at 18:00 (JST), October 17 (AI-CC by Clipchamp)

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20241017180000_english_1.mp3

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

Award-winning Japanese actor Nishida Toshiyuki has died at the age of 76. He was best known for his role in a long-running movie series about fishing. Nishida was born in Fukushima Prefecture in 1947.

He reportedly collapsed and was confirmed dead at his home in Tokyo on Thursday.

He joined the Seinenza Theatre Company in 1970 and went on to become a familiar face on the big screen and television. He played comical, kind-hearted characters as well as violent villains. He won Best Actor in the Japan Academy Awards for his performance as a night school teacher in the 1993 film Gakko. Nishida played the lovable main character Hama-chan in the movie series Tsuribaka Nishi, which translates as The Fishing Maniac's Diary. He also enjoyed popularity as a singer. His song, Moshimo Piano Ga Hiketa Nara became a hit, leading to his appearance in NHK's annual New Year's Eve live music show.

Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has met with families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea. He is vowing to do everything he can to bring them home.

Ishiba stressed the need to hold talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on the issue. It's extremely important for the leaders to have an open mind and have frank discussions with each other. We'll continue to closely examine the circumstances and take steps to find the most effective way forward.

Yokota Sakiye's daughter, Megumi, was abducted in 1977 at the age of 13 We must rescue all of the abductees. We won't give up until that happens.

We hope a Japan-North Korea summit will be held soon.

Megumi's brother, Takuya, is the head of an abductee family group. He said the group wants abductees to be repatriated while their parents are still alive.

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

Five returned to Japan after a summit in 2002, but the other 12 remain unaccounted for. Only two parents of the remaining abductees are still alive.

Officials have begun an emergency search for unexploded World War II bombs at Miyazaki Airport in southwestern Japan.

This comes after a bomb, believed to have been dropped by U.S. forces during the war, exploded at the airport earlier this month. The airfield was used by the now-defunct Imperial Japanese military during the war. Work started on Wednesday night around the shoulder of a taxiway where the explosion occurred. Probes are expected to be carried out across the airport, including the runway and other taxiways. A horizontal magnetic survey was conducted to detect underground metals. Officials say the survey can examine objects at a depth of up to two meters.

We'd like to conduct magnetic surveys in other places as much as possible, so that people can use the airport without worries. Authorities also plan to conduct inspections at four other airports in Sendai, Matsuyama, Fukuoka and Naha. Unexploded munitions have also been found at the four sites in the past. Meanwhile, authorities recently found two 250-kilo bombs in a field adjacent to Miyako Airport in Okinawa. 

A regional group led by China and Russia has criticized what it calls protectionist trade measures by the West. It comes amid an escalating standoff between Beijing and Western countries over tariffs on Chinese products. Ten member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization expressed their opposition in a joint statement on Wednesday. The SCO met this week in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad. Through the joint communique, the SCO leaders have affirmed their resolve to further strengthen their cooperation in these spheres to build a peaceful, safe, prosperous and environmentally friendly Planet Earth. In the statement, the group said protectionist trade measures are contrary to the rules set out by the World Trade Organization. The SCO also criticized Western sanctions currently imposed on Iran and Russia as being against international law.

The US has increased tariffs on Chinese products, including electric vehicles. The European Union is set to follow suit. Beijing has responded with similar actions. North Korea says it has blown up highways and railways leading to South Korea. It's part of Pyongyang's efforts to completely cut itself off from the South, which it now calls a hostile state.

State-run media reports the North's army blasted shut two 60-meter sections of road and train tracks on the eastern and western sides of the Korean Peninsula. It quotes an official who says, North Korea will continue to take steps to permanently fortify its closed southern border. The report also uses the phrase hostile state when referring to South Korea, saying the move is in line with North Korea's constitution.

Leader Kim Jong-un called for that revision earlier this year. The matter is believed to have been discussed during last week's Supreme People's Assembly, though it wasn't publicized by Pyongyang.

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency says the recent statement highly suggests the North has constitutionally redefined its southern border as hostile.

Now, whether it's eaten fried, grilled or raw, Japanese flying squid is a staple of the country's cuisine. But low yields and high prices are putting that at risk.

From the mailboxes. to its manhole covers. Hakodate, in Japan's northern Hokkaido Prefecture, is known for being a city of squid. Tourists flock there to try the delicious delicacy, and can even catch their own squid at these fishing booths. But...

The squid holds get smaller every year. Today it was windy and the sea was rough, so we didn't even get a delivery. Local restaurants and pubs are also struggling to put squid on people's plates. This restaurant says it has to pay more to buy squid, and is passing that cost on to customers. It's had to triple its prices. One diner said he was shocked by his bill. Flying squid is a casual dish. I didn't expect it to cost this much. It wasn't always like this. Flying squid has long been a pillar of hakodate's fishing industry. Residents often ate that day's catch on the cheap.

Back then, the nets were full of squids. Numbers nationwide peaked in 1968 at around 660,000 tons. But that's since plummeted. Preliminary figures suggest that last year, the industry only caught about 20,000 tons. That's only 3% of the peak.

One expert says there's several factors contributing to the decline. Japanese flying squid grow up in the East China Sea. Their numbers dropped as a result of sea temperatures, which were unusually low in 2015 and 2016. But fishing levels continued despite the shrinking squid population. Catches should be set to a level that can ensure there's enough adult squid to increase stocks.

Japan's fisheries agency says that's easier said than done. It held a meeting Wednesday to discuss how to manage squid stocks. Officials said if each fishing operation reduced their catch of young squids by one ton,each one's average weight would more than triple over six months.

But they acknowledged it's difficult to avoid catching smaller squids, who still need to grow. Officials say they hope to have a comprehensive plan by the end of the year.

