NHK WORLD RADIO JAPAN - English News Podcast near Script

NHKのラジオ国際放送「NHKワールドラジオ日本/NHK WORLD RADIO JAPAN News」のポッドキャスト・スクリプト/Podcast Scriptに近い記事です。
英語のシャドーイング用に、毎朝通勤で使っていましたが、スクリプトが無いため自作しています。（現在はリモートワークが多い）Top Storiesの記事がポッドキャスト・スクリプトに近いので当てはめていますが、放送と記事が必ずしも一致しないので、対応記事を探すのに苦労します。
１月21日まで、5分のAsianViewがPodcastでしたが、なぜか22日から15分のTV版ニュースがPodcastに変わり記事を探すのに苦労しています。

2022年4月30日土曜日

at 18:00 (JST), April 30

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20220430180000_english_1.mp3

Key words : senior pentagon
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220430_08/

A senior Pentagon official says that fighting in eastern Ukraine may drag on for some time as both Russian and Ukrainian forces are familiar with the terrain and using long-range fire.

The official said on Friday that Russia is trying to press the Ukrainians from the north, south and east, and troops who had been deployed in the southeastern city of Mariupol are moving north.

The US Defense Department official also said Russian troops are moving south from Izyum in the Kharkiv region but facing fierce resistance from Ukrainians.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video released on Friday that the situation in the Kharkiv region is tough. But he said the Ukrainian military and intelligence are having important tactical success.
He also said that constant Russian strikes at infrastructure and residential areas in the Donbas region show that Russia wants to make the area uninhabitable.

He went on to say that the Ukrainian defense is literally "a struggle for life."

In an interview with Polish media, the president said he cannot trust Russia because it has repeatedly broken promises.

He also said one person decides everything in Russia, and talking to that person and reaching an agreement is the only way for promises to be fulfilled.

He added that there is a big risk that peace talks with Moscow will end.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has claimed that ceasefire talks are stalled because Ukraine's position is incoherent.

Speaking to the Middle Eastern satellite TV station Al Arabiya, Lavrov accused the Ukrainian side of playing games.

The minister argued that Ukraine has changed its demand over a proposed security framework agreed in March.

The proposal would ensure Ukraine has security without joining NATO.

Key words : invasion diplomatic solution
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220430_02/

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and Indonesian President Joko Widodo say they will boost cooperation to address a range of global issues, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Kishida arrived in Indonesia on Friday on the first leg of a tour of Southeast Asia and Europe. He met Joko at the presidential palace in Bogor, near the capital Jakarta.

The two leaders said they will work together to help bring about a diplomatic solution to the crisis in Ukraine. They agreed that Russia's aggression is unacceptable, and that using force to unilaterally change the status quo should not be allowed in any region.

Kishida said Japan and Indonesia are confronted with many challenges, including North Korea and the situation in the East and South China seas.

The prime minister said maintaining and strengthening the free and open international order has become even more important.

He went on to say that Japan and Indonesia will firmly oppose any actions that threaten their shared principles.

Kishida and Joko agreed to strengthen cooperation to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Key words : joko putin
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220430_01/

Indonesian President Joko Widodo says Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend a Group of 20 summit scheduled for November in Bali.

Indonesia holds the rotating G20 presidency this year.

Member nations are divided about whether Putin should be allowed to attend, in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

On Friday, Joko revealed that Putin expressed his intention to participate during telephone talks the previous day. He also said the Russian leader extended his thanks for the invitation.

Moscow's presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that Russia is preparing to attend the summit, but it's too early to discuss any details.

Joko also revealed that he extended a special invitation to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during telephone talks on Wednesday.

Key words : rescue worker remote camera
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220430_11/

Rescue workers are using remote cameras to search inside a sightseeing boat that sank off the northern Japanese prefecture of Hokkaido.

The "KAZU I" went missing off the Shiretoko Peninsula during a cruise on April 23. Weather officials say waves were 3 meters high in the area when the vessel disappeared.

The boat was carrying 24 passengers and two crew members. Fourteen passengers have been found but all were confirmed dead. Search operations to locate the other 12 are continuing.

The boat was found on the seabed about 1 kilometer from the shore on Friday. At about 120 meters below sea level, it lies too deep for Coast Guard divers to reach.

Coast Guard and Maritime Self-Defense Force personnel are trying to search the inside of the boat with underwater cameras to see if anyone was trapped inside.

Local fishing boats and tour boats are continuing to help with the search.

Key words : offering flowers
#N/A

Key words : taliban explosion
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220430_06/

Police in the Afghanistan capital, Kabul, say an explosion at a mosque has killed at least 10 people and wounded about 30 others.

An eyewitness said the blast occurred during Friday prayers. Footage shows ambulances transporting wounded worshippers away.

No one has claimed responsibility for the explosion, which police suspect was a bomb attack.

It is the latest in a series of deadly blasts to rock Taliban-controlled Afghanistan during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

A bombing at a mosque in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif on April 21, and another in the suburbs of the northern city of Kunduz the following day, both claimed dozens of lives.

And bomb blasts inside two passenger vans in Mazar-e-Sharif on Thursday left at least nine people dead. The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Key words : us court
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220430_09/

A US court has sentenced a former Islamic State militant to life in prison for his involvement in the killings of four Americans and two Japanese nationals in Syria.

The US District Court in Virginia handed down the sentence to Alexanda Kotey on Friday.

Kotey, along with another former ISIS militant El Shafee Elsheikh, was charged with the hostage-taking and conspiracy to kill four Americans, including journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, between 2012 and 2015.

The indictment papers also referred to their involvement in the 2015 killings of Japanese nationals Goto Kenji and Yukawa Haruna.

Kotey pleaded guilty to the charges last September.

A federal jury in the same court found Elsheikh guilty last month. He is to be sentenced in August.

Key words : electric car
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220430_07/

The US electric carmaker Tesla's chief executive, Elon Musk, has sold 8.5 billion dollars worth of shares in the company he founded. It's seen as a move to finance his deal to buy social media giant Twitter.

Filings to the US Securities and Exchange Commission show that Musk sold 9.6 million Tesla shares.

He has announced that he secured 46.5 billion dollars to acquire Twitter, including bank loans. He said he will pay 21 billion dollars with his own funds, without saying how he would raise the money.

Even if he uses the cash he gained through the stock sale for the buyout, he still needs more than 10 billion dollars.

The entrepreneur tweeted on Thursday that no further sales of Tesla shares were planned.

