- 2 days ago
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00Welcome to Newsroom Tokyo. I'm Yamaguchi Hiroaki. Here are the headlines.
00:17The death toll from Wednesday's fire at an apartment complex in Hong Kong has risen to 55, with many still missing.
00:26An international conference votes down a proposal to regulate trade in all types of ills.
00:33A suspect is in custody after two National Guard troops were shot just blocks away from the White House.
00:41People in Hong Kong are waiting to hear word of loved ones still missing after a fire burned through multiple apartment blocks.
00:50At least 55 are confirmed dead.
00:54Crews are still working to put out some of the flames. Authorities have launched an investigation. So far, several people have been arrested.
01:03It was too smoky when I opened the door. I thought the management office would come to help, but it didn't.
01:11The complex is located in Taipo, near the border with mainland China, and houses 2,000 units.
01:20The fire started Wednesday and spread across seven of the eight tower blocks, trapping many residents inside.
01:27Local media have quoted officials as saying more than 200 are unaccounted for.
01:34The cause of the fire is not yet known. The buildings were covered in bamboo scaffoldings due to renovations, which may have helped the flame spread.
01:45The fire department alleges that protective nets failed to meet fire safety standards.
01:51They also say they will not rule out whether styrofoam materials located at the scene may have contributed to the spread of damage.
02:00Police have arrested three executives of a company in charge of the renovation on suspicion of manslaughter.
02:10A U.S. newspaper says President Donald Trump advised Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae not to provoke China over the issue of Taiwan's sovereignty.
02:22The Wall Street Journal reported on a phone call that took place between them on Monday.
02:27The report says Trump suggested Takaichi temper the tone of her comments about Taiwan.
02:33It also says Trump's advice was subtle and that he did not pressure Takaichi to retract the comments she'd made in a diet debate earlier this month.
02:42The report drew a reaction from the Japanese government.
02:48The report says President Trump advised against provoking China over the issue of Taiwan's sovereignty.
02:58We wish to make clear that this is not true.
03:03The spokesperson also said the government had told the Wall Street Journal its position on the report.
03:09Earlier this month, Takaichi said a Taiwan emergency involving the use of force could be considered a situation threatening the survival of Japan.
03:19That comment sparked an uproar in China.
03:22The Wall Street Journal report also says a U.S.-China trade truce and the issue of Taiwan have become inextricably linked.
03:30It quotes a source as saying Trump was worried the friction over Taiwan could affect a deal the U.S. and China reached last month.
03:38That deal includes a Chinese promise to buy American soybeans and other farm products.
03:45The Chinese government has issued its assessment of the Japanese government's statement regarding Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae's comments about Taiwan.
03:55Beijing says Tokyo's response was hardly adequate.
04:00The statement continues to repeat that Japan's position on Taiwan is either consistent or unchanged. That is hardly adequate.
04:10On Tuesday, Japan's cabinet decided on a written reply to a question from an opposition lawmaker on Takaichi's remarks regarding a possible Taiwan emergency.
04:22The reply says her administration maintains there is no change to its position on what constitutes a survival-threatening situation for the country.
04:33As bilateral relations call, the Chinese embassy in Tokyo on Wednesday reiterated a call by Beijing urging Chinese nationals to refrain from traveling to Japan.
04:46The embassy posted on social media that reports of discrimination against Chinese nationals have surged since July this year.
04:56It said there has been a marked increase in November and cited recent reports of Chinese citizens suffering verbal abuse and physical assault.
05:09The Japanese government denies this.
05:11It says Beijing's suggestion that Chinese nationals in Japan are at higher risk is not the case.
05:21Moving on to wildlife trade, Japanese eels have slipped past international regulations.
05:28An international conference on trade in endangered species has voted no on a proposal to impose export restrictions on all types of eels.
05:38Japan had opposed the move, fearing prices would surge, as did China and South Korea, which are both major eel farming countries.
05:49The conference of the parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES, is underway in Uzbekistan.
05:59European eels are already protected under the Convention.
06:03That means trade requires a permit issued by the exporting country.
06:08The EU and others had proposed extending similar restrictions to all eel species, including Japanese eels.
06:16A hundred countries voted against the measure, with only 35 in favor.
06:21So not receiving the required two-thirds majority to proposed amendments was rejected.
06:29Japan's taste for eels goes back a long way.
06:33The 8th century poetry collection, Mainyoshu, mentions eel as perfect for fighting weight loss in summer.
06:40The delicacy has been popular ever since.
06:44During Japan's post-war economic boom, salarymen could be seen eating grilled eel to keep up their energy levels in summer.
