Netanyahu seeks to postpone trial summons after Trump backing

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked a court on Thursday to postpone his testimony in his long-running corruption trial, after US President Donald Trump called for the case to be cancelled altogether.Trump’s move in support of Netanyahu over the case drew criticism from some Israeli politicians, including a member of the Israeli leader’s own coalition and the leader of the opposition.It came days after Trump and Netanyahu declared victory over Iran in a 12-day conflict that saw Israel bombard the Islamic republic and US planes also drop powerful missiles on its nuclear installations.In a filing to the tribunal, Netanyahu’s lawyer Amit Hadad said the premier’s testimony should be delayed in light of “regional and global developments”.”The court is respectfully requested to order the cancellation of the hearings in which the prime minister was scheduled to testify in the coming two weeks,” the filing said.It said Netanyahu was “compelled to devote all his time and energy to managing national, diplomatic and security issues of the utmost importance” following the conflict with Iran and during ongoing fighting in Gaza where Israeli hostages are held.Trump on Wednesday described the case against Netanyahu as a “witch hunt”.In a message on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the Netanyahu trial “should be CANCELLED, IMMEDIATELY, or a Pardon given to a Great Hero”, after the end of the war with Iran.Netanyahu on Thursday thanked Trump for his “heartfelt support for me and your incredible support for Israel and the Jewish people”.”I look forward to continue working with you to defeat our common enemies, liberate our hostages and quickly expand the circle of peace,” Netanyahu wrote on X, sharing a copy of Trump’s Truth Social post.Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said in an interview with news website Ynet: “We are thankful to President Trump, but… the president should not interfere in a judicial trial in an independent country.”- Corruption charges -Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing in the trial, which has been delayed many times since it began in May 2020.In a first case, Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, are accused of accepting more than $260,000 worth of luxury goods such as cigars, jewellery and champagne from billionaires in exchange for political favours.In two other cases, Netanyahu is accused of attempting to negotiate more favourable coverage in two Israeli media outlets.One of Netanyahu’s coalition allies, Simcha Rothman of the far-right Religious Zionism party, also called for Trump to stay out of the court case.”It is not the role of the president of the United States to interfere in legal proceedings in the State of Israel,” said Rothman, who chairs the Israeli parliament’s judicial affairs committee.Rothman, a vocal critic of what he argues is judicial overreach, however said that “the management of Netanyahu’s cases is transforming the image of the State of Israel from a regional and global power into a banana republic.”National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, the leader of another far-right party in Netanyahu’s coalition, backed Trump’s call, branding the trial politically motivated.Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said it was “distorted, unreasonable, contrary to the basic sense of justice” to continue Netanyahu’s trial while Israel is at war, also backing Trump’s call to drop the charges.During his current term since late 2022, Netanyahu’s government has proposed a series of far-reaching judicial reforms that critics say were designed to weaken the courts.Netanyahu has requested multiple postponements in the proceedings, most recently citing the ongoing war in Gaza since April 2023, later in Lebanon and earlier this month in Iran.

South Africa’s Sundowns make impact felt at Club World CupThu, 26 Jun 2025 15:23:22 GMT

South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns head out of the Club World Cup with their heads high and the firm belief that they have made a mark on the global stage.The club, established in a black township during the apartheid era, drew 0-0 with Brazilian giants Fluminense in their final group game having beaten South Korea’s Ulsan …

South Africa’s Sundowns make impact felt at Club World CupThu, 26 Jun 2025 15:23:22 GMT Read More »

