Thank you for joining us. From our studio in Tokyo, this is NHK Newsline.
WHO Recommends 42‑Day Quarantine for Cruise Passengers
The World Health Organization is now recommending a 42-day quarantine for all those linked to a suspected hentavirus outbreak on a cruise ship.
WHO officials say there are now seven confirmed cases.
The MV Honduas arrived at Tenerife in the Spanish Canary Islands on Sunday.
Spain's health minister said 27 people, including all the remaining passengers and some crew members, left the vessel under strict control measures on Monday.
She added that the Dutch-operated ship is sailing toward the Netherlands with the remaining crew.
Evacuees are undergoing screening and quarantine in their respective countries.
Health officials in France said the French passenger tested positive after developing symptoms on a flight home. She said the person is isolating at a medical institution.
British health authorities said on Monday a Japanese passenger is being monitored at a UK hospital.
They said that, though asymptomatic, the individual is required to quarantine for up to 45 days.
The WHO has released preliminary infection control guidelines, stressing that the risk of the virus spreading to the general public is low.
Expert Explains Hantavirus Transmission and Symptoms
For more on all of this, I spoke with Professor Kutsuna Satoshi, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Osaka, about what this virus is and what we should keep in mind.
00:01:52 話者 2/Kutsuna Satoshi
Hantaviruses are genotic viruses belonging to the genus also hantavirus, family hantavirida.
They are mainly maintained in wild rodents, and humans are usually infected through exposure to urine, feces, or saliva from infected rodents, or by inhaling dust contaminated with rodents excreta. Andes virus is the new world hantavirus found in South America.
It is one of the hantaviruses that causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
A particularly important feature of Andes virus is that, unlike most hantaviruses, limited person-to-person transmission has been documented.
00:02:47 話者 1
Kutsuna says there are different strains of hantavirus found around the world, and most have not been observed to be transmissible between humans.
The exception is the Andes strain, which experts suspect caused the outbreak on the cruise ship.
00:03:03 話者 2
At first, Andes virus infection may look like the influenza or stomach bag.
But in severe cases, it can rapidly affect the lungs and cause serious breathing difficulty, low blood pressure and shock and death.
In the Americas, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is reported to have a case fatality rate of up to about 40% to 50%.
00:03:40 話者 1
The cruise ship outbreak has resulted in seven confirmed infections so far, and an additional two are suspected. Three people have died.
Health officials are still investigating to determine the exact details.
But Kutsuna says hantavirus transmission requires close, prolonged personal contact.
He said the nature of life on a cruise ship could have contributed to the outbreak.
00:04:07 話者 2
Cruise ship is a setting where this layer model of transmission becomes more plausible.
Passengers and crew may spend long periods in enclosed spaces.
and share indoor environments and have frequent close interpersonal interactions.
00:04:34 話者 1
So, could hantavirus spread like COVID-19?
00:04:39 話者 2
And this virus should not be considered comparable to COVID-19 in terms of epidemic potential. It is not expected to spread efficiently through casual contact.
00:04:56 話者 1
Kutsuna stressed that while the virus can potentially be life-threatening,
experts don't currently believe this outbreak will lead to a broader public health crisis.
00:05:08 話者 2
The situation is serious for infected patients, exposed passengers, crew members and
close contacts, but it does not mean that widespread community transmission is expected.
Balanced message would be, this is a serious cluster requiring active public health response, but the risk to the general public remains low, I think.
Trump Considers Resuming Combat Amid Stalled Talks
00:05:48 話者 1
US President Donald Trump says the ceasefire with Iran is now at a critical point.
And media reports suggest he's considering resuming combat.
Tehran responded to Washington's peace plan over the weekend.
But Trump says their proposal was stupid and unacceptable.
00:06:10 話者 10/Donald Trump
After reading the piece of garbage they sent us, I didn't even finish reading it.
I said, I'm not going to waste my time reading it.
I would say it's one of the weakest right now. It's on life support.
00:06:22 話者 1
According to both Axios and CNN, Trump met with his national security team at the White House on Monday. The reports claim Trump is frustrated with Iran.
Sources told the outlets he's considering resuming major combat operations.
Meanwhile, Iran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagheir Ghalibaf, took to social media Monday.
He said the country's armed forces are ready to teach any aggressor a lesson.
He also said the wrong strategy and wrong decisions will always lead to the wrong result.
NYK Line Explores Alternative Routes via Oman
The conflict has affected traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and put pressure on global shipping companies.
Japan's NYK line is now looking at new routes to transport automobiles to the Middle East.
00:07:16 話者 4/Soga Takaya/President, NYK Line
Demand for automobiles remains strong in the Middle East.
We are trying to map out an alternative route and have already started to take steps.
