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

This is NHK World Japan English radio service.

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

Once again,

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

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NHK World English Podcast Scripts (2026/10/27) Cattle Protection, Foreign Births in Japan & US Tariffs

• Japanese Companies Navigate US Tariff Policies (アメリカの関税政策と日本企業の動向)
• Record Number of Babies Born to Foreign Residents in Japan (日本における外国籍の出生数増加)
• Cattle Protection using Zebra Patterns (ゼブラ模様によるウシの害虫対策)
• 今日の語彙：turmoil / 混乱,騒動、prenatal / 出産前の,胎児の、barn / 納屋（のうや）,畜舎、zebra / シマウマ（白と黒の縞模様が特徴）、bovine / ウシ科の（動物）,牛の、repel / 追い払う,撃退する,寄せ付けない
• 今日の英語表現：on the rise / 増加傾向にある、上昇している
• Shadowing Tips: 日本語と英語は使う口の筋肉が違います。そのため、初心者は最初から意味を完璧に理解しようとせず、まずは音をそのまま口に出す「口の筋肉のストレッチ（筋トレ）」として取り組むのも効果的です。

20261027180000_english_1.mp3   player

 00:00:11 話者 1/Tashiro Kyoko

Thank you for joining us. From our studio here in Tokyo, this is NHK Newsline.

Brazil's Bolsonaro Yet to Concede Election Defeat

The dust is yet to settle in Brazil after a hotly contested presidential election.

The incumbent left-wing leader holds on to power, but his right-wing opponent is yet to concede defeat.

Senator Flavio Bolsonaro lost in a runoff on Sunday.

His party issued a statement the next day acknowledging defeat.

But Bolsonaro signaled on social media he will not do the same.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's victory defied opinion polls.

And the Brazilian currency sank. There are fears public spending will balloon.

War in Ukraine
 Finland Urges Europe, Indo-Pacific to Unite Against Russia

A localized ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine is now in effect in the southern Ukrainian city of Oleshky, where residents face a worsening humanitarian disaster.

The truce began at 3 a.m. on Tuesday, Ukrainian time.

The agreement was brokered by the United States last week.

Oleshky is in the Kherson region, close to an active battle zone.

Drone attacks and buried landmines are hampering the delivery of food and medicine to the city, and preventing residents from evacuating.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said that as of early October, about 2,000 people were thought to have remained in Oleshky, 35 of them children.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the ceasefire is likely to last several days.

He also pressed Russia to clear the roads of mines so residents can evacuate safely.

On Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Teskov urged Ukraine to honor the ceasefire.

He also signaled that similar agreements are possible in other areas for humanitarian purposes.

NHK World recorded an exclusive interview with Finland's Defense Minister Antti Hanniksen, Antti Hakkanen, rather, about the situation in Ukraine.

He says Europe and its partners in the Indo-Pacific must unite to impose stronger sanctions on Russia.

Hakonen spoke to NHK World in Tokyo on Monday.

He said Russia has deepened ties with China and North Korea since launching its invasion.

00:02:46 話者 12/Antti Hakkanen/Finnish Defence Minister

Our security environment is interconnected between Europe and Indo-Pacific area.

North Korea, China, Russia is doing deeper cooperation day by day.

So we have to also do a deeper cooperation with Japan and European countries in Finland.

00:03:06 話者 1

Hakkanen also commented on US President Donald Trump's decision to exempt Russia from many sanctions.

He said lifting economic penalties amounts to helping Russian warfare.

He added that countries must understand that sanctions are essential to achieving peace in Ukraine.

00:03:27 話者 12

If the economy suffers in Russia throughout the sanctions, then Russia has to come to the peace table.

So let's not lift the sanctions. We hope that everyone understands this critical point.

00:03:41 話者 1

Hakkanen also said Finland is now involved in talks for possible peace negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

But he said Russia is the aggressor, and that a peace cannot put Ukraine in a position to surrender or give up land.

US Midterm Elections
Trump, Obama in Michigan for Battleground Push

Leaders in the US have been stepping up efforts in battleground states ahead of the midterm elections.

Now, big names from both parties have made campaign stops in Michigan.

Americans will vote on November 3 for governors, members of Congress and other offices.

The election is widely seen as a referendum under the administration of President Donald Trump. Republicans control both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The focus is on whether they can maintain those majorities.

The Senate race in Michigan is neck and neck.

Trump urged voters to back the Republican candidate.

00:04:48 話者 22/Donald Trump

I just hope, you know, it's not a presidential election, but it is a presidential election.

00:04:56 話者 1

The Democrats too sent a former president to the state.

Barack Obama focused on the stakes of the midterms.

00:05:05 話者 23/Barack Obama

This election is our last, best chance to at least rein in some of the foolishness of this administration. It is the circuit breaker in the system.

We got to flip that circuit breaker. Bring some accountability to this government.

00:05:25 話者 1

The latest polls suggest the Senate race remains extremely close.

And Democrats appear to be on the track to win a majority in the House.

Japanese Companies Navigate Shifts in US Policy Terrain

Now, Trump's shifting tariff policies have repeatedly forced Japanese companies to change course.

Despite the challenges, Japan has remained the largest source of foreign direct investment in the United States for seven straight years.

With midterm elections only a week away, NHK World's Amma Raimu reports on how Japanese companies are adapting to business in Trump's America.

00:06:04 話者 22/Donald Trump

Tariff is my favorite word. We're getting rich because of tariffs.

00:06:10 話者 4/Reporting Amma Raimu

President Trump says his tariff policies are creating jobs and encouraging manufacturers to bring production back to the United States.

His trade agenda has also forced Japanese companies to adjust their business strategies.

Automakers have ramped up investment.

Some are exporting vehicles made in the US to Japan.

Subaru is one of the most exposed to turmoil in Washington.

The US market accounts for about 70 percent of its sales.

Net profit slumped 70 percent in fiscal 2025 and tariffs were blamed for a large share of that decrease.

This Japanese automaker is a major manufacturer here in Indiana.

They are investing in the next generation of workers.

At the center of the company's US production is Subaru of Indiana Automotive, or SIA.

It builds about half of the group's global vehicle output.

Subaru has spent years investing in workforce development at the Indiana site.

The company created a training program with a local university.

Employees learn how to maintain and repair factory equipment.

Joseph Barr joined the company three years ago.

He managed to win a place in the program in April.

00:07:42 話者 32/Joseph Barr

I feel exhausted, but mentally I'm up and going. This is definitely a career position.

I feel like I'm very lucky that I got paid for the AMMT program.

00:07:56 話者 4

Training certification opens the door to higher paying jobs at the company.

For bar with three children to feed, that is a strong incentive.

00:08:08 話者 34/Cheyenne Stone/Barr's partner

Everything's just went up. Like a jug of milk is like $4.99 now. And it used to be $2.99.

Luckily he got his job and he's doing real good in the maintenance and we don't really have to stress about that anymore.

00:08:25 話者 4

More than 90% of those taking part remain on the job after completing their training.

SIA boss Scott Brand says recruiting skilled workers is not the only challenge.

He says flexibility in production location is also essential in an environment shaped by currency swings and policy changes.

00:08:49 話者 35/Scott Brand/President & COO, Subaru of Indiana Automotive

That flexibility gives us the opportunity to adjust output to match both the demand in a particular market or to have the ability to adapt to trade decisions that are made, such as tariffs or other things.

00:09:08 話者 4

Despite all the uncertainty, Japanese companies continue to look for opportunities.

One place on their radar is Arizona.

The state is riding a wave of investment in semiconductor facilities and data centers.

Company representatives recently joined a tour of the region to witness the tech buildup.

The US market remains uncertain, but as you can see behind me, Japanese companies are still looking for opportunities here.

Nozaki Yuichiro works for a chemical manufacturer.

His company is scouting for leads in semiconductor production and data center cooling.

00:09:55 話者 36/Nozaki Yuichiro

Things here are moving at an incredible pace. We will be watching this market closely to see how technologies we developed can contribute to this field.

00:10:07 話者 4

Sakata Hiroki's employer makes cheap materials and displays.

His company sees advantages in the US , including subsidies and tax incentives, but remains cautious.

00:10:24 話者 37/Sakata Hiroki

There is no doubt it's an attractive market. At the same time, it's become much harder to see how long the current conditions will last.

00:10:36 話者 4

Opportunities always come with risks. For Japanese businesses in the US market, weighing both sides of the equation has never been more important.

Amma Raimu, NHK World.

Business

00:11:07 話者 1

Now let's see what's happening in the world of business.

Here's Ramin Mellegard from Our Biz Desk.

