Glad to have you with us on this edition of NHK Newsline.
I'm Raja Pradhan with the news from Tokyo.
37 Dead After Monday's Massive Quake In Philippines
Filipino authorities say at least 37 people are dead after Monday's massive quake.
The shaking struck the country south, leaving widespread damage in its wake.
The magnitude 8.2 quake on Monday morning caused buildings across Mindanao island to collapse. Authorities say rapid rescue operations are still underway.
Local media say over 400 people were injured and four people are still missing.
International airports and local universities in the city of Genela Santos were affected.
Infrastructure including electricity and communications were also impacted.
The Philippine Red Cross says it sent a support team to the area.
The region is now bracing for more potential shaking.
The country's seismology research institute says about 1,000 earthquakes have been observed there since Monday. They warn more tremors may be on the way.
Major Damage On Mindanao Island After Quake
And for more on the situation on the ground, NHK World's Jim Sonza traveled to General Santos.
00:01:21 話者 2/Jim Sonza
This is the area hardest hit by the quake. Here behind me is the building that collapsed.
As you can see, part of it toppled over into the street.
There was a radio station and a fast food restaurant inside.
Luckily, local officials say everyone evacuated when the shaking started.
Nobody was injured here.
I arrived in General Santos this morning. On the way, I saw several collapsed buildings.
Even the hillsides were affected. Some places still don't have power.
Local residents told me they've never experienced an earthquake like that before.
They seem shocked by the scale of it.
Right now, everyone is still on edge waiting to see if more quakes are coming.
Israel, Iran Pause Attacks As Trump Urges 'Stop Shooting'
00:02:21 話者 1
Israel and Iran have appeared to take a pause in their fighting after US President Donald Trump urged both sides to stand down.
This comes as Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon reportedly killed at least 10 people on Monday. The Israeli military has been warning people in the region to evacuate.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says it launched missiles at Israel in retaliation for its attacks on southern Lebanon.
Israel responded with strikes on targets in southwestern Iran, including a petrochemical plant. Trump has called on the two countries to immediately stop shooting.
He also reportedly issued a specific warning to the Israeli prime minister.
The US news outlet Axios on Monday quoted Trump as saying he told Benjamin Netanyahu if he went back to war with Iran, he might find himself fighting alone.
US Adds Baidu, Alibaba To 'Chinese Military Companies' List
The US Defense Department has updated its list of companies it claims are linked to the Chinese military.
New additions include Chinese internet search provider Baidu and e-commerce giant Alibaba Group.
Each year the Defense Department publishes a list of what it calls Chinese military companies operating directly or indirectly in the US.
The Pentagon is prohibited by law from engaging in transactions with these entities.
Along with Baidu and Alibaba Group, electric vehicle maker BYD was newly included on the list released on Monday.
A spokesperson for Baidu said the company categorically rejects its inclusion and will not hesitate to use all options available to be removed from the list.
Alibaba Group issued a statement claiming it is not a Chinese military company.
It also pledged to take all available legal action.
In recent years, China has promoted cooperation between military and civilian enterprises under a national strategy dubbed military-civil fusion.
Reuters news agency says the updated list could inflame tensions between the US and China, which it says are locked in an economic and geopolitical competition.
Sources: China Coast Guard Claims Jurisdiction In Japan's Eez
Sources say two Chinese coast guard ships sailing in Japan's exclusive economic zone near Okinawa last week said the waters were under China's jurisdiction.
They made the claim in response to a radio call from Japan's coast guard.
The sources say the ships entered Japan's EEZ on June 3 south of Yonagunijima Island after sailing east of Taiwan.
It's believed this is the first time Chinese coast guard vessels have made such a claim in the area.
The China Coast Guard announced on June 1 it would be conducting patrols east of Taiwan.
It said this was in response to Japan and the Philippines announcing the formal start of negotiations to define a maritime boundary in the waters.
Beijing said the move seriously infringed upon China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.
The leaders of Japan and the Philippines made the announcement on May 28.
Japan noted any resulting boundary agreement would not legally bind third parties or violate international law.
Bear Captured In City Residential Area North Of Tokyo
Next, officials in a city north of Tokyo say they've captured a bear that was running loose in a residential area.
Reports of bear sightings led to the closure of dozens of schools on Monday and Tuesday.
Officials in Utsunomiya say they received reports on Tuesday afternoon of a bear in the Higashi Yanase district.
Hunters tracked down the animal hiding in a bush and tranquilized it.
A team of officials and hunters have been searching the area since reports of a bear sighting first began Saturday morning.
Security footage from Sunday shows a bear running through a shopping street in the city center.
A camera at a dessert shop also captured images of what's thought to have been a bear.
