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Japan tsunami also shook up Earth's atmosphere

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 01:42:00 +0200

The tsunami from the March earthquake off Japan also shook up Earth's upper atmosphere, scientists say.

East Asia Summit trade ministers discuss looming global crisis

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 19:19:00 +0200

Economic ministers from East Asia Summit member countries on Saturday discussed how they should respond to the looming threat of another global economic crisis and called for a speedy recovery in Japan from the March earthquake and tsunami disaster. ''The ministers exchanged views on regional and....

TransAsia charter flights to NE Japan set to resume

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 19:14:00 +0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - TransAsia Airways announced Friday it will resume charter flights to Akita in northeastern Japan from Sept. 8.

Explorers to drill into subduction zone

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 15:01:00 +0200

A seaborne expedition of international geologists is going to drill into the Pacific subduction zone off northeastern Japan. A 20-metre tectonic shift in this subduction generated Japan’s catastrophic earthquake and tsunami on March 11th. The Richter magnitude was almost 9.

Tepco suffers $7.4bn quarterly loss

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 10:41:00 +0200

, operator of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear station, reported a Y571.7bn ($7.4bn) net loss for its first quarter as it began tallying the cost of compensating tens of thousands of people affected by the destruction of the atomic plant in March. Some 50,000 families have been unable to return to their....

Analysis: Japanese rare earth consumers set up shop in China

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 10:08:00 +0200

Japanese manufacturers concerned about China's restrictive export quotas on essential rare earths may have found a way to resolve their supply concerns -- relocate production to China.

Entertainment › Coldplay cover to raise funds for tsunami relief

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 08:38:00 +0200

Five months on from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that hit northeast Japan so hard, the fundraising events and charity efforts keep coming, bringing relief to those still in need. Few have been as ambitious as the contribution from the Music Matters festival, based in Singapore. While in the…

Giant tent being built to cover Japan nuclear reactor

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 06:22:00 +0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - The operator of Japan's damaged Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant is building a huge tent to cover one of the worst-hit reactors, officials said Friday.

Tsunami survivors have heavy hearts on eve of obon

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 03:33:00 +0200

Buddhist priest Honen Tanno in Sendai's Wakabayashi Ward is reading a sutra in the stifling hot August air while standing in a pine forest on the beach. His low voice mixes with the gentle sound of the waves. Although the clatter of heavy machinery sometimes interrupts, Tanno, 41, clad in a black clerical garment, retains his tranquility.

China recalls bullet trains in new blow to technology showcase

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 03:33:00 +0200

SHANGHAI/BEIJING -- China's second-biggest train maker will recall 54 bullet trains used on the new showcase Beijing-Shanghai line for safety reasons, the firm said on August 12, dealing a fresh blow to the nation's scandal-plagued rail system. The recall of the trains by China CNR Corp Ltd comes....

Book slamming Japan's "graveyard" bureaucracy a hit

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 03:33:00 +0200

It belongs to an unpopular genre and lacks a gripping title, but a Japanese book blasting the country's bureaucratic elite -- by a bureaucrat -- is proving an unlikely hit with a nation fed up at a lagging response to the massive March disaster. "Collapse of Japan's Central Administration", by the....

Snapshots

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 02:53:00 +0200

Instant Influence: How to get anyone to do anything fast Author: Michael V. Pantalon Publisher: Little Brown Based on the only motivational approach scientifically proven to succeed in more than 100 clinical trials, this book is used in corporations, hospitals, rehab centres, court systems,....

Rising enmity haunts China-Japan relations

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 01:30:00 +0200

There has been a sharp drop in the number of people in China and Japan harboring feelings of friendship toward the other country.

National › M5.9 quake jolts Japan disaster zone

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 01:00:00 +0200

A 5.9-magnitude earthquake shook northeast Japan Friday, jolting the area devastated by a quake and tsunami in March, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties and no tsunami warning. The quake hit at 3:22 a.m. at a depth of 38 kilometers, with its epicenter 18 kilometers from…

National › 20,425 dead or missing as Japan marks 5 months since disaster

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 01:00:00 +0200

Japan on Thursday marked five months since the earthquake and tsunami devastated the Tohoku region on March 11. The government said that as of Aug 1, 20,425 people were either dead or missing, while more than 90,000 people remain displaced because of the tsunami and the ongoing nuclear crisis at…

5.9 quake rattles Fukushima, Japan

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:49:00 +0200

A 5.9-magnitude earthquake shook northeast Japan, jolting the area devastated by a quake and tsunami in March, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties and no tsunami warning.The quake hit at 3:22 am (0622 NZT...

Japan's Tsunami Warning SystemDrops Wave-Height Estimates

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:42:00 +0200

By David Cyranoski of Nature magazine On 11 March, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) warned that a 3-metre-plus tsunami would hit northeastern Japan. [More]

Earthquake jolts northeastern Japan

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:41:00 +0200

NEW YORK -; The U.S. Geological Survey reports that a strong earthquake has shaken northeastern Japan, the same region devastated by the massive quake and tsunami in March. There were no ...

Japan parties reach agreement on renewable energy

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:15:00 +0200

Japan’s ruling Democratic Party reached a broad agreement with the main opposition parties on Thursday to pass a bill designed to promote renewable energy.

Dollar weak against yen in thin trade

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 23:54:00 +0200

TOKYO: The dollar weakened slightly against the yen on Friday, hovering not far off a post-war low against the Japanese currency, in subdued trading at the start of the summer holiday season. The greenback traded at 76.77 yen in the afternoon in Tokyo against 76.88 yen in New York late Thursday.

Recession 2011: Debt markets focus on Japan after US downgrade

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 23:53:00 +0200

Recession 2011: Debt markets focus on Japan after US downgradeDebt markets are wondering which country's rating is next on the chopping block after S&P's stripped the US of its top-notch AAA credit rating.

Relatively calm, U.S. markets close higher

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 23:17:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- The most volatile week in the history of the Dow Jones industrial average ended with a gentle run upward and likely a few sweat-drenched handkerchiefs.

Honda to build new factory in Mexico

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 22:42:00 +0200

DETROIT (AP) — Honda Motor Co. plans to build an $800 million factory in Mexico to make small cars for customers in North America, the company said Friday. The plant, near Celaya, Guanajuato, north of Mexico City, is expected to open in 2014 and will employ 3,200 workers from the region, Honda said in a statement.

US dollar weakens against gaining yen in thin trade as holiday begins

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 22:33:00 +0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - The dollar weakened slightly against the yen on Friday, hovering not far off a post-war low against the Japanese currency, in subdued trading at the start of the summer holiday season.

Relatively calm, U.S. markets rise

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 20:17:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- U.S. markets rose Friday after four days in which the Dow Jones industrial average logged 400-point or better swings.

Thai envoy seeks OK for Thaksin Japan visit

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 19:25:00 +0200

Japan has received a request to allow former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to visit and will consult Bangkok on whether to issue a special entry permit, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said Friday. Thaksin, who was prime minister between 2001 and 2006 before being deposed in a military....

Japan to issue permit for former Thai leader

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 19:17:00 +0200

Last Updated: Sat, 13 Aug 2011 02:23:00 +1000 Japan plans to issue a special entry permit to former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who has been in exile following a military coup in 2006. Kyodo news agency reports the request for the permit comes from the new Thai government of Yingluck Shinawatra, a younger sister of Mr Thaksin.

Analysis: Japanese rare earth consumers set up shop in China

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 19:01:00 +0200

By Yuko Inoue and Julie Gordon TOKYO/TORONTO (Reuters) - Japanese manufacturers concerned about China's restrictive export quotas on essential rare earths may have found a way to resolve their supply concerns -- relocate production to China. [More]

Japan May Lift Advisory on Edge of Nuclear Evacuation Area

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 18:59:00 +0200

The government said it may lift an evacuation advisory for some areas near the Fukushima Daiichi plant as soon as next month, in what would be the first areas reopened since March.

Young dancers reap fruits of choreographer's expertise

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 18:10:00 +0200

Kimiho Hulbert danced before she could talk. Crawling backstage between dressing rooms of her Japanese mother and British father, both professional dancers in Belgium where she was born, Hulbert even disdained her first official ballet class at 2 years old as "too babyish.

Japan earthquake and tsunami: 'we had no idea how much worse it would get.'

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 17:29:00 +0200

Henry Green talks to Carin Nakanishi, an intern at a Tokyo architect firm when Japan was hit by March's devastating earthquake. On 11 March this year, the eastern coast of Japan was hit by the most powerful earthquake in its history . The subsequent tsunami caused a series of nuclear meltdowns which....

Massive Japan Quake Even Rattled Upper Atmosphere (LiveScience.com)

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:04:00 +0200

LiveScience.com - The giant earthquake that struck Japan this year not only shook the Earth, but also rattled the highest layer of the atmosphere, scientists find.

Thai envoy seeks OK for Thaksin Japan visit

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:24:00 +0200

Chinese railway firm recalls bullet trains

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:12:00 +0200

File photo taken on July 24, 2011 shows workers clearing the wreckage of a Chinese high-speed train in the town of Shuangyu near the city of Wenzhou, in eastern China's Zhejiang province. A deadly high-speed rail crash has severely shaken public trust in China's government.

China recalls bullet trains in new blow to technology showcase

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 12:36:00 +0200

China's second-biggest train maker will recall 54 bullet trains used on the new showcase Beijing-Shanghai line for safety reasons, the firm said on Friday, dealing a fresh blow to the nation's scandal-plagued rail system.

Earthquake jolts northeastern Japan

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 10:40:00 +0200

A strong earthquake has shaken northeastern Japan, the same region devastated by the massive quake and tsunami in March.

Book slamming Japan's "graveyard" bureaucracy a hit

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 10:32:00 +0200

12 Aug 2011 07:22 Source: reuters // Reuters By Yuko Takeo TOKYO, Aug 12 (Reuters Life!) - It belongs to an unpopular genre and lacks a gripping title, but a Japanese book blasting the country's bureaucratic elite -- by a bureaucrat -- is proving an unlikely hit with a nation fed up at a lagging response to the massive March disaster.

Japan’s tsunami breaks off huge icebergs in Antarctica

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 10:20:00 +0200

After studying satellites images, NASA scientists have reported that the tsunami following the March 2011 earthquake in Japan has reached Antarctica. As a result, huge chunks of ice broke off the Sulzberger ice shelf.

Giant tent to go up over Japan nuclear reactor

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 10:09:00 +0200

The operator of Japan's damaged Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant is building a huge tent to cover one of the worst-hit reactors, officials said Friday.

Dollar weak against yen in thin trade

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 10:03:00 +0200

TOKYO: The dollar weakened slightly against the yen on Friday, hovering not far off a post-war low against the Japanese currency, in subdued trading at the start of the summer holiday season.

Japan Targets New Enemy: Flies

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 09:17:00 +0200

Japan's Self Defense Forces are on a new mission in the wake of the country's March 11 earthquake and tsunami—battling insects that have multiplied in sweltering summer heat amid piles of rotting fish and other tsunami debris.

China recalls bullet trains in new blow to technology showcase (Reuters)

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 08:57:00 +0200

Reuters - China's second-biggest train maker will recall 54 bullet trains used on the new showcase Beijing-Shanghai line for safety reasons, the firm said on Friday, dealing a fresh blow to the nation's scandal-plagued rail system.

Earthquake Hits Near Fukushima

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 08:53:00 +0200

Japan was hit by a 5.9 magnitude earthquake last night, close to the site of the Fukushima nuclear plant. The quake struck shortly after 7PM Irish time. There were no immediate reports of injuries of damage.

China recalls bullet trains in new blow to technology showcase

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 08:49:00 +0200

SHANGHAI/BEIJING (Reuters) - China's second-biggest train maker will recall 54 bullet trains used on the new showcase Beijing-Shanghai line for safety reasons, the firm said on Friday, dealing a fresh blow to the nation's scandal-plagued rail system.

Earthquake jolts Fukushima

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 08:20:00 +0200

Japan cuts growth forecast to 0.5 percent

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 07:55:00 +0200

TOKYO, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Japan, citing devastation from the March earthquake and tsunami, cut its growth forecast for this fiscal year to 0.5 percent from its earlier 1.5 percent.

Quake shakes Fukushima region

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 07:42:00 +0200

TOKYO, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Japan's quake-tsunami ravaged Fukushima Prefecture was jolted by a strong quake Friday morning but the crippled nuclear plant there reported no new trouble. Japan's Meteorological Agency measured the quake at 6-magnitude but...

Japan's June industrial output rise slightly revised down to 3.8%

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 07:24:00 +0200

Japan's industrial output grew a seasonally adjusted 3.8 percent in June from the previous month, revised slightly downward from a preliminary 3.9 percent rise as a result of additional data not available in the earlier report, the industry ministry said Friday.

Quake shakes Fukushima region

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 06:55:00 +0200

TOKYO, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Japan's quake-tsunami ravaged Fukushima Prefecture was jolted by a strong quake Friday morning but the crippled nuclear plant there reported no new trouble.

Japan cuts growth forecast to 0.5 percent

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 06:40:00 +0200

TOKYO, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Japan, citing devastation from the March earthquake and tsunami, cut its growth forecast for this fiscal year to 0.5 percent from its earlier 1.5 percent. The March 11 earthquake and tsunami devastated the country's northeast...

Another earthquake strikes off Japan coast

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 06:06:00 +0200

A strong earthquake last night struck northeastern Japan, the same region devastated by the massive quake and tsunami in March.

Dollar steady as it nears record low against yen

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 05:31:00 +0200

TOKYO: The dollar steadied against the yen Friday after it had neared a post-war low against the Japanese currency, as market sentiment slightly improved on a global stocks rebound.

Japan cuts fiscal 2011 growth forecast to 0.5%

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 05:31:00 +0200

TOKYO: Japan's government on Friday cut its economic growth forecast for fiscal 2011 to 0.5 percent from 1.5 percent, citing the impact of the March 11 quake, tsunami and nuclear disasters.

Japan Sees 0.5% Growth

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 05:14:00 +0200

Japan's Cabinet approved a medium-term fiscal framework and growth projections based on an expected $247 billion in spending on reconstruction from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

Japan's economic growth forecast for FY 2011 cut to 0.5%

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 04:23:00 +0200

The government on Friday revised downward its forecast for Japanese economic growth in fiscal 2011 to 0.5 percent from an earlier projected 1.5 percent, citing the impact of the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami. But the Cabinet Office also estimated that real gross domestic product would grow to more than 2.

Mercury tops 35 degrees as heatstroke warnings issued

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 03:35:00 +0200

Temperatures rose above 35 degrees at 38 locations in 11 prefectures by noon on Aug. 11, turning up the heat on survivors of the March 11 disaster at evacuation centers and temporary housing. The Meteorological Agency said temperatures were expected to exceed 35 degrees in 29 prefectures from Aomori....

Japan improves earthquake emergency alert system

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 03:35:00 +0200

The Japan Meteorological Agency announced starting Aug. 11 that it will implement improvements to boost the accuracy of its emergency earthquake alert system, which notifies the public beforehand of major tremors. The accuracy rates, which have been slightly above 30 percent after the March 11....

Trade prospects look good for interdependent economies

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 02:30:00 +0200

BEIJING - The bilateral economic relationship between China and Japan is poised to pick up, as the latter's economy is headed toward a recovery, according to a poll.

Rising enmity haunts relations

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 02:30:00 +0200

BEIJING - There has been a sharp drop in the number of people in China and Japan harboring feelings of friendship toward the other country following a year of often turbulent relations, according to a poll conducted simultaneously in both countries.

School receives 92K facelift, library furniture upgrade

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 00:35:00 +0200

THE Japanese government is continuing its support for education institutions in the country with the upgrading of Naidovi Primary School in Sigatoka.

Japan parties reach agreement on renewable energy Bill

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 23:50:00 +0200

Japan's ruling Democratic Party reached a broad agreement with the main opposition parties yesterday to pass a Bill designed to promote renewable energy, Jiji news agency said, setting the stage for unpopular Prime Minister Naoto Kan to resign once the law...

Earthquake jolts northeastern Japan

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 22:46:00 +0200

NEW YORK (AP) The U.S. Geological Survey reports that a strong earthquake has shaken northeastern Japan, the same region devastated by the massive quake and tsunami in March.

Quake shakes Japan's Fukushima, no tsunami alert - NHK

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 22:40:00 +0200

TOKYO (Reuters) - An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.0 shook Japan's Fukushima prefecture early on Friday, public broadcaster NHK reported, but it said that no tsunami alert had been issued.

Quake shakes Japan's Fukushima, no tsunami alert: NHK

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 22:23:00 +0200

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.0 shook Japan's Fukushima prefecture early on Friday, public broadcaster NHK reported, but it said that no tsunami alert had been issued.

Quake shakes Japan's Fukushima, no tsunami alert - report

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 22:17:00 +0200

Quake shakes Japan's Fukushima, no tsunami alert-NHK

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 22:16:00 +0200

11 Aug 2011 19:25 Source: reuters // Reuters TOKYO, Aug 11 (Reuters) - An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.0 shook Japan's Fukushima prefecture early on Friday, public broadcaster NHK reported, but it said that no tsunami alert had been issued. NHK also said that there were no reports of damage.

Japanese tsunami broke chunks off Antarctica's ice sheet

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 22:10:00 +0200

Photographic evidence has emerged that suggest the Japanese earthquake and subsequent Tohoku Tsunami caused 50 square miles of ice to break off Antarctica. Images from the European Space Agency show that icebergs, some larger than Manhattan island, broke away from Antarctica just a few days after the quake.

