Image from a video released by the Democratic Voice of Burma shows Japanese video journalist Kenji Nagai after being shot in Rangoon. He later died

Fukuda Takes Office in Tokyo, and First Issue Is the Crisis in Burma
Yasuo Fukuda, a moderate, will try to rebuild support for Japan's weakened ruling party. He faces a fight with the opposition over his wish to continue assistance for U.S.-led war in Afghanistan. Transcript of radio broadcast: 28 September 2007
MP3 - Download Audio Listen to MP3 Listen in RealAudio
This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.
Image from a video released by the Democratic Voice of Burma shows Japanese video journalist Kenji Nagai after being shot in Rangoon. He later died.Japan's new prime minister, Yasuo Fukuda, took office this week -- and quickly faced a crisis. The unrest in Burma claimed the life of a Japanese cameraman. Kenji Nagai was shot Thursday as security forces moved to crush anti-government demonstrations.
Mister Fukuda rejected the idea of immediate economic sanctions. He directed a Foreign Ministry official to go and push the government for a full explanation.
Japan provides aid but not as much since the military in Burma violently suppressed protests for democracy in nineteen eighty-eight. The next year, the generals ruling Burma changed its name to Myanmar, a name the United States and Britain do not recognize.
Mister Fukuda spoke Friday by phone with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao about the situation in China's neighbor. He said he asked that China, given its close ties, exercise its influence and that "Premier Wen said he will make such efforts."

Mister Fukuda of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party easily won election Tuesday in the lower house of parliament. The upper house rejected him. Opposition parties won control of the upper house in July. But the L.D.P. still controls the lower house. And the vote of the lower house decides the winner in such a split.
This was the first split vote of this kind since nineteen ninety-eight. Mister Fukuda's closest competitor was main opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa.
The new prime minister is seen as politically moderate. He says one of his goals will be to repair public trust in the ruling party. The L.D.P. has recently faced a series of investigations of financial wrongdoing involving cabinet members.
Mister Fukuda has kept much of Shinzo Abe's cabinet. Nobutaka Machimura, the foreign minister under Mister Abe, will serve as chief cabinet secretary. Former defense minister Masahiko Komura will serve as foreign minister.
Mister Abe resigned on September twelfth after only one year as prime minister. He has apologized for resigning suddenly. He said he did so only because of health reasons.
Mister Fukuda is seventy-one years old. He is the eldest son of former prime minister Takeo Fukuda. And he served as chief cabinet secretary under Junichiro Koizumi.
His success could depend on his ability to find a way to work with the opposition. An early test will involve Japan's naval refueling operations in support of American-led forces in Afghanistan.
The mission began in two thousand one. Legislation supporting it will end on November first unless Japan extends it. Mister Fukuda supports the idea. But opposition parties are expected to resist an extension.
He also faces a high government debt and a longtime budget deficit. Japan has the world's second largest economy after the United States.
Japanese newspapers found that more than half the public supported the new prime minister and his cabinet. He gives a policy speech next week.
And that's IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English, written by Brianna Blake. I’m Steve Ember.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Le Japon fournit l'aide, mais non tant depuis l'armée(les militaires) en Birmanie des protestations violemment supprimées pour la démocratie dans dix-neuf quatre-vingt-huit. L'année suivante, les généraux gouvernant(décidant) la Birmanie ont changé son nom à Myanmar, un nom les Etats-Unis et la Grande-Bretagne ne reconnaissent pas.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FukudaMister Fukuda du parti Démocrate Libéral dirigeant a facilement gagné l'élection mardi dans la Chambre basse du Parlement. La Chambre haute l'a rejeté. Les partis(fêtes) d'opposition ont gagné le contrôle de la Chambre haute en juillet. Mais le L.D.P. contrôle toujours la Chambre basse. Et le vote de la Chambre basse décide le gagnant dans une telle fente.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Son succès pourrait dépendre de sa capacité de trouver une façon de travailler(marcher) avec l'opposition. Un premier essai impliquera les opérations de ravitaillement en combustible navales du Japon dans l'appui de forces Dirigées par les Américains en Afghanistan

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Il fait aussi face à une haute dette gouvernementale et un déficit budgétaire de longue date. Le Japon a la deuxième plus grande économie du monde après les Etats-Unis.