>>> hello and welcome to "newsline." it's tuesday, december 30th. i'm catherine kobayashi in tokyo. authorities from around asia have sent ships, planes and helicopters to scour the waters off indonesia's coast, looking for a missing passenger jet. they've been searching for signs of the airasia plane that disappeared from radar screens early sunday. now they say they'll expand their search. indonesia transportation officials say flight qz8501 left surabaya airport early sunday en route to singapore. air traffic controllers lost contact with the airbus a-320 about 40 minutes after its departure. no distress signal was detected. the plane was carrying 162 people, most of those on board are indonesians. indonesian authorities say the aircraft likely crashed into the sea. that belief is based on the plane's last known position on radar. 22 vessels and 13 aircraft from indonesia, singapore, malaysia, and australia joined the search on monday. president joe cowidodo said indonesia will mobilize every means to find the plane. he said the search will expand with the help of more countries.

>>> glad to have you with us on this edition of "newsline." it's tuesday, december 9th. i'm catherine kobayashi in tokyo. officials at the u.n. say conflicts and disasters are leaving people worldwide in need of humanitarian aid. officials say people's needs are outpacing the u.n.'s capps toy respond. the u.n. has told donors next career, it needs more than $16 billion in funds ch officials plan to use the money to help about 58 million people across the globe. they've identified 22 countries in need of aid including iraq, syria and ukraine. >> responding must be a shared responsibility and there must be a determined collective effort through 2015 to close the growing gap between needs and resources. >> another u.n. agency has already warned of funding challenges. last week, officials with the world food program said they'll have to temporarily suspend food aid for about 1.7 million refugees in syria. >>> medical workers in four west african nations are receiving more japanese aid. they're getting thousands of sets of protective gear and will use the suits in their fight

>>> you're watching "newsline." i'm ross mihara in tokyo. here's a look at some of the stories we're following this hour. >>> 2014 is expected to be the hottest globally since meteorologists began keeping records about 120 years ago. >>> the bank of japan chief has told nhk he'll press on with his bold monetary policy until he's beaten deflation. >>> and in afghanistan, international troops end their combat mission at the end of the stronger. this is causing concerns about the nation's future security. >>> authorities in china have launched an investigation into a man who once had the ear of the country's most powerful man. ling jihua was a close aide of former president hu jintao. he is 'accused of a serious disciplinary violation. the state-run xinhua news agency said the communist party is investigating ling who currently serves as vice chairman of the chinese people's political consultation conference national committee. ling had a long career with the communist youth league. the organization produced many senior politicians loyal to hu

>>> hello and welcome to nhk "newsline." i'm ross mihara in tokyo. >> she joined representatives of global royalty in belgium at the funeral of the dowager queen, fabiola. she died at 86. she was the widow of the king who reigned for 42 years. the empress joined the congregation at a cathedral in brussels. 1300 royals and ordinary citizens attended the service. the japanese imperial house and belgium royal family have long had close relations. they attended the funeral of the king in 1993. >>> drivers in myanmar's biggest city are reaching destinations more smoothly, enjoying the benefits of computer controlled traffic signals designed and made in japan. officials turned on the power to new lights at the congested intersections. more and more people across the country are getting vehicles and drivers get stuck in jams because of a shortage of signals. the new lights change automatically. officials are thinking of getting the government to help them install more. police and local media are looking forward to seeing tailbacks

>>> hello and welcome to nhk "newsline." i'm ross mihara in tokyo. >> chinese authorities have decided a former member of the top investigative body. party leaders had him investigated for corruption and stripped him on his membership. kung was the highest ranking member until november 2012. he exerted influence over the oil industry. he headed china's internal security apparatus. the first decision maker to face arrest. the state run news agency of accused of disciplinary violations, including accepting bribes and leaking party and state secrets. xi jinping krou vowed to crackdown. citizens are frustrated with ram pant corruption and they fear they are losing their grip on power. >> executives at honda are recalling 135,000 cars in japan. they are concerned about defective air bags made by takata. honda representatives already promised to expand the recalls in the united states. they told lawmakers they would examine 3 million more cars. officials with the u.s. national holloway traffic safety administration told honda to e

