Welcome back to NHK Newsline. Here's the latest we have for you at this hour.
DELCY RODRIGUEZ SWORN IN AS VENEZUELA'S INTERIM PRESIDENT
Delcy Rodriguez has been sworn in as Venezuela's interim president.
She served as the country's vice president under deposed leader Nicolas Maduro.
Rodriguez said it pains her to think of Maduro and his wife, who are currently in custody in New York. The pair were captured in a US military operation two days ago.
00:00:38 話者 11
We swear to move forward as one country to bring Venezuela out of this terrible hour of threat to the stability and peace of the nation.
00:00:48 話者 1
Maduro's son is a member of the National Assembly.
He and foreign diplomats attended the ceremony in an apparent display of unity.
MADURO PLEADS NOT GUILTY IN COURT APPEARANCE
Meanwhile, Maduro made his first appearance in a federal court in New York.
He pleaded not guilty and found the judge and told the judge he is innocent.
He also insisted he still remains the president of his country.
Reuters news agency is reporting that the Venezuelan government issued a state of emergency after Maduro's capture.
The decree orders police to search and arrest all those involved in supporting the US
military operation.
Questions remain about the legality of Maduro's capture and US President Donald Trump's ultimate goals.
TRUMP'S VENEZUELA GAMBIT TESTS RULES-BASED GLOBAL ORDER
Earlier, I spoke with NHK World's senior international correspondent Ishii Yusaku for more on this.
Yusaku Maduro has been characterized by many Western countries as a dictator, but how does his capture by the United States fit into international law?
00:01:50 話者 2
Well, I think there are two separate issues here, Maduro's governance and the US action itself. And as you said, Maduro has been criticized for ruling as a authoritarian.
International monitors suspect he manipulated the result of the 2024 presidential election to stay in power.
And he's allegedly involved in drug trafficking operations into the United States.
And yet, we have just watched one country, the United States, send its forces into another sovereign nation to detain the leader for US domestic charges.
And on Monday, Washington's UN ambassador offered this justification.
00:02:38 話者 3
He was an illegitimate, so-called president. He was not a head of state.
Millions of Venezuelans that have fled this brutal regime are celebrating and cheering around the world.
00:02:55 話者 2
This came after the US was criticized by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres himself.
I hear his statement delivered by his undersecretary.
00:03:07 話者 4
I remain deeply concerned that rules of international law have not been respected with regard to the 3 January military action.
The Charter enshrines the prohibition of the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.
00:03:28 話者 2
And China and Russia have condemned what happened. And so did France and other countries that are close to the United States and have been critical of Madrila.
There is a clear concern among the international community that we have entered a dangerous moment.
00:03:45 話者 1
Right. Well, you've been covering the US President Donald Trump since his first term.
Where does this all fit into his America First policy?
00:03:55 話者 2
The answer lies in the Trump administration's national security strategy released last month.
It outlines a wide range of policies, but one phrase appears repeatedly, the Western Hemisphere.
00:04:10 話者 1
Right, well, which encompasses North and South America.
We've also been hearing about the Monroe Doctrine.
00:04:17 話者 2
That's right, Minori, and this goes back just over 200 years.
Then President James Monroe proclaimed non-interference between his country and the European powers in their respective sphere of influence.
For the United States, this was defined as all of the Americas.
And Trump has invoked this idea, giving it his own twist.
00:04:46 話者 10
The Monroe Doctrine is a big deal, but we've superseded it by a lot.
By a real lot, they now call it the Donroe document.
American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again.
00:05:04 話者 2
Trump has also taken a tough stance toward Colombia and Cuba and has suggested that the US should take ownership of Greenland and the Panama Canal.
He's asserting that all governments under his sphere of influence should be friendly or suffer consequences.
And this could be seen as a message to other powers, such as China and Russia, that use of force to change the status quo can be justified within their spheres.
00:05:37 話者 1
What does this mean for the Venezuelans?
00:05:42 話者 2
We do not know yet, but Trump says the US will run the country.
