Hello and welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Yoshikawa Ryuichi in Tokyo.
Saudi Arabia's State-Run Oil Company Attacked
Fighting between Saudi Arabia and anti-government Houthi forces in Yemen continues to escalate.
Saudi Arabia says an attack struck its state-run oil company, Saudi Aramco.
Saudi Arabia's energy ministry said that the strike on Tuesday caused a limited fire at an administrative building of the company in Dharan, where Saudi Aramco is headquartered.
The ministry added that there were no fatalities or injuries.
State media reported that Saudi-led coalition forces intercepted a Houthi missile resulting in shrapnel falling into a residential area.
It said forces shot down missiles in the capital Riyadh as well.
The attacks are the latest in a string of tit-for-tat strikes between the two sides.
The international airport in Riyadh has come under a series of strikes this month, leaving 14 people dead and more than 300 injured.
Saudi-led coalition forces told civilians on Tuesday to evacuate an oil facility in the Yemeni capital Sana'ar.
This came ahead of a military operation targeting the site.
On Tuesday night, the Houthis said that Saudi warplanes and missiles struck Sana'ar and other areas 104 times over 24 hours.
Japanese Reporter Held in Russia for Suspected Spying
Russian security authorities say they have detained a Japanese newspaper reporter on suspicion of spying.
The Federal Security Service, or FSB, announced on Tuesday that it had detained a locally based correspondent for the Hokkaido Shimbun in the Far Eastern region of Sakhalin.
The FSB accused the man of gathering information related to Russia's defense capabilities under instructions from a Japanese intelligence agency.
The authorities said he was taken into custody and transferred to Moscow immediately before he was due to leave Russia.
Russia's state-run television broadcast an interview with a person who it said is an FSB official.
The person alleged that the journalist collected information from island residents about people who were mobilized for the invasion of Ukraine and those who volunteered.
The residents included those on four islands controlled by Russia and claimed by Japan.
The person said the reporter intended to pass the information on to the relevant Japanese authorities.
The four islands are called the Northern Territories in Japan.
The Japanese government maintains that the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory.
It says the islands were illegally occupied after World War II.
The Russian TV report also said a court in Moscow ordered the journalist's detention for one month and 29 days.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Japan of using
accredited foreign correspondents in Russia to gather information, with the aim of undermining state security.
She described the alleged actions as regrettable.
The Japanese government has asked Russia to promptly provide information about the journalists' detention and to carry out proceedings in a fair manner.
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Minode told the reporters on Wednesday that the government has not yet been able to contact the detained journalist.
00:03:54 話者 2
As we continue to clarify the situation, we will take all necessary measures, such as making further requests to the Russian side.
We will continue to do our utmost to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals.
00:04:07 話者 1
Kihara added the government will deal with the matter while fully taking into account what is necessary for the national interest.
Chinese Delegation Visits Japan-Claimed Island
Staying with the northern territories, the Sakhalin government says a Chinese delegation has visited Etodofu Island, one of the four islands that Japan claims.
Russia controls the islands Japan claims them.
The Sakhalin governor reportedly requested the visit.
The Sakhalin government says the visitors included administrative officials and business people from the northeastern Chinese province of Heilongjiang.
The purpose was to study the feasibility of a joint project between Russia and China.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also visited Etorofu for the first time in August.
Russia is offering tax breaks and other measures to encourage domestic and international investment in the islands.
Following the announcement of the visit on Tuesday, Japan's foreign ministry used diplomatic channels to contact both Russia and China.
It says it urged the countries to act properly regarding the matter.
and noted that Russia's actions are incompatible with Japan's consistent stance that the northern territories are an inherent part of Japan's territory.
Typhoon Rains Fuel Rapid Spread of Invasive Weed
In the aftermath of Typhoon Kurosa last month, some Japanese farmers are now dealing with an unexpected problem fueled by heavy rains.
Chiban Prefecture in particular has been hit hard with severe weather and flooding this year.
And now some rice producers there are trying to manage the spread of what is considered the world's most invasive plant.
Spread of Invasive Weed Harming Japanese Farmland
00:06:07 話者 3
This invasive plant is referred to as nagaitsu no gaito in Japanese or alligatorweed in English.
It originated from South America and is believed to have first appeared in Japan in 1989.
This area in Narita City is currently seeing the worst of the overgrowth following a period of heavy rain.
Four levees collapsed around Lake Imbanuma and officials believe that could be how the weed washed away and spread in the surrounding region.
