Author: admin@primenews

Donald Trump clashed repeatedly with a judge and defended his family’s business as he testified in a civil fraud trial in New York. During almost four hours on the witness stand, the former president disputed claims that he deceived banks and aired grievances with the case. The judge has already ruled the Trump Organization committed fraud and this trial will determine the penalties. Prosecutors are seeking a $250m (£202m) fine and severe business restrictions. During his highly anticipated appearance at a Manhattan federal courthouse on Monday, Mr Trump, 77, was asked about the value of various properties including his Florida…

For Chinese tourists in Bangkok, 76 Garage, an open-air restaurant on the northern outskirts of the Thai capital, has long been near the top of the list of places to visit. And they go there not for the food, but the waiters. In the middle of the restaurant is a swimming pool. The evening reaches its highlight when the waiters, all fit young men, strip down to their shorts and wade into the pool, offering to carry the diners for a photo op and a tip. There was a time when 76 Garage was so popular you needed to book…

WeWork has filed for bankruptcy in the US, a move that follows years of struggle for the co-working company. The firm reported liabilities of $10bn to $50bn (£40.5bn), according to a bankruptcy filing in the New Jersey federal court. The filing gives WeWork legal protection from its creditors and more tools for negotiations with landlords. WeWork, known for renting on flexible terms to start-ups and freelancers, was once seen as the future of the office. But it relied on rapid growth to mask its steep costs. “WeWork Inc. and certain of its entities filed for protection under Chapter 11 of…

Millions have begun voting in the states of Mizoram and Chhattisgarh as a round of key state elections kick off in India. They are among five states going to the polls between 7 and 30 November. Vote counting is due on 3 December. These polls are seen as a precursor to the national elections next year. Analysts say they are expected to offer some insights into how the governing and opposition parties will perform in the general election in 2024. The other states voting this month include Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in northern India and Telangana in the south. Prime…

An Italian judge has ordered the seizure of €779.5m ($835.5m; £676.8m) from short-term rental giant Airbnb, over alleged tax evasion. Prosecutors say the firm failed to collect a tax from landlords on around €3.7bn of rental income. Landlords in Italy are required to pay a 21% tax on their earnings. Airbnb told the BBC that it was “surprised and disappointed at the action announced by the Italian public prosecutor”. Airbnb spokesperson Christopher Nutly said the firm’s European headquarters had been working to resolve the matter with the Italian tax agency since June. Mr Nutly added “We are confident that we…

Virat Kohli mania has been driving much of the Indian fans’ interest in the Cricket World Cup. First, will India’s star batter get 49 centuries and equal Sachin Tendulkar’s record? Now that he has, will he get to 50? Then, what about 51… and so it will go on. The figures are mind-boggling. Indian batters in ODI cricket occupy the top slots among century-makers, with captain Rohit Sharma third with 31. On Sunday, India beat South Africa, the second-placed team in the league, by 243 runs, dismissing them for just 83. Is that really the difference between India and the rest? Or is…

Without A Fight has won Australia’s famous Melbourne Cup horse race, giving jockey Mark Zahra back-to-back victories. It is the first win, however, for Australian father-son training duo Anthony and Sam Freedman. Second in the two-mile contest was Soulcombe and third was Sheraz, both trained by Australian Chris Waller. Without A Fight is the first horse in over two decades to win the Melbourne Cup and Caulfield Cup in the same year. — CutC by bbc.com

The rebel group holding Luis Diaz’s father hostage has demanded “security guarantees” before his release. The National Liberation Army (ELN) said the ongoing military and police search “will delay the release and increase the risks”, Colombian media reported. Luis Manuel Diaz was kidnapped at gunpoint along with his wife in Barrancas, Colombia on 28 October. Liverpool player Diaz has called on the kidnappers to free his father immediately and end a “painful wait”. His mother was abandoned in a car after the kidnapping as police closed in, but his father was taken hostage. Colombia international Diaz came off the bench to salvage…

Blazing fires, biblical floods and catastrophic storms are becoming increasingly common but they could be just a taste of things to come. Scientists say our planet is teetering towards a number of climate “tipping points” which could cause irreversible changes to the place we all call home. From the Antarctic ice sheet to the Amazon rainforest, the consequences of climate change can be seen right now – but it’s not the only threat to the natural world. In a series of graphics, we take a look at some of the biggest environmental challenges facing our planet. Dwindling biodiversity Human activities including logging, pollution, overfishing and urban development…

“Mum, can I please play for a bit longer?” That is the refrain that six-year-old Vanraj’s mother, Pakhi Khanna, is bracing herself to deal with for the next couple of days in the Indian capital Delhi. The 38-year-old has cut her son’s outdoor playtime to 30 minutes from two hours; his classes have shifted online this week, and football coaching has been called off. Vanraj is among thousands of schoolchildren in Delhi whose schedules have abruptly changed due to air pollution rising to alarming levels. Over the past few days, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) – which measures the level…