Hard Numbers: Cohen’s klepto testo, Flights resume out of Port-au-Prince, Abinader wins in DR, Opening airport in New Caledonia

Former U.S. President Donald Trump returns to the courtroom after a short break during his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, U.S., 20 May 2024.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump returns to the courtroom after a short break during his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, U.S., 20 May 2024.
Michael M. Santiago/Reuters

30,000: On Monday during his cross examination in Donald Trump’s hush money trial, the former president’s ex-fixer Michael Cohen admitted he stole around $30,000 from the Trump Organization. Trump’s lawyers attempted to portray Cohen, an ex-convict and known liar, as someone with an ax to grind whose testimony cannot be trusted.

3: Haiti’s primary airport in Port-au-Prince opened on Monday for the first time in roughly three months after being closed due to deadly gang violence. Only one commercial flight left on Monday, landing in Miami. Most of the capital remains under the control of gangs.

59: Dominican voters easily returned President Luis Abinader to a second term in office with 59% of the vote on Sunday, more than double the runner-up’s vote share. Voters have the crisis in neighboring Haiti top of mind, and they back Abinader’s hardline policies of deportation and a border wall.

40: French security forces have been struggling to clear the 40-mile-long stretch of highway between New Caledonia’s international airport and its capital Noumea amid violent unrest that broke out last week. Tourists and expats have been trapped on the South Pacific Island since the airport closed last Tuesday, but Paris hopes to have the situation in hand shortly.

More from GZERO Media

A miniature statue of US President Donald Trump stands next to a model bunker-buster bomb, with the Iranian national flag in the background, in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada, on June 19, 2025.
STR/NurPhoto

US President Donald Trump said Thursday that he will decide whether to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities “in the next two weeks,” a move that re-opens the door to negotiations, but also gives the US more time to position military forces for an operation.

People ride motorcycles as South Korea's LGBTQ community and supporters attend a Pride parade, during the Seoul Queer Culture Festival, in Seoul, South Korea, June 14, 2025.
REUTERS/Kim Soo-hyeon

June is recognized in more than 100 countries in the world as “Pride Month,” marking 55 years since gay liberation marches began commemorating the Stonewall riots – a pivotal uprising against the police’s targeting of LGBTQ+ communities in New York.

Port of Nice, France, during the United Nations Oceans Conference in June 2025.
María José Valverde

Eurasia Group’s biodiversity and sustainability analyst María José Valverde sat down with Rebecca Hubbard, the director of the High Seas Alliance, to discuss the High Seas Treaty.

Housing shortages in the US and Canada have become a significant problem – and a contentious political issue – in recent years. New data on housing construction this week suggest neither country is making enough progress to solve the shortfalls. Here’s a snapshot of the situation on both sides of the border.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford speaks during a meeting of northeastern U.S. Governors and Canadian Premiers, in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., June 16, 2025.
REUTERS/Sophie Park

While the national level drama played out between Donald Trump and Mark Carney at the G7 in Kananaskis, a lot of important US-Canada work was going on with far less fanfare in Boston, where five Canadian premiers met with governors and delegations from seven US states.

- YouTube

What’s next for Iran’s regime? Ian Bremmer says, “It’s much more likely that the supreme leader ends up out, but the military… continues to run the country.”

Enbridge’s 2024 Sustainability Report is now available, outlining our approach to meeting today’s energy needs while advancing solutions for tomorrow. Now in its 24th year, the report reflects our ongoing commitment to being a safe operator of essential energy infrastructure and a responsible environmental steward, principles at the heart of our mission to be North America’s first-choice energy delivery company. Highlights include a 40% reduction in emissions intensity, surpassing our 2030 target, and a 22% drop in absolute emissions since setting our goals in 2020. Explore the 2024 Sustainability Report today.