Welcome back to NHK Newsline. Here's the latest we have for you at this hour.
We have been following those trade talks in Switzerland. The United States and China say they have agreed to pause some additional tariffs on imports of each other's goods for 90 days.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jameson Greer talked to reporters on Monday. The two countries also agreed to establish a mechanism to continue their negotiations. The world's two largest economies have imposed tariffs of over 100% on each other since April.
We do want trade. We want more balanced trade, and I think that both sides are committed to achieving that. We would like to see China open to more US goods. We expect that as the negotiations proceed, that there will also be the possibility of purchase agreements to pull what is our largest bilateral trade deficit into balance. That has gotten Out of balance.
Bessent added that Washington is looking forward to very good discussions now that the mechanism has been created.
Well, staying with those tariff talks, other major trading partners, including Japan, are trying to work out agreements. Let's turn to Ramin Mellegard from our business desk for more on this. So, Ramin, tell us about the latest status of Japan-US negotiators.
Now, US negotiators will also be meeting their Japanese counterparts soon. Sources say the Japan side will likely offer assistance for the US shipbuilding industry. Now, the proposal is likely to be a key agenda item at thenext bilateral round of trade talks, along with tariffs on Japanese cars.
Japan's top negotiator and economic revitalization minister, Akazawa Ryose, met with US Treasury Secretary Besant and other officials early this month in Washington. The two sides agreed to hold the next round in mid-May or later.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa and Akazawa are leading Japan's negotiating task force ahead of the talks. The proposal is apparently aimed at reinvigorating US shipbuilding, and that includes helping enhance repair capabilities and strengthening the supply chain. Japan is also willing to give assistance related to ice-breaking vessels used in the Arctic Circle. Now, Japan has said it wants to see stepped up automotive related investments in the US. The aim is to convince the Trump administration to change its stance on tariffs. Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru says his country will continue to demand a full removal of the levies.
8 out of 11 private sector research institutes project the economy shrank in the first quarter of this year. 3 research firms believe private consumption fell due to higher living costs, while 8 others project growth, but, at around 0.2% or less.
Private consumption accounts for more than half of Japan's GDP. Most researchers say Japan's GDP was hit by the global economic slowdown. This reduced earnings from exports at the same time as imports increased. However, 10 out of 11 firms believe capital investment grew, citing robust spending on software and semiconductor-related equipment. The analysts say first quarter GDP was not directly impacted by US tariffs, as the period came before President Donald Trump imposed the levies.
And Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group will invest in a commercial bank in India to gain greater access to the huge local market.
The company says its subsidiary, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking, will buy 20% of the Mumbai-based Yes Bank for 135 billion Indian rupees or 1 1/2 billion dollars. The Japanese financial giant sees the deal as a springboard to gaining a bigger share of India's fast-growing markets. Yes Bank says it was established in 2003 and has more than 1,200 branches in the country. Sumitomo Mitsui. says it's the first Japanese financial institution to invest in a commercial bank in India. It plans to work with US Bank to boost services for small and medium-sized businesses, as well as individual customers. Now, the move is also seen as spreading risk through an investment in a market with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, this amid a global economy unsettled by US tariff policies. The company has also acquired a non-bank finance company in India and turned it into a subsidiary. India's another part of Sumitomo Mitsui's strategy to expand in emerging economies in Asia. It has already invested in commercial banks in Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
And artificial intelligence is already transforming our lives. Physical AI is the next step in its development, robots with the new technology can respond to real-world challenges and perform complex tasks autonomously. Now, in the first segment of our two-part AI series, NHK World's Shinoda Aya reports on the latest advances in the United States.
The robots in this warehouse can handle a wide range of tasks. They can distinguish items by size or shape. and even unload or transport goods. They are powered by physical AI.
Developers say the artificial intelligence has learned to understand physical laws, like gravity and friction, through simulation. And now, this technology enables the robots to deal with changes in the real-world environment. The new technology was in the spotlight at this event, held by US semiconductor giant Nvidia.
Ability to understand the physical world, the three-dimensional world, is what's going to enable a new era of AI, we call physical AI, and it's going to enable robotics.
Some robots use physical AI to monitor energy-related facilities. Others are being developed to serve households. They can care for plants and clean up rooms.
And some will utilize the technology to work in theme parks.
Physical AI is seen as the next step for generative AI. And various tech firms are racing to develop the technology.
You need a brain for the robot. And the brain is built from physical AI, then results in a brain that we can put in the actual robot. And now it's a very exciting time.
Self-driving is one filled with high hopes for the latest advances in physical AI. This startup in the US state of California is developing AI for next-generation autonomous driving.
These are images used to train the AI brain. AI-generated synthetic image data using actual photos and videos can replicate rare situations to be simulated. The startup says physical AI's understanding of what can happen in the real world can increase the safety of autonomous driving.
If there's some scenario that happens very rarely, like, you know, once in 10,000 miles in the real world, that's very expensive to get that one example. But if in simulation we can say, just focus on simulating this one scenario over and over again.
Physical AI can bring even more convenience to our daily lives, but it is uncertain how future uses will reshape our society.
