at 18:00 (JST), February 17

20260217180000_english_1.mp3

 00:00:10 話者 1/Yoko Nishimura

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

US BUSINESS WORLD ROCKED AS EPSTEIN FALLOUT CONTINUES

Fallout from the US Justice Department release of files on late financier Jeffrey Epstein has engulfed prominent figures in the US business community.

Epstein died after being indicted on sex abuse charges.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced on Monday that Thomas Pritzker has stepped down as executive chairman of the board of directors.

Multiple media outlets report that Pritzker mentioned his association with Epstein in an internal document.

Recently released material also revealed Pritzker's association with Epstein.

US media also reported that Katherine Romler, the top lawyer for financial firm Goldman Sachs and former White House counsel to President Barack Obama, announced her resignation earlier this month.

She reportedly received a designer brand bag and other luxury gifts from Epstein.

The released files also showed that Casey Wasserman, chairperson of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games, had exchanged emails with sources related to Epstein. He is reportedly selling the talent agency he founded.

ISRAEL APPROVES LAND REGISTRATION PROCESS IN WEST BANK

Israel has approved a new land registration measure.

It would treat large parts of the occupied West Bank as Israeli state land.

Media outlets there reported on Sunday that the country's cabinet had approved the new process and that it will be implemented for the first time since 1967.

It allows Israeli authorities to start land registration in the occupied territory.

Registered land can be treated as state property.

The measure will apply to about 60 percent of the West Bank.

A local human rights group says an estimated 180,000 to 300,000 Palestinians live there.

The move comes after the Israeli government announced a series of decisions on February 8 aimed at consolidating the country's control over the West Bank.

One of them is designed to ease restrictions on purchases of land in the region by Jewish settlers.

Palestinian authorities reacted sharply in a statement, saying that the measure amounts to de facto annexation of occupied Palestinian territory.

Arab nations, such as Qatar and Egypt, have condemned the Israeli decision as depriving the Palestinian people of their rights.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also called on the Israeli government to immediately reverse these measures.

He added that all Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are in flagrant violation of international law and relevant UN resolutions.

IRAN'S FM MEETS IAEA CHIEF AHEAD OF TALKS WITH US

Iranian Foreign Minister Abba Sarachi has met the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency ahead of Tuesday's second-round talks with the United States over Iran's nuclear program.

Araqi and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi met in Switzerland on Monday.

Iran's foreign ministry says they discussed some technical issues related to cooperation between Iran and the agency.

It also says they spoke about the upcoming Iran-US nuclear negotiations in Geneva.

Iran has not accepted IAEA inspections since its nuclear facilities were attacked by the US and Israel last June.

Tehran is believed to be showing a flexible stance toward the nuclear talks with Washington.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to reporters about the upcoming talks.

00:03:57 話者 10/Marco Rubio

I think if there's an opportunity here to diplomatically reach an agreement that addresses the things we're concerned about, we will be very open and welcoming to that.

But I don't want to overstate it either. It's going to be hard.

00:04:10 話者 1

Meanwhile, Iran's state-run news agency reported on Monday that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps began an exercise in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait is a key maritime transport route.

3 CHINESE ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED ENGLISH TEST CHEATING SCHEME

Tokyo police have arrested three Chinese nationals for allegedly taking part in a scheme to help people cheat on an English proficiency test.

Fresh arrest warrants were served for Li Zhaobei and Wang Likung, an arrest warrant was issued for Wu Shiyu.

They are suspected of collaborating at a test venue in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward in January 2025.

Tokyo police say Wang and Woo took the test of English for International Communication, or TOEIC, exam, as proxies.

Lee is thought to have been outside the venue and in contact with Wang.

Investigators say Wang used gadgets such as a miniature microphone inside his mask to convey answers to other examinees via Lee.

Wang has been arrested multiple times and indicted for using fake names to take the exam repeatedly in Tokyo and other misconduct.

Investigators say more than 40 Chinese nationals registered at the same address as the suspects took the test at the same venue.

They believe the examinees took advantage of the system where test venues are allotted according to addresses.

HK ROBBERY SUSPECT SAYS HE WAS PROMISED PAYMENT FOR CRIME

We're learning more details about a brazen robbery that may have started in Japan and ended in Hong Kong.

A Japanese suspect claims he was going to be paid for the crime.

The robbery took place in Hong Kong. Four people have been indicted so far.

They allegedly conspired to rob a Japanese man of about 51 million yen, or $330,000.

Another accused is a Japanese man who traveled with the victim.

Together, they carried about 190 million yen, or more than 1.2 million dollars in cash. 

He allegedly leaked information about the journey to a crime group.

He also allegedly stole some of the money after arriving in Hong Kong.

He's believed to have handed it off to someone in the restroom.

The victim may have also faced an attempted robbery before leaving Japan.

He is believed to have been attacked in a parking lot at Tokyo's Haneda Airport.

Japanese police are looking into possible links between the two cases.

AI DEMAND FUELS GDP GROWTH IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Economies across Southeast Asia are having a moment.

Robust growth driven by intense demand for artificial intelligence.

AI companies around the world need parts to expand their operations, and Southeast Asia has them. It's leading to big gains for several exporters.

Singapore's GDP jumped 6.9 percent from a year earlier, thanks to strong chip exports.

In Malaysia, chip shipments and a wave of data center projects lifted the economy by 6.3 percent.

Vietnam's economy climbed 8.4 percent and Indonesia's 5.3 percent.

Growth in Thailand was comparatively modest at 2.5 percent.

The country's key industry, tourism, has been hit by a weaker dollar against the Thai bond after US interest rate cuts.

EXPERT: SOUTHEAST ASIA'S AI BOOM NOT IMMUNE TO BUST

For more on what's driving this, we spoke to Nishihama Toru, chief economist at the Daiichi Life Research Institute.

Nishihama says overall growth is largely due to countries exporting goods in a hurry in the face of US tariff threats. But AI demand is also playing a key role.

00:08:09 話者 12/Nishihama Toru

Companies are reconstructing the global supply chain right now.

And as a result, foreign investment is flowing into Southeast Asia.

For example, semiconductors are in huge demand right now.

And there's a ton of investment in creating factories for those conductors.

Plans like that are really helping to drive growth in the region.

Some countries are really betting on semiconductors.

As of last quarter, their GDP levels are very robust compared to countries who are not exporting many chips.

00:08:44 話者 1

Nishihama says the AI-driven data center boom has created rapid growth in some countries, but he adds it could be short-lived, unlike more well-established industries.

00:08:58 話者 12

The manufacturing and service industries create jobs.

They create a middle class and increase consumption in these places.

But once data centers are built, they don't produce very much employment.

It's also possible that engineers will come from outside these countries and compete for local jobs.

So in terms of creating a sustainable economy, just building data centers is not enough.

00:09:26 話者 1

The latest figures reflect a rush in demand in the midst of the US tariffs.

And because of that, Nishihama predicts that Southeast Asian economies could begin to contract in the coming months.

00:09:39 話者 12

It's going to become more difficult to export to the US when tariffs are imposed.

China has recently emerged as an alternative buyer.

But if the Chinese economy slows down, Southeast Asian countries are going to find it hard to keep up their current momentum.

00:09:59 話者 1

Nishihama told NHK that China's economy is closely tied to Southeast Asian prosperity, and it should be monitored for signs it's in a slump.

BUSINESS

Now, to tell us what's happening in the world of business, here's Ramin Mellegard from the BizDesk.

00:10:22 話者 3/Ramin Mellegard

Thank you very much indeed.

JAPAN EASES IMPORT RESTRICTIONS ON US-MADE AUTOMOBILES

Now, the Transport Ministry sees safety inspection procedures for US-made automobiles imported into Japan. The move is part of a bilateral tariff agreement with Washington.

The two countries do have differing requirements for the vehicles, such as body impact strength and the color of turn indicators.

But for Monday this week, imported vehicles that meet US safety standards no longer require additional tests in Japan.

The measure was agreed by Tokyo and Washington last year and also applies to vehicles made in the US by Japanese automakers.

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry this week started to use cars made in the US by a Japanese manufacturer as official government vehicles.

00:11:10 話者 13/Akazawa Ryosei

Just because an agreement has been reached doesn't mean we no longer have to do anything, but rather that we implement it sincerely and swiftly.

00:11:21 話者 3

Japan's government says the change will help reduce the US trade deficit with Japan.

JAPAN WANTS S.AFRICA TO ALLOW TRADITIONAL SAKE BOTTLE SIZES

Japanese trade officials are pressing for South Africa to allow sake to be sold in bottle sizes that have long been standard for the drink back home.

The Japan External Trade Organization, or JETRO, held a sake seminar in Cape Town, attended by government officials and business people.

Interesting, the iconic Japanese drink is growing in South Africa amid the global boom in traditional Japanese cuisine known as washoku.

But the country does not currently permit sake to be sold in typical Japanese bottle sizes of one sho, which is equivalent to 1.8 liters, and four go, which is 720 milliliters.

