Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has arrived in China to attend a three-way summit with his Chinese and South Korean counterparts.
US Secretary of State is making arrangements to hold talks with his Japanese counterpart amid rising tensions between the US and North Korea.
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako are to visit the prefectures of Miyagi and Fukushima in northeastern Japan, both of which suffered major damage from Typhoon Hagibis in October.
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Key words : Abe arrived
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191223_19/
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has arrived in China to attend a three-way summit with his Chinese and South Korean counterparts.
Abe is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday. The two leaders are expected to discuss future Japan-China relations and Xi's state visit to Japan next spring.
On Tuesday, Abe will attend a trilateral meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Chengdu, Sichuan Province.
Abe plans to exchange views on North Korea, as Pyongyang has been acting provocatively ahead of the year-end deadline it set for US concessions.
He's hoping to reaffirm cooperation among the three nations in resolving North Korean issues, including the abduction of Japanese nationals.
Abe is also expected to hold separate talks with Moon on the sidelines of the trilateral meeting.
The two met briefly in Thailand last month. But their summit will be the first since September of last year.
Key words : US secretary
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191223_07/
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is making arrangements to hold talks with his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi, amid rising tensions between the United States and North Korea.
Diplomatic sources in Washington say plans are being made for the meeting, possibly by mid-January in a US city on the West Coast.
Pompeo and Motegi are expected to discuss the North Korean situation and how to cooperate in promoting the denuclearization of the country.
Pyongyang is urging the US government to make concessions by the end of the year in the deadlocked denuclearization talks. The North has unilaterally set the time limit.
Pyongyang has hinted at new provocations that are believed to involve long-range ballistic missiles.
The sources say South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha is adjusting her schedule to visit the US in mid-January.
If Motegi and Kang visit the US at the same time, a foreign ministerial meeting of the US, Japan, and South Korea may be held for the first time in five months.
Key words : emperor miyagi
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191223_16/
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako are to visit the prefectures of Miyagi and Fukushima in northeastern Japan, both of which suffered major damage from Typhoon Hagibis in October. This is their first visit to disaster-hit areas since the Emperor's accession.
The Imperial Household Agency says the couple will fly to an airport in Miyagi on Thursday morning and receive a briefing on the situation in the affected areas.
They will then board a Self-Defense Force helicopter for Marumori Town, where 10 people died in flooding.
The couple will meet residents and officials who took part in the disaster response.
The Emperor and Empress will then travel to Motomiya City in Fukushima by helicopter to inspect the central part of the city that was flooded by torrential rain.
They will meet people who have been affected there, before returning to Tokyo in the evening.
The agency says the couple had hoped to visit disaster-hit areas as soon as possible after completing a series of ceremonies related to the Emperor's accession to the throne.
Key words : Akihito
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191223_06/
Emperor Emeritus Akihito turns 86 years old on Monday.
It's his first birthday since he became Emperor Emeritus following his abdication at the end of April.
The Imperial Household Agency reported that the Emperor Emeritus and his wife Empress Emerita Michiko followed a series of rituals and ceremonies related to the accession of their son Emperor Naruhito.
Agency officials say they appeared to be relieved and pleased when everything was completed without any problems.
The couple reportedly closely watched reports on strong typhoons that devastated parts of Japan in the fall, and are still concerned about those who have been affected by the disasters.
The agency reported that the Emperor Emeritus has no health problems right now and is preparing to move into temporary housing by the end of March.
A couple of days each week, he visits a biological laboratory at the Imperial Palace to prepare a paper on gobies.
The Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita spend a lot of time together. They enjoy walking together in the early morning, reading after breakfast and watching TV programs that feature beautiful scenery and the lives of people in Japan.
The Emperor Emeritus will meet the Emperor and Empress, other members of the imperial family and other guests who will celebrate with him on his birthday.
He will have dinner with the Emperor and Empress, Crown Prince and Princess Akishino and others. .
Key words : south prosecutor requested
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191223_13/
South Korean prosecutors have requested an arrest warrant for former Justice Minister Cho Kuk. He is alleged to have abused his power over an investigation into a bribery scandal involving a former vice mayor of Busan.
South Korean media say the presidential office is suspected of having terminated the investigation illegally. They say prosecutors have questioned Cho, who was involved in the probe while with the office.
A court is expected to examine the prosecutors' request for a warrant later this week.
In October, Cho stepped down as justice minister amid scandals involving himself and his family. This has led to calls for President Moon Jae-in to take responsibility for appointing Cho.
Key words : about 1,000
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191223_02/
About 1,000 people in Hong Kong have gathered to protest China's alleged mistreatment of Uighur Muslims.
The demonstration on Sunday took place in the Central district. Protests against the Hong Kong government and police have continued for over six months.
Participants chanted that today's Xinjiang is tomorrow's Hong Kong. They called for support and better human rights treatment for Uighurs.
A woman in her 20s said she is worried that Hong Kong may become like the mainland. She said she wants to stand with the Uighur people and fight for freedom.
Police had granted approval for the rally. But clashes broke out between protesters and police after a Chinese flag raised in a square was removed.
China is under international criticism, including from the United States, for allegedly detaining Uighurs to carry out ideological education.
However, the Chinese government has dismissed such criticism as attempts to intervene in its internal affairs.
Beijing says it is providing education and vocational training to help those affected by extremist ideas return to normal life.
Key words : Indian prime
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191223_03/
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has defended a new citizenship law and blamed the opposition for widespread protests.
The citizenship amendment bill passed by parliament earlier this month grants Indian citizenship to immigrants who have fled persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, but leaves out Muslims.
