at 20:00 (JST), March 31 AS

The name of Japan's new era is to be decided on Monday. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga will announce the new name at 11:30 a.m.

North Korea has described a February break-in at the country's embassy in Spain as a "grave terrorist attack."

French President Emmanuel Macron's centrist party has officially launched a campaign for the European Parliament elections in May.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190331200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : name of source
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190331_03/

Japan's next emperor will usher in a new name of the era. Following a Cabinet decision, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga will announce the new name at 11:30 a.m. on Monday.

On March 14, the government officially asked multiple experts to come up with two to five options for the new name. The experts have since submitted their proposals along with the meaning and source of each option.

The government will first narrow down the list according to various criteria such as whether the name is easy to read and write. Then on Monday morning, it is expected to present several candidate names to a panel of representatives from various fields.

The Chief Cabinet Secretary will then hear the opinions of chiefs and deputy-chiefs of both chambers of the Diet before discussing the matter at a meeting of all cabinet ministers.

The new era name will be finalized in a government ordinance for changing the era name, which will be announced during the day.

Following Suga's announcement at 11:30 a.m., Prime Minister Sinzo Abe will explain the selection at around noon.

The new name will take effect on May 1, when Crown Prince Naruhito ascends the throne. Emperor Akihito will abdicate a day earlier on April 30.

The name of the current era is Heisei.

Key words : voters in
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190331_16/

Voters in Ukraine are heading to the polls to choose their next president.

Voting began at 8 a.m. on Sunday. Many people were seen casting their ballots in the capital, Kiev.

Thirty-nine candidates are running in the poll that is held every five years. Opinion surveys held just ahead of the election show Volodymyr Zelenskiy is in the lead. The 41-year-old comedian has no political experience.

He is followed by the incumbent president, Petro Poroshenko, and former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

The candidates accuse Russia of annexing the southern Ukrainian region of Crimea in 2014.

But they differ in their degree of opposition to Russia. Poroshenko maintains a hardline stance and does not rule out the possibility of armed conflict. But Zelenskiy has increased his opinion poll ratings by pledging to avoid the use of force.

The Ukrainian situation prompted Western countries to impose sanctions on Russia, which implemented retaliatory steps.

Western nations and Russia are closely monitoring the election. They want to know how the next Ukrainian administration will seek to resolve the issue of Crimea and the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Vote counting will begin immediately after the polling stations close at 8 p.m. on Sunday. Preliminary results are expected to be announced on Monday morning.

Key words : north describe
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190331_15/

North Korea has described a February break-in at the country's embassy in Spain as a "grave terrorist attack."

A spokesperson for North Korea's Foreign Ministry issued a statement through the nation's state-run media on Sunday.

This is Pyongyang's first official comment on the incident, in which men from a group opposed to the North Korean leadership broke into the country's Embassy in Madrid on February 22.

The group calls itself Free Joseon, and was also known as Cheollima Civil Defense. The group said last week that it was behind the break-in and "shared certain information of enormous potential value with the FBI in the United States."

The statement says the men bound, beat and tortured the Embassy staff and "extorted the communication apparatus" at the embassy. The statement describes the incident as a grave breach of state sovereignty and says such acts should never be tolerated.

The statement cites what it says are rumors that the FBI and "small-fry" anti-North Korean forces were involved in the incident.

It calls on the Spanish authorities to investigate the incident in conformity with international law and says North Korea will "wait for the result in patience."

The statement stops short of criticizing the US. But the embassy raid could become another source of tension between the US and North Korea, depending on the outcome of the investigation.

Key words : French president
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190331_12/

French President Emmanuel Macron's centrist party has officially launched a campaign for the European Parliament elections in May.

The "Republic on the Move" party held the first rally on Saturday. It introduced 30 candidates including former cabinet ministers and a former NGO representative for the May election.

They include Natalie Loiseau who resigned as France's European affairs minister to run for the European Parliament. She talked about the importance of international unity against nationalist movements.

She told supporters that she wants to hand over a stronger France and more unified Europe to the next generation.

The crowd cheered, waving French and European flags.

A 55-year-old man said he thought Macron and the "Republic on the Move" party can unite Europe.

In a recent poll 23 percent of respondents said they would vote for the "Republic on the Move." But the right-wing Eurosceptic National Rally party got almost the same level of support.

As skepticism against the EU spreads in European countries, the election is seen as a test for "Republic on the Move" candidates who are calling for more international coordination.

Key words : police in Japan
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190331_11/

Police in Japan say they will come down hard on cocaine after officers opened a record number of criminal investigations last year into the use, or trafficking, of the drug.

The National Police Agency says officers nationwide took action in 2018 against 197 people in 434 cases, including illicit sales or use of the drug. Both figures are the highest since record-taking began in 1959.

42 percent of those investigated by the police, or 83 people, are foreign nationals.

Cocaine has a high-dependency risk. The stimulant's effects last only a short time, leading to repeated use in a single day. A large intake could result in death.

Agency officials say one of the factors behind the increased use of cocaine by Japanese is the rise of visitors from overseas in recent years.

They plan to cooperate with customs and other agency officials to prevent the influx of cocaine from abroad. They also plan to strengthen its crack down on trafficking by introducing a device that can identify the substance on the spot.

at 20:00 (JST), March 30 AS

Thai police say a group of Japanese men now under arrest may have collected about 800,000 dollars this month alone in an alleged money transfer fraud.

In Britain, lawmakers have shot down the prime minister's Brexit deal for a third time.

エラー 2042

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190330200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : Thai group of
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190330_19/

Thai police say a group of Japanese men suspected of money transfer fraud may have collected about 800,000 dollars this month alone.

Police arrested 15 men in a raid on a home in the resort city of Pattaya on Friday on suspicion of working illegally in the country. The men, ranging in age from 22 to 54, allegedly used the home as the base for a criminal operation.

Police later recovered a list of 500 Japanese names. The list contains phone numbers, addresses, as well as the method used to defraud them and the amount collected from each person.

The men reportedly rented the 5-bedroom property a few months ago. About 20 computers, 50 telephones and desks were found in the home.

On the walls were posters with sales targets, as well as charts and graphs of goals, success rates and other figures.

Police also found instructions on how to carry out scams such as by pretending to be an employee of an online security firm or an adult site.

The Japanese men have reportedly declined to answer questions by Thai police.

Japanese police are preparing to fly to Thailand.

Key words : Mike Kang
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190330_17/

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha held talks in Washington on Friday.

The meeting at the State Department lasted about 40 minutes. It came ahead of the April 11 summit in Washington between Presidents Donald Trump and Moon Jae-in.

The State Department has not disclosed details of the meeting.

But Pompeo and Kang are believed to have discussed ways to deal with North Korea after the second summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi last month ended without an agreement.

Before leaving the State Department, Kang told reporters it was a good meeting.

The Moon administration favors economic cooperation with the North, including resuming operations at the Kaesong industrial complex.

But the US says it will not lift sanctions on North Korea unless Pyongyang complies with denuclearization.

