Nation and world news in brief for Thursday, April 11, 2024
South Korea’s prime minister offers to resign after election defeat
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s prime minister and senior presidential officials have offered to resign en masse after their conservative ruling party was crushed in parliamentary elections. The results of Wednesday’s elections were a huge political blow to President Yoon Suk Yeol, likely setting back his domestic agenda and leave him facing an intensifying political offensive by his liberal opponents during his remaining three years in office. Prime Minster Han Duck-soo and all senior presidential advisers to Yoon, except those in charge of security issues, submitted their resignations earlier today.
Court rejects Donald Trump’s third request to delay Monday’s trial
NEW YORK (AP) — For the third straight day, a New York appeals court has rejected an attempt by Donald Trump’s lawyers to delay the former president’s hush money criminal trial. Trump’s lawyers had argued that the trial should be put off indefinitely while they fight to remove the judge, Juan M. Merchan, and challenge several of his rulings. Justice Ellen Gesmer’s ruling is another loss for Trump, who has tried repeatedly to get the trial postponed. Barring another appeal, the decision means the first of Trump’s four criminal trials will start as scheduled on Monday.
Man indicted in attempt to defraud 28 US federal bankruptcy courts
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A Maryland man accused of trying to defraud 28 federal bankruptcy courts out of more than $1.8 million in unclaimed funds has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Puerto Rico. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Tuesday that the alleged scheme targeted courts from Alabama to Wisconsin and even Hawaii and operated from 2022 to April 2024. Officials said the suspect used an electronic records system to search for bankruptcy cases with unclaimed funds and then submitted fake applications to obtain the money. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Puerto Rico reported the alleged scheme to federal authorities.
Israel threatens to strike Iran directly if Iran launches attack from its territory
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s Foreign Minister has threatened that his country’s forces would strike Iran directly if the Islamic Republic launched an attack from its territory against Israel. Wednesday’s remarks come after Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reiterated a promise to retaliate against Israel over the attack on its consulate in Damascus earlier this month. Tehran holds Israel responsible for the strike that leveled the building, killing 12 people. Israel has not acknowledged its involvement. The strike killed seven Iranian Revolutionary Guard members, four Syrians and a Hezbollah militia member. Khamenei spoke at a prayer ceremony celebrating the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, saying the airstrike was akin to an attack on Iranian territory.
