douglas found though is senior fellow at the cato institute and former special assistant to president ronald reagan he says that he believes president biden's response has been strategic but i believe he did 2 things very well the 1st was to talk to vladimir putin before imposing the sanctions so he established at least some personal contact it indicated his

interest in trying to work together and indeed even to have a summit which is a fairly dramatic step and then the sanctions are measured mean these are not measures that destroy russia's capacity to operate international markets you know these are all ones that russia can adjust to if russia decides to retaliate it would be proportionate for example to kick out some embassy employees these sorts of things so i think it's a hopeful sign that in fact biden wants to find a relationship with russia realizing it will always be difficult but that it should be possible to come up with as he put it a modus vivendi to at least work together on the most critical issues. the humanitarian situation in ethiopia stieg grave region is that area raising with

no evidence of the promised withdrawal by the eritrean military the un's humanitarian chief also warned of widespread reports of systematic rape and sexual violence by men in military uniform the security council was told that 4 and a half 1000000 people need humanitarian aid our diplomatic editor james bay says that the united nations with more on the security council was briefed by mark the u.n. senior humanitarian official the briefing took place behind closed doors but al-jazeera has obtained a copy of his remarks he told the security council there were reports of mass killings executions and the campaign of systematic rape much of what he said contradicted the official statements of the ethiopian government he told the security council i must say that neither the un nor any of the humanitarian agencies we work with have seen proof of eritrean withdrawal we have however heard

some reports of eritrean soldiers now wearing ethiopian defense force uniforms the situation is clearly grim so what should be done now i put that to the spokes person of the un secretary general what should be done one is increase humanitarian humanitarian access to see real movements on human rights investigations given the restrict reports we're seeing from our own people sometimes even from the ethiopian government's own people and a real we conciliation. within the different groups in tikrit it's now almost 6 months since the start of the ethiopian military operation in that time the security council's had a number of meetings but it's been absolutely silent on able to agree on the wording of any statement. the stage is set for the closing arguments

in the trial over george floyd's death after the accused police officer decided not to give evidence both prosecution and defense rested their cases after their it showed when the client to testify the judge told the jury that cannot be interpreted as an admission of guilt but they will now be sent out to consider their verdict after the closing arguments which will be heard on monday prosecutors say the former police officer killed george floyd by kneeling on his neck for more than 9 minutes that the fed says floyd died because of drug use and heart disease i have repeatedly advised you that this is your decision and your decision on mom i'm right. i have advised you and we have gone back and forth on the matter with the common understanding and so there's. after the meeting.

last night we had some form of discussion. and have you made a decision today whether you intend to testify or money one time to invoke your 5th amendment which. i will invoke my 5th amendment privilege today. is this your decision not to testify or it is your honor all right john hendren isn't minneapolis with more on the court proceedings. now for 11 days we heard prosecution witnesses one after the other mostly police and medical witnesses making a century 2 points one that derek chauvelin cut off george floyd's windpipe and 2 that that led to his death and then we heard police witnesses talking about how that was an inappropriate hold and that went all the way up to the chief of police in minneapolis the man who fired eric chauvelin one day after this incident happened on may 25th and we heard the defense for 3 days making its case arguing

essentially that derrick children did not kill george floyd and that floyd died in the defense's view from a combination of other things including the drugs he was a allegedly on fentanyl and methamphetamine heart trouble that he had for some time all of that is preliminary to the closing arguments that come on monday the jury's going to get a 3 day break right now and the judge and the lawyers are working out the exact wording of jury instructions but after those closing arguments come on monday that jury will be sequestered completely isolated in a hotel 'd if they want to see any video they've got a computer in that room so they won't be leaving until they come up with a verdict and that could be days could be a week could happen in minutes when asked how they should pack the judge said plan for a long hoped for short. thing in minnesota the u.s. police officer who faces the shah young black man has appeared in court. right

short of a shot on sunday after being stopped by police for a traffic violation officer kim paltrow was charged with manslaughter and released on bail the incident reignited days of protests against racial inequality and police brutality police say the officer mistakenly drew her gun instead of her taser. manslaughter. ya'll see the difference this is a case in this is a gave her but no money if you will squeal with a big ugh law these 2 are hurting our family it's hard not blood has been spilled and all we ex was the police just keep

getting his name out and please help us to go ahead and get something done on a conviction something still to come in this half hour back under lockdown and for the 3rd wave is still rampant france reaches a milestone event hoped to avoid plus north korea celebrates of the day of the sun but there are storm clouds on the horizon. right australia's weather now look sees no it's commensurate with the middle of april we've got fronts coming up from the by this time the behind is potentially quite cold but we're just getting so although you do get a few showers on those fronts as they make it inland the thames issues start to drop but we can't succeed in melbourne in the sunshine it's much the same in hobart

