Hello and welcome 10 HK News line. I'm Ross Mihara in Tokyo with the stories at this hour.
For the first time in history, an American will be leading the Roman Catholic Church. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was chosen by the conclave, taking the name Pope Leo XIV.
La pace sia con tutti voi, fratelli, sorelle, carissimi. Questo è il primo saluto del Cristo risorto, il buon pastore che ha dato la vita per il gregge di Dio. Anch'io vorrei che questo saluto di pace. Entrasse nel nostro cuore, raggiungesse le vostre famiglie, a tutte le persone, ovunque siano, a tutti i popoli, a tutta la terra. La pace sia con voi.
兄弟、姉妹、そして最愛の人達よ、あなた達全員に平安がありますように。これは、神の羊の群れのために命を捧げた善き羊飼い、復活したキリストの最初の挨拶です。私もこの平和の挨拶を望みます。それが私たちの心に入り、あなたの家族、あらゆる場所のすべての人々、すべての民族、地球全体に届きますように。平安があなたとともにありますように。
133 cardinals from around the world reached a consensus on the conclave's second day. White smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel late Thursday afternoon. The new pontiff is 69 years old and was born in Chicago. He served as a bishop in the northern Peruvian city of Chiclayo and became a cardinal in 2023.
Excited. We're really excited that we have an American pope at this point in our lives because, like my husband said, the US is getting a bad rep.
I am excited and feel blessed by the election of the new pope, especially because he is from Chiclayo.
Experts say his ties to Latin America may have helped him win the vote. Leo spent many years in Peru and has Peruvian citizenship. Late Pope Francis also hailed from the region, which has a large Catholic population. Japan was among the nations welcoming the new pope.
The Japanese government offers its heartfelt congratulations. We hope that under the new pope, the good relationship between our country and the Vatican will develop even further.
On social media, US President Donald Trump said it was an honor to see the first American Pope. He also said he looks forward to meeting him. Russian President Vladimir Putin said he is confident the Vatican can cooperate with Russia. He said their relationship will continue to develop based on their shared Christian values. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also responded. He said his country values the Holy See's consistent position upholding international law, including condemning Russia's aggression and protecting civilians. When the Pope speaks, people pay attention. That's top of mind for many in Japan in the wake of his election. NHK World's Kitai Genki explains what they want Leo to do with that power.
Catholics are still digesting the big news, but I picked up on a common sentiment during noon mass here at this Tokyo church. They want the pontiff to try to help end conflicts.
I hope that the new pope will continue on with the path that Pope Francis have been pursuing, which is the path to global peace.
I got the impression that the last Pope had been vocal about war. I would be happy if the new Pope continues on that same path in an inclusive way, in a way that matches the challenges we face in the current era.
Many in Japan strongly remember the previous Pope's commitment to peace. He visited Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 2019 and called for nuclear disarmament. A group representing atomic bomb survivors wants Leo to follow in his footsteps.
The atomic bombings should never be forgotten, and with the number of survivors decreasing year by year, now is the time for the leader of Catholics across the world to call for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
The number of Catholics in Japan is pretty small, about 420,000, but many in the country appreciate the influence of the role of the Pope, and they hope Leo will use it to benefit the world. Kitai Genki NHK World.
Earlier I spoke with our Katsuki Takayuki to delve further into the background of the new Pope. Takayuki, I'm really curious, to get your take on this as you were there in Vatican City to cover the 2013 conclave, what stands out to you about the latest election?
Well, a couple of things. Of course, the main headline is that the that the new pope is American, but the speed at which he was selected is also notable. People thought it might take longer for the cardinals to reach a decision. That's because the group is far more diverse than before, with more cardinals from other areas of the world taking part, including cardinals from Africa and Asia.
But they ended up reaching a decision by the fourth round of voting, one round earlier than when they chose Pope Francis. That pace may have had to do with Pope Leo's previous role. He headed the Vatican's bishop office, so he was well known.
