Key words : meteorological soar 28
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240817_06/
Japan's Kanto, Tokai regions endure dangerously high temperatures
Authorities in Japan are warning of dangerously high temperatures on Saturday in the Kanto and Tokai regions.
Meteorological Agency officials say a high-pressure system has seen the mercury in eastern and western Japan soar. The highest temperatures by 2 p.m. were 39.6 degrees in Shimanto City in Kochi Prefecture, 39.2 degrees in Mino City in Gifu Prefecture and 39.1 degrees in Kiryu City in Gunma Prefecture. They say temperatures have been pushed higher by warm air flowing into Typhoon Ampil.
The agency says daytime highs have reached more than 37 degrees in other cities including Saitama, Hiroshima and Kumamoto.
Many people have been rushed to hospital this summer with symptoms of heatstroke. Some cases have been fatal.
The Meteorological Agency and the Environment Ministry on Saturday issued heatstroke alerts for 28 of the country's 47 prefectures.
People are being advised to stay indoors, use air conditioners, consume adequate amounts of water and salt, and refrain from outings and outdoor exercise.
Senior citizens, babies and younger children are especially vulnerable to extreme heat.
Key words : negotiator 10 months
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240817_N01/
No breakthrough in Gaza ceasefire talks
Negotiators trying to broker a ceasefire in Gaza have wrapped up their latest round of talks in Doha, Qatar, without a breakthrough. They said they presented both Israel and Hamas with a proposal, and they have pledged to continue their efforts.
The discussions were focused on putting an end to 10 months of fighting and securing the release of scores of hostages. Mediators from the US, Egypt and Qatar had started the talks on Thursday. They met with representatives from Israel, but none from Hamas were in attendance. Negotiators said the meetings were "constructive" and conducted in a "positive atmosphere."
Mediators from the US presented a proposal that is consistent with one laid out by President Joe Biden in May. They said it builds on areas of agreement and bridges remaining gaps. Biden said an agreement is "much, much closer" than it was before the talks started.
Israeli officials offered their thanks to the US and other negotiators. Reuters reports that Hamas is taking a cautious stance, with a spokesperson saying the US is creating a false sense of optimism.
Mediators said they will meet again next week in Cairo to try and finalize an agreement.
Key words : polio vaccine
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240817_10/
UN demands pauses in fighting for polio vaccine after virus confirmed in Gaza
The United Nations is calling for pauses in fighting in the Gaza Strip so it can launch a polio vaccination campaign after the poliovirus was detected in the enclave.
Health authorities in Gaza announced on Friday that an unvaccinated 10-month-old child contracted the disease. It is said to be the first confirmed polio case in Gaza in 25 years.
Polio strikes young children and causes permanent paralysis in serious cases.
The UN had been warning since July that the disease could spread in Gaza. It announced on Friday it is ready to start a vaccination campaign in Gaza for more than 640,000 children as early as late August.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned at a news conference that if the virus is left unchecked, it would have "a disastrous effect not only for Palestinian children in Gaza, but also in neighboring countries and the region."
He also stressed that safety for children and health workers must be ensured for a vaccination campaign to be successful.
He said, "I am appealing to all parties to provide concrete assurances right away guaranteeing humanitarian pauses for the campaign."
The World Health Organization says it plans two rounds of vaccination, one at the end of August and the other in September. It is requesting seven days of humanitarian pauses for each round.
Key words : red cross
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240817_09/
IFRC calls on rich nations to provide mpox vaccines to Africa immediately
An international aid organization has called for immediate provision of mpox vaccines to Africa, saying vaccines are in short supply in the continent.
The call follows Wednesday's declaration by the World Health Organization that an outbreak of mpox in Africa is a public health emergency of international concern.
The WHO noted cases of mpox, caused by a variant that is more likely to trigger severe symptoms, are resurging in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and spreading elsewhere in Africa.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, or IFRC, reported what it saw in affected areas at a news conference in Switzerland on Friday.
IFRC Senior Officer Bronwyn Nichol said the epidemic has "far surpassed" previous outbreaks, making it one of the most significant health threats Africa has faced in recent years.
She said there is a critical shortage of testing, treatment and vaccines across the continent.
Nichol said lessons have not been learned from COVID. She said most vaccine stocks are still in wealthier nations and urged those countries to send them to Africa promptly.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, or Africa CDC, said, the continent needs more than 10 million doses of mpox vaccines, but only about 200,000 doses are available.
Key words : china foreign minister infrastructure
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240817_02/
China steps up support to five Mekong nations
China plans to boost ties with Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar through a series of infrastructure projects.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi met delegates from the five Mekong region nations on Friday in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand.
The attendees say they plan to improve the Mekong River's resistance to droughts and flooding.
And they say measures will be taken to prevent airborne pollutants known as PM 2.5 from crossing borders.
Wang told reporters that China will promote sustainable development in the region.
He also stressed Beijing's willingness to step up cooperation through rail, port and other projects.
Japan and the United States provide similar support to Mekong nations. Observers say China is attempting to expand its influence in the region.
Key words : nasa canadian
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240817_13/
NASA holds contest to pioneer Mars food technologies
NASA and its Canadian counterpart have held a competition for ideas on how to secure food for a long stay on Mars.
Contestants developed technologies to produce tasty and nutritious fare for long crewed missions.
Seven teams from universities and companies competed in the finals of the Deep Space Food Challenge at a university in the US state of Ohio on Friday.
A box-shaped device developed by the University of California and others uses electrolysis to convert water and carbon dioxide exhaled by humans into nutrients that can efficiently grow mushrooms and tomatoes.
A cylindrical oven built by a Colorado company enables safe heating even in zero gravity by using centrifugal forces from its fast-spinning cylinder. Powdered ingredients and water in the cylinder were turned into a hot pizza in about 20 minutes.
A woman who sampled it said she preferred it to a pizza that she could get at a takeout. She said she thinks the astronauts are "very lucky" as they can look forward to "a really good meal."
The winner was a team that came up with a system for raising vegetables and edible insects with automatic temperature and humidity control. They took home 750,000 dollars in prize money.
A NASA official said she was excited to see the innovative technologies. She said the goal is to provide astronauts with cuisine resembling what they would enjoy on Earth.
Key words : gozan
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240817_01/
Mountains of Kyoto set ablaze for spectacular festival
Five mountains surrounding Japan's ancient capital Kyoto served as the stage for a spectacular bonfire festival on Friday, attracting tens of thousands of people.
Gozan Okuribi is held every August 16 to send off ancestral spirits during the Bon holidays.
The fires form shapes such as a boat and the kanji character for "large". The first was lit at 8 p.m., and the others shortly after.
Police say the festival attracted a crowd of about 47,000, up more than 20,000 from last year.
About 300 people viewed the event from the rooftop of a textile center.
One woman in her 40s who came with her family said this was the first Bon festival since her father died, adding that she was glad they were able to give him a good sendoff.
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