You're watching NHK Newsline. I'm Kanako Sachno.
UN Group Appeals for Aid to Help Yemeni Refugees
A United Nations humanitarian group says relief supplies are urgently needed for the growing number of Yemeni refugees who are reaching the East African country of Djibouti.
Iran-backed anti-government Houthi forces are stepping up their offensive against Yemen's Saudi-backed interim government.
The UN-affiliated International Organization for Migration says over 140,000 people have been forced to leave their homes due to the intensifying fighting between the government and opposition forces.
The group also notes that more people are reaching Djibouti by sea.
It expects at least 10,000 new arrivals in the coming months.
Alexandre Coissac is the Chief of Mission for the IOM in Djibouti.
In an interview with NHK, he urged people to remain concerned about the situation.
00:01:05 話者 12/Alexandre Coissac/Chief of Mission for IOM Djibouti
When you have to leave your own countries.
And you leave everything that you have behind, I think it's part of dignity, humanity, try to provide assistance.
00:01:21 話者 1
Coissac said there are not enough tents and other supplies for evacuees.
He said his organization's current priority is to create suitable living conditions at evacuation sites where people could end up staying for months, if not years.
He emphasized the need to ensure access to latrines, water and education for children.
War in Ukraine Think Tank: Russia Seeks Winter Surrender
Russian forces have launched a round of heavy new strikes against Ukraine targeting energy facilities in Kyiv.
A US think tank says they may be trying to force a surrender this winter.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says nearly 190 drones and ballistic missiles were used in the strikes.
The state-run power company released these photos of a power plant.
It accuses Russian forces of trying to leave Ukrainians without electricity and heat.
The Institute for the Study of War pointed out that the attacks come just ahead of winter, which could be a deliberate pressure tactic.
But Ukraine is ramping up its defense capabilities.
It reached an agreement with Germany to make high-tech drones.
A joint venture company has already begun production at a factory in southern Germany.
It says it's producing a variety of drones, including one that can carry out long-range attacks and another that can strike vehicles.
00:02:42 話者 24/Lorenz Meier/Co-Founder & CEO, Auterion
The leading technology in terms of drones is coming out of Ukraine right now and so it is absolutely crucial to partner with Ukrainian firms.
00:02:53 話者 1
Meier says they'll produce at least 5,000 of the aircraft over the next year.
Putin Sees Mutual Benefits in Japan-Russia Relations
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Japan and Russia could be good neighbors if his country's invasion of Ukraine were to come to an end.
He spoke on Thursday in the Russian capital of Moscow while attending an event at which experts discuss the international situation.
Putin's remarks were in response to a question from Abirutaiske, senior fellow at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation.
Putin responded, We view our relations as good neighborly and mutually beneficial.
We have areas of mutual interest.
He also said, We hope that the same attitude toward mutual cooperation in the interests of both countries will eventually prevail on the part of Japan's ruling class, specifically its political ruling class, and on the part of Japan itself.
Putin's comments suggest that he expects ties to improve.
They also appear to be a request for Japan to soften its approach.
In August of this year, Putin visited Etorofu Island in the Northern Territories for the first time.
Russia controls the islands. Japan claims them. Japan protested the visit.
Russia rejects Japan's position. Following Putin's remarks, Abiru had this to say.
00:04:16 話者 32/Abiru Taisuke/Senior Fellow, Sasakawa Peace Foundation
The very fact that President Putin spoke about Japan-Russia relations with a forward-looking perspective has a certain significance.
Considering the medium to long term, we can see this as a message that Russia would like a positive, stable relationship with Japan.
NATO Sources: Russia Letter Contains Nuclear Threat
00:04:38 話者 1
Multiple NATO sources say Moscow has warned in a letter it may use nuclear weapons if the alliance attempts to isolate the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
The exclave faces the Baltic Sea and borders two NATO nations, Poland and Lithuania.
One of the sources told NHK the letter is seen as a Russian response to developments such as a recent NATO military exercise held near Kaliningrad.
The source noted that it's unusual for Russia to send such a document to NATO and suggested Russia may be testing NATO solidarity through non-military means.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutter said on Wednesday the alliance had reacted to what Russia had sent and that it had urged Moscow to stop the nuclear threats.
Rutter added there is no way Russia can beat NATO because the alliance is so much stronger than the country.
Netanyahu Says Co-Pilot Was Radicalized
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has provided new details about the mid-air attack on a FlyDubai flight.
He's told a US media outlet that the suspect underwent Islamist radical indoctrination.
The plane was traveling from the United Arab Emirates to Israel on Wednesday.