The authorities say the units could cause confusion among consumers.

A Jetro representative explained to attendees that Japanese people have routinely used the units for well over a century to measure rice by weight.

Jetro officials said they want South Africa to allow retail sales of sake in traditional bottles so that brewers can keep costs down and preserve quality.

00:12:38 話者 23

It was very much informative and helpful to understand and appreciate the making of sake and how it's actually produced.

and how it is celebrated in Japan for different occasions, and the actual meaning for the people of Japan.

00:12:57 話者 24

South Africa has a strong wine culture, but the feedback I got from participants at this event is that they could feel the uniqueness of sake and learn about Japanese culture.

I think we got a very positive response.

00:13:11 話者 3

Representatives from Brewer's base in nine Japanese prefectures also attended the event.

One of them said his company would like to help Sake's future growth by promoting it to the younger generation in South Africa.

VIDEOS MADE WITH BYTEDANCE'S AI TOOL SPUR COPYRIGHT CONCERNS

A Japanese anime industry association has expressed concern at the possible unauthorized use of copyrighted characters in videos created with a Chinese AI tool.

ByteDance, the parent company of video-sharing app TikTok, unveiled a pilot version of its SeaDance 2.0 AI video generator earlier this month.

The tool enables users to create high-definition videos based on text prompts.

Multiple videos featuring Japanese anime characters that were apparently created using the tool have been posted on social media.

Other videos contain figures that look like real-life celebrities and politicians.

In the videos, the figures are depicted engaging in various actions, including fights.

The Nippon Anime and Film Culture Association said in a statement, It is deeply concerned that copyrighted content appears to have been used without authorization.

The Japan arm of ByteDance told NHK that the company is aware of the concerns.

It added that it's working to address the problem ahead of the release of the final version of C-Dance 2.0.

The company says it's taken steps to prevent people using the generator from incorporating intellectual property and likenesses without permission.

Overseas entertainment companies have also made claims of possible copyright violations by ByteDance's AI tool.

UK SAYS IT WILL 'MOVE FAST' IN CRACKDOWN ON AI CHATBOTS

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says his government will crack down on AI chatbots to block distribution of harmful content.

His comments follow online posts of sexualized images generated by artificial intelligence.

Starmer spoke at a meeting with parents and young people in London.

00:15:14 話者 34/Keir Starmer

One of the difficulties here is that the technology moves on so quickly that the legislation struggles to keep up, which is why for AI bots for example, and chatbots, we need to take the necessary measures.

00:15:27 話者 3

The UK regulates social media platform operators under its Online Safety Act.

It requires them to remove illegal content, such as sexual violence, and prevent children from accessing harmful content. Companies can be fined for violations.

The government says it will move fast, close the legal loophole in the Online Safety Act, and force all AI chatbot providers to abide by the law.

Stormer says the government's considering a ban on social media use by children under 16. Australia imposed such a rule last year.

The government faces public pressure to tighten regulations after non-consensual sexualized images created by the generative AI service on X spread online.

NIKKEI 225 FALLS FOR 4TH STRAIGHT DAY

Japan's Nikkei 225 stock index has fallen for a fourth straight trading day, mainly due to profit taking. The Tokyo benchmark ended Tuesday session 0.4% lower at 56,566.

Investors offloaded shares such as semiconductor-related companies.

The index set an intraday record above the 58,000 mark last Thursday, following two consecutive all-time closing highs.

The bullish mood came after Japan's main ruling Liberal Democratic Party scored a landslide victory in this month's general election.

MARKETS

Okay, now let's get a check on some of the other markets, stocks and currencies.

♪

And that is it for Business News. I'm going to hand it back to you.

00:17:22 話者 1

Thanks, Ramin

.GASTROENTERITIS CASES RISE IN JAPAN FOR FIFTH STRAIGHT WEEK

Cases of infectious gastroenteritis have been on the upswing in Japan, rising for the fifth consecutive week.

The disease is also called stomach flu. Its causes include the norovirus.

Symptoms are fever, vomiting and diarrhea.

People can catch it from eating contaminated food or being exposed to an infected person's bodily waste.

The Japan Institute for Health Security has been analyzing reports from about 2,000 pediatric medical institutions nationwide.

The number of cases per clinic was 9.48 in the week through February 8, up slightly from the previous week. The total remains high for this season.

By prefecture, Gunma had 17.4 patients per clinic, and Tokyo had 14.3.

The health ministry recommends wiping floors in other places with sodium hypochlorite...

and placing clothes for over one minute in hot water that's at least 85 degrees Celsius.

It says these steps are effective in preventing the spread of infection.

MILANO CORTINA 2026
JAPAN'S MIURA, KIHARA WIN GOLD IN PAIRS FIGURE SKATING

Japan's Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi have won the gold medal in pairs figure skating at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

Miura and Kihara had slipped to fifth after an error on a lift in Sunday's short program.

But in Monday's free skating event, they successfully completed the move and received the highest level 4 rating.

They also performed their jumps well and earned a world record score of 158.13 points.

That brought their total score to 231.24.

Their victory marks the first time Japan has won the gold in Olympic Paris figure skating.

The country now has 18 medals, 4 gold, 5 silver, and 9 bronze.

That total places Japan 4th in the overall table.

In terms of gold medals, Norway leads with 12, followed by host Italy with 8, and the United States with 6.

NHK POLL: TAKAICHI CABINET APPROVAL RATING AT 65%

A new NHK opinion poll shows voters continue to have confidence in the Takaichi Cabinet.

The numbers suggest it's more popular now than it was before the election.

NHK conducted a telephone survey last Friday through Sunday.

Nearly 1,200 people responded.

It found the Cabinet's approval rating is at 65 percent.

That's up seven points from the last poll, taken one week before the lower house election.

Its disapproval rating also fell six points to 20 percent.

Among those who support the Cabinet, 30 percent say it's because they think it can get things done.

Some others say it's better than the alternatives, or they expect its policies to be effective.

Among those who don't support the Cabinet, 31 percent says it's because they do not trust the prime minister.

Some others say they don't expect the policies to work, or it's not a Cabinet made-up of the parties they support.

The election earlier this month was a major win for Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae.

Her Liberal Democratic Party secured more than two-thirds of lower House seats.

When asked about the historic landslide, 60 percent said it was a good or somewhat good thing. 33 percent disagreed.

JAPAN PLEDGES SUPPORT TO SE ASIA IN FIGHT AGAINST SCAM NETWORKS

Japan has pledged over 3 million dollars to help Southeast Asian countries fight cross-border crimes such as scam centers.

A signing ceremony was held in Bangkok for the Grant Assistance Program.

The total sum will be worth more than 500 million yen, or 3.3 million dollars.

It will be used to enhance the investigative capabilities of Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. 

Parts of Southeast Asia have become major hubs for online fraud in recent years.

Authorities in places like Cambodia and Myanmar have raided the criminal groups believed to be behind the operations.

Japan's assistance will be provided through the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

00:21:51 話者 32/Delphine Schantz/UNODC Regional Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific

Scam networks adapt quickly.

When pressure increases in one-year jurisdictions, operations relocate in another.

This is why sustained multilateral and institutional response is required.

00:22:07 話者 33/Otaka Masato/Japanese Ambassador to Thailand

To effectively respond to rapidly evolving and highly adaptive networks, we must join hands and work together to confront this shared threat.

00:22:21 話者 1

The plan includes setting up monitoring centers and providing equipment to analyze criminal smartphones and computers.

SAMBA AND POLITICS MIX AT BRAZIL'S CARNIVAL

Rio de Janeiro's carnival is known for its glitter, giant floats and all-night dancing.

But this year, one of those floats is drawing political fire.

Rio's samba schools dance their way down a 700-meter stretch of road Sunday night, with around 3,000 performers accompanying each float.

One of the country's top schools built its show around Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva.

They trace his climb from humble beginnings to the nation's highest office.

One of the dancers said it was delightful and rewarding to be part of honoring the great Brazilian.

But critics see it differently. Right-wingers say the float amounts to political campaigning ahead of the official campaign period.

The left-wing Lula is set to run in the country's presidential race later this year.

WEATHER

It's time for a check on the weather with our meteorologist Jonathan Oh.

So Jonathan, it's back to reality here in Japan as we're seeing temperatures that's more typical for this time of year. What's ahead for the next few days?

00:23:42 話者 4/Jonathan Oh

Hello, after we saw some really warm temperatures over the weekend, we're back to reality as we're seeing temperatures that are more typical for this time of year in Japan.

We saw some rain overnight going into Tuesday and it looks like that as we go into Wednesday, things are going to let up a bit when it comes to temperatures.

It's going to be on the warmer side along the Pacific side of Japan.

Up toward the north though, you might be talking about more snow as a low pressure system moves into the picture.

And so place like Sapporo looking at some snowy weather starting on Wednesday into Thursday and Friday.

But look at Tokyo, we're looking at temperature highs in the low teens as we go through the rest of this week. And then by the time we go into the weekend, mid to upper teens.

And so we are seeing those temperatures starting to creep up as we head toward the weekend.

Meanwhile, we're talking about a stormy situation down toward the southern areas of Europe and the Balkan Peninsula where we saw some heavy rainfall causing some real problems in North Macedonia.

Take a look at this video, give you an idea of the situation on the ground as heavy rain poured into the western part of the country Monday, forcing people to flee their homes as roads were flooded.

Reuters reported more than 200 people had to evacuate Kitevo after a local river burst its banks.

Crews used heavy machinery to remove debris and clean up the swollen riverbed.

Reuters quoted one resident who said that while he was safe during another flood a month ago, on the second time around, the waters had destroyed everything.

And it looks like we're still going to be dealing with the rain and the wet weather as the low pressure system will still be in place.

And that's just only going to compound the situation.

Snow and rain up toward the central portions of the continent as well.

And as we go into the middle of the week, another system from the west will bring some rain to places like France as we continue on through Wednesday.

But for Tuesday, rain into Vienna, snow into Berlin and Warsaw and showers also down toward Athens with a high of 17.

Quick note on New Zealand. We talked about the impacts of a storm in North Island on Monday, South Island on Tuesday, and listen that system will still be in place where more rain is expected into Wellington and Auckland for Wednesday.

Hope you have a good day wherever you are.

♫～　3-DAY FORECAST　～♫

HOKKAIDO TOWN HOLDS SUMO TOURNAMENT IN SNOW

00:26:26 話者 1

Turning now to some winter fun. A town in Japan's northern prefecture of Hokkaido has held a sumo tournament on a ring made out of snow.

Sunday's event in Mashuke town was staged in front of a decommissioned train station.

It's held every year to help revitalize the area.

Fourteen amateur wrestlers took part.

Some of them drifted up as a seagull character that serves as the town's official mascot.

Spectators cheered on the wrestlers as they showed off their skills on the slippery ring.

The winner was rewarded with rice and local specialties.

00:27:28 話者 4

I'm surprised I won I think it was because I wrestled desperately.

00:27:41 話者 1

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

checked.

at 18:00 (JST), February 16

20260216180000_english_1.mp3

 00:00:10 話者 1/Takao Minori

Welcome back to NHK Newsline. Here's the latest we have for you at this hour.

KIM JONG UN VOWS SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES OF FALLEN SOLDIERS

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been paying tribute to his country's soldiers who died fighting alongside Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, and he pledged long-term support for their bereaved families.

The ruling party newspaper Rodon Simmun says Kim gave a speech Sunday at a ceremony marking the completion of new homes in Pyongyang for the families.

The report quoted Kim as saying he hopes they live happily there with pride in having what he described as excellent sons, husbands and fathers.

Kim also reportedly said the families will receive preferential treatment from the state.

South Korean media suggests the speech was designed to justify North Korea's participation in Moscow's war and bolster domestic support.

MILANO CORTINA 2026
JAPAN WINS IN MOGULS, SPEED SKATING BRINGS MEDAL TALLY TO 17

Japan took home medals in freestyle skiing and speed skating on the tenth day of the competition at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

Skier Horishima Ikuma won the silver in the men's dual moguls competition on Sunday.

That follows his bronze medal performance in the men's moguls event.

Speed skater Takagi Miho took bronze in the women's 500-meter event with a time of 37.27 seconds.

This is her second medal at the Games, following a bronze in the 1000-meter dash.

Takagi is competing in her fourth Olympics. She has nine medals in total so far.

Japan's medal count has risen to 17, three gold, five silver and nine bronze.

That total places it third in the overall table alongside the United States.

Norway has won 12 gold medals, the largest number so far, followed by host Italy with eight.

US, IRAN TO HOLD SECOND ROUND OF NUCLEAR TALKS

The US and Iran are set to sit down for a second round of nuclear talks Tuesday.

The two sides are expected to meet in Switzerland.

Iran announced Sunday that Foreign Minister Abbas Arashi had left for Geneva.

Washington and Tehran had agreed to continue discussions after the first round earlier this month.

Arashi is also expected to meet with the head of the UN's nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, during his visit.

From the US side, Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, will attend.

Iran's deputy foreign minister spoke with BBC ahead of the talks. He said Iran is ready to discuss its nuclear program if the US is ready to talk about sanctions.

ISRAEL-HAMAS CONFLICT
TRUMP: BOARD OF PEACE PLEDGES OVER $5 BIL. FOR GAZA

Leaders and officials from at least 20 countries are expected this week to take part in the first meeting of US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace.

Trump established a body in January to oversee the transitional governance of the Gaza Strip.

Trump wrote on social media on Sunday that member states have pledged more than $5 billion toward humanitarian and reconstruction efforts in Gaza.

The first meeting is scheduled for Thursday in Washington.

Trump is serving as the chair of the organization.

Trump also said member states have committed thousands of personnel to an international stabilization force and local police who will maintain peace for Gazans.

He said Hamas must uphold its commitment to a full and immediate demilitarization.

Israel has waged intermittent attacks on Gaza, claiming Hamas has breached a ceasefire agreement that took effect last October.

House officials in the enclave announced on Sunday that 10 people have been killed in the past 24 hours and that the death toll since the start of the truce is over 600.

MUNICH SECURITY CONFERENCE UNDERSCORES EUROPEAN SHIFT FROM US

European leaders say they are moving to cut their reliance on the United States.

The pledge came as leaders and ministers from more than 120 countries wrapped up three days of discussions at the Munich Security Conference on Sunday.

This year's summit was marked by deepening divisions between the US and European countries over Greenland and other issues.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed that the US and Europe belong together,

while underlining the need for European allies to strengthen their own defenses.

00:04:46 話者 2/Marco Rubio

We do not want our allies to be weak, because that makes us weaker.

We want allies who can defend themselves so that no adversary will ever be tempted to test our collective strength.

00:04:58 話者 1

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that he had begun initial talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on European nuclear deterrence.

Macron is expected to deliver a speech in the coming days on nuclear policy.

European countries are eager to maintain good relations with the Trump administration while strengthening defense capabilities and diversifying economic and diplomatic relations.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had separate meetings with his European counterparts calling for increased cooperation. Merz reportedly plans to visit China later in February.

JAPAN FM CALLS FOR CONTINUED US ENGAGEMENT IN INDO-PACIFIC

Japan's foreign minister also attended the conference.

He stressed the importance of continued US engagement in the Indo-Pacific region.

It comes as Washington appears to be placing higher priority on the Western Hemisphere.

Motegi Toshimitsu says that East Asia currently faces unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force, or coercion.

He is referring to the cooperation between Russia, China and North Korea.

00:06:03 話者 11/Motegi Toshimitsu

During the meeting, I pointed out that security in the European side of the Atlantic Ocean and the Indo-Pacific is inseparable, and I highlighted the importance of multi-layered coordination with like-minded countries, including the US and Europe, in addition to the Japan-US alliance.

00:06:21 話者 1

At the gathering, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang called for vigilance against what he described as a dangerous trend emerging in Japan.

His claims include that the specter of Japanese militarism lingers on.

Motegi says Wang's remarks aren't based on facts and that Japan has strived to be a pacifist nation since the end of World War II.

The two ministers did not meet during the conference.

00:06:49 話者 11

There is no change in the policy to hold thorough dialogue with China, reduce each issue and concern, and increase understanding and cooperation.

The Japanese government is open to dialogue with China.

It wants to continue to respond calmly and appropriately.

TAIWAN REBUKES CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER'S REMARKS

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Qiao-long also responded to the remarks.

In a statement, he accused China of blaming other countries for regional tensions.

He says Taiwan's sovereignty has never belonged to the People's Republic of China.

Lin also says Beijing has recently engaged in military provocations in surrounding areas, severely threatening regional peace and stability.

4 MINISTERS BACK UN SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM

On the sidelines of the conference, Moteyi met with his German, Brazilian and Indian counterparts.

The countries want to become permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. Some observers say that body has become dysfunctional.

The foreign ministers agreed to work together with the council's current permanent members and African countries that support reform.

♫～

STRUGGLING CHINESE TEMP WORKERS CAN'T AFFORD NEW YEAR TRAVEL

It's the most important holiday for Chinese families.

The Lunar New Year typically sees workers in cities traveling home, some across the entire country, for an extended visit.

But this year, it's not all fireworks and festivities for a growing number of Chinese laborers.

NO HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: CHINESE WORKERS CAN'T AFFORD NEW YEAR TRAVEL

00:08:33 話者 4

Wen Yawei has never had to make this phone call before.

He's telling his mother he won't be home for the holidays.

This year, he simply can't afford it.

Wen is a day laborer who's been living just outside Shanghai for several years.

He's just worked a 12-hour night shift, one that paid him about $26.

It's simply not enough to get him back to his hometown in a province hundreds of kilometers away.

Like millions of others in China, he normally makes that trek once a year to have New Year's dinner with his parents. It's a tradition to spend the holiday with family.

But the economy is changing. These days, wages can fluctuate without warning.

Sometimes, the same job pays less the next day.

