Key words : baltic sea
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240423_11/
Swedish military holds first drill on Baltic Sea island since joining NATO
The Swedish military has held its first exercise on a key strategic point on the Baltic Sea since the country joined NATO last month. Sweden is strengthening its defenses amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
The exercise has been held on Gotland Island, and it was open to the media on Monday.
The island, which has a population of more than 60,000, is located at the center of the Baltic Sea and has been a key strategic point. It was occupied by Imperial Russia in the early 19th Century.
The island is also strategically important for NATO, which aims to defend the three Baltic countries nearby: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The three are all members of the alliance, and they have been increasing their vigilance of Russia.
The drill, which was designed to simulate a response to the landing of Russian troops on the island, involved about 200 Swedish soldiers stationed there. It included live-fire exercises and shelling drills involving tanks that are the same type as those that were given to Ukraine.
Lieutenant Colonel Andreas Lunde, who commanded the exercise, said he believes that the threat to Gotland is "multifaceted." He said possible military operations against the island could take shapes and forms that his side is not aware of.
He said the troops are finding that they are "a part of something vital for the nation and for the alliance." Lunde added that the soldiers are training hard.
On Tuesday, senior officials from the Swedish military and NATO are scheduled to discuss plans for future coordinated efforts on the island.
The two parties are expected to strengthen combat readiness.
Key words : united states withdraw
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240423_10/
US to withdraw troops from Niger, Pentagon press secretary says
The United States says it plans to withdraw its troops from the West African country of Niger where a military coup occurred last year.
The US has deployed about 1,100 troops in Niger as part of counterterrorism measures in the Sahel region, south of the Sahara Desert.
The forces have been tasked with monitoring activities of the Islamic State and other terrorist groups.
US Defense Department Press Secretary Pat Ryder told reporters on Monday that the US and Niger began discussions for the orderly withdrawal of US forces from the West African country.
Without mentioning the timing of the departure, Ryder said that the US will continue to explore options and how it can ensure that it is able to continue to address potential terrorist threats.
A unit of the Niger military removed President Mohamed Bazoum from power in a coup in July of last year, and formed a military government.
The country's relations with Western nations have since worsened while it has sought stronger ties with Russia.
The US withdrawal plan follows France's decision last year to pull its forces out of Niger.
Observers say that Russia will further increase its influence in the country.
Key words : independent evidence
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240423_08/
Review of UNRWA says Israel has yet to provide evidence of terrorism
A group leading a review of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, says Israel has yet to provide evidence to back its allegations that some of UNRWA's staff were involved in the October attack on Israel by Hamas.
The independent review group launched an investigation in February after the Israeli allegations prompted some donor countries to suspend their funding to the agency.
Former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna, who led the group, announced the release of its final report at a news conference on Monday.
The report says: "Israel made public claims that a significant number of UNRWA employees are members of terrorist organizations. However, Israel has yet to provide supporting evidence of this."
The report says, "UNRWA has established a significant number of mechanisms and procedures to ensure compliance with the humanitarian 5 principles, with emphasis on the principle of neutrality."
It also says that UNRWA possesses "a more developed approach to neutrality than other similar UN or NGO entities."
The report notes, however, that "despite this robust framework, neutrality-related issues persist." It proposes measures to address these issues, including enhanced internal oversight and training.
Colonna told reporters that in this critical time, UNRWA plays a vital role in the humanitarian assistance in Gaza.
She called on the international community to be side by side with the agency so that it can perform its mission.
Key words : taiwan 2:26 a.m. local time
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Key words : taiwan magnitude 6.3
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240423_06/
Magnitude 6.3 earthquake hits eastern Taiwan on Tuesday
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit eastern Taiwan early Tuesday morning.
Taiwan's Central Weather Administration said the quake struck near the eastern county of Hualien shortly after 2:30 a.m. local time.
The tremor registered an intensity of lower 5 in Hualien and 3 in Taipei, on Taiwan's seismic scale of zero to 7.
So far there have been no reports of damage.
Key words : north counterattack
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240423_09/
N.Korea says leader Kim oversaw drills involving 'super-large rocket launchers'
North Korea says its leader Kim Jong Un oversaw firing drills designed to simulate a nuclear counterattack on Monday, and it notes the exercise involved the use of "super-large rocket launchers."
On Tuesday, the ruling Workers' Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun published photos of rockets being fired from four mobile launchers. It says the 600 mm rockets hit a target island 352 kilometers away.
The super-large rocket is believed to be a short-range ballistic missile capable of carrying a tactical nuclear warhead.
South Korea's military says the North launched what appeared to be multiple short-range ballistic missiles from a site near Pyongyang on Monday.
North Korea says the firing drills are aimed at countering the joint training sessions that US and South Korean forces are holding at Kunsan Air Base. The facility in southwestern South Korea falls within the claimed range of the North Korean rockets.