Musk is considered to be the world's richest person, but much of his assets are believed to be stocks.

Market watchers are waiting to see how he will raise the rest of the cash.

Key words : ohtani
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220430_14/

In the Major League Baseball, Japanese two-way star Ohtani Shohei of the Los Angeles Angels has blasted his fourth home run of the season.

Ohtani batted cleanup for the first time since September 2020 as the designated hitter in a game against the White Sox in Chicago on Friday.

In the first inning, he smashed a high fastball over the left-center-field wall for the Angels' second solo shot. It was his first home run since April 16.

Ohtani got two hits and earned one RBI, and stole one base.

The Angels beat the White Sox 5-1 for their sixth straight win.

2022年4月29日金曜日

at 18:30 (JST), April 29

Asian View
"Asian View" is a five-minute news segment broadcast by NHK WORLD-JAPAN. It features the latest news and deep analysis from Japan and the rest of Asia. Listen to "Asian View" and get the latest information from a region that's playing an increasingly important role in the world.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20220429183000_english_1.mp3

Key words : tour boat self-defense seabed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220429_16/

The Japan Coast Guard has confirmed that the object found on the seabed off the coast of Hokkaido in northern Japan is the tour boat that went missing on April 23.

The 19-ton "KAZU I" was carrying 24 passengers and two crew members. Fourteen people were confirmed dead as of Thursday. The others remain unaccounted for, and search operations are continuing.

The Japan Coast Guard said images of what appeared to be the boat were captured by a Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel on Friday morning. It was found at a depth of about 100 meters in waters near a scenic waterfall. The tour boat captain reported that his boat had passed the area of the waterfall before it went missing.

The Coast Guard said the object was identified by the MSDF vessel's undersea camera on the second attempt to do so.

It said images showed all the letters of the boat's name on its exterior. It added that the object was confirmed to have a coating of blue paint, the same color of the missing boat.

Coast guard officials plan to investigate the boat's condition in further detail.

Key words : high wave advisories
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220427_40/

Search and rescue operations continue in northern Japan after a tour boat disappeared on Saturday. But rough seas made it difficult on Wednesday.

The 19-ton "KAZU I" went missing off the coast of Hokkaido. It was carrying 24 passengers and two crew members. 11 are dead, and 15 are still missing. The ship set sail despite gale and high wave advisories.

Coast Guard officials have yet to find the ship or more of the missing people.

They received a report from a fishing boat on Tuesday saying its fish-finding equipment had detected a large object at a depth of 30 meters. But divers only found rocks on the seabed.

Strong winds and rough seas are pummeling the coast. Small-sized vessels, including local fishing boats, were unable to join Wednesday's rescue operation.

The cruise ship operator's president apologized for the accident at a news conference.

President Katsurada Seiichi of Shiretoko Pleasure Cruiser said, "I am truly sorry for the victims and for the people who are still missing."

Katsurada said the captain of the ship told him on Saturday morning it was possible to operate the 10 a.m. cruise although the weather could turn harsh in the afternoon. He said he decided to allow the captain to sail, on the condition he would return if the sea became rough.

The president also said he learned shortly after the conversation that a radio communication antenna at his company was broken.

But he decided not to cancel the cruise because his staff were able to use cell phones.

He also said the ship could contact other cruise companies, who could relay messages.

Coast Guard officials are looking into whether the boat operator had proper safety measures in place.

Key words : Kishida support understanding
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220429_06/

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio will arrive in Indonesia on Friday for a meeting with President Joko Widodo. The leaders are expected to discuss Ukraine and other issues.

Indonesia chairs the Group of 20 this year. But the country is facing difficulty handling different opinions on whether Russia should be allowed to attend G20 gatherings following its invasion of Ukraine. It is expected to seek Japan's understanding on its position regarding Russia's participation in G20 meetings.

Indonesia, which has the largest economy in Southeast Asia, hopes to quickly resume economic activities with Japan as part of its effort to recover from the repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Foreign Ministry in Tokyo says Japan's investment in Indonesia last year almost halved from the pre-pandemic level recorded in 2019.

The Indonesian government is asking for assistance to upgrade primarily ports, railways and other infrastructure. It is also trying to lure back tourists to its resorts, including the island of Bali.

Indonesia is heavily reliant on coal-fired power generation. The country is appealing for financial and technical support from Japan and other nations to help it boost its use of other energy sources.

Key words : north sent one million
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220428_26/

A North Korean defectors' group in South Korea says it flew one million anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border to the North earlier this week.

The group said on Thursday it carried out the leaflet campaign on Monday and Tuesday from near Gimpo in the northwest of South Korea.

The group said the leaflets criticizing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un were carried by 20 large balloons.

Footage released by the group shows bags of leaflets and balloons rising up in the night sky.

A photo of incoming president Yoon Suk-yeol is attached to one balloon with the caption, "South Korea, a great nation where a prosecutor has become leader."
The defectors' group criticized Kim, saying he is threatening South Korea and humanity with nuclear weapons and missiles.

The group also said the outgoing administration of South Korean President Moon Jae-in has not been able to utter a word of criticism against the North.

The same group sent similar leaflets across the border in 2020. North Korea later blew up an inter-Korean liaison office that was seen as a symbol of reconciliation.

The latest leaflet campaign could trigger an angry response from North Korea ahead of the launch on May 10 of South Korea's first conservative administration in five years.

Key words : philippines
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220428_42/

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has declared August 30th as National Press Freedom Day. His administration has long been criticized for its crackdowns on the media.

The date is the birthday of writer Marcelo del Pilar, known as the father of journalism in the Philippines. Duterte says government agencies will hold programs on the day educating the public on the importance of a free media and the need to eliminate "all forms of violence against the press."

Duterte has repeatedly restricted journalistic freedoms during his time in office. He shut down one of the largest commercial broadcasters for airing news critical of his government.
He has also attacked Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa for her coverage of his administration's aggressive war on drugs.

The Philippines ranks 138th out of 180 countries and regions in the World Press Freedom Index, published by the international media watchdog Reporters Without Borders.

Key words : shanghai a month fujita
#N/A

2022年4月28日木曜日

at 18:30 (JST), April 28

Asian View

"Asian View" is a five-minute news segment broadcast by NHK WORLD-JAPAN. It features the latest news and deep analysis from Japan and the rest of Asia. Listen to "Asian View" and get the latest information from a region that's playing an increasingly important role in the world.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20220428183000_english_1.mp3

Key words : japanese yen
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220428_25/

The Japanese yen fell below the 130-mark against the US dollar after the BOJ's announcement on Thursday, extending its decline to the weakest level in 20 years.

