at 20:00 (JST), February 14 AS

Preparations are taking place to have Japan's Foreign Minister meet his South Korean counterpart in Germany on Friday amid deteriorating bilateral ties.

Official campaigning began on Thursday in Okinawa for a prefectural referendum on landfill work to relocate a US base within the southern Japanese prefecture.

High-level talks between the United States and China have started in Beijing.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190214200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : preparation
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190214_07/

Preparations are taking place to have Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Kono meet his South Korean counterpart in Germany on Friday amid deteriorating bilateral ties.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday demanded an apology and retraction of a remark by the speaker of South Korea's National Assembly on the issue of those referred to as comfort women.

Moon Hee-sang suggested last week that the issue would be resolved if the Emperor apologized before abdicating. The speaker has brushed aside Abe's demand.

Against this backdrop, arrangements are being made to allow Kono to meet South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha on the sidelines of an international conference that will take place in Munich.

Kono is expected to lodge a protest with Kang that the speaker's remarks cannot be tolerated, and demand a retraction and apology.

He also plans to call on the South Korean government to reply to Tokyo's appeal for talks on recent court rulings in Seoul on wartime compensation.

South Korea's Supreme Court recently ordered Japanese companies to compensate Koreans who say they were forced to work for the firms during World War Two.

Japan's government says any right to claims was settled finally and completely in an agreement the two countries signed in 1965 when they normalized ties.

Kono on Wednesday told the Diet South Korea has yet to respond to the speaker's remarks, but he expects sincere action.

But Japanese government officials say it is highly unlikely South Korea will heed Japan's demands.

Key words : official campaign
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190214_20/

Official campaigning began on Thursday in Okinawa for a prefectural referendum on landfill work to relocate a US base within the southern Japanese prefecture.

The referendum on the landfill work in a coastal area of Henoko will be held on February 24.

The reclamation is part of the work to build a replacement facility for the US Marine Corps Futenma air station, which is located in a crowded residential area of Ginowan City.

Voters will choose from three options listed on the ballot paper asking what they think of the landfill for the base relocation -- "yes," "no," or "neither." The result will not be legally binding.

But an ordinance on the referendum stipulates that the Okinawa governor must respect the outcome, if a quarter of eligible voters support the option that wins the most votes. It also says the governor must notify the Japanese prime minister and the US president of the result.

Japan's central government began pouring soil into the sea for the new base in December last year, despite strong opposition from the Okinawa prefectural government.

The base relocation plan is based on a 1996 agreement between Japan and the United States.

Key words : chief government
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190214_23/

Japan's chief government spokesman has indicated that the plan to relocate a US base in Okinawa will not be affected by the outcome of the referendum.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga was speaking to reporters on Thursday about the Okinawa referendum on landfill work to relocate the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station within the prefecture.

The landfill work is underway in a coastal area of the Henoko district of Nago City to build a replacement facility for the Futenma base. The airfield is located in a crowded residential area of Ginowan City.

Suga said the referendum is based on a local government ordinance, so the central government will refrain from making any comments.

But he said that the relocation issue originated from the need to eliminate the dangers posed by the Futenma airfield and to have the land returned.

Suga said he believes removing these dangers is an extremely important matter that also concerns Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki. He added that everything must be done to prevent the airfield from becoming a permanent site.

Key words : Fukushima probe
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190213_38/

The operator of the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant says a probe made direct contact with substances believed to be fuel debris at one of the plant's reactors.

Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, conducted its first contact survey of suspected fuel debris at the Number 2 reactor on Wednesday.

This is a key survey for devising a way to remove radioactive deposits. The plant suffered an accident due to the earthquake and tsunami that struck northeastern Japan in 2011.

TEPCO has already confirmed the existence of deposits believed to be a mixture of molten nuclear fuel and structural parts at the bottom of the reactor's containment vessel.

In Wednesday's survey, a pole that can extend to 15 meters was sent under the reactor, and the probe was lowered from the end of the pole.

Officials say the probe was able to touch the deposits without any major trouble. They say they looked into the deposits' hardness and whether they can be moved.

TEPCO plans to take out a small amount of the deposits with a different device in the latter half of the next fiscal year to use them as samples for study.

Key words : today's news keywords segment decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiich nuclear plant
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Key words : high-level United States and China leaving
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190214_17/

High-level trade talks between the United States and China have started in Beijing. They follow a previous round in January.

Participants of the 2-day negotiations include US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He.

The top US officials were seen leaving their hotel on Thursday morning. Mnuchin briefly responded to reporters, saying he's looking forward to the discussions.

The US intends to raise tariffs on imports from China if the two countries fail to reach a deal on key issues by March 1. These include intellectual-property rights and the US trade deficit with China.

Deputy-level negotiations were held from Monday.

The US officials have been pressing hard for China to fundamentally alter its trade practices.

But the two sides remain far apart over China's alleged violations of intellectual-property rights and forced transfers of technology to Chinese firms. China has given assurances it will deal with these issues by introducing new legislation.

Analysts are watching to see if China will offer specific measures this time around. If differences narrow, the presidents of the two countries might meet for a summit.

Key words : television
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190214_36/

Bloomberg television has reported that US President Donald Trump is considering a 60-day extension of the March 1st deadline for the imposition of new tariffs on Chinese imports.

The countries are currently trying to negotiate a resolution to their damaging trade dispute. The US intends to impose higher tariffs on imports from China unless their talks result in a deal by March 1st.

President Donald Trump has been taking a softer tone on the negotiations. He's indicated he may relax the deadline to get a deal done.

Earlier this week Trump hinted he would offer an extension if it looks like a concrete deal is taking shape.

Key words : UN report
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190214_18/

A UN report says global employment has recovered to a level not seen since before the 2008 financial crisis.

The latest report of the International Labour Organization says about 172 million people were unemployed last year, down 1.6 million from 2017.

ILO officials say this indicates a jobless rate of 5 percent or an improvement of 0.1 percentage point.

The report says that "assuming stable economic conditions, the unemployment rate in many countries is projected to decline further." It predicts the global jobless rate will fall to 4.9 percent this year.

The officials also touched on the gender gap in the labor market. They said unemployment among women tends to be higher in many countries and urged governments to take steps to narrow the difference.

Key words : same-sex across
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190214_32/

Same-sex couples in Japan have jointly filed the first lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the country's rejection of their right to get married.

Japanese laws do not recognize same-sex marriages.
Thirteen couples in Tokyo and three other cities claim this violates the Constitution, which guarantees equality under law. They also note the growing awareness that discrimination based on sexual orientation is wrong.

Support for sexual minorities is gaining momentum in Japan.

There are municipalities that recognize same-sex couples as married couples, and businesses that treat same-sex partners as spouses.

But Japanese laws are applied on the basis that a marriage is a union between a man and a woman.

One plaintiff, Kenji Aiba, told reporters outside the Tokyo District Court that his lawsuit was not only for him and his partners. He said, " We submitted a petition that represents sexual minorities and plaintiffs across the nation. I'm filled with emotions."

Another plaintiff, Ai Nakajima, said, "I hope today will be the first step toward legalizing same-sex marriage in Japan."
.
The Justice Ministry has declined to comment, saying it has not yet received the petition.

Key words : new outbreak of Toyota
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190214_25/

A new outbreak of swine fever was confirmed on Thursday at a pig farm in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan.

