at 18:00 (JST), June 19

20250619180000_english_1.mp3

Here in Japan, it's a Thursday evening. I'm James Tengan in Tokyo. Welcome to NHK Newsline.

French parliament: Government should apologize for nuclear tests in Polynesia

France's parliament has called on the government to apologize for nuclear tests. 
The country conducted decades ago in the South Pacific. It also says the compensation law for residents suffering health damage should be amended.
France conducted more than 190 tests in French Polynesia. It began in the 60s and lasted three decades.
Residents and military personnel involved in the experiments have demanded the French government provide compensation.
They say it's for the health issues they developed, including cancer. Paris initially denied the effects of radiation exposure on health. But in 2010, the government started a system to comprehensively compensate former military personnel and residents who were exposed.
87-year-old Michel Carriou was a French military nuclear engineer. The government recognized him as a victim. He's been seeking compensation for his colleagues who have not been certified yet.

The risk of radiation to individuals was not the risk of people dying on the spot.
That's not the case. It's that they would accumulate contamination.

People who were near the site during the test and later developed cancer or leukemia are eligible for compensation.
The National Assembly set up a committee to look into the amount of radiation the victims were exposed to and whether they were compensated. It released its findings Tuesday. It says residents and personnel were not properly informed of the risks of the tests.
It also found radiation protection measures to mitigate the health consequences of the radioactive fallout were not implemented or only in a limited manner. It recommends expanding the list of diseases eligible for compensation and doing away with the millisievert threshold requirement to grant compensation.
It also calls on the state to add an apology for having repeatedly carried out nuclear tests to a law on French Polynesia's status.

The report revealed some of the reality that had been kept quiet and unclear for a long time. It should be easier for victims to receive compensation.

NHK World's Tamura Ginga is following this story from Paris. I spoke with him earlier.
So, Ginga, the link between nuclear radiation and health issues is well documented. Why did it take so long for the government to start compensating the victims? 

I think a lot of it had to do with national pride. Military personnel involved with the tests knew what was really happening. But it was difficult for them to speak out, as public support for nuclear weapons was and remains high. Many believe that France became a major power thanks to those weapons, so there was concern that revealing the radiation exposure and health impacts could taint that achievement. It's also hard to free understand the situation as the government has kept documents related to the testing secret. But things have gradually changed in part because of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster.
People in French Polynesia who developed cancer or leukemia started to think that the nuclear test might have caused their illness. They and others, including former military personnel, started victims groups around the year 2000. The compensation system began a decade later, but only about a thousand people have been recognized so far.
Victims groups criticized the eligibility criteria as being too strict.

Ginkga, getting back to the parliamentary committee that released that report, what spurred the National Assembly to set up the group?

It may have had to do with fears that French Polynesia may try to claim independence. President Emmanuel Macron visited the territory in 2021.
He stopped short of offering an apology, but said France owes a debt to French Polynesia. Macron also vowed to speed up probes and compensate the local population more swiftly. Experts say that Paris wants to improve relations with the territory where forces seeking independence have been expanding in recent years.

The demand for independence is intensifying because of the fact that France decided to conduct nuclear tests without the consent of people in Polynesia. Therefore, one of the reasons for independence from France is to be liberated from a power, a state, that makes decisions of this kind. The nuclear legacy continues to affect politics in Polynesia.

Regardless of the motivation, it does appear that French lawmakers are taking the issue more seriously. How are they planning to help people suffering health issues due to the nuclear testing?

Members of the committee say they will work toward improving the system, including through legal revisions starting in autumn, but the victims are still worried. French Polynesia have been forced to pay a big sacrifice in order for France to become a nuclear power, a sacrifice still being felt today. People are waiting to see if the French parliamentary report will result in a step toward reconciliation between the two sides.

Trump says he hasn't made final decision on responding to Iran situation

Strikes continue between Israel and Iran, and US President Donald Trump has told reporters he has not yet decided whether his country should enter the frame. But a major US newspaper reports Tehran could soon be ready for talks with Washington to seek a diplomatic solution.
The New York Times cites a senior Iranian official who says Foreign Minister Abbas Arachi would accept a meeting with the US to discuss a ceasefire with Israel.
The report comes as Trump on Wednesday suggested he hasn't ruled out the possibility of launching military operations against Iran.
ABC News also cited US officials. who say high-level meetings could happen as soon as this week if Iran agrees to abandon its uranium enrichment program.
The reports say the US side would be led by Trump's special envoys Steve Witkoff and potentially Vice President JD Vance.

the world of business

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

James, thanks in our top business story this hour.

Nippon Steel completes 'momentous' US Steel deal

Japan's Nippon Steel says it has completed the necessary procedures to buy US steel for $14.1 billion. The American company is now a wholly owned subsidiary.
We have two requirements for business investment, freedom of management and profitability, and the agreement with the US government this time is fully satisfactory.
Nippon Steel Chairman and CEO Hashimoto Eiji says the acquisition is a necessary and effective strategy for the company to return to the world's top position. He added that it is the only measure that will enable US Steel to recover and develop at the same time.

We will invest to boost added value and expand the product range. We will also build a strong and advanced supply chain for high-grade steel, which is necessary to revive the US manufacturing industry.

Nippon Steel's Vice Chairman, Mori Takahiro,Will also serve as chairman of the board of the American firm. He was one of the main negotiators with the US government. The deal followed negotiations with the Trump administration, which gave its approval last week. The two firms said they had entered into a national security agreement with the administration. It includes commitments related to domestic production, trade matters and governance, a so-called golden share allows officials in Washington to veto management decisions.
Hashimoto says Nippon Steel accepted the US government's intention to supervise the implementation of the investment.

We think we can expect strong support from the Trump administration for the early implementation of capital investment.

Meanwhile, US Steel CEO David Barrett called the signing of the deal a momentous day for their country, their communities and the American steel industry.

Amazon CEO says workforce to shrink amid AI rollout

The head of US IT giant Amazon says the company expects to shrink its workforce as artificial intelligence is applied to a wider range of tasks.
CEO Andy Jassy made the comments in a message to employees that was made public on Tuesday. He said that over the next few years, Amazon anticipates its corporate workforce will be reduced as it gains efficiency from using AI extensively across the company. The message also notes that those who embrace the transition to AI will be well positioned to have high impact ahead and can help reinvent the company.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg and other media outlets reported on Wednesday that Microsoft is planning to eliminate thousands of jobs, mainly in the sales division. The reports say huge investments in AI development and cost reduction efforts are behind the planned job cuts.
Earlier in May, Microsoft unveiled a plan to eliminate 6,000 jobs, or nearly 3 percent of its total workforce.

Plowing out a space for dry rice farming

The number of rice farmers in Japan is on the decline as the workforce ages and profitability erodes. NHK World, Sano Yumie spotlights an innovative growing method that's less demanding in terms of both labor and resources.

In spring, rice paddies across Japan are flooded with water. But that familiar landscape is changing in some places.
In Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo, there is a rice farm where the crop is being grown on dry fields. It's led by Yamazaki Yoshio, who produces about 600 tons of rice a yearwith five employees.
Last year, he started cultivating rice without flooding about 10% of his 110 hectares of rice faddies. In traditional rice production, farmers plow and paddle the paddies to prepare them for planting. They raise seedlings for transplanting at the same time.
Then, water management is a daily task, right up to harvest.
With this method, the soil is tilled and sees a zone directly.
Yamazaki says that by making good use of rainfall, normally plainfall in Japan, irrigation isn't such a burden. 

Last year I only added water once a week during the peak of summer when it was extremely hot and dry, only five times over the whole season.

As a result, the farm's rice yield slightly decreased, but it was able to reduce its work hours by 70% during the peak farming period from April to July.
Equipment costs were also cut by around 60%.
One of the challenges of using the method is that nutrient deficiencies often occur, leading to unstable growth.
A liquid fertilizer is sprayed on the seeds to alleviate this.
It was developed by a subsidiary of a major beer maker. The fertilizer contains beer yeast cell walls, a byproduct of the brewing process. The rice plants absorb more nutrients and grow more vigorously, because the fertilizer boosts their natural immunity to disease.

The rice is very beautiful and the grains are large.

The use of this type of liquid fertilizer is still in its early stages, and the developer is working closely with farmers to make it more effective.

A hundred-fold dilutionworks best for germination. A hundred-fold, that would be cost-effective. It's important that this be simple and easy to use. It should not require much effort.

Yamazaki has increased his dry field rice cultivation area to about 30 hectares, three times what it was last year.

By reducing costs and establishing A profitable agricultural model, we can attract more people to grow rice. We must ensure a smooth generational transition.

Yamazaki is actively sharing his experiences as a dry field rice farmer. He hopes this will help inspire a new generation to take to the soil. Sano Yumie, NHK World.

All right, let's have a look at the markets.
♪
And that's a look at business news. James, I'm going to hand it back to you.

Gene Otani from our business desk.

