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AdvertisementJapanAsiaEast AsiaJapan’s record US$782 billion budget to boost military firepower, tame inflationThe budget comes as the market worries about Prime Minister Takaichi’s big spending policies adding to Japan’s public debt
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPAgence France-PressePublished: 12:00pm, 26 Dec 2025The Japanese government on Friday approved a record budget for the coming financial year to pay for everything from bigger defence spending to ballooning social security costs as inflation persists.
The 122.3 trillion yen (US$782 billion) budget for the financial year from April 2026 will include some 9 trillion yen for defence spending, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi aims to accelerate Tokyo’s sweeping upgrade of its military in the face of worsening relations with China.The defence ministry said in a briefing document that “Japan faces the most severe and complex security environment since the end of the war”, stressing the need to “fundamentally strengthen” ..

AdvertisementXi Jinping's anti-corruption campaignChinaPoliticsChina vows to keep up the fight after record number of ‘tigers’ caught in corruption netPolitburo agrees to push forward campaign and calls for graft-busters to provide ‘guarantee’ for nation’s economic and social development
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPWilliam ZhengPublished: 12:00pm, 26 Dec 2025China’s ruling Communist Party has vowed to keep up efforts to fight corruption next year after a record 63 high-ranking officials – known as “tigers” – were placed under investigation on suspicion of graft in 2025.During a meeting on Thursday, top decision-making body the Politburo also discussed a plan to improve conduct within the party, strengthen integrity and combat graft, official news agency Xinhua reported.It said officials at the meeting had agreed to “resolutely push forward the fight against corruption, not stopping for a moment, not yielding an inch, and [to] deepen the comprehensive approach to ad..

Viral video shows Clavicular and N3on attacked with red liquid as past crash livestream resurfaces amid ongoing Kick ban (Image via Getty) Braden “Clavicular” and streamer N3on are once again at the center of online attention after a disturbing video spread fast on social media. The clip shows both streamers being splashed with a red liquid by a man during a public encounter. The moment shocked viewers and quickly crossed hundreds of thousands of views on X. Many online users claim the man in the video is the same person who was run over by Clavicular’s Cybertruck during a livestream months ago. That earlier incident had already caused strong backlash and heavy debate across social platforms.In the new clip, N3on appears stunned, while Clavicular rushes toward the man after the liquid is thrown. The man can be heard shouting as people nearby react in panic. The liquid has not been confirmed. The video was shared by X user @korzawyd, who claimed the man had been stalking and harassing C..

People gather next to the Christmas tree at Manger Square in Bethlehem (Pictur credit: AP) BETHLEHEM: Thousands of people flocked to Bethlehem’s Manger Square on Christmas Eve as families heralded a much-needed boost of holiday spirit. The giant Christmas tree that was absent during the Israel-Hamas war returned Wednesday, overlooking a parade of scouts playing songs on bagpipes.The city where Christians believe Jesus was born cancelled Christmas celebrations for the past two years. Manger Square had instead featured a nativity scene of baby Jesus surrounded by rubble and barbed wire in homage to the situation in Gaza. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, top Catholic leader in the Holy Land, kicked off this year’s celebrations during the traditional procession from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, calling for “a Christmas full of light”. Hamas Refuses To End Gaza Fight? Netanyahu Gets Chilling Warning | ‘3rd INTIFADA Would Break Out’ Arriving in Manger Square, Pizzaballa said he came bearing gree..

File photo: Tarique Rahman, son of former PM Khaleda Zia (Picture credit: AP) DHAKA: Tarique Rahman, former PM Khaleda Zia’s son and BNP’s heir apparent, returns to Bangladesh Thursday along with his family, ending over 17 years of self-exile. On the eve of his return, the country’s largest political party described the moment as “both politically significant and emotionally charged.”His return, along with wife Zubaida and daughter Zaima, comes less than two months before the parliamentary elections and BNP sources said his presence in campaigns as its star leader will help boost its prospects and its workers’ morale. Osman Hadi's Brother Accuses Yunus Regime Of Murder Plot To Defer Bangladesh Polls Scheduled in Feb BNP is facing the challenge of growing popularity of the coalition led by the country’s largest Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami, especially among the youth. To mark his return, BNP has organised a reception in the outskirts of Dhaka, for which the party expects thousand..