The farm in Tahara City is next to a pig-rearing facility where an outbreak of swine fever was confirmed on Wednesday.

The two farms are run by different owners. They are located in an area with about 10 hog farms.

Earlier this month in Aichi Prefecture, pigs at two farms -- one in Tahara and another in Toyota City -- tested positive for the highly contagious disease.

Following Wednesday's outbreak, the prefectural government banned about 60 farms within a 10-kilometer radius from moving and shipping pigs.

The ban has affected more than 100,000 animals.

The prefecture is culling pigs at the two farms hit by the latest outbreaks. Officials are also keeping a close eye on neighboring facilities to detect any possible signs of infection.

After an emergency meeting, Aichi Governor Hideaki Omura said he will request the deployment of the Self-Defense Forces to deal with the situation.

Key words : justice ministry financial support
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Key words : olympic committee
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190214_28/

The president of the International Olympic Committee has sent a message to Japanese swimming star Rikako Ikee saying "wishing you all the best for your recovery." Ikee was recently diagnosed with leukemia.

Thomas Bach on Wednesday tweeted from the official Olympic account, saying "Joining with all your millions of fans to send you all my best wishes. Now just concentrate on getting better."

Ikee, who holds national records in the women's 100-meter butterfly and others, had been training in Australia since last month, but returned to Japan in early February after feeling ill.

She revealed the diagnosis on Tuesday and started full treatment.

at 20:00 (JST), February 13 AS

Japan's Prime Minister says he will keep seeking an apology and retraction of a remark by the speaker of South Korea's National Assembly on the issue of those referred to as comfort women.

Senior US military officials are welcoming the second US-North Korea summit scheduled for later this month, but say Pyongyang is unlikely to give up all of its nuclear weapons.

A lawyer for former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn has resigned.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190213200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : prime seeking an apology
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190213_30/

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he will keep seeking an apology and retraction of a remark by the speaker of South Korea's National Assembly on the issue of those referred to as comfort women.

Moon Hee-sang suggested last week that the issue would be resolved if the Emperor apologized before abdicating. He also suggested Abe could apologize.

Abe said in the Diet on Wednesday that the issue has been resolved completely and irreversibly by an agreement between Japan and South Korea. He called the deal a promise endorsed by the two countries.

Abe said that if such an agreement were overturned due to a change of government, establishing bilateral relations would be impossible.

He added that he believes the remark shocked and angered many people in Japan. He also said Moon's repetition of the highly inappropriate comment after it was reported is extremely regrettable.

Abe stressed that Japan has lodged a firm protest with South Korea through diplomatic channels.

The speaker has refused to apologize for the remark.

A spokesperson for the National Assembly said the speaker, who is in the United States, told reporters he cannot understand why his comment has become such a big problem and that even Abe has joined the fray.

The speaker reportedly added that the remark is not something to apologize for, saying he gave his view and still believes he suggested the basic solution.

Key words : US lawmaker reaffirm
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190213_31/

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has submitted resolutions to reaffirm trilateral cooperation among the United States, Japan and South Korea.

The seven lawmakers include Senator Cory Gardner and Representative Brad Sherman.

Their resolutions were submitted to both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

They say Japan and South Korea share values with the US such as freedom and democracy, and describe them as key partners in tackling North Korea's nuclear program and other international issues.

The resolutions underscore congressional support for constructive and positive relations between Japan and South Korea, and for a stronger three-way partnership.

During Tuesday's Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, lawmakers expressed concern that souring relations between Japan and South Korea could have a negative impact on security in East Asia.

Representative Sherman issued a statement saying he hopes the resolutions send a strong message to friends in Japan and South Korea that they cannot let history prevent them from working together to meet shared security challenges.

Key words : senior US military
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190213_10/

Senior US military officials are welcoming the second US-North Korea summit scheduled for later this month, but say Pyongyang is unlikely to give up all of its nuclear weapons.

General Robert Abrams, commander of US Forces Korea, spoke before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.

He said there has been a clear reduction of tentions on the Korean Peninsula following the first summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The meeting took place in June of last year. Abrams also said the second summit is a positive sign of continued dialogue.

But Abrams added that US forces have not observed activity that's consistent with a "full-court press" on denuclearization. He voiced concern that there has been little to no verifiable change in North Korea's military capabilities.

Admiral Philip Davidson, the head of Indo-Pacific Command, also attended the committee meeting.

In a written statement, he welcomed the upcoming summit, but expressed doubts about Pyongyang's intentions to fully denuclearize.

The statement also said that Indo-Pacific Command believes North Korea seeks to negotiate partial denuclearization in exchange for "US and international concessions."

Senators at the hearing expressed concerns that Trump may decide to withdraw US troops from South Korea in return for the North's denuclearization.

Abrams stressed the importance of stationing US forces in South Korea, pointing out that it serves not only to defend South Korea but also prevents the expansion of China's military.

Key words : US defense unveiled
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190213_19/

The US Defense Department has unveiled a new strategy which focuses on harnessing artificial intelligence to ensure it maintains a military advantage over China and Russia.

The US military released a summary of its 2018 Department of Defense AI strategy on Tuesday.

The report says China and Russia are making significant investments in AI for military purposes.

It says those investments threaten to erode US technological advantages and destabilize the free and open international order.

It stresses that the United States must adopt AI in order to prevail on future battlefields, and safeguard the world order.

The report calls for strengthening the authority of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center created within the Defense Department last year, and for stepping up cooperation with industry, academia and US allies.

The US military has introduced AI in areas such as the processing of data from surveillance aircraft, and is apparently aiming to speed up AI development and use to counter China and Russia.

On Monday, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order calling for the maintenance of US leadership in AI, not only for military purposes, but in areas such as automated vehicles and industrial robots.

Key words : intelligence report
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190213_26/

A new US Defense Department intelligence report warns of a threat by weapons development and militarization of space by China and Russia.

The department's Defense Intelligence Agency released the report on Monday.

Titled "Challenges to Security in Space," the report says "China and Russia are developing a variety of means to exploit perceived US reliance on space-based systems and challenge the US position in space." It says such means include missiles and laser weapons that can destroy satellites.

The report also says China may already have "limited capability to employ laser systems against satellite sensors."

It adds that the country "likely will field a ground-based laser weapon that can counter low-orbit space-based sensors by 2020." It says that by the mid-to-late 2020s, China "may field higher power systems that extend the threat to the structures of non-optical satellites."

The report says Russia began delivering a laser weapon system to its Aerospace Forces before last July, and that the system is likely intended for an anti-satellite weapon mission.

Citing the significant roles of satellites in the military, commercial and civil sectors, the report stresses that China and Russia pose a threat as they improve their space capabilities.

US President Donald Trump says he aims to establish a new branch of the US military in space by 2020. In December, the Trump administration announced the creation of the US Space Command, which is to have unified control of military operations in space.

Key words : lawyer
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190213_36/

A lawyer working for former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn has resigned.

Motonari Otsuru filed his resignation at the Tokyo District Court on Wednesday. Contacted by NHK, he declined to say why he resigned, saying only he had no comment to make.

The lawyer began serving Ghosn in November after he was arrested on his first charge for underreporting his compensation. Ghosn has been indicted with multiple charges since then, including aggravating breach of trust.

