BREAKING NEWS
TYPHOON: EMERGENCY WARNING ISSUED FOR IZU ISLANDS
We have news just in Japanese weather, officials have issued. Emergency warning for strong winds and high waves for Hachijo town and Aogashima village. A very strong typhoon Halong is approaching the country. It's expected to come closest to Tokyo's Izu Islands Thursday morning. Officials are urging people on the islands to prepare.There is a risk of violent winds and high waves that we have never experienced before.
The Meteorological Agency says as of 3:00 PM on Wednesday, the typhoon is moving north northeast over borders South of Japan at 20 kilometers per hour. It's forecast to gradually change course and head towards the east. It's expected to remain very strong and approach the Izu Islands around daybreak or later.
I'll go to the supermarket to try to stock up on food but there's not much left.
This is the first time that I've ever had to brace for such a big typhoon, so I'm scared.
Winds up to 180 kilometers per hour and peak gusts of 252 may hit the area on Thursday, possibly destroying some buildings. Bands of heavy rain clouds might form before dawn and through the morning, heightening the risk of a disaster in up to 300mm of rainfall is expected in the 24 hours until Thursday noon. To learn more about what to lookout for and steps you can take to stay safe in the storm, we're bringing in our meteorologist, Jonathan Oh. So, Jonathan, how can people prepare for what's ahead?
Hello. As we have how long continue to make its way and likely wiping right over the Easter Islands. The biggest threats are going to be the violent winds and the high waves.
I mean the rain is also going to be a part of the story here. We maybe talk about the possibility of seeing some elevated amounts of water that could lead to flooding and also possibly landslides.
But again. The big concerns right now include the winds and also those high waves. Gusts can be hitting up to 180 kilometers per hour or higher. And when that happens, we're talking about some real serious damage that can take place with toppling lines and real damage to buildings and homes. And so this is going to be something that we have to really. Monitor during the overnight period and throughout the day on Thursday for the storm finally moves out over into the open waters. If the rain or wind something becomes strong, head for the higher floors and seek shelter farthest from the threat. Make sure you know where to evacuate, be prepared for blackouts, and make sure those emergency supplies are stocked away and ready to go. More coming up in just a few minutes.
NEW LDP HEAD MULLS SKIPPING YASUKUNI VISIT
Sources say the new head of Japan's main ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Takaichi Sanaa, is considering forgoing her visit to Yasukuni Shrine this month.The Shrines Autumn Festival will run for three days from October 17th. Takaichi has been visiting Yasukuni Shrine for its spring and autumn festivals, as well as on August 15, the day Japan commemorates the end of World War II.
The shrine honors Japan's war dead those remembered. Include leaders convicted of war crimes after World War II. Takaichi was elected as LDP leader on Saturday and held her first news conference. She said if she becomes Prime Minister, she will decide on how to pray for peace and consult the spirits of the deceased appropriately and at the right time. Saito Tetsuo, head of LDP junior ruling coalition partner Komeito, has asked Takaichi to consider his party's concerns about her historical interpretations and visiting the shrine.
BEAR ATTACKS REPORTED IN NORTHERN AND EASTERN JAPAN
New bear attacks in northern and eastern Japan have prompted calls from authorities for residents to be on the alert. On Wednesday morning, a security camera captured a woman in her 80s walking in Daisen City, Akita Prefecture.A bear ran up to the woman and attacked her from behind. She was reportedly bitten in the face but was conscious and able to talk when she was transported to a hospital. This is the third day in a row that Akita Prefecture has seen bear attacks on humans. On Tuesday, a bearer measuring 1.4 metres long entered a supermarket in Numata City, Guma Prefecture, north of Tokyo. It enters the store at around 7:30 PM and attached 2 male customers inside and at a parking lot. The bear reportedly rampaged through the fish and sushi aisles before fleeing. The shop manager said 30 to 40 customers were inside at the time.
So the the bear grabbed me and I fended it off. Then it went somewhere towards the back of the store.
Following the attack, 2 police officers were deployed to patrol the area around the supermarket, which is located near the local schools. Meanwhile, a bear was found in a trap in another part of the city at around 10:30 AM.
