glad to have you with us on this edition of "newsline." it is friday, july 17th. i'm catherine kobayashi in tokyo. a typhoon made landfall in western japan last night. it's being downgraded by people are still feeling the effects. the storm is delivering damaging winds and torrential rain. meteorologist robert speta has more. >> at least at this time the storm is moving over western japan. you can see that eye coming on shore. this made landfall around 11:00 p.m. japan time. now as it does continue to move overhead the big threat with it is the rainfall. of course, we are still seeing some fairly gusty winds. when it came on shore winds were

gusting at some locations upwards of 150 kilometers per hour. that's typhoon strength. look at the rainfall reports. we've been talking about the mountains out here. and once that moisture hits these mountains, i think of it as throwing a water balloon at a wall. it just stops right in its tracks, and that's why we're squeezing all that moisture. these totals continue to climb. some of these areas could reach as high as a thousand millimeters. let's go to video just showing you the flooding here. this is in tokushima. that's a middle school. that's a courtyard right in the middle there. you can see it completely flooded out. we've been seeing that type of report over and over again here. some of these areas continue to see that more rain. also travel is being disrupted. many roads have been closed. look at this highway right here completely shut down. actually about 350 flights have been canceled thus far this morning in the last 48 hours, that is. 680 households in shikoku out of power, wakayama you had the highway closed.

nara reports of land14r50ids. and this is just the start of it. we're still looking at the impacts continuing to flow in. the big thing coming up this weekend is a big travel week. monday is a holiday. it is ocean day. people will be heading out to the beach. do not travel if you are seeing these very serious conditions. if you are heading to some of the coasts you'll be looking at high surf the entire weekend. plus the coastal inundations. if you're heading to the beach, be careful of any of these coastal areas being damaged. as far as the forecast is concerned, this is still tracking off towards the north. we still could see areas with 160 kilometer per hour winds about but this moisture flow is wrapping around. we have those southerly winds coming in and that will push this moisture into the mountains. even in the tokyo area an additional 100 millimeters. but the heaviest stuff out here towards the west. 300 millimeters of additional precipitation is likely. definitely continue to monitor

this. in the bigger picture the flow coming down to the south, philippines being impacted by heavy rainfall and flooding as well. i'll have mary on that later on. >> for people in western japan memories of flooding and landslides caused by path typhoons are still fresh in their minds. this time around they're better prepared in the hope of preventing any further loss of life. >> thunderstorms brought heavy rainfall to wide areas northeast of nangka's route, far away from the storm itself. data from the japan meteorological agency showed changes in wind direction and the amount of rainfall as the storm gradually approaches. strong rain clouds formed in eastern japan. damp air from the south flowed into the area causing downpours. one resident barely escaped tragedy as a ten meter wide strip of ground under her house collapsed. >> translator: i heard the sound, went outside, then the back collapsed.

i was scared to death. >> reporter: the storm's slow northward progress has reminded many people living in its projected path of past disasters. this mountainous town in wakayama was devastated by a similar type of storm years ago. heavy rainfall triggered a massive landslide in the middle of the night that claimed the lives of five residents. as the storm approached this time, the district leader went door to door. he reminded residents to evacuate early before it gets dark. town officials also notified residents through the community alert system. the town has introduced its own early evacuation system based on lessons from the past. residents in hiroshima city have

also taken action. many of their neighbors were killed by a massive landslide in august last year. the neighborhood association has improved its network to relay the local government's warnings to residents. the group of residents has increased the number of messengers to relay information from three people to nine. it used to take two hours to alert all the households. now it takes only 30 minutes. >> translator: escape. take flight. that's the most important point. our community is determined not to lose any more lives. >> nangka made landfall in western japan late thursday night. people have taken precautions across the country based on lessons from past disasters. egyptian military officers say one of their naval vessels caught fire off sinai peninsula. members of a group affiliated

with the islamic state militants say they destroyed the ship with a rocket. they posted a web statement with photos of an object flying near the petrol vessel. the vessel is soon engulfed in smoke and then an explosion. the ship was patrolling the mediterranean coast off the country's east. they say troops exchanged fire with groups on shore. they say there were no casualties. militants have become increasingly active in sinai peninsula, attacking the military and police repeatedly. they're against president abdel fattah al sisi's groups since he took power in a de facto coup in 2013. efforts to resolve greece's debt crisis may soon shift into gear. this comes after the country's parliament passed an austerity bill. so greece is set to receive much needed cash. what's next on the agenda. >> well, a lot of focus on trying to get the wheels of the economy rolling again for

