at 20:00 (JST), January 24 AS

Carlos Ghosn has resigned from his posts at Renault.

Japan's foreign ministers met his South Korean counterpart on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Switzerland on Wednesday.

North Korea's leader has expressed eagerness with reguard to a second summit with US President.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190124200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : Carlos resign development
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190124_38/

Carlos Ghosn has resigned from his posts at carmaker Renault. France's economy minister Bruno Le Maire says Carlos Ghosn has stood down as chairman and CEO of Renault.

Le Maire confirmed the development in an interview in Davos, Switzerland. He said Ghosn resigned from Renault on Wednesday night.

Ghosn was also chairman of Japanese automaker Nissan Motor until his arrest on financial misconduct charges in November. He remains in custody in Tokyo and is unlikely to be able to return to France for some time.

The French government is the largest shareholder of Renault. Le Maire has spent weeks pressing Renault to appoint new management. He says the carmaker urgently needs stability at the top as it navigates a period of uncertainty.

Speculation is mounting about how many changes the automaker is prepared to make.

Key words : motor says extraordinary mid-April
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190124_39/

Nissan Motor says it has started preparations to hold an extraordinary shareholders meeting, likely in mid-April.

The Japanese carmaker says the meeting will cover the dismissal of former chairman Carlos Ghosn and his close aide Greg Kelly from the firm's board of directors.

The agenda will also include appointing a new director to be nominated by Renault, the top shareholder of Nissan.

In November, Nissan's board dismissed Ghosn as chairman and Kelly as representative director after their arrests for alleged financial misconduct.

But they remained on the board because discharging a director requires a decision by a general shareholders meeting.

Renault has repeatedly called for an extraordinary general meeting of Nissan shareholders at an early date, but Nissan has so far turned down the request.

Nissan officials said they want to choose replacements on the basis of discussions by a panel that includes outside experts.

Nissan's latest move to appoint a new director comes as Renault is set to choose replacements for Ghosn on Thursday.

Key words : Kono met his recent
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190124_08/

South Korea did not take a stance on Japan's call for talks on the wartime labor issue at a meeting of the two countries' foreign ministers.

Japan's Taro Kono met his South Korean counterpart, Kang Kyung-wha, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Switzerland on Wednesday.

This is their first meeting since South Korea's Supreme Court recently ordered Japanese companies to compensate Koreans who say they were forced to work for the companies during World War Two.

Kono hoped South Korea would agree to hold talks at an early date based on an agreement reached in 1965.

The Japanese government says any right to such claims was settled finally and completely in the agreement the countries signed when they normalized ties.

Kang only said the government is carefully studying the matter.

But she said it was regrettable that there have been low-altitude flights by Japanese Self-Defense Force planes close to South Korean warships.

Kono rebutted South Korea's claims, saying Japanese aircraft weren't flying as close to South Korean vessels as Seoul claims they were.

The Japanese Foreign Ministry says further worsening of ties is undesirable as there is the need to address issues relating to North Korea.

Key words : south released
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190124_37/

South Korea has released photos of a Japanese patrol plane in what it calls a provocative low-altitude flight. The country says the photos were taken from a South Korean destroyer.

The country's Ministry of National Defense made public five photos on Thursday.

South Korea's military said on Wednesday that a patrol plane of Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force flew at low altitude close to the destroyer in the East China Sea.

It called the incident the latest in a series of provocative flights by Japanese aircraft.

Japan has denied the accusations and said it is operating flights properly.

The South Korean ministry says the photos were processed from video footage taken by a camcorder and the destroyer's infrared camera. Three of them show a patrol plane.

A photo of what it calls the vessel's radar screen shows the distance as 0.3 miles and the altitude as 200 feet.

The ministry says the figures support its claim that the aircraft flew by the ship at a distance of 540 meters and an altitude of 60 to 70 meters.

The country's presidential office says the National Security Council met on Thursday. The office expressed grave concern over such flights, and said the country will act strictly to prevent a recurrence.

The two countries are already sharply at odds over an incident last month in the Sea of Japan. Officials in Tokyo say a South Korean naval vessel directed weapons radar at a Japanese patrol plane.

Key words : former supreme arrested five years
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190124_27/

South Korea's former Supreme Court chief justice Yang Sung-tae was arrested on Thursday. He is accused of abusing his authority, including unjustly delaying a ruling on a wartime labor issue.

The current chief justice is now apologizing for the court not living up to the public's expectations.

Kim Myeong-su says he feels wretched and shamed, and can't find the right words to provide comfort to anyone.

Prosecutors allege Yang acted in line with the wishes of former President Park Geun-hye. He is accused of delaying wartime labor trials involving Japan for five years.

Park is said to have been concerned verdicts could lead to worsening ties with Japan.

Yang is also accused of putting pressure on judges to rule in ways he wanted and blacklisting those who disagreed with his ideas. He denies any wrongdoing.

Last year, South Korea's top court ruled on the wartime labor trials. It ordered Japanese companies to compensate men and women who say they were forced to work for them during World War Two.

The Japanese government says any right to such claims was settled finally and completely in an agreement the countries signed when they normalized ties in 1965.

Meanwhile, the foreign ministers of Japan and South Korea met on the sidelines of the Davos Forum for the first time since the ruling.

Taro Kono tried to convince Kang Kyung-wha to hold talks based on the decades-old agreement. Kang said she would consider the request.

Both sides have said the issue should not impede their future-orientated relationship."

Key words : north expressed eagerness
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190124_15/

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has expressed eagerness for a second summit with US President Donald Trump planned for late next month.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency reported on Thursday that Kim's close aide Kim Yong Chol briefed the leader on Wednesday about his trip last week to the US, where he met Trump and other administration officials.

KCNA said Kim expressed satisfaction at receiving a letter from Trump, and welcomed the US president's strong will and ability to make decisions to solve problems.

Kim reportedly said he will believe in Trump's positive way of thinking, wait with patience and in good faith, and advance step by step with the US toward the goal to be reached by the two countries.

However, diplomatic observers say the two sides remain at odds over denuclearization. North Korea is demanding that economic sanctions be eased, claiming it has taken steps such as shutting down a nuclear test site. The US insists on more concrete steps by the North.

Key words : Trump delay his
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190124_25/

US President Donald Trump says he will delay his State of the Union address until the partial government shutdown is over, accepting a request by the Democrats.

Trump tweeted late on Wednesday that he will "do the Address when the Shutdown is over." He said he is not looking for an alternative venue for the speech because "there is no venue that can compete with the history, tradition and importance of the House Chamber."

The address had been scheduled for next Tuesday. Presidents traditionally announce their policy platforms for the coming year in the nationally televised speech.

But the Democrats have been asking Trump to postpone the address because of the shutdown.

