Ukrainians offered 18-month visa extension to stay in UK

Ukrainians who sought sanctuary in the UK after Russia's invasion will be granted an 18-month visa under a new extension scheme.

from Political News - International and UK Politics | Sky News https://ift.tt/47a3lxz

Scottish Labour calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza

Scottish Labour has unanimously backed an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, with MSPs calling for "unequivocal" support and putting pressure on the rest of the party.

from Political News - International and UK Politics | Sky News https://ift.tt/Uq8CsAt

Trump supporters accuse Democrats of trying to 'BANKRUPT' him with latest 'witch hunt' in 'corrupt court'

Supporters of Donald Trump have accused Democrats of trying to "bankrupt" the former President after a New York court ordered him to pay $354.9million for overstating his net worth to lenders.

Reacting to the ruling by Justice Arthur Engoron, Trump's lawyer Alina Habba issued a statement describing it as “manifest injustice" and the "culmination of a multi-year, politically fuelled witch hunt" against him.

"This is not just about Donald Trump - if this decision stands, it will serve as a signal to every single American that New York is no longer open for business."

Former San Francisco prosecutor Kimberly Guilfoyle criticised the size of the penalty in a case where she claimed "there’s no victims and no one lost money".

"The only fraud here is inside the New York AG’s office and inside a corrupt court."

Justice Engoron, who decided the case without a jury, also banned Trump from serving as an officer or director of any New York corporation for three years.

Trump has also been banned from applying for loans from any financial institution in New York for three years.

It's a move which many believe puts his real estate empire at risk.

Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene called the ruling "outrageous!" and said: "These people belong in jail for the abuse of power they are wielding against President Trump and his family."

Meanwhile, former New York legislator Ben Geller, described the ruling as "disgusting" and said: "This will be thrown out in appeal."

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Trump’s adult sons, Don Jr. and Eric, were also defendants in the case. They were each ordered to pay $4million.

Don Jr reacted by saying: "We've reached the point where your political beliefs combined with what venue your case is heard are the primary determinants of the outcome; not the facts of the case!"

Eric and Don Jr.'s lawyer Clifford Robert called the decision a "gross injustice".

Although lawyers for the Trump organisation say he will appeal, Trump could be required to deposit his portion of the full judgment plus interest pending the outcome.

Republican Senator for Ohio J.D. Vance said: "American courts have become corrupt weapons of the Democratic Party.

"Yes, Trump will win on appeal. But a lot of money and time will be wasted in the meantime. This is disgraceful."

Estimates of Trump’s wealth differ; Forbes values his net worth at $2.6billion and in an April deposition, Trump stated he possessed about $400million in cash.

Meanwhile, New York Attorney General Letitia James who brought the case against Trump described the ruling as "a massive victory".

"We won our case against Donald Trump for engaging in years of incredible financial fraud to enrich himself.

"Trump, Donald Trump, Jr., Eric Trump, and his former executives must pay over $450million in disgorgement and interest."

from GB News https://ift.tt/n4L7PYe

Former US senior defence official says Biden 'thinking of 1930s Europe' after Navalny's death

A top former US diplomat in Russia has warned that President Biden is thinking of 1930s Europe following the death of opposition diplomat Alexei Navalny.

It comes as the President held a press conference where he said that there was "no doubt that the death of Nalvany was a consequence of something that Putin and his thugs did."

Now, former US Senior Defense Official and Attache to Russia Peter Zwack has spoken to GB News about President Biden's reaction to the news from Russia.

He said that there were multiple factors in the press conference but added that Navalny "did not have to die."

Speaking in reaction to today's speech, he told GB News: "President Biden, I think he's a historian. He's been around a long time. He worries that aspects of history, while they don't necessarily repeat themselves, they provide a guide post.

"I think he's thinking of feelings of the late 1930s in Europe. I think there's feelings of 1913 in Europe. There are feelings also of where did the bump, the positiveness come after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War and the fall of the USSR.

"We have a lot going on. The fact is we have multiple issues going on regarding national security and our alliances in Russia. The death of Alexi Navaly did not have to happen.

"First of all, the fact that it happened in a Russian prison near the arctic where he was by all accounts, unjustly imprisoned is just confirms the nature of the Putin regime and what we are all dealing with as we see manifested in Ukraine."

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He added: "This is a key issue for President Biden in the United States and in the UK and the rest of Nato. Biden is pulling together threads that we're hearing from the Munich security conference that's going on."

When asked whether Biden's comments that Navalny's death was "Shocking but not surprising" would be shared with other world leaders, Zwack said: "I think realistically everybody thought Navalny's days were numbered. It was more an issue of how and when.

"They were never going to let him out as long as he could be an electoral threat.

"He was either going to rot away in prison or he was going to die. The question was was it natural causes up in the Arctic circle or was accelerated. Nobody knows but you know what, it doesn't matter."