Khamenei says Trump ‘exaggerated’ impact of US strikes on nuclear sites

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused US President Donald Trump on Thursday of exaggerating the impact of US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, in his first appearance since a ceasefire in the war with Israel took hold.In a televised speech, Khamenei hailed what he described as Iran’s “victory” over Israel, vowed never to yield to US pressure and insisted Washington had been dealt a humiliating “slap”.”The American president exaggerated events in unusual ways, and it turned out that he needed this exaggeration,” Khamenei said, rejecting US claims Iran’s nuclear programme had been set back by decades.The strikes, he insisted, had done “nothing significant” to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.Trump, however, maintained the US attacks were devastating.The US president said key facilities, including the underground Fordo uranium enrichment site, had been “obliterated” by American B-2 bombers.Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump dismissed speculation Iran might have removed enriched uranium prior to the raid, saying: “Nothing was taken out… too dangerous, and very heavy and hard to move!”He added that satellite images showed trucks at the site only because Iranian crews were attempting to shield the facility with concrete.Khamenei dismissed such claims, saying “the Islamic republic won, and in retaliation dealt a severe slap to the face of America”.His remarks followed the end of a 12-day war between Iran and Israel — the deadliest between the two countries to date.Both sides have claimed victory: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a “historic win”, while Khamenei said Iran’s missile retaliation had brought Israel to the brink of collapse.- US defence -In Washington, the true impact of the strikes has sparked sharp political and intelligence debates.A leaked classified assessment suggested the damage to Iran’s nuclear programme may be less severe than initially claimed — possibly delaying progress by only a few months.This assessment contrasts with statements from senior US officials.CIA Director John Ratcliffe said several facilities would need to be “rebuilt over the course of years”.Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth accused the media of misrepresenting the operation.He said the United States used massive GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs on Fordo and another underground site, while submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles targeted a third facility.”President Trump created the conditions to end the war, decimating — choose your word — obliterating, destroying Iran’s nuclear capabilities,” Hegseth said.Doubts remain about whether Iran quietly removed some 400 kilograms (880 pounds) of enriched uranium from its most sensitive sites before the strikes — potentially hiding nuclear material elsewhere in the country.- Netanyahu says Iran ‘thwarted’ -Following waves of Israeli attacks on nuclear and military sites and retaliatory missile fire from Iran since mid-June, the US bombed three key Iranian atomic facilities.Initial intelligence reports, first revealed by CNN, suggested the strikes did not destroy critical components and delayed Iran’s nuclear programme only by months.Experts questioned if Iran had pre-emptively moved enriched uranium to protect it. The US administration has forcefully rejected such suggestions.Trump described the attack as having “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear facilities, including the Fordo site, which is buried inside a mountain, and claimed it had set back the program by “decades”.The Israeli military said it delivered a “significant” blow to Iran’s nuclear sites but cautioned it was “still early” to fully assess the damage.Netanyahu said Israel had “thwarted Iran’s nuclear project”, warning any attempt by Iran to rebuild it would be met with the same determination and intensity.- Nuclear talks? -Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told Al Jazeera that “nuclear installations have been badly damaged, that’s for sure”.After the war derailed nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, Trump said Washington would hold discussions with Tehran next week, with his special envoy Steve Witkoff expressing hope “for a comprehensive peace agreement”.Trump told reporters Israel and Iran were “both tired, exhausted”, before going on to say that talks were planned with Iran next week.”We may sign an agreement. I don’t know,” he added.Iran has consistently denied seeking a nuclear weapon while defending its “legitimate rights” to the peaceful use of atomic energy.It has also said it is willing to return to nuclear negotiations with Washington.The Israeli strikes on Iran killed at least 627 civilians, Tehran’s health ministry said.Iran’s attacks on Israel killed 28 people, according to Israeli figures.A state funeral will be held on Saturday in Tehran for top commanders and nuclear scientists killed in the war.burs-dv/kir

