Tag: Japan
WHO warns of ‘serious’ food radiation in disaster-hit Japan
TOKYO - The World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Monday that radiation in food after an earthquake damaged a Japanese nuclear plant was more serious than previously thought, eclipsing signs of progress in a battle to avert a catastrophic meltdown in its reactors.
News of progress at Fukushima nuclear plant was overshadowed by mounting concern that radioactive particles already released into the atmosphere have contaminated food and water supplies.
"Quite clearly it's a
News of progress at Fukushima nuclear plant was overshadowed by mounting concern that radioactive particles already released into the atmosphere have contaminated food and water supplies.
"Quite clearly it's a
Japan sees some progress in race to cool nuclear reactors
TOKYO - Japan restored power to a crippled nuclear reactor on Sunday in its race to avert disaster at a plant wrecked by an earthquake and tsunami that are estimated to have killed more than 15,000 people in one prefecture alone.
Three hundred engineers have been struggling inside the danger zone to salvage the six-reactor Fukushima plant in the world's worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl 25 years ago. In one remarkable story of survival, an 80-year-old woman and 16-year-old
Three hundred engineers have been struggling inside the danger zone to salvage the six-reactor Fukushima plant in the world's worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl 25 years ago. In one remarkable story of survival, an 80-year-old woman and 16-year-old
Foreign aid promised for Japan quake zone, but where is it?
KAMAISHI - Scores of countries have pledged aid to the victims of Japan's massive earthquake and tsunami, but little of it is visible in many towns and villages devastated by the disaster.
In some areas, as victims return to what remains of their homes, an unorganised and often chaotic array of help awaits them -- from boxes of donated clothes to free pet food, almost all donated by fellow Japanese.
Roads are wrecked in many areas, and there are acute shortages of fuel.
In some areas, as victims return to what remains of their homes, an unorganised and often chaotic array of help awaits them -- from boxes of donated clothes to free pet food, almost all donated by fellow Japanese.
Roads are wrecked in many areas, and there are acute shortages of fuel.
Japan sees some stabilisation in N-crisis
TOKYO - One of six tsunami-crippled nuclear reactors appeared to stabilise on Saturday as Japan raced to restore power to the stricken power plant to cool it and prevent a catastrophic release of radiation. Engineers reported some rare success after fire trucks sprayed water for several hours on reactor No.3, widely considered the most dangerous at the ravaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear complex because of its use of highly toxic plutonium. "The situation there is stabilising somewhat,"
Japan weighs need to bury nuclear plant; tries to restore power
TOKYO - Japanese engineers conceded on Friday that burying a crippled nuclear plant in sand and concrete may be a last resort to prevent a catastrophic radiation release, the method used to seal huge leakages from Chernobyl in 1986. But they still hoped to solve the crisis by fixing a power cable to two reactors by Saturday to restart water pumps needed to cool overheating nuclear fuel rods. Workers also sprayed water on the No.3 reactor, the most critical of the plant's six.
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Sandra Bullock donates $1m for Japan crisis
LOS ANGELES - US actress Sandra Bullock has donated $1 million to help victims of Japan's earthquake and tsunami crisis, the latest celebrity to pledge aid, the American Red Cross said Thursday. The contribution, described as from Bullock and her family, came after the US aid agency announced it had given $10 million to the Japanese Red Cross to help after last Friday's quake.
"The American Red Cross is extremely grateful for this generous support from Sandra Bullock and her
"The American Red Cross is extremely grateful for this generous support from Sandra Bullock and her
Adams eyes Japan Aid concert
Canadian rocker Bryan Adams is hoping one of his high-profile peers puts together plans for another Live Aid to help the earthquake and tsunami survivors in Japan. Adams was a part of 1985's Live Aid supergig and has since performed at a number of big-name charity concerts - and he's waiting to get the call to be part of a show to help raise funds for relief in Japan. He says, "I'm wondering when someone is going to put something together for Japan. It would be great if the rock
Bitter cold deepens Japan quake misery
OFUNATO - Thick snow covered the wreckage littering quake-hit Japan on Thursday, all but extinguishing hopes of finding anyone alive in the debris and deepening danger and misery for survivors. A cold snap brought heavy blizzards over the country's northeast overnight, covering the tsunami-razed region in deep snow and vital highways in treacherous black ice. Half a million evacuees struggled to stay warm as rescuers said their efforts to help the devastated population were at risk,
Japan disaster dead, missing toll nears 15,000: police
TOKYO - The official number of dead and missing after a devastating earthquake and tsunami that flattened Japan's northeast coast is approaching 15,000, police said on Thursday. The number of confirmed dead from Friday's twin disasters rose to 5,457 while the official number of missing increased to 9,508, the National Police Agency said in its latest update. A total of 2,409 people were injured in the disaster. But reports have indicated that the final toll could be much higher.
