NHK World English Podcast Scripts (2026/11/3) US Midterms, Iran Tensions & Europe Cyberattack

• Americans vote in the US midterms, Iran reports tanker mine attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, and a suspected cyberattack disrupts supermarkets across Europe.
•  米中間選挙の投票が進む中、イランはホルムズ海峡での機雷攻撃を報告し、欧州では大規模なサイバー攻撃がスーパーに影響を与えています。

    【重要単語・フレーズ】

            head to the polls（投票に向かう）

            intensify（強化する、激化する）

            lay mines（機雷を設置する）

            disrupt（混乱させる、中断させる）

            fulfill a mandate（任務・責務を果たす）

• Shadowing Tips：シャドーイングの効果をさらに高めたいなら、自分の声を時々録音して聞き比べてみましょう。定期的に録音を残しておくと、自分の英語力の成長も実感できます。

20261103180000_english_1.mp3   player

 00:00:11 話者 1/Yuko Fukushima

Glad to have you with us on NHK Newsline. I'm Yuko Fukushima.

Akane of the ICC: Court Will Fulfill Mandate

The head of the International Criminal Court has pushed back against US sanctions on the global body.

ICC President Akane Tomoko told the UN General Assembly the court will continue to fulfill its mandate.

Akane presented the ICC's annual report in a pre-recorded video on Monday.

Restrictions imposed on her by the administration and President Donald Trump have made it difficult for her to enter the United States.

00:00:44 話者 12/Akane Tomoko

This is not just about defending a single institution, but about safeguarding the international order grounded upon the rule of law.

00:00:55 話者 1

Akane urged all UN member states to assist in the rest and surrender of individuals subject to the court's warrants, including Israeli Prime Minister Benyami Netanyahu.

She reported that six member states had notified their withdrawal from the ICC.

Trump has called on countries to quit the court.

But many Western and other countries expressed support for the ICC and voiced concern over the US pressure campaign.

Americans Head to Polls in US Midterms

Millions of Americans are set to vote on Tuesday in the US midterm elections.

They are widely seen as a chance to deliver a verdict on the Trump administration.

Trump delivered a final pitch in Washington on Monday.

00:01:39 話者 22/Trump

With your vote we will decide these extremists will be given power, or not power, will either keep America strong, I think we're having. This is the golden age of America. We've never done anything like it.

00:01:55 話者 1

Meanwhile, former President Barack Obama said in a social media post he's heard from people across the country who are fed up with politicians.

He reminded voters they have the power to elect candidates who will bring about change.

Midterm elections take place halfway through a president's four years in office.

This time, 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate and all 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for grabs.

At stake is whether the Republicans can keep control of both chambers or whether the Democrats will secure enough votes to be able to sway policies.

Analysts and media say the Democrats are favored to win a majority in the House while the Senate race will be close.

Competing Monitoring Intensifies in US Midterms

Trump has shown his intention to increase the federal government's involvement in the midterms, saying the aim is to counter voter fraud.

But the Democratic Party says the administration is interfering in the election process.

Trump addressed the nation in July demanding measures against foreign interference, fraud related to voter registration and eligibility, and possible tampering with voting and ballot counting systems.

A week before the elections, Trump wrote on social media that anyone who reports voter fraud in past elections for the midterms would be paid one million dollars if those responsible are arrested and convicted.

Back in 2020, Trump did not accept his loss in the election, placing the blame on voter fraud.

00:03:30 話者 22

They can try to steal the election from us.

00:03:36 話者 1

This time, the Justice Department says it is dispatching 1,000 monitors in the department's largest ever effort for a midterm election.

The Democratic Party is also stepping up efforts.

It plans to send more than 100 staff members to closely contested states as observers.

Conservative and nonpartisan civic groups are also getting involved.

00:04:00 話者 23

President Trump and his administration have made many threats about the election.

People really care about our democracy. We are coming out to keep that tradition and keep that part of our history, but also to protect it.

00:04:15 話者 1

These midterms are likely to be the most intensely observed election in US history.

All 69 Victims of Spain Train Crash Identified

Authorities in Spain say they have finished identifying all 69 victims of last week's high-speed rail collision in the central province of Toledo.

The dead include 15 foreign nationals.

Fingerprint and DNA testing were used to identify the bodies.

Authorities say the victims were all adults and 54 were Spanish nationals.

The foreigners include four from the United States and two from both Japan and Australia.

The others were from Argentina, Canada, the Czech Republic, France, Mexico, Portugal and Tunisia. Authorities say they have notified the relevant consular offices.

Local media report that all the train cars involved in the accident last Wednesday have now been removed from the tracks.

A full examination of the carriages and restoration of the site will begin soon.

Iran Conflict   Iran Media: Tankers Hit Mines in Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has reportedly claimed that two oil tankers using an unauthorized route through the Strait of Hormuz exploded after hitting naval mines.

Iranian state-run media also reported the IRGC Navy said a tanker caught fire after colliding with a mine in a restricted area in the eastern part of the strait.

The IRGC claimed that 11 vessels it said had violated Iran's rules for passage had been set on fire in the nine days through Monday. It said some of them sank.

The situation in the strait remains unstable ahead of the US midterm elections.

The impact of rising fuel prices has been a major campaign issue.

There is speculation that the US may resume attacks on Iran.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry said the exchange of messages between the US and Iran through Qatari mediation is ongoing.

Ismail Bagayi said Iran's previous proposal to open the strait within seven days can be shortened to within two days if conditions are met.

But he said the strait will not be reopened unless the US and maritime blockade ends and Iran's demands are fully met.

Bagayi added that Tehran does not make strategic decisions based on US electoral developments.

He said the outcome of the US midterm elections will not change Iran's policies.

Supermarkets Across Europe Hit by Suspected Cyberattack

Authorities in multiple European countries are investigating a suspected cyberattack affecting freezers and refrigerators in supermarkets.

It caused temperatures inside the units to store, ruining fresh and frozen food.

Supermarket chains in Belgium say some stores experienced problems with their refrigeration systems on Monday.

Similar incidents occurred in countries including Sweden and Luxembourg.

At some stores, temperatures reportedly rose to 50 degrees Celsius.

This comes after a cyberattack in France last month caused freezers and refrigerators at hundreds of supermarkets to overheat.

Experts note that the use of refrigeration systems that can be controlled remotely is increasing the risk of such attacks.

Stolen Luxury Watch Returned with Apology

A luxury watch that was stolen from a Tokyo store last month has been returned with an apology.

Police are investigating further as a package was apparently sent by a person involved in the theft.

Local police say a man tried on the watch valued over 290,000 dollars while visiting the shop in the Nakano Broadway complex on Thursday before running off with it.

Security camera footage shows the suspect in a hat and dark clothing running down an escalator wearing what appears to be a watch.

Investigators say the watch was curried back to the shop from Aichi Prefecture on Sunday.

The store confirmed it was the stolen one by checking its serial number.

The parcel also contained an apology note.

Sources close to the investigation say evidence such as security camera images indicate that after the theft, the suspect traveled to Tokyo Station by taxi and train before catching a westbound Shinkansen bullet train.

World Weather

Now here's the three-day weather forecast around the world.

♫～　3-Day Forecast　～♫

NHK World Japan will have special coverage on the US midterms.

Join us on Election Day for the latest results and live reports from across the United States.

You can see what time that is for you there at the bottom of your screen.

We hope you'll join us then.

Well, that's it for this hour on NHK Newsline. I'm Yuko Fukushima in Tokyo.

checked.

Easy Japanese

00:10:09 話者 2

Hi there.

It's time for NHK World Japan's Easy Japanese.

I'm Erico Kojima.

00:10:15 話者 3

And I'm Michael Reese.

Let's have fun learning Japanese together.

Today we bring you lesson 36 on asking about the time.

Tam, a student from Vietnam, and her friend, Ayaka, took a trip to Hakone.

Tonight, they are staying at a hot spring inn.

After checking in, they are led to their room by an attendant.

00:10:39 話者 2

Listen to this kit for lesson thirty-six.

Kotchira no heir de gozaimasu.

Ofuro, nanjikara, nanjiba desu ka?

Kasarokujikara, you're a junior

Now let's go through the skit line by line.

00:11:10 話者 3

The attendant tells the guests.

00:11:15 話者 2

This is your room.

Tam asks the attendant, From what time to what time can we use the bath?

00:11:26 話者 3

The attendant replies.

00:11:31 話者 2

From six in the morning until midnight.

Ayaka asks Tam, Tam, have you ever bathed in a Japanese hot spring?

Tam replies, No, this will be my first time.

I'm looking forward to it.

00:11:54 話者 3

Well, Tan seems to be happy to be staying at a hot spring inn.

00:11:57 話者 2

Yes, indeed.

Hakone is a resort town with many such places.

In a Japanese-style room, they'll sleep on a futon mattress laid on tatami straw mats.

00:12:14 話者 3

Today's key phrase is, From what time to what time can we use the bath?

00:12:20 話者 2

Ohuro wa nanjikara nanjiba desu ka.

00:12:24 話者 3

Once you master this pattern, you'll be able to ask about the start time and end time of something.

00:12:30 話者 2

First, let's take a closer look at its meaning.

Ofuro means bath.

Here, it refers to the large public hot spring bath.

Nanji means what time.

Kara and made are particles, the former meaning from and the latter meaning to or until.

So, the phrase 'nanjikara nanjimade' is 'from what time to what time?' To ask what time something is going to start and what time it'll end, clarify what the question is about by using the particle 'wa'.

00:13:12 話者 3

In this example, the question is about the bath ofuro.

That's why time says 'ofuro wa'.

00:13:18 話者 2

Exactly.

And the phrase is followed by nanji kara nanji matte desu ka, meaning from what time to what time.

If you only want to ask for the time something starts, use nanji kara desu ka.

That's from what time.

If you only want to know the time something ends, say nanji matte desu ka, meaning until what time.

00:13:43 話者 3

OK, listen and repeat out loud.

00:13:49 話者 2

Nanji kara nanji mare desu ka?

Ofuro wa nanji kara nanji mare desu ka?

Ofuro wa nanji kara nanji mare desu ka.

00:14:11 話者 3

OK, got it.

Now, listen to a conversation in which a man is inquiring about times at the front desk of a hotel.

00:14:31 話者 2

Now, let's look at what was said.

00:14:45 話者 3

Excuse me?

00:14:47 話者 2

Ashita no cho shoku wa nanji kara nanjima de desu ka.

00:14:51 話者 3

From what time to what time is tomorrow's breakfast?

00:14:55 話者 2

Ashita means tomorrow and cho shoku means breakfast Ashita no cho shoku wa indicates the topic of the question.

Rokuji kara kuji han maraninarimasu From 6 o'clock to 9:30 Rokuji means 6 o'clock

30 means from 6 to 9:30 is used instead of this it's a polite expression often used to address customers.

