at 18:30 (JST), December 21

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/20221221183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : accusing death toll
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221221_01/

A Chinese expert has suggested that coronavirus deaths in China do not include people with underlying conditions who died after getting seriously ill from the virus.

Peking University First Hospital's head of infectious diseases, Wang Guiqiang, gave the government's definition of COVID deaths at a government news conference on Tuesday.

He said the leading cause of death among the infected remains underlying conditions.

His remarks have drawn criticism on Chinese social media. Users are accusing government officials of underreporting the death toll, saying officials are evading responsibility and using a "statistical trick."

Case numbers have been rapidly rising across the country.

Health authorities reported two deaths on Sunday and five more on Monday.

But Hong Kong media report deaths among those infected are soaring. They say dozens of vehicles carrying bodies were seen lining up at a crematory in Beijing.

Key words : taliban
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221221_05/

Afghanistan's Taliban have reversed course and suspended female students from attending universities, a move likely to attract further international criticism over the group's attitude toward women's rights.

The Taliban announced on Tuesday that female students' access to public and private universities will be banned until further notice. They gave no detailed reasons for the policy shift.

The Islamist group prohibited girls from attending secondary schools after retaking power in August last year, citing the lack of a correct environment. The move drew criticism from Western and other countries.

But university education had remained open for Afghan women. In October, many women took entrance exams in the capital Kabul and elsewhere hoping to study.

Key words : learned hiroshima
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221221_02/

NHK has learned that arrangements are being made for the leaders of the Group of Seven nations to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum when they gather for the G7 summit in Hiroshima next May.

If the plan is realized, it would be the first such visit by all the G7 leaders at one time.

People in Hiroshima are calling on the Japanese government to invite world leaders to visit the museum to learn the true horrors of the atomic bombing of the city.

Japanese government officials are carefully negotiating, as some nuclear nations were not initially enthusiastic about the plan.

Government sources say the G7 leaders are now sharing the notion that they should send a strong message for peace, amid growing concerns over Russia's possible use of nuclear weapons in its invasion of Ukraine.

In 2016, former US President Barack Obama visited the museum when he was in Japan for the Ise-Shima G7 summit.

Key words : beijing tighten hong kong
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/videos/20221205135534590/

As Beijing tightens its grip on Hong Kong, teachers face mounting pressure to promote patriotism and a sense of belonging to China. And more and more of them are choosing to leave the profession behind.