at 18:00 (JST), April 30

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20230430180000_english_1.mp3


Key words : proper use ai system action plan
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230430_09/

Digital and tech ministers of the Group of Seven nations have adopted an action plan to ensure the proper use of artificial intelligence.

The G7 ministers adopted a joint communique to wrap up their two-day meeting in the Japanese city of Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, on Sunday.

The ministers discussed how to develop and regulate AI as an increasing number of people are using ChatGPT and other AI systems.

The rapid rise of such systems has raised concerns about breaches of privacy and information leaks.

The joint communique says they agreed on five principles for the proper use of AI, including the rule of law and respect for human rights.
The document also presents an action plan to analyze the impact and challenges of AI to promote responsible use of the technology.

The ministers discussed cross-border transfers of data and agreed to create a framework to support the concept of "data free flow with trust," or DFFT.

They also reaffirmed support for Ukraine, which has suffered damage to its digital infrastructure during Russia's invasion.

Key words : massive fire
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230430_04/

A massive fire has broken out at a fuel storage facility in Crimea, which was unilaterally annexed by Russia in 2014. Moscow says the blaze was caused by a drone attack.

A blast occurred in the naval port city of Sevastopol on Saturday. The Russian-installed head of the region said an oil depot was hit by drones.

A senior Ukrainian military intelligence official told local media that a facility used by the Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet had exploded. He described the blast as "God's punishment" for the killing of residents in Uman, a city in central Ukraine. He said the punishment will be long lasting.

The Ukrainian official was apparently referring to missile and drone attacks that Russia carried out on Friday.

Ukraine's Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said on Saturday that two missiles had hit an apartment building in Uman. He said 23 people were killed, including six children.

In Russia, officials are preparing to stage military parades in Moscow and elsewhere on May 9 to mark the Soviet Union's triumph over Nazi Germany in World War Two.

But some regions near the border with Ukraine, and in the central part of the country, have cancelled their annual parades, citing security concerns.

Observers say the prolonged invasion is even affecting events aimed at boosting patriotism that Moscow considers important.

Key words : fighting between sudan
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230430_05/

Fighting between Sudan's armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has entered a third week, raising concerns of a deepening humanitarian crisis in the region.

The two sides agreed to extend a ceasefire for another 3 days through Sunday. But gunshots and shelling were heard on Saturday in the capital Khartoum and elsewhere.

Sudan's health ministry says that 528 people have been killed since the violence erupted on April 15.

The RSF released a statement on Saturday saying that it had shot down an army warplane in the capital.

The army said in a social media post that it would never yield to rebels and the Sudanese people will be able to celebrate their victory soon.

Foreign nationals have been evacuated from the country through the northeastern city of Port Sudan and elsewhere.

A Saudi-flagged ship reportedly evacuated about 1,900 people -- citizens of Saudi Arabia and other countries -- on Saturday.

The United Nations expects nearly 100,000 refugees will flee Sudan to neighboring Chad. There are fears the mass exodus will further worsen the humanitarian crisis.

Key words : Pacific islands forum
#N/A


Key words : voter paraguay
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230430_07/

Voters in Paraguay will cast their ballots in a presidential election on Sunday that could determine the future of its ties with Taiwan.

Thirteen candidates are running in the election, which is held as the incumbent's five-year term is due to expire.

Opinion polls suggest a close two-way contest between the right-wing ruling party candidate Santiago Pena, who is a former finance minister, and the centrist opposition coalition candidate Efrain Alegre.

Paraguay is one of 13 countries that has diplomatic ties with Taiwan, and the only remaining one in South America.

One focal point in the presidential race is the country's relations with Taiwan.

Pena supports maintaining ties with Taiwan, while Alegre has hinted at severing the relations and seeking to open diplomatic ties with China to boost exports of agricultural products such as beef and soybeans.

In recent years, a number of Latin American countries have established diplomatic relations with Beijing, including Honduras, which cut ties with Taiwan in March.

Key words : key manufacturing index
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230430_08/

A key manufacturing index in China fell below the 50-point mark that separates growth from contraction in April for the first time in four months.

The National Bureau of Statistics says the Purchasing Managers' Index for manufacturing stood at 49.2, down 2.7 points from March. The PMI is based on a survey of 3,200 companies.

The decline is due to subdued demand both at home and abroad, as the property sector, one of China's main industries, remains sluggish, and orders for exports have fallen amid prolonged inflation and interest rate hikes overseas.

The index for the non-manufacturing sector, which includes the service industry, was down 1.8 points from last month. But at 56.4, it remained above the 50-mark for the fourth straight month.

Sectors such as transport and hotels remain strong after the country ended its "zero-COVID" policy.

Bureau officials say the manufacturing PMI fell below the 50-mark this month, partly because China's economy grew at a faster-than-expected pace in the three-month period through March.

Key words : kumano
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230430_02/

Residents of Kumano City in central Japan have hoisted hundreds of colorful carp-shaped streamers ahead of Children's Day on May 5.

About 100 people, including local high school students, gathered at a beach in the city on Saturday.

They tied about 250 streamers to a rope and raised it into the sky.

The fish is considered a symbol of healthy growth and great success. Legend has it that a carp once swam upstream into a waterfall and became a dragon.

The annual event started about 40 years ago, but was cancelled over the past three years during the coronavirus pandemic.

Morioka Tadao, a representative of the organizers, says he wants many people to visit the beach to see the magnificent view.

The streamers will be on display until May 5.

at 18:00 (JST), April 29

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20230429180000_english_1.mp3


Key words : Kishida has started
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230429_14/

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has started a tour of four African nations for talks with their leaders.

The seven-day trip takes him to Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, and Mozambique. He will also stop by in Singapore on his way back to Japan.

This will be Kishida's first trip to Africa since taking office in October 2021.

Kishida left Tokyo's Haneda airport on Saturday for Egypt.

He said, before departing, that he wants to confirm cooperation with African leaders over global issues including the situation in Ukraine. He said Russia's invasion has shaken the foundations of the international order.

He also said he hopes his meetings will enhance discussions at the upcoming G7 summit in Hiroshima.

Kishida added he will seek cooperation to help stabilize the security situation in Sudan.

The prime minister is scheduled to meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on the first leg of his tour.

Key words : relieve safely
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230429_07/

The head of the Japanese nonprofit aid organization Rocinantes has recounted the difficult journey out of Sudan and his sense of relief of returning home safely.

Kawahara Naoyuki was among a group of 48 Japanese citizens including family members who evacuated from Sudan.

They arrived at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Saturday aboard a chartered flight from Djibouti.

Rocinantes has been providing medical, educational and other support in Sudan.

Kawahara told reporters that he is grateful to the people who helped make their evacuation possible.

He added that when he spotted Mount Fuji from the plane tears welled up in his eyes.

He described the overland journey from the capital Khartoum to the eastern city of Port Sudan as harrowing and said that he just focused on staying with the motorcade and reaching the port city where a Japanese Self-Defense Force plane would pick them up and fly to Djibouti.

Kawahara said the situation in Sudan is very intense and that he wants the international community to jointly intervene in arranging a ceasefire.

He added he hopes to return to Sudan once the conditions calm down.

When asked who he hoped to meet first in Japan, Kawahara said his wife Kayo as Saturday happens to be their 31st wedding anniversary.

He later met Kayo at the airport and the couple looked very much relieved.

Key words : cabinet ministers takasaki
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230429_08/

Cabinet ministers of the Group of Seven nations have begun talks on how best to use artificial intelligence and ways to promote and regulate it.

The G7 ministers for digitalization and technology are meeting on Saturday and Sunday in the city of Takasaki, north of Tokyo, with Japan serving as the chair.

The meetings come at a time when programs like ChatGPT and generative AI are rapidly gaining popularity. Generative AI can automatically produce text and images.

High hopes are being placed on the technology, which could drastically change society. But a variety of concerns are arising regarding breaches of privacy and information leakage.

The ministers aim to compile guidelines for the proper use of AI in a way that can be trusted.