>>> welcome to nhk "newsline". hour. >>> friday marks the 10 year anniversary of the indian ocean tsunami. people have been praying at disaster sites in thailand, indonesia, sri lanka and elsewhere. nhk world roselyn debhavalya is in kalak, one of the hardest hit parts of southern thailand. >>> the tsunami killed more than 8,000 people in southern thailand. people attended an official ceremony on friday. the area is one of southeast asia's most popular resorts. officials and visitors as well as families of victims prayed for those whose lives were cut short. the ocean swept away not just locals, but foreign tourists on their christmas holidays. one in three victims was a foreigner. the deluge followed a massive earthquake off the indonesian island of sumatra. it hit many coastal communities from southeast asia to eastern africa. the waters obliterated the indonesian province of aceh. close to the quake's epicenter. more than 160,000 people were killed. the passing of a decade seems to have done little to ease the g

here's your extented outlook. >>> that's all for now on "newsline." thank you for joining us on nhk world. >>> china's economy is slowing. leaders in beijing say get useded to it. back in the driver's seat. >>> and cross border shoppers. we show you why budget carriers are so excited. hello. you're watching "asia biz forecast." i'm yuko fukushima. we're covering a lot of grounds today, but we start with the big picture. the global economy. it's a subject that has got a lot of people worried. falling oil prices, turmoil and grief and stalling growth rate are keeping

>>> welcome to "newsline." it's tuesday, december 2nd. i'm catherine kobayashi in tokyo. people in japan will be hearing a lot from their politicians in the coming days. official campaigning for a general election is now under way. candidates are filling out the necessary papers to get things started. parties and independents are going after the 475 seats in the lower house. 295 of them are single seat districts. 180 are for proportional representation. prime minister shinzo abe and i had governing coalition are putting their comfortable majority on the line. he's framing the vote as a referendum on his economic policy. he argues the ruling parties have scored some success in their bid to end years of deflation and stimulate growth. some members of the opposition maintain the benefits have not reached all corners of the country. they are also focusing on issues such as nuclear power and to allow japan to defend closely related countries that come under attack. the official campaign runs for 12 days. then voters cast ballots on sunday december 14th. "newsline" will bring y

>>> welcome to nhk world "newsline." i'm gene otani in tokyo. here's a look at some of the stories we're following this hour. >>> a united fight. a japanese government battle says various agencies in the country need to work together to tackle global warming. >>> nelson mandela died exactly one year ago. the south african statesman may be gone, but a new generation is working hard to make sure his ideals live on. >>> and a japanese man is taking some sweet measures to help disadvantaged children around the world. >>> members of a jap sneeze government panel are strongly urging ministries and agencies to work together on environmental issues. they say not enough is being done to coordinate overlapping energy saving policies, and they say more measures need to be taken to fight global warming effectively. the panel formed by the environment and industry ministries is meeting to discuss japan's new target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. some members said on friday that relevant government officials must synchronize their programs and check t

>>> glad to have you with us on this edition of "newsline." hong kong has dismantled the main prodmoksy and arrested more than 240 activists. students pledged to continue their protests in other ways. thousands of police officers removed tents and barricades on thursday from a roadway in front of the government headquarters. they evicted demonstrators and arrested hundreds who have led students for more than two months. the activists have been demanding a fully democratic election. a senior police officer said operations went smoothly and added other encampments could be dismantled. >> we will reopen at an appropriate time. >> thursday's police operation is expected to bring to an end the massive sit ins, but they demanded people would return. >> translator: participants will show society that we will not give up. if our hearts don't die, protests will continue to grow. >> students are concerned the mainland growing influence will threaten the one country two systems governance. it is intended to guarantee hong kong a high degree of autonomy.

