The u. S. Ordered the chinese consulate e in houston, texas closed. It cited the need to protect American Intellectual property and private information. Chinas foreign min stay criticized that decision saying it breached International Law and the braves of normal relations while gravely harming relations between the two countries. The ministry urged the u. S. Retract the decision. Observers say the rift between the two major powers is becoming more pronounced. The u. S. Trump administration is once again ramping up criticism of beijing. Secretary of state mike pompeo is calling for a new alliance of democracies to oppose china. Pompeo singled out intellectual Property Rights issues and territorial dispuputes in the south china sea. He also took a direct swipe at chinas leader. Xi jinping is a true believer in a bankrupt, totalitarian ideology. This ideology that forms his hedge runninesire for global e sasaysecurininfreedom from e chchine commmmist party the mission of oururime. He also called the u. Seveven ugement with cna a disl faile, sayint dnt producthe chans richar nixo hoped f whe he opene the wayor dipmatic rations in the 197. Robert obrien and attorney general william barr were among the first officials to release a barrage of criticism against china. Turning the the coronavirus situation in japan. Officials in tokyo reported 260 new cases of the infection on friday. Its the fourth straight day that the figure has topped 200 and the 16th consecutive day with more than 100 cases. On thursday, a record high 366 infections were reported by the metropolis. The total number of confirmed cases in tokyo has now surpassed 10,600. Prime minister abe shinzo referred to the recent spike in infections as japan observeves long weekend. Translator we once againn ak everyone to takake thorough preventative m measures to h he stem thehe spread o of the viru during t the fourday holiday. That meaeans avoiding close contact with others as well as refraining from speaking loudly in public. Across the country the total fig kbrur has exceeded 29,000 cases. That includes over 700 people on the diamond princess cruise ship docked near tokyo early in the crisis. The death toll has reached over 1,000 including 13 from the cruise ship. The number of Coronavirus Infections in the United States has now surpassed the 4 million mark. Figures compiled by Johns Hopkins show that 72,000 new cases were reported on wednesday. The number of infected people hit the 1 million mark on april 28th and doubled to 2 million june 10th and passed 3 million on july 8th. It only took about two more weeksoror it to reach 4 million. About 1200 new deaths were repoeded onwednesda topng a ousand f a secon consecive day. About 200 re reported in texas and 150 in californi t the largest numbers f far. Accordg to a pvate secr institution, the number of people in hospitals exceeded 59,000. In texas morththan 1000 0 pele are in hospitals. Local media outls are comparg the siation at balefield. Itions to many states have suspended reopening their economies. The spread of infection is showing no signs of slowing as basic measures to prevent it are not being fully enforced. Some residents refuse to wear face masks, and there has not been sufficient social distancing. The surge of infections has led u. S. President donald trump to cancel part of the republican Partys National convention. It was slated to take place in florida in late august. The flareup in florida, to have a Big Convention is not the right time. Its really something that, for me, i have to protect the american people. Trump says he will deliver his speech at the convention in what he referred to as a different form, and that there are plans to hold rallies online. Trump was expected to deliver his acceptance speech as the republican partys president ial candidate in florida. The venue was moved from North Carolina after the governor there called for scaling down events. The republican partys nomination of its candidate to the election will still take place in North Carolina. Staying with the United States, Major League Baseball finally began its 2020 season afteter a delayay of nearly fou monthshs due too the coronaviru the first game was on thursday between the Washington Nationals and the new york kb yankees. It was played without spectators at the home field of the defending champions washington. The first pitch was thrown out by dr. Anthony fauci, the top Infectious Disease specialist on the task force. His off center toss seemed to symbolize the start to the season which will have 60 games instead of the original 162. During the game, managers and coaches wor masks and observed social distancing inn the dugou. Players have been asked to avovd the usual high fives after home runs and to refrain from spitting. The game was called due to rain in the top of the sixth inning giving the yankees a 41 victory. India now has the worlds third highest number of coronavirus cases. While many people are Wearing Masks to prevent infection, some are too poor to afford them. But in new delhi, a mother and son have found a way to help those in need. Nhk wororlds rah kesesh nagar reports. Reporter in new delhi people are required to wear face masks in public places. Popular brands sell for about 1 or 2. But some people are prepared to pay a lot more. At this trendy boutique masks can cost over 40. Yes, im here to pick up last of masks because im a fashion enthusiasts. I need security safety but at the same time i need to look fashionable. Reporter however, india is a country of extremes and many people are too poor to buy masks at all. Translator masks are expensive. I cant afford them. Reporter the situation has inspired some novel solutions. These masks are given out free of charge. To take one from the box, you just pull the string. Translator i didnt have any income due to the lockdown, so im trying to spend as little as possible. This mask is comfortable, too. Reporter the masks were made by a housewife who is good at sewing. She started creating them as gifts for friends using fabric she received from a relative who runs a factory, but she realized otother people mightht apprecia them, too. Translator i gave ten to a cleaner who was wearing a poor quality mask, and he was very pleased. Then i gave a mask to a delivery person who was just using a handkerchief and he had the same reaction. When i saw how happy they were, i felt good. Reporter das wanted to share her masks with those in need and her son found a safe way to do it. The box lets people take masks without touching anyone else, reducing the risk of infection. I made this box, a very simple idea. Every one of us has gone to public washing, right . Its the same idea. It works on the same principle. Whatever we can do, we are doing a small part to save india, to save my citizens around me. Reporter he heads out with a box of new masks. 