Key words : eleven prefecture
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210116_08/
The Japanese government is urging stricter public observance of anti-coronavirus measures. The appeal comes as the country enters its first weekend since the state of emergency was expanded to eleven prefectures.
The declaration which began with Tokyo and its three neighboring prefectures now covers Osaka and Aichi prefectures, among others.
The government says crowd sizes in urban areas have not declined as they did when the declaration was first issued in spring last year.
It is calling on people to refrain from non-essential outings both day and night.
Officials also plan to strengthen their calls for young people to take preventive measures.
An outdoor screen in Tokyo's Shinjuku ward will show an appeal by the minister in charge of the coronavirus response, Nishimura Yasutoshi, beginning Saturday.
Meanwhile government officials are seeking a more accurate understanding of the effect of the emergency declaration and the infection situation. They are comparing daily new case numbers and trends of positive tests from before and after the state of emergency was declared.
The government also plans to explain to the ruling parties early next week a proposed revision to the special anti-coronavirus law.
It has proposed setting a maximum fine of about 4,800 dollars on business operators who refuse to comply with requests to reduce their hours under the state of emergency.
Key words : metropolitan
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210116_14/
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has confirmed 1,809 new cases of the coronavirus on Saturday in the Japanese capital.
The figure is the second highest for a Saturday, following 2,268 cases reported on January 9.
The total number of people who have tested positive in Tokyo now stands at 83,878.
Key words : university exam
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210116_02/
Japan's standardized university entrance exams are scheduled to start on Saturday.
They are being held in a revised format, after continuing as they were for 31 years. There are still multiple-choice questions, but more emphasis is placed on the ability to think and reach decisions.
More than 535,000 applicants are expected to take the exams at about 700 venues nationwide.
A record high 866 universities plan to use the results in their screening processes, partly because some are not holding their own exams amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The exams can be taken on Saturday and Sunday, or January 30th and 31st. Applicants who cannot make those dates due to special circumstances, such as contracting the virus, can take another exam at a different time.
Officials are calling on applicants to bring a record of their temperature and health condition on the days leading up to the exam. They should also dress warmly because venues will be ventilated.
Key words : 2 million
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210116_05/
The global death toll from the coronavirus pandemic has surpassed 2 million.
Data compiled by Johns Hopkins University in the United States put the exact number at 2,000,905 as of 18:00 UTC on Friday.
The daily death toll has at times risen above 15,000 since December. By country, the United States has the most fatalities, followed by Brazil and India.
Key words : France
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210115_13/
The French government is imposing stricter measures to try to fend off the possible spread of a new variant of the coronavirus. Starting Saturday, the curfew will be moved up by two hours to 6 p.m. and will cover the entire country.
France's Prime Minister Jean Castex and Health Minister Olivier Veran made the announcement on Thursday.
They revealed that as many as 300 people are being infected daily with the new variant, which was first identified in Britain.
Castex said, "We must do everything to prevent this variant from spreading and ensure that it does not become the dominant variant."
The revised curfew will be in place at least for two weeks.
Beginning on Monday, new entrants from outside the European Union will be required to show a negative virus test result and to self-quarantine for a week upon arrival.
The government also plans to test 1 million school pupils a month for the virus, taking into consideration the possibility that the new variant may be more transmissible among children.
The infection spread in France is still high, with the daily average of new cases remaining at around 16,000.
The government hopes that the new measures will alleviate the burden on the country's medical system.
Key words : russian vaccine
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210116_10/
Russian authorities say they will roll out a mass inoculation program of domestically produced vaccines for the entire population from Monday.
Moscow health authorities plan to make the shots available from Wednesday at shopping malls, department stores and theatres.
They also plan to use social media to inform people when vaccinations are available in their vicinity.
Moscow wants to speed up the pace of inoculations as infections show no sign of abating. The capital recorded about 5,500 new daily cases on Friday.
The authorities face a further challenge in convincing Russians to take the vaccine. Some have expressed skepticism about its safety.
Officials promoting inoculations in the far eastern region of Sakhalin have announced people who become vaccinated will no longer be required to wear facemasks in public.
Key words : US afghanistan
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210116_13/
The US Department of Defense says US force levels in Afghanistan have been reduced to 2,500, the lowest number since 2001.
The announcement was made by acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller in a statement released on Friday.
The latest figure is down from the 4,500 reported in November last year and marks the lowest since the US launched military operations in Afghanistan, in the wake of the 2001 terrorist attacks on American soil.
Miller earlier announced that as instructed by President Donald Trump, the drawdown of US troops would be complete by Friday, ahead of the inauguration of the new administration of Joe Biden.
In line with a peace agreement struck in February 2020 between Washington and the Taliban militant group, the US has been pulling troops from Afghanistan. However, fighting continues between Afghan government forces and the Taliban.
Ceasefire negotiations between the two sides started in September last year. However, the talks have been stalled over terms of an agreement and other issues.
Concerns are rising that the security situation could further deteriorate in Afghanistan in the face of a reduced US military presence.
Key words : learned subcritical
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210116_12/
NHK has learned that the United States conducted a subcritical nuclear test in November last year.
The US National Nuclear Security Administration told NHK on Friday that the experiment, called "Nightshade A," took place at a nuclear test site in the state of Nevada. The NNSA revealed no details.
Subcritical nuclear tests do not produce explosions. This is the first such test by the US since February 2019, and the third under President Donald Trump's administration.
The US government announced in February 2018 that it was adopting a new nuclear strategy designed to counter Russia and China, including expanding its low-yield nuclear arsenal.
The government has since sought to enhance the country's nuclear capabilities, and increased its budget to modernize nuclear-related facilities.
Key words : russia treaty
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210116_09/
Russia says it will begin domestic procedures to withdraw from the Treaty on Open Skies, which allows members to conduct surveillance flights over each other's territory.
The arms control agreement took effect in 2002 and has more than 30 participants, including Russia and a number of major European countries. The US pulled out of the pact last year, accusing Russia of illegally restricting flights.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday that the US withdrawal upset the balance of interests of signatories and "undermined the role of the Open Skies Treaty as a confidence and security building measure."
Russia's move comes as the New START nuclear arms control treaty between the US and Russia expires on February 5. Bilateral talks on an extension have been stalled.
Key words : japanese doctor
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210116_03/
Afghanistan has created a postal stamp in honor of Japanese doctor Nakamura Tetsu, who was shot and killed in the country in 2019.
Nakamura, who was 73, spent decades in Afghanistan. He provided humanitarian assistance and helped to reconstruct the war-ravaged country.
The monochrome stamp features the doctor's face, and words praising his activities in both English and the local language.
Officials say they have not yet decided on its price, or when it will be issued.
It is apparently rare in Afghanistan for a foreigner to feature on a stamp. A government official expressed hope that the people will keep Nakamura in their hearts forever.
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