at 20:00 (JST), August 30

A major three-day conference on Africa's economic and social development ended on Friday in Japan.

Organizers in Hong Kong are cancelling protests plan for Saturday amid rising tensions and fears of violence.

China says its Foreign Minister Wang Yi is scheduled to visit North Korea for three days from next Monday.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190830200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : three-day social development
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190830_29/

A major three-day conference on Africa's economic and social development has come to a close here in Japan, with leaders and representatives adopting the "Yokohama Declaration."

At the closing ceremony, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, "Dynamic Africa is now a partner to Japan and we can grow together. I was able to confirm that feeling through this conference which I have now chaired three times."

The final declaration touched on harnessing the power of private sector investments to boost economic and social growth in Africa.

It also says it will step up training programs for young African engineers.

In the document, leaders also made a veiled reference to China's lending practices on the continent.

It vows to strive toward a free, fair and transparent investment environment. That's something critics say China's initiatives are lacking.

Prime Minister Abe said, "As we have announced during this conference, Japan will help African nations improve debt management capabilities by sending policy advisors and providing training."

For the first time, the declaration mentions maritime security cooperation between Japan and Africa in the Indo-Pacific.

China has been stepping up its maritime activities in the region.

The Yokohama Declaration also pledges to continue fighting infectious diseases by investing more in health initiatives.

Key words : Japan emphasizing
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190830_25/

The Tokyo International Conference on African Development, or TICAD, is coming to a close in Japan. Japanese and African leaders have adopted the "Yokohama Declaration." NHK World's Marina Shirakawa has the details.

Q: How will this declaration make a tangible difference in the lives of Africans?

SHIRAKAWA: This year's conference - and the resulting Yokohama Declaration - is all about harnessing the power of private sector investments in boosting economic and social growth in Africa.

The challenge in the past has always been about how to maintain momentum.

This time, Japanese business leaders - who in the past may have seen investing in Africa as high risk - have agreed to hold regular meetings to discuss ways to improve the investment environment on the continent. Participants say that's a step forward, and that it could result in real change on the ground in Africa.

The Yokohama Declaration also pledges to continue work fighting infectious diseases through more health investments.

The environment also got a mention, with leaders vowing to fight plastic pollution in the ocean.

But the real emphasis this year was the potential of private sector investment.

Q: Speaking of investments, China has been spending a lot of money on the continent and establishing a strong presence there. How is that being perceived by Japanese and African leaders?

SHIRAKAWA: Well, looking at the Yokohama Declaration, you can see how it might address concerns about China.

Loans from China have left some African countries heavily in debt. Japan is emphasizing investment transparency. That's something critics say China's initiatives are lacking.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Thursday that this debt discourages private-sector investment in Africa -- an implicit warning against China's practices.

Japan can't compete against China's deep pockets, so the government is emphasizing infrastructure investments that are about "high quality" over "quantity."

Another interesting first in the Declaration was the mention of maritime security cooperation between Japan and Africa in the Indo-Pacific region.

China has been stepping up its maritime activities in the Indo-Pacific, and this is a veiled message to Beijing that Japan and Africa believe in free and open navigation.

The question is, whether or not Beijing will be listening.

Key words : organizer Hong Kong cancel
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190830_27/

Organizers in Hong Kong are cancelling Saturday's protests amid rising tensions and fears of violence.

In recent days, a number of prominent democracy activists have been arrested and other organizers have been attacked.

Months of protests have sparked bursts of violence and conflict between police and demonstrators.

Citing safety concerns, police refused permission for a march planned for Saturday, and rejected an appeal of that decision from the protest's organizers.

Local media are also reporting that a handful of activists behind the planned rallies have been injured in a series of attacks.

Joshua Wong was arrested Friday morning while walking to a subway station, according to a statement from Demosisto, the political group he co-founded.

"He was suddenly pushed into a private car on the street," Demosisto wrote in a tweet.

Wong was central to the Umbrella Movement, which sparked a series of massive protests in 2014.

That movement called for the democratic election of Hong Kong's chief executive.

In June, Wong was released after spending nearly five weeks in jail for contempt of court.

Wong's Demosisto group also said Agnes Chow, another young leader of the Umbrella Movement, was also arrested at home on Friday morning.

Separately, local media are reporting that Andy Chan, the leader of the Hong Kong National Party, was arrested at the airport on Thursday.

The territory's government banned activities by Chan's party last year.

Meanwhile, China is reminding protesters of its presence through newly released video of armed police, which are under the control of the country's army.

Global Times, a news website with ties to the Chinese Communist Party, posted a clip depicting practice drills in Shenzhen in Guangdong Province on Thursday.

It shows armed police officers ordering protesters to move away and using a water cannon to control crowds.

Key words : China visit North
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190830_32/

China says its Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit North Korea for three days starting next Monday.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang told reporters on Friday that Wang will meet with his North Korean counterpart Ri Yong Ho.

The two diplomats are expected to discuss the stalled denuclearization talks between Pyongyang and Washington.

Geng noted that President Xi Jinping visited North Korea in June to mark 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and that Wang's visit will further strengthen bilateral ties.

