at 18:30 (JST), July 04

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/20220704183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : kddi affected
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220704_03/

Communications networks run by major Japanese mobile carrier KDDI remain disrupted at least partially more than two days after the problem unfolded. The firm says it is trying to fully restore services as soon as possible.

KDDI says the glitches began early on Saturday morning, disrupting voice-call and data services offered under the au, UQ mobile, and povo brands.

The trouble has also spilled over to a broad array of fields, such as weather observation and freight train operations.

KDDI says the problem may have affected up to 39.15 million users.

It says data and other mobile services have been recovering after repair work was completed for eastern and western Japan on Sunday.

But services have not yet thoroughly recovered as the firm is checking its network systems.

The communications ministry regards the disruption as a serious incident under the Telecommunications Business Act. The ministry says it will act accordingly after receiving an official report from KDDI.

Key words : china visited myanmar
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220704_07/

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has visited Myanmar for the first time since the Southeast Asian country's military seized power in a February 2021 coup.

Myanmar's state-run television reported that Wang on Sunday met with Wunna Maung Lwin, who was appointed foreign minister by the military. The talks took place in the central city of Bagan.

The report said the two exchanged views on plans to send students from Myanmar to China and to expand Chinese imports of Myanmar's farm produce.

Myanmar's military apparently hopes the meeting will underscore its ties to Beijing at home and abroad at a time of increasing isolation in the international community.

Meanwhile, China appears to be trying to increase its influence in Myanmar to push its Belt and Road economic initiative.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry quoted Wang as saying in the talks that the two countries' ties are rock-solid and have withstood changes in the international landscape.

The ministry said Wang expressed hope that Myanmar will achieve stability at an early date.

Key words : two dozen
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220703_03/

More than two dozen crew members on an engineering vessel have been reported missing after the ship sank when stormy weather hit Hong Kong.

Local media outlets say the 200-meter-long vessel broke in half in rough waters in the South China Sea caused by tropical storm Chaba.

They say the incident occurred on Saturday morning about 300 kilometers southwest of Hong Kong. One half of the ship's hull sank under water.

About 30 crewmembers from mainland China were believed to be on board the vessel.

Three of them have been rescued by aircraft dispatched by Hong Kong authorities and transported to hospital.

Rescue operations for other crewmembers are reportedly being hampered by bad weather.

Hong Kong was on alert for the approaching storm when the accident happened.

Key words : philippines
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220702_02/

New Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. says he wants to modernize his country's air force and surveillance capabilities to deal with territorial disputes.

He made the remarks on Friday at Clark Air Base on Luzon Island after being inaugurated the day before.

Marcos said his administration envisions "a stronger, bigger, and effective Air Force capable of defending and maintaining our sovereign state."

The Philippines and China have territorial disputes in the South China Sea. After being elected in May, Marcos pledged to take a firm stance.

He also said he would not allow his country's maritime rights to be "trampled upon."

Key words : memorial
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220703_12/

Bereaved families and local officials gathered to pay tribute to victims of mudslides one year ago in the seaside city of Atami.

A memorial service at an elementary school in the Shizuoka prefecture city on Sunday drew about 80 people and offered silent prayers.

Atami Mayor Saito Sakae delivered a speech and offered condolences to those who lost their loved ones in mudslides that led to the deaths of 27 people.

He said the city will pass on lessons from the disaster to future generations and will commit to rebuilding efforts so that affected people can restore peaceful daily lives as soon as possible.

A woman who lost her 44-year-old daughter in the disaster tearfully said she remains unable to accept her death even now.

Also on Sunday, about 200 people, including police officers, Japan Coast Guard officials, and divers, gathered in Izusan port, where mudslides had flowed in last year after rushing down a river.

They offered silent prayers and then began a search operation involving five ships and 15 divers for a woman who remains unaccounted for.

Meanwhile, some bereaved families on Sunday said they plan to file a lawsuit by the end of August to demand that the Atami city government and the Shizuoka prefectural government pay damages.

A panel investigating the disaster concluded in its final report in May that the prefecture and the city failed to cooperate effectively in dealing with a soil mound where the massive mudslides originated.

Key words : three-day assembly
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220703_07/

A three-day assembly of religious and tribal leaders in Afghanistan has not made any announcement about reopening high schools for girls.

The Taliban organized the meeting in the capital Kabul that ended on Saturday to discuss what they call important national issues. It was attended by more than 3,000 people, but no women were present.

The Taliban's spokesperson said on social media that the group's supreme leader, Mawlawi Haibatullah Akhundzada, spoke to the gathering on Friday.

Akhundzada is said to have noted that former enemies would be pardoned but they would not be allowed to take part in the government.

Only state-run media were allowed at the gathering and no photos or video of Akhundzada were released.

The Taliban's information ministry says an 11-point resolution was adopted by the participants. Media reports say the resolution calls on the government to pay special attention to justice, religious and modern education, health, industry and other policies according to Islamic law.

There have been international demands for the restoration of women's rights in Afghanistan. But the meeting only noted that women's rights should be taken care of under Islamic law.

The Taliban initially decided to reopen girls' high schools in late March. But they suspended a decision to allow girls to return to classes on the day the schools were scheduled to reopen.

Observers say the Taliban apparently want to legitimize their rule by showing they have strong support.

Key words : sumo
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220703_15/

A group of amateur Ukrainian sumo wrestlers has visited a city with a passion for sumo north of Tokyo before leaving for an international sports event in the United States.

The eight-member delegation had been training in Ehime Prefecture and elsewhere in Japan since June in the run-up to their participation in the 2022 World Games.

The group visited the city of Soka, Saitama Prefecture, at the city's invitation on Sunday. Sumo wrestling is popular in the city.

The wrestlers watched elementary school children playing at a sumo event held at a gym in the city.
The children presented the wrestlers with a Ukrainian national flag with their messages of support written on it.

One fourth-grader told NHK he was encouraged by the wrestlers, who showed kindness and kept smiling, despite the conflict in their country.

Later in the day, the wrestlers held a training session with local junior high school students using a ring at the gym.

The group is scheduled to leave for the United States on Tuesday.