Latest news with #interiorministry
LeMonde
2 hours ago
- Politics
- LeMonde
French police launch nationwide crackdown on undocumented migrants
"Do not come to France. We will tolerate nothing. It's zero tolerance." French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau delivered these tough words before the microphones of TV and radio media gathered in Paris's Gare du Nord train station on Thursday, June 19, to relay the message of a major nationwide identity check. Spanning June 18 and 19 and redundantly dubbed a "fight against irregular and illegal immigration," the operation reportedly mobilized no fewer than 4,000 police officers, gendarmes, customs officers and soldiers deployed as part of antiterrorist military operation Sentinelle, all with the aim of detaining undocumented migrants aboard trains and in and around train stations. The deployment was not far from the 5,400 personnel mobilized to contain potential disorder during the Champions League soccer final in Paris on May 31. Results of the operation were not available as of Thursday evening. In a document sent to state prefectures on June 12 seen by Le Monde, the interior ministry said some 900 buses had been inspected and 759 undocumented foreigners were detained during a smaller-scale identity check on low-cost international bus lines around the country on May 20 and 21. In the document, Retailleau said these were "significant results." Asked about what happened after the arrests, the ministry said officials had issued 245 deportation orders, 34 placements in detention centers and 72 readmissions.
The Star
3 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Rice prices double in Japan as inflation accelerates
A customer purchases a bag of government stockpiled rice on sale in a section of convenience store chain Seven-Eleven Japan in Tokyo on June 17, 2025. The price of rice went up 101 per cent on-year in May. - AFP TOKYO: Rice prices doubled last month in Japan as core inflation accelerated, official data showed Friday (June 20), posing a threat to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba ahead of July elections. The vote for parliament's upper house, due next month, is crucial for Ishiba after public support for his government tumbled to its lowest level since he took office in October, partly due to frustration over the cost of living. In May, Japan's core inflation rate, which excludes volatile fresh food prices, hit 3.7 per cent - its highest level since January 2023 - interior ministry data showed. The figure narrowly beat market expectations and was up from a 3.5 per cent year-on-year rise logged in April. Rice was more than twice as expensive as a year previously - despite the government releasing its emergency stockpile of the staple grain to try to bring its price down. A supply chain snarl-up has caused a shortage of rice in shops, with the grain's price up 101 per cent on-year in May, compared to the eye-watering 98 per cent rise in April. The government began releasing stockpiles in February in an attempt to drive down prices, something it has only previously done during disasters. Electricity bills were 11.3 per cent higher in May, and gas fees rose 5.4 per cent, according to Friday's data. Excluding energy and fresh food, Japan's consumer price index (CPI) rose 3.3 per cent, compared to April's 3.0 per cent. To help households combat inflation, Ishiba has pledged cash handouts of 20,000 yen (US$139) for every citizen, and twice as much for children, ahead of the election. The 68-year-old leader's coalition was deprived of a majority in the powerful lower house in October as voters vented their anger at rising prices and political scandals. It was the worst election result in 15 years for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has governed Japan almost continuously since 1955. Earlier this week the Bank of Japan kept its interest rates unchanged and said it would taper its purchase of government bonds at a slower pace, as trade uncertainty threatens to weigh on the world's number four economy. "Policy flip-flops and delayed pass-through from producers to consumers mean inflation will slow only gradually in the coming months," said Stefan Angrick of Moody's Analytics. "This will keep a sustained pickup in real wages out of reach, and with it a meaningful uptick in consumption." Factors behind the rice shortages include an intensely hot and dry summer two years ago that damaged harvests nationwide. Since then some traders have been hoarding rice in a bid to boost their profits down the line, experts say. The issue was made worse by panic-buying last year prompted by a government warning about a potential "megaquake" that did not strike. Going forward, US tariffs are expected to weigh on Japan's growth, with economists predicting a slowdown ahead. Intensifying fighting between Iran and Israel was also adding pressure for energy prices to head north, posing a further risk to the Japanese economy. - AFP
