hello and welcome back to nhk "newsline." i'm raja pradhan in tokyo. yirk gunmen are still holding hostages after storming a popular rest rapt in the bangladeshi capital dhaka. reports say militants attacked. local media say the gunmen raided the restaurant described as popular with diplomats and middle class families. media reports say several foreigners are held by the armed group in the city's gulshan district. other unconfirmed reports say at least 20 civilians including

foreigners have been taken hostage. police say some officers were wounded. police and security forces sealed off the area. the violence comes during the muslim holy month of ramadan. the british ambassador to japan says he's ready to seek the opinions of japanese leaders when the time comes for his country to negotiate its exit from the european union. >> what you want as the number two investor in britain and around europe as a whole after the united states is really important to us. and you need to tell us what matters to you and what matters less to you so that we have what i would call is the best results. >> the ambassador also spoke about the race to determine who will be the next leader of britain's governing conservative party. the winner of the contest will almost certainly become the new prime minister and will conduct the exit talks with the eu. five legislators are vying for the party's top job.

they include justice secretary michael gove, a supporter of the effort to leave, and home secretary theresa may, who supported the remain side. hitchens suggested that in british politics the winner will be the person who can heal divisions and achieve a consensus. a taiwanese naval vessel has fired an anti-ship missile that hit a fishing boat. one person was killed and three others injured. the defense ministry says it was an accident. the ministry says the vessel was at a naval base in the southern city of kaohsiung. on friday morning, personnel were inspecting the ship for an upcoming drill. the domestically developed supersonic missile fell into waters off the remote island of penghu in the taiwan strait. the ministry initially reported no injuries, but later in the day they held a news conference to announce the missile hit a taiwanese fishing boat killing the captain and injuring three others. ministry officials suspect the naval personnel failed to follow proper inspection procedures.

hong kong's top leader has called for stronger ties with mainland china. he spoke at a ceremony marking the 19th anniversary of the handover from britain while pro-democracy groups held anti-beijing demonstrations. representatives of the chinese government attended the ceremony. >> translator: a new generation of people in hong kong has new opportunities overseas provided by china's one-belt, one-road economic initiative that connects asia and europe. >> pro-democracy groups are skeptical of beijing's one-country, two-systems policy. a demonstration in the afternoon drew tens of thousands of people. they demanded leung's resignation and universal suffrage in hong kong and china. they also called for the chinese government to release all political prisoners in the country. >> translator: many years have passed since the return of the territory, but our freedom has been reduced.

>> translator: as a citizen, i fear the hong kong government can't protect our basic security. >> a bookseller who was due to lead the protest march dropped out saying he feared for his personal safety. chinese president xi jinping has stressed the need to protect what he calls the country's core interests. ♪ he was speaking at a ceremony marking the 95th anniversary of the founding of the chinese communist party. the president said china will play an active role in building what he called a fair and reasonable world order. he suggested beijing won't compromise on its activities in the east and south china seas. >> translator: no foreign country should count on us trading away our core interests and suffering the consequences of damaging national sovereignty, security and development. >> xi also made remarks apparently aimed at the united states.

washington has been carrying out freedom of navigation operations in the south china sea. beijing has built artificial islands there. >> translator: muscle flexing does not reflect the country's strength and cannot be used to threaten others. >> the president also said china will never tolerate any activities aimed at an independent taiwan. in other news, tax officials in japan say the country's average land price has risen for the first time in eight years. analysts attribute the increase to brisk spending by foreign visitors in both major cities and provincial areas. th its list of land price assessments as of january 1st. the prices are used to calculate inheritance and gift taxes. the list shows the national average was up 0.2% from a year earlier. that's the first uptick since the 2008 global financial crisis. 14 of the nation's 47

prefectures logged year-on-year rises. tokyo's ginza shopping district maintained its record for japan's most expensive land plot for the 31st consecutive year. the price per square meter shot up nearly 19% to about $310,000. a spot in central osaka in the country's west was priced at almost $100,000, up more than 20%. in just over a week people in japan will go to the polls to elect new members of the upper house. in the lead-up, our series "japan decides" is looking at some of the key issues. prime minister shinzo abe is presenting the referendum on his economic policies dubbed abenomics. the package includes increased fis ccal spending, aggressive monetary easing and a growth strategy that promotes

