Here in Japan, it's a Thursday evening. I'm James Tengan in Tokyo.
Welcome to NHK NewsLine.
Breaking News: New Japanese AI Firm Adopts System With Nvidia Chips
We have breaking news on the US chip giant Nvidia and a new Japanese firm called Noetra.
NHK has learned Noetra plans to adopt a next-generation system powered by the latest semiconductors from Nvidia.
Noetra was set up by companies including SoftBank, NEC, and Honda Motor.
It aims to develop domestically produced artificial intelligence.
Business
Let's turn to Yuko Fukushima from our business desk for what he's doing here.
Yuko, give us a glimpse of what he's been up to.
00:00:51 話者 2/Yuko Fukushima
Yeah, thanks, James.
Nvidia CEO Expresses Gratitude for Sega's Early Support
The event was held jointly on Wednesday by the two companies in Tokyo's Akihabara district.
Demand for Nvidia's graphics processing units has been growing with the spread of artificial intelligence. Sega used Nvidia's GPUs in its popular games in the 1990s.
Huan said his firm had been struggling at the time.
He recalled getting through the crisis after successfully developing GPUs with Sega funding. Sega's vice president at the time, Irimajiri Shoichiro, was also at the event.
00:01:33 話者 13/Jensen Huang
Without Sega's funding, Nvidia would be out of business today.
I asked Irimajiri-san for his support, and he was very generous in doing so.
00:01:44 話者 2
About 70 gaming fans chosen in a draw were also there hearing the story of the close ties between the two companies firsthand.
In a separate event held earlier in Tokyo, Huang expressed the view that Japan is in an extremely advantageous position, able to combine manufacturing technology with AI.
Nikkei 225 Tumbles as Investors Lock In Gains
Japan's Nikki 225 stock index tumbled on Thursday as investors took profits from recent gains in semiconductor-related shares.
The benchmark ended nearly 2.8 percent lower at 66,835, its first fall in three days.
The decline came as South Korea's tech-heavy KOSPI lost more than 6 percent.
The Nikkei has been on a volatile downward trend since late last month.
It reached an all-time high above 72,000 on June 22 amid the AI boom.
Bank Of Korea Raises Rate For First Time Since 2023
South Korea's central bank has raised its key interest rate for the first time in three-and-a-half years to tackle the inflation stemming from the Iran conflict.
Policymakers at the Bank of Korea decided on Thursday to lift the base rate by a quarter percentage point to 2.75 percent. It's the first increase since January 2023.
The bank said the domestic economy has strengthened further, driven by the semiconductor sector.
It also said it expects inflation to remain elevated due to high energy prices.
South Korea's consumer price index rose 3.2 percent in June from a year earlier.
That's well above the bank's 2-percent target.
BOK Governor Shin Hyun-song said the board judged it necessary to maintain a policy stance in line with the latest rate hike to keep inflation in check.
He said the board will determine the pace and timing of further increases while taking into account inflationary pressure and the domestic economic trend.
Survey: Japan Households With Working Mothers At Record 81%
A Japanese government survey shows that the percentage of working mothers in households with children under the age of 18 has surpassed 81 percent, the highest on record.
The findings is from an annual survey of living conditions conducted by the Labor Ministry.
About 180,000 households responded to the survey last year.
The number of households across the country that have mothers with children younger than 18 years of age was estimated at around 8.7 million.
Of those households, more than 80% of the women are working mothers.
That's up 0.3 percentage points from the previous survey in 2024, and the highest since comparable data became available in 2004.
Of households with children younger than 18, about 3 million mothers worked as regular employees, up by 0.6 points from the previous survey.
About 3.1 million mothers worked as non-regular employees. That was down 0.9 points.
The ministry says the increase in the number of men taking child care leave has helped create an environment that allows women to continue working as regular employees and balance their careers with child care.
Japan Firms See Ink Shortage As Monochrome Opportunity
Instability in the Middle East is changing the look of products on Japanese store shelves.
Supply disruptions to chemicals for making ink forced some companies to switch from color to black and white packaging.
