at 20:00 (JST), October 29

Former UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata, has died at the age of 92.

Japan has rejected North Korea's accusation that a video of a collision between boats of the two countries was deliberately edited.

One of Hong Kong's best known pro-democracy activists has been disqualified from running in local elections next month.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20191029200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : Ogata died at the age of 92
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191029_24/

Japan's first UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata, has died at the age of 92.

Ogata was born in Tokyo in 1927. She was the great granddaughter of former Japanese prime minister Tsuyoshi Inukai. Her father was a diplomat and she spent her childhood living overseas.

After graduating from the University of the Sacred Heart in Japan, Ogata went to the United States where she earned a master's degree at Georgetown University and a doctorate at the University of California, Berkeley.

In 1976, Ogata became the first Japanese woman Minister at the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations.

Her stint as the first Japanese UN High Commissioner for Refugees lasted 10 years from 1991 to 2000.

The tumultuous period saw the collapse of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union that led to regional conflicts, as well as the genocide in Rwanda. Ogata's stance was to hit the ground herself to see the plight firsthand of the massive number of refugees driven out of their homes.

Shortly after Ogata became the UN refugee chief, 1.4 million Kurds displaced in northern Iraq were denied entry into Turkey. This prompted her to initiate a policy change at the UN refugee agency, by adding to its mandate people internally displaced by conflicts.

Ogata served as President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, known as JICA, from 2003 to 2012.

Key words : former UN official
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Key words : Japan rejected accusation
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191029_23/

Japan's top government spokesperson has rejected North Korea's accusation that a video of a collision between boats of the two countries was deliberately edited.

On October 18, Japan's Fisheries Agency released a video of the collision earlier this month between its patrol ship and a North Korean fishing boat inside Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone in the Sea of Japan.

North Korea's state-run media said on Monday that the images were deliberately edited and the crash was intentionally caused to sink the North Korean boat.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters on Tuesday that he will refrain from commenting about each media report by North Korea.

Suga added the agency released the video to gain public understanding that the patrol was conducted appropriately.

He said Japan absolutely cannot accept North Korea's claims and will continue to convey its position to Pyongyang.

Key words : cabinet designated
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191029_31/

Japan's Cabinet on Tuesday designated Typhoon Hagibis both a "severe" and an "extraordinary" disaster. The death toll from the typhoon that hit eastern Japan in mid-October stands at 88. Seven people remain missing.

The first status change increases subsidies to disaster-hit areas while the second means the government will take on certain reconstruction work.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters that the government will quickly draw up measures to help survivors rebuild their lives.

Suga said the measures will include disposal of mud and debris, assistance for small and mid-sized businesses and support for farming and tourism. He also said the typhoon highlighted the need for new measures to prevent and mitigate disasters.

He added the government has about 4.5 billion dollars in reserve funds available for the work, and plans to compile a supplementary budget if necessary.

It was also decided on Tuesday that the land ministry will repair roads in five prefectures - Miyagi, Fukushima, Gunma, Nagano and Kanagawa - in place of local governments.

Municipalities have been asking the government for help in restoring six main roads that have been blocked by landslides or had bridges washed away.

Minister Kazuyoshi Akaba told reporters that on-site surveys have been finished so restoration work can now begin.

Key words : US defense
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191029_20/

US defense officials remain on alert in relation to the Islamic State militant group, as President Donald Trump credited the death of its leader to his own leadership.

The US says the militant group's leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi blew himself up during a US special forces operation in northwestern Syria over the weekend.

In a speech delivered in Chicago, Illinois, on Monday, Trump said it was a "tremendous" weekend for the US, having killed Baghdadi.

The president also posted on Twitter a declassified picture of a military dog involved in the mission. He tweeted that the dog "did such a GREAT JOB in capturing and killing" Baghdadi.

Briefing on the mission also on Monday, General Mark Milley, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the US has already disposed of Baghdadi's remains.
US media reported that the remains were most likely given a burial at sea.

The Islamic State group has yet to show any reaction.

Some countries say they need to remain on the alert for possible retaliatory attacks by the militant group's followers.

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters on Monday that the security situation in Syria remained complex. He added the main US military mission was to ensure the enduring defeat of the Islamic State group.

The US government plans to hold an international meeting next month to seek cooperation in removing remnant members of the militant group.