Earlier on Wednesday, Trump had suggested he would consider an alternative venue after Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi refused to pass the resolution required for Trump to speak in Congress.

The ongoing government shutdown has become the longest in US history, as the deadlock continues over Trump's request for funding to build a wall along the Mexican border.

On Thursday, the Senate plans to vote on two competing bills aimed at ending the shutdown, one that includes the funding for the wall and another that doesn't.

Responding to Trump's tweet, Pelosi said she hopes he will support the package proposed by the Democrats.

Key words : Chief of
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190124_24/

The chief of the United Nations Population Fund is calling on the international community to provide more than 100 million dollars in emergency humanitarian assistance.

The UNFPA's executive director, Natalia Kanem, made the appeal in a meeting at the UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday.

The fund is dedicated to family planning and support for the rights and health of women and children in developing nations. US President Donald Trump's administration has withdrawn funding for the UNFPA and other UN agencies.

Kanem said the fund is concerned that the number of governments giving support has declined.

She asked more governments to support the UNFPA during this year.

Kanem said the fund needs more than 130 million dollars for medical and other supplies.

Japan's deputy permanent representative to the UN, Yasuhisa Kawamura, said Japan will support the fund through international meetings.

Kawamura said Japan will host the G20 summit and the Tokyo International Conference on African Development this year. He said Japan will help promote systems to enable anyone to receive healthcare services.

The UNFPA has suffered from a shortage of money since the US withheld 32.5 million dollars in funding in April 2017.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees reduced food aid after the Trump administration stopped funding in January last year.

Key words : government official problem accuracy
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190124_33/

Japanese government officials have announced that they have found problems to be fixed in 27 of the 56 most important regularly released government statistics.

The problems were identified as the officials scrutinized the 56 statistics following a recent revelation that the labor ministry's monthly survey of wages and working hours has been flawed for years.

The officials said none of the problems involve basic sampling methods, as was the case in the labor ministry's monthly survey.

By contrast, the inaccuracy in the labor survey was large enough to affect the government budget and the size of unemployment benefits to be paid out.

The officials have found that the land ministry's survey of construction projects showed a somewhat higher figure than was the case, because of mistakes made in feedbacks from some construction firms.

Relatively minor problems with sampling methods were found in another land ministry survey on housing starts.

Omissions in compiling data were found in nine other statistics, including the internal affairs ministry's survey on land and housing, the Finance Ministry's corporation statistics, and the education ministry's survey on school teachers.

The officials have found what they call procedural problems in 16 other statistics, including the economy ministry's survey on commercial activities.

Key words : learned whale
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190124_23/

NHK has learned that a Japanese fishery group plans to resume commercial whaling for the first time in 31 years.
Sources say the cooperative will team up with a group of firms to form a fleet. It plans to head out on its first hunt on July first.

The cooperative is based in western Japan's Wakayama Prefecture, in the town of Taiji.

Officials made the decision after Japan announced last month it would withdraw from the International Whaling Commission.

The ships will likely depart from Hokkaido or Aomori prefectures, in the north of the country. Both have ports specially equipped to handle the extra-large cargo.

The crews will spend about a week at sea hunting minke whales.

The cooperative will separately conduct an expedition off central Japan that will end in August. And it plans to reform the larger fleet down the track for a two-month hunt.

The head of Japan Small-Type Whaling Association, Yoshifumi Kai, says he's been waiting years for this day to come.

Kai said, "It's important that we abide by the catch quota and make sure the whale population does not dwindle."

Japan suspended commercial whaling in line with a 1988 moratorium. Since then it has been taking small catches for research purposes.

It claims stocks have now recovered enough to justify commercial hunts.

Key words : heavy snow
#N/A


Key words : Naomi advance to
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190124_32/

Naomi Osaka has become the first Japanese tennis player to advance to the singles finals of the Australian Open, one of the sport's four Grand Slam events.

In the women's singles semifinals on Thursday, Osaka defeated Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic in three sets.

Osaka is to play her second straight Grand Slam final on Saturday. She won the US Open women's singles title last year.

at 20:00 (JST), January 23 AS

The leaders of Japan and Russia have agreed to further accelerate negotiations on concluding a peace treaty.

Sources say former Nissan Motor head Carlos Ghosn intends to resign from his position as the chairman and CEO of Renault, the alliance partner of Nissan.

South Korea's military claims that a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force plane flew provocatively close to a South Korean warship in the East China Sea.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190123200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : and Russia concluding further
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190123_10/

The leaders of Japan and Russia have agreed to further accelerate negotiations on concluding a peace treaty that would include resolving the issue of four Russian-held islands claimed by Japan. But their latest summit ended without concrete progress and revealed a difference in their positions.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks in the Kremlin in Moscow on Tuesday.

The summit comes after talks between Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov last week on the peace treaty issue.

The two leaders welcomed the candid and serious discussions between the foreign ministers.

Abe and Putin agreed that the foreign ministers and special representatives of the two countries will hold talks on the sidelines of an international conference scheduled to be held in Germany next month.

They confirmed that they will instruct government officials to take steady and prompt steps in efforts to realize joint economic activities on the Russian-held islands claimed by Japan.

The leaders confirmed that former Japanese residents of the islands will fly to the islands to visit their family graves in the coming summer. Delegations of former residents have twice made such visits in the past.

The Japanese government maintains that the four islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory. It says the islands were illegally occupied after World War Two.

Abe said in a joint news conference after the summit that it is not easy to settle an issue that has been left unresolved for more than 70 years since the war.

Abe said he and Putin confirmed their resolve to take the lead in their governments' joint efforts to promote mutual trust between the peoples of Japan and Russia and to reach a solution both nations can accept.

Putin stressed that there is a long, bumpy road ahead that will require patience.

Abe wanted to agree with Putin that the two sides will start drafting a treaty. But no concrete progress was made on this matter during the summit.

In November of last year, Abe and Putin agreed to speed up treaty negotiations based on a 1956 joint declaration.

The declaration states that after a treaty is concluded, two of the four Russian-held islands would be handed over to Japan.

Key words : Carlos resign
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190123_29/

Sources say former Nissan Motor head Carlos Ghosn intends to resign from his position as the chairman and CEO of Renault, the alliance partner of Nissan.

Ghosn has been held in detention in Tokyo for over two months on a series of financial misconduct allegations.

He was ousted from his post as Nissan chairman after his arrest in mid-November, but Renault has kept him on board.

Ghosn oversaw the alliance between Nissan, Renault and Mitsubishi Motors.

The news comes as the French automaker prepares to hold a board meeting on Thursday to replace Ghosn.
The French government is Renault's largest shareholder. It's urging the company to appoint new management to ensure stability.

