at 20:00 (JST), February 19 AS

Japan's Honda Motor is to shut down its manufacturing plant in southern England by the end of 2021.

Japan's Prime Minister is to ask the US President to convey a message to North Korean leader when the two leader's summit this month.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary says the government has protested a South Korean research ship's entry into Japan's territorial waters.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190219200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : Honda motor manufacturing plan president
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190219_35/

Honda Motor says it plans to shut down its manufacturing plant in Swindon, southwest England, in 2021.

President Takahiro Hachigo described the decision as part of efforts to restructure global manufacturing operations. That includes a new focus on electric vehicles.

Hachigo said, "We have decided, from the point of view of competitiveness, that it will be difficult to produce electric vehicles in Europe."

Hachigo stressed that the decision is not connected to Brexit, although he admitted there are uncertainties and concerns over possible effects on parts procurement.

Honda says sluggish sales in the European market are also a factor in the decision.

The company builds 150,000 vehicles in Swindon per year, with a third of them going to the European market.

It says it will move production for those sales to other regions and will provide support to around 3,500 affected workers at the UK plant.

Honda also announced a plan to cease production at a smaller plant in Turkey in 2021.

Worries are mounting in the UK, as many people had expected large manufacturers to stay in the country even after Brexit.

Key words : prime ask convey
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190219_34/

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he will ask US President Donald Trump to convey to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un his ideas about how to resolve the issue of abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korea.

Abe met with the families of abductees in Tokyo on Tuesday.

He told the families he will speak with Trump over the phone before the second US-North Korea summit, scheduled for next week.

Abe added that he truly regrets his inability to bring the abductees home, even though he has been in office for six years now. He reaffirmed his commitment to resolving the issue, making use of every opportunity.

The head of the families' group, Shigeo Iizuka, said the families wish to live quietly with their loved ones.

He handed Abe the group's action guidelines, which call for the immediate return of all abductees, as well as a message to Kim Jong Un. The message says they will not oppose the normalization of diplomatic ties between Japan and North Korea if all the abductees come home soon.

Key words : Abe telephone conversation
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Key words : chief cabinet protest
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190219_27/

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga has revealed that the government has protested a South Korean research ship's entry into Japan's territorial waters near the Takeshima Islands in the Sea of Japan.

Suga said at a news conference on Tuesday that a South Korean research vessel entered regional waters last Friday and from Sunday to Monday.

This prompted the Japan Coast Guard to issue warnings and to patrol the area.

Suga said the Japanese government has demanded through diplomatic channels an explanation from South Korea for the ship's actions. He added that if the ship is engaged in research, that activity is being done without Japan's consent and cannot be permitted.

Japan also lodged an official protest with South Korea last November, after confirming the entry of a South Korean research ship twice into waters near Takeshima.

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

Key words : China and south
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190219_29/

China and South Korea will each send a senior naval officer to an annual meeting of Asian-Pacific countries hosted by Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force.

The meeting of naval academy instructors will start on Monday of next week at the MSDF's Command and Staff College in Tokyo. It is aimed at deepening mutual understanding among the region's navies.

The MSDF says the participants include South Korea and China. It will be the first time in six years that China has participated.

They will exchange views on cooperation in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions.

The meeting comes as the defense authorities of Japan and South Korea remain at odds over a December radar incident.

Tokyo says a South Korean naval vessel directed its fire-control radar at a Japanese patrol plane. But Seoul denies the act.

Earlier this month, Japan notified South Korea that it would cancel a planned port call by a destroyer to the South Korean city of Busan. A scheduled visit by a South Korean navy commander to Japan was also cancelled.

The MSDF chief, Yutaka Murakawa, said that the participation of China and South Korea in the meeting will benefit the region's security. He said the MSDF will continue its efforts to build relationships of trust.

Key words : California suing
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190219_16/

California, New York and 14 other US states are suing President Donald Trump over his declaration of a national emergency to build a border wall with Mexico.

The states filed a lawsuit against the president on Monday, claiming misuse of presidential power.

Last week, Trump declared a national emergency and vowed to stop what he calls a national security crisis at the border. The move would give the president more money to fund construction of the wall than what was authorized by Congress.

The states involved in the lawsuit say the number of illegal immigrants into the US is falling, and the situation does not constitute a national emergency.

They say budgetary authority lies with Congress, and changing this using presidential power violates the Constitution.

Earlier, a standoff between Trump and the Democratic Party over border wall funding led to a partial government shutdown.

Of the 16 states that filed the lawsuit, 15 states are led by a Democratic governor.

Trump appears to be ready to fight the legal case until it reaches the Supreme Court.

Key words : US and Chinese
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190219_19/

The US and Chinese governments have fixed the dates for another round of ministerial-level trade talks this week. They will have two days of talks starting Thursday.

