Headline News from The Associated Press
AP Headline News - May 20 2024 17:00 (EDT)
AP News, I'm Adonah here. The courtroom was closed briefly during former President Donald Trump's Hush Money trial in New York. A defense witness, Robert Costello, was admonished by Judge Juan Mershan for making comments under his breath and continuing to speak after objections were sustained. The judge told Costello not to give him the side eye and don't roll his eyes. The prosecution has rested with the last witness, former Trump lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen. Among those in court today supporting Trump, our South Carolina's Attorney General, Alan Wilson. What we're seeing today is the prosecution of a person because of who he is, not what he is alleged to do. What's happening today is a travesty of judges, justice. The U.S. says not to expect any big impact in relations with Iran after the death of Iran's president. Ibrahim Raisi was seen as a protégé of Iran's Supreme Leader. And the Supreme Leader is the one who makes these decisions. On things including Iran's support of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Yemen's Houthi rebels. We don't anticipate any change in Iranian behavior and therefore the Iranian should not expect any change in American behavior when it comes to holding them accountable. White House national security spokesman John Kirby as the U.S. denied any involvement in the crash that killed Raisi. The United States had no part to play. Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin says it was very unfortunate. I don't necessarily see any broader regional security impacts at this point in time. Sagar Megani, Washington. The EPA is warning of increasing cyber attacks on water systems, urging utilities to take immediate steps. The container ship that caused the deadly collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge is slowly being escorted back to port. Haiti's main international airport is open for the first time in nearly three months after gang violence shut it down. The Dow finished down 196 points. This is AP News. A London court ruled WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange can appeal his extradition to the U.S. on espionage charges. After the hearing and among jutilant fans, Assange's life's deficit, the U.S. was pushing ahead with the case, but now should acknowledge it's time to quit. The judges reached the right decision. We spent a long time hearing the United States putting lipstick on a pig, but the judges did not buy it. The United States should read the situation and drop this case now. High-cult judges Victoria Sharp and Jeremy Johnson ruled for Assange after his lawyers argued that the U.S. government provided blatantly inadequate assurances that he would have the same free speech protections as an American citizen if extradited from Britain. I'm Charles Dillettesma. I'm Ed Donahue, AP News.