The South American minnows, who were playing their first game of the tournament, condemned the Pacific Islanders to their second defeat in five days to leave their Pool D qualification hopes in tatters.

Japan’s Crown Prince Naruhito is seeking public understanding for his ailing wife, Crown Princess Masako, who is suffering from a stress-induced ailment.

Wearing a simple white dress and pearls, Japan’s Princess Sayako bid farewell to palace life today to wed a Tokyo city employee in a low-key ceremony, marking the first time that an emperor’s daughter had married a 'commoner'.

Amid recollections of horror and solemn vows of peace, Japan today commemorated the day 60 years ago when US bombers burned Tokyo to the ground in a firebombing that killed 100,000 people, nearly all of them civilians.

Crown Princess Masako gave birth today to a baby girl and, as Japan celebrated, court messengers placed by its pillow the sword and deep purple robes of silk that are the symbols of its lofty position.