at 18:00 (JST), January 09

 

20250109180000_english_1.mp3

Hello, glad to have you with us on NHK Newsline. I'm Yamamoto Miki in Tokyo.

Snow is battering residents along the Sea of Japan coast. Officials say people should stay alert as the blizzard will likely impact transportation in the area.
The meteorological agency says much of the snow is hitting the mountain regions near the coast.

I've lived here for decades, but I've never seen snow falling for so long.

Trucks were deployed in Niigata's Myoko City to bring the snow to designated disposal sites. About one meter of snow had accumulated as of 10 a.m., that's 20 percent more than usual. In Fukushima's Yanaizu town, a road was closed due to a fallen tree. No one was injured. At 11 a.m., the neighboring Nishi Aizu town reported 48 centimeters of snow over the last 24 hours. The weather has some in Ishikawa's Wasima City worried about being cut off. The area was isolated after last year's devastating earthquake, and again during torrential rains last fall. At one evacuation center, residents are preparing for the worst.

I am a bit worried. I hope the snow will end without issues.

Officials are calling on people across the affected areas to be on the alert for traffic disruptions, power outages and snow falling from rooftops.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide says he wants to raise the Japan-U.S. alliance to new heights. He is teaming up with Senator Bill Hagerty, who served as ambassador to Japan during President-elect Donald Trump's first administration.
Suga is in Washington to attend former President Jimmy Carter's state funeral on Thursday as Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru's special envoy. On Wednesday, he met with Haggerty. The pair confirmed they will work to uphold and bolster the bilateral alliance from their respective positions. Haggerty says he will spare no effort helping Japan upgrade ties with the incoming U.S. administration.
Trump is set to take office January 20.

German Chancellor Olaf Schalz is underlying how a nation's borders are never to be broken. It is likely a rebuke of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's recent comments about Greenland.
Schultz spoke to reporters Wednesday. He said European leaders have discussed the recent remarks coming out of the United States.

The principle of inviolable borders applies to every country, whether it is to our east or west. Everyone must abide by it, whether it is a small country or a powerful nation.

Trump has suggested that Washington take over Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, for national security purposes. He said he would consider imposing tariffs on Danish imports if they resist the move. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who works for the Biden administration, also dismissed the idea.

We're stronger, we're more effective, we get better results when we're working closely with our allies. not saying or doing things that may alienate them. The idea expressed about Greenland is obviously not a good one.

Blinken also said the takeover obviously won't happen, so talking about it is a waste of time. It is the latest in a string of recent controversial comments from Trump. He also said he would demand a return of the Panama Canal and rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

The United States says military cooperation between North Korea and Russia is making Pyongyang more capable of waging war against its neighbors. The warning came at an emergency UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday. The meeting was convened following North Korea's missile launch on Monday. The North said it successfully test-fired a new type of intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile. Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Dorothy Shea voiced the alert at the meeting.

The DPRK is significantly benefiting from receiving Russian military equipment, technology and experience, rendering it more capable of waging war against its neighbors.

Japan's UN Ambassador Yamazaki Kazuyuki condemned the missile launch. It is fundamentally related to global non-proliferation. It is still our strong hope that the Council will take action.

North Korea's Representative Kim Sung justified the test. A test fire is a part of the plan for development of national defense capability in conformity with changing security environments of the region.

Russia's ambassador, Vasily Nebenzia, said the North's leadership has a full right to implement measures to ensure their security and to uphold their sovereignty.

Syria's interim government is facing difficulty in rebuilding the nation one month after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime. The interim authorities, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, have been seeking national reconciliation since the Assad government collapsed on December 8. Foreign Minister Assad Hassan al-Shabani wrote in a social media post that people's joy will remain incomplete until Syria's territorial integrity is restored and displaced people and refugees return to their hometowns. The United Nations estimates more than 115,000 people have returned to Syria since Assad's fall, but many more are believed to remain outside the country. The foreign minister's remark is apparently aimed at encouraging those people to return to Syria.
Meanwhile, tension is growing in the central city of Homs. A UK-based human rights group has reported several attacks on cemeteries in neighborhoods mostly inhabited by Alawites, a minority sect that supported Assad's rule. Also in Homs, more than 950 people have reportedly been detained in recent days, including soldiers in Assad's forces.

Authorities in California have declared a state of emergency as wildfires are raging out of control in the Los Angeles area. Officials say the blaze killed at least five people.
The first wildfire erupted Tuesday. It's one of several spreading rapidly over large swaths of land due to dry conditions and powerful winds. The blaze has burned over 64 square kilometers. Tens of thousands are under evacuation orders.

The fire is growing. We have no percent of containment. We have an estimated 1,000 structures destroyed.

People are fleeing their homes and businesses, and schools have shut down.

I've never seen a firestorm like this. There's no words to even describe. It's Armageddon. I'm driving through a war zone right now.

The U.S. National Weather Service says gusty winds and very dry conditions will continue through Friday.

So many people are coming to Japan that one of the Tokyo area's main airports is preparing to handle more flights.
Takeoffs and landings at Narita Airport are currently capped at 300,000 a year. The operators plan to raise that to 340,000 starting this October. They aim to do that without adding facilities. And they plan to raise the cap to 500,000 by the end of March 2029, partly by adding a third runway. Flight numbers are surging amid a post-pandemic recovery in visits from abroad. Narita Airport's operators became aware they could hit the present cap sooner than anticipated. They've begun briefing nearby municipalities. They say that runways will keep their present operating hours to avoid disturbing residents.

Caretakers of a historic thatched roof property in northern Japan have completed the building's first smoking of the year.
The practice is a traditional pest control technique.
The Kenna Yashiki in Shiroishi City is designated a tangible cultural asset by Miyagi Prefecture. It is a reproduction of a residence that was a transport hub during the mid-Edo period.
On Wednesday, the caretakers burned cedar leaves in a fireplace, filling the building with white smoke to expel insects from the roof. The suit in the smoke is also said to help to preserve the pillars, beams and other wooden materials.

While we worked, we wished for peace and good health to everyone who visits here.
The caretakers say the practice is an important New Year's tradition to conserve the building.

♪

And for more details on these news, please access the NHK World Japan website.

It is now time to check the world weather with our meteorologist, Yumi Hirano.
Yumi, we're seeing quite a mixed bag in the United States. Wildfires becoming more severe in California, while heavy snowfall are underway in Texas. What's the latest?

