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January 25, 2012

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Trade figures reveal cost of Japan's nuclear shutdown, World Nuclear News
Huge energy imports last year caused Japan to record a rare trade deficit. Manufacturing was hit by the tsunami, but the use of fossil fuels to replace shut-down nuclear plants was a bigger factor.

* [Fukushima-exclusion area] Village in Fukushima no-go zone to call for residents to return permanently by March, Mainichi Daily News

* [Fukushima-exclusion zone] Fukushima's exclusion zone a ghost town, Kyung Lah, CNN

* [Fukushima-Japan-econ] Japan records 2.5 trillion yen trade deficit, Daily Yomiuri

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] After earthquake, Japan can't agree on the future of nuclear power, Chico Harlan, Washington Post

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Nuclear reactors staying idle, Washington Post

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Trade figures reveal cost of Japan's nuclear shutdown, World Nuclear News

* [Fukushima-nuclearbiz] More Japanese companies to join Fukushima cleanup, Tokyo Times

* [Fukushima-radiation-construction materials] Radioactive gravel tied to more prefabs, Japan Times

* [Fukushima-radiation-sunflowers] Sunflower oil pressed from nuke disaster no-go zone seeds almost radiation-free, Mainichi Daily News

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] TEPCO to continue halt of new recruitment in spring 2013, Mainichi Daily News

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Tepco Idles Unit Cutting Japan Nuclear Capacity to 8.1%, Tsuyoshi Inajima, Bloomberg

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Tepco Rises After Report on State-Fund Injection, Tsuyoshi Inajima, Bloomberg

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Japan's stricken nuclear operator set for $13 bln bailout - sources (Rpt-Update 2), Kentaro Hamada and Linda Sieg, Reuters

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Tokyo Elec to accept Y1 trln public fund injection -sources, Reuters

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Japan taking center stage at Fukushima, UPI

* [Fukushima-workers-radiation] Japan's Nuclear Temp Workers Exposed to Unmeasured Risks, Jack Phillips, Epoch Times

January 24, 2012

* [Fukushima-govt] Minutes of past gov't meetings on Fukushima crisis to be created, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-govt] Japan task force kept no records of nuclear crisis response, Yoko Kubota and Shinichi Saoshiro, Reuters (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-IAEA] IAEA team arrives in Tokyo, UPI (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Electric power industry extended donations to major political parties, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Utility industry to establish independent nuclear safety organization, Denki Shimbun (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] TEPCO to invite other firms to invest in 6 non-nuclear plants, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Cash-strapped TEPCO asks for extra 500 bil. yen in loans from creditor bank, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp-IAEA] IAEA reviews Japan's nuclear tests, Reuters (via IAEA Daily Press Review)
A team of UN nuclear experts on Monday began a review of tests conducted by Japan to prove the safety of its nuclear reactors in the wake of the Fukushima radiation crisis.

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp-IAEA] Japan seeks UN atomic agency presence in Fukushima, Hiroshi Hiyama, AFP (via IAEA Daily Press Review)
Japan is asking the UN's nuclear agency to set up a permanent office in Fukushima to monitor its efforts to contain the world's worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl.

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp-IAEA] IAEA team, NISA hold first talks on stress tests, Kyodo (via IAEA Daily Press Review)
An International Atomic Energy Agency delegation tasked with evaluating the adequacy of the nation's reactor stress tests held its first meeting Monday with the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency.

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Japan Reviews Disaster Plan Amid New Quake Concerns, Mitsuru Obe, WSJ (via IAEA Daily Press Review)
The International Atomic Energy Agency on Monday began a mission to help identify gaps in Japan's safety-check procedure for nuclear plants, to boost reactor resilience to natural disasters, as Tokyo began drawing up emergency plans with local governments.

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Another nuclear reactor going offline, NHK (via IAEA Daily Press Review)
Tokyo Electric Power Company plans to shut down a reactor in Niigata Prefecture, central Japan, for a regular inspection on Wednesday

January 23, 2012

* [Fukushima-IAEA] IAEA May Open Permanent Office at Japan Nuclear Accident Site, Jacob Adelman, Bloomberg (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Nuclear researchers receiving questionable donations from industry, gov't, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-construction materials] Radioactive crushed stone used in around 60 Fukushima buildings, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-construction materials] Tainted stone tied to 60 buildings so far, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Japan to double guarantee on loans to Tepco - Nikkei (Update 1), Ashutosh Pandey, Reuters Africa (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Japan's Tepco undecided on spinoff or sale of thermal power business, Takeo Kumagai, Platts (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] Falling radiation permits search for bodies near Fukushima, Mark Willacy, ABC (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] What was the response to the Fukushima nuclear disaster? We don't know., MajiroxNews (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] The Fukushima Nuclear Disaster – One Year, Later, PEJ News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] YIES / Hosono: Contribute to world through decommissioning, Hiromu Namiki, Daily Yomiuri (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushma-Japan-taxes] 60 percent opposed to consumption tax hike: Mainichi poll, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

January 22, 2012

* [Fukushima] Gov't kept Fukushima crisis worst-case scenario under wraps for months, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-n-waste] Deliver us from nuclear waste, Franz Pichler, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-debris] No radioactive threat expected from tsunami debris, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-worker dose monitoring] Gov't not adding up nuclear workers' radiation doses when not at work, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-worker dose monitoring] Off-clock radiation exposure ignored, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Japan Reactor Lifespan Up To 60 Years: Government, Agence France Presse (via Paulo's Corner)
Nuclear reactors in Japan could still be operating up to 60 years after they were built, the government said Wednesday as it unveiled plans to boost their maximum lifespan by 50 percent. The announcement comes as all but five of the country's 54 reactors are out of action, with the public demanding safety checks following the disaster at the Fukushima plant. "The extension will be exceptionally approved when the safety of a plant is ensured," Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura told repo...

January 21, 2012

* [Fukushima-world-nuclearbiz] Stocks related to the nuclear power industry lost a third of their value in the week after Fukushima, and continued downward after that, David Gillie, ETF Digest/The Street (via @Atomicrod)

* [Fukushima-world-npp] Japan Times editorial gushes about Global Conference for a Nuclear Power Free World, editorial is titled "Protesting nuclear power" (thanx @NuclearUpdate and @nuclearnewsbot)

* [Fukushima] Informative collection of 57 photos, most from Jan 2012, with descriptions and locations, coded to accompanying site map, TEPCO, Current Status of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station by photographs, Jan 20, 2012 (@Enformable)

* [Fukushima-unit 2] Details of the endoscopy at Fukushima Daiichi Reactor 2, TEPCO(via @Enformable)

* [Fukushima-unit 2] New video of Fukushima nuclear reactor interior, BBC News/video courtesy of TEPCO (via @nukeroadie)

* [Fukushima-occupational radiation] Fukushima worker doses monitored when engaged in work around the facility, but not during nearby decontamination work or while off-duty, excerpt from Kyodo article titled "Cabinet kept alarming nuke report secret") - thanx @FukushimaEng

