Japan

What’s emerging in Japan six months since the nuclear meltdown at the Tokyo Electric Power Co. plant is a radioactive zone bigger than that left by the 1945 atomic bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. While nature reclaims the 20 kilometer (12 mile) no-go zone, Fukushima’s $3.2 billion-a-year farm industry is being devastated and tourists that hiked the prefecture’s mountains and surfed off its beaches have all but vanished.

Yoshihiko Noda, Japan's finance minister, is almost certain to become the country's seventh prime minister in six years on Tuesday after winning the race to succeed Naoto Kan as leader of the governing party.

Scientists have found a "superbug" strain of gonorrhea in Japan that is resistant to all recommended antibiotics and say it could transform a once easily treatable infection into a global public health threat.

The radioactive crisis near Fukushima isn't getting any better. This has been something we discussed in the last few weeks, but now there are some new disturbing details.

A group of more than 200 Japanese pensioners are volunteering to tackle the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima power station.