Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Yamaguchi Hiroaki in Tokyo.
JAPAN TO ESTABLISH NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Japan will soon have its own national intelligence agency.
The Diet enacted the law establishing the bureau Wednesday.
The bill was approved at the plenary session of the Upper House.
It gives the incoming agency the authority to gather and analyze information from government ministries.
It also establishes a national intelligence council within the Cabinet.
Those in favor included the ruling coalition made-up of the Liberal Democratic and the Japan Innovation Parties. But several opposition members were also in favor.
Ushida Mayu of the Democratic Party for the People supported the bill.
She called it an important first step to boosting Japan's intelligence capabilities.
She said threats to the country's security are complex and multifaceted.
She agreed that government policies should prioritize protecting the country and its people.
But others remained steadfastly opposed. Oniki Makoto of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan spoke ahead of Wednesday's vote.
He warned of government overreach, saying the bureau could misuse power and infringe on people's human rights.
Both lower and upper house committees passed a supplementary resolution addressing those concerns.
It called on the government to take care to not infringe unnecessarily on people's personal information and privacy.
It also said the information-gathering process must not undermine political neutrality.
The government plans to launch the bureau as early as this summer.
JAPAN'S EMPEROR AND EMPRESS WELCOME PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his wife are on a state visit to Japan this week.
And to kick things off, Japanese Emperor Narushito and Empress Masako have given them a royal welcome at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
The visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties between Japan and the Philippines.
Marcos and his wife arrived at the palace on Wednesday morning, where the emperor introduced the Crown Prince and Princess Akishino as well as Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae.
A welcome ceremony was held in a palace garden.
The national anthems of the two countries were played, and the president received a salute from the Ground Self-Defense Forces Guard of Honor.
Philippine folk music was also performed.
The emperor and empress later spoke with the president and his wife.
A banquet hosted by the emperor and empress is scheduled to be held at the palace Wednesday evening.
Prince Hisahito, the son of the crown prince and princess Akishino, will attend.
It will be his first appearance at such an event.
Marcos is scheduled to meet with Japan's prime minister once again on Thursday, this time for formal talks.
TAKAICHI, MARCOS LIKELY TO TALK SECURITY DURING SUMMIT
Earlier, I spoke with NHK's Manila bureau chief Kondo Yukari, who gave us a rundown of what to expect from this summit.
So Yukari, what appears to be Marcus' top priority for his meeting with Takaichi?
00:03:39 話者 2/Kondo Yukari
Well, before leaving here, the President was keen on security cooperation with Japan.
The Philippines is facing territorial disputes with China at sea.
In an apparent bid to deter China, the Philippines has been ramping up its security ties with the US, Australia and Japan.
We saw that during some recent large-scale military drills between the US and the Philippines.
Japan's self-defense forces also participated in those for the first time, with about 1,400 personnel involved.
It's noteworthy that about a month ago, Takaichi also eased the rules on the export or transfer of Japanese defense equipment.
So Marcos praised the move, saying it's an advantage for his country. He even went so far as to say that relationship between two nations has entered a new era.
00:04:27 話者 1
And what do you think is likely to come out of this summit, given all that diplomacy in the last few weeks?
00:04:36 話者 2
Yeah, it seems like the Philippines has really set its sights on acquiring defense equipment from Japan. It needs to deter China at sea.
So Marco has his eyes on Japan's used Abukuma-class destroyers.
Takaichi's policy shift last month now makes that trade possible.
The country's defense ministers agreed to create a working group for the proposal as well.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines told NHK that development is a big one.
00:05:05 話者 12/Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad (ret.)/AFP Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea
Any modern weaponry would help us increase our capability.
Number one, to know what's out there, Martin domain awareness.
Number two, to project our forces.
Number three, to support and sustain our deployed forces.
00:05:24 話者 2
Meanwhile, Takaichi has called the Philippines a strategic partner in the effort to create a free and open Indo-Pacific.
00:05:32 話者 1
What else are we expecting to happen during these talks on Thursday?
00:05:39 話者 2
Takaichi and Marucos are also likely to bring up energy.
The Philippines gets more than 90 percent of its oil from the Middle East, so it's extremely vulnerable to conflict and supply chain disruptions.
So Marco even declared a national energy emergency in March after concerns of the country's supplies. So Japan may have a solution to that.
It's a project called Power Asia, a $10 billion initiative to maintain energy supply chains across Asia and develop energy sources aside from crude oil.
So it's possible that it's going to be the talking point for two leaders on Thursday.
IRAN CONFLICT
ISRAELI PM: LEBANON OPERATIONS AGAINST HEZBOLLAH CONTINUE
00:06:23 話者 1
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his country is carrying out military operations in Lebanon as talks to end the fighting continue between the US and Iran.
Netanyahu said on Tuesday in a social media post that Israeli forces are operating deep in the territory, seizing controlling areas and fortifying the security zone.