For in Kitakami City, Prefecture, police are working to identify the victim of a suspected bear attack found on a mountain on Wednesday. In a neighboring town, a man in his 70s remains missing since Tuesday. He reportedly went to the mountain to pick mushrooms.
NEPAL INTERIM PM BUILDING TRUST WITH GEN Z AFTER PROTESTS
It's been one month since the youth-led protest movement collapsed the Nepalese government. A new interim Prime Minister is vowing to tackle the issues. That caused her predecessor's downfall, but she faces deep rooted corruption in a time crunch.In September, former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli blocked access to several social media platforms. It's triggered demonstrations from Nepal's Generation Z, who'd used those platforms to spread awareness about the wealth inequality and nepotism plaguing the country. In the unrest, government buildings for torched 76 people died and only stepped down. So Sheila Karki, a former Chief Justice and anti corruption campaigner, has stepped in to serve as a temporary leader. NHK spoke with Ajaya Khanal, her chief advisor.
I think the current situation is quite stable. The Gen. Z movement is still very active. They are in constant dialogue with the government.
Khanal says they're addressing young people's concerns by reforming an anti corruption body and probing the assets of the country's political elite. But he also acknowledges that a general election is set for March.
Unfortunately, she only has about 5 and six months and her priority is the election. But at the same time, I think she is committed to doing as much as possible to root out corruption from Nepal. But this of course is, like I said, a very challenging task and we will need to see to what extent she can succeed.
Khanal says they're also focused on rebuilding from the damage caused by the protest and restoring Nepal's economy to begin to address the country's wealth gap.
ONE MONTH AFTER GEN Z PROTESTS: CAN NEPAL MOVE FORWARD?
Earlier, I spoke with NHK Rules Matsumoto Yuzuru, who's in Kathmandu.You said, what's the situation like there now?
The security situation has come down. People are resuming daily life, but the rebuilding has barely begun. Walking through the city, I can see many buildings that were destroyed in the protests and still untouched. I'm in front of the federal Parliament building. You can see a month. The windows are still blown out and the walls still have scorch marks.
These protests left a huge mess to clean up, and that's on top of some serious economic issues. This protest was so intense because young people here are angry over their lack of opportunities. Many are unemployed and struggling with poverty.
I spoke with an 18 year old man who took part and suffered A gunshot wound. He is a student who also works as a bike taxi driver to help support his family after his father lost his job. Because of his injury, he can't do that job and he has few other options.
The protesters succeeded in changing their government, but that does not mean their problems are solved. However, they do not have some hope for their future
right? And part of that comes down to the interim prime minister's promises to tackle corruption. Tell us more about her plans.
As you heard from her chief adviser, she knows that she doesn't have much time and has to act fast. Can I mention the government will strengthen its tools to fight corruption? 1 area that they are focusing on is money laundering. They're going to work with Nepal's National Bank and other.
Government agencies to go after illicit funds. This was one of the Gen. Z protesters. Major demands, but corruption and poverty and deeply rooted here. They will not be solved before next year's election. This government can only lay some of the groundwork.
Only usually do. What are we expecting from this election?
I also spoke to political expert Chandra Bhatta, who says many young people want to change the electoral system.
Typically, Nepal is about for members of the House of Representatives and the leader of the party with the greatest majority is appointed Prime Minister. But it says some in the Gen. Z movement, want to vote for the next Prime Minister directly? If their demands are ignored, we could see more unrest.
So things may appear calm in Nepal at the moment, but we might simply be in the eye of the political storm.
♪
ISRAEL-HAMAS CONFLICT
PEACE TALKS GO ON AS MOURNERS MARK OCT. 7
Initiators from Israel and Hamas have spent the past two days trying to hammer out a ceasefire agreement. The talks in Egypt come as people marked the 2nd anniversary of the attacks that prompted the fighting. This is the site of a music festival where many young Israelis were killed. People came to remember the victims and the hundreds of hostages taken by Hamas fighters. 48 are currently being held. Family members say the pain is still raw.
Nothing else is important. Nothing else is. Can be complete because she's my heart.
They took it from me, the sound of the guns that we hear right now. We don't understand it. We want the peace will stop, the fire will stop. So hold those two days. All the hostages will come back.
