Welcome back to NHK Newsline. I'm Kanako Sachno.
BEAR ATTACKS FORCE CHANGES FOR NEWSPAPER DELIVERERS
Newspaper delivery staff in northern Japan are now arming themselves with flashlights and firecrackers.
It's part of new precautions as bear sightings rise across the region.
In Fukushima's Kitakata City, a local newspaper agency with 16 delivery workers has been boosting safety measures since September.
The staff now head out by car and begin their routes in urban areas before heading closer to the mountains.
They carry firecrackers to scare off bears in high-risk areas.
The agency has also asked customers to help reduce the time carriers spend outside their cars by moving their paper boxes closer to the curb.
The head of the agency says the danger and fear is very real.
00:01:03 話者 2
I saw a bear when I was out doing deliveries, and the fear stayed with me for two or three days. So I prefer to go out when it feels a bit safer.
00:01:17 話者 1
There have been several bear attacks on delivery workers in recent months, one fatal in Hokkaido and another that left a man injured earlier this month in Akita Prefecture.
TAKACHI ORDERS REVIEW OF ECONOMIC SECURITY LAW
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has ordered a review of a law aimed at strengthening the country's economic security.
The move is seen as a response to a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape.
Takaichi held a meeting with cabinet ministers on Friday morning about the issue.
00:01:47 話者 2
The international situation has been changing with unprecedented speed.
Japan is facing the toughest and most complicated security environment since the end of World War II.
00:01:58 話者 1
The Prime Minister said the government needs to bolster supply chains to secure materials including key minerals.
She told Economic Security Minister Onoda Kimi to begin a review of the Economic Security Promotion Law that was enacted three years ago.
She instructed cabinet ministers to work together on the effort, including through establishing a think tank.
The government is expected to continue supporting projects that bolster economic security.
TOKYO MASSAGE PARLOR AND THAI MOTHER 'SPLIT DAUGHTER'S EARNINGS'
New details are emerging in the case of a 12-year-old Thai girl who was allegedly forced to work at a Tokyo massage parlour.
Investigative sources say the parlour operator split all her earnings with her mother.
Tokyo police have arrested 51-year-old Hosono Masayuki, who runs the parlour in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward.
He was detained on suspicion of violating the Labour Standards Act.
He allegedly hired the girl and forced her to provide sexual services for about one month between late June and July.
Police say the mother brought the girl to Japan in late June, then departed the country after leaving her at the parlour.
They say the parlour earned about $4,000 by forcing the girl to provide sexual services to 61 customers.
The sources say Hosano and the mother took about $2,000 each and the girl was never paid.
The suspect has reportedly admitted hiring the girl.
He told police he went to the establishment once every two days to collect the earnings.
MYANMAR ACTIVIST: DON'T RECOGNIZE 'SHAM' ELECTION
Myanmar's military says it will begin a multi-phase general election next month, the first vote since the 2021 coup.
The junta claims it's to transfer control of the government back to civilians.
But a pro-democracy activist who visited Japan this week is urging the world not to recognize the result, calling it a sham.
NHK World's Fukushima Masahiro reports.
00:03:51 話者 2
Khin Ohmar is from Myanmar but lives in exile. She delivered a lecture in Tokyo, telling people that the upcoming vote is designed to strengthen the military's control.
00:04:05 話者 3
The whole purpose of planning to hold this so-called election is because after four years, since 2021, they need to move on.
They need to take another step and change the name, change the uniform into civilian, show the whole world that they are the government of Myanmar.
And the only way to show is holding quote-unquote election.
00:04:29 話者 2
In July, the junta lifted the state of emergency that had been in place since the coup and announced the plan for the election to transition to civilian governance.
00:04:41 話者 3
I would like to seek your support to amplify our messages to the government of Japan, to take the side with the Myanmar people, support our democracy struggle, and renounce this Shyam election and the Shyam election result.
Thank you very much.
00:05:02 話者 2
Khin Ohmar also sat down with NHK.
She says the election is not legitimate, as only parties with connections to the junta can take part, and free speech is limited.
00:05:15 話者 3
In the last two months, 88 people, including the filmmakers and the comedians and actors,
They have been arrested, and some have been immediately sentenced to three to five years in one week of their arrest, only because they wrote, not even directly, indirectly on their social media about how they feel about this election, without even using the word election.
00:05:40 話者 2
And then, there are the fighting between the military and pro-democracy and ethnic minority forces.
The military is believed to be intensifying attacks across the country in an attempt to expand its control ahead of the vote.
Khin Ohmar says many of the victims are civilians, including children.
She continues to plead for international support.