Key words : yen bank of japan large-scale
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220428_19/

The Bank of Japan has decided to maintain its large-scale easing measures. That is despite the yen's weakness that could push the cost of imports higher for Japan's businesses and consumers.

The BOJ has also raised its inflation outlook for fiscal 2022, citing surging global prices for energy and other materials.

The bank's policymakers wrapped up their two-day meeting on Thursday.

They agreed to keep their short-term benchmark interest rate in negative territory. They will also continue their asset purchases to hold long-term rates around zero percent.

The BOJ decision is in contrast to the other major central banks, which have been tightening policy to tamp down on inflation.

The BOJ's outlook sees the consumer price index, excluding fresh food, rising to a median 1.9 percent.

This would put the rate very close to the BOJ's inflation target of 2 percent, set in 2013.

The bank's massive monetary-easing measures have been aimed at achieving that goal.

But the policymakers warned that current price rises could weigh on both household incomes and corporate earnings. That is because the inflation has not come with growth in wages and private demand.

Key words : foreign ministry eight directed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220428_04/

Russia's foreign ministry says it will expel eight Japanese diplomats and officials in Moscow.

In Wednesday's announcement, the ministry said they must leave Russia by May 10. It did not disclose any details about them.

The ministry said that directed by the West, the Japanese government has actively criticized Moscow and acted in a way unprecedented in Russia-Japan relations. The ministry also said Japan is responsible for the consequences as it rejected friendly and constructive ties with Russia.

The Japanese government on April 8 announced the expulsion of eight Russian diplomats and officials over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. They left Japan on April 20.

In response to Russia's latest announcement, the Japanese Embassy in Moscow said it lodged a protest with the Russian side.

The embassy said Russia resorted to military means and caused the current situation. It also said Russia is wholly responsible for driving Japan-Russia ties into their current state. The embassy added that it can never accept Russia's attempt to shift the responsibility to Japan.

Key words : hayashi protested
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220428_16/

Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa has protested Russia's decision to expel eight Japanese diplomatic workers.

Russia's Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that eight diplomats and officials at the Japanese Embassy in Moscow must leave Russia by May 10.

It described the move as a countermeasure to Tokyo's decision earlier this month to expel eight Russian diplomats and officials over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Hayashi said in a Diet committee session on Thursday that the Russian invasion is a clear breach of international law. He added that the killings of numerous innocent civilians are serious war crimes in violation of international humanitarian law and are absolutely unacceptable.

Hayashi pointed out it is Russia that caused this situation by resorting to military means. He said is it totally unacceptable that Russia has decided to expel Japanese officials, despite being fully responsible for taking Japan-Russia relations to their current state.

Key words : shanghai one month impact
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220428_06/

The coronavirus continues to spread in Shanghai as Thursday marks one month since a strict lockdown began in China's commercial hub.

The number of daily cases has remained above 10,000 in the city. In many areas, prospects for ending strict restrictions seem dim.

Frustration caused by the lockdown is rising among Shanghai people. A video posted on social media shows residents beating pots and pans at windows to protest authorities as they face difficulty obtaining food and daily necessities.

In Beijing, cases started rising last Friday. Authorities decided to conduct three PCR tests for each of about 20 million people -- about 90 percent of the capital's population -- this week.

Restrictions on outings have been introduced in some areas.

In the Chaoyang district of central Beijing, fences more than 2 meters high were installed in areas where the outing restrictions are imposed. Police officers have been mobilized there.

Despite the zero-COVID policy pursued by President Xi Jinping's administration, the coronavirus is spreading in the country, and lockdown and other measures remain in place. Concerns are rising about an impact on the Chinese and global economies through the disruption of supply chains and other factors.

Key words : myanmar guilty
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220427_28/

A Myanmar court has sentenced ousted democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi to five more years in prison.
She was found guilty of accepting cash and gold from a top local official.

The verdict is the first in a corruption case against her since the military took power in a coup last year. There have also been a series of other charges.

A spokesperson for the military's governing council said the verdict was handed down on Wednesday. The person says the court found Aung San Suu Kyi accepted $600,000 in cash, and about 11 kilograms of gold bars.

She supposedly accepted the payoffs between 2017 and 2018, when she was the country's de facto leader.

A former Yangon chief minister testified he gave Aung San Suu Kyi the money to get her support for his works in the region.

But pro-democracy activists say the military may have threatened the official into making the statements.

Aung San Suu Kyi has denied the charge, calling it "absurd."

The Nobel peace laureate has now been found guilty on six charges, including incitement and illegally importing walkie-talkies. Her prison term totals 11 years so far.

She stands accused in 10 more corruption cases, as well as others.

Key words : taiwan destroyer
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220427_20/

The United States and Taiwan have announced that a US guided-missile destroyer sailed through the Taiwan Strait.

The US Navy's 7th Fleet announced on Tuesday that the USS Sampson conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit earlier in the day. It said the transit through international waters was "in accordance with international law," and added that the move demonstrates the US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Taiwan's defense ministry also said a US destroyer had sailed through the Taiwan Strait from south to north.

According to the US 7th Fleet, the Sampson is part of a US Navy strike group led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.

The group had been engaged in a joint exercise with Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force in the Philippine Sea and the East China Sea until last week.

US warships have been confirmed sailing through the strait about once a month since the latter half of the term of former US President Donald Trump.

Observers say the announcements by the US and Taiwan are aimed at demonstrating to China that the US military is maintaining its presence in the Indo-Pacific region even amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, China's military condemned the move on Wednesday.

The Eastern Theater Command of China's People's Liberation Army said in a statement, "The US has been frequently carrying out provocative acts to send wrong signals to 'Taiwan Independence' forces, deliberately undermining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. China is firmly opposed to this."

Key words : indonesia domestic supplies
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220428_07/

Indonesia enforced a ban on exports of palm oil on Thursday to secure domestic supplies amid rising demand for the product in other parts of the world.

Indonesia is the world's biggest palm oil producer, accounting for nearly 60 percent of output. Retail prices of some types of cooking oil have risen by 70 percent from a year earlier, prompting demonstrations against the hikes.

There are concerns that the supply of sunflower oil, which is mainly produced in Ukraine and Russia, may be disrupted amid Russia's invasion. That is causing higher demand for palm oil as an alternative.