The talks are taking place in the eastern city of Sharm Al Sheikh. Egypt's foreign minister says negotiators are discussing not only the release of Israeli hostages. He says they're talking about freeing Palestinian prisoners and the partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip. Hamas leaders. Say they're serious about reaching a deal based on the plan put forth by US President Donald Trump.
The delegation participating in these negotiations in Egypt seeks to overcome obstacles to achieving an agreement.
Trump says he sees a real chance of the two sides striking a deal.
I think there's a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East. It's something even beyond the Gaza situation. We want a release of the hostages immediately.
A US delegation led by special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to join the talks as early as Wednesday.
ISRAEL-HAMAS CONFLICT
US SURVEY SHOWS DECLINING SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL
Meanwhile, some of President Trump's younger supporters are voicing their doubts about continuing aid for Israel.Harrison Caruth, a university student who lives in the southern state of Arkansas, is a Republican supporter. He had believed that the US should back Israel financially and militarily, but he has begun questioning Trump's policy in light of the tragic situation in the Gaza Strip.
There's so much death here is not stopping. We need is giving Israel more weapons when it's doing such a bad thing. Blessing Israel? No, I don't think so.
Public opinion is shifting across the country. In a survey of US voters conducted by The New York Times and Siena University in September, 34% of respondents said they sided with Israel and 35% with Palestinians.
The Times says it's the first time that more voters. Started with Palestinians over Israel since it began asking about their sympathies in 1998, one political science expert believes Israel's ongoing war in Gaza has gradually changed the public's view.
I think it's fairly clear that the sentiment has become much more negative about Israel and the actions that Israel has taken in the war.
He also says this situation will continue unless there is a resolution.
BUSINESS
Now let's turn to our Gene Otani for what's happening in the world of business. Gene.Hiroaki, thanks. In our top business story this hour,
NIKKEI 225 FALLS AFTER 3 STRAIGHT DAYS OF RECORD HIGHS
Tokyo's Nikkei 225 closed lower on Wednesday, ending its record highs for three straight trading days. Many investors locked in profits.The benchmark and at 47,734, down nearly half a percent. A weaker yen prompted buying of auto and other export related shares in early trading, but later profit taking kicked in and the index fell into negative territory. The Nikkei 225 surged 4.7% on Monday. Fueled by investor expectations for the new leader of Japan's main ruling party to ramp up fiscal spending, but analysts say the rapid rise has lost momentum.
EU PLANS 50% STEEL TARIFF AMID 'GLOBAL OVERCAPACITY'
The European Union's executive body has proposed to members new measures on steel product imports. It's now planning a 50% steel tariff to counter the impacts of global over capacity on its industry.The European Commission proposed on Tuesday to limit tariff free import volumes of steel products to just over 18,000,000 tons a year. That's about half the import quota. In 2024, the Commission says it plans to double the level of out of quota duty to 50%.
US Trump administration hiked tariffs on foreign steel earlier this year. The EU hopes to protect the industry in the region by preventing steel products from flowing in from China and elsewhere.
European Commission President Ursula Fonder Lyon stated that a strong steel sector is vital for EU competitiveness, economic security and strategic autonomy. She said Global overcapacity is damaging their industry and they need to act now. The Commission hopes to get approval for the measures from EU members and the European Parliament and introduce them by July next year.
JAPAN POSTS CURRENT ACCOUNT SURPLUS FOR 7TH STRAIGHT MONTH
Japan posted a current account surplus for the seventh straight month in August. That's largely due to a drop in prices for energy imports such as crude oil and natural gas. The Finance Ministry's preliminary figures show a surplus of ¥3.77 trillion, or about $25 billion. The current account is a gauge of the country's trade and investment with the rest of the world. However, the August number fell 4.8% from a year earlier, mainly due to a decline in the primary income surplus. This reflects a drop in dividends from overseas subsidiaries to financial and auto companies compared with last year.JAPAN'S RETAIL, DINING CHAINS BOOST IN-HOUSE RICE PRODUCTION
Japanese retail and dining chains are boosting their in-house rice production to stabilize supply. The move comes amid continued shortages. And high prices of the staple grain.Aeon Agri Create is a farming subsidiary of major supermarket chain Aeon. It produces vegetables and other crops nationwide.
