Welcome back to NHK Newsline. Here's the latest we have for you at this hour.
Foul Smell Incident Sickens Dozens in Ginza
Tokyo officials say more than 20 people fell sick after a strong smell was reported in an upscale shopping center.
Authorities are now searching for a suspect seen spreading an unknown substance on the ground. Sources have told NHK something like pepper spray may have been used.
00:00:32 話者 2/Ishida Motoshi/NHK WORLD
This is the scene of the incident in Ginza, an area lined with commercial facilities.
More than 20 people complained of feeling sick with symptoms such as a sore throat.
It's chaotic here right now.
The first aid station has been set up with yellow tape to keep people back.
There are many members of the fire brigade and police here, and special large ambulances have also rushed to the scene to deal with the situation.
00:00:55 話者 1
Police responded to reports around noon of an unusual smell at the Ginza 6 shopping complex. They found 25 people experiencing a sore throat and other symptoms.
19 people were taken to a hospital.
00:01:10 話者 11
Everyone going past was covering their mouth like this. I wondered what was happening and when I entered the building, I felt numbness in my throat.
00:01:20 話者 1
Police are investigating eyewitness reports of a man in a white mask spraying something near a bank ATM on the first floor of the complex.
Four Dead in Philippines Construction Collapse
A collapse at a construction site in the northern Philippines has killed at least four people.
Local authorities said rescue efforts are underway for over ten others who are still buried under the rubble.
A nine-story building under construction in Pampanga province on the island of Luzon collapsed around 3 a.m. on Sunday.
The collapsed building and scaffolds have blocked the road by the site.
A nearby hotel was also damaged by debris.
Authorities say 26 people have been rescued. Four people have been confirmed dead, including a Malaysian national who was staying at the hotel.
Police and emergency workers are continuing rescue efforts.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the accident.
BLA Claims Deadly Pakistan Train Attack
Turning now to Pakistan, where the separatist Baloch Liberation Army says it carried out a suicide bomb attack that killed at least 23 aboard a train.
The blast Sunday morning in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, targeted military personnel.
The explosion derailed two carriages carrying army and security forces and their families.
An official of the Balochistan provincial government says more than 70 were injured.
Police are investigating the explosion as terrorism.
The BLA released a statement claiming responsibility for the attack.
The group seeks independence from Pakistan.
The BLA has been stepping up its activities in recent years.
In February, the group staged multiple attacks on army and police posts in Balochistan, killing 17 security personnel and 31 civilians.
In March last year, it hijacked a train in the Southwestern province in an attack that left 25 dead.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif condemned the latest assault, writing on X that such cowardly acts cannot weaken the resolve of the people of Pakistan.
He said the country is determined to eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
Trump Says No Rush for Iran Deal
US President Donald Trump says he has instructed his representatives not to rush into a deal with Iran, saying that time is on his side.
Trump said on social media on Sunday that peace talks are proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner.
He said the US blockade of Iranian ports will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached and signed.
The president said the relationship between the two countries is becoming much more professional and productive.
But Trump also said Iran must understand the country cannot develop or procure nuclear weapons.
In a social media post of his own, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu revealed the contents of a Saturday telephone conversation with Trump.
Netanyahu said he and Trump agreed that any final agreement with Iran must eliminate what he called the nuclear danger.
He said Trump also reaffirmed Israel's right to defend itself against threats on every front, including Lebanon.
Meanwhile, US media outlets have reported that an agreement between Washington and Tehran could still take days.
The New York Times cited a US official as saying both sides agreed in principle to reopen the Strait of Hormuz with a commitment from Iran to dispose of its highly enriched uranium.
The official reportedly said the deal is awaiting final approval from Trump and Iranian Supreme Leader Moustaba Khamenei.
But other media reports suggest the deal has not been finalized and could still fall apart.
Iran's Tasnim news agency said on Sunday the US continues to obstruct provisions of the proposed agreement, including those concerning the release of the country's frozen assets. The agency suggested that could lead to failure to reach an agreement.