Quake shakes Japan's Fukushima, no tsunami alert

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 22:09:00 +0200

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.0 shook Japan's Fukushima prefecture early on Friday, public broadcaster NHK reported, but it said that no tsunami alert had been issued. NHK also said that there were no reports of damage. Tokyo Electric Power Company Inc. reported that there had been no damage to nuclear reactors in the region.

Quake shakes Japan's Fukushima, no tsunami alert

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 22:04:00 +0200

Strong 5.9 quake jolts Japan disaster zone

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 21:59:00 +0200

A 5.9-magnitude earthquake shook northeast Japan on Friday, jolting the area devastated by a quake and tsunami in March.

Quake hits Japan northeast

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 21:56:00 +0200

TOKYO: A 5.9-magnitude earthquake shook northeast Japan Friday, jolting the area devastated by a quake and tsunami in March, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties and no tsunami warning.

Strong quake jolts Japan disaster zone

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 21:54:00 +0200

A 5.9-MAGNITUDE earthquake shook northeast Japan today, jolting the area devastated by a quake and tsunami in March, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties and no tsunami warning.

Japan Military Targets New Enemy: Flies

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 21:40:00 +0200

New earthquake off Fukushima coast in Japan

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 21:37:00 +0200

A strong earthquake has hit northeast Japan, jolting the area devastated by a quake and tsunami in March.

China tourist visas to be eased further

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 21:08:00 +0200

Japan will further relax conditions for granting visas to individual Chinese tourists from Sept. 1 to help boost tourism, which has been severely affected by the ongoing Fukushima nuclear crisis triggered by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Parliamentary Vice Foreign Minister Ikuo Yamahana told....

State must buy, restore ruined farms: group

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 21:08:00 +0200

The Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives will urge the government to buy and improve farmland damaged by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, its new chairman said in a recent interview. "The government should be responsible for land improvement that individual farming families cannot undertake," said Akira Banzai.

Horn of Africa crisis shocks even seasoned aid workers

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:54:00 +0200

In another summer, when Liz McLaughlin was younger and insulated, she took a long train ride from her native Edinburgh, Scotland, down to London for a very important concert. Excitement bubbled because of the marquee names -- U2, Madonna, Eric Clapton, B.B. King.

Japan parties agree on renewable energy bill

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:46:00 +0200

Japan's ruling Democratic Party reached an agreement with the main opposition parties on Thursday to pass a bill designed to promote renewable energy, an opposition lawmaker said, setting the stage for unpopular Prime Minister Naoto Kan to resign once the law is enacted.

Even seasoned aid workers shocked by Horn of Africa crisis

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:09:00 +0200

Analysis: Japan's reconstruction steel demand to fall short (Reuters)

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 19:50:00 +0200

Reuters - Steel demand in Japan will fall short of expectations as political wrangling holds up cash injections after a devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami, while the construction sector is battling a deep slump, hobbled by a strengthening yen.

Gov't working to reduce flood, typhoon risks

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 19:32:00 +0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - Taiwan has been working hard on disaster risk reduction, particularly in reducing typhoon and flood risks, Water Resources Agency Director-General Yang Wei-fu said yesterday.

Parents of Japanese tsunami victims sue school

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:53:00 +0200

SENDAI, Japan, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- The parents of Japanese children killed when a tsunami hit their school bus have sued the private school they claim ignored warnings, officials said.

Japan Takes Nuclear Safety Agency Away From Trade Ministry

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:09:00 +0200

Japan is removing its nuclear safety agency from its trade ministry, dissolving a relationship that was criticized during the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster. The news came as Prime Minister Naoto Kan again confirmed his intention to resign, possibly by the end of this month.

Andy Bell glad to finally bring Beady Eye to Japan

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:07:00 +0200

Andy Bell may be in Stockholm but his thoughts remain focused on Japan. The guitarist's new band, Beady Eye, consists of the former members of Oasis who were left standing following Noel Gallagher's acrimonious departure two years ago. The quartet were in the process of launching their fledgling outfit when the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred.

Parents of Japanese tsunami victims sue school

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:59:00 +0200

SENDAI, Japan, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- The parents of Japanese children killed when a tsunami hit their school bus have sued the private school they claim ignored warnings, officials said. Parents of four of the dead children filed a lawsuit against Hiyori...

UPDATE1: June U.S. trade deficit hits 32-month high on costlier oil

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:49:00 +0200

The U.S. deficit in global goods and services trade expanded 4.4 percent in June from the previous month to $53.07 billion, the highest level since October 2008 and marking the second straight month of increase on costlier crude oil and solid imports from China, the Commerce Department said Thursday.

Japan parties reach agreement on renewable energy bill

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:10:00 +0200

11 Aug 2011 12:01 Source: reuters // Reuters * Agreement sets stage for unpopular PM to resign * Finmin Noda emerges as leading contender in PM race (Adds opposition comment) TOKYO, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Japan's ruling Democratic Party reached an agreement with the main opposition parties on Thursday....

Japan parties reach agreement on renewable energy bill

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:46:00 +0200

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's ruling Democratic Party reached an agreement with the main opposition parties on Thursday to pass a bill designed to promote renewable energy, an opposition lawmaker said, setting the stage for unpopular Prime Minister Naoto Kan to resign once the law is enacted.

Kan again signals he’s ready to step down

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:22:00 +0200

Japan’s Prime Minister is again sending signs to members of his Democratic Party of Japan and the Diet that he’s still in the mood to resign his post. “My thoughts of turning over my job to the next generation has not changed one bit,” says Kan, who’s been uttering statements about resigning for months, but not showing signs of setting a date.

U.S., private sector aircraft eyed to assist SDF forces

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:22:00 +0200

Japan’s Defense Ministry is studying concepts of using U.S. military and private-sector aircraft in its defense of remote islands. The government is eyeing a proposal introduced by Senior Vice Defense Minister Katsuya Ogawa and his senior committee aides to get outside help in defending the Nansei....

More than 4,700 people still missing five months after devastating earthquake in Japan

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:18:00 +0200

Tokyo. More than 4,700 people are still missing after the devastating earthquake and the following tsunami in Japan on March 11, RIA Novosti informs. Today the country commemorates the victims of the natural disaster that took place five moths ago. According to the latest official data, the....

Japan parties reach agreement on renewable energy bill-Jiji

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:07:00 +0200

11 Aug 2011 08:34 Source: reuters // Reuters TOKYO, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Japan's ruling Democratic Party reached a broad agreement with the main opposition parties on Thursday to pass a bill designed to promote renewable energy, Jiji news agency said, setting the stage for unpopular Prime Minister Naoto Kan to resign once the law is enacted.

WWF campaigns for more green energy in Japan

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 12:21:00 +0200

Tokyo, Japan - WWF has launched a new business partnership that urges the Japanese government to adopt more renewable energy into the country’s power mix to help increase energy security and reduce the impact of climate change on future generations. The Business Partnership for Low-Carbon Society....

Japanese tsunami cracks Antarctic icebergs

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 11:22:00 +0200

Every few months we hear about Titanic-sized icebergs breaking off Antarctica these days. Is this part of a natural cycle or something we really need to start being concerned with?

Japan''s machinery orders expectedly up 7.7 percent

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 11:14:00 +0200

TOKYO, Aug 11 (KUNA) -- Japan's core machinery orders unexpectedly surged 7. 7 percent in June from the previous month, adding to signs that more companies are willing to invest in plant and equipment following damages from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the government said Thursday. Orders grew for the second straight month to JPY 789.

Japan's core machinery orders increase 7.7 pct in June

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 11:05:00 +0200

TOKYO, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Japan's core machinery orders rose a seasonally-adjusted 7.7 percent in June from the previous month to 789.7 billion yen (10.28 billion U.S. dollars), marking the second straight month of increase, the Cabinet office said Thursday.

Analysis: Japan's reconstruction steel demand to fall short

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 09:44:00 +0200

TOKYO (Reuters) - Steel demand in Japan will fall short of expectations as political wrangling holds up cash injections after a devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami, while the construction sector is battling a deep slump, hobbled by a strengthening yen.

British Airways contributes in relief efforts of draught and hunger crisis in East African countries

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 08:53:00 +0200

British Airways is flying a relief aircraft full of emergency supplies and equipment to victims of the food crisis in East Africa, where over half a million people are directly at risk of starvation. A Boeing 747 freighter with capacity for up to 110 tonnes of cargo is scheduled to fly to Ethiopia....

Asian markets open down after Wall street sell-off

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 08:48:00 +0200

Asian stocks fell between 1% and 2% as the fallout from Wall Street’s drop and European jitters took hold. Tokyo shares tumbled 1.7% at the opening bell, following the huge sell-off on Wall Street. The Nikkei fell 1.5% coming under pressure amid renewed investor fears about a possible US recession.

Japan marks 5 months from quake as survivors adapt to new life

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 08:46:00 +0200

Memorial services took place Thursday to mark the passing of five months since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, with survivors mourning the loss of their loved ones while gradually beginning to find comfort from signs of reconstruction. More than 15,600 people have been confirmed dead and police....

Earthquake Hits Japan

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 07:35:00 +0200

Pyongyang, August 10 (KCNA) -- A 5.2-magnitude earthquake hit the waters off the eastern area of Chiba Prefecture, Japan on August 6. The epicenter was 10 km deep in the sea. Copyright (C) KOREA NEWS SERVICE(KNS) All Rights Reserved.

URGENT: Japan to cut FY 2011 economic growth forecast to around 0.5%

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 07:15:00 +0200

The government is set to downwardly revise its projection for Japan's economic growth in fiscal 2011 to around 0.5 percent, officials said Thursday. In December, the Cabinet Office said the country's economy -- measured by gross domestic product -- would expand an inflation-adjusted 1.5 percent in the year through next March.

Japan Machinery Orders Rise But Outlook Is Murky

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 06:26:00 +0200

Japanese core machinery orders rose briskly in June as companies dialed up spending hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, though global economic jitters are clouding the outlook for corporate investment.

Japan Earthquake Shook Earth's Upper Atmosphere

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 06:25:00 +0200

The magnitute 9 Tohoku Earthquake, which released a giant tsunami on Japan's coastal land, rattled the ionosphere, and almost reached out to space. The ionosphere is one of the highest layers of the atmosphere, and ripples were created in electrically charged particles created nearly 220 miles above Earth.

Boon for navy, security for nation

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 05:45:00 +0200

By Wang Xiaoxuan BEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhuanet) -- The addition of an old aircraft carrier, Varyag, to China's navy has evoked mixed responses from the international community, with some countries interpreting it as a threat. The truth is that the development of China's navy, including the acquiring....

Japan June Core Machinery Orders +7.7%

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 05:32:00 +0200

TOKYO (dpa-AFX) - Core machine orders in Japan climbed a seasonally adjusted 7.7 percent on month in June, the Cabinet Office said on Thursday - pointing to a recovery from the de

Business › Japan machinery orders jump 7.7% in June

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 05:26:00 +0200

Japan's core private-sector machinery orders unexpectedly soared 7.7% in June from the previous month, official data showed on Thursday. It was significantly better than the median forecast of a 1.7% rise expected among economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires and the Nikkei.

Japan machinery orders jump 7.7% in June

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 05:22:00 +0200

TOKYO: Japan's core private-sector machinery orders unexpectedly soared 7.7 percent in June from the previous month, official data showed on Thursday.

Mongolia, Japan to cooperate in nuclear energy

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 04:26:00 +0200

ULAN BATOR, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia's nuclear energy authority and Japan's Atomic Energy Agency discussed nonproliferation and other issues during a two-day meeting that ended Wednesday. More than 40 specialists from Mongolia, Japan and representatives of the International Atomic Energy Agency attended the meeting.

Asia's giants highly exposed to natural disasters

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 03:52:00 +0200

PARIS: The United States and Japan have the highest bills to pay from natural disasters, but Asia's emerging giants -- China, India and Indonesia -- are proportionately at greater risk from them, a survey said on Thursday.

Los Angeles International Airport Reports Passenger Level Up 5.4 Percent During First Half Of 2011

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 03:44:00 +0200

Passenger volume at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) between January and June 2011 rose 5.4 percent to 29,873,434 passengers from 28,337,001 during the same period last year

U.N. requests dispatch of SDF engineers to South Sudan

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 03:40:00 +0200

The United Nations is pressing Japan to send Self-Defense Forces engineers to South Sudan to handle road construction under a U.N. peacekeeping operation. U.N. officials have been impressed by the work of SDF engineers in Haiti, and feel their presence in South Sudan will help the development of the newly independent nation.

Alaska volcano's eruption stirs concern

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 03:17:00 +0200

A volcano that has been erupting for several days in Alaska's Aleutian Islands may be preparing for a more explosive event, scientists said on Wednesday.

Japan Earthquake Generated Waves in Higher Atmosphere

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 02:23:00 +0200

The Tohoku quake off of coastal Japan that spawned a tsunami and wreaked havoc on land also triggered waves all the way up to the ionosphere, one of the highest layers of the atmosphere, creating ripples in electrically charged particles nearly 220 miles above Earth.

Boon for navy, security for nation

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 02:19:00 +0200

The addition of an old aircraft carrier, Varyag, to China's navy has evoked mixed responses from the international community, with some countries interpreting it as a threat. The truth is that the development of China's navy, including the acquiring of the aircraft carrier, is aimed at defending the....

U.S. Nuclear Regulator Tied Up by Process: Chairman

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 02:08:00 +0200

By Roberta Rampton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The chairman of the U.S. nuclear regulator said his own commission is hamstrung by an inefficient, "flawed voting system" which distracts from its job of ensuring safety at the country's power plants. [More]

NRC staff: New Westinghouse reactor design is safe (AP)

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 01:45:00 +0200

AP - An attempt to build the first brand-new nuclear power plant in a generation has taken a step forward now that staff at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission says plans to build new reactors in Georgia meet safety requirements.

Withholding details of reactor radiation 'was akin to murder'

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 01:43:00 +0200

THE day after a huge tsunami set off the disaster at Japan's Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant, thousands of residents at the nearby town of Namie gathered to evacuate. Giv

Japan Tsunami Broke Off Antarctica Icebergs Twice the Size of Manhattan [VIDEO]

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 01:02:00 +0200

The Tsunami generated by the powerful earthquake that shook Japan on March 11 sent waves an entire hemisphere away that sliced off about 50 square miles of icebergs in Antarctica that were twice the surface area of Manhattan, NASA scientists say.

National › Tsunami broke huge icebergs off Antarctica

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:51:00 +0200

The massive March 11 Japan earthquake and its ensuing tsunami were so powerful that they broke off huge icebergs thousands of miles away in Antarctica, according to a new study. The calving of icebergs (where a huge chunk of ice breaks off from a glacier or ice shelf) from the…

Windows 7 to be leading PC operating system by year end: report

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:11:00 +0200

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Microsoft's Windows 7 is expected to become the leading operating system for personal computers (PCs) by the end of 2011, running on 42 percent of PCs in use worldwide, market research firm Gartner said on Tuesday. A new Gartner report on PC operating system market....

Japan Earthquake, Tsunami Snaps Antarctic Icebergs [VIDEO]

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 23:52:00 +0200

NASA scientists were able to observe for the first time the powerful effects of an earthquake and tsunami combined, which broke off large icebergs a hemisphere away off the coast of Antarctica.

Japan's plan to test rice for radioactive material worries a nation

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 23:43:00 +0200

TOKYO - News that local governments around Japan will test rice for radioactive caesium came as a blow that rocked the nation's collective psyche, threatening to make its beloved traditional staple the latest in a long list of forbidden foods.

Preparing for an apocalypse in America

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 23:14:00 +0200

The American Preppers Network is a group of people storing supplies, equipment and ammunition in case an end of the world disaster strikes the U.S. RT visits one such family.

Inside China

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 22:58:00 +0200

CHINA ON JAPAN'S DEFENSE China sees "ulterior motives" behind Japan's annual defense white paper that warns for the first time of Tokyo's concern about Beijing's growing assertiveness. On Thursday, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng announced China's "resolute objection" to the publication.

Atmosphere May Help Power Huge Freak Waves (LiveScience.com)

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 21:28:00 +0200

LiveScience.com - In 1995, an 84-foot wall of water pummeled an offshore oil rig in the North Sea. This massive wave wasn't a tsunami triggered by an earthquake it was the first documented occurrence of a "rogue wave."

Japan's TEPCO reports loss of $7.4 billion

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 20:43:00 +0200

TOKYO, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- In the wake of the March Fukushima nuclear catastrophe Tokyo Electric Power Co. has reported an operating loss of $7.4 billion. TEPCO President Toshio Nishizawa has cautioned that the company expects further losses to be incurred...

Mongolia, Japan to cooperate in nuclear energy

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 19:58:00 +0200

Japan's TEPCO reports loss of $7.4 billion

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 19:49:00 +0200

TOKYO, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- In the wake of the March Fukushima nuclear catastrophe Tokyo Electric Power Co. has reported an operating loss of $7.4 billion.

Cathay Pacific H1 profit plunges as fuel costs soar

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 19:12:00 +0200

HONG KONG, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Cathay Pacific Group's net profit fell by 58.9 percent in the first six months of this year, the Hong Kong flag carrier said Wednesday. According to Cathay Pacific's 2011 interim report, its net profit slid to 2.808 billion HK dollars (0.36 billion U.S. dollar) which compares to a profit of 6.

Windows 7 stomps on Mac's feeble market share gains

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 18:47:00 +0200

By Joe Wilcox , Betanews Today, Gartner predicted -- and, frankly, it's no shocking palm reading -- that Windows 7 will become the "leading operating system" this year.

