Daily Yomiuri Online :: Saturday, June 27, 2009

• Ex-Nishimatsu president reindicted over Nikai case (Jun.27) ★
  The Yomiuri Shimbun
  Prosecutors on Friday issued a fresh indictment against a former president of Nishimatsu Construction Co. in connection with the purchase by the firm's dummy political organizations of party tickets worth 8.38 million yen for Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai's political body. continued ...


• Aso eyeing reshuffle of LDP execs (Jun.27) ★
  The Yomiuri Shimbun
  Prime Minister Taro Aso on Friday reiterated his determination to dissolve the House of Representatives, apparently with an election in early August in mind. continued ...


• Bill would punish ships for refusing inspections (Jun.27)
  The Yomiuri Shimbun
  A draft bill on ship cargo inspections prepared by the government and ruling parties would punish ship captains who reject such checks, government sources said. continued ...


• Gunma citizens group loses Yamba dam case (Jun.27)
  Prime Minister Taro Aso has apparently begun trying to put more of his own ideas and character on display as an upcoming House of Representatives election looms on the horizon. continued ...


• U.K. eyed attacking Tokyo with chemical arms in WWII (Jun.27)
  Tetsuya Tsuruhara / Yomiuri Shimbun Correspondent
  LONDON--During World War II, the British military's chemical weapon development section considered plans to carry out an air raid on Tokyo using chemical weapons, according to a file released Thursday by the National Archives in London. continued ...


• Osaka governor floats idea of new party (Jun.27)
  The Yomiuri Shimbun
  OSAKA--Osaka Gov. Toru Hashimoto expressed his intention Friday to create a new political party with local government leaders. continued ...


• Aso stressing own initiative with election in mind (Jun.27) ★
  Prime Minister Taro Aso has apparently begun trying to put more of his own ideas and character on display as an upcoming House of Representatives election looms on the horizon. continued ...


• Panel: Stop pushing mergers / Advisory board suggests letting municipalities determine own destinies (Jun.27)
  Akihisa Aoyama / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer
  A government advisory panel on local autonomy has called on the government to stop at the end of next March its 10-year campaign to promote the merger of municipalities. continued ...