Japanese officials pledged today to seek a society less reliant on nuclear energy as the country marked the 67th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.

The International Monetary Fund will cut its forecast for global economic growth in a quarterly assessment later this month, IMF managing director Christine Lagarde said today.

A protest took place at the gate of a Japanese nuclear power plant as it was restarted — the first such facility to go back online since the country shut down all of its reactors for safety checks following the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

A protest has taken place at the gate of a Japanese nuclear power plant as it was restarted today – the first such facility to go back online since the country shut down all of its reactors for safety checks following the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Japan’s government today approved bringing the country’s first nuclear reactors back online since last year’s earthquake and tsunami led to a shutdown of reactors nationwide.

For 70-year-old Toshiko Murakami, memories of the terrifying earthquake and tsunami that destroyed much of her seaside town and swept away her sister brought fresh tears, exactly a year after the disaster.

People across Japan today remembered the massive earthquake and tsunami that struck the nation one year ago, killing just over 19,000 people and unleashing the world’s worst nuclear crisis in a quarter century.

Japan’s prime minister has acknowledged that the government failed in its response to last year’s earthquake and tsunami, being too slow in relaying key information and believing too much in “a myth of safety” about nuclear power.

Japan's prime minister said his country should be alarmed by ratings cuts in Europe and tackle the country's massive public debts to avoid becoming a next target.

Japanese prime minister Yoshihiko Noda replaced five members of his Cabinet today in a bid to win more co-operation from the opposition to raise the sales tax and rein in the country’s bulging fiscal deficit.

Japan’s new prime minister has promised to restart nuclear plants following safety checks ordered after the crisis at the tsunami-damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Former chief cabinet secretary Yukio Edano has been named as Japan’s new trade and economy minister.

RESCUERS and search parties were scouring central Japan yesterday as the death toll from the worst typhoon to hit the country in seven years climbed to 26, adding more misery to a nation still reeling from a catastrophic tsunami six months ago.

Japan was braced for more heavy rain and floods as the death toll from the worst typhoon to hit the country in seven years climbed to 34.

JAPAN’S parliament voted in a new prime minister yesterday, perhaps the last and best chance for the ruling Democratic Party to begin pulling the country out of decades of stagnation.

JAPAN’S premier-designate Yoshihiko Noda has vowed to provide a safe pair of hands in rebuilding the country from its tsunami-nuclear disasters after he was elected the ruling party chief.

Japan’s ruling party has elected Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda as its new chief, meaning he will almost certainly become the next prime minister and inherit the challenge of rebuilding from the country’s disasters.

IRELAND’s number one mum, Fionnuala Marston, is described as “the daughter I never had” by her mother-in-law who nominated her for the title.

The yen fell from historic highs today after the Group of Seven major industrialised nations promised coordinated intervention in currency markets to support Japan's recovery from a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami.

Japan plans to buy at least a fifth of the bonds being sold to finance Europe’s bailout fund, which is being used to rescue Ireland.

Psychiatrists have concluded a former cult leader sentenced to die for the deadly 1995 nerve gas attack on the Tokyo underground rail system is mentally fit to stand trial if his appeal goes ahead, a court official said today.

A man carrying a knife burst into a public elementary school in western Japan earlier today and stabbed at least three adults, police said. One of the victims is thought to have been killed.