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00:00Welcome to Newsroom Tokyo. I'm Yamasawa Rina and I'm Yoshikawa Ryuichi. Here are the headlines.
00:19Another strong earthquake hits northern Japan four days after Monday's major of Ten Blur.
00:24Thailand's Prime Minister dissolves Parliament, paving the way for a general election within 60 days.
00:34Chronic air pollution worsened by winter is hurting the health of millions of Indians.
00:42Northern Japan was rattled by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake late Friday morning.
00:48The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami advisory but has since lifted it.
00:56The JMA says the quake struck off Aomori Prefecture's eastern coast at 11.44 a.m.
01:04It had a depth of 17 kilometers.
01:0720-centimeter-high tsunami were observed in some areas.
01:11Across Hokkaido and the Tohoku region, tremors reached an intensity of 4 on the Japanese scale of 0 to 7.
01:23It is almost the same type of earthquake as the one that struck off the coast of Aomori Monday.
01:29There has been seismic activity in the area since Monday's magnitude 7.5.
01:33There have been several quakes with a magnitude of at least 6, including this one.
01:42That Monday quake prompted the JMA to issue a subsequent earthquake advisory.
01:48The agency is continuing to urge residents to prepare for a possible mega quake.
01:53Professor Sakai Shinichi of Tokyo's University's Earthquake Research Institute said the latest quake
02:01is likely a continuation of Monday's seismic activity.
02:08We haven't pinpointed the epicenter yet,
02:11but this quake is believed to be a continuation of the recent seismic activity.
02:17Monday's quake was relatively big, at magnitude 7.5.
02:23So, there was always a possibility that an earthquake of this size could occur.
02:30People need to remain alert to the risk of such earthquakes happening for a while.
02:40Sakai added that people should double-check the emergency preparations they have made so far.
02:46He said that he wants them to visualize what they will do if an earthquake strikes.
03:00Political uncertainty is deepening in Thailand.
03:04Turan-Tia Khao-san has the details from our Bangkok studio.
03:10Thailand will hold a general election within the next 60 days.
03:14After Prime Minister Anutin Chan-wira-kun dissolved Parliament.
03:20In a royal decree released on Friday,
03:23Anutin said his administration had been unable to govern with stability as a minority government.
03:29The decision comes as Thai politics has reached an impasse.
03:34Former Prime Minister Paetong Tan Chinwat was ousted over her handling of a border dispute with Cambodia.
03:40Anutin took office with the backing of the largest opposition party,
03:45but his government later faced mounting political conflict,
03:49including disagreements over constitutional reform.
03:52There is also trouble along the disputed border with Cambodia,
04:01where forces from both sides have been exchanging fires since Monday.
04:06At least 21 people have been killed,
04:09and more than 500,000 have been evacuated.
04:12For more on what's behind the decision, what comes next,
04:16we're joined by our correspondent, Takaoka Shikashi.
04:20Shikashi, the dissolution came earlier than expected.
04:23Why did it happen?
04:24The most immediate factor is a deadlock in the parliament.
04:29Prime Minister Anutin has been leading a minority government,
04:33which made it difficult to secure enough support to pass a legislation.
04:37And that led to a prolonged parliamentary statement,
04:40and ultimately to the dissolution.
04:43Looking back at this year's political turbulence,
04:46nationalist leader Anutin took office after his predecessor was removed by a court ruling.
04:51To become a prime minister, he relied on support from the largest opposition party,
04:57the Reform-Minded People's Party,
05:00in exchange for a pledge to pursue constitutional reform.
05:04However, the two sides failed to agree on how the constitution should be revised.
05:10The opposition party had been preparing a no-confidence motion against Anutin
05:16that helped trigger the dissolution of the parliament.
05:19At the same time, Thailand is involved in an ongoing border conflict with Cambodia.
05:26Fighting has intensified, but casualties continuing to rise.
