at 18:00 (JST), October 02

20251002180000_english_1.mp3

 Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Morishita Yarika in Tokyo. 

ISRAEL STOPS GAZA AID BOATS CARRYING THUNBERG

Israel says its forces have stopped a group of activists trying to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip by boat. Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg was on one of the vessels. Israel's foreign ministry posted a message on social media on Wednesday. It said several boats had been stopped and their passengers were transferred to an Israeli port. It added that Greta and her friends are safe and healthy. Footage released by the ministry shows Thunberg surrounded by people who appear to be soldiers.
The ministry said those abroad were informed that they were violating a lawful naval blockade. It added that Israel reiterated an offer to transfer the aid peacefully to Gaza through safe channels.
The passengers are from various countries. The flotilla's organizers described the interception as illegal. In their words, It clearly reveals the extreme lengths to which the occupier will go to ensure Gaza remains starved and isolated. Israeli authorities also prevented Thunberg from reaching Gaza by boat in June. She was taken to Israel and then deported.

CALIFORNIA ENACTS AI SAFETY LAW TARGETING TECH GIANTS

California has enacted a law that will require AI developers to disclose the safety and security protocols for their artificial intelligence models.
The bill was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom earlier this week.
Under the new law, AI developers with annual revenues in excess of half a billion dollars must publicize the safety measures they have put in place to manage and mitigate risks. It also provides new protections for whistleblowers. In addition, developers must report critical safety incidents involving AI to the state government. They will face a maximum fine of $1 million if they fail to comply. In a statement, California's governor said his state has proven it can establish regulations to protect its communities while also ensuring the AI industry continues to thrive.
In August last year, a bill calling for stricter AI regulations passed the California state legislature. But it was opposed by tech giants like Google and Meta and vetoed by the governor.

JAPANESE RESIDENTS RECOUNT DEADLY PHILIPPINE QUAKE

Authorities in the Philippines are stepping up rescue efforts after a powerful earthquake hit the central island of Cebu. Japanese nationals living there have described the devastation they witnessed.
The magnitude 6.9 quake struck off the coast late Tuesday, leaving more than 70 people dead. Niwa Yuma traveled to hard-hit Bogo City to visit a friend's family in hospital.
Video he took shows a fast-food restaurant tilted over and other buildings reduced to rubble, blocking the road.

I could see traces of the quake even before entering Bogo. There were cracks in the roads, although they had been properly paved inside the city. The destruction was obvious. I saw well built buildings completely collapsed and even 2 story structures toppled.

A manager of English schools, where Japanese people study, says the shaking seemed to go on for more than a minute and kept getting stronger.

The Philippines doesn't have much experience with earthquakes. I've been living here for 16 years, but this was the first time I felt such a strong tremor. Some of our staff were hyperventilating. We had to take them to hospital. 

The Philippine Coast Guard has sent medical staff and aid to the disaster area, and full-scale rescue operations are now underway.

ZELENSKYY CALLS FOR UNITY ON UKRAINE'S DAY OF DEFENDERS

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on his country to unite to continue its resistance against Russia on the Day of Defenders.
October 1 is a national holiday in Ukraine that honors active and fallen members of the armed forces.
Zelenskyy addressed crowns at the ceremony in Kiev on Wednesday.

Now is the time we must defend ourselves in such a way that our children, all our children, all future generations. are guaranteed freedom from war.

At Independence Square in Kiev, bereaved family members and others gathered to remember those killed in battle.
A man in his 30s who lost his younger brother described his pain.

It is unbearable. It's a very big loss. I hope that this war will end soon.

Negotiations for peace or truce remain stalled after more than three and a half years since Russia's invasion.
Russian forces continue to wage major attacks on Kiev and elsewhere using missiles and drones. That's as they intensify offensives on the front lines with the aim of gaining control of territory, including eastern Ukraine's Stonetsk. 