Next week, South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo is to visit the US to hold talks with the US Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan.

Key words : expressed opposition easing
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190330_16/

Britain's ambassador to the United Nations Karen Pierce has expressed opposition to easing UN sanctions on North Korea. She says China and Russia want to ease the sanctions, but keeping up the pressure is the most important thing.

Pierce spoke to NHK at UN headquarters in New York on Friday.

The ambassador said Britain continues to follow very closely the fact that there are Russian ships helping to illegally transfer at sea oil and other goods into North Korea. She said she thinks "the Russians and the Chinese want to get sanctions relief for North Korea." She noted they believe that will encourage the North to take concrete nuclear steps. She said the UK, however, does not quite see it like that.

Pierce also spoke on the importance of sending home overseas North Korean laborers who reportedly earn some 800 million dollars a year. She said she will call on China, Russia and other countries "to take action by the end of this year to send those laborers home".

Pierce is the first female British ambassador to the UN.
Following the resignation of the US envoy Nikki Haley, Pierce has often led discussions at the UN Security Council.

Key words : in britain shot down
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190330_03/

In Britain, lawmakers have shot down the prime minister's Brexit deal for a third time.

This leaves them about 2 weeks to cobble together a new plan or risk crashing out of the European Union with no deal at all.

The House of Commons on Friday voted down the motion with 286 in favor and 344 against.

MPs voted on one section of the deal, the withdrawal agreement.

But they set aside the political declaration laying out the future relationship between Britain and the EU.
Friday marked the original day the country was supposed to leave the bloc but Theresa May had gotten a slight delay.
Now with this latest defeat, Britain has until April 12th to come up with its next plan.

Key words : voter poll
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Key words : Venezuela assistance
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190330_18/

The government of embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro says it will accept international humanitarian assistance.

The government announced on Friday that it had decided to accept 65 tons of medical and other supplies from China. The first batch has already arrived.

The government thanked China for what it calls support for maintaining socialism.

Venezuela has been hit by hyperinflation. Food and other daily necessities are scarce.

Maduro maintains anti-US policies and has backing from China and Russia. The head of the national assembly, Juan Guaido, declared himself interim president and he has support from the United States.
Guaido has been trying to bring in aid supplies from the US, but Maduro blocked the efforts, arguing that the opposition leader is trying to use the aid to bring down his government.

Also on Friday, the International Committee of the Red Cross announced that it is consulting with the Maduro government about delivering humanitarian aid.

Guaido claimed credit for this, but the International Committee of the Red Cross denies this, saying that it "can never accept interference from other actors."

Key words : avenue inside
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190330_20/

An avenue inside the Imperial Palace in central Tokyo has been opened to the public for cherry blossom viewing. The Imperial Household Agency says more than 40,000 people visited the street on Saturday.

About 700 people were waiting outside a palace gate on Saturday morning for a chance to walk along Inui Street before Emperor Akihito's abdication on April 30.

The street was opened to the public for the first time in the spring of 2014. It commemorates the 80th birthday of Emperor Akihito.

The public has since been granted access during the spring cherry blossom season and in the autumn, when leaves change color.

More than 100 cherry trees of about 30 varieties line the street. A number of the Somei-Yoshino trees are almost in full bloom, while other varieties are at their best.

Many visitors took photos in front of the castle moat or stone walls.

The area is open to the public through April 7.

at 20:00 (JST), March 29 AS

Japanese people now have a time for the unveiling of the name of the country's new era, long-awaited announcement will be made at approximately 11:30 a.m. on Monday.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in will visit the United States next month for a summit meeting with US President Donald Trump.

More than 20,000 people gathered in New Zealand on Friday to remember those killed two weeks ago in a mass shooting.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190329200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : Japanese people more than
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190329_37/

Japanese people now have a time for the unveiling of the name of the country's new era, which will start when the new Emperor takes the throne on May 1. The Chief Cabinet Secretary says the long-awaited announcement will be made at approximately 11:30 a.m. on Monday.

Yoshihide Suga says before that, he'll meet with an expert panel and hear their views on name proposals. After more discussions, the Cabinet will decide. Then around noon, Suga says the Prime Minister will explain the selection.

On Friday, the Prime Minister met with Emperor Akihito to report on state affairs. It's believed Shinzo Abe briefed the Emperor on the progress being made to select a new era name.

The era name is common in many facets of daily life and is used to mark the year. Dates on official identification and documents including driver's licenses use that system, not the western calendar.

The system has been used continuously for more than 13 centuries.

Japan will usher in the new era on May 1, when Crown Prince Naruhito ascends the throne. Emperor Akihito is set to abdicate the day before, bringing the current Heisei era to a close.

Key words : economy trade and
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190329_22/

The Economy, Trade and Industry Minister is reminding businesses that they need to adjust their computer systems for Japan's new era that begins in May.

Hiroshige Seko spoke to reporters on Friday, three days before the name of the new era is announced on Monday. The next era will begin when Crown Prince Naruhito ascends to the throne on May 1, succeeding Emperor Akihito.

Seko said the ministry is urging firms via its website and industrial organizations to prepare their computer systems to ensure a smooth transition.

A survey by the ministry found that 20 percent of companies have not yet confirmed whether their computer networks are using the Japanese calendar.

The ministry is urging firms to closely coordinate with contractors and to repeatedly conduct tests to avoid problems.

Key words : Moon visit
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190329_20/

South Korean President Moon Jae-in will visit the United States next month for a summit meeting with US President Donald Trump.

A senior official of South Korea's presidential office announced on Friday that Moon will visit Washington on April 10 and 11 at Trump's invitation.

The official said the meeting, which will take place on the second day, will discuss ways to strengthen the bilateral alliance and coordinate their stance on achieving peace on the Korean Peninsula through complete denuclearization.

The two leaders' last meeting was in November last year in Argentina on the sidelines of the G20 summit.

The latest opinion survey by Gallup Korea shows that Moon's approval rate has fallen to 43 percent, the lowest since he took office. His opponents express dissatisfaction with his policies on the economy and North Korea.

Moon apparently wants to promote dialogue between the US and North Korea since last month's summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Vietnam failed to reach an agreement.

Key words : Trump in a speech
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190329_28/

US President Donald Trump has said in a speech that his opponents who pursued the Russia probe are sick and must be held accountable.

Trump's speech at a rally in Michigan on Thursday was his first since a summary of a report by special counsel Robert Mueller was submitted to Congress on Sunday.

The 4-page summary by Attorney General William Barr cleared Trump and his election campaign team of conspiring with Russia during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Trump said "the collusion delusion is over." He added that Democrats who are still expressing doubts should be held accountable because they know "it's all lies."

US media say Mueller's report is more than 300 pages long.

Barr is said to be preparing to release, within several weeks, a portion of the report excluding classified information.

But Democrats are demanding full disclosure, and say they're determined to continue their probe in Congressional committees.

Trump is likely to fight back. He has taken to Twitter to demand that one of his leading critics, Democrat Adam Schiff, resign from Congress. Schiff heads the House Intelligence Committee.