00:15:32 話者 3

Now it's your turn listen and repeat out loud

All right, let's ask about time in other situations.

Imagine a fireworks festival is planned for tonight.

Ask a staff member at the inn when the festival is going to begin.

Fireworks festival is...

00:16:16 話者 2

Hanabi taikai.

Hanabi taikai.

00:16:20 話者 3

Go ahead.

00:16:29 話者 2

Next, you want to know what time a particular store is going to close.

Ask, What time is this store going to close?

This store is konomise.

Now give it a try.

There, I think you've got it.

00:17:19 話者 3

Today's bonus phrase is what Tam said when asked whether she's ever bathed in a Japanese hot spring.

Memorize it as a whole phrase.

00:17:31 話者 2

Hajimete desu means this will be my first time.

00:17:35 話者 3

Okay then, listen and repeat out loud.

00:17:47 話者 2

Now let's listen to the skit once again.

.

00:18:18 話者 3

.

.

It's time now for Haru-san's Bagful of Advice, and today we'll talk about how to bathe in a hot spring bath.

00:18:29 話者 2

When traveling around Japan, you'll surely go to a communal hot spring or public bathhouse and soak along with strangers.

Michael, have you ever done that?

00:18:39 話者 3

Oh, yes.

Actually, I love Japanese onsen or Japanese hot springs.

In fact, I love it so much.

that my house is less than a 30-second walk from an onsen.

00:18:50 話者 2

Wow, lucky you.

00:18:51 話者 3

Oh, yes.

00:18:52 話者 2

Most communal baths are separated by gender.

Each entrance has a curtain with the kanji for either men or women .

So learning these two characters is worthwhile.

You take off your clothes in the changing room and bathe with nothing on.

00:19:09 話者 3

Now, some people might find this a little embarrassing if they're not used to it.

So are swimsuits okay?

00:19:16 話者 2

As for the bathing etiquette, before soaking in the bath, first rinse yourself off and make sure to keep your hand towel out of the bath water.

Also, your hair should stay above water.

Everyone benefits from keeping the communal bath water clean.

00:19:33 話者 3

You know, a nice hot bath would be great right about now.

00:19:48 話者 2

We hope you enjoyed today's Easy Japanese.

00:19:51 話者 3

Be sure to come back again.

The Great Buddha of Kamakura

00:20:19 話者 4

Japan has various kinds of landmarks that fascinate visitors.

They range from cultural and historic locations to modern buildings created with cutting-edge technologies.

What led to their creation and what were the challenges involved?

The Backstory of Japanese Landmarks brings you the stories behind these amazing places.

In this episode of The Backstory of Japanese Landmarks, we feature The Great Buddha of Kamakura.

Kamakura is a popular tourist destination located near Tokyo.

It's about a one-hour train ride from the capital.

One of Kamakura's landmarks is the Great Buddha.

As its name suggests, the Great Buddha is a colossal copper statue of Amitabha Buddha.

It was built as the principal deity of Jodo Sect Temple Kotokuin.

The Buddha is nicknamed Rozano Daibutsu, meaning the great Buddha sitting out in the open.

It's a national treasure of Japan.

From central Kamakura, the train ride and walk to Kotoku-in Temple takes about 15 minutes.

After passing through the temple's gate, the grand statue of Buddha comes into view.

The Buddha sits in a Zen meditation posture and is over 11 meters tall.

Kamakura was the seat of Japan's feudal government from the end of the 12th century to the early 14th century.

The construction of the Great Buddha began during this period in 1252, almost 800 years ago.

Today the statue is covered with verde gris,

a bright green substance that forms on oxidized copper.

A closer look reveals slight traces of gold leaf, indicating that the statue was originally gilded.

The Great Budo is made by copper casting.

It's a manufacturing method of melting copper and pouring it into a mold.

But creating a statue that's over 11 meters high wasn't easy at the time.

and it wasn't possible to melt over 120 tons of copper in one go.

So the metal was cast in 40 sections.

This is why joints can be seen on the statue's surface.

The Buddha is hollow.

The statue has two windows on its back.

After the statue was completed, the inner mold was removed through these openings.

Today, the windows let in light and air.

The Buddha was enshrined when it was first built, but over time the hall was damaged by earthquakes and typhoons.

A tsunami at the end of the 15th century swept it away, leaving the Buddha exposed to the open air.

The temple was also abandoned for a certain period, but was restored in the early 18th century.

After a period in which Japan secluded itself from the rest of the world,

The Yokohama Port near Kamakura was opened for foreign trade in 1859.

Following this, many foreigners are said to have visited the Great Buddha of Kamakura.

Built nearly eight centuries ago, the Great Buddha of Kamakura has a magnificence that continues to captivate people.

Thank you for tuning in to the backstory of Japanese landmarks.

We hope you have a chance to visit these landmarks and see for yourself what makes them so special.

NHK World

00:25:01 話者 99

This is NHK World Japan English radio service Here's a frequency notice

00 UTC for Southeast Asia is on 11.920 MHz.

Once again, the broadcast at 14:00 UTC for Southeast Asia is on 11.920 MHz.

For more details of our programs, please check our website at nhk.jp/rj nhk.jp/rj We're always pleased to receive your comments and suggestions through our website.

NHK World English Podcast Scripts (2026/11/2) Ukraine Cyberattack, Iran Tensions & US Business Strategies

• Learn about a reported cyberattack on Ukraine's alert app, rising Iran-related tensions, and how Japanese firms are adapting their US strategies.
• ウクライナの警報アプリへのサイバー攻撃報道、イラン情勢の緊張、そして日本企業の米国戦略見直しについて学べます。
• 今日の語彙：air raid alert / 空襲警報,空襲警戒警報、compromised / (システムなどが）侵害された,不正アクセスを受けた、a possible resumption /  再開の可能性、iron ore /  鉄鉱石、foreseeable / 予見できる,当面の、resilient / 回復力がある,粘り強い
• 今日の英語表現：uncertainty looms / 不透明感が高まる, 先行きへの懸念が広がる
• Shadowing Tips：オーバーラッピングは、好きな曲をその歌手になりきって一緒に歌うように行う練習です。ネイティブらしい発音やリズムを再現するための基礎づくりに役立ちます。

20261102180000_english_1.mp3   player

00:00:11 話者 1/Yamaguchi Hiroaki

Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Yamaguchi Hiroaki in Tokyo.

GMO Chairman Apologizes over Cyberattack

Japan's GMO Internet Group has held its first news conference addressing the cyberattack on its foreign exchange trading platform.

The company's chairman apologized for the attack.

He also admitted that management fails to fix security vulnerabilities it had been warned about two years earlier.

Group CEO Kumagai Masatoshi and other executives detailed the circumstances of the attack.

They explained measures to prevent further damage and arrangements to resolve the situation. 

GMO announced a breach in late October. GMO says the group's cybersecurity subsidiary had warned of system vulnerabilities in April 2024.

00:01:05 話者 12/Kumagai Masatoshi

It is true that there were security issues with the service system.

It is also true that cybersecurity experts had pointed out the issues, but the company failed to make use of the information in providing the service.

00:01:33 話者 1

The company said the hackers entered the system through a customer's remote desktop on August 5 and took control of the administrator's account.

On August 17, the hackers used the administrators' access rights to breach the company's server.

GMO was sent a ransom demand following the breach, but refused to pay.

What but described as the personal information of one customer was posted on a website last Tuesday. The site was later rendered inaccessible.

Ukraine's Air Raid Alert App Reportedly Hacked

Ukraine's air force says an app used to warn people of air raid appears to have been targeted in a cyberattack.

Authorities and local media say the app sent out false warnings of radiation leaks and chemical attacks on Sunday night.

The military says the app may have been compromised by the enemy and is asking people to remain calm.

Another message falsely claimed a nuclear alert had been issued across the nation.

It also said Russia's new intermediate-range ballistic missile, the Oreshnik, was in flight.

But the Air Force said there's no such threat.

The authorities are asking people to check the Air Force's official channel for updates while the app remains unavailable.

Meanwhile, Russia's state-run TAS news agency reported on Monday that an app operated by the country's emergencies ministry had been hit by a cyberattack.

Efforts to restore the act are reportedly underway, but no details have been released.

Iran Conflict
Report: Netanyahu Presses Trump to Strike Iran After Midterms

A US news website says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pressed US President Donald Trump to strike Iran immediately after US midterm elections.

The report says Netanyahu is concerned about Trump's strategy of letting peace negotiations play out.

Axios quoted one Israeli and one US source.

The sources said Netanyahu called for a return to combat when the two leaders discussed the Iranian situation over the phone on Saturday.

The news outlet reports that Trump is working to restart peace talks with Iran while also preparing for a possible resumption of major combat operations.

US Vice President JD Vance has reportedly sent a letter to the Iranian side through a mediator, proposing to restart negotiations for a truce between Washington and Tehran.

Axios says both the White House and the Israeli Prime Minister's office declined to comment.

Shops Looted as German Protests Turn Violent

Nationwide protests over rising prices and education have spread to Germany.

Some demonstrators turned violent and stores were looted in Frankfurt.

Protesters, mainly young people, took to the streets in more than 30 cities in Germany on Saturday. Organizers said the number of participants reached 120,000.

In Frankfurt, some of the demonstrators turned violent.

They smashed storefronts and looted goods.

Local authorities said 17 stores in the city were damaged and five of them, including a gun shop, were looted.

They also said 54 people were detained and more than 100 police officers were injured.

German Interior Minister Alexander Doverint told reporters that rioters and looters would be held accountable and would face severe penalties.

The group which organized the protest says it was not involved in the rioting.

It revealed a plan to halt nationwide protests again.

Large-scale protests also took place in France on Saturday.

Stolen Luxury Watch Returned to Store with Apology

A luxury watch stolen from a store in Tokyo last week has been returned with an apology attached.

A man ran off with the watch valued at over 290,000 dollars from a shop in the Nakano Broadway complex.

Tokyo police say a man visited the store last Thursday and tried on the watch.

Investigative sources told NHK the watch was sent back by courier from Aichi Prefecture on Sunday. The store confirmed it was the stolen watch based on its serial number.

The parcel also contained an apology note.

Police are investigating further, as the package was apparently sent by a person involved in the theft.

Are Young Republicans Losing Their Zeal?

Voters in their teens and 20s helped propel the Republican Party to victory in 2024.

At the center of that movement was Turning Point USA, a nationwide conservative organization that mobilized youth across the country.

But as NHK Rule's Ebizuka Negumi reports, these days, that support may be wavering.

00:06:55 話者 3/Ebizuka Negumi

This was two years ago, during Donald Trump's upsing.

Young conservatives turned out to the 2024 presidential election in droves, with one survey showing, Two-thirds of them were determined to cast a ballot.