RUSSIA SUSPENDS VISITS, INVESTS IN NORTHERN TERRITORIES

The conflict is also having an impact in northern Japan. Years ago, Japan helped build a so-called Friendship House on Kunashiri Island. It allowed Japanese former residents of the northern territories to visit their hometowns. But those visits were suspended after the invasion of Ukraine. The four northern islands are currently under Russian control. The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory. It says they were illegally occupied after World War II. A Russian NHK crew flew in to see what's become of the islands now.

Today, about 8,000 people live on Kunashiri. Right in the center of the island is the Friendship House. But today,The building shows no signs of its history. Flags for soccer teams line the walls, and the cafeteria has been turned into a local sports bar.

The theme is soccer, as you can see. That's because the head of our district is a soccer fan.

The building was originally built as accommodations for the Japanese delegation. Today, its main visitors are Russian tourists.
When Japan imposed sanctions after the invasion of Ukraine, Russia retaliated by suspending the visits.
It's been years since Japanese former residents have set foot on Kunashiri.
Since then, Russia's public and private sectors have poured money into the region, turning it into a tourist hub.
The goal is to attract Russian travelers who can't vacation abroad because of the ongoing invasion. It seems to be working. This hotel says it saw a 35% increase in customers since last year. Most of them are wealthy visitors from cities like Moscow.

This year, we opened three cottages near the river. We'd like to expand the resort even more. There's room for growth and we have things to do. 

But why invest here, of all places? Part of it has to do with Kunashiri's history. The Russian government has tried to compare its invasion of Ukraine to its victories in World War II.
Moscow claims the islands became its territory after the war. 

We would like to pay our respects to the special military operations heroes and remember the feats of our ancestors who fought for our homeland. 

To tell that story, the local Russian government spent about $475,000 to build a facility on the island to teach the next generation about its victory over Japan. Moscow has also been investing in local industries to make the region financially independent. Over the past decade, they poured about 88 million dollars into the local fishing industry to modernize facilities on the islands. This factory opened its second facility last year and employs about 500 people. They also recently bought a new ship, bringing their fleet to six.

The central and local governments invested more money on this island than anywhere else. We are growing, and the area is developing.

But not everyone has forgotten the area's Japanese roots. Igor Thomason, who lives on Shikotan Island, is one of them. For about 10 years, Thomason has been close to one of the island's former residents. He says their relationship is like that of a father and son.

I think people here still feel fondly about Japan.

But those former residents haven't been able to come and visit their ancestors' graves. So Thomason has been quietly watching over the site until those families can come again.

As their neighbor, I feel responsible for protecting this grave. I'm waiting for my Japanese neighbors to come here again.

There are less than 5,000 former residents still alive today.
With their average age at about 89, time is running out for them to return to their hometown. The Japanese government says it will continue to strongly urge Russia to resume the exchange programsso the former islanders can visit their ancestors once again.

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NHK FINDS KOIZUMI, TAKAOCHI LEADING, FOLLOWED BY HAYASHI

Japan's main ruling Liberal Democratic Party is holding an election to choose its next leader this Saturday, and we are getting a clearer picture of the race. NHK contacted the party's lawmakers and prefecture chapters across Japan to learn where the candidates stand. Let's start with the 295 votes to be cast by the LDP's Diet members. Among them, Agriculture Minister Koizumi Shinjiro appears to be leading, having secured backing from about 70.
He's followed by Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa, who has around 60.
, then-former Economic Security Minister Takaichi Sanae with about 40. 
Former Economic Security Minister Kobayashi Takayuki and former LDP Secretary-General Motegi Toshimitsu each have around 30. About 70 or over 20 percent of LDP lawmakers are undecided... or would not say who they support. Now, let's look at the other voting bloc... the party's rank-and-file members. Among that group, Takaichi is leading, followed by Koizumi and Hayashi.
Those party members will also cast 295 ballots, for a total of 590 votes, deciding that next LDP leader.
So right now, Koizumi and Takaichi appear to be the front-runners, with Koizumi leading among lawmakers and Takaichi leading among the rank-and-file. There, followed by Hayashi, this race appears far from decided in its final leg.
If no candidate secures a majority in the first round of voting, a winner will be decided in a runoff between the top two. 

