. >>> foot-and-mouth disease hit miyazaki prefecture in southern japan earlier this year. now officials there say they will ask the japanese government to introduce a simpler and quicker system to identify animals stricken with the disease. miyazaki governor hideo higashikokubaru spoke to reporters on tuesday following the prefecture's lifting of its last remaining ban on the transfer of livestock three months after the outbreak of the disease. the governor said japan must develop a simpler system for veterinarians to test livestock. he said such a system coupled with photographic analysis could improve the accuracy of foot-and-mouth diagnoses. a government report has concluded that by the time the first case of foot-and-mouth was found in miyazaki in april the disease might already have spread to more than ten other farms. the prefecture is conducting a health survey of cows and pigs at its 7,800 farms. it says it hopes to declare the outbreak over by the end of august. >>> japan will postpone the release of its annual defense report until after the 100th anniversary of j

shipments of livestock were restricted in 20 cities and isease in miyazaki city s on july 4th. it has been confirmed that no new cases have been found since then. >>> afghan security authorities claim that nato forces are responsible for a rocket attack that mistakenly killed 52 civilians. they announced on monday they have launched an inquiry. the incident took place in southern helmand province last friday. the nato-led international security assistance force fired a rocket that hit a house. vihouse to flee the fighting between taliban insurgents and the isaf. many women and children were among the victims. president karzai denounced the incident and demandeded that the isaf take every possible measure to avoid civilian casualties. an isaf spokesman said they are still investigating. this is a major source of hostility to isaf and u.s. forces. >>> u.s. and south korean war sxhpz helicopters are carrying out maneuvers off the korean peninsula. the media was shown some of the exercises on monday. on the second day of the four-day drill, earl morning aircraft staged takeoffs and

. >>> the governor of miyazaki prefecture in southern japan says he wants to lift the state of emergency declared for an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease as early as next tuesday. governor hideo higashikokubaru declared a prefecture-wide state of emergency in mid may. residents were required to carry out thorough disinfections and postpone social events. restrictions for most regions were eased after livestock at risk were destroyed. however, when symptoms of the disease were discovered at a farm in miyazaki city on july 4th, the prefecture asked nearby residents to stay on guard. areas around the farm are expected to be confirmed free of the foot-and-mouth virus next tuesday, allowing the resumption of livestock transport throughout the prefecture. the governor says even after the lifting of the state of emergency a disinfection system should remain in place until the disease is completely eradicated. >>> u.n. secretary-general ban ki-moon will visit japan's two atomic-bombed cities early next month to appeal for a world free of nuclear arms. ban will visit japan from august 3rd to 7t