Archers on horseback performed a traditional Japanese ritual north of Tokyo on Wednesday. Known as Yabusame, the ritual was held at the Nikko Toshogu Shrine in Tochigi Prefecture. Ten archers in traditional costumes fired arrows at targets while riding their horses along a 250-meter stretch of road leading to the shrine.

I was astonished. It is amazing to see how powerful the horses are when they run and when the archers shoot.

The shrine honors Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate that ruled over Japan for more than 200 years until late in the 19th century. The shrines and temples of Nikko, including Nikko Toshogu Shrine, are designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

♪

Let's check out the weather with our meteorologist Yumi Hirano. Yumi, we've been dealing with unseasonable heat for weeks now, but it seems that it will become more like autumn in East Asia. Give us the details.

Low pressure and frontal systems are moving northeastward, bringing wet weather. Behind the systems, cold air is coming into East Asia. Wide split showers are likely from eastern China, the Korean Peninsula to Japan into the weekend. 

In Hokkaido, the first snow of the season is possible in the inland areas on Saturday and Sunday. Cold air will also cover the major cities in East Asia. The high in Beijing will be only 10 on Sunday. Shanghai may see a huge temperature change. The high will be 30 on Friday, but only 22 on Saturday. Tokyo has a chance of showers on Friday and Saturday. Sunny skies are coming back with a high of only 22 on Sunday. 

Moving to the Middle East, heavy downpours have hit a city in Oman. Even though the monthly average of rain in October is only 1.7 millimeters,Over 120 millimeters in just one day drenched the area. We have somevideo.

Heavy rain in the country turned roads into rivers on Tuesday. Video captured by eyewitnesses shows dangerous floods trapping pedestrians and drivers in the streets. Local weather officials warned people of further flooding as more rain was expected. Authorities urged locals to avoid low-lying areas and to heed all weather warnings.

The rain is expected to taper off gradually in the next 24 hours. However, people should keep watching out for additional flooding even after the rain stops. That's it for me. Stay safe.

♪

And that is all for this edition of NHK Newsline. I'm Yamoto Miki in Tokyo. Thank you for joining us on NHK World Japan.

at 18:00 (JST), October 16 (AI-CC by Clipchamp)

 

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20241016180000_english_1.mp3

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

Japan's oldest nuclear power plant has been given the green light to continue operation. It is the first time a nuclear reactor in the country will be allowed to stay in service past 50 years.

The Takahama power plant's number one reactor entered service in 1974 and will turn 50 in November. Nuclear reactors in Japan are legally allowed to operate for up to 60 years, but after 50, operators must revise the plants safety regulations, taking the facility's age into account. Kansai Electric Power Company, which owns the plant, applied for the extension. KEPCO says it did additional checks to assess deterioration inside the reactor. It also plans to change some components as needed. The Nuclear Regulation Authority reviewed its application and unanimously approved it.

US authorities monitoring atmospheric conditions say solar activity is now at a maximum and could impact communication and navigation systems. Solar activity increases and decreases in a cycle that lasts about 11 years.

NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have announced that the sun has reached its solar maximum period, which could continue for the next year. During such periods, electromagnetic eruptions called solar flares occur on the surface of the sun.

These phenomena could affect satellite based navigation systems, radio communication and power grids. They could also produce auroras at lower altitudes. In May, auroras triggered by solar flares were observed around the world in the United States.

GPS services were disrupted. The son may have already been in a maximum period at the time.

Israeli forces are expanding the range of their attacks against Hezbollah militants. They say they have struck more than 200 targets in Lebanon. The Lebanese health ministry says the strikes killed 21 people in the northern town of Ito. Local media say the area is mostly Christian and that it's unclear what connection it has with the Shia Muslim group Hezbollah. The Israeli military has not explained the reasons for the attack. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited troops at a base in northern Israel. His trip comes after Hezbollah launched a drone attack on the facility that killed four soldiers and wounded dozens more.

I would like to make it clear we will continue to strike Hezbollah without mercy everywhere in Lebanon, including Beirut. Hezbollah leader Naeem Qasim says the solution to the fighting is a ceasefire.

But he says his group has the right to target any military base because Israel targets all of Lebanon.

We are in a new phase.

Called Confronting the Israeli Aggression and the Israeli War on Lebanon.

We are no longer in the phase of support.

Lebanon's state-run news agency says more than 2,300 people have been killed in the country since the fighting began.

Parts of a powerful U.S. anti-missile system known as THAAD have begun arriving in Israel along with its military crew.

The shipment comes as tensions rise over a possible Israeli military strike on Iran. This decision was made in part of the broader adjustments the U.S. military has made in recent months to support the defense of Israel and protect Americans from attacks by Iran and Iranian aligned militias.

THAAD, short for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, fires a projectile to destroy incoming missiles. Israel is said to be facing a shortage of interceptor missiles as it shores up air defenses.

It is reported that more than 20,000 rockets and missiles have been fired at Israel in the past year from Gaza and Lebanon. U.S. media outlets say Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has notified U.S. President Joe Biden of an impending attack on Iran's military facilities. Netanyahu had previously vowed to retaliate for Iran's missile attack against his country on October 1st. Iran has warned that if Israel goes ahead with the plan, it will strike back. Meanwhile, the U.S. has reportedly warned Israel it faces the possible suspension of military assistance unless it allows more humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin sent a letter to Israeli government officials on Sunday raising their concerns over Gaza.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters on Tuesday both men thought it was appropriate to make clear to Israel that there are changes it needs to make.

What we have seen over the past few months is that the level of humanitarian assistance has not been sustained. In fact, it is fallen by over 50% from where it was at its peak. U.S. media outlets say Blinken and Austin wrote that Israel must allow at least 350 trucks a day into Gaza through all four border crossings and open a fifth route.

