Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial opened in Tel Aviv, with the judge ordering him to testify throughout the long-awaited proceedings.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu entered a Tel Aviv courthouse on Tuesday to take the stand for the first time in a long-running corruption trial that will likely force him to juggle between the courtroom and war room for weeks.
Indicted in 2019, Benjamin Netanyahu is the country’s first sitting PM to be charged with corruption, fraud and breach of trust.
Netanyahu has rejected the charges against him and pleaded not guilty.
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On the first day of the trial, held at an undisclosed location, he and his lawyers claimed to be victims of a left-wing relentlessness, accusing journalists of having hounded him for years because of his policies.
According to them, this is not an investigation into a crime, but a personal forward against him.
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Netanyahu is accused of granting advantages to certain media outlets, notably Bezeq Telecom, offering special services to the company worth an estimated nearly two billion shekels, in trade for favorable media coverage for him and his wife.
He also reportedly negotiated favorable media support with the owner of a newspaper, in trade for measures to slow the growth of a competitor.
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Recently, judges demanded that he testify several times during the course of this trial, forcing him to spend the next few weeks in court, while asserting that he is able to continue his executive duties in parallel.
President-elect Donald Trump, who has endured a turbulent 2024 marked by several high-profile court cases, an unusual election campaign and an assassination attempt, has been named TIME magazine’s Personality of the Year 2024.
Time magazine has named President-elect Donald Trump as 2024’s person of the year.The publication announced its selection Thursday. This is Trump’s second time, after first being selected in 2016. Pop megastar Taylor Swift was 2023’s person of the year.
After complaining repeatedly in recent years about not receiving this title, which he felt he deserved, Trump is finally being honored this year.
It’s the second time he’s earned the distinction, having already been named Person of the Year in 2016.
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This year, Trump was up against several notable figures for the title, including his 2024 election campaign rival Kamala Harris, as well as Princess of Wales Kate Middleton and billionaire Elon Musk, winner of the title in 2021.
Other candidates included Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Vladimir Putin rival Alexei Navalny, US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, META CEO Mark Zuckerberg (2010 incumbent), Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, animator Joe Rogan and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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Donald Trump unquestionably marked 2024 by decisively winning the presidential election against all odds. For the first time, he won a majority of the popular vote and swung all the key states in favor of the Republicans.
A spectacular comeback, despite the many controversies surrounding him, not least his defeat in the 2020 election to Joe Biden, the results of which he still refuses to acknowledge.
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In 2024, he was at the center of numerous court cases, becoming the first convicted felon to be elected president.
A New York jury found Trump guilty of 34 counts of fraud for falsifying business records to conceal a payment, made on the eve of the 2016 election, to buy the silence of Stormy Daniels, an adult star with whom he allegedly had an affair, while his wife, Melania Trump, was pregnant with their son Barron.
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In January 2024, following a retrial, Trump was ordered to pay writer E. Jean Carroll an additional $83.3 million in damages.
This follows further defamatory statements by Trump, having already been found guilty in 2023 of sexual assault and defamation in a civil case, for which he was ordered to pay $5 million.
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Donald Trump was also under investigation for alleged mishandling of confidential documents after his presidency. A grand jury had indicted him on 40 criminal counts, but the case evolved when the Supreme Court granted him presidential immunity.
Charges related to his official duties as president had to be reframed, and with his election victory, the case was finally withdrawn by special prosecutor on the case Jack Smith.
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In 2024, Donald Trump was the target of several assassination attempts, underscoring the extreme tensions surrounding his presidential bid and return to politics.
Despite the high risks, these incidents only reinforced his image among his supporters, illustrating a deeply polarized and volatile political climate.
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Whether we like him or not, Trump has undeniably left his mark on 2024, attracting considerable attention. This visibility earned him Time Magazine’s 2024 Personality of the Year award.
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And as 2024 draws to a close, 2025 promises to be just as turbulent for Trump, as he prepares to return to the White House to begin his second term at the end of January.
Montreal Canadiens player Brendan Gallagher and his partner Emma Fortin are sharing some big, wonderful news: they’ll soon be happy parents!
The couple shared an adorable family photo on Instagram, featuring Emma, Brendan, their adorable pitou, and the lovely round belly housing the future member of the Gallagher clan.
“Baby Gallagher coming this winter“, says the mum-to-be, probably very excited to finally be able to shout this wonderful news from the rooftops.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DDdDxhixdhR/?hl=fr
Adorable!
In July, the lovebirds announced their wedding, a ceremony which, judging by the photos shared by those involved, looked absolutely spectacular.
In a civil complaint filed last October against P. Diddy, whose real name is Sean Combs, a woman claims to have been sexually assaulted by the rapper at a party in 2000, when she was… only 13 years old.