Tokyo police arrest 6 people on suspicion of laundering fraud proceeds

Authorities in Tokyo have arrested six people accused of running a money laundering scheme worth tens of millions of dollars. They believe the funds were extorted from people nationwide via scams on social media.
Police say an account managed by the group had a balance of about $37 million.
Police say the group tried to conceal the origins of the money by transferring about $290,000 to different accounts. They believe substantial amounts were converted into cryptocurrency and used on the foreign exchange market. Police have not said whether the suspects admit to the allegations.

Dealing with the Taliban, securing female rights

Now let's go over to Shibuya Aki in Newsline in Focus. She has a report on the current situation in Afghanistan.

This August marks four years since the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan.
No country has recognized the group as the legitimate Afghan government, mainly due to concerns over human rights violations. But recently, some countries have been exploring improved relations with the Taliban.

One of them is Russia. In March 2024, it was hit by a terrorist attack reportedly linked to the Islamic State militant group based in Afghanistan.
Moscow encouraged the Taliban to take strong measures against the group. In return, the Kremlin removed the Taliban from Russia's Register of Terrorist Organizations for the first time since 2003. China also took a step toward de facto recognition when President Xi Jinping accepted the credentials of an ambassador sent by the Taliban in January last year. Beijing may have had Afghanistan's natural resources in mind. Meanwhile, the United States has its own ambitions.
It hopes to again use the Bagram Air Base, which was once operated by the US military and returned to Afghanistan. The aim is to boost the US presence in the region.

We're going to keep Bagram Air Base. We aren't going to give that up because it's one hour away from China. One hour. You know who occupies it now? China.

Now we're joined by Yamamoto Tadamichi, a former diplomat who represented the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. Great to have you with us.

It's nice to be with you. So, Mr. Yamamoto, it seems the situation for the Taliban is changing. Can you tell us more about the group's relations with the outside world?

Yes. The relationship of those countries with Afghanistan and the Taliban depends on how they assess the situation and how they look attheir policy toward and the relationship with Afghanistan, particularly for the future. Those countries in the neighborhood have to maintain the relationship day-to-day. So naturally, their relationship would become more pragmatic, as you have seen in the video. But even they have not recognized Taliban officially, because of mainly of relationship of the issue of Afghan women's education, girls' education.
Now, those countries which are far removed tend to take much more principled approach. And so they haven't recognized Taliban, and the biggest hurdle is the girls' education.

Which brings us to our next report. The Taliban has barred women and girls from going to school beyond sixth grade, even though many are eager to study. Some of the images and voices have been altered to protect people's identities.

Many women have turned to so-called underground schools established to provide them with secondary education. This one is made to look like a madolasa, or Islamic religious school, to avoid the eyes of the Taliban. About 500 women here study English, math, and practical skills such as handicrafts, free wheelchairs.
After completing a six-month program, they'll celebrate with a feast.

That's all the game I have to continue my education and question in this course.
But now, unfortunately, in this course, I can learn many different subjects. It's a reason for happiness goes in the world.

It seems like a silver lining, but it's far from enough. The situation is still precarious, both financially, and in terms of safety. A local group representative is calling for more support.

I ask again from the people of Japan and other countries, please don't forget the women in Afghanistan, especially girls in Afghanistan, and please don't leave alone us.

Japan was actively providing grassroots support in Afghanistan even before the Taliban's return. This non-governmental organization has been backing the school operator financially. Onoyama Ryo, who heads the organization, has been providing support to Afghanistan for over 10 years. He says he's motivated to help female students there.

I want our group to continue working with local schools to provide students with hope.

Mr. Yamamoto, why do you think it's so hard to provide education for women and girls in Afghanistan?

First of all, I think it is important to recognize that the promotion of and safeguarding of women's rights is critically important in Afghanistan, too, particularly for the future development and for their own society,and education is very important part of that. I recently had a chance of speaking with a top official of the United Nations who had just been to Afghanistan and had met with Afghan women. This person told me that the Afghan women look at the situation a bit differently.
Maybe we should look at Afkaisha as a society of like feudal times or middle ages perhaps, where the community had their own importance and the women had the role is really confined to a home. And many women, I was told, look at the situation like that. So in order to promote women's rights and also particularly education,We have to find a way of making these women understand that it is necessary, that's something that they can acceptable in society.

So now, is there a role that Japan can play to help spread the importance of education there?

Yes, certainly. Japan has huge credibility with the Afghan people, including Taliban, because of what we have done over the past 20 years. in helping their livelihood in agriculture and in helping their life to get better.
So Japan has a really acceptable opportunity. And we can help by supporting foreign source NGOs who work there, and also perhaps to create a kind of clearinghouse for information for girls' education, where the information from around the globe can be gathered and shared and understood.

Well, thank you so much for your insights, Mr. Yamamoto.

Thank you very much.

And that's all from us.

♪

Do visit the NHK World Japan website and app for more news, feature stories, and information. Feel free to also leave your thoughts and comments.

weather

Now for weather. It's only June, but here in Japan, it already feels like the peak of summer. Our meteorologist Yumi Hirano has the details.

An early season heatwave has been sweeping across Japan, setting June temperature records in many cities on Thursday. But it's not only the heat. Dry weather could also be a concern in some regions such as Amami.
The Amami region saw the end of the rainy season on Thursday, 10 days earlier than normal. People wearing hats were walking around and drinking while resting, with temperatures reaching over 31 degrees.
During the rainy season since mid-May, Naze in Amami city received only 241 millimeters of rainfall. This is about half of the average amount.
Dry and scorching conditions are likely to continue on Friday. The highs will be 34 in Osaka and 30 in Tokyo, so please stay hydrated.
But for the west, a rainy season front is stretching along China. Over 200 millimeters of rain is possible from Guizhou to Anhui provinces by Friday afternoon. Downpours are also expected in South Korea, leading to possible flash flooding. Seoul could see up to 100 millimeters of rain on Friday. Showers are also likely in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Taichung.
Moving to Europe. Midsummer-like heat is a concern in the western half of the continent. The highs hit almost 30 in London and Paris. Madrid saw over 38.
Unfortunately, the conditions are not expected to ease over the weekend. London will see 32 on Thursday, the highest so far this year. The temperatures will hit 36 in Paris and 37 in Madrid. These are about 10 degrees higher than usual.
That's it for now. Take care.

♫～

And that concludes this edition of NHK Newsline. I'm James Tengan in Tokyo.
Thanks for watching.

at 18:00 (JST), June 18

20250618180000_english_1.mp3

Hello, a very warm welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Yamamoto Miki in Tokyo.

Japan's Ishiba, S.Korea's Lee agree to advance bilateral ties on G7 sidelines

Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has met with South Korea's new president Lee Jae-myung  for the first time. The leaders say they want to maintain close communication and work together on key issues. They spoke on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada, coming about two weeks after Lee took office. Ishiba noted that this year is the 60th anniversary of Japan and South Korea normalizing diplomatic ties.

I hope the vibrant dialogue between the citizens of our two countries will continue to grow. I also hope the cooperation and partnership between us will be a powerful force for both the region and the world.

Lee said despite their differences, he hopes they will build a youthful relationship together. Namely, they said they would continue to coordinate their responses to North Korea's nuclear and missile development program. They also agreed to visit each other's countries in the future. Ishiba and the other G7 leaders have wrapped up talks.
Summit host Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney saysThey're beginning to build a new era of cooperation. But members were unable to come together to issue a joint statement on Ukraine.

G7 leaders to wrap up summit in absence of President Trump

Earlier, Zelensky stressed the need for additional sanctions on Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte attended the summit on Tuesday.

We are ready for the peace negotiations, unconditional ceasefire. I think it's very important, but for this we need pressure.

However, the summit revealed gaps between European leaders and US President Donald Trump on whether to apply more pressure against Russia. On Monday, Trump said he wanted to wait and see whether Moscow would agree to a new ceasefire before applying new sanctions. He then left midway through the summit in response to the growing tensions in the Middle East. Reuters News Agency reports Canada dropped plans to issue a strong statement on Ukraine after resistance from the US. After Tuesday's talks, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he's returning to Germany with cautious optimism that America will decide to impose further sanctions against Russia in the coming days.
French President Emmanuel Macron said they all recognize the need to continue to support Ukraine.

Russian attacks continue, Zelenskyy considers next steps

While the leaders met, the fighting continued in Ukraine. Officials in the capital say Russian attacks killed 10 people and injured more than 100.
The Ukrainian military says Russia used 440 drones and 32 ballistic and cruise missiles to hit Kyiv from Monday night into Tuesday. The attacks reportedly damaged apartment blocks and educational institutions.
Officials say a ballistic missile partially destroyed a nine-story residential building.

We must stop Russia. We can't live like this. Russia will attack other locations tomorrow. So many people have been killed.

President Zelenskyy said in a social media post the onslaught on the Capitol was one of the most horrific of the conflict. He described such attacks as pure terrorism and accused Russia's president of doing this because he wants the fighting to continue. And earlier I spoke with NHK World's Tanaka Kenichi in Kiev about Zelenskyy's next steps and move. More.
So Keiichi, we just showed images of destruction in the capital, scenes you've been seeing firsthand. Tell us more about the reality there.