05:30The royal decree dissolved in parliament,
05:34said the government needed stability to address these challenges
05:37in a smooth and orderly manner.
05:41Anutin said the decision is aimed at breaking the political statement
05:45and demonstrating the government's resolve to confront both internal political divisions
05:52and external security pressures.
05:55Now, Thailand has seen frequent changes of government in recent years.
05:59There have already been three prime ministers since the last election in 2023.
06:04So what should we be watching for as the country heads into another vote?
06:08Well, the election will take place at a particularly difficult moment for the country.
06:15Beyond the border conflict, the economy remains sluggish
06:18and several regions are still recovering from severe flooding.
06:23We asked people on the street for their views on the political move.
06:26I was shocked, particularly because the country is already facing what feels like a wartime situation.
06:35Every time there's an election,
06:37you hope things will change for the better and bring more stability.
06:40But based on past experience, it's hard to expect too much.
06:43With the vote expected in less than two months,
06:50some analysts say the crashes with Cambodia could hamper voting,
06:54especially as hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to evacuate border areas.
07:00Prime Minister Anutin said the government will try to resolve the situation before the election.
07:05He is expected to hold talks with U.S. President Donald Trump,
07:11who has indicated he will also speak with Cambodia's leader.
07:16Attention is now on the outcome,
07:18but the border dispute has a long history and will take time to resolve.
07:23The dissolution of parliament and the upcoming election
07:26are adding further uncertainty to Thailand's political landscape
07:30with possible implications for regional stability as well.
07:35Thank you, Shikashi.
07:37And turning now to Bangladesh,
07:39where authorities have announced the country will hold general elections on February 12.
07:44That's 18 months after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted.
07:50The chief election commissioner confirmed the date
07:53in a televised address to the nation on Thursday.
07:56The last vote was held in January last year
07:59when Hasina won her fourth consecutive term.
08:02In July and August of 2024,
08:06deadly student-led uprisings culminated in the Prime Minister's removal from office.
08:12Hasina fled to India, where she remains in exile.
08:15A court in Bangladesh sentenced her to death last month for crimes against humanity.
08:21Muhammad Yunus has been serving as the interim government's chief advisor.
08:25The Nobel Peace Prize laureate hailed the announcement.
08:29He said in a statement that Bangladesh's path toward democracy has reached an important milestone
08:35and that the vote will prioritize the will of the people
08:38and further strengthen the country's foundation.
08:42The Yunus-led administration has barred Hasina's Awami League party
08:46from all political activities, including the upcoming election.
08:51Hasina supporters are intensifying their opposition to this decision.
08:55This raises the question of whether a democratic transfer of power
08:59can be achieved without any disruption.
09:03And that wraps up our bulletin.
09:05I'm Pratira Kausan in Bangkok.
09:07At this time of year, air quality worsens in South Asia,
09:24harming the health of millions of people.
09:27India continues to record some of the most severe air pollution in the region.
09:31India's capital, New Delhi.
09:37Visibility is poor because of thick smog,
09:40making it hard to see even nearby buildings.
09:45The culprits include vehicle exhaust fumes
09:47and the increased burning of farmland in winter.
09:52Temperatures are dropping in New Delhi and surrounding areas,
09:55trapping pollutants close to the ground and fouling the air.
09:59In November, authorities told local schools
10:12to suspend outdoor activities to protect children from toxic air.
10:16This school in the suburbs holds physical education classes indoors.
10:28Some children stay home and take the class online.
10:34Outdoor activities for their personal confidence,
10:38for their development and for the country also,
10:41for their society also.
10:43So these things are very important.
10:45And pollution is,
10:47these two months normally,
10:49they are really a great loss to the children.
10:54For more on this,
10:55NHK World's Matsumoto Yuzuru joins us now from New Delhi.
11:00So Yuzuru,
11:01just how bad is the pollution there
11:03and how is it affecting daily life?
11:05It's pretty bad.
11:11Even though I'm wearing a mask,
11:13I still feel a tickle in my throat.
