It's a Thursday evening here in Japan.
I'm James Tengan in Tokyo. Welcome to NHK NewsLine.
US, Iranian Presidents Sign Agreement Ending Conflict
The White House says the agreement to end the conflict between the US and Iran is signed and in effect.
Officials say that US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeskian
inked the memorandum of understanding ahead of a planned ceremony on Friday.
A White House official posted a video on social media that showed Trump signing a copy of the document during a dinner meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.
US news outlet Axios is reporting both sides are still expected to hold talks at the Bergenstock resort in central Switzerland.
That's where the formal signing was slated to take place.
Vice President JD Vance will reportedly lead the US delegation, while parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baghir Khalibat will represent Iran.
A senior US official briefed reporters on the text of the agreement.
The official said it contains 14 points, including navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
The document reportedly says Iran will make its best efforts to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days.
Iran's media outlets quoted foreign ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghai as saying that Tehran will collect fees for services it provides in the strait.
He also reportedly said Iran has almost completed final arrangements with Oman regarding management of the straits.
Trump earlier touted the agreement as he departed the Group of Seven summit.
He said it will achieve all of his administration's goals and much more.
00:01:54 話者 2/Donald Trump
It's a memorandum of understanding. If it doesn't get done in 60 days, it's all right.
We go back to bombing. I don't want to do that, because it's so good.
But we might have to, because we're never going to let them have a nuclear weapon.
00:02:09 話者 1
Trump also says the final agreement could take longer.
But he adds that he's not concerned as long as Iran is complying with the terms.
Iran Conflict: Trump Says 'Nobody' Attacked Iranian School 'On Purpose'
Meanwhile, Donald Trump says nobody was intentionally behind the attack on an Iranian school, which reportedly killed more than 160 people.
Several reports have suggested the US military targeted by mistake.
The first day of the US offensive on Iran on February 28 saw a strike on an elementary school in the southern province of Hormuzgan. Most of the dead were reportedly children.
In early March, Trump insinuated that Iran was to blame.
But video analysis of the attack by an investigative reporting group and others said the US
military was responsible.
On Wednesday, Trump was asked during a news conference whether he intends to hold anyone in his administration accountable for the strike.
00:03:09 話者 2
As you know, that's under investigation.
It's such a strange question to be asked at this state, talking about a long time ago.
But And nobody did that on purpose.
00:03:21 話者 1
Trump also said that mistakes are made in wars.
He did not say who was responsible for the strike.
Finland Votes to Lift Ban on Nuclear Weapons
Russia's neighbor Finland has overturned its ban on nuclear arms.
The parliament passed a bill on Wednesday that would allow the country to possess, supply, import, or transport nuclear devices for defense purposes.
Finland's Defense Minister Antti Haakonen said in a social media post on Wednesday, This historic reform strengthens the security of Finland and NATO as a whole.
Finland joined NATO in 2023.
It made clear its intention to revise legislation on nuclear weapons imports, saying Russia's invasion of Ukraine fundamentally changed the security environment.
Finland's move comes as France plans to bolster its arsenal of nuclear warheads in an effort to expand nuclear deterrence in Europe.
Western media report that although the measure would allow Finland to receive and move nuclear weapons, the country has no plan to become a nuclear state.
Business
Here with the latest in business and financial news is Yuko Fukushima.
00:04:40 話者 3/Yuko Fukushima
Thanks, James.
Nikkei 225 Sets Record High Close for 4th Straight Day
Well, Japan's Nikkei 225 stock index closed at a new high on Thursday, setting a record for the fourth consecutive day.
The buying came on optimism, an agreement between the US and Iran will end the fighting in the Middle East.
The Tokyo benchmark rose 1.6% to end the day at 71,053.
The buying was broad based and included AI and semiconductor related stocks, as well as materials and construction.
Analysts say the overall mood was bullish, but some investors did sell into the rally to lock in profits from the recent rapid gains.