Eyewitness News
6 hours ago
- Business
- Eyewitness News
Rice prices double in Japan as inflation accelerates
TOKYO - Rice prices doubled last month in Japan as core inflation accelerated, official data showed Friday, posing a threat to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba ahead of July elections. The vote for parliament's upper house, due next month, is crucial for Ishiba after public support for his government tumbled to its lowest level since he took office in October, partly due to frustration over the cost of living. In May, Japan's core inflation rate, which excludes volatile fresh food prices, hit 3.7 percent - its highest level since January 2023 - interior ministry data showed. The figure narrowly beat market expectations and was up from a 3.5 percent year-on-year rise logged in April. Rice was more than twice as expensive as a year previously - despite the government releasing its emergency stockpile of the staple grain to try to bring its price down. A supply chain snarl-up has caused a shortage of rice in shops, with the grain's price up 101 percent on-year in May, compared to the eye-watering 98 percent rise in April. The government began releasing stockpiles in February in an attempt to drive down prices, something it has only previously done during disasters. Electricity bills were 11.3 percent higher in May, and gas fees rose 5.4 percent, according to Friday's data. Excluding energy and fresh food, Japan's consumer price index (CPI) rose 3.3 percent, compared to April's 3.0 percent. CASH HANDOUTS To help households combat inflation, Ishiba has pledged cash handouts of 20,000 yen ($139) for every citizen, and twice as much for children, ahead of the election. The 68-year-old leader's coalition was deprived of a majority in the powerful lower house in October as voters vented their anger at rising prices and political scandals. It was the worst election result in 15 years for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has governed Japan almost continuously since 1955. Earlier this week the Bank of Japan kept its interest rates unchanged and said it would taper its purchase of government bonds at a slower pace, as trade uncertainty threatens to weigh on the world's number four economy. "Policy flip-flops and delayed pass-through from producers to consumers mean inflation will slow only gradually in the coming months," said Stefan Angrick of Moody's Analytics. "This will keep a sustained pickup in real wages out of reach, and with it a meaningful uptick in consumption." Factors behind the rice shortages include an intensely hot and dry summer two years ago that damaged harvests nationwide. Since then some traders have been hoarding rice in a bid to boost their profits down the line, experts say. The issue was made worse by panic-buying last year prompted by a government warning about a potential "megaquake" that did not strike. Going forward, US tariffs are expected to weigh on Japan's growth, with economists predicting a slowdown ahead. Intensifying fighting between Iran and Israel was also adding pressure for energy prices to head north, posing a further risk to the Japanese economy.
Japan Today
6 hours ago
- Business
- Japan Today
Rice prices double in Japan as inflation accelerates
By Hiroshi HIYAMA Rice prices doubled last month in Japan as core inflation accelerated, official data showed Friday, posing a threat to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba ahead of July elections. The vote for parliament's upper house, due next month, is crucial for Ishiba after public support for his government tumbled to its lowest level since he took office in October, partly due to frustration over the cost of living. In May, Japan's core inflation rate, which excludes volatile fresh food prices, hit 3.7 percent -- its highest level since January 2023 -- interior ministry data showed. The figure narrowly beat market expectations and was up from a 3.5 percent year-on-year rise logged in April. Rice was more than twice as expensive as a year previously -- despite the government releasing its emergency stockpile of the staple grain to try to bring its price down. A supply chain snarl-up has caused a shortage of rice in shops, with the grain's price up 101 percent on-year in May, compared to the eye-watering 98 percent rise in April. The government began releasing stockpiles in February in an attempt to drive down prices, something it has only previously done during disasters. Electricity bills were 11.3 percent higher in May, and gas fees rose 5.4 percent, according to Friday's data. Excluding energy and fresh food, Japan's consumer price index (CPI) rose 3.3 percent, compared to April's 3.0 percent. To help households combat inflation, Ishiba has pledged cash handouts of 20,000 yen for every citizen, and