Key words : security council meeting 18
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231231_09/
The UN Security Council has held an emergency meeting at the request of Russia, following an attack on the western part of the country bordering Ukraine.
Russia's ministry of emergency situations said on Saturday that a Ukrainian attack on the city of Belgorod killed 18 people, and injured another 111.
At an emergency meeting of the Security Council on the same day, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said that Ukraine conducted "a terrorist attack" on civilian targets.
A Ukrainian representative condemned the Kremlin for Friday's missile and drone attacks by Russia on various parts of Ukraine, but did not mention the strike on western Russia.
Western countries called for the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine, saying that the root cause is Russia's military invasion.
French envoy Nicolas de Riviere said Ukraine is defending itself under the UN Charter, while Moscow is "trampling" it. He added that Russia must stop the invasion.
Council members from Africa and South America called on both Russia and Ukraine to hold talks and negotiations to deescalate the situation and achieve peace, in order to reduce civilian casualties.
Key words : kim three more
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231231_08/
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has announced plans to launch three more military reconnaissance satellites in 2024.
The ruling Workers' Party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on Sunday that the party had wrapped up its five-day policy-setting Central Committee meeting the day before.
The newspaper carried the content of Kim's speech at the meeting on policies for next year, including plans to launch three spy satellites. North Korea previously announced its first successful launch of a military reconnaissance satellite in November.
Kim also reportedly vowed to steadily increase the country's nuclear arsenal.
According to the report, Kim also said he will no longer consider South Korea a potential counterpart for unification. He said inter-Korean relations have become those of "two hostile countries."
Kim reportedly stressed his intention to further strengthen his country's military to counter the United States, Japan and South Korea.
Key words : china nine senior
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231231_12/
China has removed nine senior military officials from its top legislative body, the National People's Congress. The NPC Standing Committee made the announcement on Friday but gave no reasons.
A Hong Kong media outlet says those dismissed include top officials of the military's Rocket Force. It says the move could be related to a corruption probe reportedly underway into procurements by the force, which manages nuclear and missile arsenals. There is speculation of a major crackdown.
Some foreign media reports say former Defense Minister Li Shangfu was involved in the corruption. Li was dismissed in October without an immediate replacement.
The Standing Committee on Friday appointed Dong Jun, former top commander of the Chinese Navy, as Defense Minister.
There have been other dismissals. On Wednesday, three senior executives at military-related companies were removed from the top-level advisory body called the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
Key words : communist party failed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231231_06/
The Chinese Communist Party has failed to hold a key meeting by the end of 2023, possibly due to economic turmoil in the country.
The meeting is known as the third plenum as it is the third meeting of the party's Central Committee. It was newly organized in the party convention held once every five years.
The gathering was expected to be held this autumn as it customarily opens in a year after the party convention is held.
Some observers suggest that as the future of the country's economy remains uncertain the leaders under President Xi Jinping have not been able to come up with effective measures.
China's property market is mired in a slump, and the job market is also sluggish.
The leadership needs to showcase effective policies at the key meeting to assuage concerns about the future of the economy.
Key words : israel air and ground humanitarian
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231231_03/
Israel has intensified its air and ground offensives across the Gaza Strip, reportedly killing more than 100 people in the past 24 hours. The humanitarian situation in the enclave has been further worsened with reports of mass destruction of homes.
Israel's military said on Saturday that its troops are continuing to operate in different areas in Gaza. It said its troops dismantled two Hamas military compounds in Beit Lahia in the north, where numerous weapons were earlier located.
The military also said the troops killed dozens of terrorists in its operation in Gaza City.
Meanwhile, health authorities in Gaza said on Saturday that 165 people have died over the past 24 hours. They say the death toll during the Israeli offensives has risen to 21,672.
The Wall Street Journal on Saturday quoted experts as saying in their analysis that by mid-December Israel had dropped 29,000 bombs, munitions and shells on the strip.
The experts say that as a result nearly 70 percent of Gaza's 439,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed.
Those who were forced out of their homes must now live in shelters enduring cold temperatures.
Key words : foreign ministry framework
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231231_07/
Japan's foreign ministry is planning to enhance the framework under which it provides defense equipment to the militaries of like-minded countries.
Official Security Assistance, or OSA, began during the current fiscal year. It is aimed at deepening security cooperation with like-minded countries.
Japan has agreed with the Philippines, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Fiji to provide equipment such as surveillance radar, rescue boats and drones.
The move to strengthen the framework comes as China steps up its maritime activities.
The ministry is requesting about 35 million dollars for the OSA budget for the fiscal year starting in April, more than double the amount for the current fiscal year.
Vietnam and Djibouti are candidates to receive such assistance.
The ministry also plans to expand the administrative division that oversees the framework.
Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko says OSA is increasingly important as the international situation is becoming more severe. She says the ministry will take a strategic approach to strengthening the framework.
Key words : trafficking
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231231_04/
Interpol has mounted a global crackdown on wildlife and timber trafficking, making about 500 arrests in more than 130 countries.
The inter-governmental organization spent most of October carrying out operations to stop illegal transactions in cooperation with relevant authorities in 133 countries.
Interpol said it confiscated over 2,100 animals and plants.
In the massive clampdown, Czech authorities inspected a facility and seized eight golden-handed tamarins, a small species of monkey, which had been smuggled from South America.
An operation at an airport in Thailand found 17 endangered turtles in suitcases bound for Europe.
Interpol says 60 percent of wildlife trafficking cases were linked to transnational organized crime groups. The agency said their crimes are becoming increasingly sophisticated with methods such as using forged certifications, and conducting transactions in cryptocurrency.
Interpol's Executive Director of Police Services, Stephen Kavanagh, warned that large criminal groups are committing many types of crime. He pledged to work with countries across the world to hunt down such criminals.
Key words : shibuya ward suspended
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231231_02/
Tokyo's Shibuya Ward has decided not to hold a countdown event on New Year's Eve around its major train station for the fourth-straight year. Ward officials are concerned about possible trouble caused by extreme congestion.
Shibuya Ward had held such events until 2019, but the ward suspended them in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Sunday is Japan's first year-end holiday since the government downgraded COVID-19 to the same category as seasonal influenza.
This year, officials are wary that outdoor events might draw huge crowds and raise risks of problems such as public drinking and crowd crushes.
Even though the event has again been cancelled, security personnel will be deployed on the night of the New Year's Eve as many people are expected to gather at the famous scramble crossing in front of the station.
Under the ordinance on outdoor consumption of alcohol, restrictions will be in effect from 6 p.m. on Sunday through 5 a.m. on Monday. Convenience stores and other retailers will be asked to refrain from selling alcohol during these hours.
Shibuya Mayor Hasebe Ken has asked for understanding and cooperation. He said he reached the decision not to hold events this year in light of an increase in the number of visitors to Shibuya.
