THE Group of Eight leading industrial nations yesterday endorsed halving world emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050, edging forward in the battle against global warming but stopping short of tough, nearer- term targets.

The world’s top industrialised nations face pressing financial and environmental troubles at their annual summit tomorrow, confronted with demands they reinvigorate the stumbling world economy, push ahead languishing climate change talks, and make good on pledges to battle poverty and hunger.

Climate change, soaring oil prices and possible steps against Zimbabwe were high on the agenda as leaders from the Group of Eight economic powers gathered in Japan for their annual summit.

Tony Blair will today issue a warning to world leaders that they need urgently to forge a consensus on dealing with climate change.

Japan’s upper house of parliament approved an unprecedented no-confidence motion against embattled prime minister Yasuo Fukuda today.

Pro-US former businessman Lee Myung-bak took the oath of office as South Korea’s new president today, vowing to revitalise the economy, strengthen relations with the US and deal with nuclear-armed North Korea.

Japan’s prime minister today called for measures to prevent a recurrence of crimes by American soldiers in the country after a US Marine was arrested on suspicion of raping a 14-year-old schoolgirl.

JAPAN took over the presidency of the Group of Eight club of the world’s leading economies yesterday, with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda vowing to put a focus on climate change and environmental issues.

Japan is set to inform the US and Britain later this week that it will withdraw its naval refuelling mission in support of US-led operations in Afghanistan on November 1, a news report said today.

Japan will press Burma for a full account of the death of a Japanese journalist during a violent crackdown on anti-government protests, officials said today.

Japan’s new foreign minister said today that his country holds Burma accountable for the death of a Japanese journalist found after the military opened fire on a crowd of pro-democracy protesters.

The veteran politician selected by Japan's troubled ruling party as its pick for prime minister chose his right-hand men today.

VETERAN moderate Yasuo Fukuda easily won election as Japan’s ruling party president yesterday, pledging to keep a pro-US foreign policy and improve ties with Asia after he almost certainly becomes prime minister later this week.

Moderate veteran Yasuo Fukuda easily won election as president of Japan's struggling ruling party today, assuring his selection as the new prime minister in a parliamentary vote later this week.

Ailing Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will remain in hospital indefinitely with stress-related stomach problems, but the government has no plans to name an acting premier, an official said today.

Yasuo Fukuda appeared destined to become Japan’s new prime minister as his sole challenger admitted today he was likely to lose the ruling party’s upcoming leadership election.

There are continuing calls for a snap election in Japan, as the ruling party prepares for a ballot to replace outgoing Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe.

Former Foreign Minister Taro Aso declared his candidacy today to replace Japan’s prime minister, running as the conservative choice against dovish former Cabinet secretary Yasuo Fukuda.

Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi today said party elections to choose his successor will kick off on September 8, with the vote possibly taking place on September 20.

Japan’s top opposition leader resigned today after he admitted he missed payments into the troubled national pension system.

Japan’s top government spokesman, Yasuo Fukuda, said today he would resign after admitting that he failed to pay into the country’s troubled pension system.

The Japanese hostages released in Iraq last week will be charged for plane tickets and other expenses related to their safe return, the Foreign Ministry said today.

Optimism that three Japanese civilians held hostage in Iraq would be quickly released evaporated today, when Tokyo’s top government spokesman backtracked on an earlier statement and said authorities were no longer confident about their safety.

A fragile ceasefire held between Sunni fighters and US marines in the besieged city of Fallujah, where doctors said more than 600 Iraqis, including civilians, were killed in the past week.

THE families of three Japanese nationals kidnapped in Iraq and threatened with execution, tearfully begged the government to pull its troops out of the country as Tokyo reiterated there would be no withdrawal.

Washington’s allies in Asia said today they would keep their troops in Iraq despite escalating violence and a string of kidnappings that have put their forces and citizens directly in the line of fire.

Japan’s prime minister Junichiro Koizumi today denounced terrorist threats to burn alive three hostages as ”cowardly”, vowing troops would stay in Iraq despite tearful pleas from the captives’ families to bow to the gunmen’s demands.

BLACK-GARBED captors with guns, knives and swords threatened to burn alive three blindfolded Japanese hostages unless Tokyo removed its troops from Iraq, according to a videotape seen on Arab TV.

Japan and South Korea banned US beef imports today following an announcement that a recently slaughtered cow had tested for positive for BSE.

European and Asian nations today welcomed the US decision to scrap tariffs on steel imports, praising the move as staving off the danger of growing protectionism among key trading partners.

North Korea said today that the chances of another round of six-nation talks over its nuclear programme had ”fallen into danger”.

North Korea withdrew from the global nuclear arms control treaty today but insisted it had no plans to develop nuclear weapons “at this stage.”

SOUTH KOREA'S Defence Ministry called for a stronger alliance with Washington, while North Korea stepped up its campaign yesterday to bring South Korea to its side in a standoff with the United States.

The US says it is willing to talk to North Korea but will not make concessions to freeze Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons programme.

Key allies have backed a US decision to suspend future oil deliveries to North Korea as punishment for its secret nuclear weapons programme.

Five Japanese kidnapped 25 years ago by North Korean spies returned today in the country’s most emotional homecoming since the end of the Second World War.

World Cup organisers may give away free tickets to groups of schoolchildren or young footballers to avoid the spectacle of thousands of empty seats at matches.

A top Japanese government official has expressed support for legal changes needed to allow women to assume the throne of the world’s oldest monarchy, but suggested the process could take decades.

Japan today lifted economic sanctions against Pakistan and India, in a bid to encourage them in the US-led fight against terrorism.

Japan's chief Cabinet secretary said his country will do whatever it can to support the United States against acts of terrorism.

Tokyo stocks have closed sharply lower, with the market's main index extending its 17-year-low amid worries about the global economy.

A Japanese woman was allegedly raped on Okinawa island today, and a witness said the attack appeared to involve US servicemen, police said.

Japan's Prime Minister has indicated he would support a law change to allow a woman to reign.

US deputy secretary of defence Richard Armitage met senior Japanese officials today to discuss President George W Bush’s plans to build a defence against missile attack.