Council begins talks to prevent fabrication of building data
December 18, 2005An infrastructure ministry council began discussions Monday to devise measures to prevent the recurrence of fabrications of building data as revelations in November that an architect faked data for many buildings has sent shock waves through Japan. The council in charge of ways to improve the nation's social infrastructure, set up by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, will outline an interim package on the measures in February, ministry officials said.
S. Korean farmers demand release of arrested comrades
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Man's body found in bag on Aichi street, another man arrested
December 18, 2005The police arrested a Chinese construction worker on Sunday in connection with the death of a fellow Chinese construction worker whose body was found stuffed inside a carriage bag outside an apartment building in Chiryu, Aichi Prefecture, earlier in the day. The suspect, Zuo Jianzhai, 29, who lives in the apartment building, was arrested on suspicion of murder and abandonment of the corpse, police said. The victim, Yu Zhengjun, 26, also lived in the same building.
42 killed, 37 injured in stampede in southern India
December 18, 2005At least 42 people were killed and 37 others injured Sunday in a stampede at a local school in southern India, where people had gathered to receive coupons for flood relief supplies, Press Trust of India reported. The incident occurred when more than 4,500 people, who gathered in front of the school in Chennai, scurried for cover because of a sudden downpour, PTI quoted Jayalalithaa, chief minister of Tamil Nadu Province, as saying. Chennai is the capital city of the province.
Lawmaker Nishimura served new warrant over illegal law practices
December 18, 2005Prosecutors served a fresh arrest warrant against opposition lawmaker Shingo Nishimura on Sunday, alleging he received remuneration by illegally allowing an unqualified employee to provide attorney services in his name. In the latest development of a series of investigations against lawyer-turned politician Nishimura, the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office also served new warrants on two of his aides, suspecting they provided support to him in receiving 8.3 million yen (about $72,000) from the illegal practice.