♪ thank you for joining us. from our studio in tokyo, this is nhk "newsline." we start this hour in the u.s., where joe biden is forging ahead with transition plans as president donald trump continue st s to restrict access to key information and officials. biden met with republican and democratic governors to discuss

how to rein in the coronavirus pandemic. kamala harris, as well as members of biden's coronavirus task force, were also on the call. biden reportedly told governors they all share a common purpose, regardless of which political party they belong to. he also reportedly promised state leaders he would make sure they get the sources they need to beat the virus. the u.s. has been hit hard by the pandemic, with over 11.5 million total cases. more than 250,000 people have died. following the call, biden spoke to reporters. he tried to reassure people that his pandemic plan targets the virus, not their livelihoods. >> i am not going to shut down the economy, period. i'm going to shut down the virus. that's what i'm going to shut down. so i say again, no national shutdown. no national shutdown.

because every region, every area, every community can be different. >> he was also asked about president trump's refusal to concede. biden described trump's recent actions as totally irresponsible and damaging to democracy. to find out more about the situation in the u.s., nhk world's catherine kobayashi spoke with an infectious disease expert and the founder of harvard university's cancer and hiv/aids research department. >> professor, like all of us, you have watched this rise in infections. what do you see happening in the coming days and weeks? >> it's going to be a very dark winter in the united states and in many countries. this infection is now out of corol. the pandemic is out of control in the united states. it's rising exponentially. there are more than 250,000 people dead already, and more than 11 million people infected

and it's rising very quickly. there is no end in sight. unfortunately, our government efforts are failing. whatever efforts they do have to control it. >> we've heard a lot about vaccines of late. what promise do they hold? >> vaccines hold great promise. some of these vaccines are very, very promising indeed. the problem is, it's too late. ifou've ever seen a cowboy movie with the cav ralry arriving. they're arriving to a gutted fortress, a homestead burned to the ground. this is a very dangerous situation and no vaccine will save us in time. >> oh then what should people do? >> the best thing for people to do is to observe mask wearing and n95 mask wearing, face shields, as well are extremely healthy. stay away from indoor crowds. in fact, just don't go to restaurants, don't go to places

where there are crowds where people you don't know are there, an stay within your bubble. >> and what if we're one of the lucky ones who get a vaccine, can we then relax? >> no, because we don't know how effective the vaccine is going to be for how long. the vaccine may protect you for weeks, months, and very unlikely for years. maybe one year, but unlikely for many years, at least as far as we know now. this is a tricky virus. it's like flu, it can come back. in fact, we know the coronavirus has come backveryear to get the very same person they got the year before. will a vaccine be better than the natural infectis? maybe, but we don't know that yet. >> so we have to stay vigilant. >> stay vigilant. >> all right. thank you for being with us, professor. >> you're welcome. thank you. of course, we'll be tracking these and other aspects of the pandemic and we'll bring you the latest.

the international atomic energy agency has called on iran to curb its nuclear program. it says tehran has been stepping up activities that go against the 2015 nuclear agreement. the iaea board of governors wrapped up its regular two-day session in vienna on thursday.

the u.s. ambassador criticized iran's moves, while the eu representative expressed serious concerns. the united states pulled out of the nuclear accord in 2018 and resumed sanctions against the country. the iaea estimates that iran's current stockpile of low enrichenrich ed uranium is 12 times bigger than allowed in the agreement. iran was also found to have relocated advanced uranium enriching centrifuges to an underground site and activated them. joe biden appears willing to rejoin the nuclear deal. but doing so would likely be contingent on iran coming back into compliance with the accord. the iranian foreign minister tweeted on thursday, iran is ready to negotiate if the u.s. seeks to rejoin the deal.

the japanese government is sounding the alarm about chinese movements in its territorial waters. japan says chinese patrol ships have probed areas in the east china sea on 300 days so far this year. japan controls the islands. china and thailand claim them. >> translator: the situation is extremely serious. japan coast guard patrol vessels are issuing warnings to chinese ships in these waters, and japan has lodged a strong protest through diplomatic channels. >> the japanese government maintains the senkaku islands are an inherent part of japan's territory in terms of history and international law, and there is no issue of sovereignty to be resolved over them. nhk obtained and analyzed tracking data of chinese ships, which chased off japanese fishing boats in the area. that includes this incident.

a japanese fishing boat filmed the chinese ship in july as it blocked its path. >> translator: i was afraid. knowing my small boat wouldn't survive a collision. >> expert analysis suggests the boats deploy a strategy of intimidation, traveling in groups and making complicated moves that are hard to predict. >> translator: it's very important for those on site not to react to china's provocations. japan needs to get the rest of the world involved in this issue. >> sources with knowledge of japan's coast guard tell nhk it seems as though the chinese ships are testing japanese responses. this comes as china's bold moves in disputed waters attract international attention and condemnation from the united states. beijing has responded sharply to a statement from five western nations urging it to

