NHK WORLD - JAPAN English News Podcast Script

日本放送協会（NHK）の国際放送「NHKワールドラジオ日本/NHK WORLD JAPAN News」のポッドキャスト・スクリプト/Podcast Scriptです。英語のシャドーイング用に、通勤で使っていました。現在はリモートワークが多いので使う機会は少ないですが、最新の英語の勉強を兼ねて掲載しています。 TV版ニュースには、クローズドキャプションが付くので、最初はそれを使っていましたが、音声から直接文字起こしした方が、精度が高いのが分かり、現在は音声から直接スクリプトを生成しています。日本人には難解な Jonathan Oh のアナウンスも、ほぼ完璧なスクリプトが生成されているようです。

2019年2月28日木曜日

at 20:00 (JST), February 28 AS

sample エラー 2042

A former attorney for US President has disclosed that the then-presidential candidate in 2016 knew in advance of released emails stolen from senior Democrats.

Japan's Foreign Minister has called on India and Pakistan to exercise restraint as tensions mount over the disputed Kashmir region.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190228200000_english_1.mp3

Key words : Trump and without reaching
#N/A

Key words : senior official
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190228_46/

A senior official from Japan's Foreign Ministry says US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un discussed the abductions of Japanese nationals by the North. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has stressed that resolving the issue remains one of his government's top priorities.

During his news conference, Trump said South Korea's President Moon Jae-in and Abe would be among his first calls to explain the results of the two-day summit.

Japan's government says at least 17 citizens were abducted by North Korea during the 1970s and 80s.
Five returned in 2002. The other 12 remain unaccounted for.

When Abe spoke with Trump ahead of the summit, he reportedly expressed hope the summit would produce a positive outcome on the issue.

Key words : US and closely watched
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190228_45/

The US-North Korea summit in Vietnam was closely watched by investors in Asia. Most of the major indexes in the Asia-Pacific region ended down on Thursday, on geopolitical risk after Trump and Kim failed to reach a deal.

Seoul's KOSPI dropped 1.8 percent. Sentiment took a hit from the reports out of Hanoi. Investors were also keen to sell to book profits ahead of a 3-day weekend.

The region's markets suffered a double blow, as hopes for eased trade relations between the US and China were dashed earlier on comments from the American Trade Representative. The Shanghai Composite fell by 0.4 percent on Thursday.

Key words : former disclosed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190228_09/

A former attorney for US President Donald Trump has disclosed that the then-presidential candidate in 2016 knew in advance that a whistleblowing website was set to release emails stolen from senior Democrats.

Michael Cohen testified under oath to the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the US House of Representatives on Wednesday.

He testified that Trump, who was running for the White House as a Republican candidate at the time, knew that WikiLeaks was to release Democratic National Committee emails believed to have been hacked by the Russian government.

He said Trump received a call in July 2016 from a long-time associate, Roger Stone, that WikiLeaks will release a massive "dump" of emails that would damage the campaign of Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton.

Cohen said Trump responded orally to the effect of "wouldn't that be great".

Stone was placed under arrest this January for allegedly obstructing the investigation of Russia's alleged meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

Cohen also testified that he witnessed the president's son, Donald Trump Jr., report to his father that he would meet a Russian lawyer in June 2016. Earlier reports say the arrangement was made after Trump Jr. was promised damaging information about Clinton.

The accounts run counter to Trump's claims that he was unaware WikiLeaks was to publish Clinton-related emails, and neither was he aware that his son met the Russian lawyer.

Cohen's testimony will likely increase the suspicion that Trump played a role in the Russian meddling.

Key words : head of told the truth
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190228_13/

The head of the House Oversight and Reform Committee says he believes Michael Cohen told the truth in Wednesday's testimony.

Committee chair Elijah Cummings told reporters that it was a very important day, and 200 years from now people will be reading about this moment.

Asked whether he thinks Donald Trump committed a crime after he became president, Cummings said looking at the text and listening to Cohen, it appears that he did.

He noted that Cohen is pleading to charges where he said he was directed by the president to commit a crime.

Cummings suggested his committee will further probe allegations of Trump's possible involvement in crime after he became president.

Key words : foreign called on India
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190228_29/

Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Kono has called on India and Pakistan to exercise restraint as tensions mount over the disputed Kashmir region.

In a statement released on Thursday, Kono said Japan is concerned about the deteriorating situation in Kashmir. He urged the two countries to stabilize the situation through dialogue.

Military action by India and Pakistan has been escalating since a Pakistani militant group carried out a suicide attack on Indian security personnel. The attack took place in Indian-controlled Kashmir on February 14.

Kono said Japan strongly condemns the terrorist attack for which the Islamic extremist group claimed responsibility. He urged Pakistan to take stronger counter-terrorism measures.
Kono went on to call for restraint on both sides. Indian warplanes have bombed militant training camps in the Pakistani-controlled area this week. Pakistan said its forces shot down two Indian fighter jets.

The United States, the European Union, and Russia have also urged restraint and dialogue over Kashmir.

In a televised speech on Wednesday, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan called for dialogue with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Key words : benchmark
#N/A

Key words : Trump administration edging
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190228_15/

The Trump administration is edging toward officially extending the deadline for a trade deal with China. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer says the extension of the March 1st deadline will soon be finalized. But he also cautioned against too much optimism.

Lighthizer told a House committee on Wednesday, "Let me be clear, much still needs to be done."

He said sticking points remain, including intellectual property rights violations and forced technological transfers for US firms in China.

His comments came after President Donald Trump hinted the US will extend the talks and suspend scheduled tariff increases on Chinese goods, citing progress in negotiations.
Lighthizer also touched on trade with Japan, saying he hopes to visit the country in March at the earliest.

He said American farmers are at a disadvantage after the Trans-Pacific Partnership went into effect in December. The deal is between Japan and 10 other countries. The US has withdrawn from the free trade pact.

Lighthizer indicated he will also raise the issue of currency manipulation with Japan.

Key words : defense team
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190228_41/

The defense team of Carlos Ghosn has made its third request for bail for the former Nissan Motor chairman.

The lawyers filed the request with the Tokyo District Court on Thursday.

Ghosn has been in custody for more than 100 days since he was first arrested last November.

He was indicted for understating his executive compensation in Nissan's securities reports.

He has also been charged with aggravated breach of trust for inappropriately transferring the company's funds.

Ghosn's lawyers filed two requests for bail last month, but they were both rejected.
Junichiro Hironaka, a lawyer known for winning acquittals in high-profile cases, recently joined Ghosn's defense team.

Under Japanese law, there is no limit to the number of times a request for bail can be made.

