Hello and welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Yamaguchi Hiroaki in Tokyo.
REPORT: WORLD'S TOP WEAPONS MAKERS POST RECORD REVENUE
A Swedish think tank says the world's top weapons makers posted a record combined revenue last year.
It says this was primarily driven by rising geopolitical tensions around the world.
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute released a report Monday on the 100 largest arms producers and military service firms of 2024.
It says their total revenue increased by 5.9 percent to 679 billion dollars.
39 are based in the United States, including Lockheed Martin, which tops the list.
They account for about half of the total revenue. Eight firms based in China are included.
Their sales declined from the year before, but they had the second-largest share of the total revenue.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Fujitsu, and two other companies from Japan are on the list. Their revenue surged 40 percent to $13.3 billion.
The report says global arms sales soared in 2024 as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, geopolitical tensions and ever-higher military expenditure boosted demand.
TRIAL BEGINS FOR LEADER OF FORMER UNIFICATION CHURCH
The defense team for the leader of the religious group, formerly known as the Unification Church, has denied all charges against her.
The trial for Han Hak-ja began at the Seoul Central District Court on Monday.
Han is accused of violating the political fund law.
She allegedly conspired with a former senior official of a religious group.
The two are accused of providing illegal funds worth 100 million won, or about 68-thousand dollars, to a political heavyweight before South Korea's 2022 presidential election.
The alleged recipient was close to former President Yoon So-yeol.
Han has been also charged with giving luxury bags to Yoon's wife, Kim Keon-hee.
A special prosecution team suspects the religious group tried to approach those around the former president to increase its political influence.
BUSINESS
Now, let's see what's happening in the world of business.
Gene Otani joins us from our biz desk. Gene.
00:02:38 話者 2
Hiroaki, thanks in our top business story this hour.
BOJ TO MULL PROS, CONS OF RATE HIKE IN DEC.
Governor Ueda Kazuo says the Bank of Japan will consider the pros and cons of raising the benchmark interest rate at its next meeting in mid-December.
00:02:55 話者 3
Given factors such as the recent decline in uncertainties surrounding the US Economy and tariff policies, the Bank considers. That the likelihood of the baseline scenario for economic activity and prices being realized is gradually increasing.
The Bank is at the stage where it should examine whether firms' active wage-setting behavior will continue.
In particular, it will be important to confirm the momentum of initial moves toward next year's annual. Spring Labor Management wage negotiations.
00:03:26 話者 2
Ueda spoke at a business forum on Monday.
He referred to the record hike of the minimum wage this fiscal year and plans by both labor unions and management to steadily proceed with wage increases.
The governor said the BOJ is actively collecting information regarding corporate stances on wage increases.
He said based on various data and information, policymakers will consider the pros and cons of a rate hike and make decisions as appropriate at their next meeting.
The governor added that even if the policy interest rate is raised, accommodative financial conditions will be maintained.
Ueda compared a rate hike under the current money conditions to a process of easing off the accelerator to achieve stable growth in prices and not about applying the brakes on economic activity.
The Bank of Japan last raised its policy rate in January, but has since stood past six consecutive times. Its next meeting is scheduled for two days from December 18.
And that's a look at business news.
I'll be back with more.
00:04:41 話者 1
Thanks, Gene.
JAPAN HEALTH CARDS EXPIRE, INTEGRATE WITH 'MY NUMBER'
Now, people enrolled in Japan's health insurance, Japanese citizens and non-citizens alike, are seeing a big change. Traditional insurance cards expire today, Monday.
They're being incorporated into individual number cards, commonly known as my number cards. Many people have already made the switch, but that doesn't mean everyone is using them.
00:05:12 話者 3
A typical first step when visiting a hospital in Japan. As of September, about half of the patients in this one are using their My Number card to access health care.
00:05:30 話者 9
I can do anything with just one card, so it's convenient.
00:05:36 話者 3
But not everyone appears as enthusiastic. Japan's health ministry says, as of the end of October, about 80 percent of the population has a My Number Card.
Nearly 88 percent of those people have already registered their My Number Card as a health insurance certificate. But the usage rate is just about 37 percent.
NHK spoke with people still using the conventional health insurance card.
00:06:06 話者 8
This is the first time I'm hearing that my insurance card will no longer be valid.
I'm applying for a My Number Card now.
00:06:13 話者 7
I can still use my old insurance card, so I've left it as it is.
