Latest news with #HouseofCouncilors
Japan Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Japan Times
Japan's opposition DPP pledges lower taxes and higher take-home pay
The opposition Democratic Party for the People on Tuesday announced its campaign promises for this summer's election of the House of Councilors, the upper chamber of Japan's parliament, with the focus primarily on boosting people's take-home pay through tax cuts. The party promised a temporary reduction in the consumption tax rate to 5% from the current 10%, the abolition of the provisional gasoline tax surcharge and an increase in the minimum annual taxable income level to ¥1.78 million. "Through wage hikes and the return to the people of national tax revenues that increased due to the yen's weakening, we'll aim to realize 'a summer of increased take-home pay,'" the party said. The DPP emphasized support for young people and the working generation, proposing to double the budget for child-rearing and education by issuing what the party calls "education government bonds" worth ¥5 trillion annually. It also pledged to reduce income tax for people up to the age of 30 who started working after finishing junior high or high school. The party aims to achieve nominal gross domestic product of ¥1,000 trillion in 2035 through investment tax cuts in growth sectors such as semiconductors and storage batteries, along with measures to stimulate consumption. If successful, tax revenues would rise to ¥120 trillion, significantly improving the government's finances, it explained. Regarding agriculture, the party said it would introduce a direct payment system for farmers in order to increase the production of staple rice. On security policy, it promised to enact a law to prevent espionage and a law to regulate land acquisition by foreign nationals. The party also called for rebuilding or newly building nuclear power plants and promoting the research and development of nuclear fusion technology, saying that the country should aim to achieve an energy self-sufficiency rate of 50%. Elsewhere in its campaign pledges, the DPP reiterated its support for a selective dual surname system for married couples. On imperial succession, the party called for continued discussions on the idea of allowing female members to retain their imperial family status even after marrying commoners and on the proposal of adopting as children male members in the paternal line of former imperial family branches to give them imperial family status. It also sought to consider a plan to allow male members in the paternal line of former imperial family branches to directly become imperial family members by law, without going through the process of adoption. DPP leader Yuichiro Tamaki told a news conference that the party had also called for boosting people's take-home pay in last year's election for the House of Representatives, the lower chamber, but has not been able to fulfill the promise due to a lack of strength on its part. He added, "We would like to increase the number of our seats in the Upper House through the coming election and improve our ability to realize our policies."
Morocco World
10-06-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco Launches 2025 Marhaba Operation to Welcome Moroccans Abroad
Rabat – Morocco has officially launched the 2025 edition of Operation Marhaba, a long-running campaign to welcome and help Moroccans living abroad on their summer return home. The operation is an annual initiative by the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity to welcome the Moroccan diaspora. This year's 25th edition kicked off on June 10, and it's bigger than ever with 26 welcome sites across Morocco and key European countries. The foundation, working with partners, has opened two new sites at Laayoune and Dakhla airports. This means 20 centers are now operational in Morocco's main ports and airports, helping travelers with arrivals and departures. Plus, there are special 'receiving rooms' at rest stops and border crossings like Bab Sebta and Mellil to make peak travel times smoother. Marhaba also has a strong presence in six European ports: Genoa (Italy), Sète and Marseille (France), and Motril, Almería, and Algeciras (Spain). These ports are key entry points for many Moroccans living abroad, and support teams are on hand to offer guidance and assistance even before travelers reach Morocco. Operation Marhaba also provides comprehensive support through a large team of over 1,200 people. This includes social workers, physicians, paramedics, foundation personnel, and volunteers who are available from June 10 to September 15. The entire operation is overseen by a central coordination office in Rabat. This office monitors activities at all reception points, manages resources, and ensures quick responses to any issues. It also runs a 24/7 dedicated helpline for travelers, accessible from Morocco and abroad via specific phone numbers for various countries. Operation Marhaba remains more than a logistical endeavor. It mirrors Morocco's ongoing relationship with its diaspora, a gesture of hospitality and solidarity rooted in shared identity and care. Speaking before the House of Councilors last week, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita outlined this year's key arrangements. The maritime component will include 29 vessels operated by seven shipping companies across 12 routes linking ports in Italy, France, and Spain. Around MAD 28 million ($2.8 million) has been dedicated to enhancing reception infrastructure at Tanger-Med port. This year's operation expects an exceptional flow of roughly 3.5 million travelers, primarily Moroccans living in Europe, marking a 4% rise compared to previous years. Tags: Marhaba 2025Morocco diasporaoperation marhabaOperation Marhaba 2025
Morocco World
04-06-2025
- Health
- Morocco World
Operation Marhaba 2025: 29 Ships Prepare for 3.5 Million Travelers
Doha – Morocco has finalized preparations for Operation Marhaba 2025, focusing on four key priorities: traffic flow management, strengthened security, proximity support, and enhanced health vigilance. Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita outlined these measures during a weekly oral questions session at the House of Councilors on Tuesday. The maritime component will feature 29 vessels from seven shipping companies operating 12 routes from ports in Italy, France, and Spain. Approximately MAD 28 million ($2.8 million) has been allocated to improve reception infrastructure at the Tanger-Med port. This year's operation anticipates an exceptional influx of approximately 3.5 million travelers, mainly Moroccans residing in Europe, representing a 4% increase from previous years. An estimated 890,000 vehicles are expected to cross the strait this summer, marking a 5% increase. This rise may be linked to the Spanish government's regularization program, allowing thousands of migrants to normalize their status and travel. The operation will feature over 12,000 maritime crossings—an 84% increase compared to 2004. 