15 minutes after he puts them out, theyre all gone. Translator these masks are famous in the area for their good quality. Everyone is eager to get them. I feel good when i see people around me wearing these masks, but i also feel worried about the situation were currently in, where people need these dispenser box and masks to wear. Im waiting for the day this pandemic will end and peoplee wonnt need them. Translator i cant make masks for everyone, but i want to help as many people as possible. Reporter in a time of crisis, mother and sons diy solution is bringing peace of mind to their community. Rakesh nagar, nhk world, new delhi. The u. N. Development program suggests in its latest support that a temporary basic income can stem the spread of the coronavirus by allowing the worlds poorest people to stay at home. The agency says a temporary guaranteed handout would give people the means to buy food and cover their health and education expenses. The undp estimates the temporary basic income for 2. 7 billion People Living below or just above the poverty line in 1322 developing c countrieses would arouound 1 199 bilillion per m. Undp administrator said the proposal is f financially feasie wiwith the reallococation of exexternal d debt paents. Its estimamated over 3 trillilion wouould paid b developing and emerging econonies this year and repayments and interestt payments. That r restructuring wou be more than sufficient. Thehe agency says several countries such as colombia and tu val lieu have already taken steps to introduce the measure. Heavy rain i is falling on parts of western japan. The wet weather is expected to affect large parts of the country through sunday. The meteorologist Logical Agency says a lingering seasonal rain front and low pressure system are making atmospheric conditions unstable. The risk of landslides has increased in parts of toke shima prprefectuture. In nagasaki prefecture on friday morning there was a landslide on a bridge that connects two islalands. The bridge was temporarily closed to traffic. Weather officials arare urging people to stay alert for moreland slides, overflowing rivers and flooding in low lying areas. Also warning against lightning strikes, w wind gusts and tornadoes. They say even small lts of rain can trigger disasters in kyushu and other areas. Theyre asking people to Pay Attention to advisories issued by local authorities and to be ready to evacuate early. And now here is your threeday World Weather forecast. And those were the top stories for this hour on nhk newsline. Im Yoshi Ogasawara in tokyo. Thanks for watching, and do stay with us for more. Welcome to newline in depth. Im yanaka marie. The coronavirus pandemic has been driving many businesses to the brink with sales falling and shoppers avoiding crowds. Today we look at some creative responses that aim to turn the negatives into opportunities. Japanese manufacturers are famous for quality. Thats because big brands have solid ties with the small factories that make their parts. In a coronavirus world, however, these rigid connections arent always the best thing. Our story looks at a service that may provide a solution by matching factories to hidden possssilities. Japans supply chain has been ravaged by the Ongoing Health crisis. Bout being able to receive parts, many large manufacturers were forced to stopp production. This didnt jus afft large companie on the smaller local impact manufacturers that theyve outsourced to. These Smaller Companies often rely on only two or three main clients. Seeing a need to break this reliance on jusust a f few l la clients,s, he set out a quiuick easy way to exexpand clientele. Translator r mosost o of manufactcturers havee d depende longststanding relatationships an extremely limited n number o clients. This can bee quite ririsky. Ifif just o one clientt cancele n lead t ruin. We analylyze the s sengths andn specialties each of these local manufacturers have so we can set pricing commensurate with the services and produducts they offer. Mr. Cato crereated an online platatform to help match local companies withh clients from al over japan. N. Potential c clientt companies upload theheir design specifications for the systems unique algorithms to analyze. They crossreference the design requirements with production capabilities and pricing of all 600 member companies. In just seven seconds, prospective clients are provided with the best company to suit their needs as well as a cost estimate. The key to making estimates so accurate is the degree of information member manufacturers supply about their capabilities. Mr. Catos company gathers 500 data points ranging from technical capabilities and product quality to delivery and pricing details. This allows the system to accurately quantify and evaluate the production c capabilities o member manufacturers. In a addition to providing the evaluation service, his company also acts as an additional level of quality control, checking each order before sesending it to the clilient. Ranslator r by usingng o o platform, clientsaneceive components frorom c cutting edg producers at a a compepetitive pricice, and our member manunufacturers c can use our platform to find new clients who can make use of our unique offerings. We really do facilitate winwin relationships. Reporter recently demand for medical equipment such as ventilators and medical air purifiers has exploded in response to covid19. Medical device makers who cant get enough components frorom thr standard suppliers are using the platform to find new suppliers to help them ramp up production. This Small Company recently received orders to create parar for medical devices. While