Japanese nuclear plant clears safety hurdle

TOKYO (AP) — A nuclear power plant in southern Japan won regulators’ approval Wednesday under new safety standards imposed after the 2011 Fukushima disaster, a key step toward becoming the first to restart under the tighter rules.

The Nuclear Regulation Authority unanimously approved an inspection report for the Sendai Nuclear Power Station’s two reactors. It concluded that the reactors complied with new regulations designed to avoid major damage during disasters such as the massive earthquake and tsunami that caused meltdowns at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant.