at 20:00 (JST), December 31 AS

The Tokyo District Court on Monday approved prosecutors' request to detain former Nissan Motor chairman Carlos Ghosn for an additional 10 days.

Russia's President expressed his hope to continue constructive dialogue with Japan and wide-ranging fields and a message to Japan's Prime Minister.

エラー 2042

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20181231200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : Tokyo district approved suspect
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181231_12/

The Tokyo District Court on Monday approved prosecutors' request to detain former Nissan Motor chairman Carlos Ghosn for a further 10 days.

He will remain in custody until January 11th.

Ghosn was served a fresh arrest warrant on December 21st on allegations of aggravated breach of trust.

Tokyo prosecutors suspect that Ghosn had a Nissan subsidiary illicitly pay some 15 million dollars to the firm of a Saudi acquaintance who helped him obtain a credit guarantee to deal with personal investment losses.

Ghosn was initially arrested on allegations of underreporting his pay.

On December 20th, the Tokyo court made a rare decision to reject prosecutors' request to extend his detention over charges of falsifying financial reports.

Ghosn's lawyer said the former Nissan chairman denies the allegation of aggravated breach of trust. The lawyer quotes him as saying he did not cause any damage to the automaker.

Key words : Russia express
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181231_01/

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he hopes constructive dialogue with Japan will continue in wide-ranging fields. Putin expressed his hope in a message to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The Russian Presidential Office announced on Sunday that Putin has sent his New Year's messages to world leaders including Japan, the United States, and China.

In his message to Abe, Putin expressed hopes for an expansion of the legal foundation to facilitate bilateral cooperation, and for implementation of joint economic projects the two nations are planning in the Russian Far East.

Putin and Abe agreed last month that the two countries should accelerate negotiations on a peace treaty based on a 1956 joint declaration.
The declaration says Moscow will hand over to Japan two of the four Russian-held islands after a peace treaty has been signed.

The Japanese government maintains all four islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory. It says they were illegally occupied after World War Two.

Putin is due to meet with Abe in Russia in January.

Observers say Putin is looking for bilateral dialogue on political and economic issues. They say he is also looking for continued dialogue with Japanese leaders on international issues as Japan is to host the G20 summit next June.

Putin also sent a message to US President Donald Trump. He told Trump that a constructive dialogue between the two countries is especially needed to strengthen strategic stability in the world.
Putin called on Washington to enter talks that would lead to nuclear disarmament. Earlier in 2018, the US government expressed its intention to scrap the INF, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

Key words : survey in the United States
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181231_07/

A survey in the United States has found that 14 percentage points fewer Americans than last year think the Japan-US Security agreement should be maintained.

An American firm appointed by Japan's Foreign Ministry conducted the telephone survey in March this year.

1,057 people aged 18 or older answered questions.

87 percent said they trust Japan, an increase of 5 points from last year. 69 percent said the bilateral relationship is "very good" or "good," an increase of 7 points.

While 90 percent of respondents said the security pact is "important" or "very important," an increase of 3 points, only 68 percent said "yes" when asked whether the pact should be kept. That's down by 14 points from last year.

Ministry officials say President Donald Trump's comment that US allies are not paying enough for security may have affected sentiment.

Key words : China says
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181231_02/

China says it stands ready to work with the United States to implement the consensus reached between the two country's leaders. It says it seeks to expand cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit in the face of new challenges.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang released a statement on Sunday as the country is to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties with Washington on January 1st.

Lu said China-US ties have not only delivered huge benefits to the two peoples but also contributed to peace, stability, and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region and the world.

He added the two sides should view each other's strategic intentions in a rational and objective manner, step up strategic communications, enhance strategic mutual trust and avoid strategic misjudgment. Lu was apparently mindful of the recent trade friction between the two countries.

The spokesperson also said the two sides should properly manage differences in an effort to avoid disturbing the general picture of bilateral ties.

State-run Xinhua news agency has reported President Xi Jinping conveyed his wishes for better relations in his phone conversation with President Donald Trump on Saturday. Xi referred to the upcoming anniversary and expressed his wishes for further exchanges.

Key words : key gauge
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181231_14/

A key gauge of China's manufacturing sector fell for the fourth straight month in December.

Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Monday shows that the official Purchasing Managers' Index, or PMI, fell to 49.4. A figure under 50 indicates contraction instead of growth.

The December figure is down 0.6 points from November, and is the first contraction since July 2016.

The PMI for new export orders fell to 46.6, marking a contraction for the seventh straight month.

Investment in infrastructure, which has been the main engine of China's growth, is stagnant. Sales of new cars this year are expected to be below last year's figure. That would be the first year-on-year decline in 28 years.

The figures show that the economic outlook among manufacturers in China is increasingly bleak against the backdrop of ongoing trade friction with the United States.

Key words : cyber newspaper
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181231_09/

A cyberattack on the operations of a major US newspaper has caused delivery delays, prompting the Department of Homeland Security to look into the situation.

The information and printing system of the Los Angeles Times has been disrupted since Thursday night. It meant some content could not be sent to printing plants.

The Los Angeles Times was not delivered in some areas, while the Chicago Tribune and a newspaper in Florida were also hit as they use the same system.

The Los Angeles Times wrote that the attack is likely to have come from outside the United States. It reported that the attack came in the form of malware.

Other US media pointed to the possible involvement of a North Korean hacker team called "Lazarus Group," which is known to have previously used the same malware.

The Los Angeles Times told NHK on Sunday that the system outage has not yet been completely resolved.

Key words : bangladesh secured
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181231_10/

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has secured a fourth term after her ruling party clinched a landslide victory in Sunday's general election.

The country's election commission announced on Monday that Hasina's Awami League had won 259 of the contested 300 seats in parliament. The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, or BNP, won 5 seats.

Hasina told reporters on Sunday that she believes the people will support the government's development projects.

She expressed her intention to push ahead with the support of other countries to achieve further economic growth.

Meanwhile, the opposition alliance led by BNP has issued a statement demanding a fresh vote. It claims Sunday's polls were rigged.

The opposition camp also accuses the ruling party of persecuting its members. It says police have detained over 11,000 opposition members since November.

Authorities say at least 13 people were killed and more than 200 injured in clashes between government and opposition supporters on Sunday.

Further violence is feared following the announcement of the election results.

Key words : vote-counting Congo
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181231_05/

Vote-counting is underway after a presidential election in the Democratic Republic of Congo. But machine glitches and torrential rain have disrupted voting at multiple stations in the central African nation.

Voters cast ballots on Sunday to choose a successor to President Joseph Kabila, who has been in power for 17 years.

Many Congolese had hoped it would be their first time to cast their ballots to peacefully elect a new leader since the country's independence from Belgium in 1960.

The country has suffered through a checkered history of assassinations of leaders, coups and civil wars.

As balloting continues, lengthy delays were reported at some polling stations due to the malfunctioning of newly-introduced voting machines.

Former interior minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, who was backed by President Kabila faced several opposition candidates.

Clashes continue between opposition supporters and security forces that are largely under Kabila's control.

The unrest could intensify as Shadary and two main opposition rivals failed to reach an agreement on accepting the election results.

The outcome of the vote counting is expected to be known in early January.

Key words : Afghan election
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181231_04/

The Afghan election commission says it will postpone the country's presidential election by three months.

The Independent Election Commission announced on Sunday that presidential polls will be held on July 20 instead of the originally scheduled April 20. It cited poor preparation and a lack of funds as reasons. The presidential race is held every five years.

Security has been deteriorating in Afghanistan. When Lower House elections were held in October after having been put off for as long as three years, numerous accusations of voting irregularities were voiced in some states. The elections results have not been announced in those states.