They will also discuss plans to set up a data free flow system with trust, which is called "DFFT."

Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Nishimura Yasutoshi told reporters on Friday night that a uniformly pre-set regulation does not suit today's new technologies.

He added that regulations should be implemented in a dynamic and flexible manner.

He expressed the hope that the ministerial discussions will lead to an overall agreement on enhancing international cooperation in that direction.

Key words : starting random
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230428_19/

Japan will end its COVID-19 requirements for people arriving in the country starting on Saturday.

The Japanese government currently requires people entering the nation to show proof that they have received three or more vaccinations, among other requirements.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu said in a news conference on Friday that the requirements will be lifted for people arriving on Saturday onwards.

Matsuno also said Japan will end random testing of a limited number of people arriving on direct flights from mainland China.

The government initially planned to end the requirements on May 8, when the legal classification of COVID-19 will be downgraded to the lowest level -- the same group as seasonal influenza.

Matsuno said the government decided to end the requirements earlier than scheduled to facilitate the return of travelers who will go overseas during the holiday period starting this weekend.

The government plans to continue COVID-19 tests for people entering the country with symptoms including fever and coughing.

Key words : north reacted
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230429_09/

North Korea has reacted sharply to a US-South Korea agreement to strengthen Washington's "extended deterrence" against Pyongyang. The North suggested countermeasures with "more powerful strength."

Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, released a statement via state-run media on Saturday.

The statement slammed the Washington Declaration issued after Wednesday's summit between US President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol.

As North Korea is accelerating its missile and nuclear development, the declaration said that the US will strengthen its extended deterrence. Such deterrence refers to the US commitment to defend Seoul and other allies with all its capabilities, including nuclear weapons.

Biden and Yoon also agreed to create a framework for sharing information on nuclear weapons, and for a US nuclear ballistic missile submarine to make a port call in South Korea.

Kim Yo Jong criticized the agreement as a typical product of the two leaders' extreme anti-North Korea hostile policy.

She also denounced Biden's warning in a news conference after the summit that a nuclear attack by North Korea would mean "the end of whatever regime." She also called the president "an old man with no future."

She went on to warn that "the pipe dream of the US and South Korea will henceforth be faced with the entity of more powerful strength."

Key words : donated books
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230429_10/

A reading corner with donated books and a bookshelf has been set up in the alma mater of an American woman who was killed in the tsunami that hit northeastern Japan in 2011.

Taylor Anderson was an assistant English teacher in Ishinomaki City in Miyagi Prefecture. She died when the tsunami struck on March 11 of that year.

Her parents have given books and book shelves to 29 schools in the disaster-hit area to fulfill the wish of their daughter, who had wanted to be a bridge between Japan and the US. The nooks are known as Taylor Bunko or Taylor's Reading Corners.

The 30th recipient of a book corner, and the first outside of the disaster-affected area in Japan, is Randolph-Macon College in the US state of Virginia, where Taylor studied. The college offers Japanese language studies.

Taylor Anderson's mother Jeanne said that over the past 12 years they have been blessed to be connected to so many people who have worked to keep Taylor's wishes alive. She added that she wants college students to become a bridge connecting the US and Japan.

Woodwork artist Endo Shinichi who has been making the bookshelves for the Taylor Bunko project, was present at a donation ceremony on Friday. He lost three children in the tsunami.

Endo said that he could not imagine 12 years ago when he was at the height of his despair, that a day like this would come. He said he hopes students will share Taylor's aspiration.

at 18:30 (JST), April 28

Asian View
"Asian View" is a five-minute news segment broadcast by NHK WORLD-JAPAN. It features the latest news and deep analysis from Japan and the rest of Asia. Listen to "Asian View" and get the latest information from a region that's playing an increasingly important role in the world.





https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20230428183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : lift border japan
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230427_02/

The Japanese government is planning to end its entry restrictions on people arriving in the country on Saturday, before downgrading the legal classification of COVID-19.

The government initially decided to lift the restrictions on May 8, when officials will reclassify the virus to the lowest level of category five--the same as seasonal influenza. But sources say the government is now making arrangements to bring forward the end of border controls.

Currently, people entering Japan are asked to show proof that they have received three doses of a coronavirus vaccine, among other requirements.

The government is also expected to end the random testing of a limited number of travelers arriving from mainland China on direct flights.

In Japan, the "Golden Week" spring holidays start this weekend and continue through May 7. The number of Japanese people who will travel overseas during this period is expected to increase.

Observers say the government wants to make procedures for people coming home smoother.

But officials say that, on a voluntary basis, they will check the health of people entering the country who have symptoms such as fever and cough even after lifting the entry restrictions. They say a genetic analysis of viruses will be also carried out.

Key words : five times
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230427_26/

International arrivals and departures at Narita Airport, near Tokyo, during Japan's upcoming spring holidays are predicted to surge to more than five times last year's figure.

Officials of Narita International Airport Corporation said on Thursday that over 565,000 people are expected to use Narita Airport to enter or leave Japan during the 10-day period from Friday, April 28 through May 7.

This is 5.7 times the number for the same period last year. But it is less than 60 percent of the figure for the spring holidays in 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic.

Officials say more than 300,000 people are likely to head abroad from Narita Airport, more than seven times last year's figure. They predict that departures will peak on Saturday.

The number of passengers entering Japan through Narita Airport during the 10-day period is estimated at over 264,000. This is more than four times the number recorded in the same period last year. Arrivals are expected to peak on May 7.

Officials of the airport operator say baggage handling and security checks will require more time than usual during the period.

The president of Narita International Airport Corporation, Tamura Akihiko, is advising travelers to arrive early for their flights.

Key words : global south
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230428_05/

The Japanese government is considering using the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima to discuss relations between the G7 countries and the emerging and developing nations collectively known as the Global South.

Japan, which holds this year's G7 presidency, will host the summit in the western city from May 19 to 21. It has invited the leaders of eight nations outside the G7 framework as well as representatives from seven international organizations to join the gathering.

They include India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. India and Brazil are seen as major nations in the Global South.

Many Global South nations take a neutral stance on issues such as the conflict in Ukraine, out of consideration for Russia and China.

The G7 foreign ministers agreed at their meeting last week that it is important to bolster relations with Global South nations through food assistance and other means.

The Japanese government is apparently hoping that discussions on ties with the Global South at the summit will showcase the G7's increased focus on cooperation.

Key words : us navy
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230427_35/

A US Navy carrier strike group led by the USS Nimitz has pulled into a Thai naval base. The US says the visit aims to bolster the two nations' security partnership.

The Nimitz carrier strike group arrived at the base in the central province of Chonburi on Thursday. Previously this month, it participated in joint drills with Japan and South Korea in the East China Sea.

Earlier this year, Thailand and the US led one of Asia's largest multinational military drills amid China's increasing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Meanwhile, Thailand is also pursuing diplomacy with China to advance its national interests.

The Southeast Asian country has purchased a Chinese-built landing ship, the HTMS Chang.

Chinese military officials attended a ceremony at another port in Chonburi Province on Tuesday to mark the arrival of the multipurpose troop carrier.

The ship is one of the largest China-made military vessels ordered by Thailand. It cost about 180-million dollars.

Key words : japanese food fan
#N/A

at 18:30 (JST), April 27

Asian View
"Asian View" is a five-minute news segment broadcast by NHK WORLD-JAPAN. It features the latest news and deep analysis from Japan and the rest of Asia. Listen to "Asian View" and get the latest information from a region that's playing an increasingly important role in the world.





https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20230427183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : yoon agreed news conference
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230427_08/

US President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol have agreed to strengthen Washington's extended deterrence against North Korea.

Biden and Yoon spoke at a joint news conference after talks in the Oval Office on Wednesday.

The US president warned North Korea that a nuclear attack on the US or its allies would mean "the end of whatever regime."

The two leaders have reached a new deal called the "Washington Declaration," setting out how they will respond to unpredictable events.