A combination of dry weather and strong winds is causing the wildfires to expand.
These strong Santa Ana winds are still expected to continue at least into Friday. Meanwhile, in Texas, people are preparing for a winter storm.
We have some video.
Up to 10 centimeters of snow is expected to fall in Dallas, northern Texas, between Thursday morning and Friday noon.
If the snow falls as predicted, it will be the first time in 47 years this much snow has fallen in January. the Department of Transportation began pre-treating wards in parts of the state.
Widespread snow is expected from Texas and Oklahoma to parts of Alabama. It could be the first major snowfall for many places. Snow is also possible in Denver, but sunny skies will continue in New York and Washington.
Moving to Japan, due to a winter pressure pattern with high pressure in the west and low pressure in the east, parts of the Sea of Japan side have already experienced heavy snowfall but is expected to intensify again from Thursday night. Widespread snow is likely even along the Pacific side of western Japan. The area expected to have the heaviest snowfall is Hokuriku, up to 80 centimeters is possible by Friday and an additional 70 centimeters is also expected by Saturday. But the heavy snowfall in Hokuriku is expected to ease by Sunday.
Tokyo will see clear weather on Friday and Saturday, but there is a possibility of snow on Sunday. So please check out the latest weather for the holiday weekend. That's all for me. Stay safe.

♫

And that wraps up this edition of NHK Newsline. I'm Yamamoto Miki in Tokyo. Thank you very much for staying with us.

at 18:00 (JST), January 08

 

20250108180000_english_1.mp3

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

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could be losing some of his country's confidence. An opinion survey has shown public trust in him at its lowest point since Russia invaded the country in 2022. The Kyiv International Institute of Sociology on Tuesday released the results of the poll it conducted in December. 52% of respondents said they trust Zelenskyy.
That was down seven percentage points from the previous survey in September.
39% said they do not trust the president, up two points from the past poll.
Ukraine was supposed to have held a presidential election in March 2024, but it postponed it due to the imposition of martial law following the invasion. A Ukrainian media outlet reported on Monday that Zelenskyy says he believes the delayed vote will take place immediately after martial law ends in accordance with the law.

Ukraine is also bracing for the impact of a new face in the White House in just a few weeks. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump says his NATO allies should pay more for defense.

They can all afford it, but they should be at 5%, not 2%.

NATO states have a defense spending target of 2% of GDP. Trump says that's not enough and routinely claims other members of the alliance are not paying their fair share. The US spends about 3% of GDP on its military. Trump has also called on European countries to boost their contributions to Ukraine's fight against Russia.

Elsewhere, Denmark is pushing back on Trump's professed desire to claim Greenland for the US. Trump says security concerns make Greenland strategically important to the United States.

You have China ships all over the place. You have Russian ships all over the place. We're not letting that happen.

He says he'd consider imposing tariffs on Danish imports if officials there resist the U.S. takeover. But Denmark's leader has said the territory is not for sale.

yeah I want to encourage everyone to respect that the Greenlandic people are a people, a population. It's their country that we're talking about here. And in my eyes, it is only Greenland that can decide and define its future.

Trump's comments come on the same day that his oldest son, Donald Trump Jr., made a visit to Greenland for sightseeing. Trump has also said the Gulf of Mexico should be renamed.

We're going to bechanging the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, which has a beautiful ring that covers a lot of territory. The Gulf of America, what a beautiful name. And it's appropriate.

The president-elect also emphasized Mexico has to stop allowing millions of people to pour into the U.S. Trump has already said he intends to impose a steep 25% tariff on all imports from Mexico.
Observers believe Trump's remark was an attempt to express his displeasure with the way Mexico has been handling the border control and trade issues.

Indonesia has become the latest member of BRICS. The multinational group was originally made-up of just five emerging economies, but has since doubled in size.

Brazil holds the BRICS presidency this year and welcomed Indonesia into the fold Monday. In a statement, Brazil said they share a goal of reforming global governance and deepening cooperation. Indonesia said the move reflects their efforts towards a more inclusive world order.
The country does not join military alliances, but seems to be keen to strengthen food and energy security.
BRICS started with just five countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Four more joined last year. Indonesia is the tenth member and the first from Southeast Asia.
According to the World Economic Forum, the group represents over 40 percent of the world's total population and over a third of the global economy, outperforming the G7. Last October, 36 countries participated in a BRICS summit in Russia,despite the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. With so much interest, BRICS introduced the idea of partner countries. Malaysia and Thailand are both considered BRICS partners, though Indonesia is the region's only full-fledged member.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has highlighted the group's efforts to shift away from the US dollar. 65% of BRICS trade was done using members' local currencies. US president-elect Donald Trump has criticized the move and threatened 100% tariffs in response.

For more on why BRICS welcomed Indonesia now, NHK World spoke with Shinoda Hideaki, a professor at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.

Shinoda notes that Indonesia is part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN. He says it makes sense that BRICS would invite Jakarta to join.

Indonesia is quite important, as well as larger than other countries, as one single country. But obviously, in addition to that fact, Indonesia is the leader of ASEAN countries.
So this is a very much geopolitical move to invite uh entire ASEAN community to the side of the BRICS.

But he cautioned that countries joining BRICS aren't necessarily dropping their Western ties. He said it's possible for some countries to do both.

We tend to interpret BRICS as the bloc against the Western camp, which is not untrue, though to some extent it is true.
But we should not misunderstand the orientation of the BRICS. Obviously, countries like Indonesia do not want to lose the connections with Western countries, too. So  they are all constantly saying that they pursue the membership of BRICS as well as the membership of OECD, for instance.

That doesn't mean there won't be friction. Shinoda points to BRICS's use of local currencies, saying the U.S. will likely fight against de-dollarization.

uh Perhaps U.S. is committed to protecting the status of Dallas, but more or less they led the BRICS to handle their own affairs to a great extent. So we will have to see what kind of concrete consequences as a result of ASEAN's move to BRICS in in terms of the de-Dialatization issues. Now the U.S. President-elect Mr. Donald Trump is saying that he is going to introduce 100% tariff against the countries which are going to introduce BRICS currency. Perhaps these dramatic events will not happen.

Shinoda says that as BRICS expands, it will be interesting to see if the group's balance of power shifts.

The power or influence of China is outstanding in a BRICS camp among the BRICS member countries. But it doesn't mean that Russia is weak or India is very happy about the circumstance. At this moment, there are no serious contradictions. We don't know what's going to happen in the future, in the long-term period of time. But at this moment, they are trying to make this balance of power within BRICS member countries too, and it is working very well.

The next BRICS summit is expected to take place in Brazil later this year.

Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru met and congratulated representatives of 2024 Nobel Peace Prize winners Nihong Hidankyo at his office in Tokyo.
The organization is made-up of survivors of the 1945 atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Ishiba spoke with members, including the group's co-chairs Tanaka Terumi, Tanaka Shigemitsu, and Mimaki Toshiyuki, for about 30 minutes on Wednesday.