French media say tire manufacturer Michelin's chief executive will likely take over as chairman. And Renault's Chief Operating Officer is expected to become CEO. He has been filling in for Ghosn as acting chief executive.

Ghosn's expected departure is likely to intensify a power struggle and talks over the future of the alliance.

Renault owns 43 percent of Nissan's shares, but the Japanese automaker is more profitable. So there have been calls from within Nissan to review the partnership and possibly become more independent.

Key words : military claim
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190123_40/

South Korea's military claims that a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force plane flew provocatively close to a South Korean warship in the East China Sea.

Suh Wook, chief director of operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at an emergency news conference on Wednesday that shortly after two PM local time on the same day, a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force patrol plane flew within 540 meters of a Navy ship, at an altitude of 60 to 70 meters, near Ieodo, a reef in the East China Sea.

Last month, a South Korean destroyer directed its fire control radar at a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force plane.

South Korea maintains that the Japanese planes' low-altitude flights are a problem in themselves.

Suh also said that despite South Korea's restrained response, Japan made provocative flights toward South Korean warships on January 18th and 22nd.

He noted that Wednesday's low-altitude flight, despite South Korea's request to the Japanese government to prevent a recurrence, is a clearly "provocative act" toward a ship of a partner country. He said South Korea cannot help but doubt Japan's intent and strongly condemn it.

He added that should this be repeated again, South Korea's military will respond strongly and in line with its code of conduct.

Key words : maritime self-defense P3C
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190123_51/

Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force says the patrol plane in question is a P3C from Kanoya Air Base in Kagoshima Prefecture.

It says the aircraft flew at an altitude of more than 150 meters and carried out surveillance in a proper manner.

The Defense Ministry says the area near Ieodo in the East China Sea is within Japan's Air Defense Identification Zone, so MSDF planes regularly patrol there.

The ministry also says when patrol planes must fly near foreign naval vessels, they must stay more than 500 meters away and maintain an altitude of 150 meters or more.

Key words : number of foreigner visiting
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190123_34/

The number of foreigners visiting Japan topped 30 million last year for the first time since such statistics became available in 1950.

The Justice Ministry says the number was about 30-million-102-thousand, up 2.67 million from a year before.

The figure is about double that of 2014 and about 10 times that of 1989, when the current Heisei era began.

Nearly 90 percent of the total was short-term visitors such as tourists.

The number for September through November was below that of a year earlier.

The decline was apparently due to a powerful typhoon that wreaked havoc in western Japan and a major quake that hit Hokkaido in northern Japan during the period.

By nationality, the largest group of visitors was from South Korea at more than 7.32 million, followed by China at about 5.95 million and Taiwan at about 4.4 million, excluding those with reentry permits.

Ministry officials say the growth in the number of foreign visitors is likely a result of administrative efforts to promote tourism.

They say the number foreign visitors is expected to increase further toward the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo.

Key words : China will increase
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190123_33/

China will increase flights that connect Chinese cities and Japan. The move may lead to a further increase of Chinese tourists in Japan.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China said this month it tentatively approved 80 new international routes. More than half of the routes are between Japan and China.

Currently, more than 1,000 flights are operated between the two countries every week. If all the new flights are put into operation, the number will increase by more than 25 percent.

The planned flights connect regional cities in China and Japan's Kansai, Chubu, and other airports.

The number of Chinese tourists who visited Japan last year was 8.3 million, more than six times the figure from 2013.

Key words : Sony advancing
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190123_28/

Sony is advancing preparations to transfer its European headquarters from Britain to the Netherlands as the outlook for Brexit remains unclear.

The company's headquarters registered in Britain serves as a base to sell its products in 40 countries across Europe. The items include audio-visual equipment and cameras manufactured in Japan and other parts of Asia.

Many businesses are worried as political turmoil in the UK increases the possibility the country will leave the European Union without a deal.

Sony is concerned about potential barriers to selling products imported to its UK subsidiary within the EU.

While Sony has decided to register a new headquarters in Amsterdam, it says it will keep the UK as its regional business base and won't move personnel.

With just over two months remaining until a March 29th deadline, Japanese companies are bracing for the possibility of a no-deal Brexit. That includes Honda Motor, which plans to halt its factory operations for a certain period.

Key words : labor ministry raised corrected
#N/A


Key words : governor Hiroshima
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190123_37/

The governor of Japan's Hiroshima Prefecture has asked the Foreign Ministry for support to realize a visit by Pope Francis to the atomic-bombed city of Hiroshima this year.

The Pope has expressed his desire to travel to Japan at some point this year. The Foreign Ministry is currently arranging a schedule.

Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki met State Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahisa Sato on Wednesday.

Yuzaki expressed hope that the Pope will send a message from Hiroshima calling for a peaceful world without nuclear weapons. He said that would help increase global momentum toward the abolition of nuclear arms.

Yuzaki also requested that world leaders visiting Osaka for the G20 summit in June make a visit to Hiroshima.

Sato responded that he will convey the requests to Foreign Minister Taro Kono. He said understanding the reality of the atomic bombing is the first step toward nuclear disarmament.

at 20:00 (JST), January 22 AS

A Tokyo court has rejected the latest bail request from Nissan Motor's former Chairman. Carlos Ghosn has been in custody for over 2 months.

US and North Korean officials appear to have met in Sweden, following a US announcement confirming plan for second summit next month.

World business and political leaders are gathering in Davos, Switzerland, for the annual World Economic Forum.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190122200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : Tokyo court rejected
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190122_21/

A Tokyo court has shot down another bail request by Nissan Motor's former Chairman. Carlos Ghosn has been in custody for over 2 months. That period is likely to stretch even longer with little prospects he will be released any time soon. His lawyers are expected to appeal the decision.

This is the second time his defense team had applied for bail, after Ghosn's most recent indictment earlier this month. He was charged with aggravated breach of trust and for underreporting his compensation.

In his first appeal, he asked to stay in France and travel to Tokyo for court appearances. It's believed the request was denied to protect the ongoing investigation and reduce the risk of evidence tampering.

This time, he promised to stay in Japan, wear a monitoring device and respect any other bail conditions.

But the court once again rejected the request. In Japan, defendants under investigation by special prosecutors tend to be detained a long time when they deny the charges as Ghosn does.

Key words : US and met in
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190122_04/

US and North Korean officials appear to have met in Sweden, following the announcement by the US of a second summit next month.

The US special representative for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, and North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui spent three days at a facility near the capital Stockholm.

The two left for their respective embassies in the country on Monday.

It was the first time top working-level negotiators from the two countries were in contact since the White House announced plans for a second US-North Korea summit in late February.

Neither of the officials took questions from reporters, but they are believed to have discussed the denuclearization process.

The Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau chief, Kenji Kanasugi, later visited the US Embassy in Stockholm, apparently to get a briefing from Biegun on the US-North Korean negotiations.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held separate conference calls with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono and South Korea's Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha.

They are reported to have discussed how to proceed with negotiations with Pyongyang.

Key words : think tank
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190122_24/

A US think tank says it has identified an undeclared North Korean missile operating base that serves as a missile development base.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies, or CSIS, disclosed this in a report published on Monday.

The report says the base is in Sino-ri of North Phyongan Province, in the country's northwest. The facility reportedly serves as the headquarters of the Korean People's Army's Strategic Forces brigade operating Nodong medium-range ballistic missiles.

Satellite images in the report show what are believed to be the entrances to underground facilities and a headquarters area.
The report says the base may also have played a role in developing the Pukguksong-2, a submarine-launched ballistic missile redesigned to be launched from land.

CSIS says the Sino-ri base has not been declared so it does not appear to be subject to denuclearization negotiations between the United States and North Korea.

But it also says, "North Korean missile operating bases would presumably have to be subject to declaration, verification and dismantlement in any final and fully verifiable denuclearization deal."

Key words : partial shutdown one month
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190122_06/

The US government partial shutdown has now lasted for one month. President Donald Trump and Democrats appear no closer to ending the political impasse focused on a border wall.

The confrontation over the president's demand for funds to construct a wall along the Mexican border has prevented Congress from passing spending bills. This has caused a partial government shutdown, starting one month ago.

About 800,000 federal employees across the country have been either furloughed or are working without pay.

At airports, the absence of security screeners has meant serious delays for travelers.

The government shutdown has also begun to take its toll on the US economy.

Some national parks and museums in Washington have been closed. Hotels in the capital are seeing a sharp drop in the number of guests.

In an apparent effort to end the shutdown, on Saturday Trump offered temporary protection for some immigrants in return for funding for the border wall. But the Democrats rejected the proposal.

Observers say both the president and Democrats, thinking about next year's presidential election, are concerned they might lose support if they make concessions.

This suggests the impasse is unlikely to be resolved anytime soon.

Key words : defense partially change
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190122_23/

Japan's Defense Ministry says it will partially change its reclamation plan for a US military air base in Okinawa Prefecture, citing the possibility the ground may be too soft.

Japan's government plans to relocate the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City to the Henoko district of Nago City within the prefecture.

Last month, the Defense Ministry began work to reclaim the coastal area of Henoko by dumping soil and rock into the southern section of the planned relocation site.

But the ministry is studying the results of additional boring tests in the still untouched eastern section, which is thought to have some soft ground.

Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya told reporters on Tuesday that once the results are out, the ministry will decide which method of construction is best and take proper procedures. He indicated the ministry will then apply to Okinawa Prefecture for a change in the relocation plan.

Iwaya said he will continue efforts to seek Okinawa's support for the relocation plan so that the land occupied by the Futenma Air Station can be returned as soon as possible. However, it's unlikely that the prefectural government will approve of the change, because it is opposed to the relocation itself.

Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki plans to join forces with opposition parties to stop the reclamation work.

The governor on Tuesday spoke with the head of the Democratic Party For the People, Yuichiro Tamaki, who visited Okinawa.

The governor said the prefecture revoked the permit to reclaim the coastal area of Henoko, but the central government overrode the revocation. He said it's a problem for a sovereign state to have a government that pushes ahead with a policy against the will of the people, even by distorting the law.

Opposition party leader Tamaki said the foundation of the relocation plan, which includes a need to confirm whether construction on soft ground is technologically viable within the planned budget and timetable, appears to be collapsing.

He called for an immediate halt to the reclamation process that may not work for soft ground.

Key words : political leader
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190122_31/

Business and political leaders from more than 100 countries have converged on Davos, Switzerland, for the annual World Economic Forum. They're exchanging views on problems facing the international community.

The four-days of meetings began on Tuesday. More than 3,000 people are taking part.

This year's theme focuses on how to cope with changes brought on by technological innovation such as artificial intelligence.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will join the event for the first time in five years. But some political leaders are skipping the forum.

US President Donald Trump is not attending to deal with the ongoing partial government shutdown.

British Prime Minister Theresa May is also skipping Davos so she can focus on the uncertainties surrounding Brexit.

Key words : Japan reportedly first shipment
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190122_15/

Japan is reportedly preparing to receive its first shipments of oil from Iran since an embargo was announced.

Iran's central bank governor, Abdolnaser Hemati, said on Monday that Japan has begun conducting operations so that the imports can resume, following similar moves by China and South Korea.

The administration of Donald Trump rolled out the economic sanctions on Iran in November last year, covering crude oil.

But Washington granted Japan and seven other countries an exemption.

They can keep buying Iranian oil for 180 days, to May this year.

Major Japanese oil wholesaler Showa Shell Sekiyu is already preparing to transport the crude. Japan's largest oil wholesaler, JXTG Holdings, is expected soon to follow suit.

Japan plans to negotiate with the US over extending the temporary exemption, so that its Iranian oil imports can continue flowing.

Key words : south economy
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190122_22/

South Korea's economy in 2018 grew at the slowest rate in six years. Analysts say the effects of the economic slowdown in China seem to be spilling over into the country.

Officials at the Bank of Korea say the preliminary GDP figure for last year expanded 2.7 percent from the previous year. That's down 0.4 point from 2017 and the slowest expansion since 2012.

The construction industry saw a decline of 4.2 percent due to a cooling of the real estate market. Corporate investment fell 1.7 percent.

South Korean media is reporting that people are expressing concern over China's economy. China is South Korea's biggest trading partner.

They say uncertainties are growing over both the economic slowdown in China and its trade dispute with the United States.

At one time, South Korean President Moon Jae-in had an approval rate of more than 80 percent. But it has fallen to the 40-percent level due to public frustration over his economic policies.

Key words : google has
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190122_12/

Major US IT firm Google has been fined under the European Union's new data-protection law. French authorities have slapped a multi-million dollar fine against the company, citing violations of the General Data Protection Regulation.

The GDPR took effect last May. Under the rules, companies seeking to collect personal information in the EU must let customers know how the data will be used, and obtain their approval.

French officials imposed a penalty of 50 million euros, or 57 million dollars, against Google for violating the law. They said the company doesn't clearly explain the uses or storage periods of the personal data it collects.

Officials said users are not sufficiently informed that their data will be used for advertisements not just in Google Search but also in other services like Google Maps and YouTube.

French authorities added that the amount and the publicity of the fine "are justified by the severity of the infringements."

