Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Morishita Erika in Tokyo.
IRAN CONFLICT
TRUMP 'NOT SATISFIED' WITH TALKS
US President Donald Trump says he's not satisfied with the peace talks with Iran.
He says they have yet to reach a deal, and he adds that Tehran is now negotiating on fumes. Trump spoke about the matter at a cabinet meeting.
00:00:29 話者 2/Donald Trump
I think we're doing very well.
They are starting to give us the things that they have to give us. And if they do, that's great.
And if they won't, then the man on my left is going to finish him off.
00:00:39 話者 1
He also insisted that Iran will not control the Strait of Hormuz.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says diplomacy is always the first option.
00:00:50 話者 3/Marco Rubio
I think there's been some progress and some interest and we'll see over the next few hours and days whether progress could be made.
I just want to remind everybody, Mr. President, you know this well.
You have other options available to you if that doesn't work.
00:01:02 話者 1
Iran's state-run TV reported earlier on a draft of a memorandum of understanding with the US.
The broadcaster says it obtained an initial unofficial document that outlines the framework.
The draft says Iran will restore commercial ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz within a month and it will return the number of vessels to pre-conflict levels.
The draft also says the US will stop its interference with ships at Iranian ports and lift its naval blockade. The deal excludes military vessels.
The draft says Iran will keep control over the strait.
Tehran will inspect ships and collect fees.
And Iranian officials will coordinate these measures with Oman.
The draft also addresses US troop withdrawal.
It says Washington has agreed to leave the region surrounding Iran.
But it's still unclear which forces will depart. The White House pushed back on the report.
It dismissed it as a complete fabrication.
Meanwhile, a US official told NHK on Wednesday that US forces shot down four Iranian drones around the Strait of Hormuz. They also struck an Iranian ground control station.
The official says these actions were purely defensive and intended to maintain the ceasefire.
TAIWAN URGES US TO CONTINUE WEAPON SALES
The President of Taiwan is once again urging the United States to continue arms sales.
Lai Ching-te spoke about strong ties between the two sides despite pressure from China.
Lai spoke at an event to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the US.
He referred to the legal framework that governs the country's arms sales to Taiwan.
00:02:56 話者 11/Lai Ching-te
I sincerely hope that the rock-solid relationship that Taiwan and the United States have built over decades.
Founded upon the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances will continue to deepen and strengthen through enhanced cooperation.
00:03:08 話者 1
Lai says Taiwan won't tolerate any change to the peaceful status of the Taiwan Strait.
US President Trump earlier this month held a summit with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
He said that potential arms sales to Taiwan could be used as a bargaining chip, and he said he'd be willing to talk to Lai before making a decision.
Chinese leaders have adamantly opposed the sales.
They've urged the US to stop what they've described as sending the wrong signal about Taiwan independence.
NORWAY TO JOIN TALKS ON FRENCH NUCLEAR DETERRENCE INITIATIVE
French President Emmanuel Macron says Norway has agreed to join talks on France's plan to extend its nuclear deterrence initiative to Europe.
Macron made the remark after a meeting with Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere on Wednesday.
During the meeting, the two sides signed a comprehensive defense agreement, which includes Norway participating in talks regarding French nuclear deterrence.
00:04:13 話者 23/Emmanuel Macron
This is a very important step in our partnership and will drive very ambitious cooperation.
00:04:18 話者 25/Jonas Gahr Stoere
Together with nine European countries, Norway will also participate in the further process related to your initiative called Forward Deterrence on how French nuclear weapons can contribute to security and deterrence in Europe.
00:04:32 話者 1
Macron announced in March that he was discussing the plan to extend France's nuclear deterrence initiative to eight other European countries.
Those were Germany, Poland and Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden and Denmark, as well as the United Kingdom, which has nuclear weapons of its own.
Macron's initiative came amid repeated criticism of the NATO alliance from US President Donald Trump.
Trump has also suggested that he may seek to reduce US involvement in European security.
JAPAN ROLLS OUT NEW DISASTER ALERT SYSTEM
Japanese authorities rolled out a new version of the disaster alert system on Thursday.
The aim is to better communicate degrees of risks to the public.
The revised system has an alert scale of 1 to 5 for four types of disaster: river overflows, flooding caused by heavy rain, landslides, and storm surges.
The highest level 5 is an emergency warning.
In this case, people need to take immediate action for their survival.
Level 4 is a new category indicating an urgent warning.
It means people should evacuate from areas considered dangerous.
Level 3 is aimed at people who may need more time to escape, including the elderly.
Level 2 is an advisory urging people to review evacuation plans.
The lowest level one advises the public to pay attention to the latest information.
The Japan Meteorological Agency and the Land Ministry made revisions to make it easier for people to assess the level of danger.
