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00:00Hello and welcome to Newsroom Tokyo. I'm Roger Prada. Here are the headlines.
00:15The operator of a nuclear power plant in central Japan decides to shut down one of the reactors
00:21just hours after it was reactivated for the first time in over a decade.
00:25U.S. President Donald Trump drops the tariff threats but doubles down on his desire to obtain control of Greenland.
00:33And Japan isn't the only country gearing up to vote on February 8th.
00:38Thailand is also holding a general election that day and my colleague Yamasawa Rina is there right now. Rina.
00:46Hi, Roger. This is a major country in Southeast Asia and with just two weeks left until the vote,
00:52it's still unclear who may form the next government. I'll be bringing you the latest in just a few minutes.
00:59All right, thank you very much for that. But first, a powerful winter pressure system has been bringing heavy snowfall
01:05to northern and western parts of Japan. It's already causing travel disruption
01:10and weather officials are warning there could be more on the way.
01:13The Japan Meteorological Agency says a phenomenon known as a Japan Sea Polar Air Mass Conversion Zone
01:22caused active snow clouds to develop over the Hokuriku and Kinki regions
01:27from Wednesday evening through Thursday morning.
01:30People in Ishikawa and Shiga prefectures were advised to be on alert during that period.
01:35There's usually heavy snow once or twice a year, but this is the first we've had in a while.
01:44The severe weather is forecast to last on until around Sunday.
01:48Niigata prefecture may see 80 centimeters of snowfall over a 24-hour period through Friday evening.
01:55The TÅhoku and the Hokuriku regions could have up to 70 centimeters,
02:00while the Chugoku region may get 40.
02:02I rode a motorcycle from Osaka, but now there's too much snow to get back.
02:10Weather officials say the heavy snow could cause further transport disruption.
02:15NHK World's Mitsuhi Shouko wrapped up warm and headed to Niigata's Nagaoka City
02:20to see how people there are coping with the weather.
02:23Here's our report.
02:25Nagaoka saw 26 centimeters of snowfall since Wednesday, and it is still falling.
02:32There has been disruptions, namely traffic.
02:36Some local trains were canceled in the morning.
02:39One woman told me she had to use the Shinkansen bullet train
02:42instead of the regular train to get to her hospital appointment.
02:47Others shared similar stories about the commute.
02:49My younger brothers are students, and they were late for school because the trains were delayed.
02:59I have an appointment in Niigata, and I chose to take the bullet train
03:04because I don't know how long it would take by car.
03:06Some trains have resumed service, but the disruptions are not over yet.
03:13The operator announced service cancellations again in some areas for the evening.
03:18And there is still a lot of snow to clean up.
03:21People tell me that shoveling has become a daily chore that's set to last for a few days.
03:29Weather officials say the snow will likely keep falling until Sunday.
03:33They are asking people to stay up to date on the latest conditions.
03:38Mitsui Shouko, NHK World.
03:41And for more on how the snow is affecting Niigata Prefecture and other parts of Japan,
03:46here's our meteorologist, Yumi Hirano.
03:49The combination of cold air and moisture over the Sea of Japan
03:53will bring more snow to the country.
03:56Snowfall is also expected on the Pacific side on Thursday night,
04:01such as in Tokai and Shikoku.
04:04Tokyo is likely to stay on the dry side,
04:07but northern Kanto is expected to see more snow.
04:10The heaviest amount is likely to be on the Sea of Japan side,
04:14especially in Hokuriku, including Niigata Prefecture.
04:18Up to 80 centimeters is possible by Friday evening,
04:23an additional 100 centimeters by Saturday and another 100 centimeters by Sunday.
04:30Unfortunately, the conditions are not expected to improve until at least Sunday.
04:36So traffic and transportation services may continue to be affected.
04:41Additional precipitation could increase the risk of falling snow and avalanches.
04:46That's it for now.
04:49Staying with Japan, Tokyo Electric Power Company says it's decided to shut down a reactor
04:54at its Kashibasaki Kariwa nuclear plant.
04:57This is because of a malfunction.
04:59TEPCO says there are no safety issues and no impact on surrounding areas.