06:52Almost all the eel consumed in Japan is cultivated from juvenile glass eels caught in the wild.
06:58Studies to achieve so-called complete farming from eggs to full-grown eels started in the 1960s, but the process is still too expensive to be commercially viable.
07:11Japan is said to be the world's largest consumer of eels and relies heavily on imports.
07:16Japan's fisheries agency says of the 61,000 tons consumed domestically last year, about 70% was imported.
07:27This organization has been working to restore eel stocks in Japan.
07:32I was seriously worried, so it comes as a real relief that the proposal was not approved.
07:43The decision to reject the proposal for new restrictions will be finalized at a general meeting to be held from December 4th.
07:51For more on this, we are now joined by NHK World's Kobayashi Yu.
07:56He has been covering eel conservation efforts in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan's top producer of farmed eels.
08:03So, a lot of eel lovers here in Japan have been bracing for bad news.
08:08But in the end, a sizable majority of member states said no to the EU's proposal.
08:13Why do you think it failed to attract more support?
08:16It was very surprising to me. I was monitoring the meeting online and most of the representatives who spoke expressed opposition.
08:25What struck me most was that the chairperson of the committee said most African member countries had opposed the proposal.
08:34I think this is partly because they don't want their own fisheries to be affected by such kind of blanket restrictions.
08:42Another factor may be that China, which has a large influence on countries in the global south, also opposed the idea.
08:51But there also seems to be resistance to having environmental policies imposed from outside, especially by Europe.
09:01When I was in Africa as a correspondent for the region, I sometimes heard those kinds of sentiments.
09:11For example, in Botswana, conservation efforts have led to a huge increase in the population of elephants.
09:20And it's causing a serious problem for the locals.
09:24But when the government proposed to reduce the number, it prompted the backlash from some European countries.
09:33Botswana's president angrily responded by saying, if elephants are so important for you guys, I will send 20,000 of them to your countries.
09:45It shows how there is an awful and big gap between the ideas and the reality of people's lives.
09:54So you following the conference decision, does this mean the ill trade will likely to be spared further restrictions?
10:03No, I don't think so. I think Japan and other consumer countries have to step up conservation efforts.
10:13One major issue that still needs to be addressed is the poaching and smuggling of grass yields.
10:21So far, regulations haven't been able to stamp out this illegal trade.
10:36And if they fail to get on top of the situation, it will reignite the debate about strengthening regulations.
10:57We've been focusing a lot on Japan today, but it isn't the only country that eels are part of the cuisine.
11:05So what should these countries do?
11:07Yes, Japan can do this alone.
11:10Recently, it has been working together with countries such as South Korea and China to tighten the regulations.
11:18But some point out that the framework agreed between them is not legally binding.
11:27And they say it has not been effective.
11:30And now there are concerns that deepening diplomatic rift between Japan and China could hinder further cooperation.
11:39So it looks like ill is going to stay on the table for now, but the future is far from clear.
11:48All right. Thank you for your insights here.
11:51As geopolitical tensions rise, companies around the world are having to deal with a new reality, supply chain shock.
12:10Manufacturers are struggling to get their hands on basic materials.
12:15That includes a group of critical minerals known as rare earths.
12:19Yuko Fukushima joins us now to explain what's happening on this front.
12:23Yes, mineral resources are essential in a wide range of industries.
12:27But buyers for a critical class of these minerals remain heavily dependent on one country.
12:32Governments in Japan and other countries are trying to remedy this situation at a time of growing political tension.
12:39Among the sought-after minerals is a group known as rare metals.
12:44These include cobalt, lithium and rare earths, which are used in green and digital technology industries.
12:51Without them, we could not make things like electric vehicles, next-generation batteries and smartphones.
12:57And some of these critical minerals are sourced from one country, China.
13:02Neighboring Japan depends heavily on China for the mining, refining and smelting of rare earths, for example.
13:09This chokehold on the market goes for many other essential metals.
13:13And China has repeatedly used the situation to its political advantage.
13:18Beijing does this by tightening export controls on the metals or threatening to do so.
13:23In 2010, a Chinese fishing boat collided with Japan Coast Guard patrol ships near the Senkaka Islands.
13:29China's next move was to essentially suspend exports of rare earth metals to Japan, a rude awakening for many Japanese companies.
13:37Fifteen years later, China still uses critical minerals as leverage.
13:42In this year's U.S.-China tariff route, Beijing's export restrictions on rare earth metals were said to be a key talking point at negotiations.
