On Friday, the Japanese Cabinet approved a record-breaking 8.7 trillion yen ($55 billion) defense budget for 2025. The funding aims to enhance Japan's strike-back capabilities with long-range cruise missiles and the deployment of Tomahawks, strengthening its defenses against escalating threats from China, North Korea, and Russia.

Japan: Cabinet Approves Draft Budget With Record Defense Needs

Joe Biden's Last Days In Office Fading Away With Little Attention. Watch to know more!

USA News: Biden's Last Days In Office Fading Away With Little To No Attention | Race To Power

Jan. 1 marks the dawn of a new era for Popeye and Tintin. It's the day the nonagenarian cartoon characters officially enter the U.S. public domain along with a treasure trove of other iconic works.

Popeye, Tintin Enter The Public Domain In 2025

The Christmas Day crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet near Kazakhstan has sparked an international debate over air safety in conflict zones. 38 of the 67 people on board died as investigators race against time, with competing narratives emerging about what brought down the aircraft. Watch in for more details!

Azerbaijan plane crash: Bird strike or missile strike? NATO seeks probe into Azerbaijani plane crash

The Christmas Day crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet near Kazakhstan has sparked an international debate over air safety in conflict zones. 38 of the 67 people on board died as investigators race against time, with competing narratives emerging about what brought down the aircraft.

Ukraine: Russia must be held responsible for Azerbaijan crash

International Sahara Festival Kicks Off In Tunisia

Captain Harpreet Chandi, a former British Army officer from Derby, is taking on one of the toughest expeditions in history—a solo, unsupported trek to the North Pole. At 36, she aims to be the first woman to complete this nearly impossible journey, covering 500 miles of shifting sea ice in temperatures of minus 50°C. Watch in for more details!

Record holder Harpreet Chandi to tackle 500 miles of shifting ice

In Uttar Pradesh, India, preparations are underway for the Maha Kumbh Mela, scheduled to take place in January 2025. The event is expected to draw over 400 million attendees, making it one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. To ensure the safety of both pilgrims and tourists, significant improvements have been made to fire safety measures. Our special correspondent, Johan, has more on this development in the following report. Watch in for more details!

Maha Kumbh Mela 2025: Uttar Pradesh govt partners with Google for digital mapping

Former Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh passed away at the age of 92, in the national capital on Thursday (Dec 26), Delhi's All India Medical Institute (AIIMS) confirmed in a press release. Watch in for more details!

Dr. Manmohan Singh dies at 92: Technocrat to Prime Minister – an unmatched political journey

In this WION exclusive, Ibrahim Al-Helali, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network, delves into Saudi Arabia’s investment priorities. He highlights the critical role of G20 countries in setting global standards. The discussion also touches on collaboration opportunities between Saudi Arabia and India in the energy and digital sectors. Listen in to this insightful conversation.

‘G20 Countries Have a Responsibility’: WION's exclusive with Ibrahim Al-Helali

USA News: Joe Biden's Last Days In Office Fading Away With Little Attention

Kazakhstan crash: Russia warns against 'hypotheses' in Azerbaijan Airlines crash

The second black box has been found at the plane crash site near Aktau and handed over to the investigation department. The Embraer 190 aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 from Baku to Grozny crashed near Aktau Airport in Kazakhstan on Wednesday. 

Of all the 67 people on board, 38 were killed in the crash, and 29 survived, including two children who were pulled from the wreckage. Interviews have been carried out with victims, ground service workers, and all witnesses. Radio communication recordings between the crew and dispatchers have been retrieved. The investigation of the crash site, covering more than 4,000 square meters, is underway. Watch in for more details!

Azerbaijan Airlines Plane Crash: Second black box found at plane crash site - Attack or accident?

Manmohan Singh, former prime minister of India passed away at the age of 92 on Thursday (Dec 26). Singh, who served as India’s prime minister from 2004 to 2014, is remembered for his role in shaping the country’s modern economic policies. Before becoming PM, he played an important role as finance minister, driving economic reforms that opened up India’s economy. Watch in for more details!

