at 18:30 (JST), November 08

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/20211108183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : reported no covid-19
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211108_04/

Japan reported no COVID-19 deaths on Sunday. This is the first time since August 2, 2020 that there have been no such deaths in the country.

People's lives are also gradually returning to normal. A government expert panel has come up with a new five-stage scale for assessing the improved situation.

The current anti-virus measures are based on a four-stage scale. This considers such factors as the number of new infections in each prefecture and hospital bed occupancy rates.

The panel is proposing a five-stage scale with greater emphasis on the degree of strain on medical services.

The draft proposal takes account of changing circumstances, including progress with the vaccine rollout and pharmaceutical development programs, as well as the growing number of cases with light symptoms.

The panel also says each prefecture will use computer simulations with the new scale to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed by a surge in cases.

Key words : government ease travel
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211107_11/

Japan is to partially ease coronavirus travel restrictions on new entry of foreign nationals starting on Monday. New arrivals will be allowed for the first time in 10 months, except for sightseeing purposes.

The measure applies to short-term stays of up to three months for business and working purposes, as well as long-term stays by foreign students, foreign technical trainees and others.

Companies and organizations such as schools that sponsor foreigners in Japan need to pass screenings by the relevant ministry or agency in advance to secure their entry.

The receiving organizations are also responsible for supervising the entrants, including providing accommodations where they can self-quarantine for up to 14 days.

The government will continue to limit the number of international arrivals to 3,500 a day, including Japanese. Authorities say it may take some time to be able to enter the country due to the limit.

A Japanese language school in the heart of Tokyo has begun notifying the students that they will be able to come to Japan. It had about 600 students before the pandemic. But the number has fallen by more than half.

Some of them are taking classes online from their home countries. One student said he has been waiting a year for the news.

The head of the school is worried about the possibility of infections rising again while foreign students are waiting to enter.

Immigration authorities say about 370,000 people with permission to stay in Japan have been left unable to enter.

Key words : reduce three days
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211108_13/

Business travelers who arrived at Narita Airport near Tokyo on Monday say they welcome Japan's easing of coronavirus entry restrictions.

From Monday, the quarantine period for vaccinated business travelers -- Japanese nationals and foreign residents of Japan -- has been reduced from 10 to three days, in principle.

Non-Japanese travelers are now allowed to make short-term business trips, too, and they are also required to quarantine for three days with some conditions.

A Japanese man who has just returned from a business trip to Mexico says he often travels abroad. The trading firm worker says he had found it inconvenient to spend a long time in quarantine when he gets back to Japan.

The man says a shorter quarantine makes overseas business trips easier and will help revive the economy.

A Mexican man who arrived on business says a lot of people have been waiting for a long time to be able to come to Japan. He says the changes are good for both Japanese and foreigners.

Visits by non-nationals are being allowed under certain conditions for the first time in 10 months. Visits for sightseeing purposes are excluded.

Quarantine authorities at Narita say the shorter, three-day quarantine requirement applies to business travelers who present vaccination certificates and negative test results upon arrival. Advanced government screening of their activity schedule in Japan is also required.

Foreign students and technical trainees are also allowed to enter Japan on the condition that their firms and schools supervise their activities.

Key words : united nations refugee
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211108_05/

The United Nations' refugee agency is rushing to airlift aid supplies to Afghanistan to help the country's displaced people survive the harsh winter ahead.

Planes chartered by the UNHCR have carried around 100 tons of flooring and partitions to improve tent insulation to an airport in the capital, Kabul.

The UNHCR says so far this year about 700,000 Afghans have become displaced, after fleeing their homes in fear of the Taliban and for other reasons.

The country's economic situation has deteriorated as the Afghan government's overseas assets have been frozen, resulting in multiple humanitarian crises, including shortages of food.

Moriyama Takeshi, a member of UNHCR's Kabul office, says many Afghans are facing difficult circumstances, and some parents have even resorted to selling their children. He says Afghanistan could experience the worst humanitarian crisis in the coming severe winter.

Key words : china four-day meeting
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211108_01/

China's Communist Party will hold a four-day meeting to discuss a historical resolution that would help enhance the authority of President Xi Jinping.

The sixth plenary session of the Central Committee will open on Monday in Beijing. President Xi and other top leaders will attend the gathering, together with more than 300 officials.

Police personnel and vehicles were deployed around a military-run facility on Sunday, where the meeting is believed to be held.

During the session, President Xi and other leaders will form key policies and make personnel decisions. They will also deliberate on a key resolution aimed at comprehensively reviewing the history of the Communist Party.

Such resolutions have been adopted only twice, in 1945 and 1981. Experts say the resolutions helped former leaders Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping consolidate their power.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the party's founding. The latest move is seen as an attempt by the current leadership to set the stage for President Xi to be re-elected at the party's congress next year, for a rare third term.

Key words : climate activist
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211107_06/

Climate activists around the world have taken to the streets, demanding more action against global warming as discussions are underway at the UN climate change conference, COP26, in Britain.

British media report that protesters rallied on Saturday at 300 locations in Europe, Australia, South Korea, and elsewhere in response to an appeal from youth organizations and NGOs around the world.