Yet some businesses are turning the challenge into an opportunity to develop new marketing strategies, including reuse of packages.
00:05:21 話者 4/Narrator: Carolyn Miller/Reporter: Takabayashi Akihiro
This discount retailer changed some of its private label packages in June.
It now uses white for the background and black for product names.
A standardized design has also been introduced across the range.
The company says this has cut production costs by as much as 7%.
For this 500 milliliter bottle of water, the savings have helped reduce the price by more than 20%.
00:05:53 話者 22
I'd been buying it before the packaging changed.
The black and white design feels a bit plain, but I'm glad the price is lower.
00:06:05 話者 4
But the simplified design also created issues. Customers said they find it more difficult to identify whether these ramen noodles are soy sauce or miso flavor.
00:06:19 話者 23
By focusing on a minimalist design with more white space, we've found it can be harder for customers to distinguish between flavors.
00:06:29 話者 4
The company is now exploring ways to make product features clearer, including larger flavor labels, while keeping prices unchanged.
00:06:38 話者 24/Nomura Yuto/Marketing Strategy Headquarters Manager, PPIH
The response has been stronger than we expected, partly because of the current environment. We'd like to continue the initiative while improving the products.
00:06:49 話者 4
Another company is rethinking the concept of disposable packaging.
This Japanese tea shop, run by a packaging maker, started a new service in June.
00:07:02 話者 25/Sunaga Fumiko/Deputy Manager, Yoshimura Package Partners
When customers finish their tea, they can bring the empty pouch back to the shop and we'll refill it.
00:07:09 話者 4
The benefit for customers who return an empty pouch is they receive 6 tea bags instead of the usual 5 for the same price.
This followed shortages of raw materials, such as naphtha, at the company's package manufacturing plant.
00:07:28 話者 26/Moriya Yuki/Deputy Manager, Yoshimura Package Partners
We've had to tell our business partners that we are unable to accept orders beyond last year's levels.
00:07:36 話者 4
The company says it turned its attention to reusing its pouches, which are durable and preserve tea quality.
The maker says the initiative wants support from customers, and it hopes to expand the service.
00:07:53 話者 25
It always seemed wasteful to use packaging only once.
The NAFSA supply issue linked to the Middle East situation was one trigger, but regardless, we'd like people to see reuse as one viable option.
00:08:08 話者 4
From simplified packaging to reuse schemes, Japanese companies are adapting to supply pressures with new ideas.
The question is whether these efforts to turn a challenge into an opportunity will spread more widely.
Markets
00:08:25 話者 2
Let's get you a check on the markets.
♪
That's the biz for this hour.
Iran Conflict: Standoff Between Two Sides Deepens
00:09:16 話者 1
In other news, the United States has resumed its naval blockade against Iran as the two sides have been trading fire.
US Central Command says it's redirected 2 commercial vessels that attempted to run the blockade.
CENTCOM says that a US aircraft disabled A Curacao-flagged tanker.
It says missiles were fired at the ship's smokestack after the vessel ignored multiple warnings as it attempted to violate the US blockade.
Footage posted on social media shows an explosion occurring near the tanker's smokestack with debris scattering in all directions.
This comes as Washington continues to put military pressure on Tehran.
CENTCOM says that the military launched a new wave of strikes against Iran on Wednesday. US forces have been carrying out attacks for five straight days.
President Donald Trump has been threatening to target Iranian power plants and bridges if Tehran doesn't resume negotiations.
00:10:20 話者 33/Donald Trump
I don't like giving deadlines, but they pretty much know, they know the story.
They better behave.
00:10:27 話者 1
But Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghay says they're now focused on defense and have no plans for talks.
00:10:36 話者 34/Esmaeil Baghaei/Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson
Since the beginning, we have said commitment in return for commitment, meaning we fulfill our commitments as long as the other side honors theirs.
The other side violated its commitments, and we, too, refrain from fulfilling ours wherever necessary.
00:10:57 話者 1
And Iranian media carried a statement from parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baghir-Galibaf. He says that there are no benefits.
If there are no benefits from the agreements, there's no reason to remain committed.
