The operators of Yahoo Japan and messaging app Line are considering a merger.
Weather officials warn that a heavy snowstorm could disrupt transport systems in northern Japan from Thursday to Saturday.
Emperor Naruhito is performing the "Daijosai," or Great Thanksgiving Ceremony, at the Imperial Palace from Thursday evening through early Friday.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20191114200000_english_1.mp3
Key words : yahoo Japan considering
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191114_26/
The operators of Yahoo Japan and messaging app Line are considering a merger.
Yahoo's parent company Z holdings has confirmed that talks about a tie-up are underway.
Sources say Softbank Group, which controls Yahoo Japan, and Line parent Naver are working on a 50-50 venture to set up a new company. Yahoo Japan and Line would operate under this firm.
They also say the sides are hoping to hammer out an agreement by the end of the month.
Line is one of the most popular messaging apps in Japan, with more than 80 million users. But investments to capture even more customers have seen the company fall into the red.
Experts say Yahoo is hoping Line's user-base will help it strengthen its financial service platforms, such as mobile payments.
After the tie-up talks were confirmed, buy orders for shares of LINE flooded the Tokyo Stock Exchange, sending the stock to its daily increase limit.
Key words : yahoo Japan completed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191114_30/
Z Holdings, the parent of Yahoo Japan, has completed a takeover bid to turn Zozo into a subsidiary.
The company operates Zozotown, one of Japan's largest fashion e-commerce websites.
Z Holdings says it has acquired a 50.1 percent stake in Zozo for about 3.7 billion dollars.
Zozo's founder and former CEO, Yusaku Maezawa, sold some of his stocks to Z Holdings as part of the deal.
His stake in the company shrank from 36 percent to 17.
Z Holdings is aiming to become the country's top online retailer.
It hopes the Zozo acquisition will help attract young shoppers but faces stiff competition from bigger rivals Amazon and Rakuten.
Key words : GDP figure
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191114_18/
Japan's GDP figures for the last quarter have fallen short of market expectations. The economy grew for a fourth-straight quarter in July to September. But the expansion was minuscule . The Cabinet Office numbers show an annualized rate of 0.2 percent.
Consumer spending was up just 0.4 percent. Consumers rushed to buy home appliances and daily necessities ahead of a consumption-tax hike in October. But the increase was smaller than that marked ahead of the previous tax-rise five years ago. Consumer spending accounts for more than half of Japan's GDP.
Exports shrank, coming in at minus 0.7 percent. Shipments of production machinery to China were sluggish, due to the trade spat between the country and the US. Spending by visitors from overseas also fell.
Meanwhile, corporate investment marked a sharp increase of 0.9 percent. Manufacturers actively implemented labor-saving measures to cope with serious labor shortages.
Key words : weather official could disrupt
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191114_27/
Weather officials warn that a heavy snowstorm could disrupt transport systems in Hokkaido and other parts of northern Japan from Thursday to Saturday.
The officials say a developing low-pressure system and a cold air mass will likely bring blizzards to Hokkaido, mainly on the Sea of Japan side.
They say the low-pressure system, accompanied by a front, is moving north of Hokkaido. Winds are intensifying on the Sea of Japan coast of northern Japan.
Winds are expected to reach a maximum velocity of 90 kilometers per hour in Hokkaido, 82 kilometers per hour in Tohoku and 72 kilometers per hour in Hokuriku.
The officials say maximum gust speeds could hit 108 to 126 kilometers per hour.
High waves of up to 7 meters are forecast for Hokkaido and 6 meters for Tohoku and Hokuriku.
The officials also say that in the 24 hours through Friday morning, up to 40 centimeters of snowfall is expected in Hokkaido, and up to 20 centimeters in Tohoku.
They say an additional 50 to 70 centimeters of snow may fall in Hokkaido in the 24 hours through Saturday morning.
Key words : Naruhito perform evening
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191114_31/
Emperor Naruhito is to perform a key ritual of the "Daijosai," or Great Thanksgiving Ceremony, at the Imperial Palace from Thursday evening through early Friday. The rite is for the Emperor to pray for peace and abundant harvests.
The Daijosai is considered an important event held only once in the Emperor's reign, upon his accession to the throne.
The key ritual, "Daijokyu-no-gi," is to be staged in a complex specially built for the occasion in the East Gardens of the palace grounds.
The rite starts when the Emperor enters the Yuki Hall, one of the two main structures in the complex, at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.
He will offer newly harvested rice and other food to Amaterasu-omikami, or the Sun Goddess, and other deities. The rice is from a paddy in Tochigi Prefecture in the eastern region, chosen in a ritual in May.
The Emperor is to bow and read out a text in old Japanese, expressing gratitude for the deities and praying for peace for the state and its people, and for abundant harvests. Then he is to taste the rice and other food himself.
Then 30 minutes after midnight, the Emperor is to enter the Suki Hall, the other main structure.
He will again offer to the deities newly harvested rice, from a paddy chosen for the occasion in Kyoto Prefecture, in the western region, and other food.
He will eat them himself, and pray for peace and rich harvests.
This ritual is expected to end around 3 a.m. on Friday after the Emperor comes out of the Suki Hall.
More than 500 people, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, are expected to attend the ceremony. Other participants include the heads of the legislature and judiciary, Cabinet ministers, prefectural governors and representatives of various circles.
They are to stay in two structures in the complex, away from the Yuki and Suki halls.
Key words : top US diplomat crazy
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191114_24/
The top US diplomat in Ukraine says he thought it was "illogical" or "crazy" for President Donald Trump to withhold military aid to Ukraine for a political purpose.
Trump allegedly asked for a probe into former US vice president Joe Biden during a phone call with Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in July. Biden is vying for the Democratic nomination in the 2020 presidential election.
