Welcome back to NHK Newsline. I'm Kanako Sachno.
NIIGATA GOVERNOR INTENDS TO APPROVE REACTOR'S RESTART
The governor of Niigata Prefecture on the Japan Sea coast says he intends to approve the restart of a nuclear reactor run by the Tokyo Electric Power Company.
This would be the first resumption of a TEPCO reactor since the 2011 accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant.
00:00:31 話者 2
I made the decision, as I judged, if we continue to provide accurate information to people of the prefecture about efforts to implement measures regarding safety and disaster prevention, we can spread understanding about the restart.
00:00:52 話者 1
Governor Hanazumi Hideo told reporters on Friday he'll confirm the central government will explain to prefectural residents the necessity of the reactor and its safety.
He's expected to present his decision to the prefectural assembly, then report to the central government.
This would pave the way for the restart of the No.6 reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant.
TAKAICHI: NO CHANGE IN JAPAN-CHINA RELATIONSHIP
Japan's Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has commented on simmering tensions between Tokyo and Beijing.
She says that in her view, there's been no change in the overall direction of Japan-China ties, with both sides continuing to promote a strategic and mutually beneficial relationship.
Takaichi said in a diet session two weeks ago that if a possible Taiwan emergency involves the use of force, it could be a survival-threatening situation for Japan.
The Chinese side reacted sharply.
Takaichi spoke to reporters at the Prime Minister's office on Friday afternoon.
00:01:50 話者 3
At the end of last month, President Xi and I confirmed the broad direction of comprehensively promoting a mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests and building constructive, stable ties. This view remains unchanged.
00:02:11 話者 1
She went on to say that the Japanese government will make a comprehensive decision on what constitutes an emergency based on all information in accordance with specific situations that actually occur.
She pointed out that such explanations have been repeatedly made by the government since the late former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo made the statement when peace and security legislation was drafted in 2015.
AIR CHINA TO REDUCE FLIGHTS TO JAPAN AMID DIPLOMATIC CHILL
Amid the tensions, a major Chinese airline says it will reduce flights to Japan from the end of this month. State-run Air China announced that flights between Osaka and Shanghai will be reduced from the current 21 round trips per week to 16.
That change will be in effect between November 30 and late March.
Round trips between Tokyo and Chongqing will drop from seven a week to four during roughly the same period.
The airline says the reductions are due to operational reasons, but they come as Beijing has asked its nationals to refrain from travelling to Japan.
Chinese airlines are offering free changes in reservations and cancellations for flights to and from Japan.
State-run China Central Television reported that there have been more than half a million cancellations since Saturday.
BUSINESS
Now let's see what's happening in the world of business. Here's Gene Otani from the BizDesk.
00:03:31 話者 2
Kanako, thanks in our top business story this hour.
JAPAN'S CABINET APPROVES ¥21.3 TRIL. STIMULUS PACKAGE
Japan's cabinet has approved a new economic stimulus package worth about 21.3 trillion yen, or roughly $135 billion.
Its three pillars cover rising prices, realizing a strong economy, and strengthening the country's defense and diplomatic capabilities.
One item related to the cost of living is enhanced support for municipalities.
The local governments will be allowed to take their own measures to tackle rising food prices. Subsidies for electricity and gas bills will resume.
Households will receive, on average, about $45 from January to March next year.
One-time cash handout is planned for parents to support child rearing amid soaring prices. It will be about $130 per child.
The package contains money for improving Japan's shipbuilding capabilities.
The government is planning to propose the establishment of a 10-year fund.
Japan has a goal to make defense and related expenditures account for two percent of the country's GDP.
The package contains measures to accelerate hitting that target by the current fiscal year.
The government is expected to spend about 115 billion dollars for the package, which will be drawn from the general account.
That's about 25 billion dollars higher than in the last fiscal year.
