NHK World News - June 18, 2011

G20 agriculture ministers to meet

G20 nations are set to approve the launch of an inventory tracking system for agricultural products to rein in surging global food prices. (NHK World Daily News, 18 Jun 3:55 JST).

TEPCO begins new water decontamination system

The Tokyo Electric Power Company has begun decontaminating radioactive water at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. (NHK World Daily News, 18 Jun 3:55 JST).

Russia buys French warships

Russia has signed a contract to buy two French warships to beef up its naval power near the Kuril Islands. The Kurils include 4 Russian-held islands claimed by Japan. (NHK World Daily News, 18 Jun 5:50 JST).

IAEA report on Fukushima nuclear accident

The International Atomic Energy Agency says the Japanese government's complicated organizational structure caused it to respond more slowly than it should have to the nuclear accident at Fukushima. (NHK World Daily News, 18 Jun 7:22 JST).

UN council backs Ban Ki Moon's reappointment

The UN Security Council has unanimously approved the reappointment of Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, virtually assuring the South Korean of 5 more years in the top UN post. (NHK World Daily News, 18 Jun 8:58 JST).

Medvedev promotes nuclear safety

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev says his country will go ahead with plans to build nuclear power plants that meet "post-Fukushima safety standards." (NHK World Daily News, 18 Jun 8:58 JST).

Syrian forces increase crackdown on protesters

Syrian forces opened fire on demonstrators after Friday prayers, extending the crackdown on anti-government protests. Troops have also detained people who had fled Syria but later returned. (NHK World Daily News, 18 Jun 9:32 JST).

Libya's Qadhafi may step down if loses in election

Libyan leader Muammar al-Qadhafi has vowed all-out resistance against NATO-led international forces, while one of his sons said his father will step down if he loses an election to be held within 3 months. (NHK World Daily News, 18 Jun 10:42 JST).

Tohoku Electric to build power storage facility

Tohoku Electric Power Company, the electric utility in northeastern Japan, is to build a power storage facility to prepare for possible power shortages in disaster-stricken areas. The facility is likely to be the largest of its kind in Japan. (NHK World Daily News, 18 Jun 11:12 JST).

TEPCO suspends water decontamination system

Tokyo Electric Power Company has halted operation of a system to decontaminate highly radioactive water at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant as one of the parts reached its radiation exposure limit in less than 5 hours. (NHK World Daily News, 18 Jun 13:00 JST).

Kaieda requests restart of nuclear power plants

Economy and Industry Minister Banri Kaieda has asked local governments to restart operations of nuclear power plants that were shut down for safety checks following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. (NHK World Daily News, 18 Jun 13:00 JST).

Osprey to deploy in Okinawa in October 2012

The US Marine Corps has announced a plan to deploy MV22 Osprey transport aircraft at Futenma Air Station in Okinawa in October of next year and the year after next. (NHK World Daily News, 18 Jun 14:39 JST).

Japanese retailer to upgrade Chinese service

A Japanese department store has contracted to help upgrade the quality of service of workers at a Chinese retailing group. (NHK World Daily News, 18 Jun 16:46 JST).

France detects cesium in Japanese tea imports

France has detected radioactive cesium exceeding the EU limit in green tea leaves imported from Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan. (NHK World Daily News, 18 Jun 16:46 JST).

S.Korean troops shoot at civilian aircraft

South Korean troops opened fire on a passenger jet preparing to land in Seoul on Friday after mistaking it for a North Korean military plane. The South Korean Asiana Airlines A320 jet en route from Chengdu, China, landed safely and none of 119 passengers or crewmembers was injured. (NHK World Daily News, 18 Jun 22:12 JST).

FAO: Commodity price 20% higher in 10 years

The UN food organization says it expects commodity prices will rise by 20 percent over the next 10 years. The increase is due to growing demand for food mainly in emerging economies, and expanding production costs. (NHK World Daily News, 18 Jun 22:12 JST).

Greek crisis worries financial markets

The worsening of the financial crisis in Greece is causing bond prices of other debt-ridden countries to fall on European markets. (NHK World Daily News, 18 Jun 22:12 JST).

Cleanup system halted at Fukushima plant

A new system aimed at decontaminating highly radioactive water at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was halted only 5 hours after a full-fledged operation started on Friday night. (NHK World Daily News, 18 Jun 22:12 JST).

Yudhoyono visits disaster-hit Kesennuma

The president of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has visited the disaster-stricken Kesennuma City in Miyagi Prefecture. (NHK World Daily News, 18 Jun 22:12 JST).

Kan: no rush to leave post

Prime Minister Naoto Kan says he will consider measures to help people whose properties were damaged by liquefaction in the March 11th earthquake in the 3rd supplementary budget. This is being taken as a sign that he intends to stay on the job. (NHK World Daily News, 18 Jun 22:12 JST).