BUSINESS
Now let's see what's happening in the world of business.
Here's Ramin Mellegard from the BizDesk.
00:05:37 話者 3/Ramin Mellegard
Thank you very much indeed.
Nikkei 225 Surges Past 65,000 Mark
Now Tokyo's benchmark stock index surged past the 65,000 mark on Monday for the first time on expectations for progress in talks between the United States and Iran.
The Nikkei 225 jumped nearly 2.9% to end the day at 65,158.
Buy orders kicked in soon after the opening, especially for semiconductor related shares.
Other high tech shares also gained on bullish expectations for the AI industry.
Some market watchers say stocks may be overheating following their rapid rise.
They added that more than half of the shares on the index fell, reflecting caution among some investors.
Former 7‑Eleven Japan President Suzuki Dies
The former president of 7-Eleven Japan, Suzuki Toshifumi, has died at the age of 93.
He is widely credited with popularizing convenience stores in Japan.
Suzuki joined the supermarket chain Ito Yokado in 1963.
He later became an executive and sought to introduce the 24-hour convenience store model from the United States.
In 1974, he opened Japan's first 7-Eleven outlet in Tokyo's Koto Ward.
He became president of 7-Eleven Japan four years later.
Over the course of the next few decades, he nurtured the company into a global brand
more than 80,000 outlets around the world.
Suzuki most recently served as honorary advisor for 7&I Holdings.
The company says he passed away due to heart failure on May 18.
Japan‑Linked Tanker Arrives After Hormuz Transit
A crude oil tanker that passed through the Strait of Hormuz has arrived in Japan.
It's the first Japanese-managed ship to have transited the key waterways since the start of the effective closure.
The Panama-flagged Idemitsu Maru is managed by a subsidiary of major oil wholesaler Idemitsu Kosan.
Three Japanese crew members are reportedly in sound physical condition.
Now the company says the ship is carrying about 2 million barrels of Saudi Arabian crude oil that will be processed into petroleum products.
At a refinery earlier this month, a tanker owned by a subsidiary of Japanese oil wholesaler Eneos Holdings passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
This ship is expected to reach Japan in early June.
The Japanese government says 39 Japan-related vessels remained in the Persian Gulf as of Sunday.
Japan Turns to Recycled Fuel Oil Amid Shortages
Tensions in the Middle East continue to keep crude oil prices elevated, and Japan is now facing shortages of refined petroleum products.
This is boosting interest in recycled fuel oil made from waste oil as an alternative to conventional fuel oil.
FUEL OIL RECYCLING IN THE SPOTLIGHT IN JAPAN
00:08:52 話者 4/Narrator: Kojima Eriko
At this recycling plant in Tomakomai City in Hokkaido, aluminum cans and car wheels are melted down. The furnace runs on recycled fuel oil.
Its composition differs slightly from light fuel oil used in factories, but the firm says there is little difference in heat output. What you see at the bottom is recycled fuel oil.
The price is around 70% of conventional oil.
So far, it has not been affected by rising crude prices linked to Middle East tensions.
The company says this is a big advantage.
00:09:36 話者 25/Hashimoto Yu/Plant Manager, Suzuki Shokai
Price stability is extremely reassuring for us as buyers.
00:09:44 話者 4
This is the company that produces recycled fuel oil.
00:09:50 話者 22/Nakazawa Yoshio/Executive Officer, Fuji United Holdings/Kankyo Kaihatsu Kogyo
This is the first tank the collected oil enters. oil that would normally be thrown away.
00:09:58 話者 4
Most of the raw material for recycled fuel oil comes from used engine oil.
It is collected from garages and gas stations across Hokkaido.
More than 10,000 kiloliters a year. Used oil contains metal fragments and debris.
This machine removes those impurities through centrifugal separation.
The oil is then processed again in a second centrifuge, this time to remove moisture.
00:10:36 話者 22
This is the processed oil.
00:10:38 話者 4
The company says 99% of the waste oil it collects is turned into recycled fuel oil.
As oil prices rise and supply concerns grow, Inquiries are increasing.