People familiar with the matter say lawyer Junichiro Hironaka will work for Ghosn from now on. Hironaka is known for winning the acquittal of a former senior welfare ministry official, who was arrested for fraud in 2009.

Otsuru has consistently denied Ghosn's charges. He told reporters in January that the defense team believes there is no evidence of crime.

Otsuru requested bail for Ghosn twice, but the court rejected them.

Key words : swimming super process
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190213_22/

Japanese swimming superstar Rikako Ikee, who has announced that she has been diagnosed with leukemia, will start full treatment for the disease. Sources close to the Japan Swimming Federation say the process may take more than six months.

Ikee holds national records in multiple events, including the women's 100-meter butterfly.

She posted a message on Twitter on Tuesday revealing the diagnosis.

Ikee had been training in Australia since last month, but returned to Japan in early February after complaining of poor health. She is now in a hospital.

Methods of treatment may vary, as there are different types of leukemia.

Sources close to the swimming federation say it will take at least two or three weeks for Ikee to receive a detailed diagnosis and start the full treatment.

The 18-year-old Ikee commented that she will rest and concentrate on her treatment so that she can come back even stronger.

Key words : donor program
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190213_37/

The Japan Marrow Donor Program has been flooded with inquiries since swimming superstar Rikako Ikee revealed she has been diagnosed with leukemia.

The program's office in Tokyo has been receiving calls from people eager to do something to help Ikee. Some people are expressing hope she will be able to compete again.

The program's website usually receives about five requests a day for brochures, but on Tuesday it received about 270.

The program says about 494,000 people had registered as donors as of the end of January.

But it says the more the better, because the probability of a T-cell match is low: one in four among siblings, and about one in several hundred to one in tens of thousands among people of different lineages.

People between 18 to 54 are eligible to register. People in their teens and 20s account for only about 16 percent of the total registry.

The program's public relations official Hidehiko Okubo says leukemia can happen to anyone at any time. He says about 1,500 patients in Japan are now waiting for bone marrow transplants. A matching donor, he says, gives the patients hope for survival.

It is not yet known what type of leukemia Ikee has. A bone marrow transplant usually becomes an option when anti-cancer treatments fail.

Key words : two major financial
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190213_15/

A Japanese trading house and two major financial institutions believe there's encouraging prospects for eco-friendly energy. The three are teaming up to boost investment in offshore wind power.

Trading firm Sumitomo Corporation, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and the government-affiliated Development Bank of Japan will establish a new fund by the end of the month.

Sources say that it plans to funnel 30 billion yen or about 270 million dollars into offshore wind energy projects.

And the first one may be a wind farm off the coast of Britain. The country is already home to massive wind energy developments.

The Japanese tie-up is looking to increase its investment destinations in the future, mainly in Europe. After accumulating knowhow overseas they hope to eventually carry out projects in Japan.

Key words : researcher Mitsubishi
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190213_28/

Researchers at Mitsubishi Electric have developed technology that recognizes up to 10 languages at the same time. They say the system could be useful in tourism and other fields.

It relies on AI to recognize multiple languages simultaneously -- based on the voice characteristics and vocabulary of each user.

Mitsubishi aims to further improve the system's accuracy before launching it for practical use.

"If the system is adopted in public places, such as information centers, many different people could use it," says Takaaki Hori of Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories. "They would not have to wait so long and could get information anytime they need it."

Hori says he's studying other uses for the system. He says these could include multilingual car navigation devices for rental vehicles. Drivers would not have to set their language in advance.

at 20:00 (JST), February 12 AS

Japan has lodged a strong protest with South Korea over remarks made by its National Assembly Speaker on the issue of those referred to as comfort women.

Japan's Prime Minister has stressed that the country has not retreated regarding negotiations with Moscow on four Russian-held islands claimed by Japan.

Vietnam's foreign minister is heading for North Korea ahead of the second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190212200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : Japan strong protest
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190212_20/

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says Japan has lodged a strong protest with South Korea over remarks made by its National Assembly Speaker on the issue of those referred to as comfort women.

Moon Hee-sang said in an interview with US media last week that if Japan's prime minister or the Emperor holds the hands of the elderly women and says he's really sorry, then that one word will resolve matters once and for all.

He is quoted as saying that he wishes Emperor Akihito "would do it since he will step down soon."

Prime Minister Abe told a Diet committee on Tuesday that he was shocked by the remarks.

He said Japan immediately conveyed to South Korea through diplomatic channels its profound displeasure over the "extremely inappropriate" content of the speaker's remarks.

Abe said the Japanese government also requested an apology and retraction of the remarks.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters on Tuesday that the speaker later issued a statement to say that he places importance on bilateral ties and hopes to see progress toward future-oriented ties.

Suga said the South Korean government has also explained that the speaker's remarks were reported in a way that did not reflect his true intentions.

However, Suga said that the remarks were extremely inappropriate.

Meanwhile, Speaker Moon reportedly said in Washington that his comments were made in a context meant to emphasize that a person in a significant position should offer a sincere apology.

He said he does not wish for unnecessary disputes between the two countries.

The speaker also said concerning the comfort women issue, priority should be put on a sincere apology that is acceptable to the victims.

He added Japan repeatedly said that it has apologized dozens of times, but it doesn't appear that way to him.

Key words : Abe stressed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190212_25/

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has stressed that the country has not retreated regarding negotiations with Moscow on four Russian-held islands claimed by Japan. Abe also said signing a peace treaty with Russia entails demarcating the two countries' border.

Abe was answering questions in the Diet on Tuesday about the negotiations. Japan's government maintains that the islands are an inherent part of the country's territory that were illegally occupied after World War Two.

Katsuya Okada, who's aligned with the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, noted that a 1956 Japan-Soviet joint declaration refers to the handover of the Habomai islets and Shikotan Island, but does not mention the islands Kunashiri and Etorofu.

He suggested that making the declaration a basis for talks would put negotiations on the latter two islands at a huge disadvantage.

Abe denied this view, and stressed that negotiations to resolve the issue have always been about the four islands. He said there is no retrogression.

Asked whether he intends to demarcate the border with only Habomai and Shikotan on the Japanese side, Abe said the government aims to sign a peace treaty after the territorial issue is resolved.

He declined to comment further, saying he did not want to discuss content of the ongoing negotiations.

Key words : Vietnam heading
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190212_27/

Vietnam's foreign minister is heading for North Korea ahead of the second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un scheduled for later this month in Hanoi.

Vietnam's foreign ministry announced on Monday that Pham Binh Minh, who also serves as deputy prime minister, will be in the North from Tuesday to Thursday.

He arrived in Beijing airport around 11 AM local time. Reporters saw him walk through terminals to board on a connecting flight to Pyongyang.

In the North, he is expected to discuss security arrangements for Kim during the summit planned for February 27th and 28th.

Vietnam has been one of the North's closest friends for decades.
In 1958, North Korea's late founder Kim Il Sung visited what was then North Vietnam. His country participated in the Vietnam War as part of the socialist forces.

Vietnam is now opening up its economy while maintaining a socialist regime. It is enjoying economic growth, as its trade with former foe the United States is increasing.

Experts say the selection of Vietnam as the host country for the summit may be a message from the US president that North Korea could become another Vietnam if it gives up its nuclear program.

