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2011年4月25日星期一

Japan launches a massive search for tsunami body - Associated Press

Japan launches a massive tsunami bodies (PA) research - 4 hours ago

SHICHIGAHAMAMACHI, Japan (AP) - the soldiers pushed swamp with thin posts and cleared mounds of rubble by hand Monday that 25,000 mounted troops research more important of Japan again for the bodies of nearly 12 000 people missing in the month last earthquake and tsunami.

The operation was the third intensive military research since March 11 disaster, fragmented buildings, cities and killed up to 26 000 people along the northeast coast of the Japan. With hindsight of the waters, officials hope the team, which also includes the police, the coast guard and US troops, will make significant progress during the two-day operation.

In the town of Shichigahamamachi, a line of about two dozen Japanese soldiers walked in unison across the Earth soggy and muddy, plunging their poles about 2 feet (60 centimeters) in the muck to ensure that they lack any body buried below.

The research focused on a marsh drained in recent weeks by members of the infantry regiment 22 of the army with special pump trucks.

Several dozens of other soldiers cleared mountains of rubble by hand to a waterfront neighborhood filled with houses emptied and teetering. Four people in the neighborhood were missing, said 67 Sannojo Watanabe.

"It was my home here," he said, pointing to a foundation with nothing at the top of it.

He surveyed the District: "There is nothing left here."

In all, 370 soldiers of the regiment were looking for a dozen people still missing from the Shichigahamamachi. The regiment was to research the area with a quota more small, but have tripled the number of soldiers, he was with intense research of two days, said colonel Akira Kun itomo, the Commander of the regiment.

The research is much more difficult than that for the earthquake victims, which would mainly be buried under the rubble, said Michihiro Ose, a spokesman for the regiment. The tsunami may have left victims anywhere, or even withdrawn their towards the sea.

"We just don't know where are the bodies," he said.

Bodies found both weeks after the disaster are likely to be unrecognizable, black and swollen, dare to say.

"We would not even know if they are male or female," he said.

A total of 24,800 soldiers - supported by 90 helicopters and aircraft - were sent to comb through the rubble of the buried remnants, 50 boats and navy 100 divers searched the waters up to 20 kilometres (12 miles) off the coast to find those swept out to sea.

"Since more than a month the severe earthquake and tsunami, but we have still a lot of missing persons," Ministry of defence spokesman Norikazu Muratani said. "We want to recover and return to their families."

More than 14 300 people have been confirmed dead and almost 11,900 are still missing. First intense scanning of the Army being for body discovered 339, while his second place 99 Muratani, said. Numbers in the search for Monday were not immediately available.

After the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, body found along the Indonesian coast for several months later as people cleared debris in reconstruction efforts. However, 37,000 of 164 000 people who died in Indonesia simply disappeared, their bodies washed likely to the sea.

Last week, two underwater robots provided by the Institute of International Rescue non-profit systems has conducted research for five days in the waters off the coast of the northeastern coast of the Japan, near three devastated towns.

Robots are cars, houses and other debris in the sea, but no body, said Mika Murata, an official of the Institute.

The Japanese Government has been criticized for his response to the earthquake, tsunami and the subsequent nuclear disaster, with some members of the opposition of the country, urging Prime Minister Naoto Kan to resign.

The members of the party in power of the Kan has won only three of the ten elections in the course of the weekend, mainly for local government positions.

The losses came two weeks after the Party of the Kan has lost nearly 70 seats in an election for prefectural assemblies.

Monday, Kan said in a sometimes hostile Parliament that his Government all that its possible to take control of the radiation leaks at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power, which led the Government to evacuate residents of a (12-mile) zone of 20 kilometres around paralyzed reactors.

"The nuclear accident is still underway," he said. "The priority is now to stabilize it."

Associated Press writer Shino Yuasa contributed to this report.

Copyright ? 2011 the Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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The Japan opposition wins by-election in the latest blow to Kan

April 25, 2011, 4: 18 am EDT by Takashi Hirokawa

(Adds denial of the Kan to resign in eighth paragraph).

April 25 (Bloomberg) — the leader of the Democratic Party of the Japan lost a seat in Parliament in the local elections, the last blow to the Prime Minister Naoto Kan as the pressure mounted on its treatment of earthquake and tsunami of last month.Party of the Kan also lost five seats, and won three in 10 contests of head to head with the Liberal Democratic Party in municipal Town Hall yesterday racing, Kyodo News reported. Third party won the race and another result is not yet known, Kyodo said.The results mark the second setback in the elections of Kan following the earthquake and the nuclear crisis that followed last month. The Prime Minister, who this week will submit a 4 billion yen ($49 billion) reconstruction package to the diet, lack of a majority of two thirds of the lower Chamber to override veto power of the opposition-controlled upper House. "The LDP did not say if it will support the plan."Everyone is blaming Kan a lack of leadership, whether or not he deserves it, "said Steven r. Reed, Professor of political science at the Chuo University in Tokyo. "The LDP has shown no leadership either." It can Kan hang? "Three polls last week showed 7 out of 10 voters think that the Government has mismanaged the situation at the nuclear plant of Fukushima Dai - Ichi, which was paralysed by the earthquake on March 11 and the tsunami. Approval of the Kan rate remained below 30% in the polls by the Asahi, Yomiuri and Nikkei newspapers. "Severe" results "we must accept the results of the election, which were serious," Kan said today in Parliament. "" " However, I will ensure to give my all to the reconstruction of the disaster as well as to deal with the nuclear incident. "Several times, he denied any intention to resign all in being questioned by opposition politicians. Kan took office in June, becoming fifth Prime Minister the since 2006. None of his four immediate predecessors lasts more than a year. "For me to surrender my responsibilities in these circumstances, it would be an impossible choice,"Kan told."LDP candidate Hideki Niwa, 38, received 61% of the vote to win a place in the House of the diet of Aichi Prefecture yesterday, according to the website of the electoral region. The DPJ did not field a candidate in the race after one of its representatives have abandoned the siege in January in an unsuccessful attempt to run for Mayor of Nagoya, largest city of Aichi.Le Nikkei survey showed that less than one-fifth of the voters said that Kan should resign soon. The Mainichi and Nikkei said about 60% of voters favoured integrating the LDP Government, something the party resisted to the. Leader of the party April 14 Sadakazu Tanigaki said that Kan should consider resigning, signalling less cooperation on reconstruction efforts.The LDP, which until 2009 power held for more than 50 years, has refused to approve legislation to sell bonds that would fund about half of the record Yen 92.4 billion budget this year. The initial reconstruction plan will be funded without increasing the new issue of liaison for the year ending March 2012. Funding is a problem for the Japan, who has the burden of the debt doubling the size of the economy.The Democrats lost two races for Governor in April 10 local elections the LDP candidates, the first vote after the earthquake.

-With the help of John Brinsley in Tokyo. Editors: John Brinsley, Patrick Harrington

To contact the reporter on this story: Takashi Hirokawa in Tokyo at the thirokawa@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Peter Hirschberg to phirschberg@bloomberg.net


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2011年4月24日星期日

Advisor of said Japan decline of the nuclear threat: report - AFP

Advisor of said Japan decline of the nuclear threat: report (AFP) - 4 hours ago

TOKYO - The Japanese Advisor special of the Prime Minister on nuclear crisis says that the immediate risk of a leak of major radiation of the power plant of Fukushima decreased, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The Government could not say the situation had been completely stabilized at the factory, but after studying the possibility of a serious deterioration Tokyo was comfortable with the current of the evacuation policy, Goshi Hosono said the paper in an interview on Saturday.

"There is no way Tokyo or Kyoto will be in danger," said Hosono, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister Naoto Kan on the management of the nuclear crisis.

