a wednesday night here in japan, i'm james tengan in tokyo, welcome to "newsline." heavily armed militants have stormed a university in northwestern pakistan. they reportedly killed more than a dozen people and injured many more. the attackers entered the campus in the town of charsadda at 9:30 in the morning and opened fire. rescue workers say they've recoveredality least 19 bodies. an official told the reuters

news agency that the death toll could reach 40. the victims reportedly include students, guards, police officers and at least one professor. security forces say they killed four gunmen in a shootout. an official told reuters the attackers wounded at least 50 people. he said that commandos have secured 90% of the campus. pakistani prime minister nawaz sharif condemned the attack. back in 2014 militants rushed a school in peshawar, killing 140 people, mostly children. many investors have been unloading shares as they tried to avoid risk. this was true again today as asian stocks took another tumble. let's turn to gene otani at our business desk. thanks, james. many market players are getting more worried about the outlook for the economy in 2016.

crude oil prices fell further on wednesday, fueling fears among some investors for a gloomy year. and we saw japan's nikkei share average drop to its lowest level in 15 months. for more details we go to mayu yoshida at the tokyo stock exchange. investors are clearly worried about the global economy. now especially after a u.s. crude dropped to a 12-year low and after the international monetary fund cut its forecast for the global outlook. the imf move follows the latest figures out of being which shows that china's gdp growing at its slowest pace in a quarter century. we're seeing drops in stocks and commodities as market players increasingly become risk averse. here in japan, the nikkei extended losses as we head into the close. it finished on a lex last seen october 31st, 2014. that is when the bank of japan expanded its stimulus spending.

the broader topix closed down 3.7%. the nikkei fell more than 20% from its peak in join. one market watcher said investors are in a tug of war situation between sentiment and techniqcal signs showing that te stocks have dropped too far. we saw the dollar move below 117 yen during tokyo trading hours. the stronger yen weighed on japan's leading exporters like sony and toyota. we saw all 33 subsecretary ares post losses in tokyo and droops in asian currency except for the yen. the hong kong dollar fell to more than an eight-year low. drops in asian stocks and currency seems unstoppable and it's making investors nervous ahead of the earnings season in the region. i'm mayu yoshida reporting from the tokyo stock exchange.

the slide in oil prices also dampened midyear benchmarks across the asia-pacific region. in china, the shanghai composite dropped 1%, closing at 2,976. some investors sold shares after the country's securities regulator approved sevennitial public offerings under new listing rules. hong kong's shares plunged after its currency fell. the hang seng index was down 3.8%, closing at the lowest since july 2012. many other markets tumbled to multimonth lows. seoul's kospi hit a five-month low. shares in singapore closed at the lowest in more than four years. the s&p asx fell 1.3% to a 2 1/2 year low. we asked an expert to give us his outlook for the nikkei. >> we expect nikkei to bottom out around 16,000 because the

price is so cheap compared to other japanese countries. some investors find value, to support the nikkei at that price. >> abe says many investors are keeping a close eye on the bank of japan. >> i think the price of oil or the value will be stabilized in a couple months. and then expectation for the boj isn't going to strengthen to our -- first meeting in april. i think in february or march we expect rebounds. >> japanese government officials have maintained their assessment of the economy. they also warn of the effects of

fluctuations in financial markets. the cabinet office says the economy is on a moderate recovery while weakness can be seen in some areas. corporate production sees a slightly better perception. it is described as flat recently with signs of improment in automobile and other industries. the officials have maintained their valuation of private consumption saying it holds firm as a whole. japanese textile and tell calmaker toray is expanding its aviation related business. they are building a carbon fiber plan the in the united states. toray staff held a ground breaking ceremony for their new factory in the state of south carolina. guests included officials from u.s. aircraftmaker boeing. they will manufacture carbon fiber impregnated with resin. toray plans to expand production

of the substance and will invest over $850 million by the year 2020. the special carbon finer is stronger and lighter than steel and is used in aircraft for the main wings and fuselage. demand is expected to increase. boeing decided to use the material for its next generation planes now being developed. here's a look at some of the other business stories we're following. the chinese government has rected international criticism that its exports of surplus steel products are driving down global prices. commerce ministry spokesperson blamed the slow recovery of the international economy for the lower prices. china's exports of steel items have risen in recent years as the country's economy has slowed. construction of a station for maglav trains between tokyo

