at 18:00 (JST), September 13 (CC > Copilot)

 

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20240913180000_english_1.mp3

The ruling Workers Party newspaper says Kim has stressed enrichment facility. The ruling Workers Party newspaper says Kim has stressed the need to strengthen the country’s needs of producing weapons-grade nuclear materials. 

Friday’s edition of the Rodong Sinmun says he visited a production base for those materials as well as North Korea’s nuclear weapons institute. The report appears to signal Pyongyang’s intention to move forward with advanced nuclear development ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November. 

Kim also reportedly attended the test firing of a newly developed 600-millimeter multiple rocket launcher. Pyongyang says it fires super large projectiles. The report comes after South Korean officials say they observed a launch on Thursday. 

Now to the Middle East where the U.S. says it’s pulled out of its aircraft carrier strike groups out of the region, but the Pentagon says it’s keeping an eye on Iran which last month threatened to attack Israel. One group has left for the Indo-Pacific region while another one is staying behind. The U.S. increased its number of aircraft carriers in the Middle East to two in August after Hamas political leader Haneda was killed in Iran in July. Iran declared it would retaliate against Israel. 

A U.S. Defense Department spokesperson was asked if the aircraft group’s departure indicates tensions between Iran and Israel have eased. “We’ll continue to take that threat very seriously. We’re going to, again, maintain as we always have the ability to surge forces or capabilities anywhere in the world.” Iran has hinted at giving careful consideration to when and how to carry out possible strikes.

A new crop of Ig Nobel Prize winners were announced Thursday not to be confused with the Nobel Prize. The Ig Nobel honors sciences that make people laugh and think. They honored those that some mammals can breathe from their behinds. 

The winners were announced at the first in-person ceremonies since the pandemic at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The prize was launched in 1991 as a caricature of the Nobel Prize to honor unusual achievements in science. Takebe Takanori and his team took home the award. He and his colleagues wore hats shaped like roaches, the freshwater fish that inspired their study. 

“First and foremost, thank you so much for believing the potential of us for breathing potential.” They realized roaches used intestinal breathing to survive low oxygen environments and wondered if mammals could do the same. They experimented on lab mice and pigs that struggled to use their lungs and administered an oxygen-rich liquid through the anus. They found oxygen levels briefly improved. 

Takebe and his team published the report during the coronavirus pandemic believing it could be used to aid respiratory failures in addition to ventilators. He founded a company in June with the goal of holding clinical trials to see if it’s safe to use. “The idea may make people laugh at first, but that could lead them to think about it, discuss the technicalities and realize there’s so much science can do. This award is a great honor.” 

Japanese researchers often win the annual prizes. NHK World’s Tanabe Mikio traveled to Massachusetts to find out why. “This is the 18th year in a row that Japanese researchers have won the Ig Nobel Prize. When asked why Japan wins so much, it’s because of how Japanese society perceives the mission. When you come up with an idea people might like you or hate you for it, but they are really proud that that person, that’s one of us who came up with this idea, you know. That reflects on us, and it’s because our society somehow makes it okay to think of different things than anybody else has ever thought of.” 

He also said Japan’s winners had a unique scientific perspective and likewise led interesting unique lives. Professor Takebe says it’s key to look at things in a unique way and he says you need an environment where researchers are not bound by common sense, but some fear a lack of funding may put all of that at risk. There are concerns that even basic research in Japan isn’t getting the money it needs. Success is important in creating a space where scientists can continue their studies, even in more unique fields.

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations says she supports giving Africa a bigger presence in one of the world’s most powerful bodies. “We’ve seen how African leadership not only benefits the lives of Africans but people across the globe, so now it’s time for African leadership to have a permanent place on the Security Council, too.” 

Linda Thomas-Greenfield says she’s in favor of creating two permanent seats for African countries though without veto power. They currently hold three of the Security Council’s ten non-permanent seats and say they feel their views are not being fully heard. Richard Gowan oversees an international think tank advocacy group at the U.N. and says permanent members recognize that the council needs to evolve. “I think a lot of countries including China and Russia do not want to offend the African group at the U.N. so they may also say that they are open to getting permanent seats to Africa.” 

Thomas-Greenfield says the U.S. also supports creating a cross-regional non-permanent seat on the council for small island developing states, and it’s in favor of bids from Japan and Germany for permanent seats.

Japan’s cabinet has approved a set of guidelines aimed at dealing with the nation’s rapidly aging society. “Based on this outline, I would like the government to take measures steadily so that all generations can be hopeful about their future as members of a super aging society.” 

The cabinet on Friday pointed out that the graying of Japan is progressing at an unprecedented speed. It stressed the importance of taking action to realize a sustainable society. Currently, people 75 and older have to pay 30% of their medical expenses at the counter if they earn an income comparable to that of the current workforce. The guidelines call for studies into expanding the number of people subject to this rule. The guidelines also recommend the creation of a pension system that can deal flexibly with diverse working styles. State pension benefits are currently reduced for people 65 and older who earn a certain level of income. The government wants to create an environment where elderly people can more easily participate in the workforce if they choose to. It recommends improvements in job re-skilling programs and support for companies that delay the workers’ retirement age. The government’s aim is to raise the percentage of working people in their 60s by 5% from the current level in five years.

Vending machine convenience is ubiquitous in Japan, usually dispensing drinks or snacks, but now a town in the northeastern prefecture of Fukushima has one selling traditional carved wooden dolls called kokeshi. The machine was installed in Nakano’s hot spring area last month. These have been crafted locally for 100 years. The machine sells five types of doll which have been handmade by four local artisans. Each one is priced from 2000 to 4000 yen or about $14 to $28. The vending machine was set up by an apprentice and artisan to promote the town’s specialty. “In the beginning, only one doll sold every three days, but now that’s increased to one a day which is surprising, quite frankly.” Nishimura hopes the town will reach a wider audience, including international visitors.

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It's now time to check out the world weather. Storm Francine was weakened to a tropical cyclone but people in the U.S. Deep South should still stay away. Our meteorologist Yuumi Hirano has. 

There's massive landfall in Louisiana with more than 250 millimeters in one area and gusts of over 180 kilometers per hour. We have some video from this state. Francine brought heavy rain, high winds, and severe storm surges to many parts of Louisiana. It caused widespread power outages for hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses. The cleanup began in earnest on Thursday. This townstorm will continue to weaken into Friday. People here should expect more downpours into the weekend. There is a risk of flash flooding especially in northern Alabama. The system is expected to stay static at a low pressure and its connecting front will bring widespread showers into Florida, so thundershowers are a possibility in Miami and Atlanta, and people in Oklahoma City and Houston will see sunny skies.

In Asia, a tropical storm is developing over the Pacific. It is expected to approach Japan’s Amami and Okinawa on Saturday and then to eastern China including Shanghai by Monday. Gusts up to 140 kilometers per hour and waves up to eight meters are possible in Amami and Okinawa. There is also a risk of flash flooding due to heavy downpours. In the bigger picture across Asia, heat is still a concern for many cities. The temperature in Chongqing will be 38. People in Tokyo will have another day of scorching temperatures with a high of 35, so, please, stay hydrated. That’s it for me. Have a nice weekend.

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And that wraps up this edition of NHK "Newsline" in Tokyo. Thanks for joining us.