Japan’s new leadership to boost science
Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party, which regained power in a December 16 election, finalized a proposal for a 10.3 trillion supplementary budget on Friday. The supplementary budget, the second largest in the country’s history, reverses the path of austerity followed by the LDP’s predecessor, the Democratic Party of Japan, which decreased funding for some research projects and lowered many scientists’ salaries. The supplementary budget, expected to be approved by parliament in mid-February, aims to decrease energy consumption, encourage environment-friendly industry, and give a significant boost to some research fields. Read more