GDACS EMM News Feed

Radiation leak thwarts bid to regain control of reactors

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:57:00 +0100

Japan embarked on a desperate series of initiatives to regain control as conditions at its failing nuclear plant deteriorated further on Wednesday . It called in helicopters, water cannon and even, ...

Lead first to benefit in Japan's reconstruction

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:57:00 +0100

LONDON -- Lead will be the first base metal to benefit when Japan starts buying the materials it needs to rebuild, as hospitals and businesses turn to battery-powered electricity because of badly ...

Lee Byung-hun Donates W700 Million to Quake Victims

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:56:00 +0100

Actor Lee Byung-hun, one of the most popular Korean stars in Japan, on Wednesday donated W700 million to help the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan through the Korean Red Cross (US$1=W1,132). Lee's agency BH Entertainment said that he donated in the hope that his small effort...

Media exaggerates Japan disaster, US radio host says (AFP)

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:56:00 +0100

AFP - Right-wing US radio host Rush Limbaugh said on his show Wednesday that the media is overplaying the nuclear crisis in Japan after last week's 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami.

For Japan tsunami survivors, woes keep mounting (Reuters)

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:56:00 +0100

Reuters - Nearly a week after their home town was annihilated in a catastrophic tsunami, the 1,000-plus survivors of the small Japanese fishing town of Otsuchi are hanging by a thread.

US Military Sends Ships, Aircraft to Japan Relief Effort

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:44:00 +0100

Some of the thousands of US troops stationed in Japan are also involved in the relief effort

Oil prices rebound from sharp losses

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:43:00 +0100

LONDON: World oil prices recovered somewhat on Wednesday, after slumping the previous day on mounting fears over a potential nuclear disaster in Japan. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in April, known as West Texas Intermediate (WTI), rose $1.80 to $98.98 per barrel on Wednesday, after plunging $4.

Rising yen adds to Japan’s woes

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:40:00 +0100

Currency powers up to near 16-year high as speculators bet that overseas investments will be cashed in to pay for recovery

Canadian timber firms rally to Japanese cause

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:40:00 +0100

Major forestry players working together to assess needs, supply materials for temporary housing and reconstruction

Workers race to restore electricity to stricken nuclear plant

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:40:00 +0100

Reliable power supply to cooling pumps may be the best chance of stopping a meltdown of Fukushima Daiichi’s reactors

Nuclear backlash continues to pummel uranium industry

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:40:00 +0100

Worsening crisis in Japan fuels further stock selloffs; China signals slowing of reactor program

Everbridge Delivers Crucial Notifications in Response to the Japan Earthquake Catastrophe

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:39:00 +0100

LOS ANGELES, CA -- 03/16/11 -- Everbridge , the world's recognized leader in incident notification systems , today announced that the company delivered nearly 700 broadcasts to hundreds of thousands of people in the immediate aftermath of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami catastrophe, all while rolling out a major system upgrade.

Japanese nuclear reactor crisis 'very serious,' says UN atomic chief..

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:39:00 +0100

[ Donderdag 17 maart 2011 | United Nations (UN) ] 16 March 2011 - Repeatedly calling the nuclear reactor crisis in Japan very serious, the head of the United Nations agency that coordinates global nuclear safety announced today that he will make a flying visit

Japan's Strict Disaster Preparation Pays Off

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:37:00 +0100

Lives saved in historic tsunami thanks to early warning system, says relief agency

Air Force officials use Global Hawk to support Japan relief efforts

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:34:00 +0100

Pacific Air Forces officials are using an RQ-4 Global Hawk from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, to assist Japan responders in disaster relief and recovery efforts.

Japan's Nuclear Crisis Deepens With Fire, Leaks

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:34:00 +0100

Japan's Nuclear Crisis Deepens With Fire, Radiation Leaks VOA News March 16, 2011 The crisis at Japan's earthquake-stricken nuclear plant is deepening, with radiation emissions rising Wednesday to levels that forced authorities to temporarily evacuate the last technicians from the facility.

Armenians in Japan Discuss Earthquake, Aftermath

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:28:00 +0100

Varditer Harutyunyan was on the third floor of a building in southern Tokyo, while Nayiri Arzoumanian and her parents, Hrair and Arpi, were on their way to the subway in northern Tokyo, in Asakusa, when the 8.9-magnitude earthquake hit the country’s northeastern coast on Fri., March 11.

Workers try to restore power at Japan nuclear plant

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:28:00 +0100

Japanese engineers were Thursday focusing their efforts on restoring the power supply to a quake-damaged nuclear plant in an attempt to reactivate its cooling system and avert a meltdown.

Winter blast compounds crisis for half a million homeless

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:28:00 +0100

Japan's tsunami-ravaged coast hit by an unseasonally late snow dump, compounding the deprivations for 550,000 homeless survivors and millions more who are living without adequate supplies and services.

Cheap food may be a thing of the past in U.S.

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:28:00 +0100

Americans spend only about 10% of their annual incomes on food, compared with as much as 70% in other countries, but with prices climbing, some economists wonder whether the nation's abundance of affordable food is history.American consumers have long enjoyed a luxury that few others could boast: an abundance of affordable food.

Yen hits post-war high against dollar

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:28:00 +0100

The Japanese yen on Wednesday hit its highest level against the dollar since World War II as investors weighed the impact of Japan's disastrous earthquake and tsunami.

Japan brings in water cannon to douse nuclear reactor

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:27:00 +0100

Japan's military have had to abandon a helicopter mission to drop water into the overheating No.3 reactor at the stricken Fukushima nuclear ...

Number missing or dead now at 13,000 in Japan

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:27:00 +0100

The Japanese government has released an official number of people dead and missing following the devastating ...

Yen hits new record high of 76.52 in early Asian trade (AFP)

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:26:00 +0100

AFP - The yen continued to surge in early Asian trade on Thursday, hitting a new record high of 76.52 against the dollar since World War II following Japan's disastrous earthquake and tsunami.

Nuclear crisis a tangle of ominous, hopeful signs (AP)

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:26:00 +0100

AP - Nuclear plant operators trying to avoid complete reactor meltdowns said Thursday that they were close to finishing a new power line that could end Japan's crisis, but several ominous signs have also emerged: a surge in radiation levels, unexplained white smoke and spent fuel rods that U.S.

US nuclear plants located near geologic faults (AP)

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:26:00 +0100

AP - Two years before an immense coastal earthquake plunged Japan into a nuclear crisis, a geologic fault was discovered about a half-mile from a California seaside reactor alarming regulators who say not enough has been done to gauge the threat to the nation's most populous state.

Workers try to restore power at Japan nuclear plant (AFP)

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:26:00 +0100

AFP - Japanese engineers were Thursday focusing their efforts on restoring the power supply to a quake-damaged nuclear plant in an attempt to reactivate its cooling system and avert a meltdown.

After a Disaster, What Defines a Country's Resilience? (Time.com)

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:26:00 +0100

The unfolding crisis in Japan is marked by uncertainty, but seasoned emergency responders have a clear mission: to promote resilience in survivors. Resilience, in this sense, is a metaphor for the quality of an elastic object that springs back into shape after being deformed.

Japan nuclear plant: Just 48 hours to avoid 'another Chernobyl'

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:23:00 +0100

Japan has 48 hours to bring its rapidly escalating nuclear crisis under control before it faces a catastrophe "worse than Chernobyl", it was claimed last night.

Australians told to leave as nuclear crisis continues

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:22:00 +0100

ABC, Reuters Last Updated: Thu, 17 Mar 2011 10:02:00 +1100 Australians have been told to leave Japan's capital as the earthquake and tsunami-hit country hinges on the verge of nuclear disaster. High levels of radiation have been detected at the Fukushima plant and low levels have been detected wafting over Tokyo, 250 kilometres to the south.

