welcome to nhk world "newsline." people in iran a assessing the damage after a powerful earthquake. iranian media say more than 40 people are dead. analysts say that the magnitude 7.8 earthquake his tuesday afternoon local time. they say it was 86 kilometers east/southeast of hash.

they felt it in new delhi. some rushed out of buildings and waited in parking lot. in pakistan, there was the shaking in a tv station. a magnitude tremor hit southern iran a week cool. plates that meet underneath have generated two major earthquakes in the last 20 years. . in 2003, a quake struck the southeastern city of baum. and a 7.7 tremor hit north western iran leading 30,000 dead. law enforcement officers are coming through evidence to see who attacked the boston mary on

this and why. two bombs wept off and killed two people and injured nearly 30 others. investigators say police have found more explosives near the site. the bombs went off on monday afternoon. the first knocked back runners 30 meters from the finish. the second hit people a short distance away. emergency medical crews rushed to the scene. the dead include an 8-year-old boy. more than ten people were seriously wounded. u.s. media are reporting that police found additional explosives near the scene of the bombings and removed them. no one claimed responsibility for the attack. they're carrying out a probe. a japanese marathoner captured some of the scenes in boston from a different angle.

he had a camera on his cap. he was approaching the finish line when the bomb went off, and then 12 seconds later. he called the bombings extremely regrettable. he previously heard that boston was one of the safest cities in the united states. crews at the damaged fukushima daiichi plant have started a project to stop highly contaminated water from escaping into the environment. workers discovered 3 of 7 storage pools are leaking. tepco officials believe that pools one and two are leaking the most. workers started transfers about 20 tons of water her hour to an aboveground tang nearly 40

meters away. they plan to step up monitoring to make sure no water escapes during transfer. they want to remove 220 tons of contaminated water by june. the pools will continue to lane during the operation. crews will pump any contaminated water they take back into the pool. the amount of contaminated water is increasing by about 400 tons per day. they will no longer use the underground storage pools. they're working on a way to decontaminate the water. currently only two of the operators are online and generating power. a group of citizens have been waging a legal battle to shut those down, but judges said there was not enough evidence.

>> the plaintiffs in this case hoped for a legal victory. now they're coming to terms with their loss. >> the court decision is really regrettable. the case enters on the ohi plant in fukushima prefecture. the operator of the facility, restarted two reactors there last august. engineers said computer simulations showed the units would be able to sustain a major earthquake. but some residents were not convinced. more than 260 of them filed an injunction to stop the reactors. they argued faults near the units could be active, and that a quake could trigger a major

accident. the judges at the district court disagree. they ruled there is no evidence proving the faults are active. has put sufficient safety erator measures in place. >> it's just very shocking. and i feel that if things continue like this, we're headed for another fukushima. >> this is the first court decision on the safety of a nuclear plant following the accident at fukushima daiichi. plaintiffs have filed more than 10 similar cases. nhk word, osaka. chinese officials have refer todd a on going dispute with japan in their later report. they're saying a strong defense force is part of china's modernization. the paper refers indirectly to

the united states. it says the country has strengthenned it's asia-pacific military alliances and they have expanded in the region and makes the situation tenser. the report first directly to japan regarding the sankaku islands. china and taiwan claim them. the white paper also gives details on military event. it says they carried out exercises in the pacific about ten times since 2007. >> the chinese military must protect our country's sovereignty and marine interests. >> for the first time they revealed a defense person break down. china says they have 2.3 million troops.

but it didn't list the number of strategic missile units or armed police. >> no issue of territorial sovereignty exists over the sankaku islands. china's comments and claims are unacceptable. >> he added that the government will protect japan's water, land, and air space. executives of japanese telecom giant softbank said they will go ahead and complete the buyout of the third largest u.s. telecom operator sprint nextel on july 1st. softbank officials made the remark after major u.s. satellite tv company dish network mounted a counterbid on monday. dish's offering $25 billion in cash and stock for sprint. dish officials say that's 13% more than softbank's proposal.

softbank officials say though that their proposal would offer more benefits to sprint shareholders. they add that they're already at a stage where they can get necessary approval for its proposal. back in october softbank announced a plan to buy 70% of sprint for over $20 billion. softbank is hoping to expand its business by breaking into the u.s. market but dish's proposal may raise a possibility of a bidding war. japanese entrepreneurs have had the chance to hear how to be successful from some of the best in the i.t. business. global tech leaders have urged them to expand their businesses with an open mind. executives of japanese i.t. firms organized an event under the theme innovation in tokyo on tuesday. their aim is to foster venture businesses in the country. the group invited leading i.t. professionals from abroad who have started their own companies or managed start-ups. the co-founder of smartphone operating system android shared a story.

