The first criminal trial of a former U.S. president, Donald Trump, kicked off with opening statements that painted contrasting pictures of the former leader. Prosecutors portrayed Trump as a co-conspirator in a cover-up of three sex scandals that threatened his 2016 election win, accusing him of repeatedly lying to protect his candidacy. On the other hand, Trump’s lawyers dismissed the case as a mere “business records violation,” attempting to discredit key prosecution witnesses like Michael Cohen, Trump’s former fixer.
The trial also featured testimony from David Pecker, the former head of The National Enquirer, who allegedly bought and buried stories that could have harmed Trump’s 2016 campaign. The proceedings were cut short to accommodate the Passover holiday and a juror’s emergency dental appointment.
In other news, Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva, Israel’s director of military intelligence, resigned following intelligence failures that preceded Hamas-led attacks on Israel. His resignation is seen as a symbol of the Israeli establishment’s failure to prevent the deadly assault, putting pressure on other senior officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Additionally, the U.K. government successfully passed a controversial Rwanda deportation bill, allowing for the deportation of asylum seekers to Rwanda for claim processing. Critics argue that the law is inhumane and unworkable, tarnishing the country’s reputation for rule of law.
Lastly, the demand for weight loss drugs from Novo Nordisk has brought economic benefits to the Danish town of Kalundborg. That’s all for today’s briefing. Stay tuned for more updates and don’t forget to check out the new podcast “The Interview” debuting this Saturday.