Yoon said that in the event of a nuclear attack by North Korea, Seoul and Washington would "respond swiftly, overwhelmingly and decisively using the full force of the alliance, including the United States' nuclear weapons."

The deal includes a new commitment by Washington to have the US nuclear submarine fleet make port calls in South Korea for the first time since the 1980s.

The statement is aimed at making America's deterrence capabilities more visible so as to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

Yoon is making the first state visit to the United States by a South Korean president in 12 years.

Key words : xi zelenskyy first time
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230427_N01/

Chinese President Xi Jinping has spent the past few months expressing his enthusiasm to initiate peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Now, he has spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the first time since the invasion.

Zelenskyy says the hour-long phone call on Wednesday was "meaningful." He says there is an opportunity to use China's political influence "to restore strength to the principles and rules on which peace should be based." However, he said any deal will not come at the expense of "territorial compromises."

A Chinese foreign ministry official said Xi told Zelenskyy he will send a special representative on Eurasian affairs to Ukraine and other countries and hold talks with all parties on resolving the crisis.

Xi has been promoting a 12-point peace plan that he announced on February 24, the anniversary of the invasion. However, Western leaders have been skeptical. They say his proposal does not mention the withdrawal of Russian troops.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signaled his support. His top diplomats said the phone call shows China's willingness to "establish a negotiation process."

However, a White House spokesperson said it is too soon to tell whether it will lead to any "meaningful peace movement."

Key words : honda motor
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230426_35/

Honda Motor has announced plans to launch an electric vehicle model in North America in 2025, a year earlier than initially scheduled as it accelerates its shift to EVs.

Honda Motor's President and CEO Mibe Toshihiro says, "Our revenue from internal combustion engines, including hybrids, is being actively reinvested in fields such as electric vehicles and software so that we can speed up the change to these new technologies."

Mibe also says a strategic cooperative agreement has been reached with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, or TSMC, as Honda expects it will need more chips for its EV models.

Honda says it is focusing on its goal of all new models being electric or fuel cell powered by 2040. It also aims to produce more than two million EVs per year globally by 2030.

Honda last week unveiled the goal of making all new models for China electric by 2035, which is five years sooner than an earlier plan.

Key words : taliban reportedly killed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230426_34/

Afghanistan's ruling Taliban have reportedly killed the mastermind of a 2021 suicide bomb attack that claimed over 100 lives, including 13 US service members.

The attack occurred near Kabul airport as US forces were pulling out.

The Associated Press says the plotter was an Islamic State militant killed in battle in the south of the country early this month. US officials say the Taliban have been fighting the Islamic State's local affiliate. The US was reportedly not involved in the operation.

The Taliban have not issued any comment. But they have been stepping up their crackdown on the Islamic State group, which has carried out attacks across the country since the US withdrew.

Key words : investigating taiwan-base
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230426_27/

China has revealed it is investigating a Taiwan-based book publisher on suspicion of engaging in activities that endanger national security.

Li Yanhe is the editor in chief at a Taiwanese publishing firm. Local media say Li was born in China and now lives in Taiwan.

He reportedly went missing after traveling to China last month, and was feared to have been detained in Shanghai.

A spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, Zhu Fenglian, told reporters on Wednesday that Li is being investigated by anti-espionage authorities.

Li's company has published books critical of Beijing, including those on China's overseas propaganda and alleged human rights abuses in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The head of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, Chiu Tai-san, told Taiwan's legislature that there is obviously a hint of intimidation in the matter.

Key words : venture lunar failed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230426_21/

A Japanese space company's attempt to make lunar history appears to have failed. Its lander made what it calls a "hard landing," and communication with it has been lost.

The vehicle, developed by ispace, lifted off in December on a rocket from the US firm SpaceX.

The craft had entered orbit about 100 kilometers above the moon's surface on April 13. It was supposed to land near a crater in the moon's northern hemisphere at around 1:40 a.m. Wednesday, Japan time.

The company says it has not been able to establish communication with the craft since its scheduled time of landing.

The engineers say the craft seems to have failed to correctly calculate its altitude from the surface of the moon. They estimate that its remaining fuel ran out and it likely crashed on the moon's surface.

They say the landing had gone as planned until the craft approached the landing spot while adjusting its altitude and decelerating using retro-rockets.

The Tokyo-based venture firm held a news conference Wednesday morning. Hakamada Takeshi, a founder and CEO of ispace said, "We maintained communication with the lander until just before it landed on the moon's surface. I think that's a very big achievement."

The former Soviet Union and the United States carried out successful unmanned lunar landings in 1966 as national projects. China did so in 2013.

Key words : japan birth rate
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230426_23/

Researchers estimate Japan's population will plunge slightly more than 30 percent to about 87 million by 2070.

The forecast was released Wednesday by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research based on the 2020 census.

As of 2020, about 126.15 million people were living in the country, including non-Japanese. The figure is expected to fall below 100 million in 2056.

The average Japanese life expectancy in 2020 was 81.58 years for men and 87.72 years for women. By 2070, this is expected to rise to 85.89 years and 91.94 years, respectively.

People aged 65 and older would account for 38.7 percent of Japan's population in 2070, compared with 28.6 percent in 2020.

The number of annual births is expected to fall below 700,000 in 2043, which is three years earlier than the estimate six years ago.

The average number of children per woman has been lowered in making the new estimate.

On the other hand, the population of non-Japanese is expected to grow to 10.8 percent of the total by 2070. This is projected to slightly slow the decline in the number of people.

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare plans to study pension financing and consider measures to boost the birth rate based on the latest estimates.

at 18:30 (JST), April 26

Asian View
"Asian View" is a five-minute news segment broadcast by NHK WORLD-JAPAN. It features the latest news and deep analysis from Japan and the rest of Asia. Listen to "Asian View" and get the latest information from a region that's playing an increasingly important role in the world.





https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20230426183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : semiconductor 1.9 billion
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230425_18/

Japan's government will provide a second round of funding to a new Japanese semiconductor company.

Industry minister Nishimura Yasutoshi told reporters on Tuesday that Rapidus will receive 260 billion yen, or about 1.9 billion dollars.

He said, "Rapidus is a project that symbolizes cooperation among Japan, the US, and European countries in the field of semiconductors."

The money will be spent mainly on a production line in a new factory in the northern prefecture of Hokkaido.

Rapidus plans to build a trial line in 2025, aiming for mass production around 2027.

The company was formed last year with investments from Toyota Motor, telecom giant NTT, Sony Group and others.

Rapidus aims to produce leading-edge chips essential for self-driving vehicles and artificial intelligence at the new plant.

The ministry earlier provided financial support of 70 billion yen, or about 522 million dollars. The latest funding brings the government's investments to 330 billion yen, or about 2.5 billion dollars.

Key words : veteran journalist
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230425_39/

Sources say a veteran Chinse journalist has reportedly been indicted on spying charges. Dong Yuyu had been detained in February last year after meeting with an official at the Japanese Embassy in Beijing.

Sources say Dong, a 61-year-old former senior writer and editor at the Guangming Daily, a Communist Party-affiliated newspaper, was taken into custody immediately after meeting with the Japanese Embassy official.

The Japanese government lodged a protest against the Chinese government, as the official who met Dong was also temporarily detained.

Dong was then arrested by security authorities in Beijing, and indicted last month on charges of espionage.

The National Press Club, a professional organization for journalists based in Washington, issued a statement on Monday urging the Chinese government to release him. It said, "No evidence has been presented that justifies sending his case to trial."

The organization said Dong was well-known to many Western journalists and diplomats and was a contributor to the New York Times.

Meanwhile, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson was asked to comment on the issue at a news conference on Tuesday. The spokesperson said the ministry is unaware of the specific circumstances of the case.

Key words : defense ministry chinese aircraft
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230425_04/

Japan's Defense Ministry says a Chinese aircraft carrier sailing in the Pacific Ocean south of Japan has had more than 600 take-offs and landings of aircraft. The ministry is keeping a close watch on the vessel.