00:06:18 話者 6
I'm worried about carrying around my My Number Card. I have the impression that all of my personal info is tied to it, so I'm afraid that if I lose it, it could be misused.
00:06:29 話者 1
People who have not yet made the switch are not out of luck. Here's one option.
It's called a health insurance eligibility certificate. Basically, it's another card.
Health insurance associations and other parties can provide it.
People who show this certificate can get their treatment covered.
The health ministry says it wants to prevent confusion, so it has told medical institutions that even if patients bring conventional insurance cards, they will be able to receive treatment. That is, if the institutions can confirm the patient's eligibility.
This will be allowed until the end of next March.
But the government encourages people to switch to the MyNumber card system.
Residents, including foreign residents, can apply for one. It can be used as a driver's license, for identity verification, to receive government services, and more.
The government says the card also makes it easier to share medical information.
The health insurance system covers almost everyone, including foreign residents who meet requirements such as residing in Japan for more than three months.
To use a MyNumber card as a health insurance certificate, residents need to register it.
That can be done online or at most medical institutions and pharmacies.
If a patient gives consent, medical institutions they visit can access information on the drugs the patient has been prescribed, as well as their history of hospital visits.
So it saves time. Help is available for people trying to register their MyNumber card as their health insurance certificate.
They can ask their local government or health association.
There's also a call center with foreign language support.
The phone number is 0120017827. Support is available in English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Thai, Nepali, Indonesian, Vietnamese, and Tagalog.
BUSINESS
EXCAVATION BEGINS AT SITE BURIED IN MT. FUJI ERUPTION
Next, researchers in Japan want to learn more about what happens when Mount Fuji erupts. They're excavating a settlement buried in ash when disaster last struck more than 300 years ago.
Officials from the University of Tokyo in an institution in Yamanashi Prefecture are taking part. They started digging on Thursday.
00:09:10 話者 9
Mount Fuji could erupt again at any time. Research in areas where the damage would likely be severe could help people prepare for volcanic disasters.
00:09:25 話者 1
They're working in a district of Oyama Town, Shizuoka Prefecture.
The area lies about 10 kilometers east of the eruption in 1707.
The houses were buried by about three meters of ash.
The researchers discovered a pillar that was possibly charred by hot pumice.
They plan to study how the houses were built and look for evidence of fires.
They also want to determine how long it took for the structures to collapse under the ash.
00:10:02 話者 2
More in business news.
JAPAN CORPORATE PROFIT GROWTH NEARS 20% IN JUL .- SEP.
Japan's finance ministry says the combined ordinary profits of Japanese companies rose nearly 20% in the July through September period from a year earlier.
That's a record high for the quarter.
The ministry said the figure stood at about 27.5 trillion yen, or $177 billion.
Manufacturers saw a 23.4 percent jump, due mainly to a surge in profits in industrial robots and semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
But the figure for transportation equipment, including automakers, fell 14 percent due to the effects of the US tariff measures.
Non-manufacturers saw a 17.6% jump. Hotels and restaurants benefited from an increase in customers. A higher price per unit helped push up profits for constructors.
Capital investments climbed just under 3% due to the building of data centers on the back of growing demand for AI.
CHINA'S FACTORY ACTIVITY STUCK IN CONTRACTION FOR 8TH MONTH
China's factory activity remained in contraction for the eighth straight month in November. New orders were sluggish in the month, even as the US cut some tariffs on Chinese imports.
The National Bureau of Statistics says the Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index stood at 49.2. That's up two-tenths of a point from October, but is still below the 50-point threshold, separating growth from contraction.
The Bureau survey covered 3,200 manufacturers.
The gauges for large, mid-size, and small companies all remain below the 50 mark.
The index for non-manufacturers, which includes service providers, also pointed to sluggish economic conditions. It fell six-tenths of a point to 49.5.
That is the first time the index has slid below 50 since December 2022, when China's economy was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
ALL ABOARD JAPAN'S SHUT-DOWN TRAIN LINES
Local rail services across Japan are being reduced as passenger numbers drop, but a few of those are bouncing back in an entirely new form that's breathing life into their regions.
00:12:34 話者 3
These once-silent tracks in rural Kyushu's Takachiho town are thrumming again.
This open-top tourist train checks through the mountains on a 30-minute round trip, usually 10 times a day.
Up to 60 riders take in the view at a leisurely 15 kilometers per hour, until the high point of the journey.
(Japanese)
At over 100 meters tall, the old railway bridge was once Japan's highest.