He added: "The regime is still responsible. A prisoner in their custody who is of high interest died. And they never had a great justification for his initial imprisonment.

"He was destined to perish in prison as long as the Putin regime was in place. Maybe it should be seen as a wake up call. It's shaking countries."

from GB News https://ift.tt/i6dAVxI

Trump ordered to pay $354m and banned from running businesses for three years in New York fraud case

Donald Trump must pay $354.9 million in penalties for fraudulently overstating his net worth to dupe lenders.

A New York judge ruled on Friday handing the former US President the fine in another legal setback in a civil case that imperils his real estate empire.

Justice Arthur Engoron also banned Trump from serving as an officer or director of any New York corporation for three years.

The lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James accused Trump and his family businesses of overstating his net worth by as much $3.6billion a year over a decade to fool bankers into giving him better loan terms.

Trump has denied wrongdoing and called the case a political vendetta by James, an elected Democrat. Trump is expected to appeal Friday's ruling by Engoron.

Engoron wrote: "Their complete lack of contrition and remorse borders on pathological...Instead, they adopt a 'See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil' posture that the evidence belies."

The civil fraud case could deal a major blow to Trump's real estate empire he leads the race for the Republican nomination to challenge President Joe Biden in the upcoming US election.

Engoron had previously ruled in September that Trump had engaged in fraud and ordered his business empire be partially dissolved. The ruling came after a contentious three-month trial in Manhattan.

During his testimony, Trump conceded that some of his property values were inaccurate but insisted banks were obligated to do their own due diligence.

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Trump, 77, is currently under indictment in four criminal cases, including one in New York related to hush money payments he made to a porn star ahead of the 2016 election.

The judge overseeing that case on Thursday set a March 25 trial date over the objections of Trump's lawyers, who sought to delay it due to Trump's crowded legal and political schedule.

Trump has also been charged in Florida for his handling of classified documents upon leaving office and in Washington and in Georgia for his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss. He has pleaded not guilty in all four cases.

In the New York case, Trump and his adult sons, Don Jr. and Eric, were defendants in the case. Don Jr. and Eric Trump were each ordered by the judge to pay $4million.

Trump's lawyer Alina Habba said in a statement that the New York ruling was a "manifest injustice" and "culmination of a multi-year, politically fueled witch hunt" against him.

She said: "This is not just about Donald Trump - if this decision stands, it will serve as a signal to every single American that New York is no longer open for business."

from GB News https://ift.tt/C0Wp7fS

Sir Keir Starmer paid nearly £100,000 in tax last year, documents show

Sir Keir Starmer paid £99,431 in tax last year, according to a summary released by the Labour Party.

from Political News - International and UK Politics | Sky News https://ift.tt/WNul571

Melania Trump 'quiet' as she makes first public appearance since mother's death

Melania Trump seemed “quiet” as she made her first public appearance since her mother died last month.

She appeared at The Trumpettes, a ball held in Donald Trump’s honour at their Mar-a-Lago resort this weekend, with her husband by her side.

The pair dressed in matching black attire as they waved to crowds, before heading into the resort to celebrate.

One guest described Melina as being “quiet but in very good spirits”.

They continued: “What I noticed in particular was that although everyone was waiting for Trump to make his grand entrance, when he walked in and waved at everyone, he made sure to turn to her and acknowledge that she was there!

“After he made his way to the podium, she was there standing by the stage the whole time, smiling. She waved and said hello to everyone that was close enough to reach out to her. She was all smiles. There was a look of great sense of peace on her face,” gala guest Delia Hickman told the Daily Mail.

Last month, Melina’s mother Amalija Knavs passed away at the age of 78.

The former First Lady announced with “deep sadness” the death of her mother on social media, who she described as a “strong woman” who was “devoted” to her family.

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Melania had been absent from all of Trump's campaign appearances and his media interviews since he left office.

She has also not appeared at his various court appearances, including those related to his civil fraud trial in New York.

However, she did choose to appear as a guest speaker for a naturalisation ceremony in Washington DC last December, which many have found a peculiar choice.

She spoke about her challenges in becoming a US citizen.

The ceremony was at the National Archives, the US agency that her husband has been accused of withholding documents from.

Adding to the irony, Melania spoke of the significance of America’s “democratic process” without reference to her husband’s trial.

Last year, posters featuring Melania captioned “missing” were circulated in Iowa.

In December, Laurence Leamer, author of a book about Trump’s base in Mar-a-Lago said that the former First Lady is rarely seen outside the confines of the estate.

He said: “Nobody knows where she is. It’s like a mystery. It’s certainly talked about.”

Before she became first lady, Melania was frequently sighted by Mar-a-Lago members, however, according to Leamer, that is no longer the case.

“She rarely exits Mar-a-Lago. It’s a strange, isolated life they have in that place,” he told the The Daily Telegraph.

from GB News https://ift.tt/t5312Tx