https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20210328200000_english_1.mp3
Key words : united states rally discrimination
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210328_09/Rallies have been held across the United States calling for an end to anti-Asian discrimination.
Rallies were held on Saturday following a spate of discrimination and violence targeting Asian-Americans. Earlier this month, a man opened fire at a massage parlor and other locations in the southern state of Georgia, killing eight people, including six of Asian descent.
The escalation of such incidents has stirred fears in Asian-American communities.
In the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, where the shooting took place, protesters held signs that say "Stop anti-Asian racism now," or "Am I the next target?"
At a rally in Los Angeles, California, protesters held signs that say "I'm not a virus," or "Hate is a virus." The rally was held amid increasing racist incidents against Asian-Americans by people who wrongly associate the coronavirus with Asians.
One participant in the Los Angeles rally said, "We're tired of our voices being silenced." He added, "We are standing up together to say that we are Americans; we love this country."
An organization monitoring discrimination against Asians says there were more than 3,700 reports of discrimination and violence inflicted on Asians during a roughly one-year period through February. About 40 percent of the victims were Chinese-Americans. Over six percent were Japanese-Americans or Japanese residents of the United States.
Key words : philippines measure
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210328_08/The government of the Philippines will raise coronavirus lockdown measures to the highest level on Monday for Manila and surrounding provinces.
The change is in response to a surge in case numbers since the beginning of this month. The daily tally on Friday hit an all-time-high of 9,838.
The measures announced on Saturday include a strict one-week lockdown for the capital and its four neighboring provinces. It is the first time since last May that restrictions will be at the highest of four levels.
The government will ban outings, except for shopping for essential items such as food and medicines. No outings are allowed between 6 p.m. and 5 a.m. the following morning.
Companies are urged to limit the number of employees who commute to the minimum.
After the announcement, people flocked to supermarkets in Manila to stock up canned foods, instant noodles, and toilet paper, among other daily essentials.
The government is also watching out for an emerging coronavirus variant. A new variant has been detected in the Philippines, which is different from any of the variants that were first detected in Britain, South Africa, and Brazil.
The country has been under a lockdown for over a year to fight the pandemic.
Key words : china sanction united states and canada
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210328_07/China has announced sanctions on individuals in the United States and Canada and a Canadian parliamentary group.
This came after the two countries joined others imposing sanctions over human rights abuses of Uighurs and other minorities in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
In step with the European Union and Britain, US and Canada announced sanctions on March 22 on four Chinese officials and the region's public security bureau accused of being involved in such abuses.
The sanctions include travel bans and asset freezes.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry retaliated with its own sanctions on Saturday.
They targeted two members of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, a member of the Canadian parliament, and the subcommittee on international human rights of the Canadian House of Commons.
They are barred from travelling to China, Hong Kong and Macao and having commercial transactions and exchanges.
China already placed sanctions on British and EU parliament members and organizations over the issue.
Key words : china and iran
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210328_05/China and Iran have signed a 25-year cooperation agreement which covers a wide range of sectors, including the economy.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is on a six-nation tour in the Middle East, met his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif on Saturday.
The two signed the agreement, details of which have not been revealed by Iran's foreign ministry. But the country's conservative media reported that it covers security cooperation as well.
Wang also met President Hassan Rouhani. They discussed the 2015 nuclear deal.
The United States unilaterally withdrew in 2018 in a decision by former president Donald Trump and imposed sanctions.
According to Iran, Wang said China welcomes a possible US return to the nuclear accord.
But he added that the US should lift its sanctions.
China has been keenly watching the US, which has been enhancing ties with its allies and friendly nations.
The agreement with Iran apparently seeks to counter the US efforts.
Key words : myanmar 100 people
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210328_03/Media in Myanmar report that more than 100 people have died as the country's security forces opened fire at protesters during rallies on Armed Forces Day.
A ceremony took place on Saturday in the capital, Naypyitaw, to mark the memorial day for Myanmar's military.
Myanmar's military leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, delivered a speech and justified last month's coup. He said the military is working hard for the sake of the nation and its people.
Meanwhile, protesters responded to appeals for rallies across the nation to coincide with the ceremony. They gathered in the largest city, Yangon, the second largest city, Mandalay, and elsewhere in the country.
The online news service Myanmar Now reports that at least 114 people were killed on Saturday alone as security forces opened fire many times. The number is believed to be the largest for a single day since the military coup.
Other media outlets also report cases of children killed by security forces although they were not participating in the protests. They include a 13-year-old boy who died after being shot in the head while he was playing around his house.
The US Embassy in Myanmar issued a statement that says "these are not the actions of a professional military or police force."
The British Embassy in Myanmar also issued a statement to denounce the security forces' shooting at civilians.
Key words : united nation myanmar
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210328_06/United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned in the strongest terms the killing of dozens of civilians, including children and young people by security forces in Myanmar.
Guterres made the remarks in a statement on Saturday.
He also said "the continuing military crackdown, which resulted in the highest daily death toll since demonstrations against the coup began last month, is unacceptable."
He demanded "a firm, unified and resolute international response" and added that "it is critical to find an urgent solution to this crisis."
The UN chief reiterated his urgent appeal to the military "to refrain from violence and repression." He continued, "Those responsible for the serious human rights violations must be held accountable."
Key words : toyota
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210328_10/The latest electric vehicles are on display at a one-day show in Tokyo on Sunday.
Major Japanese automakers, such as Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Mazda, are taking part. The event also features the latest EVs from Porsche and Tesla.
Britain's Jaguar Land Rover is showcasing its first electric vehicle for the Jaguar brand. The maker says all Jaguar cars will be EVs from 2025.
Japanese electronics giant Sony unveiled its "VISION-S" vehicle at the show. Sony says it developed the EV to improve its sensor technology and has no intention of entering the auto sector. But the vehicle attracted a lot of attention from visitors.
Sony executive Kawanishi Izumi says making cars is challenging, and they hope to make driving an enjoyable experience by using the most advanced information technology.
Kawanishi says he thinks more companies from other industries will start developing electric vehicles.
Key words : program urban
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210328_02/Japan's internal affairs ministry says a record number of people used a government program to move out of urban areas and work to revitalize rural communities in fiscal 2020.
The ministry calls the participants in the program "Local Vitalization Cooperators." Commissioned by local governments, the participants work in rural areas for one to three years while receiving some financial support.
The ministry hopes that the participants will eventually settle down in the areas where they work.
The ministry says 1,065 municipalities used the program to invite those people in fiscal 2020, which ends in March. The figure was down by six from the level the previous fiscal year, partly due to the spread of the coronavirus.
But the number of participants in the program increased by 115 to 5,464 -- the highest since the program started 12 years ago.
By prefecture, Hokkaido had 699 Local Vitalization Cooperators, followed by Nagano with 416 and Kochi with 220.
The ministry also surveyed about 6,500 people who participated in the program in the past and found that more than 60 percent of them settled down in areas where they worked through the program.
The ministry plans to start a trial program in April for people who want to work in rural areas for two weeks to three months.
Ministry officials say they want to offer more support for people who are thinking of moving to rural areas amid the coronavirus pandemic.
