Welcome back to NHK Newsline. I'm Kanako Sachno.
5 BODIES FOUND AFTER TEMPLE FIRE IN WESTERN JAPAN
We begin with breaking news from western Japan.
Authorities say five bodies have been recovered after a temple burnt down in a fire.
It happened on Friday in Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
A local fire station received a call at around 2.30am that smoke was seen coming out of the building. Crews put out the fire in about 3 hours.
Police say a family of five, including two children, is believed to be living at the temple.
Investigators say all of them are unaccounted for.
N.KOREA WORKERS' PARTY CONGRESS OPENS WITH KIM SPEECH
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has opened the first Workers' Party Congress in five years. It's regarded as the country's highest leadership body.
North Korean state-run media say the Congress opened Thursday in Pyongyang.
Kim kicked off the event with a speech, saying the country has achieved broad success.
This clip was released with an announcer reading his remarks.
(Korean)
Kim also said the state's position is irreversible, bringing about what he called a great change in the global landscape.
The remark seemingly refers to North Korea's nuclear program and its military ties with Russia.
Kim said Wednesday a new military plan will be unveiled at this Congress that may include new initiatives in its nuclear and missile programs.
TRUMP: 'PROBABLY 10 DAYS' NEEDED TO SEE IF US, IRAN CUT DEAL
US President Donald Trump has given a timeline of about 10 days for it to become clear whether Washington will reach a nuclear deal with Iran.
Trump referred to US negotiations with Iran over Tehran's nuclear program in a speech in Washington.
He stressed Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and warned that what he called bad things would happen without a deal.
00:02:20 話者 2/Donald Trump
Maybe we're going to make a deal.
You're going to be finding out over the next probably 10 days.
00:02:26 話者 1
The United States has been ratcheting up military pressure against Iran.
Trump said last week that Washington would send a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East.
Some American media outlets have reported that the US may attack Iran in the near future.
Meanwhile, Iran sent a letter to the UN Secretary General and the President of the Security Council about US threats of force.
The letter asserts that what it calls a belligerent statement by Trump signals a real risk of military aggression.
It also calls on the Security Council to do everything in its power to ensure that the US does not take any action that could trigger a military confrontation.
ANXIETY FOR EXPECTANT MOTHERS AMID BLACKOUTS
Turning now to Ukraine, Russian strikes on energy-related facilities are making daily life difficult for most people.
One group feeling especially anxious is expectant mothers, who are giving birth amid the threat of power blackouts at hospitals.
An NHK crew visited a maternity hospital in the capital Kyiv.
The facility has two generators in case the electricity goes out.
But if these stop functioning, ventilators for babies and monitors to check the condition of mothers could become unusable.
A doctor at the hospital said that in the event of an air raid, mothers at the hospital would be forced to evacuate to a shelter to give birth.
We have backup generators, but without them we can't survive.
We need to have constant heat, water and electricity.
Currently, the hospital is caring for almost 90 pregnant women.
37-year-old Tetiana Bondar is set to have a caesarean section soon. She feels anxious.
00:04:14 話者 3
I'm worried about whether I'll have to run somewhere to take shelter.
Plus, when you wake up from explosions, you're already scared.
And that's a double burden on pregnant women. Double or maybe even more.
You're always under stress.
00:04:31 話者 1
She says it's possible her baby will be born on February 24th, four years since Russia's invasion.
She expressed mixed feelings as the days associated with a lot of pain, but would also be one of happiness for her.
UKRAINE TO BOYCOTT PARALYMPIC OPENING CEREMONY OVER RUSSIA
Athletes and staff from Ukraine will boycott next month's opening ceremony of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.
The move is in protest against the participation of Russia and Belarus.
Ukraine's National Paralympic Committee announced its support of the government's boycott on Thursday.
The committee demanded the Ukrainian flag not be used in the ceremony.
The International Paralympic Committee last year granted slots to Russia and Belarus, allowing athletes to represent their countries in some events.
The Italian government is also urging the IPC to reconsider its decision.
Italy says Russia's invasion of Ukraine and its violation of Olympic and Paralympic ideals, together with Belarus, is incompatible with participation in the games.
The European Commissioner for Sport, Glen McAuliffe, will also boycott the opening ceremony.
FORMER PRINCE ANDREW REPORTEDLY ARRESTED
Multiple media outlets say British authorities have arrested the former Prince Andrew.
He was reportedly taken into custody on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Police say only that they've arrested a man in his 60s.
They didn't give his name or other details.
They say he's been released but that their investigations will continue.
The former prince is now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
He reportedly had close ties with the late Jeffrey Epstein, who was a financier charged with sex abuse. He was stripped of his royal title over those ties.
