at 20:00 (JST), March 24 AS

エラー 2042

エラー 2042

Sumo grand champion Hakuho clinched his 42nd title in the spring tournament in Osaka on Sunday.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190324200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : election major cities no female
#N/A


Key words : Thailand first general the other
#N/A


Key words : huge number London
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190324_05/

A huge number of people have taken to the streets of London to demand a second referendum on whether the United Kingdom should leave the European Union.

People wanting the country to remain in the bloc marched through the British capital on Saturday. Protesters included Labour, Conservative and independent MPs.

Rally organizers estimated that more than 1 million people turned out for the march. That surpassed a similar demonstration held in October, when about 700,000 people showed up.

Demonstrators carried EU flags and placards, one of which read "We demand a People's Vote." They moved past the prime minister's office and residence on Downing Street, chanting calls for cancelling Brexit.

One marcher said the sheer size of the rally expresses people's anger. A former Brexiteer said he changed his mind after he learned there is no way to leave the EU without causing chaos.

Prime Minister Theresa May rules out holding a second referendum, saying the outcome of the 2016 referendum must be respected. People in the UK voted to leave the EU in the poll.

May now seems ready to put her withdrawal deal with the EU to another vote in the House of Commons.

The lower chamber has already rejected the deal twice, forcing the prime minister to ask EU leaders to extend the Brexit deadline of March 29.

Key words : efforts continuing
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190324_11/

Efforts are continuing to evacuate about 1,300 people from a luxury cruise ship that got stranded off southwestern Norway.

The nine-deck vessel suffered engine failure on Saturday about 2 kilometers off the coast.

Norwegian weather officials say there were winds of more than 72 kilometers per hour and waves of up to eight meters in the area at the time. Local media are reporting that the bad weather led to the engine problems.

Footage shows sofas and other furniture sliding from side to side in the rocking vessel, and parts of the ceiling falling down.

A video also shows broken windows and seawater flowing in around the feet of passengers in life jackets.

Local officials say more than 460 people have been evacuated, and about 20 are injured. Rescuers are using helicopters to airlift the passengers and crew members.

Rescue services are preparing to tow the vessel to a nearby port.

Key words : grand champion
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190324_16/

Sumo grand champion Hakuho clinched his 42nd title in the spring tournament in Osaka on Sunday. The Mongolian yokozuna beat another grand champion, Kakuryu, in the final bout.

Hakuho finished with a perfect record. Rank-and-file wrestler Ichinojo followed with 14 wins and one loss.

This was Hakuho's first title in three tournaments.

Key words : ceremony Indonesia
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190324_14/

A ceremony to mark the completion of Indonesia's first subway was held in Jakarta on Sunday, one day before train services begin operation.

The 16-kilometer line runs north to south through the center of the Indonesian capital. It is expected to ease congestion in Jakarta, which is said to have some of the worst traffic jams in the world.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo said in a speech that the completion of the subway marks the start of a new culture in the country.

A Japanese construction firm and an Indonesian company jointly built the state-of-the-art subway. The Japanese government provided a yen loan worth about 1.1 billion dollars.

Japan is also giving advice on operating trains and safety measures.

Japanese firms hope to win more projects in Indonesia, where there is a significant demand for infrastructure development, by demonstrating the safety of their advanced technology.

The subway will be free of charge from Monday through April 1, as the operator and the city's government are still settling the fares.

Key words : national cherry
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190324_10/

The annual National Cherry Blossom Festival has kicked off in Washington to celebrate the gift of trees from Japan to the US more than 100 years ago.

The trees are not yet in bloom in the US capital, but an opening ceremony was held on Saturday with performances by Japanese and American artists.

Japanese Ambassador to the United States Shinsuke Sugiyama talked of the strong ties between the two countries.

He said that in 1912 then-First Lady Helen Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of then-Japanese Ambassador Sutemi Chinda, planted two cherry trees that had been given by the city of Tokyo beside the Potomac River. Sugiyama said that led to the long friendship between the two countries.

Japanese violinist Ikuko Kawai performed together with musicians playing Japanese traditional instruments.

A performance based on the popular Japanese anime series "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon" got a big hand from children and adults.

Various cultural events and parades are scheduled during the festival. The trees are expected to be in full bloom in early April.

at 20:00 (JST), March 23 AS

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai has called on world leaders to promote girls' education.

The UN Human Rights Council has adopted a resolution condemning North Korea calling for the return of Japanese and other nationals abducted by North.

US Special Counsel Robert Mueller has concluded his investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190323200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : nobel peace called on
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190323_15/

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai has called on world leaders to promote girls' education.

Malala delivered a keynote speech on Saturday at the World Assembly for Women organized by the Japanese government in Tokyo.

Malala said she was attending the conference to speak on behalf of 130 million girls who are still out of school.

She said world leaders must invest in girls' education now in order to create a world where all women and girls can shine.

She later took part in a panel discussion along with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet.

They talked about the lack of women in sectors related to advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence.

Malala was shot by Islamic militants in Pakistan in 2012.

She has continued to campaign for education for girls and women.

She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 at the age of 17.

Key words : Abe spoke key issue
#N/A


Key words : un human rights
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190323_08/

The UN Human Rights Council has adopted a resolution condemning North Korea. The resolution also calls for the return of Japanese and other nationals abducted by North Korea.

The council adopted the resolution on Friday when it met at the UN's European headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

The resolution, sponsored by the European Union, accuses the North of murder, torture, sexual violence and imprisonment. It also demands the return of abductees held by the North.

Resolutions for improving North Korea's human rights records have been jointly presented by the EU and Japan and adopted by the council for the past 11 years.

Japan voted in favor this year, but decided not to be a co-sponsor in the hope that Pyongyang will become more open to dialogue toward resolving the abduction issue.

In response, the North Korean mission in Geneva released a comment that stated resolutions based on lies do not accomplish anything, no matter how many of them are adopted.

Key words : two mosques gunman reopened
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190323_18/

The two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch where a gunman killed 50 Muslim worshippers last week reopened on Saturday.

Workers have completed repair work of the buildings after police conducted on-site investigations following the March 15 shooting attacks.

Local media report that inside the Al Noor mosque, where 42 people were killed, all traces of the tragedy had been removed with the walls freshly painted and new carpets installed.

Worshippers visited the mosque to offer prayers. One man said he was pleased with the reopening. He said many of his fellow worshipers were shedding tears during prayers.

About 3,000 people gathered outside the mosque and marched through the city to mourn the victims and express solidarity with their families.

Key words : Antonio
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190323_14/

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has visited a mosque in New York to mourn the victims of last week's mass shootings in New Zealand. He called for international cooperation to eliminate religious and racial discrimination.

Guterres visited the Islamic Cultural Center of New York and addressed a Friday prayer service that was attended by about 50 people.