Maritime Self-Defense Force personnel spotted a fleet of six Chinese vessels, including the carrier Shandong, navigating about 420 kilometers south of Miyakojima Island in Okinawa Prefecture on Sunday evening.

The Shandong has been in the waters between Okinawa Prefecture and the Ogasawara Islands since April 7.
Ministry officials said about 610 take-offs and landings of fighter jets and helicopters on the vessel were observed through Sunday.

They said another Chinese vessel was spotted carrying out an at-sea refueling operation for the Shandong.

The Shandong, China's first domestically built carrier, was commissioned in December 2019. This is the first time the vessel has been observed in the Pacific.

Key words : thailand general election
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/videos/20230417204100553/

Young voters key in Thai general election

Thais will head to the ballot box in just under a month to vote in a general election. And while much of the focus has been on the contest between the military-backed ruling parties and the main opposition, another decisive factor will be the youth vote. People under 40 now make up around 40 % of all voters.

at 18:30 (JST), April 25

Asian View
"Asian View" is a five-minute news segment broadcast by NHK WORLD-JAPAN. It features the latest news and deep analysis from Japan and the rest of Asia. Listen to "Asian View" and get the latest information from a region that's playing an increasingly important role in the world.





https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20230425183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : kishida all japanese
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230425_13/

Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says all Japanese nationals and their families who wanted to leave Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, have been evacuated.

Kishida told reporters on Tuesday morning that eight more individuals have been evacuated from Sudan. This follows the evacuations of 45 people who arrived in nearby Djibouti on an Air Self-Defense Force aircraft on Monday.

Kishida said he was told that France had helped evacuate the eight people, including Japanese embassy staff. He thanked France for its support.

The prime minister said the evacuation operation is now over for all Japanese citizens in the capital Khartoum, including embassy staff, who wished to leave Sudan.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu, when asked by reporters on Tuesday about the evacuation route in Sudan, declined to provide details, citing security reasons.

He said the evacuees traveled from Khartoum to Port Sudan by land with the support of South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.

Matsuno also said there is one Japanese citizen still in southern Sudan, where the situation appears to be relatively stable. The individual is said to wish to flee the country.

Meanwhile, Japan temporarily closed its embassy in Sudan on Tuesday amid the worsening security situation and set up an office in Djibouti.

Japanese Ambassador to Sudan Hattori Takashi and the embassy staff are expected to work at the temporary office for the time being to provide support for Japanese nationals.

Japan's foreign ministry has issued an advisory urging Japanese nationals not to travel to Sudan.

Key words : south future-oriented
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230424_36/

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has reiterated his future-oriented stance to restore Seoul's ties with Tokyo.

He made the remark in an interview with the Washington Post that was conducted before his visit to the United States this week. It was published in the US newspaper's electronic version on Monday.

Yoon said that South Korea's security concerns were "too urgent to delay cooperation with Tokyo," apparently referring to the issues with North Korea.

He said Europe has experienced several wars in the past 100 years but "the warring countries have found ways to cooperate for the future." Yoon added he cannot accept the notion "that Japanese must kneel for forgiveness because of our history 100 years ago."

He said the issue requires a decision.

Yoon was apparently trying to counter criticism by the opposition that he could not make Japan apologize over their historical issues during last month's South Korea-Japan summit.

Key words : japanese transport ship
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230424_38/

A Japanese transport ship sunk in World War II has been found in the South China Sea. More than 1,000 people were on board, most of them prisoners of war from Australia. It's considered the country's worst maritime disaster.

A search team supported by the Australian government announced the discovery on Saturday. The group used an unmanned underwater vehicle to locate the wreckage northwest of the Philippine island of Luzon.

They released photos of the ship lying in waters 4,000 meters down -- deeper than the wreck of the Titanic.
The Montevideo Maru was torpedoed in 1942 by a US submarine unaware it was transporting POWs, including around 850 Australians. For families of the victims, it was a long-awaited discovery.

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said finding the vessel "brings to an end one of the most tragic chapters in Australia's maritime history."

The search team said it has no plans to salvage the ship or the victims' remains, and the survey results will be used for future research.

Key words : nhk footage myanmar
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230425_26/

NHK has obtained footage of a local hospital damaged in an attack by the Myanmar military. The hospital was built with the support of Japanese aid.

The attack took place on April 18 in a village in the central Magway region. The military, which took power in a coup two years ago, says they were targeting pro-democracy forces allegedly hiding in the area.

The new footage shows the extent of the damage. A medical assistant at the hospital insists the facility should not have been targeted, saying "the facility did not belong to any militant groups. People were banned from bringing weapons in here."

He adds stockpiles of medicines were burned and the hospital's delivery room was damaged. He also says a doctor and a nurse detained by armed forces at the time of the attack are still missing.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency, or JICA, says the facility was built with the aim of improving maternal and child health services. The Japanese Embassy in Myanmar has asked the military for more information but has not yet gotten a response.

Key words : china space agency
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230424_26/

China's space agency has released what it calls a global map of Mars based on images taken during the country's first Mars exploration.

The China National Space Administration unveiled the colored map images on Monday.

The map is based on over 14,000 images taken by a camera on the Tianwen-1 orbiter during its mission between 2021 and 2022. The CNSA stressed that the images will be conducive to deepening understanding of the red planet.

The map contains names of 22 geographic entities, including craters, which were named after historic towns and villages in China.

The Chinese government aims to become the leader in space development by 2030.

In 2021 China became the second country, only after the United States, to succeed with a Mars probe.

And in 2022 Beijing finished construction of its space station.

Key words : lodged a protest prosecutor
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230424_21/

Japan's government has lodged a protest with Moscow through diplomatic channels over a Russian ban on a group organized by former residents of the Northern Territories.

Russia's prosecutor general announced on Friday that it had designated the League of Residents of Chishima and Habomai Islands as "an undesirable organization."

The move is apparently aimed at stepping up pressure on Japan for imposing sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

Russia controls four islands that Japan claims as its Northern Territories. The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory. It says the islands were illegally occupied after World War Two.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu said on Monday that the group has worked to raise awareness in Japan for many years, and supported efforts between Tokyo and Moscow to conclude a peace treaty.

Matsuno said Russia's assertions about the group are extremely one-sided and totally unfounded.

He added that the former residents of the islands, as they grow older, want the territorial issue of the Northern Territories to be settled, and to visit graves on the islands as soon as possible.

Matsuno said the announcement is causing emotional pain for the former residents and their supporters. He said the activities of the group and its members must not be negatively affected.

Key words : the operator nuclear
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230424_25/

The operator of the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant says the melted fuel debris likely created holes in the pressure vessel of one of its reactors.

Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, on Monday reported their findings to a meeting of the Nuclear Regulation Authority.

The No.1 reactor and two others suffered meltdowns in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The containment vessels are filled with water to cool down the fuel.

TEPCO officials said a video taken by an underwater robot shows that a device installed in the reactor pressure vessel's bottom is missing, and there is a dark space where the bottom should be.

The officials also said cooling water is cascading down towards the spot just under the bottom.

They added that the devices that remain inside the reactor appear to be covered with fuel debris.

The officials said these findings led them to conclude that heat from fuel debris created the holes after cooling failed after the tsunami.

TEPCO says it will analyze the footage further.

at 18:30 (JST), April 24

Asian View
"Asian View" is a five-minute news segment broadcast by NHK WORLD-JAPAN. It features the latest news and deep analysis from Japan and the rest of Asia. Listen to "Asian View" and get the latest information from a region that's playing an increasingly important role in the world.





https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20230424183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : 60 nationals
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230424_09/

Japan is trying to fly out 60 nationals from Sudan, where fighting is continuing between the country's armed forces and a paramilitary group.

Japanese Self-Defense Forces aircraft landed at Djibouti's international airport on Saturday. Sources say Japanese nationals in Sudan's capital Khartoum are heading to another city by land.