IEA Projects 'Significant' Oil Supply Surplus in 2027
The International Energy Agency says global oil supply will see a significant surplus next year following the US-Iran agreement to end hostilities.
But it cautions it will take time to normalize supply chains and remove mines from shipping lanes.
The IEA forecast released on Wednesday says supply will rebound by 8 million barrels to 110.3 million barrels a day in 2027. Supply is set to fall in 2026 due to the Iran conflict.
It says oil output and exports from the Middle East are expected to recover gradually if the deal to end the conflict holds.
The report predicts that a global oil supply glut will emerge next year.
Demand is projected to rise relatively modestly to 105.3 million barrels a day, or about 5 million barrels less than supply.
The IEA says this surplus may provide an opportunity to refill depleted inventories or build new reserves as countries review energy strategies in response to the conflict.
Japan's Shinkansen Operators to Offer Private Compartments
Japan's Shinkansen trains are set to offer private compartments for travelers.
Two operators of the bullet train say they will be running the service from October 1.
The Central and West Japan railway companies will provide the compartments on the Tokaido and Sanyo lines that connect Tokyo and Fukuoka.
A single occupancy cabin for a one-way trip between Tokyo and Nagoya will cost about 32,600 yen, or $200 for an adult. A compartment for two travelers will cost about $290.
The second occupant needs a basic fare ticket and a limited express ticket.
The operators plan to initially offer the cabins on about 12 trains per day and then gradually expand the service.
Japan AI Startup Aims to Marry the New With the Traditional
A Japanese artificial intelligence startup founded just five years ago is already valued at more than 600 million dollars.
Industry giant Mitsubishi Electric has invested about 30 million dollars.
We asked its young founder what's generating all the interest.
00:07:30 話者 4/Narrator: Kitadai Hiroko/Reporter: Miyoshi Tomoka
The Tokyo-based AI startup is known as Akari. It now has more than 400 employees.
The 26-year-old president, Noro Yuki, set up the company in 2021 when he was still a student at the University of Tokyo.
00:07:47 話者 5/Noro Yuki
Around 2018 or '19, I had a feeling that artificial intelligence was far more than just a cutting-edge technology.
I thought AI was a harbinger of an explosive change, like an industrial revolution.
00:08:02 話者 4
At the time, many tech companies were focusing on developing AI models.
But Noro turned his attention to how the new technology could be applied in everyday life.
00:08:15 話者 5
Whether it is Sony or Panasonic, leading firms have succeeded by incorporating technology in people's everyday lives or products.
So I thought customizing AI to make it easy to use in our life, work, or chores will be one of my winning strategies.
00:08:34 話者 4
This thinking led him to the construction industry. Its firms faced a severe shortage of workers and were being left behind in an increasingly digitalized world.
Noro saw an AI opportunity.
Akari started working with leading homebuilder Daewa House Industry.
Together, they developed an AI-assisted program for house plans last year.
The system uses AI to scan through about 2,900 layout options.
It then quickly provides ones that meet customer preferences, like room layout or lifestyle.
00:09:12 話者 6/Yamaguchi Tomohiro/Daiwa House Industry
The system allows young workers, as well as experienced staff, to make proposals equally, with greater accuracy.
00:09:20 話者 4
The second pillar of Akari's business is physical AI, or using the technology to operate robots or other machines autonomously.
Noro aims to tap the vast practical know-how in Japan's manufacturing sector to speed up the development of physical AI.
00:09:39 話者 5
Japan has a number of high-quality manufacturing facilities.
If we can collect their data and adopt them in physical AI, I believe we can create high-performance physical AI that will be valued globally.
00:09:52 話者 4
Beside business strategy and goals, Akari places high importance on employee teamwork and discipline.
In daily meetings, staff members chant company policies together, a practice that may seem unusual for an AI startup.
But Noro says a disciplined, focused organization is important for success.
00:10:22 話者 5
Enterprises in Japan that are recognized as superior companies not only provide good products, but are also known as excellent organizations.
They focus on what will benefit customers and commit to realizing it.
We are trying to implement these two elements to develop our business.
00:10:42 話者 4
The approach shows the young entrepreneur may be dealing with next-generation technology, But he recognizes the strengths of Japanese firms in previous generations.
Marrying the two is his strategy for success.
Markets
00:10:59 話者 3
Now let's get to the latest on currencies and stocks in the region.
♪
And that's the biz for this hour.
Small Mice Pose Big Problem for World Seabird Population
00:11:39 話者 1
A new project is hoping to save a pillar of our ecosystem, seabirds.
The animals play a key role in the food chain, but a problem on one remote island is threatening to wipe many of them out.
00:11:52 話者 7
Marion Island lies some 2,000 kilometers south of South Africa, partway towards Antarctica. Its only inhabitants are researchers and millions of seabirds.
The nature reserve is an important breeding ground. Take the wandering albatross.
About a third of its global population comes here to raise chicks.
But today, it's one of the 19 bird species on Marion facing extinction.
Now an ambitious conservation plan is coming together to save them.
00:12:27 話者 1
For more, earlier I spoke with NHK senior science correspondent Saito Motoki.
Motoki, can you start off by breaking down what the problem is on Marion Island?
00:12:40 話者 8/Saito Motoki
Yeah. Believe it or not, it's mice.
It's an invasive species that was introduced to Marion Island by people.
They have multiplied. And now these little creatures are causing a big problem.
Here's how one South African conservation group puts it.
00:12:59 話者 9/Mark Anderson/CEO, BirdLife South Africa
The Southern Ocean and the sub-Antarctic, there's very little land in the Southern Ocean, and it's an island which is 30,000 hectares in size, which is very, very important for seabirds. The mice fed on the vegetation and on the invertebrates, the insects.
Slowly they depleted the vegetation and the invertebrates.
And in latter years, they've started feeding on the seabirds, probably killing hundreds of thousands of seabirds a year.
00:13:26 話者 1
Sounds absolutely devastating. So, Motoki, they're attacking the actual birds.
00:13:31 話者 8
Yes, and not only adults, they're also eating the ticks, which, as you can imagine, is having a big impact on their population.
That's why there's now a plan to eradicate Marion's mice population.
Here's the idea. When the sea birds are out of season, six helicopters will fly in.
They will drop specially formulated rodenticide over the entire island.
The hungry mice should mistake it for food and carry it home.
It may sound simple, but it's a massive operation.
They came up with a plan after studying over 700 other cases.
Actual implementation is still three years away.
But if it works, it will eliminate the mice in one swoop and save the seabirds.
00:14:26 話者 9
This is the most important, one of the most important bird conservations.
projects in the world, because the island is 30,000 hectares in size.
It'll be the largest island from which house mice have been eradicated in one attempt.
00:14:41 話者 1
When you think about how huge and remote this island is, that sounds like a huge undertaking.
00:14:46 話者 8
It is, and that also makes it very expensive.
Conservationists are hoping countries like Japan will see the benefit and pitching.
00:14:58 話者 9
The seabirds on Marion Island don't only belong to South Africa.
They belong to everybody on the planet. They roam the oceans.
They fly hundreds of thousands of kilometers in their lifetime across the oceans as well.
So we need to work together.
So I'd like to encourage the Japanese people to support the Mousefree Marion Project.
00:15:17 話者 8
And it's important not to just think of it as someone else's problem.
Shivers feed on marine life, so they signal if something is wrong with our oceans.
A Japanese expert explained why that matters.
00:15:34 話者 10/Kawakami Kazuto/Regional Research Coordinator, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute
If climate change alters the amount of fish in the ocean, the food available to seabirds, this can lead to a decline in the seabird population.
By observing wildlife in nature, we can learn about risks we otherwise wouldn't have known about, even in places like the ocean that are difficult to observe directly.
