welcome to newsline it's wednesday february 4th in tokyo. jordanian leaders have lost their fight to win the release of an air force pilot captured by islamic state. images posted online show the apparent kill inging of a man. the man believed to be the pilot is surrounded by mass gunmen and set on fire. he was captured by the militants in late december after his jet crashed during u.s. led air strikes. islamic state members had demanded the release of death row inmates in return for

freeing japanese hostage kenji goto. the militant group didn't show any evidence and released a video that purportedly shows the killing of goto. government officials in iman are trying to verify the authenticity of the latest images. jordan's state run tv broke the news across the nation. it carried a banner saying our hero has been killed. it reported that the pilot was killed on january 3rd and said he was already dead when islamic state was negotiating with the jordanian government over his release. the broadcaster provided no evidence. it showed a message from king abdallah, he has confirmed the killing happened last month, he says one of jordan's precious pilots has been killed by terrorists. >> translator: i have received

information regarding mr. casas kassasbeh. words cannot express the anger i feel over this act. our nation's people must stand together in solidarity at this most difficult time. >> a jordanian military has denounced a purported killing, in a statement released on state run tv. the statement says officials tried to secure the pilot's release, but islamic state refused to cooperate.

the military offers condolences to his family and pledges to avenge his killing. his father received word of his son's death just as he was about to hold a news conference. family members helped him into the car, and he left the venue. other relatives sobbed and collapsed in grief. >> i strongly condemn their act and i'm sure i am not the only one one. >> people in amman are expressing their shock and sadness. >> all jordanian citizens are crying for him, and are overwhelmed with grief. >> the islamic state is not a country of islam, they are just terrorists. >> u.s. president barack obama has condemned the purported killing, he stressed that the united states will work with jordan and other members of the

u.s. led coalition to deal with the situation. >> i just got word of the video that had been released i don't know the details of the confirmations, but slu in fact this video be authentic, it's just one more indication of the viciousness and barbarody of this organization. and this will redouble the vigilance and determination on the part of a global coalition to make sure that they are degraded and ultimately defeated. >> authorities in france say a man with a knife has attacked a soldier guarding a jewish cultural center. the suspect has been arrested.

security forces have been on high alert following last month attacks on charlie hebdo weekly. the soldier was guarding the cultural center in the southern city of nice. he and another soldier helped subdue the suspect. a magistrate in charge of counter terrorism is looking into the attack it's not known whether the man has links to radical groups. local media reporting that authorities had detained the man last week when he tried to enter turkey. he was flown back to france and questioned by intelligence officials. the attacks last month killed 17 people, police and military personnel have been stepping up patrols of transportation facilities, tourist areas and religious centers. french investigators have detained 8 people on suspicion of recruiting people and sending them to syria. authorities caught the suspects

in the suburbs in paris and leone. french media rep ty in th20s to 3snd of turkish or north african or e suspects are accused of sending them to syria on three occasions between may and september of 2013. french authorities arrested five people in late january on suspicion of being islamic state recruiter recruiters. a video posted online appears to show islamic state militants calling for police and military personnel in france. japanese lawmakers are debating how best to protect nationals overseas. it would allow the self-defense forces to try to recognize japanese held hostage abroad. a lawmaker raised a topic at a debate in an upper house committee. he called for a revision of article ix.

prime minister shinzo abe's liberal party has already called for a change. >> my party has called for a change to the amendment. >> the prime minister also said that the government is preparing legislation to allow japanese authorities to exercise police power abroad. he said he wants members of the fdf and other authorities to be able to rescue japanese if the country they're in approves or if there are no state like organizations appearing as the adversary. >> people in the financial markets appear to be encouraged by a bounce back in oil prices. what can you tell us? >> investors did seem to be weighed down by the recent free fall in crude oil prices. they were concerned that this could be an omen of slower growth in the global economy, in the last few days we are seeing oil prices moving upward.

stocks on wall street ended higher, along with the rebounding oil prices and investors here in tokyo are following the lead. the nikkei jumped 1.2% at the open, now building on those gains up by 1.8%. oil related shares being heavily bought this morning, a weaker yen is prompting investors to buy japanese exporters. now, higher oil prices are setting currency traders on a risky mood they are buying the dollar. against the yen, the dollar is now at the upper 117 yen range. the euro is also gaining ground on concerns for greece's debt in other markets across the asia pacific region south korea's benchmark adding to its recent gains, we saw a rally on tuesday to a 7-year high that's after the central bank cut its key