Guterres said, "Around the world, we have seen ever-rising anti-Muslim hatred, anti-Semitism, hate speech and bigotry." He said he has repeatedly warned about those dangers.

The UN chief called on people to stand united against anti-Muslim hatred and all forms of bigotry.

Key words : Robert concluded tweeted
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190323_17/

US Special Counsel Robert Mueller has concluded his investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election.

The Justice Department says Mueller has submitted his final report to Attorney General William Barr -- but its classified content will not immediately be made public.

Barr said he is reviewing the document and may be able to release its principal conclusions as early as this weekend.

Mueller's investigation began in May 2017.

More than 30 individuals and entities have been indicted -- including former senior Trump aides and Russian intelligence officials.

Mueller also looked into whether Trump's decision to fire then-FBI Director James Comey constituted obstruction of justice.

The president strongly denies the allegations.

Democrats want Mueller's entire report to be made public.

But White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders tweeted that the administration has not yet received it.

Key words : business launching
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190323_19/

Businesses in Japan are launching new services for non-Japanese residents as the country prepares to open its doors wider to foreign workers, starting in April.

A Tokyo-based venture firm called one visa provides visa application support for foreign nationals.

The firm says it is teaming up with Seven Bank, which has automatic teller machines in convenience stores, to assist foreigners open bank accounts immediately after they arrive in Japan.

The firm says it's planning to expand the service in phases to help new arrivals get insurance and find an apartment.

One visa CEO Albert Okamura says the company hopes to dispel foreigners' anxiety about life in Japan.

Japanese staffing agency Pasona is also launching new services for foreign residents to support them register as residents and sign utility contacts.

The company says it will offer courses in the Japanese language and business etiquette as well.

Officials estimate that under the revised immigration law up to 345,000 foreigners will be accepted over the next five years in 14 sectors including nursing care and construction.

Key words : coastal railway line
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190323_16/

A coastal railway line running through a disaster-hit area of northeastern Japan has opened for business.

Miyako and Kamaishi stations on the Rias Line in Iwate Prefecture connect the northern and southern segments of the line, completing a network that stretches 163 kilometers.

The entire network is the longest in Japan under the ownership of a public-private partnership.

At a ceremony at Kamaishi Station, Sanriku Railway President Ichiro Nakamura said he hopes the railway will help revitalize the area hard hit by the 2011 quake and tsunami.

Kamaishi City will host two games for the Rugby World Cup that starts in September. The city hopes an increase in tourists using the railway will add to the area's economic revival.

A passenger in her 60s said she has been waiting for the resumption of the railway for eight years. She said it will be a big help for elderly residents who don't have cars.

at 20:00 (JST), March 22 AS

A South Korean government official says North Korea withdrew its officials from an inter-Korean liaison office set up last September.

Senior foreign ministry officials of Japan and Russia have exchanged views in an attempt to narrow their differences over peace treaty negotiations.

Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai is in Japan for the first time, to address an international conference in Tokyo.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190322200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : government official September
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190322_42/

A South Korean government official says North Korea has withdrawn its officials from an inter-Korean liaison office set up last September.

Vice Minister Chun Hea-sung of South Korea's Unification Ministry announced the Friday morning withdrawal at a hastily arranged news conference in the afternoon.

Chun added that Pyongyang had said it would withdraw from the office according to a directive from higher-ups and report practical matters later.

Expressing regret about the withdrawal, Chun stressed that he hopes the personnel return to the office soon and that it resumes normal operations. He added that South Korea will keep its personnel there.

The two sides set up the office in the North's Kaesong industrial complex, in line with a joint statement released after an inter-Korean summit last April. The office is designed for working-level consultations and supporting private-sector exchange. It's the first-ever liaison office to enable the two Koreas to contact each other anytime.

A total of about 50 officials were stationed at the office around the clock, with senior officials from both sides serving as co-leaders.

North Korea has been increasingly critical of the South since the second US-North Korea summit ended with no agreement.

Observers see the North's latest move as aimed at pressuring South Korea to work on Washington to break the stalemate, including easing sanctions on Pyongyang.

Key words : Kim first summit
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190322_13/

A senior aide to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is in Moscow, apparently to discuss holding Kim's first summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Diplomatic sources say Kim Chang Son arrived in Moscow via Beijing on Tuesday.

The official, sometimes dubbed Kim's "butler", visited Singapore and Vietnam ahead of the US-North Korea summit meetings, and inspected their venues and hotels.

Putin has asked Kim Jong Un to visit Russia. Last week, North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Im Chon Il met his Russian counterpart Igor Morgulov in Moscow. They are believed to have discussed possible dates for the summit.

Key words : Foreign ministry and Russia
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190322_16/

Senior foreign ministry officials of Japan and Russia have exchanged views in an attempt to narrow their differences over peace treaty negotiations before a possible bilateral summit meeting.

Japanese Senior Deputy Foreign Minister Takeo Mori and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov met in Moscow on Thursday.

Morgulov said the negotiations have just started, and he must admit there are big differences between both sides' stances, but Russia is ready to hold discussions in a positive manner.

Mori responded that he hopes to have steady talks that could lead to a flourishing of bilateral ties, at a time when cherry blossoms are blooming in Tokyo and snow is melting in Moscow.

Mori later told reporters that they discussed concrete steps to narrow their differences with the aim of achieving progress in the upcoming higher-level talks.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is expected to visit Japan ahead of a summit between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which is being arranged for June.

Mori noted that although there was no breakthrough, he and Morgulov agreed on how to promote discussions and some technical issues. He added that he believes the accumulation of minor efforts will help the talks to move onto the next step.

Mori referred to a recent Russian media report that quoted Putin as saying that "the tempo has been lost" for negotiating a peace treaty with Japan.

He dismissed Putin's comment, citing the substantial talks with the Russian side as evidence that disproves this view.

Key words : Nobel first time
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190322_37/

Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai is in Japan for the first time, to address an international conference in Tokyo.

Malala is attending the two-day World Assembly for Women, starting on Saturday, to speak about the importance of education for women.

She also plans to exchange opinions with other female leaders including UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet.

Malala was shot by Islamic militants in Pakistan in 2012. She later set up a fund using donations from around the world and has campaigned for education for girls and women. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 at the age of 17.

Malala studies philosophy, politics and economics at the University of Oxford in Britain. She also works to raise international awareness for refugee girls who suffer from poverty and conflict and have no chance to receive education.

Key words : Okinawa lawsuit ready for
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190322_24/

Okinawa Prefecture in southwestern Japan has decided to file a lawsuit to demand the cancellation of a decision by the land minister over a landfill project related to the relocation of a US base.

The ongoing landfill work is part of a plan to relocate the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City to the less-populated Henoko district of Nago City.

The prefecture decided to file the lawsuit with the Naha branch of the Fukuoka High Court on Friday. The lawsuit demands the cancellation of the decision that the land minister made last October to suspend the prefecture's retraction of the approval for the landfill work.

