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....
Manchester is struggling with flooding after relentless overnight heavy rains
Manchester, known as the "Rainy City," is struggling with widespread flooding after relentless overnight rainfall submerged streets, stranded vehicles, and forced hundreds to evacuate their homes. A major incident has been declared in the area as emergency services work to mitigate the damage.
Heavy rainfall, amounting to nearly a month's worth in two days, has caused significant disruption across Greater Manchester. Streets are waterlogged, with abandoned vehicles partially submerged, while drone footage captured local workers attempting to unblock drains. The Met Office issued amber and yellow rain warnings across the region, with rainfall exceeding 10cm (4 inches) in some areas.
Floodwaters trapped approximately 400 residents in Stockport's Meadow Mill flats without electricity or running water. Evacuations were carried out, with displaced residents moved to a council refuge center in Reddish. In Didsbury, the River Mersey reached record-high levels of 3.71m (12ft), prompting authorities to prepare for evacuations, although water levels have since begun to recede.
Train services between Manchester Airport and key destinations, including Liverpool and Leeds, were canceled due to waterlogged tracks. The M56 and M57 motorways were also closed due to flooding, adding to the travel chaos. TransPennine Express urged customers not to travel until conditions improved.
The flooding follows a series of severe weather events across the UK, with more than 100 flood warnings issued nationwide. Greater Manchester Police confirmed that emergency rescues were carried out in Warrington and Lymm, where people became trapped in floodwaters.
As conditions persist, forecasters warn that the situation could worsen before it improves, with temperatures expected to drop and snow predicted for the weekend. Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and to follow safety guidelines.
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.
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.
Polish fighter jets on Thursday intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying near Poland’s airspace over the Baltic Sea and escorted it away from their area of responsibility.
China has opened the world’s longest expressway tunnel to traffic in the Xinjiang region, across one of the country’s most challenging mountain areas.
South Korea’s special prosecutor has requested a 10-year prison sentence for former president Yoon Suk Yeol, accusing him of attempting to obstruct his arrest following his failed bid to impose martial law.
Japan's cabinet has approved a record-high $785 billion budget for the next fiscal year - including the largest allocation for defence spending ever.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 26th of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Missile development in North Korea is set to continue over the next five years. The country’s leader Kim Jong Un made the remarks during visits to major arms production facilities in the final quarter of 2025, the state news agency KCNA reported on Friday.
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