Rally in Tel Aviv calls for return of deceased hostage Ran Gvili
Hundreds of people gathered for a second consecutive week at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, on Friday (12 December), to support the family of Master Sg...
Elon Musk's push to reform U.S. government spending reached new heights on Friday as he held an unprecedented meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon, where discussions centered on innovation, efficiencies, and streamlining Pentagon operations.
Billionaire Elon Musk took his campaign to reform U.S. federal government spending to new heights on Friday, holding an unprecedented meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon. This top-level discussion focused on cutting government expenses, although the exact details of the talks remain unclear. Musk also called for the prosecution of any Pentagon officials responsible for leaking false information about the meeting.
In his first visit to the Pentagon, Musk met with Hegseth for an 80-minute discussion, where the agenda was said to center on innovation, efficiency, and smarter production within the Department of Defense. Reports from The New York Times that Musk would be briefed on confidential war plans concerning China were swiftly denied by both Musk and President Donald Trump, with Musk labeling the claims as "pure propaganda" and vowing legal action against the leakers.
Musk’s presence at the Pentagon is part of his broader efforts to streamline federal spending, having already become an influential adviser on government efficiency under Trump. However, his dual role as CEO of Tesla and SpaceX—both of which have significant contracts with the Pentagon—has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
As the meeting concluded, Musk expressed his willingness to support the Pentagon’s efforts, noting, "If there's anything I can do to be helpful, I would like us to have a good outcome here."
The meeting comes amid growing scrutiny over leaks within the intelligence community, with investigations already underway into the sources of confidential information, and calls for accountability intensifying.
Japan has lifted a tsunami advisory issued after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 hit the country's northeastern region on Friday (12 December), the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. The JMA had earlier put the earthquake's preliminary magnitude at 6.7.
Iran is preparing to host a multilateral regional meeting next week in a bid to mediate between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The United States issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela on Thursday, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife, as well as six crude oil tankers and shipping companies linked to them, as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas.
The resignation of Bulgaria's government on Thursday (11 December) puts an end to an increasingly unpopular coalition but is likely to usher in a period of prolonged political instability on the eve of the Black Sea nation's entry into the euro zone.
An extratropical cyclone has caused widespread disruption across Brazil’s São Paulo state, with powerful winds toppling trees and power lines, blocking streets and leaving large parts of the region without electricity.
Britain’s King Charles III said on Friday, 12 December, that his cancer treatment is expected to be reduced in the coming year, using a televised address to urge people across the country to take part in cancer screening programmes, officials confirmed.
Talks aimed at ending the war between Ukraine and Russia are set to continue in Berlin this weekend, with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and senior European leaders, a U.S. official said.
Türkiye’s Trade Minister Omer Bolat said Friday that discussions in Washington with U.S. officials have strengthened efforts to expand bilateral trade, moving closer to a $100 billion target.
Lebanon is prepared to demarcate its border with Syria, President Joseph Aoun said on Friday, while noting that the dispute over the Shebaa Farms could be addressed at a later stage.
Greek farmers blocked the Port of Thessaloniki on Friday (12 December) as part of nationwide protests demanding delayed European Union subsidies and compensation for rising production costs and livestock losses.
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