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00:00Welcome to NewZoom Tokyo. I'm Yamasawa Rina and I'm Yoshikawa Ryuichi. Here are the headlines.
00:20Allies of the detained Venezuelan presidents say they will continue to govern despite Washington's intention to run the country.
00:27Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae talked diplomacy and security at her first news conference of the year.
00:37And Chinese President Xi Jinping held a summit with South Korean President Yi Jemian. We'll take a look at what Beijing's strategy is now.
00:47Close aides to Venezuela's ousted president Nicolas Maduro are pushing back against the United States.
00:54They say they will continue governing, defying Washington's plan to run their nation.
01:03Vladimir Padrino, Venezuela's defense minister, said the armed forces strongly condemn the kidnapping of Maduro and his wife, as well as the killing of soldiers and civilians.
01:15Padrino warned that the U.S. military operation represents a serious threat to the global order.
01:24He also said Venezuela rejects what he called the colonialist pretension Washington wants to implement.
01:33Vice President Del C. Rodriguez is acting president.
01:37She has said Venezuela will never again become a colony of any empire.
01:42But U.S. President Donald Trump says his country is going to run Venezuela until a safe, proper and judicious transition is ensured.
01:54And in an interview with The Atlantic magazine, he warned that if Rodriguez does not comply, she will pay a big price.
02:02The Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday that no country can play the role of international police or international judge.
02:13It is a sentiment echoed by this U.S. expert.
02:16There's no authority in international law to use military force to enter the territory of another nation to capture a de facto head of state or any other individual because they're facing criminal charges in your country.
02:34Oil is also a factor.
02:36U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told ABC News that the U.S. has a quarantine on Venezuela's supply.
02:43He said that no sanctioned oil can come in and out until they make changes to the governance of that entire industry.
02:53Rubio said Venezuela's economy will not move forward until conditions in the national interest of the U.S. and Venezuelans are met.
03:03He added that the U.S. wants them to have an oil industry where the wealth goes to the people.
03:10Trump has also reiterated his opinion that the U.S. needs Greenland, saying in an interview a day after the Venezuelan operation that the self-governing island is surrounded by Russian and Chinese ships.
03:27Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in a statement on Sunday that it makes absolutely no sense to talk about the U.S. needing to take over Greenland.
03:38She said the Kingdom of Denmark is part of NATO and is covered by the alliance's security guarantee.
03:47Frederiksen urged Washington to stop threats against a historically close ally and against people who have very clearly said they are not for sale.
04:00Japanese Prime Minister Takaiji Sanae on Monday kicked off the year with a news conference.
04:06Speaking about Venezuela, she said Japan has consistently emphasized the importance of restoring its democracy.
04:15Takaiji gave the news conference after visiting Isejingu Shrine in Mie Prefecture.
04:21Our government will continue its diplomatic efforts to prioritize the safety of Japanese nationals to restore democracy and stabilize the situation in Venezuela while working closely with G7 members and nations in the region.
04:40She also discussed Japan's relations with China, which soured last November after she made a remark about a possible Taiwan emergency.
04:51Takaiji said she has always sought a mutually beneficial relationship based on common interests, adding that she wanted to build a constructive and stable relationship.
05:01She said that's been consistent since she took office.
05:04She added that Tokyo will keep in touch with Beijing.
05:09Takaiji also talked about her plan to revise three of Japan's major national security documents, given that the security environment is changing rapidly.
05:20She says talks within the government are already underway and they will work towards more concrete discussions.
05:27She hopes to get those revisions done within the year.
05:30Reporters also asked Takaiji about dissolving the Loa House.
05:36She has not yet faced a national election as prime minister, but continues to have high approval ratings.
05:43In her comments, she did not mention a potential snap election.
05:46I told the ministers to implement the 2025 fiscal supplementary budget as soon as possible.
05:58It is important for the people to feel the effects of my cabinet's economic policies and our measures against rising prices.
06:06I am working hard to tackle these challenges.
