As former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial winds down, both sides are set to deliver their closing arguments to the jury. And, a still-active situation prompts evacuations in Papua New Guinea after a landslide buries more than 2,000 people. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, May 28, 2024.
Closing arguments to begin in Donald Trump’s criminal trial
After weeks of testimony from 22 witnesses, the prosecution and the defense are set to present their closing arguments on Tuesday, May 28, in the criminal trial of former President Donald Trump.
Trump’s attorneys will deliver their closing arguments first to the 12-person jury, attempting to undermine the Manhattan District Attorney’s allegations against the former president.
Following this, the prosecution will try to convince the jury that Trump falsified business records related to payments his former lawyer Michael Cohen made to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing and any relationship with Daniels.
Once closing arguments are completed, the judge will instruct the jury for about an hour on the charges they must consider before beginning deliberations.
The judge expects deliberations to begin on Wednesday, May 29. The case then moves to the jury as it evaluates all 34 counts against Trump. It remains to be seen how long it will take the jury to reach a verdict in this historic case.
Biden administration ‘actively engaging’ with Israel after deadly strike in Rafah
The Biden administration says it is “actively engaging” with the Israeli army to determine what happened during an airstrike on the Gaza City of Rafah Sunday, May 26, that killed dozens of people and injured about 250 more at a tent camp for displaced Palestinians.
The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reported that at least 45 people, including children, were killed in the strike.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the killings as a “tragic mishap” and told Parliament Monday, May 27, that the military has opened an investigation into the deaths.
“In Rafah we already evacuated about one million non-combatant residents and despite our utmost effort not to harm non-combatants, something unfortunately went tragically wrong,” Netanyahu said. “We are investigating the incident and will reach conclusions because this is our policy.”
Israel said the attack targeted a Hamas compound, killing two of the group’s top senior officials.
Hamas officials have called the strike a “war crime,” saying Israel is in defiance of the recent decision by the United Nations’ World Court which called on Israel to halt its operations in Rafah.
A White House National Security Council spokesperson said the images coming from Rafah were “heartbreaking” and added that while Israel has “a right to go after” Hamas, it needs to take “every precaution possible to protect civilians.”
Severe storms kill 22 over Memorial Day weekend
Severe storms killed at least 22 people across five states over Memorial Day weekend, with at least 25 tornadoes being reported.
In Texas, seven people, including two young children, were killed and more than 100 were injured as the storms swept across the state.
The governor of Kentucky confirmed five people were killed in the storms. Teams from the National Weather Service are being sent to survey tornado damage.
Possible tornadoes are being blamed for at least two deaths in both Oklahoma and Arkansas.
More than 400,000 customers across eastern U.S. were without power Monday, May 27.
President Joe Biden offered condolences to the families of the victims. He said the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is on the ground assessing damage and that he has contacted governors to determine what federal support is needed.
Over 2,000 feared buried alive in Papua New Guinea landslide
Thousands are being forced to evacuate Tuesday in Papua New Guinea with officials declaring a state of emergency as a landslide is still-active following the deadly incident over the week of May 19.
More than 2,000 people are believed to have been buried alive by a landslide in the country’s remote northern highlands, according to government officials. The exact death toll remains unclear, with only five bodies recovered so far.
The landslide destroyed buildings and food gardens, blocked the main highway and created a major obstacle for relief workers.
Heavy machinery has been brought in to assist, but officials say the situation remains unstable due to shifting debris.
Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape said the government is working with international organizations to assess the damage and determine the need for further support.
Elon Musk’s xAI raises $6 billion in funding
Elon Musk’s venture into artificial intelligence has received a significant boost.
Musk announced on Monday, May 27, that his startup, xAI, has raised $6 billion in funding from investors, including Silicon Valley firms and a Saudi Arabian prince.
Launched in summer 2023, his company is now valued at $24 billion.
In a blog post, the company stated that the funding will be used to bring xAI’s first products to market, build advanced infrastructure, and accelerate research and development of future technologies.
Currently, xAI’s chatbot is available only to premium subscribers of the social media platform X.
Musk noted that there will be “more to announce in the coming weeks.”
Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Walton remembered as ‘one of a kind’
Tributes continue to pour in for Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Walton from the sports world and beyond.
Walton died Monday, May 27, after a prolonged battle with cancer. His basketball career included two NCAA championships and two NBA titles.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called Walton “one of a kind.”
“One of the sports world’s most beloved champions and characters has passed,” fellow hall of famer Julius Erving said.
Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird said Walton was “one of the greatest to ever play the game.”
Former President Barack Obama, writing on X, said Walton “was a champion at every level and the embodiment of unselfish team play.”
Bill Walton was 71 years old.
