Key words : adopted observer
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200630_23/
China's top legislative body has adopted a national security law for Hong Kong, marking a new phase in the territory's relationship to the mainland.
Observers say it could erode Hong Kong's autonomy and diminish its role as a global financial hub.
Hong Kong media says the National People's Congress Standing Committee approved the draft law with a unanimous vote on Tuesday.
The new legislation lays out four criminal acts Beijing says threatens national security -- secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign or external forces.
It also allows Chinese authorities to set up an agency inside the semi-autonomous territory -- and enables the city's chief executive to choose judges that will oversee national security cases.
Pro-democracy groups and foreign governments have voiced concern the law undermines the "one country, two systems" framework which guarantees Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy and judicial independence.
The law was passed in two weeks after the first review of the draft -- prompting accusations the law is being pushed through ahead of local elections set for September.
The passing of the new law also comes one day before the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China from Britain.
Pro-democracy groups are planning to hold a rally on Wednesday to mark the day and show their opposition to the new legislation.
Key words : chinese government announced countermeasure
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200630_25/
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam has refrained from commenting on reports that China has passed a national security law for the territory.
Lam told reporters on Tuesday she was aware of widespread public speculation regarding the legislation.
But she said she had nothing to say, as the law's final text had yet to be officially announced. She said she would give details at the appropriate time.
Lam said a US decision to suspend exports of defense equipment to Hong Kong will have little impact. She said she is fully prepared and not afraid of any sanction.
She said if the Chinese government takes a countermeasure to Washington's action at the appropriate time, Hong Kong would respond in line with that.
Key words : Trump visa restriction imposing
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200630_24/
The US government says it is ending controlled defense exports to Hong Kong in response to China's decision to erode the territory's freedoms.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday that that the exports were suspended.
He said the United States will also take steps toward imposing the same restrictions on US defense and dual-use technologies to Hong Kong as it does for China.
Pompeo said the US "cannot risk these items falling into the hands of the People's Liberation Army." He said, "Given Beijing now treats Hong Kong as 'One Country, One System,' so must we."
The State Department says the United States exported 1.4 million dollars' worth of defense equipment and services to Hong Kong last year, including arms and ammunition used by the territory's police.
The administration of President Donald Trump is responding to China's plan to introduce a national security law for Hong Kong. Critics say the legislation will harm the territory's high degree of autonomy, guaranteed under the principle of "one country, two systems."
The Trump administration announced last Friday that it will impose visa restrictions on Chinese officials deemed responsible for undermining Hong Kong's freedoms.
Key words : india deadly
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200630_06/
India's government has banned 59 apps released by Chinese companies, amid rising tensions over a recent deadly border clash with China.
The government announced the ban on Monday. It said the apps will result in the theft of user data and leaks of information to servers outside the country, as well as pose a threat to the nation's sovereignty and privacy.
The apps include the video-sharing app TikTok, which is said to have some 200 million users in India, and the micro-blogging platform Weibo.
The move came amid heightened tensions between the two countries over a clash on June 15 between their forces in a disputed border region. It left 20 Indians dead.
Both countries have expressed hope to resolve the issue through dialogue, but have not stopped blaming each other for the clash.
Since the incident, there are growing boycotts of Chinese products in India. Some are concerned India's move could increase tensions between the two countries.
Key words : airline middle east
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200630_01/
Airlines based in the Middle East are preparing to resume more international flights, as Europe is poised to ease travel restrictions in phases.
The European Union plans to start relaxing restrictions on travel from outside the bloc on Wednesday, ahead of the summer holiday season. Arrangements are also underway for Japan to be included in the easing of restrictions.
The move has prompted some Middle East-based carriers to resume or increase flights linking Europe and Asia.
Dubai-based airline Emirates plans to restore its network to over 50 destinations in July.
The airline is also planning to resume direct flights connecting Dubai with Japan's Kansai airport starting July 7, as well as with Narita airport from July 8.
Turkish Airlines plans to restart direct services to Japan by in July.
Qatar Airways has been gradually reopening routes to Europe since last month. It is currently operating 49 routes through its Doha hub, where it's based. It also plans to resume direct flights to and from Tokyo's Haneda airport as soon as demand returns, on top of continued services connecting Narita.
Qatar Airways' Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer Thierry Antinori told NHK that it will take two years or so for the airline to return to the pre-pandemic level of flights.
He said the carrier had operated 150 routes before the coronavirus spread across the globe, and plans to replace large jets with mid-sized ones to cope with a drop in passenger traffic while maintaining the routes.
Key words : Thailand restriction
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200629_32/
Thailand is extending its emergency decree by another month. It was due to expire on Wednesday, but the prime minister says it should remain as a precaution.
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said in a news conference, "We don't intend to restrict anybody's freedom. We're all in this together. But what we're concerned about most is the spread of the virus, which is rampant abroad."
The decree was announced in late March, after the country saw a spike in infections. It's been prolonged twice since.
Most restrictions have already been lifted and some high-risk places - including bars and schools - are set to open on Wednesday.
A government spokesperson says the decree will allow authorities to restrict incoming travel, enforce quarantine on returnees and shut down businesses instantly, if necessary.
The renewed order will expire at the end of July, but officials say that could change, depending on the situation.
Meanwhile, India reported more than 19,000 new infections on Monday. The country has the fourth-highest number of cases in the world.
The latest surge comes as the government was gradually relaxing restrictions on economic activities due to worsening unemployment.
A nationwide lockdown was imposed in March, but shops and restaurants resumed full-scale operations this month.
The capital, New Delhi, is the country's worst-hit area, with over 83,000 infections. Officials there estimate that number will skyrocket more than sixfold by the end of July. They estimate 80,000 beds will be needed, but only 13,000 are available.
Key words : world health investigate
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200630_07/
The head of the World Health Organization says a team will be sent to China next month to investigate how the coronavirus began spreading.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus spoke to reporters in Geneva on Monday.
"We can fight the virus better when we know everything about the virus," he said, "including how it started."
The United States has suggested that the virus may have originated in a laboratory in China. Beijing reacted sharply to that suggestion.
Attention had been on when the WHO would launch an investigation into how the outbreak began.
Six months have passed since the WHO was informed on December 31 of last year about cases of pneumonia with an unknown cause in China.
Tedros said the hard reality is that the pandemic is not even close to being over. He added, "although many countries have made some progress, globally the pandemic is actually speeding up."
He urged countries to step up measures against the coronavirus.
Key words : wearing mask Catherine Kobayashi
#N/A
Key words : olympian
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200630_11/
A US Olympian is calling for the International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee to scrap rules banning athlete protests at the Games.
Leading calls for reform is John Carlos, who won a bronze medal in the men's 200-meter at the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games.
During the award ceremony, Carlos and US gold medalist Tommie Brown sparked controversy by raising their fists in a Black Power salute. Both were expelled from the Games.
Jointly with the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, Carlos sent a letter on Saturday to the IOC and the IPC, calling for the abolition of Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter.
The rule bans any kind of demonstration and advertising of a political, religious or racial nature.
Anti-racism protests have spread worldwide since the death of George Floyd. The African-American died last month in the US city of Minneapolis during his arrest by a white policeman.
A number of athletes have since kneeled or raised a hand at sports venues in a show of protest against racial discrimination.
IOC President Thomas Bach has said that he will wait for the outcome of a dialogue between the IOC's Athletes' Commission and athletes, who are discussing the matter.
Key words : weather Yoko Komagata
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