Japan's lower house approves 2nd recovery budget

Japan's powerful lower house of parliament on Wednesday approved a second extra budget worth 2 trillion yen (25.32 billion U.S. dollars) to finance the country's reconstruction following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

The budget will go to the opposition-controlled upper house for approval, and it is expected to be enacted as early as Friday with the support of oppositions.

Enactment of the budget, following the first extra budget of 4 trillion yen, is one of the conditions that Prime Minister Naoto Kan, struggling with low popularity ratings, has set for stepping down.

Kan's government plans a third extra budget later this year, which is estimated to be worth 10 trillion yen.

Source:Xinhua

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