05:04The plant is in the central prefecture of Niigata.
05:07Staff suspended extraction of control rods in the No. 6 reactor
05:11in the early hours of Thursday when an alarm sounded.
05:14The alarm was related to the operation and monitoring of the control rods.
05:19By the time it sounded, 52 out of 205 rods had been extracted.
05:25Staff suspected a problem with electrical systems and replaced some components,
05:30but they have not resolved the problem.
05:32They say identifying the cause will take some time.
05:35The No. 6 reactor is the first run by TEPCO to go back online
05:39since the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in 2011.
05:44It just resumed operation Wednesday.
05:47The restart had been scheduled for Tuesday.
05:50It was postponed after a problem with an alarm setting was found
05:53during a control rod test.
05:55Turning now to Thailand.
06:05For the next two days, we'll be bringing you special features from Bangkok.
06:09And my co-anchor, Yamasawa Rina, is there for us live.
06:12Rina.
06:12This building with the Golden Pagoda is the Thai Parliament.
06:21Soon, voters will be deciding who gets to leave that house and the country.
06:26Hi, everyone.
06:27It's just after 6 p.m. here in the heart of Bangkok.
06:31We're about two weeks away from the country's general election.
06:34And here to walk us through, it is Rosalind Devavalia,
06:37one of the anchors from our Bangkok bureau.
06:40So, Rosalind, can you give us a sense of the political situation here now?
06:44For sure.
06:45There's three parties to keep an eye on.
06:47The ruling conservative Pum Jai Thai Party here,
06:50the Progressive People's Party,
06:52and Pue Thai Party loyal to former Prime Minister Taksin Chinawatt.
06:56Those first two are in the lead, so let's focus on them.
06:59Pum Jai Thai is led by Prime Minister Anutin Chan-were-kun.
07:02He became Prime Minister last fall.
07:05Recent tensions with Cambodia have fueled a wave of nationalism
07:08that's turned into big support for his party.
07:11They're facing down the People's Party.
07:14Its predecessor won the most seats in the last election,
07:17thanks to young voters who are unhappy with Thailand's social and economic inequality.
07:22Today, it continues to push for widespread reform.
07:26Thanks, Rosalind.
07:27As she said, those are the parties in the lead,
07:30and young people are expected to be a major voting bloc.
07:34I sat down with two of them to hear more about what's driving their votes.
07:38This election is our chance to form a government chosen by the people,
07:49a government that brings change.
07:52One of the People's Party's key campaign promises
07:55is to create a more transparent government.
07:59Corruption has long run rampant in Thailand.
08:02The party has pledged to build a clean, citizen-focused political system,
08:08what it calls a truly democratic nation.
08:12That message has resonated with Thailand's young voters,
08:16specifically those in Gen Z.
08:20University student Parami Sabsamuan is one of them.
08:24At 19 years old, this will be his first time voting.
08:30I'm 100% sure the People's Party will lead with transparency
08:33so everyone can check and see what they're doing.
08:36That's the reason I chose this party.
08:39Ever since he was a child,
08:41Parami says he's heard stories about corruption in his neighborhood.
08:45He says vote buying and bribery were common in his community.
08:50The wealth gap is another major issue.
08:56According to the World Bank,
08:58Thailand in 2021 had the highest level of income inequality in the region.
09:05Parami says Thai citizens often feel powerless.
09:09But he believes the People's Party can change that.
09:14He attended a campaign event and posted photos online,
09:18hoping his friends will support them too.
09:20Young people need a real change.
09:25I want to encourage more people my age to take part in politics.
09:29If I post on social media,
09:31it can get shared by 10 or 20 people.
09:33Then they can spread the word even further.
09:36That's how we grow the movement.
09:40Chasing the People's Party in the polls
09:42is the ruling Punjaitai party led by Prime Minister Anutin.
09:47The Prime Minister is the head of government and is therefore responsible for protecting our sovereignty
09:58and our land to the fullest extent possible.
10:04Anutin administration has been defined by the conflict with Cambodia,
10:08which left many dead on both sides.