And when they aren't at work, Wen and his friend are forced to hunt for it.

Going door to door to see which agency offers the most acceptable wages, hours, and meal breaks.

It's an exhausting life for these two men, and one that's becoming more common.

00:09:46 話者 3

It's hard to find work because there are too many temp agencies.

I'm not even treated like a human being.

00:09:53 話者 4

Wen's plight is not an anomaly. He's part of a growing number of migrant workers unable to find steady work or permanent employment.

It forces them to take on a variety of low-paid jobs.

By the end of 2024, about 240 million people across China were making an income as so-called flexible workers, those without stable jobs.

These days, laborers are also making less than before, with their average income dropping by 17% in just two years. The typical person earns $850 a month as of last summer.

China's economic slowdown has left scores of others in the same boat this new year.

They'll be spending it alone.

After basic expenses, temporary workers like Wen often have nothing left to show for their labor. It's left him feeling ashamed.

00:10:52 話者 3

When I went home, all my friends were married with two kids, boasting about their cars, houses, and partners. I had nothing. All I could do was sunbathe.

00:11:04 話者 4

His friend Han feels the same embarrassment and says it even leads to conflict.

It's easier just to stay away and send money to his daughter instead.

00:11:17 話者 3

I'm not going home this year. Whenever I do, I just argue with my family.

My relatives and friends all look down on me.

00:11:29 話者 4

Wen would go home this year, if he could afford it. For now, unless something changes, he's left to wander the city, enduring an endless cycle. Work, sleep, work again.

00:11:42 話者 3

If you have money, you're actually alive. Without it, you're just surviving.

BUSINESS

00:11:50 話者 1

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

Here's Ramin Mellegard from Our BizDesk.

00:11:56 話者 2/Ramin Mellegard

Thank you very much indeed.

JAPAN'S OCT .- DEC. GDP EXPANDS, BUT MISSES EXPECTATIONS

Now, a preliminary government report shows Japan's economy grew an annualized 0.2% in the October to December quarter.

While that was the first expansion in two quarters, it was less than market expectations.

Many private sector economists had projected growth in the 1 to 2% range.

The report was released on Monday by the Cabinet Office.

Private residential investments rose 4.8%, rebounding from a significant decline in the previous quarter.

Corporate capital investment rose 0.2% on the back of spending on semiconductor manufacturing plants.

Private consumption, which counts for more than half of Japan's GDP, continued its upward trend, growing 0.1%.

Stronger demand was seen for new smartphones and air conditioners, while spending on food and clothing weakened.

Exports dipped 0.3%, a decline for the second straight quarter.

This was partly the result of a drop in visitors from China due to worsening relations between the two countries.

Now, Japan counts spending by inbound travelers as export revenue.

However, the contraction was smaller than the previous three months.

One reason for this is the US lowered tariffs on automobiles from Japan in September.

Japan's GDP for all of 2025 grew 1.1% in real terms from the previous year, and that's the first expansion in two years.

JAPAN'S NARITA AIRPORT CARGO VALUE HITS RECORD IN 2025

The value of freight passing through Narita Airport near Tokyo set a record high last year, led by trade in pharmaceuticals.

Officials at Tokyo Customs say Japan's main gateway for air freight cleared exports worth a little over 20 trillion yen, or about $131 billion. That's up 14.8% from 2024.

Imports rose 9.2% to around $138 billion. Exports of pharmaceuticals jumped more than 30%, led by shipments of cancer drugs and other medications to Europe.

Shipments of electronic measuring instruments rose nearly 15 percent, mainly due to strong demand in Taiwan.

Among imports, computing devices climbed nearly 13 percent.

Drugs increased more than 8 percent.

By country, the value of air freight exports to China rose about 13 percent, while imports grew nearly 5 percent.

JAPANESE SHIP RETURNS FROM TEST-MINING DEEP SEA RARE EARTHS

A Japanese drilling ship has returned home after successfully test mining mud thought to contain rare earths from the seabed thousands of meters deep.

The vessel Chikyu, which means the globe, returned to Shimizu port in central Japan on Saturday.

Researchers had spent about a month exploring the seabed, roughly 150 kilometers southeast of the Japanese island of Minami-Torishima.

The area of the Pacific Ocean lies within the country's exclusive economic zone.

Previous surveys had found that the seabed there contains high concentrations of rare earth minerals, which are vital to high-tech industries.

The researchers reportedly managed to collect mud from a depth.

of around 5,700 meters earlier this month as part of a Cabinet Office project.

The project team now aims to separate rare earths from the samples and refine the minerals.

It plans to launch an experiment to continuously mine 350 tons of mud per day from the same area starting in February 2027.

JAPANESE WINERIES THINK OUTSIDE THE BARREL

Now, Japanese wine has been attracting growing global recognition in recent years.

However, the value of its exports is currently only about one-seventieth the value of sake exports. Some wineries are hoping to change that. We take a look at how.

00:15:52 話者 5/Narrator: Kitadai Hiroko

Yamanashi Prefecture is the largest producer of Japanese wine.

Ten years ago, Shibutani Hideo followed his passion for wine to the area to establish a local winery. He primarily uses a native variety of grape, Muscat Bailey A.

It gives fresh aromas and a moderate sweetness, but it has one drawback.

00:16:17 話者 3/Shibutani Hideo

Japan gets a lot of rain, so Bailey A inevitably becomes watery, making it hard to produce wines with deep flavor.

00:16:27 話者 5

To reduce moisture, Shibutani only picked grapes during spring tides. His efforts paid off, netting him a silver medal at one of the world's largest wine competitions in 2018.

Still not satisfied, he set out to create a drink that could compare with wines from anywhere in the world. 

Shibutani tried a different approach to further concentrate the flavor.

He experimented with running fans on the grapes for months to remove every last drop of excess moisture.

It took eight years of determined trial and error, but he finally produced the taste he was searching for.

00:17:11 話者 3

It's not just sweet. It has a deep flavor. It's a rich wine.

I believe we've created a category that will be recognized globally.

00:17:21 話者 5

He plans to begin by targeting French and Italian restaurants in Japan, and will then gradually expand overseas.

Meanwhile, another winery aims to go global by making a wholly different kind of taste.

Fukata Kazuhiko established a small winery in Chichibu City 10 years ago.

00:17:46 話者 13/Fukata Kazuhiko

The area has significant temperature fluctuations.

I thought it would be ideal for producing robust wines with high alcohol content.

00:17:57 話者 5

His pursuit of a strong glass led to a collaboration that's transcending traditional beverage categories. Fukata is making his wine in whiskey casks.

He gets them from a nearby world-renowned distillery. The used casks are filled with wine and set aside to age for a year, a process that imparts the aroma of whiskey.

Their most popular item is a white wine infused with notes of peat.

It's a collaboration that works both ways.

The distillery also takes used barrels from the winery to age some of its products.

This creates a whiskey that's infused with the aroma of wine.

00:18:50 話者 14/Watanabe Masashi

The regional connection is a major advantage, allowing us to quickly obtain barrels in good condition.

00:18:57 話者 5

Last June, a French buyer purchased 1,500 bottles of wine that were aged using the method.

00:19:06 話者 13

Japanese grapes aren't widely available overseas. They're very rare, and I think the whiskey aroma also complements them well, which is why Europeans like it.

00:19:18 話者 5

Japan's vintners are relying on different kinds of resources to pursue world-class products. 

They're producing elegant wines with deep notes of determination and creativity.

MARKETS

00:19:32 話者 2

Okay, let's go to check on the markets.

♪

And that is it for Business News.

I'm going to hand it back to you.

00:20:05 話者 1

Thanks, Ramin.

OBAMA SAYS 'SHAME' HAS BEEN LOST AFTER TRUMP'S RACIST VIDEO

Former US President Barack Obama says shame has been lost, referring to an online video depicting him and his wife as apes.

It was posted on President Trump's social media earlier this month.

The post claimed irregularities occurred in the 2020 election. It included a clip superimposing the faces of the Obamas and politicians on the bodies of animals.

In a podcast interview, Obama said the majority of the American people find this behavior deeply troubling.

He also noted that there doesn't seem to be any shame among people who used to have a sense of propriety and respect for the office.

The post had sparked criticism even from Trump's fellow Republican lawmakers.

Trump said nobody knew the clip was at the end of the video.

The White House announced a staffer erroneously made the post.

It said the video was deleted about half a day after it was uploaded.

5-YEAR SURVIVAL RATES FOR CERTAIN CANCERS IMPROVE IN JAPAN

The Japanese government has released the five-year survival rates of cancer patients aged 15 or older.

Cancers of the blood, lungs and pancreas all showed improvements compared to the previous survey.

The latest figures published by Japan's Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry refer to cases diagnosed in 2018.

For patients with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, the five-year survival rate went up nearly four points to 51.1 percent.

Lung cancer patients saw an increase of nearly two points to 39.6 percent.

And the rate also increased by 1.7 points for those with pancreatic cancer to 13.5 percent.