Key words : more than 20,000
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190329_16/

More than 20,000 people gathered in New Zealand on Friday to remember those killed two weeks ago in a mass shooting.

On March 15, a gunman killed 50 people at two mosques in the southern city of Christchurch.

The state-sponsored national remembrance service took place in a park near one of the mosques. Bereaved families, local residents and representatives from about 60 countries attended.

A man who lost his wife in the attack addressed the gathering. He spoke about seeing all people as part of one family despite differences in faith and culture.

The crowd listened solemnly as the names of all 50 victims were read aloud.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said, "We have never been immune to the viruses of hate and of fear," and, "We can be the nation that discovers the cure." She added, "The answer lies in our humanity."

The ceremony was broadcast live on TV. Mourning ceremonies were held across the country to remember the victims and show solidarity with the Muslim community.

Key words : sony plans to
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190329_18/

Sony plans to close its smartphone factory in China, in a bid to streamline its money-losing handset business.

The Japanese electronics maker has been manufacturing high-end models of its Xperia series at the plant in Beijing.

But company officials say operations will stop at the end of this month.

Sony's smartphone business is projected to post a loss of 860 million dollars for the fiscal year that ends Sunday.

The officials say they will continue producing the remaining Xperia models at a plant in Thailand. They will carry on with other cost-cutting efforts, with an eye on profitability.

Global smartphone sales are in decline. One reason is a lack of new hit products. Also, consumers are upgrading their devices at a slower pace than before.

Key words : Sankyo
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190329_31/

Japan's leading pharmaceutical company Daiichi Sankyo and its British rival AstraZeneca have signed a deal to jointly develop and sell a cancer drug.

AstraZeneca will pay Daiichi up to 6.9 billion dollars in the partnership. The Japanese firm has been developing the drug to treat breast and stomach cancers.

Clinical trials are currently underway, including patients in the United States.

The firms hope to file the drug for US regulatory approval by the end of this year.

The tie-up means Daiichi can accelerate the development of the new treatment and expand sales overseas.

Daiichi is expected to take commercial rights in Japan, the US and Europe, while AstraZeneca will focus on markets in China, Australia, Canada and Russia.

Major players in the pharmaceutical industry have been looking to establish global businesses in a bid to boost earning capacity in the oncology sector.

Another Japanese firm, Eisai, teamed up with Merck last year.

Key words : Taiwan prevent
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190329_14/

Messaging app provider LINE will offer a fact-checking service in Taiwan from June to prevent the circulation of fake news.

LINE Taiwan, which has about 21 million users, announced the plan on Thursday.

LINE users will be able to forward any dubious information they receive to a fact-checking account.
Citizens' groups with expertise in fact-checking will build a database to answer the queries from LINE users.

The circulation of fake news on social media has become a social problem in Taiwan.

Last September, a Taiwanese official in Japan killed himself after facing harsh online criticism over his handling of Taiwanese travelers who had been stranded at Kansai Airport by a typhoon. But it was later discovered that the information that triggered the denunciation was incorrect.

Key words : Suntry
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Key words : today's news keywords segment plastic waste
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Key words : Japan justice ministry
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190329_29/

Japan's Justice Ministry has found more than 700 new cases of suspected labor law violations involving employers of foreign technical interns who fled their work.

The ministry reexamined the results of interviews with 5,218 interns who left their workplaces between January 2017 and last September.

Officials were already aware of legal violations involving employers of 38 of the interns.

They now say another 721 are suspected of being made to work under unlawful conditions including non-payment of wages and excessive overtime work. The ministry says it has passed on the results to labor standards inspection offices.

The ministry says a reexamination of records also found that 171 foreign interns had died in the six years from 2012. That's 43 more than it originally knew of.

The issue of missing foreign interns became a subject of debate in a Diet session late last year. Legislation to allow more foreign workers into the country was enacted during the session.

at 20:00 (JST), March 28 AS

The Japan's top government spokesperson is to announce the era name of the next Emperor's Reign on Monday.

North Korean state-run media have reported that leader Kim Jong Un held photo sessions with officers after attending a military conference.

The US was isolated at a UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday as other countries criticized its decision to recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190328200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : government plans to announce the name
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190328_03/

The Japanese government plans to have its top spokesperson announce the name for the era of the nation's new Emperor next Monday.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga is to make the announcement after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet endorses the new era name. This will be followed by comments from Abe.

There are no set rules in regard to disclosing the name of a new era. But the government appears to be following the procedures for the era change in 1989, when then-Chief Cabinet Secretary Keizo Obuchi made the announcement.

Suga also customarily discloses decisions made by the cabinet as government spokesperson.

Obuchi read out comments on the era name by then-Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita. But this time, Abe appears set to release his comments on his own.

The change apparently seeks to make clear what Abe hopes the new era will be like.

Meanwhile, the government is making final adjustments to name nine members to the panel that will be shown candidate names prior to the cabinet endorsement.

They include Nobel Prize laureate and Kyoto University professor Shinya Yamanaka.

Two are women. Three are members of the media.

The government earlier appointed multiple scholars to propose names for the new era.

Japan ushers in the new era on May 1 when Crown Prince Naruhito ascends the throne. Emperor Akihito is to abdicate on April 30, bringing the Heisei era to a close.

The name of the new era will be announced one month before it begins.

Key words : north state-run reported
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190328_23/

North Korean state-run media have reported that leader Kim Jong Un held photo sessions with officers after attending a military conference.

Ranking officers of the Korean People's Army attended the two-day conference in Pyongyang that ended on Tuesday.

The ruling Workers' Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported on Thursday that Kim held photo sessions with the conference participants the previous day in front of a sports stadium and the party's headquarters.

State-run media reported on Wednesday on a speech by Kim in which he vowed to further strengthen the military.

The report did not say if Kim referred to North Korea's relations with the United States or its nuclear and missile development.

Observers say Kim apparently intends to highlight his support for the military and tighten his grip on power after the second US-North Korea summit ended without an agreement.

Key words : British voted on eight
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190328_12/

Britain's Parliament has voted on eight options regarding the country's departure from the European Union, but none of them won majority backing.

Britain was slated to leave the EU on March 29. But the departure was postponed after Parliament twice rejected a Brexit deal agreed to by Prime Minister Theresa May and the EU.

British lawmakers deliberated on alternatives to May's plan on Wednesday in an attempt to break the impasse.

Among the eight alternatives put to a vote, a second referendum and remaining in a customs union with the EU garnered the most support. But neither won a clear majority.

Some lawmakers are suggesting narrowing down the options for another round of votes next week.

The results of the voting are not legally binding. May has made clear her government will agree to constructive talks, but will not be bound by the results.

May told Conservative lawmakers before the vote that she would step down earlier than planned if the party backed her Brexit deal. This has raised speculation she is aiming for a third vote on the deal.

Key words : US isolate
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190328_21/

The United States was isolated at a United Nations Security Council meeting on Wednesday as other countries criticized its decision to recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

The emergency meeting of the Security Council was convened at Syria's request.

