Hello and welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Ross Mihara in Tokyo with the stories at this hour.
DEATH TOLL CONTINUES TO RISE IN WAKE OF STORM
There are more than 1,300 confirmed deaths across Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand following last week's torrential rain, floods and mudslides.
On Sumatra Island in western Indonesia, there are 744 confirmed fatalities, with 551 still missing.
More than half a million people are said to have been forced from their homes by flooding in North Sumatra province.
00:00:39 話者 9
I'm unable to return home. I'm alone, and I don't know what has happened to my children.
00:00:46 話者 1
The Indonesia Disaster Management Agency's rescue and relief operations have been aided by the military and others.
But their efforts are stymied by the destruction of roads in many of the affected areas.
Restoring infrastructure is a major challenge. In Sri Lanka, the Disaster Management Center has reported 465 fatalities. More than 360 are still missing.
More than 20,000 people there have been evacuated from their homes.
It appears the central city of Kandi has suffered the most damage. NHK spoke to a Japanese tourist traveling near Kandi with his parents when the disaster struck.
00:01:28 話者 2
The floodwaters prevented us from returning to our hotel.
Our driver tried to drive the car through the high water, but it flooded the engine and killed it. I climbed onto a nearby military structure and pulled my parents up after me.
I felt like I was facing death.
00:01:51 話者 1
He said it took them two days to get to the airport, traveling by bus and boat.
JAPANESE MEDICAL TEAM TO AID IN SRI LANKA
Japan's overseas aid agency has sent a medical team to one of the countries, Sri Lanka.
About 30 members of the medical team, including doctors and nurses, gathered at Haneda Airport before their departure on Wednesday.
Sri Lanka's ambassador to Japan, PV Todu Janak Kumarasinha, and officials from JICA, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, came to see them off.
00:02:23 話者 8
Words cannot explain the way that you have helped, the way that you came forward whenever, wherever we need. Thank you.
00:02:35 話者 1
The medical team is expected to spend around two weeks treating injured people in the western town of Chila, which was severely damaged by the disaster.
00:02:47 話者 7
We'd like to provide our heartfelt support to those requiring medical care.
00:02:57 話者 1
Iwase said hospitals in the affected region have also been badly damaged.
RESCUERS STRUGGLE TO REACH DISASTER-HIT AREAS
Torrential rain has also caused extensive damage in southern Thailand, and officials have recorded 170 deaths.
A lot of people are wondering how the situation in the region got to this level.
Earlier, I delved into this and more with NHK World's Takaoka Chikashi, who has been following the story from Bangkok.
Chikashi, first let's focus on rescue and recovery.
What can you tell us about how those efforts are going?
00:03:36 話者 3
Well, crews are facing two main challenges. The real extent of the damage, including casualties, is not yet clear, especially in Indonesia and Sri Lanka.
That's because of another big issue: access to some severely hit areas is still blocked due to damaged roads.
Indonesia's Samatra Island is a mountainous area.
Many people are still believed to be trapped, waiting for rescue.
And here in Thailand, the floods largely pummeled Hat Yai.
It's one of the country's most densely populated cities.
Water levels rose so quickly that many residents were forced to wait on roofs until they were rescued. It took several days for the water to recede,
After that, we learned that more than 100 people had been killed.
00:04:29 話者 1
Chikashi, South and Southeast Asia are prone to severe flooding, but what made the damage so intense and widespread this time?
00:04:39 話者 3
Well, to put it simply, the region saw a massive amount of rainfall in a short period of time, but we are talking unprecedented levels.
In fact, Thai officials say the hardest heat area in the south recorded its highest single-day rainfall in 300 years.
Rains had already battered parts of Southeast Asia, including the Philippines and Vietnam.
That was due to a series of typhoons earlier last month.
And in parts of Thailand and Indonesia, there have been reports of floods and landslides caused by seasonal rains.
But the huge rainfall since late last month is being blamed on a rather unusual combination of weather systems this year.
Experts point to the weather phenomenon known as La Nina.
It happens when waters of South America are cooler than normal.
That has brought a warm and wet atmosphere around the region.
And the cyclone developed around the Malacca Strait,
between Sumatra Island and the Malay Peninsula.
This Japanese weather official says it's rare for this to happen in the area near the equator.
00:05:56 話者 6
Winds around Southeast Asia are too weak to propel a cyclone significantly, so the storm moved very slowly.
The cyclone stayed for a long time and brought heavy rain to a wide area from the Malay Peninsula to Sumatra Island, with an average of more than 300 to 400 millimeters of rain.
