Latest news with #HouseofCouncillors
a day ago
- Politics
Some LDP Lawmakers Wary of Koizumi's Drastic Rice Price Policy
News from Japan Politics May 30, 2025 15:44 (JST) Tokyo, May 30 (Jiji Press)--Japanese ruling party lawmakers representing the interests of farmers are growing wary of agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi's drastic measures to lower rice prices. The special-interest members of the Liberal Democratic Party fear that Koizumi's radical approach may cause farmers, a key support bloc, to distance themselves from the party ahead of this summer's election for the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of Japan's parliament. However, they also want to avoid being painted as a resistance force against Koizumi, who is popular among the public. While recognizing the need to curb rice prices, they call for expanding assistance to producers in hopes of maintaining their support. "It's extremely important to dispel the sense of (rice) shortage," Koizumi told an Upper House agriculture committee meeting Thursday, emphasizing his plan to lower prices by selling government-stockpiled rice through discretionary contracts. "We'll first make (rice prices) settle down to some extent, then we can begin discussions on appropriate prices," he also said. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
3 days ago
- Business
Japan Proposes Fund to Aid U.S. Shipbuilding Sector in Tariff Talks
News from Japan May 28, 2025 22:12 (JST) Tokyo, May 28 (Jiji Press)--Japan has offered to establish a fund to help revive the U.S. shipbuilding industry, as part of tariff negotiations between the two countries, it was learned Wednesday. The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump aims to strengthen the country's shipbuilding capacity from an economic security perspective, and Tokyo hopes that offering cooperation in this field will lead to concessions from Washington in tariff talks. On Wednesday, the steering committee of the House of Councillors approved a four-day trip to the United States from Thursday by economic revitalization minister Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's chief tariff negotiator. During the trip, Akazawa will hold the fourth ministerial-level session of the tariff talks on Friday local time. The session is expected to be attended by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who was absent from the previous session. The committee also approved Akazawa's three-day trip to France from Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
Maroc
3 days ago
- Politics
- Maroc
Moroccan Government Achieves Goals of Royal Plan on Social Protection- Govt. Head
The government succeeded in achieving the objectives of the Royal initiative to generalize social protection, aimed at strengthening social cohesion and promoting equitable access for all citizens to their fundamental rights, Government Head Aziz Akhannouch on Tuesday at the House of Councillors. Speaking during the monthly session dedicated to oral questions on general policy relating to the consolidation of the foundations of equity and social protection, Akhannouch emphasized that "the social protection initiative is emblematic of the Kingdom's civilizational and humanitarian depth, and reflects the pioneering nature of Morocco's reform model." This Royal project served as a foundation for the government's social responsibility and a guiding framework for establishing strong and inclusive social protection systems, he added, stressing that "driving structural transformation in the social field has become an urgent necessity, forming the core of a modern social state that ensures social justice and promotes inclusive and sustainable development." Furthermore, Akhannouch stated that the government has adopted an integrated vision to accompany the various changes taking place in the social protection sector, with the aim of increasing its effectiveness. "The development of institutional governance, along with the strengthening of its technical, logistical, and financial capacities, constitutes the operational arm responsible for translating governmental interventions into a genuine social bond with tangible effects on the ground," he stressed. In addition, the government has allocated a significant budget to the Direct Social Assistance Program—25 billion dirhams (MAD) for the year 2024 and 26.5 billion MAD for the current year, with the goal of reaching 29 billion MAD by 2026, Akhannouch said. He noted that this program, generalized in accordance with the High Royal Instructions, is intended to address various aspects of the social deficit faced by vulnerable families, with the ambition of targeting 4 million households—approximately 60% of families not currently covered by a family allowance scheme. The program is based on providing eligible families with a monthly social allowance, starting from a minimum of 500 MAD and reaching up to 1,200 MAD, depending on the household composition and the specific situation of its members, he concluded. MAP: 27 mai 2025
Yomiuri Shimbun
3 days ago
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
House of Councillors Passes AI Promotion Bill; Government to Be Allowed to Investigate AI Business Operators
Yomiuri Shimbun file photo A House of Councillors plenary session on a bill to promote the research and development of artificial intelligence-related technologies on May 16 A bill to promote the research and development of artificial intelligence-related technologies and their utilization was passed by a majority vote at the House of Councillors on Wednesday. At a plenary session of the upper house, the bill's passage was supported by the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the Japan Innovation Party and the Democratic Party for the People. One of the aims of the new law is the establishment of a strategic headquarters, headed by the prime minister and composed of the entire Cabinet. Its task is to formulate a basic plan to promote the research and development as well as the application of AI. This is the first time that legislation has been enacted regarding the promotion of the development of generative AI and management of its risks. The law's basic objective is the enhancement of international competitiveness. Under this, AI is defined as 'a technology that serves as a foundation for economic and social development and is also important from a security perspective.' While promoting AI-related research and development, the law also contains measures to prevent the spread of misinformation and the promotion of discrimination, with provisions for responding to cases where the rights of citizens are violated. Under the new law, the government is given the authority to launch investigations into AI business operators and to provide guidance based on its results. It is also authorized to disclose the names and other information of companies that use generative AI for unscrupulous activities.
3 days ago
- Politics
Big Poster Boards Set Up in Tokyo Ahead of June Assembly Poll
News from Japan Society May 28, 2025 16:30 (JST) Tokyo, May 28 (Jiji Press)--With less than a month to go until the June 22 Tokyo metropolitan assembly election, work has started to set up election campaign poster boards throughout the Japanese capital. In some areas, municipalities have erected big boards capable of hosting around 70 posters in case the election turns out to be similar to last year's crowded Tokyo gubernatorial race. Another reason is that they want to reuse the boards for this summer's election for the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of the country's parliament. A local government official said that predicting the number of assembly election candidates was "tricky." In the gubernatorial election in July 2024, a record 56 people ran for Tokyo governor. As municipalities had only prepared election poster boards with 48 slots, some candidates were unable to put up their posters. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
