Public prosecutors in Tokyo have searched the head offices of 2 construction giants, Kajima and Shimizu Corporations in a probe into a bid-rigging scandal.
Japan's defense minister has called on the US Navy to do all it can to ensure the safety of its aircraft and prevent further incidents.
A senior US military official has apologized to an elementary school in the southern Japanese prefecture of Okinawa for the latest incident involving a US military helicopter.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20171218200000_english_1.mp3
Key words : prosecutor
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20171218_11/
Public prosecutors in Tokyo are searching the head offices of 2 construction giants, Kajima and Shimizu Corporations in a probe into a bid-rigging scandal involving a maglev train project.
The prosecutors launched the raid jointly with the Fair Trade Commission on Monday morning.
They suspect that executives from Kajima, Shimizu and 2 other general contractors had discussed how they would split up the contracts in advance of bidding in violation of the anti-monopoly law.
Consortiums of the 4 firms have won nearly 70 percent of contracts involved in building the ultra-high speed train line with each securing an almost equal number.
The maglev train line is being built by the Central Japan Railway Corporation or JR Tokai. The initial target for starting operations between Tokyo and Nagoya is set for 2027. The line is planned to eventually extend to Osaka.
The prosecutors launched the raid jointly with the Fair Trade Commission on Monday morning.
They suspect that executives from Kajima, Shimizu and 2 other general contractors had discussed how they would split up the contracts in advance of bidding in violation of the anti-monopoly law.
Consortiums of the 4 firms have won nearly 70 percent of contracts involved in building the ultra-high speed train line with each securing an almost equal number.
The maglev train line is being built by the Central Japan Railway Corporation or JR Tokai. The initial target for starting operations between Tokyo and Nagoya is set for 2027. The line is planned to eventually extend to Osaka.
Key words : defense called on aircraft
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20171218_19/
Japan's defense minister has called on the US Navy to do all it can to ensure the safety of its aircraft and prevent further accidents.
Itsunori Onodera met the chief of naval operations, Admiral John Richardson, on Monday.
Last Wednesday, the window of a CH-53 helicopter dropped onto the grounds of an elementary school in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan. The school is located next to the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station.
Onodera told Richardson that the accident left the children feeling terrified and insecure, and that it should never have happened. He called for thorough measures to prevent a recurrence.
Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga has criticized the US military's plan to resume flights of the same type of helicopter soon. He said the US military is not a good neighbor.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Onaga said Japan's state minister of defense and the Prime Minister's Office apparently expressed some degree of support when he lodged a strong protest with them.
But Onaga said he doesn't believe the government is capable of dealing with the issue responsibly.
The governor said his prefecture is in a very tough spot, but must persevere.
Itsunori Onodera met the chief of naval operations, Admiral John Richardson, on Monday.
Last Wednesday, the window of a CH-53 helicopter dropped onto the grounds of an elementary school in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan. The school is located next to the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station.
Onodera told Richardson that the accident left the children feeling terrified and insecure, and that it should never have happened. He called for thorough measures to prevent a recurrence.
Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga has criticized the US military's plan to resume flights of the same type of helicopter soon. He said the US military is not a good neighbor.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Onaga said Japan's state minister of defense and the Prime Minister's Office apparently expressed some degree of support when he lodged a strong protest with them.
But Onaga said he doesn't believe the government is capable of dealing with the issue responsibly.
The governor said his prefecture is in a very tough spot, but must persevere.
Key words : senior US
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20171218_18/
A senior US military official has apologized to an elementary school in the southern Japanese prefecture of Okinawa for the latest incident involving a US military helicopter.
A window fell from a CH-53 helicopter into the yard of the elementary school in Ginowan city on Wednesday. Police say the 8-kilogram window landed just 10 meters from where some students were exercising.
US Marine Colonel Darin Clarke visited the school on Monday and met with its principal.
An education board official who was present at the 40-minute, closed-door meeting said Clarke expressed regret and apologized for causing great distress.
