at 20:00 (JST), October 31

A fire has destroyed all the main structures at Shuri Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Japan's southern prefecture of Okinawa.

Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai has stepped down. He is the second Cabinet minister to resign in less than a week.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff say North Korea fired two projectiles toward the Sea of Japan on Thursday afternoon.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20191031200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : A fire has destroyed 11 hours
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191031_37/

A fire has destroyed all the main structures at Shuri Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Japan's southern prefecture of Okinawa.

The fire department in Naha City, the prefectural capital, received an emergency call about a fire shortly after 2:40 a.m. on Thursday.

Fire department officials say the fire has died down 11 hours after it started.

They say 30 fire engines were sent to the site to extinguish the blaze, but seven buildings at the castle grounds have burned down, including the main hall and the north and south halls. They say more than 4,000 square meters of the site have been damaged.

The fire department says one firefighter was taken to hospital after suffering dehydration.

Based on witness reports, including from a security firm worker who rushed to the scene, police and fire officials suspect the fire began at the castle's main hall.

A festival featuring the culture of the Ryukyu Kingdom was being held at the castle. Police say staff had been preparing for one of the events until the early hours of Thursday.

Shuri Castle was originally built some 500 years ago. It was designated a national treasure in 1933, and was destroyed in the Battle of Okinawa during World War Two.

The main hall was restored in 1992, and other buildings at the castle were also reconstructed. In 2000, remnants of the original castle, together with ruins of other castles of the Ryukyu Kingdom, were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Key words : culture official
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191031_38/

Japanese culture officials say burnt buildings at Shurijo Castle were not covered by fire-protection measures that are required by law for important cultural assets because they were reconstructed decades ago.

The ruins of the castle, a national historic site in Okinawa Prefecture, were designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage site in 2000. But the restored buildings are not included.

Officials of the Agency for Cultural Affairs say Japan's fire service law and cultural properties protection law make special anti-fire measures obligatory for national treasures and important cultural properties.

After the Notre-Dame Cathedral fire in France in April, the agency conducted emergency surveys of anti-fire measures at structures designated as national treasures and important cultural assets in Japan.

The agency also drew up guidelines for fire protection, calling for provisions and examinations of prevention measures, alarms and fire-extinguishing systems.

But the officials say restored structures at the site were not covered by these programs.

Following the fire on early Thursday, the agency sent notices to prefectural governments to re-examine anti-fire equipment and measures not just for designated cultural properties but restored structures as well.

Key words : Kawai second weekly
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191031_34/

Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai has stepped down. He is the second Cabinet minister to resign in less than a week.

A weekly magazine alleges that Kawai's wife violated the election law during her successful run in this year's Upper House election. It says Anri Kawai made payments to campaign staff that exceeded the legal limit.

The report also alleges misconduct within the minister's own office. It says his staff sent potatoes, corn and other gifts to voters in his constituency.

Kawai submitted his resignation letter to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday morning. Kawai told reporters he is taking responsibility for doubts that have surfaced that may undermine the public's trust.

Kawai also said that he and his wife were unaware of any allegations before the report was published and they both believe they've carried out their political and campaign activities according to the law.

The seven-term member of the Lower House is a former special diplomatic adviser to Abe. He joined the Cabinet for the first time in September.

Kawai's resignation comes after the new industry minister stepped down last Friday over allegations involving illegal donations and gift-giving to constituents.

Prime Minister Abe says he's taking seriously the heavy criticism prompted by these consecutive resignations.

Abe said, "I appointed the Justice Minister. I'm painfully aware of that responsibility, given how things turned out. I'd like to deeply and sincerely apologize to the people of Japan."

Masako Mori, an Upper House member of the Liberal Democratic Party, is replacing Kawai.

She has previously served as the minister in charge of measures to address the declining birthrate.

Key words : The bank of Japan previous
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191031_39/

The Bank of Japan has decided to keep its current easing policy unchanged. But it has adjusted its forward guidance.

The BOJ's statement says it expects short- and long-term interest rates to maintain their present levels or go lower. That situation would continue, as long as the central bank needs to determine whether the momentum behind its inflation target is lost.

The previous statement set a time frame of at least through spring 2020 for the current policy. This time, no such period was cited.

The BOJ believes it needs to continue exercising caution, given the possible effects on Japan's economy from slowing economies overseas.
It reiterated its stance that it remains willing to take additional easing measures, if necessary.

The central bank will continue to buy government bonds aiming to guide the yield on the benchmark 10-year bond to around zero percent.

The BOJ will keep its short-term policy rate in the negative, at minus 0.1 percent.

A majority of policy-makers voted in favor of the decision.

The BOJ believes that its 2-percent inflation goal is still far from being realized. It estimates the figure will be under 2 percent through fiscal 2021.

Key words : south joint chief
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191031_45/

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff say North Korea fired two projectiles toward the Sea of Japan on Thursday afternoon.

The projectiles were reportedly fired from the country's western province of South Phyongan.

The firings are the latest in a series of short-range and other missile launches by Pyongyang since May.

On October 2, the North said it had succeeded in test-firing a submarine-launched ballistic missile, or SLBM, in the Sea of Japan.

The South Korean military and its US counterpart are gathering and analyzing detailed information related to the latest incident.

Key words : Abe believe to be
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Key words : Chile announced not host
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191031_21/

The Chilean president has announced the South American country will not host two major international conferences after recent unrest.

President Sebastian Pinera says he has suspended holding the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit scheduled for November and December's COP25 climate summit.

Pinera said, "As president for all Chileans, I have to always put the problems and interest of Chileans, their necessities and their hopes first."

The country has been rocked by widespread violent protests that were prompted by a subway fare hike. The demonstrations have evolved into a national movement demanding greater equality.

Media reports say the turmoil has left at least 19 people dead, while about 7,000 have been arrested.

Responding to the cancelation, the White House issued a statement saying it appears the APEC forum does not yet have an alternative location.

It says the administration will await information about a possible new host city.

US President Donald Trump had hoped to sign an initial trade agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the APEC meeting.

The UN's climate change chief Patricia Espinosa said in a statement it is currently exploring alternative hosting options.

Key words : campaigning
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191031_28/

Campaigning for Britain's general election is effectively underway after the leaders of the governing and opposition parties clashed in a parliamentary debate.

The House of Commons on Tuesday approved Prime Minister Boris Johnson's call for a snap election on December 12.

Johnson said on Wednesday that the choice was between getting Brexit done and taking the country towards a brighter future under his Conservative Party, or an economic catastrophe under the Labour Party.

The leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, criticized the government's management of the public health service. Corbyn apparently wants to make healthcare the main campaign issue instead of Brexit.

Other opposition parties condemned Johnson's handling of the country's planned exit from the European Union.

In a poll conducted on October 24 and 25, 36 percent of the respondents said they would vote for the Conservative Party, 23 percent said the Labour Party, 18 percent cited the Liberal Democrats, and 12 percent said the Brexit Party.

Key words : Naruhito
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191031_42/

Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako have received congratulations from guests at the fourth court banquet marking the Emperor's accession.

The event on Thursday was the last of a series of banquets that followed the enthronement ceremony held on October 22. The first was held on that day for foreign dignitaries who attended the ceremony and other guests.

About 700 people, including foreign ambassadors to Japan and their spouses, were invited to Thursday's buffet-style party at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

Among other guests were Japanese Olympic Committee President Yasuhiro Yamashita, Kabuki actor Matsumoto Hakuo and representatives of private organizations.

The Imperial couple are to take part in a celebratory procession on November 10. The motorcade was originally scheduled just after the enthronement ceremony, but was postponed in consideration of the extensive damage caused by Typhoon Hagibis.

The procession will be the final event of all the accession ceremonies carried out as acts of the Emperor in matters of state.

Key words : twitter ban
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191031_32/

Twitter says it will ban all political advertising worldwide from next month.

CEO Jack Dorsey tweeted the decision on Wednesday.

He said the ban on all paid political ads will be enforced from November 22, but a few exceptions such as ads in support of voter registration will still be allowed.

Dorsey said, "political message reach should be earned, not bought."

He also says, "While internet advertising is incredibly powerful and very effective for commercial advertisers, that power brings significant risks to politics."

Twitter's move comes at a time of growing criticism that such paid ads on social media sites are provoking smear campaigns and that many include misleading or false information.

The move is in contrast to Facebook, which has said it will not ban political adverts and will not fact-check ads by politicians.