Authorities reportedly believe that he shared confidential information with Epstein during his time as a trade envoy. King Charles is the brother of the former prince.
He released a statement expressing his deepest concern.
He says the law must take its course and pledged to cooperate with the investigation.
Police say they're carrying out a search in the eastern county of Norfolk.
That's where Mountbatten-Windsor is believed to reside.
They're also searching his former residence, known as Royal Lodge.
TRUMP HOSTS FIRST BOARD OF PEACE MEETING
US President Trump hosted the first meeting of his Board of Peace.
He says members have pledged more than $7 billion for a relief package for Gaza.
US officials say representatives from over 40 countries attended the gathering.
Some came from countries that have not joined the board.
Japan's ambassador in charge of Gaza rebuilding assistance, Okubo Takeshi, was there as an observer.
00:07:22 話者 4
With the commitments announced today, the Board of Peace is proving that it does not just convene countries.
It devises and implements and real solutions happen. We've come up with solutions.
00:07:37 話者 1
He praised countries, including Indonesia and Morocco, for their help.
He says they'll provide personnel to preserve the ceasefire and secure the peace.
And he says the US will contribute $10 billion to the board.
But the United Nations Development Programme says it will cost $70 billion to rebuild the devastated enclave.
It says only 0.5% of rubble has been removed so far, and at the current pace, it will take seven years to remove all of it.
00:08:06 話者 4
If we would move into the second phase of the ceasefire, additional humanitarian access was actually part of that resolution and that would obviously be something which we would welcome.
00:08:24 話者 1
But Trump's peace plan faces many challenges.
One key issue is whether Hamas will agree to disarm.
CALLS FOR FRAMEWORK FOR SAFE USE OF AI AT INDIAN SUMMIT
Global leaders at a conference in India on artificial intelligence have called for the swift adoption of common rules to ensure the safe use of the technology.
Thursday's session of the India AI Impact Summit was attended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva.
Delegates from AI-related companies also participated in the event held in the capital, New Delhi.
Modi acknowledged in his speech that AI is bringing huge benefits, but he underscored the need to create clear and transparent rules on AI safety.
He called on developers and others in the field to observe ethical principles and maintain accountability.
Japan's Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae addressed the meeting in a video message.
00:09:24 話者 13/Takaichi Sanae
AI is the pillar of my Japan growth strategy. Japan will vigorously promote public and private investment to create a trustworthy AI that reflects our value of trustworthiness.
Let's work together to create this trustworthy AI.
00:09:45 話者 1
India has launched public and private efforts to host data centers as part of its bid to evolve into a major AI power.
Analysts say India is holding the summit to highlight its abundant IT workforce and massive market of more than 1.4 billion people.
BUSINESS
Now let's see what's happening in the world of business.
Here's Ramin Mellegard from the BizDesk.
00:10:08 話者 5/Ramin Mellegard
Thank you very much indeed.
JAPAN'S INFLATION EASES IN JANUARY
Now, inflationary pressure eased across Japan in January as consumer price rises slowed slightly from the previous month.
The shift was largely due to lower gasoline and utility costs.
The Internal Affairs Ministry says the consumer price index was up 2% from January last year. The figure excludes fresh food prices.
Now, it is the first time the index has dropped back to that level in two years.
The number was down by four-tenths of a percentage point from the previous month.
The main reason was the abolition of a provisional gasoline tax.
That brought gasoline prices down by nearly 15%.
Electricity and city gas bills also fell.
Prices of food, excluding perishables, jumped by 6.2%.
Increases in food prices have been tapering for six months now, but are still high.
The cost of coffee beans soared by roughly 50%.
Rice was up almost 28%, and chocolate prices leapt by around 26%.
Rent for private housing increased by 0.7%.
The ministry says that's the biggest jump in nearly three decades.
It says soaring apartment rents in central Tokyo are driving the trend.
JAPAN GOVERNMENT SUBMITS RECORD FY2026 DRAFT BUDGET TO DIET
Japan's government has submitted a record draft budget to the Diet for the fiscal year starting in April.
It amounts to 122.3 trillion yen or $789 billion.
More than 30% of the expenditure is allocated to Social Security, reflecting the aging of the population.
Almost $58 billion is earmarked to significantly upgrade defense capabilities.
Nearly 1/4 of the budget is to redeem or pay interest on government bonds.
The rise in interest rates is pushing up these debt servicing costs.
Now on the income side, tax and stamp revenue is expected to reach a record 83 trillion yen or $540 billion.
This is based on solid corporate earning projections, which in turn leads to wage hikes.
Almost 1/4 of the total revenue will be covered by sales of government bonds.
