at 18:00 (JST), December 05

20251205180000_english_1.mp3

 00:00:10 話者 1

Welcome back to NHK's Newsline. I'm Kanako Sachno.

POLICE ARREST 4 'MASTERMINDS' BEHIND ROBBERY SPREE

Japanese police say they've arrested four people suspected of being the masterminds behind a series of robberies around Tokyo.

They allegedly ordered people to break into other people's homes.

In one incident last year, a woman in her 50s was attacked at her home in Ichikawa City, east of Tokyo. The robbers stole her cash, bank card and car before fleeing the scene.

Police have already indicted those who did the actual break-in, but these four are believed to have said when and where to go and to assault the woman.

In all, police have arrested 51 people for their involvement in 18 such robberies around the Tokyo region.

But officials say this is the first time they've caught someone allegedly pulling the strings.

Police from Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures formed a joint task force to track them down.

00:01:07 話者 2

To respond to the victims' anger and the public's fear, we have worked tirelessly over the past year, which led to these arrests.

00:01:20 話者 1

Police say they examined about 750 confiscated smartphones, comparing the investigation to a puzzle.

JAPAN TO MAKE DISASTER INFO EASIER TO UNDERSTAND

Japan is planning to overhaul the way it conveys disaster information to the public.

The National Diet approved the legal revisions on Friday, following a unanimous decision by the Upper House.

The changes will involve the Japan Meteorological Agency and the Land Ministry, who will introduce standardised scales for different types of disasters.

Overflowing rivers, flooding caused by torrential rain, landslides and storm surges will now be graded from one to five.

The new system will combine an alert level with a corresponding name.

The changes come in response to concerns from experts who say the current system has too many information types without a unified naming pattern.

They argue it's too complicated to understand.

The agency plans to introduce the new scale in time for the rainy season next year.

The agency and the land ministry are expected to start informing local governments, nursing homes and other facilities about the changes.

JAPAN-SOUTH KOREA SUMMIT LIKELY TO BE IN NARA

The governments of Japan and South Korea are making arrangements to hold a bilateral summit in western Japan as early as mid-January.

The meetings are likely to be held in Nara Prefecture, Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae's home district.

In October, Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae-myong held their first official in-person meeting on the sidelines of the APEC summit in South Korea.

They also held one-on-one talks in November, while both leaders were in South Africa for the Group of 20 summit.

During those meetings, they agreed to develop a stable, future-oriented bilateral relationship.

They also agreed to continue face-to-face meetings when possible, engaging in what they described as shuttle diplomacy.

Lee said in their October meeting that it would be his turn to visit Japan next.

He added that he wanted to meet Takaichi somewhere outside Tokyo.

Observers believe Takaichi wants to invite Lee to her home prefecture as a gesture of trust.

The two governments are expected to set a date for the summit soon.

They'll take into consideration the Diet's schedule and other similar matters.

JAPAN AGAIN REBUTS CHINA'S CLAIMS OVER TAIWAN REMARK

Japan is continuing to push back against China's assertions about a remark Prime Minister Takaichi made in relation to Taiwan.

It has written to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for a second time after Beijing sent a second letter to him over the issue.

Last month, Takaichi said in the Diet, a possible Taiwan emergency involving the use of force could be considered a situation threatening Japan's survival.

Japan's permanent representative to the UN, Yamazaki Kazuyuki, presented his latest letter of rebuttal on Thursday.

It calls the assertions in Beijing's letter unsubstantiated and categorically unacceptable.

Yamazaki stressed that Japan will continue to contribute to international peace and stability as a peace-loving nation.

He added that Japan will continue to respond calmly through dialogue.

The letter will be circulated to all UN member states.

China's ambassador to the UN, Fu Cong, sent a letter to Guterres on November 21, demanding Takaichi retract her remark.

Japan then sent its own letter to the Secretary General on November 24th to rebut China's claims.

On Monday, Fu sent a second letter accusing Japan of trying to shift blame and repeating China's call for the retraction of Takaichi's remark.

BUSINESS

Now let's see what's happening in the world of business.

Here's Gene Otani from The Biz Desk.

00:05:08 話者 3

Kanako, thanks. In our top business story this hour, 

YIELD ON 10-YEAR JGB RISES TO 18-YEAR HIGH

the yield on Japan's benchmark government bond has hit an 18 year high as investors become convinced a rate hike by the Bank of Japan is just around the corner.

The 10-year bond yield rose to 1.95% on Friday. Yields on bonds rise when their prices fall.

The selling was driven by expectations that the BOJ will gradually raise interest rates starting this month.

Investors are also wary of Prime Minister Takeichi Sanae's expansive fiscal policy.

00:05:51 話者 9

We have kept a close eye on market trends to maintain financial sustainability so as not to lose the trust of investors.

We will continue holding in-depth dialogue with market participants for proper government bond management.

00:06:09 話者 3

Analysts say the faster pace of the yield's rise is starting to unsettle some investors.

Attention is focused on whether the rate will climb above 2%, which is a key psychological level.

JAPAN'S HOUSEHOLD SPENDING FALLS FOR 1ST TIME IN 6 MONTHS

Household spending in Japan dropped in October, posting its first year-on-year decline in six months. 

Shoppers, feeling the squeeze from rising prices, are cutting back on food items.

The Internal Affairs Ministry says expenditures by households of two or more people fell 3% from a year earlier. That's adjusted for inflation.

The average for the month was nearly 306,900 yen, or about $1,980.

Spending on food declined 1.1%, the fifth consecutive monthly drop.

People responded to price hikes by reducing outlays for beverages and alcohol

Communication expenditures fell 14.5%.

The ministry says more consumers switched to lower-priced mobile phone plans.

Spending on private transportation was also down 9%. That's the first decline in nine months. 

Drivers cut back on purchases of autos as many vehicles end. Used cars drew greater demand.

BIZ PICKS

Next, NHK World's Yanaka Maria is here with BizPix.

00:07:45 話者 4

Let's look at the business and economic stories we'll be tracking in the week ahead.

On Monday, the Japanese Finance Ministry releases its latest reading for the Current Account, a key gauge of trade and investment with the rest of the world.

On the same day, we'll get figures on China's trade balance for November.

And on Wednesday, the US Federal Reserve concludes its last meeting of 2025 and gives its policy decision.

FED FACES TOUGH DECISION IN YEAR'S LAST MEETING

The Fed cut its key rate by a quarter of a percentage point for the second straight meeting in October, citing a slowdown in the employment market as the primary reason.

Shirai Sayuri is a former Bank of Japan policy board member.

She says the lack of economic data caused by the recent US government shutdown may impact the Fed's judgment this time.

00:08:38 話者 5

November employment data will be released after an OMC meeting.

And then it's very difficult to make judgment.

In the meanwhile, the data such as new jobless claims, it's improving.

Some retail consumption data is showing not extremely bad.

GDP now produced by Atlanta Federal Reserve is very good.

So existing data is not really showing deterioration of US economy or employment condition.

I think it's better for Fed to maintain the status quo this time and wait until the data will be released. That should be an appropriate decision.