Key words : Tokyo police
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191031_40/

Tokyo police have mobilized hundreds of riot police in the Shibuya district on Thursday evening for the Halloween celebrations.

The deployment is to prevent accidents or disturbances as costumed crowds of young people and tourists are expected to visit Shibuya to enjoy themselves.

A public relations unit, known as the "DJ Police," will be dispatched near the scramble crossing in front of Shibuya Station. They will give lighthearted instructions in Japanese and English to maintain order.

Police will regulate the flow of people using the crossing, and are also considering restricting traffic in the surrounding area.

During last year's Halloween celebrations, dozens of incidents of vandalism and other criminal activity occurred in the area near the station.

A number of young people were arrested last year for overturning a light truck before Halloween. Thirteen others were arrested for theft, sexual offenses, and other crimes.

This year, some coffee shops and restaurants in Shibuya have decided to turn away drunken people in costumes during the Halloween period.

A cafe near Shibuya Station has put up a notice that says that people who are drunk or wearing grotesque or macabre makeup are not welcome.

at 20:00 (JST), October 30

An IOC meeting is underway to discuss whether to move the 2020 Games' marathon and race walking events from Tokyo to Sapporo in northern Japan.

The Japanese government's top spokesperson has welcomed the decision by the EU to ease import restrictions on Japanese food products next month.

エラー 2042

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20191030200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : ioc
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191030_29/

An International Olympic Committee meeting is underway to discuss whether to move the 2020 Games' marathon and race walking events from Tokyo to Sapporo in northern Japan.

The 3-day meeting kicked off in Tokyo on Wednesday, with officials from the IOC, Tokyo Metropolitan and central governments and the 2020 Games' organizing committee in attendance.

A plan to move the events to Sapporo, which has a cooler climate than Tokyo, was put forth earlier this month by the IOC.

The IOC says it wants to avoid a repeat of what happened at the world track and field championship in Doha, Qatar, where many athletes failed to cross the finish line due to intense heat.

The head of the IOC coordination commission, John Coates, has affirmed that the IOC has already decided on the change and has no intention of reversing that decision. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike wants the events held in the capital.

With less than nine months to go until the Tokyo Olympics, the Games' organizing committee is studying how it would lay out the marathon route if the event were to be held in Sapporo.

Under an IOC plan, the course would start and finish at a domed baseball stadium in the city. But organizing committee officials say the stadium doesn't have enough space and that there would be some difficulties renting it next year.

The officials see locating the start and finish line in a park in the city center as more feasible.

Key words : top spokesperson
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191030_25/

The Japanese government's top spokesperson has welcomed a decision by the European Union to ease import restrictions on Japanese food products next month.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters on Wednesday that the European Commission will relax restrictions as of November 14.

The EU has required radiation tests and safety certificates for agricultural and fishery products from 12 prefectures since the 2011 accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

Such tests and certificates will be no longer required for some of those products.

Suga said the EU's decision comes as a result of a meeting between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in September.

He said the government will continue its effort so all restrictions on Japanese food imports imposed after the nuclear accident will be removed.

Key words : US has announced series of meeting
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Key words : US forces in Japan
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191030_28/

US forces in Japan have defended their use of the Kadena Air Base in Japan's southwestern prefecture of Okinawa for parachute training that local governments say violates a bilateral agreement.

US paratroopers carried out their fourth exercise at the base this year on Tuesday evening.

Parachute training has never been done that many times in one year at the base since the Japanese and US governments agreed in 1996 to move such exercises to Iejima, off Okinawa's main island.

The prefecture's government and local municipalities are strongly protesting what they call a violation of the agreement.

Okinawa's Vice Governor Kiichiro Jahana on Wednesday summoned Japanese defense and foreign ministry officials and expressed anger that Kadena has been used continuously for parachute training. He said it is fueling local mistrust in US forces that could negatively impact the bilateral security arrangement.

US Forces Japan said on Twitter on Wednesday that they are "committed to agreements allowing parachute training at Kadena in exceptional circumstances."

They added, "Poor weather at Iejima required moving training to Kadena and met the requirements of the agreement. All Kadena training is conducted under this framework."

USFJ cited its commander, Lieutenant General Kevin Schneider, as saying the training is critical to sustaining readiness of the units involved. The forces also posted photos of the exercise on Twitter.

It has been learned that prior to the evening training, two US paratroopers landed off-target on Iejima shortly after 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

They landed on a privately owned field about 600 meters from a home. No injuries have been reported, but Ie Village plans to lodge a complaint.

Key words : a group of academic
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191030_22/

A group of Japanese academics are voicing concern over China's recent detention of one of their colleagues.

Japan's foreign ministry says a man in his 40s was taken into custody last month, while visiting Beijing.

The Hokkaido University professor is an expert on Chinese history and had been invited into the country by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

The group, including professor emeritus at Waseda University Satoshi Amako and Hosei University professor Masaharu Hishida, released a statement on Tuesday.
It called news of the detention shocking beyond words.

The statement warned that the situation could undermine academic exchanges, saying news of cancelled trips to China is already spreading among scholars.

It also called on Chinese authorities to disclose details of what led to the detention.

So far, all that's known is that the man allegedly violated Chinese law -- but there's no word of any charges.

Over the past five years, 13 Japanese nationals have been detained in China.
Of those, nine were indicted on suspicion of spying.

Key words : Trump a man viewed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191030_23/

US President Donald Trump says a man viewed as the next leader of the Islamic State militant group is dead.

Trump tweeted on Tuesday that "Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's number one replacement has been terminated by American troops. Most likely would have taken the top spot - Now he is also Dead!"

Trump did not name the man. US media say it may have been Abu al-Hassan al-Muhajir, Baghdadi 's close aide and spokesperson for the militant group.

On Sunday, Trump announced Baghdadi's death during an operation of US special forces in Syria.

Trump also posted on Twitter a declassified picture of a dog that took part in the operation against Baghdadi.

The US military says it will soon release video of the raid.

Experts say the threat of the Islamic State group will continue even after Baghdadi's death, citing possible retaliation by remaining fighters of the group and others.

Trump's tweet on Tuesday is seen as an effort to give the impression that military operations against Islamic State militants are succeeding.

Key words : swedish
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191030_26/

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has declined the Nordic Council's environmental award. The Council is a regional body for inter-parliamentary cooperation.

The 16-year old activist has rallied millions to her "Fridays for Future" movement. She conveyed her decision in a post on Instagram from the United States on Tuesday.

Thunberg says she needs politicians and people in power to start to listen to the best available science. She said the council's decision is a great honor, but the climate movement does not need any more awards.

Thunberg also commented that the Nordic countries have a great reputation when it comes to climate and environmental issues. She went on to say, "But when it comes to our actual emissions and our ecological footprints per capita, then it's a whole other story."

Thunberg started her solitary weekly protest outside Swedish parliament a year ago and millions of young people have followed her since then.

About her decision not to accept the prize, young people supported her on the web saying, "If the government is not changing their policy, she should not get the prize."

Key words : protests Kawasaki
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191030_11/

Protests are erupting over a decision by the organizer of a film festival in Kawasaki, near Tokyo, to cancel the screening of a documentary about those referred to as wartime comfort women.

The organizer of the Kawasaki Shinyuri Film Festival has called off showings of the film "Shusenjo: The Main Battleground of The Comfort Women Issue."

The non-profit organization Kawasaki Arts says it made the decision because it would not be able to ensure public safety if disruptive behavior and other problems were to occur.

The city of Kawasaki, which co-hosts the festival, had expressed concern about showing the film.
City officials say that some people interviewed in the film had filed lawsuits against its director and distributor, demanding that the release and public showing be banned.

The cancellation has touched off protests by some members of the film industry. They say the decision violates people's freedom of expression and shows excessive consideration for Kawasaki City.

A different production company taking part in the festival has withdrawn two of its works from the event in protest.

Film director Hirokazu Koreeda said at the festival venue on Tuesday that the organizer's decision is unthinkable and shows a lack of respect for the creators.

An actor who appears in one of the films withdrawn in protest said that banning a film for the sake of convenience is dangerous behavior that takes away the freedom of the audience and creators.

The festival organizer says it is planning a meeting to discuss the issue on Wednesday with members of the film industry, the public and staff. The event runs through November 4.

at 20:00 (JST), October 29

Former UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata, has died at the age of 92.

Japan has rejected North Korea's accusation that a video of a collision between boats of the two countries was deliberately edited.

