Secrecy law puts new limits on freedoms

TOKYO (AP):

Japan's more powerful lower house of Parliament approved a state secrecy bill late yesterday that imposes stiffer penalties on bureaucrats who leak secrets and journalists who seek them, despite criticism the government is making a heavy-handed effort to hide what it's doing and suppress press freedom. The public is concerned because the government won't say exactly what becomes secret. Critics say the law could allow the government to withhold more information and ultimately undermine Japan's democracy.