2020年5月22日金曜日

at 20:00 (JST), May 22

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20200522200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : national people opened GDP
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200522_17/

The biggest political event of the year in China, the National People's Congress, opened on Friday after a two-month delay due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In recognition of the pandemic's impact, Beijing has decided not to announce an economic growth target for the year.

Premier Li Keqiang addressed thousands of delegates who have gathered in Beijing from across the country. All had to be tested for the virus before they could attend.

Despite the fallout from the coronavirus, which has killed around 4,600 people in China and led to increasing tension with the United States, Li said a major strategic achievement had been made under the strong leadership of President Xi Jinping.

But Li's remarks hint at the seriousness of the economic situation. It's very rare that Beijing has opted not to set a target for the Chinese economy, which was hit hard by the virus.

The country's GDP shrank 6.8 percent in the first quarter. That's the first contraction since China began releasing quarterly data almost 30 years ago.


Key words : congress hong kong mainland
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200522_04/

A spokesperson for China's parliament says that this year's session will discuss legislation to maintain public order in Hong Kong. The announcement comes as anti-government protests continue in the territory.

National People's Congress spokesperson Zhang Yesui was speaking at a news conference on Thursday, on the eve of the opening of its annual session.

Zhang said the agenda will include national security legislation for Hong Kong. He did not elaborate further.

But he added that the legislation and enforcement mechanisms are highly needed ''to uphold and improve the institutional framework of 'one country, two systems'" of Hong Kong in light of new circumstances.

The Hong Kong government has tried to create a similar ordinance in the past, but failed because of fierce public opposition.

Analysts say Beijing is believed to have decided that national security cannot be secured if it leaves the establishment of such legislation to the Hong Kong government.

Multiple Hong Kong media say the central government will likely press ahead with establishing national security legislation at the upcoming session.

Pro-democracy lawmakers from Hong Kong's Legislative Council and civic groups are strongly protesting the expected introduction of the legislation at the session. They say the "one-country, two-systems" formula would be totally erased if such legislation were enacted.

Anti-government protests have been continuing in Hong Kong since last year. They originally erupted as a protest movement against a bill designed to allow suspects to be sent to mainland China for trial. The bill was later withdrawn.


Key words : morgan
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200522_08/

US President Donald Trump has warned that his country will react very strongly to Beijing's attempt to pass legislation to maintain public order in Hong Kong.

Trump told reporters on Thursday that he does not know what the legislation is, but said, "If it happens, we'll address that issue very strongly."

His remark came after a spokesperson for China's National People's Congress said that this year's session will discuss a national security legislation for Hong Kong.

US State Department Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus also criticized China's move. She said any effort to impose legislation that did not reflect the will of the people of Hong Kong would be highly destabilizing and met with strong condemnation from the United States and the international community.
Republican and Democratic senators said China is attempting to interfere with Hong Kong's autonomy.

They introduced legislation on Thursday to impose sanctions on the high-ranking Chinese officials who are working on the legal system and on banks that do business with them.

The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act was enacted in the US last November, following massive pro-democracy protests in the Chinese territory.

It stipulates that if Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy is compromised, the US can suspend preferential treatment and impose sanctions on officials involved in the suppression of human rights.


Key words : price index
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200522_10/

Japan's consumer prices have slipped into negative territory for the first time in more than 3 years due to the pandemic.

Officials at the Internal Affairs Ministry say the Consumer Price Index was down 0.2 percent in April year-on-year. The figure excludes fresh food.

The ministry says cheaper crude oil pushed down gasoline and other fuel costs.

Another factor was the falling cost of hotel accommodations due to the massive plunge of international tourism.


Key words : airline two for this month
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200522_01/

Two Japanese airlines say they will resume some domestic flights in June as the government has lifted the state of emergency in most prefectures.

All Nippon Airways says it will operate six to eight round-trip flights per day next month between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Osaka in western Japan. That is up from two for this month.

The carrier says it will make seven to nine round-trip flights per day between Haneda and Fukuoka in western Japan, compared to the current three to four.

ANA adds it will also restart one daily round-trip flight each from Haneda to other domestic destinations, including Okayama, Kumamoto, and Miyazaki.

ANA will continue to suspend more than 15,900 flights, or 70 percent of its original schedule, although it represents an improvement on the 85 percent for this month.

Skymark Airlines also plans to increase the number of flights leaving and arriving at Haneda, Fukuoka, and Kobe in the first half of next month. Its suspension rate will decline from 85 percent in May to 80 percent in June.

Both companies say seat reservations for domestic flights scheduled for next month are picking up slightly.

Meanwhile, Japan Airlines plans to cancel 72 percent of its domestic flights in the first half of next month. That is the same proportion as this month.