00:11:14 話者 2/Ramin Mellegard

Thank you very much indeed.

Hackers Release Data After GMO Ignores Ransom Demand

Now a hacker group has released what it claims is personal customer information after GMO Internet Group ignored a deadline to pay a $1 million ransom.

GMO said last week its cloud servers that are mostly used for currency trading had been breached by unauthorized parties.

It said illicit transactions had taken place on some customer accounts.

Now the hacker group claiming responsibility for the attack had demanded payment by noon on Tuesday, Japan time.

It has threatened to publicly release customer details every day at noon if it isn't paid.

GMO told NHK on Tuesday it would not meet the demand and is working with the police and other authorities on the matter.

The authenticity of the purported GMO customer details released by the hacker group has not been confirmed.

Personal Data Leaks Worry GMO Customers

GMO's customers are increasingly concerned over the illicit use of their leaked personal data.

One woman says she lost about 1.8 million yen or more than $11,000 due to repeated unauthorized transactions in the space of two days last week.

She says her losses are still mounting.

00:12:48 話者 45

I'm just an amateur, while they're a group of hackers who are incredibly knowledgeable about networks. So I'm worried that they could easily bypass the measures I've taken.

00:13:01 話者 2

Now the victim says she has backed up data and reset her computer as the hackers are also threatening to encrypt devices of GMO customers.

She said she's also changed passwords for a number of accounts.

00:13:18 話者 45

I'm just doing what the company advises me, but I'm worried if that's really enough to be safe. It's scary.

00:13:27 話者 2

The woman says she's in a state of constant anxiety as the hacker group says it will send her browsing history and other data to her relatives and acquaintances.

She says she hopes GMO will explain exactly what happened and what the situation is now.

Microsoft Offers Retirement Buyouts to Thousands of Staff

Okay, US tech giant Microsoft is offering voluntary retirement packages to employees in the United States, Canada, Britain and India.

Microsoft announced the buyout offer on Monday.

It did not say how many employees are eligible, but US media reports put the number at about 60,000. That's roughly 27% of Microsoft's global workforce.

The offer reportedly covers staff in divisions including Xbox Gaming and the Windows operating system, but some of those working in data centers and cybersecurity are excluded. 

Microsoft has been reducing its workforce in recent years.

US media outlet Bloomberg says the new program is part of Microsoft's efforts to trim costs and retool its workforce for the era of artificial intelligence.

Markets

Okay, let's go to check the markets.

♪

And that’s the business news.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan Hold Security Talks with Iran

00:15:22 話者 1

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have sent senior officials to Iran for security talks.

This comes amid growing fears the United States and Israel will soon launch fresh attacks on the country.

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khaled bin Salman, the head of Turkey's national intelligence organization, Ibrahim Khalin, and Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir were among those in attendance.

They met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeskian.

Local media say the talks were held at Pakistan's initiative.

The country has been mediating negotiations between the US and Iran.

Pezeskian stressed the need to strengthen unity among Islamic countries, saying Iran is ready to deepen regional cooperation.

The countries released a statement after the meeting.

They said they had agreed to continue dialogue for peace and security in the region.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement in August.

It's a framework for a collective defense in the Middle East and includes support for Saudi Arabia, which has come under attack from Yemen's anti-government Houthi group.

Babies Born to Foreign Residents in Japan Hit Record High

The number of children born to foreign nationals in Japan last year reached a record high of over 23,000.

Meanwhile, those born to Japanese nationals fell to just over 670,000, a record low.

More than 4100 babies were born to foreign nationals in Tokyo in 2025.

The number of pregnant foreign women on the rise.

This hospital has introduced an online interpretation system for prenatal tests.

(Japanese)

00:17:25 話者 52/Suzuki Atsushi/Department Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyorin University Suginami Hospital

I think many pregnant foreign women want to continue living in Japan.

We want to accept as many of these women as possible.

00:17:34 話者 1

An NHK analysis of key statistics found, in some municipalities, more than 20 percent of babies were born to foreign nationals.

In Shizuoka Prefecture's Atami City, this figure was nearly 25 percent.

In response, the municipal government has established a new department.

It offers consultations to foreign residents as well as to Japanese people struggling to communicate with them.

00:18:04 話者 53/Takahashi Yoshitaka/Atami City official

Young people from a variety of countries are moving in to our city.

As we want them to continue living here, we'd like to interact and connect with them so we can support them.

00:18:17 話者 1

Experts say one factor behind the increase is that more foreign nationals are working in Japan under a resident status that allows them to bring their families with them.

Cattle Couture: A Striped Solution to Protecting Cows

Researchers in Japan are tackling a challenge facing cattle farms.

They're exploring whether an unusual approach can help keep big cows safe from a very tiny enemy: insects.

00:18:52 話者 5/Reporter: Sueoka Noriaki/Narrator: Kitadai Hiroko

This might seem like an ordinary barn full of cows. But what's this? A zebra?

This black and white bovine may hold the key to keeping away pests.

In Akaiwa City, Okayama Prefecture, ranch owner Arashima Yasuo has been battling a problem that bugs cattle farmers.

Blood-sucking horseflies and stable flies can swarm his herd and spread disease.

The cows' only defense is to swish their tails and stamp their hooves.

00:19:35 話者 63/Arashima Yasuo

I think it's stressful for them. They're swishing their tails vigorously to defend themselves.

00:19:42 話者 5

It's a daily battle for Arashima who catches the insects one by one with a net.

00:19:51 話者 3

There's no really effective way to deal with them. This is the most efficient method.

00:19:57 話者 5

But help for Japan's farmers may be on the way. International researchers have found the zebra's black and white stripes naturally repel bugs. The pattern confuses their vision.

It's a striking idea that is already producing results in Japan.

A test in Aichi Prefecture found that zebra-striped cows attracted half as many insects as plain ones.

The research won an Ig Nobel Prize last year, a Nobel Prize parody which honors science that makes people both laugh and think.

But the solution has not been black and white. Painted stripes fade within days.

Experts at the Research Institute for Livestock Science in Okayama Prefecture have been working on the next step.

Researcher Arakane Tomohiro sends a joint study with a clothing company produced the answer. They developed a striped outfit called the zebra cow coat.

Tests conducted with cows during the summer revealed an unexpected benefit.

00:21:18 話者 62/Arakane Tomohiro

This is a thermal camera. We are looking at the surface temperature of the cows.

00:21:24 話者 5

Tests found that after 20 minutes the temperature of a coat-clad cow remains lower than one directly exposed to the sun.

Although designed to block the bugs, the coat may also help cattle beat the heat.

00:21:42 話者 62

We plan to continue the tests and gather more data.

We'll do our best to show people that this really works.

00:21:51 話者 5

Research will continue until March next year to measure the code's effectiveness against bugs and see how zebra print catches on with the herd.

♫～

00:23:03 話者 1

To check out more of our latest news, please access NHK World Japan's website.

♪

World Weather

And now to world weather.

A strong storm slammed through parts of the United Kingdom Monday, bringing heavy rain and damaging winds. Our meteorologist Jonathan Oh has the details.

00:23:52 話者 3

Hello as the fall season continues to take a hold across Europe we see the changes bringing some stormier weather as well.

We had one that was moving through the United Kingdom and left some problems as it moved through the area.

I want to show you some video to give you an idea of the situation on the ground.

A storm named Boelo slammed through parts of the United Kingdom on Monday leaving a trail of inundation and damage in its wake.

In some of northern towns, flooding affected several properties and caused damage to some transport routes. A number of roads were blocked by fallen trees.

Now this girl and her mother had to pass the night using candles and double blankets as they were one of over 100,000 homes that had lost power due to the storm.

Now that same system will continue to move toward the north and impact the Scandinavian Peninsula as it moves through the area and it has still a lot of the strong winds associated with that storm.

Down toward the south, we've had this low pressure system, kind of a pesky one that has stayed around the Balkan Peninsula into Turkey and it will continue to bring rain and thunderstorms into Istanbul and also into Athens as we go into the day on Tuesday.

In the central portion of the continent, sunny and relatively dry as we go through the day.

Meanwhile, we've been seeing a bit of an unstable pattern across the central portion of the United States as a couple of low pressure systems roll through with some cold air really wrapping around those lows.

Down to the south, that's where high pressure is keeping these things relatively warm here, 20s into Atlanta, into Houston and on the flip side, single digit highs into places like Winnipeg and Vancouver as we go through the day on Tuesday.

Quick note on Northeast Asia, we had a cloudy and relatively wet day, snow possibly up toward the north as a couple more low pressure systems roll through the area and drag some of the colder air into the picture.