Russian drone and missile attacks are intensifying. Air raid silence have been going off at night, making people rush to underground shelters or the closest subway station. As a result, many aren't getting enough sleep, they are tired, and they are scared. The district I'm in has many government buildings, places of warship, and monuments. Officials appear to be ramping up security measures through air defense systems. But in neighboring districts, the damage is significant. Most of the buildings being hit are not military facilities, but civilian homes. People have been under considerable pressure and stress since the conflict started more than three years ago. They fear their home will be targeted next.

There needs to be a breakthrough in the situation for all of this to end. So what It's next for President Zelenskyy. His meeting with President Trump was canceled. So what will be the strategy going forward?

I think it should be centered on maintaining Trump's attention.
Zelenskyy is reportedly concerned that the US is shifting its focus to dealing with the fighting between Israel and Iran. Zelenskyy wanted to secure additional sanctionson Russia at the G7 summit. He argues that pressure through those measures is the only way to force Moscow to stop its attacks. Zelenskyy also wanted to directly stress the importance of a ceasefire to Trump, so his early departure served as another big blow. Zelenskyy knows his country is in a tough position on the battlefield. Russian forces recently claimed they had entered the eastern region of Donipropetrovsk. It's an attempt to further expand occupied territory. For Ukraine, the fight will become more difficult as time passes. It can't compete with Russia's larger military and weapon production capacity on its own.
So that's why military support from the US and Europe remains a lifeline. And,  Zelenskyy says he cannot imagine containing the fight without US help. So, he will continue trying to ensure the Trump administration keeps it coming.

Japan publishes routes of Chinese aircraft carriers operating around country

Japan's defense ministry has published the routes of two Chinese aircraft carriers in borders around the country.
The government rarely discloses such information. The release came after carriers Liaoning and Shandong were first spotted at the same time in the Pacific earlier this month. The ministry said fighter jets from the Shandong flew extremely close to a Japanese maritime self-defense patrol plane on June 7 and 8. It expressed serious concerns over the incident. The ministry added that the Liaoning, shown in red, passed between Okinawa Prefecture's main island and Miyagoshima Island in late May. it traveled southward to a position east of the Philippines. The vessel then changed course and re-entered Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone on June 7, near Minami-Torishima, the nation's easternmost island. The ministry said the Shandong, shown in blue, first headed eastward in waters southeast of Miyakoshima Island on June 7. It then sailed clockwise within or around Japan's EEZ, near Okino-Torishima Island. On Monday, the ship was spotted moving westward southeast of Miyakojima Island. Some 230 take-offs and landings of carrier-based aircraft were reportedly confirmed. As of Tuesday, the two vessels were in the Pacific, sailing toward China.

Business

Let's see what's happening in the world of business. Here's Gene Otani from The Business. 

Thanks, Miki. In our top business story this hour.

Japan firms boost rice imports amid jump in domestic price

Japanese companies are ramping up imports of rice despite a high tariff. This is as the retail prices of the domestic grain remain high.
Japan's government imports about 770,000 tons of tariff free rice every year under a system called Minimum Access.
However, direct imports by the private sector face a levy of 341 yen, or more than $2 per kilogram.
Despite this, corporate imports in April surged to 6,800 tons, or more than double the amount in all of fiscal 2024, and imports last year were the highest in 26 years. US rice accounted for about 80% of the April figure. A 5 kilogram bag of California rice sells for about 3,500 yen or $24 on store shelves in Japan. In comparison, the average retail price of domestic rice in the week through June 8 was around 4,100 yen or $29. That's still higher than imports, even after the government sold rice from stockpiles to nudge prices lower.
A rice policy analyst says. It's a distorted situation when imported rice with tariffs is cheaper than the domestic crop.

It's most abnormal that domestic rice has become more expensive when the tariffs were introduced in order to make imported rice too expensive to buy.

Inagaki says the 2025 harvest in JapanWon't be enough to refill government stock rice stockpiles while also meeting general demand. He says the government needs to incentivize farmers to increase the rice crop through the 2026 harvest to stabilize prices.

Majority of Japanese firms think US tariffs will hurt earnings

A poll finds that more than half of Japanese companies believe US tariffs will hurt their earnings.
Tokyo Shoko Research surveyed about 7,000 businesses online this month.
Nearly 58% expect a negative impact from the new tariffs announced by the Trump administration earlier this year. Almost 12% of all respondents say the damage could be serious. About 38% don't see effects on their earnings. The research firm says steel makers and rubber goods manufacturers, including tire makers, are especially worried. Just over 5,800 firms responded to a survey question on whether they think the tariffs will affect wage hikes for the next business year. Nearly one in three believe there will be an impact.
The employers said they may have to forego hikes in base pay, bonuses or even regular wages. Tokyo Shoko Research notes that even Japanese companies that don't trade directly with the US could feel some pain.
These tend to be small and mid-sized firms that support the auto and steel sectors. The polling firm is urging the government to come up with support measures for affected businesses.

Japan posts trade deficit for 2nd month

Japan posted a trade deficit for the second straight month in May, largely due to a drop in exports to the United States. The finance ministry says the shortfall came to 638 billion yen, or $4.4 billion. The value of exports fell 1.7 percent from a year earlier. Shipments to the US dropped 11 percent, with vehicles tumbling about 25 percent. Ministry officials say the Trump administration's tariff measures since March haven't had a major impact on Japan's overall trade figures with the US.
Meanwhile, imports last month were down 7.7 percent due to smaller inbound shipments of crude oil and coal amid lower energy prices.

US strategist talks Trump tariffs, Japan, global economy

Donald Trump returned as US president about five months ago, and his signature tariff policies have reshaped global economic relations. NHK World's Hirata Miyu interviewed US investment strategist George Bory for his take on what's ahead.
The first topic was why Japan's Prime Minister Ishibashigeru and President Trump were unable to announce an agreement on tariff issues when they met at the G7 in Canada. This despite the close trading and security relationship between the two countries.

We think that the Prime Minister is really is, is campaigning, is is negotiating, trying to push down tariffs specifically on the auto sector. And I and our assumption is that President Trump doesn't want to move tariffs below 10%. So I think that's probably the biggest sticking point between between the two countries. But as you as you mentioned, like the relationship's very close. Japan lends the US lots of money, buys lots of treasuries, and sort of close kind of trading partners. So really important that an agreement is is ultimately kind of agreed upon. But it will be tricky to figure out kind of where the balance sort of fits.

Bory says he was surprised by the scale of Trump's tariff policy. He added that the US economy is slowing, but. Resilient.

The announcement with respect to tariffs when they were initially announced back in April were much bigger than the market expected. It was much bigger than than we expected. We were expecting tariffs, but not as high and certainly not as broad that the US economy is still showing signs of deceleration. slower growth, but still positive growth and and proving to be fairly resilient. So we're not expecting a recession, but we're simply expecting is kind of a slowdown in growth, a deceleration in growth, probably something close to maybe one, one and a half percent growth.

He expects that global economy will also face headwinds.

Now, expectations are that the global economy also will slow. It debate as to how much, but tariffs are a tax, and and that tax kind of slows growth as we move through time. And we're seeing signs of that even here in Japan, expecting growth to sort of slow moderately. Europe is holding up a little bit better, but growth is already kind of slowing, which is why the ECB is is cutting rates, and China is trying to stimulate a bit, but we're not sure if that will be enough to help global growth.

Bory expects the Fed to cut rates, but he added that they are in no hurry because they are still assessing the impact of tariffs on the economy. He adds that Trump's tariff can be an effective long-term tool for economic leverage because it's a swift in taxation and it should incentivize more production in the US. Relative to Asia economies, Bory says the higher tariffs on China could push more production into other Asian countries that have a lower tariff rate on exports into the US.

All right, let's have a look at the markets.
♪
That's a look at business news. Miki, I'm going to hand it back to you.

Thank you very much, Gene. Now let's go to Shibuya Aki in Newsline in Focus. We'll be looking at something that powers all of our lives, semiconductors.

US pressure: Taiwan's high-stakes chips

Taiwan produces about 70% of the world's semiconductor chips and 90% of the most advanced ones, vital for smartphones, autonomous driving, and generative AI. US President Donald Trump has been pushing to get that technology into the US, threatening new tariffs on semiconductors to promote domestic investment. Fresh tariffs would deal a serious blow to Taiwan. But conceding too much to American pressure poses the risk of leaking critical technology.
Here's a look at how the leader in the global chip supply chain is treading carefully as it faces pressure from the United States.
Taiwanese chip maker TSMC produces over 90% of the world's most advanced semiconductors. The firm continues building new plants at home to keep up with demand for AI chips, and the US is not happy.
It sees the heavy reliance on Taiwan for these chips as a major risk, as the world got a taste of when COVID plant closures caused a global chip shortage.

