Former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush-money trial — for allegedly falsifying business records to cover up paying porn star Stormy Daniels to bury her story — is set to start this week in New York City. The world is watching how it will play out and whether it will impact his political future.

New York

Former U.S. President Donald Trump's trial, centered around allegations of falsifying business records to conceal a payment to porn star Stormy Daniels, is commencing in New York City. This trial marks a significant moment as Donald Trump is the first U.S. president to face criminal charges. The charges suggest that Trump paid Daniels to prevent her from publicizing a past sexual encounter, which could have jeopardized his 2016 presidential campaign.

The selection of jurors occurred last week, with Trump appearing visibly agitated during the process. The trial has garnered international attention due to its implications for Trump's political future, and criticisms of the New York judicial system by the defendant. LaDoris Cordell, a former Supreme Court judge in California, commented on the potential behavior of Trump during the trial, indicating that any disruptive conduct could lead to a contempt of court charge.

Prosecutors are likely to present Michael Cohen, a former attorney and fixer for Trump who has previously admitted to lying in court, as a key witness in the case. Despite his past, prosecutors will depend on Cohen's testimony to build their case. If found guilty, Trump could face up to four years in prison, although options like house arrest have been mentioned as possible sentencing outcomes.

Supporters of Trump argue that the timing and location of the trial, in a predominantly Democratic area during an election period, indicate a politically motivated process aimed at undermining his campaign efforts to return to the presidency.



Opening statements at Trump criminal trial set to begin

American history's being made here. Never before has a U.S. president been put on criminal trial. Now Donald Trump is facing a case that threatens his political future. It's a rigged trial. Our courts, everything is screwed up in New York and the whole world is watching. Prosecutors accused Trump of falsifying business records to cover up paying a porn star Stormy Daniels to bury her story of their sexual encounter. This to keep it from endangering his run for the White House in 2016. In court, Trump sat fuming last week as 12 jurors were chosen. I seriously doubt that Donald Trump will be able to contain himself. LaDoris Cordell is a former Supreme Court judge in California. So if he fails to contain himself during the opening statements if he starts saying something or or conducts himself in a matter that is absolutely inappropriate or disruptive then you know what he'll be facing a contempt charge. The prosecution's star witness is likely Michael Cohen the former Trump fixer who handled his hush money. Trouble is he's lied in court before. He's a convicted perjurer. So they're going to say you really can't rely on those facts. If convicted, Trump faces up to four years in jail. But he could get house arrest. He could be incarcerated in his home with an ankle bracelet which would be something to behold. Trump supporters are crying foul saying he can't get a fair trial in Democratic New York. To do it conveniently during a presidential election when he's campaigning to return to the White House I think proves that this is all politically motivated.

Mexican authorities say three bodies have been found in an area where two Australian brothers and their American travel companion are missing. It follows the arrest of three people in relation to their disappearance.

Baja California

Bodies found in search for missing Perth brothers

China has launched an uncrewed spacecraft on a nearly two-month mission to retrieve rocks and soil from the far side of the moon, the first country to make such an ambitious attempt.

Wenchang

China launches mission to far side of the moon

Britain's opposition Labour Party won a parliamentary seat in northern England on Friday (May 3) and control of several councils, inflicting heavy losses on the governing Conservatives to pile more pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

London

U.K.'s Labour claims big early win over Conservatives

Turkey has announced that it is halting trade with Israel, worth $7 billion a year, until a permanent ceasefire and humanitarian aid are secured in Gaza. Israel denounced the decision as breaking trade agreements.

Ankara

Turkey to stop trade with Israel until Gaza ceasefire

Media watchdog group Reporters Without Borders warned of declining government support for press freedom as it unveiled its annual world rankings on Friday, highlighting Argentina among the countries where the situation has deteriorated.

Paris

States doing less to support press freedom, says watchdog

Arizona's Democratic governor signed a bill overturning an 1864 law banning abortion, a month after the state's supreme court said the Civil War-era rule was valid.

Arizona

Arizona governor signs bill repealing 1864 abortion ban

U.S. President Joe Biden said that both freedom of speech and the rule of law must be respected in protests at college campuses over Israel's war in Gaza. In response to a reporter's question, Biden said that the campus protests had not forced him to reconsider his policies in the Middle East.

Washington

Biden breaks silence on protests at University Campuses

From suspensions to expulsions to criminal charges, college students across the U.S. involved in these pro-Palestinian protests could face life-changing consequences. Some are demanding amnesty for these protesters.

More than 1,000 student protesters arrested across U.S.

