Japan to Pass Second Supplementary Budget to Support Economy

Japanese lawmakers are set to pass the second supplementary budget for the current fiscal year, to help support the country's economy.

    The budget is worth more than 31 billion dollars. It's aimed at funding additional economic measures such as setting up new childcare facilities, and giving cash handouts to low-income earners, Japan's broadcaster (NHK World) reported.

    The Upper House is due to approve the budget later on Tuesday with the support of the governing coalition and others. The Lower House approved the bill a week ago.

    The Diet debate will then move on to the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The talks in both the chambers' budget committees on Wednesday and Thursday are expected to focus on the free trade deal. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is scheduled to attend.

     The governing parties hope deliberations will then start at the Lower House's special committee on the TPP on Friday in a bid to secure Diet approval. But the opposition parties say it is not necessary to rush the process