They say the letter demands that Israel take steps within 30 days and suggests the possibility U.S. military aid could be suspended if no improvements are made. the United Nations says no food has entered northern Gaza since the start of October. Israeli forces have launched a. Fresh ground offensive in the area.

♪

A UN maritime agency is considering new rules to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships. The head of the agency told NHK he hopes members will agree on the regulations by next year.

In April next year, we will be able to then continue to further develop into finding the common agreements in order to have a regulation that is applicable to all 176 member states of the organization.

Last year, the International Maritime Organization committed to achieving net 0 emissions in shipping by around 2050.

Dominguez says Japan could play a key role in getting there.

Japan is a very active country and contributes greatly in the technical discussions and of course as a big shipbuilding nation, ship owning nation as well. In a nation that knows how to provide technology for this process, the regulations include fines for emissions and replacing standard shipping fuel with cleaner alternatives. The member of a popular K pop group has been telling South Korean lawmakers that she has been a victim of bullying at the workplace.

New June's member Hanee was testifying at the National Assembly. She recalled an incident when the manager of another group told its members to ignore her when she greeted them.

I can't understand why I have to face such a situation.

Honey said she does not want anyone else to go through similar experiences. She also claimed that the group's management has failed to make its best efforts to find out what really happened. Honey originally made the allegation in a live stream last month. The assembly's Environment and Labor Committee summoned her and a representative of her group's management company on Tuesday. The representative told the assembly internal investigations indicate the claims of both sides are contradictory, but she added she will make efforts to uncover the truth even though the evidence remains inconclusive. Honey's situation has been closely followed by the media in South Korea and overseas. A central Tokyo Ward is to start fining people who smoke heated tobacco products on the street. In 2002, Jiyoda Ward became the first municipality in Japan to issue penalties for smoking or disposing of cigarette butts on the streets and in designated parks, but from November 1st. Heated tobacco product users will also have to pay the fine of 2000 yen, or roughly $13.

Ward authorities extended the spoke of the scope of their ordinance because of the recent increase in heated tobacco use and complaints from residents. The ward says it imposed fines on more than 5,600 cigarette smokers last fiscal year. Many of them were stopped on the streets of Akihabara, a popular shopping and tourist area.

Chiyoda Ward has provided designated smoking areas it asks people to use if they want to light up.

A zoo in the U.S. is welcoming two giant pandas from China. U.S. media outlets are calling the loan a renewal of China's panda diplomacy.

The Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute says the animals were put on a chartered flight named the Panda Express that departed Xuan province. Baoli, a male and female Qing Bao, arrived on Tuesday. Panda loans to the zoo began after then U.S. President Richard Nixon visited China in 1972. The animals have been a symbol of friendly ties for over 50 years. A pair and their cub were returned to China last year, leaving the zoo without any of the animal ambassadors. But during a visit to San Francisco in November last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping had indicated the US would be getting some more. CNN calls the renewed panda diplomacy a rare bright spot in the fraught relations between the world's two superpower rivals. Bao Lee and Jim Bao will make their public debut on January 24th after a quarantine period.

♪

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

Oh, so Jonathan, people in the western parts of Japan saw summer like temperatures this Wednesday. What can you tell us?Hello, we saw temperatures that are hitting 30 degrees or even higher than that in the western areas of Japan as we went through Wednesday and. We're supposed to be seeing temperatures that are like in the 20s, especially in the area as we are going through this autumn period, but doesn't feel that way. Changes are coming. But first let me tell you about a frontal boundary that's going to be departing from Japan, but we've got a little bit of that residual moisture associated with it along with the high pressure system coming over the sea of Japan. And that's going to bring the possibility of seeing cause and even some showers into place like Tokyo and down to the South and West as we go throughout the next couple of days. Once the high push on through, we're going to be seeing another pattern coming in behind it and that's going to help really bring down the temperatures. I mean let me expand out the view to show you what we're expecting up from the northern areas of continent of Asia. We're seeing that push of cold air moving down. So places like Hokkaido see first push of that cold air later on this week, then we go into the weekend and that impact will. As far South as Tokyo. So by Sunday morning we're talking about low teens for morning lows. And so make sure that you're preparing for that switch over from what's more like a late summer, early fall to a lot later than that because it's going to be a little wake up call when you wake up in the morning by this middle part of this weekend. In the meantime, clouds into Tokyo with a high of 2526 over. But look at Ulaanbaatar 3 for the high with partly cloudy skies on Thursday. Across North America also seeing a pushes of cold air. What's happening is with high pressure moving through a cold front has sweep through the eastern portions of the United States. And so we're looking at calm weather but colder weather coming up behind that with a big dip going as far South as Georgia back toward the West, cold air and also wet weather coming through from Vancouver and Seattle, even Los Angeles looking at some rain on Wednesday with a high of 22. And notice the cold air dipping down to Atlanta with a high of only 16. As you go through Wednesday, hope you have a good day wherever you are.

♪

And that's NHK Newsline for this hour. 

I'm Yamamoto Niki in Tokyo. Thank you for staying with us on NHK World Japan.

at 18:00 (JST), October 15 (CC.srt 17:00 > Copilot)

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20241015180000_english_1.mp3

Hello, a very warm welcome to MH K Newsline. I am Yamamoto Miki in Tokyo. 

The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees is calling for a humanitarian pause in the fighting in Gaza to allow for a second round of polio vaccines. Health workers began administering doses on Monday. The agency says the plan is to reach some 590,000 under 10 in less than two weeks. Israel and Hamas are reportedly agreeing to stop fighting during the vaccine campaign. But on Sunday, officials say an Israeli air strike hit a school in central Gaza meant to carry out that. 22 were killed and 80 injured. A one-year-old and his mother were among the casualties.

