at 18:30 (JST), August 22

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/20220822183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : and south drill deterrence
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220822_01/

The United States and South Korea are preparing to begin their first joint military training since President Yoon Suk-yeol took office in May.

The exercises, named Ulchi Freedom Shield, will run from August 22 through September 1 with scenarios imagining an emergency on the Korean Peninsula.

Troops will rehearse shooting from gunships and removing weapons of mass destruction.

A drill scheduled for 2018 was canceled in consideration of the first-ever US-North Korean summit earlier that year. The South Korean President at the time, Moon Jae-in, wanted to promote dialogue with the North. When the drill was staged at a later date, it was scaled back due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The conservative Yoon administration views large-scale military exercises with the US as an important deterrence measure.

The upcoming drill is likely to provoke a strong reaction from Pyongyang.

Last week, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un rejected Yoon's proposal for economic assistance in exchange for the North's denuclearization.

Kim Yo Jong called Yoon shameless for announcing the joint military drill one day after he made the proposal.

Key words : Kishida matsuno
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220822_11/

Japan's top government spokesperson says Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, who tested positive for the coronavirus on Sunday, is working online.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu told reporters on Monday that Kishida had a slight fever and cough on Sunday, but his body temperature returned to normal and he was coughing less on Monday morning.

He said the government had made preparations so Kishida could work remotely at his official residence if he caught the virus.

Asked about criticism online over Kishida testing positive during his summer vacation, Matsuno said that the prime minister took antivirus measures even during his vacation, including wearing a mask, when he had contact with people.

Matsuno said the government will handle Kishida's infection appropriately so it will not affect political affairs.

Key words : Kishida cancel
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220821_17/

The Japanese government says Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has been infected with the coronavirus.

The Cabinet Secretariat says Kishida developed a slight fever and cough on Saturday night, and took a PCR test on Sunday morning.

The positive result was confirmed on Sunday afternoon. Kishida is currently recuperating at his official residence.

Government officials say Kishida has only been in close contact with his wife Yuko and other family members.

The infection route remains unknown.

Kishida has been on summer vacation for the past week and was due to return to work on Monday, but is considering working online.

Kishida will cancel his trip to Tunisia for the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, or TICAD, later this month. He may attend the meeting online.

Key words : new operator
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220820_12/

The new operator of the Sakhalin-2 oil and natural gas project in Russia's Far East says it has started business activities, and is continuing production and exports.

Sakhalinskaya Energiya was launched by the Russian government on August 5 to replace the former operator.

The new firm announced the start of full operations on its website on Friday.

It said stable production of oil and gas is being maintained, and production and shipment to buyers are continuing without interruption, in accordance with the schedule for 2022.

The company's executive director, Andrey Oleynikov, said the firm's key principles are the safety and health of its workers, as well as ensuring continuous and reliable production.

Foreign shareholders of the Sakhalin-2 project are required to notify Russia within a month of the new firm's launch whether they wish to hold onto their stakes.

The Japanese government has asked two Japanese trading houses, Mitsui & Co. and Mitsubishi Corporation, to take a positive view of keeping their stakes.

The two companies are expected to make a decision by the end of the month.

Key words : 15-year-old knife
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220821_13/

A 15-year-old girl who randomly stabbed and seriously injured a woman and her daughter in Tokyo's Shibuya entertainment district on Saturday night has said she did it because she wanted to receive the death penalty.

The girl was arrested on the scene on suspicion of attempted murder.

Police say a 53-year-old mother and her 19-year-old daughter were attacked with a knife from behind. They say the two were slashed and stabbed repeatedly on their backs, abdomens, shoulders and arms, and that their injuries will take three months to heal.

The female attacker is from Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo. She told police that she attacked two people she randomly encountered on the street.

Police say she was carrying two more knives in addition to the one she used.

Key words : marcos first oversea
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220820_05/

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to visit Indonesia in September, in what would be his first overseas trip since taking office.

A presidential spokesperson made the announcement on Friday, adding that the visit will be followed by another to Singapore.

The Philippine foreign ministry previously said Marcos was considering a visit to Washington after being invited by US President Joe Biden, who wants to strengthen bilateral ties.

China is also placing importance on the Philippines. Vice President Wang Qishan and Foreign Minister Wang Yi have visited recently.

The Philippine leader appears to be taking a cautious approach to ties with China and the US by choosing a fellow member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as his first foreign destination.

Key words : india flooding and landslide
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Key words : accepting
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220821_07/

The Japanese government is expected to revise plans for accepting foreign workers under a specified skills program in light of economic changes due to the coronavirus pandemic. It plans to accept more people in food and beverage manufacturing while reducing numbers for accommodation and restaurant services.

A new visa status for specified skilled workers was created three years ago to address Japan's labor shortages. The specified skilled worker No.1 category covers 12 fields, such as nursing care and construction. The maximum total number of workers is set at more than 340,000 over five years.

The government now plans to revise plans for each sector, while maintaining the total cap number. It cites the impact of the pandemic.

The plan includes reducing the number for the food service industry by over 20,000 to about 30,000, and that for the accommodation sector by over 10,000 to about 10,000.

The figure for the manufacture of food and beverages is expected to be raised by more than 50,000 to about 90,000, reflecting rising demand for prepared meals and frozen food.

The number for the manufacturing sector is set to be increased by nearly 20,000 to about 50,000 due to a rise in demand for foreign workers on the back of globally growing demand for semiconductors and other factors.

The government plans to approve the changes at a Cabinet meeting by the end of the month.