But Tokyo, after seeing cloudy weather on Tuesday, looking at sunnier weather high of 20 as we go into the day on Tuesday, on Wednesday.

Hope you have a good day wherever you are.

♫～　3-Day Forecast　～♫

Leaf Peepers Enjoy Autumn Colors in Okunikko

00:26:35 話者 1

Stunning autumn colors are on now full display in Okuniko, north of Tokyo.

The leaves of maples, azellas, oaks and other trees in the Lake Chuzenji area have turned brilliant hues of crimson and gold.

The area, part of Nikko City, Dochigi Prefecture, is situated at an elevation of about 12-hundred meters.

Tourists from around the world and across Japan were treated to magnificent views from aboard a boat plying the lake.

00:27:09 話者 72

I've never been here before. It's breathtakingly beautiful.

00:27:16 話者 73

What a beautiful place to enjoy the colors and the natural aspects of the lake and seeing the fall colors is just wonderful to be here.

00:27:29 話者 1

A local official said the seasonal foliage can be enjoyed in this area until around early November.

And that concludes this edition of NHK Newsline.

Thank you very much for watching and please join us again.

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 (2026/10/26) Brazil Election, US-China Relations & AI Manufacturing

•  Brazil's election outcome, changing US-China relations, and Japan's AI-driven manufacturing innovations lead today's global news.
•  ブラジル大統領選の結果、変化する米中関係、そして日本のAI活用による製造業革新が今日の注目ニュースです。
• 今日の語彙：incumbent / 現職の,在任中の、annulled / 無効にされた,取り消された、runoff election / 決選投票、bargaining chip / 交渉材料、取引材料
• 今日の英語表現：leave rates unchanged /金利を据え置く
• Shadowing Tips： 声を出すのが恥ずかしいからと小声で練習すると、英語特有のリズムやイントネーションが身につきにくくなります。できるだけはっきりと声に出して練習しましょう。

20261026180000_english_1.mp3   player

 00:00:11 話者 1/Yamaguchi Hiroaki

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

Former Japanese PM Fukuda Dies at 90

Former Japanese Prime Minister Fukudai Yasuo has died. He was 90 years old.

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae told reporters Monday she was deeply saddened by the news.

00:00:33 話者 2

Fukuda used his outstanding insight and extensive experience to tackle difficult issues one by one.

As the chair of the Group of Eight Summit at Lake Toya in Hokkaido,

He tackled issues facing the international community and greatly highlighted Japan's presence in the world.

Reflecting on his great achievements, I once again offer my sincere condolences.

00:01:17 話者 1

The Liberal Democratic Party says Fukuda died on October 22.

He was first elected to the lower house in 1990 and went on to win seven consecutive elections.

He held a number of Cabinet posts over the course of his career, eventually becoming prime minister at age 71.

As prime minister, he worked to improve Japan-China relations through visits with his Chinese counterpart, President Pu Jintao.

Incumbent President Lula Wins Brazil's Runoff Election

Brazil's electoral authority has announced that incumbent president Luis Inacio Lula da Silva won the presidential runoff election held on Sunday.

00:02:02 話者 3

I also want to thank the Brazilian youth who took to the streets to defend democracy.

This country doesn't accept being anyone's backyard.

00:02:17 話者 1

According to the electoral authority, left-wing president Lula came in first with 51.7 percent...

and right-wing senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, got 48.2 percent.

00:02:35 話者 4

What happened today was not normal. It was unacceptable.

I'm going to request these elections be annulled.

00:02:45 話者 1

During the campaign, Lula pledged to correct the wealth gap, while Bolsonaro touted his close alignment to US President Donald Trump.

In South America, several right-wing candidates have won presidential elections amid increased involvement by Trump's administration.

However, Brazil, which has the largest economy and population in the region, saw the leftist administration remain in power.

Venezuela's Opposition Leader Returns from 'Exile'

Venezuela's opposition leader and Nobel laureate Maria Corina Machado has returned home.

She had been living abroad since secretly leaving her country to attend the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony last December.

On Sunday, Machado was welcomed by large numbers of supporters who filled the streets.

Her office had accused the Venezuelan government of blocking her return.

It announced Machado will carry out her political activity in Venezuela.

It also expressed hope her return will give Venezuelans the opportunity to freely determine their own futures.

In January, former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was captured and sent to the US

in a military operation conducted by the administration of President Trump.

Since then, Maduro's close aide Delsey Rodriguez has been in power as interim president.

Machado has argued the interim president has no legitimacy and is calling for the swift transfer of power in elections.

French Far-Right Leader Le Pen Launches Presidential Bid

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has expressed her intention to seek the presidency in the election scheduled for April next year, stressing that social order must be restored in France.

Le Pen gave a speech of nearly an hour to some 85-hundred supporters in Orleans in central France.

00:04:42 話者 2

I'm not proposing that the country return to the past, but trying to design and build the France of tomorrow.

00:04:51 話者 1

She emphasized the importance of the rule of law and the need to restore order.

Her remarks followed a recent turmoil in the country.

There were a series of arson attacks and looting linked to demonstrations.

Le Pen said the rule of law means guaranteeing safety for all people and not trivializing violence.

00:05:15 話者 4

Her whole plan is necessary for France.

Otherwise, we're doomed within the next 10 to 15 years.

00:05:23 話者 1

Le Pen is the parliamentary leader of the national rally.

The results of an opinion poll released on Saturday show her leading the race for her presidency with a support rate of 32 to 33-point-five percent.

Far-left leader Jeon-yuk Mellencion is trailing far behind in second place.

US Midterm Elections:  Trump in Battleground State of Michigan

US President Trump addressed a campaign rally near Detroit on Sunday.

He was supporting a Republican Senate candidate in the battleground state of Michigan ahead of the November 3rd midterm election.

Former President Barack Obama had been in the Midwestern state the previous day to show support for a Democratic Senate nominee.

00:06:15 話者 5

What a crowd. You know my competitor was here.

yesterday, he didn't have a crowd like this, I can tell you.

00:06:24 話者 1

Trump was critical of Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed because he is a Muslim.

00:06:31 話者 5

Michigan needs to stand up and fight just like Todd did to stop a jihadist from walking into the capital.

00:06:41 話者 1

Trump urged people to vote for Republican candidate Mike Rogers.

With Trump's approval ratings at low levels, some Trump-backed,...

candidates including Rogers are trying to appeal to independent or unaffiliated voters.

They are distancing themselves from the administration over the military operation against Iran, tariffs and other issues.

Observers are waiting to see how Trump's campaign efforts will affect the outcome of the election.

How US Midterms Could Impact US-China Relations

The United States has long debated how to manage its relationship with China, balancing both security concerns and economic interests.

That dynamic has evolved considerably under US President Trump, who has cultivated a seemingly close personal relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

With November's midterm elections set to deliver a verdict on the Trump administration, what could that mean for that relationship and for US-China relations more broadly?

NHK World's Ebizuke Megumi brings us a closer look.

00:07:54 話者 6/Ebizuke Megumi

This military company, Redcat, manufactures drones at its headquarters in the western state of Utah.

We are at a US based company that manufactures drones and these drones assembled here are supplied to US and allied nation military.

00:08:16 話者 7

So this has the software and the technology to operate in a GPS denied environment.

It can also do auto flying, so fly by itself, has targeting recognition, a very, very smart drone.

00:08:31 話者 6

Over the last decade, the US has increasingly positioned foreign-made drones as a national security threat, implementing numerous restrictions and regulations, particularly on those from China.

As a result, Redcat has overhauled its supply chain.

As of 2024, they no longer use Chinese-made parts in any of their core systems.

00:08:58 話者 7

We've been at peace for a very long time, yet at the same time, because of our over-reliance on Chinese goods, it's also weakened us.

And so how do we protect ourselves in the future?

Building up our own industries, manufacturing, supply chains, making sure that in case things change or if things change in the future, that we're still able to sustain ourselves.

00:09:19 話者 6

It's the kind of ensuring of manufacturing that Trump has called for as a key pillar of his economic policy.

one that also levied massive tariffs on Chinese goods in the earliest days of his administration.

But despite positioning China as one of the US's biggest competitors, Trump has spent much of the last year deepening a unique personal relationship with President Xi.

They've met twice so far this year and are expected to meet again in Shinzhen in November.

00:09:56 話者 5

From the time of my first election in 2016, President Xi and I have forged a friendship, a truly great friendship, actually built on mutual respect and the vital interests of our people.

00:10:09 話者 6

For some, that growing closeness is prompting concern.

