Japan releases stimulus package

Updated January 28, 2009 12:41:33

Japan's parliament has approved an emergency 53-billion dollar extra stimulus package including a controversial plan to hand out 22-billion dollars to the public to fight the recession.

The two-trillion-yen cash handout plan had been held up for a day due to bickering between the lower house and the upper chamber, which is controlled by the opposition. In the end, the more powerful lower house won. The spending plan is the second of supplementary funding for this financial year, following an initial injection of 1.81 trillion yen.

Presenter: Sen Lam
Speaker: Dr Charles Morrison, Japan expert and President of the East West Center in Hawaii