The atomic plant, where the reactor cooling systems have been eliminated, was struck by a series of explosions and radiation leak in the air, ground and sea in the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl world 25 years ago.

The Government imposed a 20 kilometre (12 mile) exclusion zone around the plant, giving legal weight to an exclusion zone for fear of the effect of exposure to radiation on residents long term last week.

More than 85,000 people have left for shelter areas around the plant, including a wider zone of 30 km, where people were said to remain in the Interior and later urged to leave.

Hosono said of the levels of radiation in damaged reactors must be lowered before work would be carried out, and they had to find ways to treat the water contaminated by radiation of efforts to cool the reactors and spent fuel rod pool.

Workers poured thousands of tons of radioactive water at low altitude, in the Pacific Ocean, the concern of contamination of the marine environment concerned neighbouring countries.

"Our objective is very clear: preventing the spread more radiation in the atmosphere and the ocean,"Hosono told the paper."."

"To achieve this, we need to restore stable cooling functions." It is technically extremely difficult. ?

Plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Company, said that he does not expect a "cold shutdown" of all the reactors for another period of six to nine months.

Hosono said officials had begun to examine the causes and treatment of the nuclear accident.

"When we look at the accident, it will naturally become clear where the problems were, including issues with the Japan nuclear regulatory policy," he told the paper.

Hosono, Member of the Democratic Party of the Japan to power said that it was not the right time to decide whether the country should turn to non-nuclear energy sources or continue to continue to use atomic power.

I just don ' t think we can make a judgment dispassionate in the current atmosphere, "the cited book telling him."

"For the moment, we must maintain options and let the people decide in time".

DPJ Secretary General Katsuya Okada Friday, said the Government would review its policy of energy in the light of the disaster, but could be established with nuclear energy.

Japan poor in resources, very dependent on oil from the Middle East, brings about a third of its energy needs, nuclear power, but its high-tech companies are also world leaders in numerous environmental and energy technologies.

Copyright ? AFP 2011. All rights reserved. "More".

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Zone of disaster in the Japan touring in Australia PM

The first foreign leader to visit the coast ravaged by the tsunami of the Japan, the Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, has expressed shock and sadness to the devastation and visited evacuees in shelter Saturday, giving toy and kangaroos koalas to the excited children.

Through a fishing village where hundreds of people are dead and missing, she said that minamisanriku looked as if she was "bombed into oblivion."

Mayor Jin Sato showed him the Red skeleton of the building of disaster management, where he is was then of a mammoth wave tore its shell on March 11. Exterior stairs were ripped off walls. A small shrine of flowers has been created on a heap of rubble.

Gillard, "It is a scene from the incredible tragedy and incredible sadness," said the last day of a four-day trip.

More than 27 000 people are dead or missing since the earthquake and tsunami. Tens of thousands live in shelters after a 90,000 houses approximately have been destroyed or damaged.

Recovery efforts were complicated by the crisis of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station, where the tsunami wiped out power and cooling systems. Workers fought to stop leaks of radiation, and the utility said bring the factory fully under control may take all year.

Plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co., said Saturday that 30 workers at the plant had exceeded the former limit of exposure to radiation. This limit, 100 millisieverts per year, grew up in the crisis to 250 millisieverts. None of the workers had reached this limit, the company said. Leaks from reactors of plant are stabilized somewhat since the beginning of the crisis, but some interior spaces in the Earth and the tsunami earthquake damaged buildings that have high levels of radiation workers are not able to penetrate.

Hundreds of workers were upsetting to rotating shifts at the plant since the beginning of the disaster, most of them middle-aged men employed by TEPCO or affiliates.

TEPCO spokesman Junichi Matsumoto said managers have been instructed to closely monitor employees arriving to their radiation limits. Measures could be taken include passing workers tasks more risky, as the compensation of radioactive debris, to jobs in the Interior, as Office tasks.

The United States nuclear industry workers are allowed to an upper limit of 50 millisieverts per year. A typical individual would absorb six millisieverts per year from natural and artificial sources such as x-ray.

Radiation experts said the cumulative doses of 500 millisieverts have been demonstrated that raise the risk of future cancers. Evidence is less clear on smaller quantities, but in theory, any increased radiation exposure raises risk of cancer.

Irradiation, which develops from acute exposure, sets 1,000 millisieverts. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting and hair loss.

Workers also face problems of health based on fatigue and the stress of work in the harsh environment, a doctor who speaks told them this week. He stated that the workers of insomnia, dehydration and high blood pressure; run the risk of developing depression or heart problems.

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Japan: Radiation remains high, area of broad evacuation - Xinhua

(BEIJING, April 23, Xinhuanet.com) - and more people living near damaged central Fukushima nuclear will evacuate their houses next month. The decision comes after that experts warned that radiation levels would remain dangerously high on a wider area.

Japanese Government Secretary-General Yukio Edano confirmed that five cities outside the 20 kilometre exclusion zone would be included in the evacuation because of the risks of irradiation area.

Yukio Edano, Japanese, Secretary General of the Government, said: "there is a chance that the accumulation of exposure to radiation in the region in a year exceeds 20 millisieverts." "Therefore, we have the designated area as a zone of evacuation fixed"

The announcement comes a day after the Government declared the zone of exclusion 20 kilometre a prohibited area.

Before that the order came into effect, residents ran in their city of origin deserted to seize whatever possessions they could.

Persons who fall within the area now face fine up to 12 - cents US Dollars, or possible detention up to 30 days.

During this time, the President of Tokyo Electric Power Company, Masataka Shimizu, visited a centre of evacuation for the first time since the disaster struck.

A few people evacuated the Centre raised their voices to him, but most do step shy away from giving a piece of their mind.

Masataka Shimizu, President, tOKYO Electric Power Company, said: "I am very conscious today that the relationship and trust built us with the local population has collapsed completely." It is therefore very important that we find ways now to rebuild that trust, even if it takes much time. ?

TEPCO has been accused of ignoring warnings about the risk of an earthquake and the tsunami hitting the plant and that respond poorly to the disasters of last month.

The company has provided a period of six to nine months to stabilize the four reactors more affected.

(Source: CNTV.cn)

Special report: Quake Massive shakes Japan

?

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2011年4月22日星期五

Japan govt OKs quake relief budget, eyes more spending - Reuters

* The Japanese large public debt is obstacle to the reconstruction of spending

* Packages more spending to follow, new debt and tax hikes in the framework

* To consider the Japan not now facing a Greece-style debt crisis but concerns

* Lobby business calls for budgetary discipline, monetary easing (adds business Hall proposals)

By Tetsushi Kajimoto

(TOKYO, April 22, Reuters) - the Japanese Government approved a budget for emergency of 4 billion yen (50 billion dollars) for the Friday disaster relief without resorting to new loans, but it is preparing them for more heavy reconstructionmore later this year spending will require a new bond issue and, eventually, to increase taxes.

Enormous funds needed for reconstruction after the March 11 earthquake and the tsunami, which left nearly 28,000 dead or missing and triggered a nuclear crisis, but the Japan has already public debt already double the size of its economy of $ 5 trillionthe worst among industrialized.

"With this budget, we let one step towards reconstruction after the earthquake, the Tohoku and to restart the economy" Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda told journalists after a cabinet meeting.

"It is significant that we have compiled on a budget of 4 billion yen without issue of new bonds of the Government (of Japanese Government bonds). "It was quite difficult to reduce the amount of 4 billion yen, but we worked it."

Tokyo believes that material damage alone could top 300 billion dollars in more expensive natural disaster in the world, while analysts and some to the Interior of the Government led by the Democratic Party suggested that Japan might need to spend more than 10 billion yen.