Despite a three-day truce agreement reached on Friday, the fighting between Sudan's military and the paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces hasn't stopped.

The World Health Organization says more than 400 people have been killed so far.

The United States and Britain say their nationals, including diplomats and their families, have been evacuated on military planes.

Germany's defense ministry tweeted on Sunday that its armed forces are trying to do the same for German citizens.

The internet is reportedly almost completely out in Sudan. That's making arrangements for evacuations more difficult.

Key words : kishida safety
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230424_13/

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says the government is doing all it can to ensure the safety of its evacuation effort in Sudan. About 60 Japanese nationals are in the African country.

Kishida spoke with reporters on Monday morning as he entered the prime minister's office.

He said the government is carefully monitoring the situation in Sudan and closely cooperating with other concerned countries.

Fighting continues between the country's military and a paramilitary group. Kishida said he is being kept updated on the latest developments.

The prime minister declined to go into details about the evacuation effort, saying he wants to ensure the safety of the Japanese nationals.

He said the government will give updates whenever possible.

Key words : foreign minister visited marcos
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230424_06/

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang visited the Philippines over the weekend for talks with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in an apparent attempt to keep the country in check.

Qin's visit to the Philippines -- the first since assuming his post in December -- reflects China's concerns over Manila's moves to strengthen security cooperation with Washington.

Earlier this month, the Philippine government announced it will offer the US military expanded base access, including three sites in the north facing Taiwan.

China's foreign ministry says Qin told Marcos that China hopes the Philippines will properly handle the Taiwan issue, earnestly respond to China's legitimate concerns, and translate into action its commitment to upholding strategic independence rather than choosing sides.

Marcos told Qin the Taiwan issue is China's internal affair and said the Philippines will maintain strategic independence rather than pick sides.

He also said his country is ready to deepen its friendship, expand cooperation and strengthen communications with China.

Qin also suggested the two countries improve the management of new communication channel to discuss issues related to their South China Sea territorial dispute.

Key words : self-defense intercept yonaguni
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230423_19/

Japan's Self-Defense Forces are deploying units operating a land-based interceptor missile system as North Korea is reportedly making final preparations to launch what it calls a military spy satellite. The launch could involve the use of ballistic missile technology.

A transport plane carrying a PAC3 missile launcher arrived on Japan's westernmost island of Yonaguni in Okinawa Prefecture on Sunday morning. The launcher was transported to a Ground Self-Defense Force camp.

The deployment comes after Defense Minister Hamada Yasukazu on Saturday ordered the SDF to make preparations for destroying ballistic missiles or other objects that could land in Japanese territory.

The Maritime Self-Defense Force will also deploy destroyers equipped with the Aegis missile-tracking system, which has an advanced radar system and interceptor missiles.

North Korea has not revealed a launch date or any other details.

In 2012 and 2016, Pyongyang launched what were believed to be ballistic missiles, describing them as satellites. The projectiles flew over areas near the Sakishima Islands in Okinawa Prefecture.

The SDF had deployed PAC3 systems in Okinawa and the Tokyo metropolitan area for those launches, but interceptor missiles were not fired.

Key words : south export control development
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230421_46/

South Korea plans to put Japan back on its list of nations entitled to simplified export control procedures.

The trade ministry said on Friday that it will announce the change on its official gazette dated Monday.

South Korea removed Japan from the preferential list as a virtual countermeasure after Japan tightened its controls on exports to the country in 2019. Japanese officials cited deficiencies in South Korea's trade control system.

The latest development comes after a summit between the two countries last month, followed by lower-level policy talks.
Seoul is asking Tokyo to also reinstate South Korea to its list.

Key words : taiwan digital
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230422_01/

Authorities in Taiwan plan to strengthen digital communications in areas close to the Chinese mainland.

On Friday, engineers working with the Ministry of Digital Affairs tested satellite links with the Matsu Islands, located 200 kilometers from Taiwan's main island but just 20 kilometers from China's Fujian Province.

In February, two undersea cables linking the Matsu Islands with the main island were severed in the space of a week. There were difficulties with internet access for more than a month after.

Authorities suspect the cables were cut by Chinese shipping or cargo boats operating in the area.

In Friday's test, officials used a satellite to connect with the Matsu Islands via video link.

Taiwanese authorities say a secure internet connection is important in case of a disaster or contingency. They plan to install satellite communications terminals on remote islands.

Key words : talent agency
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230422_08/

A Japanese talent agency says it is looking into allegations of sexual misconduct by its late president.

A male popstar who was formerly signed to Johnny & Associates recently told reporters that Johnny Kitagawa sexually abused him starting when he was 15 years old. Kitagawa died in 2019.

Sources say the agency has interviewed employees and media personalities, or talents, under its management regarding the issue and has sent a document to business partners about how it will respond.

In the document, the agency says it takes such allegations and media reports seriously. It also says investigations so far have uncovered no cases of misconduct, but adds it is aware such in-house interviews are not enough to uncover the truth.

The document also says the agency is preparing a counseling system for talents who have left the agency and ensures the protection of their privacy. The agency is also introducing a system that helps current talents seek advice from professional counselors.

The agency says it will announce the details of its response to the allegations at a later date.

Key words : one year sank
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230424_02/

One year has passed since a sightseeing boat carrying 26 people sank off the coast of Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido. Twenty people were confirmed dead, with six others still unaccounted for.

A memorial ceremony took place in the town of Shari on the Shiretoko Peninsula on Sunday.

Participants observed a moment's silence and laid flowers. They included 79 relatives of people who were onboard the boat "KAZU I" when it went down in waters off the peninsula.

Transport and tourism minister Saito Tetsuo delivered a speech during the ceremony. He said the government has implemented necessary measures as it seriously takes the fact that the incident occurred despite inspections of the boat and that no one was rescued.

Hokkaido Governor Suzuki Naomichi said his prefecture will work with the central government, municipalities and local communities to prevent a recurrence of the tragedy and promote efforts to let tourists feel safe.

The head of a local tour boat operator association said the group carefully studied the cause of the incident and drew up its own rules to raise awareness of safety. He promised to create a safe environment by placing top priority on protecting lives.

In December, the government's Transport Safety Board issued a report on the cause of the sinking. It pointed out that seawater flowed in due to problems with the boat's hatch and below-deck walls.

A transport ministry panel also said hatch inspections by a government-related organization were insufficient.

at 18:00 (JST), April 23

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20230423180000_english_1.mp3


Key words : sudan three-day 400
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230423_16/

Sudan's capital Khartoum continued to echo with sounds of gunshots and shelling on Saturday even after warring factions announced a three-day truce. Some nations have been evacuating their citizens from the war-torn African country.

The ceasefire between the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group declared on Friday had yet to fully take hold as of Saturday. Friday was a Muslim holiday marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

The World Health Organization said that the fighting had left more than 400 people dead and over 3,500 injured as of Friday.

The ongoing conflict has forced at least 20 hospitals in the capital to close. The United Nations Population Fund estimates that nearly 220,000 pregnant women have been unable to receive proper care.

US President Joe Biden said his country's military conducted an operation to evacuate US government personnel from Khartoum.

The airport in the capital has repeatedly become a target of violence. Saudi Arabia said 150 of its citizens and people of other nationalities were taken by vehicles to Port Sudan, where they boarded ships that arrived in Jeddah on Saturday.

Key words : self-defense c-2
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230423_03/

A Japanese Self-Defense Force aircraft has arrived in the northeastern African country of Djibouti in preparation for an evacuation of Japanese nationals from Sudan.

An NHK crew has confirmed that the SDF C-2 transport plane landed at Djibouti's international airport at around 6:40 p.m. on Saturday, local time. The SDF has a temporary base at the airport for anti-piracy operations.

Last Thursday, Defense Minister Hamada Yasukazu had ordered the dispatch of SDF planes to Djibouti for the evacuation of Japanese citizens as the situation in Sudan worsened.

Two other SDF aircraft, a C-130 transport and a KC-767 air-to-air refueling transport plane, are also on their way to Africa. The planes are expected to arrive in Djibouti on Sunday.

