at 18:30 (JST), September 07

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/20210907183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : extend infection
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210907_29/

Coronavirus cases continue to drop in Japan. But the government is still considering whether to extend the state of emergency that's currently in place for many areas. The measures are effective through Sunday.

Tokyo reported 1,629 new infections on Tuesday, about half the number of the same day last week. The figure has also been declining in other regions under the state of emergency.

But severe cases and the occupancy rate in hospitals remain high, pushing the medical system to breaking point.

The governor of Hiroshima has already asked the central government to extend the state of emergency. Some other prefectures also say it should remain in place.

The minister in charge of the government's coronavirus response says officials are closely monitoring the situation.

Economic Revitalization Minister Nishimura Yasutoshi said, "We will make the decision after carefully analyzing the state of healthcare systems in each prefecture and how strained they are, and will listen to the advice from experts."

The government is likely to announce its decision later this week.

Key words : defense minister cooperation britain
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210906_24/

Japanese Defense Minister Kishi Nobuo says he will promote cooperation with his British counterparts to achieve a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Kishi made the comments on Monday after inspecting the British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth. The ship is docked at a US Naval base in Yokosuka, south of Tokyo.

Kishi met with the commander of the UK carrier strike group led by the vessel, and exchanged opinions.

The Queen Elizabeth left Britain in May. Last month, it took part in a joint exercise with Japan's Self-Defense Forces and US forces in waters south of Okinawa. It made a port call at the US base on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters, Kishi referred to attempts currently seen in the East and South China seas to change maritime order without being based on international law.

He said concerns expressed by European nations over such actions, as well as their presence in the area, contribute to regional peace and stability.

Kishi said a port call by the UK carrier strike group to Japan has great significance. He noted he believes their cooperation with Japan will help maintain and strengthen a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Earlier in the day, Kishi also inspected a frigate from the Netherlands, which is among the ships led by the British carrier and is docked at a Maritime Self-Defense Force base in Yokosuka.

Last Friday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin referred to the dispatch of the UK carrier strike group and its joint drill with Japan and the US.

He said, "The practice of saber-rattling is not constructive. We hope relevant countries will play a constructive role in promoting peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific, rather than doing the opposite."

Key words : honda share
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210907_13/

The Japanese automaker Honda is strengthening ties with General Motors to share components for electric vehicles.

They aim to shorten the time needed to develop new models, and keep up with the wave of electrification taking place around the world.

People familiar with the arrangement say the two carmakers will standardize parts, including the base structure, or platform, as well as motors and batteries.

These will be used in cars for the North American market.

Honda will develop platforms for small and medium-sized cars. GM will make them for larger models.

The two companies already collaborate on a range of products, including gas-powered cars, EVs, and fuel-cell vehicles.

Their latest tie-up comes amid a global push to cut carbon emissions.

The European Union plans to ban sales of gas-powered cars from 2035, including hybrids.

The US has announced it will raise the ratio of electric and other models that don't produce exhaust to 50 percent of new vehicles sold in 2030.

Honda and GM eventually plan to stop making engine-powered cars altogether.

Key words : taliban claim
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210905_15/

The Taliban are working to form a new government in Afghanistan, but they are facing resistance from insurgents and a reported internal power struggle.

The Taliban have been negotiating with various groups after putting most parts of the country under their control.

But fierce fighting continues in the Panjshir Valley in the northeast, the base of anti-Taliban militants who include former Northern Alliance members.

Both sides claim to have the advantage, although details are not available.

The News, a leading Pakistani newspaper, reported on Sunday that there are differences within the Taliban over who should become the finance and defense ministers.
The newspaper also reported that discussions are continuing on whether to appoint individuals who are on the US sanctions list to Cabinet posts or to give them only senior positions in the Taliban.

Calls are growing for the Taliban to form an inclusive government, as women and ethnic minorities were suppressed when the group was previously in power.

Key words : health ministry 40s
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210907_05/

Japan's health ministry says a man in his 40s has died after receiving the Moderna coronavirus vaccine. The dose he was given came from one of the batches the ministry and its distributor in Japan decided to recall following the detection of contaminants.

The man received the jab on August 11 and died the following day. He had a buckwheat allergy. The ministry is investigating what caused his death.

Foreign substances have been found in sealed vials of the Moderna vaccine at inoculation venues across Japan since mid-August.

Moderna explained to the health ministry last week that stainless steel particles formed as a result of friction between metal on the production line, which was caused by an inappropriate set-up.

The ministry and the distributor, Takeda Pharmaceutical, are recalling more than 1.6 million doses distributed to 900 venues nationwide.

Officials say the dose the man had received came from a lot number in which no foreign substances were found. But it was made at the same factory during the same period as those confirmed as contaminated.

The ministry is also investigating the deaths of two other men in their 30s who received the Moderna jab. Their doses came from vials with the same lot number as the latest case.

Key words : putin investor
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210907_03/

The Russian government says it will press ahead with President Vladimir Putin's plan to introduce a tariff-free zone in four Russian-held islands claimed by Japan.

Putin said on Friday that his country will offer tax breaks to attract Japanese and other foreign investors to the Kuril Islands. What Russians call the Kuril Islands include the four islands claimed by Japan.

Deputy Prime Minister Yury Trutnev told reporters on Monday that a tariff-free zone needs to be set up swiftly on the Kuril Islands. Trutnev also serves as Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District.

A federal minister in charge of the development of the Russian Far East said in a televised interview aired on Saturday that the government wants to complete necessary work by the end of this year.

The minister expressed hope that the measure will attract investment in fisheries and tourism industries.

Japan has expressed regret over the plan. Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu told reporters on Monday that it runs counter to an earlier agreement by the two countries to carry out joint economic activities on the four Russian-held islands.

The Japanese government maintains that the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory. It says the islands were illegally occupied after World War Two.

Key words : nissan
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210906_25/

Japan's Nissan Motor and Waseda University have developed a way to efficiently recycle rare earths from automobile motors. The minerals are an important part of the production of electric and hybrid vehicles.

Nissan says the method involves melting a whole motor at a temperature of at least 1,400 degrees Celsius. No manual disassembly is necessary.

The automaker says it has succeeded in recovering 98 percent of the rare earths from waste motors. This has brought reductions in recycling cost and time.

Nissan says it is the first such technology in the world, and it aims for practical application by the mid-2020s.

Rare earths are key for making magnets for motors. China's dominance of the market for the materials and rising prices have been a challenge for carmakers.

Nissan also plans to develop a new motor that doesn't contain rare earths.

Toyota and Honda are pursuing technologies that enable them to use less of the materials.