this is the top of the hour in tokyo and this is nhk "newsline." i'm ross mihara. japan's government approved sanctions against north korea. the move is in response to a nuclear test and rocket launch. the cabinet endorsed the set of measures drawn up by the national security council and the measures include a ban on all port calls by north korean ships as well as other countries that have been to north korea. the minsters approved stronger restrictions, money transfers will be blocked and organizations and individuals involved in the nuclear missile programs will have assets

frozen. >> translator: we are implementing measures based on the concepts of dialogue and pressure. and action for action. we are seeking comprehensive solutions with abductions and north korea's nuclear and missile programs. >> he also said the government will call on the un security council to implement sanctions. u.s. president barack obama has also signed legislation with sanctions against north do rhea. they will freeze the assets with business dealings or cyber crimes. the penalties include banning those involved from entering the u.s. congress overwhelmingly approved the bill last week. china criticized for the nuclear test and rocket launch and the way forward is not sanctions

alone, but also dialogue. this is the ambassador to japan and restated his position on the actions. they violated the resolutions and stopped nuclear proliferation. he said china and the new security council resolution. he said he thinks the six-party talks ought to be restarted soon. south korean officials are talking with the u.s. about deploying an american anti-missile system that has drawn condemn nation from the north. a commentary from state media said deploying the anti-missile system would heighten military tension. the previous day officials said they were talking with the u.s. about getting a system called thad. they began the talks after the north's rocket launch seen as a

cover for a missile test. the north korean commentary said political and military tension would lead to a physical slash. it warned that south korea would be targeted by countries neighboring the north. analysts suggest the commentary was referring to china and russia. the chinese government doesn't want the anti-missile system in south korea because its radar would reach china. russian leaders have expressed opposition. japan's has faced off with his predecessor in a rare debate. shinzo abe and noda discussed reforms they promised years ago that triggered the transition of power and abe pledged to cut seats sooner than proposed. a similar scene played out in

2012, the same two faces, but in opposite positions. >> i want you to promise here in public we will carry out a reduction in the number of lower house seats by the end of the 2013 ordinary session. if you promise to do this, i will dissolve the lower house on november 16th. >> he said it. he will dissolve the lower house on the 16th. that is a promise. that's a promise. >> in that year's election, they handed the liberal democrats a newmanidate, sending the democrats into opposition and later he cut five lower house seats to address the disparity in the vote value. that was not enough in the supreme court. they ruled disparity was in a state of unconstitutionality.

on friday, he confronted abe. >> i kept my promise to dissolve the lower house, however in the number of lower house seats was not delivered in the 2013 ordinary sessions. >> you lied to the japanese people. >> what we promised is to reduce lower house seats by five. the democrats were a posed and we made the reduction. >> they will seek to cut seats in the chamber that his party proposed. representatives are set to discuss the issue next week. legislation to expand the self defense forces will go into effect next month and major parties are throwing up roadblocks to try to prevent that from happening.

representatives including the largest opposition democratic party and a communist party submitted bills and argued that the legislation that would allow japan to exercise the right to collect self defense violates the constitution. >> we will work together to scrap the legislation with the backing of public. >> the opposition camp is taking up the valit id of the laws as a campaign focus ahead of an upper house, lection. >> turkey's government is blaming kurdish forces for wednesday's fatal explosion in the capital in response. turkish troops are continuing attacks against them. the u.s. is calling for restraint. nhk world has a report. and injur dozens more.st .

i'm near the site of the explosion. as you can see, police officials have everything sealed off. this is a normally busy area. it's near here and so are many government facilities. >> i want the terrorist attacks to end. the government needs to take tougher measures. >> turkish prime minister said to the kurdish military have been the bomber. >> turkey will track down all those who are involved in the attack. and bring them to justice. >> kurdish forces have turned nhk that they had no involvement

in the attack. they suffered terrorist attacks over the past months and some have been preying on the militant group. others, this one a separate group. the kurds are a large ethnic group with their own country. they are straddling the borders of turkey and syria. turkey has been fighting kurds inside and outside the borders. on one hand, turkish troops conducted raids against the kurdish separatist group. they have also been sharing forces in the northern part of

syria where they are expanding the infrens. >> the main thing is to provide security of our country. we have the rights and we can do whether we need to protect the country's security. >> the curd are being supported by the u.s. with the mill cant group. washington said they have idea to determine who is behind the latest attack. >> we have urged and will continue to urge turkey not to engage. >> turkey is a number of nato which means they expect to be backed by the u.s. theus is relying on kurds to keep up the fight against the islamic states.