Taiwan pretty much has a monopoly on that market. We must be able to build the chips and semiconductors that we need right here and American factories with American skill and American labor.

To bring the business back home, Trump has been hinting at slapping massive tariffs on imported chips. All this has put pressure on TSMC to relocate more production to the US. In March, its CEOCC Wei met with Trump and pledged a further $100 billion on top of an ongoing $65 billion investment package for a US-based plant.
The semiconductor complex in Arizona will produce 3 nanometer chips, the most advanced ever made in the US. for AI and other cutting-edge applications.
Taiwan exporters as a whole are taking Trump tariff threats seriously.
At a US government event seeking foreign investment, Taiwan sent a 110-strong delegation of companies.

Relocating to the US is painful for Taiwanese companies. But as a general trend, we must make every effort to move closer to the US.

America's pressure is also reverberating across Taiwan's political realm. Lawmakers recently met with their US counterparts to gauge the atmosphere around trade relations.

We are willing to show we are good friends. Even like families of this alliance, I believe we can reach some kind deal very soon.

But negotiating with the United States is a double edged sword. The outflow of critical tech could undermine its supremacy in the industry, impacting the economy and its Silicon Shield defense strategy. With the shifting landscape, Taiwanese firms are seeking new partners outside the US to strengthen their global position.
Skytech has its sights set on Japan as a key strategic partner.

Japan's strength lies in materials and equipment. Taiwan's strength is in design and manufacturing, with rich experience. Together, we can complement each other and form a win-win relationship.

Company members are in Japan to take part in a matching event for semiconductor firms.

We saw many opportunities for collaboration with potential partners. It was a very meaningful exchange.

The feeling was mutual on the Japanese side.

We see Taiwan's semiconductor plants as global hubs of leading technology that we don't have access to. By working with them, we hope to acquire new knowledge and insights.

While Taiwan's semiconductor industry treads carefully with the US, it faces a separate, delicate situation with another key player, closer to home: China. Not only is it a major importer of Taiwanese chips, it also hosts many Taiwanese plants.
At a think tank in Taiwan, researchers discuss strategies for navigating US restrictions on semiconductor exports to China.

A major challenge is that many Taiwanese companies are deeply rooted in China. We need to explore how to achieve a painless decoupling.

Advanced chips should still go to the US and elsewhere, while lower grade custom versions can be sent to China. That way we can split the market with one set of products for China and another for partner countries.

A Taiwanese lawmaker who visited members of Congress in Washington says the key to balancing business with both the US and China is to maintain its technological edge.

For Taiwan, it's crucial to create a secure and collaborative economic environment. We're also focusing on cutting-edge process technology and new materials. Maintaining technological leadershippath to survival.

While maintaining close ties with the US, Taiwan is also guarding its position with China by preserving the so-called silicon shield, the idea that semiconductors can serve as a form of national defense. The stakes may be high, but Taiwan is sure to remain committed to retaining its crown as global semiconductor powerhouse. And that's all for me.

JR East: Power supply system malfunction likely caused E8 Shinkansen shutdown

East Japan Railway has launched an investigation into a possible flaw with its newest series of Shinkansen bullet trains. This comes after four separate incidents involving the train in a single day. An out-of-service E8 train became unable to accelerate as it was traveling in Tochugi Prefecture on Tuesday morning. The Tohoku Shinkansen Line was forced to suspend service between Tokyo and Sendai for over five hours as a result. The train was on a test run after it had been delivered by the manufacturer. JR East found the train's motor cooling system had failed due to a power supply malfunction. This may have triggered the safety mechanism in place to prevent overheating. Later that day, a separate E8 on a test run was unable to start moving again after stopping at Koriyama Station. And another train, this one carrying passengers, was stopped in Fukushima City for an inspection after the car monitor screen indicated an issue. And a similar incident occurring involving a train stopped at Oyama Station.
The E8 series debuted on the Yamagata-Shinkansen line in March of last year.

check of the weather

It's time for a check of the weather with our meteorologist Jonathan Oh. So Jonathan, many parts of Japan are still sunny and unusually hot. What's the latest?

Hello, we're still seeing temperatures that are way above average for this time of year.

We saw highs moving up to around 35.2 degrees in western portions of Japan.
Tokyo saw 34.4 degrees and it looks like that we may be able to get just a little bit of a reprieve from this as we go into the next few days. I mean we're still expecting highs to be in the 30s in Tokyo, but at least won't be in the mid 30s. We still have influence of high pressure, a couple of them that's helping to keep a dome across Japan and keeping things dry and sunny.
But we will see a couple of systems coming in from the West. I'll have bring some rain into place like Sapporo by Saturday and Fukuoka by Sunday. And yeah, it's still above average for this time of year in Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka and especially into Sapporo as well. So continue to take the proper precautions, even if it's only a couple degrees.
Cooler compared to what we've seen the past few days. If you're going to be spending any type of time outdoors, especially under sun, take the proper cautions to avoid heat stroke. You know, stay hydrated. Make sure that you wear life's loose, not loose, light clothing to help you out with that.
Meanwhile, very different story across southern portions of China. Heavy rainfall. It's causing some real problems. Here's some video and you look at the video, it's going to give you the story right away. Right there you're seeing. The inundation by seasonal heavy rain and it's prompting officials to issue the highest alerts for rain storms in Guangdong province. Chinese state media reported that more than 170mm of rain fell in just 24 hours, submerging half of the roads, causing water levels of local rivers to reach record highs.
And also being reported, the flooding affecting more than 78,000 residents. And so we are expecting that rain concern to be lifting toward the north and that's going to bring some more heavy rainfall into areas along the Yangtze River basin. 250 millimeters of rainfall possible in a short period of time.
Thunderstorms into Beijing, showers in Shanghai, also into Hong Kong. Chongqing looking at some wet weather with high of 30 as we go through today on Thursday. So just be on the lookout for some pockets of heavy rainfall in some of these locations as you go forward in time. Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
♫～

And that's NHK Newsline for this hour.
I'm Yamamoto Miki in Tokyo. Thank you for staying with us.

at 18:00 (JST), June 17

20250617180000_english_1.mp3

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

Israeli and Iranian forces are continuing to launch attacks on each other

Israeli and Iranian forces are continuing to launch attacks on each other's territory for a fifth day. World leaders are urging restraint as casualties mount, including after an attack on Tehran's state broadcaster.
The Israeli strike was captured live. Israeli Defense Forces say they targeted a communications center used for military purposes. The IDF also claims they killed four senior Iranian intelligence officials and destroyed over 120 missile launchers, about one-third of the country's arsenal.
Iran's health ministry says over 1,800 people have been injured and more than 200 killed since Israel started its attacks Friday. It says most of the casualties are civilians.
Iran has retaliated with its own strikes.
Israel claims Iran fired more than 370 missiles, with 30 making impact. Israeli media reports four people have been killed in missile attacks near Tel Aviv through Monday.

We hope also the Iranian regime will collapse and then we won't be able, we won't have to be scary about the the atomic bombs.

Iranian media says the country's Revolutionary Guards have told people in Tel Aviv to evacuate. A senior official reportedly said Iran is prepared for a full-scale war.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu says he has not ruled out killing Iran's supreme leader. He spoke with the US news outlet ABC News Monday. He said a potential assassination wouldn't escalate the conflict. It would end it.
Speaking at the G7 summit in Canada, US President Donald Trump called on both sides to come to the table.

They have to make a deal. It's painful for both parties, but I'd say Iran is not winning this war. And they should talk, and they should talk immediately before it's too late.

Trump said on social media Tuesday that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. He also advised people in Tehran to evacuate. One US defense official told NHK the defense secretary ordered the Nimitz nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to the Middle East.

Trump's early exit from G7 Summit impacts world leaders' diplomatic plans

Due to that conflict, President Trump has left the G7 summit early. He's returning to Washington to address the situation.

I wish I could stay for tomorrow, but they understand. This is big stuff.

Trump will be skipping the second day of the summit in Kananaskis. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he is very grateful for Trump's presence, and he fully understands the circumstances.
Before leaving, the president co-signed a G-7 statement about the conflict. In it, the leaders reiterated their commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East. They expressed support for Israel's right to defend itself, calling Iran the principal source of instability and terror in the region. They also said Iran can never have a nuclearweapon.
NHK World's Sarah Aoyagi has been following the summit. She delves into Trump's decision to leave early,  and tells us about a meeting of security officials he's reportedly requested amid the fighting in the Middle East.

There was quite the commotion at the international media center when the news broke. Trump had expressed an intention to deal with the fighting between Israel and Iran as soon as he leaves Canada. But it appears that few officials thought he would leave early. Multiple US news outlets report Trump has requested a meeting of the National Security Council in the White House. Details are scarce, but the group has some major high-level figures, including the Defense Secretary, Secretary of State, and senior military officials. His sudden departure on the summit's first day will definitely put a damper on efforts by countries that have been struggling to unite the G7.
That said, many are now wondering what was so serious for Trump to decide to leave so suddenly. Sarah Aoyagi, NHK World.