here's your extented outlook. >>> that's all for now on "newsline." thank you for joining us on nhk world. want to feel cooler - or warmer - without running up your utility bill? you can reduce your bills with a flip of a switch on your ceiling fan. in summer, set your fan counter- clockwise. it stirs up the cool air that hangs near the floor in winter, just flip the switch again so your fan runs clockwise on low speed. this pushes the warm air down where you need it. and if you're buying, choose an energy-efficient fan. now that makes sense. maybe you have some energy- saving appliances, like an energy star-rated washer and dryer. but what about your tv? chances are it's on more than your washer, dryer, and kitchen appliances combined. did you know that if half of us in the u.s. replaced our regular tvs with an energy star model, the change would be like shutting down a power plant? you can find the energy star on everything from standard to high def to the largest flat-screen your heart desires. ow that makes sense. ow that makes sense. >>> china's

>>> welcome to nhk world "newsline," i'm gene otani in tokyo. here's a look at some of the stories we're following this hour. japan's diet has re-elected shinzo abe as prime minister, giving him a new term to pursue his political and economic agenda. >>> the president of japanese auto parts maker takata has stepped down following worldwide recalls of vehicles equipped with the company's air bags. >>> and very language can farmers have given thanks for their recovery from the indian ocean tsunami with sacred offerings of their famous spice. >>> japan's lawmakers have voted to give shinzo abe another term as prime minister. abe and his governing coalition swept to victory in a general election ten days ago. he now has a clear mandate to pursue his economic and political reforms. the cabinet resigned wednesday morning and the diet convened in the afternoon to formally name a prime minister. the result was never in question. abe's coalition holds a majority in both houses. emperor akihito is formally investing the new cabinet members at the imperial

>>> welcome to nhk world "newsline," i'm gene otani in tokyo. here's a look at some of the stories we're following this hour. caught by surprise. a sudden heavy snowstorm across central and western japan has left hundreds cut off. >>> ministers from eight latin american countries have announced a project to replant forests and fight global warming. >>> as japanese voters prepare for sunday's general election, some are weighing concerns over recent consumption tax hike with worries about the growing debt. >>> and australian government leaders are facing growing opposition for their decision to seek out japanese submarine technology. people in central and western japan are digging out after heavy snow blanketed their homes. the snow toppled trees and cut off roads. and is the fourth day some mountain communities have been cut off. nhk world reports. >> reporter: officials in tokushima prefecture in western japan say the storm took them by surprise. snow blocked roads have left about 400 households cut off. >> translator: we've never had this much

>>> welcome to nhk world "newsline," i'm gene otani in tokyo. here's a look at some of the stories we're following this hour. breaking down barricades. hong kong authorities plan to remove the main protest sites that have blocked the city's financial district for more than two months. >>> crude oil futures plunge to the lowest level in several years, prompting a major u.s. developer to cut investment. >>> and as people in japan prepare to vote in sunday's general election, we'll look at the mixed blessings that have come with prime minister abe's economic policy. >>> hong kong authorities plan to remove barricades that pro-democracy protesters have set up near government headquarters. a local bus company h won an injunction against the demonstrators in the hong kong high court. police say they'll clear the area on thursday. the road near the government offices is one of the two main streets where students and activists have been holding sit-ins. a lawyer for the bus company urges demonstrators to cooperate. >> translator: we want the protesters

this is newsline. >>> u.s. federal investigators say a cyber attack against a hollywood studio was the work of north korea. they've been looking into breaches of computer systems that sony pictures -- they say the actions they uncovered gave a grave threat to national security. officials at the fbi have enough information to conclude the government in pyongyang is responsible. intruders used a north korean malwear and tools are use the against south korean banks last year. sony pictures had been preparing to release a film about a fictional plot to assassinate north korea's leader. hackers stole information on salaries and copies of unreleased movies and rendered thousands of company computers unusable and taking the network offline. president barack obama spoke about the attack in his year end news conference. he said hackers caused a lot of damage across the country. we cannot have a society in which some dictator someplace can start imposing censorship here in the united states. we will respond. we will resp

