Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Ramin Mellegard in Tokyo.
HEAVY SNOW TO CONTINUE IN JAPAN
Weather officials have issued a heavy snow alert for Fukui Prefecture in central Japan.
They say the snowfall along the Sea of Japan coast could continue through Sunday.
Some areas are already seeing far more snow than yearly averages.
In the village of Sumon in Niigata Prefecture, over 250 centimeters has accumulated.
The Japan Meteorological Agency partly attributes the snowfall to what's known as the Japan Sea Polar Air Mass Convergence Zone.
Officials say up to 80 centimeters could fall in Niigata and Gifu prefectures and 70 centimeters in the Hokuriku and Tohoku regions in the 24-hour period through Sunday morning.
They say traffic disruptions are possible and that people should stay on alert for power outages, avalanches and snow falling from rooftops.
Drivers are advised to refrain from making non-essential journeys.
Some roads have already been closed as a precaution.
STARMER SLAMS TRUMP'S REMARKS ON NATO TROOPS
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has slammed US President Donald Trump's remarks on NATO troops sent to Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Starmer called them insulting and appalling.
00:01:42 (Ramin Mellegard)
The prime minister was speaking about comments Trump made in an interview with Fox Business Network's Morning with Maria on Thursday.
Trump said the US has never needed NATO, nor has it ever asked anything of the alliance.
00:01:56 (Donald Trump)
He continued, They'll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan or this or that, and they did. They stayed a little back, a little off the front lines.
00:02:06 (Ramin Mellegard)
His remarks have sparked a backlash in Britain, which lost 457 troops in Afghanistan.
The figure is the second highest following of the US fatalities.
00:02:18 (Keir Starmer)
I consider President Trump's remarks to be insulting and frankly appalling. And I'm not surprised they've caused such hurt to the loved ones of those who were killed or injured.
00:02:31 (Ramin Mellegard)
Stormer suggested the US president should make an apology.
CALIFORNIA TO JOIN WHO OUTBREAK NETWORK AFTER US WITHDRAWAL
The US State of California has announced that it will join the World Health Organization's network set up to respond to infectious diseases and public health threats.
The announcement that California will team up with the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network came one day after the Trump administration announced the US had completed its withdrawal from the WHO.
California's Democratic Governor, Gavin Newsom, called the move a reckless decision that will hurt all Californians and Americans and said a state will not bear witness to the chaos the decision will bring.
Last year, California, along with other states, announced that they would promote their own vaccine policies.
The move came after the Trump administration fired the then director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is in charge of measures against infectious diseases.
An official with the Department of Health and Human Services told NHK that California's move is a textbook case of Trump derangement syndrome.
The official said Newsom is reflexively opposing President Trump, even when the president is clearly putting Americans first.
FIRST TRILATERAL TALKS COVER TERRITORIAL ISSUES
The first day of the trilateral peace talks between the United States, Ukraine, and Russia has concluded. The two-day meeting began on Friday in the United Arab Emirates.
The Ukrainian delegation includes the chief of staff to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council.
Russia sent its chief of the military intelligence agency and other armed forces personnel.
They were joined by US special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Zelensky posted a video on social media saying the negotiators were discussing their parameters for ending the war.
00:04:32 (Volodymyr Zelenskyy)
It's still too early to draw conclusions, but we'll see how the conversation develops tomorrow and what results it produces.
00:04:40 (Ramin Mellegard)
Zelensky says that a key point of discussion is the eastern region of Donbas.
But Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has indicated that Russia will not compromise on the issue and that Ukraine's armed forces must leave the region.
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JAPAN DRAWS UP NEW POLICIES ON FOREIGN NATIONALS
Japanese leaders are shifting their policies on foreign nationals. They're enacting stricter requirements for obtaining Japanese nationality and measures to counter overtourism.
The relevant cabinet ministers drew up the policies at a meeting on Friday.
They're trying to achieve a society where Japanese and foreign nationals can live safely and prosper together. And they want to see that happen based on Japanese laws.
Officials plan to launch a program for foreign residents to learn the Japanese language and other regulations.
They'll consider how participants do when screening them for residency status.
Foreign visitors with unpaid medical bills will face tougher scrutiny.
Officials plan to lower the standards for sharing such information with immigration authorities, and they'll keep track of the nationalities of anyone that moves into public housing.
The measures against overtourism include encouraging people to visit locations outside major sightseeing spots, and officials will track the purchases of new condominiums in large cities by buyers from overseas.
They plan to compile a framework of rules for real estate purchases by foreign nationals.
They'll do that by studying how other countries approach the issue.
And they're considering a plan to nationalize remote islands whose owners are unknown.
Officials say Japan will accept up to around 1.23 million foreign workers by March 2029 under two programs. One is for skilled workers, the other for trainees.
TWIN PANDAS DRAW A CROWD BEFORE LEAVING JAPAN
And the sole remaining giant pandas in Japan are returning to China early next week, and people are rushing to a zoo in Tokyo to bid them a fond farewell.
Twins Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei can still be viewed at Ueno Zoological Gardens through Sunday, but getting the chance to see them is by lottery only.
00:07:08 (visitor 1)
It will be tough here without any ponders. I've seen them come and go over the years, and it's hard to imagine that soon there'll be none.
00:07:22 (Ramin Mellegard)
Now, China sent giant pandas to Japan for the first time in 1972. It was a gesture to mark the normalization of diplomatic ties. Beijing maintains ownership of all pandas.
Suzuki Hitoshi has cared for Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei since they were born.
00:07:44 (Suzuki Hitoshi)
I want to say thank you to Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei. They are the first twin pandas born at Ueno Zoo, and they have provided so much joy to staff and visitors alike.
I'm really grateful.
00:08:00 (Ramin Mellegard)
The pandas will leave the zoo on Tuesday.
They're set to arrive at a breeding facility in China the day after.
And those are the top stories for this hour.
WEATHER
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
And that is a wrap for this edition of NHK Newsline. I'm Ramin Mellegard.
Thank you very much for joining us.
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