at 20:00 (JST), August 31

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20200831200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : LDP who will
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200831_05/

Political factions in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party are discussing potential candidates to succeed Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.

The LDP is expected to decide when and how to choose its next leader in a General Council meeting on Tuesday. Discussions on the potential candidates are starting in earnest before the decision comes.

LDP top officials are planning to have its members in both houses of the Diet meet around September 13th to 15th to choose the party's president, who will become the next prime minister of Japan.

LDP Policy Research Council Chairperson Kishida Fumio, and former LDP Secretary-General Ishiba Shigeru have shown interest in running in the party's presidential race.

Some party members are hopeful of a bid by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide.

Kishida held talks on Sunday with some senior party members, including Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Aso Taro, and asked for their support.

Kishida intends to formally announce his candidacy once he decides to run. He plans to meet senior members of his faction on Monday and discuss his election pledge.

Ishiba also met his faction's top officials on Sunday. He later told reporters that they granted him discretion to decide whether to run, and said he is willing to do so. He plans to listen to opinions from other members of his faction.

Suga held talks with LDP Secretary-General Nikai Toshihiro and Diet Affairs Committee Chair Moriyama Hiroshi on Saturday. Senior members of Nikai's faction hinted that the group may support Suga if he runs.

Suga has not made it clear if he will run for the party's presidential race. But some LDP members are considering asking him to be a candidate.

A group led by former Chief Cabinet Secretary Hosoda Hiroyuki also held a meeting on Sunday. It is the LDP's largest faction and Prime Minister Abe is from the group.

The faction's senior members agreed to take united action. Some of them argued that the group should put forward its own candidate. They are planning to seek other members' opinions on Monday.

Usually, all LDP Diet lawmakers and party members nationwide vote in the election. But in urgent cases, only LDP Diet legislators plus the representatives of prefectural chapters cast votes.

Some LDP members say the next leader should be elected through votes by all party members. Toward that end they are collecting signatures among the party.

Key words : analyst GDP
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200831_15/

Analysts have updated their projections for Japan's GDP as the impact of the pandemic becomes clearer. They're expecting a return to growth in fiscal 2021, but not before some significant economic pain.

Eight private research firms revised their projections for Japan's economy. The changes come after the country's GDP shrank at an annualized 27.8 percent in real terms in the April-to-June period.

Analysts now expect GDP to shrink from 5.4 percent to 6.5 percent in fiscal 2020. That would mark a record drop, exceeding the downturn in fiscal 2008 amid the global financial crisis.

The eight firms also expect Japan's economy to start growing again in fiscal 2021. The projections range from a 2.7 percent to a 4.8 percent expansion.

But the firms say the recovery will be unusually slow. They believe the coronavirus will continue to limit economic activities. This could worsen the job market and incomes.

Key words : tiktok
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200831_07/

Stringent new restrictions imposed by China on technology exports could stall the sale of the American arm of video-sharing app TikTok by its China-based parent.

United States President Donald Trump ordered TikTok's Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell the US operation, saying TikTok is a national threat as it could share user data with the Chinese government.

China's Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Science and Technology on Friday jointly released a revised catalog of technologies that are subject to export bans or restrictions.

It includes the AI technology used in TikTok.

China's state news agency Xinhua reported that careful analysis is needed to see if sales negotiations should stop. It cites a Chinese expert who points out that ByteDance owns AI and data-analyzing technologies that could be subject to the new restrictions.

Another Chinese media outlet reported that ByteDance announced on Sunday that it will strictly abide by the revised rules.

Microsoft is among the companies that have offered to buy TikTok.

Key words : protest unarmed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200831_12/

Protests are continuing across the US over police brutality. The latest flashpoint is in Wisconsin, where police shot an unarmed Black man in the back last week.

More than a thousand people gathered in front of Kenosha's courthouse to demand justice for Jacob Blake. The 29-year-old Black man was paralyzed from the waist down after being shot seven times at close range by police.

The White House says President Donald Trump will visit Kenosha on Tuesday. But the Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor says now is not the time for Trump to visit, citing his "incendiary remarks" about the situation.

Blake's shooting has added fuel to nationwide protests that were sparked by the killing of George Floyd in police custody in May.

Meanwhile on Saturday, a man was shot dead in Portland, where anti-racism demonstrators clashed with Trump supporters who traveled to the city in a 600-vehicle caravan.

Police have not disclosed the victim's identity. But some media outlets are reporting that he was wearing a hat with the insignia of a far-right group based in Portland. Police are still investigating whether the shooting and the clash between the two groups is connected.

Tensions have been further stoked by Trump's decision in July to dispatch federal law enforcement agents to Portland without the consent of the governor or the city's mayor.
On Sunday, Trump described the mayor as a fool and said the only way to stop violence in the high-crime Democrat-run cities is through strength.

Portland's mayor responded by blaming Trump for his "campaign of fear." He said, "It's you who have created the hate and the division. It's you who have not found a way to say the names of black people killed by police officers, even as people in law enforcement have."

Key words : detained massive
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200831_04/

More than 100 protesters in Belarus have been detained by security authorities during a massive rally against President Alexander Lukashenko.

Demonstrators took to the streets across the country on Sunday. It was the latest in a series of protests in the past three weeks following the August 9 presidential election.

Lukashenko won reelection in the vote, but his opponents say the election was rigged.

An estimated 100,000 protesters gathered in the capital Minsk on Sunday, which was Lukashenko's 66th birthday. They marched through the streets, chanting that celebrations for his birthday will come only after he steps down.

Security authorities said it is an unauthorized protest and started removing demonstrators.

Belarus's internal affairs ministry says 125 people have been detained so far.

The country's presidential office announced on Sunday that Lukashenko talked over the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin and they will hold a summit in Moscow in the coming weeks.

Putin calls for a peaceful solution through dialogue to the post-election turmoil in Belarus. But in an interview with the state-run broadcaster on Saturday, he endorsed the result of the presidential election as a show of support for the Lukashenko administration.

Opponents of the administration are becoming increasingly distrustful of Russia.

Key words : tourist almost zero
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/videos/20200831120039350/

With foreign tourist numbers dwindling to almost zero, the coronavirus pandemic has had a massive impact on tourism around Japan. So the hospitality industry is coming up with new approaches to attract visitors. In the northern prefecture of Hokkaido, many hotels are looking to survive through micro tourism, targeting people living nearby as their main clientele.

Key words : saudi
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200831_08/

Students in Saudi Arabia started the new school year from home on Sunday, as in-person classes have been suspended amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Middle Eastern country has seen the daily number of new coronavirus cases remain at around 1,000. The total tally is the second-largest in the region, after Iran.

The government has announced that distance learning measures will be in place for the first seven weeks of the new academic year to prevent the spread of the virus.

A first-year elementary school student in the capital, Riyadh, said she wants to go to school. She added that she will miss meeting her teachers and friends.

The Saudi Arabian government is stepping up efforts to contain the virus, as it will host a Group of 20 summit in Riyadh in November.

Key words : weather Tsietsi Monare
#N/A

at 20:00 (JST), August 30

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20200830200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : reality star
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200830_09/

Sources say a Japanese reality show star who apparently committed suicide had been criticized on social media.

Hamasaki Maria was found dead in her apartment in Tokyo on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old was a cast member of the online TV show "Suddenly, marriage," which is distributed by the Japanese video streaming site ABEMA.

Hamasaki had been posting about her daily life on social media. Sources say she received numerous comments criticizing her for going out without wearing a mask around April. They say the comments triggered online arguments between Hamasaki and her critics.

ABEMA says it is looking into the situation, adding it has not found anything to indicate that she recently was troubled.

The show follows a man and woman who live together for 30 days and see whether they will get married in real life. It was popular among young people but the company has pulled the program following her death.

Tokyo police are questioning those who knew her to better understand the situation surrounding her death.

Online bullying has recently driven other reality program stars to take their own lives.

In May, Japanese pro wrestler and reality show star Kimura Hana committed suicide. The 22-year-old woman had reportedly been distressed due to online bullying.

In Britain, a 32-year-old woman in a reality show that depicts romantic relationships between couples on an island committed suicide in 2018. A 26-year-old man on the same program committed suicide last year.

