Welcome to NHK NewsLine. I'm Morishita Erika in Tokyo.
RESIDENTS ORDERED TO EVACUATE NEAR QUAKE-DAMAGED TOWER
A city in northeastern Japan's Aomori Prefecture has ordered residents near a large tower to evacuate.
A major earthquake that hit the region this week damaged the structure.
The tower is on the roof of NTT East Building in Hachinohe City.
It stretches about 70 meters.
On Thursday, municipal officials ordered 48 households to leave the area.
In the city, Monday's earthquake recorded an intensity of upper 6 on the Japanese seismic scale of 0 to 7.
The company says detailed examinations showed one of the tower's four pillars had been broken and multiple bolts had come off.
I live near the tower.
If this were to collapse, it would depend on where it falls, but it is a little scary.
A section of about one kilometer of a national route near the site has also been closed.
City officials say NTT estimates that the repair work will take at least three weeks.
They say they will consult with the firm about taking any action that may be needed.
Meanwhile, Japan's meteorological agency says a front and low-pressure system are bringing rain and snow to areas hit by the quake.
They include areas in the prefecture and southern Hokkaido.
Officials advise caution as the quake may have loosened soil in places.
Forecasters say a winter pressure pattern may bring heavy snow to some areas Thursday night and Friday.
US SEIZES OIL TANKER OFF VENEZUELA COAST
US President Donald Trump says his country has seized an oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast.
This comes as his administration ramps up military pressure on the South American country over alleged drug trafficking.
00:02:20 話者 2
We've just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela, a large tanker, very large.
00:02:28 話者 1
Attorney General Pam Bondi later posted footage of the seizure on social media.
She said the operation was conducted by the FBI and several other US government entities.
Bondi said the tanker had been sanctioned for its alleged involvement in an illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations.
Reuters news agency reported that going after the oil tanker could signal new efforts by the US to disrupt Venezuela's main source of revenue.
The Trump administration says it views smuggling large quantities of illegal drugs as an act of terrorism.
The US military has repeatedly struck boats said to be carrying them.
Trump was asked about Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in an interview with US
media outlet Politico, released on Tuesday.
Trump replied, His days are numbered.
US COULD ASK FOR SOCIAL MEDIA DATA FROM FOREIGN TOURISTS
Next, the US is considering a requirement for international travelers taking part in a visa waiver program to submit more personal information.
This would include data on their social media accounts.
The proposal comes as President Trump steps up his efforts to tighten immigration policy.
We want to make sure we're not letting the wrong people come into our country.
The US currently waives visa applications for travelers from eligible countries and regions if they are approved by the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or ESTA program.
The Department of Homeland Security unveiled the new conditions on Wednesday.
ESTA applicants would be required to provide information on social media accounts they have used over the past five years.
They would also need to use a specific app to submit a photograph of their face, and they would have to provide their family members places of birth and telephone numbers.
Media outlets have quoted experts as saying the new rules could have a chilling effect on free speech and affect tourism and other businesses.
Meanwhile, Trump also announced the launch of the so-called Trump Gold Card.
He said it will allow foreigners who pay a contribution of $1 million and a $15,000 processing fee to receive US residency in record time.
TAKAICHI THIRD ON FORBES 100 MOST POWERFUL WOMEN LIST
US business magazine Forbes has released its list of the world's 100 most powerful women of 2025, and Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has come in at number three.
Forbes says it bases the ranking on four main metrics: money, media, impact, and influence.
It knows Takaichi is the first woman to become Prime Minister of Japan, governing a nation with a $4.2 trillion economy.
It says Takaichi will have to grapple with issues like semiconductor security, defense, and demographic changes.
It also stresses her decisions will shape East Asian power dynamics and global manufacturing stability.
Topping the list again is European Commission President Oslo von der Leyen, followed by European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni ranks fourth, and Mexican President Claudia Schoenborn fifth.
Women on the list play active roles in a variety of fields, including information technology and finance.
But Forbes notes the highest tiers of power remain selectively guarded, and differences still remain from men in the top positions.
NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER MACHADO ARRIVES IN OSLO
Maria Corina Machado, the winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize, has arrived in Norway.
The Venezuelan opposition leader emerged from hiding for the occasion.