they mainly produce cocomponentsts for semi conduct makers, adding new clients in different fields has allowed them to attain a higher degree of risk aversion. Translator i think things will continue to be tough, but were getting a lot of orders coming i in from new c clients we could n ner have imagined workingg with bebefore. I was reallyy luckyky to find t platform when i did. Otherwise, who knows what would have happened to us during this health crisis. Reporter mr. Kato feelsls h platform d doesnt jusust conne cocompanies, it maximimizes b bs potential fts member manufafacturers. Translator r suddenly shihig to making parts for an entirele neww client iss chchallenging, buns they get over thehe initia learning curve, their skill an technical prowess can take over. I hope to change the industry by getting these Smaller Companies to broaden their clientele. Each small factory has its area of expertise. So being able to choose the right one and make the most of that specialty can lead to Higher Quality and speed. By introducing companies to each other, the Online Platform reveals hittal potentials. Its a great way to deal with the crisis and could inspire other industries in these difficult times. Speaking of adapting to the postcoronavirus world, our next strategy looks at taking technology intended for one purpose and using it for another, coming up with safer shopping and dining experiences to deliver their customers peace of mind. Reporter a Home Improvement stor near tokyo. Since may, the building has had monitors and 3d sensors at every entrance. The sensors keep track of people entering and leaving. The monitors indicate how crowded it is inside. The level of congestion is indicated by the color. When there are more than 500 customers this the store, the display turns red. Staff respond by temporarily restricting the number of people coming. Translator we can see how many people are inside, so we dont need to worry. Potential customers can also see how crowded it is, and they might use that information to decide not to enter. So its a plus for both sides. Reporter the original idea behind the technology was to help shops gauge customer movements and purchasing habitss but with the spread of the coronavirus the developer realized the potential for the system to measure congestion levelsls, too. Translator of course, customers are important for business, but the benefit of this system is that it reduces stress for the staff. Reporter this promotional video explains a new kind of restaurant ordering system currently in development. A menu is projected onto a table. Customers navigate it by touch. Theres no need for interaction between staff and diners. That reduces the chance of infection. Diners can use a qr code to pay at the table so they dont have to hand over cash or a card. Because the system doesnt involve printed menus o or handheheld devices, employees oy have to disinfect the table. Translator the original purpose for this was to address japans labor shortage, but we could see that its also useful fofor prereventingg close conta between people. Were hoping to commercialize and release it soon. Reporter with a few tweakss to existing technology, businesses are finding innovative ways to keep consumers safe from harm. Now, our final story looks at a fun promotion for japans fishing industry. It began as a lighthearted campaign before the coronavirus, but its now become a booster for the industry at a time when orders are down due to falling restaurant sales. This playful Program Shines an affectionate light on the individuals who catch our dinner. Reporter fishermen proudly striking a pose. Reporter this collection is called almori appetizers after the port of almori in southeastern japan. It features 40 real fishermen displaying their catch and physique. The cards are only available with the purchase of seafood. Translator i bought a lot. Its fun because you can see the faces behind the products. You feel the connection. Ill enjoy my seafood tonight thinking about these fishermen. Translator i have six cards. Arent they great . The models exude such confidence, and theyre so handsome. They should be thrilled to be in the project. Reporter the mastermind behind the collection is an employee of almori prefectures fisheries department. Translator this project is turning out to be a big hit. People cant get enough of them. Theyre selling like hot cakes. Reporter from the design to printing, kimura does all the work himself. The project is meant to address a serious challenge, falling consumption of fish in japan has led to a drop in prices, putting the entire industry in a tight spot. After their launch in december, the cards instantly became a hot topic on social media. Theyre now in high demand across japan. Qr codes on the back link to a website with more than 600 recipes as well as tutorials on how to fillet a fish. Translator the point is to entice people to buy and eat more seafood. The cards are an interesting and fun tool to create a kind of cycle. Then people will realize how good our seafood is, and theyll purchase some more. Isnt that great . Reporter kimura stps out of the office to add one more card to the collection. This man owns a Fishing Company that ships live squid to tokyo. His business has taken a heavy hit from the covid19 pandemic. Translator feeling a connection to the fishermen will bring people closer to seafood. If people eat more fish, that will raise the fishermans income. Of course, almori seafood is good, but its also fun. Reporter who knew the hearty fisherman of aomori is proving themselves to be quite a catch. Im in the a big card collector, but i started to feel like i really want some of these. Its reassuring to see the faces of people who provide your food, and the project is done in a way thats playful and friendly. The recipes on the back are a practical touch, especially now as people who may not usually cook are increasingly eating at home. And that was a look at some positive developments in the postcorona world. Living in fear of the virus can be overwhelming. Finding creative ways to overcome the difficulties can help us in our lengthy battle. Thats all for todays newline in depth. Thanks for watching our program and make sure to do so next time, too