hello there and welcome to "newsline." it's friday, january 2nd. i'm catherine kobayashi. rescue crews in the java sea are battling strong wind and high waves as they look for the downed airasia plane. they have so far recovered nine bodies. now, members of japan's maritime self-defense force are joining the search. officials with the government's emergency rescue team are to go into the waters on sunday. the ship rs bringing three large helicopters that can handle rough weather. authorities believe the plane crashed sunday off the coast of

borneo. there were 162 passengers and crew on board. the airliner disappeared on radar screens from indonesia. survivors and witnesses at a new year's eve stampede in shanghai are demanding an investigation. they want to know whether there were enough security to manage the huge crowds. 36 were killed and 47 injured. the crash happened -- waterfront district more than 10 o,000 people there each new year's eve to celebrate. police said 500 were on duty. none were in sight during the chaos. the stampede happened on overcrowded steps.

>> city officials say they're trying to find out exactly what went wrong. tourism officials in china are hoping to turn the size of november's apeck summit into the a vacation hot spot. they're seeing people from around the country coming to stay at the lake and are now looking to land even more visitors from abroad. >> the leaders of 21 countries and territories gathered at the apecoraro summit. it's government undertake major preparations for the event. the meeting was held at yanchi lake, about 60 clomkilometers north of beijing. the summit took place on an island. also this lifted the tight security for the apec summit and

opened up the island's tourist spots. trt >> translator: it's a beautiful place and the air is clean. i really want to go on the island. >> not many people visit during the season. the weather is too cold. but a flood of tourists gathered at the island's entrance. i am standing in front of the conference center where the apec leader summit took place. now, this area is opened but only for a limited number of tourists. among those allowed on site are people with reservations at hotels. the china tourism registration rates the scenery there as a four out of a possible five, with five being the most scenic. island for cities were significantly upgraded ahead of the apec meeting. 13 hotels were built as well as

a meeting venue. this new hotel is about to open. it's famous because of its unique design. so tourists want to see it. china wants to walk with a foreign hotel company wants to give off the location. the firm wants to turn the lake and its surround uings into a tourism spot a cut above the rest. the firm that manages these facilities is using the summit as a tourist attraction. >> we benefit. the local government benefits. the surrounding benefits, so it's a corporation and that's what it needs to be. it's not just we do or they do. no, we work together and that's probably what will bring success. >> cheers. >> another business opportunity.

this table where sat has the same design at the banquet. it's a chinese traditional element. >> translator: we received numerous inquiryies after the conference. five-star hotels would like to use the table ware and many people want to add the set to their private collections. >> an expert says apec left a legacy, but the industries that benefitted should increase it. >> translator: industries need to create a business plan in order to maintain the existing market's popularity. >> the lake is now a candidate to host a future event such as the g-20 and other international

meetings. it seems that the apec summit has brought many new business opportunities to the area. nhk world, beijing. populous.ahead. china's rise from wealth. power and problems. an income gap divides its people, pollution threatens their health and differences over territory, strained relations with its neighbors. find out the challenges china faces on "newsline." north korean leader kim jong-un says he'd welcome talks with his counterpart in the south. still, he said the government in seoul should first stop holding military exercises with other countries. kim went on national tv to share his policies for the coming year. he said he can no longer tolerate the tragedy of a divided korean people. he said he wants a turn around in relations provided leaders in seoul stop causing tension.

leaders in seoul proposed talks three days ago. they want to speak mainly about reuniting familyies separated by the korean war. they've urged officials in the north to take steps toward a peaceful reunion of their nations. taiwanese president began the year with a message of reconciliation. he said he'll keep pushing for peace with china and promised to tackle the causes of dissatisfaction among the young. >> translator: the young have lofty ideals and a strong sense of justice. they resent unfairness. if the government acts inappropriate ly inappropriately, it will invite misunderstandings and criticism. >> ma mentioned the opccupation

of taiwan's assembly building last mortgage by students who opposed an economic pact with china. he said the government will listen to the public and promised to solve young people's challenges, such as a shortage of jobs and gap between the rich and poor. ma resigned as chairman of the nationalists party last month to take responsibility for its crushing defeat in local elections. he still has a year and a half to serve as president. analysts say his new year message show he wants to win back support. government officials in japan have set a clear goal of improving the english education system by 2020. the year tokyo hosts the olympic games. but some students and parents can't wait for that long, so they've chosen schools other than the public ones. one example is an indian school in tokyo that's becoming increasingly popular. >> one, two, three.

