The Bulletin
World in Brief
Welcome to the Bulletin,
Trump's attorney hints testimony: One of Donald Trump's attorneys has offered an insight into whether the former president will testify in his hush money trial. Here's what he said. Read more about Trump below as day two of his criminal trial begins today.
Madison Cawthorn car crash: Former congressman Madison Cawthorn reportedly crashed his vehicle into a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) cruiser on Monday. More about the incident.
California treasurer under FBI probe: California State Treasurer's Office is involved in an FBI investigation, local news station KCRA 3 reported. What we know.
Caitlin Clark: Former Iowa women's basketball star Caitlin Clark was drafted with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft on Monday night. It didn't take long for her to make an impact on the WNBA. Find out why.
Winter storm warnings: Residents in parts of Alaska, Montana, and Colorado, have been warned to brace for a fierce storm set to slash visibility as high winds whip up heavy snowfall that could make travel "impossible." Find out more.
In the ongoing war in Ukraine, Russia is "capitalizing" on the battlefield in Ukraine as U.S. military aid remains held up in Congress, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
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Donald Trump Facing New Legal Headache
Violations of a gag order imposed by Judge Juan Merchan in connection with Donald Trump's hush money criminal trial could bring contempt charges against the former president.
Why it matters: The gag order prohibits Trump from commenting on court staff, jurors, potential witnesses, lawyers, family members or family members of the court involved in his 34-count criminal case. On Saturday, Trump seemingly breached the gag order, calling his former "fixer" Michael Cohen a "disgraced attorney and felon". On Monday, the court was reportedly asked to impose a $1,000 sanction for each of three Trump posts allegedly violating the gag order and ordered him to take them down, along with a warning that jail time could be served, according to MSNBC legal analyst Lisa Rubin.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Donald Trump's '10 Big Losses' on First Day in Court: Mary Trump
Alina Habba Takes on New Role for Donald Trump During Criminal Trial
Donald Trump Jr. Calls Judge Merchan 'Pure Evil'
Donald Trump Falling Asleep at Trial Sparks Flood of Mockery
TL/DR: A hearing is set for next week on whether Trump should be held in contempt for violating a gag order in his hush money trial.
What happens now? The Manhattan District Attorney's Office requested a hearing to have Trump held in contempt scheduled for 9:30 a.m. ET on April 23, according to reports. Day two of the trial will resume today at 9:30 a.m. ET, where more than 500 New Yorkers are expected to fill out questionnaires about their political beliefs before 12 are chosen, along with six alternate jurors.
Deeper reading Donald Trump Facing New Legal Headache
China Says Iran Can 'Handle the Situation Well' As Israel Mulls Response
China's top diplomat reaffirmed his country's support for Iran the day after Tehran ordered an unprecedented direct attack against longtime foe Israel.
Why it matters: In a phone call on Monday, Foreign Minister Wang Yi assured Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian that Beijing believes Iran, a "comprehensive strategic partner," has the situation well in hand and can protect its sovereignty and dignity while avoiding further regional instability, according to a statement by China's foreign ministry. Abdollahian reiterated Tehran's position that its offensive was defensive in nature, prompted by the United Nations Security Council's failure to respond to Israel's alleged strike.
Read more in-depth coverage:
China Responds to Iran Military Strike on Israel
US Ally Spots Chinese Ship Armed With 'Autocannon'
Russia's Saber-Rattling Against Neighbor Risks Drawing China's Ire
TL/DR: China has been positioning itself to benefit from reduced U.S. standing in the region, and potentially from the diversion of U.S. forces that could have been deployed in the Asia-Pacific, which China considers its backyard.
What happens now? The head of Israel's military Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi on Monday vowed Iran's military display would be "met with a response—a step Iran's hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi has warned will be met "with a stronger response bringing the enemy's regret."
Deeper reading China Says Iran Can 'Handle the Situation Well' As Israel Mulls Response
Gen Z's War With Kyle Rittenhouse
Kyle Rittenhouse's recent college speaking tour—dubbed "The Rittenhouse Recap" —has been met with backlash and protests by his own peers who are objecting to his appearance on their campuses.