00:10:53 話者 24/Onda Yasushi/Executive Officer, Fuji United Holdings/Fuji Kosan
Since March, inquiries have almost doubled.
If capacity allows, we want to supply new customers as well.
More than 9 million kiloliters of light fuel oil are consumed every year in Japan.
By contrast, recycled fuel oil amounts to just half a million kiloliters.
Industry groups say they want to expand production, but efficiently collecting waste oil remains a challenge.
MARKETS
00:11:29 話者 3
Okay, let's get a check on the markets.
♪
And that is it for business news.
Japan Braces for Extreme Summer Heat
00:12:10 話者 1
Japan has been experiencing severe heat waves in recent years with temperatures reaching dangerous levels.
Many might be wondering what this summer has in store for us before the season gets into full swing.
Well, earlier I spoke with our meteorologist Jonathan Oh to give us the outlook.
It is still May, but we're already seeing summer-like conditions, aren't we?
00:12:34 話者 6/Jonathan Oh
My goodness.
I mean, we're talking about seeing temperatures that are unprecedented here in Japan.
I mean, these are temperatures from a week ago on May 18 where Hita saw a high of 35.3 degrees. We don't see average temperatures that high any time in the year.
And so this was particularly hot.
Over in Toyooka, we saw also 35.3 degrees, which was a record for the month
of May, Kyoto seeing temperatures typical for July.
And these are just some of the highlights.
What you don't see on this map is the fact that we have more of the country seeing temperatures way above average at this time of year.
And the reason why we're seeing that heat is because of the fact that we had a couple of high pressure systems that are over the area that really pumped in lot of southerly flow along with the dry pattern.
And with that combination together, it was really pushing up the mercury.
And yeah, it looks like that we may not be seeing a break from this anytime soon.
Though oddly enough, I do want to mention one thing, that toward the end of last week, we had a huge cold plunge taking place. We had the switcheroo taking place.
But once that moves out, we're seeing the temperatures rising back up again.
00:13:39 話者 1
Okay, so then what can we expect in the coming months?
00:13:41 話者 6
Well, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, they put out a three month forecast about the likely to have seen above average temperatures.
And when you see these colors of purple, red and orange, that's not good news because a good chunk of Japan looking at 70% chance or higher, they'll see temperatures that are above average for this time of year from June into August, 60% in the Tohoku region, 50% in Hokkaido. And so that's not very helpful.
On top of that, we're watching out for El Nino, which could also add into the factor here.
Now, typically during a normal year,
winds over on the eastern side of the Pacific, pushing those winds toward the west, and so the warm water stays closer toward the western side of the Pacific.
But when we see a little bit of the weakening of those trade winds, the warm water shifts toward the east. We see a lot more tropical activities.
We have to look out for the possibility of a busier typhoon season.
But according to JMA, we also see a more frequent, warmer pattern across Japan as well.
So that could also exacerbate the conditions as you go forward throughout the next few months.
Unfortunately, in terms of the heat, I have the bearer of bad news when it comes to what's coming up over the next few months.
00:14:52 話者 1
That could be dangerous.
00:14:53 話者 6
Yes, it can be.
00:14:54 話者 1
And you know, every time at this time of year, we do hear from government officials
about how it would be good for us to do cool biz, which is wearing lighter clothing, trying to stay cool. But do you have any other tips for us?
00:15:07 話者 6
One of the biggest things that everyone needs to keep in mind is knowing about what's ahead.
Now, I know you can get the forecast from NHK World Japan, things like that, but one of the most helpful piece of information that the Japan Ministry of the Environment produces is this heat illness prevention page.
And so it puts out alerts about heat stress and heat stroke concerns.
And so you want to make sure you keep paying attention to this especially during the summer months, because it will give you the best indication of when the conditions are going to be the most stressful on your body.
On top of that, knowing how to prevent from getting heat stroke, you want to make sure you stay hydrated.
We talk about this every year, but it's always good to be reminded of this. Drink water, but make sure you also supplement electrolytes with that salt or something like that.