The overall scale of the stimulus measures is expected to be around $135 billion when tax reductions are included. The main cut is the abolition of a provincial gasoline tax rate.
Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae told reporters that her cabinet approved comprehensive economic measures to realize a strong economy.
00:05:45 話者 3
With this economic stimulus package, the government will prioritize quickly delivering measures against rising prices.
We will also fund crisis management and growth initiatives.
The government will implement strategic fiscal stimulus to protect people's lives and create a strong economy.
00:06:08 話者 2
Takaichi added that her cabinet will compile a draft supplementary budget and enact it as soon as possible.
REACTIONS TO GOVT. PACKAGE TO FIGHT INFLATION
So, what do people think about the government's plans to tackle one of the country's top economic issues? We sent our Moritani Hinako to get some reactions.
00:06:31 話者 3
Prices in Japan have been rising for the past couple of years.
Now the latest figures show the rate of inflation is going even higher.
That's on the minds of many here at Musashikoyama shopping street.
It's a famous shopping arcade in Tokyo's Shinagawa area.
Everything from rice to electricity has been getting more expensive.
And it's a similar story across the country.
Prime Minister Takaichi has been focused on policies to tackle this issue.
I asked the shoppers for their thoughts about the new plans.
$130 for a child allowance is definitely not enough.
You have to buy diapers, clothing, food, everything that's needed for daily life.
00:07:30 話者 4
I have four grandchildren, so I think it will be helpful.
But I'm worried that they might have to foot the bill for it in the future.
00:07:39 話者 3
Takaichi has made it clear that she intends to actively use fiscal spending.
She stresses that doing so will help stimulate consumption and improve consumer sentiment.
The government is spending significantly more for this fiscal year's economic package than last year's.
But concerns are growing in the markets. There are worries that such aggressive fiscal policies could hurt the government's finances.
That led the yen to weaken more this week.
Takaichi says that after the supplementary budget is compiled, the government's bond issuances for this fiscal year will likely be lower than last year.
She added that she's closely monitoring fiscal sustainability.
Compounding the problem, wages haven't risen much over the years.
So both issues have hit people's wallets.
Takaichi emphasized that she hopes the public will feel some relief by the end of the year.
But people are feeling the pinch more and more.
They are closely watching to see whether these measures will lead to the robust economy that the Takaichi administration has pledged to realize.
Moritani Hinako, NHK World.
JAPAN'S INFLATION ACCELERATES IN OCTOBER, HITS 3%
00:09:13 話者 2
All right, and as Hinako mentioned, the latest data on the economy highlights a headwind for both households and policymakers.
Japan's consumer inflation accelerated in October, touching the 3% mark for the first time since July.
The Internal Affairs Ministry says the consumer price index, excluding fresh food, was up 3% in October from a year earlier.
The index climbed one-tenth of a percentage point from September, partly due to a rise in automobile insurance premiums and accommodation fees.
Inbound tourists fueled demand in this sector. Consumers were also paying more for food.
Prices excluding perishables rose 7.2% from the same month last year.
Coffee beans shot up 53% and chocolate about 37%.
Rice balls and eggs rose more than 10% and chicken 9%.
Rice continues to stress household budgets, with the price rising 40% year-on-year and up 5.3% from the previous month.
That was despite newly harvested rice coming on to the market.
And that's it for Business News.
COP30 TALKS TO RESUME AFTER FIRE FORCES SUSPENSION
00:10:48 話者 1
Talks at the UN climate change conference COP30 are set to resume after a fire at the venue in the Brazilian city of Belem forced a suspension.
The blaze started on Thursday afternoon in the section where conference halls and pavilions are located.
Local government officials say at least 21 people were treated for smoke inhalation and related effects.
Reports say the fire may have been caused by electrical equipment, possibly a microwave oven.
The Japanese delegation says all its members, including Environment Minister Ishihara Hirotaka, are safe.
Talks at the conference are set to restart on Friday.
