2021年7月22日木曜日

at 18:30 (JST), July 22

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/20210722183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : organizer just a day
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210722_12/

The Tokyo Games organizers have sacked one of the directors of the opening ceremony just a day before the event. They say Kobayashi Kentaro made anti-Semitic remarks as part of a comedy act in the 1990s.

It comes after an international Jewish human rights organization took aim at Kobayashi's comments, which were related to the Holocaust. The Simon Wiesenthal Center said nobody has the right to mock the victims of the Nazi genocide.

In the same statement, Rabbi Abraham Cooper said "Any association of this person to the Tokyo Olympics would insult the memory of six million Jews".

President of the organizing committee Hashimoto Seiko apologized for the latest scandal to hit the Games. Kobayashi was also helping to direct the closing ceremony.

The move follows the decision to cut music from the opening ceremony by a composer under fire for abusing classmates as a student.


Key words : expert critical level
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210721_24/

A panel of experts advising the Tokyo Metropolitan Government on the coronavirus says infections could surge to a critical level if the pace of increase picks up further.

The panel on Wednesday maintained its assessment of infections in the capital at the highest of its four levels.

The seven-day average of new cases on Tuesday stood at 1,170, up 50-percent from a week earlier. Experts said the virus is spreading faster than during the third wave of infections.

If the pace of increase continues, the seven-day average will be about 1,743 next Tuesday and 2,598 the week after, far surpassing the third-wave peak of 1,816 marked in January.
Panel members expressed strong concern, saying if more viruses are replaced by variants and the pace of increase speeds up, the seven-day average could top the third-wave peak in less than two weeks.

They also said 2,388 people were hospitalized as of Tuesday, and that the figure had doubled in roughly a month. Of those hospitalized, 60 were in serious condition.

Experts said if new cases keep growing, the healthcare system will become overwhelmed. They stressed the urgency of setting up a system to keep track of those in hospitals, staying at accommodation facilities or recovering at home.


Key words : china flood 25 people
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210722_01/

Floods caused by record torrential rainfall in central China have killed at least 25 people, while seven others are reported missing. More than 1.2 million people have been affected by the disaster.

The Chinese government has dispatched military personnel to the city of Zhengzhou in Henan Province to engage in rescue efforts.

State-run CCTV and others report that downpours have been pounding the city on and off since Saturday. The city experienced a record hourly rain of more than 200 millimeters on Tuesday afternoon.

Twelve people died in a flooded subway line in the city.

The floods have caused mudslides and toppled many homes.

Zhengzhou is a production base for foreign companies such as Japanese automaker Nissan. The company said it suspended operations on Wednesday.

Officials warn that rising water levels in rivers in the city may cause more floods.


Key words : australian chosen
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210721_34/

Australia's Brisbane has been chosen as the host city of the 2032 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.

The International Olympic Committee made the decision at its session in Tokyo on Wednesday. Brisbane in southeastern Australia was the sole candidate for the Games.

Before the vote, the delegation from the city made its last presentation. They said they will operate the Games in a sustainable manner as existing facilities will account for more than 80 percent of the venues. They also stressed full financial support from the Australian government.

In the vote, 72 of the 80 members who attended were in favor of Brisbane hosting the Games.

It will be the third time for Australia to host the Summer Games. The 2000 Games were held in Sydney and the 1956 Games in Melbourne.

Preparations for next year's Winter Games in Beijing were reported at the session. Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr, who heads the IOC's coordination commission, disclosed a plan to hold a test event at the end of this year, inviting athletes and officials from around the world.


Key words : police hong kong
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210721_26/

Hong Kong police have arrested another senior editor of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper for allegedly violating the national security law. The newspaper was known for its critical stance toward Beijing.

Police said on Wednesday that they arrested a 51-year-old former executive editor-in-chief on suspicion of endangering national security by colluding with foreign forces.

Police did not disclose specific details of the allegations. They said he was arrested in relation to a case involving another senior editor, who had been arrested in June for allegedly endangering national security through his articles.

Apple Daily was closed down on June 24 after its assets were frozen.

But police have been continuing to detain former senior members of the newspaper. On June 27, they arrested another senior member at a Hong Kong airport while he was attempting to leave for Britain.

Eight people related to Apple Daily have been arrested so far.


Key words : honda
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210721_30/

Honda Motor says it will halt production at a key plant in central Japan next month. The firm says the global semiconductor shortage is to blame.

Honda says the factory in Mie Prefecture will halt output from August 2 to 6. The plant assembles about 500,000 vehicles each year. The company previously stopped production temporarily in February and May.

Meanwhile, Toyota Motor says it too will suspend some assembly lines at a plant in Aichi Prefecture for the same period.

The spread of the coronavirus in southeast Asia has prompted many automakers with plants in the region to pause production there as well.


Key words : suzuki
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210721_31/

Several Japanese automakers are joining hands to speed up the development of low-cost electric mini vehicles. Suzuki Motor and Daihatsu Motor are set to take part in a joint venture led by Toyota Motor.

Executives from the companies say Suzuki and Daihatsu each plan to acquire 10 percent of the issued shares of the joint venture. It's developing technologies such as those required for electric trucks.

Suzuki and Daihatsu excel in mini vehicles. By joining the initiative, they also plan to introduce a system to make distribution more efficient by using vehicle telecommunication technologies.

Two truck makers, Isuzu Motors and Hino Motors, are already investors in the joint venture.

The automakers aim to widen the application of so-called CASE technologies in areas such as connected cars and autonomous driving from mini vehicles to trucks.

Toyota President Toyoda Akio spoke at an online news conference. He said mini vehicle businesses are pressed to undergo a major transformation in the face of CASE technologies and amid calls for a carbon-neutral society.

He said mini vehicles must remain, adding that the participation of Suzuki and Daihatsu will boost collaboration, not only for commercial vehicles, but for mini vehicles as well.


Key words : indonesia extended remain high
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210721_40/

Indonesia is extending pandemic restrictions until Sunday as infections remain high, the controls were originally set to end on Tuesday.

The government hopes to gradually ease curbs from next week, if cases drop in the wake of the worst COVID outbreak in Asia.

The country confirmed nearly 34,000 new infections on Wednesday, and recorded 1,383 deaths.
Case counts have soared as the Delta variant spreads.

Tough restrictions started on July 3 in Java, where the capital Jakarta is located, and also at the tourist destination of Bali. Staff at non-essential businesses have been working from home.

Thailand is also seeing a sharp spike with a daily record of over 13,000 cases on Wednesday as it struggles to contain the rapid spread of the Delta strain.

The surge comes as authorities imposed tougher restrictions in 13 hard-hit areas including the capital.

Public transport has been ordered to cap passengers at 50 percent of capacity. All domestic flights to and from Bangkok and other high-risk provinces have been suspended starting Wednesday.

The government has extended a curfew for another two weeks until the beginning of August while encouraging people to work from home.


Key words : myanmar
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210721_32/

Japan plans to donate oxygen concentrators to Myanmar, which faces an acute shortage of oxygen for medical use amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Myanmar has seen coronavirus infections spread rapidly since June and numbers of deaths hit record highs on a daily basis.

The shortage of medical oxygen has become serious as the country remains in confusion following a February military coup.

Japan's government decided on Wednesday to send up to 700 oxygen concentrators to Myanmar heath care facilities that treat coronavirus patients.

The government is to provide about 900,000 dollars in grant money to procure the concentrators through a UN agency and deliver them to Myanmar as soon as possible.

Japan also plans to donate 14 ambulances to Myanmar.


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