06:09Regarding the ruling coalition, Takaiji said political stability is key to advancing her economic strategies, security policies and diplomatic goals.
06:25She said her ruling Liberal Democratic Party continues to build a relationship with its junior coalition partner, Japan Innovation Party.
06:33Meanwhile, she will continue to call on opposition parties, including the Democratic Party for the people, to cooperate.
06:43Chinese President Xi Jinping has met South Korean President Lee Jae-myung in China on Monday as part of a state visit.
06:52Attention is on what Xi may have called on Seoul to do amid deteriorating relations between Japan and China.
07:00For more insight, we have with us Michishita Narushige, an executive vice president at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies.
07:10He's a specialist in security issues in the Indo-Pacific region.
07:14So, Professor, thank you very much for joining us.
07:16Thank you very much for having me.
07:18So, the South Korean side hopes to use this meeting as an opportunity to confirm the development of relations between the two countries.
07:27Right.
07:28So, what will be the main theme, do you think?
07:31Yeah, so, President Lee would like to improve economic partnership with China.
07:37So, he took 200 South Korean business people to Beijing.
07:42And today, they had organized a business forum, bringing together about 400 people.
07:50So, that's what South Korean president would like to do.
07:54On the other hand, President Xi seems to be trying to bring South Korea toward China, more toward China, away from the U.S. and Japan.
08:04And by saying, well, if you want to improve our relationship, you have to, maybe you should not work, should not be working too closely with the U.S. and Japan, by the way.
08:19And also, you should stay away from Taiwan issue.
08:22And by the way, Japan has kind of raised tension by saying, whatever, you know, Ms. Takai-chi said, but you should not, you must not make the same mistake.
08:36That must be his message.
08:37I want to ask you about the timing of this summit.
08:41So, this is the state visit.
08:43And it's been more than six years since South Korean president visited China.
08:48So, what do you think is the China's intention?
08:50Right. So, what the question is, why now?
08:53Right.
08:54Why now?
08:54Because previous president, South Korean president, Mr. Yun, thank you, was strongly committed to promoting trilateral security cooperation among the U.S., South Korea and Japan.
09:13Right.
09:13So, it was difficult for China to drive a wedge among those three countries.
09:19Certainly, President Li Jemion is interested in maintaining that cooperation, but not as strongly committed to that, you know, kind of partnership as his predecessor.
09:32So, Mr. Xi or China sees it as an opportunity.
09:37Well, on Saturday, the United States attacked Venezuela and detained the president, Nicolas Maduro, and transferred him to the United States.
09:46So, what's the impact in the Indo-Pacific region?
09:52Yeah. So, there are upside and downside.
09:56The downside is certainly this gives an opportunity for Russia and China to justify what they have been doing.
10:07Right.
10:07But there is an upside, which is, you know, this might actually enhance deterrence vis-Ã -vis Russia and China.
10:17In the past, Russia and China have been using force aggressively.
10:23You know, Russia invaded Ukraine.
10:26China has been using force against the Philippines in the South China Sea.
10:31China has been taking aggressive actions vis-Ã -vis Taiwan.
10:36But because the U.S. was kind of abiding by international norms, you know, rules and norms, the U.S. could not respond strongly to these actions.
10:49Right.
10:49But now, in a way, Mr. Trump, by taking this action, proved that or demonstrated that the U.S. can be quite aggressive.
11:01So, hopefully, Russia and China will become a little more cautious going forward.
11:07Hmm. Well, U.S. and China summit meeting is due to be held in April and, you know, try to ease tensions.
11:18Is there any change in the relationship between China and the U.S.?
11:23Yeah. So, President Xi would like to improve relations with the U.S. and bring Mr. Trump toward China and hopefully, you know, kind of drive a wedge between the U.S. and Japan.
11:37By, for example, taking aggressive, provocative actions or aggressive actions vis-Ã -vis Japan.
