By Trend News Line 2024-04-19 21:33:42.
Good evening, let’s start with today’s top stories:
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**Jury selection completed for Donald Trump’s historic criminal hush-money trial**
Jury selection was completed for Donald Trump’s historic criminal hush-money trial in New York, clearing the way for arguments to get under way. A dramatic scene unfolded outside the courthouse when a man set himself on fire. police said the man, identified as Maxwell Azzarello of St. Augustine, Fla., was taken to hospital in critical condition. The reason for the incident was not immediately known.
The incident happened amid heightened security and media attention around the trial, which for the first time will ask jurors to consider whether a former U.S. president broke the law. The jury consists of seven men and five women, mostly employed in white-collar jobs. Six alternates have also been selected.
Now that a jury has been selected, the stage is set for opening statements to get under way next week. Trump has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges in the case that accuses him of falsifying business records in an effort to hide stories about his sex life leading up to the 2016 election.
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**Israel launches retaliatory strike on Iran**
Israel has struck back at Iran, five days after it fought off a launch of Iranian drones and missiles. Explosions were reported near two Iranian cities today. While Israel has not formally confirmed that it was responsible, unnamed Israeli defence officials told U.S. newspapers that their country was behind the counterattack.
Canada, the U.S. and other Western governments had tried to dissuade Israel from launching a counterattack amid fears that the conflict could widen into a regional war. Iran gave no immediate signs on Friday that it planned to retaliate against Israel.
**Chat records reveal Quadriga crypto scandal unfolded**
Previously unseen chat records between the co-founders of QuadrigaCX are shedding light on the origins of the now-collapsed cryptocurrency exchange, and revealing stark differences in how enforcement bodies investigated fraud at the company. The documents challenge the idea that Quadriga director Gerald Cotten was the sole controlling mind of the company at the time of his death in 2018.
Quadriga collapsed when Cotten died, leaving thousands of users unable to access their money. An investigation concluded that the exchange “operated like a Ponzi scheme” and that Cotten used customer deposits to enrich himself.
According to the newly released chat logs, Cotten and Quadriga co-founder Michael Patryn discussed in 2014 how to steal money from their company, discussing a “pump-and-dump” scheme or “scam opportunities.”
**Fredericton man kidnapped in Congo**
A Fredericton man was kidnapped in the Democratic Republic of Congo and has been held captive for more than four months. New Brunswick’s Premier is demanding the federal government act quickly to save him.
**India’s world’s largest election kicks off**
Voting began today in the first phase of India’s election, which pits Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against an alliance of opposition parties. Almost a billion people are eligible to vote between now and June 1, with results set for June 4.
**Toronto Zoo says snow leopard is pregnant**
The “friendly and determined” Jita, a snow leopard at the Toronto Zoo, is likely due in May. The zoo warns that pregnancies can be hard for young snow leopards, a vulnerable species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature list.
**Foraging tours taking off in Canada**
Foraging tourism is having a moment in Canada as people seek outdoor experiences and relief from high food prices and supply chain challenges. Read tips for new foragers and our list of foraging tour suggestions, from Newfoundland to Alberta.
**Nature as nurture: How taking photos of iconic Canadiana helped a photographer heal**
Christopher Wahl journeyed across Canada, photographing natural landmarks, after losing his mother and sister. He writes about how the project helped him begin to heal.
That’s it for today’s top stories. Stay tuned for more updates..
1. Trump criminal hush-money trial
2. Jury selection complete in Trump criminal hush-money trial.
