Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Yoko Nishimura in Tokyo with the latest news.
Japan government arranging for chief negotiator trip to US for tariff talks
The Japanese government is preparing to send its chief tariff negotiator to Washington from Thursday for a fifth round of talks.While considering what is the most effective of all the available options, I will continue to engage in discussions in a frank and constructive manner to strike a deal that benefits both countries.
Akazawa has said Japan cannot afford any further delays, as its auto sector, a pillar of the economy, is already suffering losses. The government is exploring strategies to pave the way for the two countries' leaders to reach a deal on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Canada later this month.
But officials say they are committed to prioritizing national interests.
Akazawa said he would make haste in a measured way. One senior official with the foreign ministry said the summit could be a milestone, but it is not a fixed deadline.
But officials say they are committed to prioritizing national interests.
Akazawa said he would make haste in a measured way. One senior official with the foreign ministry said the summit could be a milestone, but it is not a fixed deadline.
US proposed allowing Iran limited low-level uranium enrichment, report says
A US media outlet says the United States has proposed allowing Iran to conduct limited low-level uranium enrichment on its own soil.This brought a quick denial from President Donald Trump, whose administration has been pressing Iran to completely halt its enrichment.
Axios reported on Monday what it said were the details of a US proposal made to Iran last Saturday. It says the offer shows far more flexibility than past US demands. The two sides have been engaged in talks but have failed to narrow their differences. Axios says the latest proposal would not allow Iran to build new enrichment facilities and calls for a halt to new research and development on centrifuges.
However, the report says Iran would be permitted to engage in limited enrichment activities at a concentration level of three percenta key threshold for the peaceful use of uranium.
Trump responded in a social media post that his administration will not allow any enrichment of uranium.
Also on Monday, Reuters news agency quoted diplomatic sources saying that Iran is drafting a negative response to the US plan.
South Korean voters cast ballots in presidential election
South Korean voters are heading to the polls Tuesday to elect a new president.The election comes after Yoon Suk-yeol was ousted from the post.
Voting began at 6 a.m. at more than 14,000 polling stations across the country. Election officials say as of 4 p.m., the voter turnout stands at 71.5%. That's up slightly from the last election three years ago. Local media say it's the highest ever figure for that 10-hour period.
I hope for a country where we are all peacefully united and can live a good life.
There's a lot they need to tackle, so I hope South Korea will become a country that can achieve what the people want.
I hope the next president will be someone who will work for the people, without doing any nonsense.
The election is widely seen as a showdown between two candidates. Lee Jae-myung is representing the largest opposition Democratic Party. Kim Moon-soo is running with the conservative ruling People Power Party. The candidates made their final pitches for voters Monday, the last day of campaigning. Two issues have defined the race.
The first is South Korea's sluggish economy. The second is how people feel about the Yun administration. He was removed from office over last year's declaration of martial law.
I earlier spoke to two of our reporters who are following the race in SouthKorea.
NHK World's Tokuda Ryosuke is at the Democratic Party's headquarters.
The first is South Korea's sluggish economy. The second is how people feel about the Yun administration. He was removed from office over last year's declaration of martial law.
I earlier spoke to two of our reporters who are following the race in SouthKorea.
NHK World's Tokuda Ryosuke is at the Democratic Party's headquarters.
So Ryosuke, how's it looking over there?
It's quiet right now. We haven't seen too many people. Just a normal police presence, making sure this area remains safe. We are about a block away from the National Assembly. That's where we are expecting these supporters together tonight. That building has become an important symbol in the six months since Yoon Suk-yeol's Martial Law Declaration. That decision drew massive protest to these streets.
And Lee says, if elected, he won't let it happen again. He's promised to make changes to make it harder for future presidents to deploy troops like Yoon did. Lee has been trying to attract moderate conservatives, saying Kim represents the PPP's insurrection force. He says his Democratic Party will unite the people. Besides political divisions, he says his priority in office will be to fix the economy. As early as Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, we should know whether his campaign has paid off.
And Lee says, if elected, he won't let it happen again. He's promised to make changes to make it harder for future presidents to deploy troops like Yoon did. Lee has been trying to attract moderate conservatives, saying Kim represents the PPP's insurrection force. He says his Democratic Party will unite the people. Besides political divisions, he says his priority in office will be to fix the economy. As early as Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, we should know whether his campaign has paid off.