Patients with prostate and thyroid cancers had five-year survival rates at over 90 percent, followed by skin cancer patients with nearly 90 percent.

For other cancer types, the five-year survival rates remained at about the same level.

All medical institutions in the country are obliged to submit this information for the National Registry.

The Health Ministry plans to make use of the latest data to take anti-cancer measures.

N.KOREAN ABDUCTIONS
RELATIVES WANT TALKS WITH N.KOREA TO BRING BACK ABDUCTEES

Relatives of Japanese citizens kidnapped by North Korea are urging Pyongyang to return the abductees while members of their parents' generation are still alive.

They're also calling on the Japanese government to do all it can to arrange a Japan-North Korea summit.

The family members and their supporters held a meeting in Tokyo on Sunday.

They observed a moment of silence at the beginning for Arimoto Akihiro.

He was the father of one of the abductees, Arimoto Keiko.

He died last year at the age of 96.

Yokota Sakie is the 90-year-old mother of Yokota Megumi. 

She's now the only surviving parent of the 12 people the Japanese government recognizes as unaccounted-for abductees.

The group has compiled a list of policies that will guide its future activities.

One policy alludes to the return of all the abductees while members of their parents' generation are still alive.

The group says if this happens, it will not object to the provision of humanitarian aid to North Korea.

It adds it will not denounce the lifting of Japan's sanctions against the North or the start of talks to normalize bilateral ties either.

But the group says it will angrily urge the Japanese government to impose tougher sanctions if the abductees are not returned within the timeframe.

The family members are waiting to see whether US President Trump will hold another summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

00:23:49 話者 15/Yokota Takuya

We will not leave anyone behind. Our resolve has not changed.

The North Korean authorities should never underestimate our determination.

00:23:59 話者 16/Yokota Sakie

I have spent every day of the past 50 years worrying and wondering if my daughter is doing well.

00:24:06 話者 1

The government says North Korean agents abducted at least 17 Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 80s.

Five returned to Japan following a bilateral summit in 2002, but the whereabouts of the remaining 12 are still unknown.

WEATHER

It is time now for a check of the weather with our meteorologist, Jonathan Oh.

So, Jonathan, powerful storms hit parts of New Zealand Monday. What's the latest?

00:24:35 話者 3/Jonathan Oh

Hello, folks living in North Island have been dealing with some really stormy weather over the past couple of days.

And I want to show you some video that's coming out from the area showing you the aftermath as more than 30,000 homes and businesses found themselves without power Monday as a wild storm hit New Zealand's North Island.

Reuters reported that strong winds caused a large to crash through a home in Hunterville.

And the low pressure system also brought heavy rainfall to other parts of North Island, including Wellington. And authorities have urged motorists to stay off the roads.

People in South Island are expected to feel the impacts of the storm on Tuesday.

Now here's a look at what we're expecting.

Again, the low pressure system that's located east of North Island will move down toward the south and that will continue to bring some impacts while another low tries to develop behind that and come approaching in the area. So you look at the forecast, Wellington looking at some rain temperatures topping off at 20.

And if we look back toward the West across Australia, still seeing temperatures moving up to the upper 30s in place like Alice Springs with showers into Adelaide and Melbourne as we go through Tuesday.

Meanwhile, across East Asia, Japan looking at temperatures slightly colder from Sunday.

We did see some clouds picking up, maybe seeing some possible sprinkler sprinkles overnight into the day on Tuesday.

Back toward the West into China. High pressure comes into the picture, keeping things relatively dry into good portions of East Asia as we go through the day on Tuesday.

Beijing at 11, 9 in Shanghai, over into Seoul in South Korea.

Cloudy skies, the high of 6 as we go through Tuesday.

Looking at what's happening across North America, the West Coast dealing with plenty of wet weather as we have a couple low pressure systems pushing onshore.

Ahead of that, high pressure really controlling the weather as we're talking about relatively dry weather.

In places like Denver into Oklahoma City, temperatures relatively warm as well, highs into the low 20s. Chilly though up into the Pacific Northwest.

Single digit highs from Vancouver in to Seattle and looking at some rain as well. 

Cold front pushes off the east coast of the United States, but hazy conditions to D.C.

and Atlanta for Monday.

Hope you have a good day wherever you are.

♫～　3-DAY FORECAST　～♫

00:27:36 話者 1

And that is all for this edition of NHK Newsline. We'll have more for you soon.

Thank you very much for joining us.

checked.

at 18:00 (JST), February 15

20260215180000_english_1.mp3

 00:00:12 (Maria Sato)

Hello. Welcome back to NHK Newsline. I'm Maria Sato in Tokyo.

JAPAN, US TO REAFFIRM STRONG ALLIANCE DURING TAKAICHI'S VISIT

Japan and the United States have agreed to ensure that Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae's visit to the US next month will include a reaffirmation of the unwavering alliance between the two countries.

Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met on the sidelines of an international conference in Germany.

Motegi said Japan intends to work with the US to open a new chapter in the history of the bilateral alliance.

His statement comes ahead of the United States' 250th anniversary, as well as the free and open Indo-Pacific Concept's 10th anniversary this year.

Motegui and Rubio agreed to increase security cooperation to enhance deterrence and response capabilities.

The two countries also confirmed that they will collaborate to secure supplies of critical minerals and other items.

5 EUROPEAN NATIONS CONCLUDE RUSSIA POISONED CRITIC NAVALNY

Multiple European governments say they are confident that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was killed with a lethal poison.

Navalny was a leading critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He died in an Arctic prison colony in February 2024.

The United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Sweden and the Netherlands said in a joint statement on Saturday that their conclusion is based on reported symptoms and analyses of samples from Navalny.

The statement says the examinations have confirmed the presence of epibatidine, a toxin found in South American poison dart frogs that is not found naturally in Russia.

The statement says Navalny died in prison and that Russia had the means, motive, and opportunity to poison him.

It claims Russia violates the Chemical Weapons and other conventions, and that the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons was informed.

The statement concludes that these European nations will make use of all policy levers to hold Russia to account.

Moscow announced that Navalny died of natural causes.

But his widow, Yulia Navalnya, accused Russian authorities of fatally poisoning him.

An article carried by a Russian independent investigative reporting website also said in 2024 that official documents it had obtained confirmed he was poisoned in prison.

TEEN KILLED, 2 INJURED IN OSAKA STABBING, MAN ARRESTED

Three 17-year-old boys were stabbed on Saturday night in Osaka's bustling Dotonbori district. One of them later died.

Police have arrested a 21-year-old man who had fled the scene on suspicion of murder.

Police received emergency calls shortly after 11.50 p.m., saying there had been multiple stabbings on the ground floor of a building.

A boy from neighboring Nara prefecture died at a hospital from stab wounds to the chest and other parts of his body.

The other two victims suffered wounds to the upper body. Both are from Osaka.

One is said to be unconscious, while the other reportedly suffered injuries that will take three weeks to heal.

00:03:43 話者 2

I saw two or more people stabbed. One of them fell and was bleeding.

Everyone screamed and tried to get out of there.

00:03:53 (Maria Sato)

Police say the suspect apparently had a disagreement with the three boys before the attack. He told police that he was trying to intimidate them with the knife.

WWII JAPANESE-AMERICAN INTERNMENT REMEMBERED IN CALIFORNIA

The internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II has been remembered in an event in California. It's home to many residents of Japanese descent.

On Saturday, dozens of people, including Japanese-Americans, attended the event in a park in Sacramento.

The event came ahead of the 84th anniversary of the signing of an executive order that authorized the forced removal of certain people.

Then-US President Franklin Roosevelt signed the order in February 1942, about two months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor.

It led to the incarceration of more than 125,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry and others.

A book containing names of those incarcerated was shown at the event, and participants affixed a stamp beside the names that were read out in memory of the internees.

One of the organizers called for opposition to discrimination and prejudice against immigrants, saying that immigrants from Central and South America are now subject to crackdowns in the United States.

A 99-year-old former internee, Mitsuo Yamamoto, said the event is not for one race, but for everybody.

00:05:32 話者 Mitsuo Yamamoto/Former-internee

For everybody. I mean, it's everybody in general.

It's really nice that everybody would come out and support this.

00:05:41 話者 4

Well, I think that we're seeing just this common scapegoating of an outgrouping of immigrants as a threat towards American society.

00:05:49 (Maria Sato)

She said it was important that speakers at the event called on people to work together to stop injustices from happening to future generations.

BRANDS FIND NEW TAKE ON USED CLOTHES

Rising prices are putting pressure on Japanese consumers, and some are seeking out second-hand items.

That trend could spell trouble for brands that offer the latest fashions, but they're finding new approaches.

00:06:22 話者 5/Narrator: Soga Michiko

This is the location of a major Japanese retailer that offers everything from apparel to household goods.

00:06:29 話者 6

This is our reuse clothing section.

00:06:33 話者 5

One of the most popular sections is where clothing collected from customers is resold.

But used garments are not simply put back on the rack.

They are dyed new colors, altered or otherwise revamped.

This creates new value that customers appreciate.