It made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after sending a distress signal.
The Associated Press released video taken during the plane's rapid descent.
...
00:06:18 話者 44
We landed. We won.
00:06:23 話者 1
Passengers broke into applause after the plane landed safely.
Israeli media report that the copilot stabbed the captain in the cockpit and tried to crash the plane.
Netanyahu described the attacker's actions on Fox News Channel's Fox and Friends.
00:06:41 話者 45/Benjamin Netanyahu
He's lying there now, he's this attacker, and he calls out to the aircrew, Kill me, kill me, all right? So it's clear he was suicidal, that's not a question.
It was clear he was going to down that plane, it's not clear, but it looks very likely that he was going to down the plane with all the passengers in there.
00:07:05 話者 1
Saudi authorities say they're transferring the suspect to the UAE and officials there have ordered an investigation.
When asked by reporters, US President Donald Trump suggested the attack could be linked to Iran, but he did not offer any evidence of such a connection.
00:07:23 話者 46/Donald Trump
I would say the answer based on what I'm hearing is yes, but we're working on it right now.
S. Korea Launches New Agency, Stripping Power from Prosecutors
00:07:36 話者 1
South Korea is in the middle of overhauling the way it charges people with crimes.
The former prosecutor's office has been scrapped and the country launched 2 new agencies on Friday to replace it.
The reform means prosecutors will no longer be able to investigate crimes themselves like they have in the past and it gives police more power to carry out criminal probes.
Earlier I spoke with NHK World's Kim Chan-ju, who is outside the Serious Crime Investigation Agency.
00:08:05 話者 5/Kim Chan-ju
Well, this agency is brand new, so the entire area has been bustling all morning.
I've been watching employees arrive here for their first day of work, getting instructions on how to enter the building.
Flocks of journalists have been waiting outside all day to report on this very significant moment for South Korean society.
Earlier this morning, the agency had an opening ceremony to mark the occasion, with senior officials in attendance.
Starting today, this agency will be responsible for investigating some types of serious crime.
That includes offenses related to finance, drugs, corruption and national security.
Meanwhile, the country's prosecutors, who are responsible for indictments and court proceedings, will now belong to another newly established institution, the Prosecution Service.
00:09:07 話者 1
Now, this is a pretty major structural shake-up, Chan-ju.
Can you explain how that changes the way crimes are investigated?
00:09:16 話者 5
Most significantly, it means prosecutors will no longer be allowed to investigate crimes themselves.
Until now, if you were a prosecutor in South Korea, you had what's called a supplementary investigative authority.
That means you could tell police what to investigate or do the actual investigative work yourself.
So the former prosecutor's office was responsible for both directing the investigations and deciding who to charge with the crime. But that office has now been abolished.
Under the new system, some cases will be handled by the new Serious Crime Investigation Agency, while police will handle the rest, like assaults and thefts.
Then the prosecution service will decide, based on those investigations, whether suspects should be charged with the crime.
00:10:15 話者 1
I see, Chan-ju. Again, this is a major reform.
So why did the South Korean government go ahead with it?
00:10:24 話者 5
For decades, critics have argued that prosecutors hold too much power and shouldn't be allowed to control investigations and the ability to lay charges.
Critics have also accused some prosecutors of acting with political motives.
So the current administration pursued a complete separation of investigative and prosecutorial powers, and that reform was eventually approved in the National Assembly.
00:10:57 話者 1
And how are people in the justice system reacting to this?
00:11:03 話者 5
Opinions seems to be divided on what the scope of a prosecutor's power should be.
I spoke to two legal experts to get their thoughts and got very different answers.
00:11:18 話者 55/Suh Bo-hack/Professor, Kyung Hee University
There were many cases in which alleged human rights violations, evidence fabrication, or even false accusations were never properly reviewed before indictments were filed and defendants were sent to trial.
00:11:35 話者 56/Jack Jung/Attorney
In the past, prosecutors oversaw all criminal cases and supervised police investigations.
It was quick and efficient. But stripping prosecutors of their powers and expanding police authority instead is a dangerous move.
00:11:52 話者 5
Major South Korean media outlets say this reform is happening alongside widespread delays of case processing. And the reform itself has been anything but smooth.
The head of the serious crime investigation agency was tapped to lead by the president, but hasn't yet had approval from National Assembly, so the agency is currently with our leader.
And while the agency is supposed to employ over 2800 people, local media reports say only two-thirds of those jobs have been filled so far.
This reform has been the subject of intense controversy from day one, so how effectively these two institutions can work together will be under close public scrutiny.
