NHK World News - June 6, 2011

Workers at Fukushima plant treated for dehydration

Two workers at the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant have been treated for dehydration at a hospital. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 5:13 JST).

TEPCO mulls ways to cut humidity in No.2 reactor

The operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant says it will try to reduce humidity inside the Number 2 reactor building. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 5:13 JST).

Cesium in seawater near No. 3 reactor falling

The operator of the crippled nuclear power plant in Fukushima says the levels of radioactive materials in seawater near the Number 3 reactor are at their lowest since the accident. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 5:13 JST).

Disposal of radioactive debris to go ahead

A panel on nuclear waste disposal has decided to allow municipalities to burn highly radioactive debris if they have incinerators that can remove radioactive substances. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 5:13 JST).

DPJ, LDP explore possibility of grand coalition

Japan's ruling and opposition parties are clashing over when Prime Minister Naoto Kan will step down. At the same time, they are exploring the possibility of a grand coalition. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 7:37 JST).

Israel troops kill 14 protesters in Golan Heights

Israeli troops killed 14 people on Sunday when they fired on protesters on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 7:37 JST).

About 23,500 dead or missing in March 11 disaster

The number of dead or missing in the March 11th earthquake and tsunami, including aftershocks, stands at 23,571 as of Sunday. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 5:13 JST).

Yemen denies Saleh is stepping down

Yemen's government says President Ali Abdullah Saleh will not give up power. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 7:37 JST).

Humala leading Peru presidential election runoff

Peruvian media say that former military officer Ollanta Humala is leading the country's presidential race over Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of jailed former president Alberto Fujimori. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 7:37 JST).

Memorial for quake victims at Westminster Abbey

A memorial service for the victims of the March 11th natural disaster in northeastern Japan was held at Westminster Abbey in London on Sunday. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 7:53 JST).

Social Democrats win election in Portugal

Portugal's center-right Social Democrats won a decisive victory in Sunday's general election, ending 6 years of rule by the Socialist Party. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 11:31 JST).

Humala leading Peru's presidential runoff

In Peru's run-off presidential election, unofficial results are giving left-wing former army officer Ollanta Humala a narrow lead over Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of jailed former president Alberto Fujimori. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 10:00 JST).

Temporary housing construction lagging in Iwate

Most of the property in Iwate Prefecture on which temporary housing for survivors of the March 11th tsunami will be built has been secured. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 10:51 JST).

China's e-commerce with Japan projected to surge

China's online purchases of Japanese products may surge by 13 times from current levels by 2020. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 9:52 JST).

TEPCO tests filtering system at Fukushima plant

Tokyo Electric Power Company is testing a filtering system to decontaminate highly radioactive water that continues flooding outside the reactors of the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 12:36 JST).

Tokyo city office begins daylight saving time

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has introduced daylight saving time ahead of expected power shortages this summer. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 12:04 JST).

S Korea to continue effort with North

South Korean President Lee Myung Bak says his country will continue working to convince North Korea to abandon its nuclear program. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 12:53 JST).

Beauty salon opens in tsunami-hit town

A beauty salon has opened in a devastated northeastern Japanese town with equipment donated by beauticians from across the country. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 13:51 JST).

Edano seeks cooperative deal with opposition

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano says he wants to see an arrangement in which ruling and opposition lawmakers can cooperate on a wide range of issues. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 13:34 JST).

Soil sampling begins in Fukushima

Japan's science ministry has begun a prefecture-wide examination in Fukushima to check for radioactive contamination in the soil from the disabled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 13:51 JST).

Humala has narrow lead over Fujimori in runoff

In Peru's presidential runoff on Sunday, left-wing former military officer Ollanta Humala has a narrow lead over Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of jailed former president Alberto Fujimori. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 13:51 JST).

TEPCO chairman resigns as BOJ Counsellor

The chairman of the operator of the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has resigned as a Counsellor of the Bank of Japan. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 14:51 JST).

Fukushima students enjoy indoor swimming

While concerns remain over the disabled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, students from elementary schools in the region enjoyed swimming at an indoor pool to avoid possible radiation. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 16:30 JST).

Economic assessment lower for 2nd straight quarter

Japan's Finance Ministry has downgraded its assessment of the country's economy for the 2nd quarter in a row, citing the aftereffects of the March 11th earthquake and tsunami. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 16:30 JST).

Emergency measures urged for Fukushima students

The opposition New Komeito Party has urged the government to put into practice emergency measures to protect children in Fukushima prefecture from exposure to radiation. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 17:15 JST).

TEPCO shares hit all-time low

Shares of Tokyo Electric Power Company plunged to an all-time low on Monday over uncertainly about how the government will help the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant pay compensation. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 16:30 JST).

Highly radioactive debris found at Fukushima plant

Highly radioactive debris is still hampering the operator of the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant from bringing its reactors under control, almost 3 months after the March 11th earthquake and tsunami. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 19:56 JST).

Naraha town residents make short home visit

The last group of evacuees from the no-entry zone around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant briefly returned home on Monday. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 18:15 JST).

Germany to end nuclear power

The German government has decided to close all its nuclear power plants by 2022. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 19:23 JST).

Furukawa hopes to speak to quake-hit area

A Japanese astronaut preparing for his first mission to the International Space Station says he wants to communicate with people in the devastated areas in northeastern Japan. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 18:46 JST).

Humala effectively declares victory

In Peru's presidential runoff on Sunday, left-wing former military officer Ollanta Humala has a narrow lead over Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of jailed former president Alberto Fujimori. Humala has effectively declared victory as his lead gradually widens during the vote counting. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 19:23 JST).

No.1 reactor vessel damaged 5 hours after quake

Japan's nuclear regulator says the meltdown at one of the Fukushima reactors came about 5 hours after the March 11th earthquake, 10 hours earlier than initially estimated by the plant's operator. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 21:03 JST).

Govt. document shows offsite center dysfunctional

An internal document from Japan's nuclear safety agency reveals that an emergency response office was nearly dysfunctional at the time of the nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant on March 11th. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 22:00 JST).

Scientists call for radiation exposure reduction

A group of scientists at Fukushima University is urging the prefectural government to take stronger precautions in reducing radiation exposure to citizens. (NHK World Daily News, 06 Jun 22:31 JST).