[지구촌 오늘] Trump nominates environment and interior ministers for second term…Shanghai, Tokyo and New York ‘largest greenhouse gas emitters’

This is ‘Global Village Today’, which brings you important news from various countries around the world. Let’s find out what’s happening at this moment with reporter Kim Hyun-sook. hello?

Host) What news is there today?

Reporter) U.S. President-elect Donald Trump announced that he would nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an environmental activist and questioner of vaccinations, as Secretary of Health and Human Services. President-elect Trump also nominated close associates to the positions of Secretary of the Interior and Deputy Secretary of Justice. Shanghai, Tokyo, and New York were found to be the most polluted cities in the world. The president’s left-wing coalition won a landslide victory in Sri Lanka’s general elections. Last year, the number of measles patients worldwide increased by 20% compared to the previous year, exceeding 10 million. We will continue to report on the announcement made by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Host) Today in the global village, first, news from the United States. This week, blueprints for forming a second Trump administration are being released one after another. President-elect Trump announced who will be in charge of the Department of Health and Human Services?

Reporter) That’s right. President-elect Donald Trump announced on the 14th that he would nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services. In a post on social media, President-elect Trump said, “I am thrilled to announce Robert F. Kennedy as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.” It caught people’s attention because he usually said he was ‘pleased’ when announcing other nominations.

Host) Robert Kennedy Jr., often called RFK Jr. Kennedy, a prominent figure in American politics, is a person, right?

Reporter) That’s right. He is the nephew of the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy. He is the son of former Senator Robert F. Kennedy, President Kennedy’s younger brother. The Kennedy family is a traditional Democratic family. RFK Jr. was also a member of the Democratic Party, but left the party in October last year.

Host) Didn’t you run for this presidential election as well?

Reporter) Yes. He ran as an independent candidate but withdrew last August. Afterwards, he came out in support of President-elect Trump. Reuters reported that he supported President-elect Trump in exchange for a role in the Republican administration.

Host) You also gave a speech in support of President-elect Trump during his campaign, right?

Reporter) That’s right. RFK Jr.’s father and uncle were both victims of assassination. Because President-elect Trump also experienced an assassination attempt, the consensus between the two was emphasized. President-elect Trump promised that if he wins the presidential election, he will make public all remaining documents related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Host) But there is controversy surrounding Mr. Kennedy Jr., right?

Reporter) Yes. Because Mr. Kennedy Jr. is skeptical about getting vaccinated. Even before the novel coronavirus pandemic, Mr. Kennedy Jr. has been criticized for making incorrect medical claims, such as that vaccines are related to autism. During the pandemic, they also opposed vaccination and regulatory measures implemented by the federal and state governments. It has been criticized for spreading misinformation about the virus.

Host) So, are you anti-vaccination?

Reporter) I object to being labeled as anti-vaccination. They want more rigorous testing for vaccines. But Mr. Kennedy now chairs Protecting Children’s Health, a non-profit organization focused on anti-vaccine messaging. Last March, before he withdrew his candidacy, Mr. Kennedy said that even if he was elected, Americans who wanted to be vaccinated would continue to be able to do so. Meanwhile, earlier this month, he said he would recommend removing fluoride from public water supplies, saying it has been linked to fractures and cancer.

Host) What are the reactions to this nomination?

Reporter) In general, the response is that it is unconventional and worrisome. Typically, the Minister of Health and Human Services has been held by a person with practical experience and standing in the national health and medical field. There are concerns that nominating someone with medical views outside the mainstream could have a negative impact on the health of Americans. For reference, the Department of Health and Human Services’ budget for fiscal year 2024 is $3.19 trillion, accounting for approximately 23% of the entire federal government budget.

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum

Host) Meanwhile, President-elect Trump has also completed selecting the Secretary of the Interior?

Reporter) Yes. He announced that he would nominate North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum as the next U.S. Secretary of the Interior. President-elect Trump made this announcement at an event held at his home in Mar-a-Lago, Florida on the 14th. Governor Burgum was also present.

Host) What is the main job of the Minister of the Interior?

Reporter) Its main task is to manage hundreds of millions of acres of federally owned land, water resources, natural resources, and cultural heritage sites. Currently, President-elect Trump is planning to increase oil and natural gas production in the United States. For this reason, the home secretary in the next government could play a very important role.

Host) Governor Burgum also announced his candidacy for president, right?

Reporter) That’s right. Last year, he announced and then stopped running for president and immediately returned to supporting Trump. In doing so, he developed a strong personal and political relationship with President-elect Trump. The Washington Post assessed that two-term Governor Burgum is a strong advocate for the oil industry and appears to have the expertise needed to implement environmental and energy policies for President-elect Trump. However, within minutes of President-elect Trump’s announcement, environmental groups protested, saying they were ready to fight.