Trump's abrupt exit has dashed the hopes of several leaders who had hoped to meet with the US president on the summit sidelines.
That list includes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who's set to attend on Tuesday. He was likely expecting to discuss US military aid for Kyiv and efforts to achieve a ceasefire with Moscow. South Korean President Lee Jae-myeon, who took office earlier this month, was also expected to meet Trump on Tuesday. He was hoping to discuss closer ties, as well as Washington's impending tariffs.
Mexico is another country in tough trade talks with the US But President Claudia Schoenbaum also missed her chance for a meeting with Trump at the summit.

business

The leaders of Japan and the US have met on the sidelines of the G7 summit.
Let's get the details from our business team's Gene Otani.

Hiroaki, thanks.

Ishiba: Agreed with Trump to continue talks on tariffs

Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru did manage to speak with US President Donald Trump before he left. They discussed tariff issues, but have yet to reach a package agreement.

Japan and the US have been energetically holding sincere discussions. We are searching out possibilities through the negotiations. There are some points we have yet to agree on, so we have not yet reached an overall agreement.

Ishiba added they exchanged candid opinions and agreed to instruct ministers In charge to further advance the discussions, he reiterated that Tokyo will continue to make utmost efforts to protect its national interest. The meeting follows a series of talks in which the Japanese chief tariff negotiator requested that the Trump administration conduct a review of the tariffs it imposed on Japan.

US auto tariff to put the brakes on Japan's economy

Japan's biggest worry is the 25% additional tariff on automobiles.
Since April, the United States has imposed a total tariff of 27.5% on Japanese auto exports.
That figure includes the conventional levy. The country's automakers released their earnings estimatesfor the current business year last month, but Mazda, Subaru and Nissan said they remain undetermined. A Nomuna Research Institute analyst says Trump's tariffs are likely to drag down Japan's annual GDP by a total of 0.47%.
Trump's tariff measures are set to weigh heavily on the Japanese economy, raising concern over the long-term impact.

BOJ to slow cuts in bond buying in April next year

The Bank of Japan has decided to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged. The central bank also decidedto slow the pace of reductions in bond purchases next year to prevent bond market instability.
The bank's target of around 0.5% for short-term rates will remain in place. It made the announcement after its two-day policy meeting ended on Tuesday. The BOJ decision comes amid uncertainty about the economic effects in Japan of US President Donald Trump's tariff measures.
Investors have been watching for clues to how the central bank may adjust its plan for cutting the amount of Japanese government bonds it purchases monthly.
From April 2026, the BOJ will aim to reduce purchases by about 200 billion yen, or about $1.3 billion, every three months. That compares with the current plan to cut the amount by about 400 billion yen, or about $2.7 billion every quarter. POJ Governor Ueda Kazo explained the decision at a news conference later in the day.

Long-term interest rates should be formed in financial markets in principle. It is appropriate for the Bank of Japan to reduce its purchase amount of Japanese government bonds in a predictable manner, while allowing enough flexibility to support stability in JGB markets.
If the pace of reduction is too fast, that could have an unexpected effect on stability. The balance between these two ideas and the opinions of market participants were taken into account at today's meeting. The measures were decided to improve JGB market functions and provide stability.

The JGB market has been volatile recently due to concerns over worsening fiscal health. sometimes causing prices to fall and long-term yields to rise sharply. 

US media: 'Golden Share' includes govt. veto over US steel board

The New York Times and the Associated Press say the government will have the authority to appoint one of US Steel's three independent board members. It will also have the right to approve or reject the other two appointments. The New York Times says that Nippon Steel maintains the golden share will stay in place until President Donald Trump's four-year term ends. However, in a social media post on the weekend, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the share is perpetual. This suggests the government will hold a permanent stake in US Steel. Specific details of the acquisition agreement that will give the Japanese steelmaker control of US Steel have not been announced. Nippon Steel on Saturday stated that Trump had approved the deal. It said the agreement allows it to turn US Steel into a wholly owned subsidiary.
US media report the American government's golden share in US Steel, after it's acquired by Japan's Nippon Steel, will give the White House significant sway over the company's management.

Lifestyle changes prompt some to go tub-less in Japan

Relaxing in the bath has long been the way to wash away the day's troubles in Japan. Showers just weren't enough, but a change in urban lifestyles? has some people skipping the daily soak and getting rid of the tub.

Tenants started moving into the rental units in this new building this month.
Its target market is singles in their 20s and 30s.

The floor space of this loft-style unit has just 12 square meters. What's different from most apartments in Japan's capital is the bathroom. There is no bathtub, only a shower unit.
The toilet is separate.
Leaving out the tub means the total floor area can be smaller. As a result, the apartments are said to rent for at least 10% less than others of a similar size in the neighborhood. The real estate company handling the property has over 10,000 bathtub-less units for rent in Tokyo's 23 wards. It says the occupancy rate is 98%.

I think Gen. Z is increasingly choosing a lifestyle where a shower alone is sufficient. It's both cost-effective and time-efficient for them. I expect demand for these units will continue to grow.

An increasing number of nursing care facilities have recently introduced showers.
This one has specially designed showers with multiple nozzles.

The angle and direction can be adjusted, allowing us to position the shower exactly where it's needed.

This demonstration shows how simple it is to use the showers.

All they need to do is sit in the chair.

The shower helps reduce the burden on caregivers and improves safety.
The sensation is also similar to taking a bath. The left side shows the surface temperature of a body after taking a shower with multiple nozzles.
The right side shows the effects of a regular shower.

There's a labor shortage in the care industry, so being able to do other tasks while the patient is showering, such as preparing towels, improves work efficiency and is highly appreciated.

For many people, a bathroom without a bathtub just is not a bathroom. But a growing number may see the benefits of going tubless. Saving on both timeAnd money.

All right, let's have a look at the markets.

♪

And that's it for business news.

Mercury soars across Japan, heatstroke warnings issued

Sorry. Authorities in Japan are warning people against heat stroke as temperatures top the mid 30 Celsius in some areas. They are also predicting unstable weather conditions later on Tuesday night.
By 11 a.m., the mercury hit 36.9 degrees in Shizuoka City.
Residents sought relief from the heat.

（Japanese）

Takasaki City in Gunma Prefecture hit 37.7 degrees,and it was 35.8 degrees in Fuchu City in Tokyo. Heatstroke alerts have been issued for Ibaraki, Chiba, Wakayama, and Kagoshima prefectures. There's an alert for Okinawa prefecture that excludes the Miyakojima region.
People are advised to use air conditioners, consume liquids in salt, and rest frequently when working outdoors. The unstable conditions are expected until late Tuesday,possibly triggering lightning and wind gusts.

New fine system for cyclists in Japan to start on April 1, 2026

A revision to the Road Traffic Act, enacted last year, introduces so-called blue ticket fines for relatively minor offenses. Cyclists issued such tickets by police can avoid indictment by paying a fine.
The government determined the fines for 113 traffic violations at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. For example, a person using a mobile phone while cycling will be fined 12,000 yen, or about $83.
Cyclists who ignore traffic signals travel in the wrong direction, or use pedestrian paths will face fines half that amount. Officials announced that, under the rules, bicycles are, in principle, required to use the road.
But there will be exceptions to allow riding on the sidewalk. These include cyclists under 13 years old and those 70 or older, as well as places where traffic is considered heavy and dangerous. Officials also said cyclists using sidewalks would not be fined unless they are going too fast or endangering pedestrians.
The Japanese government has unveiled the details of a new system to find cyclists for traffic violations. The regulations will come into effect on April 1st next year.

Volcano eruption alert level raised for Tokyo's Miyakejima island

Japanese officials have raised their warning for areas near the crater of Mount Oyama on the island of Miyakejima, south of central Tokyo.
The Meteorological Agency issued the Level 2 warning at 12:50 p.m. on Tuesday. Officials had observed an increase in seismic activities beneath the volcano's crater. The agency says an eruption may be possible. The warning calls on people to refrain from approaching the crater, and that anyone near the caldera should be on alert for large cinders.

the 80th anniversary of the end of fierce World War II battles in Okinawa

Now, June 23 will mark the 80th anniversary of the end of fierce World War II battles in Okinawa. Archival photos discovered on the islands tell a grifting story. NHK World's Ichikawa Kanako brings a dark chapter of history to light, starting with one picture.

This aerial photo was taken in 1971 by the local government, one year before Okinawa was returned to Japan.
The blacked-out area holds historic significance.
Tokashiki is west of the main island of Okinawa. The darkened spot is today home to the National Okinawa Youth Friendship Center.

Such a rare photo.

Yamazatonozomu is the center's director. He gave me a tour of the educational facility.
While on the site, he told me a US military base used to be there.

This area used to be a missile repair base. Missiles were installed in launchershere.

