Glad to have you with us on NHK Newsline. I'm Yuko Fukushima.
HONG KONG COURT CONVICTS PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVIST JIMMY LAI
Hong Kong's high court has found pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai guilty under the territory's national security law. The court handed down the verdict on Monday.
It found Lai guilty of colluding with foreign forces to endanger China's security.
Lai is likely to face harsh punishment.
Beijing sees the 78-year-old as a key figure in Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement.
Lai is the founder of the Apple Daily newspaper known for publishing articles critical of the Chinese government.
The paper was forced to shut down in 2021 after authorities arrested executives, including Lai, and froze its assets.
Prosecutors accused Lai of using Apple Daily as a platform to call on foreign countries to impose sanctions on China and Hong Kong.
Lai has denied all charges, saying he merely exercised his freedom of expression.
MEDIA: ALLEGED SYDNEY SHOOTER HAD TIES TO ISLAMIC STATE
Violence in Australia over the weekend has left more than a dozen people dead.
Police say a shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach killed 16 people, including one of the attackers. More than 40 others were injured.
The shooting happened around 7 p.m. local time Sunday, when Jewish community members were celebrating the start of the Hanukkah festival.
The beach was crowded with families at the time.
Police say a father and son were behind the massacre.
Authorities say the 50-year-old father was killed.
His 24-year-old son is in custody and is undergoing treatment at a hospital.
Local media is reporting he allegedly has connections to the extremist Islamic State group.
They say authorities discovered an IS flag inside the suspect's vehicle.
Atop Australian intelligence, officials said one of the suspected shooters was known to authorities.
Police are investigating the incident as a terrorist attack targeting the Jewish community.
People are gathering at a square near the site to lay flowers for the victims.
00:02:28 話者 2
It's very moving. Everyone's very moved. Yeah, you know, the suggestion is to contact all of our Jewish friends, you know, to say we're thinking of you.
00:02:39 話者 1
US President Donald Trump expressed his condolences to the victims and their families.
00:02:46 話者 2
That was an anti-Semitic attack, obviously. And I just want to pay my respects to everybody.
00:02:55 話者 1
Australia has seen a rise in anti-Semitic incidents since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out in 2023.
Australian police launched an anti-Semitism task force December last year to deal with crimes such as graffiti and arson at Jewish restaurants and places of worship.
POLICE RELEASE BROWN MASS SHOOTING 'PERSON OF INTEREST'
Now turning to the US, police are still searching for a shooter who opened fire during exams at Brown University over the weekend. Authorities had detained a person of interest, but now say that individual is being released without charge.
00:03:29 話者 2
Certainly, there was some degree of evidence that pointed to this individual, but that evidence needed to be corroborated and confirmed.
And over the last 24 hours, leading into just very, very recently, that evidence now points in a different direction.
00:03:48 話者 1
The attack happened at the Ivy League school in Providence, Rhode Island on Saturday evening.
The city's mayor confirmed two students were killed and nine others were injured.
University officials say the shooting happened inside a classroom while students were taking their final exams. The building's front door had been left unlocked.
Brown's website says it has about 10,000 students.
Over 1/4 are international students from 129 countries.
Police say they're following every lead to bring the attacker to justice.
DANGER REMAINS AFTER MAGNITUDE 7.5 QUAKE
Scientists are still warning people to remain on alert after a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck northern Japan last week.
In the hardest-hit areas, the quake registered an intensity of upper six on the Japanese scale of zero to seven.
Seismic activity continued throughout the week, with a magnitude 6.9 earthquake striking the region on Friday.
After the December 8th quake, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued an advisory that warned about the risk of further tremors.
That's set to be lifted by end of day Monday, but the agency says that doesn't mean the possibility of another earthquake is over.
Hazardous winter road conditions could delay evacuations, and the agency is still urging people to review evacuation sites and routes.
Residents should also anchor their furniture, stock up on food and water, and ensure they have an adequate supply of medications.
Tohoku University's professor Toda Shinji warns that a quake is more likely to occur east of the epicenter area.
00:05:36 話者 3
The possibility of a massive earthquake occurring gradually decreases, but a very large earthquake may occur one month later or even one year later.
It's important to remain vigilant.
FAKE NEWS FLOODS ONLINE FEEDS AFTER RECENT QUAKE
00:05:48 話者 1
Authorities are also urging people not to fall for misinformation.
Since last week's quake, fake news has been spreading rapidly online.
Many posts were made using generative AI. This fake video is one example.
It's been viewed more than 20,000 times on TikTok.
But both the newscaster and the alleged tsunami are completely fake.
They were made using AI. The post was later deleted.
Some videos also make wildly unscientific claims.