SDF officials say they are collecting information, and making preparations in the event an order is issued to evacuate Japanese citizens.

Key words : japanese sudan kawahara
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230423_04/

A Japanese nonprofit organization official in Sudan has expressed high hopes for a fast evacuation of Japanese nationals from the country by dispatched Japan Self-Defense Force aircraft.

Kawahara Naoyuki, the director of nonprofit group Rocinantes in Sudan, spoke in an online interview with NHK on Saturday evening, local time. It was shortly after a SDF transport plane arrived in nearby Djibouti on an evacuation mission.

Kawahara lives in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, and his group, Rocinantes provides medical and educational assistance in Sudan.

In Saturday's interview, Kawahara said he was much encouraged and happy just to think that a SDF aircraft had arrived in the African continent.

He said he is afraid Sunday will be the only day left for Japanese nationals in Sudan to move about as fierce fighting is expected on Monday when a ceasefire ends.

Kawahara said he hopes the truce will continue to be observed on Sunday, and that SDF aircraft will fly into Sudan.

Regarding the situation in Khartoum, Kawahara said Saturday has been quieter than the previous day.
But he said hearing a tremendous noise, he looked out the window and saw a bomber jet flying overhead.

Kawahara said he doesn't believe a complete ceasefire has been observed.

Key words : agricultural group of seven strongest term
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230423_11/

The agriculture ministers of the Group of Seven nations have expressed serious concern about the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on global food security.

The ministers issued a communique on Sunday as they wrapped up a two-day meeting in the southwestern Japanese city of Miyazaki.

The ministers said in the statement that they "continue to condemn in the strongest terms Russia's illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine."

They said they are "deeply concerned about the devastating impact the war is having on food security globally, not least through price spikes in grains, fuel and fertilisers."

They pledged to support Ukraine's recovery, including by helping demine agricultural land, reconstruction of agricultural infrastructure such as irrigation and warehouses destroyed by Russia, and supporting farmers' access to finance.

They stressed that the prolonged invasion and climate change have made resilient and sustainable food systems increasingly important. They called for promoting both domestic production and international trade to diversify supply chains of agricultural products. They also pledged efforts to enhance sustainable productivity.

The ministers also adopted an action plan to achieve sustainable agriculture. Called "Miyazaki Actions," the plan calls for a wide range of innovations in agriculture and intensified efforts to reform agriculture policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Japan's agriculture minister Nomura Tetsuro, who chaired the meeting, told reporters that the G7 ministers were able to send a unified message to achieve more productive agriculture.

He expressed hope to introduce the G7 communique and the action plan to other countries and gain their understanding.

Japan plans to have the adopted documents reflected in the discussions at the G7 summit in the western city of Hiroshima next month.

Key words : labor minister kato said
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230423_12/

Labor ministers from the Group of Seven advanced economies issued a joint statement on Sunday, calling for investments in reskilling people.

Japan's labor minister Kato Katsunobu, who chaired the two-day meeting in the city of Kurashiki, western Japan, released the statement at a news conference that followed.

The statement says under the changes in the working environment brought about globally by digitalization and the move towards carbon neutrality, governments need to proactively support reskilling, which is core to investing in people.

The statement adds that the elderly, people with disabilities and those working for small and mid-sized companies should not be left behind.

It also says measures to cope with crises should be carried out in a sustainable manner, keeping in mind that measures to protect jobs during the pandemic led to unexpectedly significant fiscal spending in some cases.

The statement calls on G7 members to narrow wage disparities and secure appropriate wages to raise workers' morale and job satisfaction.

Kato said, while culture differs by country, he got the impression that investing in people is seen as an issue that needs to be addressed immediately.

He said it was meaningful to exchange opinions on common issues and come up with a common direction, adding that Japan will work with other countries to implement its policies.

Key words : survey hotel 15 percent
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230423_02/

A survey shows that during the latest quarter the average hotel price in Japan rose 15 percent from the same period in 2019, before the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

The survey was conducted by STR, a US firm that provides market data on the hotel industry worldwide. It shows that the average price for a hotel room in Japan during the January-March quarter was 16,125 yen, or about 120 dollars. That figure is up by the equivalent of about 15.7 dollars from the same period in 2019.

The survey also shows that the average price in Tokyo was the highest in the country at 21,587 yen, or about 160 dollars. That figure is up 17 percent, or about 24 dollars compared to 2019.

STR attributes the increase to the implementation of a government subsidy program aimed at promoting domestic travel and the recent easing of quarantine restrictions at ports of entry. It also cites the yen's weakness and surging consumer prices.

STR also says hotel prices in Tokyo have risen faster than elsewhere in the country, since larger numbers of foreign tourists have been visiting Tokyo, due to the quick resumption of transportation services and flights to the capital.

Regarding the prospects for the Japanese hotel industry, analysts say if tour groups from China begin to visit Japan again, as they did before the pandemic, that will cause further shortages of hotel rooms around the country.

They also say it is likely that room rates will level off in more than a year, especially in Tokyo, Osaka and other major cities. They note there is a chance that rates could rise beyond the current high levels.

at 18:00 (JST), April 22

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20230422180000_english_1.mp3


Key words : defense chief
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230422_11/

Japanese Defense Minister Hamada Yasukazu has ordered the Self-Defense Forces to take measures in preparation for an expected ballistic missile launch by North Korea.

His order was in response to a North Korean media report on Wednesday that said Pyongyang was in the final stage of preparing to launch what it calls the country's first military spy satellite. The launch could involve the use of ballistic missile technology.

In 2012 and 2016, North Korea launched apparent ballistic missiles that it said were satellites. The missiles flew over areas near the Sakishima Islands in the southern Japanese prefecture of Okinawa.

Hamada issued the order on Saturday, prompting the Air Self-Defense Force to deploy units operating the land-based PAC3 interceptor system in Okinawa.

The defense chief also ordered the Maritime Self-Defense Force to deploy destroyers equipped with the Aegis missile-tracking system which has an advanced radar system and interceptor missiles.

The Ground Self-Defense Force was told to prepare for measures to minimize damage from falling objects that could land in Okinawa.

If North Korea launches an apparent ballistic missile again in violation of the UN Security Council resolutions, it would be the first since February, 2016.

Key words : sudan no major
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230422_04/

The warring factions in Sudan say they have agreed to a three-day truce. But the situation is volatile, after previous ceasefire attempts collapsed.

The Sudanese military said on social media on Friday it had agreed to the truce on humanitarian grounds.

This comes 14 hours after the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, announced the ceasefire agreement to coincide with the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Local media and other sources say no major fighting has been confirmed since in the capital Khartoum.

Violence broke out last Saturday between the Sudanese military, which took power in a 2021 coup, and the paramilitary group.

The World Health Organization said 413 had been killed and more than 3,500 people injured as of Friday.

Key words : three self-defense security
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230421_01/

Japan's Self-Defense Forces are preparing to evacuate Japanese nationals from Sudan. This comes as fighting between rival military factions continues after a second ceasefire collapsed.

The United Nations says more than 180 people have been killed and millions of people are hiding in their homes.

The fighting broke out on Saturday between the army and the paramilitary group, Rapid Support Forces. Violence quickly spread across the country.

Both sides agreed to a 24-hour ceasefire on Tuesday but that did not last. A second ceasefire agreed to on Wednesday also fell apart. Clashes continue around the presidential palace and the international airport in the capital, Khartoum.

Satellite images show damage to the airport. There are also reports of damage to other airports and air force bases across the country.

A Japanese woman living in Khartoum told NHK she has been holed up in her home for five days. She says she has a stockpile of water and food but is very worried.

The rival factions originally worked together to seize power in a coup two years ago. But they strongly disagree on how to reorganize the military and transition Sudan back to civilian rule.

The fighting prompted Germany to consider evacuating about 150 of its citizens. It was planning to send three military transport planes but reportedly halted the mission as the fighting continued.