Why it matters: Rittenhouse was embraced as a hero by the political right after the fatal shooting of two men during police brutality protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin in 2020. Talks at three universities have already sparked demonstrations as he finishes the tour at Kent State University in Ohio this week. Kent State students are outraged that someone with a gun violence history is allowed to speak on campus after unarmed student protesters on campus were gunned down in 1970, and a petition to cancel the event has over 3,600 signatures.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Kyle Rittenhouse Shooting Survivor Wants Revenge: 'He's a Fraud'
Kyle Rittenhouse Storms Off Stage After Being Confronted by Students
Charlie Kirk Threatens Lawsuit Over Kyle Rittenhouse Student Confrontation
TL/DR: Students have protested Rittenhouse's talks at college campuses across the country.
What happens now? Students at Kent State University in Ohio are planning to protest Rittenhouse's final talk on their campus on Tuesday, Newsweek has learned.
Deeper reading Gen Z's War With Kyle Rittenhouse
Russia Could Take Kharkiv, Ukraine's Second Largest City, Within Months
Ukraine's second-largest city, located just miles from the Russian border, is an appetizing target for Moscow—and Kyiv knows it.
Why it matters: "Kharkiv is one of the capitals of Ukraine, so it has great symbolic meaning," Ukrainian leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, told German newspaper Bild earlier this month. Kyiv is "doing everything we can" to prevent Russian forces sweeping in and seizing control of the second-largest city in the country, the Ukrainian president added. A think tank research leader, Jacob Parakilas, says its position close to Russian territory hands Moscow the tools to position and support its attacking forces better.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Russia 'Capitalizing' in War as U.S. Aid to Ukraine Continues to Stall: ISW
Russia Fired Commanders Amid Failure to Recapture Kherson Ground: Report
Ukraine War Maps Reveal Possible Russian Advances Into Fortress Cities
TL/DR: Kharkiv has borne the brunt of increasingly intense Russian focus in recent weeks. Strikes have laid waste to the city's energy infrastructure and taken down a slew of buildings.
What happens now? There are pressing questions over how long Ukraine could hold out in and around Kharkiv if Kyiv remains starved of vital U.S. military assistance, and if Russia sets its sights on the major city, which had a pre-war population of nearly 2 million. Ukrainian officials have reiterated their calls for air-defense systems, which Colonel Andriy Zadubinnyi echoed.
Deeper reading Russia Could Take Kharkiv, Ukraine's Second Largest City, Within Months
Boeing Safety Issues Shake Americans' Confidence in Flying
Three in four millennials say they are more worried about flying in the wake of recent high-profile safety lapses at Boeing, according to a recent poll conducted exclusively for Newsweek.
Why it matters: The survey by Redfield & Wilton Strategies found a widespread impact on Americans' view of the safety of commercial air travel after a series of quality control incidents at Boeing made headlines around the world—most notably the mid-air blowout of a door plug in January. Across age groups, just over two-thirds of poll respondents said those stories made them more hesitant to fly. More than a third of baby boomers said they were less likely to book a flight because of their hesitation, the highest share of any generational cohort.
Read more in-depth coverage:
List of 2024 Boeing Plane Incidents After Southwest Engine Part Falls Off
United Airlines Plane Engine Malfunctions Mid-Flight
Boeing Planes Hit By Engine Fire, Oil Leak
TL/DR: Generation Z and millennials—defined for this poll as those aged 18-42—were most likely to respond that they were "a lot more worried" about flying, at 28 percent and 29 percent, respectively.
What happens now? For those anxious about flying, many airlines will show travelers what type of plane they'll be flying on if they book directly. Some third-party booking sites, such as Kayak, will even let travelers filter their itineraries based on aircraft type.
Deeper reading Boeing Safety Issues Shake Americans' Confidence in Flying
Astronomers Discover Galaxy's Largest Stellar Black Hole 'Lurking Nearby'
In a record-breaking discovery, scientists have found the largest yet stellar black hole in our galaxy.
The black hole—named Gaia BH3—is thought to be around 33 times as massive as our sun, making it leagues larger than the previous record-holder, Cygnus X-1, which was 21 times the sun's mass.
Situated around 2,000 light years away from us, this newly discovered black hole is actually the second-closest known black hole to our home solar system, according to a new paper in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.