And in a nod to social media, the driver fires a bubble gun to create some magical photos.
The shots have attracted attention from across Japan and around the world.
Last year saw a record 130,000 visitors board the train, but getting to this point hasn't been easy.
Since opening here around 50 years ago, the train was vital for local residents.
But after a powerful typhoon struck the region in 2005, it was clear the cost of repairs would be prohibitive, and the line was decommissioned.
Former employees and ordinary people pulled together to preserve what they could.
Their efforts ultimately helped bring the line back to life as a tourist attraction.
00:14:28 話者 9
We're doing it to revive the railway as a place for people to meet.
00:14:36 話者 3
Meanwhile, in Fukuoka Prefecture, the sight of another former line is also drawing crowds.
Its tracks long gone, the old railway in the town of Soeda is now a walking path through the forest. It leads to an adventure facility hidden among the trees.
Since opening two years ago, it has attracted young people and families from outside the prefecture as well.
Damage caused by torrential rains in 2017 rendered a section of track here unusable.
Local officials say the surrounding forest was then left to the wild.
The town purchased the land and areas around it for redevelopment.
00:15:36 話者 9
There were few opportunities to take pictures on the tracks.
00:15:41 話者 3
We've combined an unused station and an abandoned forest for the benefit of Soeda.
People have high hopes for the facility.
00:15:51 話者 3
Journeys like these prove that the termination of a service doesn't always have to be the end of the line. Instead, new hope and fresh purpose can bring people together again.
MARKETS
00:16:06 話者 2
All right, let's have a look at the markets.
♪
And that's it for business news.
DOWNPOURS KILL HUNDREDS IN SOUTHEAST, SOUTH ASIA
00:16:40 話者 1
Moving on, torrential rain is battering nations in South and Southeast Asia.
The downpours are causing deadly landslides on the western Indonesian island of Sumatra.
Indonesia's Disaster Management Agency said on Sunday at least 442 people have been killed and over 400 are still missing.
Parts of the region received over 300 millimeters a day during bouts of heavy rain last week. The extreme weather caused floods and landslides in many areas on the island.
Japan's foreign ministry says seven out of eight of the stranded Japanese nationals in Aceh Province were rescued by a small aircraft. The final person opted to stay.
Officials say there are no reports of injuries.
Meanwhile, heavy rain is causing damage in other parts of Asia.
Reuters is reporting 170 dead in Thailand after downpours there.
The news agency also says rain in Sri Lanka has left 212 dead.
It says Cyclone Ditwa caused landslides and floods when it struck the region.
OFFICIALS: 3 TO 4 WEEKS NEEDED TO IDENTIFY OTHER VICTIMS
The massive fire at a residential complex in Hong Kong has left at least 146 people dead and more than 40 unaccounted for.
Local authorities say it will take three to four weeks to recover and identify other victims.
The blaze broke out on Wednesday. It spread to seven of the eight towers at the site.
The complex is located in the northern district of Tai Po.
A local TV station aired photographs showing damage inside some of the rooms.
Authorities report they have finished searching five of the burned buildings.
But they say similar operations in the other two affected towers have been more difficult.
Mourners formed a long line at a park near the complex to pay tribute to the victims on Sunday. Visitors left written messages.
Some notes included words of encouragement for the people in Hong Kong.
Many also called for an investigation into the cause of the tragedy.
Hong Kong media outlets reported two more individuals were arrested on Sunday for alleged sedition.
The Chinese government's security agency in Hong Kong issued a warning on Saturday to stem possible anti-government activities.
It warned people will be punished under Hong Kong's national security law if they use the disaster as an excuse to cause disruptions.
NETANYAHU ASKS FOR PARDON IN LONG-RUNNING TRIAL
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been fighting charges of corruption and breach of trust for the past five years.
But he now wants the trial shut down with a pardon. He says it's in the national interest.
Netanyahu released a video statement on Sunday.
He says his lawyers have sent their requests to Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
Netanyahu calls for an immediate end to court proceedings.
He claims rifts are worsening because of the trial.
The presidential office released a statement saying Netanyahu's request carries significant implications and will be sincerely considered.
But some people are fuming.
An opposition party and a civic group say a pardon should not be granted without an admission of guilt from Netanyahu, who maintains his innocence.
Netanyahu is accused of giving favors to a local telecommunications company in exchange for positive coverage on an affiliated news website.