Despite being considered a major candidate from the outset, Leo's election was still a big surprise.
Many thought the Cardinals would not let an American head the church, given that the US already has such a big voice in the international community.
You mentioned his previous role. What else is he known for?
Well, he had won the deep trust of his predecessor, and similar to Pope Francis, Leo has been known for his dedication to helping people in need and supporting immigrants. He has also been vocal about global peace and climate change issues. There are reports that he has taken a cautious stance on homosexuality, so he is considered to be more of a centrist rather than a progressive.
There are expectations that the new pope will take a well-balanced approach in his relationship with conservatives.
A major thing people will be paying attention to is how his relationship with US President Donald Trump develops. The two apparently have differences of opinion, including on immigration.
Regardless, to realize a peaceful and stable world, the Vatican will need to communicate with the White House. And the fact that Pope is American may help. That may have even been one of the reason why the cardinals chose him.
And what kind of pope do you expect him to be?
Well, it's hard to say for sure. Electing a pope doesn't include any kind of campaign speeches on party platform of any sort, but I think there are some clues.
First, his paper name. He chose Leo XIV. The 13th was the pontiff during the late 19th century. He opened up the church to confront challenges in international community and labor issues. So I think that suggests Pope Leo will be willing to delve into social issues, as well as possibly trying to help with mediation efforts. And what struck me the most in his first address was this part of his speech.
He said, We must seek together how to be a missionary church, a church that builds bridges, dialogue, always open to receive like this square with open arms. That comment feels especially relevant in a divided world with ongoing wars.
People are hoping he does what he says and plays a big role in achieving peace.
The mayor of Nagasaki says all countries and regions will be invited to this summer's ceremony marking 80 years since the atomic bombing of the city. This marks a change in direction from recent years, where some countries have been notably absent. It will be the first time since 2021 that invitations will be extended to representatives of all countries and regions with diplomatic missions in Japan.
As divisions deepen in the international community, I want all representatives to witness with their own eyes, hear with their own ears, and feel in their hearts the cruel and inhumane consequences of atomic weapons.
Israel was not invited to last year's ceremony. Suzuki said at the time that this was to ensure the ceremony would be conducted smoothly and with an appropriate atmosphere. The US ambassador and representatives from several other countries responded by not attending. Russia and Belarus have not been invited since the start of the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Nagasaki officials say they plan to implement strict security measures and request the cooperation of attendees to ensure a calm and solemn ceremony.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin insists bilateral ties with China have never been better, but he and President Xi Jinping say they're not stopping there.
Putin and Xi met on Thursday at the Kremlin. People across Russia are marking the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany during World War II. The celebrations take place annually on May 9.
The brotherhood of combat between our nations developed during those tough war years and is now one of the foundations of our modern day relations and strategic cooperation. Our ties are equal and mutually beneficial.
Facing a countercurrent of unilateralism and international bullying, we will work with Russia to promote equal, orderly and multilateral economic globalization.
The two leaders held a news conference after their summit. Putin said Russia-China ties have reached their highest level in history. And he says he'll be visiting Beijing in September to commemorate the end of World War II in China.
Hundreds of people from Japan and Taiwan gathered in southern Taiwan Thursday to honor a Japanese engineer whose century-old irrigation project continues to shape the region's farmland today. More than 500 people joined a ceremony, marking 83 years since the death of Hatta Yoichi,Hatta built a large dam and irrigation facilities in the region nearly 100 years ago. Taiwan was under Japanese rule at the time.
Taiwan's President Lai Tsing-Te was among those paying tribute to the man.
The dam doesn't just irrigate farmland. More preciously, it also nourishes the hearts of Taiwanese and Japanese people.
The ceremony featured participants laying flowers and offering prayers for Hatta, whose legacy still flows through Taiwan's fields.
Donald Trump is once again trying to get Russia and Ukraine closer to a lasting peace agreement. He's calling on both sides to agree to a 30 day truce.