But he has shown little interest in promoting Venezuelan democracy.
He dismissed Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Colina Machado, claiming she lacks the support or respect to lead the country.
And for now, Venezuela is expected to be governed under interim President Rod Rodriguez.
We'll have to see how Trump's stated ambition to revitalize Benezuela's oil industry will move forward, or what that will mean for the country's economy.
And beyond this, Trump's move could roll back the US-led rules-based international orders that existed since after World War II.
This year will mark the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence, and US midterm elections are coming up this fall. This could be a year full of surprises.
JAPAN TO CLOSELY WATCH VENEZUELA DEVELOPMENTS
00:06:50 話者 1
Well, the Japanese government has refrained from offering a direct evaluation of the US
military operation in Venezuela, but it plans to keep a close watch on developments, including the responses of relevant countries.
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae spoke at a New Year's news conference on Monday.
00:07:11 話者 4
Japan will work closely with the Group of Seven members and other concerned nations, including neighboring countries, to advance diplomatic efforts to restore democracy and stabilize the situation in Venezuela.
00:07:27 話者 1
Takaichi did not assess the US operation.
She said Japan has always respected fundamental values and principles such as freedom, democracy and the rule of law.
Some foreign ministry officials have expressed concern that the actions taken by the Trump administration could give momentum to China's unilateral attempts to change the status quo.
The Japanese government has signaled that it aims to strengthen ties with the US and gain Trump's understanding of Japan's stance toward China.
LEADING FORECASTERS WARN OF 'US POLITICAL REVOLUTION'
Trump's recent actions have put a group of political forecasters on edge.
They say a political revolution led by the president himself is this year's biggest risk.
Officials at the US-based Eurasia Group have released their annual Top Risks report.
They say Trump is attempting to dismantle checks on his power, and they believe the United States is unwinding its own global order.
00:08:26 話者 5
It is about making rule of law apply less. It is about having direct control over the administrative state, control over the party, and not have checks and balances.
We would make a bet that the political revolution will eventually fail, not succeed.
But there's a lot of damage that will be done, much of which will be permanent.
00:08:45 話者 1
Trump did not just take top spot.
The forecasters say his so-called Don Roe Doctrine is this year's third biggest risk.
The report says Trump's military operation in Venezuela is the centerpiece of his new foreign policy.
The forecasters say the doctrine does not just seek to limit China, Russia, and Iran in the Western Hemisphere.
They say it also aims to assert American primacy through means, including Trump's personal score settling.
BUSINESS
Now let's see what's happening in the world of business.
Here's Ramin Mellegard from The Biz Desk.
00:09:22 話者 3
Thank you very much indeed.
JAPAN'S NIKKEI 225 CLOSES AT RECORD HIGH
Japan's Nikkei 225 stock index marked its highest ever close on Tuesday.
Investors bought a wide range of shares following an overnight rally in New York and on growing expectations for the expansion of the AI sector.
The Tokyo benchmark ended at 52,518, up 1.3%.
Analysts say investors are betting this year will bring economic growth and greater corporate performance.
They also say many market players are becoming more optimistic about the global economic outlook as equity indices in the US and Asia have been rising.
The Nikkei index said its previous record on October 31 last year.
It ended 2025 above the 50,000 mark for the first time.
It added nearly 3% on Monday, the first trading day of this year.
IMABARI SHIPBUILDING COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF JAPAN MARINE UNITED
Imabari Shipbuilding says it completed the acquisition of a controlling stake in Japan Marine United, or JMU, on Monday.
The acquisition will form Japan's largest shipbuilder to compete against international rivals.
Imabari says JMU is now a subsidiary after it gained a 60% stake in his former rival.
The company is expected to challenge Chinese and South Korean shipbuilders in the global market.
Imabari and JMU formed a capital and business alliance in ship design and sales as far back as 2021.
They announced the acquisition plan in June 2025, and their combined shipbuilding tonnage is the world's fourth largest.
