Welcome back to NHK Newsline. Here's the latest we have for you at this hour.
XI BRINGS UP TAIWAN IN PHONE CALL WITH TRUMP
Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump have spoken by phone.
Beijing's foreign ministry says Xi stressed his country's firm stance on the Taiwan issue.
The ministry says on Monday, Xi outlined China's principled position on Taiwan.
It adds he told Trump that Taiwan's return to China is an integral part of the post-war international order.
It says China and the US fought shoulder to shoulder against fascism and militarism, and it's important for them to jointly safeguard the victory of World War II.
The ministry says Trump says the US understands the Taiwan issue's importance to China.
Trump posted on social media after the call.
He says they discussed various issues, including Ukraine and Russia, fentanyl and farm products, but did not specifically mention whether Taiwan came up.
He says they will visit each other's countries next year.
TAKAICHI HAS PHONE CALL WITH TRUMP
On Tuesday, Japanese Prime Minister Takeichi Sanae said she, too, spoke by phone with Trump.
00:01:23 話者 2
President Trump briefed me on the recent state of relations between the US and China, including the summit talks on the phone held last night.
00:01:35 話者 1
She says they exchanged opinions on a wide range of issues. Those include the strengthening of the Japan-US alliance and the situation facing the Indo-Pacific region.
Beijing has continued to turn up the pressure on Tokyo over the Japanese prime minister's comments from earlier this month.
Takaichi told the Diet that a possible Taiwan emergency involving the use of force could be a survival-threatening situation for Japan.
JAPAN GOVT: POSITION ON TAIWAN UNCHANGED
The Japanese government says there is no change to its position on what constitutes a survival-threatening situation for the country.
The comment came at a cabinet meeting Tuesday. It is part of a written reply to an opposition lawmaker's question regarding Takaichi's remarks about Taiwan.
It states that the government comprehensively determines whether any given situation constitutes a survival-threatening situation.
It adds that this is based on all available information and the specific circumstances of each case individually.
The reply goes on to say that the prime minister has clearly and repeatedly explained that her remark does not change the existing government position.
It says peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are important not only for Japan's security, but also for the stability of the international community.
The written reply adds that it is the consistent position of Japan to expect that the issue surrounding Taiwan will be resolved peacefully by dialogue.
JAPAN, CHINA SEND LETTERS TO UN HEAD
This point was reiterated in a letter presented by Japan's permanent representative at the United Nations after the row over the Taiwan comments reached New York.
It was sent to the UN Secretary-General in response to an earlier one from Beijing.
Antonio Guterres was sent a letter last Friday from China's permanent representative to the UN. It refers to Takaichi's comments as, quote, the first time Japan has expressed ambitions to intervene militarily in the Taiwan question.
The letter also says it was the first time Japan has issued a threat of force against China.
Japan's permanent representative Yamazaki Kazuyuki presented a letter of rebuttal to Guterres on Monday.
It states that China's claims appear to be inconsistent with the facts and unsubstantiated.
It adds China's assertion that Japan would exercise the right of self-defense even in the absence of an armed attack is erroneous and affirmed the need for dialogue.
Japan is asking Guterres to circulate the letter to all UN member states as an official document of the General Assembly.
STORM NOT OVER, BUT SOME PEOPLE KEEPING IT SEPARATE
Earlier, I spoke with NHK World's Yoshida Mayu in Beijing.
Mayu, China has taken its anger all the way to the United Nations.
This issue doesn't look like it'll be resolved anytime soon.
00:04:43 話者 3
Probably not, Minari. I think it will take some time to repair bilateral ties.
And it's hard to see how all these developments at the UN will affect that.
Right now, the prospects for dialogue are slim, especially between the two countries' leaders. And here in China, the media's criticism of Prime Minister Takaichi doesn't stop.
State-run broadcasters continuously air stories attacking her.
People's smartphones are flooded with Japan-related alerts.
