Trump defends Netanyahu amid corruption trial, calls it political witch hunt
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has publicly condemned the ongoing corruption trial of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling it a 'political witch hunt' and vowing that the US would not tolerate it.
Trump made the remarks on his Truth Social platform, stating, 'The United States of America spends Billions of Dollar a year, far more than on any other Nation, protecting and supporting Israel. We are not going to stand for this.'
Netanyahu faces multiple corruption charges, including allegations that he and his wife accepted luxury gifts worth over $260,000 in exchange for political favors. The Israeli leader has denied all accusations, framing the trial as politically motivated.
An Israeli court recently rejected Netanyahu's request to delay his testimony, citing insufficient justification. His legal team argued he needed to focus on 'security issues,' particularly amid ongoing tensions with Iran and Hamas.
Trump compared Netanyahu's legal struggles to his own, referencing his 2024 conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records. 'It is a POLITICAL WITCH HUNT, very similar to the Witch Hunt that I was forced to endure,' he said.
The former president also claimed the trial would disrupt negotiations with Iran and Hamas, though specifics on such talks remain unclear. Hamas still holds 49 hostages from its October 2023 attack, with ceasefire discussions ongoing.
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Malaysian Reserve
33 minutes ago
- Malaysian Reserve
Malaysia condemns US' illegal strike on Iran's nuclear facilities
The move was a breach of international law and a violation of Iranian rights under the Nuclear-Non-proliferation Treaty by AUFA MARDHIAH THE US continues to intensify tensions with its swift responses whenever Israel calls for support. On June 22, it carried out coordinated air strikes on Iran's nuclear sites — Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, calling it a 'successful' operation to dismantle Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity. The illegal attack was unprecedented against a civilian nuclear site and globally condemned as being responsible for risking the lives of millions of inhabitants of the entire region. Iranian authorities said the sites had been evacuated in advance and no radiation leaks were detected. However, more than 600 people have been killed and 3,500 injured since Israel's bombing campaign began on June 13, according to Iran's Health Ministry. Following the attack, Tehran condemned the move as a breach of international law and a violation of its rights under the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT). The situation raised fears of a wider war, but a ceasefire was later brokered with US' help, albeit it was not a unilateral declaration, and support from regional mediators like Qatar. Both Israel and Iran confirmed they would stop fighting — on the condition that the other side does the same. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had met its military goals and agreed to the truce with US coordination while Iran responded more cautiously, with President Masoud Pezeshkian saying Tehran would respect the ceasefire if Israel did. Iran's leadership framed the pause as a result of its military strength, not a diplomatic concession. Meanwhile, Malaysia supports the ceasefire but defends Iran's right to self-defence. On June 24, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Iran would stop military action if Israel ends its attacks on Palestinian and Iranian territories. He said Pezeshkian conveyed the message during a phone call, and urged Muslim countries not to fall for biased narratives about the conflict. Anwar condemned the recent Israeli and US attacks, calling them violations of international law that have killed civilians, military leaders and scientists. He also welcomed Iran's willingness to seek peace with all parties, including the US and Israel, if fairness and sovereignty are respected. Nuclear Treaty Rights Violated Geo-strategist Prof Azmi Hassan described US' action as illegal and undermines the global non-proliferation treaty framework. He said Iran, as a signatory of the NPT, has the right to pursue a civilian nuclear programme, and under the international law, US has no authority to curtail the treaty members from developing their own nuclear programme. While some feared an escalated war, he said the prospect of a full-blown regional conflict was unlikely, citing the US' call for a ceasefire just hours after Iran attacked US' airbase in Qatar on June 23. No casualties were reported. 'Everybody has learned a lesson. The US cannot just bomb and expect Iran to surrender. Nobody — including the US, Iran or Israel — wants a full-blown war in the region,' he told The Malaysian Reserve (TMR). Azmi said the air strikes were irresponsible, and had Iran not pre-emptively moved its enriched uranium to safer locations, the attack could have caused radiation leaks. When asked if the strike was in line with US President Donald Trump's typical approach to foreign policy, Azmi said, 'there's nothing consistent about Trump', suggesting the decisions were driven by instinct and domestic popularity rather than long-term strategy. 'His announcement of a truce between Iran and Israel — likely made without consulting either party — shows he is acting on impulse,' he added. On ASEAN's role, Azmi said Malaysia has already voiced support for a ceasefire, but called for broader dialogue involving all global powers. 