Australia’s prime minister has set a November deadline for Japan to stop its research whaling programme that kills hundreds of the creatures every year in Antarctic waters, or face legal action.

Long-time opposition leader Yukio Hatoyama took office as prime minister today, naming a new Cabinet and vowing to rebuild the economy and refocus Japan’s place on the world stage with his largely untested party.

Long-time opposition leader Yukio Hatoyama was elected prime minister of Japan today, promising to reinvigorate the world’s second-largest economy and shake up government with his left-of-centre party.

PRIME Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s triumph in parliamentary polls handed the leader a new mandate yesterday to turn promises into action for sweeping economic reforms.

Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi’s stunning triumph in parliamentary polls has handed the leader a new mandate to harness his revitalised ruling party and turn promises into action for a range of sweeping economic reforms.

Japanese voters cast their votes in nationwide parliamentary elections today which look likely to strengthen Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s grip on power and invigorate the leader’s push for economic reforms, including his long-cherished plan to privatise the nation’s postal system.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was riding high today in the homestretch of the campaign for weekend parliamentary elections, boosted by polls forecasting a comfortable win by the party that has ruled Japan for a half-century.

Japan’s upper house of Parliament voted down legislation to split up and sell the country’s postal service today, prompting Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to follow through on a threat to call snap elections that could shake the ruling party’s grip on power.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s party lost seats but held on to a majority in weekend parliamentary elections in Japan.

Millions of Japanese went to the polls today in nationwide parliamentary elections overshadowed by concerns over Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s social policies and his decision to dispatch hundreds of Japanese troops to Iraq.