Social media networks carry a stream of illustrations and videos, too.
00:05:17 話者 1
Mayu, China suggests more measures against Japan are on the table unless Takaichi retracts her remarks. Now, what does that entail?
After all, hasn't it already spilled into areas far from politics?
00:05:30 話者 3
Yes, you're right. Events involving Japanese companies and concerts by Japanese artists are being postponed and canceled one after another.
This aligns with China's one-party system, where political position largely influenced many other things. Clouds even loom over events that don't get shelved.
A major soccer match kicks off on Tuesday in China between a Japanese club and a local team. But Japan's consulate is warning about potential trouble.
00:06:00 話者 1
What about on the individual level?
Are people in China viewing Japan in a negative way right now?
00:06:10 話者 3
Well, public sentiment has certainly dived, but some people's views aren't as harsh as others. The Chinese government's attempt to discourage travel to Japan is one example.
Group tours are being canceled, but some individuals say they still plan to visit.
Also, there are currently no major signs of Chinese people boycotting Japanese products like we've seen in the past. In fact, a Japanese restaurant I went to this weekend was packed. A Chinese acquaintance told me, nowadays, many people have been to Japan and they are starting to keep politics separate from their personal views.
That said, this diplomatic storm is not over. The course of bilateral ties remain uncertain.
PHILIPPINES TRIES TO RECOUP CORRUPTION MONEY VIA AUCTION
00:07:02 話者 1
The Philippines is hoping to recoup some of its losses from a major corruption scandal.
Luxury goods are going on sale in a bid to get the money spent on so-called ghost projects back into the public purse. The scandal stems from several flood control projects.
Huge chunks of those budgets may have been lost to corruption, leaving many projects unfinished or never started.
It prompted President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to launch an investigation.
So far, 16 individuals, including a former lawmaker, are facing charges, though some have fled the country.
00:07:41 話者 4
To all the remaining suspects, my advice to you is: turn yourself in.
Don't wait to be hunted down. In this situation, it's better to come back of your own volition and properly answer the allegations against you.
00:08:00 話者 1
The commission looking into the corruption is also widening its net.
It's looking into those who allegedly pocketed the kickbacks.
One official says over 1,000 people may be charged.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Customs Bureau is hoping to get some of that money back.
It puts seven luxury cars up for auction, with a total worth of over 1.7 million US dollars.
They were all seized from the family of a contractor working on a flood control project.
00:08:30 話者 9
These seven actually very girls were purchased with flat controlled money.
By bringing that to auction, the DOC is recovering the duties and taxes that should have come to public offers and to the people. This is justice in practice.
00:08:54 話者 8
If we are the winning leader, because it's my dream to try it as kind of luxury cars.
00:09:03 話者 1
Of the vehicles up for sale, only three were sold, putting about $648,000 back in the government's pockets.
More confiscated cars will be going up for auction in the coming days.
For more on the scandal earlier, I spoke with NHK's Manila Bureau Chief Kondo Yukari.
00:09:24 話者 5
Minori, you talk about luxury vehicles, but here are some of them ready for auction.
So these all belonged to a couple running several construction companies.
Now there are 28 cars are in the government's hands.
Some are expected to be sold off in December, but as you can imagine, the anger here is still simmering, especially when people hear stories like this one.
00:09:47 話者 1
Right, well, tell me a bit more about that. How are the Philippine people feeling?
00:09:54 話者 5
As you know, there's been a series of protests. Another big rally is planned for this Sunday.
So while the anger never quite cooled down, the recent floods have really found the flame.
The hundreds of people died and the homes are destroyed.
So remember, so this money was supposed to come from flood control projects.
So protests are demanding accountability. But they say if these projects are affected by corruption, people's lives will still continue to be at risk.
So all eyes are on the investigation and whether or not those responsible will be put behind bars.
00:10:28 話者 1
Right. Well, what is next for the investigation?
00:10:34 話者 5
Well, as you said, there are 16 officials suspect right now.