Experts are also calling on people to check hazard maps for their local areas in advance.
NEW INTELLIGENCE BUREAU TO TACKLE INFORMATION WARFARE
Japanese politicians have agreed to establish a national intelligence bureau to ward off threats to Japan's security.
Lawmakers passed a bill Wednesday amid increasing concerns over misinformation spreading online.
00:06:46 話者 6
Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae wanted this from the start, a brand new agency to lead the country's security and intelligence departments. This week, it was voted in.
00:07:00 話者 34/Takaichi Sanae
I myself placed importance on this as a campaign pledge in two Liberal Democratic Party leadership races.
This law will protect the public safety and give people peace of mind and also defend the national interest.
00:07:17 話者 6
With the new law now in place, the government will form a National Intelligence Council chaired by the Prime Minister and composed of relevant cabinet ministers.
And under this council, they'll set up a national intelligence bureau staffed by several hundred officials.
It will have the authority to compile and analyze information that government ministries and agencies have been gathering separately.
One of the major issues the government hopes to tackle is happening on the Internet, state-sponsored information warfare, also known as influence operations.
Some examples include these posts on a China-based social media platform.
They falsely claim that Japan's southern prefecture of Okinawa is not part of Japan.
The posts have stolen a Japanese influencer's dance content and contain political messaging about Okinawa. This one says We also hate Japan.
The woman appearing in the clip is Japan-based entertainer Natsukawa Megan.
She denies any involvement in the clips.
00:08:34 話者 35/Natsukawa Megan
This account has 130,000 followers?
It's scary that people in China might believe those are my ideas.
00:08:48 話者 6
And she has every right to that anxiety.
One expert says images like these are known to mislead people in other countries.
00:08:59 話者 36/Osawa Jun/Senior Fellow, Nakasone Peace Institute
I think it plays a role in forming public opinion in China that Okinawa is or should become an independent country.
00:09:07 話者 6
An image of Prime Minister Takaichi also spread on social media.
00:09:13 話者 36
This picture claims that people should watch out for the revival of militarism.
I believe this is an influence operation by China.
00:09:22 話者 6
Takeichi and her party say the new agency will allow the government to respond to misinformation in a unified way.
00:09:31 話者 37/Kobayashi Takayuki/LDP Policy Research Council Chairperson
The Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office and the Cabinet Secretariat have been responding to the situation.
However, the system has been relatively weak to date, so it'll be reinforced.
00:09:47 話者 6
But the move is raising concerns over privacy, and some politicians say more safeguards are needed.
00:09:56 話者38/Ogawa Junya/Centrist Reform Alliance President
We should be rolling this out cautiously so that we don't place excessive limits on people's rights and freedoms.
00:10:06 話者 39/Koike Akira/Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head
This is the first step toward other laws that would increase public surveillance.
We plan to inform people about how dangerous this is and fight it.
00:10:16 話者 6
Takechi's party says there needs to be a system of checks and balances so that the government doesn't go too far when collecting personal information.
The government aims to launch the new bureau as early as this summer.
It hopes to draw up its first national intelligence strategies by the end of the year.
JAPAN TRANSPORT MINISTRY INSPECTS JAL OVER UNLAWFUL DRINKIN
00:10:38 話者 1
Next, Japanese transport ministry officials are carrying out on-site inspections of Japan Airlines over alleged unlawful drinking by its cabin crew.
JAL officials say the incident involved two cabin attendants last Saturday.
They were scheduled to be on duty for a flight from Hiroshima to Tokyo's Haneda Airport but consumed alcohol within 12 hours before departure.
One of them was the chief attendant.
The flight left more than 40 minutes late as a result of the incident.
The Civil Aeronautics Act prohibits aircrew members from engaging in navigation services under the influence of alcohol.
In 2025, the captain of an international flight reportedly consumed alcohol in violation of in-house rules, leading to a delay in the scheduled departure.
Ministry officials plan to interview those concerned and examine documents related to the latest case.
00:11:45 話者 41/Nakagawa Yukio/Japan Airlines
We'll swiftly strengthen measures to prevent a recurrence and will make sure they are thoroughly implemented.
00:11:52 話者 1
JAL says that as an immediate measure, it will ban drinking by cabin crew members at the accommodation ahead of their flights.
US OFFICIALS INVESTIGATING FIFA WORLD CUP TICKET PRICES
US authorities are investigating FIFA over the price of World Cup tickets.
They claim the soccer body is artificially driving up costs for funds.
The attorneys general of both New York and New Jersey subpoenaed FIFA Wednesday.
Eight World Cup matches are scheduled to take place in the area.
But officials say locals have been shut out by high prices, and they are demanding information about the ticketing process.
FIFA is using dynamic pricing for the first time.
It means the ticket cost fluctuates depending on demand.
As a result, top tickets are reportedly going for thousands of dollars.
