Latest news with #Cabinet
Yomiuri Shimbun
32 minutes ago
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan Joins Race to Attract Top U.S. Researchers with ¥100 Bil. Investment
Yomiuri Shimbun file photo The Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo The government has decided to allocate ¥100 billion from the operational proceeds of the ¥10 trillion University Endowment Fund and other sources to attract eminent researchers from overseas, including Japanese top researchers in the United States leaving the country having lost their jobs due to research funding cuts under the administration of President Donald Trump, Japan plans to fully engage in the intensifying global competition to attract talent. The Cabinet Office has compiled the government initiative, and Minoru Kiuchi, who is the Cabinet minister responsible for science and technology, announced the details at a press conference after a Cabinet meeting on June 13. The University Endowment Fund is a program through which the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) entrusts financial institutions with the management of ¥10 trillion in government contributions. Some of the operating profits from this fund are provided as grants to institutions such as the Universities of International Research Excellence. A substantial disparity in wages has posed a significant barrier to attracting foreign researchers, as compensation in the United States and Europe is reportedly two to three times higher than in government plans to use the operational profits from the University Endowment Fund to cover personnel costs and other expenses. This will allow the university to offer foreign researchers compensation comparable to that of their original institutions. Specifically, through the JST, which manages the fund, the government intends to support domestic universities and national research and development agencies that receive personnel. The current basic policy of the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry limits support from the fund to doctoral students and Universities of International Research Excellence aiming for world-class research capabilities. The government plans to revise the policy shortly so that support will be available by autumn, when researcher recruitment primarily happens in the United States and Europe. In addition to financial support, the government will also back reforms to university personnel systems to be able to receive researchers from overseas and equip institutions with cutting-edge research equipment. Recruitment efforts are expected to extend to the United States and other countries, paired with public relations activities to showcase Japan's attractive lifestyle and cultural appeal. The race to secure top U.S. researchers has intensified, with the European Union indicating it will contribute €500 million (about ¥83 billion). In response, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba instructed Kiuchi on June 4 to reinforce efforts to attract researchers at the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation.
Daily Tribune
37 minutes ago
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
HM King appoints official to Prime Minister office
TDT | Manama His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has issued Decree (34) of 2025, appointing an Assistant Undersecretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, based on a proposal by the Prime Minister and following the approval of the Cabinet. According to the decree, His Excellency Shaikh Abdullah bin Munther bin Majid Al Khalifa shall be appointed as the Assistant Undersecretary for the Development of the Government Performance at the Prime Minister's Office, succeeding Zeyad Adel Darwish. The Prime Minister shall implement this decree, which shall take effect from the date of its issuance and shall be published in the Official Gazette.
Yomiuri Shimbun
42 minutes ago
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Hepburn-Style Romaji Closer to Becoming Standardized in Japan as Govt Agency Finalizes Draft Proposal Adopting the Style
The Yomiuri Shimbun The Cultural Affairs Agency has finalized a draft proposal to adopt the Hepburn style as the unified standard of romaji, or romanized Japanese, primarily due its closer resemblance to English pronunciation. The proposal was to be presented on Friday to a subcommittee of the agency's Council for Cultural Affairs. The council is expected to submit its official recommendation to the minister of education, culture, sports, science and technology as early as this autumn. The 1954 Cabinet announcement, which primarily adopted the 'kunrei' style of romaji, is set to be amended for the first time in nearly 70 years. Some Japanese letters have different romanizations, such as 'si' and 'hu' in the kunrei style, which are written as 'shi' and 'fu' in the Hepburn style. Currently, schools primarily teach the kunrei style in accordance with the existing Cabinet announcement. However, the Hepburn style is widely used in society. The council began reviewing the Cabinet announcement in autumn 2022 with the aim of aligning romanization with what is common in society. The draft proposal explicitly states that while it emphasizes a unified writing style as much as possible, 'spellings that have been used for many years by individuals and organizations will be respected and immediate changes will not be required.'