Machado greeted supporters early Thursday morning from a hotel balcony in Oslo.
However, Machado arrived too late to accept her award.
Her daughter attended the ceremony instead and spoke on her mother's behalf.
00:07:26 話者 3
It reminds the world that democracy is essential to peace.
And more than anything, what we Venezuelans can offer the world is the lesson forged through this long and difficult journey, that to have democracy, we must be willing to fight for freedom.
00:07:51 話者 1
The speech was written by Machado.
In it, she accuses President Nicolas Maduro's government of state terrorism.
She claims it was deployed to bury the will of the people.
The UN's Human Rights Office says Venezuelan authorities have detained more than 2,400 people since his election, and the opposition says that includes over 150 children.
People around the city gathered to watch the ceremony.
It was fantastic and unity and diversity and I have really lived it and the way I did it, you know, by unite Venezuela and abroad inside the country and it was just amazing.
Machado is expected to hold a news conference with the Norwegian prime minister later on Thursday.
JAPANESE WINNERS ATTEND NOBEL PRIZE AWARD CEREMONY
Across the border in Stockholm, a pair of Japanese scientists are also being honored.
They received their Nobel Prizes at an awards ceremony in Sweden.
The event was held Wednesday at the concert hall.
Kitagawa Susumu of Kyoto University is one of the three winners of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
You have made groundbreaking discoveries in chemistry that have led to the development of metal-organic frameworks.
This is a truly great achievement for the benefit of humankind.
Kitagawa was honored alongside his two fellow laureates, Richard Robson and Omar Yagi.
King Carl XVI Gustav presented their medals.
The other Japanese laureate is Sakaguchi Shimon of the University of Osaka.
He is one of the three winners of the Nobel in Physiology or Medicine.
Their work opens new avenues to treat autoimmune diseases, enhance cancer immunotherapy, and promote transplant tolerance.
Sakaguchi also received his medal from the king.
He was honored alongside Mary Brunco and Fred Rumsdale.
After the ceremony, Sakaguchi told reporters he felt honored to hear the audience's applause.
He said he's delighted because it's a special day in his life.
Sakaguchi and Kitagawa then attended a banquet for the loliats,
About 1,300 people, including members of the Swedish royal family, took part.
Later, the two Japanese laureates will speak at the news conference.
They will also attend another banquet, this time held by the Swedish royal court on Thursday.
BUSINESS
Now, let's see what's happening in the world of business.
Here's Ramin Mellegard from the BizDesk.
00:10:56 話者 2
Thank you very much indeed.
JAPAN EV MOTOR MAKERS WORK TO CUT NEED FOR CRITICAL MINERALS
Now, Japanese auto parts makers are working to develop electric vehicle motors that depend less on critical minerals.
Supply chains of this key material are dominated by China.
Parts maker Astemo says it has succeeded in making a motor just as powerful as conventional ones by adopting iron-based magnets.
Normally, magnets in high-performance motors use a rare earth called neodymium to increase power output.
China is the world's largest supplier.
Astemo hopes to mass produce its new motor by around 2030.
Development head Takahashi Akeshi says there has always been a risk in procuring critical
minerals, he adds that production is likely to continue to be dominated by certain countries.
We are on a mission to deliver high-performance motors at any time.
We have been developing this motor as a way to achieve that goal.
Finance ministers in the Group of Seven countries issued a joint statement following their talks earlier this week.
They expressed concerns over policies and practices that disrupt supply chains of critical minerals in an apparent reference to China.
CREATIVE FIELDS GET AI HELP, INSPIRATION
Artificial intelligence is moving into work that has traditionally relied on human experience and inspiration.
Copywriting, package design, and other creative fields are already tapping the power of AI.
We visit the forefront of this shift.
00:12:36 話者 4
At a design firm in Tokyo, a manufacturer of baby products shared feedback on their new lineup.
The packaging for this baby food was designed with help from AI.
Prompts explained that the concept for the product included richness and affection.
And the AI proposed these images.
The development team at the baby product company selected one of the options, then the designers made revisions.
00:13:06 話者 5
The concept was a mother wanting to give her child vegetables with love, and this perfectly matched the feeling I wanted to convey.
00:13:15 話者 4
The design firm says it is getting more requests from clients to use AI.
A key factor is speed.