Also make sure you stay cool, staying in cool places, plenty of shade, light, loose clothing is very important. A lot of tourists like to come out and travel around this time of year.
You need to make sure you're prepared for that. Also, avoiding alcohol, avoiding too much sun, and definitely do not leave the cars unattended.
Now, a lot of folks are thinking, oh, just go inside, you'll be fine.
But one thing you also have to remember is the sunshine coming through windows and things like that, that could just slowly creep up the temperatures even with air conditioning in place.
So you want to make sure you monitor what the conditions are inside the house and also inside your cars and really try to limit your outdoor activities because this is going to be the most stressful time of year when the temperatures and the humidity are going up.
♪
Massive Russian Strike Kills Four in Ukraine
00:16:50 話者 1
A large scale Russian strike against Ukraine has left four people dead in Kyiv and elsewhere.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned the attack.
The Ukrainian Air Force said the attack was carried out through Sunday morning.
Authorities reported that two people died and 78 others were injured in the capital, Kyiv.
They also said another two people were killed in the Kyiv region, which surrounds the capital.
The Ukrainian foreign minister said windows in the ministry building were broken by a nearby explosion.
Commercial facilities and other structures near the center of the capital sustained damage.
00:17:35 話者 31
I've been living here since the end of 2023.
This is the first time I've witnessed such a terrible attack that continued for a long time.
00:17:45 話者 1
The new ballistic missile is said to be hypersonic and capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
Moscow claimed the assault was in retaliation for Ukraine's strikes on civilian facilities on Russian territory.
Zelenskyy inspected sites damaged by the attack on Sunday.
He denied striking civilian facilities.
00:18:14 話者 35/Zelenskyy
We do it only on military.
targets, you know, military or drones production of Russia, or it's energy.
When they sell energy, you know that they support the army.
And this is civilian goals, the museums, schools, just apartments.
00:18:34 話者 1
Zelenskyy also said on social media that Moscow had fired Anoreshnik toward a town in the Kyiv region south of the capital.
North Korea to Hold Key Policy Meeting in June
North Korea is planning to hold a key policy gathering next month.
The country's media say the ruling Workers' Party will convene a plenary meeting of the Central Committee in late June.
Monday's edition of the ruling party's newspaper Rodong Shinmun reported on the meeting. It cited a decision made by the party's political bureau.
This will be the first plenary meeting of the Central Committee since February.
It's expected to bring the announcement of key policies.
At the Workers' Party Congress held in February, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un indicated that the country could improve relations with the United States.
That's if Washington withdraws what it called a hostile policy toward Pyongyang.
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a summit earlier this month. Washington says the two confirmed their shared goal to denuclearize North Korea.
Pyongyang claims that the country is a nuclear weapons state.
It has been strengthening its stance against denuclearization.
Next month's meeting will be closely watched for any references by Kim to North Korea's relationship with the Trump administration.
Observers will be also looking for mentions of the country's nuclear and missile development programs.
Actor Sues TikTok Over AI Voice Cloning
Japanese voice actor Tsudak Kenjiro has filed a lawsuit against the operator of the video sharing app TikTok.
He claims numerous uploaded videos include narrations by an unauthorized AI-generated voice that imitates his, while Tsuda wants all the clips removed.
Tsuda is known for numerous roles in popular films and anime such as Jujutsu Kaisen and Attack on Titan. His lawsuit was filed at the Tokyo District Court in November.
The complaint says at least 188 videos with Tuda's imitated voice were uploaded to an account between July 2024 and the lawsuit's filing date.
Tuda says the AI-generated voice could be mistaken for his own and infringes on his right of publicity. The operator claims a generic male voice was used in the narrations.
It notes the content creator clearly states on the site those recordings were generated by having AI learn the voice of a friend.
The operator argues the voice cannot be confused with Tuda's.
It also maintains no publicity rights were infringed upon.
Japan's Justice Ministry launched an expert panel in April to respond to a rise in the unauthorized use of AI generated voices.