The Indonesian government says it will continue the ban until the average price of cooking oil falls to 14,000 rupiah per liter -- about a dollar -- from the current level of around 17,000 rupiah.

If the ban is prolonged, it could lead to a rise in prices of a wide range of goods because palm oil is used in many products, such as food and cosmetics.

Ueno Wataru at the Jakarta office of the Japan External Trade Organization said Japan imported 630,000 tons of palm oil last year, and 220,000 tons of it came from Indonesia. He said the prices of other cooking oils, such as soybean oil, could also soar.

Key words : automaker decline
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220427_35/

Four of Japan's eight major automakers saw a decline in their global output in fiscal 2021 that ended in March. The main cause was a shortage of semiconductors around the world.

Mazda, Nissan and Subaru suffered a double-digit decline from the previous year while Honda saw an 8-percent drop. Their major parts suppliers in southeast Asia were hit especially hard by the coronavirus outbreak.

The other automakers reported an increase in output. Mitsubishi saw a jump of almost 26 percent while figures for Daihatsu and Suzuki also rose. They rebounded from sharp falls in fiscal 2020.

Toyota's global production was up nearly 5 percent backed by growth in North America and Asia. But its domestic output fell to a 45-year low partly due to parts shortages.

An air of uncertainty continues to linger over the automakers. Some factories in Japan had to suspend operations this month after logistics were disrupted at parts suppliers in Shanghai. The Chinese city saw a resurgence of the pandemic.

Key words : britain totoro
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220427_25/

Britain's Royal Shakespeare Company will perform the first-ever stage version of the Japanese animated film "My Neighbor Totoro" in London later this year.

The movie by renowned Japanese animated film director Miyazaki Hayao has been a major hit since it was released in 1988. The fantasy story is about two little sisters living in the countryside, who interact with mysterious creatures.

Hisaishi Joe, who composed scores for the film, came up with the idea for the stage version. The project was approved by Miyazaki. Hisaishi will serve as the project's executive producer and composer.

Actors from the Royal Shakespeare Company and puppets will perform in the stage version.

Hisaishi said he is looking forward to working on the production.

The performances will be held at a theater in London from October through January 2023.

2022年4月27日水曜日

at 18:30 (JST), April 27

Asian View

"Asian View" is a five-minute news segment broadcast by NHK WORLD-JAPAN. It features the latest news and deep analysis from Japan and the rest of Asia. Listen to "Asian View" and get the latest information from a region that's playing an increasingly important role in the world.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20220427183000_english_1.mp3

Key words : Kishida food and
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220426_46/

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Japan will provide additional supplies to Ukraine, including food and medicine.

Kishida conveyed the pledge to Zelenskyy by telephone on Tuesday evening, Japan time. This is their fourth such conversation.

Kishida told Zelenskyy that at the request of the Ukrainian government, Japan decided to increase its loan offer to the country from 100 million to 300 million dollars.

He also explained Japan's decision to provide Ukraine with the Self-Defense Forces' equipment such as drones and masks designed to protect against chemical weapon attacks.

Zelenskyy expressed deep gratitude for Japan's assistance and outlined the current situation in his country.

The president also talked about how he thinks Ukraine should be supported and what further sanctions should be imposed on Russia.

After the talks, Kishida told reporters that to safeguard international peace and order, Japan will make an active diplomatic effort to support Ukraine in close coordination with Group of Seven nations and other countries.

Key words : defense ministry chinese naval
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220427_05/

The Japanese Defense Ministry reports that a Chinese naval vessel entered Japan's territorial waters off the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima.

Defense officials say a Chinese survey ship was spotted in Japan's contiguous zone west of Kuchinoerabu Island at around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday. They say the vessel entered Japanese territorial waters at about 11:00 p.m.

Japan monitored the vessel's movements through information sent from the Maritime Self-Defense Force's destroyer Onami and the Japan Coast Guard.

The officials say the Chinese vessel left Japanese waters south of Yakushima Island at around 2:10 a.m. on Wednesday and moved in a southeastern direction.

The ministry says it has conveyed its concerns to Beijing through diplomatic channels.

This is the fifth time that a Chinese naval vessel has been confirmed to have entered Japanese territorial waters and the first since November last year.

Ministry officials say they are remaining on guard and analyzing the purpose of the navigation.

Key words : honda launch
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220426_21/

The Japanese carmaker Honda Motor is launching a new electric vehicle in China from Tuesday, the company's first developed in the country.

The electric sport utility model is targeted at local consumers. Honda aims to sell 3,000 a month.

It can travel more than 500 kilometers on a single charge. Honda says it features smooth acceleration, unlike many electric cars that can speed up suddenly.

It also allows drivers to use voice commands to control the windows and air conditioner.

Honda aims to export EVs from China to Europe in the coming years.

It plans to build factories in Hubei and Guangdong provinces as part of a plan to build up its presence in China as it moves ahead with electrification.

Honda Motor representative Inoue Katsushi says the Chinese market calls for high-performance vehicles, adding, "Making cars that can beat the competition will be key to adapting to the trend toward electrification."

Nearly 3 million electric vehicles were sold in China last year, making it one of the markets with high demand.

But the share of Japanese makers is relatively low.

Honda faces competition from other Japanese players. Toyota Motor and Nissan Motor both plan to introduce EVs in China this year.

Key words : invasion reconsider eussian composer
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/videos/20220401120221579/

The invasion of Ukraine has caused orchestras around the world to reconsider their repertoire. An orchestra in Nagoya, though, chose to go forward with a work by a Russian composer. The conductor said the music transcends differences and speaks to the heart.

2022年4月26日火曜日

at 18:30 (JST), April 26

Asian View

"Asian View" is a five-minute news segment broadcast by NHK WORLD-JAPAN. It features the latest news and deep analysis from Japan and the rest of Asia. Listen to "Asian View" and get the latest information from a region that's playing an increasingly important role in the world.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20220426183000_english_1.mp3

Key words : kim speech hypersonic
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220426_27/

North Korea held a highly-expected military parade on Monday. That's according to the country's state media. It marks the 90th anniversary of the founding of its military.

The last time the country held a parade involving its regular army was in January last year. The Korean Central News Agency reported Tuesday that the latest parade took place at a square in central Pyongyang. It says the country's leader Kim Jong Un stressed in his speech measures to quickly further strengthen and develop nuclear weapons.

