NHK World News - June 14, 2011

Kim Jong Il introduces son to Chinese official

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has introduced his son to a senior Chinese Communist Party official visiting Pyongyang. Kim is likely trying to ensure support from his neighbor for the power succession. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 6:20 JST).

Italy goes nuclear free

Italians have voted overwhelmingly to give up nuclear energy. The Italian interior ministry says more than 94 percent of votes cast were against domestic nuclear power generation. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 6:20 JST).

Nearly half of Japanese want less nuclear power

An NHK poll shows that nearly half of Japanese people want fewer nuclear power plants in the country. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 6:20 JST).

S.Korea concern over North's new missile base

The South Korean government says the North is completing a new missile base and cites concern about fresh military provocations. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 6:20 JST).

Vietnam holds military drill in South China Sea

Vietnam held a military drill in the South China Sea on Monday in an apparent response to China's territorial claims over islands in the region. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 6:20 JST).

TEPCO to liquidate subsidiary

Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, says it will put a subsidiary into liquidation as part of its efforts to streamline the company. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 6:20 JST).

Italians reject nuclear power in referendum

Italians have voted overwhelmingly to give up nuclear energy in a 2-day national referendum over the weekend. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 7:37 JST).

More TEPCO workers exceed radiation limit

Tokyo Electric Power Company has reported that 6 more workers at its damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant may have received radiation doses above the allowable emergency limit of 250 millisieverts. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 9:13 JST).

GPS mulled for speedy quake magnitude projections

Japanese researchers have proposed using GPS data for quicker projections of earthquake magnitudes, and more accurate predictions of ensuing tsunamis. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 9:23 JST).

Suspicious N.Korean ship refuses US inspection

The US Defense Department says a North Korean cargo ship suspected of carrying illicit weapons refused to let the US Navy on board for inspection in late May. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 10:53 JST).

Anti-US cabinet to be approved in Lebanon

Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati has formed a new government dominated by Shia Muslim group Hezbollah and other anti-US groups after 5 months of political stalemate. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 11:01 JST).

Italians celebrate anti-nuke referendum

Italians opposing nuclear power have gathered to celebrate a day after the nation voted overwhelmingly to give up nuclear energy. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 10:29 JST).

Japan developing new tsunami policy

Japan's land ministry will change its policy on tsunami preparedness in the wake of the March 11th disaster. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 12:53 JST).

Japan keeps foreign tourism target unchanged

Japan has kept its long-term target of attracting 30 million foreign tourists annually, despite a huge drop in the number of visitors following the March 11th disaster. But it also admits the need to provide accurate information on radioactive contamination. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 12:19 JST).

S&P further downgrades Greek bonds

A major US ratings firm has downgraded Greek government bonds by another 3 notches. Standard and Poor's cited a significantly higher likelihood the debt-strapped country may default on its obligations. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 10:37 JST).

Cabinet approves TEPCO aid bill

The Cabinet has approved a bill laying out the framework for the government to help Tokyo Electric Power Company compensate victims of the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 10:59 JST).

Power fees to rise 20% if all nuclear plants close

A Japanese research institute says the monthly electricity bill per household would balloon by nearly 20 percent if Japan's 54 nuclear reactors were shut down. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 12:52 JST).

TEPCO begins testing cesium absorption device

The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has begun testing a device to process highly radioactive water, after a 4-day delay. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 12:19 JST).

Kaieda, Yosano react to Italian nuclear poll

Japan's economy and industry minister has stressed the importance of considering nuclear power generation in the context of Japan's energy needs. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 12:16 JST).

Edano vague on Italy's anti-nuke vote

Referring to Italy's rejection of nuclear power in a national referendum, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano says the Japanese government is in no position to comment. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 12:16 JST).

Mitsubishi to launch low-cost electric car

Mitsubishi Motors is set to launch a more affordable electric vehicle in Japan this summer. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 10:59 JST).

Additional 23 workers exposed to high radiation

The health ministry says that another 23 workers at the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant may have been exposed internally to over 100 millisieverts of radiation. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 13:37 JST).

White paper calls for review of quake response

The government's new white paper on disaster cites the need to review measures taken in emergencies, but offers only a chronological account of the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 14:42 JST).

LDP's Ishihara reacts to Italian poll

A ranking lawmaker of Japan's largest opposition Liberal Democratic Party says the nation cannot easily change its energy policy. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 14:42 JST).

Disaster slams Q2 business confidence

Business confidence among 15,000 major Japanese companies has declined for a third consecutive quarter, due mainly to the negative impact of the March 11th disaster. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 14:42 JST).

China's inflation accelerates

China's consumer price index rose 5.5 percent in May from a year earlier, marking its highest level in 2 years and 10 months. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 15:33 JST).

BOJ to fund small businesses to help recovery

The Bank of Japan has decided to introduce a lending system for smaller businesses without collateral, to help them recover from the March 11th disaster. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 15:44 JST).

Over 2 million Japanese on welfare

The number of people on welfare in Japan has surpassed 2 million for the first time in 59 years. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 18:02 JST).

One killed in Christchurch earthquake

Two successive earthquakes on New Zealand's South Island have left at least one person dead and many others injured or without water and power. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 15:58 JST).

Abalone survives tsunami at Kesennuma port

Fishermen in the northeastern Japanese city of Kesennuma have found an abalone that survived the March 11th tsunami. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 17:12 JST).

Astronaut Furukawa tweets he feel sick in space

Japanese Astronaut Satoshi Furukawa says in his first Twitter messages from space that he is experiencing motion sickness aboard the International Space Station. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 18:29 JST).

Reaction to Italy's vote against nuclear energy

A Japanese business leader says that compared to Italy's energy policy, Japan's options are limited. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 19:13 JST).

Radioactive material in sludge at 16 prefectures

NHK has learned that 16 prefectures in Japan have detected radioactive material in sludge since the crisis began at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in March. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 19:13 JST).

Work-related mental illnesses hit record high

Japan's labor ministry says a record-high 308 people were recognized as suffering mental illnesses due to work-related stress in the business year through March. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 19:13 JST).

China raises reserve ratio to fight inflation

China's central bank says it will again raise the reserve requirement ratio for the country's banks to contain growing inflation. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 19:20 JST).

China will stick to nuclear energy

China has stressed that it will continue to promote nuclear power to meet its energy needs. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 19:36 JST).

TEPCO begins testing cesium removing device

The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant says a cesium absorption device that it has started testing is working well. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 19:58 JST).

China discontent over Vietnam's war games

China has expressed displeasure over a live-ammunition drill held by Vietnam in the South China Sea. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 20:56 JST).

Plutonium detected in Fukushima plant soil

The operator of the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant says tiny amounts of plutonium have been detected in samples of soil in the plant's compound. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 22:35 JST).

Job situations in Gaza remain in world worst level

A UN agency report says unemployment in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza has reached one of the highest in the world, as Israel's blockade of the territory moves into its 5th year. (NHK World Daily News, 14 Jun 21:47 JST).