It is extremely meaningful that you received such a great honor.

I thank you very much for your congratulations.

Mimaki made a request to Ishiba that Japan attend a March meeting of the States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as an observer. Other members spoke about their experiences as atomic bomb survivors and their hope for the abolition of nuclear weapons. They also called for government compensation for atomic bombing victims.
Tanaka Terumi told reporters after the meeting that there was insufficient time to properly discuss the issues.

I felt it was more like the Prime Minister's stage. It is regrettable that the meeting wasn't so productive, in my opinion.

He added that he will keep asking to discuss the issue with the Prime Minister further.

Japanese weather officials say areas along the Sea of Japan could be hit by heavy snow this week. They are warning of possible disruptions to public transportation.

A powerful cold air mass will create a strong winter pressure pattern, lasting until around Friday. Snowfall will continue mainly along the Sea of Japan, and there could be heavy snow, even in non-mountainous areas.

The Meteorological Agency says snowfall could be particularly heavy in northeastern and central Japan. It says people should be on alert for snow sticking to power lines, entries and falling from rooftops. The Transport Ministry is urging people to refrain from non essential outings. It says the heavy snow could bring Rd. traffic to a standstill or cause Rd. closures.
Heavy snow in central Japan a year ago trapped vehicles on an expressway for up to 34 hours. The transport ministry says people who have to drive should use snow tires or tire chains. It says drivers should carry shovels and other tools and review their routes beforehand.
The heavy snow and blizzards will start Wednesday night. Our meteorologist Yumi Shirano has the latest forecast.

Over 50 centimeters of heavy snowfall has been already reported in the past 24 hours in Gihu Prefecture, but is expected to intensify even more from Wednesday night, due to the coldest air of the season. Additionally, winds are expected to converge over the Sea of Japan. When it happens over the sea, snow crowds can develop quickly, potentially causing heavy snowfall in a short period of time in the same locations. The areas expected to have the heaviest snow are Tohoku, Hokuriku and Tokai. Up to 70 centimeters is possible by Thursday. On top of that, an additional 70 centimeters is also expected by Friday. There is a high risk of traffic disruptions, long-lasting power outages and avalanches. So please stay safe.
Moving to the United States, dry and windy conditions are an issue in the West Coast. We have some video.
A wildfire in Pacific policies has been expanding rapidly due to strong Santa Ana winds. Authorities say the blaze was first reported on Tuesday before noon and burned over 500 hectares by Tuesday evening.
Evacuation orders and warnings have been issued for multiple zones. Many highways are currently closed.
Unfortunately, the region will continue to experience strong winds due to being trapped between high pressure and low pressure systems. This low pressure system is expected to move inland into Thursday, bringing snowfall to the southern plains. It could be the first major snowfall for the area.
But sunny skies are expected along the East Coast on Wednesday, but temperatures will stay in stay low in New York and Washington with a high of below 0.
That's all for me. Have a nice day.

♫

I'm Ross Mihara in Tokyo thanks for joining us on NHK news log

at 18:00 (JST), January 07

 

20250107180000_english_1.mp3

Hello, a very warm welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Yamamoto Miki in Tokyo.

We begin with a developing story from China. A powerful earthquake has struck a popular tourist area in the Tibet Autonomous Region. State-run news reports at least 53 people were killed.
China's Earthquake Network Center says the quake struck Dingri County in Shigatze just after 9 a.m. Tuesday.
Its estimated depth was about 10 kilometers. Chinese authorities placed the magnitude at 6.8. Xinhua News Agency says more than 1,000 houses have been damaged and over 60 people are injured. Local officials are still working to confirm the full extent of the damage. Dingri County sits on the border with Nepal, with a population of about 60,000 as of 2021.
It is a frequent destination for people visiting Mount Everest and has many hotels and restaurants.

Authorities in Taiwan say a cargo ship with an old Chinese crew is suspected of damaging an international undersea cable last Friday. Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration said on Monday it is investigating an incident in which a cargo vessel is suspected of having damaged a cable off Taiwan's north coast.
It noted that the ship is flagged to Cameroon, but owned by a Hong Kong-registered company. It said all seven crew members were Chinese nationals. Taiwanese media say the vessel is believed to have dropped anchor while in the area. The Coast Guard said the vessel's intentions were unclear, but it may have been conducting what could be described as gray zone harassment.

North Korea says it successfully test-fired a new type of intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile on Monday. State-run media reported on Tuesday that the country's missile administration staged the launch.
It said the hypersonic warhead flew at 12 times the speed of sound on a designated flight path before it landed 15-hundred kilometers away on a target area in the open sea. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was quoted as saying the test demonstrated the potential of the country's self-defensive technical force. He reportedly said the missile system will reliably contain any rivals in the Pacific region that can affect the security of North Korea.
South Korea's Yonhap News Agency said the aim of the launch may have been to show the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump that Pyongyang is capable of striking Guam, which is home to U.S. bases.

Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi has held a meeting with his U.S. counterpart in Tokyo, and it will likely be their last. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to leave his post in a few weeks when President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
Despite the impending transition, Blinken says the world keeps turning, and Japan and the U.S. need to stay close. He and Iwaya spoke at the start of talks over lunch.

We want to keep raising our alliance to new levels. I look forward to discussing the current regional situation and the state of Japan-U.S. relations.

We have, between our two countries, a partnership that started out focusing on bilateral issues and worked on regional issues, and now is genuinely global.

The top diplomats reaffirmed the importance of bolstering their alliance's deterrence and response capabilities.
They also agreed on the need to maintain their three-way partnership with South Korea in the wake of Pyongyang's latest ballistic missile launch. And the pair discussed President Joe Biden's decision to block Nippon Steel's purchase of U.S.
steel. Both companies are now suing the U.S. government, calling Biden's order unlawful and politically motivated.
Iwaya and Blinken both stressed the importance of their country's economic relationship, including the investment of Japanese companies in American firms.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is stepping down after facing calls to resign from within his own party and what he's described as a paralyzed parliament.
Trudeau said he will remain in his role until his ruling Liberal Party picks a new leader.

This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I'm having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election.

Canadians have become frustrated with inflation and rising housing prices, putting Trudeau under heavy pressure.
Trudeau has been in office nearly a decade, but his popularity has been dipping in recent years as Canadians are upset about economic and political issues. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is threatening to impose a stiff 25% tariff on Canadian goods. Trudeau's downfall quickly came after his finance minister abruptly resigned over how to deal with Trump's policies and other disagreements.

