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00:00Welcome to Newsroom Tokyo. I'm Yamasawa Rina.
00:15And I'm Yamaguchi Hiroaki.
00:16Here are the headlines.
00:18Two Japanese opposition parties that recently paired up
00:21revealed their new name as they get ready for an expected snap election.
00:26He may not be a Nobel Peace Prize winner,
00:30but U.S. President Donald Trump is now the proud owner of a Nobel medal,
00:35thanks to last year's laureate.
00:38NHK takes a look at a Myanmar pro-democracy media group struggling to report
00:43as the military holds widely condemned national elections.
00:48The U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting on Thursday
00:53to address nationwide anti-government protests in Iran.
00:57The protests, fueled by soaring inflation, have left many people dead or injured.
01:04The United States requested the meeting,
01:07and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz strongly condemned Iran.
01:13The regime is solely, solely responsible for the economic misery of the Iranian people
01:22and the repression of their freedom.
01:26Waltz said although Iran says it is ready for dialogue, its actions say otherwise.
01:33He reiterated that all options remain on the table when it comes to a U.S. response.
01:39During the meeting, Britain, France, Denmark and others also criticized Iran.
01:47Iran's deputy permanent representative hit back at the U.S.
01:51It is shameful that the United States regime transferred this esteemed body
01:59to a scene for theater and show for baseless accusation and statement.
02:09He denied allegations that the Iranian government had killed peaceful protesters.
02:15He also said that terrorist cells and violent separatist groups,
02:21funded and armed by a few foreign entities, including Israel, were responsible.
02:27He said those groups deliberately targeted civilians and law enforcement officers
02:33in an attempt to ignite civil war and create conditions for foreign intervention.
02:39Japan is starting to get ready for an expected SNAP election next month.
02:45And two opposition parties that recently partnered up have unveiled their new name.
02:52Prime Minister Takai-chi Sanae says she plans to dissolve the lower house
02:55during the diet session that starts next week.
02:59Members of the ruling coalition are making preparations on the assumption
03:03that official campaigning will start on January 27th.
03:06Voting will likely take place on February 8th.
03:10The largest opposition, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito,
03:16held a news conference Friday.
03:18They announced they named their new lower house party the Centrist Reform Alliance.
03:25There may be points of conflict, but we will establish realistic policies
03:30from the viewpoint of putting people first
03:33and the basic stance of not tilting to the right or the left.
03:37We will try to find solutions through careful deliberation.
03:44We have come up with a major policy that will become the core of centrist reform.
03:49We have now taken a huge step forward.
03:52We will put people first and protect the peace of Japan.
03:56They also say they will include reducing the consumption tax rate in the party's basic policies.
04:05Meanwhile, reporters asked members of the Takai-chi cabinet about the election.
04:10The top spokesperson says the government will help communities ensure a safe vote amid the winter conditions.
04:16The government will respond sincerely to opinions and inquiries from local public organizations,
04:24including those in areas with heavy snowfall.
04:26We will make utmost efforts to ensure the election is managed properly
04:30by coordinating with the Central Election Management Council and election administration committees.
04:35Even during the electoral period, the cabinet will meet as usual and carry out its duties.
04:43The supplementary budget has already been enacted and is being implemented across Japan.
04:49Our job is to further spread the effects of the economic measures as soon as possible.
04:54U.S. President Donald Trump says a board has been formed to oversee a Palestinian administration
05:10to govern Gaza during a transitional period.
05:15Trump said he will chair the new body known as the Board of Peace.
05:20He said its members will be named shortly.
05:22Trump officially launched the second phase of the U.S.-brokered peace plan on Thursday.
05:29U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said in a social media post Wednesday
05:33that the second phase will start the process of disarmament and reconstruction.
05:39Hamas is the main focus of phase two.
05:42Trump called on the Islamic group to immediately honor its commitments.
05:46He urged it to proceed without delay to full demilitarization.
05:51But Hamas has indicated so far that it has no intention to give up its arms.
05:58Trump now has a Nobel Peace Prize medal courtesy of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
06:07She says she handed over the prestigious award in recognition of his commitment to her people's freedom.
06:14Machado was last year's Nobel laureate.
06:19She and Trump met for the first time in person at the White House on Thursday.
06:25Speaking to reporters after their meeting, she had high praise for the U.S. president and his attention towards her country.
06:32First of all, I was very impressed by how clear he is, how he understands the situation in Venezuela,
06:41how he cares about what the Venezuelan people are suffering.
06:46Trump posted on social media thanking Machado for presenting him with the award for the work he's done.