Key words : several politician
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200830_07/

Several politicians have signaled their intention to seek the premiership since Prime Minister Abe Shinzo announced he would resign for health reasons, while some in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's hope to see Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide succeed Abe.

LDP's Policy Research Council Chairperson Kishida Fumio, former LDP Secretary-General Ishiba Shigeru and former internal affairs minister Noda Seiko have shown strong interest in becoming the next leader.

Suga wrote on his blog on Saturday that he will do his utmost to carry out his responsibilities to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of the people.

An increasing number of people in the party want him to succeed Abe in order to continue policies, including the response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Secretary-General Nikai Toshihiro and Diet Affairs Committee Chair Moriyama Hiroshi agreed to hold a general meeting of LDP members in both houses of the Diet sometime around September 13 to 15.

They met on Saturday evening to discuss how and when to choose Abe's successor.

Under normal circumstances, all LDP Diet lawmakers and party members nationwide would vote in an election.

But they concurred that this time a faster option should be taken to avoid any political vacuum. They will ask only LDP Diet lawmakers and representatives of prefectural chapters to cast votes.

Party factions have not forwarded any candidates so far, and have been closely watching each other.

Candidates could begin their activities in earnest after Tuesday, when the ruling party will decide when and how the next leader will be chosen.

Key words : protest shooting seriously
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200830_12/

Rallies have been held across the United States on the first weekend after the police shooting of a Black man in the US state of Wisconsin.

More than 1,000 people took part in a rally in the city of Kenosha, where the shooting took place.

Jacob Blake was seriously wounded when police shot him in the back seven times at close range on August 23 in Kenosha.

People gathered in front of a courthouse in Kenosha, including family members of Blake and local residents, to protest police brutality.

They listened to Blake's father speak while holding banners calling for justice.

Blake's father asked what gives police the right to treat his son like an animal.

He said he was tired of the situation, and proclaimed, "No justice, no peace."

President Donald Trump plans to visit Kenosha on Tuesday. The White House says Trump will meet with law enforcement officials.

In May, another Black man in Minneapolis, Minnesota, died after a white police officer pinned him to the ground while kneeling on his neck.

His death sparked widespread protests, which are once again growing with the latest incident.

Key words : brazil
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200830_11/

Widespread corruption cases in Brazil are threatening to hinder the country's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Local police say 29 pandemic-related corruption cases have been investigated in 16 of the country's 27 states.

On Friday, a court ordered that Rio de Janeiro state governor Wilson Witzel be suspended for six months. The governor is suspected of pocketing some of state funds for constructing hospitals and buying medical equipment.

About 3.8 million people have been infected with the coronavirus in Brazil. That's second highest figure in the world, after the United States.

But there have been many delays in construction of hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients and distribution of ventilators.

Key words : police german
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200830_10/

Police in the German capital of Berlin have detained about 300 protesters who turned violent during a demonstration against coronavirus-related restrictions.

More than 30,000 people gathered in central Berlin on Saturday for the rally.

Demonstrators expressed frustration over measures such as requirements to wear face masks on public transportation. Some people carried placards against mask measures.

One of the participants said he wants to breathe in fresh air without a mask.

Police ordered the crowd to disband, citing their failure to observe social distancing and other anti-infection guidelines.

About 300 protestors were taken into custody after they began throwing rocks and bottles against officers.

New daily infections have recently topped 1,000 in Germany as more people go out for summer vacation. The case numbers have reached highs that were last recorded in late April.

On Thursday, most federal states introduced a minimum 50 euro fine, or about 60 dollars, for failing to wear a face mask.

Chancellor Angela Merkel is calling on people to take the pandemic seriously.

Key words : 10,000 women
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200830_08/

Around 10,000 women have marched in protest in Belarus' capital, Minsk, demanding that President Alexander Lukashenko step down.

Belarus has been in turmoil, with many demonstrations being held following the election on August 9, in which Lukashenko claimed he was reelected.

Supporters of Lukashenko's main rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya called on women to take part in the protest on Saturday.

They marched along the main street of Minsk for about four hours.

The marchers were blocked by security forces from time to time, but they chanted "this is our city" and "you better protect us."

The government is pressuring journalists who are critical of Lukashenko.

The Belarusian association of journalists says that about 50 reporters and photographers have been taken into custody so far.

Accreditations were revoked for at least 17 local staff members of foreign media, including a US news agency and a British television station. The move hampers efforts to report the news in the country.

Opposition groups are calling for a large protest on Sunday, which marks three weeks since the disputed election.

Key words : firework
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200830_03/

Socially-distanced families in the western Japanese city of Kobe have enjoyed handheld fireworks at a night park.

The event took place as a replacement for fireworks displays and other summer traditions that have been canceled this year due to the spread of the coronavirus.

It was held by a non-profit organization that works to honor the victims of the major earthquake that struck the city and nearby areas in 1995.

Candles were lit using a memorial flame that has been kept burning at the park to remember the victims.

Participants enjoyed roughly 5,000 handheld fireworks while maintaining physical distancing to prevent coronavirus infection.

A mother in her 40s took part in the event with her two daughters. She said it will become a fond memory for them as her family did not visit any places of amusement during the summer holidays.

A five-year-old boy who visited the park with his mother said he used fireworks for the first time this year and that it was really fun.

A senior official of the organizing group said the event drew many more people than it had expected. He added he hopes the event will motivate them to learn more about the disaster.

at 20:00 (JST), August 29

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20200829200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : abe announced duties
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200829_01/

Japan's Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has formally announced his intention to resign due to a relapse of an inflammatory bowel disease.

At a news conference on Friday, Abe said that a regular checkup in June showed signs of a recurrence of ulcerative colitis, and that he began feeling physically worn down as his condition worsened around mid-July. He said doctors confirmed a relapse in early August.

Abe said he was given a new type of medicine in addition to the one he's been taking. He said a follow-up exam on Monday showed the new medicine was working, but it has to be taken continuously and the outlook is unclear.

Abe said the most important thing in politics is to produce results. He said he should never be allowed to make political misjudgments, weighed down by his illness, treatment and lack of physical strength.

He said now that he can no longer confidently respond to the people's mandate, he should not remain in his post.

Abe said he struggled in deciding when to announce his departure, given the coronavirus outbreak. But he said he chose this timing due to the recent declining trend in infections. He also cited Friday's agreement by a government taskforce on a new set of policies to deal with the virus toward winter.

Abe said he offers his heartfelt apologies to the people for quitting amid the pandemic and before realizing numerous policies. He expressed the utmost regret for failing to resolve the issue of North Korea's abductions of Japanese nationals.

He also said it also breaks his heart to leave half way through his wish to conclude a peace treaty with Russia and amend Japan's Constitution.

Abe suggested that he will continue to carry out his duties until the next prime minister is in place.

Abe's tenure as the leader of the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party is set to expire in September next year.

LDP lawmakers plan to decide next week how and when to elect his successor.

Key words : Trump respect
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200829_12/

US President Donald Trump has paid respect to Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo after he announced his intention to resign.

Trump told reporters on Friday aboard the Air Force One presidential aircraft that he had a great relationship with Abe, calling him a "great friend."

The president called Abe a great gentleman and said he was paying his "highest respect." He said he feels very bad for Abe having to leave, because he loves his country so much.

Abe met Trump after he had won the 2016 presidential election but before assuming the post. They have established a friendly relationship since then, sometimes through playing golf together.

A White House official called Trump's relationship with Abe the most friendly among the world leaders.

Key words : Trump telephone
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200829_08/

Japan's Prime Minister Abe Shinzo is making arrangements to hold telephone talks with US President Donald Trump on Monday.

The prime minister announced his intention on Friday to step down due to a relapse of his illness. He suggested he will continue to carry out his duties until the next prime minister is in place.

Abe is also considering having phone conversations with other world leaders with whom he has built relations.

The outgoing leader also plans to present an outline of Japan's new security strategy while he is in office.

He will seek to speed up discussions within the government to work out a new direction for the country's security policies, including missile defense.