>>> glad to have you with us on this edition of "newsline." it's friday, december 26th. people in many parts of asia are looking back and remembering the families, friends and homes they lost ten years ago. the tsunami left more than 220,000 people dead or missing. about 5,000 mourners gathered on thursday at a mosque. the region suffered the most casualties with over 160,000 deaths. they prayed for the victims to rest in peace. one woman says she lost nearly 30 of her relatives in the disaster. >> i recall it as if if it happened yesterday. i still feel deep sorrow. >> a massive quake hit off the coast of sumatra island on december 26th, 2004. triggering a major tsunami. international assistance has helped to rebuild homes and roads. but analysts point out the need to raise the public's awareness of the disaster. people would gather in other areas on friday to commemorate the anniversary. now, a city official is -- to ensuring that such a tragedy doesn't happen again. he's promoting disaster apairness. >> reporter: the tsunami was held this october. the exercise is mean

>>> welcome to nhk world "newsline" i'm gene otani in tokyo. here's a look at stories we're following this hour. >>> dismantling a demonstration, hong kong police are tearing apart barricade as and pulling down tents from the main site. >>> three japanese born scientists have received this year's nobel prize in physics. their blue l.e.d. break through is already leading to more advanced technologies. >>> and as japanese gear up for sunday's election, voters in rural areas are considering how politicians will deal with the shrinking population and industries. >>> hong kong police are dismantling the main protest sites that have choked parts of the city more than two months. they're clearing away barricades and tents and arresting pro-democracy activists. police and other authorities began the tear down thursday morning try to clear the road around government headquarters following a court order banning sit-if in protests that have blocked bus routes. by the afternoon, several thousand police officers had been deployed. they used heavy machinery

>>> welcome to nhk world "newsline." i'm gene otani in tokyo. here's a look at some of the stories we're following this hour. a japanese government advisory panel on education is calling for an overhaul of the university entrance exam system. >>> the bank of japan chief has told nhk he'll press on with his bold monetary policy until he's beaten deflation. >>> and some japanese athletes with disabilities are proving they've got what it takes to excel in the workplace, as well as the world of sports. >>> advisers to japan's education ministry have called for revising the university entrance exam system. they suggested the tests should concentrate more on a student's broad knowledge or skills. the central council for education noted the current standardized entrance exams usually test memorization. they suggested students should write essays rather than just answering multiple choice questions. the advisers also called for third party english exams, testing listening, speaking, reading, and writing. they pushed for a new system by fiscal 2020. unde

>>> welcome to nhk world "newsline." i'm gene otani in tokyo. here's a look at the stories we're following this hour. a jordanian fighter pilot cap tred in syria. islamic state militants claim to have shot down the plane taking part in a coalition operation. >>> japanese researchers have found hope for an alternative energy source deep under the sea. a frozen natural gas called methane hydrate. >>> and ten years after the indian ocean tsunami, a city official in indonesia is promoting disaster preparedness by using lessons learned from japan. >>> islamic state militants in northern syria say they have shot down a fighter jet and captured its pilot. jordan's military says the plane was taking part in the u.s.-led coalition. >> reporter: images posted on twitter show a man the is the captured after a coalition air raid over the syrian province of raqqa. islamic state militants group claims a missile was used to bring down the fighter jet. if that is true, this would be the first time the group has successfully attacked a coalition plane. but the u

>>> welcome to nhk world "newsline" i'm gene otani in tokyo. here is a look at some of the stories we are following this hour. >>> investigators at a japanese research institute have concluded that cells once hailed as a ground breaking discovery are actually far more ordinary. >>> tokyo's population is one of the largest in the world. now government officials have drawn up measures they hope will correct that. >>> and chinese tourists are heading to japan in growing numbers to take advantage of the weaker yen. >>> officials investigating the work of a discredited japanese any type of tissue. they've been looking into her research on stap cells which she claimed produced ground-breaking results. and they say evidence shows she was doing research of another kind. they published the findings in january in the british journal "nature." they claimed they found a way to reprogram cells from animals which could be transformed into any type of tissue. they said stap cells were easy to produce. but scientists around the world reported they could not re

