International
Trump sentenced in New York hush-money case days before taking office

Trump sentenced in New York hush-money case days before taking office
United States President-elect Donald Trump has been sentenced to what’s known as an “unconditional discharge” for his conviction over hush-money payments made to an adult film actress, making him the first former US president ever sentenced for a crime.
Judge Juan Merchan delivered the decision on Friday, a day after the US Supreme Court rejected an attempt by Trump’s legal team to delay sentencing before the Republican leader’s inauguration on January 20.
An “unconditional discharge” means that Trump’s conviction will appear on his permanent record, but he does not face imprisonment, a fine, or probation — leaving him unencumbered to enter the White House.
Trump, who previously served as president from 2017 to 2021, was found guilty in late May on 34 counts of falsifying business documents related to hush-money payments made to Stormy Daniels, among other things.
The US president-elect has denied any wrongdoing and said he plans to appeal his conviction.
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Appearing at Friday’s sentencing hearing virtually, Trump said his criminal trial and conviction had “been a very terrible experience” and insisted he committed no crime.
“It’s been a political witch hunt,” he said before the judge issued his decision. “It was done to damage my reputation so I would lose the election and obviously that didn’t work.”
Prosecutors in the New York case had argued that the hush-money payments aimed to conceal allegations of a sexual relationship with Daniels that could have been politically damaging.
Trump, who pleaded not guilty, has denied any such relationship took place.
His lawyers had asked the Supreme Court for a stay of the sentencing “to prevent grave injustice and harm to the institution of the Presidency and the operations of the federal government”.
They argued that a ruling last year by the top court that grants presidents broad immunity from criminal prosecution means that some of the evidence should not have been presented in the case.
But a majority of the justices on the Supreme Court said in a decision late on Thursday that the “alleged evidentiary violations” at Trump’s state-court trial “can be addressed in the ordinary course on appeal”.
They also said that “the burden that sentencing will impose” on Trump’s responsibilities “is relatively insubstantial in light of the trial court’s stated intent to impose a sentence of ‘unconditional discharge’ after a brief virtual hearing”.
Under New York’s penal code, a court can sentence a defendant to unconditional discharge if it “is of the opinion that no proper purpose would be served by imposing any condition upon the defendant’s release”.
Trump sentenced in New York hush-money case days before taking office
Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies
International
Strikes continue in Iran, Israel despite ceasefire announcement

Strikes continue in Iran, Israel despite ceasefire announcement
Iran’s armed forces have accused Israel of launching strikes at the republic until Tuesday morning, after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between the two sides.
“The Zionist regime launched three waves of attacks on sites in Iranian territory until 9:00 am (0530 GMT) today,” a spokesman for the armed forces command was quoted as saying on state TV, without providing further details.
Before the truce began, both sides exchanged heavy fire overnight.
A few minutes before the truce, an Iranian ballistic missile hit a residential building in Israel’s southern city of Beersheba, killing four people.
The Israeli military said it identified missiles launched from Iran.
The IDF said air defence systems are “operating to intercept the threat” and told people to hide in shelters until further notice.
However, Iran has denied the attacks.
The IDF has vowed to respond with force to what it calls Iran’s severe violation.
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In response, Iran’s supreme national security council issued a statement about “imposing the halt of the war” on Israel and its terrorist supporters.
In a statement released on Monday, Trump said both countries had agreed to halt hostilities within a 24-hour framework, beginning with Iran.
He described the agreement as a major diplomatic breakthrough aimed at averting further destruction in the Middle East.
According to the U.S. president, the truce would begin once both nations complete their final operations, with Iran expected to commence its part in the first 12 hours and Israel in the next 12.
“At the end of the 24-hour window, the war would be officially declared over”, Trump, a key supporter of Israel in the war stated.
He said “This is a war that could have gone on for years and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will”.
He praised the leadership of both nations for demonstrating “stamina, courage and intelligence” in bringing the conflict to a close.
“God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East, God bless the United States of America, and God bless the world,” he added.
Daily Trust reports that the announcement followed nearly two weeks of escalating violence, missile exchanges and airstrikes that raised fears of a regional conflagration.
However, Trump’s move was tested within hours of the announcement.
Iranian missiles reportedly struck Beersheba in southern Israel just before the ceasefire was due to begin, killing at least five civilians and injuring more than 20 others.
The Israeli government immediately accused Iran of violating the agreement and ordered renewed strikes on strategic targets in Tehran.
Iran, in response, denied any breach of the agreement, insisting that its operations had concluded before the ceasefire window.
As air raid sirens sounded across northern Israel early Tuesday, tension remained high and the ceasefire’s future uncertain.
Meanwhile, global markets responded positively to the news of the truce, with oil prices reportedly dropping amid brief recovery of investors confidence.
The development has also attracted mixed international reactions.
Qatar, which was reported to have facilitated back-channel negotiations, urged both sides to honour their commitments.
European and NATO leaders called for restraint and warned that further escalation would carry grave regional and global consequences.
Strikes continue in Iran, Israel despite ceasefire announcement
International
Netanyahu confirms ceasefire in conflict with Iran

Netanyahu confirms ceasefire in conflict with Iran
International
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