One of Hong Kong's best known pro-democracy activists has been disqualified from running in local elections next month.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20191029200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : Ogata died at the age of 92
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191029_24/

Japan's first UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata, has died at the age of 92.

Ogata was born in Tokyo in 1927. She was the great granddaughter of former Japanese prime minister Tsuyoshi Inukai. Her father was a diplomat and she spent her childhood living overseas.

After graduating from the University of the Sacred Heart in Japan, Ogata went to the United States where she earned a master's degree at Georgetown University and a doctorate at the University of California, Berkeley.

In 1976, Ogata became the first Japanese woman Minister at the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations.

Her stint as the first Japanese UN High Commissioner for Refugees lasted 10 years from 1991 to 2000.

The tumultuous period saw the collapse of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union that led to regional conflicts, as well as the genocide in Rwanda. Ogata's stance was to hit the ground herself to see the plight firsthand of the massive number of refugees driven out of their homes.

Shortly after Ogata became the UN refugee chief, 1.4 million Kurds displaced in northern Iraq were denied entry into Turkey. This prompted her to initiate a policy change at the UN refugee agency, by adding to its mandate people internally displaced by conflicts.

Ogata served as President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, known as JICA, from 2003 to 2012.

Key words : former UN official
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Key words : Japan rejected accusation
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191029_23/

Japan's top government spokesperson has rejected North Korea's accusation that a video of a collision between boats of the two countries was deliberately edited.

On October 18, Japan's Fisheries Agency released a video of the collision earlier this month between its patrol ship and a North Korean fishing boat inside Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone in the Sea of Japan.

North Korea's state-run media said on Monday that the images were deliberately edited and the crash was intentionally caused to sink the North Korean boat.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters on Tuesday that he will refrain from commenting about each media report by North Korea.

Suga added the agency released the video to gain public understanding that the patrol was conducted appropriately.

He said Japan absolutely cannot accept North Korea's claims and will continue to convey its position to Pyongyang.

Key words : cabinet designated
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191029_31/

Japan's Cabinet on Tuesday designated Typhoon Hagibis both a "severe" and an "extraordinary" disaster. The death toll from the typhoon that hit eastern Japan in mid-October stands at 88. Seven people remain missing.

The first status change increases subsidies to disaster-hit areas while the second means the government will take on certain reconstruction work.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters that the government will quickly draw up measures to help survivors rebuild their lives.

Suga said the measures will include disposal of mud and debris, assistance for small and mid-sized businesses and support for farming and tourism. He also said the typhoon highlighted the need for new measures to prevent and mitigate disasters.

He added the government has about 4.5 billion dollars in reserve funds available for the work, and plans to compile a supplementary budget if necessary.

It was also decided on Tuesday that the land ministry will repair roads in five prefectures - Miyagi, Fukushima, Gunma, Nagano and Kanagawa - in place of local governments.

Municipalities have been asking the government for help in restoring six main roads that have been blocked by landslides or had bridges washed away.

Minister Kazuyoshi Akaba told reporters that on-site surveys have been finished so restoration work can now begin.

Key words : US defense
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191029_20/

US defense officials remain on alert in relation to the Islamic State militant group, as President Donald Trump credited the death of its leader to his own leadership.

The US says the militant group's leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi blew himself up during a US special forces operation in northwestern Syria over the weekend.

In a speech delivered in Chicago, Illinois, on Monday, Trump said it was a "tremendous" weekend for the US, having killed Baghdadi.

The president also posted on Twitter a declassified picture of a military dog involved in the mission. He tweeted that the dog "did such a GREAT JOB in capturing and killing" Baghdadi.

Briefing on the mission also on Monday, General Mark Milley, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the US has already disposed of Baghdadi's remains.
US media reported that the remains were most likely given a burial at sea.

The Islamic State group has yet to show any reaction.

Some countries say they need to remain on the alert for possible retaliatory attacks by the militant group's followers.

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters on Monday that the security situation in Syria remained complex. He added the main US military mission was to ensure the enduring defeat of the Islamic State group.

The US government plans to hold an international meeting next month to seek cooperation in removing remnant members of the militant group.

Key words : one of Hong Kong
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191029_32/

One of Hong Kong's most well-known pro-democracy activists has been disqualified from running in local elections next month.

Joshua Wong says the Electoral Affairs Commission sent him a notice stating that his nomination has been deemed "invalid."
He is the only candidate to be barred from November's district elections.
Wong shot to prominence five years ago as one of the leaders of the pro-democracy Umbrella Movement.

Authorities in the city tightened screening for election candidates in 2016, saying they can reject anyone who supports independence.
Six candidates were barred from the legislative election months later.

Observers say the latest decision will likely fuel public anger, after nearly five months of pro-democracy demonstrations.

Key words : Taiwan
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191029_30/

Taiwan's parliament approved on Tuesday the purchase of F-16 fighter jets from the United States. It would be the first time in 27 years for Taiwan to buy US combat planes.

The White House notified Congress in August of its plan to provide 66 of the latest model of F-16 jets at the request of Taiwan's Tsai Ing-wen administration.

Taiwan's parliament unanimously adopted legislation to create a special budget of up to 8-billion dollars over the next seven years.

It plans to start gradually deploying the planes to its eastern region from 2023.

Taiwan currently has 144 F-16s it bought from the US in 1992, as its mainstay fighters.

But experts point out that the planes are aging, while China has been increasing its military presence around Taiwan. Since independence-oriented president Tsai took office in 2016, China has been frequently scrambling its fighter jets in the region.

Beijing has expressed strong opposition, saying it would view the sale as interference in its internal affairs.

China warns it will take all necessary steps including imposing sanctions on US firms involved in the arms sale.

Key words : British government
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191029_14/

The British government wants Japanese startup businesses to get more involved in the UK.

Officials are aiming to ease concerns about Britain's uncertain outlook, after its planned exit from the European Union was postponed again until the end of January.

Some Japanese companies are already downsizing at their factories and offices in the country.

The British Embassy in Tokyo made the call at a seminar, held with the cooperation of the Japan External Trade Organization, or JETRO. More than 70 Japanese startup firms attended.

Tony Hughes, specialist adviser to the UK government explained it could offer subsidies and other support, enabling Japanese companies with outstanding technologies to do business in Britain.

He said the UK is still one of the best places in the world for a company to expand in.

One of the seminar participants said she is happy that the government is making an effort to attract more businesses because in the past, it didn't seem as active.

The British government says it will help companies with their PR, securing funds from investors and hiring local staff.

Key words : stock prices
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Key words : tax authorities
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191029_33/

Japan's tax authorities have notified Nissan Motor that it misreported income of about 1.4 million dollars, after the tax office determined former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn had used corporate money for private uses.

The Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau conducted tax inspections on the automaker for three years through March 2014.

Nissan's internal probe had found that Ghosn used 755,000 dollars in corporate funds to pay consulting fees to his elder sister for fictitious work.

It also found that Ghosn used the company's money to make a large donation to a university in Lebanon, without going through appropriate procedures. The former Nissan Chairman holds Lebanese nationality.

Sources say the tax officials found that Nissan recorded a total of about 150 million yen, or about 1.4 million dollars of those expenditures as secretary's office expenses.

The tax authorities determined the money was used for private purposes and cannot be considered corporate expenses.

The tax authorities say they will instruct Nissan to pay several hundred thousand dollars in back taxes. They are carrying out inspections on other fiscal years.

Nissan declined to comment on the matter. But it said it will take necessary measures to make a claim for damages.

Key words : tourism agency set up
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Key words : humanoid
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191029_03/

A group of mini-humanoid robots with artificial intelligence took a trip to Japan's northern prefecture of Aomori on their owners' behalf.

A total of 50 RoBoHon robots from across the country started the trip at a train station in Aomori's Mutsu City on Monday. It was organized by electronics firm Sharp, which manufactures and markets the RoBoHon.

The robots visited the city hall, where they were greeted by Mayor Soichiro Miyashita.

He described welcoming the robot tourists as an "historic moment" for the city. The robots performed a dance in return.

The robots posed for pictures at each of seven sightseeing spots they visited, including Mount Osorezan, one of the country's most sacred places.

The photos were shared in real time with their owners.

Taking souvenirs with them, the robots will head home on Tuesday.

An organizer said she believes the event will help to highlight tourism resources in rural areas.

at 20:00 (JST), October 28

Rescuers are continuing to search for missing people in eastern Japan, where torrential rains caused flooding and mudslides last Friday.

