Welcome to NHK NEWSLINE. I'm Yoko Nishimura in Tokyo with the latest news.
Japan–South Korea Leaders Unite on Energy Security
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung met for a summit in South Korea on Tuesday.
Both leaders agreed to work together to secure energy resources for the region.
The meeting was held in Yi's hometown of Andong. They last met in Japan in January.
00:00:37 話者 2/Lee Jae myung
As we work closely together to overcome the challenges of the current international situation through robust cooperation between South Korea and Japan, I am truly aware of just how important we are to each other.
The fact that we visited both of our hometowns within just four months is not only a first in the history of South Korea-Japan relations, but also a rare occurrence even on the global stage.
00:01:06 話者 3/Takaichi Sanae
Especially given the situation in the Middle East, the international community is now facing a very difficult period.
Under the leadership of the President and myself, I believe it is critically important that we built on the positive momentum between Japan and South Korea.
We must ensure that our countries play a central role in maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
00:01:32 話者 1
The two leaders jointly addressed the media after the talk.
Takaichi said the pair agreed to work together to de-escalate the situation in the Middle East. That includes securing free and safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
She also said the two countries agreed to strengthen energy security, which will include sharing crude oil and other petroleum products.
Takaichi said they will later work out the details of that agreement.
Raids Target Hokkaido Shinkansen Bid-Rigging
Japanese authorities have raided nine construction firms.
They are suspected of bid rigging and projects to extend the Shinkansen bullet train line in Hokkaido. Officials from the Fair Trade Commission carried out the raids on Tuesday.
They also searched the Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency in Yokohama, which commissioned the projects.
Work is currently underway to extend the Hokkaido Shinkansen. There are ten sections.
Sources say bids for five may have been rigged.
The Fair Trade Commission also plans to investigate the sections that are not yet up for bidding.
Taiwan President Survives Impeachment Motion
Taiwan's parliament has voted down a motion seeking to impeach President Lai Ching-ka.
On Tuesday, 56 members voted in favor of the move against 50 who opposed it, but the motion failed to gain the necessary two-thirds support.
The opposition camp had submitted the motion, calling the president's administrative operations dictatorial.
Wednesday marks two years in office for Lai, but he faces a tough battle in the parliament, where opposition parties hold the majority of seats and have been intensifying their stance.
Earlier this month, they cut a special budget intended to beef up defense capabilities by nearly 40 percent.
Ebola Outbreak in DR Congo Exceeds 100 Deaths
Turning to Africa, where at least 100 people are now reported to have died in the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 106 people had died, and there were at least 395 suspected cases in the DRC.
The outbreak was confirmed in the northeastern province of Ituri.
The Associated Press quoted Congolese officials as saying an American doctor is among the newly confirmed cases in the province.
One death has also been reported in neighboring Uganda.
There is no vaccine for the Bandebujo strain of Ebola, which has been detected among the patients.
The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, but it says it does not meet the criteria of a pandemic.
Even so, national health authorities are stepping up vigilance.
US President Donald Trump was asked by a reporter on Monday if Americans should be concerned about Ebola.
00:04:38 話者 4/Donald Trump
I'm concerned about everything, but certainly am. I think that, you know, it's been confined right now to Africa, but it's something that has had a breakout.
00:04:50 話者 1
On the same day, the Trump administration barred entry for foreign nationals who had visited the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan within the last 21 days.
California Mosque Shooting Leaves Five Dead
California police say three people were killed after two gunmen opened fire at a mosque in San Diego on Monday.
The suspects, believed to be aged 17 and 19, were later found dead in a vehicle parked near the scene of the shooting.
Police are treating it as a possible anti-Muslim hate crime.
00:05:23 話者 4
It's a terrible situation. I've been given some early updates, but we're going to be going back and looking at it very strongly.
00:05:33 話者 1
Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are working together to look into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Trump Delays Planned Military Strike on Iran
US President Donald Trump says he's decided to postpone the attack on Iran he had vowed to carry out if a deal was not reached. He said it had been scheduled for Tuesday.
00:05:53 話者 4
I've put it off for a little while, hopefully maybe forever, but possibly for a little while, because we've had very big discussions with Iran, and we'll see what they amount to.
00:06:06 話者 1
The president said the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and other countries asked him to hold out for two or three days.
He said if they can make a deal where Iran doesn't get nuclear weapons, the US will be satisfied.
A military adviser to Iran's supreme leader ridiculed Trump's decision.
Mohsen Rezai said in a social media post that Trump set a deadline to attack and then canceled it himself.
He added that Trump had a false hope that he could force the Iranian people and authorities to surrender.
Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson said the US presented a counter-proposal through Pakistani mediators.
He said Tehran has reviewed the revisions over the past few days and has now responded.
Before Trump's remarks, Iran's President Masoud Pedeshkian said Tehran would engage in talks with the US, but dialogue does not mean surrender.
He said his country will not compromise.
Putin–Xi Summit: Key Issues to Watch
Russian President Vladimir Putin will sit down with Chinese leader Xi Jinping for summit talks Wednesday.
For more on what to watch out for, earlier I spoke with NHK World's Yoshida Mayu in Beijing.
Mayu, this comes right on the heels of Trump's own Beijing summit last week.
What is China hoping to accomplish this time?
00:07:30 話者 5
China wants to project itself as a major power, one that can engage with both Russia and the United States. But the timing itself is probably a coincidence.
President Putin's trip has been in the works for a long time.
Still, Beijing knows people will be comparing the two visits.
While China and the United States agreed to work towards a more stable relationship, there's still a mutual distrust there.
And they have a lot of unresolved issues on things like trade, technology, and security.
That's why China's relationship with Russia isn't just symbolic.
It's also a counterweight as Beijing continues to compete with Washington.
00:08:13 話者 1
Now, what should we be looking out for?
00:08:18 話者 5
Well, obviously, we want to see what they say about global issues, like the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran. Another major focus will be Taiwan.
China highlighted the issue during the US-China summit.
And we expect Putin will once again voice his support for Beijing's position.
The other key point has to do with energy, as we know the conflict in the Middle East has destabilized the global supply.
And Russia is China's largest supplier of crude oil, so the two leaders may announce something to do with that.
Regardless of what comes out of these talks, this meeting will send a signal to the international community, and it may offer clues about the direction both countries are taking.
Why Claude Mythos AI Model Remains Restricted
00:09:17 話者 1
G7 finance ministers were in France this week to discuss threats to the global financial system, among them, artificial intelligence.
US firm Anthropic's new model, Claude Mythos, is reportedly so powerful, it cannot be released to the public.
That has nations concerned about the security of their financial institutions.
To break it down for us, earlier I spoke with NHK deputy chief commentator Iida Kaori.
So, what exactly is Mythos?
00:09:50 話者 33/Iida Kaori
Mythos is a general-purpose AI model, but it stands out for its exceptional cybersecurity capabilities.
It can identify hidden software vulnerabilities, like so-called zero-day flaws.
It can also analyze systems in depth and connect weaknesses into potential attack paths.
And Throkpik describes it as being strikingly capable at computer security tasks.
00:10:16 話者 1
So do we know if it works in practice?
00:10:19 話者 33
The UK's AI Security Institute tested it out. In controlled environments, Mythis had a success rate of 73% on expert-level cybersecurity tasks.
It was also able to simulate cyber attacks by linking together a series of steps across networks that would normally take human experts hours or even days to complete.
00:10:42 話者 1
So this can be a very powerful tool.
00:10:44 話者 33
Absolutely.
Mythos can help companies detect vulnerabilities early and strengthen their defenses.
But the opposite is also true.
A system that can find vulnerabilities can also exploit them.
That's why it hasn't been released to the public.
Instead, only certain companies such as Apple, Google, and JPMorgan Chase have access.
00:11:07 話者 1
So is Anthropic the only company making something like this?
00:11:10 話者 33
Actually, it's not, not at all.
Its rival, OpenAI, has introduced a similar system known as GPT-5.5 Cyber.
It is also not available to the general public.
Right now, only trusted cybersecurity professionals can use it.
The UK's AI Security Institute says 5.5 Cyber is on par with Mythos.
00:11:35 話者 1
If these new models are as powerful and strong as we think they are, it makes you wonder what bad actors might do with them.
00:11:42 話者 33
Exactly. Like I said earlier, if it can find weaknesses, it can exploit them, and the consequences would be dire.
It could disrupt critical infrastructure, such as electricity, communications, and water systems. Financial systems could be targeted.
Supply chains and logistics networks could be thrown into this array.
These vulnerabilities could be found and exploited before we can even respond.
We also have to think about this in a geopolitical context.
Right now, advanced AI developments is concentrated in just two countries, the United States and China.
As access to these powerful models is restricted, this technology may play a role in national security and global influence.
00:12:29 話者 22/Dario Amodei/CEO, Anthropic
Other companies are maybe one to three months behind, you know, the kind of major other credible US labs are maybe one to three months behind.
And, you know, the Chinese models are maybe six to 12 months behind.
So I think we have roughly that amount of time to fix all these vulnerabilities.
00:12:48 話者 1
S0, Kaori, where does Japan stand in all of this?
00:12:51 話者 33
That's a great question.
Japan has recognized that it's behind when it comes to developing large-scale AI models.
The government has begun increasing investment and strengthening cooperation between the public and private sectors.
But it pales compared to the scale of investment we're seeing from leading global firms.
There are concerns about forming a dependence on foreign technology, especially in areas closely tied to national security and critical infrastructure.
The emergence of mythos signals a shift in what AI can do. In certain areas, it is becoming capable of carrying out complex tasks with a high degree of independence.
That makes one thing clear. The age of frontier AI is not coming.
That future is already here.
BUSINESS
00:13:42 話者 1
Now to tell us what's happening in the world of business, here is Yuko Fukushima from the BizDesk.
00:13:47 話者 6/Yuko Fukushima
Yeah, thanks, Yoko.
Japan GDP Grows for Second Straight Quarter
Well, Japan's economy has expanded for a second straight quarter.
Growth was driven mainly by a resurgence in exports and rising consumer spending.
The Cabinet Office released its preliminary figures for the January to March period on Tuesday.
They show GDP grew half a percent from the previous quarter, adjusted for inflation.
That translates to an annualized rate of 2.1 percent.
Personal consumption accounts for more than half of GDP.
It was up 0.3% from the previous three months, with consumers spending more on clothes and dining out.
Exports grew 1.7% amid a recovery in automobile shipments to the US.
This follows a slump triggered by Washington's tariffs.
Business investments in facilities and equipment ticked up 0.3 percent, and the residential investments by households was also up rising 0.5 percent.
The Cabinet Office says the impact of the Iran conflict was limited, but there are concerns about long-term growth as persistently high crude oil prices are weighing on some businesses.
Trump Links Rate Cuts to Iran Conflict End
US President Trump has suggested he may need to wait for the end of the Iran conflict before getting lower interest rates.
That's as soaring crude oil prices have driven up inflation.
Trump told the business magazine Fortune, " You can't really look at the figures until the war is over."
Fortune notes the president seems resigned to the fact that he may have to wait for more cuts.
The latest inflation data show US consumer prices jumped 3.8 percent in April from the same month last year. That was the fastest rise in nearly three years.
Financial markets increasingly expect the Federal Reserve to raise rates rather than cutting them to keep inflation under control.
Trump had repeatedly called on the Fed to cut rates.
He appeared to expect his nominee as Fed Chair Kevin Wars to help persuade the other board members.
US Allows 30-Day Access to Russian Oil
Well, the United States will again lift its ban on Russian oil and issue a license to allow nations to access it for 30 days.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a social media post on Monday that the temporary license applies to Russian oil currently stranded at sea.
He says this will help stabilize the crude oil market and ensure oil reaches the most energy-vulnerable countries.
US media are reporting the Trump administration is under pressure to rein in higher fuel costs and deal with a supply crunch caused by military action in the Middle East.
The administration has previously lifted sanctions on Russian crude oil and petroleum products since March.
South Korea’s Birthrate Shows Early Recovery
South Korea's low-ranking fertility rate has been showing some signs of recovery.
It rose for a second straight year to 0.8.
So let's take a look at some of the efforts in the country that appear to be bearing fruit.
00:16:46 話者 7/Narrator: Michael Rhys
Young people have lined up at the city hall in Incheon, near Seoul.
They came for the 1,001 housing program.
The city secures housing and offers it at rock-bottom rents to newlyweds and families with children.
It's one of several bold initiatives to try and support child-rearing.
The units are up to 85 square metres in size and the rent is 1,001 per day.
That's less than $1. For this round, 700 units were available.
They drew more than 3,400 applications.
00:17:23 話者 61
We're getting married soon.
We're planning to live in Incheon, but the cost of housing is a burden, so we applied.
00:17:31 話者 62
My child is still small, so I thought this would help with our living expenses.
00:17:38 話者 7
Incheon has seen strong economic growth in recent years.
The city is now pitching in to tackle the declining birth rate.
Officials want to attract younger generations and further boost economic development.
For every child, the city provides a total of up to 100 million won, about $70,000, through age 18. The efforts appear to be delivering.
The number of babies born in the city last year increased almost 9%, making for one of the highest growth rates in the country.
00:18:13 話者 63/Choi Jung-hee/Incheon Metropolitan City Population Strategy Planning Division
We believe these policies have had a positive impact and contributed to an increase in births and the population.
00:18:26 話者 7
It's not just local governments stepping up.
Companies are also trying to make a difference.
A major construction firm is offering employees a childbirth incentive of 100 million won, or about $70,000.
An increasing number of firms are also providing childcare allowances, reflecting a broad push by society to make it easier to have kids.
But not all local governments and companies can afford such generous measures.
Yoo Dong-woo has lived in Busan, South Korea's second largest city, for 20 years.
00:19:05 話者 68/Yu Dong-woo
There are so many vacant properties. It didn't used to be like this.
00:19:09 話者 7
Busan's fertility rate is 0.74, well below the national average.
