Asian View
Key words : alibaba
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201214_32/
The Chinese government has fined two domestic tech giants over their alleged breach of the anti-monopoly law.
The government announced on Monday that it had fined e-commerce giant Alibaba Group's investment firm, an affiliate of social media company Tencent Holdings, and another firm 500,000 yuan, or about 76,500 dollars, each.
It said the firms failed to seek approval before proceeding with some acquisitions.
Chinese authorities say the punishment is a sign of greater scrutiny of monopolistic behavior by internet companies.
The authorities appear to be increasingly concerned that rapidly-growing tech firms are expanding their influence.
Last month, the initial public offering of Alibaba's affiliate Ant Group, a mobile payment provider, was suspended following a meeting between Chinese regulators and company executives. The move derailed what was set to be the world's biggest ever stock market debut.
In November, the government announced a plan to tighten control of deals made by firms that were exploiting their monopolistic position.
Key words : government nationwide subsidies
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201214_37/
Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has announced that the government will temporarily suspend its "Go To Travel" campaign across the country from December 28 to January 11. The move is aimed at containing the spread of coronavirus infections during the year-end and New Year holidays.
Suga made the announcement at a government taskforce meeting on Monday evening.
The meeting was convened in response to calls by the coronavirus advisory panel that advised authorities to continue measures to exclude certain areas from the tourism campaign.
Suga pointed out that the number of infections continues to rise nationwide.
He said various indexes suggest that more regions are seeing a surge in new infection cases.
The prime minister also said that those who are tackling the outbreak on the front lines, such as medical workers, are becoming more burdened.
He stressed that the government will take maximum measures to ensure a good start to the New Year by preventing the further spread of the virus and reducing the burden on medical institutions.
He also disclosed plans to halt subsidies for travel to Tokyo and Nagoya until December 27, and to call on residents of those cities to refrain from traveling. Osaka and Sapporo had already been excluded from that program due to rising infections there.
Key words : south parliament
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201215_09/
South Korea's parliament has passed controversial legislation that bans flying propaganda leaflets into North Korea.
The amendment to a law on the development of inter-Korean relations was approved on Monday. It was backed by lawmakers who are mostly governing party members supporting President Moon Jae-in.
The move followed North Korea's fierce reaction after defectors from the North sent leaflets by balloon across the border in May. The leaflets criticized North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his political system.
Under the newly amended legislation, anyone flying leaflets across the border toward North Korea can be punished with up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won, or about 27,500 dollars. The same penalties will also apply to loudspeaker broadcasts at border areas.
Moon's government, which has been trying to improve bilateral relations, says the legislation is aimed at ensuring the safety of people living near the border.
Opposition lawmakers and human rights activists criticized the move as a violation of freedom of expression.
Earlier on Sunday, parliament also passed a bill aimed at transferring the authority to investigate North Korean espionage from the National Intelligence Service to the police.
Some voiced concern that the move may lead to the downgrading of South Korea's intelligence-gathering capacity.
Key words : hayabusa2 sample
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201215_22/
Scientists at Japan's space agency say the Hayabusa2 probe has achieved perfect success in its mission, the goal of which was to bring back samples from a distant asteroid.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, held an online news conference on Tuesday.
Researchers say they found a number of blackish, sandy particles inside a storage device from the capsule that landed in an Australian desert on December 6. The capsule was released from the Hayabusa2.
They say the particles, each measuring several millimeters in size, are believed to have been collected during the probe's first touchdown on the Ryugu asteroid.
The researchers also say that analysis demonstrated that gaseous material contained in the storage unit was from the asteroid. They say it is the first time that a sample of gas has been delivered from space to the Earth.
They add that the storage device is likely to contain other samples from the probe's second touchdown. They plan to open a still unexamined part of the device at a later date.
JAXA says it will conduct a detailed analysis of all the samples in the hope they will provide insight into the origins of the solar system and life on Earth.
In a recorded message, JAXA project manager Tsuda Yuichi expressed satisfaction, saying, "We now have asteroid particles from outside the Earth's atmosphere, something we've long dreamed of."
Key words : naruhito
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201214_14/
A conference calling for action to preserve the global environment and achieve sustainable development began in Tokyo on Monday, with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako in attendance.
The Global Environmental Action International Conference is held once about every two years in the Japanese capital.
This year's conference is focusing on ways to strike a balance between environmental conservation and economic growth.
In addition to the Emperor and Empress, Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide and cabinet ministers attended the opening ceremony.
The Emperor said work to protect the global environment from threats such as climate change is a pressing challenge.
He expressed hope that "lively discussions will be held and a message is delivered to people around the world in pursuit of a future in which we, our descendants, and all living things can enjoy the blessings of the global environment forever."
After the Emperor's address, a lecture was given by Professor Yoshino Akira, the co-winner of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Yoshino said based on his experience developing the lithium-ion battery, that technological development spreads by combining environmental consideration, economic efficiency, and convenience.
He said that's how a sustainable society is achieved.
The conference will be held through Tuesday. Experts will discuss issues such as the promotion of renewable energies and measures to deal with marine plastic waste.
Key words : south korea testing
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201215_03/
South Korea has opened makeshift coronavirus testing sites as part of an effort to address a surge in new cases.
Some 150 new testing sites in Seoul and surrounding areas went into operation on Monday.
The country's daily count of new cases topped 1,000 for the first time on Saturday. Infections were concentrated in the metropolitan area.
People, including those without symptoms, can get tested for free at the sites, which are open between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. during a 3-week period through January 3.
Despite the cold weather on Monday, people formed a long line outside a new site near Seoul Station.
So far the country's strategy has been focused on contact-tracing and testing.
But the government is struggling to keep up with the surge in infections.
It hopes that making the testing more available will help identify new cases quickly.
Key words : logistics
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201214_30/
Container freight rates are surging around the world due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on logistics.
The cost to transport one 40-foot container from China to the US West Coast rose to 3,874 dollars earlier this month. That is 2.8 times more than at the same time last year. The analysis comes from Hong Kong-based Freightos, which tracks shipping rates.
The company says international freight charges have been rising for the last few months.
Cargo volumes have increased rapidly as economic activity picked up in the United States, and as people staying at home generated new demand.
On Monday, Thailand's commerce minister visited a port in the capital Bangkok, and said he will consider measures to help exporters.
Meanwhile in Malaysia, an organization representing exporters has reportedly asked the government for support.
0 件のコメント:
コメントを投稿