Hashimoto eyes Osaka mayoralty

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 18:03:00 +0200

Osaka Gov. Toru Hashimoto, known for his candor on topics from patriotism to gambling, aims to extend his influence in the nation's second-biggest economic zone as the March 11 quake spurs calls to spread authority from Tokyo. Hashimoto, 42, may run for mayor of Osaka in November. A victory would give him a higher profile in the prefecture of 8.

Japan upgrades economic views 1st time in two months

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 17:08:00 +0200

TOKYO, Aug 10 (KUNA) -- The Japanese government on Wednesday upgraded its economic assessment for the first time in two months in August, as industrial production and exports show signs of recovery from a slump following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

Report: Kan could resign this month

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:49:00 +0200

TOKYO, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan, under pressure since the March 11 quake-triggered nuclear plant crisis, may resign as early as this month, lawmakers said.

Japan's prime minister to resign after post-quake bills pass

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:10:00 +0200

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said Wednesday he'll resign once new bills related to post-earthquake reconstruction pass parliament, to avoid a political vacuum.

IEA cuts 2011 oil demand forecast due to economic uncertainty

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:52:00 +0200

By John Keating PARIS, Aug 10 (KUNA) -- The International Energy Agency (IEA) has scaled back forecasts for oil demand in 2011 due largely to projections of slowing economic growth and previously-high oil prices, a report said Wednesday. The IEA, which regroups the world's 28 most industrialized....

CHINA - Global crisis no impact yet on Chinese exports, a record in July

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:51:00 +0200

Surplus of 31.5 billion dollars in trade with foreign countries, a 2 year record, appreciation of the Yuan, a 17 year record. But it is expected that the global crisis will affect exports in the coming months. Beijing says it is ready to change its "economic priorities", but calls for global control of individual countries.

Report: Kan could resign this month

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:39:00 +0200

TOKYO, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan, under pressure since the March 11 quake-triggered nuclear plant crisis, may resign as early as this month, lawmakers said. The resignation of Kan, in office only since June of last year, could...

UPDATE1: Japan upgrades economic assessment on recovering production

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:34:00 +0200

The government on Wednesday upwardly revised its monthly assessment of the Japanese economy, citing a recovery in production and exports after a significant downturn following the March earthquake and tsunami, but it also warned of signs of a slowdown in overseas economies.

Virgin Atlantic sees tough year ahead

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:45:00 +0200

British airline Virgin Atlantic said market conditions had become tougher in recent months due to higher fuel prices and weakening consumer confidence.

Tsunami in Japan destroyed 120,000 buildings

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:48:00 +0200

TOKYO, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Japan's March 11 tsunami destroyed some 120,000 buildings and damaged 220,000 others, the government's first comprehensive damage survey indicates.

Japan tsunami breaks off icebergs in Antarctica

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 11:37:00 +0200

The devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan had repercussions in Antarctica, as becomes clear from photos taken by NASA satellites. Satellite images show that tsunami waves broke off chunks of ice in Antarctica. Experts say that after travelling 13,000 kilometers the waves had to be no more than 30 centimeters tall.

Japan upgrades economic assessment on recovering production

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 11:32:00 +0200

The government on Wednesday upwardly revised its monthly assessment of the Japanese economy, citing recovery in production and exports from a significant downturn following the March earthquake and tsunami, but it also warned there are signs of slowdown in overseas economies.

Japan rice worries a blow to collective psyche

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 09:44:00 +0200

TOKYO (Reuters Life!) - News that local governments around Japan will test rice for radioactive caesium came as a blow that rocked the nation's collective psyche, threatening to make its beloved traditional staple the latest in a long list of forbidden foods.

Japan rice worries a blow to collective psyche

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 09:19:00 +0200

10 Aug 2011 04:59 Source: reuters // Reuters By Yuko Takeo TOKYO, Aug 10(Reuters Life!) - News that local governments around Japan will test rice for radioactive caesium came as a blow that rocked the nation's collective psyche, threatening to make its beloved traditional staple the latest in a long list of forbidden foods.

Sports › Ripken leading sports exchange with Japanese youth

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 08:22:00 +0200

Baseball players often say the best approach is to keep it simple. See the ball, hit the ball. Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr has the same philosophy in mind for a sports exchange with Japanese children affected by this year's earthquake and tsunami. "Maybe the value of sport is…

National › Japan ignored own radiation forecasts from very beginning

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 08:22:00 +0200

Japan's system to forecast radiation threats was working from the moment its nuclear crisis began. As officials planned a venting operation certain to release radioactivity into the air, the system predicted Karino Elementary School would be directly in the path of the plume emerging from the....

Gartner: Win7 to become dominant OS by end-2011

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 07:13:00 +0200

Microsoft Corp.'s flagship operating system Windows 7 may become the leading PC operating system worldwide by end-2011, running on 42 percent of PCs worldwide, according to IT research firm Gartner Inc.

Japan Tsunami Calved Antarctic Ice Shelf; Manhattan-sized Iceberg Broke off

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 07:08:00 +0200

An Antarctic ice shelf that had remained unshuffled for 46 years was broken by the Japanese tsunami in March, scientists have discovered. The Sulzberger Ice Shelf in the Antarctic registered the impact of the Japanese tsunami in 18 hours, when a huge iceberg began disintegrating and floating off to the Ross Sea.

UPDATE1: Gov't mulls JT share sale for reconstruction

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 06:58:00 +0200

The government is considering selling part of its shareholdings in Japan Tobacco Inc. in order to secure funds for reconstruction work following the March earthquake and tsunami, lawmakers said Wednesday. The government and the Democratic Party of Japan, headed by Prime Minister Naoto Kan, have....

Japan ignored own radiation forecasts: report

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 06:01:00 +0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - Japan's system to forecast radiation threats was working from the moment its nuclear crisis began. As officials planned a venting operation certain to release radioactivity into the air, the system predicted Karino Elementary School would be directly in the path of the plume....

S'pore's NODX forecast revised downwards

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 05:15:00 +0200

SINGAPORE: IE Singapore has downgraded Singapore's non-oil domestic exports (NODX) forecast on account of a poorer than expected performance in the first half of this year and downside risks in the second half.

Japan Tsunami Slices Off Manhattan-size Icebergs in Antarctica

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 04:04:00 +0200

A powerful tsunami in Japan back in March sent waves more than 8,000 miles away that sliced off icebergs in Antarctica twice the surface area of Manhattan, NASA scientists say. Details of the finding, the first observation of its kind, can be found in an article published in the Journal of Glaciology.

Singapore Wednesday cut forecasts for economy, exports

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 03:43:00 +0200

SINGAPORE: Singapore has cut its 2011 economic growth and exports forecasts amid growing fears consumer demand from the U.S. and Europe could be weaker than previously expected.

HK travellers return to Japan

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 03:42:00 +0200

Industry leaders in Japan are finding confidence in the country as a travel destination is returning amongst Hong Kong tourists, however the strong yen continues to stand as a deterrent factor,

Young ambassadors from disaster area to visit Geneva

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 03:41:00 +0200

Fittingly, one of this year's "High School Student Ambassadors of Peace" selected by a citizens's group in Nagasaki is a survivor from disaster-stricken Rikuzentakata in Iwate Prefecture of the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake. Masahiro Kikuchi, 17, will visit the United Nations Office in....

Firewood from trees felled by tsunami used for Obon festival

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 03:41:00 +0200

Firewood from pine trees felled by the Grear East Japan Earthquake are burned as part of the ritual to welcome ancestors' spirits during the Obon season in Rikuzen-Takata, Iwate Prefecture, on Aug. 8. (Shingo Kuzutani) RIKUZEN-TAKATA, Iwate Prefecture--A ceremonial fire was lit Aug.

Japan revises tsunami warnings to drive home urgency

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 03:41:00 +0200

To better convey a sense of alarm and urgency to evacuate, the Japan Meteorological Agency will issue "an enormous tsunami will likely follow" warning after earthquakes that measure greater than magnitude 8.0. The shift from its past warnings that gave specific figures for the anticipated height of tsunami-announced Aug.

Technology › American Express launches global Facebook program, ‘Friends of Japan’

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 02:22:00 +0200

American Express on Tuesday launched "Friends of Japan," a global program on Facebook designed to revive global attention on relief efforts since the East Japan Great Earthquake struck the region five months ago. People from around the world are encouraged to share "Messages of Hope" through the....

Asia Pacific poses multiple challenges

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 02:05:00 +0200

Defense communications between China and Japan were interrupted and bilateral ties became tense after a Chinese trawler collided with Japan Coast Guard ships in September last year near Diaoyu Islands. Despite the untoward development, China responded sympathetically, both at the government and....

National › Japan to consider backup capital city for emergencies

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 00:45:00 +0200

Japan will consider creating a backup capital in case a major terrorist attack or natural disaster like the March 11 earthquake strikes Tokyo, a news report said Monday. A new panel will discuss the idea as early as the autumn and it will be organized by the Ministry of Land,…

Japan tsunami tore off icebergs from Antarctica

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 23:48:00 +0200

The tsunami generated by the March earthquake off northern Japan sliced off nearly 50 square miles of icebergs from Antarctica, NASA scientists ...

Japan ignored own radiation forecasts

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 23:35:00 +0200

NAMIE (Japan) - Japan's system to forecast radiation threats was working from the moment its nuclear crisis began in the wake of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Reports were sent to Japan's nuclear safety agency but the flow of data...

Horn of Africa: Hunger marches | Editorial

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 23:06:00 +0200

It is cash that is desperately needed: last week the UN declared that two more areas in Somalia qualified as famine zones Britons give generously to disaster appeals. The DEC fund , opened less than a month ago to bring help to tens of thousands of starving people in Somalia and Kenya, has passed £40m and is climbing steadily.

Japan tsunami tore off icebergs in Antarctica

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 22:48:00 +0200

The tsunami generated by the March earthquake off northern Japan sliced off nearly 50 square miles of icebergs from Antarctica, NASA scientists ...

UN chief arrives in Republic of Korea after visiting Japan

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 22:19:00 +0200

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in the Republic of Korea’s capital, Seoul, after a three-day visit to Japan, where he said he had drawn inspiration from Japanese people’s resilience in the aftermath of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident that struck the country in March.

MS Is Still Ruling The Desktop: 42% Of Machines Will Run Windows 7 In 2011

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 21:19:00 +0200

Windows 7 is now the most prevalent - if not most popular - desktop OS with Gartner estimating that 42% of current PCs will run the OS while 94% of new machines will run Win7. I comparison, OS X got 4% of the pie while Linux is firmly at 2%. Even IT departments are starting massive roll-outs of Win7....

Japan tsunami battered ice shelf

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 20:39:00 +0200

The tsunami caused by the Tohoku earthquake in Japan broke off large chunks of ice from part of Antarctica, a study shows.

Japan tsunami battered ice shelf

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 20:38:00 +0200

The tsunami caused by the Tohoku earthquake in Japan broke off large chunks of ice from part of Antarctica, a study shows.

Japanese Tsunami Cracks Antarctic Icebergs, After Earthquake

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 19:56:00 +0200

NASA scientists were able to observe for the first time the powerful effects of an earthquake and tsunami combined, which broke off large icebergs only a hemisphere away on the coast of Antarctica.

Intrigue abounds after Mao sits out JSF training camp

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 19:48:00 +0200

The absence of two-time world champion Mao Asada from the recent Japan Skating Federation training camp provided more questions than answers. Word circulated through various reports that Mao was "exhausted" after the delayed world championships were followed by preparations for her new programs for....

Japan tsunami ripped icebergs off Antarctica

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 19:20:00 +0200

Chunks of ice twice the size of Manhattan Island broke away from an ice shelf under the force of the wave

Japanese Nuclear Crisis Leaves Fukushima Town Broken

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 19:18:00 +0200

Residents of Minamisoma, near crippled nuclear plant, struggle to carry on with little support

Tsunami in Japan destroyed 120,000 buildings

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 18:49:00 +0200

TOKYO, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Japan's March 11 tsunami destroyed some 120,000 buildings and damaged 220,000 others, the government's first comprehensive damage survey indicates. The survey found the percentage of destroyed buildings was markedly higher in...

Windows 7 to dominate market: Gartner

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 17:44:00 +0200

Microsoft's personal computer (PC) operating system, Windows 7, will completely dominate the market by the end of the year 2011, technology research firm Gartner Inc has said in a recent PC OS forecast.

Japan eases alert near Fukushima

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 17:31:00 +0200

Japan is to ease restrictions on residents living between 20km and 30km from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant.

Japan eases alert near Fukushima

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 17:23:00 +0200

Japan is to ease restrictions on residents living between 20km and 30km from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant.

Japan Marks 66th Anniversary of Atomic Bomb

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 17:08:00 +0200

09 de agosto de 2011, 10:08 Tokyo, Aug 9 (Prensa Latina) The Japanese people on Tuesday marked the 66th anniversary of the U.S. nuclear bombing that destroyed the city of Nagasaki, three days after a similar bomb flattened Hiroshima.

Japan to lift evacuation advisory around Fukushima nuke plant

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 16:58:00 +0200

Politics 8/9/2011 5:49:00 PM TOKYO, Aug 9 (KUNA) -- The Japanese government will lift evacuation advisories in some areas outside the 20-kilometer radius from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant for the first time since the radiation crisis began in March, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said Tuesday.

Japan tsunami broke giant iceberg chunks twice the size of Manhattan from Antarctica

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 16:09:00 +0200

The wake of the giant wave travelled 8,000miles through the Pacific and Southern Oceans until it battered a 260ft tall wall of ice at the southern tip of Earth.

Japan tsunami broke giant iceberg chunks twice the size of Manhattan from Antarctica

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 15:34:00 +0200

The wake of the giant wave travelled 8,000miles through the Pacific and Southern Oceans until it battered a 260ft tall wall of ice at the southern tip of Earth.

AP: Japan ignored own radiation forecasts

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 14:40:00 +0200

NAMIE, Japan (AP) Japan's system to forecast radiation threats was working from the moment its nuclear crisis began. As officials planned a venting operation certain to release radioactivity into the air, the system predicted Karino Elementary School would be directly in the path of the plume emerging from the .

Japan Eases Curbs on Evacuation Zone

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 14:24:00 +0200

In a preliminary step toward rebuilding the zone around Japan's stricken Fukushima Daiichi plant, an evacuation designation will be lifted for some areas next month for the first time since the crisis began in March.

Markets brace for more volatility

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:42:00 +0200

North American investors appear to be in for another day of nervous stock watching on Tuesday as the market sell-off continued in Europe and Asia.

Gartner says Windows 7 will be running on 42% of PCs in use worldwide by end of 2011

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:41:00 +0200

Windows 7 will become the leading operating system (OS) worldwide in the PC installed base, running on 42% of PCs in use by the end of 2011, according to Gartner, Inc. Gartner's latest PC OS forecast shows 94% of new PCs will be shipped with Windows 7 in 2011.

JOC to arrange 'mini-Olympics' for disaster-hit areas

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:41:00 +0200

The Japanese Olympic Committee said Tuesday it plans to organize a ''mini-Olympic Games'' in disaster-hit areas as a recovery project for the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that ravaged eastern Japan. The JOC said it will organize about 60 events where Olympic athletes can interact with the local....

Asian markets stay under pressure

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:57:00 +0200

Asian stocks stay under pressure amid global growth fears but stage late bounce that helps them pare some heavy early losses.

Asian markets stay under pressure

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:55:00 +0200

Asian stocks stay under pressure amid global growth fears but stage late bounce that helps them pare some heavy early losses.

Asian markets pare steep losses

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:16:00 +0200

Asian markets recovered steep losses, amid heightened economic fears as Wall Street posted its biggest declines since late 2008.

Asian markets pare steep losses

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 10:55:00 +0200

Asian markets recovered steep losses, amid heightened economic fears as Wall Street posted its biggest declines since late 2008.

Nagasaki pauses to remember atomic bombing, US represented for 1st time

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 09:12:00 +0200

Japan’s city of Nagasaki observed a moment of silence Tuesday to mark the atomic bombing of the city, while the US had a representative present at the annual memorial for the first time.

Tokyo Power reports $7.4bn loss

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 08:40:00 +0200

Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco), the owner of the Fukushima nuclear plant damaged in March's earthquake, reports a $7.4bn quarterly loss.

Tokyo Power reports $7.4bn loss

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 08:39:00 +0200

Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco), the owner of the Fukushima nuclear plant damaged in March's earthquake, reports a $7.4bn quarterly loss.

Japan Tsunami Caused Calving of Antarctic Iceberg the Size of Manhattan (PHOTOS+VIDEO)

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 07:49:00 +0200

For the first time in history, scientists and researchers were able to find a direct connection between tsunamis and the creation of icebergs.

AP IMPACT: Japan ignored own radiation forecasts

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 07:31:00 +0200

AP IMPACT: Japan ignored own radiation forecasts (AP)

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 07:28:00 +0200

AP - Japan's system to forecast radiation threats was working from the moment its nuclear crisis began. As officials planned a venting operation certain to release radioactivity into the air, the system predicted Karino Elementary School would be directly in the path of the plume emerging from the tsunami-hit Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant.

Japan awaits the rise of new entrepreneurs

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 07:27:00 +0200

According to a survey by the Japan Venture Capital Association, investment in start-ups in Japan dipped by 23% in 2010 to Â¥15.1 billion

AP IMPACT: Japan ignored own radiation forecasts

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 07:21:00 +0200

NAMIE, Japan (AP) — Japan's system to forecast radiation threats was working from the moment its nuclear crisis began. As officials planned a venting operation certain to release radioactivity into the air, the system predicted Karino Elementary School would be directly in the path of the plume....