00:07:27 話者 1
The company president says one option is unloading cargo in Oman so it can finish the trip by land.
Calbee Switches to Black‑and‑White Packaging
Meanwhile, Japanese snack maker Calbee is also making big changes.
The company says the conflict is making it difficult to obtain printing ink and other materials.
As a result, it will begin selling some of its products in black-and-white packaging.
China’s Role Ahead of US–China Summit
Those kinds of issues will likely come up at the US-China summit this week.
President Trump will be sitting down with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
Trump says they'll discuss energy and Iran, saying China imports a big percentage of oil through the strait.
Trump is set to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday night and slated to meet Xi on Thursday.
00:08:20 話者 10/Donald Trump
I mean, he'll bring up Taiwan, I think, more than I will.
But I think that a discussion will be a little bit about energy and about
It's a very beautiful country of Iran.
00:08:36 話者 1
Trump says he respects Xi a lot and hopes the feeling is mutual.
He also expressed hope that China could play a constructive role in easing tensions in the Middle East.
Trump added that he plans to raise other issues.
They include Jimmy Lai, the imprisoned founder of a pro-democracy Hong Kong newspaper, and US arms sales to Taiwan.
and he says he doesn't believe China would invade Taiwan in the way Russia invaded Ukraine. He says Xi knows he doesn't want it.
The White House says that over ten top executives from leading US firms will join Trump.
They include Tesla's Elon Musk and Apple's Tim Cook.
China's foreign ministry says the leaders will discuss bilateral relations as well as global peace and development.
00:09:32 話者 4/Guo Jiakun/Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson
China stands ready to work with the US to expand cooperation, manage differences and provide more stability and certainty for a transforming and volatile world.
Trump's last trip to China was in 2017 during his first term.
It will also be the two leaders' first face-to-face sit-down since October when they met in South Korea on the APEC sidelines.
BUSINESS
Now let's see what's happening in the world of business.
Here's Ramin Mellegard from our BizDesk.
00:10:01 話者 5/Ramin Mellegard
Thank you very much indeed.
Japan–US Confirm Coordination on FX Policy
Now, Japan's finance minister says she and her visiting American counterpart have confirmed their intention to maintain close coordination on foreign exchange policy.
Katayama Satsuki met US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Tokyo.
He's holding talks with Japanese leaders before heading to the Trump-Xi summit in China.
The meeting comes after Japanese authorities intervened in the currency market in late April to halt the yen's slide against the dollar amid the Iran conflict.
00:10:41 話者 6/Katayama Satsuki
We confirmed that Japan and the United States are in sync on currency trends, and we will keep working closely in line with the Japan-US Finance Minister's joint statement issued in September last year.
00:10:59 話者 5
Katayama declined to answer when a reporter asked whether the discussions included the Bank of Japan's monetary policy.
Now, in a social media post, Bessent said he had been pleased to reaffirm a strong economic partnership at the meeting.
He wrote, The level of communication and coordination between our teams in addressing undesirable excess volatility in currency markets continues to be constant and robust.
BOJ Policymakers Warn of Upside Inflation Risks
The Bank of Japan's summary of opinions from its latest meeting shows policymakers pointed to risks of higher inflation. They cited rising crude oil prices and unstable supplies.
Some of them called for a rate hike.
The central bank decided to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged on April 28.
Many were concerned about uncertainty over the situation in the Middle East.
But three of the nine policy makers voted against, and proposed a rate hike, arguing the central bank should make efforts to curb rapid price rises.
One board member said, In the case where upside risks to prices increase, it will be necessary to accelerate the pace of rate hikes without hesitation.
Another said, As the guardian of price stability, the bank should contain a downward deviation of economic activity.
Another opinion raised the possibility the BOJ will rates at the next meeting in mid-June or later.
Japan Tea Group Seeks GI Certification to Boost Exports
Now, Japan's green tea industry is taking action to protect the authenticity of its products.
With global sales of matcha picking up steam, producers want to promote brand recognition abroad to prevent incorrect labeling.
An association made-up of tea growers, exporters, and other groups is leading the initiative.
It is applied for the certification of nihoncha, or Japanese tea, under the Japan Geographical Indication, or GI, Protection System.
GI is designed to protect regional brands of farm, forestry, and fisheries products.
Examples include Kobe beef and echizen crab.
00:13:24 話者 4/Suzuki Sadami/Japan Tea Central Public Interest Incorporated Association
We will put a GI mark on products that use 100% Japanese tea. We have high hopes that introducing the GI mark will lead to an expansion of exports overseas.
00:13:40 話者 5
Sales of matcha are booming overseas. Exports of Japanese green tea hit a record high of 72.1 billion yen, or nearly $460 million, in 2025.
But industry officials point to a growing problem of misleading labels.