The government says the four of them have left the country, including the former congressman, but at least eight of them were arrested.
So meanwhile, the investigation is still ongoing. The commission has submitted a referral to the Oppsman asking to look deeper into certain people.
One of them is a former speaker and the later congressman, Marty Romaldas, the President Marco's own cousin.
So the forecast now is how far this may go and how deep the corruption has spread.
BUSINESS
00:11:17 話者 1
Now let's see what's happening in the world of business.
Here's Ramin Mellegard from The Biz Desk.
00:11:23 話者 6
Thank you very much indeed.
INPEX OPENS PLANT FOR TEST PRODUCTION OF 'BLUE HYDROGEN'
Now, Japanese natural resources giant Inpex has opened a test plant for producing hydrogen from natural gas and storing carbon dioxide underground.
The test facility is located in Niigata Prefecture, central Japan.
CO2 generated during the production process will be captured and stored in an underground reservoir to reduce emissions into the atmosphere.
Hydrogen produced this way is called blue hydrogen. It's considered a non-polluting next-generation energy source because it doesn't emit CO2 when burned.
Inpex plans to use hydrogen to generate electricity on site and produce ammonia.
The company says the project is the first in Japan to integrate the entire process from the production to utilization of blue hydrogen.
JAPAN LAUNCHES ITS VERSION OF DOGE TO CUT WASTEFUL SPENDING
Japan's government says it has launched an initiative to review subsidies and tax breaks in a bid to cut wasteful government spending.
An office to review projects that may be less efficient in achieving policy goals will set up in the cabinet secretariat on Tuesday.
It will start by evaluating those to be included in the fiscal 2026 budget.
The office is widely seen as a Japanese version of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, created by US President Donald Trump to cut government spending.
But Finance Minister Katayama Satsuki who will oversee the review stress that it differs from Doge in that it is not aimed at overhauling government organizations.
00:13:02 話者 2
As Prime Minister Takaichi often says, in order to maintain the sustainability of Japan's finances, it is very important to show the public how we are constantly working on these things at the country's political and administrative centers.
00:13:18 話者 6
Katayana said people are very interested in seeing projects reviewed and waste eliminated. She said she'll consider seeking feedback via social media.
JOB HUNTING GETTING HARDER AS BUSINESSES RELY MORE ON AI
More university graduates in the US are having difficulty finding work as businesses increasingly turn to artificial intelligence for some tasks.
One such job seeker is Matthew Solomon.
He graduated three years ago after studying mechanical engineering and biotechnology.
00:13:48 話者 4
I've put in hundreds or thousands of applications with a very poor response rate, so I've had a lot of trouble looking for looking for work.
00:13:58 話者 6
Solomon says he's been working on his own in the Midwestern state of Michigan.
He makes videos for social media. He says it has become more difficult over the past year and a half for him and some others.
The September jobless rate among people in the first half of their 20s was about 9%.
That's more than double the overall average.
00:14:21 話者 4
Especially people in my situation, we're looking for entry-level work, and a lot of that work is being automated and replaced, and it's much easier to, for a company, have an AI that doesn't need to be trained.
00:14:35 話者 6
The Federal Reserve's latest economic report says increases in payroll cuts are partly because businesses are investing more in AI-related technologies.
AI REVOLUTIONIZING WORK STYLES IN JAPAN
Okay, sticking with AI, creating budget estimates and client proposals in mere minutes.
AI has entered a new era in the workplace.
It is filling the role of a trusted colleague or even an executive in the boardroom.
00:15:00 話者 2
This tech company has annual revenue of $22 billion.
Last December, it rolled out its proprietary AI system to about 60,000 employees.
The goal is to improve efficiency and quality.
00:15:19 話者 2
It's indispensable for my work. It's my partner.
00:15:24 話者 2
The AI agent is capable of autonomous judgment and action, and helps workers achieve goals. For example, a city hall requests that the company provide digital transformation training. A salesperson feeds in the client's requirements.
