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Japan Times
14 hours ago
- Business
- Japan Times
Japanese love leisure more than ever but turn thrifty
Japanese people's preferences for leisure over work grew to an unprecedented level in 2024 while their tendency to save money became stronger amid rising prices, a private-sector report has shown. In a survey, those who answered they attached importance to leisure rather than to work, including study, last year accounted for 67.8% of the total respondents, the highest reading since comparable data became available in 2009, the Japan Productivity Center said in its 2025 Leisure White Paper, released last week. Among respondents who took part in at least one spare-time activity in 2024, "domestic pleasure trip" enjoyed the highest participation rate of 48.3%, proving to be the most popular way of having fun for three years in a row. However, the figure is lower than 48.7% in the previous survey and far short of the 2019 prepandemic level of 54.3%. "Recent price spikes are believed to have made many people cautious about spending on travel," a JPC official said. "Video viewing" emerged as the second most popular leisure activity with the participation rate of 38.1%, up 1.1 percentage points year on year, while "eating out" descended from second to third with the rate dropping 3.6 points to 35.6%. Those results as well suggest that elevated inflation has been keeping Japanese people from splurging on leisure activities. The nationwide survey was conducted online in February, and 3,467 people gave valid responses.
News18
2 days ago
- Business
- News18
What's On Monsoon Session Agenda? Centre's Bills & Opposition Debates On Sindoor, Bihar, AI Crash
A look at the agenda of the session that will end on August 21. On the Centre's agenda Income Tax Bill, 2025: It was introduced in the Lok Sabha on February 13 and referred to a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda. News18 had reported that it is expected to be brought to Parliament for passage during this session. Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025: It aims to align the state GST law with the central legislation. Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025: It seeks to promote ease of doing business and improve regulatory compliance. Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025: It proposes to bring IIM Guwahati under the formal fold of the IIM Act, giving it statutory recognition. Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025: It brings in tax reforms and streamlines current laws. Geoheritage Sites and Geo-relics (Preservation and Maintenance) Bill, 2025: It aims to protect geologically important sites Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025: It seeks to regulate the scientific exploration of deep-seated and critical minerals. National Sports Governance Bill, 2025: It proposes ethical and governance reforms to improve accountability in sports bodies. National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025: It aligns India's anti-doping regulations with global standards set by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and ensures the institutional independence of the National Anti-Doping Appeal Panel. President's rule in Manipur: Under other business, the government has listed a resolution for the extension of President's Rule in Manipur, originally imposed on February 13, 2025. On the opposition's agenda The opposition is expected to demand discussions on: Air India crash in Gujarat: The preliminary probe report has created a stir by attributing blame to the two deceased pilots and raising concerns over accountability and transparency.
6 days ago
- Business
Japanese Love Leisure More than Ever but Turn Thrifty
News from Japan Guide to Japan Economy Travel Jul 16, 2025 15:01 (JST) Tokyo, July 16 (Jiji Press)--Japanese people's preference to leisure over work grew to an unprecedented level in 2024 while their tendency to save money became stronger amid rising prices, a private-sector report has shown. In a survey, those who answered they attached importance to leisure rather than to work including study last year accounted for 67.8 pct of the total respondents, the highest reading since comparable data became available in 2009, the Japan Productivity Center said in its 2025 Leisure White Paper, released Tuesday. Among respondents who took part in at least one spare-time activity in 2024, "domestic pleasure trip" enjoyed the highest participation rate of 48.3 pct, proving to be the most popular way of having fun for three years in a row. However, the figure is lower than 48.7 pct in the previous survey and far short of the 2019 pre-pandemic level of 54.3 pct. "Recent price spikes are believed to have made many people cautious about spending on travel," a JPC official said. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
Mint
6 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Parliament Monsoon Session: Income Tax overhaul, Anti-Doping reform & more – full list of key Bills listed by Modi Govt
Parliament Monsoon Session: The monsoon session of Parliament will be held from July 21 to August 21. After a break of over three and a half months, both houses of Parliament—the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha – are scheduled to convene on July 21 at 11 am. This will be the first session of Parliament after Operation Sindoor – India's precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government has listed eight new Bills to be introduced in this session, in addition to taking up seven pending bills that were introduced earlier. Also Read | Cong to corner Modi govt on Pahalgam, voter list revision during Monsoon Session The opposition led by the Congress party will, on the other hand, raise issues including the Pahalgam terror attack, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar, the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and rising atrocities against women in the country, during the upcoming Monsoon session of Parliament. The government's top agenda item is the Income-Tax Bill, 2025, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha during the Budget Session of Parliament on February 13 before being referred to a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) led by BJP MP Baijayant 'Jay' Panda. The JPC is scheduled to adopt the draft report on Wednesday, after which the amended bill will be sent to the Union Cabinet for approval and is expected to be brought to Parliament for passage during this session. Among the other bills listed for consideration is the Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which aims to align the state GST law with the central legislation. Another key bill is the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025, which seeks to promote ease of doing business and improve regulatory compliance. Extension of President's Rule in Manipur The government has also listed a resolution for the extension of President's Rule in Manipur, imposed on February 13, 2025. Parliament's approval is required every six months, and President's Rule cannot be extended beyond three years, as per constitutional provisions under Article 356(1), Here are the details of legislative business, as prepared by PRS Legislative Research, scheduled this Monsoon Session of Parliament: Bills listed for introduction, consideration and passing 1-The Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025: To amend the Manipur Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017. 