structural reforms. some opposition parties counter that abe's policies have failed and they're expanding the gap between the rich and the poor. japanese businesses have their own view. nhk world gives us a look. >> reporter: managers of this auto parts maker have been enjoying higher sales for three consecutive years. the company sells parts and brake pedals to the united states, china and other countries. and orders grew in tandem with a strong car market. sales jumped by 25% in the year after abe took office in late 2012. the managers say tax relief is also a big help. the government has been giving a tax cut for new capital spending. the administration also lowered the corporate tax rate for major companies by more than 7 percentage points and plans to cut it further. so executives decided to install more automation. they say extremely low interest rates helped spur the

investment. the company's share price climbed sharply as the nikkei rose and its stock holdings in other companies in related industries have risen as well boosting the firm's asset prices. >> translator: i think abenomics had a huge positive impact on our business. during the prolonged deflation era, we haven't been confident enough to go ahead with capital spending or wage hikes. but abenomics ease such worries. >> reporter: some company managers say abe's economic approach is paying off, but some others are disappointed. this fish cake maker in northern japan has been in business for nearly a hundred years. managers say they were hoping abenomics would help boost the local economy, but last december the company went into the red for the first time in two decades. executives say abe's policy has

failed to lift conservative sentiment and that has dampened sales. increased material costs and higher wages are also dealing a blow. monetary easing endorsed by abe's administration initially led to a weaker yen. one result has been higher prices for imported materials. the price of alaskan pollock, an ingredient in fish cakes, has risen by about 30%. managers also say the local economy remains lackluster. they say they had to give raises to employees to stop them from seeking work in big cities. the company's president says he had to raise the price of his leading product by 5%, but he stresses that the hikes still fall short of his rising costs. >> translator: we're facing many disadvantages. abe says he will revive local economies, and i lay hopes on that.

but i must say he is not spelling out effective steps in our region yet. >> reporter: now, sentiment among managers seems to be getting gloomier. they face uncertainty that has spread throughout the global economy. abe says his policies are working and he's calling on voters for their support to follow through with his agenda. the election should uncover some clues as to whether the public is willing to go along with the plan. kyoko fujita, nhk world, tokyo. the economy, new national security laws, the country's constitution. campaigning for the upper house election is on, and japanese voters will have a chance to weigh in on these issues and more. for the first time in history, 18- and 19-year-olds will get a say by casting their ballot. don't miss our special coverage, 2016 election, japan decides.

sunday, july 10th, on nhk world. japanese scientists want to probe the deepest parts of the ocean. a government panel has proposed developing an unmanned submersible that can reach a depth of more than 7,000 meters. japan built a manned submersible 27 years ago that can descend 6,500 meters. this submersible is used to study deep sea ecosystems and changes to the sea floor caused by earthquakes and volcanic activity. the panel discussed its future plans on friday to replace the 6500. it decided japan will build another unmanned submersible that can reach a depth of more than 7,000 meters. it will conduct research on ecosystems and the mechanism of quakes. the scientists also concluded japan should aim to produce a manned submersible that can reach the same depth and break the current records set by china.

they also advise that new technology should be developed to efficiently explore resources and conduct environmentally friendly mining at locations up to 3,000 meters deep. the latest statistics show that one-quarter of japan's population is now aged 65 or older. and the society has seen a surge in cases of people killing elderly parents or spouses in their care. an nhk study revealed that such caregivers need both logistical and emotional help at an early stage. the elderly couple in this photograph struck their neighbors as being lovebirds, but three years ago something went very wrong. the wife killed her 85-year-old husband. he suffered a stroke and she had to take care of him at home. after about two years, she was overcome by stress and had a nervous breakdown. her son urged her to place him in a nursing home, but she insisted she could handle things on her own. it was only three months before the murder when she sought out a

