♪ hello. and welcome to nhk "newsline." i'm yamoto miki in tokykyo. we begin i in the united states where the senate judiciary committee on monday started the confirmation hearing for supreme court nominee amy coney barrett. but it continues to be a divisive move in the country. the conservative barrett was picked by president donald trump to fill the vacancy left by the death of liberal justice ruth bader ginsburg. democrats criticize the process

as it comes just 22 days before the presidential e election. they say republicans are being hypocritical after blocking then president barack obama's nominee in 2016 under the argument that it was an election year 237 days before the election. one of the loudest republican voices in 2016 against filling a vacancy has now changed his mind. >> i feel that we're doing this constitutionally, that our democratatic friends object to e process. >> voting is under way in 40 states. senate republicans are pressing forward full speed ahead to consolidate a court that will carry their policies forward. >> barrett gave an opening statement. >> if i am fortunate enough to be confirmed, i pledge to faithfully and impartially discharge my duties to the american people as an associate

justice of the supreme court. >> trump and other republicans want her to be confirmed by the end of this month in order to appeal to their conservative base. but his democratic rival joe biden argues that a conservative majority o on the supreme court will pose a threat to the country's medical insurance system and otherer rights. china says it has indicted a chinese australian writer on an espionage charge. yang hengjun is a former chinese diplomat who later became an australian citizen. yang was detained by chinese intelligence authorities when he visited china in january of last year. he was then arsted in august ofhe same year on suspicion of espionage. chinese foreign ministry spokesperson zhao lijian told reporters on monday that yang was indicted last wednesday. the spokesperson said yang's first trial is under way and

that the accused's legal rights are amply guaranteed. but he did not disclose further details. on saturday australian prime minister scott morrison stressed that his country will continue supporting yang. >> there should be transparency. there should be a fair and just process. thesese are the things we stand for as a atralians. . >> relations between china and australia have soured following the morrison government's call in april for an independent investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic. china has begun its first public test to distribute digital currency to ordinary citizens. ththe people's bankk of china a the authorities in shenzhen in goonong province havave started giving out digital yuan using a specialized smartphone app. 50,000 citizens chosen by lottery each receivedd 20200 an oror about $30. ththey can use itt to make purchases until sunday at about 3,000 shops around shenzhen.

>> translator: i feel i can use it in the same way as wechat pay and ali pay. i think the level of safety is high. >> the bank of japan, the european central bank, and other central banks are also doing research into the feasibility of digital currency. north korea state-run media says the country's leader, kim jong-un, attended a mass celebration to mark the 75th anniversary of the ruling worker's party. korean central television reported kim attended the event on sunday at a stadium with a 100,000-seat capacity. participants formed slogans such as "the people's first principle" and "long live the worker's party of korea.a." the celebrations will continue until the end of this month. the broadcaster also reported a massive rally held in kim il-sung square after a military parade whehere pyongyang displad what appears to be a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile.

the country's leadership adopted a pledge to increase the quality and the quantity of its defense capabilities with nuclear arms at the center. analysts say pyongyang aims to promote national unity by mobilizing the public in a range of celebratory events. europeans are coming to terms with new restrictions amid a resurgence of the coronavirus. new daily infections have recently topped 10,000 in france, britain, and spain. health authorities in france confirmed nearly 27,000 new cases on saturday. prime minister jacques castec noted nan interview on monday thatrance andnd otheruropean nations are facing a secondd wae and that further resestrictions could be on the way. in britain daily new cases have topped 10,000 since early october. prime minister boris johnson introduced on monday a three-tier lockdown system and

restrictions for each level. >> the government will set a baseline for prohibiting social mixing indoors and in private gardens and i'm sorry to say closing pubs and bars. >> but johnson ruled out a nationwide lockdown, which could deal a serious blow to the british economy. in spain, which has the highest number of coronavirus cases in europe, the daily count of new infectioions has risen to more than 10,000. the country imposed a lockdown in the capital madrid earlier this month, banning people from leaving or entering their areas except for work reasons. data compiled by johohns hopkin univerersity show thahat more t 37 million cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed worldwide. the global death toll stands at over 1 million.