* [Fukushima-Japan-econ] TEPCO charge hike to cut GDP growth by 0.1-0.2 point: gov't, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Protesting nuclear power, Japan Times editorial (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Changing self and systems for a leaner and greener Japan, Stephen Hesse, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-tourism] No. of visitors to Japan falls sharply due to disaster, nuclear crisis, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-tourism] While the radiation issue is more serious and long-term for Japan, getting its currency exchange rate under control (the yen is at an all time high of about 75 to the dollar) is going to be the first step toward any tourism recovery, Gary A. Warner, travel editor, Orange County Register - thanx @FukushimaEng

* [Fukushima-Japan-tourism] The Japanese have come up with all kinds of schemes to try to lure tourists back, including a plan to pay for 1,000 American bloggers to come to the country and write glowing reports, Gary A. Warner, travel editor, Orange County Register - thanx @FukushimaEng

* [Fukushima-Japan-tourism] Major League Baseball is helping out by scheduling a two-game regular season-opening series in late March at the Tokyo Dome (Seattle Mariners vs Oakland Athletics). The message: If the Japanese capital is safe for millionaire athletes, it's safe for the rest of us, Gary A. Warner, travel editor, Orange County Register - thanx @FukushimaEng

* [Fukushima-radiation-food] Japanese Struggle to Protect Their Food Supply, Martin Fackler, New York Times (via @FukushimaEng, @fairewinds, and Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation] Radiation of 40 microsieverts per hour detected at Namie quarry, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation] Fukushima quarry agents to voluntarily check radiation level, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-regional cleanup] Municipal govt of Kashiwa, in Chiba Prefecture to the west and south of Tokyo, recently shut down one of its main incinerators, because it can't store any more than the 200 metric tons of radioactive ash it already has that is too contaminated to bury in a landfill, Russ Baker, Business Insider, excerpt from article titled "Fukushima Update: Why We Should (Still) Be Worried" (via @ChristinaMac1 and @Enformable)

* [Fukushima-regional decon] Hosono explains decontamination steps for Fukushima, NHK (via @Enformable)

* [Fukushima-contaminated soil storage] Fukushima - local municipalities oppose national government's desire to build intermediate storage facility for radioactive soil in the Futaba district, NHK (via @Enformable)

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Tepco to be nationalised for 10 years, Reuters/Peak Oil

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Tepco expected to move into black in 2013 business year, Kyodo/Reuters

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Govt body for funding nuclear disaster compensation is expected to inject 1 trillion yen ($12.97 billion) into TEPCO, Kyodo/Reuters (via @SoNuke)

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] State takeover of Tepco could last a decade, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] State takeover of Tepco could last at least 10 years, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] Cabinet kept alarming nuke report secret, Kyodo (via @FukushimaEng and Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] Fukushima Daiichi plant status update press release (10am, Jan 21) highlights include transferring water from turbine building basements into tanks, such as unit 3 condensate storage tank, TEPCO (via @Enformable)

* [Fukushima] Fukushima Daiichi plant status update press release (3pm, Jan 21) highlights 2-liter leak inside unit 2 turbine building, TEPCO (via @Enformable)

* [Fukushima] Japan govt inspected Fukushima No. 1 reactor in 2010 and extended its license to operate by 10 yrs just weeks before the March 11 disaster struck, excerpt from Japan Times editorial titled "Risky nuclear loophole" (thanx @nuclearnewsbot)

* [Fukushima-film] Japanese filmmaker's portrait of a mayor without a town who is desperately trying to keep together a community scattered across different emergency shelters - Funahashi Atsushi's "Nuclear Nation", at Berlin Film Festival, Ed Meza, Chicago Tribune (thanx @Enformable)

* [Fukushima-film] Japanese filmmaker takes viewers into the contaminated zone around the nuclear reactors, evoking images of an invisible apocalypse - Fujiwara Toshi's "No Man's Zone", at Berlin Film Festival, Ed Meza, Chicago Tribune (thanx @Enformable)

* [Fukushima-film] Japanese filmmaker discusses the political, economic and social situation of his country in a state of dependence - Iwai Shunji's "Friends After 3.11", at Berlin Film Festival, Ed Meza, Chicago Tribune (thanx @Enformable)

* [Fukushima-film] Japanese filmmaker dismayed that his countrymen are complacent about the dangers of radiation - Sion Sono's Land of Hope began shooting last week, Gavin J. Blair, The Hollywood Reporter (via @Enformable)

January 20, 2012

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Official: Japan could have zero operational reactors by this summer, Wall Street Journal (via NEI email; title here is NEI's - original is "Japan Girds for Summer Power Cuts")
NEI's highlight: Japan could have no reactors running when demand for electricity rises this summer, said Yukio Edano, the country's trade minister. Edano didn't commit to a schedule for the restart of the reactors. "If we make a decision [that we'll restart the reactors] first or if we try to come to a conclusion by a certain time, it means we aren't really checking safety and we really can't obtain understanding from the people," he said.

* [Fukushima] TEPCO examines Fukushima Daiichi reactor through endoscope, Kaori Kaneko, Reuters (via NEI email; title here is NEI's - original is "Japan turns to endoscope to inspect leaking reactor")
NEI's highlight: Tokyo Electric Power used an endoscope to examine the interior of one of the damaged reactors of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. "It will help us keep the reactor stable and solve problems," a spokeswoman for the company said.

* [Fukushima] Olympus endoscope scrutinizes leaking nuclear reactor, Kaori Kaneko, Reuters (via IAEA Daily Press Review)

* [Fukushima] First images from Japanese reactor show radiation, Associated Press (via IAEA Daily Press Review)

* [Fukushima] Scientists say they can find melted reactor fuel; Muons hold key, team believes, but authorities have yet to seek their help to peer inside crippled reactors, Minoru Matsutani, The Japan Times (via IAEA Daily Press Review)

* [Fukushima-radiation-construction materials] Fears over radioactive gravel from Fukushima; Pressure is growing on Japanese authorities to determine exactly where radioactive gravel from a quarry close to the exclusion zone around the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant has been used in construction projects, Julian Ryall, London Telegraph (via IAEA Daily Press Review)

* [Fukushima-radiation-food] Radioactive cesium content higher in Fukushima fruits, mushrooms, The Asahi Shimbun (via IAEA Daily Press Review)

* [npp-Japan-Hamaoka] Meltdown at Hamaoka plant certain if power supply knocked out for 3 days, Tomomi Abe, The Asahi Shimbun (via IAEA Daily Press Review)