00:10:59 話者 13
The 2 firms have the common view that to survive we must take on global competitors.
The acquisition will strengthen our competitive edge and enable swift business decisions.
00:11:13 話者 3
JMU President Hirose Takashi says he hopes the two companies will contribute to the country's economic security as well as employment.
Japan's government is adding support for the shipbuilding sector amid intensifying international competition.
RAIL FARES SET TO RISE IN JAPAN
Now, rail fares in Japan will rise in the coming months as operators seek to cover higher personnel and other costs.
The country's largest train operator, East Japan Railway, says its average fare will go up by 7% from March 14.
Seibu Railway is also raising ticket prices on March 14 by an average of almost 11%.
Its network covers parts of Tokyo and neighboring Saitama Prefecture.
On the same day, the average fare on the Tsukuba Express run by the Metropolitan Intercity Railway will increase by just over 12%.
It's the first fare hike since the line connecting Tokyo with cities in three prefectures opened in 2005.
In April, Nishi-Nippon Railroad in the western prefecture of Fukuoka will raise fares for the first time in 29 years.
Ticket prices are going up by more than 12% on average.
The operators cite the need to fund soaring labor costs as well as major facility upgrades put on hold during the coronavirus pandemic.
TAX-FREE SALES FALL AT MAJOR DEPARTMENT STORES IN JAPAN
Tax free sales to foreign visitors fell at four major department stores in Japan last month compared with a year earlier.
Now the operator cited the impact of the Chinese government's advisory to his nationals to refrain from traveling to Japan.
These stores released preliminary sales figures for December on Monday.
Daimaru Matsusaka Department Stores reported a decline of more than 16%.
Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings saw sales drop about 14%, while they fell 11% at Takashimaya.
Hankyu Hanshin department stores did not publish exact figures, but said sales fell about 20 percent.
The decline followed the Chinese government's call in November for its nationals to refrain from traveling to Japan.
Many Chinese usually visit Japan during the Lunar New Year holidays, which fall in February this year.
Some store officials expressed concern that sales may still be affected then.
EXPERT SEES RISING RISKS FOR 2026 US ECONOMY
Okay, up next, we take a look at the forecast for the US economy in 2026.
We asked a veteran in finance and investing to offer his view on opportunities and risks to growth in the coming year.
00:13:56 話者 4
US President Donald Trump has implemented some of the broadest trade tariffs on record while targeting working immigrants for deportation since taking office in January last year.
Joseph Kraft, CEO of Rorschach Advisory, says the US is at risk for rising inflation and unemployment, but those trends probably won't be enough to crash the economy.
00:14:20 話者 6
So I expect a soft landing scenario, but with some stagflation risks, meaning increasing upward pressure on inflation and unemployment.
On inflation, I think Trump tariffs coupled with supply chain disruptions, partly through geopolitical risks, will keep prices relatively higher, particularly on food items and natural resources such as metals and minerals.
00:14:50 話者 4
The US Consumer Price Index has held below 3% for most of 2025,
That's less than expectations that were based on Trump's policies.
But Kraft says that US consumers are sensitive to sharp gains in essential goods, where inflation is much higher.
The latest CPI data show coffee spiked 19% in November from a year earlier, while bananas rose 7% and beef 16%.
Kraft warns high prices are a serious political issue for Trump.
00:15:22 話者 6
So it will take time to lower prices overall. But in terms of what the Trump administration could do, President Trump can and will likely lower tariffs and/or exempt certain items.
As affordability became the major issue in the New York City mayoral race or the Virginia and Jersey gubernatorial race,
You know, Donald Trump exempted 220 food items from tariffs the following week.
00:15:57 話者 4
At the same time, personal consumption has been surprisingly robust and accounts for most economic growth.
Kraft cites spending by wealthy people and a widening gap in inequality.
00:16:09 話者 6
The top 10% of the income bracket account now for 50% of consumption, whereas the bottom 60% of the income bracket make up only 20% of spending.
Now, if this continues, it could lead to, you know, a major disruption in the social order or nationwide protest.
