glad you could join us for nhk "newsline." i'm ross mihara in tokyo. the european union is set to ratify the paris agreement on global warming as early as next week. that would pave the way for the accord to enter into force in november. environment ministers of the member states unanimously agreed that the eu will ratify the pact without waiting for all members to do so. they plan to submit the instrument of ratification to the united nations once they get approval from the european parliament, which meets on tuesday. the paris agreement will take effect 30 days after it's ratified by at least 55 signatories. at the same time, the sum of greenhouse gas emissions of

those countries needs to exceed 55% of total global emissions. india's government said on sunday it will ratify the agreement next week, together with eu ratification, the 55% mark will be reached, and the agreement is set to meet the criteria for taking effect in early november. u.s. authorities are still trying to figure out what caused a train to crash into a station in new jersey. the thursday morning rush hour accident killed one commuter and injured over 100. >> we were approaching the station, and we weren't slowing down. i was confused. by the time that registered, you had already hit something. >> officials of the national transportation safety board say they're analyzing speed, braking, and other data on the train's event recorder. they're also analyzing images recorded at the driver's seat. they say their investigation should take about a week to ten days. there was a similar accident at the same terminal in 2011. more than 30 people were injured

when a train crashed into a bumper at the end of the tracks. railway operators in the u.s. are being required to introduce a new safety system by the end of 2018. the system will automatically slow down a speeding train and bring it to a halt. the operator of the train in new jersey has yet to install the system in any of its 440 trains. here in japan, trains are a fundamental part of daily life for millions of people. a tragic accident more than ten years ago was the catalyst for additional safety measures. on april 25th, 2005, a commuter train in western japan derailed on a tight curve and smashed into a condominium. the accident killed 107 people. the government responded by requiring operators to install what's called an automatic train control system. it sends weak electric currents through the tracks to measure the speed of trains. it automatically applies the

brakes if it detects that a train is traveling above the speed limit. the railway companies were also required to set up emergency braking mechanisms inside their trains. they kick in if the conductor is not at the controls. former israeli president and nobel laureate shimon peres leaves a legacy of advocating for peace in the middle east. its prospects remain uncertain, but scores of world leaders gathered to rethink the way forward on the occasion of peres' funeral. the last remaining founding father of israel died on wednesday at the age of 93. among the foreign dignitaries was former u.s. president bill clinton, current commander in chief barack obama, and french president francois hollande. also in attendance was mahmoud abbas. it's the palestinian leader's first official visit to israel in six years. peres' coffin was escorted from jerusalem to israel's national

cemetery among tight security. many israelis turned out to bid farewell to their former leader. >> translator: shimon would say peace is the real security. i told him in the middle east, maintaining security is essential for peace. we may have had different ideas, but our common goal was to defend israel's future. >> former u.s. president clinton had a role in the signing of the 1993 oslo peace accords. >> he imagined all the things the rest of us could do. he started off life as israel's brightest student, became its best teacher and ended up its biggest dreamer.

>> even in the face of terrorist attacks, even after repeated disappointments at the negotiation table, he insisted that as human beings, palestinians must be seen as equal in dignity to jews and must therefore be equal in self-determination. >> as foreign minister peres shared the nobel peace prize for his part in the oslo accords, and he called for the peaceful coexistence of jews and arabs after becoming president in 2007. thailand has confirmed two cases of microcephaly connected to zika infections in pregnant women. the condition is where a baby's head is much smaller than expected. cholaphansa narula in bangkok is following the story. >> reporter: these are the first two suspected cases of microcephaly in southeast asia. the babies were born this month. their mothers were found to have been infected with the virus. thailand's public health ministry told a media conference

neither woman knew she was infected at the time. >> translator: we found no zika symptoms at all in the first case. in the second, the mother was reported to have had only a rash. we managed to find the disease by tracking back through their medical data. >> reporter: thailand has confirmed at least 349 zika cases since january, including 33 pregnant women. the world health organization said the newly reported cases were the first of zika-linked microcephaly in the region. southeast asian countries are rushing to take countermeasures to stop the virus from spreading. in singapore, nearly 400 zika cases have been confirmed, including 16 pregnant women. u.s. health officials on thursday recommended that expectant mothers postpone travel to southeast asia.