US President Donald Trump signed a decree on Monday recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the plateau that Israel seized from Syria in the 1967 Middle East War.

The US representative told the meeting that the presence of Syrian troops in the area of separation between Syria and Israel violates the ceasefire agreement.

He said the US decision was a measure to protect Israel's right to defend itself.

But most other Security Council members, including the United Kingdom and Russia, criticized the US decision.

They said the unilateral move by the US violates international law and Security Council resolutions that the US has previously supported.

Representatives from Syria and Israel also attended the meeting and criticized each other.

The emergency council meeting was limited to discussions because the US as a permanent member has veto power.

Key words : chinese premier
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190328_32/

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has pledged to give foreign companies greater access to his country's markets.

Li made the pledge in a speech on Thursday at the Boao Forum for Asia on the island of Hainan, China.

He said Beijing will take legislative steps to improve the business environment for foreign firms and protect their intellectual-property rights and other interests.
Those issues are sticking points in US-China trade talks.

The premier highlighted a law enacted this month that bans forced technology transfers to Chinese firms.

Li said China will also ease conditions for entering its telecommunications, infrastructure, financial services and other markets.

China and the United States are resuming ministerial talks on trade in Beijing after a month-long break.

Beijing is apparently aiming to gain understanding from the US and the rest of the international community.

Li also mentioned his economy's slowing growth. He cited a high level of uncertainty, adding China is prepared to deal with any contingencies.

The annual Boao forum has drawn more than 2,000 participants, including government officials, businesspeople and academics, mainly from Asia.

Key words : president ask
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190328_20/

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has asked the United States for arms sales to counter military pressure from China.

Tsai visited Hawaii on Wednesday where she took part via Internet videolink in an event hosted by the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation in Washington.

Tsai accused China of heightening military tension, limiting Taiwan's international activities and using every opportunity to change the status quo.

Chinese President Xi Jinping maintains that the "one country, two systems" would be best for integrating Taiwan.
Tsai has rejected the idea, saying that developments in Hong Kong show "one country, two systems" will just become one country.

She stressed the need for cooperation from the US administration of President Donald Trump through the sales of F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan.

Some US lawmakers at the event voiced support for Taiwan.

Taiwan's presidents have made stopovers in the US, but China has asked the US not to allow them as they violate its One China Principle.

Tsai took part in the event in Washington from her stopover in Hawaii and made public appeals for Taiwan. She also visited Hawaii's state facility.

Key words : chancellor of
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190328_27/

The chancellor of Austria says a far-right group in the country received money from a donor with the same name as a man suspected of killing 50 people in the New Zealand mosque shootings.

Sebastian Kurz said on Wednesday that the Identitarian Movement had received a donation of 1,500 euros, or about 1,700 dollars, last year from someone with the same name as the suspect.

Kurz said a full investigation is underway into any possible connections between the suspect and the Identitarian Movement.

New Zealand authorities are investigating the 28-year-old Australian suspect who has been charged with murder following the March 15 attacks on two mosques in Christchurch.

The head of the Identitarian Movement, Martin Sellner, admitted receiving an online donation in early 2018 from a person with the same name as the suspect. But he said he never met the man and denied having any links to the shootings.

The Identitarian Movement has been linked to Austria's far-right Freedom Party, a coalition partner with the People's Party led by Chancellor Kurz.

Opposition lawmakers are demanding that the Austrian parliament look into possible connections between the Identitarian Movement and the Freedom Party.

Key words : facebook
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190328_13/

US social networking giant Facebook has announced a ban on praising, supporting and representing white nationalism and separatism on its platforms.

Facebook said on Wednesday that the ban will go into effect next week. The new rule will be applied to Instagram as well as Facebook.

The firm said its policies had long prohibited hateful treatment of people based on race, ethnicity or religion, including white supremacy. But it added that it had not applied the same rationale to white nationalism, because it was thinking about "broader concepts of nationalism and separatism," which are an important part of people's identity.

Facebook said it had consulted with experts before deciding on the ban.

The move comes two weeks after attacks on mosques in New Zealand killed 50 people. Facebook has been under fire for leaving white supremacist and other racist posts on its platforms.

The firm vowed to improve its ability to use artificial intelligence and other means to automatically delete posts that violate its policies.

Key words : Honda
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190328_29/

Japanese automaker Honda Motor is getting on board a joint venture by 2 other industry giants to develop automated transport services.

Toyota and SoftBank founded Monet Technologies last year.

On Thursday, Monet said Honda will acquire more than 9 percent of its shares. Truck maker Hino Motors, a Toyota subsidiary, will take an equal sized stake.

Monet plans to tie up with about 100 local governments over the next three years. The aim is to launch a mobility service as early as 2023 with fully autonomous electric vehicles being developed by Toyota.

Honda will take part in the testing process, allowing Monet to use data from the firm's vehicles.

When announcing the joint venture plan, Toyota and Softbank said they aimed to enhance mobility services through the use of data and artificial intelligence.

The venture also aims to build self-driving cars that can handle everything from ride-sharing to food delivery and Hospital-shuttle services.

Key words : operator Fukushima unveil
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190328_28/

The operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has unveiled a robot that will be used to examine a damaged reactor. The probe is expected to begin this summer as part of a long-term plan to remove molten fuel.

Tokyo Electric Power Company gave a media preview on Thursday of the boat-shaped submersible robot that will be sent inside the container vessel of the No.1 reactor.

TEPCO says this is one of six types of robots that will be used to confirm the presence of nuclear debris, or deposits of a mixture of molten fuel and reactor parts. Previous probes have already confirmed the presence of nuclear debris at the No.2 and No.3 reactors.

The robot unveiled on Thursday is about 110 centimeters long and 25 centimeters in diameter, and is equipped with cameras and dosimeters. It will set up equipment for installing cables needed for remote-control operations.

Five other types of robots will be used to perform other tasks.

TEPCO plans to begin the probe by this summer, and hopes to collect a small sample of sediment from the bottom of the container vessel.

The submersible robot was developed by Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy. An official of the firm, Yoshio Nonaka, expressed hope that the robot will prove useful in obtaining a broad picture of what is inside the reactor.

Key words : Japanese insurer
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190328_15/

A Japanese insurer plans to provide insurance coverage for flying car tests as the new technology starts to take off.

Sources say Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance will launch the product in April. It will provide payouts if flying cars cause damage or injuries during testing.

The coverage will apply to land and air operations for vehicles that are both driven and driverless.

Companies in the US and Dubai are already carrying out test flights for flying vehicles. Analysts say the technology could ease city congestion and improve access for rural areas.

at 20:00 (JST), March 27 AS

A dissident group says it was behind an incident in which armed men stole computers from North Korea's embassy in Madrid last month.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that the country may carry out further attacks against the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza.

A team of Japanese researchers says an existing drug could be effective in treating an intractable motor neuron disease ALS.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190327200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : incident behind
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190327_20/

A dissident group says it was behind an incident in which armed men stole computers from North Korea's embassy in Madrid last month.

