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Trump calls Netanyahu trial 'witch hunt', says it should be cancelled immediately

Trump calls Netanyahu trial 'witch hunt', says it should be cancelled immediately

India Today7 hours ago

US President Donald Trump came out in support of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying that his ongoing trial should be stopped. In a long post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said the charges against Netanyahu are politically motivated and unfair.Trump said he is shocked that Netanyahu is still facing trial, particularly after the assault on Iran that he described as one of Israel's "greatest moments." He praised Netanyahu's leadership and called him a "warrior" who helped fight Iran. According to him, the conflict was a battle for Israel's survival.advertisement"I was shocked to hear that the State of Israel, which has just had one of its Greatest Moments in History, and is strongly led by Bibi Netanyahu, is continuing its ridiculous Witch Hunt against their Great War Time Prime Minister!" Trump wrote.
He added, "Bibi and I just went through HELL together, fighting a very tough and brilliant longtime enemy of Israel, Iran, and Bibi could not have been better, sharper, or stronger in his LOVE for the incredible Holy Land. Anybody else would have suffered losses, embarrassment, and chaos! Bibi Netanyahu was a WARRIOR, like perhaps no other Warrior in the History of Israel."Trump went on to claim that under Netanyahu's leadership, a major nuclear threat from Iran was eliminated. He said, "The result was something that nobody thought was possible, a complete elimination of potentially one of the biggest and most powerful Nuclear Weapons anywhere in the World, and it was going to happen, SOON!"
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TRUMP CALLS THE TRIAL A TRAVESTY OF JUSTICETrump criticised the Israeli legal system for continuing what he called a "horror show" of a trial. Netanyahu has been under investigation since 2020, and according to Trump, the charges against him include minor things like cigars and a Bugs Bunny doll."I just learned that Bibi has been summoned to Court on Monday for the continuation of this long-running politically motivated case, 'concerning cigars, a Bugs Bunny doll, and numerous other unfair charges' in order to do him great harm," Trump wrote. "Such a WITCH HUNT, for a man who has given so much, is unthinkable to me."Trump said Netanyahu deserves better treatment from his country. "He deserves much better than this, and so does the State of Israel," he said, urging Israeli authorities to cancel the trial or issue a pardon. "Bibi Netanyahu's trial should be CANCELLED, IMMEDIATELY, or a Pardon given to a Great Hero, who has done so much for the State."He also claimed that the United States has always supported Israel and would now help Netanyahu as well. "Perhaps there is no one that I know who could have worked in better harmony with the President of the United States, ME, than Bibi Netanyahu. It was the United States of America that saved Israel, and now it is going to be the United States of America that saves Bibi Netanyahu."NETANYAHU'S CORRUPTION TRIALadvertisementNetanyahu is accused of accepting tens of thousands of dollars' worth of cigars and champagne from a billionaire Hollywood producer in exchange for helping him with business interests. He is also charged with advocating for advantageous regulations for media tycoons in return for positive publicity for himself and his family.Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing, claiming that the accusations are the result of a biased legal system and hostile media that are trying to overthrow his long-standing rule. The scandals that have surrounded him and his family for years came to a head with his testimony.- EndsTune InMust Watch

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What happened when missiles rained down in Israel: An account from Indians working there
What happened when missiles rained down in Israel: An account from Indians working there

Indian Express

time6 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

What happened when missiles rained down in Israel: An account from Indians working there

