
政府は3日、首都機能の代替を目的とする副首都構想の関連法に基づき、副首都の指定要件を定める政令案を公表した。要件に該当するのは北海道、愛知、大阪、福岡の4道府県で、いずれも国への申請意向を表明。政令案では東京圏との同時被災を避けるため、首都直下地震や富士山噴火の被害想定地域を除き、国の出先機関の設置数、政令市の人口、経済規模などの要件を設定。4道府県は現在(1)~(3)の要件を満たしており、(4)の環境整備後に申請可能。パブリックコメントを今月下旬まで実施し、決定する。
AI-generated summary
政府は大規模災害時に首都機能を代替する「副首都」構想を進めており、関連法に基づいて指定要件を定める政令案を公表した。
政府は3日、大規模災害時に首都機能を代替する「副首都」構想の関連法に基づき、副首都の指定要件に関する政令案を公表した。要件に該当するのは北海道、愛知、大阪、福岡の4道府県で、いずれも指定に向けて国へ申請する意向を表明している。同日から政令案のパブリックコメント(意見公募)を開始し、今月下旬に決定する。
政令案では、東京圏との同時被災を避けるため、首都直下地震や富士山の噴火で被害が想定される地域を除く道府県が対象。その上で、(1)14以上の国の出先機関が設置されている都市がある(2)国内総人口の1.2%以上の政令市がある(3)国内総生産(GDP)に対する道府県内の経済規模が2.1%以上(4)政令市を特別区に再編するか、政令市と道府県が連携協約を締結する―ことを要件とした。
4道府県は現時点で(1)~(3)の要件を満たしており、(4)の環境を整えることで、国に申請できる。国で要件を満たしていると確認されれば、道府県全域が副首都に指定される。副首都の整備方針は道府県ごとに定める。

Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Kazuo Yan held a press conference to address the issue of allegedly making inappropriate comments related to budget allocation at a local Liberal Democratic Party branch meeting. The minister explained that the expression was ``misleading,'' but denied asking the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to cut its budget, and expressed his intention to continue in his role.

At the G20 trade ministers' meeting held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. Trade Representative Greer announced that a statement agreement on forced labor and overproduction could not be reached due to opposition from some countries. It appears that there was a backlash from China. However, he emphasized that they had agreed on a statement regarding the weaponization of food.

Concerns are growing within the ruling party after reports of controversial statements and suspicions made by Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Kazuo Yan and Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Hisayuki Fujii. Mr. Yan has said that he has drastically cut the local budget, and Mr. Fujii is reportedly suspected of buying campaign workers. Both men have avoided explanations, and there are calls from within the ruling party for their early replacement.

A group of lawyers who are students of Tomoko Akane, director of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has been designated as a target of sanctions by the United States, submitted more than 170,000 signatures to Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki demanding the immediate lifting of sanctions. Representative Kentaro Agematsu argued that Japan, which has a relationship of trust with the United States, can play a role in protecting the independence of the ICC. Signatures were collected online for about a month, and Director Akane expressed his gratitude.

The Japan Council of Atomic and Hydrogen Bomb Victims' Organizations (Japan Hidankyo) has published a collection of reports looking back on the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. It includes the award ceremony, the impressions of the delegates, and a lecture by Hiromi Tanaka, the representative committee member, and calls for the continuation of activities aimed at the abolition of nuclear weapons and for passing them on to the next generation.

In an interview with Jiji Press, Kim Eung-won, a representative lawyer from Korea's Disability and Human Rights Law Center, expressed concern about the negative impact that the abolition of prosecutors' supplementary investigation rights would have on victims. He criticized the current situation where there is a risk that flaws in the investigation may be left unaddressed and where responsibility lies between agencies.