06:53He described it as a wonderful gesture of mutual respect.
06:59Even so, Trump has signaled he intends to work with Venezuela's interim president, Delcey Rodriguez.
07:06She assumed power after U.S. forces captured former president Nicolás Maduro in Caracas earlier this month.
07:15He's been held in New York on drug trafficking charges.
07:18After the raid, Trump said it would be difficult for Machado to become Venezuela's new leader.
07:26According to U.S. media, it's not clear whether her latest gesture has done anything to change his mind.
07:33Results from Myanmar election authorities show pro-military lawmakers have won a majority of parliamentary seats in a ballot
07:53that many international observers are calling as sham.
07:56The development ensures the military will maintain the influence it's established over the war-torn country in the 2021 coup.
08:07The general election is taking place in three phases, with the third still to come on January 25th.
08:15The military-appointed election commission announced partial results from the first two phases.
08:20It says the junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party secured 167 of 588 seats in both the upper and lower houses.
08:32When combined with seats allocated to the military under the Constitution,
08:37that means pro-military lawmakers already have a majority.
08:41The final results are expected by the end of this month,
08:44and a new government will likely take office in April.
08:47The junta leaders claim the polls are part of a process to shift to civilian rule.
08:53But the international community has widely condemned the election,
08:57because pro-democracy groups have been excluded from running.
09:02The junta has also tightened its grip on the media, silencing independent reporting.
09:10It's pushed some journalists to move their operations abroad.
09:14NHK World's Kitai Genki tells us more.
09:17This may appear to be a regular newscast in Myanmar,
09:38but this whole program is actually being broadcast in secret.
09:42I'm now heading to the site where the clashes occurred.
09:48With domestic media under military control,
09:51Mizuma is one of the few outlets still pushing back against Tafunta.
09:56It gathers information on everything from airstrikes to civilian repression,
10:01and broadcasts it from hiding.
10:02But that work isn't easy or without risks.
10:08After the military revoked its media license,
10:11Mizuma's journalists were forced to flee or operate in secrecy.
10:15They report from this shack in the jungle.
10:19The news is then sent to one of their bases outside the country.
10:23From there, they can make the news accessible in Myanmar using the radio and Internet.
10:29This building is one of Mizuma's bases outside of Myanmar.
10:35It looks like an ordinary house.
10:37And on this side, there is a kitchen and a dining area.
10:42And if you look to the other side,
10:45in this room, they're broadcasting their programs.
10:48Overseeing their coverage is editor-in-chief, So Min.
10:55He coordinates with reporters on the ground to plan their coverage.
10:59He says every detail in every story has to be carefully reviewed.
11:29To protect those still reporting in Myanmar.
11:33He says the military has ramped up surveillance and has installed CCTV cameras across the country.
11:40It means journalists are constantly at risk.
11:43By looking at CCTV, the one who was taking photos or videos can be identified.
11:51So we have to be, that is an example.
11:53We have to be very careful whether we should use it,
11:57this kind of close-up photos, which can endanger our passing inside.
12:03This journalist is one of those still working in Myanmar.
12:08He's based in one of the areas not controlled by the military,
12:13so he felt comfortable speaking to NHK for this report.
12:16But he says the work is still dangerous.
12:19If we are identified as journalists, there's a risk we will be reported to the military.
12:29So when we report from the front lines, we pretend to be ordinary civilians.
12:35If gunfire breaks out, we put on bulletproof vests.
12:39I'm not afraid.
12:41If our reporting helps someone learn the truth, then that's worth it for us.
12:45There is, at any time, any one of us again can be put in prison if we get caught.
12:56So we have that balancing.
12:58But the way we try to do is, while we are trying to uphold our highest possible quality editorial standards,
13:08we also have to find ways of presenting.
13:11The military isn't Mijima's only problem.
13:16The outlet has long relied on international donations,
13:20but so Min says global attention has shifted away from Myanmar,
13:24and that funding is drying up.
13:27Meanwhile, Mijima continues its work.
13:50It hasn't missed a single show since the coup, and so Min says that isn't going to change.
13:58Whether this place is who rules that place, that rule, who that place is who rules that place,
14:05for us, we have to report.
14:08So we will continue, Mijima, independent media, journalists, working in the independent media houses,
14:15will continue their work.
14:17This is our mission, this is our commitment.
14:21This is our commitment to our own profession, that we have to report.
14:27It's a commitment that he says they'll keep to heart,
14:31because no matter what happens, the news must get out.
14:34Now, NHK World's Kitai Genki, who covered the story, joins us.
