at 18:30 (JST), February 27

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/20230227183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : finance ministers fail objected
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230226_04/

India has revealed that the G20 nations were unable to issue a joint statement after their meeting because China and Russia objected to the inclusion of a passage condemning Moscow's war in Ukraine.

The finance ministers and central bank governors of the Group of 20 nations wrapped up their meeting in the southern city of Bengaluru on Saturday, after they failed to reach a consensus.

India chaired the meeting. The country's Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, spoke to reporters after the meeting. She said opposition from China and Russia prevented the nations from issuing a joint statement.

She revealed that China and Russia opposed the inclusion of a statement, which said that most of the members strongly condemn the war in Ukraine. They also rejected the inclusion of a line, which stressed that the situation in Ukraine is causing immense human suffering and exacerbating existing fragilities in the global economy.

Those passages were included in a declaration that was unanimously adopted at the G20 summit in Indonesia last year. China and Russia approved that declaration.

Sitharaman noted that Russia and China explained that they had no problem with the passages then, but that they cannot accept them now.

Key words : xi invited belarusian
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230226_01/

China's Foreign Ministry says President Xi Jinping has invited Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to pay a state visit from Tuesday to Thursday.

The ministry made the announcement on Saturday.

On the same day, the Belarusian presidential office said Lukashenko and Xi are scheduled to discuss the strengthening of economic cooperation between the two countries.

It also said the two leaders would focus on possible ways to respond to urgent international issues.

They are expected to confirm their countries' respective positions on the situation in Ukraine.

Ahead of the announcement, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang held telephone talks on Friday with his Belarusian counterpart Sergei Aleinik.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry says Qin explained to Aleinik the contents of a paper released on Friday detailing Beijing's stance on the situation in Ukraine.

The ministry noted how Qin stressed that China has always supported efforts to promote peaceful negotiations.

On February 17, Lukashenko visited Moscow and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The leaders discussed military cooperation between their countries.

Key words : daisuke award
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230227_01/

Japanese animation director Tsutsumi Daisuke's "Oni: Thunder God's Tale" has claimed two of the prestigious Annie Awards, which are often called the Oscars of animation.

The winners of the 50th Annie Awards were announced at a ceremony in Los Angeles on Saturday.

"Oni: Thunder God's Tale" collected the award for "Best TV/Media -- Limited Series" and another for "Best Production Design -- TV/Media."

The work is a four-part series offered on a video streaming service. It uses computer graphics to create an atmosphere like a puppet show.

The story is set in a world of gods and spirits from Japanese mythology. It depicts a courageous, lively girl named Onari, who struggles to find her true powers to confront the menacing presence called Oni.

Tsutsumi told reporters that he is really happy that of all the high-quality nominees, his work was selected for the awards.

He said given that people all over the world can watch Japan-themed productions through streaming and other online services, it is important to create with sincerity.

Meanwhile, the award for Best Feature went to "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio," which reinvents the classic tale of the wooden marionette that is magically brought to life.

Key words : families message kim
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230226_13/

The families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korean agents have released a new message for the country's leader Kim Jong Un. They say they will not oppose humanitarian aid if North Korea allows all the abductees to return while their parents are still alive.

This is the first time the relatives' group has mentioned humanitarian assistance in a message for the North Korean leader. The two previous messages were issued in 2019 and 2021.

The message states that the group will not object to the Japanese government providing humanitarian aid to North Korea if the country repatriates the abductees while their parents are still living.

It also proposes that Tokyo and Pyongyang work together to resolve various humanitarian issues.

The document calls on the North's leader to agree to meet with his Japanese counterpart as soon as possible, and immediately allow all the abductees to return home.

The members of the relatives' group and their supporters met in Tokyo on Sunday. They discussed how to achieve a prompt resolution of the issue, as the abductees' parents are aging. A number of these parents have died without being reunited with their children.

The group's leader, Yokota Takuya, said the abductees have been deprived of their freedom for decades, and the North's acts that violate human rights and humanitarian principles must never be tolerated.

He urged the Japanese government to hold a bilateral summit as soon as possible to bring back the remaining abductees. He added that they will not give up and will continue to raise their voices.

Yokota's older sister, Megumi, was abducted 46 years ago when she was 13.

Japan's government says North Korean agents abducted at least 17 citizens in the 1970s and 1980s. The whereabouts of 12 remain unknown.

Key words : parents lgbtq
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230227_06/

Parents of LGBTQ children in Japan have called for the enactment of legislation that clearly stipulates discrimination is unacceptable. The group held an online news conference on Sunday.

The event was organized after Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio dismissed a top aide earlier this month for making discriminatory remarks about same-sex couples.

The issue prompted a non-partisan group of lawmakers to initiate a bill that facilitates understanding of LGBTQ people.

But some members of the main governing Liberal Democratic Party are opposed to the inclusion of language in the law that clearly states "discrimination is unacceptable."

Parents' group members said many LGBTQ children face serious discrimination and some have even taken their own lives.

They called for the establishment of basic rules stating discrimination is prohibited.

A woman from Tokyo with a young child said the only way to protect children is to shield them from discriminatory words. She noted that children will stop using such language if adults change their mindset, and said banning discrimination by law would be a big step.

The group plans to submit a written request to the government calling for the early enactment of a law that clearly bans discrimination.

Key words : 11-year-old girl died bird flu
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230226_05/

The World Health Organization says an 11-year-old girl in Cambodia has died from bird flu. It is urging all countries to be more vigilant.

The WHO had announced on Friday that the girl and a member of her family were infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus.

The organization says it is collecting information and conducting an investigation in the country. It also says it is communicating closely with the Cambodian government.

The H5N1 bird flu strain can cause respiratory symptoms. The WHO says it is taking the situation seriously, as the death rate was more than 50 percent in the past.

It also says the global situation is worrying, given that the virus has been detected in birds all over the world. It adds reports of infection cases involving humans and other mammals have been increasing.

Key words : philippine
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230225_15/

Saturday marks the 37th anniversary of the ousting of the late Philippine dictator President Ferdinand Marcos in a pro-democracy uprising.

Civic groups held a rally at a square in central Manila where the People Power movement that toppled the dictatorship took place in 1986.

Participants mourned those who were tortured to death during Marcos' rule, and criticized his son President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., for repeatedly making remarks to justify what his father had done and whitewash the misdeeds of his regime.

A 22-year-old participant said "We've seen a systematic flow of disinformation and lies. That's why we are against historical revisionism."

Marcos Jr. said in a statement that he was one with the nation in remembering "those times of tribulation and how we came out of them united and stronger as a nation."

He said he offers "my hand of reconciliation to those with different political persuasions to come together as one in forging a better society."