Landfill work began following the suspension decision.

On Tuesday, Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki asked Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to suspend the work to allow time for negotiations on the relocation project that was opposed by a majority of eligible voters in the recent prefectural referendum. Tamaki indicated that he hopes to solve the issue through dialogue.

The central government says it is ready for dialogue. But it told the prefecture that the landfill work will continue as scheduled, adding that dumping rocks and sand in a new area off Henoko will begin as early as next Monday.

The prefecture had also asked a committee that handles disputes between the central and local governments to judge whether the land minister's suspension decision is illegal. But the committee dismissed the request last month.

Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya expressed regret over the prefecture's decision to file a lawsuit.

Iwaya said that while the central government must take the feelings of the people of Okinawa seriously, it is determined to avoid making the Futenma base permanent.

Key words : government panel
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190322_36/

A Japanese government panel says a massive eruption of Mt. Fuji could send volcanic ash all the way to the wider Tokyo metropolitan area, causing traffic and power supply disruptions.

The panel simulated the impact of a major eruption of Japan's highest peak, an event that would be comparable in scale to the Hoei eruption in the Edo era and that would last for 15 days.

The Hoei eruption began on December 16, 1707, and continued until January 1, 1708. Mt. Fuji dumped meters of ash over surrounding villages, and several centimeters over Tokyo, called Edo at the time.

The panel estimates that in the next major eruption, one to two centimeters of ash will fall per hour on Gotemba City, Shizuoka Prefecture, near the foot of the mountain, and the total accumulation there will be 1.2 meters.

The simulation forecasts about 10 centimeters of ash will fall on Yokohama City, about 80 kilometers from Mt. Fuji.

Panel members say Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward, which is about 90 kilometers away, won't suffer any immediate fallout. But ash will start to reach the area on the 13th day, resulting in a build-up of 1.3 centimeters.

The panel predicts the eruption would inflict severe damage to areas at the foot of Mt. Fuji. It says even in the greater Tokyo area, land and air traffic would be disrupted and power outages would be likely in the case of rain.

The panel says in the next fiscal year, which starts in April, it plans to compile a list of draft measures to deal with such an event.

University of Tokyo Professor Emeritus, Toshitsugu Fujii, says it is certain that Mt. Fuji will erupt eventually, although scientists do not know when.

Fujii said if volcanic ash falls in and around Tokyo, many people may be unable to return home and deliveries of food and other daily necessities could stop.

Japan's expressway operators and Japan Railway companies, whose service areas include Tokyo and its surroundings, say they have no measures at present for dealing with volcanic ash. They say they will look into the matter. East Japan Railway says it has already developed a special train that can remove ash from the tracks and has deployed it to key locations.

Key words : news key word segment volcanic disaster prevention measures for Mt. Fuji
#N/A


Key words : record high foreigner
#N/A

at 20:00 (JST), March 21 AS

US President Donald Trump says the US may keep tariffs on Chinese goods for a substantial period until it confirms that Beijing complies with any trade agreement.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says her country will ban semi-automatic weapons and assault rifles following last week's shooting in Christchurch.

Candidates vying to become prefectural governors in Japan are hitting the streets in their campaigns before elections next month.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190321200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : Trump tariff chinese goods
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190321_07/

US President Donald Trump says the US may keep tariffs on Chinese goods for a substantial period until it confirms that Beijing complies with any trade agreement.

The US government has imposed tariffs on 250 billion dollars' worth of imports from China. The question now is whether Washington would lift the tariffs in the event it reaches a trade deal with Beijing.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Trump said US authorities are talking about leaving tariffs on Chinese goods for a substantial period of time because they have to make sure that if they do the deal, China lives by it.

Some US media outlets report concern over the outlook for US-China trade talks, as the US stance of not lifting the tariffs is leading China to harden its attitude.

The two countries plan to hold ministerial talks in Beijing starting next week.

Observers say prolonged trade frictions could escalate the slowdown of the global economy.

Key words : British asked
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190321_01/

British Prime Minister Theresa May has asked the European Union to delay her country's departure from the bloc until June 30.

May sent a letter to European Council President Donald Tusk on Wednesday to request a three-month extension to Brexit.

She noted in the letter that the speaker of the British parliament had ruled that her withdrawal deal cannot be voted on again in the same parliamentary session without substantial changes.

Members of parliament have voted May's plan down twice.

May said it remains her intention to bring the deal back to parliament for approval.

She explained that necessary legal procedures will not be completed before the departure deadline of March 29.

May later told a session of parliament that a longer delay would oblige Britain to take part in European Parliament elections in May, and she wanted to avoid that. She said the idea that three years after voting to leave the EU, the British people should be asked to elect new members of the European Parliament is unacceptable.

EU leaders will discuss whether to accept London's request at a summit that will start in Brussels on Thursday.

But it is still unclear whether May can win parliament's approval for her Brexit deal.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told German media on Wednesday that there will likely be no decision on a delay to Brexit at the summit this week. He said EU leaders will probably have to meet again next week.

The EU says in order for Brexit to be delayed, Britain needs to clarify the reasons and an extension period. It plans to carefully study London's request.

Key words : New Zealand will ban
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190321_15/

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says her country will ban semi-automatic weapons and assault rifles following last week's shooting in Christchurch.

The gunman is suspected of using five legally obtained guns, including semi-automatic rifles. Fifty people were killed in the attack.

The prime minister told reporters on Thursday that she expects the new legislation will be in place by April 11.

All military-style semi-automatics, or MSSAs, and assault rifles will be banned under the new gun laws. High-capacity magazines and parts that could be used to convert standard guns into MSSAs would also be banned.

Ardern also announced a buy-back scheme for outlawed weapons.

Calls for tougher gun control have been increasing in New Zealand since the attack. But some gun sellers and gun owners are not happy with the proposed legislation.

Ardern said that she strongly believes the vast majority of legitimate gun owners will understand that the planned moves are in the best interests of the nation.

Key words : rifle owner
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190321_16/

A senior New Zealand police official is asking assault rifle owners to turn in their weapons voluntarily during an amnesty period.

The move follows the announcement by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern that all military-style semi-automatics and assault rifles will be banned in the country.

The official told reporters on Thursday that anyone found to have a banned weapon after the amnesty period could be prosecuted.

Police say there are at least 250,000 gun owners in New Zealand, including those not affected by the new laws.

Key words : US senate
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190321_10/

A US Senate panel will hold a hearing on two fatal crashes involving Boeing 737 MAX 8 passenger planes in recent months.

A Senate committee says the hearing on aviation safety, due to be held next Wednesday, will include top officials from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration.

The committee also plans to hold a separate hearing in the near future to hear from Boeing officials and airline pilots.

The two crashes, one in October in Indonesia, the other earlier this month in Ethiopia, occurred immediately after takeoff.

