International

Key witness involves Trump in efforts not to be harmed in the elections

The former editor of the American tabloid The National Enquirer, David Pecker, confirmed in a New York court his link with former President Donald Trump in 2016 to hide “embarrassing stories” that could involve the Republican politician and harm him in the elections.

“I wanted to protect my company, myself and also Donald Trump,” said who was also an executive of the media conglomerate America Media Inc. and who goes to court as a witness.

With the help of Pecker and his former lawyer Michael Cohen, Trump is accused of falsifying accounting records to pay for a “criminal plot” that would have bought the silence of porn actress Stormy Daniels. In addition to that of model Karen McDougal, preventing her alleged love affairs with him from coming to light.

The deal (a practice known as ‘catch and kill’) consisted of acquiring the rights to these stories supposedly to be published in that tabloid, but with the real purpose of leaving them ‘forgoten’ in a drawer.

Something that Pecker acknowledged having done in McDougal’s case, with the payment of $150,000 that would then have to be reimbursed by the Trump Organization. But not in the case of Daniels.

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“The boss (Trump, according to Pecker) is going to get very nervous, Cohen told me (…). I assumed that this concern was due to its impact on the campaign,” recalled the media tycoon, who said he had refused to buy the porn actress’s exclusive because he did not want it to affect “the reputation” of the tabloid.

Dozens of bills, checks, letters or emails were brought up by the Prosecutor’s Office while Trump remained impassive from the dock.

His gesture barely soured on a couple of occasions. One of them, when Pecker recalled how the negotiation was with McDougal who, according to his version, feared that the agreement would be leaked.

“I really didn’t want to become the new Monica Lewinsky,” she added.

Pecker mentioned different calls with Trump during 2016 in which his mood varied as media such as The Wall Street Journal or the New York Post learned about the agreement that the former president had with The National Enquirer.

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“He called me very upset asking how he could have happened and saying that he thought he had everything under control. That call ended without being said goodbye,” the then editor explained.

However, Pecker stated that, despite not having been in contact since 2019, he still considers Trump “someone close”: “I still consider him a friend,” he said.

Before reaching the court, Trump was in a campaign event with approximately thirty followers from a new construction site in Manhattan. There, Trump defined Pecker as “good people.”

This opinion was considered by the Prosecutor’s Office as a new violation of the gag order that weighs on the former president. This prevents him from publicly referring, among others, to witnesses, jury members and court workers.

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International

US panel backs Trump-themed coin amid controversy

The United States Department of the Treasury confirmed to AFP that the Commission of Fine Arts approved the design of a new collectible coin featuring Donald Trump, with members of the commission appointed by the current administration.

According to the proposal, the coin will feature an image of Trump standing with clenched fists over a desk on the obverse, while the reverse will display an eagle, a traditional symbol of the United States.

The sale price of the collectible has not yet been disclosed, although the United States Mint typically offers similar items for more than $1,000.

“There is no more iconic portrait for the front of these coins than that of our president Donald Trump,” U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach said in a statement sent to AFP. He added that two additional coins — a $1 piece and a one-ounce gold coin — are also under consideration.

However, the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC), another body responsible for reviewing new coin proposals, declined to discuss the Trump design in late February.

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“Only nations governed by kings or dictators place the image of a sitting leader on their currency,” said Donald Scarinciat the time. “No country in the world has minted coins featuring a democratically elected leader during their term in office,” he added.

When contacted by AFP, the Treasury Department did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.

International

Fed’s Waller warns of rising inflation risks amid Middle East conflict

Christopher Waller, a governor at the Federal Reserve, said Friday that he is increasingly concerned about the inflationary impact of the ongoing conflict involving United States and Israel against Iran, particularly due to the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Waller, who had supported interest rate cuts over the past year amid concerns about the labor market, said he has shifted his stance in recent weeks due to rising inflation risks.

“Since the Strait of Hormuz was closed, it suggests this conflict could be much more prolonged and that oil prices will remain elevated for longer,” Waller said in an interview with CNBC.

“Therefore, this indicates that inflation is a greater concern than I had previously assessed,” he added.

Waller also backed the Federal Reserve’s decision earlier this week to keep interest rates unchanged, signaling a more cautious approach as global geopolitical tensions continue to affect economic outlooks.

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International

Brazil offers to mediate Colombia-Ecuador tensions, calls for restraint

The government of Brazil has offered to mediate in the ongoing tensions between Colombia and Ecuador, while calling on both nations to exercise restraint.

In a statement released Wednesday, Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the parties involved to act with moderation and seek a peaceful resolution to the dispute.

“Brazil encourages all sides to act with moderation in order to find a peaceful solution to the controversy. It stands ready to support dialogue efforts aimed at preserving peace and security in the region,” the statement said.

Brazil also expressed “serious concern” over reports of deaths in the border area between Colombia and Ecuador, noting that the circumstances surrounding the incidents have not yet been clarified.

The diplomatic move comes amid rising tensions between the neighboring countries, increasing regional concern over stability and security along their shared border.