Desperate efforts to quell crisis

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:22:00 +0100

Japan's nuclear crisis appeared to be spinning out of control yesterday when workers withdrew briefly from a stricken power plant because of surging radiation levels and a helicopter failed to drop water on the most dangerous reactor.

Nuclear crisis a tangle of ominous, hopeful signs

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:20:00 +0100

Nuclear plant operators trying to avoid complete reactor meltdowns said Thursday that they were close to finishing a new power line that could end Japan's crisis, but several ominous signs have also emerged: a surge in...

Japan tsunami aftermath: Flight to Osaka

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:18:00 +0100

'Post' correspondent reports from Japan's second-largest city on Tokyo exodus; situation at Fukushima reactors remain precarious.

Donors use texts, social media for Japan relief

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:15:00 +0100

In the early hours of the Japan crisis, Satomi Dohi turned to her mobile phone for two reasons: to check in with family in Fukushima and text message a donation.

US nuclear plants located near geologic faults

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:14:00 +0100

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two years before an immense coastal earthquake plunged Japan into a nuclear crisis, a geologic fault was discovered about a half-mile from a California seaside reactor — alarming regulators who say not enough has been done to gauge the threat to the nation's most populous state.

Israeli lawmaker demands supervision of Dimona nuclear plant

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:09:00 +0100

A left-liberal Israeli lawmaker on Wednesday demanded external, non-military supervision of Israel's nuclear reactor near Dimona, in the southern Negev desert, dpa reported.

Rebuilding NE Japan to take years, billions

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:06:00 +0100

Published Date: March 17, 2011 TOKYO: It took only minutes for the earthquake and tsunami to devastate Japan's northeast. Rebuilding will take years -- if it can be afforded. The relentless wall of water that the quake unleashed killed thousands, swept away whole towns, inundated roads and knocked....

Royal wedding: charitable gifts, not presents

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:06:00 +0100

What to get the couple who has everything? How about a donation to a rhino sanctuary-or an offer of help...

Nuclear crisis a tangle of ominous, hopeful signs

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:06:00 +0100

FUKUSHIMA, Japan (AP) — Nuclear plant operators trying to avoid complete reactor meltdowns said Thursday that they were close to finishing a new power line that could end Japan's crisis, but several ominous signs have also emerged: a surge in radiation levels, unexplained white smoke and spent fuel rods that U.

Nuclear crisis a tangle of ominous, hopeful signs

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:06:00 +0100

US nuclear plants located near geologic faults

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:04:00 +0100

Two years before an immense coastal earthquake plunged Japan into a nuclear crisis, a geologic fault was discovered about a half-mile from a California seaside reactor - alarming regulators who say not enough has been done...

Mayor Dean Says Even Much Of Tokyo Shut Down

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:04:00 +0100

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean said there's an "eerie sense" in Tokyo, which is getting quieter by the day.

U.S. breaks from Japan, expands evacuation zone near stricken reactors

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:01:00 +0100

The United States dramatically expanded its evacuation warnings near the troubled Japanese nuclear reactors Wednesday, telling Americans to get at least 50 miles away.

U.S. raises alarm over Japan nuclear crisis

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100

The United States showed increasing alarm Wednesday about the the threat posed by Japan's nuclear crisis, with its top nuclear energy chief suggesting that one crippled reactor was in danger of a complete meltdown.

U.S. radiation suits donated to Japan

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:55:00 +0100

MIAMI, March 17 (UPI) -- A Florida company says it has donated 200 full-body nuclear radiation protection suits to aid power plant workers and rescue teams in Japan.

Cooling efforts suspended at nuclear plant

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:55:00 +0100

TOKYO, March 17 (UPI) -- Efforts to cool down crippled Japanese nuclear reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi plant were suspended Thursday because of high radiation levels, officials said.

Japan toll 15,000 dead or missing

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:55:00 +0100

TOKYO, March 17 (UPI) -- Almost 6,000 deaths from the earthquake and tsunami have been confirmed and 9,500 people are listed as missing, Japanese police said Thursday.

Obama reassures: Japan's radiation won't reach US

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:54:00 +0100

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama, trying to reassure a worried nation, declared Thursday that "harmful levels" of radiation from the Japanese nuclear disaster are not expected to reach the U.S., even as other officials conceded it could take weeks to bring the crippled nuclear complex under control.

Japanese nuclear disaster: lessons to be learned

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:50:00 +0100

The scientific community is trying to learn the lessons from Fukushima. The disaster in Japan has highlighted areas where nuclear plants might be vulnerable, especially those that have been in operation for a while. Experts want to learn how to protect future generations from disasters like this one, that put entire populations in danger.

Japanese engineers strive to restore power to avert catastrophe

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:46:00 +0100

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese engineers worked through the night to restore a power cable to a crippled nuclear power plant in the hope of restarting pumps desperately needed to pour cold water on overheating fuel rods and avert a catastrophe.

Despite crisis, yen rises sharply against dollar

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:46:00 +0100

The crisis in Japan has pushed the U.S. dollar to its lowest levels since World War II, a trend that could give American exporters an advantage and help strengthen the U.S. economy.

Savage headwinds for Air New Zealand

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:45:00 +0100

It's been said that a week is a long time in politics, but the same could be said for a month in business.In just four weeks, Air New Zealand's earnings outlook has turned to custard.In that time, the airline has had to endure...

Recovery may break nation's dogged stagnation

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:45:00 +0100

Provided the natural disasters do not turn into nuclear disasters, then the crisis in Japan does offer the authorities an opportunity, albeit for the worst possible reasons, to boost and reform their economy.First, the reconstruction...

Business › Gov't seeks to address gasoline shortage in quake-hit areas

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:44:00 +0100

The government said Thursday that it has called on oil companies in western Japan to send 20,000 kiloliters of gasoline and light oil per day…

Business › Toyota, Panasonic to postpone recruiting activities after quake

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:44:00 +0100

Toyota Motor Corp and Panasonic Corp said Thursday they will postpone the launch of recruiting activities for students seeking to join the companies in the…

National › 14 elderly die after evacuating Iwate hospital

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:44:00 +0100

First came the tsunami, which killed many elderly people unable to flee their homes. Then came the radiation, which forced a hospital to evacuate some…

Japan Disaster: UNICEF Tips on How to Help

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:43:00 +0100

NEW YORK March 17, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Fund for UNICEF is raising funds to help children in Japan impacted by the recent earthquake and tsunami. Because of the unprecedented nature of the epic disaster and its impact on children, resources are going to be critical in helping provide for the very unique needs of children .

Vitesse Statement Regarding Japan Earthquake Impact

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:43:00 +0100

CAMARILLO, Calif. - (Business Wire) Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation (NASDAQ: VTSS) today confirmed that all of its employees in Japan are safe and that its office in Tokyo is undamaged and functional, following last week's disastrous earthquake and tsunami.

Special report: Mistakes, misfortune, meltdown: Japan's quake

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:42:00 +0100

TOKYO (Reuters) - By Thursday morning the last line of defense came down to this: a police water cannon, a helicopter maneuver designed for wildfires and a race against time to get the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant rewired to the grid.

Multinationals warn over Japanese supplies

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:41:00 +0100

By Andrew Parker in London and Daniel Schäfer in Stuttgart Published: March 17 2011 21:03 | Last updated: March 17 2011 21:03 Multinational companies in several sectors are warning of supply-chain disruptions , after the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear became the first international group to....

