2024年11月16日土曜日

at 18:00 (JST), November 16 (Ai-CC by Clipchamp)

20241116180000_english_1.mp3

 Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Ramin Mallegard in Tokyo.

Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigaru has traveled to South America for a major international forum. He's held his first three-way meeting with presidents from the US and South Korea. Ishiba is in Peru for the latest gathering of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. His talks with U.S. President Joe Biden and South Korea's Yoon Song-yol took place on Friday. One of the main issues discussed was how to deal with North Korea. The three countries released a joint statement saying they condemned North Korea and Russia's violations of multiple UN resolutions. They cited the North's deployment of troops to Russia. The leaders also agreed to set up a trilateral secretariat to formalize their ties and their commitment to bolstering regional and global peace and security.Ishiba also met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He conveyed concerns about the situation in the East China Sea and an increase in Chinese military activity near Japan.

I think I was able to exchange opinions with President Xi from a broad perspective. My impression is that it was a very engaged exchange of opinions.

The Chinese foreign ministry says she told Ishiba he hopes the two countries will properly handle issues, including Taiwan, while constructively managing differences and safeguarding the foundation for bilateral relations. Now the leaders also agreed to take steps to resume imports of Japanese seafood. Beijing blocked the shipments last year after the operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant began discharging treated and diluted water into the ocean. The two sides reached an agreement in September to allow the imports to resume.

Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi will hold talks with his Ukrainian counterpart on Saturday. He's expected to pledge Japan's continued support as Russia's invasion continues.
Iwaya arrived in Ukraine by train from Poland. He's scheduled to visit Ucha, the town near the capital Kiev, where many civilians were killed in the early days of the invasion. Iwaya will then meet with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sibiya. He plans to convey Japan's policy of continuing support for Ukraine, including providing power-related equipment to help the country survive winter. Arrangements are also underway for a courtesy visit to President Volodymyr Zelensky. Iwaya visit comes amid growing concerns that the situation in Ukraine could worsen.
North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia and are reportedly engaging in combat operations with Russian forces.
Now countries are also closely watching how the United States will deal with the situation in Ukraine after Donald Trump takes office in January.
And people in Japan have been invited to offer their condolences for the late Princess Mikasa. The Princess, whose given name is Yuriko, was the widow of Prince Mikasa, a younger brother of the late Emperor Showa. 
The princess passed away due to old age at a hospital in Tokyo on Friday morning. She was 101 years old. Her residence in Tokyo's Minata Ward was open to the public on Saturday to allow visitors to sign condolence books.

I thought she was beautiful and respectable. I feel deep sorrow.

Members of the public can pay their respects from 9 AM to 7 PM every day For some time to come now, those wishing to sign the condolence books can enter the premises from the South gates.

U.S. president-elect Donald Trump says he will establish a new organization to handle his energy policy, which includes producing more fossil fuels.
In a statement released on Friday, Trump says the National Energy Council will consist of departments and agencies in charge of permission, production and regulation of energy in the country. The council will be led by Doug Burgum, governor of the fossil fuel rich state of North Dakota. Burgum will also lead the Interior Department. Trump has said he aims to support oil and gas drilling to lower energy costs. In the statement, Trump says he will expand energy production to grow the economy, adding that the U.S. is blessed with vast amounts of liquid gold.

Now, an international environmental NGO has given the Group of Seven nations a satirical Fossil of the Day award on the sidelines of the COP29 Climate Change Conference in Azerbaijan.

Today's Fossil of the Day award goes to...Oh, that G7.

The Climate Action Network is presenting awards every day during the COP 29 conference. It named the G7 as Friday's winner, saying the group's members are running away from their fiscal responsibility to pay up for their growing climate finance debt.
The group also said the G7 countries have failed in their duty to provide funds for developing nations a key agenda at the COP 29 talks. NGO officials from the recipient nations accepted the award in a mock ceremony.

Atomic bomb survivors are planning to attend this year's Nobel Peace Prize ceremony to watch their organization receive the prestigious honor. Now, Nihon Hidankiyo has launched a crowdfunding drive to raise funds to send more of its delegates to the event. It hopes to send 31 people to the ceremony in Norway's capital, Oslo, on December 10th. They include Hibakusha, or survivors of the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as well as their descendants. Group officials say its goal is to collect about $64,000. 

No more hibakusha. I hope this will be an opportunity to once again send our message of no more hibakusha to the world. We'd like to ask for everyone's support.

Officials say the Nobel Committee will cover costs for the group's three Co chairs to attend the ceremony. The rest of the participants will each need about $3200 for their travel and accommodations. The group says the individuals cannot afford the costs on their own. Additional funds will be needed for their interpreters and caregivers.

Now, Friday marked 47 years since Japanese national Yokota Megumi was abducted by North Korean agents. A school she attended has held a musical gathering to renew calls for her return. Organizers put on the event at the elementary school she graduated from in Niigata Prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast. Megumi was a first-year junior high school student when she was abducted.

A local student played a song she wrote. It asks people to imagine the suffering of the victims and their families.

Two of Megumi's former classmates performed Spring from Antonio Vivaldi's The Four Seasons. They chose the piece in hopes she'll be able to see spring in Japan again.

Megumi has been suffering for 47 years, and they still haven't brought her home. Every possible effort should be made to make that happen.

Megumi's mother, Yokota Sakiye, joined the event by phone. She thanked participants for remembering her daughter and seeking her return. The Japanese government says at least 17 citizens were abducted by North Korean agents in the 1970s and 80s. Five returned to Japan in 2002, but Megumi and eleven others remain unaccounted for.
And those are the top stories for this hour.

And that's a wrap for this edition of NHK Newsline. I'm Ramin Malegard.
Thank you very much for joining us.

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