The group, which calls itself "Free Joseon" and is also known as Cheollima Civil Defense, has been engaged in activities criticizing North Korea's government. The group posted a statement on its website on Tuesday night acknowledging its involvement in the embassy incident.

On February 22, armed men reportedly tied up and gagged embassy personnel and stole computers and cellphones before they fled. However, the statement said the men were invited into the embassy, and that no one was gagged or beaten. It says its "fight is only against the regime's practices."

A Spanish judge announced on Tuesday that the 10 intruders included South Korean and American citizens and that the main culprit is a Mexican resident of the United States.

The group says there were no other governments involved with or aware of its activity. However, it said it "shared certain information of enormous potential value with the FBI in the United States." The group says it shared that information based on the bureau's request.

The FBI refused to comment on the statement.

Before the group released the statement, US State Department spokesperson Robert Palladino denied that the US government had anything to do with the incident.

In 2017, the dissident group released a video clip purportedly showing the son of Kim Jong Nam, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's half-brother, who was killed at an airport in Kuala Lumpur. The group announced that it had moved the son and two other members of Kim Jong Nam's family to a safe place.

Key words : Israel warned prepare
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190327_06/

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that the country may carry out further attacks against the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza.

Netanyahu said on Tuesday that in the last 24 hours, the Israeli military had destroyed major Hamas installations on a scale not seen since the end of the military operation in Gaza four years ago.

He said they are prepared to do a lot more to defend the people and the state of Israel.

He made the remarks after cutting short his trip to the United States due to the escalating violence.

There was information from Hamas that the two sides had agreed on a ceasefire, and the violence had halted.

But Israeli media quoted a government source on Tuesday as saying that no ceasefire agreement has been reached and the military can resume attacks anytime.

The Israeli military has mobilized tanks along the boundary with Gaza and called up reserves.

Key words : militant group check
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190327_28/

The Islamic State militant group has claimed responsibility for an attack at a checkpoint in northern Syria on Tuesday. Seven fighters from Kurdish-led forces were killed.

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces say the attack took place in the town of Manbij. The troops control the area.

In January, more than 10 people were killed in an apparent suicide bomb attack in the same city. Victims included four US military personnel.

The Syrian Democratic Forces announced last week that the eastern village of Baghouz was freed, declaring the total elimination of the militant group's stronghold.

US President Donald Trump also said that Islamic State militants no longer control any territory in Syria.

The US administration plans to withdraw most of its troops from Syria.

But the attack on Tuesday indicates that remnants of the Islamic State group are still active in the country.

Key words : International energy
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190327_11/

The International Energy Agency is calling for an increase in efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

The Paris-based agency said in a report on Tuesday that global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions totaled 33.1 billion tons in 2018. The figure is the largest-ever and up 1.7 percent from 2017. The rate of increase was also the highest since 2013.

The IEA attributes the rise to higher energy consumption amid economic growth. It says weather conditions around the world also added to the CO2 discharge, with increasing demand for heating and cooling systems.

The report says China, India and the United States accounted for 85 percent of the net increase in emissions.

It noted a 2.5 percent increase in China, the largest emitter, and 3.1 percent rise in the United States, the second largest emitter. India's emissions grew by 4.8 percent.

The agency says CO2 emissions declined in countries such as Japan, Germany and France.

The IEA says that there is expanding use of solar, wind and other renewable energy sources. But it says the rise in CO2 emissions demonstrates that more urgent action is needed on all fronts.

Key words : lawmaker passed a bill
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190327_31/

Lawmakers in the Diet have passed a bill that will fund Japan's biggest-ever budget.

They have approved more than 101 trillion yen in spending measures for the 2019 fiscal year starting in April. That's about 917 billion dollars. It's the first time an initial budget has topped 100 trillion yen.

Members of the Upper House passed the bill with majority support on Wednesday.

A centerpiece of the bill is an 18-billion-dollar stimulus package. The government hopes it will offset the impact of a consumption tax hike scheduled for October.

The package includes a rewards system for cashless payments and energy-saving measures in homes.

Spending on social security has ballooned to a record high of about 310 billion dollars, a reflection of Japan's aging society.

Part of that money will also cover the cost of free preschool education, a new government initiative.

Defense spending will also hit a fresh high of 47 billion dollars partly to pay for a missile defense system.

Newly issued government bonds are expected to generate nearly 300 billion dollars. That's slightly less than this fiscal year, but the debt still accounts for about one-third of the total revenue.

Key words : team of existing
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190327_21/

A team of Japanese researchers says an existing drug could be effective in treating an intractable motor neuron disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.

The group, comprising researchers at Kyoto University and other institutions, announced on Tuesday that it has begun clinical trials based on its studies involving iPS cells, or induced pluripotent stem cells.

The researchers tested various drugs using patients' motor neurons developed from iPS cells. They discovered that a drug called bosutinib can slow the progress of ALS. Bosutinib is currently used for patients suffering from chronic myelocytic leukemia.

The researchers say they want to check the safety of using Bosutinib on ALS patients through clinical trials that began on March 18. They plan to administer it to up to 24 patients at four hospitals for 12 weeks.

About 9,000 people in Japan suffer from ALS, but a basic cure has yet to be found.

The group says its effort to find a treatment using iPS cells is the third such attempt anywhere and the second in Japan.

Professor Haruhisa Inoue of Kyoto University's Center for iPS Cell Research and Application is leading the research. Inoue says he wants to accelerate the development of ALS treatment.

Key words : mobile phone simplify
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190327_29/

Japan's government has asked the country's mobile phone carriers to simplify contract procedures for foreigners. The move comes as Japan prepares to take in more foreign workers next month.

The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry made the request on Wednesday to four groups of mobile carriers and dealerships.

The ministry wants foreigners who are staying for a short period and do not have a residence card to be able to use their microchip-installed passport as proof of identity. It also wants them to be able to pay phone fees in advance.

Most dealerships now only provide services in Japanese.

The ministry is therefore asking them to make foreign-language versions of contract-related documents and offer translation services via videophones.

Some foreigners may want to make payments from their bank accounts. But to open an account, they must have a phone number.

The ministry has asked the Japanese Bankers Association to enable mobile subscribers to open an account before they have a phone number.

State Minister Yukari Sato told reporters her ministry hopes to offer foreign visitors to Japan trouble-free mobile phone services in the run-up to the Rugby World Cup and the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

Key words : government make sure long holiday
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190327_18/

The Japanese government is taking measures to make sure people are ready for a long holiday at the end of April as many services and businesses will be closed for extended periods.

The break starting April 27th runs for 10 days due to the Imperial abdication and enthronement events.

Officials are reaching out to local facilities to make sure people can get the services they need.

The government has told prefectural officials to inform residents of the hours for medical facilities by the end of this month, and whether they will handle outpatients or emergencies.

Officials will introduce extra subsidies for child daycare facilities for parents who have to work over the holidays.