Aviation experts have pointed out that a system designed to prevent the aircraft's nose pointing too high may have malfunctioned, resulting in sudden deceleration.

The upcoming hearing is expected to focus on whether the FAA's decision to certify the Boeing 737 MAX 8 was appropriate, as well as on what caused the accidents.

The back-to-back accidents have led to the grounding of the MAX 8 across the world, including in the United States.

Key words : boeing open letter
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190321_12/

Aircraft manufacturer Boeing has released a full-page open letter in major US newspapers in an apparent bid to restore its tarnished image after two fatal crashes involving its aircraft.

On Wednesday, a message from Chairman, President and CEO Dennis Muilenburg appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post and other influential US papers.

Two crashes involving Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in Indonesia and Ethiopia in recent months have caused the firm's shares to plunge.

In the message, Muilenburg expressed his deepest sympathies to the families of the passengers and crew.

He said safety is at the core of Boeing and that ensuring safe and reliable travel on its planes is its absolute commitment to everyone.

He also said Boeing stands with its airline customers, international regulators and government authorities in its support for the ongoing investigations.

Muilenburg added that his firm will release a software update for the 737 MAX 8 to address safety concerns.

Boeing had expected record high sales for this year. But, its shares have tumbled by more than 11 percent since the crash in Ethiopia earlier this month.

Key words : European google
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190321_04/

The European Union on Wednesday slapped US IT giant Google with a massive antitrust fine, accusing the firm of abusing its market dominance and stifling competition in the online advertisement sector.

The fine by the European Commission totals 1.49 billion euros, or about 1.7 billion dollars.

Google's AdSense business matches search terms with advertising on partner websites.

If the users click and view the ads, the website owners and Google receive commissions from advertisers. Google has a dominant market share in the sector.

The European Commission said that from 2006 to 2016, Google restricted contractors from accepting advertising from rival search engines.

The EU is stepping up its crackdown on IT giants. Last year, it imposed a 5 billion dollar fine on Google for anticompetitive business practices involving its Android mobile operating system.

Key words : candidates vying
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190321_13/

Candidates vying to become prefectural governors in Japan are hitting the streets in their campaigns before elections next month.

It's part of unified local elections that are held across the country every four years. The prefectural and municipal polls this time are considered an opportunity for parties to gain momentum as they prepare for national elections later this year.

On Thursday, eleven prefectures began governor campaign races. Candidates are expected to focus their platforms on how to revitalize local economies as populations decline.

One of the most closely watched races is in Hokkaido. National opposition parties are rallying behind one particular candidate in the hopes of unseating Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling coalition.

Osaka is another point of focus. One of the main candidates aims to create an "Osaka metropolis." Under the initiative, Osaka City would be abolished and reorganized into special wards, similar to Tokyo.

On April 7, voters will also elect new prefectural and municipal assemblies. Those campaigns officially begin later this month.

Key words : group of abolition
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190321_05/

A group of advocates for the abolition of nuclear weapons has delivered to Pope Francis a flame kept alight since the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945.

The group, organized by a nonprofit based in Kyoto, met the pontiff on Wednesday in the Vatican.

The flame is maintained in the city of Yame in Fukuoka Prefecture. It was brought there from Hiroshima, which was devastated by an atomic bomb in the closing days of World War Two.

Pope Francis is known for his strong wish to see nuclear weapons abolished. He has expressed his desire to visit Hiroshima and the other atomic-bombed city, Nagasaki.

A survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bombing, Setsuko Thurlow, was part of the group. She now lives in Canada, and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017 on behalf of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.

The pope blew upon the "flame of peace" when the group asked him to do so as a symbolic gesture of wishing that no such embers from a conflict will ever be ignited again.

She expressed the hope that Pope Francis will deliver a strong message promoting peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons.

Another member of the group is Yusa Okada. The girl from Nagasaki is a granddaughter of an atomic bombing survivor. The first-year junior high school student said she wants the pope to tell the world that there should be an end to war.

Key words : latest report
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190321_09/

The latest report on the world's happiest places to live says people in Nordic countries with high-quality social welfare and education are most satisfied with their lives. Japan came in 58th place, down four from last year.

The World Happiness Report, produced by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, ranks 156 countries and territories by how happy their citizens consider themselves to be. The annual study is also based on factors such as per capita gross domestic product, life expectancy and social freedom.

Finland topped the list, released on Wednesday, for a second straight year. Denmark came in second, followed by Norway in third place.

The UK placed 15th, with the United States in 19th position.

Japan was the lowest among the G7 nations. In Asia, it ranked lower than 25th-placed Taiwan, 34th-ranked Singapore and South Korea, which came in 54th.

Japan ranked highly in terms of the number of years people can live in good health, but got low marks for social freedom and generosity.

In 156th place, South Sudan was the least happy place to live. A peace treaty was finally concluded last August after many years of conflict in the country.

Key words : cherry blossom season officially
#N/A


Key words : ichiro
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190321_20/

NHK has learned Japanese Major League Baseball superstar Ichiro Suzuki intends to retire. Ichiro is 45 years old and currently plays for the Seattle Mariners.

at 20:00 (JST), March 20 AS

US National Intelligence Director is making a rare visit to South Korea.

Trade talks between the US and China appear to be moving forward but, both sides will return to the table next week for ministerial-level talks in Beijing.

The Tokyo District Court plans to hold the first hearing for Nissan Motor's former chairman Carlos Ghosn in September.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190320200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : US national
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190320_33/

Director of US National Intelligence Dan Coats has met South Korea's President Moon Jae-in in Seoul.

A South Korean presidential spokesperson said the two discussed a wide range of issues on Wednesday.

South Korean government sources say it is quite rare for a head of US intelligence to visit Seoul.

They say Coats also met the chief of South Korea's National Intelligence Service, Suh Hoon, and visited a US military base in South Korea. He is scheduled to leave the country on Thursday.

Coats had reportedly planned a visit to the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea, but it was called off. No reason was given for the cancellation.

Details of the meetings have not been disclosed. But diplomatic observers speculate that they covered North Korea's recent activities at its nuclear and missile facilities, following last month's US-North Korean summit.

After the talks in Hanoi, Vietnam, ended without a deal, Pyongyang signaled frustration toward Washington and suggested the possibility of suspending negotiations with the US.

Key words : US defense
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190320_18/

The US Defense Department plans to test the feasibility of using a new interceptor missile that it jointly developed with Japan to shoot down intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The Defense Department said on Tuesday that it plans to carry out the test next year using the Standard Missile-3 Block IIA.

The missile has been repeatedly tested off Hawaii to intercept medium-range missiles. But it was not designed to hit ICBMs.

Japan and the United States jointly developed the interceptor to enhance their defense capabilities against North Korea's ballistic missiles.

