at 20:00 (JST), July 31 AS

Officials at the Bank of Japan have decided to continue their massive monetary easing policy in a bid to achieve a 2-percent inflation target.

Japan and the US have set the date for a new round of trade talks for the aim of establishing a framework for free, fair, and reciprocal trade.

The Washington Post newspaper says US spy agencies are seeing signs that North Korea is producing new intercontinental ballistic missiles.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20180731200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : official bank of Japan negative
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180731_25/

Officials at the Bank of Japan have decided to continue their massive easing policy in a bid to achieve a 2-percent inflation target. But they have partially modified their policy by allowing some gains in the yield of the benchmark 10-year government bond.

The move is aimed at limiting some negative effects of their strategy such as lower profits at financial institutions.

The BOJ's target yield for the benchmark has been set at around zero percent.

The policymakers said in their statement that "the yield may move upward and downward to some extent mainly depending on developments in economic activity and prices."

The BOJ will maintain its negative-rate policy for short-term rates. And it will continue to buy government bonds so that the outstanding balance will increase at an annual pace of about 80 trillion yen, or 700 billion dollars.

The officials have also revised their inflation outlooks downward. They lowered their forecast for this fiscal year to 1.1 percent from1.3 percent and for next year to 1.5 percent from 1.8 percent.

Key words : Japan and the US
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180731_29/

Japan and the US have set the date for a new round of trade talks. Officials from the 2 countries will work to establish a framework for what they call "free, fair, and reciprocal" trade.

The first meeting is to be held on August 9th in Washington.

The talks will be co-chaired by Japanese Economic Revitalization Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.

In a Senate hearing last week, Lighthizer expressed a strong desire to start talks with Japan aimed at reaching a bilateral Free Trade Agreement.

Japanese officials are concerned that Washington will step up its demands for Japan to buy more American cars and farm products.

The officials plan to keep stressing Japan's commitment to multilateral trade, but they are likely to face tough negotiations.

Japan and 10 other countries are working to put the Trans-Pacific Partnership into effect.

The US withdrew from the free-trade pact soon after President Trump took office.

Key words : nation export cars
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180731_14/

Nations that export cars and car parts to the US are gathering to discuss looming American auto tariffs.
The group includes Japan and the European Union, as well as Canada and Mexico.

The vice-ministerial talks will take place on Tuesday in Geneva, Switzerland. Officials are expected to look at how to keep the US from raising levies. The Trump administration says it's considering the move due to national security threats.

Officials at the meeting are also likely to mull retaliatory measures against the US based on World Trade Organization rules.

Japanese officials also plan to consult with their European Union counterparts about the details of last week's summit between the EU and the US.

Japan is preparing for an upcoming meeting with the United States as early as August. The two sides plan to discuss so-called "free, fair, and reciprocal" trade.

Key words : government nuclear energy
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180731_28/

Japan's government commission on nuclear energy has decided to reduce the country's stockpile of plutonium.

Japan has been promoting a program to recycle plutonium extracted from spent nuclear fuel.

In principle it does not possess plutonium whose purpose is unclear, because the material can be used for nuclear weapons.

But the unused stockpile keeps growing. Japan now has 47 tons of plutonium at home and abroad. If the fuel reprocessing plant at Rokkasho Village in the northern prefecture of Aomori is completed as scheduled in 2021, it will produce up to 7 tons of plutonium annually. This has heightened international concern.

The Atomic Energy Commission on Tuesday revised its guidelines on plutonium use for the first time in 15 years, stipulating that the stockpile will be reduced.

Japan currently uses plutonium for mixed oxide fuel for nuclear power plants. Under the revised guidelines, reprocessing plants are obliged to produce only the amount necessary, and what's produced must be used up. Power companies will be asked to cooperate in using and reducing plutonium.

Plutonium used for research and development, as in the Monju fast-breeder reactor, could be disposed of if there's no plan for what to do with it.

Commission chief Yoshiaki Oka said Japan must avoid being seen as stockpiling plutonium, amid global efforts toward nuclear nonproliferation. He stressed the need to specify how plutonium is used.

Key words : Washington Post
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180731_18/

The Washington Post says US spy agencies are seeing signs that North Korea is producing new intercontinental ballistic missiles at a plant on the outskirts of Pyongyang.

The leading US daily published the report in its online edition on Monday, citing officials familiar with intelligence information.