OPPOSITION PARTIES WATCHING CLOSELY IN FINAL STRETCH

This race is of course being watched very closely by opposition lawmakers. They hold more sway after the LDP lost majority in both houses of the Diet in back-to-back elections. Now they are weighing in on how the Diet should be managed after the party's next leader is chosen. 
The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, or CDP, is the largest opposition party. The chair of its policy research committee, Honjo Satoshi, says negotiations over possible coalition government should not drag on and delay Diet sessions. He says there has been a political vacuum for three months and the LDP's new leader should convene a Diet session as soon as possible. 
Fujita Fumitake, co-representative of the Japan Innovation Party, says he'd spoken separately with four of the five candidates. He called the discussions worthwhile, adding that dialogue between ruling and opposition parties can lead to new ways of decision-making in the Diet. And Tamaki Yurichiro, who leads the Democratic Party for the People, acknowledges there will be political developments after the LDP election.
He says his party must be ready to adapt, but also stand firm on its policy goals. 

BUSINESS

Now, let's see what's happening in the world of business. Here's Ramin Mellegard from the Biz Desk. 

Thank you very much indeed. 

TRUMP SET TO URGE CHINA TO BOOST IMPORTS OF US SOYBEANS

Now, US President Donald Trump says soybeans will be a major topic of discussion when he meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping in four weeks time. He is expected to urge Xi to increase imports of the American product.
Trump posted on social media on Wednesday that US soybean farmers are being hurt because China is not buying for negotiating reasons only. He used the phrase make soybeans and other row crops great again. The two leaders are expected to meet on the sidelines of the two-day Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit starting October 31st in South Korea. Now US soybean farmers remain in a difficult situation due to China's counter tariffs on American imports and increased purchasing of Brazilian soybeans.

JAPAN-US BUSINESS SUMMIT AIMS TO ENHANCE TIES

Business leaders from Japan and the United States are meeting in Tokyo to boost corporate ties. The conference kicks off amid concerns over the impact of US tariff measures. More than 200 top executives are taking part in this year's 62nd Japan US Business Conference. Japan US Business Council Chair Sawada Jun commented that so many things have happened since US President Donald Trump took office.

We are facing an unpredictable world, but I think it is necessary to strengthen communication as a corporate rebel. 

The US side's leader, David Geckler, said the conference has played a vital role in advancing the bilateral economic relationship. He believes this year's meeting is particularly important. 

My hope is at the end of this conference, we can agree on collective actions that will form even stronger ties between our two countries. 

Items up for discussion include transparency in trade and investment, as well as research and development in artificial intelligence, semiconductors and quantum computing.
Enhancing supply chain resilience is another topic. A joint statement to wrap up the conference is expected on Friday.

NISSAN PAUSES PLAN FOR ELECTRIC SUV PRODUCTION IN US

A tax credit of of up to $7500 for American consumers buying an electric vehicle expired at the end of September.
Now, the lack of that incentive has prompted Japan's Nissan Motor to review its EV strategy for the United States. The automaker says it is put its plan to produce electric sport utility vehicles at its plant in Mississippi on hold.
The company says it is considering producing hybrid vehicles of the factory instead, starting from 2028. Nissan originally aimed to start producing two electric SUV models in 2028, but that was pushed back by about a year because of an expected drop in demand. Meanwhile, another Japanese automaker, Honda Motor, has decided to end US production of its luxury Acura EV model, assembled by General Motors.

BUS SERVICES CUT IN TOKYO DUE TO DRIVER SHORTAGE

Bus services in Tokyo have been scaled back because there are not enough drivers to operate them. The cuts came into effect this month and are believed to be the first since at least 2002 due to a labor shortage. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Bureau of Transportation says a total of 206 services a week have been cut on 19 routes in the capital. NHK asked some bus passengers for their reaction.

The reduction in services will have a real impact on workers who use the bus every day.

The Transportation Bureau says it was proving difficult to arrange driver schedules.