Algerians prepare to flee Japan

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:40:00 +0100

In response to the nuclear meltdown threat in Japan, the Algerian government decided to dispatch a special plane to repatriate Algerian citizens, APS...

Japan earthquake: Fukushima plant workers increasingly desperate

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:39:00 +0100

They had said they would do whatever it took to prevent a nuclear meltdown, and on Thursday the workers at Fukushima reverted to increasingly desperate methods to stop nuclear fuel rods overheating.

Covidien verklaring over impact van aardbeving in Japan

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:38:00 +0100

[ Donderdag 17 maart 2011 | Business Wire ] Covidien (NYSE: COV), toonaangevend internationaal leverancier van producten voor de gezondheidszorg, bevestigt in een update over zijn Japanse locaties dat alle ongeveer 1500 werknemers veilig zijn en het kantoor in Tokio onbeschadigd en operationeel is

Shippers see Japan ports able to keep cargo flowing

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:37:00 +0100

SINGAPORE - Shipping companies are confident of keeping goods moving through Japan's ports, using spare capacity at the largest to deal with cargo displaced from those devastated in last week's earthquake and tsunami.

International relief mobilizes for Japan victims

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:37:00 +0100

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – International humanitarian organizations are helping Japan mobilize a massive relief effort in the aftermath of Friday’s earthquake and tsunami that has displaced nearly a half-million people so far, U.N. and U.S. officials said today.

Japanese head home with fear and everyday worries

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:37:00 +0100

SINGAPORE/AMSTERDAM - Unnoticed in the crush of foreigners scrambling to leave Tokyo on extra flights is a trickle of Japanese workers, foreign contractors and students returning on half-empty planes to an altered homeland.

Japan toll 15,000 dead or missing

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:35:00 +0100

TOKYO, March 17 (UPI) -- Almost 6,000 deaths from the earthquake and tsunami have been confirmed and 9,500 people are listed as missing, Japanese police said Thursday. The National Police Agency said 380,000 people are living in shelters, Kyodo News reported.

At Japan Plant, Minor Progress, Much Frustration

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:35:00 +0100

U.S. officials expressed frustration Thursday with obtaining information about the deepening crisis at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. Meanwhile, the U.N. nuclear watchdog announced a bit of progress in efforts to reconnect power to one troubled reactor.

Japan's Quake May Result In Huge Insurance Claims

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:35:00 +0100

Insurance claims stemming from the earthquake, and its aftermath will likely total tens of billions of dollars — making this one of the worst natural disasters from a claims perspective. Much of the money will be paid by domestic Japanese companies — though global re-insurance firms are facing big payouts too.

U.S. radiation suits donated to Japan

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:35:00 +0100

MIAMI, March 17 (UPI) -- A Florida company says it has donated 200 full-body nuclear radiation protection suits to aid power plant workers and rescue teams in Japan. Meanwhile, Radiation Shield Technologies of Medley is working full-time to keep up with orders from companies in Japan, The Miami Herald reported Thursday.

Vitesse Statement Regarding Japan Earthquake Impact

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:32:00 +0100

(PR-inside.com) Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation (NASDAQ: VTSS) today confirmed that all of its employees in Japan are safe and that its office in Tokyo is undamaged and functional, following last week’s disastrous earthquake and tsunami. The Company extends its profound condolences as the Japanese....

Japan situation serious but stable - IAEA

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:30:00 +0100

The situation at Japan's tsunami-stricken nuclear plant is very serious," but does not appear to be deteriorating, a senior official of the UN atomic agency says.

Japanese earthquake takes heavy toll on ageing population

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:22:00 +0100

Shocking stories of deaths emerge as the military is enlisted to help at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant The devastating impact of the Japanese earthquake on the country's ageing population was exposed on Thursday as dozens of elderly people were confirmed dead in hospitals and residential homes as heating fuel and medicine ran out.

Mistakes, misfortune, meltdown: Japan's quake

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:21:00 +0100

By Thursday morning the last line of defense came down to this: a police water cannon, a helicopter maneuver designed for wildfires and a race against time to get the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant rewired to the grid.

Special report: Mistakes, misfortune, meltdown: Japan's quake

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:19:00 +0100

Tokyo. By Thursday morning the last line of defense came down to this: a police water cannon, a helicopter maneuver designed for wildfires and a race against time to get the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant rewired to the grid, Reuters reported. As a crew of about 100 Japanese workers and....

Oil, gold and copper prices soar

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:18:00 +0100

Oil prices soared more than 3.5 per cent, climbing back above $US101 per barrel, while gold rose $U8.10 to settle at $US1,404.20 an ounce.

Cenovus supports relief efforts in Japan with $50,000 donation to Canadian Red Cross

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:13:00 +0100

Source: Cenovus Energy PRESS RELEASE: (3BL Media / theCSRfeed) March 17, 2011 - Cenovus Energy Inc. is responding to the earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan with a $50,000 donation to the for relief efforts. Canadian Red Cross "As a caring company, this donation supports our belief in helping....

Choppers to douse crippled reactor

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:12:00 +0100

EMERGENCY workers frantic to regain control of Japan's dangerously overheated nuclear complex have turned to increasingly elaborate methods to cool nuclear fuel rods at risk of spraying out more radiation.

Corrected: Mistakes, misfortune, meltdown: Japan's quake

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:10:00 +0100

Corrected - Mistakes, misfortune, meltdown: Japan's quake

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:10:00 +0100

TOKYO (Reuters) - By Thursday morning the last line of defence came down to this: a police water cannon, a helicopter manoeuvre designed for wildfires and a race against time to get the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant rewired to the grid.

15 000 Dead, Missing since Japan Quake, Tsunami

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:05:00 +0100

Japanese officials have announced that more than 15 000 people were either killed or missing by the devastating earthquake and tsunami, which struck the country last week. There are more than 5400 deaths and nearly 9600 missing. Another 387 000 people had been evacuated from their homes and were....

Fukushima plant now reasonably stable - IAEA

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:03:00 +0100

The International Atomic Energy Agency has said the situation at the Fukushima nuclear plant is now reasonably stable, but warned that it could get worse.

Oil prices settle above $101 per barrel again

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:00:00 +0100

NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices soared more than 3.5 percent, climbing back above $101 per barrel Thursday after a crackdown on protesters in Bahrain and the U.S. stepped up pressure for U.N. action against Libya's Moammar Gadhafi. Prices also rose on the expectation that Japan will boost fuel imports as....

Lack of parts forces GM to halt pickup production

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:00:00 +0100

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors Co. said Thursday that a lack of parts from Japan will force it to halt production at its pickup plant in Shreveport, La., next week. It's the first time a U.S.-based automaker has stopped production in North America over parts shortages following last week's earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Blackouts ravaging faltering economy

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:59:00 +0100

As the havoc wreaked by the massive earthquake and ensuing tsunami last week becomes clearer day by day, one critical problem for Japan's already fragile economic recovery has emerged: a lack of electricity. In the aftermath of the devastating magnitude 9 earthquake on March 11, the world's....

Power demand surge prompts Tokyo blackout fears

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:59:00 +0100

The government warned that a massive sudden blackout could occur in the Tokyo area Thursday evening and night as cold temperatures increased power demand, although a major blackout was likely to be averted. The development came even though Tokyo Electric Power Co.

Japan's musicians show their hearts

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:59:00 +0100

A mid a flurry of cancellations of festivals and other concerts around the nation since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami disaster, there has been a growing number of domestic artists, labels and event organizers — both big and small — who are making use of their music to do what they can to aid a country in crisis.