'We hope the superpowers — China, Russia, the UK, France and Germany — can come together to pressure Iran, Israel and the US to talk. That's the least Malaysia and ASEAN can do,' he said. Illegal Under International and US Law Political analyst Rizal Hamdan described US' air strikes as a violation of both the international law and its Constitution. He emphasised that Trump had 'no legal basis to authorise the attack', as it was carried out without the approval of Congress and without any direct threat against US interests. The War Powers Resolution of 1973 clearly limits the president's power to launch military action without authorisation from lawmakers. The air strike also breached Article 51 of the United Nations (UN) Charter, which permits self-defence only in the event of an armed attack. On top of that, Rizal also pointed out that the US intelligence community had, as recently as March, assessed that Iran was not developing nuclear weapons — which makes the strikes 'illegal under international law'. While Washington described the operation as a pre-emptive move to dismantle Iran's nuclear capacity, Rizal warned that it risked destabilising the region further and could potentially endanger hundreds of millions of lives. 'The attack will never resolve the conflict — it will prolong it. Iran's allies like the Houthis, Hezbollah and Hamas will be drawn into this. 'The Gulf states will be caught in the middle, especially as Tehran is already moving toward closing the Strait of Hormuz,' he said. Any disruption to the oil supply chain would trigger global price shocks and deepen geopolitical volatility. This will result in the increasing of oil prices globally. 'If the conflict isn't mediated diplomatically, I'm worried it will turn into a full-scale war that tears the Middle East apart for a decade — just like Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq,' he added. While he does not believe the world is entering a new Cold War, he indicated that the current conditions resemble a period of growing geopolitical uncertainty. 'The new Cold War required a proxy war. Iran is not being openly assisted by China or Russia,' he said. However, he said there is a possibility of a pre-World War III — pointing to the ongoing war on the Ukraine-Russia front, the Middle East and the current conflict boiling in the East (threat perception of China annexing Taiwan). On Malaysia's role, Rizal called for neutrality, but stressed that it does not mean silence. 'Malaysia and ASEAN must remain neutral, but also push for conflict mediation and humanitarian support through platforms like the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the UN,' he said. Rizal emphasises that Trump has no legal basis to authorise the attack (Source: Rizal's X) Dangerous Precedent Clean Energy Xpeditors Sdn Bhd (Cenergy) director Dr Azrudi Mustapha described the air strikes on Iran's enrichment facilities as reckless and potentially destabilising to global nuclear security frameworks. He said while the targeted sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan are believed to be uranium enrichment facilities, their exact status — whether declared as civilian or military — remains unclear to the public. 'We don't know for sure if these are declared facilities. Possibly only Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would have that information,' he told TMR. Still, he said the attacks on nuclear sites, especially those potentially operating under the NPT, could severely damage trust in international safeguards. 'It is unwise to target facilities that have been declared as part of a civilian nuclear programme under the NPT, which Iran has signed. If countries complying with the treaty are still attacked, others will begin to question the value of remaining within the system,' he said. Although the US bombing targeted uranium enrichment facilities, which do not contain high-level radioactive materials such as nuclear waste or fission products, Azrudi explained that the stored material — uranium hexafluoride (UF6) — poses chemical hazards. 'UF6 is highly corrosive and, if leaked, can cause severe skin burns and kidney damage. But the danger is localised and unlikely to lead to regional contamination,' he said. While Azrudi did not believe the US had triggered a nuclear disaster in this instance, he cautioned that others may now feel emboldened to attack nuclear power plants, which could be catastrophic. 'We've already seen examples of this at Zaporizhzhia in 2024. Attacks on nuclear power plants don't win wars. They only inflame public outrage and normalise high-risk targeting,' he said. Nevertheless, Azrudi, who works in civilian nuclear energy focused on clean power, said the attack marks a troubling shift in how nuclear sites are viewed during conflict. He further described the strike as both 'reckless and dangerous'. Geramm Urges Protection of Press Freedom Through journalists' lens, Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) warned that the rising tensions in the Middle East, particularly after US air strikes on Iran's nuclear sites, underscore both the geopolitical risks and the serious threats faced by journalists reporting from the region. Citing data from Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists, Geramm president Radzi Razak noted that as of June 2025, over 100 journalists and media workers — many of them Palestinian — have been killed since the Gaza-Israel conflict began in October 2023. He described the period as one of the deadliest for the media in modern history. Radzi also criticised recent moves by Israeli authorities to ban Al Jazeera and restrict foreign media access, calling such measures deeply troubling, and that it not only limits transparency in times of war but directly suppresses the public's right to know. 