00:06:19 話者 3
Experts also point to climate change as being behind the intensity and frequency of this extreme weather. Some of them say we must accept these events as our new normal and brace for the next one.
S.KOREA MARKS ONE YEAR SINCE FAILED MARTIAL LAW BID
00:06:42 話者 1
South Korea is marking one year since the short-lived Martial Law Declaration.
President Lee Jae-myong praised the people for overcoming the temporary military rule imposed by former President Yoon Suk-yeol.
00:06:56 話者 2
The South Korean people peacefully defeated unjust martial law.
They did so in accordance with the Constitution and the law.
What they did should be remembered in the history of global democracy for a long time.
00:07:14 話者 1
On the night of December 3 last year, Yoon declared martial law.
It only lasted around six hours, but prompted social turmoil.
Lee said large numbers turned out to protest the military and police personnel who forcibly closed the National Assembly. He called the resistance the revolution of light.
Former President Yoon was impeached after a ruling by the Constitutional Court and removed from office.
He was also indicted on charges of leading an insurrection and is currently standing trial.
He declared December 3 National Sovereignty Day to honor the people's courage.
He said those responsible for the martial law imposition must be punished.
OPENAI CEO REPORTEDLY DECLARES 'CODE RED' TO IMPROVE CHATGPT
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has reportedly declared a code red to call on employees to improve its flagship product, ChatGPT.
This comes as the firm faces increasing pressure from rivals in the generative AI field.
The Wall Street Journal says Altman instructed employees to delay other products and focus on enhancing ChatGPT.
He specifically called for increasing the chatbot's speed and reliability and enabling it to answer a wider range of questions.
A senior OpenAI official wrote on X that the company's focus is to keep making ChatGPT more capable, continue growing, and expand access around the world.
The program's release three years ago kick-started an era of intense competition in generative AI.
Google last month put out Gemini 3, the latest version of its AI model, and startup Anthropic is also speeding up development.
CHINA, RUSSIA 'REACH CONSENSUS' ON ISSUES CONCERNING JAPAN
China's foreign minister says talks with a senior Russian official on Tuesday reached a consensus between the two countries on issues related to Japan.
The discussion was widely viewed as part of an effort to jointly pressure Japan over its leader's remarks on Taiwan.
Wang Yi held talks with Russia's Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu in Moscow.
China's foreign ministry said the two sides conducted a strategic alignment on issues related to Japan and reached a high degree of consensus.
The ministry said the countries agreed to resolutely counter any attempts to revive fascism or Japanese militarism.
It stressed that China and Russia will shoulder shared responsibility as permanent UN Security Council members.
Russia's state-run TOS news agency quoted Shoigu as saying, Russia and China share a common understanding of the inadmissibility of attempts to falsify history.
The meeting comes as China steps up its opposition to remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae.
Last month, Takaichi said a Taiwan emergency involving the use of force could be considered a situation threatening the survival of Japan.
Wang also talked about China's stance on Japan when he met senior officials from Britain and France last week in a bid to gain broad support.
BUSINESS
Now for more business stories, here's Gene Otani.
00:10:25 話者 4
Ross, thanks at our top business story this hour.
JAPAN FIRMS SUE FOR REFUND IF US COURT RULES TARIFFS ILLEGAL
Major Japanese companies have filed lawsuits over US President Donald Trump's tariffs.
The firms are demanding refunds if the US Supreme Court rules that the levies are illegal.
The companies include Sumitomo Chemical, Toyota Tsusho, and Ricoh.
The US affiliates of the firms have filed suits with the US Court of International Trade.
The firms are seeking a declaration that the duties are unlawful.
They're also asking for a full refund from the US government if the tariffs are ruled illegal.
In August, a US appeals court upheld a lower court's decision and ruled that many of Trump's sweeping tariffs are illegal and void.
It said that the president had exceeded his authority.
Major US retailer Costco has filed a similar lawsuit demanding a full refund.
TRUMP HINTS TOP ADVISER HASSETT MAY BE FED CHAIR PICK
President Trump has indicated that he may have decided on the next chair of the US
Federal Reserve.
The search is still underway, but Trump's economic advisor, Kevin Hassett, appears likely to be the nominee to replace outgoing chair Jerome Powell.
Hassett currently serves as the director of the National Economic Council.
It advises the White House on policies for the economy.
00:11:54 話者 2
I guess a potential Fed chair is here, too. I don't know. Who is allowed to say that? Potential.
He's a respected person that I can tell you. Thank you, Kevin.
00:12:06 話者 4
US Treasury Secretary Scott Besset has been leading the process of picking Powell's replacement. The Fed chair's term is ending in May.
