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tv   Newsline 30min  KCSMMHZ  January 21, 2013 6:00am-6:30am PST

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welcome to nhk "newsline." algerian forces continue to search for islamist militants that could be hiding at a gas plant in the east of the country. the militants have been holed up at the complex in the city of in amenas with hostages from several countries. the bodies of five persons bearing japanese tags have been brought to the hospital. japan's delegation is there.
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they're trying to determine the fate of 10 japanese employees of engineering firm jgc corporation. the company confirmed friday that seven other japanese employees are alive. during the standoff, an algerian tv station aired audio recordings of communications between the country's security forces and the militants. the algerian government is under fire for failing to release updates on the hostages since confirming the deaths of 23 on saturday. officials say prime minister abdelmalek sellal will disclose more details at a news conference later on monday. dozens of hostages are still missing. japanese and u.s. regulators are investigating the company
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that makes batteries for the boeing 787. they are trying to figure out why the battery produced smoke that forced a pilot to make an emergency landing. officials with japan transport safety board and the u.s. federal aviation administration visited gs yuasa firm the pilot of an ana flight made an emergency landing in western japan after a smoke alert went off. all dreamliners have been grounded since last week. safety inspectors believe the smoke came from a battery that overheated because the current was too high. we have more. >> translator: the inside of the battery looks like charcoal. >> reporter: the investigating teams say the batteries appeared to have been burned out.
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a similar problem was on japan airlines 787 on january 7th in the united states. one of the batteries caught on fire at the international airport in boston. authorities are looking into the possibility that the batteries overheated, causing them to catch on fire. the battery is located below the cockpit and is used to run the plane's electrical system. the maker, gs yuasa, can hold trice the charge of other models the same weight, but they say it could overheat if too much power flows into the battery. >> translator: to identify the cause of the incident, they need to look not just at the battery but also at the circuits and how the battery was used. >> reporter: the inspectors aim to discover what went wrong with the dreamliner's entire
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electrical system and determine what safety measures are needed. nhk world, tokyo. police in the american state of new mexico are trying to figure out what could have driven a teenager to pick up a gun and kill. they arrested a 15-year-old boy in connection with the shooting deaths of five people including three children. authorities took the teen into custody on saturday. the victims died of multiple gunshot wounds at a home in albuquerque. u.s. media say they were related to the shooter. police found a semiautomatic rifle and other weapons at the scene. they are trying to determine how he got the guns. u.s. president barack obama has been trying to reform gun control laws since the mass shooting last month at an elementary school in connecticut. his proposal has prompted protest rallies across the country. assertions that part of a
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rocket launched by north korea in december was made in china could influence u.n. security council discussions. the body is considering possible responses to the launch. south korea's military has analyzed debris from the rocket salvaged from the yellow sea. including a first stage fuel tank. sources say some of the debris appears to be from china and four other countries. u.n. resolutions ban member countries from exporting missile parts to north korea. many countries view the launch as a test of the north's long-range missile technology. china has traditionally defended the north at the security council. u.s.-based group human rights watch has called on the united nations to look into abuses at north korea. parents of a japanese abducted by the north joined the appeal. the group's tokyo office chief has said the world has focused on the north's nuclear programs, not its human rights record and
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called on japan's government to lead efforts to launch a u.n. investigation. she was backed by the parents of a man who was abducted by the north in 1977 at the age of 13. >> translator: it is unacceptable. that people continue to suffer in labor camps or in worse situations in north korea. i hope more will be done to improve the situation. >> u.n. high commissioner for human rights last week stressed the need for an investigative commission on north korea. it would require the adoption of a draft resolution and meeting of the human rights council opening in late february. suicide attacks have rocked the afghan capital kabul for the second time in less than a week. we go to bangkok for more details. gunmen and armed -- gunmen armed
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with suicide vests stormed a government building in kabul on monday. the incident comes just two days -- i'm sorry, just days after a similar attack on agency. afghanistan's intelligence. agency. the early morning raid involved at least three suicide attackers and a powerful car bomb. the headquarters of the kabul traffic department was the target. reuters reports at least three traffic police were killed and four wounded. the taliban has claimed responsibility. >> translator: it was about 5:00 in the morning when we heard an explosion. the power went off. there were blasts one after another. then the fighting started. and lasted until now. >> last week six suicide bombers attacked the afghan intelligence agency killing two people and wounding dozens. an international forces spokesperson expressed concern the two incidents signal that
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insurgents are stepping up attacks against afghanistan's own security infrastructure. terrorists have shown they can launch daring raids on high-profile targets in the capital. afghan forces ability to maintain securities again in question as foreign troops step back from combat operations. young scientists from around the world are gathering in singapore this week for a series of lectures about nobel prize-winning academics. the program is part of singapore's effort to become a global hub for knowledge and innovation. the first global young scientists summit opened monday at the national university of singapore. the 280 attendants at the government-sponsored event represent graduate schools and research institutes in 15 countries, including japan, the united states and china. ten nobel laureates are