00:09:19 話者 4

Shirai points to another complicating factor, the heavy political pressure aimed at Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

00:09:28 話者 6

I'd be honest, I'd love to fire his ***. He should be fine. Guy's grossly incompetent.

You gotta work on him, Scott. The only thing Scott's blowing it on is the Fed.

Because the Fed, the rates are too high, Scott.

And if you don't get it, fix this, I'm going to fire your *** okay?

00:09:51 話者 4

Within a week, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent went on a business news channel to openly criticize the Fed's operations as well as speeches by its regional heads.

Bessent said the Fed should move back into the background.

00:10:08 話者 5

As far as I know, that is the first time the best who understands the market so clearly, who used to emphasize independence of federal reserve, you know, it's the first time to see this kind of very comprehensive criticism.

00:10:23 話者 4

Shirai says the pressure on the Fed is growing to the point where it could shape decisions.

And that's why many in the financial market expect another rate cut.

But she notes Powell should not be underestimated.

00:10:38 話者 5

Mr. Powell always emphasizes it's data-dependent.

It's very difficult for him to make decisions to lower interest rates.

When data doesn't really suggest severe deterioration of the labor market and the economy looks still okay, it may be possible that he may decide to maintain status quo.

00:11:01 話者 4

Shirai adds that the situation surrounding the Fed right now could mean a close vote by the policymakers.

I'm Yanaka Marie, and that wraps it up for this week's Biz Picks.

00:11:14 話者 3

Thanks.

MARKETS

All right, let's have a look at the markets.

♪

And that's a look at business news. Kanako, I'm going to hand it back to you.

00:11:46 話者 1

Thanks, Gene.

DIVISIONS REMAIN 1 YEAR AFTER S.KOREA MARTIAL LAW BID

Now, South Korea this week marked the anniversary of former President Yoon Seon-yeol's failed martial law bid.

December 3rd, 2024 was a day that kicked off months of political turmoil, ultimately leading to his ouster.

Earlier, I spoke with NHK World's Kim Chan-ju, who was near the National Assembly in Seoul.

Chan-ju, how did people mark the anniversary?

00:12:13 話者 7

With a show of pride, they celebrated the resilience of democracy.

It was also a time for reflection.

Many South Koreans remember exactly where they were that night.

The National Assembly behind me served as ground zero for the declaration and the fight against it.

The shock of those hours and the days that followed created what some now call a kind of martial law trauma. It's something that the nation had to process together.

That night was utter chaos.

People were afraid that their democracy was crumbling before their very eyes.

But it also showed the strength of civic action.

People took to the streets and the National Assembly quickly voted to lift martial law.

That prompted some observers to say it was the people who stopped the troops.

On Wednesday, people once again crowded in front of the assembly.

They remembered what Yoon did.

The Constitutional Court found his declaration was unconstitutional and illegal.

They pledged to ensure what he did never happens again.

Hundreds of ordinary South Koreans also got to relive that night.

The assembly hosted a so-called dark tour of the sites that played a crucial role during the six-hour standoff. Tickets sold out in just two minutes.

It has been a couple of days since the anniversary.

People tell me there is still a lot of division.

00:13:55 話者 8

I think people lack a proper sense of seriousness about what happened.

00:14:02 話者 2

The issue is whether the execution of martial law stayed fully within legal boundaries or went beyond them. That's why it has become a problem.

00:14:18 話者 8

Everyone has their own opinion. I don't think anyone is absolutely right or wrong.

I believe their arguments all have some validity.

00:14:31 話者 1

Now, as mentioned, Yoon lost his job, but the legal proceedings stemming from what happened aren't over yet. Can you tell us about that?

00:14:40 話者 7

The special counsel has indicted a significant number of individuals.

Multiple key figures from the former administration and the military have been arrested and indicted on charges related to the attempted imposition of martial law.

The most anticipated ruling is the verdict for impeached former President Yoon.

That's expected to be delivered sometime in February.

His wife and former First Lady Kim Kon-hee faces legal issues of her own.

Prosecutors are seeking a 15-year prison sentence on charges including bribery and fraud.

That verdict is set to come out on January 28.

The ruling Democratic Party is pushing for a second special counsel to investigate the martial law crisis and other allegations involving the couple.

Critics argue this is a political move ahead of next year's local elections and say it undermines trust in the police and judiciary.

00:15:48 話者 1

And how is the opposition People Power Party responding?

00:15:55 話者 7

Members continue to warn against what they call fabrication on insurrection narrative.

They remain critical of what they see as an excessive reliance on special probes and court proceedings.

Party leader Chang Dong-yeok spoke of responsibility, but stopped short of a formal apology for the martial law declaration.

Instead, he blamed the Democratic Party for what he called parliamentary tyranny.

00:16:26 話者 9

It is the Democratic Party that should be dissolved.

Only when we unite can we fight alongside the people.

00:16:34 話者 7

Notably, a group of reform-minded younger PPP lawmakers and the floor leader issued separate apologies.

This highlighted a deep split between the party's mainstream and reformist wings.

There are some conservative groups that continue to support Yoon and his martial law declaration.

Experts say the PPP leader's refusal to apologize reflects an attitude that hinders any real renewal within conservative politics.

They also warn that catering to Yoon's supporters is likely to deepen partisan divisions between the ruling and opposition camps.

The political wounds are still visible, but many say the past year has also put a spotlight on the resilience of South Korea's democracy and people's determination to move forward.

WAR IN UKRAINE
PUTIN SAYS US PEACE PLAN HAS POINTS HE CAN'T AGREE TO

00:17:30 話者 1

Russian President Vladimir Putin has described his recent talks with a US special envoy over a plan to end the fighting between Russia and Ukraine as very productive, but he said there were some points that were unacceptable to Moscow.

Putin's comments came in an interview conducted by an Indian media outlet ahead of his visit to India.

He was referring to his meeting in Moscow on Tuesday with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

Russia's presidential office released the full text of the interview on Thursday.

In response to a reporter's question, Putin acknowledged that there were some points of disagreement without giving details.

He added that he's absolutely certain that US President Donald Trump is sincere in trying to bring about a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

NYT SUES PENTAGON OVER REPORTING RESTRICTIONS

The New York Times has sued the US Defense Department and its top officials over new restrictions on reporting.

The paper argues the rules violate the freedom of the press, guaranteed under the Constitution.

The Times filed the lawsuit with a federal district court in Washington on Thursday to overturn the restrictions.

The rules allow authorities to revoke press passes if media outlets ask for information that has not been authorised by the Pentagon.

Trump's administration presented the policy in October and urged reporters to renew their press credentials. Most of the media outlets refused to consent.

Only a small number of journalists who agreed to accept the new rules were allowed to attend a Defence Department news conference on Tuesday.

The newspaper said the policy is an attempt to exert control over reporting the government dislikes.

It expressed its determination to vigorously defend against the violation of these rights.

The Pentagon told NHK that it looks forward to addressing these arguments in court.