Khamenei says Trump ‘exaggerated’ impact of US strikes on nuclear sites

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused US President Donald Trump on Thursday of exaggerating the impact of US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, in his first appearance since a ceasefire in the war with Israel took hold.In a televised speech, Khamenei hailed what he described as Iran’s “victory” over Israel, vowed never to yield to US pressure and insisted Washington had been dealt a humiliating “slap”.”The American president exaggerated events in unusual ways, and it turned out that he needed this exaggeration,” Khamenei said, rejecting US claims Iran’s nuclear programme had been set back by decades.The strikes, he insisted, had done “nothing significant” to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.Trump, however, maintained the US attacks were devastating.The US president said key facilities, including the underground Fordo uranium enrichment site, had been “obliterated” by American B-2 bombers.Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump dismissed speculation Iran might have removed enriched uranium prior to the raid, saying: “Nothing was taken out… too dangerous, and very heavy and hard to move!”He added that satellite images showed trucks at the site only because Iranian crews were attempting to shield the facility with concrete.Khamenei dismissed such claims, saying “the Islamic republic won, and in retaliation dealt a severe slap to the face of America”.His remarks followed the end of a 12-day war between Iran and Israel — the deadliest between the two countries to date.Both sides have claimed victory: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a “historic win”, while Khamenei said Iran’s missile retaliation had brought Israel to the brink of collapse.- US defence -In Washington, the true impact of the strikes has sparked sharp political and intelligence debates.A leaked classified assessment suggested the damage to Iran’s nuclear programme may be less severe than initially claimed — possibly delaying progress by only a few months.This assessment contrasts with statements from senior US officials.CIA Director John Ratcliffe said several facilities would need to be “rebuilt over the course of years”.Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth accused the media of misrepresenting the operation.He said the United States used massive GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs on Fordo and another underground site, while submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles targeted a third facility.”President Trump created the conditions to end the war, decimating — choose your word — obliterating, destroying Iran’s nuclear capabilities,” Hegseth said.Doubts remain about whether Iran quietly removed some 400 kilograms (880 pounds) of enriched uranium from its most sensitive sites before the strikes — potentially hiding nuclear material elsewhere in the country.- Netanyahu says Iran ‘thwarted’ -Following waves of Israeli attacks on nuclear and military sites and retaliatory missile fire from Iran since mid-June, the US bombed three key Iranian atomic facilities.Initial intelligence reports, first revealed by CNN, suggested the strikes did not destroy critical components and delayed Iran’s nuclear programme only by months.Experts questioned if Iran had pre-emptively moved enriched uranium to protect it. The US administration has forcefully rejected such suggestions.Trump described the attack as having “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear facilities, including the Fordo site, which is buried inside a mountain, and claimed it had set back the program by “decades”.The Israeli military said it delivered a “significant” blow to Iran’s nuclear sites but cautioned it was “still early” to fully assess the damage.Netanyahu said Israel had “thwarted Iran’s nuclear project”, warning any attempt by Iran to rebuild it would be met with the same determination and intensity.- Nuclear talks? -Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told Al Jazeera that “nuclear installations have been badly damaged, that’s for sure”.After the war derailed nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, Trump said Washington would hold discussions with Tehran next week, with his special envoy Steve Witkoff expressing hope “for a comprehensive peace agreement”.Trump told reporters Israel and Iran were “both tired, exhausted”, before going on to say that talks were planned with Iran next week.”We may sign an agreement. I don’t know,” he added.Iran has consistently denied seeking a nuclear weapon while defending its “legitimate rights” to the peaceful use of atomic energy.It has also said it is willing to return to nuclear negotiations with Washington.The Israeli strikes on Iran killed at least 627 civilians, Tehran’s health ministry said.Iran’s attacks on Israel killed 28 people, according to Israeli figures.A state funeral will be held on Saturday in Tehran for top commanders and nuclear scientists killed in the war.burs-dv/kir

Canicule: quatre départements du sud de la France en vigilance orange

Quatre départements du sud de la France, les Bouches-du-Rhône, le Gard, l’Hérault et les Pyrénées-Orientales, ont été placés en vigilance orange à la canicule pour la journée de vendredi, a annoncé Météo France dans son communiqué de 16h00 jeudi.Cette vigilance, qui débutera à 12h00 et jusqu’à minuit, est notamment due aux températures de surface de la Méditerranée, qui pourraient “influencer l’effet des températures minimales (et) rendre plus étouffantes les nuits”, précise l’organisme de prévision, selon qui il est “probable” que cet épisode soit prolongé “au cours des prochains jours”. Selon Météo France, la chaleur va en effet se maintenir sur le pourtour méditerranéen, puis s’étendre durant le week-end plus au nord et vers le centre du pays. Cet épisode caniculaire va débuter avec des valeurs comprises entre 35 et 38 degrés sur le pourtour méditerranée, et jusqu’à 39 degrés localement, “voire plus en pointe à l’intérieur des terres”, précise l’organisme, prévenant que la nuit de vendredi à samedi sera “très chaude et étouffante”.Les maximales de samedi devraient être proches de 37 à 39 degrés.