The zeal of those young voters helped catapult the Republican Party to victory and landed Trump back in the White House.

Organizations like Training Point USA gave them both a platform and a meeting place.

00:07:26 話者 21/Andrew Kolvet/Turning Point USA spokesperson

Because they're going to be the leaders of tomorrow, and we want them leading us down a path that is American, not un-American.

00:07:36 話者 3

But their father now seems to be fading. At the recent turning point rally, the attitude toward this week's midterms could be described as tepid.

00:07:46 話者 24

A lot of them don't know that it's even happening, or they say, Oh, ask my parents what I'm gonna vote. So I don't think a lot of young people know what's going on right now.

00:07:56 話者 3

Some young voters say they are paying far less attention to the midterms than they did to the presidential race, and some are showing signs of ambivalence.

00:08:09 話者 25

So I think sometimes like voting, it's good, but sometimes it's like it is hard to choose because just like, you're not really choosing something good, you're kind of just choosing like the worst, or like the slightly better options.

00:08:20 話者 3

Republicans are noticing their flagging support.

Turning Point speakers are at this California campus in obituary the troops once again.

00:08:31 話者 26/Tulsi Gabbard/Former US National Intelligence Director

If we don't vote, then how can we hold those who are in elected office accountable?

We are the ones who have the power to hire and fire politicians.

00:08:41 話者 3

The message hasn't been lost completely.

Some young people are listening and say there's no excuse for staying home.

00:08:51 話者 27

You don't have to do much. You can do it online now or by mail.

You don't have to leave your house. And like they're saying today,

You can complain about these policies, who's in power right now, but if you're not voting, then you really, in my opinion, you don't have a right to complain.

00:09:07 話者 3

With hot button issues like the cost of living, immigration, and the conflict in the Middle East flowing up, it remains to be seen whether the young can be persuaded to participate or whether they will set this one out.

Ebizuka Megumi, NHK World.

Analysis: What Impact US Midterms Could Have on Japan, Asia

00:09:28 話者 1

For more on the midterms, I spoke with Professor Izumikawa Yasuhiro.

He's an expert in international politics and his research focuses on US foreign policy in East Asia.

We asked him to give us his thoughts on what's driving the shift among young voters.

Here's what he had to say.

00:09:47 話者 5/Izumikawa Yasuhiro

Young Americans are known to be more isolationist and more concerned about the economic future of the country than the older generations, so these videos that we just watched basically symbolize their frustrations right now.

00:10:03 話者 1

Opinion polls suggest this could be a tight race.

What would the different outcomes mean for US foreign policy, especially when it comes to East Asia?

00:10:14 話者 5

Well, it's pretty well known that President Trump has been somewhat soft on China in the second administration.

Congressional Republicans and Democrats both tend to be more hawkish for China.

And Republicans during this campaign become more willing to split from President Trump, which means that after the election, the new Congress could become more hawkish and tougher on China policy.

That could reverberate and change the balance of power within the White House, and strength in the hands of the China hawks there.

If that happens, the Trump administration policy could be geared more toward a more stronger, tougher approach to China.

But we also know that President Trump has been doing what he simply wants.

So the electional outcome may not have a strong impact on what he does.

00:11:20 話者 1

Interesting.

But if just if Washington starts to take a different stance against China, what would that mean for Japan?

00:11:30 話者 5

Yeah, that would be actually a welcome development for Japan because the Takaichi cabinet has been having trouble with the China policy because China has been very tough towards Tokyo.

And that means that if it becomes easier for Tokyo to coordinate China policy with the more tougher US government and tougher towards China.

That could actually have some impact on China's approach toward Japan and China might rethink how to approach Tokyo when Tokyo and Washington can actually take the similar stand towards Beijing.

00:12:18 話者 1

Trump's foreign policy has been a major issue during the midterms.

He said he may meet with the leaders of Russia and China later this month.

Putin reportedly suggested this meeting. And when Trump was asked about it a few weeks ago, he said, "I would do it if they want to do."

Do you see a link between the domestic situation in the US and these potential talks?

00:12:46 話者 5

Yeah, there are possibly two links.

One, assuming that the Republican will lose somehow in the congressional elections, then that would make it difficult for Mr. Trump to achieve domestic agendas.

in that scenario, he may actually pursue some kind of sort of remarkable achievement on the foreign policy front. So the trilateral summit might be one.

And also, if that meeting happens, the agenda is going to be how to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, right?

And if so, Mr. Trump could claim that he is working hard to resolve the crisis and also to ease the economic difficulties for American people because that could, according to what he has been saying, that would be the major reason why oil prices and energy prices have been really high in the United States.

00:13:58 話者 1

All right, and just very briefly, one last thing. We are less than 48 hours away from the vote.

Where do you think things stand?

00:14:05 話者 5

Yeah, well, a lot of opinion polls shows that the Democrats are winning, but the key question is going to be whether or not the Democrats will take over the Senate.

The House, probably Democrats would easily win, but if the Senate remains in the hands of the Republicans, the damage for the Trump administration will be limited.

So what's going to happen is going to be really interesting to watch.

And also, we need to be careful about what happens after the election, because if the Republican losses are large, then the Trump administration may claim that there is some electoral sort of fraud. And that could lead to the domestic turmoil.

And that's something that we need to be concerned about.

00:15:01 話者 1

All right.

Professor Isumiko Ayasehiro, thank you very much for sharing your thoughts with us.

00:15:05 話者 5

Thank you very much for having me.

Business

00:15:18 話者 1

Now let's turn to our Yuko Fukushima for what's happening in the world of business.

Yuko.

Japanese Companies Rethink US Strategies

00:15:25 話者 6/Yuko Fukushima

Well, staying on the midterms in the US , Japanese companies operating in the United States have been struggling under the Trump administration's tariff policies.

Soaring costs driven by higher oil prices are another hurdle.

With midterm elections adding to the uncertainty, many of these firms are busy reshaping their strategies for a critical market.

NHK World's Amma Raimu reports.

00:15:50 話者 32/Trump

If you elect a Republican House and a Republican Senate on November 3, we will continue to put America first every single day always.

00:16:04 話者 4/Amma Raimu

President Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on imports from across the globe in an effort to revive domestic manufacturing.

Komatsu is one Japanese company adapting to the shifting terrain in the US.

The construction equipment maker is reshaping key parts of its business strategy to deal with higher tariffs.

This plant in Ibaraki Prefecture near Tokyo is a key production hub for the company, supplying not just the Japanese market but the US as well.

North America is the company's largest market, accounting for nearly 30 percent of sales.

About half of the products it sells in the US are imported from plants like this one, and the resulting tariffs are expected to cost Komatsu about $510 million this fiscal year.

But shifting more production to the US is not easy.

00:17:01 話者 33/Takahashi Hiroaki/General Manager, Production Controlling Department, Komatsu

Steel prices in the United States are the highest in the world.

They're about 1.5 to 1.6 times higher than in Japan. Labor costs are also much higher. 

Manufacturing in the US is very expensive.

00:17:20 話者 4

Komatsu has restructured its supply chain to reduce tariff costs.

Drawing on its 60 production sites around the world, the company is sourcing products from countries facing lower import duties in the US.

It is also building direct shipping routes to Canada, Mexico, Peru and Colombia that bypass the United States.

At home, Komatsu is working to boost production efficiency.

On this day, managers visited a supplier that makes a critical component.

00:17:54 話者 34/Morizumi Tatsuo/Manufacturing Engineering Department, Komatsu

Material and energy costs have also been rising sharply, so we need to keep finding ways to stay profitable, even with the outside cost pressures.

00:18:08 話者 4

Komatsu presented a new manufacturing process designed to shorten machining steps.

The two companies agreed to put the idea into action.

Back at the office, managers are briefed on another strategy, applying for tariff refunds.

According to the US operation, they paid duties on the value of entire machines rather than just their steel content.

It is now submitting paperwork to get some of their money back.

00:18:39 話者 35/Kamikura Yusuke/Director, Komatsu North America

Our lawyers are helping us to apply to authorities.

We'll keep pushing ahead to recover what we believe was overpaid.

00:18:51 話者 4

Komatsu President Imayoshi Takuya says despite tariff pressures, the company still sees growth opportunities in the US market.

AI-related data centers and mining projects continue to drive demand.

00:19:07 話者 47/Imayoshi Takuya

The US has many mining operations, from coal and copper to iron ore and gold.

We have a lot of customers in those industries.

With the population and economy growing, we believe the market still has room to expand.

00:19:22 話者 4

But more uncertainty looms on the other side of the midterm elections.

Imayoshi stressed the need for a flexible business foundation.

00:19:34 話者 47

We expect trade barriers, including tariffs, to remain in place for the foreseeable future.

And that's not just in the US. Given the current global situation, I don't think we will go back to the kind of free trade environment we saw in the past, at least for a while.

We'll need to adapt to changing conditions.

00:19:53 話者 4

Navigating this shifting environment looks to be a delicate balancing act.

Success will depend on building resilient supply chains without closing the door on vital American opportunities.

Amma Raimu, NHK World.

Toyota Marks 60th Anniversary of Corolla Launch

00:20:10 話者 6

Toyota Motor on Sunday celebrated the 60th anniversary of its iconic Corolla car.

The company launched 12 models of the Corolla over the years.

It had all on display at the anniversary event in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan.

The first model hit the market in 1966, while Japan was enjoying rapid economic growth.

It was seen as affordable, user-friendly and helped boost car demand across the country.

Toyota says the vehicle was marketed in more than 150 countries and regions.

As of the end of September this year, it had sold 58-million of the vehicles.

00:20:55 話者 52/Fukushima Toru/Toyota Motor

Cars in demand now differ from those in the past, like in 1966.

We want to create vehicles that can beat consumer expectations even in the current era.

00:21:06 話者 6

Toyota unveiled its next generation Corolla concept vehicle last year.

It is developing gasoline, wagon hybrids and fully electric models.

Tokyo Subway Operator Eyes Fare Increase in 2029

A major subway operator in Japan's capital is planning its first across-the-board fare increase in more than three decades.

Tokyo Metro says move is to cope with inflation and improve its services.

The company says the hike is slated for March 2029.

The margin of increase is to be decided at a later date.

It would be Tokyo Metro's first hike since 1995, excluding changes in line with increases in Japan's consumption tax.

The company cites soaring labor costs as a reason for the plan.

It also aims to invest in facilities and equipment to enhance the convenience and safety of its services.

New Year's Postcard Sales Start in Japan

Post offices across Japan have started selling greeting cards for the coming new year.

Many feature images of sheep the Chinese zodiac signed for 2027.

Sales began on Monday morning.

Japan Post is initially issuing about 555 million cards, down 25 percent from last year.

It's also significantly fewer than the over 4.4 billion cards printed for 2004 when comparable records became available.

