newsline. i'm ross mihara in tokyo with the stories at this hour. the number of seriously oak open patient is soaring in beijing and other parts of china straining the country's medical system. coronavirus infections have been spreading rapidly in many regions since the chinese government eased restrictions on december 7th. chinese media says one university in the house capital is caring for patients every day. the number is increasing in

inland provinces were medical facilities and personnel are less equipped to deal with an outbreak. the entire emergency care crew at a hospital in anhui province have reportedly tested positive , but with no one to take over the are being forced to keep working. footage released by reuters on wednesday shows a long line of vehicles waiting outside a crematorium in chengdu, sichuan province. official figures state there were just three covid deaths nationwide on tuesday , but that infectious disease expert in the country says this does not include people with underlying health conditions who died after being infected. despite the rapid spread of coronavirus infections chinese immigration authorities plan to resume processing passport applications from january 8th. the chinese government said on monday it will ease cross- border restrictions and let people travel abroad depending on the international covid situation. beijing has been banning travel

agencies fromaking bookgs for groutours and selling packages. they are calling on people not to go overseas for the time being. the government has not indicated when these constraints will be lifted. the search has prompted japanese and taiwanese authorities to step up their controls on travelers from the country. starting january 1st passengers entering taiwan on direct flights from china will have to take a pcr test upon arrival. from friday japan will introduce covid antigen tests for people arriving from china as an emergency border control measure. battles for control of the russian stronghold of luhansk ukraine's eastern region appear to be intensifying as ukrainian forces try to take it back. kyiv has been pushing ahead with the counteroffensive to seize territories occupied by russia. in the luhansk region ukrainian troops appear to be stepping up their attempt to recapture

criminal. britain's defense ministry said russian forces have likely reinforced their deployment around the city. the ministry noted that the area is logistically important for russia. in a speech to parliament on wednesday ukraine's president urged tizens to remained ited against the invasion. >>translator: the goal to regain the territorial integrity of ukraine goes hand in hand with another goal to release all our people who are held in russian cap tv or in prisons as well as those who were forcibly to ported fro the land and since february 2413 has managed to release 1464 people from russian captivity. thanyou. >> volodymyr zelenskyy has proposed a 10 point peace plan at includes the withdrawal of russian troops and restoring

ukraine's territorial in integrity but dmitry peskov on wednesday rejected the plan saying it did not take account of the regions that russia has annexed. the united nations refugee agency is urging the international community to help detect rohingya muslims were making dangerous journeys after fleeing myanmar. over 200 are rescued in indonesia this week after about one month adrift at sea. more than 20 others reportedly died on their boats. the unhcr says the rohingya are found in two boats off the province of aceh. they had been addressed to due to problems including engine failure. more than 700 thousand rohingya had crossed the border from trial myanmar to bangladesh to escape a military crackdown that started in 2017. many leave refugee camps and head out to boats hoping new

lives can begin in indonesia or malaysia. japan's prime minister kishida fumio plans to visit g7 member states next week for summit talks. preparations are ongoing for kishida's trips to europe and north america between early and mid january. the prime minister is expected to express his hope to lead a global response to the situation in ukraine, food security, nuclear disarmament and climate change. he aims to see closer ties among the leaders and called for cooperation for the g7 summit. japan will host that in hiroshima next year. in his talks with u.s. president joe biden kishida plans to explain revisions to key defense documents aimed at beefing up the country's security. the revisions allow japan to lunch counter strikes. kishida will also brief joe biden on his policy to boost defense spending to cement japan's alliance with the u.s.

interpol has been cracking down on the illegal trade in endangered wildlife and timber around the world. during a month-long operation the global police agency says nearly 2200 items were seized, over double the amount from a year earlier. interpol and the world customs organization spent most of october cooperating with relevant authorities in 125 countries in a fight against trafficking networks. more than 930 suspects were identified during the operation , code-named thunder 2022. search is an airport in thailand resulted in the seizure of 81 tortoises found hidden in snack bags in a passenger's luggage. at an airport in india about 1200 reptiles were found in cardboard boxes imported from malaysia. >> translator: the

coronavirus pandemic has led trafficking networks to diversify their approach. soe believe the close international cooperation is the key to protecting rare animals and plants. >> authorities are on alert for a possible increase in smuggling due to the easing of covid-19 border controls. bangladesh's first metro rail line has partially opened in the country's capital, dhaka. it was developed with assistance from japan. the mass rapid transit line 6 or mrt line 6 was inaugurated on wednesday in an elevated section about 20 kilometers long. section runs north-south linking central dhaka. japan has extended a government backed loan and technical aid to the project through the japan international cooperation agency for jica and firms in bangladesh. thunder 2022 officials say japanese tech was used in automatic ticket gates compatible with ie cards.

the route is set to open in 2025. dhaka is known as the world's most densely populated cities in the new railway is expect to cut traffic congestion and air pollution. both has worsened as bangladesh has become more economically developed. railways, airports and expressways in japan are packed with people heading to hometowns and vacations. the mass exodus was peaked in on thursday. all nippon airways and japan airlines a domestic flights leaving osaka tokyo's haneda are almost fully booked for the day. major airline said last week that more than 2.7 million people had booked flights over the nine days through january 5th. many people are choosing to travel as no coronavirus restrictions are in place. some archie king pcr test's as a precaution.

