21.   Japan plans to introduce heavier penalties for illegal trading following a scandal over alleged payments to gangsters involving Nomura Securities Co. Ltd., newspapers said Saturday.

22.   The government is also looking at imposing heavier penalties for stock price manipulation and for spreading rumors to influence the securities market, Yomiuri said.

23.   The Japanese government Friday adopted plans to impose heavier penalties on people who assist illegal immigrants as an upsurge in illegal immigration grips the country, officials said.

24.   The Japanese parliament passed a new law last week which impose heavier penalties on people who assist illegal immigrants.

25.   The justice ministry is seeking to submit bills to impose heavier penalties on those who assist illegal immigrants.