Wider use of social media is making the practice of sending greetings by mail less popular, but some still prefer it.

A man in his 60s says he hopes to continue sending his greetings on paper despite the changing times.

This year, people will get two extra days until December 27 to post their cards so they can be delivered on New Year's Day.

Japan Post hopes the move will encourage more to express their New Year's wishes by mail. Post offices start accepting the cards from December 20.

Markets

And now to the latest on the markets.

♪

And that's the best for this hour.

♫～

00:24:41 話者 1

Please do access the NHK World Japan website for more details on those stories.

World Weather

Let's move on to the weather.

People in the southwestern United States encountered flash flooding due to heavy rain over the weekend. Our meteorologist Jonathan Oh has the details in world weather.

00:25:06 話者 8/Jonathan Oh

Hello, we have been seeing a plume of moisture that has been moving across the western portion of the United States, especially over the Rockies.

But as it did so, it also brought a lot of rainfall into the desert southwest and that's caused some problems on the ground.

Here's a look at some video to give you an idea on the situation.

As heavy rain in parts of the southwest Sunday forced people to evacuate in Flagstaff, Arizona, local roads were flooded and stormwater drains were overwhelmed so the water was pouring out of the ...

Meanwhile, in the tourist destination of Sedona, floodwaters also rose rapidly and emergency workers from the city and surrounding areas responded to residents trapped in their homes.

Now that moisture is pushing toward the east and it's got a bit of a history of producing some strong storms.

That's the case also as we look into the southern plains as we go through the day on Monday.

So be on the lookout for that.

Now, as we look forward into Tuesday, that frontal boundary then pushed toward the east brings some rain into the Ohio River Valley and the Great Lakes.

And it is a general election day in the United States.

And so rain is always something that's talked about when it comes to people trying to get out to the polls.

Look at the forecast for Monday, rain from Denver into Oklahoma City, again thunderstorms possible down toward south rain also to Chicago as we go through the day on Monday then we look into Tuesday and we'll see that rain spreading across toward the east the western portion of the United States and the east coast however remain relatively dry for Tuesday.

Looking across Japan we have a frontal boundary a couple of them rolling on through bringing some clouds and some rain as we go into the day on Tuesday which is a national holiday in Japan.

Northern portions of Japan looking at some wet weather like Saporo with some possibly of some flurries as well Tokyo points westward looking at some dry weather.

Then some more rain will be coming to the picture on Wednesday, and spring toward the central portion of the country as we go throughout the rest of the week.

So you'll need to keep the umbrellas handy as we go through this week

Hope you have a good day wherever you are.

♫～　3-Day Forecast　～♫

00:27:45 話者 1

And that's all for this edition of NHK Newsline. Thanks for watching.

checked.

NHK World

00:28:01 話者 99

This is NHK World Japan English radio service.

Here's a frequency notice.

The broadcast at 1400 hours UTC for Southeast Asia is on 11.920 MHz.

Once again,

00 UTC for Southeast Asia is on 11.920 MHz.

For more details of our programs, please check our website at nhk.jp/rj nhk.jp/rj We're always pleased to receive your comments and suggestions.

through our website.

 

NHK World English Podcast Scripts (2026/11/01) Quad Security Talks, US Midterm Elections & Japan Anime Market Growth

• Learn about Quad ministers' concerns over economic coercion, strong voter participation in US midterm elections, and Japan's record-breaking anime market.
• QUAD外相会合の経済的威圧への懸念、米中間選挙の高い投票率、日本アニメ市場の過去最高更新を学べます。
• 今日の語彙：economic coercion （経済的威圧・経済的圧力）、grave concerns（深刻な懸念）、arbitrary export restrictions（恣意的な輸出規制）、overcapacity（過剰生産能力・供給過剰）、trustworthy（信頼できる）、voter turnout（投票率）、record high（過去最高）、hefty overseas growth（大幅な海外成長）
• 今日の英語表現：Flag Concerns Over ~ / ～について懸念を表明する
• Shadowing Tips：Shadowing Tips：まったく知らない単語があると、脳が意味を理解しようとしてしまい、音声に集中できません。そのため、本来のシャドーイング練習にならなくなります。

20261101180000_english_1.mp3   player

 00:00:12 (Maria Sato)

Hello and welcome back to NHK Newsline.

I'm Maria Sato in Tokyo with today's headlines.

Quad Ministers Flag Concerns over Economic Coercion

The foreign ministers of the four nations known as the Quad have raised serious concerns over international economic coercion.

The ministers from Japan, the United States, Australia and India were apparently referring to China.

They met in Atlanta on Saturday, where a gathering of G20 foreign ministers was underway.

Japan's Motegi Toshimitsu, Marco Rubio from the US , Australia's Penny Wong and India's Supramanyam Jaishankar exchanged views on developments in the Indo-Pacific.

They expressed grave concerns over economic coercion including arbitrary export restrictions and non-market policies and practices.

They noted these can lead to overcapacity that disrupts global supply chains and critical industries.

Motaegi also expressed strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by coercion or force.

The ministers reaffirmed they would steadily advance cooperation toward a free and open Indo-Pacific.

They said they will promote initiatives focusing on areas such as maritime and economic security.

They announced plans to provide more than 85 million dollars in technical and financial support to spread trustworthy AI technologies across the Indo-Pacific.

The ministers issued a document outlining these initiatives and confirmed they will coordinate closely in preparing for a summit of their nation's leaders.

France Sees Further Massive Demonstrations

France is seeing another weekend of massive demonstrations.

Protesters and security forces have clashed in some areas.

Labor unions and other groups backed the rallies held on Saturday.

The interior ministry estimates participants at 320,000.

Protesters are demanding measures against rising prices and other issues.

And high school students want improvements to the education system.

In Paris, authorities designated a route for the march that avoided the city center and security forces guided protesters.

00:02:39 話者 11/Teacher

People are very angry, but don't feel heard. So we continue to express that anger.

00:02:47 話者 12/High School student

The government is dismissive of high school students and refuses to take us seriously.

00:02:54 話者 1

Security was tight once again, following vandalism and looting during demonstrations two weeks ago.

The interior ministry says clashes broke out in Marseille and other cities, and this time more than 500 people across the country were detained.

US Midterm Elections: Early Voter Turnout Surpasses Previous Levels

Early voting is underway across the United States ahead of the midterm elections on November 3.

A research group says the number of ballots cast is already higher than the level recorded before the 2022 elections.

Long lines formed at a polling station in the southern state of Virginia on Saturday.

It was the last day of early in-person voting there.

It was also Halloween, so some people were wearing costumes.

The University of Florida's election lab says more than 51 million people had voted by the end of October.

00:03:51 話者 21

The type of politician I would like to see elected is one who listens to people, the ordinary people, and not be swayed by big companies and by lobbying groups.

00:04:03 話者 22

I think politicians who are close to the center, the one that represent the silent majority. 

I think we have too many people too loud.

00:04:23 (Maria Sato)

US news website Axios has quoted a political scientist as saying overall turnout could surpass numbers seen in previous elections.

♪

Smithsonian Sculpture Garden Redesign by Japan Artist

A garden in the US Capitol has reopened following a four-year makeover by a Japanese artist.

00:04:58 話者 31

One, two, three.

00:05:05 話者 1

Sugimoto Hiroshi redesigned a sculpture garden at one of the Smithsonian Institute's museums in Washington.

The underground passage linking the museum and garden is also open for the first time in decades.

The updated garden features about 60 artworks, nearly 30,000 new plants and trees, and stone walls hand-built by Japanese stonemasons.

00:05:31 話者 33/Sugimoto Hiroshi

It was difficult to prove that this kind of construction could meet the standards of the present day using only traditional methods.

After six years of negotiations with US authorities and four years of actual construction, it is very rewarding to finally see it completed.

00:05:49 (Maria Sato)

The museum's acting director says it's a great opportunity to welcome the 35 million visitors who come to central Washington each year.

Japan Anime Market Hit Record High in 2025

Japanese anime is more popular than ever.

The industry's market size hit a record high for the fifth straight year in 2025, largely due to booming overseas sales.

That's according to the annual report on a preliminary survey by the Association of Japanese Animations.

It says the combined market scale grew about 16 percent from the year before to a record 4.4 trillion yen, or over 28 billion dollars. 

It was the first time the figure topped 4 trillion yen.

The market is divided into nine categories, including television, streaming and film.

The domestic Japanese market grew 14 percent from a year earlier, surpassing 12 billion dollars.

The overseas market was even bigger, accounting for about 60 percent of total revenue.

It was worth more than 16 billion dollars.

The association attributes the hefty overseas growth to increased international media attention and the industry's rapid expansion into global markets.

Bear Recaptured and Culled near Tokyo

An Asian black bear that was captured about two weeks ago southwest of Tokyo and then released appeared in the same area on Saturday. It was recaptured and culled.

There have been a series of bear sightings near Koboyama Park in Kanagawa Prefecture.

The park is close to residential and commercial areas.

On October 20, city authorities captured the bear and released it in the Tanzaba Mountains, about 10 kilometers from where it was caught.

Three days later, the same bear was spotted again near the park.

The city closed hiking trails and set up a cage.

On Saturday, officials discovered that a bear had been caught in the cage.

They confirmed it was the same bear from an identification tag on its ear.

They decided to cull the animal, believing it posed a risk to the community.

World Weather

Now for a look at our three-day weather forecast around the globe.

And that's the latest we have for you at this hour on NHK Newsline.

I'm Maria Sato in Tokyo. Thank you for joining.

checked.

NHK World

00:10:01 話者 99

This is NHK World Japan English radio service.

Here's a frequency notice.

00 UTC for Southeast Asia is on 11.920 MHz.

Once again,

00 UTC for Southeast Asia is on 11.920 MHz.

For more details of our programs, please check our website at nhk.jp/rj nhk.jp/rj

We're always pleased to receive your comments and suggestions through our website.

NHK World English Podcast Scripts (2026/10/31) Ukraine Missile Aid, Russia Press Freedom & Binance Cyberattack

• The US approves interceptor missiles for Ukraine, Japan urges Russia to release a detained journalist, and Binance investigates a major cyberattack.
• 米国のウクライナ向け迎撃ミサイル承認、ロシア拘束記者の解放要求、そしてバイナンスへの大規模サイバー攻撃が注目ニュースです。
• 今日の語彙：interceptor missile / 迎撃ミサイル、detained / 拘束された,勾留された、cyberattack / サイバー攻撃、espionage / スパイ活動,諜報活動、collectively / 共同で,一体となって、heist / 大胆な窃盗,強盗事件、
• 今日の英語表現：call on A to do B / AにBするよう求める,要請する
• Shadowing Tips：no idea

20261031180000_english_1.mp3   player

00:00:12 (Maria Sato)

Hello, welcome back to NHK Newsline. I'm Maria Sato in Tokyo.