Sources say Ghosn expressed a desire to travel to France in the initial request, but in the second bail attempt he indicated his willingness to stay in Japan.

Key words : Japan provide UN fund
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190228_14/

Japan says it will provide two million dollars to a UN fund for small-arms control in Africa to support peace and stability in the region.

Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Yasuhisa Kawamura made the announcement at an open debate of the UN Security Council on Wednesday.

At the outset of the debate, UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo said the UN is strengthening ties with African governments to prevent small arms from being used in crime and conflict.

She called for international aid through a UN fund set up last year to support government officials who manage records of small arms.

Kawamura said small-arms control is an issue that cuts across borders and affects all aspects of conflict resolution. He said Japan is committed to providing financial support.

Kawamura also said Japan will provide 520,000 dollars to help Central African nations develop the human resources to investigate and clamp down on the illegal arms trade.

Japan will host the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, or TICAD, in the city of Yokohama in August.

Key words : Britain second
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190228_17/

Britain's main opposition Labour Party is calling for a second referendum on the country's departure from the European Union.

Parliament voted down an alternative Brexit plan from Labour on Wednesday. The party has been suggesting it would back a second referendum if its proposal were rejected.

Labour's shadow minister for exiting the EU, Matthew Pennycook, told Parliament, "Labour will then move to propose or support a future public vote amendments in parliament that offer the British people a choice between a credible leave option endorsed by this house and the option of staying in the EU."

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Theresa May made the first mention that Brexit could be delayed. But some parliament members were skeptical about the effectiveness of a delay.

Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay stressed that the only way to avoid a no-deal Brexit with the EU is to support the prime minister's plan.

French President Emmanuel Macron said if Britain needs more time, he would support an extension if it were justified.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel seemed to agree, but showed more flexibility. The leaders were speaking at their summit in Paris on Wednesday.

Key words : Spanish police
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190228_27/

Spanish police are reportedly investigating an incident at North Korea's embassy in Madrid last Friday in which workers were tied up and computers were stolen.

Reuters and Spanish media say a group of unidentified men entered the embassy in the Spanish capital and bound and gagged workers inside.

The reports say a woman managed to escape and alerted local residents.

Two vehicles carrying the men left the embassy at high speed when the police arrived.

Reports say one of the embassy workers was injured and treated at a hospital, and computers and cellphones were stolen.

A former North Korean ambassador to Spain, Kim Hyok Chol, is a close aide to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. He has also been an envoy for the working-level talks with the United States for the Hanoi summit.

Spain expelled Kim in September 2017 in response to North Korea's repeated nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches over Japan.

Key words : national women soccer
#N/A

2019年2月27日水曜日

at 20:00 (JST), February 27 AS

sample エラー 2042

Japanese government says that it hopes the US-North Korea summit will lead to solutions to issues relating to Pyongyang, such as the abduction of Japanese nationals, nuclear and missiles programs.

A spokesperson for Pakistan's military says its forces shot down two Indian fighter jets that crossed the de-facto border between the 2 countries' sides of the disputed Kashmir region on Wednesday morning.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190227200000_english_1.mp3

Key words : Trump and two-day summit no rush
#N/A

Key words : Suga says hopes
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190227_29/

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga says the government hopes the upcoming US-North Korea summit will lead to solutions to issues relating to Pyongyang, such as the abduction of Japanese nationals, nuclear and missiles programs.

Suga spoke to reporters on Wednesday ahead of the second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, which was set to start later in the day.

He said the previous summit held last June was significant in that the two leaders signed an agreement on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Suga stressed that it is important to steadily follow the process to implement the agreement.

Suga said he expects the summit talks will pave the way to resolving issues such as North Korea's abduction of Japanese nationals, nuclear and missile programs, and will lead to peace and stability in East Asia.

He also said Prime Minister Shinzo Abe specifically asked Trump to address the abduction issue in their recent talks over the phone.

Suga added that Japan's government is also making every effort on its own to tackle the abduction issue.

Key words : relatives kidnap
#N/A

Key words : spokesperson Pakistan detained
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190227_32/

A spokesperson for Pakistan's military says forces of the country shot down two Indian fighter jets that crossed the de-facto border between the 2 countries' sides of the disputed Kashmir region on Wednesday morning.

One of the jets reportedly crashed into the Pakistani side of the de-facto border, and the other into the Indian side.

The spokesperson said Pakistani forces detained a pilot who was on one of the jets.

Tension between the two countries has been escalating since a suicide bomb attack by a Pakistani Muslim extremist killed 40 Indian security personnel in Indian-controlled Kashmir on February 14.

This prompted India to carry out airstrikes on Pakistan on Tuesday.

Key words : Japanese delegate
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190227_16/

A Japanese delegate at a UN Human Rights council meeting has spoken out against a South Korean delegate's remarks on those referred to as comfort women.

Kiyoto Tsuji, Japan's Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, spoke on Tuesday at the session. He rebutted a statement made by South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha on Monday.

Kang said her government acknowledges that previous efforts to resolve the comfort women issue were lacking in a victim-centered approach.

She said South Korea's government is now honoring those women by ensuring that their stories are not lost, and that current and future generations can learn from their experiences.

Tsuji said Japan and South Korea had reached a bilateral agreement on comfort women in 2015. Both countries decided that the issue was resolved "finally and irreversibly."

He added that the two countries also agreed to refrain from criticizing each other over the issue in the international community, including the United Nations.

Tsuji referred to Seoul's decision last year to dissolve a fund that supported the women and their families. Japan financed the project as specified in the 2015 agreement. Tsuji said the move is totally unacceptable to Japan.

He stressed the importance of implementing the 2015 agreement, and that it is "highly appreciated" by the international community.

Tsuji pointed out that inaccurate information has led to misunderstandings on the issue in the international community, including in the United Nations. He called on all countries to recognize that it is vital to understand the issue based on objective facts.

Key words : Japanese officials trade deal
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190227_28/

Japanese officials have amended their trade deal with countries in Southeast Asia. The revised agreement is expected to help businesses on both sides.

The Economic Partnership Agreement liberalizes services and investment between Japan and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN.

Foreign Minister Taro Kono signed the revised deal on Wednesday.

Japan's Foreign Ministry says the new reciprocal protocol will further open the fields of finance, education and communications.

Markets that interest Japan include countries such as Myanmar -- which has strict controls on foreign capital. The country is sometimes referred to as the last frontier in Asia.

Japanese corporations expect the amended agreement to help them advance into Myanmar's construction and air transport markets.

The new EPA goes into effect across ASEAN after each country completes its domestic approval procedures.