I found a photo in the prefecture's archive center showing what this area was like back then. It reveals US missiles and equipment. The site was inaccessible to civilians until its return to Japan in 1972. Our research also turned up an image from before the US base was built. It shows the unveiling ceremony of a senator of mourning islanders who died in the Battle of Okinawa. Across the prefecture, the fighting cost the lives of about 200,000, or one in four, civilians.
84-year-old Zamami Masashige was only four at the time of the battle.
He and his family fled to this higher ground as the US military closed in.

During the war, a mass suicide took place in the valley down there.

On March 27th, 1945, US troops landed on Tokashiki Island.
Amidst the chaos the next day, more than 300 residents committed mass suicide. Methods included detonating hand grenades and choking with rope. According to Tokashiki village officials, 330 people died in the tragedy.

On the day, I was walking in the rain, pulled by the hand. I remember everyone yelling.

Islanders built this cenotaph to mourn victims. Zamami also carried sand and stones to the site to help with construction.
However, the tower was removed to make way for the US base.
Since Okinawa's reversion to Japan, Zamami has been sharing stories of local tragedies and conveying the preciousness of peace.

We finally have a facility here that can be used for peace. I think the most important thing is to let people learn about the past. I only hope this center remains forever and peace will continue.

In a place formerly blacked out in official images, photos tell of memories that should not be forgotten.
Ichikawa Kanako, NHK World.

♪

Ohtani Shohei back on the mound as two-way player

In Major League Baseball, Otan Nishouke is back on the mound. The Los Angeles Dodgers player was the starting pitcher on Monday. The team celebrated the return of the two-way star with a win against the San Diego Padres.
Fans were already on their feet when the Japanese superstar emerged from the dugout at the Dodgers Stadium.
Ohtani pitched the first inning against the Padres. He threw 28 pitches and gave up one run. Ohtani had to take a break from pitching for nearly two years after his second elbow surgery. The last time he both pitched and batted was in August 2023 while with the Los Angeles Angels.

♪(Japanese)♪

check on the weather

It's time for a check on the weather with our meteorologist, Jonathan Ngo.
Jonathan, as we mentioned earlier, it's hot outside, and it's prompting concerns regarding heat stroke. Is any relief insight later this week?

Hello, if you've been out and about today, you're probably going, ohh it's hot outside and it's going to be like that at least for the next few days. And so, yeah, we may be talking about a slight dip in daytime temperatures as we go to the end of the week, but it's still going to be hot and humid and definitely above what we were supposed to see for this time of year. I mean, check out these temperatures. I mean, cold food saw 38.2 degrees of the high on Tuesday, Tokyo seeing almost 35 degrees as well. Heat is the big story.

It will continue to be the big story. Got this high pressure system right down here bringing in that southerly flow. And when you have warmth picking up the moisture from the South and moving up to Japan, you're going to feel it. It's going to feel hot and humid. And that's going to be the case as you continue on into today on Wednesday as well. So take the proper precautions if you're going to have to be out and about. I'm even as Hoppero getting close to that 30 degree mark as you go through the next few days, Tokyo saying 33 for the high and then we get. a touch of relief with a high of 30 on Saturday, but still definitely on the warmer side. Osaka 35 as you go through Thursday. Once again, some prevention tips when it comes to heat stroke, water and electrolytes. Stay with air conditioning using a parasol or hat and also light colored clothing would be very helpful if you have to be out and about. Try to avoid alcohol with too much sun as well and definitely do not leave those cars unattended. Switching gears into North America, some strong storms into the plain states once again as a cold front swinging on through and another low pressure system toward the east, bringing the possibility of thunderstorms and some heavier rain.
Places like West Virginia saw some really heavy rainfall over the weekend. Seeing that chance again as we go through the day on Tuesday as well. So you need to be aware of your situation as you go forward in time. I mean, check out the highs here, 34 in Oklahoma City, 30 in Chicago, thunderstorms scattered from Denver all the way to Washington DC with rain into New York with high of 23 as you go through on Tuesday. 

Stay safe and hope you have a good day wherever you are.

♫～

And that's all for this edition of NHK News Line. I'm Yamakuchi Hiroaki. Thank you very much for staying with us.

at 18:00 (JST), June 16

20250616180000_english_1.mp3

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

Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba arrives in Canada for G7 summit

World leaders are starting to arrive in Canada for the G7 summit. Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru landed in Calgary on Sunday.
It's the first time for Ishiba, who took office last autumn to take part in a G7 summit. He's also due to deliver a speech on the Indo-Pacific region during a session on regional affairs. Ahead of the trip, he said he wants to explain what Japan can do to help maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific. Ishiba also stressed the importance of unity among the G7 members.

We're facing various challenges, among them the increasingly serious international situation, the global economy, global security, and emerging technologies. I'd like to talk frankly about these issues with the G7 leaders.

G7 leaders are expected to address urgent issues, such as the escalating conflict in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and the global economy will also likely take priority. Ishiba is expected to hold other talks on the sidelines of the summit. These include his first in-person meetings with invited leaders such as South Korean President Lee Jae-myung  and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
But the biggest item on Yeshiba's agenda is a proposed meeting with Trump. The US president arrived in Calgary Sunday.
Differences emerged between Trump and other leaders at a G7 summit during his first term. There are fears that could happen again as Trump tries to follow through on his American first policies.
The G7 is unlikely to issue a joint communique this year. Instead, Canada is planning to compile outcome documents on individual themes.
NHK spoke with international politics expert Victor Cha, who previously worked for the Biden and Bush administrations.
We asked him what sort of plan Trump may have going into this year's G7 summit.

To the extent that he could have one, it might be to try to organize countries with regard to China. Whether we're talking about technology competition or China's economic coercion, but it's really hard to do that when you are already economically coercing all of the G7 members the United States is with tariffs.

Despite ongoing trade tensions, Cha says the leaders will likely try to show unity. But he says hard conversations will be happening behind closed doors on topics like the war in Ukraine. Cha says other leaders will be trying to learn whether Trump's pursuit of peace with Moscow has changed after he made a critical minerals deal with Kyiv last month.

I think there'll be many questions from European as well as in the Pacific countries about um You know, what is the balance between in a ceasefire arrangement, post conflict arrangement, what is the balance between supporting Ukraine and then normalizing commercial relations with Russia?

Cha also says the US appears to be receding as a key proponent of a rural space international order. He says it may be time for the other G7 members to play that part.

Swedish institute says nuclear war risks growing

A Swedish research institute says the risk of nuclear war is growing as arms control agreements are weakening and some nuclear powers are building up their arsenals. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute released its latest annual assessment on Monday. It said the reduction in nuclear weapons ever since the end of the Cold War is coming to an end. The report says the nine nuclear-armed countries had an estimated 12,241 warheads in January 2025, down just 164 from a year earlier. More than 30 percent of those were deployed with operational forces. The report says Russia and the United States possess about 90 percent of the world's nuclear weapons. Russia is estimated to have 5,459 warheads, about 280 more than the US The Research Institute estimates that China has the third largest nuclear stockpile, with at least 600 warheads. It says Beijing's nuclear arsenal is growing at the rate of about 100 new warheads a year, faster than that of any other country.

business desk

Now let's get to the latest in business. Here's Gene Otani from our business desk.

Thanks, Yuko. In our top business story this hour,

Lutnick: US Steel 'golden share' provides US oversight, protection

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has provided details on the scope of the government's golden share in US Steel after it's acquired by Japan's Nippon Steel. Lutnick wrote in a social media post, the share gives President Donald Trump or his designee the authority to block certain management decisions. These include moving the steelmaker's headquartersFrom Pittsburgh, PA or changing the company name, Lutnick said the share prevents and reduction or delay in the Japanese companies $14 billion commitment to upgrade US steel facilities. It also provides veto power over the transfer of production or jobs outside the US. Nippon Steel on Saturday said Trump had approved the acquisition. The two companies signed a national security agreement with Washington, which includes the golden share.
The head of Madhubeni Institute says Trump gave the green light for the deal because it benefits US manufacturers and his voter support base.

Nippon Steel needs to make US Steel a wholly owned subsidiary to protect its technology. But at the same time, the US government wants the steel maker to remain an American company. I think the golden share is a compromise to satisfy both sides.

Imamura says the demand outlook for high-quality steel products is likely to remain strong. For this reason, Nippon Steel was ready to accept the deal conditions.

Trump tariffs drive down China industrial output in May

The latest data out of China shows industrial production slowed last month.
This was partly due to the effects of US tariff measures. The National Bureau of Statistics said on Monday industrial output in May grew 5.8 percent from a year earlier, but it was down from April's 6.1 percent. Investment and real estate development tumbled 10.7 percent in the five months through May.
The decline has deepened in recent months. New home prices fell in 53 of China's 70 major cities. That's an increase of eight from the previous month. The latest figures underscore the prolonged slump in the property market, but retail sales rose 6.4% year on year, posting sharper growth than in April. Government subsidies to replace consumer goods such as cars and household appliances contributed to the increase, but concerns remain over a resurgence in trade friction between Beijing and Washington. This is even after both sides cut additional tariffs significantly in May and engaged in negotiations.

