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/20230706183000_english_1.mp3
Key words : discharge watchdog iaea
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230705_02/
The UN's nuclear watchdog says Japan's plan to release treated and diluted water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant into the ocean is consistent with international safety standards. Experts with the International Atomic Energy Agency have spent more than two years assessing the safety of the plan.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi says the planned release would have a negligible impact on people and the environment -- seawater, fish and sediment.
Grossi says his agency plans to have a continuous on-site presence to monitor the procedure.
Grossi made the remarks after he presented a comprehensive report on the release plan to Prime Minister Kishida Fumio.
Kishida stressed his commitment to not allow a discharge that has a harmful impact on human health or the environment of both Japan and the world.
Grossi says the report is neither a recommendation nor an endorsement of the government's plan. He says the release of the water is a national decision by the government of Japan. Officials plan to start releasing the water sometime this summer.
The plant suffered a triple meltdown in the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Since then, groundwater and rain have been seeping into the damaged reactor buildings, and mixing with water used to cool molten nuclear fuel.
Workers treat the water to remove most radioactive materials. But tritium remains. More than 1,000 tanks being used for storage at the site are nearing full capacity.
Japan's nuclear regulators approved a plan last year to dilute and discharge the treated water into the ocean. The government says the level of tritium will be lowered to one-seventh of the World Health Organization's standards for drinking water.
But many in the fishing industry are against the release, raising concerns about another hit to Fukushima's reputation and its businesses.
The prefecture's governor is calling for continued effort by the government.
Fukushima Governor Uchibori Masao said, "The central government should continue to work with the IAEA and other international organizations to fulfil its responsibility to deepen understanding both in Japan and abroad.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson says water release may not be the only credible option.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said, "Japan must have a responsible attitude toward all humanity and future generations, and not push for the release of the water into the sea."
The IAEA chief will travel to South Korea on Friday to brief officials there on his agency's findings.
Key words : iaea respect final
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230705_19/
South Korea says it respects the results of an International Atomic Energy Agency review of Japan's plan to release treated and diluted water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant into the sea.
Water used to cool molten nuclear fuel at the plant mixes with rain and groundwater. The accumulated water is treated to remove most radioactive substances, but still contains tritium.
The Japanese government plans to dilute the water to reduce the tritium level to about one-seventh of the World Health Organization's safety standard for drinking water.
The IAEA on Tuesday issued a report saying Japan's plan is consistent with international safety standards.
A South Korean government official told reporters on Wednesday, "It has been the government's longstanding stance to recognize the IAEA as a prestigious internationally agreed-upon agency, and we hold respect for its findings."
The official added that the government will complete its own analysis of Japan's plan as soon as possible, based on the findings of South Korean experts who inspected the plant in May, and then announce its final stance.
There is great concern in South Korea about the discharge of the water into the ocean.
A senior official of the largest opposition Democratic Party on Wednesday slammed the IAEA's safety review as insufficient and untrustworthy.
Key words : Kishida yoon
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230706_01/
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has been working to schedule a meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol next week. He plans to explain to Yoon Tokyo's plan to release treated and diluted water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant into the sea.
Government sources say arrangements are being made for Kishida and Yoon to meet on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Lithuania that opens next Tuesday. Both leaders are scheduled to attend the gathering.
Kishida is expected to tell Yoon Japan plans to dilute the water at the plant to reduce the level of radioactive tritium to about one-seventh of the World Health Organization's safety standard for drinking water and begin the discharge in summer.
He will also tell Yoon that Tokyo will take thorough measures to ensure safety and prevent harmful rumors based on a report issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency and seek South Korea's understanding.
The IAEA on Tuesday issued a report on its review of Japan's water discharge plan that says it is consistent with international safety standards.
Key words : wang seafood
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230705_29/
China's Foreign Ministry says Beijing plans to step up inspection of seafood imports from Japan.
The move comes after the International Atomic Energy Agency on Tuesday issued a report on its review of Japan's plan to release treated and diluted water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant into the sea.
The report says the plan is consistent with international safety standards.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a news conference on Wednesday that the truth and the accuracy of the data concerning the water are not proven. He also said the long-term impact of the water on food safety and people's health is not clarified.
He said the IAEA report was not able to calm voices in Japan and abroad that oppose the release. He stressed Chinese people have strong concerns.
Wang said relevant Chinese departments will step up monitoring of the marine environment, as well as inspection and quarantine of seafood from Japan.
Water used to cool molten nuclear fuel at the Fukushima plant mixes with rain and groundwater. The accumulated water is treated to remove most radioactive substances, but still contains tritium.
The Japanese government plans to dilute the water to reduce the tritium level to about one-seventh of the World Health Organization's safety standard for drinking water.
Key words : philippines
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230705_28/
The Philippines has denounced Chinese vessels for navigating dangerously close to its patrol ships and intercepting them in the South China Sea last week. The two countries have overlapping territorial claims in the region.
The Philippine Coast Guard said on Wednesday that the incident happened in waters around the Spratly Islands on Friday during a supply operation.