The central government is also urging financial institutions to inform customers of when they're open before and after the break.

It's telling them to warn customers of heightened trading risks as well, including greater fluctuations in asset prices.

Key words : Akihito and enjoyed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190327_23/

Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko have enjoyed viewing cherry blossoms at Kyoto Gyoen National Garden in the ancient capital of Kyoto in western Japan.

The couple is now in Kyoto to attend ceremonies leading up to the Emperor's abdication on April 30.

On Wednesday, the couple visited an area inside the garden that used to be a noble family's residence where about 60 weeping cherry trees are planted. They spoke with tourists and local people.

A man walking his dog said although he was nervous at first, he was happy and excited as the couple talked to him frankly and patted his dog. He added that as the Emperor's abdication is close, he conveyed his appreciation for all his hard work.

Later in the day, the couple will attend a tea party celebrating the Emperor's 30 years on the throne and the 60th anniversary of the couple's marriage. The party will be hosted by officials of the Imperial Household Agency's Kyoto office.

Key words : Sumo
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190327_19/

Sumo wrestler Takakeisho has been promoted to Ozeki, the sport's second highest rank.

The Japan Sumo Association made the official decision to promote the wrestler, who was Sekiwake, the third highest rank, on Wednesday. Representatives from the association conveyed the decision to the wrestler and his stablemaster, Chiganoura, in a ceremony.

Takakeisho told the representatives that he will strive in the art of sumo to maintain the honor of the title of Ozeki, while respecting the samurai spirit and never forgetting his feelings of gratitude.

Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, the wrestler expressed his joy at fulfilling his childhood dream.

Takakeisho scored 10 wins and 5 losses in the latest Spring Grand Sumo Tournament that ended on Sunday. He has racked up a total of 34 wins in the last three tournaments. The JSA considers wrestlers with 33 wins in three consecutive tournaments to be eligible for promotion to Ozeki.

The 22-year-old wrestler, who is from Ashiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, is the youngest wrestler in the top Makunouchi division.

He rose to the sport's second highest rank after competing in 28 tournaments since his debut in September 2014. The promotion is the sixth fastest since the current six-tournament-a-year system was introduced in 1958.

at 20:00 (JST), March 26 AS

Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko have paid their respects at the mausoleum of Emperor Jinmu prior to the Emperor's abdication on April 30.

Japan's government has investigated a university in Tokyo where hundreds of foreign students remain unaccounted for.

A South Korean government agency is planning to conduct an ocean survey using underwater drones near the Takeshima Islands in the Sea of Japan.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190326200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : Emperor paid
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190326_30/

Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko have paid their respects at the mausoleum of Emperor Jinmu. The visit was one of the ceremonies leading up to the Emperor's abdication on April 30.

The Emperor and Empress were in Kyoto on Monday before traveling by train to Kashihara City in Nara Prefecture on Tuesday. The couple were then driven to the tomb of the legendary first emperor.

Dressed in formal attire and guided by an Imperial Household Agency official, the Emperor walked slowly to the altar. There, he offered a sprig of a sacred tree and bowed deeply. The Empress followed suit.

The Emperor previously visited the mausoleum along with the Empress in December 1990 to report on his accession to the throne.

Key words : government investigated
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190326_26/

Japan's government has investigated a university in Tokyo where hundreds of foreign students remain unaccounted for.

Officials from the education and justice ministries on Tuesday inspected the offices at Tokyo University and Graduate School of Social Welfare's campus in Kita ward.

The whereabouts of about 700 students enrolled there for the 2018 school year are unknown. They are from countries including Vietnam, Nepal and Myanmar.

Education ministry officials say they plan to ask university staff about the enrollment situation. They will also confirm whether lecture plans submitted to the government were appropriate.

The university says all the students came from Japanese language schools in Japan. It says they were registered as researchers instead of regular students because their language abilities were insufficient. It says it has expelled all the students.

Education Minister Masahiko Shibayama says some universities may have accepted foreign students who don't have sufficient language skills as a business to extend their resident status in Japan.

Shibayama said the education and justice ministries will carefully look into the problem and issue instructions for necessary improvements.

He added he will work with prefectural governments that have jurisdiction over language and technical schools to learn how this situation occurred.

Key words : Japanese court
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190326_28/

A Japanese court has ordered the government and Tokyo Electric Power Company to compensate about 20 people who evacuated to Ehime Prefecture, western Japan, after the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant accident.

The Matsuyama District Court handed down the ruling on Tuesday.

Twenty-five people of 10 households had demanded that the state and the plant's operator pay them a total of 140 million yen, or 1.3 million dollars. They said they lost the foundation of their livelihood and suffered mental anguish.

The presiding judge said that if the government's now-defunct nuclear safety agency had ordered TEPCO in 2002 to estimate the impacts of tsunami, it would have taken anti-flood measures based on the possibility of a more-than-10-meter-high tsunami hitting the plant.

That year, the government publicized a long-term assessment of seismic activity around the region.

The court ordered the defendants to pay a total of about 245,000 dollars to all but two plaintiffs who were born after the evacuation.

The ruling is the eighth in group lawsuits filed against the state and TEPCO by people affected by the nuclear accident. The government was found liable in six of the cases at lower courts.

Key words : evacuation order
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190326_20/

An evacuation order in place since the nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant in March 2011 will be partially lifted in one of two municipalities where the facility is located.

State minister of industry Yoshihiko Isozaki told reporters on Tuesday that radiation levels have fallen significantly. He said as a result, starting April 10 two districts representing about 40 percent of Okuma Town will be excluded from the evacuation order.

374 people or about 3.6 percent of the town's population have registered addresses in the districts.

Okuma town hall has been operating in a temporary facility about 100 kilometers away. A new town hall will open in one of the districts on April 14 and begin operations on May 7.

Mayor Toshitsuna Watanabe said he is proud that Okuma town has finally taken this first step. He said he will take measures to create a comfortable place to live.

Fukushima vice governor Masaaki Suzuki said this is just the beginning of reconstruction. He said it is important to have facilities in place so residents who return can feel safe.

Key words : south ocean
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190326_25/

A South Korean government agency is planning to conduct an ocean survey using underwater drones near the Takeshima Islands in the Sea of Japan. South Korea controls the islands. Japan claims them.

The agency posted an outline of the project online to recruit bidders.

It says the survey will be conducted around the Takeshima Islands, which South Korea calls Dokdo, as well as around Ulleungdo Island located to the west.

Researchers will study the topography of the seabed and analyze currents and changes in sea temperature, using unmanned submersibles.

The agency says it will allocate about 1.8 million dollars for the survey to be completed within this year.

The Japanese government has lodged a protest with South Korea to stop the survey. It says the Takeshima Islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory and South Korea is illegally occupying them.

Key words : south labor postpone
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190326_27/

South Korean plaintiffs who won a wartime labor suit against Japan's Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal say they will postpone selling off the company's assets. They have also made a fresh request for compensation talks.

South Korea's Supreme Court last year awarded compensation to the plaintiffs who claim they were forced to work for the company during World War Two.