We had to take the tough decision to reduce services through changes to the timetables. It has become very difficult to secure enough drivers. There is competition with other bus companies to acquire them because they also need to maintain a level of qualified personnel.

The Bureau says it tried to minimise the impact on passengers by carefully studying the bus routes of other operators.

SMART FARMING TECH IN SPOTLIGHT AT CHIBA EVENT

Businesses from Japan and abroad are showcasing the latest technologies for agriculture at an event in Chiba City, near Tokyo. Among the highlights are smart farming technologies designed to enhance productivity.
The exhibition kicked off on Wednesday with about 1,000 companies taking part.
The event comes as the Japanese government is shifting its policy toward boosting rice production. A manufacturer from Ishikawa Prefecture in central Japan is presenting a system that allows farmers to remotely control water levels in rice paddies via a smartphone app. The maker says it cuts work time by by about 80%. A Niigata Prefecture startup is showcasing an app that uses GPS to allow farmers to easily track work logs. It's also useful for expanding the scale of farming and passing on know-how. Watanabe Takuya, the startup's president, said farmland is being consolidated under the next generation of farmers across Japan.

Large-scale operations are inevitable and we must prepare for it. We'd like to continue to help improve the efficiency of information management and nurture human resources. 

And the event runs through Friday.

NIKKEI 225 RISES FOR 1ST TIME IN 5 TRADING DAYS

Okay, Tokyo's stock benchmark, Nikkei 225, rose on Thursday for the first time in five trading days on speculation of a further US rate cut. 

markets

Let's take a look at other markets.
♫～

And that is it for business news.

♪

WEATHER

Now, let's check out the world weather. October is still the hurricane season in the Atlantic. Our meteorologist Yumi Hirano has the details. 

Hurricane Imelda is moving northward along the US east coast, impacting Bermuda.
People there are facing damaging winds and high storm surges.
Hurricane Imelda brought strong winds to Bermuda on Wednesday, prompting a hurricane warning. Gusts of about 160 kilometers per hour were recorded in one location. One hundred soldiers were deployed to secure infrastructure, clear roads, and help at emergency shelters. Public schools, government offices, and the international airport were closed.
The system is now close to the island even after the center passes. Hurricane forecasts are expected to continue on Thursday. High storm surges are also likely causing possible flash flooding. The system is expected to bring high waves to much of the US east coast, but as for the weather, sunny skies are likely in New York and Washington. Heat is a concern in Oklahoma City, with a high of 32, which is almost 10 degrees higher than usual. Meanwhile, in the Pacific, Storm Matmore is approaching the northern Philippines. The system is expected to make landfall in Ludzone on Friday, bringing strong winds and downpours. Up to 200 millimeters of rain is possible by Friday evening. In addition, up to three meters of storm surges are likely.
The system is expected to intensify into typhoon and approach southern China over the weekend. It could be the fourth storm making landfall in southern China in just one month. Thundershowers are possible in Manila with stormy conditions. Heat is still concerning Taipei with a high of 35.
That's it for now. Have a nice day.

♫～　3-DAY FORECAST　～♫

LAVISH FLOATS HIGHLIGHT FESTIVAL IN TOYAMA PREFECTURE

Before we go, a parade of lavishly decorated flows has drawn crowns to a festival in the central Japanese prefecture of Toyama.
The Shinminato Hikiyama Festival is held every October 1 and 2 in Imizu on the Sea of Japan coast.
On Wednesday, 13 communities in the city's Shinminato district paraded floats roughly 8 meters tall.
The festival dates back centuries and is designated as an important intangible folk cultural property of Japan.

I'm from North Carolina, United States, having a great time. First time in Japan, wonderful. Unbelievable.

The lead float was from a community that suffered liquefaction in last year's Noto Peninsula earthquake. Many of its residents had left, but some returned to join the parade.

It truly is a special day. Our usual members are here and some new younger people have joined. I think this will give the town a boost of energy.

Despite the rainy weather, many people gathered along the route to marvel at the floors and take photos.

That's all for this edition of NHK News Line. Thank you very much for joiningus.