US Approves Sale of Interceptor Missiles to Ukraine

The administration of US President Donald Trump says it has approved the sale of PAC-3 interceptor missiles and related equipment to Ukraine.

The State Department puts the estimated cost at 2.1 billion dollars.

The department said on Friday the proposed sale will improve what it described as Ukraine's capability to meet current and future threats.

Ukraine had requested the purchase and will pay for it with funds provided by Canada, Germany and Norway, among other sources.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said his country is grappling with a shortage of interceptor missiles to defend against Russian attacks.

The US announcement is seen as a sign of support for Ukraine from the Trump administration.

It comes after Trump took steps that could be seen as favoring Moscow.

Earlier this month, he reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin on diesel supplies from Russia and eased sanctions on the country.

Japan Calls on Russia to Release Detained Journalist

Japan's Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu has called on Russia to immediately release a detained Japanese journalist.

He made the demand during a meeting with his Russian counterpart, the first formal talks between the country's top diplomats in five years.

Motegi met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the US city of Atlanta on Friday.

There are therefore a group of 20 foreign ministers meeting.

The talks lasted about 30 minutes.

It was the first formal sit-down between the two countries' foreign ministers since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Japan's foreign ministry says Motegi strongly demanded Russia immediately release the Hokkaido Shinbun press journalist.

Russia's Federal Security Service detained the journalist on October 13 on suspicion of espionage.

Motegi also spoke about various issues involving the two countries and conveyed the positions of the Japanese government.

They included Russian President Putin's visit in August to Etolof Island, one of the four islands collectively called the Northern Territories in Japan.

Russia controls the islands. Japan claims them. 

The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory.

It says the islands were illegally occupied after World War II.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Lavrov's side stressed the need for Japan to abandon its unfriendly policy in order to resume a full-fledged bilateral dialogue.

Russia appears to have reiterated its previous argument that sanctions imposed by Tokyo in connection with the invasion of Ukraine must be removed.

But Motegi and Lavrov confirmed they will maintain communication despite the severe state of bilateral ties.

Binance Says $6.3 Bil. Hack Caused by 'Complex Attack'

The world's leading cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, says a complex attack was the cause of the record 6.3 billion dollar hack of its platform.

The company says it is now working to recover the assets.

Co-CEO Richard Teng said in a social media post that the attack was not carried out by a single person.

00:03:56 話者 12/Richard Teng

This was a complex attack.

The attacker had also used self-destruct mechanism that destroyed tooling and tracers as they went, making it more difficult for us to trace and investigate.

00:04:08 (Maria Sato)

Teng added the company is committed to covering all hacked losses with its own funds.

Binance said on Friday an investigation uncovered additional points of breach.

It said it has frozen around $3 billion in affected assets.

The company announced on Thursday it had suspended deposits and withdrawals after hackers had possibly compromised an engineer's laptop to enable unauthorized transactions. Withdrawals remain paused.

Media reports say the cyberattack is believed to be the largest ever digital asset heist.

They say the culprits appear to be a North Korean hacking group.

Reuters news agency quoted a US blockchain analytics firm as saying the bulk of the theft happened in about 20 minutes.

Probe Continues into Deadly Spain Train Crash

Authorities in Spain are continuing their investigation into what caused a deadly railway collision.

They believe there may have been trouble with the train that was hit from behind.

Transport Minister Oscar Puente says the control center received a report that the train was stalled and could not get started again.

But he says no measures were taken before it was hit by the train behind at 160 kilometers per hour. The collision occurred in the central province of Toledo on Wednesday.

At least 69 people were killed and more than 100 injured.

Authorities conducted on-site inspections Friday, and the search for the missing continued.

(Spanish)

00:06:10 (Maria Sato)

Local media on Thursday cited government sources as saying 51 foreign nationals from more than 20 countries were involved. One was killed and nine injured.

18 have been confirmed safe.

Japan's foreign ministry says the passenger list includes two Japanese nationals.

Embassy staff are working to find them.

Merz to Relay Asia's Concerns over EU EV Plan

Germany's chancellor says he will share with European Union members concerns expressed by Asian trade partners.

At issue is a proposed EU plan favoring European-made electric vehicles.

Friedrich Merz spoke to reporters in South Korea on Friday.

He referenced the EV initiative, which the EU aims to agree on at a meeting in November.

The scheme would give preferential treatment to European-made EVs in public procurement and subsidy grants.

Merz said there are fears that the EU may be facing a new wave of protectionism and that the bloc must not close itself off from other nations.

He also noted the proposed initiative has triggered concerns in Japan and South Korea.

Merritt said he will share these concerns in Berlin, Brussels and at the next European Council meeting.

The leaders of EU member states are expected to meet in Ireland on November 13.

School North of Tokyo Embraces Halloween

Children at a school north of Tokyo have let their imaginations run wild for Halloween.

They turned up for class all dressed up for the big day, and so did the teachers.

Tashiro Yuwai Elementary School is located in Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture.

Many of the students arrived on Friday looking like anime and movie characters.

A teacher clad in armor welcomed them at the gate.

Another teacher dressed up as the Mona Lisa, frame included.

The school launched the event last year.

The children even visited the principal's office, chanting trick or treat.

00:08:28 話者 32

Happy Halloween! 

(Japanese)

00:08:39 話者 33/Endo Katsuaki/Principal, TashiroYuuai Elementary School

We want our school to be a place where children can come up with their own ways to have fun.

World Weather

00:08:53 (Maria Sato)

A cheerful bunch there, and here's our three-day weather forecast for cities around the world.

♫～　3-Day Forecast　～♫

And that's all for this hour on NHK Newsline. 

I'm Maria Sato in Tokyo. Thank you for joining.

checked.

NHK World

00:10:01 話者 99

This is, NHK World Japan, English radio service.

Here's a frequency notice.

00 UTC, for Southeast Asia, is on 11.920 MHz.

Once again,

00 UTC for Southeast Asia is on 11.920 MHz.

For more details of our programs, please check our website at nhk.jp/rj nhk.jp/rj

We're always pleased to receive your comments and suggestions through our website.

 

NHK World English Podcast Scripts (2026/10/29) Spain Train Crash, Ukraine Peace Talks & Big Tech Earnings

• A deadly train crash in Spain, possible Ukraine-Russia peace talks, and strong earnings from major tech companies lead today's news.
• スペインの列車事故、ウクライナ和平協議の可能性、そして大手IT企業の好決算が今日の注目ニュース
• 今日の語彙：passenger manifest / 乗客名簿、concede / （敗北・結果などを）認める、persecution / 迫害,政治的弾圧、presidential aide / 大統領補佐官,大統領側近、net income /当期純利益,純利益
• 今日の英語表現：brace for / ～に備える,～を覚悟する
• Shadowing Tips：シャドーイングは音声を聞きながらそのまま真似して発話するため、話者の息継ぎのタイミングなどを通して、英語の意味のまとまり（チャンク）にも自然と注意が向くようになります。

20261029180000_english_1.mp3   player

 00:00:11 話者 1/James Tengan

Here in Japan, it's a Thursday evening. 

I'm James Tengan in Tokyo. Welcome to NHK Newsline.

Spain High-Speed Train Crash Kills More Than 60

A collision between two high-speed trains in Spain has killed at least 68 people.

Many other passengers were injured.

It's the second major rail accident in Spain this year.

The crash occurred in the central province of Toledo on Wednesday on a railway line that connects the capital Madrid with the country's southern region.

One train hit the other from behind, causing some cars to derail.

A total of more than 500 people were reportedly on board.

Transport Minister Oscar Puente said at a news conference that the preceding train was stopped due to a computer system failure.

He said the second train was moving in line with instructions from the control center and slammed into the first one.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited the accident site and expressed his condolences.

He said that if there were failures in the safety system, his government will address them.

Japanese officials say the Spanish government told them the train's passenger manifest included two Japanese nationals.

The foreign ministry says it has not been able to make contact with the two individuals and is rushing to confirm whether they were actually on board.

In January, a high-speed train derailment and crash in the Spanish region of Andalusia caused dozens of deaths and injuries.

War in Ukraine
Zelenskyy: November Peace Talks with Russia, US Likely

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he expects his country to hold trilateral peace talks with Russia and the US early next month.

He says he's waiting for Washington to propose a specific date following the US midterm elections next Tuesday.

Zelenskyy reportedly made the remarks during a news conference with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Yeten on Wednesday. He was visiting the Netherlands at the time.

Zelenskyy said technical-level talks could be held in Abu Dhabi between November 6 and 10.

Russia's state-run TASS news agency reports that presidential aide Yuri Ushakov says the date will be announced soon.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian and Russian officials said in social media posts that a ceasefire in the southern Ukrainian city of Oleshky remains in place.

The truce took effect on Tuesday. Both sides say mine clearing is underway on routes used to evacuate civilians and deliver humanitarian aid.

Bolsonaro Claims Political Persecution in Going to US

The Brazilian right-wing senator who lost a presidential runoff election on Sunday is now in the United States.

He has issued a statement saying he left Brazil to avoid political persecution.

Flavio Bolsonaro arrived in Florida Wednesday after losing the election to the left-wing incumbent president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

After the election, Brazil's Supreme Court banned Bolsonaro from leaving the country.

It cited suspicion of involvement in money laundering.

In a statement on social media, Bolsonaro again suggested he does not accept Lula's election victory.

He described the Supreme Court's decision to ban him from leaving Brazil as part of a witch hunt. He said he had left as he had had no other choice.

Bolsonaro thanked US President Donald Trump for letting him enter the country.

He said he'll lead the opposition from abroad.

This was a comment from Trump.

00:03:49 話者 10/Donald Trump

I know that we gave him a pass to come into the country, so we'll see.

But I won't get involved. It was a very strange election, that's for sure.

00:04:00 話者 1

In his statement, Bolsonaro initially described himself as Brazil's true president.

He later made a revision, now describing himself as Brazil's leader.

Netanyahu Bloc Ahead in Israeli Election, but No Majority

Multiple media outlets had predicted Israel's opposition camp would come out on top in the country's election. But the latest results tell a different story.

Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu's ruling bloc is now projected to win more seats in parliament.

Most of the ballots have been counted.

Votes cast by soldiers, hospital patients and others still need to be processed.

Israel's parliament, known as the Knesset, consists of 120 seats.

Local broadcaster Channel 12 says that Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party is projected to win 26 seats.

The opposition's centrist Yashar party is projected to secure 21.

It's led by Netanyahu's rival, former military chief Gadi Eisinkat.

Some media reports say Netanyahu may have gained momentum with a last-minute push on election day.

He urged supporters to vote over social media warning of higher turnouts in Arab communities.

His ruling bloc is now projected to win 53 seats.

That's short of a majority, but ahead of the opposition's 48 seats.

