## Japan to intensify Ukraine assistance in first half of 2026

Authored by mainichi.jp

Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama takes part in an online meeting of Group of Seven finance ministers and central bank chiefs from Tokyo on the night of Dec. 19, 2025.

(Photo courtesy of the Finance Ministry)(Kyodo).

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan conveyed to its Group of Seven partners on Friday that it plans to intensify its financial assistance to Ukraine in the first half of next year, a time when the war-torn country may face a financial crunch.

Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama told reporters of Tokyo's plan after presenting it in an online meeting of G7 finance ministers and central bank chiefs.

Japan has previously communicated to the multilateral grouping that it intends to provide Ukraine with about 470 billion yen ($3 billion) in loans by the end of 2027, as part of a G7 agreement from 2024.

Tokyo will issue some of the loans earlier than planned.

Aside from the Russia-Ukraine war, Katayama and her G7 counterparts also discussed trade imbalances in the world economy, according to the minister. »

### Bondi shooting hero gets $2.5 million in donations and global praise for risking everything to stop the attacker

Authored by thefashioncentral.co.uk

Bondi hero Ahmed al Ahmed has received A$2.5 million (£1.24 million) in community donations during his hospital recovery following surgery.

Ahmed became an international symbol of bravery after he stopped a deadly mass shooting at Bondi Beach with his bare hands.

During the struggle, Ahmed was shot twice and had to undergo surgery for bullet wounds to his arm and hand. »

### 'Get out of my house': 84-year-old man shoots son in the face for not visiting mother in hospice care, police say

Authored by lawandcrime.com

His wife had recently been put on in-home hospice care, "and William has been taking care of both of them," the court document states.

The defendant's son and his wife came over to the house to visit, something she said they did "on a weekly basis."

The defendant, holding his gun, pointed it at his son and fired, "striking him in the face," authorities say. »

### Bangladesh unrest: Hindu man lynched, body tied to tree and set on fire as tensions escalate

Authored by timesofindia.indiatimes.com

“A group of agitated people caught him and beat him up around 9 pm on Thursday for insulting the Prophet.

Then they set his body on fire,” Ripon Mia, duty officer of Bhaluka police station, told BBC Bangla.

He said the attackers tied the body to a tree before setting it ablaze.Police reached the spot after receiving information and brought the situation under control. »

### 'An Absolute Joke': Trump DOJ Partially Releases Epstein Files, Many Heavily Redacted

Authored by commondreams.org

The DOJ uploaded the files—which can be viewed here in the section titled "Epstein Files Transparency Act"—to its website on Friday.

Curiously, a search for the words "Trump" and "Epstein" in the posted documents returned no results.

The progressive media site MeidasTouch said, "This Epstein files 'release' is the most disgusting cover up in American history.". »

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