00:06:52 話者 7

Each piece has its own character, and they're really nice.

00:06:56 話者 5

The project started in response to environmental concerns, but the required costs and labor were major issues.

To address that, the company set up collection points across its nationwide network of stores.

The greater volume made it possible to decrease the time and costs needed for each garment.

00:07:16 話者 6/Tomura Kota/Ryohin Keikaku

We're creating a business structure that ensures the minimum profit needed to continue.

We believe this model has the potential for significant growth.

00:07:28 話者 5

Another company hopes their new service will maintain the relationship with customers.

The apparel brand started in California.

A long-time fan of the brand visited to sell back some clothes.

00:07:51 話者 8

I'm more comfortable selling back to the same place.

00:07:55 話者 5

The company believes that creating a buyback relationship, rather than just selling clothes, leads to customer connections that are longer-lasting.

It isn't a store clerk who appraises their items.

A professional comes from a specialty shop.

When the items are later sold, the revenue is shared between the brand and the specialty shop. An official at the resale shop says this system also benefits them.

00:08:23 話者 9/Shirata Mayuko/Resell shop staff

The quality of items customers bring in is really high.

00:08:28 話者 5

So far, the store has purchased about 2,500 items from customers.

Managers hope this arrangement will build deeper trust with customers.

00:08:40 話者 10/Fukuda Eri/Brand shop staff

We want to increase options for customers, not just throwing things out or giving them away. This is another way to get rid of clothes, and we hope it deepens the relationship.

00:08:52 話者 5

As sustainable values become more important, changes are coming to the apparel industry.

00:09:01 (Maria Sato)

Those were the headlines for this hour.

WEATHER

♫～　3-DAY FORECAST　～♫

And that's all for this hour on NHK Newsline. I'm Maria Sato in Tokyo.

Do stay with us on NHK World Japan.

checked.

at 18:00 (JST), February 14

20260214180000_english_1.mp3

 00:00:13 (Maria Sato)

Hello, welcome back to NHK NewsLine. I'm Maria Sato in Tokyo.

GERMANY'S MERZ URGES US TO REPAIR TRUST

World leaders and their top officials are gathering in Germany to discuss global security.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has acknowledged the deepening gap between Europe and the US. He says the international rules-based order no longer exists.

Participants will discuss that issue as well as the situations in Greenland and Ukraine.

Mertz opened the conference by calling on the US to repair and revive transatlantic trust.

00:00:47 話者 Friedrich Merz/German Chancellor

Let me paraphrase this for our American friends in English.

For three generations, trust amongst allies, partners and friends,

He's made NATO the strongest alliance of all times.

Europe knows deeply how precious this is.

In the era of great power, rivalry, even the United States will not be powerful enough to go it alone.

00:01:22 (Maria Sato)

He urged European leaders to strengthen their defense capabilities.

And he says Germany has begun dialogue with France on the issue of nuclear deterrence.

He reached out to other countries, including Canada, India, and Japan, for a new partnership.

Japan's defense minister expressed concerns over threats to the international order.

He says Japan will boost defense spending and become stronger.

00:01:49 話者 Koizumi Shinjiro/Japanese Defense Minister

With the partners of the Indo-Pacific and all the like-minded nations

including our partners here in Europe as well.

We will enhance connectivity and generate synergies not only in training and operations, but also across equipment and industrial bases.

RUBIO, WANG MEET AHEAD OF TRUMP'S VISIT TO CHINA

00:02:08 (Maria Sato)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are at the conference. They're set to deliver addresses on Saturday.

Rubio has held talks on the sidelines of the conference with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

They're believed to have discussed preparations for President Donald Trump's planned visit to China.

This was their first in-person meeting since last July when they met in Malaysia.

They have yet to disclose any details of Friday's talks.

Trump's visit is scheduled for April.

Trump spoke with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the phone last week.

He said they discussed a range of issues, including Taiwan and Ukraine.

He described the call as very positive.

But a statement released by China's foreign ministry says Xi issued a warning.

It says he told Trump the US must handle the issue of arms sales to Taiwan with prudence.

The meeting with Rubio and Wang is also believed to have included exchanges on Taiwan.

♪

MILANO CORTINA 2026
UKRAINIAN ATHLETE LOSES APPEAL OVER HELMET TRIBUTE

A Ukrainian skeleton racer has lost an appeal to overturn his disqualification tied to a banned helmet tribute.

The ruling came after Vladislav Haraskevich refused to stop wearing a helmet, bringing photos of athletes from the country killed during Russia's invasion.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed Haraskevich's appeal on Friday, one day after he was disqualified.

The International Olympic Committee said his helmet did not comply with its guidelines.

The court said the arbitrator who heard the case was fully sympathetic to Heraskevich's commemoration, but that IOC guidelines limit the right to express views on the field of play.

It said that athletes have other opportunities to raise awareness, such as at news conferences.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy says the athlete's helmet is a reminder to the world of the cost of fighting for independence.

He later presented Haraskevich with the Order of Freedom.

00:04:32 話者 Volodymyr Zelenskyy/Ukrainian President

Medals are important for Ukraine and for you, but it seems to me that the most important thing is who you are.

00:04:40 話者 Vladyslav Heraskevych/Skeleton racer

I like to share it with these athletes, and I think they deserve it even more.

Because of their sacrifice, we are able to compete on the Olympics, and our whole team is able to compete on the Olympics.

MILANO CORTINA 2026
JAPAN WINS MEN'S SNOWBOARD HALFPIPE, FIGURE SKATING MEDALS

00:04:55 (Maria Sato)

Japanese athletes have added to the country's medal tally in the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

Totsuka Yuto won gold in the men's snowboard halfpipe at his third straight Olympics.

He successfully executed the triple cork 1440 trick, comprising three flips and four 360-degree spins on his second run, earning a score of exactly 95 points.

19-year-old Yamada Ryusei took the bronze in his first Olympic appearance.

Teammate Hirano Ruka finished in fourth place.

And 2022 Beijing gold medalist Hirano Ayumu came seventh.

He was competing despite suffering bone fractures before the Olympics.

In the men's figure skating competition, Kageyama Yuma scored a total of 280.06 to secure back-to-back Olympic silver medals.

Sato Shun, who placed ninth after the short program, improved to third in the free skating, winning bronze.

Japan has now won fourteen medals, three gold, three silver and eight bronze.

JAPAN POLICE SEARCH HOME OF EX-MAYOR OF ITO CITY

Japanese police have searched the home of the former mayor of Ito City in Shizuoka Prefecture. She's accused of lying about her academic record.

Takubo Maki allegedly provided false information in a document distributed to media during her election campaign, claiming she had graduated from Toyo University.

Takubo then refused to submit what she claimed to be a diploma from the university to a special investigative committee set up by the city assembly.

Criminal complaints have been filed against her for allegedly violating the public office's election and local autonomy laws.

Sources say that police raided Takubo's home in Ito City in central Japan on Saturday morning. Police had interviewed the ex-mayor on a voluntary basis.

They also asked her to submit documents she had shown to the city assembly chair and others, claiming there were graduation certificates.

The former mayor rejected the request on Thursday, saying she believes that she has the right to refuse the seizure of documents, as she is legally entitled to do so.

Takubo reportedly told police during the voluntary questioning that the allegations do not constitute a crime.

JAPANESE PANEL TO DISCUSS iPS CELL TREATMENTS

An expert panel is set to discuss whether Japan's health ministry should approve two products using IPS cells. The treatments are for heart disease and Parkinson's disease.

Health ministry officials say the experts will meet on February 19.

If the government goes on to approve the plan, Japan could become the world's first country to allow the sale and production of treatments, harnessing the new regenerative therapy. Induced pluripotent stem cells are artificially made.

They can be transformed into nerve, muscle, and other body cells, potentially restoring functions lost because of reasons such as disease.

Two companies, Korips and Sumitomo Pharma, applied to manufacture and market the products last year.

Korips has developed sheets that consist of heart muscle cells prepared from iPS cells.

They can be used to treat ischemic cardiomyopathy, a serious heart disease.

Sumitoma Pharma is seeking approval for an IPS cell-derived product that could be implanted in the brain, possibly improving motor functions in people with Parkinson's disease.

Those were the headlines for this hour.

WEATHER

♫～　3-DAY FORECAST　～♫

And that's all for this hour on NHK NewsLine. I'm Maria Sato in Tokyo.

Do stay with us on NHK World Japan.

checked.

at 18:00 (JST), February 13

20260213180000_english_1.mp3

 00:00:10 話者 1/Kanako Sachno

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

JAPAN'S OPPOSITION CRA CHOOSES OGAWA AS NEW LEADER

Members of Japan's main opposition party in the lower house, the Centrist Reform Alliance, have chosen Ogawa Junya as their new president.

This comes as the CRA's co-presidents decided to resign following significant losses in Sunday's election.

00:00:31 話者 Ogawa Junya

As the main opposition party in the lower house, our biggest goal is to lay out a clear vision for stability of people's lives and prospects for the future, delivering reassurance now and hope for tomorrow.

