at 18:30 (JST), December 02

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/20211202183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : government second case 114 people
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211202_04/

The Japanese government has confirmed the country's second case of the Omicron coronavirus variant. Since being identified in South Africa, the strain has been confirmed in at least 25 countries and regions around the world.

A man in his 20s who had been in Peru was confirmed to be infected with the variant after arriving at Narita Airport near Tokyo on Saturday.

He tested positive for the coronavirus at the airport.
He has been in quarantine since his sample was sent for further analysis.

Health ministry officials say he received a second dose of the Pfizer vaccine in October. The man traveled to Japan via Doha in Qatar.

Officials are checking the condition of all 114 people who were on the same plane.

Japan is tightening its border controls in response to the global spread of Omicron.

The transport ministry is asking airlines to stop accepting reservations for all international flights to Japan until the end of December.

Reservations already made will not be canceled, but even Japanese nationals currently overseas will not be able to book new flights to Japan.

The ministry says it may review its request depending on the coronavirus situation.

Key words : south record omicron
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211201_19/

South Korea has seen the daily count of new coronavirus infections top 5,000 for the first time since the pandemic began.

The South Korean government says the daily tally of new cases hit a record 5,123 on Tuesday.

The number of patients with severe symptoms stood at 723, the highest ever.

In the capital Seoul, where infections are concentrated, the medical system is being tested with the occupancy rates of beds for critically ill patients exceeding 90 percent.

Around 80 percent of the country's population have been fully vaccinated. In November, the government started to ease restrictions to curb the spread of the virus.

Amid an increase in public activity, infections seem to be on the rise among the elderly who were inoculated at an early stage and children who are still largely unvaccinated.

In view of the situation, the government is working to secure more than 1,300 hospital beds by mid-December, and also to bolster support for people receiving treatment at home.

Meanwhile, a close examination is currently underway after a couple who visited Nigeria was found last month to be possibly infected with the new Omicron variant.

The government has launched a taskforce made up of personnel from various government entities to respond to the situation. The team is considering imposing tighter entry restrictions to the country and beefing up the domestic coronavirus monitoring system.

Key words : tennis association
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211202_11/

The Women's Tennis Association announced it will immediately suspend all tournaments in China, including Hong Kong, due to concerns over Chinese professional player Peng Shuai. She reportedly went missing after making a sexual assault allegation against former Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli.

WTA Chairman & CEO Steve Simon announced the decision Wednesday in a statement on the association's website.

Peng reportedly disappeared after posting a message on social media alleging she had been sexually assaulted by Zhang.

The WTA has called on the Chinese government to conduct a full and transparent investigation into the matter.

In the statement, Simon said, "Unfortunately, the leadership in China has not addressed this very serious issue in any credible way." He also said, "While we now know where Peng is, I have serious doubts that she is free, safe and not subject to censorship, coercion and intimidation."

Simon said, "Unless China takes the steps we have asked for, we cannot put our players and staff at risk by holding events in China."

He added, "I hope leaders around the world will continue to speak out so justice can be done for Peng, and all women, no matter the financial ramifications."

Key words : shinzo warned
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Key words : myanmar charge
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211201_34/

Myanmar's military filed a new corruption charge on Tuesday against ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint.

Aung San Suu Kyi is already facing trial on more than ten charges. She has been detained since the February coup. She has rejected all the charges to date.

State TV reported on Tuesday night that the new charge is related to the purchase and leasing of government helicopters. The anti-corruption law carries a maximum 15-year prison sentence.

The report of the new charge came after the court was to deliver the first verdict of Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday.
But the verdict on charges of incitement of public unrest and violating coronavirus restrictions was postponed to December 6.

Key words : hamburger
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211202_17/

Customers at a Tokyo hamburger chain will soon show their faces, rather than cash or credit cards, to pay for their orders.

First Kitchen is introducing an automatic payment system using facial-recognition technology.

The system will become available from December 15th at three outlets in Tokyo.

Customers first upload photos of their faces to First Kitchen's online site and register their credit-card information. The procedures are done by smartphone.

When they go to one of the outlets, they place orders on a device at an unmanned checkout counter.
A camera reads the customer's facial information. If the system makes a match, their credit card will be charged automatically.

The system's operator says its advantages include shorter wait times and a reduced chance of transmitting the coronavirus.

The hamburger chain says the system will be a first for the fast-food industry.

First Kitchen will consider expanding it to more stores after studying the results at the three outlets.

Key words : buzzword
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211201_26/

The award for Japan's buzzword of the year has gone to a phrase linked to Major League Baseball two-way star Ohtani Shohei.

The annual contest chooses a word or phrase that best represents the trends of that year.

The top 10 were announced in Tokyo on Wednesday from among 30 nominees.

The first prize went to "real two-way Shotime," referring to this season's sensational performance by the Los Angeles Angels pitcher-batter.