News Summary: Japan suspends rebuilding projects
PROJECT HALT: Japan's government has suspended 35 projects included in a budget for reconstruction from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami after criticism the spending was not directly related to recovery from the disasters.
CANCELED: As much as a fourth of the $148 billion budget had been earmarked for unrelated projects, including subsidies for a contact lens factory in another region. But the 35 projects put on hold involved only $210 million.
THE RATIONALE: Many of the projects in the budget were included on the pretext they might aid Japan's economic revival.