US President Donald Trump's efforts to take credit for the killing of the leader of the Islamic State militant group have drawn criticism from opposition Democrats.

European Council President Donald Tusk has tweeted that the EU members have agreed unanimously to delay Britain's departure from the bloc until January 31.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20191028200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : rescuers
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191028_20/

Rescuers are continuing to search for missing people in eastern Japan, where torrential rains caused flooding and mudslides last Friday.

The disaster killed 10 people in Chiba and Fukushima prefectures. A woman in her 50s and a man in his 30s are unaccounted for.

Authorities say at least 500 homes were destroyed or flooded in Chiba, Fukushima, Ibaraki and Saitama prefectures. Officials are still trying to assess the extent of the damage.

Some of the flooded houses had already suffered damage when Typhoon Hagibis swept through Japan two weeks ago.

Key words : Abe
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191028_23/

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has indicated that his Cabinet will decide on Tuesday to designate Typhoon Hagibis as a major disaster eligible for state-managed reconstruction and repairs.

Abe told a meeting of the disaster management taskforce on Monday that the measure would enable local governments to carry out the recovery work without financial worries. He said the government would be able to plan and order road repairs when requested to do so by municipalities.

The prime minister also instructed officials to do their utmost to find people who are still missing after the torrential rain last Friday, and to quickly confirm the extent of the flood damage.

Hagibis will be the second natural disaster to qualify for state-managed reconstruction under a law that took effect in 2013, following the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Key words : agricultural
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191028_16/

Japan's agriculture ministry says the damage to the farming, forestry and fishery industries from the recent typhoons has surpassed 170 billion yen, or about 1.5 billion dollars.

The ministry said on Monday that the financial losses from Typhoon Hagibis two weeks ago had topped 1.1 billion dollars in 38 prefectures.

At least 8,500 agricultural facilities, such as reservoirs and drains, have been damaged. The estimated cost of the repairs is more than 440 million dollars.

The figure for rice, apples and other farm products is about 97 million dollars. The damage is spread over more than 14,000 hectares of farmland.

Forest roads, wood-processing plants and other forestry-related facilities sustained about 320 million dollars' worth of damage.

Fishing ports and fishery facilities have seen losses of about 88 million dollars.

Ministry officials estimate the total cost will rise further, especially in areas where rivers burst their banks.

Damage from Typhoon Faxai in September has reached 468 million dollars. The torrential rainfall last week has also caused extensive damage.

Key words : Trump credit
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191028_22/

US President Donald Trump's efforts to take credit for the killing of the leader of the Islamic State militant group have drawn criticism from opposition Democrats. They say Trump is using the operation for his own political gain.

Trump announced on Sunday that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi died in a US military operation in Syria.

He said capturing or killing Baghdadi has been the top national security priority of his administration. He stressed that the US obliterated the group "at my direction, as commander-in-chief."

Trump underscored the achievement as he faces criticism for pulling US troops out of northern Syria.

Critics, including some Republicans, say that gave tacit approval for Turkey's military operation against Kurds, a US ally in fighting the Islamic State group.

Senator Kamala Harris, a contender for the Democratic nomination for the 2020 presidential election, said the credit goes not to the president, but to members of US special forces and the intelligence community, who have been dedicated to national security.

The issue is expected to be one of the points of contention between the two parties in the lead-up to the 2020 race.

Key words : Kurdish forces announced
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191028_08/

Kurdish forces have announced they will withdraw from the Turkey-Syria border area at Turkey's request.

Turkey launched a military operation in northern Syria earlier this month to remove Kurdish forces from the border area. It regards them as terrorists.

But Turkey said on Tuesday it would not initiate further military operations, after it struck a deal with Russia to cooperate in the removal of fighters from the area.

Turkey and Russia agreed that Russian military police and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's border guards would enter an area outside Turkey's field of operation.

They said the personnel will work to remove Kurdish forces from the border area within 150 hours from Wednesday noon.

Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said on Sunday that they will withdraw from the border area. This is the first time Kurdish forces have publicly acknowledged their decision.

A local TV station reported that dozens of cars carrying Kurdish fighters and weapons were pulling out of Amuda, a town near the border in northeastern Syria, as Russian military personnel looked on.

However, the Kurdish forces say they will continue to control the area after their military sectors pull out. It is unclear whether Turkey will acknowledge the withdrawal and tensions will be eased.

Key words : European council
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191028_37/

European Council President Donald Tusk says the European Union has unanimously agreed to extend the deadline for Britain's departure from the bloc until January 31.

It means Britain can effectively avoid a no-deal Brexit at the end of this month.

Tusk made the announcement on Twitter.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to submit a motion to parliament on Monday for a general election in December.

He would be expected to hold intense deliberations on Brexit ahead of the polls, but it is unclear whether MPs will agree to his plans.

Key words : south proposed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191028_24/

South Korea has proposed working-level talks with North Korea to discuss Pyongyang's demand for the removal of South Korean facilities from a tourist resort they jointly developed.

South Korea's Unification Ministry says it made the proposal through the inter-Korean liaison office. The ministry says it plans to consult with Pyongyang to decide when and where the talks will take place.

The two Koreas launched the joint tourism project at Mount Kumgang in 1998.

But South Korea has suspended tours to the area. The United States says the project violates the UN sanctions against the North.

North Korea's state-run media reported last Wednesday that the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, had ordered the removal of South Korean facilities from the resort. Two days later, the North sent a written request for negotiations to the South.

Seoul says it wants officials who were involved in the project to join the proposed talks to discuss the facilities' removal and promoting tourism.

But the two Koreas are divided over the format of the talks. Pyongyang wants to exchange documents, while Seoul wants face-to-face discussions.

Key words : Afghanistan election
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191028_12/

Afghanistan's election authorities say they will announce the preliminary results of last month's presidential election in mid-November.

The decision comes after the Independent Election Commission said on October 19 that the release of the results, which were initially planned for that day, would be delayed.

The commission cited possible technical problems with a biometric identification system introduced to prevent voter fraud.

On Sunday, commission officials told reporters that the results will be announced on November 14.

The officials said they needed time to check the biometric system, but they can see their way clear to complete the work.

More than 10 candidates, including incumbent President Ashraf Ghani and the second in command in his administration, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, are vying for the presidency.

If no one wins a majority of the vote, a runoff will be held between the top two candidates.

Despite the delay, some of the candidates have unilaterally declared victory, which the election commission disputes.

Key words : operating hour
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191028_15/

The operating hours of Narita Airport near Tokyo have been extended by one hour to midnight. The operator says this will help it to accommodate the expected rise in visitors ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

The extension began on Sunday for one of the airport's two runways.

On the first day of the extension, the last flight took off a little past 11:30 p.m. for Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

A female passenger in her 30s traveling to France via Dubai said the late departure gave her extra time to prepare. She says it will also shorten her waiting time for hotel check-in at her destination.

Railways and bus operators also extended some of their services linking the airport to central Tokyo .

The extension of operation hours is the first since the airport's opening in 1978. It comes amid intensifying competition among international airports.

Hoping to attract more passengers, the airport operator plans to encourage low-cost carriers to increase late-night flights.

The operator also says it will address concerns voiced by local municipalities over noise from late night take-offs and landings.

It plans to help neighborhood residents soundproof their homes and to carry out expert studies on the effects of noise on their health.

Key words : imperial household
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191028_25/

The Imperial Household Agency says Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will visit three prefectures in western Japan next month for ceremonies related to the Emperor's enthronement.

The Imperial couple will first make a three-day visit to Ise City in Mie Prefecture from November 21. They will stay at their lodge in the Jingu, or the Great Shrine at Ise.

On the second day, they will go to the Jingu's Outer Shrine, which is dedicated to a goddess of harvests and industry. On the third day, they will worship at the Inner Shrine, where the Sun Goddess is enshrined. The purpose of the visits is to report that the Emperor's enthronement ceremonies have been completed.

After their return to Tokyo, the Emperor and Empress will travel to Kashihara City in Nara Prefecture on November 26. The next day, they will pay their respects at the mausoleum of Emperor Jinmu, the legendary first emperor of Japan.

They will then move on to neighboring Kyoto Prefecture. During a two-day stay in the old capital city of Kyoto, they will visit the mausoleums of two ancestral emperors. The couple will also hold a tea party at the Kyoto Imperial Palace for representatives of various circles in the region.

Key words : group of people
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191028_26/

A group of people is asking Japan's science ministry to review an international project to build a massive telescope on a mountain in Hawaii that is sacred to indigenous people there.