Key words : May facing criticism
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190227_09/

British Prime Minister Theresa May is facing criticism after she mentioned for the first time the possibility of delaying the country's exit from the European Union.

Speaking in parliament on Tuesday, May reiterated her intention of holding a vote on the withdrawal deal by March 12.

She said if the deal is voted down, lawmakers will be asked on the following day to vote on leaving the bloc without an agreement.

May said that if they reject a no-deal Brexit, she will ask them to vote on March 14 whether they agree to a short delay in the departure.

She ruled out Britain's participation in the European Parliament election in May, and said a short extension, not beyond the end of June, would almost certainly have to be a one-off.

She said "an extension cannot take no-deal off the table" and asked lawmakers to support her deal.

Parliamentarians who want to avoid a no-deal Brexit have welcomed May's offer. But those who want to keep to the deadline say they won't support her unless contentious issues are addressed.

Observers say May's offer has made a no-deal Brexit a little less likely for now, but a delay would deepen the divide and confusion within the ruling Conservative Party.

Key words : special investigative health and scandal
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190227_27/

A special investigative panel of Japan's health and labor ministry says there was no systematic cover-up in the ministry's flawed statistics scandal.

The ministry set up the panel of outside experts in January to probe illegalities linked to its monthly survey on wages and working hours.

The panel concluded the ministry had no intention to cover up the flaws. But it was forced to reexamine the matter after its work was criticized as too hasty.

The panel compiled a report on Wednesday saying all former heads of the ministry's statistics division since 2004, when the flaws began, denied knowing the data were skewed.

As for their subordinate section chiefs, the panel learned that an individual who assumed the post in 2013 was the first to notice the flaws. But the person did not make corrections, and deleted references to the flaws from a statistics survey manual.

The head of the office in charge of the survey learned of the flaws from a predecessor, and began correcting the data last year. But the person neither publicized the correction procedure nor reported it to his superiors.

The panel report clears both the section chief and the office head by pointing out it cannot acknowledge that an intentional cover-up took place.

Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers are demanding to know whether the prime minister's office played a role in the change of the survey method.

The panel report denies that the method change was aimed at making it seem that wages had gone up. It says the move was aimed at making the data more understandable for users, and describes it as statistically rational.

Health and labor minister Takumi Nemoto said he will read the report thoroughly, and vowed to spearhead efforts to establish governance in his ministry to correct administration of statistics from the root. He said he takes the harsh criticism seriously.

Seiji Osaka of the Constitutional Democratic Party is the top opposition director of the Lower House Budget Committee. He said the report's conclusion that no cover-up took place when in fact one did makes the report meaningless. He dismissed what he described as the ministry's interpretation of facts for its own convenience.

Key words : Japan antitrust squeezing
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190227_13/

Japan's antitrust watchdog will begin probing major online retailers for allegedly squeezing vendors through loyalty-reward programs.

The investigation will come just as the Japanese unit of Amazon is planning to launch a new program in late May.

Amazon Japan plans to give shoppers refunds in the form of points. The catch for the suppliers is that they are the ones who must pay the costs. The Fair Trade Commission suspects the system could overburden the vendors.

Economy Minister Hiroshige Seko said if the online retailers abuse their dominant position, it could hurt their suppliers financially.

Seko said, "Small and medium-sized firms are especially dependent on the online shopping sites. I firmly expect the Fair Trade Commission to probe the matter quickly and take necessary action."

The commission is also planning to look into Japanese IT firms including Rakuten and Yahoo Japan.

Key words : government panel measure minimize
#N/A

2019年2月26日火曜日

at 20:00 (JST), February 26 AS

sample エラー 2042

South Korea's Foreign Minister has said her government needs to respond to the feelings of those referred to as comfort women.

US Vice President Mike Pence has called for the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190226200000_english_1.mp3

Key words : Kim arrived scheduled
#N/A

Key words : north state-run commented
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190226_32/

North Korea's state-run media have commented on the upcoming meeting between the country's leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump.

The ruling Workers' Party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, said on Tuesday that the entire country has been filled with excitement since the news on Sunday about the leader's departure from Pyongyang for the summit in Hanoi.

A state-run website stressed on Monday that North Korea closed its nuclear test site in the country's northeast, and stopped its ballistic missile launches.

The website said that if the US responds appropriately to such efforts by the North, bilateral relations could reach a new level.

Key words : south respond
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190226_19/

South Korea's Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha has said her government needs to respond to the feelings of those referred to as comfort women.

Kang spoke before the UN Human Rights Council which convened in Geneva on Monday.

She noted her government "has humbly acknowledged that previous efforts on this issue had been grossly lacking in this regard."

She said Seoul is now "committed to the victim-centered approach in support of the survivors' aspiration for justice based on historical truth."

She said the government is "also honoring them by ensuring that their stories are not lost and current and future generations learn from their experience."

Kang disclosed that South Korea plans to organize a global conference this year where countries can discuss how to respond to sexual violence during conflicts.

The South Korean foreign minister also attended a nuclear disarmament meeting and referred to the upcoming summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

She said the Korean peninsula has now become a source of hope for global security. And she hopes the talks will have effective results.

In regard to Kang's remarks on comfort women, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga disclosed that Japan's mission in Geneva has asked South Korea's representatives to honor a previously signed bilateral agreement.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Suga said the two governments agreed in 2015 to finally and irreversibly resolve the issue of those referred to as comfort women.

He said this was confirmed in a summit meeting that took place immediately after that as well.

He added that even if the administration changes, the agreement must continue to be responsibly observed.

Suga added that the agreement has been highly lauded by the UN and other global institutions, and South Korea has an obligation to Japan as well as to the international community to solidly implement it.

Key words : Pence
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190226_27/

US Vice President Mike Pence has called for the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Representatives of about 10 countries, including the United States, Brazil and Argentina, held an emergency meeting in the Colombian capital Bogota on Monday to discuss the political crisis in Venezuela.

The countries are backing Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido, who is the head of the National Assembly and self-declared interim president.

Guaido told the meeting that Venezuela is on the verge of crisis and needs the support of the international community.

Pence read out a message from US President Donald Trump that the United States is with the Venezuelan opposition 100 percent. He reiterated that the US has all options on the table.

Local media reports say Brazil and some other countries strongly opposed Guaido's insistence that US military intervention is an option.

Key words : tension India and fighter
#N/A

Key words : majority Cubans
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190226_28/

The majority of Cubans voted in favor of amending the constitution in a referendum held on Sunday.

The new constitution is designed to maintain the Caribbean country's socialist single-party system and policies concerning the basis of the administration.