One such group is FAPA, the Formasan Association for Public Affairs, an organization made-up of people with roots in Taiwan.

for more than four decades, FAPA has sought both public and political support for Taiwan.

Around 50 people attended a regional gathering held in California in October, discussing and planning ahead of election season.

The US has long walked a dedicated line of maintaining relations with China while also tacitly supporting Taiwan.

But Fapa is concerned that Trump's growing closeness with Xi, as well as his transactional style of politics, could threaten that balance.

00:11:03 話者 2

We are worried, of course, that President Trump will use Taiwan as a bargaining chip or as a leveraging point in these discussions and negotiations with Xi Jinping.

00:11:25 話者 6

Ahead of the midterm elections, HAPA members visited congressional offices from both parties to call for continued US support for Taiwan's security.

00:11:36 話者 2

I certainly can.

The importance of our work right now is to continue to inform policymakers that make real decisions on legislation that will impact US-Taiwan relations right here in Congress.

00:11:50 話者 6

And indeed, congressional lawmakers could soon have much more influence on US-China relations.

If Trump's Republican lose legislative control to the Democrats in the midterms, that leaves Trump much less freedom to unilaterally implement American policy on China, no matter how close his relationship with Xi.

Ebizuke Megumi, NHK World.

Nepal-China Border Floods
Recovery Work Continues 2 Months After Disaster

00:12:23 話者 1

Two months have passed since catastrophic mudslides and flooding hit Nepal's border region with China.

Efforts to rebuild the affected area are ongoing.

The Nepalese military says a temporary bridge was completed earlier this month.

It says the bridge enables relief supplies to be delivered to places where access is difficult.

The government says it plans to move affected communities to safer and higher ground.

It is preparing 20 locations for temporary housing.

Reconstruction costs are estimated to be around 4.7 billion dollars.

Nepal's disaster authorities say the work will take about three years to complete.

The August 26 disaster left 1,457 people dead in Nepal.

more than 5,200 people remain unaccounted for.

On China's side, the country's media reports 43 people dead and more than 500 unaccounted for.

Business

Now let's turn to Ramin Mellegard for what's happening in the world of business.

Ramin.

00:13:32 話者 8/Ramin Mellegard

Thank you very much indeed.

BOJ, FED Expected to Leave Rates Unchanged This Week

Now the Bank of Japan is expected to leave its benchmark interest rate unchanged at a two-day policy meeting that starts on Thursday.

The BOJ raised the rate in September and it is set to be still assessing the effects of that move on the economy.

The central bank will also release its latest outlook for the economy and prices this week.

BOJ policymakers will sit down as oil costs remain elevated and food prices continue to rise as companies pass on higher costs.

Now, last month, Governor Ueda Kazuo said the bank's policy approach had entered a new phase.

The shift is from trying to achieve inflation of around 2% to stabilizing it at that level.

Investors will be watching the meeting for any indications about the pace of future rate increases.

The BOJ gathering will follow a two-day policy meeting of the US Federal Reserve starting on Tuesday.

The Fed also raised rates in September, its first hike in more than three years.

Investors expect another increase before the end of the year.

However, several Fed officials have said more time is needed to assess the impact of last month's move, so investors also expect the Fed to leave rates unchanged this week.

And in a busy week for central banks, the European Central Bank will hold its policy setting meeting on Thursday.

Japan Insurers Shift to Longer Bonds

Japanese life insurers are shifting investments into longer-dated government bonds with higher returns as interest rates rise.

The portfolio adjustments come as prices on government bonds they hold are falling, leaving them with unrealized losses.

Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance plans to sell some holdings and replace them mainly with 20-year and 30-year government bonds.

It aims to invest more than 2 trillion yen or about $12.7 billion during the current fiscal year.

Nippon Life Insurance made similar changes to about $6.4 billion in government bonds in its holdings in the first half of the fiscal year.

Daiichi Life Insurance says it will reallocate roughly the same amount over the full fiscal year.

The move is projected to lift its annual earnings by about $216 million.

Now the insurers also need to adjust their investments to support policies with higher returns as the Bank of Japan pushes rates higher.

Dr.S Inspection Bullet Train Debuts

A new bullet train that performs inspections as it carries passengers has succeeded Japan's well-known Dr. Yellow Shinkansen.

The Dr. S train made its first commercial run on Monday.

The special train has equipment for inspecting tracks and other operating elements.

It looks like a standard Shinkansen, but with Dr. S logos on the sides of some carriages.

For now, it will be tested without conducting inspections.

00:17:11 話者 6

It was very good to see the train as I really ride the Shinkansen.

00:17:17 話者 8

Central Japan Railway retired the Doctor Yellow train last year due to aging.

Railway buffs said seeing one of the yellow trains would bring good fortune.

Now, Doctor S schedules are not disclosed.

Four will be phased in for full-scale inspection runs starting in January.

Japan Machine Tool Fair Showcases AI Innovations

A major machine tool fair in Tokyo is showcasing technology to help ease labor shortages in the manufacturing industry.

Around 1,100 companies from Japan and overseas are taking part.

Japanese electronics maker Mitsubishi Electric is exhibiting a system where AI acts on verbal instructions from people to operate humanoid robots and machine tools in coordination.

The company says the tech can ease the workload of human personnel.

Machine tool maker Fanuc is showcasing a technology in which AI interacts with humans to generate design concepts for metal surface processing.

The AI then relays specific machining instructions to the equipment.

The manufacturing industry is increasingly embracing AI in an effort to address worker shortages and improve productivity.

Now the challenge is determining which jobs can be replaced by machines and finding ways to teach AI the skills of expert workers.

00:18:53 話者 3

By using AI to carry out routine tasks that workers have been doing, factory production efficiency can be improved and people's work will shift to more advanced tasks.

00:19:04 話者 8

Okay, the fair runs through the end of October.

Markets

Okay, let's have a look at the markets.

♪

That's it for business.

Novice Brewer Revives Ancient Sake Tradition

00:19:51 話者 1

While exports of Japanese sake have been rising steadily, domestic consumption has been declining and breweries are closing down.

But this year, brewing in a mountainous area came back to life after many years...

and the person who made it happen was a complete novice.

00:20:13 話者 9/Reporter: Nojiri Hina/Narrator: Kitadai Hiroko

Amibayashi Kyoichiro started brewing sake in the town of Kumakogen in Ehime Prefecture this past May.

On a recent workday, he was stirring and cooling the steamed sake rice.

When things get busy, an acquaintance helps out.

But he doesn't have any regular employees and handles most of the work on his own.

00:20:36 話者 10

It's hard work.

I really have to use my muscles.

00:20:41 話者 9

Kumakogen is located in a mountainous region of Ehime.

It's blessed with pure water and a significant temperature difference between warm days and cool nights.

The area is well suited for growing sake rice.

Brewing has gone on here since ancient times.

But the industry began dying off as the brewers aged.

The last brewery went out of business more than ten years ago.

Meanwhile, Kamibayashi worked in the corporate world and spent time overseas with a trading firm after graduating from college.

Entering his 50s, he decided it was time for a change.

He quit his job and began searching for a place to make sake.

Kamibayashi came across this former brewery online and decided to give it a go.

00:21:37 話者 10

I wanted to do work that involved exporting things unique to Japan, things found nowhere else, and popularizing them overseas.

I especially love sake.

00:21:47 話者 9

He had generous backing from the local community.

Ito Atsushi from the town hall has been supporting kamibayashi for over three years.

00:22:04 話者 4

Sake has the power to attract people and draw them here.

Having a sake brewery can be a real asset for this region.

00:22:13 話者 9

Ito helped out in various ways, searching for available subsidies and connecting Kamibayashi with a carpenter who could restore the brewery.

He introduced Kamibayashi, who had no brewing experience, to an establishment where he could work as an apprentice.

Ito also worked out an agreement with the farmer to grow an original variety of sake rice developed in Ehime Prefecture.

00:22:43 話者 10

The hurdles were high, but I began feeling like I might be able to pull it off somehow.

00:22:49 話者 9

Three years after the initial idea, the brewery opened its doors.

This is Kamibayashi's pride and joy, Tsuyumine.

The artwork and calligraphy on the label were created by local artisans.

Messages of encouragement dot the walls of the brewery.

00:23:14 話者 10

I hope my presence will make people feel vitality is returned to this area.

00:23:22 話者 9

Kamibayashi's larger goal is to sell his sake overseas and encourage more people to discover Kuma Kogen. His early steps have been promising so far.

♫～

00:24:36 話者 1

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

World Weather

We had a dramatic change in the weather for Tokyo going into the work week.

