The government on Friday approved a record 115.54 trillion yen ($730 billion) draft initial budget for fiscal 2025, driven by rising social security and national defense spending, fueling concerns about Japan's fiscal health.Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, while expressing hope that the spending plan will help support an economy burdened by higher prices, appears cautious about advancing his policies after a shocking defeat in October's general election, which bolstered the opposition's influence in a hung parliament.Ishiba voiced his desire for the swift passage of the budget in the upcomin…READ FULL ARTICLE