Shinoda Aya NHK World.
Okay, let's go to check on the markets.
♪
And that is it for Business News. I'm going to hand it back to you.
Voters in the Philippines are casting their ballots in high-stakes midterm elections.
Attention is focused on the Senate races as Vice President Sarah Duterte is facing an impeachment trial. Midterm polls take place on both the national and local levels halfway through the president's six-year term.
I'm hoping for the current policies to continue. I support the incumbent.
I support the Duterte side. There is no need for division or conflict amongst ourselves.
Voters will also choose half of the 24 senators and all members of the House of Representatives, as well as governors, mayors, and other local officials.
Our goal is to realize peace, safety, and justice for the people.
We are now paying the price for choosing the wrong leader.
Duterte was Ferdinand Marcos Junior's running mate in the 2022 presidential election, but the two are now embroiled in a bitter feud. One issue is the arrest of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.
Marcos initially pledged not to help the court, but he later changed that stance, enraging the vice president.
I asked a person to kill the president and his wife if I was murdered.
Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives in February on charges including misuse of public funds. The Senate is scheduled to start its trial as early as July. If convicted, she would lose the right to run in the 2028 presidential election. One expert says that could mark the end of the Duterte family's political aspirations.
Definitely, because I don't think any other people from the Duterte camp will be able to muster enough strength to bounce back. And in the Philippine politics, very, very few were able to mount a good comeback.
Ballot counting starts immediately after polls close later on Monday.
And for more on this, we're joined by our Manila Bureau chief Sakai Noriuki. He's been following the midterm elections for us from there. So, Noriuki, good to have you with us. How were things looking in the last days of the campaign?
The senator needs at least two-thirds of its members to vote in favor to impeach the vice president. If eight of those seats are won by the Marcos side, then that's likely within reach. Impeachment would not only remove her from office, but as you said, forbid her from running for president in 2028.
She's been trying to make a comeback. But it's not clear it is working.
Marcos's side has many incumbents.
On the other hand, Duterte has surrounded herself with her father's close aides, who are newcomers. That's made me winning these national elections evenmore of an uphill battle.
Right. Well, we heard an expert earlier say that this could be the end of the Duterte dynasty. How likely do you think that is?
It's hard to tell. A lot of citizens here still support former President Duterte. For example, after he was arrested by the ICC, Malko's approval rating dropped. That's because many thought it was politically motivated. It led some people to defect from the Malkos camp, including his own sister. Senator Aimi Marcos rejected her brother's endorsement and accepted Vice President Sara's support instead. Duterte said she would vote for Senator Aimi. With the impeachment trial approaching, it's likely Sara Duterte will try to court more senators to her side.
So to go back to your question, this election may be a big blow to the Duterte dynasty. But whether there or not it's actually the end. Will really depend on what happens next.
OK now let's talk about then where we go from here. After this Marcos will still have three years left in the presidency but what can we expect from here?
Well if he does wind up winning so many seats. You can bet he'll be feeling the wind in his sails. The senator has a lot of power. It approves treaty with other foreign countries, or the budgets, for example. So if Malcos has a big majority there, it gives him a lot of leeway to make decisions.
In terms of foreign policy, he'll probably stay the course and work on countering China. The two nations have been at odds, especially in the South China Sea.
Marcos will probably strengthen multilateral cooperation with other countries. Just last month, his administration concluded a new military agreement with New Zealand. This comes after similar deals with the US and Australia, with the goal of conducting joint training exercises. It is also currently negotiating similar agreements with Canada and France.
So we can expect to see more relationships like those.
Ultimately, the Marcos administration has shown it will be tough on foreign policy. But how will it deal with that kind of divisions at home? Everyone will be watching to see how it will steer the countries after these elections.
Okay, thank you very much, Noriyuki. That's NHK World's Manila Bureau Chief Sakai Noriyuki.
Takahashi Yayoi, 84, was found collapsed and bleeding on a street in the city of Chiba on Sunday evening. She was rushed to a hospital but was confirmed dead.
Takahashi had reportedly been stabbed in the back. The arrest came on Monday afternoon after the police had questioned the junior high school student on a voluntary basis. The boy lives in the city. The police say he's admitted to the allegations. Investigation sources say the teenager and the victim appear to be strangers. Police are questioning the boy to find out the motive and details of the attack.
A team of international researchers says microplastics are becoming widespread throughout the ocean, from the surface to depths of several thousand meters. The group warns there could be a long-term impact on ecosystems.
Microplastics are particles five millimeters or smaller. They mostly come from the breakdown of larger plastic waste. Fish and other creatures can easily swallow them, raising concerns about marine ecosystems. Researchers from the Japan Agency for Marine Earth Science and Technology teamed up with other institutes around the world. They analyzed data from nearly 1900 sampling stations. The data were collected between 2014 and 2024.
The researchers say their findings show microplastics are widespread from the surface to the deep depths, or what's known as the water column. They found smaller pieces under 0.1 millimeter tend to be spread more evenly.
This one just show us, you know, the the water column is a largelarge bank for the microplastics. We want to analyze this data with the same method and can generate comparative data sets.
