
Casualties on both sides as Iran and Israel exchange overnight strikes
Welcome to Budapest, where new legends will rise at the OTP BANK World Judo Championships Hungary 2025.
Before the competition started, the IJF held their Congress at the beautiful Varkert Bazar where IJF President, Mr Vizer stood for re-election unopposed and was applauded by the national federation presidents and general secretaries as his election was duly ratified.
At the Papp László Arena, the crowds were waiting in anticipation to watch their favourite judoka claim their red back patches.
In -48kg, Italy's Assunta SCUTTO claimed her place in the final with impressive judo all morning. Her second time in a World final, could she finally take the gold?
Meeting her there was Kazakhstan's Abiba ABUZHAKYNOVA. The Kazakh was in fantastic form, with impressive footwork throughout the day, but would that be enough to earn her the title?
Heading out for the gold medal match, it was anyone's game. Nearing the end of the contest, SCUTTO scored a yuko to lead the contest and soon after countered an attack, scoring ippon to claim the World title. Two bronzes, a silver, and finally a gold. An emotional victory to complete her collection.
Taishan Group Chairman & Founder, IJF Hon Vice President Mr BIAN Zhiliang awarded the medals.
In the -60kg category, Romain VALADIER PICARD secured his first time in a World final here in Budapest. An impressive feat for the 22 year old.
But facing him was the far more experienced Ryuju NAGAYAMA - could his sixth attempt for the World title finally be the one?
In the gold medal match, Nagayama was dominant. Two waza-ari scores, finally taking him to the pinnacle of the -60kg. And earning him the red backpatch at long last. A performance built on precision, patience, and years of determination.
CHN NOC Vice President Mr ZHOU Jinqiang awarded the medals.
It's been an incredible first day here in Budapest.
The Israeli Defence Forces said "dozens" of Iranian missiles were launched into Israel in multiple waves of strikes in the early hours of Saturday.
Sirens and the boom of explosions, possible from Israeli interceptors, could be heard in the sky over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
At least three were killed in Israel, and dozens were wounded. Two of those died after an Iranian missile struck near homes in central Israel early Saturday morning, also injuring 19 others, according to Israel's paramedic service Magen David Adom.
Israel's Fire and Rescue service said four homes were severely damaged.
Local media had earlier reported that one woman had been killed in the Tel Aviv area.
The IDF said "some of the missiles were intercepted," adding that "Search and Rescue forces are currently operating in a number of locations across the country in which reports of fallen projectiles were received."
Ichilov hospital in Tel Aviv said it has treated seven people hurt by the second Iranian barrage; six had light injuries and the seventh was moderately wounded. At least 34 people were injured in Tel Aviv during the first wave of strikes.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz wrote that direct hits were reported in central Israel, wounding five people. It said several buildings were hit by Iranian missiles.
The Israeli military urged civilians to head to shelter amid the fresh wave of missiles, but have since permitted them to leave again.
European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen post on X late on Friday that she had called Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and urged "all parties to act with maximum restraint and work to de-escalate the situation."
The sound of explosions and Iranian air defence systems firing at targets was also echoing across the centre of Iran's capital, Tehran, shortly after midnight on Saturday.
Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported a fire at Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport, posting a video on X of a column of smoke and orange flames rising from what the outlet said was the airport.
Israel's ongoing attacks on Iranian nuclear sites killed 78 people and wounded more that 320 on Friday, said Iran's ambassador to the United Nations. The strikes killed generals and scientists, but the ambassador told the UN Security Council that 'the overwhelming majority' of victims were civilians.
The ambassador spoke shortly after Iran's first barrage of long-range missiles targeting Tel Aviv, which wounded at least 34 people, according to the Israeli paramedic service.
As Iranian projectiles and Israeli interceptor rockets left trails of smoke and flame across the night sky on Friday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed not to let Israel 'escape safely from this great crime.'
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Israel and Iran to halt their attacks on one another, while calling for diplomacy.
'Israeli bombardment of Iranian nuclear sites. Iranian missile strikes in Tel Aviv. Enough escalation. Time to stop. Peace and diplomacy must prevail,' Guterres wrote on X on Saturday.
US President Donald Trump has framed the volatile moment in the Middle East as a possible "second chance' for Iran's leadership to avoid further destruction "before there is nothing left and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire.' However, an Iranian spokesperson later called nuclear talks with the US "meaningless" after Israel's barrage of strikes on the country.
Trump claimed on his Truth Social platform that he had given Iran a "60 day ultimatum to make a deal", and that Friday marked "day 61."
The White House has insisted that Washington was not involved in Israel's military operation, although anonymous US officials have said the Trump administration was aware in advance of Israel's planned large-scale attacks on Iran.
In an interview with ABC News on Friday morning, Trump said the Israeli attack on Iran was 'excellent' and again previewed more attacks to come.
'We gave them a chance and they didn't take it,' Trump told ABC's Jon Karl. 'They got hit hard, very hard. They got hit about as hard as you're going to get hit. And there's more to come. A lot more.'
The US president pressed on Iran as he met his national security team in the Situation Room on Friday to discuss the tricky path forward following Israel's devastating strikes, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to keep up for 'as many days as it takes' to decapitate Iran's nuclear programme.
While the White House said it had no involvement in the strikes, Trump highlighted that Israel used its deep arsenal of weaponry provided by the US to target Iran's main enrichment facility in Natanz and the country's ballistic missile program, as well as top nuclear scientists and officials.
In the aftermath of the Israeli strikes, the US is shifting its military resources, including ships, in the Middle East as it looks to guard against possible retaliatory attacks by Tehran, according to two US officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.
The Navy has directed the destroyer USS Thomas Hudner to begin sailing toward the Eastern Mediterranean and has directed a second destroyer to begin moving forward, so it can be available if requested by the White House.
As Israel stepped up planning for strikes in recent weeks, Iran had signalled the United States would be held responsible in the event of an Israeli attack. The warning was issued by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi even as he engaged in talks with Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear programme.
Friday's strikes came as Trump planned to dispatch Witkoff to Oman on Sunday for the next round of talks with the Iranian foreign minister.
Witkoff still plans to go to Oman this weekend for talks on Tehran's nuclear program, but it's unclear if the Iranians will participate, according to US officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private diplomatic discussions.
Trump also spoke Friday with British Prime Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron about the evolving situation, as well as Netanyahu.
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