Hello and welcome to NHK Newsline. I’m Yoshikawa Ryuchi in Tokyo.
Ishiba Shigeru has been elected leader of Japan’s main ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The former Secretary General is now virtually assured of becoming the next Prime Minister.
“I believe in the people and will speak the truth with courage and sincerity. I will do my best to make Japan a safe and secure country again, a place where everyone can live with a smile,” Ishiba said.
The 67-year-old Ishiba was first elected to the Lower House in 1986. He was 29, making him the youngest Diet member at the time. Ishiba beat Economic Security Minister Takachi Sanae in a runoff, winning 215 votes to Takachi’s 194. He has held several ministerial positions, including Defense Minister, as well as executive posts within the LDP. This was his fifth, and he claimed, final attempt at becoming party leader.
U.S. President Joe Biden has announced another $7.9 billion in military aid for Ukraine. He said it’s essential that Kyiv gains the battlefield advantage against Russia. Biden pledged his support to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Thursday.
“Russia will not prevail in war. Russia will not prevail. Ukraine will prevail, and we’ll continue to stand by you every step of the way,” Biden said.
“We deeply appreciate that. Ukraine and America have stood side by side from the very first moments of this terrible Russian invasion. Your determination is incredibly important for us to prevail,” Zelenskyy responded.
Zelenskyy has been working to get Western leaders on board with his so-called plan of victory. He says it will help bring an end to the war. The White House says the Biden aid package will include long-range missiles and a Patriot air defense battery system. Biden also vowed to meet with the leaders of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Germany next month. Zelenskyy also met with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. She told him her support for Ukraine is unwavering. Zelenskyy said he intended to share the details of his plan with her.
Japan has provided Ukraine with more than a million textbooks to support the country’s education sector amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. A handover ceremony took place on Thursday at a school near the capital Kyiv. It was attended by Ukrainian and Japanese government officials. The textbooks are on Ukrainian and foreign literature. They will be distributed to fifth graders at about 10,000 schools across the country. The Japanese government responded to a request from Ukraine for textbooks. Their provision was organized by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
“The younger generation has a key role to play in Ukraine’s future recovery,” a translator said.
Japan’s ambassador added that Tokyo supports the country on its path to recovery and prosperity. Ukraine’s education minister expressed his gratitude.
“Japan was the first country to offer help in 2022 when all budget resources were allocated to the war effort, and we had no money left for textbooks,” the minister said.
“I want to help rebuild Ukraine and make it better, and also work at an international company in the future. That’s very important for Ukrainian ties. I also want to visit Japan one day,” a student said.
An air raid warning on the same day forced the school’s students to evacuate to a shelter temporarily. Analysts say securing a safe education environment for students in Ukraine remains a challenge as the war continues.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has voiced alarm that global tensions are spurring a new nuclear arms race. He’s called on nuclear-armed countries to commit to never use their weapons and pursue disarmament. Guterres made the comments Thursday at a high-level U.N. meeting to mark the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.
“Not since the worst days of the Cold War has the specter of nuclear weapons cast such a dark shadow. Nuclear sabre-rattling has reached a fever pitch,” Guterres said.
His warning comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to use nuclear arms. Guterres said almost 80 years after what he called “those horrifying nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki,” nuclear-armed states continue to resist disarmament. The president of the Marshall Islands, Hilda Heine, was among the delegates to the meeting. The United States conducted 67 nuclear tests in the Pacific archipelago. Heine also urged the leaders of nuclear-armed nations to work toward nuclear disarmament.
The Japanese government plans to set up a system to provide free legal advice to Japanese nationals in China, especially those who become victims of crimes there. Foreign Minister Kanikawa Yoko spoke of the plan Friday. This followed a stabbing of a 10-year-old Japanese boy on the way to school in Shenzhen. The government is preparing to set up the system on a trial basis. Japanese nationals will be able to arrange consultations with lawyers working in China through the Japanese embassy in Beijing or consulates in other cities.
