Hello, a very warm welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Yamamoto Miki in Tokyo.
Curfew issued for downtown Los Angeles starting Tuesday night
A curfew is underway in part of downtown Los Angeles. It started Tuesday evening and is set to last until 6 AM. The move follows days of protests against President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration.Let me just say that a curfew has been in consideration for several days, but clearly after the violence that took place last night, 23 businesses looted and just the extensive widespread nature of the vandalism, we reached a tipping point and declared a state of emergency and called for the curfew.
Shame, shame, shame.
US news outlets report about 700 Marines that Trump sent to assist the National Guard are near L.A. awaiting deployment. California Governor Gavin Newsom has filed an emergency motion in federal court. It's to block the National Guard and Marines from supporting the federal roundup of undocumented migrants in Los Angeles. A court hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
2026 World Cup host cities wary of immigration crackdown
Trump's immigration crackdown is causing uncertainty around the next World Cup soccer tournament. Organizers in American host cities say they are concerned.There are certainly things that are happening at the national level, the international level. There are going to be geopolitical issues that we don't even know right now that are going to affect the tournament.
Organizers have expanded the tournament to 48 teams and 104 games. It is expected to have an economic impact of 40 billion dollars in the US alone.
US intelligence chief recounts Hiroshima visit, warns of 'nuclear annihilation'
US National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard is talking nuclear weapons after a recent visit to Hiroshima. She warns the world is approaching the brink of nuclear war.I recently visited Hiroshima in Japan and stood at the epicenter of a city that remains scarred by the unimaginable horror caused by a single nuclear bomb dropped in 1945, 80 years ago.
The comments came from a video released Tuesday. She warned that the destructive power of today's weapons surpasses those dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War Two. Gabbard said a single nuclear weapon today could kill millions in just minutes. She added that radiation would subject survivors to lifelong suffering or death.Gabbard warned that is what the world is facing now. She said politicians pushing for war are carelessly inciting fear and tensions between nuclear powers.
So it's up to us, the people, to speak up and demand an end to this madness. We must reject this path to nuclear war and work toward a world where no one has to live in fear of a nuclear holocaust.
Rainy season arrives with early intensity
The rainy season is here across much of Japan, and dangerous conditions can develop in a flash. Some places have already been on alert for potential flooding and mudslides, and the season just started. For more, I earlier caught up with NHK World's meteorologist Jonathan Oh.So, Jonathan, we typically see heavy rain towards the end of the rainy season, but this year it seems to be happening earlier, especially in western Japan.
What's causing this?
Well, Miki, what is happening this time around is that we're seeing an interesting pattern across the Pacific Ocean when it comes to the ocean temperatures that's producing more like a La Nina type of pattern, where we will see temperatures that are warmer toward the western side of the Pacific and colder on the easternEastern side. So looking at the map here around the areas near the Philippines, we're seeing temperatures that are above average for this time of year in terms of the ocean sea surface temperatures. And so when that happens, it tends to really produce a lot more warmer moisture, just less air rises, all the air then starts to move and travel toward Japan and we have this high pressure system that's located toward the center, that's serving as a steering mechanism. And as that happens, all that moisture is coming up and hitting the rainy season front. It's kind of like taking a bucket of water and throwing up against the wall. All that water has to go somewhere. And that pattern is what has been unfolding over the past few days especially. That's why we've been particularly concerned about that.
Then in light of that pattern, what can we expect in terms of the rainy season over the coming weeks?
Well, as long as this pattern holds, as long as we have high pressure that's in place helping to steer all that moisture and as long as the sea surface temperatures stay elevated, we're going to see more of this moisture pattern taking place. And that is a concern because when all that moisture hits that rainy season front, it's going to continue to help develop over and over along the front where we're going to be seeing that rain. And that's the reason why we have to be looking out for potential disasters with all of the moisture that's in place. Now, what's interesting, though, is it's it's like if we're walking around together, we don't walk through each other. We walk around.
It's the same thing. The concern is when we have typhoons or things that will develop, it can help push the band of the rainy band up and down. And so that could make some changes going forward. But we still have to remain vigilant as the rainy season continues.
Of course. And speaking of typhoons, we haven't heard muchabout them so far this year.
And is that unusual?
And so because of that, it means that it was the fifth slowest start to the typhoon season since records began in 1951. And so that, though, even though it may have been a slow start, doesn't mean that that's going to be end of the story because like I mentioned we have all this warm air with these storm clouds I'm to develop overtime and as long as the hyper system which is further West and slightly up north compared to its average location, it will continue to help steer that warm moist air toward Japan. So as we go into the more warmer months, we have to keep an eye out on how this whole thing unfolds because we could be talking about a busier season once we get into the more. Peaker peak period of the season.
right. So knowing all this, what can people do to stay safe?
