at 18:30 (JST), March 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/20220307183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : japanese foreign travel
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220307_08/

Japan's Foreign Ministry has raised its travel advisory for Russia, urging its nationals not to travel to the country.

The ministry raised the risk warning to Level 3.

Last week, the foreign ministry raised its alert level for areas in Russia along the border with Ukraine to the highest level, Level 4, urging Japanese nationals there to evacuate.

Regarding the latest advisory, the ministry noted that members of the European Union and other countries have banned Russian aircraft from their airspace. This was done as a sanction for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The ministry is urging Japanese nationals to consider leaving Russia on commercial flights while they are available. It's also urging people not to travel to the country for any purposes.

As of Sunday, the ministry says about 2,400 Japanese were registered with its diplomatic missions as staying in Russia.

Key words : panasonic yamaha
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220305_08/

Panasonic and Yamaha Motor will suspend exports to Russia, citing logistical challenges arising from the current situation in Ukraine.

Electronics giant Panasonic says it will halt shipments of home appliances this month from its overseas production bases and then review the situation in April.

The firm also says it has donated a total of 20 million yen, or about 175,000 dollars, to entities helping people affected or displaced by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Yamaha Motor says it will halt shipments of bikes, snowmobiles and outboard motors for the time being due to the likelihood of problems stemming from sanctions imposed on Russia.

Key words : taiwan capability
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220305_26/

Taiwan's defense ministry aims to boost the capabilities of its reserve forces based on the model of Ukrainian reservists fighting Russian troops.

Starting this year, the ministry is doubling the period of training for reservists to 14 days amid China's increasing military pressure.

This year's training began on Saturday.

About 500 reservists of a unit in the northern city of Taoyuan gathered at a designated location in the morning after receiving their call-up notices.

One reservist in his 30s said Taiwan is not so large, so it needs to strengthen training for self-defense.

Defense ministry officials say they want to learn how Ukrainian forces organize reserve units, and how reservists are trained and used.

Many Ukrainian reservists have been mobilized since Russia's invasion.

The administration of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen expects the United States' support in the event of a crisis.

But Taiwan's government has emphasized the need for resolve and the capability to defend itself in light of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan last year and the current crisis in Ukraine.

Key words : church gathered
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220306_26/

People in countries around the world gathered to call for an end to the invasion.

In New York City, hundreds of people converged in Times Square, including former residents of Ukraine.

A student from Ukraine said, "I think the most important thing you can do right now is just be here, support everyone, pray. And it's sad, but that's all we can do, stay together."

Crowds filled London's central Trafalgar Square. Some sang the Ukrainian national anthem.

In Tokyo, churchgoers prayed for the end of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine.

Among them was Sasha Kaverina from Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv. The apartment building where her parents lived was attacked days ago.

She says her parents are safe and took shelter about 20 kilometers away from their home. But they told her they hear bombardment almost every day.

Kaverina said, " My parents told me they can't evacuate anywhere because their car is out of gas."

People in other Japanese cities such as Nagasaki, Nagoya and Kyoto also demonstrated against the invasion.

Key words : malaysia
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220306_04/

People have staged anti-war demonstrations in Southeast Asia in opposition to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In Malaysia, nearly 100 Ukrainians and locals gathered in the center of the capital, Kuala Lumpur, on Saturday to call for support for Ukraine.

Participants holding Ukraine's national flag, flowers, and candles paid tribute to those who have lost their lives in Russia's invasion.

They shouted that President Vladimir Putin may be able to destroy towns in Ukraine, but he cannot rob Ukrainians of their state and hearts.

In the Thai capital, Bangkok, about 100 people assembled at a park.

They chanted appeals for Russia to stop the war immediately and NATO to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine.

A 32-year-old Ukrainian woman said her home region near Kyiv has been under attack and the worst is going on there. She said small kids are dying and everybody is losing their loved ones.

She stressed that whether it is defense, or financial, or humanitarian support, anything right now is very important and necessary for each Ukrainian.

Key words : singapore
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220305_31/

Singapore says it will join many other countries imposing economic sanctions on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine. The Southeast Asian nation is a major international financial hub.

It says the sanctions include prohibiting Russia's transactions involving crypto assets.

Singapore's foreign ministry announced on Saturday that the country "will act in concert with many other like-minded countries to impose appropriate sanctions and restrictions against Russia."

Singapore will impose measures targeted at four Russian banks, including the country's second-largest, VTB Bank. Singaporean financial institutions will have to freeze any assets and funds held by those banks.

They will also be prohibited from entering into transactions or arrangements, or providing financial services that facilitate fund-raising by the Russian government.

The announcement notes that digital payment token service providers are specifically prohibited from facilitating transactions that could help to circumvent the sanctions.

Key words : second day
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220306_24/

Sunday marks the second day of the Beijing Paralympics.

The host country's athletes claimed gold in both alpine and cross-country skiing.

China's first-ever gold medal in alpine was in the women's super-G standing.
19-year-old Zhang Mengqiu, who has cerebral palsy, also won silver in Saturday's downhill event.

In the men's super-G standing, 19-year-old Chinese athlete Liang Jingyi finished on top.

China also clinched victory in both men's and women's cross-country sitting long-distance races.
Zheng Peng and Yang Hongqiong's first place finishes brought their country's total medals to 16, including six gold.

Japan's Muraoka Momoka won the women's super-G sitting event.
She gained speed with her signature accurate turns and beat the runner-up by just 0.11 seconds.

It was Muraoka's second gold at the Games, following her downhill performance the day before.

Key words : tokyo marathon
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220306_21/

The Tokyo Marathon has been held after a two-year hiatus with measures to prevent coronavirus infections in place.

About 19,000 runners took part in Sunday's race. Citizen runners were allowed for the first time since 2019.

The participants were required to take PCR tests in advance.

The runners were divided into three groups to ensure they could maintain social distancing during the race.

Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko fired a starting gun three times at 10-minute intervals.

Volunteers at water points wore gloves, and runners disinfected their hands before receiving water.

Staff members urged spectators not to gather along the course.

Organizers cut the number of entries from the pre-pandemic 38,000 to 25,000.

The organizers later asked runners aged 65 or older to refrain from taking part, saying they would be at risk of developing severe symptoms if they become infected.

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge won the men's race with a time of 2 hours, 2 minutes and 40 seconds.

Brigid Kosgei of Kenya won the women's race with a time of 2 hours, 16 minutes and 2 seconds.