10:12The two countries agreed to a ceasefire late last month,
10:15but tensions along the border remain high.
10:19The fighting sparked a surge of patriotism across Thailand.
10:23It's something Anutin has been leaning into on the campaign trail.
10:28And it's resonating with some voters.
10:34University student Papawin Tapswan supported the progressive camp in the last election.
10:39But that's not the case this time.
10:45Though he lives in Bangkok, far from the conflict,
10:48he says he has a friend on the front line.
10:52Every day he checks the military's social media for updates.
10:56Papawin now believes that strengthening Thailand's military
10:59needs to be the country's top priority.
11:02Thailand had long been stable, but suddenly this very unusual situation emerged.
11:11It's a critical moment, and this issue must come before everything.
11:17Papawin is also trying to convince his friends to back the party.
11:23He hopes Pumjaitai can de-escalate tensions with Cambodia
11:27and shore up the country's national security.
11:30We need to consider which party has a military policy
11:37and diplomatic strategy for dealing with Cambodia
11:40that won't put Thailand at risk.
11:47At this critical juncture, I'm choosing the Pumjaitai.
11:51For more, I'm now joined by Kim Ji-yong from our Bangkok Bureau.
12:01She's been covering the election for us.
12:03So Ji-yong, we just heard from two young voters
12:06who's been talking about their minds.
12:09Is that consistent with what you've been hearing?
12:11Definitely, especially that point about inequality.
12:17That does not just mean money.
12:19Many say they feel shut out of opportunities,
12:22like well-paying jobs or higher education.
12:26It's had an especially big impact on young people
12:29who say they cannot plan for the future.
12:32Some have even given up on getting married or having kids.
12:38These frustrations are not new.
12:41Last election, young voters dissatisfied with the status quo
12:45voted for a reformist party.
12:49It actually won the largest number of seats,
12:52but it was unable to take power
12:55and was actually dissolved by a court.
12:59Many young people today say they feel stuck.
13:03The People's Party is positioning itself as the answer.
13:09A recent poll suggests it's leading with about 30%.
13:13The Pumjaitai Party is in second with about 22%.
13:18But it's unlikely any one party will get a majority.
13:23Analysts say we are probably heading towards a coalition.
13:30The question is between who.
13:33So, Ji-Yong, Thailand is a major country in Southeast Asia.
13:39What kind of impact do we have to expect
13:42to vote on the world stage after the vote?
13:46Well, for starters, the dispute with Cambodia is not over.
13:51The fighting has stopped for now,
13:55but the border issue still hasn't been solved.
13:59We will have to see whether the next government
14:01can ease those tensions.
14:04The vote will also have a big impact on the economy.
14:09Thailand had established itself as a stable investment destination,
14:14but its economy has been sluggish compared to other ASEAN countries.
14:20One reason may be its political instability.
14:25Over the course of one year,
14:27two prime ministers were removed from office.
14:31And over the course of the country's history,
14:35the Thai military has repeatedly carried out coups.
14:40Even now, it has a big influence on the country's politics.
14:44With U.S. tariffs looming,
14:47Thailand is facing economic uncertainty.
14:51It needs a stable government as soon as possible.
14:54The crucial question is who that will be
14:58and how they will tackle those big issues.
15:02Thank you very much for your insight, Ji-On.
15:05So all the young people I met say
15:08they have a responsibility to take Thailand's future into their own hands.
15:13The question is whether or not Thai people as a whole
15:16value security or reform.
15:19It's a decision whose impact will be felt
15:21far beyond the country's borders and across all of Asia.
15:26Back to you, Raja.
15:27Thank you very much, Rina.
15:28She'll be joining us again Friday from Bangkok.
15:51Next, U.S. President Donald Trump has backed off on threats
16:01to use tariffs against Europe to acquire Greenland.
16:05After days of mounting tensions,
16:06Trump arrived in Davos, Switzerland,
16:08for the World Economic Forum Summit
16:10and says he had a productive meeting with the head of NATO.
16:15The U.S. President says he and Secretary General Mark Rutte
16:18agreed to a framework of a future deal
16:21covering the entire Arctic.
