Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and French President Emmanuel Macron agree to initiate negotiations on a reciprocal access agreement so the two countries can facilitate closer defense cooperation such as joint exercises and disaster relief operations.
Voting gets underway for by-elections to fill three vacant seats in Japan's House of Representatives, with the popularity of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida having plunged due to a slush funds scandal that has eroded public trust in his Liberal Democratic Party.
Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Tuesday compiled draft proposals on political funds reform in the wake of a recent slush money scandal, centering on forfeiting deliberately unreported income for submission to the national coffers.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party is to advise two heavyweights of its biggest faction to leave the ruling party due to their roles in a political funds scandal that has rocked the party since late last year and plans to expel them if they do not comply, sources close to the matter say.
The Liberal Democratic Party will pursue punishment for 39 members over a political funds scandal that has rattled the ruling party since late last year, notably excluding Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and party heavyweight Toshihiro Nikai who has decided not to seek reelection as a lawmaker.