FBI raids Trump lawyer’s office, seizes Stormy Daniels documents New York, April 10 (IANS): The FBI has raided the office of President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Michael Cohen and seized documents related to porn star Stormy Daniels along with other bank records, the media reported. Cohen is a longtime ally of the President, and admitted earlier this year to setting up a limited liability company in 2016 to pay Daniels, who alleges she had an affair with Trump in 2006 that the White House has denied. His attorney Stephen Ryan told CNN that the US Attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York on Monday had executed “a series of search warrants” including at his office, and “seized the privileged communications” between Cohen and his clients. The Monday raids included the Loew’s Regency hotel where Cohen has been staying. There were approximately a dozen Federal Bureau of Investigation agents involved. The FBI also seized emails, tax documents and business records, including communications between Trump and Cohen. Ryan called the search “completely inappropriate and unnecessary”, and said federal prosecutors had told him it stemmed partially from a referral by the office of special counsel Robert Mueller. Trump slammed the move as a “disgraceful situation” and “an attack on our country”, reports CNN. A White House official said Trump had been watching TV reports, and that the President knew about the raid before the news broke. Heavy fines for hanging laundry in balcony in Kuwait Kuwait, April 10 (IANS): Residents in Kuwait who hang out laundry on their balconies will be fined up to 300 Kuwaiti dinars (about $1,000) under a new campaign. The campaign was prompted by concerns over hygiene and visual pollution as several cities and regions in Gulf countries were pushing for strict regulations in this regard, Xinhua news agency reported citing the Gulf News. The campaign in Kuwait has been going on for years, dating back to a ministerial decision issued in 2008, said Zaid Al Enezi, head of the campaign team. So far, 12 apartments had been warned that they would have to pay fines if they continued drying their clothes in balconies, he said. Hefty fines are not rare in the country. In August 2017, a Kuwaiti man was told by police that he might have to pay 10,000 Kuwaiti dinars ($33,300) for throwing an empty can on the beach. Bahrain introduced a similar ban in 2017 after some residents complained that the sight of underwear and lingerie outside was “provocative, disrespectful and embarrassing”. Hooch kills 68 in Indonesia Jakarta, April 10 (IANS): At least 68 people in Indonesia have died during April after drinking bootleg alcohol, alarming the authorities in the country with the worlds largest Muslim population. Most fatalities were registered in West Java province, with a total of 37 victims aged between 20 and 51 years old, according to officials. Other affected areas were Greater Jakarta and Papua, the Jakarta Post reported on Tuesday. Another 55 people aged between 14 and 51 years old were admitted to the Cicalengka Hospital in the same province suffering from poisoning while three others were discharged. The General Director of Cicalengka hospital, Yani Sumpena, said in a televised statement that the laboratory was analyzing the composition of the suspected home-made alcohol. He said the cause of victims’ deaths was intoxication leading to internal organ failure. Patients arrived at the medical centre feeling dizzy and vomiting and many of them were unconscious, Sumpena said. According to witnesses cited by the daily, the victims bought a yellow-coloured drink sold in used mineral bottles. The drink contained alcohol, cough medicine and mosquito repellent. Jakarta Police chief Inspector General Idham Azis said he would form a special team to investigate the circulation of bootleg liquor in the city. Sri Lankan corporals arrested on anti-Muslim riot charges COLOMBO, April 10 (Reuters): Sri Lankan police have arrested two army corporals for their suspected involvement in anti-Muslim riots in the central highlands district of Kandy last month, police said on Tuesday. It was the first arrest of serving soldiers for the worst sectarian violence since 2014. It was not immediately clear if any more senior officers are suspected. At least two ex-military officials have also been arrested. Scores of mosques, Muslim homes and businesses were destroyed as Buddhist mobs ran amok for three days early last month in Kandy, a district previously known for its diversity and tolerance. An officer at the police spokesman’s office told Reuters 342 suspects have been arrested. The corporals were arrested on Monday. Muslims comprise about nine percent of Sri Lanka’s population of 21 million. Buddhists make up about 70 percent and Hindus about 13 percent. The government ended a full-blown 26-year civil war by defeating mostly Hindu Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam rebels in 2009, with claims of atrocities on both sides. Zimbabwe invites West to observe vote for first time since 2002 HARARE, April 10 (Reuters): Zimbabwe will invite Western powers to monitor its national elections for the first time in more than 15 years, official papers showed on Tuesday, ending a ban imposed by veteran former leader Robert Mugabe. The vote, scheduled for July, is seen is a major test for President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s democratic credentials since he came to power in November after a de facto army coup ousted 94-year-old Mugabe. Zimbabwe will invite the United States, the European Union’s Commission and parliament, Australia and the Commonwealth among 46 countries and 15 organisations, a list released by the foreign affairs ministry showed. The countries and groups on the list were all previously banned from watching elections in 2002 after Mugabe accused them of favouring his opponents. The West slapped sanctions on Mugabe and members of his inner circle, accusing them of rigging a series of votes - charges they denied. Joey Bimha, permanent secretary at the foreign ministry, said the invitations would be sent out soon but declined to give more details. The election will pit Mnangagwa against a clutch of opponents including 40-year-old Nelson Chamisa from the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change. It will be the first time that Mugabe has not been on the ballot since independence from Britain in 1980.