Over the past month, North Korea has launched what appear to be short-range ballistic missiles seven times while criticizing joint drills by the US and South Korea. Pyongyang said its actions were for self-defense.

North Korea has also denounced the US test-firing of cruise missiles and has been negative about holding dialog with the country.

North Korea is apparently seeking support from China as prospects for resumption of talks with the US remain uncertain.

Key words : culture minister
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190830_20/

Culture ministers from Japan, South Korea and China have agreed to promote youth exchange programs and cooperation at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

Japan's culture minister, Masahiko Shibayama, and his counterparts -- Park Yang-woo of South Korea and Luo Shugang of China -- signed the Incheon Declaration at the end of a meeting in the South Korean city on Friday.

The declaration says cultural exchanges and cooperation have played important roles in promoting mutual understanding among the three countries.

The ministers agreed to promote youth exchange programs to establish cooperative relationships for future generations.

The three countries also agreed to work together for the success of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, as well as the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing. They will study Chinese and South Korean participation in cultural programs during the Tokyo Games.

The ministers also plan to assist in the application of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, in culture-related industries.

Japan's Kitakyushu, China's Yangzhou, and South Korea's Suncheon are to be designated next year's culture cities of East Asia. They are to host various exchange programs during the year.

Shibayama said he agreed with his South Korean counterpart to promote citizen and cultural exchanges as a foundation of mutual understanding amid the current difficult relationship between the two countries.

He added that deepening grassroots understanding will become a great force for improving bilateral ties.

Key words : peach aviation
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190830_33/

Japanese low-cost carrier Peach Aviation will start suspending flights to South Korea in October, due to a drop in bookings. It's the first airline to do so since relations between the two countries began deteriorating.

Peach executives said they will suspend three of the five routes. Shin-Chitose to Seoul will be halted from October 28. Kansai to Busan and Nara to Seoul will stop in January.

They said flights between Kansai and Seoul will be reduced starting in November.

The decision comes amid strained ties between the two neighbors over trade and historical issues, but Peach said the weakening South Korean won is to blame.

Key words : poll disapproval
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190830_28/

A poll in South Korea shows that President Moon Jae-in's disapproval rating remains higher than his approval rating.

About 1,000 people were polled in the survey by Gallup Korea between Tuesday and Thursday.

Moon's approval rating was down one point from last week, to 44 percent.

His disapproval rating remained unchanged at 49 percent, topping his approval rating for a second straight week.

Respondents were asked about Moon's choice of close aide Cho Kuk as justice minister. Cho and his family have been involved in a scandal over alleged corruption.

Fifty-seven percent of the respondents said Cho is unsuitable, while 27 percent said he is suitable.

On Moon's handling of a dispute with Japan over trade, political and historical issues, 55 percent said he is doing a good job, while 34 percent said he is not.

On his administration's decision to end an intelligence-sharing pact with Japan known as GSOMIA, 53 percent said they support the move, while 28 percent opposed it.

The results indicate that Moon's popularity has taken a hit from the scandal, and that his handling of the country's dispute with Japan is not giving him a lift.

Key words : research unit
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190830_13/

A research unit of Britain's The Economist magazine has named Tokyo the world's safest city on its latest biennial list.

The Economist Intelligence Unit released its Safe Cities Index 2019 on Thursday. The report ranks the world's major cities based on assessments of about 50 indicators, including crime rates and fatalities from natural disasters.

The Japanese capital ranked top among the 60 cities in the 2019 index for the third straight time since the first report was issued in 2015.

Tokyo received high scores on disaster planning, as well as for low levels of violent crime and infection by computer viruses.

But the report also noted that Tokyo is still plagued by corruption and organized crime.

Singapore was ranked second, while another Japanese city, Osaka, took the third spot.

Six of the top 10 cities are in the Asia-Pacific region. The others are Washington D.C., Toronto, Amsterdam, and Copenhagen.

Key words : weather official lightning
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190830_26/

Weather officials are forecasting localized downpours accompanied by lightning from western to eastern Japan, mainly in Pacific coastal areas. They are also warning of mudslides and overflowing rivers.

In western Japan, the Meteorological Agency says 67 millimeters of rain was recorded in the one-hour period to 11 a.m. on Friday in Kyoto City. It says 34.5 millimeters fell during the same period in Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture.

Mudslide warnings have been issued for some parts of Kyoto Prefecture as well as Toyama and Ishikawa prefectures on the Sea of Japan coast.

There is also a danger of mudslides in some areas of Nagasaki and Saga prefectures in southwestern Japan that have had 500 to 600 millimeters of rainfall in the past five days.

Up to 150 millimeters of rainfall is forecast for the 24 hours through Saturday morning in the Shikoku, Kinki and Tokai regions from western through central Japan, 120 millimeters in southern Kyushu, southwestern Japan, and 100 millimeters in the Hokuriku region on the Sea of Japan coast.

The agency is urging caution for mudslides and flooding in low-lying areas as well as overflowing rivers, lightning strikes and strong winds.