at 18:30 (JST), December 27

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/20211227183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : health authorities 58
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211227_03/

In Japan, the Omicron coronavirus variant has health authorities preparing for the worst case scenario. The strain has now been identified in 14 prefectures.

Officials have confirmed 58 Omicron infections nationwide, which include untraceable cases in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Aichi and Fukuoka.

The majority of infections are being confirmed among passengers on flights returning from abroad. Health authorities are now scrambling to track the movement of thousands of fellow travelers considered to have come into close contact with these people.

The government is requesting close contacts to stay at designated hotels for two weeks and take PCR tests every few days.

Some who have to take care of children or other family members are allowed to stay at home. But they are required to take the same number of PCR tests as they would at designated facilities. They must submit their samples to health officials who visit their homes.

The rising number of Omicron close contacts is increasing the strain on public health centers. Takanohashi Migiko of Shinagawa Health Center said, "We already have our hands full with close contacts. We won't be able to manage if community transmission increases."

Meanwhile, the government is set to deliver the oral COVID-19 drug molnupiravir to prefecture-designated hospitals. Medical staff are expected to start administering it after Monday.

Authorities confirmed a total of 263 coronavirus infections across Japan on Sunday. The weekly average of daily new cases is rising, and health officials warn of a heightened risk of infection as travel picks up for the New Year holidays.

Key words : armed pro-democracy 35
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211226_01/

A pro-democracy armed group in eastern Myanmar has said the country's military killed 35 civilians, including women and children, on Friday.

The report comes amid fierce fighting in Kayah state between Myanmar's military and armed resistance groups. Local ethnic minority militias are supporting the citizens.

The pro-democracy group said the 35 bodies were found near Mo So village. It added that the military killed local civilians while they were fleeing clashes and burned their bodies and vehicles.

The group called the act a crime against humanity.

The military gave its own account through state media.

It said militants opened fire from their vehicles when soldiers tried to stop them, triggering a shootout.

A crackdown continues on protestors opposed to the military, which took power by a coup in February. The number of dead is rising from fighting between the military and armed pro-democracy groups across the country.

Key words : indonesia 17 years
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211226_14/

Sunday marks 17 years since the Indian Ocean tsunami left more than 220,000 people dead or missing over a vast area from Southeast Asia to eastern Africa.

A memorial ceremony was held in the worst-hit Indonesian province of Aceh, where over 160,000 of the victims perished.

The ceremony started at 8 a.m., the time when the powerful earthquake that triggered the tsunami occurred on December 26, 2004.

About 300 people gathered at a coast where the tsunami swept away all but one tree.

Local authorities have been providing training for disaster preparedness, but the coronavirus pandemic makes it hard to conduct evacuation drills for children.
Aceh Governor Nova Iriansyah said at the ceremony that people should not feel satisfied with the current level of disaster preparedness.

A woman who lost three children in the tsunami says she will tell young people to leave the coast immediately in case an earthquake happens.

Reconstruction work is making progress, but new homes are being built near the coast and people who didn't experience the tsunami are moving in.

Key words : kishida considering upcoming
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211227_12/

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says he is considering addressing the upcoming review conference on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons by video.

The conference is set to start in New York on January 4.

Kishida pointed out to reporters on Monday that the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant is extremely severe in New York.

He said a growing number of countries have been choosing to take part by video, and Japan is considering how to take part, including the possibility of a video address.

He said he will keep studying what format Japan should adopt to contribute to the talks, based on the entire situation surrounding the conference.

Kishida noted that the talks will last until late January. He stressed the need to continue efforts until an agreement is adopted.

He had been considering attending the conference in person, which would have made him the first Japanese prime minister to do so.

Key words : kishida conference russia
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211226_02/

Japanese government sources say Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is not likely to attend the review conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons scheduled for next month in the US. He is expected to instead focus on dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

The NPT took effect in 1970. It recognizes five countries -- the United States, Russia, Britain, France and China -- as nuclear powers. It also requires the five nations to work toward nuclear disarmament.

The treaty was indefinitely extended in 1995, but a review conference is held every five years. The next conference will be held in New York from January 4th, after nearly two years of postponement due to the pandemic.