It says satellite photos taken in recent weeks and other evidence suggest ongoing work on "at least one and possibly 2" liquid-fueled ICBMs at the plant in Sanumdong.

It says North Korea used the same factory in the past to produce the Hwasong-15, an ICBM that is said to be capable of reaching as far as the US East Coast.

The report says the findings are the latest to show that activity continues inside the North's nuclear and missile facilities, even after the June summit between the United States and North Korea.

US President Donald Trump maintains that talks with North Korea are progressing smoothly, following his meeting with the North's leader Kim Jong Un.

But US media are raising doubts over Pyongyang's commitment to denuclearization. Recent reports said the North runs a covert site in the suburbs of Pyongyang to produce weapons-grade enriched uranium.

Key words : Insight significant of new law philippine
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Key words : south presidential
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180731_24/

South Korea's presidential office says a top Chinese Communist Party official in charge of foreign relations secretly visited South Korea in mid-July.

The office revealed on Tuesday that Yang Jiechi, a Political Bureau member of China's Communist Party, met the head of South Korea's National Security Office, Chung Eui-yong.

The presidential office explained that they discussed in a friendly atmosphere issues of shared concern including improving bilateral relations that chilled over South Korea's deployment of the US THAAD missile defense system.

After the meeting, Chung traveled to the United States.

Last week, China's Assistant Foreign Minister in charge of Korean Peninsula affairs Kong Xuanyou visited North Korea and met with Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho.

These developments have fed speculation that Yang and Chung discussed the possibility of China's involvement in declaring a formal end to the Korean War.

The leaders of South and North Korea agreed at their summit in April to declare the war's end by the end of this year.

Key words : myanmar floods
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180731_32/

In Myanmar, monsoons have caused flooding across the country, leaving 25 people dead. The rising waters have also forced about 120 thousand to evacuate.

Heavy rains have been ravaging large areas of Myanmar with floods since June, cutting off highways and destroying bridges.

The damage in the Bago region outside of Yangon and in the southern state of Mon is particularly severe.

Government officials say it's the worst disaster the country has seen in 5 decades. They're continuing to warn residents to evacuate as the strong rain is likely to continue.

Key words : heat continue
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180731_20/

Sweltering heat continues across Japan, sending temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius in many areas before noon on Tuesday.

The Meteorological Agency says a high pressure system and clear skies are the cause of the heat. It says in the Sea of Japan coastal areas, a phenomenon known as foehn - hot, dry winds that blow down over mountains - is intensifying the heat.

By 11:30 AM on Tuesday, the thermometer had risen to 36.3 degrees Celsius in Oda City, Shimane Prefecture, and 35.3 degrees in Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture, Toyooka City in Hyogo Prefecture, and Tottori City in Tottori Prefecture. All are near the Sea of Japan in western Japan.

Tuesday's highs are forecast to reach 38 degrees Celsius in Tottori City and 37 degrees in Aizu-wakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture in northeastern Japan.

The agency warns people to keep well hydrated, use air-conditioners appropriately and brace for heat stroke.

The Fire Disaster Management Agency said about 13,000 people were hospitalized in the week until Sunday, of whom 39 died.

More than 57,500 people have already been taken to hospital this year with heatstroke, topping the figure for the whole of last year.

Key words : Nomura do his best
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180731_19/

Kyogen actor Nomura Mansai, the newly appointed chief director of ceremonies for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, says he wants the Games to be simple but full of Japanese spirit.

Recovery is an underlying theme of the 2020 Games, which were planned as the Tohoku region was recovering from the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster.

Nomura said he would do his best not to disgrace what have been dubbed the "Reconstruction Olympics". He and 2 others who will be directing and arranging the opening and closing ceremonies spoke to reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday.

Nomura said he will be motivated partly from the viewpoint of "noh" and "kyogen" plays, so the repose of souls and revival will be significant aspects in the ceremonies.

Film director Takashi Yamazaki will be in charge of the Olympic ceremonies. He said he plans to emphasize ways of expression that are possible only in Japan and on messages that Japan can communicate now.

He said it would be great if visitors can enjoy various performances and feel good that they were able to come.

Creative director Hiroshi Sasaki will be responsible for the Paralympic ceremonies. He said after all the excitement at the Olympics he will aim for another climax at the Paralympics. He said he wants the event to be enjoyable and useful.

The team is expected to decide on a mutual concept for the 4 ceremonies. They will also think about original stories and performances for each ceremony, the design of the Olympic flame cauldron and how it will be lit.