Meanwhile, US media have quoted Google as saying the company is "deeply committed to meeting those expectations and the consent requirements of the GDPR," and that it's "studying the decision to determine" its "next steps."

Key words : Komuro statement
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190122_18/

Kei Komuro, whose engagement to Japan's Princess Mako is planned, says he understands that all of his mother's financial problems have been resolved.

Princess Mako is the eldest daughter of Prince Akishino and the granddaughter of Emperor Akihito.

Komuro released a public statement for the first time through his lawyers on Tuesday in response to media reports that his mother had financial problems with a former fiance.

Princess Mako and Komuro's planned engagement was announced in September 2017.

However, a weekly magazine and other media reported on the financial problems soon after, and the Imperial Household Agency announced in February 2018 that the string of events leading up to the wedding would be postponed.

In the statement, Komuro said he very much regrets having inconvenienced so many people because he had not given a clear explanation on this issue.

He said his mother had received financial assistance from a man she became engaged to in September 2010.

Komuro said two years later, the man asked that the engagement be called off and his mother expressed her wish to pay him back. He said the man replied that he did not expect the money to be returned.

He explained that his mother and the man had confirmed that all their financial issues were resolved, but about a year later, the man asked for his money back.

Komuro said there have been many media reports saying that debt problems remain, but he and his mother understand that the issue regarding financial assistance from the man has been resolved. Komuro added that he will make an effort to gain the understanding of the former fiance.

Prince Akishino referred to the media reports when he met with reporters in November last year and indicated that Komuro should give an explanation.

Prince Akishino said if the two still wish to get married, then Komuro should respond appropriately.

Sources say Princess Mako and Komuro's wish to get married remains unchanged.

Key words : Nishikori
#N/A

at 20:00 (JST), January 21 AS

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe left Tokyo for Moscow on Monday afternoon for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A close aide to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has returned to Pyongyang from the United States after meeting with US officials including President Donald Trump.

Japan's Defense Ministry has released an audio file it says was recorded when a South Korean naval vessel directed its fire-control radar at a Self-Defense Force patrol plane on December 20th.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190121200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : Abe left
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190121_25/

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe left Tokyo for Moscow on Monday afternoon for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Before his departure, Abe told reporters that negotiations with Russia on signing a peace treaty have been an issue for over 70 years, and resolving it is not easy.

He expressed hope that he and Putin will open their minds and make as much progress as possible in discussions that would include a solution to the issue of the Russian-held islands that are known in Japan as the Northern Territoties.

Russia controls the four islands. Japan claims them. 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.

The 25th summit between the two leaders is scheduled for Tuesday.

After Moscow, Abe will head for Switzerland to attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, for the first time in five years.

He says he will convey Japan's positions on such global topics as creating rules for the digital era, promoting free trade, climate change and measures to tackle plastic waste in the ocean.

He also expressed hope that Japan will exercise leadership as the host of this year's Group of 20 summit, which will be held in Osaka, western Japan.

Key words : Kim returned
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190121_28/

A close aide to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has returned to Pyongyang from the United States after meeting with US officials including President Donald Trump.

Vice Chairman of Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee Kim Yong Chol arrived in Pyongyang on Monday via Beijing. He is in charge of high-level talks with the US.

Trump appeared to have urged Kim to take specific action toward North Korea's denuclearization during their talks in Washington on Friday.

A second US-North Korea summit is scheduled for late February. In a Fox News program on Sunday, US Vice President Mike Pence said the talks are expected to focus on specific steps reportedly promised by Kim Jong Un.

North Korea has insisted that it has already taken such measures, including closing down its nuclear test site. In exchange, it wants concessions from the US, including easing sanctions against Pyongyang.

Officials from the two countries are believed to be holding working-level talks in Sweden to prepare for a second summit.

Key words : Kono and have agreed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190121_21/

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have agreed to meet in mid-February to discuss the second US-North Korea summit.

Kono talked with Pompeo over the phone for about 20 minutes on Monday morning. Kono was briefed on the negotiations between the United States and North Korea.

The White House said last Friday that US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will hold their second summit late next month.

Kim Yong Chol, a close aide to the North Korean leader, met Trump on Friday.

Kono and Pompeo confirmed that Japan and the US will maintain close cooperation with South Korea.

They also agreed to work together to resolve the abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korea.

Key words : defense released new evidence
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190121_36/

Japan's Defense Ministry has released an audio file it says was recorded when a South Korean naval vessel directed its fire-control radar at a Self-Defense Force patrol plane on December 20th.

The 18-second file was made public on Monday as new evidence to back Japan's claim over the incident.

Seoul denies that a fire-control radar was directed at the aircraft, and says another radar was being used to search for a drifting North Korean ship.

Japanese Defense Ministry officials say the plane's crew were listening to the sound, which is a conversion of a radar's radio waves, through headphones.

Fire-control radars emit powerful radio waves to track targets.
The officials say the sound is characteristic of those heard when a fire-control radar is detected, and that it indicates one was directed at the plane.

The ministry says the file has been partially modified for the sake of confidentiality, because countries other than South Korea have the same fire-radar system.

For comparison, the ministry also released an audio file of the sound usually heard when a search radar is detected.

Defense officials from the two countries met last week, but failed to narrow their differences over the issue.

Key words : Carlos expressed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190121_22/

Former Nissan Motor chairman Carlos Ghosn has expressed his willingness to accept "any and all" conditions for his bail.

Ghosn issued a statement through a spokesperson for his family on Sunday, two days after his lawyers filed a second request for bail with the Tokyo District Court.

He has been detained for more than 60 days for suspected financial misconduct.

Ghosn says in the statement that he will reside in Japan and respect any and all bail conditions the court concludes are warranted. Ghosn also repeated that he is not guilty of the charges against him and says he looks forward to defending his reputation in the courtroom.

The spokesperson says Ghosn's family has already rented a residence in Japan to prepare for his release.

US media reports say Ghosn is willing to wear a tracking device and use his Nissan shares as bail money.

Key words : new data shows
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190121_19/

New data shows China's economy is growing at its slowest rate in almost three decades as analysts suggest the ongoing trade war with the US is to blame.

China's National Bureau of Statistics released its GDP figures on Monday.

Recorded growth was 6.6 percent in 2018, which represents a 0.2 percentage point dip from the previous year. It marks the first time in two years that the world's second-largest economy has posted slowing annual growth.

The last time China reported a slower growth rate was in 1990. That's when its GDP increased by just 3.9 percent, due to the effects of the Tiananmen Square crackdown on the pro-democracy movement.

For last year's October-to-December quarter, officials say GDP grew 6.4 percent compared to the same period in 2017.

The Chinese government held back on infrastructure investment during 2018 to focus on reducing financial risks by curbing debt held by regional governments.