philippine president rodrigo is known for his undiplomatic language. he created controversy again on friday, pledging to slaughter more addicts in his war on drugs. he likened himself to adolf hitler and his policy to the holocaust. >> hitler massacred 3 million jews. now, there is 3 million drug addicts. i'd be happy to slaughter them. at least germany had hitler. i would like all criminals to finish the problem of my country and save the next generation from perdition. >> reporter: historians say the nazis killed 6 million jews. duterte told drug users to surrender or face death.

police have killed at least 1,200 suspects since he took office in june. more than 700,000 people have surrendered. the number of drug users has dropped significantly, and many filipinos support the president's aggressive policy. but his latest comparison caused an outcry. >> translator: if there is a solution, killing is not it. we should talk to drug users instead or rehabilitate them. these people can still change. they should be given a second chance, not just be shot and killed. don't imitate hitler, saying you have to kill millions of people to solve problems here in the philippines. >> translator: the comparison is not right. we have a system that strictly implements due process. so if president duterte wants to follow the lead of hitler, a man who killed millions, i don't think that's right.

>> reporter: hundreds of students gathered in manila on friday calling on the government to follow due process and defend human rights. destination weddings are a growing trend for indian couples, with thailand being one of the popular places to go. indian weddings can last for several days, and that means big business for the tourism sector. nhk reports. >> reporter: hundreds of guests dance as the groom arrives for his wedding. the procession is a typical part of an indian wedding, which can be opulent and expensive. with multiple extravagant events lined up for one single indian wedding, hotels say the income accounts for 60% of their revenue. at least 300 indian weddings took place in thailand last year.

each one lasts for a minimum of three days and costs an average of $145,000. >> translator: we get a constant stream of indian weddings. they're our main source of income. >> reporter: thailand's 150,000-strong indian community gives the country an advantage. they know how to cater to indian guests. more than 90 vendors gathered for this annual trade fair. most of them are thai indians. they can provide bridal wear, jewelry and food catering for indian tastes. >> everything about this country is just so easy, you know, to do events planning, transportation. you know, bangkok also is a gateway. >> reporter: ramping up efforts to expand the market, the

tourism authority organized a trip for 20 indian wedding planners to visit potential venues in thailand. beautiful beaches are a major attraction. many couples would love to get married against this sort of backdrop. >> it's a very beautiful place. and after 18 years, this is the property that has left a perfect impression. >> coming to thailand gives us the opportunity to expand our scope of business, and we know that it is operable. so, yeah, we will promote thailand. >> reporter: thailand will certify the wedding planners to show they're qualified to present thailand as a destination to their clients. >> expectations for this year, we hope it will increase around 10% for the weddings. >> reporter: raj from the uk is simi from india tied the knot in

a ceremony at a popular beach resort in southern thailand. >> i'm feeling amazing. it's definitely like above my expectations. >> in thailand, yeah, the people are hospitable. all the staff of the hotels are great. so yes. >> reporter: more and more indian couples are going overseas for their lavish wedding ceremonies. thailand's tourism industry hopes that for everyone involved, it will be a story of happily ever after. nhk world, thailand. >> reporter: that wraps up our bulletin from bangkok. chinese premiere li keqiang is showing no willingness to compromise on territorial issues including the south china sea.

li was speaking in beijing at a ceremony commemorating the 67th anniversary of the founding of the people's republic of china. about 1,200 people, among them president xi jinping and foreign ambassadors to china attended friday's reception. li said china is now achieving prosperity and people are proud and increasingly confident of this. >> translator: we will continue to conduct and maintain national interests. >> li referred to relations with taiwan saying china adheres to the one china principle and is absolutely against taiwan's independence. the taiwanese president refuses to accept the view that mainland china and taiwan are part of one china. south korea's government has chosen a new location for a u.s. anti-missile system away from urban areas. the terminal high altitude area

defense or thaad system is designed to counter the threat of north korean missiles. in july, the government announced it would be deployed at an air force base in the southern city of seongju. now they have selected another location in seongju which is currently a golf course. residents oppose the plan for the system to be near urban areas, expressing concern over electromagnetic waves from radar. china's foreign ministry has urged the united states and south korea to immediately stop the deployment process. a ministry spokesperson said the plan would affect security in china and the region. in south korea, more single people are breaking with tradition and living on their own. that's captured the attention of businesses, especially in the property sector. nhk world's kim chan-ju explains. >> reporter: compact and cozy. this showroom in seoul offers a window on single living.

