Michael Cohen hasn’t taken the stand in Trump’s hush money trial. But jurors are hearing his words
NEW YORK — The second week of testimony in Donald Trump’s hush money case will wrap up after jurors heard a recording of the Republican ex-president that’s central to the case. Prosecutors have used detailed testimony about meetings, email exchanges, business transactions and bank accounts to build on the foundation of their case. Trump’s defense has worked to poke holes in the credibility of prosecutors’ witnesses and show Trump was trying to protect his reputation and family — not his 2016 campaign — by paying women who had damaging claims about him. The prosecution Friday is setting the stage for pivotal testimony from former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, who paid porn actor Stormy Daniels $130,000 for her silence.
US campus arrests grow to 2,200 in pro-Palestinian protests
LOS ANGELES — Police have moved in to clear an encampment at New York University at the request of school officials, the latest development in weeks of pro-Palestinian protests at college campuses nationwide that have resulted in nearly 2,200 arrests. At Columbia University, one officer accidentally discharged his gun inside an administration building while clearing out protesters camped inside. That’s according to the NYPD. No one was injured by the officer’s actions. A tally by The Associated Press recorded at least 56 incidents of arrests at 43 different U.S. colleges or universities since April 18 stemming from recent campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war.
Arizona governor’s signing of abortion law repeal follows political fight
PHOENIX — Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs’ signing of the repeal of a Civil War-era ban on nearly all abortions was a stirring occasion for the women working to ensure the 19th century law remains in the past. Current and former state lawmakers and reproductive rights advocates crowded into the 9th floor rotunda outside Hobbs’ office at the Capitol on Thursday afternoon, hugging and taking selfies to capture the moment. Hobbs says the move is just the beginning of a fight to protect reproductive health care in Arizona. A repeal won’t take effect until 90 days after the current legislative session ends.
For decades, Moscow has sought to silence its critics abroad
From its earliest days, the Soviet Union’s intelligence services — whether known as the Cheka or the names of any of its successor agencies like the KGB — kept the government in power by pursuing its opponents no matter where they lived. The Cheka secret police, founded by Felix Dzherzhinsky, often used assassins to hunt down enemies of the Bolshevik Revolution. Intelligence experts say that policy is still followed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who does not disguise his scorn for perceived traitors, defectors and other political enemies, although the Kremlin has either denied involvement or refused to respond to allegations about such attacks.
UK’s governing Conservatives set for historic losses in local polls as Labour urges general election
LONDON — Britain’s governing Conservative Party is suffering heavy losses as local election results pour in Friday, which are cementing expectations that the Labour Party is headed for power for the first time in 14 years at a U.K. general election that will take place in coming months.. Labour won control of councils in England it hasn’t held for decades and was successful in a special by-election for Parliament. Though the results overall make for grim reading for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, he was able to breathe a sigh of relief when the Conservative mayor of Tees Valley in the northeast of England was re-elected, albeit with a hugely depressed vote.
Employers scaled back hiring in April but still added 175K jobs in face of higher rates
WASHINGTON — The nation’s employers pulled back on their hiring in April, adding a modest 175,000 jobs in a sign that persistently high interest rates may be starting to take a bigger toll on the world’s largest economy. Last month’s hiring gain was down sharply from the blockbuster increase of 315,000 in March. And it was well below the 233,000 gain that economists had predicted for April, suggesting that the Federal Reserve’s aggressive streak of rate hikes may finally be cooling the pace of hiring. Even with the slowdown, last month’s job growth amounted to a decent increase. With the nation’s households continuing their steady spending, many employers have had to keep hiring to meet their customer demand.
New York made Donald Trump and could convict him. But for now, he’s using it to campaign
NEW YORK — After a years-long breakup with his hometown, former President Donald Trump is back in New York, this time as a criminal defendant. The Queens-born presumptive GOP nominee has been conjuring images of his old days as a celebrity real estate developer, reality TV star and tabloid fixture. It’s a shift borne of necessity. The felony trial has curtailed Trump’s ability to campaign across the country and to make fundraising calls. But it also means Trump is often spending four days a week in the nation’s media capital, with access to ready-made locations for campaign events that can reach specific demographics he’s courting in November.
Universities take steps to prevent pro-Palestinian protest disruptions of graduation ceremonies
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Some U.S. universities with weekend graduation ceremonies are taking steps to keep a lid on possible disruptions. The school year is closing with campus tension over the Israel-Hamas war. The University of Michigan says staff and security officers are ready to respond to any disruptions. It says interfering with commencement will not be considered free speech. Indiana University is designating protest zones outside graduation venues. Northeastern University in Boston is holding its commencement at Fenway Park a week after a pro-Palestinian encampment was removed and nearly 100 protesters were arrested. Students booed and yelled “free Palestine” while the University of Utah president spoke at Thursday night’s commencement.
A Chinese flavor of rap music is flourishing as emerging musicians find their voices
CHENGDU, China — In 2018, the censors who oversee Chinese media issued a directive to the nation’s entertainment industry. They barred artists with tattoos and those who represent hip-hop or any other subculture. For months, no rappers appeared on the dozens of variety shows and singing competitions on Chinese TV. But what had looked like the end for Chinese hip-hop was just the beginning. It has managed to thrive by carving out a space for itself while staying clear of the government’s red lines. And it’s balancing genuine creative expression with something palatable in a country with powerful censors. Today, musicians say they’re looking forward to an arriving golden age.
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