Welcome back to NHK Newsline. Here's the latest we have for you at this hour.
KIM JONG UN VOWS SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES OF FALLEN SOLDIERS
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been paying tribute to his country's soldiers who died fighting alongside Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, and he pledged long-term support for their bereaved families.
The ruling party newspaper Rodon Simmun says Kim gave a speech Sunday at a ceremony marking the completion of new homes in Pyongyang for the families.
The report quoted Kim as saying he hopes they live happily there with pride in having what he described as excellent sons, husbands and fathers.
Kim also reportedly said the families will receive preferential treatment from the state.
South Korean media suggests the speech was designed to justify North Korea's participation in Moscow's war and bolster domestic support.
JAPAN WINS IN MOGULS, SPEED SKATING BRINGS MEDAL TALLY TO 17
Japan took home medals in freestyle skiing and speed skating on the tenth day of the competition at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
Skier Horishima Ikuma won the silver in the men's dual moguls competition on Sunday.
That follows his bronze medal performance in the men's moguls event.
Speed skater Takagi Miho took bronze in the women's 500-meter event with a time of 37.27 seconds.
This is her second medal at the Games, following a bronze in the 1000-meter dash.
Takagi is competing in her fourth Olympics. She has nine medals in total so far.
Japan's medal count has risen to 17, three gold, five silver and nine bronze.
That total places it third in the overall table alongside the United States.
Norway has won 12 gold medals, the largest number so far, followed by host Italy with eight.
US, IRAN TO HOLD SECOND ROUND OF NUCLEAR TALKS
The US and Iran are set to sit down for a second round of nuclear talks Tuesday.
The two sides are expected to meet in Switzerland.
Iran announced Sunday that Foreign Minister Abbas Arashi had left for Geneva.
Washington and Tehran had agreed to continue discussions after the first round earlier this month.
Arashi is also expected to meet with the head of the UN's nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, during his visit.
From the US side, Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, will attend.
Iran's deputy foreign minister spoke with BBC ahead of the talks. He said Iran is ready to discuss its nuclear program if the US is ready to talk about sanctions.
TRUMP: BOARD OF PEACE PLEDGES OVER $5 BIL. FOR GAZA
Leaders and officials from at least 20 countries are expected this week to take part in the first meeting of US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace.
Trump established a body in January to oversee the transitional governance of the Gaza Strip.
Trump wrote on social media on Sunday that member states have pledged more than $5 billion toward humanitarian and reconstruction efforts in Gaza.
The first meeting is scheduled for Thursday in Washington.
Trump is serving as the chair of the organization.
Trump also said member states have committed thousands of personnel to an international stabilization force and local police who will maintain peace for Gazans.
He said Hamas must uphold its commitment to a full and immediate demilitarization.
Israel has waged intermittent attacks on Gaza, claiming Hamas has breached a ceasefire agreement that took effect last October.
House officials in the enclave announced on Sunday that 10 people have been killed in the past 24 hours and that the death toll since the start of the truce is over 600.
MUNICH SECURITY CONFERENCE UNDERSCORES EUROPEAN SHIFT FROM US
European leaders say they are moving to cut their reliance on the United States.
The pledge came as leaders and ministers from more than 120 countries wrapped up three days of discussions at the Munich Security Conference on Sunday.
This year's summit was marked by deepening divisions between the US and European countries over Greenland and other issues.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed that the US and Europe belong together,
while underlining the need for European allies to strengthen their own defenses.
00:04:46 話者 2/Marco Rubio
We do not want our allies to be weak, because that makes us weaker.
We want allies who can defend themselves so that no adversary will ever be tempted to test our collective strength.
00:04:58 話者 1
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that he had begun initial talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on European nuclear deterrence.
Macron is expected to deliver a speech in the coming days on nuclear policy.
European countries are eager to maintain good relations with the Trump administration while strengthening defense capabilities and diversifying economic and diplomatic relations.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had separate meetings with his European counterparts calling for increased cooperation. Merz reportedly plans to visit China later in February.