Japan's defense minister has ordered the Self-Defense Forces to dispatch transport aircraft to nearby Djibouti and wait on standby. An SDF unit is stationed there for anti-piracy operations.

The SDF chief says 370 members will be engaged in the mission. Five left Japan on Thursday evening. Chief of Staff General Yoshida Yoshihide said the security situation in Sudan is extremely severe and fluid. He said the SDF will carefully gather and analyze information.

Defense Ministry sources say three planes are expected to be used in the mission. They say the aircraft will arrive in Djibouti this weekend at the earliest.

Key words : spain france
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230422_02/

European nations are rushing to get their citizens out of Sudan amid escalating violence between the military and a paramilitary group.

Spain's foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares said on Friday that his government is ready to evacuate Spanish people and those with other nationalities.

He said military aircraft have been deployed to carry 60 Spanish nationals and 20 other people from Europe and Latin America.

Albares added that Spain is calling for a ceasefire so that the evacuation can take place safely.

Reports in France say at least three French air force planes are on standby in Djibouti after being dispatched on Wednesday.

France's foreign ministry said on Thursday that hundreds of French nationals are still in Sudan. They are being urged to stay in communication with the French embassy and refrain from going out.

The Netherlands has sent transport aircraft and a medical unit to Jordan to prepare for the evacuation of Dutch nationals.

But Dutch government officials also say they are unsure if an evacuation is possible because of the unstable situation on the ground.

Key words : group of seven food nomura
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230422_07/

The Group of Seven farm ministers have kicked off a meeting in southwestern Japan with the goal of agreeing on specific measures to boost food security.

The plenary session of the two-day meeting began on Saturday morning in Miyazaki City.

Japan's Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Nomura Tetsuro is chairing the meeting. Nomura said the G7 ministers led discussions on global issues based on their shared values.

He said they should discuss how to make farming and the food system sustainable in the face of ongoing threats to food security and propose solutions for the world.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine and climate change have caused global food prices to soar. Developing nations are facing a heightened risk of food shortages.

The ministers are expected to discuss how to expand farm production and use the G7's expertise to support developing nations. They will also discuss how to make farming environmentally friendly and sustainable.

They are also expected to confirm their commitment to supporting the reconstruction of agriculture in Ukraine, where Russian forces have damaged farmland and facilities.

Key words : south export control summit
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230421_46/

South Korea plans to put Japan back on its list of nations entitled to simplified export control procedures.

The trade ministry said on Friday that it will announce the change on its official gazette dated Monday.

South Korea removed Japan from the preferential list as a virtual countermeasure after Japan tightened its controls on exports to the country in 2019. Japanese officials cited deficiencies in South Korea's trade control system.

The latest development comes after a summit between the two countries last month, followed by lower-level policy talks.
Seoul is asking Tokyo to also reinstate South Korea to its list.

Key words : manga anime survey
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230422_05/

A Japanese industry group promoting the overseas distribution of the country's anime, manga and other content says piracy websites caused an estimated 2.2 trillion yen in losses in 2022, which is about 16 billion dollars.

The Content Overseas Distribution Association, or CODA, conducted a survey last year on losses from piracy and video-sharing sites that post Japanese content.

The findings show that damages in Japan and abroad totaled from about 14.1 to 16.4 billion dollars. That's a five-fold increase from the previous survey carried out four years ago.

Videos including anime topped the list of pirated content. There was also rampant piracy of video games, which were not covered in the previous survey.

CODA attributes the growing losses to improved smartphone networks. It also says the posting of pirated content surged as people spent more time at home during the pandemic.

The organization expects the problem to worsen and plans to step up countermeasures.

A number of piracy webpages are operated overseas. Authorities in China and Brazil have recently cracked down on such illegal sites.

Key words : twitter checkmark
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230422_06/

US social media giant Twitter has started the long-planned removal of the blue checkmarks that certify unpaid individual accounts as authentic.

The company previously gave the mark to accounts held by famous people and others for free.

But Twitter's new owner, Elon Musk, decided to change the system to make the checkmarks a source of revenue.

Under the new setup, anyone who pays about 8 dollars a month in the United States, or 980 yen in Japan, can receive a blue checkmark. Twitter began removing the legacy marks on Thursday.

Reuters reports that former US president Donald Trump, singer Beyonce and Pope Francis are among those whose checkmarks have been removed.

The changes have brought concerns that the new system could lead to the proliferation of imitation accounts designed to mislead users.

Key words : johnson
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230422_N02/

UK Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab announced his resignation on Friday following complaints of bullying and mistreatment by colleagues.

Raab served as foreign secretary under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and took charge of Brexit. He was also serving as justice secretary. Colleagues who worked with him in those roles say he verbally harassed them and called them "utterly useless."

Raab himself requested a probe into the allegations.

Investigators say they found "persistently aggressive conduct" that involved "abuse or misuse of power." They say he should have "altered his approach."

Raab defended his actions in an interview with the BBC.

He said, "If it is not intentional, if it is not personalized, if actually it is right, but there are some subjective hurt feelings by some... I am afraid that makes it very difficult to deliver and is not what you'd see in most walks of professional life."

Raab was a close political ally of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who said he accepts the resignation with "great sadness." Sunak has seen two other ministers step down over ethics issues.

He has already found replacements. Senior Cabinet official Oliver Dowden will become the new deputy prime minister, and Alex Chalk will serve as justice secretary.

at 18:30 (JST), April 21

Asian View
"Asian View" is a five-minute news segment broadcast by NHK WORLD-JAPAN. It features the latest news and deep analysis from Japan and the rest of Asia. Listen to "Asian View" and get the latest information from a region that's playing an increasingly important role in the world.





https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20230421183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : myanmar hospital 19
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230421_03/

Local media in Myanmar say military forces have attacked a health facility built with assistance from the Japanese government and abducted 19 people, including medial workers.

The media reported on Thursday that military forces burned the hospital during an assault on a village in the central region of Magway on Tuesday.

Photographs published by the media show a charred building and a plaque with "donated by the Japanese government" written on it.

The military says security forces detained 30 individuals and seized weapons when they attacked an area where pro-democracy activists were hiding. But it has not clarified whether the forces attacked the building.

The Japanese embassy in Myanmar says the building appears to be a health facility established with grant aid from the Japanese government and handed over to Myanmar in 2014.

The embassy is calling on the military to share information. It says it is regrettable if the reported attack on the facility actually took place.

The military, which launched a coup in 2021, is ramping up an offensive against pro-democracy forces.

It mounted an airstrike on a village in the northwestern region of Sagaing on April 11, killing 168 people.

Key words : beijing and seoul
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230421_05/

Beijing and Seoul have traded accusations over a comment by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on Taiwan.

Yoon discussed Taiwan in a recent interview with Reuters news agency, expressing opposition to any changes to the status quo by force.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin criticized Yoon's remark at a news conference on Thursday.

"The Taiwan question is purely an internal affair at the core of China's core interests," Wang said. He added, "Its resolution is a matter for the Chinese, who do not need to be told what should or should not be done."

The South Korean foreign ministry responded later in the day, calling Wang's remarks "a serious diplomatic discourtesy." The ministry also summoned the Chinese ambassador to lodge a protest.

The tit-for-tat verbal exchange comes ahead of Yoon's state visit to the United States next week.

Key words : inflation food electricity
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230421_17/

Japan's latest inflation figures show that in the past year, consumers have been hit with the biggest price jumps in over 4 decades, with especially severe increases for food and electricity.

The internal affairs ministry said that the Consumer Price Index for fiscal 2022 was 3 percent higher than in fiscal 2021. The reading excludes fresh items, because weather conditions cause their prices to fluctuate widely.
This marks the biggest leap since fiscal 1981, when an oil shock was pushing up prices. Japan's fiscal year starts April and ends in March.

On a monthly-basis, the figure in March rose 3.1 percent from a year earlier and February marked the same margin of increase. But that was a slowdown from January, when a 4.2 percent increase was the biggest in 41 years. One reason for the slowdown was government subsidies for household energy use.