Key words : abe biden
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200829_07/

Former US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden tweeted on Friday that he is grateful for the friendship and leadership of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Biden wrote, "I'm sad to see you step down, but I know the strong alliance between our countries and peoples will continue for generations to come."

French President Emmanuel Macron said during a media briefing on Friday that Abe made efforts to modernize the Japanese economy and society, giving a more important role to women, which he said he believed were the core of Abenomics policies.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said Abe has provided valuable assistance to the development of relations between the two nations. He said Iran appreciates Abe's attention to their ties.

Abe's visit to Iran in June last year was the first by a Japanese prime minister in 41 years. He met Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other officials.

Key words : financial market
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200829_06/

Financial market players are eager to see whether the Bank of Japan will maintain its easy money policy following the news that Prime Minister Abe Shinzo is to resign.

Abe's hand-picked central bank governor Kuroda Haruhiko assumed office in March 2013 and launched massive monetary-easing measures.

The BOJ has loosened its monetary policy in line with Abe's economic policies, dubbed Abenomics.

The Japanese yen's value has declined under the policy, giving a boost to exporters. And the Nikkei stock average recovered to the 20,000-mark from under 10,000.

On Friday, after Abe's decision to resign was reported, shares were sold on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, causing the Nikkei to drop more than 600 points at one point.

Market players are now watching whether the BOJ will maintain its large-scale monetary-easing measures that helped to keep the yen low and stock prices high.

The BOJ says the measures should be continued to support the economy, as the Japanese and global economies have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

The BOJ is scheduled to hold a two-day policy board meeting from September 16.

Key words : how and when kishida
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200829_19/

One day after Japan's Prime Minister Abe Shinzo's surprise announcement of his resignation for health reasons, the battle to succeed him has already begun, with several candidates signaling their intentions to contest the premiership.

LDP Policy Research Council Chairperson Kishida Fumio says, "My commitment to continue working to become the next leader remains unchanged."

Former LDP Secretary-General Ishiba Shigeru says, "What will the people of the country think? If it is my duty to meet their expectations, I cannot think in a self-serving way."

A candidate wanting to succeed Abe will need to win the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidency.

How and when that will happen is expected to be decided at a General Council meeting on Tuesday.

In normal circumstances, an open election would be held in which all 394 LDP party lawmakers plus an equal number of members nationwide vote.

But the party is now thinking of a faster option to avoid a political vacuum, the vote of all members of Parliament and just 141 prefectural members.

There are some more likely contenders. Former internal affairs minister Noda Seiko has also shown a readiness to join, while some party members are hopeful of a bid by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide.

Defense Minister Kono Taro, Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu and LDP election strategy chief Shimomura Hakubun have said that they will discuss with their party allies whether to run.

Executive Acting Secretary-General of the LDP, Inada Tomomi, has long expressed an ambition to run for the leadership, but she said on a TV program that the bar is set very high.

On Saturday, high level LDP officials met and may have discussed when to hold an extraordinary Diet session to vote to select the next prime minister.

Some party executives insist the new party president should be chosen by September 15, in light of moves by opposition parties to merge into a new force.

Key words : thousands of
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200829_05/

Thousands of people have taken part in an anti-racism rally in Washington on the 57th anniversary of the civil rights march in which Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech.

The rally comes as protests continue over the police shooting of Black man Jacob Blake in Wisconsin on Sunday.

Participants in Washington gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial. They said discrimination against Black people is still a problem more than half a century since King Jr.'s speech.

The younger brother of George Floyd, a Black man who died in police custody in Minnesota in May, also took part. He said change is happening because people are demanding it.

The 12-year-old granddaughter of King Jr. said her generation will end police brutality, systemic racism and poverty. The participants then marched to the Martin Luther King memorial.

Key words : reopen London
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200829_09/

The British Museum in London has reopened after being closed for nearly half a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The museum welcomed back visitors on Thursday while taking measures to prevent infection.

The vast museum used to have about 17,000 visitors a day. But it now accepts 2,000 and requires them to make a reservation in advance.

The museum also requires visitors to wear face coverings and follow a set route through the museum, taking in only selected areas.

The museum says the latest closure since March was the longest in its history of about 260 years, except for wartime.
Museum officials say they plan to expand the areas for visitors from next month.

Key words : reality show
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200829_15/

A 23-year-old woman who appeared in a popular Japanese reality show has been found dead in Tokyo.

Sources familiar with the situation say Hamasaki Maria apparently committed suicide. Police are investigating.

Hamasaki was a cast member in the online TV show "Suddenly, marriage," which is distributed by the Japanese video streaming website ABEMA.

In the show, a man and woman take part in a fictitious wedding ceremony and go on to live together for 30 days to see whether they could, in real life, actually get married to each other.

Before the series in which she appears was distributed, Hamasaki wrote in her blog that she seriously wanted to get married and that she would be happy if viewers learned something from her experience.

According to Hamasaki's website, she had set up an online service selling South Korean cosmetics and was working as a model.

In a comment issued after her death, ABEMA announced the suspension of the program while offering its sincere condolences to her family and those close to her. It has also vowed to provide as much support as possible for the cast as well as those who were involved in the show.

Key words : Ofunato
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200829_13/

The season's first Pacific saury fishing boat docked early Saturday at a port in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan.

The vessel offloaded a catch of only around 4 tons, less than 20 percent of last year's first haul.

Saury fishing by large vessels started this year on August 20. But a dearth of fish stocks in waters off the northern island of Hokkaido has forced the boats to operate on the high seas of the northern Pacific.

At Saturday's auction at the port, some of the saury sold for as high as 3,250 yen, or 31 dollars, per kilo, more than three times last year's price.

Annual saury catches have been shrinking across Japan. In Ofunato, a center of saury fishing, cumulative hauls last year slumped to less than 10,000 tons. They are expected to fall even further.

The boat's chief fisherman, Matsuya Yutaka, says after 40 years of catching saury, he feels fish stocks are now in an annual decline.

at 20:00 (JST), August 28

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20200828200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : abe announced
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200828_43/

Japan's Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has formally announced his intention to resign due to a relapse of an inflammatory bowel disease.

At a news conference on Friday, Abe said that a regular checkup in June showed signs of a recurrence of ulcerative colitis, and that he began feeling physically worn down as his condition worsened around mid-July. He said doctors confirmed a relapse in early August.

Abe said he was given a new type of medicine in addition to the one he's been taking. He said a follow-up exam on Monday showed the new medicine was working, but it has to be taken continuously and the outlook is unclear.

Abe said the most important thing in politics is to produce results. He said he should never be allowed to make political misjudgments, weighed down by his illness, treatment and lack of physical strength.

He said now that he can no longer confidently respond to the people's mandate, he should not remain in his post.

Abe said he struggled in deciding when to announce his departure, given the coronavirus outbreak. But he said he chose this timing due to the recent declining trend in infections. He also cited Friday's agreement by a government taskforce on a new set of policies to deal with the virus toward winter.

Abe said he offers his heartfelt apologies to the people for quitting amid the pandemic and before realizing numerous policies. He expressed the utmost regret for failing to resolve the issue of North Korea's abductions of Japanese nationals.

He also said it also breaks his heart to leave half way through his wish to conclude a peace treaty with Russia and amend Japan's Constitution.

Abe suggested that he will continue to carry out his duties until the next prime minister is in place.

Key words : many in Japan shocked
#N/A


Key words : kishida
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200828_37/

Top officials from Japan's ruling and opposition parties commented on Prime Minister Abe Shinzo's intention to step down.

Policy chief Kishida Fumio of Abe's Liberal Democratic Party told reporters that he will confirm the facts later.

Yamaguchi Natsuo, the leader of the LDP's coalition partner Komeito, said to NHK that Abe told him he would step down. Yamaguchi added he was very surprised because it was so sudden.

Constitutional Democratic Party Diet affairs chief Azumi Jun told reporters that he was very surprised.
He went on to say that if what has been reported is true, then Abe may have been in a worse condition than previously thought.

He also said that the impact of the resignation is immeasurable, and that it would completely change the political situation in Japan.

Key words : neighbouring countries china
#N/A


Key words : breaking news
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200828_34/

Foreign media were quick to report Prime Minister Abe Shinzo's intention to resign.