But the promotion of financial liberalization is clearly stipulated, and citizens will be allowed to own private assets. Foreign investment is identified as a significant factor for economic development.

The amendments also call for establishing new posts of president and prime minister. The president will be the head of state and can serve a five-year term for up to two terms.

Fidel Castro and his brother Raul spearheaded the Cuban revolution and ruled their country for decades. The elder Castro died in 2016 and his brother succeeded him but stepped down in April of last year.

As the younger Castro is expected to retreat from the political scene soon, observers say moves are underway to disperse power.

Cuba's current constitution was ratified in 1976.

Key words : Iranian invited
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190226_34/

The Iranian government has invited media to tour a port that's being developed with international cooperation . It wants to show that the project is proceeding despite US sanctions.

The port of Chabahar began partial operations last year. Domestic and foreign media were invited to view the facility on Monday.

The port is situated in southeast Iran, along a transport route that connects the Indian Ocean with the landlocked nation of Afghanistan and other parts of Central Asia.

India has invested heavily in the project. It sees the port as important both from trade and strategic standpoints. Japan has also helped plan the project.

An Iranian official in charge of operations said, "I hope the Chabahar port will lead to increased sea traffic and serve as a gateway to countries in the region."

The United States last year imposed economic sanctions on Iran after President Donald Trump's decision to pull out of the nuclear agreement between Iran and major powers.

However, the US government granted a waiver for the Chabahar project, saying it's part of a vital transportation corridor.

Key words : aging manager
#N/A

Key words : today's news keywords succession in smaller business
#N/A

Key words : government panel maximum
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190226_29/

A Japanese government panel says the maximum probability of a magnitude-seven earthquake occurring along the Japan Trench in the next 30 years is more than 90 percent.

The Japan Trench in the Pacific off eastern Japan is where the Pacific plate sinks beneath the continental plate. It has been the site of numerous mega-quakes, including one that hit eastern Japan in March 2011.

The government's earthquake research panel released its new assessment of the trench area on Tuesday.

It says the probability of a magnitude-nine mega-quake is almost zero percent.

But there is 90 percent or higher chance of a huge quake of around magnitude seven or seven-point-five off eastern Aomori, northern Iwate and Miyagi prefectures.

Panel chief Naoshi Hirata, a professor at the University of Tokyo, is warning people in northeastern Japan not to think there won't be any more huge earthquakes, and to be ready.

Key words : transport links
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190226_25/

Transport links to western Japan's biggest air hub are close to being restored after smooth progress in repair work on a damaged bridge.

The bridge connects Kansai International Airport in Osaka Bay to the mainland.

It was damaged last September when a tanker smashed into part of the structure during a typhoon. Three of the six lanes had to be closed.

The infrastructure ministry says repairs are going well and one lane will reopen on March 7th.

If everything goes smoothly, the remaining lanes will be fixed ahead of schedule, in early April.

2019年2月25日月曜日

at 20:00 (JST), February 25 AS

sample

More than a quarter of eligible voters in Sunday's Okinawa referendum rejected the landfill work to relocate a US military base.

US President Donald Trump has reiterated that he is not in a rush on the issue of North Korea's denuclearization.

Trump has announced he is extending the March first deadline to reach a trade deal with China.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190225200000_english_1.mp3

Key words : more than a quarter rejected
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190225_03/

More than a quarter of eligible voters in Sunday's Okinawa referendum rejected the landfill work to relocate a US military base. This outcome obliges Okinawa's governor to convey the result to Japan's prime minister and the US president.

Japan's southern prefecture of Okinawa held the referendum on the ongoing landfill work in waters off the Henoko district of Nago City in the prefecture. The central government's project aims to prepare reclaimed land to transfer the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station currently located in a densely-populated area within the prefecture.

With all votes counted, 434,273 voters rejected the reclamation project, followed by 114, 933 others in favor.
52,682 voters chose the "neither" option. The voter turnout was 52.48 percent.

The referendum result shows 38 percent of eligible voters are against the landfill. The figure exceeded the ordinance-designated benchmark of 25 percent that obliges the governor to honor the result and report it to the prime minister and the US president.

Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki says the referendum has clearly shown the residents' objection to the landfill project. He now plans to step up his call on the Japanese and US governments to give up the planned relocation of the US air station. He says he will take all possible measures to halt the relocation.

But the central government plans to proceed with the relocation work to have the Futenma air station returned to Japan as soon as possible. The referendum result is not legally binding.

There is concern that antagonism could further deepen between the central and Okinawa governments.

Key words : Tamaki satisfaction
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190225_19/

The governor of Okinawa Prefecture indicated his satisfaction with the referendum result by giving a thumbs-up sign to reporters on Monday morning.

Denny Tamaki thanked prefectural government employees for their work on promoting the referendum, which had a voter turnout of more than 50 percent.

He said the result reflects the views of Okinawa's residents.

Key words : defense shows the will
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190225_17/

Japan's defense minister says while Sunday's referendum result rejecting a plan to relocate a US air base shows the will of people in Okinawa, it is clear they also strongly want the current base returned to Japan.

Takeshi Iwaya was speaking to reporters on Monday after nearly 40 percent of the southwestern prefecture's eligible voters rejected the ongoing landfill work for the relocation of the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station.

The defense minister said he wants to answer the people of Okinawa's call to have Futenma returned. He said the government will proceed with the landfill work, while continuing to make the case for it sincerely.

Iwaya also said the security environment surrounding the southwestern region is becoming increasingly severe.

He said the region must be protected through efforts by Japan's Self-Defense Forces and the deterrence of the US military presence in Okinawa.

The defense minister said he believes protecting Okinawa means protecting Japan and that the government will seek to reduce the burden of hosting US bases in Okinawa while maintaining deterrence.

Key words : Iwaya existing
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190225_27/

Japan's Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya says an existing method for stabilizing soft ground can be used at the relocation site for the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture.

Iwaya was speaking at a Lower House committee meeting on Monday.

It comes after the Defense Ministry revealed that about 77,000 piles are needed to stabilize land to be reclaimed at the site, located in the coastal district of Henoko in the prefecture. The area accounts for 40 percent of the site, and is as deep as 90 meters.

Iwaya said he will disclose details such as how to drive piles into the seabed at an appropriate time.

A senior ministry official explained about previous cases of piling work to the committee. He said 1,700 piles were driven into the seabed to a depth of up to 65 meters at Yokohama Port.

The official also said 250,000 piles were used for ground stabilization at Haneda Airport, and over one million at Kansai Airport in Osaka Prefecture. In both cases, they went to a depth of up to 44 meters.