And the AI agent considers the necessary tasks, makes its own judgments, then creates a proposal.
00:15:50 話者 4
These are the slides the AI created.
00:15:55 話者 2
The 50-page document was completed in just a minute and a half.
This salesperson says the most time-consuming tasks are now automated, freeing up time to refine the proposal to better meet client needs.
Where we used to rely on help from superiors or colleagues, we now increasingly use AI.
00:16:18 話者 7
AI doesn't deliver perfect work every time. It completes tasks with 70 to 80 percent of the required quality, but it does so in an extremely short period of time.
00:16:28 話者 2
One company has even given AI the role of executive officer.
00:16:34 話者 9
This is the conference room where the most important decisions are made.
This screen shows the AI executive officer.
00:16:49 話者 2
In July, the beverage manufacturer welcomed an AI member to join its 20-person board.
The AI executive was fed 10 years' worth of meeting minutes in financial data and information across 12 fields, including legal, marketing, and digital.
During meetings, it prompts participants roughly every 30 seconds on points to further explore. During a meeting on a subsidiary's business strategy, discussions focused on sales, profits, and growth figures.
The AI exec urged the group to give more time to environmental considerations.
00:17:29 話者 4
AI has a positive tendency to be oblivious to the atmosphere of the room, which enables it to make calm, objective observation. The key is how we humans can effectively utilize this to enhance the quality of our management meetings.
00:17:47 話者 2
AI works at incredible speed, but still needs to have its output checked.
Human workers are collaborating with new, highly capable colleagues
And that is changing how companies operate.
MARKETS
00:18:01 話者 6
Okay, let's get a check on the markets.
♪
And that is it for Business News. I'm going to hand it back to you.
00:18:34 話者 1
Thank you, Ramin.
JAPAN OPPOSES EEL TRADE REGULATIONS
Delegates at an international conference on endangered species are discussing eels.
They've put forth a proposal to enact further regulations.
Japan is urging other countries to oppose the plan.
The conference began Monday in Uzbekistan. European eels are already subject to restrictions, with countries needing a permit to export them.
In June, the European Union and others proposed that the same restriction be applied to all species, including Japanese and American eel.
00:19:10 話者 7
Japan is against the proposal. Japanese eels are thoroughly controlled and there is no threat of extinction because a sufficient amount is secured as a resource.
00:19:23 話者 1
Japan's fisheries agency says about 70% of eel eaten in the country is imported.
It says if trade in Japanese eel were regulated, imports would stall and prices could surge.
The proposal is expected to be put to a vote on Thursday and would require at least a two-thirds majority of those present at the session.
EEL SHOPS IN JAPAN WORRY RULES COULD PUSH UP PRICES
The proposal is prompting concern of higher prices for the delicacy.
The city of Nagoya is known for hitsumabushi, or rice topped with grilled eel.
One restaurant there offers hitsumabushi dishes for up to 5,000 yen, or around $30.
The fish is charcoal grilled.
00:20:05 話者 2
This eel is grilled well and so delicious.
00:20:09 話者 7
If prices go up, I will probably come here less frequently.
00:20:14 話者 1
The restaurant mainly uses eel farmed in the surrounding Aichi prefecture.
It also buys eel from China that meets quality requirements when needed.
That means regulations that result in price increases on imports could impact the restaurant's business. The restaurant's manager, Naka Nishimasaki, says a decision on eel regulation is imminent.
00:20:40 話者 7
I had heard about the possibility of regulation. Now I need to think about how to prepare eel. Eel dishes are irreplaceable for Japanese people.
I want to help preserve the culinary tradition.
00:20:56 話者 1
Nakanishi said he'd like to meet customer demand while taking supply into account and taking steps to protect eel stocks.
MOTHER OF SEXUALLY EXPLOITED THAI GIRL LIKELY SENT TO JAPAN FIRST
Police in Thailand have shed light on plans for a woman accused of trafficking her daughter in Tokyo.
