glad to have you with us on this edition of "newsline." it is friday, january 22nd. i'm catherine kobayashi in tokyo. policymakers from the european central bank want to boost their economy. they see prices falling. prices of oil, everyday goods, even stock markets. they're looking for the right time to lend more support to the region's economy. let's go to ai uchida from our business desk. what have ecb officials decided? >> they've decided not to make additional moves just yet. they want more time to see the impact of recent market volatility in the region. but going forward there may be something ecb president mario draghi suggested new stimulus could be in store at the next

policy meeting. >> euro area inflation dynamics also continue to be weaker than expected. it will therefore be necessarily to review and possibly reconsider our monetary policy stance at our next meeting in early march. >> draghi was speaking after ecb members met at headquarters in germany. they decided to keep the key interest rate unchanged at 0.05%, a record low. they said they will maintain the current scale of their quantitative easing measures. the policymakers decided last month to extend the ecb's bond purchase program by six months. draghi said that downside risks have increased due to a slowdown in emerging economies and volatility in financial markets. stock markets in europe and

the u.s. rallied after draghi's dovish comments. tokyo's nikkei opened higher, up 3.13%, 16,519. almost all sectors are higher. oil and commodity-linked shares are showing big gains as the crude oil price bounced back. overnight in new york the benchmark wti futures touched above $30 a barrel, its biggest one-day rise this year. u.s. stock pies of oil were found to be not as much as many had feared. let's check currencies. following draghi's remarks the euro fell to a two-week low against the dollar but the single currency is now coming back a bit. the dollar is firmer against the yen. the u.s. currency is climbing steadily, now at 117.66-71. that's dollar/yen. a couple of days ago it had hit a one-year low of below 116 yen.

take a look across the asia-pacific region and see how everything is looking. everything's looking positive. australian shares are trading higher by 1.1%. south korea's kospi jumping up 1.8%. but tokyo obviously leading the gains. authorities in russia are facing pressures to react as the ruble hit a historic low against the dollar. the ruble traded above 85 to the dollar at one time in moscow on thursday on the back of low oil prices. the russian currency is at its lowest level since it was redenominated in 1998. the country's economy relies on oil so it's been battered by the decline in prices as well as the drop in the ruble's value and sanctions over the conflict with ukraine. the government says it will revise this year's budget and cut its spending by 10%. russia is dependent on imports of food and daily necessities. many people are concerned about

price hikes. >> translator: life is becoming harder as prices of all products are increasing. >> translator: i cannot rely on the government to make measures. >> russia had enjoyed rapid economic growth for the past ten years due to the increase in oil prices. observers say the poor economic performance may hurt president vladimir putin's popularity. china's foreign exchange reserve shrank more than $500 billion last year. it was the first slide in 23 years. even so, china's foreign exchange regulator has dismissed speculation that outflows of funds are growing over worries about the country's economic prospects. the officials at the state administration of foreign exchange issued a statement on thursday claiming capital outflows mainly result from a rise in overseas investment by

kotds at home. the statement says another major reason is repayment of dollar-denominated debt in anticipation of the u.s. dollar gaining in value following the recent interest rate hike. the officials also say that capital outflows are not the only factor causing the drop. they say one-third of the fall has mainly come from the depreciation of the yuan against the dollar. the statement adds that capital outflows have been slowing since september and china still holds the world's largest reserves. it stresses that the impact of capital outflows on china's economy is controllable. financial authorities responded by injecting additional liquidity into the financial system. the people's bank of china said it pumped 400 billion yuan, about $61 billion, into short-term money markets via its open market operations. it's the central bank's largest single injection of money in those markets since february

