Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Ramin Mellegard in Tokyo.
JAPAN FM MOTEGI KICKS OFF MIDDLE EAST, ASIA VISIT
Japanese Foreign Minister Mottegi Toshimitsu started a nine-day visit to the Middle East and Asia. From Saturday, he'll travel to Israel, Palestine, Qatar, the Philippines, and India.
In the Middle East, Motteghi plans to hold talks with top officials of Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
He will call for maintaining the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, while steadily implementing a peace plan for the Gaza Strip.
Motteghi noted that Japan maintains good relations with both Israel and Palestine, and said he wants to convey Japan's intention to play an active role.
00:00:57 (Motegi Toshimitsu / Japanese Foreign Minister)
I think an effort to dispel mutual distrust will lead to regional stability.
I'd like to speak frankly to both Israel and Palestine, telling each side to do what needs to be done in order to realize that goal.
00:01:15 (Ramin Mellegard)
Now, in Asia, Motegui plans to meet his counterparts in the Philippines and India.
Motegui hopes to step up coordination in security and other areas in light of China's increasing hegemonic actions.
HIGH HURDLES THREE MONTHS INTO CEASEFIRE
A US-brokered ceasefire in the Gaza Strip took effect 3 months ago, but the peace plan's second phase hangs in limbo.
Hamas has yet to return the final deceased hostage, and Israeli troops continue to put civilian areas in their crosshairs.
The next stage of the deal includes the deployment of an international security force in Gaza, but it remains unclear who will participate.
The ceasefire has barely held up since taking effect.
Israeli forces are still attacking Gaza while accusing Hamas of violating the deal.
Palestinian media said on Thursday that Israeli shelling killed nine people, including five children. Health authorities in Gaza say 439 people have died in about three months.
Gaza still suffers from a severe lack of aid. UN agencies and other groups recently declared the end of a famine, but many people are still at risk.
PYONGYANG: S.KOREAN DRONE SHOT DOWN OVER NORTH
North Korea's military says it shot down a South Korean drone on January 4 after it allegedly violated the country's airspace. South Korea denies that claim.
A spokesperson for the General Staff of the Korean People's Army issued a statement about the alleged incident on Saturday in the ruling Workers' Party newspaper.
The statement was accompanied by photos of what the military claims are flight data and the remains of the recovered drone.
Also released was aerial footage of North Korea that the paper says was captured by the unmanned aircraft's camera.
These statements said South Korea continues to commit provocative acts, despite a call by the country's new president, Lee Jae-myung, for inter-Korean dialogue.
It said South Korea is the enemy most hostile toward North Korea and that Seoul should immediately stop such acts or it will be surely forced to pay a dear price.
South Korean Defense Ministry officials have denied the North's claims.
They say it has been confirmed that the South's military didn't operate any drones on January 4.
The officials say President Lee has ordered a thorough investigation by relevant agencies to look into the details of the case.
The Office of the President said the National Security Council will hold a working-level meeting on Saturday to discuss the matter.
The South Korean military expert says the photos of the aircraft released by the North appear to be a model widely used by civilian drone operators and private companies.
TRUMP: MORE ATTACKS SCRAPPED AFTER PRISONER RELEASE
A pledge by a top Venezuelan lawmaker to release a large number of prisoners reportedly led US President Donald Trump to call off a second wave of attacks on the country.
The president of the Venezuelan National Assembly, Jorge Rodriguez, said a significant number of Venezuelan and foreign prisoners would be released in the interest of peaceful coexistence.
But a local human rights organization says it's confirmed that only a limited number of people have been released, and it has renewed calls for the release of all political prisoners.
The organization says more than 800 political prisoners were being detained in Venezuela.
Trump announced on social media that he had called off a second round of attacks.
He said the two countries are working well together on plans to rebuild Venezuela's oil and gas infrastructure.
Trump told Fox News that he's looking forward to meeting Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado when she visits Washington next week.
She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025.
DEATH TOLL RISES AS PROTESTS CONTINUE ACROSS IRAN
The death toll in Iran has reportedly surpassed 50 people amid ongoing clashes between protesters and authorities.
The demonstrations are being driven by worsening economic conditions across the country.
Demonstrators stood to the streets again on Friday in the capital, Tehran, and elsewhere.
They're demanding the government curb soaring prices, which have been caused partly by Western sanctions.
A human rights group based in Norway said at least 51 people have been killed so far in the clashes which have occurred since late last month.
Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned protesters in an address broadcast on state-run TV on Friday. He said Iran will not tolerate destruction.
Security authorities have expressed their intention to strictly crack down on violent acts, saying police officers are among those killed.
The unrest continues to spread with the internet shut down in wide areas.
Meanwhile, British, French, and German leaders jointly issued a statement expressing deep concern over reports of violence by Iranian security forces.
They strongly condemned the killing of protesters.
POPE LEO XIV: HUMAN RIGHTS STRAINED AS DIPLOMACY CRUMBLES
Pope Leo XIV has used an annual New Year's address to ambassadors from around the world to denounce what he called diplomacy based on force.
Speaking at the Vatican, the pontiff warned that the post-war principle that prohibited countries from violating one another's borders has been completely undermined.
Referring to the recent removal from power of Venezuela's president by US forces, he called for the protection of human rights in the country.
00:07:10 (Pope Leo XIV)
I renew my appeal to respect the will of the Venezuelan people and to safeguard the human and civil rights of all. ensuring a future of stability and concord.
00:07:22 (Ramin Mellegard)
The Pope also spoke about the conflicts in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip.
He urged the international community to remember that the sanctity of life counts more than any national interest.
TOWN NEAR TOKYO ATTRACTING CROWDS WITH FROZEN DREAMSCAPE
A quiet town north of Tokyo is luring winter visitors with a spectacular wall of translucent icicles.
The organizers are making use of projection mapping technology to heighten the wow factor.
The icy display in Yokoze Town, Saitama Prefecture, measures 30 meters high and 200 meters wide.
Tourist officials create the frozen dreamscape every year by spraying water from a nearby stream onto a cliff face.
The organizers then project colored lights onto the icicles to complete the experience.
00:08:30 (visitor 1)
I felt like I was seeing the northern lights in Japan.
00:08:35 (visitor 2)
It has a different charm from illumination spectacles. My heart feels purified.
00:08:42 (Ramin Mellegard)
The icicles display will be open to the public through February 23.
And those are the top stories for this hour.
WEATHER
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
And that's a wrap for this edition of NHK Newsline.
I'm Ramin Mellegard. Thank you very much for joining us.
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