at 18:30 (JST), January 05

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/20240105183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : taiwan rebuilding
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240104_24/

Authorities in Taiwan say they will donate 60 million yen, or nearly 420,000 dollars, to help with relief and rebuilding efforts after Monday's devastating earthquake in central Japan. They are also launching a fund-raising campaign.

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu announced the pledge on Thursday.

Wu stressed that a Japanese emergency is also a Taiwan emergency. He said he hopes those affected by the quake will be able to return to their normal lives at the earliest possible date. Wu used the Japanese word "ganbatte" to encourage those affected by the disaster.

Health authorities in Taiwan say people can donate money at banks, post offices and convenience stores from Friday through January 19.

They say they will consult with Japanese officials to decide where to send the funds.

Wu said Taiwan and Japan have offered a helping hand and supported each other like close family members whenever they needed assistance.

He stressed Taiwan's solidarity with Japan by saying that he hopes this "cycle of goodwill" will continue.

Key words : myanmar prisoners
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240105_03/

Myanmar's ruling military says it has pardoned more than 9,600 prisoners to mark the country's 76th anniversary of gaining independence from Britain. But pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is not believed to be among them.

The military said on Thursday, Independence Day, that the pardons included commuted sentences.

Inmates were released from Insein Prison in the city of Yangon as many relatives gathered outside.

The pardoned include pro-democracy activists and other political prisoners.

A photojournalist said he had been jailed for more than two years but is in good health. He said he wants to see many more inmates be freed as soon as possible.

Analysts say the military is seeking to deflect from criticism of its rule, which is widely regarded as oppressive both in and outside the country, as it continues to fight against ethnic minority militants.

A person close to Aung San Suu Kyi told NHK there is no information on whether she had been pardoned.

Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained since February 2021, when the military launched its coup. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate was convicted of corruption and other charges. Her prison term was reduced last August, but she still has to serve more than 25 years.

Key words : kim daughter successor
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240104_23/

South Korea's spy agency says it sees North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's daughter as his probable successor.

This marks the first time the National Intelligence Service has described Kim Ju Ae as a likely successor.

The agency made its assessment in a document submitted to a member of South Korea's parliament.

According to the lawmaker's office, the spy agency said that based on an analysis of her public engagements and the level of respect shown to her, she currently appears to be Kim's probable successor.

The agency also said that because Kim Jong Un is still young and without major health problems, the situation remains fluid. It said it will keep in mind all possibilities as it continues to monitor developments.

The latest assessment shows a change in the agency's views. In September last year, the agency said it was too early to regard her as Kim's successor.

On New Year's Day, North Korea's state-run television broadcast footage of Kim Jong Un with his daughter.

Key words : myanmar domestic media
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/videos/20231121194948086/

Myanmar's independent media continue fight for truth

Two years on from a brutal military coup, people in Myanmar continue to rely on journalists operating in exile to find out what's really happening as domestic media have been silenced. And, with international headlines currently dominated by Ukraine and the Middle East, the work of independent reporters struggling to get to the truth is increasingly important.