Cash handouts to nearly 100 local politicians and other individuals to secure votes for his wife who ran in the upper house election in july last year and w w her seat. She also allegedly handed out about 10,000 in cash on her own. After the election, katsuyuki was appointed Justice Minister but was forced to resign when the scandal first broke last october. The scandal comes as the Hiroshima District Court handed down suspended prison sentence on tuesday. He was charged with paying her Campaign Workers more than is legally allowed. Prosecutors could file a lawsuit seeking to nullify the election win based on a guilt by associatation provisision. They submitted their notices of departure from the liberal democratic party. Sources say they vehemently deny doing anyththing illegegal and no intention of a brother of george floyd, a black american man who died after a white policece officice knelelt on his neck, has calledn the United Nations to fight racism. My brother george floyd is one ofof the many black men and women that have been murdered by police in recent years. The sad truth is that the case is not unique. The the way you saw by brother tortrtured and murdered on came is the way black people are treated by police in america. Floyds younger brother, philonise, s spoke via vidideo to a session of the Human Rights Council held to discuss discrimination issues. Japans ambassador said countries must strive to eliminate Racial Discrimination and the International Community should encourage such efforts. The u. S. Did not join the discussion as it withdrew from the council in 2018. George floyds death in the state of minnesota last month triggered protests against Racial Discrimination across the world. The Foreign Ministers of china and india have swapped accusations over a deadly military clash on the disputed himalayan border, but in phone talks, wang yi and Subrahmanyam Jaishankar sought dialogue to resolve the issue. The Indian Military y says 20 o its troops were killlled in mondndays fight. The chinese side also reportedly suffered casualties. Wang lodged a strong protest with the indian side saying delhi violated a consensus on the border issue. Jaishankar claimed chinese soldiers tried to erect a structure on the indian side, breaking an arrangement not to change the status quo. But both ministers reportedly agreed to avoid escalating the dispute and ensure peace in line with bilateral accords. Media in india say its the first time in 45 years the countrys soldiers have been killed in a confrontation with chinese troops. Criticism of china is increasing in india, leading to protests in some parts of the country. Airlines around the worldld have run into some turbulence. Those in the u u. S. Have posted ten straight years of p profits before the coronavirus pandemic. Now theyre doing what they can to win passengers back. Nhk worlds Catherine Kobayashi reports. Reporter getting on a plane can be stressful at the best of times. The check in, baggage, security. Add to that the fear of catching a disease. Some passengers are doing everything they can to protect themselves. Im not so happy to fly. Im scared. Its definitely nerve wracking to get on a plane. Reporter this business always comes with uncertainty. Airlines require thousands of employees. Aircraft costs into the hundreds of millions of dollars. And fuel prices are always subject to volatility. The pandemic has grounded plane after plane, and passenger traffic is down 85 compared to a year ago. Ive seen in recessions the firsrst gulf war, y you knowow, the great recession, this is nothing likee any of those. Just the speed with which traffic fell off. Airlines are taking steps to make travellers feel s safe. Passengers can print out their own baggage tags by scanning a qr code at a qkiosk, all touchless. And screens separate them from agents if they have to go to the counter. Thank you. 97. 9. You need to take one of the stickers and put it on your id. Thank you. Youre welcome. Reporter everyone whoho wor at this airport has to get their temperature checked. Many airlines are limiting capacity on flights. Staff are boardingg fewer peopl at a time and blocking middle seats. And o one aline is using whats called electrostatic spraying to eally y can nev put a rms and prictag on safy. Safe is alwsoingo be someing tha were gng to t on torefront of everything we do. He says this is the airlines biggest everr challenge and it just going to take some time to get back to where they were before. Catherine kobayashi, nhk world, newark, new jersrsey. The outbreak has also put the brakes on the global auto industry. New car sales in europe suffered a big drop in may. Industry data show sales in the european union, britain, and other countries in the region tumbled 57 last month from the same time last year. About 623,000 vehicles rolled off lots. German maker volkswagen holdsds the most share in the market. Its in line with the industry trend. Japanese makers also suffered. Honda was off 70 , nissan, 66 , and toyota, 55 . European countries are in the process of restarting their economies but new car sales are stuck in the slow lanes. The president of honduras has tested positive for covid19. The Central American nation has reporteded over 9,000 cases of e virus and more than 300 deaths. President Juan Orlando Hernandez said in a televised speech he stararted to feel unwell over t weekend. He said his symptoms are mild and hell continue working remotely and through his aides. The president s wife also tested positive. Shell selfquarantine at home. A tally at Johns HopkinsUniversity Shows the number of cases passed 8. 