A New York grand jury has voted to indict Donald Trump, the Manhattan District Attorney confirmed on Thursday, in the first criminal charge against any sitting or former American president.
The investigative panel heard evidence about how adult film star Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, was paid $130,000 by Mr Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen in the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election.
Mr Cohen testified that the payment was made to Ms Daniels to stop her from publicly speaking about a sexual encounter she said she had with Mr Trump in 2006. He has denied the claims.
“This evening we contacted Mr Trump’s attorney to co-ordinate his surrender to the Manhattan DA's Office for arraignment on a Supreme Court indictment, which remains under seal," a representative of District Attorney Alvin Bragg said.
"Guidance will be provided when the arraignment date is selected.”
The New York Times first reported the news of the indictment on Thursday evening.
It is not yet known what charge Mr Trump is facing, while legal experts suspect that the case could result in a misdemeanour charge of falsifying business records, or a felony if falsifying records was intended to cover up a second crime, such as campaign finance offences.
The 2024 presidential candidate said in a statement that he is "completely innocent", and called the indictment "an act of blatant election interference".
The indictment in the Manhattan court is the first of several continuing inquiries into Mr Trump — from the 2020 election to the handling of classified documents — to result in a criminal charge.
He is facing federal and state investigations led by a special counsel appointed by US Attorney General Merrick Garland and a prosecutor in Georgia.
“He did not commit any crime. We will vigorously fight this political prosecution in court," Mr Trump's lawyer, Joseph Tacopina, told AP.
If arrested, it is expected that Mr Trump will undergo the formal process of being fingerprinted and having a mugshot taken, Politico and Bloomberg News have reported.
Mr Tacopina said earlier in March that Mr Trump would surrender to authorities and avoid a standoff. A warrant will be issued for his arrest should he try to avoid arrest.
New York City law enforcement and the Secret Service prepared security measures after Mr Trump posted on social media, calling on his supporters to "protest" and "take our nation back" in response to an indictment.
It is not clear when a court appearance for an arraignment would occur.
Graduated from the American University of Sharjah
She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters
Has helped solve 15 cases of electric shocks
Enjoys travelling, reading and horse riding
Five hymns the crowds can join in
Papal Mass will begin at 10.30am at the Zayed Sports City Stadium on Tuesday
Some 17 hymns will be sung by a 120-strong UAE choir
Five hymns will be rehearsed with crowds on Tuesday morning before the Pope arrives at stadium
‘Christ be our Light’ as the entrance song
‘All that I am’ for the offertory or during the symbolic offering of gifts at the altar
‘Make me a Channel of your Peace’ and ‘Soul of my Saviour’ for the communion
‘Tell out my Soul’ as the final hymn after the blessings from the Pope
The choir will also sing the hymn ‘Legions of Heaven’ in Arabic as ‘Assakiroo Sama’
There are 15 Arabic speakers from Syria, Lebanon and Jordan in the choir that comprises residents from the Philippines, India, France, Italy, America, Netherlands, Armenia and Indonesia
The choir will be accompanied by a brass ensemble and an organ
They will practice for the first time at the stadium on the eve of the public mass on Monday evening
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The five pillars of Islam
The specs
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Total fights: 32
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Wins by KO: 26
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Scores
Day 2
New Zealand 153 & 56-1
Pakistan 227
New Zealand trail by 18 runs with nine wickets remaining
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Rating: 3/5
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Your rights as an employee
The government has taken an increasingly tough line against companies that fail to pay employees on time. Three years ago, the Cabinet passed a decree allowing the government to halt the granting of work permits to companies with wage backlogs.
The new measures passed by the Cabinet in 2016 were an update to the Wage Protection System, which is in place to track whether a company pays its employees on time or not.
If wages are 10 days late, the new measures kick in and the company is alerted it is in breach of labour rules. If wages remain unpaid for a total of 16 days, the authorities can cancel work permits, effectively shutting off operations. Fines of up to Dh5,000 per unpaid employee follow after 60 days.
Despite those measures, late payments remain an issue, particularly in the construction sector. Smaller contractors, such as electrical, plumbing and fit-out businesses, often blame the bigger companies that hire them for wages being late.
The authorities have urged employees to report their companies at the labour ministry or Tawafuq service centres — there are 15 in Abu Dhabi.
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Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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