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scheduled to give intense lectures over three days. a professor from the university of colorado was one of the opening day students. he addressed students about the latest research into a category of quantum chemistry called electronic structure. cornell won the nobel prize for physics in 2001. >> translator: i often have lectures in my research field. but i'm looking forward to lectures by nobel laureates in totally different fields. i'm eager to learn as much as possible from them. for my research. >> singapore aims to become a hub for knowledge intensive industries. the government designed the event to attract rising scientific talent. participants are scheduled to visit a medical study center and other cutting edge research facilities in the city state. the indochina peninsula is famous for its rich biodiversity including fresh water fish but
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the region's rush to modernize has dented the balance of the natural world in unexpected ways. nhk world reports from the northeastern thailand on a threat to the food chain. >> reporter: still waters in northeastern thailand. at first glance, this man-made lake looks like a fisherman's paradise. >> yes! >> reporter: but these people aren't fishing just for fun. they are trying to catch one of the biggest and most aggressive fresh water fish in southeast asia. look at this giant fish. the length is 70 centimeters and it weighs 5 kilos. this fish causes problems for
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people in fishing communities. the population of these fish has ballooned in recent years. in this lake alone more than 20 were nabbed during a one-day effort to catch them. it was sponsored by the government to reduce the number of unwanted snakehead fish. >> translator: the problem here is very serious. villagers can't fish what they used to, because of the growing number of snakehead fish. behind the dam, the water doesn't flow and it's a closed environment, so the snakeheads eat most of the other fish. >> reporter: observers say dams built irrigate fields or generate electricity are to blame for the rise of this monster fish. more than 500 dams and reservoirs have been constructed in thailand in recent decades. people used to catch all sorts
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of fish from the river nearby. but they say that all changed after the dam was built. >> translator: i'm in trouble. there are no more fish now because the snakehead fish eat them all. there are no local fish left. even if we spend the whole day fishing we can't catch any. >> reporter: local diets are being affected. fish used to be regular for these villagers. >> i want to eat fish like before. these days i can't, even if we have some, i give it to the children. i wish there would be as many fish as before in our waters. >> reporter: an expert says the situation isn't unique to thailand.
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he says action is needed to catch these aquatic pests. >> translator: i think other countries in the region have the same problem. though it hasn't made the news yet. catching these monster fish is the only way to solve the problem. otherwise, they will drive other species to extinction. >> reporter: in these deep waters, a crisis is quietly under way. locals and experts together are trying to re-create the balance of nature and defeat the monster fish. nhk world, thailand. and that wraps up our bulletin. when a massive earthquake hit in january 1995, i will killed over 6,400 people and damaged numerous houses and factories. many businesses were totally
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unprepared. 18 years later specialists predict an even bigger quake could occur off the coast of western japan. now many companies are busy drawing up contingency plans. nhk world profiles two that are taking the warning seriously. >> reporter: last year the government upgraded the likely impact of a massive offshore earthquake. it said the damage would be far bigger than previously predicted. kawasaki heavy industries is bracing for the worst. and its crisis management team has been examining its disaster readiness plans. >> translator: for the first time a four meter tsunami has been predicted. there's going to be damage. it's inevitable. >> reporter: the damage from the 1995 earthquake caused kawasaki heavy industries over $110 million.
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and it took nearly three months before work resumed at all of the company's plants. >> translator: we've experienced an actual earthquake. we know our old disaster plan isn't good enough. >> reporter: given the growing threat from a future quake or tsunami, kawasaki industries and other companies have been drawing up business continuity plans. contingency planning is essential so they can resume business promptly in the event of a disaster. for some companies, disaster planning is crucial. since it could determine whether or not they continue to exist. this is a medical products company based in kobe. it keeps tens of thousands of cell samples and specimens for testing in refrigerators and freezers. the cells are essential. but if a power outage were to occur, they could be lost in less than an hour.
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>> translator: if our refrigerator stopped working after a quake, it would mean disaster for us, everything we built up in the past 30 years would be wiped out. >> reporter: in the past, the company stored enough fuel to keep its own generators working for 24 hours. but it changed its plans following the massive damage caused by the tohoku disaster in march 2011. officials realized they needed to have enough fuel for at least three days. they signed a contract with suppliers in the region to guarantee a supply of fuel oil on a priority basis in the event of an emergency. the company is also reviewing the way it stores its materials. >> translator: we have to think which cells and specimens are the most valuable assets for the company and set priorities.
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we can't protect them all. >> reporter: since the company's own generators might be disrupted, officials decided they needed to prioritize which specimens are particularly important. they are creating copies of the cells to be kept in labs at affiliated companies. sorting 1,000 types of cells and assuring the storage temperature methods will require massive investment of time and money. but the company says they have no choice. >> translator: we are taking extra steps to improve our disaster readiness plan. we have to be able to respond to unexpected events. we have to think one step ahead. >> reporter: in the ongoing economic slowdown, it's not easy for companies to budget for disaster planning, but the alternative is unthinkable.