Trump posted on social media on Thursday. He suggested a month long unconditional ceasefire. He said the US would punish anyone who violated the proposed agreement. Trump went on to say the ceasefire must build towards a lasting peace plan. He claimed it can be done very quickly, saying he's available at a moment's notice. Zelenskyy also made a post Thursday. He said he spoke with Trump by phone and told him he's ready to accept a 30 day. ceasefire, but he said it must be a real truce with no missile or drone strikes. That conversation may have led to Trump's renewed calls for a ceasefire.
Meantime, Ukraine's top diplomat is accusing Russia of ignoring its own three day ceasefire. He says Russian forces have committed more than 700 violations in the 1st 12 hours of the truce.
Ukrainian investigative authorities said Russia's military dropped a guided bomb in the northeastern region of Sumi at around 3:00 AM on Thursday. They said one person was killed and two injured. They added that a separate bombing in the region completely destroyed a residential building and damaged 10 other structures.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andri Sibiya said on social media that Ukraine's military command had informed him that Russia committed 734 ceasefire violations between midnight and noon on Thursday, the minister wrote, Ppedictably, Putin's parade ceasefire proves to be a farce. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged resistance to evil in a video message released on Thursday.
It must be fought together, resolutely, with force, with pressure on the battlefield, in the diplomatic arena, in the economic sphere, wherever it is possible.
There is mounting fear that the clashes between India and Pakistan are escalating. The two neighbors are now accusing each other of drone attacks.
A Pakistani military spokesperson claimed India carried out drone strikes in Pakistan from Wednesday night into Thursday. The spokesperson said 25 of the unmanned aircraft were shot down, but that two civilians were killed. India's government said its military had targeted air defense radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan on Thursday morning. It claimed that an air defense system in the eastern city of Lahore had been neutralized.
India said it was responding to Pakistan's drone and missile attacks against military targets from Wednesday night into Thursday. There have also been clashes between Indian and Pakistani military forces stationed in the disputed Kashmir region. India announced on Wednesday that it had conducted missile attacks on Pakistan and the Pakistan administered part of Kashmir earlier in the day. India said the strikes had targeted what it called terrorist infrastructure in retaliation for a deadly assault by gunmen in the India controlled part of Kashmir last month. Pakistan denies it was involved in that attack.
North Korea says its leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a joint strike drill involving a ballistic missile and long range artillery on Thursday. Earlier, South Korea's military said North Korea had fired ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan. The North's report apparently refers to these missile launches. The ruling Workers' Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported on Friday that the drill involved a 600-millimeter multi-layer rocket system and the Hwasong-11 tactical ballistic missile. The report said that training was conducted ahead of the launches to enable a rapid switch to a nuclear counter-attack posture. Kim reportedly stressed the need to enhance the pivotal role of the nuclear force in all aspects of the strategy to deter and fight war. South Korean military officials said the launches may have been a performance test linked to the North's arms exports to Russia.
Now let's see what's happening in the world of business. Here's Ramin Mellegard from the BizDesk.
Thank you very much indeed.
Now, US President Donald Trump says his administration has brokered a trade deal with the United Kingdom, the first since he imposed sweeping levies on trading partners. Now, he says the agreement will expand Britain's access to US agricultural products while cutting tariffs on cars made in the UK. Trump held the accord as a breakthrough.
The deal includes billions of dollars of increased market access for American exports, especially in agriculture, dramatically increasing access for American beef, ethanol, and virtually all of the products produced by our great farmers.
Trump says the levy on British automobiles will fall from 25% to 10%, with an annual quota of 100,000 vehicles. The UK government says the US agreed to eliminate tariffs on steel and aluminum products, but other British exports still face the 10% baseline tariff that the US has placed on all trading partners. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told Auto Workers that the agreement will benefit them.
All of these tariff cuts will come into place as soon as possible, and that's really important. As well, in relation to the work that you're doing and the brilliant cars that you make.