* [Fukushima-Chernobyl] Japan to seek data from Ukraine on effects of Chernobyl accident, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-electricity prices] Nuclear accident causes a 17% hike on electricity rate, Denki Shimbun (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp-Kansai] Kansai Electric facing heavy loss, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Gov't nuclear power plant tests mired in doubt, Mainichi Daily News editorial (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-building materials] Radioactive gravel also used in construction of private house in Fukushima, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-building materials] TEPCO urged to compensate for tainted building material in Fukushima, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-firewood] High levels of cesium found in ash in wood stoves of homes in Fukushima, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation] Radiation intake by Fukushima families up, UPI (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] TEPCO left backup power for nuclear data equipment detached for 4 months, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Stronger oversight of TEPCO mulled with outside directors, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] TEPCO to be nationalized for 10 years - Kyodo (Update 1), Ashutosh Pandey, Reuters UK (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Tepco may be run by outside directors, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] TEPCO captures images inside crippled Fukushima reactor for 1st time, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] New video of Fukushima nuclear reactor interior, BBC News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] 3/11 memorial to be held in Tokyo, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] Contaminated water in Japan reactor pits, UPI (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] Water falling like rain inside N-reactor, Daily Yomiuri (via Nevada ANP)

January 19, 2012

* [Fukushima Daiichi-2] First images from within Fukushima containment, World Nuclear News

* [Fukushima] Lack of Backup Systems Evident at Fukushima Nuclear Plants, Asahi Shimbun (via IAEA Daily Press Review)

* [Fukushima-radiation] Japan 'Betrayed Citizens' Over Radiation Danger, Mark Willacy, Australia ABC (via IAEA Daily Press Review)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Reactivation of nuclear reactors depends on political decision, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Nuke safety agency under fire for hasty approval of reactor reactivation, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Japan's push to restart nuclear plants sparks public anger (Update 1), Shinichi Saoshiro and Risa Maeda, Reuters (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Japan's Chugoku Elec to shut nuclear reactor Jan. 27, Osamu Tsukimori, Reuters (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Restarting nuclear reactors should not be delayed, Daily Yomiuri (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] NISA endorses Oi stress tests / Draft report says Nos. 3, 4 reactors 'ready' for major quake, Daily Yomiuri (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-construction materials] Most households living in high-radiation apartment building want to move, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-TEPCO-compensation] TEPCO pays 330 mln USD as 1st compensation to Fukushima victims, Xinhua News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-TEPCO-compensation] TEPCO pays 330 mln USD as 1st compensation to Fukushima victims, Xinhua News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Govt denies agreeing Tepco hike in household fees (Update 1), Taiga Uranaka, Reuters Africa (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Tepco Loans Hinge on Repayment Ability, Bank Lobby Says, Shigeru Sato, Bloomberg (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] TEPCO uses endoscope to look inside crippled Fukushima reactor, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] First images from Japanese reactor show radiation, CBS News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] Fukushima Nuclear Reactor Images Show Radiation, Rusty Metal Inside Reactor, Mari Yamaguchi, Huffington Post (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] Olympus endoscope scrutinizes leaking nuclear reactor, Kaori Kaneko, Reuters (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] First images from within Fukushima containment, World Nuclear News (via Nevada ANP)

January 18, 2012

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] MHI CEO sees spring restart of some idled Japanese reactors, Chester Dawson, Wall Street Jrl (via NEI email; title here is NEI's - original is "Mitsubishi Heavy Predicts Restart for Japan Reactors")

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] N-reactor lifespan to be 60 yrs, Daily Yomiuri (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp-nuclearbiz] Pushing Nuclear Exports After Fukushima, Suvendrini Kakuchi, Inter Press Service (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp-Kansai] Kansai Electric Rises After Report Stress Tests to Be Approved, Tsuyoshi Inajima, Bloomberg (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Designated nuclear inspection body has board members from nuclear industry, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Nuclear reactor operation period could be up to 60 years, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Reactor life spans may run 60 years, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Japan considers 60 year reactor lifespan, World Nuclear News

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Japan to allow 60-year reactor lifespan despite Fukushima (update 4); Japan in gradual shift away from nuclear power; Only 5 of the nation's 54 reactors remain online; Rare protest delays process to help idled reactors restart (Adds details on meeting of experts), Risa Maeda, Reuters (via IAEA Daily Press Review and NEI email)

* [Fukushima-radiation-construction materials] Anger spreads as radioactive gravel traced to schools, public road, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-construction materials] Radiation-tainted stones used in paths near housing in Fukushima town, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-construction materials] Gov't urged to clarify where radioactive gravel has been used, Mainichi Daily News editorial (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-US] Have 14,000 Americans already died from Fukushima's radioactive fallout?, Harvey Wasserman, Green Power & Wellness Radio (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-humanitarian] Patchwork quilts bringing warmth to disaster areas, Daily Yomiuri (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-SPEEDI] Panel: evacuation system unreliable / Government group says SPEEDI cannot accurately predict radiation spread, Daily Yomiuri (via Nevada ANP)

January 17, 2012

* [Fukushima-TV] "Frontline" to Air Report on Fukushima Tonight, (via NEI email)

* [Fukushima-Japan-emergency powers] Gov't to retain powers to order evacuation in crisis-hit areas, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp-IAEA] IAEA Review Mission to Visit Japan, IAEA (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Japan plans to limit reactor lifetime to 40 years, Nuclear Engineering (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Power industry takes objection to 40-year limit for nuclear reactor operation, Denki Shimbun (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Mitsubishi Heavy Predicts Restart for Japan Reactors, Chester Dawson, Wall Street Jrl

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp-NISA] Japan's First Reactor Stress Tests at Fukushima Reach Key Stage; Japan's panel of experts is due to review the nuclear watchdog's first report on reactor stress tests on Wednesday in an important step in efforts to rebuild public trust shattered by the Fukushima crisis and restart idled reactors, Risa Maeda, Reuters (via IAEA Daily Press Review)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp-IAEA] IAEA officials to review Japan's reactor stress-test findings, Risa Maeda, Reuters (via NEI email; the title here is from NEI - original is "Japan trade min:IAEA officials to visit this month"; also highlighted by IAEA Daily Press Review)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp-IAEA] Atomic experts to visit Japan to evaluate stress tests, Deutsch Presse-Agentur (via IAEA Daily Press Review)

* [Fukushima-Kurokawa panel] Japanese government names panel to investigate nuclear plant meltdown, Associated Press (also highlighted by NEI email)

* [Fukushima-Kurokawa panel] New Fukushima Probe Promises to Dig Deeper Into Nuclear Crisis, Tsuyoshi Inajima and Kanoko Matsuyama, Bloomberg (also highlighted by Nevada ANP, including a version of the story titled "Fukushima Probe No. 3 Gives Taste of Confrontations to Come")

* [Fukushima-Kurokawa panel] New probe vows to cut deeper in Japan nuke crisis, Tokyo Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation] U.S. forces given SPEEDI data early; Delay in informing public about radiation may have resulted in unnecessary exposure in Fukushima, Kyodo (also highlighted by Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation] Japan delayed release of radiation details, Mark Willacy, ABC-Australia (via IAEA Daily Press Review and Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation] Radiation-dispersal data was provided to U.S. before Japanese public, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-construction materials] Fukushima evacuees in radioactive housing, Rick Wallace, The Australian