The company has also been growing rice on a farm north of Tokyo and has increased cultivation to 30 hectares this year. That's a 50%. From last year, the harvested rice is available at some 11 stores. It says it's considering boosting production further next year and beyond.
This year's average retail rice prices have been higher than last year, so we have a sense of crisis. We'd like to continue to pursue stable offerings and reasonable prices.
Meanwhile, major beef bowl chain operator Matsuya Foods Holdings has teamed up with other firms. Including a startup in a bid to grow its own rice, they're experimenting with a cultivation method that doesn't require filling patties with water.
MUFG SAID TO WIN NATIONAL STADIUM NAMING RIGHTS FOR ¥10 BIL
NHK has learned Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group is set to acquire the naming rights for Japan's National Stadium. Sources say the deal will be a five year contract worth ¥10 billion or more than $66 million.The national stadium hosted the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics. It's understood the stadium will be rebranded in January, but no details are available on what the specific name will be. Sports stadiums and public facilities in Japan have been selling naming rights to help cover costs. For Mitsubishi UFJ. Financial Group and others bidding for such rights offers an opportunity to associate their image with iconic venues and reach a broader customer base.
MARKETS
All right, let's have a look at the markets.♪
And that's it for business news.
Please do access the NHK World Japan website for more details on those stories.
♬
Can you help at all?
WEATHER
Now our meteorologist Jonathan now is back with a look at world weather. Jonathan.Hello. We continue to keep an eye out on Halong as it is expected to really better the ease of islands as we go through overnight into Thursday. And we're talking about particularly concerns of high waves and powerful winds through the heavy rainfall will also be a part of the story as well.
So make sure that if you're living in the area that you're prepared at this point we're looking at rain also be the story elsewhere in the northeastern portions of China, looking at a stationary front that could bring some wet weather in Beijing as we go into Thursday. Yep, If you look down toward the South, yeah, we're talking about another possible tropical system developing. And so we'll be also keeping an eye out on that as we go forward in time. Now looking at the forecast here. coming up on Thursday, Tokyo proper, maybe mainly dealing with a breezy day. The coastal areas over places like Chibi, Kanagawa into Shizuoka prefectures, The coastal areas stay away, stay away from the water because we're also seeing a bit of a rocky pattern coming up for the day on Thursday with Halong being nearby Beijing looking at a high of only 12 with some rain, but it's hot over to Chongqing with high of 34, 32 in Hong Kong with partly cloudy skies as we go through the day.
Meanwhile, North America, we have a long cold front that's extending from the northeast way down toward the South. And as that pushes on through, we're talking about rain. We talk about thunderstorms along the eastern seaboard as we go through Wednesday, we have another cold. Are now pushing through the Pacific Northwest. It's been kind of this kind of wet, icky kind of pattern here where we've seen a lot of clouds and rain and that's been the pattern that will continue to be the story as we go into the day on Wednesday down toward Baja California. We have Priscilla, which is a system that's likely to cause a lot of problems with waves and likely trying to kick up some unstable weather as well into the northwestern portions of. Square so Mexico City looking at some rain with a high of 18 teens into Vancouver and Seattle with wet weather again. Rain from New York down toward Miami for Wednesday.
Quick note on Europe, Eastern side of the content looking at and what weather and a cold front also swinging on through to the north of Scandinavian Peninsula. Stockholm rain 15 for Wednesday.
Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
KIDS ENJOY JAPANESE VERSION OF TRICK-OR-TREATING
And one last story before we go. Children on an island in southwestern Japan and Nagasaki Prefecture marks the mid autumn harvest moon with a local costume going door to door collecting sweet potatoes and treats.The tradition has been passed down for many years and Tomie town in Goto City children visit homes chanting imua manda kana, which means are the potatoes ready? The event is sometimes referred to as the goto version of Halloween trick or treating.
(Japanese)
Children visited houses and shops after school on Monday. They quickly filled up their backup backpacks and bags with sweet potatoes and treats.
(Japanese)
There are some children I haven't even seen in a year that have come visit me. I'm happy.
(Japanese)
All right, that wraps up this edition of NHK Newsline. I'm Yamaguchi Hiroaki in Tokyo. Thanks for watching.
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