US President Donald Trump reportedly sent a letter to Herzog in November, urging him to pardon Netanyahu.
US, UKRAINE HOLD HIGH-LEVEL TALKS ON PEACE PLAN
Senior officials from the United States and Ukraine haven't yet reached a consensus on a US-drafted peace plan. Diplomats met Sunday in Florida to discuss an end to the war between Ukraine and Russia.
Rustem Umirov is Ukraine's Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council.
He sat down with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Rubio said striking the deal wasn't just about reaching a ceasefire.
00:21:08 話者 4
This is not just about peace deals. It's about creating a pathway forward that leaves Ukraine sovereign, independent and prosperous.
00:21:15 話者 5
We are looking forward to have a successful, productive meeting today.
00:21:21 話者 1
Rubio and Umirov told reporters their meeting was productive. But Rubio said there is more work to be done, holding the peace plan delicate and complicated.
He suggested further discussions involving Russia would not be easy.
It's believed that Ukraine sought changes to the plan when officials met in late November.
The terms of the peace deal remain a sticking point for Russia and Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a message on social media after Sunday's talks.
He said all issues were discussed openly and with a clear focus on ensuring Ukraine's sovereignty and national interests.
Witkoff is expected to visit Russia this week to meet President Vladimir Putin.
RUSSIA HIKES FEE ON IMPORTED VEHICLES
Russia has sharply increased the fee it places on imported vehicles.
The move appears to be an attempt to help bankroll the country's invasion of Ukraine.
The measure took effect on Monday. Moscow has been raising its so-called recycling fee in phases. The charge is a fee for the vehicle's future disposal and applies to all vehicles, but only imported cars are actually affected.
That's because automobiles assembled in Russia are subsidized.
Many people in Moscow drive foreign-brand vehicles, such as those made in Germany.
But some fear car prices may spiral out of their reach. Declining sales in the Russian market have left domestic automakers with few options but to slash production.
Russia's largest auto manufacturer caught the work week for its factory employees from five days to four in late September as a result.
Employees are patient, but they are hoping that the situation will improve soon, so they can work overtime or on holidays.
Sanctions have been imposed on Russia's economy by Western and other countries, and its economy has been losing steam this year.
Analysts say the increased fee will give preferential treatment to firms that produce vehicles in Russia.
They add Moscow likely hopes the measure will help nurture the Russian auto industry and kick-start the economy.
WEATHER
It's time to check on the weather with our meteorologist, Jonathan Oh.
So, Jonathan, layers are quite important in Japan, as mornings have been chilly, but afternoons have been milder. Our things looking for Tuesday.
00:24:57 話者 4
Hello, we saw temperatures starting off quite chilly in the morning hours on Monday, but moving up into near 20 degrees in some locations.
Tokyo certainly felt quite mild, and that's above average for this time of year.
The exception to that is up to the north, where we're dealing with cooling temperatures, and we're talking about the possibility of seeing snow as we go overnight into the day on Tuesday.
We do have a milder pattern across Japan, and it looks like as we head into the day on Tuesday, temperatures are going to be in the upper teens from Tokyo into Fukuoko, 26 Naha.
But that wet weather pattern, also possibly some snow pattern in the early morning hours in Saporo, it's caused by a cold front that's going to move on through.
So that's going to be a little bit different. But I mean, after that, look at this. Niigata is still also seeing highs at around 16 as we go through the day on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, bitter blast happening across a good portion of the United States and extending into Canada as well.
I want to show you some video, though, coming out of Chicago, where, yeah, we've been seeing a winter storm rolling through the Upper Midwest and into the Windy City, turning it into a land of white during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
At Brookfield Zoo, you just saw that bison didn't seem to be too bothered one way or another with that snow, while Tim the Brown Bear right there spotted rolling around in the white stuff.
But even though these guys were kind of enjoying the snow, it may have been a little more difficult for those in Chicago where O'Hare saw a decent amount of snowfall, the highest for the month of November.
And because of that, it caused some flight delays over a very busy travel weekend.
Now we are looking at more snow to develop as we see a low coming out from the desert Southwest combining with that cold air.
And as it does so, it will spread across into the Great Lakes and into the Northeastern United States, which means, yeah,
talk about winter weather situation, chilly weather, minus one in Toronto, also to Chicago, down to Oklahoma City, two degrees for the high with snow as you go through the day on Monday, so bundle up.
Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
00:27:40 話者 1
And that concludes this edition of NHK Newsline. Thanks for watching.
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