2024年3月18日月曜日

at 18:00 (JST), March 18

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20240318180000_english_1.mp3


Key words : north defense ministry this year
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240318_13/

Possible ballistic missile fired from N.Korea falls outside Japan's EEZ

Japan's Defense Ministry says North Korea fired what may have been a ballistic missile on Monday morning. The ministry made the announcement at 7:46 a.m.

Ministry officials say that the projectile already fell outside Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone.

The officials say there have been no reports of any damage to aircraft and vessels.

It is North Korea's second launch of a ballistic missile, or what is believed to be a ballistic missile, this year. The country fired a missile on January 14.

The defense ministry is analyzing information and monitoring the situation.


Key words : message to
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240318_20/

Expert: Latest N.Korean missile launches send strong message to S.Korea

A Japanese expert on North Korean affairs says the latest missile launches by Pyongyang on Monday morning likely issued a strong message to South Korea.

Nanzan University Professor Hiraiwa Shunji said the missile launches were probably a countermeasure against the regular joint drills by US and South Korean forces that concluded last Thursday.

He says that if the launched missiles were short-range ballistic missiles, South Korea, in particular, should interpret this as a strong message.

Hiraiwa points out that the North wants to stir up a sense of crisis ahead of South Korea's general election in April, by demonstrating that the administration of President Yoon Suk-yeol has failed on its policies against the North.

Hiraiwa also says North Korea is undoubtedly wary of the cooperation between Japan, the US and South Korea. He warns that Pyongyang may take a similar strong stance against Japan.

Hiraiwa says North Korea's behavior needs to be closely watched and that Japan, the US and South Korea need to strengthen their cooperation.


Key words : cuba
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240318_25/

North Korea announces its ambassador to Cuba will return home

North Korea says its ambassador to Cuba has paid a farewell visit to Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel before concluding his mission. South Korean media say the decision to replace him may be linked to the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and South Korea.

North Korea's ruling Workers' Party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on Monday that Ma Chol Su met the Cuban president on Saturday.

The paper quoted Diaz-Canel as saying that Cuba will stand against the two countries' common adversary, the United States, and continuously advance their traditional socialist ties between Havana and Pyongyang.

Cuba has an embassy in North Korea, but established diplomatic ties with South Korea last month.

South Korea's Unification Ministry said the move must have dealt a considerable blow to the North.

The Tokyo-based Radiopress news agency says it is probably the first time that North Korean media have mentioned Cuba since the Caribbean country formed official relations with Seoul.

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported that the ambassador's replacement "came at a delicate moment" and is causing speculation that the diplomatic event "might have influenced the change of the ambassador."


Key words : victory stronger
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240318_10/

Putin declares victory in Russia presidential election

Incumbent Russian leader Vladimir Putin has declared himself the victor in the country's presidential election.

Putin spoke to supporters at his election headquarters after early results showed he was certain to win.

He said he wanted to thank all Russians who came out to vote, claiming the country is one united family.

He also said the result of the election would allow Russia to become stronger.

The Central Election Commission says Putin gained over 87 percent of the vote after about 70 percent of the ballots cast were counted. The president was up against three opponents.

But there was no real competition as candidates critical of Russia's invasion of Ukraine were barred from running. Western nations and human rights groups criticized the vote as unfair.

A win in the election will give the 71-year-old leader a fifth term as president. His new stint will last six years until 2030. He is expected to pursue his current political ambitions, including the invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Russia's election.

Zelenskyy said there was no legitimacy in what he called an imitation of an election, saying Putin is afraid of justice.

Zelenskyy added that Putin should be on trial in the international criminal court.


Key words : widow compatriots
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240318_08/

Navalny's widow, other Russians in Berlin cast votes of protest against Putin

The widow of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and many of her compatriots cast protest votes against President Vladimir Putin at the Russian embassy in Germany's capital on Sunday.

Yulia Navalnaya waited in a long line to vote in the Russian presidential election at her country's embassy in Berlin. Sunday was the last day of voting.

Russian people at the diplomatic mission chanted to express their solidarity with Navalnaya. They also demanded that the Kremlin immediately stop the military operation in Ukraine.

Navalnaya thanked her compatriots for taking part in the protest. She said she wrote her husband's name on her voting sheet and put it into a ballot box.

In an apparent reference to her husband, she also said it cannot be that a month before the presidential election, Putin's main opponent, who was already in jail, was killed.

Russian authorities say Navalny died at an Arctic penal colony last month.

Before the election, Navalnaya had urged people to protest against Putin by converging en masse at polling stations at noon on Sunday.

She also called on them to deface their ballots, vote for any candidate except Putin, write Navalny's name on their ballot sheets, or take the sheets home.

A 26-year-old Russian voter said he did not think that he had ever seen such a long line of people waiting to cast ballots in a Russian election in the German capital. He added that most of the voters "are basically against Putin."

A 25-year-old Russian said Putin is "a very, very bad person" who "killed so many people." She also said she is "very disappointed" that Russia cannot hold "real elections."