They believe she will be sent back to Japan in about one or two months' time.
The woman allegedly made her 12-year-old daughter provide sexual services in Tokyo.
The mother has since been detained in Taiwan.
Tokyo police have obtained an arrest warrant on suspicion she violated the Child Welfare Act. The girl is currently under protection in Japan.
Her relatives in Thailand spoke on Monday.
00:21:43 話者 9
We truly miss her. I hope she'll come back soon so we can live happily together.
00:21:56 話者 1
Thai police have also obtained an arrest warrant for the mother. They suspect her of human trafficking. An official suggested she will be transferred to Thailand after authorities in Japan wrap up their investigation.
♫～
WEATHER
And it is time now to check the weather with our meteorologist, Jonathan Oh.
So, Jonathan, folks in Tokyo had to dodge some rain during the day Tuesday.
Will we see more wet weather Wednesday?
00:23:24 話者 8
Hello. We had a system that moved across Japan as we went through Tuesday and helped to bring some wet weather in places like Tokyo, but a good portion of Japan seeing some of that wet weather.
Now, as the low moves off toward the east, we'll see conditions more drying up a bit.
It looks like that we'll see a chance of rain up into the north into Sapporo by Friday with some snow in the forecast heading into Saturday.
But look at the temperatures here. Generally mid, maybe upper teens in the Tokyo and Osaka, low 20s. as we go through the rest of this week.
So it looks like we're going to be seeing temperatures that are going to be a little bit slightly on the warmer side with partly cloudy skies as a part of the forecast.
Very different story, though, down toward the southern plains of the United States.
We had a system that rolled on through, triggering a lot of strong thunderstorms.
I wanted to show you some video coming out of Texas where, according to one local media source, more than 100 homes were damaged after severe storms hit the greater Houston area Monday. The National Weather Service confirmed at least one tornado in Harris County and teams were scheduled to survey a possible second twister on Tuesday.
In addition to tornado fears, thousands of residents had to deal with power outages.
Now, not only was the Greater Houston area impacted up into the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport area, according to a flight tracking site, more than 1,000 flights going in and out of that airport were delayed and 100 flights canceled.
Now, we're looking at the system pushing toward the east, an impact in the southeastern portion of the United States.
And so we'll still be looking out for some really unstable weather extending from places like Mississippi up toward the Ohio River Valley.
Another low toward the north of the Upper Plains, hoping to bring in some really snowy weather, not only into North and South Dakota and Minnesota, but also into places like Winnipeg, looking at some snow with a high of 2 degrees below freezing as we go through Tuesday.
Showers into Chicago, into Toronto, and Denver, Chile, with a high of only 8 for the day.
Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
'IBURIGAKKO' RADISH PICKLING KICKS OFF
00:26:23 話者 1
And before we leave you this hour, iburigakko is a type of pickled daikon, or white radish, popular in northern Japan's Akita Prefecture.
While production of the local specialty has begun ahead of the full-blown winter.
Unlike most pickled daikon, iburigakko is smoked instead of sun-dried.
It is then pickled in a fermented mix of rice bran and salt. The distinctive smoky smell fills the air of Yokote City's Sannai district this time of year as many farmers make them at home. Among them are Takahashi Hiroshi and Toshi, a couple in their 80s.
They have about 1-thousand daikon hanging in their smokehouse.
They say they smoke the radishes for about three days using apple or oak wood to give them a unique aroma and crisp texture. They then pickle them for about two months.
00:27:21 話者 4
We enjoy producing iburigakko as consumers welcome our products. I recommend the ones stuffed with cheese. It is a good way to taste the pickles.
00:27:33 話者 1
Daikon smoking will continue through the middle of December.
Yes, certainly good with cheese.
That wraps up this edition of NHK Newsline. We'll have more for you soon.
Thank you very much for joining us.
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