Daily English News

 

May

May 1, Tuesday, 2012 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. Mick Corliss and Ms. Hiroko Kitadai

  1. 1. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and U.S. President Barack Obama have emphasized the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance on defense.
  2. 2. Japan and the United States are to expand their nuclear energy cooperation and begin collaboration on the development of alternatives to rare earth minerals.
  3. 3. The Obama administration has confirmed that it carries out unmanned drone attacks to target and kill terrorists.

May 2, Wednesday, 2012 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Hiroko Kitadai and Mr. Michael Rhys

  1. 1. U.S. President Barack Obama has outlined a 10-year military and financial commitment to Afghanistan after the United States ends combat operations there in 2014.
  2. 2. The U.N. SecurityCouncil is considering imposing additional sanctions on about 40 North Korean companies, following North Korea’s missile launch.
  3. 3. Japan and Kazakhstan have agreed to cooperate in cleaning up areas tainted by radiation after last year’s accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

  4. May 3, Thursday, 2012 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. Raja Pradan and Ms. Hiroko Kitadai

    1. 1. The finance chiefs of Japan, South Korea and China have agreed to step up coordination to prevent the European credit crisis from spilling over into Asia.
    2. 2. The fate of Chinese human rights activist Chen Quangcheng is unclear.  He was moved from the U.S. embassy to a Beijing hospital on Wednesday.
    3. 3. Japan and Kazakhstan have agreed to jointly develop a rare earth metal in the central Asian country.

    May 4, Friday, 2012 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Hiroko Kitadai and Mr. Raja Pradan

    1. 1. Chinese human rights activist Chen Quangcheng has appealed to U.S. lawmakers for a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to ask for help in his attempt to leave China for the United States.
    2. 2. A senior official at the U.S. Defense Department says they plan to start relocating U.S. Marines in Okinawa to Guam in the next couple of years.
    3. 3. Japan and China have agreed to cooperate and share information on regulations to make nuclear power safer.

    4. May 5, Saturday, 2012 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. Mark Robinson and Ms. Fumiko Konoe

      1. 1.Japan’s electricity will be nuclear-free for the first time in 42 years on Saturday, when the country’s last operating commercial reactor is shut down for regular inspections.
      2. 2.The U.S. and Chinese governments have closed two days of strategic and economic talks in Beijing with an agreement to expand their areas of cooperation, but their talks were overshadowed by a diplomatic crisis over a Chinese dissident who sought refuge at the U.S. embassy.

      3. May 6, Sunday, 2012 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. Hirokazu Sakamaki and Ms. Keiko Kitadai

        1. 1.Japan’s last operating commercial reactor has shut down, leaving the country with no nuclear-generated electricity for the first time in 42 years.
        2. 2. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has suffered a major setback in Friday’s run-off parliamentary election.
        3. 3. Japan’s Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba has pledged Japan’s support for Africa in a ministerial meeting of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development.

        4. May 7, Monday, 2012 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. Raja Pradan and Ms. Asumi Ukon

          1. 1. Socialist Francois Hollande, who beat Nicolas Sarkozy in France’s presidential run-off election on Sunday, has called for unity among the French people.
          2. 2. Greece’s ruling coalition parties appear to be heading toward losing a majority in Sunday’s general elections, in which the government’s austerity measures were the largest issue.
          3. 3. Ministers from Japan and about 50 African nations have pledged to promote infrastructure development in Africa.

          4. May 8, Tuesday, 2012 (2:00p.m.) Read by Mr. Mick Corliss and Ms. Helen Lewis

            1. 1.The leader of Greece’s New Democracy Party says he has given up hope of forming a coalition government led by his party.
            2. 2.Japan’s Finance Minister Jun Azumi says it would be unrealistic for France’s president-elect Francois Hollande to abandon all fiscal reforms.
            3. 3.The United States says it has prevented a terrorist bomb attack targeting a plane bound for the country.

            4. May 9, Wednesday, 2012 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. Michael Rhys and Ms. Keiko Kitagawa

              1. 1. Greece’s Coalition of Radical Left Party is looking for partners to form a coalition government after the New Democracy Party failed in their attempt.
              2. 2. Special U.N. envoy to Syria Kofi Annan says the country could descend into full civil war if the on-going efforts by U.N. ceasefire monitors fail.
              3. 3. North Korea’s new leader Kim Jong Un has instructed Workers’ Party executives to make better use of land and underground resources.

              4. May 10, Thursday, 2012 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Helen Lewis and Ms. Kaori Nimura

                1. 1. A leftwing party in Greece has abandoned its bid to form a coalition government, increasing the chances of a new election next month.
                2. 2. Japan’s current account surplus in the last fiscal year through March fell 52.6 percent from a year earlier.  This was the sharpest fall since comparative data became available in 1985.
                3. 3. A bomb has exploded near a convoy of U.N. ceasefire observers in Syria, wounding six government soldiers guarding them.