The Pentagon warned in its new missile defense strategy in January that Pyongyang was close to acquiring an ICBM.

It plans to deploy the SM-3 Block IIA for sea-based missile defense, in addition to existing ground-based systems to strengthen homeland defense.

The US government decided last November to sell the new missiles to Japan.

They are due to be installed in the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Aegis destroyers and the ground-based Aegis Ashore missile defense system that Japan plans to deploy.

Key words : Trade talks between
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190320_12/

Trade talks between the US and China appear to be moving forward. American media reported on Tuesday that both sides will return to the table next week for ministerial-level talks in Beijing.

They would be the first talks at this level since US President Donald Trump delayed a March 1 deadline for hiking tariffs on China.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will sit down with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He. They will reportedly meet again in Washington the following week as they try to reach a deal by the end of April.

On Tuesday, Trump indicated progress in the talks, saying negotiations are moving forward smoothly.

But US media also report that key stumbling blocks remain. These include China's provision of hefty subsidies for state-run businesses. The two sides are also at odds over establishing a framework to enforce an agreement.

Key words : Distric first hearing
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190320_30/

The Tokyo District Court plans to hold the first hearing for Nissan Motor's former chairman Carlos Ghosn in September.

Ghosn has been indicted for underreporting his executive compensation in Nissan's securities reports, in violation of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act. He is also charged with aggravated breach of trust.

Court officials, prosecutors and Ghosn's defense team gathered at the Tokyo District Court on Wednesday to discuss how to proceed with the trial.

Sources say the court conveyed its plan to prosecutors and Ghosn's lawyers. The parties also decided to hold on May 23 the first meeting to sort out issues of contention.
Prosecutors will explain at the trial that Ghosn's executive compensation in Nissan reached 31.4 billion yen, or more than 280 million dollars, over the 19 year period since his arrival in Japan in 1999.

They are expected to point out that the underreporting was prompted by a system introduced 9 years ago obliging corporate executives to disclose compensation of over 100 million yen, or about 900,000 dollars.

Prosecutors will likely argue that to hide his huge compensation, Ghosn ordered his subordinates to lobby the Financial Services Agency to block introduction of the system.

They will also likely claim that Ghosn ordered his aides to think of ways by which he could receive the unreported, unpaid compensation after his retirement.

Ghosn maintains his innocence on all fronts. His lawyers say Ghosn intends to attend pre-trial talks on issues of contention.

Key words : venezuela providing
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190320_17/

The Japanese Embassy in Venezuela has begun providing relief supplies to a community of Japanese Venezuelans as living conditions in the country deteriorate amid worsening political uncertainty.

The political confrontation between President Nicolas Maduro and opposition leader, self-declared interim president Juan Guaido, has triggered turmoil and looting.

All Japanese expatriate workers and their families have already evacuated the country. A local Japanese school has been shut down.

The embassy is now trying to assist more than 400 Venezuelans of Japanese descent who are struggling to get by.

At the request of a local Japanese association, the embassy on Saturday delivered 210 portions of food, including rice and pasta, and some drinking water to the community of ethnic Japanese in the city of Maracaibo in the northwest of the country.

The city is suffering from repeated power blackouts and widespread looting. More than 50 ethnic Japanese families in Maracaibo are unable to leave their homes.

The Japanese ambassador Kenji Okada said he hopes that the aid delivery will bring some relief to those who are facing a hard time.

Key words : research team
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190320_03/

A Japanese space research team says it has confirmed the presence of water on the asteroid Ryugu, where the Hayabusa2 probe is operating.

The team, whose members are from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, and dozens of scientific institutes around the world, has examined the composition of rocks on the asteroid for two months by using infrared rays emitted from the probe.

The researchers now say they found an indication that water is contained in rocks on Ryugu.

They said this means there is water on Ryugu's surface, not as liquid or ice, but in the form of hydroxyl-bearing minerals.

Hayabusa2 landed on the asteroid and is believed to have collected rock samples in February.

The JAXA team says Ryugu may have been created when fragments from a celestial collision reaggregated.

A team member, Kohei Kitazato, says if Hayabusa2 brings back rock samples in 2020, that would lead to many discoveries. He said he hopes the mission will be successful.

Wednesday's online edition of the US journal Science carries an article outlining the team's findings.

Key words : NASA says
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190320_19/

US space agency NASA says it will seek advice from Japan's Hayabusa2 project team on how to land a probe on the rocky surface of an asteroid.

NASA is planning to land a probe called the OSIRIS-REx on the asteroid Bennu, which was more than 120 million kilometers from Earth as of December. The probe has been observing the asteroid from a distance of about 1 kilometer since December.

NASA says Bennu is covered with more boulders than expected and appears not to have any flat sites with a 25-meter radius needed for a safe landing.

The OSIRIS-REx project team says it will try to find a relatively flat space on the asteroid. The team will visit the Hayabusa2 project team at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, next month to get some advice.

Hayabusa2 landed on the asteroid Ryugu last month under similar rocky conditions.

The NASA team says it hopes to gather dirt and gravel on Bennu as planned in July 2020.

The team also says it has observed Bennu ejecting particles and rocks measuring up to several dozen centimeters in diameter from its surface. NASA says it will analyze the components.

Water has been detected on Bennu.

Key words : gas attack rush
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190320_20/

Wednesday marks the twenty-fourth anniversary of the sarin nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subway system by the Aum Shinrikyo cult. Bereaved families of the victims mourned at one of the stations targeted.

Members of the cult released the toxic substance inside rush-hour subway trains in central Tokyo on March 20, 1995. Thirteen people died and about 6,300 others were injured.

At Kasumigaseki subway station, the scene of one of the attacks, 16 station officials offered silent prayers at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, almost 24 years to the minute since the attack occurred.

Bereaved families of the victims and station officials offered flowers at an altar set up inside the station.

Thirteen members of the former cult's leadership, including the leader Shoko Asahara, whose real name is Chizuo Matsumoto, were sentenced to death for crimes including the Tokyo sarin gas attack. All 13 were executed last July.

Shizue Takahashi, whose husband was the assistant stationmaster at Kasumigaseki and was killed in the attack, has visited the station on every anniversary.

She said she felt different this year, as this is the first anniversary of her husband's death since the perpetrators were executed. She recalled that she felt the weight of the executions for six months after they were carried out.

Key words : power company
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190320_13/

Japanese power companies are worried about the impact on the grid during an extended 10-day holiday starting in late April. The period is longer than usual this year due to an Imperial succession.

The large number of businesses on break could lead to oversupply and blackouts, so firms are getting ready.

Energy venture Enechange and solar-power company Looop will try encouraging consumers to shift their electricity use to the daytime. The abundance of solar power means that is when there will be the biggest chance of oversupply.

CEO of Enechange, Yohei Kiguchi said, " When the sun shines, we can use electricity. If it is cloudy, we should try to use less. Solar power generation has spread to such an extent that we have to change our habits."