16:23He says it will benefit the whole NATO alliance.
16:27It's the ultimate long-term deal.
16:30I think it puts everybody in a really good position.
16:34Trump had been planning tariffs for eight countries
16:36that did not support his plans, including Denmark.
16:40The threats moved the European Parliament
16:42to postpone approval of a trade deal with the U.S.
16:45inked last July.
16:46Regarding Greenland and the threats,
16:51so we formulated quite clear,
16:53until the threats are over,
16:56so there will be no possibility for compromise.
17:00Trump's walk back on the tariffs
17:02came after he appeared to double down
17:04on his desire for Greenland in his Davos speech.
17:08While he has ruled out using force,
17:11he repeatedly claimed only the U.S.
17:13can protect the territory
17:14and lashed out at his European allies.
17:18We paid for, in my opinion, 100% of NATO
17:21because they weren't paying their bills.
17:24And all we're asking for
17:25is to get Greenland,
17:29including right title and ownership,
17:31because you need the ownership to defend it.
17:34Greenland is a self-governing territory of Denmark.
17:38Copenhagen says defending it
17:40is a common concern for the entire NATO alliance.
17:43Trump argued his plan would not be a threat to NATO.
17:47Rather, he says it would greatly enhance
17:49the security of the alliance.
17:51Also at Davos,
17:52Trump said he's speaking with both the Ukrainian
17:54and Russian leaders to make a deal.
17:57He's planning to meet Ukrainian President
17:59Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday.
18:01Trump said both sides need to stop the war
18:04because too many people are dying.
18:08Iranian authorities say more than 3,000 people
18:11have been killed in the nationwide
18:13anti-government protests that began late last month.
18:16It's the first time an official death toll
18:18has been released.
18:21Iran's state-run broadcaster said on Wednesday
18:23there were 3,117 deaths,
18:27including security forces,
18:29amid what it called foreign-backed acts of terrorism.
18:32Some estimates put the number much higher.
18:35Reuters news agency has quoted Iranian officials
18:38as saying at least 5,000 people
18:40were killed in the unrest.
18:42The government says the demonstrations
18:44are now under control
18:45and there have been no recent reports
18:47of major protests.
18:49But with internet access restricted
18:51across the country since January 8th,
18:53the full picture is still unclear.
19:02Investors have seen a sharp climb
19:07in the price of silver in recent weeks.
19:09Yuko Fukushima from our business team
19:11joins us now to tell us what's going on.
19:13So Yuko, we have all seen gold prices
19:15shoot up over the past year
19:17and now it's happening to silver too.
19:19Yeah, that's right, Raja.
19:20Experts say gold is becoming too expensive
19:23for some traders,
19:24especially for retail investors.
19:26So some are turning to silver,
19:28which is cheaper.
19:29Gold and silver markets have a history
19:31of jumping to life
19:32when geopolitical risk increases
19:34around the world.
19:36Fund managers sell stocks and bonds
19:38and buy these precious metals
19:39because they're considered safe haven assets.
19:42And right now, there's no shortage of strife.
19:45Spooking investors, Russia's invasion of Ukraine,
19:48the U.S.-China trade route.
19:50Global whiplash from Trump administration policies
19:53only adds to the uncertainty.
19:56Now here's how silver has been trading
19:58over the past year.
19:59The price is up three times
20:01compared to 12 months ago.
20:03And in a more recent move,
20:04the value more than doubled since October,
20:06rising significantly faster than gold.
20:09So why these diversions?
20:11According to industry expert Bruce Ikemizu,
20:13there are fundamental differences
20:15in what moves the price of gold and silver.
20:18Differences in how they are supplied
20:20and how they are used.
20:2295% is the demand which just hold gold as it is.
20:29Like jewelries or, you know, ingots and gold coins
20:34and central banks hold the gold as it is.
20:37But the industrial use for the gold is like,
20:42I would say, 3 to 5% of the whole demand.
20:46But in silver, 50% is industry demand.
20:50Silver is used in everywhere.
20:53I mean, of course, solar panel.