00:12:21 話者 15/Katayama Satsuki/Japanese Finance Minister
We want to pass the budget bill by the end of March to ensure there is no disruption to people's daily lives.
We will work closely in the ruling coalition and ask for cooperation from opposition parties.
00:12:35 話者 5
The finance minister added that the government will provide a detailed explanation of the bill during diet deliberations.
NASA: BOTCHED STARLINER MISSION WAS WORST KIND OF MISHAP
The US space agency, NASA, has classified the botched Boeing Starliner mission as a Type A mishap, its most serious category of failure.
The 2024 incident drew global attention when the crew were stuck in space for nine months.
The Starliner's first crewed test flight sent the two astronauts to the International Space Station in June that year.
But technical issues aboard the spaceship meant the pair were forced to stay there much longer than planned.
Eventually, SpaceX's crew Dragon craft brought them back to Earth.
A new report from NASA says as the Starliner was docking at the ISS, some of the thrusters shut down that made it impossible for the crew to control the spaceship.
00:13:32 話者 6
Starliner has design and engineering deficiencies that must be corrected, but the most troubling failure revealed by this investigation is not hardware.
It's decision-making and leadership.
00:13:44 話者 5
The report says NASA entrusted development of the craft to two private companies, and that priority went to launch performance over safety.
It also criticizes the agency for failing to provide adequate oversight.
The NASA chief said he wants to
use the lessons learned for space development in the private sector.
BIZ PICKS
OK, next, NHK World's Yanaka Marie is here with BizBix.
00:14:14 話者 3/Yanaka Marie
Let's take a look at the business and economic stories to watch for in the week ahead.
On Tuesday, we get the latest read on consumer confidence in the US.
The Conference Board's index fell sharply in January to its lowest reading since 2014.
SOURING JAPAN-CHINA TIES MAY KEEP SQUEEZING RETAILERS
And on Wednesday, the Japan Department Stores Association announces January sales figures.
The year-on-year growth rate in December turned negative for the first time in five months.
Overall sales of tax-free items were down 17%. The association says Chinese customer numbers and spending both nosedived around 40% year-on-year.
That's after Beijing advised its citizens to avoid travel to Japan.
Kanda Keiji is a senior economist at the Daiwa Institute of Research. He thinks the soured relationship between the two countries will continue to drag on Japanese retailers.
00:15:19 話者 6/Kanda Keiji
Back in 2010 and 2012, Japan-China relations deteriorated and led to significant drops in the number of Chinese visitors.
They roughly halved at one point, then gradually recovered over the course of more than a year. This time, the situation is similar.
The number has already fallen nearly 50% in December.
Major Chinese airlines have also extended the period for free cancellation of tickets to Japan until October, So the negative impacts may last longer than in the past.
00:15:51 話者 3
At the same time, Kanda says domestic factors like higher year-end bonuses and the recent stock market boom will help push up consumption.
00:16:04 話者 6
Inflation has somewhat eased, which may help boost consumer sentiment.
We can expect to see an increase in spending on big-ticket items, and that may lift department store sales. But personal consumption trends tend to shift slowly.
Domestic consumption may not accelerate quickly enough to make up for the sharp dent to sales from inbound travelers.
00:16:30 話者 3
Kanda expects the number of Chinese visitors to fall by about 4 million people in 2026.
That could push down consumption in Japan by about $4.6 billion.
00:16:46 話者 6
The Japanese economy is on a moderate recovery track, but its annual growth rate is unlikely to reach 1% in 2026.
Against this backdrop, a large decline in Chinese visitor numbers could shave 0.1 to 0.2 percentage points off GDP growth.
The impact from a decline of more than 0.1 on a growth rate that's lower than 1% would be relatively large.
00:17:12 話者 3
China is celebrating its Lunar New Year holidays through Monday.
During the same period last year, Japan was the number one destination for Chinese people traveling abroad. But this time around, it didn't even make the top 10.
I'm Yanaka Marie, and that wraps it up for this week's Biz Picks.
00:17:33 話者 5
Great stuff.
MARKETS
Okay, let's get a check in the markets.
♪
And that is it for Business News.
CALIFORNIA MUSICIAN USES MELODY TO BRING FIRE VICTIMS TOGETHER
00:18:16 話者 1
It's been just over a year since devastating wildfires tore through parts of Los Angeles.
The inferno displaced thousands and levelled entire communities.
But amid the ruins of his former life, one musician is turning immeasurable loss into inspiration.
NHK World's Sahiki Akira reports.
00:18:37 話者 4/Sahiki Akira
These are scenes from last January, catastrophic fires across Southern California.
The blazes left 31 people dead and decimated over 16,000 buildings.
