Hello, welcome back to NHK Newsline. I'm Maria Sato in Tokyo.
UN Pledges Support For Nepal-China Flood Victims
The United Nations says it plans to expand support as the massive flash floods and mudslides that hit a border region between Nepal and China on Wednesday killed hundreds of people.
Combined figures from the two countries put the death toll at more than 580. Nepal says over 1,900 people are missing. Chinese state-run media says more than 550 are unaccounted for. China Central Television reported on Friday that the disaster began when a glacier in Nepal at an elevation of about 5,140 meters collapsed.
It said the fractured area of the glacier was estimated at 620.000 square meters. CCTV said the glacier was situated about 3,300 meters higher than a heavily damaged border checkpoint. It said this difference in elevation combined with the mudslide's extreme velocity amplified its destructive power.
The report said the mudslide may have reached the checkpoint 20 kilometers away, only about seven minutes after the glacier's collapse. That left people little time to escape. A UN spokesperson told reporters on Friday the world body is working to scale up distribution of aid supplies.
00:01:39 話者 12/Stephane Dujarric/Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General
At least 20,000 households across the Newarkot and Rasuer districts may need food assistance. Over 50,000 people require emergency water, emergency sanitation and emergency hygiene support.
00:01:56 (Maria Sato)
CCTV says the area of a barrier lake is expanding in the Tibet Autonomous Region, raising the risk of another disaster.
The lake is thought to have formed after mud and debris from the flash floods blocked a river. Reuters news agency quotes a Nepali official as saying that two lakes have been confirmed upstream of the flood zone and one began overflowing on Friday. The official reportedly warned flood risks will remain.
People In Japan Practice Making Meals In Case Of Disaster
When disaster strikes, electricity, gas and running water may be cut off, and securing food can become a major challenge. People in Ibaraki Prefecture, north of Tokyo, have learned how to prepare meals in an emergency. They received a host of useful tips from experts. Tsukuba Mirai City held the event on Friday as part of a parenting support program.
About 30 people attended, including kids between the ages of two and six. Participants were advised to occasionally cook meals using canned foods and ready-to-eat meal pouches to get family members open to eating them. They also tried cooking with a portable gas burner and limited amounts of water. They boiled rice in a heat-resistant bag and used canned and dried foods.
Plates were covered with plastic bags to avoid the need to wash up.
00:03:29 話者 23
It was great that it focused on disaster preparedness and I could take part with my child. I enjoyed it and learned a lot.
00:03:38 話者 24
It's very important to have some hands-on experience so you are prepared when a disaster strikes.
We hope to continue providing parents with the information they need and chances to put that into practice so they won't panic in an emergency.
00:03:55 (Maria Sato)
A strong earthquake struck southern Ibaraki last Sunday. The quake has apparently led to renewed interest in the importance of disaster preparedness.
Trump: US Secured Majority Of Venezuelan Oil Reserves
US President Donald Trump is touting a new oil deal with Venezuela, he says will help bring down gasoline prices for Americans. He says the US has secured control of more than 65 billion barrels of the South American country's proven oil reserves. Trump announced the deal Friday on social media. It comes as the conflict with Iran has driven up gas prices.
He said the transaction more than doubles US oil reserves and greatly increases the country's oil supply. He claimed that the deal will substantially lower gas prices for all Americans long into the future. A US government official told NHK the deal will give the US a 55 percent share of output from a new private joint venture.
The Trump administration is also portraying the deal as a boost for Venezuela. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on social media it will bring nearly $100 billion in private investment, support thousands of high paying jobs and drive reconstruction of the country's economy. Venezuela's oil production has declined due to US sanctions, among other factors, with oil facilities aging.
Reuters news agency says increasing the production could take years, so it's unclear whether the deal will lower US gasoline prices in the short term.
ICC States Parties Mull Changing Annual Meeting Venue
States parties to the International Criminal Court have begun examining whether to change the venue of the organization's annual assembly session. It's scheduled for December in the United States.
The review follows sanctions that the Trump administration announced last week targeting ICC President Akane Tomoko. Sanctions accuse the court of maliciously abusing its authority. They include freezing any assets held in the US. The state's parties are looking into whether to change the meeting from New York as Akane and sanctioned ICC judges and prosecutors will likely be denied visas.
The ICC Assembly Secretariat plans to convene working group meetings next week to discuss the matter. Informed sources say a venue change may be difficult in terms of preparation and budget as there are only about three months left before the meeting.
Warsh: FED Has 'Work To Do' If Inflation Stays Up
The US Federal Reserve chairman says the central bank will have work to do if inflation remains elevated. He made the remarks at the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium in the US state of Wyoming. Kevin Warsh set out his vision during his closely watched speech at the gathering. The event brings together central bankers and other economic policymakers from around the world.
00:07:09 話者 35/Kevin Warsh/US Federal Reserve Chair
So here is my standard.
We must be confident that underlying inflation is moving to our objective, clearly and at sufficient speed. Otherwise, we have work to do. That's our job, that's our mandate, and that's our charge to keep.
00:07:28 (Maria Sato)
He indicated that the Fed won't rule out the possibility of an interest rate hike.
Warsh says inflation is running above the Fed's 2% target, so its predominant focus should now be on prices. He also said he's impressed by the overall performance of the economy, suggesting that consumer spending remains robust and the labor market seems extremely stable. But Warsh reiterated his long-term discomfort with the practice of forward guidance.
00:07:59 話者 35
Oversharing policy deliberations.
and over committing to future decisions can lead markets, businesses and households astray.
00:08:11 (Maria Sato)
His hawkish tone on inflation prompted investors to sell the yen and buy the dollar. The yen weakened it to the 160 range against the dollar at one point in New York. It's the first time the yen has traded in the low 160s since 160 since last month.
That's when Tokyo and Washington stepped into the currency market to support the yen.
Those were the headlines for this hour. This is NHK Newsline.
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And that's the latest we have for you at this hour on NHK Newsline. I'm Maria Sato in Tokyo. Thank you for joining.
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