Peace talks have been going on since July between the US government, which stations its military in the country and anti-government Taliban militants.

Observers say the delay reflects the Afghan government's decision to watch how the peace talks play out first.

Key words : Japanese government improve
#N/A


Key words : Tokyo official calling on
#N/A

at 20:00 (JST), December 30 AS

The Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement that involves Japan and 10 other nations has taken effect.

エラー 2042

Geological authorities in Indonesia say a volcano that erupted earlier this month and apparently triggered a deadly tsunami is now one-third of its pre-eruption size.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20181230200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : free trade
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181230_02/

The Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement that involves Japan and 10 other nations has taken effect.

The TPP came into force on Sunday, Japan time, after a required majority of the 11 countries ratified it.

The deal creates a huge free economic zone, which covers a market of 500 million people and accounts for 13 percent of global GDP.

The TPP standardizes rules on investment and services in a broad range of fields. It also phases out tariffs on agricultural and industrial products.

The Japanese government sees the trade deal as an important step toward spreading free and fair rules around the world amid protectionist policies by the US government. The US withdrew from the TPP.

The Japanese government plans to actively expand the TPP membership. It hopes to begin concrete talks in a ministerial-level meeting in Japan on January 19th.

Other than the TPP, there are other trade pacts the Japanese government is looking forward to.

The Economic Partnership Agreement between Japan and the European Union is due to go into effect in February.

16 Asia-Pacific countries are aiming to complete a deal on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, by the end of 2019. They include Japan, China and India.

Key words : South Korea North Korea expressing
#N/A


Key words : voters casting
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181230_14/

Voters in Bangladesh are casting their ballots in a general election on Sunday. The opposition alliance is accusing the ruling party of persecuting its members.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was among the voters. Her ruling Awami League is being challenged by the opposition alliance led by former prime minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party, or BNP.

Hasina expressed confidence that her party will achieve victory. She said she believes the people will support the government's development projects.

The Awami League is highlighting an annual economic growth rate of more than seven percent under Hasina's administration.

The party is appealing for voters' support by pledging to win more aid projects from Japan and other countries.

The BNP says more than 11,000 party activists have been detained by police since November.

Zia, who has been jailed for corruption, called on her supporters to vote to restore democracy.

In 2016, Islamic extremists killed 22 people, including seven Japanese, in an attack in Dhaka. The government has intensified its crackdown on extremists and increased the pressure on opposition parties.

Results are expected on Monday.

Key words : geological Indonesia triggered
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181230_12/

Geological authorities in Indonesia say a volcano that erupted earlier this month and apparently triggered a deadly tsunami is now one-third of its pre-eruption size.

The eruptions of Anak Krakatau volcano is believed to have triggered the tsunami. 431 people have been confirmed dead, and 15 others are still missing.

Experts say an influx of massive amounts of earth and sand from the volcano into the sea likely caused the tsunami. Analysis of satellite images by Japan's Geospatial Information Authority suggest the possibility that much of the volcano collapsed .

Geological authorities in Indonesia say the volcano is now 110 meters high, compared with 338 meters before the eruption.

Anak Krakatau is still active. The government is urging people affected by the tsunami to stay away from the coastline.

Key words : year-end traveler
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181230_10/

Year-end travelers heading for their hometowns or for vacation spots are expected to fill airports and train stations.

Airline officials say that almost all domestic flights departing Tokyo's Haneda Airport are fully reserved.

Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways officials say they expect to be on schedule on Sunday but heavy snow may affect flights in and out of northern areas of Japan such as Hokkaido and Tohoku.

They recommend travelers to check their websites for the latest information.

Japan Railway companies say reserved seats on Shinkansen bullet trains out of Tokyo are fully booked.

Motorways are already congested with cars heading out of Tokyo.

Key words : giant rice
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181230_11/

A giant rice cake has been placed at a shrine north of Tokyo to pray for a good harvest and the safety of the region in the coming year.

People in the town of Takanezawa, Tochigi Prefecture, observe the ritual every year. The three-layer rice cake weighs about 700 kilograms and is 90 centimeters high. The lowest layer is more than a meter wide.

A forklift was used to place the lower two layers onto a platform in front of the prayer hall of the Yasuzumi Shrine.

Worshippers and shrine maidens worked together to place the third and lightest layer on top of the others.

The rice cake will be on display until January 20th.

A ten-year-old boy from Tokyo said he was surprised by how big it was.

at 20:00 (JST), December 29 AS

Heavy snow continues to fall in northern and western Japan along the Sea of Japan coast.

Egypt's interior ministry says three Vietnamese tourists and one Egyptian tour guide were killed when an explosion struck their bus in the outskirts of Cairo.

China released a Canadian national who was detained in China after authorities in Canada arrested the CFO of Chinese telecom giant Huawei, .

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20181229200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : heavy snow continues
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181229_14/

Heavy snow continues to fall in northern and western Japan along the Sea of Japan coast.

The Meteorological Agency says the winter-type weather pattern has strengthened, bringing with it a cold air mass.

A village in northern Yamagata prefecture had experienced nearly two meters of snow by Saturday.

The snow is expected to continue through Sunday, mainly in coastal areas.

Up to 70 centimeters are forecast in the 24 hours through Sunday morning in Niigata Prefecture and the Kanto Koshin region. Up to 50 centimeters are expected in Hokkaido, Tohoku and Hokuriku.

Blizzards are forecast in northern Japan. The Hokuriku region may get gusts of up to 126 kilometers an hour through Sunday.

Officials are advising people to be on the alert for avalanches and falling snow that has accumulated on power cables and trees.

Key words : weather condition
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181229_16/

Japan's current severe weather conditions have led the government to provide English-language guidance.

The URL for the Japan National Tourism Organization website is www.japan.travel/en/ . Users should scroll down to the link "Snow forecast in Japan."

Telephone hotlines have also been opened in English, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese.

The number for callers in Japan is 050-3816-2787.
From overseas, it is +81-50-3816-2787.

Key words : Egypt Vietnamese roadside
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181229_08/

Egypt's interior ministry says three Vietnamese tourists and one Egyptian tour guide were killed when an explosion struck their bus in the outskirts of Cairo.

Officials suspect it was a roadside bomb. They say the explosion occurred on Friday evening near the Giza pyramids.

Ten people, including other Vietnamese tourists on the bus and the Egyptian bus driver, are said to have been treated for injuries.

Key words : Trump southern
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181229_07/

US President Donald Trump says he will close the southern border with Mexico unless the Democrats agree to fund the building of a border wall.

Trump tweeted on Friday that, "We will be forced to close the Southern Border entirely if the Obstructionist Democrats do not give us the money to finish the Wall".

Disagreements between the US Congress and the White House over financing the wall have led to a partial government shutdown.

Trump also complained about Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, countries where the migrants are arriving from. He tweeted that those countries do nothing for the United States, but take its money.

Congress is scheduled to resume debates on New Year's Eve, and Trump has cancelled his vacation plans in Florida.

Key words : China released
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181229_19/

A Canadian national who was detained in China after authorities in Canada arrested the CFO of Chinese telecom giant Huawei, Meng Wanzhou, has been released.

Canada's foreign ministry told NHK on Friday that the woman has already returned home.

On December 20th, China's foreign ministry announced that the woman was undergoing "administrative punishment" for working in the country illegally.

She was the third Canadian to be detained by China since the December 1st arrest of Meng.

The other two are a Canadian diplomat on leave and a Canadian businessperson trading with North Korea.

Canada's foreign ministry has acknowledged that the released woman had been detained in connection with a work permit problem and that there was no reason to believe her detention was linked with the other two.

