AT LEAST 60 DEAD AFTER MASSIVE QUAKE HITS PHILIPPINES
Philippine authorities say at least 60 people have died after a powerful earthquake hit the island province of Cebu. A rescue operation is underway.It occurred at around 10:00 PM local time on Tuesday off the coast of Cebu Central Philippines. The US Geological Survey says the estimated magnitude 6.9 quake had a depth of 10 kilometers.
People on the island panicked as they felt the earthquake. People rushed to the hospital, with many receiving treatment outside. The area is a popular tourist destination that attracts visitors from many countries, including Japan. Japan's Consulate General in Cebu is urging people to remain alert for possible further tremors.
91 FEARED TRAPPED AT COLLAPSED SCHOOL BUILDING IN INDONESIA
Disaster management authorities in Indonesia say 91 students may be trapped under the rubble of a school building that collapsed on Monday. The building in East Java province was part of an Islamic school. Military and police personnel in Indonesia have joined rescuers searching for survivors. At least three students were killed and 26 are being treated at hospital.Local media and other reports say many were attending prayers inside the building at the time. Work to expand the building was reportedly taking place.
The authorities say a failure in construction technology may have led to the disaster.
TRUMP: DEAL WITH HARVARD UNIVERSITY CLOSE
US President Donald Trump has suggested his administration is close to reaching a deal with Harvard University, with which it has been at odds over school policies.We're in the process of getting very close, and Linda's finishing up the final details, and they'd be paying about $500 million.
Trump added the money will be used for AI-linked job training and other programs. Harvard has yet to issue a comment. The Trump administration has been putting pressure on universities across the US, holding demonstrations against Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip. It accused the schools of failing to protect Jewish students and threatened them with federal fund freezes and other forms of pressure unless they compiled with the administration's demands, complied, rather, with the administration's demands. Harvard refused and filed a lawsuit claiming the administration's actions lack legal basis. Columbia University has reached a similar agreement with the administration. It agreed in July to pay some $200 million in exchange for the resumption of federal funding.
MASTERPIECE OR MASTER FAKE: FINDING A FORGERY
Can you tell a real painting from a fake? Well, forgeries have long been a problem in the world of art. And now a Japanese company that thought it owned a modern masterpiece is grappling with the likelihood it's fake.This painting is supposed to be Kiki de Montpanasse, a famous work by the early 20th century artist Moïse Kisling. But it's probably not.
Signs point to it being a fake. Painted by the infamous German forgery artist Wolfgame Beltracki, he spent decades creating hundreds of forgeries. He focused on lost but famous works until he was convicted of fraud in 2011.
Kurose Kaori is in charge of managing the art for a major health food company. She was surprised to learn their Kiki de Montpanos might not be the real thing.
I was shocked because I thought, This painting is really beautiful. I think many people who saw it probably felt the same. I want to apologize to them.
Her company didn't suspect it because the painting was purchased from a Tokyo museum in 2013 after an appraisal by Kiesling's own son.
There were also records showing it went through Christie's, a famous global auction house. When it sold in 1995, it was priced at about 25 million yen, or nearly 300,000 US dollars.
But when Kurose investigated an art dealer's label on the back, it turned out to be falsified. Beltracki used it to pass off his works. With his prison term finished, Beltracki now draws his own original works, but he agreed to meet with Kurose and NHK to discuss the painting.
Yes, I painted that around 1990. I don't remember exactly when, but it was around 1990.
But he didn't apologize for the deception. He said, if anything, His work is worth more than the real one.
For me, this work was and is still Kisling's because I was painting as him and in his style.
I studied him intently and drew his work. I think people have always appreciated my paintings. It is both a Beltracchi and a Kisling. I don't think people are disappointed with that.
Kurose is, after the call, she said she was frustrated by how it all played out.
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Kurose's company is considering asking experts to assess the painting to confirm if Beltracky was telling the truth. He claims to have created about 300 forgeries. Many of them may still be in circulation today, waiting to be unmasked.