Museums close to cope with earthquake damage and fallout

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:59:00 +0100

The tragedy of Friday's massive earthquake and following tsunami in northeast Japan has shaken the nation. And as Japan attempts to assess the damage and send relief, the country's art world is attempting to recover and show support. The Agency of Cultural Affairs announced on March 14 that more....

Getting relief to survivors

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:59:00 +0100

People who have taken shelter at evacuation facilities in northeastern Japan since the March 11 quake and tsunami are finding themselves living under harsh conditions. The central and local governments must make strenuous efforts to deliver aid and personnel to those places as soon as possible.

Tourists steer clear amid radiation fear

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:59:00 +0100

Ros Airey says she loves Japan, yet fears of radiation leaks from the stricken Fukushima nuclear facility made her postpone her fourth visit in a decade. "As long as there is a threat of radiation and concern for my safety I won't go," Airey, 63, of Melbourne, said as she pondered what to do with the nonrefundable tickets for a trip in June.

Miyagi coastal whaling port pulverized, little more than memory

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:59:00 +0100

AYUKAWA, Miyagi Pref. (Kyodo) A coastal whaling base in Miyagi Prefecture has been virtually destroyed by the powerful tsunami triggered by last Friday's massive earthquake, which washed away a whale-processing facility. In the city of Ishinomaki, in the district of Ayukawa on the southern tip of....

Insurers face record benefits

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:59:00 +0100

Nonlife insurers may have to pay record earthquake insurance benefits for the Tohoku catastrophe, exceeding the ¥78.3 billion paid for the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995, an industry leader said Thursday. "I'm sure that benefit payments would reach an all-time high," said Hisahito Suzuki, chairman of the General Insurance Association of Japan.

Remarks by the President on the Situation in Japan

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:59:00 +0100

Release Time: For Immediate Release Location: Rose Garden 3:35 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everyone. Over the last several days, the American people have been both heartbroken and deeply concerned about the developments in Japan. We’ve seen an earthquake and tsunami render unimaginable....

CL schedule unchanged

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:59:00 +0100

The Pacific League has postponed the start of its 2011 season to April 12 due to the aftermath of last week's massive earthquake in northeastern Japan, while the Central League will go ahead as planned with the March 25 opening. Nippon Professional Baseball's two leagues made the announcement Thursday.

Disaster clobbers a helper

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:59:00 +0100

NEW YORK, UNITED NATIONS — The massive earthquake and tsunami that rocked and ravaged large parts of northern Japan have caused near apocalyptic devastation to the land and the environment. The 9.0-magnitude shock, the largest ever recorded in the earthquake-prone country, was brutally magnified by....

Indie scene aims for normalcy in unusual situation

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:59:00 +0100

As I write this on Tuesday afternoon, four days after the earthquake that hit northeastern Japan on March 11 and with the continuing drip, drip, drip of nerve-shaking news from the damaged nuclear reactors in Fukushima forming background noise to life in Tokyo, I see on the BBC news feed that....

Regular-season play begins again for bj-league

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:59:00 +0100

Nearly a week after the devastating destruction in Tohoku due to the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami that killed several thousand people, followed by the Fukushima nuclear plant's ongoing radiation crisis, the bj-league has decided to resume competition this weekend to lift people's spirits. But nothing else has been officially determined yet.

Car maker halts pick-up production

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:57:00 +0100

American car giant General Motors has said a lack of parts from Japan is forcing the company to halt production at a pick-up assembly plant in the US next week.

Japan's nuke-plant battle may take weeks, US says

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:52:00 +0100

Emergency workers seemed to try everything they could think of Thursday to douse one of Japan's dangerously overheated nuclear reactors: helicopters, heavy-duty fire trucks, even water cannons normally used to quell...

Japanese head home with fear and everyday worries

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:51:00 +0100

SINGAPORE/AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Unnoticed in the crush of foreigners scrambling to leave Tokyo on extra flights is a trickle of Japanese workers, foreign contractors and students returning on half-empty planes to an altered homeland.

Come earthquake or tsunami, there's always a celebrity there to help

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:46:00 +0100

P Diddy and Khloé Kardashian are praying hard for Japan, while former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger seems to make the most of a marketing opportunity Say what you like about the world's celebrities, they're nothing if not redoubtable in a crisis. No sooner had the Japanese earthquake struck than....

Japan earthquake and tsunami – interactive guide to the humanitarian disaster

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:46:00 +0100

The numbers of people killed, missing, rescued and evacuated in each area of the north-east coast hit by the tsunami

Japan's nuke-plant battle may take weeks, US says

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:44:00 +0100

YAMAGATA, Japan (AP) — Emergency workers seemed to try everything they could think of Thursday to douse one of Japan's dangerously overheated nuclear reactors: helicopters, heavy-duty fire trucks, even water cannons normally used to quell rioters. But they couldn't be sure any of it was easing the peril at the tsunami-ravaged facility.

Go for the experience, manager urges students

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:43:00 +0100

University of the South Pacific (USP) students have been encouraged to apply for student exchange schemes with Japan.

Car maker halts pick-up production

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:43:00 +0100

American car giant General Motors has said a lack of parts from Japan is forcing the company to halt production at a pick-up assembly plant in the US next week.

Toys"R"Us Children's Fund Donates $500,000 to Save the Children to Support Relief and Recovery Efforts in Japan

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:43:00 +0100

WAYNE, N.J. March 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Toys"R"Us Children's Fund today announced a $500,000 donation to Save the Children to help provide relief to children and families impacted by the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and devastating tsunami that recently struck the northeast coast of Japan In....

JICA assists volunteers

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:43:00 +0100

THE Japan International Cooperation Agency ù an organisation that draws in Japanese volunteers to the country ù is trying to establish whether relatives of its volunteers were affected by the tsunami that struck Japan over the weekend.

Quake advice

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:43:00 +0100

FIJI does not have much time to execute emergency measures and evacuate in the event of an onslaught of a cataclysmic earthquake and tsunami, the Mineral Resources Department has warned.

Effective communication vital

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:43:00 +0100

Information dissemination via the radio and telephone is by far the most effective way of communication with the maritime islands in the event of natural disasters, the Mineral Resources Department said.

Japanese authorities to stop water dumping operation on № 3 Fukushima reactor

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:42:00 +0100

Japanese authorities have decided not to continue on Friday the water dumping operation on № 3 reactor housing of "Fukushima-1" NPP with use of emergency vehicles equipped with powerful hoses. This could jeopardize the health of the staff, considering the high levels of radiation near the target area, reports NHK TV channel.

Car maker halts pick-up production

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:38:00 +0100

American car giant General Motors has said a lack of parts from Japan is forcing the company to halt production at a pick-up assembly plant in the US next week.

Cable reaches Japan nuclear plant

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:37:00 +0100

Engineers have connected a power line to Japan's stricken Fukushima nuclear plant, allowing cooling pumps to be restarted, the IAEA says.

Japanese nuclear crisis: an issue of trust?

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:36:00 +0100

As Japan struggles to keep the nuclear crisis from spiralling out of control, Krishnan Guru-Murthy looks at the way facts has been controlled and asks whether officials have concealed information.

Salt shame

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:35:00 +0100

Panicked shoppers stripped stores of table salt in Hong Kong - and in cities across the mainland - amid internet claims that it can ward off radiation exposure from Japan. The alarm sparked calls from Secretary for Food and Health York Chow Yat-ngok for people to be level-headed and stop listening to false rumors.

19:51 on 17 March, 2011 UTC

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:34:00 +0100

Wildlife staff to check tsunami impact on birds on Hawaiian chain Posted at 19:51 on 17 March, 2011 UTC U.S. wildlife officials are planning to fly over the northwestern Hawaiian islands to see the full extent of damage to birds and wildlife from last week’s tsunami.