Our meteorologist Jonathan Oh tells us if the changes are here to stay in our weather update.

00:25:02 話者 11/Jonathan Oh

Hello, you probably need to grab your jackets and your umbrellas as we went through Monday not only in Tokyo but also other portions of Japan as we had a big change really taking a hold of the weather pattern across the country.

Now western portion of Japan saw some pretty impressive totals because the remnants of Champi were nearby and dumped a lot of that moisture in the area.

I mean some locations up to 200 or above toward 80 millions of rainfall in a 24 hour period and over into portion of Shikoko also seeing 154 millimeters rainfall in a 24 hour period.

But here in Tokyo, it was also wet and a lot cooler as well.

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

It looked like someone had flipped the switch Monday in central Tokyo as the weather went from dry to wet and warm to cold.

After a dry period for most of October the capital saw 17 millimeters of rainfall as of Monday afternoon according to the Japan Meteorological Agency and on top of that it was 9 degrees cooler at noon Monday compared to the same time on Sunday.

So yeah, you definitely notice the difference if you're out and about now.

Along the Pacific side we still have a couple low pressure systems rolling on through and that's going to be bringing more of a damp pattern once again as we go through Tuesday.

And up toward the north it'll push a cold air coming on through so we're talking about the possibility of flakes by the time we go into Wednesday for Sapporo and we'll be seeing sunshine returning for the western portion of Japan Tokyo seeing more Sun by Wednesday but then notice the temperatures start dropping off 16 foot high coming up on Thursday in Tokyo and then rain returns as we look toward the end of the work week.

Sspeaking of some rain looking what's happening across North America the plains dealing with a surge of moisture in the area and so that pattern is going to bring a bit of a wet weather day coming up on Monday now behind that got some cold air coming on through temperatures you know dropping off into places like Denver and the Upper Rockies as we go through Monday.

Hope you have a good day wherever you are.

♫～　3-Day Forecast　～♫

00:27:40 話者 1

And that concludes this edition of NHK Newsline. Thanks for watching.

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, the broadcast at 1400 hours 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 (2026/10/25) Tropical Storm Champi, North Korea-China Ties & Ukraine Truce

• English :  Tropical Storm Champi threatens western Japan, Kim Jong-un visits China, and hopes rise for a humanitarian truce in Ukraine.
• 日本語 :  台風チャンピーが西日本に接近する中、金正恩氏が中国を訪問し、ウクライナでは人道停戦への期待が高まっています。
• 今日の語彙：damp / 弱める,湿らせる、resumption / 再開、deteriorating / 悪化している、truce / 停戦、休戦
• 今日の英語表現：hold out hope for ... /  ～への希望を持ち続ける
• Shadowing Tips: シャドーイングは、短時間でもコツコツと継続することで効果が現れる学習方法です。1回15～30分程度を目安に、長期的に取り組みましょう。

20261025180000_english_1.mp3   player

00:00:12 (Maria Sato)

Hello, you're watching NHK Newsline. 

I'm Maria Satsu in Tokyo with the stories at this hour.

Tropical Storm Champi Nears Kyushu

Tropical Storm Champi is moving northeast over the East China Sea.

Atmospheric conditions in wide areas of Japan are growing unstable as warm and damp air around the storm flows into a front near the main island of Honshu.

Developed rain clouds are covering regions including Kinki, Shikoku and Tokai.

Champi is expected to continue moving northeast before changing to a low-pressure system over waters west of Kyushu by Monday morning.

As the tropical storm moves north and makes the front active, wide areas may get heavy or extremely heavy rain through Tuesday.

In the 24 hours through Monday noon, up to 200 millimeters of rainfall is expected in northern Kyushu and the Shikoku region.

The Japan Meteorological Agency is calling on people to be on high alert for landslides, flooding in low-lying areas and swollen rivers.

People in northern Kyushu are also advised to be on alert for violent winds and high waves.

N.Korean Leader Kim Visits China

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited China and met with one of the top leaders of its Communist Party.

China's government said Kim visited Dandong in Liaoning Province on Saturday.

He was greeted by Wang Huning, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and the party's number four official.

The visit was Kim's first to the country since September last year.

He toured a museum featuring the Korean War one day before China was to mark 76 years since its entry into that conflict.

During the talks with Wang, Kim reportedly indicated willingness to further strengthen relations between the two countries.

He expressed hope North Korea will continue to share a historic friendship and expand practical cooperation with China.

Wang reportedly said Beijing will step up strategic communication and cooperation with Pyongyang and will create a peaceful and stable environment to protect interests regarding both countries' sovereignty, security and development.

China's government said Kim inspected a local car factory.

They also said Wang saw Kim off at the new Yalu River Bridge, which links the two countries. The structure opened earlier this month.

Observers say North Korea is apparently trying to communicate with China with an eye on a possible resumption of negotiations with the United States.

A summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum will be held in China next month.

More Massive Demonstrations Across France

France has seen another day of massive demonstrations.

The interior minister stresses that measures are in place to contain violence.

On Saturday, rallies backed by labor unions were held across the country.

People are demanding measures against rising prices and other issues.

The interior ministry estimates the total number of participants at 410,000.

Some earlier demonstrations on October 17 descended into vandalism or looting.

The authorities have since deployed 70,000 security personnel.

In Paris, a route for the march was designated away from the city center, and police officers in riot gear were on duty.

00:04:10 話者 12

I know what had happened in the previous protests, but I wanted to join today to show we will keep speaking out.

00:04:20 話者 13

I hesitated the riddle about joining the protest. France is known for its commitment to human rights, but even here, protests have gotten dangerous.

00:04:31 (Maria Sato)

Demonstrations in Paris ended without major incidents, but when police tried to disperse the crowd at the end of the march, clashes broke out and officers used water cannons and tear gas.

And in the southern city of Marseille, the mayor says several groups attempted to engage in looting in various spots.

The AFB news agency reports that a sumo market and other spots in the southeastern city of Grenoble were looted.

Interior Minister Moran Nuez says around 1,000 people nationwide were detained in connection with the demonstrations.

War in Ukraine:  Zelenskyy Hopeful for Humanitarian Truce

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he's hopeful that a US-brokered ceasefire with Russia will help improve the humanitarian situation in the city of Oleshky.

Zelenskyy said in a video address on Saturday that the unblocking of access to Oleshky would allow for the delivery of food and medical supplies and enable civilians to leave the combat zone.

Oleshky is in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson, part of the territory Russia claims to have annexed.

The humanitarian situation in the city is deteriorating rapidly with reports of deaths due to starvation and freezing temperatures.

The US announced on Friday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to temporarily halt all military action in Oleshky.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine says the ceasefire will begin at 3 a.m. on Tuesday for a humanitarian operation.

Russia also announced the start of the ceasefire at the same time.

Attention is focused on whether the truce can prevent conditions in the area from worsening before the harsh winter sets in.

Maglev Station Site Unveiled

Japan's magnetic levitating train line is still under construction, but the public has been given a glimpse of what the stations will look like.

Central Japan Railway unveiled the construction site in Sagamihara City.

It will be the only such station in Kanagawa Prefecture.

Visitors got to see an underground level where platforms will be located.

The initial plan was for the station to be completed by March of next year.

The company cited excavation work and other factors in pushing back the schedule and now plans to complete construction around the spring of 2030.

00:07:19 話者 24/Mizuno Takanori/Executive Vice President, Central Japan Railway

The public has great expectations for the project, so we'll do our best to open the maglev line.

00:07:29 (Maria Sato)

The linear Chuo Shinkansen maglev train line will link Shinagawa Station in Tokyo with Nagoya.

The question many are asking now is when the line will go into operation.

JR Central plans to present its latest projection by the end of this year.

Japanese Garden Lit Up for Spooky Halloween

Halloween is about one week away. Some children in Japan have had a chance to visit a spooky botanical garden and put their fears to the test.

The Kanagawa Prefectural Ofuna Flower Center is located south of Tokyo.

The facility extended its closing time on Saturday night and lit up its Halloween decorations. 

Children wearing ghost and witch costumes had fun rolling large pumpkins.

Some of the giant fruits were weighed, weighed over 50 kilograms.

(Japanese)

00:08:41 話者 36/Childeen

Happy Halloween!

World Weather

00:08:46 (Maria Sato)

And we'll keep things rolling with a look at our three-day weather forecast for cities around the world.

♫～　3-Day Forecast　～♫

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.

