From our studios in Tokyo, this is NHK Newsline. I'm Ross Mihara.
NORTH KOREA REPORTEDLY TEST-FIRES HYPERSONIC PROJECTILES
North Korea says it test-fired hypersonic projectiles on Wednesday and that they successfully hit their target.
The state-run Korean Central News Agency reported on Thursday that the country's missile administration conducted a test of its important weapon system the previous day. It said two hypersonic projectiles launched from the capital Pyongyang hit their target in North Hamgyong Province in the northeast. Photos released by the news agency show what appears to be a missile in-flight and black smoke rising when it hit the ground.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency says the projectiles may have been the short-range ballistic missiles that North Korea displayed during a military parade on October 10. The South Korean military said on Wednesday that the North fired several short-range ballistic missiles from an inland area to the northeast. South Korea is set to host meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum next week.
Experts say North Korea is aiming to underscore its presence by firing missiles before the event.
TAKAICHI TO EXPLAIN JAPAN'S DEFENSE POLICY TO TRUMP
Japan's new Prime Minister Takeichi Sanae will host her first summit with U.S. President Donald Trump next week. She's expected to tell him her plans to beef up the country's defense capabilities.
Japanese officials say the president will visit Japan for three days from Monday. It will be Takaichi's chance to establish a relationship of trust and boost bilateral ties with the U.S. president and address some of his concerns about regional security. Trump has previously complained that his allies don't shoulder enough of the burden when it comes to funding.
Takeichi, who took office Tuesday, is expected to outline her plans for national security and defense spending during her first policy speech in the Diet on Friday.
WAR IN UKRAINE
TRUMP SIGNALS XI MEETING TO INCLUDE TALKS ON RUSSIAN OIL
Trump is also set to meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping next week. The U.S. president has indicated he will ask China to stop its purchases of Russian oil when he sits down with Xi in South Korea.
00:02:21 話者 2
What I'll really be talking to him about is how do we end the war with Russia and Ukraine, whether it's through oil or energy or anything else. And I think he's going to be very receptive.
00:02:33 話者 1
Trump added Xi can have a big influence on Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump has been criticizing China for funding Russia's invasion of Ukraine through its purchases of oil from Moscow.
Trump also said he plans to discuss China's rare earths exports and its purchase of U.S. soybeans amid concerns about escalating trade tensions. Earlier this month, Beijing announced tighter export controls on rare earths. Trump countered with a threat to impose additional 100% tariffs on Chinese imports.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant said high-level talks with China would be held in Kuala Lumpur this weekend ahead of the planned summit.
JAPAN TIGHTENS REQUIREMENTS FOR BUSINESS MANAGER VISA
It's now harder for entrepreneurs to move to Japan to do business. Earlier this month, the Immigration Services Agency hiked the requirements for the country's business manager visa, which allows foreigners to start a company on Japanese soil.
00:03:40 話者 3
There's been an influx in recent years of foreigners entering the country on that visa. Over 41,000 people had business manager residence status last year.
That number has more than doubled over the last decade. But not everyone entering Japan on the visa is starting an actual business. Authorities say they've seen a number of fraudulent applications using shell companies that have no real-world operations. That has prompted officials to tighten entry requirements.
The immigration agency also says the capital requirement was too low and raised the amount six-fold from 5 million to 30 million yen. That means incoming applicants will need nearly $200,000 in the bank.
also require companies to hire at least one full-time employee, who must be, for example, a Japanese citizen or permanent resident. It also requires that applicants have at least three years of business management experience, or hold at least a master's degree.
00:04:48 話者 4
The original purpose of this visa is to allow foreigners to contribute to the development of our country's economy and society through their business.
We will continue to monitor people's resident status, while keeping a close eye on the situation.
ANALYSIS: HOW WILL JAPAN'S NEW VISA RULES PLAY OUT?
00:05:06 話者 1
For more on this, earlier I spoke with NHK World's correspondent Ekuan Koji, who's been covering this story. So Koji, why did these changes come about?
00:05:19 話者 5
Japan introduced this visa 10 years ago to attract foreign business people. The goal was to boost investment and create jobs, but there is an impression that the visa is being misused. An official with the Immigration Services Agency told me why they tightened the rules.
00:05:44 話者 2
Someone who has no intention of engaging in business activities can obtain business manager resident status as a means of immigrating to Japan. But that is not acceptable from our viewpoint. We made these changes because we believe the previous requirements were too loose.
00:06:08 話者 1
So they're cracking down. But why are so many people applying for this visa in particular?
00:06:15 話者 5
It may be because of the social situation in China. More than half of people with this residence status are Chinese. Of course, they are legitimate applicants.
