Full Coverage: Japan

16.09.2009 A summary of recent developments in climate change negotiations, including rumours of a bilateral deal between China and US. From Poverty to Power

19.06.2009 The governments of Norway and Japan are using taxpayer money to subsidise their unprofitable whaling industries, according to a first-time analysis of the economics of whaling released today.

09.02.2009 The Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin and her crew have withdrawn from the Japanese whaling fleet to begin preparations to return with a faster and longer range ship.
+ Iceland - killing whales makes no sense

03.02.2009 Two “compromise packages” to end the deadlock on so-called scientific whaling are too much of a compromise, according to an international environmental group.
+ Taking the whaling debate to the Japanese people

17.11.2008 Japan's whaling fleet has attempted to leave for the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary unnoticed, by cancelling its traditional high-profile departure ceremony, says a leading environmental group.

04.11.2008 A team of global experts led by the International Atomic Energy Agency will visit Japan next month as part of the latest round of assessments on the impact of a strong earthquake last year on the world’s largest nuclear power plant.

04.09.2008 Demands by developing countries and campaigners for immediate improvements to make aid work better for the poor have been blocked at an international meeting by the US, Japan and the World Bank, according to an international development charity.
+ International aid transparency initiative launched
+ UK plan for ending abuse of aid
+ Action Needed So Aid Works Better for the Poor, Zoellick Says

02.07.2008 Controls have been increased at Tokyo's main airport in an attempt to keep "trouble-makers" away from the forthcoming G8 Summit of industrialised countries, says a press service for the "independent radical left movement" that opposes the G8 countries.

28.05.2008 Japan has a chance to lead the rich G8 nations this year in finally delivering real benefits to poor African countries – provided it honours its own aid and climate promises at an important Japan-African Summit in Yokohama this week, says an international development group.

11.03.2008 President Bush rallied rich nations last week to join the the U.K., Japan, and the United States in committing billions of dollars for developing countries to expand their renewable energy capacity.

25.02.2008 Japanese telecom leader NTT DoCoMo unveiled an innovative Bluetooth handset, the “Sound Leaf Plus” at the recent Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The light-weight mobile works when pressed against the bone below the ear and has a high frequency switch for improved sound articulation.

23.01.2008 Greenpeace activists temporarily blocked the Japanese whaling fleet's factory ship from illegally refuelling in Antarctic waters yesterday - the latest skirmish in a two-week battle.

21.12.2007 The Japanese government has confirmed that that it has abandoned plans to kill humpback whales in the Southern Ocean this season.

18.12.2007 Eight years ago the world's wealthiest countries promised to provide the funding needed to ensure that all children worldwide can attend school. But now, halfway to the global 2015 deadline for universal primary education, developed countries are failing to come up with the aid.

11.12.2007 The 10th anniversary of the Kyoto Protocol today – which requires industrialised countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least five per cent from the 1990 level – was marked by a warning that the treaty is under threat at the UN climate change negotiations in Bali, Indonesia.

07.12.2007 China was named Good Guy at the UN climate change negotiations in Bali on Friday, Malaysia was condemned to join Saudi Arabia, Japan and Canada in the Bad Guys group and Australia and India were told to make up their mind which category they wanted to be in.

05.12.2007 Saudi Arabia was given the Fossil of the Day Award by NGOs at the climate change conference in Bali, Indonesia, on Wednesday.

19.11.2007 It's anchors aweigh as the Japanese whaling fleet sets off to kill more than 1,000 whales in its biggest hunt since a moratorium came into effect over 20 years ago. And Greenpeace is alongside, by boat and blog.

22.10.2007 Japanese bloggers are discussing the state of welfare in their country after the well documented death of a man due to starvation revealed cracks in the system.

06.09.2007 Three inmates on Japan's death row were recently executed by hanging, bringing the total number of executions administered under former Justice Minister Nagase Jinen to ten -- in less than a year. Judging from the blogosphere's reaction, Japanese opinion seems to run the gamut on capital punishment.