It said two Chinese coast guard vessels approached two Philippine patrol ships, coming as close as 90 meters to them while they were escorting boats carrying supplies to a military facility on the Second Thomas Shoal, which Manila effectively controls.
Footage and photos purportedly taken at the scene show a large Chinese coast guard vessel navigating alongside a Philippine patrol ship. They also show a Chinese vessel crossing in front of a Philippine ship, seemingly attempting to block its way.
The Philippine Coast Guard also said six fishing boats, allegedly carrying Chinese maritime militias, anchored to occupy the entrance of the shoal.
Furthermore, two Chinese navy ships and another coast guard ship also hindered the supply operation.
As a result, the Philippine patrol ships gave up approaching the military position.
A Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson condemned the Chinese side, emphasizing that the site of the incident is within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. The official said that Philippine ships will continue their patrols in the waters regardless of the level of threat or the size of Chinese vessels.
Key words : secretary-general southeast
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230706_02/
The secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations hopes to strengthen the bloc's partnership with Japan to better tackle climate change and achieve decarbonization.
NHK spoke with Kao Kim Hourn on Wednesday, during his visit to Tokyo. Japan and ASEAN mark 50 years of ties this year.
As Asia enjoys economic growth, it faces the challenge of curbing carbon dioxide emissions.
Kao expressed readiness to cooperate in combating the environmental effects of climate change, a field in which Japan has expertise. He said the green economy is important, particularly energy transition and clean energy.
In Myanmar, fighting between the military and pro-democracy groups has continued since the coup there in 2021.
ASEAN members agreed on a "Five-Point Consensus" on Myanmar that year at a meeting attended by Myanmar's Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who led the coup.
It includes a call for an immediate end to the violence and humanitarian assistance. Observers say progress in implementing the document has been slow.
Kao told NHK ASEAN has seen "awesome progress" in the area of humanitarian assistance in Myanmar this year.
He said the group was able to determine that roughly 2 million people need assistance that will cost about 1 billion dollars. He said providing this aid will require support from the international community, including Japan.
He said he hopes that humanitarian assistance to the people of Myanmar will facilitate dialogue with all parties in the country.
Key words : abducted
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230705_21/
A Japanese national who returned home after being abducted by North Korean agents has asked Prime Minister Kishida Fumio to resolve the abduction issue by holding a summit with the North.
Soga Hitomi met with Kishida at the prime minister's office on Wednesday.
Soga was abducted from Niigata Prefecture, on the Sea of Japan coast, in 1978 when she was 19 years old, together with her mother, Miyoshi. Soga returned to Japan after a bilateral summit in 2002, but the whereabouts of her mother are still unknown.
In the Wednesday meeting, Soga said her mother is now 91 years old. She thinks her mother is struggling to live.
Soga said that the families of other abductees are also exhausted, and she wants the Japanese and North Korean leaders to hold a summit as soon as possible to let all of them return to their homeland.
Kishida said it is extremely regrettable that many people, including Soga's mother, have yet to return home. He said that as the abductees and their families are getting old, his government must not postpone the issue given the time constraints.
Kishida said he aims to start high-level talks with North Korea in order to hold a bilateral summit. He expressed his determination to make all-out efforts to resolve the issue as early as possible.
The Japanese government says at least 17 of its citizens were abducted by North Korean agents in the 1970s and 1980s. Soga and four others returned to Japan in 2002. But the other 12 are still unaccounted for.
Key words : taliban close beauty salon
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230705_08/
The Taliban Islamist group says it will close women's beauty salons in Afghanistan. The Taliban have been tightening restrictions on women and girls since they returned to power in 2021.
A spokesperson of the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice told NHK that a decision was made on or before Tuesday to order the salons to stop operating.
The ministry evaluates people's behavior based on its own interpretation of Islamic law.
The spokesperson said authorities in the capital Kabul have already been ordered to revoke the business permits of beauty salons.
A salon operator in Kabul says beauty parlors are the only places where women can spend time comfortably.
She says that she has not done anything contrary to Islamic teachings. She also says that she does not want to close her shop.
Last year, the Taliban's caretaker government mandated that women cover their faces and hair with hijab scarves in the presence of men, who are not their family members.
The Taliban have also tightened limits on girls' education. In most areas, girls are only allowed to attend elementary schools.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has urged the Taliban to reverse the decision regarding beauty salons.
The mission tweeted on Tuesday that the new restriction on women's rights "will impact negatively on the economy."
Key words : SBI
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230705_31/
Major Japanese financial services provider SBI Holdings says it has teamed up with a leading Taiwanese contract semiconductor maker to build a chip factory in Japan.
SBI and Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation, or PSMC, say they will set up a joint company to manage the plant.
SBI Chairman, President & CEO Kitao Yoshitaka said he wants to make Japan a hub of the global semiconductor supply chain.
PSMC Chairman Frank Huang said the partnership will provide an opportunity to combine the strengths of Taiwan's technology with Japan's financing.
PSMC specializes in semiconductors for automobiles. The two companies say they aim to produce chips that can be used in vehicles and industrial equipment at the new factory.
The firms plan to hold discussions on where the facility will be located and when it will start operation.
0 件のコメント:
コメントを投稿