at 18:30 (JST), August 17

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/20210817183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : taliban tightening
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210817_03/

The Taliban are tightening their grip on Kabul, with the militants taking over patrolling and other duties from Afghanistan's now defunct security forces.

Armed Taliban fighters were seen patrolling and standing at checkpoints in central Kabul on Monday, after President Ashraf Ghani fled the country and his government effectively collapsed.

The group's advance into the capital came as US forces are due to complete the pullout from Afghanistan by the end of this month after nearly 20 years of military operations.

The owner of a restaurant in Kabul said so far there is no chaos on the streets as people are staying at home. But he said people are fearful of the situation, as it reminds them of what the group did back in the 1990s.

The owner said he wants to leave the country, but doesn't have enough money to do so.

Scores of civilians flocked to Kabul's international airport in the hope of leaving the country. Multiple people reportedly died in the chaos.

The Taliban have called on citizens to stay calm, saying their life, property and honor won't be harmed.

But fear is growing among the public about a possible return to their oppressive rule.

Key words : and egypt
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210817_02/

The foreign ministers of Japan and Egypt have agreed to work together in an effort to restore security and public order in Afghanistan.

Motegi Toshimitsu arrived in Egypt on the first stop of his Middle East tour. He met with his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry, on Monday.

The ministers shared their concerns about Afghanistan, where a recent Taliban offensive has effectively left the country's government in a state of collapse.

Motegi said Japan wants to work with Egypt to keep the situation from getting worse, as the Middle East country has influence over the Muslim world.

Motegi also said Egypt is geopolitically important as a hub linking Asia with Europe and Africa.

He said it is beneficial for Egypt to promote international order based on the rule of law.

Motegi and Shoukry agreed on a plan for their countries to set up a framework of bilateral negotiations for that purpose.

Key words : Japan economy rebound
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210816_11/

Japan's economy made a modest rebound in the April to June period. The first growth in two quarters comes due mainly to higher exports, while a recovery in consumer spending was slow.

Preliminary figures from the Cabinet Office show that the country's gross domestic product grew 0.3 percent in real terms from the previous quarter, or an annualized 1.3 percent.

The rebound lacked the strength to make up for the annualized 3.7 percent contraction in the January to March period.

Exports grew a robust 2.9 percent from the previous quarter, led by sales of chip-making equipment to China. Corporate capital investment increased 1.7 percent.

But personal spending, which accounts for more than half of GDP, rose only 0.8 percent as a third coronavirus state of emergency was declared for Tokyo and other prefectures in April.

Public investment, including public works spending, shrank 1.5 percent from the previous quarter.

Imports grew significantly, due in part to coronavirus vaccine purchases and chip imports, having a negative impact on GDP.

Key words : indonesia
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210817_01/

Southeast Asian economies rebounded in the April-to-June period, after slumping a year earlier during the spread of the coronavirus.

Indonesia's gross domestic product grew at a year-on-year pace of 7.0 percent during the period.

This was the first time in five quarters that the region's largest economy has expanded.

Among the reasons were a pickup in exports and the return of economic activities, which were curbed last year by stringent coronavirus restrictions.

Malaysia's economy grew for the first time in five quarters as well, at 16.1 percent.

The economies of the Philippines and Thailand expanded at 11.8 and 7.5 percent, respectively, both marking their first quarterly growth in six quarters.

But uncertainty remains over their outlook. In much of the region, coronavirus restrictions remain in place amid an increase in infections with the Delta variant. And vaccine rollouts have been slow.

The central banks of Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia have revised downward their GDP growth forecasts for 2021.

It appears that these economies are lagging behind countries such as the United States and China, which are recovering to pre-pandemic levels.
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Key words : state of emergency 7 more
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210817_18/

The Japanese government has decided to expand and extend the coronavirus state of emergency.

Tokyo and five other prefectures are currently under the state of emergency through the end of the month.

Officials plan to add 7 more prefectures. It will take effect on Friday.

Quasi-emergency intensive measures will cover 16 prefectures across the country.

All the measures will be extended to September 12.

Officials in the affected areas are to urge restaurants and bars to stop serving alcohol and impose stricter measures at shopping malls and events.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government reported more than 4,300 new infections on Tuesday. That is up around 1,700 from the same day last week.