And the parade showed off what Pyongyang describes as its newest intercontinental ballistic missile, the Hwasong-17.

South Korean media report the parade may have been the largest ever, with about 20-thousand military personnel taking part. They say more than 250 heavy weapons and equipment are believed to have been displayed. The Hwasong-8 missile, which Pyongyang claims is hypersonic, is also believed to have been seen.

Kim Jong Un's grandfather, Kim Il Sung, founded the Korean People's Revolutionary Army on April 25th, 1932. It was the predecessor of today's Korean People's Army.

Observers say Pyongyang was expected to show off its latest weapon systems to send a message to the United States and South Korea.

Key words : rescue continuing
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220426_10/

The Japan Coast Guard continued its rescue mission on Tuesday, after a tour boat disappeared off the coast of the northern island Hokkaido at the weekend.

The boat, called Kazu One, was carrying 26 passengers and crew members on Saturday when it went missing in rough waters around the Shiretoko Peninsula in northeastern Hokkaido.

Eleven people were confirmed dead on Sunday, after being found in waters where the boat was thought to have disappeared.

The Coast Guard has publicly identified three of the victims, including a three-year-old girl.

The search and rescue mission for the remaining 15 people who are still missing is now continuing into the fourth day.

The Coast Guard plans to extend its search area, as the tour boat may have been drifted far from the coast.

Key words : credit downgrade
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220426_04/

S&P Global Ratings on Monday has downgraded Sri Lanka's foreign currency sovereign credit rating to "selective default."

The rating agency cited the Sri Lankan government's missed interest payments on international bonds that came due on April 18.

Earlier this month, the government said it would suspend payments on external debt, amid the deepening economic crisis.

The pandemic hurt the country's tourism-dependent economy, as the number of foreign tourists plunged. Its foreign exchange reserves dwindled, making it difficult for the country to pay for energy imports.

The nation's central bank said its outstanding external debt was 50.7 billion dollars as of the end of last year.

Sri Lanka is in talks with the International Monetary Fund. But the rating agency said the discussions are still at an early stage, and that the restructuring of the nation's debt would take time.

Key words : shanghai record number
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220425_26/

Shanghai authorities have reported a record number of coronavirus deaths amid a strict lockdown.

Officials say they confirmed on Sunday 19,455 new cases and the most-ever deaths, at 51.

The virus has also begun spreading in the capital Beijing. Authorities confirmed 47 infections between Friday and Sunday.

The largest number of new cases has been confirmed in the Chaoyang District of the capital. District authorities restricted outings in some areas, and asked residents to work from home in principle, starting Monday.

The district also started large-scale PCR testing on Monday, involving more than 3.4 million residents as well as those who commute to the district. They are required to undergo three tests.

Beijing residents are rushing to stock up on food supplies in fear of a city-wide lockdown like in Shanghai.

Local media are calling on residents to shop calmly, reporting that supermarkets in the city have sufficient stockpiles.

Key words : Kishida met diplomat
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220426_28/

Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has emphasized to a visiting South Korean delegation that now is the time to improve bilateral ties and resolve outstanding issues.

Kishida met with the delegation sent by South Korea's President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol in Tokyo on Tuesday. The group is headed by South Korea's National Assembly Deputy Speaker Chung Jin-suk.

Apparently referring to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and North Korea's nuclear and missile development, Kishida said global order based on rules is now under threat. He pointed out that there has never been a time when strategic cooperation between their two countries, and between them and the United States, has been more necessary. He stressed that there is no time to waste in improving bilateral ties.
Kishida said bilateral ties should be developed based on the friendly and cooperative relations that have been built since their two countries normalized diplomatic relations in 1965.

He said wartime labor and other pending problems must be resolved.

The delegation members responded that they place importance on bilateral relations and hope to cooperate to improve ties.

Government sources said the delegation handed Kishida a letter from Yoon.

The group then met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu. Matsuno said bilateral ties are severely strained and expressed hope that they would improve under Yoon's leadership.

The two sides confirmed that they would work closely together to respond to North Korea.

The delegation members indicated that they would cooperate in quickly resolving North Korea's abductions of Japanese nationals.

Key words : japanese companies suspend
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220426_02/

A survey shows that an increasing number of Japanese companies are suspending business in Russia, as Moscow's invasion of Ukraine drags on.

The study by research firm Teikoku Databank found that as of April 11, 60 of the 168 listed Japanese firms doing business in Russia, or 36 percent, had decided to pull out or cease operations in the country. The number surged from 37 in the previous survey, released in mid-March.

Of the 60 firms in the latest poll, 31 said they would suspend shipments to Russia, 11 said they would halt production at local factories, and nine said they would shut down outlets or other operations.

Three companies said they would withdraw from Russia. There were no companies that planned to do so in the mid-March survey.

Teikoku Databank cites disruptions to supply chains caused by economic sanctions on Russia. Japanese firms are under mounting pressure to pull out, as the war in Ukraine shows no signs of ending.

The research firm said the exodus of Japanese businesses from Russia will likely continue.

Key words : batteries
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220425_29/

Japan's industry ministry has set a goal of regaining a 20-percent share of global production of power-storage batteries by 2030. The country has been losing out to China and South Korea as they become more competitive.

The industry ministry unveiled its first-ever target for battery output at a panel of public and private-sector representatives on Friday. Officials plan to boost funding to domestic manufacturers and support the training of engineers.

Demand for batteries is expected to surge due to the popularity of electric vehicles and to store renewable energy.

Japanese battery makers have seen their global market share drop from 40 percent in 2015 to just 15 percent in 2020.

Industry minister Hagiuda Koichi said Chinese and South Korean firms are making tremendous strides in battery production, with active investment backed up by their governments.

Hagiuda said Japanese companies also need solid support with the government at the forefront. He added that this could be the last chance for the country to catch up.

2022年4月25日月曜日

at 18:30 (JST), April 25

Asian View

"Asian View" is a five-minute news segment broadcast by NHK WORLD-JAPAN. It features the latest news and deep analysis from Japan and the rest of Asia. Listen to "Asian View" and get the latest information from a region that's playing an increasingly important role in the world.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20220425183000_english_1.mp3

Key words : 11 people
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220425_18/

The Coast Guard and the Self-Defense Forces have expanded the search area for people who went missing in a boat accident off the Shiretoko Peninsula in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido.

The 19-ton tour boat, Kazu One, with 26 people on board, went missing on Saturday after making a distress call.