Iran Conflict: Japan Looks Beyond Strait Of Hormuz For Oil
Meanwhile, the head of Japan's petroleum industry group has expressed concern over the growing uncertainty in the region.
And he revealed plans to increase the procurement of crude oil transported without using the Strait of Hormuz.
Kito Shunichi said the UAE and Saudi Arabia are expanding pipeline capacity so crude can bypass the strait.
He said the two countries have asked the Japanese government to become involved.
00:11:43 話者 41/Kito Shunichi
If those routes can cover a significant share of demand, they would be vital for ensuring a stable supply.
00:11:52 話者 1
Kito said the association plans to discuss with the government ways to support the project.
Ukraine Targets 136 'Shadow Fleet' Vessels
Ukraine's top drone commander says his forces have been targeting ships in Russia's so-called shadow fleet.
He says the vessels are carrying oil and gas to bypass international sanctions.
He says they've attacked 136 ships in the 10 days of the operation.
Robert Brovdi is the commander of Ukraine's unmanned systems forces.
He posted on social media Wednesday the results of the attacks from July 6 to 15.
He says 116 vessels have been struck in the Sea of Azov and 20 in the Black Sea.
Those 20 include 17 oil tankers and two gas tankers.
He vows that Ukraine will stand firm and Moscow will fall.
Waiting For Aid In The World's 'Forgotten Conflicts'
The UN refugee agency is sounding the alarm, saying more needs to be done to help those forced to flee their homes.
In a report released last month, it estimated over 117 million people were displaced at the end of last year, many due to so-called forgotten conflicts.
00:13:09 話者 5
Life has not been easy for Najat Al-Darwani.
She and her four children live in the suburbs of Sana'a, the capital of Yemen.
For over ten years, the country has been torn apart by a bloody civil war.
Even now, clashes continue between the interim government and groups like the Houthi anti-government forces. Often, civilians are the ones paying the price.
Najat's husband, Mohammad, was killed by a stray bullet last year.
Things haven't been the same since.
Without a man in the house, it is difficult for Najat to find work.
She was forced to rely on her community to pay the bills.
But that, too, has run out.
With no way to pay rent, they were forced to leave the house they've long called home.
00:14:08 話者 52/Najat Al-Darwani
This house is filled with memories. Being forced to leave like this, it feels like hell.
00:14:19 話者 5
A U.N. agency estimates over 22 million people in Yemen, more than half the country's population, need some kind of humanitarian aid.
But international support is in short supply, and it has yet to reach Najat.
She now lives in an unfinished house.
Najat managed to pay one month's rent, with money she got from her acquaintances.
But after that, she doesn't know.
Without any prospects, she's waiting for the day they will be driven out.
00:14:54 話者 52
Please help those of us in Yemen who are forced out of our homes.
00:14:59 話者 5
A similar situation is playing out in Sudan.
Three years ago, the military and paramilitary began a grueling conflict.
The fighting continues in areas like the country's west.
The army recaptured the capital, Khartoum, last year.
But the fighting has left the country's infrastructure in shambles.
And while over 1.5 million evacuees are returning home, many are struggling to rebuild their lives.
Yasmin Abbas is one of them. She fled during the conflict.
But when she heard Khartoum was stable, she decided to come back.
00:15:43 話者 53/Yasmin Abbas
I came back because this is the only place I can live with peace of mind.
00:15:51 話者 5
She and her three children now live with an acquaintance near their old house.
They can't return home because there's no home to return to.
Her house caught fire during an attack, leaving it uninhabitable.
She dreams of rebuilding, but has no way to pay for it.
Yasmin used to lead children's activities like gymnastics.
But with the community destroyed, there's no demand.
and she hasn't found stable work.
00:16:24 話者 53
I'm right by my house, but I can't even remove the debris.
I want to go back to the home where I was born and raised, but it's hard.
I don't think I can.
00:16:44 話者 5
A UN official says over the past decade, international efforts haven't led to a tangible path forward.
00:16:55 話者 54/
We have this prolonged situation without a solution, which is obviously concerning.