Car maker halts pick-up production

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:34:00 +0100

American car giant General Motors has said a lack of parts from Japan is forcing the company to halt production at a pick-up assembly plant in the US next week.

Choppers douse crippled Japan reactor

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:33:00 +0100

Emergency workers frantic to control Japan's dangerously overheated nuclear complex have turned to increasingly elaborate methods to cool the plant.

U.S. Officials: Japan Plant Crisis 'Very Dangerous'

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:33:00 +0100

U.S. officials speaking at the White House about the nuclear crisis in Japan said the plant's troubles are serious but pose no risk to the United States at this time. They also expressed frustration with the difficulty in obtaining information from the site.

For Japanese reactors: It’s a race for water

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:30:00 +0100

Robert Bazell, NBC News Chief Science Correspondent, is in Tokyo covering the disaster at the Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant and the growing fears of a massive radiation leak. He spoke to msnbc.com by phone Thursday morning to discuss the crisis. There seems to be a lot of confusion over what is happening at Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant.

Hawaii braces for downturn in travelers from Japan

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:29:00 +0100

HONOLULU (AP) — A tsunami spawned by the deadly earthquake in Japan caused tens of millions of dollars in damage to homes, businesses and boats in Hawaii after the waves roared ashore last week. Now the islands are bracing for another hit — a loss in travelers from Japan. Gov.

Hawaii braces for downturn in travelers from Japan

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:28:00 +0100

A tsunami spawned by the deadly earthquake in Japan caused tens of millions of dollars in damage to homes, businesses and boats in Hawaii after the waves roared ashore last week.

Hawaii braces for downturn in travelers from Japan

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:28:00 +0100

A tsunami spawned by the deadly earthquake in Japan caused tens of millions of dollars in damage to homes, businesses and boats in Hawaii after the waves roared ashore last week. Now the islands are bracing for another hit -...

Car maker halts pick-up production

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:26:00 +0100

American car giant General Motors has said a lack of parts from Japan is forcing the company to halt production at a pick-up assembly plant in the US next week.

EU energy expert concerned about Japan

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:23:00 +0100

Destruction is seen in the wake of last week's 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami in Ofunato, Iwate prefecture, Japan, on March 17, 2011. UPI/Keizo ...

UK quake rescuers to leave Japan

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:23:00 +0100

UK rescuers are withdrawing from Japan after extensive searches of rubble following last week's earthquake and tsunami did not find any survivors. The International Search and Rescue (ISAR) ...

Japan nuclear situation 'serious but stable'

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:21:00 +0100

UN's atomic agency says quake-damaged reactors have not deteriorated further, amid desperate moves to avert meltdown.

Tsunami alert system to be tested in Caribbean

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:19:00 +0100

Washington. The Caribbean's readiness for the type of natural disaster that recently struck Japan will be tested when its tsunami warning system undergoes a simulated emergency, AFP reported. Thirty-three countries are preparing to participate in the March 23 exercise, organized by a branch of the United Nations in response to the 9.

IAEA says Japan situation serious but stable

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:14:00 +0100

VIENNA (AP) — The situation at Japan's tsunami-stricken nuclear plant is "very serious," but at the moment does not appear to be deteriorating, a senior official of the U.N. atomic agency said Thursday. As emergency workers frantically worked to regain control of the dangerously overheated nuclear....

Trend Micro Global Operations and Support Intact

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:13:00 +0100

TOKYO March 17, 2011 -- Trend Micro Tokyo headquarters came through the recent Japanese earthquake with minimal damage and no injuries or loss of life. Despite continuing difficulties with transportation, and land and cellular telephone communications in the Tokyo area, Trend Micro Japanese as well as global operations and support are intact.

Car maker halts pick-up production

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:13:00 +0100

American car giant General Motors has said a lack of parts from Japan is forcing the company to halt production at a pick-up assembly plant in the US next week.

31st MEU inserts to begin helping with Japan relief operations

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:11:00 +0100

Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit left the flight deck of the USS Essex to establish a forward command center for the unit, March 17.

Obama seeks safety review of US nuclear plants

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:11:00 +0100

President Barack Obama is calling for a comprehensive safety review at the 104 nuclear reactors in the U.S. in the wake of the Japanese disaster.

High-level radiation prevents use of water hoses on Japan nuclear reactor - TV

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:11:00 +0100

High levels of radiation are preventing police from using water cannons to douse the overheated Fukushima-1 nuclear reactor in Japan.

Radiation remains high at Japanese plant despite cooling effort

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:11:00 +0100

Radiation levels remain high at the quake-stricken Fukushima Daiichi plant in east Japan, the plant's operator said, as efforts continue to cool the reactors from the air.

Obama seeks safety review of US nuclear plants

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:06:00 +0100

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is calling for a comprehensive safety review at the 104 nuclear reactors in the U.S. in the wake of the Japanese disaster. The president is asking the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to examine nuclear plants to ensure they can withstand earthquakes and other disasters.

Politics › Kan brings back Sengoku into gov't to beef up quake relief

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:05:00 +0100

Prime Minister Naoto Kan decided Thursday to bring back one of the most powerful ruling party lawmakers, Yoshito Sengoku, into the government to beef up…

Chinese Find New Empathy for Rival

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:00:00 +0100

Japan's disaster has triggered an unusual outpouring of sympathy and even admiration from China that has, for now at least, largely blotted out the historical antipathy many here have felt toward their neighbor.

Not closing office in Japan, business will continue: Infosys

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:59:00 +0100

Not closing office in Japan, business will continue: InfosysSoftware major Infosys said it has not shut down its office in Japan and assured clients there that it would continue to support them.

Lack of Parts From Japan Forces G.M. to Halt Work at a Plant

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:58:00 +0100

G.M. joins Toyota and Subaru in slowing production because of disruptions in parts shipments after the earthquake and tsunami.

Japanese engineers aim to restore power to avert catastrophe

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:58:00 +0100

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese engineers worked through the night to lay a 1.5 km (one mile) electricity cable to a crippled nuclear power plant in the hope of restarting pumps desperately needed to pour cold water on overheating fuel rods and avert a catastrophe.

Japan struggles to cool reactor

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:56:00 +0100

Emergency workers are continuing frantic efforts to cool nuclear fuel at Japan's stricken reactors complex.

Toshiba LCD plant out, Lenovo frets about supplies

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:56:00 +0100

Toshiba Corp said an assembly line in Japan making small liquid crystal displays would be closed for a month, and PC maker Lenovo Group Ltd voiced worries over parts, highlighting the threat to global supply chains from Japan's devastating earthquake.

Obama signs condolence book at embassy

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:54:00 +0100

WASHINGTON, March 17 (UPI) -- U.S. President Obama made an unannounced visit to the Japanese Embassy Thursday, signing a condolence book for victims of the recent disasters in Japan.

TSX in broad-based rally

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:53:00 +0100

Asian markets fell on Thursday but European and North American indexes surged as commodity prices rose and concerns over a nuclear meltdown in Japan cooled somewhat. One analyst, however, cautioned ...

Japan earthquake: Russians rush to buy face masks and iodine

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:50:00 +0100

Residents of Russia's Far East have rushed to panic buy face masks, iodine tablets and dosimeters to protect themselves against possible radiation fallout from nearby Japan.

Cuche sad for Japan despite super-G success

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:48:00 +0100

Switzerland's Didier Cuche turned his thoughts to victims of the Japan earthquake after tasting success in the men's World Cup super-G here on Thursday.

