Author: admin@primenews

Donald Trump has assailed a judge and clerk handling his New York fraud trial as a gag order banning him from criticising court personnel was paused. The ex-president sued the judge in the civil case, Arthur Engoron, after he barred him and his attorneys from speaking about judicial staff. Mr Trump’s lawyers had argued the gag order was unconstitutional. A state intermediate appeals court has granted what is known as an interim stay. Judge David Friedman cited the “constitutional and statutory rights at issue” in Thursday’s ruling. It means that, for now, Mr Trump and his lawyers can once again…

Nearly 20,000 men have fled Ukraine since the beginning of the war to avoid being drafted, the BBC has discovered. Some have swum dangerous rivers to leave the country. Others have simply walked out under cover of darkness. Another 21,113 men attempted to flee but were caught by the Ukrainian authorities, Kyiv confirmed. After Russia’s invasion, most men aged 18-60 were banned from leaving. But data obtained by the BBC reveals dozens have made it out daily. We have spoken to several men who have escaped in order to join family abroad, study, or simply make a living. “What am…

Australia are through to the World Cup final after a tension-filled three-wicket win over South Africa in Kolkata. After bowling South Africa out for 212, Pat Cummins’ side made a flying start with Travis Head hitting a quickfire 62 before they were pegged back by the Proteas spinners and slipped to 137-5. Australia edged closer but lost their seventh wicket with 20 runs still needed and although the pressure continued to build, Cummins and Mitchell Starc kept their cool to complete a hard-fought victory with 16 balls to spare. The Proteas had been reduced to 24-4 following superb new-ball bursts…

Rap artist Sean “Diddy” Combs has been accused of rape and sex trafficking by a female singer. In a lawsuit seen by the BBC, ex-girlfriend Casandra Ventura said she was trapped for a decade in a cycle of abuse and violence. Mr Combs – who has also gone by the stage name Puff Daddy – denies the allegations, accusing the singer of trying to extort him. His lawyer said the claims were “offensive and outrageous”. Ms Ventura – an R&B singer and dancer who performs under the stage name Cassie – alleges that the rap producer raped and beat her…

Authorities in New York have seized more than $1bn (£803m) worth of fake products, said to be the largest haul of counterfeit goods in US history. Officials say they seized roughly 219,000 fake handbags, shoes and other luxury items in the massive haul. Two men have been charged with trafficking the goods, which police say was done out of a storage locker in Manhattan. If convicted, they face up to 10 years in prison. “The trafficking of counterfeit goods is anything but a victimless crime,” New York police commissioner Edward A Caban said in a statement. “It harms legitimate businesses,…

The federal trial of an ex-police officer accused of violating Breonna Taylor’s civil rights has ended in a mistrial with a deadlocked jury. It marks the second time Brett Hankison has avoided a conviction relating to the case, after he was found not guilty on state charges last year. Ms Taylor was killed in a botched police raid in Louisville, Kentucky, on 13 March 2020. Her name became a rallying cry at racial justice protests nationwide. It was not immediately clear whether prosecutors would seek a re-trial. The nine-day case revolved around whether the use of force by Mr Hankison,…

IBM has suspended advertising on X, formerly known as Twitter, after a report said its ads were placed next to posts praising Adolf Hitler and Nazism. The company said it was “completely unacceptable” that its content appeared in such threads on the platform. X said it does not intentionally place brands “next to this kind of content”. It comes as X owner Elon Musk was criticised after calling an antisemitic conspiracy theory “actual truth” when replying to a post on the platform. The left-leaning watchdog Media Matters for America said it found ads bought by IBM and other companies next…

The painting above depicts the open area in front of Bara Imambara, a historical building complex in Lucknow, the capital city of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Built in 1784 as part of a famine relief works project by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula, the prince of the royal house of Oudh, it is one of the last great and palatial buildings constructed in the Mughal style. The complex includes several structures, including the Bhool Bhulaiya (a labyrinth) and the Asfi mosque. Look at the painting again. You can see the outer gate of the complex, and the Imambara itself is out…

The sight of wild swans flying in for the winter is becoming less common in the face of climate change. Scientists say Bewick’s swans are changing their behaviour in a warming world, with fewer making it back to the UK and those that do arriving late. A bonded pair of swans named Maisie and Maifield touched down on Thursday at Slimbridge, in Gloucestershire. They are the latest arrivals since 1965, when naturalists started monitoring the returning flocks. And their numbers have dwindled, from an annual flock of 700 to little more than 100. Every year, the majestic waterbirds leave their…

Sitting too much may send you to an early death, likely from chronic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and more, according to research. Obviously, the solution is to get up off your tush and move. Building on a body of evidence, a new analysis showed the greatest benefits for weight loss come from moderate-to-vigorous physical activity such as running, brisk walking, cycling, swimming or even stair climbing. An exercise is moderate intensity if you can talk but not sing while doing it, experts say. Vigorous-intensity exercise occurs when you can’t say more than a few words without stopping to breathe.…