Key words : China smartphone
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190212_36/

Shipments of smartphones in China in 2018 were down more than 10 percent year-on-year.

US research company IDC said about 397.7 million units were shipped in China last year, down 10.5 percent from 2017.

Customers apparently refrained from buying new smartphones amid an economic slowdown due to trade friction with the United States.

Shipments of Apple smartphones decreased 11.7 percent, while those of Huawei grew 15.5 percent.

Apple's October-December shipments suffered a nearly 20-percent decline from the same period in the previous year.
IDC said the market outlook for this year is not optimistic, and that competition for customers will be severe.

Key words : US media report avoid
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190212_22/

US media reports say Republican and Democratic lawmakers have reached a tentative agreement to avoid another government shutdown.

The Associated Press reports that the deal reached on Monday includes about 1.4 billion dollars for border security. That's far less than the 5.7 billion dollars demanded by President Donald Trump.

The money will reportedly be used to build a metal fence, not the concrete wall Trump had wanted.

The US government was partially shut down for more than a month in a standoff over border wall funding. It reopened last month when the president and the Democrats agreed on a short-term spending bill that didn't include funding for a wall.

Attention has been focused on whether Congress could reach a deal before the spending bill expires on Friday.

The new bill would prevent another government shutdown once it's approved by Congress and signed by the president.

Trump said at a rally in Texas on Monday he has heard that progress was being made in Congress. He said he hasn't been briefed on details of the deal, but that he's building the wall anyway.

Key words : venezuela annual inflation rate nearly
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190212_16/

Venezuela's National Assembly says the annual inflation rate hit nearly 2.7 million percent last month. The hyperinflation comes amid severe food and medicine shortages in the country and a political power struggle.

The dramatic rise in inflation was driven by the strengthening of the US economic sanctions on the country last month, as well as the refusal by President Nicolas Maduro's administration to accept humanitarian aid from Western nations.

Analysts say the hyperinflation will drive more people out of the country, with the number expected to top five million by the end of the year.

The International Monetary Fund says the inflation rate could reach 10 million percent later this year.

Maduro's administration argues that the US is trying to throw his country into chaos with aid.

Maduro is backed by China and Russia.
Opposition leader Juan Guaido has declared himself interim president, and has been supported by the US and other countries.

Meanwhile, the bloc led by Guaido tells NHK that it is in negotiations with the US and dozens of other countries to provide 2 billion dollars for a new economic rehabilitation plan.

The opposition also says it is hoping to get money from the IMF.

The bloc is set to meet with pro-Guaido countries in Washington on Thursday.

Key words : acting defense chief
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190212_08/

The acting US defense chief has stressed the importance of direct talks between Afghanistan's government and Taliban insurgents.

Patrick Shanahan, Acting Secretary of Defense, made his comments during a visit to Afghanistan on Monday.

In a meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in the capital Kabul, the two sides exchanged views over ongoing peace talks between the United States and the Taliban.

Before the meeting, Shanahan told reporters that it was important for the Afghan government to be included in the talks.

He said that the Afghans have to decide what Afghanistan looks like in the future. He added that it is not about the US, it is about Afghanistan.

The Taliban has so far rejected direct talks with the Afghan government, which the insurgent group calls illegitimate and a puppet of the US.

Zalmay Khalilzad, the US special envoy leading talks with the Taliban, said last week that there had been progress in negotiations revolving around the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.

He made a call for direct talks to begin between the Taliban and the Afghan government.

Khalilzad is expected to hold talks with the Taliban later this month.

Key words : Thailand election disqualified
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190212_19/

Thailand's Election Commission has disqualified the sister of the country's king as a candidate for prime minister in next month's general election.

The election panel on Monday approved 69 candidates from 45 political parties. Princess Ubolratana was not among them.

The panel issued a statement saying members of the royal family must remain politically neutral.

King Maha Vajiralongkorn criticized the princess's candidacy on Friday, calling it "highly inappropriate."

The princess had been put forward by a political party loyal to ousted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra. But the party withdrew its nomination after the king objected.

The election scheduled for March 24th is expected to pit the pro-junta party led by interim Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha against the pro-Thaksin parties.

Prayut, who led a 2014 military coup, is among the candidates. He aims to maintain the current military-led political system.

The pro-Thaksin camp is expected to face an uphill election battle after the failed attempt to nominate the princess.

Key words : Tokyo nikkei
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190212_28/

Tokyo's Nikkei Average on Tuesday posted its strongest advance since late December. A weaker yen and some positive news from the United States improved investor sentiment.

The Nikkei closed at 20,864, gaining 531 points or 2.6 percent from Friday's close. Monday was a national holiday.

Analysts say many investors became optimistic about a US-China trade deal, thanks to reports that White House advisors are contemplating a presidential summit as early as mid-March.

Another contributor to the stock rally was a report suggesting that a fresh government shutdown in the US may be avoided.
Party leaders say they've reached an agreement in principle on border security funding.

The news reports restored risk appetite and traders sold the safer yen against the dollar, sending the greenback to the highest this year. That was an added boost for exporter stocks.

Key words : experts warning
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190212_23/

Experts are warning of a major outbreak of rubella, or German measles, in Japan this year, with more than 300 cases of infection already reported this year.

According to health authorities across the country, the number of rubella cases totaled more than 2,900 last year. That was the second-highest number in about a decade.

As of February 3 this year, 367 cases of rubella were reported. More than 60 percent of them were in Tokyo and surrounding prefectures.

If women catch rubella during pregnancy, their babies could be born with visual, hearing or cardiac disorders.

Last month, a baby boy in Saitama Prefecture outside Tokyo was diagnosed with congenital rubella syndrome.

According to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, a rubella epidemic tends to last for several years, and a major outbreak is anticipated and more cases may follow. The institute advises women to get two vaccinations before their pregnancy.

The government is supplying the vaccinations free of charge.

In December, the government decided to launch a three-year program of giving free vaccinations in principle to men aged from 39 to 56. The group did not receive rubella vaccinations in their childhood and represented the largest portion of cases reported last year.

Key words : fresh vegetable
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190212_12/

Japan's fresh-vegetable imports surged last year, hitting the highest quantity in more than a decade. This came as food-makers hiked imports after a string of natural disasters hurt production.

Japan bought nearly 1 million tons of vegetables from abroad in 2018. That was up 14 percent on the year and the largest amount in 13 years.

Onions accounted for the largest quantity at almost 300,000 tons, unchanged from 2017.

The sharpest increase was with Chinese cabbages. They surged 500 percent to about 16,000 tons.

Cabbages more than doubled to about 92,000 tons.

Most of those three vegetables came from China.

The series of disasters led to temporary drops in Japan's farm output. That prompted food makers to turn to China for stable supplies.

The decline was compounded by Japan's demographics. Officials at the Agriculture Ministry say vegetable production has long been shrinking due to a dwindling number of farmers, many of whom are elderly.

Key words : Rikako hospitalized treat
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190212_26/

Japanese swimming sensation Rikako Ikee has announced that she has leukemia.

The 18-year-old tweeted on Tuesday that tests confirmed she has the disease.

Ikee began training in Australia last month, but returned to Japan after complaining of illness. She has reportedly been hospitalized.

