at 18:00 (JST), August 03

20250803180000_english_1.mp3

 Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Gene Otani in Tokyo. 

JAPAN GETS ANOTHER DANGEROUSLY HOT DAY

Much of Japan is struggling with another day of dangerous heat on Sunday.
The Japan Meteorological Agency says a high-pressure system is expected to cover wide areas of the country, bringing sunny and hot weather. By 2 p.m., the temperature had reached 39.3 degrees in the city of Mima, Tokushima Prefecture, and 39 degrees is expected in Nagoya and Yamaguchi.
Heatstroke alerts have been issued for 38 of Japan's 47 prefectures.
People are urged to stay cool by using air conditioners. They're also advised to consume adequate amounts of water and salt and rest frequently while working outside.

UKRAINE'S FOREIGN MINISTER VISITING JAPAN

Ukraine's foreign minister is expected to visit Japan starting Sunday for talks with his Japanese counterpart and other senior officials.
Diplomatic sources in Japan and Ukraine say Andrii Sybiha will meet with Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi and others. It is his first visit to Japan since he took office as foreign minister.
Sources say Sybiya's visit was suddenly decided by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The sources say Sibiya will accompany a Ukrainian delegation to the Ukrainian National Day event to be held on Tuesday at the World Expo in Osaka.
The delegation also includes First Lady Olena Zelenska and the Deputy Prime Minister. Ukraine's decision to send its foreign minister is apparently aimed at highlighting the importance of relations between the two countries.
Ukrainian officials are likely to call on Japan to ramp up its sanctions on Russia and help in Ukraine's reconstruction.

NHK SURVEY: NEARLY HALF FORESEE INCREASE IN NUCLEAR ARMS

An NHK survey asked what will happen to the number of nuclear weapons that exist now in the world. Nearly half of respondents predicted either no change or an increase.
NHK mailed out the survey to 3,600 people aged 18 or older across Japan.
The period was from May through July.
Ahead of the 80th anniversary of the US atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the response rate was 55.3%.
Asked what they think will happen to nuclear weapons that exist now, only 2% said that they will be completely abolished and 11% said they cannot be completely abolished, but the number will be decreased substantially.
A slight decrease was predicted by 36% of respondents, and 49% said there will be no change or they will actually increase in number. Ten years ago, an NHK Telephone survey found that 32% thought there will be no change or an increase.
Professor Kawano Noriyuki at the Graduate School of Hiroshima University says the survey was affected by current international conflicts.

I think the final goal of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, to have a world without nuclear weapons, is unchanged. But as the international situation is unstable, it may be difficult to do so, and the dilemma may be growing bigger. 

Kawano says that anti-nuclear campaigners are at a major thresholdwhether to accept the current reality or take specific action toward the goal. He says that presents a major challenge for the atomic bomb cities.

DARVISH YU HONORED FOR 204 JAPAN-US COMBINED WINS

Turning to sports, Japanese pitcher Darvish Yu of the San Diego Padres has been honored for achieving a combined 204 wins in Japanese professional baseball and Major League Baseball.
A ceremony commemorating the feat was held on Friday. The 38-year-old pitcher recorded his first win of the season in a game on Wednesday. That marked his 204th career victory and broke a tie with Kuroda Hiroki, who pitched for Japan's Hiroshima Toyo Karp, the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees.
Former MLB pitcher Nomo Hideo also attended the event. He had 201 combined wins and is now an advisor for the Padres. Darvish started his career with Japan's Hokkaido Nippon. fighters in 2005. He racked up a total of 93 wins in seven seasons. Darvish then transferred to the Texas Rangers in 2012. He has pitched for four MLB teams.

JAPANESE ASTRONAUT YUI BEGINS 2ND LONG-TERM STAY IN SPACE

Japanese astronaut Yui Kimiya and three crewmates have begun a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station. They traveled aboard a private sector spacecraft, Crew Dragon.
The craft docked with the ISS on Saturday afternoon, Japan time, after a 15-hour flight. The crew will take over the work of Japan's Onishi Takuya and his colleagues, who have been on the orbiting lab since March. This is the first time in four years that two Japanese astronauts have been on board the ISS at the same time.

I'm very looking forward to working with them and make this Expedition 73 the best. I work hard. Thank you.

Yui is a former Air Self-Defense Force pilot. His first mission on the ISS was in 2015. Yui is now 55 years old. He will conduct experiments in preparation for future missions to the Moon and beyond. The experiments include a verification test on the removal of indoor carbon dioxide and a study into the effects on plant cells of vegetables grown in outer space. Japan's new HTV-X cargo spacecraft is scheduled to dock at the station for the first time during Yui's stay. He is expected to be given the job of snaring it with the robotic arm.

PRICES OF 1,010 FOOD ITEMS TO RISE IN AUGUST

Food inflation is accelerating in Japan, driven mainly by the higher cost of ingredients.
Private research firm Teikoku Databank polled 195 major domestic food makers. It found that price hikes averaging 11% are planned for 1,010 items in August. Seasonings account for the largest number at 470, followed by 281 dairy items and 109 processed foods. The research firm cites surging material prices and higher production costs as contributing factors. The number of food items in line for price hikes in October is likely to top 3,000. The figure is the second largest after the one for April. Teikoku Databank is expecting increases for more than 19,000 items by November. 

AOMORI NEBUTA FLOAT FESTIVAL DAZZLES IN NORTHEASTERN JAPAN

A popular summer festival is drawing crowds in the city of Aomori, northeastern Japan.
The Aomori Nebuta Festival features illuminated floats called Nebuta that depict historical warriors. The floats are about 5 meters tall and 16 of them were paraded through the town. Dancers leapt and shouted to the sounds of drums and flutes.

It's awesome. I'm really glad to be here.

I want to come again next year.

The festival runs through Thursday. Fireworks will light up the sky on the final evening.

Those were the main stories for this hour.
♫～　3-DAY FORECAST　～♫
And that's the news this hour. I'm Gene Otani from all of us here at NHK Newsline to all around the world. Thanks very much for joining us.