Critics say the law discriminates against Muslims and protests have spread across the country.
Local media say more than 20 people have died in clashes with security forces and several thousand have been detained.
In a speech on Sunday in the capital New Delhi, Modi accused opposition parties of instigating the protests by spreading false rumors that the new law will strip Muslims in India of their citizenship. Muslims make up nearly 20 percent of India's population.
Modi says the law will have no effect on Muslims living in the country. Critics say the amendment is part of Modi's efforts to pursue his Hindu nationalist policies.
Key words : Turkish president cannot handle
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191223_10/
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says his country cannot handle a fresh wave of Syrian evacuees.
Erdogan delivered an address on Sunday, as Syria's military intensified attacks on the opposition forces' last stronghold of Idlib province. Russia is backing the administration of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The United Nations says tens of thousands of residents started leaving the province in northwestern Syria after air strikes against the region escalated last week.
Footage from the area shows aid workers distributing supplies to fleeing residents with their vehicles loaded with belongings.
Erdogan said more than 80,000 people are moving from Idlib to Turkey. He said that number will rise if the violence does not stop.
Turkey is the main destination for Syrian refugees. About 3.7 million of them are already in the country.
Turkey plans to send a senior official to Russia on Monday. The envoy will call on Moscow to stop the Assad administration's offensive in Idlib.
Key words : Japanese government medical doctor
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191223_14/
The Japanese government plans to honor the late medical doctor and aid worker Tetsu Nakamura, who was killed in Afghanistan in early December.
The government decided at a cabinet meeting on Monday to award Nakamura the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, for his achievements in Afghanistan.
Nakamura died on December 4 after being ambushed by gunmen in the city of Jalalabad. He had worked in the country for decades, providing humanitarian aid and helping with reconstruction efforts.
The government also decided to present a letter of appreciation from the prime minister to Nakamura's family for his contributions to Afghanistan's development.
A ceremony is planned at the prime minister's office on Friday to hand the letter to the family.
Key words : defense ministry
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191223_04/
Japan's Defense Ministry is making arrangements to extend the planned completion date for the relocation of a US military base within Okinawa Prefecture.
The central government wants to relocate the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City to the less populated Henoko district in Nago City.
Under the plan agreed to between Japan and the United States in 2013, the relocation work should take five years. But the ministry is now considering extending it to roughly 10 years.
The start of the landfill work was delayed due to opposition from Okinawa Prefecture and began in December last year.
Soft ground makes up about 40 percent of the seabed of the planned relocation site.
The Defense Ministry is considering reviewing the construction schedule in order to carry out reinforcement work.
The plan agreed to in 2013 targeted fiscal 2022 for the return of the Futenma base site to Japan. But if the timetable is revised that would be pushed back to the 2030s.
Construction work may take even longer. The prefectural government is demanding that land reclamation be stopped immediately and is expected to reject the central government's revised plan.
Key words : nationwide survey
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191223_17/
A nationwide survey by the Japan Sports Agency has found that children's physical strength and athletic abilities have declined. The Agency says smartphones are partly to blame.
The annual survey looks at physical activities, such as running and throwing balls, as well as lifestyles. This fiscal year's survey covered more than 2.1 million children in the fifth-grade of elementary school and the second-year of junior high school.
The national average of physical prowess fell from last fiscal year for both boys and girls. The average for fifth-grade boys fell to the lowest since the survey began in fiscal 2008.
The survey found that children, especially boys, spend more time watching TV or using smartphones.
The time that junior high school students spend on athletic activities dropped by more than 90 minutes per week.
The Agency says physical strength and athletic activities had been improving for boys and girls in recent years, so it takes this year's results seriously. The Agency also says there is a limit to what schools can do, adding that there's a need to involve communities.
Nagoya Gakuin University Professor Takahiro Nakano, who was involved in the analysis, says the intense summer heat over the past few years may have made it difficult to find time for children to exercise outdoors.
Key words : authorities in western
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191223_15/
Authorities in western Japan are taking legal steps to crack down on the country's largest crime syndicate and a splinter group in a bid to stop their escalating feud.
Yamaguchi-gumi and rival Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi are both headquartered in Hyogo Prefecture.
Their conflict led to the fatal shooting of a senior member of Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi last month.
Under the planned change, designated groups will be banned from holding gatherings of five or more members, entering their own offices, or stalking members of rival groups in areas specified by the authorities. Police can arrest those who breach the rules.
On Monday, the public safety commission of Hyogo was due to hold a hearing with representatives of Yamaguchi-gumi, but they failed to show up.
The commission in Osaka Prefecture met senior members affiliated with the splinter group. The gang leaders reportedly said they should be allowed to enter their offices, as they are in the same building as their homes.
Authorities in Hyogo and Osaka plan to announce the designation after the New Year holidays. Four other prefectures in western and central Japan are considering the same anti-crime measures.
Key words : elementary school Fukaya
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191223_09/
Elementary school students in Fukaya City, near Tokyo, have been given an opportunity to hone their calligraphy skills ahead of the New Year.
About 120 students in grades three to six took part in an annual calligraphy training session hosted by the Saitama Institute of Technology on Sunday.
The children sat on the floor at the university's gymnasium to practice writing various characters. Some of the phrases were "friends around the world" and "cherry blossoms."
Members of the institute's calligraphy club tutored the children on how to properly use a brush. The pupils then tried their hand, paying close attention to the size and balance of each character.
One sixth-grader said she was able to improve her calligraphy skills thanks to the help of the instructors. She says she will practice at home what she learned.
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