The second supplementary budget should be compiled by the autumn at the latest, Katsuya Okada, Secretary General of the Democratic Party, said Thursday.

THESE INCREASES

The Government plans to increase taxes, including sales tax unpopular to fund reconstruction, but there is still a lack of consensus on the politically sensitive issue.

"If the Government can take this opportunity to change the social welfare and tax system, it could be a turning point rather than a point of no return," said Naomi Hasegawa, senior income securities strategist fixed to Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley securities.

"Investors want reassuring that the reconstruction of expenses will be supported by an increase in sales tax", she says, adding that a 3 percentage point hike would generate 7.5 billion yen in additional revenue each year.

JGBS acquired after the Government held its promise not to issue new bonds to finance the first emergency budget, helping to push the performance of 10 years to a minimum of four weeks.

The market players remained nonetheless cautious because the issuance of debt more in the future will need to pay for reconstruction, although the Japan does not now run a Greece-style debt since its public debt crisis is almost entirely held by domestic investors.

Emphasis on the concerns of investors, largest business lobby of Japan has urged the Government to ensure that the market is confident in its budgetary discipline, while the funds for reconstruction are wanted.

"Given the serious budgetary situation of the Japan, attention needs to be paid to the sovereign fluctuation risks and prices of government bonds," he said in a statement.

Nippon Keidanren called for the Central Bank to implement the monetary easing steps more such as stimulate its system for the purchase of goods, stressing that financial markets should remain stable as companies were that it is difficult to issue capital to business.

The cabinet plans to submit the emergency budget--which includes approximately 1.6 billion yen of spending for infrastructure - to the Parliament on 28 April. Noda, said that he hoped that it would be adopted as soon as possible.

The actual size of the supplementary budget is only 305.1 billion yen, with most of the 4.0153 billion yen to military expenditures to be financed by spending cuts in foreign aid and places paid to families with children and other existing programs.

The Government also draws reserves for pension payments - regarded as a sacred cow in a rapidly aging society where each retired will be supported by less than two workers by 2030, and the opposition objected to this approach.

Friday he planned to explain early next month, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said how Tokyo should lead the economy and reconstruction after the disasters of last month. (Yen Japanese $1 = 82.465) (Other reports by Stanley White;) (Editing by Edmund Klamann and Edwina Gibbs)


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Japan allocates first 50 billion dollars to rebuild post-quake - Reuters

Members of the Japan Self-Defense Force remove debris as they search for victims in a damaged house at an area devastated by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, in Sendai, Miyagi prefecture, April 21, 2011. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

Members of the Force for the defence of the Japan remove debris that they seek victims in a House damaged in a region devastated by the earthquake on March 11 and the tsunami, in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, on April 21, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Toru HanaiBy Linda Sieg and Kazunori Takada

TOKYO. Friday, April 22, 2011 12: 48 a.m. EDT

TOKYO (Reuters) - the Japan cabinet approved Friday almost 50 billion dollars in spending for post-earthquake reconstruction, a down payment on the larger public works effort in the country in six decades.

The budget of 4 billion yen ($48.5 billion) emergency, which is likely to be followed by more reconstruction spending packages, is still dwarfed by the overall cost of the damage caused by the earthquake on March 11 and the tsunami$ 300 billion.

"With this budget, we let one step towards the reconstruction... and to restart the economy," Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda told journalists after a cabinet meeting.

The tsunami earthquake, magnitude 9.0 15 metres that followed caused the most serious crisis of the Japan since the second world war, killing up to 28,000 people and destroying tens of thousands of homes.

She also broke a nuclear power plant that began the radiation leak, a situation that said the operator of the plant may take throughout the year to curb.

Markets are keeping a close eye on how much the Government will borrow to finance the reconstruction. Although he kept his promise not to issue new bonds to fund this expenditure class, additional obligations should pay for the reconstruction of future budgets.

Although the Japan debt is twice the size of the economy of $ 5 trillion, it does not face a Greece-style debt crisis because most of these debts owed to domestic creditors rather than foreign banks.

The budget will be submitted to Parliament next week and should be adopted in May.

"CAUSED IN GREAT DIFFICULTY".

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who was accused by opposition politicians, his own party and triple quake survivors of failing to take command of the response of the country to disaster, said to be rebuild is an opportunity for national "Renaissance".

Approval of the Kan rates are extremely low. In a survey released Friday investors, 83% of the interviewees Reuters said they disapprove or strongly disapprove of the administration of crisis management.

The Japan recently exceeded by China, the second largest economy in the world, has been wrong with deflation for years.

But also try to rebuild the northeast of the ruin, Japan also has to cope with the worst nuclear crisis of the world since Chernobyl in 1986, the demolition of the Fukushima Daiichi plant, 240 km (150 miles) from Tokyo.

Radiation spilled the establishment after an explosion of hydrogen, and in their battle to cool the fuel cast iron rods, engineers has pumped radioactive water in the Pacific which concerned the neighbours of the Japan on the spread of contamination.

Masataka Shimizu, the President criticized many plant operator Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO), met in local Governor of Fukushima Yuhei Sato Friday apologizing in person, for the first time that Sato has agreed to see the TEPCO head.

Shimizu, wear blue work clothes, bowed deeply to Sato.

"I apologise from the bottom of my heart for the great caused much trouble people in society."

SATO responded: "I want that collect you the wisdom of the world and to make all possible efforts so that people may think that they can return to their".

Shimizu, whose company has been accused of minimizing risks and ignoring warnings about the risk of an earthquake and the tsunami striking the plant, as well as react poorly to damage, later will visit a centre for evacuation in the city of Kōriyama to offer apology to those forced to leave their homes.

The Japan, said this week that it will prohibit any person entering an area of 20 km around Fukushima Daiichi evacuation (12 miles).

Prime Minister Kan instructed residents in certain regions outside this area to leave to avoid radiation, Yukio Edano top Japanese Government spokesman said Friday, but it was not clear how many people it will affect.

"We have not the number." We work with local authorities, to the compilation of these data, "said an official with Japan nuclear and industrial safety agency.

(Written by Daniel). Magnowski; (Editing by Sugita Katyal)


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2011年4月21日星期四

Loan application increases Corporate Japan for the first time since 2009

April 20, 2011, 10: 01 am EDT by Aki Ito

(Updates with comment from Economist in the fourth paragraph).

April 21 (Bloomberg)--Japanese demand for pink Bank loans for the first time in two years as a strongest earthquake of the nation on record spurred businesses to borrow.An index of demand for business loans was at 8 in the period between March 11 and April 12, the Bank of Japan said in a survey of loan officers in Tokyo today. It was the first positive reading since April 2009, a sign demand has increased.Companies have sought funds since the disaster, causing cash in circulation increased at the fastest pace in more than five years last month. The Central Bank unveiled a program loan of one year for banks in areas affected April 7 as it grew more concerned about the risks the temblor on the third world economy. "Businesses need to borrow now to keep things like revenue plunge,"said Azusa Kato, Economist at BNP Paribas in Tokyo." "But we could attend the loan application lower if sales and production keep shrinking".Companies sought to 7.5 billion yen ($91 billion) in loans from three banks largest in the country including Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. to cope with the disaster.Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd. has received applications for approximately 2.5 billion yen in loans, said Shinya Matsumoto, a spokesman for the unit of the largest bank of Japan. Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., and Mizuho Corporate Bank Ltd. received requests for approximately the same amount, according to the spokesman for the lenders.The Central Bank loan application index rose 43 points in January 2009, during the global credit crisis, only to start down again in July, a sign that the current outbreak may be temporarysaid Kato. Dragged loans 1.8% in March of last year, the 16th straight drop, a sign request has not yet be reflected in the outstanding loans.Data published since the temblor indicate the slows the expansion of the nation. Exports fell by 2.2 per cent in March, the first drop in more than a year and the consumer and corporate sentiment weakened.