The campaign comes as power companies in western Japan might cut back on solar-energy production during the holidays.

Looop will notify customers if this is expected to happen. The firm also plans to give gift certificates to those who shift their power use during these times. The companies say the campaign will start on April 19 and last for a month.

Key words : olympic torch
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190320_27/

The Olympic torch for the 2020 Tokyo Games features a design based on a cherry blossom.

The organizing committee for the Games unveiled the torch on Wednesday, about one year ahead of the start of the torch relay.

The torch is 71 centimeters long and weighs about 1.2 kilograms. The upper section is separated into five parts, which look like cherry petals when viewed from above. The torch is designed so that the five flames converge at the top.

The color of the torch is somewhere between pink and gold. The committee named the color "Sakura and gold." "Sakura" means "cherry blossom" in Japanese.

The torch is made from aluminum, with 30 percent of it recycled from construction waste from temporary housing. The housing was made in the northeastern prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima for people who lost their homes in the massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011.

The torch is the work of designer Tokujin Yoshioka, who is active in various fields, including contemporary art. Several manufacturers helped with the production.

Yoshioka said that when he designed the torch, he thought of people affected by the disaster, their mental recovery, and wishes for peace. He noted that the torch is designed to shine with the sun's light. And he said he hopes the runners will also shine and create a road of hope.

The relay will start on March 26 of next year at the J-Village national soccer training center in Fukushima. The torch will travel through all of Japan's 47 prefectures over the course of 121 days leading up to the opening ceremony on July 24.

at 20:00 (JST), March 19 AS

The head of the Japanese Olympic Committee has announced he will step down when his term expires in June.

Japan's government has approved revisions to its child abuse prevention law following a series of high-profile abuse cases in which victims have died.

Japan's government has decided to invite heads of state and representatives from 195 nations to the new Emperor's enthronement ceremony in October.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190319200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : head of the step down expire
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190319_41/

The head of the Japanese Olympic Committee has announced he will step down when his term expires in June.

JOC President Tsunekazu Takeda is under formal investigation by French authorities for his role in alleged bribery in connection with Tokyo's successful bid for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics.

Takeda told a JOC board meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday that he feels badly about the confusion he has caused. He said he believes the JOC should be entrusted to a leader from the next generation as it enters a new age.

Takeda is also resigning as a member of the International Olympic Committee.

French prosecutors say a judge has been considering whether to indict Takeda since December for allegedly approving payments of about 2 million dollars to a consulting firm in Singapore.

Takeda maintains his innocence. But his refusal to answer questions at a news conference in January fueled calls for his resignation.

The IOC has expressed concerns that the scandal could negatively affect the Tokyo Games.

Takeda said preparations for the Olympics and Paralympics are going smoothly, and he sincerely wants them to succeed.

Takeda may hope to minimize the impact of the scandal on the 2020 Games by retiring.

But the head of the host country's Olympic committee stepping down under a cloud of unresolved bribery allegations is itself unusual.

Key words : leading candidate
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190319_40/

The leading candidate for new president of the Japanese Olympic Committee appears to be Senior Executive Board Member Yasuhiro Yamashita.

Yamashita won a gold medal in men's judo in the open-weight category at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. He is favored to be the next president by many on the JOC and the Tokyo Games organizing committee.

The president will be elected from the members of the new executive board to be chosen in June.

Another strong candidate is Senior Executive Board Member Kohzo Tashima, who is also president of the Japan Football Association.

Key words : government approved victim
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190319_14/

Japan's government has approved revisions to its child abuse prevention law following a series of high-profile abuse cases in which victims have died.

The draft bill, approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday, bans parents from physically punishing children.

It requires lawyers and doctors to be stationed at child welfare centers so they can share their expertise.

The bill also outlines plans to increase the number of consultation centers.

Professionals offering support and counseling to victims of domestic violence will be asked to help detect child abuse in its early stages.

The government's bill also calls for a review of a part of Japan's civil code that gives parents the right to "discipline" their children.

It includes plans to conduct studies on the licensing of child welfare workers, including the possibility of national government-issued licenses.

The government hopes to pass the bill during the current Diet session.

Japan's National Police Agency says the number of child abuse cases hit an all-time high last year.

A 5-year-old girl died in Tokyo last March after her parents allegedly neglected to feed her and provide medical care.

In January, a 10-year-old girl was found dead at her home in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo. Her parents have been arrested on suspicion of abuse.

Key words : Tamaki
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190319_28/

Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki has demanded that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe suspend landfill work for the relocation of a US military base within the southern prefecture. The prime minister asked the governor for his understanding of the relocation project, while agreeing to continue dialogue with the prefecture.

Abe met with Tamaki on Tuesday in Tokyo and discussed relocation of the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City, to the less-populated Henoko district in Nago City.

Tamaki reiterated that a majority of votes cast in last month's prefectural referendum opposed the relocation project. He called for the suspension of landfill work in waters off Henoko for about a month to allow for more discussion.

Abe replied that the relocation work began after various consultations and is aimed at avoiding potential dangers to the heavily populated area around the Futenma base.

Tamaki also told Abe that an endangered species of dugong was found dead on Monday in waters off the northern coast of the prefecture. Tamaki asked Abe to suspend the landfill work to allow for further investigation.

The prime minister expressed regret over the discovery and said he is ready to discuss the relocation issue with the prefecture.

The Governor told reporters after the meeting that he would like to see the ongoing work at Henoko stopped to allow for further negotiations. He added that he is hoping for a prompt reply from the central government.

Key words : Japan planning
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190319_30/

Japan is planning to develop medium and long-range cruise missiles. They would be used to strengthen its defense capabilities in remote southwestern islands and nearby areas of the Pacific.

Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya disclosed the plan at a news conference on Tuesday.

He said foreign warships are now equipped with long-range anti-aircraft weapons. Iwaya said he wants to see longer-range missiles deployed on Japan's fighters in order to secure the safety of Self-Defense Force personnel.

Iwaya added that research and development of cruise missiles is already underway.

The Defense Minister indicated that domestic cruise missiles are intended for use on new fighter jets that will replace the F2 fighter, which will be retired in the 2030s.

In December 2017, the government announced its decision to equip Japanese fighter aircraft with foreign-made, long-range cruise missiles.

Key words : average land
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190319_39/

Average land prices throughout Japan rose for the fourth straight year. In rural areas, prices of residential land were up for the first time in 27 years.

The land ministry figures are as of January 1 and cover about 26,000 locations throughout the country.

Average prices of all residential, commercial and industrial land surveyed rose 1.2 percent from a year earlier.

Commercial land prices in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya and their surrounding areas rose 5.1 percent. Those in rural areas saw an increase of 1 percent.

Residential land prices gained 0.6 percent on average nationwide. In rural areas, they edged up an average 0.2 percent for the first gain since 1992.

