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Hello from CNN, I'm Joe Beck, with the five things you need to know

for Thursday, May 16th.

Michael Cohen is back on the stand in New York.

Former President Donald Trump's defense attorney Todd Blanche

is cross-examining Cohen in what's shaping up

to be one of the most important phases of the trial.

CNN's Kristen Holmes says Trump wants this trial to be over and done with.

He's been talking about it incessantly.

He is done sitting in that courtroom. Obviously he is really trying

to focus on the campaign and that's what you saw a lot of over the weekend. The other

thing I want to point out about what we are looking for today is can Todd Blanch throw Michael Cohen off can he get him to be reactive

that is one of the things Donald Trump wants Donald Trump has mentioned that to

people saying that Michael Cohen is always flying off the handle.

He wants to see Michael Cohen react.

Next up, it'll be the defense's turn to call witnesses.

But that's not expected to last long, if they call any at all.

Then it's over to the jury to decide whether the prosecution has proven beyond a reasonable

doubt that Trump falsified business records to cover up payments made to adult film star

Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about an alleged affair.

The International Court of Justice is hearing a petition from South Africa today

...