specialist for herself. nhk looked into court documents from cases of murder, attempted murder and murder/suicide. they were all believed to have been triggered by stress from care giving. between 2009 and 2015 there were at least 138 cases or about one every two weeks. yumiko arai is an expert in nursing care. she says many of the people in such cases suddenly find themselves in the position of caregiver. >> translator: their lives suddenly changed, and they may not have been able to cope with the situation. >> arai says it's important to fully understand the burden on people providing care. also from japan, researchers

have made what they say is a significant development in genetic science. it relates to genomes, the genetic material of an organism. genomes consist of dna, but some people are warning the technique the researchers used could have ethical repercussions. nhk world's keiko shirayama explains. >> reporter: these researchers gathered before reporters to share their historic results. >> translator: we have succeeded in creating animals with compromised immune systems for the first time through genome editing. >> reporter: the researchers are from the central institute for experimental animals as well as kaio university. they use a technique known as genome editing on the embryo of a marmoset or a small monkey. the animal's immune cells are down to one-fifth of what's normal. the researchers say it allows them to do further experiments

they hope will advance medical treatments. >> translator: if we can transplant human stem cells to a marmoset with an immune deficiency, we'll be able to see whether the method is safe and effective over a prolonged period. it will also help advance the development of this therapy. >> reporter: scientists have traditionally used genetic modification to alter genes. that method requires trial and error. often thousands of attempts to locate the right sequence of dna. but genome editing is more efficient. it allows researchers to pinpoint the target and cut away genes by using certain enzymes. they can then implant a new gene easily and accurately. in the united states, genome editing is used to help patients with hiv. the technique has been used for

economic reasons, like growing cattle with twice as much meat or creating algae that contains so much oil it can be burned for heat. but the technology is raising ethical concerns. a chinese research team published a paper last year saying they manipulated the genes in a fertilized human egg. they say it was part of their research into broad disease. the work in marmoset is not directly connected to genome editing in humans. still, this expert warns with today's development, it's necessary to think about the ethics of the science. >> translator: if humans are modified artificially with genome editing, the changes would be passed on to any future generations. we need to come up with regulations to ensure that the method won't have any negative

impacts on genomes. further research needs to be conducted. i think it's a trend not only in japan but around the world, too. >> reporter: a group of japanese scientists have called for a ban on genome editing on human embryos. there's currently no law on it in the country, so debate over the risks and benefits continues. keiko shirayama, nhk world, tokyo. millions of people in beijing use electric bikes to get around and to make a living. the high numbers have caused traffic problems and safety concerns. but steps to rein them in are causing headaches for small businesses. nhk world's daisuke azuma reports.

>> reporter: going through the capital's heavy traffic, scooters and bikes, almost all of them powered by electricity. some 4 million residents have turned to the easy to get license-free e-bikes. >> translator: i always use an e-bike. i can avoid traffic jams so it's quick. >> reporter: but authorities banned e-bikes from certain streets, mainly passed the avenue. that's because electric bikes were involved in nearly 40% of total traffic injuries last year. the ban succeeded in eliminating e-bikes from some areas but the problem shifted to nearby streets. people have not stopped using electric bikes. to avoid restrictions, they are using this road instead.

it's just several blocks away from the main road. now, it has become a danger zone. walkers say e-bikes have populated here since the ban and there have been bad accidents. >> translator: there's lots more bikes now. people are riding here to avoid banned roads. >> translator: the riders are pushy. they're a menace. >> reporter: the ban affects the city's delivery businesses. this courier company relies on a local army of a hundred-bike e-delivery staff. the drivers get orders and send them to stores. the service is highly popular. but the company is facing trouble. after the ban, this local supervisor tried rerouting his

drivers but it didn't really work. his current solution is to shrink the service area. t he's not breathing any easier as he expects the ban to grow. >> translator: if there are further restrictions on e-bikes, we'll need to deal with the impact by cutting more of the delivery areas and streamlining staff. >> reporter: companies using e-bikes have been thriving. in the absence of regulations. amid the tough, new rules, they are looking for other ways to keep the wheels of business turning. >> earlier, mitsiko spoke with daisuke in beijing. >> do you think electric bikes are risky to ride in the city? >> actually, i use e-bike to