They say green tea products from China and other countries are using Japanese place names on their packaging.
Companies Adopt Age‑Friendly Work Practices and Equipment
Japan is facing a rapidly aging population and a low birth rate.
Employees aged 60 and over now account for around 20 percent of the labor force.
To deal with the many ramifications of this, some companies are making their workplaces more age-friendly.
00:14:30 話者 7/Narrator: Kimura Tina Tomoko
Okahata Kazuaki is 66 years old. He's been employed at this ironworks for 47 years.
The plant produces flood control gates.
Okahata is responsible for a critical task, correcting distortions in components that are central to the gate's construction. He straightens the metal by heating and cooling it.
Even the slightest irregularity can cause leaks, so adjustments must be made by the millimeter.
Out of the roughly 100 employees of the company, only two, including Okahata, can do this work.
00:15:25 話者 8/Saito Tamotsu/President, Saitoh Iron Works
He's making the most of his expertise and experience. It's amazing.
I want him to pass his skills on to the next generation.
00:15:34 話者 7
But Okahata says he is feeling his physical limitations more than before.
00:15:40 話者 14/Okahata Kazuaki
I have problems with my eyes, and my hands tremble.
00:15:46 話者 7
The company has reduced the amount of time he spends on tasks involving intense light to ease the strain on his eyes. He now spends more of his time training younger staff.
00:16:10 話者 18
Very impressive. I want him to stay here about five more years.
00:16:15 話者 14
I hope I can keep working until they tell me to quit.
00:16:21 話者 7
Another company is taking steps to promote an age-friendly workplace by introducing new equipment. This confectionery firm makes sweets like candied beans.
Half of its 50-some employees are over the age of 60.
Sugar, an essential ingredient for production, comes in 20-kilogram bags, and lifting them can lead to back pain.
So the company has introduced exoskeletons that support the lower back and knees.
00:16:57 話者 15
It's much easier to work wearing the suit.
00:17:01 話者 7
In addition, regulating body temperature becomes more difficult with age.
In summer, temperatures inside can reach nearly 40 degrees.
The company installed three air conditioning units, and the temperature dropped by about five degrees. These changes were driven by employee feedback.
00:17:25 話者 16/Ishii Isao/President, Yagumo Seika
Older employees remain the core of our workforce.
We need to create an environment to ensure they can stay on the payroll for many years.
00:17:35 話者 7
A legal revision effective from April is encouraging Japanese companies to think more about the age-friendliness of their workplaces.
Amid the growing labor shortage, such environments can ensure workforce stability and higher productivity.
MARKETS
00:17:54 話者 2
Okay, let's get a check on the markets.
♪
00:18:24 話者 5
And that is it for business news.
Emperor and Empress to Visit Netherlands and Belgium in June
00:18:30 話者 1
Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will pay an official visit to the Netherlands and Belgium next month.
The cabinet announced a trip on Tuesday following a meeting.
The imperial couple were extended invitations by King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Belgium's King Philippe.
They will depart from Tokyo's Haneda Airport on June 13 aboard a government plane for the Dutch capital, Amsterdam.
They will travel to the Belgium capital, Brussels, on June 20 and return home on June 26.
During their stay in the two countries, the emperor and empress will attend welcome ceremonies and royal banquets as state guests.
They're also scheduled to lay flowers at memorials for the war dead.
Japan's imperial family has maintained close ties with both the Dutch and Belgian royal families.
The last time the couple visited more than one country in a single trip was in 2002, when they visited New Zealand and Australia.
Japan Launches Task Force on Claude Mythos AI Risks
Japanese financial authorities are launching a task force to study stronger cybersecurity measures.
Its focus will be on a groundbreaking new AI model that could be abused by hackers to exploit software vulnerabilities.
Developed by US startup Anthropic, Claude Mythos is said to be extremely capable of detecting security holes in operating systems and web browsers.
If abused, critics say the model could pose a serious risk to critical financial systems.
Financial Services Minister Katayama Satsuki told reporters the task force will be launched on Thursday, with members from both the public and private sectors.
00:20:25 話者 6/Katayama Satsuki
The US government appears to be increasing its understanding and its cooperation with relevant parties that possess AI capabilities.
Japan and the US are moving toward sharing this knowledge and taking action together.
00:20:41 話者 1
The task force will include representatives from Japanese financial institutions and the Bank of Japan.
Other members will come from domestic and foreign companies involved in AI and other system development.
Japan Proposes Literary‑Focused High School Curriculum
Japan's education ministry is proposing a wholesale review of how Japanese language is taught at high schools in the age of AI and social media.
These changes would include a focus on literary work.
Ministry officials say the aim is to cultivate uniquely human qualities.
They presented a draft proposal for new elective components for second- and third-year students to a panel of experts on Monday.