'These blanket bans are a form of censorship that go against the very principles of press freedom and accountability — especially in a conflict where misinformation is rampant and civilian lives are at stake,' he told TMR. Nevertheless, Geramm stands in solidarity with journalists risking their lives on the ground and calls on all parties — including the US, Israel and Iran — to ensure the safety and neutrality of the press. 'War should never be an excuse to silence the press. Instead, it is precisely in moments of violence and confusion that independent journalism becomes most vital,' he added. A satellite image showing destroyed buildings at the Isfahan nuclear technology centre after recent airstrikes (pic: AFP/Maxar Technologies) Qatar Calm Despite Drone Strike Meanwhile, a Malaysian living in Doha said the situation in Qatar remains calm and largely unaffected, despite Iran's missile strike on the US Al Udeid Air Base located about 30km from the capital. Amir Hamzah Abdullah said businesses were advised to close early on June 23 as a precaution, but operations have since returned to normal. 'There was no panic. Flights at the airport were only delayed, not cancelled, and resumed regular operations the following morning,' he shared with TMR. He added that the Iranian government had notified Qatari authorities a day before the strike, and US forces had already evacuated the base prior to the attack. 'The strike was targeted, not like the missile attacks on Israel. It didn't disrupt the city,' he said. Amir also noted that BRICS nations have been increasing financial investments in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since early 2025, and said there was no sign of economic instability on the ground. 'It's business as usual here,' he said. However, Qatar's government issued a strong condemnation of the Iranian attack. In an official statement on June 23, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the strike a 'flagrant violation of Qatar's sovereignty, its airspace, international law and the UN Charter.' It also reaffirmed that Qatar reserves the right to respond accordingly under international law, though its air defences had successfully intercepted the incoming missiles. The government warned that continued military escalation could destabilise the region and urged all parties to return to dialogue and diplomacy. Qatar also reiterated its long-standing position against Israeli aggression and called once again for peaceful solutions to regional conflicts. At Press Time On June 25, regional media reported that Iran's Parliament passed a bill to suspend cooperation with the IAEA, pending approval from its Supreme National Security Council. Trump, meanwhile, claimed the ceasefire between Iran and Israel is 'going very well', despite rejecting an intelligence report suggesting the US bombings had merely set back Iran's nuclear programme by several months rather than destroying it entirely. Both Iran and Israel have since declared victory in the 12-day conflict, with celebrations erupting in Tehran and Netanyahu calling it a 'historic triumph'. Iran's Health Ministry reported that at least 610 people, including 13 children, were killed and over 3,000 injured since Israel began its offensive on June 13. In Israel, at least 28 people were killed in Iranian retaliatory strikes. This article first appeared in The Malaysian Reserve weekly print edition
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Dollar droops as optimism over US trade deals boosts Fed easing bets
TOKYO: The dollar wallowed near its lowest in nearly four years against the euro on Monday as market optimism over US trade deals bolstered bets for earlier Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. The greenback also languished near a four-year low versus sterling and a more than decade trough to the Swiss franc after Washington and China moved closer to a tariff agreement, even as US President Donald Trump injected some uncertainty into the market's bullish narrative by abruptly cutting off trade talks with Ottawa. Investors interpreted Fed Chair Jerome Powell's testimony to US Congress last week as dovish, after he said that rate cuts were likely if inflation does not spike this summer due to tariffs. Bets for at least one quarter-point reduction by September have risen to 92.4 per cent, according to CME Group's FedWatch Tool, from about 70 per cent a week earlier. The Fed's rate-setting committee also meets next month, but does not gather in August. "The market pricing implies a cut as a slam dunk in September," Chris Weston, head of research at Pepperstone, wrote in a client note. Friday's monthly US payrolls report is "the marquee risk event" this week, Weston said, and the risk to the dollar "seems asymmetric given the Fed's reaction function is biased towards the timing of the next cut." That means the dollar is more likely to suffer a rout on weak numbers than rally on a hot outcome, he said. An additional weight on the dollar came from Trump's continued assault on Powell, saying on Friday that he would "love" if the Fed chief resigned before his term ends in May. Trump also said he wants to cut the benchmark rate to one per cent from the current 4.25 to 4.50 per cent, and reiterated that he plans to replace Powell with a more dovish chairperson. Investors are also keeping an eye on Trump's massive tax-cut and spending bill, which is currently before the Senate and could add US$3.3 trillion to the national debt over a decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The dollar index – which measures the US currency against six major counterparts, including the euro, sterling and franc – edged up 0.10 per cent to 97.28, but was still not far from the more than three-year low of 96.93 late last week. The euro was slightly weaker at US$1.1716, just off the highest level since September 2021 reached on Friday at US$1.1754. Sterling was little changed at US$1.3709, hovering close to Thursday's peak of US$1.3770, a level not previously seen since October 2021. The dollar was steady at 0.7988 Swiss franc, after dipping to 0.7955 franc on Friday for the first time since January 2015, when the Swiss National Bank unexpectedly removed a cap on the currency's value against the euro. The US currency was flat at 144.58 yen. