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Donald Trump indictment: Ex-US president to be charged over hush money

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Donald Trump, a former US president, will face charges related to payments made to a porn performer right before the 2016 election.

His accusation’s specifics have not yet been made public.After looking into a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels in an effort to purchase her silence about an alleged affair, a grand jury decided to prosecute him.

Trump, 76, says he did nothing wrong. He is the first sitting or past president of the US to be accused of a crime. The investigation’s lead prosecutor, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, acknowledged that his office had gotten in touch with Mr. Trump’s lawyer to “coordinate his surrender” on unnamed allegations.

The ex-president, who lives in Florida, is expected to fly to New York on Monday and be arraigned in court on Tuesday, two sources familiar with the matter told CBS News, the BBC’s US partner.

The hearing is scheduled to last roughly 10-15 minutes, and the counts in the indictment will be read to him during that time.

Security for the court appearance will be handled by the US Secret Service, which is responsible for guarding current and previous US presidents.
Stormy Daniels, an actress of adult films, approached media agencies in 2016 and offered to sell them her account of what she claimed to be an adulterous liaison she had with Donald Trump in 2006, the year after he wed Melania.

When Mr. Trump’s team learned of this, his attorney Michael Cohen paid Ms. Daniels $130,000 to be silent. There is no crime here.

However, when Mr Trump reimbursed his lawyer, the record for the payment says it was for legal fees. Prosecutors say this amounts to Mr Trump falsifying business records, which is a misdemeanour – a criminal offence – in New York.

Prosecutors could also potentially allege that this breaks election law, because his attempt to hide his payments to Ms Daniels were motivated by not wanting voters to know he had an affair with her.

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Pope Francis: Health improving after night in hospital

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The Vatican has stated that Pope Francis’ health is doing better after he was sent to the hospital with a respiratory illness.

He was admitted to Gemelli Hospital on Wednesday, for what was initially said to be a planned check-up. According to a statement released on Thursday by Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni, the 86-year-old pope’s medical care is still ongoing.

He said, “His Holiness Pope Francis slept soundly last night.” He read a few newspapers this morning after breakfast before getting back to work.

He continued by saying that he then went to the hospital’s chapel, where he prayed and received the Communion.

When the Pope might leave Rome’s Gemelli hospital was not specified by Mr. Bruni. He is anticipated to stay there for “a few days,” according to the Vatican on Wednesday.

According to a source with intimate information who spoke to the BBC, his closest team members—including security—spent the night with him. The Easter holiday weekend is the busiest period of the year for Pope Francis, who has a full programme of events and services.

This weekend is Palm Sunday Mass, followed by Holy Week and Easter activities the following week. Nurses were hopeful that he would be discharged in time for Palm Sunday, according to Italian news agency Ansa.

It stated that testing had ruled out pneumonia and cardiac issues. The Church previously declared that he was not afflicted with Covid-19.

Earlier this month, the Argentine pontiff celebrated his tenth anniversary as head of the Catholic Church. It is a well-known fact that the majority of the world’s population lives in the urban environment.

He maintains a hectic schedule and travels extensively, although he has used a wheelchair for the past year due to knee discomfort and acknowledged last summer that he had to slow down.

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News Trending

Spanish anger over TV star Ana Obregón’s surrogate baby in US

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Ana Obregón, a Spanish television actress, has drawn criticism for disclosing that at the age of 68, she gave birth to a girl in the US through a surrogate. Obregón is well recognised for his roles as the lead in several Spanish sitcoms.

She had previously discussed her efforts to move on with her life when her son, who was also her sole child, died of cancer in 2020 at the age of 27. All kinds of surrogacy are prohibited in Spain, however parents who return to the country can adopt the child.

Following the passing of her son, Obregón, who also lost both of her parents, was depicted on the cover of the Hola! magazine earlier this week holding a newborn outside a Miami hospital.

In an Instagram post, she later commented on the magazine cover, saying:

“A light full of love came into my darkness.

“I will never be alone again. I AM ALIVE AGAIN.”

