Japanese Prime Minister and US President have discussed the decision to postpone the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Olympics and Paralympics will be postponed -- with officials citing the "unprecedented and unpredictable spread" of the coronavirus.
Sources linked to the Tokyo metropolitan government say more than 40 people tested positive to the new coronavirus on Wednesday.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20200325200000_english_1.mp3
Key words : Abe and US discuss good decision
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200325_28/
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US President Donald Trump have discussed the decision to postpone the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games that were scheduled for this summer.
Abe and Trump spoke on the phone Wednesday morning, Japan time, for about 40 minutes. The talks came at the request of Japan's side.
Abe told Trump that he and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach agreed on Tuesday to postpone the Tokyo Games, and to hold them by the summer of 2021 at the latest. He said the decision is designed to allow athletes to compete under the best conditions and to ensure the Games are safe.
Trump expressed his support and said it was a good decision.
The leaders confirmed they will cooperate to create Games symbolic of overcoming the pandemic.
They also agreed to work together to promote the development of treatments for the virus.
Key words : Olympics postpone unprecedented
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200325_14/
The Olympics and Paralympics will be postponed -- with officials citing the "unprecedented and unpredictable spread" of the coronavirus. They say the Games will take place no later than the summer of 2021.
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said, "We feel there with the entire world population, we are going all together, humanity is going through a very dark tunnel. And there we wanted and we want to make the Olympic flame the light at the end of this dark tunnel."
Bach spoke to NHK after an IOC board meeting confirmed a delay until 2021 for the Olympics and Paralympics.
He said travel restrictions imposed across the world were behind the decision.
Bach also said, "We saw worldwide spreading of this virus. And then the question was not anymore so much what are the conditions in Japan, but the question was more can the rest of the world participate."
The delay was agreed in a teleconference between Bach and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Abe said, "We are committed to holding the games in a complete form when we can prove that human beings have overcome illness caused by the new coronavirus."
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said, "It's significant that the span of postponement, or the goal, is set at the summer of 2021. It's especially important for athletes because they now have a concrete target."
The head of the organizing committee, Yoshiro Mori, said the name of the games will continue to be "Tokyo 2020." He added the Olympic flame will remain in Japan and the torch relay scheduled to start Thursday will be suspended.
It's the first time in Olympic history a public health emergency has caused the games to be put off.
Key words : Japanese olympic
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200325_33/
The head of the Japanese Olympic Committee has asked athletes to support the postponement of the Tokyo Games due to the coronavirus pandemic.
JOC President Yasuhiro Yamashita said on Wednesday the decision to delay the games came faster than he expected.
He said athletes are sure to have mixed emotions, but he expressed hope they will understand that the postponement was made to ensure their health and safety.
He said refocusing will be difficult, but urged them to remain positive as they prepare for 2021.
Yamashita added that some athletes who've already been chosen to compete in the Olympics might not have the chance to do so next year.
He said the JOC will respect the wishes of each sports body, which are at different stages in choosing athletes.
He stressed the JOC will listen to and try to meet the needs of athletes and sports bodies in dealing with the postponement.
Key words : Miyake
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200325_34/
Postponing the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics to "no later than the summer of 2021" may be difficult for athletes who see the games as the culmination of their careers.
For women's weightlifting medalist Hiromi Miyake, who won medals in two Olympics in a row, her fifth straight games is at stake.
The 34-year-old says she felt totally depressed. She adds that a year is a long time, and weighs heavily.
But she says she will think of the extra time as an added bonus to prepare, and is trying to accept the delay in a positive way.
Two-time Paralympic men's long jump silver medalist Atsushi Yamamoto is set to compete in the Tokyo Games. He's taking the delay positively, saying it's better to compete in front of spectators rather than not.
Yamamoto says he will be one year older at the postponed Tokyo Games, but that there's more he can do to improve his skills, so an extra year will be to his advantage.
Key words : sources linked
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200325_45/
Sources linked to the Tokyo metropolitan government say more than 40 people tested positive to the new coronavirus on Wednesday.
This is the highest daily tally for Japan's capital.
The sources also say about 10 of them are related to a hospital in Taito Ward where a nurse and a patient were confirmed infected on the previous day.
Tokyo reported a record number of infections for three straight days through Wednesday. Sixteen were on Monday and 17 on Tuesday.
Key words : world health number of death
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200325_18/
The World Health Organization says cases of the new coronavirus have been confirmed in 198 countries and territories as of Tuesday.
The WHO also says the total number of infections grew by 39,827 from the day before to 372,757. The number of deaths rose by 1,722 to 16,231.
According to reports released on or before Tuesday by governments, China has so far the largest number of infections at 81,171. Italy has the second largest figure of 69,176. The United States now has 44,183 infections, up by about 10,000 from the previous report. Spain has 39,673 cases, Germany 27,436, Iran 24,811 and France 22,302.
The death toll stood at 6,820 in Italy, followed by 3,277 in China. The coronavirus also killed 2,696 in Spain, 1,934 in Iran and 1,100 in France.
Key words : tokyo benchmark point rise
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200325_41/
Tokyo's benchmark stock index surged on Wednesday as investors welcomed progress by the US Congress toward passing a 2 trillion dollar stimulus package.