The group warns that these smaller microplastics take more time to sink and so affect the marine ecosystems over longer periods.
A group of actors specializing in the centuries-old Japanese styles of Noh and Kyogen have young fans packing the seats.
Well, their classical adaptation of the modern anime and manga series Demon Slayer has proved a hit in Osaka with more performances planned across Japan.
They started in 2022 with shows based on Gotouge Koyoharu's popular series. Set in Taisho-era Japan about a century ago, Demon Slayer tells the story of a teenager's battles with other worldly forces and his efforts to save his sister.
It was amazing, impressive, and it was fun.
The combination of Noh, theatrical movements, and the animation made the play very beautiful and cool.
Actor and producer Nomura Mansai plays the antagonist, a powerful demon named Musang. He says Noh and Kyogen are versatile because they can mix classical performance with elements of whatever is popular, no matter the time period.
Noh is an art form that's even more enjoyable if the audience already knows the story.
I hope this show convinces people to explore the classics as well.
Organizers say they're planning 20 more shows in major Japanese cities.
One of Japan's hot spots for whale watching is the southern prefecture of Okinawa, where humpbacks return each year to raise their young. Their popularity has led to efforts to balance protecting them against the vital tourism that they attract. NHK World's Kimura Shota has the story.
Magnificent and awe-inspiring, humpback whales like these can grow to 15 meters long and as much as 30 tons. Zamami Island offers visitors a chance to see the Chento giants up close while watching tourists draw huge numbers of tourists every year.
Zamami lies about 40 kilometers west of Okinawa's main island in the Kerama Archipelago. It's one of the whale's few breeding grounds in Japan.
To get there, the marine mammoths first have a journey of some 5,000 kilometers from waters far to the north. The calm, shallow waters here are perfect for carving and resting.
Experienced guide Miyagi Kiyoshi was born and raised on the island. He's been tracking the whales for over 30 years.
I've been following them for a long time, like old friends or girlfriends. Even now, I still feel that way. And when I wake up in the morning, I wonder which whale I will see today. I want to share that feeling with the tourists.
It hasn't always been this way. Whales were once routinely hunted in Okinawa and came close to disappearing from Zamami.
But after a commercial waiting burn, the numbers began to recover in the 1990s.
Working with fellow enthusiasts, Miyagi established the prefecture's Forest Whale Watching Association.
Its goal is to promote sustainable tourism without disturbing the humpbacks. The fresh approach brought new rules, including no swimming near the whales, and ensuring boats stay at least 100 meters away.
If we don't apply the rules properly, they may stop coming back.
Members of the group also deploy an old-school approach, taking to high ground to locate mammals.
Sporters coordinate with the tour boats to make sure they don't gather together and crowd the whales.
Guided from afar, the boat manages to find its target.
As these whales are native to Okinawa, it's our responsibility to create an environment where they feel safe enough to return and raise their young. While I'm still healthy, I want to go and see them.
The humpback whales of Zamami are watched over and cherished by tourists and islanders alike.
Kimura Shota NHK World.
And it's time now for a check of the weather with our meteorologist Jonathan Oh. So Jonathan, after a sunny start to the week in Tokyo, Monday started getting cloudier, even a bit cooler. How are things looking over the next few days?
And that helped to keep the area a bit cloudy and we even saw some rain moving through the area. And as long as that front is nearby, we have a chance of seeing possibly a sprinkle or shower as you go through the overnight period into today on Tuesday. But changes are on the way to where we're going to feel like June as opposed to May because high pressure is coming in from the West.
That's going to clear things up as we progress through the next couple of days.
And temperatures are going to be jumping up into the mid 20s in places like Tokyo and Osaka. So we're kind of going through a little bit of a roller coaster right here in terms of temperatures. So I know this might sound repetitive, but it's worth reminding you and for all of us that if you're going to be out and about to make sure you stay hydrated, wear the proper clothing in terms of loose, light clothing if possible, because I mean 26 in Tokyo, Osaka, 25 in Fukuoka, even especially for those of you up north. In Sapporo, 22 for the high on Tuesday. So yeah, that's going to be really on the warmer side for you. So it's going to be more pleasant than being colder, but it's just going to be much warmer. So just be aware of that as you go throughout the next few days.
Meanwhile talking about some heavy rainfall concerns, especially flash flooding concerns in the southeastern portions of the United States. As we have a couple of low pressure systems in place and that's going to draw in some moisture and dump it in the area. So if you're going to be driving, you notice that there's a bit of a wet weather taking place and the roads look a bit on the wet side. Don't try to move through those kinds of flooded waters. You want to turn around and move into a different direction because the flash flooding literally means it floods really quickly.
We've got some heavy rainfall potential also to the Pacific Northwest here, a couple of lows moving through the area, showers into Seattle, thunderstorms in Chicago and Atlanta and Miami looking a high of night as we go through the day on Monday. So again, a couple of wet weather on either end as we go throughout today on Monday.
Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
♫～
That wraps it up for this edition of NHK Newsline. We'll have more for you soon.
Thanks for joining us.
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