Key words : northern Syria to provide
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181229_12/

A Kurdish group in northern Syria has asked the government of President Bashar al-Assad to provide protection from attacks by Turkey. The move comes as US troops are withdrawing from Syria.

The Kurds have relied on backing from US forces in their fight against Islamic State militants.

But the group says it faces a threat from Turkey since President Donald Trump's sudden decision to pull out of Syria.

Ankara considers the group to be terrorists linked to a separatist movement in Turkey, and is poised to attack it.

Syrian authorities said on Friday their troops had responded by entering the northern town of Manbij and raising the Syrian flag.

But reports about the situation are mixed. Reuters news agency quotes a US source as saying Syrian forces are not inside Manbij but on the outskirts of the town.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Syria is conducting a psychological operation and nothing is conclusive.

Key words : Rohingya
#N/A


Key words : Japanese experts
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181229_20/

Japanese experts say the deadly tsunami that hit western Indonesia last weekend came in short intervals, which increased the destructive force.

It is thought the tsunami was triggered by a volcanic eruption in the Sunda Strait.

Professor Fumihiko Imamura from Tohoku University's International Research Institute of Disaster Science and Professor Taro Arikawa from Chuo University visited western Java on Friday. The island was one of the areas hardest-hit by the tsunami.

After surveying the area, the two professors estimated the height of the waves at three to four meters.

Based on their observation of buildings destroyed by the tsunami, they identified characteristics of the waves caused by volcanic eruptions.

They say the instantaneous destructive power of last weekend's tsunami was stronger than that generated by an earthquake causing waves to hit the shore repeatedly over a short period of time.

Imamura says people including those in places that escaped damage this time should remain vigilant because damage could be more extensive if another such tsunami occurs.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian disaster management authority has lowered the death toll from the disaster from 430 to 426, citing double counts. It says 23 people are still missing.

Key words : 7.0 earthquake no report
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181229_18/

A tsunami threat has been lifted after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck near the southern Philippine island of Mindanao.

The US Geological Survey estimates the focus of the quake, which struck around 11:39 AM on Saturday, to be 180 kilometers southeast of the city of Davao at a depth of 60 kilometers.

It first measured the magnitude at 7.2 but revised it down.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii initially said waves of up to 30 centimeters were possible in parts of the Philippines, Indonesia and Palau.

But no tsunami were observed, and the center later lifted the threat.

Philippine authorities say there are no reports of injuries or damage.

at 20:00 (JST), December 28 AS

エラー 2042

Tokyo's Nikkei Average ended lower on the last trading day of 2018, posting its first annual loss in seven years.

Japan's Justice Ministry has compiled a draft ordinance specifying rules employing foreign workers under a new visa program starting next April.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20181228200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : defense ministry release
#N/A


Key words : three years after
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181228_13/

Three years after Japan and South Korea reached an accord to settle the issue of people referred to as wartime comfort women, its implementation appears increasingly difficult as bilateral ties worsen.

The agreement was concluded in 2015 between Japan and South Korea, then led by former president Park Geun-hye. The two countries agreed at the time the deal was final and irreversible.

Japan provided about 9 million dollars to set up a foundation to support the women concerned.

In November, the current South Korean administration of President Moon Jae-in unilaterally announced it would close the foundation. This came after a panel commissioned by the president issued a report saying the agreement did not sufficiently consider the views of surviving victims.

Japan stresses that South Korea has a responsibility to implement the accord. But the matter was not discussed when diplomatic officials from the two countries met on Monday in Seoul.

Bilateral ties have rapidly soured due to the recent developments, and due to a ruling by South Korea's top court ordering Japanese companies to compensate citizens for what they say was forced labor during World War Two.

The relationship has been further strained by a recent incident involving a South Korean destroyer directing its radar at a Japanese patrol plane.

Key words : Nikkei lower first annual
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181228_21/

Tokyo's Nikkei Average ended lower on the last trading day of 2018, posting its first annual loss in seven years. The yearly decline is the first since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe started his economic policy dubbed Abenomics.

The index fell on Friday by 62 points, or 0.3 percent, ending at 20,014. Some investors sold stocks to book profits after the Nikkei marked this year's biggest jump on Thursday.

Friday's close was down 12 percent from the end of 2017.

The Nikkei had a volatile year. It surged in January thanks to hopes for global growth, and hit the highest in nearly 27 years.

But stocks tumbled in February. That's as robust US economic data triggered speculation that the US Federal Reserve would start to raise rates at a faster pace.

The index recovered toward October as trade tensions eased somewhat, and the Nikkei marked fresh 27-year highs.

But then the tide turned again, this time more dramatically. The benchmark plunged by about 20 percent toward the year end as sentiment soured. Some analysts said the main reason was concern about an economic slowdown due to resurging US-China trade friction.

There are many worrying factors in 2019, including the partial government shutdown in the US, President Donald Trump's critical stance against the Fed and the possibility of a no-deal Brexit. And in Japan, there is a consumption tax hike in October.

Key words : justice
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181228_20/

Japan's Justice Ministry has compiled a draft ordinance specifying the duties of those that employ foreign workers under a new visa program starting next April.

A recent revision to the immigration control law will allow a wider range of foreign nationals to obtain residential status in Japan, which faces a serious labor shortage.

Justice Ministry officials want to make sure that the foreign workers are properly paid and treated.

Their draft ordinance requires employers to pay wages into bank accounts, and help the non-Japanese employees obtain contracts for mobile phones.

Employers must also grant such workers at least the same wages as their Japanese colleagues, and cover the travel costs of returning workers if they lack the necessary funds.

Measures to eliminate malicious job brokers are also included. Employers must check upon the arrival of foreign workers that they have not paid bonds to brokers.

People aged 18 or older can apply for the new resident status.

Japan's government estimates that up to 345,000 foreign workers with certain skill levels will be employed by 14 sectors over a five-year period from April.

Key words : government finalize
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181228_17/

The Japanese government has finalized policies on free education for preschoolers.

Ministers worked out the policy measures at a Cabinet meeting on Friday.

Free education for preschoolers is scheduled to come into effect in October of 2019 when Japan's consumption tax will be raised to ten percent from the current eight.

Children aged three to five will be able to attend kindergarten or certified daycare facilities for free. Aid will be provide to non-certified daycare users if local municipalities approve the household's necessity for daycare. An upper limit will be set for the aid.

All non-certified daycare centers will be subject to the program in the first five years. From the sixth year, only the daycare centers that meet supervision requirements will be approved for the program.

Local governments say that daycare centers subject to the program should be determined from the beginning to ensure the quality of preschools. Measures are being discussed between the central and local governments.

For households exempt from resident tax, certified daycare will be offered for free to children up to age two. Aid will be provided up to a specified limit when using non-certified daycare with the municipality's approval.

The central and local governments were at odds on how to divide costs. For private daycare services, the central government will bear half the burden. The prefectural government and local municipality will shoulder one-quarter each.

For facilities operated by municipalities, the operator will bear the entire cost.

The government has also decided on policy measures for free higher education. Low income households will be exempt from most of the enrollment and tuition fees.

A significant increase of scholarships that do not need to be paid back is also planned.

Key words : Honjo
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181228_14/

Japanese Nobel laureates Tasuku Honjo and Shinya Yamanaka spoke to Kyoto University students on pursuing a career in scientific research.

Honjo of Kyoto University is the co-winner of this year's Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Yamanaka, also of Kyoto University, received the same prize in 2012. It is the first time the two scientists have spoken in public since Honjo received this year's prize.

