at 18:30 (JST), June 29

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/20220629183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : Kishida first common understanding
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220629_15/

North Atlantic Treaty Organization leaders will begin a two-day summit in Madrid on Wednesday with Kishida Fumio, who will be the first Japanese prime minister to attend the talks.

Officials at the summit are expected to adopt a new strategy for the alliance's political and military development for the coming decade.

Japanese officials say Kishida plans to confirm a common understanding that any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force must not be tolerated anywhere in the world. He is apparently referring to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's maritime activities.

Kishida said, "I hope to take the opportunity to strengthen NATO's cooperation, and to build a solidarity partnership for freedom and democracy linking Europe and the Pacific Ocean."

The prime minister will also meet US President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on the sidelines of the NATO summit on Wednesday. It will be the first trilateral summit since September 2017.

They will discuss how they might limit North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan says the three leaders will discuss the application of economic pressure on the North, including how to deprive Pyongyang of hard currency to fund its weapons programs.

Key words : relief afghanistan mountainous
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220629_03/

One week after a powerful earthquake hit eastern Afghanistan, deliveries of relief supplies are progressing slowly.

The magnitude 5.9 quake struck on June 22 with its epicenter in Khost Province.

The World Health Organization says that by Sunday, 1,036 people had been confirmed dead and 2,949 others injured in Khost and neighboring Paktika Province.

The United Nations Children's Fund says the quake has killed at least 121 children.

The country's Taliban leaders as well as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are distributing food and treating injured people.

But many roads to mountainous areas are unpaved. Aid workers say this makes it hard to deliver medical and other supplies.

A spokesperson for the Afghan interior ministry told NHK on Tuesday that the humanitarian crisis can be resolved through mutual help.

The spokesperson called on the international community to provide food, medical supplies and tents.

Key words : laos
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220628_23/

Asian countries with vulnerable economies are struggling amid surging global energy prices.

Laos has been suffering from an extreme shortage of gasoline since early May. The southeast Asian country relies on imported oil and has become unable to procure it as usual. This is due to its weakening currency and surging energy prices caused partly by the war in Ukraine.

Many gas stations are closed in the capital Vientiane. Footage taken earlier this month shows long lines of cars and motorcycles forming at stations that are open.

The country is also hard hit by record high inflation. The central bank says prices rose by 12.8 percent in May.

People from Laos are crossing the border into northeastern Thailand to fill up in Nong Khai.

A 36-year-old woman said there's not enough gas in Laos, and daily commodities are also more expensive. She said she's only buying what she absolutely needs.

A serious energy shortage is also affecting Sri Lanka. Gasoline was reportedly unavailable at one point in Myanmar.

Key words : thailand cannabis
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