One thing governments are trying to do is get a better handle on forecasting natural disasters.
For example, some experts say climate change is affecting the frequency and intensity of typhoons.
HOW AI IS CHANGING THE WORLD OF WEATHER FORECASTING
Now, how we forecast for them is changing too, thanks to AI.
About 200 typhoon researchers from around the world gathered in Yokohama last month.
The star of the show was artificial intelligence, specifically typhoon track predictions.
Experts say AI forecasting has seen a dramatic improvement in recent years.
Let's take Typhoon Halong, which formed last month as an example.
You can see the typhoon's actual path here in black.
The prediction by Google's DeepMind AI is in blue.
Compare that to the forecast by the Japan Meteorological Agency in red.
Both predictions were made shortly after the typhoon formed, but as you can see, the AI forecast was much closer to what would become the storm's actual path.
The AI's forecast was also longer.
The JMA only releases forecasts for the next 5 days, but the AI predicted 15 days ahead, though only as reference data.
So why are they so different?
Well, the JMA's model is based on physical laws combined with actual data like temperature, pressure, and wind.
But AI also uses machine learning based on massive amounts of past data.
It looks at how typhoons moved before, their intensities, and uses that to predict outcomes.
As AI technology improves, so has its accuracy.
Earlier, I spoke with NHK senior correspondent Shimakawa Eisuke.
He covers issues like natural disasters.
Eisuke, how often is AI used in weather forecasting right now?
00:13:17 話者 4
It's not common, but we are seeing a shift. In South Korea, there are plans to introduce AI-based forecasting soon. Officials, they say, is fast, makes fewer mistakes and doesn't need breaks. They called it the direction of science and the global trend.
Europe is also moving in that direction. The European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecast launched its own AI model in February.
It now provides data to countries worldwide. And on its website, anyone can view the latest AI forecasts from tech giants. And just to be clear, AI's accuracy isn't a one-off.
It's a trend.
This graph shows the forecast accuracy across dozens of typhoons.
We can see that AI predictions have fewer errors compared to traditional methods.
Our senior researchers put it in this way.
00:14:19 話者 9
I was really shocked. We have no choice but to consider how best to utilize this.
It could even spark intense international competition in typhoon track forecasting.
00:14:31 話者 1
So we've been talking a lot about the benefits of using AI, but what are the drawbacks?
00:14:36 話者 4
Well, it's not perfect. For example, AI models still struggle to predict typhoon intensity.
But the biggest issue is accountability.
Let's look at another case, Typhoon Paper in September. Again, here is its actual part in black. with the GMA in red and AI in blue.
The AI predicted a direct hit on all circles, but the typhoon actually passed farther south.
In this case, the GMA forecast was more accurate. That's because it takes into account actual data, so it can adjust and explain why things changed.
AI models can't do that because they are based on statistics.
You can't really know why a prediction went wrong.
That's a major issue for accountability.
00:15:30 話者 1
So given that, what is Japan going to do? Is the government planning to use AI here?
00:15:35 話者 4
Seems that way. The government is looking at how it's being used overseas and plans to develop its own AI model using historical data.
The JMA is hoping to hire about 30 AI developers next fiscal year.
00:15:53 話者 1
So if Japan's going to be investing in this technology, what's the best way to use it?
00:15:57 話者 4
Right. Experts suggest that ideal is combining the traditional method with the AI models.
Felon Allett, a research scientist with Google DeepMind, says the technology is improving very quickly.
00:16:13 話者 2
I think that models are certainly going to get larger and ingest more data and probably predict more things as well.
I expect that in a couple of years' time, our set of predictions is going to expand, and the predictions that we're making now are going to become the norm. They're going to be a routine part of the set of models that forecasters will have at their fingertips.
00:16:37 話者 4
As global warming intensifies, typhoons are expected to grow stronger.
Being able to predict both the path and the intensity of those talks will be critical to keeping people safe.
