Key words : trade ministers
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211023_02/
Trade ministers from the Group of Seven industrialized nations appear to have taken a thinly veiled jab at China in their first joint statement against forced labor.
It was issued on Friday after an online G7 meeting hosted by Britain.
The statement does not directly mention China's alleged human rights abuses, such as in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, but it does say the ministers share concerns about "state-sponsored forced labour of vulnerable groups and minorities."
Noting that about 25 million people are subject to forced labor worldwide, the ministers call on "all countries, multilateral institutions and businesses" to eradicate the practice from global supply chains.
The statement also calls for efforts to prevent businesses from being adversely affected by sudden import restrictions linked to human rights issues.
At Japan's request, the ministers expressed their commitment to "further enhancing clarity and predictability for businesses."
Trade minister Hagiuda Koichi later told reporters that his counterparts agreed to his calls for international cooperation to that end. Hagiuda also conveyed his country's intention to lead debate on the issue.
Key words : myanmar humanitarian
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211023_05/
The UN special envoy for Myanmar has urged the international community to take concrete steps to resolve the country's deteriorating situation.
Christine Schraner Burgener spoke on Friday at a virtual meeting of the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, which deals with human rights issues.
She said military crackdowns on citizens continue since the coup in February, and the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance has tripled to 3 million.
Schraner Burgener said casualties are rising as violence intensifies following calls by pro-democracy forces last month for a revolt against military rule.
She said, "The situation is increasingly dire and optimism for any swift resolution is ebbing away."
The envoy added the most likely outcome from the current trajectory is one of protracted conflict, continued economic collapse and an increasingly grave human rights situation.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is seeking to mediate between Myanmar's military and pro-democracy camps. But the efforts have stalled.
Key words : myanmar military warned
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211023_03/
Myanmar's military has warned a special envoy of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations not to contact the country's pro-democracy camps, which the generals have labeled "terrorist groups."
NHK has obtained a report compiled by the envoy, Brunei's second foreign minister Erywan Yusof, ahead of the ASEAN summit next week.
Erywan has been negotiating with Myanmar's military leaders over the implementation of the so-called Five-Point Consensus. It is aimed at realizing constructive dialogue among all relevant parties in Myanmar, and bringing an end to the violence that has continued since February's coup.
In the report, the envoy says he has highlighted the necessity to engage with "key individuals" including detained State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint. But he says the military refused because both are now on trial.
He also says he "was warned against recognising, communicating or engaging with entities declared 'unlawful' and 'terrorist groups," including the National Unity Government launched by pro-democracy lawmakers.
The report underscores the wide gulf between the envoy and Myanmar's military. ASEAN recently decided not to invite Myanmar's top general to the upcoming summit, citing the country's uncooperative stance. Myanmar's military denounced the decision.
Key words : north shortage
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211023_07/
The UN special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea says North Koreans are facing supply shortages due largely to the country's closure of its borders to prevent COVID-19 infections.
North Korea closed its borders in January 2020. Meanwhile, the country has stepped up its missile development and has repeatedly test-fired new missiles in recent months.
Speaking to reporters on Friday in New York, UN special rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana accused the North of continuing to test missiles while its people are seeing their livelihoods collapse.
He warned that children and the elderly are at risk of starvation.
Ojea Quintana said North Korea has never been more isolated from the international community, which he said is having a dramatic impact on the human rights of the people inside the country.
He said he urges the North Korean government and the international community to take steps to "reverse this trajectory."
The official also said he recommends that in light of the pandemic, the UN Security Council should reevaluate its sanctions regime against the North and ease the sanctions if deemed necessary.
Key words : federal reserve
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211023_N02/
The chairman of the US Federal Reserve has expressed concerns about disruptions in the global supply chain. Jerome Powell said the situation may last longer than expected.
Powell made the comments in an online conference. He said the supply disruptions are bound to get worse than they are now. He added that labor shortages are also continuing. He said the situation is likely to continue into next year.
Powell said the FED will decide at a policy meeting early next month about whether to slow down the stimulus measures it had put in place at the start of the pandemic. He added that it is too early to raise interest rates to tighten monetary policy.
Key words : mako 30 birthday
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211023_01/
Japan's Princess Mako turns 30 on Saturday, three days before she marries a commoner and leaves the Imperial family.
The princess is the eldest daughter of Crown Prince and Princess Akishino. This is the second consecutive year that no events have been planned for her birthday due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Over the past year, Princess Mako has engaged in a range of activities as a member of the Imperial family.
She has attended online lectures about the mental wellbeing of children who experienced the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan, and others struggling amid the pandemic.
The princess will become a commoner after she marries her college classmate Komuro Kei.
Palace officials say she wants to express her heartfelt gratitude to all those who have met and supported her during her years of public service.
Princess Mako has visited seven countries to promote friendly ties.
She and Komuro are due to have their marriage registered on Tuesday. The pair will then speak to the media.
Komuro recently returned to Japan from the United States, where he was studying law.
The couple plan to settle in New York, where Komuro is set to work at a law firm.
Key words : yamanote
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211023_06/
Train services on part of the inner loop of Tokyo's Yamanote Line have been suspended for two days due to renovation work at Shibuya Station. The East Japan Railway Company is calling on passengers to use alternative transport links and allow extra time for travel.
The inner loop between Ikebukuro and Osaki stations via Shibuya Station will be closed all day on Saturday and Sunday. The work over the weekend includes shifting a track and widening a platform. It's part of a project that began six years ago.
On Saturday morning, workers were laying the foundations for a wider platform and moving a track at Shibuya Station.
Train services on other parts of the inner loop will be reduced to about 30 percent of the usual frequency.
On the outer loop, services will be reduced to about 60 percent between Osaki and Ikebukuro stations, and to about 90 percent on other sections.
This is the first time that train services on the Yamanote Line have been suspended for two days.
Key words : pine tree
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211023_04/
A seasonal ritual to preserve trees has begun in a northern Japanese city. Workers in Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture, braved cold winds on Friday as they wrapped pine trees with straw mats.
The yearly event helps prevent damage from insects. It begins around the day when, according to the old lunar calendar, the season's first frost arrives.
Six veteran gardeners bound straw mats one by one around 84 pine trees in Tsuruoka Park. The wrapping attracts harmful insects which lie dormant in the straw through the winter. In the spring, the pests are removed together with the coverings.
City official Kamei Hiroyuki said he hopes the traditionally protected pines will remain in good condition for generations to come.
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