NHK World News - July 08, 2011

Nuke plant equipment fails quake-resistance check

The Japanese government has found that electrical equipment at a nuclear power plant in eastern Japan does not meet earthquake-resistance standards. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 3:25 JST).

NASA set for last space shuttle launch

Space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to take off on Friday, marking an end to 30 years of the US space program. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 6:42 JST).

TEPCO to boost radiation monitoring at plant

The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant will boost its monitoring of airborne radioactive substances around reactor buildings. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 3:25 JST).

Cyber attacks on Japan police originate in China

Japan's National Police Agency has discovered a number of cyber attacks that occurred last year on the agency's website came from China. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 6:42 JST).

Kyushu Electric senior official ordered e-mails

A senior official with the operator of the Genkai nuclear power plant is now embroiled in the company's recent scandal. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 9:05 JST).

Radioactive cesium detected from Tochigi tea

Radioactive cesium exceeding the government limit was detected in processed tea made in Tochigi City, about 160 kilometers from the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 8:43 JST).

750,000 Gather for Historic Shuttle Launch

Visitors from all over the United States have gathered around the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to watch the final launch of the space shuttle Atlantis. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 9:05 JST).

Canadian troops start withdrawing from Afghanistan

Canada has begun withdrawing its combat units from Afghanistan, ending a 9-year mission as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 9:05 JST).

Nuclear stress tests trigger backlash

Prime Minister Naoto Kan's recent decision to conduct additional safety tests on all nuclear power plants in Japan has triggered a backlash from local governments. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 10:48 JST).

Rice: US to keep Sudan on its terror list

The United States says it won't remove Sudan from its list of state sponsors of terrorism until a dispute over an oil-producing area on the border with South Sudan is resolved. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 11:56 JST).

Japan urged to join northern territory development

Russia has repeated its call for Japan to take part in a joint development project of 4 Russian-held islands claimed by Japan. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 10:48 JST).

Yemen's injured president delivers speech

Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh has delivered a speech via state television from Saudi Arabia, showing his recovery from injuries after last month's bomb attack on his presidential compound. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 11:09 JST).

UK Sunday tabloid to shut down over scandal

The world's largest news conglomerate, News Corp, says it is shutting down the News of the World, a popular British tabloid, over a phone-hacking scandal. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 14:49 JST).

Report: N.Korea bribed Pakistan military officials

The Washington Post says it has obtained a letter showing that North Korea bribed Pakistani military officials 13 years ago to obtain access to sensitive nuclear technology. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 11:48 JST).

US Congressional leaders meet Dalai Lama

The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has met US Congressional leaders in Washington, triggering criticism from China. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 12:31 JST).

Final preparation underway for last shuttle launch

US space agency NASA will soon decide whether to complete fueling of the space shuttle Atlantis as adverse weather conditions threaten its launch. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 12:10 JST).

Centennial of Machu Picchu discovery celebrated

Peru held a celebration on Thursday to mark the centennial of the discovery of the remains of the Inca empire at Machu Picchu. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 14:05 JST).

TEPCO to send workers into No.3 reactor building

The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant will send personnel, instead of a robot, into one of the reactor buildings to take steps to prevent a hydrogen explosion. But the work is likely to face difficulty because of the high radiation levels. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 13:06 JST).

Kan apologizes for stress test confusion

Prime Minister Naoto Kan has apologized for causing confusion in local municipalities hosting nuclear power plants by abruptly deciding to conduct additional safety tests on all reactors in Japan. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 13:06 JST).

Reactor restart at Ikata nuclear plant postponed

The operator of the Ikata nuclear power plant in western Japan says it will postpone restarting one of the plant's reactors because of opposition from local residents. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 14:05 JST).

Systematic involvement suspected in Genkai scandal

Kyushu Electric Power Company says its nuclear energy division may have been involved in a systematic effort to manipulate public opinion to support the restarting of its Genkai nuclear power plant. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 14:48 JST).

Oyster farmers receive equipment from France

Oyster growers hit by the March 11th earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan have received oyster farming equipment from their French colleagues. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 15:59 JST).

Japan extends anti-piracy mission for another year

The Japanese government has decided to extend an anti-piracy mission by the Maritime Self-Defense Force in waters off Somalia for another year. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 14:49 JST).

Southern Sudan to become independent on Saturday

The people of southern Sudan will have their own country on Saturday when South Sudan is declared an independent nation. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 19:48 JST).

Gunman kills 7 in Michigan shooting rampage

A man suspected of killing 7 people in the US state of Michigan killed himself after a standoff with police on Thursday. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 15:42 JST).

Current account surplus down 51.7% in May

Japan's current account surplus fell 51.7 percent in May from a year earlier, marking the 3rd straight monthly decline. As a result, the May current-account balance stood at a surplus of about 7.3 billion dollars. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 16:04 JST).

Sendai Airport to resume non-regular int'l flights

Sendai Airport in northeastern Japan is to resume non-regular international service this month for the first time since being damaged in the March 11th earthquake and tsunami. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 17:16 JST).

Atlantic bluefin classified as threatened species

An international conservation organization has added the Atlantic bluefin tuna to its list of endangered species. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 18:04 JST).

UN to send 7,900 peacekeepers to South Sudan

The United Nations plans to send nearly 8,000 peacekeepers to South Sudan, which will become the world's newest nation on Saturday. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 17:16 JST).

Sumo ceremony held at Ise Shrine

Sumo Grand Champion Hakuho has staged a ring-entering ceremony at Ise Shrine in central Japan, ahead of the opening of the sport's next official tournament on Sunday. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 18:28 JST).

Atlantis fueled for final shuttle mission

Preparations for the launch of the final US space shuttle mission are proceeding in Florida despite poor weather that could delay Friday's liftoff. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 19:45 JST).

TEPCO to inject nitrogen into No. 3 reactor

The operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is preparing to connect pipes to the plant's No. 3 reactor to inject nitrogen to prevent a hydrogen explosion. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 19:48 JST).

Japanese prosecutors pose special-unit reforms

Japan's top prosecutors' office has drafted measures to overhaul the problem-plagued special investigative units of district offices. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 19:47 JST).

Govt:Safety first in reactor restart policy

The Japanese government says it will put safety before energy-supply concerns when it announces its views on restarting the country's suspended nuclear reactors. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 20:22 JST).

Four cities request bigger nuclear safety zone

Four municipalities around a nuclear power plant in Shizuoka Prefecture have asked the central government to expand the plant's official emergency zone, so their communities can be included in the event of a nuclear accident. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 20:59 JST).

Business sentiment logs more improvement

A government survey shows that business confidence among working Japanese is recovering steadily from the impact of the March disaster. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 20:22 JST).

Tohoku region sees net outflow of 30,000 residents

Three disaster-stricken prefectures in northeastern Japan have seen a net outflow of more than 30,000 residents between March and May after the region was struck by the March 11th earthquake and tsunami. (NHK World Daily News, 08 Jul 22:12 JST).