Pyongyang also conducted a firing drill involving the super-large rocket launchers in March. After Monday's drill, Kim Jong Un reportedly praised the progress that is being made in the country's effort to build up its tactical nuclear attack capabilities.
Key words : hayashi short-range
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240422_28/
Japan says N.Korean missile likely fell outside EEZ
The Japanese government says it has submitted a complaint after North Korea launched at least one ballistic missile Monday afternoon. There are no reports of damage so far.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa says: "North Korea's actions threaten the peace and security of not only Japan and the region but also others in the international community. Ballistic missile launches violate UN Security Council resolutions and are a serious issue that affects people's safety. We lodged a strong protest and strongly condemned Pyongyang."
The defense ministry says the launch happened about 3 p.m. The missile flew northeast and is suspected to have fallen outside Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone in the Sea of Japan.
The ministry says the missile flew more than 250 kilometers with a maximum altitude of about 50 kilometers.
South Korea's military says the North fired what appeared to be multiple short-range ballistic missiles from near Pyongyang toward the Sea of Japan.
This is the fourth time the North has launched one or more ballistic missiles this year, and the first since April 2.
Key words : atomic energy fukushima
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240423_14/
IAEA task force begins 2nd review of Fukushima Daiichi treated water release
A team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency is visiting Japan to inspect the discharge of treated and diluted water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean.
The IAEA task force is conducting a safety review for the second time since the discharge operation began in August last year.
Experts from countries including the US, South Korea and China visited the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo on Tuesday.
They met officials from the industry ministry and Tokyo Electric Power Company, which manages the Fukushima plant.
IAEA coordinator Gustavo Caruso said the experts will visit the Fukushima Daiichi plant to follow up on technical topics that are important for safety.
He said, "This independent, objective and science-based approach will help build confidence" in Japan and beyond.
The task force members are due to stay in Japan until Friday. They plan to see the water discharge process and meet officials from the Nuclear Regulation Authority and other organizations.
The Fukushima Daiichi plant suffered a triple meltdown in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
Water used to cool molten fuel has been mixing with rain and groundwater. The accumulated water is being treated to remove most radioactive substances, but still contains tritium.
Before releasing the treated water into the ocean, the plant's operator dilutes it to reduce the tritium levels to about one-seventh of the World Health Organization's guidance level for drinking water.
Key words : yamaguchi
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240423_17/
Feasibility survey begins for western Japan nuclear fuel storage facility
A Japanese utility has begun a feasibility survey in Kaminoseki Town in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, to examine whether a local site is geologically suitable for building a facility to temporarily store spent nuclear fuel.
Chugoku Electric Power Company announced its plan to conduct the study last August. It began the work on Tuesday morning.
The survey is scheduled to last about six months and will see boring at 11 locations within the utility's compound. By examining the local geology to as deep as 300 meters, the company plans to check whether the area's geological features and foundations are fit for the construction of the facility.
Chugoku Electric Power had already been conducting a documentary survey and had made preparations for boring.
The utility's feasibility study is being conducted jointly with Kansai Electric Power Company. If it leads to construction, the temporary storage facility will be the second in Japan.
Meanwhile, opponents of the construction protested in front of the compound's entrance. The leader of the group said they are angry and frustrated that the survey has started while the project seems questionable.
He referred to Chugoku Electric Power's reported plan to allow spent nuclear fuel held by Kansai Electric Power to be brought to the interim facility.
Key words : learned drug
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240423_12/
Six nabbed in Japan for smuggling stimulants hidden in conveyor belt rollers
NHK has learned that six people have been arrested in Japan for allegedly smuggling stimulants from Mexico by hiding the drugs in small machinery shipments.
The six include a senior member of a yakuza gang affiliated with the Sumiyoshi-kai syndicate.
Investigative sources say they allegedly smuggled about 15 kilograms of stimulants last June for commercial purposes. The contraband reportedly has a street value of 940 million yen, or about 6 million dollars.
The sources say customs authorities found the stimulants hidden in rollers of imported small conveyor belts at Narita International Airport. They say investigators suspect a Mexican drug cartel is involved.
Police and narcotic control agents say there have been a growing number of cases in which illegal drugs are smuggled into the country hidden in machinery imports.
Key words : china heavy rain
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240423_03/
At least 4 dead in southern China as heavy rain triggers flooding and landslides
Heavy rain in southern China has caused flooding and mudslides, reportedly leaving at least four people dead.
The rain started last week in the southern province of Guangdong. The state-run Xinhua news agency said 10 other people are missing.
Footage from state-run China Central Television showed a residential area hit by a torrent of muddy floodwaters, a large swath of land that was flooded, and rescued residents evacuating buildings by boat.
Other footage showed mudslides along the slopes of mountains, with piles of debris and mud near buildings.
Chinese weather officials warn of more flooding and landslides, saying heavy rain will continue for several more days in the province.
Key words : world weather Jonathan Oh
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