>> the confusion may only serve to lessen. >> thes of australia and new zealand have been the latest world leaders to call on china to refrain from lightening tensions in the south china sea. it came days after they reported that china deployed an advanced surface to air missile system. he met with john key in sydney. they have no claims in the south china city, but emphasized that maritime safety is vital.

we know that the prosperity depends on peace and harmony and that is why we urge all clients in the south china city to refrain from any building of islands and any land reclamation. >> there would be bad for security and economic issues in the region. we have to continue to make the case that the parties have to look to resolve amicably and lawfully. >> u.s. officials confirmed what they called the deployment of missiles in the disputed island chain. china criticized the comments bite the two leaders. >> translator: australia and new zealand are not claimants to the disputed territories in the south china sea. we want the two nations to

examine the historical facts of the issue. >> chine claims almost all as their. several asean country have claims to parts of it. issued a protest over the apparent missile deployment and called it a serious infrinchment of sovereignty and threatened peace and stability in the region. >> a memorial service has been held to remember soldier who is died in a battle more than 70 years ago. in the city, families of japanese war dead gathered to attend a ceremonyy and offer prayers. 130,000 japanese soldiers died in what was then known as burma during world war ii. the government said the remains

of 45,000 are still there. >> my father's remains have never been found. i remember his burial, but there was only a piece of paper in the casket. i would finally be able to meet him after 70 years. >> towards the end of the war, an offensive aimed at destroying the british army bordering myanmar. thousands of japanese coldiers died of runger and disease. they fell into instability that lasted for decades. the troops are fighting against armed minority groups. that prevented people from police officering. in 2011, myanmar began the shift to democracy. they signed a ceasefire with eight armed minority groups. the japanese government plans to

begin the search for remains this month in the mountainous area dominated by minority groups and will be the first search in about 40 years. >> a student's suicide in india sparked interest. >> there is a lot of anger here as students continue to protest against the university administration. the death of 26-year-old triggered angry protests at the central university and many others. the demonstrators see

discrimination drew the ph.d. student to kill himself. >> he was found dead in this dorm room on january 17. he reportedly hanged himself. a note was found at the scene. it said my birth is my fatal accident. >> we couldn't even imagine that he would commit suicide. >> he came from a poor family and received a scholarship to study at the university. the cast faced discrimination in india. that discrimination continues today. while at university, he joined a rights group on the campus with

his friend. trouble with their group erupted in august when there was a disagreement with another group aiated with the ruling party. there were allegations. the university responded by banning five students from dormitories and cafeterias. the scholarships were terminated. >> it is supposed to be void of differences to be inflicted, but on the practical side, the university is also part of the entire system. >> a square at the university commemorates the students who were killed themselves. a student said there were such suicides over the last five

years. freshmen are often denied the same support given to those from upper casts. leading them to feel excluded. >> all the suicides are committed by the students or is it a problem of the institution? is it a discrimination taking place from several years and has not been addressed? >> some say the prime minister's government is responsible. one of his minsters wrote a letter to the education minster saying the university has become a den of anti-national politics and called for action to be taken. the education minster contacted the university. >> student protesters say it's the political pressure that led to the inappropriate punishment

of the students. >> this kind of uncompromising attitude of expressing our point of view against the government and against the university has actually made us to be victimized this this fashion. this is a political administrative the suicide and are affecting the country and the administration. his death is shedding light on people's continuing struggle with the history of the discrimination. nhk world, india.