Her remarks ignited debate on Spanish social media, and ministers in Spain’s left-wing government were incensed at the move.

The image of Obregón leaving the hospital was dubbed “Dantesque” by education minister Pilar Alegra in reference to the Italian author’s descent into hell.

Equality Minister Irene Montero claimed the measure was “a form of aggression against women” and added there was a “clear poverty prejudice” against women who become surrogate mothers because they needed the money.

This is not surrogacy, this is renting a womb,” Ms. Alegra added. “As we all know, this is an illegal procedure in Spain.” Presidency Minister Felix Bolaos remarked that “women’s bodies should neither be bought nor hired to satisfy anyone’s demands.”

Cuca Gamarra, the second-ranking member of the conservative People’s Party, was more circumspect, stating that the topic required “deep and quiet debates because it touches on many issues.

Spain’s Socialist-led coalition government came to power almost five years ago and has made women’s rights one of its key areas of policy.

Earlier this year, it imposed tighter restrictions on surrogacy, banning advertisement for surrogacy agencies.

It identifies surrogacy as a form of violence against women and categorises any type of forced pregnancy, abortion, sterilisation or contraception in the same way.

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Food News Trending

Italy’s Quest to Preserve Culinary Tradition: Controversy Surrounds Ban on Lab-Grown Meat

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A plan that would outlaw laboratory-produced beef and other synthetic foods has the support of Italy’s right-wing government, underlining the country’s culinary tradition and commitment to public health.

A violation of the ban might result in fines of up to €60,000 (£53,000) if the plans are approved.

The minister of agriculture and food sovereignty under a new name, Francesco Lollobrigida, spoke on the value of Italian cuisine. The measure was applauded by the farmers’ group.

But, it was a setback for certain animal welfare organisations, who had promoted lab-produced meat as a solution to problems like preserving food safety and the environment from carbon emissions.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is one of the 500,000 signatories to a petition that Coldiretti and other agriculture advocacy groups have gathered in recent months to safeguard “natural food vs. synthetic food.”

She addressed a “flash mob” assembled by Coldiretti outside her office in Rome, saying, “We could only rejoice with our farmers a legislation that puts our farmers in the vanguard, not just on the topic of safeguarding quality… but also in defending consumers.”

The proposed bill came hard on the heels of a series of government decrees banning the use of flour derived from insects such as crickets and locusts in pizza or pasta.

Both initiatives were initiated by ministers who cited Italy’s renowned Mediterranean diet as their inspiration.

“Laboratory products can not guarantee quality, well-being, or the safeguarding of the Italian food and wine culture and tradition, to which part of our tradition is related,” said Mr. Lollobrigida, a member of the far-right Brothers of Italy party.

The measures, which were adopted by the ministers on Tuesday, aim to outlaw lab-produced fish and synthetic milk as well as other synthetic meals made from animal cells without harming the animal.

After “careful review,” the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last November approved cell-cultured chicken for human consumption. Singapore’s regulatory body approved the use of lab-grown chicken meat in nuggets in 2020.

Although the European Union has not yet approved any cell-based agriculture practises, such as cultured meat, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has stated that such practises “could be considered as a promising and innovative solution… for healthy and environmentally friendly food systems.”

Commentators noted that due to the free flow of goods and services, Italy would not be able to object to the sale of synthetic beef made within the EU once it receives EU clearance.

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News Trending

Swiss court case ties human rights to climate change

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More than 2,000 women are suing the Swiss government for allegedly infringing their right to life and health through its climate change policies.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) will consider the case as the first one involving the effects of climate change on human rights. It comes after six years of futile court fighting in Switzerland.

Switzerland’s temperatures are rising faster than the average for the world, and heatwaves are happening more frequently. The 73-year-old average age of the Swiss women claim that the threat of climate change puts their life, health, and even human rights in jeopardy. Their medical records were submitted as evidence to the court.

They urge Switzerland to make a bigger effort to cut greenhouse gas emissions by issuing an order from the ECHR. The Swiss government acknowledges that climate change can have an impact on health, but claims that it cannot be directly linked to the wellbeing of older women.