On June 13, when Israel attacked Iran, the Indian embassy in Israel informed its citizens, many of them workers, on how to respond in case of an attack. 'If we were on the road, we had to lie down with both arms on the head; if we were on a bus, we had to stop and rush to the nearest bunker; and if we were at work, we had to rush to the basement,' said Basav Ram, a 30-year-old construction worker from Haryana's Jind. 'In our initial months, the Iron Dome (Israeli interceptor) was a wonder to us. We would gaze at the interceptions, but this time, it was a whole new ball game.' Ram, since he landed in Israel's Tel Aviv and moved to Netanya in April 2024, has seen the two countries attack each other over four times. However, this time, the attacks were more intense, he said. Around 6 am on June 13, his phone rang, warning him of an attack. 'First, we got a warning message, then an alarm rang, then a red alarm activated, which shut the phone off except for the blaring sound. The sirens from speakers outside accompanied this. We rushed to the bunker outside our building. Once inside, we were safe. Had buildings fallen on top of it, it would still not have collapsed,' he said. Ram rushed to such bunkers twenty times in the '12-day war', as US President Donald Trump calls it. From June 13 to 23, when a ceasefire was announced, Iran's ballistic missile attacks claimed 28 lives in Israel while Israel killed over 600 Iranians, including their top military brass. The Indian citizens in Israel include thousands employed by various companies through India's National Skill Development Corporation after it received a demand for 10,000 construction workers from Israel's Population and Immigration Authority for four roles — formwork, iron bending, plastering and ceramic tiling in November 2023, a month after Israel's attack on Gaza began. The NSDC has sent workers from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana so far under a government-to-government (G2G) agreement. Ram said he wanted to go home, but the embassy did not order an evacuation. 'I could not go individually because I could not get a vacation and was unsure of whether I would get a visa to re-enter if I left. Many of us from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Haryana were discussing this. Everyone was scared, but we were more scared to go. The contract was for five years, and we want to make a name for ourselves. We came with a dream, and I could not go before it was fulfilled,' Ram said. 'I was constantly thinking of my family when explosions were ringing out around us. Ghar, galiyaan, gaon, sab yaad aayi.' Whenever his employer gave them a day off, the message came with a sense of foreboding. 'It was an omen that the day ahead would see attacks. The defence system intercepted all the missiles, but the explosions left us terrified. When my mother called worried, I would tell her the visuals broadcast by Indian media were fake,' he said. Ram said he will go home for a month this year and hopes to get married before returning. 'After the contract ends, I will go back and give the CET (common eligibility test for group C jobs). With a job at home, things will be immensely better. By then, I would have saved enough to sustain my family till I secure a posting,' he said. Currently, he earns around Rs 1.2 lakh a month, of which around 1 lakh is sent home every month. 'I can't leave my parents to poverty at this age,' Ram said. Gurdeep from Haryana, who lives in Lod, 15 km away from Jerusalem, said the surveillance during the war was scaled up. 'A few Indian labourers posted videos of the attack on social media. Soon, the embassy informed us not to take videos. They said action will be initiated against us. Every conversation and message is documented, even this call over WhatsApp,' he claimed. Gurdeep had left Jind for a construction job, which was terminated after three months. 'I was moved to the bakery by the same contractor, so the agreement remained the same,' he said. While the war waged, Gurdeep could not get a day off. 'If the siren went off, we would rush to the bunker under the bakery,' he said. His day shift is from 6 am to 6 pm, while the night shift is from 6 pm to 6 am, which he alternates between every week. 'When the sight of a truce was not near, I made sure my wife knew nothing about the attacks. I told my brothers to keep her away from the news,' he said. The last attacks in 2024 had left the family petrified, he said. Another labourer, on condition of anonymity, claimed they have been asked not to respond to posts of Palestinians on social media. 'We cannot be seen sharing or even interacting with content on Gaza. We rarely see any posts, and if we do, we have to ignore them. The embassy has also warned us of this,' he claimed. Shankar Dayal, who went to Israel in June 2024, said that although he was selected for tiling work at a construction site, he was placed on a road brick-laying stint. 'Several people have to leave because of this, and I have been shuttling between different jobs ever since,' he said. Dayal said long hours and heavy labour made him reconsider his decision. 'I want to go back to India. Jhagda chal raha hai yahan baar baar. Sabko jaan pyaari hai. If I had a better job, I would have been able to endure it better,' he said. Aiswarya Raj is a correspondent with The Indian Express who covers South Haryana. An alumna of Asian College of Journalism and the University of Kerala, she started her career at The Indian Express as a sub-editor in the Delhi city team. In her current position, she reports from Gurgaon and covers the neighbouring districts. She likes to tell stories of people and hopes to find moorings in narrative journalism. ... Read More

Usman Khawaja declines interview with Australian radio in protest of journalist's sacking for pro-Gaza post; CA react
Usman Khawaja declines interview with Australian radio in protest of journalist's sacking for pro-Gaza post; CA react

Hindustan Times

time8 minutes ago

  • Hindustan Times

Usman Khawaja declines interview with Australian radio in protest of journalist's sacking for pro-Gaza post; CA react