'Security and safety will be reinforced through enhanced border control mechanisms,' Bourita said. The operation will deploy 24 reception centers—18 within Morocco and six abroad—along with additional human resources in accordance with royal instructions. Read also: Marhaba 2024: Nearly 1.9 Million Passengers Have Passed Through Moroccan Ports The 36th meeting of the Moroccan-Spanish joint commission, initially planned for Tangier but relocated to Cadiz, finalized coordination measures that will be implemented between June 15 and September 15. Consulates will maintain their traditional extended schedule during this period, including weekend and holiday service. Staff numbers will increase, and mobile consulates will be established 'to support this large-scale operation under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, benefiting three million citizens,' according to the minister. Health vigilance remains a priority with specialized teams positioned along routes and at rest areas. 'The goal is to improve this operation year after year, to meet His Majesty the King's ambition,' Bourita noted. A massive joint workforce of approximately 60,000 personnel will be mobilized across all sectors. Spanish authorities announced the recruitment of at least 29,000 people, while Morocco will deploy a similar number of participants, including official institutions, administrations, volunteers, the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity, and other stakeholders. Preparations have involved multiple meetings of the National Transit Commission, chaired by the Interior Ministry. Another Moroccan-Spanish meeting was held in Cadiz on May 29, along with various thematic sectoral meetings. Streamlined reentry for Moroccan expats The Customs and Indirect Tax Administration (ADII) announced new facilities for Moroccan expatriates on May 28. Notably, Moroccans aged 60 and above who have lived abroad for at least ten years can now benefit from a 90% reduction on the value of imported vehicles. Provincial and Prefectural Customs Directors can now validate applications based on authenticated documents, including residence certificates, foreign ID cards with overseas addresses, or consular registration cards. The administration has also simplified procedures for returning expatriates, who can benefit from a three-year aging allowance on their vehicle's age, limited to one vehicle per person and once in a lifetime. Previously required two-year pay slips for employees or tax declarations for merchants are no longer necessary. In Ceuta, authorities have launched a mobile application called 'Embolsamiento Ceuta' to manage traffic flow toward Morocco. Available in Spanish, French, and English, the app provides real-time estimates of waiting times at the Tarajal border crossing. Users receive a digital ticket with a QR code required for entry and exit from the regulation area, with paper tickets available for those without smartphones. Ceuta has also increased staffing with up to ten agents daily working in three shifts. Infrastructure improvements include more shaded areas and new drinking water points. Traffic forecasts predict a 4% increase in travelers and 5% in vehicles compared to last year, despite a slight decline in personal car travel. Tags: Marhaba 2025Marhaba operationNasser Bourita
Japan Times
29-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Japan offering fund to aid U.S. shipbuilding as part of tariff negotiations
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 his 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 Councilors 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. Akazawa voiced his eagerness to advance the tariff negotiations with the United States, even during the trip to France. "If we have an opportunity to engage in tariff discussions with the United States, we will prioritize that above all else," he told reporters at the Prime Minister's Office. In the global shipbuilding market, China holds a dominant share. That has sparked national security concerns in the United States, where the shipbuilding industry has declined. The United States has called on allies including Japan to help revive the sector. "The United States is interested in whether U.S. warships can be repaired in Japan," Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told reporters in Maizuru, Kyoto Prefecture, on Sunday. Referring to the growing importance of Arctic shipping routes and icebreakers, Ishiba also noted that "Japan has an advantage in icebreaker technology." Also on the agenda for the upcoming tariff session is Japan's support for maintaining repair docks in the United States. Tokyo hopes to accelerate the tariff talks, with a view to striking an agreement at a possible bilateral summit on the sidelines of the Group of Seven leaders' meeting next month. As the two countries are still divided over matters such as additional auto tariffs, it remains to be seen how much middle ground the two sides can find on shipbuilding cooperation.
Japan Times
15-05-2025
- Health
- Japan Times
Over-the-counter drugs to be made available at convenience stores
Parliament on Wednesday enacted a bill that will allow people to pick up over-the-counter drugs from convenience stores and other outlets without pharmacists. The bill to revise the pharmaceuticals and medical devices law was approved at a plenary meeting of the House of Councilors following its passage through the House of Representatives last month. The revised law will require consumers to listen to explanations from pharmacists online before purchases. It will take effect by around spring 2027. The government expects the new system to be used also in areas with few pharmacies, such as remote islands and mountainous areas. The current law does not allow stores without pharmacists to sell OTC drugs. As of February 2023, the proportion of convenience stores that can sell such drugs stood at only 0.7% of some 57,000 convenience stores across the country, according to an industry group. Under the revised law, people will be able to listen to explanations on cautionary notes about drugs from pharmacists online and receive a certificate via email. They will then be able to get OTC drugs by showing such a certificate at convenience stores. There are also plans for making possible the picking up of the drugs from vending machines. The revised law will also include a regulation on purchases of cold medicines for younger generations, setting a limit of one small package per person to avoid abuse. The regulation will take effect within a year after its promulgation. The revised law will also require pharmacies to confirm the age of consumers and purchase histories in other stores. Target ages for the rule will be decided later by the health ministry. The requirement will not be applied to older purchasers, but sellers will be mandated to ask reasons for purchases. Warnings on abuse will be necessary on packages.