Prices on the official retail site have also skyrocketed.
Authorities also raised concerns about the location of those seats.
Recent media reports suggest funds may have been misled about where their seats actually were.
It has fans flocking to a ticket lottery announced by New York Mayor Zora Mamdani.
It's offering 1,000 tickets to lucky New Yorkers for just $50 a piece.
BUSINESS
Now let's see what's happening in the world of business.
Here's Ramin Mellegard from The Biz Desk.
00:13:25 話者 7/Ramin Mellegard
Thank you very much indeed.
BOJ'S UNREALIZED LOSSES ON GOVT. BONDS HIT RECORD
Now the Bank of Japan says its unrealized losses on government bonds have reached a record level.
The securities have plummeted in price while long-term interest rates have climbed.
The central bank has released its financial statements for fiscal 2025.
At the end of March, its holdings of government bonds totaled about 530 trillion yen or $3.3 trillion.
That marked unrealized losses of more than 45 trillion yen or over $280 billion.
When the BOJ was promoting its massive monetary easing policy, it snapped up huge amounts of government bonds.
It is now shifting away from that approach and scaling back its purchases.
With its holdings declining by a little over 10 percent, the bank says current market valuations have no effect on its financial position, despite its large holdings of bonds, as it intends to keep those securities until maturity.
JAPANESE CAR SALES IN MIDDLE EAST PLUNGE AMID HORMUZ CLOSURE
The worsening situation in the is taking a heavy toll on Japanese car makers.
Leading manufacturers reported plunging regional sales in April, largely due to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Toyota says its unit sales in the Gulf region fell 34% from a year earlier to about 31,000.
Mitsubishi sales dropped 22% and Suzuki saw a decline of 54%.
Mazda was down 69% and Honda 54%.
Nissan and Subaru don't release their sales figures for the Middle East.
Now, amid the shipment disruptions, Toyota's exports from Japan to the region nosedived 92% about 2,400 vehicles.
Surging material costs are another concern for the automakers.
They're bracing for a fall in their operating profits for the current fiscal year through next March.
JAPANESE AND CHINESE TEAM UP FOR NEW MINI EVs
Japanese and Chinese companies have teamed up to launch a mini EV in the Japanese market next year.
The five firms involved include China's Chedi Automobile and Japanese auto parts retailer Autobacs Seven.
The first model is expected to feature driver assistance functions using Chedi's technology.
The joint venture plans to import the vehicles from China, then use Autobacs's nationwide store network to sell them in Japan and provide after-sales maintenance.
After the first model debuts next year, the partners plan to roll out three additional models by 2029.
Autobacs officials see the demand for EVs in Japan is likely to grow in the medium to long term, and they hope the joint venture will help boost earnings.
WIDER IMPACT OF IRAN CONFLICT HITTING GLOBAL FARM INDUSTRY
One of the side effects of the ongoing Iran conflict has been higher fertilizer prices globally, and that's affecting both farmers in the US and Japan's livestock industry.
00:16:38 話者 6/Narrator: Yoshino Mika/Reporters: Komiya Lisa, Kobune Yusuke
America's corn belt is known for its prodigious, reliable output of the essential crop.
But the industry there is now struggling in the face of soaring costs.
This farmer grows corn. Some of the crop is used for livestock feed.
The current season has been a constant challenge to get the fertilizer he needs.
The price of phosphate, a key ingredient for boosting the crop, has remained high since it jumped by about 10% in March. That makes it too costly for him.
But without enough of the fertilizer, crop yields tend to suffer.
It's an issue hitting farmers across the board.
00:17:26 話者 53/Lance Lillibridge/Corn farmer
If we don't grow as much corn and we get the price to come up, it will certainly affect, you know, animal feeders and, you know, their costs, which, you know, in reality eventually that will affect every consumer.
00:17:45 話者 6
A local fertilizer distributor says some 40% of its customers who grow corn can't afford their products. That's after prices jumped due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
00:17:58 話者 52/Brandy Borchers/Borchers Supply
I mean, they get it opened up and I think it'll drop some because it leaves the pressure off, but it's not going to normalize to what we've been used to that quick.
00:18:13 話者 6
Here in Japan, livestock farmers who use feed mixed with American corn are worried about prices. This dairy farm in Hokkaido has about 1,400 cows.
The weak yen along with rising international corn prices drove up the cost of their feed by about 20% in April.
The farm's owner says if the current situation continues, he may have to start passing on the higher costs to his customers.
00:18:57 話者 58/Suzuki Masateru/Farm owner
If it comes down to that, we may have to raise the cost of our milk in the future.
We just don't know how much feed prices will go up or whether supplies will be sufficient.
00:19:11 話者 6
While the Middle East crisis continues to directly affect the region, it's also having a wider influence on livelihoods in other parts of the world.