Austria's president has asked the leader of the far-right Freedom Party to form a coalition government. That's after an earlier attempt to form one without the party failed. The Freedom Party is friendly toward Russia and hostile toward migrants and refugees.
It won the most votes in the September parliamentary election for the first time ever. The party was founded by a former Nazi in the 1950s.
Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen met on Monday with Freedom Party leader Herbert Kikkel.
The president earlier asked the center-right People's Party, which came second in the election, to form a government to keep the Freedom Party out.
But those talks fell apart.

Mr. Kickel has the confidence to find viable solutions within the framework of government negotiations, and he wants this responsibility. I asked him that explicitly.

Van der Bellen said he had asked Kickel to work together with the People's Party.
The two parties have formed a coalition government in the past. It was then led by the People's Party, which had more parliamentary seat.

Well, it's the latest sign of the far right's rise in Europe. Many countries around the world are facing political upheavals. One expert says people's daily strugglers are forcing some major changes.

Tanaka Osamu is an expert on the European economy. He says the coronavirus pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine have had a major impact on the average person's life. He says some voters are also frustrated by rapid social changes, especially towards gender and other liberal ideas.
Others say immigration is the problem.

Many migrants and refugees are flowing into Europe and this is creating social tensions. 
Increasingly, voters feel that immigrants are to blame for their difficult lives.
They also feel the established political parties are not thinking about them.
And they started to think the far-right parties have a better perspective on the economy, migration and other issues.

Austria is not alone. Far right parties have also gained ground in countries like Germany and France. Ruling parties are facing defeat across the globe. Last year, Britain saw its first change in government in 14 years.
Donald Trump will soon return to power in the US, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau just announced his resignation.

A considerable number of voters feel that the governing parties haven't improved their lives. Even if the country as a whole is richer, there is a widening gap. People do not feel the benefit of economic growth like they did in the past. I think it is key to deal with that disparity.

Tanaka says those feelings aren't going away. He thinks there will be more of this anti-establishment sentiment going forward.

This headwind against the ruling parties has built up over time. There's been a sense of crisis over issues like the pandemic and energy. If the economy improves, that dissatisfaction may ease a little, but long-term, I think the established parties will still struggle to reflect the voters' mindset.

Tanaka says Japan is no stranger to this trend. While the government didn't change last election, the ruling party struggled to gain the support they did in the past.
As the country's population is declining and aging, it is increasingly depending on foreign workers. Tanaka says it is important for Japan to reflect on the situation in Europe and beyond.

US health authorities have reported the country's first human death from the H5N1 bird flu. They say an investigation has found no evidence of person-to-person transmission and the risk to the general public remains low.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Monday. A patient hospitalized in Louisiana has died.
Local health authorities say the individual was over 65 and reportedly had underlying medical conditions. The patient had been receiving treatment after being confirmed last month as the first severe human case of H5N1.
Louisiana authorities say the person contracted the virus after being exposed to both wild birds and a non-commercial backyard flock. The CDC has confirmed 66 human cases of H5N1 in the U.S. since last year.
Most of the patients said they were possibly exposed to infected birds or cattle and developed only mild symptoms such as red eye.

Let's check out the world weather with our meteorologist Sayaka Mori. Winter is in full swing in Japan, and the chilliest air of the season is approaching the nation. Looks like some people have to brace for more snow. Tell us more.

Hello there, staggering amounts of snow have already fallen over Japan. The other day, parts of Aomori Prefecture saw 4 meters of snow on the ground. That's the earliest 4 meter accumulation in Japan's history. We're expecting the coldest of the season and also more heavy snowfall starting on Wednesday for parts of the nation. Now, this is the mechanism.
Cold air over the continent moves over the sea of Japan. The sea is actually about 3 degrees higher than normal, so it adds ample moisture to the snow clouds and the clouds hit the mountain ranges. So, lots of snowfall along the site, but only dry air reaches the Pacific side, including Tokyo. But this time, even Shikoku, which is in the south, will see significant snowfall even in low-lying areas. So we are expecting a lot of snow especially. Especially the Hokuriku region. You might see an additional 70 centimeters of snowfall in 24 hours. This is the forecast for the next four days. Staying below or above or around freezing across Aomori Prefecture, more snow is in the forecast every day. But Tokyo will stay dry. On Monday, Tokyo had the first measurable rain in 40 days. But as you can see, drier conditions are expected to last into the weekend at least. now The capital city of the U.S. also experienced wintry precipitation. Take a look at this video.
The storm swept into the U.S. mid-Atlantic state on Monday, closing down federal offices and public schools in Washington, DC. Fifteen centimeters of heavy snow accumulated in the nation's capital on Monday. About 60 million people across more than a dozen states were also under winter weather warnings and advisories.
Lots of snow fell, but dogs enjoyed the snow too. But snow has lit up. But what was left behind is below freezing or above freezing temperatures around this area, one in New York and zero degrees in DC.
That's it for me. Have a nice day.

♫

And that is all for this edition of NHK Newsline. I'm Yamoto Miki in Tokyo. Thank you very much for joining us on NHK World Japan, and please stay tuned for more.

at 18:00 (JST), January 06

 

20250106180000_english_1.mp3

Hello, a very warm welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Yamamoto Miki in Tokyo.

Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has given his first official press conference of the year. He called for cooperation from the opposition bloc as his main ruling Liberal Democratic Party continues to deal with fallout from a political fundraising scandal. Ishiba says his minority government, which includes his LDP and his junior partner Komeito, needs to fulfill its responsibility for current and future generations. But he indicates they can't do it alone.

The opposition parties need to share these responsibilities more than ever before. All sides need to conduct thorough discussions to win the understanding and empathy of the people.

Ishiba was elected Prime Minister last year after dozens of LDP lawmakers and staff were caught up in a scandal involving kickbacks from political events. He's promised to discuss political reforms. Ishiba says he hopes to reach a decision on whether to ban donations made by businesses and organizations to political parties by the end of March. He also says there needs to be cross-party consensus on reforming Japan's pension system. Ishiba says Japanese Social Security needs to be maintained and strengthened. He says he wants to create systems where people of all generations can work together and support one another, including senior citizens and those raising children.

Japanese defense officials say North Korea launched A ballistic missile on Monday. The projectile is believed to have fallen into the Sea of Japan.
Officials say the missile appeared to travel about 1,100 kilometers before splashing down just outside of Japan's exclusive economic zone. There are no reports of damage to any ships or aircraft. South Korea says it may have been a hypersonic missile capable of traveling five times the speed of sound.

These actions by North Korea threaten the peace and stability of our country, the region and the international community. It is a serious issue affecting the security of our citizens.

This is North Korea's first ballistic missile launch of 2025. It comes just weeks before the upcoming inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Pyongyang's last ballistic missile test was in November, just before Trump won the election.