All right. Thank you very much, Jonathan. NHK World's Jonathan Oh.
world of business
Now, let's check out the world of business with Ramin Mellegard from the BizDesk. Ramin.Japan kicks off next round of stockpiled rice sales
Now, Japan's government started accepting applications for the next round of sales of stockpiled rice on Wednesday.The program was introduced to boost supply after rice prices in supermarkets doubled in a year.
Agriculture Minister Koizumi Shinjiro says the ministry received applications from about 30 buyers in the first hour of sales. Koizumi on the previous day announced that a total of 200,000 tons of the staple grain will be released.
Half of that is available from Wednesday under no-bid contracts, along with 20,000 tons remaining from a previous round. Once all of that batch is sold, the remainder will be made available. Most retailers can submit applications as well as distribution outlets with rice milling machinery.
There is no cap on the amount of rice in each application, but it must be put on sale to consumers by August.
However, some retailers that obtained rice in previous government sales have indicated they're focused on selling what they have before applying for more.
Koizumi also says that he wants to introduce legislation to ban the resale of stockpiled rice among distributors.
Violators who resell government stockpiled rice at high prices could face up to a year's imprisonment or a fine of up to 1 million yen. The government is committed to delivering its stockpiled rice to those who need it.
GM to invest $4 bil. in US plants over next 2 years
GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra says the announcement demonstrates GM's ongoing commitment to building vehicles in the US and to supporting American jobs. GM says it sold 2.7 million new units domestically last year. It said that about half of them were produced outside the country in places such as Mexico and Canada. US news media have reported that GM will transfer some production of mainstay models to domestic plants from Mexico.And General Motors says it plans to invest about $4 billion in its US factories over the next two years to boost production. The American auto giant is expanding domestic production as the Trump administration has imposed an additional 25% tariff on auto imports. GM said on Tuesday plants in the states of Michigan, Kansas and Tennessee will receive the money. The new investment will give GM the ability to assemble more than two million vehicles per year in the US.
Hino, Mitsubishi Fuso to integrate management next April
Two major Japanese truck and bus makers have completed a merger agreement, Hino Motors and Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus.announced on Tuesday that they will integrate management on equal footing on April 1st next year.
Mitsubishi Fuso CEO Karl Deppen will become the CEO of a new holding company.
Strong competition from new large volume competitors is more fierce than ever. At the same time, we all have to step up significant investment. This is why in our industry, scale matters, and this is why the Japanese market cannot support so many commercial vehicle manufacturers.
Now, under the agreement, the holding company will be set up, and Hino Motors and Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus will become wholly owned subsidiaries.Currently, Hino is part of the Toyota Motor Group, while Mitsubishi Fuso is owned by Daimler Truck. Toyota and Daimler Truck will each hold a 25% stake in the new company.
By combining the expertise and scale of our firms, we will get synergistic business effects on development, procurement and production. The synergy from combining two different cultures will be immeasurable.
The two truck and bus manufacturers will work toward achieving carbon neutrality and co-develop next generation technologies such as automated driving while sharing expertise from each other's specialties. They're aiming to expand their business in Asia and other markets.The two companies had initially planned to complete the merger by the end of 2024. The earlier plan was postponed as Hino had been involved in a scandal over falsified test data. Through the merger, Japan's commercial vehicle industry is expected to realign into two blocks, the Hino-Mitsubishi Fuso Group and the Isuzu Motors Group.
JR East plans overnight express train with private rooms
East Japan Railway says it will launch a new overnight express train connecting Tokyo with the northeastern Tohoku region in the spring of 2027.The new train will have private compartments for individual passengers, as well as those for as many as four people. JRE says the compartments will have fully reclining seats. It plans a 9:00 PM Tokyo departure time to arrive in Aomori station at 9:00 AM the following morning.
The company is converting. an express train running on Tokyo's Joban line into the 10 car overnighter the name of the train the fare and the frequency of the service has yet to be decided now the service comes as the company this month will retire its Cassiopeia sleeper Express that connects Tokyo to Hokkaido.
We will provide passengers with a totally new idea of a night trip that can be experienced with private compartments.
He added that he hopes the new service will lead to an increase in foreign visitors to the Tohoku region.Okay, let's get a check on the markets.
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And that is it for business news.Japan police chief calls for more effort to prevent accidents by foreign drivers
The number of traffic accidents in Japan involving foreign drivers has been on the rise in recent years. Japan's National Police Agency is now stepping up measures to curb this trend. According to the agency, over 7,200 accidents were reported last year involving foreign drivers. That's up more than 1,800 from five years earlier. Japan's police chief spoke at a meeting attended by about 80 people, including traffic bureau chiefs from across the country.We will work to improve and strengthen traffic safety education and public relations awareness so that foreign drivers can gain a better understanding of our traffic rules and etiquette.