The gains also followed the biggest-ever one-day point rise in the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
The Nikkei 225 ended the day at 19,546, or up 8 percent. That was a gain of more than 1,400 points, the largest in 26 years. Market analysts say the decision to postpone the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics also dispelled some investor worries.
Other indexes across the Asia-Pacific region also rose. The benchmark in Seoul finished up 5.9 percent. Sydney advanced 5.5 percent.
Key words : republicans and democrats reached
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200325_42/
Congressional Republicans and Democrats have agreed on an unprecedented stimulus bill to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
The 2-trillion dollar package includes direct payments to individuals, expanded unemployment benefits, and financial support for small- and medium-sized businesses.
Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell said; "At last we have a deal. After days of intense discussions, the Senate has reached a bi-partisan agreement on an historic relief package for this pandemic."
Democrat Senate Leader Chuck Schumer said; "We have a bi-partisan agreement on the largest rescue package in American history. This is not a moment of celebration, but one of necessity."
The total cost of the bill dwarfs the emergency measures taken amid the 2008 global financial crisis.
Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives are expected to vote on the agreement as early as Wednesday.
Key words : arriving from the United States during the
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200325_36/
Japan plans to ask all people arriving in the country from the United States to self-quarantine for two weeks, starting on Thursday.
People with fevers or other symptoms arriving by sea and air are to be tested for the new coronavirus at quarantine stations.
The measure has already been applied to arrivals from 40 countries including China, South Korea and European nations, following the rapid spread of the virus there.
All those arriving from those countries, including Japanese nationals, are asked to stay at homes, hotels and other facilities they've declared for two weeks, even if they have no symptoms.
They are asked to use private or rental cars and refrain from using taxis or public transportation when going from ports of entry to their places of self-quarantine.
During the two-week period, they are requested to check their temperature every day. They are also asked to immediately contact a consultation center and visit a designated medical institution if they develop symptoms such as fever or coughing.
The measure is due to last until the end of April, but officials say it may be extended, depending on the situation.
Key words : Asian countries
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200325_08/
Asian countries are introducing a raft of measures aimed at containing the virus. India's prime minister has declared a three-week lockdown of the whole nation.
Narendra Modi said: "Health experts say that the period of at least 21 days is most crucial to break the cycle of coronavirus infection." Modi said the lockdown is "the only way to save" the country's 1.3 billion people.
More than 500 cases have been confirmed in the world's second-most populous nation.
Train travel, long-distance bus journeys and international flight arrivals have already been suspended.
The announcement comes a day after the WHO warned India to take "aggressive action" against the virus.
In Thailand, the government has declared a one-month state of emergency.
The decree, to take effect Thursday, empowers the authorities to impose curfews, ban travel and close down buildings.
Authorities have already been strengthening anti-virus steps including shutting commercial premises and schools.
Traditional Thai New Year celebrations set for next month have been postponed.
In neighboring Myanmar, the country's first two infections have been confirmed.
The announcement caused panic buying at supermarkets.
Those infected are Myanmar nationals who recently returned from the US and Britain.
Meanwhile, the city where the disease was first reported may have reason for optimism.
Officials in China's Hubei Province say they will lift travel restrictions on Wuhan residents starting April 8th.
The announcement comes after the province reported no new cases for the fifth straight day.
Wuhan has been locked down for two months.
Key words : Iran ambassador
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200325_35/
Iran's ambassador to Japan has asked the Japanese government to help lift US economic sanctions on his country, which he says have been hampering efforts to fight the new coronavirus.
Iran has the largest number of infections in the Middle East, with more than 24,800 confirmed cases and over 1,900 deaths.
Ambassador Morteza Rahmani Movahed told reporters in Tokyo on Wednesday that the lack of medical equipment is hampering his country's efforts to sustain health and welfare systems and public hygiene.
He blamed sanctions imposed by the United States, saying they have made Iran unable to export crude oil and secure funds to buy medical equipment.
He added that the sanctions have also been an obstacle to the regular procurement of medical supplies.
The ambassador thanked Japan's decision earlier this month to provide about 22.5 million dollars in medical assistance to Iran.
But he noted the important thing is to lift sanctions so that regular trade can be resumed.
Key words : meteorological calling for
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200325_20/
The Japan Meteorological Agency is calling for more efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as the country's average carbon dioxide concentration set record highs last year at all observation points.
The agency monitors CO2 density in the atmosphere at three locations in Japan: Ofunato City in northeastern Japan, the westernmost island of Yonaguni in Okinawa Prefecture, and the easternmost island of Minamitorishima in the Pacific.
The average density of carbon dioxide in Yonaguni last year was 414.8 parts per million, followed by 414 ppm in Ofunato and 412.2 ppm in Minamitorishima.
It has been setting new high records every year since the agency began observation in Ofunato in 1987.
The average CO2 density observed at an altitude of about six kilometers above the southeast of Japan and the level observed by ship at sea were both record highs.
The agency said the density of carbon dioxide has reached unprecedented levels. It warned that global warming may further advance unless measures are taken.
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