11:16When I'm outside,
11:18I start coughing
11:18and my eyes often eat.
11:22Residents are installing air purifiers
11:25in their homes.
11:27Some have even moved
11:28to the south of the country
11:30where air quality is better.
11:32So what is the central government doing
11:36to tackle the problem?
11:42The government has banned open burning on farmland,
11:45which is a major source of pollution.
11:48But farmers here have long burned stubble
11:51to clear their fields quickly
11:53for the next planting.
11:55And it's been difficult to change that practice
11:57through regulations alone.
11:59Officials are also using aircraft
12:03to spray chemicals into the air
12:06in an effort to induce artificial rain.
12:10That can help lower pollution levels,
12:13but so far,
12:14the impact has been limited.
12:17A startup in the suburbs
12:19has even come up with a wearable air purifier
12:22that hangs around the neck.
12:25The developers say
12:27it generates negative ions
12:29that cling to pollutants
12:31that then fall to the ground.
12:33More than 20,000
12:35have been sold so far.
12:37I also face a lot of issues
12:41in terms of my chest feeling heavier
12:44and my nose heavier.
12:45In fact, I felt sick a couple of times as well.
12:47So that is what kind of inspired me
12:49to look into this direction.
12:51It is extremely serious.
12:52It is nothing short of a health hazard
12:54or a public emergency.
12:58Is there a sense of urgency
13:00given that this affects everyone
13:02in and around Delhi?
13:07Yes, public frustration is growing
13:10because the situation
13:12doesn't seem to be improving.
13:14In November,
13:16some residents here
13:17held a protest
13:18chanting slogans like
13:20I can't live
13:21and stop the pollution
13:23directing their anger
13:25at the government.
13:26Many say
13:27authorities need to act quickly
13:30before public patients
13:32runs out.
13:34Thanks to Yuzuru.
13:35That was NHK World's
13:36Matsumoto Yuzuru reporting
13:38from New Delhi.
13:39The United States says
13:52it can maintain
14:07its close partnership
14:09with Japan
14:10while still pursuing
14:11a constructive relationship
14:13with China.
14:15A White House spokesperson
14:17was responding
14:18to a reporter.
14:20She had asked
14:21if the U.S.
14:22is concerned
14:23about a conflict
14:24involving the Chinese military
14:26and Japan.
14:28Japan is a great ally
14:30of the United States
14:31as evidenced
14:31by their personal relationship
14:33in our continued trade relations
14:35with Japan.
14:36With respect to China,
14:38the president also has
14:39a good working relationship
14:40with President Xi,
14:41which he believes
14:42is a good thing
14:42for our country.
14:44And he believes
14:44that the United States
14:45should be in a position
14:46to have a good working
14:48relationship with China
14:49while maintaining
14:50our very strong alliance
14:51with Japan.
14:51A remark last month
14:54from Japanese Prime Minister
14:55Takahichi Sanae
14:57triggered a sharp response
14:59from China.
15:00She said
15:00a possible Taiwan emergency
15:02involving the use of force
15:04could be considered
15:05a situation
15:06threatening
15:07the survival of Japan.
15:09Last Saturday,
15:11at least one Chinese fighter jet
15:13aimed its radar
15:14intermittently
15:15at a Japanese
15:16Air Self-Defense Force aircraft.
15:18Beijing has also urged
15:20its nationals
15:21to refrain
15:22from traveling
15:23to Japan.
15:25The defense chiefs
15:27of Japan
15:27and the U.S.
15:28have shared concerns
15:29over the radar incident.
15:33Japanese Defense Minister
15:34Koizumi Shinjiro
15:35and U.S. Defense Secretary
15:37Peter Hegseth
15:37held telephone talks
15:39for about 40 minutes
15:40on Friday,
15:41Japan time.