I'm confident through this process, public trust in our party and expectations for us will continue to grow. I take this on with determination.

00:00:58 話者 1

The party's lower house lawmakers voted on Friday afternoon.

Ogawa was elected after defeating the only other candidate.

The CRA was established in January, just before the election.

It was formed from lower house lawmakers who previously belonged to the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, or CDP, and Komeito.

They had aimed to be the largest force after the election, but instead ended up winning 49 seats, less than one-third of the 172 they held ahead of the vote.

Ogawa is in his eighth term.

He held key positions during his time in the CDP, including Secretary General.

On Sunday, Ogawa won his constituency against a former digital minister of the Liberal Democratic Party. Japan's special diet session is set to kick off next Wednesday.

NEW CRA LEADER AT THE HELM ... WITH PARTY IN TROUBLED WATERS

Earlier, I spoke with NHK World's political correspondent, Igarashi Jun, about what lies ahead for the opposition.

Jun, we know the CRA suffered really badly in the lower house election, but they also only formed recently. Why do they opt to elect a new leader so soon?

00:02:08 話者 3/Igarashi Jun

So the CRA failed to rally support. 

One of the big factors may have been its lack of a fresh image.

Now, the LDP has been in power for a long time. But I think Takaichi, Japan's first female prime minister, has been able to create a really popular persona.

The CRA's initial leaders couldn't match it.

One of the former co-presidents, Noda Yoshihiko, had even served as prime minister from 2011 to 2012. He was in the now-defunct Democratic Party of Japan.

It's been a decade and a half since he was last in office.

He may have seemed more like a part of the old guard than Takaichi.

Speaking after this election, Noda said he and his co-president, Saito Titsuo, likely appeared outdated. He added that the CRA has many capable younger members as well.

And the CRA's new leader, Ogawa Junya, is 54 years old.

00:03:16 話者 1

Right. And what challenges lie ahead for him?

00:03:19 話者 3

Firstly, he has to rebuild the organization. What's interesting is that Ogawa is a former CDP member, and that's the group that did worse on Sunday.

Currently, 21 former CDP lawmakers hold seats, while the number held by former Komeito members is 28. He'll have to unite them all.

We should note that in the upper house, the CDP and Komeito still operate as a separate parliamentary groups.

So, we'll have to see if that separation continues and what impact it may have on the CRA long-term. As well, some within the party are questioning the CRA's name itself.

There's been a lot of discussion around how the CRA failed to promote itself to voters,

in the short time between its formation and election day.

Some want to start over with a fresh identity.

But of course, it has to do this under the LDP's two-thirds majority in the lower house.

The ruling bloc will control all of the committees there, meaning the CRA will have to fight hard to be heard.

N.KOREA'S KIM YO JONG RENEWS CALL ON DRONE FROM S.KOREA

00:04:45 話者 1

The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has described as quite sensible behavior an acknowledgment by South Korea's unification minister that a drone flew into North Korea last month.

It's unusual for the North to make a favorable comment about actions by South Korea, which Pyongyang considers an enemy.

Kim Yo-jong released a statement on the issue through the state-run Korean Central News Agency on Friday.

She'd earlier called on the South Korean government to apologize and take preventive measures, condemning it for having encroached on North Korea's airspace.

On Tuesday, South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-yong announced that a drone had flown from the South Korean side and expressed regret over the incident.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported that Kim's statement is being seen as a positive development.

It comes as the South Korean government is seeking to resume dialogue with Pyongyang to ease military tensions.

But Kim also said South Korean authorities are required to take preventive measures to surely guarantee that such serious infringement of sovereignty never happens again.

She added, they should not seek to gloss over with such mere expression of regret the crisis they brought.

ISRAEL-HAMAS CONFLICT
US TO HOST FIRST BOARD OF PEACE MEETING

US President Donald Trump is expected to unveil a multi-billion dollar reconstruction fund for Gaza next week.

That's when he chairs the first formal meeting of a new body overseeing the transitional governance of Gaza. Trump established the Board of Peace last month.

The White House says the first meeting will be held next Thursday in Washington.

A White House official told NHK that delegations from at least 20 countries, including many heads of state, are expected to attend.

Trump is expected to outline how participating nations would contribute to an international stabilisation force.

The force would be deployed to promote disarmament and maintain security in Gaza.

More than four months have passed since a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect. But Israeli forces have carried out intermittent attacks since then, claiming Hamas violated the agreement.

TRUMP: TALKS WITH IRAN WILL CONTINUE OVER NEXT MONTH

The US president says talks with Iran on Tehran's nuclear development will continue over the next month. But he warns it will be very traumatic for Iran if they don't make a deal.

00:07:10 話者 Donald Trump

We'll see if we can get a deal with them, and if we can't, we'll have to go to phase two.

Phase two will be very tough for them. I'm not looking for that.

00:07:19 話者 1

Talks between senior US and Iranian officials resumed on February 6.

They'd been suspended since last June after US forces struck nuclear facilities in Iran.

On Wednesday, Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Israeli leader is believed to have asked the US to take a firm stance against Iran and its ballistic missile program.

On the same day, the Wall Street Journal reported the Pentagon had told a second aircraft carrier strike group to prepare to deploy to the Middle East.

It added the carrier would join the USS Abraham Lincoln, which is already in the region.

But the report quoted US officials as saying Trump had not yet given an official order to deploy. Trump is believed to be trying to ramp up military pressure on Iran, so it agrees on a deal with the US.

BUSINESS

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

Here's Gene Otani from the BizDesk.

00:08:21 話者 4/Gene Otani

Kanako, thanks at our top business story this hour.

PAYPAY SET TO LIST ON NASDAQ

Japan-based mobile payment app PayPay is preparing to list its shares on the US Nasdaq to reinforce its overseas operations.

The company is one of Japan's largest payment application providers.

PayPay filed documents with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday and says it expects to join the tech-heavy Nasdaq as early as March.

PayPay has grown to more than 72 million users as of the end of December since its 2018 launch.

The company also says it has signed a partnership with credit card provider Visa with the aim of starting cashless settlement services in the US.

JAPAN, US YET TO AGREE ON PROJECTS IN $550 BIL. INVESTMENT

Tokyo and Washington have yet to agree on the first US projects to be part of the multi-billion-dollar investment agreement between the two countries.

Japan's Economy Minister Akazawa Ryosei commented on the latest round of talks.

He met with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington on Thursday.

00:09:35 話者 Akazawa Ryosei

We made progress through intensive discussions between myself and US Commerce Secretary Lutnick.

We had in-depth talks, but there are still some points to be worked out between the two sides.

00:09:48 話者 4

Akazawa says the discussions will continue in order to identify investment projects that are of benefit to both sides.

Last July, Tokyo and Washington agreed that Japan would invest 550 billion dollars in the US during negotiations over US tariffs.

A bilateral committee of government officials has been working out the details since then.

Akazawa indicated he hopes the initial projects will be identified before Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump next month.

NEW HOME PRICES EDGE LOWER IN 88% OF BIG CHINESE CITIES

New home prices fell in about 88 percent of major Chinese cities in January compared with a month earlier.

The figure suggests the government has further to go to turn around the property sector.

The National Bureau of Statistics said on Friday that the prices for new homes fell in 62 of 70 major cities. That's an increase of four compared with December.

Prices rose in only five cities and were flat in three.

Prices in Shanghai were unchanged. Guangzhou saw a drop of 0.6 percent. Shenzhen fell 0.4 percent. And Beijing registered a 0.3 percent decline.

Smaller cities saw a drop of 0.4 percent in home prices on average.

BIZ PICKS

Next, NHK World's John LaDue is here with BizPicks.

00:11:27 話者 2/John LaDue

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

China's Lunar New Year holidays get underway starting Sunday.

The government estimates a record nine and a half billion trips will be taken during the 40-day Spring Festival holiday travel period.

REBOUND EXPECTED FOR JAPAN Q4 GDP

And on Monday, Japan's Cabinet Office will announce gross domestic product figures for the October to December quarter.

In the third quarter of last year, July to September, Japan's GDP fell by an annualized 2.3% from the previous period in real terms.

So, will the final quarter show any improvement?

That's the question we'll be exploring in this week's Biz Picks.

Private sector analysts expect GDP to show a rise in the fourth quarter, with forecasts ranging from 0.7% to 2.6%. That would be the first increase in two quarters.

Takeda Atsushi at Itochu Research Institute projects growth of 1.8%.

He says the negative impact of US tariff policies appears to have faded, supporting a pickup in exports and corporate investment.

00:12:43 話者 5/Takeda Atsushi

The main factors behind the return to positive growth are a rebound in exports and housing investment, both of which had fallen in the July to September period.

Exports have gained momentum after the United States cut tariffs on Japanese cars to nearly half their previous level in September.

This led to a sharp increase in auto shipments to the US.

As for capital investment, I imagine companies began pursuing plans now that uncertainty surrounding the Trump tariffs has eased somewhat.