In the tweet, she said her illness can be cured with proper treatment but that she has to pull out of the national championship in April.

She also said she will concentrate on making a full recovery so that she can come back even stronger.

Ikee holds the national record in multiple events, including the women's 100-meter butterfly. She is widely tipped to scoop up medals at next year's Tokyo Olympic Games.

at 20:00 (JST), February 11 AS

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has emphasized his country's military power in a ceremony marking 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.

エラー 2042

The race to become the first female US leader is heating up, with Minnesota Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar announcing her candidacy for the 2020 presidential election.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190211200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : Iranian emphasize
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190211_18/

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has emphasized how his country's military strength has increased over the 40 years since the Islamic Revolution.

Rouhani delivered a speech in Tehran on Monday during a celebration to mark the 1979 fall of the pro-US monarchy of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. A large crowd of supporters turned out.

Rouhani said Iran has become much greater and stronger than it was 40 years ago. He said Iran does not need permission from other countries to develop missiles. He said the nation's military has become so powerful it could surprise enemy countries.

The speech comes as the administration of US President Donald Trump is stepping up economic sanctions against the country.

Rouhani said Iran and the United States have been engaged in psychological warfare, and the Iranian people must be united to resist.

He said the range of sanctions imposed by the US have been a failure.

But US sanctions have weighed on the economy. The resulting frustration led to protest rallies across the country a year ago.

Key words : south business leader
#N/A


Key words : race
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190211_14/

The race to become the first female US leader is heating up, with Minnesota Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar announcing her candidacy for the 2020 presidential election.

Klobuchar launched her campaign at an outdoor meeting on Sunday amid a snowstorm.

She criticized the administration of President Donald Trump, taking aim at government shutdowns and gridlocks.

The Senator pledged to rejoin the 2015 Paris accord on climate change that Trump has decided to abandon.

President Trump responded by mocking the senator on his Twitter account: "Klobuchar talked proudly of fighting global warming while standing in a virtual blizzard of snow, ice and freezing temperatures. Bad timing."

The Democratic race for the White House begins in a year's time in the state of Iowa. A series of women, including Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Kamala Harris of California and Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, have already announced their candidacy.

They could face tough competition for the top ticket with former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders also attracting Democrat support for possible candidature.

Key words : south struck
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190210_20/

South Korea's government says it has struck a deal with Washington for a more than eight percent increase in the amount it pays to keep US troops in the country.

Cost-sharing talks that started last March had been deadlocked over Washington's insistence that Seoul bear a much greater burden. The two sides failed to reach a deal by the December deadline.

South Korea's Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday that Seoul will pay 1.038 trillion won, or about 922 million dollars at the current exchange rate, for the US forces each year. That's an increase of more than eight percent from 960 billion won, or about 852 million dollars.

The new deal is scheduled to be reviewed in one year, although past agreements had been renegotiated every five years.

Some South Koreans are voicing opposition to the deal.

South Korea's Foreign Ministry said the US demanded that Seoul shoulder a greater burden to match its status and economic power.

But it said officials strived to hammer out an agreement that could gain the understanding of South Korea's National Assembly and that both sides can accept.

A US media report says US President Donald Trump had demanded during the negotiations that Seoul double its financial burden.

Key words : Turkey urged
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190211_02/

Turkey has urged China to close detention facilities housing members of the Uighur Muslim minority group, accusing Beijing of human rights abuses.

The Turkish foreign ministry released a statement on Saturday after the death at a Chinese detention facility of an acclaimed Uighur poet, who was well known in Turkey.

The statement criticizes escalating rights violations against Uyghurs in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region over the past two years.

The Turkish government says more than one million Uighurs who have endured arbitrary arrests are subjected to torture and political re-education in internment camps and prisons.

The statement says the policy of systematic assimilation of Uighurs by China "is a great shame for humanity."

The Turkish government has been supportive of Uighurs as they share the Islamic faith and cultural similarities. Turkey also accepts Uighur refugees.

In recent years, the Turkish government had refrained from open condemnation of China's treatment of Uighurs to protect its substantial economic ties.

The condemnation comes as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is trying to highlight his government's support for Uighurs ahead of local elections scheduled for late March.

Key words : agriculture swine fever
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190211_16/

Japan's agriculture ministry says it wants to counter the country's current swine fever outbreak without resorting to the use of vaccines for the time being.

The disease has been confirmed in five prefectures.

Japan's government has enough vaccine for one million pigs. Pig farmers are increasingly calling for vaccination of livestock.

But ministry officials fear vaccination could keep Japan from regaining World Organization for Animal Health safety status for more than a year, and badly affect pork exports.

The officials say farmers and others may neglect hygiene control, such as disinfection, when pigs are vaccinated, raising the risk of outbreaks of other diseases.

The officials say that for the time being, they will contain the outbreak through early detection, culling harmed animals and disinfection. They add that they will consider vaccination if the outbreak gets out of control.

Key words : private sector
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190212_10/

Private-sector researchers believe Japan's economy has grown for the first time in two quarters. They cite a rebound in consumer spending and corporate investment in the last quarter, following declines after a series of natural disasters in the summer.

Ten research institutions have released their GDP-growth estimates for October-to-December. All predict expansion.

Their inflation-adjusted figures range between 0.1 and 0.9 percent from the previous quarter. The annualized figures are 0.3 to 3.5 percent.

The disasters put a dent in consumer spending and corporate investment in facilities and equipment.

But the researchers now say private demand has since recovered.

The disasters also hurt exports. The institutions say shipments have regained ground, but only slowly. That's due largely to China's economic slowdown.

The less-optimistic analysts say Japan's GDP growth appears to be leveling off. The official figures are due out on Thursday.

Key words : Uno
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190210_17/

Japanese figure skater Shoma Uno has won his first title in the men's singles event in the Four Continents championships, securing a come-from-behind victory.

Skaters from Asia, the Americas, Oceania and Africa are taking part in the competition in Anaheim, California.

In the free skating on Saturday, Uno earned 197.36 points, the highest free skating score in an international competition this season. He had been in fourth place after the short program.

Uno sprained his right ankle two days before he left Japan. He decided to skip one of the quadruple jumps in his free skating program, citing a lack of practice.

Uno successfully performed a quadruple flip, followed by a quadruple toe loop. He also landed a jump combination that included a quadruple toe loop.

He got a reduced score for a combination jump in the latter half of the program due to a minor glitch in his landing. But his final jump, a triple Salchow and triple toe loop, was successful. He had failed to pull off the same combination in the short program.

Uno also won the highest level rating for his spins and steps. He earned a total of 289.12 points to come from behind and win his first Four Continents title. He outdistanced the runner-up, China's Jin Boyang, by more than 15 points.

Key words : Murai
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190211_12/

Japanese filmmaker Hiro Murai has been honored at Sunday's annual Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles.

His music video for American rapper Childish Gambino's song "This is America" won its category.

The title was also named song of the year.

Murai's video has caused a stir with violent shooting scenes depicting gun violence in the United States.

The award-winning film director was born in Tokyo. He established his career in the US where he has worked with a host of famous acts.

Key words : winter festival
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190210_19/

Contestants have mimicked cranes for a winter festival in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido.

The event was held on Sunday in the village of Tsurui, where red-crowned cranes spend the winter. The species is designated as one of Japan's special natural treasures.

