"newsline." i'm gene otani in tokyo. here is a look at some of the stories we're following this hour. the japanese yen has fallen even further against the dollar in tokyo after passing the 100 yen benchmark in new york. millions of pakistanis head to the polls on saturday to decide their nation's future. young voters may prove powerful in this historic general election.

children of chinese migrant workers are barred from attending school and some are getting into trouble. leaders in japan and the u.s. might be feeling their economic policies are finally beginning to pay off. the japanese yen reached 101 to the dollar in trading in tokyo. it's the first time the yen has hit that level in more than four years. traders are buying the dollar on expectations of a stronger u.s. economic recovery and aggressive monetary easing from the bank of japan. those in new york saw the yen break the psychological threshold of 100 yen to the dollar and the currency weaken further in tokyo. investors on the tokyo stock exchange took heart placing buy orders across the board. the key nikkei index shot up more than 400 points to surpass the 14,600 mark. the highest this year. market sources say the yen's rapid fall has exceeded their expectations. that's fueling hope among exporters who benefit from a weaker yen. forex dealers are expecting the

yen to remain under selling pressure. dollar/yen now changing hands at 101.54-57. sources say market participants are buying the dollar on signs of an improving u.s. job market. they also point to expectations that japanese life insurers are likely to sell the yen in order to buy large amounts of foreign bonds. earlier in tokyo the men's dramatic fall gave a boost to japanese shares. the nikkei average climbed almost 3% to end the session at 14,607. that was the highest closing level since january 2008. export related issues led the advance. investors are becoming increasingly hopeful about japanese corporate earnings. here are the latest market figures.

the campaigning ahead of pam stan's general election is over, but the violence and terrorism that marred the lead up to saturday's vote is continuing. militants are attacking parties and cani dates. the attacks happens in quetta. representatives vowed on thursday they would use suicide

bombers against voters on polling day. the violence has killed more than 110-people since the beginning of april. it officially closed on thursday night. opinion polls show opposition parties gained support by appeals to growing anti-u.s. sentiment among voters. pakistan is a nuclear arms nation. it is a regional power house that plays a major role in the u.s.-led war on terror and can influence the neighbors afghanistan. it is expect todd have an impact beyond it's borders. nhk world's dhra dhirakaosal reports from the pakistani capital. the people of pakistan go to the polls on saturday to have their say on how they'd like the country to be run over the next five years. with the economy, domestic security, and the nation's very stability on the line, voters have some tough choices to make. and despite a wave of bombings overshadowing the campaign, enthusiasm reigns as strong as oveverever.

today we take a look at the domestic implications of the vote. i took to the streets to ask ordinary people what they expect from this election. ahead of saturday's historic election, the town is filled with colorful posters and banners. it will be the first-ever transition from one elected government to another in pakistan's history. across the nation, more than 4,600 candidates are competing for 342 seats in the lower house. most pakistanis are desperate for change. >> translator: i don't trust the current politicians. they've done nothing for us. i expect nothing from them anyway. >> we come to pakistan and we want to change pakistan. >> reporter: islamabad, sometimes considered an artificial capital, was long known as a dull city with little

entertainment. but now it has some of the tallest skyscapers, and even its first full-scale shopping mall. the state-of-the-art development opened earlier this year, well-known western brands dominate. but once outside the pristine mall, it's not difficult to see the issues the country faces. the economy is still weak, energy shortages have also been a headache. long queues to buy gasoline are routine, and widespread power z cuts have plagued the country. many people have had enough. >> translator: i got here at 7:30, and it's 11:30 now. it looks like i've still got a long wait ahead. politicians just haven't addressed the energy supply issue at all. >> reporter: but the path toward change has been marked by violence. experts say finding a way to

improve the security situation is the election's biggest issue. >> that's the biggest challenge to me is extremism, terrorism. without peace you can't think of economy, you can't think of schooling, health care, whether schools will be destroyed, your hospitals will be destroyed. this country needs peace so that people are willing to invest, then there will be investment, only then cities will get more job opportunity. first and foremost this country needs to address this challenge. >> reporter: the need for security and a less violent pakistan is clear to all. but changes demographics will play a major role in this election, too. explosive population growth means around half the pakistani electorate is 35 or younger, and that's why almost every party is going hard after the youth vote. nhk world has more.