-Editors: Lily Nonomiya, Russell Ward

JT JPY 8306% JT 8316 JT 8411

To contact the reporter on this story: Aki Ito in Tokyo at the aito16@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Paul Panckhurst in the ppanckhurst@bloomberg.net


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Japan Stocks gain for the second day as pay U.S. Show recovery

April 20, 2011, 10: 23 pm EDT by Norie Kuboyama and Satoshi Kawano

April 21 (Bloomberg) - Japanese stocks advanced for a second day after that companies American, including Apple Inc. reported an increase in profits and oil prices soared, signaling that the global economic recovery is accelerating.

Sony Corp., most major exporter of electronics of the Japan, gained 1.7 per cent. Renesas Electronics Corp. and other manufacturers of semiconductor and advanced tools after Qualcomm Inc., the large manufacturer of mobile phone chips, reported profit that topped estimates. Inpex Corp., Explorer of the No. 1 oil, jumped to 4.2%. Nissan Motor Co. increased by 1.9% after the automaker said that it will boost shipments of electric cars.The Nikkei 225 Stock average rose 0.6% to 9,662.67 11 hours trading pause in Tokyo. The broader Topix gained 0.3 percent to 839.65, with approximately four actions on the rise since all three fell. "American companies, especially tech stocks are wear well, and which helps to create confidence,"said Mitsushige Akino, who oversees the words of 600 million dollars in assets in Tokyo at Ichiyoshi Investment Management Co.""Investors are looking to take a little more risk".

-Editor: Jason Clenfield, John McCluskey.

To communicate with journalists for this story: Norie Kuboyama in Tokyo at the nkuboyama@bloomberg.net; Satoshi Kawano in Tokyo, at skawano1@bloomberg.net.

To contact the responsible editor of the story: Nick Gentle at ngentle2@bloomberg.net.


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Ex-Nomura trader overcomes Quake with the Japan Option Hedge Fund

April 20, 2011, 10: 12 am EDT by Tomoko Yamazaki and Komaki Ito

April 21 (Bloomberg) - Go Horiuchi, a former trader at Nomura Holdings Inc., led a 5 percent return with his hedge fund that invests in the options in Nikkei 225 Stock average in March, caused losses of earthquake record of the Japan of alteration.

The Gamma strategy Fund Asia developed, led by Singapore - based Alternative Pte of advisers, began on 1 September with "a few million dollars", aims to increase the size of the Fund of approximately 10 billion yen ($121 million) at the end of the yearsaid Managing Director Ken Fukui. Sherp is in talks with Japanese financial institutions begin to sell the funds locally, he said, refusing to elaborate saying talks are private.Return of March of the Fund compared with slide in the Nikkei 225 Stock average by 8.2% last month a magnitude 9 temblor and the tsunami that ensued crippled a nuclear power plant, creating the worst disaster in the Japan since the second world war. The Fund invests in highly - traded Nikkei 225 Options listed on the Osaka Stock Exchange and limits the losses by trading in derivatives - which give the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a security at a fixed price and the dateFukui said. "We are in an interesting period where it is necessary to expect the unexpected as we saw with the disaster in the Japan," Fukui, 48, said in an interview yesterday in Tokyo, where he is on a business trip. "" " Investments to buy downside protections before the earthquake contributed to the return in March. "Volatility SurgesSherp attempts to capture the demand of investors who seek to use the options to protect against loss in their portfolios and increase yields. Investors use options of is to protect against fluctuations in the price of securities that they have to speculate on the price of the action moves or bet that volatility will increase or decrease.The Nikkei Stock average Volatility Index, a gauge of price of the option Japanese, almost tripled in two working days after the earthquake on March 11 to a maximum of two years of 69.88, while the Nikkei 225 fell the most since 1987.The March gain developed Asia Gamma strategy of the Fund also beaten 0.2% return by Hedge Fund Eurekahedge index, which tracks funds more than 2,600 worldwide.Fukui - whose former stays include investment officer head of GCI Asset Management and Fund to Sparx Group Co - and Horiuchi Manager, 35, a former Nomura, derivatives trader in place of the Alternative advisors in January 2010. "" The Fund aims to win a place where investors will be see as a good protection for the downside risks, "Fukui said.

-Editors: Malcolm Scott, Linus Chua.

To contact the reporters on this story: Tomoko Yamazaki in Tokyo at the tyamazaki@bloomberg.net; Komaki Ito in Tokyo at the kito@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andreea Papuc on apapuc1@bloomberg.net.


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Japan said the zone of exclusion nuclear plant - Associated Press

Japan said the exclusion zone around the plant (PA) nuclear - 53 minutes ago

TOKYO (AP) - Japan declared a zone of 12 miles (20 kilometres) to evacuate around its plant tsunami-crippled nuclear a zone of exclusion Thursday, urging residents to comply with the order in the interest of their own safety.

Secretary General, said Yukio Edano Government order took effect at midnight, was intended to prevent the unrestricted entrance in the mainly desert zone ordered evacuated after the tsunami and earthquake in the month last sinking of power of the plant in Fukushima Dai-ichi and cooling systems.

He gave no details of penalties for violating the order.

"We beseech the understanding of residents." We really want to residents not to enter the areas, "said Edano. "Unfortunately, he y still some people in the fields."

Officials, said that the order was intended to limit exposure to radiation from leaking from the plant and to control the entry to prevent theft.

Edano said authorities would arrange for residents to return for about two hours collecting the assets needed brief visits. Residents must go through radiation screening, he said.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan was visiting the region Thursday to meet with local officials and evacuees to discuss plans for the strict application of the evacuation zone.

Residents of almost of all the area around 80,000 left when the area was evacuated on March 12, but some were his return and police could not legally block.

Copyright ? 2011 the Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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2011年4月20日星期三

Sales of Apple at risk in the dependence of the parts of the Japan

April 20, 2011, 12: 15 pm EDT by Adam Satariano

April 20 (Bloomberg)--Japanese land and the tsunami earthquake probably will weigh on forecasts of Apple Inc. to make a profit in the third quarter, sale prices and gross margins high component and disrupted manufacturinganalysts said.