Reuters and AP reported the news by quoting Japanese media. The BBC said Abe is set to resign for health reasons.

China Central Television cited NHK as saying Abe's health deteriorated from a chronic disease, and that he decided to step down to avoid causing problems in national politics.

A similar report was filed by the People's Daily, a newspaper affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party. It said Abe is due to hold a news conference later in the day to offer an explanation.

In South Korea, public broadcaster KBS and Yonhap News Agency reported the matter as breaking news.

Yonhap said Abe has taken a hardline stance on historical issues. It added that attention will be focused on how Japan's relationship with South Korea might change under a new prime minister.

The online edition of the conservative daily Chosun Ilbo said Abe became the longest consecutive serving prime minister on August 24, but that his public approval rating had fallen due to his government's failed response to the coronavirus.

Key words : Masuda
#N/A


Key words : tokyo 226 new
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200828_33/

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government says it confirmed 226 new cases of coronavirus infection on Friday.

The daily tally in the capital has exceeded 200 for three straight days.

The total number of infections in Tokyo now stands at 20,322.

Key words : okinawa emergency
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200828_09/

NHK has learned that the southern Japanese prefecture of Okinawa is making final arrangements to extend its state of emergency over the coronavirus for a second time.

The prefecture cites the risk of intergenerational transmission as many relatives are expected to gather to honor the spirits of their ancestors during the Bon season of the lunar calendar that begins on Monday.

New infections are on a downward trend in Okinawa. But 19 deaths, mainly among the elderly, have been reported this month.

The prefecture first declared a state of emergency from August 1 to 15. It was extended for two weeks through Saturday as infections continued to spread.

Experts on infectious diseases agreed at a meeting on Thursday that the emergency should not be lifted yet. They said Okinawa residents should refrain from nonessential outings as much as possible during the Bon period.

The prefecture is expected to officially decide the extension on Friday afternoon at a task force meeting attended by Okinawa Governor Tamaki Denny.

Key words : France face mask
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200828_19/

The French prime minister is making face masks mandatory in Paris starting Friday as coronavirus cases surge across the country.

Jean Castex told reporters on Thursday that the number of cases could rise exponentially if they do not act quickly.

From 8 a.m. on Friday everyone in the French capital must wear masks outdoors.

Mask wearing is already compulsory in certain crowded parts of Paris.

The new measure comes as people prepare to go back to schools and offices after summer holidays.The number of new cases exceeded 5,400 in France on Wednesday.

Other European cities are also seeing a rise. Madrid has already made it mandatory to wear masks outdoors, as the outbreak resurges in the Spanish city. And people in London and Berlin are required to wear masks when they use public transits or visit shops.

Key words : united states and china
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200828_13/

The United States and China are trading accusations over each other's actions in the disputed South China Sea.

A spokesperson for the Chinese People's Liberation Army's Southern Theater Command said that the PLA expelled a US warship that had trespassed into China's territorial waters in the Xisha Islands on Thursday. He said the command dispatched naval and air forces to track, identify and warn the USS Mustin, a US Navy destroyer, to leave.

The spokesperson strongly criticized the US, saying it had repeatedly stirred up troubles in the South China Sea, exercised navigational hegemony in the name of "freedom of navigation" and seriously undermined China's sovereignty and security interests.

He added that China urges the US to stop this kind of provocative action so as to avoid accidents.

What China calls the Xisha Islands are also known as the Paracel Islands. China, Vietnam and Taiwan claim them.

The US Defense Department issued a statement on Thursday that criticized China's increased military actions in the waters.

The statement said the department alerted China in July that it would continue to monitor the situation with the expectation that China will reduce its militarization and coercion of its neighbors in the South China Sea.

It added that China chose to escalate its military activities by firing ballistic missiles.

Key words : Trump wrapped up
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200828_24/

US President Donald Trump has wrapped up the last day of the Republican Party Convention. He used his final speech to attack Democratic Party opponent Joe Biden and set up his reelection campaign.

Trump delivered the acceptance speech in front of a crowd on the White House lawn.

He said, "My fellow Americans, tonight, with a heart, full of gratitude and boundless optimism, I profoundly accept this nomination for the president of the United States."

The move itself made waves in political circles, since government buildings are not supposed to be used for campaigning.

Trump also referenced to the recent racial unrest in the country --- a topic that came up several times over the past four days.

The president says his opponents are using the movement to undermine the country's prosperity. He said, "At the Democratic national convention, Joe Biden and his party repeatedly assailed America as a land of racial, economic and social injustice. So tonight, I ask you a simple question. How can the Democrat Party ask to lead our country when it spends so much time tearing down our country?"

Trump laid out his plans for the future and what he considers his many triumphs.

If reelected, he says he will build the "greatest economy", raising incomes and bringing back jobs.

Key words : Yokoe
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/videos/20200828140204696/

Yokoe Kumi, an expert on US politics at Toyo University and a former senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, says there are several reasons Donald Trump could be re-elected despite his lagging poll numbers.

at 20:00 (JST), August 27

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20200827200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : black man multiple times
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200825_07/

US media say police in the US state of Wisconsin have shot a black man in the back multiple times, critically injuring him.

Local authorities said Jacob Blake was shot on Sunday afternoon in the city of Kenosha.

A video clip posted on the Internet appears to show Blake getting shot.

In the video, police follow Blake and shoot him in the back as he is about to get in his vehicle. Sounds believed to be gunshots can be heard seven times. Screams can be heard.

Local police said the officers were responding to a call about a domestic incident, but did not explain why they opened fire.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers tweeted, "We stand against excessive use of force and immediate escalation when engaging with Black Wisconsinites."

The shooting has sparked protests in the city as anti-racism demonstrations continue across the US.

Key words : sports
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200827_38/

Protests against Sunday's police shooting of a Black man in the US state of Wisconsin are spreading among US sports circles, including Major League baseball clubs.

The Milwaukee Brewers, based in Wisconsin, canceled its game against the Cincinnati Reds scheduled for Wednesday.

Players of the two clubs released a statement that said they decided not to play the game "to draw as much attention to the issues that really matter, especially racial injustice and systemic oppression."

The game also scheduled for Wednesday between Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres, and another between Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants, were also called off.

Boycotts by players or cancellations in protest against racial injustice are rare in US professional sports.

Earlier, the US National Basketball Association postponed all three playoff games scheduled for Wednesday.

The decision came after the Milwaukee Bucks abandoned their game to protest the police shooting of Jacob Blake in the back, critically injuring him.

The Women's National Basketball Association, WNBA, postponed all three matches scheduled for Wednesday.

The Major League Soccer said in a statement that the entire MLS family "is deeply saddened and horrified by the senseless shooting of Jacob Blake."

It said, "We continue to stand with the Black community throughout our country."

The National Hockey League held a moment of reflection before a match on Wednesday in the effort to end racism.

Key words : tennis
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200827_21/

Tennis star Osaka Naomi is pulling out of her semifinal match at the Western and Southern Open to bring attention to the ongoing racially motivated protests in the United States.

Key words : white teenager
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200827_12/

A teenager has been arrested after two people were shot dead during protests over the police shooting of a black man in the US state of Wisconsin.

Protests have taken place since Jacob Blake was critically injured on Sunday after being shot in the back seven times at close range in Kenosha.

Many protests have been peaceful, but some turned violent at night, with participants throwing fireworks and stones at police, who responded with tear gas.

Police say the suspect opened fire during protests on Tuesday night. Two people were killed and one person was wounded. Kyle Rittenhouse, aged 17, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree intentional homicide.

Local media say the suspect, described as a white teenager, allegedly clashed with protesters before he opened fire.

Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth said on Wednesday that the shooting may be connected to a group that pushed him to deputize them to assist police during the protests.

Beth said, "I had a person call me and say, 'why don't you deputize citizens who had guns to come out and patrol the city of Kenosha?' And I'm like, oh, hell no. And what happened last night, and I think Chief Miskinis is going to talk about it, was probably the perfect reason why I wouldn't."

President Donald Trump said on Twitter on Wednesday that he will send federal law enforcement officials to Kenosha to "restore LAW and ORDER."