The participants included children and elderly people. In one contest, they mimicked the birds' calls, shouting into a microphone. Visitors laughed when some of the contestants tried to imitate cranes flapping their wings.

In another contest, barefoot people wearing crane costumes stood on one leg in a small tub filled with snow and tried to stay upright for as long as possible.

One of the winners said he feels he has become a red-crowned crane. He also said he's happy he could win after taking part for the second year in a row.

Key words : winter weather
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190211_09/

Japan's northern island of Hokkaido is still in the grip of biting winter weather, but that's good news for some animals at a zoo in Sapporo.

The polar bears, Amur tigers, and snow leopards have been enjoying their time outdoors at the Maruyama Zoo, while giraffes and other animals from warm habitats are being kept indoors.

Visitors watched a polar bear rolling and tumbling in the snow.

But the Japanese macaques leaned against a concrete wall to avoid the snow and catch some sun.

at 20:00 (JST), February 10 AS

エラー 2042

Japan and Turkey will hold talks in Tokyo on a bilateral economic partnership agreement.

A Japanese father and his son have been shot by two gunmen in the Central American country of Belize.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190210200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : south United States and plan to
#N/A


Key words : Japan and Turkey
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190210_05/

Japan and Turkey will hold talks in Tokyo on a bilateral economic partnership agreement. The two sides hope the talks will lead to the conclusion of a broad agreement at the G20 summit in Osaka in June.

The envisioned pact, also known as an EPA, is expected to cover a range of areas, including tariffs and trade. It will also cover the protection of intellectual property and rules regarding e-commerce.

The upcoming talks will be the 13th round of the negotiations that started in 2014. The talks will begin on Tuesday and last for four days.

Japan has been calling for an end to the tariffs that Turkey has been imposing on vehicles imported from Japan.

Turkey is pressing Japan to promptly abolish import duties on items, such as tomatoes, spaghetti, carpets, and other products.

Recently, free trade pacts, such as the 11-member Trans Pacific Partnership and the EPA between Japan and the EU, have gone into effect.

The amount of progress made during the latest round of negotiations may determine whether the two countries will be able to strike a deal at the G20 summit.

Key words : Japanese shot by
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190210_14/

A Japanese father and his son have been shot by two gunmen in the Central American country of Belize. The father was wounded and the son died.

Local police and media say the incident occurred in Belize City, the country's largest city, on Thursday. They say 53-year-old Takayuki Yanai, a resident of the city, was attacked by two men when he got out of a vehicle in front of his home.

His 19-year-old son, Masaki, went to his rescue. The gunmen fired several shots at them, and stole Yanai's bag that had cash inside before fleeing the scene.

Police are investigating the incident as a suspected case of robbery and are searching for the two men, who remain at large.

Yanai runs a Japanese restaurant in the country. He reportedly had just arrived home from the restaurant when he was attacked.

Belize is a small country to the east of Guatemala with a population of 370,000. Japan's foreign ministry says 45 Japanese were living in the country as of 2017.

Key words : 2020 presidential
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190210_11/

Elizabeth Warren, senator for Massachusetts, has formally announced her candidacy for the 2020 presidential election. 69-year-old Warren joins a crowded field of Democratic candidates hoping to take the White House back.

She told supporters on Saturday in Lawrence, Massachusetts, that this is the "fight to build an America where dreams are possible" and that works for everyone. She called for a big structural change.

Representative Joseph Kennedy 3rd, who is from the Kennedy family, was present to introduce Warren. Kennedy was one of her students during her time as a professor at Harvard Law School.

Warren was elected to the Senate in 2013. She is one of the progressive leaders in the Democratic party, calling for higher taxes for the rich.

In the 2016 presidential campaign, she was one of the potential running mates for Hillary Clinton.

President Donald Trump has mockingly called Warren "Pocahontas" over her claims of Native American heritage.

He did so again on Twitter on Saturday and asked if Warren is running as the first Native American candidate, or if she decided that making such a claim no longer works well.

Key words : traffic accident reported
#N/A


Key words : Uno
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190210_17/

Japanese figure skater Shoma Uno has won his first title in the men's singles event in the Four Continents championships, securing a come-from-behind victory.

Skaters from Asia, the Americas, Oceania and Africa are taking part in the competition in Anaheim, California.

In the free skating on Saturday, Uno earned 197.36 points, the highest free skating score in an international competition this season. He had been in fourth place after the short program.

Uno sprained his right ankle two days before he left Japan. He decided to skip one of the quadruple jumps in his free skating program, citing a lack of practice.

Uno successfully performed a quadruple flip, followed by a quadruple toe loop. He also landed a jump combination that included a quadruple toe loop.

He got a reduced score for a combination jump in the latter half of the program due to a minor glitch in his landing. But his final jump, a triple Salchow and triple toe loop, was successful. He had failed to pull off the same combination in the short program.

Uno also won the highest level rating for his spins and steps. He earned a total of 289.12 points to come from behind and win his first Four Continents title. He outdistanced the runner-up, China's Jin Boyang, by more than 15 points.

Key words : Japanese government decided cut down
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190210_02/

The Japanese government has decided to cut down on the use of plastic products in cafeterias and shops at about 200 government agencies and affiliated institutions, such as national universities, beginning in fiscal 2019.

The decision is aimed at reducing the amount of plastic waste in the oceans. It was made when the guidelines for signing contracts between the government and the operators of in-house cafeterias and shops were being revised.

The operators of cafeterias will be asked to avoid using disposable plastic cutlery or containers. However, exceptions can be made when people with disabilities are being served.

The owners of convenience stores and other retailers will be asked to stop providing plastic shopping bags and plastic straws.

The government says it will only sign contracts with entities that can comply with the new standards, which are set to take effect in April.

Efforts to cut down on the use of plastic shopping bags have been underway since late last year at a convenience store in the building that houses the Environment Ministry.

Environment Minister Yoshiaki Harada says the new standards will be strictly applied. He expressed hope that the government-led campaign will prompt local authorities and various industrial sectors to take action as well.

at 20:00 (JST), February 09 AS

The second US North Korea summit will be held at the end of this month in Hanoi.

High-level trade talks between the United States and China will be held on Thursday and Friday next week.

Japan's national debt has reached a new high, despite government efforts to restore fiscal health.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190209200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : summit in Hanoi
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190209_18/

US President Donald Trump says he will meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the end of this month in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi.

The announcement follows a visit to Pyongyang this week by the US envoy for North Korea, where he met with his counterpart. Trump called the talks "very productive", adding he hopes the summit will "advance the cause of peace."

Vietnam was chosen as a relatively neutral location for both sides. The North has traditionally had close relations with the country, and the US formally restored diplomatic ties in 1995 -- after decades of tension following the Vietnam war.

US officials have told NHK that Pyongyang wanted the summit to take place in Hanoi while Washington preferred the central resort city of Danang.

Last year's US-North Korea summit ended with a vague pledge by the North to denuclearize... but talks have stalled. Pyongyang is calling for sanctions to be lifted in return for its efforts...while the US says it first wants to see concrete progress.

Key words : US envoy to
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190209_03/

The US envoy to North Korea has wrapped up talks in Pyongyang ahead of the second summit between the leaders of the two countries.

Stephen Biegun was back in Seoul on Friday -- two days after he departed for the North. He is due to meet South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official Kenji Kanasugi on Saturday.