At least seven analysts expect the disaster to affect the prospects of the company later today. The Japan is a hub for several components of Apple, including flash memory, battery, touch screen glass and resin used to attach the chips. The company, which makes the iPhone, the iPad and the Macintosh computer, has not yet discussed the effects of the earthquake of magnitude 9 on March 11.Apple, the largest company of the market value of technology, was already struggling with shortages of supply when the earthquake. The iPad 2, which begins on the day of the earthquake, sold in many stores. Apple also introduced a version of its iPhone 4 for customers of Verizon Wireless in the last quarter, triggering a further increase in demand. Investors seek to report earnings in the second quarter of today and forecast for judging if aid shortages put a dent in sales. "" People want to know how strong is the supply chain and how to safeguard supplies they have, "said Giri Cherukuri, trader and lead Portfolio Manager for basis of Lisle, Illinois Oakbrook Investments, which manages approximately $ 2.7 billionincluding the shares of Apple. "You want to know if it is temporary or how much time this will affect things."Flash PricesThe price of flash memory, which is the main source of Apple, iPhone, iPad, Macbook Air and other storage devices has skyrocketed since the earthquake. On the spot market, the cost of a flash 64-gigabit chip rose 13 percent to $12.92 since the day where the earthquake.Leadership of Apple in mobile devices makes it the largest purchaser of flash in the world. The company was paying suppliers more secure access to the parties, said Rhoda Alexander, an analyst at El Segundo, California-based IHS ISuppli.The challenges follow what may be the growth in the second quarter more great Apple years. When the company today publishes the results, analysts predict a gain of 73 percent to 23.4 billion in sales on average, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Estimate of analysts that earnings will increase to $5.39 a share in the period ending March 26 compensation report is the second since the Director General Steve Jobs reinforced side to take medical leave in January. Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook assumed control over the day-to-day responsibilities.Pinching MarginsTo reflect the rising costs of components such as memory flash, Apple can project margins of 35% in the third quarter, said Brian Marshall, an analyst at Gleacher & Co. in San Francisco. During the quarter ended in December, Apple had a gross margin of 38.5%.Marshall joined the analysts of Deutsche Bank AG, Piper Jaffray Cos., JPMorgan Chase & Co., Rodman & Renshaw LLC, Pacific Crest Securities and RBC capital markets by predicting that Apple's outlook is affected by the earthquake.Apple advanced $6.01 to $337.86 yesterday in the Nasdaq Stock Market trade. Shares of the company based in Cupertino, California rose 37 percent last year.Apple is usually released how it gets components and manufactures its products, so any comments will be invaluable for investors, said Cherukuri. It can also highlight the challenges of the other computer manufacturers. Hewlett-Packard Co. and Dell Inc. report their quarterly results next month.Japanese Quake CompaniesThe is crimping growth in technology companies in Japan. Seven of the largest companies of consumer electronics in the country, including Sony Corp. and Panasonic, the operating profit - sales less cost of goods sold and administrative expenses - will decline 31 per cent during the period of six months ending 30 September, estimates Barclays Plc this month.The impact of the earthquake is still too early to determine the technological industry, said Marshall of Gleacher. "We will get answers to the questions in the short term, but I am more afraid of what will happen a few months or quarters on the road, said Marshall, who recommends the purchase of shares of Apple.Despite this, with 59.7 billion in cash and investments, Apple is better positioned than others to pay more expensive for the parties and to manage interruptions, Marshall said. "There will be companies which will be worse that that of Apple,"said Marshall.

-Editors: Nick Turner, Ward Jillian

To contact the reporter on this story: Adam Satariano in San Francisco at asatariano1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Tom Giles to the tgiles5@bloomberg.net


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Japan may prohibit access nuclear plant

The Japan plans to prohibit access to the area evacuated around a nuclear plant damaged in the month last earthquake and tsunami.

Up to 80,000 people lived in the area of 20 km around Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plants, but almost all of them have left.

However, a few people have been back to check their home, despite the police.

The nuclear power plant has been leaks radiation since its cooling system has been damaged in the earthquake on March 11 and the subsequent tsunami.

Now, officials are indicating for the first time that the area around the plant can be concluded.

"We are considering implementation areas of caution as an option to limit effectively the entry," said the Secretary General of Government Yukio Edano.

He said that Prime Minister Naoto Kan will discuss the closure when he travels in the region to meet with local officials Thursday. Kan will also visit a nuclear crisis management centre.

Noriyuki Shikata, Member of Edano, said more details on how the access could be controlled are still developed.

"There are a number of people who can enter the area." Under the current regime, we are not able to enforce legally - there is no penalty for entering in the box. There is awareness of the need for a stronger application of the region, said Shikata.

Also, Tokyo Electric Power Co., the operator of the nuclear power plant, said Wednesday that it distributes compensation claims for people forced to leave the region. The company offers approximately 12 000 US $ per person in initial compensation.

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TEPCO LNG must jump as rewrites Japan policy: energy markets

April 20, 2011, 9: 00 am EDT by Shigeru Sato and Yuji Okada

April 20 (Bloomberg)--Tokyo Electric Power Co., about a quarter of the Japan of electricity producer, can increase imports of natural gas liquefied by 50 percent to compensate for the output lost as a result of an earthquake and tsunami of last month.

The closure of 14 per cent of the capacity of the company will force to stimulate foreign LNG purchases by 5 to 10 million tonnes per year in three to five years, a survey of Bloomberg News four of traders and analysts. Extra cost may be 500 billion yen ($6 billion), based on the data of Ministry of finance for the average price of last year.Tokyo Electric is trying to contain leaks of radiation at its plant in Fukushima Dai-Ichi in what became the worst nuclear accident since the collapse of Chernobyl 1986, in Ukraine. The utility, known as Tepco, is also being advocated by the Government to take measures to avoid blackouts in the capital and eight surrounding prefectures, a region which account for approximately 40 per cent of the domestic product gross of the Japan. "A change to fossil fuels like oil and natural gas will be accelerate in the years to come as the Japan will be forced to rewrite its energy policy," has said Hidetoshi Shioda, analyst at SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. in Tokyo that predicts the Japan can raise LNG imports by 10 million tons per year over the five " next years. Before the earthquake, policy "aimed to revive the dependency on nuclear power and dependence of cutting oil."Natural gas GainsWinter-delivery of award to the United Kingdom, the reference for spot in Europe prices, increased by 8.3% since the eve of the disaster, according to the price of the broker on Bloomberg. Gas for delivery in the six months to October increased by 0.8% to 72.25 pence a therm, equal to $$ a thermal British units, as of 1 h 50 million in London today. LNG is cooled to about minus 260 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 162 Celsius) gas for shipping in liquid form between locations not connected by pipelines.TEPCO bought 20.4 million tons of LNG by 2010, according to data from the company. It is 29 percent of whole the Japan of 70 million tonnes imports, data compiled by the Ministry of finance show. The Tokyo-based company has about 26 000 megawatt generators powered the gas, or 40% of the overall capacity of the company of 64,487 megawatts.TEPCO, which lost 78% of its value since the earthquake on March 11, can install gas turbines in existing power plants and construction of gas generators on the coast of the Pacific Ocean to try to combat the shortage of powerShioda of the SMBC said.As a first step, the company expects to add 112 megawatts of engines to gas at its plant in Sodegaura thermal power in July and 668 megawatts of gas turbines at its site in Chiba in August, the company said on April 15. The utility is designed to install an other gas turbine of 334-megawatts to Chiba in August next year.Nuclear ReviewGeneral Electric Co. Chief Executive Jeffrey Immelt unveiled a plan on April 4 to help energy shortages address Tepco.Le March 31, the Prime Minister Naoto Kan said that his Government plans to review the revised in June of last year's national energy plan. The plan includes building nine new reactors by 2020 and to raise utilization of existing reactors at 85% per year of approximately 60% in 2008, according to a copy of the energy policy posted on the website of the Ministry of trade. It also calls on five additional reactors by 2030.Generating one megawatt of electricity to a gas generator can require 1,000 tons of LNG per year, according to two of the four surveyed merchants. One megawatt is enough to power 800 US households, according to estimates of the Department of energy in Washington.Outage ThreatThe Fukushima Dai-Ichi and Fukushima Dai nuclear stations combined capacity - or be 9,096 megawatts, or 14% of the total of the Tepco, according to the data of the company. Plants were closed after the magnitude 9 quake, of the strongest on record of the country. The Japan has a maximum output of 281,099 megawatts, including internal generators to factories, according to data compiled by the Federation of the Companies.Tokyo of electrical power and the neighbouring prefectures eight - zone Tepco supplies - can have a shortage of 15 000 MW should temperatures approaching the level of last year this summer. Kan's administration to propose conservation plans that invites companies to reduce 25% energy consumption has prompted by the threat of blackouts this summer.Generally, the summer of the Japan begins from the end of July and lasts about three months. The country has experienced its hottest summer at least 113 years last year.