2013. the move is aimed at keeping interest rates from rising and commercial lenders from facing a liquidity shortage. it comes ahead of the lunar new year holiday in early february when cash shortages can occur. demand for cash surges at this time of the year when companies and consumers make lots of bank withdrawals. new auto sales in thailand have been in the slow lane. industry figures show sales were off by more than 9% last year. china's slow-down has impacted the thai economy, hurting consumption. japanese carmakers have a combined share of about 90% in thailand. it's a production and sales core in their southeast asian strategy. toyota motor has published combined sales figures of all automakers for 2015. nearly 800,000 vehicles rolled off dealers' lots last year. that is down 9.3% from 2014 and marked a third consecutive year

of decline. toyota sales were down 18.7% to 266,000 units. isuzu saw a 10% fall to slightly more than 144,000. honda bucked the trend selling 5.3% more, or about 1 tell thousa 112,000 vehicles. further decline by 10% in 2016 to about 720,000 units. a luxury grade of japanese rice is being developed to promote international sales. agricultural competitiveness is a major issue following last year's broad agreement on the transpacific partnership free trade deal. japanese vendor toyo rice buys freshly harvested rice from award-winning farmers. the rice is matured and polished using a special technique. the maker says results of a test by the national food research institute proved the process makes the rice 94 tasty and nutritional. the company president says he is

very concerned about expected imports of low-priced but quality rice under the tpp. the luxury rice will go on sale in japan in may. it will be priced 30 times higher than ordinary righce. they hope to sign up more rice farmers for export to asian countries. japan is experiencing a tourism boom. nearly 20 million foreign nationals visited last year, a record high. that's driving retailers to come up with more attractive offerings and form new alliances, sometimes with rather unconventional partners. nhk world's kayako tami has more. >> reporter: many are dazzled by the selection at home appliance stores. but this one has gone beyond the usual range of choices. this customer is getting a little something extra with her rice cooker. >> translator: there's a karaoke place upstairs.

show this receipt and you'll get a discount. >> reporter: a short ride up in the elevator -- is a restaurant. there are some tourists from the u.s. who are singing their hearts out. the two businesses decided to team up in december 2015 to give their customers more options. >> translator: we offer a blend of uniquely japanese products and services. i think new kinds of partnerships like this are crucial. >> reporter: some new business relationships are even more imaginative. behind this wall of bookshelves is a rolo bed. overnight guests are invited to doze off while reading a good book. it's a joint project between a real estate firm and a book

retailer. the accommodation book shop has been a hit with young foreign tourists. the books and magazines keep them in touch with what's happening in the city. >> translator: by crossing over into other sectors, i thought we could come up with a brand-new approach that's not bound by existing hotel culture. and this collaboration has created a very nice place. >> reporter: some businesses in a nearby commercial area are taking this cooperative spirit a bit further. this is one of the liveliest and most diverse retail districts in japan. but foreign tourists rarely venture here. local business owners want to change that. the area is home to two large department stores that are known for their intense rivalry. now that old antagonistic

relationship is being transformed. late last year, representatives of the major retailers gathered to exchange ideas. they included managers from the two former rivals, multi-tenant complex with an aquarium, a commercial facility for young people, and anime shops. the group is getting help from a consultant.for young people, an shops. the group is getting help from a consultant. >> translator: disappointingly, there's no mention of ikebukoro in most guide books. there's absolutely no reference to the major department stores. >> reporter: the group is launching a special campaign for the lunar new year in february where lots of chinese tourists visit japan. plans include a visitor information center and a regional guide book. >> translator: ikebukoro offers

a diverse array of services and attractions. that's what's most appealing about it. i want to focus on blending all the elements into a single identity. >> reporter: japan's business managers are learning to think beyond old ways of operating and breaking down barriers. they are beginning to realize something these karaoke lovers seem to understand -- that life can be a lot better if everyone sings the same tune. more headlines for you in business next hour. for now, here's a check on markets.

washington is weighing in on beijing's role in efforts to curb pe wrong yang's nuclear ambitions. a senior u.s. diplomat says china is key to supporting new u.n. sanctions against north korea for its recent nuclear test. deputy secretary of state anthony blinken attended a strategic security dialogue meeting in beijing and he made the appeal to china's vice foreign minister. blinken said the u.s. and china are at a crucial time to deal with some issues of mutual concern. chinese government officials have expressed support for a new sanctions resolution. but they remain cautious. they're concerned that the situation on the korean peninsula could become unstable if pyongyang feels cornered. u.s. secretary of state john kerry is heading to china next week to discuss the issue. vietnam's ruling communist

