at 18:30 (JST), August 08

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/20220808183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : military says continuing
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220808_13/

China's military says it is continuing drills in the seas and skies around Taiwan on Monday.

The Chinese military started the large-scale drills on Thursday, following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

China previously said the drills were scheduled to last until Sunday.

Key words : some planes
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220808_05/

China has ended four days of military drills around Taiwan, and suggested that they were aimed at examining how to move if it decides to unify with Taiwan by force.

The Chinese military carried out the large-scale exercises in six maritime areas and airspace encircling Taiwan from Thursday through Sunday. The move was in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

The military's Eastern Theater Command, which is in charge of the East China Sea, has released footage showing flying fighter jets and bombers. It is said to be from the combat exercises on Sunday focusing on simulated attacks on land and tests of long-range strike capabilities in the air.

Meng Xiangqing, a professor at the National Defense University, told state-run China Central Television that the drills were conducted at an unprecedented short distance from Taiwan.

He said the military confirmed its capabilities to encircle Taiwan and block foreign forces from entering the area. He said the drills have created good conditions and a strategic advantage for China's unification with Taiwan.

Some planes and ships in the drills crossed the median line, which is an unofficial buffer to help prevent accidental clashes between Chinese and Taiwanese forces. Chinese authorities have recently begun asserting that they do not recognize the line as they are stepping up pressure on Taiwan.

Key words : investigating marks
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220808_04/

Monday marks one month since former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo was shot dead while delivering an election campaign speech in the western city of Nara.

Investigative sources say police will examine the structure of a handmade gun seized from the scene of the shooting and other guns found at the home of the suspected shooter. They add that police will also test-fire the firearms to determine whether they are lethal.

Police arrested Yamagami Tetsuya, a 41-year-old unemployed resident of Nara City, at the scene of the shooting.

Police are investigating him on suspicion of murder. The suspect is currently undergoing psychiatric evaluation to establish whether he can be held criminally culpable.

Police say they have confiscated a handmade gun used in the shooting, which measures about 40 centimeters long and some 20 centimeters high. They say they have also impounded at least five homemade guns with a similar structure from the suspect's home.

Investigators quote Yamagami as saying he built a gun by taping together two steel pipes and also prepared more firearms -- a three-pipe type, a five-pipe type and a six-pipe type.

Police plan to pursue the case for suspected violations of the Firearms and Swords Control Law and the Ordnance Manufacturing Law.

Meanwhile, Nara City officials said that from July 10 through 15, their temporary hotline received 104 requests for consultation from people who complained of mental issues after the shooting.

Some people said they felt unwell watching TV news reports on the shooting. Others said they had been shocked that the incident occurred at a site they often passed.

City officials also launched an online counseling service at the start of this month.

Key words : explosion afghanistan
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220808_01/

Explosions have hit Afghanistan's capital for two consecutive days, killing at least 10 people.

A bomb planted in a pushcart went off in Kabul on Friday, leaving eight people dead and 18 wounded.

Another blast occurred on Saturday in a neighborhood which is home to many Shia Muslim Hazaras. The Taliban, who took over control of Afghanistan last August, said the roadside explosion killed at least two people and wounded 22.

Reports from news outlets, including Reuters, say the Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for both attacks. The group frequently targets Shias.

It has been almost one year since the Taliban recaptured power in Afghanistan. But the country's security situation remains volatile due to a series of terrorist acts by Islamic State members.

Key words : new cases ukrainian evacuee positive
#N/A


Key words : export china recovery
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220808_03/

China's exports picked up steam in July, offering an evident sign of recovery from a temporary slump amid repercussions of anti-coronavirus measures.

Data released by customs authorities on Sunday show that the value of exports jumped 18 percent year on year to 332.9 billion dollars.

Outbound shipments briefly tumbled due partly to coronavirus lockdowns in Shanghai earlier this year.

But exports to major destinations, such as Europe, Southeast Asia and Japan, grew sharply last month as factories boosted production and supply chain snarls eased.

The value of July imports rose by 2.3 percent to 231.7 billion dollars. The small gain is believed to reflect sluggish domestic demand amid China's economic slowdown.

The latest statistics also point to China's expanding trade with Russia.

The value of imports from Russia in July climbed about 49 percent year on year, indicating that China continued to increase purchases of Russian crude oil and natural gas.

The value of exports to Russia also rose by some 22 percent.

Key words : government childcare leave
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220807_10/

A government survey shows that the proportion of male workers in Japan who take childcare leave hit a record high in the last fiscal year. But it remains uncertain whether the government's target can be achieved by 2025.

The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry conducted a survey of 6,300 businesses nationwide last October and 3,683 responded.

The results show that 13.97 percent of eligible male workers took parental leave in the fiscal year that ended in March.

The ratio was up 1.32 percentage points from a year earlier. But the increase was smaller than the 5.17 points marked in the previous year.
The government's goal is to hit 30 percent by 2025.

The survey also showed that leaves are becoming longer. The proportion of those who took leave for less than two weeks declined over the three years since fiscal 2018, while the ratios for two weeks to one month, as well as one to three months, increased.

Labor ministry officials say they are working to create an environment that is supportive for people who want to take childcare leave.

They point out that starting in April, companies are required to inform their employees of the parental leave system and explain cash handouts provided by the government.

Key words : summertime cleaning
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220808_08/

Worshipers gathered on Sunday for the first summertime cleaning in three years of the Great Buddha statue in the ancient capital of Nara in western Japan.

The event at Todaiji Temple is normally undertaken annually on August 7, but has been canceled for the past two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The cleaning of the 15-meter-high statue is designed to refresh the Buddha's appearance ahead of the midsummer Bon festival, when people pay respects to their ancestors.

About 140 people, including priests dressed in white, gathered in front of the statue and chanted a sutra to start the event.

The participants, holding brooms and dusters, climbed onto the palms and the lap of the statue to remove the dust. They then used cloths to polish the entire figure.

Some were raised in baskets suspended from the ceiling to reach the Buddha's head and face.

Onlookers admired the work, some taking pictures.

A woman in her 40s from Yokohama said she was glad to be able to witness the first cleaning event in three years. She said she hopes the pandemic will be over soon and that people's lives will get back to normal.

The head of the temple, Hashimura Koei, said he is grateful that the temple has been able to resume the annual cleaning event.