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

Once again, the broadcast at 1400 hours 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 (2026/10/24) North Korea-China Relations, Cyber Defense & Okinawa Storm Alert

• North Korea's leader visits China, GMO calls for stronger cyber defense, and Severe Storm Champi threatens Okinawa.
• 北朝鮮の指導者が中国を訪問し、GMOが積極的サイバー防衛を要請する中、台風級の暴風雨チャンピが沖縄に接近しています
• 今日の語彙：illicit manipulation / 不正操作,不正な価格操作,市場操作、eradicate /  根絶する,完全になくす、cyber defense /  サイバー防衛,サイバー攻撃対策、storm surge /  高潮,暴風雨による海面上昇
• 今日の英語表現：stay alert against ~ / ～に警戒する
• Shadowing Tips: 英語は日本語と異なり、音の強弱や抑揚が重要です。意識してシャドーイングすることで、自然な発音とリズムが身につきます。

20261024180000_english_1.mp3   player

 00:00:12 (Maria Sato)

Hello, welcome back to NHK Newsline. I'm Maria Sato in Tokyo with the top stories.

S. Korea Media: Kim Jong Un Arrives in China

Multiple South Korean media outlets say North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is on a visit to China.

Kim reportedly arrived on Saturday in Dandong in the northeastern Chinese province of Liaoning.

This is Kim's first visit to China since September last year when he attended a military parade in Beijing and held a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Observers say Beijing and Pyongyang may hope to demonstrate their traditional friendly ties ahead of US President Donald Trump's expected visit to China next month.

The US leader is due to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit.

GMO Asks Japan Govt. to Deploy Active Cyber Defense

A major Japanese internet firm has asked the government to implement active cyber defense measures following a massive cyberattack.

GMO Internet Group made the request on Saturday.

It came after the company earlier confirmed that its cloud servers for its general public's currency trading and other transactions had been targeted.

It confirmed some trading was done without the knowledge of its customers.

Active cyber defense is a security strategy that allows experts within the police and Self-Defense Forces, among others, to identify potential sources of attacks and incapacitate them. Related laws took effect this month.

The company describes the methods used in the attack as extremely malicious and unprecedented.

It says the cyberattack targeted transaction accounts and involved illicit manipulation and asset damage.

The firm says it's difficult for private companies alone to eradicate the illegal appropriation of people's assets by sophisticated crime groups that act across international borders.

Severe Storm Champi Threatens Okinawa

Severe tropical storm Champi is bringing strong winds to parts of Okinawa Prefecture in southern Japan. Authorities warn of high waves and storm surges.

The large storm is estimated to be moving north-northeast over the waters around the Sakishima Island at a speed of 20 kilometers per hour.

Maximum sustained winds are blowing at 108 kilometers per hour with peak gusts of 144 kilometers per hour.

Rainfall could reach 120 millimeters in the 24 hours through noon on Sunday.

People are urged to stay alert against highways, landslides and flooding in low-lying areas.

Flights have been canceled mainly between islands in Okinawa and Kagoshima prefectures. Utilities are also affected.

Okinawa Electric Power Company says more than 13,000 homes in the prefecture were without electricity as of 11 a.m.

It also says the water supply has been cut off on Haterumajima Island due to extended power blackouts. The storm has already battered Taiwan.

Officials say one person is dead and more than 520 injured.

Schools in Taipei and other areas are temporarily closed.

Japan's KDDI Seeks to Explain Fire in Mongolia

Japanese telecom giant KDDI has sought to clarify the circumstances surrounding a massive wildfire in a Mongolian nature reserve.

Investigators believe the fire may have started in a vehicle carrying executives of a subsidiary company.

The firm says officials from the subsidiary were traveling with local authorities in the area when the vehicle began emitting smoke.

The blaze broke out in eastern Mongolia on October 8.

Mabicom, a local subsidiary of KDDI, has been linked to the incident.

The Japanese firm says Mabicom CEO Ochi Yasuhiro and other senior officials were there to check operations of a new communications network.

KDDI says the officials were accompanied by Mongolian authorities in their own vehicles.

The firm also says the officials carried out checks in an area specified by the authorities.

KDDI says smoke started coming from one of two Mabikom vehicles while the convoy had stopped to remove some dry grass stuck underneath.

The firm says efforts to stop the fire from spreading failed.

KDDI says it will fully cooperate with the investigation into the fire.

The firm also offered a deep apology.

War in Ukraine: Melania Trump Brokers Ceasefire in Oleshky

The office of US First Lady Melania Trump says she has successfully secured a localized ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the city of Oleshky.

It says the area on the front line of fighting is close to a humanitarian disaster.

Oleshky is located in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson, part of the territory Russia claims to have annexed.

Melania Trump's office said on Friday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to temporarily stop all military action in Oleshky.

It added that humanitarian aid will be allowed to enter and there will be preparations for a civilian evacuation through a safe passageway.

It said the first lady and her representative had worked directly with the Russian and Ukrainian leadership to define the terms of the ceasefire.

The office added she had utilized a communication channel established through her efforts to reunify Ukrainian children forcibly removed by Russia with their families.

US President Donald Trump spoke to reporters at the White House on Friday.

00:06:35 話者 12/Donald Trump

What she wants to do is save children. 

And that's her focus. And both sides are cooperating with her.

00:06:44 (Maria Sato)

Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov spoke positively about the first lady's involvement. He said those willing to leave Oleshky will be able to do so.

Melania Trump's office said the ceasefire would begin on Thursday, but Russia said it would take effect at 4 a.m. on Tuesday, Moscow time.

A US think tank, the Institute for the Study of War, said the Russian authorities had stopped delivery of food and other critical supplies in Tolesky in December last year.

The institute added that as of March, residents had reported cases of deaths from starvation, freezing and lack of medical care.

France, UK Deepen Nuclear Cooperation

Leaders in Washington have been urging European countries to take more responsibility for their own security.

Now, defense officials in France say they've conducted a nuclear exercise with British forces. They say the drill using fighter jets is the first of its kind.

The officials say the exercise was held for two days over the Mediterranean Sea.

French Rafale and British Typhoon fighter jets took part.

They say the French jets escorted by British fighters simulated a nuclear strike.

France's defense chief says they've shown they can contribute even more significantly to the region's security.

And her British counterpart says the exercise marks a new chapter in cooperation.

He says it demonstrates a determination to remain united against common threats.

France has been pushing to expand its role as a nuclear deterrent in Europe.

Britain, Germany and Poland are among the countries involved in the talks.

World Weather

Here's our three-day weather forecast for cities around the world.

♫～　3-Day Forecast　～♫

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

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

checked.

NHK World

00:10:01 話者 99

Now, we have some information for our listeners.

NHK World Japan English Radio Service will change some of its frequencies starting on Sunday, October 25.

00 UTC from Monday through Sunday for Southeast Asia will shift from 11.800 MHz to 11.920 MHz.

Once again, 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 (2026/10/23) Typhoon Champi, Shamonda Virus & Global Cyber Threats

Learn about Typhoon Champi's impact on Japan, France's first human Shamonda virus case, and growing global cybersecurity threats.

台風チャンピの日本への影響、フランスで初確認されたシャモンダウイルスのヒト感染、そして世界的なサイバー脅威について学びます。

今日の語彙：all-out / 総力を挙げた,全面的な、midge / ユスリカ、小さな吸血性昆虫、intrusion / 不正侵入,侵害

今日の英語表現：be on high alert / 厳重警戒態勢を取る、最大限の警戒をする

Shadowing Tips: いきなりスクリプトを見たり発声したりすると、自分流の発音になりがちです。必ず先に

　　　　　　　　音声を聞くか、音声の後を追って発声しましょう。

20261023180000_english_1.mp3   player

 00:00:11 話者 1/James Tengan

It's a Friday evening here in Japan. I'm James Tengan Tokyo. Welcome to NHK Newsline.

Strong Quake Hits Tibet, at Least 16 Dead

A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck China's Tibet autonomous region on Thursday night, killing at least 16 people.

The China Earthquake Network Center says the quake struck Baqian County in Nagchu City at around 10:33 p.m. local time. The estimated depth was 10 kilometers.

Xinhua News Agency says 54 people were injured and 339 buildings have collapsed.

The affected area is at an altitude of around 4,800 meters.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered all-out search and rescue efforts.

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Tibet in January last year, killing more than 120 people.

Typhoon Champi Nearing Okinawa's Sakishima Islands

A large strong typhoon is approaching the Sakishima Islands in Japan's southwestern prefecture of Okinawa.

Weather officials are urging people to stay on high alert for strong winds and heavy rain.

Typhoon Champi is moving toward the Sakishima Islands.

The wind is already intensifying and could become fierce enough to knock down houses.