in 2011 a massive tsunami washed over northeastern japan, sweeping away countless lives. from this loss katari storytellers have emerged to pass on the memory of the trtragedy. but now amid the pandemic these oral historians are finding novel waways to keep the story going.g. nhk world's fujie arisa reports. >> reporter: communities along the mliagi train were wiped out by the tsunami. middle school students on their field trips are hearing about that day from people who were there. >> translator: on march 11th, 2011 a warning urging residents to flee to high ground was broadcast on the second floor of that firehouse. >> translator: i learned so much from listening to a person who actually experienced the tsunami.

>> translator: i realize the importance of listening to the order and fleeing. >> reporter: since the coronavirus outbreak many of these storytellers have lost their audience. but one e group, the future support association, is connecting with people via video streaming. the video was made by this organization. sakura takashi, who produced the project, has a strong motivation for documenting these witness accounts. >> t translator: i was concernr that if the testimonyny stopped temporarily it would be hard to resume them later. and you havave to nurtuture the testimonies year in, year out.

if not in 10 or 20 years we can't. >> the video has attracted a lot of views. and now he's getting requests for more testimonies from people who have never visited the devastated a areas. the project he feels is bringing renewed interest in the disaster. but the storytellers never knew whether they were truly con investigate t their experience they couldn't see viewers' expressions. >> translator: it's very difficult to get across the terrifying feeling of that moment just with video as it's not interactctive. for examample, what it feltt li to hear the warning to flee. or wanting tflflee. >> reporter: video conferencing platform for online storytelling. nonow storytellerers cannot onle

listeners' expressions but also take their questions in real time. > our online streamingng sta due to the krocorona crisis. but actuaually going this route was what we needed to do anyway. >> they are now connected to streaming their storytelling to reach more people and save their stories for pos tertd. fujie arisa, nhk world. now an ancient temple in japan has revealed a centuries-old secret. using special x-ray equipment, staff have uncovered traces of images of buddhist saints at the world heritage site. the huge door was made when the temple was built nearly 1,000 years ago in kyoto prefececture. it opens onto the temple's main room known as the phoenix hall. temple officials and researchers

began analyzing the wooden door two years ago. they detected traces of pigment including lead and copper across its surface. those formed the outlines of buddhist saints flying on clouds. >> translator: it's surprising that traces of these images have remained over the years. it's amazing that a scientific investigation revealed something so unexpected. >> the chief priest hopes to show the discovery to the public. let's check out the world weather with our meteorologist yoko komagata. so yoko, rescue efforts are still ongoing in vietnam after days of heavy rain caused severe flooding. what's the latest on this deadly situation? >> so the next storm system, named nanka, is now headtion for hainan on tuesday morning. it will move inland over northern vietnam on wednesday. people in the area may have more heavy rainfall with a high

chance of flflooding.. central p parts off vietnam hav had over 1.5 meters of rainfnfa from the previous storm. people are already struggling with t the floods anand landsli. let's take a look at this video. heavy rainfall in central vietnam killed at least 17 people since last week. the local weather department says the water levels will keep increasing. almost 50,000 people have been evacuated to higher ground. tropical storm nanka is likely to hit hainan on tuesday. it will make a second landfall in northern vietnam on wednesday. expect up to 200 millimeters of rainfall in northern vietnam and hainan through the next 72 hours. the outer band of the storm will also produce heavy downpours in southern china. so you should watch out for further flooding and landslides. heavy rain is expected in hanoi on tuesday, and some showers

will also spread into hong kong. meanwhile, calm and dry conditions will spread across beijing, shanghai, all the way to tokyo with mild temperatures. we have nanka over the south china sea. another storm has formed over the bay of bengal. the storm system will hit the east coast of central india and move east across the country over the next couple days. downpours can produce flooding and landslides. finally in europe, people in the balkans are still dealing with severe thunderstorms. a low pressure system will li linger across the region producing unstable conditions. showers are expected with a high of 26 degrees on tuesday with cooler conditions persisting in london all the way to berlin on tuesday. that's it for now. stay safe. ♪

