Friday briefing: Trump must stand trial
Trump is due to stand trial next month
A New York judge rejected Donald Trump's bid to drop criminal charges against him stemming from a hush money payment to a porn star, Stormy Daniels, paving the way for his prosecution, the first of a former US president.
The judge's decision to set a trial date of March 25 was a strong rejection of Trump's tried-and-true legal strategy of running out the clock. The criminal case will be Trump's first to go to trial and may not be his last: He faces 91 felonies in four indictments as he tries to secure the Republican presidential nomination for November's general election.
While Trump may portray the Manhattan case as his most trivial and outdated case, it poses a threat to his legal strategy. Although Trump could try to close the federal cases against him in Washington, D.C. and Florida if he were to win in November, the Manhattan case is exempt from federal intervention. Trump could not pardon himself or otherwise use the presidency as a legal shield.
What's next: The Manhattan trial date leaves the door open for Trump's federal trial on charges of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election, which will take place in late spring or early summer. That case, filed in Washington, is in the hands of the Supreme Court.
Georgia: A hearing also took place in the case, in which Trump is accused of trying to undermine the 2020 election results in the state, over a romantic relationship between the two lead prosecutors.
Civil fraud: A judge is weighing the New York attorney general's request to fine Trump nearly $370 million and effectively drive him out of New York's business community. That decision could come today.
Israel raids a major hospital in Gaza
Israeli forces have entered the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Israel said its forces were searching for Hamas fighters and possibly the bodies of hostages.
The raid came two days after Israel ordered displaced persons to evacuate the hospital, one of the last functioning in the enclave. (Here's a video of the evacuations.) Doctors Without Borders said shelling had “killed an unspecified number of people” and called on Israel to halt the operation.
Testimony: Mustafa Abutaha lost a son in the war and fled to the hospital, where he spent weeks talking to and helping patients.
The Japanese economy is shrinking
Despite growth forecasts, Japan entered a recession at the end of last year. The country, as expected, fell a step further and became the fourth largest economy in the world, just behind Germany.
Corporate profits are at record highs, the stock market is rising, and unemployment rates are low. But consumer spending and business investment are lagging behind, which explains the unexpectedly weak results.
Britain: The economy also fell into recession at the end of last year.
THE LAST NEWS
The Russian government keeps wounded veterans out of the public eye to suppress anti-war sentiment. Veterans say their care is poor and designed to rush them back to war. “It was an assembly line,” one said of his busy department.
Reflections on the right to disconnect
Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts on the “right to disconnect”, a bill expected to be passed by the Australian House soon. More than 100 of you contributed – we learned so much from your perspectives. Here are a few thoughts from your fellow readers.
Australia has become one giant nanny state. We have so many rules and regulations that govern our daily lives – it's completely ridiculous! It is clear that our government (and all parties are the same) thinks we are incapable of making good decisions for ourselves. I am an employee, not an employer, and even I can see that this “right to disconnect” law will cause problems – uncertainty for sure, and chaos not out of the question either. Why can't we just let common sense prevail? Do we need a law for everything? – Timothy Hegarty, Melbourne
As an entrepreneur, I support the measure. If I want one of my employees to be available outside office hours, that is a matter that must be discussed and mutually agreed upon. When fines and lawsuits get to the point, like many employment issues, it's because it wasn't handled properly to begin with. – Frank Canas, Sydney
I think it's a great idea! It not only provides the employee with personal time, but also allows that person to regain a sense of self-worth and goodness by bonding with others and recharging their mind. In turn, it makes the employee more productive during working hours. A great movement for promoting mental health and business productivity, I say! —Wesley Soguilon, Kalibo, Aklan, Philippines
I don't think this is practical in today's world of working for large global companies. I wonder if people in white collar professions still believe in the 9am to 5pm myth. When people want to define clear, fixed working hours, they limit themselves to roles and jobs that keep them in an endless rut with minimal opportunities to grow and lead. When someone moves from middle management to senior management, work hours tend to include client dinners, weekend golfing, and the like. This is not forced, but it is the way of the world. – Raj Kiran, Sydney
It's a brilliant idea that will only make employees happier and more productive. Would you like me to be available outside office hours? Pay me the call rates. Would you like me to take a phone call, reply to an email, or work on something outside of work hours? Pay me overtime. At its most basic form, a job is a contract: a fixed amount of wages in exchange for a certain amount of labor. No extra pay? No extra labor. Any employer worth their salt should understand the value of happy employees who get plenty of rest. — Parizad Aderbehman, Perth, Australia
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