Prime Minister Kishida has been considering attending the review conference as the first Japanese leader to do so.

He has expressed his intention to urge other leaders to adopt an agreement to push ahead with nuclear disarmament.

But sources say Kishida is now likely to stay in Japan to focus on anti-coronavirus measures. The continued spread of the virus in the US is another factor.

Kishida took office in October. He is seeking an opportunity to visit the US for talks with President Joe Biden.

Key words : japan first oral nationwide
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211224_24/

Japan's health ministry has authorized the use of an oral COVID-19 drug developed by US pharmaceutical firm Merck.

The decision came on Friday. The ministry plans to deliver molnupiravir to medical institutions, drugstores and other facilities nationwide so that patients can start taking it as early as next week.

The drug is the first oral medicine in Japan for preventing coronavirus patients from developing severe symptoms.

Patients who can receive molnupiravir must be at least 18 years old, have mild or moderate symptoms and be at risk of becoming seriously ill. It will not be prescribed for pregnant women.

The drug will be administered within five days of the onset of symptoms. It will come in the form of pills, to be taken twice a day for five days.

The ministry says the drug will be provided for free.

Merck says a clinical trial shows that molnupiravir reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by about 30 percent.

The medicine is expected to help reduce the burden on patients and medical institutions because it can be taken at home.

The ministry has secured supplies for 1.6 million patients. Sufficient doses for 200,000 people will be provided this year.

Key words : hanyu won
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211227_04/

Japanese two-time Olympic figure skating gold medalist Hanyu Yuzuru has won the men's singles national championship for the second consecutive year. The win secures him a spot at the Beijing Olympics in February 2022.

Hanyu claimed his sixth national title on Sunday. The contest was held in Saitama City north of Tokyo, and served as one of the qualifiers for the Winter Games.

He opened his free skate by attempting a quadruple axel, which nobody in the world has ever successfully executed in competition. But the jump was downgraded due to an under-rotation and a two-footed landing.

Hanyu showcased his impressive skills after the jump for a total of 322.36 points, including the score for his short program.

Later in the day at a news conference he said that honestly speaking, he personally had not been giving much thought to the Beijing Olympics.

But he said he decided to aim to take part in the Games after considering the wishes of people who have been supporting him.

Hanyu said he will do his best to pull off a quad axel and prevail in the Olympics.

Key words : taiwan semiconductor
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211225_04/

One of Taiwan's top universities has launched a graduate school for semiconductor manufacturing.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen took part in a ceremony marking the opening of the school at the National Taiwan University on Friday.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, the world's largest chipmaker, is among the firms to have contributed funds to the program.

Tsai touted Taiwan's chip technology at the event, but said Taiwan should not stop its development in the field.

She added that graduate schools would help Taiwan nurture much-needed homegrown talent.

The government has been working with chipmakers to set up programs at four top universities amid shortages of highly trained personnel in the industry.

Master's courses at the school will start in February, while doctoral courses will open in September. The school aims to train about 1,000 graduates over the coming decade.

Analysts say Taiwan is investing in the semiconductor industry in a bid to increase its strategic importance to the international community in the face of rising pressure from China.

Key words : vietnam
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211225_15/

As automobile companies around the world begin to shift toward electric vehicles, Vietnamese carmaker VinFast has begun delivering the country's first domestically manufactured model to customers.

VinFast is the automobile unit of a major Vietnamese conglomerate. Its first electric SUVs are being assembled at a factory in Hai Phong, northern Vietnam.

The carmaker says the vehicle can travel about 285 kilometers on a single charge. It is priced at about 30,000 dollars.

One buyer in her 40s said it is her first time to drive an electric car. She said she is proud of VinFast, which is promoting eco-friendly efforts.

VinFast is also aiming to expand into overseas markets.

In November, the company's electric models were unveiled at an auto show in the United States. The carmaker plans to begin accepting orders in the US and elsewhere as early as 2022.

The move comes as carmakers in China and European countries are accelerating their shift toward EVs. Emerging economies, such as Indonesia and Thailand, are also seeking to tap into the trend to boost their auto industries.