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY LOOKING TO FOSTER JAPANESE TALENT

Taiwan leads the world in production of cutting-edge semiconductors, and Japan is one of its major destinations for its overseas expansion.

But how can the industry achieve its goal given Japan's shortage of human resources?

NHK World's Matsuda Tomoki reports.

00:19:43 話者 2

This university in Taiwan began full-faced operation of a program for Japanese students in September.

Its 17 participants learn specialized knowledge needed for making semiconductors such as mechanical engineering and production management.

Classes are taught in Chinese and English. Thanks to corporate donations, the students are free exempt from the tuition of about $15,000 for four years.

They can even receive $320 per month for living expenses.

00:20:28 話者 9

I'm learning things I never would have in Japan.

The program allows me to do things on my own.

00:20:36 話者 2

The Taiwanese side is eager to attract students from Japan.

The world's largest chip maker, TSMC, aims to open its second factory in the country.

00:20:51 話者 8

Semiconductor makers need a lot of workers, but conventional universities cannot keep up in developing human resources.

00:21:01 話者 2

Universities in Taiwan and Japan are also working together.

This one, in what's known as Taiwan's Silicon Valley, has signed an agreement with four Japanese universities to foster talent to lead high-level research and development.

They jointly set up a research institute. Ono Shinjiro has been studying at a graduate school in Japan, but he does research here to create next-generation semiconductors.

A clean room, which is essential for making semiconductors, is available around the clock.

The equipment is the same as that used at company development sites.

00:21:52 話者 6

This is an ideal environment for me to conduct experiments whenever I want.

00:21:58 話者 2

During class, students sometimes have discussions with officials from Taiwanese companies.

The aim is to learn how to connect new technologies to business.

00:22:14 話者 6

He's learning about the need to develop markets and competitive products.

Being in an environment close to companies and industries got me thinking about things from all angles. It has really changed my mindset.

00:22:33 話者 2

The university plans to accept more Japanese students.

00:22:38 話者 6

We will work together to develop basic technology for next-generation semiconductors.

It will be a win-win relationship for Taiwan and Japan.

00:22:52 話者 2

Cultivating human resources takes time.

But by deepening industrial and academic cooperation with Japan, Taiwan's semiconductor industry hopes to maintain its position as the world's leader.

Matsuda Tomoki, NHK World.

♪

00:23:39 話者 1

Now let's take a look at the weather. Japan is being hit by the season's strongest cold wave so far. Our meteorologist Yumi Hirano has the details.

00:23:48 話者 8

Tokyo had its coldest morning of the season. The temperature dropped to 1.2 degrees on Friday morning, and parts of eastern Japan have been experiencing heavy snowfall.

Heavy snow piled up in Niigata Prefecture late this week. In one part of our prefecture, the depth of snow went from zero on Wednesday to over 60 centimeters by Friday.

The snow accumulation is five times greater than usual.

On the local highway, a vehicle with non-snow tire became stranded.

Officials are asking drivers to use winter tires and carrier chains.

Fortunately, the snow is expected to ease, and sunny skies will soon be back in Niigata and Sapporo, but people in Hokkaido and Hokuriko should watch out for avalanches.

Tokyo will stay on the dry side, with a high of 12.

A high-pressure system is likely to cover not only Japan, but also the Korean Peninsula and eastern China.

But for the south, people in the Philippines need to monitor a tropical depression.

The system is likely to move toward eastern besides, bringing gusty winds and high waves.

Downpours could be also a big concern. Up to 200 millimeters of rain is possible by Saturday and another 200 millimeters by Sunday.

There is a risk of flash floods and landslides.

Finally, in Europe, severe weather has been reported across the Balkans, with wind gusts exceeding 200 kilometers per hour, and Athens had over 150 millimeters of rain in just 11 hours.

Severe conditions will continue due to a slow-moving low-pressure system near the Balkans. Isolated downpours and gusty winds are still likely.

That's it for now. Stay safe.

BRAVING WINTER CHILL TO MAKE RICE CAKES AT YAMAGATA TEMPLE

00:26:40 話者 1

One last story before we go.

Men clad only in traditional garb braved the winter chill on Thursday to pound sticky rice into mochi rice cakes at a temple in northeastern Japan's Yamagata Prefecture.

The men gathered at Sengenji Temple in Yonezawa City to carry on the annual tradition.

Legend has it that a bumper harvest occurred about 380 years ago after farmers sprinkled sand from the temple onto their crops.

They then offered mochi at the temple to express their gratitude.

The men wielded mallets to mash steamed rice into dough while chanting.

They finished the ritual by smashing the mochi onto the ceiling.

The mochi was then divided and topped with sweet red bean paste.

The rice cakes were served to worshippers, including local elementary school students.

And that wraps up this edition of NHK Newsline. I'm Kanako Sachno in Tokyo.

Thanks very much for joining us.

checked.

at 18:00 (JST), December 04

20251204180000_english_1.mp3

 00:00:10 話者 1

Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Yoko Nishimura in Tokyo with the latest news.

DEATH TOLL AT LEAST 1,400 IN SOUTH, SOUTHEAST ASIAN FLOODS

We begin our newscast with the lethal weather once again slamming South and Southeast Asia. Torrential rain has left hundreds dead and missing since late last month.

The damage comes as thousands more are still trying to pick up the pieces after a severe typhoon tore through yet another part of the region in November.

In Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand, intense downpours have triggered deadly floods and mudslides in recent days, killing at least 1,400 people and dealing a blow to the local economies.

At least 770 have died in Indonesia and more than 400 are missing.

Severe local environmental or several local environmental groups have said forced logging on Sumatra island made the damage worse.

They're calling on the government to take measures.

The Indonesian government says it will examine forest management.

More than half a million people have been displaced in North Sumatra province amid widespread flooding. At one evacuation center, heavy rain on Tuesday night flooded a tent, forcing evacuees to take shelter in a roofed parking area.

00:01:28 話者 2

This is the worst damage I've ever experienced. My house was flooded after an embankment collapsed. I need materials to rebuild and basic daily necessities.

00:01:41 話者 1

Some residents who have returned home are cleaning up.

One man says he has been unable to work and has lost his income.

He says it is now harder to secure food and daily necessities than when he was at the evacuation centers.

Heavy rain has also hit Sri Lanka and Thailand.

In these two countries, at least 650 people have been confirmed dead.

In Sri Lanka, about 350 remain unaccounted for.

FLOODS BRING ECONOMIC LOSSES

The flooded areas are facing huge economic losses due to heavy rain concentrated in November.

Many residences and commercial facilities were washed away by heavy rain that has pounded southern Thailand since November.

The downpours also flooded rubber planting areas, which provide natural rubber for making tires and other products.

The Thai government says damage caused by the disaster is estimated at 500 billion baht, or about 15.7 billion dollars.

Indonesian flooding destroyed not only a large number of homes, but also infrastructure, including roads and bridges. Vast farmlands were also submerged.

Indonesian think tank the Center of Economic and Law Studies estimates that economic losses exceed 68 trillion rupiahs, or over four billion dollars.

