Six In The Morning Thursday 22 April 2021

Biden announces US will halve emissions by 2030

"Like all island nations, we remain committed to climate action," says Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica.

"Major emitters should contribute more financially to the problem."

The women speaking so far at this summit are few and far between - as most of the heads of state who have spoken are men.

But next up is Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand.

"Both our financial systems and financial flows to assist developing countries is at the heart of that transition," she says.

She urges other nations to do what New Zealand has done and price carbon, end fossil fuel subsidies, and finance adaptation.

‘It was a torture chamber’: Ugandans abducted in vicious crackdown

Exclusive: victims and relatives describe suffering as repression intensifies under Yoweri Museveni

Jason Burke and Samuel Okiror in Kampala

Thu 22 Apr 2021 15.00 BST

Hundreds of ordinary people suspected of supporting opposition politicians in Uganda have been snatched off the streets by security services in the worst wave of repression in the east African country for decades.

Many suffered systematic torture, detention in harsh conditions in often secret prisons and the denial of access to relatives or lawyers. The abductions, which were described in detail to the Guardian by survivors and relatives of victims, have led the UK and the US to express concern through diplomatic channels.

Some victims appear to have done no more than vote for political parties seeking to topple Uganda’s veteran president, 76-year-old Yoweri Museveni.

Barcelona maintains support of Super League despite backlash

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has maintained his support for the Super League despite the quick exit of 10 of the 12 founding clubs in the breakaway competition

Via AP news wire

Barcelona president Joan Laporta maintained his support for the Super League on Thursday despite the quick exit of 10 of the 12 founding clubs in the breakaway competition.

The Super League, which provoked a backlash by other clubs, fans and authorities around Europe, was announced by a dozen top clubs in England, Spain and Italy on Sunday, but it quickly collapsed and is now officially backed only by Barcelona and Real Madrid.

“It is absolutely necessary,” Laporta said on Catalan public television in his first public comments on the project. “The biggest clubs create the most financial resources and we must have our say in deciding how the earnings are shared.”

Russia orders soldiers back from Ukraine border after weeks of tension

The move could end weeks of geopolitical tension caused by a massive buildup of troops and weaponry at the Ukraine border.

The Russian defense minister on Thursday ordered troops at the Ukraine border to return to their regular positions.

The move could end weeks of tension caused by a buildup of troops and weaponry at the Ukraine border.

"I believe that the goals of the snap check have been fully achieved. The troops have demonstrated their ability to provide a reliable defense of the country. In this regard, I have decided to complete the inspections in the Southern and Western military districts," Sergey Shoigu said in Crimea.

South Korea ends aid for coal plants overseas

South Korea will stop funding coal-powered plants overseas, President Moon Jae-in told a US-led summit Thursday, as he vowed a larger role in fighting climate change.

The progressive president said he was expanding a decision at home to phase out coal, the dirtiest form of energy.

"Korea will end our public financing for overseas, coal-fired power plants," Moon told the summit convened by President Joe Biden.

US Capitol Police officer allegedly told units to only monitor for 'anti-Trump' protesters on January 6

By Zachary Cohen, CNN

Updated 0314 GMT (1114 HKT) April 22, 2021

A US Capitol Police officer directed "all outside units" on the morning of January 6 to only monitor for anti-Trump agitators "who want to start a fight," not any "pro-Trump in the crowd," according to the findings of a newly revealed internal investigation.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren described the radio broadcast, the existence of which was not previously known, during a House Administration Committee hearing on security failures around the January 6 attack.

In that transmission, the officer said: "Attention all units on the field, we're not looking for any pro-Trump in the crowd. We're only looking for any anti pro-Trump who want to start a fight," according to Lofgren, a California Democrat.