When asked by an opposition leader how much time and money were spent on those projects, the official said the ministry needs permission from the companies that did the work before disclosing the details.

Key words : Trump rush
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190225_24/

US President Donald Trump has reiterated that he is not in a rush on the issue of North Korea's denuclearization.

The president was speaking at the White House on Sunday on the eve of his departure for the second US-North Korea summit, in Hanoi, Vietnam .

Trump said he saw eye-to-eye with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and that they had developed "a very, very good relationship."

He said he would be happy as long as North Korea maintains its suspension of nuclear and missile testing.

He said he is not in a rush nor would he let anybody rush into a nuclear deal, implying that he will take time to achieve denuclearization.

Some US lawmakers have voiced concern that pressure on the North could be eased without seeing substantial progress on denuclearization at the upcoming summit.

Key words : beers and cocktail
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190225_18/

Beers and cocktails with a summit theme are being sold in Hanoi ahead of the meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

A bar in the Vietnamese capital started serving a craft beer named "Kim Jong Ale" last week.

Chili powder gives the dark brown brew a spicy flavor. The drink costs about three dollars.

The bar manager says they are getting about 10 orders a day for the beer, and she hopes the summit will be a success so that many people will enjoy the drink.

A pub has created a cocktail with bourbon from the US, a Korean spirit called soju, and Vietnamese pineapple juice. The pink concoction is topped with a strawberry and the US and North Korean flags.

A man who tried the cocktail said it's a bit strong, but he can also taste a hint of pineapple and he liked it.

The pub's owner is hopeful that the summit will lead to lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Key words : Trump extending concluded
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190225_15/

US President Donald Trump has announced he is extending the March first deadline to reach a trade deal with China.

Trump tweeted on Sunday that the two sides have made substantial progress in talks and he will be delaying the US increase in tariffs as a result.

The announcement comes as the two countries wrapped up extended high-level trade talks in Washington.

Trump says the negotiations have led to progress on intellectual property protection, technology transfer, and agriculture.

He also says he's hoping to host a summit at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida to conclude an agreement with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

Senior officials from the two countries have been trying to narrow their differences over four days of talks.

China's state-run Xinhua news agency quotes the country's delegation as saying the negotiations concluded with significant progress.

The world's two largest economies started slapping heavy tariffs on each other last year. And the US is threatening to take things a step further by raising tariffs on 200 billion dollars' worth of Chinese goods to 25 percent, if the two sides fail to come to an agreement by the deadline.

Key words : huge
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190225_20/

Huge sums of money sit stagnating in unclaimed, dormant bank accounts in Japan. Now thanks to changes in the law, the government plans to start putting some of it to good use.

Officials will give out up to four billion yen, or roughly 36 million dollars, in fiscal 2019.

That's out of an estimated one billion dollars that is deemed dormant every year. The money is in accounts that have been inactive for a decade or more.

The distributed funds will help support good causes. These include non-profit organizations and volunteer groups that revitalize local communities and provide child-care support.

The money is being made available based on a law passed in 2016. It allows the dormant cash to be used to fund public projects run by the private sector.

Officials say the money will be offered through foundations and other groups to be chosen by the Japan Network for Public Interest Activities.

The government wants to start doling out the funds toward the end of the year. Officials plan to gradually increase the amount given annually from fiscal 2020.

Key words : sharing
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190225_25/

Two leading Japanese firms plan to launch an on-demand ride-sharing service. Toyota and Softbank see a promising market in the growing number of people who think of cars as something to use, but not to own.

The joint venture is called Monet Technologies. A trial run of the new service starts on Tuesday.

80 people who work in Tokyo are taking part in the month-long test. They'll use a smartphone app to reserve rides for their daily commute.

Groups of up to four people will share a van. It comes with Wi-Fi and individual desks.

Feedback from the trial run will be used in developing an AI-program that dispatches vehicles efficiently. Researchers also want to find out what specific features commuters want.

Monet Technologies plans to launch the service using self-driving vehicles as soon as 2023.

Key words : solar panel
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190225_21/

The Japanese government is unveiling new measures designed to make sure solar panels are disposed of without harming the environment.

Nearly 200 million of the panels are in use around the country.

But the devices contain toxic materials, including lead. Officials worry that the high cost of disposing of them could result in illegal dumping.

Solar array operators are currently required to set aside funds to cover disposal costs. The industry ministry instead wants this money to go to a third party in order to prevent misuse.

Officials plan to finalize the details by the end of the year.

Solar panels spread rapidly in Japan after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, when power shortages prompted the government to push renewable energy.

Key words : researcher Showa
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190225_30/

A team of Japanese researchers has developed software featuring artificial intelligence that helps doctors make diagnoses from endoscopic examinations.

The AI-based software used for colonoscopies will hit the market next month.

Researchers from Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital and Nagoya University Graduate School are among the experts who developed the software.

The software immediately analyzes endoscopic images and displays numerical values that indicate whether polyps found during examinations are malignant and the probability of them becoming malignant.

This will help shorten the time for examinations and help doctors make diagnoses.

More and more people undergo endoscopic examinations amid increasing public awareness.
But with the number of medical institutions declining, there is a heavier burden on doctors.

Professor Shinei Kudo heads the Digestive Disease Center at Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital. He said some doctors conduct endoscope examinations even if they are beginners and sometimes remove polyps that don't need to be removed.

Kudo said the AI-based software will help doctors make quicker diagnoses and its use is a step forward for medical treatment.

2019年2月24日日曜日

at 20:00 (JST), February 24 AS

sample

A ceremony to celebrate 30 years of Emperor Akihito's reign has been held in Tokyo, with the attendance of the Imperial couple.

North Korea's state-run television has confirmed the country's leader Kim Jong Un left Pyongyang by train on Saturday, for a summit with the US president in Hanoi.

Donald Keene, a distinguished scholar of Japanese literature, has died at the age of 96.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190224200000_english_1.mp3

Key words : ceremony 30 years in Tokyo
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190224_20/

A ceremony to celebrate 30 years of Emperor Akihito's reign has been held in Tokyo, with the attendance of the Imperial couple.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the Speaker and President of both chambers of the Diet, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, members of the Diet, representatives of businesses and foreign ambassadors to Japan also attended Sunday's event at the National Theatre.

In his congratulatory speech, Abe said the Emperor has served as the symbol of the state and the unity of the people during the past 30 years, carrying out his duties with devotion, and always standing close by to the people.

Abe also said that, amid the rapidly changing international situation, the people of Japan are determined to work for the creation of a bright future for Japan as a country full of hope and pride, while keeping the way the Emperor has lived deep in mind.