>> translator: i don't want to give my family covid. now i can go home and not worry. >> japan railway company say shinkansen bullet trains are crowded. reserved seats for almost fully booked. >> translator: i can finally return to my hometown. my parents will be surprised how big their grandkids are now. >> expressways have begun to traffic jams. the japan road traffic information center said on thursday morning some sections of the tomei and other expressways were backed up more than 10 kilometers. turning now to sports the japan football association says men's national team coach moriyasu hajime will retain his post. the head of the jfa said moriyasu hajime will lead the samurai blue through the 2026 world cup . moriyasu said he will face each match with determination to create a new spectacle. >> translator: i will take on

the challenge in the belief that 14 japan there is nothing that is imssible, so i ask you to fight with us and give us all your cheers and support. >> the 54-year-old said he will make the most of his experience so far and continue to face challenges with courage. he says he will do his utmost to raise the profile of japanese football and its players. moriyasu has also become japan's first head coach to retain his job in a world cup tournament. the team's strong performance in qatar saw it reach the knockout stage. japanese craft is open will come to terms with lives ripped apart by war. chigiri-e involves making collages of torn paper . for orphans of the 20th century conflict involving japan and china it's a way of reassembling the past into a better future. nhk world's kameyama mao reports.

>> reporter: an exhibit in hiroshima marked 50 years of normalized diplomatic relations between japan and china. it nearly 400 chigiri-e were on display. many by former japanese orphans and citizens. iwai umeko helped to organize the event. she came to japan 26 years ago. >> translator: everyone worked very hard for this exhibition. >> reporter: iwai was born in china shortly after the war ended. her father, a soldier, died and her mother went missing. the chinese couple raised her. she always hoped to be hurt meet her dialogical mother and art was a way of expressing those emotions. >> translator: i dreamed of reuniting with my biological

mother when i grew up, but i kept this idea a secret. >> reporter: in 1972 japan and china normalize relations. that opened the door to japan for japanese citizenship. iwai was among them. the chinese woman who raised her consented. iwai appears in a tv program hoping to find her birth mother. >> translator: mom, i would love to see you. please contact me. that mac >> reporter: iwai never located her and her adopted mother and china passed away. many questions will never be answered. >> translator: not only do i not know my biological parents i don't even know my real name on my birth day.

i have to say as a human being i feel incomplete. >> reporter: iwai found that chigiri-e gave her some comfort. >> translator: my life changed when i learned about japanese chigiri-e. >> reporter: rips small pieces and places them on paper. images of flowers and animals appear. >> translator: my mind becomes empty when i focus on my work. i can forget about my suffering. >> reporter: iwai has been teaching chigiri-e in japan and china for about 20 years promoting cultural exchange. pictures by her students from

both countries were included in the show. >> translator: i became an orphan because of war. i hope our artwork will promote cultural exchange and peace between japan and china. >> reporter: kameyama mao, nhk world. >> those were the stories for this hour. [ music ]

>> we thank you for watching nhk newsline. > we are featuring some of the most interesting businesses we have covered in our report. thank you for being with us again. >> thank you for having me. >> can you tell the difference between these 2 servings of fried chicken? the one on the right is extremely soft. this

type of easy to eat food is made for people who have a hard time chewing or swallowing normal food. today's on-site report shows how new products are allowing the creation of normal-looking foods that are soft and easy to eat. >> japan has a rapidly aging population, and the city into an increase of elderly people suffering from dysphasia. a condition that makes swallowing certain foods and liquids very difficult. and extreme cases it can accidentally enter the trachea and cause aspiration pneumonia, which is an infection of the lungs. you can see it is the sixth leading cause of death

in japan killing about 40,000 people every year. unfortunately the number is expected to grow. this is not just about inconvenience or being uncomfortable. it is really life or death. >> exactly. it is a serious issue for japan has one of the most rapidly aging populations. in fact, this is one of the most pressing needs for everyone to address in terms of how the people can eat. the government has taken this issue very seriously and have said they set standards for foods that can be served and hospitals and also nursing homes. they also have run promotional campaigns in order to encourage people to try this type of special food . >> the first company revisited

is looking for ways to soft and foods with science. allowing them to keep their natural shape and appearance. let's find out how. >> the kitchen staff of this nursing home are busy preparing meals for their residence. >> freshly cooked chicken is finely chopped to make it easier for people that have trouble swallowing to eat. and for those who require even softer food a blunder is used. resulting in an unrecognizable liquid. >> i am sure most of our residents cannot even tell what it is they are eating, but we have to do it for their safety. the preparation process is not just harder and more time- consuming to the residence often do not find results very appetizing. this company

