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.
“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.
“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.
International
Petro expresses concern over fatal shooting during mass protests in Lima
Colombian President Gustavo Petro voiced his “concern” on Thursday over recent events in Peru, following the death of a protester reportedly shot during a massive demonstration in Lima against the government and Congress.
“I must express my concern over the events in Peru. A young artist has been killed in citizens’ protests,” Petro wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The Colombian leader also noted that in Peru, “a popularly elected president remains imprisoned without conviction,” referring to Pedro Castillo, who led the country from July 2021 to December 2022 until he was removed by Congress following a failed attempted coup.
“This is a blatant violation of the American Convention on Human Rights,” Petro stated, adding, “I hope Peru seeks social and political dialogue to legitimize its public institutions.”
On Wednesday, Peru experienced widespread protests in several cities, with the largest demonstration in Lima in recent years, driven by citizens’ concerns over corruption and public insecurity.
During the capital’s mobilization, the Ombudsman’s Office confirmed the death of Eduardo Ruiz, 32, and reported clashes that left over 100 injured, including 78 police officers and 24 protesters, as well as ten arrests.
The Attorney General’s Office, investigating Ruiz’s death “in the context of serious human rights violations,” confirmed that the protester was shot.
International
Peru’s interim president José Jerí refuses to resign after protester’s death in Lima
Peru’s interim president, José Jerí, stated Thursday that he has no intention of resigning from the post he assumed last Friday, following the removal of former president Dina Boluarte, despite growing unrest over the death of a protester during massive demonstrations in Lima on Wednesday.
“I will not resign,” Jerí declared outside the Government Palace in Lima, where he returned on foot after making a surprise visit to Congress headquarters alongside Prime Minister Ernesto Álvarez.
Earlier, after leaving the Legislative Palace, the president acknowledged that the country is going through “difficult times” and condemned what he described as “a small group attempting to impose an agenda different from the citizens’ expression of discontent.”
Jerí expressed condolences for the death of Eduardo Ruiz, a 32-year-old man who died during Wednesday’s protest against the government and Congress, amid growing anger over corruption and insecurity.
“We stand in solidarity with his family,” he said, without offering further details about the incident, which has sparked outrage among Peruvians.
The president also described the demonstrations as “a legitimate civic expression” that later turned violent due to “certain groups seeking to provoke chaos by exploiting a peaceful citizen movement.”
“In a state governed by the rule of law, the rights of both demonstrators and security forces must be protected,” Jerí emphasized, adding that “as a result of that situation, this unfortunate death occurred outside the main area where the protest was taking place.”
International
Mexican government prioritizes 191 communities after deadly floods
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on Wednesday that the death toll from recent rains and floods across several central states has risen to 66, while the federal government has activated air bridges and prioritized assistance in 191 isolated communities.
“Unfortunately, 66 people have died, and 75 remain missing,” the president said during her morning press conference. She added that the official death toll will be updated later in a new report.
As of Tuesday, authorities had reported 64 fatalities. Sheinbaum also announced the creation of a public information center to centralize official data on the deceased, missing persons, damaged homes, and cut-off communities.
According to the president, the number of missing persons has decreased thanks to coordination with state authorities.
“Through calls to phone line 079, 103 people who had been reported missing have now been located,” she explained.
Priority Municipalities
The president noted that the federal government has classified 191 communities as ‘priority’, a designation based mainly on the percentage of homes affected.
Petro expresses concern over fatal shooting during mass protests in Lima
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Peru’s interim president José Jerí refuses to resign after protester’s death in Lima
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