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nhk world, kobe. this just in. an official at a hospital near the site of the hostage crisis told nhk that the bodies of five persons bearing tags with japanese names have been brought to the facility. japan's parliamentary vice foreign minister minoru kiuchi is in in amenas. his delegation is trying to determine the fate of ten japanese employees of engineering firm jgc corporation. once again, seven japanese workers have been confirm dead in algeria. prime minister abe received confirmation from the parliamentary vice foreign minister at a task force meeting in tokyo. he was sent to amenas to determine the fate of workers from engineering firm jgc corporation.
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and at one point the island was home to 400,000 japanese residents. industries such as paper making, coal, and fishing thrived. many buildings and other structures from that era still stand on the island. 68 years after the soviet union regained control, it's a cultural legacy that is becoming a growing interest to the residents. >> reporter: a fortress against the cold. this house outside the islands used to be a military facility.
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this house outside the island's capital used to be a military facility built by japan. >> translator: i would like to thank the samurai for the great house. >> reporter: many other structures from the days of japan's rule can be found across the southern part of the island. a substantial number are still being used, including bank buildings and bridges. the striking structure behind me is a museum. and a popular tourist attraction on the island. the design is inspired by japanese castles. examples of japanese architecture can be found in over 100 locations in sakhalin. but not all japanese remnants are familiar to russians. gravestones and statues of buddha are often neglected. left to crumble. this man is breathing new life into relics of japan rule of sakhalin. his interest began as a boy when he found japanese table ware in a field near his home. he started collecting,
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researching and then collecting some more. he has now amassed 2,000 items from everyday utensils to ritual objects. they reflect all facets of life in a once thriving community. in december his staff organized an exhibit of japanese business from across the island. >> translator: i want russians to be interested in the fact that japanese once lived here. and that remainders of their culture are still to be found today. >> reporter: interest in that history could have economic benefits for sakhalin. officials in the regional government have started promoting japanese relics as a tourist attraction. they are now working on the
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guide book of japanese architecture. sherkotsov and other residents are contributing information. >> translator: we consider architecture from the days of japan's rule as important cultural heritage. we expect many people to visit from outside sakhalin and from outside russia to see the buildings that can only be found here. >> reporter: the guide book will be published this year. and local businesses may not be the only ones to benefit. if the tourists come, the efforts to raise awareness about the island's history may help build new bridges between japan and russia. midori aoki, nhk world, sakhalin, russia. more snow is expected in japan.
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rachael ferguson is here with that. hi. there there is going to be widespread snow across the country. the intercontinent could see 10 to 20 sent meters. in tokyo, we're likely to see flurries of the white stuff tuesday morning when it should turn over to rain, sleet, and then clear up into tuesday night and wednesday. winds are gusting up to 90 kilometers an hour. it's a fairly significant storm. up toward northern parts of china and mongolia, high and dry here. no problems. and to the south, rain rather than snow. warming trend through parts of southern china at the moment. hong kong and taipei up to 41 degrees forecast for your tuesday. into the americas we go. quite dry across much of the continent. we are finding some extreme cold descending across the upper
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midwest and into much of central and eastern canada. take a look at what we have here. lake-effect snow that could get up to 20 centimeters, parts of northern michigan. you could see 30 centimeters, windchill will be the big concern. high temperatures in places like chicago, detroit, toronto, only getting up to minus 11, minus 12, and then when you bring in the windchill, temperatures falling to -- it will feel minus 30. so things like hypothermia and frost bite are real concerns. take care. down toward the southwest, a completely different story. we have a warmup and take a look at temperatures here. 19 degrees in houston. 27 degrees in the middle of january in los angeles. but on the other side of the jet stream, minus 12 in chicago, we have minus 20 in minneapolis and minus 21 in winnipeg on monday.
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tuesday will be even colder. all right. into europe we go. we've been talking about those delays at the airports because of snow spread across the british isles and into france, western denmark dealing with problems because of incoming snow. a low from the atlantic. things look better on wednesday. high pressure from the scandinavian peninsula across the british isles and central europe that will help to dry things out. down toward the southeast, it is going to be -- well, precipitation will continue and turning over from snow to rain and as we look at warmer temperatures. the picture in moscow, somewhere used to getting a lot of snow, but two storms over the weekend, has caused quite a problem in the capital. here we have a couple of storms,
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one on sunday and one last friday, hit the city, in response, thousands of workers with snow plows were deployed to clean up the roads and the city became paralyzed because of the excess snow. let's take a look at temperatures. moscow is going to be falling to a minus 15. very chilly. that is the high temperature, minus 7 in stockholm and berlin. minus 2 in vienna. athens, 16 degrees forecast for your tuesday. here is the extended forecast.
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once again, our lead story. seven japanese workers have been confirmed dead in algeria. prime minister abe received confirmation from the parliamentary vice prime minister at a task force meeting in tokyo. he was sent to algeria to determine the fate of workers from engineering firm jgc corporation. also, algerian prime minister says 37 hostages from eight countries have been killed by islamic militants. we'll be back in 30 minutes with more news. i'm gene otani in tokyo.
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