11:44And when Mr. Xi met with Mr. Trump in April, Mr. Xi can say, well, I know you are a big peacemaker and this is a great opportunity to start improving the situation in East Asia.
12:00You know, you know, Ms. Takahichi, Japanese Prime Minister, has been, you know, heightening the tension.
12:08But let's use this opportunity to improve, start improving the situation.
12:13And for that purpose, please tell Japan not to take any provocative actions anymore.
12:20So, I mean, that can be a one scenario that I'm concerned about.
12:25So, as you said, the relationship between Japan and China has deteriorated after Takahichi's remarks on a possible Taiwan emergency.
12:33So, how should Japan respond to these China's reactions?
12:39So, the most important thing is for Japan to keep the U.S.-South Korea-Japan, you know, partnership together and keep those countries united.
12:51So, fortunately, Mr. Li is coming to Nara, which is, happened to be Ms. Takahichi's hometown, soon.
13:01So, when Ms. Takahichi met with Mr. Li, she should tell him this.
13:07So, Mr. President, I know you are trying to improve relationship with China, which is a good thing.
13:14And actually, Japan is trying to do the same.
13:17But it seems that Mr. Xi is trying to drive a wedge between South Korea and Japan, and maybe between Japan and the United States.
13:27And we must not buy into that tactics, Chinese hands, right?
13:32So, in fact, so she can tell Mr. Li, in fact, by keeping ourselves united, we can enhance our bargaining position vis-Ã -vis China.
13:46So, that would be the best way for us to improve our relationship with China.
13:51Okay. Thank you very much for the analysis.
13:54Thank you very much.
14:02Under the Zodiac calendar used in Japan, 2026 is the year of the horse.
14:13And for business, it's off to a galloping start in a couple of ways.
14:18For the details, let's bring in Yanaka Murray from our business team.
14:22Thanks, Reena.
14:23Let's start off with stocks.
14:25We saw the Nikkei average surge right out of the gate, briefly regaining the 52,000 level for the first time in two months.
14:34That was after the Tokyo Stock Exchange marked the first trading day of 2026, with a traditional ceremony and prayers for a prosperous year ahead.
14:48The ceremony was attended by TSE officials, traders, brokers, and others.
14:55We expect the market to rise as Japan moves toward a stronger economy.
15:02This should be backed by robust performance at Japanese companies, a recovery in private consumption, a rise in corporate investment, and the government's stimulus measures.
15:15Finance Minister Katayama Satsuki was also on hand.
15:19She said this year will determine whether Japan can avoid a return to deflation.
15:24She added that the government has put in place measures to spur growth, and she hopes the stock market will back that up.
15:32Participants clapped their hands to wish for active trading in the year ahead.
15:36In 2025, the Nikkei index gained more than 10,000 points, or 26%, ending the year above 50,000 for the first time.
16:00Investors hope the momentum will carry forward into 2026, supported by a broad-based economic revival.
16:08The Tokyo benchmark ended the first trading day up almost 3% at 51,832.
16:16The gains were led by semiconductor-related shares on expectations chips for AI will drive growth.
16:23Shares of exporting firms also rose as the yen weakened.
16:28Now, another early signal of the business mood is the year's first auction of bluefin tuna.
16:34The prized fish at Tokyo's Toyosu Wholesale Seafood Market reeled in a record price of over $3 million.
16:42Raw and frozen tuna from around Japan and elsewhere went under the hammer on Monday morning.
16:52The highest price was called out for bluefin brought in to Oma Port in Aomori Prefecture in the country's northeast.
17:01The winning bid was 510 million yen, or about $3.2 million.
17:06It came from a sushi chain based in Tokyo's Tsukiji district.
17:14This is a lucky charm, so I hope people all over Japan can enjoy a bite of it and feel revitalized.
17:27It was the highest price paid since at least 1999, when comparable records became available.
17:34It far exceeds the previous high of 333 million yen set in 2019.
17:42Let's finish with a check on stock markets across the Asia-Pacific.
