2024年8月19日月曜日

at 18:00 (JST), August 19

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20240819180000_english_1.mp3


Key words : zelenskyy us think tank
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240819_04/

Zelenskyy: Operation in Russia's Kursk unfolding exactly as Ukraine expected

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says an operation by his country's military in Russia's western region of Kursk is unfolding exactly as Kyiv expected. But a US institute cautions that it is still premature to evaluate achievements in the incursion.

Zelenskyy referred to the cross-border offensive in a video address on Saturday. He said Ukrainian forces are reinforcing their positions and that the foothold of their presence is getting stronger.

But a US think tank, the Institute for the Study of War, said on Sunday that it is still "too early to assess the outcomes and operational significance" of the incursion.

But the institute says the offensive "has already generated theater-wide operational and strategic pressures on Russian forces."

It adds that "subsequent phases of fighting within Russia will likely generate even greater pressures" on President Vladimir Putin and the Russian military.

Meanwhile, Russia denied a media report that the incursion had derailed indirect talks between Moscow and Kyiv on halting strikes on their energy and power infrastructure.

Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Sunday that there were and are no such direct or indirect negotiations between the two sides on the matter.


Key words : permanent ceasefire biden
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240819_10/

Hamas, Israel still divided over Gaza deal

Hamas has criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying he is obstructing an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu is sticking to his hardline stance over the issue.

Israeli forces continued attacks across Gaza on Sunday. Local media reported that five people were killed in Nuseirat.

Hamas said in a statement on Sunday that it had been briefed on a deal discussed during two-day talks held in Qatar last week.

The statement says the new proposal responds to conditions set by Netanyahu, especially his rejection of a permanent ceasefire and a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

The statement also notes that Netanyahu set new conditions, including the continued occupation of the Rafah Crossing and other areas near the border with Egypt.

At a Cabinet meeting on Sunday, the Israeli prime minister said strong military and diplomatic pressure is the way to securing the release of Israeli hostages.

US President Joe Biden stressed his country's intention to continue its efforts to secure a deal. He said: "We're still underway. We're not giving up. Still possible."

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to meet Netanyahu on Monday. Blinken arrived in Israel on Sunday.


Key words : harris chicago eagerness
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240819_05/

Kamala Harris launches campaign bus tour across Pennsylvania

US Vice President Kamala Harris has embarked on a campaign bus tour across the eastern battleground state of Pennsylvania to win over voters in the November presidential election.

Harris visited Pittsburgh in western Pennsylvania on Sunday with her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

She shook hands and took photos with her supporters at an airport before boarding a bus bearing the names of Harris and Walz. She pledged in a speech that her team would fight for freedom and the middle class.

Harris held her first joint rally with Walz in Pennsylvania on August 6. Analysts say she has been seeking to show her eagerness to win the state in the election.

Former President Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, also stumped in Pennsylvania on Saturday.

The Democratic Party is due to open a national convention in Chicago in the Midwestern state of Illinois on Monday.


Key words : us and south
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240819_02/

US, S.Korea begin joint military exercise, N.Korea could take countermeasures

The US and South Korean militaries have started a joint exercise aimed at addressing possible emergencies on the Korean Peninsula. They are also on high alert, as North Korea could take countermeasures in protest.

The regular Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercise began in South Korea on Monday. It is scheduled to end on August 29.

This year's edition involves 48 field training sessions and multi-domain drills, including cyberdefense activities. One main focus of the exercise is to enhance the capability of the two militaries to deter and defend against North Korea's weapons of mass destruction.

South Korean media outlets say that, during the exercise, the government will for the first time conduct at least one drill designed to simulate a North Korean nuclear attack.

On Thursday, citizens will participate in a drill whereby they will practice evacuating in response to an air raid warning.

The North Korean Foreign Ministry's Institute for American Studies issued a statement on Sunday. It denounced the military activities as "war drills for aggression."

The statement said, "The more frequently the US and its vassal countries commit collective military provocations, the stronger the deterrence of justice for neutralizing the threat...will become."

In August of last year, North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles on the eve of the last day of the US and South Korea's joint exercise. Pyongyang said the firing was a response to air force drills carried out by the US and South Korea.


Key words : south reelected
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240819_01/

S.Korea main opposition party reelects critic of Yoon's Japan policies as leader

South Korea's largest opposition party has reelected as its leader a harsh critic of policies adopted by President Yoon Suk-yeol's administration toward Japan.

The Democratic Party held a national convention in the capital, Seoul, on Sunday. It announced Lee Jae-myung had won his second consecutive term at its helm with more than 85 percent of the vote.

Lee said people are frustrated to see what politicians are doing amid a mountain of issues that must be tackled urgently. He added that politicians' greatest responsibility is to safeguard people's lives and create hope. He also proposed a meeting between him and Yoon.

Lee narrowly lost to Yoon in the presidential election in 2022. He later became a member of parliament and went on to head the Democratic Party.

The party chalked up a landslide victory in the general election in April this year, gaining a majority of seats in the National Assembly.

Analysts say the party under Lee's leadership seems ready to maneuver against the Yoon administration, with an eye toward winning the presidential election in 2027.

Lee is facing trial on several charges. The allegations include allowing private developers to reap undue profits from a land development project while he was mayor of Seongnam.