commute. it makes my commute convenient, but yeah, there is a risk. mine goes 10 kilometers per hour but others can go twice as fast. so i'm constantly aware of the danger of being hit by another e-bike. and when i walk, i also feel at risk. e-bikes are quiet. you can't hear them coming. the main road behind me is now electric bike free. so there is no danger of accidents involving e-bikes. so as far as this area goes, the strategy is working. >> are there any environmental concerns, daisuke? >> people are not switching to gasoline powered vehicles. so far riders are coping by using different routes. officials did not expect the ban to make the city's notorious air problems any worse. >> i hear other big chinese cities have the same problem.

how are they dealing with the issue? >> they began tighten regulations in march. guangzhou is considering a law that would ban electric bikes city wide. fines of about $7,000 may be enforced for violations but there are economic concerns. china's slowing economy might be affected by uncertainties in the global market. a big crackdown on electric bikes may dampen the mass consumption. delivery companies and couriers rely on them more and more. one expert says authorities need to find a way to minimize the economic impact. >> translator: the current stopgap measures won't solve the problems long term. private and commercial bikes need to be regulated separately. delivery e-bikes should be licensed.

>> he points out that many people tend to ignore the traffic rules. he says manufacturers need to develop a simple bike. with speed limiters, for example. he says that would be good for road safety and economic growth. >> and that was daisuke azuma in beijing. in other stories, researchers say the hole in the ozone layer over antarctica has shrunk in the last 15 years. the layer shields the earth from harmful ultraviolet rays. scientists from the massachusetts institute of technology, the university of leeds, and others published their findings in the journal "science." they found the hole shrank by 4 million square kilometers between 2000 and 2015. that's a bigger area than india. chlorofluorocarbons and other gases damaged the ozone layer. they were used in dry cleaning solvents, refrigerators, and aerosol sprays.

most countries have restricted emissions of those gases after signing the montreal protocol in 1987. the researchers say those efforts have put the planet on a path towards healing. climbing season on mt. fuji has officially begun. hikers are flocking to japan's highest mountain. shortly after 4:30 a.m. friday, opening day, people near the summit got a glimpse of the sun rising in a sea of clouds. about 100 people attended a annual ceremony at a shinto shrine. the shrine is said to date back to the 10th century. the chief priest prayed for the safety of the climbers. people dressed as long-nosed goblins performed a traditional ritual. they used wooden hammers to knock down a sacred straw rope to open the paths.

>> it's tall. it's going to be a long hike. but i think we're ready for it. >> i'm excited. i think it's going to be a great hike. yeah, i think -- we've been really looking forward to this trip, especially this climb right here. >> climbing season at the unesco world heritage site ends on september 10th. and there's more to come here on nhk "newsline," but first, here's the three-day outlook on the world's weather.

and recapping our main story this hour, gunmen are still holding hostages after storming a restaurant in the bangladeshi capital dhaka. militants have attacked the restaurant but local police are giving no details on the assailants. local media say the group of gunmen on friday evening raided the restaurant in the city's gulshan district described as being popular with diplomats and middle class families. other unconfirmed reports say at least 20 civilians including foreigners have been taken hostage. police say some officers were wounded. police and security forces have sealed auflt area. the violence comes in the muslim holy month of ramadan. and that's all for now on this edition of nhk "newsline." i'm raja pradhan in tokyo. we'll be back with the latest at the top of the hour so please do stay with us.

>> this week global 3000 heads to the nile delta, home to some delightful and nocturnal fragrances. we go to china, where tragically child abductions have become part of every day life. but first, we visit honduras in central america. why does this small country have one of the highest murder rates in the world? for many years, sen free for all america has been overrun by the brutally violent maras, street gangs involved in drug dealing, prostitution, and protection rackets. honduras is just one country very much under the maras' control. but how did this come about? in the 1990's the u.s. government waged war on gangs