at 18:00 (JST), October 12

20251012180000_english_1.mp3

Hello, welcome to NHK News Line. I'm Maria Sato in Tokyo.

CHINA DEFENDS RARE EARTH EXPORT CONTROLS, SLAMS US TARIFF

China has defended its export control measures on rare earths and suggested it may take further action depending on the response from the United States.
This comes after US President Donald Trump announced an additional 100% tariff on imports from China on Friday. Trump said the new tariff is a countermeasure against Beijing's latest steps. A spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce issued a statement on Sunday. It called the measures legitimate action to refine its export control system in accordance with laws and regulations. The statement criticized the US move. It said woeful threats of high tariffs are not the right way to get along with China. It also said if the US side insists on going the wrong way.
China will surely take resolute measures to protect its legitimate rights and interests. It called on the US to properly manage differences through dialogue. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to hold talks later this month. Experts fear the feud between Washington and Beijing over trade issues couldintensify.

PEACE SUMMIT ON GAZA TO BE HELD IN EGYPT

Egypt says it will host a summit co-chaired by US President Trump on the end of fighting in the Gaza Strip and peace in the region.
Egypt's presidential office says the meeting will be held in the eastern city of Sharm al Sheikh on Monday afternoon. It's expecting representatives from more than 20 countries. Reports suggest the attendees will include British Prime Minister Kier Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, but some media say at the moment Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not expected to attend. Hamas has also told AFP that it will not take part.
Egypt is one of the mediators in negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
A ceasefire took effect on Friday and so far there have been no reports of fighting. 

DISPLACED PALESTINIANS RETURNING HOME AFTER CEASEFIRE

Local media reports quote authorities in Gaza are saying 85% of the major southern city of Han Yunus and surrounding areas is destroyed. The authorities said on Saturday they're removing rubble, restoring water and sewage lines and clearing streets and residential neighborhoods. They're calling on the International community to send urgently needed logistical supplies. They say this can be done if Israel lifts its blockade and immediately opens all crossings.

HAMAS OFFICIAL: MORE TIME NEEDED TO FREE ALL HOSTAGES

The terms of the ceasefire give Hamas 72 hours to release all 48 hostages held in Gaza, but a senior Hamas official has told NHK it may be difficult to meet that deadline.
Osama Hamdan of the group's political wing says there are still uncertainties surrounding the hostages releases.

The circumstances on the ground mean that the release of the deceased hostages will require more time. It's also difficult to set a specific time frame for the release of the living hostages unless certain conditions are met.

As for the disarmament of Hamas, Hamdan says it's an issue that must be resolved by all Palestinians, not just the group.
He apparently means the group does not intend to disarm immediately.

ANOTHER STORM NEARS TYPHOON-HIT IZU ISLANDS

A storm is expected to come very close to Tokyo's Izu Islands on Monday morning, just days after a typhoon battered the area. People should be very cautious of landslides and violent winds.
The Japan Meteorological Agency says that as of 4:00 PM on Sunday, Severe Tropical Storm Nakri was over waters to the South of Wakayama Prefecture. It says the storm was moving northeast at 30 kilometers per hour. Nakri is generating sustained wind speeds of up to 108 kilometers per hour near its centre with gusts of 162 kilometres per hour. Forecasts say Nakari will head east while gathering strength. People should stay vigilant against mud slides and violent winds as well as flooding in low lying areas, swollen and overflowing rivers in high waves.
They should also remain careful of lightning and gusty winds, including tornadoes.

STUDY: UNDERWEIGHT PEOPLE RISK SEVERE COVID-19

A study by a Japanese institution has indicated that underweight people are more at risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms than those of normal weight. The research was conducted by a group at the Centre for Clinical Sciences at the Japan Institute for Health Security. It covered more than 46,000 COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized sometime from 2020 through 2022.
Group examined the relationship between the severity of symptoms and the body mass index, called BMI, which is a calculated measure of weight relative to height. People with a BMI lower than 18.5 are considered to be underweight. The research suggests that underweight patients were 1.74 times more likely than those with normal weight to die or need ventilators or ECMO, heart lung machines.
The risk grew to 1.89 times when the researchers only looked at the likelihood of dying.
By age, the risks were especially high among underweight patients between 20 and 64 years old. Namely, there were 2.37 times more likely to suffer severe symptoms and 5.75 times more likely to die than their counterparts with normal weight.
Matsushita Yumi, who led the research team, called on underweight people to pay attention to anti infection measures such as wearing masks and washing their hands.

NOBEL INSTITUTE PROBES POSSIBLE LEAK OF WINNER'S NAME

The Norwegian Nobel Institute says it has launched an investigation into the possible leak of information regarding this year's Nobel Peace Prize.
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado won the award for her efforts to promote democracy in her country. The official announcement was made on Friday.
A Norwegian media outlet reports 9 hours before the announcement, bets from Machado began to surge on an online gambling site.
Her chances of winning increased to over 70%. The opposition leaders of success had only been slightly over 2% just three hours earlier. The media outlet notes one of the websites users collected a profit of over $40,000.
The institute reportedly suspects the outcome in the betting market was due to a personal or digital leak. The institute told NHK on Saturday it's taking the matter seriously. It revealed it does not have all the details, but it said the situation is being investigated.

MORE BEAR ATTACKS AND SIGHTINGS IN NORTHEASTERN JAPAN

In Akita Prefectures Misato town, 2 bears were spotted on Saturday morning at a high school playground. Police found the bears in a tree and say the animals left the school shortly after 7:00 PM, about 12 hours after they were first spotted. School officials say three students were inside the school at the time. But their parents came to pick them up. Police are urging nearby residents to be cautious. Elsewhere in the prefecture, a man in his 80s was attacked by a bear in a field in Akita city at around noon on Saturday. He managed to get to a nearby hospital where he was treated for facial injuries. There have been a series of bear attacks resulting in injuries in Akita Prefecture this year. Meanwhile, in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture, an 87 year old man was attacked by a bear near his house on Saturday afternoon after he failed to scare it away. He suffered injuries to his hand and thigh and was taken to a hospital where his injuries were deemed. Non life threatening. 
There have been several more incidents involving bears in northeastern Japan.

Those were the stories for this hour.

♫～　3-DAY FORECAST　～♫

And that's all for this hour on NHK News LINE. I'm Maria Sato in Tokyo.