The weed is hard to control because it is drought resistant and its long roots can quickly regenerate from just a small fragment.
00:06:47 話者 4
This is an invasive alien species.
It will grow rapidly either in a waterway or in this kind of farmland.
00:07:00 話者 3
When alligator wheat takes hold in a farm area, it can have a devastating impact on crops.
00:07:07 話者 2
We have taken measures to control the weeds to the best of our ability up until now, but since it has obviously spread due to this typhoon, we are wondering what we should do going forward.
We would appreciate if the prefecture, the city and the central government could provide assistance or subsidies.
00:07:27 話者 3
One expert points out that in order to prevent this invasive weed from taking root, it is important to look for it before it can spread and remove it early.
00:07:39 話者 2
Because this plant is amphibious, it presents a new type of crisis in that it can invade on a large scale even in land areas.
As we continue into autumn, the above-ground parts will wither and become harder to spot.
So taking action as early as possible is important for that reason as well.
00:07:58 話者 3
While farmers continue to grapple with the alien species,
Officials are urging residents to promptly report any sightings to help prevent further spread.
Possible Leak of Vietnamese-Language Driver's Test
00:08:11 話者 1
A person taking a Vietnamese-language Japanese driver's license exam was caught with images of previous test questions.
This has prompted local police to temporarily suspend tests in Vietnamese.
Kiba Prefectural Police said on Tuesday a supervising official noticed a test taker using a smartphone during the written section of the exam.
The phone apparently contained images of past test questions believed to have been taken by someone else.
The police determined the previous questions had been leaked and decided to temporarily suspend Vietnamese language driver's license exams.
They also plan to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents by
ensuring smartphones are banned during exams.
Questions Linger over Landmine Explosion in Korean DMZ
North Korea did plant a landmine along its border with the South.
That is according to a joint investigation between the South Korean military and the United Nations Command.
But Pyongyang says it had nothing to do with the mine, and is instead pointing fingers at Seoul, leaving more questions in the wake of last month's explosion.
Earlier, I spoke to NHK World's Kim Changju in Paju, South Korea, which is close to the border with the north.
She told us a bit more about what happened there.
00:09:46 話者 5
This is of course one of the most heavily secured areas in the world.
It's known as the DMZ or the Demilitarized Zone and it has divided the two Koreas since 1953.
But last month, a landmine exploded inside the DMZ on South Korean soil and injured three South Korean soldiers, two of them seriously.
That was a shocking turn of events in a place that's so tightly controlled and it set off an investigation into how an explosion like this happened.
Last week, the South Korean military revealed it had in its possession an identical landmine to the one that went off about 10 meters south of the military demarcation line.
The military says it knows the bomb was made by North Korea, and experts tend to agree with that assessment.
00:10:48 話者 4
The mine looks like it's a successor to the wooden box-type landmines long used by North Korea.
They're cheap to manufacture on a large scale.
As well, once North Korea places the mines, it doesn't record their exact coordinates.
It just designates the area as a minefield and leaves them there.
That's the typical approach.
00:11:12 話者 5
Experts say the fact that nobody knew the landmine was there points to North Korea as the culprit.
Authorities also say traces of explosives used in North Korean landmines were found on the injured soldiers' clothing,...
so there's significant evidence pointing north,...
even as Pyongyang denies any involvement.
00:11:36 話者 1
Chun-joo, an unusual explosion in a place
where by definition major military activity isn't supposed to be carried out.
How could something like this happen?
00:11:49 話者 5
The DMZ is about four kilometers wide.
That's the no man's land that both countries are supposed to avoid.
It's a buffer zone that's meant to prevent problems like this from happening.
But there's been a recent push by North Korea to fortify the land on its side.
It began about three years ago when North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said his country would no longer seek peaceful reunification.
The North instead declared South Korea a hostile state.
So in the wake of that policy shift,...
experts say the North has ramped up its landmine operations to make sure nobody can get in or get out.
They say it's working on a so-called complete blockade.
00:12:44 話者 4
Typically, North Korea first lays landmines in areas north of the military demarcation line and installs a primary fence.
It then builds tactical roads, followed by a secondary fence and anti-tank barriers.
This is its method for creating a border system with three or four layers of defenses.
00:13:10 話者 5
NHK cameras caught several explosions in this region in recent weeks.
Experts believe they're from that construction activity that's ramping up within the DMZ.