00:13:17 話者 2

Takeda expects private consumption, which accounts for more than half of Japan's GDP, to inch up 0.1% from the previous quarter.

Despite a headwind from rising prices, services consumption is thought to have grown, supported by an increase in bonuses and higher stock prices.

Will the Japanese economy continue to expand?

The Economist says Japan is likely to stay in positive territory in the first three months of this year.

But exports are anticipated to slide again, becoming a drag on growth after a brief rebound.

00:13:57 話者 5

There are signs the US economy is losing. losing strength. That means a possible decrease or a slower pace of growth in Japan's exports to the country.

As for inbound tourism, a plunge in Chinese tourists is projected during the Lunar New Year holidays, which is usually the peak season for such visitors, following Beijing's call on its people to refrain from traveling to Japan.

00:14:26 話者 2

Takeda believes that private consumption and corporate capital spending will keep growing, potentially offsetting the drop in exports.

That wraps it up for this week's Biz Picks. I'm John Ladue.

00:14:39 話者 4

John, thanks. 

MARKETS

All right. Let's have a look at the markets.

♪

That's it for business news.

THINKING OUTSIDE THE CHOX FOR VALENTINE'S DAY

00:15:30 話者 1

Valentine's Day is just hours away. Over the decades, it has become tradition in Japan for women to give chocolate to male partners, friends, and colleagues.

Then it's the men's turn the following month. But this year, many are opting for different takes on the sweets, or going after other treats entirely.

Our Moritani Hinako has more from a department store in Yokohama, south of Tokyo.

00:15:52 話者 6/Moritani Hinako

Many here are looking for last many gifts. There are a lot to choose from.

And not just chocolate bars. Let's take a look.

There are cookies, gummies, Japanese sweets, and many other treats.

In fact, this store has doubled the number of non-chocolate sweets compared to last year.

It's a countermeasure against rising prices.

00:16:17 話者 16

Cocoa beans are the raw material used to make chocolate. 

Prices for them remain high. That's due to poor harvest in major producing regions like West Africa, as well as the weak yen.

00:16:31 話者 6

In Japan, chocolate prices jumped by more than 35% last year.

That's according to a Japanese government consumer price index.

So producers are getting creative. 

This may look like chocolate, but it's actually a coffee tablet.

It's made with oil and ground coffee beans.

It was initially developed as edible coffee.

But thanks to its appearance and texture, it was introduced for the Valentine's sale season.

00:17:07 話者 12

It may be true that prices have gone up, but Valentine's Day is a major event.

We're trying to diversify our offerings and offer a wide range of baked goods, cookies, and other treats to meet the needs of a wide range of customers.

00:17:22 話者 6

Now, there's a twist in this story.

In recent years, more people are buying gifts for themselves.

00:17:32 話者 17

I bought some for my kids' friends, my relatives, my husband, my dad, and, of course, for myself. It cost around 30,000 yen.

00:17:44 話者 6

That's about $200 US. It may sound high, but the store conducted a survey last year.

And 30% of respondents said they plan to spend more than $65.

They also listed their top recipient as one sale.

We spoke with an expert familiar with consumer trends.

She says that amid rising prices, people are tending to avoid big purchases, such as cars and overseas tulips. But that does not extend to the smaller things in life.

00:18:24 話者 18

Everyone is looking for an excuse to indulge. In that sense, Valentine's Day is a great occasion. Everyone knows about it, and the atmosphere naturally encourages people to buy and give chocolate.

People start thinking, 'It's Valentine's, so maybe I'll buy some for myself, too.' I think it's a moment when the psychological barrier to buy chocolate is much lower.

00:18:48 話者 6

So it looks like as many people consider other gift options, they are seeing the value of a little self-love as well.

Moritani Hinako, NHK World.

MILANO CORTINA 2026
UKRAINIAN DISQUALIFIED OVER HELMET HONORING DEAD

00:19:08 話者 1

A Ukrainian athlete has been banned from competing in a skeleton competition at the Milano-Kortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games for wearing a helmet that violates IOC rules.

Vladislav Heraskevych called the decision unfair.

He says he filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

00:19:27 話者 5

I was disqualified, but I still don't understand why.

00:19:32 話者 1

The helmet worn by Heraskevich bears the photos of athletes from his nation who lost their lives during the Russian invasion.

He argued there have been cases where various athletes were allowed to express their intentions in various ways at the Olympics.

The disqualification came just before the men's skeleton event began on Thursday.

The International Olympic Committee said the helmet was not compliant with its guidelines, adding it wasn't about the message, but where he wanted to express it.

The IOC said Heraskevich could wear a black armband during the competition instead.

The athlete's stance has been receiving support from Ukraine's president, as well as Ukrainians living in Italy.

JAPAN WINS TWO MORE BRONZE MEDALS

Staying at the Winter Games, Japan won two more bronze medals, this time in the moguls and snowboarding halfpipe.

Freestyle skier Horishima Ikumar took the bronze in the men's moguls for the second straight Olympics. In the final, he landed a cork 14-40, a trick involving four off-axis spins.

Horishima says he's happy to win a medal, but also a bit frustrated.

He adds his journey is not over yet, and that he'll work over the next four years to perform even better at the next games.

Snowboarder Ono Mitsuki picked up the bronze in the women's halfpipe. In her second Olympics, the 21-year-old delivered a triple rotation high into the air during the final. 

So far, Japan has won 10 medals, two gold, two silver, and six bronze.

TAIWAN AI COMPANIES LOOKING TO JAPAN

As Taiwan focuses on fostering AI-related industries, it's looking to develop supply chains independent of China, and one country it's focusing on is Japan.

00:21:36 話者 7

At this meeting in Taipei in December, many Taiwanese AI companies showed interest in Japanese firms' technology.

00:21:45 話者 3

I want to find Japanese companies with high potential.

I'm interested in Japanese products. I'd definitely like to hear more about them.

00:21:54 話者 7

This company has been actively pursuing partnerships with Japanese firms since the beginning of last year.

It has developed a system that uses AI to analyze people's movements in pools and quickly detect if someone is drowning.

The company plans to collaborate with Japanese manufacturers to improve the accuracy of the system's camera analysis.

The firm says it received a partnership proposal from China, but refused over concerns about technology being transferred to the country.

00:22:31 話者 8

We worried that the technological advantages we've achieved could have been threatened.

After careful consideration, we decided to postpone expanding our business with China.

00:22:43 話者 7

The firm also sees risks in partnering with US companies due to strong uncertainty over the Trump administration's economic policy.

Amid this situation, it has begun focusing on Japanese companies.

00:23:01 話者 17

Japan is currently the most stable country, making it worth investing time and resources.

00:23:09 話者 7

Taiwanese companies are also looking at the Japanese market for AI expansion.

This consulting firm was established in Tokyo in September 2024.

With the backing of Taiwan authorities, it supports Taiwanese companies expanding into Japan.

The firm has received inquiries from Taiwanese AI companies and others seeking business partners in Japan.

In 2025, Taiwan invested around $320 million in a 10-year project that includes support for overseas expansion of AI companies and other initiatives.

00:24:04 話者 8

If Taiwan and Japan cooperate in the AI field, development will accelerate even further.

Japan is undoubtedly our most important partner.

00:24:15 話者 7

Collaboration between Japanese and Taiwanese companies is expected to lead to the development of new products and services.

Amid the rapid evolution of AI technology, such partnerships could help define how the two sides shape the next wave of innovation.

♪

WEATHER

00:24:41 話者 1

Now it's time for a look at the weather. Japan may experience spring-like warmth this weekend. Our meteorologist Yumi Hirano has the details.

00:24:50 話者 8/Yumi Hirano

Warm air is covering much of Japan over the weekend. It will be good weather for going out, but snowy regions should watch out for some disruptions.

After overhanging snow fell from the rooftop, parts of the ceiling at the shopping center in Otaru collapsed early this week.

Since early February, they're having more days above freezing, making the snow heavier.

The weight and impact of the snow caused about 6 meters by 2 meters of the roof to give way. No one was injured.

Not only falling snow, but also avalanche and flooding due to melting snow is going to be a major concern.

Sapporo will see 8 on Sunday, which is as warm as in April.

Niigata may have double digits over the weekend.

The high in Tokyo will be 14 on Saturday and 18 on Sunday, but colder weather is likely to return, with a high of only 10 on Tuesday.

In the bigger picture across Asia, warmer-than-usual conditions are also expected on Saturday, Seoul may see 12, and the high in Beijing will be 14, which is 10 degrees higher than average.

Now moving to Europe, a couple of low-pressure systems are causing wet weather.

One is moving from the Balkans to Turkey, with a risk of thundershowers and gusty winds.

Western France and parts of the Iberian Peninsula have already received heavy rain, but more showers are likely, so people there should watch out for additional flooding.

Showers are also expected in Paris, Lisbon and Madrid, but sunny skies are likely in Vienna and Athens.

That's it for now. Have a nice weekend.

♫～　3-DAY FORECAST　～♫

00:27:41 話者 1

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

Thanks very much for joining us.

checked.