Low mortgage rates and tax cuts pushed up demand for homes in areas with good transportation links.

Commercial land prices saw an average 2.8 percent gain on the back of hotel construction to meet demand from surging tourist numbers.

Higher office rents also helped.

The biggest price increases in both residential and commercial land were recorded in the northern town of Kutchan, Hokkaido, home to the Niseko ski resort.

Prices there jumped 50 percent or more. Demand is high for hotels as well as for housing for foreigners and people who work at the resort.

Key words : team of
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190318_28/

A team of investigators into how a Japanese real-estate leasing company built substandard apartment buildings has found building materials were improperly substituted on the orders of the company's founder.

Thousands of apartments built by Leopalace 21 between 1993 and 2001 were found to have failed government fire and noise standards. The company has asked around 7,700 residents of buildings at particularly high risk to move out.

The team of three lawyers appointed by the company conducted interviews with architects and developers. Its interim report says materials for inner and outer walls differed from those specified in plans. The substitutions were made at the direction of the company's founder and then president, who quit in May 2006.

The report says the company was under pressure to complete buildings quickly before large numbers of students and workers were to move in the spring.

The report says the problem was not limited to specific company departments, but was widespread and systematic. It says the team needs to investigate further before determining whether the changes in building materials were deliberate.

At a news conference on Monday, a senior company official said officials did not check whether the changes in materials as ordered by the founder were illegal.

The team will start interviewing executives to determine their responsibility, and will suggest measures to prevent further irregularities. It plans to compile a final report by late May.

Key words : government decided to invite
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190319_24/

Japan's government has decided to invite heads of state and representatives from 195 nations to the new Emperor's enthronement ceremony in October.

The decision was made on Tuesday by a government panel in charge of setting protocols for the Imperial succession.

The panel agreed on procedures for Emperor Akihito's abdication ceremony on April 30. Crown Prince Naruhito will accede to the throne the following day.

The panel also decided on the details of a May 1 ceremony for the new Emperor to inherit the Imperial Regalia and Seals. It's the first in a series of ceremonies to mark the Crown Prince's accession.

Leaders from 195 nations will be invited to the "Sokuirei-Seiden-no-gi" ceremony planned on October 22. During the rite, the new Emperor proclaims his enthronement to the people of Japan and the world.

The guests will also be invited to attend a court banquet, held over the course of four days.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife will host a separate banquet on October 23. Kyogen play actor Nomura Mansai will serve as advisor for the party's attractions. He is tasked with presenting Japan's traditional performing arts in a way that is both understandable and enjoyable for the international guests.

Abe told the panel that the government will do its best to prepare for the events so the nation can smoothly mark a historic milestone.

Key words : British is still
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190319_12/

British Prime Minister Theresa May's government is still without parliamentary approval on a Brexit deal after the House of Commons Speaker blocked a third vote on her plan.

The speaker's surprise move has thrown May's government into further confusion with only 11 days left before the nation is due to leave the European Union.

Speaker John Bercow issued a statement on Monday, saying the deal cannot be voted on again in the same session without substantial changes.

Members of parliament have voted May's plan down twice. May plans to meet with EU officials on Thursday to ask for an extension to the planned March 29 withdrawal date.

A motion for the three-month extension was approved last Thursday by members of parliament.

May wanted her plan to be passed before her meeting with EU officials so they will approve the three-month extension.

Junior Brexit minister Kwasi Kwarteng said the short extension could be fine if Parliament reaches a deal before Thursday, and if not, the extension would probably need to be longer.

Key words : cyclone
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190319_15/

Floods caused by a cyclone and heavy rainfall have devastated swathes of southeastern Africa, leaving more than 300 people dead.

The United Nations and other aid organizations are rushing to provide food, medicine and other necessary goods to the stricken areas.

Heavy rainfall hit the region earlier this month, ahead of Cyclone Idai making landfall in Mozambique last Thursday.

Damaged areas span Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi and South Africa. A total of 308 people have so far been confirmed dead, according to government figures.

In Beira, a Mozambican port city, two rivers flooded and submerged most of the city. Footage showed some people being rescued after being stranded on tree branches.

Mozambique's President Filipe Nyusi said the scope of disaster was extensive, with concerns that the final death toll could rise to more than 1,000.

Key words : environment ministry reuse
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190319_29/

Japan's Environment Ministry has decided to begin experiments to capture carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and reuse it as fuel.

Japan has already implemented various measures to curb greenhouse gas emissions . But issues remain on how to contain CO2 already dispersed in the air.

The plan is to capture a large amount of carbon dioxide and convert it into natural resources.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC, is calling for environmental initiatives including capturing greenhouse gases to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2050.

Switzerland, the United States, and Canada have so far taken the lead in applying the techniques.

The ministry will start the technological experiments as early as next month.

After going through verification tests, the ministry plans to establish the technology and develop it for large-scale practical use by fiscal 2022.

at 20:00 (JST), March 18 AS

The president of the Japanese Olympic Committee will likely announce on Tuesday his intention to resign when his current term expires in June.

New Zealand's police chief says he's certain only one attacker was responsible for last week's mass-shooting in Christchurch.

Investigative sources say an official of a company operating a ranch in China is suspected of asking a Japanese man to export fertilized eggs of premium wagyu beef cattle.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190318200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : president of the
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190318_23/

The president of the Japanese Olympic Committee will likely announce on Tuesday his intention to resign when his current term expires in June.

Sources told NHK that Tsunekazu Takeda is expected to make the announcement at a JOC board meeting.

Takeda has been facing corruption charges in France related to Tokyo's successful bid for the 2020 Olympics. He headed the bidding committee.

The sources say he is resigning out of consideration for the Games, which begin in 16 months' time.

Prosecutors in France say an investigative judge has been considering whether to indict Takeda since December last year.

Takeda has maintained his innocence throughout. However, calls for his resignation have grown in and outside Japan.

The International Olympic Committee has expressed deep concern about the scandal's potential to negatively impact the Games.

Takeda has refrained from attending IOC meetings since the allegations came to light.

The head of the government's Sports Agency, Daichi Suzuki, refrained from commenting on the situation to reporters on Monday.

Suzuki said Takeda's resignation could have repercussions, but he also stressed that it has not yet been announced. He said the government will cooperate with the JOC and other organizations to ensure a smooth Games.

Key words : New Zealand certain
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190318_26/

New Zealand's police chief says he's certain only one attacker was responsible for last week's mass-shooting in Christchurch. But, he says, the investigation is continuing and police are not ruling out that he had support.

Commissioner Mike Bush said, "This criminal investigation is the largest ever undertaken by the New Zealand police."

Following the attack on two mosques, which killed 50 people and left dozens wounded, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said her government will announce tougher gun laws by next week.