But the visa is also widely advertised on the social media in posts like the ones you see here as a means of moving to Japan. And some Chinese residents are looking for a way to escape the country's harsh rules. For example, Beijing's strict lockdown policies during the coronavirus pandemic has pushed the people away.
And the entrance exam war is another reason why people want to leave China. They want to raise their children in Japan to avoid that kind of pressure. If you add those programs to a visa that's already easy to obtain, then you can see why you have a spike in applicants.
00:07:15 話者 1
What do foreigners think about these new rules?
00:07:20 話者 5
A growing number of people are saying they have become too strict. One legal office that helps people apply for visas says clients are concerned, especially about the new hiring rule.
00:07:40 話者 3
There have been inquiries about how to recruit employees for their businesses.
There's a labor shortage in Japan right now, so foreigners are worried about how many people will apply.
00:08:00 話者 1
How will the new visa requirements affect Japan down the line?
00:08:06 話者 5
Experts say it should stop people from misusing the visa.
But the number of the foreigners who are willing to start a business could decrease.
00:08:21 話者 3
The barriers for starting a new business here have gone up significantly. People who like Japan and want to invest here may not be allowed in easily.
I think this will have an impact on startup companies that have a potential to grow significantly in Japan.
00:08:52 話者 5
The Immigration Services Agency says it will keep an eye on how the new rules play out.
BUSINESS
00:09:10 話者 1Now let's see what's happening in the world of business. Here's Gene Otani from The Biz Desk.
00:09:16 話者 6
Ross, thanks. At our top business story this hour,
AMAZON TOUTS AI LOGISTICS TECH AMID JOB CONCERNS
the U.S. tech giant Amazon has unveiled systems powered by artificial intelligence to improve logistics efficiency. It comes amid a surge in speculation on how technology could affect jobs.
The media were invited on Wednesday to Amazon's delivery center in California to see the innovations. Smart glasses for delivery drivers can read package labels and identify the parcels to be taken out. They also display maps to help drivers find the right buildings. A robotic system named BlueJay is designed for use at warehouses. It performs multiple tasks at once, including picking and sorting.
00:10:01 話者 5
We are definitely seeing an acceleration of our robotic systems, our physical AI systems. Where it's really made a difference is for us to build our machines in a way that complements, complements, augments, extends the human potential.
00:10:17 話者 6
Yet there are concerns that jobs could be at risk. The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Amazon plans to replace more than 600,000 workers with robots in the coming years. Chief technologist Ty Brady says that figure is just speculation. He suggested AI-related developments are not going to stop.
TOKYO USED CONDO PRICES STILL OVER 100 MILLION YEN MARK
The average listing price of used condominiums in Tokyo's 23 wards has topped the 100 million yen milestone for five straight months.
Real estate research firm Tokyo Kante says the price in September was about 110 million yen, or roughly $720,000, when converted to a standard 70-square-meter unit. That's up 37 percent from the same month last year. The six central awards, including Chuo, Minato, and Shibuya, saw the average price rise by almost 31 percent in yen terms to about $1.15 million. The average in the six southern and western wards, including Shinagawa and Setagaya, climbed by about 22 percent to around 600,000 dollars. Tokyo Kante says properties in central Tokyo are seen as increasingly valuable, prompting owners of relatively new units to sell. In many wards, the average age of used condos on the market went down from a year earlier.
TOYOTA MULLS IMPORTING US-MADE MODELS TO JAPAN
The head of Toyota Motor says the firm is considering importing its US-made vehicles to Japan to deal with the Trump administration's tariff measures. President Sato Koji said Toyota will still contribute as a member of the U.S. auto industry, but he acknowledged that the company is facing a challenge regarding the import-export balance. Bringing U.S.-made Toyota models to Japan will help Washington cut its trade deficit.
00:12:27 話者 3
It would be inefficient to specially develop and produce our US-made cars for the Japanese market.
But there are issues such as regulations and standards for imports of locally made vehicles as they are.
00:12:46 話者 6
Sato said the Japanese government should take the initiative in creating an environment that would enable automakers to import their US-made vehicles.
HOKKAIDO SALMON HAUL DROPS TO 01-YEAR LOW
The salmon catch in Japan's northern prefecture of Hokkaido has fallen to a 10-year low. Experts say global warming may be to blame for the poor haul.
Prices of the autumn delicacy are now high, particularly for salmon roe, known as ikura in Japanese.
00:13:26 話者 6
By early October, fishery workers caught a little over 3.9 million salmon. That's down about 60% from last year. Officials at Hokkaido's Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Research Institute say sea temperatures have risen by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius, and this makes it harder for young salmon to survive and grow.
