Cohen’s credibility, campaigning at court and other takeaways from Trump trial’s closing arguments
NEW YORK (AP) — Lawyers in Donald Trump’s hush money trial have sparred over evidence and witnesses as they made their closing arguments to jurors who will decide whether the Republican will be the first former American president convicted of a crime. The panel of New Yorkers could begin deliberating as early as Wednesday to decide if Trump is guilty of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments during the 2016 presidential campaign to a porn actor who claimed she had sex with him. Trump says Stormy Daniels’ story of a sexual encounter with him is a lie and that he’s innocent of the charges.
To recuse or refuse? A look at Supreme Court justices’ decisions on whether to step aside in cases
WASHINGTON (AP) — In declining to step aside from two high-profile Supreme Court cases, Justice Samuel Alito has provided a rare window on the opaque process by which justices decide to recuse themselves. Alito faced calls from Democrats to step aside from two cases involving former President Donald Trump and Jan. 6 defendants because of the controversy over flags that flew over his homes. Alito said Wednesday that his wife was responsible for flying the flags, which were like those carried by rioters at the Capitol in January 2021. In letters to members of Congress, Alito wrote that his impartiality could not reasonably be questioned. The explanation is unlikely to satisfy Democratic critics, but they have little recourse.
Israel says it’s taken control of key area of Gaza’s border with Egypt awash in smuggling tunnels
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s military says it’s seized control of a strategic corridor that runs along the length of Gaza’s border with Egypt. The capture on Wednesday gives Israel control over a strip of land that it says is awash in smuggling tunnels that have bolstered the militant Hamas group. But it could complicate relations with Egypt, which has warned against an increase of Israeli troops in the area. The move comes as Israel has deepened its incursion into the southern Gaza city of Rafah. A top Israeli official meanwhile warned that the war could stretch through the end of the year.
A nurse honored for compassion is fired after referring to Gaza ‘genocide’ in speech
NEW YORK (AP) — A nurse was fired by a New York City hospital after she referred to Israel’s war in Gaza as “genocide” during a speech accepting an award. Hesen Jabr was being honored by NYU Langone Health for her compassion in caring for mothers who had lost babies when she drew a link between her work and the suffering of mothers in Gaza. Jabr said that Palestinian women are going through unimaginable losses “during the current genocide in Gaza,” She was fired the next time she reported for work. A spokesperson for NYU Langone said some of Jabr’s colleagues were upset by her comments.
Hong Kong court convicts 14 pro-democracy activists in the city’s biggest national security case
HONG KONG (AP) — A Hong Kong court has convicted 14 pro-democracy activists in the city’s biggest national security case under a law imposed by Beijing that has all but wiped out public dissent. Those who were found guilty Thursday included former lawmakers Leung Kwok-hung, Lam Cheuk-ting. But the three judges approved by the government to oversee the case acquitted two former district councilors Lee Yue-shun and Lawrence Lau. They were among 47 democracy advocates who were prosecuted in 2021 for their involvement in an unofficial primary election. Prosecutors had accused them of attempting to paralyze Hong Kong’s government and topple the city’s leader by securing the legislative majority necessary to indiscriminately veto budgets.
When South Africa’s election results are expected and why the president will be chosen later
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — South Africans have voted in a national election that could be the country’s most hotly contested in 30 years. The long-ruling African National Congress party is facing a stern test to hold onto its majority. Under the South African political system, people vote for parties and not directly for the president in their national elections. The two processes are separate, even though they are linked. Voters choose parties to decide the makeup of Parliament and lawmakers then elect the president. The ANC is widely expected to still be the biggest party but if it loses its majority it would complicate how the president is elected.
Harvey Weinstein may face new charges as more accusers come forward, New York prosecutors say
NEW YORK (AP) — Manhattan prosecutors have told a judge they are evaluating new claims of sexual misconduct made against Harvey Weinstein. Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg has said during a court hearing Wednesday that additional people have come forward with assault claims and prosecutors are currently assessing which fall under the statute of limitations. She says some potential survivors that were not ready to step forward during Weinstein’s first trial may now be willing to testify, and prosecutors could potentially seek a new indictment against Weinstein ahead of his scheduled retrial on rape charges later this year. Weinstein says he is innocent.
On spelling’s saddest day, hyped National Spelling Bee competitors see their hopes dashed
OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — The Scripps National Spelling Bee had its toughest day of competition with the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds. Wednesday began with 148 spellers on stage and by the end of the semifinals, 140 had been eliminated. Among them were several veteran spellers who hoped to improve on their previous performances and qualify for Thursday night’s finals. Spellers say a lot of luck can come into play as Scripps pulls from more than half a million words in Webster’s Unabridged dictionary. And those who’ve performed well in prior years often fall short of expectations.
Violence clouds the last day of campaigning for Mexico’s election
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico has held the last day of campaigning before Sunday’s nationwide elections. But the closing campaign rallies Wednesday were darkened by a wave of attacks on candidates. Late on Tuesday, a mayoral candidate in the western state of Jalisco was shot multiple times by intruders in his home. Two of his campaign staff were also wounded, and all three are hospitalized in serious condition. Gunmen killed an alternate mayoral candidate in Morelos state, just south of Mexico City. Attackers on a motorcycle shot him five times in the head. Alternate candidates take office if the winner of a race is incapacitated or resigns.
Josh Gibson becomes MLB career and season batting leader as Negro Leagues statistics incorporated
NEW YORK (AP) — Josh Gibson became Major League Baseball’s career leader with a .372 batting average, surpassing Ty Cobb’s .367, when records of the Negro Leagues for more than 2,300 players were incorporated after a three-year research project. Gibson’s .466 average for the 1943 Homestead Grays became the season standard, followed by Charlie “Chino” Smith’s .451 for the 1929 New York Lincoln Giants. They overtook the .440 by Hugh Duffy for the National League’s Boston team in 1894. Gibson also became the career leader in slugging percentage at .718 and OPS at 1.177, moving ahead of Babe Ruth in each statistic.
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