at 18:30 (JST), July 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/20220727183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : myanmar defended
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220726_32/

Myanmar's ruling military junta has defended the execution of four people, including pro-democracy activists.

A spokesperson for the military's governing council, Zaw Min Tun, said at a news conference on Tuesday that the four planned to destroy schools and government buildings and to kill people. He said they aided acts of terror. He said they were punished based on evidence and the death penalty was not enough to punish their heinous crimes.

A state-run newspaper reported on Monday that four people, including a former lawmaker who was a close aide to the country's ousted de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, were executed. The news triggered international criticism.

Asked by reporters to comment on expressions of condemnation from around the world, Zaw Min Tun said he knew the executions would inspire criticism but that they were an act of justice.

Key words : execution cambodia
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220725_26/

Myanmar's military junta is being condemned over new reported executions. The state-run newspaper says four people, including democracy activists, have been put to death.

Local media say these are the country's first executions in more than 30 years.

The Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported on Monday that Phyo Zeya Thaw was killed. He was a lawmaker for the National League for Democracy. He was a close aide of NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi and was also known for being a hip-hop artist.

Activist Kyaw Min Yu was also reportedly executed.

The newspaper says the four were charged under the counter-terrorism law and the penal code.

Myanmar's junta announced its plan for the executions last month, sparking international criticism.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. In June, he urged the junta to reconsider the executions in his letter to the military leader, Min Aung Hlaing.

Myanmar's pro-democracy shadow government condemned the killings. The spokesperson for the National Unity Government's Office of the President said they were extremely shocked and saddened. The spokesperson tweeted that the "international community must punish the murderous Myanmar military junta for their cruelty and killings."

The military is continuing its crackdown on protests. A local human rights group says the junta has killed more than 2,100 civilians since the coup in February last year.

It says the military-controlled courts have, as of Friday, sentenced 117 people to death.

Key words : taiwan conduct
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220726_21/

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has observed part of a large-scale military drill that is carried out annually.

Taiwan is holding the exercises this week. On Tuesday, its air force and navy conducted a live-fire drill in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of a military port in Yilan County. It was based on a scenario in which they are required to counter attacks by the Chinese military at sea and in the air.

Taiwanese troops honed their ability to carry out defensive operations against enemy fighter jets, submarines and warships.

The coast guard also took part in the drill. They would come under naval command if hostilities were to break out.

President Tsai Ing-wen observed the drill from aboard a missile destroyer that was acting as the fleet's flagship.

The Chinese military has been stepping up its activity around Taiwan. In May, an aircraft carrier conducted more than 300 take-offs and landings of fighter planes and helicopters in the Pacific off Taiwan's east coast.

Taiwanese authorities apparently wanted to demonstrate that they are capable of and committed to defending Taiwan by conducting the drill in the Pacific and inviting the media to cover it.

Key words : amazon
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220726_30/

Amazon Japan is increasing the number of distribution centers to ensure next-day delivery for more products and regions. This comes as competition heats up among e-commerce giants for speedy shipping.

Amazon Japan currently has about 30 distribution bases around the country. It plans to add another 18 this year.

It says this will make it possible to deliver over 7 million items the day after order in all of the country's 47 prefectures, except Hokkaido. Amazon says it will expand the service to the northernmost prefecture next year.

Rival online retailers are making moves of their own. Rakuten Group has launched logistics services to help retailers cut delivery times.
And Yahoo Japan is shouldering part of the delivery costs for vendors that offer fast shipping.

Key words : ukrainian evacuee isolated
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/videos/20220714093906858/

About 1,500 displaced Ukrainians have arrived here in Japan since the invasion began. They no longer need to fear for their lives, but their psychological scars make it extremely difficult to settle in. Some have become reclusive and isolated from their new communities.