Japanese government's report suggests the economy has just marked its longest expansion of the post-war period growing for 6 years and 2 months.
Japan's labor ministry said on Monday that flaws have been found in statistics used to determine the minimum wage.
The Japanese government has lodged a fresh protest over South Korea's move toward dissolving a fund to support those referred to as wartime comfort women.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190129200000_english_1.mp3
Key words : Japanese government monthly increasing
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190129_19/
Japanese government's monthly economic report suggests the economy has just experienced its longest recovery of the post-war period of 6 years and 2 months.
The officials are waiting for further statistics to confirm the trend.
Cabinet ministers approved the report on Tuesday. It says Japan's economy has continued on its recovery path despite various headwinds.
Private consumption is picking up, and business investment is increasing.
On the other hand, exports are weakening, mainly of electronics parts and chip-making devices bound for China. It notes a moderate slowdown in the world's second-biggest economy.
It remains unclear how long Japan's recovery will continue. The US-China trade row is causing increased uncertainty on the global front.
Key words : labor minimum
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190129_13/
Japan's labor ministry said on Monday that flaws have been found in statistics used to determine the minimum wage. It is the second time problems relating to the ministry's statistics have come to light in the past month.
The labor ministry admitted that its basic survey on wage structure was conducted with improper methods. The survey aims to obtain a clear picture of how wages are paid, according to employment type or occupation.
Ministry inspectors are supposed to hand-deliver questionnaires to businesses and collect them, but most of the survey sheets were sent in the post.
Bars and cabarets were also excluded from the survey without reason, while the deadlines given to respondents were shortened.
Results of the survey are used to calculate minimum wages and are referenced by private firms to set their salaries. They are also used to estimate the lost income of people who have died in accidents.
The labor ministry is already embroiled in a growing scandal relating to flawed government statistics.
Last month, the ministry came under fire over mistakes in a separate set of statistics on wages and working hours. This led to the underpayment of unemployment benefits.
The discovery resulted in a government-wide investigation into its statistics, with the findings - released last Thursday - highlighting problems with 22 batches of critical surveys from various departments.
Referring to the labor ministry's latest errors revealed on Monday, officials said they did not notice any mistakes or problems with the wage structure survey at the time.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the latest flaws were "extremely regrettable" after the results of the government-wide probe were released last week.
Suga told reporters that the internal affairs ministry will launch a special panel to look into the problems, in order to prevent their recurrence and to improve the reliability of government statistics.
Key words : Japanese government fresh
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190129_32/
The Japanese government has lodged a fresh protest over South Korea's move toward dissolving a fund to support those referred to as wartime comfort women.
The Japanese government offered about nine million dollars to the fund based on a 2015 bilateral agreement over the issue. The two countries agreed at the time that the deal was final and irreversible.
But the South Korean government said on Monday that it took measures a week ago to officially suspend the fund's activities. The fund has practically suspended activities since the government announced its disbandment last November.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Chief Kenji Kanasugi on Monday lodged a protest with a senior official of the South Korean Embassy in Tokyo, noting that based on the 2015 agreement, Japan will never accept South Korea's dissolution of the fund.
The Japanese Embassy in Seoul also filed a similar protest with South Korea's foreign ministry.
A liquidator will be appointed to deal with procedures toward the fund's disbandment. At issue is how to deal with the outstanding portion of Japan's contribution.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry plans to continue urging the South Korean government to steadily implement the accord, despite the development.
Key words : US authorities criminal
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190129_26/
US authorities have filed a number of criminal charges against Chinese telecom giant Huawei Technologies, its chief financial officer and several affiliates.
The US Justice Department announced on Monday that a total of 23 indictments were unsealed --- a 13-count indictment in New York and a 10-count case in Seattle.
New York prosecutors indicted Huawei, its CFO Meng Wanzhou and some affiliates, on charges including bank fraud.
Prosecutors in Seattle indicted two Huawei affiliates on charges that include theft of trade secrets. The indictment says the firms' engineers secretly took photos of a T-Mobile phone-testing robot and also stole a piece of the robot.
It says the conspiracy to steal secrets was a company-wide effort and that the employees were offered bonuses based on the value of information they stole from other businesses.
FBI Director Christopher Wray told reporters on Monday that Huawei intentionally and systematically sought to steal valuable intellectual property from an American company.
China's Industry and Information Technology Ministry has criticized the United States, saying that the charges have been brought without evidence.
Spokesperson Wen Ku said the power of the state has been exercised to crush a specific company and such an attack is unfair and immoral. He said his government instructs Chinese businesses to abide by market principles, international rules and local laws.
Key words : China condemn
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190129_40/
China has condemned the United States for filing criminal charges against Chinese telecom giant Huawei Technologies and its chief financial officer.
The US Justice Department on Monday announced that 23 indictments were unsealed against Huawei and its CFO Meng Wanzhou.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang reacted sharply in remarks released on Tuesday.
Geng said the US has been using its power to tarnish and crack down on specific Chinese companies in an attempt to strangle their lawful and legitimate operations.
He added that China strongly urges the US to stop its unreasonable bashing of Chinese companies including Huawei.
Geng urged the US to immediately withdraw its arrest warrant for Meng and refrain from making a formal extradition request.
The US is likely to soon ask that Canada extradite Meng, who was arrested last month by Canadian authorities at the request of the US.
The Chinese spokesperson also urged Canada to immediately release Meng and take China's solemn position seriously.
