Tokyo  - The Japanese public has over the years got used to the occasionally embarrassing escapades of its politicians.

But the performance of Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa at a weekend press conference left even staunch government supporters speechless.

The 55-year-old appeared utterly drunk as he met the international press during the final day of the G7 meeting in Rome and started to mumble into the microphone.

He later attempted to excuse his excruciating performance, saying it was a combination of exhaustion, possibly aggravated by having taken too much cold medicine.

Hamburg  - World Boxing Association (WBA) middleweight champion Felix Sturm of Germany will defend his world title against Koji Sato of Japan in Germany in April, his promoters said Tuesday.

The bout will take place on April 25 in Krefeld, the Hamburg-based promoters Universum said.

Sturm has won 31 of his 34 professional fights, while Sato steps down from super middleweight where he is unbeaten in 14 bouts.

Tokyo  - Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell to a four-month low Tuesday after Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa said he would step down following accusations he was drunk at a Group of Seven press conference.

The Nikkei closed at 7,645.51, down 104.66 points, or 1.35 per cent, and the broader Topix index of all first section issues was also down 13.57 points, or 1.76 per cent, at 756.53.

Tokyo  - They are as soft as silk, no larger than half a thumb, and conquer Japanese hearts every spring: cherry blossoms, known in Japan as "sakura."

Anticipation starts building across the country in February. When the first buds open in the south-west, national euphoria breaks out. Newspapers follow the north-easterly advance of the flower front until millions upon millions of the delicate blossoms adorn the Japanese archipelago.

Tokyo  - Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average hit a three-month low Tuesday amid worries over US automakers' restructuring plans, which are to be submitted to Congress later in the day in Washington.

The Nikkei dropped to 7,637.49, down 112.68 points, or 1.45 per cent, from the previous day's close.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was down 11.9 points, or 1.55 per cent, to 758.2.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar traded at 91.70-75 yen, up from Monday's 5 pm quote of 91.56-58 yen.