The outflow of young people is particularly severe.
With the local economy stagnating, the city has been classified as being at risk of vanishing.
Yu has long hoped to get married and have children.
However, he's worried that he might not have the financial means.
00:19:37 話者 68
I think we need to talk about what kind of life we can lead and how we should live.
Ultimately, my biggest concerns about having children are financial, such as education and housing costs.
00:19:49 話者 7
South Korea's birth rate is seeing signs of progress, but building a sustainable society will require an environment where people can have children without being held back by the financial responsibilities.
MARKETS
00:20:04 話者 6
Now let's get you a check on the markets.
♪
And that's it for business for now.
Hakodate Airport’s Glass-Wall Farewell Phones
00:20:39 話者 1
Most airports move people through as fast as possible, but some give passengers in departure areas an opportunity to stop and say face-to-face goodbyes to family and friends.
NHK World's Nakanishi Yamato captured the farewells.
00:20:56 話者 9/Nakanishi Yamato
At Hakodate Airport, the southern gateway to Hokkaido, intercom phones are located near the security checkpoint.
(Japanese)
For over 20 years, these phones have connected the inside and outside of departure areas.
Passengers can linger and talk with loved ones until their flight is cold.
(Japanese)
The father of this family is going back to his job in Ishikawa Prefecture, where he's living alone.
He has been involved in reconstruction work since the Noto Peninsula earthquake in 2024.
He says he looks forward to the monthly trip home.
(Japanese)
I look forward to seeing my family again. I will work with pride for the recovery until then.
This newlywed couple is moving to Ibaraki Prefecture due to the husband's job transfer.
The wife's grandmother and mother came to see them off.
(Japanese)
This young lady has just graduated from university and is starting her first job in Tokyo.
Today, she sets off for the new chapter in her life.
00:23:06 話者 71
I'm feeling a little lonely, but I'm looking forward to Tokyo.
00:23:12 話者 9
The mother says she is anxious about her living alone in Tokyo.
00:23:37 話者 72
She's such a hard worker, and she's been striving to find a job in Tokyo.
So all I can do as a parent is to support her and watch over her.
I saw her off, wishing her the best of luck.
00:23:52 話者 9
Departures often come with hope and anxiety.
The phone's offers are setting out on their next journey a heartfelt send-off.
Nakanishi Yamato, NHK World.
00:24:06 話者 73
Bye-bye.
Weather Outlook: Cooling Trend Across Japan
It's time for a check on the weather with our meteorologist, Jonathan Oh.
So Jonathan, it looks like we're starting to see a slightly cooling trend in Japan.
How are things looking for Wednesday?
00:24:25 話者 10/Jonathan Oh
Hello, after seeing temperatures that were way above average this time of year with lots of sunny weather across a good portion of Japan, changes are on the way coming up on Wednesday. We have a couple of systems located back toward the west and south.
All of that bringing a lot more moisture, which will bring cloud cover, which will at least give us a little bit of protection from the sunshine, at least for areas along the Pacific coast of Japan as we go into the day on Wednesday.
So plenty of rain to talk about for western Japan, especially spreading toward the north and east.
As we go into the latter part of Wednesday, we'll see that rain picking up into place like Tokyo. So I have the umbrellas with you as you head out for the day.
Fukuoka looking at some rain, Osaka 24 rain later in the day for Tokyo with a high of 28.
And we're seeing even in Happoro a chance for some rain with a high of 18.
And as you go through the week, these highs are going to start dropping off a little bit as well as we see the influence of slightly cooler pattern taking place.
Not completely down, just a little bit cooler.
That'll be at least enough to take the edge off the heat that we've seen as we went through the first part of this week.
Looking at what's happening across North America, we've been watching this very vigorous cold front moving through the central plains and slowly pushing toward the east.
And so we're talking about another round of strong teams, severe thunderstorms extending from the Great Lakes down to a place like Oklahoma as we see this front pushing through.
Part of the reason is because we have so much hot air ahead of it where highs are moving into the 30s and then behind this cold front, some locations are dropping down into the teens for daytime highs.
So yeah, vigorous pattern continuing to be in place as we go through the day on Tuesday.
So thunderstorms from Toronto into Chicago, Oklahoma City looking high of 21.
Denver dropping off to a high of 11 as we go through Tuesday.
Speaking of heat, northeastern portions of Europe and western portions of Russia.
Highs in the 30s in Moscow coming up as we go through the day on Tuesday as a warm front push on through. And it looks like they were seeing rain though.
Really the big part of the forecast for the western portions of Europe as we go through the day on Tuesday.
Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
00:27:40 話者 1
And that concludes this edition of NHK Newsline.
I'm Yoko Nishimura in Tokyo. Thanks for joining us.
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