He added that Canada should stop risking its own interests for the benefit of the US.
Key words : White House will meet
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190129_17/
The White House says President Donald Trump will meet with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He in Washington this week for trade talks. The focus of attention is on how far China will go to make concessions and end the dispute.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Liu will lead a Chinese delegation for high-level trade talks on Wednesday and Thursday.
She said Liu will meet with Trump, as the President is eager to press the case for expanded US exports to China.
The Trump administration is seeking structural reforms to economic ties between the two countries. This includes a reduced trade imbalance and an end to alleged Chinese violations of intellectual property rights.
Liu will be trying to hammer out a deal with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.
White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow and hard-line trade adviser Peter Navarro will join the talks.
The deadline for an agreement is March 1st, after which new US tariffs will go into effect.
Key words : Trump speech
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190129_22/
US President Donald Trump will deliver his State of the Union speech on February 5th, a week later than originally scheduled.
Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi agreed on the new date on Monday.
Congress has been divided over Trump's demands for funds to build a wall along the border with Mexico, resulting in a partial government shutdown.
The president reached a tentative agreement with the Democrats on Friday to reopen the government until February 15th. But their differences remain wide.
Trump has indicated that unless Republicans and Democrats reach an agreement during that time to finance the wall, he will close the government again or declare a state of emergency.
It is customary for the US president to deliver a State of the Union speech on planned policies for the year ahead from the House chamber.
Amid such circumstances, there is widespread speculation about what Trump will say in the speech.
Key words : Venezuela called for
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190129_33/
Venezuela's National Assembly chief has called for people to join a march against the current government.
Juan Guaido, the leader of Venezuela's opposition-controlled National Assembly, declared himself interim president last week.
Countries such as the US and Brazil have expressed support for Guaido, while his supporters have clashed with security forces.
Guaido used Twitter to call for a large-scale protest in the capital, Caracas, on Wednesday. He called on Venezuelan people to join the rally to demand the resignation of President Nicolas Maduro.
Most Venezuelan judicial officials and military personnel have been endorsing Maduro, as they are opposed to the continuing economic sanctions imposed by the US.
But confusion is growing as three million people have fled to neighboring countries due to hyperinflation and a lack of supplies.
The focus now is on how the politically influential military will deal with the situation.
Key words : Japan able to goes into
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190129_41/
Japan will be able to export dairy products and eggs to the European Union after the Economic Partnership Agreement, or EPA, goes into effect in February.
The EU currently does not allow exports of some livestock products from Japan. Officials have said it's to prevent animal diseases from entering the region.
Japan's Agriculture Minister Takamori Yoshikawa told reporters that the exports may now begin by the end of February.
He said they will mainly consist of processed foods, such as snacks and seasonings.
Products containing certain amounts of eggs or dairy will require stricter screening. This includes inspection of production facilities to make sure they meet EU standards.
Japanese chicken and pork will still remain off the menu for Europeans. The ministry says it will continue negotiating with EU officials to further ease export restrictions.
Key words : Saudi unveil
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190129_29/
Saudi Arabia has unveiled plans to transform its economic reliance on oil exports. Officials want to make the country an industrial manufacturing hub by actively courting international firms, including Japanese companies.
Saudi officials announced that they are seeking 420 billion dollars in investments over the next decade. They hope to attract plants in heavy industry sectors, such as steel and auto parts.
Saudi Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, Khalid al-Falih, said, "We are looking for more Japanese investments, especially in the auto sector. We're in discussions with Toyota and Nissan as well as other advanced material companies from Japan."
The minister also said he's eyeing Japanese carbon fiber technologies in order to nurture the country's aerospace industry.
But some business sources are skeptical of the strategy. They say the country has been slow to reform its legal system and make the country more attractive to foreign firms.
Last year's killing of a Saudi journalist critical of the government has drawn international outcry, and put a damper on new investments from the US and Europe.
Key words : India bangladesh philippines
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190129_28/
India, Bangladesh and the Philippines want to ban the commercial trade in otters.
They've submitted a joint proposal to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. The convention's signatories are expected to discuss the proposal at a meeting in May.
Officials in India say the world's otter population has dropped by more than 30 percent in the past three decades. They blame environmental destruction and a sharp rise in poaching and trafficking.
The wildlife trade monitoring group TRAFFIC says Japan is fueling a spike in the smuggling. It says people are buying them as exotic pets after seeing them on TV or social media, and one otter can fetch as much as 9,000 dollars.
Key words : new landmark
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190129_24/
Tokyo will have a new landmark for manga fans next year. A replica of an apartment building where legendary artists lived in their youth is set to open on March 22nd, 2020.
Tokyo's Toshima Ward says construction of the replica of the Tokiwa-so apartment will start this month at a park near the site of the original.
Tokiwa-so was home to the young Osamu Tezuka, Fujio Akatsuka and other artists who were still honing their skills in the two decades after World War Two.
Although the two-story apartment was known as a sacred site for manga fans, the building was demolished in 1982 due to wear and tear.
The first floor of the replica will feature a display of 1,200 manga comics drawn by the legends. Their rooms and a common kitchen will be recreated on the second floor.
Toshima Ward says the project will cost 950 million yen, or about 8.6 million dollars.
Ward officials say Tokiwa-so represents the origin of Japanese manga, and they hope the replica will help spread the culture worldwide for generations to come.
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