at 20:00 (JST), July 03

 

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20210703200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : two people unaccounted police
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210703_21/

Officials in Shizuoka prefecture in central Japan say two people have been found without vital signs and about 20 others remain unaccounted for after a series of mudslides swept away several houses on Saturday.

The officials say the two were found in the sea off the city of Atami.

They say the mudslides occurred at around 10:30 a.m. on a river in the city's Izusan district, and the mud flowed about one kilometer down to the sea.

Firefighters, police, and Self-Defense Forces personnel are taking part in the search for the missing.

Torrential rain has been lashing areas along Japan's Pacific coast since early Saturday.

City officials issued an evacuation order for around 20,000 households after the mudslides. People have been told to ensure their safety.

One resident told NHK that he fled to higher ground after the mudslides occurred nearby. Another said he heard the mudslides before he saw them, as they washed away houses and utility poles.

Meteorological Agency officials say the downpours are due to a lingering seasonal rain front. Shizuoka and Kanagawa prefectures are being hit the hardest.

The officials say Atami City has already seen more than the average rainfall for the whole of the month of July.

Authorities have issued landslide warnings for parts of Shizuoka and Kanagawa prefectures.

The authorities warn there could be more landslides, swollen rivers and flooding in low-lying areas. They're asking people to keep up-to-date with the latest evacuation information.

Key words : florida
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210703_11/

A county mayor in the US state of Florida has signed an emergency order to demolish the remaining portion of a condominium that partially collapsed last week.

Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava stressed at a news conference on Friday that the demolition will allow rescuers to focus on their work.

She said it will take place "as soon as engineers sign off on the next steps to begin" the process.

The 12-story condominium near Miami partially collapsed on June 24, leaving 22 people dead and more than 120 others missing. Three children were among those who died.

Rescuers have been searching for survivors but had to suspend their work for more than 12 hours on Thursday due to fears that the remaining part of the building could also fall in.

The search-and-rescue efforts have also been hindered by inclement weather. US weather authorities expect a hurricane to approach Florida in the first half of next week.

Key words : world health strict lockdown
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210703_02/

The coronavirus is resurging across wide areas of the globe amid the spread of 11 variants labeled as concerning or of interest by the World Health Organization.

They include the Delta variant first identified in India. It is believed to have been a factor behind an explosive surge in the country, which at one time reported over 400,000 daily cases.

New cases in India have significantly fallen after strict lockdowns. Economic activities are resuming in line with an easing of restrictions. The Taj Mahal reopened to visitors on June 16 for the first time in two months.

But the country's health officials remain on the alert after confirming the existence of a mutation of the Delta variant called "Delta plus."

The president of the Public Health Foundation of India, Professor Srinath Reddy, stressed the need to break the cycle of infections in the county and across the world. He called for public health measures such as face masks and social distancing, and the advancement of vaccinations.

In Peru, a variant known as Lambda has been detected in 81 percent of samples taken from infected people since April. It has also been identified in Argentina and Chile, where new infections are spreading.

New cases are rising in some Asian countries, such as Indonesia and Bangladesh. Britain, Russia and South Africa are also seeing resurgences.

Key words : germany second shot
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210703_07/

German authorities are recommending that people who receive a first dose of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine switch to a different type of vaccine for their second shot.

The German government on Friday advised people to choose either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for their second jab.

The move came one day after the country's standing committee on vaccinations issued a draft recommendation to the same effect.

The aim is to enhance immune responses against COVID-19 and shorten the interval period between the two shots.

The committee recommended the second dose be administered with four weeks or more after the first AstraZeneca shot. That's much shorter than the nine or more weeks the committee recommends between two doses of AstraZeneca.

Health Minister Jens Spahn says Germany expects the highly infectious Delta variant, which was first detected in India, to account for nearly 80 percent of infections by the end of July.

So far, more than 55 percent of Germany's population has received at least one dose of a vaccine.

Spahn stressed the addition of the second shot will provide more protection against the Delta variant.

Last Monday, a research group from Britain's Oxford University said combining doses of AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines had generated a stronger immune response than having two rounds of AstraZeneca in a trial.

Joachim Hombach, head of the WHO's expert panel, said on Thursday that it was "great news." He noted this can offer more flexibility to countries which face vaccine supply constraints.

But he added the efficacy and safety of mixing vaccines other than AstraZeneca and Pfizer are being studied and that the WHO does not recommend mixing any other types of vaccines.

Key words : soccer britain
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210703_04/

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has expressed concern about the number of fans allowed to attend upcoming international soccer games in London amid a resurgence of the coronavirus.

Merkel spoke at a joint news conference with Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday during a visit to Britain.

London's Wembley Stadium is set to host the UEFA Euro 2020 semifinals and final from Tuesday through July 11, with capacity capped at more than 60,000.

Merkel said she was skeptical about the move, while Johnson insisted he has no plan to reduce the number of spectators.

Johnson said Britain is able to hold certain events in a controlled manner, citing the degree of immunity realized through the nationwide vaccine rollout.

Daily cases in Britain recently surged to more than 27,000, fueled by the spread of the Delta variant first identified in India.

Health authorities in Scotland reported nearly 2,000 cases linked to people attending European championship soccer matches.

Germany's interior minister described UEFA as absolutely irresponsible. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has said the final should be held in another country.

Key words : ohtani named
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210703_08/

In Major League Baseball, Japanese two-way star Ohtani Shohei of the Los Angeles Angels has been named the American League Player of the Month for June.

The MLB announced the MVPs for the American and National Leagues on Friday.

It is the first time Ohtani has received the monthly honor in his four-year US career.

He batted .309 with a league-leading 13 home runs in 25 games in June. He also racked up 23 RBIs and four stolen bases.

Ohtani was given the MVP award as a position player.

But he also pitched in June and had a 2-0 record with a 4.94 earned run average and 33 strikeouts.

Ohtani is the seventh Japanese player to be named a Player or Pitcher of the Month in Major League Baseball, and the third as a position player.

Suzuki Ichiro of the Seattle Mariners won the honor in August 2004, and Matsui Hideki of the New York Yankees, in July 2007. Both were outfielders.

Kyle Schwarber of the Washington Nationals, who belted 16 home runs in June, was named the National League Player of the Month.