greece. a lot of focus on that. eurozone finance ministers have agreed to start negotiations on a new bailout package. the move came after the greek parliament approved an aw ter sister pi bill that the eurozone countries had demanded as a condition for the talks to go ahead. ministers reached this decision in a telephone conference. they'll discuss giving athens a three-year bailout of up to 86 billion euros or $93 billion once the parliaments of germany and some other countries give the green light. the germans are expected to vote on the issue friday. members have agreed in three-month bridge alone of $7.6 billion. athens faces a series of deadlines in july and august for debt repayments. in a related move the european central bank has decided to raise the amount of emergency lending to greek banks. >> the ecb continues to act on

the assumption that greece is of course, and will remain a member of the euro area. >> members of the ecb governing council agreed it would provide an additional 900 million euros. greek banks have been shut for over two weeks. the government is imposing a cash withdrawal limit and other capital controls. analysts say attention is focused on whether the extra cash from the ecb will lead to a resumption of normal banking operations. and now let's get a check on the markets. markets in europe and the u.s. ended higher after comments from draghi and federal reserve chair janet yellen. let's check on the markets here in tokyo for this friday. for that we go to mayu yoshida. looks like draghi's comments moved the markets there. >> that's right, ramin. europe's in a pretty happy mode with the dax at two-month highs yesterday. that spilled over to new york

where stocks closed near record. so we're starting to see this rally in global markets. so tokyo markets at the open this friday july 17th. the nikkei is extending gains. yesterday up 0.25% and the topix is at 1662 up 0.1%. and we're heading into a weekly gain with the nikkei rising 4% through thursday. the stronger dollar is definitely helping sentiment before japan's earnings season and overnight the dollar gained momentum after fed chair yellen said she favors tightening in a prudent and gradual manner. and as you know ramen, she's been suggesting rate hikes this year but looks like ekquity investors are doubting it. because the dow closed up nearly 0.4%. and the tech-heavy nasdaq closed at a record. wall street investors were buying up the tech sector that rallied on positive earnings especially from ebay and netflix.

netflix soared 18% helping the dmaz dak climb to that effort. google rose 13% in after-hours trading. but earnings from goldman sachs were not as inspiring and were down, in fact, putting a bit of pressure on the dow. but all in all, earnings are quite positive in the u.s. so u.s. stocks are up more than 3% in about six sessions. as things are starting to look better in greece and a balance in chinese markets, the dax and the shanghai composite are up 9% each. so we're starting to see this roll going on in global markets. >> -- currencies how are yellen's comments playing into the dollar? we've already seen the positive results for stocks but how about currencies? >> well expectations of a rate hike is definitely pushing up the dollar and in addition to yellen's comments lower u.s. jobless claims are reinforcing expectations where a hike this september or december. so the dollar's hovering around

a three-week high against the yen around 124.12. meanwhile, the euro is still a little bit weak though. can we see the euro? it's around 0.886. speculators are using their cash to european stocks for higher returns especially after draghi's comments. we might see some buying in japanese exports today. let's see how that goes. that's it for you. back to you. >> great stuff, mayu. reporting live from the tokyo stock exchange. now, we've been focusing this week on efforts to bring new life into rural communities in tokushima prefecture western japan. for a final installment, we meet a business owner who is winning awards with his eye-catching orchids. he started using the flowers to create a line of innovative products that are winning over new customers.

