News Snapshot:
Quick Summary: TOKYO :Japan's government ministries have made budget requests totalling $784 billion for the next fiscal year - their second-largest total to date, driven largely by the defense ministry's request for a rise in spending to record levels. Money for social security and debt-servicing made up more than half of the budget requests. If next year's budget does exceed this year's, it would be the 11th year in a row of record budgets.