14:41So Genki, we just saw how reporters working very hard to convey the reality on the ground in Myanmar.
14:47So how are they reporting the election, and what are some of the facts they reveal?
14:52So they've been reporting from various angles on just how flawed this election process appears to be.
15:00In particular, they've highlighted multiple testimonies from voters who said they were pressured into voting a certain way.
15:08For example, civil servants will be asked by their bosses, who they'd bought it for.
15:14As we explained in the video, their broadcasts are available inside Myanmar through internet and radio.
15:21They also have an English channel for people outside the country.
15:25Through this, they say they want to let the world know about the funta oppression.
15:30You were actually in Yangon last weekend. What was the city like?
15:35It was common than I had expected.
15:38People were going about their daily lives as usual.
15:42It showed that everyday life continues, regardless of the political situation.
15:48At the same time, that calmness might actually be a sign of how tightly authorities are monitoring the population.
15:55When I spoke with residents, many expressed a sense of resignation, and quite a few told me they had little interest in the election.
16:07I have almost no hope things will improve.
16:11We run a business, so there is pressure from the authorities.
16:16In this case, we have no choice but to vote.
16:20Because of that pressure, we are forced to live in fear.
16:25Things have been difficult during these five years.
16:27The next five are only going to be even more painful.
16:30I have to keep trying and working hard for the sake of my child.
16:35So they seem to have very little hope towards the new government.
16:40How will the election results affect in Myanmar?
16:43So the turmoil has taken a heavy toll on people.
16:47The worsening economy, soaring prices, and the exodus of young people abroad.
16:52There are concerns that this negative spiral will only accelerate.
16:58And it's worth pointing out that only a relatively small number of countries, including China and Russia, support this election.
17:06Most others, including Western nations, as well as the UN, say it is not legitimate.
17:11But criticism alone from the international community, including Japan, will not lead to a democratic resolution.
17:20So more needs to be done, right?
17:22Thank you very much for your insight.
17:24Genki.
17:24Governments around the world are putting greater and greater priority on securing rare earths and other critical minerals.
17:43One reason for this is that much of the world depends on a single country for these metals,
17:48used in everything from smartphones to electric vehicles.
17:52Yuko Fukushima is here to talk about the latest developments surrounding critical minerals.
17:58You're certainly right.
17:59Critical minerals are at the top of the agenda for many world leaders.
18:02Just this week, finance ministers from the group of seven countries and other nations met in Washington.
18:07They agreed to act quickly to diversify their supply chains.
18:12Japan's finance minister, Kataya Masatsuki, highlighted the new restrictions China is imposing on exports to Japan.
18:19Last week, Beijing announced tighter controls of dual-use goods with potential military applications.
18:25This is raising concern that rare earths will be included.
18:31Participants agreed they need to act quickly to reduce their reliance on China.
18:35They feel this is the only way forward.
18:39Countries that previously had no keen sense of urgency have now shared a view that they could also face restrictions similar to those imposed on Japan.
18:50China dominates the supply chain for rare earths.
18:53It not only has the largest share in mining, but in refining as well.
18:58The International Energy Agency warns that reliance on a small number of suppliers increases vulnerability to shocks and disruptions.
19:07Many experts say the world's dependence on China will not end anytime soon.
19:11Miura Yuji at the Japan Research Institute is one of them.
19:15Economists at the IEA predict that China's share of rare earths production in 2040 will be about 50% globally,
19:26and the country will have about a 70% share of refining.
19:30Based on this forecast, I think China's domination of rare earths will weaken a little from now.
19:36But I don't think the situation where China uses rare earths as a political weapon and puts pressure on countries will change much.
19:46Japan has been trying to diversify its supply for some time now.
19:51One example is a scientific drilling ship, Chikyu, that set sail this week to attempt to mine rare earths from the seabed and extreme depths.
19:59The project comes right from the cabinet office, but Miura says it will take time to bring any new supply to the market,
20:07and he says the cost will be steep.
20:13Generally speaking, experts say that when rare earths are discovered in mines on land,
20:18it takes 10 to 15 years for the metal to be mined and shipped to market.
20:22In Japan's case, the rare earths are at the bottom of the sea, so we must assume it will take longer.
20:28In addition, the cost of mining and refining will be much higher than for getting them from a mine on land.
20:35Rare earths refining also has enormous negative spillovers.
20:39In some cases, refining can produce radioactive materials.
20:42Even if Japan succeeds in mining them from the sea bottom,
20:46it needs to solve the problem of how and where to refine them.
20:53So does China hold all the cards?
