Japan to aid virus-hit firms with 500 bil. yen from reserve funds

Japan's Cabinet decided Friday to use 500 billion yen ($4.6 billion) in fiscal 2021 reserve funds to aid businesses affected by the government's third state of emergency over the coronavirus pandemic.The financial assistance will be delivered to prefectures so that they can provide subsidies for small and midsize firms and tourism operators to help them keep their businesses running. Local governments will also use the money to monitor the implementation of tighter steps to curb the spread of the virus.The government has earmarked 5 trillion yen in reserve funds to counter the pandemic unde…READ FULL ARTICLE