South Korean investigators say they will request an extension of the warrant for President Yoon Suk-yeol. It was set to expire on Monday.
They tried to execute the warrant at the presidential residence Friday, but they were blocked by the president's security personnel. Authorities say it is virtually impossible to bring Yoon in if he's guarded by the Presidential Security Service. The warrant was obtained on charges that Yoon attempted an insurrection by declaring martial law.
Investigators have repeatedly asked Yoon to come in for questioning without success. The opposition led National Assembly voted to impeach Yoon last month. They have also since voted to impeach his first successor, Prime Minister Han Dok Soo.
Presidential authority has now passed to Deputy Prime Minister Choe Sammok.
While an investigation into Yoon continues, the Constitutional Court has to decide whether to uphold the impeachment motion. The National Assembly says it will withdraw charges of interaction from the claim. It says it will instead focus the trial on whether declaring martial law violates the Constitution. Local media reports say the opposition hopes this will streamline the proceedings. Yoon has reportedly criticized the move, saying that insurrection was central to the original motion. He says a hasty trial absolutely cannot be accepted.
Now, another arrest warrant against Yoon could mean another face-off with security forces. We spoke with an expert on South Korean politics on how that might play out.

I believe authorities may refrain from using physical force to break through the blockade. Investigators are also expected to take into consideration that Yun is technically president, so they are likely going to try to avoid fueling more chaos in the country.

He says the opposition wants to speed up the court's decision around Yoon's impeachment.

It is clear the opposition wants the Constitutional Court to make a ruling as soon as possible. This is why they have decided to withdraw charges of insurrection against Yoon. They are hoping to know right away if the impeachment motion against the president is appropriate.

He says while political polarization continues to deepen, the fate of South Korea's leaders remains uncertain.

The court will be making a decision based on the Constitution. But when it comes to making a political judgment, public opinion is an important factor. Some critics say national sentiment will be considered above the law in South Korea.

A UN official who is in the Gaza Strip to provide support for people in need has urged a ceasefire as soon as possible.
Seita Akihiro is the director of health for UNRWA, the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees. He's been in Gaza since December.

The cold winter arrived here for people amid a very severe food shortage. People's only hope is the ceasefire. Everybody says there is no other hope, and their goal for now is to survive.

Israel's parliament passed legislation last October that would ban UNRWA from operating in the country. Seita called for Israel not to enforce the law because UNRWA's activities need coordination with Israeli officials.

UNRWA is the only organization that can properly manage and distribute food and medical products. We hope the law's implementation will be stopped. I think this is a general strong feeling not only for us, but also for people in Gaza.

Israel plans to implement the law in late January.

Now, the TV series Shogun, produced by Japanese actor Sanada Hiroyuki, has won Golden Globes in four categories. The winners were announced at a ceremony in Beverly Hills, California, on Sunday.

Hiroyuki Shanada.
Taranobu Asano.
Anna soa.
Shogun.

Shogun won the Golden Globe for Best Television Series Drama and Sanada won Best Performance by an Actor. Anna Sawai and Asano Tadanobu also picked up Best Performance awards in other categories.

I'd love to say thank you for everyone who has been in my life. All of you have brought me here and I'd like to say um for the young actors and creators in the world, please be yourself, believe yourself, and never give up.
Good luck. Thank you.

This is a very big present for me. Thank you so much. Thank you, Southern team. Thank you, everybody. I'm very happy. Thank you.

The series depicts a power struggle in feudal Japan. It was produced in the United States, but most of the dialogue is in Japanese. Shogun also scooped up a record 18 prizes at the Emmy Awards in September last year.

New York City has launched a toll to reduce traffic congestion. It is the first such program in the United States. Toll Collection began on Sunday.
The toll aims to address the worsening traffic conditions in central Manhattan, which includes Times Square and Wall Street. The average speed of vehicles has reportedly fallen to less than 12 kilometers per hour. Under the new program, drivers will be charged nine dollars during the day to enter the area.
The toll is automatically collected through sensors installed on roads.

And I think the congestion pricing probably is a good idea to try to limit the amount of traffic and encourage people to use more public transit.

Now for taxi passengers, they will be required to pay 75 cents per trip.

We're going to lose our customer, so I don't like it. The state of New York expects a 10% reduction in the number of vehicles entering the city center. It says the revenue will be used to expand bus routes and other services.
President-elect Donald Trump is strongly opposed to the congestion pricing. He says it will put New York City at a disadvantage over competing cities and states.

♪

Let's check out the world weather with our meteorologist Sayaka Moriso. Sayaka, yes, it is very dry in Tokyo, but people are experiencing rain for the first time in a while. What's the latest?

Yes hello there, we are looking at widespread precipitation across most parts of the country it's the first nationwide storm of the year we are now seeing rain instead of snow in the north and for Tokyo it's the first measurable rain in 40 days so it's nice and actually precipitation wise it's nice for the Tokyo area because it's been so dry we have a couple of lows over the country one right here is affecting central Japan it's bringing a risk for thunderstorms and even hail, that's going to move away and then colder air will be moving in, so rain could change over to snow as we go into the mid part of this week in the northern areas.
The island of Shikoku could see a lot of snowfall into the next couple of days, watch out for that.
Temperatures are on the warmer side in the northern areas actually, 10 degrees in Niigata because of warmer temperatures. There is a higher risk for avalanches as well as snow falling from the roofs. Tokyo in the double digits.
It's going to be about 5 degrees warmer compared to what we saw on Monday.
People in the U.S. and also other parts of the world are receiving white stuff.
Take a look at this video. This is from Europe first. 
Southern island turned into a winter wonderland. Other parts of the British Isles also had snow. And you can see, you'll see an iconic castle also blanketed with snow. Meanwhile, a storm brought a blast of snow, ice, winds and plunging temperatures that triggered dangerous travel conditions in Missouri on Sunday. The National Guard in Kansas, Nebraska and Indiana were activated to help many motorists.
We are looking at winter storm conditions from Missouri into the mid-Atlantic coast. Lots of snow and ice is in the forecast for the area and there's a chance for thunderstorms in the south.
Meanwhile, it's dry and hot in California, we'd have 22 in LA.

That's it for me. Have a nice day.

♫

And that's a wrap of this edition of NHK News Line. I'm Yamamoto Miki in Tokyo.
Thank you for staying with us.

at 18:00 (JST), January 05

20250105180000_english_1.mp3

Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Gene Otani in Tokyo.