with just 20 square meters of floor space, this apartment works hard to provide all the comforts of home, including the laundry. the developer plans to build more dwellings like these in a singles town. 30% of south korean households belong to singles, double the figure 15 years ago. small apartments are driving the market. >> translator: more and more apartments around seoul are being replaced with small ones, under 40 square meters. we expect the number to keep growing. >> reporter: south korea has seen a shift in marriage and family values. living alone used to be frowned on. for many young people today, it spells freedom. 36-year-old office worker is part of this so-called singles generation.

he moved into this one-room unit two years ago. he likes the area, which is popular with the singles crowd. >> translator: i'm the kind of person who finds it hard to come home to family or another person and spend time with them. here i can do what i want to do without bothering anyone. so i like things as they are right now. >> reporter: the growing popularity of smaller living quarters has people looking for more storage. one solution is my box. just order a box online, fill it up with unneeded stuff, and send it off. your my box is safely stored in this warehouse. it has humidity control and tight security. the company has reported sales growth of 30% a month since the service launched in april. most customers are under 40 and

single. >> we want our customers to consider my box as an extension of your closet. whenever they need something, they can easily request it, and within 24 hours, we'll deliver their item so they never have to worry about running out of space in their apartment. >> reporter: eating habits are also in transition. in the past, south koreans ate in groups. today, more people want to dine alone. this restaurant opened in july in a district where many single people live. one popular dish is this soup. it's usually served in a hot pot for two or three people. but here, there are single portions too. there are other perks for single diners such as smartphone holders and battery chargers.

>> translator: eating out alone took some getting used to, but once i tried it, i enjoyed it. >> translator: more people are dining out alone. we plan to franchise to grow our business. our target is to open 100 stores by next year, and our ultimate goal is to have 500. >> reporter: businesses are struggling with the slowdown in consumer spending, but catering to the singles generation could provide a needed spark. kim chan-ju, nhk world, seoul. police in yokohama are looking into suspicious deaths that happened at a hospital. they started by investigating one, but the number has now grown. nhk world's kozue hamamoto tells us the details. >> reporter: it didn't seem out of the ordinary for an 88-year-old patient. nobue yamaki died at the hospital in yokohama.

but later police made a shocking announcement. they were investigating his death as a possible murder. then investigators discovered that another man had died. they found holes in iv drip bags and discovered a toxic substance similar to those used in disinfectants had been mixed in. it was also discovered in the men's bodies. sources close to hospital revealed to nhk that in the previous two months, 46 other patients died in the same ward. >> translator: the hospital admits terminal patients who have nowhere else to go. so naturally many of them are in serious condition. that's why there are so many deaths. >> reporter: the hospital's director did admit the number of deaths seemed high. he said there were no outbreaks this summer. [ siren ] >> reporter: in july, a town in the same prefecture was shocked

by killings at a care facility. a former employee broke in and killed 19 people with disabilities. at oguchi, police have questioned staff members. they say the iv drips could have been tampered with. it has people in the area worried. >> translator: it's shocking. we patients don't know what's going on. i want to know how the hospital will take responsibility and what value it places on patients' lives. >> translator: people trust hospitals. so incidents like these are scary. >> reporter: the hospital issued an apology after the first death was discovered. >> translator: we'd like to express our deep sorrow and convey our condolences to the families. we want to know as soon as possible exactly what happened. >> reporter: yamaki's son said

he won't accept it until someone is found responsible. and that's only one of the questions that remain unanswered. as public scrutiny grows, the city of yokohama has launched a second investigation over its handling of the situation. police are also looking into other recent issues at the hospital like bleach found in a nurse's drink. tokyo's governor says an inquiry has failed to clarify who is responsible for problems at the site to replace the famous tsukiji market. the metropolitan government's investigation looked into who decided to build a new market without laying clean soil underneath the buildings. it was meant to prevent contamination. >> translator: it is difficult to pinpoint who made the decision and at which point. each phase of the design was decided separately in different environments.

