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.
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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.
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