The plaintiffs visited the company's head office in Tokyo last month to convey their plan to sell off the seized assets.

On Tuesday, a lawyer for the plaintiffs announced they have seized stock worth about 970 million won, or 855,000 dollars, but that the sell-off will be postponed.

The lawyers stressed they may sell shares for cash because of the plaintiffs' advanced ages, urging the Japanese and South Korean governments to bear this in mind.

Japan's government has characterized the plaintiffs' plan to sell the stock as extremely serious.

Tokyo has repeatedly urged the South Korean government to discuss the matter based on an agreement reached in 1965, when the two countries normalized relations. Tokyo maintains the deal settled the issue of compensation claims completely.

Also on Tuesday, another group of plaintiffs announced that a district court in the city of Ulsan has approved the seizure of assets of Japanese machinery maker Fujikoshi.

Fujikoshi was ordered by a South Korean court in January to compensate plaintiffs in the wartime labor case.

The seizure will target stocks owned by a joint venture of Fujikoshi and a South Korean company valued at 765 million won, or about 675,000 dollars.

The Fujikoshi case is the third in which a South Korean court allowed plaintiffs to seize a Japanese company's assets. But it is the first in which the actual seizure was approved before the ruling is finalized.

Key words : ground self-defense
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190326_23/

Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force units have been deployed to the country's southwestern islands to improve emergency response in the region.

An inauguration ceremony for the launch of a 400-personnel patrol unit was held on Tuesday, in Miyakojima, Okinawa Prefecture.

Tomofusa Harada, head of the 15th Brigade based in Okinawa, said he wants them to unite and be able to respond quickly in any situation.

In Amami-Oshima, Kagoshima Prefecture, a GSDF missile unit of 500 personnel was established on the same day to respond to possible threats from ships and aircraft.

The ministry is also planning to deploy a missile unit in Miyakojima and a patrol unit in Ishigakijima.

Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya told reporters on Tuesday that he intends to increase defense capabilities and deterrence in the area. He described it as Japan's frontline of defense, which spans about 1,200 kilometers.

Iwaya added the move will provide coverage in the southwest and also enable authorities to respond quickly in the event of a natural disaster.

The GSDF has been strengthening its defense capabilities in the Nansei Islands, as China expands its maritime activities in the region.

Chinese patrol ships have repeatedly entered Japanese waters near the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

Japan controls the islands. The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory. China and Taiwan claim them.

Key words : international election
#N/A


Key words : middle eastern
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190326_10/

Middle Eastern countries are reacting sharply against the US recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

US President Donald Trump signed a decree on Monday officially recognizing the Golan Heights as Israeli territory. Israel seized the area from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War.

Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem said on state television on Monday that no matter how many years have passed, it does not change the fact that the Golan Heights is occupied Syrian territory.

He also said recognition by the US will lead to its own isolation.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit also condemned the US decision.

A statement by the league on Monday says the decision does not change the legal status of the area in any way.

It says the Golan Heights remains occupied Syrian territory, and Israeli sovereignty over the area has not been recognized by other countries or by a UN Security Council resolution in 1981.

The statement says the Arab League strongly supports Syria's claim to the area, and that the league's stance has been endorsed by Arab nations.

It says Arab League leaders will reaffirm their position when they meet in Tunisia later this month.

Key words : shibuya
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190326_19/

Central Tokyo's Shibuya Ward is set to install over 400 more security cameras in parks and busy areas ahead of next year's Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Shibuya expects many visitors from around Japan and abroad during the Games, so the ward has decided to drastically increase the number of security cameras. There are currently nearly 500 cameras.

Ward officials plan to install 415 more cameras in parks, shopping districts and along school routes in the next fiscal year starting in April.

During last year's Halloween festivities, many young people became intoxicated and caused disturbances in central Shibuya. Some people were arrested.

Ward officials hope the cameras will help prevent crime and other problems, while keeping Shibuya a lively place.

at 20:00 (JST), March 25 AS

Japan's top government spokesperson has expressed reservations about disclosing who will come up with the name for the country's new era, which begins when Crown Prince Naruhito becomes Emperor.

Japan's Defense Ministry is ramping up construction on a controversial US military facility in Okinawa.

Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei Average saw its biggest fall of 2019. The drop followed a plunge on Friday on Wall Street that came amid new worries of an economic slowdown.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190325200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : top government reservation
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190325_34/

Japan's top government spokesperson has expressed reservations about disclosing who will come up with the name for the country's new era, which begins when Crown Prince Naruhito becomes Emperor.

The government plans to announce the name of the era on April 1, one month before the Crown Prince ascends to the throne. Emperor Akihito is set to abdicate the day before, bringing an end to the Heisei era.

On Sunday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters the government appointed multiple experts on March 14 to consider the name for the new era.

On Monday, Suga said they are experts in Japanese literature, Chinese literature, Japanese history and Oriental history. But he refrained from disclosing their specific areas of expertise.

Suga said the experts want their identities to remain secret, and that revealing them would stir unwanted speculation.

He also said their names will not be announced even after the name of the new era is revealed.

Key words : government urging check
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190325_37/

Japan's government is urging domestic firms to check whether the calendars on their computer systems will be affected by the nation's upcoming era change.

Japan ushers in a new era on May 1 when Crown Prince Naruhito ascends the throne. Emperor Akihito is to abdicate on April 30, bringing the Heisei era to a close.

The name of the new era will be announced on April 1, one month before it begins.

The government carried out a survey between late January and the middle of February on how businesses are preparing for the change.

Of the more than 2,700 companies surveyed, 20 percent said they have not ascertained whether the calendars in their computer systems use Japanese eras.

More than 500 companies said they plan to revise their current systems because of the era change. Of those, 48 percent said they have not yet set out plans to test new systems.

Industry ministry officials warn that insufficient preparations could lead to unrecognized dates and the possibility of data-processing errors.

An official says information systems are significantly bigger and more complex than 30 years ago -- the last time there was an era change.

He is calling on companies to be fully prepared.

Key words : defense ramping
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190325_39/

Japan's Defense Ministry is ramping up construction on a controversial US military facility in Okinawa. Work is now underway on a new part of the planned site.

Workers have been pouring sand and dirt into the sea to reclaim land off the coast of Nago City.

But there is strong local opposition to the plan. In a non-binding referendum last month, a majority of voters opposed the landfill work.

Protesters rallied against it once again. A woman said, "It's totally unacceptable. The decision of the people of Okinawa is being completely ignored."

The Japanese and US governments want to relocate the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station from an urban part of the prefecture to a less populated coastal one.
But the Okinawa government wants the base moved out of the prefecture altogether.

Around 70 percent of American military facilities are concentrated in Okinawa. Residents say they shoulder a disproportionate burden.

Local officials reiterated that the work should be scrapped. Okinawa's Vice Governor Kiichiro Jahana said, "The project hasn't won the people's understanding, which is why 72 percent of them opposed it in the referendum. We have to stop the work and hold dialogue."