and nagoya in 2027. the 286-kilometer trip will take about 40 minutes. company officials say they will start the construction at shinegawa next wednesday. they say the station will be 40 meters below ground, right under a bullet train line. a third of the country's young and big cities are reportedly overweight. one result is vietnam's growing ranks of diabetes sufferers. in the first of a two-part series on vietnam, nhk world reports on what's being done to bring the sease under control. >> reporter: a hospital waiting room in hanoi. many of these people are suffering from diabetes. the hospital used to treat about 100 diabetic patients a day, but now on busy days the number exceeds 1,000. diabetes is known as a silent killer. in its early stages, many people

don't notice the symptoms. so by the time they visit a doctor, the disease has already begun to destroy organs and limbs. doctors are expecting more diabetic patients in the future. one reason is what's on the dinner table. traditional vietnamese food consist of things like tofu, vegetables and fish. but now people are surrounded by fast-food options of the west. like pizzas, hamburgers, and fried chicken. diets are changing. young people especially have developed a taste for fast food. >> translator: i like spaghetti and pizza. >> translator: i don't like this kind of food, but i came here because my grandchild likes it. >> reporter: one main challenge is the shortage of doctors. dr. cuong has been treating diabetic patients for more than

20 years. he's one of only a few hundred doctors capable of treating diabetes, and they have the job of looking after 5 million patients. >> translator: there are more patients, but not enough doctors and hospitals. we can't spend as much time as we'd like to on each patient. >> reporter: dr. cuong said the shortage of experts makes it even more critical to educate the public. there's even a smartphone app that's caught dr. cuong's eye. users can search for the closest diabet specialists and local hospitals. the app also keeps track of blood sugar levels and exercise. eventually, it will allow patients to send the data to their doctors so they can be treated without visiting a hospital. dr. cuong often meets with the developer of the app to give advice. for the app to succeed, it needs to be easy to use for both doctors and patients.

>> translator: the developer built a technical platform to allow patients to contact a doctor anytime anywhere. it will be an effective app, because patients will be able to manage diabetes on their own. >> reporter: health ficials, meanwhile, are working to train more experts. in 2013, the government at vietnam's first nutrition course at the prestigious hanoi medical university, where they graduate the certified nutritionists who will be sent to medical institutions and schools to spread the word on the importance of nutritious diet. awareness is growing. and some people are becoming more proactive about healthier lifestyles. these children are taking part in a weight loss program. 50 kids are signed up. they exercise four times a week.

>> translator: i want to lose weight to get healthy and be more attractive. >> reporter: these youngsters have a chance to make a fresh start. but there are no quick cures for the diabetes plague facing their country. for vietnam's health authorities, the hard work is just beginning. yuko fukushima, nhk world. tomorrow we'll bring you part two of our series on vietnam with a look at expatriates who are returning home to be entrepreneurs. that's it for business news. i'm going to leave you with the markets.

the islamic state group confirmed the death of jihadi john. at announcement comes one year after he appeared in a video threatening the lives of kenji goto and another japanese citizen. the journalist and self-proclaimed military contractor were eventually killed by the group. since then, the international fight against the militants have stepped up. we look at the state of the conflict. >> reporter: air strike after air strike have taken place in territories held by the islam state militant group. the coalition and russian forces have been bombing for months in syria and iraq. but what impact have the air strikes really had? an egyptian organization that monitors radical activity says the strikes are disrupting the group's propaganda machine. the once frequent number of

video posts by the group has dropped dramatically in recent months. fighters also imply its losing ground. k world s able to intview a membe of the iamic state milint groupn syria. >>ranslato air strikesy alitionorces ar fierce. we pulle outrom a numberf cities, more and more fighters were killed or injured. >> wt does tt mean forhe rritory has seized? we asked an expert on middle east issues. >> translator: some areas are set to be diminishing. according to some western reports, they lost their -- about 15% or 20% of their territories. in 2015. >> but with recent attacks to be