13:51I talked to Nicholas Redman, a corporate consultant with expertise in geopolitical issues.
13:57I started by asking him about the efforts on the part of countries and global companies to build supply chains that do not include China.
14:04He says progress is slow.
14:06So, for those seeking to develop a non-Chinese supply chain, you've got to develop the mineral deposits in the mines, have to strike those agreements.
14:15And then you have to stand up a processing facility and capability.
14:19And that takes a long time and it's a dirty, polluting process.
14:22So, it's really quite a tough one.
14:24So, yes, rare earths ultimately aren't that rare.
14:27You can develop non-Chinese supply chains, but it takes time.
14:31It takes probably at least five years, maybe ten years.
14:35What are some of the other factors that China firms have in advantages in terms of the global supply chain for rare earths?
14:43So, when China opens up a new deposit, it tends to go in really as part of a group exercise.
14:49So, the miner will go in, but also the finance will be there in place.
14:53There will be some sort of infrastructure firm in the mix as well.
14:57So, it's a package deal.
14:58If Chinese firms are actually going out and operating under a different mandate, they're not going out under a profit maximization mandate.
15:05They're going out on a security of supply mandate.
15:08The problem that Western firms have right now is a lot of mineral prices are so low for the raw material.
15:14It's just not worth opening a mine.
15:16So, China is holding all that for hand in the rare earth.
15:19So, what is the U.S. government doing?
15:21Is it doing anything?
15:22So, in the middle of this year, the Department of Defense made a unique investment into a U.S. rare earths mine.
15:30They've guaranteed to give them a minimum price for their mined output, which is way above the current very low market level,
15:39and to also guarantee orders and a volume for the semi-finished materials.
15:44Now, this is absolutely essential because right now market dynamics are such that it doesn't make any profitable sense to go in against China.
15:52But the U.S. government needs to have domestic production.
15:56So, they're choosing to make a market that otherwise would not exist on its own.
16:01Does China have any weak points, it seems, and it has all the advantages in the rare earths market?
16:07Well, one of the weak points is the fact that it doesn't control global mineral reserves.
16:12There are plenty of places in the world where actually you can find different rare earths and other critical materials.
16:19It is, as I say, very strong on that processing and that basic manufacturing piece.
16:23So, they have a weakness in terms of they're not the only option for mineral rights, but also on the security of demand.
16:29Still, for investment goods in China, there isn't huge internal demand.
16:33So, China does actually need foreign markets for all the critical minerals that it produces.
16:39So, it's not quite as one-sided as it looks.
16:42But what we do know from the last few months is there is real Chinese leverage there.
16:47It's being used and it has had an impact.
16:50So, it will likely take time for Western countries to build a non-Chinese supply chain for critical minerals.
16:56On the other hand, if China continues to resort to restrictions, Redmond says Beijing will only fuel the political will and funding needed to speed up the process.
17:06And now to the markets.
17:07Well, in Tokyo, the Nikkei rose for the third day up one-and-a-quarter percent on Thursday, with the index ending above the 50-thousand threshold.
17:16Investors are becoming more convinced.
17:18The U.S. Federal Reserve will cut its policy rate in December.
17:21That's when the central bank holds its next meeting.
17:23The expectations for a Fed rate cut spread across the region.
17:27In South Korea, the costs be headed higher in the morning.
17:30Some of the gains were getting up later in the session after the country's central bank kept its rate on hold.
17:36The bank hinted the next rate cut will be later than many traders had expected.
17:40The index ended the day at 0.66 percent higher.
17:44In Indonesia, the Jakarta deposit climbed to a new high, but some sold on profit, taking a closed 0.65 percent lower.
17:53And that's the news for this Thursday.
17:56Thank you very much for that, Yuko.
17:58Heavy rains are leaving a trail of destruction in Southeast Asia.
18:03Tada, Tirakao-san in our Bangkok studio has the latest.
18:09Indonesia's Disaster Management Agency says at least 28 people have died and 10 are missing amid landslides and floods.
18:17Torrential rains have been hammering the country's North Sumatra province.
18:23The agency said on Thursday morning that a tropical cyclone was still active across the island of Sumatra.
18:30It's been drenching the province with rain since last weekend causing growing damage.
18:36Search and rescue efforts are underway across an expanding area.
18:40Indonesia's Meteorological Agency said at the rainy season has been intensifying since early November.
18:47Heavy rain caused landslides in central Java province two weeks ago.
18:52Local media outlets say over 30 people died.
18:56Seasonal rains and floods have also been battering southern Thailand.
19:01There have been at least 55 fatalities.
