Bhinneka News Online: Monday Morning Briefing: Manafort's L.A. bankruptcy fight may offer new avenue for Mueller probe

Monday 26 February 2018

Monday Morning Briefing: Manafort's L.A. bankruptcy fight may offer new avenue for Mueller probe

Highlights

Federal prosecutors may have additional leverage against Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, arising from a loan he received while engaged in the bankruptcies of properties in California. Reuters has found new information about Manafort’s handling of the loan and its potential link to the bankruptcies.

The board of directors of The Weinstein Company said yesterday the New York film and TV studio planned to file for bankruptcy after talks to sell it collapsed, several media outlets reported.

A Florida sheriff came under mounting criticism yesterday for his deputies’ response to this month’s deadly high school shooting and potential warning signs as dozens of state lawmakers called for his removal and the governor ordered an independent inquiry.

Commentary: How to stop social media from supercharging hate speech. Last year, human rights researchers documented an alarming rise in state-sponsored hate speech online, writes Sherif Elsayed-Ali, director of global issues at Amnesty International. “Donald Trump’s retweets of anti-Muslim videos first circulated by an anti-immigrant, far-right British party were just the tip of the iceberg…. In 2017, politicians in many countries deployed social media to spread hate-filled agendas.

world

Chinese speculators pounced on stocks with “emperor” in their name after the ruling Communist Party set the stage for President Xi Jinping to stay in office indefinitely. China’s plan has sparked social media opposition, drawing comparisons to North Korea’s ruling dynasty and charges of creating a dictator by a Hong Kong pro-democracy activist.

A family of nine was killed in Syrian government bombardment of the rebel enclave of eastern Ghouta overnight, where air strikes and fighting have persisted despite a U.N. Security Council resolution demanding a ceasefire, a war monitor said today.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the United States and North Korea should both give ground so they can sit down to talks to try to resolve a nuclear standoff, a day after Pyongyang expressed willingness for dialogue.

Linda Noakes

@lnoakes

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