And financially or economically, it's unstable to have such a small portion of consumers support the economy.
00:16:45 話者 4
Above all, Kraft says investors should reduce risk.
00:16:49 話者 6
Geopolitical tensions, political stagnation or turmoil.
We have elections in the US, midterm elections, and there is increased risk of climate or social disruptions that could weigh on the overall growth or the stock market rally.
I don't want to sound too pessimistic, but I feel that the stock market in 2025 has been a bit euphoric or overly optimistic.
And in my experience, such times warrant some degree of caution.
00:17:27 話者 4
Kraft also emphasized that in 2025, investors were driven by AI technology optimism, but in 2026, they could begin to see its dark side.
That could lead to a reassessment of the technology.
MARKETS
00:17:42 話者 3
OK, let's go to checking the markets.
♪
And that is it for Business News.
STRONG QUAKES HIT WESTERN JAPAN
00:18:22 話者 1
Reports of some injuries and damage are coming in after two strong earthquakes rocked western Japan.
They hit Tuesday morning. There is no tsunami threat, but officials cautioned that further quakes are possible in the days ahead.
The Japan Meteorological Agency says the first had a magnitude of 6.4.
It happened in Tottori and Shimane prefectures at about 10.20 a.m. and was felt elsewhere too.
It registered an intensity of upper 5 on the Japanese scale of 0 to 7 in the hardest hit areas.
Another earthquake hit around the same area about 10 minutes later.
It had a magnitude of 5.1 and an intensity of lower 5.
There is damage in Tottori and neighboring prefectures in Shimane's Matsue City.
Fire officials say three people have been injured, and fire officials in Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture say two people have suffered minor injuries.
Two electric power companies say no abnormalities have been found at their nuclear power plants in Shimane and Ehime prefectures.
Following the shaking, residents in Tottori's Yonago city left their homes and went onto the streets.
They checked in with their neighbors and tried to get the latest information.
00:19:38 話者 14
I felt three consecutive tremors. My house was shaking hard and things fell down.
00:19:46 話者 15
I was going to go back to Osaka on the Shinkansen bullet train, but all the trains stopped.
It was shaking quite hard. It was like around five on the intensity scale.
00:19:58 話者 1
The West Japan Railway Company says the Sanyo Shinkansen bullet train line has since resumed operations in all sections that had been suspended.
Shimane and Tottori saw long tremors.
Meteorological officials call these long-period ground motion.
It can cause high-rise buildings to sway, particularly affecting those on higher floors.
Officials say this was the first time in 10 years that Tottori has been hit by an earthquake with an intensity of upper 5 or higher.
00:20:30 話者 16
Please be on alert for earthquakes with a maximum intensity of upper 5 for the next week or so, especially for the next two or three days.
There have been cases in the past where earthquakes occurred successively in this area.
Please be on alert since there is a possibility that more strong tremors could take place.
00:20:50 話者 1
The agency calls on people in areas struck by strong tremors to be on the alert for rain as well. There is a growing risk of falling rocks and landslides.
POLICE OPEN INVESTIGATION INTO SKI RESORT BAR MANAGERS
Swiss police have opened a criminal investigation into two managers of the bar where a deadly fire broke out at a New Year's party.
The incident in the ski resort of Cran Montana killed 40 people and left more than 100 injured.
Police say they began investigating the managers on Saturday on suspicion of negligence resulting in death and other offenses.
The police believe sparklers used inside the establishment are likely to have set fire to the ceiling.
The sparklers were attached to champagne bottles that people could hold in their hands.
Witnesses told police flames spread rapidly and smoke and heat intensified in a short period of time. Investigators are looking into the bar's safety management.
This includes materials used in the interior, its evacuation routes, and fire extinguishers.
On Sunday, hundreds of people marched nearby to pay tribute to the fire's victims.
00:22:03 話者 17
In any case, let justice be done. It's crucial that such a tragedy never happens again.
00:22:12 話者 1
Police say most of the casualties were Swiss, French, and Italian citizens in their teens and 20s, with the youngest aged 14.