* [Fukushima-radiation-construction materials] Government tries to find structures where radioactive gravel was used, Mainichi Daily News (also highlighted by Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-construction materials] Japan Radioactive Condo Complex Forces First Floor Residents to Evacuate, Death by 1000 Papercuts blog, citing Japan Times and NHK

* [Fukushima-radiation-construction materials] High radiation found in condos miles from Fukushima plant, Michael Winter, USA TODAY (via IAEA Daily Press Review and Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-construction materials] Fukushima: Radioactive Houses and Roads in Japan. Radioactive Building Materials Sold to over 200 Construction Companies, Global Research (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-construction materials] Building contamination spreads / Radioactive materials used to repair road and waterway in Fukushima, Daily Yomiuri (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Tepco raises electricity prices for corporate clients; Tokyo Electric Power Company has raised electricity prices for the first time in more than 30 years in a bid to offset higher fuel costs, BBC (also highlighted by Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] TEPCO sees no board member as responsible for Fukushima disaster, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Tepco to hike business charges by avg 17 pct (Update 4), Kentaro Hamada and Yoko Kubota, Reuters (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-tourism] Hong Kong lowers travel warnings for Japan, Kyodo

* [Fukushima-US-Japan] U.S. vows to help Japan recover from nuclear crisis, Kyodo (via NEI email; title here is NEI's - original is "U.S. envoy reiterates pledge to support Japan as it rebuilds")

* [Fukushima-exclusion zone] 11 hot-zone holdouts refuse to leave Fukushima homes; Holdouts within 20-km radius have various reasons to stay, Kyodo (via IAEA Daily Press Review)

* [Fukushima-exclusion zone] Slideshow: Fukushima ghost towns, Reuters (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-intake canal] Crane barge clears Fukushima Daiichi intake canal, Nuclear Engineering (via Nevada ANP)

January 16, 2012

* [Fukushima] Fukushima Meltdown Update: More Problems at Number 4, January 15 update, Nelle Maxey, Pacific Free Press

* [Fukushima-exclusion zone] 11 people live in no-entry zone within 20 km of Fukushima plant, Kyodo (also highlighted by Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Kurokawa panel] Panel Challenges Japan's Account of Nuclear Disaster, Hiroko Tabuchi, New York Times (also highlighted by Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Kurokawa panel] Head of Parliament-appointed investigation team says it will cut deeper than government probe, Associated Press

* [Fukushima-Kashiwagi panel] Panel: Nuclear watchdog relies too much on plant makersTatsuyuki Kobori, Asahi Shimbun (via IAEA Daily Press Review)

* [Fukushima-radiation-concrete] Radioactive Concrete Is Latest Scare for Fukushima Survivors, Akiko Fujita, ABC News

* [Fukushima-radiation-concrete] New condo's foundation radioactive; Quarry sourced crushed stones from hot-zone city of Namie, Kyodo (also highlighted by Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-concrete] Radioactive gravel likely shipped to over 200 companies, Mainichi Daily News (also highlighted by Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-concrete] Fukushima Radiation: In With the Bricks - Radiation Spike Detected in Fukushima Apartment Complex Built With Tainted Cement, Yoree Koh, Wall Street Journal (also highlighted by Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-concrete] Japan probes radioactive apartment block, Agence France Presse (also highlighted by Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-consumer products-US] Radioactive tissue holders pulled from stores, Associated Press (via IAEA Daily Press Review)

* [Fukushima-revitalization] ... how about setting a target of making Fukushima the prefecture with the lowest cancer rates of all Japan's 47 prefectures 20 or 30 years from now?, Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba, speech to Japan National Press Club

* [Fukushima-METI bureaucrats] Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry bureaucrats weigh in on nuclear crisis, TPP, Yoshiaki Ebata, Mainichi Daily News (also highlighted by Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Japan's first reactor stress tests reach key stage, Risa Maeda, Reuters (also highlighted by Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp-Hamaoka] Opponents of Hamaoka nuclear plant restart gain momentum, Mainichi Daily News

* [Fukushima-megafloat] City to sell floating storage used at Fukushima to TEPCO, Kyodo (also highlighted by Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Tepco: Board members not responsible for Fukushima, MarketWatch

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Shareholders to sue Tepco directors, Kyodo (via IAEA Daily Press Review)

* [Fukushima-regional decontamination] Decontamination work hinges on citizen cooperation, Mitsuko Nagasawa, Asahi Shimbun (via IAEA Daily Press Review)

* [Fukushima-antinuclear] Anti-nuclear meeting on energy, radiation after Fukushima, Deutsche Presse-Agentur (via IAEA Daily Press Review)

January 15, 2012

* [Fukushima-Japan-antinuclear] Antinuclear conference urges the need to phase out nuclear power, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-antinuclear] Antinuclear conference calls for full support of victims in Fukushima, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-antinuclear] Antinuke confab urges backing for victims' rights, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] NISA to endorse stress test results on Oi nuclear plant, Daily Yomiuri (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-cities] Disaster left cities in limbo: mayors, Kazuaki Nagata, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-Japan-tourism] Nuclear fallout brings bleak winter for Japan tourism, Mark Willacy, ABC (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-construction] Irradiated gravel used for Fukushima condominium, NHK (via @Enformable)

* [Fukushima-radiation-construction] Radioactive Cesium found in newly constructed housing in Namie Japan, Enformable.com (via @Enformable)

* [Fukushima] Plant Status of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, January 15, 2012, TEPCO handout (via @Enformable)

* [Fukushima] Fukushima Daiichi units 2 and 3 update - Jan 15, 2012, TEPCO press release (via @Enformable)

January 14, 2012

* [Fukushima-Japan-antinuclear] Antinuclear conference under way in Yokohama, Kazuaki Nagata, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-antinuclear] Yokohama antinuclear conference draws thousands of activists, experts, Kazuaki Nagata, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-antinuclear] Antinuclear conference begins urging elimination of nuclear power, Utility Products (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-Canada] Fukushima fallout, Montreal Gazette (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-Canada] Radioactive iodine in rainwater: Public was in the dark, Alex Roslin, Montreal Gazette (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation] A-bomb survivors' dark experiences must not be repeated for Fukushima crisis victims, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation] Danger ! Keep out - forever, Edan Corkill, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] All 3 nuclear reactors in Shikoku suspended, Mainichi Daily News (via @SoNuke; also highlighted by Nevada ANP)

January 13, 2012

* [Fukushima-radiation-Pacific-Canada] After Fukushima, fish tales, Alex Roslin, Montreal Gazette

* [Fukushima-radiation] Fukushima city says radiation dose level unlikely to harm health, Kyodo (via IAEA Daily Press Review)

* [Fukushima-radiation] 300 tons of tainted water found near No. 3 unit at Fukushima plant, Kyodo (via IAEA Daily Press Review)

* [Fukushima-Louvre] Louvre to send artworks to Japan's Fukushima, AFP (via IAEA Daily Press Review)