If the women prevail, the case might serve as a precedent for all 46 of the nations that make up the European Court. Human activity is causing global temperatures to rise, and climate change now threatens every aspect of human existence.

Unchecked global warming will have disastrous effects on humanity and ecosystems, including increased droughts, rising sea levels, and a mass extinction of species.

Globally, extreme weather events are already getting more and more dangerous, endangering lives and livelihoods.

Climate scientists believe that if we wish to prevent the worst effects of climate change, temperature rises must be curbed. They claim that by 2100, global warming must be limited to 1.5C.

If the increase in global temperature is not maintained to 1.5C, Europe will be at risk of flooding brought on by excessive precipitation, according to the UN climate organisation, the IPCC.

This was the case in Europe last summer, extreme temperatures can also raise the risk of wildfires. In comparison to the average, France and Germany burned nearly seven times more land between January and the middle of July 2022.

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News Trending

Lisbon stabbing: Two women killed at Ismaili Muslim centre

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At a mosque in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, two women were fatally stabbed. The Ismaili Center on Avenida Lusada was the scene of the assault. Police shot the guy in the leg while he was in possession of a big knife.

After being detained, he was brought to the hospital. It’s unclear why the attack on Tuesday occurred. Police reported that shortly after the suspect entered the centre, they received a call at around 11:00 local time. The man was shot after officers ordered him to stop the attack.

The two victims were Portuguese ladies, according to Nazim Ahmad, the head of the Ismaili community, who was speaking to SIC Noticias. The perpetrator was an Afghan.

Portuguese media reported that one of them served as the attacker’s English teacher at the school and the other was a classmate.

The attacker arrived in Portugal “a year or so ago,” according to Omed Taeri, the president of the Afghan Community Association, and was receiving assistance from the Ismaili centre.

According to Mr. Taeri, who spoke to CNN Portugal, “This individual lost his wife in Greece and suffers from psychological problems as a result of this event.”

The Ismaili community was described as being “shocked and grieved by this occurrence and is extending support to the relatives of the victims” in a statement posted on their website.

Discussing a potential reason was deemed “premature” by Prime Minister Antonio Costa because it appeared to be “an isolated incident”.

Carlos Moedas, the mayor of Lisbon, said, “We got the news of the horrific act within the Ismaili community in Lisbon with deep regret.” On Tuesday, the police warned people to stay away from the vicinity of the Ismaili Center.

According to a worker at the centre, the Portuguese news outlet Sapo: “It happened in a flash. In the centre, the police are conducting an investigation.”

Ismailism is a branch of Shia Islam. Followers recognise Prince Karim Aga Khan as their spiritual leader.

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News Trending War

Ukraine war: Germany sends much-awaited Leopard tanks

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According to the German defence ministry, Germany has sent its first shipment of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. After receiving training to operate them, 18 state-of-the-art main battle tanks were sent to Ukraine.

Boris Pistorius, the defence minister, expressed his confidence that the tanks might “make a major contribution” on the front lines of the conflict. According to reports from Ukraine, Challenger 2 tanks have also arrived.

For months, Ukraine has demanded more advanced vehicles and weaponry to aid in defending against the Russian invasion.

Although they have acknowledged the delivery of the first Challenger 2 tanks produced in the UK, the Ukrainian government has not yet commented on the arrival of the Leopard 2s.

Europe now employs about 2,000 Leopard 2 main combat tanks, which are regarded as some of the best manufactured by NATO nations. Germany initially baulked at supplying the tanks—or even allowing other nations to send their own—to Ukraine, but in January it finally agreed to do so.

According to German law, Berlin must provide its consent before any nation may sell Leopard 2s again.

The tanks “have put it into the hands of our Ukrainian comrades as promised and on time,” according to German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.

During the past few weeks, the German army has taught Ukrainian tank operators to operate the cutting-edge Leopard 2 A6 model.

They are thought to be more fuel-efficient and easier to maintain than most other Western tanks because they were created expressly to compete with the Russian T-90 main battle tank.