Usman Khawaja declined an interview with Australian broadcasters SEN Radio, in a quiet but pointed protest against the station's controversial sacking of veteran cricket journalist Peter Lalor earlier this year. Australia's Usman Khawaja walks off the field(AP) According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Khawaja, who scored a steady 47 runs on the opening day of the first Test against the West Indies at Kensington Oval, was approached after stumps by team media manager Cole Hitchcock to record an interview with SEN commentators Adam Collins and Bharat Sundaresan. However, Khawaja respectfully declined, telling the broadcasters he would not be participating. The situation said the decision stemmed from Khawaja's objection to Lalor's abrupt removal from SEN's cricket coverage in February 2025, during Australia's tour of Sri Lanka. Lalor's dismissal reportedly followed internal concerns over his social media activity, which included reposts highlighting Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners. The move drew criticism at the time, including from Khawaja, who publicly defended Lalor via Instagram, writing: 'Standing up for the people of Gaza is not antisemitic nor does it have anything to do with my Jewish brothers and sisters in Australia, but everything to do with the Israeli government and their deplorable actions... Pete is a good guy with a good heart. He deserves better.' Khawaja's decision not to speak with SEN on Wednesday is seen as a continuation of that stand. While declining the interview, he is understood to have apologised directly to Collins and Sundaresan, making it clear his issue was not with the commentators themselves but with the network's handling of Lalor's departure. Khawaja won't face any action from Cricket Australia The report adds that Khawaja is unlikely to face any vacation from Cricket Australia (CA) as Media obligations during a match or immediately after play are optional, and players are permitted to decline them at their discretion. Lalor, who is currently covering the series for Cricket Et Al, expressed gratitude for the gesture. 'Usman is a man of principle whose support I valued greatly when I was dismissed and whose ongoing support I appreciate,' Lalor said in a statement. In a detailed post earlier this year, Lalor revealed the circumstances surrounding his dismissal, stating that SEN CEO Craig Hutchison told him his social media activity had drawn complaints and that some listeners felt 'unsafe' hearing his voice on air. 'I was told there were accusations I was antisemitic, which I strongly objected to,' Lalor wrote. 'I said I didn't want anyone to feel unsafe. Of course I care... But so is Gaza. It's an awful situation.' Hutchison was present at the ground in Barbados on day one, hosting sponsors, but has not commented publicly on Khawaja's protest. SEN is the only Australian broadcaster covering the West Indies tour on the ground, with ABC Radio absent from the Caribbean for this series.

Usman Khawaja boycotts Australian radio station over sacking of journalist supporting Palestine: 'He is a man of principle'
Usman Khawaja boycotts Australian radio station over sacking of journalist supporting Palestine: 'He is a man of principle'

First Post

time13 minutes ago

  • First Post

Usman Khawaja boycotts Australian radio station over sacking of journalist supporting Palestine: 'He is a man of principle'

Taking a stand for a veteran journalist sacked by SEN Radio, cricketer Usman Khawaja boycotted the Australian radio station at the end of Day 1's play in the first Test between West Indies and Australia. read more Usman Khawaja had also supported journalist Peter Lalor when Sen Radio sacked him in February. Image: AP Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja refused to speak to SEN Radio on Wednesday after the end of Day 1's play in the first Test between West Indies and Australia at the Kensington Oval, Barbados, as a mark of protest against the sacking of veteran cricket journalist Peter Lalor. Australia's SEN Radio had sacked renowned cricket reporter Lalor in February this year in February, midway through the tour of Sri Lanka, for showing support for Palestine . Before his sacking, Lalor had shared multiple posts on X (formerly Twitter) which claimed that Israel had committed 'genocide' in Gaza. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Usman Khawaja refuses SEN interview As per a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, Khawaja, who made 47 as Australia were bowled out for just 180 on Day 1, was scheduled to record an interview with SEN commentators Adam Collins and Bharat Sundaresan at Kensington Oval after the end of the day's play, but the veteran opener refused to do the interview. Sources, speaking on condition of anonymity to SMH, said Khawaja's decision was linked to SEN's controversial sacking of Lalor earlier this year. Khawaja feels SEN's action against Lalor was 'unfair'. Khawaja had also backed Lalor in a social media post at the time of his sacking. 'Standing up for the people of Gaza is not antisemitic nor does it have anything to do with my Jewish brothers and sisters in Australia, but everything to do with the Israeli government and their deplorable actions,' Khawaja posted on Instagram. 'It has everything to do with justice and human rights. Unfortunately hatred towards the Jewish and Muslim community will always exist. Pete is a good guy with a good heart. He deserves better.' The report added that Khawaja also apologised to Collins and Sundaresan for declining the interview. The 38-year-old Khawaja doesn't face any threat of action from Cricket Australia as players are allowed to decline post-match interviews if they wish. Meanwhile, Lalor is also covering the first Test in Barbados. Shortly after Khawaja refused the interview, in a statement, Lalo wrote: 'Usman is a man of principle whose support I valued greatly when I was dismissed and whose ongoing support I appreciate.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

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