Business
00:12:51 話者 1
Now for more business stories, here's Ramin Mellegard.
00:12:55 話者 6/Ramin Mellegard
Thank you very much indeed.
Banks in Northeast Japan Weigh Tie-Up
Now, three banks in northeastern Japan are moving toward integration talks.
The discussions involve Aomori Michinoku Bank, the Bank of Iwate and the Akita Bank.
If the deal goes through, their combined assets would top 13 trillion yen, more than $82 billion, forming the region's largest financial group.
A shrinking population and the Bank of Japan's recent rate hikes are intensifying competition among lenders.
Across Japan, more regional banks are rethinking their strategies.
A recent example is the agreement between the Gunma Bank north of Tokyo and the Daishi Hokuetsu Financial Group.
And in central Japan, the Shizuoka Financial Group and the Bank of Nagoya have also agreed to begin talks on a possible tie-up. And in central Japan, the yes.
New Nidec Head Vows Reform at Scandal-Hit Company
The new president of electric parts maker Nidec has vowed to rebuild the company after a series of accounting and product quality scandals.
The pledge came as the firm's auditor declined to give an opinion on Nidec's latest financial report.
Kaida Michio took the post this week after his predecessor resigned.
He apologized for the company's failures and promised reform.
00:14:26 話者 64/Kaida Michio
It is my mission to rebuild the company and restore.
I will ensure we can return to our roots as a company focused on manufacturing, people development and quality.
00:14:42 話者 6
Nidec posted a massive net loss of more than 560 billion yen, or $3.6 billion, for fiscal 2025.
Kaida said he hopes to obtain the auditor's approval of the delayed financial report by the end of the month.
Now, the auditor, PwC Japan, said it withheld its opinion because some Nidec officials involved in accounting irregularities were still involved in the financial reporting process.
Rice Purchases by Japan Wholesalers Hit Record Low
Japan's agriculture ministry says less than 70 percent of last year's rice harvest has been sold to wholesalers. That's a record low and indicates an oversupplied market.
Officials say distributors had sold just over 1.8 million tons of the 2025 harvest at the end of August.
That's 69 percent of the crop, a drop of 16 percentage points from the previous year and the lowest since data became available in in 2013.
The government last year released rice from stockpiles.
That's after the price of the staple food doubled.
The ministry says demand for domestic rice fell as prices rose and more lower-priced imported rice entered the market. Prices of domestic rice have since fallen.
Japan's farmers are now urging the government to buy back the rice it released from stockpiles to improve the supply-demand balance.
US Treasury Yield Hits Two-Decade High
The yield on the 10-year US Treasury Bond on Thursday briefly hit 5.34%, the highest level since 2002.
Investors have been dumping government debt on expectations that rising crude oil prices could keep inflation stubbornly high and the Federal Reserve could hike rates again.
There is also growing unease about the US fiscal outlook.
The government sponsored mortgage giant Freddie Mac says in the week through September 30, the average 30 year fixed mortgage climbed to 7.28%, the highest since November 2023.
If borrowing costs keep rising, it could pose political risks for President Donald Trump's administration as it heads into November's midterm elections.
Markets
Okay, let's have a look at the markets.
♪
And that's it for business news.
Requirements for Japan's 'Secondary Capital' Revealed
00:17:43 話者 1
NHK has learned the Japanese government has set out draft requirements for the country's planned secondary capital.
The designated city is expected to serve as an alternative center for government operations if a major disaster strikes Tokyo.
Government sources said four cities Sapporo, Nagoya, Osaka and Fukuoka currently meet all the draft requirements.
Legislation to allow the designation of a secondary capital was enacted in the Diet in July.
The government now plans to finalize an ordinance that sets specific requirements.
One is that candidate cities be outside areas that could be affected if a major earthquake struck beneath Tokyo or Mount Fuji erupted.
Another requirement is that the population of the candidate city account for at least 1.2% of the country's total.
The city must also be in a prefecture whose GDP makes up at least 2.1% of Japan's overall GDP.
Another requirement is to already be hosting at least half of the central government's 28 types of branch offices.
The city will also need to have special administrative areas similar to Tokyo's 23 wards.
The government plans to announce the draft requirements shortly and invite opinions from the public.
Kurashiki City Weds Sightseeing with Nuptials
In a bid to popularize wedding tourism in a historic setting, a business in western Japan's Okayama Prefecture invited reps from an Australian travel company and other interested people on a sample tour.
This mock wedding ceremony features models as bride and groom.