Germany has also provided 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine along with two specialised tank recovery vehicles in addition to the Leopard 2s.

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News Trending

Parts Of Twitter Source Code Leaked Online: Report

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A legal document revealed that some of Twitter Inc.’s source code has been leaked, and the social media site, which is owned by billionaire Elon Musk, is looking for information on the perpetrator.
The filing claims that a user going by the name of “FreeSpeechEnthusiast” shared “multiple snippets” of the source code used to power Twitter’s online operations on Github, a platform controlled by Microsoft.
According to Github, the code was removed on Friday at Twitter’s request.

According to the March 24 complaint, Twitter has requested the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to require Github to turn over “Any identifiable information” connected to the user name “FreeSpeechEnthusiast.”

Github did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on whether it has supplied such information. It also did not comment on how long Twitter’s source code had been publicly available.A request for comment from Twitter also received no quick response. The New York Times was the first to break the news.

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News Trending

Germany’s Transport Gridlock: Nationwide Strike Halts Public Transport Services

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The public transport system in Germany has come to a halt today, as a result of a nationwide strike by transport workers. The strike was called by the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), which represents over six million workers across the country.

The strike has affected trains, buses, and trams in cities across Germany, with many services cancelled or severely disrupted. Commuters were left stranded, with long queues forming at bus and tram stops across the country.

The DGB called the strike in response to the breakdown of negotiations with employers over pay and working conditions. The union is demanding a 4.8% pay increase for workers in the transport sector, as well as improved working conditions and job security.

Speaking to reporters, DGB spokesperson Sabine Zimmermann said: “We have been negotiating with the employers for months, but they have refused to listen to our demands. We have no choice but to take action to show them that we are serious about our demands.”

The strike has been met with frustration by many commuters, who have criticized the timing of the action. The strike comes at a time when Germany is in the midst of a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, and many people rely on public transport to get to work and access essential services.

In response to the strike, the German government has called on the unions and employers to return to the negotiating table and reach a resolution. In a statement, German Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer said: “The strike is causing significant disruption and inconvenience for millions of people across Germany. We urge both sides to come back to the table and find a solution that works for everyone.”

The strike is set to continue for the next 24 hours, with the DGB warning that further action may be taken if their demands are not met. The disruption caused by the strike is expected to have a significant impact on the German economy, with many businesses and industries relying on the country’s public transport system to operate effectively.

As the strike continues, commuters and businesses across Germany will be hoping for a speedy resolution to the dispute, and a return to normality for the country’s transport system.

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Uncategorized

Nato condemns ‘dangerous’ Russian nuclear rhetoric

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NATO has issued a strong condemnation of what it calls “dangerous” Russian nuclear rhetoric, following recent statements from Moscow regarding the potential use of nuclear weapons.

In a statement released on Friday, the military alliance called on Russia to refrain from using “provocative language” and to abide by international commitments to arms control.

“NATO is deeply concerned by recent statements from Russia regarding its willingness to use nuclear weapons,” the statement read. “This kind of rhetoric is dangerous and destabilizing, and undermines efforts to reduce tensions and promote stability.”

The statement comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin recently warned that Russia would use nuclear weapons in response to any threat to its sovereignty or territorial integrity. Putin’s comments followed the deployment of NATO forces to the Baltic States and Poland in response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has also expressed concern over the deployment of Russian missile systems in Europe, which he says violate the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.

“We call on Russia to return to full compliance with the INF Treaty and to engage in meaningful dialogue to resolve the issue,” Stoltenberg said in a statement earlier this month.

The INF Treaty, signed by the United States and Soviet Union in 1987, banned the development and deployment of ground-launched missiles with a range of between 500 and 5,500 kilometers.

NATO’s condemnation of Russian nuclear rhetoric comes amid heightened tensions between the alliance and Russia over issues including Ukraine, Syria and the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in the UK.

The military alliance has sought to counter what it sees as Russia’s aggressive behavior in recent years, by increasing its military presence in eastern Europe and strengthening its defenses against potential Russian aggression.

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