Japan approves record $785bn budget, boosts defence spending
Japan's cabinet has approved a record-high $785 billion budget for the next fiscal year - including the largest allocation for defence spending ever....
Three bombs exploded on empty buses near Tel Aviv in a major attempted attack, while two other devices were disabled. Israeli authorities are investigating, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed retaliation against Hamas.
Three bombs detonated on empty buses near Tel Aviv on Thursday in what officials described as a major attempted attack. Two additional explosive devices were located and disabled before they could detonate. Authorities confirmed no injuries, as the bombs had been set on timers for Friday morning.
The explosions occurred in a parking depot in Bat Yam, a suburb of Tel Aviv. Israeli police launched an investigation, deploying multiple units to secure the area. Transport Minister Miri Regev ordered all buses and trains to undergo security inspections.
Meanwhile, Israeli officials accused Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) of murdering Oded Lifshitz while in captivity. The identification process for the purported remains of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas is still ongoing following their handover by Hamas.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to the developments with strong remarks, vowing to take action against Hamas, calling its members “monsters.” Security forces are on high alert as investigations continue.
Police spokesperson Aryeh Doron said the situation remains “ongoing,” with officers still searching for additional explosive devices in the Tel Aviv area. He urged the public to remain alert, warning that “every suspected bag or object could make the difference.”
Channel 12 reported that one of the undetonated bombs was discovered by a passenger, who alerted the driver to a suspicious bag. Authorities suspect the attackers may have miscalculated the timers, preventing a larger-scale attack.
In response to the situation, Transport Minister Miri Regev has cut short her visit to Morocco and is returning to Israel with her team.
Security forces remain on high alert as investigations continue.
A majority of Russians expect the war in Ukraine to end in 2026, state pollster VTsIOM said on Wednesday, in a sign that the Kremlin could be testing public reaction to a possible peace settlement as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict intensify.
Military representatives from Cambodia and Thailand met in Chanthaburi province on Wednesday ahead of formal ceasefire talks at the 3rd special GBC meeting scheduled for 27th December.
In 2025, Ukraine lived two parallel realities: one of diplomacy filled with staged optimism, and another shaped by a war that showed no sign of letting up.
It’s been a year since an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, killing 38 people. Relatives and loved ones mourn the victims, as authorities near the final stage of their investigation.
The White House has instructed U.S. military forces to concentrate largely on enforcing a “quarantine” on Venezuelan oil exports for at least the next two months, a U.S. official told Reuters, signalling that Washington is prioritising economic pressure over direct military action against Caracas.
Israel’s military said it had killed a member of Iran’s Quds Force in Lebanon accused of planning attacks against Israel from Syria and Lebanese territory. The statement was issued on Thursday.
Russia must accept responsibility for the Azerbaijan Airlines crash near Aktau that killed 38 people, Azerbaijani MP Tural Ganjali has said. His comments come as Azerbaijan marks the first anniversary of the disaster, which occurred on 25 December 2024.
Azerbaijani non-governmental organisations have called on U.S. President Donald Trump to reject an appeal by the U.S.-based Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention. The appeal urges Washington to pressure Azerbaijan to release detainees of Armenian origin, including Ruben Vardanyan.
Kazakhstan has released an interim report into the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash near Aktau that killed 38 people, saying damage to the aircraft was consistent with impact from elements of a warhead, although the source could not yet be determined.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has welcomed remarks by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicating progress in the normalisation process between Ankara and Yerevan, describing the moment as ripe for concrete steps.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment