Hello and welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Keiko Kitagawa in Tokyo.
OPPOSITION CRA PARTY SEEKS NEW LEADER AFTER ELECTION LOSSES
Japan's opposition centrist reform alliance is hoping to rebound after suffering a devastating defeat on Sunday.
The party lost over 120 seats in the lower house election just weeks after it was formed.
Now 2 lawmakers are competing to take the reins.
Shina Takeshi and Ogawa Jr. filed their candidacies on Thursday, with CRA members set to vote on Friday.
It comes after the original leaders announced they were stepping down in the wake of the dismal election results.
Shina and Ogawa both pledged to mount a comeback.
00:00:52 話者 2
Our party is facing adversity, but for the sake of Japan's democracy and for the next generation, we must hold high the banner of political centrism and continue on.
We aim to create a social security model that gives peace of mind to those who work and pursue realistic foreign and defense policies.
Through this, we will establish a solid center line.
00:01:19 話者 3
By rebuilding the party, what I want most is to rebuild people's lives.
As the main opposition party, we must present a vision of how our society should look in the future.
This is my greatest political motivation, my historical responsibility and my generation's mission. I intend to turn this into a reality by becoming leader.
00:01:43 話者 1
The two candidates are former members of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.
The CDP formed the CRA in the lower house by joining forces with Komeito, which had been a long-time ally of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
The party now hopes to unite and counter the LDP, which won a historic lower house majority.
POLITICS AND PIXELS: FAKE NEWS DURING JAPAN ELECTION
A big issue resurfaced during the general election's campaign period, the spread of online disinformation.
Experts in Japan warn that it's increasing as generative artificial intelligence gets more sophisticated.
Women answering questions in an interview and criticizing a specific political party.
It seems like it anyway.
In fact, they are AI videos. One of them got more than 400,000 views and many who reposted it included a message saying criticism of the party was growing.
Then there's this image of a news program reporting wrongdoing by a political party.
But this is also not real.
The logo at the bottom signifies that it was created by an AI program.
00:02:54 話者 3
The more realistic it looks, the more convincing it is.
It has become possible to create and spread videos that damage the trust people have in candidates and political parties.
ANALYSIS: DISINFORMATION EVOLVED IN JAPAN ELECTION
00:03:09 話者 1
Earlier, I explored this issue further with NHK role's Yabuchi Junya.
He's been covering countermeasures against misinformation and disinformation.
Junya, as we just saw, these videos and photos look quite real.
Get us up to speed on the situation now.
00:03:26 話者 3
Well, it's not a new phenomenon.
We saw disinformation spread in the upper house election last year, too.
But in the autumn, OpenAI launched Solar 2, so more elaborate fake videos and images came out, and just about anyone can quickly create them pretty easily.
00:03:45 話者 1
Did you notice anything special about the disinformation that spread this time?
00:03:50 話者 3
Well, some of it addressed key issues, including the consumption tax and the measures against rising prices. Many borders focused on government spending.
Some posts contained unfounded information or misinformation about that, and they attracted a large number of views. Let's take a look at one of the posts.
It leads in part abolishing the children and families agencies
with a budget of more than 7 trillion yen would free up enough money to provide 10 million yen to each newborn.
A similar post claims that abolishing the agency would free up enough money to scrap the consumption tax.
It is true that the agency's budget is 7.3 trillion yen this fiscal year.
But a breakdown shows that most of the expenses are related to the cost of nursery schools, child allowances, and child care leave benefits.
They are, of course, essential, and abolishing the agency is not realistic.
But it's that correct fact about the budget that can convey a false sense of legitimacy.
In many cases, people cite only the information that matches their claims, ignoring other important facts.
00:05:12 話者 1
Now, who are the people creating disinformation?
00:05:16 話者 3
Well, there are three main possible types. Some are focused on making money.
Several video and social media platforms allow some users to monetize their content.
Generally, the more views, the more money they make.
So they use false information to stimulize emotions to attract attention.
There are also people online trying to support a specific political party, but some take things too far and spread disinformation, thinking it helps the party.
Experts say there could have also been information manipulation by foreign actors in other countries, but there is not enough evidence so far to suggest that they were involved in Japan's latest election.
00:06:05 話者 1
I see the influence of social media is only getting stronger with each election.
What should we keep in mind going forward?
00:06:11 話者 3
Oh, well, it's important to remember that social media can provide useful information.
But as we've seen, there's also a lot of disinformation, too. And it's not going away.
We should all question what we see, check out what kind of information certain accounts usually post. Check out their sources of information. Be skeptical.
I think it's also important to calm down when you see things that elicit an emotional response.
When you get upset, you cannot always make the right decision.
So take a deep breath and think before hitting that share button.
BANGLADESH VOTES IN LANDMARK ELECTION
00:07:03 話者 1
People in Bangladesh are having their say in the landmark election.
The vote represents a return to democracy after years of authoritarian rule.
Student protests in 2024 topple the administration of Prime Minister Sheikha Sina, who fled to neighboring India.
She had kept a firm grip on power for 15 years.
Thursday's election is being held under an interim government.
Many voters say graft and employment are among their top concerns.
Corruption is a very big problem in Bangladesh, so we need strong anti-corruption reforms and practices and institutional policies.
We also need recruitment based on merit, not based on identity or political connection.
We need to enforce transparency in job recruitment.
A recent survey puts the Bangladesh Nationalist Party as the front-runner with 70% of the public's backing.
The student-led National Citizen Party has just 2.6%.
Her senior party is banned from a running.
The exiled former leader is calling on her supporters to boycott the vote.
Concerns are growing about possible unrest.
JAPAN PROVIDES RADAR SYSTEMS TO PHILIPPINES UNDER NEW PROGRAM
Japan has provided the Philippines with several radar surveillance systems as part of a framework to offer security assistance to like-minded nations.
A ceremony was held in Manila on Wednesday to mark the handover of five coastal surveillance systems. The transfer was agreed by the two countries in 2023.
It comes under Japan's Official Security Assistance, or OSA, program.
00:08:43 話者 3
The OSA framework reflects Japan's resolute commitment to working closely with the like-minded partners to maintain peace and security across the Indo-Pacific.
I'd like to thank the government of Japan for the concrete contributions in widening and deepening our bilateral and multilateral ties.
00:09:12 話者 1
The Philippines continues to face territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea.
Tokyo and Manila have also agreed on projects such as the construction of facilities to enhance maritime surveillance capabilities.
HONG KONG POLICE SEEK JAPAN HELP OVER CASH HEISTS
Hong Kong's police chief is seeking help from his counterparts in Tokyo.
He wants assistance probing possible connections in two robberies and one attempted robbery that happened across both jurisdictions.
Late last month, thieves stole 420 million yen, or about $2.7 million, from a group of Chinese and Japanese nationals in a street in Tokyo.
Early the next day, there was an attempt to snatch another large sum of cash at Tokyo's Haneda Airport. It was unsuccessful. Later that day, there was an incident in Hong Kong.
A Japanese man was robbed of cash in a busy commercial district.
So far, four people have been indicted in connection with that theft.
One suspect is a 27-year-old Japanese national.
He allegedly brought cash into Hong Kong with the victim and passed information, including the victim's itinerary, to the perpetrators.
Hong Kong Police Commissioner Chao Yat-min said the suspect may have handed over part of the cash before the mugging.
He told reporters his officers have appealed to the Japanese side for cooperation on the case.
RECORD-HIGH DAMAGES FROM IMPERSONATION SCAMS IN JAPAN
Police in Japan are pointing to a surge in fraud where crooks contact victims pretending to be people such as authority figures or family members.
They say financial damages nationwide last year hit a record high of about $928 million.
The preliminary figure from the National Police Agency is nearly twice what it was the year before.
About 70 percent of the cases involved scammers pretending to be police.
Financial damages in those cases surged to about $646 million.
75 percent of the phone calls, including those by police impostors, were made from overseas.
00:11:22 話者 2
Along with promoting international investigations and international cooperation,
Police across the country will work closely with relevant organizations and take thorough measures to eradicate fraud.
00:11:36 話者 1
Fraud groups are believed to have created scam bases mainly in Southeast Asia.
They're believed to recruit Japanese nationals and others with offers of shady part-time jobs that make them work the phones.
Japanese police also point to an increase in investment scams in social media and an increase in romance scams.
BUSINESS
Now for business stories, here's Gene Otani.
00:12:06 話者 2/Gene Otani
Keiko, thanks. In our top business story this hour,
NIKKEI 225 SETS FRESH INTRADAY HIGH, EDGES LOWER AT CLOSE
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 stock index topped the 58,000 mark on Thursday to set another record for intraday trading.
Investors were encouraged by signs the US economy is on a strong footing, indicated by the country's better-than-expected non-farm payrolls.
The index touched 58,015 on buying of semiconductor-related shares, but later lost some steam as investors locked in profits.
The Tokyo benchmark closed at 57,639, down 0.02 percent from Tuesday.
Wednesday was a national holiday in Japan.
The Nikkei index hit record closing highs twice
this week and climbed more than 6 percent through Tuesday.
The landslide win for Japan's Liberal Democratic Party in Sunday's general election is driving the optimism, but analysts say the surge is causing some investors to caution that the market may be overheating.
ANALYSTS: JAPAN'S GDP TO EXPAND IN OCT .- DEC. QUARTER
Economists believe that Japan's gross domestic product rebounded in the last three months of 2025 on the back of solid corporate and personal spending.
Eleven research institutions have presented their projections for the October through December period ahead of the official release of the figure next Monday.
They all believe that GDP expanded in inflation-adjusted terms following a contraction in the previous quarter.
Five institutions project the pace of expansion for annualized growth at 1-1.9 percent.
Four expect growth in the 2% range and two put the rate at under 1%.
All institutions believe that capital investment increased.
They cite robust corporate spending to make up for workforce shortages.
Ten of the eleven say that personal consumption increased.
This factor accounts for more than half of GDP.
Most say spending remains solid, but a relatively low growth rate of 0.1 to 0.2 percent.
Opinion is divided over exports.
Six project positive growth, while five believe exports declined.
Auto exports to the United States are showing signs of recovery after Washington lowered tariffs on Japanese vehicles, but some analysts see a negative impact from the falling number of Chinese tourists.
Spending by inbound tourists is counted as exports.
JAPAN LOOKS TO NAMIBIA TO DIVERSIFY RARE EARTH SUPPLIERS
Japan is holding talks with Namibia as part of a drive to diversify suppliers of rare earths and other critical minerals.
The materials are used in electronic industries and for building electric vehicles.
Japanese government officials met Namibian counterparts for talks on Tuesday at a mining conference in Cape Town, South Africa.
They also met with delegates from other countries
The Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security has worked with Namibia in southwest Africa and says it found large deposits of heavy rare earths in the country's mines.
Such elements are essential to produce magnets used in mortars for electric vehicles and industrial robots.
Japanese Vice Industry Minister for International Affairs Matsuo Takehiko says Namibia's government has high hopes for swift progress.
00:16:03 話者 3/Matsuo Takehiko
Increasing procurement from a country like Namibia will lead to diversification of suppliers of rare earths. So the project is significant for Japan's economic security.
00:16:13 話者 2
Japan imports nearly all the rare earths used by domestic industries, with almost 70% coming from China. Other countries are also diversifying suppliers.
US President Donald Trump has announced a plan to build a national stockpile of critical minerals to reduce dependence on imports from China.
SEMINAR IN LONDON AIMS TO BRING INVESTORS TO JAPAN
The Japanese securities industry has held a seminar in London to attract more foreign investors to the country.
About 350 people attended the 15th Japan Securities Summit on Wednesday.
00:16:52 話者 Katayama Satsuki/Japanese Finance Minister
Japan is now shifting from a deflationary cost-cutting economy to a dynamic growth-oriented one driven by bold investment and productivity gains.
00:17:06 話者 2
Japan Exchange Group CEO Yamaji Hiromi said there's growing interest in investing in Japan.
00:17:15 話者 3
With the higher uncertainty, many investors, including US investors, are aware of the risk and are reallocating their investments away from the US and into Asian countries.
00:17:31 話者 2
Yamaji said stability and the size of the economy is making Japan one of the alternative investment destinations.
MARKETS
All right, let's have a look at the markets.
♪
And that's it for Business News.
♫～
00:19:13 話者 1
For more on those stories, please visit NHK World Japan's website.
PEOPLE IN KYIV STRUGGLING TO KEEP WARM
People in Ukraine are suffering a long war and freezing winter. They're struggling to keep warm and cook meals because of Russia's attacks on the power grid.
Tanks have been set up at about 200 locations in the capital Kyiv for residents in need.
Russian strikes are forcing authorities to implement hours of scheduled blackouts.
Volunteers were seen providing warm meals at a camp.
Authorities say there were more than 400 visitors in a single day.
Some stayed for multiple nights after Russia attacked their homes.
In this situation, during the war, a tent is really like home.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency has supplied Ukraine with more than 135 power generators to be used in homes, schools and hospitals.
A handover ceremony took place on Wednesday in Kyiv.
NATO LAUNCHES 'ARCTIC SENTRY'
NATO leaders have heard US President Donald Trump talk about his country acquiring Greenland.
Now they say they're stepping up their activities in and around the island.
Trump has cited security issues in the Arctic.
He said that Russian and Chinese warships are all over the place.
He spoke last month with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
They agreed to a framework of a future deal covering the entire Arctic, including the surrounding area known as the High North.
NATO released a statement saying it's kicking off what it calls a multi-domain effort known as Arctic Sentry.
It says it's designed to enhance the ability of allies to operate in the region.
It says the activities include drills conducted by Denmark and Norway.
00:21:04 話者 3
In the face of Russia's increased military activity and China's growing interest in the high north, it was crucial. That we do more.
00:21:15 話者 1
NATO's willingness to become actively involved in Arctic security may dispel the concerns expressed by Trump.
TRUMP MEETS NETANYAHU FOR TALKS ON IRAN DEAL
President Trump and his Israeli counterpart Bin Yamin Netanyahu held talks at the White House.
They discussed the US efforts to reach a nuclear deal with Tehran, and Trump described it as a very good meeting.
Their closed-door talks come after senior US and Iranian official met in Oman last week.
Israeli media says this marks the seventh meeting for the pair during Trump's second term.
Trump says nothing definitive was reached, but he says he insisted on the need to continue negotiations with Iran to see if a nuclear deal can be made.
He says hopefully this time, Iran will be more reasonable and responsible.
Trump has suggested that he could take military action against Iran if negotiations fail.
Netanyahu may have pushed for limits on Iran's ballistic missile program and an end to its support for regional proxies.
Iranian President Masoud Pazashkian attended a ceremony marking the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.
He called for national unity and pledged to hear the voice of the people.
00:22:34 話者 3
We are not seeking nuclear weapons. We have stated this repeatedly, time and again, and we are ready for any kind of verification.
00:22:46 話者 1
And he blamed the US and Europe for not letting the negotiations succeed.
TRUMP ORDERS PENTAGON TO PURCHASE COAL-BASED ENERGY
Trump has signed an executive order instructing the Department of Defence to purchase electricity generated by coal.
The move is expected to face criticism from environmental lobbies.
The order directs the Defence Secretary to approve long-term power purchase agreements with coal-fired energy plants.
00:23:15 話者 3
Also critical to our national security, vital to everything from steel production to shipbuilding and artificial intelligence.
00:23:24 話者 1
Trump says the change will ensure military installations and defense industrial bases can remain operating under all conditions, including natural disasters and war situations.
He touted America's vast core resources and said it's incredible how clean the energy source has become with new techniques.
But the US media outlet Bloomberg says Trump is backing coal for two key reasons.
One is winning the AI race against China, and the other is easing voters' concerns about rising energy bills ahead of the mid-term elections.
Some countries are moving to end coal-fired power generation altogether.
In 2024, Britain closed its last coal-fired thermal power plant, ending all coal-based power generation.
WEATHER
Now it's time to check out the weather. Japan may experience spring-like warmth toward the weekend. Our meteorologist Yumi Hirano has the details.
00:24:47 話者 4/Yumi Hirano
Snow is still expected from Hokkaido to Hokuriku on Thursday, and some intense snowfall is likely on the Sea of Japan side.
But the conditions will change over the weekend.
Snow is expected to ease on the Sea of Japan side, including Sapporo.
The sunny skies will come back to Niigata.
And then, spring-like temperatures are expected.
So in areas with heavy snowfall, people should watch out for avalanches and flooding due to snow melt.
The high in Tokyo will be 18 on Sunday, which is as warm as in April.
In the bigger picture across Asia, warmer than usual conditions are also expected on Friday. Seoul may see 11.
The high in Beijing will be 13, which is almost 10 degrees higher than average.
Now moving to the United States, persistent cold air has been covering the northeast, bringing freezing conditions.
In New York, partial service on New York City ferry routes resumed Wednesday, but crews are still struggling to clear the ice-covered river.
Weeks of bitter cold mean sheets of ice have covered large sections of the river.
The Coast Guard said crews have worked nonstop for the past two and a half weeks, with five icebreakers clearing the waterways.
Coast Guard officials say the last time such conditions were seen around New York harbor and rivers was January 2018.
Colder than usual weather will continue in New York with a high of three.
People in L.A. who experienced heavy rain on Wednesday may see sunny skies on Thursday with a high of 19.
That's it for now. Have a nice day.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
00:27:41 話者 1
That wraps up this edition of NHK Newsline. I'm Keiko Kitagawa in Tokyo.
Thank you for joining us.
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