They include studying modern and classic literary works to cultivate emotional sensitivity.
Another new component would focus on argumentative and critical essays, as well as learning how to debate.
Four new subjects were also proposed for students interested in learning more.
They are arguments and criticism, dialogue and expression, literature and narrative, and classics and culture.
The new curriculum is expected to be adopted from the academic year starting in April 2032 at the earliest.
JAMSTEC Confirms Dozens of New Species Off Japan
Researchers exploring the deep sea around Japan with the Shinkai 65-hundred-manned submersible have discovered dozens of new species.
The team includes researchers from the Japan Agency for Marine Earth Science and Technology, or JAMSTEC.
They collected specimens during the deep-sea expedition in June 2025.
The group explored five locations around the Nankai Trough, including the 4,600-meter-deep seabed off Cape Muroto in western Japan's Kochi Prefecture.
They also investigated four underwater volcanoes around the Izu Islands and the Ogasawara Islands south of Tokyo.
The researchers say they confirmed 38 new species, including crabs, sea stars, pelikiths and shellfish.
They're further examining another 28 creatures, which might also be new species.
00:23:08 話者 21/Watanabe Hiromi/Senior Research Technician, JAMSTEC
Human activities are expanding in the ocean. I hope we can help minimize any negative future impact of this by gathering information from such surveys.
EU Approves Sanctions on Violent West Bank Settlers
Foreign ministers of the European Union have agreed to new sanctions on extremist Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
This comes amid rising violence against Palestinians in the occupied territory.
The ministers reached the agreement in a meeting in Brussels on Monday.
Sources say the targets are three Israeli individuals and four settler organizations.
The ministers also approved new measures against senior members of Hamas,
but details have not yet been released.
EU member Hungary added its support to the action against the settlers.
That was after Peter Magyar took office on Saturday as the country's new prime minister.
He replaced Viktor Orban, who was seen as close to Israel.
EU foreign policy chief Kaya Kallas spoke after the meeting.
00:24:14 話者 9/Kaja Kallas/EU foreign policy chief
Violence and extremism carry consequences.
I'm happy that we were able to put sanctions on the violent settlers and agree on that today because it has been on the table for quite some time.
00:24:31 話者 1
Israel has pushed back. Foreign Minister Gideon Sarr issued a statement saying the attempt to impose political views through sanctions is unacceptable and will not succeed.
The West Bank has been occupied by Israel since 1967.
The Israeli government continues to expand Jewish settlements in violation of international law.
Russia Hit by Blizzard; Japan Sees Early Summer Heat
And now a check on the world weather with our meteorologist, Jonathan Oh.
So, Jonathan, folks in western Russia were given a blast of winter, even though it's spring.
What's the latest?
00:25:08 話者 22/Jonathan Oh
Hello, the calendar says May, but it felt more like winter in portions of Russia.
And I can show you what I look like by taking a look at this video because it's clearly looking more like winter here as a northern Russian city was left nearly isolated after severe snowstorms struck the region.
The Associated Press reported that conditions began to deteriorate on Saturday with heavy rain, strong winds and a sharp drop of temperatures.
But then on by Sunday morning, the AP said the city had been hit by a blizzard and hurricanes forced winds bringing back winter-like conditions.
And so folks having a hard time with traffic when it comes to flights, all that kind of stuff, really got impacted over the weekend.
We do have another low moving its way and it could bring more rain, but not much in terms of snow.
Though we do have snow chance into the central portions of Europe as we have a low pressure system swinging on through into the mountains as you see the colder air sweeping on into the region.
So a wet forecast for the eastern portions of Europe, from Stockholm to Moscow, Warsaw, Kyiv, also to Vienna, back toward Paris and London, a bit on the brighter side, 16th of the high as we go through Tuesday.
Meanwhile, I mentioned it's May, but it feels like middle of summer, even past that over in port of Hokkaido, topping off at 29.1 degrees for the high after a low of 7.7.
That's a bit of a swing here, and that is way above where we're supposed to be for this time of year.
It's not just there. Other places of Japan also seeing temperatures into the 20s for highs, and it looks like it's going to stick around for some time here.
Highs, mid-20s from Tokyo into Osaka, and not much in terms of rain, even into Fukuoka.
Sapporo, also joining in on the action again on Wednesday, high of 21 on Wednesday and again on Friday and Saturday.
So take the proper precautions of staying hydrated and taking some breaks if you're going to be spending time outdoors.
Quick note in North America, southeastern areas of the United States dealing with one cold front pushing on through with another one into the central plains, bringing some rain to places like Chicago and Winnipeg on Tuesday.
Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
00:27:36 話者 1
That's all for this edition of NHK Newsline.
Thank you for staying with us and hope you'll join us again.
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