Key words : one of Hong Kong
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191029_32/

One of Hong Kong's most well-known pro-democracy activists has been disqualified from running in local elections next month.

Joshua Wong says the Electoral Affairs Commission sent him a notice stating that his nomination has been deemed "invalid."
He is the only candidate to be barred from November's district elections.
Wong shot to prominence five years ago as one of the leaders of the pro-democracy Umbrella Movement.

Authorities in the city tightened screening for election candidates in 2016, saying they can reject anyone who supports independence.
Six candidates were barred from the legislative election months later.

Observers say the latest decision will likely fuel public anger, after nearly five months of pro-democracy demonstrations.

Key words : Taiwan
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191029_30/

Taiwan's parliament approved on Tuesday the purchase of F-16 fighter jets from the United States. It would be the first time in 27 years for Taiwan to buy US combat planes.

The White House notified Congress in August of its plan to provide 66 of the latest model of F-16 jets at the request of Taiwan's Tsai Ing-wen administration.

Taiwan's parliament unanimously adopted legislation to create a special budget of up to 8-billion dollars over the next seven years.

It plans to start gradually deploying the planes to its eastern region from 2023.

Taiwan currently has 144 F-16s it bought from the US in 1992, as its mainstay fighters.

But experts point out that the planes are aging, while China has been increasing its military presence around Taiwan. Since independence-oriented president Tsai took office in 2016, China has been frequently scrambling its fighter jets in the region.

Beijing has expressed strong opposition, saying it would view the sale as interference in its internal affairs.

China warns it will take all necessary steps including imposing sanctions on US firms involved in the arms sale.

Key words : British government
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191029_14/

The British government wants Japanese startup businesses to get more involved in the UK.

Officials are aiming to ease concerns about Britain's uncertain outlook, after its planned exit from the European Union was postponed again until the end of January.

Some Japanese companies are already downsizing at their factories and offices in the country.

The British Embassy in Tokyo made the call at a seminar, held with the cooperation of the Japan External Trade Organization, or JETRO. More than 70 Japanese startup firms attended.

Tony Hughes, specialist adviser to the UK government explained it could offer subsidies and other support, enabling Japanese companies with outstanding technologies to do business in Britain.

He said the UK is still one of the best places in the world for a company to expand in.

One of the seminar participants said she is happy that the government is making an effort to attract more businesses because in the past, it didn't seem as active.

The British government says it will help companies with their PR, securing funds from investors and hiring local staff.

Key words : stock prices
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Key words : tax authorities
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191029_33/

Japan's tax authorities have notified Nissan Motor that it misreported income of about 1.4 million dollars, after the tax office determined former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn had used corporate money for private uses.

The Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau conducted tax inspections on the automaker for three years through March 2014.

Nissan's internal probe had found that Ghosn used 755,000 dollars in corporate funds to pay consulting fees to his elder sister for fictitious work.

It also found that Ghosn used the company's money to make a large donation to a university in Lebanon, without going through appropriate procedures. The former Nissan Chairman holds Lebanese nationality.

Sources say the tax officials found that Nissan recorded a total of about 150 million yen, or about 1.4 million dollars of those expenditures as secretary's office expenses.

The tax authorities determined the money was used for private purposes and cannot be considered corporate expenses.

The tax authorities say they will instruct Nissan to pay several hundred thousand dollars in back taxes. They are carrying out inspections on other fiscal years.

Nissan declined to comment on the matter. But it said it will take necessary measures to make a claim for damages.

Key words : tourism agency set up
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Key words : humanoid
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191029_03/

A group of mini-humanoid robots with artificial intelligence took a trip to Japan's northern prefecture of Aomori on their owners' behalf.

A total of 50 RoBoHon robots from across the country started the trip at a train station in Aomori's Mutsu City on Monday. It was organized by electronics firm Sharp, which manufactures and markets the RoBoHon.

The robots visited the city hall, where they were greeted by Mayor Soichiro Miyashita.

He described welcoming the robot tourists as an "historic moment" for the city. The robots performed a dance in return.

The robots posed for pictures at each of seven sightseeing spots they visited, including Mount Osorezan, one of the country's most sacred places.

The photos were shared in real time with their owners.

Taking souvenirs with them, the robots will head home on Tuesday.

An organizer said she believes the event will help to highlight tourism resources in rural areas.