She recently amended her complaint to include the name of Shawn Carter, aka Jay-Z, claiming that he also assaulted her at the same party.
A woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted by Sean “Diddy” Combs has amended her lawsuit to include allegations that she was also assaulted by Jay-Z at the same party.
The woman, identified as Jane Doe in the complaint, claims she was 13 when she was allegedly assaulted by Combs and an unidentified man at an after-party following the 2000 VMAs.
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The woman claims she began to feel dizzy after consuming a drink at the party and headed for a nearby room.
She claims that a celebrity, referred to in the complaint as “Celebrity A”, assaulted her first, followed by Sean Combs.
She now identifies Jay-Z as this “Celebrity A”.
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According to CNN, Jay-Z firmly rejects the accusations against him and says the victim should file a criminal complaint rather than a civil one. In his statement, he stresses that anyone committing such a crime against a minor should be imprisoned.
His lawyers have countered these accusations by asking the judge to require Jane Doe to reveal her identity or dismiss her complaint.
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The alleged victim’s lawyers accuse Jay-Z of orchestrating a campaign of intimidation, harassment and pressure aimed at the plaintiff’s lawyers as well as their families, employees and even former associates.
They claim that these actions were intended to dissuade their client from explicitly naming him in the case against P. Diddy, even though she and her lawyers had previously requested mediation.
Sean Combs, aka Diddy, was indicted in September on charges of sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit racketeering and pimping.
He has pleaded not guilty to these charges.
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Since then, he has also been the target of a multitude of civil lawsuits related to similar charges.
The suspect, wanted for several days in connection with the assassination in New York City of the CEO of United Healthcare, was arrested at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after a McDonald’s employee identified him and alerted the authorities.
A law enforcement officer said a suspect in UnitedHealth CEO killing had been identified by someone who spotted him in a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The man had written a “manifesto,” according to two law enforcement officials.Follow live updates.
Authorities identified the suspect as Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old man born and raised in Maryland.
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According to police, he was in possession of a jacket matching the one he was wearing at the time of the assassination, as well as a handwritten manifesto criticizing health insurance companies.
He also held several fake ID cards, one of which was used to rent an inn on Manhattan’s Upper West Side a few days before the assassination.
Investigators also found a “ghost gun” assembled from parts potentially made with a 3D printer, fitted with a silencer, as well as 9 mm bullets.
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On December 4, Brian Thompson, CEO of United Healthcare, was shot dead on the street in Midtown Manhattan, New York, outside a hotel.
Since then, a manhunt had been underway for the suspect, identified as having fled the scene on an electric bicycle through Central Park.
Authorities were convinced, however, that he had managed to leave New York, and had also traced his movements prior to the murder, including his stay on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
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An initial reward of $10,000 was increased to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest of the suspect.
This amount can certainly be claimed by the McDonald’s employee who, thanks to his vigilance, quickly reported the man to the authorities.
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The man is currently detained for illegal possession of a firearm and is being questioned in connection with the murder of the CEO of United Healthcare.
The world’s richest man, billionaire and now close advisor to Donald Trump, has again been denied by a judge a $51 billion payment in shares of Tesla, whose value has almost doubled to over $100 billion.
JUST IN: Elon Musk’s record-breaking pay package for serving as Tesla’s CEO has been rejected by a Delaware court, despite being approved by Tesla shareholders at a June meeting.
Although Tesla had approved the payment to Elon Musk, a Delaware judge ruled otherwise, rejecting the gigantic billionaire’s payment for a second time.
After denying the same payment last January, the judge sided with a major shareholder in the lawsuit, who challenged the package, saying Musk had failed to prove the compensation plan was fair.
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In this second refusal, the judge considers that, although the package had once again been ratified by a majority of shareholders (over 84%), excluding Musk’s own shares and those of his brother Kimbal Musk, this did not mean that Musk’s colossal remuneration was in the shareholders’ interest.
She therefore argues that even if the majority of shareholders approved the plan, this was not enough to justify a remuneration that the judge considers unfair or inappropriate for shareholders, and the legal arguments put forward by the defense were not sufficiently strong.
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While Tesla’s board argued that it was essential to maintain Musk’s salary package to keep him engaged in Tesla’s management, the judge felt that the board was too close to the CEO. She pointed out that Elon Musk himself had acknowledged that he had “negotiated solely with himself” his own remuneration.
She added that, although Musk was entitled to some compensation, the final reward was not fair to other shareholders.
The repercussions are still being felt over a supposed joke that may have amused the American representatives, but instead made the Canadian representatives present at the dinner between the future President of the United States and the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, uncomfortable.
