NHK World News - June 9, 2011

New genes to accelerate iPS cell production

A team of researchers at Kyoto University has discovered a gene that dramatically accelerates the production of induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells, a breakthrough with potentially huge implications for regenerative medicine. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 6:02 JST).

Fukushima doctor shortage

Fukushima Medical University is launching an intern system for young doctors to work in quake-hit areas while training in radio-therapeutics. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 1:50 JST).

OPEC to keep output unchanged

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries has decided to keep its crude oil production unchanged. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 1:50 JST).

Survey: strontium widespread in Fukushima

Soil samples from around Fukushima Prefecture have revealed concentrations of radioactive strontium. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 6:02 JST).

Efforts to delay radioactive water leaks

Tokyo Electric Power Company continues to struggle to prevent possible leaks of highly-radioactive water that is accumulating at its troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 6:02 JST).

Leaked oil found in seawater near Fukushima Daini

Tokyo Electric Power Company says oil has leaked into the sea from another suspended nuclear power plant in Fukushima. The utility sees the oil leaked from a transformer at the plant after the March 11th earthquake. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 6:02 JST).

IAEA to ask Japan for transparent nuclear report

NHK has learned that the International Atomic Energy Agency will ask Japan to provide a more transparent report on the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 6:02 JST).

Japan to brief US, Britain, France on crisis

Japan plans to send an official to the United Sates, Britain and France to brief them about its report on the nuclear crisis in Fukushima, ahead of an upcoming ministerial meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 6:06 JST).

NATO to continue air strikes until Qadhafi goes

NATO defense ministers say they will continue their military campaign in Libya until the country's leader Muammar al-Qadhafi is ousted. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 8:01 JST).

Iran plans to triple uranium output

Iran says it will shift part of its uranium enrichment program to a new facility, and triple production capacity by March of next year. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 9:55 JST).

Taiwan allows in individual Chinese tourists

Taiwan has agreed to gradually open its doors to individual Chinese travelers, starting in June. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 10:54 JST).

Zawahiri declares continuation of "jihad"

Osama bin Laden's deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri has vowed retaliatory attacks against the United States and its allies for the death of the Al Qaeda leader. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 9:55 JST).

EU offers farmers 210 mil. euros over food scare

The European Union has offered to pay 210 million euros or about 300 million dollars in financial aid to farmers affected by the E. coli outbreak in Europe. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 10:54 JST).

US congress sees limited effect for Afghan aid

The US Congress has urged the administration of President Barack Obama to rethink its approach to Afghanistan, pointing to the limited effect of aid projects on the livelihood of Afghan people. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 12:02 JST).

Nuclear energy officials call for safety tests

Nuclear safety officials from more than 30 countries have agreed on the need for safety tests on all nuclear power plants currently in operation around the world. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 10:54 JST).

Security Council discusses draft Syria resolution

The UN Security Council is discussing a draft resolution presented by European nations condemning Syria's crackdown on protestors, but Russia is opposed. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 10:54 JST).

US concerned with OPEC decision

The United States has expressed concern that global oil supply is not meeting demand, referring to an OPEC decision to keep its crude oil production unchanged. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 11:17 JST).

London Olympics torch unveiled

Organizers of next year's Summer Games in London have unveiled a prototype of the torch to be used to relay the Olympic flame. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 11:16 JST).

TEPCO tests filters to decontaminate water

Tokyo Electric Power Company began testing water filtering devices at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant to decontaminate highly radioactive wastewater on Thursday. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 12:51 JST).

Japan's Jan-March GDP revised upward

Japan has revised slightly upward its economic growth rate for January to March 2011. Annualized real GDP comes in at minus 3.5 percent, up 0.2 percentage points from the preliminary figure last month. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 11:58 JST).

Fed: Economy slows in 4 regions

The US Federal Reserve says that economic growth has slowed in 4 districts including New York and Chicago, partly due to the impact of the March disaster in Japan. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 12:02 JST).

Nuclear evacuation being considered for more areas

The Japanese government says it will quickly decide on whether to evacuate more people from areas around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant which have radiation levels exceeding the state limit. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 12:52 JST).

Germany wants private creditors to help Greece

The finance situation in Greece has Europeans officials worried. Germany has warned that private creditors need to roll over their Greek debt, asserting that a sovereign debt default could be a real risk. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 12:50 JST).

Kan expresses desire to stay on through August

Prime Minister Naoto Kan has indicated that he will stay in office at least until the end of August, despite calls for him to step down this month. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 14:57 JST).

Kids present SDF members handmade medals

Children in disaster-hit Miyagi Prefecture have shown their gratitude to Self-Defense Force personnel on a relief mission by awarding them handmade medals. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 14:57 JST).

Candidate for IMF chief seeks support from China

French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde has asked China to support her candidacy for the top post at the International Monetary Fund. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 16:09 JST).

Brazil raises key interest rate to 12.25%

Brazil's central bank has raised its key annual interest rate to 12.25 percent to rein in inflation stemming from its overheating economy. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 16:09 JST).

US citizens cite China as top Asian partner

Nearly 40 percent of US citizens polled in a Japanese Foreign Ministry survey have said China is the United States' most important partner in Asia. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 18:19 JST).

Saga Gov. noncommittal about reactor resumption

The governor of Saga Prefecture has ducked questions on whether he supports or rejects the restarting of nuclear reactors in his constituency. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 18:53 JST).

SDF to keep watching Chinese naval vessels

Three Chinese naval ships have passed through international waters between 2 southern Japanese islands, one day after 8 other Chinese vessels did so. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 18:25 JST).

TEPCO to use filters at plant

The operator of the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant has briefed Japan's nuclear regulator on equipment for removing highly radioactive substances in water at the facility. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 19:26 JST).

TEPCO plans for possible rolling blackouts

Tokyo Electric Power Company has released a plan to conduct rolling blackouts this summer if energy saving measures alone are not enough to prevent a sudden, total blackout. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 19:15 JST).

China, S. Korea to seek inter-Korean dialogue

South Korea's chief envoy to the six-party talks on the North's nuclear program has visited China to discuss how to bring a breakthrough to the stalled talks. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 19:15 JST).

China's Navy plans drills in western Pacific

China's defense ministry says the navy fleet is to conduct exercises in the West Pacific from mid-through-late June. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 19:26 JST).

DPJ preparing for leadership election

With Japanese politics abuzz over when Prime Minister Naoto Kan will resign, several names have been tossed around as candidates to head the ruling Democratic Party. Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda is among them. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 22:02 JST).

IAEA to tighten nuclear safety measures worldwide

NHK has learned that the International Atomic Energy Agency will declare its resolve to strengthen global nuclear safety in the wake of the accident in Japan. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 21:18 JST).

Vietnam accuses China of harassing another vessel

Vietnam has accused China of harassing its oil exploration vessel for the second time in 2 weeks near disputed islands in the South China Sea on Thursday. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 22:02 JST).

Panel: Aftershocks of over magnitude 7 may occur

A government panel of seismologists says major aftershocks from the March 11th earthquake could still occur in the sea off the coast of northeastern Japan. (NHK World Daily News, 09 Jun 22:55 JST).