* [Fukushima-Japan-food exports] Japan's food exports plummet after nuclear crisis, Tokyo Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Nuke administrative agency ordered to produce own inspection manual, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Nuclear plant output falls to 10.3%, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] TABLE-Japan nuclear plant ops (Ikata No.2 enters turnaround), Osamu Tsukimori and Risa Maeda, Reuters (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Interview with Makoto Yagi, Chairman of the Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan: "Concerted industry-wide effort to rebuild trust", Denki Shimbun (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-Australia] Radiation cloud 'not harmful', Kate Clifford, Sunshine Coast Daily (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation] Japan planning breast milk radiation tests, CNN (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation] Homes in Koriyama to Have Free Radiation Check as Job-Creation Measure, RocketNews24 (via Nevada ANP)

January 12, 2012

* [Fukushima-radiation] Fukushima Eyes Checking Radiation in Breast Milk for 10,000 Mothers, Kyodo (via IAEA Daily Press Review)

* [Fukushima-radiation] Fukushima to test milk from 10,000 mothers, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation detection] Co-op checking meals for cesium, Hiroko Nakata, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Daini] Gov't Tells TEPCO to Prepare Repair Plan for Fukushima Daini Equipment, Kyodo (via IAEA Daily Press Review and Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-outmigration] Fearful Residents Give Up On Fukushima Pref., Yomiuri (via IAEA Daily Press Review)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp-antinuclear] NGOs, nuclear experts to draw up plans to phase out nuclear power, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-antinuclear] Antinuclear event open to general public, Eriko Arita, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-US] Garbage In, Anti-Nuclear Propaganda Out: The 14,000 Death Fukushima Lie, Josh Bloom, Forbes (via NEI email)

* [Fukushima-radiation-US] Fukushima Fallout and Infant Deaths: International Journal of Health Services' Vicente Navarro Responds, Barbara Feder Ostrov's Health Journalism Blog

January 11, 2012

* [Fukushima-tsunami] Japan tsunami toll tops 19,000, AFP

* [Fukushima-radiation] TEPCO reports 10-liter radioactive water leakage at Fukushima plant, Kyodo (via IAEA Daily Press Review)

* [Fukushima-radiation-car part exports] Radiation-Tainted Japanese Car Parts Confiscated At Russia's Far Eastern Border, RTT News

* [Fukushima-radiation-auto parts exports] Radiation-Tainted Japanese Car Parts Confiscated At Russia's Far Eastern Border, RTT News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-food exports] Food exports plunged due to nuclear crisis, Jun Sato and Kosuke Fukui, Yomiuri Shimbun (via IAEA Daily Press Review)

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] TEPCO to deposit 120 bil. yen amid lack of nuclear plant insurance, Kyodo

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Tepco Said to Seek 2 Trillion Yen in Loans to Stay Solvent, Emi Urabe, Tsuyoshi Inajima and Yuriy Humber, Bloomberg

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Interview with TEPCO president Toshio Nishizawa: "We will solidify our operating base to fulfill our responsibility.", Denki Shimbun (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-oil substitution-TEPCO] Tokyo Elec uses 155,000 bpd more oil in Dec than yr ago, Reuters

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Osaka nuke plebiscite moves forward, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Limitation of nuclear reactor operation to 40 years as general rule, Denki Shimbun (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-outmigration] Chiba Prefecture troubled by shrinking population after nuclear disaster, Mainichi Daily News

* [Fukushima-Japan-tourism] Japan's tourism recovering fast and strong, Tokyo Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-conference town] Japan to host int'l meeting on renewable energy in Fukushima, Kyodo (via IAEA Daily Press Review)

* [Fukushima-world] One minute closer to nuclear annihilation: 'Doomsday clock' moves forward after Fukushima disaster, Iran's nuclear plans and North Korea's leadership change, Gavin Allen, Daily Mail (London)

January 10, 2012

* [Fukushima-regional cleanup] Japan should take steps toward full-scale restoration of disaster-hit areas, Mainichi Daily News editorial

* [Fukushima-regional cleanup] Fukushima Nuclear Cleanup Could Create Its Own Environmental Disaster, Winifred Bird, The Guardian (via IAEA Daily Press Review)
Decontaminating the Fukushima region to remove radioactive particles will not be possible without removing large amounts of soil, leaves and plants (also highlighted by Paulo's Corner)

* [Fukushima-radwaste] Noda Presses Fukushima to Accept Waste Storage Plan, Japan Today (via IAEA Daily Press Review)
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Sunday met with Fukushima Gov Yuhei Sato to discuss measures to rebuild the prefecture, including containing the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant and disposal of soil and rubble tainted by radioactive materials.

* [Fukushima-Japan-unemplyment benefits] Quake disaster survivors see bleak future as unemployment benefits run out, Mainichi Daily News

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Civic group battles to get support for referendums on nuclear power in Tokyo, Osaka, Mainichi Daily News

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Japan Dec nuclear plant usage at 15.2 pct vs 67.9 pct yr ago, Risa Maeda, Reuters

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Japan 2011 nuclear plant usage rate falls to 38 pct (Update 1), Risa Maeda, Reuters

* [Fukushima-worker] Fukushima nuclear plant worker in coma after collapsing at site, Mainichi Daily News

* [Fukushima-plant recovery] Undercover Reporter, Scott Yundt and Marylia Kelley, Tri-Valley CAREs'

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Banks to Discuss Lending 1 Trillion Yen More to Tepco, Durba Ghosh, Reuters (via IAEA Daily Press Review)
Tepco's main lenders will begin talks this week to decide conditions to lend an additional 1 trillion yen, at the government's request.

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Tepco Shares Erase Losses to Surge 24% on Speculation It Will Keep Listing, Tsuyoshi Inajima and Yoshiaki Nohara, Bloomberg

* [Fukushima-radiation] Fukushima Still Leaking, Scott Yundt and Marylia Kelley, Tri-Valley CAREs'

January 9, 2012

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] 2 power companies likely to face supply shortages in 2012 if demand matches 2011 level, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Renewal after nuclear disaster impossible without sound foundations, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radwaste] Gov't request for temporary storage site displeases Fukushima Pref., Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-regional cleanup] Fukushima nuclear cleanup could create its own environmental disaster, Winifred Bird, The Guardian (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Japan Government May Take Control of Tepco, Tsuyoshi Inajima, Bloomberg (via Nevada ANP)

January 8, 2012

* [Fukushima-exclusion zone] 2 towns at risk of disappearing / Okuma, Futaba face uncertain future due to nearby crippled N-plant, Yasushi Kaneko, Daily Yomiuri (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-exclusion zone] N-zones may keep 25,000 from home, Daily Yomiuri (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Japan plans to scrap nuclear plants after 40 years, Xinhua News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Policy of decommissioning aged nuclear plants too abrupt, Daily Yomiuri (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-regional cleanup] Prepare for decontamination, Japan Times editorial (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Japan govt eyes Tepco common shares-Jiji, Mayumi Negishi, Reuters (via Nevada ANP)

January 7, 2012

* [Fukushima-muons-reactor fluoroscopy project] Tiny particles may illuminate reactor cores, Yomiuri Shimbun

