Indicted

Japanese lawmaker Ichiro Ozawa, the power broker behind the landmark victory of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) over the long-ruling Liberal Democrats in 2009, was charged Jan. 31 with violating political-funding laws. Three of his former aides had already been charged in the case, which has to do with a 2004 land deal. Ozawa, whose career spans some 40 years and who challenged Prime Minister Naoto Kan for the DPJ leadership last September, has denied wrongdoing. He said he would not resign from parliament or the ruling party.