Belarus Frees Opposition Leaders Maria Kalesnikava and Viktar Babaryka in U.S.-Brokered Deal 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Thailand Vows Continued Military Action Amid Cambodia Border Clash Despite Trump Ceasefire Claim 
Global Leaders Condemn Deadly Antisemitic Shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach During Hanukkah 
U.S. Special Forces Intercept Ship Carrying Military Components Bound for Iran 
International Stabilization Force for Gaza Nears Deployment as U.S.-Led Planning Advances 
U.S. Lifts Sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Amid Shift in Brazil Relations 
Tunisia Protests Grow as Opposition Unites Against President Kais Saied’s Rule 
Special Prosecutor Alleges Yoon Suk Yeol Sought North Korea Provocation to Justify Martial Law 
Belarus Frees 123 Political Prisoners in U.S.-Brokered Deal Over Sanctions 
Colombia’s Clan del Golfo Peace Talks Signal Mandatory Prison Sentences for Top Leaders 
Supporters Gather Ahead of Verdict in Jimmy Lai’s Landmark Hong Kong National Security Trial 
Preservation Group Sues Trump Administration to Halt $300 Million White House Ballroom Project 
Zelenskiy Signals Willingness to Drop NATO Bid as Ukraine, U.S. Hold Crucial Peace Talks in Berlin 
Judge Orders Return of Seized Evidence in Comey-Related Case, DOJ May Seek New Warrant 
Thousands Protest in Brazil Against Efforts to Reduce Jair Bolsonaro’s Prison Sentence 
A judge in the United States rejected the request of the lawyer representing former President Donald Trump for a mistrial. The decision follows the lawyer’s accusation that the judge was biased against the former president even in the presence of a jury.
ABC News reported that the judge denied the request made by Trump lawyer Joe Tacopina in an 18-page filing at a federal court in Manhattan on Monday. Tacopina accused Judge Lewis Kaplan of being biased against the former president even as the jury was present during the proceedings that started last week. Tacopina said the effect of Kaplan’s rulings “manifests a deeper leaning toward one party or another,” citing the comments where Tacopina alleged that the judge “openly expresses favoritism.”
Kaplan denied the motion for the mistrial before testimony was to resume on Monday but did not cite the reason why.
It should be noted that mistrial requests are rarely granted but can serve as the basis for possible appeals. It appears likely that Tacopina was hoping that Kaplan would grant a version of his requests, according to the Associated Press. This includes Tacopina asking for Kaplan to correct the record on the rulings that might have mischaracterized the evidence or grant Tacopina more latitude in questioning accuser E. Jean Carroll.
Carroll filed a lawsuit against the former president in November for rape under a law in New York that would allow victims of sexual assault to sue their abusers for attacks that happened even decades ago. The proceedings resumed on Monday with Tacopina cross-examining Carroll for the second day while Trump himself flew to Scotland.
Carroll has alleged that Trump raped her in the dressing room of a Bergdorf Goodman in midtown Manhattan in 1996. Trump has long denied the accusation but has later resorted to publicly insulting the former columnist, who has since added a defamation claim to her case.
This is not the only legal battle that the former president is also facing in New York as a court filing by his lawyers on Monday said Trump should be able to talk about the evidence in a criminal case made against him over a hush money payment to an adult film star. The filing comes ahead of the hearing that will take place on Thursday.