Nuclear rice fears halt Japan trade

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 07:13:00 +0200

Fears that large amounts of rice in Japan may be contaminated with radioactivity saw the price of the staple grain soar 40pc on the first day of trading for the country's new futures market.

Japan finmin to run for party leader, may resign: report

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 06:48:00 +0200

Japanese Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda will run in a party leadership race to replace Prime Minister Naoto Kan and may resign his cabinet post in coming weeks to boost pressure on the premier to step down, the Sankei newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Japan to mull emergency backup capital city

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 06:09:00 +0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - Japan will consider creating a backup capital in case a major terrorist attack or natural disaster like the March 11 earthquake strikes Tokyo, a news report said Monday.

Investors seek Japanese startups after earthquake

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 06:09:00 +0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - On a recent trip to Japan's devastated northeast coast, venture capitalist Yoshihito Hori chanced upon a group of fishermen outside an evacuation center collecting wood from the debris where homes once stood. They were pulling out the nails and cutting it up to sell as firewood for 500 yen (US$6.

New Market Study Published: United Arab Emirates Oil & Gas Report Q3 2011

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 05:59:00 +0200

(PR-inside.com) We forecast that the United Arab Emirates will account for 8.6% of Middle East regional oil demand by 2015, while providing 9.9% of supply. Middle East regional oil use rose to an estimated 7.6mn b/d in 2010. It should average 7.9mn barrels per day (b/d) in 2011 and then climb to around 8.

New Market Research Report: Gabon Oil & Gas Report Q3 2011

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 04:59:00 +0200

(PR-inside.com) The latest Gabon Oil & Gas Report from BMI forecasts that the country will account for 0.47% of African regional oil demand by 2015, while providing 1.86% of supply. African regional oil use of 3.06mn barrels per day (b/d) in 2001 rose to an estimated 3.63mn b/d in 2010. It should average 3.

Japan considers a stand-by capital

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 04:55:00 +0200

Mark Willacy, Tokyo Last Updated: Tue, 9 Aug 2011 12:06:00 +1000 Japan will consider creating a back-up capital city, in case a major natural disaster like the March earthquake and tsunami strikes Tokyo. Geologists are warning the city is particularly vulnerable to powerful quakes.

Young ospreys' departure encourages disaster victims

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 03:43:00 +0200

In the months following the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake, just as people in disaster-hit regions have been struggling to get back on their feet, many wild animals have also had to overcome having their habitats destroyed as well. In the coastal area of Kuji, Iwate Prefecture, two young....

Evacuees prepare for Bon festival

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 03:43:00 +0200

Evacuees mourn victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake by burning pine roots outside their temporary homes in Miyako, Iwate Prefecture, on Aug. 7. (Photo by Shingo Kuzutani) MIYAKO, Iwate Prefecture--People displaced by the Great East Japan Earthquake prepared for Bon, Japan's traditional festival of the dead, on Aug.

Canon pictures 30 percent growth in Chinese market

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 02:49:00 +0200

BEIJING - Canon Inc, one of the world's largest camera makers, will have its camera factories fully back in operation by October as it overcomes disruptions caused by the giant March earthquake, an executive said in an exclusive interview with China Daily.

Diplomacy can ease Japan's disaster pain

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 02:19:00 +0200

Japan issued its annual blue book on diplomacy on schedule - on April 1 - even though the country is still struggling to emerge from the devastating effects of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, and the threat of nuclear radiation they created.

Reaching out to others in times of crisis

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 02:19:00 +0200

The loss of life and enormous suffering are heart wrenching, but people around the world have also marveled at the discipline with which ordinary Japanese have dealt with the disaster.

Effect of Japan tsunami felt in Antarctica

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 02:03:00 +0200

GREENBELT, Md., Aug. 8 (UPI) -- The tsunami from the March earthquake in Japan had impacts across the world, causing the calving of icebergs a hemisphere away in Antarctica, researchers say. The finding is the first direct observation of such a connection...

UN chief in Japan as nuclear crisis simmers

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0200

TOKYO: UN chief Ban Ki-moon arrived in Japan on Sunday, where he plans to visit the Fukushima nuclear disaster zone, as the crippled atomic power plant simmers and a food safety scare deepens. The secretary general will visit hard-hit Fukushima prefecture as one of the most senior foreign leaders to go to the area after a magnitude-9.

Japan's Tsunami Caused Huge Iceberg to Break Off of Antarctica

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 21:10:00 +0200

Scientsists have long suspected icebergs to have a link with earthquakes. Just 18 hours after the tsunami, a wave of one foot height struck the ice shelf in Antarctica and broke off giant pieces. The Sulzberger ice shelf is a sheet of ice 260 feet thick, and extends towards New Zealand.

Japan 'to mull backup capital city for emergencies' (AFP)

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 19:52:00 +0200

AFP - Japan will consider creating a backup capital in case a major terrorist attack or natural disaster like the March 11 earthquake strikes Tokyo, a news report said Monday.

Kyodo Industry Brief (Aug. 8) -2-

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 18:28:00 +0200

TOKYO - ---------- Sony to debut storage battery for offices, shops in Sept. TOKYO - Sony said it will marke...

Animator digs deep to make films the hard way

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 17:21:00 +0200

With the new film, however, Shinkai hired 15 staff members, some whom used to work for Studio Ghibli, one of the biggest animation studios in Japan. His cinematographer is Korean camerawoman Lee Ju-mi, who has worked in the Japanese animation industry for the past eight years.

Sony intros 200-pound battery to power businesses, government agencies during a blackout

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 17:18:00 +0200

In the five months since a tsunami and 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit Japan, we've seen various technology companies struggle to get their manufacturing operations back in order, but Sony appears to be the first to introduce a product seemingly inspired by the disaster itself.

Tohoku Tsunami Created Icebergs in Antarctica

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 17:13:00 +0200

GREENBELT, Md. , Aug. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A NASA scientist and her colleagues were able to observe for the first ti

UN asks Japan to share lessons from nuclear disaster

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:08:00 +0200

TOKYO, Aug 8 (KUNA) -- Visiting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday expressed hope that Japan will share its lessons of a nuclear disaster with the world, asking embattled Prime Minister Naoto Kan to attend a UN high-level meeting on atomic safety next month.

Trade in rice futures back, halts from get-go

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:52:00 +0200

No quotation was given for rice futures contracts on the Tokyo Grain Exchange on Monday when Japan restarted rice futures trading for the first time in 72 years, as the bourse was forced to halt trading amid massive buy orders triggered by fears of tighter supply.

Searching for a new Sony in the rubble of the great quake

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:01:00 +0200

On a recent trip to Japan's devastated northeast coast, venture capitalist Yoshihito Hori chanced upon a group of fishermen outside an evacuation center collecting wood from the debris where homes once stood. They were pulling out the nails and cutting it up to sell as firewood for 500 yen ($6.37) a bundle.

Somalia famine appeal raises far less than previous disasters

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:23:00 +0200

UK donations are lower for east Africa crisis than for Asian tsunami or Haiti earthquake, despite it affecting more people British donations to tackle the drought crisis in east Africa are falling far short of previous appeals, figures released by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) reveal.

Japan vows to UN to share tsunami, nuclear lessons

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:21:00 +0200

TOKYO (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says Japan has promised to share "invaluable" lessons from its earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crises. Ban said Prime Minister Naoto Kan vowed to share Japan's lessons about disaster management and nuclear safety with the world.

Getting the bad news overload

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 13:17:00 +0200

Revolutions, earthquakes, famine, scandals and killings -- the headlines keep coming relentlessly.

After Fukushima, Japan's 'authority myth' is crumbling | Martin Dusinberre

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:52:00 +0200

Ordinary people in Japan are starting to wonder whether to trust what politicians and the media tell them Several weeks after the Japanese tsunami , I asked an acquaintance in the country whether the electricity shortfall resulting from the Fukushima crisis would affect his lifestyle choices. "Not at all," he said breezily.

Assad must stop violence, U.N. chief repeats (Reuters)

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:48:00 +0200

Reuters - U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon on Monday renewed his appeal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to stop the violence against civilians after reports of a new military crackdown just a day earlier.

BBC pushes iPlayer into the living room

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 11:37:00 +0200

The BBC has released an updated version of the iPlayer designed for televisions, in a move that its hoped will broaden access to the catch-up service to less technologically-savvy viewers.

Assad must stop violence, UN chief repeats after latest crackdown

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 09:56:00 +0200

SOMA CITY, Japan (Reuters) - U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon on Monday renewed his appeal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to stop the violence against civillians after reports of a new military crackdown just a day earlier.

Searching for a new Sony in the rubble of the great quake

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 09:22:00 +0200

Assad must stop violence, UN chief repeats after latest crackdown

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 09:10:00 +0200

08 Aug 2011 05:20 Source: reuters // Reuters SOMA CITY, Japan, Aug 8 (Reuters) - U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon on Monday renewed his appeal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to stop the violence against civillians after reports of a new military crackdown just a day earlier.

FEATURE-Searching for a new Sony in the rubble of the great quake

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 09:10:00 +0200

08 Aug 2011 05:37 Source: reuters // Reuters * Disaster seen spurring rise in entrepreneurs * Japan ranks low in attitudes towards entrepreneurship * Breaking Tokyo Electric monopoly could spur growth * Overseas competitiveness seen crucial By Tim Kelly TOKYO, Aug 8 (Reuters) - On a recent trip to....

Assad must stop violence, U.N. chief repeats

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 09:00:00 +0200

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon on Monday renewed his appeal to Syrian President to stop the violence against civilians after reports of a new military crackdown.

UN Chief Visits Areas Near Damaged Japanese Nuclear Plant

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 08:56:00 +0200

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Ban is one of the most senior foreign officials to go near the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that triggered the catastrophe.

Assad must stop violence, UN chief repeats after latest crackdown

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 08:47:00 +0200

SOMA CITY, Japan, Aug 8 (Reuters) - U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon on Monday renewed his appeal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to stop the violence against civillians after reports of a new military crackdown just a day earlier.

Assad must stop violence, UN chief says after latest deaths

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 08:17:00 +0200

"I hope he takes that situation very seriously" Ban says from Japan, a day after residents said Syrian tanks stormed Deir al-Zor , killing at least 50; UN chief says he delivered phone message to Syrian president.

Searching for a new Sony in the rubble of the great quake

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 08:16:00 +0200

TOKYO (Reuters) - On a recent trip to Japan's devastated northeast coast, venture capitalist Yoshihito Hori chanced upon a group of fishermen outside an evacuation center collecting wood from the debris where homes once stood. They were pulling out the nails and cutting it up to sell as firewood for 500 yen ($6.

UN chief visits Japan disaster zone

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 07:46:00 +0200

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, second left, talks to Japanese women taking shelter at a gymnasium in Fukushima city, Fukushima prefecture, northern Japan, Monday, Aug. 8, 2011. Ban met with ...

Assad must stop violence, U.N. chief repeats

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 07:46:00 +0200

SOMA CITY, Japan (Reuters) - U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon on Monday renewed his appeal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to stop the violence against civilians after reports of a new military crackdown just a day earlier.

UN chief visits Japan disaster zone

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 07:16:00 +0200

TOKYO (AP) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has visited a shelter in Japan's disaster zone to offer support to people evacuated from their homes after a March earthquake and tsunami sent a nuclear plant into meltdown.

Ex-Pres. Fidel Ramos gets honorary doctorate in Tokyo

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 05:11:00 +0200

Former Philippine President Fidel Ramos received an honorary doctorate in International Studies from the J.F. Oberlin University Yotsuya campus in Tokyo, Japan.

UN chief visits Japan nuclear zone

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 04:25:00 +0200

Last Updated: Mon, 8 Aug 2011 12:21:00 +1000 The United Nations secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, was visiting the disaster zone around Japan's damaged nuclear complex at Fukushima on Monday. A magnitude-9.0 earthquake and tsunami on March 11 triggered the catastrophe and the power plant is continuing to emit radioactivity.

Japan Freight Transport Report Q3 2011: New research report available at Fast Market Research

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 03:55:00 +0200

(PR-inside.com) The devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in Q111 left thousands dead and shattered the country's infrastructure. The ports worst-hit on the country's north-east coast were out of action for some months, causing liquid-bulk shipments to be rerouted and raising the....

UN chief heads to Japan as nuclear crisis simmers

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 01:20:00 +0200

TOKYO: UN chief Ban Ki-moon arrives in Japan on Sunday, where he plans to visit the Fukushima nuclear disaster zone, as the crippled atomic power plant simmers and a food safety scare deepens.

UN chief heads to Japan as nuclear crisis simmers

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 00:16:00 +0200

UN chief Ban Ki-moon arrives in Japan on Sunday, where he plans to visit the Fukushima nuclear disaster zone, as the crippled atomic power plant simmers and a food safety scare deepens.

UN chief in Fukushima as nuke crisis simmers

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 21:43:00 +0200

Published Date: August 08, 2011 FUKUSHIMA, Japan: UN chief Ban Ki-moon yesterday arrived in Japan's Fukushima, where he plans to visit the nuclear disaster zone, as the crippled atomic power plant simmers and a food safety scare deepens. The secretary general became one of the most senior foreign....

Rawlings reiterates call for urgent aid to Somalia

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 18:35:00 +0200

Accra, Aug. 7, GNA - Ghana's former President and African Union (AU) High Representative for Somalia, Flight-Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings, has called on the international community to urgently come to the aid of Somali= a to help alleviate the agony of famine.

UN chief in Fukushima disaster zone

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 17:22:00 +0200

BAN Ki-moon has arrived in Japan's Fukushima, where he plans to visit the nuclear disaster zone.

UN Chief Visits Fukushima As Nuclear Crisis Simmers

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 15:52:00 +0200

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in the Japanese city of Fukushima, where he plans to visit the nuclear disaster zone around a damaged atomic power plant.

Japan’s tsunami deaths put at nearly 16,000

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 15:33:00 +0200

According to authorities in Japan, the known deaths in the country’s catastrophic earthquake and tsunami on March 11th are at 15,680. Almost 5 thousand other people remain unaccounted for. About 90 thousand are in temporary accommodation, promised normal housing before October.

UPDATE1: Ban says Kan eager to attend Sept. 22 U.N. nuclear safety meeting

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 15:00:00 +0200

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said Saturday that Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan is eager to attend the United Nations' high-level meeting on nuclear safety and security on Sept. 22, indicating the premier's ambition to stay in office longer than he has indicated.

Radiation Threat Rattles Japan Food Chain

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 14:43:00 +0200

Japan is struggling to contain contaminated beef and to come up with a system for policing its food supply.

National › U.N. chief arrives in Japan as nuclear crisis simmers

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 09:36:00 +0200

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon arrived in Japan on Sunday, where he plans to visit the Fukushima nuclear disaster zone, as the crippled atomic power plant simmers and a food safety scare deepens. The secretary-general will visit hard-hit Fukushima Prefecture later on Sunday night as one of the most senior....

In brief: Expedition leader who shot polar bear that killed student is hailed as a hero

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 09:22:00 +0200

THE man who shot the polar bear that killed a schoolboy and injured four others in Norway has been hailed as a hero. Adventurer Michael 'Spike' Reid, 29, was a leader of the expedition which was attacked.

UN chief heads to Japan as nuclear crisis simmers

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 06:57:00 +0200

TOKYO, Aug 7, 2011 (AFP) - UN chief Ban Ki-moon arrives in Japan on Sunday, where he plans to visit the Fukushima nuclear disaster zone, as the crippled atomic power plant simmers and a food safety scare deepens. The secretary-general will visit hard-hit Fukushima prefecture on Sunday evening as one....

New Market Research Report: Venezuela Oil & Gas Report Q3 2011

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 03:08:00 +0200

(PR-inside.com) The latest Venezuela Oil & Gas Report forecasts that the country will account for 8.26% of Latin American oil demand by 2015, while providing 24.86% of supply. Latin American regional use averaged an estimated 8.4mn barrels per day (b/d) in 2010. It should rise to 8.62mn b/d in 2011 and reach 9.

Address disaster risk management, urges UN

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 01:49:00 +0200

THE scale of public investment should no longer dwarf necessary investment in disaster risk reduction, the United Nations has told the regions national big guns in disaster management.

Ignoring lessons from history proves deadly

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 01:33:00 +0200

In the aftermath of Japan's worst disaster in living memory - the terrible March earthquake and tsunami - reports surfaced about hundreds of stone tablets warning citizens in the worst-hit region about the dangers of a tsunami.One...

My friend ignored me just when I needed her most

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 00:14:00 +0200

I live in Christchurch, New Zealand and we endured a serious 6.3 magnitude earthquake in February, which killed 181 people and wiped out most of the city.

Revenue halved in fifth of Fukushima hospitals

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 21:12:00 +0200

Nearly 20 percent of the hospitals in Fukushima Prefecture saw payments plunge by more than half in May as patients struggled after the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters struck, a survey by the Japan Medical Association revealed Saturday. The disasters forced hospitals to suspend services....

An artist by design

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 21:12:00 +0200

<< CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 With graphic design you have the client who is requesting a particular job. The client gives us — the designers — a number of conditions and requirements and then we proceed with the job on the basis of those. But doing something to meet someone else's requirements is very....

EVA Air to welcome back 'Hello Kitty' aircraft

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 19:29:00 +0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - EVA Airways, one of Taiwan's major international carriers, will launch a new “Hello Kitty” fuselage in October to celebrate the airline's 20-year anniversary and spark renewed interest in travel between Taiwan and Japan.

