The Best Looks From the 2020 Venice Film Festival

AFP
India announces state funeral for ex-PM Manmohan Singh
India on Friday announced seven days of state mourning after the death of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, one of the architects of the country's economic liberalisation in the early 1990s."As a mark of respect for the departed dignitary, it has been decided that seven days of state mourning will be observed throughout India," the Indian government said in a statement Friday, with mourning running until January 1.
AFP
Japan govt approves record budget for ageing population, defence
Japan's government on Friday approved a record budget for the next fiscal year, ramping up spending on social welfare, as the population ages, and defence to tackle regional threats.The 8.7 trillion yen approved Friday will help pay for measures to help attract recruits to Japan's Self-Defense Forces, and to improve relations between the US and Japanese militaries with locals in Okinawa.
Associated Press
Japan Cabinet OKs record defense budget as it pushes strike-back capability to deter regional threat
The Japanese Cabinet on Friday approved a record 8.7 trillion yen ($55 billion) defense budget for 2025 as Japan accelerates building up its strike-back capability with long-range cruise missiles and starts deploying Tomahawks to fortify itself against growing threats from China, North Korea and Russia. The Cabinet-endorsed draft defense budget marks the third year of Japan’s ongoing five-year military buildup under the national security strategy adopted in 2022. The defense spending is part of the more than 115 trillion yen ($730 billion) national budget bill — also a record — that requires parliamentary approval by March to be enacted.
AFP
Japanese shares gain on weaker yen after Christmas break
Japanese stocks rose Friday on a weaker yen after a muted day on Wall Street following the Christmas holiday. The yen was "marginally stronger" on Friday, Bloomberg reported, after data showed inflation in Tokyo rose for a second month in December.
CBS News
Storms, dense fog threaten holiday travel in parts of U.S.
Rain and high winds were expected roll through parts of Oregon and Washington, while fog settled over an area from Kansas City to Chicago.
AFP
South Korea's acting president faces impeachment vote
South Korea's acting president faced an impeachment vote on Friday, as the country struggled to shake off political turmoil sparked by his predecessor's martial law declaration that shocked the world.Han Duck-soo took over as acting president from President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was suspended following a parliamentary vote over his move to impose martial law on December 3.
CNN
Early indications suggest Russian anti-aircraft system may have downed Azerbaijani jet, US official says. Here’s what we know
Early indications suggest a Russian anti-aircraft system may have downed the passenger jet that crashed in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, a US official told CNN as Azerbaijan held a day of mourning for the dozens of victims of the disaster.
Reuters
Canada ministers to meet Trump aides in Florida over tariff risks
Canada's new finance minister Dominic LeBlanc and Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly will meet aides to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in Florida on Friday to discuss the risks of imposing new trade tariffs, the Canadian government said. Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on imports from Canada when he takes office in January unless the country reduces the flow of migrants and fentanyl into the U.S. LeBlanc's office said in a statement on Thursday that the two ministers would highlight "the negative impacts that the imposition of 25% tariffs on Canadian goods would have on both Canada and the United States."
CNN
US FDA proposes standardized testing to detect asbestos in talc products
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is proposing that cosmetic products containing talc should be tested using standardized methods to detect asbestos, a potential contaminant, according to documents posted on the federal register on Thursday.
Associated Press
China probes personal disputes after mass killings. Many fear further infringement on freedoms
China's leader Xi Jinping wants the recent spree of mass killings that shocked the country not to happen again. The attacks, where drivers mow down people on foot or knife-wielding assailants stab multiple victims, are not new in China. Local officials were quick to vow to examine all sorts of personal disputes that could trigger aggression, from marital troubles to disagreements over inheritance.
USA TODAY
Massive sinkhole swallows part of New Jersey interstate. What to know
NJDOT crews are evaluating how to repair a sinkhole on I-80 eastbound near Exit 34 in northern New Jersey. Here's what you need to know.
AFP
Fleeing Myanmar, Rohingya refugees recall horror of war
They clung on through years of conflict in Myanmar but a surge of fighting has driven tens of thousands more Rohingya to flee, escaping with little more than harrowing tales of war.Yet many Rohingya remained until the escalation of fighting this year created a new surge of refugees.
CNN
Holiday travelers are facing flight cancellations as severe storms roll into the South
Holiday travelers setting out for what is expected to be one of the busiest travel weekends of the year are already facing delays as a severe round of storms rolls into the Southern US.
AFP
Canadian foreign, finance ministers to meet Trump team on tariffs
Key members of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet traveled to Florida on Thursday for talks with representatives of US President-elect Donald Trump, as Ottawa works to avert a potentially devastating trade war.Newly appointed Finance Minister Dominic Leblanc and Foreign Minister Melanie Joly flew to Palm Beach, Florida, "to meet with officials from the incoming Trump administration," Leblanc spokesman Jean-Sebastien Comeau said in a statement sent to AFP. Trump has vowed to impose
CBS News
ChatGPT recovering after being hit by outages, OpenAI says
The OpenAI issue was caused by an "upstream provider," according to the artificial intelligence organization.
Associated Press
Canadian ministers head to Palm Beach for talks with incoming Trump administration
Two top Canadian Cabinet ministers are visiting Palm Beach to talk border security and trade with the incoming Donald Trump administration as Trump threatens tariffs on all Canadian products. New Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly will be in Palm Beach, Florida on Thursday for the talks this week, said Jean-Sébastien Comeau, a spokesman for LeBlanc. LeBlanc said last week he would meet with Tom Homan, Trump’s incoming “border czar,” after Christmas to discuss Canada’s plan to secure the border as part of a bid to avoid the sweeping tariffs.
AFP
Israeli strikes hit Yemen as Netanyahu fires warning
Israeli air strikes pummelled Sanaa's international airport and other targets in Yemen on Thursday, with Huthi rebel media reporting six deaths.The rebel-held capital's airport was struck by "more than six" attacks, with raids also targeting the adjacent Al-Dailami air base, a witness told AFP. Yemen's civil aviation authority said the strikes occurred as the UN aircraft "was getting ready for its scheduled flight", adding that the airport planned to reopen on Friday.
USA TODAY
No 'rizz': School accused of banning Gen Alpha slang
An Iowa school teacher is accused of banning slang popular among Gen Alpha, prompting a fight over the First Amendment.
AFP
Peru ex-official denies running Congress prostitution ring
A former Peruvian congressional official on Thursday denied having set up a prostitution ring in the legislature providing sexual favors to lawmakers in return for votes.He said he had no connection to sexual workers providing services to members of congress, "much less that these services have been used to generate votes in favor of a bill."
Reuters
China's Xi Jinping will visit Russia in 2025, Russian ambassador says
"As for concrete bilateral events, I can say that the appropriate plans are actively being drawn up," ambassador Igor Morgulov told RIA. "What can be said that is no secret, in terms of priority, is that the chairman of the People's Republic of China is expected in Russia next year."

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