“We would like to provide necessary support and stand with residents in China who, unfortunately, become victims of crime,” a translator said.
She said the government aims to test the new system’s operations as soon as possible.
Authorities in Hiroshima have urged residents to evacuate after roads near an underground construction site in the city caved in. The sinkhole caused nearby buildings to tilt and crack. A section of road measuring roughly 40 meters long and 15 meters wide collapsed in the city’s Nishi Ward on Thursday. Eight nearby buildings suffered damage. Excavation work was being carried out in the vicinity to construct storm drains about 30 meters underground. City officials suggested a possible link between the work and the sinkhole’s appearance. Forty-two people had evacuated the area as of Friday morning.
“I really don’t feel safe. I just want it to be fixed as soon as possible so I can return home soon,” a resident said.
The city and the construction consortium held a briefing for residents in the area on Friday. They said a survey had found no new cavities underground. Residents within a 50-meter radius of the sinkhole are being urged not to return to their homes yet.
Anime fans, gamers, and cosplayers are gathering for Africa’s biggest pop culture festival. Media companies are aiming to expand their opportunities in the region. The festival opened Thursday in South Africa’s largest city, Johannesburg. About 350 companies are taking part, including streaming giants and anime merchandisers. At this stand, people can try the marble challenge featured in the South Korean series “Squid Game.” Other booths are showcasing Japanese manga comics and anime model kits.
“I like One Piece because it’s all about adventure. I really love to watch more Japanese films,” a fan said.
“Africa has a lot of potential for Japanese companies that are eyeing new markets. So I think there are a lot of chances here for them,” a translator said.
That’s because the region’s growing population is increasingly consuming online media, including anime and video games.
Giant pandas who have spent years delighting visitors to a zoo in Tokyo will soon head home to China. Fans have been flocking to see them for one last time. A male, Ri Ri, and a female, Shin Shin, came from China to Tokyo in 2011. They’ve been living at the Ueno Zoo. They had their 19th birthdays this year. They are both heading back to China this weekend. They’ll spend the rest of their lives there. Ri Ri and Shin Shin fans braved the rain to get in line to see them before the zoo opened Friday morning. Visitors can also see messages from people, including their keepers. The messages recall happy memories of time with the animals and express appreciation to them.
“I started lining up in the morning. I was here at 6:30. They’ve made everyone happy. They’re so adorable,” a fan said.
“They were here when people were down after the Great East Japan Earthquake. They really cheered people up. I’m totally grateful to them,” another fan said.
Fans will have their last chance to see them in Tokyo this Saturday.
Now it’s time for the world weather. Hurricane Helene, a life-threatening storm, has been battering Florida. Our meteorologist Yuumi Hirano has the details. Helene made landfall in Florida late on Thursday with a Category 1 hurricane. Winds of 225 kilometers per hour. It brought massive waves and torrential rain to the state, some areas receiving about 400 millimeters of rain. The storm left more than a million customers without power and forced many airports to cancel all flights. Authorities say at least one person has died due to the hurricane. High storm surges and damaging gusts are still expected in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, and are likely to cause long-lasting power cuts. The storm is expected to slow down as it moves inland, so total rainfall could be over 300 millimeters in western North Carolina. There are risks of flash flooding and landslides. We also have to monitor two tropical systems over the Pacific. One is expected to approach Japanese islands over the weekend and move northward next week. Another system is expected to move toward Okinawa and Taiwan next week. So please keep your eye on these. Also, two systems are bringing heavy rainfall to Tokai and Tokyo into Saturday. A low-pressure system in the north will bring a mix of precipitation and cooler air. Ulaanbaatar will see snow over the weekend with a high of 3 on Sunday. The cooler air in the south, Chongqing is still dealing with a heat wave but dropping from 36 on Saturday to 19 on Monday. That’s it for me. Have a nice weekend.
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And that wraps up this edition of NHK “Newsline.” I’m Yoshikawa Ryuchi in Tokyo. Thanks for joining us.
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