The Chinese Commerce Ministry says Vice Premier Liu He will visit Washington to meet US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

The US government says the two sides will also hold deputy-level negotiations from Tuesday, ahead of the ministerial meeting.

The US intends to impose higher tariffs on imports from China unless the talks result in a deal by March 1st.

In the previous ministerial meeting in Beijing last week, the two sides discussed the US trade deficit, as well as the forced transfer of technologies from US companies operating in China.

Both said progress has been made, but the US also said there still are many challenges ahead, indicating that some distance remains between them.

US President Donald Trump has said he is willing to extend the deadline for talks if a deal is close.

Key words : Former Maldives arrest
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190219_28/

Former Maldives President Abdulla Yameen is under arrest on charges including money laundering related to the island nation's tourism development.

A criminal court in Male, the capital of Maldives, ordered that Yameen be held in custody on Monday.

His charges include the alleged transfer of about one million US dollars of government money to his bank account via a private company engaged in a resort developing project.

He is also suspected of trying to influence witnesses to testify in favor of him in court.

Yameen reportedly denies the allegations.

Yameen is known for his pro-China stance and autocratic rule.

After taking office in 2013, Yameen pursued foreign policies heavily relying on China and promoted infrastructure projects with massive loans from the country.

While he was in office, many of his political opponents were arrested.

Yameen failed in his bid for re-election when a pro-India candidate, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, beat him in the presidential election last September.

Key words : China unveil
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190219_03/

China's government has unveiled a development plan aimed at further integrating Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macau.

The plan announced on Monday involves the development of the "Greater Bay Area," which consists of Hong Kong and Macau, as well as nine cities in the province, such as Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

This follows last year's opening of a bridge and tunnel route between Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau.

Under the plan, Beijing aims to create a cluster of world-class cities, hoping it will contribute to advancing its "One Belt, One Road" initiative.
The government wants to make Hong Kong, Macau, Guangzhou and Shenzhen engines of economic growth.

It views Hong Kong as a financial and trade hub, Macau as a major tourism and leisure destination, Guangzhou as an international commerce and transportation hub, and Shenzhen as a city specializing in innovation.

The plan also calls for more convenient transportation with a high-speed railway linking Guangzhou and Hong Kong, and the massive sea-crossing.

It also proposes nurturing new industries, such as fifth-generation mobile networks, advanced medical technologies and electric cars.

The latest plan may provide a boost to the Chinese economy, which last year grew at the slowest pace in 28 years.

Key words : Kono definitely
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Key words : Venezuela opposition leader calling for
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190219_06/

Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido is calling for a million volunteers to help bring in much-needed humanitarian aid that has been held up at the border.

The move comes after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro prevented the aid supplied by the United States and other countries from entering by barricading a bridge that connects Venezuela with Colombia.

The pro-US opposition led by Guaido, who has declared himself interim president, launched an online campaign asking people to sign up as volunteers.

The opposition says 700,000 people had signed up by Monday.

Maduro's government, backed by China and Russia, is expected to shut down the website seeking volunteers.

The opposition plans to gather volunteers near the border to bring in the humanitarian supplies.

There are rising concerns of a possible confrontation between volunteers and the troops and police officers who remain loyal to Maduro's government.

Key words : witnessing
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190219_23/

Japan is witnessing a possible outbreak of measles, with the number of patients since the start of this year hitting the highest in a decade.

Measles is a highly infectious disease that causes fever and a rash across the body. Pregnant women can suffer a miscarriage or premature birth when infected.

The National Institute of Infectious Diseases says that 22 new patients were reported across the country in the week to February 10. This brought the total number of patients since the start of this year to 167 in 20 prefectures.

The figure marks the seasonal highest in a decade, and second largest since 2008, when the number of patients throughout the year exceeded 10,000.

By prefecture, the largest number of patients, 49, were reported in Mie Prefecture in central Japan, followed by 47 in Osaka, 17 in Aichi and 11 in Tokyo.

Since 2011, indigenous transmissions have not been reported. Experts say infections this year can also be blamed on a virus from abroad.

The World Health Organization warned that measles outbreaks have hit many parts of the world over the past several years, with infections spreading mainly in Asia and North America.

Officials at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases are calling on those who cannot confirm being vaccinated to receive an inoculation. They also urge those who suspect they may be infected with the measles to inform clinics before visiting them to prevent the further spread of the disease.

Key words : Naomi
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190219_08/

Tennis star Naomi Osaka's soaring success in 2018 has been rewarded with the Breakthrough of the Year prize at the Laureus World Sports Awards.

Winners of the prestigious awards were announced in Monaco on Monday. Osaka is the first Japanese to be honored since the Laureus awards began in 2000.

Osaka's breakthrough season saw her beat Serena Williams to claim her first Grand Slam title at the US Open last September.

Osaka went on to win another Grand Slam, the Australian Open, in January. She now stands at the top of the women's singles world rankings.