The group includes Japanese residents of Hawaii. On Monday, representatives visited the Education, Science and Technology Ministry in Tokyo. They submitted to the ministry a petition along with the signatures of more than 8,500 people, mostly Japanese.

The group notes the existence of the Subaru Telescope atop Mouna Kea on the island of Hawaii, which is operated by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. The group says plans to build a new telescope at the site should be reviewed.

The group wants the issue to be widely discussed in Japan. Japan is one of five countries involved in the project, and is to shoulder 37.5 billion yen, or about 340 million dollars, of the cost -- about one-fourth of the total.

A member of the group said they want the project reviewed because it has become a serious issue among indigenous Hawaiian people and that Japanese tax money will be used for the project.

An official said the ministry takes the issue seriously and indicated its wish to see those involved in the project discuss the matter with residents.

Japan's National Astronomical Observatory, along with universities in the United States and three other countries are involved in the project to build the world's largest reflecting telescope, also at the top of Mauna Kea. The project has been suspended due to resistance from native Hawaiians.

Key words : one of asia
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191028_30/

One of Asia's largest competitive film festivals has opened in Tokyo, with actors and directors from around the globe participating.

The opening event of the 32nd Tokyo International Film Festival was held in Tokyo's Roppongi district on Monday.

Actors and directors from home and abroad strode down a red carpet, greeting their cheering fans.

Filmmakers from 115 countries and territories have entered a total of 1,804 works in this year's competition.

Fourteen of them have been shortlisted for the Tokyo Grand Prix, the festival's award for the best film.

These include two by Japanese directors.

Shin Adachi's "A Beloved Wife" depicts a dead-end playwright and his foul-mouthed wife.

Macoto Tezka, the son of the late cartoonist and animator Osamu Tezuka, adapted his father's cartoon story into a film titled "Tezuka's Barbara."

The festival runs until November 5, when the winners will be announced.

Key words : food guideline
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191028_18/

Japan is set to consider proposals on food guidelines for restaurants to meet demand from tourists following a vegetarian diet.

The surge in tourists visiting Japan has brought an increase in people on non-meat diets, as well as vegans who also shun eggs and dairy products.
Many of them say they have difficulty finding restaurants that cater to their diet.

Lawmakers will start discussions next month on guidelines for identifying what can be listed on vegetarian and vegan menus.

They will also study certification marks and subsidies for vegetarian restaurants and introduction of meat-free menus.
The proposals should be ready before the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics next summer, when large numbers of visitors are expected in Japan.

at 20:00 (JST), October 27

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20191027200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : US media militant group quoted
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191027_16/

US media say Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State militant group, is believed to have been killed in a US military raid in Syria.

Newsweek and other media quoted sources as saying a US special force carried out the operation in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib on Saturday.

The US military is working to confirm the death of the target.

Trump tweeted "Something very big has just happened!" on Saturday night.

The Whitehouse says Trump will make a major announcement from 9 AM on Sunday.

Rumors had spread that al-Baghdadi died in 2017, but recordings of a voice that was said to be his has been posted multiple times on the Internet since that time.

In April, the militant group posted footage of a person it said was al-Baghdadi calling for militants to continue with their attacks.

Key words : 15 fighters
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191027_11/

A total of 15 fighters from both Kurdish forces and pro-Turkey forces were killed on Saturday in northern Syria, despite a permanent ceasefire being in place.

A monitoring group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, says fierce fighting took place along the road between Ras al-Ayn and Tal Tamr near the border between Syria and Turkey.

Turkey began the offensive on October 9. And a temporary ceasefire was agreed so that Kurds could withdraw from the border area.

Turkey decided to stop the military offensive because they say that Kurds were withdrawing from the area. Turkey made the ceasefire permanent on Wednesday.
But skirmishes continued to occur.
Both the Kurdish and the Turkish forces say that they acted to defend themselves in response to aggression.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that Turkey will resume the military offensive if the Kurdish forces do not complete the withdrawal by the deadline on Tuesday, agreed upon with Russia.

Key words : russia spotted
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191027_18/

US and Russian military vehicles were spotted passing by each other in northern Syria on Saturday.

Turkey suspended its military operation indefinitely on Wednesday after confirming that Kurdish fighters were withdrawing from towns near the border.

But clashes have continued between the Kurds and forces supporting Turkey. Fifteen people were killed on Saturday.

The US had started withdrawing its troops before Turkey launched its offensive. Under its agreement with Turkey, Russia has deployed soldiers to patrol the border area with Syrian government forces.

The US troops are believed to have been heading for eastern Syria, as Washington plans to protect oilfields there from Islamic State militants.

Russia is accusing the United States of using the militant threat as an excuse to maintain a presence in Syria.

Key words : north korea break
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191027_07/

North Korea has again demanded that the United States come up with solutions to break the deadlock in denuclearization talks by the end of the year. It called the working-level negotiations in Sweden a failure.

The North's state news agency, KCNA, carried a statement under the name of Kim Yong Chol, vice chairman of the North Korea's Workers' Party, on Sunday.

The vice chairman, known to be a close aide to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, accused Washington of unilaterally demanding denuclearization and trying to isolate and stifle his country.

The statement said that relations between the two countries have been maintained due to the "close personal relationship" that Kim and US President Donald Trump have.

It said that it would be a mistake for Washington to ignore the year-end deadline because of that.

The North Korean leader has said he would wait patiently until the end of the year for the US to come up with what he called "a courageous decision."

Kim is demanding concessions from the US, which maintains sanctions on North Korea and continues to hold joint military drills with South Korea.

Sunday's statement reiterates Pyongyang's position of demanding that the US make concessions, implying a possible deterioration of the relationship between the two leaders.

Key words : US state David
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191027_06/

A senior US State Department official has urged South Korea to reconsider ending an intelligence-sharing pact with Japan.

David Stilwell, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, spoke to reporters in Tokyo on Saturday.

The General Security of Military Information Agreement, or GSOMIA, will expire on November 23 following South Korea's decision not to renew it.

Stilwell said Japan and South Korea should find creative ways to resolve bilateral friction while the US will not take the role of a mediator.

He added that the pact is beneficial to Japan, South Korea, and the US.

Stilwell also referred to North Korea's launch of a submarine launched ballistic missile earlier this month. He said it is a different type of threat than that posed by short-range ballistic missiles.

He indicated Washington hopes to continue dialogue with Pyongyang even though working-level talks failed as the North demanded concessions from the US.

Key words : Vietnam
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191027_04/

Vietnam's prime minister is seeking the identification of 39 bodies found in a truck container near London on Wednesday as it emerged that the dead may include Vietnamese.

Police have charged a 25-year-old man with 39 counts of manslaughter and other offenses, including conspiracy to traffic people.

Police initially said all the victims are believed to be Chinese. But they have now received reports that some may be Vietnamese.

Police say they will not disclose any information on the dead, including their nationalities, until the identification process is complete. Police suspect the incident came about as a result of organized human trafficking.

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told his country's embassy in Britain on Saturday to work with local authorities to identify the bodies.

Vietnamese media are giving extensive coverage to the incident. They report that a 26-year-old woman who is believed to be one of the victims sent a text message to her mother, saying she could not breathe.

Key words : Iraq high commission
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191027_05/

The Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights says two days of anti-government protests have left 63 people dead and nearly 2,600 others injured.

People frustrated with poor public services and high unemployment started rallying in the capital of Baghdad, southern cities, and elsewhere on Friday. It was exactly one year since Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi took office.

Some demonstrators turned violent in the southern town of Nasiriya on Saturday, setting fire to a building.

Roughly one week of anti-government demonstrations in Iraq earlier this month claimed the lives of 157 people.

The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, issued a statement on Saturday.

The statement calls on the Iraqi government and protesters to resolve the situation through dialogue and other means. It says, "Iraq...cannot afford to slide back into a new cycle of violence."

The prime minister sought to calm the protests by promising such measures as benefits for the unemployed and cuts in lawmakers' salaries.

But demonstrators are continuing to accuse government officials of corruption and demand the resignation of the prime minister and other leaders.

Key words : underway heavy rain
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191027_12/

Flooding and mudslides from torrential rainfall have caused major damage in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo. Of the ten people confirmed dead in the rains in Japan, nine are in the prefecture. Rescue and reconstruction efforts are underway.

On Friday, heavy rain from a low-pressure system hit the prefecture. In some areas, more rain fell within a 12-hour period than the average for the whole of October.