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Friday that Washington and Beijing had resolved issues surrounding shipments of Chinese rare earth minerals and magnets to the United States, further modifying a deal reached in May in Geneva. He also said various trade deals with other countries could be done by the US Labor Day holiday on September 1, suggesting some wiggle room on Trump's July 9 deadline to reach deals or face aggressive "reciprocal" tariffs. "USD will be driven by US trade developments this week in our view," Commonwealth Bank of Australia analysts wrote in their weekly FX strategy report. "We are sceptical so many trade deals can be agreed so quickly," they said. "Nonetheless, news that some trade deals have been agreed will support the USD against the major currencies – EUR, JPY and GBP – (and) the USD will likely decrease against other currencies such as AUD." The risk-sensitive Australian dollar ticked up slightly to US$0.6537, edging back towards Thursday's 7-1/2-month high of US$0.6563.
Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Malay Mail
US Senate moves closer to vote on Trump's sweeping, controversial spending bill
WASHINGTON, June 30 — US senators were inching Sunday towards a vote on Donald Trump's 'big beautiful' spending bill, a hugely divisive proposal that would deliver key parts of the US president's domestic agenda while making massive cuts to social welfare programmes. Trump is hoping the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' will help seal his legacy, extending his expiring first-term tax cuts at a cost of US$4.5 trillion (RM19 trillion) and beefing up border security. But Republicans eyeing 2026 midterm congressional elections are divided over the package, which would strip health care from millions of the poorest Americans and add more than US$3 trillion to the country's debt. The Senate formally opened debate on the bill late Saturday, after Republican holdouts delayed what should have been a procedural vote. Senators narrowly passed the motion to begin debate, with two Republicans joining 47 Democrats in voting against it — drawing sharp rebukes from Trump. The US president has pushed his party to get the bill passed and on his desk for him to sign into law by July 4, the United States' Independence Day. On Sunday, however, he seemed to cast doubt on that timeline, and accused the opposition Democrats of delaying proceedings for political reasons. 'There are a lot of bad people in the Democrat Party,' he told Fox News in an interview aired Sunday, berating his political opponents for not backing an increase to the debt ceiling. Earlier, Trump's tone had been even sharper. 'Republicans must remember that they are fighting against a very evil, corrupt and, in many ways, incompetent (Policywise!) group of people, who would rather see our Country 'go down in flames' than do the right thing,' he said on social media. Democrats are bitterly opposed to the legislation and Trump's agenda, and have vowed to hold up the debate. They began by insisting that the entirety of the roughly 1,000-page bill be read aloud to the chamber before the debate commenced. If passed in the Senate, the bill would go back to the House for approval, where Republicans can only afford to lose a handful of votes -- and are facing stiff opposition from within their own ranks. On Sunday, Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who opposes the bill, said he would not seek reelection next year, US media reported, after Trump excoriated him for his opposition to the spending plan. Divisive cuts Republicans are scrambling to offset the US$4.5 trillion cost of Trump's tax relief, with many of the proposed cuts to come from decimating funding for Medicaid, the health insurance program for low-income Americans. Republicans are split on the Medicaid cuts, which will threaten scores of rural hospitals and lead to an estimated 8.6 million Americans being deprived of health care. The spending plan would also roll back many of the tax incentives for renewable energy that were put in place under Trump's predecessor Joe Biden. On Saturday, former Trump advisor Elon Musk — with whom the president had a public falling out this month over his criticism of the bill — called the current proposal 'utterly insane and destructive.' 'It gives handouts to industries of the past while severely damaging industries of the future,' said Musk, who is the world's richest person, and heads electric vehicle company Tesla and space flight firm SpaceX, among others. Independent analysis also shows that the bill would pave the way for a historic redistribution of wealth from the poorest 10 per cent of Americans to the richest. The bill is unpopular across multiple demographic, age and income groups, according to extensive recent polling. Although the House has already passed its own version, both chambers have to agree on the same text before it can be signed into law. — AFP