AdvertisementAustraliaAsiaAustralasiaAustralia investigates after car with Hanukkah sign torched in Christmas Day attackThe vehicle was scorched by the ‘suspicious fire’ while parked in a house driveway in Melbourne
Reading Time:1 minuteWhy you can trust SCMPAgence France-PressePublished: 12:07pm, 25 Dec 2025Australian police are investigating a “suspicious fire” after a car carrying a sign celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah was set ablaze on Thursday in Melbourne.
The empty car, which had a “Happy Chanukah” sign fixed to the roof, was scorched by the fire while parked in a house driveway, images on national broadcaster ABC television showed.
It was set alight in the early hours of Thursday morning in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda East, Victoria police said in a statement, describing it as a “suspicious fire”.
AdvertisementOccupants of the house were evacuated as a precaution.
“Detectives have identified a person who may be able to assist with their investigation and they a..

AdvertisementUnited StatesWorldUnited States & CanadaSouthern California drenched by powerful Christmas storms, flash floodingGovernor declares state of emergency as powerful ‘Pineapple Express’ atmospheric river triggers flash floods and mudslide warnings
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPAgence France-PressePublished: 11:35am, 25 Dec 2025Flash flood warnings were in effect in Los Angeles and most of southern California on Wednesday as one of the worst Christmas storms in recent memory brought heavy rain and fears of deadly mudslides.
Driven by an atmospheric river known as “the Pineapple Express”, which moves heavy moisture from the tropical climes of Hawaii to rain on the West Coast, the storm is expected to deliver months’ worth of rain over the next few days.
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in several counties, including Los Angeles, to facilitate the rapid mobilisation and allocation of resources if needed.
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Libyan army chief Lt Gen Mohamed Al-Haddad (Image/X@@RagnarFiles) Libya’s army chief, Lt Gen Mohamed Al-Haddad, was killed in a plane crash while returning to Tripoli from an official visit to Turkey, the country’s prime minister said on Tuesday.Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah confirmed that Al-Haddad died along with four others in a “tragic accident” during the flight home from Ankara. The crash occurred after the aircraft lost contact shortly after take-off from Turkey’s capital.“With great sadness and sorrow, we have received the news of the death of Lt Gen Al-Haddad and his companions,” al-Dbeibah said in a statement. He offered condolences to the families of the victims and said the loss was a tragedy for Libya and its military institution, as reported by CNN. The prime minister identified the other victims as Maj Gen Al-Fitouri Ghreibel, Chief of Staff of the Ground Forces; Brig Gen Mahmoud Al-Qatioui, Director of the Military Manufacturing Authority; Mohamed Al-Asawi Diab, ..

Candace Owens attacks TPUSA again after private Erika Kirk meeting and backs Tim Dillon’s blunt criticism (Image via Getty) Candace Owens is again speaking out against Turning Point USA, even after a long private meeting with its new leader, Erika Kirk. Owens made her views clear on December 22, 2025, when she shared strong words online about the group’s recent event in Phoenix. She openly agreed with comments made by comedian Tim Dillon, who called TPUSA’s event a “bad reality show.”Owens said the group now feels out of touch with regular people. She also questioned TPUSA’s choice to recreate a tent linked to the death of its founder, Charlie Kirk. Even though Candace Owens and Erika Kirk met face to face earlier this month and called the talk “honest” and “productive,” Owens’ latest comments show the bigger fight is not over. Her message is clear. The meeting helped with personal tension, but it did not change her views on how TPUSA is being run.Candace Owens criticizes Turning Point..

AdvertisementScienceChinaScienceChina urged to sue over Japanese royal’s role in Unit 731 crimesEmperor Hirohito should be held accountable, according to scholars who say the wartime ruler was shielded from prosecution by US policy
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPLing Xinin OhioPublished: 12:00pm, 24 Dec 2025The late Emperor Hirohito of Japan should be held accountable under international law for the crimes of Unit 731, according to Chinese scholars who say the wartime ruler authorised the infamous programme but was shielded from prosecution by US policy after World War II.The secret Japanese military unit in northeastern China, which was responsible for human experimentation, biological warfare and at least tens of thousands of civilian deaths, had been created by imperial order in 1936, said Zhou Donghua, a contemporary history professor at Hangzhou Normal University.
Before Japan’s surrender, evidence of its crimes was systematically destroyed on the instruction of Hiroh..