UNDP OFFICIAL CALLS FOR STRONGER REGIONAL COOPERATION AFTER FLOODS

NHK spoke with Kanni Wignaraja, director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, at the United Nations Development Program.

She is now in Sri Lanka, where she says the flooding is beyond anything she has seen before.

Wignoraja calls the destruction devastating, with heavy loss of life and widespread damage to infrastructure.

She says insufficient preparedness contributed to the severity of the disaster.

00:03:32 話者 3

Look at flood management systems and infrastructure. 

These have to be done with materials and with design and technology that can withstand much, much harsher climate action.

00:03:49 話者 1

Sri Lanka, like many other countries, needs to strengthen its infrastructure to prepare for increasingly severe disasters. But official development assistance is shrinking.

Vignaraja says stronger regional cooperation is essential to reduce inequalities and to strengthen public goods locally and globally.

CEBU STILL STRUGGLING ONE MONTH AFTER TYPHOON

Elsewhere in Asia, floodwaters stemming from a typhoon one month ago have dropped, but the struggle continues.

The Philippines is dealing with widespread destruction in central areas.

More than 260,000 people are still living in evacuation shelters and an earlier disaster has compounded the situation.

The resort areas of Cebu saw extensive damage. Authorities say 253 people died and more than 100 remain missing. Over 180,000 are still displaced in Cebu.

Recovery has especially been complicated.

That's because of a magnitude 6.9 earthquake that hit at the end of September.

It killed 79 people and severely damaged infrastructure, including roads and hospitals.

Earlier, I spoke with NHK World's Kondo Yukari, who was in Cebu reporting on the ongoing need and the recovery efforts.

Now you've been speaking with people in Bogo City, which is one of the hardest hit areas.

What are they telling you?

00:05:25 話者 4

They say they're exhausted. But these back-to-back disasters have taken a huge toll.

So people are trying to move on, but there's still so much recovery ahead.

So look at this area behind me. It's normally for sports and events, but believe it or not, this is Boca City Hall.

It's a makeshift version of it, anyway. So employees have to work outdoors.

The situation in Cebu is also difficult for people in evacuation centers.

So I visited a couple this week. So many families are having to share tents with other families. So many essential items are still in short supply.

So evacuates say they need water, diapers, and sanitary products. And they're dealing with all this amid daytime temperatures that reach close to 30 degrees Celsius.

00:06:13 話者 3

There are still three families, seven or eight people, all living in one tent.

With no breeze passing through, I think the conditions must be extremely harsh.

00:06:27 話者 4

So Uchiyama Junko is Japanese. So she runs a nonprofit organization providing educational support for children in the region.

So she visits evacuation centers to understand the needs of disastrous victims and deliver essential supplies. I went with Uchiyama, and her team handed out sanitary pads.

But they're one of the most requested items.

So people have to live in clamped conditions.

So this woman lives with two other families in this tent, including two babies.

So 13 people in total. So she says her house was swept away by the flood.

00:07:05 話者 9

That is why we are here. It hurts my heart. that we no longer have a house.

We don't have a house anymore. It breaks my heart.

00:07:21 話者 4

It's also worth mentioning how scared people still feel. The aftershocks have continued, and that prompted some to remain in shelters instead of returning home.

00:07:33 話者 1

Right, Yukari, a sad but important reminder of the lingering mental effects.

Now, what about the recovery efforts?

00:07:44 話者 4

So the government officials said recovery will take time.

So they point out that many people are still grieving the loved ones they lost.

In regard to a typhoon, so people are still missing, and some laws are cut off by landslides.

So those issues need to be resolved first.

For the earthquake, they say a damage assessment is nearly complete.

But as mentioned, the aftershocks continue, so officials say the situation has to be stabilized first before they can rebuild.

CHINA REACTS SHARPLY TO NEW US LAW ON TAIWAN RELATIONS

00:08:20 話者 1

China has reacted sharply after US President Donald Trump signed into law a bill on his country's relations with Taiwan.

The Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act was signed by Trump on Tuesday.

It requires the US State Department to review its guidelines on relations with Taiwan at least every five years. The US and Taiwan do not have official diplomatic relations.

Taiwan's presidential office expressed gratitude for the move, saying the law supports closer Taiwan-US relations. But China's foreign ministry spokesperson had this to say:.

00:08:57 話者 2

China firmly opposes official exchanges between the US and China's Taiwan region in any form.

00:09:04 話者 1

The spokesperson also urged the US not to send any wrong signals to Taiwan independent separatist forces.

WAR IN UKRAINE
UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION: RETURN UKRAINIAN CHILDREN

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution calling for the immediate return of Ukrainian children who have been taken to Russia.

The Ukrainian government says Russian forces have removed more than 19,000 children from Russian-occupied areas and other parts of Ukraine since Moscow's invasion began in February 2022.

The draft resolution submitted on Wednesday demanded Russia ensure the immediate, safe and unconditional return of the children.

Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa claims the children are being taught to hate their own country.

She said the names of many have been changed, including through adoption by Russian families, so they may never be traced.

Russia's representative claimed that the adoption of children is a temporary guardianship measure.

The official described the resolution as mendacious and nothing more than mere paper.

The resolution was adopted with support from 91 countries.

Twelve voted against, including Russia, while 57, including China, abstained.

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2023, accusing him of committing the war crime of unlawful deportation and transfer of children from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia.

ISRAEL AND LEBANON JOIN TALKS

Israel has dispatched a high-ranking official to join talks in southern Lebanon regarding the ceasefire agreement between the two countries.

Israel has continued attacks against Hezbollah, which is currently based in Lebanon.

The US embassy in Beirut announced on Wednesday that the Israeli official and a representative from Lebanon met in southern Lebanon.

They joined a meeting of the Multilateral Committee promoting cessation of hostilities in the region. The two countries do not have diplomatic relations.

Israeli media have reported that the move is in response to mounting pressure from the United States to keep the truce in place.

The Israeli Prime Minister's office announced that they want to establish a basis for a relationship and economic cooperation between Israel and Lebanon.

00:11:30 話者 4

This is a historic development. Be in no doubt that this direct meeting between Israel and Lebanon took place as a result of Prime Minister Netanyahu's efforts to change the face of the Middle East.

00:11:44 話者 1

Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has continued since 2023, even as a ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon, mediated by Washington, came into effect in November last year.

The ceasefire has not stopped Israeli forces from carrying out air raids against Hezbollah in Lebanon, claiming that the group is continuing military activities.

TRUMP REPEATS WARNING OF POSSIBLE LAND STRIKES ON VENEZUELA

US President Donald Trump has again warned of possible military strikes on drug manufacturing bases and other targets in Venezuela.

Since September, his administration has attacked several boats it alleges were carrying drugs in waters off the country's coast.

00:12:26 話者 10

Very soon we're going to start doing it on land, too, because we know every route, we know every house.

00:12:32 話者 1

He added that the US knows where the drugs are manufactured. Washington has been claiming that smuggling large quantities of drugs amounts to an act of terrorism.

In other steps, the US Treasury Department announced on Wednesday it is sanctioning individuals and groups that support a Venezuelan drug cartel.

