2021年3月26日金曜日

at 18:30 (JST), March 26

 

Asian View

"Asian View" is a five-minute news segment broadcast by NHK WORLD-JAPAN. It features the latest news and deep analysis from Japan and the rest of Asia. Listen to “Asian View" and get the latest information from a region that's playing an increasingly important role in the world.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20210326183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : north estimate warhead
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210326_12/

North Korea's state media has confirmed Thursday's launch of two missiles, describing them as a "newly developed new-type tactical guided projectile."

State media said the improved weapon system can carry a warhead that weighs 2.5 tons. It added that the weapon accurately hit a target in waters 600 kilometers east of the Korean Peninsula.

The forecast conflicts with estimates by Japan, which says the projectiles flew for around 450 kilometers.

State media also quoted a senior military official as saying the recent launch strengthens the country's military power and deters threats that exist on the Korean Peninsula. It remains unclear whether North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un was present for the launch.

This is the first time in nearly a year that the North has fired a ballistic missile and comes just days after it reportedly fired two short-range missiles.

During his first formal news conference, US President Joe Biden said that Thursday's launch violates a UN Security Council resolution that bans Pyongyang from launching ballistic missiles.

Biden said, "We're consulting with our allies and partners and there will be responses, if they choose to escalate, we will respond accordingly."

The Biden administration is in the final stages of reviewing its North Korea policy, which had undergone changes under former President Donald Trump.

The Japanese government says it remains on alert, citing the possibility of more launches. It's also lodged a protest with North Korea through the Japanese Embassy in Beijing.

A senior official from the Japanese Foreign Ministry also consulted his US and South Korean counterparts. They agreed that their countries will continue their close cooperation.


Key words : swedish
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210325_36/

Swedish clothing retailer H&M faces growing calls for a boycott in China over its stance on alleged human rights abuses of minority Uighurs in the country.

Many posts on social media are calling on consumers not to buy H&M products. The firm has also been removed from a major e-commerce website.

H&M announced last September it would no longer procure cotton from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The firm cited accusations that Chinese suppliers benefitted from forced Uighur labor.

On Wednesday, the youth league of the Communist Party and the state-run China Central Television criticized H&M online, saying the firm's action is based on rumors.

The criticism came after the European Union imposed sanctions on Monday on four Chinese officials and an entity over alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang.

Beijing announced its own sanctions against EU lawmakers and organizations in retaliation.

The latest development apparently stoked criticism about H&M. The company issued an online statement saying that it does not represent any political position and it respects Chinese consumers.

Sports gear makers Nike and Adidas also face a barrage of criticism on social media after announcing that they will not procure materials from the autonomous region.


Key words : Suez Canal difficulty
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210325_31/

The Japanese owner of a giant container ship that is stuck in Egypt's Suez Canal says attempts to refloat the ship are facing extreme difficulty.

The Ever Given is wedged sideways in the canal after being hit by a dust storm on Tuesday morning. The ship is owned by Shoei Kisen and operated by the Taiwanese firm Evergreen Marine Corp.

Several tug boats are working to refloat the 400-meter-long vessel. Digger boats have also been deployed to remove sand from around the stranded ship.

The Ever Given is blocking the path of scores of other ships, leaving them unable to enter or pass through the canal.

The vessel's owner, Shoei Kisen, said in a statement on Thursday that it will continue to make all-out efforts to refloat the Ever Given in cooperation with local authorities and the company that manages it.

The owner apologized for causing so much worry for the operators of ships that are currently stranded in the canal, or were scheduled to pass through it.

The Ever Given was built in 2018 by Imabari Shipbuilding Company, Japan's largest shipbuilder. Shoei Kisen is one of its subsidiaries, and leases vessels to shipping firms in Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

The Suez Canal is one of the world's most important waterways, providing an avenue for ships to travel between Asia and Europe. More than 18,000 vessels pass through the canal each year. A prolonged blockage could seriously disrupt global supply chains.


Key words : olympic flame torch relay just in time
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210325_02/

After a yearlong delay, the Olympic flame is starting its journey across Japan on Thursday. The torch relay will be carried out under tight anti-coronavirus measures through all 47 prefectures.

The relay is scheduled to start from the national training center, called J-Village, in Fukushima Prefecture. It was the base for dealing with the decontamination work of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

Officials chose it as the starting site as they want to showcase the recovery effort after a massive earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster devastated the area a decade ago.

About 10,000 runners plan to carry the torch at various points.

Because of the pandemic, officials have asked local spectators not to crowd along the route or support the runners by cheering loudly.

Masks are also required, and people have been asked not to travel beyond prefectural borders.

Torchbearers are also asked to refrain from dining out with others two weeks prior to their participation.

Each runner will carry the torch about 200 meters on the route for about two minutes. Officials will also restrict the number of attendees at the ceremonial event when the relay ends for the day.

The relay has not been without controversy. Some runners withdrew in protest after the former organizing committee chief's comments that can be regarded as sexist last month.
Some celebrities have also canceled their attendance for other reasons.

The flame is scheduled to travel across the country for 121 days before finishing at the National Stadium in Tokyo -- just in time for the Opening Ceremonies on July 23.


Key words : Iwahashi Makoto
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