One of the many homes that burnt down belonged to Jeffrey Bernstein.
He's a lifelong musician and a choir director in Altadena, one of the hardest hit areas.
00:19:07 話者 7/Jeffrey Bernstein
We lost our home, we lost the church, the school where I teach was lost, and the whole community, and it's shocking to go there.
00:19:21 話者 4
Bernstein could have floundered. Instead, he took his grief and used it for good.
He continued to create music and dove straight into getting the choir he founded back on its feet. It only took days after the fires for them to begin practicing once again.
00:19:45 話者 7
I knew even with the loss of everything how important it was for us to keep singing, to keep gathering the choir is something regular that they can continue to rely on.
00:19:58 話者 4
Their dedication has earned them a national award. But some of the choir's members also lost everything.
They were forced to flee and live in shelters, and the choir was a kind of refugees.
00:20:12 話者 3
In the beginning everything was shocking and it was too hard to understand it truly is a way of blocking all of it out for this very short amount of time where you really can't think about anything else.
00:20:29 話者 7
There was some special feeling...
00:20:30 話者 4
Two months after the fires, Bernstein guided us through the burnt streets where he used to live. In this town alone, 6,000 homes were completely destroyed.
This is a church where his choir used to sing.
00:20:54 話者 7
The church had a beautiful vaulted ceiling and the children in this congregation made paper cranes that hung, you know, in strings.
It's almost like two different worlds. It's like I can still see the way it was.
During the interview, I just noticed this.
00:21:19 話者 4
It was one of the paper cranes that had been displayed in a church.
00:21:24 話者 7
How does this survive? I guess there's hope. There's always hope.
00:21:37 話者 4
In the months following the disaster, life slowly returns to the area, but it's far from normal. Amid the heavy machinery, The choir that never quit is still singing.
But now the theme is grief and how to heal from it.
Everyone in the audience knows that challenge all too well.
On this November evening, they're singing Brahms, a composition called A German Requiem. It's a song both for the dead and for the living who mourn.
00:22:55 話者 7
There's a lot of hope. It's almost like things growing.
And so I think the piece meets that right now at this moment.
00:23:19 話者 4
These days, Bernstein is working on a new composition inspired by the town.
00:23:27 話者 7
I think the idea of Altadena is even more precious than it was.
And I want this piece to-- I want people to remember what they love about it.
00:23:41 話者 4
The musician hopes, as always, that his melody serves as a magnet.
a way for the community to rise from the ashes.
Saheki Akira, NHK World.
CHILDREN IN WESTERN JAPAN LEARN TRADITIONAL TEA CEREMONY
00:23:59 話者 1
Young children in western Japan have been learning the basics of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony.
185-year-olds from kindergartens and daycare centers took part in the event in Sakaide City, Kagawa Prefecture.
They prepared tea in bowls using bamboo whisks. Instructors from the Urasenke School of Tea ceremony showed them how to whisk the tea properly.
The youngsters first enjoyed butterfly-shaped sweets made from wasanbon, a fine-grained Japanese sugar, before drinking their tea in the traditional manner.
WEATHER
Now it's time to check out the world weather.
The US west coast has been battered by winter storms this week.
Our meteorologist Yumi Hirano has the details.
00:24:56 話者 2
Many storms have been affecting the US state of California.
Over 230 centimeters of heavy snow was reported at one location in the Sierra Nevada.
Avalanches are a major danger.
Ongoing heavy snow caused traffic problems in parts of California on Thursday.
It's near an area where a deadly avalanche occurred earlier.
Highway patrol helped drivers stuck in the snow.
On Tuesday, an avalanche near the area killed eight skiers and left one missing.
Persistent heavy snow and additional avalanche risks slowed rescue efforts.
The avalanche is the deadliest in the US since 1981.
The storm is now moving toward the plains, and the snowfall is tippling off from the west.
Other systems are affecting the Great Lakes region and the east coast.
Snow is expected in Chicago and Toronto. Showers are likely in New York and Washington.
Dry weather is coming back to L.A., but the high will only be 15.
Now moving to Japan, warm air is expected to cover much of the country over the long holiday weekend.
Sapporo will see 8 degrees, which is as warm as in April, so snowy regions should watch out for avalanches and flooding due to melting snow.
The highs in Tokyo will be 15 on Saturday, 17 on Sunday, and finally hit 20 on Monday.
This is because strong southerly winds will pump up warm air through the regions.
At the same time, the winds could lead to a risk of wildfires.
So take care and have a nice weekend.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
00:27:41 話者 1
That wraps up this edition of NHK Newsline. I'm Kanako Sachno in Tokyo.
Thanks very much for joining us.
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