For more earlier, I spoke with NHK World's Takemura Tomomasa. He's been covering the issue of forgeries in art.
What went through your mind when you heard about this?
Actually, I was very surprised. You would think it was rare to find forgeries like this in Japan, but this actually isn't the first time. There's another suspected case in Tokyo, and two forgeries were confirmed last year in museums in Tokushima and Kochi prefectures.
One was pretending to be loose cyclist by the French painter Jean Metzinger. The other was a forgery of Galvid Swan by the German expressionist Heinrich Kampendonk. Both were acquired about 30 years ago when Japan's economy was doing well.
For years, they were presented as authentic masterpieces, but They were both likely painted by Beltracki. I saw the paintings, and I was shocked to learn the same person probably made them.
They were in completely different styles.
And now, we have this potential case in Okayama. It made me think again about the immense harm that comes with counterfeits.
You saw how upset Kurosi was.
She said she's scared people will think their other works are also fake. She called this kind of forgery blasphemy against the original painter.
Right, well, those are pretty strong words, but Beltrocki was convicted nearly 15 years ago. Why are we still finding forgeries out there?
Because it's quite difficult to detect forgeries in the first place. In his case, in this case, for example, the painter's own son and a major auction house gave it the green rights.
Under those circumstances, why would anyone think it was a fake? And there are still works being bought and sold privately without being properly certified.
They will continue to trade hands and can stay undetected for a long time.
But technology is giving us new ways to detect a forgery.
For example, cutting-edge AI can accurately analyze a painter's brushwork that can distinguish whether or not a work is authentic.
Using such methods, we can identify forgery one by one. It may lead to a system where counterface can no longer hide.
BUSINESS
Now let's see what's happening in the world of business. Here's Ramin Mellegaard from the Biz Desk.Thank you very much indeed.
TANKAN: Q3 GDP IMPROVES SLIGHTLY AT JAPAN'S MAJOR MANUFACTURERS
Now, a closely watched survey of business sentiment in Japan shows a slight improvement among major manufacturers for the second straight quarter.The Bank of Japan's latest Tankan survey was released on Wednesday. The sentiment index for manufacturers came in at plus 14. That's one point higher than in the previous poll. A positive number indicates there are more companies feeling optimistic about business conditions than pessimistic. Sentiment improved at nine of the 16 manufacturing sectors monitored. The reading for the automotive industry shows a two-point improvement. Uncertainty over US tariffs has eased. after Japan and the United States issued a joint statement on policies.
Now, meanwhile, the sentiment index for large non-manufacturers is unchanged from the previous survey. It continues to hover around the highest level in 34 years. Looking three months ahead, confidence at large manufacturers is forecast to slip to plus 12.
It's projected to decline six points to 28 for non-manufacturers. The BOJ polled about 9,000 companies from late August through the end of September.
TOYOTA LAUNCHES INVESTMENT SUBSIDIARY TO BUILD PARTNERSHIPS
Toyota Motor has launched a new subsidiary that will build business ties by investing in startups and other companies that share its vision of the future of mobility.Toyota Invention Partners began operations on Wednesday with a capital of 100 billion yen, or about $670 million to invest. The company will make long-term strategic investments in a range of firms, mainly in Japan, and won't be limited to the auto industry.
The subsidiary will also invest in start-ups participating in Tokyo Woven City.
Toyota Woven City, the automaker's futuristic complex in central Japan for testing new mobility systems. It's the first time Toyota has set up a venture capital firm with no defined limit to its investment period. Toyota aims to strengthen collaboration with external partners as part of its transformation into what it calls a mobility company. The shift is in response to the changes that electrification and intelligentVehicles are bringing to the auto industry.