TRUMP NO LONGER BELIEVES KYIV STRUCK PUTIN RESIDENCE
Trump has made an about-face regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin's claim that Ukrainian forces attacked his residence.
The two spoke by phone on Monday of last week. Putin said that Ukrainian drones had struck his official residence in the northwestern region of Novgorod.
And he hinted that Russia may take a tougher stance on peace talks to end the conflict with Ukraine.
Trump at first said he didn't like the alleged attack and was very angry about it.
00:22:53 話者 3
I mean, that was the first I heard about it. He said that his house was attacked.
We don't believe that happened now that we've been able to jack.
00:23:03 話者 1
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from the start has called Putin's claim a complete fabrication.
Zelenskyy said on Sunday that over the course of one week, Moscow launched about 2,000 guided aerial bombs, drones, and missiles at Ukraine.
He added that his country will be prepared for both diplomacy, which they are pursuing, as well as continued active defense.
TRADITIONAL NEW YEAR FLOWER ARRANGEMENT EVENT IN KYOTO
Students at a leading flower arrangement school in Japan's ancient capital, Kyoto, have marked the new year with a splash of color and creativity.
About 800 students from around the country took part in the event.
The get-together started with the young practitioners visiting the Rokakudo Temple, the birthplace of Ikebana floral art.
The students then moved to an adjoining workshop where they arranged flowers under the guidance of Ikenobo Senko, who one day will take over as headmaster of the school.
She then demonstrated her skills using a willow and a pine branch.
Ikenobo says she arranged the branches in the hope that people would reflect on the many difficulties around the world.
00:24:33 話者 5
My dream is that this will be a wonderful year.
00:24:36 話者 18
I aspire to become a working adult with inner strength, and I'm glad I was able to arrange the flowers in my own way.
00:24:46 話者 1
The annual ceremony at the Ikenobo School dates back to the Muromachi period that spanned the 14th to the 16th centuries.
WEATHER
It is time now for a check of the weather with our meteorologist, Sayaka Mori.
So, Sayaka, people in northeastern Japan are dealing with cold and snow.
How are things looking for Wednesday?
00:25:06 話者 5
Hello, there are frigid airs covering parts of Japan and Rikubetsu saw -27.5 degrees.
By the way, this place is called the coolest town of the nation.
Even diamond dust was seen in eastern Hokkaido on Tuesday.
Snow is falling as well along the Sea of Japan side and we have some video coming out of Toyama City.
People living in northeastern Japan continued to deal with winter weather Tuesday.
In Toyama City, snow fell during the day as temperatures stayed chilly, with the entire prefecture starting off below zero.
Some parts reported morning lows at minus 5 degrees Celsius.
Now, snow is easing compared to what we saw yesterday.
However, we have another system coming in already to northern Japan.
So blowing snow will come back along the Sea of Japan starting Wednesday night into Thursday. So be careful of additional snowfall.
The opposite side of Japan is remaining dry.
But as you can see, some clouds will develop along the east coast of the Kanto region.
So we might see some cold precipitation in the morning hours on Wednesday.
Temperatures in Tokyo could be 9 degrees.
Today's humidity was the lowest of the season, so be careful when you use fire.
Solar 2 degrees on Wednesday, but that's going to cool down to minus 2 for the high on Thursday.
In the southern hemisphere, it's a completely different story.
Heat is starting to build across Australia. Onslow had about 48 degrees Celsius.
The heat is expected to spread towards the southeast, including Sydney.
Now, temperatures in the 40s are not unusual for Australia, but the duration of this heat wave is much longer than usual.
Sydney could see a high of 30 degrees on Wednesday, but by Saturday, it could hit 40 degrees. So stay cool and stay hydrated.
That's it from me. Have a nice day.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
00:27:41 話者 1
And that wraps it up for this edition of NHK Newsline. We'll have more for you soon.
Thanks for watching.
checked.
0 件のコメント:
コメントを投稿