>> reporter: pakistan's economy has been sluggish for five years now, under civilian rule. many young people in urban areas are unemployed. and the overall jobless rate in towns and cities stands at almost 9%. 24-year-old yasil shokar lives in islamabad. last year he obtained a masters degree in business administration. but so far he has failed to find a job. he sends out his resume to sometimes ten companies a day. but he's still waiting for a job offer. >> if i got the great e-mail after a month or two months, so i feel very disappointed. >> reporter: amid rising public

discontent with the current government, shoukar is looking to the party led by former pakistani world cup winning cricket captain imran khan. >> he made a promise to pakistan. so this will bring the opportunity and the improvement in that economic situation in pakistan. >> reporter: improvement for justice has set up a task force to attract young voters. it's using facebook and other social networks to provide information. task force members post photographs from khan's campaign rally. campaign workers say they are rallying support among young voters by directly listening to their concerns. the modern approach taken by the movement for justice has made the main governing pakistan people's party increasingly insecure. it's now struggling to woo young

votes, too. at campaign rallies the people's party has pakistani president asif ali zardari as its leader and figurehead. the 24-year-old is a graduate of oxford university in the uk. the largest opposition party, the pakistan muslim league, led by former foreign minister nawaz sharif is also working hard to attract young pakistanis. sharif targets young voters. >> translator: i'm saying to all youth, can you build pakistan with me? can you build it again from the beginning? for a new pakistan, can you start a revolution? >> reporter: and young people themselves have begun campaigns,

calling on registered voters to take part in the upcoming election. a workshop by a nongovernment group drew many young people from throughout the country. the group says the event was reflecting the voices of young pakistanis in politics. voter turnout rates in recent elections have been in the low 40% range. many young pakistanis have never cast a ballot before. at the end of the workshop, a mock poll was held. >> i learned a lot of things that before i do not know about how to vote, what is valuable everything that we know. >> reporter: attention is focused on whether young voters in pakistan can be a driving force in changing the country's politics. masaaki suda, nhk world,

islamabad. >> mubarak aburke from nhk islamabad bureau is here to give us some background. now, the campaign has demonstrated that voters want change more than ever. discontented young people are especially enthusiastic. what is your take on this? >> pakistan is seen as a feudal society. elders always have the strongest voice and it hasn't been easy for young people to speak about politics. but now, passion for change among younger voters is spreading from urban areas to the countryside, young people are taking an interest. this say huge departure from elections in the past, which will greatly influenced by communal and family guides. >> and how do you see the situation just before the polls open? >> it is still unclear. no party is expected to bring a majority, and a coalition

government is the most likely outcome. but of course, we don't know at this point which party will form the new government. the biggest concern is political instability that would allow islamic militants to increase their influence. this election campaign was the biggest in pakistan's history. never before have so many party offices and election headquarters come under terrorist attack. clearly militant islamist groups are still a powerful influence in pakistan. many news story we hear from pakistan negative, but the country's also potentially effective market with inexpensive and plentiful reserves of untapped natural resources. pakistan is a country with both opportunities, and risks. the new government must do all it can to improve security. that eventually will reduce and increase opportunity. >> thank you. thank you.

and that was nhk world's mobarak verak. whoever takes office after the election running pakistan will be no easy job. the world is watching closely to see what the future state does next. the people of pakistan will make their choice at the ballot box on saturday, and we'll have all the latest news and results on "newsline." i'm dhra dhirakaosal reporting from islamabad. rescuers in bangladesh have found a survivor. she had been trapped for 17 days. the building caved last month and killed more than 1,000 people. the rescuers pulled her from the rubble and then laid her on a stretcher. local tv aired video of the survivor talking with nurses and a reporter. the eight-story structure was

located in a suburb of dhaka. 1045 people have been confirmed dead, but no one knows how many people were in the building when it collapsed. the garment industry accounts for 80% of exports from bangladesh. they say some have poor safety standards. clothing manufacturers commissioned the garments have also come under fire. the senior u.s. diplomat in charge of the north korea file is coming to asia next week in search of a more effective way to deal with the reclusive nation. glyn davies is coming to visit. >> we want them to come back to

meeting their obligation. >> davies indicated he wants to talk about concrete conditions in exchange for resuming dialogue. north korean troops recently removed two mobile launchers from a launch sight on the east coat. leaders maintain a tough stance but they say they will be ready if authorities take action on denuclearization. he expressed hope the chinese will increase pressure on their longstanding ally. government officials are continuing with their tough talk. they're criticizing park geun-hye's visit to the u.s. she went to new york and then to washington. she also spoke before the u.s. congress. north korean officials they it

has raised attention on the north korean peninsula. they also said they're patiently monitoring her administration. the bank of china isn't alone in the effort to cut off funds to the north. three other chinese state-run banks say they too are putting pressure on the company. a spokesperson for the bank says the institution suspended financial transactions and remittances with north korean banks. the spokesperson maintains the bank always does business in strict compliance with instructions from chinese authorities and u.n. security council resolutions. bank of china and agriculture bank of china say they, too, no longer handle remittances to north korean banks. chinese experts on internation nal affairs say they are trying to intercept what they would need

to purchase abroad. soutt korean president park geun-hye's high profile visit to the united states has been marred by a scandal. south korean media say she has fired her spokesman reportedly for sexual harassment. the president's office says he was involved in an act that tarnished national dignity. they did not elaborate. they say he harrised an internal in washington dc. yun was instrumental in overseeing the first overseas visit. they're demanding that the president apologize to the people of south korea.