OSAKA CITY TO FREEZE PRIVATE LODGING APPLICATIONS AFTER COMPLAINTS
Osaka City says it will stop accepting applications to operate private lodgings following a rise in complaints from local residents.Yokoyama Hideyuki, the mayor of the city in western Japan, says the system needs to be reviewed and the problems resolved.
Many of the lodgings are private homes which are used by travelers, but existing residents have complained about noise, improper garbage disposal and other problems. Some say they cannot contact lodging operators. Osaka's lodging system started in 2016 with the area classified as a so-called National Strategic Special Zone. As such, the private lodgings could open year-round, unlike operators in other areas. The number of such lodgings in the city has surged in record numbers of overseas tourists in Japan. At the end of August, more than 6,800 had been certified, accounting for about 90%. Of the country's total, Osaka City is yet to decide when the application suspension will begin. It will make a decision ahead of the central government's meeting on the special zones in November. It says it will survey existing operators to check how they're managing their services.
LOCAL WINERY PLANTS SEEDS FOR GROWTH
The Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011 affected the entire prefecture on many levels. The residents of the village of Kawauchi were among those who were forced. to evacuate. They returned nine years ago, but revitalization is a challenge. The village is now developing a new industry.Kawauchi lies in the Abukuma Highlands in eastern Fukushima. Lush grapevines stretch over the slopes of the hills.
Decontamination work was carried out, and about $2.5 million was invested to build a winery.
We're now preparing to grow high quality grapes for the next harvest.
The wine made here is said to have a fresh flavour and a lively acidity.
The village went through a period of trial and error before focusing on wine making. The first idea after the nuclear accident was to try to attract companies to the area to create jobs.
Nearly $19 million went into developing an industrial park with 11 lots.
But poor logistics were a problem.
Today, only a machine parts factory and a wind power management facility operate there.
At the time, we thought the project was a way to encourage residents to return, but we need to reflect on whether there might have been better approaches.
The decision was made to return to agriculture and forestry, the mainstay industries before the disaster.
Given the Abukuma Highlands' large day-night temperature difference of over 10 degrees and the well-drained soil, growing grapes for wine was an attractive option. With the help of experts, the first vines were planted in 2016. Many of the villagers began helping with planting and harvesting.
These grapes are a little sour but delicious. I want to come back again.
The Kauchi Winery was established in 2017, managing cultivation, winemaking and sales. Today, 9 locals work there and about 13,000 bottles of wine are made each year.
Last year, the winery won an award in a national competition. And there are plans to boost production even further.
In short, recovery is about how people regain a sense of purpose and pride.
If the wine made from Kawauchi grapes gains recognition, it could help achieve that.
A tasting room and a shop next to the winery are now in the works, with the aim of attracting thirsty visitors from near and far.
And that's it for Business News.
IN FOCUS
We go to Shibuya Aki with Newsline in Focus, looking at a report about a Japanese singer and a special song.We feature veteran performing artist Kumiko, whose career takes a turn after encountering a musician who gives her the gift of song. It's called inori, or prayer. Through her voice, the powerful piece is reaching out to people in the hardest of times.
INORI: A SOOTHING ANTHEM FOR TROUBLING TIMES
Renowned chanteuse Kumiko has been performing this piece for over 15 years.Inori, meaning prayer, it conveys the sorrow and hope of a young A-bomb survivor.
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The song was created by Sasaki Yuji, a second generation hibakusha. He was inspired by his aunt Sasaki Sadako, the girl who became an icon of World Peace.
Exposed to radiation in Hiroshima as an infant, she developed leukemia and died at the age of 12.
In hospital, she folded paper crane after crane, praying for an early return home and for peace. She believed in an old saying that your wishes will come true if you fold 1,000 cranes.
Yuji searched for a voice to convey his aunt's dream and his dream of a nuclear-free world. And he sensed Kumiko would be the perfect artist.
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But the people around her convinced her otherwise. When the two met, Yuji discussed the lingering impact of the bombing, especially his concerns over his health.
