Japan
Asian shares struggle, commodities down as Fed disappoints
SINGAPORE - Asian stocks outside Japan slipped and commodities fell broadly on Thursday after the Federal Reserve ramped up monetary stimulus by expanding "Operation Twist" but disappointed some investors who had been hoping for more aggressive measures.
Recent Japan News
Japan's Maruzen restarts naphtha cracker as planned
TOKYO, June 21 - Japan's Maruzen Petrochemical Co Ltd said it restarted its sole naphtha cracker in Chiba, east of Tokyo, on Thursday, as planned, following scheduled maintenance.
JGBs slip on profit-taking after Fed disappoints
TOKYO, June 21 - Japanese government bonds edged down for a second day on Thursday, tracking U.S. debt prices lower and also pressured by profit-taking ahead of the approaching end of the quarter.
Clinton - China moving on cutting Iran oil imports
WASHINGTON - China is moving to cut its imports of Iranian oil, tracking earlier efforts by countries such as India, Japan and South Korea which won them exemptions from tough new U.S. sanctions, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday.
UPDATE 1-Japan corporate mood dips on Europe woes, rebound expected -Reuters Tankan
* Manufacturers sentiment index -3 in June, seen +4 in Sept
Nikkei set to rise on weaker yen after Fed move
TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei share average is set to rise slightly after the U.S. Federal Reserve ramped up its monetary stimulus, but disappointed some traders hoping for more quantitative easing to offset the euro zone crisis and bolster a flagging U.S. economy.
Special reports
The nuclear industry's trillion dollar question
Before Fukushima, more than 300 nuclear reactors were planned worldwide, mostly in developing economies. While parts of the developed world may reduce their use of nuclear, China, India, the Middle East and Eastern Europe look set continue their nuclear drive. Full Article
Quake reveals cracks in insurance system
The sophisticated modeling systems the insurance industry uses to predict where disasters will happen and how much they will cost never factored in an earthquake the size of the one that hit northeast Japan. Full Article
Japan engineers knew tsunami could overrun plant
A review of Tokyo Electric Power and regulatory records shows that Japan and its largest utility repeatedly downplayed dangers and ignored warnings -- including a 2007 tsunami study from TEPCO's senior safety engineer. Full Article
Fuel storage, safety issues vexed Japan plant
Tokyo Electric and regulators are certain to face scrutiny on the decision to store most of the Fukushima plant's spent fuel rods inside the reactor buildings rather than invest in other potentially safer storage options. Full Article
Disasters show flaws in just-in-time production
In a globalized economy where manufacturers have moved ever more toward lean inventories, the weakest link in the supply chain is what Japan is best known for: high-end, highly technical parts. Full Article
Radiation fears may be greatly exaggerated
As workers struggle to contain the fallout from a crippled Japanese nuclear plant, people as far away as Illinois are calling public health officials in a state of panic. But the truth is anxiety is largely disproportionate to the actual danger. Full Article
Mistakes, misfortune, meltdown: Japan's quake
An examination of Japan's effort to contain its escalating nuclear disaster reveals a series of missteps, bad luck and desperate improvisation. What also emerges is a country that has begun to question some of its oldest values. Full Article
Why Japan will avert a fiscal meltdown
In these dark hours, Japan would do well to heed former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel's memorable maxim that you never want a serious crisis to go to waste. Full Article
Can Japan find "New Deal" after triple whammy?
The nuclear crisis was a triple whammy for Japan, coming on top of the earthquake -- the fifth strongest ever recorded -- and one of the most powerful tsunami in history, which caused scenes of unimaginable destruction in northeast Japan. Full Article | Related Story
In Chernobyl, a disaster persists
As Japan battles to prevent a meltdown at its earthquake-hit Fukushima Daini nuclear plant, the people of Ukraine are preparing to mark the 25th anniversary of the world's worst nuclear accident. Full Article | Related Story
An interactive guide to how the disaster unfolded. Timeline
Scenes From Japan
Japan disaster: How you can help
If you want to help but are unsure of where to turn here is a comprehensive list of relief organizations that are scrambling to provide aid. Full Article
Fukushima has a hole, leading to leakage
One of the reactors at Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant has a hole in its main vessel following a meltdown of fuel rods, leading to a leakage of radioactive water, its operator said. Video | Full Article
Key external resources
Helpful links to other sites
The story on the devastation throughout Japan is extremely complex and changing by the minute. Here are some external resources that our readers have found useful, starting off with NHK World News. Learn More