party opened a congress thursday to name new leaders. delegates are also focusing on the country's challenges. and that includes china's increasingly assertive claims to territory in waters vietnam considers its own. lies in the east china sea about 25 kilometers off the coast of central vietnam. >> translator: both the separately and parris islands belong to japan, not china. they're violating our territory. the fishing grounds are ours. >> translator: it's extremely frustrating. the south china sea is our ancestral home. >> reporter: the island has been a front line of difference for vietnam since around the 17th century. soldiers were dispatched there by the king to guard the south china sea. here is one of the fishing posts

in ly son island. from here many fishing boats are headed to para sell and spratly islands. about 30% of ly son's residents make a living off fishing. since 2012, life on the island has taken a turn for the worse. local fishermen have come under increasing threats over tax by chinese vessels around the spratly islands and elsewhere. vuy has firsthand experience with the chinese. last year his boat was rammed. >> translator: our boat was hit by a chinese ship. they even robbed us. >> reporter: he says the chinese ship followed his boat and hit it twice from behind. he says uniformed men then boarded his boat and stole fishing equipment, as well as a

gps device and radios. his boat bears scars from the attack. >> translator: the crew warned us that we were violating chinese territorial waters. they almost looked like navy personnel in their uniforms. they were carrying guns and batons. >> reporter: his wife waits for her husband at home. she says she worries about him every time he goes to sea. >> translator: it's china that worries me the most. if his boat is destroyed or if he's beaten and becomes disables, i wouldn't be able to raise the children. >> reporter: bon says harassment by the chinese ships is so common these days he often doesn't go to sea. he says he is worried about his

income and how he will support his wife and six children. >> translator: we fishermen have lost about 30% of our income since the chinese ships began their sabotage. all we're asking for is peace. where there's no conflict and where fishermen's property is not stolen. >> reporter: despite a growing anxiety, vietnamese authorities know they can they can't protest too strongly. while they keep a close eye on their neighbor, all the fishermen can do is hope for the best. a fireworks factory explosion in china is just the latest accident to claim lives in the country.

it comes on the same day as the one-month anniversary of the deadly landslide in shenzhen. our next story takes a look at factors behind the industrial disasters that seem to be occurring at an alarming frequency there. >> reporter: china has had a seemingly unending series of accidents. the latest was an explosion wednesday at a fireworks factory in the south of the country. chinese media say at least three people were killed and more than 60 others were injured. in june last year, 442 people died when the cruise ship capsized in the yangtze river. in august more than 170 people were killed in an explosion at a warehouse in tianjin. and in december a landslide

killed 69 people at a industrial park in shenzhen. eight others are still missing. >> translator: the government must respond to the accident. it wasn't a natural disaster but a manmade disaster. >> reporter: it's believed the common link between all of those incidents is lax safety management and rampant corruption in regional governments is the cause of that says this man, expert in chinese policy. >> translator: officials responsible for ensuring safety are instead often found colluding with industry. as in the recent case, turning a blind eye on shoddy construction or allowing them to leave dangerous piles of waste soil unattended. vested interests are often involved. >> reporter: corruption and lax safety are not the only thing angering citizens. the government's response to the landslide is also upsetting people.

waste soil removed from the collapsed site is being dumped on farms. in some places it stands almost five meters tall. farmers' vegetables are buried below it. >> translator: i've lost my land. 20 years of my hard work just went down the drain. it's gone. >> reporter: authorities are also keeping a tight lid on the information, possibly to avoid a public outcry. state-run television centered on steps taken by the authorities but steered clear of details of the accident or its possible causes. the expert warns if officials continue to put personal gain ahead of their public

responsibility and the media and public opinion don't have enough power to hold them to account, the series of accidents that have led to so many deaths won't end any time soon. foreign ministers of muslim nations have failed to bridge the rift between saudi arabia and iran. members of the organization of islamic cooperation have wrapped up their emergency meeting in jetta. saudi arabia's foreign minister said iran incited sectarian conflict. he called it the main cause of instability in the middle east. then the foreign ministers

adopted a joint statement condemning iran's interference in the conflicts in syria and yemen and support for terrorism. iran's delegation at the meeting rejected the statement. students in pakistan have been mourning the victims attack on a university. they honored the memories of the 20 people killed by an armed group that stormed the campus. ♪ hundreds gathered in the capital for a memorial ceremony. they prayed silently while a verse of lament was read from the koran. >> translator: i'm really sad about what happened. the thought of mothers grieving for children they lost is breaking my heart. >> translator: it was a terrible incident for me and this country. the victims were robbed of their future. >> pakistani nobel peace prize laureate malala yousafzai says the attack left her heartbroken.