The official said the colonel explained that thorough safety checks and crew training had been carried out, and that flights over the school will be avoided as much as possible.
The principal said the words "as much as possible" are not enough to ensure the safety of the children. She requested a document stating that no flights will take place over the school.
On Monday, the assembly of Kadena town, which hosts a US air base, unanimously adopted a resolution demanding a suspension of flights of the same type of helicopter until the cause is determined and measures to prevent recurrences are in place.
More than 10 municipal assemblies in Okinawa have adopted similar resolutions.
A window fell from a CH-53 helicopter into the yard of the elementary school in Ginowan city on Wednesday. Police say the 8-kilogram window landed just 10 meters from where some students were exercising.
US Marine Colonel Darin Clarke visited the school on Monday and met with its principal.
An education board official who was present at the 40-minute, closed-door meeting said Clarke expressed regret and apologized for causing great distress.
The official said the colonel explained that thorough safety checks and crew training had been carried out, and that flights over the school will be avoided as much as possible.
The principal said the words "as much as possible" are not enough to ensure the safety of the children. She requested a document stating that no flights will take place over the school.
On Monday, the assembly of Kadena town, which hosts a US air base, unanimously adopted a resolution demanding a suspension of flights of the same type of helicopter until the cause is determined and measures to prevent recurrences are in place.
More than 10 municipal assemblies in Okinawa have adopted similar resolutions.
Key words : local authorities
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20171218_22/
Local authorities in northern Japan are urging the central government to help them deal with an increasing number of boats presumably from North Korea washing ashore in their prefectures.
Hokkaido Governor Harumi Takahashi made the emergency request to land minister Keiichi Ishii on Monday, on behalf of a group of governors.
The group wants the government to increase financial support for the disposal of wooden boats and other related costs.
It's also asking for tougher measures against illegal operations in Japanese waters, including through diplomatic talks and the seizure of boats.
The governor of Hokkaido told reporters that she received specific explanations about Tokyo's response, and that things were moving forward gradually.
Japan's Coast Guard has confirmed 89 cases of wooden boats or vessel parts, presumably from North Korea, washed up ashore or found drifting in Japanese waters so far this year. That's the highest number in 5 years.
Hokkaido Governor Harumi Takahashi made the emergency request to land minister Keiichi Ishii on Monday, on behalf of a group of governors.
The group wants the government to increase financial support for the disposal of wooden boats and other related costs.
It's also asking for tougher measures against illegal operations in Japanese waters, including through diplomatic talks and the seizure of boats.
The governor of Hokkaido told reporters that she received specific explanations about Tokyo's response, and that things were moving forward gradually.
Japan's Coast Guard has confirmed 89 cases of wooden boats or vessel parts, presumably from North Korea, washed up ashore or found drifting in Japanese waters so far this year. That's the highest number in 5 years.
Key words : US transporter
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20171218_04/
A US freight transporter has reached the International Space Station ahead of the arrival of another vehicle, which is carrying 3 crewmembers, including a Japanese astronaut.
The cargo ship Dragon arrived at the ISS at around 13:30 UTC on Sunday.
It contains, among other items, samples and equipment that will be used by Japanese astronaut Norishige Kanai to conduct experiments on the orbiting outpost.
Kanai will carry out an experiment that is expected to help shed more light on the mechanisms of Alzheimer's and other diseases. He will also study the ways in which weightlessness, radiation, and other space conditions affect the human body.
The Russian spacecraft Soyuz lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 7:21 UTC on Sunday. It is scheduled to reach the ISS at 8:43 UTC on Tuesday.
Kanai will stay on the ISS for about 6 months.
The cargo ship Dragon arrived at the ISS at around 13:30 UTC on Sunday.
It contains, among other items, samples and equipment that will be used by Japanese astronaut Norishige Kanai to conduct experiments on the orbiting outpost.
Kanai will carry out an experiment that is expected to help shed more light on the mechanisms of Alzheimer's and other diseases. He will also study the ways in which weightlessness, radiation, and other space conditions affect the human body.