Key words : supreme court foreign trainee
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/videos/20230328164914349/

Historic Supreme Court Acquittal of Foreign Trainee

A supreme court ruling in Tokyo has brought attention to the struggles of foreign trainees who become pregnant and fear retaliation from their employers. A woman from Vietnam was acquitted of abandoning her stillborn twins after she kept her pregnancy a secret. As NHK World's Rodrigue Maillard explains, her fears of discrimination are a systemic issue.

at 18:30 (JST), April 20

Asian View
"Asian View" is a five-minute news segment broadcast by NHK WORLD-JAPAN. It features the latest news and deep analysis from Japan and the rest of Asia. Listen to "Asian View" and get the latest information from a region that's playing an increasingly important role in the world.





https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20230420183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : trade deficit 161
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230420_13/

Japan's trade deficit widened to a record last fiscal year, driven by a weaker yen and soaring energy prices.

The Finance Ministry said Thursday the deficit for the year ended in March was about 21.7 trillion yen, or about 161 billion dollars. That is the largest annual gap between exports and imports since comparable data became available in 1979.

The value of imports rose by 32.2 percent in the period. Higher prices for crude oil, coal and liquefied natural gas, as well as a weaker yen, fueled the increase.

Exports were also up 15.5 percent. That was supported by an increase in car shipments.

The ministry also released trade figures for March. The deficit for the month was more than 750 billion yen, or about 5.6 billion dollars. Japan's trade balance has now been in the red for 20 straight months.

Key words : preparing evacuate 60
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230420_14/

Japanese Defense Minister Hamada Yasukazu on Thursday ordered the Self-Defense Forces to deploy aircraft to Djibouti to evacuate Japanese nationals from Sudan. The Self-Defense Forces have an operations base in Djibouti.

Fierce fighting continues in Sudan between the military, which took power in a coup in 2021, and a paramilitary group.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu said on Wednesday that the government has started preparing to move about 60 Japanese nationals out of Sudan.

Japanese government officials believe it would be difficult to enter Sudan immediately because of heavy fighting in the capital Khartoum, where an international airport is located.

They will therefore keep the Self-Defense Forces on standby in Djibouti, while they make decisions about the means of transportation and routes that will be used.

A Djibouti-based unit that is engaged in anti-piracy activities is preparing to take part, if necessary.

Defense Ministry officials say arrangements are being made to deploy three transport aircraft to Djibouti. It is likely that the aircraft will arrive as early as this weekend.

Key words : industry minister tax
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230420_04/

Japan's industry minister Nishimura Yasutoshi has called on his US counterpart to offer US consumers tax breaks for electric vehicles made by Japanese automakers.

The US government on Monday disclosed a list of EVs that qualify for "clean vehicle" tax credits under a new set of rules.

The revised measures put Japanese and many other non-US car manufacturers at a disadvantage, as models of US automakers dominate the list.

Nishimura made the request to US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, who is visiting Japan, late Wednesday.
Their talks lasted about 50 minutes.

The meeting comes as Nishimura and Tai reached an agreement last month to boost cooperation on critical mineral supply chains.

The two signed a memorandum stating that EVs assembled in the United States that use materials that have been processed in Japan will also be eligible for tax breaks.

Nishimura told reporters that Japan had seized every opportunity to call on the US to review its policy so it is consistent with the bilateral strategy to strengthen supply chains, and he did just that during his talks with Tai.

Key words : south tangible
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230420_09/

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol says he will seek tangible outcomes on dealing with North Korea in his upcoming summit with US President Joe Biden. The North has been ramping up its nuclear and missile development.

Yoon spoke in an interview with Reuters news agency ahead of his state visit to the US next week.

Yoon stressed that his government will upgrade deterrence against the North by strengthening its surveillance, reconnaissance and intelligence analysis capabilities, and developing new weapons.

On the issue of Ukraine, Yoon said if there is a situation the international community cannot condone, such as a large-scale attack on civilians or a massacre, it might be difficult for South Korea to insist only on humanitarian or financial support.

Yoon's remark could signal a shift in the South Korean government's refusal to provide lethal weapons to Ukraine.

But South Korea's public broadcaster KBS quoted a source at the presidential office as saying that there is a low possibility of such a shift at this point.

In Moscow, Russian presidential office spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday that unfortunately, Seoul has taken quite an unfriendly position in terms of sanctions and other things, and this is a continuation.

Peskov said the start of arms deliveries to Ukraine "would imply a certain involvement in this conflict."

Key words : united nations india populous
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230420_03/

The United Nations has announced that India is on track to become the world's most populous nation, surpassing China by the middle of this year.

The UN Population Fund said in a report on Wednesday that India's population is estimated at 1.4286 billion as of the end of June. The figure is 2.9 million more than China's 1.4257 billion at that time.

The UN earlier projected that India's population will rise to 1.668 billion in 2050. Declining infant mortality rates in the country are likely to play a role.

The report also shows the population will rise rapidly in Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pakistan and the Philippines, and they will account for half the global population's increase by 2050.

On the other hand, the report says two-thirds of people on the planet are living in regions with low fertility.

It cites extreme changes in demographics, with the population booming in some regions and declining in others.

Key words : half global growth
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230419_22/

A report by the United Nations Population Fund describes extreme changes in demographics, with the population booming in some regions and declining in others.

The fund released its report on Wednesday about the United Nations' announcement in November that the global population has hit 8 billion.

The report says just eight countries, including India and Egypt, will account for half of the projected growth in the global population by 2050. On the other hand, it says two-thirds of people are living in regions with low fertility.

It notes that population anxieties are widespread and governments are increasingly adopting policies aimed at raising, lowering or maintaining fertility rates.

The report says history has shown that fertility policies designed to increase or lower birthrates are very often ineffective and can undermine women's rights.

It points out many countries have rolled out programs to encourage people to have larger families by offering financial incentives to women and their partners, yet they continue to see birthrates below two children per woman.

The report adds that women in many countries are unable to have as many children as they want for financial reasons or gender inequality at home or at the workplace.

It recommends that governments implement policies that respect personal choices, such as women's rights to choose if, when and how many children to have.

The fund's Executive Director Natalia Kanem told reporters, "The question isn't whether the human population is too large or too small. The question is, can everyone exercise their fundamental human rights to choose the number and spacing of their children."

Key words : record high
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230419_25/

A research firm in Japan says the average price of new condominium units in the Tokyo metropolitan area in March hit a record high of more than 140 million yen, or about 1 million dollars.

The Real Estate Economic Institute said on Tuesday that the average price of new apartments that went on sale in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba during the month stood at 143.6 million yen.

The average was about 2.2 times that for the same month last year. This is the first time for the monthly figure to exceed 100 million yen since record-keeping began in 1973.

The research firm says the figure was high as many expensive condos went on sale in Minato Ward, central Tokyo.

They include those in a building connected to a railway station with an average unit price over 200 million yen, and another with an average of 400 million yen.

The firm expects new condo prices to remain high due to more sales of expensive units in Tokyo and a continuing rise in construction costs.

Key words : green tea
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230418_36/

Green tea growers in western Japan have begun harvesting the season's first tea leaves, a week earlier than usual.

In Kizugawa City, Kyoto Prefecture, farmers cultivate tea plants in mountainous areas, where temperatures fluctuate throughout the day. The Uji Tea grown in southern Kyoto has centuries of history.

Farmer Yamazaki Tokukazu began picking tea leaves in his more than 50-hectare field on Tuesday.

He first removed black nets that had covered his plants to shield them from sunlight, a method that improves the flavor of his tea.

Yamazaki then used a machine to pick fresh, green tea leaves.
He said the tea will be tasty, as temperatures have risen and fallen sharply during the day, aided by plentiful rainfall since the beginning of April.

Yamazaki said it was the earliest harvest of his long career. He said he hopes many people will enjoy tea from his area.