Korea Herald
4 hours ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Korea lays out lifelong support plan for science, tech talent
In a bid to bolster its science and technology capabilities, South Korea's new administration approved a major policy revision to provide lifelong, full-cycle support for students and professionals in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or so-called STEM fields. The enforcement decree of the Special Act on supporting science and engineering fields was amended and passed during a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, the presidential office said. The revised decree aims to lay a legal foundation for government-led support for STEM talent, from primary school students to senior researchers. "The revision is a fast-tracked fulfillment of the government's promise to nurture science and technology talent and will significantly contribute to building a national growth system centered on science and technology," said Ha Jung-woo, senior presidential secretary for AI and Future Planning on Thursday. The amended decree includes key initiatives, such as focusing on early engagement with programs and content designed to spark interest in science and mathematics among elementary and middle school students, so that they are encouraged to pursue higher education in STEM. Integrated degree programs and customized education in partnership with industry and research institutes are included to support university students and graduates Ha, former head of Naver's AI innovation, emphasized the urgency of enhancing Korea's competitiveness in artificial intelligence. 'The next three to five years may prove to be a golden window in the AI era. I've joined with the determination to contribute all I can to strengthen Korea's AI capabilities with the experience and capabilities I have gained over time,' he said. He highlighted the importance of building a comprehensive value chain across infrastructure, data centers and semiconductors, and stressed the need to create a virtuous cycle in which startups can develop innovative services and grow globally. The revised decree also includes provisions to attract international STEM talent. 'The revision strengthens strategies to recruit global experts and incentivizes their return or long-term stay in Korea,' Ha noted. Asked about the recent trend of students gravitating toward medical school over science and engineering — largely due to salary prospects — Ha acknowledged that the issue cannot be solved through compensation increases alone. 'This is directly tied to corporate labor costs,' he said. 'We're seeking solutions from a long-term, multi-agency perspective involving the ministries of education, welfare, and science and ICT.'
The Star
6 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Fuziah: Gas tank ops to collect data, not to penalise
JOHOR BARU: No enforcement action will be taken under Ops Gasak against micro businesses such as self-service laundromats and small eateries until the end of the operation, says the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry. This follows confusion and concern among traders who rely on subsidised liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in their operations. Deputy Minister Fuziah Salleh (pic) said the presence of enforcement officers at premises was solely to collect data and feedback, which will later be presented to the Cabinet as part of a review of the Supply Control Regulations (Amendment) 2021. 'I want to stress that no action will be taken against small food stalls, roadside traders or self-service laundromats until Ops Gasak concludes on Oct 31. 'When our enforcement team is on the ground, they are mainly there to gather data. Even stakeholder engagement sessions are part of our process to understand LPG usage and its implications for end users. 'The engagement session is valuable because it gives traders a chance to ask questions and raise concerns about licensing,' Fuziah said at a press conference after attending a meeting with Johor LPG industry stakeholders held at a hotel here yesterday. She said the reason Ops Gasak was enforced since May 1 was because subsidised LPG was being misused by some ineligible commercial sectors, particularly hotels. 'I personally visited hotel laundry areas where subsidised gas was used to wash towels and bedsheets. This is an example of leakage. 'We guarantee that enforcement will not be taken if subsidised LPG is used by micro traders until Oct 31. Once we complete the data collection, it will be tabled as recommendations for policy consideration,' Fuziah said. She added that the Cabinet had agreed to revisit the amendments to the Supply Control Regulations, but no final decision has been made. 'So again, I want to emphasise – no action will be taken against stalls, roadside traders or laundromats until Ops Gasak ends, and a clearer direction is determined,' she said. However, Fuziah reminded business owners that those storing more than three cylinders of subsidised LPG must still apply for a permit for safety reasons. Ops Gasak was launched on May 1 to tackle the misuse and diversion of subsidised LPG cylinders, especially involving medium- and large-scale industry players.