“Gaza is finished. Gaza is over. There is no one left in Gaza. Everyone goes to sleep and wakes in fear.”

Urging both sides to hold off from fighting so they can reach as many as possible with the critical vaccines.

Ukraine’s president has his troops are engaged in a fierce battle in the region of Kursk as forces try to fallback territory. On Ukraine’s cross-border offensive that began in August. He says Russia has been trying to break through Ukraine’s defense in the Kursk region and for five days. Zelenskyy added that his forces are holding the line. Ukraine’s top prosecutor said on Sunday that Russian forces are suspected of shooting and killing nine Ukrainian prisoners of war in the region. His office has opened a criminal investigation. The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of Forces they recently observed an increase in Russian forces executing Ukrainian prisoners of war. And says they are likely condoned, encouraged or directly ordered by Moscow’s commanders.

Campaigning in Japan’s lower house election kicked off Tuesday with over 1000 candidates vying for a seat. The ruling coalition is looking to maintain its majority, but the opposition parties are hoping to prevent it. A taste of what the leaders are pitching to voters.

“We faced this election with a sense of deep reflection. We must never again allow like failing to declare revenue from fundraising. This is for Japan’s revitalization. We will create Japan undo. We want to prevent-- present our new policies. The supplementary budget for last year was 37 trillion yen in total. We are going to submit a bigger supplementary budget and pass it after deliberations. We place faith in the public and in the people to speak the truth and discuss how the patient could go forward. There are no other parties in the coalition party of LDP that can lead Japan.”

“This is a dissolution, the issue should not be hidden. People should understand and should express their anger. The lower house has been rushed to dissolution. Once the election is over, the Democratic Party will say that the slight is wiped clean. And once again claim official backing from those who were not officially endorsed and put them back in responsible position. Let’s break away from the politics of the LDP, which supports lawmakers involved in backroom deals.”

“The Liberal Democratic Party lacks the ability to fix itself. To regain the public trust, we have to be more clean and transparent about money and politics. Through self-discipline and painful self reform. Once this election is over and the next session begins, we will thoroughly address this issue.”

“We need to keep raising wages to exceed rising prices. Which political party or coalition can respond to the issues facing our country at home and abroad and is ready to implement those policies? The only party that can engage in politics that truly serve ordinary citizens and the public.”

“We won’t let the fundraising scandal fade away. Our party will continue to call for a thorough investigation. We also aim to ban all donations from companies and organizations. The abolition of the consumption tax in mind, we want to lower it to 5%. We also big-- inc. the invoice system should be eliminated. Lead us to a hopeful future.”

“Will you choose politicians trying to make the people rich or choose politicians trying to make themselves rich? We will resolve the issue of slush fund and will promote policies to increase your net income by lowering social insurance premiums.”

“The Liberal Democratic Party and the defunct Democratic Party are all responsible for having mismanaged the economy. Our party will firmly push to help people’s daily lives through three initiatives. Reducing consumption tax, offering seasonal cash handout and lowering social insurance.”

“This is a historic race that will end the politics of the LDP. He’s and making a living are the most important. Tax money should go toward improving people’s livelihoods. We want to appeal to the public on these issues.”

“A big issue in this election is how Japan will survive the turbulent international situation we need to stop the recklessness of the administration and we must stop the country 30 year slump.”

All lower house seats are up for grabs. 289 will be decided in singleseat districts and 176 through proportional representation system. A majority is 233. The prime minister says if the governing coalition can secure majority, he would consider it a victory. The coalition held 290 seats when he had the chamber last week.

These are the parties fielding candidates in singleseat districts. Liberal Democratic Party. The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. Japan Innovation Party. Komeito. Japanese Communist Party. Democratic Party for the People. Reiwa Shinsengumi. Social Democratic Party. Sanseito. The Collaborative Party. Conservative Party of Japan. Other groups. Independent. 

Here are those vying for the proportional representation seats. Limit Democratic Party. 

The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. Japan Innovation Party. Komeito. Japanese Communist Party. Democratic Party for the People. Reiwa Shinsengumi. Social Democratic Party. Sanseito. Conservative Party of Japan. Political Group for Considering a Euthanasia System. 

The campaign will run for 12 days. Tune into NHK Newsline for results and analysis after polls close on October 27th.

Runners in colorful dinosaur costumes turned out for a race on the grassy ski slope in central Japan on Sunday. More than 100 participants ranging in age from one to 74 did warm-ups to prepare for the competition. There were a total of four races.

“It’s the first time I have raced as a T-Rex and the first time here during the day. A great experience.”

The event is intended to give a boost to tourism. The area is known as the dinosaur capital of Japan.

U.S. space agency NASA has launched a spacecraft for Jupiter’s moon Europa. It is the start of a mission to study what is believed to be one of the solar system’s most suitable environment for life beyond Earth.

“3, 2, 1. Ignition and liftoff.”

A rocket carrying the Europa Clipper was launched on Monday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The spacecraft weighs about six tons and extends nearly 30 meters in length. It will orbit Jupiter and make nearly 50 flybys to conduct detailed surveys. Europa is about 90% the size of Earth’s moon and is covered by ice. NASA says there is strong evidence of an ocean of liquid water under the surface. Europa Clipper will attempt to confirm the existence of the ocean and analyze substances found in the environment. The goal is to determine whether conditions on the moon can support human life. The spacecraft is scheduled to be put into orbit in 2030 and will start gathering data the following year.

Let’s check out the world weather with our meteorologist Jonathan Oh. People in parts of Brazil are reeling from a powerful storm on Monday. What is the latest in the situation there?