Seven men and three women have been pronounced dead. Coast Guard officials say one child pulled from the waters late Sunday night has also been confirmed dead at a hospital.

The Coast Guard is working to identify the 11 people.

A team of investigators from Japan's transport ministry has begun looking into what caused the accident.

Three marine accident investigators of the Transport Safety Board visited an on-site response center at the Utoro branch of Shari Town on Monday morning.

They told reporters they will gather information from ministry officials at the center before talking to members of a local fisheries association later in the day.

They said they had also talked with officials at a regional Coast Guard station earlier on Sunday.

The team's leader said what they can do now is limited as the rescue operations are underway, but they will do their utmost to collect the necessary information.

Key words : including two about to sink
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220425_07/

A child passenger aboard a sightseeing boat that went missing off the coast of Hokkaido on Saturday has been found unconscious.

The child was rescued by a Japan Coast Guard patrol ship around 11 p.m. on Sunday, and transported to a hospital.

The Kazu One was cruising off the Shiretoko Peninsula, northeastern Hokkaido, on Saturday. It was carrying 26 passengers and crew members, including two children.
So far, it's been confirmed that seven men and three women have died.

Coast Guard officials say the coast of the Shiretoko Peninsula has cliffs and steep slopes, where the water depth reaches more than 100 meters, even along the coastline.
The officials have yet to locate the boat, whose crew reported it was taking in water and about to sink, before losing contact.

They suspect the vessel capsized before sinking into waters.

The Coast Guard continues its search operations for the remaining passengers and crew.

Key words : south prosecutor
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220423_02/

The most senior prosecutors in South Korea have tendered their resignations following a political deal that could dramatically reduce their investigative powers.

South Korean media outlets say Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo spearheaded the extraordinary step on Friday. The other high-ranking officials include the chiefs of the nation's six high prosecutors' offices.

The ruling Democratic Party has been pushing to reform the country's state prosecution service. Last week, lawmakers submitted draft legislation that would transfer most investigative powers to the police.

The main opposition People Power Party initially opposed the idea, but the two parties reached a deal on Friday.
They now plan to approve the legislation next week.

Prosecutors in South Korea have used their powers to arrest and indict former presidents including Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak.

Some legal experts in the country say the reforms are aimed at keeping corrupt politicians in power.

Key words : north marks
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220425_02/

North Korea marks the 90th anniversary on Monday of the foundation of its military. Speculation is growing that the country will stage a major military parade in the capital Pyongyang for the occasion.

The late Kim Il Sung, the grandfather of current leader Kim Jong Un, founded the Korean People's Revolutionary Army on April 25, 1932. It was the predecessor of the current Korean People's Army.

Ahead of the anniversary on Sunday, the state-run Korean Central News Agency stressed that only victory lies ahead for the country's military, which ushers in a new era under the unbeaten leadership.

Last week, a US research group released satellite images taken near Pyongyang. The images show thousands of troops and many vehicles moving in formation at an airport outside the capital. Military jets and helicopters could also be seen lined up at an international airport in the capital. The US group said its analysis points to the possibility that the North is preparing to stage a parade on the anniversary of the military's founding to showcase its latest weapons.

The last time North Korea held a parade involving its regular army was in January 2021.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported that the parade may feature weapons such as an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads, and a new short-range ballistic missile that can carry small nuclear warheads.

North Korea has repeatedly denounced the US-South Korea joint military drills that continue until next Thursday. International society is keeping a close eye on the North.

Key words : myanmar ceasefire
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220423_01/

The head of Myanmar's military has renewed his call for a ceasefire and peace talks with the leaders of armed ethnic minorities across the country.

The move is seen as an attempt to stop them from supporting the pro-democracy movement.

On Friday, state-run television repeatedly aired an address by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in which he invites the groups for dialogue and offers to meet them personally.

The junta chief asks them to register representatives by May 9. He also says the military will talk honestly and openly.

Myanmar has about 20 ethnic minority groups seeking broad autonomy.
They have mostly distanced themselves from clashes between the military and pro-democracy forces since last year's coup.

But some, mainly in the north and east, are joining hands with pro-democracy forces after being asked to provide combat training.

Key words : foreign minister aircraft
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220424_01/

Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa has inspected the US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Pacific Ocean.

Hayashi and US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel arrived on the carrier on Saturday. A strike group led by the vessel held joint drills with Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force in waters near the country earlier this month.

Hayashi and Emanuel observed a take-off and landing exercise involving F-35 fighter jets. They also talked with the vice admiral commanding the US Navy's 7th Fleet and crewmembers.

Hayashi later told reporters that the exchange was very meaningful.

The minister said he told the US side that the carrier strike group's activities embody Washington's commitment to realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific amid the increasingly severe security environment in the region.

Hayashi said the Japan-US alliance has been serving as the cornerstone of peace and stability in the region and in the international community.

Hayashi said Japan will continue to closely work with the US to further enhance their alliance's deterrence and response capability. He added Japan will also comprehensively strengthen its defense capability.

Key words : fishing
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220423_05/

Japanese fishers are gearing up for the annual salmon season in the northern Pacific Ocean. They'll be setting off later than usual, due to delays in fishery talks amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Japan's Fisheries Agency said on Saturday that online negotiations with Russia had effectively concluded and the two sides plan to sign an agreement early next week.

Drift-net fishing for salmon and trout traditionally begins on April 10 in Japan's exclusive economic zone off its northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido.

Ahead of the season each year, Japanese and Russian government officials meet to discuss operational details. The latest talks were delayed until April 11.

Japan has agreed to pay an annual cooperation fee to Russia of 1.6 million to 2.3 million dollars, depending on the catch. This is because most of the salmon and trout caught in the ocean originate in Russian rivers.

The minimum fee this year has been lowered by about 500,000 dollars amid declining catches in recent years.

The quota for this year will be set at 2,050 tons, the same as last year.

This year's talks are being seen as unusual, as countries including Japan have been imposing sanctions on Russia.

Key words : ukrainian arriving
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220425_15/

Ukrainians arriving in Japan after fleeing the Russian invasion can expect some help on the communications front. Japanese providers of automatic-translation services are starting to support the East European language.

Precision-equipment maker Konica Minolta is providing municipalities with an app that runs on tablets.

Ukrainian was added this month to its list of over 30 supported languages.

The app handles not just conversations, but specialized terms used in government procedures.