she's urging people to get rid of terrorism and ignorance and work together to protect lives and learning. people in washington, d.c. are seeing snow and they're hearing weather conditions there will get worse. meteorologist robert speta explains. >> yes, for many people out here you already saw a little bit of the white stuff here on your thursday. but now as we head into friday night that's really when the real part of this storm is going to start to come through. and already that snow that did come down was from kind of a clipper back here towards the north. gruel see that area of low pressure swirling through. that's what's going to be bringing these blizzard conditions already in five states out here, states of emergency have been issued. i want to show you what a video out of washington, d.c. looks like here from that original snowfall that pushed through. only a few centimeters was on the ground but you can see right there many of the beltways around the d.c. area completely backed up.we saw several traffis

and this was just from a few centimeters of snowfall. the stuff that's going to be coming in on friday and saturday, about 60 to 80 centimeters out here. and -- excuse me, 30 to 60 centimeters. and it is definitely going to be accompanied by some whiteout conditions as well. we're looking at very high winds with this storm system. let's just talk about the track right here. right now this is actually bringing severe thunderstorms across the gulf coast. even some tornado warnings were issued here on your thursday evening. as this does start to track toward the northeast you're going to be looking at that threat of freezing rain across parts of the appalachians, extending down towards the carolinas into virginia. right here it's this band we're going to be looking at, the heaviest snowfall on friday where you are going to be looking at those whiteout conditions. definitely a big problem with this storm system as it does move through. even as many of these airports from washington over towards philadelphia, also into new york, definitely expect delays and cancelations out here. we have the de-icers running but

if you get winds accompanying, expected 80 to 100 kilometers per hour, that's going to create whiteout conditions and planes cannot take off and land in that. another big thing here is those winds, that's going to be comeig onshore in a storm surge effect almost in coastal areas. aware going to be seeing coastal flooding, at the very least some beach erosion. this is going to be an ongoing story the next several days. hardest-hit area, the mid-atlantic states, washington, d.c. special, baltimore as well, that's where the heaviest is going to be. even towards new york, boston going to be seeing flurries kick in on saturday, extending over there towards sunday. let's also talk about over here towards northeastern asia, in japan this past week we have seen some incredible amounts of snow. we were seeing about 60 centimeters expected into the d.c. area. how about here in northern hokkaido. monday into thursday, we saw one area about three meters of snowfall. one of the big problems with this, everybody's happy if

you're a ski town across this region but you get all that heavy snow on top of these layers, these ice layers that have been building up, it does create that threat of avalanche. already avalanche advisories in place in many of the mountains here from hokkaido extending down. we're still expecting more snow in the forecast but this is the big topic here. it's this big chill that is coming in. this is going to be some of the coldest air of the season if not the last several years. we have this high pressure dominating back toward the north. watch how far south the freezing line goes, at least to the upper levels, 850 millibars here. it pushes over taiwan, higher elevations might see snow. we're expecting snow south of shanghai and even over there towards maybe into the amami area of southern japan. so definitely an ongoing situation. bundle up over this coming weekend. here is your extended forecast.

that wraps up this edition of "newsline." i'm catherine kobayashi in tokyo. thanks for joining us.

stacey thunder: on this edition of native report, we tour the mashantucket pequot museum and research center. we learn about the sculpture garden of the mohegan nation. and from the native report archives, we pay tribute to navajo code talker, chester nez. we also learn something new about indian country and hear from our elders on this native report. narrator: production of native report is made possible by grants from thshakopee mdewakanton sioux community and the blandin foundation. [flute music]