at 18:30 (JST), August 05

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/20210805183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : panel nationwide omi
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210805_18/

The Japanese government's coronavirus advisory panel has approved a plan to expand the focused anti-virus measures to eight more prefectures amid the nationwide surge in cases.

The panel on Thursday approved the plan to place Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Shizuoka, Aichi, Shiga and Kumamoto prefectures under the quasi-emergency restrictions from August 8 to 31.

Hokkaido, Ishikawa, Hyogo, Kyoto and Fukuoka have already introduced the focused steps. The expansion will bring the total number of prefectures under the quasi-emergency measures to 13.

Tokyo, Saitama, Kanagawa, Chiba, Osaka and Okinawa are currently under a coronavirus state of emergency.

Economic Revitalization Minister Nishimura Yasutoshi, who is in charge of the coronavirus response, told the panel that new cases are increasing at an unprecedented speed in many parts of the country.

He said the number of seriously ill patients has also doubled over the past two weeks, putting the healthcare system under severe strain.

He said the situation has entered a new phase with the Delta variant now accounting for 90 percent of new cases in Tokyo and the surrounding areas. He said it is now more important than ever for people to share a sense of crisis.

Nishimura also said the focused measures would include asking bars and restaurants to stop serving alcohol in certain parts of the prefectures.

He added that the government will work to ensure that the necessary medical services are provided, while urging people to refrain from traveling to holiday destinations or their hometowns during the summer holidays.

Nishimura also said he will ask those who must travel for business and other purposes to undergo coronavirus testing.

The plan will be finalized by the government's task force, which is due to meet on Thursday evening, after the Diet has been briefed.

Key words : indonesian delta variant
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210805_06/

The number of deaths from the coronavirus has surpassed 100,000 in Indonesia, which has been seeing a sharp rise in the number of new infections since July.

The government says the death toll was 100,636 as of Wednesday.

Some 35,000 of the fatalities occurred in July alone amid a surge of the highly transmissible Delta variant.

Confirmed infections have soared to between 30,000 to 50,000 a day.

The number of deaths is also exceptionally high, at more than 1,500 daily.

The Indonesian government is speeding up its efforts to build makeshift isolation facilities with doctors and nurses as many patients have died while recuperating at home.

The government has also deployed troops and police officers to send infected people to isolation facilities.

Key words : hong kong civic group
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210804_30/

A Hong Kong civic group has opened an online version of a museum that commemorates China's 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Beijing.

The group set up the website for public access on Wednesday, showcasing a collection of materials related to the crackdown at Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989.

The group had displayed the collection in the June 4th Museum, which it established in Hong Kong in 2014. But the group temporarily closed the museum in June, after being told by Hong Kong authorities that it had not obtained a necessary license.

The group's representative, Lee Cheuk-yan, and other key members have also been arrested by police over their protest activities.

The group has been working to create a database of archives from the temporarily-closed museum since last year, in case the group's activities are banned in the future.

The exhibits posted online include photos and descriptions of students rallies and military personnel being mobilized in the 1989 incident.

The online exhibition also showcases photos of objects that were displayed in the original museum. They include the eyeglasses of a student victimized in the crackdown and a headband bearing a slogan.

The group is planning to create foreign-language descriptions for the online exhibition. It says it hopes people will utilize the exhibits as archives.

Key words : indian navy sea trial
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210805_05/

India's first domestic aircraft carrier has begun sea trials.

The Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday that Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Vikrant, constructed at a shipyard in the southern city of Kochi, set sail on the day.

The 40,000-ton, 262-meter long IAC Vikrant has an angled flight deck. It will be commissioned into service as early as next year.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi aims to boost domestic production of defense hardware under the "Make in India" initiative.

About 75 percent of the materials used to assemble Vikrant were produced in India.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh called the maiden sea trials a "proud moment for India."

China has been increasing its presence in the Indian Ocean as it pursues its Belt and Road initiative. China's submarines have docked at ports in Sri Lanka, neighboring India.

The Indian navy is constructing more than 40 vessels, apart from aircraft carriers, to speed up its military buildup using indigenous infrastructure, with China's increasing maritime advances in mind.

Key words : chinese city
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210804_26/

The Chinese city of Wuhan, Hubei Province, has begun testing all its residents for the coronavirus after confirming the first new community infections since May of last year.

Wuhan reported 12 cases on Monday and Tuesday. Local authorities say they have started conducting PCR tests on all 12 million residents. They have also begun other measures, including limiting the number of visitors to major tourist spots.

The first COVID-19 outbreak was detected in Wuhan. The latest cases are the first since the city managed to bring the outbreak under control by imposing a lockdown and other extensive restrictions.

Chinese authorities recently found cases of the highly contagious Delta variant at an airport in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, and that it was spreading to other parts of the country.

Health officials say 485 people are confirmed to have been infected in China since July 20. The count excludes those who showed no symptoms or entered the country from overseas.

Wuhan is on high alert for the spread of the virus, as the current outbreak is believed to have been caused by the variant.

Key words : thailand daily 20,000
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210804_33/

The number of daily coronavirus cases in Thailand has topped 20,000 for the first time amid an outbreak fueled by the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant.

Health officials reported 20,200 new cases and 188 deaths on Wednesday -- both records since the start of the pandemic.

Authorities have maintained tough restrictions since mid-July, such as banning most nighttime outings in Bangkok and its surrounding areas. They expanded the areas on Tuesday.

Health ministry officials say convincing citizens to take anti-infection measures is becoming difficult. People struggling to make ends are going out for work, as the pandemic shows no signs of slowing down.

Medical systems around Bangkok are under strain. The central government says infected people with mild or no symptoms can stay at home to recover. But some of them complain they have not received enough drugs and other supplies.

Key words : toyota net income
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210804_28/

Toyota Motor has posted a record net profit for the fiscal first quarter, even as the coronavirus pandemic clouded the economic picture.

Toyota says group net income was 897.8 billion yen in the April to June period, or about 8.2 billion dollars.
That was a big recovery from last year, when profits took a hit from the pandemic.

The group includes mini-car maker Daihatsu and truck-manufacturer Hino.

Sales were robust in North America, where economies are reopening as more people get vaccinated. There was also healthy growth in China.

Toyota says it was able to minimize the impact of the global semiconductor shortage.

But production is suffering in Southeast Asia as infections surge. Operations at Toyota's plants in Thailand have been suspended since late last month.

The automaker is maintaining its forecast for the current fiscal year through March as demand continues to recover. It expects global group sales of 10.55 million units, and net profit of around 21 billion dollars.