Families of Japanese citizens who North Korea abducted are starting yet another New Year without their loved ones at home.
They are urging Japan's government to hold a bilateral summit with the North and hoping the incoming new US administration. Donald Trump will help.
Time is running out for the parents of the abductees. Yokota Megumi's mother, Sakiye, will turn 89 this year. Arimoto Keiko's father, Akihiro, will be 97.
Last year, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister said a visit to the North by then-Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumiya was possible. But Pyongyang later indicated it had rejected the idea and hasn't changed its stance that the abduction issue has been settled. In the first ever US North Korea summit in 2018, then President Trump raised the abduction issue and noted the importance of settling the matter. The abductees families are paying close attention to whether Trump will meet the North Korean leader again. They plan to visit the US to work with the new government to help resolve the issue. The Japanese government says at least 17 citizens were abducted by North Korean agents in the 1970s and 1980s. Five have returned home. But the other 12 remain unaccounted for.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has continued his appeals to partners for support in order to keep the country's air defense systems up and running.
Zelensky said in a social media post on Friday that Russian forces had attacked Ukraine with more than 300 drones and about 20 ballistic and other missiles in the first three days of the new year. He noted that Moscow's terror is not losing its intensity and stressed that his country needs to constantly replenish its stock of air defense missiles. On Friday, Russian ministry officials said Ukraine had fired U.S. supplied long range missiles in the western Russian region of Belgorod, but all of them were shot down. They added that the Western supported action will not go unanswered. The Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday that its troops has seized control of a settlement in the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk.
NHK has viewed media that purport to show a North Korean soldier wearing a Russian military uniform while taking part in the fight against Ukraine.
The images were obtained from sources close to the matter. They show what appear to be Russian military gear worn by a North Korean soldier who was killed. The soldier's identification tag bears the words Russian military and also includes a personal ID number. A Ukrainian military expert says Russia may want to conceal the fact that North Korean forces are fighting with their soldiers.

Russians always trying to saying that they are fighting by itself without some support from friends.

In December, Ukrainian forces showed military identification documents believed to be the possession of North Korean soldiers who had died in the fighting. The documents lack facial photos, and the place of birth indicates a Russian Republic.
NHK obtained the footage amid reports that about 11,000 North Korean troops have been deployed alongside Russian forces in the western Russian region of Kursk. Where Ukraine is waging a cross-border offensive, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has claimed that more than 3,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded in the fighting.

Israeli media reports say negotiations with Hamas on a Gaza ceasefire and hostage releases began on Friday in Doha, the capital of Qatar. The focus is on whether any progress will be made this time after previous failures.
Hamas also confirmed in a statement that indirect ceasefire negotiations would resume. Hamas says it's seriously working to reach an agreement as soon as possible. The group said this round of talks will focus on an agreement that would lead to a complete ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. But Israel opposes a complete ceasefire and seeks the total destruction of Hamas. The Israeli government says it will continue deploying forces in strategic areas of Gaza, even if it agrees to a temporary ceasefire.
Last month, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan made stops in Israel and other regional capitals, hoping to help forge a deal before the year end. Israeli media reported on Saturday that there are significant differences in opinions between the two sides. One of the key issues of contention is the process for releasing hostages. There are also reports that Israeli officials have taken a cautious approach on the negotiations.
Dozens of casualties have been reported in the Gaza Strip, despite cease-fire talks resuming between Israel and Hamas.
A Palestinian media outlet said on Saturday that since the early morning, Israeli airstrikesAcross Gaza, Gaza has killed 41 people. Gaza's health authorities said the death toll has risen to 45,717. Israel is planning to put a law into effect in late January banning operations in the country by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees in the Near East, or UNRWA. Israel accuses some of the agency's staff of taking part in the cross-border attacks by Hamas in October of 2023. UNRWA has been active in Gaza to provide medical care, food, and other humanitarian aid. The agency says on social media that the clock is ticking for it to deliver essential services for millions of Palestine refugees. It is calling on Israel to retract the law.

Regions of Japan from the north to the west experienced frigid weather on Sunday morning. Central Tokyo recorded its lowest temperatures so far this winter.
A cold air mass flew in, and with almost no clouds to prevent heat from leaving the ground, surface temperatures plummeted. The Japan Meteorological Agency says the lowest temperature of the day was in Hokkaido's town of Rikubetsu at -24.6 degrees Celsius. Sua and Nagano recorded -6.9 degrees. Central Tokyo in the cities of Hiroshima and Takamatsu also the mercury drop to -0.2 degrees. For Monday, weather officials forecast warmer temperatures and rain over wide regions. That's because low pressure systems on the Sea of Japan side and along the southern coast of the main island of Honshu will pass through the country. Authorities are warning that melting snow could trigger avalanches, especially Aomori Prefecture. The cities of Aomori. Hirosaki recorded over one meter of snowfall on Sunday morning, which is more than triple the average for this time of year.

Traders have started bidding at the first tuna auction of 2025 at Tokyo's Toyosu Fish Market, the top item fetch, the second highest price on record.
Starting shortly after 5:00 AM, bids were made for raw and frozen tuna from across Japan and around the world.
The most prestigious item was a 276 kilogram luffin tuna from Oma in the northern prefecture of Aomori.
A market trader bought the fish for 207 million yen, or about $1.3 million. That is the second highest since comparable data became available in 1999.
The highest bid on record is more than $2 million placed in 2019.
This is a fisherman in Oma, Takeuchi Masahiro, who caught the expensive bluefin tuna, sold at this first auction.
It's really like a dream. I'm 73 years old and always worry about how many more years I can keep fishing. I'm extremely happy. Tuna from Oma has earned the highest price for 14 years in a row. At the first auction at the Toyosu Market and the former Tsukiji Market, the fisherman said he hopes this will continue.

Those were the main stories for this hour.

♫

And that's the news this hour. I'm Gene Otani from all of us here at NHK News Line to all around the world. Thanks very much for joining us.
 

at 18:00 (JST), January 04

 

20250104180000_english_1.mp3

Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Gene Otani in Tokyo.

Nippon Steel's $14 billion bid to buy U.S. steel has been blocked by U.S. President Joe Biden. The president cited concerns the deal could threaten U.S. national security. Sources say Nippon Steel would take legal action in the U.S. against the decision.
Biden released a statement on Friday saying the two firms should drop the planned acquisition within 30 days. He says there is credible evidence to believe Nippon Steel might take action that threatens to impair the national security of the United States. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States had previously reviewed the planned buyout and referred it to the president for a decision. The two steel makers said in a joint statement that they were dismayed by Biden's decision.
They say that Biden's order violates due process and the law governing the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. They also said it is shocking and deeply troubling that the US government would treat an ally like Japan this way. The steel makers go on to say that Washington is sending a chilling message. To any company based in an ally country contemplating significant investment in the United States.
US Steel President and CEO David Burrett called Biden's action shameful and corrupt. He added the president had insulted Japan, a vital economic and national security ally, and put American competitiveness at risk. But the leader of the United Steel Workers Union, David McCall, welcomed the decision, saying the union has no doubt it is the right move for its members and national security. Nippon Steel could have to pay a breakup fee of $565 million to U.S. Steel if the deal does not go through. It would also be forced to reassess its strategy in the U.S. market, where demand is expected to remain stable.