>>> welcome to nhk world "newsline" i'm gene otani in tokyo. here's a look at some of the stories we're following this hour. >>> diplomatic break through. president obama says the u.s. will normalize ties with long time enemy cuba. >>> sony pictures scraps the release of a film that ridicules new york's leader following threats of attacks as u.s. investigators blame the country for a cyber breach against the studio. >>> tokyo has the first filling station for fuel cell vehicles. expectations are high the technology will be a first step toward a hydro general society. >>> u.s. president obama is hailing the most significant change in foreign policy in 50 years. he has announced his country will soon begin talks on normalizing diplomatic relations with cuba. >> will through these changes we intend to create more opportunities for american and cuban people and begin a new chapter among the nations of the americas. >> obama says his government will set up embassy in havana within a few months and ease restrictions on 2r568 and money transfers and p

>>> welcome to "newsline." this is thursday, december 11th. i'm katherine koayashi in tokyo. police in hong kong are preparing to remove barricades at a demonstration site on thursday saying it will start the operation shortly. despite the warning thousands of protesterers are gathering in the area. some may try to remain at the site and resist the police action. authorities announceded earlier this week that they will remove protesters' tents and barricades near government headquarters in the district. the eviction could come as early as thursday morning local time. police plan to work with a bus operator to clear the area following a court order that bans sit-ins. around 7,000 officers are scheduled to be deployed. despite the plan, several thousand protesters gathered on wednesday at the site. >> translator: removing the barricades will only fuel our anger further. i hope every citizen stays here. >> they have come prepared with helmets and protective gear for possible clashes. the activists have been staging sit-ins for more than two months. they are calling for a democra

>> glad to have you with us on this edition of "newsline." ths thursday, december 25th. i'm catherine kobayashi in tokyo. >>> japan's lawmakers have decided to give shinzo abe another term as prime minister. abe and his governing coalition had a victory in a general election earlier this month. he has a clearer mandate to pursue his economic and political reforms. [ speaking foreign language ] [ applause ] >> the cabinet resigned wednesday morning and the diet convened in the afternoon to formally name a prime minister. the result was never in question. abe's coalition holds a majority in both houses. the new cabinet was officially inaugurated after a ceremony at the imperial palace. abe has reappointed all members of the outgoing cabinet except the defense minister. abe has named former defense agency chief gen nakatani to the post. >>> after his swearing in, abe addressed the nation. he referred to the new defense minister, gen nakatani. >> translator: i have appointed mr. nakatani to the appointment of defense minister. he's long been engaged in drafting national secu

>>> glad to have you with us on this edition of "newsline." it's wednesday, december 24th. i'm craft yin kobayashi in to o tokyo. >>> the ceo of sony pictures will let movie goeers see one of the most talked-about films in theaters. the company will now release the interview on december 25th. the interview is a comedy about the fictional assassination of north korean leader kim jong-un. they canceled the original release following a cyber attack allegedly carried out by north korea. michael linten said the company is trying to secure more platforms and more theaters. he said he wants the film to reach the largest possible audience. he stressed sony pictures has not given in to intimidation and they're proud to make the movie available to the public and have stood up to those who attempted to suppress free speech. president barack obama has welcomed sony's decision. >>> a u.s. expert says one of north korea's main connections to the outside world is struggling to stay online. he says the country's internet service is still intermittent. and he said it's likely due to an exte

>>> welcome to nhk world "newsline" i'm gene otani in tokyo. here's a look at some of the stories we're following this hour. hong kong government officials kept their headquarters closed as sporadic clashes between pro-democracy protesters and police continue. >>> and artisans are trying to broaden the field of traditional washi paper now that unesco has given its seal of approval. >>> hong kong government officials closed their headquarters monday morning. pro-democracy protesters have been clashing with police nearby. nhk world's takanori tamei has more. >> reporter: demonstrators are once again stepping up their movements. police tried to disperse crowds on roads leading to government offices. the scuffle started on sunday night when thousands of protesters tried to surround the government's headquarters. they said the chief executive and other government officials from getting to work monday. >> if we have to force the government to respond to us in a positive way, then we have to generate more pressure. and by surrounding the government bu