00:15:58 話者 8
Seabirds are not bound by borders or continents, so our solution shouldn't be either.
Conservationists are hoping with enough funding, this plan they hatched will be a soaring success, instead of a lame duck.
Latest News Across Japan
More Names Added to Battle of Okinawa Memorial
00:16:34 話者 1
More names have been added to a monument honoring those who died in the Battle of Okinawa.
The southwestern Japanese prefecture saw some of the bloodiest fighting in the closing stages of World War II.
The Cornerstone of Peace in Itoman City features more than 240,000 names, including 95 installed on Thursday.
Officials say people from outside the prefecture are among the new additions, including one from the United States.
Itoman was the final battleground between the now-defunct Imperial Japanese military and US forces in Okinawa.
00:17:16 話者 11/Aharen Takao/Okinawa prefectural official
The lives of more than 240,000 people are commemorated here, especially for their families. We will continue working to inscribe more names to our monument.
00:17:30 話者 1
Names are added to the monument ahead of Okinawa's Memorial Day on June 23.
The exact number now stands at 242,659.
Japan's Emperor, Empress Attend State Banquet in Amsterdam
Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako have attended a state banquet held in their honor at the Dutch Royal Palace in Amsterdam.
About 200 people attended the event, hosted by Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima.
The king remarked that he's grateful for the deep friendship between the two families and the exceptional and enduring bond between their countries.
In his speech, Emperor Naruhito noted that bilateral exchanges have continued uninterrupted since they began in 1600, even when Japan adopted an isolationist foreign policy.
He added that this was due to the exceptional dedication and efforts of both governments and their people.
The emperor also referred to World War II, in which Japan and the Netherlands fought each other.
00:18:35 話者 21/Emperor Naruhito
We must always strive to be modest in learning from our past history, listen to the pains and sorrows of the people with compassion, and must pass on our tragic experiences and hardships to future generations, so that such sorrow is never repeated.
00:19:01 話者 1
The emperor mentioned Sunday's 2-2 draw between Japan and the Netherlands in the men's soccer World Cup.
He and Empress Masako watched the game on television with the Dutch royal couple.
00:19:14 話者 21
The game turned out to be an excellent match, and I must say, I was relieved by the peaceful result.
I am certain that the game served as an opportunity to inspire the people of our two countries and bring them even closer.
00:19:37 話者 1
The emperor and the empress will stay in the Netherlands until Saturday when they leave for Belgium.
Focus on Korea
Pushing the Boundaries of S. Korea's Iconic Gimbap
Gimbap is an iconic Korean dish generally known as a quick-casual snack food.
But recently, enthusiasts have been pushing its boundaries with unique local twists and creative takes on the classic formula.
NHK World's Kim Chan-ju brings us the story of a young woman at the forefront of this new wave of Korean food culture.
00:20:17 話者 32
Colorful rice rolls packed with a variety of unique ingredients adorn the stall tables at this local gimbap festival held near Seoul.
From grilled pork belly to water parsley, chefs let their imaginations run wild, bringing diverse flavors together in creative combinations not usually seen in gimbap.
00:20:43 話者 37
There are so many different types of gimbap. and it was fun choosing unique ones to try.
00:20:56 話者 32
Jung Da-hyeon came to the festival in search of new ideas.
She is a content creator and self-described kimbap curator.
Jung launched her social media channel five years ago after leaving her job during the pandemic.
She's now visited more than 800 kimbap shops across South Korea, cataloguing their unique takes on her favorite food.
00:21:23 話者 33/Jung Da-hyeon
I think the charm of gimbap is its versatility.
Depending on what ingredients you put in it, it can be expressed in truly endless ways.
That's why I think it's such a fascinating food.
I feel like each person's own standards and philosophy are embedded in their gimbap.
00:21:44 話者 32
Her years of evangelizing her beloved kimbap are starting to pay off.
Recently, she has expanded beyond social media and began organizing and operating her own pop-up events.