AI can take a prompt asking for a coffee bean package with a few keywords and within minutes deliver four different designs.
00:13:34 話者 5
It used to take two weeks to produce five or ten designs.
Now we can generate 100 designs in one week or even three days.
00:13:45 話者 4
The time saved by using AI allows designers to refine the artwork, check copyright issues, and improve product concepts.
Another field using AI is advertising.
One of Japan's major agencies is getting inspiration from the technology to write copy.
00:14:07 話者 6
For example, if we take the word 'night', we explore the words surrounding it.
00:14:12 話者 4
The company trains AI on its copywriting methods using past successes.
Then, word association is used to generate fresh, innovative advertising copy.
00:14:24 話者 6
Enter the product information and what you want to convey to the AI, and it generates a catchphrase.
00:14:30 話者 4
When the AI is asked to come up with a catchphrase for a new detergent that delivers stunning whiteness, it suggests 100 options.
There is a lot of variety, from phrases that evoke laundry detergent to ones that don't have a direct connection to it.
00:14:51 話者 6
Some of the taglines are a bit hard to grasp.
Even if the overall copy sounds nice, without a clear message, it doesn't grab you.
00:15:00 話者 4
The firm is also using a different AI system to evaluate the generated copy rather than spending money on large-scale market surveys.
The system has created fictional people called Persona that critique new advertisements.
They are based on a huge number of past surveys.
One persona is asked to evaluate the tagline for detergent, whiter clothes and more to love.
The response is a bit reserved.
The persona gives 70 out of 100 points.
She says the soft image comes across, but says it should emphasize specific effects and benefits.
Each persona gives an objective evaluation based on data to explore options with a higher likelihood of success.
But the vast majority of AI-generated taglines don't fully capture the client's vision.
Only about 1% of suggestions are usable content.
00:16:01 話者 6
The ability to judge whether something created by AI has potential or not is incredibly important.
I think we're entering an era where humans will increasingly need to focus on that.
NIKKEI 225 FALLS ON STRONGER YEN AFTER FED RATE CUT
00:16:15 話者 2
Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 stock index fell 0.9% on Thursday.
Many investors sold export-related shares on the stronger yen.
That followed the US Federal Reserve's decision to cut its key rate.
MARKETS
Okay, now let's take a look at currencies as well.
♪
And that is it for business news.
IN FOCUS
00:16:52 話者 1
Next, we join Shibuya Aki for Newsa In Focus.
She has a report concerning women's rights in Iran.
IRANIAN WOMEN DEFY MOTORCYCLE BAN
00:17:00 話者 7
In Iran, motorcycles are gaining in popularity as opposed to owning cars, which have become costly due to US sanctions that have driven up prices across the country.
Also, bad traffic is another factor behind people choosing 2 wheels over 4.
Sales of bikes have nearly doubled since 2020.
Iranian women can get a license to drive a car, but they are banned from obtaining a motorcycle license.
One of the reasons for this is that many hardliners in the country believe a woman astride a motorbike is inappropriate by Islamic standards, as being exposed to wind may lead to the excessive display of her beauty.
But there's a noticeable presence of more women hitting the road on their bikes.
Could this be a sign of a shift in social attitudes?
Well, here's a report from Tehran.
00:17:57 話者 5
Tehran, Iran's capital, suffers traffic jams every day.
More and more people are using motorcycles to beat the gridlock.
Elmira Salehi Nassab is a tattoo artist here and has been using a motorcycle for the past three years.
Previously, she would take a taxi to buy work supplies.
Now, she rides a motorcycle, which, she says, saves her time and money.
00:18:44 話者 4
Without my motorcycle, I would have to find a taxi and wait a long time for one after shopping.
00:18:53 話者 5
Iranian women can drive, but US sanctions are pushing up car prices.
Salehi Nassab bought a motorcycle for half the price of a new car.
00:19:07 話者 4
So many women around the world ride motorcycles.
I don't understand why we can't get a license.
00:19:16 話者 5
The number of women riding motorcycles is rising.
Motorcycle industry groups say the figure has doubled over the past 10 years.
Although many women ride without a license, police rarely stop them and are effectively tolerated.
Many Iranians expressed acceptance of women riding motorcycles.
Women should have licenses as long as they follow the law.