inspired by the gro in places like indonesia, france and turkey, fears persist. the group has said it will target countries that have attacked it. >> transtor: keyembers o the oup were saying we would atta rsia next. >> reporter: some say attacks across the world seek a change in tactics. >> we could find a kind of shift of their tactics or strategies. they might find it near enemy to far enemy. >> reporter: despite the pressure on the group, no one knows how difficult it will to be break its hold and the threat of terrorism will continue to cast a long shadow over the international community. nhk world. authorities in morocco say they've arrested a man they

suspect was linked to the militants that carried out terrorist attacks in paris last november. the shootings and bombings in the frch capit killed 0 people. authorities arrested the man last friday near morocco's largest city, casablanca. they say he's a belgian national of moroccan descent. the suspect reportedly fought in syria with the al nusra front and traveled to syria with one of the paris bombers. the ring leader of the paris attacks traveled to syria to join the islamic state group. he was also a belgian citizen with moroccan roots. abaaoud was killed in a paris suburb. another militant, salah abdeslam, is suspected of taking part in the attacks. he is still at large. the united nations has issued a grim tally of the suffering unleashed by the violence in iraq. it was released a report detailing tens of thousands of

deaths and injuries among civilians. a toll the u.n. calls staggering. the report says close to 19,000 civilians were kled and over 36,000 wounded in the 22 months to october. it pins much of the blame on the islamic state group, saying the militants have abducted more than 800 children. >> isil is abducting young children and recruiting them, putting them in the front lines of war. in one case we've documented, these children have fled the front lines of war because they were scared. when they got back, they were executed by isil for desertion. >> the u.n. said the militants subject children between the age of 5 and 10 to religious instruction and train older ones to fight. the report also details alleged cases of torture, abduction, and sexual abuse. it says some is of the militants' acts may amount to war crimes and crimes against

humanity. people across iran are looking forward to better times. six world powers lifted economic sanctions on saturday saying iran has met the terms of an agreement to restrict its nuclear program. nhk world has more. >> reporter: a morning with no sanctions. the sanctions have become a thing of the past. iranian newspapers carried headlines celebrating the lifting of sanctions. it's a welcome development. life has been tough for iranians and inflation hit 45% at one time. they have high hopes the new environment will reinvigorate the economy.

>> translator: i am very happy. now inflation will end and prices will go down. >> reporter: the world bank projects the country's economy will grow nearly 7% in 2017 fiscal year. this energy sector training firm is based in the capital tehran. it imports control valves for pipelines and other products. the boycott hurt its business significantly. its purchase costs had risen six-fold. sales dropped to half the presanction levels. the firm expects its purchase cost to go down and incoming orders to jump dramatically as the nation is spending on energy development increases. >> translator: hope that the economy will get out of the doldrums and recover. >> reporter: this tourist agency will train tour guides quickly. it expects more travelers will visit iran as international relations improve.

iran is home to 17 unesco world heritage sites, the most in the middle east. they include an archaeological area that dates back 2,500 years. the agency aims to use the country's rich history to develop tourism. >> translator: our country used to be under sanctions and had a scary image. but that's no longer the case. >> reporter: iranians are greatly looking forward to the country's return to the international community and the economy benefits that go with it. mohamed reza mousavi, nhk world, tehran. japan's supplementary budget for the rest of the fiscal year has cleared its final hurdle. it allocates about $28 billion in part to promote some of prime minister shinzo abe's key policies. legislators in the diet's upper

house enacted the budget on wednesday. it will fund abe's efforts to promote what he calls the active engagement of all citizens in society. the budget includes a one-time payment for low-income senior citizens of about $250 each. it also supports japan's farming, fishing and forestry sectors. they're expected to face tougher competition when the transpacific partnership free trade deal takes effect. the budget includes funds to promote large-scale paddy farming and investment in livestock and dairy farms. tokyo prosecutors are investigating allegations of bid rigging for repair projects in disaster-hit areas. prosecutors and japan fair trade commission officials have raided offices of road paving companies. sources say the firms are suspected of rigging bids for 12 repair projects in northeastern japan in 2011. they say officials at the branch offices of four companies may