2 million on wednesday. Japans rainy season is now underway and typhoon season is just around the corner. Emergency officials preparing for the extreme weather also have the coronavirus to contend with this year. As nhk world reports, thats far too many to reevaluate their evacuation plans. Reporter this man is always thinking about worsese case scenario. Its a crucial job in this northern tokyo city, surrounded by rivers which puts it at risk of flooding. Including last year when typhoon hagibis approached the region. Luckily, it was largely spared but nearly 700,000 residents were asked to evacuate as a precaution. The citys 135 emergency shelters overflowed. Translator we help as much as we can. If a disaster happens, we cant refuse evacuees just because the shelelters are full. Officials like aida are preparing for a potential disaster amid the coronavirus pandemic. The citys come up with a range of ways to mitigate the risk of infection, including stock piling masks and disinfectant. Experts are also recommending each person have four square meters of space. As a result, aida and his team helping businesses lend a helping hand. So far, theyve identified five possibilities and t this week ty secured a deal with a local hotel. They either recommend people consider alternatives. He says people could remain at home if its safe to do so or find safety at a friends or extended familys. It is a problem across j japan trying to solveve. This expepert says people shou be ready including preparing emergency bags and creating an evacuation plan. Translator i is importatant that people and their famililie cide when a and where they y should g go before a naturural disaster happens. Its unrealistic to decide what to do on the spot. The coronavirus pandemic is complicating an already diskoushdi discouraging situation. But for officials like aida, all they can do is prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Nhk k world, tokyo. And now turning to world weatheher. Hehere in tokyo, slightly cool weather is expected to return after days of hot conditions as we head toward the end of the week. Our meteorologist Tsietsi Monare join us now. How long will this cool spell last . Hi there, it looks like well have cool weather for the next day or two particularly for central japan. With the eastern direction giving a way for the low pressure system to make its way up to the northern part of japan where you could see a slight risk of lightning and also showers there. So, also expect a little stronger winds and also another low pressure system and a front thats getting its opportunity to move slightly into the northern direction across the yellow sea affecting parts of south korea and into places of kyushu. Speaking of kyushu, thats where were expecting most risk in terms of heavy rainfall. More than 200 millimeters of rainfall expected over the next couple of hours. So, please do take care there. As you cross over toward the tokai region, expect almost 120 millimeters of rainfall. Now, the concerns from there could be flooding of course and possibilities of mud slides in certain areas. And as you mentioned, temperatures are slightly getting cooler. Tokyo 27 degrees and by saturday could even be slightly cooler. Osaka 25 and rainy conditions expected as you go down towards fukuoka. Cooler weather expected for the north part of japan. For the rest of asia, temperatures quite hot for taiwan. Maximum of 37 degrees, showers expected across the central and southern parts of china. So, please do be careful of flooding along the coastal cities. For australia, slightly dryer conditions following the frontal system but coming in towards south western part of australia but temperatures dropping significantly towards the coast and as you move toward the east as well, do expect a majority of it to be cooler. Also affects parts of new zealand as the Northern Islands could be rainy. Temperatures will drop to about 13 degrees. Melbourne, sydney, basically across australia look out for damage to your property such as flowers being caught in cold weather and animals affected. That is all for the weather. Take care. Thats all for this edition of nhk newsline. Thank you very much for staying with us. Welcome to newsline in depth. Im yanaka marie. The coronavirus pandemic that has swept the world is changing the way e we live. As countries resume Economic Activity and people venture out again, were adapting to a way of life that prevents infection. For many this means navigating life in uncharted territory. Today, we bring you three stories about how Asian Countries are living the new normal, donning masks and maintaining social distancing all the while working and even celebrating life events. We begin in thailand. Though the government extended the state of emergency through the end of june, restrictions have partially been eased. Its economy is in the early stages of reopening with many restaurants, shops and barbers resuming operation. Our report looks at how innovative ideas are bringing unprecedented changes to everyday l life. Reporter daily prayer is a common ritual for most thais. But chanting it from behind protective barrier is something new to get used d to. Bangkok is slowly coming back to life after several months at a stand still, but with several changes. Commercial venues have been reopening, but shopping isnt the same. Customers are required to keep a safe distance from each other and do what this robot says. Please wear mask. Customers have to check in my scanning a qr code. The system allows the venues to count heads. If theres a sign of infection on site, authorities can alert people right away. And consumers are seeing new items for sale as well. This Wedding Dress designer created something to reflelect e times. Hes released elegant face masks to match the bridal wear. Wearing m masks on a wedding day can be memorable, so as a designer, i need to create something that complements the overall look. These newlyweds know all about incorporating such adjustments to their big day. They plan a grand wedding the in a hall, but wound up getting married at a family home as their venue was ordered to shut. First, they have to get permission from local authorities to hold a wedding. They were told everyone had to undergo health check ups before the ceremony, and the guest list had to be reduced from 500 to just 30. Translator this is not exactly what we planned, but we just have to embrace it. Life goes on. Reporter hospitals are also aiming to reduce the number of people gathering at their facilities. This one has come up with a telemedicine app to help limit person to person contact. From the the safety of their home, patients can see doctors and pharmacists via online video call. Medicines are later mailed to their doorstep. The app is particularly popular among the elderly. Y. Traranslator its gooood to able to see doctors like this so i wont have to worry too much about getting infected. Translator in the future, telemedicine could assist outpatientnts and doctors from other hospitals in rural areas. If its widely successful, i think telemedicinene will b beca new norm for seeing doctors. The pandemic has radically transformed the lives of thai people, and its legacy in part could be the creative way society is adapting to the new normal. Nhk world, bangkok. Interesting. The traditional arts too are adapting to the postpandemic world. The iconic dancers of bangkok are now performing in face shields. One troop member says shes grateful to be able to resume work since this is her main source of income. But the road ahead to recovery may not be smooth. A thailand think tank estimates that it will take the country three years to recover from the economic fallout from the coronavirus. Speaking of economic damage, our next story turns to china which fell into recession due to the epidemic. The country is used to seeing 6 gdp growth, but the figure shrank to minus 6. 