2 d. ago Japan’s cabinet approves record defence budget amid escalating China tensions

Japanese strike-back capabilities and coastal defences to be boosted while Beijing accuses Tokyo of fuelling a ‘space arms race’Japan’s cabinet has approved a record high defence budget as tensions with China continue to spiral, with Beijing this week accusing Tokyo of “fuelling a space arms race”.The draft defence budget for the next fiscal year – approved on Friday – is more than ¥9tn ($58bn) and 9.4% bigger than the previous budget, which will end in April. The increase comes in the fourth year of Japan’s five-year program to double its annual arms spending to 2% of GDP. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Mystery US military jet spotted in Japan as tensions escalate with China and Russia

Flight trackers spotted a mysterious US military jet in Japan on Thursday, sparking questions about its purpose amid tensions with China and Russia.

Events

2 w. ago WW3 fears escalate as Pentagon files show US 'loses every time' against China

A top-secret US government briefing has reportedly concluded that China would triumph every time in a war over Taiwan, with America's most advanced aircraft carrier frequently destroyed in simulations

Politics

3 w. ago Japan revises economic data to show bigger contraction in July

Japan’s economy has contracted at an annual pace of 2.3% in the July-September period, as exports suffered from the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and public investments slipped

Economics

3 w. ago Nearly half of Americans say Trump will go down in history as a ‘poor’ president

The poll comes as Trump’s approval ratings have plunged to a record low in recent months

Politics

3 w. ago Starmer to back embattled Rachel Reeves as he launches defence of Budget tax hikes – UK politics live

Chancellor Rachel Reeves declared on Sunday that she was ‘determined’ to remain in her position for years

Politics

4 w. ago Australia tracking Chinese navy flotilla in Philippine Sea as Marles announces major defence overhaul

Biggest changes to defence bureaucracy since the 1970s aim to tackle budget and timeline blowouts, government saysFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Albanese government has announced a major overhaul of the defence department, aimed at tackling budget and timeline blowouts, on the same day it confirmed Australia was tracking a Chinese navy flotilla in the Philippine Sea.In the biggest changes to the defence bureaucracy in Australia since the mid-1970s, Labor will merge three agencies - the capability acquisition and sustainment group, the guided weapons and explosive ordinance group and the naval shipbuilding and sustainment group. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Thousands of Scots jobs 'at risk from £32bn black hole in defence budget'

A previous UK Government pledge to ramp up military spending was not accounted for in last week's Budget, insiders told the Sunday Mail.

Economics