Nineteen rivers overflowed in the prefecture, inundating roads and residential areas. The downpours also triggered landslides.

The extent of the damage to houses remains unclear, but officials have confirmed that three homes were totally destroyed, two homes half destroyed, and one home partially destroyed.

Sixty-two houses were inundated above floor level and 195 homes below floor level.

Chiba officials say 116 people were staying at evacuation shelters as of 8 a.m. on Sunday.

The water supply has been restored to households across the prefecture.

Key words : hanyu has won tanaka
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191027_14/

Japanese figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu has won the Skate Canada International, a competition in the ISU Grand Prix series.

The two-time Olympic champion triumphed in the free skating event on Saturday. That came after Hanyu got the top score in the short program on Friday.

He was competing in Skate Canada International in the Canadian city of Kelowna. The competition is part of the international Grand Prix series.

Hanyu first made a glitch when landing from a quadruple loop. He had spent a lot of time practicing it. But he executed an almost perfect quad Salchow, and other two quad jumps. Hanyu's steps and spins earned him the highest rating of four. He received a score of 212.99 in the free routine.

Hanyu's total score of 322.59 is just 0.83 points short of the world record held by Nathan Chen of the United States. It was also his personal best.

Another Japanese skater, Keiji Tanaka, came in third with a total score of 250.02.

Key words : russian skater
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191027_17/

Fifteen-year-old Russian figure skater Alexandra Trusova landed three quadruple jumps to win the ladies competition at the Skate Canada competition on Saturday.

Trusova fell while attempting an opening quad Salchow jump, but she came back to land three quad jumps, including combination jumps. She racked up two world record scores after earning 166.62 points in the free skating event and 241.02 points overall.

Japan's Rika Kihira, the short-program leader, fell on her first triple axel attempt. But she then landed a triple axel combination jump, a triple and a triple combination jump and 3 jump combinations.

Kihira's spins and steps earned her the highest rating of four.

Kihira finished second, with 148.98 points in the free program, and 230.33 points overall.

at 20:00 (JST), October 26

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20191026200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : 10 people more than
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191026_22/

Torrential rain from a low-pressure system has caused flooding and mudslides in eastern and northeastern Japan. 10 people have died. At least 1 is missing.
Officials have been trying to assess all the damage.

More than 200 millimeters of rain fell over a 12-hour period in some areas of Chiba and adjoining Ibaraki prefecture. That's more than the average for the whole of October.

Several rivers in Chiba flooded, inundating roads and residential areas. Rescue crews say the floodwaters are making it difficult to access some areas.

The downpour also triggered landslides in Chiba that destroyed houses and claimed four lives.

Since early Saturday, many residents have begun the long and difficult process of cleaning mud and muddy water out of their homes.

Key words : Abe quick action
#N/A


Key words : government decided mandatory
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191026_09/

Japan's government has decided to delay the introduction of mandatory charges for plastic bags at supermarkets, convenience stores and all other retail outlets for three months to July next year. It cites the need for time to prepare for the change.

The government had proposed all retailers begin charging customers for plastic bags as early as April next year.

But at meetings of an expert panel set up last month, industry groups argued they would require time to modify cash registers, notify customers and adjust shopping bag inventories.

Each retailer would decide the prices of its plastic bags. The small, thin plastic types for items such as fish and meat would remain free, since they are used for hygiene reasons.

The government plans to finalize the details of its plan by year-end, after presenting its proposals at a panel meeting next month and soliciting opinions from the public.

Key words : US state urged
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191026_14/

The US State Department has urged the Chinese government to release jailed Uighur economist Ilham Tohti and end its repressive campaign against Muslim minority groups.

The call came after the European Parliament on Thursday awarded the annual Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to the academic for his work to defend China's ethnic Uighur minority. Beijing has reacted sharply to the decision.

US State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus wrote on Twitter on Friday that "China imprisoned Tohti for his advocacy before detaining over 1 million Uighurs and members of other Muslim minority groups."

She added that her country calls "on China to release Tohti and end its campaign of repression."

A senior official of the US State Department, Sam Brownback, told reporters in Washington on Friday that the detention of Uighurs is a terrible situation and it goes against the Chinese Constitution, which allows freedom of faith.

Brownback, also US Ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, added that the US will continue to call on China to stop its oppressive measures against Uighurs.

Key words : US justice
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191026_13/

The US Justice Department has switched its review of the origins of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation into a criminal probe.

US media reports say the development has been welcomed by President Donald Trump, who has described the Mueller probe into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election a "witch hunt".

Moves to investigate the Special Counsel's report began in April, when Attorney General William Barr expressed his intention to review the appropriateness of its methods.

Now that the investigation has been switched to a criminal case, prosecutors will be able to summon witnesses to give testimony.

Trump on Friday repeated his attacks on the Mueller report.
"I think you'll see things that nobody would have believed. This was the worst hoax in the history of our country," he said.

US media say concerns are rising that the president is using the Justice Department to attack his enemies. The probe has been met with opposition from Democrats.

at 20:00 (JST), October 25

Weather officials in Japan are urging people in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo and other rain hit areas to stay alert for mudslides and flooding rivers.

Japan's industry minister Isshu Sugawara has resigned over reports of a possible electoral law violation.

The European Parliament has awarded its annual human rights prize to jailed economist Ilham Tohti for his work to defend China's ethnic Uighur minority.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20191025200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : weather officials in urging stay alert
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191025_27/

Weather officials in Japan say torrential rain is hitting Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo. Heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected in parts of eastern to northeastern Japan through early Saturday.

The officials are urging people in possibly affected areas to stay alert for mudslides and flooding, particularly in areas hit hard by past typhoons.

The Meteorological Agency said a low-pressure system is making atmospheric conditions unstable over wide areas from the Kanto region through the Tohoku region.

The agency said 85.5 millimeters of rain fell in Kamogawa City, Chiba Prefecture, in an hour until 10:15 a.m. on Friday.

Rainfall in the prefecture's Otaki Town over 12 hours until noon on Friday reached 215 millimeters -- nearly the average for all of October in the region.

The agency forecasts up to 180 millimeters of rain over 24 hours until Saturday morning in the Kanto and Tohoku regions, and 150 millimeters in the Tokai and Koshin regions in central Japan and the Izu Islands in the Pacific.

Some areas whose levees broke when hit by Typhoon Hagibis this month are receiving makeshift repair work, but some are not yet restored.

Officials are calling on those engaged in repair work or cleaning houses to exercise caution.

Key words : learned at 88
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191025_39/

NHK has learned that the death toll from Typhoon Hagibis stands at 88. Seven people remain missing. The storm lashed Japan earlier this month and flooded vast areas.

The worst-hit prefecture is Fukushima, where 30 people died, followed by Miyagi Prefecture with 19 deaths and Kanagawa Prefecture with 14.

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency says the typhoon left over 74,000 houses flooded. More than 7,400 were destroyed or damaged.

The Cabinet Office says that as of Thursday morning, nearly 4,000 people in 11 prefectures remained at evacuation shelters.

Key words : agriculture ministry continues to rise
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191025_23/

Japan's agriculture ministry says the damage caused by Typhoon Hagibis to the farming, forestry and fishery industries continues to rise. So far, it has amounted to more than 100 billion yen, or 920 million dollars.

The ministry released an updated report on the financial losses in 38 prefectures on Friday morning.

At least 7,300 agricultural facilities, such as reservoirs and drains, have been damaged. The estimated cost of repairs is about 350 million dollars.

The figure for rice, apples and other agricultural products is over 78 million dollars. The damage is spread over more than 10,000 hectares, with forest roads, wood-processing plants and other forestry-related facilities sustaining about 289 million dollars' worth of damage.
Fishing ports and fishery facilities have seen losses of about 87 million dollars.

Ministry officials estimate the total cost will rise, particularly in areas where rivers have burst their banks. They are continuing work to grasp a full picture of the damage.

Key words : Sugawara has resigned
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191025_21/

Japan's industry minister Isshu Sugawara has resigned over reports of a possible electoral law violation.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is set to appoint former regional revitalization minister Hiroshi Kajiyama to the post.

Sugawara's resignation on Friday follows a report in a weekly magazine that he offered melons, crabs and other gifts to voters in his electoral district around 2007.

On Thursday, the Shukan Bunshun also reported that Sugawara's secretary offered condolence money earlier this month to the bereaved family of a supporter.

Sugawara had told a Diet committee meeting that he would look into what really happened.