More than 80 students studying medicine or pharmaceuticals participated in the event hosted by Kyoto University on Thursday.

Honjo first spoke about a pending problem. He said that if immune therapy could be applied to cancer patients at an earlier stage in their treatment, it would reduce their burden, as anticancer drugs and radiation therapy weaken the immune system.

Yamanaka spoke about how he got involved in research. He said he initially became an orthopedist, but was tremendously excited by unexpected results produced by a drug that was tested on mice.

In a message to students, Honjo said one needs to have curiosity in order to succeed as a research scientist. He advised students to determine what they want to do and what they are good at when making their choices.

Yamanaka said that now is a good opportunity to become involved in research, as cancer is becoming curable.
A female medical student said she felt the warmth of the two scientists, who both had their own unique interests. She said it made her think about the path she should take.

Key words : weather official strong winter pressure urging
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181228_01/

Japanese weather officials say snow is intensifying along the Sea of Japan coast. They are warning of possible transportation disruptions during the year-end holiday season.

The Meteorological Agency says heavy snow is expected in mountainous areas in eastern and western Japan in the coming days. It adds snow may accumulate on the ground in some parts of the Tokai and Kansai regions.

Expected accumulations during the 24 hours through Friday evening are up to 80 centimeters in Niigata Prefecture, 70 centimeters in the Tohoku, Hokuriku, and Kanto-Koshin regions, and 50 centimeters in the Tokai region and Hokkaido.

The agency officials say a strong winter pressure pattern will continue until around Sunday. It may bring heavy snow to many areas.

Blizzards are also expected, mainly in areas along the Sea of Japan coast in northern Japan and the Hokuriku region.

Maximum wind speeds of 72 kilometers per hour are projected for Hokkaido and the Hokuriku region, and 65 kilometers per hour for the Tohoku region, with occasional gusts of up to 108 kilometers per hour.

The officials are urging people to prepare for snowstorms, high waves, and disruptions to transportation caused by snow and blizzard conditions.

They say people should watch out for snow that has piled up on overhead power lines and tree branches, and also be alert for possible avalanches.

Key words : visitors from south
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181228_22/

Visitors from Southeast Asia have enjoyed a rare taste of winter, when a blanket of snow covered tourist spots in Gifu Prefecture, central Japan.

Takayama City on Friday was dusted with two centimeters of snow that fell overnight.

Foreign visitors were seen snapping photos in front of a popular bridge, with its red parapets capped in white.

Some children threw snowballs, while the adults helped themselves to warm grilled rice cakes. The treat, called "Gohei mochi," is a local specialty.

A man from Thailand said he saw snow for the first time, as it never snows in his country. He said he was touched by the beauty of the scenery.

Key words : apple
#N/A

at 20:00 (JST), December 27 AS

NHK has learned about the document indicating that money must be paid to a Saudi Arabian businessman for help in dealing with the investment losses clued former chairman.

Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei Average rose above the key-20,000 mark on Thursday for the first time in three sessions.

The Japanese government has filed a complaint with China for alleged misconduct by crew members of a Chinese fishing boat.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20181227200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : learned
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181227_16/

NHK has learned that an influential Saudi businessman was involved in a payment allegedly made to cover personal investment losses of former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn.

Ghosn, who is 64 years old, was rearrested by Tokyo prosecutors last week on suspicion of aggravated breach of trust in connection with the payment. He was initially arrested for allegations of underreporting his pay.

Ghosn is freshly accused of having a Nissan subsidiary illicitly channel around 15 million dollars to the firm of one of his acquaintances, who is alleged to have helped him get a credit guarantee for his personal financial deals.

Sources familiar with the matter say that the acquaintance is Khaled Al-Juffali, a businessman from the founding family of Saudi Arabian conglomerate E.A.Juffali and Brothers. He and Ghosn have known each other for 30 years.

Juffali has also maintained close ties with Nissan. In 2008, he founded a firm in the United Arab Emirates that handles marketing for Nissan in the entire Middle East region.

The prosecutors have learned that the money was transmitted to Juffali's company as "sales promotion expenses." They suspect the payment was made as a reward for Juffali's securing the credit guarantee for Ghosn.

However, Ghosn's defense team quoted him as saying the payment is a legitimate reward for Juffali's role in resolving problems for Nissan and lobbying the Saudi royal family.

Key words : benchmark first time three session
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181227_24/

Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei Average rose above the key-20,000 mark on Thursday for the first time in three sessions.

The index gained about 750 points, or 3.9 percent, to end at 20,077. The index had its biggest one-day jump this year.
All sectors were higher, as investors hunt for bargains.

Traders in Tokyo followed Wall Street's lead after the Dow soared by over 1,000 points, marking the largest-ever point gain for a single day.

Japan had been among the bourses recently suffering major losses due to worries about the political and economic situation in the United States.

On Wednesday, the Nikkei briefly sank below the 19,000 mark for the first time since April last year.

With only one trading day left in Tokyo, investors have high hopes that the New Year will bring better trade relations.

Key words : Japanese government withdraw
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181227_03/

The Japanese government has officially notified the US government of its withdrawal from the International Whaling Commission. The US is in charge of accepting applications for joining or withdrawing from the organization.

The action will allow Japan to officially withdraw from the IWC at the end of June. Japan plans to resume commercial whaling from July.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga says Japan has sought ways to promote sustainable whaling for more than 30 years, but has been unable to find common ground with anti-whaling countries. He said the outcome of the IWC's September general meeting made clear it was impossible to bridge the gap between pro- and anti-whaling countries in the forum.

Suga said Japan will hunt for whales only in its territorial waters and exclusive economic zones. He said the country would not hunt in the Antarctic Ocean and other parts of the Southern Hemisphere.

He also said Japan will use the IWC's method for calculating quotas to determine the number of whales it catches.

Japan suspended commercial whaling in 1988, in line with a 1982 IWC moratorium. The country currently says it catches whales for research purposes only.

Japan has proposed the resumption of commercial whaling more than 20 times in recent years, claiming the numbers of some species have recovered. But these attempts were blocked by anti-whaling nations.

The withdrawal is expected to draw sharp reactions from around the world. The government is planning to send delegations to some anti-whaling countries to seek their understanding.

Key words : Japanese government complain
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181227_17/

The Japanese government has filed a complaint with China for alleged misconduct by a crew of a Chinese fishing boat.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters on Thursday that a Chinese fishing boat continued to sail for more than half a day without stopping while officials of Japan's Fisheries Agency were on board. The officials boarded the vessel on November fifth to conduct an onsite inspection. The boat was suspected to have been illegally operating in Japan's exclusive economic zone off Kyushu.

Suga said he was briefed by the Fisheries Agency that it had handled the situation in coordination with the Japan Coast Guard while paying close attention to the safety of the officials.

He added that the government deemed the act as malicious and filed a complaint with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels.

The Fisheries Agency says the officials who boarded the Chinese fishing boat later returned to their vessel unharmed.

Key words : agency criticize
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181227_19/

Japan's Fisheries Agency has criticized the actions of a Chinese fishing boat crew last month in its own account of the events.

Agency officials say the incident started when one of the agency's patrol ships spotted a boat suspected of illegally fishing in Japan's exclusive economic zone.

They say it happened west of Kagoshima Prefecture, in southwestern Japan, on the morning of November 5th.

The agency sent about 10 members of its crew onto the fishing boat for a legal on-site inspection.

But the officials say the Chinese boat didn't stop, and instead sailed to waters where fishing boats of both countries are allowed to operate.

They say the boat was moving with Japanese inspectors still on board. The agency's patrol boat followed it.