Now with a view from the other camp, NHK World's Kim Chan-ju joins us from the People Power Party headquarters. Chan-ju, you're just around the corner down the street from Ryosuke. What's it like there?
It's pretty quiet over here as well. We are also expecting people to gather a bit later. You can see stacks of chairs for when supporters arrive, although there's no telling what the mood will be like. Gallup Korea's final opinion poll released on May 23 showed Kim was still behind but could catch up to Lee.
In a few hours, we'll see if that carried over to real votes. Kim's campaign has stressed conservative unity and the need for stable governance. He argues Lee won't be a unifier, but an authoritarian. But he's had to deal with the Reform Party led by former PPP leader Lee Jun-seok, which could split Kim's base. Kim was endorsed by some traditionally conservative former presidents, Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye. Neither were fans of Yoon, suggesting Kim is more attractive South Korea's political establishment. But time will tell if that tipped the balance.
In a few hours, we'll see if that carried over to real votes. Kim's campaign has stressed conservative unity and the need for stable governance. He argues Lee won't be a unifier, but an authoritarian. But he's had to deal with the Reform Party led by former PPP leader Lee Jun-seok, which could split Kim's base. Kim was endorsed by some traditionally conservative former presidents, Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye. Neither were fans of Yoon, suggesting Kim is more attractive South Korea's political establishment. But time will tell if that tipped the balance.
Japanese pro baseball legend Nagashima Shigeo dies
Japanese pro baseball legend Nagashima Shigeo has died. He was 89.His former team, the Yomiuri Giants, confirmed the news Tuesday morning. They said Nagashima died from pneumonia. He had been hospitalized and receiving rehabilitation since a brain bleed in 2022. He also suffered from a stroke in 2004. Hailing from Chiba Prefecture, he first rose to stardom as a member of Rikkyo University's team. He joined Japanese professional baseball with the Giants in 1958. Being a clutch hitter and brilliant fielder, he won the hearts of many fans. He also won multiple batting awards, including two home run titles, and was nicknamed Mr. Pro Baseball. Together with teammate Oh Sadaharu, they formed the so-called ON Pair, leaving their mark on a golden era of Japanese baseball.
Oh spoke about his old teammate Tuesday. He said he was deeply shocked by his sudden passing. He also said Nagashima was a brilliant figure in the sport's history, and is grateful they played together. Nagashima stopped playing in 1974, but twice assumed the post of the Giants' team manager. He was also the first baseball player in history to be awarded Japan's Order of Culture. To many fans, Nagashima was irreplaceable.
Oh ohh my God, what a shock. I'm almost crying. I spent so much time watching many fantastic games. He was the greatest player, and I loved him so much.
The sport's next generation also paid his respects. Japanese major leaguer Otani Shohei of the Los Angeles Dodgers posted photos on social media. He offered his sincere prayers to the baseball star.
Sources: Two Japanese killed in Dalian entered China a few days before incident
The Japanese embassy in Beijing says two Japanese nationals were killed in the Chinese city of Dalian last month. A Chinese national has been detained as a suspect in the death and has been detained.
The embassy says public security authorities in Liaoning Province reported the incident on May 25. The local authorities say the individuals knew each other and had a business conflict. The embassy has not released further details, citing the ongoing investigation and privacy concerns. It says it will provide the necessary assistance to their families. Sources say that the killings occurred on May 23 and the victims were adult males. The Japanese consular office in Dalian says about 1,700 Japanese businesses operate in the city, and around 3,000 Japanese nationals live there.
The embassy says public security authorities in Liaoning Province reported the incident on May 25. The local authorities say the individuals knew each other and had a business conflict. The embassy has not released further details, citing the ongoing investigation and privacy concerns. It says it will provide the necessary assistance to their families. Sources say that the killings occurred on May 23 and the victims were adult males. The Japanese consular office in Dalian says about 1,700 Japanese businesses operate in the city, and around 3,000 Japanese nationals live there.