The police chief instructed the officials to ensure firms that employ foreign drivers are providing them proper road safety training. He also asked them to work with car rental companies to ensure foreign customers are well informed about traffic rules. And he urged them to crack down on unlicensed taxi drivers who use private vehicles to provide foreign tourists with ride-hailing services.Ex-Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou to visit China this month
Former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou says he will visit China from Saturday in response to an invitation from Beijing.Ma belongs to Taiwan's largest opposition Kuomintang Party. It traditionally favors closer ties with Beijing. His office says he will lead a student delegation to participate in a forum. China says it is a cross-strait exchange event. The delegation is expected to visit Hujiang and Gansu provinces during its two-week stay. Ma says he wants to foster cross-strait dialogue and build a bridge of peace between the two sides.
Officials in Beijing show their willingness to receive Ma.
We welcome Mao's visit. The current situations in the Taiwan Strait remain complex and tense, but bilateral exchanges and cooperation should not be suspended, severed or decreased.
Inviting Mao to visit is widely seen as an attempt by China to counter Taiwan's administration under Lai Tsingta, which Beijing sees as a separatist.South Korea's Lee to move presidential office back to historic 'Blue House'
The South Korean administration has announced it will move its presidential office back to its historic home, the Blue House. The current office was relocated by former President Yoon Suk-yeol. President Lee Ji-myung 's office confirmed on Tuesday it approved the plan at a cabinet meeting.The 250,000 square meter compound of Jong Wa Dae, also known as the Blue House, sits in central Seoul. The building had served as the president's office for more than 70 years. It was often viewed as a symbol of power due to the president's authority. Yoon relocated the office to what was the Defense Ministry building in 2022.
But Lee had sought the relocation as the office has a strong connection to the ousted leader who declared martial law in December last year. The Blue House is currently open to the public for sightseeing visits, but officials say they plan to limit reservations from mid-July and temporarily suspend tours from August 1. South Korean media outlets suggest the compound may be packed with tourists until then.
Argentina's radical reforms cut both ways
Now, the debate over big versus small government is over in Argentina.President Javier Millet has taken the bull by the horns and is radically down sizing the country's bureaucracy, focusing on economic recovery. NHK World's Rafael Noguera has more.
During his election campaign, Millet wielded a chainsaw. As a symbol of his determination to cut government waste, he aims to lay the groundwork for an economic revival.
If we continue with this pace, Argentina will once again become a great nation in a few years. A golden age will begin for all those who seek prosperity on Argentine soil.
On the left are documents related to laws and regulations that have already been abolished. On the right are those facing the chainsaw.
By reducing the government's role and moving toward a smaller government, it is believed that fiscal spending can be curbed.
ohh And these are the real piles that I sent to, I took to President Millay in a suitcase. At this point, we've basically done, I would say, around half of all this.
Additionally, private sector participation in postal services was permitted, and price controls on beef were abolished. These and other measures were taken to slim down the government's role and promote economic liberalization. As a result, fiscal spending was reportedly reduced by 27.5 percent in real terms, and the budget turned it to a surplus for the first time since 2010.
It's like the smaller we make the government, the lower will be our taxes. Reducing government and then reducing taxes benefits the poor. We are, we're working our thing. We're trying to make Argentina as stable as possible, as friendly as possible. I think there are huge opportunities.
The Malaya administration is pushing ahead with its so-called shock therapy reforms. However,In February this year, she suddenly received a notice of dismissal.
This is the official e-mail sent by the government. In our department, 400 people received it. A total of 1,800 people received.
She has worked for years in a department supporting low-income households and disaster response, helping vulnerable members of society.But due to the reforms, her position was targeted for cuts. Daniela is concerned that vulnerable individuals who have lost government support will face even more difficult circumstances.
The numbers may look good, but the issue is how those numbers manifest in the real world. People who cannot even prepare meals for their families are the reality brought about by President Millay.
President Millet's radical government reforms are attracting global attention, but the impact on the country's public services and the cost to ordinary Argentinians is emerging.Rafael Noguera, NHK World.
check on the weather
And it's time for a check on the weather with our meteorologist Sayaka Mori. So Sayaka, we've been dealing with the rain across much of Japan the past few days, but can we expect changes Thursday?♫～
Sacred wood for historical ceremony transported to Ise Jingu shrine in Japan
Before we go, hundreds of people in central Japan have helped transport sacred wood to a shrine as part of a tradition dating back 1,300 years. The "Shikinen Sengu" ceremony takes place once every 20 years at Ise Shrine in Mie Prefecture.It involves completely rebuilding the shrine buildings at a neighboring site.
About 300 people dressed in traditional black coats and straw hats pulled logs off the Isuzu River. The timber will be used to make containers to house the shrine's sacred objects of worship.
It's incredible the tradition has lasted for 1,300 years, and it's amazing it will continue.
Thanks for staying with us.
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