2-The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025: To amend certain tax laws. 3- The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025: Seeks to foster ease of doing business. Also Read | Monsoon Session of Parliament to be held from July 21 to August 21 4-The Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025: To add IIM Guwahati to the schedule of the Indian Institutes of Management Act, 2017. 5-The Geoheritage Sites and Geo-relics (Preservation and Maintenance) Bill, 2025: To provide for the declaration, preservation, and maintenance of geoheritage sites and geo-relics of national importance for research, education, awareness generation, and tourism. 6-The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025: To provide for the recovery of critical minerals, the inclusion of contiguous areas in a mining lease for mining of deep-seated minerals, and widening the scope of the National Mineral Exploration Trust. Also Read | Govt may tighten seed law this year 7-The National Sports Governance Bill, 2025: To provide for the promotion of sports, sportspersons' welfare, and ethical practices in sports; to establish standards for the governance of sports federations; and to institute measures for the resolution of sports grievances and disputes. 8-The National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025: To align the definitions and provisions of the National Anti- Doping Act, 2022 with the World Anti-Doping Agency Code and international best practices, and to ensure the independence of the National Anti-Doping Appeal Panel. Bills listed for consideration and passing 1-The Income Tax Bill, 2025: Replaces the Income Tax Act, 1961. Retains most of its provisions, including tax rates and offences. Primarily seeks to simplify the language and remove redundant provisions Introduced in Lok Sabha during the Budget Session on February 13, the bill was referred to select committee of the lower house 2-The Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2024: This bill reserves seats in the Goa Legislative Assembly for Scheduled Tribes. It was introduced in Lok Sabha last August 3-The Indian Ports Bill, 2025: Repeals the Indian Ports Act, 1908: This bill provides for regulation of the ports sector by creating Maritime State Development Council, State Maritime Boards, and Dispute Resolution Committee. This bill was also introduced last year. 4-The Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024: Replaces the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, modifies provisions related to the registration and ownership of ships, regulation of maritime training, seafarer welfare, and pollution control. This Bill has been pending in Lok Sabha since December 2024. 5—The Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024: The Bill to regulate vessels engaged in trade within Indian coastal waters is pending in the Rajya Sabha. It was passed in theLok Sabha in April 2025. 6- The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2024: Replaces the Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925, which provides for the rights and liabilities attached to goods transported by sea from Indian ports. Retains most provisions of the Act. This Bill passed in Lok Sabha in March last year is pending in Rajya Sabha. 7-The Bills of Lading Bill, 2024: Replaces the Indian Bills of Lading Act, 1856, which provides for a legal framework for issuing bills of lading, which provide conclusive evidence of goods on board. Retains most of theprovisions of the Act. This Bill was passed in Lok Sabha in March 2025 and is pending in Rajya Sabha. (With inputs from PRS Legislative Research)
The Citizen
7 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Take your greedy hands off Joburg parks and sports facilities
Instead of fixing billing failures and recovering billions in unpaid utilities, Joburg officials are targeting public recreation spaces for financial gain. Wanderers Stadium is one of the properties earmarked for review, as the municipality begins the process of redefining cherished community spaces. Picture: Sydney Seshibedi / Gallo Images Joburg Property Company (JPC) spokesperson Lucky Sindane reckons the city needs to 'move with the times' and that it wants to redefine what is meant by parks and recreation facilities, including some of the city's most well-known sports clubs and leisure locations. JPC's general manager for commercial and city-focused interventions, Sizeka Tshabalala, says the process will review how the city is compensated for the land use as current agreements are 'not talking to our current business model as the city'. The current agreements covering sports club facilities and even golf courses 'don't make business sense'. And so, there you have it. In a desperate attempt to gouge money out of ratepayers, our municipal mandarins plan to turn land into cash. All the while, they continue to turn a blind eye to the billions of rands in spiralling debt owed by consumers in places like Soweto. ALSO READ: Joburg's residents fuming as city aims to cash in on public parks and sports clubs We would suggest that taking time and applying your collective municipal management brainpower to recovering that which is being stolen from the city – which is what nonpayment for electricity is – you would come up with something which would talk to your current business model. That, of course, isn't going to happen. JPC says the reassessment process will entail reclassifying portions of land, but only after an 'extensive public participation process'. Something like what was done with the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project, then? It is deeply offensive that the city continues to hike property rates on the basis that homeowners must pay for the facilities allegedly provided to them. Given that we don't get much in the way of good roads, our refuse removal service is patchy and our street and traffic lights are often out of order, we deserve at least some value for our money. That we get in our recreation facilities, such as they are. Take your greedy hands off them. NOW READ: No budget, no bridge, no answers from JRA