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Japan Plans to Shut Down All Nuclear Plants by 2050, Arirang News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Govt mulls public operations of N-plants, Daily Yomiuri (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Nuke regulators get teeth via bills, Kazuaki Nagata, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] 40-year limit to promote public acceptance of nuclear plants has few, if any, real changes, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Japan: New Limits on Reactors, Hiroko Tabuchi, New York Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Japan to limit reactors to 40 years ... maybe, Tokyo Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Fukushima exposes contradictions / Nuclear crisis prompts govt to rethink private companies' operation of N-plants, Hiroshi Ikematsu, Daily Yomiuri (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation] Traditional burning of New Year's decorations canceled due to fear of spreading radiation, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation] Tunnel full of radioactively-contaminated water found at Fukushima nuclear plant, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] Fukushima lays bare Japanese media's ties to top, David Mcneill, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] A crisis generated by leadership, R.L. Hails Sr., letter to Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

January 6, 2012

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Japan May Nationalize Nuclear Power Plants, Edano Tells Yomiuri, Taku Kato, Bloomberg (also highlighted by Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Japan looking at taking control of nuclear power -media (Update 1), Nobuhiro Kubo, James Topham and Rie Ishiguro, Reuters (via Nevada ANP)
Highlighted in NEI daily email: Japan mulls management of nuclear plants: The Japanese government is studying managing the country's nuclear plants in an effort to improve the nuclear industry's responsibility in the aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi incident, according to a report. "Japan should avoid a situation where private companies own nuclear power facilities and only enjoy the benefits [of low running costs] when the state takes care of compensation and decontamination arising from nuclear accidents," said Japanese Trade Minister Yukio Edano. Reuters (1/5)

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Bills set to tighten nuke safety rules; Government wants legal force over utilities, Kazuaki Nagata, Japan Times (also highlighted by Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-npp-Japan] Japan plans 40-yr limit on reactors' life, with exceptions, Reuters (also highlighted by CSIS, with link to Asahi Shimbun, and by Nevada ANP)
Japan plans to limit the life of nuclear reactors to 40 years, allowing extensions only under stringent conditions, and to legally bind plant operators to prepare for severe accidents, the nation's nuclear crisis minister said on Jan. 6.

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp-Ikata unit 2] Another Japanese nuclear reactor to be halted, Deutsche Presse-Agentur

* [Fukushima-radiation] (video) Fukushima: A Crime against Humanity, Dr Christopher Busby, Youtube/The Canadian

* [Fukushima-children and sad-faced stuffed animals] A hug a day keeps the trauma away, Oren Majar, Haaretz

* [Fukushima] Tohoku reconstruction vital to nation as a whole, Yomiuri Shimbun editorial (via Korea Herald)

* [Fukushima-radiation-farmland-robots] Robots to work the land in tsunami destroyed area, Tokyo Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-xenon/rice/u3 spent fuel cooling] Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant Weekly Review, Nuclear Street

* [Fukushima-replacement electricity-Tepco] Tepco to Boost Capacity of Natural-Gas Power Plant Near Tokyo, Tsuyoshi Inajima, Bloomberg

January 5, 2012

* [Fukushima] Reinsurer: Record natural disaster losses in 2011, Mainichi Daily News

* [Fukushima] Kashiwa stops operation of incinerator again as radioactive ash fills up storage, Mainichi Daily News

* [Fukushima] Fukushima to conduct blanket screening of rice to be harvested in fall, Mainichi Daily News

* [Fukushima] Japan Nuclear Disaster Update # 42: A River Runs Through It, Analiese Miller and Greg Laden, ScienceBlogs

* [Fukushima] Japanese Don't Want a Nuclear Future: The Ticker, William Pesek, Bloomberg

* [Fukushima] Nuke report's worst case: Tokyo exodus, Reiji Yoshida, Japan Times

* [Fukushima] Domestic robots failed to ride to rescue after No. 1 plant blew, Hiroko Nakata, Japan Times

* [Fukushima] Get real and focus on substance -Eamon Watters, Japan Times

* [Fukushima] New paradigm for nuclear energy, Michael Conley, Japan Times

* [Fukushima] Japan's tsunami has dealt lasting blow to family farms, John M. Glionna, Los Angeles Times

* [Fukushima] 2012: rebuilding disaster-hit areas / Mayors, town officials stress working together to recover from March 11, Daily Yomiuri

January 4, 2012

* [npp-reactor safety] Fukushima could not have been prevented by better operation. That's different than TMI or Chernobyl, Andre-Claude Lacoste, French n-safety regulatory chief

* [Fukushima] Gov't opens nuclear decontamination office in Fukushima city, Mainichi Daily News

January 3, 2012

* [Fukushima-radiation-US-Mangano and Sherman study] Little ado about nothing, American Nuclear Society, ANS Nuclear Cafe

* [Fukushima-Japan-econ] New Year Brings Economic Aftershocks, Suvendrini Kakuchi, IPS News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-electricity-oil] Japan's Kyushu Electric restarts 500 MW Ainoura oil-fired unit, Takeo Kumagai, Platts (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-npp-econ] Extra nuclear safety to cost up to 10 bln euros: EDF, Expatica France (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-npp] Nuclear Awakening: Fukushima meltdowns set nuclear energy debate on its ear, Kazuaki Nagata, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-public] Crisis spawns distrust as Web alliances try to push for truth, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-food] Nuclear Awakening: Mothers first to shed food-safety complacency, Mizuho Aoki, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-regulators] 2 nuclear safety panel members got 7.1 mil. yen donation from industry, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] TEPCO says water level in tank at Fukushima nuclear dropped due to quake, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

January 2, 2012

* [Fukushima-global] Nuclear Awakening: Fukushima meltdowns set nuclear energy debate on its ear, Kazuaki Nagata, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] Details Emerge About Failures at Fukushima, Dan Yurman, Energy Collective (via Nevada ANP)

January 1, 2012

* [Fukushima] Japanese Officials Request Help from Professors After Nuclear Meltdown, GantDaily (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-antinuclear] Can Web-savvy activist moms change Japan?, AP

* [Fukushima-Jan 1 quake 7.0] Earthquake hits eastern Japan, IBNS, Sify News

* [Fukushima-Jan 1 quake 7.0] Strong quake jolts eastern, northeastern Japan, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-decon] Nuclear decontamination law goes into full force, Kyodo News Svc (Nevada ANP highlighted this too)

* [Fukushima-radiation monitoring] Skis, goggles, hats - and radiation monitors: thousands crowd the slopes during Fukushima's ski season, Danielle Demetriou, Daily Telegraph (UK)

* [Fukushima-radiation-children] New Radiation Limits Demanded for Children, Suvendrini Kakuchi, IPS - Inter Press Service

* [Fukushima-reactor safety] Sound the trumpets for nuclear power, Llewellyn King, St. Paul Pioneer Press

* [Fukushima-day laborers] Fukushima Blows Lid Off Exploited Labour, Suvendrini Kakuchi, IPS - Inter Press Service

