at 18:30 (JST), August 02

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/20210802183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : tokyo volunteer
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210802_07/

A resurgence in coronavirus infections in Japan has prompted some doctors to rethink their plans to volunteer for the Olympic Games as medical staff.

Doctor Omomo Taketomo, the deputy director of Heisei Tateishi Hospital in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward, is scheduled to volunteer his services at an Olympic venue in Koto Ward on Wednesday.

But Omomo said he is considering canceling the plan as staff at his hospital have been very busy dealing with coronavirus patients.

The doctor said he was looking forward to the Games as a sports fan, and willing to cooperate as a volunteer.

But Omomo said that his job as a medical professional is to provide emergency care and vaccinations on the front line. He added that he is concerned his absence from the hospital could put additional pressure on other staff.

Tokyo Games organizing committee officials say that it's difficult to make up for volunteer doctors who decide not to help out, and that they will manage appropriately with current medical staff.

Key words : capital and okinawa emergency
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210802_02/

Tokyo confirmed more than 3,000 new cases on Sunday. There is no end in sight to the spread of infections.

Tokyo's 3,058 cases on Sunday is a rise by 1,295 from a week ago.

Officials say 101 people are in serious condition -- the highest figure since February.

Tokyo is currently under a coronavirus state of emergency, and authorities are asking people to avoid non-essential outings.

But sports fans hoping to catch a glimpse of Olympic athletes have been gathering outside venues. Many people gathered on a bridge to get a glimpse of the cycling BMX freestyle on Sunday.

The state of emergency in the capital and Okinawa is being expanded on Monday to four other prefectures -- Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa and Osaka. Across Japan, more than 10,100 cases were confirmed on Sunday.

Prefectural governors have agreed that they urgently need to work with the central government to prevent an explosive surge in infections.

Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko said, "There is no time to lose to stop the spread of the virus. It is necessary to curb the flow of people and promote vaccinations at the same time."

The governors are strongly urging people to cancel or postpone cross-prefectural travel during the summer holidays. They also hope to increase awareness of the effectiveness of vaccines among the young and middle-aged.

Key words : myanmar senior general reported
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210802_20/

Myanmar's military says it has formed a caretaker government in which Senior General Min Aung Hlaing will serve as prime minister.

State-run television reported the move on Sunday, exactly six months after the military threw out the democratically elected government.

The announcement came from the State Administration Council, set up by the military after February's coup.
In a televised speech the same day, Min Aung Hlaing said a general election will be held by August 2023.

Local news agency Myanmar Now quoted critics as saying the military's move is both a sign of its weakness and evidence of its determination to hold onto power.

It said local and international observers viewed last year's election result as reflecting the desire of the majority of Myanmar's people. Aung San Suu Kyi's party won a landslide in that vote.

The National Unity Government formed by ousted lawmakers supporting Aung San Suu Kyi has yet to comment on the development.

Myanmar has seen rapid surge in coronavirus infections. At least 6,000 people reportedly died from the virus last month, but local media suggest the real number of infections and deaths is much higher. Medical services have effectively collapsed.

Economic turmoil has worsened.
In the largest city of Yangon, the price of eggs has doubled as people rush to buy them amid rumors saying they stave off infection.

Meanwhile, foreign affairs chiefs of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations began a series of online talks on Monday. They are expected to discuss the implementation of a five-point consensus on Myanmar agreed on at the ASEAN Leaders' Meeting in April.

It calls for an immediate cessation of violence in the country and the dispatch of a special envoy to promote dialogue among concerned parties.

Key words : myanmar 940 people
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210801_03/

Sunday marks six months since Myanmar's military seized power in a coup.

Deaths are rising amid the continued crackdown on anti-coup protesters, while the spread of coronavirus infection is adding another layer of turmoil to the country.

The military took over in February by alleging fraud in the November election that was won by the National League for Democracy led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

Sporadic protests by citizens continue across the country, with civil servants and medical workers refusing to do their jobs.

The military is responding with thorough crackdowns.

A local human rights group says that as of Saturday, 940 people had been killed and 5,444 others had been detained.

Fighting has broken out between armed citizens and the military across the country. Local media have reported multiple cases that resulted in a number of civilian deaths.

Meanwhile, the country has recently seen a surge in new cases of the coronavirus.

Myanmar health authorities say the average daily tally of new infections in the country for July topped 4,500. The death toll for last month reached 6,000.