Fukushima Governor Masao Uchibori and former Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi also gave speeches.
Kawaguchi has accompanied the Imperial couple on a number of overseas visits.

Uchibori thanked the Emperor for sending a video message to the public after the 2011 quake and tsunami disaster, saying it encouraged and united people.

A singer from Okinawa, Daichi Miura, performed a song written by the Emperor and composed by the Empress after they met people living in a leprosy sanatorium in the southern prefecture.

The Emperor said, for the 30 years in the Heisei Era, Japan has been supported by the strong will of the people seeking peace. He added that it has been the first era in the modern and present ages of the country that has never experienced wars.

The Emperor also said that he has been able to fulfill his duties to this day, thanks to the people who take pride and pleasure in having him as the symbol of unity.

He added that his thanks also go to the high levels of living and cultural standards that the people have achieved over a long course of history.

Emperor Akihito is schedule to abdicate on April 30. Crown Prince Naruhito's accession is set for the next day, May 1.

Key words : Okinawa cast election
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190224_19/

Voters in Okinawa are casting ballots in a referendum on the ongoing land reclamation work to relocate a US military base within the southwestern Japanese prefecture.

Election officials say the estimated voter turnout was 26.29 percent as of 6 PM on Sunday. The officials also say 237,447 people, or about 20 percent of eligible voters, cast early ballots before Sunday.

Voters are being asked to choose whether they support, oppose, or neither support nor oppose the landfill work to relocate the US Marine Corps Futenma air station to a coastal area of Henoko district in Nago City.

The result of the referendum is not legally binding. But a prefectural ordinance stipulates that, if the most popular option is chosen by at least one quarter of all eligible voters, the governor must respect the outcome and convey it to the Japanese prime minister and the US president.

Vote counting will begin immediately after polling stations close at 8 PM.

The central government says the relocation is the only way to reduce the dangers posed by the airbase, which is currently located in a crowded residential area of Ginowan City.

The Okinawa government, however, opposes the plan. It wants the base moved out of the prefecture altogether. Okinawa hosts about 70 percent of US military facilities in Japan. Some people there argue it's an unfair burden.

Key words : north television
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190224_21/

North Korea's state-run television has confirmed the country's leader Kim Jong Un left Pyongyang by train on Saturday, for a summit with the US president in Hanoi.

Korean Central Television aired footage on Sunday of Kim's sendoff at Pyongyang station as he left for the US-North Korea summit on Wednesday and Thursday in the Vietnamese capital.

The video shows the North Korean leader slowly walking along a red carpet with an honor guard lined up. People are waving pink flowers. After getting on the train, Kim waves back.

His sister, Kim Yo Jong, and a close aide, Kim Yong Chol, are accompanying him.

The train is believed to be on its way to Vietnam, but the details of its actual route are unclear, including whether it passed through the Chinese capital of Beijing.

The national highway from China's southern border region to Hanoi will reportedly be closed between 6 AM and 2 PM on Tuesday, suggesting Kim's motorcade may be passing through at that time.

There is speculation that Kim may also use a plane to avoid the heavy security arrangements that would be necessary if he travels all the way to Vietnam by train.

Key words : survey Russia business
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190224_12/

A survey by a Japanese organization suggests over three quarters of the country's companies doing business in Russia have concerns about the effects of sanctions by the United States. That's despite about 70 percent of them expecting to post profits from their Russian operations for 2018.

The Japan External Trade Organization, or JETRO, contacted 132 firms working in Russia last October and November. 114 companies responded.

The survey results show that 76 percent of firms are cautious about expanding their business operations in Russia, taking into account the effect of US sanctions that were stepped up last year.

Some said they have experienced difficulties acquiring parts in Russia as their business partners are targeted by sanctions. Others said their headquarters in Japan have lowered their priority on doing business in Russia.

Meanwhile, the survey shows 73 percent of the firms expect to post profits from their Russian operations for 2018. The figure is the highest since JETRO started the survey in 2013.

Most of the firms cited an increase in sales as a factor behind the rise.

JETRO's Moscow office says the results reflect Russia's mild economic recovery, but points to the need to monitor the effects of sanctions. It also points to currency swings and complex customs clearance procedures as risk factors.

Key words : Donald distinguished
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190224_14/

Donald Keene, a distinguished scholar of Japanese literature, has died at the age of 96. He died of heart failure on Sunday morning in a hospital in Tokyo.

Keene was born in New York in 1922 and first studied the Japanese language in the US Navy. After World War Two, he enrolled at Kyoto University to study Japanese literature.

For over 50 years, Keene was professor of Japanese literature at Columbia University in New York, inspiring students with his passion for his field. He is known for introducing Japanese culture internationally through his translations of classical and modern Japanese literature.

He personally knew a number of great Japanese writers, including Junichiro Tanizaki, Yasunari Kawabata and Yukio Mishima. Keene is known for offering his advice to the Swedish Academy which selects the Nobel Prize for Literature.

In 2008 Keene was awarded the Order of Culture, the country's highest cultural award.

After the 2011 quake and tsunami disaster in Japan, Keene left New York and permanently moved to Japan in a show of solidarity with those affected. In March the following year, he became a Japanese citizen.

In recent years Keene had been continuing his work. According to his agent, he had been in and out of hospital since last fall.

2019年2月23日土曜日

at 20:00 (JST), February 23 AS

sample

Trade talks between top officials from the US and China will be extended by two days as both sides try to strike a deal by a March 1st deadline.

US and North Korean officials are continuing talks in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi as they prepare for a summit there between their leaders later this month.

Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito marks his 59th birthday on Saturday. He will ascend to the throne on May 1st, one day after his father, Emperor Akihito, abdicates.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190223200000_english_1.mp3

Key words : trade talks between will be
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190223_06/

Trade talks between top officials from the United States and China will be extended by two days as both sides try to strike a deal by a March 1st deadline.

After two days of ministerial-level talks in Washington, US President Donald Trump met with the leader of the Chinese delegation, Vice Premier Liu He.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who also was present at the talks, later revealed that the ministerial-level talks will be extended.

Trump also reiterated that he might extend the tariff deadline if a deal is close to being reached. He added that he might meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping at his Florida resort sometime in March.

The two countries are still far apart over many issues, including how China's laws force US firms to share their technology in order to do business in China.

Key words : Chinese state-run Xi
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190223_12/

Chinese state-run media says President Xi Jinping has sent a message to US President Donald Trump reporting "good progress" in trade talks between the two countries.

The message was conveyed to Trump on Friday by Vice Premier Liu He.

Xi indicated a wish to communicate more closely with Trump.