JAPAN FM CALLS FOR CONTINUED US ENGAGEMENT IN INDO-PACIFIC
Japan's foreign minister also attended the conference.
He stressed the importance of continued US engagement in the Indo-Pacific region.
It comes as Washington appears to be placing higher priority on the Western Hemisphere.
Motegi Toshimitsu says that East Asia currently faces unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force, or coercion.
He is referring to the cooperation between Russia, China and North Korea.
00:06:03 話者 11/Motegi Toshimitsu
During the meeting, I pointed out that security in the European side of the Atlantic Ocean and the Indo-Pacific is inseparable, and I highlighted the importance of multi-layered coordination with like-minded countries, including the US and Europe, in addition to the Japan-US alliance.
00:06:21 話者 1
At the gathering, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang called for vigilance against what he described as a dangerous trend emerging in Japan.
His claims include that the specter of Japanese militarism lingers on.
Motegi says Wang's remarks aren't based on facts and that Japan has strived to be a pacifist nation since the end of World War II.
The two ministers did not meet during the conference.
00:06:49 話者 11
There is no change in the policy to hold thorough dialogue with China, reduce each issue and concern, and increase understanding and cooperation.
The Japanese government is open to dialogue with China.
It wants to continue to respond calmly and appropriately.
TAIWAN REBUKES CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER'S REMARKS
Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Qiao-long also responded to the remarks.
In a statement, he accused China of blaming other countries for regional tensions.
He says Taiwan's sovereignty has never belonged to the People's Republic of China.
Lin also says Beijing has recently engaged in military provocations in surrounding areas, severely threatening regional peace and stability.
4 MINISTERS BACK UN SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM
On the sidelines of the conference, Moteyi met with his German, Brazilian and Indian counterparts.
The countries want to become permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. Some observers say that body has become dysfunctional.
The foreign ministers agreed to work together with the council's current permanent members and African countries that support reform.
♫～
STRUGGLING CHINESE TEMP WORKERS CAN'T AFFORD NEW YEAR TRAVEL
It's the most important holiday for Chinese families.
The Lunar New Year typically sees workers in cities traveling home, some across the entire country, for an extended visit.
But this year, it's not all fireworks and festivities for a growing number of Chinese laborers.
NO HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: CHINESE WORKERS CAN'T AFFORD NEW YEAR TRAVEL
00:08:33 話者 4
Wen Yawei has never had to make this phone call before.
He's telling his mother he won't be home for the holidays.
This year, he simply can't afford it.
Wen is a day laborer who's been living just outside Shanghai for several years.
He's just worked a 12-hour night shift, one that paid him about $26.
It's simply not enough to get him back to his hometown in a province hundreds of kilometers away.
Like millions of others in China, he normally makes that trek once a year to have New Year's dinner with his parents. It's a tradition to spend the holiday with family.
But the economy is changing. These days, wages can fluctuate without warning.
Sometimes, the same job pays less the next day.
And when they aren't at work, Wen and his friend are forced to hunt for it.
Going door to door to see which agency offers the most acceptable wages, hours, and meal breaks.
It's an exhausting life for these two men, and one that's becoming more common.
00:09:46 話者 3
It's hard to find work because there are too many temp agencies.
I'm not even treated like a human being.
00:09:53 話者 4
Wen's plight is not an anomaly. He's part of a growing number of migrant workers unable to find steady work or permanent employment.
It forces them to take on a variety of low-paid jobs.
By the end of 2024, about 240 million people across China were making an income as so-called flexible workers, those without stable jobs.
These days, laborers are also making less than before, with their average income dropping by 17% in just two years. The typical person earns $850 a month as of last summer.
China's economic slowdown has left scores of others in the same boat this new year.
They'll be spending it alone.
After basic expenses, temporary workers like Wen often have nothing left to show for their labor. It's left him feeling ashamed.
00:10:52 話者 3
When I went home, all my friends were married with two kids, boasting about their cars, houses, and partners. I had nothing. All I could do was sunbathe.
00:11:04 話者 4
His friend Han feels the same embarrassment and says it even leads to conflict.
It's easier just to stay away and send money to his daughter instead.
