First Thing: Hunter Biden indicted on tax charges in new criminal case
Second set of charges against president's son alleges he spent millions on an extravagant lifestyle' rather than paying his tax bills. Plus, the Golden Gate Bridge is finally getting a safety net
Good morning.
Hunter Biden has been indicted on nine tax charges in California. It is the second indictment against the president's son, adding fuel to a scandal that Republicans have been seizing on in the lead-up to the 2024 election.
What does the indictment say? In 2018, the indictment said, Biden spent more than $1.8m, including approximately $772,000 in cash withdrawals, approximately $383,000 in payments to women, approximately $151,000 in clothing and accessories" among other expenditures.
What has Biden said? His lawyers did not immediately respond to an inquiry and the White House declined to comment.
How many people have been killed in Gaza? More than 17,000, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, since 7 October when Israel began bombarding the territory after a cross-border rampage by Hamas militants.
What's the situation like in Gaza now? We are reaching a point of no return in Gaza, where the blatant disregard for international humanitarian law scars our collective conscience," the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, the UNRWA, has said. Its commissioner general, Philippe Lazzarini, has called for more funding for humanitarian purposes.
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