He wrote, "We will NOT stand for looting, arson, violence, and lawlessness on American streets." He added that Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers had agreed to accept federal assistance.

Key words : US justice department deploy
#N/A


Key words : Trump will not stand Biden
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200827_17/

US President Donald Trump says he will send federal law enforcement to the state of Wisconsin, where protests continue following the police shooting of a black man.

Jacob Blake was critically injured when he was shot several times in the back on Sunday in the city of Kenosha.

Anti-police demonstrations there have turned violent, with clashes with officers and shootings at night.

Trump tweeted on Wednesday, "We will NOT stand for looting, arson, violence, and lawlessness on American streets."

He added, "I will be sending federal law enforcement and the National Guard to Kenosha to restore LAW and ORDER."

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris, revealed on Wednesday that they had spoken with Blake's family.

Biden called for an end to violence and systemic racism, and stressed the need for police reform so that no particular race is targeted for questioning or arrest.

Blake's father is expected to take part in an anti-racism rally in Washington on Friday.

Key words : Iran undeclared
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200827_02/

Iran has agreed to accept inspections from the UN nuclear watchdog, reversing its past stance of rejecting them.

This comes after International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi made his first visit to Iran since he took office in December. He met with the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Ali Akbar Salehi, on Tuesday and spoke with President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday.

A joint statement by Tehran and the IAEA says, "Iran is voluntarily providing the IAEA with access" to two locations. Tehran is suspected of storing undeclared nuclear material there. The statement also says dates for the activities have been agreed.

Iran's presidential office says President Rouhani told Grossi that Iran showed the world its resolve to build close relations with the IAEA.

Observers say Iran wants to avoid criticism from the international community by allowing access to the two sites.

The statement also notes that in the present context, based on analysis of available information, the IAEA does not have further requests for access to other locations.

Iran says requests for inspections are politically motivated, based on arguments by Israel and the United States.

Observers say the statement reflects Iran's concern that it would face repeated demands for inspections.

Meanwhile, the US government is increasing pressure on Iran. Washington is pursuing the reintroduction of UN sanctions on the country.

Key words : abe first news
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200827_07/

Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo is making arrangements to hold a news conference at the prime minister's office on Friday. He is expected to mention his health, as he has recently undergone medical checks.

This will be Abe's first news conference since the one he gave in Nagasaki City on August 9. It will also be the first one at the prime minister's office since June 18. That was one day after the end of the ordinary Diet session.

Regarding the coronavirus outbreak, the Japanese government has been advising people infected with the virus to be hospitalized. The government has also been actively conducting epidemiological studies.

But officials are planning to review the steps they have taken in order to deal with the large number of cases that involve people with no or light symptoms.

Abe is expected to explain at the news conference that his government plans to allow social and economic activities to continue. He is also expected to explain that steps will be taken to secure medical systems ahead of the winter season. There are fears that another wave of the coronavirus epidemic and an outbreak of influenza could occur simultaneously during the winter. The prime minister will likely say that the government plans to boost virus testing systems before the flu season begins.

Abe is also expected to make comments about his health. The prime minister has visited a hospital for tests twice during the last two weeks.

The opposition camp is calling for an extraordinary Diet session to be convened at an early date. It is also calling for intensive deliberations to be held at the Diet's budget committee meeting next week, and it wants the prime minister to be in attendance.

Key words : learned
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200827_01/

NHK has learned that the Japanese government has been having trouble collecting data on people infected with the coronavirus through a new information-sharing system.

The central government has been asking local governments to introduce the Health Center Real-time Information-sharing System on COVID-19, or HER-SYS, since May.

Under the system, officials at medical institutions and public health centers input information on virus carriers.

Almost all municipalities that operate public health centers are already using the system.

But health ministry officials say they cannot gather information including the date when symptoms first appeared and infected people's occupation as the system is not yet fully developed.

That information is necessary to analyze the spread of the virus.

Taniguchi Kiyosu of National Mie Hospital, who is well versed in infectious disease analysis, said the data is needed to grasp when, where and to whom infection has spread. Taniguchi called for quick improvements, saying authorities will face difficulty forming antivirus measures without data analysis.

Health ministry officials say the problem has not led to delays in taking countermeasures because they collect data on infected people through the websites of municipalities and other means.

Key words : more than 65,000 corona
#N/A


Key words : cargo flight
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200827_15/

Record numbers of international cargo flights have been taking off and landing at Narita Airport near Tokyo.

Officials at the airport operator say the figure rose 29 percent to about 15,200 from January to the end of June. That's the highest number ever marked for that period since the airport opened in 1978.

They believe the surging numbers were due to airlines converting their planes from hauling passengers to cargo, so they could transport medical and other goods during the coronavirus pandemic.

The number of international passenger flights using Narita has plunged. About 44,400 airliners arrived and departed during the six-month period.

The officials say that's half the number from the same time last year, citing the coronavirus pandemic as the main reason.

Large numbers of passenger flights have been canceled or scaled back.

Key words : cruise industry
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200827_14/

The global cruise industry has been a high-profile casualty in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. But officials in Tokyo are hoping the sector will get afloat again as they prepare to open a cruise terminal.

The facility has a quay that is over 400 meters long and deep enough for some of the world's biggest liners. But no passenger-carrying vessels are scheduled to dock for now due to COVID-19.

The terminal, which officially opens next month, cost about 370 million dollars to construct. Immigration, customs and quarantine are in a four-story building.

The site was initially due to open in July before the original date for the Olympics.

But the Games were postponed, while cruising was roiled by a series of outbreaks on ships such as the Diamond Princess which docked in Yokohama.

Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko said "We're not currently in a situation where people can enjoy traveling on cruise ships. But in time, we hope to welcome many people here, and many others will head off to the world from this terminal. We're really looking forward to that."

In the meantime, officials hope the terminal can be used for special events or shooting TV dramas.

They also want visitors to make the most of the nautical views from the observation deck.

Key words : weather Tsietsi Monare
#N/A


Key words : Okayama
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200826_37/

An iconic tomcat that serves as the "lord" of an ancient castle in Okayama Prefecture, western Japan, is trying to fulfill his duty of greeting tourists in the intense heat.

Bicchu Matsuyama Castle is located in the city of Takahashi, which had a daytime high of 37.1 degrees Celsius on Wednesday. Temperatures in the city topped 35 degrees for 18 days in a row.

The lord of the castle, Sanjuro, is usually active but has been spending much of his time lying in the shade in the recent heat wave.

Officials of a local tourism association has set up a hut with bamboo blinds for Sanjuro. They also try to keep out of the sun when they take him for a walk twice a day.

Sanjuro quickly went to the shade and lay down during his daily walk on Wednesday. But when tourists came, he approached to greet them with a friendly look.

A woman in her 50s said the heat is unbearable but she is happy to see Sanjuro. She says she wants him to stay fit and give some relief to visitors.

A local tourism official said he will work hard with the cat lord so people will have a good time coming to the castle in the hot weather.

at 20:00 (JST), August 26

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20200826200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : restaurant eating out
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200826_14/

Sales at Japan's major restaurant chains kept falling in July, as the coronavirus discouraged people from eating out.

The Japan Food Service Association says revenue fell 15 percent from a year earlier. That was the fifth straight month of decline. But the drop was smaller than in the month before, even though it was still in double digits.

Fast-food restaurants didn't do too badly, with a decline of just 3.6 percent. That was thanks to rising sales of takeout and home delivery. But family-style restaurants and pubs fared much worse.

The food service association says the restaurant industry remains in critical condition due to the pandemic. The long rainy season this year didn't help either.

Key words : saga
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200826_09/

A university in western Japan is teaming up with restaurants to encourage the use of "handheld masks" when people wine and dine in the coronavirus era.

Kyoto Saga University of Arts developed the prototypes, which are made of paper or non-woven fabric with handles attached.

On Tuesday, about 20 restaurant proprietors tested the handheld masks during a meal at a hotel in Kyoto City. They ate with a fork or spoon in one hand, and covered their mouths with the mask held in their free hand whenever they spoke.

With input from the participants, students at the arts university plan to improve the design and function so the mask will gain broad acceptance.