This one falsely suggests solar flares could trigger a massive earthquake.
It has been played more than 720,000 times on YouTube.
The misinformation isn't limited to video.
A post claiming there would be an earthquake on December 8th was widely shared on X.
Many commentators claimed it foresaw last week's quake.
But the account makes baseless earthquake predictions every day.
Any overlap is purely A coincidence. The JMA says scientifically no one can predict an earthquake down to the exact date, place and scale.
It says anyone claiming they can is spreading false information.
ANALYSIS: HOW AND WHY FAKE NEWS SPREADS AFTER DISASTERS
Now for more on this, earlier I spoke with NHK World senior correspondent Yabuuchi Junya. He has been following this phenomenon.
Junya, why do people make these kind of posts?
00:07:16 話者 4
There are two big reasons why. For starters, some people just want the attention.
During disasters, the public is desperate for information.
It is a golden opportunity for those who want to get followers or responses.
The other reason is for money.
Right now, some social media sites have a profit system in place.
On X, for example, the more views a post gets, the more revenue the users can receive.
That's why some people make fake news knowing it will get a lot of attention.
Some may even rely on direct scams.
Often, they pretend to be disaster victims online to ask users for money.
00:08:03 話者 1
Right, so we mentioned some examples of fake news earlier, what have you been seeing?
00:08:08 話者 4
Like you said, videos made using generative AI are everywhere.
It's not a new trend, but it is changing. AI videos have been around for years.
We've seen them used after disasters before, but they never looked so real.
Until recently, it was relatively easy to identify a fake video.
AI used to struggle with certain features and details.
but the technology has improved rapidly. Now, it is difficult to tell AI video from a real one.
00:08:45 話者 1
Then what should we do when we come across these fake posts?
00:08:49 話者 4
Well, the first thing is to remember is that these fakes play on your emotions.
Many people are on edge after a disaster.
That makes it easy for these anxiety-inducing posts to spread online.
So if you see a post that stirs up your emotions, stop and take a breath.
Then look at who posted, what kind of things do they usually say.
Remember that anyone can be fooled by fake news, especially AI videos.
So if you don't know where the information comes from, don't share it.
When in doubt, look at what public institutions and trusted media are saying.
That is the best way to fight back against fake news.
BUSINESS
00:09:48 話者 1
Now let's go to Gene Otani for the latest in business. Gene.
00:09:52 話者 5
Yuko, thanks. In our top business story this hour,
TANKAN: MOOD SLIGHTLY IMPROVES AT JAPAN'S MAJOR MANUFACTURERS
a closely watched survey of business sentiment in Japan shows a slight improvement among major manufacturers. The positive data arrived just days before central bank policymakers decide on interest rates.
The Bank of Japan's latest Tonkan survey was released on Monday. The sentiment index for large manufacturers came in at plus 15, up for the third straight quarter.
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 in nine of the 16 manufacturing sectors monitored.
That includes the electrical machinery and processed metals sectors.
More clarity on the trade front helped lift the boot at many exporters after Japan and the US reached an agreement on tariffs. Robust investments in semiconductors and artificial intelligence were another contributing factor.
Meanwhile, the sentiment index for large non-manufacturers is unchanged from the previous survey.
The index fell for information services, goods rental, and leasing.
Accommodation, eating, and drinking services were also down.
Looking ahead now, the sentiment for the next three months shows many businesses are cautious.
Confidence at large manufacturers is forecast to remain at the current level of +15.
It's projected to decline 6 points to 28 for non-manufacturers.
Many companies are concerned about the worsening relationship between Japan and China. Fewer tourists from that country could hit inbound demand.
The latest Tonkan survey appears to show that economic sentiment remains solid.
That's despite rising costs at companies, including for raw materials.
The BOJ will hold a two-day monetary policy meeting from Thursday.
The Tonkan survey is expected to play a role in deciding whether policymakers raise interest rates.
CHINA RETAIL SALES, INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT SEE SLOWER GROWTH
China posted slower growth in both consumption and production in November.
Investment in the country's struggling property sector also took a deeper dive.
The National Bureau of Statistics stated on Monday that retail sales grew 1.3% from a year earlier. But growth was down from 2.9% in October, with consumers turning increasingly budget-conscious.
A similar pattern was seen in industrial output, which grew 4.8% year-on-year but slowed down from October, due in part to the impact of US tariffs.
Investment in real estate development for the 11 months through November was down 15.9% from the same period last year.
New home prices dropped in nearly 60 of China's 70 major cities.
The Chinese leadership under President Xi Jinping decided at a key policy meeting last week to place top priority on boosting domestic demand next year.
But economic data point to increasing uncertainties ahead.
