Kyodo News Digest: Nov. 28, 2024
Preparations are underway for a year-end Kabuki performance in Kyoto, western Japan, on Nov. 26, 2024, with wooden signs with the names of Kabuki actors written in the traditional style of “maneki-gaki” calligraphy, wishing for a full house, on display at Minamiza Theater. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Extra Diet session begins with minority government eyeing budget, reforms
TOKYO – Japan’s parliament convened an extraordinary session Thursday for deliberations on a supplementary budget to help inflation-hit households and revise a political funds law after a bruising scandal, in the first major test for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s minority government.
The 24-day session through Dec. 21 will see Ishiba engage in substantive parliamentary debate for the first time since his ruling coalition lost its majority in the House of Representatives in late October.
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Japan to revise duty-free rules, refund consumption tax on return
TOKYO – Japan plans to revise its duty-free rules for foreign visitors from the latter half of fiscal 2026, sources close to the matter said Wednesday.
Among the proposed changes is reimbursing the consumption tax upon their return to their home country.
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Japan to issue 6.7 tril. yen of new bonds to fund economic package
TOKYO – The Japanese government is eyeing new government bond issuance of 6.7 trillion yen ($44 billion) to fund a supplementary budget required for a stimulus package planned by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, sources close to the matter said Thursday.
Ishiba’s Cabinet is expected to approve a 13.9 trillion yen extra budget plan on Friday aimed at easing the financial burden on households amid rising prices, the sources said.
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ICC chief prosecutor seeks arrest warrant for Myanmar junta leader
BANGKOK – The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor has requested an arrest warrant for Myanmar’s junta leader for crimes committed against the country’s Rohingya Muslim minority.
Karim Khan said in a statement issued Wednesday that Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing is accused of crimes against humanity for the deportation and persecution of the Rohingya during waves of violence in 2016 and 2017 in Myanmar’s western Rakhine State.
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Toyota global output falls 0.8% in Oct. on price war in China
NAGOYA – Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday its global production for October fell 0.8 percent from a year earlier to 893,164 units, hit by tough price competition in China and a recall in North America.
Its overseas production fell 4.9 percent to 587,105 units, as output in China dropped 8.7 percent due to the Japanese automaker’s continued struggles in the world’s biggest auto market where BYD Co. and other local rivals are offering more affordable electric cars.
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Tokyo-Hakata Nozomi bullet trains eye reducing nonreserved seats
NAGOYA – The operators of Nozomi bullet train services connecting Tokyo and Hakata in southwestern Japan are considering reducing the number of nonreserved seats from next spring, sources close to the matter said Thursday.
The move comes as the growing use of online reservation systems has increased demand for reserved seats for the super-express services linking Tokyo with major western Japanese cities including Osaka and Kyoto.
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Japan to offer interest-free loans to elderly to quake-proof homes
TOKYO – Japan is considering offering interest-free loans to people aged 70 and older to reinforce their homes against earthquakes in the wake of a devastating temblor on New Year’s Day, a government source said Wednesday.
Under the new plan, borrowers will be able to use their homes and land as collateral to secure loans for retrofitting their residences, while the government will cover the monthly interest payments, the source added.
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China shows support for Osaka Expo, vows safety for expats from Japan
BEIJING – Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng showed support for the upcoming World Exposition in Osaka and pledged to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals in China as he met Wednesday with a business delegation from the neighboring country, the group said.
He told the business leaders from western Japan’s Kansai area, which includes the expo’s host city, that it is important to “overcome challenges and achieve win-win” outcomes, according to group members.
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