Briefly

JAPAN

Higher military budget triggers concerns

Japan's Defense Ministry submitted on Friday a defense budget request of 8.54 trillion yen ($58 billion) for fiscal year 2025, marking the first time the country's defense budget request has surpassed the 8-trillion-yen mark. The proposed expansion of Japan's military capabilities has raised widespread concerns. Japan's push to develop the capability to strike enemy bases marks a departure from its postwar pacifist constitution, which adheres to an "exclusively defense-oriented policy", Tokyo Shimbun commented. Such a shift is seen as potentially sparking an arms race in the region, which could destabilize the regional security landscape, it added.

BRAZIL

Supreme Court orders nationwide ban on X

Brazil's Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered on Friday that the social media platform X be blocked nationwide after the company missed a court-imposed deadline to name a legal representative in the country. X, owned by Elon Musk, had been in conflict with de Moraes for months over the platform's refusal to comply with court orders to remove profiles that promote coup-related content or undermine democracy.

FRANCE

Triathlon events put off over water concerns

Paralympic triathlon events at the Paris Games, where the swimming leg is being held in the River Seine, have been postponed by a day to Monday over worries about the river's water quality, organizers said on Sunday. "The latest analysis shows a deterioration in the water quality of the Seine following heavy rainfall over the past two days," they said. Rainstorms hit the French capital on Friday and Saturday. Heavy rains cause wastewater and runoff to flow into the river, leading to a rise in bacteria levels.

Xinhua - Agencies