* [Fukushima] Some Japan Nuclear Safety Panel Members Received Donations From Nuclear Industry-Report, Morningstar News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] Nuclear safety panel given donations, Ninemsn (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-plant update] Water injection rates tweaked for units 1 and 2, TEPCO facility status press release

December 31, 2011

* [Fukushima-four more independent commissions] Expert groups to probe Fukushima n-plant disaster again, IANS, The Times of India

* [Fukushima-evacuees] 54% of N-zone evacuees have yet to return, The Yomiuri Shimbun

* [Fukushima-evacuees] More than half of nuclear radiation zone evacuees in Japan have yet to return home, Nigel Shelbourne, Australian Eye (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-exclusion zone] Gov't decides basic policy of reclassifying Fukushima evacuation zones, Kyodo News (via @Atomicrod)

* [Fukushima-Hatamura rept/antinuclear] Fukushima: Cover up a human rights violation, Deborah Dupre, Human Rights Examiner

* [Fukushima] GSDF commander says he thought Japan done for as he faced Fukushima nuke crisis, Mainichi Daily News

* [Fukushima-decon] Nuclear decontamination law to go into full force Sunday, Kyodo News Svc (via @discardedbacon and Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-compensation] Japan approves Fukushima nuclear disaster compensation, myBIGearth.com

* [Fukushima] For how much longer will Japan's fate remain in the hands of amateurs?, Roger Pulvers, The Japan Times (via @Daily_Donkey)

* [Fukushima-govt] Editorial: Quality of governance in 2012, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-legacy] What 2011 means for Japan in 2012 and beyond, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-food] Rice farmers respond to challenge of slow consumption, prospect of TPP, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-monitoring] DIY cesium scanning store may be 'new normal', Jun Hongo, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Media awards: Tokyo powers down as idols power up, Philip Brasor, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-world-npp] Nuclear energy, 2011: 'The year of Fukushima', Teri Sforza, Orange County Register blog (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] Editorial: The great unraveling, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] Brit envoy, three Japanese staff hailed for disaster efforts, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

December 30, 2011

* [Fukushima-TEPCO-finance] Sumitomo Mitsui to Consider Loans to Tepco on 'Three Conditions', Shigeru Sato, Business Week (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-tsunami preparedness] TEPCO neglected anti-flood measures at Fukushima plant despite knowing risk, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

December 29, 2011

* [Fukushima-Hatamura rept] NUCLEAR ACCIDENT INTERIM REPORT / Law dysfunctional in face of unimaginable disaster, Daily Yomiuri (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Hatamura rept] NUCLEAR ACCIDENT INTERIM REPORT / Prime Minister's Office caused delay in release of info, Daily Yomiuri (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Hatamura rept] NUCLEAR ACCIDENT INTERIM REPORT / Without water, reactor cores heated up, Daily Yomiuri (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Hatamura rept] NUCLEAR ACCIDENT INTERIM REPORT / Fears slowed SPEEDI info, Daily Yomiuri (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Japan May Plan 'Good Tepco, Bad Tepco', Yuriy Humber and Yuji Okada, Bloomberg (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-hospitals] Fukushima hospitals in financial strife / Services being cut as medical facilities' losses top 12 billion yen due to nuclear crisis, Joji Takagai, Daily Yomiuri (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-Alaska] Fukushima: Diseased Seals in Alaska tested for Radiation, Global Research (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-antinuclear] Prosecutors drop case against actor Yamamoto, antinuclear protesters, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-evacuees] Last of evacuation shelters closed in Fukushima, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan-tourism] 10,000 free flights to Japan: CANCELLED, Tokyo Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-world] Everyone Downwind for Fallout from Fukushima, Tony Rutherford, HNN Huntingtonnews (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radwaste] Gov't request for nuclear storage facility site sends shockwaves through Fukushima, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radwaste] Gov't asks Fukushima to host interim waste storage facility, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] TEPCO to raise electricity rates for business customers, Denki Shimbun (via Nevada ANP)

December 28, 2011

* [Fukushima-Hatamura rept] Editorial: Unprepared for what happened, Japan Times

* [Fukushima-Japan-econ] Firms' credit ratings suffer in year of crises, Japan Times

* [Fukushima-radiation monitoring boom] Christmas in the Radiation Zone, Chris Williams, CounterPunch

* [Fukushima-radiation-US] Hot particles bombarded U.S. west coast, contaminated food, worst arriving, Deborah Dupre, The Examiner

* [Fukushima-exclusion zone] No-man's land attests to Japan's nuclear nightmare, David Guttenfelder and Eric Talmadge, Business Week (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Hatamura rept] NISA 'powerless to handle severe accident' / Interim report: Agency merely urged TEPCO to provide information, failed to control situation, Shin Watanabe, Daily Yomiuri (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan NPPs-Genkai] Residents sue to seek complete suspension of Genkai reactors, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan NPPs-Genkai] Residents sue to seek complete suspension of Genkai reactors, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan NPPs] Fukushima governor demands TEPCO decommission all its 10 nuke reactors, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan NPPs] Gov't to enhance tsunami measures, panel doubles quake focal area, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan] Workers in disaster-hit regions hope for brighter 2012, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-Japan] Editorial: Budget with record-high spending, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-pollen] Radioactive cesium in cedar pollen in Fukushima poses no health hazard: gov't agency, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Japan government asks TEPCO to consider temporarily state control, Xinhua News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Tepco shares fall on fears that it may be nationalised, BBC News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] TEPCO seeks more funds to compensate Fukushima Daiichi victims, Reuters (via NEI email). Note - headline used here is NEI's. Reuters titled it "Tepco seeks $9 bln more for Fukushima compensation"

* [Japan-gov] Promoter of controversial fast-breeder reactor project appointed to top bureaucratic post, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Japan-gov] Gov't adopts report proposing drastic reform of utility system, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

December 27, 2011

* [fukushima] Locals fume at poor N-crisis response, Daily Yomiuri (via Nevada ANP)

* [fukushima] Announcement of "Cold Shutdown" of Fukushima Reactors Is Based On a Political Decision, Not Science, Global Research (via Nevada ANP)

* [fukushima-radiation-farmers] Fukushima rice farmers asking 'until when will this continue?', Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [fukushima-radiation-rice] Ministry to buy up cesium-tainted rice from Fukushima Pref., Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-culture] Fukushima's eerie echo of Japan's past, Yuka Havashi, Wall St Journal Asia, front page story

* [Fukushima-radiation-Alaska] Scientists test sick Alaska seals for radiation, Bill Rigby, Reuters (via Nevada ANP)

* [fukushima-decon-soil] Toshiba develops mobile device to clean up radioactive soil, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-decontamination] Full Farmland Decontamination to Start in Iitate in March, Jiji Press (thanx @discardedbacon

* [fukushima-evacuees] Many Fukushima evacuees remain reluctant to return to homes near nuclear plant, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-exclusion zone] No-man's land attests to Japan's nuclear nightmare, David Guttenfelder, Associated Press