so you won't complain that much person 26 but well about 30 if you go further north it western australia now these frontal zones every now again with the converging winds will not coast was will bring showers and they're doing that producing significant other think in new south wales over the same area where we had those floods couple of weeks ago probably not welcome showers with all the same and they might want to add truckle queens and otherwise it's a pretty dry picture i have to say and the opposite is true as you might hope it should be in some parts of east asia 1st of all sudden china that's part of the spring rain developments a long way south and i went but you can follow the rugged line of japan that's being fed by moisture and it's being enhanced by the cold that came out of this fall in the one part of china the 2 come together it is thought of as they are doing but this why show it you get significant reading up running coming up through she koku and whole issue in particular which will in jesus yet more spring melt.

in pakistan's largest city climate change and water shortages and driving some residents to desperate measures it's 101 east meet the water of corruption on al-jazeera. if you want to help save the world. into your own. the end. and mind are now of the top stories stories on al-jazeera u.s.

president joe biden has called on russia to deescalate tensions after he imposed fresh sanctions against moscow for alleged election interference and cyber attacks by then said his actions were proportionate and insists there is still room for the 2 countries to work together. the un's humanitarian chief says the situation ethiopia's tikrit region is the terry aerating no evidence of the promised withdraw by the eritrean military there are reports of systematic rape and sexual violence and former police officer derek chauvin has chosen not to testify in the trial over george floyd's test both prosecution and defense have now rested their cases closing arguments will start on monday. india has recorded more than 200000 new corona virus infections in the past 24 hours its highest daily tally yet it's now the 2nd worst affected country for total

infections behind only the united states stricter measures have been announced to curb the outbreak as elizabeth piron them reports now from new delhi. this has become an increasingly common sight on the streets of india's capital long lines of people waiting to be tested for covert 19 the countries facing a 2nd wave with cases of rising much more rapidly than the 1st labs are overwhelmed and the waiting time for results is enclosed from a maximum of 12 hours to at least $24.00 and often longer being then say map me to since the past 3 days i have been running around for my report where is my report here the officials have no answers for me asking me to go from one place to another if i am ill if i am sick where should i go what am i supposed to do like many indian states of delhi has been recording its highest number of cases since the pandemic began its leader announced new restrictions for the capital's 30000000

people from friday. every day cases are increasing to control the situation delhi government has taken some decisions today we had a meeting with the you can and governor of delhi and we have decided to impose a weekend curfew in the capital. and all morgues gyms and spas must close and restaurants will only be allowed to do deliveries the state wants to avoid the shortages of hospital beds oxygen supply and health care work has been seen in other places like maharashtra and good job numbers are rising and it's anybody's guess this number to stop. all kinds of activity still happening across the country which lead to. these numbers in the coming days despite the rise in cases of political and religious gatherings are continuing in many places more than 3000000 hindu pilgrims have bathed in the ganges river in the town of hudud while

this week for the coup made a festival and millions voted in local elections of the state of their predation on thursday despite recording more than 20000 new cases the day before as. stretch and even post in some places and not others those who have lost their livelihoods are angry many days wait and the asking by politicians and the prime minister many in the movie are still allowed to hold large rallies of all days aren't allowed to earn a living and is a bit random al-jazeera. meanwhile france's coronavirus test toll has passed 100000 making it the country in the world to reach that number health authorities reported 300 deaths in hospital on thursday president the man went across government has been struggling to contain the 3rd wave of infections 1st with localized lockdowns and now with a national one francis recorded more than 5000000 cases since the beginning of the

pandemic that there is in paris and she says the government is showing respect but its measures aren't yet twerking. as most people in france very saddened indeed to learn that 100000 people have died of covert 19 in the country since the pandemic began more than a year ago now it is a very grim milestone it is a very sad time for many people indeed we saw a tweet from the french president emmanuel michael he said the people who have died to not be forgotten he said that they are parents they are children they are siblings and that the french government also made it clear that they might organize a commemoration in memory of think tim's although war shape that would take we don't know yet it is particularly poignant because it comes at a time in which france is still really thoroughly in battling

a 3rd wave of coronavirus we've seen i.c.u. across the country nearly saturated the daily infection rates are still extremely high health workers say they are exhausted and they say that the peak is still yet to come and that we could be in this health crisis for many weeks to come america's top diplomat is in afghanistan to reassure the government of continued u.s. support despite a for withdrawal of troops by september the secretary of state says there will be a new push for diplomacy but there are questions of whether the country's institutions and crucially the security forces are up to the task filo country free reports from kabul. there's afghans are going about their daily lives as usual but they know afghanistan is heading for an uncertain future and many are angry the united states failed to bring them what it promised peace that in

