- Coppola faces press after epic 'Megalopolis' splits Cannes
- China offers to buy up commercial housing to boost property market
- US military says first aid delivered to Gaza via temporary pier
- Muslim professionals quit 'hostile' France in silent brain drain
- China cuts rates, could buy up commercial housing to boost property market
- Costner, Gere, Demi Moore: Hollywood icons on Cannes comeback trail
- Brazil to host 2027 Women's World Cup as Gaza overshadows FIFA meeting
- Palestinians call for Israeli ban as Gaza war spills into football
- Crisis-ridden Boeing hopes for quiet annual meeting
- Vienna Festival director Milo Rau hits back at anti-Semitism accusations
- China says could buy up commercial housing to boost property market
- Rapidus 'last opportunity' to put Japan back on global chip map
- Despite Western pressure, China in no hurry to reduce Russia support
- For sale: unique piece of land in strategic Arctic archipelago
- La Rochelle in the spotlight as tight Top 14 run-in commences
- Three key issues to watch for in La Liga this weekend
- Departing Hayes urges Chelsea to seize 'second chance' in WSL race
- Leverkusen eye 'immortality' as Union fight for final day survival
- Klopp leaves lasting legacy after restoring Liverpool to elite
- Putin in trade push on final day of China trip
- Timberwolves crush Nuggets to stay alive in NBA playoffs
- Taiwan president takes office under close scrutiny
- Israel to hit back at 'genocide' claims at UN top court
- Chinese officials meet to mull support for developers: Bloomberg
- 'Hindu nation': Religion trumps caste in India vote
- Asian stocks mixed after Wall St, Europe retreat from records
- Taiwan's Lai to bolster 'porcupine' defence against China threat
- Dominican Republic to vote in poll dominated by Haiti crisis
- The Dominican Republic: from Columbus to cruise ships
- Forced to give birth after rape, Honduran woman seeks UN remedy
- Reddit gives OpenAI access to its wealth of posts
- Turkey court jails Kurdish leader for 42 years over 2014 unrest
- US plans to end leasing in its largest coal-producing region
- Kim's sister denies N. Korea exporting weapons to Russia
- Schauffele equals record-low major round with 62 to lead PGA
- Alternate Lee seizes opportunity to grab LPGA Americas Open lead
- Swiatek to face Sabalenka for Rome title and Serena record
- Mystik Dan goes for Triple Crown 2nd leg in Preakness
- 'Grand Theft Auto VI' release set for late 2025
- Global coral bleaching event expanding to new countries: scientists
- US Republicans confront Biden over pausing arms to Israel
- Lopez double earns Barca win at relegated Almeria
- Weather eases Canadian oil sands city wildfire menace
- Messi's record $20.4 million salary dwarfs entire MLS teams
- Jarry stuns Tsitsipas to reach Rome Open semi-finals
- US ends leasing in its largest coal-producing region
- Chad junta chief officially wins election
- Florida slammed for bill striking climate change from state law
- Exhibition traces Jewish origins of Hollywood
- 'I'm ready': Fury to pray for Usyk before heavyweight clash
Prosecutors accuse Trump of more violations of gag order, seek fines
Prosecutors accused Donald Trump on Thursday of "willfully and knowingly" violating a gag order imposed by the New York judge overseeing his hush money case to protect trial participants.
Trump, 77, is accused of falsifying business records to reimburse his lawyer, Michael Cohen, for a $130,000 payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels just days ahead of the 2016 election against Hillary Clinton.
Judge Juan Merchan has already sanctioned the property mogul for defying his gag order on nine occasions, fining him $9,000 on Tuesday and warning Trump he could face jail for continuing to lash out on social media.
Prosecutor Christopher Conroy urged the judge at Thursday's contempt hearing to fine Trump the maximum $1,000 for each of four new violations of the gag order barring him from publicly attacking witnesses, jurors, court staff or their relatives.
"We are not yet seeking jail," Conroy said.
"The defendant willfully and knowingly violated the order," Conroy said. "The defendant thinks the rules should be different for him.
"The defendant has proven his willingness to say and do anything to disrupt this process."
Conroy pointed to public comments Trump has made about Cohen, his former "fixer" turned foe, and the composition of the jury as violations of the gag order.
Todd Blanche, Trump's attorney, noted that Trump is the Republican candidate for president and said his likely November election rival, Democrat Joe Biden, had spoken publicly about the trial.
"He can't respond," Blanche said.
The judge said that was not true and there was nothing in the gag order that limits what Trump can say in response to Biden.
The judge also took issue with Trump's claim he cannot get a fair trial in New York because it is a heavily Democratic city.
"He spoke about the jury... and that it was 90 percent Democrat," Merchan said. "The implication being this is not a fair jury."
- No-nonsense judge -
On Wednesday, Trump took advantage of a break in the trial to hold campaign rallies in Wisconsin and Michigan -- blaming his legal troubles and America's ills on Biden.
Before going into court on Thursday, he denounced his trial as "election interference" and said the case "should never have been brought."
Trump regularly claims that his indictments -- three for alleged cheating in elections and one for hoarding classified documents after leaving the White House -- are being orchestrated as part of a political "witch hunt," but never offers any evidence.
The court has heard from an eclectic slate of witnesses including a lawyer, Keith Davidson, who helped negotiate the hush money payment to Daniels just days ahead of the 2016 election.
Davidson returned to the witness stand on Thursday after the hearing about the gag order violations. Merchan did not issue an immediate ruling on the alleged violations.
Trump is the first former US president to face criminal charges, and the trial in a chilly Manhattan courtroom has him clearly frustrated.
For two weeks Trump has sat through hours of sometimes technical testimony, visibly irate with the no-nonsense judge, who has required him to be present every day.
Before and after each day's proceedings, Trump has assailed journalists outside, venting about his legal problems and myriad other issues.
N.Fournier--BTB