8 in the latest quarter. Thats the First Time Ever in negative territory since such data began being released. And many experts dont expect businesses to get back on track any time soon. Our report looks at how retailers which were hit especially hard are pivoting to stay afloat. Reporter its been a grim few months for the longestablished beijing shoe store. After being forced to shutdown in january, its only recently been able to restart operations. Customers come to them, the company took a proactive approach and began Live Streaming to generate sales. They say online salales in marc helped bring sales to about half of what they were last year. Translator the number of people who come to our shop is limited, but theres a lot of potential in attracting customers online. Reporter Online Platforms are also allowing the traditional retailer to attract a new generation of shoppers. 70 of people who shop by a lile streream. Live s streaming hasas fast beca lifeline for many retailers. Recent report by ecommerce giant alibaba said there was an 8 fold increase in february from a month earlier. Among the businesses capitalizingng on the trend is this clothing manufacturer who buililt a specialized studio in february. Shin used to manage one of its shops but has since become the drdriving force behind the initiative. Part of the strtrategy is not jt show casingg the clothes but alo acting as a stylist for potential customers. Translator if you want to be more stylish, you can wear the clothes like this. And if you wear it over a tshirt, it will look totally different. Shinseis she once sold more than 170,000 worth of merchandise in a single broadcast. Translator some fans are waiting for me every day. Its hard work, but this is what keeps me going. Reporter the Company Plans to increase the number of casters to 20 and provide additional training to sales and office staff. Translator our company wouldnt h have been able to survive if we didnt start Live Streaming. It would also help us expand our business. Reporter in a matter of months, the coronavirus pandemic has upended the Retail Industry as more people shop online. While some stores are falling victim to the crisis, others are finding success by adapting to what has quickly become the new normal. You know, Live Streaming is gaining so much traction in china that not only businesses but local governments are also jumping on the band wagon. As lockdown was lifted in the hardest hit province of sue bay, officials there participated in sessions to promote local products. And the government plans to train 10,000 Live Streaming chapters over the next few years. Its even going as far as establishing a think tank for various online services. For our last report, we look at japan where new Business Practices are being explored. According to a survey, 98 of the countrys major businesses have introduced teleworking in light of the coronavirus. However, one tradition is making working from home a challenge. Official japanese documents typically require seals of authentication called hanko. A system thats proving difficult to stamp out. Reporter a new stamp and signature from the emperor. The use of hanko is a longstanding custom in japan dating back more than 1,200 years and its still very much a part of everyday life, used for everything from receiving parcels to opening bank accounts. Hankos are also an essential business tool. Some people say these stamps are making it harder for them to work from home. Translator im going to the office to do paperwork, including procedures that require stamps. In such cases, i always have to be there in person. A recent survey suggested nearly 2 3 of Business People in japan still have to go to their workplace to apply stamps or review physical documents. Companies that are already using stamps also face challenges. This i. T. Firm says critical hankos are still n needed for se clients. Translator customers say theyey want the origiginal stam copies o of documents. I have that kind of Business Today too. Reporter changing that mindset is proving to be a major hurdle as t the busininess worl adapts to the pandemic and not just in japan. Adobe surveyed Small Companies in the u. S. Last may and found 3 4 of resespondents continued using hand signatures for contracts. The japanesese company rececent conducted its own survey to find out what administrative procedures in the business are getting. Its hoping more companies will embrace electronic stamps to help reduce person to person contact. Industry leaders also say that Business Practices need to move into the disal world. We have no time to deal with stamps or paper documents anymore. Reporter japan and many other countries are pushing to resume Economic Activity while still fighting to contain the virus. But changing traditional ways of doing business is proving to be no small feat. Nhk world. Though challenges remain, covid19 is forcing Many Companies in japan to seriously contemplate introducing digital hanko stamps. And several developers of such online tools are even offering free trials during this time. As we saw, the pandemic has already led to many socioeconomic changes. Keeping an open mind will be the key to living in this age of fluctuation, the age of the coronavirus. And thats all for this edition of newsline in depth. Thanks for tuning in obstruction of justice and ignorance of world affairs. Truckive claims about the the trump presidency. By the former National Security advisor. This is al jazeera, live frorom london. Chchina and india agreed to restart talks after deadly violence in their shared border. Pyongyang continues to escalate its rhetoric, warning it will increaease military presence alg the border