♪
4 MORE SUSPECTS ARRESTED OVER NEW DELHI CAR BLAST
00:17:09 話者 1
Indian authorities have announced four more arrests in connection with a deadly car explosion in New Delhi last week. Three of the suspects are medical doctors.
The blast happened near the historic Red Fort, killing 10 people and injuring more than 30. Investigative authorities say they believe the explosion was a terrorist attack by anti-government forces.
They announced Thursday that two of the four had been arrested before the blast on suspicion of possessing explosives and rifles and other allegations.
A total of 6 suspects have been arrested so far. The driver of the vehicle died in the explosion. Investigators say he was also a doctor.
A local media outlet says the probe has uncovered what's described as a white-collar doctor terror module made-up of highly educated people.
Authorities say they think that a larger-scale terrorist plot may have been planned.
KYIV RECEIVES NEW US PEACE PLAN PROPOSAL
Ukraine's presidential office says it's received a new peace plan from the US to end the conflict with Russia. The proposal reportedly requires significant concessions from Kyiv.
Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky says his country and the US will work on the provisions of the plan. His office says both countries' leaders will discuss it in the coming days.
It also says Donald Trump's administration explained that the proposal is intended to revive diplomatic efforts.
Multiple media outlets say the US and Russia have been working together on the plan.
It reportedly requires Ukraine to give up territory and shrink its military.
The White House confirmed that the US has been working on a plan quietly for about a month. The press secretary says they're talking with both sides equally.
00:18:51 話者 5
I'm not going to litigate the details of this plan as it's ongoing and it's in flux, but the president supports this plan. It's a good plan for both Russia and Ukraine, and we believe that it should be acceptable to both sides.
00:19:04 話者 1
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says officials are drawing up a list of potential ideas.
He stresses that ending the conflict requires both sides to agree to difficult but necessary concessions.
European leaders are expressing concern. Poland's foreign minister questioned the idea of curbing the size of Ukraine's armed forces.
00:19:25 話者 4
I hope it's not the victim that has restrictions on its ability to defend itself put on, but it's the aggressor whose aggressive potential should be restricted.
00:19:41 話者 1
EU foreign policy chief Kaia Kalla says Ukraine and Europe must be at the table.
00:19:47 話者 3
What we as Europeans have always supported is a long-lasting and just peace, and we welcome any efforts to achieve that.
Of course, for any plan to work, it needs Ukrainians and Europeans on board, so this is very clear.
00:20:06 話者 1
She also says the EU will work on imposing more sanctions on Russia's shadow fleet of oil tankers.
INSIDE THE CEASEFIRE MONITORING CENTER IN ISRAEL
A facility for monitoring the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip has opened its doors to the media.
The facility is helping with efforts to implement a peace plan that's being led by the United States.
The US Central Command opened the Civil Military Coordination Center, or CMCC, in southern Israel last month.
It's in a large room with a massive screen displaying a map of Gaza.
It shows where Israeli troops are deployed. The centre is also designed to help facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance into the enclave.
Aerial footage shows a truck loaded with supplies moving through Gaza.
About 600 people work at the centre. They include military-related personnel from more than 20 countries, as well as aid workers.
US Vice President J.D. Vance paid a visit last month. He praised the Israelis and Americans working hand in hand to try to rebuild Gaza and implement long-term peace.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military has continued to launch sporadic attacks.
It mounted airstrikes on Khan Yunis in the south and Gaza City in the north on Wednesday.
Health officials in the enclave say the death toll since the ceasefire began has climbed to 312.
EXPERT SAYS HOT SPOTS REMAIN AT SITE OF OITA BLAZE
A massive fire that burned for days in southwestern Japan has been brought under control, but an expert in disaster prevention has told NHK that there are still hot spots with temperatures of 100 degrees Celsius or more.
The blaze broke out on Tuesday on the Saganoseki Peninsula in Oita Prefecture.