Host) President-elect Trump also revealed who he will nominate as Deputy Attorney General?

Reporter) Yes. On the 14th, President-elect Trump announced that he would nominate former federal prosecutor Todd Blanche as Deputy Attorney General. President-elect Trump said in a statement, “Todd is a great lawyer who will be an important leader at the Department of Justice and will fix our long-broken judicial system.”

Host) Didn’t Mr. Blanche act as legal representative in several lawsuits involving President-elect Trump?

Reporter) That’s right. He was the lead defense lawyer in the so-called ‘suspicion of paying hush money to silence a sexual scandal’ case. He also served as the lead defense attorney in a case indicted on charges of leaking state secrets. President-elect Trump also nominated former Congressman Doug Collins as Secretary of Veterans Affairs. With this, he continues his path of filling the next administration with people who have worked closely with him and have shown loyalty to him.

People jogging in Shanghai, China.

Host) This is the next news from Global Village Today. The most polluted countries and cities in the world have been revealed?

Reporter) Yes. The 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) is currently being held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. On the 15th, Climate Trace, a foundation co-founded by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, released a new report that identified pollution conditions in over 9,000 cities and regions around the world.

Host) Shall we look at the contents of the report in more detail?

Reporter) Yes. According to the report, there are seven states or provinces that are emitting more than 1 billion tons of greenhouse gases. Except for Texas in the United States, the remaining six provinces – Shandong, Hebei, Shaanxi, Inner Mongolia, Jiangsu, and Guangdong – are all in China. In terms of ranking, Texas is 6th.

Host) Is there any analysis by city?

Reporter) Yes. In the world, Shanghai, China emits the most greenhouse gases at 256 million tons. Shanghai’s emissions surpass those of Norway or Colombia. In other words, one city emits much more greenhouse gases than a country. Tokyo, Japan, was among the top cities that emit the most greenhouse gases, with 250 million tons, New York City, USA, 160 million tons, Houston 150 million tons, and Seoul, Korea, 142 million tons.

Host) There are countries where greenhouse gas emissions have increased or decreased, right?

Reporter) Yes. From 2022 to 2023, China, India, Iran, Indonesia, and Russia experienced particularly strong increases in emissions. On the other hand, Venezuela, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States decreased significantly.

Host) What is the overall level of pollution on Earth?

Reporter) Earth’s total carbon dioxide and methane pollution increased by 0.7%, reaching 61.2 billion tons. This survey was conducted by combining artificial intelligence (AI), satellite, and ground observation data. The figures are higher than other data because we looked at more emissions from more sectors than is generally available, explained Climate Trace co-founder Gavin McCormick.

Host) COP 29 is an international conference where leaders from all over the world come together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prevent climate change, right?

Reporter) That’s right. In particular, this year’s key topic is ‘climate finance’, that is, how much rich countries will pay to prevent global warming and help the world. But environmentalists and climate experts are growing increasingly frustrated with countries and companies promoting fossil fuels that cause climate change.

Host) There were also voices of controversy surrounding the host country, Azerbaijan?

Reporter) Yes. Azerbaijan is a major producer of oil and gas. Controversy arose when Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in a keynote speech that oil and gas were “gifts from God.” Former U.S. Vice President Gore made a remark targeting Azerbaijan, saying it was unfortunate that the fossil fuel and oil industries were dominating the COP process in an unhealthy way. Meanwhile, some experts, including former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, issued a letter on the 15th in response to President Aliyev’s remarks, calling for an urgent overhaul of the conference.

Sri Lankan President and National People’s Alliance (NPP) leader Anura Dissanayake shows an ink-covered finger after voting in Colombo on the 14th.

host) global village today, this time indian ocean island country To Sri Lanka I’m going. in sri lanka general election There was?

Reporter) That’s right. The ruling left-wing coalition won a landslide victory in the general election held in Sri Lanka on the 14th. Sri Lanka’s Election Commission announced on the 15th that as a result of the general election vote count, the ruling party, the National People’s Alliance (NPP), won 159 seats, more than two-thirds of the 225 seats in the National Assembly.

host) ‘National People’s Alliance(NPP)’this which The parties gathered Are you afraid??

Reporter) Yes, it is a coalition of about 20 minor political parties, including the left-leaning People’s Liberation Front (JVP), which belongs to President Anura Dissanayake, who took office last September. In the presidential election held last September, the centrist People Power Party (SJB) led by Sajit Premadasa, which competed against President Dissanayake, only won 40 seats. In Sri Lanka, out of a total of 225 seats, 196 are directly elected, and the remaining 29 seats are allocated to each party according to the vote percentage under the proportional representation system.

host) general election open sri lanka, today country Circumstances Good No?