Japan's Trade and Industry Minister has reacted to Biden's decision, describing it as unfortunate and incomprehensible.
Mutoyoji says it raises concerns about the future of investments between the countries. He also says the Japanese government will ask the Biden administration to explain the decision in more detail. An expert says President Biden's decisionTo block the deal was political, and that's why the committee, or SIFUS, couldn't reach a consensus. My colleague Yuko Fukushima spoke to Joseph Kraft, who heads an advisory firm specializing in Japan US relations.

In my opinion, it means that there isn't a serious national security issue as the president noted. In my opinion, first of all, Japan is an ally of the US. Secondly, even if Nippon Steel were to wind down production, in a case of national security, the government can deem production to be resumed. So in my opinion, there really isn't a national security issue here. And that is why CFIUS could not come to a consensus.

So what does this rejection of Nippon Steel's buyout mean for Japanese and other foreign companies to invest in US companies in the future?

I don't think this is as big of a deal that some make it out to be. In other words, that it's going to be more difficult in the future for foreign firms to make investments into the US, especially those who are aligned with the US. However,I think Nippon Steel could have taken different measures to alleviate some of that political risk.
The most important thing for Nippon Steel was to get support or agreement from the union workers in this case, but they failed to do that.
So this is a good example for foreign firms of what not to do in terms of politically sensitive transactions.

You were saying that this is all political and it would been better business wise for the US and Japan if this deal went through.

The tragedy here is that this was a tremendously good deal for not only US Steel, but for America as well, I mean. The US Nippon Steel is buying this at a hefty premium. They're making significant capital investments, which is more likely to secure jobs than otherwise.
So I think it would have been a win win for both sides.

Kraft says, in the end, the people who suffer most, will be the US steelworkers. He adds the outcome won't be good for Japan-US relations either.

The foreign ministers of Germany and France have visited Syria almost one month since the collapse of the administration of President Bashar al-Assad. They were representing the European Union and pledged to help the Syrian people build a democratic nation.
Annalena Berbach and Jean-Noel Berreau met for talks with Ahmed al-Sharraa. He heads the group that is leading the interim government.

The European Union will do everything to help that the future will be a free one and a safe one for everybody.

Murbach says that lifting economic sanctions imposed by Western countries would require guarantees that the rights of minorities and women are safeguarded.
The remark apparently reflects the EU's desire to build relations with the interim government to avoid rising tensions in the Middle East and eliminate the influence of Russia, which backed the Assad administration.
Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says clashes between Turkey-backed militants and Kurdish forces have continued in the northern part of the country. The group says more than 200 people, including civilians, have died in the latest round of violence.

Japan's weather authorities are calling on people returning from holidays to brace for traffic disruptions. This comes as snow piles up along the Sea of Japan coast.
The Japan Meteorological Agency says a winter pressure pattern and a strong cold air mass are bringing heavy snow mainly to mountainous areas from northern to western Japan. As of 11 AM on Saturday, 397 centimeters had piled up in Sukayu in the Hakoda Mountain Range in Aomori Prefecture.
Hirosaki City, also in Aomori Prefecture, had 114 centimeters. That's a record high for January. Aomori City had 112 centimeters, which is more than triple the average. 40 centimeters of snow is forecast in Hokkaido and 30 centimeters in the Tohoku region in the 24 hours through Sunday morning. Weather officials are urging people to be prepared for possible avalanches and power outages caused by snow accumulation on electricity cables and trees.

Friday marked 100 days until the World Expo opens in Osaka. To mark the occasion, runners took part in a 10-kilometer race around the site.
The expo will be held on Yumeshima Island in Osaka Bay.
Seven years ago, there was nothing there.
The grand ring encircling much of the site is now almost finished. The Expo will run for six months, starting on April 13. The theme is Designing Future Society for Our Lives. 158 countries and territories are taking part. The national pavilions will be the major attraction. Some of them are nearly ready. Electric buses will take visitors into the site. They will be charged by underground coils that do not need cables.
This charging system is the first of its kind in Japan. Users will realize electric vehicles can be more convenient.
But the expo has its problems. Advance ticket sales have been slow. Organizers were hoping to sell 14 million tickets in advance. But as of December 25, only about half that number had been sold.

Those were the main stories for this hour.

♫

That's the news this hour. I'm Gene Otani. From all of us here at NHK Newsline to all around the world, thanks very much for joining us.

at 18:00 (JST), January 03 / Mount Takao

 

20250103180000_english_1.mp3

Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Gene Otani in Tokyo.

Multiple U.S. media outlets say President Joe Biden has decided to officially block Japan's Nippon Steel from purchasing U.S. steel. They reported on Thursday that a White House announcement is planned as early as Friday. Nippon Steel has declined to comment on the reports.
The two steel makers inked the acquisition deal in December 2023.
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States later began reviewing the plan over national security risks, but was unable to reach a consensus by the December 23 deadline. It deferred the decision to President Biden. The committee had warned in its final evaluation that nippon steel could reduce production in the US. Biden is believed to have determined this would pose a national security risk. Nippon Steel has argued its plan to protect jobs and maintain production capacity would contribute to strengthening U.S. national security.
Nippon Steel President Imaya Tadash told reporters on December 25 that the company has promised a range of measures to address the concerns. Imaya also said he feels support for the buyout deal is spreading significantly in communities where steel plants are located.

South Korea's investigators have halted their attempts to execute a detention warrant for President Yoon Suk-yeol.
They had entered the premises of the presidential residence to detain Yoon, but were reportedly blocked by his security personnel. The joint investigation team says it will review its next steps. The warrant is set to expire on Monday. This move follows an hours-long standoff at the residence in Seoul. Over 150 officials were deployed to the compound on Friday morning to execute the warrant, but the Presidential Security Service reportedly told them they would not allow the residents to be searched. A court in South Korea issued the warrants to detain Yoon and to search his residents on charges of orchestrating an insurrection earlier this week. This comes a move month after Yoon's sudden declaration of martial law in early December. It's the first warrant issued against an incumbent South Korean president.
Earlier, NHK World's Kim Chan Joo told us more about the situation regarding the warrant for President Yoon Suk-yeol.

