2020年10月29日木曜日

at 18:30 (JST), October 29

Asian View

"Asian View" is a five-minute news segment broadcast by NHK WORLD-JAPAN. It features the latest news and deep analysis from Japan and the rest of Asia. Listen to “Asian View" and get the latest information from a region that's playing an increasingly important role in the world.




https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20201029183000_english_1.mp3

Key words : sony
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201028_39/

Japanese electronics giant Sony has raised its net profit forecast for this fiscal year, citing brisk demand for game software and music distribution. It increased the target by 50 percent to about 7.7 billion dollars.

Gaming sales increased 22 percent for the April-to-September period. The industry has been one of the few to benefit during the pandemic as more people choose to stay home instead of going out.

Sony Chief Financial Officer Totoki Hiroki says this change in habit has had a positive impact on the company's video game unit.


Key words : mike practice
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201029_02/

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has lashed out at China for its practice of giving massive loans to other nations.

Pompeo held talks with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and others in Sri Lanka on Wednesday.

He announced plans to provide financial assistance to help the country tackle the new coronavirus outbreak and other issues.

Meeting with reporters, he called China's infrastructure investment in the Indian Ocean island "bad deals, violations of sovereignty" and branded the Chinese leadership "a predator."

Sri Lanka in 2017 agreed to lease its southern Hambantota port to China for 99 years in a bid to write off a 1.1 billion dollar debt on the construction cost.

Critics call the deal a classic case of debt trap.

The Chinese embassy in Colombo released a statement, accusing the United States of taking the opportunity of the secretary of state's visit to interfere in China-Sri Lanka relations.

The United States, Japan and other nations regard Sri Lanka as an important strategic hub for a free and open Indo-Pacific region linking the Middle East and Asia, while the island state is expected to play a key role in China's "Belt and Road" initiative.


Key words : airline Hawaii
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201028_23/

Two major Japanese airlines say they may increase the number of flights between Japan and Hawaii, now that the US Pacific state has decided to ease entry restrictions for visitors from Japan.

Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways say they will monitor customer demand and consider increasing the number of flights.

The two carriers suspended all their flights between Japan and Hawaii at one point, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

JAL resumed flights in August. ANA resumed flights earlier this month. Both companies are targeting corporate expats and students. Each airline now operates two round-trip flights every month. That is expected to continue in November.

Hawaii has been a popular destination for Japanese tourists. A number of Japanese-affiliated hotels and other businesses are located there. Expectations for the return of Japanese tourists are high.


Key words : cambodia
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201028_31/

Cambodia's central bank has put into service a digital banking system that enables users to make payments and transfer money with their smartphones.

The National Bank of Cambodia on Wednesday announced the launch of the Bakong system.

Bakong users can exchange electronic data that have the same value as cash, if they make bank deposits to corroborate their transactions.

The system developed with the help of a Japanese venture firm features blockchain technology that stores transaction data online.

The central bank is hoping the system would help upgrade financial services in Cambodia, where many people do not have bank accounts, and yet more and more have smartphones.

Bakong is considered similar to digital currencies that countries are rushing to develop and test for use just like their traditional cash versions.


Key words : members of the media
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201028_16/

Members of the media got to experience the high-speed potential of Japan's next-generation bullet train.

They rode it for a test run that clocked in a blazing 380 kilometers per hour, which is 60 kilometers per hour faster than the current trains.

It was the media's first ride on the ALFA-X train. It is a trial version of the new bullet train that East Japan Railway Company is developing.

It has a distinct front section longer than previous models to help it pierce through the wind.

The train is also equipped with a new suspension system to reduce vibration.

The ride was mostly smooth without significant shaking. A plastic bottle placed on a table hardly moved.

JR East plans to operate the new model at speeds of up to 360 kilometers per hour.

The company wants to shorten travel times on the Hokkaido Shinkansen line when it is extended to Sapporo in fiscal 2030.

It currently connects Tokyo with the southern part of Hokkaido Prefecture.


Key words : suga pledge all option
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201028_34/

Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has pledged to pursue all options for Japan to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

In the Lower House of the Diet on Wednesday, lawmakers asked Suga about his policy speech on Monday.

The head of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, Edano Yukio, welcomed Suga's plan to realize a net zero carbon society by 2050, but he urged Suga not to boost reliance on nuclear energy in achieving the goal.