Japanese coastal cities Fujisawa, Kamakura saw rise in tourists in 2024

Fujisawa and Kamakura cities, south of Tokyo, have long been popular among domestic travelers looking for a weekend getaway. They have now become tourist hotspots for foreign visitors looking for alternative destinations outside the capital. Officials from Fujisawa City say they welcomed an estimated 20.4 million travelers in 2024. That's up about 4% from the previous year and is the highest number since comparable data became available in 1989. The officials cite good weather during the summer months when visitors flocked to the city's beaches. They also say foreign travelers went to Enoshima Island, which offers attractive views of the Pacific Ocean and Mount Fuji.
Visitors to the city spent a record 113.8 billion yen, or more than $780 million. Officials from neighboring Kamakura City, known for its big Buddha statue, say the number of travelers surged about 30% year on year to almost 16,000,000. They say this was driven by an increase in foreign tourists officials. from both cities say they are wary of overtourism and will work to protect the quality of life for residents.

Thailand and California a chance to export their grain to Japan

Rice prices at Japanese supermarkets have almost doubled in a year due to a supply shortage. That's giving farmers in Thailand and California a chance to export their grain to Japan.

Thailand is among the world's largest rice producers. These farmers near Bangkok have completed planting for the season. This rice exporter has its eyes set on Japan.
The company's research lab is developing strains that appeal to Japanese consumers. Testing for taste and texture is part of the process. The goal is finding varieties that grow in Thailand and satisfy Japanese palates.
This Thai rice is said to be fluffy and sweet. The firm has exported 800 tons of rice to Japan in the first three months of this year.
That's more than three times the annual export volume for all of last year.
The firm is enlisting influencers as part of its online advertising campaign.

Once people taste the rice, I'm confident they will trust its quality. We hope to stage tasting events in Japan. We want to give people across the country a chance to enjoy Thai rice.

An ocean away, rice farmers in California are also optimistic about selling their grain in Japan. This paddy measures about 20 hectares. The average rice farmer in the state cultivates 161 hectares, about 80 times the standard in Japan.
The vast paddies give these farmers economies of scale. Production costs are about 1/7 of that of Japan. The grain seeds are scattered by light plains. 
In Japan, farmers plant seedlings, but here seeds are released from the air after they're soaked in water to add weight for the airdrop.

California is fortunate because the valley is very flat, it's very open and it has good soils and good climate for rice. What we hear in Japan is a shortage. We're just happy that they are looking to California for additional supplies.

Cal Rose rice from California is now available at some major supermarkets in Japan.
Some expect the imports to help stabilize prices and ease tension at the Japanese dinner table.

All right. And that's business news. Yuko. I'm going to hand it back to you.

Thanks, Gene.

Osaka Expo 2 months in: Busy event connects world

Now It's been a little more than two months since the World Expo in Osaka opened its doors. Organizers initially struggled with construction delays and lack of public interest, but it seems things are a little different now.
Earlier, NHK World's Tashiro Kyoko gave you an update and explained how the event is bringing people together in more ways than one.
So, Kyoko, what's the situation like there these days?

Hello there. It's been pretty busy. The daily number of visitors recently has been averaging about 110,000, and that's a big increase compared to the 75,000 we saw in the first week back in April. It's been so busy that this has become a regular view.
Lots of long lines. We We see multiple here. The one in the back, that's for the France pavilion, and this one here, leads to the pavilion of the United States, which is a 90-minute-long wait. In some other places, the wait can be as long as five hours sometimes.
Originally, the organizers were aiming to become an expo without lines, using online ticket systems and facial recognition, but that hasn't quite worked out with some pavilions.
Plus, some of them have unexpectedly become super popular, like this one here.

Kyoko, I guess five hours is long, but long lines are not the only things people have to brace for. The weather has posed challenges too, right?

That is right. We're in the rainy season now, so it's either raining or hot and humid like it is today. We sometimes see these canopies set around the venue, but you can see that it covers only some parts of the long, long lines. And there's also the obvious shelter that people go to, which is the Grand Ring, the huge wooden structure that circles around the venue. 
People can walk underneath it, but the problemhere is that it doesn't shield the people from the rain so much when the wind blows. And many people are also concerned how the organizers are going to deal with the scorching summer heat, which is just around the corner.
Meanwhile, the visitors here are exploring new ways to enjoy the event by helping each other. This is just one example. This map of the expo, it was createdby one individual and put up on social media for everyone to print out. It's all written in Japanese, but it lists all the pavilion's locations, whether they need reservations or not, and even when the shows are going to be performed. And this has been praised for being helpful walking around here. And then, another person took it to another level.
This is a traditional Japanese uchiwa fan. What this person did was reorganize that map so it can be cut and pasted on the fan. So people can walk around holding this in one hand, looking around, and sometimes pulling down themselves like this. And this has become a major hit. I've seen so many people around here with this in hand.

Well, that is helpful and interesting, but no fan could have helped with another big issue. We've been reporting several pavilions weren't finished in time for opening day, so give us an update on that.

Sure. Among the 158 countries and regions that are participating, Nepal's has not opened, and Angola's has closed. But the rest are all running for people to visit and enjoy. What I've realized is that many visitors especially react to the exhibits that focuses on the similarities, the the connection they have with Japan. One place we can see that is the pavilion right there, the Ireland Pavilion.
It showcases multiple art pieces that are brought from the country's national museum. They were picked out to highlight how the cultures of Ireland and Japan have more in common than many people might think. One of the pieces explains how cartoons have been influenced by Japanese anime. Others show similarities in musical instruments, as well as traditional and modern art.
There's even an original dance that combines traditional moves of both countries as a show of unity.

I now feel so close to Ireland coming in here.

I'm grateful that they searched and showed what we have in common.

You can always have technology, you can always showcase the best, the most impressive, the most wow of everything. But I think at the at the very basic level, humans are always interested in other humans, and the nature and the world around them. So that's what we want to show.

Human connections is also on top of mind of another participating country.
Rwanda is trying to convey the lessons learned from the genocide it experienced more than 30 years ago. We're taking a moment to look at this next report. It follows a survivor that came here to share his story.

More than 300 people from around the world have gathered at Osaka Expo to remember the victims of Rwanda'sgenocide.
In 1994, ethnic conflict between the Hutu majority and Tutsi minority led to about 800,000 deaths.
Many victims were Tutsi and moderate Hutu.
One Tutsi survivor, Klaver Irakose, shares painful memories. He was just 11 at that time.

Lives were killed by neighbors and friends who had lived with us for many years.
My father, alongside with many other men, Were taken and killed by the government soldiers.

Irakose later wrote a children's book to raise awareness of the massacre. He also gave a speech about genocide at the United Nations.
In recognition of his efforts, the Rwandan government sent him on this mission to Japan.

2025 Expo in Osaka has a theme that celebrates lives. It is important for people to know. what is happening around the world and what happened and what lessons people um learned from the past.

Iracose is visiting a local school. He wants to talk with children who were around the same age when he experienced the genocide.
The students spent the past year learning about Rwanda as part of an in-depth country study ahead of the expo.

Who are 11 years old here.

So I was your age 31 years ago. In my country, people have been taught to hate others, not because we have done anything, but simply because we existed the way we were.

Irakoza's story deeply touched the hearts of the children.

I want to tell everyone how precious life is.
I wish to make people aware of the terrible reality of genocide.

Thank you very much. It gives me hope that you have understood my story, and you are ready to be peacemakers, because peacemakers value everyone's life.
It brings back the memories, the pain, but it is a necessary thing to do for the world, for people in Japan to know what happened.

Rwanda will celebrate National Day at the Osaka Expo on July 4. And the nation hopes that sharing these genocide lessons will help humans coexist in peace around the world.

Irakoje says he wants to create more children's books based on his experience here in Osaka in order to spread his message.

Kyoko, you've covered the expo a lot for us. Even before it opened, it continues on for four more months, but based on what you've seen so far, what does the event mean for people?

So the official theme of the expo is Designing Future Society for Our Lives.
Participants are here to share their ideas on sustainability, new technology and the like. But we can also see here that they're trying to find out new ways to build ground for unity and connection.
So the whole event is can also become an opportunity for everyone to remind ourselves that working together can be the real key in solving problems the world faces today and in the future.

♪

It's good. First time. Yeah, first time. We tried it a bit on the street like that.

いらっしゃい

How was the taste? Really good. Amazing.

Ohtani to return to pitching on Monday after elbow surgery

The Los Angeles Dodgers says Ohtani Shohei will make his long anticipated return to the mound Monday. Japanese two way star has not pitched in a Major League game for about two years due to elbow injury. The Dodgers posted on social media on Sunday that Ohtani will be the starting pitcher in a game against the San Diego Pedros. It will be the first of a four-game series at the Dodgers' home stadium in Los Angeles.
Team manager Dave Roberts says Ohtani told him that he was ready to pitch in a big league game. He added that Ohtani will likely pitch in one inning and will also be in the batting lineup. This will be Ohtani's pitching debut for the Dodgers.

