at 18:30 (JST), December 09

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/20211209183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : south daily topped 7,000
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211208_15/

Daily new coronavirus cases in South Korea have topped 7,000 for the first time. The government is struggling to strengthen the country's medical system amid the spread of the Omicron variant.

South Korean health officials reported that the number of new coronavirus infections in the country stood at 7,175 on Tuesday. That is over 1,800 more than the previous record, which was set on Friday.

The officials added that 840 patients are in serious or critical condition. That is also a new record. The officials indicated that more than 80 percent of the beds reserved for seriously or critically ill patients in the greater Seoul area are occupied.

The country has confirmed 38 cases of the Omicron variant so far. That figure includes infections among those who participated in an event at a church in Incheon, which is near Seoul.

The government eased some coronavirus restrictions in November. It allowed restaurants to resume normal business hours. But on Monday it partially tightened restrictions in the face of rising infections. It imposed a limit on the number of participants at private gatherings.

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said on Wednesday that the government is struggling to keep up with the pace of new infections, even though it has been adding hospital beds. He stressed that he intends to strengthen the country's medical system and provide assistance for those recovering at home.

Key words : malaysia first omicron
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211208_32/

Countries across Asia are increasing their vigilance against the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant.
Malaysia has tightened its entry requirements for all travelers.

Malaysia's health ministry says that starting Wednesday travelers must take daily tests for 6 days after entry.

The move comes after the country reopened its border with neighboring Singapore for fully-vaccinated travelers last week.

The ministry says the measures aim to prevent the entry and spread of the new variant in the country. Malaysia last week detected the first Omicron case in a woman flying from South Africa.

India is also stepping up efforts to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant.

Authorities in Maharashtra and Delhi have ramped up testing at airports and railway stations.

India has confirmed 23 infections of the new variant. The government is urging people to get fully vaccinated, wear a mask, and maintain social distancing.

Key words : japan fourth case
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211209_02/

Health officials in Japan have confirmed the country's fourth case of the Omicron variant.

The health ministry says the infected man is in his 50s and had visited Nigeria. He was quarantined after testing positive for the coronavirus upon arrival at Narita Airport near Tokyo on Saturday. His test sample was sent for further genomic analysis.

A panel of experts is advising the government to boost testing in response to the global spread of the variant.
They're calling for close analysis of all positive samples in the country especially from those who have been abroad.

The experts are also warning that the downward trend in new cases may have stopped. Authorities across Japan confirmed 136 new infections and 3 deaths on Wednesday. Tokyo had 21 new cases. The daily tally in the capital has been below 30 for the past 27 days.

Key words : diplomatic boycott canada and
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211209_28/

Less than 60 days before the Beijing Winter Olympics, a growing number of countries are announcing they will not send government officials to the Games. Canada and Britain have joined the US and Australia in announcing a diplomatic boycott.

Leaders say they made the decision because of alleged human rights abuses against Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in China.

New Zealand also confirmed it will not send top diplomats to the Games, but cited COVID concerns.

The countries say they will send their athletes as planned.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, "There will be effectively a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing. No ministers are expected to attend and no officials."

China is reacting to the decision. Its embassies in Canada and the UK said the Chinese government had not invited officials from either country.

They also said the "politicization of sports is a blatant violation of the spirit of the Olympic Charter."

Despite the boycotts, the International Olympic Committee insisted it will not affect China's ability to hold the event.

IOC President Thomas Bach said, "We have been concerned with the athletes. We welcome that they can participate."
The issue of Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai has also triggered global concern.

She dropped out of public view after posting a message on social media alleging a former vice premier had sexually assaulted her.

The IOC President and Peng have spoken twice over the phone. But human rights organizations have called on the Chinese government to provide proof Peng is safe.

Key words : conference in tokyo further action
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211209_12/

An international conference in Tokyo addressing global nutrition challenges has closed with a declaration calling for further action to end malnutrition in all forms by 2030.

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa attended the two-day Tokyo Nutrition for Growth Summit that ended on Wednesday. Leaders and officials of other countries took part online.

The declaration says that malnutrition is the underlying cause of nearly half of all child deaths under five. It also points out that the number of children, adolescents and adults suffering from obesity has risen to record levels, affecting nearly 2 billion people. It says that many countries are experiencing a double burden of malnutrition where undernutrition and obesity coexist.

It also says the coronavirus pandemic has led to a significant increase in child malnutrition through declining household incomes and disruption of health services. It says about 3.6 million children "who received poor nutrition due to COVID-19 will face stunted growth that limits their lifelong potential."

The summit participants plan to urge governments, international organizations, private sectors and academia to accelerate their initiatives to end all forms of malnutrition by 2030.

Key words : india crash
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211209_06/

India's military chief and 12 others have been killed in a helicopter crash in the country's south.

The Indian Air Force said the Russian-made Mi-17V5 military helicopter went down in Tamil Nadu state on Wednesday. It was carrying 14 people, including Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat and his wife. The air force said one survivor was taken to a hospital.

Footage released by local media shows burning debris in a mountainous area believed to be that of the helicopter.

Local media reported that the weather was bad in the area at the time of the incident. The military described the crash as an "unfortunate accident" and has launched an investigation.

In 2019, Rawat became the country's first chief of defense staff, who supervises the army, navy and air force.

He was scheduled to visit a military facility on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on Twitter, "Gen Bipin Rawat was an outstanding soldier. A true patriot, he greatly contributed to modernising our armed forces and security apparatus." In another tweet, he said, "India will never forget his exceptional service."

Key words : taiwan framework
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211209_05/

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen has expressed eagerness to join a US-led new economic framework in the Indo-Pacific region.

Tsai said at a meeting of a group of US firms in Taiwan on Wednesday that Taiwan looks forward to participating in the framework.

The US government under President Joe Biden is considering launching the framework with its allies and friendly nations as soon as early next year. The move is apparently aimed at countering China, which the Biden administration sees as the United States' most serious competitor.

The US had led negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade pact. But the government of former President Donald Trump withdrew from the deal, and the Biden administration has also shown a negative stance toward it.

Taiwan applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership in September. But it is unclear whether its participation will be realized as China filed its application to join the CPTPP earlier.

Key words : chinese stock exchange
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211208_28/

China's major social media platform Weibo debuted on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Wednesday. The company is already on the Nasdaq. The move follows a trend for US-listed Chinese firms amid tensions between the two countries.

Weibo is known as a Chinese version of Twitter and has about 500 million users. The firm plans to raise about 180 million dollars through the secondary listing.

Other major Chinese companies have made similar moves. Search engine giant Baidu went public in Hong Kong in March. It's also listed on the Nasdaq.

China Telecom debuted in Shanghai in August after having been removed from the New York Stock Exchange.

China's biggest ride-hailing firm Didi Global said last week it would delist from New York and pursue a listing in Hong Kong. It had only gone public in June.

Key words : maezawa arrived
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211209_04/

Japanese billionaire Maezawa Yusaku has arrived at the International Space Station. The 46-year-old fashion entrepreneur and his assistant are the first Japanese private citizens to visit the Earth-orbiting station.

The Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying the pair lifted off from a cosmodrome in Kazakhstan shortly after noon on Wednesday. After a six-hour journey, the spacecraft successfully docked at the ISS.

During his 12-day stay, Maezawa is planning to conduct and live-stream experiments proposed by the public.