Those who don't allow women to have licenses are outdated and only look to the past.
One factor cited for the shift in public sentiment is the massive protests that erupted in Iran three years ago.
Activism spread nationwide in reaction to the death of a woman arrested for improperly wearing a hijab.
Iranian women have become more present on a number of social issues.
They are more confident in expressing their demands.
Befnaz Shafi has been fighting for more than 10 years for women to have the right to ride motorcycles.
She's been active as a motorbike racer in competitions around the world.
In addition, she's been organizing women's motorcycle competitions in Iran to help women discover the joys of motorcycles.
It was Shafiyi who taught Salehi Nassab how to ride a motorbike.
She believes that social awareness has greatly changed over the past few years, and that more women will be riding motorcycles in the future.
00:21:19 話者 4
Men are beginning to respect women.
It's becoming a cultural thing for women to ride motorbikes.
00:21:26 話者 5
However, riding without a license places a heavy burden on women.
Salehi Nassad has never been stopped by the police, but she says she rides with a sense of dread.
00:21:45 話者 4
If I get into an accident without a license and I'm at fault, it could be a crime and I could go to jail.
00:21:57 話者 5
As women can't obtain a motorcycle license, they lack the opportunity to take formal driving lessons.
This increases the danger of accidents, and crashes involving women are on the rise.
Furthermore, because women are unable to buy insurance, they risk financial losses in the event of an accident.
Shafi has long been calling for women to have the right to obtain a motorcycle license.
She wants to lobby the government and politicians for safety reasons.
00:22:36 話者 4
The law should be applied equally, and people should be able to make their own decisions.
Parliamentarians should look at what people want, not what they like or dislike.
00:22:51 話者 7
Women on motorcycles riding without a license is effectively tolerated.
So what's behind the government's refusal to issue licenses?
We asked Farzaneh Ardestani over Tehran Bureau, who covered the story.
00:23:07 話者 3
The government says it is considering issuing motorcycle licenses to women.
The Vice President for Women's Affairs recently stated that there is no law prohibiting the issuance of motorcycle licenses to women.
However, parliament is dominated by hardline conservatives who favor Islamic governance.
Many of these lawmakers are cautious about issuing licenses to women.
For this reason, if a will be introduced, it is unlikely it will pass.
Experts say that if this right is not recognized, the gap will widen between the people and the governments, potentially leading to social instability.
The issue will be closely watched.
as it may affect not only the status and rights of women, but also the government's relationship with the Iranian people.
00:24:01 話者 7
And that was Farzaneh Odestani from NHK World's Tehran Bureau.
That's all from me.
WEATHER
00:24:37 話者 1
Now, let's check out the world weather. Prolonged rain has caused disruptions in the US
Northwest. Our meteorologist, Yumi Hirano, has the details.
00:24:48 話者 8
Moisture flow from the Pacific has produced downpours in the northwest.
Washington state is experiencing severe flooding.
Waves of heavy rain brought historic flooding to the state of Washington this week, prompting an emergency declaration.
Some river monitoring stations already reached their highest levels on record.
By Wednesday, more than 380 millimeters of rain had fallen in part of the state.
The governor said 300 National Guard members would be ready to respond to requests for help by Thursday. A cold front is expected to intensify the downpours on Thursday.
More rain could lead to additional flooding.
Further east, another system is bringing winter weather to the Great Lakes region and the northeast. Heavy snow and blizzard conditions are likely.
Snow is also expected in New York and Toronto. Seattle will see another day of wet weather, but sunny skies are expected in L.A. with a high of 29.
Moving to Japan, a cold front is bringing intense downpours and lightning to the Sea of Japan side on Thursday.
Behind the system, strong cold air is coming in.
so heavy snow and blizzard conditions are likely in northern Japan.
Up to 50 centimeters in Hokkaido and up to 70 centimeters in Tohoku is possible by Friday evening. Tokyo will stay on the sunny side, but the high will drop to only 10.
Cold air is also affecting other parts of northeast Asia, so Beijing will see heavy snow of up to 5 centimeters. The temperature in Ulaanbaatar will be only -17.
That's all for now. Stay warm.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
00:27:41 話者 1
That's all for this edition of NHK Newsline. I'm Morishita Erika in Tokyo.
Thank you for joining us.
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