develops specialty foods for the elderly. it primarily focuses on food softening techniques . we want people to be able to experience the full joy of eating. that is why we go beyond flavor and place an emphasis on appearance. this product was designed to soften meets and seafood prior to cooking. the main ingdients are papaya . and enzyme extracted from the fruit. 15 grams is enough to soften this chicken. after being placed in a fridge and soaked for five hours it has become about 30% more soft than standard chicken meat. the softening agent has a similar effect on other meats like beef and pork as well as seafood. the papain enzyme used in the powder

breaks down proteins and separates meat fibers. while the sodium prevents the strands within the meat from quoting or tightening, which allows it to tain higher amounts of moisture. after soaking it can be cooked following any standard recipe. the end result is chicken that looks and tastes normal, but is much softer and easier to chew and swallow. >> because you can soak and cook enough meat for 40-50 people at a time this can save both time and labor. >> with the powder now being used by over 2000 nursing homes across japan the company is turning the focus to increasing sales to foreign eldercare markets. >> i experienced this with my grandparents a lot of times and hospitals if they are worried

about swallowing capabilities. they just blend it all, and it is unfortunate because we do not just the with our mouths, but with our eyes. >> exactly. at the end of the day safety is a number one priority:i understand why it has to be done, but eating food is just not for nutritional intake. it is also an expense in its own in terms of mental experiences and emotional experiences. it really after the quality of life when you can see the visual aspect that is very important, but also understand chewing itself is a very good exercise. physical exercise and also good for your brain. eating is great joy in life absolutely. the next company we feature is a small startup that created a product based on one of the founders personal experiences with it. let's see what they came up with. >> this startup was founded by two women who met while working

at a major japanese electronics manufacturer. together they developed this food softening appliance called the deli softer. it is used to make already cooked meals even softer and easier to eat. for particularly thick or chewy

foods a quick extra step is recommended. before being placed inside the deli softer this specially designed food cutter is used. with a quick press it cuts through thick fibers while still allowing the food to keep its shape. after pouring in water all you have to do is place the food inside on a special plate. like the cooking mode . wait for the steam and pressure to do the work. exactly 29 minutes later. the food comes out not looking much different than it did before. but a quick press with a fork shows the thick and chewy fried chicken has now become extremely soft. the same goes for the rest of the food on the plate too. >> i think the best thing is it allows each dish to keep the original flavor and uniqueness.

the only thing it does is soften the food. >> this was inspired to create the deli softer after an experience she had with her father. it was about seven years ago when he began to have trouble swallowing regular solid foods. >> we would often get into a fight because he would always

complain that the special meals i made for him looks like petfood . naturally since i was putting so much time and effort and money into this it would really upset me. >> wanting to create an appliance that would help people with swallowing difficulties enjoy eating the same mills as their families. they began developing the deli softener. sadly, her father passed away before it was invented. >> the last thing he sd to me is i am sorry for the trouble they put you through. those words have stayed with me ever since.

>> so far they sold over 1500 units. while it was initially created with elderly people in mind it is now being used to prepare foods for people with dental problems, physical disabilities, and other issues that make it difficult to eat normal solid foods. we visited a family that said the deli softener has made an impact on their lives. they begin using it three months ago when her father began choking on his food while eating. he would struggle to eat the same food as everyone else and would often have to leave

the table because the problem became so bad. now he is once again able to enjoy eating meals together with the whole family. >> it is really important and gives us a chance to make sure he is doing all right physically and emotionally. i am grateful to sit down around the table and share a meal together with everyone again. >> they own and operate a japanese restaurant. after seeing how helpful it was with his father he decided to try using it at his restaurant. struggles my father had to go through i hope to bring smiles to the faces of others who are dealing with similar issues by offering them delicious and easy to eat soft food options. >> i was really moved by the story. my mom recently went through the same thing with her parents. caring for an aging loved one really can be challenging. >> i got very emotional watching it as well. i thought that sharing meals with a family or frnds really gives people a lot of hope because it gives you a sense of being a part of a community. eating food is just not the intake, but also mental and emotional experience. especially when you share a meal with others like your family members. it really adds up to the quality of life.

>> it is about not being excluded. do you have any final thoughts? >> on top of the etional experience that we have been talking about that gives people a higher level of life also if you look at the business opportunity it is interesting because if you think about the aging society we are k>> this ie

are the top stories. russia will ban oil exports are countries that set icecaps on its energy products. the decree will come into effect in february. the european union, g-7 and australia agreed on a cap for russian crude oil as a way of coming the kremlin's revenue streams. -- cutting the kremlin's revenue streams. the u.s. supreme court is reviewing the rule, title 42,