Hello. We have a storm that rolled through the southern portions of Brazil and around Sao Paulo and caused some damage in the process. Let’s go to some video to show you the situation of how things unfolded as a strong low pressure system passed through southern Brazil, thunderstorms with wind gusting up to 108 kilometers per hour in Sao Paulo. Strong wind knocked down trees and power lines and caused widespread power outages. Authorities said at least seven people died and it also shut down several airports and interrupted water supplies. A lot of that moisture has now moved down but the central portions will be seeing rain and some storms as we go through Tuesday. Also a high of 30.

Meanwhile across North America, we do have a little bit of a disturbance rolling through the Ohio River Valley. That will bring some showers in the region through the day on Tuesday. Elsewhere, high pressure is controlling the weather back toward the west and this big pool of cold air from the north. As we go throughout the next couple of days. But the dry weather pattern is the big story. Chicago looking at wet weather with a high of 11. Over into Seattle as well with a high of 15 on Tuesday.

We are looking at rain into Japan, we have a cold front across the Sea of Japan and moving into the country. You’ll need to get ready for some of that weather with an umbrella or so. Because we have a couple systems rolling along through. And once we see the rain coming through, be ready for the temperatures to also sink a bit. From mid-20s to even like upper teens possibly depending on where you’re located. Showers in Sapporo, Niigata, Osaka. More rain as we get later on this week. Hope you have a great day wherever you are.

♪

And that is NHK Newsline for this hour. I’m Yamamoto Miki in Tokyo. Thanks for joining us on NHK World Japan.

at 18:00 (JST), October 14 (CC.srt >Gemini,Copilot)

 

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20241014180000_english_1.mp3

Transcription:

NHK Newsline

Ramin Mellegard: I'm Ramin Mellegard in Tokyo. 

China's state-run television has released videos showing what it claims are large-scale Chinese military drills around Taiwan. China's military announced on Monday that its troops had been dispatched to participate in the exercises, the first major military operations in waters surrounding Taiwan since May.

The videos released by China Central Television show troops preparing for action in the early hours. It said members of the army, navy, air, and rocket forces are taking part. The military earlier said the drills will serve as a warning to pro-independence forces in Taiwan. They say these operations are legitimate and necessary to safeguard national sovereignty and unity.

The drills come after Taiwan's president spoke at a ceremony last week to mark what is known as Double Tenth Day, the first time since taking office. Taiwan considers October 10th its National Day. In his speech, he said the People's Republic of China has no right to represent Taiwan.

Taiwan's defense ministry strongly condemned what it calls irrational and provocative actions. The ministry says it will deploy appropriate force to defend Taiwan's sovereignty. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department has expressed concern about the exercises. In a statement, it says Beijing's response with military provocations to a routine annual speech is unwarranted and risks escalation.

The statement also said Washington calls on China to act with restraint and to avoid any further actions that may undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the broader region, which is essential to regional peace and prosperity and a matter of international concern.

 Ramin Mellegard: American media have reported that U.S. officials believe Israel has narrowed down the targets of its response to Iran's large-scale missile attack on the country's military and energy facilities. NBC News on Saturday quoted multiple officials as saying that the Israeli government is planning its response to the October 1st attack. The officials reportedly stress that the Israelis have not yet made a final decision about when to act, but they are ready to go at any time.

The U.S. and oil-producing nations in the Middle East are asking Israel not to target nuclear and oil facilities. They want to prevent the situation from escalating. The U.S. Defense Department announced on Sunday that it will deploy a THAD missile defense system in Israel. A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery is set to be capable of shooting down incoming ballistic missiles at a high altitude.

The department said this action underscores the U.S. commitment to the defense of Israel and Americans in Israel from any further ballistic missile attacks by Iran.

The Iranian Foreign Minister said in a social media post on Sunday that the U.S. is putting the lives of its troops at risk by deploying them to operate U.S. missile systems in Israel. On Sunday night there was a drone attack on Israel by the Lebanon-based Shia Muslim group Hezbollah. It struck a military base that was about 30 kilometers south of Haifa. The Israeli military says the attack killed four of its soldiers, local media say 60 others were wounded. Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera says the attack has inflicted the worst damage on Israel since the most recent hostilities broke out in October last year. Hezbollah has issued a statement that it launched a swarm of drones at a Galani Brigade camp in retaliation for what the group calls the Israeli massacre. Hezbollah has warned people in Israel to keep themselves away from military facilities, hinting at additional attacks.

U.S. President Joe Biden congratulated Nihon Hidankyo for winning this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. The Japanese organization represents survivors of the 1945 atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The White House released Biden’s statement on Sunday, which lauds Nihon Hidankyo for their service, saying they have served as a human testament to the catastrophic toll of nuclear weapons, telling a story that humanity needs to hear.

Biden also congratulated the group for their historic work to ensure that nuclear weapons are never used again. He said that going to Hiroshima last year and meeting a survivor of the bombing powerfully reminded him of the need to make progress on ridding the world of nuclear arms.

During his visit, Biden wrote a similar message at the Peace Memorial Museum. He also said in his statement that the United States stands ready to engage in talks with Russia, China, and North Korea without preconditions to reduce the nuclear threat.

Now, one of the co-chairs of Nihon Hidankyo, on Sunday, visited the Peace Memorial Park to report the news of its Nobel win to those who devoted their lives to abolishing nuclear weapons. He promised that he and his peers won’t stop until that happens.

“We cannot give up because there are as many as 12,000 nuclear weapons in the world. The road is tough, but we must continue our work,” he said.

He expressed hope that people across the world will join their campaign to eliminate nuclear arms.

Now, people across Japan are looking up to the skies hoping to spot a long-tailed comet. The comet, which was discovered last year, came into sight across Japan in Sunday’s early evening sky.

The comet Atlas was first identified by astronomers in China and South Africa last year. A time-lapse video taken on Sunday by an astronomical observatory in Japan’s southwestern prefecture shows a white line streaming across the western sky as if it’s pulling along a tail.