The Democratic-led House held the first public hearing inquiry into whether to impeach the president on Wednesday. Acting ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor testified.
Taylor said he became aware that the resumption of military aid was in exchange for the investigation into a Ukrainian gas company where Biden's son was an executive.
He also said Trump appeared to be more concerned about the investigation into Biden than Ukraine itself the day after the phone call with Zelenskyy.
US media say his remark is new testimony that shows Trump prioritized the investigation into Biden.
The Democrats plan to call nine people to the public hearing, which continues into next week. One of them is Gordon Sondland, the US Ambassador to the European Union, who was directly involved in the Ukraine issue.
The Democrats hope to gain more public support for the impeachment inquiry through the televised hearing.
Trump told reporters on Wednesday that he was too busy to watch the hearing, and called it a witch hunt.
He also vowed to identify the anonymous whistleblower whose complaint helped launch the impeachment inquiry.
Key words : anti-government protest blocking
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191114_25/
Anti-government protesters in Hong Kong are disrupting traffic in the city for the fourth day, blocking roads and forcing suspension of bus and subway services.
The mainly young protesters took to the streets again on Thursday, responding to calls on social media to block roads and railway tracks.
Protesters used fences and other items to blockade a major road near a tunnel that links Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula.
Disruption caused by the violent clashes between protesters and police continues to spread. The Hong Kong government closed all schools from kindergarten to high school on Thursday to ensure safety.
The government also said on Thursday that 64 people were injured during clashes on Wednesday, leaving a 15-year-old boy and a 70-year-old man in critical condition.
Hong Kong media say the teenage protester was hit by a tear-gas canister fired by police in the New Territories late Wednesday night.
They say the 70-year-old was struck in the head by a brick thrown by a demonstrator in a residential area in the New Territories earlier in the day.
Hong Kong media also say Chief Executive Carrie Lam met with senior government officials on Wednesday night. The government could be considering fresh measures to deal with the escalating protests.
Key words : human right making
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191114_22/
A bill that supports human rights and democracy in the semi-autonomous region is making its way through the US Congress. China is warning the US to tread carefully and says the bill would jeopardize bilateral relations.
US lawmakers say the bill is aimed at upholding Hong Kong's autonomy under China's "one country, two systems" policy. If approved, it would allow the US to impose sanctions on Chinese officials responsible for undermining basic freedoms in Hong Kong.
The House unanimously approved the bill last month, but it still needs to be passed by the Senate and signed by President Trump to go into effect.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said that the United States should immediately stop pushing the bill and stop supporting the lawless act of Hong Kong rioters. He also requested the US to stop using the Hong Kong issue to interfere in China's internal affairs.
The proposed legislation comes as the two countries try to resolve an ongoing trade dispute that has rattled global markets.
Key words : Brazil annual summit
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191114_17/
Leaders of the five emerging economies known as BRICS have gathered in Brazil to kick off their annual summit. They're promoting stronger ties and stressing the importance of free trade.
The leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa are holding two-days of meetings in the capital of Brasilia.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said protectionism and abusive measures stress the international trade system and put pressure on the global economy.
Xi then said that China aims to boost economic ties with developing countries while respecting their points of view.
He met with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro ahead of the BRICS summit.
Xi said he plans to strengthen relations with Brazil. This includes an investment in the country's major oil company.
He also said the two agreed to expand economic cooperation with South American nations as well as with Caribbean countries.
Analysts say China is hoping to bolster economic ties to South America as trade frictions with the US continue.
Key words : suspect animation
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191114_33/
The suspect in a deadly arson on an animation studio in Kyoto in July has been transferred to another hospital after months of treatment for injuries.
41-year-old suspect Shinji Aoba suffered severe burns all over his body when he set ablaze with gasoline First Studio of the Kyoto Animation company on July 18.
The arson attack killed 36 studio employees and injured 33 others.
The police have been waiting for his recovery to execute an arrest warrant they had already obtained on the suspect for murder and arson charges.
Now that his condition has improved enough for conversations, he was transferred to a hospital in Kyoto from a hospital in Osaka in an ambulance on Thursday.
Six days earlier, Kyoto police held their first interview with the suspect in the Osaka hospital. Investigative sources say he told the police that the animation company's First Studio was his target, as it had the biggest number of workers among the company's studios. Aoba also reportedly told the police that he knew he would be sentenced to death anyway.
Aoba will continue with rehabilitation at the Kyoto hospital.
The police say they will arrest him when he makes a full recovery.
Key words : tokyo police arrested
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191114_23/
Tokyo police have arrested three people on suspicion of attempting to extort money from a foreigner who had come to Japan to see the Rugby World Cup.
The three suspects are a Bangladeshi man, a Chinese woman and a Japanese woman. Hossen Riat, 39, from Bangladesh, is the owner of New York Bay bar in Tokyo's Roppongi district where the incident took place in September.
Police say the three allegedly threatened to kill a 41-year-old Briton unless he gave them cash, even though he had already paid the bar more than 8,000 dollars with his credit card.
The man was reportedly taken to the bar by the Chinese woman whom he had met through a dating app.
The police have received nearly 40 complaints from foreign tourists about the bar.
The bar's bank account reportedly has 1.1 million dollars in credit card payments.
The three suspects deny the allegations.
Key words : Japanese government provide subsidies
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191114_06/
The Japanese government is planning to provide subsidies for buying small electric vehicles, mainly targeting seniors.
The EVs have maximum speeds of around 60 kilometers per hour and are relatively easy to drive.
Expectations are high the cars will be widely used by elderly people.
But a big problem is their price -- around 8,000 dollars for a single-seat car.
To encourage the purchases, the industry ministry is planning to introduce the subsidies next fiscal year, starting in April.
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