The Russian spacecraft Soyuz lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 7:21 UTC on Sunday. It is scheduled to reach the ISS at 8:43 UTC on Tuesday.
Kanai will stay on the ISS for about 6 months.
Key words : Insight experiment Kanai
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Key words : gold mineral
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Key words : latest trade
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20171218_15/
Japan's latest trade data shows the trade balance in November was in the black for the 6th month in a row, logging a surplus of about 1 billion dollars.
Exports to China grew sharply to more than 12 billion dollars, marking a new high for the second consecutive month.
The Finance Ministry says exports grew to more than 61 billion dollars. That's a surge of over 16 percent year-on-year in yen terms.
This was due to larger shipments of Japanese cars to the US.
Meanwhile, imports grew more than 17 percent to over 60 billion dollars. That's on the back of higher crude oil prices. Japan also bought more cell phones from China.
Concerning the United States, Japan's trade balance expanded for the 5th straight month to a surplus of nearly 5.9 billion dollars. Besides cars, Japan shipped more excavators to the US.
US President Donald Trump has expressed concern about America's growing trade deficit with Japan.
Concerning exports to China, ministry officials say demand for Japanese semiconductors is on the rise especially for automobiles, and devices that are equipped with the increasingly popular technology known as IoT, or Internet of Things.
They also say robust shipments of LCD panels for TVs may be behind the growing exports to China.
Exports to China grew sharply to more than 12 billion dollars, marking a new high for the second consecutive month.
The Finance Ministry says exports grew to more than 61 billion dollars. That's a surge of over 16 percent year-on-year in yen terms.
This was due to larger shipments of Japanese cars to the US.
Meanwhile, imports grew more than 17 percent to over 60 billion dollars. That's on the back of higher crude oil prices. Japan also bought more cell phones from China.
Concerning the United States, Japan's trade balance expanded for the 5th straight month to a surplus of nearly 5.9 billion dollars. Besides cars, Japan shipped more excavators to the US.
US President Donald Trump has expressed concern about America's growing trade deficit with Japan.
Concerning exports to China, ministry officials say demand for Japanese semiconductors is on the rise especially for automobiles, and devices that are equipped with the increasingly popular technology known as IoT, or Internet of Things.
They also say robust shipments of LCD panels for TVs may be behind the growing exports to China.
Key words : British
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20171218_20/
British scientists say they have created what they believe is the world's smallest Christmas card. They say it is so tiny that over 200 million cards could fit into a single, standard postage stamp.
The card was created by researchers from the National Physical Laboratory, the UK's measurement institute in London. The NPL is known for its development of advanced materials and pioneering research of semiconductors.
The NPL says each page of the Christmas card measures 15 micrometers wide and 20 micrometers tall. One micrometer is a millionth of a meter.
The NPL says the card is 10 times smaller than the previous smallest card. This was made by engineers from the University of Glasgow in the UK 7 years ago.
The NPL says the new card was made on a platinum-coated silicon nitride and was illustrated using a focused ion beam.
The card's front cover features a snowman, above the words "seasons greetings."
One of the card's inventors, David Cox, said they are using the tools that created the card to accurately measure the thickness of extremely small features in materials. He said this will help to unlock new battery and semiconductor technologies.
The card was created by researchers from the National Physical Laboratory, the UK's measurement institute in London. The NPL is known for its development of advanced materials and pioneering research of semiconductors.
The NPL says each page of the Christmas card measures 15 micrometers wide and 20 micrometers tall. One micrometer is a millionth of a meter.
The NPL says the card is 10 times smaller than the previous smallest card. This was made by engineers from the University of Glasgow in the UK 7 years ago.
The NPL says the new card was made on a platinum-coated silicon nitride and was illustrated using a focused ion beam.
The card's front cover features a snowman, above the words "seasons greetings."
One of the card's inventors, David Cox, said they are using the tools that created the card to accurately measure the thickness of extremely small features in materials. He said this will help to unlock new battery and semiconductor technologies.
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