>>> welcome to nhk world "newsline," i'm gene otani in tokyo. here's a look at some of the stories we're following this hour. >>> u.s. secretary of state john kerry is calling on developing countries to share responsibility in the fight against climate change. >>> people in okinawa are venting their frustrations after a u.s. marine officer is a suspect in a hit and run incident involving a japanese man. >>> with japan's general election upon us we look at the situation in fukushima, a region politicians say must be fixed to help the country revitalize. >>> and japan's trucking industry is facing a driver shortage, so companies are coming up with ways to get more women behind the wheel. >>> participants at the u.n. climate talks in peru have spent the last three days trying to draft a global deal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but they're struggling to find common ground. they're divided over how much industrialized nations should help developing nations. delegates from more than 190 countries gathered in lima for the conference known as cop

>>> hello, welcome to "newsline." it's wednesday, december 10th. i'm catherine kobayashi in tokyo. >>> ministers from industrialized and developing nations are meeting face to face in peru to fight global warming. they're trying to hammer out an agreement on a new framework to replace the kyoto protocol. but they remain divided on a number of key issues. >> more countries must be part of this solution. all of society must be engaged. this is not a time for tinkering. it's time for transformation. >> u.n. secretary-general ban ki-moon is calling on all nations to bridge the gap. developing nations are demanding that financial support from industrialized countries be included in their green house gas emission targets but many industrialized countries are opposing the idea. officials from the u.s. and china outlined their targets last month. the move has put the world's two largest emitters to take a leading role to set a new framework. japan has not been able to put its goals on the table yet. the country's energy policies are under review since the

>>> welcome to nhk world "newsline" i'm gene otani in tokyo. here's a look at some of the stories we're following this hour. japan's new asteroid explorer hayabusa2 has lifted off and has entered orbit to begin its six-year mission. >>> japanese auto parts maker takata says it's ready to comply with a u.s. order to recall defective air bags nationwide. >>> and a provocative ad campaign in new york sparked by the islamic state insurgency is raising new fears and opening old wounds. officials with japan's space agency have confirmed their new asteroid probe has entered into orbit. the hayabusa2 has begun a six-year mission that scientists hope will help solve some of the mysteries of the universe. >> translator: their words encouraged me a lot. i was moved, and i felt happy. >> we apologize for that technical error there. the h2a rocket took off from the tanegashima space center in southwestern japan at 1:22 p.m. local time. officials say hayabusa2 reached its initial orbit in just under two hours. the probe is headed for an asteroid that may con

>>> welcome to nhk world "newsline," i'm gene otani in tokyo. here's a look at some of the stories we're following this hour. pounding the pavement, pressing the flesh, and getting the message out. politicians in japan are off and running. >>> officials at the world health organization admit they got the number of ebola deaths in west africa wrong. they say it's lower than they first thought. >>> and delegates from around the world are meeting at a u.n. conference in peru to try to hammer out a framework to stop global warming. >>> voters in japan have a lot to consider in the coming days, as they hear from politicians, in the lead-up to a general election. the official campaign is now under way in a poll prime minister shinzo abe is framing as a referendum on his economic policy. he's put his comfortable majority on the line to seek a fresh mandate. >> translator: through this election, voters will evaluate the economic policy we have been carrying out. the policies of abenomics. it aims to enable companies to enhance competitiveness, increase

-- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com >>> glad to have you with us on this edition of "newsline." it's thursday, december 4th. i'm catherine kobayashi in tokyo. >>> executives of a japanese auto parts maker takata have taken issue with demands for a recall. their defective airbags have been linked to injuries and deaths. one of the affected car companies, honda, has decided to act on its own. a series of accidents prompted the recall of about 8 million cars in the southern u.s. takata executives said warm and humid conditions could cause the airbags to explode and spray metal fragments.he u.snational highway traffic safety administration or nhtsa, said they wanted all cars with takata airbags off the road. the company's global quality chief testified at a house hearing. he said there's no evidence of air bag malfunctions in other areas of the country. >> based on the data we are collecting from the region and also other regions, the data still support that we should remain focused on the region with high temperature and high humidity. >> but he said his company is prepared to take

>>> welcome to nhk world "newsline," i'm gene otani in tokyo. here's a look at some of the stories we're following this hour. at least 84 students and teachers have been killed in a terrorist assault on an army-run school in pakistan. >>> officials with a japanese power company have taken an important step to get a new nuclear plant being constructed online. >>> and people in australia are mourning the two victims of the sydney hostage crisis and asking what really happened inside the sieged cafe. >>> gunmen have attacked an army-run school in peshawar, northwestern pakistan. they've killed at least 84 people. pakistani soldiers have cordoned off the site. local reports say several hundred students and teachers were in the school at the time. the school is run by the army. students' ages range from elementary school to university. a pakistani official tells nhk that five or six armed men, wearing pakistani security force uniforms stormed the school. a huge blast occurred just afterward. local officials said the gunmen have killed 84 people, incl

he's already fathered 13 cubs that's all for this edition of "newsline."s for joining us. >> garrison keillor: maxine kumin lives on a farm in new hampshire where she breeds arabian and quarter horses, writing poetry, four novels, more than 20 children's books. she says, "i don't want to write poems that aren't necessary. i want to write poems that matter." >> this is a little one called after love. afterward, the compromise. bodies resume their boundaries. these legs, for instance, mine. your arms take you back in. spoons of our fingers, lips admit their ownership. the bedding yawns, a door blows aimlessly ajar and overhead, a plane singsongs coming down. nothing is changed, except there was a moment when the wolf, the mongering wolf who stands outside the self lay lightly down, and slept. ( applause ) thank you. ♪ >>> today's asian voices comes from nagoya in central japan. we will look at globalization. >> earlier this month, unesco held a world conference here. the theme was education for sustainable development or esd. the aim of esd is to nurture peo

>>> welcome to nhk world "newsline." i'm gene otani in tokyo. here's a look at some of the stories we're following this hour. north koreans are marking the third anniversary of the death of their former leader kim jong-il. >>> people in sydney are remembering the victims of the cafe siege for their bravery, as australian officials vow to probe how the hostage taker slipped through their radar. >>> and class dismissed. people across japan are seeing more and more schools close, and they're feeling the impact in their communities. >>> people in north korea are observing the end of traditional mourning for their former leader kim jong-il, died three years ago. state-run media is commemorating kim's life, and also highlighting the reign of his son and successor. at noon local time north korean state-run television observed three minutes of silence in kim's honor. it has also been broadcasting a series of commemorative programs about him. people in pyongyang have been laying flowers on the streets in memory of the late leader. military personnel bowe

. >>> welcome to "newsline." i'm cake chi hanada in tokyo. here are some of the stories we're following this hour. people in many parts of asia are coming together to remember the victims of a massive tsunami that hit the indian ocean exactly ten years ago. >>> chinese tourists are heading to japan in growing numbers to take advantage of the weaker yen. >>> and hello kitty fans worldwide are celebrating 40 years of the character who is constantly changing but always the same. >>> people in many parts of asia are looking back and remembering the families, friends, and homes they lost exactly ten years ago. the indian ocean tsunami devastated wide areas of indonesia, sri lanka, and india, leaving more than 220,000 people dead or missing. ♪ about 5,000 mourners gathered on thursday at the mosque in indonesian province of aceh. the region suffered the most casualties with over 160,000 deaths. they prayed for the victims to rest in peace. one woman says she lost nearly 30 of her relatives in the disaster. >> translator: i recall it as if it happen