1. Syria has strongly condemned Israeli airstrikes on its military headquarters and other targets in the capital, Damascus, on Wednesday. In a televised speech on Thursday, the country’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa condemned the attacks, saying that Israel is once again seeking to transform Syria’s “pure land into an arena of endless chaos.”
2. The Ukrainian parliament on Wednesday approved by Majority vote Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal’s dismissal after he tendered his resignation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier tapped Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko as the new prime minister. Local media reported that the parliament is expected to approve her appointment and the new cabinet will be launched soon.
3. Japanese weather officials say torrential downpours have hit the Tokai region in the central part of the country and warn of a heightened risk of landslides and flooding.
They say the Shikoku region, in western Japan, could also face an increased risk of rain-triggered disasters through late Thursday night.