Plus: AI turns Ukrainian woman into Russian influencer, and dog show picks winner ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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| Hello. Donald Trump's legal team began cross-examining Michael Cohen, the ex-personal attorney of the former US president, seeking to dismantle his credibility. Anthony Zurcher notes the presence of prominent Republicans in the hush-money trial's court room. We also have stories about cow dung becoming a money-saving energy resource, and how generative AI tools are being used to create videos with unwitting participants. Finally, the US-based Westminster Kennel Club picks a new top dog. | |
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TOP OF THE AGENDA | Republicans show up to support Trump | | Cohen's testimony will continue when court is back in session on Thursday. Credit: Jane Rosenberg/Reuters | Michael Cohen returned to the witness stand at the criminal trial of his former employer in New York on Tuesday. Cohen testified that he made a hush-money payment to an adult film star at Donald Trump’s direction to ensure a story about an alleged affair “would not come out, would not affect Mr Trump's chances of becoming president.” Mr Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche spared no punches for Cohen, who was imprisoned after pleading guilty to tax evasion, fraud and campaign finance violations linked to the payment. Mr Blanche brought up his guilty plea for lying to Congress, and sought to portray Cohen as motivated by hate and fame. Watching the exchange were prominent Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, in a dramatic show of support for the presumptive nominee to the 2024 election. As Anthony Zurcher writes, the display was emblematic of how intertwined Mr Trump's legal fate has become with the future of the Republican Party.
Supporting cast: Of the rumoured vice-presidential contenders, several appeared behind Mr Trump in the court room.
On the attack: Mr Blanche dredged up Cohen's prolific social media posts, podcasts, and media appearances attacking Mr Trump often in unprintable language.
Witnessing history: Ardent critics and devoted fans of Mr Trump waiting in line to enter the court room tell Madeline Halpert what makes them gather daily for the trial. | |
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| Turning cow dung into energy gold | | Once collected, the cow dung is mixed with water and put in the bioreactor. Credit: Rukmini Kumbhar/BBC | Indian cattle produce around three million tonnes of dung a day, according to official data. And the government wants it to be put to good use. In a country that imports about half its natural gas, bigger and bigger bioreactors are being built to transform the waste in precious energy. |
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| | Priti Gupta, technology reporter |
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| | Every day, with bare hands, Rukmini Baburao Kumbhar collects around 50kg (110lb) of fresh cow dung. She is part of a spiritual group that runs a small ashram (a religious retreat) in a Maharashtra village. The cow dung has replaced the 20 litres (35 pints) of natural gas that Ms Kumbhar used to buy every month for the ashram's kitchen. "In most of the rural parts of India, agriculture is the main occupation. So, touching the cow dung is not a big deal," she says. Some of her guests are less enthusiastic, at least at first. "Some are repulsed by the smell, or if they are made to touch the cow dung. But we don’t force them. They eventually get used to it and start helping." |
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BEYOND THE HEADLINES | How a Ukrainian became a Russian avatar |
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| | | Olga’s Mandarin-speaking AI lookalikes began emerging in 2023 - soon after she started a YouTube channel. Credit: Supplied | Student Olga Loiek has seen her face appear on Chinese social media in various videos created with easy-to-use generative AI tools. The AI didn't just take her likeness without consent - it also gave her the job to promote China-Russia relations and Russian products. |
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SOMETHING DIFFERENT | Chasing 'sky rivers' | Scientists are tracking atmospheric river storms - and they're getting bigger. | |
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