Separately, the US State Department is offering up to $5 million for information that could lead to the arrest of the organization's leader.

BUSINESS

Now, to tell us what's happening in the world of business, here's Jean Otani from The Biz Desk.

00:13:10 話者 5

Yoko, thanks in our top business story this hour.

CANCELLATIONS SURGE AT HOT SPRING INNS IN NORTHEASTERN JAPAN

Cancellations have been surging at hot springs resorts in Japan's northeastern prefecture of Akita following repeated sightings of wild bears.

At one inn in Odata City dating back over 130 years, more than 300 bookings have been withdrawn since mid-October. The establishment is famous for its open-air baths.

Cancellations started soaring in October after a fatal bear attack at a hot spring inn in neighboring Iwate Prefecture.

To keep the animals away, the one in Odate cut down chestnut trees and cleared undergrowth on the compound.

But the inn's president says sales in October still plunged by around 30 percent from a year earlier. The property is now taking additional measures.

One of them is installing fences to protect guests and staff.

This was no easy decision as the property is known for its stunning views.

Barriers have also been placed along the outdoor corridor leading to the baths.

Firecrackers are sent off twice a day, right before check-in time and right after check-out.

The inn has spent over a million yen, or around $6,500, this season alone.

00:14:45 話者 9

It was finally a time when the impact of the coronavirus pandemic had ended. So the rise in cancellations was a great shock, coming right in the middle of the peak season.

00:14:56 話者 5

Ishikawa says the only thing his business can do is keep taking regular measures to deter the bears so guests can enjoy themselves free of worry.

WASEDA UNIVERSITY PLANS TO RAISE FEES FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS

NHK has learned that Waseda University plans to increase tuition fees for overseas students, citing rising costs.

The university's plan is in line with practices in many academic institutions in other countries, which charge higher fees for international students.

As of May last year, Waseda had more than 5,500 students from overseas, the highest of any educational institution in Japan.

Currently, non-Japanese students pay the same fees as locals, even though Waseda officials say they receive a variety of support services that add to costs.

The officials say the size of the fee increase and when it will be introduced is still being considered.

Waseda won't be the first in Japan to introduce a two-tier tuition structure.

Earlier this year, Tohoku University said fees for international students will increase to 70% more than Japanese students.

Hiroshima University has also said it will increase tuition costs.

Education ministry officials said tuition fees at Japanese universities are relatively low compared to overseas.

The University of California charges international students about 3.4 times as much as domestic students.

Foreign students at the U.K.'s University of Oxford pay about three times more.

JAPAN'S POWER-FROM-SEAWATER PROJECT ATTRACTS GLOBAL ATTENTION

Generating round-the-clock clean electricity straight from the sea.

That's the promise of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion, or OTEC.

The technology taps temperature gaps in seawater to generate power, and a test facility on a remote Japanese island is attracting international attention.

00:17:02 話者 3

The facility sits next to the sea on Kumejima Island in Okinawa Prefecture.

00:17:11 話者 2

This white pipe contains deep ocean water.

00:17:18 話者 3

Okinawa and Kumejima funded construction of the plant based on Saga University research and technology.

OTEC takes advantage of the 20-degree temperature difference between surface seawater and colder water pumped up from more than 600 meters.

The warmer water is used to turn liquids with low boiling points, such as ammonia, into vapor to spin a turbine and generate power.

The colder water turns the vapor back into liquid, so the cycle continues.

The test plant produces just 100 kilowatts, but it has provided a stable electricity supply for over 10 years. Saga University Professor Ikegami Yasuyuki is a leading expert on OTEC.

00:18:11 話者 2

When I open this vapor valve, the pressure will rise and rapidly spin the turbine.

This is how it generates electricity.

00:18:22 話者 3

The university has studied ocean energy for about 50 years to find alternative sources to fossil fuels. It identified Kumejima as an ideal site where warmer and deep ocean seawater is easily available.

00:18:40 話者 2

The biggest advantage of the system is it can generate stable electricity supply 24 hours a day, regardless of the weather. This is how it provides a baseload power source.

00:18:52 話者 3

The next stage is to expand the test facility to a commercial use plant.

A shipping company has joined with the university to achieve this.

However, OTEC is a costly method for generating power.

The university started recycling seawater to offset these costs.

Cold seawater warms up after use and becomes ideal for marine farming.

It's being used on Kumejima to grow a type of edible seaweed known as sea grapes.

The island is now Okinawa's leading producer. The water is also used for onshore oyster farming. 

Another facility opened in spring to use the water to farm other types of seaweed used in food and medicine.

These businesses generate about $17 million a year and have created about 140 jobs.

The additional revenue helps cut the cost of generating power.

Japan's research into OTEC is benefiting other nations.

A facility designed by Saga University started operation in Malaysia in October last year.

Officials from the Pacific island nation of Palau visited Kumejima and plan to build their own plant.

00:20:19 話者 2

I would like the research at Saga University to help not just people in Komejima, but many others around the world.

There are many people struggling from shortages of electricity.

00:20:31 話者 3

The technology nurtured over decades in Saga University is now doing its part to build a world based on sustainable energy.

MARKETS

00:20:40 話者 5

All right, let's have a look at the markets.

♪

And that's a look at business news. Yoko, I'm going to hand it back to you.

00:21:16 話者 1

Thanks, Gene.

HONG KONG FIRE
AFTERMATH OF HIGH-RISE COMPLEX BLAZE

More than a week has passed after a massive fire engulfed a high-rise residential complex in Hong Kong. 

The death toll has risen to 159. About 30 people remain missing.

The blaze erupted on November 26, tearing through seven of the eight skyscrapers in the complex. More than 2,000 people have been displaced.

Residents of the single structure that escaped the fire were temporarily allowed to enter it on Wednesday to retrieve their belongings.

Search operations have continued through the buildings, including the one where the fire is believed to have broken out.

00:22:03 話者 4

The search of the seven buildings has been completed. But unfortunately, we still have not been able to make contact with 31 people.

00:22:16 話者 1

Mourners continue to visit the area amid deepening public sorrow.

People are asking how the blaze turned so catastrophic.

00:22:28 話者 4

Residents must be wanting to know the truth, why the fire spread so quickly to so many buildings.

00:22:38 話者 1

Officials have revealed that protective mesh around the building's scaffolding did not meet fireproofing standards.

Flammable polystyrene foam was also being used in renovation work.

The government has said it will set up an independent panel to investigate the cause of the blaze, issues around safety compliance and how the project was supervised.

TWO MISSING AFTER FISHING BOAT CAPSIZES SOUTH OF OKINAWA

A Japanese fishing boat has capsized in the Pacific off the coast of Miyakojima, a southern island in Okinawa prefecture. The two people on board are both missing.

The Japan Coast Guard says it received a call around 4 a.m. on Thursday from the prefecture's Fishery Radio Association.

The fishing boat's operator had reportedly informed another vessel that its craft was in danger of sinking.

At aroud 7:30 a.m., the Coast Guard spotted a capsized boat about 115 kilometers south of Miyakojima Island.

