Japanese and African leaders from over 50 countries have kicked off the Tokyo International Conference on African Development.
Torrential rain has been pounding much of western Japan, triggering rough floods and landslides.
Japan has officially removed South Korea from a list of trading partners entitled to simplified export procedures, further escalating an ongoing feud between the two countries.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190828200000_english_1.mp3
Key words : over 50 countries
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190828_51/
Japanese and African leaders from over 50 countries have kicked off the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, or TICAD. The three-day event is focused on boosting Japanese private investment on the continent, where a growing number of countries are competing for influence.
Leaders have gathered in the city of Yokohama, near Tokyo. It's the seventh time the event has been held since the conference began in 1993.
The Japanese government wants to use the occasion to unveil a three-year investment package, as it aims to expand its presence in the region.
The continent's population is increasing rapidly, with the UN projecting that by 2050, one in four people on Earth will be African. Its economy has also been on the upswing, growing by around three percent a year.
Japan was a pioneer in hosting meetings with African leaders. Recently, it has shifted its strategy from aid to investment. But Japan lags behind other countries like China, which have a much larger business footprint. So Tokyo is now trying to make it easier for Japanese businesses to invest in African nations.
To counter Chinese investment, officials in Tokyo say they want to focus on high-quality infrastructure projects. And they are also expected to step up support for training young African engineers, among other things.
A number of events are already underway on the sidelines.
One of the biggest aims to promote corporate tie-ups. Over 150 Japanese companies and organizations from a range of industries are hoping to find African business partners.
Participants want to talk about pressing social issues as well, such as promoting health care and medical services.
Ebola and other epidemics have stood in the way of stable development in many African economies.
Key words : Abe noted
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Key words : Abe has told visiting close
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190828_57/
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has told visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif that Japan will continue diplomatic efforts to ease tensions in the Middle East.
Abe met Zarif in Yokohama on Wednesday. Abe recalled that when he visited Iran in June, the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made clear that Iran has no intention to produce or possess nuclear weapons.
Abe said Japan will be mindful of the intentions of Iran's leaders and continue to work for regional stability.
Zarif welcomed the role of Japan's government, and stressed that Iran does not want to increase tensions.
He said all countries should be able to exercise their rights based on international law.
Abe expressed concern over Iran's plan to step up uranium enrichment early next month at the earliest, and urged the country to abide by restrictions set in the two countries' 2015 nuclear deal.
They agreed that their countries will maintain close communication and work to arrange a summit between Abe and Iran's President Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting next month in New York.
Key words : torrential rain has been
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190828_61/
Torrential rain has been pounding much of western Japan, triggering floods and landslides. The extreme weather has left two people dead and another unconscious. A fourth person has been reported missing.
In Saga prefecture in Kyushu, the hourly precipitation exceeded 100 millimeters.The flooding there hit an ironworks factory and caused what appears to be oil to spill out.
Emergency teams used a raft to rescue people who couldn't evacuate in time.
A female resident said, "I was frightened because I've got a young child. The blackouts are still going on, so I'm worried about what the damage might be."
A male resident said, "I'm scared of the water. I never want to experience this kind of disaster again."
Rescue officials in Kyushu say they've received more than 200 calls from drivers who are trapped in their cars.
Officials have downgraded the emergency warning for three prefectures in Kyushu.
Evacuation orders and advisories are still in place for about 1.6 million people across the country.
One man in Saga died after his vehicle was swept away. A woman in the same prefecture was found after her car fell into a ditch. She is reportedly unconscious.
A man in Fukuoka died trying to flee from his flooded vehicle.
Rivers have swollen, and are beginning to burst their banks. Officials say there have been mudslides too.
The rain is seriously disrupting transportation. Train services have been partially suspended in northern Kyushu. Sections of some expressways have been closed.
The flooding has also forced some banks and post offices to shut.
Key words : officially removed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190828_45/
Japan has officially removed South Korea from a list of trading partners entitled to simplified export procedures, further escalating an ongoing feud between the two countries. South Korea's Prime Minister is vowing to fight the move.
Under the new regulations, some companies will need to submit extra paperwork, slowing the export process.
Japan announced the change earlier this month. It went into effect Wednesday.
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga says, "Japan made this decision to appropriately control our export system, because of national security concerns."
On Wednesday, South Korea's government held a meeting to discuss its next steps.
Seoul denies Japan's security explanation, instead saying the move is politically motivated and related to wartime grievances.
South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon says, "It is extremely regrettable that Japan has taken this unjust measure. We're repeating our demands for Japan to sincerely discuss ways not to worsen the South Korea-Japan relationship, but to mend it."
If diplomacy fails, South Korea has a back-up plan.
Its prime minister repeated the country's promise to appeal Japan's decision at the World Trade Organization.
In a sign of worsening ties, South Korea's foreign ministry summoned the Japanese ambassador in Seoul to protest Tokyo's latest move.
South Korea has also announced a new investment aimed at lessening the country's dependence on Japanese exports. It will inject more than 4 billion dollars into the high-tech industry, over three years.
South Korean companies are already feeling the effects of tighter export rules which went into effect last month.
The materials are necessary components for certain products, but can also be used to make weapons.
Key words : senior US not to terminate
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190828_16/
A senior US State Department official says his country is urging South Korea not to terminate its intelligence-sharing pact with Japan.
The official spoke to NHK and other outlets in Washington on Tuesday about South Korea's decision last week not to renew the General Security of Military Information Agreement, or GSOMIA.
The official noted that ending the pact undermines the existing high level of security cooperation, and debilitates US troops stationed in South Korea and South Korea's own military.
The official said the possibility of continuing the pact has been greatly damaged but not lost altogether, and that there will be opportunities to revive the agreement.
If GSOMIA is discontinued, Japan and South Korea would have to share information indirectly through the United States.
Another senior State Department official said such a process would be difficult, inefficient and almost useless in the event of a crisis, and stressed the importance of keeping GSOMIA in order to handle issues related to North Korea.
Key words : high school
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190828_38/
A Japanese high school baseball team has left for South Korea without bearing Japan's national flag amid soured relations between the two countries.
Japan will compete in the Under-18 Baseball World Cup, which starts on Friday in the county of Gijang, near Busan. Eleven other countries and a territory, including the United States and South Korea, will also take part.
The 20 Japanese players left Narita Airport near Tokyo wearing plain white shirts without the country's logo or national flag.
Masahiko Takenaka, the secretary general of the Japan High School Baseball Federation, said sports and politics are separate issues, but that consideration should be given wherever possible.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters the government will not comment on the federation's policy or specific measures.
But he added there is no change in the government's stance to continue cultural and sports exchanges at a difficult time for the two nations in order to develop mutual understanding. He noted such interchanges serve as a basis for the future of both countries.
Japan will play Spain in its first match on Friday.
Key words : Toyota and Suzuki capital alliance hybrid
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190828_65/
Toyota and Suzuki have announced that they reached an agreement on a capital alliance. The two firms said that they agreed to establish and promote a long-term partnership toward collaboration in new fields including autonomous driving.
The companies agreed to the plan on Wednesday at respective board meetings.
Toyota will acquire a stake of around 5 percent in Suzuki for roughly 900 million dollars. Suzuki will put about 450 million dollars of its own money into Toyota.
The move will expand on a business tie-up between the firms that began in early 2017. Under that deal, Toyota shares its hybrid vehicle technology with Suzuki.
The firms also sell each other's cars in India, where Suzuki has a strong presence. The latest development comes amid big changes in the auto industry.
Artificial intelligence is playing an increasingly important role. Manufacturers see AI as key to self-driving cars and other next-generation vehicles.
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