A man who took part in the trial said putting a regular mask on and off during dinner is not realistic. He said he didn't feel any unease with the handheld version and believes it's effective against the virus.

University president Sasaki Masako, who first came up with the idea of a handheld mask, says she hopes it will become part of new table manners.

Key words : Japan more than 64,000
#N/A


Key words : Spanish
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200826_10/

The Spanish government says it will mobilize 2,000 military troops to fight against the coronavirus that is resurging in the country.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told reporters on Tuesday that soldiers will be mobilized to make up for a shortage of personnel. The soldiers will be involved in the contact tracing process, which identifies people who have been in close contact with those infected.

He also said that regional governments will have the power to introduce tough measures themselves from now on. He added that the central government will allow the local authorities to limit people's movements, if the authorities want to do so.

Sanchez said individuals cannot allow the pandemic to take control of their lives, as it did in the spring. He said the country must stop the second wave of infections.

Spain saw the number of new cases drop to several hundred per day at one point. But a rapid resurgence occurred in Madrid and the northeastern state of Catalonia in July. The number of new infections has topped 3,000 occasionally since mid-August.

The Spanish government is determined to curb the spread of the virus before the new school year starts in September.

Key words : Italian economic tie
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200826_03/

China and Italy have confirmed that they need to forge closer economic ties amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is on a European tour, met with his Italian counterpart, Luigi Di Maio, on Tuesday.

In a joint news conference, Wang said he chose Italy as the first country to visit after the outbreak, and this shows how China attaches importance on Italy.

Di Maio said there's no doubt China is an important economic partner of his country.

In their meeting, Di Maio and Wang confirmed the two countries will strengthen ties through China's international infrastructure project, the Belt and Road initiative.

Di Maio said it is extremely important to make sure Hong Kong can guarantee a high degree of autonomy for its citizens.

Wang said China's new national security law for the territory is necessary to develop the "one-country, two systems" principle in a stable manner.

Wang is scheduled to visit five European countries including France and Germany, by September 1 to explain China's position and to maintain ties with the region.

His tour comes at a time when a sense of caution is growing there over Beijing's response to the coronavirus outbreak and to Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests.

Key words : johns hopkins 23 million
#N/A


Key words : report Catherine Kobayashi
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200826_21/

Protesters in several US cities are back on the streets after another police shooting involving a black man. Officers in the state of Wisconsin responded to a call about a domestic dispute. They ended up shooting a man. Bystanders say the individual was trying to help.

NHK World's Catherine Kobayashi reports.

Witnesses say Jacob Blake was just attempting to be a good neighbor. They say he was trying to break up an argument between two women. But then the police arrived, and they drew their guns.

They shot Blake repeatedly, as he tried to get into his car. His three sons were inside. The youngest is three years old.

Blake's fiancee said, "That man literally just grabbed him by his shirt and looked the other f**king way, and was just shooting him...with the kids in the back screaming. Screaming!"

Blake's father said, "They shot my son ... seven times. Seven times."

Blake is in serious condition. His family says he's paralyzed from the waist down.

His shooting ignited protests nearby, three months after police in Minneapolis killed George Floyd.

Some participants set buildings on fire, ransacked stores, and taunted police.

The governor declared a state of emergency.

Civil rights activist Eric Russell said, "What we witnessed the other day was city-sanctioned attempted murder."

A resident said, "And it always comes back to this. Hands up! Don't shoot! That's what we do. Hands up! Don't shoot! But does it matter? No."

Demonstrators in Portland, Oregon have been protesting against police brutality for months.

Now their chants include the name "Jacob Blake."
Protesters in New York marched, too. They recited a list of black men, who've died at the hands of police.

The Blake family's lawyer said, "This is the time now in America that we need systematic reform to change the culture and the behavior of police in America."

He says people have had enough, and he wants to know when Black lives will matter.

Key words : European media
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200826_06/

European media point out similarities between the toxic agent allegedly used to poison Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny and the nerve agent employed on a former Russian spy and his daughter in Britain in 2018.

Navalny, an outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin, fell ill in a plane last week, and is now being treated at a hospital in Germany.

On Monday, doctors there said that they found a trace of a toxic agent in the patient's body. They say they confirmed that Navalny was poisoned with some kind of cholinesterase inhibitor, but a specific substance is not yet known.

German public broadcaster ZDF refers to a nerve agent called Novichok -- a kind of cholinesterase inhibitor used in the attempted murders of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Britain in 2018.

British public broadcaster BBC says Navalny is being treated with the same antidote used for Skripal.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said it is wrong to talk about only one possibility at this time, showing reluctance to accept the European Union's calls for an investigation.

Key words : teikoku
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200826_17/

The ratio of women who hold senior positions at companies in Japan has inched up, but remains far below the government's target.

Credit research firm Teikoku Databank conducted a nationwide survey in July and nearly 12,000 firms responded.

It shows the proportion of female executives and senior managers is just 7.8 percent on average. That's the highest figure since the survey began in 2013 but an increase of only 0.1 percentage point from last year.

The Japanese government had aimed to increase the proportion of female leaders to around 30 percent by 2020.

Asked about the representation of women in senior roles in the future, nearly 22 percent of the companies that responded said they expect it to increase. About 60 percent said they see no change.

A Teikoku Databank official said both the government and private sector need to improve support for women so that they can continue working after having children.

Key words : Kuma Kengo
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/videos/

The pandemic is causing many people to question the way we live and work in modern societies - and that includes the types of buildings we inhabit. In this story, world renowned architect Kuma Kengo talks about his unorthodox vision for designing homes and offices - and how we can use that to reconnect to the natural environment.

Key words : Berlin scrap
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200826_02/

The organizers of the Berlin International Film Festival say they will scrap the Best Actor and Best Actress awards and replace them with gender-neutral prizes.

The Berlinale organizers said Monday on their official website, a "Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance" and a "Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance" will be awarded on a gender-neutral basis, starting in 2021.

The representatives of the festival have told German media that performance awards should not be separated by gender, just as those for directors and screenplays are not.

The organizers say "We believe that not separating the awards in the acting field according to gender comprises a signal for a more gender-sensitive awareness in the film industry."

On twitter, some praised the decision, but others are skeptical, saying that the change would reduce chances for women to be awarded for their performances, given that more men play important roles than women in today's films.

The Berlin International Film Festival is scheduled open on February 11, 2021.

at 20:00 (JST), August 25

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20200825200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : experts advising
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200825_03/

Officials in Tokyo reported 95 new cases of the coronavirus on Monday. It's the first time the figure has dropped below 100 since July 8.

Metropolitan Government officials say about 60 percent of new cases are in their 20s and 30s.
The total number of patients in the capital has exceeded 19,400.

The panel of experts advising the health ministry says they believe the outbreak has peaked across the country.

Japanese Health Minister Kato Katsunobu said, "Looking at the number of new infections, weekly figures have been declining slightly over the past two weeks."

Health ministry officials say the fatality rate has also declined, from 6 percent up to May to 4.7 percent since June. But they maintain the rate remains almost unchanged among elderly patients.

The government's panel of experts is advising against holding large-scale events with an attendance above 5,000 until the end of September.

National Institute of Infectious Diseases Director-General Wakita Takaji said, "The proportion of untraceable cases remains high, and we still don't know the impact of travel over the summer holidays. The risk of the virus spreading further is still there, so we need to remain vigilant."

Key words : firework
#N/A


Key words : develop vaccine
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200825_05/

The head of the World Health Organization has called on countries to take part in a framework that would ensure participants fair access to coronavirus vaccines.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned countries against rushing to secure vaccines only for their own citizens.

He said, "Vaccine nationalism only helps the virus."

Tedros said 172 countries are now engaging with the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility, or COVAX Facility. It is aimed at providing all countries participating with equitable access to vaccines.

Tedros said investing in the COVAX Facility is the fastest way to end the pandemic and ensure a sustainable economic recovery.

The mechanism was launched by the WHO along with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. It's an international group working to promote vaccination in developing countries.

Gavi's website lists countries that have expressed interest in the facility. These include Japan, the United Kingdom and Canada. But the list does not include the United States or China.

The WHO is calling on countries to express their intent to participate by the end of this month.