17:46The year of the horse started at full Yalup for many of these forces as well.
17:51That was mainly thanks to semiconductor-related shares.
17:53China's Shanghai Composite added 1.4 percent to end at its highest in a month and a half
18:00after a government fund increased its stake in a major chipmaker.
18:05Sentiment was also supported by a deep-seek paper touting the competitiveness of its AI model.
18:12Taiwan's index jumped over 2.5 percent to close at a record high.
18:17Semiconductor giant TSMC surged over 5 percent after Goldman Sachs lifted its price target for the stock.
18:26Seoul's Kospi also ended at an all-time high.
18:29The benchmark soared nearly 3.5 percent, led by chipmakers.
18:34And that's the biz for this Monday.
18:36Now, let's go to Rosalind Devavalia in our Bangkok studio for stories making headlines across the Asia-Pacific.
18:53In Myanmar's general election, a military-backed party has won a landslide in the first phase of voting.
19:00The junta says the vote, the first since the 2021 coup, is part of a transition back to civilian rule.
19:08But international critics call it a sham.
19:11The military-appointed election commission said the junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party
19:17won 91 of the 102 seats in the lower house up for grabs.
19:22The junta said about half of eligible voters cast ballots in the first phase, held on December 28th.
19:31Under Myanmar's constitution, a quarter of the 664 seats in parliament in both chambers are reserved for the military and are not contested.
19:41Vote counting for the upper house is continuing.
19:45Voting is being held in three phases by region, running through January 25th.
19:50Because of ongoing conflict, polling has been cancelled in 65 of Myanmar's 330 townships, about 20% of the country.
20:00Pro-democracy groups are excluded from the election.
20:05Asian countries are reacting to the U.S. capture of Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro.
20:10Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim wrote on social media on Sunday
20:15that the operation was a clear violation of international law and an unlawful use of force against a sovereign state.
20:24He called for the immediate release of Maduro and his wife
20:27and warned that the forcible removal of a sitting head of government sets a dangerous precedent.
20:33The Philippine Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday
20:36that while it acknowledges U.S. security considerations,
20:40it stresses the principles of international law,
20:43including the independence and sovereign equality of states.
20:48Thailand urged all parties involved to resolve the conflict peacefully
20:52with full respect for the U.N. charter and international law
20:56and to exercise the utmost restraint to avoid escalation.
21:00India called the developments in Venezuela a matter of deep concern
21:04and encouraged all sides to address issues peacefully through dialogue.
21:10Air pollution is a serious problem across South Asia during winter months.
21:16In Pakistan, authorities are using new technology to help protect residents from smog.
21:21NHK World's Nazar al-Islam reports.
21:24A thick haze is blanketing Pakistan's second-largest city, Lahore,
21:31cutting visibility and making even short trips outside a struggle.
21:35Cars and motorbikes emerge from the murk, barely visible.
21:42Smog causes eye allergies and it makes it hard for me to breathe.
21:46When I leave home, I sneeze a lot.
21:48During these smoggy days, we face many problems.
21:51The haze is also taking a toll on livelihoods.
21:56A street window says few people are venting out, hurting sales.
22:04Smog keeps people inside their homes.
22:07It's become very difficult to sell goods.
22:10Business is nothing like it used to be.
22:13Hospitals across the city are feeling the strain
22:16as more patients seek treatment for respiratory problems.
22:21This level of smoke is very dangerous to the health
22:27and as well as many other health conditions
22:33and especially for the children and elderly and the pregnant females.
22:39Authorities in Punjab province where Lahore is located
22:43say they are stepping up efforts to fight back.
22:47Working in what they call a smoke war room,
22:50officials monitor pollution hotspots,
22:53particularly industrial areas,
22:55using a network of cameras and thermal sensors.
22:59Satellite fields are also used to track pollution sources in real time.
23:04Inspection teams are sent to areas where air quality suddenly worsens.