Reporter) Yes, Sri Lanka, with a population of approximately 23 million, is experiencing great difficulty in importing essential items such as food, medicine, and fuel due to continued economic difficulties. In 2022, due to economic difficulties, Sri Lanka declared national bankruptcy. At the time, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was chased by protesters and fled abroad. Afterwards, then-Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe was elected as the next president, completing the remaining two years of his term. Former President Wickramasinghe significantly increased taxes and implemented several austerity measures with financial support from the International Financial Organization (IMF).

host) since The economy a little Are you feeling better??

Reporter) Yes, the economy has stabilized. However, people still voiced dissatisfaction with high taxes and prices. Thanks to this public opinion, President Dissanayake won the presidential election last September, making promises such as eradicating corruption and reducing taxes through IMF renegotiation. After taking office, President Dissanayake dissolved parliament and announced plans for early general elections. President Dissanayake, who was the leader of a small political party with only 3 seats, became the leader of a large coalition government in Sri Lanka as a result of this general election.

host) this time general election through sri lanka politics big change fit It’s done nonsense There was why that Are you afraid??

Reporter) Sri Lankan politics has been dominated by existing political families and political parties for the past several decades. This is because this is the first time that a representative of a minor party has been elected president and a coalition of left-wing parties has won a majority in Congress. In particular, the NPP’s victory in several minority strongholds, including northern Sri Lanka, the stronghold of the Tamil people, is evaluated as reflecting the will of the people who yearn for change. And thanks to this overwhelming support from the people, there are predictions that President Dissanayake will be able to actively pursue the economic and political reforms he promised during his election campaign.

host) Dissanayake The president this time in the general election About what did you say?

Reporter) President Dissanayake told reporters after voting that he believed this election was “an important election that will be an important turning point for Sri Lanka.” Also, when the voting results came out, he posted a brief statement on social media X and said, “Thank you to everyone who voted for Renaissance.” In other words, it suggests that a new era, an era of reform, will arrive.

Measles vaccine (file photo)

host) global village today one egg plant tidings more Let’s see. last year jeon globally measles the patient many increased as You showed up?

Reporter) That’s right. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new estimated data on the 15th. In 2023, the number of measles infections worldwide was estimated to reach 10.3 million. This is a 20% increase compared to the previous year, 2022.

host) measles the patient like this increased the reason What is it?

Reporter) WHO pointed out that the number of measles cases has increased due to lack of vaccines, that is, immunization. Measles is one of the most contagious viruses. Measles can be prevented by receiving two doses of the measles vaccine. However, according to WHO, last year, 83% of children around the world received the first measles vaccination, but only 74% received the second dose. WHO pointed out that in order to prevent the spread of measles in the community, the rate of completion of the second vaccination must be more than 95%.

host) vaccine vaccination rate to the country according to difference Was there?

Reporter) Yes, there was quite a gap in vaccination rates. Last year, 57 countries experienced large-scale or disruptive measles outbreaks. This is an increase of approximately 60% compared to the 36 countries of the previous year. There has been a significant increase in measles cases, particularly in Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific. Nearly half of large-scale or disruptive outbreaks have occurred in Africa.

host) then, With measles life losing People too There must be a lot?

Reporter) Yes, according to WHO data, the number of people who lost their lives to measles last year was 107,500, an 8% decrease from the previous year. However, WHO pointed out that the problem is that most of the deaths were children under the age of five. Also, even if you contract measles and recover, it can leave lifelong aftereffects. In particular, infants and young children are at the highest risk of serious complications from measles. These include blindness, pneumonia, and encephalitis.

host) In America now around measles hanging people See also It’s hard? but world everywhere like this many person To measles caught and also Dying There is.

Reporter) That’s right. WHO aims to eliminate measles worldwide by 2030. However, this report shows that achieving the goal will not be easy. A total of 82 countries have achieved or maintained measles elimination by the end of 2023. In the case of North Korea, it was certified as a ‘measles eradication country’ by WHO in 2018. However, according to a report released by WHO last August, the measles vaccination rate in 2023 was confirmed to be 28%, a significant drop from 67% the previous year.

host) WHOIs new Shame Putting it out what Did you reveal?

Reporter) WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “The measles vaccine has saved more lives than any other vaccine over the past 50 years.” He said, “To save more lives and protect people in the most vulnerable areas, everyone, no matter where they live, must do their part.” He emphasized that we need to invest in getting people vaccinated. WHO said urgent and focused efforts are needed from countries and health partners to provide two doses of measles vaccine, especially to children in vulnerable environments.

host) global village today Finished. Hyunsook Kim I was a reporter.