It was said that the candidates had been narrowed down to five, including Hassett, as well as former and sitting Fed governors.
Trump now says that his administration has narrowed the number of candidates down to one. He says they will probably make an announcement early next year.
Trump has taken issue with Fed Chair Powell's rate policy.
The US president has favored a faster pace for cuts. There is speculation that Trump's pick for a replacement will likely follow more closely to his stance.
TOKYO ELECTRON UNIT INDICTED OVER TSMC TRADE SECRETS CASE
Prosecutors in Taiwan have indicted a subsidiary of Japan's Tokyo Electron for obtaining trade secrets from the world's largest contract chip maker.
The Taiwan High Prosecutor's Office announced on Tuesday that the local unit had been charged with offenses that include violating Taiwan's security law.
A former employee of the firm was indicted with two others in August for allegedly illegally obtaining information on sensitive technology from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.
The prosecutors say the subsidiary failed to take adequate steps to prevent the illegal acts and should bear criminal liability as a legal entity. They are seeking a fine of 120 million New Taiwan dollars, or roughly 3.8 million US dollars.
The prosecutors have pledged to protect the lifeline of the economy and work with the industries to maintain Taiwan's core competitiveness.
Tokyo Electron says it is currently confirming the details of the announcement by Taiwanese authorities.
JAPAN CARMAKERS FOCUS ON INDIA AMID COMPETITION IN CHINA
Japanese auto and parts makers are strengthening sales and production in India.
They're betting on the country's growth potential as price competition in China intensifies with local firms.
Honda Mortar plans to launch an electric SUV model in India in 2027.
It aims to capture demand by lowering price tags.
Nissan Mortar also plans to roll out a new SUV there next year.
And auto parts maker NHK Spring has decided to dissolve two subsidiaries in China that produce and sell car seats
It plans to invest 10 billion yen, or about $64 million, in its Indian production site by 2030 to make motor cores for electric and other vehicles.
The Japan External Trade Organization says India's annual car sales topped 5 million units last fiscal year.
A carmaker executive says the South Asian country is an attractive market given the limited presence of Chinese rivals there.
ONLINE RETAILER ASKUL RESTORES CORPORATE SERVICES AFTER HACK
Major Japanese online retailer Askul says it has resumed taking orders from firms following a cyberattack in October.
However, its services for individuals remain suspended.
Askul officials say they have strengthened and confirmed the security of their systems.
The firm says that corporate customers may have to wait longer before receiving orders due to ongoing recovery work for logistics.
The company won't resume order shipments until mid-December at the earliest and only then from some locations.
Askul is still not taking orders for individuals. It plans to do so after shipments have resumed. The October 19 hack was a ransomware attack.
It leaked the names, emails, and phone numbers of its customers.
MARKETS
All right, let's have a look at the markets.
♪
And that's it for Business News.
IN FOCUS
00:16:48 話者 1
Next, let's go to my colleague Shibuya Aki for Newsline In Focus.
She has a story out of economic powerhouse India.
SUPPORTING VICTIMS OF BURNING INJUSTICE
00:16:57 話者 5
Despite economic and social successes, India struggles with cases of women being targeted in acid attacks that leave permanent physical and emotional scars.
Weak enforcement of laws and gender disparity reflect some factors behind this situation.
These days, survivors are increasingly taking matters into their own hands by setting up support centers while raising awareness so that no others suffer their fate.
00:17:30 話者 2
Shaheen Malik was twenty-six when her life took a gruesome turn.
At the time, the bright, confident woman was working as a student counselor while pursuing her MBA.
All had been going well until one day on campus, several men ambushed her.
The acid caused severe burns and claimed the vision in her right eye.
Police determined the attack was ordered by her work supervisor, who had young men carry it out. He was motivated by revenge after she rejected his advances.
Malik abandoned both her MBA and job, her life now taken over by constant medical treatment, including 25 reconstructive surgeries over the years.
Her case is not isolated. In India, more than 200 acid attacks are reported every year, though some estimate the figure to be higher.
A factor behind this is the easy weaponization of acids, found readily in inexpensive cleaning products.
Another is India's patriarchal society, where men are seen as dominant over women.
When this narrative is challenged, some seek revenge.
00:19:25 話者 9
There are many crimes like murder, rape, and throwing acid on her face is one such big crime because through this, his ego is satisfied.
He feels satisfied and he thinks that, okay, now her face is ruined, her life is ruined.
00:19:41 話者 2
But Malik refused to let her life be ruined. To support other survivors, she founded her NPO, Brave Souls, and a shelter that currently houses about 30 women.