Meanwhile, Arab parties are projected to win a record 19 seats.

That's nearly double what they held before the election.

People in Gaza say they're hoping for change, but some doubt it will come.

00:05:39 話者 21

I hope Netanyahu doesn't win and that someone comes to power who cares about the interests of both peoples, the Israelis and the Palestinians.

00:05:48 話者 22

Whoever comes to power, whether right wing or left wing, whoever it may be, the important thing is that they improve our situation in the Gaza Strip and respond to international pressure.

00:05:57 話者 23

As for the Israeli elections, our enemy remains the same.

If one person leaves, another takes his place and it's the same thing, the same policies and the same approach they've always followed.

00:06:10 話者 1

If neither the ruling or opposition camps lock in a definitive win, negotiations are expected to start on forming a governing coalition.

Israel Braces for Tough Wrangling in Coalition Moves

For more insight into the Israeli election, I earlier spoke with our senior correspondent, Shimazaki Hiroshi.

Hiroshi, neither the ruling bloc nor the opposition secured a majority.

How do you assess this result?

00:06:38 話者 2/Shimazaki Hiroshi

Yes, the election was effectively a referendum of the leadership of Prime Minister Netanyahu. As such, it generated tremendous public interest.

Voter turnout was nearly 78%, the highest in a quarter century.

Yet, as many had expected, the outcome failed to decide who would become the next prime minister.

This was the first election since Hamas' surprise attack three years ago.

Netanyahu has faced plenty of criticism for failing to prevent it.

He has also been facing corruption allegations.

The opposition used these issues to mount a strong campaign against him.

Most pre-election polls had projected Eisenkot's opposition party, Yashal, would win the most seats.

The ruling recruit party lost some seats, but it succeeded in keeping its position as the largest party in parliament.

And the ruling bloc did slightly better than the opposition overall.

Netanyahu has continued large-scale military operations in Gaza.

The civilian casualties have been enormous.

An arrest warrant has been issued against him by the International Criminal Court.

The allegations include war crimes.

All this has contributed to Israel's growing international isolation.

Yet, the election showed that the Netanyahu leadership and policies continue to have a certain amount of support at home.

00:08:19 話者 1

Hiroshi, tell us about the prospects for coalition negotiations.

This will, of course, determine whether Netanyahu remains in office or if there is a change of government.

00:08:28 話者 2

Well, it is very difficult to make a clear prediction right now.

The final C tally will be announced next week.

After that, the country's president will direct the lawmaker in the best position to assemble the cabinet.

That's when coalition talks began. A key player is likely to be the Arab parties.

These are a third force in parliament.

They increased their representation significantly in this election.

Arab parties mainly represent Israel's Palestinian citizens and their descendants.

These families stayed in Israel and became citizens after its founding.

Such parties have historically remained far from power in the Jewish state.

If the opposition hopes to bring about a change of government, it will need to partner with the Arab parties. That could be a tall order.

The opposition parties are united against Netanyahu, but most of them are reluctant to join with the Arab parties. That includes Eisenkot himself.

So, it's really unclear how they would put together a majority in parliament.

00:09:51 話者 1

What are the prospects for the ruling coalition which still holds an edge?

00:09:56 話者 2

The ruling bloc has been described as the most right-wing governing coalition in Israel's history. There is almost no way it would partner with an Arab party.

So its prospects for a workable coalition government are also uncertain.

Netanyahu has long been known as a political wizard and a tough survivor.

A key question here is whether he can get members of the opposition to defect or cooperate with him.

Netanyahu has been prime minister for a total of 19 years.

He has overcome crisis after crisis by making concessions to other parties and forging agreements many had thought impossible.

Another factor that could dramatically change the political landscape is military action against Iran.

Netanyahu will continue serving as caretaker prime minister while coalition talks are underway.

He and the Trump administration might consider launching another large-scale operation against Iran following midterm elections in the United States next week.

Some suggest that with a wartime emergency, Netanyahu could appeal to the opposition parties to join a unity government. That would enable him to remain in office.

Israel could also be forced into another election

That would happen if the first candidate designated to former government fails and then another one after that This can't be ruled out yet even in this case Netanyahu would remain in power on an interim basis.

00:11:53 話者 1

Hiroshi if there is a change of government, what would actually change?

00:11:58 話者 2

Well if Eisenkot becomes prime minister, he might try to ease Israel's international isolation.

However, on key issues such as the campaign to destroy Hamas and the hard line against Iran, his positions are not much different from Netanyahu's.

Eisenkot is almost skeptical of a two-state solution with the Palestinians.

That's a framework that much of the international community supports.

Israel's actions, including military operations in Gaza and the war with Iran, have added to instability throughout the Middle East.

Whoever ends up in power, Israel's rightward shift is likely to continue.

Dealing with that will remain a major challenge, both for countries in the region and for the broader international community.

Business

00:13:00 話者 1

Now for the latest in business and financial news, here's Ramin Mellegard.

00:13:05 話者 3/Ramin Mellegard

Thank you very much indeed.

GMO Takes Steps to Track Hackers, Block Data Leaks

Now, GMO Internet Group says it is working with partners and the police to track down hackers that breached its cloud servers.

The company has taken down a website on which the hackers said they had posted stolen information.

The company, a major provider of internet and financial services, says its own white hat hacker team is tracking the group.

It will provide the police with information it has. The website said to contain information on a GMO customer was shot down on Wednesday.

Now the company says it offered a reward for help in identifying the hackers and is examining the information it has received.

GMO announced last week that its servers that allow customers to run currency trades had been breached.

The group claiming responsibility said it posted GMO client information on its website on Tuesday.

It demanded payment of $1 million or it would release more personal information every day at noon.

Telecommunications operators were reportedly asked by Japan's communications ministry to block access to the hacker's site.

GMO says it will not comply with the demands from the hackers.

No client details were released on Wednesday.

Microsoft, Alphabet Revenues Surge in Jul.-Sep. Quarter

US IT giants Microsoft and Google parent Alphabet have both posted double-digit revenue growth for the three months through September.

Strong cloud business boosted sales at both companies, but their bottom line performance showed a sharp contrast.

Microsoft said revenue for the quarter rose 19% from a year earlier to more than $92 billion. Net income jumped 32% to over $36 billion.

Now sales of Azure, a cloud computing platform used in the development of generative AI, surged 48%.

Alphabet's revenue growth was even stronger, rising 25% to over $127 billion.

But net income dropped 25% to roughly $26 billion, a slowdown in advertising sales related to its Google search. services was behind the decline.

Alphabet said its capital spending in the period came to more than $51 billion and it will continue to invest in AI.

Aeon Introduces AI Robots for Distribution Efficiency

Japanese retailer Aeon has started to use AI-equipped robots to improve distribution efficiency.

The move reflects a trend in the logistics sector, which suffers from labor shortages.

Aeon showed the robots sorting boxes at a distribution center north of Tokyo.

The company says the devices use AI and sensors to handle and stack boxes of different sizes and weights.

Aeon says the more than 90 units deployed at the center can significantly reduce the workload of human staff.

Now, by fiscal 2030, the company aims to automate the handling of 80% of non-refrigerated products at distribution centers.

Aeon says it will still need human workers at the centers for dealing with unexpected events such as natural disasters.

Markets

Okay, let's have a check on the markets.

♪

and that's it for business.

Fighting Anti-Asian Racism at the Ballot Box

00:17:42 話者 1

With the US midterms just days away diversity has emerged as a key issue.

Many see this election as a battle against discrimination and that's also true for California's Asian population. Now they're hoping to fight back at the voting booth, NHK world's Ebizuka Megumi reports.

00:18:02 話者 4/Ebizuka Megumi

This LA suburb is home to a sizable Asian population, and many say they are concerned about politics in the US.

Ahead of the midterm elections, Asian groups are stepping up their activities.

These citizens are with the National Asian American Civil Liberties and Anti-Deformation Association, also known as the NAACLA.

For weeks, they have been going door to door to speak with voters.

00:18:38 話者 31/Lwin Kyu Hwee/Executive Director and Co-founder, NAACLA

We had Asian hate crimes at the height of media.

It's still happening right now. This is not in the media.

00:18:46 話者 4

One of the group's top priorities is tackling anti-Asian discrimination.

The volunteers are trying to garner support for candidates who address the issue.

They are hoping Asian voters can band together to make their voices heard.

00:19:04 話者 32

Community should be together.

That's how people can show strength if they have an issue, then it can be addressed.

That's only possible if communities are together.

00:19:17 話者 31

Voting is the next form of power besides policy change that we're currently starting to do.

We will be invisible if we speak up when we are wrong, when we are not heard, when we are erased.

00:19:34 話者 4

And they say the situation is urgent. Many fear anti-Asian racism is on the rise.

Aki Maehara says he's seen it firsthand.

He was biking home last April when a car struck him from behind.

00:19:52 話者 33/Aki Maehara

I tried to get up on the curb when I got hit.

00:19:57 話者 4

It left Maehara with serious injuries to his arms, face and neck.

He says the driver shouted racist insults at him before driving off.

00:20:10 話者 33

The hatred isn't directed at me.

It's directed at a whole group of people, okay, that I happen to be part of.

00:20:21 話者 4

These are not new issues, but advocacy groups say it's getting worse.

Immigration crackdowns anti-foreigner sentiment have grown in recent years.

They say that's driving prejudice.

That's why they say it's critical they choose candidates who will help protect their communities.

00:20:46 話者 31

We need someone to understand who we are as culture and people and to be able to assist and protect us.

We need to continue to fight for it and maybe even step it up because we're not there.

00:21:02 話者 4

They hope to reach more voters before election day because for them it's not just a vote, it's a fight against discrimination when their community needs to win to survive.

Ebizuke Megumi, NHK World.

US Midterm Elections Amid Growing Polarization

00:21:21 話者 1

As the midterm elections approach, the economy is emerging as a key issue.

Americans face rising prices and a widening wealth gap.

Under President Donald Trump's second term, NHK World's Yamasaki Takeshi has more.

00:21:38 話者 5/Yamasaki Takeshi

These are Trump supporters in Florida.

00:21:42 話者 41

I think he's been the best president that we have had.

I have benefited economically, primarily because of the way the stock market ran under his administration.

00:21:55 話者 5

A strong economy and rising asset prices are creating new millionaires across the country.

More than 1,200 people a day are reaching millionaire status.

Charlie Nelson owns three homes. His home includes a pool and guest bedrooms.

He says his assets have grown by more than 20 percent since Trump's re-election started to look increasingly likely two years ago.

He says his assets are now worth more than $3.2 million.

00:22:32 話者 42/Charlie Nelson

The sign of true wealth is you make money while you're sleeping.

And that's what the stock market has done. Most of our money is in equities.

We are protected against inflation because those equities will protect us from inflation.