Mercury rises to mid-summer levels in wide areas of Japan

Summer-like heat hit much of Japan Monday, stretching from its western shores all the way to the country's northeast. Weather officials say people should stay alert for heat stroke. Temperatures topped 36 degrees Celsius in several cities by 2 PM.
Tokushima saw the mercury hit 36-point-2 degrees, with similar heat observed in Miye and Niyazaki prefectures. Fukui and Nada prefectures saw temperatures in excess of 35 degrees. The mercury topped 31 degrees in Tokyo. Its fire department says that so far, 21 people with suspected heat stroke have been taken to the hospital. Heat stroke alerts have been issued for other regions. The list includes all of Wakayama and Kagawa prefectures, the Amami region of Kagoshima and the Yayama region in Okinawa. The meteorological agency suggests people use air conditioners and consume plenty of fluids and salt.
Weather officials say more unpredictable weather could be on the horizon. Heavy rain clouds are covering areas in the northern Kyushu and Chugoku regions.
There could be lightning strikes, strong gusts and sudden downpours in western Japan. Atmospheric conditions there are expected to be unstable through Tuesday morning.

check on the weather

It's time for a check on the weather with our meteorologist Jonathan. Oh, so Jonathan, we just mentioned the big change around Japan where we went from cloudy, cool and wet to sunny, humid and hot in just a couple of days. So what's ahead this week?

Hello. For those of you who are like we don't need summer yet, well it just kind of came up and slapped you in the face because that's the swing that we see around this time of year where as the rainy season in front tries to move northward and moves back down where we get kind of like opening the door a little bit where all the hot air comes in from the South. And that's when we see the temperatures really jumping up. Places like Tokushima hitting 36.2 degrees, which is a record for the month of June. And it's not just there many areas seeing temperatures in the 30s, if not mid 30s. And we are going to be seeing some locations with seeing some rain up toward the north of the low pressure system pushes on through and even down toward the western portions of the country. But the heat is a big part of the story and it's not going to end at least for the next few days. And so you want to make sure that you take the precautions that you need to as you go forward in time. I mean look at this hot water you're getting, you're flirting with that 30 degree mark as you go through the next few days. That's not.
Typical for you. And so you want to make sure that you know where some of the safer air conditioning locations are, because not everybody has air conditioning in that part of the country.
33 in Tokyo on Tuesday, up to 34 on Wednesday, even 36 in Osaka by Thursday. It's going to be hot.
So you want to make sure you take the proper prevention when it comes to heat stroke. Taking in water with electrolytes, air conditioning. Make sure you have the proper covering with parasols, a hat and light colored clothing. Avoid alcohol, avoid too much sun, and definitely do not leave your cars unattended as that he can really bake the inside of the car really quickly.
Looking at what's happening across North America, we have some strong thunderstorms up into the Dakotas as a low pressure system moves on through. But we also have some disturbance down toward the South as we have that station in front in place, but hot in between there.
35 Endeavor, 33 to Oklahoma City thunderstorms into Winnipeg and also from Houston into Atlanta with heavy rainfall possible into the northeast. So keep an eye out for that as you go through Monday.
Hope you have a good day wherever you are.

♫～

That wraps it up for NHK Newsline and Yuko Fukushima. Thanks for joining us.

at 18:00 (JST), June 15

20250615180000_english_1.mp3

Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Ramin Mellegard in Tokyo.

Military parade held in Washington amid calls for counter protests

The Trump administration held a large scale military parade in Washington on Saturday. It coincided with the president's 79th birthday and sparked protests across the United States.
The parade began in the evening from the Lincoln Memorial, went along the National Mall to the South side of the White House. The US Army says the event featured about 150 military vehicles, including mainstay Abrams tanks and some 50 aircraft. An estimated 6,700 soldiers took part.
US media called it the first major military parade in Washington since the one staged by President George HW Bush after the 1991 Gulf War. The Pentagon estimates the cost of the parade, which marks the 250th anniversary of the Army's founding, at up to $45 million. President Trump made an address.

Thank you to the greatest, fiercest, and bravest fighting force ever to stride the face of this earth, the United States Army.

But the parade has drawn criticism from those who say it's misuse of military resources and some others who say the armed forces are being politicized.
Protests billed as No Kings rallies were held on the same day across the US.
In Los Angeles, demonstrators filled the square in front of the City Hall. The city has already seen a series of protests against the immigration policy of the Trump administration.
Some of the participants headed to a federal building and confronted Marine personnel who were on guard. Police have also mobilized officers on horseback to forcibly remove protesters who defied orders to disperse. The organizers of the rallies say at least 5 million people took part at more than 2,100 locations, including Washington and New York.

Minnesota lawmakers and spouses shot in 'political violence,' 2 dead

And two Democratic lawmakers in the US state of Minnesota and their spouses were shot at their homes on Saturday, with one couple dying. The state's governor calls it an act of targeted political violence.
Police say around 2:00 AM local time, they received a call reporting that State Senator John Hoffman and his wife had been shot at their home. Commenting on their condition, police say the couple were obviously in a difficult situation.
Police say after learning that the Hoffmans had been shot, officers went to check on the home of State Representative Melissa Hortman. There, they encountered a suspect who they believe was impersonating a police officer.
Police say the suspect exchanged gunfire with officers, then fled the scene.
Authorities announced that Hortman and her husband had died.
Police say they've identified the suspect as a 57 year old man. ABC News quotes several sources as saying that a list was found in the suspect's car with the names of Democratic politicians and activists supporting abortion.
Democratic Governor Tim Walz condemned the incident, saying it appears to be a politically motivated assassination.

We must all, Minnesota and across the country, stand against all forms of political violence.

Police are continuing to search for the suspect.

Iran: New offensive operations against Israel underway

Hostilities between Israel and Iran continue to escalate as both sides launch fresh attacks on each other throughout the weekend. Leaders around the world are holding separate talks in an effort to ease tensions.
Iran's media reported that a Defense Ministry headquarters administrative building in Tehran sustained damage following an Israeli attack early Sunday.
Iran's state-run news agency also quoted the oil ministry as saying that two oil storage facilitiesin the capital were attacked. Now, on Saturday, Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement. It says the new wave of operations targeted Israeli jet fuel production facilities and energy supply centers in retaliation for the continuing attacks. The statement says the strikes used missiles and drones, adding that the operations will continue more fiercely and widely if Israel's aggressions continue.
Now, meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump held telephone talks, a senior official at the Russian presidential office as Putin expressed readiness. Russia to act as an intermediary. The British Prime Minister's Office has also announced that Prime Minister Keir Starmer held telephone talks with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and confirmed the need to ease tensions.

Japanese anime 'ChaO' wins award at global anime film festival in France

And the Japanese animated film ChaO has won the jury prize in the feature films category at the renowned Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France.
The film, directed by Aoki Yasuhiro, was honored with the award on Saturday. ChaO depicts a future society where humans and mermaids coexist. It's a love story involving a regular office worker and Princess Chao from the Mermaid Kingdom. A special prize was awarded to another Japanese director. The Paul Grimaud Award went to Dandelion's Odyssey, directed by Japanese-born Seto Momoko. The top prize, the Cristal Award in the feature category, went to the French film Arco.

India sets up high-level panel for Air India plane crash investigation

Now, India's government has set up a committee to investigate the Air India jet crash. Local media report that the death toll from Thursday's accident has surpassed 270, including those killed on the ground.
The government on Saturday announced the formation of the committee, which is independent from the investigation by the aviation authorities. The committee includes high-level officials from both the government and the military. It'll hold its first session on Monday and plans to submit a report in three months.
The passenger plane left the western city of Ahmedabad for Gatwick Airport near London, with 242 people on board.
It crashed shortly after takeoff. Only one person on board survived the crash.
The plane hit the dormitory of a Medical College. Medical staff told NHK that at the time, many students were having lunch at the cafeteria. 4 students there were reportedly left dead and more than forty others injured. Many workers at the facility and their family members are feared dead.

And here's a three day forecast for selected cities around the globe.

♫～

Japan's northeastern region showcases summer festivals at Osaka Expo

And before we go, now people from Northeastern Japan have showcased their traditional summer festivals at the World Expo in Osaka.
The Tohoku Kizuna Festival was established to help the region recover from the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami. The annual event combines six major summer festivals,People from Kohoku held a special version of the festival at the expo to express gratitude for all the support they've received for their rebuilding efforts. Participants from Akita Prefecture hoisted 12 meter long bamboo poles adorned with paper lanterns. And dancers from Yamagata Prefecture performed while waving straw hats decorated with red flowers. People from Fukushima Prefecture marched through the venue carrying a 12-meter-long straw sandal.
I had so much fun dancing.
I hope we showed our region's recovery.
And next year's festival will be held in Morioka, in Iwate Prefecture.

And that's a wrap for this edition of NHK Newsline. I'm Ramin Mellegard.

Thank you very much for joining us.