The officials say their crew were not allowed to carry out compulsory inspections in such waters. The inspectors questioned the boat's captain on a voluntary basis, but were unable to gain sufficient evidence to prove illegal fishing.

The inspectors returned to their patrol vessel at night. They were reportedly on board the Chinese boat for 12 hours.

Agency officials criticized the Chinese crew for not cooperating with their inspections. They called it a malicious act that in effect allowed the crew to flee.

The Japanese government has filed a protest with Beijing through diplomatic channels.

Patrol boats of the Fisheries Agency conducted on-site inspections of foreign fishing boats in 24 cases last year. Of them, 19 involved Chinese boats.

Key words : Japan agreed to help
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181227_12/

Japan has agreed to help Tunisia improve the North African country's anti-terrorism capabilities.

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, who's now touring North Africa, made the agreement on Wednesday, when he met with his Tunisian counterpart Khemaies Jhinaoui.

They also agreed to hold a further meeting on terrorism and security in Tunisia early next year.

The two countries have been holding the meetings since 2016.

In the latest talks, Kono said he respected Tunisia's determination to reform the country, after it transitioned to a democracy in the Arab spring movement.

Kono also said Japan is willing to contribute to furthering Tunisia's stability and development.

The ministers also agreed to begin negotiations at an early date toward concluding an investment treaty to promote the entry of Japanese firms into Tunisia.

The country has been cited as a success case for democracy in the Arab world.

But a worsening security situation has been affecting the economy.

In a terror incident three years ago, gunmen killed 22 people including three Japanese tourists at a museum.

Key words : Trump surprise visit no plan
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181227_06/

President Donald Trump has made a surprise visit to US troops in Iraq.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders tweeted on Wednesday that President Trump and the First Lady traveled to Iraq late on Christmas night to visit US troops and the senior military leadership to thank them for their success.

Trump visited an air base west of Baghdad. He spent three hours there, talking with senior officers and allowing soldiers to have their pictures taken with him.

Reuters quotes Trump as saying that he has no plans to pull US troops out of Iraq. He added that Iraq could be used as a base if the United States wants to do something in Syria.

This is Trump's first visit to American troops in overseas battlegrounds since he took office almost 2 years ago.

His visit comes at a time when criticism is growing even among Republican lawmakers over his decision to withdraw from Syria despite opposition from Secretary of Defense James Mattis.

Trump also faces discontent about his effective dismissal of the defense secretary, who is trusted in the military.

Key words : Indonesia raise
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181227_18/

Authorities in Indonesia have raised the alert level for an erupting volcano that likely triggered the deadly tsunami in the Sunda Strait last weekend.

Geological authorities on Thursday raised the level for Anak Krakatau to the second highest on a scale of four. They are issuing fresh alerts for possible tsunami as eruptions are becoming more frequent.

The tsunami occurred in the strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra on Saturday.

Disaster management authorities say 430 people have been confirmed dead, and 159 remain missing.

Meteorological officials say a section of the volcano may have collapsed, triggering the tsunami.

Authorities are telling people not to go within 5 kilometers of the crater. Off-limit areas were expanded from the 2-kilometer mark set earlier.

They are also advising people in western Java and elsewhere to wear surgical masks as volcanic ash has been observed.

The county's aviation authorities on Thursday ordered flights to stay clear of the volcano.

Key words : electrical utilities
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181227_01/

Electrical utilities across Japan are considering the adoption of a type of nuclear fuel that generates power for a longer time than varieties in current use.

Companies with nuclear plants that are back online keep spent fuel in storage pools. And those pools are now filling up.

The spent fuel is supposed to be taken to a reprocessing facility in the village of Rokkasho in Aomori Prefecture.

Completion of that facility is considerably behind schedule.

Against this backdrop, six utilities that use boiling water reactors have begun considering the possibility of introducing a new type of nuclear fuel that is both efficient and lasts longer.

That type of fuel is widely used in nuclear plants in the US and elsewhere.

Utilities that operate other types of reactors are also thinking of making the switch.

But long-term use of nuclear fuel has disadvantages as well, such as degradation of the cladding covering the fuel. Utility officials say they are carefully studying the matter.

Key words : heavy snow
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181227_07/

Japanese weather officials are warning of blizzards and heavy snow in many parts of the country during the year-end holiday season.

A powerful wintry pressure pattern is bringing snowstorms to the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido. The coldest air mass this season is expected to blow above Japan between Thursday and Sunday.

Blizzards are expected from Thursday onwards in areas along the Sea of Japan coast in the central and northern regions.

Heavy snow is also expected in mountainous regions in eastern and western Japan.

Weather officials are warning that strong wind and heavy snow may disrupt transportation networks.

Key words : temple Kyoto
#N/A

at 20:00 (JST), December 26 AS

Tokyo's stock benchmark saw a slight recovery on Wednesday after a plunge the previous day.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga has officially announced the country's pulling out of the International Whaling Commission.

Prosecutors have demanded of five-year prison sentences for three former top executives of Tokyo Electric Power Company, and accusing them being responsible for the 2011 accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20181226200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : benchmark recovery
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181226_20/

Tokyo's stock benchmark, the Nikkei Average, saw a slight recovery on Wednesday after a plunge the previous day.

The Nikkei gained about 170 points, or 0.9 percent, to end at 19,327. It snapped 5 days of losses.

The index started the day on a positive note thanks to bargain-hunting following the losing streak through Tuesday. But in the afternoon, it briefly sank below the 19,000 mark amid volatile trading.

Analysts say investors are concerned that the global economy may be slowing down.

Traders are also worried about political uncertainty in the US. Some fear that a partial government shutdown may stretch into the New Year.

Key words : Abe facing
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181226_08/

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is facing a challenge of keeping the country's economy on track to allow the implementation of a planned consumption tax hike, in his seventh year in office.

Wednesday marks six years after Abe formed a coalition Cabinet, following a landslide victory in the general election in 2012.

Abe told reporters on Tuesday that he will continue to do his utmost for the state and the public in his seventh year.

The government plans to raise the consumption tax from 8 to 10 percent in October.

The government hopes to enact its largest-ever budget as early as possible in January's ordinary Diet session, to maintain what Abe calls a virtuous cycle of the economy.

The government stresses the fundamentals of the country's economy are solid. But Japan's stock prices plummeted on Tuesday, amid the growing uncertainties about the global economic outlook.

Key words : Suga announced
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181226_16/

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga has announced Japan is withdrawing from the International Whaling Commission, or IWC.

Suga said in a news conference on Wednesday that Japan plans to resume commercial whaling from July.

He said Japan has sought ways to promote sustainable whaling for more than 30 years, but has been unable to find common ground with anti-whaling countries.

He said the outcome of the IWC's September general meeting made clear it was impossible for pro and anti-whaling countries to coexist in the forum.

Suga said Japan will hunt for whales only in its territorial waters and exclusive economic zones. He said the country would not hunt in the Antarctic Ocean and other parts of the Southern Hemisphere.

He also said Japan will use the IWC's method for calculating quotas to determine the number of whales it catches.

Japan suspended commercial whaling in 1988, in line with a 1982 IWC moratorium. The country currently says it catches whales for research purposes only.

Japan has proposed resuming commercial whaling more than 20 times in recent years, claiming the numbers of some species have recovered. But these attempts were blocked by anti-whaling nations.

Japan's withdrawal from the IWC will go into effect on June 30th if it notifies the US government by January 1st. The United States is in charge of accepting applications for joining or withdrawing from the commission.

Japan plans to meet this deadline.

The move is expected to draw sharp reactions from around the world. The government is planning to send delegations to some anti-whaling countries to seek their understanding.