Stand strong Japan… we are with you
KARACHI - Several civil society organisations on Wednesday expressed deep sorrow and grief over the loss of thousands of lives and billions of dollars worth properties in Japan due to the devastating 8.9 magnitude earthquake and the resulting tsunami, which hit the northeast coast of Honshu, Japan on March 11.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, a group of civil society organisations, including PILER, PFF, SAP-PK, SPO, SAFCOW, CPCS and SUNGI, expressed solidarity with the
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, a group of civil society organisations, including PILER, PFF, SAP-PK, SPO, SAFCOW, CPCS and SUNGI, expressed solidarity with the
Japan scrambles to pull nuclear plant back from brink of disaster
TOKYO - Japan's nuclear crisis appeared to be spinning out of control on Wednesday after workers withdrew briefly from a stricken power plant because of surging radiation levels and a helicopter failed to drop water on the most troubled reactor. In a sign of desperation, the police will try to cool spent nuclear fuel at one of the facility's reactors with water cannon, which is normally used to quell riots.
Early in the day another fire broke out at the earthquake-crippled
Early in the day another fire broke out at the earthquake-crippled
Japan puts top priority on nuclear plant’s No 3 reactor
TOKYO - Japan put its top priority on Wednesday on efforts to cool down a plutonium-fuelled nuclear reactor, attempting at one stage to water-bomb the facility without success amid fears that authorities were running out of options to avert disaster. The No.3 reactor is the only one of the quake-stricken Fukushima Daiichi plant's six reactor units to be powered with plutonium, which is far more hazardous to health than uranium, which is used to power the other five reactors.
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China freezes nuclear approvals after Japan crisis
BEIJING - China's vast nuclear push is likely to slow after the government ordered a safety crackdown on Wednesday in the aftermath of Japan's nuclear crisis. The announcement by the State Council, or cabinet, was the clearest sign yet that the crisis at a quake-ravaged nuclear complex in northeast Japan could affect China's ambitious nuclear expansion, by far the world's largest.
But at least one expert said the measures were unlikely to stop China's expansion of nuclear power.
But at least one expert said the measures were unlikely to stop China's expansion of nuclear power.
Japan crisis – a blessing in disguise for Pakistan?
KARACHI - The recent earthquake and tsunami has, whereas, shaken the high-tech Japanese economy, analysts view the natural calamity as a blessing in disguise for the crises-hit economy of Pakistan. However, analysts say Pakistan's stock market, like most of its Asian competitors that tumbled from one to three percent on Tuesday, might not remain unaffected from the devastating tsunami in Japan.
In aftermath of the Japanese disaster, analysts see the flaring commodity prices in
In aftermath of the Japanese disaster, analysts see the flaring commodity prices in
In tragedy, Japan impresses the world
WASHINGTON - Despite the horrific scenes of destruction, Japan may emerge from its quake-tsunami disaster with a stronger international brand-name as the nation's resilience wins wide praise.
Television stations around the world have broadcast the footage of the seismic waves as they razed homes and carried away cars as if they were toys, stranding dazed survivors on the brutalized landscape. But coverage has also shown another side -- Japanese showing calm as they search for
Television stations around the world have broadcast the footage of the seismic waves as they razed homes and carried away cars as if they were toys, stranding dazed survivors on the brutalized landscape. But coverage has also shown another side -- Japanese showing calm as they search for
Japan radioactivity could enter food chain, children at risk
SINGAPORE - Radioactive materials spewed into the air by Japan's earthquake-crippled nuclear plant may contaminate food and water resources, with children and unborn babies most at risk of possibly developing cancer.
Experts said any exposure to radioactive materials has the potential to cause various kinds of cancers, with higher levels of radiation seen as more dangerous. But they said they needed more accurate measurements for the level of radioactivity in Japan, and the
Experts said any exposure to radioactive materials has the potential to cause various kinds of cancers, with higher levels of radiation seen as more dangerous. But they said they needed more accurate measurements for the level of radioactivity in Japan, and the
Japan reels as second blast rocks nuclear plant
SENDAI - A new explosion at a stricken nuclear power plant hit Japan on Monday as it raced to avert a reactor meltdown after a quake-tsunami disaster that is feared to have killed more than 10,000 people. Searchers found 2,000 bodies just in the northeastern region of Miyagi, while millions were left without water, electricity, fuel or enough food. Hundreds of thousands more were homeless after the tsunami drowned whole towns. Panic selling saw stocks close more than six percent lower