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and thahat's nhk "newsline" for this hour. i'm yamamoto miki in tokyo. thank you for staying with us. ♪ > welcome to "newsline in depth."" as the worldld copes with the coronavirus pandemic, we are forced to adapt to new ways of life. cultural practices and celebrations are no exception. and how we carry out some traditions are changing dramatically, as you'll see in our stories today. first we go to the world of live music. in japan restrictions on venue admission are gradually easing. still, many shows are being postponed or even canceled,

especially those with singers. there's a concern that the act of singing increases the spread of aerosol particles. but one venue in western japan has implemented new safety measures to host its first choral performance in half hoa year. >> reporter: two weeks before an orchestral and choral performance this concert hall conducted an experiment. ♪ with a doctor present they checked whether any particles emitted by the chorus would reach the audience. they used smoke to determine the direction of the air flow. the experiment confirmed that most of the air flowed from the rear of the stage up into the ventilation in the sealing, not out over the auditorium. >> translator: this study allowed us to ensure the safety of our audience. >> reporter: however, the study also found that air from the

front of the stage flowed to the rear. so in order to prevent particles from a soloist reaching the orchestra the venue added floor vents to create an updraft. between the soloist and the orchestra there's an invisible wall of air. and acrylic barriers are placed between members of the orchestra too. the singers are equipped with small fans to help the air flow upwards and transparent masks. professional singer tokimun tokimuna satoma is a member of the choir. it's been half a year since he stood on stage. >> translator: we are being super cautious about everything, and i hope we can reach the ears and hearts of the audience with our music. >> reporter: the day of the performance arrives. the center has limited

attendance to 400 guests. a fifth of the hall's capacity. the performance is only an hour. half the usual length. ♪ >> asada you yutaka is the center's artisistic director. he's been doing his best to bring singing back to the concert hall. >> translator: to my mind the voice is the best musical instrument. bringing back music means bringing back singing. >> reporter: in the pandemic era sisingers and organizers are

showing a strong will to ensure audiences can enjoy musical performances in a safe environment. ♪ [ applause ] >> artistic director sado says he hopes chorus can also resume at schools. and according to results of a july survey by a music publisher, some schools are able to restart. they're taking various anti-virus measures such as the use off face shields, increased ventilation, or just quieter singing. but still, experiencing the excitement that can only be achieved from singing is something we don't want to neglect. next, let's take a look at dining culture. sharing food from one -- is customary in many countries.

but experts say we should avoid that practice to avoid infection. in japan dividing a common dish using serving chopsticks used to be an ordinary scene. and in china sharing food using personal chopsticks is an indication of intimacy among the group. yet even that custom seems to be changing amid the pandemic. >> reporter: it's lunchtime at this busy restaurant in guguangzhou. it's time for good food but more importantly good company. it's a welcome return for many families and friends, who are finally able to venture out after stay-at-home measures were lifted. aside from masked waiters and socially distanced tables, restaurants are also urging diners to rethink t the way the sharee meals. >> translator: i have a number of chopsticks, and it can be a hassle. but it won't be a problem once i get used to it.

>> reporter: experts say serving chopsticks could be a crucial tool to prevent outbreaks. it's been a challenge getting people to buy in. that's because in chinese culture sharing food with your own chopsticks is a way to express intimacy and affection. but the hope is that the changes will keep customers safe and protect the industry's bottom line. >> translator: if restaurants take proper measures, customers will keep coming and have peace of mind when they eat. >> reporter: chinesese authorits have launchedd a national cacampaign encouragingng people chanange their e eating habits. with local media describing it as a dining table revolution. it caught the a attention of th pans. the family of six is now using serving chopsticks, even at