Bahrain protests: Rescue flights leave empty after Britons refuse to pay £260 for tickets

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:46:00 +0100

The Foreign Office said nobody had requested a seat on the flight, which were offered following battles in Peal Square yesterday which killed five people

Lack of parts forces GM to halt pickup production

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:46:00 +0100

General Motors Co. says a lack of parts from Japan is forcing the company to halt production at its pickup assembly plant in Shreveport, Louisiana, next week

Senators want NRC report on U.S. nuclear plant safety

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:44:00 +0100

Three U.S. senators on Thursday called on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to answer for the safety and emergency preparedness at all nuclear facilities in the United States.

Thomson Reuters Helps Poison Control Centers and the CDC Monitor Radiation Exposure in Aftermath of Japan's Earthquake

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:43:00 +0100

Ann Arbor, MI, March 17, 2011 - Thomson Reuters has provided the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) with information technology to help monitor radiation exposures related to the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Nuclear Age: Another of Humanity's Disastrous Decisions

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:43:00 +0100

Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Complex, Japan: Japan has suffered monumental destruction in the recent natural disaster; from the cumulative impacts of the high-ranking magnitude Earthquake of 9.0 and the initial tsunami to consecutive days of continued natural disaster aftermaths with aftershocks, earthquakes and secondary tsunamis.

UN-backed tsunami warning exercise for Caribbean to be held next week

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:41:00 +0100

Thirty-three countries will participate next week in the Caribbean region’s first full-scale tsunami warning exercise as part of United Nations-backed efforts to test and strengthen the region’s defences against such disasters.

Kenya: Japan Crisis Spells Doom for Giant Tech Companies

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:35:00 +0100

As the world continues to watch the unfolding events that have characterised the catastrophe in Japan, it is emerging that the country's misfortunes may not only claim countless souls, but also threaten the technology world.

Dead, missing from Japan disaster tops 15,000

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:35:00 +0100

The official number of dead and missing after a devastating earthquake and tsunami that flattened Japan's northeast coast has topped 15,000, police said on Thursday.The number of confirmed dead from Friday's twin disasters rose...

B.C. donates $500,000 to Japanese relief

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:32:00 +0100

The Government of B.C. will provide half a million dollars to the Red Cross to support relief work in Japan, Public Safety Minister Shirley Bond announced on Thursday morning.

U.S. Officials: Situation At Japan Plant 'Very Dangerous'

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:32:00 +0100

INTERVIEW-Russian expert says Fukushima is no Chernobyl

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:31:00 +0100

17 Mar 2011 17:53 Source: reuters // Reuters * Pshakin says Japan should urgently restore power supply * Graphite burned at Chernobyl, no graphite at Fukushima * Talk of chain reaction in spent fuel pool groundless By Gleb Bryanski MOSCOW, March 17 (Reuters) - Japan should concentrate its efforts....

ANALYSIS-Without strong U.S. lead, West goes slow on Libya

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:31:00 +0100

17 Mar 2011 18:54 Source: reuters // Reuters * Obama's caution has slowed West's response on Libya * U.N. resolution may come too late to stop Gaddafi * Europe divided but Franco-British action possible By Paul Taylor PARIS, March 17 (Reuters) - In the absence of decisive U.S.

Japanese head home with fear and everyday worries

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:31:00 +0100

17 Mar 2011 18:57 Source: reuters // Reuters * Japanese travellers return home to uncertainty * Flights to Japan reported to be barely half full * Travellers worry about radiation, food, transport By Xue Jianyue and Ivana Sekularac SINGAPORE/AMSTERDAM, March 17 (Reuters) - Unnoticed in the crush of....

Japan passengers, cargo screened for radiation

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:28:00 +0100

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Homeland Security is screening passengers and cargo entering the United States from Japan for "even a blip of radiation," Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Thursday. No harmful levels of radiation have reached the U.S.

Japan choppers, trucks douse stricken atomic plant

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:28:00 +0100

The Japanese military on Thursday used trucks and helicopters to dump tonnes of water onto the quake-hit Fukushima nuclear plant to prevent a disastrous radiation release.

Russia’s Economic Relations With Japan Faces Continued Uncertainty

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:27:00 +0100

Russian officials pledged to assist neighboring Japan, hit by an unprecedented series of disasters, but in recent months, Moscow has struggled to forge stronger economic ties with Japan. On March 14, President Dmitry Medvedev... Category: Eurasia Daily Monitor, Home Page, Featured, Foreign Policy,....

Japan to repair undersea cables

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:22:00 +0100

Aftershocks are preventing Japan's telecoms firms from repairing undersea cables, damaged by the earthquake and tsunami.

US technical experts continue aiding quake-stricken Japan

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:22:00 +0100

WASHINGTON, March 17 (KUNA) -- A team of 11 technical experts continues to work in Tokyo to provide assistance to the Japanese government and the ambassador in Tokyo in the wake of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident that struck Japan, Greg Jaczko, chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), said on Thursday.

Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan a situation update

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:19:00 +0100

March 17, 2011 Ministry of External Affairs and the Embassy of India, Tokyo is continuously monitoring the situation in Japan. The Embassy is also in regular touch with representatives of the Indian community all across the country and the Japanese authorities.

International Rescue Corps team unable to join operation in Japan

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:19:00 +0100

16 March 2011 Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne has spoken after an International Rescue Corps (IRC) team travelled to Japan but was unable to join up with the official Government run rescue.

Japan: The 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku earthquake - Situation Report 2

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:19:00 +0100

Overview With the massive earthquake and the following tsunamis happened on 11 March 2011 (14:46 JST), the death toll (8,181) and missing exceed 11,000, the worst number of loss Japan has experienced since the WWII. There are 44,818 evacuees in 2,444 shelters as of the time of reporting.

Golf: Imada pledges Japan aid, asks rivals to help

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:17:00 +0100

PALM HARBOR, Florida : Japanese golfer Ryuji Imada will donate $1,000 for his every birdie at this week's PGA Transitions Championship to charities aiding disaster relief in his homeland.

TELEHOUSE America Reports All of Its Data Centers in Japan Remain Operational

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:13:00 +0100

NEW YORK, NY -- 03/17/11 -- TELEHOUSE America ( www.telehouse.com ), the United States' leading provider of , and managed IT services , announces today that all 21 TELEHOUSE data centers located throughout Japan are operational without any unplanned outages.

Japan's quake may cause $187 bln in damage - experts

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:09:00 +0100

Japan's earthquake and tsunami may cause damage of a whopping 13 trillion yen, Japanese experts said on Thursday. They were echoed by their foreign colleagues who claimed that the latest natural disasters in Japan may cause at least 187 billion dollars in damages.

Obama signs condolence book, says 'great urgency' to help Japan

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:09:00 +0100

WASHINGTON - U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday signed a condolence book at the Japanese Embassy in Washingt...

N. Korea eyes inter-Korea volcanic study in wake of quake in Japan

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:09:00 +0100

PYONGYANG/SEOUL - North Korea has proposed talks with South Korea for a joint study on potential volcanic activity at ...

Lack of parts forces GM to halt pickup production

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:05:00 +0100

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors Co. says a lack of parts from Japan is forcing the company.to halt production at its pickup assembly plant in Shreveport, La., next week. It's the first time a U.S.-based automaker has slowed production in North America because of disruptions in parts shipments after last week's earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Japan struggles to cool reactor

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:04:00 +0100

Emergency workers are continuing frantic efforts to cool nuclear fuel at Japan's stricken reactors complex.

SPECIAL REPORT - Mistakes, misfortune, meltdown: Japan's quake

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:03:00 +0100

Russian expert says Fukushima is no Chernobyl

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:03:00 +0100

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Japan should concentrate its efforts on restoring power to the Fukushima nuclear plant rather than trying to cool its reactors by dropping water from helicopters, a Russian nuclear expert said on Thursday.