19:05At an evacuation center in the worst-hit city of Hat Yai in Songkla province,
19:10people were taking shelter with only the bare necessities.
19:14I can't think of anything.
19:20Everything was wiped out.
19:23Thai weather officials say the rainfall is beginning to ease up,
19:29but they're urging people to stay on alert as more heavy rains could occur.
19:35In Australia, two 15-year-olds have asked the High Court to block a ban on social media for young people.
19:42The teens joined with a group supporting children's digital rights to seek an injunction against the new law.
19:50The group is led by a state lawmaker in New South Wales.
19:55It's said that the legislation robs young Australians of a constitutionally implied right to freedom of political communication.
20:03In response, the communications minister said that the government's policy remains unchanged.
20:10Despite the fact that we are receiving threats and legal challenges by people with ulterior motives,
20:19the Albanese government remains steadfastly on the side of parents and not of platforms.
20:26The legal action is taking place at the last minute and is not expected to affect the law before it comes into effect on December 10th.
20:36The law says social media platforms must prevent children under the age of 16 from creating or maintaining an account.
20:44Companies can face significant fines if they don't comply.
20:48The ban covers 10 platforms including TikTok, X, Snapchat and YouTube.
20:56People in urban India put up with some of the world's worst air pollution.
21:01Those lucky enough to escape are driving a new travel boom.
21:05It's called astrotourism and the attractions are simple, good air and stargazing.
21:11We go with NHK World's Nomura Yusuke to where the heavens are clear.
21:17The famous India gate is a sightseeing drone when you can see it.
21:23Drivers switch on their lights even during the day.
21:28These scenes are common in the capital New Delhi.
21:31Even breathing can be risky.
21:34In mid-November, airborne concentrations of hazardous PM2.5 particles reached 30x World Health Organization standards.
21:48It has become very difficult to live here in Delhi these days.
21:52With all these problems due to the terrible pollution and huge traffic jams, I want to move to the mountains.
22:00In search of a break, we flew over an hour from New Delhi.
22:05Then, drove more than 200km along often deserted roads into northern India.
22:13To where the mountains opened up.
22:17The Sipiti Valley is a high altitude region of the Himachar Pradesh state.
22:24The Himalayan landscape has caught the attention of urban stargazers.
22:29This year through July, it drew about 160,000 visitors.
22:36There is no pollution. Only mountains.
22:39And so, people want to see stargazing.
22:42And we cannot see in Delhi and famous places like Mumbai.
22:45There is no stars. There is a lot of pollution.
22:47At 9pm, we follow a group of about 20 tourists who have come from near New Delhi.
22:56They settle in for the show.
22:59One, two, three, four, five.
23:12One, two, three, four, five.
23:18One, two, three, four, five.
23:21One, two, three, four, five.
23:24This is become W or three.
23:27It has a Greek name. It's basically Cassiopeia.
23:31I feel very happy that I got to know about the stars and the constellations and that I've
23:49also captured some pictures.
23:54The state government is taking initiatives to promote astral tourism.
23:59It has invested about $110,000 to support the local economy.
24:06Construction is underway on the stargazing center with the museum.
24:12It's scheduled to open next year.
24:16In here, people are dependent on tourism and second agriculture only.
24:22Tourism has given them new opportunities and new fields to explore.
24:28This project will definitely benefit the locals."
24:32Unsupported nature offers a sharp contrast with worsening man-made pollution of the cities.
24:40Starry skies are changing how many Indians relax.
24:43Nomura Yusuke, NHK World, Spity Valley.
24:50And that wraps up our bulletin.
24:52I'm Pra Chirakao-san in Bangkok.
24:56Next, authorities in Washington say two National Guard troops are in critical condition after
25:02being shot just blocks away from the White House.
25:04A suspect is in custody.
25:09It happened Wednesday afternoon, about 400 meters from the president's home.
25:14Officials describe it as a targeted shooting.
25:17President Trump says the government believes the suspect is a foreign national who came to the U.S. from Afghanistan in 2021.
25:25Trump was with First Lady Melania in Florida at the time of the shooting.
25:30He says the suspect is severely wounded and will pay a very steep price.
25:36His administration deployed National Guard units to Washington in August to maintain public safety and conduct patrols.
25:43It has now ordered the mobilization of 500 additional troops to the capital.
26:09The weather forecast for cities around the world.
26:22Now let's take a look at the weather forecast for cities around the world.
26:26I hope this is time on the visitation of Manchester United and the
26:47last out of Mexico.
26:49After Peace from England, National Guard units to LNC Fahrenheit.
Be the first to comment