00:22:47 話者 5

But for many younger Americans, rising prices are making life harder.

A Federal Reserve survey found that 47% of Americans age 18 to 29, began receiving government assistance, including help with rent, over the past year.

The survey also found that more young adults are living with their parents.

Kaya Tony is 23 and lives in Georgia.

After graduating from college, he moved back in with his mother.

This summer, he decided not to repair a broken air conditioner.

Instead, he used a fan to get through the season.

00:23:30 話者 44/Kaya Tony

It's been okay. It's been kind of hot, but we've accepted it and our costs are way down.

00:23:36 話者 5

He says he hopes to get married and eventually live on his own.

00:23:42 話者 44

This is the total number that I have to pay in loans.

It's $13,500. The price of gas, the price of food, the price of housing, it's eating at the money that I would like to be putting into just covering my loans.  It's making it harder.

I have so much like ire for that man. I feel like he's the worst of us.

00:24:04 話者 5

One expert says the economy is likely to be the key issue in the midterm elections.

00:24:10 話者 46/Desmond Lachman/Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

Inflation now is running at close to 4%.

And what the big issue is, is that wages are not keeping pace with that.

So for most Americans, They are worse off today than they were two years ago.

We've got a two-tier kind of economy. There's some people who are doing very well, but then there are a whole lot of people who are not doing well.

00:24:38 話者 5

A US political website says 70 percent disapprove of Trump's handling of inflation.

Ahead of the midterm elections, his approval rating has fallen to the lowest level of his second term, Yamasaki Takeshi NHK World.

World Weather

00:25:05 話者 1

Now for a check on whether October is almost over, but it's still peak typhoon season in the northwestern Pacific. Our meteorologist Yuumi Hirano has the details.

00:25:16 話者 6/Yuumi Hirano

Typhoon In-fa has intensified into a very strong system and is likely to move westward toward the Mariana Islands on Friday.

Gusts of over 280 kilometers per hour are possible, potentially damaging structures and causing power outages.

In addition, high waves of over 5 meters and strong storm surges are likely.

Coastal flooding could also be a major concern.

The storm is likely to bring high waves to Japan's Ogasawala Islands from Sunday.

But in the bigger picture across East Asia, sunny scars are expected in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Tokyo will stay on the dry side with a high of 22.

Moving to India, the cyclone season in the Bay of Bengal is usually from October to December.

As a result, a very severe cyclonic storm made landfall on the east coast on Wednesday, causing widespread disruptions.

The storm continues to wreak havoc across India's northeastern coast with multiple disruptions. Severe downpours caused flooding and structural damage on Wednesday.

Wind speeds of over 130 kilometers per hour downed trees and toppled utility poles.

Crew members rushed to clear fallen branches and debris that blocked streets and walkways.

The system has weakened as it moves inland, however, it still has enough moisture to bring more downpours.

Over 200 millimeters is possible by Friday, causing additional flooding.

Thunder showers are also likely in Varanasi, New Delhi, but sunny skies are expected in Chennai with a high of 34.

That's it for now. Stay safe.

♫～　3-Day Forecast　～♫

00:27:40 話者 1

And with that, we conclude this edition of NHK Newsline for all of us here on the program.

I'm James Tengan in Tokyo. Thanks for watching.

checked.

NHK World

This is NHK World Japan English radio service.

Here's a frequency notice.

00 UTC for Southeast Asia is on 11.920 MHz.

Once again,

00 UTC for Southeast Asia is on 11.920 MHz.

For more details of our programs, please check our website at nhk.jp/rj nhk.jp/rj.

00:28:47 話者 2

We're always pleased to receive your comments and suggestions through our website.

NHK World English Podcast Scripts (2026/10/28) Meta App Rules, AI Farm Robots & Multilingual Theater

• Meta's Global Head of Safety Calls for Parental Approval Systems for App Downloads
• メタ、子どもの安全利用に向けアプリダウンロード時の保護者承認システムを要請
• Yaskawa Electric and Agricultural Cooperative Team Up to Develop AI Harvesting Robots
• 安川電機と全農、人手不足解消へ向けて作物を自動収穫するAIロボットを共同開発
• Director Suzuki Tadashi's Multilingual Theater Training Spreads Globally from Rural Japan
• 富山県の山村から世界へ発信される、演出家・鈴木忠志の多言語劇と身体訓練哲学
• 今日の語彙：animating / （議論や方針などを）活発化させる,引き起こす,突き動かす、ecosystem / エコシステム、生態系（IT・ビジネスではプラットフォームや関連企業などを取り巻く全体の仕組み）、autonomously / 自律的に,自主的に、transcend / （限界や範囲を）超越する,超える
• 今日の英語表現：neck-and-neck / (競争や選挙などで）優劣がつけられない,互角の,接戦の
• Shadowing Tips：シャドーイングの目標は、発声した音声と、その意味が考えなくても瞬時に結びつくようになることです。つまり英語のままダイレクトに意味が理解できるようになること（英語脳の形成）

20261028180000_english_1.mp3   player

 00:00:12 話者 1/Tashiro Kyoko

Great to have you with us. From our studio in Tokyo, this is NHK Newsline.

Israel Election Too Close to Call as Count Continues

Counting is underway in Israel's general election.

Local media say the bloc led by incumbent Prime Minister Beamin Netanyahu is neck-and-neck with the main opposition camp, but is expected to fall short of a majority.

The polls closed at 10 p.m. on Tuesday.

Israeli TV broadcaster Channel 12 gave projections for the 120-seat parliament based on exit polls and the latest vote count as of 4 a.m. local time on Wednesday.

Netanyahu's right-wing Likud Party was projected to win 27 seats, with 52 in total for the ruling bloc.

The broadcaster said the centrist Yashar Party, led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, was projected to take 21 seats, with the party's opposition group on track to secure 49 overall.

If neither the ruling nor opposition camp secures a majority, talks are expected to take place in the coming days to form a coalition.

Leaders of Finland, Norway Speak with Putin

The leaders of Finland and Norway have urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to end his country's invasion of Ukraine as peace talks are expected to be held next month.

Finland's presidential office said Tuesday that President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Garr Storre jointly spoke by phone with Putin.

The call was related to talks on a peace plan for Russia and Ukraine, expected to take place in the United Arab Emirates. The United States will also take part.

Stubb and Storre told Putin their countries would continue their long-standing support for Ukraine. They also stressed that the war must end and negotiations resume.

The Russian presidential office said Putin repeated his stance that peace in Ukraine could be achieved only if Russia's interests are fully taken into account.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sabiha told reporters the phone call had been coordinated with Ukraine.

The move appears aimed at underscoring Ukraine's strong ties with Europe as US President Donald Trump has recently taken steps toward a more pro-Russia stance.

Finnish Defense Minister Antti Haakonen told NHK World on Monday that his country was trying to get peace negotiations back on track.

He said Finland had been involved in talks about possible negotiations with Putin.

Media: Bolsonaro Has Arrived in US After Fleeing Brazil

Multiple media reports say Flavio Bolsonaro has arrived in the United States after leaving Brazil following his loss in the country's presidential election.

Brazilian and US media reported that the right-wing Brazilian senator landed on Tuesday.

Bolsonaro lost to leftist incumbent president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the presidential runoff on Sunday. Bolsonaro has refused to concede defeat.

Local media reported Brazil's Supreme Court had banned Bolsonaro from leaving the country.

They said he may have decided to evade an investigation into suspected money laundering.

A senior US State Department official said on Tuesday that the US will grant Bolsonaro and his family entry visas.

GMO Says Hackers' Website Shut Down

Japan's GMO Internet Group says a website used by hackers to publish stolen information has been shut down.

The company has been refusing to pay ransom, but is offering up to one million dollars for information to help identify the attackers.

GMO's cloud services were illegally accessed last week.

The services allow investors to conduct automated foreign exchange trading and other transactions.

Hackers demanded a ransom, then said the company had failed to meet the deadline.

So on Tuesday, they released what they claimed was customer information.

GMO says the website with that information was shut down at around 4 a.m. Wednesday.

DMO says it will continue to monitor related websites and take steps to shut down any new ones that appear.

The company is urging people not to direct others to websites believed to be operated by the hackers or share content from those sites.

It says such action could effectively aid the attack.

Business

For more business stories, here's Ramin Mellegard from our biz desk.

00:05:21 話者 2/Ramin Mellegard

Thank you very much indeed.

Meta Calls for Parental Approval for App Downloads

Now the global head of safety at US tech giant Meta Platforms is calling for the introduction of a parental approval system for app downloads.

That's to prevent excessive social media use by children.

Now, Antigone Davis spoke to NHK during her visit to Japan, where she met with government and education officials.

Moves are spreading to strengthen regulations on children's access to social media.

Now, last year, Australia became the first country to implement a ban for kids under 16.

00:06:02 話者 13/Antigone Davis

I do very much understand the concerns that are animating policymakers around the world. We don't think that things like bans and strict age restrictions work well.

00:06:17 話者 2

Davis said such measures won't accomplish the goal of providing a safe online experience for young people as they could still use apps not subject to the rules.

00:06:29 話者 13

Perhaps really to make sure that each layer and each portion of the ecosystem plays their important role, whether it's the app store or developers like ourselves or parents.

00:06:44 話者 2

Davis said everyone should be responsible for taking care of children online, adding that the most important thing is to continue dialogue.

EU Could Exclude Japanese Makers from EV Preferential Rules

Japanese automakers are worried new rules that could soon be in place in the European Union will leave them out in the cold.

EU member states are working on a deal that would give preferential treatment to electric vehicles made in the bloc.

The European Commission proposed the measures in March amid intense competition between EU and Chinese makers in the EV and other low-carbon sectors.

Now, under the agreement, only EVs and plug-in hybrids assembled in the bloc would qualify for public procurement and subsidies.

And a certain percentage of the value of their components would also need to come from the EU.

The details are still being discussed, but vehicles produced by Japanese makers outside the EU are unlikely to receive favorable treatment.

Toyota Motor makes EVs for the European market and has plans to expand a plant in the Czech Republic, but right now it exports EVs from Japan and produces plug-in hybrids in Turkey, which is not an EU member.

Toyota's European unit issued a statement earlier this month.

The carmaker referred to itself as a European manufacturer and urged the EU to include trusted partners such as Japan in the preferential program.

Now, other Japanese makers that could be affected include Suzuki Motor, which exports EVs produced in India to Europe, and Nissan Motor, which builds EVs for the European market in Britain.

EU officials say Japan has similar measures for its domestic market that put automakers from the block at a disadvantage.

EU member states are aiming to finalize the agreement as early as next month.

JCCI Chair Aims to Help Smaller Firms Crack Indian Market

The head of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry is in India for a week-long visit.

He stressed his intention to help small and mid-sized Japanese companies advance into the Indian market.