She said: "I've already made clear that a number of New Zealanders question the availability of military-style semi-automatic weapons in New Zealand."

Earlier on Monday, Ardern and the country's governor general signed a book of condolences for the victims.

In Christchurch, high school students honored the victims by performing a Haka, a traditional Maori dance.

Schools and offices near the areas where the attacks happened have reopened.

Crowds gathered to pay their respects as the bodies of the victims are being returned to their families.

Many of them were immigrants, including people from Pakistan, Egypt and Jordan. The head of a support group based in Christchurch said one of those killed was a refugee from Syria.

Australian-born Brenton Tarrant has been charged with murder. He allegedly posted a racist manifesto online and live-streamed the killings.

Officials have said it's an offence under New Zealand law to possess or share the footage.

The owner of a gun shop in New Zealand said Tarrant bought four firearms from the store's website, but not the high-powered weapon used in the shootings.

Australian police have executed two search warrants as part of efforts to assist their New Zealand counterparts.

The grandmother of the suspect said she was shocked by the news of his arrest.

Marie Fitzgerald said: "We don't know what to think. You know the media are saying he's planned it for a long time, so he's obviously not of sound mind."

The 81-year-old said her grandson has completely changed since he travelled overseas.

Key words : united states senator
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190318_09/

United States Senator, Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat who is known as an active proponent of the "MeToo" movement against sexual harassment, has declared her candidacy for the 2020 presidential race.

The New York senator, an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump, made the announcement on Sunday, releasing a video entitled "Brave Wins."

She says in the video that "brave doesn't pit people against one another, brave doesn't put money over lives, brave doesn't spread hate, cloud truth, build a wall."

She urged people to "take back our democracy."

52-year-old Gillibrand has been a senator for the state of New York since 2009, taking up Hillary Clinton's seat when she was named Secretary of State.

Currently, more than 10 Democrats are seeking the party's nomination.

Opinion polls show former Vice President Joe Biden, who has not declared his candidacy, is favorite among the list of potential Democratic candidates.

At a Democratic gathering on Saturday, Biden almost admitted he is running for president, with a slip of tongue.

He is expected to make the decision soon to join the nomination race.

Key words : Trump criticism
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190318_21/

US President Donald Trump is ramping up his criticism of General Motors for its decision to shutter a manufacturing plant in Ohio.

He tweeted on Sunday that he had spoken with Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, about the plant in Lordstown, Ohio.

He wrote he is not happy that the plant is closed when everything else in the United States is booming.

Trump wrote that the CEO blamed the labor union, but that he doesn't care and just wants it open.

On Saturday, he praised Toyota Motor, tweeting that the Japanese carmaker is investing 13.5 billion dollars in the United States.

In the same tweet, he urged General Motors to get the Ohio plant open, whether in a different form or with a new owner. He added that the company must act quickly.

In the 2016 presidential election, Ohio was one of the key swing states in the Rust Belt that powered Trump's victory.

Trump's criticism of General Motors is taken as a gesture, with the 2020 presidential poll in mind, to underline his efforts to secure jobs in a region that has experienced manufacturing decline.

Key words : investigative sources
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190318_03/

Investigative sources say an official of a company operating a ranch in China is suspected of asking a Japanese man to export fertilized eggs of premium wagyu beef cattle.

Japanese police arrested Osaka-based restaurant owner Yusuke Maeda and his acquaintance Toshiki Ogura earlier this month.

Police suspect the two tried to export fertilized wagyu eggs and sperm to China last year without having them undergo legally required quarantine.

Ogura carried the eggs and sperm in about 360 straw-shaped containers to Shanghai by ferry at Maeda's request. But he failed to get through customs there. Investigators seized the items upon his return to Japan.

Police quote Maeda as saying he attempted exporting the eggs at the request of his Chinese acquaintance but he did not know his conduct was illegal.

Sources say police have analyzed Maeda's mobile phone records and now suspect that an official of a firm running a ranch in China's Hainan Province asked him to export the eggs.

The company's website reads that it has introduced a wagyu breed by using sophisticated techniques such as transplants of fertilized eggs.

Police suspect that the company official had made similar requests in the past.

Key words : today's news keywords segment Wagyu genetic properties
#N/A


Key words : Ethiopian black box
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190318_06/

Ethiopia's transport minister says black box data recovered from an Ethiopian Airlines plane that crashed earlier this month shows "clear similarities" with a crash in Indonesia last year involving the same type of aircraft.

Speaking to AFP and other reporters on Sunday, Dagmawit Moges said the parallels will be the "subject of further study during the investigation."

The announcement comes after France's BEA air safety agency said on Sunday that it provided the Ethiopian side with data retrieved from the black box flight and voice recorders.

The French agency has been analyzing the recorders at the request of the Ethiopian government.

The Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft crashed near the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on March 10, killing all 157 people onboard.

Last October, a Lion Air jet of the same model as the Ethiopian Airlines flight crashed off the coast of Indonesia, killing 189 people.

Carriers and governments around the world have been suspending flights of the same model.

Boeing Chairman, President and CEO Dennis Muilenburg issued a statement on Sunday.

It said, "Boeing continues to support the investigation, and is working with the authorities to evaluate new information as it becomes available."

The statement adds, "We also continue to provide technical assistance at the request of and under the direction of the National Transportation Safety Board, the US Accredited Representative working with Ethiopian investigators."

Key words : Two Japanese find innovative
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190318_29/

Two Japanese companies are working together to find innovative ways of using 5G mobile communications technology. Japan Airlines and telecom company KDDI are conducting tests to see how 5G can make airport operations more efficient.

An engineer watches a live feed showing airplane parts being repaired at another site. The images come from an ultra-high definition 4K camera attached to a colleague's helmet.

They're relayed to the first engineer via a 5G network that can carry massive amounts of data at high speed. The next-generation technology lets him see details like very small machine parts.

Another test involves a touchless entry system at boarding gates.

A passenger carries a tablet, the gates open when 5G antennas pick up ticket information from the device.

A JAL official says 5G technology will make it possible to develop all sorts of services.

The company plans to conduct a wide range of tests to find ways to apply the technology in various areas.

Japanese mobile carriers plan to launch 5G services next year.

Key words : Nissan reviewing
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190318_12/

Nissan Motor has been reviewing its management structure in light of the accusations leveled at former Chair Carlos Ghosn. As part of that effort, the automaker convened a panel with 3rd-party experts for the fourth time on Sunday.

It's apparently looking to create stronger roles for outside directors on the company's board.

Sources say some panel members want an independent entity to decide executive compensation and appointments to the board. That's to give outside board members more say on those matters.

The panel is also discussing whether board meetings should be chaired by an outside director, rather than the company chairman.

The goal is to compile a final proposal for the shake-up, at a meeting scheduled for March 27th.

After that, the new management structure will be put to the vote at a shareholders' meeting in June.

Key words : genetic may hit
#N/A