ROOMBA VACUUM CLEANER MAKER FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY
The struggling US maker of the Roomba robot vacuum cleaner has filed for bankruptcy protection.
Fierce competition in the smart appliance sector has taken a toll on the company's finances.
Massachusetts-based iRobot announced on Sunday that it has started a Chapter 11 process in a US court.
The company says it will be acquired by its main contract manufacturer located in China.
The new owner will be responsible for cleaning up its balance sheet.
In 2022, iRobot agreed to become a group firm of Amazon.
This was part of efforts by the e-commerce giant to expand its home appliance operations.
But the deal fell apart in January last year amid uncertainty about whether regulators would give the green light.
Negotiations with other potential buyers failed to make progress. The robotic appliance maker announced in October that the last candidate had backed out.
iRobot originally made robots for mine removal and other purposes.
It rolled out the Roomba vacuum cleaner in 2002, and the product became a big hit in a number of countries, including Japan.
NISSAN TESTS SELF-DRIVING CARS WITH PASSENGERS
Japan's Nissan motor is now testing self-driving cars on public roads near Tokyo.
With passengers on board, the firm aims to launch its autonomous public transportation service amid a growing scarcity of professional drivers.
About 300 people are taking part. They can hail a ride with an app by specifying a pickup point and a destination from designated locations.
Artificial intelligence controls the vehicles based on information about the roads and traffic captured by sensors.
System operators in a control room monitor the location and the inside of the vehicles.
Nissan's development team says driver shortages in Japan are a challenge.
00:15:47 話者 3
These issues will become more serious. We aim to prepare cars and services ahead of time and make sure we can run our business on our own.
00:15:58 話者 5
For now, drivers sit behind the wheel in standby mode, but Nissan is aiming for fully automated operations in fiscal 2027, mainly for local governments.
MARKETS
All right, let's have a look at the markets.
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And that's it for Business News.
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ZELENSKYY: KYIV COULD COMPROMISE ON SECURITY GUARANTEES
00:17:02 話者 1
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reportedly indicated Kyiv may be ready to compromise on security guarantees, as its bid to join NATO does not have support.
Reuters report said Zelenskyy made the comment before a meeting with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The meeting took place in Berlin on Sunday.
Zelenskyy reportedly said he's seeking guarantees like NATO's Article 5 from the US, European partners and other countries such as Canada and Japan.
He said that would be an opportunity to prevent another Russian invasion.
He added this is a compromise on Ukraine's part as it wanted to join NATO from the beginning. But the US and others did not support this.
German media report that Zelenskyy is scheduled to discuss peace proposals on Monday with European leaders, including Germany's chancellor.
ISRAEL KILLS HAMAS OFFICIAL AFTER ATTACK ON FORCES IN GAZA
Israel says it has killed a senior Hamas official in response to an attack on its forces in the Gaza Strip. The Islamic group confirmed the killing.
An official said Israel's targeting of members of the group threatens the viability of a ceasefire deal between the two sides.
He called on the United States and other mediators to demand Israel respect the terms of the agreement.
Israel's prime minister and defense minister released a joint statement on Saturday.
They said that they had directed the elimination of the Hamas official in response to the detonation of an explosive device that wounded Israeli military personnel in Gaza.
Israeli forces have been launching sporadic attacks on the enclave even after the ceasefire took effect in October. They say Hamas has violated the agreement.
Gaza officials say the death toll there since the start of the ceasefire has surpassed 390.
JAPAN'S LAST PANDAS SET TO RETURN TO CHINA NEXT MONTH
Well, Japan's zoos are soon expected to have no giant pandas for the first time in more than half a century.
Sources say the last two, four-year-old twins living at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo are expected to go back to China in late January.
The deadline for returning the two, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, is in February of next year.
The Tokyo metropolitan government has been discussing the timing of the move with China. The pair are the last two giant pandas in Japan.
after four others in western Japan's Wakayama Prefecture were returned to China in June.
The first ones arrived in 1972 to commemorate the normalization of diplomatic ties between Japan and China.
SQUID SELLER'S CALL STILL SOUNDS IN HAKODATE
The city of Hakodate, in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido, is famous for squid. And the freshly caught delicacy has long been considered a breakfast treat.
In our next report, we follow a squid seller who's keeping a rare custom alive.
00:20:21 話者 6
Late fall brings bitterly cold mornings to Hakodate, and you can hear the squid seller's call. 82-year-old Kawamura Yoshimi sells squid direct from his truck.
1,800 yen is about $12.00.
00:20:52 話者 3
This regular customer always buys 2 squid. Good thing it didn't snow.
It would have been tough.
00:21:02 話者 6
The distinctive call of the squid seller.