RESTAURANTS TURN TO DIGITAL TOOLS TO STREAMLINE SERVICE
Japan gets much praise for the service in its restaurants, but it may be facing limitations. The pay in the industry is low, and English is needed more than ever with all the foreign visitors. Some of these needs are being met by AI and other innovations, but can the great service be maintained?
00:14:14 話者 7
This is a specialty restaurant in Tokyo serving traditional fare.
00:14:19 話者 8
Hi there. How can I help you today?
00:14:22 話者 3
What's your speciality?
00:14:24 話者 8
One of our specialties is Kawada Soba, a dish from Yamaguchi Prefecture with green tea noodles served on a hot tile.
00:14:32 話者 7
Since April, this restaurant has had a speaking AI tool that allows customers to order in English.
00:14:41 話者 8
Your glass starting to look a little lonely? Let me introduce some recommended items.
00:14:47 話者 7
By analyzing an image of the table, the AI determines the glasses are half empty.
and suggests additional orders proactively.
00:14:57 話者 6
Sometimes the staff feel they can't serve customers due to the language barrier.
This tool not only improves customer satisfaction, it might even increase average customer spending as well.
00:15:03 話者 7
There are plans in the works to offer services in Chinese, Korean and Thai.
Despite Japan's reputation for great service, tipping is uncommon. But that too could be changing. This restaurant has introduced a system to make tipping easy, enhancing the staff's income. The popular taco shop is located in Yokosuka City, near Yokohama. There is a US military base nearby, and about 70% of the customers are foreigners, including tourists from overseas.
The restaurant already had a system for customers to order by smartphone. In June, it added a function for tips.
00:15:56 話者 1
I generally pick some amount.
00:15:58 話者 7
When settling the bill, customers can simply choose to tip from 5% to 25%, and the amount is added on. It's been well received, as it eliminates the hassle of calculating the tip, making payment smoother.
00:16:14 話者 2
If it's easy to tip, then, yeah, why not?
00:16:18 話者 7
The restaurant now gets about $700 in tips per month. The money goes towards staff meals and gatherings.
00:16:26 話者 3
Tips improve our motivation and give us a sense of accomplishment, so everyone is happy about it.
00:16:34 話者 7
The system reportedly had about 1,000 stores participating within three months.
00:16:40 話者 3
We want to refine the features so both restaurant workers and customers can enjoy their dining experience with a sense of pleasure.
00:16:49 話者 7
Overseas tourism in Japan is greater than ever, raising the demands on restaurants to satisfy both customers and workers. User-friendly digital innovations could be the way forward.
MARKET
00:17:01 話者 6All right, let's have a look at the markets.
♪
That's a look at business news. Ross, I'm going to add it back to you.
00:17:35 話者 1
All right, thanks, Gene.
NEW SUSPECT ARRESTED IN ALLEGED ENGLISH TEST CHEATING SCHEME
Tokyo police have arrested a second person connected to an alleged scheme to help people cheat on English proficiency tests. Both suspects are Chinese nationals.
Police allege 30-year-old Li Xiaobei paid money to a graduate student who allegedly had been giving answers to people taking the test of English for international communication or TOEIC. They say Li himself did not take the test and had communicated with the other suspect by phone.
The student, 27-year-old Wang Li-kun, was arrested and indicted earlier this year after police say he sat for the TOEIC while using a fake name. They allege he wore a microphone hidden beneath a face mask and smart glasses and provided answers to other test-takers. Police say they uncovered Li's alleged ties to the cheating operation after analyzing Wang's devices.
Investigators are treating the incident as part of an organized effort to help people pass the TOEIC illicitly. They have not disclosed whether Lee has admitted to the allegations.
NEW SUSPECT ARRESTED IN ALLEGED ENGLISH TEST CHEATING SCHEME
The International Court of Justice says Israel must fulfill its obligations as an occupying force to ensure that the basic needs of people in the Gaza Strip are met.
ICJ President Iwasawa Yuji on Wednesday delivered the court's advisory opinion on Israel's standing in Gaza under international law.
00:19:00 話者 4
As an occupying power, Israel has obligations under international human rights law to respect, protect and fulfill the human rights of the population of the occupied Palestinian territory.
00:19:15 話者 1
The court said Israel is obliged to supply the essentials of daily life, including food, water and medicine. The judges also commented on the status of the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees, UNRWA. They found that Israel had not substantiated its claim that a significant proportion of staff of the agency are members of Hamas or other terrorist groups.
Israel has banned UNRWA's activities in the area. The court said Israel is under an obligation to agree to and facilitate relief schemes provided by the United Nations and its entities, including UNRWA. The advisory opinion is non-binding, but the legal view from the UN's top court is expected to increase international pressure on Israel.