He indicated Israel will expand operations against the Iran-supported Lebanese Islamic Shia organization Hezbollah.
Netanyahu also said 700 Hezbollah fighters were killed during the latest ceasefire.
He added We do not stop fighting for a moment and there's more to come.
Lebanese state media reported Wednesday that Israeli air attacks over the preceding few hours had killed 31 people and injured 40 others.
Hezbollah said Tuesday it had aimed about 30 drone attacks and other launches at the Israeli military.
Iran is demanding an end to finding in all areas, including Lebanon, in its talks with the US.
But concerns are rising that Israel's expanded military operations could affect the negotiations.
WAR IN UKRAINE
LAVROV TELLS RUBIO RUSSIA WILL KEEP STRIKING KYIV
Moscow says it plans to keep attacking Kyiv. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov conveyed the message to his US counterpart in a phone call.
The US State Department says Lavrov initiated the call with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Lavrov accuses Ukraine of attacking civilian facilities in Russia.
And he says Russian forces will continue targeting defense industry enterprises and decision-making centers in Kyiv.
Russia's foreign ministry issued a statement before the call.
It says the move is in retaliation for Ukraine's attacks in the Russian-controlled Luhansk region. And it urges foreign citizens and diplomats to leave Kyiv immediately.
Ukrainian sources say Russia launched massive strikes through Sunday that killed four people and wounded more than 80.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and foreign ambassadors have visited the sites to honor the victims. Sybiha pushed back against Russia's statement.
00:08:45 話者 3/Andrii Sybiha
We are currently telling our partners that there is no need to give in to this Russian blackmail.
00:08:52 話者 1
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky lashed out at Russia for the attacks.
He says Moscow used a powerful Oreshnik missile in the strikes.
The new ballistic missile is said to be hypersonic and capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
WAR IN UKRAINE
JAPANESE FIRM TESTS LANDMINE-DETECTION DRONE
A Japanese company has tested a drone in Ukraine designed to detect landmines.
Clearing landmines laid by Russian forces in the country remains a challenge.
The firm ProDrone conducted its first trial on Monday in the capital Kyiv.
A drone fitted with metal detector was flown at a low altitude of about 30 centimeters.
Inert landmines were used during the test. Some were placed on the ground and others were buried at a depth of about 15 centimeters.
The firm is working with Ukrainian companies to develop such drones.
It received a grant from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization.
A company official says their drone's key capability is flying stably at low altitude.
00:10:02 話者 4/Moriuchi Noriko/Public Relations General Manager, Prodrone
Landmines prevent people from living normal lives.
We hope our technology can provide a solution for detecting them in times of war.
00:10:15 話者 1
Ukraine's state emergency service estimates about 130,000 square kilometers of the country is covered in landmines, abandoned bombs, shells and other explosives.
There is growing interest in using drones to clear mines in Ukraine.
The country's defense ministry said earlier this month that specialists are being trained for such operations.
N.KOREAN LEADER KIM JONG UN OVERSEES AI CRUISE MISSILE TEST
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reportedly overseen test launches of an AI-guided tactical cruise missile and other projectiles.
It's claimed to be part of the country's push to enhance its nuclear and missile development programs.
The state-run Korean Central News Agency says launches were held Tuesday for the AI-guided tactical cruise missile and a tactical ballistic missile warhead.
It says tests were conducted to evaluate power and accuracy.
The AI-guided missile will be deployed to a southern region that contains the military demarcation line with South Korea.
The report claims the missile can precisely strike targets 100 kilometers away.
South Korean media outlets say Seoul and its surrounding areas could fall within its range.
Kim is quoted as saying the party and government remain committed to accelerating the strengthening of North Korea's nuclear and conventional force.
South Korea's military announced that North Korea on Tuesday had fired multiple projectiles, including short-range ballistic missiles, toward the Yellow Sea.
These projectiles are believed to be the missiles used in the test launches.
BUSINESS
Now, let's see what's happening in the world of business.
Ramin Mellegard joins us from our biz desk.
00:12:09 話者 5/Ramin Mellegard
Thank you very much indeed.
NIKKEI 225 MARKS INTRADAY HIGH, ERASES GAINS AT FINISH
Now, Tokyo's Nikkei 225 stock index on the big screen here hit an intraday high on Wednesday, topping the 66,000 mark for the first time, but it later erased almost all the gains on profit taking.
The benchmark jumped at the opening and rose more than 1,400 points or 2.2% at one stage.
Investors picked up shares such as semiconductor-related companies on the view that the AI sector will grow further. The index ended the day little changed at just below 65,000.
The broader topics closed 0.5% lower at 3,918.
Now, analysts say some investors are concerned about stocks overheating as heavyweight shares have pushed up the Nikkei.
It's at an all-time closing high for the second straight session on Monday.
BOJ CHIEF: NEED TO WATCH BROADER IMPACT OF OIL PRICE SPIKE
The Bank of Japan governor says central banks should focus more on the broader impact of rising oil prices, on the broader impact rising oil prices are having on the economy now,
Ueda Kazuo said there is a particular need to look at how factors other than oil price trends stoke inflation. Ueda spoke at an event hosted by the BOJ in Tokyo on Wednesday.
00:13:37 話者 23/Ueda Kazuo
Central banks should not look at oil prices in isolation.
The same oil price increase can have very different effects depending on wages, expectations demand for goods and services and exchange rates.
00:13:53 話者 5
Ueda said that even temporary shocks can become persistent if they lead to changes in wages, expectations and price setting behavior.
He offered some historical perspective.
He said Japan's first oil shock in 1973 led to a typical wage price spiral.
But he pointed out that the economy was already experiencing inflation at that time.
As for the crude oil spike between 2021 and in 2022.
He said Russia's invasion of Ukraine intensified pressures on commodities.
At the same time, Japan's price increases became broader due to a weaker yen, where they made no mention about future monetary policies.
But all eyes are on whether BOJ policymakers decide on an additional rate hike at their next meeting in June.
JAPAN GOVT., FOOD FIRMS DISCUSS MATERIAL SUPPLY DISRUPTIONS
Japan's government and the food industry are discussing ways to address the impact of the Iran situation.
Now, some food makers have changed their packaging as they face supply disruptions for ink and other materials derived from NAFTA.
The Agriculture and Economy Ministries hosted the first meeting on the topic on Wednesday. Representatives from the food, retail and restaurant sectors participated.
00:15:13 話者 25/Suzuki Norikazu/Japanese Agriculture Minister
We hope this gathering allows you to share information to help continue your operations and fulfill your responsibility to ensure a stable food supply with the government.
00:15:28 話者 5
Government officials noted that the lack of information on ink and other NAFTA-derived chemical items is disrupting a wide range of economic activities.
They said bottlenecks may exist in supply chains and that the agriculture ministry's regional bureaus would conduct probes when necessary.
The government plans to hold the information-sharing meetings once or twice a month.
JAPAN'S NET EXTERNAL ASSETS SLIP TO 3RD PLACE GLOBALLY
Japan slipped behind China to rank as the world's third largest net creditor in 2025, even as its net overseas assets hit a record high for the seventh straight year.
The finance ministry announced on Tuesday that Japan's net external assets at the end of last year grew 4.4% to more than 561 trillion yen. That's about $3.5 trillion.
Japan had held the world's top position since the 1990s until it was overtaken by Germany in 2024.
The figure is calculated by subtracting the value of assets foreign entities hold in a country from the value of those the country's government, companies, and individuals own abroad.
China's external assets increased as it continually posted large trade surpluses.
The net figure has grown to more than 630 trillion yen.
ANTHROPIC: CLAUDE MYTHOS AI MODEL FINDS 10,000 SOFTWARE BUGS
US tech startup Anthropic says its new artificial intelligence model, Claude Mythos, has helped find more than 10,000 software vulnerabilities.
Anthropic announced last month that about 50 partners, including major IT companies and financial institutions, would try Claude Mythos as part of a cybersecurity initiative.
It says most of them have each found hundreds of critical vulnerabilities in software, amounting to more than 10,000 in total.
Anthropic pointed out that human capacity to fix the flaws in software found by AI now creates a bottleneck.
The startup said it will work with critical partners, including US and allied governments, to expand its collaborative cybersecurity effort.
Anthropic decided against a general rollout for Claude Mythos out of concern it could be used in cyber attacks, but the company has provided the AI model to a limited group of businesses and organizations.
MARKETS
Okay, let's get a check in the markets.
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And that is it for business news.
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POLICE SEEK NEW SUSPECT IN FATAL ROBBERY IN JAPAN
00:18:41 話者 1
Japanese police have obtained an arrest warrant for a man suspected of masterminding a fatal robbery that occurred north of Tokyo earlier this month.
Investigative sources says the suspect, who is in his 40s, may have already left Japan for China and fled from there to another country.
Intruders broke into a house in Kaminokawa town, Tochigi Prefecture on May 14.
A 69-year-old woman was killed and her two sons were injured.
Four high school boys, who are all 16 years old, have been arrested for suspected robbery and murder.
Police later arrested a couple in their twenties, Takemae Kaito and Miyu of Yokohama City, south of Tokyo. They are suspected of giving instructions to the boys.
After analyzing seized smartphones, police believe that the suspect who fled may have instructed the couple, who were acting as handlers for the perpetrators.
Japanese authorities plan to search for the suspect in coordination with overseas law enforcement.
JAPAN FACES WORST MEASLES OUTBREAK SINCE 2019
Now, measles is surging in Japan, with nearly 500 cases reported through mid-May.
That's the fastest pace since 2019, which recorded the most cases in the past decade.
The Japan Institute for Health Security says 17 cases were reported in the weeks through May 17, bringing the total for the year to 498.
The institute estimates about 70% of the patients were infected in Japan by a virus brought into the country.
The WHO verified that Japan had eliminated measles in 2015.
Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that can spread through the air.
It causes fever, coughing, and rashes and can be fatal.
The health ministry calls for children to be vaccinated regularly.
It also recommends shots for people with infants who have not yet been vaccinated and for those whose work brings them into contact with travelers.
TINY, CHARMING FISH CAPTURES HEARTS AND MINDS
This tiny, charming fish, which can only be seen in spring, inhabits a stretch of coast in Hyongo Prefecture in western Japan.
Many divers come here hoping to catch a glimpse of it.
This time, we managed to capture footage of this rare creature.
00:21:09 話者 44
Takeno Beach is in the midst of spring.
Seaweed, a rich habitat for marine life, is thriving. New life takes fruit all around.
Divers gather from all over the country, and their main target is?
00:21:28 話者 46/Diver
Colors like red, yellow, and yellow green.
00:21:32 話者 47/diver
Aren't they tiny?
00:21:37 話者 4
Water depth about 7 meters. Looking closely, there it is.
It's only about 1 centimeter long. The round creature is not a good swimmer.
It uses its pelvic fins to attach itself to seaweed.
It's called the cherry blossom lumpfish, or Sakura Dango-uo in Japanese, because it appears in the spring blossom season.
It was registered as a new species in 2017. Tanaka Yosuke is a veteran guide of these seas.
00:22:32 話者 48/Tanaka Yosuke
Every year I feel that spring has arrived when the Sakura Dango-uo appear.
00:22:39 話者 4
But the seaweed that the fish inhabits has been declining rapidly, and the fish population has halved in the last 10 years.
Tanaka is working with the local aquarium on artificial breeding to protect the cherry blossom lumpfish.
Last year, the breeding program succeeded. They released 100 of them back into the sea.
About a year later, Tanaka visited the area where the young fish were released.
Inside the hole, There are many eggs. You can also see some that will hatch soon.
Near the seaweed are newborn fish. They're only two millimeters long.
The white markings on the head are called angel's halo by divers.
The halo disappears after about a month.
00:24:14 話者 48
I wonder if the fish born last year through artificial breeding have returned.
It makes me feel so happy. I want to continue to protect this rich ocean.
The lovely cherry blossom lumpfish's ecology has yet to be fully understood.
But it's a precious spring drama.
WEATHER
00:24:44 話者 1
It's time for a check on the world weather with our meteorologist, Jonathan Oh.
So Jonathan, it was cloudier in Tokyo Wednesday.
What can we expect in terms of rain on Thursday?
00:24:55 話者 6/Jonathan Oh
Hello. We have been seeing a little bit of a change in the weather pattern across Japan, a little cloudy in Tokyo, a lot wetter back toward the western portions of the country.
And it looks like that we're going to have to look for possibly some heavier rain into the southwestern portions of Japan as we go forward in time.
We'll be seeing the temperatures kind of backing off a bit as well as that low pressure system swings through and tries to drive a little bit of the cooler air in place.
Now plenty of rain also associated with that front back toward the west.
And as we look at the next 24 hours, yeah, we'll have that push of moisture kind of pushing out some rain up to the north as well, but in the meantime, you want to have the umbrella nearby.
Tokyo, 26, as opposed to seeing like 30. You know, we're seeing the temperatures on the way down, so we're looking at 26 as well.
Quick note, we now have a tropical storm that's east of the Philippines, and we'll have to keep an eye on that as the system tries to continue gathering stuff, moving toward the north and west.
We might be talking about impacts into southwestern portions of Japan as we go into the beginning of next week.
We're going to move over toward India, where we're seeing the heat before the southwest monsoon, and it's really making it hard for folks.
I want to show you some video that's coming out from the country.
As according to Reuters, rickshaw drivers were forced to cut their working hours in big cities because of the brutal heat, even though it would end up hurting their pay.
The heat wave is also triggering wildfires in northern mountains regions.
Reuters reported flames were seen spraying rapidly across forest land.
And now India typically sees an increase in forest fires as temperatures rise from mid-March until the rainy season begins in June with that southwest monsoonal pattern creeping in.
And we'll see raining down toward the south, up storms toward the north, but look at this 40s in a place like New Delhi, 42 in Varanasi, Hyderabad at 40.
And so the heat continues to roast a good chunk of South Asia and it will be like this for the foreseeable future.
Hope you stay safe wherever you are.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
00:27:35 話者 1
And that's all for this edition of NHK Newsline. Thank you very much for seeing this.
Checked.
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