at 18:30 (JST), September 02

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/20220902183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : monetary fund
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220901_37/

Delegates sent by the International Monetary Fund to Sri Lanka have reached an initial agreement on loaning the country nearly 3 billion dollars amid its deepening economic crisis.

The IMF says the new four-year long financial program aims to safeguard Sri Lanka's macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability. The country's external debt had soared to more than 50 billion dollars at the end of last year.

The IMF's Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka Peter Breuer said, "Staff-level agreement is only the beginning of a long road ahead of Sri Lanka to emerge from the crisis."

He said it will be important for the country's authorities to continue on this path with determination.

The agreement is subject to the approval by the IMF's management and Executive Board.

The IMF is urging Sri Lanka to receive assurances from the country's official creditors and ensure efforts to reach collaborative agreements with private creditors.

Earlier on Tuesday, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe presented to parliament an interim budget, which aims to boost revenue and battle inflation. He said the nation must prepare for at least 25 years of national economic policy.

In April, Sri Lanka announced a suspension of its external debt payments amid a severe economic crisis triggered by dwindling foreign exchange reserves.

People in the country are facing soaring inflation and severe shortages of essential items including food, fuel and medicine.

Key words : toyota motor nippon steel
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220901_30/

Japan's leading automaker and the nation's biggest steel producer have agreed on the largest price hike of steel products in over a decade. The deal between Toyota Motor and Nippon Steel could drive up costs in a wide range of industries.

Sources say the companies agreed to raise the price of auto-related steel products per ton by about 40,000 yen, or around 290 dollars. The change would be in place for the latter half of the current fiscal year through March.

That's an increase of up to 30 percent compared to the first half of the year. It would be the largest hike since fiscal 2010.

Soaring prices of iron ore, coal and other raw materials stemming from Russia's invasion of Ukraine are behind the deal.

The pricing agreement would set a benchmark for steel prices across industries. Experts say it would drive up costs of a wide range of products, including electronics.

Key words : south bts
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220901_26/

South Korea's Defense Ministry is considering a public survey to decide whether to exempt members of K-pop sensation BTS from mandatory military service.

Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup told a parliamentary committee meeting on Wednesday that the ministry will set a deadline for making a decision on the matter and he has instructed officials to carry out a public survey.

All South Korean men are required to join the military by the age of 28, in principle. But those who have made great contributions to pop culture and the arts are allowed to delay their enlistment to the age of 30.

BTS's oldest member, Jin, is 29 years old and is required to join the military by the end of this year.

Some South Koreans argue that members of the globally popular band should be granted exemption from military duties.

But the Chosun Ilbo newspaper says there has been online criticism of the proposal to use a public survey to make a decision on defense obligations.

Key words : Kishida poll lowest
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