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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..