Suga said the government aims to thoroughly save energy and introduce renewable energy to a maximum to reduce the level of reliance on nuclear power as much as possible.

Suga added that achieving a carbon-neutral society by 2050 will not be easy. He stressed the importance of efforts by the energy sector, which is responsible for more than 80 percent of greenhouse gases. He said the government will pursue all options, including not only renewable energy but also nuclear power, and promised intensive debates with no foregone conclusion.

Edano also raised the issue of six scholars who were not appointed as new members of the Science Council, Japan's leading academic body. Asking whether it was Suga's own decision not to appoint them, he also asked who made the decision and on what basis.

The law governing the council calls for the prime minister to appoint new members, based on their selection and recommendation by the council.

Suga said the government's consistent view is that appointments are not necessarily required to be made exactly as recommended by the council, and the Cabinet Legislation Bureau approved this view.

He said he made the decision as a person authorized to make appointments. He said he did so, bearing in mind that a state-funded institution must have the support and understanding of the public. He also stressed the need for diversity of members, with few chosen from among younger candidates or from the private sector and also the lack of balance in terms of universities or where they came from.

Noda Seiko, Acting Secretary General of the main governing Liberal Democratic Party, said Japan's economy continues to be in a severe situation due to the coronavirus pandemic. She asked Suga how he plans to rebuild the economy.

Suga said he will promote the government's Go To campaigns, while making sure that anti-infection measures are in place, to support tourism, restaurants and events.

He also said opening the country for international travelers, which is crucial for economic revival, will be resumed in phases in a manner compatible with the prevention of new virus infections.

On diplomacy, Noda asked how Suga plans to develop relations with countries such as the United States and China.

Suga said the Japan-US alliance is the centerpiece of the country's foreign policy and national security. He pledged to deepen ties with the US in dealing with North Korea and other regional issues, regardless of the outcome of the US presidential election.

Suga added that stable relations with China are very important not only for both countries but also for the region and the international community. He said Japan will say what it ought to say and will work with China on matters of shared concern.

He said he is resolved to develop trust and cooperative ties with other nations and carry out active diplomacy.


Key words : moon by 2050
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201028_29/

South Korea's President Moon Jae-in says the country aims to be carbon neutral by 2050.

Moon made the pledge in a budget speech to the National Assembly on Wednesday.

He said the country will act aggressively to deal with climate change with the international community.

He expressed intent to create new industries and jobs by promoting eco-friendly infrastructure development and use of electric vehicles with investment of about 7.1 billion dollars in the next fiscal year.

Moon's remarks came amid calls by lawmakers of the ruling party for concrete measures against climate change, following Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide's pledge on Monday that his government will aim for a carbon-neutral society by 2050.


Key words : UN secretary welcome Japan and
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201029_08/

The United Nations has urged countries to take further steps to fight global warming, after Japan and South Korea announced they will aim to cut their greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050.

At a news conference on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General welcomed the announcements separately made by Japan and South Korea earlier this week.

The UN official said the announcements are "a very positive step in the right direction. He added, "We hope that these countries that are leading by example will encourage others, especially the largest emitters, to follow suit."

The UN says net zero emissions will need to be achieved by 2050 to keep the rise in the average global temperature below 1.5 degrees.

Britain and Germany have already made pledges for this target. China, the world's largest emitter of carbon dioxide, said last month it will aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.

However, the United States, India and Russia, which are the second, third and fourth largest emitters, have not set such goals.


Key words : Japan chinese city
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201028_08/

The Japanese government has given letters of appreciation to organizations in the COVID-hit Chinese city of Wuhan for helping evacuate Japanese citizens trapped in the city's lockdown early this year.

A Japanese embassy official handed the letter from Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu to each of the four organizations on Tuesday.

They helped the Japanese government return its citizens from Wuhan, which was closed after the coronavirus outbreak was reported. A total of 828 people returned to Japan by five chartered flights in January and February.

The Chinese organizations made arrangements for busses, drivers, and permits from local authorities for Japanese people in and around the city to be able to reach the airport despite traffic restrictions.

The representative of a company who studied in Japan said he was impressed and honored by the letter. The man said he only did what he had to do. He said the letter made him feel a sense of caring for the people of Japan and China.


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