
能登半島地震・豪雨被災地の復旧状況を視察、予算カット発言への対応も言及
簗和生農林水産相は4日、能登半島地震と豪雨で被災した石川県を視察した。視察後の取材で、自民党を支援しない自治体に対しても予算配分を公平に行う意向を強調。過去の予算カット発言を巡る批判に対し、誤解を招いたと釈明しつつ続投の意向を示した。
AI-generated summary
簗氏は栃木県の会合で、自民党を支援しない自治体の予算をカットした旨の発言をしたと報じられている。
簗和生農林水産相は4日、2024年の能登半島地震とその後の豪雨で被災した石川県を訪れ、農地や漁港などの復旧・復興状況を視察した。視察後には記者団の取材に応じ、被災自治体の首長が自民党を支援しない場合でも、予算配分などに「しっかりと対応していきたい」と強調した。
簗氏を巡っては、地元・栃木県の会合で、先の衆院選で自民党を支援しなかった自治体の道路予算を「大幅にカットした」との趣旨の発言をしていたことを、文春オンラインや週刊新潮が報じた。2日夕の記者会見で発言自体は大筋で認める一方、予算カットを国土交通省に働き掛けた事実はないと説明していた。
4日の視察後は、被災地の復興に向けて「現場のニーズに合った形で事業を組み立てていく」と強調。石川県珠洲市で営農の全面再開の課題となっている取水設備の復旧に関し、「国交省や県と連携して対応していきたい」と語った。

British Prime Minister Burnham has indicated that he does not rule out rejoining the EU, reigniting the debate in the UK over withdrawal. Criticizing that withdrawal would do more harm than good, he suggested the possibility of holding a new referendum in his manifesto for the next general election. Four options, including joining the customs union with the EU and participating in the single market, will be discussed at a summit meeting later this year. While public opinion is growing stronger that leaving the EU is a mistake, anti-EU forces still maintain their support.

The 222nd extraordinary Diet session will be convened on the 5th, and will be the first session of the Diet since the establishment of the second Takaichi reshuffled cabinet. The government will prioritize enacting a consumption tax reduction bill for food products, and the ruling party will also seek to reduce the number of members of the House of Representatives. Prime Minister Takaichi will emphasize the need for a consumption tax cut in his policy speech, and the opposition parties are expected to pursue financial resources and countermeasures against rising prices. The exhibition period is 69 days until December 12th.

US President Trump announced on the 4th that he will establish a task force called ``Super Intelligence Force'' to coordinate AI policy within the government. Led by Director of National Intelligence Creighton and FTC Chairman Ferguson, it will assess the risks and opportunities of AI over 120 days. The aim is for the United States to continue to lead the world in the field of AI.

On the afternoon of the 5th, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivered a speech expressing his beliefs at the plenary sessions of both the House of Representatives and the House of Councilors during the extraordinary Diet session, emphasizing the government's policy of making all-out efforts for economic growth under the banner of ``Keisei Zamin''. He appealed for the food consumption tax reduction bill to reduce the burden on household budgets, and explained that financial resources would be secured without relying on deficit-deficit national bonds. In terms of diplomacy, he expressed support for the ICC and indicated that he would not exclude all options regarding the North Korean abduction issue. He expressed his intention to move forward with the relocation of Futenma Air Base Henoko in Okinawa Prefecture and work to revitalize the economy, and expressed hope for progress in discussions regarding constitutional revision.

The documentary film ``300 Meters Above Tokyo,'' which follows the low-altitude flight of US military helicopters over downtown Tokyo and the issue of the Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement, will be released on the 10th. We asked director Atsushi Otsuki about the background of the shooting and the thoughts he put into the work.

The Komeito Party held its regular party convention in Tokyo on the 3rd, elected Mitsunari Okamoto as its new representative, and launched a new executive committee. Following the failure of the three-party merger, the party aims to rebuild the party and have all members elected in next spring's unified local elections.