i'm ross mihara in tokyo. here's a look at some of the stories we're following this hour. >>> leaders of some 50 african nations are getting together this weekend to discuss common solutions to pressing problems. >>> chinese leaders are considering joining talks for the transpacific partnership, a huge free-trade zone that would include the u.s., japan, and other economies. >>> and -- >> hello, nhk world "newsline." >> japan's first pro sumo rikshi from africa is moving his way up and has his eyes on the top. >>> dozens of african leaders are in japan to hash out some of the challenges they face. these prime ministers and presidents have access to a wealth of natural resources, but many have found sustainable growth elusive. delegates from 50 nations will attend the summit which runs saturday through monday. many of them will meet one-on-one with prime minister shinzo abe during their visit. abe set aside time to talk with ten leaders on friday. he sat down with the ethiopian prime minister. ethiopia currently

i'm ross mihara in tokyo. barack obama has begun a visit to south africa. he arrived as people are worrying about the country's anti-apartheid hero and former president nelson mandela is in critical condition in the hospital fighting a lung infection. he begins the second of three african countries. he was cautious and said the last thing he wants to be is be obtrusive. he won a nobel peace prize for leading the struggle to apartheid. he is 94 years old and went into the hospital earlier this month. obama said after the abolition is of apartheid is his ideal. tensions are mounding ahead of planned demonstrations. both opponents and supporters of mohamed morsi called for protests throughout the country. anti-morsi demonstrators are demanding that the president step down. they say the economy and security have worsened since he took office a year ago following the collapse of the government. many have gathered in tahrir square where security perimeters have been established. >> we will protest until the presiden

i'm ross mihara in tokyo. barack obama has begun a visit to south africa.e arrived as people are worrying about the country's anti-apartheid hero and former president nelson mandela is in critical condition in the hospital fighting a lung infection. he begins the second of three african countries. he was cautious and said the last thing he

i'm ross mihara in tokyo with the stories at this hour. >>> ballot counting is under way in iran after millions of people voted for the new president. they're picking a successor to outgoing leader mahmoud ahmadinejad who's been in office eight years. so many people showed up they extended the voting. they include the mayor and the country's top nuclear negotiate. those who want better relations with western countries are supporting a single candidate, hassan rohani. he was a negotiate under the former reform president. opinion polls shows hard liners leading the race. the moderate rohani closed the gap in the final stages of campaigning. election results will be found on saturday. if no candidate has majority, the top two candidates face a runoff vote in one week. >>> u.s. president barack obama is changing his afroech the war in syria. he has concluded troops loyal to bashar assad used chemical weapons and will provide military support to opposition fighters. >> we have concluded assad used chemical weapons against the opposition multiple times in the last year, on a small scale. >>

i'm ross mihara in tokyo. here's a look at some of the stories we're following this hour. >>> leaders of some 50 african nations are getting together this weekend to discuss common solutions to pressing problems. >>> chinese leaders are considering joining talks for the transpacific partnership, a huge free-trade zone that would include the u.s., japan, and other economies. >>> and -- >> hello, nhk world "newsline."

i'm ross mihara in tokyo with the stories at this hour. >>> ballot counting is under way in iran after millions of people voted for the new president. they're picking a successor to outgoing leader mahmoud ahmadinejad who's been in office eight years. so many people showed up they extended the voting. they include the mayor and the country's top nuclear