Gaza officials: More killed near aid site
Local authorities in Gaza say three people were killed and 35 injured in an Israeli attack near an aid distribution center in Rafah. This follows reports that Israeli troops killed 31 people the day before in the area.Israeli forces are continuing intensive attacks in Gaza. IGF officials say they expanded ground operations and dismantled many Hamas infrastructure sites above and below ground. The US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has been distributing aid since last week. The IGF says it's aware of the reports of casualties and is thoroughly looking into the incident. But the aid group says there have been no fatalities or injuries during its operations.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says it is unacceptable for Palestinians to risk their lives for food, and is pushing for an independent investigation.
Hamas has announced its readiness to immediately begin a round of indirect negotiations with Israel for a ceasefire.
But as Israel and Hamas remain worlds apart, it remains to be seen whether the negotiations will take place.
BizDesk
Now, to tell us what else is happening in the world of business, here's Gene Ohtani from the BizDesk.Thanks, Yoko. Leading off this hour's business newscast.
Japan aims to double inbound foreign investment by 2030
The Japanese government has drawn up a plan to more than double foreign direct investment in the country by 2030 to 120 trillion yen, or roughly $840 billion. The goal is to attract additional foreign firms into setting up plants and bases in Japan to counter a falling population.The plan was compiled on Monday at a meeting attended by senior ministry officials, including Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa Ryosei.
In Japan, which faces a declining population, it is essential to secure direct investment into the country And to assure transition to a growth oriented economy.
The government plans to support foreign firms capital investments in key sectors such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence. The government also plans to review resident status for foreign nationals to attract overseas businesses to Japan. This will help secure highly skilled workers in IT and other sectors from India and Southeast Asian nations. It hopes to have results from the review by the end of the current fiscal year.
Japan ponders JGB restructuring amid super-long bond slump
The Finance Ministry is considering ways to deal with a slump in Japan's super long bonds or those with maturities of over 10 years. It plans a meeting of financial institutions this month to discuss a possible review of their maturities. The yield on super-long bonds have been surging recently. The yield on the 30-year debt temporarily rose to a record 3.185 percent on May 21. The 40-year yield also soared to the highest ever, 3.675 percent the following day. When long term government bonds are sold, their prices drop and yields go up. The May 20 auction for 20 year bonds saw the weakest demand since 2012.A separate sale of 40 year bonds last Wednesday drew the lowest bid to cover ratio since July 2024.
The ministry is studying whether to trim issuance of super long bonds and focus more on shorter term debt.
Market sources say investors are paying greater attention to fiscal policies as US President Donald Trump aims to reduce taxes. They are also looking at Japan's fiscal condition since debate over consumption tax cut between the ruling and opposition parties in the diet is heating up.
Lawson to sell small lots of government rice
Major Japanese convenience store chain Lawson says it's selling rice obtained from the government in small packages, and that's to suit the demands of consumers. The government has been releasing the staple from stockpiles amid high prices.The firm said it plans to sell 1 kilogram bags for 360 yen before tax, or about $2.50.
It will sell 2 kilogram bags for 700 yen.
Lawson has bought 500 tons of rice through a no-bid contract. Its president and CEO, Takemasu Sadanobu, said that seniors and people living alone are among the chain's frequent customers.
Our business has been growing by offering smaller sized products to meet the needs of our customers. We'll keep putting importance on that.
Lawson also says it will sell lower price onigiri rice balls made of the crop harvested in 2022 and 2023. The price of onigiri has risen around 18% compared to a year ago. A different convenience store chain, Family Mart, had previously announced plans to start selling one-kilogram bags of the government-released rice sometime early this month.
low-cost housing to their employees
Many Japanese companies once offered low-cost housing to their employees, but then came the economic downturn about three decades ago, and the number of dormitories dropped significantly. Now there is a quiet comeback.This major trading company with over 4,000 employees has its headquarters in Tokyo.
In March of this year, it opened up housing facilities for single female employees. The rooms are equipped with the latest appliances and the mattresses on the beds have features that measure the heart rate and breathing to improve sleep quality. The monthly rent is about one hundred dollars.
A government survey shows that company, house, and dormitory numbers peaked in 1993 at 2.05 million across the country.
But the collapse of the bubble economy and subsequent cost-cutting halved the number to 1.09 million by 2018. However, a 2023 survey found that the number had risen to 1.3 million.
New hires of a major construction company will live in this attractive dormitory.
It also opened in March. All rooms are fully furnished with appliances.