Trade woes with Washington put a dent on consumer spending. New car sales dipped below the previous year's level for the first time in 28 years.

Chinese officials have hammered out stimulus measures, including tax cuts. They also plan to increase investment in regional infrastructure.

Key words : Israel carried out
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190121_16/

Israel's military has carried out two days of massive air strikes in Syria, targeting elite Iranian units.

It launched the air raids in areas surrounding the capital, Damascus, and other parts of Syria, early on Monday. It said in a statement that the targets are the Iranian Quds Force operating in the country.

Syrian state media cited a military source as saying that Israel carried out intensive airstrikes with successive waves of guided missiles, but most were destroyed by air defense systems.

There have been reports in Damascus of loud explosions, which are believed be from the Israeli attack.

Tensions have been rising between Israel and Syria following Israel's air strikes on Sunday. A missile fired by Syria in a counterattack crossed the Israeli border.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that it is a permanent policy to attack the Iranian entrenchment in Syria.

Key words : international NGO
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190121_26/

An international NGO says the number of billionaires in the world has almost doubled since the global financial crisis 10 years ago. It also warns of a widening gap between rich and poor.

Oxfam International released the report on Monday, one day before the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum takes place in Davos, Switzerland.

It says the number of billionaires rose to 2,208 last year, compared with 1,125 in 2008, when the financial crisis began.

It also reports that the combined fortunes of the world's 26 richest individuals is equal to the wealth of the 3.8 billion poorest people.

Oxfam emphasizes that the growing income gap is undermining the fight against poverty, damaging economies and fuelling public anger across the globe.

The organization says the gap is caused partly by countries' taxation systems.

It says tax rates for wealthy individuals and corporations have been cut dramatically in many countries to boost their economies.

It also points out that in countries like Brazil and the UK, the poorest 10 percent of the people pay a higher proportion of their income in taxes than the richest 10 percent.

Oxfam is asking political and business leaders attending the World Economic Forum in Davos to seek a solution to this extreme discrepancy.

Key words : government policy
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190121_24/

The Japanese government has held a briefing on its new policy of accepting more foreign workers.

More than 340,000 foreign nationals will be permitted to work in sectors including construction, nursing care and agriculture over a five-year period starting in April.

About 300 people from companies and industrial organizations attended Monday's briefing for manufacturers.

Officials from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry explained the tests for the new residential status. They also gave details of the number of foreigners who will be allowed to work in each sector.

Some participants asked if it will be possible for technical trainees who are already employed in Japan to switch to the new residential status. The managers of small and mid-sized companies asked to be given priority for workers, citing the problem of serious labor shortages.

An official of a chemical company in Sendai City, northern Japan, said factories outside major cities are having a hard time finding machine operators.

The official added that these businesses will not be able to survive without more foreign workers.

Key words : government social media
#N/A


Key words : Japan using
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190121_15/

Japan is trying to cope with labor shortages by using artificial intelligence in many sectors. A university hospital in Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo, has been using four autonomous cleaning robots since last April.

The AI robots are 80 centimeters high and equipped with cameras. They can recognize approaching children and elderly people, and immediately stop working when any potentially dangerous situation is predicted.

A hospital official says 27 people used to work as cleaners, and 5 of them have been replaced by robots.

20 factories and universities in the prefecture are using cleaning robots.

The developer says the firm wants to make AI robots that can operate safely so they will be more commonly used by businesses.

at 20:00 (JST), January 20 AS

US President says "things are going very well with North Korea" and a country has been picked to host his second summit with the North's leader.

Japanese firms Toyota Motor and Panasonic plan to set up a joint venture to make batteries for electric vehicles.

エラー 2042

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190120200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : US president very well
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190120_04/

US President Donald Trump says "things are going very well with North Korea" and a country has been picked to host his second summit with the North's leader Kim Jong Un. He said the location would be announced "in the future."

Trump spoke to reporters on Saturday, one day after he met Kim Yong Chol, a close aide to the North Korean leader, at the White House.

The White House announced after the meeting that the second US-North Korea summit will take place in late February.

Trump described the meeting with Kim Yong Chol as "incredible." The president said both he and Kim Jong Un are "looking very forward" to the meeting.

Trump also apparently referred to stalled bilateral talks on denuclearizing North Korea. He said that "a lot of progress" has been made regarding denuclearization although it's "not been reported."

Chief working-level negotiators from the US and North Korea are scheduled to attend an upcoming international conference in Sweden. They are expected to make final arrangements for the second summit.

Key words : Trump offer some protection
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190120_10/

US President Donald Trump's offer of some protection for immigrants in return for funding for a border wall seems to have gained no support from the Democrats.

In Saturday's speech, Trump proposed to offer protection for three years for people who illegally came to the United States as children.

He made the offer in an apparent bid to reach a compromise with Democrats on funding for a barrier along the border with Mexico, as the record-long partial government shutdown continues.

Trump once again in his White House speech stressed the need for the wall.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he would bring Trump's immigration proposal to a vote within a week.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rejected Trump's proposal, calling it unacceptable.

And Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said that the president's offer is not a compromise, but hostage taking.

Key words : Panasonic
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190120_11/

Japanese firms Toyota Motor and Panasonic plan to set up a joint venture to make batteries for electric vehicles, or EVs. They want to increase their production capacity and competitive edge as EVs become more popular.

The two companies have been holding talks since 2017 on how to work together in the field of EV batteries, which are key to extending the range of the vehicles.

Toyota will own 51 percent of the firm. Panasonic will hold the rest of the company's stock. The joint venture will be formally established next year at the earliest.

Panasonic will shift most of its battery production facilities in Japan and China to the new firm. A plant in Nevada that it operates with US electric vehicle maker Tesla will not be involved.

Toyota hopes that by around 2030 it will sell 5.5 million electric vehicles a year, or half its total projected sales.

News of the planned joint venture comes as Chinese companies increase their battery production.

Toyota and Panasonic are also working together to develop next-generation all solid-state batteries.

Key words : French delegation
#N/A


Key words : trade watchdog
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190120_03/

Japan's trade watchdog will investigate whether four leading US tech companies have been doing business properly.

Google, Apple, Facebook, and Amazon will be probed. Collectively, the companies are known by the acronym GAFA.

The Japan Fair Trade Commission suspects the four firms have gained an unfair advantage by hoarding massive amounts of data.

The watchdog is weighing the option of applying Japan's anti-monopoly law regulations to GAFA. The tech companies may be punished, if the trade watchdog discovers that the companies have been handling personal information and other data inappropriately.

For starters, the commission will begin looking into the operations of the four giants on Wednesday.

The regulator will try to determine whether the companies have been treating app developers and other firms in improper ways, by unilaterally cancelling contracts, for example.