The Japanese captain and an Indonesian national were known to be on board before the accident. They remain unaccounted for.

The local fisheries cooperative identified the campsite's vessel as a Daihachi Michitake Maru. The boat reportedly left port on November 30 to fish for diamond squid.

STUDENTS HELP NEW YEARS SPIRIT BLOOM WITH RICE CAKE FLOWERS

Elementary students in central Japan are helping to bring a little spring spirit to the new year. They're learning how to make hanamochi, a traditional rice cake flour.

Fifth graders in Takayama City got hands-on with a local expert Tuesday.

Red and white rice cakes are sliced into strips and wrapped around branches like flowers.

It's a traditional New Year's ornament in the region. These cakes were made using rice the students planted themselves, with help from local farmers.

00:24:35 話者 8

I wasn't able to do it very well, but it's fun to make it with everyone.

00:24:41 話者 1

The students will take some of the hanamochi home. The rest will be given to the farmers who help them or gifted to nearby welfare facilities.

WEATHER

Now let's check out the weather. It's been a cold day here in Tokyo and it feels wintry across Japan. Our meteorologist Yumi Hirano has the details.

00:25:02 話者 6

Strong cold air has moved in and the first snow of the season has been reported at

19 locations across Japan, not only Hokuriku, but also Chugoku and Shikoku saw some snowfall.

In Shizuoka, the snow has arrived more than a month earlier than our village.

Some areas in the country even saw heavy snowfall.

In Nikko, a famous tourist city in Tochigi Prefecture, up to 30 centimeters of snow covered the area, including its historic temples and shrines.

Commuters drove slowly on the national highway, and the temple staff cleared snow to welcome visiting schoolchildren.

Even in western Japan, Shobada City in Hiroshima Prefecture saw 10 centimeters of snowfall in 12 hours by Thursday.

Train services were canceled throughout the day.

The snow has already eased on the Pacific side, but another round of winter weather is arriving in Tohoku and Hokuriku as a low-pressure system approaches.

Up to 50 centimeters of snow is possible by Friday noon. The system is likely to bring heavy snowfall not only in the mountains but also in low-lying areas.

Snow is likely in Niigata and Sapporo, but sunny skies are expected on the Pacific side, including Tokyo, with a high of 13.

Now moving to the United States, the northeast has experienced heavy snow this week, and the next round of snow is arriving as a cold front moves in.

So snow is expected in New York and Toronto. The temperature in Chicago will be -8 despite sunny skies.

That's all for now. Have a nice day and stay warm.

♫～　3-DAY FORECAST　～♫

00:27:36 話者 1

And that's it for now on NHK Newsline. I'm Yoko Nishimura in Tokyo.

Thanks for joining us.

checked.

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 00:00:10 話者 1

Hello and welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Ross Mihara in Tokyo with the stories at this hour.

FLOODING IN SOUTH, S.EAST ASIA
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.

FLOODING IN SOUTH, S.EAST ASIA
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.

checked.

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 00:00:10 話者 1

Hello and welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Yoshikama Ryuichi in Tokyo.

CHINA SENDS ANOTHER LETTER TO UN OVER TAIWAN REMARK

China has sent a second letter to the United Nations chief demanding that Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae retract her remark about Taiwan.

Last month, Takaichi said a Taiwan emergency involving the use of force could be considered a situation threatening the survival of Japan.

Fu Zong is China's permanent representative to the UN.

Fu said on Monday that he had now sent another letter to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The newest dispatch is an effort to dispute Japan's reaction to China's initial letter.

Chinese officials sent that complaint on November 21.

Fu's letter on Monday said Japan's response groundlessly accuses his country and seeks to shift blame.

He wrote that China firmly opposes that position.

It says the direct cause of the serious differences between the two countries is Takaichi's provocative remark during her diet questioning.

The letter adds that such an erroneous remark openly challenges the post-war international order.

In his reply last month, Japan's permanent representative to the UN said China's claims are inconsistent with the facts and unsubstantiated.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Minoru told the reporters on Tuesday that he is aware of the latest letter.

Japan's position has been consistent.

Japan has repeatedly conveyed to China that its assertions about a change in position are absolutely incorrect.

Tihara added China's arguments cannot possibly be recognized, and the government will continue to respond appropriately.

OVER 1,100 DEAD AFTER HEAVY RAIN IN SOUTH, SOUTHEAST ASIA

The death toll from recent torrential rains continues to rise in Asia.

Over 1,100 people are dead, with more than 600 of them in Indonesia alone.

As of Monday night, Indonesian authorities say 604 people are dead on the island of Sumatra alone.

More than 400 were still missing.

President Prabo Subianto visited some of the affected areas.

He says the government will prioritize bringing in fuel and other essentials.

He also said those without electricity can expect it to be restored soon, saying the situation is improving.

The severe weather began in late November.

It has also left 355 dead in Sri Lanka and 170 dead in Thailand.

HONG KONG FIRE
RESIDENTS: AUTHORITIES DIDN'T ADDRESS CONCERNS

Survivors of the deadly Hong Kong apartment fire say they expressed concerns about flammable materials used in renovation work, but authorities didn't act on them.

Hong Kong's chief executive says the government will launch an independent probe into the blaze.

John Lee vowed to uncover what caused the fire.

00:03:31 話者 2

I will establish an independent committee to conduct comprehensive and in-depth review to reform the building work system and prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

00:03:46 話者 1

The fire killed 151 people and over 30 remain unaccounted for.

Authorities suspect the fire started in protective netting around scaffolding.

Renovations began last year.

Authorities have already arrested more than 10 people, including executives of the companies involved in the construction, as part of their investigation.

Residents said authorities relied on a construction company in charge of the renovations to take appropriate fire prevention measures.

They also said the authorities claimed the netting met fire safety standards and didn't order the farm to stop its work.

They said flammable foam bores used in the renovations may have helped spread the flames.

This architect has been working with residents on the matter.

The government failed to strengthen legal systems and regulations.

It also didn't take measures to prevent problems.

These are the main cause of this incident.

A university student handed out flyers urging people to sign an online petition that demands a probe into possible corruption.

Media outlets say he was arrested for alleged sedition and later released.

Before his arrest, he called the fire a man-made disaster.

JAPAN'S RULING COALITION AIMS TO REDUCE LOWER HOUSE SEATS

Japan's ruling coalition is pushing forward with a plan to shrink the size of the country's parliament.

This is based on an agreement reached between the two parties when they formed a coalition in October that paved the way for Takaichi Sanae to become prime minister.

A bill to reduce the number of lower House seats is expected to be submitted in the current diet session.

Takaichi, who heads the Liberal Democratic Party, held discussions on Monday with Yoshimura Hirofumi.

He is the leader of coalition partner Japan Innovation Party.

The two confirmed that if no conclusion is reached within a year of debate in the Diet, they will call for a reduction of roughly 10 percent to be enforced.

The two parties later compiled an outline of the bill stating that the details should be debated at a council involving all parties and Diet groups.