Trump told Liu the ministerial talks have come a long way but there is still much to be done.

He added he is looking forward to meeting Xi in the near future, to jointly witness a "historic moment" in bilateral trade and economic relations.

Key words : US and Hanoi summit there
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190223_13/

US and North Korean officials are holding a third day of talks in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi as they prepare for a summit there between their leaders next week.

North Korea's envoy, Kim Hyok Chol, visited the hotel of the US special representative for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, on Saturday.

The delegations are apparently fine-tuning a reference to the denuclearization of North Korea in a joint statement to be issued at the conclusion of the summit.

The US is eager to pursue the agreement that the countries reached at a summit last year, which includes a commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, better ties, and lasting peace.
US officials are hoping to work out a roadmap for North Korea's denuclearization, which would require Pyongyang to accept inspections and dismantle its Nyongbyon nuclear complex.

In return, Washington appears ready to resume humanitarian aid, and would also agree to the opening of liaison offices in both countries.

North Korea is likely to call for a declaration to end the Korean War, which it sees as a security guarantee, as well as the reopening of the Kaesong industrial complex.

Kenji Kanasugi, the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Chief, and Lee Do-hoon, South Korea's special representative for peace and security on the Korean Peninsula, are also in Hanoi.

Key words : Trump withdrawing reducing
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190223_07/

US President Donald Trump has ruled out withdrawing or reducing the US military presence in South Korea as part of moves to denuclearize the North.

Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday the option is not on the table. His second meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is scheduled for next week in Hanoi.

Trump hailed his first meeting with Kim in Singapore, calling it a great success. He boasted that if he were not president, there would already have been a war with North Korea.

Key words : Naruhito birthday
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190223_01/

Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito marks his 59th birthday on Saturday. He will ascend to the throne on May 1st, one day after his father, Emperor Akihito, abdicates.

The Crown Prince held a news conference ahead of his birthday at his residence in central Tokyo. He said that he feels solemnity when thinking of the path he will soon be embarking upon, but said he will continue to improve himself with the deeds of previous Emperors in mind.

The Crown Prince added that as the symbol of the state, he will carry out his duties as Emperor by trying to keep the Japanese people in his heart, while praying for them and feeling sadness with them when there are times of sorrow, as the current Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko have always done.

The Crown Prince also touched on water conservation issues that he has long been involved with.

He says he will pray for the stability and continuous growth of people's everyday lives while drawing on the knowledge he has acquired by focusing on the importance of disaster prevention and damage mitigation.

The Crown Prince also referred to Crown Princess Masako who has been recuperating from an illness. He said he believes his wife will continue to make efforts each and every day to aim for a full recovery.

He also added that it might not be possible for her to quickly acquire the strength to carry out all of her duties as Empress.

Emperor Akihito's abdication will end the current "Heisei" era under Japan's traditional calendar.

When reporters asked the Crown Prince what he thought of the "Heisei" era, he replied that during the current era Japanese have earned a worthy international reputation, and made many achievements on the global stage.

He said that he is particularly happy to see an increasing number of young Japanese, including teenagers, stand out.

He thinks Japan, a country that has enjoyed more than seven decades of peace following the war, now provides a platform for younger generations to cherish their dreams and unleash their talents as future leaders.

Key words : Abe separate
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190222_51/

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has held separate meetings with Emperor Akihito and Crown Prince Naruhito. He is believed to have briefed them on governmental preparations for the upcoming Imperial succession.

Abe met the Emperor at the Imperial Palace on Thursday to report privately on matters of state.

What they discussed is not known because it's customary not to disclose the details of the prime minister's private report to the Emperor.

The prime minister on Friday visited the Crown Prince's Residence.

Government officials say he briefed the Crown Prince on situations on domestic and foreign affairs.

The meetings took place ahead of a government ceremony on Sunday to mark Emperor Akihito's 30 years on the throne.

The Emperor will abdicate on April 30th. The government has decided on outlines for how to conduct the Imperial succession ceremonies.

Government officials will announce on April 1st the name of the new era that will replace the current Heisei era when Crown Prince Naruhito ascends to the throne on May 1st.

Abe is believed to have briefed the Emperor and the Crown Prince on these matters.

Key words : Takeshima
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190222_80/

A senior Japanese government official has pledged to continue efforts to resolve a territorial dispute with South Korea over the Takeshima Islands in the Sea of Japan. South Korea controls the islands. Japan claims them.

Cabinet Office Parliamentary Vice-Minister Hiroshi Ando was speaking at an event on Friday to mark Japan's incorporation of the islands into Shimane Prefecture on February 22nd, 1905.

In 2005, Shimane Prefecture designated the date as Takeshima Day, and has since held a commemorative ceremony every year.

This year's event took place in the prefectural capital Matsue, with relations between Japan and South Korea strained over historical matters including a wartime labor issue. Some 460 people took part.

Ando, who is in charge of territorial matters, said it is clear that the Takeshima issue is a problem that goes to the very foundations of a nation.

He said he will work even harder with local government officials to promote a correct understanding of Japan's stance on the issue at home and abroad.

Shimane Governor Zembee Mizoguchi also spoke at the ceremony. He said South Korea is stepping up its efforts to establish its control over the islands as fact.

He said talks between the governments of Japan and South Korea are essential to resolve the issue.

He called on the central government to keep discussing the matter with Seoul at the negotiation table.

The Japanese government maintains the Takeshima Islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory. It says South Korea is illegally occupying them.

Kim Yong-kil, the South Korean Foreign Ministry's Northeast Asia Affairs Bureau chief, lodged a protest over the ceremony with Koichi Mizushima, a minister at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul.

A statement by the South Korean Foreign Ministry demands that Japan's government immediately stop all provocations over the islands, calling them an integral part of South Korean territory historically, geographically and under international law.

Key words : concert Venezuela
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190223_10/

A concert to raise funds for Venezuela was staged on Friday in the Colombian border city of Cucuta. The event was supported by the Venezuelan opposition, which is trying to arrange aid for the troubled country.

More than 30 Latin American performers took part.

Organizers say the show drew about 300,000 people, who chanted "Venezuela is free."

A separate concert on the Venezuelan side of the border opposed foreign aid coming into the country. The government of President Nicolas Maduro says about 150 performers took part.

Meanwhile at least two people were killed and more than 20 wounded when soldiers on the border with Brazil opened fire on a protest against the government's attempt to block the foreign assistance.

National Assembly leader and self-declared president Juan Guaido pledged deliveries would start on Saturday.

Maduro is determined to block the incoming aid, which he claims is a US ploy to invade.