interest rate. over in south korea, the kosspi is trading higher as well, up by 8/10%. new auto sales in the u.s. last month hit the highest level for january in nine years. sales of support utility vehicles were strong amid a moderate economic recovery and lower gasoline prices. analysts ss at a research firm say carmakers sold 1.15 million vehicles in january. looking at u.s. carmakers, general motors sales rose 18% from a year earlier, ford posted an increase of more than 15%. chrysler was un14%. among japanese makers toyota saw an increase of more than 15%. honda was up 11%, nissan up 15%. major japanese oil

wholesaler has revised downward earnings forecasts for the current year due to the recent plunge in crude oil prices. officials are projecting their first group net loss in 10 years. officials say the firm posted a group net loss of more than $480 million from april to december last year. the main factor behind this is the posting of an oil inventory appraisal loss of nearly $595 million stemming from falling oil prices since last summer. the officials also say they now expect a group net loss of about $833 million for the current business year ending in march. other japanese wholesalers have also downgraded their earnings forecast. japanese government officials have offered to help ukraine improve its cold fueled thermal power generation. a seminar was held in the capital kiev focusing on japan's

technology. the event brought together about 90 people from both governments as well as people from ukrainian power companies. a senior official from the japanese industry ministry said ukraine needs to upgrade its aging coal fire thermal power plants. >> we are ready to help ukraine improve the efficiency of coal fueled power plants. which is the highest level in the world. >> japanese officials introduced the coal gas fiction technology which uses coal more efficiently and emits less carbon dioxide. ukraine relies on russian gas for 30% of its domestic energy supplies. ukraine is hoping to reduce this dependence by using coal resources. if japanese coal technology is introduced at all power plants the company can reduce natural

gas imports by 10%. japan's love of beer seems to be on the slide. fewer young people are drinking the beverage and shipments have been falling year by year. now businesses are trying to bring consumers back with products that are easy on the stomach. >> last month a new beer flavored alcoholic drink. the product is the world's first zero sugar, zero purine low calorie beverage. purine is suspected of causing gout. major beer makers launched products with almost no purine or sugar. the product was a hit, they doubled their initial sales target. they launched another product, with even fewer calories.

>> this line can produce 2,000 cans a minute. >> the factory is operating at full capacity. the firm targets consumers in their 20s to 30s who have started to think about their le health. >> we believe if our product secures a solid footing in the healthier category it's reputation with consumers will grow that will help the entire beer market win back customers. >> consumers have more on their minds than just their health when they buy beer. >> translator: i love beer that goes down smoothly. >> my favorite is a cocktail like beer. >> i prefer beer with a distinctive taste. >> breweries are focusing on niche beers with distinctive aromas and flavors. the firm plans to launch four

new beers. the marketing staff is now finetuning the taste. >> what flavor should it emphasize? >> how about an arrowomatic beer? >> we want customers to try and get to know different tastes and flavors. and help spread the idea. it's fun to drink beer. >> brewers are pulling out all the stops to revive the lagging beer market. time will tell if they succeed. >> earlier in the market section, i said south korea's benchmark hit a 7-year high on tuesday, that was australia's main index. i will leave you with the check on the latest figures there.

fighting is flaring up again in eastern ukraine, between government forces and pro russian separatists. the ukrainian military tuesday said fierce battles have spread to a neighboring area. both sides are now shelling intensely, mainly in northern towns and villages the ukrainian government has condemned activists for trying

to expand their areas of control. they're benefits from russian support. the pro russian forces say they're fighting to protect locals from gunfire. the separatists announced on tuesday, they shot down a ukrainian military crane and destroyed seven tanks in donestk. separately ukrainian police say the warfare has killed 6 and wounded 18 in the donetsk region. >> how can i go on living and where can i live? >> more than 5,000 people have died in eastern ukraine since the conflict started last april. a bomb attack has killed 7 people in bangladesh they died on a bus that was headed for the capital the attack comes amid

growing political tension the attackers struck in the eastern district of camilla, they hurled petro bombs at a bus. the bus departed from the southern town and was full of passengers. >> translator: my cousin and i got out from the window. another cousin got out at the same time. but we couldn't find my friend. then we saw him lying on the side of the street, covered in flames. >> police say at least seven people died and 16 others were injured. they're still searching for those responsible. hassina led her party to a landslide election in january last year that's because 17 other parties boycotted the election. the opposition camp refused to

accept the result. >> tensions flaired again last month one year after the vote the opposition parties called for a blockade and general strike across the country buses have come under attack on several occasions. around 50 people have died over the past month, amid the deteriorating security swigs. the leader of the nationalist party has been involved in a power struggle with her for more than two decades. ski resort operators in japan are seeing fewer people on their slopes older skiers have put away their poles and the younger generation isn't taking their place, operators are trying to lure back their customers by showing them they're not yet over the hill.