Key words : bangladesh nhk
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240818_12/

Bangladesh interim government to seek reforms before an election, adviser says

An adviser to Bangladesh's interim government has told NHK that the country will hold an election after setting up a democratic system.

About 650 people were killed in clashes between protesters and police in the student-led demonstrations that recently spread across Bangladesh.

The interim government was inaugurated on August 8, three days after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced to step down.

Lawyer and environmental activist Syeda Rizwana Hasan says the protesters had demanded "to get the reforms done and then go to the election."

On environment policies, such as tackling air pollution and climate change, she said she is "very hopeful" that young people will come up with unique ideas as she has seen their creativity in the use of information technology and other fields.

The interim government headed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus has started to take measures against corruption and to ensure public safety. Student leaders are also participating in the interim government as advisers.


Key words : thailand ris
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240818_14/

Ex-PM Thaksin's daughter officially becomes new Thai prime minister

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, a daughter of former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, received a royal letter of endorsement on Sunday to officially become Thailand's youngest-ever prime minister at the age of 37.

Paetongtarn, the leader of the largest ruling party, Pheu Thai, was elected by Thailand's lower house on Friday to succeed former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. He was dismissed by the Constitutional Court, which said his appointment of a Cabinet member had violated the constitution's ethical standards.

Paetongtarn said in a speech at the inauguration ceremony attended by her father that she will listen to all opinions to take the country forward.

Pro-military conservative forces in the ruling coalition are believed to be opposing the political power Thaksin has gained since he returned to Thailand for the first time in 15 years last August.

Thaksin was sent to prison on charges including corruption, but complained of ill health.

He was freed on parole after the king reduced his eight-year sentence to one year. He was officially released after he received a royal pardon.

However, Paetongtarn is in for difficult maneuvering as conservatives are likely to keep forces close to her father in check.


Key words : philippine patrol
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240819_11/

China and the Phillipines at odds over vessel collision in South China Sea

China's coast guard says a Philippine patrol vessel has deliberately collided with a Chinese ship in the disputed South China Sea. The Philippine side criticized China, saying it had damaged its two vessels with unlawful, dangerous acts.

The China Coast Guard announced on Monday that patrol ships of the Philippine Coast Guard "illegally intruded" into waters near Sabina Shoal in the Spratly Islands.

Footage from the China Coast Guard shows a Chinese ship and a Philippine vessel sailing side by side. Details of how the collision occurred are not clear from the video. The coast guard says they filmed the footage early on Monday.

The Chinese authorities said one of the two Philippine ships had ignored China's repeated warnings before it collided with a Chinese coast guard vessel.

They warned the Philippine side to immediately stop provocations and infringing on China's sovereignty.

The China Coast Guard also said a Philippine patrol ship "illegally entered" waters around the Second Thomas Shoal, where there have been repeated confrontations.

The coast guard said the Philippine ship violated a provisional arrangement agreed in July between the countries to ease tensions.

The Philippine government said on Monday that two of its patrol vessels met with unlawful, dangerous maneuvers by Chinese ships during a mission of delivering supplies to military bases and other facilities. The coast guard says the Philippine ships sustained damage, including a hole on the deck of one ship. The government released a photo of the damage.

No other noticeable confrontations have been reported since the provisional arrangement was agreed last month. But there is concern that tensions may rise again between the two countries.


Key words : crippled remote control
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240819_12/

Sources: Fuel debris removal test at Fukushima plant to begin Thursday

Sources have told NHK that the operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant plans to start on Thursday a test retrieval of fuel debris from one of the reactors that suffered a meltdown in 2011.

The debris is a mixture of molten nuclear fuel and parts of the reactor structure.

It is estimated that there is a total of 880 tons of such debris in the No. 1, 2 and 3 reactors, which suffered meltdowns in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster.

The removal of fuel debris is said to be the most challenging step in decommissioning the damaged power plant because of extremely high levels of radiation, which hampers the work.
Tokyo Electric Power Company, also known as TEPCO, and the Japanese government plan to start the first test retrieval at the No. 2 reactor.

Last Friday, Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority issued a certificate, certifying safety, after conducting a pre-operation inspection.

TEPCO started a final on-site check on Monday. Sources say, if no problems are found, the operator plans to start the test on Thursday by putting a removal device into a pipe leading to the inside of the reactor containment vessel.

Most parts of the process are to be conducted through remote control. It is expected to take at least several days for the device to reach the bottom of the containment vessel, where the fuel debris exists. It is believed that it will be next week or later at the earliest that the debris will be taken to the outside of the vessel.

Whether the planned retrieval will be conducted smoothly is drawing attention as it was to begin in 2021 under the original plan.


Key words : yasukuni entrance
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240819_08/

Graffiti found at Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine again

Tokyo police are investigating yet another case of graffiti at Yasukuni Shrine in the capital.

The shrine honors Japan's war dead. Those remembered include leaders convicted of war crimes after World War Two.

Police say they received a report from a shrine staff member at around 3:50 a.m. on Monday saying there was graffiti on a stone pillar near a Torii gate at the main entrance.

Police officers went to the scene and found that the surface of a stone pillar with the name of the shrine inscribed on it as well as its base had been defaced with black marker ink in three spots each.

The police say the graffiti included characters resembling the Chinese word for "toilet," along with some alphabetic letters.

They are investigating the case on suspicion of damaging property.

In a similar incident in May, the same stone pillar was defaced with red paint.


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