Fukushima cooling water: Japan to start discharging into sea

Japan's government plans to start discharging treated cooling water from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea on Thursday. "We will ask (operator) Tepco to immediately prepare to start discharging into the sea based on the plan approved by the Nuclear Regulation Authority," Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday after a ministerial meeting in Tokyo. The discharge should take place "on Aug. 24 unless weather and sea conditions prevent it," Kishida said. The project is controversial. Greenpeace criticized Japan for choosing "a wrong solution." Many Japanese fishermen also fear for the reputation of their industry.