>> this school is not in new delhi, but in downtown tokyo. the day begins with yoga. it's supposed to boost energy as well as concentration. advanced math classes are common in india. they start learning multiplication from 4 years old. in most japanese schools that starts from 8. show shin is a seventh grader. he transferred from a local japanese school three years ago. at fist, he spoke little english, but today, he doesn't have a problem communicating with his classmates. >> b or a or discount or something. >> i.t. classes are compulsory here from kindergarten. at the age of 12, they start learning visual basics a subject often taught at the high school level in japan and by

graduation they can manage to program. the global indian international school tokyo was founded in 2006. in the beginning, it was solely for indian children whose parents work in the i.t. industry in japan. the size of the school was less than 50 students. but it's attracted more and more japanese children. they are now a surprisingly 40% of the total 350. this is the principal. she gave us her vision of her school. >> we are creating global the people of doing everything. it's possible. everything's possible. only thing -- is needed. >> so, why are the japanese parents opting out of local education? show gin's mother says her son was always good at math and felt that it was the best possible

school. his father used to work in the i.t. industry. he recalls his bitter past in having to give up his chance of working abroad because of his poor english skills. >> translator: i believe that japanese who want to go abroad have to speak english as the international language. the future of the japanese economy is uncertain nowadays so we need to take our chances outside. >> he says that the indian school was the best choice he's made and now, he feels the sky is a limit. >> i want to become some scientist or astronaut, but being astronaut, maybe i have to programming robot arm, so maybe

i can use thesism t. programs. >> unlike the japanese public schools, lunchtime is like an international food fair from indian curry to japanese bento boxes. children are exposed to a global environment, even during recess and like show gin, his classmates also have big dreams. >> games that make people happy. that's what i want to do. >> in the future, i really want to become a doctor. >> here the children are having success in english because they're not looking at the subject as something mandatory to pass college entrance exams. rather as a tool to live in the global idahoing world and the school is offering them an environment where to reach their goals, it's up to each individual's determination regardless of nationality. gene o tani, nhk world, tokyo.

russian president putin has seen his trade block of old soviet neighbors realized. the eurasianen economic union has come into effect. the new union is expected to allow freer movement of goods, services, capital and workers. leaders from member nations will put in place coordinated policies in key sectors of their economies such as energy and agriculture. putin said the union will create a huge market with 170 million people. he added it has 20% of the world's natural gas reserves and 15% of the oil. ex experts say russia's planning to use the union to strengthen political ties with countries taking part in it however, kazakhstan's president reiterateded the partnership will not undermine the sovereignty of any member

nation. they say it's not clear whether the countries will be able to build coop rative relationships. russia's economy is likely to slow down due to falling prices for crude oil. a court in egypt has ordered a retrial for three journalists from the al ja sooer ra network. commentators say the ruling violates freedom of expression. the court responded to a complaint filed by the journalists and held a hearing on thursday. it ordered a retrail and will likely decide the date ts within a month. the journalists including an australian national were sentenced to seven to ten years in prison for the reporting of the de facto coup by the egyptian military in 2013. they were accused of helping a terrorist organization. the egyptian president earlier said the country's judiciary is an independent body

and nobody should interfere with its rulings, but he changed and said his administration is considering a pardon. tunisia's president is -- that sparked the arab spring revolts across north africa and the middle east. he leads the secular party. he won a presidential election last month. >> this historical moment we are living today, this ceremony, we would not have been able to experience if there had been no struggle by the people. >> they began pushing toward democracy in december 2010. a young man set himself on fire in protest at the way he had been treated by police and later died. his actions sparked a wave of demonstrations that toppled the government.

the president stepped down in january 2011. he'd been in power 23 years. still, analysts point out that the new president served under ben ali. they question how well he'll be able to foster democracy. they're suggesting the country could slide back into authoritarian rule. japan's emperor and emp rescue will likely visit the country to pay respects to the war dead. this year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of world war ii. they are arranging the visit for april 8th and 9th. they will meet the president and his wife after a welcoming ceremony.