Key words : greenpeace
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181226_21/

The environmental group Greenpeace says it condemns Japan's decision to withdraw from the International Whaling Commission, or IWC, and resume commercial whaling.

Executive Director at Greenpeace Japan, Sam Annesley, said in a statement that the government is trying to sneak in the announcement at the end of year, away from the spotlight of international media.

He said that Japan must urgently act to conserve marine ecosystems, rather than restart whaling.

Annesley maintained that most whale populations have not yet been recovered, and said the world's oceans face multiple threats such as acidification and plastic pollution, in addition to overfishing.

He called on Japan, as an ocean nation that's heavily reliant on marine resources, to work toward resolving these problems.

Key words : prosecutor sentence
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181226_22/

The court-appointed lawyers, who serve as prosecutors, have demanded five-year prison sentences for three former executives of Tokyo Electric Power Company. They say the executives are responsible for the 2011 accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

The court-appointed lawyers delivered their closing argument at the Tokyo District Court on Wednesday.

The defendants are former chairman Tsunehisa Katsumata, former vice president Ichiro Takekuro, and former vice president Sakae Muto. They all plead not guilty to charges of professional negligence resulting in death and injury.

Public prosecutors decided not to indict the three, but an inquest panel, comprised of randomly chosen citizens, decided that the former executives should stand trial.

In line with that decision, the men were indicted by court-appointed lawyers in February 2016.

The court-appointed lawyers say the defendants were told two to three years before the accident that a massive tsunami could hit the nuclear plant. They also say the defendants did not try to gather information about the potential danger. The court-appointed lawyers indicate that the former executives later claimed that they had not been informed and that the executives put all the blame on their subordinates.

The court-appointed lawyers also say the defendants should have suspended the plant's operations when they were told that a massive tsunami could hit the plant.

The court-appointed lawyers maintain that the defendants are responsible because they didn't do anything to prevent the accident from occurring.

A five-year prison term is the maximum punishment handed down for professional negligence resulting in death and injury.

A lawyer for the bereaved families of the victims will speak at the trial on Thursday. The defense lawyers will deliver their closing argument next March.

Key words : Carlos in a hospital
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181226_17/

A close aide to former Nissan Motor Chairman Carlos Ghosn is in a hospital being treated for a neck problem. Greg Kelly was released from detention on Tuesday.

He and Ghosn were arrested more than a month ago over alleged financial misconduct. Ghosn is still being detained.

Kelly posted bail for about 635,000 dollars. His release was on the conditions that he cannot leave Japan and that his contact with those involved in the case be restricted.

Kelly's release comes after the Tokyo District Court rejected a request by prosecutors last week to continue holding him and Ghosn.

Kelly's lawyer says his client may remain in hospital for about a week with the court's permission, which he must get before spending a night away from his house.

Kelly must also receive permission to attend Nissan board meetings or general shareholder meetings. But he reportedly told his lawyer he would not take part.

In a statement, Kelly denied falsifying financial records and said he believed he would be exonerated in trial.

Key words : Nissan instructed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181226_05/

Nissan Motor has instructed all its employees not to contact former Chairman Carlos Ghosn, his aide Greg Kelly or their lawyers.

Nissan sent an e-mail addressed to all employees. The notice was dated December 24.

It says that Ghosn was rearrested for a "severe breach of the law," and that Kelly, a former representative director, has been indicted of a crime.

It says that it is a notice to all Nissan employees instructing them not to speak or engage with Ghosn, Kelly, their attorneys or other related persons.
It says employees should not meet them, either face to face or by other means such as videoconference systems.

The instruction says if employees are contacted by those mentioned by phone, they should say communication is not permitted. Employees are also told not to respond to e-mails or letters from the named parties.

The firm instructs its employees that if they are contacted, they should inform the legal department.

Key words : Japanese researcher
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181226_09/

Japanese researchers say it is possible that Saturday's tsunami in Indonesia was triggered by part of a volcano slipping into the ocean, according to analysis of satellite images.

Researchers at Japan's Geospatial Information Authority studied topological changes to Krakatau Island. They compared images taken last August by the Advanced Land Observing Satellite-2 known as Daichi-2 with ones captured on Monday.

The study revealed significant topological changes to the island's southwest, such as blurred coastlines and the disappearance of the crater -- all indicative of volcanic sector collapse.

Professor Emeritus Toshitsugu Fujii at the University of Tokyo says this is evidence the tsunami was caused by a debris avalanche into the ocean as a result of volcanic sector collapse.

He says the volcano was formed over a relatively short span of 100 years and may be brittle as a result.

He says continued volcanic activity could lead to more deadly waves and says people should remain vigilant.

Key words : north and
#N/A


Key words : vietnamese work
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181226_11/

With more Vietnamese coming to study and work in Japan, and some getting into trouble, the city of Hanoi held a seminar for agencies that support prospective students.

More than 450 people attended the seminar Tuesday. Many were agents planning to send students to language schools in Japan.

More than 80,000 Vietnamese students were studying in Japan at the end of June this year. That's nearly four times the number in 2013.

Many do part-time work in fields short of labor.

But some have been involved in shoplifting and other crimes as they struggle to repay loans taken out to cover tuition in advance.

Japanese Embassy officials urge agencies to provide students with accurate information about the conditions they can expect. They say some disreputable agencies tell students they can earn at least 1,800 dollars per month in Japan. Others say getting a visa is easy by falsifying documents.

Last year, the embassy began interviewing visa applicants. It posts the names of agencies suspected of forging documents on its website to warn Vietnamese students. The embassy does not accept visa applications from such agencies.

Officials say the embassy will work closely with the Vietnamese authorities to crack down on unscrupulous agencies.

at 20:00 (JST), December 25 AS

A Japanese court has granted bail to Greg Kelly, a former representative director of Nissan Motor and a close aide to the company's former chairman, Carlos Ghosn.

Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei Average plummeted more than 1,000 points.

The Japanese government has approved a set of policy measures to make it easier for foreigners to live and work in Japan.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20181225200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : Japanese court has granted
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181225_22/

A Japanese court has granted bail to Greg Kelly, a former representative director of Nissan Motor and a close aide to the company's former chairman, Carlos Ghosn.

Kelly and Ghosn were arrested more than a month ago and have been detained since. Kelly is expected to head to the hospital when he gets out. He will be treated for a neck problem that his wife says got worse in detention.

The court set bail at roughly 635,000 US dollars, and Kelly paid the amount. He is due to be released, but there are conditions. He may not travel outside Japan, and his contact with those involved in the case will be restricted.

The decision to grant bail comes after the court rejected a bid by prosecutors last week to continue holding Kelly and Ghosn.

The two have been indicted for allegedly conspiring to underreport Ghosn's compensation by tens of millions of dollars over a five-year period. They both deny any wrongdoing.

Many expected that Ghosn would also be allowed to post bail. But on Friday, prosecutors rearrested him on suspicion of aggravated breach of trust. They allege he shifted personal investment losses of over 16 million dollars onto Nissan.

Ghosn denies the allegation. He reportedly said he only briefly transferred the losses to Nissan. He is said to have added that he did not cause any damage to the company because he later covered the losses himself.

The court decided that his detention can be extended until at least January 1st.

Key words : benchmark 1,000 points 8 months
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181225_19/

Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei Average plummeted more than 1,000 points. The index finished below the key 20,000-mark for the first time since September 2017.

Investors sold shares on worries that the global economy may be slowing down. The Nikkei Average tumbled 1,010 points, or five percent, to finish at 19,155. That's the lowest close in a year and 8 months.

Political turmoil in the Unites States also fueled the sell-off.

