Key words : Kishida official visit boost
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240408_02/
Prime Minister Kishida to leave for official visit to US
Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio will leave for an official visit to the United States on Monday. Kishida and US President Joe Biden will hold a summit where they are expected to confirm plans to boost cooperation in defense, economic security and outer space.
Kishida will meet Biden amid an increasingly severe international situation. The prime minister is expected to seek closer defense ties through such efforts as improving cooperation between the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and US forces in Japan.
The two leaders are expected to agree to enhance relations in a broad array of other spheres.
The areas are believed to range from the development of artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies and the establishment of chip and other supply chains to outer space projects, including the US-led Artemis lunar exploration program.
Kishida will also address a joint session of the US Congress during his seven-day visit. He plans to stress that Japan is ready to share with the US the responsibility of protecting the global order that is based on freedom and democracy.
Kishida's itinerary also includes attending a trilateral summit with Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and traveling to the state of North Carolina.
Key words : maritime self-defense fighter jet
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240408_16/
Japan MSDF destroyer Kaga partially modified for F-35B stealth fighter jets
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's largest vessel has been partially modified to operate F-35B stealth fighter jets.
The upgraded flight deck of the destroyer Kaga was shown to the media on Monday at the MSDF base in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture. The first stage of the modification work was completed last month.
The vessel's trapezoidal deck has been changed to a rectangular shape so that fighter jets can safely take off. The flight deck has been coated with heat-resistant material to withstand the exhaust heat generated by fighter jets.
Japan's Defense Ministry plans to carry out additional modifications, including changing an interior section. The work is expected to be completed in several years.
The Kaga's commander, MSDF Captain Kokubu Ichiro, noted that the vessel plays a key role in the fleet. He said the modification will improve the Kaga's flexibility with F-35B interoperability.
The Defense Ministry has conducted landing and takeoff tests with the F-35B on the Izumo, the same class of destroyer, after a heat-resistant coating was applied to its flight deck. A second refurbishment of the Izumo is slated to begin by the end of the current fiscal year, and is expected to be completed in about two years.
The Japanese government says F-35B fighter jets will not be deployed full-time on the Izumo and the Kaga, so they will not be considered attack aircraft carriers, which are banned under Japan's Constitution.
Key words : south 2nd weather
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240408_14/
S.Korea launches 2nd reconnaissance satellite from US
South Korea has launched its second military reconnaissance satellite from the United States.
South Korea's defense ministry says a private-sector rocket carrying the satellite lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida shortly after 7 p.m. on Sunday.
The ministry announced that the launch was successful after the satellite communicated with a ground station.
Ministry officials say the satellite is equipped with a high-performance radar capable of monitoring the Earth's surface regardless of weather conditions. They say it will be used to monitor North Korea to detect signs of missile launches.
Seoul plans to launch five military reconnaissance satellites by next year. The first one was launched last December.
On Monday, South Korea's Defense Minister Shin Won-sik said North Korea could launch a second military spy satellite as early as mid-April after completing technical enhancements.
South Korea's military is on heightened alert ahead of the birthday on Monday next week of Kim Il Sung -- North Korea's founder and the grandfather of its leader Kim Jong Un.
Key words : rescue team
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240408_08/
Taiwanese and Turkish teams create 3D images to aid earthquake rescue efforts
Taiwanese and Turkish rescue teams are using 3D images in search and rescue efforts following a powerful earthquake that jolted Taiwan on Wednesday.
The teams used drones on Sunday to record videos of a gorge where they are conducting search operations.
3D images created from the videos and other sources show the state of the gorge in detail. Part of a cliff has collapsed and is blocking river flow.
Taiwan's rescue team will continue its search for missing people from Monday using the 3D images.
The leader of the Turkish team said they were able to obtain images in a difficult environment that will aid rescue operations. He said they will do their best to help the people of Taiwan.
Taiwan authorities said that 13 people have been confirmed dead and six others remain missing as of Sunday.
Key words : 13 people tourist destination
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240407_08/
Turkish team arrives in Taiwan to help search for missing in quake-hit areas
Members of a Turkish rescue team have arrived in Taiwan's quake-hit areas, becoming the first foreign team on the scene.
Taiwan authorities say that 13 people have been confirmed dead and six others remain missing following the earthquake on Wednesday.
Rain, tremors, and the risk of falling rocks are hampering efforts around Taiwan's popular tourist destination Taroko Gorge in the eastern county of Hualien, near the epicenter. Most of the missing people are believed to be in the area.
The Turkish team members who specialize in using drones headed to the site around the gorge on Sunday morning after going over a search and rescue plan with the Taiwan authorities.
Taiwanese authorities say they are ready to work with the Turkish team.
The leader of the Turkish team said that the people of Taiwan offered their support when Turkey was hit by a powerful earthquake last year, and now it is Turkey's turn to do the same.
Rescue efforts are underway for more than 300 people stranded around the gorge where roads are blocked.
About 10 local residents were airlifted on Sunday morning.
Key words : wajima city
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240408_13/
Elementary schools in quake-hit Wajima City hold joint entrance ceremonies
Six elementary schools in quake-hit Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, held joint entrance ceremonies on Monday for first grade students to start the new school year.
The schools convened at the fire station hall for the ceremonies. This was because some school buildings and gymnasiums had become unavailable due to a powerful earthquake that struck central Japan's Noto Peninsula on New Year's Day.
The event was split into two sessions, with three schools attending each one.
