NHK World News - June 5, 2011

Vietnam urges China to honor agreement with ASEAN

A Vietnamese high ranking military official says China should exercise self-restraint in the South China Sea over the islands the two countries dispute. (NHK World Daily News, 05 Jun 5:44 JST).

Tiananmen memorial held in Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, tens of thousands of people mourned the victims of China's military crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations in Beijing's Tiananmen Square 22 years ago. (NHK World Daily News, 05 Jun 5:44 JST).

Li Na wins French Open

In tennis, China's Li Na won the French Open final on Saturday. She becomes the first-ever Asian player to win a Grand Slam singles title. (NHK World Daily News, 05 Jun 5:44 JST).

NATO helicopters strike Qadhafi troops

NATO-led multinational forces are waging fiercer attacks against the troops of Libyan leader Muammar al-Qadhafi. (NHK World Daily News, 05 Jun 9:04 JST).

Media: Wounded Yemeni President in Saudi Arabia

Conflicting information has been reported over the health and whereabouts of Yemen's president one day after a rocket attack by opposition forces injured him. (NHK World Daily News, 05 Jun 7:41 JST).

Latest video of Fukushima plant

Nearly 3 months after the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant bringing the damaged reactors under control is still elusive. (NHK World Daily News, 05 Jun 9:04 JST).

Gates visits Afghanistan before retiring

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates says it is too early to change strategy in Afghanistan. He emphasizes that the beginning of a troop reduction in July is just the start of a phased drawdown. (NHK World Daily News, 05 Jun 9:26 JST).

Pressure in No.1 reactor drops close to atmosphere

Tokyo Electric Power Company has found that pressure inside the Number 1 reactor at its Fukushima Daiichi power plant has dropped to close to the outside atmospheric pressure. It reaffirms that the reactor has been damaged. (NHK World Daily News, 05 Jun 10:50 JST).

High radiation levels around ditches in Fukushima

High radiation levels have been detected above roadside drainage ditches in Fukushima Prefecture, which hosts the crippled nuclear power plant. (NHK World Daily News, 05 Jun 10:50 JST).

Radioactive water leak to be prevented for 3 days

Tokyo Electric Power Company has decided to increase the transfer of radioactive water by about 1,500 tons to a facility at the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The company says the transfer can keep contaminated water from leaking outside for about 3 days. (NHK World Daily News, 05 Jun 11:59 JST).

Yemen's president arrives in Saudi Arabia

Yemen's president has reportedly arrived in Saudi Arabia for medical treatment one day after a rocket attack by opposition forces wounded him. (NHK World Daily News, 05 Jun 13:00 JST).

Tension rising in Syria over deaths of protesters

In Syria, tension between anti-government protesters and military forces is intensifying. The military has begun to deploy tanks near a central city. (NHK World Daily News, 05 Jun 13:09 JST).

Pine trees hit by tsunami to be used as firewood

A group of volunteers has begun making firewood out of pine trees hit by the March 11th tsunami in Iwate Prefecture to help rebuilding efforts in disaster-hit areas. (NHK World Daily News, 05 Jun 14:42 JST).

F1 race at shopping district to help damaged areas

A Formula One racing car has run through a shopping district in Yokohama to support the recovery of areas hit by the March 11th earthquake and tsunami. (NHK World Daily News, 05 Jun 14:42 JST).

Anti-China protests in Vietnam

Hundreds of people have held rallies in Vietnam in protest against China over disputed islands in the South China Sea. The two countries continue to be confrontational over territorial claims on the islands. (NHK World Daily News, 05 Jun 15:09 JST).

Thousands evacuate after Chile volcanoes erupt

A chain of volcanoes in southern Chile has erupted for the first time in 50 years, forcing thousands of people to evacuate. (NHK World Daily News, 05 Jun 16:58 JST).

World Environment Day in India

About 1,000 people marched through the streets of New Delhi in India to call for the protection of forests on Sunday, United Nations World Environment Day. (NHK World Daily News, 05 Jun 15:09 JST).

China "ready to discuss" maritime disputes

China's defense minister says his country is ready to discuss territorial disputes in the South China Sea with Southeast Asian nations. (NHK World Daily News, 05 Jun 23:21 JST).

Okada proposes grand coalition for disaster relief

An executive of Japan's governing Democratic Party has proposed a grand coalition with opposition groups once Prime Minister Naoto Kan steps down. (NHK World Daily News, 05 Jun 23:21 JST).

Kan determined to pass important bills

Prime Minister Naoto Kan has indicated that he wants to stay in office until important bills are passed into law. (NHK World Daily News, 05 Jun 23:21 JST).

Plutonium found outside Fukushima plant

Minute amounts of plutonium have been detected for the first time in soil outside the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. (NHK World Daily News, 05 Jun 23:21 JST).

Presidential runoff underway in Peru

Voters in Peru began casting their ballots in a runoff of the country's presidential election on Sunday. (NHK World Daily News, 05 Jun 23:21 JST).

Madarame: Plant guidelines should be fully revised

The chairperson of Japan's Nuclear Safety Commission, Haruki Madarame, has told NHK that the engineering guidelines for nuclear power plants should be thoroughly revised as they do not include the possibility of a long-term power failure. (NHK World Daily News, 05 Jun 23:21 JST).

Yemeni protesters jubilant after president leaves

Tens of thousands of jubilant protesters have taken to the streets of Yemen's capital, Sanaa, after the president effectively stepped down by leaving the country. (NHK World Daily News, 05 Jun 23:21 JST).

Vietnam, Philippines concerned about China

The defense ministers of Vietnam and the Philippines have expressed strong concern that China's maritime activities in the South China Sea could lead to further regional instability. (NHK World Daily News, 05 Jun 23:21 JST).

Families call for early return of abductees

About 1,000 relatives of Japanese abducted by North Korea marched in Tokyo on Sunday to call for their early return. (NHK World Daily News, 05 Jun 23:21 JST).