00:11:17 話者 3
I'm not going home this year. Whenever I do, I just argue with my family.
My relatives and friends all look down on me.
00:11:29 話者 4
Wen would go home this year, if he could afford it. For now, unless something changes, he's left to wander the city, enduring an endless cycle. Work, sleep, work again.
00:11:42 話者 3
If you have money, you're actually alive. Without it, you're just surviving.
BUSINESS
00:11:50 話者 1
Now let's see what's happening in the world of business.
Here's Ramin Mellegard from Our BizDesk.
00:11:56 話者 2/Ramin Mellegard
Thank you very much indeed.
JAPAN'S OCT .- DEC. GDP EXPANDS, BUT MISSES EXPECTATIONS
Now, a preliminary government report shows Japan's economy grew an annualized 0.2% in the October to December quarter.
While that was the first expansion in two quarters, it was less than market expectations.
Many private sector economists had projected growth in the 1 to 2% range.
The report was released on Monday by the Cabinet Office.
Private residential investments rose 4.8%, rebounding from a significant decline in the previous quarter.
Corporate capital investment rose 0.2% on the back of spending on semiconductor manufacturing plants.
Private consumption, which counts for more than half of Japan's GDP, continued its upward trend, growing 0.1%.
Stronger demand was seen for new smartphones and air conditioners, while spending on food and clothing weakened.
Exports dipped 0.3%, a decline for the second straight quarter.
This was partly the result of a drop in visitors from China due to worsening relations between the two countries.
Now, Japan counts spending by inbound travelers as export revenue.
However, the contraction was smaller than the previous three months.
One reason for this is the US lowered tariffs on automobiles from Japan in September.
Japan's GDP for all of 2025 grew 1.1% in real terms from the previous year, and that's the first expansion in two years.
JAPAN'S NARITA AIRPORT CARGO VALUE HITS RECORD IN 2025
The value of freight passing through Narita Airport near Tokyo set a record high last year, led by trade in pharmaceuticals.
Officials at Tokyo Customs say Japan's main gateway for air freight cleared exports worth a little over 20 trillion yen, or about $131 billion. That's up 14.8% from 2024.
Imports rose 9.2% to around $138 billion. Exports of pharmaceuticals jumped more than 30%, led by shipments of cancer drugs and other medications to Europe.
Shipments of electronic measuring instruments rose nearly 15 percent, mainly due to strong demand in Taiwan.
Among imports, computing devices climbed nearly 13 percent.
Drugs increased more than 8 percent.
By country, the value of air freight exports to China rose about 13 percent, while imports grew nearly 5 percent.
JAPANESE SHIP RETURNS FROM TEST-MINING DEEP SEA RARE EARTHS
A Japanese drilling ship has returned home after successfully test mining mud thought to contain rare earths from the seabed thousands of meters deep.
The vessel Chikyu, which means the globe, returned to Shimizu port in central Japan on Saturday.
Researchers had spent about a month exploring the seabed, roughly 150 kilometers southeast of the Japanese island of Minami-Torishima.
The area of the Pacific Ocean lies within the country's exclusive economic zone.
Previous surveys had found that the seabed there contains high concentrations of rare earth minerals, which are vital to high-tech industries.
The researchers reportedly managed to collect mud from a depth.
of around 5,700 meters earlier this month as part of a Cabinet Office project.
The project team now aims to separate rare earths from the samples and refine the minerals.
It plans to launch an experiment to continuously mine 350 tons of mud per day from the same area starting in February 2027.
JAPANESE WINERIES THINK OUTSIDE THE BARREL
Now, Japanese wine has been attracting growing global recognition in recent years.
However, the value of its exports is currently only about one-seventieth the value of sake exports. Some wineries are hoping to change that. We take a look at how.
00:15:52 話者 5/Narrator: Kitadai Hiroko
Yamanashi Prefecture is the largest producer of Japanese wine.
Ten years ago, Shibutani Hideo followed his passion for wine to the area to establish a local winery. He primarily uses a native variety of grape, Muscat Bailey A.
It gives fresh aromas and a moderate sweetness, but it has one drawback.
