Asian View
Key words : GDP jump
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201116_11/
Japanese government officials say the country's GDP made its biggest jump in 40 years in the latest quarter.
The rebound follows a massive contraction due to the pandemic.
Japan's government says GDP surged by an annualized 21.4 percent in the July-to-September period.
That's the largest increase since comparable data became available in 1980. But it follows a historic plunge in the previous quarter amid fallout from the coronavirus.
The overall economy has yet to get fully back on track, however, and is still far from pre-pandemic levels.
Key words : leaders of 15
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201115_02/
Leaders of 15 Asia-Pacific nations are set to agree on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, on Sunday, without the participation of India.
Ten ASEAN countries, Japan, China, South Korea, India, Australia, and New Zealand have been negotiating on the free-trade zone since 2012. But India is not signing the pact, out of concern about a possible negative impact of low tariffs on domestic industries.
The leaders of the 15 other countries are to agree on the pact at an online summit on Sunday. Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide is expected to call for cooperation in Japan's efforts to expand a free and fair economic zone, including India's participation in the future.
The RCEP agreement is forecast to allow Japan to maintain its tariffs on five items it regards as domestically important, including rice, beef, pork, and dairy products. Japan is predicted to phase out its levies on such imports as frozen processed vegetables from China.
China is expected to abolish in phases its tariffs on Japanese scallops, sake, and distilled spirits. South Korea's duties on Japanese sake and distilled spirits are also forecast to go away in phases.
Under the agreement, tariffs on industrial products are also expected to be abolished or decreased.
Key words : anti-government
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201115_09/
Anti-government protesters in Thailand have turned their backs on a motorcade carrying King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
Demonstrators gathered in central Bangkok on Saturday in the latest of a series of mass protests that began in July. They are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and reforms of the monarchy.
Protesters turned their backs as the king's motorcade drove by. They also gave a three-finger salute, a symbol of resistance to autocratic politics.
Last month, protesters flashed the hand sign at a motorcade carrying people connected with the monarchy. But it is very rare for them to use the gesture toward the king's motorcade.
Criticizing the monarchy has long been considered taboo in Thailand.
A 26-year-old protester said she wants the king to know that people are frustrated. She said the government has done nothing despite the long-running demonstrations and the protests will continue until their demands are met.
Supporters of the king have also been rallying, fueling concerns that the divisions between the protesters and supporters of the monarchy will deepen even further.
Key words : abducted fresh appeal
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201115_16/
Members of the family of a Japanese woman abducted to North Korea 43 years ago have made a fresh appeal for the return of all abductees.
The family of Yokota Megumi spoke at an event in the city of Niigata, on the Japan Sea coast, on Sunday.
Yokota was abducted by North Korean agents on November 15, 1977 at age 13 while on her way home from junior high school. Her 56th birthday was last month.
Participants observed a minute of silence in memory of her father, Shigeru, who died in June.
A video message from Yokota's mother, Sakie, was then played. She said her husband deeply regretted that he couldn't see his daughter.
She urged the government to make a serious commitment to dialogue between the leaders of Japan and North Korea to bring the abductees home. She added that she was having difficulty moving around and expressing her voice because of age, but will continue fighting.
Yokota's younger brother, Tetsuya, said he always hears his sister's voice asking the family for help. He said he wants to see his mother and sister holding each other. He noted that they want to get all the abduction victims back immediately at a time.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu said it was extremely regrettable that Megumi's father could not see his daughter while he was alive.
Kato noted that Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide last week asked US President-elect Joe Biden for cooperation in resolving the abductions issue, one of the Suga administration's top priorities.
Kato said the government will do all it can to have the abductees returned, while working closely with the United States and other countries.
After the event, Yokota Tetsuya urged the government to show results, saying it is the main entity responsible for tackling the issue. He said he wants to tell his sister to persevere as they will rescue her, no matter what.
Japan's government says North Korean agents abducted at least 17 Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 1980s. Five were repatriated after a bilateral summit in 2002. But the rest, including Yokota Megumi, remain unaccounted for.
Key words : myanmar
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201115_03/
Myanmar's governing party, led by the country's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, has been confirmed to have won a landslide victory in a general election held on November 8.
According to final results released by the Election Commission on Saturday, the National League for Democracy won 396 of the 476 contested seats in parliament.
The leading opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party took 33 seats. It has close ties to the former military junta.
Other parties representing ethnic minorities won a total of 47 seats.
Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD won 83 percent of the seats up for grabs. That's more than the seats it secured in the previous election five years ago, putting an end to a military-led government that had lasted for more than half a century.
Aung San Suu Kyi has thanked supporters in a message, but has not yet declared an election victory.
The new government is expected to be formed in March of next year. The NLD is calling for support from parties representing ethnic minorities.
Over the last five years, the government has given priority to fostering ethnic reconciliation and revising the Constitution that guarantees the military's influence on politics. But it has been criticized for producing few results.
Key words : india celebrate
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201115_06/
People in India celebrated Diwali, or festival of lights, on Saturday amid concern over a surge in the number of coronavirus cases.
The Hindu festival is typically celebrated with fireworks and firecrackers. People also enjoy shopping during the holiday season.
Markets in New Delhi were as crowded as in the usual year with shoppers wearing face masks. A woman said she was scared of the virus just like others, but she added she cannot help but go shopping on Diwali.
India has reported more than 8.7 million coronavirus cases -- the second highest figure after the United States. In New Delhi, the number of daily new cases topped 8,000 earlier this month.
Key words : reduce plastic waste
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201114_16/
A growing number of companies in Japan are adopting label-less plastic bottles in an effort to reduce plastic waste.
A drink manufacturer, Ito En, will begin selling some of its green tea products in label-free bottles starting Monday.
The bottles will come in 24-bottle cases which will be sold online and in supermarkets. Mandatory ingredients labeling will be printed on the packaging.
The company says it plans to do the same with other products after studying feedback from consumers.
Online retailer Askul started selling a 2-liter bottle of water in label-less containers on Wednesday. The bottles are lighter as less plastic is used to make them.
The company says a growing number of companies are also selling label-less coffee and tea drinks on its website.
Askul official Suno Jun said people are consuming more bottled drinks at home amid the coronavirus pandemic, leading to an increase in plastic waste. He said his company hopes to respond to the needs of environmentally-conscious consumers.
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