[PHOTOS] Hiroshima's 66th Anniversary of Atomic Bombing Reflects Fukushima Nuclear Meltdown

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 15:58:00 +0200

August 6th marks the 66th anniversary of the world's first atomic bombing in Hiroshima, which cost an estimate of 140,000 lives by the end of 1945. Naoto Kan, Japanese Prime Minister, attended the anniversary in Hiroshima and reaffirmed the urgency to reduce Japan's dependence on nuclear energy.

Fukushima refugees shunned by Japanese society

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 08:52:00 +0200

Tens of thousands of Japanese refugees who have faced the triple horror of earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis now have another worry - their fellow citizens.

Earthquake Hits Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Japan

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 03:48:00 +0200

Pyongyang, August 5 (KCNA) -- A 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Papua New Guinea on July 31. The epicenter was in its northern waters. A 6.0-magnitude quake jolted Vanuatu on the same day. The epicenter was in northeastern waters. Meanwhile, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake jolted Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan on August 1.

Many Japanese Unaware of Mar. 11 Earthquake

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 03:48:00 +0200

Pyongyang, August 5 (KCNA) -- As already reported, Japan met with the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated a wide area with Tohoku as the center. But many Japanese people in all prefectures were not aware of the devastating earthquake at that time. It was revealed by a special survey organ of Japan on July 31.

Summer Heat Stifles Tokyo as Japan Rebuilds Economy

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 03:46:00 +0200

Industry bosses count on reconstruction effort to stimulate demand in coming months, amid tough energy conservation measures

Biden headed to China, Mongolia, Japan

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 03:08:00 +0200

Fresh from his role in forging the debt ceiling deal, Vice President Joe Biden is preparing to do a little foreign policy for President Obam ...

U.S. VP Biden to visit China, Japan, Mongolia

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 03:07:00 +0200

WASHINGTON-- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will travel to China later this month to help strengthen U.S. ties with Beijing in a trip that will also include stops in Japan and Mongolia, the White House said on Thursday. "He will visit China at the invitation of Vice President Xi Jinping -- the first....

Japan radiation readings get bigger spotlight

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 02:53:00 +0200

Science editor Alan Boyle's Weblog: A new offering from Yahoo Japan shines a brighter spotlight on efforts to get out information about radiation levels around Japan's Fukushima nuclear disaster site.

Of growth prospects and potential challenges

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 02:46:00 +0200

QL Resources Bhd managing director Chia Song Kun, a former university lecturer turned billionaire expands on the factors that led to the company’s stellar growth over the years.

Japan under fire for 'China threat theory'

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 01:45:00 +0200

China has expressed its "strong opposition" to Japan's latest defense white paper, saying it has ulterior motives to play up a "China threat theory".

Day after Sellafield plant is shut, Government told to build another

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 01:13:00 +0200

The Government is being pressured to build a new nuclear-fuel plant at Sellafield in Cumbria, just a day after the decision to close a failing plant that has so far cost British taxpayers £1.34bn.

U.S. Vice President Biden to visit Japan on Aug. 22-24: sources

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:54:00 +0200

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will visit Japan on Aug. 22 to 24 and meet with Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan to express continued U.S. support for Japan's efforts to rebuild following the March 11 earthquake and address its nuclear crisis, sources close to the bilateral relationship said Thursday.

Lifestyle › Group helps Tohoku kids find some kind of normalcy

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:23:00 +0200

For those children stranded by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami who are the last surviving members of their family, the prospects are not good. Adoption and fostering is still a rarity in Japan, so these orphans have been ending up in state-run group homes—which are often short-staffed and underfunded.

Politics › Biden to visit China, Mongolia and Japan

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:23:00 +0200

Vice President Joe Biden is set to travel to China, Mongolia and Japan later this month. Biden's trip to China, the fast-growing economic powerhouse, will include meetings with President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabo. The U.S. has a complex but necessary relationship with China, which holds about $1.

Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Japan: Naek

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:11:00 +0200

Staff Report ISLAMABAD: Pakistan attaches great importance to its friendly relations with Japan and regards the country as an important friend and partner, this was stated by the Senate Chairman, Farooq H Naek while talking to the newly appointed Japan Ambassador to Pakistan, Hiroshi OE who called on him at the Parliament House on Thursday.

Let's help children and pregnant women

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 23:25:00 +0200

IT IS heartening to read in the article "S'poreans give S$34m for Japan" (Aug 5) about the collection to help Japan's earthquake and tsunami survivors. The Singapore Red Cross plans to build a multi-purpose hall, a temporary care...

July payrolls gain soothes recession fears

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 22:54:00 +0200

U.S. job growth accelerated more than expected in July, tamping down fears the economy was sliding into a fresh recession and easing pressure on the Federal Reserve to provide more support for the weak economy.

Fears of Suicide Surge in Japan's Tsunami Zone

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 22:38:00 +0200

Months after earthquake, tsunami, mental health experts say psychological effects of disaster might only now be coming to surface

July payrolls gain soothes recession fears

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 22:22:00 +0200

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. job growth accelerated more than expected in July, tamping down fears the economy was sliding into a fresh recession and easing pressure on the Federal Reserve to provide more support for the weak economy.

UN leader to visit Japan nuclear zone

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 20:16:00 +0200

UN leader Ban Ki-moon sets out today on a trip to Japan, where he will become one of the most senior foreign leaders to enter the Fukushima nuclear disaster zone.

Obama predicts U.S. job growth, economic improvement

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 18:51:00 +0200

WASHINGTON, Aug 5 (KUNA) -- Speaking to American military veterans, U.S. President Barack Obama said Friday more job growth is needed and predicted the U.S. economy will improve over time. Commenting on a Labor Department report that 154,000 jobs were created in July and the jobless rate ticked down slightly to 9.

Obama on economy: We are going to get through this

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 18:22:00 +0200

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama hailed a positive jobs report on Friday but said more job growth is needed and predicted the situation will improve over time.

Coastal city to rehearse for 6-meter tsunami

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 17:58:00 +0200

A rehearsal for a six-meter tsunami will be carried out in the central region's city of Da Nang this October, officials said a city meeting on Wednesday.

Asia joins global stock rout, safety sought

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 15:21:00 +0200

Asian stocks tumbled as much as 5 percent on Friday after panic triggered the worst sell-off on Wall Street since the global financial crisis, prompting investors to slash positions and scramble for cash and government bonds.

Gov't to import additional 2,000 tons of butter to avert shortage

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 12:56:00 +0200

Japan will import an additional 2,000 tons of butter as an emergency measure to avert a shortage and make up for a decline in domestic butter production in the wake of the March earthquake, tsunami and the nuclear crisis in Fukushima Prefecture, the farm ministry said Friday.

Nikkei hits 5-month low, investors hold breath ahead of data

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 09:50:00 +0200

Japanese stocks on Friday tumbled to their lowest since the post-quake rout in March as investors ran for exits after the worsening financial crisis in Europe compounded anxiety over a weak U.S. economy that has come close to stalling.

Meeting Held to Convey Relief Funds Sent by Kim Jong Il to Koreans in Japan

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 09:41:00 +0200

Pyongyang, August 4 (KCNA) -- More Koreans in Miyagi Prefecture, were confirmed to have suffered from the mass earthquake and its ensuing tsunami in Japan. A meeting for conveying the relief funds sent by General Secretary Kim Jong Il to their bereaved families and victims was held at Korean Primary and Secondary School in Tohoku on July 30.

Chongryon's Sincere Help in Work to Eradicate Aftermath of Earthquake

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 09:41:00 +0200

Pyongyang, August 4 (KCNA) -- The Emergency Measure Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) is rendering sincere help in the work to eradicate the aftermath of the massive earthquake. Ho Jong Man, chief vice-chairman of the Chongryon Central Standing Committee,....

Earthquakes Hit Japan, Guam Region, Fiji

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 09:41:00 +0200

Pyongyang, August 4 (KCNA) -- A 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit Tohoku area, Japan on July 31. The epicenter was about 40 km deep in the waters off Fukushima Prefecture. A 6.6-magnitude earthquake jolted the southern area of Fiji on July 29. The epicenter was the southern waters. An earthquake measuring 5.

National › U.N. leader to visit Fukushima nuclear zone

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 09:26:00 +0200

U.N. leader Ban Ki-moon sets out Saturday on a trip to Japan, where he will become one of the most senior foreign leaders to enter the Fukushima nuclear disaster zone. The tour, which will also take him to his native South Korea, is intended as a tribute to Japan after…

Japan’s March 11 Earthquake Almost Shook Space: Study

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 09:20:00 +0200

Vibrations from the devastating earthquake that hit Japan in March 2011, triggering a massive tsunami, had almost reached the outer space, a new study has revealed.

Japan intervenes in currency markets to weaken yen

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 08:19:00 +0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - Japan on Thursday took steps to weaken the yen in an effort to help safeguard the nation's post-quake recovery after the unit's recent surge towards a post-war high.

US vice president to visit China, Japan

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 07:27:00 +0200

US Vice President Joe Biden will embark on a visit to China, Mongolia and Japan starting Aug 16, the White House said.

"Japan Metals Report Q3 2011" is now available at Fast Market Research

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 06:30:00 +0200

(PR-inside.com) The earthquake in Japan in March 2011 will have a significant bearing on the country's metals industry for years to come. In the short term, the disruption halted production at several copper and aluminium refineries. It is also set to hurt demand as the economy has now slipped back into recession.

UN chief Ban to visit Japan nuclear zone

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 05:32:00 +0200

UNITED NATIONS: UN leader Ban Ki-moon sets out Saturday on a trip to Japan, where he will become one of the most senior foreign leaders to enter the Fukushima nuclear disaster zone.

U.S. Vice President to start Asian tour

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 04:16:00 +0200

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will start his visits to China, Mongolia and Japan on Aug. 16, the White House said on Thursday. The White House said that Biden visits China at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, the first of the planned reciprocal visits between the vice presidents....

Munich Re shows Q2 net earns of US$1.05 billion

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 04:14:00 +0200

FRANKFURT, Germany: Reinsurer Munich Re says net profit rose 4 percent in the second quarter to €738 million ($1.05 billion) despite the company deciding to write its Greek bonds down to market value.

Japan's tsunami destroyed any hope for troubled project

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 01:28:00 +0200

The final nail in the coffin of the Sellafield Mox Plant was hammered home by the Japanese Prime Minister in May in the aftermath of the crisis at the Fukushima nuclear plant which was inundated by a tsunami shortly after the huge earthquake on 11 March.

Closure of Mox plant leaves nuclear waste headache for Cumbria

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 01:28:00 +0200

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) said potential delays in Japanese orders for Mox fuel following the earthquake and tsunami on 11 March, which caused a major crisis at the Fukushima nuclear plant, meant that the Sellafield Mox Plant must now close with the loss of about 800 jobs.

S'poreans give S$34m for Japan

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 23:19:00 +0200

SINGAPORE - A multi-purpose hall-cum-evacuation centre. A temporary hospital. These are among recovery projects worth about S$34.4 million that will be launched by Singapore to help survivors of the earthquake and tsunami disasters in Japan's Tohoku...

Business › Nissan to lend NV200 Vanette taxi vehicles to quake-affected areas

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 22:53:00 +0200

Nissan Motor Co will lend 10 units of its compact commercial vehicle, the NV200 Vanette Taxi, at no cost to several taxi operators in the Tohoku region to help improve public access to transportation in the areas affected by the recent major earthquake and natural disasters.

British nuclear energy facility to close following Fukushima Dai-ichi disaster

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 22:42:00 +0200

LONDON--A British nuclear agency says the country's only plutonium-processing plant will be closed in the wake of Japan's Fukushima disaster. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority said ...

Biden headed to China, Mongolia, Japan

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 22:03:00 +0200

Fresh from his role in forging the debt ceiling deal, Vice President Joe Biden is preparing to do a little foreign policy for President Obam ...

U.S. Vice President to start Asian tour

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 21:33:00 +0200

WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will start his visits to China, Mongolia and Japan on Aug. 16, the White House said on Thursday. The White House said that Biden visits China at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, the first of the planned reciprocal....

Joe Biden to visit China, Japan, Mongolia

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 21:16:00 +0200

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Vice President Joe Biden will travel to China later this month to help strengthen U.S. ties with Beijing in a trip that will also include stops in Japan and Mongolia, the White House said Thursday.

Vice President Biden to visit China, Mongolia and Japan

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 20:42:00 +0200

Vice President Joe Biden will depart on August 16 for a trip to China, Mongolia and Japan that will include meetings with China's top leaders, the White House announced Thursday.

Biden to visit China, Mongolia and Japan

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 20:30:00 +0200

Vice President Joe Biden is set to travel to China, Mongolia and Japan later this month.

Okada: Cut in JT stake could pay for rebuilding

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 20:13:00 +0200

The government could reduce its stake in Japan Tobacco Inc. to a third from half to pay for reconstruction costs from the March earthquake and tsunami, a Democratic Party of Japan official said. The state's holdings in "JT could be sold down, I think, to a third from one-half," Katsuya Okada,....

H.K. tourists slowly returning but yen remains hurdle

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 20:13:00 +0200

Hong Kong's tourists are slowly reviving their interest in Japan after the March earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis scared them off , but the strong yen remains a deterrent factor, an official of the semigovernmental tourism promotion agency said Wednesday.

Vice President Biden to Travel to China, Mongolia, and Japan

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 20:06:00 +0200

Release Time: For Immediate Release The Vice President will depart for China, Mongolia, and Japan on August 16, 2011. He will visit China at the invitation of Vice President Xi Jinping the first of the planned reciprocal visits between the Vice Presidents announced during President Hu Jintao’s state visit to Washington earlier this year.

Japan: PM Fires Top Energy Officials

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 18:45:00 +0200

Get summaries of the top business news from a global perspective Sample The news comes on the heels of reports that radiation levels are the highest they've been at the Fukushima power plant since the March 11 earthquake/tsunami. Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the spike, which was....

Global: Access denied, a conversation on unauthorised im/migration and health

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 17:59:00 +0200

2011-08-02 The aim of this blog is to challenge readers and contributors to re-think the political common sense that denies migrants and immigrants access to health care and impedes their capacity to enjoy the social determinants of good health.

Laos, Japan committed to mutual support

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 16:04:00 +0200

Japan and Laos are committed to strengthening relations, cooperation and mutual assistance despite the fact the two countries suffered severe natural disasters recently. . More

German airlines mull legal move on abandoned strike

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:42:00 +0200

BERLIN/FRANKFURT, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Airlines in Germany are considering taking legal action to recoup the cost of preparing for a strike that air traffic controllers announced and then called off at the last minute.

Record radiation level at Japan nuclear plant

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:36:00 +0200

Fukushima plant's operator says level "fatal to humans" detected near ventilation stack standing between two reactors.

Japan's disaster recovery expected to boost U.S. exports

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 13:18:00 +0200

Disasters America's western sea ports and industries like timber and oil are expected to see an increase in activity as Japan's reconstruction efforts swing into full gear; the natural disaster leveled large portions of Japan and to rebuild the country will need to import record amounts of logs,....

Decisive action shows power of G7 unity

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 12:45:00 +0200

By Robin Harding in Tokyo and Robert Cookson in Hong Kong Published: March 18 2011 22:01 | Last updated: March 18 2011 22:01 The decision to launch co-ordinated currency intervention for the first time in a decade is a turning point for both Japan and the Group of Seven industrialised countries.

Three Sacked In Japan Over Nuclear Crisis, Scandals

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 11:28:00 +0200

In Japan, three senior officials have been sacked in connection with scandals over the earthquake- and tsunami-hit Fukushima Daiichi power plant.

Japan’s Prime Minister Sacks Three Nuclear Energy Officials

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 10:35:00 +0200

Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Thursday sought to take aim at cozy ties between regulators and the power industry that were exposed after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant accident.

Fukushima Clouds Hiroshima Anniversary

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 09:41:00 +0200

Matashichi Oishi, 78, a radiation victim from Bikini Atoll, the site of a U.S. hydrogen bomb test in 1954, will make his annual lone visit this week to commemorate the Aug. 6 anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima 66 years ago.

Japan to fire three top nuclear officials

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 09:18:00 +0200

The Japanese government said Thursday three top nuclear officials will be let go following their handling of the Fukushima Daiichi crisis, which has eroded public confidence in the country's nuclear policy.

Japan to fire 3 top nuclear officials

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 08:56:00 +0200

Sellafield to close as Japan cuts its nuclear facilities

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 08:49:00 +0200

The UK's only plant for processing plutonium into new fuel for nuclear reactors is to close as a result of the Japanese tsunami, threatening hundreds of jobs, it was announced yesterday.The MOX ...

Japan to sack top nuclear energy officials

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 08:26:00 +0200

Tokyo. Japan's industrial output in May logged the second-largest monthly rise on record, signalling a continuing recovery for the economy from the impact of the March quake and tsunami, data showed Wednesday, AFP reported. Factory output soared 5.7 percent from the previous month, beating market expectations of a 5.

Sellafield to close as Japan cuts its nuclear facilities

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 08:17:00 +0200

The UK's only plant for processing plutonium into new fuel for nuclear reactors is to close as a result of the Japanese tsunami, threatening hundreds of jobs, it was announced yesterday.

Japan Buys Dollars to Weaken the Surging Yen

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 06:33:00 +0200

Japan’s sale of yen and purchase of dollars were made to address a surge in the yen’s value that threatens Japanese companies’ business overseas.