-With the help of Alexander Kwiatkowski Singapore and Ben Farey in London. Editors: Alexander Kwiatkowski, Rob Verdonck

To contact the reporters on this story: Shigeru Sato in Tokyo at the ssato10@bloomberg.net; Yuji Okada at Tokyo to the yokada6@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Chitra Somayaji in csomayaji@bloomberg.net-0-Apr/20/2011 12: 56 GMT


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2011年4月15日星期五

Japan eyes state-backed insurer to save TEPCO -Nikkei - Reuters

远程服务器返回了意外响应: (417) Expectation failed。
远程服务器返回了意外响应: (417) Expectation failed。

* Plan calls for fund to facilitate compensation -Nikkei

* Funded via govt-backed loans, premiums from utilities -Nikkei

* TEPCO would issue preferred shares to fund -Nikkei

* Fund would recoup investment via TEPCO dividend payouts -Nikkei

* TEPCO to hold news conference at 0400 GMT (Updates with details)

TOKYO, April 15 (Reuters) - Japan may set up a government-backed insurance fund to inject money into Tokyo Electric Power and facilitate compensation payouts stemming from the disaster at its Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, the Nikkei newspaper reported.

The plan, the latest of several that have been floated within the government, aims at saving Tokyo Electric from financial ruin by having the government initially shoulder an expected massive compensation bill, which the utility will repay over several years via dividend payouts, the paper said.

Tokyo Electric, Asia's largest utility also known as TEPCO, is yet to determine compensation costs after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami tore through its plant in northeast Japan, causing radiation leaks and forcing local residents and businesses to evacuate.

The company said on Friday it will hold a news conference at 0400 GMT on provisional compensation payments.

JP Morgan has estimated TEPCO could face 2 trillion yen ($24 billion) in compensation losses in the current financial year that started this month, while Bank of America-Merrill Lynch has said the bill could reach $130 billion if the crisis drags on.

Under the draft plan reported by the Nikkei, the government would set up an insurance fund that would be funded by government-guaranteed loans from private banks and premiums from other utilities that operate nuclear power plants.

The insurance fund would handle the initial outlay of compensation payments, which would be recouped through dividend payments spread out over several years from TEPCO on preferred shares to be newly issued to the fund, the Nikkei said.

The reported plan is the type of support that S&P analyst Hiroki Shibata said he assumed when the rating agency cut TEPCO's debt rating to BBB+ on April 1.


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2011年4月14日星期四

Asian Equities advance; Isuzu, Toshiba lead to Gains in the Japan

April 14, 2011, 6: 00 am EDT by Anna Kitanaka and Raja Shani

April 14 (Bloomberg) - increased Asian stocks, erasing the previous declines, Isuzu Motors Ltd. led gains by exporters and Toshiba Corp. climbed after saying profit can beat its previous forecast.

Isuzu Motors jumped from 6.2% in Tokyo, even after he denied that report Volkswagen AG intends to take a stake or buy Japanese truckmaker pure and simple. Toshiba, a supplier of nuclear reactors, advanced 2 percent. Sanrio Co., the manufacturer of the goods in character Hello Kitty, made rose 11% having said income net of the exercise has beaten its forecasts. Hyundai Motor Co. has jumped after a report said that its Indian unit will introduce two new models a year there.The MSCI Asia Pacific Index gained 0.2% to 136.35: 6 h 56 in Tokyo, with approximately the same number of shares more and more as falling. The measure has increased over the past three weeks as Japanese companies production resumed after the earthquake of last month and as optimism in the economy strengthened U.S. that improve the global recovery may be maintained. "" In General, expectations are for the business activity to increase, ", said in Melbourne Tim Schroeders, Pengana Capital Ltd., which manages approximately $ 1 billion. "But we have still some problems to deal with in the short term." Investors are quite cautious in view of what happens in the region "Nikkei 225 Stock average of the Japan gained 0.1%, reversing the earlier decline of more than 0.9 per cent." S & P/ASX 200 Index the Australia lost 0.6 per cent and NZX 50 Index the New Zealand remote of 0.1%. The southern ABN Korea index rose by 0.9%.Hong Kong Hang Seng index slipped 0.5%, while Shanghai Stock Exchange index Composite China loses 0.3 per cent. Taiwan of Taiex index increased by 0.3%.U.S. StocksFutures on Standard & Poor of 500 index fell 0.5% today. In New York, the index spent less than 0.1% to 1,314.41 yesterday as one of the reserve Federal fueled optimism the US economy can weather plan of President Barack Obama to cut spending and raise taxes.The MSCI Asia Pacific Index lost 1.2% this year through yesterday, from the gains of 4.5% by the & S P 500 and 0.9% by the Stoxx 600 Index of Europe. In the Asian benchmark stocks are valued at 13.1 times considers an average of the earnings, compared to 13.5 times for the S & P 500 and 11.2 times for Stoxx Isuzu 1600 jumped by 6.2% to 310 yen, the largest gain in the Nikkei 225. Volkswagen AG, the largest builder of Europe intends to take a participation or purchase Isuzu pure and simple, Manager Magazin the Germany reported yesterday, without quoting somebody. Volkswagen said that he decided quickly on the opportunity to take a stake in the largest manufacturer of the Japan of light trucks, while Isuzu has also denied that the report was true.Toshiba, SanrioToshiba advanced 2 percent Yen 404 after that its President, said net income can beat forecasts. Net income for the year ended March 31 may exceed estimates of Toshiba January, the President Norio Sasaki said reporters today in Tokyo.Sanrio has gained 11 percent to 2,565 yen. The company said income net of the fiscal year amounted to 9.1 billion yen, 30% more than its Outlook of 7 billion yen, citing its operations licence overseas "friendly."Hyundai Motor, the largest constructor of the Korea of the South, advanced 4.5 per cent to fuser won as the greatest support to the MSCI Asia Pacific Index gains today. Automaker's Indian unit will introduce two new models a year until 2014 in the countries of South Asia to maintain its sales of number two ranking, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing Arvind Saxena, head of sales of the company.Stocks Leighton SlumpsAmong who refused, Leighton Holdings Ltd., more great constructor of the Australia, fell by 12% to a$ 24.93, the largest decline on the MSCI Asia Pacific Index.The company expects a net loss of 427 million dollars in the year end of Junecompared with an earlier forecast for a profit, it said in a statement on 11 April. Leighton also sold new shares at $22.50 each after a 907 million dollars in forecasting writebacks and disability in the year end of June because of project cost overruns and charges for the Middle East venture.In Hong Kong, Chinese banks led declines speculation on speculation, they need to raise capital more. China Construction Bank Co., no. 2 nation lender, slipped 1.5% to HK$ 7.35. Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd., the country's largest lender, declined 1.2% to HK$ 6.51. Bank of China Ltd., third lender in the country by market value, declined to 1.1% to $4.36.Inflation HK, RaisingChinese Capital, banks may have to raise about 860 billion yuan ($131 billion) of the stock of over six years to meet the more stringent rules on capitalAccording to estimates the industry regulatory body, said a person with knowledge of the case. Lenders are probable need for a yuan trillion 1.26 additional supplementary capital at the end of 2016, the person said, refusing to be named because the calculations are not public.Lenders in the country wrote yuna 679.4 billion in new loans in March, announced today that the Central Bank. That compares with the median estimate of 600 billion yuan of economists surveyed by Bloomberg. "" The new number of loans will add more pressure on banks, in the short term "said Alex, Director General of Hong Kong of Richland Capital Management Ltd., which oversees the 300 million dollars of assets. "Banks will need to reduce their loan growth in the next few months." If new loan growth is too fast, it will create inflationary pressure over the economy. "Also, the inflation of China in March may have increased 5.3% to 5.4% from a year earlier, based in Hong Kong Phoenix television said on its website today, citing an unidentified person. National Office of statistics is due to release the first quarter and economic data, including inflation and economic growth, to Beijing tomorrow March".People are still a little nervous about the economy China in terms of a policy-induced landing, said Prasad Patkar, that allows to manage approximately $ 1.8 billion to the Platypus Asset Management Ltd. in Sydney. "There is much talk about inflation being figures out tomorrow." If it is high, people are a little concerned about the idea of how policy Set accessors might react to that. ?