00:06:06 話者 3
If the military consolidate their power, that means there are more human tragedy for the Myanmar people.
I hope the Japanese government, at this particular time, at the cross-cutting, you know, like this turning point for Myanmar's democracy, the Japanese government, this is going to be the historical moment that they take the right side of the people's movement for democracy.
00:06:28 話者 2
Myanmar's junta has insisted the election will be free and fair, but it has failed to gain international recognition for the legitimacy of the ballot.
It asked the ASEAN group of Southeast Asian nations to send observers, but diplomatic sources say the bloc has decided not to.
Meanwhile, pro-democracy forces in Myanmar are continuing their resistance, and activists like Khin Ohmar are working to raise awareness abroad.
But they have been unable to stop the junta from steadily consolidating political power.
Observers say the election may not bring peace and stability to Myanmar.
They say it remains crucial for the international community to keep pressuring the military rulers to pursue the conflict resolution through dialogue and advance democratization.
Fukushima Masahiro, NHK World, Tokyo.
UN TO LIFT SANCTIONS AGAINST SYRIA'S INTERIM PRESIDENT
00:07:33 話者 1
The United Nations Security Council has voted to lift sanctions against Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa,
The US-drafted resolution is aimed at promoting Syria's long-term reconstruction.
00:07:46 話者 2
Now is Syria's chance at greatness.
The delisting of President al-Sharaa and Interior Minister Khattab should help give Syria, should help give the Syrian people that greatest chance.
00:08:03 話者 1
Fourteen of the fifteen Security Council member countries voted in favour of the resolution on Thursday. China abstained.
Travel restrictions and an asset freeze on Shirah and the interior minister have now been removed. Shirah has led Syria since the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime.
He was on a UN sanctions list for having been a member of a militant group known as the Nusra Front. Syria's UN envoy Ibrahim Olabi welcomed the move.
He said the new Syria seeks peace and partnership and does not want to remain a battleground for conflicts. But China's UN ambassador, Fu Cong, expressed his concern.
He warned that a large number of foreign terrorist fighters have exploited Syrian instability to their advantage, seriously threatening regional peace and security.
Shirai is scheduled to hold talks with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday.
The interim president is expected to ramp up his diplomatic activities now that sanctions are lifted.
KENDARMEN TO PROPOSE CHANGES TO WORK-LIFE BALANCE REFORMS
Japan's leading business lobby is planning to propose changes to the country's work-life balance system, including easing limits on working hours as long as employee health is considered, but a major labour organisation is against it.
The Japan Business Federation, or Keidanden, has drawn up draft proposals to become guidelines for management in next spring's wage negotiations.
The proposals include a policy that companies are responsible for setting up a flow of pay hikes.
Regarding previous workstyle reforms aimed at limiting working hours, Keidanden pointed out that some workers say they want to work more.
In other cases, companies say reforms led to operational stagnation and profit reductions.
The federation said excessive efforts toward cutting overtime work has been suggested as one reason for this.
The draft proposals clearly state that a flexible response to the issue of working hours is needed.
Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has told Labour Minister Ueno Kenichiro to consider easing restrictions on working hours.
But Yoshino Tomoko, who heads the Japanese Trade Union Confederation, a major labour group, opposes this move.
She said it can't be ignored since it goes against efforts up to now to prevent long working hours.
BOSTON HONORS LATE MAESTRO OZAWA SEIJI WITH SQUARE
The late maestro Ozawa Seji has been honored in a city deeply connected to his music career with a square named after him.
The new street sign was unveiled on Thursday in the US city of Boston.
Seiji Ozawa Square stands outside Symphony Hall, where the Boston Symphony Orchestra performs.
00:10:48 話者 4
The square is now a symbol of how his contributions continue to resonate.
The extraordinary musicians he hired, the audiences he inspired, and the shared memories that connect us across generations.
00:11:05 話者 1
Ozawa's daughter, Seira, took part in the ceremony.
00:11:09 話者 9
That must be having a very warm, a little bit shy, but always a big smile now.
So I want to thank you on behalf of him. Thank you so much.
00:11:21 話者 1
Ozawa passed away in 2024.
He served as a musical director and conductor of the renowned Boston Symphony Orchestra for nearly 30 years.
BUSINESS
Now let's see what's happening in the world of business.
Here's Gene Otani from the Biz Desk.
00:11:46 話者 5
Kanako, thanks at our top business story this hour.
JAPAN MINISTRY: SEAFOOD SHIPMENTS TO CHINA HAVE RESTARTED
Japan's fisheries ministry says shipments of marine products to China resumed this month after being suspended for more than two years.
The ministry said on Friday that six tons of frozen scallops from Hokkaido were shipped to China on Wednesday.