Ogasawara Takahiro of Konica Minolta says, "Evacuees from Ukraine come here unprepared, so we know how stressful it must be to deal with a totally different language. We'd be happy to help them."

Pocketalk has a dedicated handheld translation device. The company has donated 1,000 of them to the Ukrainian Embassy in Japan.

It is also making its Ukrainian support available through an app, from Monday.

Pocketalk officials say Ukrainian people can use their smartphones to have their voices translated into Japanese and several other languages.

More than 680 Ukrainian evacuees had arrived in Japan as of Saturday.

2022年4月24日日曜日

at 18:00 (JST), April 24

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20220424180000_english_1.mp3

Key words : voter in france
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220424_19/

Voting is underway in France's presidential runoff election between centrist President Emmanuel Macron and his far-right contender Marine Le Pen.

Macron and Le Pen garnered the most votes in the first round of voting on April 10. They faced off in the previous runoff five years ago.

About 70 thousand polling stations across France opened at 8 a.m. on Sunday.

At a polling station in Paris, voters began casting ballots one after another as soon as it opened.

Key issues in the campaign included how to deal with the situation in Ukraine and France's relationship with the European Union.

Macron maintains that the EU should stay united to seek a diplomatic solution to the Ukrainian issue, and he is calling for stepped-up sanctions against Russia.

Le Pen is appealing to those on low incomes by pledging to cut value-added tax in response to soaring fuel prices. She also opposes sanctions that would stop imports of natural gas and petroleum from Russia, saying this would further depress the economy.

In a poll taken on Friday, 55 percent of the respondents said they would vote for Macron, while 45 percent said they would vote for Le Pen. The difference is much smaller than in the last runoff election in which Macron had overwhelming support.

Vote counting will begin immediately after polling stations close at 8 p.m.

Key words : marks two months victory liberated
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220424_18/

Sunday marks two months since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine. Russian forces have apparently given up trying to seize the capital, Kyiv, at least for now. But they are intensifying attacks in eastern and southern Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed victory in the eastern port city of Mariupol, saying it has been "liberated."

A senior Russian commander says that the second phase of the military operation has just begun. Russian personnel are moving, apparently in preparation for massive attacks.

The Russian defense ministry says its missile strike on a military airstrip outside the southern city of Odesa destroyed weapons provided by Western nations.
The mayor of Odesa said on social media that the death toll from the missile attack had risen to at least eight, including a 3-month-old girl.

Ukraine appears ready to put up fierce resistance in the east and south, drawing on military assistance from the United States and European countries.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he will meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Sunday in Kyiv.
Zelenskyy says the meetings are very important and he expects the discussions will cover the list of weapons Ukraine needs and when.
Zelenskyy also stresses that he is prepared to continue negotiations with Russians.

He said he wants to end the conflict that would cause more casualties and that no leader should close the path to a diplomatic solution.

Key words : european digital services act
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220423_17/

The European Parliament and European Union member states have agreed on details of a proposed act that would require tech giants to more aggressively tackle illegal and harmful content on their platforms.

The EU on Saturday announced the agreement on the Digital Services Act, which aims to better protect internet users from illegal online goods, services or content.

The act will go into effect after it is approved by the European Parliament and EU member countries.

It would impose strict rules on online platforms and search engines that have over 45 million monthly users in the EU. Analysts say EU officials have US tech giants in mind, including Meta Platforms and Google's parent company, Alphabet.
The tech firms would be obliged to perform analyses every year to identify any systematic risks stemming from their services, and to take effective mitigation measures.

The obligation is aimed at preventing the spread of illegal content, misinformation that could adversely affect elections or public safety, and expressions that may aggravate discrimination.

The companies would also be banned from using personal data of minors for targeted advertising.

Any company that fails to comply would face a fine of up to six percent of its worldwide sales.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the latest agreement "historic." She said, "It gives practical effect to the principle that what is illegal offline, should be illegal online."
Last month, the EU reached an agreement on the Digital Markets Act to strengthen rules for tech giants in an aim to ensure fair competition.

Key words : delegation south policy
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220424_12/

A delegation of South Korea's President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol left for Japan on Sunday morning for policy consultations on a number of pending issues surrounding the two countries.

The seven-member delegation comprises lawmakers, former diplomats and academics.

During their five-day stay through Thursday, the delegates are scheduled to meet with officials from Japan's Foreign Ministry, Diet members, as well as representatives of the business community. They are expected to exchange views on how to respond to North Korea's accelerating nuclear and missile activities and some pending problems between the two nations, including the issue over wartime labor.

Source says the delegation carries a personal letter of Yoon.

Before their departure, the head of the delegation, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Chung Jin-suk, told reporters that his team will convey Yoon's intentions that the two countries should strive together to improve bilateral ties as early as possible. He added he is determined to do his utmost to build a foundation for a new bilateral relationship.

The delegation is the second the President-elect has dispatched, after one sent earlier to the United States, Seoul's ally.

Yoon apparently hopes to find a breakthrough in stalled efforts to improve soured ties, ahead of his inauguration on May 10.

Key words : searching Meteorological Agency life jacket
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220424_17/

The Japanese Coast Guard is searching for a sightseeing boat that went missing in waters off the country's northernmost prefecture.
The Coast Guard says they've found nine people believed to be from the 26 who were on board.

The officials say at least eight people were unconscious when they were sent to a hospital. They were spotted off the Shiretoko Peninsula in the eastern part of Hokkaido prefecture.

The search and rescue operation was launched on Saturday afternoon, after the Coast Guard received a distress call from the vessel. The boat was reportedly taking on water while cruising near the peninsula.

One person aboard the vessel reported that it was listing at an angle of about 30 degrees and could not move on its own. The individual indicated that the engine had stopped. Boats and aircraft from the Coast Guard and Self-Defense Forces were dispatched for the search.

The vessel, named the Kazu One, is a 19-ton tour boat. It was carrying 24 passengers, including two children.
It had two crewmembers. The operator says the vessel left its home port Saturday morning on a three-hour excursion.

The meteorological agency says waves were three meters high in the area at the time of the distress call. The agency had issued advisories for high waves and strong winds.

A crew member of another boat operator said, "We were aware of sea conditions getting worse, so I told the captain not to go. He said yes, but he just went ahead and left the port."

The skipper planned to cruise around Cape Shiretoko so the passengers could observe wildlife. The peninsula is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. Everyone onboard was reportedly wearing life jackets.

Key words : ten people
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220424_23/

Ten people from a tour boat missing off the coast of Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido have been confirmed dead.

