“Former US President Donald Trump in court…”

Former US President Donald Trump faced day in court in historic US first

Former President Donald Trump was charged on Tuesday with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a historic case over allegations he orchestrated hush-money payments to two women before the 2016 U.S. election to suppress publication of their sexual encounters with him.

Trump was indicted last week, becoming the first sitting or former president to face criminal charges, over a case involving a 2016 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. He has said he is innocent and is due to plead not guilty.

Trump turned himself in on Tuesday amid tight security.

“We have to take back our Country and, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social profile shortly after arriving in New York from Florida on Monday, urging supporters to donate to his campaign.

Trump’s lawyers opposed videography, photography and radio coverage, saying it would “exacerbate an already almost circus-like atmosphere around this case”, detracting from dignity and decorum.

Donald Trump turned his head toward photographers as he sat, stone-faced with shoulders rounded, at the defence table in a downtown Manhattan courtroom. 

“Not guilty,” he said in a firm voice during a historic appearance before a judge Tuesday. Trump became the first US president – former or current – to be charged with a crime.

Prosecutors state in a 34-count felony indictment that Trump conspired to illegally influence the 2016 presidential election through hush money payments to two women, including a porn performer, who said they had sexual encounters with him. 

In addition, charging documents say a payoff went to a doorman who claimed to have a story about an out-of-wedlock child allegedly fathered by Trump.

He’s next due in court in December, but his lawyers asked for him to be excused from attending the hearing in person because of extraordinary security proceedings.

Trump himself described the experience as “SURREAL”.  

The arraignment amounts to a remarkable reckoning for Trump after years of investigations into his personal, business and political dealings. 

Former President Donald Trump was charged on Tuesday with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a historic case over allegations he orchestrated hush-money payments to two women before the 2016 U.S. election to suppress publication of their sexual encounters with him.

Prosecutors in Manhattan accused Trump, the first sitting or former U.S. president to face criminal charges, of trying to conceal a violation of election laws during his successful 2016 campaign.

“Not guilty,” Trump, 76, said when asked by the judge in court how he pleaded. Wearing a dark blue suit and red tie, Trump sat, subdued, with his hands folded at the defense table flanked by his lawyers.

The front-runner in the race for the Republican nomination in 2024, Trump responded with answers like “yes” when the judge asked him if he understood a right. At one point, the judge put his hand to his ear as if to prompt an answer.

Prosecutor Chris Conroy said: “The defendant Donald J. Trump falsified New York business records in order to conceal an illegal conspiracy to undermine the integrity of the 2016 presidential election and other violations of election laws.”

While falsifying business records in New York on its own is a misdemeanour punishable by no more than one year in prison, it is elevated to a felony punishable by up to four years when done to advance or conceal another crime, such as election law violations.

The two women in the case are adult film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal.

Finland joins NATO in the alliance’s fastest-ever accession process

A new flagpole awaits the Finnish flag at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

The Nordic country became the military alliance’s 31st member on Tuesday and it had completed the fastest accession process in the organisation’s history.

Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg has welcomed the new arrival.

“It will be a good day for Finland’s security, for Nordic security and for NATO’s as a whole,” he said. “Sweden will also be safer as a result.”

Although weekend elections mean Finland looks to have lost Left-wing Prime Minister Sanna Marin who had championed her country’s NATO membership – support for membership has been across the political board.

Malta Company Announcements

BOV

Bank of Valletta Group announced the financial results for Financial Year ended 31 December 2022, reporting a profit before tax of €48.7 million. Excluding the effect of the Deiulemar settlement, the adjusted profit before tax was €151.7 million, an increase of €71.0 million or 88% compared to FY2021. Pre-tax return on equity (‘ROE’) was 4.3% (2021: 7.3%) and earnings per share €5.3 cents compared with €9.6 cents in the comparative year. Excluding the one-time impact of Deiulemar settlement, ROE was 13.3%.

APS

The Directors of APS are recommending the payment of a net final dividend of €0.0174 per share to shareholders as at close of trading on 12 April 2023, subject to approval during the upcoming Annual General Meeting which is scheduled to be held on 16 May 2023. Shareholders will have the option to receive the dividend either cash or in new ordinary shares at an attribution price of €0.57 per share. During the year, a net interim dividend of €0.005 per share was declared and settled via the issuance of new shares.

MPC

The Board of Directors is recommending the payment of a final net dividend of €0.013 per share, which is 8.3% higher than the dividend corresponding to FY2021. Shareholders as at close of trading on 13 April 2023 will be entitled to receive this dividend on 23 May 2023 subject to shareholders’ approval during the upcoming Annual General Meeting scheduled to be held on 17 May 2022.

‘Disclaimer: The information provided on this website is being provided solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be construed as investment advice, advice concerning investments or investment decisions, or tax or legal advice. Similarly, any views or options expressed on this website are not intended and should not be construed as being investment, tax or legal advice or recommendations. Investment advice should always be based on the circumstances of the person to whom it is directed, which circumstances have not been taken into consideration by the persons expressing the views or opinions appearing on this website. Timberland Finance has not verified and consequently neither warrants the accuracy nor the veracity of any information, views or opinions appearing on this website. You should always take professional investment advice in connection with, or independently research and verify, any information that you find or views or opinions which you read on our website and wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment decision or otherwise. Timberland Finance does not accept liability for losses suffered by persons as a result of information, views of opinions appearing on this website. This website is owned and operated by Timberland Invest Ltd.’