Key words : quiet
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200502_12/
Japan's state of emergency due to coronavirus outbreak continues to bring an unusual quiet to roads, transportation and tourist spots in the holiday period that began in late April.
On Saturday, the first day of the five-day consecutive holiday, popular destinations in Tokyo are almost deserted as people respond to calls to stay home.
Few passengers are riding bullet trains or planes to visit families or resorts. Tokyo's major rail hubs are quiet.
Japan Railway companies say occupancy of non-reserved bullet train seats through the morning was less than 20 percent. Many trains ran at less than 10 percent capacity.
The operators say many reserved seats remain vacant, with bookings through next Wednesday down 95 percent from the previous year.
Passenger numbers for air travel also plunged. All Nippon Airways says reservations for domestic flights are down by 94.5 percent from a year earlier. Japan Airlines reported a 90.5 percent decline.
Traffic on expressways is also thin. Unlike normal years when vehicles snake for dozens of kilometers, Japan Road Traffic Information Center says so far, there are no traffic jams.
Fashion and other stores stand shuttered along Takeshita-dori in Tokyo's Harajuku district, usually bustling with young people and tourists.
Key words : expire
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200502_03/
The Japanese government is finalizing the details of its planned extension to the nationwide state of emergency, ahead of a formal decision on Monday.
On Friday, Prime Minister Abe Shinzo said his government plans to keep the measure in place for about a month to contain the spread of the coronavirus. It was set to expire on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, a government panel of experts said the number of new cases is on a downward trend. However, it also noted that the target of reducing person-to-person contact by 80 percent is seeing mixed results among different age groups and regions.
The exact length of the extension will be based on changes in the number of cases and the situation regarding healthcare systems in each region.
Another issue is whether to expand the designation of "special alert," which currently applies to Tokyo and 12 other prefectures.
The government is also expected to discuss the extent to which restrictions should be eased for residents, businesses and schools in regions with relatively few new infections.
Key words : Japan more than 490 people have died
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Key words : Japan fast-track
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200502_11/
Japan's government has begun procedures to fast-track approval of the antiviral drug remdesivir as a possible treatment for coronavirus patients.
The move follows US authorization on Friday for emergency use of the drug to treat COVID-19. Remdesivir was originally developed as a treatment for Ebola.
Health minister Kato Katsunobu earlier said he would aim for swift approval of the drug through special procedures, while monitoring its use overseas.
Health ministry officials said on Saturday they will circulate a proposal among Cabinet ministers in the afternoon to amend a government ordinance that would enable the drug's entry to the healthcare system.
The ministry will also call an advisory panel meeting to seek expert opinions, after receiving an application from a pharmaceutical company for the drug's approval.
Officials want remdesivir to be approved within a week at the earliest. If accepted, it will be the first recognized treatment for the coronavirus in Japan.
The officials say since stocks of the drug are limited, it may initially be distributed only to certain hospitals under the ministry's supervision.
Key words : Sumo
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200502_07/
The Japan Sumo Association says it will reconsider its schedule for the summer grand tournament if the government extends the state of emergency.
The nationwide measure is currently due to expire on Wednesday, May 6.
Sumo Association public affairs director, Shibatayama, spoke on Friday after Prime Minister Abe Shinzo indicated he is likely to extend the declaration for about a month. Abe said he intends to make a formal decision on Monday.
Shibatayama said once the measure is extended, the association will review its schedule.
The association already announced in April it would postpone the opening of the summer event for two weeks to May 24, due to the coronavirus outbreak.
It also said that further options being considered include holding the tournament without spectators, or canceling it.
Key words : US partial reopen
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200502_05/
Eight more American states have allowed some industries to resume economic activities after weeks of shutdowns aimed at containing the coronavirus pandemic.
The move came on Friday, a day after federal social-distancing guidelines declared by US President Donald Trump expired.
The southern state of Texas allowed restaurants, movie theaters and other businesses to reopen on condition they limit the number of customers.
In the largest city of Houston, families were seen dining out at restaurants.
The hardest hit state of New York and some others with large cities remain cautious about a spike of infections.
The eight states join 10 others that have already partially lifted shutdowns. But many stores remain closed.
Key words : demonstration protester
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Key words : johns hopkins
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200501_05/
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases across the world has topped 3.2 million, according to a university in the United States.
Johns Hopkins University says the total number of global infections hit 3,247,648 as of 18:00 UTC on Thursday.
The United States topped the list with 1,053,036, followed by Spain with 239,639, Italy with 205,463, Britain with 172,478, and France with 166,628.
The death toll stood at 230,824.
The US had the most deaths with 61,717, followed by Italy with 27,967, Britain with 26,771 and Spain with 24,543.
Key words : queen
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200502_01/
British rock band Queen have recorded a new version of classic song, "We Are the Champions," in support of healthcare workers at the front lines of the battle against the coronavirus.
All proceeds from "You Are the Champions" will be donated to the World Health Organization's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
Guitarist Brian May came up with the idea. He and drummer Roger Taylor participated from their homes in Britain, which remains under lockdown. Singer Adam Lambert joined in from Los Angeles.
The music video, available on streaming and download services, shows clips of healthcare workers fighting the pandemic.
May said "the track is for all those in the frontline, all around the world."
Key words : north Kim public appearance
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200502_08/
North Korea's ruling party newspaper has published a report with about 20 photographs detailing a visit by leader Kim Jong Un to a fertilizer plant on Friday.
The development follows a long public absence by Kim, and comes amid intensive speculation about his health.
The Rodong Sinmun reported on Saturday that Kim attended a ceremony marking the completion of a fertilizer factory in the country's west.
In a front-page photo, Kim can be seen cutting a ribbon. Other photos show Kim making a round of the factory accompanied by his aides, and smiling while clapping on a stage.
The newspaper quoted Kim as saying the factory is a proud outcome of the unity of people who believe in the party's policy.
It was the first report about a public appearance by the North Korean leader since April 12, when the media said he had attended a party meeting the previous day.
CNN recently quoted a US government source as saying Kim was "in grave danger" after undergoing surgery.
US President Donald Trump told reporters that he'd rather not comment on the latest report. Trump said he will speak about it at an appropriate time.
Key words : allegation sexual
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200502_02/
US Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has denied sexually assaulting a former Senate aide 27 years ago.
The woman filed a complaint with police in April, saying that Biden, a senator at the time, pinned her against a wall and reached under her clothing in 1993.
Officials from Biden's election campaign denied the allegation first. Then in a statement on Friday, he said, "This never happened."
He also said that although the woman says she raised the issue with her supervisor and senior staffers at the time, none of them have said she did.
Biden strongly denied the allegation again during an interview on an MSNBC TV show. He said, "I don't know why she is saying this," and "why after 27 years, all of a sudden, this gets raised?"
Biden came under fire last year due to allegations of inappropriate conduct toward women. Observers say the latest could affect his presidential bid.
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