-With the help of Akiko Ikeda and Kana Nishizawa in Tokyo. Publisher: Reinie Booysen, Nick Gentle.

To contact the reporters on this story: Anna Kitanaka in Tokyo at the akitanaka@bloomberg.net; Shani Raja in Sydney to sraja4@bloomberg.net.

To contact the responsible editor of the story: Nick Gentle at ngentle2@bloomberg.net


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2011年4月12日星期二

Taiwan stops Atomic reactor construction projects after the crisis of the Japan

April 12, 2011, 10: 23 pm EDT by Yu-huay Sun

April 13 (Bloomberg) - Taiwan Power Co., which operates three plants of atomic power of the island and built a fourth, interrupted plans for additional reactors and will examine the options after nuclear accident of the Japan by the earthquake on March 11.

Since the utility known as Taipower cancelled a tender to hire consultants on the addition of two more reactors at its nuclear plant No. 4 under construction, Chief Engineer Roger Lee said yesterday. The Government has also frozen a review of the application of the public service of the State to extend the licence of its no. 1 plant, which operates for 33 years, said Lee. "Taipower would rather take longer and spend more money to the public do not worry,"Lee said in an interview in the capital Taipei. The company is studying how to strengthen the capacity of the stations to resist earthquakes and tsunami, he said.Taiwan and the Japan are on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an earthquake-prone area. Three factories of Taipower, as the station of Fukushima Dai-Ichi disaster age of 40 years North of Tokyo, are near the ocean. They provide about 20 percent of the power of the island and are also close five kilometres (3 miles) of a fault active quake, Lee.The No. 2 factory is 22 km from Taipei and no. 3 is a national park and six kilometres from the coastal city of southern Hengchunsite of several resorts.ImportsThe of energy had considered as adding ten reactors at existing sites to reduce the dependence on coal and gas, Vice-President Taipower Hsu Hwai-chiung said.Taiwan imports about 99% of its energy needs. The island has begun commercial operations at its first reactor in 1978, after the world of energy crisis. In 1985, the island built six reactors at three sites. "Nuclear power as a source of reliable and sustainable energy, we have to take risks"with the potential for earthquakes and tsunamis to assign to Taiwan, said Lee."Provided generators 24 per cent of electricity from Taiwan in February, to 3 percent of the combustion of petroleum, 23% of gas and 41% of coal, depending on the site compared.The utility runs reactors 93% of the time, compared to a seventh for solar panels and a third for wind turbines, Lee said. "It is not easy to replace nuclear power with renewable energy,"he says. Taipower may increase natural gas generators to compensate the impasse plans of expansion of reactors, he said.Emissions CutsPresident Ma Ying-jeou, who took office in May 2008, is committed to reduce emissions to the levels of 2000 by 2025. Officials, including the former first Minister Liu Chao-shiuan, called nuclear option to help reduce carbon.Taipower applied to the authorities there are almost two years to extend the life of its central nuclear No. 1, which is allowed to operate for 40 years, according to Lee. "Now the expansion plan is suspended,"he says. Taipower may take measures, including the grout, of anchoraging and putting water doors more high to strengthen safety in nuclear power plants, after March 11 temblor in the Japan he said.The earthquake of magnitude 9 off the coast of the northeastern coast of the Japan and the subsequent tsunami led to what Kan Naoto Japanese Prime Minister called the worst crisis since the second world war.The total amount of radiation released from the crisis at the Tokyo Electric Power Co. Fukushima plant may eventually exceed that of the Chernobyl disaster, an official Tepco said yesterday.The disaster of Chernobyl RadiationThe combined 1986 at the nuclear plant of Chernobyl Ukraine widespread as high as 9 kilometers of debris in the air and radiation released 200 times the volume of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, according to a 2006 report commissioned by the expansion of the Party.Taipower Green nuclear Europe is at a standstill since the 1980s. The beginning of its nuclear station No. 4, first proposed in 1980, has been delayed five times at the end of next year for reasons of security and the rising costs of.The company can grow this additional return under the orders of Government to stricter inspections before allowing the fuel load, Lee, said last month, after the accidents of Fukushima. Construction 93% completed at the end of February.After March 11, temblor, issued Taiwan a tsunami warning its northern coast, where are located the nuclear stations 1, 2 and 4 of the Taipower. Plants have not been damaged by the waves.Advanced boiling reactor water station of General ElectricThe No. 4, designed by General Electric Co., have been installed, Lee said. Taipower is cable and inspect the instruments on the site, he said. Change the design of the reactor is not necessary that they are "already the most advanced", said Lee. The company does not have a new date of departure from the station.Taiwan sits on the faults or fractures geological, between the sea of the Philippines and Eurasian Continental tectonic plates. Earthquakes are more likely that the plates push together, stimulate concern perhaps dangerous zone for nuclear power plants. In September 1999, a temblor centered 150 kilometers southwest of Taipei killed about 2,500 people.In December 2006, Taipower stopped its central station nuclear No. 3 for the inspection, after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck near southern Taiwan, killing at least two people. The station is facing potential tsunamis of the pit of Manila in the South China Sea, said Lee.Taipower averted fatal incidents in its nuclear plants and takes measures, such as the design of the standard response to several disaster proceduresto prevent crises similar to that of Fukushima, he said. Each of the stations Taipower has three alternative generators more than Dai-Ichi complex, he said. "If there is something that we have not quite done, we will improve, Lee said.

-With the help of Janet NGO in Taipei. Writers: Todd White, John Viljoen

To contact the reporter on this story: Huay Yu Sun in Taipei to ysun7@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Amit Prakash to aprakash1@bloomberg.net


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The Japan PM asks urges calm as raised nuclear level

Prime Minister urges public not to panic after the Government boosted the level of severity of the crisis in a nuclear power plant it in the damaged by the tsunami to the highest rating - on an equal footing with the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan urged people in a television address to focus on the recovery of the disaster of the country.

He said "Right now, the situation of the nuclear reactor at the Fukushima plant has been stabilizing step by step". "The amount of radiation leaks is declining." "But we are not at the stage but where we can let our guard."

Japanese regulators said that they raised the rating of five to seven after new leaks of radiation of the Fukushima Daiichi plant assessments.

Monitoring of nuclear power in the country, said that, while the stricken plant radiation emission rate is only about 10 percent of this output to Chernobyl, the crippled Japanese facility issued still an enormous amount of radioactive substances that pose a risk over a large area.

So far, the Chernobyl disaster, in Ukraine was the only event assessed at level 7. The crisis of Fukushima was evaluated previously at level 5, the same as the incident at Three Mile Island 1979 in Pennsylvania.

Although the upgrade was spectacular, two - Fukushima and Chernobyl - disasters are not that similar, experts say that.

Chernobyl, it was the heart of the reactor itself exploded, releasing an enormous amount of radioactive material in a very short time. Fukushima had a less critical hydrogen explosion. And the total amount of the radioactive particles released so far seems to be only a small fraction of that observed in Ukraine.

Japan nuclear agency official Hidehiko Nishiyama said 29 people had died of acute radiation at Chernobyl, but no there were no fatal to Fukushima radiation losses.

The upgrade has at least two new earthquakes with a magnitude of Japan hit Northeast 6.0 Monday evening and Tuesday morning. The region was rocked by numerous aftershocks since then. Up to what the subducting plate moved in position, all quake in the area of rupture-- in this case, 300 kilometres long by 150 kilometres wide on the coast of the Japan which is less force that the initial earthquake is regarded as a rebuttal.