Sugawara told reporters on Friday that the industry ministry has many issues to address, and he doesn't want the reports about his political activities to disrupt Diet deliberations. He apologized for stepping down before his term expires.

Prime Minister Abe also offered an apology, saying he is responsible for Sugawara's appointment.

Abe added there should be no delays in policymaking in important fields such as industry and trade, and he intends to choose Kajiyama to replace Sugawara.

Hiroshi Kajiyama is 64 years old. He was first elected to the Lower House of the Diet in 2002 as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. He has been the chairman of a Lower House land and transport committee and a special committee on disasters. His late father, Seiroku Kajiyama, was Chief Cabinet Secretary and LDP Secretary-General.

Key words : annual human
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191025_03/

The European Parliament has awarded its annual human rights prize to jailed economist Ilham Tohti for his work to defend China's ethnic Uighur minority.

Parliament President David Sassoli announced Thursday that the Uighur activist had won the 2019 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

Tohti campaigned for years to protect Uighurs' rights and appeal for reconciliation and mutual understanding between the mostly Muslim community and the Han Chinese majority. He also harshly criticized the Chinese government for cracking down on Uighurs in what it calls a counterterrorism measure.

Tohti was detained by Chinese authorities in 2014 and sentenced to life imprisonment on separatism-related charges later that year.

Sassoli said Tohti has dedicated his life to advocating for the rights of the Uighur minority in China. He urged Beijing to release him and respect minority rights.

The United States and international human rights campaigners are also calling on China to free Tohti. US lawmakers had recommended him as a candidate for this year's Nobel Peace Prize.

The European Parliament has given the prize annually since 1988 to individuals and organizations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms. The prize is named in honor of Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1975.

The Chinese government has not issued an official statement on the announcement.

But earlier this month, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang called for Tohti's nomination to be scrapped, describing him as a separatist in support of extreme terrorism.

Geng added that awarding the prize to such a separatist under the false flag of human rights and freedom was tantamount to condoning and encouraging criminal activities, and "an insult on and a travesty to human rights."

Key words : south give up
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191025_35/

South Korea says it will give up the preferential treatment it enjoys as a developing nation at the World Trade Organization. The decision follows a complaint by the United States.

Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said it no longer seems appropriate for South Korea to receive special treatment in view of its economic standing.

He cited similar actions taken by Singapore and Brazil. South Korea has the world's 12th largest GDP according to the World Bank.

The move came after US President Donald Trump criticized South Korea alongside China in July for unfairly receiving preferential treatment.

Yonhap news agency quoted a government official as saying that Washington would blame South Korea if the country retains its status at the WTO and China uses that as an excuse to do the same.

Countries with developing nation status get special treatment during negotiations at the WTO, including lower tariffs on agricultural products.

But farmers in South Korea are demanding the government drop the plan, saying it is sacrificing the country's farm sector for the sake of relations with the US.

Key words : germany proposed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191025_19/

Germany's defense minister has proposed setting up an internationally controlled security zone on the Syria-Turkey border, as Russia deploys forces to the region.

Germany put forward its proposal to allies at a NATO meeting in Brussels on Thursday.

The Turkish military launched an offensive against Kurdish fighters in northern Syria on October 9.

Turkey has reached an agreement with Russia this week to jointly remove the Kurdish fighters and its weapons from Syrian's northern border, superseding a deal with the US.

Germany stressed that the task of patrolling the border area should not fall on Russia and Turkey alone, and called for broader international involvement.

The US has welcomed Germany's proposal ahead of the meeting, but indicated that US forces would not take part in that patrol.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said there were different opinions in the meeting, and that the proposal needs to be discussed in more detail.

He said the proposal could require debate at the United Nations.

Key words : name order
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191025_24/

The Japanese government has decided to use the surname-first-order for Japanese names in official documents translated into English and other Western languages from next year.

The given name normally comes first when Japanese names are written in such languages. In Japanese, the family name always comes first.

In 2000, the education ministry's advisory commission on the national language recommended that the traditional Japanese order should be used for names written in these languages. It said doing this would reflect the diversity of language and culture.

The government now says it will adopt the surname-first style in Western-language versions of official documents from January.

The government cites the need to prepare for next year's Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics as a factor behind the decision.

It says surnames can be written in capital letters to prevent any misunderstanding.

Education minister Koichi Hagiuda told reporters on Friday that the government is not considering forcing companies or the general public to follow suit. He suggested that if businesses find the change inconvenient they can continue to use the current style.

Key words : Tokyo police mobilize
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191025_28/

Tokyo police are set to mobilize hundreds of officers in the Shibuya district to deal with possible disorder during Halloween celebrations.

The deployments are expected from Saturday to prevent disturbances or accidents among the mostly young crowds of costumed revelers.

A public relations unit, the "DJ Police," may be dispatched near the scramble crossing near Shibuya Station, depending on the size of the crowds.

Officers with the unit will give lighthearted instructions in Japanese and English to maintain order.

Police cordon lines will be in place to regulate the flow of people at the crossing, and traffic may be restricted.

A shopping district near Shibuya Station saw vandalism and disorder during last year's Halloween celebrations. A number of young people were arrested for overturning a light truck.

Shibuya Ward has banned drinking on the streets and in parks near the station for the Halloween period, and is asking stores to refrain from selling alcoholic drinks.

The ward is preparing to mobilize more than 100 security guards on Saturday and on October 31. The police and ward officials are reminding people to behave sensibly while they are having fun.

Key words : tourist Kyoto
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191025_37/

Tourists in Kyoto will no longer be able to take pictures in privately-owned alleys near one of the most photographed spots in the city. Locals say the ban has come after disrespect shown by some visitors.

An association of residents and shop owners in the Gion district imposed the ban on photography in private alleys near Hanamikoji street, effective on Friday.

The area's traditional stone pavements, restaurants and tea houses are a major tourist attraction.

But some visitors have reportedly entered private property without permission. There have been other reports of people pulling at the kimonos of geisha entertainers and maiko apprentices.

Association members put up signs informing visitors of the ban.

They also handed out leaflets urging tourists to ask for permission before taking photos of geisha and maiko.

People will be fined 10,000 yen, or roughly 100 dollars, for taking photos in the private alleys without permission.

Association chief, Mimiko Takayasu, says the ban has been imposed to preserve Gion's traditional atmosphere.

at 20:00 (JST), October 24

Japan's Prime Minister has called on his South Korean counterpart to work to restore strained bilateral relations.

Japanese weather officials say an unstable atmosphere conditions are likely to bring localized torrential rainfall to wide areas of the country.

The UN special rapporteur for North Korea's human rights situation says the matter should be discussed in talks between the United States and North Korea.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20191024200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : Abe called on south
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191024_28/

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has called on South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon to not leave bilateral relations strained.

The two leaders met for about 20 minutes in Tokyo on Thursday. Lee is in Tokyo after attending the enthronement ceremony of Emperor Naruhito on Tuesday.

In the meeting, Abe stressed that the cooperation with South Korea as well as trilateral relations with the United States are important over matters including North Korea.

Ties became strained after a series of South Korean court rulings starting last October.

They ordered Japanese companies to pay compensation to Koreans who say they were forced to work for them during World War Two. The Japanese government maintains the issue was settled by a 1965 agreement.

Abe again called on South Korea to correct the current situation, which Japan sees as a violation of international law.

He also said he wants South Korea to uphold promises between the countries to open the way for restoring healthy bilateral relations.

And he expressed the hope that the diplomatic communications will be continued to resolve the issues.

Lee responded that South Korea shares understanding on the importance of dialogue.

The two leaders agreed on the importance of exchanges at various levels, such as between lawmakers and the general public.

Lee also handed Abe a letter from South Korean President Moon Jae-in. The South Korean government says that in his letter, Moon congratulates Japan on the start of the new Reiwa era and expresses hope for development in bilateral ties. It also says the letter contains no concrete proposal for a summit between President Moon and Prime Minister Abe.

Key words : weather officials say
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191024_39/

Japanese weather officials say a low pressure system will likely bring localized torrential rainfall to wide areas across Japan.

They are warning that the risk of flooding could increase in areas hit by Typhoon Hagibis.

The Meteorological Agency said on Thursday that heavy rain has fallen intermittently in many parts of western Japan due to a low pressure system staying near the Kyushu region.

The system is expected to move toward western and eastern Japan on the Pacific coast, causing atmospheric conditions to become unstable across wide areas.

The agency says extremely heavy rain accompanied by thunder may fall in western Japan through Friday morning.