President Donald Trump tweeted that the Federal Reserve is the only problem that the US economy has. Trump stepped up attacks against the Fed after it raised the key interest rate for the 4th time this year.

And the partial shutdown of the government didn't help matters. That will last until the US Congress can agree on a spending bill. But many are worried that won't happen with Trump insisting on funding for a border wall.

Key words : asian market
#N/A


Key words : government policy measures
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181225_13/

The Japanese government has approved a set of policy measures to make it easier for foreigners to live and work in Japan.

The package approved Tuesday is in line with a revised immigration law set to take effect in April marking a major policy change. Residential status now available only to high-skilled workers will become available to a much wider range of lower-skilled workers.

The measures include ones to prevent brokers from taking unfair advantage of foreign workers. To alleviate a labor shortages in rural areas, checks will be put in place to prevent an excessive concentration of foreigners in cities.

Up to 345,000 foreign workers are set to be allowed into 14 sectors of the economy over a five-year period starting in April. The limit will stay in place until economic needs change.

Among the 126 specific measures in the package are provisions for multilingual support in public services.

A Japanese-language proficiency test required for the new visa status will be offered in nine countries: Vietnam, the Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia, China, Thailand, Myanmar, Mongolia, and Nepal.

To prevent a concentration of workers in cities, the government will periodically announce information on the number of foreign workers in different regions and sectors.

Key words : Indonesian authorities say 429 people
#N/A


Key words : deadly tsunami that struck
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181225_03/

The deadly tsunami that struck the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra has prompted calls for strengthening the country's tsunami warning system.

Meteorological authorities have suggested that volcanic eruptions may have caused undersea landslides, which in turn led to the giant waves.

Some local media outlets have said the country's tsunami warning system is inadequate and are blaming it for the death toll. No warning was issued prior to the tsunami.

A spokesperson for Indonesia's disaster management agency said the warning system only detects earthquake-induced tsunamis.

The spokesperson said there is a need to set up a new one capable of detecting tsunamis generated by volcanic activity and undersea landslides.

Furthermore, a senior marine affairs ministry official acknowledged that the current system was not working properly at the time due to malfunctioning tsunami-sensing buoys. The official said there is a plan in the works to overhaul the system and make maintenance easier.

President Joko Widodo has also stressed that his country must improve its tsunami preparedness.

Key words : defense official rejected
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181225_15/

Japanese defense officials have rejected South Korea's denial that one of its ships recently directed military radar at a Japanese patrol aircraft. The officials say they have firmly identified characteristic signals of military radar in the incident.

Tokyo says a South Korean destroyer directed fire-control radar at the Japanese Self-Defense Force patrol plane on Thursday. Such action is considered hostile, as it is a prelude to an attack.

A South Korean defense official said Monday that one of its destroyers was using radar to search for a drifting North Korean ship. He acknowledged that the destroyer used a camera to monitor the Japanese plane as it approached at a low altitude. But he denied the vessel emitted radar tracking waves.

Japan's Defense Ministry said in a document Tuesday that signals particular to fire-control radar were directed repeatedly at the Japanese plane for a continuous period.

Defense officials say their conclusion is based on an analysis of the frequency range and strength of the signals collected by the aircraft.

They say the plane maintained a certain altitude and distance from the South Korean ship in line with international law. The aircraft was taking photographs as it patrolled the area.

The Japanese defense ministry calls the incident highly regrettable, and strongly urges South Korea to take measures against a recurrence.

Key words : south continue misunderstanding
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181225_20/

South Korea has said it will continue talks with Japan to remove any misunderstanding concerning last week's radar incident.

The Ministry of National Defense issued a comment on Tuesday after Japanese defense officials released a document rejecting South Korea's position on the incident.

Tokyo says a South Korean destroyer directed fire-control radar at a Japanese patrol plane in the Sea of Japan last Thursday. Such an act is considered hostile.

In the document, Japan turned down South Korea's explanation that the ship was using surface search radar to look for a drifting North Korean ship. It says characteristics of fire-control radar were firmly identified.

In issuing the comment, South Korean officials said the Japanese side informed them of the content of the document before releasing it. They say that was a gesture designed to ease tension.

The remark is apparently intended to stress that the relationship of trust between the countries' defense authorities remains intact.

Key words : Afghanistan
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181225_17/

An attack on a government building in Afghanistan's capital of Kabul has left 43 people dead after a seven-hour siege.

Authorities say the attack began on Monday when one attacker detonated a car bomb at the building's entrance.

They say three other attackers entered the building after the suicide bombing, and traded gunfire with security forces who rushed to the scene.

More than 300 government employees were kept inside the building during the standoff. Authorities say the dead include many government workers.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Security in Afghanistan has continued to deteriorate. There have been a series of terrorist attacks by Taliban and Islamic State militants.

The US military has made slow progress in its efforts to train local security forces.

The attack comes as US media say President Donald Trump plans to withdraw about half of the 14,000 US troops in Afghanistan.

Key words : United States ordered
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181225_08/

A United States federal court has ordered North Korea to pay more than 500 million dollars in damages for the death of the college student Otto Warmbier.

Warmbier died in 2017 shortly after being released from more than one and a half years of captivity in North Korea. He had been detained for allegedly stealing a propaganda poster. He was in a coma resulting from brain injuries when he was returned to the US.

Warmbier's parents sued North Korea, arguing their son had been tortured.

They argued that North Korea has been torturing political prisoners for years, and that their son's conditions upon his release show he was one such victim.

On Monday, a federal court in Washington ruled in favor of the Warmbiers and ordered North Korea to pay 501 million dollars in damages.

North Korea is on the US list of state sponsors of terrorism. American courts can order countries on this list to compensate its citizens.

The ruling comes at a time when Washington and Pyongyang have made little progress in talks after their leaders agreed on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula at the first-ever US-North Korea summit in June.

Key words : christmas birth
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181225_11/

Christmas Mass has been held in the Palestinian city of Bethlehem venerated as the birthplace of Jesus Christ.

Local Christians and pilgrims from around the world offered prayers at the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank city after Christmas Mass on Tuesday. The church stands on a grotto where Jesus is believed to have been born.

Clashes have continued between Palestinian protesters and Israeli troops ever since US President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel a year ago.

At a square in the city center, a giant Christmas tree was lit up, and an overnight music concert held, to celebrate the Christian holy day.

A woman visiting from Ireland with her family said that she had long dreamed of seeing Jesus' birthplace, and that she was impressed by how wonderful it was.

at 20:00 (JST), December 24 AS

Indonesian authorities say Saturday's tsunami has left 281 people dead.

Sources have told NHK that former Nissan Motor chairman Carlos Ghosn caused losses for the Japanese automaker despite his denial that he did so.

US President Donald Trump has announced that he is replacing Secretary of Defense James Mattis two months earlier than scheduled, and will appoint Mattis' deputy in an acting capacity at the start of next month.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20181224200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : Indonesian authorities say 281 people
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181224_11/

Indonesian authorities say the death toll from Saturday's tsunami has topped 280.

They say the tsunami has left 281 people dead, 1,016 others injured, and 57 missing on the islands of Java and Sumatra.

The authorities say the death toll may rise further, as the full extent of the damage remains unknown.

Early on Monday, soldiers started a search for missing people around collapsed buildings near the coast in Pandeglang, western Java.

Rescue workers in some areas are said to be sifting through debris manually because there is not enough heavy machinery.

Indonesian authorities have moved residents away from the coastal areas. They say another tsunami may hit, as a volcano in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra remains active.

Experts suspect Saturday's tsunami was triggered by landslides caused by the volcano's eruption.

