08/05/2016  PEAK ACHIEVEMENT
The view from the slopes of Mount Fuji is known to be breathtaking. That became literally true for thousands on Friday, as they tried to catch their breath on a grueling race up Japan's tallest peak.With the crack of a gun, more than 3,500 runners began their assault on the unforgiving course. Normally, participants race along a 21-kilometer trail to the top. Rain during this year's high-elevation dash meant the finish line was set six kilometers short of the summit.
(Participant)"It's a shame about the weather. I hope to come again."
Some of the runners gave up the fight, but the winners in the men's and women's categories finished in a little over 77 minutes and 94 minutes, respectively.
08/08/2016  REVENGE SELFIE SPREE
A dad, who says he has had it with his teenage daughter and her endless selfies, has come up with a way to make her stop.
You know the old saying, "If you can't beat them, join them." Well, that's what this Spokane, Washington, dad thought would be worth a try. When Christopher Burr Martin thought his 19-year-old daughter was posting too many selfies, he knew she wouldn't listen to the traditional parenting nagging. Instead, Martin, dubbed "Selfie Dad," began imitating her.
(Christopher Martin)"I was like, 'Just tone it down a little bit.' Well, she didn't. So I thought, 'I will show you what it looks like then.'"
And show her he did. The hilarious visuals have gone viral, giving parents, teens and even Martin's daughter, Cassie, something to laugh about.
(Cassie Martin)"A lot of parents can relate to it because their teenage daughters, teenage sons, they will take selfies all the time."
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but these selfies are priceless.
08/09/2016  TO CATCH A THIEF
Next tonight, the consumer alert for millions of drivers ― hi-tech thieves are now breaking into cars by attaching a device you don't even see.
These may just look like average car owners, but police say they are thieves who have broken into the cars, using a hi-tech hack. No smashed windows here, but still in Westminster, California, police say three crooks got in essentially by replicating the car's key fob used for keyless entry.Here is one way to do it. Criminals attach homemade devices, like this one, underneath cars.
(Security researcher)"As soon as the user of the car unlocks their vehicle, this now has a code that is stored, that can be used later on."
Most of the time, key fob thieves take off with things in the car. But if the key fob comes with a keyless ignition too, police say criminals can take off with the whole car.Experts say there is an easy way to prevent a key fob theft. When you go ahead and close the door, don't just lock it once. Hit that button several times. That is going to reset the codes, making those stolen codes totally useless.
08/10/2016  WARNING PUTIN
Tensions ratcheting up between the United States and Russia tonight in a throwback to the Cold War. American diplomats in Moscow say that Russian agents have been harassing them and their families, prompting a direct complaint to Vladimir Putin.
We have seen Russians harassing U.S. forces at sea more and more often. Those jaw-dropping flybys of our ships. But the amount of Russian harassment and surveillance of our diplomats is now like the bad old days of the Soviet Union.U.S. diplomats complaining of walking into their apartments and realizing all the furniture has been moved around, a provocation by Russian agents saying "We are watching you." Russian agents also accused of hacking personal emails. There have been incidents of tires being slashed, even diplomats' family members being followed.Tensions over Syria and Ukraine have made matters worse, and it has gotten so bad, as you said, Secretary of State Kerry has complained directly to Putin to knock it off. It hasn't worked.
08/05/2016  A SPECIAL GIFT
A special gift for a nine-year-old girl, inspired by her favorite movie, made her smile first, then it changed her life.
Like so many nine-year-old girls, Karissa Mitchell is a big fan of the Disney movie "Frozen."Karissa now has a Frozen souvenir like no other ― an ice blue prosthetic arm fashioned by engineering students at Siena College in upstate New York using 3D printing. Karissa was born without a right arm, so Siena's E-Nable The Future lab created one for her, complete with a hand that can squeeze.
(Karissa Mitchell)"Awesome!"
All the more awesome because Karissa got the prosthetic free of charge. Prosthetic limbs can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and for kids, it is a temporary fix. Their young body is still growing. 3D printers lower that cost to about 30 to 50 dollars.The very first thing Karissa did, give little Olaf a nice, warm hug.
08/12/2016  4 CANINES GIVEN TOP HONORS
It was hot out, the dogs were lined up, but with good reason.
Four veterans came to Capitol Hill today to receive the nation's highest honor for their service and sacrifice. Heroic hounds who served with unending devotion, loyalty, and yes, the occasional slobber. Dogs like Sergeant Fieldy, who bravely served four combat tours in Afghanistan. And Isky T116, his service number tattooed there in his ear. The military says he saved countless lives, sniffing out explosives.
