U.S. nuclear-powered submarine has leaked radioactive water for more than two years

The U.S. government on August 7 notified Japan that trace amounts of radioactivity leaked from the nuclear-powered submarine Houston at Japanese ports between June 2006 and July 2008. During this period, the USS Houston made 11 port calls in Japan.

New international campaign proposed for nuclear weapons abolition

The International Meeting of the 2008 World Conference adopted a “Declaration” that called for a global signature campaign for the abolition of nuclear weapons to be developed during the run-up to the 2010 NPT Review Conference.

There can be no policy change

Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda Yasuo on August 1 reshuffled his cabinet, for the first time since he took office in September 2007. He also made changes in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party leadership.