                4. May 11, Friday, 2012 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Risa Shimizu and Ms. Hiroko Kitadai

                  1. 1. The leader of Greece’s socialist party has made some progress in talks to form a government.
                  2. 2. U.S. bank JP Morgan says that it has lost two billion dollars in derivatives trading.
                  3. 3. Sendai City in Miyagi Prefecture plans to relocate about 1,700 households in the tsunami-stricken communities to higher ground inland.

                  4. May 12, Saturday, 2012 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. Mark Robinson and Ms. Fumiko Konoe

                    1. 1.Coalition talks in Greece have failed.  The country will likely have to hold another parliamentary election next month.
                    2. 2. Negotiators from Japan, China and South Korea are preparing a joint statement on launching found talks on a trilateral free trade agreement by the end of this year.
                    3. 3. The 2012 International Expo began on Saturday in the southern coastal city of Yeosu in South Korea.

                    4. May 13, Sunday, 2012 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. Hirokazu Sakamaki and Ms. Keiko Kitagawa

                      1. 1. The leaders of Japan, China and South Korea have confirmed that the three nations will start talks on a trilateral free trade agreement within the year.
                      2. 2. Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has said the Group of 8 countries will pledge their cooperation to contain the European debt crisis at the upcoming summit meeting in the United States.
                      3. 3. An Islamic extremist group suspected of being linked to Al Qaeda has claimed responsibility for Thursday’s massive bombings in the Syrian capital, Damascus.

                      4. May 14, Monday, 2012 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. David Crystal and Ms. Hiroko Kitadai

                        1. 1. Japan, China and South Korea have agreed to start negotiations by the end of the year on a trilateral free trade agreement.
                        2. 2. Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has reiterated that the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea belong to Japan, rejecting China’s sovereignty claim over the islands.
                        3. 3. The head of an international organization of exiled Uygurs has criticized the Chinese government for its oppression of the ethnic minority group.

                        4. May 15, Tuesday, 2012 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Hiroko Kitadai and Mr. Mick Corliss

                          1.      The president of Greece has offered up a new proposal on how to avoid sending voters back to the polls.

                          2.      The European Union imposed fresh sanctions on Syria as the government continues its violent crackdown.

                          3.      Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture on Tuesday will mark the 40th anniversary of its return from U.S. rule.

                          May 16, Wednesday, 2012 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Michael Rhys and Ms. Hiroko Kitadai

                          1.      Greek political leaders are preparing for a new round of parliamentary elections which could call into question the country’s future as a eurozone member.

                          2.      New French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have agreed on the need to keep working together on the European debt crisis despite their different opinions.

                          3.      The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant says it was aware a tsunami could cause a total blackout five years before last March’s disaster, but did not act on the knowledge.

                          May 17, Thursday, 2012 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. Raja Pradan and Ms. Hiroko Kitadai

                          1.      Greece has chosen the prime minister of a caretaker government ahead of fresh elections next month.

                          2.      The United Nations says a number of countries have been exporting luxury goods and potential missile parts to North Korea in violation of Security Council sanctions.

                          3.      Japan and China have agreed to work together on maritime issues in a bid to avoid further conflicts in the East China Sea.

                          May 18, Friday, 2012 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Hiroko Kitadai and Mr. Raja Pradan

                          1.      Japan’s space agency, JAXA, successfully launched an H2A rocket carrying a foreign satellite early Friday.

                          2.      In Greece, a caretaker government Cabinet was sworn in on Thursday.

                          3.      Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda heads to the United States on Friday, for a G-8 summit.

                          May 19, Saturday, 2012 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. Mark Robinson and Ms. Fumiko Konoe

                          1.      Leaders of the Group of 8 countries have begun their summit at Camp David outside Washington.  Attention is focused on whether they will be able to send an effective message to help stabilize the world economy.

                          2.      Facebook had its first day as a public company on Friday, reaching a total valuation of 115 billion dollars.

                          3.      Japan’s Emperor has attended a lunch to celebrate the 60th anniversary of British Queen Elizabeth’s ascension to the throne.

                          May 20, Sunday, 2012 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. Hirokazu Sakamaki and Ms. Keiko Kitagawa

                          1.      G8 leaders have called for debt-stricken Greece to remain in the eurozone in a declaration issued at the close of the two-day summit at Camp David in the United States.

                          2.      Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou has said he has no intention to change his stance on the relationship with China after he was sworn in on Sunday.

                          3.      Chinese human rights activist Chen Guangcheng arrived in the United States from Beijing on Saturday, ending a month-long dispute between the two countries.