MARKETS
00:19:23 話者 7
Okay, let's get a check on the markets.
♪
And that is it for business news.
S.KOREAN TEMPLE CUISINE IN THE SPOTLIGHT
00:19:58 話者 1
Korean food is known around the world for its bold and unique flavors, but a different type of culinary experience is quickly gaining popularity.
It's referred to as temple cuisine, and it's rooted in ancient Buddhist philosophy.
And HKO's Kim Chan-ju tells us what's behind its recent rise to the modern stage.
00:20:23 話者 9/Kim Chan-ju
This cooking class in Busan looks like a regular lesson.
An array of fresh ingredients laid out in a kitchen with students eagerly following instructions.
But what's unique about this particular setting is that this teacher is a Buddhist monk.
The participants are learning the principles of temple cuisine, an ancient vegetarian cooking philosophy that excludes meat, fish, and ingredients such as garlic.
00:21:01 話者 64
At home, we usually use artificial seasonings, but here I'm grateful to learn that you can still create rich flavors using only natural ingredients.
00:21:11 話者 9
Last year, Korean temple food was designated as a national intangible cultural heritage.
And a rise in interest was on full display at a recent Buddhism exhibition in Seoul.
One event allowed attendees to learn about the tradition while also tasting the food.
00:21:32 話者 61
With so many overly stimulating foods everywhere these days,
I think people are starting to look for food that's less intense and a bit more gentle and comforting.
00:21:46 話者 9
The cuisine's rising popularity can be attributed to the efforts of one person in particular.
Venerable Dae An is the head monk of Kumsuam Temple, located in the southern part of the country.
For over 30 years she has been studying and mastering the art of temple cuisine.
She focuses on compassion and avoiding harm to other living beings.
She does this by using simple, all-natural ingredients, often coming from the temple's own gardens.
00:22:24 話者 64/Venerable Dae An/Head Monk, Geumsuam Temple
The essence of Korean Buddhist temple cuisine is eating and cooking what nature provides in season, gaining strength from it, and continuing one's practice.
00:22:37 話者 9
So what's the key to making the simple, fresh dishes taste good?
Gently fermented sauces. They are the base of Korean temple cuisine.
But Venerable Dae An wants to take it a step further.
She says temple food can preserve tradition by also staying relatable to modern tastes.
By adding culinary twists, Venerable Dae An has developed a wide range of recipes that she offers at a restaurant next to the temple.
They include pasta filled with wild herbs and pizza topped with soy-based meat.
00:23:25 話者 65
It's not every day you get to eat pasta at a temple, is it?
It was delicious and absolutely fantastic.
00:23:33 話者 64
I can prepare a meal in the most traditional way, but if it doesn't taste good and doesn't win people's hearts, then it's a dead dish whatever the dish may be, people should feel happy when they eat it.
But if we insist only on tradition and remain stuck there, there can be no progress.
00:23:54 話者 9
Temple food is gradually becoming a part of everyday food culture for South Koreans.
It offers a chance to reflect on one's physical well-being, while also being mindful of how we can live in harmony with nature.
Kim Chan-ju NHK World.
WEATHER
00:24:14 話者 1
It's time for a check on the weather. Parts of Japan may need to brace for a typhoon.
Our meteorologist Yumi Hirano has the details.
00:24:24 話者 10/Yumi Hirano
A tropical storm has formed over the Pacific. The system is expected to intensify into a typhoon over the weekend and move northward east of the Philippines and Taiwan.
It will eventually approach Japan's Okinawa by Monday, bringing strong winds and high waves. That could be the first typhoon affecting the region this year.
Meanwhile, in the west of the country, a low pressure system is expected to develop and move over northern Japan into Friday morning.
Stormy conditions are likely in Tohoku with gusts of more than 100 kilometers per hour.
Transportation and traffic could be affected.
But eastern and western Japan may stay on the dry side on Friday, so sunny skies are likely in Tokyo with a high of 30, so heat may be a concern.
Speaking about scorching conditions, warmer than usual air is also covering Southeast Asia this week. People in Vietnam have been facing severe heat.
Extremely high temperatures have been reported in parts of northern Vietnam this week.
The severe heat wave has pushed the mercury above 40 Celsius for multiple days.
Some residents said that it's so hot, it feels even worse when you sit down and take a break during your work.
Officials claim that the weather has put immense pressure on the country's power supply.
Thunderstorms may ease the heat in Hanoi, but the high will still remain 33.
Hong Kong is expected to see 35. The highest level of heat warning is in effect in the city, so please stay cool and hydrated.
That's it for now. Have a nice day.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
00:27:40 話者 1
That's all for this edition of NHK Newsline.
I'm Morishita Erika in Tokyo. Thank you for joining us.
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