The boat, called Kazu One, went missing on Saturday during a cruise off the Shiretoko Peninsula. It was carrying 26 passengers and crew members, including two children. The ship reported it was taking in water and about to sink before losing contact.

Japan Coast Guard and Self-Defense Forces personnel found 10 people in the water or on rocks around the tip of Cape Shiretoko on Sunday.

The Coast Guard says the 10 people were taken to hospitals and other locations but were later confirmed dead.

The victims comprise seven men and three women. Coast Guard officials are trying to identify them. Search operations for the remaining people are ongoing.

Key words : brazil dancer
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220423_15/

The famed Carnival in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro is reaching its climax with two nights of parades by the city's top samba teams, which got underway on Friday.

The annual summer event was canceled for the first time ever last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. This year's event, originally scheduled for late February, was postponed for two months due to the spread of the Omicron variant.

The 12 top samba teams, each comprising 2,500 to 3,600 members, took part in a contest on Friday night, with the colorfully-attired dancers making their way through the Sambodromo grounds on decorated floats.

Brazil has recorded around 660,000 deaths from the pandemic. Rio de Janeiro has been one of the hardest-hit areas.

Some of the teams have chosen pandemic-related themes for this year's event.

2022年4月23日土曜日

at 18:00 (JST), April 23

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20220423180000_english_1.mp3

Key words : jump-start peace talk
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220423_N01/

Russian forces have been laying siege to the eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol for weeks. They have been battling to take control of the key port. Commanders now say the troops have accomplished their objective.

Fighting in the city has been focused on a large steel-making complex, where Ukrainian troops are making a stand and where many civilians are sheltering. Russian Defence Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov says the facility has been "blockaded." President Vladimir Putin had ordered his forces to contain the plant rather than storm it.

Konashenkov said the situation in Mariupol has returned to normal. He added that residents are now able to walk the streets freely, without having to take cover from shelling by those he called "Ukrainian Nazis."

Konashenkov also said the Russian air force is striking military targets in other areas. However, in Ukraine's second largest city of Kharkiv, shells hit a residential building and the main marketplace. Ukrainian officials said one person was killed and six others injured.

Analysts believe that May 9 may be a critical day in the invasion, because it is the date Russians celebrate their victory over Germany in World War Two. They say Putin wants to put more areas in eastern and southern Ukraine under control by then. A Russian official in Mariupol has already announced a military parade will take place in the city on the date.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is trying to jump-start peace talks. He will travel to Moscow for a meeting with Putin on Tuesday. He is also trying to set up a visit with Ukrainian leaders.

Putin had previously spoken with the president of the European Council, Charles Michel. He accused Ukrainian leaders of being inconsistent and dealing in bad faith. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov echoed those comments. On Friday, he said that negotiations have "ground to a halt."

Key words : antonio moscow
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220423_12/

The United Nations says Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will meet with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday and with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv two days later.

A UN spokesperson told reporters on Friday that while in Moscow, Guterres will have a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and will be received by Putin on Tuesday.

The spokesperson said the UN chief is hoping to discuss what can be done "in order to silence the guns, in order to help the people and in order to allow the people who need to get out and have safe passage."

The UN says Guterres will then travel to Ukraine and hold talks with Zelenskyy and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Thursday.
Guterres has repeatedly urged Russia to exercise restraint, and has been calling on the sides to broker a ceasefire on humanitarian grounds to stop civilian casualties.

Key words : mass grave
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220423_14/

US company Maxar Technologies released on Friday satellite images of what appears to be a second mass grave near Mariupol, the key eastern Ukraine port which has been under heavy attack from Russia.

Five pictures, taken on either March 22, 29 or April 15, cover an area about 12 kilometers east of Mariupol. They show the spread of newly dug trenches. The company said the site contains several parallel trenches measuring about 40 meters long.

Earlier on Thursday, Maxar made public satellite photos of an apparent mass grave site about 20 kilometers west of Mariupol. The company said it confirmed four sections of linear rows of graves each about 85 meters long.

Mariupol's city assembly said in a social media post on Friday that the freshly-identified graves could hold at least 1,000 bodies.

Ukraine has accused Russia of burying a number of bodies in various parts of Ukraine in a bid to conceal its slaughter of civilians. Such an act could constitute a war crime.

Key words : russian defense ministry
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220423_08/

Russia's defense ministry has acknowledged for the first time that there were casualties in a fire last week on its missile cruiser Moskva. The flagship of Russia's Black Sea Fleet sank in the Black Sea on April 14.

The ministry said in a statement on Friday that a fire which broke out on the vessel on April 13 triggered an ammunition blast. It added the ship's crew tried to extinguish the blaze but failed.

It said among the Moskva's crew, one serviceman was killed and 27 others went missing. It added the remaining 396 were evacuated and returned to Sevastopol in Russian-annexed Crimea.

The ministry also said it is providing necessary support to the families of the deceased and missing.

Earlier, the ministry maintained the entire crew had evacuated before the vessel sank. But independent media in Europe and Russia reported that dozens of crew members had died.

Meanwhile, Ukraine said it had attacked the vessel with Neptune anti-ship missiles. The US Defense Department confirmed the Ukrainian claim.

The Russian ministry has not said whether the ship was attacked by Ukraine.

Key words : import russian gas
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220423_N02/

Western nations have responded to the invasion of Ukraine by cutting back on imports of Russian oil, gas, and coal. However, the sanctions have caused energy prices to spike to record highs.

US President Joe Biden spoke about the challenge during an address on Earth Day on Friday. He said the situation is going to be hard for a while, getting through the rising cost of gasoline and other energy because of Putin and the war, but Americans are going to do it.

Biden said he wants to accelerate the transition to clean energy. However, activists have criticized him for expanding domestic oil production as a way of dealing with rising costs.

Demonstrators across Europe held Earth Day rallies to protest the imports of Russian energy. Some chanted "Cut Russian Gas! Cut Russian Gas!"

However, leaders are facing a challenge. Russian gas accounts for about 40 percent of the EU's supply. Some countries, like Germany, have been cautious about an embargo.

Leaders in the Netherlands are moving ahead. They want to cut off all Russian fossil fuels by the end of the year. They plan to do that by increasing imports from other countries and rolling out clean-energy alternatives.

Slovakia is enlarging its role as an exporter. Officials there say a domestic pipeline that is nearing completion could help supply liquid natural gas to neighboring Poland.