More than 100 people gathered at an astronomical observatory hoping to spot the phenomenon. They cheered when they saw the comet.

“I didn’t expect to see the tail so clearly,” one observer said. “This is the experience of a lifetime. I’m thrilled.”

And on Sunday Japan time, the celestial body is set to reach a point about 71 million kilometers from Earth, the closest it will come to the planet. Japan’s National Astronomical Observatory advises that the comet will be visible in the lower western sky after sundown for about a week.

Observatory officials say that on Monday and Tuesday, the celestial body will be as bright as a star, but they say man-made light interference may conceal the comet because it will be near the horizon. The officials also say that between Wednesday and Sunday, the comet will be darker but may be visible to the naked eye because it will be higher in the sky.

Got to check that out. And those are the top stories for this hour.

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Snoech.

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And that’s a wrap for this edition of NHK “Newsline.” I’m Ramin Mellegard. Thank you very much for joining us.

at 18:00 (JST), October 13 （CCsrt > Copilot)

 

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20241013180000_english_1.mp3

Welcome to NHK “Newsline.” I’m Gene Otani in Tokyo.

A Palestinian media report says Israeli air strikes in northern Gaza have left 22 people dead and 14 missing. The report says four houses in Jabaliya were hit on Friday and the victims include children. Israel launched a fresh ground offensive in the city a week ago saying the aim was to prevent Hamas fighters from regrouping. The Israeli military said on Thursday that it had killed more than 50 Hamas fighters. Israeli forces have told residents of northern Gaza to evacuate to the south, but Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera said many residents are refusing as they fear there is no safe place within Gaza. Al Jazeera says one of its camera operators was shot and critically wounded. Health officials in Gaza say since the conflict began one year ago 42,175 people have been killed. The renewed offensive is making it uncertain whether Israel and Hamas will pause fighting for the second phase of polio vaccinations scheduled to start on Monday. The World Food Program warns that the escalating violence is having a disastrous impact on food security. It says no food aid has entered northern Gaza since October 1st. The Central American nation of Nicaragua announced it’s breaking off diplomatic relations with Israel citing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has expressed deep concerns about reports of Israeli forces firing on U.N. peacekeeping positions in southern Lebanon. The Defense Department says Austin spoke by phone with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Saturday. It says he emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety and security of U.N. peacekeepers. Austin referred to what he called the need to pivot from military operations in Lebanon to a diplomatic pathway, adding that needs to be done as soon as feasible. The U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon says that a peacekeeper at its headquarters in Naqoura was hit by gunfire, due to ongoing military activity nearby. Since Thursday, five peacekeepers have been wounded, raising international criticism. A joint statement expressing outrage and condemning Israel was issued by French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. The three countries have sent personnel to the U.N. group in Lebanon. The Israeli military blames Hezbollah saying it deliberately operates near posts of the U.N. group endangering its staff.

Kim Yo Jong, the sister of the North Korean leader has expressed that Pyongyang will retaliate if South Korean drones are found again in its airspace. The North’s Foreign Ministry claimed on Friday that South Korean drones flew over Pyeyongyang and scattered propaganda leaflets earlier this month. South Korea’s military says it could not confirm Pyeyongyang’s claim. Kim accused the South of making a childish excuse and alleged even if the drones were flown by a nongovernment organization, the infiltration was carried out with the South Korean military’s connivance. She warned if a South Korean drone is detected over her country’s capital once again, it will lead to a horrible disaster. The South Korean military had urged the North Korean side to exercise self-restraint over the matter, warning it will respond sternly if people’s safety comes under threat.

A representative of Nihon Hidankyo has visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park to report the news of the Nobel Peace Prize win to those who devoted their lives to the campaign to abolish nuclear weapons. One of the co-chairs of the Japanese organization representing the survivors of the atomic bombings of World War II visited the park on Sunday.

“We are pleased to inform you we will be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. We will never give up trying to abolish nuclear weapons.”

He is also the head of a survivors group in Hiroshima Prefecture. He offered flowers with a card listing the names of the group’s past leaders.

“We cannot give up because there as many as 12,000 nuclear weapons in the world. The road is tough, but we must continue our work.”

He expressed hope that people across the world will join their campaign to eliminate nuclear arms.

People in Hong Kong have enjoyed culture and food from Japan despite import restrictions from parts of the country. Hong Kong residents joined Japanese nationals as part of the Japan Autumn Festival. Stalls offered steak as well as traditional spirits, all imported from Japan.

“I’m very happy to see local people able to join the Japanese band.” “I tried the beef. My kids and I really liked it.”

Hong Kong authorities have suspended imports of seafood from ten Japanese prefectures including Fukushima. The measure came after the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant began discharging treated and diluted water into the ocean in August of last year. Water used to cool molten fuel at the plant has been mixing with rain and ground water. The accumulated water is being treated to remove most radioactive substances, but still contains tritium. Before releasing the treated water into the ocean, the plant’s operator dilutes it to reduce tritium levels to about one-seventh of the World Health Organization’s guidance level for drinking water. The annual event in Hong Kong began in 2016. It is organized by Japan’s Consulate General and other entities. One of the organizers says he strongly hopes Japan and Hong Kong will overcome the challenges over the trade restrictions, even though the process may take time.

Local organizations have hosted an annual Pacific saury festival in Tokyo’s Meguro Ward. The delicacy was served free of charge to lucky residents. It is not on the ocean, but the Pacific saury grilled there is well known thanks to a classic rakugo story called Meguro no Sanma in Japanese. On Sunday, a fresh catch of the fall delicacy sent from Kesennuma City was grilled at festival. Organizers including local district associations and shop keepers served the grilled fish to ward residents, chosen by lottery in advance. Organizers say about 18,000 people applied for 1,500 slots this year.