In North Korea, Biegun is believed to have met his counterpart Kim Hyok Chol to discuss concrete steps toward the country's denuclearization, and also the measures Pyongyang wants in return.

Kanasugi said before leaving Tokyo on Friday that he hopes to fully cooperate with the US and South Korea to ensure a successful second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. They are due to meet in Vietnam on February 27 and 28.

The resort of Da Nang in central Vietnam is considered a leading candidate site. However, some say the US and North Korea are divided over the choice.

The Japanese government is trying arrange phone talks between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Trump ahead of the summit.

Japan hopes to reaffirm close cooperation with the US in working toward the complete denuclearization of North Korea, and settling the long-standing issue of its abductions of Japanese nationals.

Key words : Kim made a speech
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190209_15/

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made a speech on the anniversary marking the foundation of the Korean People's Army but made no reference to the country's nuclear and missile development.

North Korea's state media reported that Kim visited the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces on Friday, the anniversary of the KPA.

Kim said that this year will be a crucial one for the country's five-year strategy for national economic development, and the Korean People's Army should play an important role in it.

Last year, a military parade was held in central Pyongyang showing off the North's latest ballistic missiles. Kim delivered a speech that was notable for its confrontational tone toward the United States. He said North Koreans must vigorously defend their country against any threat from foreign forces.

This year, there was no military parade on the army's anniversary.

US President Donald Trump tweeted that he will be meeting with Kim in Vietnam's capital Hanoi on February 27 and 28.

Observers say Kim's speech apparently avoided provoking the United States ahead of the coming summit.

Key words : high-level
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190209_08/

High-level trade talks between the United States and China will be held on Thursday and Friday next week.

The White House released a statement on Friday that said US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will visit Beijing for the talks.

The meetings will be preceded by deputy-level negotiations from Monday. The US delegation will be led by Deputy Trade Representative Jeffrey Gerrish.

The US officials are expected to press hard for China to fundamentally alter its trade practices. The two sides remain wide apart over China's alleged violations of intellectual property rights and forced transfers of technologies to Chinese firms.

The United States is poised to raise tariffs on Chinese imports if they fail to reach a deal by March 1st.

With an agreement out of sight, President Donald Trump has reversed course and now says he has no plans to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping before the deadline.

Key words : national debt
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190209_04/

Japan's national debt has reached a new high, despite government efforts to restore fiscal health.

The Finance Ministry says at the end of last year, government debt topped 1,100 trillion yen -- about 10 trillion dollars -- for the first time.

The figure translates to about 79,000 dollars for each resident of Japan.

The bulk of the debt comes from government bonds, issued to cover ballooning social insurance costs due to the graying population. Loans and short-term securities also make up part of the debt.

More bonds are set to be issued in the fiscal year beginning April. The government's budget bill calls for about 296 billion dollars in bond issuance, aimed at covering a revenue shortfall.

Key words : Thai political party
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190209_22/

A Thai political party loyal to ousted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra has canceled plans to nominate the king's sister as a prime ministerial candidate.

The party issued a statement after King Maha Vajiralongkorn criticized the candidacy of Princess Ubolratana on Friday night, calling it "highly inappropriate."

The statement said the party accepts the king's order.

Thailand will hold a general election on March 24th. The current military-led government took power following the 2014 coup that ousted Thaksin.

It had been widely believed that interim Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha would serve another term.

But media reports said the princess's nomination completely changed the nation's electoral landscape.

Key words : Carlos repay
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190209_02/

Former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn reportedly intends to repay Renault for the cost of holding a lavish wedding at the Palace of Versailles when he headed the French carmaker.

Renault said on Thursday that the cost of Ghosn's wedding party in October 2016 was covered by sponsorship fees the company paid to the palace.

The automaker said the wedding expenses worth 50,000 euros, or about 57,000 dollars, were improperly disbursed for the former chairman's personal benefit.

Ghosn's lawyer told French public radio on Friday that the facts were being misunderstood. He said staffers settled the bills for the wedding and that Ghosn was unaware of the process.

The lawyer said the problem can be settled if Renault sends an invoice and that Ghosn is ready to pay the costs.

Renault says it plans to continue an in-house probe and report its findings to French law enforcement authorities. This was the first time Renault has accused Ghosn of misconduct.

Ghosn resigned as chairman and CEO of the French automaker late last month. He remains in detention in Tokyo facing allegations of financial misconduct at Nissan.

Key words : demonstrator
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190209_20/

Demonstrators, including atomic bomb survivors, staged a sit-in on Saturday at the Nagasaki Peace Park. They protested plans by the United States and Russia to scrap a nuclear arms control pact.

The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty between the US and the former Soviet Union in 1987 helped shape nuclear disarmament talks.

But the US told Russia earlier this month it would pull out of the treaty. Since Russia has also expressed its intention to withdraw, the agreement is expected to expire in 6 months.

About 80 demonstrators gathered for an hour next to the Peace Statue in the drizzle.

Atomic bomb survivors said the world is once again vulnerable to the dangers of nuclear arms. They said they must not give up and continue to raise their voices in protest.

The participants said they have decided to send letters expressing their deep anger to the embassies of the two countries.

The protesters say they are driven by the hope of making Nagasaki the last city to suffer from an atomic bomb, and strongly urge the two countries to make efforts toward nuclear disarmament.

One of the demonstrators said that if the US thinks Russia is violating the treaty, it should resolve the issue through discussion rather than by abandoning the agreement itself.

Demonstrators gather at the Nagasaki Peace Park on the 9th of every month to remember the August 9th, 1945 bombing, and repeat their call for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

at 20:00 (JST), February 08 AS

US President Donald Trump says he has no plans to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping before the March 1st deadline for raising tariffs on chinese goods.

Share prices in New York plunged on Thursday as investors are worried about the deteriorating growth outlook for the eurozone.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has ordered emergency checks within a month into suspected child abuse cases to confirm the safety of children.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190208200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : Trump no plans to meet tariff
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190208_36/

US President Donald Trump says he has no plans to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of a deadline for reaching a trade deal.

Trump indicated last week that he might aim for an agreement in a summit with Xi. But he said on Thursday that meeting won't happen before March 1st.

The US says it will raise tariffs on imports from China if they fail to reach an agreement by that deadline.

Trump's remark is believed to reflect his view that the US needs to press China further before proposing a summit date.

The 2 countries remain far apart on issues such as China's alleged violation of intellectual property rights.

Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and other US officials are scheduled to go to Beijing next week to again meet with their Chinese counterparts.

Key words : share prices
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190208_10/

Share prices in New York plunged on Thursday as investors are worried about the deteriorating growth outlook for the eurozone. The Dow Jones Industrial Average temporarily sank nearly 390 points.

The Dow tumbled 220 points, or 0.87 percent, to close at 25,169.53. The tech-heavy Nasdaq plunged more than one percent.

European Commission announced that eurozone growth will slow to 1.3 percent this year from 1.9 percent of last year.

Market analysts say that gloomy forecast of US-China trade tensions is another factor of sliding share prices. Some of US media quoted a US senior official as saying that the US and China is far divided over negotiations on trade.

Key words : key index
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190208_32/

The key index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange closed at a one-month low on Friday after shedding more than 400 points.