China suspended imports of Japanese seafood after Japan began releasing treated and diluted water from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean.
The releases began in August 2023, but Chinese authorities announced in June that they would resume imports except for products from 10 prefectures
These included Fukushima and neighboring Miyagi.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Minoru told reporters that the export earlier this week was the result of the June 29 announcement by the Chinese government.
00:12:50 話者 4
The Japanese government takes China's latest moves positively.
Tokyo will strongly demand Beijing abolish import restrictions on fishery products from the remaining ten prefectures and resume imports of Japanese beef.
00:13:06 話者 5
About 600 kilograms of salted sea cucumbers from Aomori Prefecture are scheduled to be shipped next Monday.
US REDUCES FLIGHTS AMID GOVT. SHUTDOWN CRISIS
The US is cutting flights by 10 percent at some of the country's biggest airports.
The step comes as a government shutdown has worsened a shortage of air traffic controllers.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the restrictions will start gradually from Friday at 40 air hubs nationwide.
The measure applies to facilities in major cities including New York, Washington and Los Angeles.
Transportation officials said the reductions are necessary to maintain safety, citing the rising burden on controllers employed by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Reportedly, some controllers have stopped coming to work because they're not being paid.
The cuts come amid the longest government shutdown in US history due to a deadlock between the two dominant political parties over a spending bill.
A range of federal services have been stalled since October 1.
Major US airlines say they will continue operations of long-distance international flights and also domestic services that connect major airports.
They said they will offer seats on alternative flights or reimbursements of tickets for customers whose flights are canceled.
The measure has triggered concerns that it may disrupt Thanksgiving holiday travel in late November.
BIZ PICKS
Next, NHK World's Yuko Fukushima is here with BizPicks.
00:14:55 話者 6
Let's look at some of the business news and events we'll be tracking in the week ahead.
COP30 TO KICK OFF WITHOUT US GOVT. LEADERS
On Monday, the COP30 United Nations Climate Change Conference will open in the Brazilian city of Belem.
This will be the first time for the country to host the event.
This year's conference comes 10 years since adoption of the Paris Agreement, the International Climate Change Framework.
COP30 brings together almost all of the world's countries, but one exception is the United States.
The world's second-largest greenhouse gas emitter is not expected to send high-level officials.
A key task for governments ahead of the conference is to submit new national climate plans called Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs.
The signatory governments to the Paris Agreement are requested to offer the plans every five years.
The latest round came due this year, but so far, only 30% of the countries have complied.
One expert blames the problem partially on the US for abandoning the Paris Agreement and other climate efforts.
00:15:59 話者 7
Due to the absence of commitment from the US administration, we cannot expect an acceleration of NDCs.
Many countries are adapting a wave-and-see approach to NDCs.
Consequently, the target of reducing CO2 emissions may not be achieved as rapidly as environmental organization had expected.
The transition from fossil fuel may slow down.
00:16:27 話者 6
Arimura points out that as the US steps back, China's global princess is growing.
00:16:34 話者 7
Due to the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, China's role in climate negotiations may become more influential.
We are already seeing Chinese electric vehicles and solar panels dominate the global market.
00:16:50 話者 6
Arimura notes that in the meantime, Japan is steadily moving forward with its own climate agenda. He cites Green Transformation, or GX.
In 2023, Tokyo adopted the concept that promotes both decarbonization and economic growth.
00:17:09 話者 7
First, the government began issuing GX transition bonds, and the government is using the money from these bonds to help private firms to develop innovations.
For instance, the steel sector is working on R&D on green steel using hydrogen.
And some electric power companies are researching power generation using ammonium instead of coal.
Second, the GX Act introduced a carbon pricing system, and starting in April 26, firms with high-end issuance must hold emission permits.
In other words, they must pay the carbon price.
00:17:57 話者 6
A host country, Brazil, is proposing a funding initiative to protect its tropical rainforest, which absorbs massive amounts of CO2.
Arimura says it'll be interesting to see how many countries at COP 3 contribute to the funding scheme.
I'm Yuko Fukushima, and that wraps it up for this week's BizPicks.
NIKKEI 225 FALLS SHARPLY, BUT STAYS ABOVE 50,000
00:18:19 話者 5
The main index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange fell sharply on Friday, but managed to end above the 50,000 mark.
The Nikkei 225 was on a roller coaster ride this week after it hit an all-time intraday high of 52,636 early on Tuesday.
MARKETS
Let's look at currencies and other equity markets.
♪
And that's a look at business news.
Konoko, I'm going to hand it back to you.
00:19:07 話者 1
Thanks, Gene.