>> un officials say a deadly flash erupted and the fighting broke out at a un administered site in the north eastern city and at least seven people are dead and 40 others injured. the camp accommodates nearly 50,000 people who threat. the un secretary general warned that any attack directed could constitutes a war crime. the fighting since 2013 killed several thousand people and displaced 2.4 million. hundreds of thousands are taking shelter in camps at the time up across the country. they mapped out how to provide aid to all the people in areas

within a week. one of the operations would be the first of its kind in syria. >> that can only be done by air drops and they have a concrete plan of doing so. >> it will be dropped over the eastern province where 200,000 people remain besieged. he also said more than 100 trucks delivered water and food and medical supplies to 80,000 people in five other areas. almost half a million people live in syria beset by government forces or other armed groups. >> asia has their version of the monetary fund. 13 nations set up an organization that will monitor financial conditions in the region and step in if necessary. the nations upgraded the

surveillance to the status of an international organization alled amro. officials from member nations and japan, china and south korea attended a ceremony. the unit analyzed asian, fiscal and monetary policies since it was set up in 2o 11. the aim is to prevent another currency crisis. japanese finance ministry official is the first director. he said the new status will strengthen information gathering. the 13 number countries and the agreement makes funds available to cash-strapped nations and they are to give advice on that and other issues. plans to boost the number of flights between haneda and other countries will be finalized in

may. they have just eight daily return tlots between haneda and the u.s. cities. they will hut early and late flights and putting on ten daytime return slots instead. they will great it evenly. all will take two slots each. daytime flights tenthing them to the mainland are expected to take off this autumn. "avatar" taxi drivers in tokyo are tearing more and more foreign tourists to give better service. they launched their own system for those who give tours in english.

>> tokyo has more than 60,000 taxi drivers. a group of 15 were the first to get certified. they took 20 hours of training. then they passed tests of sightseeing spots. the tokyo government wants to attract more and hopes to get 15 million a year when they hope the olympics and paralympics. they say all that glitters is not gold. a town is trying to attract tourists with a flitery product of its. it is the subject of our next report. >> chiney and shimmering. locals call it jewelry ice. if you want to see it for

yourself, you will have to head to the town in northern japan. recently lots of amateur photographers are doing just that. >> it looks like jewels. >> it's nature's beauty. >> where does jewelry ice come from? every year around the end of january, transparent ice blocks start appearing on the coast. this is the mouth of the river and in january as the temperature drops to minus 20 degrees, thick ice forms and the the melted ice is tossed about and they drift on to the beach. you may not be able to sell the

ice as actual jewelry, but it doesn't mean it's worthless. local authorities are finding value as a tourism resource. they posted pictures on the website. since then, the town has been receiving an increasing number of calls from all over japan. >> we are planning to use jewelry ice in local events to attract visitors to our town. >> diamonds may be forever, but jewelry ice only has a short shelf life. for the people, the challenge will be to maximize tourism dollars from a limited supply of an increasingly valuable product. >> japanese teen ski jumpers

secured the overall world tup title by winning the event in finland. he jumped 96.5 meters and claimed the 12th victory to reach 1,410 points, an unassailable lead. it is the 30 world tup title in 2012 and 2013. she trained hard and it is she is happy. here is the weekend weather forecast.

>> that's all we have this hour on "newsline." i'm ross mihara in tokyo. thank you for watching and have a good day.

steves: the dramatic rock of cashel is one of ireland's most evocative sites.

this was the seat of ancient irish kings for seven centuries. st. patrick baptized king aengus here in about 450 a.d. in around 1100, an irish king gave cashel to the church, and it grew to become the ecclesiastical capital of all ireland. 800 years ago, this monastic community was just a chapel and a round tower standing high on this bluff. it looked out then, as it does today, over the plain of tipperary, called the golden vale because its rich soil makes it ireland's best farmland. on this historic rock, you stroll among these ruins in the footsteps of st. patrick, and wandering through my favorite celtic cross graveyard, i feel the soul of ireland.

anchor: flexibility. it sounds like a good thing, doesn't it? if you're flexible, then you can fit in with changing demand, take on different roles, rise to different challenges. but is "flexible" becoming little more than a euphemism for "dispensable"? welcome to "global 3000," where this week, we're investigating the uncomfortable realities of the modern workplace. zero hours, zero guarantees --controversial employment contracts in the u.k. driven to distraction -- self-employed couriers get a raw deal in the u.s. and of bulls and bees -- everyday survival in ethiopia's sheka forest.