a war that will say we did not see that peace in a fit in security increased off today announced the peace process the security situation is very bad the shopkeepers cannot operate at night people cannot go to their home when it gets dark because they are afraid but if the americans are leaving now they should leave responsibly in an unannounced visit to kabul hours after the withdrawal announcement secretary of state anthony blinken assured afghan politicians that the united states remains committed to their country the united states will remain afghanistan steadfast partner we want the afghan people countries in the region and the international community to know that fact. it's also a very important message for the taliban to hear but with violence rising across afghanistan in the absence of a peace deal between the government and the taliban it is not clear what this commitment will look like for the 1st time in 20 years and so with foreign troops

leaving afghanistan will have to defend itself alone and many people are questioning whether it would certainly forces can do that the president said of ghana's stand security forces are fully capable of defending the country up and did its combat operations over 5 years ago and the afghan security forces conduct over 95 percent of all combat operations yet they still heavily reliant on u.s. airpower and are trained by nato troops when a few months will also be gone the taliban insists that the u.s. sticks to the may 1st deadline saying in a statement that if it doesn't problems will be compounded some afghans are optimistic. because while you. said with decision that the foreign ports are leaving afghanistan this is good for the our complete will to the afghanistan's

good security forces are able to open the country fears of a civil war and a taliban takeover are high especially among afghan women who gori whether the gains they've made in the last 20 years will be protected i feel a little bit frightened to be honest also other women that i've spoken to today and yesterday who are leading women's activism they had a congress actually today and women are very frightened they feel that they don't know what's going to be happening in there hasn't been any prime minister set on women's rights and the future of women in this country but the u.s. military says it hopes to leave afghanistan with a chance for peace and the 1st sign of this will be just days away if it's able to convince the taliban and the government to sit at the same table at a peace summit in turkey political to free al-jazeera kabul. the greek and turkish foreign ministers have traded accusations in their 1st meeting since

their countries came close to confrontation in the mediterranean last year greek foreign minister nicolas the n.d.s. met the president there than on his trip to ankara but an initially core deal joint press conference turned sour when he said violations of greek sovereignty would be met with sanctions the turkish foreign minister called it an acceptable the 2 countries have grown tense over their claims in the eastern mediterranean. north korea is marking the most important day in its calendar the birth date of its founding father kim il sung but what is known as the day of the sun has been darkened by admissions from leader kim jong un that the country faces huge problems robbed of bribe reports from seoul. this is the upbeat image north korea wants to project to the world extensive coverage on state run media of leader kim jong un

presiding over projects that improve people's lives like this housing development in pyongyang or of happy citizens taking part in a drawing and calligraphy festival to coincide with the day of the sun and good news features such as this one about a flourishing tea culture thanks to the beneficence of north korea's leader into this isn't a loose spec to general secretary took measures to build a factory so that people could have tea at any time and place but domestically kim jong un has had to deliver a far more somber assessment of the multiple problems his country is facing and that his people are all too aware of more than a year of self-imposed isolation because of the pandemic has compounded the impact of vuln going international sanctions and food shortages from last year's storms that ruined crops without going only that i ask party members it's only evils to

wage another more difficult arduous march in order to relieve the people's hardships as they follow their party as their mother. the arduous march is the euphemism for the famine in north korea suffered during the 1990 s. following the collapse of its ally the soviet union and failed harvests kim jong un's comparison with those grim days seems to be the clearest the mission yet of the extent of his country's problems more proof of the north side salacious came with the announcement it won't be taking part in the upcoming tokyo olympics dashing the south korean hopes of trying to revive diplomacy around contacts at the games but state run media has focused attention instead on athletes training for games to mark the day of the sun as. further evidence that on this most important day in north korea's calendar everything is just fine but bright al-jazeera soul.

from the pandemic to america's racial reckoning 2020 was nothing short of historic now the world press photo contest has announced their picks of the best iconic images the 1st embrace showing the reunion of a brazilian care home resident and loved one were selected as photo of the year that was by mads nissen and how b.b. by antonia french longo documenting love stories set against the backdrop of the israeli palestinian conflict was awarded the photo story of the year where mats missing was the recipient of the world press photo of the year award he spoke to al-jazeera a little earlier about the images significance is a care center the care home in in outside of some poland you see a nurse of the ana embracing the re woman called rosa and who is

85 years old and or also has been isolated in this care home for 5 months and without basically any in the in the physical contact except for the most necessary so it's the 1st time in 5 months you can actually embrace another person . amazing picture and world and him you can find that much more in everything that we have been covering on our website there it is al jazeera dot com. and now a reminder of the top stories on al-jazeera u.s. president joe biden has called on russia to deescalate tensions after he imposed fresh sanctions against moscow for alleged election interference and cyber attacks biden said his actions were proportionate and insists there is still room for the 2 countries to work together i was clearly. going through.