Japanese baseball great Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter was released on bond after appearing in court on a bank fraud charge accusing him of stealing $16 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers star.

Los Angeles

Shohei Ohtani's previous interpreter has been released on bond following a court appearance on a charge of bank fraud. The charge accuses him of embezzling $16 million from the renowned Japanese baseball player, who has made a significant impact playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The bond was set at $25,000, signaling the beginning of legal proceedings against the interpreter in connection to the alleged financial wrongdoing.



Ohtani's ex-interpreter released on $25,000 bond

The former interpreter of Japanese baseball star Shoei Otani made his first appearance in court Friday on a bank fraud charge accusing him of stealing 16 million dollars from the LA Dodger to cover illegal gambling debts. Ipe Mizuhara, who was initially wearing ankle shackles, was released on bond of $25,000 and apologized through a lawyer at the court hearing. He did not enter a plea during the 25-minute proceeding before a judge in downtown Los Angeles who ordered him to return for an arraignment on May 9th. The hearing came a day after prosecutors charged the ex-interpreter and publicly exonerated Otani. Mr. Mizuhara stole over 16 million dollars from Mr. Otani's account in order to pay for these illegal sports bets. Phone and bank records show that Mr. Mizuhara appears to have accessed Mr. Otani's bank account online. What is more, Mr. Mizuhara lied to the bank to access the account. Federal prosecutors stressed that there was no evidence suggesting Otani, who signed a record 700 million dollar 10-year contract with the Dodgers, was anything but a victim in the case.

Spain's Prime Minister said he has decided to stay in office after days of publicly weighing his future, generating relief amongst leftist allies, exasperation among the public and ridicule from his opponents. Sanchez said last week that he was retreating from public duty to decide whether to quit.

Madrid

Pedro Sanchez stays on as Spain's prime minister

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he is hopeful Hamas will accept an “extraordinarily generous” offer, as U.K. Foreign Minister David Cameron says it will include a 40-day ceasefire. But the sticking points remain: Israelis want a truce while Hamas demands a cessation of all hostilities.

Riyadh

Israel-Gaza War

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G7 environment ministers have gathered in Turin for two days of talks, as hundreds of protesters demonstrated in the city, some burning photos of the G7 leaders who they accuse of failing future generations over the climate crisis.

Turin

Climate Crisis

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French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne is in the Lebanese capital Beirut for talks aimed at easing tensions between Hezbollah and Israel. After meeting Lebanon’s influential Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah, and the head of the Lebanese army, Joseph Aoun, Sejourne said there had been “a lot of progress” over the French proposals.

Beirut

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At least four people are dead, including an infant, after a series of tornadoes swept across Oklahoma. The weather system is threatening the region with more twisters, heavy rain and large hail in a band stretching from Missouri to Texas.

Sulphur

At least four dead in Oklahoma tornadoes

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she would stand in upcoming European Parliament elections, a move apparently calculated to boost her far-right party, although she would be forced to resign immediately under EU rules.

Pescara

Italian far-right PM Meloni says will stand in EU elections

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Oklahoma

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Sydney bishop returns to pulpit after stabbing

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Canberra

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U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and "reiterated his clear position" on a possible invasion of the Gaza border city of Rafah, the White House said.

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Ukraine's top general says his troops have been forced to retreat as fighting on the country's eastern front intensified. Kyiv's forces have fallen back to new positions in at least three places along the front, west of the Donetsk region.

Donetsk

Ukraine Invasion

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk arrived in Beijing on an unannounced visit, to meet senior officials to discuss the rollout of Full Self-Driving software and permission to transfer data overseas, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

Shanghai

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Ohio police released video of a Black man who died at a local hospital after repeatedly telling officers "I can't breathe" as they pinned him to the floor of a bar and handcuffed him, evoking memories of the killing of George Floyd in 2020.

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Sderot

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Jerusalem

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King Charles will return to his public duties next week for the first time since his February cancer diagnosis, visiting a cancer treatment centre. There fears his Australian trip will be delayed, while he continues treatment for his own cancer battle.

Windsor

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Council of the City of Sydney

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Baku

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London

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Paris

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Nairobi

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An Australian journalist has been named as a key figure in Donald Trump's criminal trial. Dylan Howard, the former editor of the National Enquirer in the U.S. accused of buying and burying negative stories as part of a deal to help him become President.

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U.S. Presidential Election

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Marsden Park

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After a crucial hearing, U.S. Supreme Court justices are weighing arguments for and against Donald Trump's claims of presidential immunity from 2020 election interference charges, but a ruling will take time.