Key words : prime minister how to punish fukuyama
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240318_24/

Kishida to decide punishments for LDP fund scandal during Diet session

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has made clear he will decide during the current Diet session how to punish lawmakers involved in the fundraising scandal that has shaken the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

Kishida was responding to a question by an opposition lawmaker at the Upper House Budget Committee session on Monday.

Fukuyama Tetsuro, former secretary-general of the largest opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, criticized the LDP, saying party faction executives had failed to explain the unrecorded flow of funds within their groups.

Fukuyama said those who were questioned at political ethics panel meetings only said they had no knowledge or that their secretaries or offices were in charge.

Noting discrepancies in their statements, Fukuyama asked Kishida when he plans to punish those involved.

Kishida said his party will have to determine political responsibility after confirming their explanations. He said he hopes to reach a conclusion at an early date, even though a large number of people are involved.

The prime minister said he is considering making decisions during the current Diet session.

Fukuyama went on to ask if Kishida will dissolve the Lower House before punishment is given. He said leaving the issue unsettled in that way would be a betrayal of the people.

In response, Kishida said he is not considering a Diet dissolution at all at this time.

He said he will devote himself to clarifying political responsibility to restore trust in the party, and to enacting legislation to prevent a recurrence during the current session. He said that is what he is aiming for.

Fukuyama also asked about another scandal over a gathering of junior party lawmakers held last November at a city in the western prefecture of Wakayama.

Female dancers in revealing costumes were invited to the event. Some participants reportedly gave tips to the women mouth-to-mouth. The top two officials of the LDP's Youth Division have resigned for failing to stop what they called an inappropriate event.

Fukuyama asked how the two officials and other members will be punished.

Kishida said officials of the headquarters in charge of the youth division are questioning those involved and the Wakayama prefectural chapter.

Kishida said the party's decisions will be made after the facts have been confirmed.


Key words : israeli media
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240318_03/

Israel-Hamas talks likely to resume, but Netanyahu vows to invade Rafah

Israeli media outlets say a delegation from the country is expected to hold talks with Hamas. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated again that he is determined to mount a ground offensive in the southern Gazan city of Rafah.

Haaretz and other media outlets say Israel's war cabinet and the political-security cabinet intend to meet on Sunday night to discuss the delegation's trip.

They also say the delegation is expected to leave Israel for Qatar on Monday. It is believed that negotiations will begin later in the day.

But it remains unclear whether any progress will be made, as Israel and Hamas remain far apart on the terms of a deal.

Israel wants the Palestinian group to release the rest of the hostages that its militants captured during their surprise attacks in the country on October 7. Hamas is demanding a ceasefire. The group also wants Israel to pull its troops out of Gaza.

Netanyahu admitted during a cabinet meeting on Sunday that international pressure is mounting on Israel.

But he said that Israel cannot and will not succumb to the pressure. He added that Israel will launch a military ground operation in Rafah. The prime minister said that is "the only way" to eliminate the Hamas militants.

Rafah is currently sheltering nearly 1.5 million people, including evacuees from other parts of the enclave.

The international community fears that a ground assault in the city could further raise the number of civilian casualties and exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.

The Palestinian foreign ministry said in a statement that "Netanyahu's continuous threats to invade Rafah pose a blatant challenge to the international and American consensus on protecting civilians."


Key words : indian navy
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240318_16/

Indian navy seizes cargo ship hijacked by Somali pirates

The Indian navy says it has taken control of a cargo ship that was hijacked by Somali pirates and safely evacuated the crew members.

The Indian navy said it sent a destroyer on Friday to intercept the hijacked vessel that was spotted off the coast of Somalia. The merchant ship was hijacked by pirates in December.

Footage released by the navy shows people shooting at a helicopter from the cargo vessel's deck.

The navy said all 35 pirates surrendered and the 17 crew members were safely evacuated.

More than 200 piracy incidents had been reported annually between 2009 and 2011 in waters off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden. Attacks by Somali pirates started to resurge late last year.

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis have been targeting commercial vessels in the Red Sea since November.

International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez says shipping companies have been sending vessels into waters in the Indian Ocean and other routes to avoid the Red Sea. He warns that this could prompt an increase in hijackings by Somali pirates.


Key words : trump mexico
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240318_01/

Trump threatens to slap '100% tariff' on cars made in Mexico by China firms

Former US President Donald Trump has doubled down on his hardline posture toward China by threatening to impose "a 100-percent tariff" on cars made in Mexico by Chinese firms.

Trump spoke during a rally in Ohio on Saturday, days after he had cemented his position as the presumptive Republican nominee for the November presidential election.

Trump said Chinese firms are building "big monster car manufacturing plants" in Mexico and that they think they are going to sell cars to the US while not hiring Americans.

He warned that he would, if elected president, "put a 100-percent tariff on every single car that comes across the line."

The tariff level is twice what Trump had pledged against such Chinese vehicles in an interview with a US business news channel, CNBC, earlier this month.

A growing number of Chinese automakers have been constructing production plants in Mexico. The trade deal currently in place in North America allows tariff-free vehicle shipments from Mexico to the US if they meet strict conditions.

Analysts say Trump is seeking to woo support by showing his intention to address concerns in the US automobile industry that lower-cost Chinese imports may threaten domestic jobs.


Key words : weather Jonathan Oh
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