at 18:30 (JST), August 06

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/20210806183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : hiroshima 76 years radiation
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210806_10/

People in Japan are taking a moment to pause and remember the victims of one of history's most catastrophic war events.

On this day 76 years ago, a US military plane dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima.

On Friday morning, Hiroshima fell silent at 8:15 a.m., the same minute the bomb struck the city.

The heat rays, radiation and blast wave from the bombing devastated the city, killing about 140,000 people by the end of 1945.

Many who survived suffer from cancer and other diseases related to their exposure to radiation.

The number of attendees at this year's ceremony was reduced to about 800 because of the pandemic. That's less than one-tenth the size of previous years.

Hiroshima Mayor Matsui Kazumi placed a list of the names of 328,929 victims in a cenotaph. It includes 4,800 people who have died or whose deaths have been confirmed over the past year.

In his peace declaration, the mayor said no sustainable society is possible with nuclear weapons continually poised for indiscriminate slaughter.

Matsui said, "With respect to the Japanese government, I request productive mediation between the nuclear and non-nuclear weapon states. Furthermore, in accordance with the will of the hibakusha, I demand immediate signing and ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, then constructive participation in the first Meeting of States Parties. Fulfilling the role of mediator must involve creating an environment that facilitates the restoration of international trust and security without reliance on nuclear weapons."

Nuclear powers like the US and Russia do not support the treaty. And Japan, which relies on nuclear protection from the US, has not signed it either.

Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide said, "Disparities exist between nations on how to advance nuclear disarmament. To forward nuclear disarmament under such conditions, realistic efforts must be promoted with persistence while building bridges between countries that take different stands."

The prime minister said it is important to strengthen the international framework of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation based on the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Throughout the day, Japan is embracing a sense of grief, and a hope for peace.

Key words : capital 5,000
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210805_31/

NHK has learned that Tokyo metropolitan government officials will confirm more than 5,000 new infections on Thursday, the highest daily tally ever.

The capital's COVID-19 crisis continues to build.

Key words : expert crisis
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210805_36/

Tokyo saw its highest daily tally of coronavirus cases ever on Thursday, topping 5,000.

Tokyo officials confirmed 5,042 new daily cases. With cases surging nationwide, experts are expressing a greater sense of crisis and urgency.

Intensive anti-virus measures have now been implemented in Hokkaido, Ishikawa, Hyogo, Kyoto and Fukuoka prefectures for certain areas and time periods.

The government has expanded the quasi-emergency measures to Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Shizuoka, Aichi, Shiga and Kumamoto prefectures from August 8 to 31. Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa, Osaka and Okinawa prefectures are already under a state of emergency.

The Minister in charge of the coronavirus response told the advisory panel the situation has entered a new phase.

Nishimura Yasutoshi said, "Many parts of Japan are seeing an unprecedented and extremely rapid increase in the number of new coronavirus cases."

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

Nishimura said the focused measures would continue to include asking bars and restaurants to stop serving alcohol in certain regions.

He said the government will work to ensure that necessary medical services are provided. It will also urge people not to travel during the summer holidays.

The head of the government's advisory panel says the government still has work to do to stop the spread of the virus.

Omi Shigeru said, "We basically agreed with the government's plan, but some members said a nationwide state of emergency should be declared. However, even the areas currently under the state of emergency haven't seen enough improvement. The government should communicate a more convincing message and anti-virus measures."

Omi said if cases continue to climb, the government may have to consider changing or creating laws to introduce stronger measures such as lockdowns.

Key words : indonesia died at home
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 : hiroshima futagawa kazuhiko
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