home. but hold habits die hard. transforming a long-held tradition may be difficult. but embracing change could mean communal meals don't become a ching of the past. takahashi kobayashi nhk world. >> according to the w.h.o. and chinese health authorities, about 80% of person to person infection in china happened at home. so that could prompt the use of serving chopsticks to become a new norm. demand for chopsticks is increasing in china. and this tableware factory in shanghai is taking advantage of that new business opportunity. it has started to make 50,000 chopsticks a month since april. in the meantime, in japan people are looking ahead to the new

year, when families gather to share traditional cuisine. the new year's meal, osechi, is served in elegant stacked lacquer boxes. each layer has different dishes the family shares. however, this year some shops are creatinghe boxes so that each person gets a layer with a variety of dishes. now we move to india to look at how the celebration of one auspicious hindu festival is adapting to the times. the ganesha festival takes place in late summer and involves the worship of an elephant-headed god believed to bring good fortune. this year, though, the country has been hard hit by the pandemic. so people are learning how to balance old traditions with new preventative measures. >> reporter: in a corner of new delhi the ganesha festival faces the realities of the coronavirus era. this local celebration would normally be attended by 10,000

people. but this year the number was limited to just 50. and face masks were mandatatory. thee venenue had also been downsized. from a stadium to a local elementary school. for the first time the event was broadcast live online, letting people watch on social media. organizers say it took a lot of work to make the festival happen at all. >> translator: it's been a difficult year because all the regulations changed. we had to consider the coronavirus and keeping people safe. >> reporter: the festival celebrates the birth of the elephantheaded hindu god ganesha. at its climax people immerse statues of the god in the river or the sea. sending their troubles away with him. but india's government has -- and nm places the festivities were canceled.

however, the organizers in the district obtained permission to hold a smaller version of the festival. and despite the reduced scale they tried to preserve the spirit of the event. the cancellation of the regular celebration has hit businesses that depend on the festival. canpa singh has been making the idols since she was a teenager. business would normally be booming at this time of the year, but she says she has hardly sold a thing. >> there's no work for us. everything has shut down. we are very anxious about the situation. >> reporter: new delhi resident mohik kumar would typically be joining the neighborhood celebration with his friends and family. he says it is a special occasion. but as he couldn't go in person thisis year, he celebrated at he

instead. he joined his family while watching the festival on a smartphone. >> translator: i prayed to ganesha that this pandemic will be over soon so we can all celebrate the festival on a bigger scale. >> reporter: the scaled-back ganeshsha festival in the capit lasted just three days. shortened from the usual 11. but as people experience the pandemic it offered a symbol of hope that life goes on. uday lama, nhk world, new delhi. despite the difficult circumstances brought on by the virus, people are adapting to be able to carry out important cultural traditions. one of the most famous in japan is kyoto's gion festival, and its origins are more poignant now than ever. it's r rooted in shinto ritual r more than 1,000 years ago.

it began as a way to appeal to the gods to end the plague and purify the city. but this year it wasnsn't deeme safe to gather to shoulder the portable shrine which houses the god. so the festival was scaled back. the god was ceremoniously moved from the portable shrine to a sacred plant. participants were able to carry the plant while maintaining social distancing. now, other festivals in japan are looking for ways to carry on. this weekend in tokyo one of the largest shinto festivals of the year will finally go ahead after months of delay. some of the traditional style of the sanja festival will be modified. the portable shrine will not be carried by people but instead by hítruck. our stories today remind us that music, food, and festivals are all very much an essential part of our lives. culture indeed changes with the times as we are facing an unprecedented challenge right now our creativity and

flexibility could bring about new forms of culture. that's it for today's "newsline in depth." thank you for watching and see you again next time. xxxxxxñ

>> a controversial nomination ahead of a divisive election, but judge amy coney barrett pledges to uphold the values of america's highest court. judge merritt: i think americans of all backgrounds deserve an independent supreme court. ♪ >> this is al jazeera leave -- live from london. coming up, a truce between armenia and azerbaijan is pushed to its