It quickly spread to houses and the surrounding forest and left one person dead.
Officials are still unsure when the fire will be completely extinguished.
Professor Tsurunari Yoshihisa joined prefectural officials and others to survey the area on Thursday night using a drone equipped with a thermal camera.
The expert said the survey identified hot spots in the forest on the peninsula.
00:22:11 話者 2
There are not so many hot spots, but they remain in places.
I realise that it will be difficult for water to penetrate down to the roots.
00:22:19 話者 1
Firefighters plan to use the information from the survey as they work to fully extinguish the fire. Police and fire department officials will continue investigating to establish what caused the blaze to escalate into a large-scale disaster.
Oita Governor Sato Kiichiro addressed that question at a disaster task force meeting on Friday.
00:22:43 話者 8
The prefectural authorities believe the main reason the fire spread so far was the strong winds.
00:22:52 話者 1
Sato said the blaze could be considered a natural disaster, and he intends to ask the central government for support.
The flames destroyed about 170 buildings, including homes. More than 100 people from 73 households were still taking refuge at a nearby community centre as of Friday morning.
SHOOTER OF FORMER JAPANESE PM ABE TAKES STAND IN TRIAL
The man who fatally shot former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo 3 years ago has answered questions from his defence team for the first time in his trial.
45-year-old Yamagami Tetsuya told the court that he should never have lived this long.
Yamagami is standing trial at the Nara District Court on murder and other charges for shooting Abe with a homemade gun in 2022.
He admitted to all the charges when the trial opened in late October.
The severity of the sentence has become the main point of contention in the trial.
The defence team is seeking leniency. His defence lawyer read out a hospital case record that stated that Yamagami had been chronically suicidal since elementary school.
He asked whether Yamagami, who attempted suicide in 2005, ever thought he would live to be 45. Yamagami said he should not have lived this long.
He said he's ended up in a situation where he's caused inconvenience to other people.
The lawyer asked questions about Yamagami's upbringing.
They included what happened when his grandfather tried to persuade the defendant's mother to leave the organization widely known as the Unification Church.
She'd donated much of the family's money to the group.
Yamagami said he didn't know what to do when he saw his grandfather threaten her with a kitchen knife.
The defendant said his mother was basically not a bad person, but he could not understand her conduct regarding the group.
He said her large financial contributions was the only problem.
Yamagami is due to take the stand on four more occasions.
His next testimony is scheduled for November 25.
WEATHER
It's time now for a check on the world weather. The cyclone season has begun in Australia.
Our meteorologist, Yumi Hirano, has the details.
00:24:59 話者 5
Storm Vinar is the first tropical cyclone of the season in Australia moving toward the Northern Territory. Strong winds are a major concern.
Gusts of over 150 kilometers per hour are possible over the weekend, potentially causing power outages.
In addition, total rainfall could exceed 300 millimeters in the area, including Darwin.
There is a risk of flash flooding.
Meanwhile, in Europe, cold air has moved in and brought heavy snow to parts of the UK.
Heavy snow blanketed part of the UK mid-week, leading to school closures.
The country's power company says hundreds of homes were without power in Wales.
Many parts of the UK saw the coldest temperatures of the season so far, dropping below minus 6 degrees Celsius.
Snow is tippling off in the country on Friday, but the next round of wet weather will arrive on Saturday. For the south, severe weather is likely to continue in the Balkans, with a risk of thundershowers and gusty winds.
Sunny skies are expected in London, Palace and Berlin, but the temperatures will stay below average.
Finally, across Japan, wet weather is expected from Hokkaido to Hokuriku on Friday, but the conditions are likely to improve on Saturday.
Sunny skies are expected over the long holiday weekend.
The next round of wet weather is likely to arrive in Fukuoka on Monday.
The highs will be in the mid-teens in Tokyo.
The temperatures will be warmer than usual in many cities.
That's it for now. Have a nice weekend.
00:27:41 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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