at 18:30 (JST), February 19

 

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/20210219183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : anti-coup
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210219_23/

An anti-coup demonstrator, aged 20, who was shot by Myanmar authorities last week has died, according to the hospital where she was on life support. She is the first protester to be killed since the country's February 1 coup.

Key words : diversity
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210218_43/

Hashimoto Seiko has officially been chosen as the president of the Tokyo Games organizing committee. In order to maintain political neutrality, she stepped down from her cabinet position as Olympics Minister.

Hashimoto said, "The Tokyo Games are just five months away, and we have to secure safety for Japan and the world. The most important issue is coronavirus prevention."

The 56-year-old is an Olympic heavyweight herself. She competed in four Winter Games in speed skating, and three Summer Games in cycling.

Hashimoto will have the task of moving organizers beyond an international controversy sparked by her predecessor, Mori Yoshiro. He stepped down last week, after making seemingly sexist remarks that unleashed an international backlash.

At a news conference on Thursday, Hashimoto said she will work to accelerate women's empowerment on the committee.

Hashimoto said, "I would like to present a new direction this month. One measure will include raising the ratio of women in the organizing committee to 40 percent, and setting up a task force to promote diversity and harmony."

Hashimoto is not without some scandal herself. She allegedly harassed a male athlete seven years ago. She said she deeply regrets the incident and will carry out her role as president in dealing with diversity and gender equality.

Key words : media hong kong
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210218_30/

Hong Kong media outlets say media tycoon and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai has been rearrested on suspicion of helping other activists try to flee to Taiwan last August.

Lai, the founder of the Apple Daily newspaper, has already been detained on charges of violating China's national security law for Hong Kong. He is on trial for allegedly colluding with foreign forces and endangering national security.

Apple Daily and other media say police rearrested Lai on Tuesday for suspected violation of the same law by helping the activists try to flee the territory.

The media also say a 29-year-old man was separately arrested over the same allegations and indicted on Wednesday.

Lai was granted bail after being indicted in December for the alleged violation. But the bail was soon revoked and he was detained again.

Hong Kong's top court denied bail for him on February 9. Lai made a new application, but the high court denied bail again on Thursday.

Apple Daily is known for its critical stance on Beijing. Lai has called for international society's support for Hong Kong's pro-democracy movements via social media and interviews with foreign media.

Key words : vaccination program smooth
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210217_09/

Japan is starting its coronavirus vaccination program on Wednesday. It plans to give the first doses to about 40,000 health care workers.

Japan's Regulatory Reform Minister Kono Taro said, "We are about to start vaccination, which is said to be the strongest weapon in the fight against the coronavirus. We hope many people will get vaccinated after accurately understanding its benefits and risks."

About 3.7 million more medical workers are scheduled to be inoculated after the initial group.

The government will determine how to distribute the vaccines within a few days based on target numbers to be reported from local governments on Wednesday.

The government has also asked municipalities to draw up implementation plans to inoculate about 36 million people aged 65 or older. It hopes to complete the vaccination for the elderly within two months and three weeks starting from April.

Kono said he feels sorry that the government has yet to announce the starting date for the elderly.

The smooth rollout depends on timely shipment of the vaccines from the European Union, and securing enough syringes capable of taking six doses from a vial.

Government sources admit that the outlook of the program is still uncertain after the inoculation for medical workers.

The government plans to report the details about the efficacy and side effects of the vaccines after the first 20,000 people receive shots.

Key words : myopia nearsightedness children
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/ondemand/video/2086013/

The prevalence of myopia, or nearsightedness, is rapidly increasing worldwide and particularly in East Asia. The WHO estimates 1.3 billion people with myopia in 2000, 2.5 billion in 2020, and 5 billion people by the year 2050. Do you consider nearsightedness as a simple problem that can be corrected with prescription glasses or contact lenses? Recent studies have shown that myopia increases the risk of blindness. Find out the hidden risks of myopia and what we can do about it.