They're riding on a canal boat in Kurashiki City's famous historical district.
The first stop on the tour was a bamboo garden in a multi-use cultural facility.
Later, the reps took part in a tea ceremony demonstration in an adjoining alcove.
They experienced traditional culture while sipping matcha tea and trying Japanese sweets.
00:19:52 話者 74/Australian company representative
I can see that there are an increasing number of couples.
They are looking for places unique and this is exactly what Kurashiki can offer.
Winning Formula for Company Daycare Model
Many young families today face the difficult task of balancing child rearing and the pursuit of career goals.
One startup's hybrid office concept offers a win-win solution, allowing parents to care for their children without straying too far from work.
Labor of Love
00:20:36 話者 7
This commercial complex is located in a major commuter hub.
Shimokawa Kokoro is heading to work with her 3-year-old daughter.
(JApanese)
Created by a startup, this innovative hybrid office lets mothers balance work and childcare in the very same space.
A panoramic window divides the two areas.
Staffed by dozens of mothers, the office handles customer service work for multiple companies.
Although Shimokawa started off as a stay-at-home mother, she changed her mind after learning about the hybrid concept.
She now works seven hours a day, and the daycare costs are covered by her employer.
00:21:54 話者 73/Shimokawa Kokoro
At first, I wanted to stay home with my daughter.
But after not working for a while, I began feeling isolated and a little lonely.
When I found this place, I realized I could fulfill both of my wishes at the same time.
I could stay close to my daughter while still being able to work.
I immediately knew it was the right place for me.
00:22:16 話者 7
If one of the children needs their mother's attention, A staff member lets them know.
They can then take a break from their work and head over to visit their child.
Mothers are responsible for all hands-on care, from bathroom trips to feeding.
Shimokawa says she appreciates being able to adjust her schedule when her daughter gets sick and always receives support and understanding from her coworkers.
00:23:00 話者 73
Being able to see how my child is doing through the glass really puts me at ease.
They are really flexible when it comes to taking time off for things like school events or other appointments. That makes working here so nice.
00:23:20 話者 7
In addition to customer service, this startup also handles a range of back office work, such as human resources and accounting, for a wide range of client companies.
It currently operates hybrid offices in 46 locations.
00:23:37 話者 72/Fujishiro Satoshi/CEO, mama square
I felt that rather than leaving their children at a daycare and working apart, it would be much more reassuring for them to be together.
To make that possible, I designed a new type of workspace specifically for mothers who want to work in this high-demand outsourcing industry.
I think we've created an environment where they can build a career while still putting their children first.
00:24:03 話者 7
Before heading home, Kiwankawa does her grocery shopping at a supermarket located in the same building.
Concepts like this may encourage people who are unsure about having children by giving them an opportunity to raise their little ones without having to step away from work.
♫
World Weather
00:24:50 話者 1
Up next to check on the weather. It's been a somewhat cooler day here in Tokyo today, but in Hokkaido some areas have even seen snow.
Our meteorologist Yumi Hirano has the details.
00:25:00 話者 8
The temperature in Tokyo was just 20 degrees on Friday noon, much lower than the average high.
For the north, people in parts of Hokkaido had the first snowfall of the season.
The first snow arrived at Mount Asahi in Hokkaido on Friday, making it the earliest in Japan.
Footage shows snow and fog blanketing the ropeway station on the mountain.
The thermometer there showed nearly -1 degree Celsius with strong winds.
Autumn colors have been visible on the mountain since last month, and many visitors originally came to take photos of the leaves.
However, a dramatic change in the view overnight both surprised and excited them.
As a low pressure system moves away, snow and strong winds in Hokkaido are tapping off.
Meanwhile, a high pressure system is likely to cover much of the country over the weekend, so sunny skies are expected in many cities including Tokyo.
The highs will be 25 on Saturday and 23 on Sunday.
Now moving to the Pacific, Storm Choi-wan is hitting the Mariana Islands, bringing gusts of over 100 kilometers per hour.
The storm is expected to intensify more and approach Japan's Ogasawala Islands.
Warning level high waves are expected to start on Sunday.
Heavy rain and strong winds will peak on Monday and Tuesday.
In the bigger picture across Asia, a frontal system is lingering along southern China, bringing isolated downpours.
Showers also could be happier in Chongqing, but sunny skies are expected in Seoul and Tokyo.
That's it for now. Have a nice weekend.
♫～ 3-Day Forecast ～♫
00:27:40 話者 1
That wraps up this edition of NHK Newsline.
I'm Kanako Sachno in Tokyo. Thanks very much for watching.
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