TAKING WEAVING TO HEART
Now, evolve or die is a common saying in the business world, and that's where Japan's textile industry finds itself hit hard by cheap imports and sluggish demand.
One domestic maker poured the company's resources into a remarkable project in the medical field. The results will pull at your heartstrings.
CLEVER APPLICATIONS MATERIALIZE IN TEXTILES
00:19:29 話者 4
This textile manufacturer is located in Fukui Prefecture.
It's particularly well known for its intricate knitting techniques.
For example, this is the uniform for Japan's national rugby team.
The fabric is not only strong and tear-resistant, but also quick-drying and offers excellent breathability.
Despite creating high-quality fabrics, the company has seen its sales drop due to competition from low-cost foreign imports.
In response, the company began looking to apply its technology to a completely different industry.
It developed a medical patch for use in heart surgeries.
What makes it stand out is its ability to expand to twice its original size.
Developing this novel product took nearly a decade.
Standard fabrics tend to shrink vertically when stretched horizontally, and vice versa.
So the development team thought it would be impossible to knit a fabric that could stretch uniformly in all four directions.
00:20:40 話者 8
When they first approached me, I was like, Seriously?
I knew developing this type of material would be much easier said than done.
00:20:50 話者 4
The patch is used for children with congenital heart disease.
This is a condition in which infants are born with structural problems, such as holes in the heart's chambers or valve defects.
It affects one in 100, and in Japan, roughly 10,000 babies are born with this disease every year.
Of them, roughly half will require surgery.
As the patient grows, most will have to undergo the same operation multiple times.
Dr. Nemoto Shintaro is an expert on congenital heart disease and has operated on countless children.
To avoid having to conduct multiple surgeries, he had long wished for a patch that could expand along with a child's body as it grows.
But finding the right manufacturer proved to be difficult.
I tried reaching out to about 10 different companies.
I never heard back from half of them, and the other half just told me it was impossible.
One company, however, was willing to take on a challenge, the Fukui-based textile maker.
President Takagi Yoshihide says that when he first broached the idea, he was met with opposition.
He was warned that the clinical trials and strict quality control required would be extremely difficult.
00:22:18 話者 7
I felt that if we wanted to save our company, we had to be willing to take a risk and do something that our competitors weren't willing to try.
00:22:30 話者 4
Takagi invested over half a million dollars into building a clean room where they could safely carry out development.
After much trial and error, the solution came from an outside-the-box idea.
Rather than creating a material that could stretch to a larger size, the development team figured out a way to knit the material at the final desired size and then make it smaller.
They start off with a large, looser knit.
Then a dissolvable thread, shown in red, is used to pull in the larger yellow weave and shrink the overall size of the material.
Using this animation, let's take a look from the inside.
As the dissolvable thread disappears, the fabric's able to expand along with the patient as they grow.
By partnering with a major conglomerate, the Fukui-based company was able to gain government approval and bring the patch to market in 2024.
Thanks to this patch, more children will be able to grow up without having to undergo multiple heart surgeries.
♪
WEATHER
00:24:41 話者 1
Now let's take a look at the world weather. A series of storms has been hitting the Philippines. Our meteorologist, Yumi Hirano, has the details.
00:24:50 話者 8
The Philippines have an average of 20 storms a year.
Pangwon is the 21st this year and is expected to intensify into a very strong typhoon over the weekend and will make landfall in Luzon.
Typhoon-force winds could lead to widespread power outages, and over 200 millimeters rain is likely in just a day and could cause flash flooding.
Into next week, the storm is likely to turn northward and head toward Taiwan and southeastern China.
It may also affect the weather in parts of Japan.
In the bigger picture across Asia, Storm Karumegi is now bringing downpours to parts of Thailand.
Further north, a cold snap is producing snowfall in Japan's Hokkaido, and Tokyo will be affected by the cold air too, so the high will be only 15 despite sunny skies.
Showers are likely in Shanghai and Chongqing.
Now moving to Europe, an active storm brought severe weather to parts of Spain on Thursday, causing disruptions.
Streets were turned into rivers after a storm hit northeast Spain's Catalonia.
Police can be seen walking in ankle-deep water while draining flat waters from a manhole.
Barcelona received more than their monthly average rainfall in just an hour.
Now, the storm is moving toward Italy on Friday.
There is a risk of thunderstorms and gustial winds and lightning.
And another system is approaching from the Atlantic.
So, showers are likely in Lisbon, Madrid and Rome, but sunny skies are expected in Vienna, Palace and Berlin.
That's it for now. Have a nice weekend.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
00:27:43 話者 1
That wraps up this edition of NHK Newsline. I'm Kanako Sachno in Tokyo.
Thanks very much for joining us.
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