They also point out that more than 70 years have passed since the boundary was established.
The trees and brush in the demilitarized zone have completely overgrown over the decades, and neither side can clearly identify the exact location of the boundary.
The almost 1300 poles that originally marked it are mostly now long gone.
Only about 200 of them are left.
00:13:53 話者 1
How are people in the South reacting to what's happened here in recent weeks?
00:14:01 話者 5
People I spoke to generally seem to be nervous that the incident could make an already tense situation even worse.
00:14:14 話者 6
If North Korea keeps up this aggressive posturing, it's naturally going to cause anxiety and fear among South Koreans
I think this issue needs to be resolved diplomatically, ultimately by dialogue between the two countries.
00:14:32 話者 5
It's heartbreaking because this is where soldiers serve, and it's also an area people visit.
People don't want those tensions to ramp up, but at the same time, I'm hearing South Koreans want the government to make sure its soldiers are protected.
And as long as North Korea continues activity in this gray area of the DMZ, an explosion or similar incident could happen again.
So the challenge now is what Seoul can do to curb North Korea's activities without disturbing the delicate relationship.
between the two countries.
Nobel Peace Prize Winner Pillay Visits ICC
00:15:34 話者 1
The winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize has visited the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
Navi Pillay offered encouragement to ICC officials and staff who are facing US sanctions.
Pillay served as an ICC judge from 2003 to 2008.
During her visit on Monday, she met with the court's staffers and its president, Akane Tomoko.
Akane congratulated her on the award.
She called it a recognition of the vital role of international justice.
Pillay in turn stressed the importance of the court's work.
She said it ensures that impunity will not be allowed to reign.
The award comes amid fresh pressure out of the US President Donald Trump announced sanctions on the ICC itself Friday following a similar move targeting Akane.
Pillay expressed alarm over the situation at an event Saturday.
Without naming the US, she said the idea of sanctioning judges for their work was unheard of and unacceptable.
Pillay: World Needs International Justice
Pillay sat down with NHK in The Hague.
She reiterated the importance of the ICC and criticized the US for escalating its pressure.
The former ICC judge says she was not expecting to become a laureate.
But the reasons made sense to her.
00:17:00 話者 7
International justice is needed so much all over the world right now.
There are so many conflicts.
Our institutions are under attack.
And they chose to give it to an individual rather than an institution.
So I'm happy with the reasons they gave.
00:17:21 話者 1
She spoke about the Trump administration's sanctions on the ICC.
00:17:26 話者 7
I think it's unlawful, it's unacceptable, but also truly sad because in the whole world people seek justice.
Even Americans know the value of justice and accountability.
00:17:45 話者 1
Pillay stressed that international institutions like the ICC are the only recourse right now in times of war.
00:17:54 話者 7
Unfortunately, it's an imperfect world.
We take small steps, sometimes we slide back.
And who is very carefully ensuring that we don't slide back completely?
Our civil society, we all want a better world for our children.
00:18:11 話者 1
She also touched on Japan and referred to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
She described them as the worst crime.
00:18:21 話者 7
It has to be never again.
That's the story Japanese are telling the whole world.
We suffered, it was not easy, we're still suffering, but we cannot tolerate this aerial bombing, rocket attacks on civilians.
00:18:37 話者 1
Pillai expressed hope that Japan will continue to play a role in protecting the international order in the post-war era.
Business
And now for business stories, here's Ramin Mellegard.
00:18:50 話者 8/Ramin Mellegard
Thank you very much indeed.
Tokyo Railways to Phase Out Magnetic Tickets
Now, railway companies that make up Tokyo's massive train network are phasing out something in use for decades: tickets printed on magnetic paper.
Now, starting next spring, travelers will gain entry to stations using a ticket with a QR code.
More passengers are passing into stations with the tap of a smart card with an integrated chip, and the cost of maintaining ticket gates with magnetic readers is no longer worth it.
The seven companies making the switch include East Japan Railway, Tokyo Monorail that serves Haneda Airport, and Keisei Electric Railway connecting Narita Airport with central Tokyo.
Now, they say for the time being, tickets for Shinkansen bullet trains will still be issued on magnetic paper.
Passengers will no longer need to insert magnetic tickets into the gate, but will just hold the QR code over a scanner.
Now, at stations that have yet to install scanners, tickets will be handed to station staff.
The companies say the shift will not only reduce costs but will also reduce the environmental burden of producing and disposing of magnetic tickets.