In Glasgow, tens of thousands of people braved rain and filled streets around the venue where COP26 is being held.

With participants in ethnic costumes performing music, demonstrators marched along avenues, shouting that time is running out.

A woman living in Glasgow said demonstrators want to show those participating in the UN conference that everybody is watching them, to put pressure on them, and to make sure they're going to make change.

A woman from Canada said the Canadian government subsidizes the oil and gas industry heavily, and exports oil and gas. She said world leaders should listen to indigenous communities as they are on the front line of climate change.

COP26 President Alok Sharma told reporters he completely understands the frustration and anger that he has seen and heard from young people.

He said commitments are made, but what they want to see is delivery. Sharma said this is the COP where people need to see delivery.

Key words : rally tokyo
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211106_16/

Groups of young people have gathered around Japan to call for measures against climate change.

The event, organized by a youth group, was held to coincide with the COP26 UN climate change conference taking place in Britain.

The rally was held in 10 prefectures across the country, including Hokkaido and Shizuoka, on Saturday. Nearly 100 high school and university students gathered at the Tokyo venue near Shinjuku Station.

Takasu Kaichi, a university student from Shiga Prefecture, said that people cannot focus on others, on society or the global environment unless they are emotionally and financially capable of doing so. He said there needs to be a social and economic system that gives people leeway to think about the future.

Nakamura Suzuka, a university student from Kagoshima Prefecture who took part online, questioned when Japan would stop using coal power. She said that now was the time to do so. She said the country needs to quickly convert to using renewable energy sources.

A 31-year-old woman at the event said it touched her to see people younger than herself taking a stand. She said that with Japan's technology, the country should be able to break away from its reliance on coal power and called for specific measures to be devised.

Kurobe Mutsumi, a university student and a member of the youth group that organized the event, said that countries attending the COP conference appear to be presenting how well their countries are doing. She said they should listen more to the voices of young people around the world.

Key words : north competition
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211107_15/

The newspaper of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party says its military has conducted a competition to test the combat capabilities of artillery units.

The Rodong Sinmun reported on Sunday that the competition was held the previous day, and was overseen by the highest-ranking military officer, Pak Jong Chon.

The paper did not disclose the types of weapons or the competition's scale, but said the positions of firepower and firing order were determined by lottery and mechanized units shelled the targets with precision.

It also said the competition was held to evaluate the training format conducted by the mechanized units to enhance their mobile artillery combat capabilities "with the purpose of creating a stronger training craze."

North Korea has test-fired multiple types of ballistic missiles, including a submarine-launched version, since September.

An exhibition featuring state-of-the-art weapons, including what appeared to be an intercontinental ballistic missile, was held in Pyongyang in October.

North Korea continues to develop nuclear and missile technologies based on the five-year defense plan presented by leader Kim Jong Un in January.

The country is believed to be trying to show that it also intends to boost conventional weapons capabilities and raise public morale.

Key words : chief cabinet secretary visited first time
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211106_18/

Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu says the Japanese government will pursue plans to relocate a US military base in Okinawa Prefecture.

Matsuno, who is also the Minister in charge of Mitigating the Impact of US Forces in Okinawa, visited the southwestern prefecture on Saturday for the first time since he assumed office.

Matsuno met with the mayor of Ginowan, where the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station is currently located, and the mayor of Nago, where it will be relocated. He also exchanged views with locals living near the air station.

The residents said there are many nighttime flights and the sounds of the jets jolt the children awake.

Matsuno responded that the government will take local opinions into consideration on relocation measures.

Later in the day, Matsuno met with Okinawa Governor Tamaki Denny. Tamaki said that many of Okinawa's residents are opposed to the relocation. He said the relocation does not remove the dangers posed by the air station and called for an immediate halt to construction work.

Matsuno responded that the relocation is the only solution to maintaining the deterrent capabilities of the Japan-US alliance while removing the danger of the air station from the heavily-populated Ginowan area.

They also discussed the issue of massive amounts of pumice stones that are drifting ashore from an undersea volcano in the Pacific Ocean that erupted in August. Tamaki asked for financial support in pumice removal work.

Matsuno said the government will work with relevant municipalities, listen to their requests and take all possible measures.

Matsuno told reporters after the meeting that the government will build trust with the local people by giving detailed explanations and through dialogue. He also said the government will continue talks with the US side with persistence and make the utmost effort to reduce Okinawa's burden of hosting US bases.

Key words : vietnam railway
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211106_13/

Vietnam's first urban railway line has started operating in the capital of Hanoi. It is expected to ease traffic congestion in the city.

The railway opened on Saturday and connects Cat Linh station with Yen Nghia station, a distance of 13 kilometers. There will be no charge to travel on the line for the first 15 days.

There is mounting demand for urban rail transportation in Vietnam, a country plagued by worsening vehicular traffic congestion.

A number of railway projects are underway in the country with assistance from Japan and China.

But they have fallen behind schedule and initial plans have been revised due to problems with the purchase of land and ballooning construction costs.

The new railway line in Hanoi was constructed with assistance from China.

Local media say the project has been delayed 12 times since it began in 2011.

A university student on board the train said that he is thrilled to be able to ride on an urban rail train which travels smooth and fast.

He said he has waited for a long time, but it was worth of it.