15:43Koizumi said
15:44Japan will continue
15:45to diligently
15:45carry out patrols
15:47and surveillance
15:48around the country
15:49and to respond calmly
15:51and resolutely
15:52to contingencies.
15:54The two chiefs
15:55shared the view
15:56that China's act
15:58is not conducive
15:59to regional peace
16:00and stability.
16:02They agreed
16:02to closely communicate
16:04with each other.
16:06Koizumi and Hegseth
16:07also reaffirmed
16:08their countries
16:09will work
16:10with a sense
16:11of urgency
16:12to enhance
16:13the Japan-U.S. alliance's
16:15deterrence
16:15and response capabilities.
16:19Koizumi later
16:19spoke to reporters.
16:24Japan will continue
16:25to appropriately
16:26convey its position
16:27to the international community.
16:29We will also
16:30strongly urge China
16:31to prevent a recurrence.
16:34The two plan
16:35to arrange
16:36for Koizumi
16:37to visit the U.S.
16:38as early
16:38as the beginning
16:39of next year
16:40for talks
16:41with Hegseth.
16:52The yield
16:53on long-term
16:54Japanese government
16:55bonds
16:56climbed to
16:56an 18-year high
16:58this week.
16:59Yuko Fukushima
17:00is here
17:00to explain
17:01the implications
17:02of that
17:02as we head
17:03into 2026.
17:05Thanks, Ryuchi.
17:06The recent yield rises
17:07are good news
17:08for savers
17:08looking for better
17:09returns
17:10on their money.
17:11Investment seminars
17:12like this one
17:13at a Tokyo brokerage firm
17:14are drawing crowds
17:15of people
17:16looking for places
17:17to park their cash.
17:21I'm trying
17:22to figure out
17:22what to do
17:23with my retirement fund.
17:25The interest rates
17:26offered by the banks
17:27are still fairly low,
17:28so I'm looking
17:29at other options.
17:30One reason
17:36why JGBs
17:37are such a hot
17:37commodity
17:38right now
17:39is inflation.
17:41A rise
17:41in the cost
17:42of goods
17:42and services
17:43means an equivalent
17:44fall in the value
17:45of money.
17:46To protect
17:47that value,
17:48people turn
17:48to financial
17:49products
17:49that offer
17:50generous returns.
17:52And the return
17:53on JGBs
17:54has been looking
17:54more generous
17:55with each
17:56passing month.
17:57This week,
17:58the yield
17:58on the benchmark
17:5910-year government
17:59bond briefly
18:00hit 1.97%.
18:02The last time
18:03it was that high
18:04was back
18:05in June 2007.
18:07To understand
18:08why JGB yields
18:09are going up,
18:10you need to understand
18:11that the yield
18:11moves in the opposite
18:13direction to the price.
18:14So the higher yield
18:15actually means
18:16bonds are getting cheaper.
18:19JGB expert
18:20Kadonaka Masafumi
18:21told me
18:22why this is happening.
18:23He said
18:23the market
18:24is expecting
18:25the government
18:25to fund
18:26a new
18:27$117 billion
18:28stimulus package
18:30by issuing
18:30a large number
18:31of bonds.
18:34Japan has
18:35a massive
18:35fiscal deficit.
18:37The increase
18:38in the issuance
18:39of new government
18:39bonds,
18:40in addition
18:41to this deficit,
18:42has naturally
18:42led to concerns
18:43about the worsening
18:44supply and demand
18:45balance for those bonds.
18:47This is all
18:48happening at a time
18:49when we're experiencing
18:50a moderate economic
18:51recovery
18:52with persistent
18:53high inflation.
18:54Given this situation,
18:56if the government's
18:57policies were to
18:58overly stimulate demand,
19:00the market is concerned
19:01that inflation
19:02might not ease.
19:04Instead,
19:04there's a risk
19:05it could go even higher.
19:07Kadonaka says
19:09the yield on the
19:0910-year government bond
19:10is often seen
19:11as a measure
19:12of economic health.