Canicule: quatre départements du sud de la France en vigilance orange

Quatre départements du sud de la France, les Bouches-du-Rhône, le Gard, l’Hérault et les Pyrénées-Orientales, ont été placés en vigilance orange à la canicule pour la journée de vendredi, a annoncé Météo France dans son communiqué de 16h00 jeudi.Cette vigilance, qui débutera à 12h00 et jusqu’à minuit, est notamment due aux températures de surface de la Méditerranée, qui pourraient “influencer l’effet des températures minimales (et) rendre plus étouffantes les nuits”, précise l’organisme de prévision, selon qui il est “probable” que cet épisode soit prolongé “au cours des prochains jours”. Selon Météo France, la chaleur va en effet se maintenir sur le pourtour méditerranéen, puis s’étendre durant le week-end plus au nord et vers le centre du pays. Cet épisode caniculaire va débuter avec des valeurs comprises entre 35 et 38 degrés sur le pourtour méditerranée, et jusqu’à 39 degrés localement, “voire plus en pointe à l’intérieur des terres”, précise l’organisme, prévenant que la nuit de vendredi à samedi sera “très chaude et étouffante”.Les maximales de samedi devraient être proches de 37 à 39 degrés.

Foot: Cristiano Ronaldo prolonge avec Al-Nassr en Arabie saoudite jusqu’en 2027

À 40 ans, le Portugais Cristiano Ronaldo a prolongé son contrat avec Al-Nassr jusqu’en 2027, a annoncé jeudi le club saoudien, mettant fin à des semaines de spéculation.”L’histoire continue…”: dans une vidéo puis dans un message sur le réseau social X, Al-Nassr a officialisé la prolongation de contrat de deux ans de la star portugaise, arrivée en Arabie saoudite début 2023.Fin mai, le quintuple Ballon d’Or avait pourtant annoncé la fin du “chapitre” Al-Nassr, tout en assurant, sans plus de précisions, que son histoire allait continuer “de s’écrire”. Mais il avait ensuite affirmé, après la victoire du Portugal en Ligue des nations le 8 juin, qu’il était prêt à rester à Al-Nassr.Le président de la Fifa, Gianni Infantino, avait par ailleurs laissé entendre que Ronaldo pourrait quitter le club saoudien pour rejoindre une équipe qualifiée pour la Coupe du monde des clubs, qui se déroule actuellement aux Etats-Unis en présence du rival argentin du Portugais, Lionel Messi.Dans la vidéo publiée par Al-Nassr jeudi, CR7 met donc fin au suspense: pied nus sur la plage, on le voit tout sourire annoncer simplement “Al-Nassr forever” (Al-Nassr pour toujours). S’il n’est pas au Mondial des clubs, l’homme au 221 sélections avec la Seleção pourrait être de la partie lors de la Coupe du monde des nations l’an prochain, aux Etats-Unis, au Mexique et au Canada, pour décrocher le seul trophée qui manque à son palmarès hors normes. L’arrivée de la superstar en Arabie saoudite avait marqué en 2023 le début d’un afflux de joueurs en fin de carrière dans le riche royaume pétrolier.”La présence de Ronaldo est un facteur clé dans le développement de la ligue saoudienne ces deux dernières années et demie. Il a ouvert la porte à des joueurs d’élite et jeunes pour venir en Arabie saoudite”, avait déclaré à l’AFP une source au sein du fonds souverain saoudien (PIF).Le PIF, fonds souverain alimenté par les revenus pétroliers, contrôle plusieurs clubs de la Saudi Pro League, notamment Al Nassr, Al Hilal et Al Ahli.Si Ronaldo reste finalement, la star brésilienne Neymar a lui mis fin à son séjour de 18 mois, marqué par les blessures, en janvier, après seulement sept matchs joués pour Al Hilal.Bien que Ronaldo ait été meilleur buteur du championnat avec 25 buts, il n’a toujours pas remporté le titre national ou la Ligue des champions d’Asie avec Al Nassr.