they will also meet leaders of micronesia and the marshall islands. these countries became battlegrounds during world war ii. on the second day, they will fly to the island of pelalou. the site of a fierce battle. the couple will place flowers at a monument built by the japanese government. they'll also visit a monument for the u.s. military. silk worms in japanese labs are spinning a new kind of fabric. they've been engineered to produce silk that glows. they hope they'll be able to revitalize the industry. >> this blended colors of a magnificent kimono. what makes this piece so special is that the threads of silk are lum necessary enter. they're the result of a research project that could revolution

nuys the silk industry. the project is led by the institute of biological studies. researchers manipulated the genes of silk works by introducing the genes of other life forms into their eggs. they proceeded in introducing the silk worm with new characteristics. >> we inserted the genes from jellyfish and coral. >> here's one of the silk worms born from this manipulation. when light of a specific wavelength is projected on to it, the worm's body emits an orange color. the glow comes from the silk thread inside the worm's body. it's like some types of jellyfish and orcoral. fabric made from this thread could produce all kind of products with high added value, ranging from glowing garments to original lamp shades.

in the 1930s, there were more than 2 million silk farms, but increased international competition led to the decline of japanese silk. only 500 silk farms remain active in japan. their owners are pinning high hopes on the potential of this technology. >> translator: it's very attract attractiveattract attracttive for u but it also means higher costs and it's not like we would be free to grow these anywhere. the process requires the authorization of the agriculture ministry. production would be limited to specific farms. >> one necessary precaution is to make absolutely sure that genetically modified organisms don't breed with natural species. researchers are working hard to turn this futuristic project into reality.

once the process is determined to be safe they hope to make their modified variety available to farms and put their idea into practical use. the potential of genetic manipulation is not limited to silk glows. one is this garment, that incorporated the characteristics of spider thread. >> introducing the genes of spider thread makes the fabric softer and stretchier. for example, inserting the genes understood water by aquatic insects kauld could make a -- -- the silk industry. >> the question now is whether these 21st century worms will be enough to give hope to japan's ailing silk industry. some drivers in western

japan spent the first night of the new year trapped in their cars because of heavy snow. road management officials on the express way was backed up overnight thursday for four kilometers. rescue workers say they took seven people to the hospital. and about 100 cars were stranded on another highway in the area. many drivers lost control and skidded on a dangerous three kilometer stretch of road. authorities had to shut down the road to clear the snow. visitors as a hot spring resort at the foot of mt. fuji had the rare pleasure of seeing japan's highest peak bathed in the glow of the year's first suprise sunrise. it's a population destination on new year's day. this year about 70 guests witnessed the site. the sun's rays first struck the snow covered peak before 7:00

a.m. within about ten minutes, the entire mountain side was glowing red as guests hurried to take pictures. >> it's magnificent. >> i feel like the scenery gives me enough energy for the new year. a baby chimpanzee at a zoo in japan is attracting a lot of attention. she was born partially paralyzed and had to be hand reared by zoo keepers, but that special care has helped her grow stronger. >> she was born at the zoo --

she had a difficult delivery. her mother had never given birth before and there were difficulties in her labor. so she was given an assisted delivery, but moki had no heart beat when she was born. the zoo staff struggled to save her life. she was placed in intensive care. her mother was one of the staff who kept a close watch on her. she began to grow. >> we didn't think she'd survey vif, so we were very happy. >> her mother had to be on an acidic while giving birth and showed no interest in her baby.

when the mother tried to introduce her, she didn't recognize her at all. the zoo staff decided to raise her themselves. when she was about a month old, he noticed there was something strange about her vision. >> like human babies chimpanzees communicate with their mothers through eye contact, but milky's vision doesn't seem to be functioning properly. >> she also falls a lot because the right side of her body is weaker than the left. >> professor studies of physical and mental development of chimpanzees in comparison with humans.

>> translator: in human terms, milky has cerebral palsy. the right and left sides of her body are growing unevenly. her growth rate is extremely slow. >> she also tends to use her left hand. he has come to have rectified it. for the first time, milky uses her right hand to grab the toy. >> translator: her desire to grab the object was so great, she moved her right hand. it's the first time and it's so good to see that. >> he has begun giving milky

rehabilitation exercises to develop her right arm. >> translator: milky is very motivated and we're quite optimistic. i know this is going to take a long time. but i intend to stay positive and keep taking it one step at a time. >> she is now very popular and many visitors came to see her grow strongly. and now let's take a look at the extended weather forecast for selected cities around the world.

and that wraps up this edition of "newsline." i'm catherine kobayashi in tokyo and from all of us here at nhk

world, thanks for joining us. x

n earthquake. many of the disaster victims are still forced to live in temporary housing.

these units were only meant to be used for up to two years. so damage to the ceiling and underfloor parts is starting to appear. >> everyone wants to leave the temporary housing. >> we're all looking for a house to live in. if we don't hurry, we'll lose out. >> in this situation, the group