There have been multiple other sightings as well.
On Monday, a bear was spotted near Utsunomiya's main train station.
No injuries have been reported.
Surviving A Bear Attack Urban Areas
00:06:40 話者 3
Japan had a spike in bear attacks last fall. Now bears are heading into urban areas again.
This bear doesn't run even in car lights. More bear attacks could be possible in the months ahead as their food supply drops in the summer. What can we do to protect ourselves?
If you inadvertently encounter a bear, do not turn your back and run away.
That could make the bear aggressive. Slowly step backwards while facing the bear.
If an attack is imminent, lie face down on the ground and cover your head.
Be particularly cautious in the early morning hours, as bears are active around that time.
Stay safe.
Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant
New Report Analyzes 15 Years Of Radiation Data
00:07:38 話者 1
Japan's nuclear regulator has released a comprehensive report detailing radiation levels in Fukushima Prefecture.
This comes just over 15 years after the devastating accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company.
The new data shows air radiation levels in about 70 percent of the prefecture have now fallen within the national range.
After the disaster, the Nuclear Regulation Authority used monitoring posts, drones and other tools to measure radiation levels in the air.
The latest data shows levels have gradually dropped over the years.
In July 2011, about four months after the accident, the radiation level exceeded 0.1 microsieverts per hour in about 90 percent of the prefecture.
As of December last year, the area that exceeded that level dropped to about 30 percent of the prefecture. The remaining area improved to within the national range.
00:08:41 話者 5/Yamanaka Shinsuke/Nuclear Regulation Authority Chairman
How the environment changed after the nuclear accident is a major question for residents. It is necessary to continue to carefully measure and monitor the changes.
00:08:55 話者 1
The authority believes the pace of decline in radiation levels was accelerated due to decontamination efforts along with favorable weather like rain.
Fukushima Report Shows Gradual Decline In Radiation Levels
And for more, I earlier spoke to NHK World's Kunitomo Mariko, who covers nuclear energy.
Mariko, can you first take us through this report and tell us what it means?
00:09:18 話者 6/Kunitomo Mariko
This is one of the most detailed reports we have seen from the Nuclear Regulation Authority about Fukushima Prefecture's air radiation levels.
It's over 200 pages long and breaks down data throughout the entire prefecture.
But what is most significant is what you can see in these maps.
It shows the difference from 2011 to 2025.
Radiation levels are measured in order of red, yellow, green, and blue, with dark blue being the lowest.
Measurements in July 2011 found that areas in red were spreading northwest of the plant.
Areas in dark blue were about 10% of the prefecture at that time.
As of December last year, there were no areas in red, and the areas in dark blue increased to about 70 percent.
That means that radiation level in many areas fell within the national range.
00:10:38 話者 1
Right. So a stark contrast compared to 15 years ago.
And Mariko, the authority has been compiling this objective data for a period of about 15 years. What did it reveal about the long-term pattern of radiation levels?
00:10:51 話者 6
One of the effects of the long-term survey was that it was able to analyze the pace of decline in radiation levels.
The amount of radiation drops naturally as time passes, but the pace of decline was faster than that.
Fukushima Prefecture's Governor, Uchibori Masao, welcomes the latest findings.
He says the report helps reduce harmful rumors in Japan and abroad by providing accurate information.
00:11:34 話者 7/Uchibori Masao
The report is significant in that it shows that people can live in Fukushima except difficult-to-return zones with peace of mind like the rest of Japan.
We hope to create an environment where this generation and future generations can live here with a sense of security.
00:11:56 話者 1
So, Mariko, what is the overall significance of this report?
00:11:59 話者 6
I think there are two main points to understand. One is that many areas in the prefecture are returning to the same environment as before the nuclear accident.
But on the other hand, even 15 years after the accident, there are still areas around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant where radiation levels remain high.
According to their analysis, about 20% of the areas in the prefecture, mainly about around the nuclear power plant, are expected to exceed 0.1 microsieverts per hour in 2041.
This indicates that it will take time for radiation levels to fall to the national level in areas severely affected by the nuclear accident.
Meanwhile, because there are still radioactive substances in the reactors, decommissioning work is still continuing at the nuclear power plant.
The operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, is required to manage safety for a long period of time.
00:13:25 話者 1
So what can TEPCO and other operators take away from this report?
00:13:30 話者 6
The Japanese government last year approved the strategic energy plan that called for maximizing the use of nuclear power.
Japan's industry ministry says the country needs to rebuild up five aging nuclear reactors by the 2040s to help ensure a stable supply of energy.
This is the first time the ministry has specified how many nuclear power reactors need to be rebuilt.