andy rubin said the software was originally designed for digital cameras, but a sluggish camera market forced the firm to switch plans and target smartphones instead. >> you have to be flexible in your business, and you have to understand, if your plan isn't going to work, you have to change. so you have to be able to make decisions very quickly, and you have to be able to be willing to change direction instantly to avoid being blocked. >> meanwhile, twitter co-founder jack dorsey suggested that entrepreneurs start businesses as a means to let the world know what they find interesting. he urged them to be confident and perseverant. >> translator: as an entrepreneur, i realize that the word "agility" is important. speed and developing quickly globally is very crucial. japan's honda motor has completed construction of an eco-friendly assembly plant for

passenger cars near tokyo. company officials say they plan to make it a hub for developing new technology to increase overseas production. construction of the plant started in 2007. the new factory will mainly produce compact cars for the domestic market beginning this summer. so lar panels are installed on the roof of the factory. they're expected to generate up to 2.6 mega watts of electricity. honda's new plant in japan is considered unusual. many japanese automakers have been shifting production over seas to try to capture a bigger market share in emerging countries. >> translator: this facility will play the role of the mother plant. we will develop new production and other technologies here and use them in overseas factories.

many of the world's top businesses have their eyes set on brazil. they will host big sport events, the world cup in 2014 and the olympics two acquiyears later. also there is a competition for managers looking for cheap labor. nhk has more. >> reporter: brazil's major cities are experiences a construction boom. wages are rising and companies are having trouble finding enough workers. they are now turning their eyes to smaller cities instead of metropolitan areas. this north earn poor down is home to an industrial complex.

many foreign companies are planning to set up shop here. as brazil enjoying robust economic growth, local areas have become as attractive to businesses as cities. there is rapid development and relatively low wages. to help find opportunities there, the japan external trade organization organized an inspection tour in march. >> i signed up to see the place with my own eyes. >> they're main focus was the huge industrial park. about 100 people are already doing business in this area. they're hoping to bring in some 1,000 companies eventually. >> i'm surprised at their power.

>> even in a rural area like this, companies are competing to secure a sufficient labor force. this place is planning to ohm a factory in six months. they even pay for transportation and food. managers are doing all they can o to get the trainees to join the firm. >> the company is giving us a chance to get trained. since i have this opportunity, i would like to work here. >> we can offer high wages as well as as a variety of perks. we want to create the kind of business environment that will make people want to work here. >> despite the competition, many of the visitors from japan became interested in coming to

brazil. >> translator: the more i learn, the harder is seems to do business here, but i think there is huge potential. >> the competition is spreading, but that's unlikely to discourage companies from expanding in this economy. a "new york times" reporter in china has won journalism's highest honor. david barboza was awarded the pull lit -- pulitzer prize for exposing the hidden wealth of the family of china's former premier. new york's columbia university announced the winners of the award on monday. the pulitzer also covers

literature, drama and music. barboza reported that relatives of then-premier wen jiabao had secretly amassed billions of bars. the judges praised his exposure of corruption. they noted he published his work despite heavy pressure from chinese officials. wen's family denied the report. the chinese government also criticized it. "the new york times" also won a pulitzer or reporting on the practices of apple and other technology companies. judges praised the "times" for exposing excessive working hours and other harsh conditions at contract manufacturers in china and elsewhere. aung san suu kyi's first visit to japan in 27 years has been an emotional experience for many. that's especially true for a democracy activist who fled myanmar's former military government. but these long-term residents of japan are expressing mixed reactions to her calls for helping in rebuilding their homeland. nhk world has more. >> reporter: on saturday aung

san su, kiy delivered a speech in tokyo before gathering of myanmar expatriates. she asked for their cooperation to further democratize and develop their home country. >> translator: myanmar has yet to be fully democratized. we have to further defend democratization. >> reporter: the audience included democracy campaigners who face crackdowns by the country's military rulers. >> translator: i was moved to tears. >> translator: i'm so happy to hear her speaking praise where freedom is guaranteed. >> reporter: this month myanmar people in tokyo celebrated their country's traditional new year. this man once sought refuge in japan. he surveyed his compatriots

asking whether they want to return to their home country. out of 114 respondents, all but 3 said they want to continue living in japan. >> translator: we all intended to return to burma should the situation change there. but the survey results are a real surprise. >> reporter: this is one of the refugees who said he hopes to go on living here. he runs a restaurant in central tokyo that serves myanmar-style cuisine. he lives with his wife and teenage children. his son and daughter were born in japan. they have never visited myanmar. >> translator: do you want to go to myanmar or not?

