After a busy day at Manhattan Criminal Courthouse, we bring you what’s next for former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Plus, a Wednesday full of high-profile trips: Macron and Von der Leyen go to China, Zelenskiy arrives in Poland, and Tsai Ing-wen meets McCarthy in California.
- Donald Trump was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a historic case. But any potential trial could be more than a year away. That raises the possibility that the former U.S. president could face a jury as he seeks a return to the White House – or even after the November 2024 election. After he pleaded not guilty, Judge Juan Merchan set the next court hearing for Dec. 4.
- Analysis: The long-awaited charges centering on hush money payments to suppress damaging news stories ahead of the 2016 election revealed few new details about a case that prosecutors have probed on-and-off for five years. Legal experts not involved with the case underscored that its ultimate strength will likely hinge on evidence that has not yet been made public.
- Back at his Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Trump lashed out at New York prosecutor Alvin Bragg for bringing criminal charges against him and declared himself the victim of election interference without offering evidence. Listen to today’s Reuters World News podcast for more on what’s next for Trump.
Other leaders making headlines
- Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen is set to meet U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in the first such meeting on U.S. soil, a plan that has drawn threats of retaliation from China. Here is why Beijing is so angry.
- French President Emmanuel Macron landed in China shortly ahead of EU chief Ursula von der Leyen as they seek to smooth ties with a key economic partner while broaching thorny issues like Ukraine and trade risks.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived in Poland for an official visit to a close ally that has galvanized military and political support for Kyiv. The visit comes as Ukraine plans a counter-offensive in the coming weeks or months. Follow the latest on the war.
- Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin is stepping down as leader of the Social Democratic party and will serve as a regular lawmaker from next week. She sought another term in last Sunday’s election but her party came third. On Tuesday, her country formally joined NATO.
Cross-border fire in Gaza
- Israeli police entered Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque before dawn and clashed with worshippers, setting off a furious reaction from Palestinians across the occupied West Bank and crossborder strikes in Gaza.
- At least nine rockets were fired from Gaza overnight, prompting air strikes from Israel which struck what it said were Hamas weapon production sites. As day broke, the situation appeared to have calmed but the Palestinian Red Crescent said 12 Palestinians had been wounded.
By Edson Caldas