I'm now overlooking Yoon's presidential residence in Hanam-dong. It's the white building near the top of the hill. The Presidential Security Service and Capital Defense Command troops are reportedly protecting Yoon inside the residence. There have been no rests for obstruction of official duties so far. Hundreds of protesters have been paralyzing traffic in the area.
They're shouting that the opposition party is insane to be pro North Korea and that they must protect the president who is trying to eradicate anti state forces. Yoon's legal advisor arrived here a little after noon, possibly to stop the arrest warrant. He said he can't attend the second preparatory hearing at the Constitutional Court scheduled for the afternoon. But the hearing has reportedly taken place with other representatives attending.

So Chun-joo, why did the investigators decide to execute the warrant today?

Local media say it took a long time to prepare for investigators to prepare to execute the warrant. It's the first time to do such a thing in the country. They have reportedly prepared a questionnaire of about 200 pages. And January 3 is a normal weekday in South Korea. The country also celebrates the New Year season, but it's limited to January 1st as the Lunar New Year holidays occur later in the month.
So they chose this day to avoid huge protests around the residents on a holiday.

So Chanji, going forward, how will the situation likely unfold?

If the arrest warrant is executed, Yoon will be questioned at the corruption investigation office for high-ranking officials near Seoul and then transferred to a detention center. Yoon's side has been obstructing the investigators.
A lawyer for the president says it is an illegal and invalid execution of a warrant. He said Yoon's lawyers will take action in accordance with the illegal execution and noted that an objection to the warrant has been filed to the court.
Investigators gave up on executing the warrant on Friday, but it's valid until next Monday, so all eyes are now on when and how the investigators will try to push ahead.

U.S. investigators say the man who drove into a crowd of New Year's revelers in New Orleans, Louisiana, acted alone. They also say he was a U.S. military veteran under the strong influence of the Islamic State group.
The FBI made the announcement at a news conference on Thursday. The Bureau had earlier said it did not believe the driver, Shamsuddin Jabbar, was solely responsible for the attack.
The incident occurred in the early hours of New Year's Day. The FBI says 14 people are dead and at least 35 others are wounded. The 42 year old suspect was killed in a shootout with police at the site. The Bureau said surveillance video analysis shows Jabbar had planted explosive devices near the scene of the attack. It said it has recovered the devices. The FBI also said the vehicle used in the attack bore an ISIS flag.

He was 100% inspired by ISIS. And so we're digging, we're digging through more of the social media, more interviews.

The Bureau revealed that in video clips posted on social media, Jabbar expressed his support for the extremist group and claimed to have joined it before last summer. U.S. media say bomb-making materials were found at a rental property where Jabbar had stayed before the attack. The French Quarter, a popular tourist spot nearby, was cordoned off after the incident, but was reopened on Thursday afternoon.

A winter pressure pattern and a cold air mass are bringing heavy snow to parts of northern Japan. Large accumulations of are forecast for the northern and eastern regions through Saturday, mainly in mountainous areas along the Sea of Japan coast. Snow is also expected in mountain areas of western Japan.
As of 5:00 AM Friday, 412 centimeters of snow had piled up in Skaiyu in Aomori Prefecture. That's more than double the average amount. In the 24 hours through Saturday morning, up to 50 centimeters of snow is expected in the Tohoku region and up to 40 centimeters in Hokkaido and Niigata prefectures. Winds could intensify along the Sea of Japan coast from northern to western Japan through Sunday, with possible blizzards in some areas.
The Japan Meteorological Agency is calling on people to prepare for traffic disruptions. Weather officials are also urging caution against snow that accumulates on power cables and trees, as well as avalanches in snow covered areas. On Friday, atmospheric conditions will likely be very unstable, mainly in the Hokuriku region.
People are advised to watch out for lightning strikes, tornadoes and other sudden gusts of winds and hail.
Those were the main stories for this hour.

♫

And that's the news this hour. I'm Gene Otani from all of us here at NHK Newsline to all around the world. Thanks very much for joining us.

♬

Japan has various kinds of landmarks that fascinate visitors. They range from cultural and historic locations to modern buildings created with cutting-edge technologies. The Backstory of Japanese Landmarks brings you the stories behind these amazing places. In this episode of The Backstory of Japanese Landmarks, we feature Mount Takao.
Mount Takao has long been a popular hiking destination as it's perfect for day trips. In recent years, many tourists from overseas have climbed its slopes as well. One reason for its popularity is its easy access from central Tokyo, less than an hour's train ride away.
But Mount Takao has much more to offer.
At the foot of Mount Takao, people are dressed in various styles. Some are wearing trekking shoes and backpacks, ready to go hiking. Others are dressed in a more casual style, better suited for cities. 
The reason?
Mount Takao has seven hiking trails. One is a full ascent to the summit. Another course includes a cable car and a lift ride, and winds around the halfway point up the mountain. Visitors can choose from several options depending on the season, the size of the group, who's climbing, and what they're in the mood for.
The cable car lift route is not only fast, it's also exciting. At one point, the cable car's ascent is at an angle of just over 31 degrees, the steepest in Japan. Riders ooh and uh as the cable car climbs the steepest part.
Meanwhile, the two-seater chairlift leaves riders' legs dangling in the air, which means it can be a bit of a thrill for some. But with the feel of the breeze, it makes for a great ride and many kids ride with their parents. Just be aware that the cable car and the chairlift may not be running when there's bad weather, and visitors should check ahead.
The hiking courses offer various sites each season. Come spring, there are canopies of cherry blossoms in full bloom, while violets cover the ground.
In the summer, visitors can splash around in rivers or explore what's upstream.
Gorgeous foliage of reds, yellows, and oranges welcome visitors in the fall. On New Year's Day, many people flock to Mount Takao to enjoy the first sunrise of the year.
Mount Takao has long been associated with a strict practice of mountain asceticism called shugendo. A traditional form of aesthetic training called sui-gyo involvesstanding under a waterfall to cleanse oneself. Mount Takao has two waterfalls, Jataki and Biwataki, where this is practiced. During the winter months, visitors can watch people training in the ice-cold water. For those willing to give it a shot, Yakuoin Temple offers a suigyo tryout experience at its dojo.
For hikers, Mount Takao offers gorgeous views. From an observation deck midway up the mountain, they can see Tokyo and its vicinity, including the iconic Tokyo Tower and Yokohama Landmark Tower.
It's a spectacular view of the metropolis while being surrounded by the great outdoors. When weather conditions are good, the summit of Mount Takao offers a view of Mount Fuji. In fact, the top of Mount Takao has been selected as one of the 100 best places in the Kanto region,To view Japan's most famous peak.
Thank you for tuning in to the back story of Japanese landmarks. We hope you have a chance to visit these landmarks and see for yourself what makes them so special.