00:16:17 話者 3/Shibutani Hideo
Japan gets a lot of rain, so Bailey A inevitably becomes watery, making it hard to produce wines with deep flavor.
00:16:27 話者 5
To reduce moisture, Shibutani only picked grapes during spring tides. His efforts paid off, netting him a silver medal at one of the world's largest wine competitions in 2018.
Still not satisfied, he set out to create a drink that could compare with wines from anywhere in the world.
Shibutani tried a different approach to further concentrate the flavor.
He experimented with running fans on the grapes for months to remove every last drop of excess moisture.
It took eight years of determined trial and error, but he finally produced the taste he was searching for.
00:17:11 話者 3
It's not just sweet. It has a deep flavor. It's a rich wine.
I believe we've created a category that will be recognized globally.
00:17:21 話者 5
He plans to begin by targeting French and Italian restaurants in Japan, and will then gradually expand overseas.
Meanwhile, another winery aims to go global by making a wholly different kind of taste.
Fukata Kazuhiko established a small winery in Chichibu City 10 years ago.
00:17:46 話者 13/Fukata Kazuhiko
The area has significant temperature fluctuations.
I thought it would be ideal for producing robust wines with high alcohol content.
00:17:57 話者 5
His pursuit of a strong glass led to a collaboration that's transcending traditional beverage categories. Fukata is making his wine in whiskey casks.
He gets them from a nearby world-renowned distillery. The used casks are filled with wine and set aside to age for a year, a process that imparts the aroma of whiskey.
Their most popular item is a white wine infused with notes of peat.
It's a collaboration that works both ways.
The distillery also takes used barrels from the winery to age some of its products.
This creates a whiskey that's infused with the aroma of wine.
00:18:50 話者 14/Watanabe Masashi
The regional connection is a major advantage, allowing us to quickly obtain barrels in good condition.
00:18:57 話者 5
Last June, a French buyer purchased 1,500 bottles of wine that were aged using the method.
00:19:06 話者 13
Japanese grapes aren't widely available overseas. They're very rare, and I think the whiskey aroma also complements them well, which is why Europeans like it.
00:19:18 話者 5
Japan's vintners are relying on different kinds of resources to pursue world-class products.
They're producing elegant wines with deep notes of determination and creativity.
MARKETS
00:19:32 話者 2
Okay, let's go to check on the markets.
♪
And that is it for Business News.
I'm going to hand it back to you.
00:20:05 話者 1
Thanks, Ramin.
OBAMA SAYS 'SHAME' HAS BEEN LOST AFTER TRUMP'S RACIST VIDEO
Former US President Barack Obama says shame has been lost, referring to an online video depicting him and his wife as apes.
It was posted on President Trump's social media earlier this month.
The post claimed irregularities occurred in the 2020 election. It included a clip superimposing the faces of the Obamas and politicians on the bodies of animals.
In a podcast interview, Obama said the majority of the American people find this behavior deeply troubling.
He also noted that there doesn't seem to be any shame among people who used to have a sense of propriety and respect for the office.
The post had sparked criticism even from Trump's fellow Republican lawmakers.
Trump said nobody knew the clip was at the end of the video.
The White House announced a staffer erroneously made the post.
It said the video was deleted about half a day after it was uploaded.
5-YEAR SURVIVAL RATES FOR CERTAIN CANCERS IMPROVE IN JAPAN
The Japanese government has released the five-year survival rates of cancer patients aged 15 or older.
Cancers of the blood, lungs and pancreas all showed improvements compared to the previous survey.
The latest figures published by Japan's Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry refer to cases diagnosed in 2018.
For patients with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, the five-year survival rate went up nearly four points to 51.1 percent.
Lung cancer patients saw an increase of nearly two points to 39.6 percent.
And the rate also increased by 1.7 points for those with pancreatic cancer to 13.5 percent.
Patients with prostate and thyroid cancers had five-year survival rates at over 90 percent, followed by skin cancer patients with nearly 90 percent.
For other cancer types, the five-year survival rates remained at about the same level.
All medical institutions in the country are obliged to submit this information for the National Registry.