Britons to be evacuated from Japan

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:01:00 +0100

The evacuation of Britons from disaster-struck Japan will begin on Friday evening, the Foreign Office (FCO) has said amid a warning the nuclear situation is deteriorating.

Japan's Hardest-Hit Areas Await Food, Aid

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:58:00 +0100

Across large parts of Japan's earthquake and tsunami disaster zone, blizzards, blasted-out roads, worries over radiation exposure, fuel shortages and a host of other logistical problems have stalled humanitarian aid from reaching families that need it.

Mistakes, misfortune, meltdown: Japan's crisis

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:58:00 +0100

U.S. Sees Reactor Crisis Lasting Weeks

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:58:00 +0100

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission chief said it may take weeks to cool and solve the problems plaguing several nuclear reactors in Japan.

Japan Claims Modest Gains on Plant

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:58:00 +0100

Japanese authorities claimed modest gains Thursday in their efforts to tame a heavily damaged nuclear-power plant, but increasing international skepticism and troublesome levels of radiation on the ground underscored the difficulties.

Japan struggles to cool reactor

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:57:00 +0100

Emergency workers are continuing frantic efforts to cool nuclear fuel at Japan's stricken reactors complex.

Oil prices settle above $101 per barrel again

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:57:00 +0100

NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices soared more than 3.5 percent, climbing back above $101 per barrel Thursday after a crackdown on protesters in Bahrain and the U.S. pressed for U.N. action against Libya's Moammar Gadhafi. Prices also rose on the expectation that Japan will boost fuel imports as it recovers from its earthquake and tsunami disaster.

Government affirms Sudan stand in Support of Japan to overcome earthquake disaster

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:55:00 +0100

Khartoum, March 17 (SUNA) - The State Minister at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Mutrif Siddiq, Thursday conveyed the condolences and sympathy of the people and government of Sudan to the friendly people and government of Japan over the earthquake and tsunami disaster that hit the people....

Japan struggles to cool reactor

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:54:00 +0100

Emergency workers are continuing frantic efforts to cool nuclear fuel at Japan's stricken reactors complex.

Markets initiate a comeback

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:53:00 +0100

NEW YORK, March 17 (UPI) -- U.S. markets staged a comeback Thursday after three days of losses suffered in concert with the plight of Japan, devastated by Friday's earthquake.

UN Nuclear Agency Says Situation in Japan Serious but Stable

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:49:00 +0100

Agency says there has been "no significant worsening" in the past 24 hours at the tsunami-crippled nuclear reactor

Japanese nuclear plant 'serious but stable'

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:48:00 +0100

UN's atomic agency says quake-damaged reactors have not deteriorated further, amid desperate moves to avert meltdown.

Hearings on Canadian nuclear plants to go ahead

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:47:00 +0100

Hearings into the building of new nuclear reactors in Ontario and the refurbishing of existing ones in Quebec are scheduled to go ahead despite calls to delay them.

Sandra Bullock sends $1 million for Japan

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:47:00 +0100

Actress Sandra Bullock sent a $1 million donation to the American Red Cross this week to help with earthquake and tsunami relief efforts in Japan, the Red Cross said Thursday.

Food from Japan being checked for radiation

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:45:00 +0100

The FDA says there's no sign food imported from Japan is tainted. But the agency is examining food products that originated in Japan or passed through the country, a spokeswoman says.There's no indication that food imported from Japan has been tainted by radiation as the country grapples with a....

Crisis at Fukushima: As it happened

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:44:00 +0100

HOW news.com.au reported the nuclear emergency at Fukushima No.1 plant and the humanitarian crisis throughout the rest of Japan.

Britons to be evacuated from Japan

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:42:00 +0100

The evacuation of Britons from disaster-struck Japan will begin on Friday evening, the Foreign Office (FCO) has said amid a warning the nuclear situation is deteriorating.

Japan struggles to cool reactor

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:42:00 +0100

Emergency workers are continuing frantic efforts to cool nuclear fuel at Japan's stricken reactors complex.

Russian coal for quake-ravaged Japan

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:39:00 +0100

Speaking to reporters in Moscow on Thursday, Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko said that Russian coal producers may soon increase shipments to Japan, hit by a devastating earthquake and a tsunami late last week. The talks to this effect are expected in the coming days, Shmatko said, adding that Russia....

Japan struggles to cool reactor

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:38:00 +0100

Emergency workers are continuing frantic efforts to cool nuclear fuel at Japan's stricken reactors complex.

Japan crisis 'serious but stable'

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:35:00 +0100

3/17/2011 - 6:00:50 PM The situation at Japan’s stricken nuclear plant is “very serious,” but does not appear to be deteriorating, says a senior official of the UN atomic agency. As emergency workers frantically worked to regain control of the dangerously overheated nuclear complex, Graham Andrew....

Efforts to cool reactor continue

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:35:00 +0100

3/17/2011 - 6:02:58 PM Emergency workers are continuing frantic efforts to cool nuclear fuel at Japan’s stricken reactors complex. They tried with police water cannons, heavy-duty firetrucks and military helicopters dropping bucket after enormous bucket of water onto the plant.

[News & Analysis] Japan Disaster: Waves of Destruction

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:32:00 +0100

Most deaths and much of the destruction from last week's powerful earthquake in Japan were the handiwork of the tsunami: Many victims knew the waves were coming but could not escape or didn't try until it was too late. Author: Dennis Normile

[News & Analysis] Japan Disaster: Devastating Earthquake Defied Expectations

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:32:00 +0100

The astonishing power and unexpected location of last week's devastating earthquake in Japan expose the futility of forecasting where and when the next Big One will hit, geophysicists say. Author: Dennis Normile

Japan radiation sets off O'Hare airport alarms

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:31:00 +0100

CBS News Chicago station reports trace amounts of radiation clinging to flights from country ravaged by earthquake, tsunami

Sauber to show support for Japan at opening Formula One grand prix

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:31:00 +0100

Formula One team Sauber will include a message of support for the people of Japan on the livery of their cars at the opening grand prix of the season.

Japan: Workers continue struggle to cool reactor

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:30:00 +0100

Emergency workers are continuing frantic efforts to cool nuclear fuel at Japan’s stricken reactors complex.

Japanese govt faces flak as food lines grow

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:29:00 +0100

As it struggles to gain control of a nuclear crisis and feed and shelter the thousands of people left homeless by last week's devastating tsunami, the Japanese Government is facing a growing chorus of criticism for its handling of...

Japan tsunami: Snow adds to difficulties for NZ rescue team

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:29:00 +0100

Members of New Zealand's Urban Search and Rescue team are working in near-freezing conditions in a small Japanese town that was all but obliterated by the earthquake and tsunami.The team of 48 is helping to search through snow-covered...

YouTube video helps Japanese student find family

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:27:00 +0100

Akiko Kosaka's family resides in Minamisanriku, a fishing village where half the residents are feared to be dead as a result of last week's tsunami, but thanks to a YouTube video, she knows that her relatives are alive and safe.

Some nuclear reactors in EU will fail tests: energy chief

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:22:00 +0100

The "stress tests" European nations will conduct on nuclear reactors will likely expose safety shortcomings in some of them, the EU's energy chief said Thursday, angering nuclear-friendly France.

As Japan strives to cool reactors, UN warns situation 'very serious'

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:21:00 +0100

Denies U.S. warnings that the plant may be on the verge of spewing more radioactive material

Japan earthquake and tsunami: Tokyo becomes ghost town

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:21:00 +0100

Nobody wanted to venture out, by day or by night - everyone, it seemed, sharing the same opinion that something very bad was happening at the Fukushima nuclear power plant 148 miles away and nobody wanted to breathe the air if it could be avoided, writes RICHARD SHEARS.