Eating freshly caught Japanese flying squid first thing in the morning.
Once a daily ritual in Hakodate. Kawamura's day begins at 4.30 a.m.
00:21:22 話者 3
I pray for the health of my entire family and for my business to thrive.
00:21:28 話者 6
Kawumura and his wife drive two light trucks to make the rounds in the neighborhood.
They have been doing this for about 40 years. But squid catches are decreasing year by year, and squid sellers are vanishing from the scene.
00:21:57 話者 2
I can't relax or enjoy myself much. I'm just focused on selling squid.
00:22:08 話者 6
They face new problems, too. As the custom of eating squid in the morning fades, complaints about their calls have also started coming in.
Kawamura has been lowering the volume and cutting back on his calls.
00:22:30 話者 3
I'm really at a loss. The calls probably aren't good for sick people or those feeling unwell.
This is a difficult situation.
00:22:43 話者 6
But he and his wife keep going.
Because some devoted customers still want to eat the freshest squid in the morning.
00:22:52 話者 2
My husband and I each drive our own truck, going wherever we want to talk with customers. Most don't come just to buy squid anymore.
They also enjoy a good chat. We're all like family.
00:23:08 話者 9
The squid is fresh, and he's very nice.
00:23:12 話者 7
I hope he keeps going with his call. I hope this special custom will continue.
00:23:19 話者 6
Kawamura and his wife take a break during Hakodate's snowy winter.
But come June, their cries will echo through the streets again.
WEATHER
00:23:32 話者 1
It's time to check on the weather with our meteorologist, Jonathan Oh, so Jonathan, it's been quite a winter wonderland across northern parts of Japan. What can you tell us?
00:23:43 話者 7
Hello, as we went over the weekend, a low pressure system was moving its way across Hokkaido and the northern portions of the country.
And when we see this type of pattern during the winter with the northwesterly flow, that can really crank up the snow machine and just completely cover the area in white.
Here's a look at some video to give you an idea of the situation on the ground.
Winter's in full force for those in eastern Hokkaido as a heavy dump of snow from a blizzard battered the area Monday.
In Kitami City, about 2,100 households were without power as of 3 p.m. Monday.
The local electric company says it may take some time for the power to be restored.
In Abashiri City, wind gusts, you can see right there the impacts of that reaching up to 120 kilometers per hour. The heavy wet snow also bringing down some power lines.
In addition to harsh winter conditions, making it difficult for people to travel in the area.
Now that low pressure system that's the instigator of this weather is pushing off toward the east.
So we'll see a little bit of the relaxing.
Can't completely rule out the precipitation, but at least things will start to calm down a little bit.
High pressure coming in from the West, and that should help to also keep things relatively dry across the Pacific side of the country.
Now, we are looking at snow to return back into Sapporo by Wednesday, though, and the temperatures dropping off. Tokyo, Osaka, low teens for the high on Tuesday.
Rain comes into the picture for western portions of Japan as we head into Wednesday.
Speaking of some chilly, frigid weather, overnight lows into Monday morning down to the deep south, way below freezing, hard freezes taking place.
That will moderate as you go through the middle of the week, but up to the north.
Plenty of snow to talk on places like New York, Toronto, a high of -4 in Chicago.
Pacific Northwest has been hit with a lot of rain.
More of that in the forecast as we go through Monday.
Looking at what's happening across Europe toward the north, cold front trying to push on through high pressure into the center portions of the continent.
That's to keep things relatively dry from Warsaw into Vienna.
Rain on the west side of that with temperatures in the low teens for Paris and Rome as we go through Monday.
Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
JAPAN POST BEGINS ACCEPTING NEW YEAR'S GREETING CARDS
00:26:25 話者 1
So this is the time of year when Japanese start sending out millions of greeting cards.
Their goal is to deliver them on January 1.
And the business at the center of this precisely timed operation is Japan Post.
The cherished mailing tradition kicked off on Monday.
Kindergarten children took part in an event to announce the post offices will start accepting New Year's greeting cards.
The rise of social media has eroded demand for this service.
Japan Post expects a hike in the price for sending cards in October last year will lead to a further loss of business.
The company will initially issue some 750 million cards.
That's a record low and down about 30 percent from last year and the largest decline since 2004, when comparable data became available.
00:27:16 話者 3
I send fewer cards than before because I don't know some mailing addresses.
Personal information is protected nowadays.
00:27:23 話者 6
It's a good custom, so I don't want to stop sending New Year's cards.
00:27:29 話者 1
Japan Post is calling on people to mail their cards by December 25th to ensure delivery on New Year's Day.
And that's it for this hour on NHK News Online. I'm Yuko Fukushima. Thanks for joining us.
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