“It was absolutely delicious.” “I could not eat many last year, so I’m glad to be able to join them with my family.” “It is a greatest pleasure to have people taste good saury. I hope Meguro will remain known for saury.”

The event organizer also expressed hope to deepen ties with Kesennuma, a fishing port which is Meguro’s friendship city.

Those were the main stories for this hour. 

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And that’s the news this hour. I’m Gene Otani. From all of us here at NHK Newsline, to all around the “Newsline,” thanks very much for joining us.

at 18:00 (JST), October 12 (CC.srt 17:00 > Copilot)

 

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20241012180000_english_1.mp3

Welcome to “NHK Newsline.” I’m Gene Otani in Tokyo.

Survivors of the atomic bomb of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, known as Hibakusha, have been campaigning for decades to abolish nuclear weapons. Their efforts have been recognized with the most prestigious prize for peace.

Nihon Hidankyo was founded in 1956. It provided support to victims of the atomic bomb throughout Japan. A campaign for them to receive better aid. Its members have petitioned for a worldwide ban on nuclear weapons and invited visiting countries to speak about their experiences.

Next August marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Visitors to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park praised the decision to award the prize to the Hibakusha group.

Translator: Many countries have nuclear weapons and I hope the significance of the war reaches those countries.

I think that these awards are important on the world stage because it does remind everybody of what has happened, and that we must strive for a better world.

The second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki three days after the one on Hiroshima. People at the park near the epicenter had positive sentiments about the Nobel decision.

Translator: As Japanese, we should never forget that Japan is the only country that suffered atomic bombings. I hope younger generations will also never forget about it.

Translator: I think my child does not know the meaning of peace yet. I came here because I wanted her to feel the value of peace. I prayed with my child that atomic bombs will never be used again.

In Major League Baseball, the L.A. Dodgers have defeated the San Diego Padres in game 5 of the National League Division Series advancing to the next round. Dodgers Yamamoto ......

Officials in North Korea are accusing South Korea of violating their air space and say drones scattered propaganda leaflets. The foreign ministry statement released on Friday through state media warns action will be taken immediately and without warning if the South sends more drones and says that all offensive resources will be ready to respond. The North also released images. But in South Korea, a military official spoke to NHK and denied sending any drones, and the statement says a stern response if their safety comes under threat. Local media say the drones may have been sent by activists, including defectors from the North.

Russia has launched a protest against a major exercise the South Japan forces are set to hold with the U.S. military later this month. Japan has rejected the complaints citing concerns about Russia’s own military activities in the region. The exercise is scheduled to take place October 23rd to November 1st. Russia’s foreign minister lodged the protest on Friday with the Japanese embassy in Moscow and said the exercise has been expanding year after year and raised concern about NATO member states other than the U.S. attending that don’t belong in the region. The Japanese embassy said the protest is totally unacceptable and conveyed concerns about Russia stepping up their military activities around Japan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart have agreed to strengthen ties between their two countries. The pair spoke on Friday at an international forum in Turkmenistan’s capital. It was their first in-person meeting since Pezeshkian took office in July. Putin says Russia and Iran are working together in the international arena and their views are often quite similar. Pezeshkian said they should continue to build ties and support each other and noted their positions in the world are very close. The two leaders confirm they will hold talks again at a summit starting on October 22nd in Russia. The United States and the European Union are concerned about the growing bonds between Moscow and Tehran. Western nations are at odds with Russia over the war in Ukraine and the Middle East turmoil. Iran is believed to be supplying Russia with drones and missiles for use in Ukraine.

Iran’s foreign minister has warned that his country is ready to take stronger defensive actions and will not hesitate to do so. His statement comes as Israel moves closer to retaliating against Iran for a missile attack last week. Government officials say that the foreign minister has sent a letter to his counterparts around the world. They say it calls Israel’s actions in Gaza and Lebanon war crimes against humanity and urges the community to take immediate and decisive action to stop them. Israeli attacks continue in southern Lebanon. The United Nations says that for the second time in 48 hours its staff had been caught up in the fighting.

Two peacekeepers were injured after two explosions occurred close to an observation tower. One injured peacekeeper was taken to a hospital. The other is being treated.

The Israeli military said it carried out the attack and that soldiers opened fire after detecting an immediate threat. The attack comes one day after a strike on the same facility injured two peacekeepers. The U.S. says Israeli forces caused serious damage by knocking down walls at their headquarters. Israel says it is investigating.

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Those were the main stories for this hour.

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And that’s the news this hour. I’m Gene Otani. From all of us at NHK “Newsline” to all around the world, thanks very much for joining us.

at 18:00 (JST), October 11 (CC.srt > Copilot)

 

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20241011180000_english_1.mp3

Glad you are with us on this edition of NHK “Newsline.” I’m Raja Pradhan with the news from Tokyo.