twice as much for children, ahead of the election. The 68-year-old leader's coalition was deprived of a majority in the powerful lower house in October as voters vented their anger at rising prices and political scandals. It was the worst election result in 15 years for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has governed Japan almost continuously since 1955. Earlier this week the Bank of Japan kept its interest rates unchanged and said it would taper its purchase of government bonds at a slower pace, as trade uncertainty threatens to weigh on the world's number four economy. "Policy flip-flops and delayed pass-through from producers to consumers mean inflation will slow only gradually in the coming months," said Stefan Angrick of Moody's Analytics. "This will keep a sustained pickup in real wages out of reach, and with it a meaningful uptick in consumption." Factors behind the rice shortages include an intensely hot and dry summer two years ago that damaged harvests nationwide. Since then some traders have been hoarding rice in a bid to boost their profits down the line, experts say. The issue was made worse by panic-buying last year prompted by a government warning about a potential "megaquake" that did not strike. Going forward, U.S. tariffs are expected to weigh on Japan's growth, with economists predicting a slowdown ahead. Intensifying fighting between Iran and Israel was also adding pressure for energy prices to head north, posing a further risk to the Japanese economy. © 2025 AFP
Straits Times
10 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Rice prices double in Japan as inflation accelerates
A supply chain snarl-up has caused a shortage of rice in shops, with the grain's price up 101 per cent on-year in May. PHOTO: AFP TOKYO - Rice prices doubled in May in Japan as core inflation accelerated, official data showed on June 20, posing a threat to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba ahead of July elections. The vote for Parliament's Upper House, due in July, is crucial for Mr Ishiba after public support for his government tumbled to its lowest level since he took office in October, partly due to frustration over the cost of living. In May, Japan's core inflation rate, which excludes volatile fresh food prices, hit 3.7 per cent – its highest level since January 2023 – interior ministry data showed. The figure narrowly beat market expectations and was up from a 3.5 per cent year-on-year rise logged in April. Rice was more than twice as expensive as a year previously – despite the government releasing its emergency stockpile of the staple grain to try to bring its price down. A supply chain snarl-up has caused a shortage of rice in shops, with the grain's price up 101 per cent on-year in May, compared to the eye-watering 98 per cent rise in April. The government began releasing stockpiles in February in an attempt to drive down prices, something it has only previously done during disasters. Electricity bills were 11.3 per cent higher in May, and gas fees rose 5.4 per cent, according to June 20's data. Excluding energy and fresh food, Japan's consumer price index (CPI) rose 3.3 per cent, compared to April's 3.0 per cent. Cash handouts To help households combat inflation, Mr Ishiba has pledged cash handouts of 20,000 yen (S$176.92) for every citizen, and twice as much for children, ahead of the election. The 68-year-old leader's coalition was deprived of a majority in the powerful Lower House in October as voters vented their anger at rising prices and political scandals. It was the worst election result in 15 years for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has governed Japan almost continuously since 1955. Earlier this week, the Bank of Japan kept its interest rates unchanged and said it would taper its purchase of government bonds at a slower pace, as trade uncertainty threatens to weigh on the world's number four economy. 'Policy flip-flops and delayed pass-through from producers to consumers mean inflation will slow only gradually in the coming months,' said Mr Stefan Angrick of Moody's Analytics. 'This will keep a sustained pickup in real wages out of reach, and with it a meaningful uptick in consumption.' Factors behind the rice shortages include an intensely hot and dry summer two years ago that damaged harvests nationwide. Since then some traders have been hoarding rice in a bid to boost their profits down the line, experts say. The issue was made worse by panic-buying in 2024 prompted by a government warning about a potential 'mega quake' that did not strike. Going forward, US tariffs are expected to weigh on Japan's growth, with economists predicting a slowdown ahead. Intensifying fighting between Iran and Israel was also adding pressure for energy prices to head north, posing a further risk to the Japanese economy. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