>> the governor said she appreciates the investigators' efforts, but called them inadequate. the site was built to replace tokyo's popular aging wholesale food market, but a gas plant once operated there, and there were safety concerns. so experts recommended years ago to replace the top two meters of soil, then add another two and a half meters of clean soil over that. tokyo officials didn't follow that advice and created an open space instead. koike says the inquiry found that officials in charge began discussions back in 2008 on plans to leave areas open so they could monitor contamination even after the market's opening. in august 2011, after studies on containing the contamination, senior officials approved a plan for underground monitoring spaces. but the investigation could not find who ordered the construction to proceed without clearly specifying not to lay soil under the buildings. koike says she will consider

creating a whistle-blower system and other measures to prevent similar incidents. she will also order further investigations. the head of the tsukiji market green grocers union says it is disappointing that officials did not carry out the decontamination work as originally planned. >> translator: i feel betrayed by a tokyo government which lacked accountability. >> izumi says he hopes tokyo officials will never again present market dealers with false explanations. the head of the tsukiji market business association has also expressed disappointment. >> translator: i do not really care to confirm who made a decision. i hope the tokyo government system will change. >> he says he hopes tokyo officials will quickly decide on a date to open the new market once its safety is confirmed.

a professor and former tokyo government official had this to say. >> translator: i think it's the indifferent and irresponsible attitude of the tokyo government that led to this tragedy. >> he says that as the tokyo government is a large institution, it needs to improve cooperation and coordination between the different sections. japanese automaker mitsubishi motors is trying to win back the confidence of consumers after a fuel economy scandal. its executives have submitted a plan to the transport ministry that they say will prevent the recurrence of the scandal. the plan makes executives responsible for checking fuel performance. >> translator: i deeply apologize for causing trouble that affected many people. >> engineers at the car maker rigged fuel efficiency testing to get more favorable data.

they continued the wrongdoing even after it came to light in april of this year. mitsubishi says a new system would put board members in charge of checking measuring methods and test results instead of leaving the work up to engineers. the company will also slash the number of managerial posts among other changes. they say will improve in-house communication. tokyo police have assigned english and chinese-speaking officers 24 hours a day to two of the city's busiest tourist spots. the officers are posted at police boxes in front of shibuya station and shinjuku's kabukicho. ceremonies on friday marked the start of their assignments. a total of 25 police officers will provide around-the-clock help for foreign visitors. it is the first such service in japan, which is expecting a surge of tourists as the 2020 olympics nears. similar moves are planned for

kyoto airport and camacuera by the end of the year. let's check out the weather forecast for the weekend. italian police have found two long lost vincent van gogh paintings that had been stolen 14 years ago. the discovery came during a search related to a mafia drug trafficking near naples. investigators announced on

friday that they found "view of the sea at scheveningen" and "congregation leaving the reformed church in nuenen." a museum in amsterdam as released a statement confirming the paintings' authenticity. they were stolen in 2002. it said both of the late 19th century paintings were discovered without their frames and showed some damage but were in relatively good condition. >> needless to say, you know, it's a great day for us today to see the works and now they're in safe hands. of course, we hope that they will be able to return to our museum as soon as possible. >> museum officials say it's not yet known when the paintings will be returned as the investigation is still under way. that's all we have this hour on nhk "newsline." thank you for watching and have a good day.

♪welcome to "global 3000." this week, we're off to switzerland to find out what migrants need to learn in order to live and work there. then in india, we meet a young woman giving a voice to the untouchables. but first, we head to japan, where women often lose their jobs when they get pregnant. japan has been ranked at position 101 on the global gender gap index, a study of the status of women in 145 different countries. this puts the highly-developed