In March of this year, it opened up housing facilities for single female employees. The rooms are equipped with the latest appliances and the mattresses on the beds have features that measure the heart rate and breathing to improve sleep quality. The monthly rent is about one hundred dollars.
A government survey shows that company, house, and dormitory numbers peaked in 1993 at 2.05 million across the country.
But the collapse of the bubble economy and subsequent cost-cutting halved the number to 1.09 million by 2018. However, a 2023 survey found that the number had risen to 1.3 million.
New hires of a major construction company will live in this attractive dormitory.
It also opened in March. All rooms are fully furnished with appliances.
The mattress is already provided. There's a desk and no initial moving costs are required.
While this company had dormitories before, they were scattered in suburban areas and had become outdated. They are now largely concentrated within Tokyo itself.
It takes about 30 minutes door-to-door to get to the office, so I think I can use my time more effectively.
Common areas such as lounges and dining halls are also well equipped to encourage interaction between residents.
The company's goal is to enhance employee satisfaction.
The company's goal is to enhance employee satisfaction.
Young employees have relatively lower salaries, so we want to provide affordable housing to reduce the financial burden in their daily lives and attract people who want to join the company.
In the scramble to attract staff, large corporations are now seeing welfare programs not only as an environment for living, but also as an investment in human capital.
OK, let's have a look at the markets.
♪
And that's a look at business news. Yoko, I'm going to hand it back to you.
Thanks, Gene.
Britain unveils defense overhaul to counter 'pressing' threat
The British government has unveiled its defense strategy for the next decade. It says measures are needed to counter what it calls an immediate and pressing threat from Russia.When we are being directly threatened by states with advanced military forces, the most effective way to deter them is to be ready.
The administration of Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been reviewing the country's defense strategy since taking office last year. It is investing 15 billion pounds, or about 20 billion dollars, to develop nuclear warheads and build up to 12 attack submarines. The government also wants to create a hybrid navy that combines warships, submarines and autonomous vessels. There are also plans to increase the number of full-time troops. Defense officials say Britain's goal of spending three percent of GDP on defense in the 2030s will be met, if "economic and fiscal conditions allow".
Opposition parties criticized the plans, saying it's unclear how the programs would be financed.
Opposition parties criticized the plans, saying it's unclear how the programs would be financed.
Ukraine, Russia hold second round of direct talks in Istanbul
The second round of direct discussions finished after just over an hour. The Ukrainian side once again called for an unconditional ceasefire lasting at least 30 days. The Russians reportedly rejected that request, but they did hand over a memorandum outlining Russia's ceasefire demands. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy updated his European counterparts in Lithuania.Top delegates from Russia and Ukraine wrapped up their latest ceasefire talks in Istanbul Monday. The two sides agreed to exchange more prisoners of war.
If Russia turns the Istanbul meeting into an empty talk, there must be a new level of pressure, new sanctions, and not just from Europe. We need to work on joint sanctions at the G7 level, including with the United States.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says it was a great meeting. He said Turkey will work to bring both leaders together, along with US President Donald Trump.
If they accept, I would like to come together with them in this meeting and turn Istanbul into a peace center.
The talks come on the heels of Ukraine's massive drone attacks across Russia. Kyiv says they targeted several air bases and hit 41 warplanes Sunday.
Former Yokozuna Hakuho to leave world of sumo
A prominent figure in the world of sumo says he's retiring from the sport's governing body. Former Yokozuna Hakuho was involved in a scandal last year.Hakho had a career spanning two decades, winning a record 45 tournament titles and promotion to the highest rank of Yokozuna Grand Champion. He was born in Mongolia and became a Japanese citizen in 2019. He retired as a wrestler in 2021, and under the name of Miyagi-no, became the head of his own stable. But last year, it was revealed that one of his wrestlers used violence against colleagues. He was demoted to the lowest rank of elders.
He and his wrestlers were transferred to another stable, where he continued training as a junior master. But he began expressing his intention to leave the Sumo Association because there is no prospect of reopening his stable.