The ceremonies began with a moment of silence for the disaster victims. Then, as each student's name was called, they answered energetically.
The principal of Fugeshi Elementary School, Yamagishi Tazuko, said in a speech that while they experienced fear and faced hardships due to the quake, they received encouragement and support from various people. She said she was happy to be able to hold the entrance ceremony.
Yamagishi added the students may be anxious of their new environment but they have many peers. She urged them to enjoy their school life.
The six elementary schools will hold classes together in vacant classrooms in a junior high school during the first term, starting Tuesday. Some children who are sheltering outside the city will attend classes online.
In the second term, the six schools will move to a temporary school building to be built on the grounds of a local elementary school.
Key words : israel withdraw future mission
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240408_06/
Israel withdraws troops from Khan Younis in southern Gaza
Israel says it has withdrawn troops from the Gaza Strip's southern city of Khan Younis.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Sunday the military made the withdrawal to prepare for future missions, including operations in Rafah. Many displaced people are taking shelter in the southernmost district of the enclave.
US White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby had an interview with ABC News on Sunday. He said that, according to his understanding from the Israeli announcement, the withdrawal is about "rest and refit" for the troops who have been on the ground in southern Gaza for four months.
Kirby also told CBS News that although he cannot speak about what Israel will do with the troops after the rest and refit, the US government does not "support a major ground operation in Rafah."
An Israeli media report said negotiations would likely take place in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, on a halt to the fighting in Gaza and hostage release as early as Sunday night.
The Islamic group Hamas has said that it would send a delegation to Egypt on Sunday to negotiate a ceasefire, but it is unclear whether negotiators can find a compromise to overcome a deep division between the two sides. Hamas demands a permanent ceasefire while Israel aims to eliminate the Palestinian group.
Health authorities in Gaza say that as of Sunday, the death toll in the enclave had risen to 33,175 since Israel launched its military offensive last October.
Sunday marked six months since Hamas launched its attack on Israel.
Key words : Biden protect review
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240405_11/
Israel approves temporary opening of Erez crossing into Gaza, media say
Media reports say Israel's war cabinet has approved the temporary opening of the Erez border crossing to allow more humanitarian aid to be brought into the Gaza Strip.
The major Israeli media outlet Haaretz published a report on Friday. It said the government issued a statement saying the "increased assistance will prevent a humanitarian crisis and is essential to ensure the continuation of the fighting and achieve the objectives of the war."
The Erez crossing borders the northern part of the enclave.
Media outlets say this will be the border crossing's first opening since the fighting between Israel's forces and the Islamic group Hamas broke out in October of last year.
Israel reportedly decided to take the emergency step in response to a request from the United States.
On Thursday, US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by telephone about the situation in Gaza.
Biden warned Netanyahu that Washington could review its policies, if it does not see a change in Israel's responses, such as the country's efforts to protect civilians.
Humanitarian supplies have been transported through other crossings, such as the Rafah border crossing in southern Gaza. However, people in the north are suffering from a serious food shortage, as not enough aid has arrived, owing to Israel's inspections and other procedures.
Observers are now waiting to see when the Erez crossing will open and whether the opening will actually lead to an improvement in the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Key words : one-third
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240408_10/
UN says 35% of Gaza's buildings destroyed, damaged in Israel-Hamas conflict
A UN agency says satellite images show 35 percent of structures in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed or damaged since fighting broke out between Israel and Hamas last October.
The United Nations Satellite Centre compared images collected on February 29 with those taken before and after the start of the fighting.
The center says the analysis shows more than 88,000, or 35 percent, of the structures in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed or damaged.
More than one-third of the damage occurred during a period of just over one month from November 26. Around this time, Israel resumed military operations after a seven-day pause that started on November 24.
By governorate, the damage ratio is 51 percent in North Gaza, followed by Gaza, with 45 percent, and Khan Younis, with 44 percent.
Project Associate Professor Suzuki Hiroyuki of the University of Tokyo says the analysis shows the intensity of the fighting. He says it is causing far more extensive damage than the fighting from 2008 to 2009 and in 2014.
Suzuki says Israeli forces have been clearing land and continuing airstrikes on all parts of the Gaza Strip to pressure Hamas.
Suzuki adds that the global community's failure to stop Israel's military action has greatly disappointed people in Gaza and undermined their confidence in international norms and law. He says the global community must become actively involved in the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip after the fighting ends.
Key words : hachi
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240408_18/
Memorial event held for Hachiko the famously loyal dog
An annual memorial ceremony has been held for Hachiko, the famous Akita dog whose loyalty to his owner has been made into movies in Japan and abroad.
About 80 people attended the 89th edition of the event on Monday near the Hachiko statue just outside Tokyo's Shibuya Station.
Born in 1923, Hachiko waited for his owner to return from work each day at Shibuya Station even after he died.
Hachiko later died on March 8, 1935. A group of local businesses and a tourism association hold the memorial event every year one month after the day of his death to coincide with the cherry blossom season.
This year's participants included relatives of sculptor Ando Takeshi, who created the statue, and Shibuya Mayor Hasebe Ken.
A Shinto ritual was held as tourists looked on. The participants offered sprigs from a sacred tree and laid a flower wreath on the statue.
The sculptor's daughter Ando Junko says she is glad the ceremony was held when cherry trees are in full bloom.
She adds she hopes the statue will be a symbol of peace.
Key words : weather Jonathan Oh
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