>> translator: i want to stay here. >> translator: how about a university in myanmar? >> translator: university students i see in town seem to be enjoying themselves and look so cool. >> translator: any plans after you graduate? >> translator: moving to myanmar after graduation? no way. i'd have to start from scratch. >> translator: he was in the audience when aung san suu kyi spoke. >> translator: i'd like not only those to return to myanmar but also those who stay in japan to think about their home country. >> translator: he made up his mind to support myanmar's democratization but he plans to remain in japan.

>> translator: my children don't like living in myanmar. i wondered what my wife and i should do. it would be very hard on my children if we were to move to myanmar just for the sake of my job. i'll work hard for my children here in japan. >> reporter: many of the people who fled myanmar for japan in their youth are now experienced professionals, middle-aged or r. these former activists never dared hope for a time when their country would invite them to return. now that the call has come, they realize how strong their attachment has grown to their adopted country. nhk world, tokyo. tokyo governor has used his

trip to new york to promote his city's olympic bid. the japanese capital is competing against madrid and istanbul to host the 2020 games. he made a speech to the japan society, the biggest exchange group with the u.s. >> translator: it's impossible to host the olympic games without the passion of residents. the latest survey shows that 77% of the residents support the bid. >> he stressed the punctuality of tokyo's public transport systems and said the success of the city's annual marathon proves it is best qualified to host the games. roughly 10,000 volunteers take part in that event. inose also promoted tokyo's bid on a tv show at a new york-based station. the international olympic committee will make a decision at its general assembly in september. here is rachael ferguson.

>> je, another blast of icy cold air across northern portions of eastern asia. as for japan, we'll we'll be staying clear of most of that really icy air, but there is a low pressure system moving through and it is likely to produce a few snowflakes on the mountains, but the majority of the precipitation will be rain. we have 18 millimeters of rain over kushi. down towards the southeast of china, rain here has lead to rain in recent weeks. we will see those showers continuing into the next few days. and some places you'll be seeing up to about 100 millimeters, so that could be problematic in terms of flooding. looking dry towards the north. we're keeping things nice and clear, and bringing in some

cooler air. you're dropping down to about nine degrees by friday. so you've been enjoying some really pleasant spring warmth. that will fall towards the end of the workweek. just minus one for the high. not managing even to reach the freezing point. on into the americas where it is still very much like winter across northern portions. there has been a storm moving through earn canada bringing snow along the front. we have been seeing some severe storms. that is getting ready to move out and weaken off as it pushes towards the atlanta. behind it there is a fierce storm brewing and it is really packing a punch. as we go into tuesday night and wednesday you will see this band of snow to the north. we're talking about winds over 100 kilometers per hour. there is a good likelihood of

seeing tornados with this. that's a major thing to look out for here. and you can sigh be 15 to 30 centimeters of the white stuff. so it is springtime here but looking very wintery indeed. here are your temperatures for your tuesday. 28 in houston, 30 in mexico city and miami. 26 in atlanta. 12 degrees in chicago, six in denver, so cooler here. this will drop to down around the freeding point i think in the next day or two as that wintery cold takes hold once again. on into europe. now things are looking wet and windy once again, and really gusty winds. 90 kilometer per hour winds in the british isles. looks like at bout of wet is

coming from the atlanta. we'll go up to the scandinavian peninsula, but much of the continent enjoying warm, dry conditions, and you really deserve it after a long and cold winter. down towards the southeast it's unstable. thunderstorms and rain here but that is slowly inching off further towards the east. here are your temperatures then, i'm going to leave you with your extended forecast now.

tourists are gazing up on a high mountain route in central japan. officials opened the road for the spring sightseeing crowds.

the 27 kilometer teteyama-kurobe alpine route is in the northern alps. it was declared open after workers cleared the remaining snow. one popular section has 18 meter high walls on either side. the pass is at over 2,000 meters. snow plows created the walls. >> it's just a little small in highest place. so i was very surprised here. it's very beautiful. high wall. >> translator: the snow wall is one meter higher than last year. i'm sure you'll be amazed and feel like when you look up, the spectacle goes on forever and ever. >> tourists snap photos of the white giant against a black ground of blue. that's "newsline" for this hour. for all of us here at nhk world,

have a great day wherever you are.