Monies raised from crowdfunding help them start over, and vocational training is key.
They can learn English and other skills, such as computer science.
Professional teachers volunteer their time to tailor lessons to each individual's needs.
Acid scars go far beyond the physical, so mental health care is provided as many survivors struggle with PTSD.
One woman who rebuilt her life with Malik's help is Pooja Gupta.
At 18, she was attacked after rejecting a marriage proposal from her brother-in-law.
When she first arrived at Brave Souls, she could barely speak.
Gradually, she regained her confidence.
Gupta now teaches English and math at a public learning center.
Another source of strength is family.
Gupta, who married after the attack, lives with her husband and two children.
?
Gupta also campaigns to end acid attacks, often working with Malik and speaking at her event.
?
India began regulating acid sales in 2013, but it's still easy to buy.
It also ruled for imposing sentences on offenders to 10 years or more.
But trials drag on. Some suspects are released. Such factors fuel more attacks.
Despite the challenges, Malik and her team remain positive that change for the better is attainable.
?
00:23:04 話者 5
Experts call acid attacks acts of torture. Their purpose is rarely to kill.
The intention is inflicting lifelong physical and psychological suffering.
Malik and our MPL provide support beyond what we saw, including getting the survivors the compensation they deserve.
They're also pursuing legislation that would impose stricter penalties on offenders and making sure they're locked up behind bars.
Attacks with corrosives are not limited to India. Women in other parts of Asia also fall victim.
Showing incredible courage, Survivors are coming forward to show their faces and speak out.
Their efforts are raising awareness. It may be the best weapon for preventing these crimes.
And that's all from me.
AQUARIUM VISITORS THRILL TO ANIMAL-POWERED CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
00:24:09 話者 1
Visitors to an aquarium in central Japan are admiring Christmas illuminations that are powered by animals.
The five-meter-tall Christmas tree at the Toba Aquarium in Mie Prefecture twinkles with 2,000 LED bulbs.
CHRISTMAS TREE LIT BY EEL POWER
Beside the tree is a fish tank that houses three electric eels.
The tank is connected to the tree, and when the eels catch food or sense danger, they release electricity.
When aquarium staff feed the eels, the tree flickers to life.
00:24:46 話者 9
We hope our guests enjoy the spirit of the season through our unique Toba Aquarium Christmas tree.
00:24:56 話者 1
The eel-powered attraction will be on display until December 25.
WEATHER
It's time to check on the weather with our meteorologist, Jonathan Oh.
00:25:08 話者 6
Hello, we certainly saw the temperatures falling across Japan as we went through Wednesday as we saw a northerly flow moving on through and with some moisture mixed in with it, we're talking about some winter weather as well.
Here's a look at some of the video giving you an idea of how things looked on the ground as people in some parts of west Japan saw the season's first snow during the day Wednesday. Small hail was reported in Fotori City.
Low temperatures fell to 2 degrees during the daytime hours, making it the coldest of the season. 4 centimeters of snow fell in the mountainous areas of Hiroshima Prefecture, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Now, in preparation for possible heavy snow Wednesday night, some train services were canceled through Thursday morning.
Now, we're going into this kind of wintry pattern that's going to be lasting as we go through the next few days as that northerly flow pushes on through.
So folks along the Sea of Japan side, really getting doused with some snow as we go throughout the next couple of days. So be on the lookout for that.
The cold temperatures are likely to stay as well for the rest of the work week.
Might see a little bit of a reprieve as we head through the latter part of the weekend.
Here's Sapporo not even getting out of the freezing area as we go through Thursday, up to 7 by Saturday, 9 on Sunday.
Look at what's happening. Tokyo and Osaka and Fukuoka, 10, 11 degrees. Staying close to that for the next couple of days before temperatures start to moderate as we head toward Sunday.
Not just Japan that's dealing with the cold weather. Seeing some of that happening across the United States into Canada as well.
One low pressure just moving through the Great Lakes.
That's going to really fire up some more snow for those located in the area as you go through Wednesday and Thursday. Another low developing back toward the Rockies.
Also about to dump some snow to places like Denver.
Looking at some snow in Chicago and Toronto as well.
Rain to the Pacific Northwest with highs around 5 to 7 degrees as we go through the day.
Looking at what's happening across Europe, we have a system coming in from the west and a couple low pressure systems down to the south.
A big part of the story, though, is the cooler weather, single digit highs from Paris to Vienna and Warsaw as you go Wednesday.
Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
00:27:36 話者 1
I'm Ross Mihara in Tokyo and that's all we have for now on NHK Newsline.
Thanks for being with us.
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