The benchmark Nikkei average of 225 selected issues finished the day at 20,333, down 418 points, a drop of 2 percent from Thursday's close.

Analysts say renewed anxiety about the US-China trade dispute was the main factor.

Investor concerns were heightened by a remark from US President Donald Trump, who said he has no plans to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping before a March 1 deadline set by the two countries to reach an agreement.

Analysts say disappointing earnings reports from leading Japanese companies also took a heavy toll on investor sentiment.

Key words : north celebrate foundation
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190208_23/

North Korea celebrates the foundation of the Korean People's Army on Friday but it is unlikely to stage a military parade ahead of crucial talks with the US.

The North's ruling party newspaper Rodong Sinmun ran a front-page editorial today saying the country has been able to stave off war for decades thanks to the military, which it said had crushed any enemy plot to invade it.

The editorial made no mention of the country's nuclear and missile development.

Last year, a military parade in central Pyongyang showed off the latest ballistic missiles in an apparent show of strength against the United States.

No such moves have been scheduled for this year ahead of a second US-North summit due to be held late this month in Vietnam.

North Korea claims it has already taken some steps toward denuclearization such as the closure of a nuclear test site. It is demanding that the US ease economic sanctions and take other reciprocal measures.

The North is believed to be pushing for these measures in ongoing working-level talks to prepare for the summit. But Washington demands more concrete steps toward denuclearization.

Observers say North Korea's leadership is carefully weighing how to proceed, with an eye to drawing concessions from President Donald Trump at the upcoming summit.

Key words : US government spokesperson
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190208_20/

A US government spokesman has indicated that Vietnam was chosen as the venue for the second US-North Korea summit to symbolize the thriving partnership between former enemies.

At a news conference on Thursday, the State Department's deputy spokesperson Robert Palladino thanked Vietnam for its generosity in hosting the second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Palladino said Vietnam is a close friend and partner of the United States. He said the history of the two nations reflects the possibilities for peace and prosperity. He added that the US and Vietnam have moved past conflict and division towards the thriving partnership that they enjoy today.

The spokesman said meetings are being held to prepare for the summit on February 27th and 28th. He said the US Special Representative for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, is now in Pyongyang and is holding talks with his counterpart, Kim Hyok Chol.

Palladino said the location of the summit in Vietnam will be disclosed when it's ready for announcement.

Some observers say the second summit is likely to be held in the central Vietnamese city of Da Nang. But sources have suggested that Washington and Pyongyang have yet to reach an agreement.

Key words : Abe within a month
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190208_16/

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has ordered emergency checks within a month into cases of suspected child abuse to confirm children's safety.

In a meeting of relevant Cabinet ministers on Friday, Abe ordered checks into all cases of possible abuse currently being handled by child welfare centers.

The order follows the arrest of the parents of a 10-year-old girl in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo, on suspicion of inflicting injuries that led to their daughter's death.

Abe said it is deplorable that schools, boards of education and child welfare centers, which are supposed to protect children, failed to listen to the girl's cries for help.

He said the top priority should be protecting children's lives, and called for efforts to eradicate child abuse.

Abe also instructed the relevant ministers to ensure that new rules for handling information on possible cases of child abuse are followed. The rules prohibit the disclosure of information, including those who reported the abuse.

Key words : UN committee
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190208_06/

A UN committee has urged the Japanese government to legally ban corporal punishment of children at home.

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child assesses countries' human rights situations based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The committee held a news conference in Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday, releasing the results of its review of conditions in Japan.

The committee said Japanese law does not completely prohibit corporal punishment of children at home.

It added corporal punishment must be clearly and completely banned, however light a form it takes.

A reporter sought committee opinions about a case in Japan involving a 10-year-old girl who died recently as a result of alleged abuse by her parents.

One of the committee members said the girl must have asked many adults for help but no one tried to protect her. The expert added the tragedy must never be repeated.

More than 50 countries, mainly in Northern Europe and Africa, have laws that ban corporal punishment. A growing number of other nations are moving to introduce such legislation, including France.

Key words : exports
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190208_21/

Japanese food exports, including farm and marine products, hit a record in 2018 as the world's taste for the country's cuisine continues to grow.

Figures from the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry show exports amounted to about 8.3 billion dollars last year. That's up 12 percent in yen terms from the previous year.

Beef shipments rose 29 percent, while exports of apples rose 28 percent. Japanese apples are gaining popularity as gift items.
Exports of sake, strawberries and eggs also increased sharply.

Hong Kong was the top export destination, with nearly 2 billion dollars' worth of products shipped. It was followed by China and United States.

Figures for the top three markets were all up last year.
Officials at the ministry note that the number of Japanese restaurants is increasing around the globe.

They also say the increasing number of foreign tourists in Japan is spurring interest in the nation's cuisine.
The government targets boosting food exports to about 9.1 billion dollars this year.

Key words : next generation
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190208_29/

A developmental carriage from the next-generation bullet train has been shown to the media in western Japan.

East Japan Railway Company unveiled the front car of the ALFA-X, the test bed of the next generation bullet train, in Kudamatsu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, at a branch of its manufacturer, Hitachi.

The new bullet train is expected to begin commercial service in 2030, when the Hokkaido Shinkansen line will be extended to Sapporo. It will have a maximum speed of 360 kilometers per hour.

The front car's 22-meter-long nose is designed to provide a reduction in pressure and noise for passengers' comfort when the train passes through tunnels.

The operator plans to complete the experimental car in May after installing additional equipment to reduce the impact of tremors if an earthquake occurs.

Another type of front car, which has a 16-meter nose, has been developed by different manufacturer.

JR East officials say the new bullet train will dramatically shorten the current travel time of eight hours between Tokyo and Sapporo.

They say they hope to attract passengers who prefer to travel by air.

Koji Asano, the head of the company's frontier railway system development center, says they aim to enhance the comfort of passengers as well as offering the convenience of high speed.

Key words : parent company
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190208_39/

The parent company of All Nippon Airways will invest in the operator of Philippine Airlines to take advantage of growing demand for travel in Asia.

Japan's ANA Holdings said on Friday that it plans to acquire a 9.5 percent stake in PAL Holdings. The transaction will cost about 95 million dollars and is to be completed by the end of March.

ANA and Philippine Airlines already jointly operate international flights between Japan and the Philippines.

They will add code-sharing on domestic routes in both countries under the new capital alliance.

ANA Holdings President and CEO Shinya Katanozaka said the number of travelers from the Philippines to Japan has increased five-fold in the past five years. He added that the Philippines is a market with huge potential.

ANA's rival, Japan Airlines, launched flights between Tokyo's Haneda airport and Manila earlier this month as part of its efforts to expand its Asian network.

Key words : Narita airport
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190208_34/

Narita Airport, near Tokyo, is bracing for snow expected on Saturday. Airport officials say they will step up anti-snow measures, including wider-than-usual spreading of road salt.

A week ago, one of Narita's two runways was closed for seven hours after a plane skidded off a taxiway, likely due to slippery snow that had fallen overnight in the region.

The officials say they will inform airline officials and air controllers in detail about the conditions of the runways and taxiways.

An official in charge of runway safety at the airport, Toshiyuki Shibuya, said Narita will be fully prepared to minimize the effect of snow on flight operations.