Japanese government

The operator of Japan's stricken Fukushima nuclear plant said on July 21 that it is using an underwater robot in a renewed attempt to inspect damage suffered in a tsunami-induced meltdown.

The "decision has already been made" to release radioactive material from the Fukushima plant into the ocean, according to its owners. Fishermen have reacted with fury to the decision, claiming it will devastate their already struggling industry.

Toxic waste produced by one of the world’s worst nuclear disasters will be dumped into the sea, according to the head of the Japanese company tasked with cleaning up the radioactive mess, despite protests from local fishermen.

Japan executed two convicted murderers on July 13, the justice ministry said, ignoring calls from international rights groups to end capital punishment.

The hangings of Masakatsu Nishikawa and Koichi Sumida bring to 19 the total number of executions since conservative Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came to power in late 2012.

North Korea said on Tuesday that it had successfully conducted its first test of an intercontinental ballistic missile, claiming a milestone in its efforts to build nuclear weapons capable of hitting the mainland United States.

The Japanese government has for the first time announced a list of over 300 businesses nationwide that have broken labor laws. Officials want to protect employees from abuse and prevent "karoshi," or death by overwork.

North Korea test-launched a missile of an unknown type early on Sunday, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported citing the country's military.

"The North launched the missile from the country's northwest city of Kusong," the South Korean agency reported, citing the Joint Chief of Staff.

Japan has okayed using Mein Kampf, Hitler’s autobiography and Nazi manifesto, in schools for educational purposes just weeks after the similarly controversial Imperial Rescript on Education was approved as “teaching material,” according to media reports.

The Japanese government is awarding scholarships to Greeks who want to study at universities in Japan. The programs are for undergraduate students aged between 17 and 22, as well as research students up to the age of 35.

France on April 26 beat off competition from Germany and Japan to win an Aus$50 billion ($39 billion) contract to design and build Australia's next generation of submarines, a decision Tokyo called "deeply regrettable."