Security issues are top of mind for leaders and representatives from Asia and beyond gathered in Laos. The East Asian Summit brings together the Southeast Asian nations with other regional powers. Participants include Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, Lee Chan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and the Russian Foreign Minister. Issues affecting them include North Korea and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Some also have concerns over Beijing’s growing presence in the East and South China Seas. Sources say Blinken wants to stress the importance of freedom of navigation and the peaceful resolution of disputes based on international law, something which could prompt intense talks with Li. Blinken may also spar with Lavrov as they make their respective cases on Ukraine. Laos chairs this year’s series of meetings and is planning to release a statement, but finding consensus from all participants may prove challenging.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has held separate talks with the leaders of Britain, France, and Italy to discuss his plan to end the war with Russia. Zelenskyy visited London first on his whistle-stop tour of three European capitals on Thursday. He said on social media that he outlined the details of his victory plan to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Zelenskyy said the plan aims to create the conditions for what he called a just end to the war. The Ukrainian president then traveled to Paris to meet with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron. “I shared with Emmanuel Macron our plans. Victory plan and other situation on the battlefield and everything preparing. Before winter we need your support.” After talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome, Zelenskyy told reporters it’s important all partners work together for just peace. Zelenskyy had initially intended to set out the plan at a summit on military assistance for Ukraine, but the meeting was postponed after U.S. President Joe Biden canceled his visit to Germany due to Hurricane Milton.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has again pledged federal government support for hurricane victims while former President Donald Trump continues to criticize Democrat-led recovery efforts. “Our heart goes out to everyone who has been impacted by these storms. Our administration has mobilized thousands of federal personnel across the region to work hand in hand with local and state officials to give folks the help they need.” The Democratic presidential candidate campaigned on Thursday in the western battleground state of Arizona. Harris referred to two hurricanes that devastated parts of Florida. She said she told both Republican and Democrat state officials the federal government will be with them. Arizona has long been considered a Republican stronghold, but in the previous presidential election in 2020, Democrat Biden won the state. Trump has continued the attacks on the federal response and addressed storm survivors through his social media network. “We are deeply saddened by the devastation being reported and it sounds like it’s as bad as it gets.” In a speech in Detroit, Michigan, on Thursday, Trump said the federal government had let storm victims suffer unjustly. Harris has accused Trump of playing politics over the crisis.

Japanese prosecutors are set to investigate a Tokyo go-kart rental firm that allegedly allowed foreign tourists to drive on the streets without valid licenses. Tokyo police have sent papers on the case to prosecutors. They say accidents involving the small motor racing vehicles have been rising sharply. The number of incidents this year hit 25 by the end of August, which is more than double from all of 2023. Police say the manager of the firm is suspected of renting go-karts to two foreign tourists in April even though they did not have the required driving permits. They say their licenses had not been issued under the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic. The manager is accused of violating Japan’s Road Traffic Act. Police say the case surfaced after a go-kart hit a parked vehicle near a crossing in Tokyo’s Minato Ward. The company started its business around autumn last year. Police suspect the firm has rented go-karts to about 50 foreign visitors who did not have proper permits. The manager has reportedly told investigators staff checked whether customers had international driving permits, but failed to confirm they were issued by countries party to the international traffic standards.

Next, space weather researchers are calling on people to stay alert for possible disruptions to GPS and radio communications. They say it’s due to a severe geomagnetic storm caused by solar flares. Solar flares are large bursts of electromagnetic radiation. They seem to have affected GPS-based services in the United States in May. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the storm was observed after a large amount of charged particles were released. It says the storm’s conditions Thursday were at the second highest level on a scale of five and could put additional stress on power grids. The agency also says that auroras may become visible at lower latitudes than usual. Indeed, northern lights resulting from the geomagnetic storm have even been seen here in Japan. Images taken by an observatory in Nayoro City show the northern sky tinged with red. This is the first time an aurora has been visible with the naked eye in Hokkaido since August 12th. When an aurora occurs in the Arctic circles it is in blues and greens, but the lights in Hokkaido were slightly red. The observatory says solar activity is intensifying so there could be more opportunities for night sky watchers to see the lights.

It’s been one month since the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi plant tested ways to remove nuclear fuel debris, but the tests have been suspended indefinitely. The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant suffered multiple meltdowns after the 2011 quake and tsunami. An estimated 880 tons of nuclear fuel debris remains in its three reactors. The plant’s operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, said it would test ways to remove it. It planned to start in late August, but the work was delayed for three weeks. They say a mistake was made when installing the retrieval device. They finally started their tests on September 10th, but suspended them just a week later. They say they couldn’t get visuals from two of the cameras on the device. After three weeks trying to repair them, the company said Monday they will need to be replaced. One expert says they should review the decommissioning process again. “It’s not easy to anticipate specific issues, but they should have done experiments and assessments and considered what could go wrong. They should think about possible problems when they restart the work.” They say it will take about two weeks to replace the cameras, if all goes well. It’s unclear when the debris removal tests will continue.

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Yes, please do access the NHK World Japan website for more details.

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Yes, please do access the NHK World Japan website for more details.

It’s time now for a check on the world weather with our meteorologist Yumi P.

People in Europe have been experiencing floods due to a hurricane. Still battling Western Europe, heavy rainfall was reported in parts of Spain, France, and Belgium. We have some video. Downpours flooded a campsite in the southern country on Thursday. Many people had to be rescued by a military helicopter. Local media says 25 people were relocated to safety after a river lost its bank and flooded a nearby city. Folks are urged to stay alert for more flooding as many river levels remain dangerously high. The system is expected to move northward to Scandinavia on Friday. Also, a cold front is bringing severe conditions to the Balkans, with intense rainfall and even tornadoes possible in western parts into the weekend. People in southern Belgium should watch out for flooding even though the rain is not expected to be heavy.

Moving to the United States, sunny skies are expected on Friday for many major cities including New York, Washington, and Tampa, Florida, which is still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. The temperature in Chicago will reach 29°C but will drop to only 18°C on Saturday.

Finally, across Asia, a huge high-pressure system is dominating from eastern China, the Korean Peninsula, to much of Japan. So sunny and warm weather is expected on Saturday in Beijing, Seoul, and Tokyo with highs in the mid-20s.

That’s it for me, have a nice weekend.

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And we have news just in. The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded this year’s Nobel Peace Prize to the Japanese organization Hidankyo for efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons. The Nobel Committee has awarded the Peace Prize for efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons.

And that’s all for this edition of NHK “Newsline.” I’m Raja Pradhan in Tokyo. We’ll be back with more soon, so please stay with us.