Yuji is not alone. While a joint Japan-US research organization says the genetic effects of radiation do not pass on to the next generation, some second-generation hibakusha voiced concern.
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Kumiko has performed inori not only in Hiroshima, but also in many places across Japan.
When a mega quake, tsunami and nuclear power plant accident devastated the country's Northeast, Kumiko took her song there.
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The lyrics of hope in desperation resonated with locals, especially those who had suddenly lost loved ones.
The favorable response inspired her to travel to Ukraine and perform for people displaced by the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident.
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Over the years, the piece has evolved into a kind of anthem for people sharing pain and encouraging each other to pull through.
With this in mind, Kumiko felt a deep desire to re-record Inori in advance of the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings.
She was also moved to do so due to the increasingly tense global situation and the fact her Ukrainian friends fear a new nuclear threat.
Yuji showed up for the recording. It was the first time in about 9 years he had seen Kumiko. In that time, he had become the father of two.
Yuji's joy of raising kids is sometimes challenged. He's aware there's no evidence of radiation exposure effects on 3rd generation descendants, but sometimes he is overcome with uncertainty.
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This summer, Yuji took his family to hear Kumiko's new version of Inori live.
Seeing his lyrics is all the more relevant now, even urgent. He hopes they will inspire more people to join efforts to realize a world free of nuclear weapons.
♪
80 years after the atomic bombings, Sadako's song has taken on new meaning and is resonating across the world, reminding people of the preciousness of life and the tragedy of war.
And that's all for me.
WEATHER
And now let's check the weather with our meteorologist, Jonathan Oh.
Hello, we had a bit of a cooler and quite a wet day, especially in the eastern portion of Japan where we saw one location getting more than 150 millimeters of rainfall in just six hours. Another location up at Hokkaido exceeding 320 millimeters again in just six hours. Look at some of this video, give you an idea of the situation on the ground. It has been quite a bit of a day as torrential rain flooded parts of northern Japan Wednesday, Sendai, the largest city in theregion more than 150 millimeters of rainfall reported in just six hours with multiple reports of housing complexes flooded and cars submerged here in Shiraoi town in Hokkaido torrential rain prompted an evacuation order for about 350 households and as you can expect those express trains experiencing major delays due to the situation it wasn't just areas up toward the north but also down even into the Kanto Koshin region where we saw impacts on trains as well. The low pressure system that's the real instigator of the situation will push toward the east, but still bringing in the northerly flow. That instability can bring some heavier rainfall going through the evening hours, along with hail and some stronger thunderstorms. So just be on the lookout for that as you go through Wednesday night heading into Thursday, the low eventually kind of move its without. And behind it, a little bit more in terms of sunshine, but temperatures will still be remaining in the mid to upper 20s. Sapporo looking at 24, 27 Sendai, Tokyo at 28 and looks like we're going to stay in the 20s for daytime highs as we head toward the weekend. So for those of you are saying the 30s are gone. It looks like it is at least in terms most part of the eastern areas of Japan.
Meanwhile, looking at what's happening across North America, the double trouble of these systems in the Atlantic impacting Bermuda. So be on the lookout for that. But at least the eastern seaboard of the United States calming down the Pacific Northwest cold front moving through might be talking about snow in the Cascades here with rain continuing into place like Vancouver and Seattle as we go today on Wednesday.
Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
CHESTNUT SEASON STARTS IN WESTERN JAPAN
Here's one more story. Visitors are flocking to an orchard park in Shiga prfecture, western Japan to gather chestnuts as the autumn harvesting season gets underway.There are 10 varieties planted across a 55 hectare orchard in Takashima City.
Visitors can pick from about 18,000 trees. Some were seen carefully prying open the spiky birds to retrieve the chest that's inside.
The birds were painful, but I had an enjoyable experience.
The gathering season at the park runs until mid-October.
Looks fun. That wraps up this edition of NHK Newsline. We'll have more for you soon. Thank you very much for joining us.
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