china's migrant workers help drive the economy, but they're children are losing out on the benefits. some are growing alienated and unruly. michitaka reports. >> most of them leave their children in the hometown, he has two sons, the oldest is in poor health. the younger one is supposed to be a 5th grader, but he doesn't go to school. his son isn't allowed to enroll in school. still, he hoped he might find one that would accept him.

>> translator: all of the schools i contacted refused to accept him. things are a lot tougher than i expected. >> reporter: then something happened that caught him by surprise. police took him into custody for trying to shoplift from the super market. he thinks his son's behavior may be the result of rejection by public schools. the chinese media often take up this issue. some reports maengs thention th migrant workers have been involved in robberies, assaults, and violent crimes. the government should address this problem more seriously. >> the inequality is effecting

children psychlogically. >> in one part of beijing, mo migrant children are receiving a better education. this center was opened four years ago. the founder used to be a teacher, and a migrant worker herself. the school is not authorized, but they were funded by ask and issue add permit. it enabled the school to hire ten people who have taught at a public elementary or high school. a student wants to talk about his problems. >> translator: tell me how you're doing. let's talk.

after the conversation, she visits the boy at his home. the 8-year-old boy was having trouble settling into the school. he was absent. he said he felt alienated. sharon learns that the boy frequently wanders about late at night while his parents are at work. she advices them about how to keep the boy out of trouble. >> translator: we can only do so much. there is no quick, easy fix for these problems that children face. i hope that the government will gain a better understanding of the situation. >> domestic workers provide for helping with the behavior. in the process they often

sacrifice their children's future. nhk world, beijing. china's rise brought it wealth, power, and problems. an income gap divides it's people, pollution threatens their health. find out about the challenges china faces on "newsline." sunny weather during the early part of the day in tokyo, but it's all downhill from this point. robert speta has more. >> yes, we're really seeing rain showers push across much of japan. in tokyo today we saw temperatures rietz up to 30 degrees. to the north, mountains and sunny skies out here. it is going to be cooling off. these rain showers pushing in

overhead. high pressure is going to be pushing in from the west. there is a quick cool down, but it will not last long. next week, temperatures are rebounding by next week. you have to take the good with the bad. in north eastern china, very dry and warm as well. you're still looking at 30 to 35 degrees. but also we're still continuing to watch that stationary front we have been talking about. in the past seven days, you see this widespread precipitation here. over 50 to 100 millimeters across southeastern china. the past day alone has seen up to 300 millimeters of rain. bangladesh into eastern india, monsoon flow has been hitting them hard. and a severe risk of flooding. the worst in the situation we're eyeing on a low-pressure area

here that very well possibly can push off towards the north, develop into a sicyclone, and bring you more wet weather. so we will keep your eye on that. across tropics, temperatures in the 30s here, looking at rainshowers and thunderstorms in the afternoon hours. hong kong and taipei will be tapering off. by next week it will start to come back around with more rain in tokyo as well. 23 for your high here on your saturday. let's look toward the americas, though. the severe weather is really the big topic here. we saw a report for a possible tornado just outside of new orleans pushing but there a band of severe weather. a risk of more tornadoes, also seeing the possibility of hail and nearly 100 kilometer per hour winds. that will push off through the northeast. behind it we have a cold front

diving in from the north. that is not just bringing cold air, bismarck is dropping gown to just 13 on your saturday, but drier and windy conditions. the risk of fire conditions across the albertas as well. temperatures in winnipeg just at 12, chik at 14, how's up to 28 here on your friday. let's take a look at europe. the bulk of the severe weather here is to the east. into western turkey, that low continuing to spin here. we have seen about 60 to 65 kilometer per hour winds out here. still flood warnings and high wind warnings in portions of germany into poland. the front is bringing that rough weather, still looking throughout the weekend into the british isles and throughout france. london, you're just getting up

to 13 here for your high on your saturday. that's a look at your world weather, here is your extended forecast.

>> that's "newsline" for this hour, i'm gene otani in tokyo.

♪ the kingdom of cambodia struggled with decades of instability which hampered economic growth. rural areas had few jobs and