nhk world reports. >> reporter: this company in tokushima prefecture grows elegant seedlings. it ships 3 million seedlings every year. they eventually grow into flowers that brighten up interiors around the world. the president started the business about 40 years ago. he got a break in 2002 when he won top prize at one of the world's largest expositions for the varieties he had spent over a decade developing. the award put his company on the international map. he has expanded his business using biotechnology to produce more seedlings. the process involves cutting up small new shoots and culturing tissue. he can now grow tens of

thousands of seedlings a year from one shoot. the orchids were once quite expensive. the new technology has helped lower prices allowing him to expand sales nationwide. the company has gone farther, combining orchids with other products. tokushima prefecture is also known for its noodles. the company created a new product by kneading power from the flowers into noodle dough. the orchid-flavored noodles have become a popular local specialty. >> translator: i think it's nice if more and more customers come to know that a maker in tokushima is producing this kind of noodle. >> reporter: orchids have become

not just something to enjoy looking at. their flavor and scent are winning fans, too. >> translator: delicious. >> translator: it's good. >> reporter: the firm has used orchids to develop one new product after another. candy, wine cosmetics and cream. last year it logged total sales of $65 million, a record. >> konichi-wa. >> reporter: he is not finished innovating yet. he has even created a new downsized orchid for residents of cramps condominiums. the owners say they cannot afford to keep large vases or tall flowers on display. his solution was to select an orchid and combine it with a

related product. the set fits into small spaces. he says it's best as a gift. >> translator: not many people have vases to put flower gifts in. i think consumers would rather have something they can arrange themselves for display. >> reporter: the company has grown with its orchids while tapping local resources. its secret is always putting the customers' need first. reporting for nhk world from tokushima. >> that's all for business news at this hour. i'll leave you with a check of the markets.

in other news japanese prime minister shinzo abe is one step closer to transforming the country's security framework. the lower house has approved a set of bills that would expand the role of the self-defense forces and allow japan to exercise the right to collective self-defense. the package will now be discussed in the upper house. expert advice remains divided on whether the bills are constitutional. >> reporter: the bills passed in a full session of the lower house as a majority of lawmakers said yes to changing the national security policy. but most opposition parties left the chamber before the vote in protest.

>> translator: i strongly protest the forced passage of the war bills that are against the constitution and which most citizens oppose. i will never forgive this act of tyranny and dictatorship that undermines the principle of democracy. >> reporter: ruling coalition leaders are aware that their arguments have not been convincing enough to gain public support. >> translator: we plan to have deep discussions appropriate to the upper house, known as the center of sound judgment. everyone in our party will make their utmost efforts to deepen the public's understanding of the bills. >> reporter: a central issue in heated debate on the bills is whether they accord with the country's constitution. some question whether they comply with the war renouncing

provision article nine. but ruling party leaders have repeatedly said they are confident that the bills are constitutional. also at issue is how much leeway the legislation gives the country's self-defense forces. abe has stressed that his administration's interpretation of the constitution allows the minimum use of force only under certain conditions. one political analyst says the bills are absolutely constitutional, that the change in policy is necessary to cope with a more severe security environment. >> the government should use simpler terms, easier explanation to tell people that this is -- although labeled as a collective right of defense, it is indeed to defend our own country. >> reporter: okamoto added

conditions are clearly set in the legislation not to use force limitlessly. >> we are going to realize only a part of that whole gamut of collective right of defense and other usage of military power unrelated to the japanese security remains unconstitutional. >> reporter: but some say the government's arguments are groundless. >> translator: the constitution clearly says the right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized. but the government's bills would allow the use of force overseas, calling it the right to collective self-defense for the country. this makes article nine meaningless. the bills do not take into account the constitution which denies the right of belligerency. this is unconstitutional. there are arguments that the bills are necessary to defend the country because the security situation has changed.

but whether it is possible under the current constitution is a completely different matter. if it is not possible, we must follow the procedure to amend the constitution. >> reporter: opinion polls suggest a majority of the public is not convinced. the abe administration is under pressure to build more support to get the bills through the upper house. mitsuko nishikawa, nhk world. a japanese astronomer is helping to shed light on a dwarf planet that's getting a lot of attention this week. he's studying the latest close-up images of pluto. he says they suggest the surface was geologically active more recently than scientists had believed. the images came from nasa's new horizons probe. one shows part of pluto's southern hemisphere from a distance of 77,000 kilometers.