Key words : Indonesia president
#N/A


Key words : Tsunami expert
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181224_12/

A tsunami expert says two tsunami waves hit coastal areas on the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra on Saturday.

Professor Hamzah Latief of Indonesia's Bandung Institute of Technology told a local TV station on Monday that, in the hard-hit areas, the first wave was two to three meters high and the second was four meters high.

Latief said the first wave arrived about 28 minutes after a volcano in the Sunda Strait erupted. He said authorities might have had at least 15 minutes to urge residents to evacuate, if sensors for volcanic activity had been working properly.

The professor stressed that there is a need for a system, which monitors tsunamis triggered by volcanic activity.

Key words : Kono ready to provide
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181224_10/

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono says Japan is ready to provide as much support as it can to the areas hit by Saturday's tsunami in Indonesia.

On Monday, two days after the tsunami struck the islands of Java and Sumatra, Kono sent a message to his Indonesian counterpart, Retno Marsudi.

The disaster has left more than 280 people dead and over 1000 others injured.

In the message, Kono offered his sympathies to the government and people of Indonesia. He extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of those killed by the disaster. He also said he hopes the survivors will recover swiftly, and that the affected areas will be reconstructed quickly.

Key words : Carlos caused losses his denial
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181224_16/

Sources have told NHK that former Nissan Motor chairman Carlos Ghosn caused losses for the Japanese automaker despite his denial that he did so.

Ghosn was served a fresh warrant on Friday for aggravated breach of trust. He's suspected of transferring trading rights to Nissan after his asset management firm incurred unrealized losses of about 16 million dollars during the global financial crisis about a decade ago. The asset management company had a currency swap contract with Tokyo-based Shinsei Bank.

Sources say unrealized losses were piling up in the order of hundreds of thousands of dollars at that time because of sharp appreciation of the yen in the wake of the crisis.

The sources say that when the bank requested a huge amount of additional collateral, Ghosn temporarily shifted the trading rights to Nissan. They say Nissan provided the bank with the money related to loss-covering during that time.

The sources also say other board members did not know about the transfer of the rights and the shift of investment losses.

Ghosn's lawyer quotes him as saying he briefly used Nissan's solid credit rating as collateral but covered any losses resulting from trading even though money was sent to the bank in Nissan's name.

Ghosn reportedly denied causing losses for Nissan, on which the aggravated breach of trust charge is based.

Meanwhile, the Tokyo District Court is likely to decide as early as Tuesday whether to release Greg Kelly on bail.
Kelly is a former Nissan representative director and Ghosn's close aide.

Kelly was indicted with Ghosn on charges of underreporting Ghosn's remuneration, and has been detained for about a month.

But the court decided to allow detention of Ghosn at least through January first after he was re-arrested for aggravated breach of trust.

Key words : Trump James months earlier
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181224_05/

US President Donald Trump has announced that he is replacing Secretary of Defense James Mattis two months earlier than scheduled, and will appoint Mattis' deputy in an acting capacity at the start of next month.

In a Twitter post on Sunday, Trump wrote that he is glad to announce that Patrick Shanahan will take over as acting secretary on January 1st. With this announcement, Mattis is due to resign by that date.

In a resignation letter to Trump, Mattis stressed the importance of US ties with its allies. He wrote that a president has the right to choose a defense secretary with whom he can share the same views.

The letter revealed Mattis was resigning because of a difference of opinion between him and Trump.
Major US media have reported that Mattis decided to step down in protest against Trump's defense policies.

The New York Times says Trump decided to force Mattis to leave ahead of schedule because he was angered by critical media reports.

In a Twitter post on Saturday, Trump reacted sharply to Mattis' letter. Trump stressed that he had given Mattis a chance to make a fresh start after former president Barack Obama dismissed him from the top post of the US Central Command.

Trump said he is aware of the importance of US allies.
But he said if they try to use the US, that would be a different story.

Key words : south again denied
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181224_13/

South Korea has again denied that one of its destroyers directed its fire-control radar at a Japanese Self-Defense Force patrol aircraft flying over the Sea of Japan on Thursday.

Japan says the South Korean vessel leveled the radar at the SDF plane over waters off Ishikawa Prefecture. But South Korea says the destroyer was using radar to search for a drifting North Korean ship.

Deputy spokesman of South Korea's Defense Ministry Lee Jin-woo spoke at a news conference on Monday.

Lee said the South Korean military's actions were normal for a humanitarian rescue operation, and involved nothing the Japanese side would have considered a threat.

Lee acknowledged that the destroyer used a camera to monitor the SDF aircraft as it flew at a low altitude and approached the vessel. But he denied the vessel emitted radio waves from its tracking radar.

Lee also commented on what Japan says was the destroyer's failure to respond to a radio request for an explanation sent by the SDF plane.

He said the conditions for communication were poor at the time, which misled the destroyer's crew into believing the request was for the South Korean coast guard, also engaged in the rescue mission.

Lee added that South Korea will provide its explanation to Japan.

Key words : China started
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181224_04/

China's government has started working on new legislation to ban forced technology transfers from foreign companies operating in China.

The state-run Xinhua News Agency says the government on Sunday submitted a new bill on the rights of foreign firms to the standing committee of the National People's Congress.

The bill stipulates that administrative measures must not be used to force foreign companies to transfer their technology to Chinese companies. It says the aim is to protect their intellectual property rights.

Foreign companies are required by law to operate in China via their joint ventures with Chinese partners.
The administration of US President Donald Trump complained that the requirement has forced foreign firms to transfer technology through such ventures to Chinese companies.

China insisted such technology transfers were made voluntarily based on corporate contracts, and not forced by the Chinese government.

China's recent move shows its willingness to concede to the US complaint.

Analysts say China is trying to ease trade friction with the US through negotiations ahead of the deadline on March 1st next year.

Key words : organization
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181224_07/

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development says Japan should change its mandatory retirement age and wage systems to encourage older people to continue working.

The OECD made the recommendation in a new report released last week.

The report says Japan is among a number of countries that have high employment rates for older workers.

However, the report points out that, due to Japanese employment practices, these workers are often re-hired as non-regular workers. They are often given low-paid jobs, where the working conditions are poor, and there is little job security.

The report also says that, even if the age limit for re-hiring is raised to 70, the same problems will remain.

It recommends that Japan consider abolishing the mandatory retirement system and introduce wage systems that are based on a worker's performance and skills.

It also says that Japan should tackle excessive hours of work so that elderly people can continue to work.

OECD Chief of Staff Gabriela Ramos told reporters that she hopes Japan will accept the recommendations. She also said she hopes all people in Japan will have better jobs and live better lives.

The Japanese government is considering raising the coverage of the continued employment system, as part of its initiatives for social welfare reform.

Key words : defense shortage
#N/A


Key words : train loaded
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181224_14/

A train loaded with tourists made its way through the snowscapes of Japan's Hokkaido Prefecture on Christmas Eve.

The jaunt was part of an attempt to boost interest in the northern region, which has seen a dip in visitor numbers since a strong earthquake struck in September.

Tourists from places such as China and the Philippines were on board, along with 39 residents of the towns hardest hit by the jolt, who were specially invited.

The train was adorned with Christmas decorations for its journey from Asahikawa in central Hokkaido to Wakkanai in the north.

Foreign passengers took photos of snow-blanketed landscapes while local children handed out cookies and folded-paper cranes.

A tourist from Vietnam said the white scenery was impressive as she rarely sees snow in her home country.

A six-year-old girl from the quake-stricken area said it was fun to make sketches of the landscape, adding that there was enough snow for Santa Claus to pay a visit.

Passengers were even able to sample local delicacies at stations on the way to the train's destination.