19:13That's because
19:14it's typically used
19:15as a benchmark
19:16for people
19:16who are considering
19:17whether to take
19:18on a home loan
19:19or borrow money
19:20for a business.
19:21And 2%
19:22is considered
19:23the yield's
19:24symbolic threshold.
19:26Kadonaka says
19:26its return to that level
19:29after so many years
19:30of deflation
19:30implies Japan's economy
19:32is finally back on track.
19:35For nearly 30 years
19:37after the bursting
19:37of Japan's bubble,
19:39the long-term yield
19:40has basically remained
19:41at levels below 2%,
19:42although there were
19:44some periods
19:44when it briefly exceeded it.
19:46This year,
19:47the yield has risen
19:48quite significantly,
19:49climbing close
19:50to the 2% level.
19:51The critical point
19:52is that a 2% yield
19:54essentially means
19:55there's a 2% borrowing
19:56cost involved.
19:58The question is
19:58whether Japan
19:59can achieve economic growth
20:01while bearing this cost.
20:03Looking to the year ahead,
20:05Kadonaka thinks
20:06it's unlikely
20:07the yield will go
20:08significantly higher.
20:11Up until now,
20:14both businesses
20:14and individuals
20:15were used to operating
20:17in a very low
20:18interest rate environment.
20:20Companies plan
20:20their business strategies
20:22based on low
20:23borrowing costs.
20:24It's the same
20:25for households.
20:26Family planning
20:27was based on
20:27low interest rate
20:28housing loans.
20:30Just because interest rates
20:31are surging now,
20:33it doesn't mean
20:33the economy
20:34is fully prepared
20:35for a higher
20:36interest rate environment.
20:39Kadonaka says
20:40traders are all
20:41asking the same question.
20:42Can the government
20:43use its stimulus
20:44to give the economy
20:45a shot in the arm
20:46without driving
20:47inflation higher?
20:51There's a chance
20:53the package
20:53will push prices
20:54up further.
20:55If that happens,
20:57interest rates
20:57will rise too.
20:59There's a possibility
21:00this negative feedback loop
21:02could intensify,
21:03creating a situation
21:04that's not
21:05economically sustainable.
21:07If the government
21:08presses the accelerator
21:09too hard,
21:11the long-term rate
21:12could hit 2.5%
21:13in 2026.
21:16Determining this point
21:17or this risk level
21:19is what we really
21:20need to watch.
21:23Generations of
21:24Japanese people
21:24have taken out
21:25student loans,
21:26got credit cards,
21:27secured mortgages,
21:28and started a business
21:29all without sweating
21:31too much
21:31over interest repayments.
21:34Well, that's
21:34about to change.
21:36And now to the
21:37stock markets in Tokyo.
21:38The Nikkei gained
21:381.37%
21:40to end the week
21:41at 50,836.
21:44Traders bought
21:44on expectations.
21:45The U.S. Federal Reserve
21:47will continue to cut rates
21:48to support the economy,
21:49a trend that will have
21:50a positive impact
21:51on Japanese shares.
21:53Analysts expect
21:54big moves
21:55on the stock market
21:55next week
21:56when the Bank of Japan
21:57meets to discuss
21:59monetary policy.
22:01The Fed's decision
22:01lifted most indexes
22:03in the region higher.
22:05Singapore's
22:05Straits' times
22:06climbed to a new
22:07all-time high,
22:08closing the day
22:09up 1.45%
22:11in China.
22:12The Shanghai Composite
22:13rose 4 tenths of a percent
22:15on reports
22:15the government
22:16will maintain
22:17economic policies
22:18to sustain
22:19high growth.
22:20And that's the biz
22:21for this week.
22:24The character
22:26for bear
22:26has been chosen
22:27as the kanji
22:29that best represents
22:30the year 2025
22:31in Japan.
22:32Bear sightings
22:33have been unusually
22:34frequent
22:35across wide areas
22:36of the country.