Canada could be ‘51st state,’ Trump joked during Mar-a-Lago dinner with Trudeau: Trump made the comment in response to Trudeau’s concerns about 25-per-cent tariffs, Fox news reports
While Justin Trudeau had been invited to Mar-a-Lago by Donald Trump, the latter had threatened Canada a few days earlier with 25% tariffs on all Canadian goods imported into the United States, unless Canada strengthened its border security with regard to illegal immigration and drug trafficking (fentanyl).
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At the meeting, the president-elect made a misplaced joke by suggesting that Canada could become the 51st state of the United States, claiming that, in his opinion, the country depends too much on its exports to the United States.
All the Americans sitting around the table reportedly laughed and found the idea rather interesting, while on the Canadian side, the few laughs seem to not have been very enthusiastic.
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However, the story gained momentum in some right-wing media, notably Fox News, which argued that annexing Canada would be beneficial for the United States, citing several reasons, including their neighbor’s oil reserves.
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In Canada, the joke made during the three-hour dinner meeting also made waves.
Several Canadian officials say they didn’t take the joke seriously, while Trump fueled the situation further by sharing an AI-generated photo montage on his social network, showing him with a Canadian flag, looking at a mountain… that is in fact a Swiss mountain!
Justin Trudeau has held private talks with all opposition party leaders, asking them to work together for House approval of several upcoming measures to strengthen border security.
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These measures include major expenditures, such as the purchase of drones, the dispatch of additional helicopters and police officers, as well as the deployment of additional resources.
Unfortunately, he lost the sight in his right eye in July as a result of an infection he contracted while in the South of France.
He has now been unable to see for five months.
Elton John also points out that his left eye is in poor condition, which has left him virtually blind.
He adds that this has prevented him from working, and that he now only takes part in limited events.
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At a recent event on the heels of the world premiere of the musical The Devil Wears Prada in London, Elton John took to the stage and spoke about his new condition.
He explained that, although he hadn’t been able to see the musical with his eyes, he had been able to hear it, and that it was beautiful.
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John had said on Instagram last September that he was in a very slow healing process and that it would take time before sight returned to his affected eye.
However, several months later, he still hasn’t seen any improvement in his eyesight…
Donald Trump has announced that he will attend the grand re-opening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, scheduled for December 7, after its restoration following the devastating fire of 2019.
President-elect Donald Trump is planning to visit Paris later this week to attend the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral on December 7, his first overseas trip since his election in November to a second term in office. cnn.it/41hKANQ
According to CNN, Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron have been in talks for several weeks.
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Trump confirmed this information on his social network, Truth Social, praising Emmanuel Macron’s work in ensuring the complete restoration of Notre-Dame, claiming that the cathedral is now even more splendid than before.
He also added that the official reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris would be a very special day for everyone.
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Let’s recall that in April 2019, a devastating fire ravaged the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, destroying its spire and part of the roof.
The spectacular blaze lasted several hours before being brought under control.
Fortunately, the main structure, works of art and relics were preserved, but the damage was extensive, necessitating a major restoration of the building, which has since been undertaken.
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This will be Trump’s first trip abroad since winning the 2024 presidential election, before officially taking office next January.
President Joe Biden, in his final preparations before his imminent departure from the White House, wants to position President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukraine optimally in the face of Russian invasion, and is preparing a final $750 million aid package for the country.
The Biden administration is rushing assistance to Ukraine in an effort to put Kyiv “in the strongest possible position” as Russia steps up its attacks and President Joe Biden prepares to leave office in less than two months
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement that the President had approved $725 million for Ukraine. The aid includes large quantities of artillery, rockets and air defense systems.
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The President also ordered the Department of Defense to rapidly deliver these materials to Ukraine, to ensure that the country has the equipment it needs to defend itself in the face of the recent intensification of Russian forward attacks.
The new equipment, which includes ammunition for high-mobility artillery rocket systems, anti-personnel mines and Stinger missiles, according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, will be delivered to Ukraine between December and mid-January. This is intended to bolster Ukrainian forces and put them in the best possible position before Joe Biden leaves.
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This comes as the exact positions of Donald Trump, who will take over the presidency at the end of January, remain uncertain, as does the direction of the conflict once he is in charge of aid to the US ally.
The administration has a few weeks to use nearly $7 billion from a larger package authorized by Congress earlier in 2024 to support Ukraine in the face of Russian invasion.
However, according to CNN, this year the US has reached the limits of its ability to replenish its own stockpiles of weapons and ammunition, significantly reducing shipments to Ukraine by the Biden administration in 2024.
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In fact, the aim of shipments to Ukraine is, in addition to helping Ukraine, to renew US arms and ammunition stocks by replacing old ones with newer, up-to-date equipment.
