at 18:30 (JST), November 08

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/20231108183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : kamikawa immediate dire situation
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231108_04/

The foreign affairs chiefs of the Group of Seven nations have discussed the conflict between Israel and Islamic group Hamas on their first day of talks in Tokyo.

The two-day meeting began on Tuesday with a working dinner. This is the first G7 foreign ministers' meeting since the fighting began one month ago.

Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko, who chairs the meeting, said, "As the international situation gets more severe and complicated, close communication around the G7 has never been more important."

Kamikawa briefed her counterparts on Japan's diplomatic efforts, including her visits to Israel and Palestinian territory.

She said the immediate release of the hostages taken by Hamas and improving the dire situation in the Gaza Strip are the top priority. She urged the other participants to persuade parties involved to agree to humanitarian pauses in the fighting.

Kamikawa mentioned Japan's plan to provide additional humanitarian assistance worth 65 million dollars. She also stressed the need to consider the future of Gaza and revitalizing the Middle East Peace Process, calling for speedier discussions under the G7 framework.

After the talks, Kamikawa told reporters that the participants had frank and in-depth discussions. She expressed hope that a joint statement now under arrangement will present a unified G7 stance on the situation in the Middle East.

On the second day, the ministers will discuss the situation in Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific.

Key words : religious accept money
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231108_06/

The Japanese government says it will not accept money that the religious group widely known as the Unification Church has offered to provide as part of a compensation package.

The group announced on Tuesday that it would entrust up to 10 billion yen, or about 66.4 million dollars, to the government. The group wants a fund to be created. It wants the money to be used to compensate people, if necessary. Some individuals say that they or their relatives fell victim to the organization's donation collection tactics or other practices.

But the government says it cannot accept the money because there are no legal grounds for it to do so. Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu suggested that compensatory money of that kind can only be provided in accordance with a legal provision.

The ruling and opposition parties are separately drafting measures aimed at helping people who claim that they were harmed by the group's practices. The parties say the religious organization's intentions are unclear.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito plan to submit their proposal in mid-November, after members of their working group interview the victims. They are thinking of taking legal steps to prevent the group from transferring its assets overseas. They may also increase the number of consultation services available to the victims.

In the opposition camp, Constitutional Democratic Party's Diet Affairs Chief Azumi Jun stressed that legal grounds need to be created to enable people to receive compensation after the organization loses its status as a religious corporation. Japan's education and culture ministry has asked a court to remove the group's status.

Azumi's party and Nippon Ishin Japan Innovation Party have both submitted bills designed to preserve the group's assets, so the funds can be used to provide compensation. They plan to ask the ruling parties to support the passage of the bills during the current Diet session.

Key words : pollution
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231107_34/

New Delhi's pollution problem threatens to spiral out of control. And many people say the bad air is making them sick.

A photo taken on Monday morning near the Indian Gate shows the landmark blanketed in smog.

But for some residents, that's the least of their worries.

A woman who spoke to NHK complained of a sore throat and headaches.

Air quality in New Delhi generally worsens at this time of year, when farmers burn their fields and religious revelers set off copious amounts of fireworks for Diwali.

The pollution has prompted New Delhi officials to suspend construction and demolition work since the end of October.

They're also attempting to contain the airborne dust with mobile water sprinklers.

Authorities suspended many school classes starting Tuesday.

And from Monday, they'll try to reduce emissions with an "odd-even" traffic system.

Roads will be open on odd-numbered days of the week for people whose license plates end with an odd number. And vice versa for those with even numbers.

Key words : hanoi new era
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/videos/20231005200700881/

Vietnamese still cope with deadly wartime legacy as US ties improve

At a summit last month, Hanoi and Washington pledged a new era of cooperation. But for the past five decades, people have had to contend with the deadly aftermath of the Vietnam War. The country is littered with unexploded bombs and landmines. We report on how these devices still inflict so much pain.