20:56And also in one car, in automobile,
21:00you have like 500 parts of parts using silver.
21:03This factory makes silver paste
21:06supplied to more than 300 corporate customers.
21:10Silver paste is used to bond semiconductors
21:12and circuit boards
21:13and as a component in cars
21:16and telecommunication equipment.
21:18Surging silver prices are not something
21:20managers here want to see.
21:24I wish the price of silver would calm down a bit.
21:27I hope it comes down soon.
21:30But Ikemizu says there is a problem
21:32for those waiting to see lower prices.
21:34Supplies can't keep up with growing industry demand.
21:39Demand is becoming bigger and bigger,
21:41bigger and bigger year by year
21:44because of the solar panel
21:46which uses silver as a paste.
21:50From 2019, silver has a bigger demand than supply
21:57and it's been like six years now.
22:00So what is the problem of the demand
22:02and supply side that doesn't match?
22:05Why the shortage of supply?
22:08Silver is very difficult to do it
22:10because only 30% of the mining production
22:16coming from the silver mines.
22:19And less of 70% is coming as a by-product
22:22to like a gold, lead and zinc and copper.
22:26So if it is, if they are a by-product
22:31you can't really control.
22:33So you cannot literally increase the production of silver
22:38whatever the price is.
22:40So this is really becoming a very big problem
22:43and the price just reacted to it.
22:49This shows where silver came from in 2024.
22:52As Ikemizu pointed out,
22:54less than 30% is supplied by silver mines.
22:58Most of it is extracted as a by-product
23:00that cites mining other metals.
23:03Ikemizu says that means unlike other commodities
23:05most silver suppliers do not have the same profit incentive
23:09to increase supply when prices climb.
23:12Ikemizu expects the price of silver to fluctuate
23:15in the short term,
23:16possibly dropping from the $90 to $95 an ounce
23:19we are seeing now.
23:20But longer term, he is confident
23:22the upward trend will continue.
23:26I've never seen this sharp rise in the prices
23:29in the past.
23:32So lots of short-term traders coming in,
23:35I mean investors or you should say
23:36speculators coming into the market
23:38and as a result it really jumped up,
23:42located up.
23:43But so we may see some collections
23:46with those people going out
23:48but fundamentally silver is still very strong
23:53because you don't have enough metal.
23:56So I think like if you talk about like
23:59five years, 10 years time,
24:02silver could go like,
24:05I don't know, $200, $300 per ounce easily.
24:09So we have a demand supply mismatch
24:12and geopolitical risks that show no sign of going away.
24:15In that environment,
24:17it could be a while before investors
24:18take their eyes off the silver market.
24:21And now to the stock market.
24:23In Tokyo, the Nikkei rebounded
24:25one and three quarters of percent.
24:26That was unused.
24:27U.S. President Trump backed off
24:29on threats to use tariffs
24:30against European countries over Greenland.
24:33Investors worried that the trade showdown
24:35would have a global impact
24:37showed their relief
24:38by jumping back into shares.
24:40More traders in the region
24:41welcomed the news
24:42and led other indexes up.
24:45Australia's main benchmark
24:47rose three and a quarter percent
24:49and the straight times in Singapore
24:51added almost four tenths of a percent.
24:54In South Korea,
24:55the cost be continuing
24:55to scale new highs in the morning.
24:58Some sold to take profit,
24:59but it still ended the day up,
25:01climbing about nine tenths of a percent
25:03from Wednesday.
25:05And that's the viz for this Thursday.
25:31ZDgmental
25:32Started
25:53ZDJI
25:55In North Korea, it would ensure
25:56its flavor becomes
25:57AddLS
25:58And now a three-day outlook on the weather for selected cities across the globe.
26:28And now a three-day outlook on the world.
26:58And now a three-day outlook on the world.
27:28All right.
27:34We had an audio difficulty just going into our weather break.
27:37We apologize for that.
27:39And that's all for this edition of Newsroom Tokyo.
27:42Don't forget, you can always catch our program on our website.
27:44I'm Roger Pradhan.
27:45And from all of us at NHK World Japan, thanks for watching.
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