The central government says it will stay the course with the relocation work.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said, "We'll keep trying to gain understanding and cooperation from the local residents. But we will proceed with the work, giving due consideration to the natural environment and people's living environment, in line with the relevant laws."

Defense officials say they want to complete the current landfill work by the summer of 2020.

Key words : benchmark biggest
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190325_33/

Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei Average saw its biggest fall of 2019. The drop followed a plunge on Friday on Wall Street that came amid new worries of an economic slowdown.

The Nikkei closed Monday's session at 20,977, down 650 points or 3 percent. The index finished below the 21,000-mark for the first time since mid-February.

New York stocks fell on Friday on weak manufacturing data in Europe. Germany's PMI came in at its lowest level in over six years.

The inversion of the yield curve also had investors selling. The yield on the 10-year US treasury note fell below the level of the 3-month treasury bill. Many see it as an indicator of a looming recession.

Key words : tankan
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190325_02/

The Bank of Japan is releasing its Tankan survey on business sentiment on April 1. Analysts expect it to say the mood of large manufacturers has worsened.

The quarterly survey covers about 10,000 businesses and measures how executives feel about the economy.

Analysts at 14 private-sector institutions have been forecasting the results. They predict the index for large manufacturers to fall between 10 and 16 points from the 19 points marked in the previous survey.

The analysts say that's due to a slowdown in the global economy, particularly China, and a decrease in global demand for semiconductors. They say the index for electronics and automobile sectors will drop sharply.

For the large non-manufacturers, 11 out of the 14 institutions say the index will either remain flat at 24 points or fall.

Key words : south approved
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190325_29/

A South Korean court has approved a request to seize Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' assets in the country as compensation for wartime labor.

This is the second case that approves a petition to seize the assets of a Japanese company in the country. A district court in the central city of Daejeon made the decision following a Supreme Court ruling on wartime labor last year.

Earlier this month, the plaintiffs filed a request to seize the rights to a total of eight patents and trademarks owned by Mitsubishi Heavy in South Korea.

The court granted approval to four plaintiffs to seize assets worth some 800 million won, or over 700,000 dollars. The plaintiffs say they'll sell the assets unless Mitsubishi Heavy industries takes sincere action.

In January, another South Korean court approved the seizure of assets held in the country by Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal for another group of plaintiffs.

Tokyo has repeatedly urged the South Korean government to discuss the issue based on an agreement reached in 1965, when the two countries normalized relations. Tokyo claims the agreement completely settled the issue of right-to-compensation claims.

Seoul says it is still considering Japan's position.

Key words : top government south
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190325_38/

Japan's top government spokesperson has described South Korea's responses to recent lawsuits over wartime labor as extremely serious.

On Monday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Seoul has done nothing to correct violations of a 1965 bilateral agreement, and allowed plaintiffs to seize company assets.

He reiterated that Japan has been calling on South Korea to discuss the issue based on the agreement. And he said he believes this request will be accepted.

He said the government will keep in close contact with the companies involved to help protect the legitimate activities of Japanese firms. He added that the government's stance on the issue has not changed.

Suga declined to answer questions from reporters asking when Japan would start taking arbitration procedures and countermeasures based on the bilateral deal.

He said that doing so would tip Japan's hand.

Key words : exclusive interview
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190325_04/

Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai is in Japan to attend the World Assembly for Women. In an exclusive interview with NHK, she said that the education of refugee children is often ignored. Malala has called on world leaders to invest in education for refugee girls.

She has been advocating education for children, especially for girls, since winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014.

Despite her consistently upbeat attitude, there is a hint of frustration when she talks about the lack of progress on educational issues.

Malala said, "I think the refugee children's education is often ignored because it is considered as a temporary issue. The priority is often shelter, water and food. Countries are lagging behind in their commitment, and that means countries need to increase their spending on education; they need to invest more in girls' education."

Malala stresses that businesses too should get on board, not just governments.

She added, "When we invest in girls' education, it boosts economies, adding up to 30 trillion dollars to the global economy. It helps us reduce poverty and tackle climate change. That is reminding these leaders and the business community that if you are thinking about investment, and you want good returns, then you want high returns; invest in girls' education."

Japan is hosting the G20 Summit this year. Malala says she hopes girls' education gets the attention it deserves, and that leaders make it a top priority.

Key words : key note
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Key words : after 40 years summit
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190325_16/

After 40 years, Japan's official development assistance to China is coming to an end now that China is the world's second largest economy. The two nations are instead aiming to work together as equal partners in providing economic support to other countries.

At a summit last October, the leaders of both nations agreed to stop commitments to assistance for new projects as of the current Japanese fiscal year through March.

The two governments plan to hold the first meeting in Beijing as early as April to discuss how they can cooperate on an equal footing.

The participants in the talks on both sides are likely to include officials at bureau-chief-level from ministries and agencies involved in economic cooperation. The discussions will mainly focus on the kinds of economic assistance they will provide to third countries.

China has provided huge sums of money to other nations in the form of loans for infrastructure projects as part of its Belt and Road initiative, designed to create a large economic zone.

Some observers say the loans have become a burden for the countries receiving the assistance.

Key words : NHK poll
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190325_06/

An NHK poll has found that 19 percent of local assemblies across Japan have no female members.

NHK surveyed all of Japan's 1,788 local assemblies between January and early March, ahead of upcoming nationwide local elections.

The survey shows that women have no seats in as many as 340 local assemblies in Japan.

It found that men hold 28,180 of the 32,450 local assembly seats nationwide, or 87 percent. Consequently, women hold just 13 percent of the seats, or 4,270.

On average, Tokyo's assemblies, including the prefectural parliament, have the highest rate of female participation, at 27 percent. Kanagawa's assemblies are next, with 20 percent.

Women make up only 7.3 percent of Aomori Prefecture's assemblies, while in Nagasaki's the rate is only marginally higher, at 7.4 percent.

By municipality, the highest rate of female participation is in the township of Hayama in Kanagawa Prefecture. Fifty-four percent of its assembly is made up of women.

More than 740 prefectures and municipalities across Japan are scheduled to hold unified local assembly elections in April. These will be the first such nationwide elections since new legislation aimed at closing the gender gap took effect last May. The new rules call on political parties to do more to field an equal number of male and female candidates.

Key words : oldest rock
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190325_30/

A group of Japanese researchers say they have unearthed the oldest rocks ever found in the country. They say the 2.5-billion-year-old rocks are a window on the formation of Japan's islands.

The team, led by Yasutaka Hayasaka, an associate professor at the Graduate School of Science at Hiroshima University, announced its findings on Monday.

The rocks were found at two areas in Shimane Prefecture, western Japan, in 2017. Researchers concluded they were made of magma that solidified some 2.5 billion years ago under the earth's crust.

The previous record holder was a 2-billion-year-old rock found in 1970 in Gifu Prefecture, central Japan.

The researchers say the rocks come from a time when Japan's islands were connected to the Asian Continent.

They say the findings are significant for studying how the archipelago was formed.