20:55Miura says not exactly.
20:57He says even if it does restrict exports, it cannot sustain this for long.
21:02When the price of rare earths rises due to China's export controls,
21:11other countries have more incentive to dig mines.
21:14Or this pushes companies to develop technologies that use less rare earths to make their products.
21:20Others may seek to develop technologies that use other materials to produce the end product.
21:25China's dominance is based on the fact the country can supply at a low price.
21:29If the price rises, China's dominance weakens.
21:37Miura also says China will have to deal with smuggling if export controls are too tight.
21:47China imposed restrictions on exports of the element antimony to the U.S.
21:52It's not a rare earth, but it's a rare metal.
21:55But U.S. imports of antimony from Thailand and Mexico jumped.
21:59These two countries do not even produce this metal.
22:02The findings are believed to indicate that Chinese companies exported the rare metal to the U.S.
22:07via Mexico and Thailand.
22:13Miura says the best way for countries to manage their dependence on China
22:16is to increase their stockpiles in the short term,
22:20while developing technologies that use less of these materials or other materials in the long term.
22:26And now to the markets.
22:27Well, my talk of the Nikkei end of the week just shy of 54,000.
22:31Some sold on profit-taking as the index had risen more than 2,000 points over the past three days.
22:38Others are holding their bets as the prime minister appears set to dissolve the tie for a coming general election.
22:44And to the rest of the region, optimism for the AI boom continues to drive stocks in the region.
22:50In Taiwan, the key benchmark closed at a record high, gaining 1.94%.
22:55TSMC's profit exceeded expectations.
22:58And an agreement with the U.S. fueled hopes for a fresh investment in the tech sector.
23:03The momentum spread to South Korea.
23:05The KOSPI rose a nine-tenth of a percent, also ending at an all-time high.
23:11And that's it for this week.
23:12Thank you very much for that, Yuko.
23:15Now let's go to Tira Tira Kao-san in our Bangkok studio for stories making headlines across the Asia-Pacific.
23:24The Australian government is touting the success of its world first ban on under-16 social media use.
23:32It says that within days of a new law taking effect last month,
23:36tech firms culled more than 4.7 million accounts.
23:40Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the law has made a big difference for children and their families.
23:49It has given as well parents that peace of mind and not worrying about what their children are looking at online.
23:56Albanese says the figure includes accounts that social media firms deactivated, removed, or restricted as the law came into play on December 10th.
24:09The legislation targets 10 major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
24:15It bars them from creating or holding accounts for people younger than 16.
24:20U.S. tech giant Meta says the change resulted in the closure of 330,000 accounts on its Instagram platform
24:30and 170,000 accounts on Facebook in one week of December alone.
24:37Critics point out that some young people are exploiting loopholes to stay on social media,
24:43usually by faking their age or asking older family members to sign up for them.
24:47Australian authorities say they're monitoring the situation and will call on operators to comply strictly with the law.
24:57Japan and the Philippines have signed two defense pacts, including a deal allowing their forces to share supplies and services.
25:07The move is seen as an effort to strengthen their security cooperation in response to China's growing maritime activities in the region.
25:15Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu signed the deals with his counterpart, Maria Teresa Lazzaro.
25:26The first is the acquisition and cross-servicing agreement.
25:31It's designed to enable the swift provision of supplies and services between Japan's self-defense forces and the armed forces of the Philippines.
25:39The ministers also signed Japan's official security assistance project for the 2025 fiscal year.
25:48It's the first infrastructure project under Japan's OSA program, which constructs boathouses and slipways for the Philippine Navy.
25:58The ministers shared concerns over China's attempts to change the status quo by force in the East and South China Seas.
26:06They also agreed on the importance of America's continuing engagement in the Indo-Pacific region.
26:15To deal with the intensifying power struggles in the region, we agree it's essential to deepen the cooperation between Japan, the U.S. and the Philippines.
26:24After the Philippines, Motegi traveled to India and met with Foreign Minister Subramaniam Jaishankar.
26:32They discussed the importance of the Quad Framework in the Indo-Pacific, which takes in Japan, the U.S., India and Australia.
26:41And that wraps up our Bulletin.
26:43I'm Trahantira Kausan in Bangkok.
26:45Let's take a look at the weather forecast for cities around the world.
26:59I'm trahantira Kausan inвигat, a contemporain
27:27and that's all for this edition of any news newsroom tokyo sorry you can catch this program
27:40on our website i'm yamaguchi hiroaki and i'm yamasawa arena thank you very much for watching
27:45have a lovely weekend
27:57you
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