Japan intervenes to stem yen's rise against dollar

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 06:10:00 +0200

Japan intervened in the foreign currency market Thursday to stem the yen's rise against the dollar, which is threatening to undermine the country's recovery from the March earthquake and tsunami.

Japan Intervenes in Currency Markets to Weaken the Yen

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 05:32:00 +0200

Japan’s sale of yen and purchase of dollars were made to address a surge in the yen’s value that threatens Japanese companies’ business overseas.

CEATEC JAPAN 2011 to Collaborate with the 42nd Tokyo Motor Show 2011

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 04:52:00 +0200

TOKYO , Aug. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The CEATEC JAPAN Organizing Committee (Chairman: Kaoru Yano /

CEATEC JAPAN 2011 Exhibition Overview

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 04:52:00 +0200

TOKYO , Aug. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- An overview has been compiled of the CEATEC JAPAN 2011 exhibition that will be held at Makuha

Australia Prepares World-First Tsunami Warning System

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 04:23:00 +0200

Australian scientists are putting the finishing touches on a highly advanced tsunami warning system in a remote desert region north of Perth. Researchers say the array of sensors is the first in the world able to make predictions on where and when tsunamis may strike. The system bei...

Japan Moves to Weaken the Yen

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 04:01:00 +0200

Japan intervened in currency markets to stem the rise of the yen against the dollar, hoping to preserve modest growth in an economy rebounding surprisingly well from the March earthquake and tsunami—but that now appears threatened by a soaring currency undermining exporters.

Depression, alcoholism take toll on lonely evacuees in disaster areas

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 03:32:00 +0200

IWAKI, Fukushima Prefecture--An 86-year-old woman knows she has little chance of returning to the home where she had lived for more than 30 years. She left her home in Hirono after the town became part of the voluntary evacuation zone about 25 kilometers from the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.

Hamadeh: We Demand that STL Clause in Policy Statement Be Immediately Amended

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 02:43:00 +0200

5 July 2011 March 14 MP Marwan Hamadeh demanded on Tuesday Prime Minister Najib Miqati to amend the clause on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in the government policy statement.

Parliament Session Kicks off as March 8, 14 are Expected to Rattle Sabers Over STL Clause

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 02:43:00 +0200

5 July 2011 The March 8 and 14 forces are expected to rattle sabers at the parliament on Tuesday following a series of accusations between the two camps on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

Premier's letter brings group of Japanese students to Hainan

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 02:33:00 +0200

HAIKOU - When Kayo Fukushima, an 11-year-old Japanese girl, sent a thank-you letter to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, she did not expect to receive back a handwritten reply inviting her to visit China.

Premier's letter brings Japanese students to China

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 02:33:00 +0200

When Kayo Fukushima, an 11-year-old Japanese girl, sent a thank-you letter to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, she did not expect to receive back a handwritten reply inviting her to visit China.

Swiss franc reigns as global slowdown rattles

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 01:00:00 +0200

NEW YORK: Sluggish global growth and fresh concerns about the eurozone debt crisis led investors to bet in favour of the safe-haven Swiss franc on Tuesday, vaulting it to a record high against the euro and hovering close to a peak versus the dollar. The eurozone common currency earlier fell to a record low of 1.

UN chief to travel to Japan, ROK later this week

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:49:00 +0200

UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon will depart Aug. 6 on a trip that will take him to Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK), his spokesman Martin Nesirky told reporters here Tuesday. "While in Japan, he will visit Fukushima to see first-hand the devastation caused....

Japanese MotoGP to go ahead as planned

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:04:00 +0200

The Japanese MotoGP will go ahead as planned after a report found that radiation risks from the nearby Fukushima plant damaged in March's earthquake and tsunami were negligible.

Sellafield MOX fuel plant to close

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 23:39:00 +0200

The UK's only plant for processing plutonium into new fuel for nuclear reactors is to close.

Toyota tells Japan suppliers to get ready for busy 2012

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 23:15:00 +0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - Toyota has told its suppliers in Japan to prepare for ramped up production in 2012 and following years, signaling that the automaker is confident it's back on a growth track after being hit by massive recalls and the tsunami disaster.

Kirin bid for Brazil brewer meets resistance

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 23:15:00 +0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - A US$2.53 billion bid by Japan's Kirin Holdings Co. for a controlling stake in Brazilian brewer Schincariol Group is failing to win over investors in either company.

Business › Toyota tells suppliers to prepare for growth

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 22:49:00 +0200

Toyota has told its suppliers in Japan to prepare for ramped up production in 2012 and following years, signaling that the automaker is confident it's back on a growth track after being hit by massive recalls and the tsunami disaster. Toyota Motor Corp spokesman Paul Nolasco said Wednesday that....

Magnitude-6.4 quake jolts northeast Japan, no tsunami

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 22:30:00 +0200

A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 jolted northeast Japan on Sunday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The quake, at 3:54 a.m. (1854 GMT Saturday), was also felt in Tokyo.

UK nuclear plant shuts due to tsunami

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 22:13:00 +0200

LONDON, Aug 3 (KUNA) -- Britain's only plant for processing plutonium into new fuel for nuclear reactors is to close as a result of the Japanese tsunami, threatening the loss of hundreds of jobs, it was announced Wednesday. The mixed oxide fuel (MOX) site at Sellafield in Cumbria, north west of....

Sellafield's MOX plant falls victim to Japan's nuclear turmoil

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 21:57:00 +0200

The global nuclear industry cannot avoid the fallout from the post-tsunami Japanese atomic power shutdowns

Essex ARG, 31st MEU Wrap Up Exercise Talisman Sabre 2011

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 21:30:00 +0200

Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) back loaded their amphibious craft and gear to the forward-deployed amphibious dock-landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42), July 30 from Freshwater Beach, Australia, marking the end of exercise Talisman Sabre 2011.

Nuclear plant shuts due to tsunami

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 21:24:00 +0200

The UK's only plant for processing plutonium into new fuel for nuclear reactors is to close as a result of the Japanese tsunami, threatening the loss of hundreds of jobs. The MOX site at ...

Sellafield Plant To Close After Japan Quake

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 21:24:00 +0200

The decision to shut the MOX (mixed oxide) plant in Cumbria is a direct result of the collapse in orders from Japan, following the earthquake and tsunami there in March. Engineers have been ...

White House: no double-dip recession seen (AP)

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 20:16:00 +0200

AP - President Barack Obama's spokesman is discounting talk that the economy may be headed back into recession, despite recent concerns of economists.

White House: no double-dip recession seen

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 19:59:00 +0200

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama's spokesman is discounting talk that the economy may be headed back into recession, despite recent concerns of economists. Spokesman Jay Carney says there is no question that economic growth and job creation have slowed over the past half year.

Nuclear plant shuts due to tsunami

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 19:41:00 +0200

The UK's only plant for processing plutonium into new fuel for nuclear reactors is to close as a result of the Japanese tsunami, threatening the loss of hundreds of jobs.

Nuclear plant shuts due to tsunami

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 19:00:00 +0200

The UK's only plant for processing plutonium into new fuel for nuclear reactors is to close as a result of the Japanese tsunami, threatening the loss of hundreds of jobs.

Disaster prep key for companies, APEC affirms

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:52:00 +0200

A three-day meeting on disaster preparedness by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum economies wrapped up Wednesday with attendees reaffirming the necessity to formulate and promote business continuity plans to improve risk-management in the private sector.

The Nadeshiko effect

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:52:00 +0200

Nadeshiko Japan, which became the first Japanese as well as the first Asian team to become the World Cup winner, irrespective of men's or women's soccer, will get another laurel. The team, which was victorious over the heavily favored United States in Frankfurt on July 17, will receive the....

Rising noh star on mission to broaden audience

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:52:00 +0200

Noh, the 600-year-old performing art featuring drummers, chorus singers and masked actors, has survived in the modern world to this day thanks to its loyal, though aging, fan base. But as with many other traditional art forms, it is in dire need of new talent.

Best Coast

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:52:00 +0200

This is a far cry from the sunshine and beaches of California. How are you coping with the weather so far? Bethany Cosentino (vocals, guitar): It's not that bad! I think we're all fans of warm weather and sunshine, but I'm in Japan, I'm not going to complain about the weather. I feel lucky just to be here.

Quake-rebuilding boon stretches across the Pacific

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:52:00 +0200

Longshoremen at ports in Washington state and Vancouver, British Columbia, are set to load more timber and lumber onto vessels bound for Japan as it rebuilds from the Great East Japan Earthquake. The March 11 quake and tsunami will require the biggest importation of logs, timber and plywood since 2008, according to Wood Resources International LLC.

Japan: Victims" Compensation Office to be Created

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:50:00 +0200

03 de agosto de 2011, 11:26 Tokyo, Aug, 3 (Prensa Latina) The Japanese government passed a law to create a public institution for assisting and compensating victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

Japan to pay billions to victims of Fukushima

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:01:00 +0200

TOKYO: Japan is to pay damages worth tens of billions of dollars to the victims of the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Somalia famine: The problems of delivering aid | Mark Tran

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:53:00 +0200

Explainer: How operations to get aid into Somalia have been hit by a lack of cash in the build-up to the famine The famine in Somalia will spread unless the world community responds with greater urgency, the UN said this week. With more than 12 million people in Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia and Djibouti in need of aid, the UN says $1.

Japanese earthquake forces plant closure at Sellafield

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:44:00 +0200

A nuclear plant at controversial Sellafield, which employs 800 workers, is to close.

Powerful Earthquake in Japan

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:24:00 +0200

Aftershocks continue to rock Japan after a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami shook the country on March 11. A magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit northeast Japan on April 7 and a tsunami warning was issued.

Limit to Earthquake 'Domino Effect' Found (LiveScience.com)

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:14:00 +0200

LiveScience.com - When an earthquake cracks open the Earth's surface, scientists now find there might be a limit to how far such rips will split, findings that could help map out what hazards quakes might pose.

Handa Singapore Classic to donate US$100,000 to Japan relief efforts

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:48:00 +0200

SINGAPORE : The Handa Singapore Classic golf tournament is back for the second year, but this year, more will be done for charity.

Sellafield's MOX fuel plant to shut

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:40:00 +0200

The MOX fuel plant at Sellafield, which employs 800 workers, is to close, union leaders have announced.

Sellafield's MOX fuel plant to shut

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:22:00 +0200

The MOX fuel plant at Sellafield, which employs 800 workers, is to close, union leaders have announced.

Japan's radiation scare to hit beef output

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:08:00 +0200

03 Aug 2011 11:19 Source: reuters // Reuters * Govt bans beef shipments from 4 prefectures * Local govts yet to offer inspection plans needed to lift ban * Scare hasn't boosted beef imports, ministry to keep eye By Chikako Mogi TOKYO, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Japan's widening ban on cattle shipments after....

Japan warns of Beijing's maritime policies

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:57:00 +0200

TOKYO, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- China's maritime activities are now "overbearing" and arouse "anxiety about its future direction," according to Japan's annual Defense Ministry white paper.

Somalia famine: Is aid getting into the country?

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:53:00 +0200

Australia Prepares World-First Tsunami Warning System

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:32:00 +0200

Scientists developed the first seismic array built to predict when, where tsunamis might strike

Ladutko: Minsk will remain Sendai’s good friend

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:24:00 +0200

MINSK, 3 August (BelTA) – Minsk will remain a reliable friend of its Japanese twin-town of Sendai, Chairman of the Minsk City Hall Nikolai Ladutko said as he met with a Sendai delegation in Minsk on 3 August, BelTA has learnt. “Minsk and Sendai have a long history of friendly relations formalized by the relevant documents.

Green: Seeking Consensus in a Squabbling Nuclear Family

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:17:00 +0200

At a Senate hearing, members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission signal that they could move quickly on adopting six recommendations to improve safety but defer action on ones that are more complicated or divisive.

Japan's Noda Adds to Intervention Talk

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 12:53:00 +0200

Japan's finance minister offered fresh signs that Tokyo is considering intervening in foreign-exchange markets to tame the surging yen, publicly telling lawmakers that it was studying lessons from previous efforts to bring down the currency.

FOCUS: Strong yen hurts Japan automakers' faster-than-expected recovery

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 12:42:00 +0200

The persistent strength of the yen is proving a headache for top Japanese automakers as they attempt to make up for losses caused by the massive March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Despite sharp falls in profits in the April-June quarter, a faster-than-expected recovery in supply chain conditions has prompted Toyota Motor Corp.

Toyota tells suppliers to prepare for growth (AP)

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 12:10:00 +0200

AP - Toyota has told its suppliers in Japan to prepare for ramped up production in 2012 and following years, signaling that the automaker is confident it's back on a growth track after being hit by massive recalls and the tsunami disaster.

FTSE LIVE: Stocks fall as debt and economic woes take toll

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 11:47:00 +0200

London stocks are taking another battering as investors agonise over sovereign debt and the faltering global recovery.

The Jewish Community of Japan Aids Its Home in the Rebuilding Process (ContributorNetwork)

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 11:39:00 +0200

ContributorNetwork - The earthquake and subsequent tsunami in northern Japan devastated the physical landscape, but as the aftermath unfolds, time has proven that it cannot kill the spirit of a proud people such as the Japanese. The Jewish Community of Japan (JCJ) has a history spanning over sixty....

NRC members divided on timeframe for safety review (AP)

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 11:09:00 +0200

AP - Members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission pledged quick action on a task force report recommending sweeping safety changes for the U.S. nuclear industry.

Troubled Toyota prepares for growth

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 11:08:00 +0200

Toyota has told its suppliers in Japan to prepare for ramped-up production in 2012 and following years, signalling that the troubled car maker is confident it is back on a growth track after being hit by massive recalls and the tsunami disaster.

Government Should Look To Sell Some Japan Tobacco, NTT Shares

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 10:07:00 +0200

Dow Jones )- The Japanese government should look to sell some of the shares it owns in Japan Tobacco Inc. (2914.TO) and Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. (9432.TO) to raise money needed for ...

Toyota tells suppliers to prepare for growth

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 09:45:00 +0200

TOKYO: Toyota has told its suppliers in Japan to prepare for ramped up production in 2012 and following years, signaling that the automaker is confident it's back on a growth track after being hit by massive recalls and the tsunami disaster.

UN chief to travel to Japan, ROK later this week

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 09:30:00 +0200

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon will depart Aug. 6 on a trip that will take him to Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK), his spokesman Martin Nesirky told reporters here Tuesday. "While in Japan, he will visit Fukushima to see first-hand the devastation caused by the March earthquake and tsunami....

Toyota plans record production of vehicles in 2012

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 09:30:00 +0200

Toyota Motor Corp., the world's largest automaker, said Wednesday it plans to raise its global production of vehicles, including the firm's high end Lexus models, to a record 8.9 million units in 2012. According to company officials at the Nagoya-based firm, the auto giant's targets are to produce 3.

Troubled Toyota prepares for growth

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 08:51:00 +0200

8/3/2011 - 7:24:15 AM Toyota has told its suppliers in Japan to prepare for ramped-up production in 2012 and following years, signalling that the troubled car maker is confident it is back on a growth track after being hit by massive recalls and the tsunami disaster.

Troubled Toyota prepares for growth

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 08:24:00 +0200

Troubled Toyota prepares for growth

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 08:02:00 +0200

Troubled Toyota prepares for growth

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 07:07:00 +0200

Troubled Toyota prepares for growth

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 07:07:00 +0200

Troubled Toyota prepares for growth

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 06:58:00 +0200

Troubled Toyota prepares for growth

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 06:54:00 +0200

Toyota plans record production of vehicles in 2012

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 06:51:00 +0200

TOKYO, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Toyota Motor Corp., the world's largest automaker, said Wednesday it plans to raise its global production of vehicles, including the firm's high end Lexus models, to a record 8.9 million units in 2012. According to company officials at the Nagoya-based firm, the auto giant's targets are to produce 3.

Business › Kirin purchase of Brazilian brewer meets opposition on both sides of Pacific

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 06:51:00 +0200

A $2.53 billion bid by Japan's Kirin Holdings Co for a controlling stake in Brazilian brewer Schincariol Group is failing to win over investors in either company. Schincariol minority shareholders have vowed to block the sale in an apparent family feud over the fate of the company, and investors....

Toyota net profit sees 99% fall in April-June on quake

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 06:30:00 +0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - Japan's Toyota Motor on Tuesday said net profit plunged 99 percent in April-June on the impact of the March disasters, but raised its full year net profit forecast 39 percent on recovery hopes.

Toyota tells suppliers to prepare for growth

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 06:29:00 +0200

TOKYO (AP) — Toyota has told its suppliers in Japan to prepare for ramped up production in 2012 and following years, signaling that the automaker is confident it's back on a growth track after being hit by massive recalls and the tsunami disaster. Toyota Motor Corp.

UN chief to travel to quake-hit Japan

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 05:58:00 +0200

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will depart Aug 6 on a trip to quake-affected areas of Japan, and later to South Korea, his spokesman Martin Nesirky has said.

Kirin purchase of Brazil brewer meets opposition

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 05:39:00 +0200

TOKYO (AP) — A $2.53 billion bid by Japan's Kirin Holdings Co. for a controlling stake in Brazilian brewer Schincariol Group is failing to win over investors in either company. Schincariol minority shareholders have vowed to block the sale in an apparent family feud over the fate of the company, and....

Minju Joson Blasts Japanese Reactionaries' Planned Introduction of Early Warning Satellite

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 03:20:00 +0200

Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- It was reported that the Japanese government on July 9 started the examination of the introduction of U.S.-made early warning satellite capable of detecting ballistic missile launch. The funds for its introduction will reportedly be included in the budget for fiscal year 2012.

