Japan's parliament passes bill to create national intelligence bureau

Japan's Diet has enacted a law to establish a national intelligence bureau. The move is aimed at strengthening the government's intelligence capabilities. The bill was approved at a plenary session of the Upper House on Wednesday by a majority vote.

The law stipulates that the intelligence bureau will be given the authority to comprehensively gather and analyze information from ministries and agencies. It also says a national intelligence council will be created within the Cabinet. The body will be chaired by the prime minister and comprise Cabinet ministers with relevant portfolios, including the chief cabinet secretary and the foreign minister.