The commission will also survey consumers and interview officials of the four companies.

The results of the investigation will be compiled in a few months. The regulator will then use the results to study concrete ways to regulate GAFA.

Key words : 113-year
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190120_14/

A 113-year-old Japanese man died on Sunday. Masazo Nonaka was recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest man in April last year.

Nonaka, a resident of Japan's northern island of Hokkaido, was born in July 1905.

Nonaka's family noticed on Sunday morning that he wasn't breathing. His doctor confirmed that Nonaka had died. The family said that he seemed to be fine on Saturday.

Nonaka ran a traditional Japanese hot spring inn at Mount Meakan in eastern Hokkaido for many years.

He enjoyed watching sumo on TV, and ate his favorite cake with his family on his birthday last year.

Nonaka's granddaughter, Yuko, says her family has been able to live a happy life thanks to him.

She says she misses him but she has no regrets, as he spent his final moments at home and died with dignity.

at 20:00 (JST), January 19 AS

エラー 2042

The White House says the second US-North Korea summit will take place near the end of February.

Japan's Defense Ministry is planning to make public new evidence to support its claim that a South Korean naval vessel directed its fire-control radar at a Japanese patrol plane.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190119200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : free trade first
#N/A


Key words : major supermarket
#N/A


Key words : white house take place
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190119_07/

The White House says the second US-North Korea summit will take place "near the end of February." It says the location will be announced at a later date.

The statement came after US President Donald Trump met a close aide to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the White House for 90 minutes on Friday.

Trump and Kim Yong Chol exchanged views about the summit and denuclearization of North Korea.

The White House statement said Trump looks forward to a second summit with Kim Jong Un. Vietnam is one of the likely locations.

The two leaders held the first-ever US-North Korea summit in Singapore in June last year.
But the two sides have been at odds over how to proceed the denuclearization process.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters that the United States will continue to keep pressure and sanctions on North Korea until it sees full and verified denuclearization.

Attention is focused on whether the US can use the summit to get the North to present specific steps toward denuclearization.

Key words : south welcome
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190119_14/

Japan and South Korea have welcomed plans for a second US-North Korea summit to be held in February.

The South Korean government says the country supports efforts for concrete steps toward complete denuclearization and permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.

The South is sending a senior official to attend the same international conference in Sweden... where envoys from the US and the North are expected to meet. Lee Do-hoon is expected to meet with US and North Korean representatives.

Meanwhile a senior official at Japan's foreign ministry spoke with the US special representative for the North, Stephen Biegun, by telephone.

Kenji Kanasugi, the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau chief, got a briefing about the US preparations for the summit. The pair agreed to coordinate with each other on the steps involved in the denuclearization process.

Key words : defense ministry make public
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190119_03/

Japan's Defense Ministry is planning to make public new evidence to support its claim that a South Korean naval vessel directed its fire-control radar at a Japanese patrol plane last month.

The ministry says it is a sound typically heard when fire-control radar is detected.

Ministry officials say the continuous strong tone, recorded on a Maritime Self-Defense Force aircraft, indicates the detection of fire-control radar radio signals.

They say the tone would have become stronger and weaker if the signals came from a radar for search operations, as claimed by South Korea.

South Korea has repeatedly denied Japan's accusation.

On Monday, defense officials from the two countries met to discuss the incident.

Japan proposed that each of them present radio-wave data. But South Korea did not agree. A South Korean spokesperson later said the proposal was extremely insulting.

The Defense Ministry says the new evidence justifies Japan's position while protecting classified defense data.

The ministry is preparing to make it public as early as next week.

Key words : counsel issued rare statement
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190119_13/

The office of Special Counsel Robert Mueller has issued a rare statement disputing a report that a former lawyer of US President Donald Trump told investigators Trump directed him to lie to Congress.

US media outlet BuzzFeed News said on Thursday that Michael Cohen made the admission to Mueller, who is overseeing an investigation into Russia's alleged meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

The report says Trump told Cohen to testify that a skyscraper project in Moscow had ended before the election, in order to obscure the president's ties with Russia. It also says Mueller's team has confiscated evidence that backs up Cohen's remarks.

The statement issued by Mueller's spokesman on Friday said, "BuzzFeed's description of specific statements to the special counsel's office, and characterization of documents and testimony obtained by this office, regarding Michael Cohen's congressional testimony are not accurate."

It is rare for the special counsel to issue a public comment on the accuracy of a specific report.

Some Democrats had responded to the BuzzFeed claims by talking about the possibility of impeaching the President. Other reports in US media said Trump could be charged with obstruction of justice and subornation of perjury if the report is true.

BuzzFeed said in response to the statement by Mueller's office that it stands by its reporting and urged the special counsel to make clear what he is disputing.

Key words : worker demolish
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190119_11/

Workers have started demolishing a former town hall building in northern Japan that was severely damaged by the tsunami on March 11th, 2011.

People of Otsuchi Town in Iwate Prefecture have been divided for nearly eight years over whether to demolish the building or preserve it as a memorial to the disaster.

The tsunami killed the mayor at the time and 27 town employees who were inside the building. The town hall is located about 1.5 kilometers from the coast.

The town decided to demolish the building after considering the opinions of people who don't want it as a constant reminder of the tragedy.

On Saturday, workers operating heavy machinery began demolishing the walls of the west side of the second floor, where an assembly hall was situated.

Yasushi Kurahori visited the site. His brother was a town employee and died in the disaster at the age of 30. He said he feels sad about what's happening and is no longer sure if he was right in hoping for the building's demolition.

Local official Shigemi Kawano said since people of the town have expressed a range of opinions, he also has mixed feelings.

A group of local residents had filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent the demolition. But a district court dismissed the case on Thursday.

Town officials say they plan to finish demolishing the building by the end of February and level the ground by around early March.

at 14:00 (JST), January 18 AS

Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors say they may sue their former chairman Carlos Ghosn for improperly receiving compensation from the two companies' joint venture.

Japan's Foreign Minister has announced that he will meet his South Korean counterpart next week.

A close aide to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has arrived in the US, apparently to discuss a second summit between the two countries' leaders.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190118200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : Nissan and improperly
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190118_29/

Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors say they may sue their former chairman Carlos Ghosn for improperly receiving compensation from the two companies' joint venture.

The Japanese firms announced on Friday that Ghosn received about one billion yen, or about nine million dollars, last year from Nissan-Mitsubishi B.V. in the Netherlands.

They say the money was paid under an employment contract Ghosn signed with the joint venture, without the approval of its board of directors.

Ghosn headed the Dutch-based firm and was a member of its board along with Nissan President Hiroto Saikawa and Mitsubishi Motors' CEO Osamu Masuko.