The bill says if no legislative measure is taken within one year, the Public Offices Election Act will be revised to Ax 45 of the current 465 law warehouse seats.

This would include 25 single-seat constituencies and 20 from the proportional representation segment.

The ruling coalition aims to submit the bill as soon as possible.

It is necessary to gain the understanding of the opposition parties and cooperate with them to pass the bill.

Some opposition parties were critical of the plan as it stands.

I would like to have more explanation about why they want a 10 percent reduction and why they want it done within a year.

I think the only measure of political reform needed now is a total ban on corporate donations.

Koike added that his party is opposed to reducing the number of seats in the diet.

ANALYSIS: THE US AND CHINA RACE FOR AI HEGEMONY

The power struggle between the United States and China has been heating up, but not just over tariffs and export controls.

The two are duking it out for dominance in the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence.

Earlier, I spoke with NHK deputy chief commentator, Ida Kaori.

She explained how the US and China are faring, as well as Japan's position in the AI push.

So Kaori, it feels like every day there's another headline about AI push.

It's hard to keep up.

So where do things stand right now?

00:08:12 話者 3

Well, in short, the US is leading on several fronts while China is racing to catch up.

Let's take a look at one of the major measurements.

the money going into all of this.

This graph shows private sector investments in AI.

The gap is striking.

US companies have poured in over 11 times more than China and a whopping 117 times more than Japan.

But again, China is catching up.

It's pushing hard on technology development and rapid social implementation.

00:08:48 話者 1

And now on development, there are more and more players in the field these days.

Whose AI models lead the pack?

00:08:56 話者 3

Up until recently, it was one of the most well-known models, OpenAI's ChatGPT.

It's been overtaken by Google's most advanced AI model, now ranked at the top of the Global Intelligence Index.

But if you can take a look at fifth place, number five, it's by Chinese startup Moonshot AI, which is backed by Alibaba.

The model ranks just behind Google, Anthropic, and OpenAI.

What's remarkable is that it's open source and developed at a fraction of the cost compared to the billions spent by US rivals.

00:09:33 話者 1

So that chart shows that most of the top players are US or China-based.

Who are the end users going with?

00:09:43 話者 3

That's a very good question.

Many companies in Tokyo tell me they mostly use US models.

Japan is emerging as an attractive market.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group recently partnered with OpenAI, declaring it will reinvent itself as AI native.

OpenAI says Japan is now the second largest market after the US for enterprise AI adoption.

We aim to continue to provide safe and responsible AI services and products to bring sustainable growth to Japanese society and industries.

In October, OpenAI's biggest rival, Anthropic, opened its first Asian office in Tokyo.

Its CEO shared his excitement in an interview with us.

We see Japan as a really great place to do business.

We focus more on working with businesses and less on the consumer side.

And so our view of this is that there's really an opportunity to create economic value with Japanese businesses.

That said, businesses here in Tokyo also tell me that Chinese models are starting to gain traction.

One of them is run by Alibaba.

The company tells me the model, it's spelled Q-W-E-N, but it's pronounced Kwen or Q-Wen.

00:11:08 話者 1

Okay, so how are Japanese companies performing in the AI race?

00:11:13 話者 3

Japan has long been considered a tough environment for startups, but it's now seeing rapid growth.

A standout example is Sakana AI.

It recently raised 20 billion yen in funding from Japanese investors, along with overseas investors, including the Santander Group of Spain.

That pushed its valuation to 400 billion yen, about $2.6 billion, which the company says is the largest ever for a startup in Japan.

00:11:44 話者 1

Okay, so beyond the private sector, what are governments doing?

00:11:49 話者 3

Yes. Japan, the US, and China are taking different approaches.

Let's start with the US In July, it released its AI Action Plan, which is structured around three pillars: accelerate AI innovation, build American AI infrastructure, and lead in international AI diplomacy and security.

00:12:12 話者 1

From this day forward, it'll be a policy of the United.

00:12:16 話者 2

States to do whatever it takes to lead the world in artificial intelligence.

00:12:24 話者 3

China responded in August with its own AI+ initiative.

It's a three-phase roadmap to deeply integrate AI into society and the economy by 2035.

And as for Japan, the government admits it's lagging behind

You can see the AI usage rate by companies at 55.2%, and for individuals, it's 26.7% for Japan, much lower compared with the US and China.

The government says it plans to announce by the end of this month a basic AI strategy to tackle low adoption and limited investment relative to its economic scale.

00:13:09 話者 1

For now, it seems

This is largely a two-way race.

Any idea on who will come out on top?

00:13:17 話者 3

That's the billion-dollar question, I would say.

And here's what a couple of major players in tech recently had to say.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huan told the Financial Times, quote, China is going to win the AI race.

And former Google CEO Eric Schmidt said,

The vast majority of governments and countries will end up standardizing on Chinese models, not because they're better, but because they're free.

And I think that's a very important point.

Money could be the deciding factor.

And for countries like Japan, the challenge is to balance the appeal of cost and convenience with the need to safeguard.

data protection, and national security.

And as for the US and China, it appears that tensions over this will escalate.

In fact, some experts are now calling this the AI Cold War.

BUSINESS

00:14:16 話者 1

And now let's delve more into what's happening in the world of business.

Here's Gene Ohtani from the BizDesk.

00:14:24 話者 4

Yuichi thanks in our top business story this hour.

AGRICULTURE MINISTER: SPANISH PORK SUSPENSION COULD HIT JAPAN

Japan's agriculture minister says domestic pork supplies could be hit by the suspension of imports from Spain.

That was after African swine fever was detected there last week.

00:14:43 話者 1

We have a strong sense of crisis that the risk of this entering Japan is rising.

We will continue to take all possible prevention measures.

00:14:53 話者 4

The suspension of imports of Spanish pork and processed items began on Friday after the fever was found among wild boar.

No cases have been confirmed in Japan and there is no effective vaccine.

The ministry says about 178,000 tons of pork were imported from Spain in the latest fiscal year.

That made it Japan's third largest supplier, accounting for 18% of the total.

Minister Suzuki said most of the supply was used for bacon, ham, and sausages.

He said such process items could be hit especially hard.

3 JAPANESE FIRMS JOIN US SYNTHETIC METHANE PROJECT

Japan's two major gas utilities, along with a leading trading house, say they will be part of a project to mass-produce synthetic methane in the United States.

Osaka Gas, Toho Gas and Itochu have signed a contract to churn out the so-called e-methane in the Midwestern state of Nebraska.

France's Totel Energies has already been running a study on this since 2023 alongside Belgium's Tree Energy Solutions.

E-methane is created from recovered carbon dioxide and hydrogen made from renewable energy, such as sunlight.

It is considered a highly promising resource because of its potential to drastically reduce CO2 output.

The project aims to have e-methane from the US exported to Japan.

The Japanese firms hope to start production in fiscal 2030.

The three are planning an investment that will give them a combined one-third stake in the project.

It is expected to be part of Japan's commitment to purchase $7 billion worth of energy from the US annually, as agreed during recent tariff negotiations.