Meanwhile, the European Union's executive body says it will launch a dispute with the World Trade Organization over US tariffs on automobiles. The European Commission claims that Trump's tariff policies and duties on cars and car parts blatantly violate WTO rules. EU officials say if trade talks fail to yield results, they're planning to retaliate with tariffs on US exports.
And Japan's chief tariff negotiator has praised the efforts of the US and UK, but stressed that the situation with this country remains unresolved.
Our stance of seeking the full removal of the series of tariffs hasn't changed.
We've reiterated that Japan regrets the tariff measures against automobiles, vehicle parts, steel and aluminum products, as well as the reciprocal tariffs.
And US President Trump has expressed confidence ahead of the upcoming tariff talks with China, saying they're going to be very substantive.
You can't get any higher. It's at 145, so we know it's coming down. I think we're going to have a very good relationship.
Trump said opening up China's market and allowing US businesses to enter the country will be a priority of the talks. He said doing so would give people a lot of choice and create a lot of jobs. He also said it would be a great thing for China. Negotiations are scheduled to take place in Switzerland on Saturday and Sunday. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jameson Greer will take part in the meetings.
Now, China will send its economic policy Chief Vice Premier He Li Feng.
Now, the value of China's exports to the United States plunged in April. Amid rising trade tensions between the world's two largest economies, Chinese customs authorities say shipments in dollar terms fell 21% from a year earlier. Imports from the US were down nearly 14%. Washington in April imposed additional tariffs of 145% on goods from China. Beijing hit back, raising levies on US products to 125%.
The value of China's total exports last month rose by just over 8 percent as shipments to Southeast Asia surged. Those to Europe were also up. Overall imports were almost flat, down only 0.2 percent.
And Japanese steelmakers are pushing green steel. It's a material whose production generates lower than normal emissions of carbon dioxide.
One way of making it is by using electric furnaces rather than coal burning ones.
This ship was made from green steel, but production costs are relatively high as new investment is needed. The material is certified as green steel by a third party. Then the steel makers charge higher prices for it as they pass on those extra costs. JFE Steel has been selling its green steel to a shipbuilder, which used it to produce the world's first cargo vessel made exclusively from the material.
Now, its rivals, Nippon Steel and Kobe Steel, are supplying the eco-friendly material to automakers and construction firms. The final products, such as cars, can be seen as eco-friendly if made from green steel. The Japanese government is promoting the material by including its use in an assessment standard through which subsidies are granted.
We hope to work with the government to make the added value offered by green steel to the environment better known.
Steel makers are also trying to develop blast furnaces and other equipment powered by hydrogen to further cut carbon dioxide emissions. However, the practical use of such furnaces is still a long way off. So in the meantime, the manufacturers are placing their hopes on green steel. The challenge is whether the companies can gain the public's understanding for charging higher prices to cover their production costs.
OK, let's go to check on the markets.
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And that is it for business news.
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It's now time to check the weather. Western Japan is experiencing a wet and stormy Friday. Our meteorologist Yumi Hirano has the details.
However, after the wet weather, yellow sand will be a concern. It's expected to cover southern China to western Japan on Saturday, and then will gradually expand to eastern Japan by Sunday.
Moving to Europe. Warm and humid air from the Mediterranean is causing severe weather in the region, including Spain.
An intense hailstorm swept through Murcia on Thursday after many days of unusually high temperatures. People posted videos of large hailstones damaging cars and plants on social media.
Forecasters say parts of eastern Spain are still under threat of severe weather and even snow on Friday.
So there are two low pressure systems along the sea, bringing unsettled weather from Spain to Italy. There are risks of isolated, intense rain, gusty winds and even snowfall in higher elevations. Showers are also likely in Lisbon, Madrid and Rome, but sunny weather is expected in the west, such as Paris, Buing and London.
That's all for now. Have a nice weekend.
♫～
I'm Ross Mihara in Tokyo. Thanks for staying with us on NHK Newsline.
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