NRC members divided on timeframe for safety review

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 02:44:00 +0200

WASHINGTON (AP) — Members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission pledged quick action on a task force report recommending sweeping safety changes for the U.S. nuclear industry. But commission members were divided Tuesday on what that means. Three of the panel's five members said they don't believe....

New Device Detects Radiation In Food Even Inside Cardboard Boxes In 12 Seconds

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 02:30:00 +0200

Even almost 5 months after the earthquake and tsunami disaster that hit Japan on March 11, there is still fear over radiation in food in the country. Now Tokyo-based Fuji Electric has developed a device [JP] that detects radiation in food like fish, meat, fruit and vegetables in just 12 seconds.

Toyota profits hit by quake impact

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 02:18:00 +0200

Toyota Motor has reported a 99% drop in quarterly profits because of the impact of March's earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Net profit for the three months to the end of June fell to 1.1bn yen ...

Toyota posts Q2 loss on rising currency

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 02:14:00 +0200

TOKYO: Toyota Motor Corp reported its first quarterly loss in two years yesterday as Japan’s biggest earthquake on record hammered production and the yen’s rise hit profits on exports. It raised its annual forecast.

National › M6.2 quake shakes Shizuoka region

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:47:00 +0200

A moderate 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck off the south coast of Honshu late Monday, but no tsunami warning was issued. The tremor, which hit just before midnight, hit at a depth of around 10 kilometers, around 39 kilometers south of Shizuoka and 165 kilometers south of Tokyo, the Japan....

The UMCOR Hotline for August 2, 2011

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 23:55:00 +0200

02 Aug 2011 20:53 Source: alertnet // UMCOR In Today's Hotline: Read how UMCOR is responding to needs around the world: HORN OF AFRICA: UMCOR RESPONDS TO FAMINE IN THE REGION INDONESIA: UMCOR CLOSES OFFICE JFON: PROGRAM ADOPTS NEW STRUCTURE JAPAN: EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI RESPONSE HORN OF AFRICA:....

Strategic Global Income Fund, Inc. — Fund Commentary

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 23:35:00 +0200

Strategic Global Income Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") (NYSE: SGL) is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company seeking a high level of current income a

Toyota in the black despite quake

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 23:13:00 +0200

TOKYO - Toyota Motor yesterday raised its net profit target for the fiscal year by nearly 40 per cent, predicting a second half rebound after defying expectations by making money despite the double whammy of the March 11 disaster and the yen's surge.

US stocks plunge after debt deal

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 23:08:00 +0200

American President Barack Obama has this morning signed a bill which will increase the nation's debt ceiling to avert the country defaulting on payments.The move saw US stocks wipe out most of their gains for 2011, plunging after...

NRC members divided on timeframe for safety review

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 23:06:00 +0200

Obama signs US debt crisis bill

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 21:07:00 +0200

American President Barack Obama has this morning signed a bill which will increase the nation's debt ceiling to avert the country defaulting on payments.Prior to signing the bill, Obama said the bill a first step toward ensuring...

Obama says more needed to boost U.S. economy

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 20:51:00 +0200

02 Aug 2011 17:41 Source: reuters // Reuters (Updates with quotes) WASHINGTON, Aug 2 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Tuesday a just-passed bill to raise the U.S. debt ceiling and cut spending was a first step toward ensuring the United States lives within its means but that more was needed to rebuild the world's largest economy.

Obama signs debt bill, says more needed to save economy

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 20:40:00 +0200

President Obama says legislation to raise the US debt ceiling and cut spending is only the first step toward ensuring the US lives within its means.

Obama says more needed to boost US economy

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 20:18:00 +0200

The US House of Representatives and Senate have passed a last-gasp deal to avoid a debt default.

U.S. to send Zumwalt to Hiroshima ceremony

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 20:17:00 +0200

The United States is planning to send James Zumwalt, deputy chief of mission at its embassy in Tokyo, to Saturday's ceremony in Hiroshima to mark the 66th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing, according to sources. The U.S. is also making arrangements to send Zumwalt to the peace ceremony in....

APEC workshop focuses on disaster preparedness

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 20:17:00 +0200

A gathering on disaster preparedness by Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation members officially kicked off Tuesday, featuring case studies on how businesses overcame the damage inflicted by the March 11 catastrophe that wiped out many of their footholds in the Tohoku region.

Is Japan at risk of new tsunami after Honshu quake?

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 20:09:00 +0200

Another earthquake has hit Japan. Several 4.0 and 6.0 magnitude quakes struck the southern coast of Honshu island on Monday and Tuesday. The tremor could be felt in more than 20 prefectures, including Tokyo. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. However, the Japanese people stay on alert for possible aftershocks.

JAPAN: Record Radiation Levels at Fukushima Nuclear Plant

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 19:56:00 +0200

Record levels of radiation have been recorded at the damaged Fukushima Daiichi plant reactor, just months after the nuclear accident resulting from the earthquake and tsunami in March.

Obama says more needed to boost U.S. economy

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 19:50:00 +0200

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Tuesday a just-passed bill to raise the U.S. debt ceiling and cut spending was a first step toward ensuring the United States lives within its means but that more was needed to rebuild the world's largest economy.

European wind power output tipped to treble by 2020: report

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 19:26:00 +0200

Energy producers expect European wind power generation to triple by 2020, with tens of thousands of new, ever-bigger wind turbines springing up, an industry body said Tuesday.

Toyota raises full-year forecast

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 19:09:00 +0200

TOKYO: Japan's Toyota Motor yesterday raised its full-year profit target despite seeing first quarter net profit tumble 99 per cent as it grappled with the March disasters and a strong yen. The world's biggest automaker said net profit plunged to 1.16 billion yen (RM43.95 million) in April-June from a year-earlier 190.

UN leader to visit Japan, South Korea

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 18:51:00 +0200

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will next week visit Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant, which was devastated by the earthquake and tsunami in March

Singapore students heading to Japan on trip organized by tourism body

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 18:19:00 +0200

Some 100 university students in Singapore will leave for Japan later Tuesday on a trip aimed at helping the Japanese tourism industry recover after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami disaster. The eight-day trip to Aug. 9 is organized by the Japan National Tourism Organization and the Japanese....

Euro wind power tipped to treble by 2020

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:25:00 +0200

Energy producers expect European wind power generation to triple by 2020, with tens of thousands of new, ever-bigger wind turbines springing up.

Robot seals help heal Japan's tsunami victims

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:04:00 +0200

For some elderly survivors of Japan's March earthquake and tsunami, comfort comes in the form of a small white robotic seal named Paro.

UN chief to get first-hand look at damage caused by Japanese quake, tsunami

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:57:00 +0200

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will depart on Saturday for a trip that will take him to Japan, where he will visit Fukushima to see first-hand the devastation caused by the earthquake and tsunami that struck earlier this year, and to the Republic of Korea.

UPDATE1: Japan's ban on cattle shipments expands to Tochigi Pref.

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:49:00 +0200

The Japanese government on Tuesday banned cattle shipments from Tochigi Prefecture, raising to four the number of prefectures subject to the ban imposed to prevent radiation-contaminated meat from reaching the nation's store shelves. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano told a news conference the....

Japan turmoil puts freeze on U.S. ties

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:41:00 +0200

TOKYO, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Political instability in Japan is affecting ties with the United States and putting the premier's visit to Washington in doubt, officials said Tuesday.

Japan turmoil puts freeze on U.S. ties

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:37:00 +0200

TOKYO, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Political instability in Japan is affecting ties with the United States and putting the premier's visit to Washington in doubt, officials said Tuesday. The two governments are likely to give up on drafting a joint statement on...

Japan widens beef ban

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:37:00 +0200

TOKYO, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- The Japanese government, fighting a quake-triggered nuclear plant crisis, Tuesday extended its beef cattle shipment ban to Tochigi prefecture in that region.

SPECIAL COVERAGE: Japan quake and tsunami

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 14:43:00 +0200

Houses and cars are swept out to sea in Kesennuma city March 11, 2011.The biggest earthquake to hit Japan since records began 140 years ago struck the northeast coast on Friday, triggering a 10-metre tsunami that swept away everything in its path, including houses, ships, cars and farm buildings on fire.

Workers find ultra-high radiation levels at Fukushima Daiichi plant

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:58:00 +0200

2 August 2011 The operator of Japan's crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has detected the highest radiation levels at the facility since the initial earthquake and tsunami five months ago, a company spokesman said Tuesday.

Rocker Ginger plans charity album

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:53:00 +0200

A rock star who gave away his prized guitar to raise money for Japan's earthquake victims is to donate profits from his next solo album to help tackle child poverty.

Nuclear worries for Japan as quake rocks south coast

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:40:00 +0200

As an earthquake shook the ground near Japan's most perilous nuclear plant in Hamaoka, lethally high hot spots of radiation have been reported at Fukushima

Japan widens beef ban

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:35:00 +0200

TOKYO, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- The Japanese government, fighting a quake-triggered nuclear plant crisis, Tuesday extended its beef cattle shipment ban to Tochigi prefecture in that region. The action was taken as radiation emissions have continued from the...

Toyota raises forecasts despite profit slump

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:30:00 +0200

Japan's Toyota Motor on Tuesday raised its full-year profit target by nearly 40% despite the impact of the March disasters and a strong yen, after it saw profits hammered in April-June.

Toyota's quarterly profit plunges

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:26:00 +0200

Toyota Motor has reported a 99% drop in quarterly profits because of the impact of March's earthquake and tsunami. Net profit for the three months to the end of June fell to 1.1bn yen ($14.2m; ...

U.S. General: troops unprepared for nuke risks in Japan

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:17:00 +0200

Nuclear matters A U.S. general admitted that U.S. troops stationed in Japan did not have the proper training or equipment to handle radiation exposure in the days immediately following the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant caused by the 11 March earthquake and tsunami A U.S. general admitted that U.

Toyota reports profit drop of 99% for Q2

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 12:55:00 +0200

Toyota has joined fellow Japanese car maker Honda in reporting massive profit drops for the quarter due to a strengthening yen and major disruption following the earthquake and tsunami.

INDONESIA: Evacuation towers for tsunami escape route

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 11:40:00 +0200

The city on the west coast of Sumatra Island is in one of Indonesia's most quake-prone regions, where a 7.6 magnitude quake in 2009 [ http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=86480 ] killed more than 1,000 people and destroyed large parts of the city. "If we try to build just horizontal evacuation roads, they won't be enough.

Toyota lifts forecasts, posts loss on quake and yen

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 11:17:00 +0200

TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp reported its first quarterly loss in two years on Tuesday as Japan's biggest earthquake hammered production and a strong yen hit export profits, and the company raised its profit forecast on a speedy recovery.

Video: Robot seal helps Japan victims

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 11:14:00 +0200

Two small white robotic seals are being used to comfort elderly victims of Japan's tsunami and earthquake.

INDONESIA: Evacuation towers for tsunami escape route

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 10:27:00 +0200

WEST JAVA, 2 August 2011 (IRIN) - City officials in Padang have come up with an unusual strategy to save the lives of its citizens in the event of a tsunami: multi-storey buildings.

Next Economic Crisis? A Global Manufacturing Slump

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 10:15:00 +0200

Nissan Motor employees assemble vehicles at the Oppama plant in Yokosuka city, suburban Tokyo on July 2, 2011. Nissan started factory operation on Saturday and Sunday from this month as Japan Automobile manufacturers Association agreed to close their factories on Thursday and Friday for power saving....

Toyota net profit tumbles 99% in April-June

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 10:01:00 +0200

TOKYO: Japan's Toyota Motor on Tuesday said net profit plunged 99 per cent in April-June on the impact of the March disasters, but raised its full year net profit forecast 39 per cent on recovery hopes.

Sports › Japan to honor women's World Cup-winning soccer squad

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 09:48:00 +0200

Japan said Tuesday it would honor its World Cup-winning women's soccer stars as people's heroes, praising them for helping to restore the nation's spirits after its massive quake-tsunami disaster. The squad members, who last month beat favorites the United States, were named recipients of the....

Kirin buys stake in Brazilian brewer Schincariol

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 07:27:00 +0200

TOKYO (AP) — Kirin Holdings Co. said Tuesday it bought a controlling stake in Brazilian brewer Schincariol Group for $2.53 billion in one of the biggest overseas takeover deals by a Japanese company this year. The purchase is part of the Japanese drinks company's efforts to find new growth overseas to offset a shrinking, aging population at home.

Workers find lethal levels at Fukushima Daiichi plant

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 07:09:00 +0200

The operator of Japan's crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has detected the highest radiation levels at the facility since the initial earthquake and tsunami five months ago, a company spokesman said Tuesday.

Workers find ultra-high radiation levels at Fukushima Daiichi plant

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 06:24:00 +0200

Video Advisory (August 2)

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 04:45:00 +0200

TOKYO - The following is a list of the latest available news videos. -- After ending the world swimming cha...

Technology › PayPal co-founder donates solar power project to Soma City in Fukushima

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 02:17:00 +0200

American entrepreneur and philanthropist Elon Musk, through his Musk Foundation, has donated $250,000 to build a solar power system in Soma City, in Fukushima Prefecture. Last week, Musk -- who co-founded PayPal and Tesla Motors -- visited an area of Soma City that was devastated by a tsunami....

Red Cross discloses donations information online

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 01:54:00 +0200

The Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) launched an online platform to disclose donation information, with a test run on Sunday afternoon, in its latest gesture to reassure donors of greater transparency.

Strong Earthquake Rocks NE Japan

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 00:58:00 +0200

A strong 6.4-magnitude earthquake jolted northeastern Japan early Sunday in the same region that was devastated by a massive 9.0 earthquake and ensuing tsunami earlier this year. The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake was centered in the Pacific Ocean near the east coast of Japan's Hons...

Lifestyle › 'Air-conditioned' clothes help beat heat

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 00:35:00 +0200

As jackets go it looks far from fashionable, but its Japanese maker cannot meet sky-rocketing demand for "air conditioned" coats with built-in fans. Kuchofuku Co Ltd -- whose name literally means "air-conditioned clothing" -- has seen orders soar amid power shortages in Japan after the devastating....

Fresh quake spares Fukushima nuclear plant

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 00:27:00 +0200

TOKYO - A strong earthquake has rattled north-eastern Japan in the early hours of yesterday, leaving seven people injured. No tsunami warning was issued. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency says the magnitude-6.5 earthquake struck at 3.54am...

US stocks end rollercoaster day with loss

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 23:57:00 +0200

US stocks rose on optimism following news of the debt-ceiling deal, but the market finsished on a loss with weak manufacturing data.

Robot seals comfort tsunami victims

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 23:07:00 +0200

For some elderly survivors of Japan's March earthquake and tsunami, comfort comes in the form of a small white robotic seal named Paro.

6.2-magnitude quake hits near south coast of Honshu, Japan -- USGS

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 22:26:00 +0200

NEW YORK, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- A 6.2-magnitude struck off the south coast of Honshu, Japan, on Monday, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said. The earthquake hit at 14:58:09 GMT on Monday, the USGS said. No tsunami warning was issued. The epicenter, which was at a depth of 16.70 km, was 32 km south of Shizuoka, Honshu, and 163 km southwest of Tokyo.

Japan tsunami: elderly survivors find comfort in robotic seals

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 22:13:00 +0200

For some elderly survivors of Japan's March earthquake and tsunami, comfort comes in the form of a small white robotic seal named Paro.

Obama's debt drama will turn into a long-running show

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 22:07:00 +0200

Obama's debt deal could be followed by a rating cut and bitter wrangling over the shape of budget cuts Washington's expected compromise over the debt ceiling is clearly better than nothing. But what odds the past fortnight's drama is repeated at regular intervals over the next two years? Well, the odds must be shorter after weak US factory data.

6.8 earthquake strikes off Vanuatu, 6.2 off Japan

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 21:54:00 +0200

A 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck off Vanuatu early morning, however a tsunami is not expected.The United States Geological Survey reported the quake struck at 1.34am (local and NZT), 355km northeast of Port Vila, at a depth of...

Strong quake jolts central Japan

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 21:04:00 +0200

A magnitude-6.1 earthquake struck central Japan Monday night, the Meteorological Agency said.

Strong quake jolts central Japan, no tsunami alert

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 20:21:00 +0200

01 Aug 2011 15:41 Source: reuters // Reuters * Quake has magnitude of 6.1, felt in Tokyo (Adds quake details, Hamaoka nuclear plant report) TOKYO, Aug 2 (Reuters) - A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.1 jolted central and eastern Japan on Monday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, but it did not issue a tsunami alert.

Moderate earthquake shakes Japan's Honshu island

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 20:21:00 +0200

TOKYO: A moderate 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck off the south coast of the main Japanese island of Honshu late Monday, US geologists said, but no tsunami warning was issued.

Strong quake jolts central Japan, no tsunami alert

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 20:02:00 +0200

A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.1 jolted central and eastern Japan on Monday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, but it did not issue a tsunami alert.

Japan, ASEAN to develop plan for strategic economic cooperation

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 19:44:00 +0200

SINGAPORE - Economic ministers from Japan and the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations will agree to devel...

Quake hits sea near Japan's Honshu island

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 19:38:00 +0200

An earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale Monday jolted the sea area off the south coast of Japan's Honshu island, Xinhua reported.

Japan earthquake survivors find comfort in robot seals

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 19:36:00 +0200

Robotic therapeutic Paro pets befriend residents of retirement home 17 miles from stricken Fukushima nuclear plant For some elderly survivors of Japan's March earthquake and tsunami, comfort has come in the form of a small, white robotic seal named Paro.