reinstate four hong kong pro-democracy lawmakers. this was after beijing removed the lawmakers in an apparent bid to curb dissent under its new rules for the territory. >> translator: we are strongly dissatisfied and opposed to the countries concerned about hong kong affairs, which are the internal affairs of china. these countries should immediately stop interfering in hong kong's affairand any other of china's internal affairs in any form. >> zhao said it's natural for hong kong to be governed by people who love china and the territory. he said those who oppose the nation and disturb hong kong should be removed. the statement criticizing beijing was issued on wednesday by the top diplomats of the u.s., britain, canada, australia and new zealand. they expressed concern beijing was undermining hong kong's autonomy, rights, and freedoms. they urged the chinese and hong kong governments to reconsider their actions. medical researchers here in

japan have unveiled data that may encourage cancer patients. cancer is the country's number one cause of death. but the researchers say the proportion of people surviving ten years after being diagnosed has grown. the researchers work at organizations including the national cancer center. they analyzed data of more than 94,000 people diagnosed with cancer during a four-year period until 2007. they found the proportion who survived ten years was 58.3%. the proportion for the previous four years was lower, at 57.2%. the ten-year survival rate differed between one kind of cancer and another. prostate cancer was highest at nearly 99% followed by breast cancer at nearly 87%. pancreatic cancer was the lowest at about 6%, followed by liver cancer at about 16%. nakamura yoko is one of the researchers.

she's encouraging people to have >> translator: survival rates are improving year by year, partly because of effective treatments, but i think some people are hesitant about having medical checkups and going to hospitals to see doctors because they're worried about catching the coronavirus. >> nakamura says early detection and treatment are essential. now moving on to world weather with our meteorologist. yoko, we saw here in tokyo yesterday we had blue skies and sunny, warm temperatures. but this morning on friday, things look cloudy and windy. so what's the forecast for the three-day weekend? >> we can expect much cooler conditions over the weekend as a cool front passes through. there is a chance of rain across the country, as well. tokyo had nearly 25 degrees on

thursday and 14.8 degrees in sapporo, which is about 10 degrees warmer than usual for this time of the year. changes are in store for the coming weekend. we have a long cold front that will sweep across japan as we go into the weekend, bringing much cooler temperatures. some thunderstorms may develop along the frontal boundary with a chance of damaging winds and downpours. winds will continue to produce mild temperatures on friday. cloudy in tokyo with a high of 24 on friday and 22 degrees in osaka with a chance of showers. a big temperature drop is coming up next week. the high will drop to the single sij its in sa pearo on saturday going into monday. some rain may turn to snow, even in the low-lying areas. temperatures will go back to normal in tokyo and osaka, by next monday. we have an active, low-pressure system over the bay of bengal. it will continue to develop over the warm water as it heads toward southeastern india and

sri lanka. moisture from the system will also produce heavy downpours across eastern parts of easterna. there is a chance of flash flooding. in the u.s., dry and windy weather has been creating wildfires in the southwest. conditions will be shifting towards the east as we go into the weekend. ahead of the storm system, heavy winds will be picking up in the southern plains all the way up to the great lakes region. warm and dry conditions may also cause wildfires. above-average temperatures expected in chicago and toronto, on friday. but some improvements will come to denver. the high will drop to 9 degrees. that's all, for now. have a nice weekend.

>> that's all for this hour. thank you for watching nhk "newsline." hope you will join us again. ♪ welcome to "newsline in depth." i'm shibuya aki. it wasn't so long ago, our restaurant tables were not separated by plastic sheets. in less than a year, the ways we relate to each other have changed dramatically, from how we eat and how we socialize, to how many so many business meetings and events have gone online. of course, much of what's new was bound to happen, anyway. but it's all come faster than

anyone predicted because of covid-19. today, we look at the ways certain industries are adapting and how some are making the most of the situation. japan's restaurant industry has had a wild ride this year. a private survey shows wining and dining establishments going broke at a record pace. tokyo research says 730 pubs and restaurants have filed for bankruptcy between january and october. their debts were over 10 million yen or about $95,000. this follows a voluntary lockdown, earlier in the pandemic. despite this, some food-service operators have found new ways to do business. one development many customers are welcoming is the appearance of food trucks in places they never used to go. a housing complex on the outskirts of tokyo, a new

hunting ground for food trucks hungry for business. >> translator: we rarely eat out these days. this way, we don't have to worry about the three cs. >> before the pandemic, most food trucks applied their trade in business districts but with more people now working from home, operators are venturing into new territory. the suburbs. this truck serves italian food. the operator tweaks the menu, depending on the location for the day. most dishes are focused on attracting families, and many are becoming repeat customers. >> translator: we choose food the kids like and enjoy together. >> the manager had to scrap plans to open his own restaurant earlier this year, because of the pandemic. pivoting to a catering truck has allowed him to make a fresh

start. >> translator: there are many family customers in redential areas. they spend more money than office workers. i thought i had to take the chance. >> this mobile kitchen sells steak and rice bowls. it has extended its business hours to 7:00 p.m. to attract people buying dinner. >> translator: he serves great food. >> translator: it's perfect for supper. >> families are not the only new market on the food-truck radar. this one serves taco rice in front of a hospital. staff here put in long hours dealing with medical emergencies and infection control. this kind of food used to be out of reach. but not anymore. >> translator: i'm happy that i can buy great food without going outside of the hospital. >> translator: i've been eating soba noodles, sandwiches, and curry for over ten years. this is so refreshing.