The panel is trying to determine which kinds of cases could be subject to civil liability for the infringement of rights.
Sumo Champion Eyes Promotion to Ozeki
The winner of Japan's May Grand Sumo Tournament says he will train hard to achieve one of his goals, promotion to the sport's second highest rank of Ozeki.
Wakataka Kage, who has now claimed his second grand tournament title, was once demoted to the Makushita division due to a knee injury.
After making a comeback, he worked his way back up and now holds the fourth highest rank of Komusubi.
He beat a higher-ranked wrestler Kirishima in a playoff match on Sunday.
They had been tied with 12 wins and three losses each.
Wakatakakage told reporters at a news conference on Monday that he was tired both mentally and physically.
00:22:30 話者 2/Wakatakakage
I don't have a clear recollection of the moment I clinched the tourney title.
But I thought, I did it. I'm glad I never gave up on sumo.
00:22:44 話者 1
In the May Grand Tournament, four of the top-ranked wrestlers either dropped out or missed the competition entirely, including both current Yokozuna and two current Ozeki.
♪
Heatwave and Weather Updates Across Japan
Our meteorologist Jonathan Oh is back and he has more details on what looks to be a hot week around Japan. Jonathan.
00:23:32 話者 6
Hello, it looks like the mercury is rising again. It's definitely on the hotter side as we're seeing temperatures back to the low 30s in western portion of Japan.
I mean, in Shimabada on Monday, the high topped off at 32.7 degrees, which is a record for the month of May. And that location is not the only location seeing new records.
Here's a look at some video coming out of Fukuoka where we're seeing the temperatures also rising.
Now, as we have been reporting, it's been quite warm recently in Japan and unreasonably hot weather, unseasonably rather hot weather has returned with some places seeing record temperatures.
The Japan Meteorological Agency reported a high of over 32 degrees Celsius in Fukuoka, the highest on record for the city in the month of May.
Now, Tokyo also saw summer-like temperatures feeling more like late June.
People are being advised to stay hydrated, use their air conditioning, and if you're having to spend some time outdoors, take frequent breaks.
We cannot stress that enough because of the heat that's continuing to build.
We might be seeing some rain trying to contribute to the picture from some moisture back from the West End.
While that will help bring moisture into the area, it's not going to help in terms of temperatures.
It's actually going to add a little more humidity into the air.
So it's going to feel steamier in places like Fukuoka and Osaka as we go through this week.
And for those of you who have a keen eye on the forecast for Tokyo, 27, 27, 27 through Thursday and then 32 coming up on Friday.
So again, it's getting hotter and you want to make sure you take the proper precautions if you're going to be spending any time outdoors as not just Japan dealing with the heat.
Huge double high pressure controlling a good chunk of Europe and that's helping to increase the mercury in places like London.
We're talking about temperatures topping off at 35 on Monday, 33 in Paris, 33 in Rome.
So yeah, again, this is some heat that's very sudden and very quick.
And so if you have to spend time outdoors, take the breaks that are necessary and stay hydrated because of that.
Moscow getting a break from the heat last week, down to 19 with a high coming up on Monday with some rain.
Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
Hong Kong Bun Snatching Festival Draws Crowds
00:26:40 話者 1
One more story before we leave you.
People flocked to a remote island of Hong Kong on Sunday for a traditional bun scrambling festival that's held to bring good luck.
The Chongqiao Bun Festival is believed to have started in the late Qin Dynasty more than 100 years ago.
Steamed buns adorned with the Chinese characters for peace and safety were sold.
Children in costumes took part in a parade.
The festival's highlight came around midnight.
Participants had to climb a 14-meter tall tower covered with about 9,000 buns.
They were given 3 minutes to collect as many as they could.
Buns near the top offered the highest scores.
Real buns were used for the competition in the past, but replicas are now used because of hygiene and safety concerns.
While 12 men and women qualified for the competition, a local firefighter won the men's title, and an ice climbing athlete secured the women's title for the second year in a row.
And that wraps up this edition of NHK Newsline. We'll have more for you soon.
Thank you for joining us.
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