(Mary Bruce / ABC News)"Isky here is a life saver."
(Sgt. Wes Brown)"He is, yes, brought a lot of people home and brought me home."
Including Army Sergeant Wes Brown. Both injured in the field, now both helping each other off the field.
(Sgt. Wes Brown)"I feel safe with him every time we go anywhere."
08/22/2016  JAPAN: BASIC AGREEMENT ON FOUNDATION
Japan and South Korea have come to a preliminary agreement on measures to support those referred to as wartime comfort women. Japan's Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida has spoken to his South Korean counterpart, Yun Byung-se, by phone.
(Fumio Kishida / Japanese Foreign Minister)"We came to a basic agreement with South Korea on the scope of the foundation's activities. I believe the South Korean government will sincerely execute the agreement between our countries."
Kishida says he presumes that, under the agreement reached earlier in the day, Japanese funding will go to medical and nursing care. Kishida reiterated that there is no change in Japan's position that the matter of claims of compensation in connection to comfort women has already been legally settled. He added that Japan will proceed to swiftly disburse the funds for the foundation. Japan is to contribute one billion yen, or about 9.8 million dollars.
08/23/2016  RUSSIA LAUNCHES AIRSTRIKES FROM IRAN
Russia says it has used an Iranian air base for the first time to carry out a "concentrated airstrike" against the Islamic State group and other militants in Syria. The move appears to be a gesture against the U.S. and other countries that are supporting anti-government forces in Syria.Russian media reports say this is the first time that the Russian military has used an Iranian military base to launch air raids in Syria. Russian officials explained that flying bombers from Iran will save fuel.The head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, told the state-run news agency that Iran and Russia enjoy strategic cooperation in the fight against terrorism in Syria and share their facilities and capacities. He indicated that Iran will work with Russia and Syria until they destroy the Islamic State militants and other groups.
08/23/2016  RUSSIA LAUNCHES AIRSTRIKES FROM IRAN
Russia says it has used an Iranian air base for the first time to carry out a "concentrated airstrike" against the Islamic State group and other militants in Syria. The move appears to be a gesture against the U.S. and other countries that are supporting anti-government forces in Syria.Russian media reports say this is the first time that the Russian military has used an Iranian military base to launch air raids in Syria. Russian officials explained that flying bombers from Iran will save fuel.The head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, told the state-run news agency that Iran and Russia enjoy strategic cooperation in the fight against terrorism in Syria and share their facilities and capacities. He indicated that Iran will work with Russia and Syria until they destroy the Islamic State militants and other groups.
08/24/2016  AID FOR YOUNG GAZA ENTREPRENEURS
Gaza has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, around 40 percent. Now, a group from Japan is trying to help young people in the Palestinian territory become entrepreneurs.The group includes representatives of Japanese companies and international organizations. It held a contest on Thursday to encourage proposals that would help improve Gaza's harsh living conditions. One team addressed the shortage of cement blocks, needed to rebuild structures damaged during years of fighting. The members proposed making them from ashes.Another suggested producing equipment to help people carry heavy items up and down stairs. Frequent blackouts in the territory make elevators all but unusable.Members of the Japanese group will provide funds and advice to help turn the best proposals into real-life projects. Gaza's economy has been hit hard due to restrictions by Israel and Egypt on the movement of people and supplies to and from Gaza.
08/25/2016  WSJ: 'NO FIRST USE' POLICY (is) OPPOSED
The Wall Street Journal reports that U.S. President Barack Obama is considering a protocol of "No First Use" for nuclear weapons, but the proposal is running into opposition from top Cabinet officials and U.S. allies.If President Obama declares a "No First Use" policy, it would mean the U.S. would explicitly rule out a first strike with a nuclear weapon in any conflict. The paper says Secretary of State John Kerry raised concerns from allies that rely on the U.S. for defense at a National Security Council meeting in July. It says the allies include Japan, South Korea and Britain.It reports that Secretary of Defense Ash Carter also said a "No First Use" declaration would risk making allies feel insecure about the U.S. deterrent and some of those allies could pursue their own nuclear programs.The paper says Obama didn't make a decision about the policy at the meeting. But it quotes people familiar with the discussions as saying opposition from the critical Cabinet members and U.S. allies reduces the likelihood of the change.