Japan's Takaichi insists $135 billion stimulus fiscally 'responsible'

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi insisted that a $135-billion stimulus package approved Friday was fiscally responsible. The government plans to provide subsidies for electricity and gas charges so that the average household will receive about 45 dollars in total between January and March next year.

To help consumers amid the rising cost of food, officials are also looking to secure around 13 billion dollars to support municipalities. The overall scale of the stimulus measures together with spending by the private sector is projected to reach about 270 billion dollars.