>> this dashing senior -- >> i started in my 70s, i wanted to feel young again. >> this one wears a smile, even during a snowstorm. >> i turn 62 this year i was inspired by watching the olympic olympics. >> recently, more and more elder elderly people have taken to the slopes. >> i've come to pick up my special senior voucher. >> in 2014 this ski resort started offering a special deal to people who are 66 77 or 88 years old. >> it's a good deal i can use the hot spring baths and a ski lift for free. >> the resort manager hopes people who take advantage of the offer will bring others with them.

the number of visitors here increased by 20%. >> it would be great if the campaign brought a lot of people to our resort. i hope more senior citizens will come and bring their friends and relatives with them. >> another ski resort is appealing to seniors by making an addition to their facilities to help them get around the steep path to the lift was a challenging climb for older people people. so a moving walkway was installed this year. it cost about $170,000. >> it's good. i get out of breath really easily when i climb uphill.

the high cost of equipment and transportation prevents many young people from skiing. seniors who enjoyed the support in their youth could become new customers if there are suitable amenities and services. at another resort, more than half the classes are designed for the elderly this 65-year-old woman will be skiing for the first time in 30 years. >> translator: i decided to start again, so i could stay fit and not become a burden to my family. >> the skis have been improved over the years, they turn for you now. >> she has to correct her old skiing habits as she uses a little too much force.

the most important thing for seniors is not to exhaust or injury themselves. >> this style of skiing is very different. i'm very pleased because it feels new and i don't have to use much strength. >> looking into the future struggling ski slope operators are hoping japan's seniors their business around. >> it's time now for a check of the weather, people in eastern areas of peru are dealing with intense rain severe flooding and landslides. >> let's start off in the southern hemisphere here where we have been seeing nose showers. it is the rainy season and it's quite typical to get rain during the month of january and february, unfortunately, when you get too much over a short

period of time it does resolve some rather serious conditions. these are some images coming out of eastern peru where the flooding has overtaken many cars. it's washed out roads, it has resulted in a deadly landslide. crews are being hampered by continued rains in this area. as rescue efforts are underway trying to dig out people that have been trapped in the landslide as far as the forecast is concerned, it is the rainy season, not much is going to be changing across this area. as we look ahead through the next several days with the rescue efforts continuing to be on going, something to watch out for here further off toward the north, not as dangerous, it's going to be bringing some heavy rain and winds. it's the pineapple express, the rainfall that originates from the hawaiian islands, stretches

across the pacific ocean, and it's piling up here and sometimes rather considerable amounts across the northwestern portions of the u.s. extends out toward california, some areas in the latest event could see as much as 200 to 250 millimeters, combined with high winds, upwards of 100 kilometers an hour. even down toward san francisco, you haven't seen any rainfall in the entire month of january, with this setting up it's going to bring you precipitation. thursday through friday, you're expecting that rain out there, even in sacramento as well. seattle stretching through the rest of the week and into the weekend as we look ahead, let's take a look at the east coast now, an alberta clipper coming in across the great lakes. don't expect any widespread snowfall amounts or long lasting accumulations because of the speed this is moving it is

falling on fresh snow that hit this area earlier this week. we had record breaking snowfall in chicago earlier this week, that's going to be moving through yet again. minus 21 in winniepeg for your lie. you want to be bundling up out there. let's take a look at japan now, talk about cold weather, some of the coldest temperatures of the season are expected to be seen here wednesday going into thursday. we have a cold surge coming through, temperatures will continue to chill off, another low is coming in from the southwest, that combined is going to be bringing widespread snowfall across central portions of japan. downtown tokyo is likely starting in the late morning hours and extending out through the afternoon and evening hours. definitely on thursday have

your winter jacket ready and rain boots out if you are traveling across tokyo. if you're flying your delays or cancellations. on wednesday, the low will bring you widespread rainshowers. i'll leave you now with your extended forecast.

and that's all for this edition of newsline i'm catherine kobayashi in tokyo, thanks for staying with us.

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'e world actually come to together. the past few days have shown what that world community can actually feel like when some one and a half million people including leaders from more than 40 countries took to the streets of paris as a sign of defiance

against terrorism. many other cities followed suit -- and social networks are still buzzing with tributes to those killed and to the human rights they stood for. today we,too speak to people who stand up for their rights -- and here's what's coming up -- more than medical aid -- why cuba sends its doctors to brazil. the red cross calls them the