Manmohan Singh: The man who liberalised India's economy

From Derby to Arctic: 'Polar Preet' takes on ultimate expedition

The bottled health is the latest trend. Sodas, teas, and tonics promise instant wellness in every sip, but behind the convenience and the buzz, the question of course is: is this market in fact offering real benefits, or is it just capitalizing on our desire for quick fixes?

Tonics & health teas: Health or hype?

The FBI allegedly suppressed evidence from the U.S. Defense Department and researchers supporting the theory that COVID-19 originated from a Chinese lab. According to The Post, this evidence was omitted from an August 2021 report presented to President Joe Biden, which concluded that the virus was "probably not genetically engineered."

Report: FBI Evidence Of Lab Leak Causing Covid-19 Withheld From Biden | WION | World News

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan turned 59 on December 27. The actor arrived at his sister Arpita Khan Sharma's residence to ring in his birthday with his family members and close friends.

Salman Khan Celebrates 59th Birthday With Family And Friends | WION

OpenAI's popular AI tool, ChatGPT, faced a major outage that disrupted its services. The disruption affected ChatGPT, its Application Programming Interface (API), and the text-to-video generator, Sora. The AI research and deployment company confirmed the issue on its status page, stating that high error rates were being experienced across all platforms. Watch in for more details!

ChatGPT down again: OpenAI tools hit by Microsoft data issue

Dr Manmohan Singh Dies At 92; Movie Stars Bid Farewell To Dr Manmohan Singh

Light rain in Delhi-NCR has brought a slight drop in temperature, but the region's air quality remains in the "severe" category, posing health risks. Authorities continue to monitor pollution levels as the weather shifts. Watch in for more details!

Delhi witnesses rain and fog; IMD predicts thunderstorms throughout the day

Ex-British army officer Harpreet Chandi aims to be first woman to reach North Pole solo

Scientists in China have developed a cooling sunscreen that can lower the skin's temperature by up to nearly 6°C. The sunscreen not only has a cooling effect but is also claimed to be waterproof. Watch in for more details!

Scientists Introduce Cooling Agent For Summers; New Sunscreen Cuts Body Temperature By 6°C

#GRAVITAS | According to reports, the popularity of magic mushrooms is rising rapidly. In fact, researchers have earlier suggested that they may help treat various mental disorders. However, experts have now warned against the recreational use of this drug as consuming it outside controlled environments may lead to harmful effects. This is especially for those grappling with mental health issues, who resort to consuming drugs when what they need is proper psychological support and guidance. Watch this report to find out more.

Rise In Magic Mushroom Use Sparks Concerns; Experts Warn Of Mental health Risks

With the 'Santa Claus rally' already underway and the year coming to a close, what's in store for financial markets next year? Take a look at this report as we decode the risks and factors that could drive markets in 2025. Watch in for more details!

Wall Street Eyes Volatility Spikes On Trump Tariffs, Geopolitics

#Gravitas | Russia’s Federal Security Service or FSB said that it has thwarted multiple assassination plots allegedly orchestrated by Ukraine’s intelligence services. Targeting high-ranking Russian military officials and their families. Watch in for more details!

Russia-Ukraine War: FSB Thwarts  Ukraine’s Plan To Target Russian Elite

#Gravitas The IDF has seized over 85,000 Hezbollah weapons from over 30 villages in Southern Lebanon. The IDF further said that 75% of Hezbollah’s short-range rockets and 70% of strategic weapons have been destroyed. Watch in for more details!

IDF Captures 85,000 Hezbollah Weapons From Southern Lebanon

India’s Former PM Manmohan Singh Dies Aged 92; Congress Leaders Pay Tributes

#Gravitas The situation in Syria remains volatile. In Tartous, remnants of the ousted Assad regime reportedly ambushed and killed at least 17 police officers and wounded 10 others. Watch in for more details!

Syria: Assad Loyalists Ambush Syrian Police In Deadly Tartous Clash

Manmohan Singh Passes Away: President Murmu Says We Lost One Of The Greatest Sons Of Bharat

Ex-army woman officer aims to be the first woman to reach the North Pole solo

wion

Wion, News on Wion, stories on Wion, articles on Wion, Wion stories at Wion, Wion news, Wion latest news