High waves and swells are forecast around Okinawa Prefecture and the Amami region of Kagoshima Prefecture.

Waves could be as high as 12 meters across the Sakshima Islands throughout Saturday.

A band of heavy rain clouds could form over the islands through Saturday morning as well.

The Japan Meteorological Agency is calling on people to be on high alert for violent winds, high tides and waves.

Heavy rain is expected in western and eastern Japan through Tuesday as the typhoon moves north.

Analysis: What Japan Can Expect from Typhoon Champi

Earlier I spoke with our weather expert, Tsietsi Monare, who has been following Hurricane Champi.

Typhoon Champi whose name by the way is Laotian and refers to the white Champaka flower. It's the 30th typhoon of the year.

00:02:17 話者 2/Tsietsi Monare

Yeah.

00:02:17 話者 1

Isn't that unusual?

00:02:18 話者 2

Yeah, very, very unusual.

And as beautiful as the name might be, sometimes these storms do not really have beautiful impacts. They can be quite disastrous.

And you know, we haven't had so many storms since 2013, so about 13 years ago, and even before that.

The last time we had this many amount of storms was back in 1994, '93, so about 19 years before the 2013 mark.

And in fact, that same year, that was the second highest number of typhoons that we had seen. So yeah, it is quite rare.

The average number of typhoons we have per year are just around 25 since we started checking the records of only the period between 1991 and 2020.

So in that period, it's only been about 25, so yeah. quite rare.

00:03:05 話者 1

So you break it down for us, what led to such an active typhoon season?

00:03:09 話者 2

Well, the biggest culprit we must all remember is climate change because all over the world...

you know, temperatures are rising, getting warmer and warmer.

There isn't really concrete amount of evidence to suggest that El Nino years produce more typhoons.

However, El Nino years do produce more intense storms because, you know, the sea surface, they get a lot warmer during this period of the year and therefore it leads to storms sitting in the ocean for a long period of time, gathering up the energy and the momentum and then they become quite.

But climate change is at large the biggest influence that contributes to these storms being a lot more frequent.

00:03:53 話者 1

Well speaking of intense a few days ago.

We were all bracing for a really intense storm, but I understand that's not the case anymore.

00:04:00 話者 2

Yeah a couple of things I mean first of all we were thinking the storm is coming towards Japan mainland Japan.

So along the Pacific side that was the indication and at the same time we could see the central pressure of the storm consistently dropping so we all thought this is going to be a big one and to some extent yes at some point it was really really intense and it looked like it's going to be catastrophic but somewhere along its track it maintained cost in that west northwestern direction towards Taiwan and the southern parts of Japan and it lost a bit of its momentum, maybe some wind shear caused it to lose its intensity.

00:04:39 話者 1

And what should people be doing to prepare?

00:04:42 話者 2

Well, basic things.

Number one, you should always make sure you have all your notifications ready, all your precautionary measures and of course follow us here on NHK Watch the Weather and all official websites and official notification centers to make sure you stay safe, always protect yourself.

And people like to travel keep track of your travel advisories from the airlines and make sure you stay safe but we also for this particular storm you must remember that it might get even weaker but it will combine with a frontal system that's moving across Japan.

So it could lead to heavy rain, possibilities of landslides and disruptions in our transportation and many, many other things.

So we all need to be just on the watch out for that.

00:05:25 話者 1

In the coming weeks, maybe months, do you expect to see more?

00:05:29 話者 2

I'm hoping not.

I do not want to give a definite answer here, but I think we are coming to the end of the season, so they should be tapering down. But I do not want us to break the record.

No, I, as much as I love the weather and I love storms and reporting on it, I do not want the disaster that it comes with it.

Right.

00:05:45 話者 1

Okay. Well, fingers crossed. Thank you very much, Tetsi.

That was our meteorologist, Tetsi Monare.

France Reports First Human Case of Shamonda Virus

French authorities say they have confirmed the first ever infection of a human with the Chamonda virus, which was believed to infect mainly cattle and other animals.

They say the infected person died earlier this month.

Authorities said Thursday the victim had suffered severe immunosuppression.

He showed cerebral complications before his death, and those symptoms are reportedly considered very likely to be linked to the infection.

The Shamonda virus is transmitted to animals bitten by a type of small insect, midges, in the genus Cuticoides.

Authorities said the individual may have become infected by a Cuticoides midge in eastern France, where the virus was previously detected in animals in spring and summer this year. The Shamonda virus was first confirmed in Nigeria in the mid-1960s, and has since been reported in cattle in Africa and Japan.

It had been circulating in some areas of the world for several decades, but authorities say no human infection had been documented until now.

They say they consider this to be an exceptional case occurring in an immunocompromised patient, and they say they have so far not confirmed any health risk to the general population.

WHO Director General Tedros Adenon Gibriessus said in a social media post that the WHO is coordinating with French authorities in collecting information about possible transmission routes and any potential risk to public health.

ICC Wins EU Parliament's Human Rights Prize

The European Parliament has awarded its annual prize for defending human rights and democracy to the International Criminal Court and its officials.

The winner of the 2026 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought was announced on Thursday.

00:07:53 話者 13/Roberta Metsola/European Parliament President

The European Union is built on respect for multilateralism and international institutions, and this prize recognizes the important work of the court in upholding international law and justice.

00:08:08 話者 1

In August, the Trump administration imposed sanctions on the ICC's leadership, including its president, Akane Tomoko.

Earlier this month, Washington also designated the court itself a target of sanctions.

Akane responded to winning the award in a video statement.

00:08:27 話者 12/Akane Tomoko

As the recipient of this high tribute, we, the officials of the ICC, are determined to keep working so that the court can continue its activities undeterred.

00:08:43 話者 1

She added that in a world of rising conflicts, there is no peace without justice and no security without law.

The Sakharov Prize was established in 1988. It was named after Soviet physicist Andrei Sakharov, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1975.

War in Ukraine: Zelenskyy Condemns Attack That Killed 2

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has condemned the large-scale Russian attack that he said killed two people and injured more than 30.

Zelenskyy said on social media on Thursday that Russian forces launched 21 missiles at Kyiv overnight.

He said residential buildings, energy facilities and metro infrastructure were damaged.

He said attacks also hit regions in northeastern and central Ukraine.

Zelenskyy said Russia has not been taking any steps that indicate a genuine desire to end the war.

He called for stronger measures and urged the international community to increase pressure on Russia.

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with US envoy Steve Witkoff.

Putin said Russia was ready to resume trilateral talks with Ukraine and the US next month.

Ukraine also says it expects the talks to take place by early November.

But an escalation in attacks by either side could affect those efforts.

Japan Still Seeking Consular Access to Detained Journalist

The Japanese embassy in Moscow says officials have provided supplies to a Japanese journalist being detained by Russian authorities for alleged espionage.

But the embassy says it's still pressing for consular access to the journalist and demands his immediate release.

Russia's Federal Security Service detained the man last week in the eastern region of Sakhalin. He works at a local bureau of the Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper.

The embassy said it delivered supplies to the journalists for the first time on Thursday at the detention center in Moscow where he's being held.

But officials say a consular visit hasn't yet happened.

The US ambassador to Japan criticized the detention earlier this week.

George Glass said it amounted to nothing short of a gross attempt to intimidate and muzzle independent journalism.

He also said the US condemns Russia's refusal to allow Japanese diplomats to visit him.

A European Union spokesperson on Wednesday said Japan has requested more information from Russian authorities and that it's important for Russia to provide those details.

The spokesperson said it is well documented that the human rights situation in Russia is unfortunately continuously deteriorating.

He added that the EU strongly opposes Russia's crackdown on independent media and is calling on Russia to cease those activities.

Japan Education Min. Drafts Digital Textbook Guide

Japan's education ministry has drafted guidelines for digital textbooks.

The rules will be put into official use at schools from 2030.

The guidelines were released at a ministry expert panel meeting on Thursday.

It says students from elementary through high school should basically use both paper and digital textbooks.

Students below fifth grade will not be allowed to use digital only textbooks because their cognitive functions are still developing.

From fifth grade and above, fully digital textbooks can be used only for certain subjects such as foreign languages, music, and art.

Generative AI won't be installed in digital textbooks at this point.

since its educational efficacy is still being studied.

Schools in Japan have been allowed to use digital textbooks alongside printed textbooks since 2019. But discussions have continued over standards for their use.

00:12:46 話者 21

It's easier to understand through tablets than paper textbooks.

00:12:52 話者 22

On paper, I can draw lines as I wish, so for writing, paper is better.

00:12:59 話者 1

But some other nations are now reviewing the use of digital devices in education.