But local media report that the actual numbers of infections and deaths likely exceed the reported figures, as there have been days recently when the percentage of positive cases among tested people passed 40.

The country's weak healthcare system is in a state of collapse amid the continued unrest since the coup, coupled with the coronavirus crisis.

Many of the COVID-19 patients are forced to recuperate at home.

The country is also facing a critical shortage of oxygen for medical use. People are forming long lines outside oxygen plants to buy oxygen for family members who are suffering from the virus.

Bodies have been brought to local cremation sites, which have reached their capacity.

Key words : sprinter punish
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210802_30/

NHK has learned that a sprinter from Belarus, who has refused to head home, is likely to be accepted by Poland as an asylum seeker.

The Olympian says she faces punishment for publicly criticizing the national coaching team.

Krystsina Tsimanouskaya was seen entering the Polish Embassy in Tokyo.

Sources say Polish officials have offered to accept her claim for asylum.

In a video message posted before she was taken to Tokyo's Haneda airport Sunday night by her team, the sprinter appealed to the IOC for assistance.

Krystsina Tsimanouskaya said, "I am asking the International Olympic Committee for help. There is pressure against me and they are trying to get me out of the country without my permission. So, I am asking the IOC to get involved in this."

The 24-year-old earlier told NHK she was worried her earlier comments would be seen as criticism of the Belarusian government.

She said she was about to be forcibly sent back home. She had been due to compete on Monday.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's violent crackdown on anti-government protesters has drawn widespread international criticism.

Key words : southeast online talk joint statement
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210802_01/

Foreign affairs chiefs of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations will begin a series of online talks on Monday. Topics will include Beijing's increasing activities in the disputed South China Sea.

The high-ranking diplomats from all ASEAN countries will meet on the first day.

A draft joint statement obtained by NHK expresses concern over issues in the South China Sea, in an apparent reference to China's increasing maritime activities. China and other parties have overlapping territorial claims in the waters.

Tension has been rising in the South China Sea as Beijing has been militarizing islands there. More than 200 Chinese fishing ships were also spotted near the Philippines earlier this year.

At issue is whether ASEAN can send a strong message to deter China from taking such actions.

On Myanmar, the delegates are likely to discuss implementation of a five-point consensus, agreed on at the ASEAN Leaders' Meeting in April.

It calls for an immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar, and sending a special envoy to facilitate mediation of the dialogue among all parties. Whether delegates can make progress to appoint the envoy is another focus of the talks.

The series of foreign ministerial meetings will continue through Saturday.

They include the East Asia Summit, which will bring together the ASEAN nations, Japan, the United States and China, among others. The ASEAN Regional Forum, or ARF, will also be held to discuss security issues.

Key words : philippine reimpose
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210731_10/

The Philippine government says it will reimpose a strict lockdown in Manila next week following the detection of the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus.

Officials announced on Friday that the capital region will be under the toughest possible restrictions based on a four-level scale from August 6 to 20.

Manila was most recently under the strictest version of lockdown in March.

As a general rule, people will not be allowed to go outside except to shop for groceries and other daily necessities.

Businesses will be asked to minimize the number of people working on site.

The presidential office said the decision was a painful one, but that it was necessary to stem the spread of the Delta variant.

Coronavirus case numbers have been rising across the Philippines in recent weeks, reaching 8,562 on Friday.

The emergence of the Delta strain this month is adding to concerns. So far, health authorities have recorded 216 cases involving the more transmissible variant. Experts estimate the real number is higher.

Key words : toyota hydrogen
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210801_07/

Toyota Motor Corporation together with a major construction company will begin a project using hydrogen produced with geothermal energy.

Obayashi Corporation built a hydrogen plant in Kokonoe town in Oita Prefecture in Kyushu.

The plant uses electricity created by geothermal energy to decompose water to produce hydrogen.

By using this method, carbon dioxide will not be generated during its production process.

The hydrogen will then be supplied to Toyota's factory in Fukuoka Prefecture in Kyushu to be used with fuel cells in forklifts.

The car maker has already put this method into good use.

The company is utilizing the hydrogen as fuel for a vehicle equipped with a hydrogen engine at a race being held in Oita from Saturday.

Toyota has been selling hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in the market as it eyes hydrogen as a next generation energy source.

Toyota's president Toyoda Akio said that the company will look for more partners to realize a hydrogen-driven society.

Toyoda also said his company will present more options to create a Japanese style of achieving carbon neutrality.