The companies are also working with other railways that have yet to sign on to change so passengers with QR codes can transfer to other lines.
ANA Inspecting Boeing 737 MAX Prior to Delivery
Now, major Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways has been inspecting Boeing's 737 Max airliner ahead of the start of deliveries in December.
ANA inspectors are at the Boeing factory in the US
state of Washington, checking whether the airplane meets strict quality standards.
Boeing says the flight range
of the 737 Max series is roughly 1,000 kilometers longer than the conventional 737 models, and fuel efficiency is about 15% better.
Now, in 2024, a panel sealing an unused emergency exit on an Alaska Airline 737 Max blew off during a flight.
Boeing has been trying to improve safety by managing its production speed.
00:21:14 話者 6
We have told Boeing what we have noticed about the production process, and product quality has improved.
We will cooperate with Boeing to facilitate the delivery of better aircraft.
00:21:27 話者 8
ANA says it will continue regular on-site quality inspections.
The carrier plans to introduce up to 42 of the 737 MAX for domestic use.
Rival Japan Airlines plans to follow suit by next March.
Skymark Airlines already started using the plane in May.
Budget EVs Attract Attention at Paris Motor Show
Chinese carmakers are expanding their presence in Europe at a time when high fuel prices are causing demand for electric vehicles to re-surge.
Over 60 marks from both Western and Chinese automakers are on display at the biennial Paris Motor Show, which opened on Monday.
Displays of compact low-priced EVs stood out as the situation in the Middle East has kept gasoline and diesel prices high.
The Citroen brand from major European automaker Stellantis unveiled an electric concept car based on a popular series from the past.
It said the vehicle would have a relatively reasonable price tag of around 15,000 euros or nearly $17,000.
Renault's top executive also touted the strong sales of his small electric vehicles that went on sale this year.
Meanwhile, 25 Chinese car brands are on display this year.
That's about a 50% increase from last time.
BYD unveiled its new electric sport utility vehicle, which can be charged in a short time.
Chinese automakers have seen sales of their hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles
grow alongside EB sales as they expand their market share in Europe.
Markets
Okay, let's have a check on the markets.
♪
And that's it for business.
World Weather
00:24:20 話者 1
Severe weather hit the capital of Chile Tuesday, causing it to look like a different season.
Our meteorologist Jonathan Oh has the details in our world weather report.
00:24:32 話者 9/Jonathan Oh
Hello, we have been talking about portions of Chile dealing with
Not so good weather in the past couple of weeks and we're continuing that story right now when it comes to the severe weather in the capital.
Let's take a look at some video as people in Santiago experience chaotic weather Tuesday as severe storms hit the city.
Footage shows hail blanketing streets with residents describing it as winter-like conditions during spring.
The National Disaster Prevention and Response Service issued alerts due to the storms, and Santiago Metro reported that it closed several stations along a major line due to flooding at the entranceway, though trains did continue to run unaffected.
Changes are on the way as we head toward Wednesday.
A lot of that bad weather is moving toward the east and away from Santiago.
So as we see that change taking place, we should be seeing more in terms of sunnier weather for Wednesday with a high of 22.
Thunderstorms, though, over to Osinocio and Brasilia toward the north and east, Rio de Janeiro looking at 27 with some rain coming up for the middle of the work week.
Meanwhile, in Europe, we have a couple low pressure systems that's impacting the weather picture here, one down toward the south, toward Greece and Turkey.
This pattern has brought thunderstorms into the area and will be the case as we go through Wednesday.
toward the north we also have a low pressure so moving up towards Scandinavian Peninsula and that is going to bring a cold front with it bringing rain from Stockholm into Moscow Warsaw Vienna thunderstorms to Istanbul with a high of 19 for Wednesday wrapping things up with a look at Northeast Asia some showers around in the morning part in Tokyo as we went through Wednesday but then saw some Sun later on more rain though up to the north as we went through Wednesday we're going to Thursday the cold front clears high pressure moving
in and that's going to bring more of a pleasant weather pattern coming up across Japan.
Tokyo looking at partly cloudy skies highs of 23 for Thursday.
Hope you have a good day wherever you want.
♫～ 3-Day Forecast ～♫
00:27:45 話者 1
And that wraps up this edition of NHK Newsline.
I'm Yoshikawa Ruichi in Tokyo. Thank you for joining us.
NHK World
00:28:01 話者 99
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