17:30 'Strong' quake jolts central Japan

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 19:30:00 +0200

irishtimes.com - Last Updated: Monday, August 1, 2011, 17:30 'Strong' quake jolts central Japan A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.1 jolted central and eastern Japan today, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, but it did not issue a tsunami alert. The quake, which occurred at 11:58 pm (3.

6.1-magnitude quake jolts Japan's Shizuoka Prefecture:JMA

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:40:00 +0200

TOKYO, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- An earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale hit Japan's Shizuoka Prefecture on Honshu Island and its vicinity late Monday night, said the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The focus of the quake, which occurred at 23:58 p.m.

Strong quake jolts eastern Japan, no tsunami alert

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:40:00 +0200

TOKYO (Reuters) - A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.1 jolted eastern Japan on Monday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, but it did not issue a tsunami alert. The quake, at 11:58 p.m. (1458 GMT), was also felt in Tokyo.

Strong quake jolts central Japan, no tsunami alert

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:11:00 +0200

TOKYO (Reuters) - A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.1 jolted central and eastern Japan on Monday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, but it did not issue a tsunami alert.

Strong quake jolts central Japan, no tsunami alert

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:11:00 +0200

TOKYO (Reuters) - A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.1 jolted central and eastern Japan on Monday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, but it did not issue a tsunami alert.

Disaster brings out best in people, communities

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:53:00 +0200

"The Towering Inferno." "Deep Impact." "The Road." Hollywood's notion of how communities react to a disaster is unequivocal: People panic, societies collapse and enemies take advantage of the chaos to settle old scores. Had these cinematic assessments of the human character been accurate, then what....

Strong quake jolts eastern Japan, no tsunami alert

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:41:00 +0200

TOKYO (Reuters) - A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.1 jolted eastern Japan Monday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, but it did not issue a tsunami alert. The quake, at 11:58 p.m. (3:58 p.m. British time), was also felt in Tokyo.

Strong quake jolts eastern Japan, no tsunami alert

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:41:00 +0200

Strong quake jolts eastern Japan, no tsunami alert

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:18:00 +0200

01 Aug 2011 15:16 Source: reuters // Reuters TOKYO, Aug 2 (Reuters) - A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.1 jolted eastern Japan on Monday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, but it did not issue a tsunami alert. The quake, at 11:58 p.m. (1458 GMT), was also felt in Tokyo. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

Earthquakes and political tremors make this year insurers' most expensive ever

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:05:00 +0200

• Hiscox reports £85.6m first-half loss • Catastrophes in 2011 cost industry more than £30bn • Japan, Australia and New Zealand see premiums soar A series of natural disasters, including the Japanese earthquake, combined with the political unrest in the Middle East have made 2011 the costliest year....

Sendai children will be taught traditional crafts in Belarus

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 16:57:00 +0200

MINSK, 1 August (BelTA) – Children from Sendai, twin-town of Minsk, will be given master classes in Belarus’ traditional crafts - straw plaiting, pottery and weaving - near Minsk, BelTA learnt from the press service of the Minsk City Hall. A delegation from the tsunami-hit Sendai will stay in Minsk from 1 to 9 August.

Robot seals help heal Japan's tsunami victims

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 16:08:00 +0200

By Chris Meyers TOKYO, Aug 1 (Reuters Life!) - For some elderly survivors of [More]

Robot seals help heal Japan's tsunami victims

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 15:40:00 +0200

TOKYO (Reuters) - For some elderly survivors of Japan's March earthquake and tsunami, comfort comes in the form of a small white robotic seal named Paro.

Estimated 6.8-magnitude quake strikes off coast of Papua New Guinea

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:48:00 +0200

1 August 2011 A preliminary 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Monday morning off the coast of Papua New Guinea, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

Hiscox suffers from ‘costliest year ever’

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:59:00 +0200

By Christopher Thompson Published: August 1 2011 10:41 | Last updated: August 1 2011 10:41 A combination of unprecedented natural disasters and political unrest in the Middle East and north Africa has led to the “costliest year ever” for , the London-listed insurer and reinsurer.

Earthquake damages Honda profits

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:17:00 +0200

Honda's quarterly profit plunged nearly 90% to 31.7 billion yen (£251 million) because of sales damage from the earthquake in north-eastern Japan.

All new 2012 Honda Civic debuts in Middle East

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 09:35:00 +0200

The All New 2012 Honda Civic made its debut in Middle East region. Honda, like other automobile manufacturers in Japan, faced immense challenges in its production capabilities due to earthquake & Tsunami disasters in March 2011. Despite these unprecedented challenges Honda made efforts to introduce....

ANA downgrades full-year profit forecast as first quarter losses widen. Some B787s deferred

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 09:23:00 +0200

All Nippon Airways (ANA) has maintained its profitability forecast for FY2011 despite the impact of the 11-Mar-2011 earthquake, although the carrier’s net profit result is expected to decline by 14% year-on-year amid the disruption to travel demand.

Smartphone app helps rescuers in event of disaster

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 08:52:00 +0200

SCIENTISTS in Wales have developed a prototype iPhone app that has the potential to help rescue workers save lives in the event of a major disaster like the Japanese tsunami.

Strong earthquake strikes off Papua New Guinea

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 07:42:00 +0200

SYDNEY (AP) A strong earthquake has struck off the coast of the Pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea. There are no immediate reports of damage or injuries and no tsunami alert has been issued.

Quake registered off Hokkaido shore

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 05:28:00 +0200

An earthquake, 5.5 in magnitude, struck 130 km off the shores of the Japanese island Hokkaido. The epicenter of the quake was at the depth of 30.5 km. There’s no information about the affected. No tsunami warning has been released yet. On March 11th this year Japan experienced the most powerful earthquake in its recorded history.

Korea's Trade Deficit with Japan Shrinks in First Half

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:32:00 +0200

Korea's trade deficit with Japan plunged in the first half of this year as the March earthquake and tsunami in Fukushima reduced imports of Japanese goods. According to the Korea Customs Service on Sunday, the nation's trade deficit with Japan stood at US$15.2 billion, down almost 20 percent from...

6.8 quake strikes near New Guinea

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:19:00 +0200

A preliminary 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Monday morning off the coast of Papua New Guinea, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

"Argentina Oil & Gas Report Q3 2011" is now available at Fast Market Research

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 03:46:00 +0200

(PR-inside.com) The latest Argentina Oil & Gas Report from BMI forecasts that the country will account for 6.92% of Latin America regional oil demand by 2015, while providing 5.73% of supply. Latin American regional use averaged an estimated 8.41mn barrels per day (b/d) in 2010. It should rise to 8.63mn b/d in 2011 and reach 9.

Red Cross opens online platform to track donations

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 02:24:00 +0200

Charity seeks to show commitment to more transparent process BEIJING - The Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) launched an online platform to disclose donation information, with a test run on Sunday afternoon, in its latest gesture to reassure donors of greater transparency.

China will implode if it doesn't change its authoritarian ways | Will Hutton

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 01:25:00 +0200

A knowledge economy operating at the frontiers of technology is incompatible with a one-party state 'If nobody can be safe, do we want this speed? Can we live in apartments that do not fall down? Can the roads we drive on in our cities not collapse? Can we travel in safe trains? And if there is a....

Quake rocks Japan's tsunami-hit Fukushima prefecture

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 01:18:00 +0200

Last Updated: Sun, 31 Jul 2011 07:59:00 +1000 A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 has jolted northeast Japan. The Japan Meteorological Agency says the quake was also felt in Tokyo. There have been no immediate reports of injuries or damage, and no tsunami warning has been issued.

Strong earthquake strikes Japan

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 00:22:00 +0200

Another strong earthquake has struck north-eastern Japan, the same region hit by March's massive quake and tsunami, according to the US Geological Survey.There were no immediate reports of ...

Technology › Elon Musk donates solar power project to Soma City in Fukushima

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 23:04:00 +0200

Elon Musk, through his Musk Foundation, has donated $250,000 to build a solar power system in Soma City, in Fukushima Prefecture. Last week, Musk visited an area of Soma City that was devastated by a tsunami earlier this year, for a ceremony at the site where the project will be…

7 injured after earthquake shakes northeastern Japan

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 18:57:00 +0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - A strong earthquake has rattled northeastern Japan, leaving seven people injured. No tsunami warning was issued.

Bangladesh sends aid for Japan quake victims

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 18:52:00 +0200

Bangladesh Sunday gave a monetary aid of $1.46 million to Japan for its victims of massive earthquake and ensuing tsunami which jolted the country's northwestern region in March.

Global consequences of Japanese quake

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 18:09:00 +0200

The earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11 will have serious consequences for the global economy and nuclear energy.

Bangladesh people support Japanese Ttsunami victims

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 17:04:00 +0200

DHAKA, July 31 (Xinhua) -- Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Dipu Moni Sunday handed over a cheque of about 10.224 million taka ( more than 1.46 million U.S. dollars) to Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh to support the victims of the massive earthquake and ensuing Tsunami on March 11.

Japan's silent anger

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 15:24:00 +0200

Just because the Japanese are not out demonstrating about what happened at the Fukushima Daiichi plant doesn't mean they aren't frightened and resentful, only that protest isn't the Japanese way Though the situation at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant is far from resolved, life in northern Japan has mostly returned to its former tranquillity.

Strong Earthquake Rocks NE Japan

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 13:04:00 +0200

US Geological Survey says epicenter was in the Pacific Ocean near the east coast of Japan's Honshu island, 185 KM northeast of Tokyo

To Japan or Not Travelers Weigh Risks With Bargains

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 12:41:00 +0200

THE earthquake and tsunami that hit northeastern Japan on March 11, and the nuclear crisis that followed, have had an impact on nearly every corner of the economy, perhaps none more directly than ...

Quake rattles Japan disaster zone

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 12:31:00 +0200

7/31/2011 - 10:38:14 AM A strong earthquake has rattled north eastern Japan, leaving seven people injured. No tsunami warning was issued. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said the magnitude-6.5 earthquake struck at 3.54am local time today (6.54pm Irish Time Saturday) off the coast of....

Disaster zone rattled by new quake

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 10:07:00 +0200

A strong earthquake has rattled northeastern Japan, leaving seven people injured. No tsunami warning was issued. The US Geological Survey said the magnitude-6.4 earthquake struck at 3.54am on ...

Strong earthquake jolts northeast Japan, no tsunami

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 08:47:00 +0200

A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 jolted northeast Japan on Sunday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

Disaster zone rattled by new quake

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 08:46:00 +0200

A strong earthquake has rattled northeastern Japan, leaving seven people injured.

Several injured in strong Japan earthquake

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 07:55:00 +0200

Japan's northeastern Fukushima region struck by a 6.4-magnitude quake, leaving several injured with no reported deaths.

Disaster zone rattled by new quake

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 07:54:00 +0200

A strong earthquake has rattled northeastern Japan, leaving seven people injured.

Disaster zone rattled by new quake

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 07:44:00 +0200

A strong earthquake has rattled northeastern Japan, leaving seven people injured.

Nadya’s New Part

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 07:36:00 +0200

As designer Edward Hutabarat spoke animatedly about his passions of Indonesian textiles and empowering women artisans on Wednesday, he quickly had reporters enraptured.

Strong earthquake strikes Japan

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 07:33:00 +0200

A strong earthquake has rattled northeastern Japan, leaving seven people injured. No tsunami warning was issued. The US Geological Survey said the magnitude-6.4 earthquake struck at 3.54am on ...

Strong quake jolts northeastern Japan; no tsunami

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 07:33:00 +0200

TOKYO -; A strong earthquake has rattled northeastern Japan, leaving seven people injured. No tsunami warning was issued. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency says the magnitude-6.5 ...

Strong quake shakes Japan's Fukushima

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 07:25:00 +0200

A strong 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck off north-east Japan's Fukushima region, home to a crippled nuclear power plant, early on Sunday, but there was no risk of a tsunami, seismologists said.

Disaster zone rattled by new quake

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 07:03:00 +0200

A strong earthquake has rattled northeastern Japan, leaving seven people injured.

Strong earthquake jolts northeast Japan, no tsunami

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 06:58:00 +0200

A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 jolted northeast Japan on Sunday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The quake, at 3:54 a.m. (1854 GMT Saturday), was also felt in Tokyo.

Disaster zone rattled by new quake

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 06:58:00 +0200

A strong earthquake has rattled northeastern Japan, leaving seven people injured.

Strong quake jolts northeast Japan, no tsunami

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 06:56:00 +0200

A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 jolted northeast Japan on Sunday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

Disaster zone rattled by new quake

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 06:51:00 +0200

A strong earthquake has rattled northeastern Japan, leaving seven people injured.

Strong quake jolts northeastern Japan; no tsunami

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 06:21:00 +0200

TOKYO - A strong earthquake has rattled northeastern Japan, leaving seven people injured. No tsunami warning was issued. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency says the magnitude-6.5 earthquake struck at 3.54 am Sunday (2.54 am Singapore time)...

Strong earthquake strikes Japan

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 06:11:00 +0200

A strong earthquake has rattled northeastern Japan, leaving seven people injured.

Strong earthquake jolts northeast Japan, no tsunami

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 05:33:00 +0200

TOKYO (Reuters) - A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 jolted northeast Japan on Sunday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The quake, at 3:54 a.m. (1854 GMT Saturday), was also felt in Tokyo.

Strong quake jolts northeastern Japan

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 05:30:00 +0200

A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 jolted northeast Japan on Sunday, Reuters reports citing officials at Japan’s Meteorological Agency. The quake, at 3:54 a.m. local time Saturday, was also felt in Tokyo. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, and no tsunami warning was issued.

6.3-magnitude earthquake hits sea off Japan's east coast

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 05:04:00 +0200

Beijing. An earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter Scale hit the sea off the east coast of Honshu of Japan at 2:53 a.m. Beijing Time Sunday, the China Earthquake Networks Center said. The epicenter was monitored at 36.9 degrees north latitude and 141.3 degrees east longitude with a depth of about 40 km, Xinhua informed.

Japan now under flood

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 03:58:00 +0200

Much of Japan's northern area is now under water, following torrential rain from a weather system that has already killed dozens of people on the Korean peninsula.

Strong quake shakes Japan's Fukushima

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 03:32:00 +0200

TOKYO: A strong 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck off northeast Japan's Fukushima region, home to a crippled nuclear power plant, early Sunday, but there was no risk of a tsunami, seismologists said.

Students with special needs give back to community through story-reading club

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 03:26:00 +0200

SUKAGAWA, Fukushima Prefecture--Rather than being on the receiving end, a group of students with special needs at a school here are giving something back to their community--a rare opportunity at schools like theirs. The students are in a reading club at the Fukushima Prefectural Sukagawa Yogo School (school for children with disabilities).

All clear after quake near Fukushima plant

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 03:25:00 +0200

A STRONG 6.4-magnitude earthquake has struck off northeast Japan's Fukushima region, home to a crippled nuclear power plant, but there is no risk of a tsunami, seismologists said.

6.3-magnitude earthquake hits sea off Japan's east coast

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 02:45:00 +0200

BEIJING, July 31 (Xinhua) -- An earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter Scale hit the sea off the east coast of Honshu of Japan at 2:53 a.m. Beijing Time Sunday, the China Earthquake Networks Center said. The epicenter was monitored at 36.9 degrees north latitude and 141.3 degrees east longitude with a depth of about 40 km, the center said.

Magnitude-6.4 quake jolts northeast Japan, no tsunami

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 02:17:00 +0200

A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 jolted northeast Japan on Sunday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The quake, at 3:54 a.m. (1854 GMT Saturday), was also felt in Tokyo.

Revised debt bill clears House

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 01:53:00 +0200

After a last-minute rewrite won enough conservatives' support, House Republican leaders powered through a $900 billion increase in the government's borrowing authority on Friday evening, marking the second time the lower chamber has acted to stave off an Aug. 2 debt crisis. "We've done our level best.

Japan’s industrial output rises

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 00:25:00 +0200

TOKYO: Japan’s industrial production rose for the third straight month in June as companies led by automakers continued to revive output amid an ongoing recovery of supply chains after the March 11 tsunami. Japan’s output rose 3.9 percent in June from the previous month, data showed Friday, albeit slower than a 4.

Business › ANA flies into Y8.4 bil net loss in 1st quarter due to quake

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 00:24:00 +0200

All Nippon Airways on Friday said it suffered a net loss of 8.4 billion yen in the first quarter due to a plunge in demand caused by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. The result compared with a loss of 5.25 billion yen a year earlier. The April-June period saw…

Japan output climbs, more upside seen

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 00:16:00 +0200

TOKYO - Japan's industrial production rose for the third straight month in June as the world's No 3 economy staged a recovery from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Factory output increased 3.9 per cent last month from May, when it rose 6.2...

Strong quake jolts north-eastern Japan

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 23:25:00 +0200

A magnitude-6.4 earthquake jolted north-eastern Japan Sunday, dpa reported according to the Meteorological Agency. No immediate casualties or damage were reported and no tsunami warning was issued. The quake occurred at 3:54 am with its epicentre off Fukushima prefecture at a depth of 40 kilometres, the agency said.

Earthquake Strikes Northeast Japan

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 23:15:00 +0200

A powerful earthquake of preliminary magnitude 6.4 struck northeast Japan on Sunday, Japanese television network NHK reported.

Strong earthquake jolts Japan

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 23:05:00 +0200

The US Geological Survey is reporting that another strong earthquake has jolted northeastern Japan, the same region struck by March's massive quake and tsunami. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, and no tsunami...

Strong earthquake strikes Japan

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 22:49:00 +0200