22:37Some encounters
22:39have caused
22:39significant,
22:41even lethal,
22:42harm.
22:44The annual poll
22:45is conducted
22:46by a Kyoto-based
22:48association
22:49promoting
22:50the Chinese characters
22:51used in Japanese
22:52writing
22:53known as kanji.
22:55The group
22:56announced the result
22:57on Friday
22:58in the ancient capital
22:59with a calligraphy
23:00demonstration
23:01by the chief priest
23:02of Kiyomizu-dera temple.
23:06The kanji for bear
23:07received more than
23:0820,000 votes
23:10among nearly
23:11190,000 entries.
23:15Association officials
23:16said increasing
23:17bear encounters
23:18have fueled
23:19public anxiety.
23:23The natural environment
23:25has changed
23:27and I realized
23:29that it is
23:30getting closer
23:31to our surroundings.
23:35The chief priest
23:36said he wants
23:37to pray for the souls
23:38of all those
23:39who died
23:40in bear attacks
23:40this year.
23:52Now let's check
23:53out the world weather.
23:55A Siberian cold air
23:57mass is gripping
23:58much of northeast Asia.
24:00Our meteorologist
24:01Yumi Hirano
24:02has the details.
24:04People in Beijing
24:06experienced
24:06the coldest day
24:07of the season
24:08so far.
24:09The high was only
24:10minus 1.1 degrees
24:12on Friday.
24:13Cold air
24:14also brought
24:15heavy snow
24:15to northern Japan.
24:1745 centimeters
24:18in just 12 hours
24:20has been reported
24:21in Miyagi prefecture
24:22setting a record.
24:24The winter
24:24storm
24:25has created
24:26some disruptions
24:27in Japan.
24:31Snow is falling
24:32across northern Japan.
24:34In Hokkaido
24:35eight trains
24:36between Sapporo
24:37and New Chitose
24:38Airport
24:38and 18 flights
24:39have been cancelled
24:40due to the weather.
24:42In Niigata City
24:44strong winds
24:45were reported
24:46with gusts
24:46reaching about
24:4790 kilometers
24:48per hour.
24:50All failures
24:51between Niigata City
24:52and Sato Island
24:53having cancelled
24:54due to the conditions.
24:57Heavy snow
24:58and blizzard conditions
24:59are expected
24:59to continue
25:00in northern Japan
25:01on Friday.
25:02Another system
25:03has brought
25:04heavy snow
25:04to northern China
25:05including Beijing
25:06and is now
25:08moving toward
25:09the Korean Peninsula.
25:11So snow
25:11is likely
25:12in Seoul.
25:13Tokyo will see
25:14sunny skies
25:14in the morning
25:15but showers
25:16will arrive
25:17by Saturday night.
25:19Moving to the
25:20United States
25:21cold air
25:22is bringing
25:23winter conditions.
25:24Heavy snow
25:25is possible
25:26in the northern plains.
25:27Over 30 centimeters
25:29of snow
25:29is expected
25:30in Montana
25:31by Saturday.
25:32And while
25:33below average
25:34temperatures
25:34will also
25:35be a concern.
25:37The high
25:37in Chicago
25:38will drop
25:38to minus 10
25:40on Saturday
25:40and minus 11
25:42on Sunday.
25:43New York
25:44and Washington
25:44will see
25:45freezing temperatures
25:46with snowy
25:48conditions
25:49on Sunday.
25:50And Atlanta
25:50are expected
25:51to face
25:52big temperature
25:52changes
25:53from 17
25:54on Saturday
25:55to only 5
25:57on Sunday.
25:59That's it
25:59for now.
26:00Stay warm.
26:00for now.
27:30And that's it for this edition of Newsroom Tokyo.
27:37And remember, you can catch this program on our website.
27:41I'm Yoshikama Ryuchi.
27:42And I'm Yamasa Marina.
27:43Thank you very much for watching.
27:45Have a great weekend.
27:55Good evening.
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