Workers operate a modified Putzmeister 70Z, the world's largest concrete pump mounted on a truck, to pump contaminated water from Unit 4 at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant Tuesday. Workers operate world mounted on a truck, a modified Putzmeister 70Z, most large concrete pump to pump water contaminated unit 4 of the nuclear power plant in Fukushima Daiichi Tuesday. (Tokyo Electric Power Co./Associated Press)

It is believed that the 9.0 magnitude 11 March earthquake and the tsunami, that it has generated have caused damage of $ 310 billion. Japanese officials have updated the balance sheet of the victims of the disaster of 13,219 people. More than 14,000 others are still missing and more than 145 000 people living in the centres of evacuation across the country.

Fukushima Daiichi plant was spewing radiation since disasters and even a month, officials say they don't know how long it will take to cool reactors there.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao expressed concern Tuesday radiation reaches the ocean. He told his Japanese counterpart that the country must seriously examine the effects on the marine environment and the neighbours of the Japan.

He also reminded Prime Minister the it must strictly respect international law and the question of full reports in China.

In a gesture without report with replicas of Monday, the Japanese Government is expanding the area to evacuate around the plant 30 kilometres from 20, citing the risks of the cumulative radiation exposure.

The most recent calculations of the Japan Nuclear Safety Commission found that a zone stretching 60 kilometres north of the nuclear power plant and 40 kilometres to the South were, in the month since the earthquake, have been exposed to radiation equivalent to the annual dose limit. In the old zone of 20 kilometres of evacuation, the radiation exposure has reached up to 100 times the annual limit.

The factory itself, the Tokyo Electric Power Co., known as TEPCO, has resumed efforts to contain the radioactive leak of the plant, after a delay of one day because of strong aftershocks.

TEPCO will begin pumping contaminated water from the reactor No. 2 of Tuesday and transfer to a condenser, after verification of the safety equipment.

The radioactive water was impeding the work to restore the functions of cooling in the damaged reactors. He also resumed by injection of nitrogen, in the containment of the reactor No.1 vase late in the night of Monday said TEPCO. Which aims to prevent other explosions of hydrogen.

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2011年4月11日星期一

Japan nuclear agency raises the level of severity of the crisis 7 Fukushima

April 11, 2011, 10: 08 pm EDT by Kyung Bok Cho

April 12 (Bloomberg)--the Japan nuclear safety agency raised the rating of the severity of the crisis in the nuclear power plant Fukushima Dai - Ichi to the highest level.

Nuclear and industrial safety of the Japan Agency lifted the level rating in 7, 5, an agency official said today in a televised briefing.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Kyung Bok Cho to kcho7@bloomberg.net


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Japan throws Atomic alert to highest level, correspondence Chernobyl - Bloomberg

Tepco's Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Plant Aerial view of the nuclear plant of Tokyo Electric Power Fukushima Dai-Ichi in the Prefecture of Fukushima at the Japan, March 20, 2011. Source: Air Photo Service via Bloomberg Magnitude 6.6 Quake Strikes Japan’s Tohoku Region April 11 (Bloomberg) - Bloomberg Zeb Eckert Tokyo reports the most recent earthquake in the Japan. An earthquake of magnitude 6.6 has struck the region of the country Tohoku, southwest of Iwaki, said the United States Geological Survey. The tremor shook buildings in downtown Tokyo. Eckert speaks with Maryam Nemazee for Bloomberg Television "pulse." (Report of the Eckert came before the USGS revised the size of the earthquake of 7.1 to 6.6) Source: Bloomberg)

The Japan increased the rating of the gravity of the nuclear crisis the most high, corresponding to the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, such as prompt radiation increased the Government to expand the area evacuation and aftershocks rocked the country.

Nuclear and industrial safety of the Japan Agency raised the score to 7, a spokesman said at a press conference in Tokyo today. The accident at the station of Fukushima Dai-Ichi was already rated 5 to world-wide, the same as the collapse of reactor partial 1979-Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania.

The nuclear power plant sinistrée, 220 kilometres (135 km) North of Tokyo, is radiation leak worst civil nuclear disaster in the Japan after a magnitude-9 quake and tsunami March 11. Tokyo Electric Power Co. plant has resisted hundreds of aftershocks, and the Government expands the surrounding area of evacuation yesterday.

The Government "finally begins to wake up to the reality of the scale of the disaster," said Philip White, Liaison Officer International Information Center of the nuclear citizens, a group based in Tokyo, opposed to atomic energy. "Its belated move to evacuate people from a wider area the nuclear plant, in the same way, is a recognition that the impact on public health is potentially much greater that it was first recognized."

The International nuclear and radiological event scale rate nuclear accidents in terms of their effects on health and the environment, according to the international agency of Atomic Energy, which has helped put in place the system. Each of its represents seven steps a ten times more large increase in the severity of the incident or accident, according to the Backgrounder INES.

Levels 1 to 3 are classified as incidents and those of 4 to 7 are defined as accidents. Average level 7 there have been a "major release of radioactive material with widespread health and environmental effects requiring the implementation of countermeasures planned and prolonged", says the information sheet.

Earthquake of 11 March, the highest on record and the tsunami was approximately 27 500 dead or missing, according to the Police Office National du Japan of the nation. The Government estimated damage to 25 billion yen ($295 billion). TEPCO may face the claims by as much as 11 billion yen, according to an estimate.

An earthquake of magnitude-6. 2 struck off the coast of Chiba Prefecture is Tokyo, at 8 h 08, local time today, swaying buildings in the capital, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. This followed a magnitude 6.6 temblor yesterday and a replica of magnitude 7.1 April 7.

Is there no damage at the Fukushima plant after the latest earthquake, spokesman for the company Takashi Kurita said. There is no power outages at the station, Tepco, as is called the utility, said flash on its Web site.

TEPCO spent 7.8% at 539 yen at 11 a.m. in Tokyo. The stock has fallen 75 percent since March 10, a day before the start of the crisis.

Earthquake today briefly closes the airstrips at International of Narita Airport, interrupted ball and the metro train services in Tokyo.

The two runways at Narita reopened after the checks have been carried out after the last earthquake, Masaru Fujisaki, a spokesman for Narita International Airport Corp., said by telephone. Services of the East bullet train Japan Railway Co. and all lines operated by Tokyo Metro Co. Metro resumed, according to the spokesman for businesses.

A fire sampling build near reactor No. 4 at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi station extinguished this morning, after the fire was discovered at 6 h 38, spokesman capture Tamaki said at a press conference today. The fire was not related to the earthquake this morning, he said.

TEPCO is using emergency equipment to cool the reactors damaged in relief after that generating atomic station were eliminated by the tsunami.

The utility attempts to remove the highly contaminated water which takes efforts to obtain work cooling pumps and prevent other explosions after the explosions damaged reactor containment vessels, releasing radiation into the air and sea, and the alteration of food. Earthquake of yesterday has halted the pumping of water contaminated from the No. 2 reactor, said Tepco.

Approximately 60 000 tonnes of contamination of water is located in the basements of the buildings of the turbine and the trenches around the No. 1, 2 and 3 of the reactors, the company said last week.

"If it finds a solution long term for the large quantities of water highly radioactive reactors, the scale of the disaster may end up exceeding Chernobyl," White, of the Information Centre of the nuclear citizens, said by phone today.

To contact the reporters on this story: Michio Nakayama in Tokyo at the mnakayama4@bloomberg.net; Aaron Sheldrick in Tokyo at the asheldrick@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Amit Prakash to aprakash1@bloomberg.net


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