* [fukushima-evacuation zones] Gov't decides basic policy of reclassifying Fukushima evacuation zones, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [fukushima-evacuation zones] Evacuation zones to undergo major changes in spring, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [fukushima-Hatamura rept] TEPCO dissatisfied with panel's view of severe accident measures, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [fukushima-Hatamura rept] Editorial: More detailed information needed in final report on nuclear crisis, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [fukushima-Hatamura rept] Report finds Japan's response to tsunami unsatisfying, Xinhua News (via Nevada ANP)

* [fukushima-Hatamura rept] Panel's interim report condemns response to disaster at Fukushima Daiichi, Charles Digges, Bellona (via Nevada ANP)

* [fukushima-Hatamura rept] Fukushima Probe Highlights Nuclear Regulator, Tsuyoshi Inajima and Stuart Biggs, Bloomberg (via Nevada ANP)

* [fukushima-Hatamura rept] Conflict over handling nuclear crisis revealed, Reiji Yoshida, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [fukushima-Hatamura rept] Hatamura panel interim report slams Japan and TEPCO, Kazuaki Nagata, Japan Times front page story

* [Fukushima-Hatamura rept] Japan's mistakes laid bare; Officials response made problems worse, report says, Hiroko Tabuchi, NY Times (via front page lead story in Columbus Dispatch)

* [fukushima-Hatamura rept] Prime Minister's Office shares blame for poor disaster response, Daily Yomiuri (via Nevada ANP)

* [fukushima-Hatamura rept] NISA 'powerless to handle severe accident' / Interim report: Agency merely urged TEPCO to provide information, failed to control situation, Shin Watanabe, Daily Yomiuri (via Nevada ANP)

* [fukushima-Japan-npp] Noda vows to prevent recurrence of nuclear accident, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [fukushima-tepco] Tepco seeks an extra $9bn in aid to pay compensation, BBC News (via Nevada ANP)

* [fukushima-tepco] METI Says Tepco Should Consider Temporary Government Control, Tsuyoshi Inajima, Bloomberg (via Nevada ANP)

* [fukushima-tepco] Tepco Requests $8.8B More Aid for Japan Disaster, Tsuyoshi Inajima and Yuji Okada, Bloomberg (via Nevada ANP)

* [fukushima-tepco] Tepco is told to weigh temporary state control, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [fukushima-tepco] Japan Recommends Temporary State Control for Tokyo Electric, Hiroko Tabuchi, New York Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [fukushima-tepco] Tepco seeks $9 bln more for Fukushima compensation, Reuters (via Nevada ANP)

* [fukushima-tepco] Japan trade min to call for Tepco nationalisation-Nikkei (Update 2), Yoko Kubota, Reuters (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-NRC FOIA] #Fukushima - @Enformable is dividing up the thousands of FOIA'd emails and whatnot released by NRC. Check out enformable.com (thanx @Fukushima_nuc)

December 26, 2011

* [Fukushima-China] Fukushima - China to ease restrictions on food imports, Kyodo (front page story in The Japan Times)

* [Fukushima] Japan investigation finds nuclear disaster response at tsunami plant riddled with problems, Yuri Kageyama, Associated Press

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Tokyo utility behind unfolding nuclear disaster seeks to raise electricity bills, Associated Press

* [Fukushima-Japan] Fumbling gov't faces huge challenges in 2012, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-npp] Fukushima accident shows need to prepare for the unexpected: panel, Kyoto News Service, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation-food] No direct link between soil radiation and contaminated rice: survey, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation] Ministry sets guideline to reuse contaminated waste, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation] 3 pilot plants to try decontaminating debris in Fukushima, Mainichi Daily News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation] TEPCO says it 'no longer owns' Fukushima fallout, Rick Wallace, The Australian (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] Long road back for Fukushima city hit by twin disasters, BBC News (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] Fukushima Probe Highlights Nuclear Regulator, Tsuyoshi Inajima and Stuart Biggs, Bloomberg (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] Report scathing of response to Fukushima nuclear crisis, Michiyo Nakamoto, Financial Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] Fukushima investigation reveals failings, The Guardian (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] Report blasts government's crisis response, Kazuaki Nagata, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] Report Condemns Japan's Response to Nuclear Accident, Hiroko Tabuchi, New York Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] Up to 40 years to decommission Fukushima I reactors, Denki Shimbun (via Nevada ANP)

December 25, 2011

* [Fukushima-radiation/USA] Study: Fukushima Radiation Has Already Killed 14,000 Americans, Ctr for Research on Globalization (also highlighted by Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima-radiation/USA-Alaska] Officials: No Alaska radiation from Fukushima, Jeff Richardson, Fairbanks News-Miner

* [Fukushima-debris/Canada-BC] B.C. braces for wave of debris from Japanese tsunami, Keven Drews, The Canadian Press/thestar.com

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Tepco asked banks to extend 2 trillion yen loan deadline, Business Recorder

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Tepco asked banks to extend 2 trln yen loan deadline- Kyodo, Reuters (via The Sun Daily)

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Tepco asked banks to extend 2 trln yen loan deadline- Kyodo, Mari Saito, Reuters (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] Driven away by fear, Fukushima evacuees want to get back home, Shubhajit Roy, Indian Express

* [Fukushima] Long road back for Fukushima city hit by twin disasters, Roland Buerk, BBC News

* [Fukushima-radiation] Parents wary of Fukushima village schools, Daily Yomiuri (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima/Japan] Genkai No. 4 reactor shut down; only 6 reactors now operating in Japan, Japan Today

* [Fukushima/Japan] Scams targeting disaster victims, Kyodo News Service (via Japan Times)

* [Fukushima-Japan-reg] Details of new N-agency announced / 485-strong body to tighten safety rules, Daily Yomiuri (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima/biz] Nikkei set to rise, boosted by Wall St, Reuters

December 24, 2011

* [Fukushima/radiation] In Japan, Radiation Fears Reshape Lives, Lucy Craft, NPR (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima/TEPCO] Japan to acquire two thirds share of TEPCO, Tokyo Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima/radiation-food] New food safety rules require time for explanations, preparation, Daily Yomiuri (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima/radiation-food] Farmers relieved at new criteria, Nobuhiko Harada, Daily Yomiuri (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima/radiation] Is radiation causing Arctic Alaska ringed-seal deaths?, Alex DeMarban, Alaska Dispatch (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima/Japan] ¥50 billion budgeted for new nuke agency, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] Report criticizes Fukushima evacuations, UPI (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima] Plant Status of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (as of 3:00 pm, December 24), TEPCO press release (via @Enformable)

* [Fukushima/Japan] The earthquake year, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima/Japan] The aftershocks of 2011 will be felt for many years to come, Michael Hoffman, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima/Japan] Cabinet crafts record ¥93.56 trillion budget, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)

* [Fukushima/Japan] Cabinet crafts record ¥96 trillion budget, Japan Times (via Nevada ANP)