it revealed ice mountains and plains. professor watanabe of japan's astronomical observatory thinks he knows why. >> translator: they must have been created relatively recently because no craters are visible. they can't have been created at the same time as the planet. >> watanabe says scientists had thought pluto's surface stopped being geologically active 4.6 billion years ago. he says they'll try to identify the source of energy that lies below. the july grand sumo tournament is now under way in nagoya central japan. today our sumo reporter hiro morita joins us with a recap of the first five days. >> there's no question who the main man of the competition is this time. newly promoted ozeki terunofuji. the 23-year-old mongolian won

his first top division title in may and he's still on a roll. he came into day five with a spotless record. in january terunofuji said his goal this year was to make ozeki. now that he's accomplished it he has his sights set on becoming yokozuna grand champion. on day five tochiozon is his opponent. he comes out with all guns blazing. tochiozon stays in constant motion and attacks the new ozeki relentlessly. terunofuji fights with a lot of poise and stops his charge. the mongolian gets set, marches forward and dumps him to remain undefeated. terunofuji is looking good, but you can count on one man to be standing in the new ozeki's way. none other than yokozuna hakuho. after coming up short in the may competition, the grand champion is determined to redeem himself. for the past three years he hakuho hasn't allowed himself to lose two consecutive emperor's

cup tournaments. that's how dominant he has been. stocky bulgarian aoyama was looking for a big upset. aoyama takes hakuho back and goes chest to chest. this gave hakuho time to think about his next move. when he lost, the bulgarian was in trouble. hakuho takes the match. he stays unbeaten. remember satoyama? he's returning to the top division whom we featured prior to the tournament. the 34-year-old veteran entered the competition hoping to capture his first-ever top division kachi-koshi or more wins than losses. in order to accomplish the feat, satoyama needs to win eight bouts during the 15-day tourney. he got off to a good start when he took care of the mongolian on opening day with a nifty pulling underarm throw.

he lost his next three bouts but on thursday satoyama was able to withstand endo's fierce thrusting attack and picked up his second win by outmaneuvering him. satoyama is back on the right track and hopefully he keeps up his good work to rack up at least eight wins. and that's all for today. i'll be here again next week to tell you all about the championship race and more. so see you then. looking forward to it. hiro morita, our sumo reporter. people in western japan are feeling the effects of a storm churning in the region. residents are getting hit with rain and powerful winds. robert speta joins us with an update on weather conditions there and elsewhere. >> what we'll be looking at is the relief is coming but it's not going to be until the latter part of the weekend. we're still tracking the storm system. made landfall last night pushing over and continuing to bring the heavy rainfall. winds upwards of 126 kilometers

gusting that high in the center of circulation. but this will continue to move overhead. the big issue is the rainfall. some areas could see in total upwards of 1,000 millimeters of precipitation. traveling definitely a rough go especially for commuters. this is eventually going to track off towards the north. it will be improving but not until the latter part of the week. down towards the south and the west, i do want to mention across eastern china, we have seen that southerly flow of moisture. and that's been bringing the threat of flooding near shanghai. that will track towards the east over the metropolitan area. then to the philippines this is somewhat due to nangka. we have to the north a little small tropical depression east of okinawa. that's been surging in this moisture and actually parts of luzon, you've been looking at serious flooding. especially farmers out here serious crop losses because of these torrential rains. in the past 24 hours some areas have seen upwards of 100

millimeters. that's been happening for several days now. that's what's causing the problems. bangkok up to 34 on your friday. then over towards the americas we're still watching de inging do lorous out here. weather is erupting over towards the great lakes region. some of these storms could produce tornadoes, large hail and even damaging winds. also down towards florida, if you have travel plans out here in the lightning capital of the u.s., you may want to watch out for that because there is the threat of lightning as we go ahead into your friday evening. temperatures on the hot side though. this is across the deep south, remember and that means that you're going to be looking at some humidity coming off the gulf of mexico. these temperatures could be feeling like they're in the 40s. then into the british isles, we do have a rather potent storm system moving overhead winds up to 50 60 kilometers per hour. around london you may see delays. but the temperatures on the hot side across the mediterranean.

well into the 30s on your friday. here's the extended outlook. and that's all for this edition of "newsline." i'm catherine kobayashi in tokyo. thanks very much for staying with us.

stacey thunder: on this edition of "native report," we walk with participants of the dakota commemorative march we visit a school district with a 100% graduation rate for native american students, and we celebrate our 10th anniversary of "native report" by revisiting devils tower in wyoming. we also learn something new about indian country and hear from our elders on this "native report." announcer: production of native report is made possible by grants from the shakopee mdewakanton sioux community and the blandin foundation. [music playing]