Key words : ANA mandatory
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200521_22/

Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways will make it mandatory for passengers to wear a mask aboard planes and at the airport, starting in June.

The decision is part of ANA's efforts to step up anti-coronavirus measures in anticipation of a gradual return of passengers.

From June 1, everyone will be required to wear a mask at all times on planes and at the airport, including at security checkpoints and boarding gates.

The airline says it may deny boarding to people not wearing a mask or showing symptoms of illness, including fever. Exceptions will be made for small children and certain particular cases.

Other special measures include disinfecting the entire plane before each departure on international flights.

For domestic flights, toilets will be disinfected before each departure, while armrests and tables will be sanitized once a day.

ANA says it will ask passengers to disinfect their hands before boarding. Disinfectant wipes will also be available upon request.

The airline has cut both domestic and international flights by nearly 90 percent. But passenger numbers are expected to increase as the state of emergency is gradually lifted across Japan.

Current guidelines set by industry associations of airlines and airport operators only request, but do not impose, the use of face masks.


Key words : michigan
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200522_20/

Small business owners in the US are pushing to get back to work. Some in the state of Michigan say the lockdown has gone on too long. So, they marched to their state capitol, with scissors in hand.

"I need to be able to provide for myself and for my family," said salon owner Rachael Sheeran.

She was one of hundreds of barbers and stylists who defied the state lockdown and took their frustrations to the capitol.

The demonstrators came armed with the usual signs of protest and the tools of their trade. They offered free haircuts to their supporters, groomed pets, and even gave a massage or two.

"They've been unable to feed their families, support themselves, pay their mortgages, pay for their cars," said Matt Seely, from the Michigan Conservative Coalition.

Police fined a number of people for disorderly conduct.
But the protesters kept at it.

They were inspired by Karl Manke, a barber who reopened his shop earlier this month before the state shut it down.

"It's gotten to the point now where somebody can take my license without a hearing, just take it," Manke said. "That's a police state."

But the lockdown orders in most states prevent barbers from seeing any customers.

Many Americans have taken to cutting their own hair. Ordering what they need can take weeks.

Barbershop owner Adam Reyes says his biggest concern isn't whether his own business will survive.

"It's more so like, how is this really going to impact my industry?" he says.

Like many barbers, he can't wait to see his clients again.
But they wonder when that will be, in a business where you're just inches away.


Key words : thomas
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200521_25/

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach has suggested that the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Games will have to be cancelled if they cannot be held next summer.

Bach made the remark during an interview with the BBC. The British broadcaster posted excerpts on its website on Wednesday.

The Tokyo Games were postponed to 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic, and are to take place from July 23 to August 8.

Bach said Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo made it clear to him that as far as Japan is concerned, next summer is "the last option."

Bach said, "Quite frankly, I have some understanding for this, because you cannot forever employ 3,000 or 5,000 people in an organizing committee."

He added, "You cannot every year change the entire sports schedule worldwide of all the major federations. You cannot have the athletes being in uncertainty."

Bach said, "We have to be prepared for different scenarios, and that all these different scenarios are under consideration." He also said, "When we have a clear view on how the world will look like on July 23, 2021, then we will take the appropriate decisions."

Tokyo Olympics Organizing Committee Secretary-General Muto Toshiro declined to comment on the remarks, telling reporters online that he has no direct knowledge of what Bach reportedly said.

Muto was asked whether a consensus exists between the organizing committee and the IOC that the games will have to be cancelled if they cannot take place next summer. Muto said he is not aware of any such consensus.

Asked about the possibility of holding the games behind closed doors to prevent spreading of the virus, Muto said it is still too early to discuss such a scenario, with the games more than a year away.

Muto called into question Bach's claim that Abe called next summer "the last option."

Muto said he does not recall Abe using that phrase in his teleconference with Bach in March.


Key words : south topped 200
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200521_26/

The South Korean government says the number of coronavirus infections linked to nightclubs in Seoul has topped 200. The cases now include students, leading to suspension of classes just one day after schools reopened.

Government officials say a total of 206 cases have been confirmed as of Thursday. The cluster originated at nightclubs in Seoul's Itaewon district in early May.

Of that number, 95 visited nightclubs, and 111 others contracted the virus from those people.

At Incheon, near Seoul, young people are reported to have got the virus from a cram school teacher, who was a club visitor.

Two high school students who went to a karaoke room have also tested positive, prompting Incheon authorities to order the closure of such facilities.

In South Korea, high schools reopened for third-year students on Wednesday. But in Incheon, students at more than 60 schools were told to stay at home on Thursday.

Separately, a third-year student at a high school was found infected on Thursday in Daegu, in the country's south, leading the school to send all students home.


Key words : south korea artist
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