Alleged Bondi shooter charged with 59 offenses by Australian police
The surviving alleged perpetrator of the deadly mass capturing at Sydney’s Bondi Beach had been charged with 59 offenses, Australian police mentioned on Wednesday.
The police power within the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) on Wednesday afternoon charged 24-year-old Naveed Akram with 59 offenses, together with 15 counts of homicide and one rely of committing a terrorist act, following the assault that focused an occasion celebrating the primary day of the Jewish pageant of Hanukkah.
Akram remained in hospital beneath police guard on Wednesday after waking from a coma on Tuesday.
A second alleged gunman, recognized as Akram’s 50-year-old father Sajid, was fatally shot by police on the scene of Sunday evening’s assault.
Authorities on Tuesday mentioned that the assault was motivated by Islamic State ideology and confirmed that two Islamic State flags and improvised explosive gadgets had been present in a car belonging to Naveed Akram.
Trump orders whole blockade of sanctioned oil tankers to and from Venezuela
U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned Tuesday that he has ordered a complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers touring to and from Venezuela, escalating a months-long strain marketing campaign towards Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
“Today, I am ordering a total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going into, and out of, Venezuela,” Trump mentioned in a submit on his social media Truth Social.
Trump additionally mentioned that the Venezuelan authorities has been designated “a foreign terrorist organization,” accusing it of involvement in crimes together with terrorism, drug smuggling and human trafficking.
U.S., Russian negotiators to satisfy in Miami over peace deal to finish Ukraine disaster: media
U.S. and Russian negotiators are anticipated to carry talks in Miami, U.S. state of Florida, this weekend over a peace deal aimed toward ending the Ukraine disaster that has lasted almost 4 years, U.S. media outlet Politico reported on Wednesday.
The schedule stays in flux, and in the event that they meet, the Trump administration will current to the Russian aspect the newest growth following the talks amongst U.S., Ukrainian and European officers in Berlin final weekend, mentioned the report, citing two individuals accustomed to the matter.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s particular envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are anticipated to signify the U.S. aspect whereas the Russian delegation is anticipated to incorporate Russian President Vladimir Putin’s particular envoy Kirill Dmitriev, mentioned the report.
Ukrainian nationwide safety adviser Rustem Umerov can be anticipated to satisfy with the U.S. delegation individually in Miami or one other location within the United States within the coming weekend.
China’s central financial institution introduced on Wednesday the completion of its monetary preparations for the beginning of island-wide particular customs operations on the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP).
The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) mentioned it has constructed a monetary coverage and institutional system particularly designed to help the high-standard development of the FTP, offering sturdy momentum for the port’s growth.
On Thursday, Hainan FTP will launch island-wide particular customs operations, a significant milestone within the opening-up drive of the world’s second-largest financial system.
To facilitate high-level comfort for cross-border capital flows, the PBOC and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange launched multi-functional free commerce accounts (EF accounts) in May 2024 to create an built-in native and international forex account system.
Russia advocates peaceable options to Ukraine disaster: Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned Wednesday that Russia will proceed to advocate peaceable options to the Ukraine disaster, whereas selling regional safety and stability.
Russia is at present in search of mutually useful and truthful cooperation with the United States and European nations, Putin mentioned.
Putin rejected claims portraying Russia as a risk to European nations, saying that such narratives are unfounded and fabricated.
The president emphasised that the Russian Armed Forces stay a key assure for the nation’s sovereignty, independence, safety, growth, and the upkeep of strategic stability.
Putin welcomed the progress made in dialogue with the United States on this difficulty, expressing hope that related understandings may be reached with European nations.
U.S. Senate passes 901 bln USD protection authorization invoice for fiscal 2026
The U.S. Senate on Wednesday authorized a 901-billion-dollar protection coverage invoice, often called the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, sending it to U.S. President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature.
The vote was 77 to twenty with broad bipartisan help.
“This will be the 65th year in a row, the 65th consecutive year that Congress has come together across the aisle and across two chambers to send the president a bill designed to sustain and strengthen the national defense,” U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, mentioned forward of the vote.
The over-3,000-page invoice features a almost 4 p.c navy pay elevate, an overhaul that can pace up Pentagon arms purchases, in addition to measures for creating the U.S. Golden Dome missile protection system and selling navy readiness.
Japan’s Takaichi strongly criticized in Diet assembly over evasiveness on Taiwan
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi got here beneath fireplace in parliament on Tuesday as her evasive solutions concerning Taiwan has triggered sturdy criticism from opposition events and fueled dysfunction on the Diet assembly.
On Tuesday, lawmakers engaged in a heated debate over Takaichi’s earlier inaccurate remarks on Taiwan. Constitutional Democratic Party lawmaker Hajime Hirota pressed Takaichi to make clear whether or not Taiwan would fall beneath the class of “other countries with close ties to Japan” within the definition of a “survival-threatening situation.”
Takaichi mentioned the class is “not specified in advance” and must be judged “on a case-by-case basis,” whereas avoiding any additional explanations.
Hirota then requested whether or not Takaichi would retract her earlier inaccurate remarks on Taiwan. Although opposition lawmakers shouted from their seats that it was her “last chance,” Takaichi reiterated that “there has been no change to the Japanese government’s basic position,” with out clarifing what that stance truly entails.
Her responses drew sturdy protests from opposition events. Japanese media reported that the session was briefly suspended for a number of minutes, whereas the stay broadcast was muted for 3 times.
Thailand, Cambodia comply with ASEAN observer staff as a part of de-escalation efforts
Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to the deployment of an ASEAN observer staff as efforts to de-escalate their battle proceed, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim mentioned on Wednesday.
Malaysia’s engagement would proceed throughout a number of channels, together with communications between leaders, international ministers and the respective chiefs of armed forces, and a gathering between ASEAN international ministers scheduled for Dec. 22 in Kuala Lumpur, Anwar mentioned, in response to a Bernama report.
He mentioned that Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to attend the assembly on Dec. 22, a Malaysia- and ASEAN-initiated effort aimed toward easing tensions and stopping additional escalation alongside the Thailand-Cambodia border.
“We are appealing to them to immediately stop these frontline offensives and, if possible, immediate ceasefire,” he mentioned.
China’s central financial institution completes monetary prep for Hainan’s island-wide particular customs operations.