have arranged the bids. the projects were subsidized by the government. the companies allegedly won contracts totaling more than $150 million. some of them have reportedly admitted to the charges. "newsline" comes to you live from our studios here in tokyo where we had a gorgeous day today. it's currently 6 degrees celsius or 43 degrees fahrenheit. in this hour's weather update, jonathan oh takes us to moscow for a bracing experience. >> well, when we talk about winter weather, most people want to bundle up and stay inside rather than going outside and dealing with the frigid conditions. but over into russia, around this time of year, epiphany takes place which is on the russian orthodox calendar, a very important holiday. let me show you the video and give you an idea of something that's very different.

that looks cold. people in moscow are braving the cold weather tuesday. they plunge themselves into the icy water to celebrate the orthodox epiphany. the temperature reported at minus 9 degrees celsius. a special hole was cut in the ice in the shape of a cross, so participants dip into the water three times and according to the tradition, they also cross themselves, just to make sure people are in the safer zone, emergency staff were in place at the site. that looks cold. now, we are talking about cold weather further down toward the balkan peninsula, into serbia, where people are trying to get into shelter because we have this cold weather affecting even in this particular region of europe. we're expecting the cold weather to continue. not only is it cold but we have an area of low pressure in parts of italy moving across the balkan peninsula and turkey. that's going to bring unstable weather, and bring chilly conditions and possibly snowfall into turkey as we move forward in time. everywhere else looking relatively dry. but we're still dealing with these very cold temperatures. in fact, look at these overnight

lows. by wednesday morning, some locations like in bucharest looking at minus 20 degrees when you wake up in the morning, and snow comes into the picture for thursday and friday. the locations of belgrade looking at very cold morning lows as well. i want to bring us over into the north america. this is a good segue to talk about the chilly weather that's taking place. a winter storm is taking place in the ohio river valley and down in the northern portions of the deep south. we have a low pressure system that's moving out of the southern plains. it is developing as we speak. so it's also interacting with cold air coming in from the north. we're looking at concerns where this storm may not only be a winter storm concern for this region, but also intensifying to the point it will possibly bring a lot more snowfall and stormy conditions further to the north and east. we'll have to keep an eye out on that. just for the next 24 hours, we're looking at snow showers and freezing rain expected from the ohio river valley down to kentucky, tennessee and portions of missouri and arkansas. 7 to 13 centimeters of snowfall

through wednesday noontime. we'll be keeping an eye on that. that cold weather is also affecting places like orlando, an overnight low of 3 for wednesday morning. that's cold for florida. minus 3 in savannah. we'll see the temperatures trying to move up just a bit. still looking at wintry conditions as we move forward in time. look at the high coming up in d.c., 1, with snowfall possibly, seeing flurries and even into atlanta as we go through wednesday. now, look at the forecast for japan. dealing with the wintry weather here as well. look at some of these snowfall reports for the past 24 hours, anywhere from 23 degrees in kaga, up to 88 in portions of hokkaido. and we are looking at more snowfall moving forward in time. some places possibly up to 80 centimeters of additional snowfall going throughout the day thursday morning. and more snow at sapporo as we go into the weekend. also in niigata as well. hope you have a good day wherever you are. here's your extended outlook.

all the recent snow here in japan added a fresh look to one of the country's most popular tourist destinations. snow began falling early wednesday leaving kyoto's kinkakuji blanketed in white. the iconic temple is said to date back to the 14th century and is a unesco world heritage site. >> translator: there's a divine air to it. it deserves to be a heritage site. >> translator: it's really moving. it makes me appreate jushow betiful jan is.

>> according to the latest weather report, the forecast for kyoto on thursday is cloudy. thanks for watching this edition of "newsline."awúwóóóóó

genie: this is "france 24." time for 60 minutes around the world. i'm genie godula. from theinisters international coalition against the islamic state groupon meeting in paris, hoping to step up their organization and resources against the militants. the taliban says it is behind university in a pakistan. close to 20 are killed and dozens are hurt as gun man