Trump lawyer suggests hush money payment was extortion
Fact: A lawyer for Donald Trump sought to portray the hush money payment at the center of his criminal trial as extortion.
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The Cypriot woman hanged by Britain
Fact: Styllou Pantopiou Christofi was the penultimate woman in Britain to be hanged on December 15, 1954.
Harvey Weinstein will be retried in New York after rape conviction overturned
Harvey Weinstein will be retried in New York after his 2020 rape conviction was thrown out by the state’s highest court. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office confirmed the decision in court, with Weinstein appearing in a wheelchair. He had been serving a 23-year sentence but was transferred to Bellevue Hospital following the order. The new trial is expected to take place after Labor Day, with Weinstein’s attorney expressing confidence in a ‘not guilty’ verdict. The retrial was prompted by the Court of Appeals finding that Judge James Burke allowed testimony of alleged sexual assaults not related to the charges against Weinstein, violating his right to a fair trial. Harvey Weinstein co-founded Miramax and his own film studio, which filed for bankruptcy in 2018.
Limassol protest: Detainees speak of police verbal and physical abuse
Ten individuals arrested at a Limassol demonstration speak of an unprovoked police attack, horrible detention conditions, and abuse by the police. They were arrested following scuffles between protesters and police officers demanding a fair investigation into the death of Bangladeshi immigrant Anisur Rahman. Protestors and lawyers dispute the police’s account, describing the clash as an “unprovoked attack” and accusing the police of abuse.
Attempts for compromise in the Habakkuk Monastery scandal
Efforts have been made to reconcile the two sides in the Habakkuk Monastery scandal, but conditions are not yet conducive. The monks have sent messages to Metropolitan Isaiah of Tamasos to find a solution and withdraw mutual complaints to the police. The matter is now in the hands of the Holy Synod, and efforts are being made to find a compromise on the criminal issue. The final position of Metropolitan Isaiah will depend on the outcome of investigations into the origin of the €807,000.
Judge fines Trump $9,000 for contempt, threatens jail
The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s criminal hush money trial fined the former U.S. president ,000 for contempt of court and warned that he could face jail time if he continued to violate a gag order.
Republican-led states sue to block Biden protections for transgender students
Five Republican-led states have filed lawsuits challenging new Biden administration regulations that prohibit schools and colleges receiving federal funding from discriminating against students based on their gender identity.
French actor Gerard Depardieu to be tried in October over alleged sexual
French actor Gerard Depardieu will be tried in October for alleged sexual assaults against two women during a 2021 film shoot.
Outlining the key players in Auditor General court case
Three judges of the Supreme Constitutional Court, including the current president, previously participated in a case involving the dismissal of a state official for inappropriate behavior. Two lawyers of the Auditor General also have experience in a similar case, as they represented the former Attorney General. The current Deputy Attorney General may be a witness in the process, as one of the issues raised concerns a complaint against him. Two large law firms will represent the Attorney General in the legal battle, one of which has ties to a former judge who prepared a report on the state official in the previous case.
Trump trial tests his campaign strategy of embracing bad publicity
Donald Trump is facing a hush money trial in New York and is using the media attention to amplify his claims of persecution. He is meeting with foreign dignitaries at Trump Tower, making staged visits to locations like a convenience store in Harlem, and posting on his Truth Social platform. Despite the trial, Trump has not had any campaign rallies but is planning some in battleground states. The trial could carry political risks for Trump, as opinion polls show some Republican voters may turn against him if he becomes a convicted felon. The Biden White House is seeking to draw a contrast between Trump and Biden, with Trump accusing the trial of being a witch hunt on his social media platform. Foreign dignitaries have visited Trump at Trump Tower, and he has made efforts to engage in major issues like the war in Ukraine.