Search - 2004

 
 
JAPAN
Jan 10, 2004

No subsidies, no projects: Ishihara

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government will suspend public works projects planned with subsidies from the central government if the state cuts off the funding, Gov. Shintaro Ishihara told a news conference Friday.
JAPAN
Jan 10, 2004

Picture for July election gets clearer

At least 199 people are preparing to run in the House of Councilors election slated for July, around 40 fewer than at the corresponding stage ahead of the 2001 Upper House poll, according to a Kyodo News survey.
EDITORIALS
Jan 1, 2004

Year of tests for Asian democracy

For those who argue that democracy is alien to Asian society and culture, 2004 will provide the litmus test. The year will be thick with elections, challenging both voters and political systems throughout the region. Every campaign introduces volatility to domestic politics, but the sheer number of elections...
BUSINESS
Dec 31, 2003

70% of business leaders say the economy is improving

About 70 percent of business leaders believe the economy is improving, according to a recent Kyodo News poll.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 30, 2003

Tokyo hopes Pyongyang, like Libya, eases nuclear posturing

Security issues concerning North Korea, including its nuclear arms program, will remain at the top of Japan's diplomatic agenda in 2004, with Tokyo hoping to see substantial progress following Libya's recent renunciation of weapons of mass destruction.
COMMENTARY
Dec 26, 2003

Blair's overcast breaking up

LONDON -- As the old year turns, life is looking a little brighter for the besieged British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his team, thanks to a few lucky breaks.
BUSINESS
Dec 25, 2003

Local governments to lose subsidies worth 1 trillion yen

The national government will cut about 1.030 trillion yen in subsidies to local governments in fiscal 2004, while ceding them around 655.8 billion yen in funds they will be able to use at their discretion, the Finance Ministry said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Dec 20, 2003

Japan approves plan for missile defense

The government said Friday it will go ahead with plans to introduce a contentious U.S.-developed ballistic missile defense system to protect Japan from attack, such as from North Korea.
BUSINESS
Dec 20, 2003

Ministry set to propose 82.11 trillion yen budget draft

The Finance Ministry was set to propose a fiscal 2004 budget draft Saturday totaling 82.11 trillion yen, up 0.4 percent from the initial fiscal 2003 budget, according to a copy of the draft obtained Friday by Kyodo News.
JAPAN
Dec 19, 2003

Savings for 82.1 trillion yen budget eyed

Cabinet ministers agreed Thursday on key spending cuts for the next fiscal year, paving the way for the Finance Ministry to release its blueprint for the fiscal 2004 budget.
BUSINESS
Dec 19, 2003

Toyota aiming to sell 7 million vehicles

The Toyota group aims to sell a total of 7.08 million vehicles in calendar 2004, up 4 percent over projected sales of 6.78 million units for this year.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 19, 2003

Canberra's silly season of politics

SYDNEY -- Midsummer madness is already upon us. Australians can always tell when the silly season strikes by the antics of Canberra politicians. This time it's come early -- and they're playing their games with comic vengeance.
BUSINESS
Dec 18, 2003

Pension reformers give short shrift to the bigger picture

The political battle over public pension reforms may have subsided, but it's only a temporary lull.
BUSINESS
Dec 18, 2003

Premiums rise, benefits fall under pension plan

The government and the ruling parties on Wednesday approved a public pension-reform plan that will increase premiums paid by workers and cut their benefits over the coming decades.
JAPAN
Dec 18, 2003

Coalition says consumption tax hike in 2007 could save pension system

The ruling coalition finalized an annual tax reform package Wednesday that vaguely advocates a consumption tax hike in fiscal 2007 as a means of saving the ailing public pension system.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / THE SECOND ROOM
Dec 13, 2003

Third Eye New Year's Party Picks & more

For the first time in several countdowns, the Tokyo crowd has to choose, or at least compromise, on where to be on New Year's Eve.
SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT
Dec 12, 2003

Everton's 'Roonaldo' having growing pains

LONDON -- From having the world at his feet Wayne Rooney is now the recipient of boots up the backside as the Everton striker attempts to fulfill the potential he showed last season.
BUSINESS
Dec 12, 2003

Local governments to get 420 billion yen tax windfall

The central government will empower local governments to collect 420 billion yen in taxes in fiscal 2004 to help cover a 1 trillion yen cut in subsidies that will be implemented the same year.
BUSINESS
Dec 11, 2003

Ministers, party execs agree on local subsidy cuts

Following weeks of turf battles, Cabinet ministers and ruling coalition executives finally reached agreement Wednesday on how the national government will cut its subsidies to local government projects by 1 trillion yen in fiscal 2004.
COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE
Dec 11, 2003

Internet levels fundraising field for Howard Dean

WASHINGTON -- You may never have heard of Zephyr Teachout, a 31-year-old teacher from up north, but she is close to being the Gutenberg of the Internet Age for politicians.
BUSINESS
Dec 10, 2003

Machinery orders climb by 17.4%

Core private-sector machinery orders rose a seasonally adjusted 17.4 percent in October, hitting 1.022 trillion yen, the government said Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Dec 4, 2003

New highs forecast for imports, exports

Imports and exports are expected to rise to new highs for a third straight year in fiscal 2004, a trade industry association said Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Dec 3, 2003

Local tax coffers might benefit from smokers

Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki indicated Tuesday that the national government may shift some of its tobacco tax revenues to local authorities to help reform the flow of finances to local governments.
COMMENTARY
Dec 1, 2003

Iraq and economy top political agenda

The special session of the Diet that was convened on Nov. 19 following the Nov. 9 general election came to an early close Nov. 27. On the question of the dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq, which is the most important issue at the moment, fierce debate unfolded between Prime Minister Junichiro...
BUSINESS
Nov 27, 2003

Pension cuts sought to save system

To prevent a collapse of the national pension system amid the aging population and falling birthrate, the government should cut back on benefits for current and future pensioners before baby boomers retire in the next decade, an advisory panel to the finance minister said Wednesday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 21, 2003

Tanigaki wants bond issues to stay below tax revenues

Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki told a meeting of business leaders Thursday he wants to keep the issuance of fresh government bonds below the amount of tax revenues in the fiscal 2004 budget, a participant said.

Longform

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