English voters are heading to polling stations to pick mayors, councilors and a new lawmaker in the last electoral test for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak before a national vote later this year.

Voters head to polls in last test for U.K.'s Sunak

The US State Department accused Russia of having used a chemical weapon against Ukrainian forces in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, while also announcing fresh sanctions against Moscow. In addition to the chemical agent chloropicrin, Russia also used "riot control agents (tear gas) as a method of warfare in Ukraine, also in violation of the CWC," the department said in a factsheet.

Zaporizhzhia

Ukraine Invasion

U.S. accuses Russia of using chemical weapons in Ukraine

There are grave concerns for Perth brothers Jake and Callum Robinson who are missing on a surf trip in Mexico's Baja region. The pair have failed to arrive at their accommodation and are not responding to contact from their families.

Council of the City of Sydney

Grave fears for brothers missing on Mexico surf trip

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has kept open the prospect of tax incentives in the budget as business warned that changes to foreign investment laws. It comes amid criticism that budget spending could prompt further inflation and prompt rate rises.

Government hints at further tax incentives in Budget

Colombian President Gustavo Petro says his country will break diplomatic relations with Israel. He's criticised Israel's conduct since the start of the war on Gaza. Petro requested to join South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide.

Bogotá

Israel-Gaza War

Colombia ends diplomatic relations with Israel

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, pushing to get more aid into Gaza, while urging Hamas to accept a deal that would halt fighting and bring some hostages home from the enclave.

Jerusalem

Blinken pushes for sustained aid into Gaza during Israel trip

Police in Georgia fired teargas and rubber bullets at protesters demonstrating against a bill that would require organizations – including media and NGOs – that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as agents "pursuing the interests of a foreign power." The bill has been dubbed the "Russian law" by its detractors.

Tbilisi

Thousands protest against Georgia's 'foreign influence' bill

A diplomatic push is underway to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, with the U.S. exerting pressure on Hamas to agree to Israel's terms. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to attack Rafah in southern Gaza, whether there's a ceasefire or not.

Netanyahu vows to invade Rafah 'with or without' ceasefire deal

Qantas has apologised to customers after its app exposed personal passenger data. The airline blames a technical disruption and says the data breach was not a cyber security incident.

Qantas app data breach exposes customer data

The International Court of Justice has ruled against issuing emergency measures over German arms sales to Israel as requested by Nicaragua, which had argued that there was a serious risk of genocide in Gaza amid Israel’s assault on the Palestinian territory.

The Hague

ICJ rejects measures over German arms exports to Israel

New York police have entered Columbia University and arrested protesters barricaded inside a building who have been calling on the New York school to divest itself from companies associated with Israel.

Police enter Columbia University, arrest protesters

A smiling and healthy-looking King Charles returned to public duties on Tuesday (April 30) for the first time since he was diagnosed in February with cancer, paying a visit to a treatment center for the disease in London.

King Charles returns to public duties, visits cancer center

A 14-year-old boy is dead and multiple people injured after a daylight sword attack in Hainault, in east London. The alleged attacker tasered and arrested by Police shortly afterwards.

Hainault

Teenage boy killed in London sword attack

Brittany Higgins has failed in a bid to delay a defamation trial brought against her by Senator Linda Reynolds over social media posts made in July last year. Fiancé David Sharaz, also named in the case, calling for the Senator to drop the case.

Canberra

Brittany Higgins fails in bid to delay defamation trial

Since taking office four months ago, Argentina's new president Javier Milei has slashed public employment in an effort to cut the country's deficit. So far, 24,000 people have been let go, and Milei has said he wants that figure to hit 70,000, about 10 percent of overall government employees.

Buenos Aires

Argentina's Milei slashes 24,000 government jobs

A Russian missile attack on an educational institution in a popular seafront park in the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odesa killed at least five people and injured 32, local officials said. Odesa has been a frequent target of Russian missile and drone attacks, particular port infrastructure.

Odesa

Russian missile attack kills five in Ukraine's Odesa

Scotland's leader Humza Yousaf resigned, further opening the door to the UK opposition Labour Party regaining ground in its former Scottish heartlands during a national election expected to be held later this year.

Edinburgh

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf quits

A 17-year-old girl charged with the stabbing murder of her 10-year-old sister in a suburb of Lake Macquarie in New South Wales will remain in custody.

Lake Macquarie

Teenager faces court over murder of 10-year-old sister

Columbia University began suspending pro-Palestinian activists who refused to dismantle a tent encampment on its New York City campus after the Ivy League school declared a stalemate in talks seeking to end the polarizing protest.