Asian View
Key words : international community
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201203_05/
Wednesday's prison sentences handed out to key pro-democracy leaders in Hong Kong are drawing sharp criticism from the international community.
The three leaders, Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow and Ivan Lam, were given prison sentences for their role in an unauthorized protest last year. They will spend 13-and-a-half months, 10 months, and seven months behind bars, respectively.
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement, "Prosecution decisions must be fair and impartial, and the rights and freedoms of people in Hong Kong must be upheld." He urged authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing to "end their campaign to stifle opposition."
A European Union spokesperson tweeted her concern about the sentencing. Nabila Massrali described it as "another sign of shrinking space for pro-democracy voices in Hong Kong." She said EU foreign ministers will discuss the issue at a meeting on December 7.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen tweeted that she was "saddened" by the news of the leaders' imprisonment. But she said, "It is not time to lose hope" and that "Taiwan will stand with the people of Hong Kong and stand by our democratic values."
Key words : thailand opposition
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201202_43/
The constitutional court of Thailand has ruled against an opposition challenge that threatened to force the prime minister to step down. The judges said Prayut Chan-o-cha can continue to live in an army residence in Bangkok even though he has retired from the military.
Prayut led a coup in 2014 as the military chief before he took power as prime minister. He then retired from the military. But he has continued to live in a house on a Bangkok army base citing security reasons.
Opposition leaders say this constitutes a conflict of interest as the Constitution forbids public officers from receiving special benefits from state agencies and enterprises. The court ruled on Wednesday that there was no ethics violation.
This is not the first time a Thai prime minister has faced legal action in the constitutional court. In 2014, the court relieved then-Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra of her duties after it ruled that she had illegally transferred high-ranking government officials for her own benefit.
Following Wednesday's decision, a large crowd of demonstrators gathered in Bangkok.
A female protester said, "The result is as I expected. There was a very small chance that Prayut would be found guilty. But we will continue to fight, so that our voices are heard."
For several months, the protesters have been calling for the prime minister's resignation, amendments to the constitution and reform of the monarchy.
Key words : wheelchair
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201202_16/
A sports body for disabled athletes plans to hold two events in Japan early next year without participants from overseas.
Goalball in February and wheelchair rugby in March are two of four events of the 2021 Japan Para Championships to be held ahead of the Paralympics opening in August. The two other events are scheduled for April and May.
The Japanese Para-Sports Association plans to hold the first two events with only domestic competitors in response to the worsening coronavirus pandemic.
The events were to be the first involving foreign athletes since the pandemic started.
The championships have been regarded as important for gauging Japanese athletes' progress by having them compete with athletes from overseas.
The events have also been seen as a way to check anti-infection measures among participants from abroad. Some disabled athletes are said to be at risk of becoming seriously ill if they contract the virus.
Key words : researcher yokohama good news
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201202_09/
Japanese researchers have found that most people with COVID-19 have antibodies for at least six months after becoming infected.
Yokohama City University and other institutions conducted a study of 376 people in their 20s to 70s who were infected with the coronavirus between February and May.
They analyzed blood samples taken six months after people became infected.
The researchers found that 97 percent of people who were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms, and 100 percent of those with moderate or serious symptoms, had what are called neutralizing antibodies in their systems.
The antibodies are a type of protein produced in the body after an infection. They are believed to weaken viral activities and prevent further infections.
The researchers say that stronger antibodies tended to be found in people who were in serious condition.
The large-scale study suggests that people with the antibodies have a lower risk of infection for at least six months.
Researchers say the finding is good news for vaccine development. They also say they will carry out a follow-up study after another six months.
Key words : china revealed first item
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201203_20/
China has revealed the first items to be hit by its new law controlling sensitive exports. The Commerce Ministry on Wednesday listed products and software related to data encryption.
They include devices used for quantum cryptography, a next-generation technology that has been a big focus for Chinese scientists.
The law started on Tuesday and requires government approval for exports that can be converted for military use. Shipments to blacklisted foreign firms can be banned or restricted.
Manufacturers in Japan and other places have been worried controls will cover the rare-earth metals they need to make high-tech products.
The metals were not on Wednesday's list. But companies remain concerned as Beijing is expected to add other items.
Key words : UN expert north
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201202_14/
A UN expert on North Korea says his panel has asked China to investigate allegations that coal is being smuggled out of North Korea and delivered to China. A 2017 United Nations Security Council resolution bans Pyongyang from exporting coal.
Alastair Morgan is a former British diplomat and the Coordinator of the UN Panel of Experts on monitoring compliance with sanctions on North Korea. He spoke to NHK on Tuesday.
Morgan said the panel is still seeing ship-to-ship transfers of coal. He said that in "quite a few cases" coal is "shipped from North Korea illicitly and then off-loaded near China" in the waters close to Ningbo in Zhejiang province.
Morgan said now is the time for UN member states to investigate the violations. He added that he is looking forward to hearing from China in the future about the results of its investigation.
A senior US Department of State official revealed earlier during an online lecture at a think tank that the department will offer rewards of up to 5 million dollars for tips about North Korea's sanctions violations.
Morgan said, "The panel obviously welcomes the commitment of member states to enforcing the sanctions resolutions."
Key words : government gasoline
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201203_10/
NHK has learned that Japan's government plans to phase out sales of new gasoline vehicles by the mid-2030s as it gets into gear for a greener future.
Sources say the economy ministry wants to turn from sales of vehicles that run entirely on gasoline to alternatives such as hybrid, electric and fuel cell cars.
It expects to officially adopt its goal by the end of this year after discussions by a panel of experts.
The move follows Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide's pledge to cut Japan's greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.
Elsewhere, Britain plans to ban the sale of new gas and diesel vehicles by 2030, and hybrids by 2035.
The US state of California and France aim to end the sale of fossil fuel vehicles by 2035 and 2040 respectively.
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