2019年2月22日金曜日

at 20:00 (JST), February 22 AS

sample

The Japan's Agency says its Hayabusa2 space probe has successfully landed on the asteroid Ryugu.

The US government says it is ready to extend economic assistance to North Korea if the country commits to complete denuclearization.

NHK has learned that US National Security Advisor will hold talks with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts, ahead of the second US-North Korea summit.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190222200000_english_1.mp3

Key words : Hayabusa successfully landed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190222_27/

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, says its Hayabusa2 space probe has successfully landed on the asteroid Ryugu in its first attempt to collect rock samples there.

JAXA says the spacecraft touched down on the asteroid at around 7:29 AM on Friday, Japan time.

Hayabusa2 began its decent toward Ryugu a little after 1:00 PM on Thursday from an altitude of 20,000 meters, aiming for a small, six-meter-wide touchdown zone.

The spacecraft switched to autonomous landing mode about 500 meters above the asteroid. It then used sensors to calculate its position and maneuver itself to the landing point.

Hayabusa2 features a rock-collecting device about one meter long that extends from its bottom and comes in contact with the asteroid's surface. It is designed to fire bullets into the surface and gather the rocks that this stirs up.

JAXA says one bullet was successfully fired as planned.

Cheers erupted in JAXA's control room near Tokyo when the probe's successful touchdown was confirmed.

Mission Manager Makoto Yoshikawa expressed relief, saying he believes the achievement represents a new start for planetary science.

Hayabusa2 is to return to an altitude of 20,000 meters after completing its scheduled steps, and prepare for the next touchdown.

JAXA plans to make one or two more attempts to collect rock samples before the spacecraft leaves Ryugu.

Hayabusa2 started its journey in 2014 and arrived above the asteroid 300 million kilometers from Earth in June of last year. The mission's primary goal is to collect rock samples that could provide insights into the origin of life. The spacecraft is scheduled to return to Earth toward the end of 2020.

Key words : manager mission world leader
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190222_44/

The manager of Japan's Hayabusa2 space probe mission has expressed confidence that the country remains the world leader in exploring asteroids.

Makoto Yoshikawa told NHK on Friday that the probe's first touchdown on the asteroid Ryugu was the mission's biggest challenge.

Yoshikawa said the probe stayed above Ryugu longer than its predecessor did above another asteroid before landing on it. He said this enabled Hayabusa2 to search Ryugu in detail and run touchdown simulations.

He said Hayabusa2's one or two more touchdowns will be very risky, so the project team won't be too optimistic.

Yoshikawa added that he'll be truly relieved when the probe returns to Earth.

He said the project involves many young scientists and that experiences from the first Hayabusa mission have been passed on to the current team.

Key words : high hope
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190222_29/

Japanese science minister Masahiko Shibayama has expressed high hopes for the ongoing Hayabusa2 mission.

Shibayama said on Friday that the details will remain unknown until the space probe returns to Earth, but he hopes that rock samples were successfully collected from the asteroid Ryugu and that the samples will shed light on the origin and the evolution of the solar system as well as the study of life.

He added that the Hayabusa2 mission is attracting significant attention from overseas. He praised the mission for demonstrating Japan's technological prowess to the world.

Key words : economic assistance
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190222_19/

The US government says it is ready to extend economic assistance to North Korea if the country commits to complete denuclearization.

The White House issued a statement on Thursday ahead of the second summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, scheduled to be held next week in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi.

It said that President Trump has made it clear that if North Korea follows through on its commitment to denuclearize, the United States will work to ensure there are economic development options.

Earlier in the day, high-ranking US government officials told reporters in a teleconference that one-on-one talks between the two leaders and an expanded meeting attended by ministers from both sides are scheduled at the upcoming summit. The officials also said that a joint statement is expected to be issued after the talks.

The officials denied that the United States and North Korea are discussing the possibility of withdrawing US troops from South Korea in exchange for the North's denuclearization, saying that the topic has never been brought up in preparatory talks with the North.

Key words : foreign minister expressed hope
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190222_46/

Japan's foreign minister has expressed hope for reaching a nuclear deal between the United States and North Korea before the 2020 US presidential election.

Taro Kono was speaking to reporters on Friday ahead of the planned second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un next week in Vietnam.

Kono noted that the US has a presidential race every four years, and that the presidential term is four years.

He said he understands that scrapping all of North Korea's nuclear weapons and missiles will take time.

He stressed that a certain decision to that end should be made while Trump is in office.

Kono also commented on South Korea's proposal to reestablish railway links between the two Koreas as part of inter-Korean economic cooperation to help implement denuclearization. He said he understands that any economic cooperation should come after sanctions against the North are lifted.

He also said reopening the Kaesong industrial complex and the Mount Kumgang resort in the North, whose operations were suspended as part of the sanctions, should not be allowed.

Key words : learned
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190222_34/

NHK has learned that US National Security Advisor John Bolton will hold talks with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts, ahead of the second US-North Korea summit scheduled for next week in Vietnam.

US and South Korean sources say Bolton will visit Busan in South Korea on Sunday. He will meet the head of Japan's National Security Council Secretariat, Shotaro Yachi, and South Korea's National Security Office chief, Chung Eui-yong.

The three are expected to confirm the close coordination of their stances ahead of the summit. The US government has hinted that the country may be ready to help with North Korea's economic development if the North commits to complete denuclearization. The three are likely to discuss how to bring about the denuclearization of North Korea.

Yachi is also expected to seek cooperation from the US side on resolving the issue of North Korea's abductions of Japanese nationals.

Bolton will travel to the summit venue of Hanoi after the talks.

Key words : authorities assessing
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190222_33/

Authorities are assessing the damage from a magnitude 5.8 earthquake that struck Japan's northern main island of Hokkaido on Thursday night.

Four people reported minor injuries following the quake. More than 70 households are still without water.

Officials are warning of more seismic activity.

The quake occurred at 9:22 PM in the central part of the island at a depth of 33 kilometers.

Last September, a magnitude 6.7 quake in the area killed 41 people.

Toshiyuki Matsumori of the Japan Meteorological Agency said Thursday's quake was an aftershock.

Officials in Atsuma say some mudslides occurred, but no damage has been reported.

An earthquake expert is warning of possible landslides. He says last year's quake has loosened the ground and warned people living near sloping land or hillsides to evacuate as a precaution.

At Hokkaido's New Chitose Airport, about 120 people were forced to stay overnight.

Across Hokkaido, as many as 680 passengers were stranded in trains for hours. Officials say some rail services were still disrupted in the morning, but that operations will mostly resume by early afternoon.

Key words : senior pledge
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190222_80/