                          May 21, Monday, 2012 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Asumi Ukon and Mr. Raja Pradan

                          1.      NATO leaders have held talks on how to completer their combat mission in Afghanistan.

                          2.      An annular solar eclipse was visible over a wide area of Japan on Monday morning, giving thrills to observers across the nation.

                          3.      The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency is now in Iran to discuss the country’s nuclear program.

                          May 22, Tuesday, 2012 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. Mick Corliss and Ms. Helen Lewis

                          1.      NATO leaders have reconfirmed their plan to end their troops’ combat role in Afghanistan by the end of 2014.

                          2.      An Al-Qaeda-linked terror group in Yemen has claimed responsibility for Monday’s bombing that killed at least 90 troops in Sanaa. 

                          3.      The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency held talks with Iranian officials about the country’s nuclear program.

                          May 23, Wednesday, 2012 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. Michael Rhys and Ms. Keiko Kitagawa

                          1.      Japan’s trade balance in April was in the red for a second straight month.

                          2.      A North Korean official indicates they have no intention of carrying out another nuclear test.

                          3.      Representatives from Iran and six other countries will resume talks on Iran’s nuclear program in Baghdad on Wednesday.

                          May 24, Thursday, 2012 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Helen Lewis and Mr. Joseph Quini

                          1.      Talks on Iran’s nuclear program will go into a second day on Thursday after Iran rejected proposals by Western negotiators.

                          2.      European Union leaders have agreed on a new initiative to help Greece achieve economic growth, but continue to insist the country carry out austerity measures.

                          3.      The International Olympic Committee has picked Tokyo, Istanbul, and Madrid, as final candidates to host the 2020 Summer Games.

                          May 25, Friday, 2012 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Risa Shimizu and Ms. Keiko Kitagawa

                          1.      Six world powers and Iran have not been able to reach an agreement over Tehran’s nuclear program but the say talks will continue in Moscow on June 18th and 19th.

                          2.      A U.N. agency says the deaths of six workers who were involved in operations at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant were not linked to radiation.

                          3.      A Japanese research team has succeeded in accurately calculating the diameter of the sun using data obtained from the annular solar eclipse observed in Japan on Monday.

                        5. May 26, Saturday, 2012 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. Mark Robinson and Ms. Fumiko Konoe

                          1.      Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has pledged up to 500 million dollars over the next three years in official development assistance for Pacific island nations.

                          2.      Syrian government forces have shelled a town in the central province of Homs, killing at least 50 people including women and children.

                          3.      Japan and China are set to agree on starting direct trading of their currencies among their banks.

                          May 27, Sunday, 2012 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. Hirokazu Sakamaki and Ms. Fumiko Konoe

                          1.      U.N. observers monitoring ceasefire in Syria have confirmed the bodies of more than 90 people after an alleged attack by government forces.

                          2.      In Egypt, a candidate from an Islamic fundamentalist group and a secular former official of the Hosni Mubarak government are likely to face each other in a presidential runoff next month.

                          3.      Astronauts at the International Space Station have entered the unmanned Dragon spacecraft, which is the first privately owned vehicle to dock with the ISS.

                          May 28, Monday, 2012 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Hiroko Kitadai and Mr. David Crystal

                          1.      Syrian government officials say they are not responsible for attacks in a place that

                                has seen more than a year of them.

                          2.      The United Nations Security Council has unanimously condemned killing more than a hundred people near the central Syrian city of Homs.

                          3.      Iran’s nuclear chief says his country is determined to continue enriching uranium up to the 20 percent level.

                          May 29, Tuesday, 2012 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. Mick Corliss and Ms. Hiroko Kitadai

                          1.      In Egypt, demonstrators have set fire to presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq’s campaign office.

                          2.      U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan arrived in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Monday to salvage a U.N.-mediated ceasefire.

                          3.      Japan and China will start direct trading of their currencies, the yen and the yuan, on Friday in the Tokyo and Shanghai markets.

                          May 30, Wednesday, 2012 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. Michael Rhys and Ms. Hiroko Kitadai

                          1.      Joint U.N. and Arab League peace envoy Kofi Annan has urged Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to act immediately to halt the violence in the country.

                          2.      Myanmar’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is on her first trip abroad in 24 years.

                          3.      Facebook continues to show a fall in its share price since it went public about ten days ago on Nasdaq.

                          May 31, Thursday, 2012 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. Raja Pradan and Ms. Hiroko Kitadai

                          1.      Japan’s government says it hopes to announce the restart of Oi nuclear plant as early as next week.

                          2.      Members of the U.N. Security Council are urging additional sanctions against Syrai over its continuing crackdown on civilians.

                          3.      The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran may be decontaminating soil at a military site in an attempt to hide traces of radioactivity.

                   

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