Key words : researcher reinfection
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200825_01/

Researchers at the University of Hong Kong say they have confirmed the world's first case of reinfection with the coronavirus.

The research team announced on Monday that a 33-year-old man contracted the virus for a second time this month after his first infection in late March.

The team and health authorities said the man spent about two weeks in hospital after his first infection was confirmed. He later tested negative and was discharged.

His second infection was confirmed at an airport screening upon his return to Hong Kong from a trip to Spain via Britain. He hasn't develop any symptoms and was discharged from hospital last Friday.

The researchers said the gene sequence of the virus detected in his second infection was partially different from that of his first infection.

They said this case shows that while coronavirus patients develop antibodies, their levels could decrease after a few months. This puts them at risk of reinfection, as in the case of the common cold.

The researchers said coronavirus patients who have recovered therefore need to keep wearing masks. They also said vaccination should also be considered for those who have already contracted the virus.

Key words : johns hopkins death surpass
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200823_06/

The global number of deaths from the coronavirus was 800,937 as of 18:00 UTC on Saturday, Johns Hopkins University in the US says.

The US has the most deaths at 175,817, followed by Brazil with 113,358, Mexico with 59,610, India with 55,794, and Britain with 41,509.

Fatalities in the US, Brazil, and India have sometimes surpassed 1,000 a day.

The number of confirmed cases worldwide was 23,026,230.

Key words : report Catherine Kobayashi
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/videos/20200825131645739/

University officials in the US are changing their plans. Many of them have delayed or cancelled in-person classes after outbreaks of coronavirus on campus. NHK World's Catherine Kobayashi reports.

Key words : Trump four-day party delegates
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200825_06/

US President Donald Trump has officially been re-nominated as the Republican Party's presidential candidate.

The nomination came on Monday, the opening day of the four-day Republican National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Trump secured the nomination in a vote by party delegates at the convention. Mike Pence was formally re-nominated as the party's vice-presidential candidate.

Trump delivered an address at the convention ahead of his official acceptance speech on the closing day.

He claimed the US economy was a success before "the plague came in from China."

He also asserted he has done more for African Americans than any president since Abraham Lincoln.

Trump laid out the priorities for a second term, including boosting the country's military, creating 10 million new jobs, and bringing back jobs from China.

He accused the Democrats of using the coronavirus to defraud the American people of a fair and free election.

Trump suggested the upcoming presidential vote is the most important in the history of the country, and that his party has to win.

Trump is expected to ramp up his attacks on Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in a bid to catch up with him. Biden has been leading Trump in national opinion polls.

Key words : shot a black
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200825_07/

US media say police in the US state of Wisconsin have shot a black man in the back multiple times, critically injuring him.

Local authorities said Jacob Blake was shot on Sunday afternoon in the city of Kenosha.

A video clip posted on the Internet appears to show Blake getting shot.

In the video, police follow Blake and shoot him in the back as he is about to get in his vehicle. Sounds believed to be gunshots can be heard seven times. Screams can be heard.

Local police said the officers were responding to a call about a domestic incident, but did not explain why they opened fire.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers tweeted, "We stand against excessive use of force and immediate escalation when engaging with Black Wisconsinites."

The shooting has sparked protests in the city as anti-racism demonstrations continue across the US.

Key words : tiktok suing
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200825_16/

TikTok is suing the administration of US President Donald Trump over his executive order banning transactions with the popular video-sharing app.

TikTok's China-based owner, ByteDance, and its US subsidiary filed suit on Monday in a California federal court.

The plaintiffs say Trump's order violates the due process protections of the Constitution. They say TikTok was given "no notice or opportunity to be heard."

They argue that the claim that TikTok poses a national security threat is groundless.

In a statement, the plaintiffs say they don't take suing the government lightly. But they have no choice but to try and protect their rights. They say they believe the administration's decision was highly politicized.

Trump's order was based on the grounds that the Chinese government would abuse the personal information of TikTok users.

The order bans all American businesses and individuals from having transactions with ByteDance starting in late September.

Another executive order signed by Trump requires ByteDance to sell TikTok's operations in the US. Microsoft has offered to buy them.

Key words : one month
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200825_02/

An oil spill from a Japanese-owned cargo ship off Mauritius appears to have hit about a 30-kilometer stretch of the island nation's southeastern coastline.

The United Nations made the estimate concerning the massive spill. There are fishing ports and mangrove forests along the coastline.

Tuesday marks one month since the carrier, Wakashio, ran aground off Mauritius on July 25. The vessel is owned by Nagashiki Shipping and chartered by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines -- both Japanese companies.

NHK analyses of satellite imagery and other data found that the oil spread to the southeastern coast four days after the spill began from the ship on August 6.

Takechi Keiji, a member of a Japanese relief team sent to the scene, said an ocean current flowed from the south, off the coast. He noted the oil spill may have spread due to the tide and winds.

Takechi added that shallow waters in the area, which were less than one meter deep and abundant with coral, were obstacles for boats and people trying to clean up. He said he believes that's why it took time to recover the oil.

Key words : weather Yoko Komagata
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at 20:00 (JST), August 24

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20200824200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : Japan and laos
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200824_01/

Japan and Laos have agreed to ease entry restrictions imposed in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Long-term residents will be allowed to travel between the two countries as early as September.

Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu and his Laotian counterpart Saleumxay Kommasith met in Laos on Sunday.

The ministers also confirmed that the two countries will speed up coordination in order to permit short-term visitors as soon as possible, including business people.

Motegi said Japan intends to resume admitting government-sponsored Laotian students soon.
Saleumxay expressed gratitude for the plan.

After the meeting, the ministers signed an agreement where Japan will offer Laos about 22.6 million dollars in grant aid for projects, including the construction and renovation of institutions to train teachers.

Key words : similar Vietman Thailand
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Key words : 740 new over 63,000 more than 1,200 have died
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Key words : airline cutting
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200824_16/

Japan's two major airlines are cutting domestic flights again in September. That's because rising coronavirus infections are putting a renewed damper on travel around the country.

All Nippon Airways says it will reduce its scheduled domestic flights by 45 percent next month. That's a 20 percentage-point increase in the number of flights cut compared to August. Some of the busiest routes, including between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Osaka and Sapporo, are among those affected.

Japan Airlines also plans to halt 43 percent of its domestic flights in the first half of September. That's a 15 percentage-point expansion of cancellations from this month.

The two carriers scrapped up to 80 percent of their domestic flights in May, when a state of emergency was in place over COVID-19. After the government lifted the declaration late that same month, people started traveling more, and the airlines gradually eased their cancellations.

But infections are on the rise again across Japan. Domestic flights were less than 40 percent full during the usually busy holiday season in mid-August. And the carriers say they are not getting many reservations for September.

Key words : Peru
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200824_09/

At least 13 people have died in a stampede at a nightclub in Peru after police raided the establishment to stop a large gathering banned under government coronavirus restrictions.

Police raided the club in the capital city of Lima on Saturday after being alerted by neighbors that a large number of people were having a party.

Police found about 120 partygoers at the scene. The guests rushed toward the exit, trampling on each other and becoming trapped as they tried to flee.

The Peruvian government says 13 people died and six others, including three police officers, were injured.

Investigators have taken 23 partygoers into custody, and are working to identify the club owner and the organizers of the event.

Multiple media are reporting that 15 of those detained have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Johns Hopkins University in the United States says Peru has a total of 585,236 confirmed coronavirus cases, which is the sixth-highest tally in the world.

Key words : johns hopkins topped 23 million
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Key words : Abe hospital again
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200824_14/

Japan's Prime Minister Abe Shinzo is visiting a hospital in Tokyo again on Monday. One of his secretaries says it is a follow-up visit scheduled after a one-day checkup Abe underwent a week earlier.

Abe arrived at Keio University Hospital in Shinjuku Ward around 10 a.m.

The secretary says the prime minister was told by a doctor during the checkup to visit again a week later.

Abe is believed to be receiving the results of that examination.

Abe told reporters last Wednesday, when he returned to work, that he underwent the one-day checkup to make doubly sure he would be in perfect condition after his summer holiday.

