Saturday, July 2, 2011

NHK World News - July 01, 2011

15% power cut required for large users on Friday

Starting Friday, large-scale electricity users in eastern Japan are required by law to reduce their consumption by 15 percent compared with last summer's peak. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 1:40 JST).

Circulation cooling system works again

The newly installed reactor cooling system at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has resumed working after a 5-hour suspension due to mechanical trouble. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 1:40 JST).

Philippine oil exploration in South China Sea

The Philippines says it will hold international bidding for the rights to develop oil and natural gas fields in the South China Sea. Territorial disputes between China and Southeast Asian nations involving the waters are escalating. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 1:51 JST).

German lower house approves nuke power exit

Germany's lower house of parliament has overwhelmingly approved bills to shut down all the country's nuclear power plants by 2022. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 6:15 JST).

Greece clears hurdle to get bailout funds

The Greek parliament has passed the second and final austerity bill essential to obtain crucial bailout funds to avert imminent default of the country's debts. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 6:15 JST).

EU, IMF hail Greek decision

The European Union has welcomed the Greek parliament's approval of fiscal austerity bills. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 6:15 JST).

Russia to use APEC summit to boost Asia presence

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has visited an island off Vladivostok, where the country is to host the annual Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit in September of next year. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 6:15 JST).

Japan Expo encourages disaster survivors

One of the world's largest events to promote Japanese pop culture kicked off in France on Thursday. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 6:15 JST).

China lifts threshold for income tax

China has drastically raised the threshold for paying income tax in an apparent effort to defuse tensions over a growing gap between rich and poor. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 7:10 JST).

Chinese communist party marks 90th anniversary

China's governing Communist Party is celebrating the 90th anniversary of its foundation on Friday. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 6:47 JST).

US military deaths in Iraq reach 3-year high

An increase in attacks by insurgents in Iraq has made June the deadliest month for US service members in 3 years. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 8:12 JST).

Govt to warn of possible rolling blackouts

The Japanese government plans to issue a public warning that rolling blackouts may occur when peak demand for electricity is projected to reach the supply amount. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 7:59 JST).

Another worker exposed to high radiation

Tests have revealed that another worker at the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has been exposed to radiation doses exceeding 100 millisieverts. Before the accident in March, 100 millisieverts was the maximum radiation exposure permitted in an emergency situation. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 10:43 JST).

TEPCO to enhance manual on coolant system

The operator of the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant says it will improve the content of operation manuals for a newly introduced reactor coolant system. The move is intended to prevent human errors from causing suspension of the cooling operation. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 11:43 JST).

Japan's May jobless rate improves slightly

Japan's unemployment rate improved slightly in May, dropping to 4.5 percent from 4.7 percent the previous month. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 11:03 JST).

Human error blamed for cooling system halt

Tokyo Electric Power Company says human error was responsible for the latest problems with a water-decontamination device at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 13:33 JST).

BOJ Tankan: Business confidence down after quake

The Bank of Japan's latest quarterly Tankan survey shows that business confidence has tumbled since the March 11th disaster. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 11:43 JST).

Radioactivity survey ship leaves for Fukushima

A research ship has left Tokyo to survey the spread of radioactive substances into the ocean from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 12:19 JST).

Tax reform plan outlined to the Cabinet

Japan's Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Kaoru Yosano outlined a plan for reforming the tax and social security systems in a Cabinet meeting on Friday. This is the first step in the Kan administration's implementation of its hoped-for consumption tax hike. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 13:14 JST).

113 households in Date City advised to evacuate

The city of Date in Fukushima Prefecture sent 113 households written notices on Friday to recommend that they evacuate. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 15:19 JST).

Gimpo-Beijing daily flights begin

South Korean and Chinese airlines have started regular daily flights linking South Korea's Gimpo International Airport with Beijing Capital International Airport. Three airports in Tokyo, Seoul and Beijing are now connected by regular flight services. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 16:10 JST).

Robot deployed at Fukushima reactor for cleaning

Tokyo Electric Power Company has put a robot inside a highly radioactive facility at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant to decontaminate the site. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 14:48 JST).

Senate panel blocks funding for Guam troop buildup

A US Senate panel has blocked funding for the transfer of US Marines from the southern Japanese island of Okinawa to the US Pacific territory of Guam. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 15:27 JST).

Prince William, Kate begin Canada visit

Britain's Prince William and his wife, Kate, have arrived in Ottawa, Canada, on their first official trip overseas since their wedding in April. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 15:27 JST).

Gen. Petraeus confirmed as CIA director

The US Senate has voted overwhelmingly to confirm General David Petraeus as director of the Central Intelligence Agency. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 16:10 JST).

Hitachi starts power-saving shift

Leading Japanese electronics maker Hitachi has started shifting some of its operations to weekends to cope with expected power shortages. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 17:16 JST).

Power saving begins at Tokyo Stock Exchange

The Tokyo Stock Exchange has joined other major businesses in cutting power consumption following a government appeal to save electricity during summer. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 17:16 JST).

FTA between EU and S.Korea takes effect

A free trade agreement between the European Union and South Korea took effect on Friday. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 18:15 JST).

Hu pledges to fight corruption

Chinese President Hu Jintao has expressed his determination to fight rampant corruption in the ruling Communist Party. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 17:21 JST).

Aircraft carrier key to national pride

China's move to launch its first aircraft carrier appears to confirm the widely held belief that the Communist Party sees military modernization as crucial to bolstering national pride. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 18:30 JST).

Tokyo subway saving power

Tokyo's subway system has begun temporarily stopping air-conditioning at stations because limits have been placed on heavy electricity users from Friday. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 18:30 JST).

June new car sales hit record low

New car sales in Japan slumped to a record low in June due to parts shortages caused by the March 11th disaster. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 18:30 JST).

HK demonstrators demand democracy

July 1st marks 14 years since the former British colony of Hong Kong was returned to China. Mass rallies were staged by demonstrators calling for democratic reforms. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 20:02 JST).

Panel mulls damages for internal exposure

A government panel is discussing whether to compensate people suffering internal exposure to radiation from the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 20:02 JST).

Saga governor to decide in weeks on plant restart

The governor of Saga Prefecture in southwestern Japan has indicated that he will decide within a few weeks whether to approve the restart of reactors at a local nuclear power plant. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 20:16 JST).

Japan approves trading of rice futures

Japan's agriculture ministry said on Friday that it will allow commodity exchanges to trade rice futures on a trial basis. Dealers are hoping the trial may lead to the restart of such trading for the first time in over 70 years. (NHK World Daily News, 01 Jul 21:08 JST).

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