In Finland, municipalities that were among the first to digitize education have begun switching back to paper textbooks.

Singapore allows the use of tablets in junior high schools but decided to ban them in elementary schools, citing their negative impact and incompatibility with the children's stage of development.

Finland OKs Nuclear Waste Vault

Finland has been seeking a solution for dealing with high-level radioactive waste.

Now the government has approved what could be the world's first deep underground disposal site for spent nuclear fuel.

It made the announcement on Thursday.

The facility is on Olkiloto Island in southwestern Finland.

It's designed to store the spent fuel from the country's nuclear power plants.

Officials say it meets safety standards.

The operator has been testing equipment to ensure it can be safely buried underground.

It will need final approval from Finland's nuclear regulator.

But the company hopes to begin disposal by the end of this year.

Sweden is also building a similar facility, and many other countries, including Japan, are searching for suitable locations to build one.

The nuclear waste is expected to stay radioactive for about 100,000 years.

Business

Now for the latest on the business and financial fronts with Yuko Fukushima.

00:14:48 話者 4/Yuko Fukushima

Thanks James.

Microsoft: China-Linked Hackers Behind Global Offensive

Microsoft says a group of hackers linked to the Chinese government used an AI tool to launch cyber attacks on hundreds of organizations worldwide.

The US tech giant says the China-aligned group used a framework called ARTEX to carry out the attacks, which targeted both public and private organizations.

It says it confirmed the cyber offensive through an analysis of system logs and other records.

The targets span a broad range of industries, including aerospace, defense, energy and financial services.

Microsoft says several of the attacks allow the actor to gain privileged access to the organization's cloud infrastructure in under three hours.

It says the number of sign-in attempts peaked at 2,900 per minute, a pace that leaves defenders with little time to detect intrusion and respond.

It's not clear whether ARTEX is also used in a series of recent cyberattacks on Japanese firms, but it was reportedly used to target South Korean financial institutions in a series of incidents from late last month.

Japan to Set Up White-Hat Hacker Team

Japan's industry minister Akazawa Ryosei says he plans to set up a team of white hat hackers in November to fight cyberattacks.

The team will be based in the ministry's innovation platform agency that monitors cybersecurity.

The white hat hacker team will reportedly use AI to test corporate computer systems for vulnerabilities.

The initiative comes after a series of online attacks this year on Japanese companies and other organizations.

Akazawa on Friday also touched on the latest threat from security flaws found in the widely used PHP programming language.

00:16:38 話者 34/Akazawa Ryosei

We need to act promptly as PHP is used in many websites and the impact could be extensive.

00:16:46 話者 4

Akazawa added that he alerted about 1,000 business groups on Thursday about the PHP problem to mitigate the damage.

Capcom: Millions of User Accounts Compromised in Hack

And yet another cyberattack on a Japanese company, this time gaming giant Capcom.

The firm says the security breach compromised the personal information of nearly 12 million users.

Capcom says it detected unauthorized access on Monday, says the hacker broke into its online account system.

The firm says the breach impacted 11.77 million accounts around the world.

It says compromised information includes e-mail addresses.

Capcom also says the hacker changed the login passwords for 196 accounts.

It says it has already reset them.

The company says no credit card information was affected.

Capcom is urging customers to be on the lookout for potential misuse of their information as well as fraudulent emails.

Japan to Slash EV Subsidies Next Year

The Japanese government will slash subsidies on electric vehicle purchases starting in January. Officials say their budget for the program is being depleted.

The highest subsidy of 1.3 million yen, or about 8,320 dollars, will be reduced by more than a third.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry grants subsidies to promote the use of EVs and other eco-friendly vehicles.

It set aside some 704 million dollars for such payments in the fiscal 2025 supplementary budget.

The ministry said the cuts aimed to keep the program within a range it can sustain.

The maximum EV subsidy will be cut to around 4,990 dollars.

For plug-in hybrid vehicles, it will be reduced to about 3,260 dollars.

The ministry says the subsidies will end when the budget is used up.

Wellness in the Workplace

Employee wellness is a rising concern for Japanese companies.

The government estimates that health-related declines in work performance are costing the economy many billions of dollars annually.

The new service aims to help the middle-aged workforce gain a better understanding of their personal health needs. All it takes is a small sample off the top of the head.

00:19:04 話者 5

This is a major temp agency. Many employees in their 40s and 50s working here report feeling symptoms in line with menopause.

00:19:16 話者 46/Tamura Noriko/Persol Tempstaff

I get hot flashes pretty often. When that happens, it becomes difficult to concentrate.

So doing work that would normally take me 30 minutes can end up taking twice as long.

00:19:28 話者 47/Fusamae Yuko/Persol Tempstaff

Sometimes I wake up with stiff hands or other issues, but I'm just too busy to make it to a clinic.

00:19:34 話者 5

According to the Ministry of Health, women usually face menopausal symptoms for a period of 10 years.

They can include back pain, sleep problems, irritability, and mood swings.

Around half of this company's 130,000 temp workers fall within this age group.

Since an increase in tardiness, absenteeism, and decreased performance can damage the company's reputation as a staffing agency, management felt it needed to better provide support for its employees.

Since the main cause of menopausal symptoms is attributed to a decline in sex hormones, the company began using a test that lets employees easily check their hormone levels.

It only requires providing about 10 strands of hair.

All they have to do is mail them off.

The results come back within a few weeks via smartphone.

As you can see in this example, this woman's results place her in level three, meaning she's not likely to be experiencing menopausal symptoms.

00:20:41 話者 48/Mori Yuichiro/Persol Tempstaff

I think it'd be great if we could raise awareness among our staff, starting with getting a better grasp of what's currently going on with their own bodies.

00:20:51 話者 5

Blood tests are the most common method for checking hormone levels.

However, because hormone levels fluctuate day-to-day, the results can change depending on the exact timing of the blood draw.

In contrast, because three months worth of hormones accumulate within the first three centimeters from the root, this test makes it possible to look at the overall average.

Service users can also choose to have an online consultation with a medical professional like Enomoto Mamiko.

This allows them to go over any concerns they have regarding their condition or their test results.

Enomoto is also prepared to explain various symptom management methods.

For instance, when experiencing panic symptoms, she suggests breathing out for six seconds and inhaling for four seconds or cooling the forehead or neck to help calm down.

00:21:51 話者 49/Enomoto Mamiko

There are over 300 different kinds of menopausal symptoms, and so everyone's experience is going to be completely different and unique.

I want to capture the various issues these employees struggle with and then explain them in a way that is easy to understand.

Markets

00:22:12 話者 4

And now let's get to the markets on the region.

♪

And that wraps up for biz for this hour.

♫～

00:23:47 話者 1

We invite you to access our website and app for more news, feature stories, and information. Feel free to leave your thoughts and comments as well.

World Weather

Now for a check on weather.

As we have been reporting, people in Okinawa and Taiwan are now facing stormy conditions due to Typhoon Champi. Our meteorologist Yuumi Hirano has the details.

00:24:43 話者 7/Yuumi Hirano

Typhoon Champi is now approaching southern Okinawa and northern Taiwan.

Hateruma already had gusts of over 160 kilometers per hour, setting an October record.

Daton saw over 400 millimeters of rainfall, but more downpours and stormy conditions are likely to persist into Saturday as the system slows down.

Southern Okinawa could see gusts of over 200 kilometers per hour, damaging structures and causing long-lasting power outages.

In addition, heavy rain could be a major concern.

Up to 900 millimeters of rain is likely in Taiwan by Saturday night, potentially leading to severe floods and landslides.

Heavy rain is also likely in western Japan due to a frontal system.

Moisture from Champi will bring downpours to Kyushu and Shikoku even before the storm approaches.

The rain in Shanghai could also be heavier.

Showers in Tokyo will bring cooler temperatures with a high of only 17.

Moving to Australia, back-to-back storms have caused severe flooding.

Intense storms brought heavy rainfall to parts of southern Queensland on Thursday.

Some streets in towns along the coast were turned into rivers.

as more than 170 millimeters of rain fell in just three hours local media captured the moment a TV reporter along with another man rescuing a man from a vehicle trapped in flat waters.

Unfortunately moisture from the sea will continue to bring more downpours along the east coast so people there should watch out for more flooding.

That's it for now stay safe.

♫～　3-Day Forecast　～♫

00:27:45 話者 1

We here in Tokyo are in for a rainy weekend. That concludes this edition of NHK Newsline.

More to come here on NHK World Japan so stay with us.

checked.

NHK World

00:28:01 話者 99

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Once again, 11.920 MHz.

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