Saikawa and Masuko say they were unaware of Ghosn's pay, and that they received no allowances from the joint venture.

Nissan and Mitsubishi say they consider the payment unlawful, and that they will take action, including the option of filing a lawsuit against Ghosn for damages.

Masuko told reporters that he takes the incident seriously and will try to strengthen internal management controls.

Tokyo prosecutors indicted Ghosn for alleged aggravated breach of trust as well as underreporting his compensation from Nissan.

Ghosn denies the charges.

Key words : defense carlos again asked
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190118_22/

The defense team of former Nissan Motor chairman Carlos Ghosn has again asked the Tokyo District Court to grant bail to their detained client.

The attorneys filed the second request for bail on Friday. On Thursday, the court rejected the appeal filed by his lawyers over its decision to deny bail.

Ghosn was charged with aggravated breach of trust a week ago. Prosecutors allege the auto tycoon inappropriately transferred about 15 million dollars from a Nissan subsidiary to a Saudi Arabian businessman's company after he helped Ghosn to cover personal investment losses.

Ghosn denies the charges.

Under the Japanese legal system, an accused person can be kept in custody for up to two months after indictment. Lawyers can file bail requests repeatedly.

Sources close to the matter say the defense team is willing to accept conditions for bail, such as requiring Ghosn to stay in Japan. Ghosn had earlier wanted to travel to France if he was granted bail.

Key words : Kono meet unfair
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190118_35/

Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Kono has announced that he will meet his South Korean counterpart, Kang Kyung-wha, next week. Kono hopes to raise the wartime labor compensation issue clouding relations between their countries.

Kono said on Friday that he and Kang will hold talks next Wednesday on the sidelines of the annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

It will be their first meeting since South Korea's Supreme Court ordered two Japanese firms late last year to compensate South Korean men who say they were forced to work for the companies during World War Two.

The Japanese government says any right to claims was settled completely and finally in 1965, when Japan and South Korea normalized ties.

The two countries signed an agreement then on the settlement of problems concerning property and claims.

Kono urged South Korea to hold talks with Japan based on that agreement. He said Seoul is in breach of the pact, which could put Japanese businesses at an unfair disadvantage.

Kono added there are other issues to discuss, including an incident in which a South Korean naval vessel locked its radar on a Japanese Air Self-Defense Force plane.

He also noted that it's important for the two countries and the United States to keep working closely in dealing with North Korea. Kono called on South Korea to settle its own issues without placing blame on Japan.

Key words : Kim has arrived
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190118_18/

A close aide to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has arrived in the United States, apparently to discuss a second summit between the two countries' leaders.

Kim Yong Chol, who is in charge of high-level talks with the US, arrived at an airport near Washington on Thursday evening via Beijing.

A crowd of reporters was awaiting him. He walked through the terminal building and left in a car.

Kim Yong Chol is expected to meet with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to lay the groundwork for the summit.

Speculation is rife that the summit may be held in an Asian country such as Vietnam, a country that Washington sees as a possible model for North Korea's future development.

Attention is focused on whether the two sides can reach an agreement on the summit's venue and timing.

Just before the first US-North Korea summit last June, the high-ranking official visited the White House to deliver a letter from Kim Jong Un to US President Donald Trump.

Whether he will meet with Trump on this trip is also being closely watched.

Key words : association press statement
#N/A


Key words : put into orbit
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190118_25/

Japan's Epsilon-4 rocket has put into orbit seven small satellites that were developed by private-sector companies and universities.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, launched the 26-meter-long rocket carrying the satellites on Friday morning from the Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan.

The rocket placed the largest of the satellites into orbit at an altitude of 514 kilometers about 51 minutes after the launch. The other six were then released into orbit one by one as planned.

JAXA developed the Epsilon series with the aim of putting small satellites into orbit at a low cost. The Epsilon-1 was launched six years ago.

One of the seven satellites will test transmission equipment and cameras made from commercial parts, and another will try to create artificial shooting stars.

The space agency is shouldering the Epsilon-4's launch cost of about 5.5 billion yen, or roughly 50 million dollars, in an attempt to encourage private-sector space exploration. This is the first time an Epsilon rocket has been used to transport multiple satellites.

Key words : today's news keywords Epsilon rocket and future space development
#N/A


Key words : trade and industry
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190118_28/

Japanese trade and industry minister Hiroshige Seko says the government will continue to promote the export of nuclear power plants, despite a decision by a major manufacturer to suspend a project in Britain.

During a news conference on Friday, Seko referred to Hitachi's announcement one day earlier that it was freezing a nuclear power plant project in Britain.

Seko said he understood that Hitachi realized it would take more time than expected to reach an agreement with the British government. The company and the government have been at an impasse over funding for the project.

He also said Hitachi has indicated it will continue talks with the UK government about how it can make a contribution to Britain's energy policy.

The minister said that many countries are hoping to build nuclear power plants, so Japan should have plentiful opportunities to promote its technology.

He said that Japan can make a positive contribution to the world through its safety systems, acquired through the experiences of the nuclear accident in Fukushima.

Seko also indicated that the government will look at ways to ensure Hitachi's decision does not adversely impact the standard of technology in the domestic nuclear industry.

Key words : early 60
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190118_30/

About 30 percent of respondents in a Japanese government survey say they want to work until their early 60s.

The Cabinet Office last November surveyed 5,000 people aged 18 or older. Over 2,900 responded.

Asked what age they want to work until, 30.7 percent said between 61 and 65.

21.5 percent said between 66 and 70, followed by 18.8 percent who said between 51 and 60.

The survey also asked those who want to keep working past the age of 66 why they want to do so.

28.9 percent said they want to live without financial strain, while 24.9 percent said they would have to cover living expenses. 16.9 percent said they love working.

The welfare ministry says it plans to revise the public pension system because some people want to keep working after they become pensionable at the age of 65.

Key words : number of suicides
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190118_24/

The number of suicides in Japan fell in 2018, marking a ninth straight year of decline.

The National Police Agency reports that 20,598 people committed suicide last year. That's down 3.4 percent from the previous year.

By gender, suicides among men topped 14,000, more than double the figure for women.

A welfare ministry survey in November showed that people in their 40s and 50s accounted for the largest number of suicides, each at nearly 17 percent of the total, followed by those in their 60s at about 15 percent. People aged 19 and under were the only group to see an increase for a second consecutive year.

The survey indicated that health-related issues were the most common reasons for taking one's life, followed by financial and family problems.

The number of suicides had exceeded 30,000 for 14 consecutive years until 2011. The figure peaked in 2003 at over 34,400.

Ministry officials say suicides have decreased steadily along with the economic recovery and measures taken by local governments. But they say they will continue to work for those people who need help.