NEWSWORTHY
Defense chief Jim Mattis dismissive of news reports of tension with Trump
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Tuesday dismissed recent news reports that tensions between him and President Donald Trump point to his exit soon. Asked by a reporter whether such reports should be taken seriously, he replied, "No. I wouldn't take it seriously at all. It's ...
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to reshuffle his Cabinet and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's leadership in early October if he is elected later this month as party head and prime minister for a third straight term, senior administration officials said Monday. Abe will also ...
Disaster prevention draws more public attention in annual policy survey
More people believe the government should give higher priority to disaster prevention, an annual Cabinet Office survey shows. According to the survey, 28.3 percent of the respondents think disaster prevention should be prioritized, up 2.4 points from the previous year. That is the highest ratio for ...
Former Prime Minister Koizumi sees embattled Abe quitting in June: magazine
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, plagued by suspected cronyism scandals and cover-ups and with his ratings sliding, will likely step down in June, former leader Junichiro Koizumi was quoted Monday as telling a weekly magazine. A survey by broadcaster Nippon TV released Sunday showed Abe's support ...
Japan's powerful government personnel body blamed amid cronyism scandals
The powerful new Cabinet Bureau of Personnel Affairs is drawing attention as a factor behind the cronyism scandals dogging Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whose team set it up.
Minister in charge of Okinawa, Tetsuma Esaki, steps down after stroke
The state minister in charge of Okinawa and Northern Territories affairs, Tetsuma Esaki, stepped down Tuesday after suffering a minor stroke recently, the government said. A seven-term Lower House member from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Esaki, 74, was diagnosed last week with having had ...
Cabinet adopts bills targeting hurdles to e-book use in schools
The Cabinet has adopted a bill that would allow digital textbooks to be used at elementary, junior high and high schools. The government aims to get the legislation enacted during the current Diet session, with an eye to replacing some traditional textbooks starting in April ...
A year in the (short) life of Japan's Cabinet
Early each year, Law of the Land likes to reflect on what one of Japan's three branches of government did the previous one. This time we'll look at the surprisingly durable Shinzo Abe habitat known as the Cabinet. First, lawyerly foreplay: definitions. What is the ...
Senior Cabinet Office official quits after downplaying U.S. aircraft problems in Okinawa
A senior official in the Cabinet Office resigns after being criticized in the Diet for making light of a U.S. helicopter incident in Okinawa.
Legislation related to labor reform is expected to be a focus of debate during a 150-day ordinary session of the Diet set to begin Monday. The legislation seeks to introduce stricter restrictions on overtime and exempt highly skilled professionals from work-hour regulations. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ...
May plans Monday Cabinet reshuffle as divisive Brexit battles loom
Britain's government is to undergo a reshuffle on Monday as Prime Minister Theresa May looks to reassert her authority ahead of potentially divisive Brexit battles, according to lawmakers. A Labour MP who wished to remain anonymous told AFP that the reshuffle would take place on ...