Japan uses helicopters, water cannons in desperate bid to cool reactor fuel

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:18:00 +0100

Japanese authorities made desperate new attempts to avert full-scale meltdowns at a quake-battered nuclear plant Thursday, dispatching helicopters to drop tons of water on the reactors and using ...

IAEA says Japan situation serious but stable

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:18:00 +0100

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS VIENNA -- A senior official of the U.N. nuclear agency says the situation in and around the tsunami-stricken Japanese nuclear plant remains "very serious" but ...

‘No Major Threat’ to Europe’s Insurers from Japan Crisis

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:18:00 +0100

European insurers face no major threat from the turmoil ensuing from last week’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the European Union’s insurance watchdog said on Thursday. ';From a ...

The situation on the ground in Japan

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:18:00 +0100

Vehicles travel along the destroyed landscape after the earthquake and tsunami in Minamisanriku City, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, March 17, ...

Nissan resumes Japan production

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:18:00 +0100

Carmaker Nissan has restarted some of its manufacturing in Japan. "We've managed to get our two plants in Kyushu to restart production," Nissan's Andy Palmer told the BBC. The ...

Japan steps up efforts to avert meltdown

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:15:00 +0100

Japan says it is stepping up efforts to cool overheating fuel at the tsunami-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

Nuclear report due in two months

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:14:00 +0100

The details of a review of UK nuclear safety ordered after the Japanese crisis will be published by the middle of May, officials say.

Britons to be evacuated from Japan

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:13:00 +0100

The evacuation of Britons from disaster-struck Japan will begin tomorrow evening, the Foreign Office (FCO) said tonight amid a warning the nuclear situation is deteriorating.

Sandra Bullock donates $1 million to Japan relief

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:12:00 +0100

It's the largest known donation made by a celebrity since the 9.0 magnitude earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis.

US gives protective suits to Japan

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:12:00 +0100

The US Navy has delivered special protective suits and masks to Japan to help workers struggling to contain damage at the crippled nuclear plant.

Japanese face hardships at disaster relief centres - Feature

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:12:00 +0100

Sendai, Japan - Large numbers of people carrying plastic cannisters and baskets full of empty bottles are lining up in front of the drinking water tank. A woman pulls a woollen blanket over her head to keep out the cold when a helper suddenly appears, bows, and tells the crowd apologetically: "I'm sorry, the tank is empty.

Japan tsunami touches New Zealand

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:06:00 +0100

Such was the scale of last Friday's tsunami that sizeable waves reached right across the Pacific basin to New Zealand and the Antarctic, say NZ researchers.

Special report: Mistakes, misfortune, meltdown: Japan's quake

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:05:00 +0100

Toshiba LCD plant out, Lenovo frets about supplies

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:05:00 +0100

TOKYO/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Toshiba Corp said an assembly line in Japan making small liquid crystal displays would be closed for a month, and PC maker Lenovo Group Ltd voiced worries over parts, highlighting the threat to global supply chains from Japan's devastating earthquake.

Ukraine will help Japan mitigate outcomes of disaster in every possible way

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:01:00 +0100

President Viktor Yanukovych visited Embassy of Japan in Ukraine and made an entry in the book of condolences in connection with the crash in Japan.

Critics Pressure Japan on Hazard Data

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:57:00 +0100

International criticism about the adequacy of Japan's radiation monitoring and disclosure are spotlighting the government's handling of potential hazards to the public.

Atomic official says Japan situation 'serious' but stable

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:55:00 +0100

A senior official of the U.N. nuclear agency says the situation in and around the tsunami-stricken Japanese nuclear plant remains "very serious" ...

Oil prices top $101 per barrel again

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:55:00 +0100

NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices soared more than 3 percent, climbing back above $101 per barrel Thursday after a crackdown on protesters in Bahrain increased concerns that unrest there threatens to spread to OPEC heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Iran. Prices are also rising as Japan is expected to boost....

Fukushima Crisis Worsens as U.S. Warns of a Large Radiation Release

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:54:00 +0100

The top U.S. nuclear regulator, Gregory Jaczko, gave a dire assessment of Japan's nuclear crisis yesterday, saying that lethal radiation from uncovered spent fuel above one of the reactors could force emergency workers to abandon their fight to prevent meltdowns of damaged reactor cores at the Fukushima Daiichi plant.

Ukraine will help Japan mitigate disasters in every possible way

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:53:00 +0100

President Viktor Yanukovych visited Embassy of Japan in Ukraine and made an entry in the book of condolences in connection with the crash in Japan.

Feds move more radiation monitors to West Coast

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:46:00 +0100

EPA acts out of "abundance of caution" to allay American concerns that Japan's nuclear disaster could reach U.S. shores

AFP moves bureau in Japan

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:42:00 +0100

PARIS - (Business Wire) AFP has decided to remain in Japan for the time being to continue its mission to provide complete news coverage while applying strict security measures to ensure the safety of its team, which remains flexible so as to be able to change course at a moment's notice.

California nuclear plants have no earthquake plans

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:42:00 +0100

US regulators insist American nuclear facilities can withstand major earthquakes, but the fact remains the plants are not required to include earthquakes in their emergency response plans.

LivingSocial and Its Members Join Forces with The American Red Cross to Aid Relief Efforts in Japan

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:42:00 +0100

WASHINGTON March 17, 2011 LivingSocial , the online source for people to find handpicked experiences at a great value, today announced a US Daily Deal benefiting the American Red Cross. When a LivingSocial member makes a $5 donation, LivingSocial will match that donation up to $1 million "This....

Helicopters and fire engines pour water on nuclear fuel 17:11 International Atomic Energy Agency says situation at power plant 'has not worsened'

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:39:00 +0100

Japanese military helicopters and fire trucks poured water on an overheating nuclear facility today and the plant operator said electricity to part of the crippled complex might be restored in a bid to avert catastrophe. Washington and other foreign capitals have expressed growing alarm about....

IAEA says Japan situation serious but stable

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:39:00 +0100

VIENNA (AP) — The situation at Japan's tsunami-stricken nuclear plant is "very serious," but at the moment it does not appear to be deteriorating, a senior official of the U.N. atomic agency said Thursday. As emergency workers frantically worked to regain control of the dangerously overheated....

UPDATE6: Debris clearance progressing in quake-hit areas

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:38:00 +0100

TOKYO - The search for victims of Japan's massive earthquake has gradually expanded across a wider area, wit...

Food and fuel short in quake-hit areas of Japan

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:36:00 +0100

Queues of several kilometres long have been reported, as petrol runs short in the areas of Japan hit by last week’s earthquake and tsunami. Conditions are hard in Sendai but anyone who wants to follow official advice and leave will find it hard. As well as the lack of petrol, there is no public transport out of the city.

Japan crisis 'terrible' for Hawaii tourism

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:35:00 +0100

HONOLULU, March 17 (UPI) -- Hawaii's loss of Japanese tourism dollars after the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis is "going to be terrible," Hawaiian Gov. Neil Abercrombie said. Japanese, who spent $2 billion last year and are Hawaii's No. 2 tourist group after Americans, will likely cut back travel significantly, Abercrombie said.

Gingrich tests political waters in New Hampshire

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:35:00 +0100

NASHUA, New Hampshire (Reuters) - Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich visited the key primary voting state of New Hampshire on Thursday to test the political waters, joking that he was "contemplating the possibility of thinking about" a White House bid in 2012.

Japan crisis will impact Taiwan emotionally, economically: Ma