Key words : abe broke
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200824_39/

Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo spent three and a half hours at a hospital in Tokyo on Monday for medical reasons. He says it was a follow-up to a test he took last week. But the visit adds fuel to concerns the prime minister may be in poor health.

Abe said, " I heard details about my test results and also underwent additional tests. I'll continue to do my best in my work and take all measures to manage my physical condition."

Abe declined to share information when asked about the content and results of the tests.

He broke a record on Monday becoming the Japanese leader with the most consecutive days in office -- 2,799.

But there's speculation the prime minister's health has taken a hit from the stresses of governing during a pandemic.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide said he sees Abe every day and that he hasn't seen any change.

A senior official of the largest opposition party says if Abe is ill, he should concentrate on treatment.

Nagatsuma Akira of the Constitutional Democratic Party said, "The Diet is not holding an extraordinary session even though our nation is facing a crisis. If it's because of Prime Minister Abe's physical condition, he needs to consider whether he should step down."

Nagatsuma says the public deserves an explanation of the prime minister's condition from the government.

Key words : Hong Kong citizen living
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Key words : yahoo
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200824_17/

Yahoo Japan says it turned down over 230 million ads in fiscal 2019 due to unsuitable content. It's the first time the leading Internet portal has given such a figure.

Yahoo Japan screens potential adverts around the clock for breaches of in-house guidelines.

It says 17 percent of the rejected material was sexually suggestive and could make viewers uncomfortable.

Fourteen percent was blocked for making exaggerated claims, such as a product being the world's first, without offering clear proof.

Five percent were ads for medical institutions outside Japan or which gave no contact information.

And the coronavirus is having an impact. Yahoo Japan says it disapproved misleading ads linked to the pandemic. Officials say they'll keep working to eliminate improper ads.

Key words : kimono
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Key words : weather Tsietsi Monare
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at 20:00 (JST), August 23

 

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20200823200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : capital 212 new
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200823_15/

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government says 212 new cases of the coronavirus had been confirmed as of 3 p.m. on Sunday.

The daily tally of infections has surpassed 200 for the fourth day in a row.

Of those who tested positive, 109, or about 51 percent, were in their 20s and 30s.

Sunday's figure brings the total number of cases in the capital to 19,333.

Officials are calling on residents to stay on high alert as the situation in Tokyo remains extremely serious.

They are asking people to refrain from traveling outside Tokyo or going to their hometowns, and to avoid group dinners.

Key words : johns hopkins US has the followed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200823_06/

The global number of deaths from the coronavirus was 800,937 as of 18:00 UTC on Saturday, Johns Hopkins University in the US says.

The US has the most deaths at 175,817, followed by Brazil with 113,358, Mexico with 59,610, India with 55,794, and Britain with 41,509.

Fatalities in the US, Brazil, and India have sometimes surpassed 1,000 a day.

The number of confirmed cases worldwide was 23,026,230.

Key words : india easing
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200823_16/

The number of coronavirus infections in India has topped 3 million. The country has been reporting nearly 70,000 new cases a day.

The Indian government says it confirmed about 69,000 new infections on Sunday, bringing the national total to 3,044,000.

India has become the third country to have more than 3 million cases after the United States and Brazil.

Johns Hopkins University says India has the world's highest daily tally of infections, surpassing the US.

The number of confirmed coronavirus deaths in India has reached 56,000.

The Indian government has been easing the restrictions on economic activities and travel.

The capital New Delhi has been the main focus of the outbreak. But regional cities, especially in southern states, are now reporting growing numbers of cases.

Some experts say the virus will continue to spread until October in the nation with a population of 1.3 billion.

Some Indian states have reimposed restrictions on the movement of people.

Key words : upper house
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200823_08/

The Upper House of Japan's Diet will begin studying ways to move their deliberations online.

In the latest ordinary Diet session, lawmakers were seated spaced apart in the main chamber to observe social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic.

But members of the Upper House say they may have to take further measures. They are discussing ways to hold plenary sessions online.

Directors of the steering committee decided to hear from parliamentary officials in Britain and Spain, where online deliberations and voting systems are already in use.

But officials are carefully discussing the legality of online deliberations. The country's Constitution writes that one third of both the Upper and Lower Houses have to be present for plenary sessions to open.

Key words : United States and Russia
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200823_09/

Senior officials of the United States and Russia will meet to discuss the situation in Belarus, where protests continue following the presidential election on August 9.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Saturday that he will soon meet his US counterpart Stephen Biegun in Moscow to talk about the turmoil in the former Soviet country.

Alexander Lukashenko was reelected for a sixth term, but opposition groups say the election was rigged.

Calls for his resignation have sparked demonstrations and strikes across the country.

Lukashenko's challenger, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, told the Reuters News Agency on Saturday that she has support from the British and German governments.

She stressed that Lukashenko should no longer threaten the people of Belarus, and that he should resign sooner or later.

Tsikhanouskaya fled to neighboring Lithuania after the election.

Lukashenko appeared before supporters on Saturday in the western town of Grodno, where workers are on strike at a number of factories.

He said "if a factory is not working, then lock the gates on Monday and shut it down," and asked officials to fire striking workers.

Key words : US house of
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200823_11/

The US House of Representatives has approved a bill that would shore up the Postal Service with 25 billion dollars.

The November presidential election is expected to see a surge in mail-in ballots amid the coronavirus pandemic.

President Donald Trump opposes mail-in ballots, claiming that it could lead to fraud.

US Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a Trump ally, pushed for the removal of mail-boxes but he said he has no plans to restore the cuts. Democrats have called the move an attempt to hamper the mail-in voting.

The Democrat-led House passed the bill on Saturday.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters before the vote that the Postal Service is "how we communicate. It's how we vote. It's how we protect the health and well-being of the American people."

She urged Republicans to support the bill.

Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell has vowed that the bill will not pass the Senate.

Key words : balloting
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200823_10/

People across the United States have rallied to protest changes in the Postal Service. They say the measures being pushed by the head of the service are intended to disrupt mail-in voting in order to help President Donald Trump.

A large number of people are expected to vote by mail in November's presidential election due to the coronavirus pandemic. But Trump opposes the mail-in voting system.

About 80 people rallied in Washington on Saturday to protest reforms rolled out by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a major donor to Trump. They called for the Postal Service and democracy to be saved.

One 18-year-old protester, who will cast her first ballot in the election, said she opposes moves designed to obstruct voting.
DeJoy argues that the changes, including a reduction of mail sorting machines, are meant to cut the agency's red ink, not to disrupt mail-in balloting.

Democrats plan to press him on the issue at a House committee hearing on Monday.

Key words : tiktok
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200823_12/

TikTok plans to legally challenge an executive order issued by US President Donald Trump that demands US business of the social media app be sold.

TikTok said in a statement on Saturday that the Trump administration "paid no attention to facts and tried to insert itself into negotiations between private businesses."

It adds that it has "no choice but to challenge the executive order through the judicial system" to ensure that TikTok and its users are treated fairly.

The statement does not specify when TikTok will file a lawsuit. But US media report it may happen in the next few days.

Trump signed an executive order on August 6 that prohibits US transactions with TikTok's China-based owner ByteDance starting late next month. He issued another executive order on August 14, demanding ByteDance divest TikTok's US operations.

Trump says TikTok poses a national security threat, as the Chinese government may abuse personal information from users of the app.

ByteDance has been in talks with potential buyers, including Microsoft. But prospects for the negotiations remain unclear, raising concerns among TikTok users in the US.

Key words : severe tropical
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200823_07/

Severe Tropical Storm Bavi is slowly heading north off the coast of the Sakishima Islands in Japan's southernmost prefecture of Okinawa.

The Meteorological Agency says the storm is expected to approach the main island of Okinawa and the Amami region of Kagoshima Prefecture.

Officials warn of strong winds, high waves, and heavy rain in the areas Sunday and Monday.

The maximum wind speed near the center is 108 kilometers per hour with occasional gusts of up to 144 kilometers per hour.

The wind speed is 90 kilometers or more per hour in areas within 95 kilometers east of the center and 75 kilometers west of the center.

The storm is forecast to move north off the coast of the main island of Kyushu Wednesday and onward.