Israel's foreign ministry rejected the ICJ opinion, saying it was a political attempt to impose measures against Israel under the guise of international law.
The ministry insisted that Israel will not cooperate with an organization that is infested with terror activities.
LOUVRE DIRECTOR ADMITS BLIND SPOT IN THEFT
The head of the Louvre Museum has spoken about the daring daylight theft that stunned the world.
She blamed the security breach on aging infrastructure and called it a terrible failure.
Thieves broke into an area of the museum known as the Gallery of Apollo.
They stole a variety of jewels, including a tiara and a necklace from the Napoleonic collection.
Prosecutors say the items are worth 88 million euros, or about 102 million dollars.
But Louvre director Laurence Descartes says the loss is about more than just money.
00:20:58 話者 3
Despite our efforts, despite our daily determined work, they made us fail.
Eight objects with immense value in terms of historical heritage of our country, kept in the historical heart of the Louvre, were taken from us.
00:21:12 話者 1
She says the museum has a shortage of security cameras outside the gallery.
They didn't cover the balcony where the thieves broke in and were unable to spot them sufficiently in advance.
She says the age of the building prohibits the installation of more modern equipment.
And she says she's offered to resign, but the Minister of Culture declined to accept it.
The Louvre has reopened, but the Apollo Gallery remains closed.
Police are conducting a search for four suspects they believe carried out the theft.
NOBEL CHEMISTRY PRIZE WINNER KITAGAWA ENCOURAGES RESEARCHERS
Japanese scientist Kitagawa Susumu, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry earlier this month, is sharing a message of perseverance.
At a lecture in Tokyo, Kitagawa told a crowd of researchers to keep working tenaciously and not lose hope.
He said new science emerges by having doubts and thinking deeply about things without assuming you fully understand them.
00:22:17 話者 4
It is important to get information on your own. Learn about it and work on it sincerely.
00:22:25 話者 1
Kitagawa and two other scientists won the prize for creating molecular constructions with many tiny holes called metal organic frameworks.
He said MOFs have the potential for storing natural gas and recovering carbon dioxide.
Kitagawa said some startups have already started tests and begun putting the materials into practical use.
00:22:49 話者 4
The general public and more firms know about these materials. Their usage will spread further. We'll take on the challenge.
00:22:59 話者 1
Kitagawa will attend the awards ceremony in the Swedish capital of Stockholm in December.
(Japanese)
WEATHER
00:23:37 話者 1
Now let's check out the world weather.
It's spring in the southern hemisphere, but Australia is experiencing conditions more like summer. Our meteorologist Yumi Hirano has details.
00:23:48 話者 9
People in New South Wales saw the high go over 41 degrees on Wednesday, setting a record for October. Sydney also saw 37, which is 14 degrees higher than usual.
People have started to fluff with the unusual heat, like it's already summer.
Hot air from Australia's interior descended upon the southeast on Wednesday.
Weather officials said conditions were more like a summer heat wave than spring.
Some locals and tourists said they'd much rather enjoyed the heat and wanted to go to the beach.
So the intense heat was created by warm air following toward a frontal system.
However, after the system has passed, a big temperature change will come.
The high will be 25 in Sydney and only 17 in Melbourne.
But the heat will continue further north, so the temperature will be 38 in Alice Springs.
Now moving to Asia. Parts of Taiwan are dealing with intense downpours.
Over 1,800 millimeters of rain has been reported on the northern side of the island due to a tropical depression. The system is expected to bring more rain, and another depression is likely to move toward Vietnam, bringing heavy downpours. Up to 350 millimeters of rain is possible in central Vietnam, including Danang, in the next 48 hours.
Taipei will see another day of wet weather, but sunny skies are coming back to Hong Kong.
Tokyo may have calm and dry conditions with a high of 20.
That's it for now. Have a nice day.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
MOUNT FUJI'S FIRST SNOWCAP OF THE SEASON
00:26:49 話者 1
Let's wrap up our program with some views of Mount Fuji, now with its iconic snow cap.
Weather officials confirmed this is the first time the famous volcano has been capped with snow this season.
The local meteorological office in Kofu, north of Mount Fuji, made the announcement Thursday morning.
Climbing season wrapped up last month, but the vista was a special treat for tourists who'd come to see Japan's highest peak from a distance.
I'm so happy.
Officials say there were rain clouds near the summit since Wednesday, with temperatures there below freezing.
This year's snowcap arrived 21 days later than average, but it was 15 days earlier than last year, which was the latest snowcap since records began over a century ago.
Thanks for joining us on NHK Newsline.
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