>> the positive response has encouraged the vendor. it's planning to buy more trucks and explore new areas. >> translator: the coronavirus outbreak has given me a chance to stop and see things differently. i still have to feel my way around, but i hope to further develop the new business model. >> some local governments are fueling the trend by offering subsidies to food trucks. for struggling restaurants, it seems the reasons to go mobile are more tempting than ever. >> the field of high tech has weathered the pandemic, better than most. ecommerce and streaming services have even benefitted from social-distancing measures worldwide. but here too we see business leaders adjusting their offerings and engineering products that fit with society's new normal. one of asia's largest tech shows kicked off late last month. it was the first time for

organizers to stage their event entirely online. many companies showcased a growing range of innovations to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. >> for 20 years, this event had been held at a major venue near tokyo. but this year it's on the web. companies from japan and abrd are there. over40,000 pple came to see it in recent years. so the challenge was how to get people to attend online. >> we couldn't reach up to real 100% accomplishment of this. plateau. but on the other hand, thanks to the virtual advantage, i would say communication. >> one solution was a chat room for visitors to speak directly

to company's representatives. speeches by experts and company owners can be viewed live. the focus is all about the coronavirus. mitsubishi electric is introducing an aerial touchscreen. it appears to float in the air. the button can be pressed without actually touching them. the display is projected from a a sensor that reads the movement of your fingers. the technology is being considered for atm machines and door locks. >> translator: we think the locatis where our technology will be needed are increasing because of the coronavirus. we're exploring ways to speed up our research into the field. >> another project with real-world potential came from a team of doctors, universities, and i.t. ventures.

it's a way to take pcr samples remotely. a doctor operates a robotic arm from afar, while looking at the monitor. the technology is so sensitive that the doctor experiences it as if the robot arm were his own. >> translator: it feels 100% like we're doing it ourselves. >> researchers envision a world in which robots eventually collect the pcr samples by themselves. >> translator: unlike industry, not much of the work done by doctors is quantified numerically. we hope to create a database that can be used to improve the field of med sinn -- medicine itself. technology to evolve in surprising ways. it's also rewriting the playbook for events like ceatec.

>> more than 60 companies at this year's online ceatech offered products, from remote working to the plans of smart cities. it's clear the pandemic has accelerated our journey toward a more digital world. another industry that has expanded is gaming. e-sports is one genre whose popularity is growing but here, too, we see firms offering new business models to keep up with changing demand. many gamers enjoy the human interaction of getting together to play. some companies are creating new facilities to capitalize on the trend. >> in osaka is what it is to tokyo. a famous center for gamers. a new hotel catering to e sports

enthusiasts opened here in july. right next to the front desk, sleek gaming computers with high-speed internet connection. guests are free to use this space as well as two further floors of gaming rooms, from check-in to check-out. the hotel is also equipped with large-screen monitors to accommodate tournaments and training camps. >> translator: this place is good. i don't need to bring any equipment with me. >> of course, guest rooms are also set up with gaming computers. a group of fans from across japan gathered here for an in-person, offline meeting. >> translator: one is from shizuoka, another from kanagawa, another from fukuoka, and also from tokyo. >> with more gamers in japan, hoteliers are competing for spaces for e-sports immersion.

>> translator: we are trying to create a environment that is welcoming, even for beginners. >> and now, move over millennials. an e-sports center dedicated to people aged 60 and over launched in july. it's open to experienced and first timers who take a two-hour basic lesson for around $10. daunted by the highly-competitive aspects of e sports, players can start off with simple titles. >> translator: it's not so hard when you get the hang of it. >> the center also sees a future in nurturing. senior instructors for seniors. there could be demand in all kinds of places, like nursing homes. >> translator: until now, there wasn't demand for e sports with

seniors so we are exploring ways to create it. it can lead to a new form of communication and we think that's important. >> e sports for all ages. for older adults, it can connect them socially, maintain their mental health, and allow them continued fun and games. and it's keeping the e-sports business booming. >> and as you might expect, gaming establishments are doing all they can to keep patrons swaf measures like temperature checks, air purifiers, and plastic barriers for distancing. that's a smart move, considering the value of the e-sports domestic market. it's expected to reach about $95 million in the next two years. the pandemic has kept businesses on their toes. in almost no time at all,

companies have had to adjust to an ever-changing new normal. as we've seen, some industries are better placed than others to cope. but whatever business we look at, life under the coronavirus has brought home the importance of versatility. on as it rushes toward us.head we leave you with images of the 2020 tokyo game show, which was also held completely online for the very first time. organizers say the new format enabled many more people than usual to take part from around the world. that's all for "newsline in depth." thank you for watching and see you soon.

>> i think they're witnessing incredible irresponsibility. >> u.s. president-elect joe biden lashes out at donald trump for failing to concede and disrupting the transition of power. this is "al jazeera" live from doha. coming up, condemnation as mike pompeo becomes the first u.s. secretary of state to visit an illegal settlement in the occupied state. one year on