JCCI Chairman Kobayashi Ken said India is the leading power in the Global South, adding that its market is highly attractive, with a population of 1.4 billion people and rich, human resources.

He said that in many cases, it takes a long time for Japanese firms to start doing business in India.

Kobayashi attributed this to complex administrative procedures and problems in infrastructure building when making investments.

00:09:51 話者 24/Kobayashi Ken

We want to conduct economic diplomacy urging India's administration and state governments to further increase tolerance levels for Japan's mid and small-sized firms to do business in India.

00:10:07 話者 2

There have been moves in Japan's political and business circles to connect India's vitality to Japan's economic growth.

The Japanese government aims to encourage private sector investment of 10 trillion yen or over $63 billion in India.

The plan also includes a goal of more than 500,000 personnel exchanges.

AI Robot Helping Farmers Harvest Crops

A Japanese industrial robot maker has teamed up with an agricultural cooperative to develop AI-powered robots that can harvest crops by themselves.

The project aims to tackle the industry's labor shortage.

Yaskawa Electric and the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations have jointly created a physical AI robot.

It started working at a farm in Asaga Prefecture in southwestern Japan this year.

The robot is taught to recognize the optimal size of crops for harvesting.

It can autonomously assess growth levels and then actually pick the crops.

00:11:19 話者 35/Matsuura Hidenori/Yaskawa Electric

Robots can also work at night. 

So there's a huge merit in using them when no one is available.

We're focusing on making robots grasp what farmers need as much as possible.

00:11:33 話者 2

The company says the robot can harvest about 120 cucumbers in 40 minutes but that its speed needs to be improved.

It aims to see the robot reach the same performance levels as human workers.

Markets

Okay, let's get a check on the markets.

♪

And that's it for Business.

Riding the Wave of US Shipbuilding Expansion

00:12:30 話者 1

The US mid-term elections are now a few days away.

One policy that President Donald Trump has promoted is the revival of the shipbuilding industry.

China accounts for over half of the global shipbuilding market and is also increasing its naval presence.

With the United States now aiming to rebuild its maritime capabilities, a Japanese firm hopes to expand its business opportunities.

NHK World's Akiyama Daiki reports.

00:13:01 話者 42/Donald Trump

To boost our defense industrial base, we are also going to resurrect the American shipbuilding industry, including commercial shipbuilding and military shipbuilding.

00:13:13 話者 6/Akiyama Daiki

The Trump administration has accelerated investment in US shipyards and is expanding cooperation with Japan and South Korea.

Last year, the President announced plans for new Trump-class battleships.

The administration aims to build about 25 of these vessels.

One manufacturer in Japan sees a chance for growth.

It's based in Nagasaki Prefecture, which has a long history of shipbuilding.

00:13:51 話者 6/Reporting Akiyama Daiki

This factory focuses on shipbuilding.

As its core business shrinks, it's betting on the US market.

00:14:02 話者 6

Kubo Industries was founded 78 years ago.

It makes steel structures for ships, bridges, and other projects.

About 10 years ago, a heavy industry measure began to withdraw from commercial shipbuilding in Nagasaki. Kubo's workload dropped sharply as a result.

Company president Takahashi Shinya then found an opportunity in work at the US Navy base in Sasebo.

00:14:39 話者 47/Takahashi Shinya/President, Kubo Industries

As it happened, the US Navy approached us. They said vessel repairs would increase and asked whether companies in Nagasaki could take on the work.

00:14:50 話者 6

Few local firms got on board.

Kubo Industries made significant investments to secure contracts with the Navy.

It opened an office near the Sasebo base and bought additional welding machines.

Kubo employees were sent to the United States for training.

They also learned US labor and workplace rules.

The company eventually qualified for US military vessel repair work.

In October, it won its first major contract.

Takahashi says competition is limited and he expects higher profit margins.

00:15:46 話者 47

There are many opportunities for us to win contracts.

We want to expand this type of work and leverage the skills we've built up over the years.

00:15:59 話者 6

Takahashi is optimistic, but he has questions about the Trump administration's security policies.

00:16:12 話者 47

Since the Trump administration took office, the United States has been engaged in military operations In that sense, I'd like to see a change.

I think the conflicts could end with a different administration.

Demand for naval vessel repairs might decline, but from a global perspective peace is better.

00:16:38 話者 6

A security issue specialist says the US moves to counter China are expected to create demand for vessel repairs.

00:16:51 話者 45/Sato Heigo/Professor, Takushoku University

If the number of naval vessels increases and the US Navy becomes more active in the Indo-Pacific, demand for repair work will also grow.

And the US has long held Japan's maintenance capabilities in high regard.

00:17:12 話者 6

But when it comes to shipbuilding itself, Sato says that Washington aims to bring back manufacturing to the United States.

00:17:25 話者 45

It would not be surprising if Washington asks Japanese shipbuilding companies to move production to the United States. For smaller firms, that is a risk they should keep in mind.

00:17:42 話者 6

Washington's trade and security policies will impact the global business environment.

Japanese firms will have to chart their course carefully.

Akiyama Daiki, NHK World.

♪

UN Adopts Japan's Resolution for Nuclear Disarmament

00:18:13 話者 1

The United Nations has once again adopted a draft resolution submitted by Japan calling for efforts to create a world without nuclear weapons.

The draft was adopted on Tuesday at the UN General Assembly's first committee, with 150 member states voting in favor.

The outcome means Japan's proposal has now been adopted for 33 consecutive years, starting in 1994.

As the only country to have suffered atomic bombings in wartime, Japan submits a resolution to the United Nations every year to abolish nuclear weapons.

The proposal said the General Assembly deeply regrets the lack of recent progress, referring to the review conference of the parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in May, where countries failed to adopt the final document.

It called on nuclear weapons states to engage in efforts to fulfill their obligations.

The UK was the only nuclear power to vote in favor.

Seven countries, including China, Russia and North Korea, voted against the draft resolution. 25 countries, including the US and France, upstate.

Japan's ambassador to the disarmament conference, Ichikawa Tomiko, said the importance of the Non-Proliferation Treaty has been reaffirmed.

She added that gaining the support of 150 members, including those of various positions, is encouraging for future nuclear disarmament efforts.

All the World's a Stage

The mountains of Toyama Prefecture in central Japan may seem like an unlikely place for a renowned theater.

But each summer, one quiet village of about 400 people welcomes thousands of visitors to a spectacular celebration of the stage.

NHK World's Nakajo Seiko reports.

00:20:17 話者 8/Nakajo Seiko

Shakespeare's tragedy King Lear is being performed here in Toga Village. It's a classic.

It's something about this version is truly unique.

(Korean)  

(Japanese)    

00:20:38 話者 8

Each actor performs in their own language with effortless ease.

00:20:44 話者 53

You are much more to be taxed for want of wisdom than praise for harmful mildness.

(Italian)    

00:20:52 話者 8

The company is led by 87-year-old director Suzuki Tadashi.

For half a century he has been based in the village, producing his innovative works.

His plays have been performed in 90 cities around the world.

00:21:16 話者 54/Suzuki Tadashi

It's wonderful that there are so many different people.

I wanted to create a place in Japan where so much diversity can come together and collaborate.

00:21:27 話者 8

Outside performance, Suzuki holds a training camp in the village, drawing actors from across the globe.

This year, 49 participants from 25 countries gathered.

What sets Suzuki's training apart is a profound cultivation of physical awareness, harnessing breath and the center of gravity to command the body.

Among those influenced by Suzuki's methods is Ellen Lauren, who now teaches the discipline at the Juriard School in New York and other institutions.

00:22:08 話者 59/Ellen Lauren

Most actors don't understand that. They work up here in the face.

They work with a psychological, emotional entry point to their work.

Whereas the body is the word, it crosses political lines, it crosses gender, it crosses societal mores.

00:22:29 話者 8

During rehearsals for King Lear, Suzuki refines the physical expression of the intonation actor playing the lead.

00:22:39 話者 54

Don't move your chin when you try to speak loud. You need to have a fixed focus.

00:22:52 話者 8

The interplay of movement and stillness brings the dignity of Lear to life.

On the day of the performance, the auditorium is filled to capacity.

The multilingual stage is united by the universal language of the body.

00:23:24 話者 53

We must do something.

00:23:40 話者 55

It was really interesting to see what kind of meaning the actors put into their words. It made me think about a lot of different things.

00:23:50 話者 56

I felt that a conversation was genuinely taking place in the various languages. I was really moved by that.

00:23:59 話者 44

When we go through the same training using our bodies and voices, it becomes possible to communicate with each other, transcending differences in lifestyle, ethnicity, and language.

As long as we share the same rules, language differences aren't really that big of a deal.

00:24:24 話者 8

Transcending boundaries, Suzuki's theatrical philosophy is spreading outward from a Japanese mountain village to the world.

Nakajo Seiko, NHK World.

World Weather

00:24:47 話者 1

We are definitely seeing signs of a cooler season descending upon Japan.

Our meteorologist Jonathan Oh has a look at what's ahead in our weather report.

00:24:58 話者 10/Jonathan Oh

Hello, we saw some strong winds coming in from the north and because of that we were seeing snow reports for the first time for the season in places like Sapporo and other parts of Hokkaido.

And on top of that, because of the winter pressure pattern with the low pressures up to the north and high toward the west, look at some of these wind gusts that were reported as we went through Wednesday.

Portions of the Toko region seeing up to 111 kilometers per hour with those gusts and the Cape Erimo seeing gusts of up to 152 kilometers per hour.

it was windy in fact it was breezy even south into Tokyo as well now the winds are going to relax but the colder air actually will stay in place as the northerly flow comes into the picture, and so we will be talking about temperatures that are on the cooler side as we go throughout the next few days.

Looking at the possibility of seeing temperatures only in the upper teens in places like Tokyo on Thursday and Friday and then rain comes back into the picture, may see it warm up by the time we go into the longer holiday week and with temperatures into the 20s as we go through the next few days.

Meanwhile, we look down to the south, we have Infa which is a tight but powerful storm that's over the waters and for those of you over the Mariana Islands, especially to the central northern portions of the island chain here.

Be on the lookout for this in the next couple of days you want to make those preparations and the Ogasawara Islands you're likely going to be next in this possibility so again strong winds along with the really high waves are a concern as the storm moves through the area.

Look at what's happening across North America couple low pressure systems way over to the northwestern portion of the United States crossing into Canada bringing in some snow and some chillier weather here coming up.

We're talking about a real change going from fall to almost feeling like winter in some places. I have only 9 Vancouver and Seattle, 12 Winnipeg for Wednesday.

Hope you have a good day where if you are.

♫～　3-Day Forecast　～♫

00:27:40 話者 1

That's all for this edition of NHK Newsline.

Thank you for watching and please stay with us for more.

checked.

NHK World

00:28:01 話者 99

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