The nationwide number of patients in serious condition is also on the rise.
The health ministry says it exceeded 1,600, renewing a record high for a fifth straight day.

Key words : ibaraki
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210817_12/

A panel of experts advising the Japanese government has approved a plan to expand the coronavirus state of emergency to 13 prefectures from the current six. The measure will be extended through September 12.

The panel met on Tuesday morning. Economic Revitalization Minister Nishimura Yasutoshi, who is in charge of the coronavirus response, said daily case counts are extremely high nationwide, topping 20,000 on some days.

Nishimura added that medical resources are severely strained, mainly in Tokyo and its neighboring prefectures. He said experts say the situation is nearing a "disaster" level and warning that lives that could be saved may be lost.

Tokyo, Osaka and four other prefectures are already under the state of emergency that was originally to last through the end of August. Under the plan, seven more prefectures will be added to the list on Friday. They are Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Shizuoka, Kyoto, Hyogo and Fukuoka.

The panel also approved placing 10 more prefectures under a quasi-emergency with focused restrictions, bringing the total number under the designation to 16. The 10 are Miyagi, Yamanashi, Toyama, Gifu, Mie, Okayama, Hiroshima, Kagawa, Ehime and Kagoshima.

In all affected prefectures, a halt to serving alcohol and other measures will remain in effect through September 12.

Officials are also expected to ask department stores, shopping malls and other commercial facilities with floor space of over 1,000 square meters to control the number of visitors. The measure is intended to curb the flow of people to areas considered to be at high risk of transmission.

The plan will be finalized at a meeting of a government task force on Tuesday evening, after the Diet is briefed.

Key words : paralympic no spectator
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210816_22/

The four parties involved in organizing the Tokyo Paralympics say there will be no spectators at any of the venues.

The decision was made during a meeting of representatives of the Paralympic organizing committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan and Japanese governments, and the International Paralympic Committee on Monday. Visiting IPC President Andrew Parsons was among the participants.

With eight days to go before the Games, they discussed the question of whether to allow members of the general public to view Paralympic events in person. This came after most Olympic events went without spectators.

Paralympic events are to be held in four prefectures. Of these, Tokyo, Saitama and Chiba are under a coronavirus state of emergency. Shizuoka, the fourth, is to be placed under the same strictures beginning on Friday.

Meanwhile, a number of schoolchildren are to be allowed to view selected events in each of the four prefectures as part of a special program. Officials say that thorough measures will be taken to prevent infections.

The Paralympic Games will open on August 24.

Key words : malaysia prime stepped down
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210816_19/

Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has stepped down amid growing public discontent with his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Muhyiddin tendered his resignation to the king on Monday and told the monarch that his entire Cabinet was stepping down with him.

The king accepted and appointed him caretaker prime minister until a new leader can take up the post.

In a televised speech, Muhyiddin said he had resigned because he lost the confidence of Parliament. He also said the decision was prompted by the withdrawal of support by various members of his coalition government.

Muhyiddin was appointed to the post by the king after the resignation of his predecessor Mahathir Mohamad in February of last year.

He made little headway as his government did not have a public mandate and made several missteps.

The country has been under a coronavirus lockdown since June to combat a renewed rise in infection numbers. The government imposes harsh strictures on economic activities and people's movements.

But these measures have not stopped the virus from spreading, with the daily tally of new cases at around 20,000 since the beginning of this month.

Key words : okinawa fire
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210816_20/

A group of residents in the southern Japanese prefecture of Okinawa has taken legal action to urge the local government to seek compensation over a fire at Shuri Castle two years ago.

The group filed a lawsuit at the Naha District Court on Monday, demanding that the prefecture seek financial compensation of roughly 1.8 million dollars from the organization that manages the castle.

The fire in October 2019 burned down the castle's six structures, including the main hall.

The eight-member group asserts that insufficient fire prevention measures taken by Okinawa Churashima Foundation were responsible for the massive fire and caused damage to the prefecture's finances.

The group says the prefecture lost artifacts it owned, and lost income from admission fees.

The group filed the suit after the prefecture rejected its audit request in July that compensation be sought from the foundation.

Group representative Ishioka Yutaka told reporters that they were dismayed that no one had taken responsibility for the fire.

He also said many people are feeling the same, adding that he wants the management system of the castle to be overhauled.

Prefectural officials say they will consider how to respond after they receive the court papers.