In the future, operators can reference this recent report to not only take thorough safety measures, but lessen on how to be transparent with the public.
Business
00:14:35 話者 1
We turn now to what's making headlines in the world of business with our Ramin Mellegard. Ramin.
00:14:40 話者 8/Ramin Mellegard
Thank you very much indeed.
Apple Unveils New Siri Ai Assistant Using Google's Gemini
Now, Apple has unveiled a major overhaul of its Siri virtual assistant for smartphones that uses Google's generative AI model.
The US tech giant said on Monday that Siri AI can tap into emails, photos, and other apps to answer questions and help users compose messages.
00:15:03 話者 9/Tim Cook/CEO, Apple
This, along with our other new features and capabilities, will help users get even more out of our products.
00:15:11 話者 8
Apple said its collaboration with Google means Gemini AI is powering the updated personal assistant system.
Apple had pledged in 2024 to revamp Siri, but it has lagged behind its rivals amid intense competition in the AI field.
Openai Says It Submitted Confidential Ipo Filing To Sec
Now, OpenAI says it has confidentially filed for an initial public offering with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
The developer of the ChatGPT AI model posted a statement on Monday.
It says the filing was confidential or not publicly available, but it decided to announce the move before it leaked.
The company says it made the filing as part of IPO preparations, but it adds that no date has been set for the share sale.
US media outlets have reported that OpenAI may go public as early as this fall.
The company has said it was valued at $852 billion at the end of March.
Several US tech giants are expected to sell shares to the public in 2026.
Elon Musk's SpaceX is set to be listed on the Nasdaq as early as Friday.
AI developer Anthropic is also reportedly planning a share sale this fall.
Japan, Uk Leaders To Meet On Energy Investment, Economic Security
NHK has learned that Japan and the UK plan to announce an economic security agreement at an upcoming bilateral summit.
Sources say the accord will include support for the rules-based economic order and cooperation in energy projects.
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae and her British counterpart Keir Starmer scheduled to meet in London on Sunday.
In an apparent reference to China, the leaders are expected to voice strong concern over the use of arbitrary export controls on critical minerals.
A draft document says the two countries will take necessary steps to counter economic coercion.
The document includes plans to expand cooperation in offshore power generation and research into next generation nuclear reactors.
At the same time, four Japanese companies, including power utilities, are expected to announce they will join seven power generation projects in the UK over the next 10 years.
Iran Conflict : G7 Agriculture Ministers Meet As Fertilizer Prices Soar
Group of Seven agriculture ministers have held emergency talks amid concern over rising fertilizer prices stemming from the conflict in the Middle East.
They issued a statement after the online meeting called by the current G7 chair, France.
The minister said the impact of the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz on fertilizer prices and value chains is of strategic importance for their farmers and global food security.
Japan's Agriculture Minister Suzuki Norikazu spoke to reporters after taking part in Monday's meeting.
00:18:20 話者 19/Suzuki Norikazu
We believe we have a sufficient supply of urea fertilizers, at least for now.
00:18:27 話者 8
Suzuki added that he will take steps to ensure that the supplies for next spring and after will not be halted.
Markets
Okay, let's get a check on the markets.
♪
And that is it for business news.
00:19:07 話者 1
All right. Thank you very much for that, Ramin.
Japan's Freeze On Foreign Workers Strains Businesses
Japan's halt on the acceptance of foreign workers with specialized skills on the restaurant sector has spawned concerns among other businesses, such as nursing care facilities.
Some say they may be forced to scale back operations if the flow of workers does not resume. NHK World's Kawaharada Akari reports.
00:19:29 話者 10/Kawaharada Akari
This nursing care facility is increasingly concerned about the latest development
People holding resident status under the food service category are also allowed to work in meal preparation at these facilities.
Japan's rapidly aging society has left them chronically short of workers.
And overseas staff with professional qualifications is indispensable.
Two Vietnamese employed at this facility came to Japan under the specified skilled worker program.
The program allows foreign nationals recognized as having a certain level of expertise and skills to work in designated sectors.
00:20:15 話者 14/Tran Thi Thuy
I'm happy when residents tell me the food tastes good. That motivates me to work hard.
00:20:25 話者 17/Hamanaka Toshiya/President and CEO, Shirayuri Care
We rely on foreign staff because Japanese workers are hard to recruit.
00:20:30 話者 10
On April 13, Japan halted the acceptance of workers in the restaurant services field.
This includes cooking and customer service jobs at restaurants and care facilities.
The government says the freeze came after the number of accepted workers was expected to reach the cap of 50,000.
The facility says the suspension has made it impossible to plan for future hiring.
00:21:03 話者 17
Demand from inbound tourism has boosted the restaurant industry, and facilities like ours catering to elderly homes are also facing labor shortages in food service operations.
00:21:14 話者 10
The suspension is also causing shock among businesses that introduce workers seeking jobs in Mie Prefecture.
Ota Arisa is a consultant for a firm in Indonesia that supports and dispatches individuals to work in Japan.
00:21:33 話者 4/Ota Arisa/Consultant
Some of these people have spent one or two years preparing.
If the path is suddenly closed off, they don't know what to do.
Many are in a state of panic. We received around 10 to 20 inquiries in just a few days.
00:21:48 話者 10
One of them is Brave David Mongi. After studying for three years, he passed the exam to obtain qualifications in the food service category.
But due to the suspension, he says he is no longer able to meet with Japanese companies.
00:22:09 話者 19/Brave David Mongi
I'm very shocked. I've been preparing for this for a long time, so I feel sad and surprised.
My biggest fear is that the rules could change again and I may no longer be able to go to Japan.
00:22:23 話者 10
An expert on foreign labor issues warns that if the suspension continues and no new workers enter the country, regional areas that depend on foreign workers could face rough times.
00:22:39 話者 13/Korekawa Yu/National Institute of Population and Social Security Research
No new workers are coming in and existing workers keep moving to urban areas.
It's important to look at the situation and understand the role foreign workers play in local communities. The system needs to be designed based on supply and demand.
00:22:55 話者 10
The government says there is currently no timetable on lifting the suspension.
Experts warn that unless the system is redesigned to provide greater predictability, the consequences could turn into a major loss for Japanese society as well.
Kawaharada Akari, NHK World
Former Yomiuri Giants Manager Referred To Prosecutors
00:23:15 話者 1
In other news, Japanese police have sent a case involving the former manager of the Yomiuri Giants professional baseball team to prosecutors.
Abe Shinosuke is suspected of assaulting his daughter, but attached to his file is a note stating the police do not believe Abe should be prosecuted.
The 47-year-old Abe allegedly shoved his 18-year-old daughter to the floor in their home in Tokyo's Shibuya ward on May 25.
Abe was arrested later in the day after a child guidance center notified police about the incident.
The daughter had called the center after reportedly consulting generative AI as to what she should do. The former manager was later released.
Sources say Abe allegedly assaulted his daughter when he tried to stop a fight between her and her 15-year-old sister. They say alcohol was reportedly detected on his breath.
Abe has admitted to the allegation saying he lost his temper.
Investigative sources note it was the only time the police have been contacted by the family.
Weather
It's time now for a check on the world weather with our meteorologist Jonathan Oh.
So Jonathan, it seems like clouds and rain are the main theme around Japan as well as in other parts of East Asia.
00:24:43 話者 5/Jonathan Oh
Hello, we are continuing to monitor the impact of the rainy season front that is around Northeast Asia, a front that's snaking its way south of Japan and all the way down to southern portions of China.
And it looks like that we're going to talk about the focal point of the rain really being over Okinawa as we go into Wednesday as a low pressure system rise along this front.
We're seeing a lot of that rainfall where some places can see 120 millimeters of rainfall in a 24 hour period. So we will be talking a bit of a wet weather pattern there.
Elsewhere, because of the front's proximity, places like Taiwan will be looking at some rain and even into areas south of Tokyo proper as we go throughout the day on Wednesday.
But Tokyo looking at a high of 22 with clouds. And clouds are a big part of the story here from Soho into Beijing as we go through Wednesday. So be on the lookout for that.
Meanwhile, we're talking about a real powerful storm that's near New Zealand and that's causing some problems when it comes to the water nearby.
Here's a look at some video coming out of Wellington.
A state of emergency was declared for the city on Tuesday as coastal residents faced a risk of flooding from high waves due to gale force winds.
According to Reuters, authorities urged hundreds of residents along the city's south coast to evacuate.
New Zealand's Met Service reported waves reaching more than eight meters along the coast of Wellington.
Rough seas forced the cancellation of ferry services between New Zealand's North and South Island.
The storm is making its way toward the east and away from the area, but still maybe dealing with the impacts of those swells as it goes today on Wednesday.
Looking back to the west, rain from Cairns down towards Sydney into Melbourne and the eastern portions of Australia and back wrapping around into Port Hedland as we go through the middle of the work week.
Quick note on North America, century portions of the United States dealing with some flash flooding problems and some stormy weather.
And we still have this complicated setup where a lot of warm air surging in from the south and colder from the north bringing some strong severe thunderstorm possibilities for the plain states 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
That's all for this edition of NHK Newsline.
I'm Raja Pradhan in Tokyo. Thanks for joining us.
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