23:15They have the authority to seal factories,
23:18stop stubble burning and impose fines on serious violators.
23:22Officials say the system was upgraded in late 2025
23:27to incorporate AI technology,
23:30enhancing the analysis of incoming data
23:33and improving predictions of where pollution levels are likely to spike.
23:39Based on those improved forecasts,
23:42water spraying trucks are dispatched in advance
23:45to release a fine mist,
23:47helping reduce the concentration of airborne pollutants.
23:51Authorities say these measures have helped cut levels
23:55of fine particulate matter,
23:57known as PM2.5 by about 60 percent,
24:01compared with the previous smoke season,
24:03which they describe as the worst on record in the province.
24:08We hope that we will maintain this ambient air quality
24:12in a better way and all pollution sources will be minimized there.
24:18But officials acknowledge there are limits
24:20to what Pakistan can do on its own.
24:24They say about 30 percent of Lahore's air pollution
24:27at this time of year is carried by winds
24:31from across the border with India.
24:34When stubble burning takes place in India,
24:37along the east border with Pakistan,
24:39then the smoke comes to Lahore from that border
24:44and raise the air quality index of Lahore.
24:48Air pollution has no cross boundaries.
24:51Tackling the problem may require both Pakistan and India
24:55to navigate long-standing and complex tensions.
24:59Natural Islam, NHK World, Lahore.
25:04And that wraps up our bulletin.
25:06I'm Rosalind Abouvalia in Bangkok.
25:08And now it's time for a look at world weather
25:22with our meteorologist, Sayaka Mori.
25:26Many people returned to work today in Japan,
25:29but it was a tough start for people in the northeast.
25:32We're talking about heavy snow and strong winds.
25:34In parts of the north, we've got an additional 30 centimeters of snow.
25:38Tsukai, which is the snowiest spot of the nation,
25:41has about 2.7 meters of snow on the ground.
25:45That's 30 percent higher than usual.
25:47And several places have over one meter of snow already.
25:51Now, cold, dry air is changed to snow clouds
25:54thanks to the Sea of Japan's moisture.
25:58And we are looking at heavy snow from Hokkaido
26:00down to the Hokuriko region.
26:02It looks like an additional 70 centimeters of snow is still on the menu
26:06for Yamagata Prefecture and around the area.
26:09So watch out for avalanches and snow falling from the roofs.
26:12Visibility could be very low as well.
26:16The Sea of Japan is snowy,
26:18but the opposite side of the nation, including Tokyo, will remain dry.
26:22That's the typical wintry weather for Tokyo.
26:25And it'll stay sunny into the next three days at least.
26:27Same goes for Osaka.
26:30Niigata will see heavy snow persisting into Tuesday.
26:33And then you'll see a return of heavy snow starting on Wednesday night,
26:37and that will continue into Thursday.
26:39Sapporo will see minus 3 for the high.
26:42That means it'll remain below freezing all day.
26:45So do bundle up.
26:47Elsewhere in Asia, looking pretty chilly up to the north,
26:50minus 14 in Ulaanbaatar.
26:52The morning low could be below minus 20 degrees.
26:55So quite biting cold out there.
26:586 degrees in Beijing.
26:59And winter is in full force.
27:01There's a beautiful snow and ice festival taking place in Harbin.
27:06It's a real winter wonderland
27:09at the 27th annual Ice and Snow World in Harbin.
27:13This year's theme is a fairy tale world.
27:16The head of the program said that many of Harbin's classic urban structures
27:20were recreated using ice and snow,
27:22with the event using a record 400,000 cubic meters.
27:26That's the largest amount ever used.
27:28That's it for me.
27:29Have a nice day.
27:32And that will bring us to an end to this edition of Newsroom Tokyo.
27:36And you can catch this program on our website.
27:39I'm Yoshikawa Ryuchi.
27:40And I'm Yamazawa Rina.
27:41Thank you very much for watching.
27:43Please join us again tomorrow.
27:46We'll see you next time.
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