at 18:30 (JST), December 25

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/20231225183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : shipping firm
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231225_01/

Japanese shipping firms are changing the routes of their ships to avoid the Red Sea, where Yemen's anti-government Houthi group has been attacking passing vessels.

Nippon Yusen, a Japanese firm also known as NYK Line, and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines have temporarily altered the course of their vessels to and from Europe to avoid the Red Sea, citing the possibility that those with links to Israel may be targeted by the Houthis. They are sending their vessels around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, or K Line, is also temporarily rerouting its vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, as well as shifting to routes through North America.

Ocean Network Express, a container carrier jointly operated by the three shippers, has also avoided transits through the Red Sea and switched to other routes, including the one around the Cape of Good Hope.

The Red Sea is the shortest waterway to connect Asia and Europe via the Suez Canal.

Concern is rising that the rerouting of commercial vessels may result in delayed cargo shipments and higher transportation costs.

Key words : US think tank warned environmental
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231224_13/

A US think tank has warned of environmental threats to the South China Sea, as some regional powers push ahead with reclamation work there amid ongoing territorial disputes.

China claims jurisdiction over most of the South China Sea, and has been building artificial islands to set up runways and other facilities. Other claimants include some Southeast Asian countries and Taiwan.

Researchers at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, or CSIS, say they have studied satellite imagery and other data from the last 10 years to analyze conditions in the South China Sea.

They say the analysis shows that China is not alone in engaging in dredging and landfill work. Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Taiwan are also harming the sea's coral ecosystems.

The researchers say China's land reclamation projects at 19 locations cover the greatest area of the sea. They say Vietnam is developing 20 locations, Malaysia five, and the Philippines and Taiwan one each.

The researchers note that the method employed by China and Vietnam places a particularly heavy burden on the environment. It involves using a pump to quickly suck up sediment from the seabed.

They also say the process has killed nearby marine life. The rich ecosystems being harmed are home to more than 6,500 marine species.

One of the researchers, Harrison Pretat, called for an end to reclamation projects in the South China Sea.

He said the ecosystems could be so severely damaged in the coming decades that they can't be restored.

He went on to say this would affect the food security of neighboring countries and territories that depend on the sea. He called on them to put aside their disputes and address the environmental problem together.

Key words : atomic energy
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231223_N02/

The International Atomic Energy Agency says North Korea may have started operations at a new nuclear reactor. It expressed concern that the move could fuel the North's weapons program.

IAEA head Rafael Grossi said his team has seen "increased levels of activity," including warm-water discharges, around the Light Water Reactor at the Nyongbyon nuclear complex, which indicates the facility has reached criticality.

Grossi said he cannot confirm the findings because inspectors have no direct access to the site after being barred by North Korean authorities. Still, he said the facility could be used to produce plutonium for weapons. He added that further development of the North's nuclear program would be "deeply regrettable."

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un knows that starting up a new reactor would violate UN resolutions. However, he continues to be defiant. He warned earlier this week that his country would not hesitate to launch a retaliatory nuclear attack.

Key words : taiwanese detained
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231223_07/

Taiwanese authorities have detained a journalist accused of publishing fake opinion polls on Taiwan's upcoming presidential election.

They say the reporter acted on behalf of a Chinese Communist Party committee based in the mainland's Fujian Province.

The Taiwan Taichung District Prosecutors Office placed the reporter in custody on Friday for publishing fake polls eight times across multiple online media starting in October.

The prosecutors believe the reporter distributed the fake information with the intention of influencing who people vote for.

The reporter is suspected of asking another individual to produce a series of fake polls in which more than 300 eligible voters from each of Taiwan's northern, central and southern regions took part.

But investigators say they discovered that no interviews were conducted and the candidates' approval ratings were made up.

In November, Taiwan's National Security Bureau chief told the legislature that polling agency officials had visited China after being invited by authorities in the mainland.

The security bureau is closely watching whether such organizations receive any funds from China.

Taiwan's presidential election takes place on January 13.

Key words : russian newspaper labor shortage
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231225_05/

A leading Russian newspaper says the country has been dealing with acute labor shortages this year. It adds that the problem will remain acute in 2024.

On Sunday, Izvestia reported the findings from a survey conducted by a Russian research institute.

The newspaper said that Russia was short about 4.8 million workers this year. The figure represents more than 6 percent of the country's workforce.

Russia's central bank governor Elvira Nabiullina expressed concerns about the labor shortages last month. She said the problem is particularly serious in the manufacturing and chemical industries.

The number of workers in Russia began to decrease after the country invaded Ukraine last year.

Some workers are serving as soldiers, and many have left the country.

Izvestia said that shortages of IT specialists, engineers, doctors and drivers will remain acute next year.

It quoted an expert as saying that the problem will make it difficult for the Russian economy to pick up. The economy is being affected by sanctions imposed by the West.

President Vladimir Putin told reporters earlier this month that the country's economy has remained stable, despite the sanctions. He announced proudly that the jobless rate had reached a historic low of 2.9 percent. The president added that the minimum wage will increase by 18 percent in January.

Putin is aiming to win a landslide victory in the presidential election in March. He appears to be trying to calm public anxiety. This comes as the Russian military operation in Ukraine continues to drag on.

Key words : researchers in japan galaxies
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231224_10/

Researchers in Japan say they have identified two bright galaxies 13.4 billion light-years from Earth. The group's findings may indicate the existence of some mechanism that actively triggered the birth of stars in the early universe.

The team led by Assistant Professor Harikane Yuichi of the University of Tokyo measured the distance to the galaxies, using data from infrared detectors on board the James Webb Space Telescope.

The researchers also say the brightness of the galaxies suggests the rate of star formation is over four times higher than currently predicted, indicating an active star formation in the early universe.

The high-performance space telescope began full operations in 2022.

The researchers say their discovery means the telescope has now led to the confirmation of five galaxies in the early universe, dating back to about 300 to 400 million years after the Big Bang.

Harikane said the team's study suggests the possibility that the process of galaxy formation might be different from previously believed theories.

He added that the James Webb telescope is breaking new ground and revolutionizing astronomical research.

Key words : akihito birthday 90
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231223_13/

Japan's Emperor Emeritus Akihito turned 90 years old on Saturday with celebrations being held at his residence.

His birthday celebrations were canceled or downsized following the outbreak of COVID-19. But this year he is receiving more guests than last year.

In the morning, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako as well as their daughter, Princess Aiko, visited the residence of the Emperor Emeritus and his wife, Empress Emerita Michiko, at the Akasaka Estate.

Crown Prince and Princess Akishino and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio are also expected to visit the residence.

The Imperial Household Agency says the Emperor Emeritus was diagnosed with heart failure in July last year. It says his condition has remained relatively stable over the past year with treatment.

Agency officials say the Emperor Emeritus is leading a calm and well-regulated life together with his wife every day. The couple read newspapers and watch news on television. They are particularly concerned about news of heavy rains that hit many areas in Japan. The couple also take a keen interest in the issue of war and peace.