One event was a collaboration with a well-known shef centered around pairing gimbap with wine.
The goal was to challenge the traditional image of gimbap as just a casual snack.
The high-quality ingredients included abalone, beef tartare, and fried cutlass fish, flavors designed to pair well with white wine.
The unexpected combination was a big hit with customers.
00:22:36 話者 34
The nutty flavor of the kimbap goes really well with the subtle bitterness of the wine.
I'm really enjoying it.
00:22:43 話者 32
For Jung, gimbap is more than just food. It tells a story.
00:22:49 話者 33/Jung Da-hyeon
Each region has its own unique ingredients and specialties, and tasting kimbap made with those local ingredients has been the most fun part of this for me.
Through gimbap, I want to help local communities and bring enjoyment to even more people.
00:23:04 話者 32
Packed with local tastes and fresh ideas, kimbap continues to evolve in new and exciting ways, bringing diverse ingredients together in the search for perfect flavor harmony.
Kim Chan-ju NHK World.
Weather
00:23:30 話者 1
It's time for a check on weather with our meteorologist, Sayaka Mori.
Tokyo started off with rain today, but it has led up. What's ahead for Friday, Sayaka?
00:23:40 話者 44/Sayaka Mori
Hello there. Tokyo will likely see sunny and hot weather on Friday, so take advantage of the blue skies and get your laundry done.
On average, there are only six days of sunny weather during the rainy season, so it's very precious.
Right now, the rainy season band is located to the south of Honshu and is located over south areas of China. as well as southern areas of Kyushu.
Heavy rain has been pounding southern China especially.
I want to take you to the place to show you how severe the situation is there.
Powerful rainstorms battered coastal provinces in southern China, inundating many cities.
Footage shows that many buildings and vehicles were submerged as rescuers and boats evacuated victims. Landslides also knocked down utility poles.
It looks like the front has lifted to the north slightly.
So right now, areas like Anhui and Hubei provinces enter the rainy season.
So this area will mainly see heavy rainfall, thunderstorms in the forecast as well.
That will renew the risk for flooding as landslides.
And again, the frontal system will affect Japan and a low pressure system will reach South Korea. So rain is in the forecast in the country as well.
So Seoul could see rain, but hot weather will continue there.
Tokyo will see sunny weather and then the rainy weather and cooler conditions will likely return afterward.
And now in Taipei, you'll see a spell of sunny weather into next week.
Watch out for heatstroke, though. Taipei could see a high in the mid-30s almost every day.
Now let's go to India.
The monsoon boundary is struggling to make its way towards the north.
So we are still seeing some heat warnings in place in the mid portions of the continent.
So temperatures are very hot, rainy weather in the south.
And talking about heat, oppressively hot conditions are expected for the western areas of Europe once again.
On Wednesday, the high reached 40 degrees in Seville, about 33 in Paris.
The heat will even get even worse as we go into the next several days, 37 Paris on your
state.
That's it from me. Stay safe.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
White Baby Monkey Draws Crowds at Shizuoka Zoo
00:26:50 話者 1
One more item before we leave you.
A baby monkey is attracting visitors to a zoo in Shizuoka Prefecture, west of Tokyo, due to its rare color.
The baby primate was born last month to a pair of Abyssinian colobus monkeys.
The species of old world monkey is found in African countries such as Ethiopia.
Zoo staff say it's normal for the babies to be born completely white and then develop a black and white adult pattern by the time they're about three months old.
00:27:22 話者 56/Tachikawa Yoshiharu/Veterinarian, Hamamatsu Zoological Garden
Now is a brief opportunity for us to see it totally white.
And babies that age are so cute and active. I hope people will come and see it soon.
00:27:32 話者 1
The monkey's sex is still unknown. Zookeepers say it's healthy and growing well.
And with that, we conclude this edition of NHK Newsline for all of us here on the show.
Thanks for watching.
checked.
NHK World
00:28:01 話者 99
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