The Health Ministry plans to make use of the latest data to take anti-cancer measures.
RELATIVES WANT TALKS WITH N.KOREA TO BRING BACK ABDUCTEES
Relatives of Japanese citizens kidnapped by North Korea are urging Pyongyang to return the abductees while members of their parents' generation are still alive.
They're also calling on the Japanese government to do all it can to arrange a Japan-North Korea summit.
The family members and their supporters held a meeting in Tokyo on Sunday.
They observed a moment of silence at the beginning for Arimoto Akihiro.
He was the father of one of the abductees, Arimoto Keiko.
He died last year at the age of 96.
Yokota Sakie is the 90-year-old mother of Yokota Megumi.
She's now the only surviving parent of the 12 people the Japanese government recognizes as unaccounted-for abductees.
The group has compiled a list of policies that will guide its future activities.
One policy alludes to the return of all the abductees while members of their parents' generation are still alive.
The group says if this happens, it will not object to the provision of humanitarian aid to North Korea.
It adds it will not denounce the lifting of Japan's sanctions against the North or the start of talks to normalize bilateral ties either.
But the group says it will angrily urge the Japanese government to impose tougher sanctions if the abductees are not returned within the timeframe.
The family members are waiting to see whether US President Trump will hold another summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
00:23:49 話者 15/Yokota Takuya
We will not leave anyone behind. Our resolve has not changed.
The North Korean authorities should never underestimate our determination.
00:23:59 話者 16/Yokota Sakie
I have spent every day of the past 50 years worrying and wondering if my daughter is doing well.
00:24:06 話者 1
The government says North Korean agents abducted at least 17 Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 80s.
Five returned to Japan following a bilateral summit in 2002, but the whereabouts of the remaining 12 are still unknown.
WEATHER
It is time now for a check of the weather with our meteorologist, Jonathan Oh.
So, Jonathan, powerful storms hit parts of New Zealand Monday. What's the latest?
00:24:35 話者 3/Jonathan Oh
Hello, folks living in North Island have been dealing with some really stormy weather over the past couple of days.
And I want to show you some video that's coming out from the area showing you the aftermath as more than 30,000 homes and businesses found themselves without power Monday as a wild storm hit New Zealand's North Island.
Reuters reported that strong winds caused a large to crash through a home in Hunterville.
And the low pressure system also brought heavy rainfall to other parts of North Island, including Wellington. And authorities have urged motorists to stay off the roads.
People in South Island are expected to feel the impacts of the storm on Tuesday.
Now here's a look at what we're expecting.
Again, the low pressure system that's located east of North Island will move down toward the south and that will continue to bring some impacts while another low tries to develop behind that and come approaching in the area. So you look at the forecast, Wellington looking at some rain temperatures topping off at 20.
And if we look back toward the West across Australia, still seeing temperatures moving up to the upper 30s in place like Alice Springs with showers into Adelaide and Melbourne as we go through Tuesday.
Meanwhile, across East Asia, Japan looking at temperatures slightly colder from Sunday.
We did see some clouds picking up, maybe seeing some possible sprinkler sprinkles overnight into the day on Tuesday.
Back toward the West into China. High pressure comes into the picture, keeping things relatively dry into good portions of East Asia as we go through the day on Tuesday.
Beijing at 11, 9 in Shanghai, over into Seoul in South Korea.
Cloudy skies, the high of 6 as we go through Tuesday.
Looking at what's happening across North America, the West Coast dealing with plenty of wet weather as we have a couple low pressure systems pushing onshore.
Ahead of that, high pressure really controlling the weather as we're talking about relatively dry weather.
In places like Denver into Oklahoma City, temperatures relatively warm as well, highs into the low 20s. Chilly though up into the Pacific Northwest.
Single digit highs from Vancouver in to Seattle and looking at some rain as well.
Cold front pushes off the east coast of the United States, but hazy conditions to D.C.
and Atlanta for Monday.
Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
00:27:36 話者 1
And that is all for this edition of NHK Newsline. We'll have more for you soon.
Thank you very much for joining us.
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