JAPAN MAY CLASSIFY CRYPTOCURRENCY AS INVESTMENT, CUT TAX RATE

Japan's Financial Services Agency is considering to reclassify Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

as financial products putting them on par with stocks and bonds.

The move is expected to also lower the tax rate on profits from cryptocurrency investments.

Japan has seen an increase in use of digital currencies, with more than 13 million accounts registered in the country.

Cryptocurrency trading is currently regarded as a financial transaction, but the agency says the virtual currencies are increasingly used as investments, so a reclassification is needed.

This will make digital currencies subject to insider trading rules and will require fuller information disclosure from issuers.

The agency plans to submit a draft bill to the Diet next year to revise the law.

The reclassification may also affect tax rules.

Currently, taxes on crypto profits can reach as high as 55%, depending on income.

After the change, gains will likely be taxed at a flat 20%.

The government hopes to implement the revisions in fiscal 2026.

MARKETS

All right, let's have a look at the markets.

♪

And that's a look at business news.

Yu Ching, I'm going to hand it back to you.

00:18:42 話者 1

Thank you, Gene.

GUTERRES: 15% CUT TO 2026 DRAFT UN BUDGET

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has proposed a draft budget for next year that is significantly smaller than this year's budget.

The revised plan was submitted to the UN General Assembly Budget Committee on Monday.

The draft budget of just over 3.2 billion dollars is a 15 percent reduction from this year.

While the proposal reductions are substantial, they have been carefully calibrated to preserve balance across the three pillars of the organization: peace and security, sustainable development and human rights.

Guterres said he has exempt the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, or UNRWA, from any reductions.

The UNRWA provides humanitarian assistance to Palestinians, including in the Gaza Strip.

A representative of the US, which has been calling for UN cost cutting, said the proposed budget is a necessary first step for the United Nations to get back to basics and to rebuild trust across the world.

Meanwhile, a representative of Iraq expressed concern over the disproportionate reduction related to international cooperation for development.

Iraq currently chairs the group of 77 developing countries.

Further discussions are expected, yet the draft budget is slated to be adopted by the end of the year.

WAR IN UKRAINE
RUSSIA CLAIMS CAPTURE OF STRATEGIC CITY OF POKROVSK

Russia claims its forces have captured the strategic city of Pokhorovsk in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says intense fighting continues in the area.

The Kremlin said on Monday that President Volodymyr Putin was informed of the battlefield gains the day before by Russia's military.

Pokrovsk is a road and rail hub for Ukraine to transport troops and supplies.

Moscow has launched a pitched battle there as it views the city as a major foothold for expanding its area of control.

Ukraine's Zelenskyy said on Monday there are undoubtedly intense battles taking place in Pokrovsk and in other front sections.

He made the remark to reporters while on a visit to France.

Losing the eastern hub would be a blow to Kyiv.

Calls are growing in the US for an explanation from the administration of President Donald Trump over its strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug smuggling vessels.

This comes as a report claims the military conducted a follow-up strike on a boat to kill survivors of an initial attack.

Experts say the killing of people who are no longer able to fight is a violation of international law.

US DOUBLE BOAT STRIKE RAISES QUESTIONS OF LEGALITY

The Washington Post reports the military conducted a second strike on an alleged drug-smuggling vessel in September.

The attacks were carried out on a directive from Defense Secretary Pete Hexeth to kill all on board.

White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt defended the legality of the strike, saying a naval commander had ordered it to eliminate a threat.

Admiral Browley worked well within his authority in the law.

He directed the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat of narco-terrorists to the United States was completely eliminated.

Meanwhile, writers quote sources as saying Trump demanded Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro step down in a phone call on November 21st.

He also said Maduro had to leave his country within a week.

Maduro reportedly rejected the demand.

Reuters says this prompted Trump to claim on social media that airspace over and around Venezuela had been closed in an attempt to ramp up pressure on Maduro.

It's time to check on the weather with our meteorologist, Jonathan Ah.

So Jonathan, as we move through December, people in the greater Tokyo area are still able to check out the fall foliage.

So what can you share with us?

00:23:16 話者 2

Hello, we are still seeing some yellow colors from some of the golden leaves of ginkgo trees in the Greater Tokyo area and I want to show you one of those located over in Chiba Prefecture as you take a look at this video.

You can see right there that if you happen to be walking in the Kashika Hachimangu Shrine one night in Ichikawa City, you might find yourself at the foot of a towering 22 meter ginkgo tree filled with golden leaves and what may be even more impressive

is that the tree is estimated to be 1,200 years old.

Its trunk has a circumference of 10 meters.

The tree is called the Ginkgo of 1,000 trunks because of the numerous branches that come from the base where the thick trunk was hit by lightning.

The peak of its autumn color is expected to remain through mid-December.

Now, if you are interested in heading out, you'll need to bundle up because after seeing daytime high temperatures that are above average for this time of year, they're about to come really crashing down.

We have cold air coming in from the

north snow up toward Hokkaido as we go into the day on Wednesday.

And yeah, we're going to talk about temperatures that are going to be close to normal for this time of year.

14 for the high in Tokyo on Wednesday, 11 for Thursday.

Overnight lows are dropping down in the process as well, so you'll need to bundle up.

Snowflakes possible to Fukuoka and plenty of snow to talk about in Sapporo for the rest of this week.

And so yeah, it looks like that December is really starting to wake up.

Meanwhile, as we go down toward

Indonesia and the surrounding area, we've been following the aftermath of that tropical cyclone hitting Sumatra, and it looks like that it's a tropical area, which means more wet weather will continue to be a part of the story here, and that's going to make these even more difficult for folks who are trying to recover from the disaster.

Still seeing that rain pattern continuing as we go throughout the day on Wednesday.

Quick note, North America, chilly with snow, plenty of it in the northeastern portion of the United States, and so we're looking at that to be the case as

from Tuesday into Wednesday.

Hope you have a good day wherever you are.

♫～　3-DAY FORECAST　～♫

FIRST OF SEASON TOP-GRADE YELLOWTAIL FETCHES 4 MILLION YEN

00:26:16 話者 1

And just one more story before we go.

The season's first auction of top-quality winter yellowtail caught off Ishika Prefecture, central Japan, has been held.

One prize fish fetched a record-tying 4 million yen, or nearly $26,000.

The prefectural fishery cooperative starts shipping highest-grade winter yellowtail under the brand name Kirameki every December.

To qualify for that appellation, the fish must weigh at least 14 kilograms.

The cooperative also pays special attention to ensuring the fish's freshness.

The four-million-yen yellowtail came from the town of Noto, which was hit by a purple earthquake last year.

A company that operates supermarkets across the Ishikan prefecture bought the 14.5-kilogram kirameki-branded fish.

00:27:21 話者 2

Disaster recovery is still ongoing, and we'd like to help revitalize Noto by delivering good food.

00:27:29 話者 1

The company is displaying the pricey yellowtail at one of its supermarkets and will put it on sale on Wednesday.

And that wraps up this edition of NHK Newsline. I'm Yoshikawa Ryuichi in Tokyo. 

Thanks for joining us.

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