Downpours are expected in some parts of eastern Japan early on Friday morning through the night and in Pacific coastal areas in the Tohoku region between Friday afternoon and Saturday morning.

Rainfall in the 24 hours through Friday evening could reach 300 millimeters in the Tokai region, 250 millimeters in the Kinki and Shikoku regions, 200 millimeters in the Kanto region which includes Tokyo, and up to 100 millimeters in the Tohoku region.

The agency is warning that very strong Typhoon Bualoi will likely reach the sea off the east coast of Japan on Friday, and the sea near the Kanto and Tohoku regions could become very rough.

Key words : learned death toll at 84
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191024_18/

NHK has learned that the death toll from Typhoon Hagibis stands at 84. Nine people remain missing. The storm lashed Japan earlier this month and flooded vast areas.

The worst-hit prefecture is Fukushima, where 30 people died, followed by Miyagi Prefecture with 19 deaths and Kanagawa Prefecture with 14.

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency says the typhoon left over 72,000 houses flooded. About 6,500 were destroyed or damaged.

The Cabinet Office says that as of Wednesday morning, nearly 4,000 people in 11 prefectures remained at evacuation shelters.

Key words : agriculture damage caused
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191024_30/

Japan's agriculture ministry says the damage caused by Typhoon Hagibis to the farming, forestry and fisheries industries has exceeded 97 billion yen, or about 900 million dollars.

The ministry released an updated report on the financial losses in 38 prefectures on Thursday morning.

At least 7,000 agricultural facilities, such as reservoirs and drains, have been damaged. The estimated cost of repairs is about 350 million dollars.

The figure for rice, apples, and other agricultural products is around 78 million dollars.

Forest roads, wood-processing plants and other forestry-related facilities sustained about 245 million dollars' worth of damage.

Fishing ports and fishery facilities have losses of about 87 million dollars.

Ministry officials estimate the total cost will rise as data is still being collected, especially in areas where rivers have burst their banks.

They say they are drawing up support measures for those who have been affected.

Key words : UN special
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191024_14/

The UN special rapporteur for North Korea's human rights situation says the issue should be discussed in the talks between the United States and North Korea.

Tomas Ojea Quintana was speaking at a news conference in New York on Wednesday.

Quintana said that North Koreans are deprived of freedom of expression and serious violations of human rights continue in the country.

Quintana said that human rights should be integrated in the negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang, as he believes this is fundamental for North Korea's sustainable stability and any denuclearization agreement.

He added that US officials have told him there has been an improvement in the system for exempting humanitarian assistance from UN Security Council sanctions.

He said in a recent report that there has been no progress on the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea.

Key words : learned coast
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191024_27/

NHK has learned that the Japan Coast Guard is to launch a new surveillance unit next month. The move is in response to the rising number of cases in which wooden boats believed to be from North Korea were found on or near the Japanese coast.

The mobile surveillance unit is reportedly to be stationed on the Sea of Japan coast of Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan.

Coast Guard officials say that last year, the prefecture saw 49 cases of wooden boats thought to be from North Korea drifting to or near the coast. They say most of them were on the Sea of Japan side in the wintertime.

There are no Coast Guard facilities on the Sea of Japan side of the prefecture. In winter, it could take about three hours for Coast Guard officials from Aomori City to drive to the coast due to snowfall and icy roads.

The new unit will reportedly be made up of about 10 Coast Guard officials who will conduct surveillance from the ground during the winter. When wooden boats are found to be washing ashore or drifting near the coast, the officials will deal with the crew on board in cooperation with police.

Key words : US lawmakers
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191024_21/

US lawmakers grilled Facebook's CEO over his plans to launch a digital-currency. In testimony before Congress, Mark Zuckerberg indicated the rollout of the Libra payment system could be delayed amid concerns from regulators.

Zuckerberg spoke to the House Committee on Financial Services on Wednesday. He said Facebook will not be part of launching the Libra payments system anywhere in the world, even outside the US, until US regulators approve.

He also defended the project, saying there are risks for not innovating. He said China is moving quickly to launch similar ideas in the coming months and that if America doesn't innovate, US financial leadership will not be guaranteed.
The social networking giant planned to launch Libra in the first half of next year.

But regulators around the world are worried about its effects on the global currency system and potential use in money laundering.

Lawmakers are also skeptical about Facebook's ability to protect personal data given the company's previous massive data breaches.

US states and territories are also investigating whether the firm is taking advantage of its dominant position to block competition.

Key words : lawyer
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191024_31/

The lawyers for former Nissan Motor Chairman Carlos Ghosn say they will request that the financial misconduct trial against him be dismissed. They argue that a plea-bargain deal senior Nissan officials made with prosecutors is illegal because it was aimed at ousting Ghosn from his post.

The lawyers on Thursday disclosed what they will argue in the trial, which is expected to open next spring at the earliest.

Ghosn has been charged with understating his executive compensation in Nissan securities reports and aggravated breach of trust over suspected misappropriation of Nissan funds.

Pretrial procedures to sort out points of contention are underway.

The lawyers say Ghosn will plead not guilty to all the charges.

They say they will tell the court that behind the case was a sense of crisis by Japanese executives of Nissan over plans for business integration with its French alliance partner Renault.

They say the executives wanted to prevent further integration by removing Ghosn, who also served as Renault chairman and CEO.

The lawyers say the plea-bargain deal was made in effect between prosecutors and Nissan with the aim of removing Ghosn, and that it is against the purpose of the law.

They also criticized Nissan for how it gathered evidence against Ghosn, saying employees and lawyers of the firm illegally seized personal computers and other items from his home and related offices abroad.

The former chairman's lawyers say the post-retirement compensation allegedly promised to Ghosn that prosecutors say was not properly reported never existed.

They also argue that an allegedly questionable money transfer to a car dealer in Oman was actually strictly in line with Nissan's in-house procedures.

One of the lawyers, Junichiro Hironaka, says the case was devised by prosecutors and Nissan. He says it was a politically motivated plot to prevent Nissan from being handed over to France.

Former Nissan executive Greg Kelly, who was also Ghosn's aide, is set to plead not guilty to the charge of underreporting remuneration, while Nissan as a corporation is expected to admit to the charges against it.

Key words : Egypt museum
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Key words : animation
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191024_04/

An NHK animation series focusing on Paralympic sports has been shown to Iraqi children fighting cancer to encourage them.

The event was held on Wednesday in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil. Japan's Consular Office there and a Japanese NGO that supports children with cancer put on the screening.

About 20 children watched seven animated shorts at a facility run by the NGO. They included stories about wheelchair tennis, blind soccer and others.

The short about blind soccer is produced by Yoichi Takahashi, who is the author of "Captain Tsubasa" -- a comic book series about soccer which is popular in Iraq.

A 13-year-old boy related he now understands the importance of having hope in life.

A 7-year-old girl said she wants to play soccer after winning her battle with the disease.

The head of the Consular Office, Katsumi Moriyasu, noted he's glad the children showed interest in the shorts, and that they will work further to support the children.

Key words : skyscraper
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191024_41/

The crowded skyline of one of Tokyo's most famous neighborhoods has a new addition. The Shibuya Scramble Square building is the area's tallest skyscraper and is set to offer visitors hundreds of new shopping and dining options.

The 230-meter structure, which spans 47 stories, will open Friday next week. Sixteen floors will be devoted to commercial space, housing about 200 stores.

The rest of the building will mostly be office space, largely rented out to tech companies.

Visitors can head up to an open-air observation deck to enjoy a view of the iconic Shibuya scramble crossing.

The building also includes a number of warehouses stocked with food and water for earthquakes. There are enough supplies to last 2,000 people three days.

Key words : convenience store testing
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191024_32/

Japan's largest convenience store chain is testing a store where customers can shop without paying at registers.

Seven-Eleven Japan and NTT DATA have been operating the store since early this month. Customers need to download an app onto their smartphones to shop there and scan a QR code when they enter.

In the store, about 50 cameras installed on the ceiling and weight sensors on shelves recognize what customers pick up.

Payment is done online through the app, rather than at a checkout counter.

The test comes as the business model of operating convenience stores round the clock has become difficult due to a severe labor shortage.

Seven-Eleven Japan manager Naoki Ishizu said the firm plans to continue the labor-saving test to enable single-worker store operation.

Other major convenience store chains have been operating similar labor-saving trials.

Lawson has been testing not assigning sales floor staff late at night by using self-checkout machines or smartphone payment. Familymart has opened a store where customers can pay through facial scanning.