The Japan Sumo Association accepted Miyagino's resignation on Monday. He will officially retire from Sumo's governing body on June 9. But he hopes to remain involved with the sport, saying in a statement that he will dedicate himself to activities that help shape the future of sumo, together with people around the world.
the world weather
It's time for a check on the weather with our meteorologist, Jonathan Oh. So Jonathan, it's been quite a wet day across much of Japan to Tuesday. How are things looking for the rest of the week?Hello, hopefully have the umbrella nearby as we went through Tuesday because it was a wet day and we're expecting it to remain wet at least for the rest of the day. Some locations, especially the western areas of Japan, saw rain amounts that went up to as high as 73 1/2 millimeters in 12 hours and I want to share some video that's coming out of the region. As you can tell, it's been wet.
In much of Japan experiencing wet weather Tuesday, particularly western Japan, with part of Shiga Prefecture under a flood advisory, Otsu City received 41mm of rain in just half a day. That's about 20% of the average monthly rainfall for June. The low pressure system approaching the Kanto region landslide advisory in effect for parts of Kanagawa Prefecture Tuesday night. So we'll see this low moving through toward the east and eventually it will clear out and then cranking up the heat. We're talking about a lot hotter weather coming up on Wednesday in places like Tokyo. Looking at the forecast here, notice we go through the rest of this week upper 20s into Saturday near 30 kind of flirting with that 30 degree mark and I want to point out that this is a real kind ofback and forth as a roller coaster. So if this is going to be a bit of a shock to the system. So make sure that you adjust accordingly, take frequent breaks if you have to be outdoors, wear appropriate light loose clothing and stay hydrated because this is a big jump up from where we have been for the past couple of days.
Looking at highs near 30 also to Osaka Naha even Sapporo looking at high of around 27 coming up on Friday.
Meanwhile, across North America, central plains of the United States look at the possibility of strong to even severe thunderstorms with a cold front and a low pressure system all kind of working together here. So places from the upper Midwest way down to the southern plains might be dealing with some of these stronger thunderstorms. You want to be on the lookout for that as you go through Tuesday. Thunderstorms into Denver with a high of 16, 29 with rain in Oklahoma City and quite hot into Chicago with a high of 29 as well for Tuesday.
Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
In much of Japan experiencing wet weather Tuesday, particularly western Japan, with part of Shiga Prefecture under a flood advisory, Otsu City received 41mm of rain in just half a day. That's about 20% of the average monthly rainfall for June. The low pressure system approaching the Kanto region landslide advisory in effect for parts of Kanagawa Prefecture Tuesday night. So we'll see this low moving through toward the east and eventually it will clear out and then cranking up the heat. We're talking about a lot hotter weather coming up on Wednesday in places like Tokyo. Looking at the forecast here, notice we go through the rest of this week upper 20s into Saturday near 30 kind of flirting with that 30 degree mark and I want to point out that this is a real kind ofback and forth as a roller coaster. So if this is going to be a bit of a shock to the system. So make sure that you adjust accordingly, take frequent breaks if you have to be outdoors, wear appropriate light loose clothing and stay hydrated because this is a big jump up from where we have been for the past couple of days.
Looking at highs near 30 also to Osaka Naha even Sapporo looking at high of around 27 coming up on Friday.
Meanwhile, across North America, central plains of the United States look at the possibility of strong to even severe thunderstorms with a cold front and a low pressure system all kind of working together here. So places from the upper Midwest way down to the southern plains might be dealing with some of these stronger thunderstorms. You want to be on the lookout for that as you go through Tuesday. Thunderstorms into Denver with a high of 16, 29 with rain in Oklahoma City and quite hot into Chicago with a high of 29 as well for Tuesday.
Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
♫～
Twin polar bear cubs make debut at Sendai zoo
And before we go, visitors to a zoo in northeastern Japan were treated to a double dose of cuteness on Monday, with the first public appearance of twin polar bear cubs.
The male and female cubs were worn at the zoo in December. They already weigh an estimated 30 kilograms. Zoo staff expect the female cub to reach about 350 kilograms in four years, and the male around 500 kilograms.
The male and female cubs were worn at the zoo in December. They already weigh an estimated 30 kilograms. Zoo staff expect the female cub to reach about 350 kilograms in four years, and the male around 500 kilograms.
They are so small and really adorable.
Seeing them made me cry.
Visitors will only be able to see the as-yet unnamed cubs in the mornings for the time being. Zoo officials say they will extend the viewing hours as the cubs grow up.
And that's it for now on this edition of NHK Newsline. I'm Yoko Nishimura in Tokyo. Thanks for joining us.
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