At the same time, countries are decreasing their humanitarian aid contributions.
We are very worried about the future.
00:17:14 話者 5
With more than 100 million people still unable to go home, it has some wondering what the world's support is really worth.
Latest News Across Japan Across Region
Japanese Nobel Laureate Tonegawa Susumu Dies At 86
00:17:41 話者 1
The first Japanese researcher to win the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has died.
Tonegawa Susumu was 86 years old.
Tonegawa uncovered the mechanism of how the immune system produces various antibodies to fight viruses and bacteria. That earned him the Nobel Prize in 1987.
He was a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, studying the brain and how it forms memories.
He continued his research in neuroscience in recent years.
MIT says Tonegawa died on July 11. Miriam Heiman director of MIT's Picower Institute, where Tonegawa was a faculty member, posted a tribute on the Institute's website.
Hyman said Tonegawa was intellectually fearless and had what she called extraordinary creativity.
She said he opened new frontiers in immunology and neuroscience through his relentless pursuit of fundamental questions.
Hyman described Tonegawa's influence on science and on the people who worked with him as immeasurable.
Weather officials in Japan are warning of dangerously high temperatures across much of the country on Thursday.
Extreme Heat Extends Across Japan
The mercury has risen above 35 degrees Celsius in some places.
The Japan Meteorological Agency says temperatures hit 38.3 degrees in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture and 37.8 in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture.
Heat stroke alerts have been issued for 26 prefectures from northern to western Japan.
People are advised to use air conditioning, drink plenty of liquids and replenish salt.
Meanwhile, conditions are unstable in parts of the Kanto, Koshin and Tohoku regions due to moist air. Some areas could see localized heavy rain accompanied by lightning.
The meteorological agency is calling on people in the affected areas to be on high alert for sudden swelling of rivers, flooding in low-lying areas, and landslides.
Argentina Beat England To Reach World Cup Final
Now to the Men's Soccer World Cup.
Argentina has defeated England 2-1 to advance to the final for the second time in a row.
The defending champions faced England in the semi-final on Wednesday at Atlanta Stadium in the southern US state of Georgia.
The two sides were scoreless in the first half.
Ten minutes into the second-half, England's Anthony Gordon tapped in a cross from Morgan Rodgers for the first goal of the match.
But Argentina caught up 30 minutes later with a shot by Enzo Fernandez from outside the penalty area.
Argentina took the lead in extra time as Lionel Messi's cross found Lotaro Martinez.
His header scored the winning goal.
The defending champions are now one step closer to lifting the World Cup trophy like they did in Qatar in 2022.
00:20:58 話者 65
So much pride, because the national team teaches us every day that even when we're knocked down, we have to get back up.
00:21:06 話者 1
England had hoped to reach its first World Cup final in 60 years.
In London, supporters were left disappointed by the results.
00:21:16 話者 66
I think it's important we acknowledge as former players.
00:21:19 話者 67
I thought the goal was good from us, we did all right, but wWe defended so deep and it seemed like it was so inevitable what was going to happen.
00:21:28 話者 1
Argentina will face Spain in the final at New York, New Jersey Stadium on Sunday.
Sources: Japan's Sasaki Rintaro To Join MLB's Miami
NHK has learned that Stanford University's Japanese slugger Sasaki Rintaro has decided to join Major League Baseball team the Miami Marlins.
The Marlins selected the 21-year-old with the 235th overall pick in the eighth round of the MLB draft on Sunday.
Fukuoka Southbank Hawks selected Sasaki in the first round of the Japanese professional baseball draft last year.
His decision was keenly awaited.
And sources said Sasaki had opted by Wednesday to join the Marlins.
The slugger hit 140 home runs for his high school team in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan.
After graduating from high school, he went to Stanford, eyeing a chance to play in the major leagues.
Sasaki hit 16 home runs in league games in his second year at Stanford.
His powerful batting has won high praise in the US.
Sources say Sasaki is expected to hold a news conference soon to explain his decision to join the Marlins.
Weather Update
As we've been reporting here in Japan, weather issues are compounded by not only the heat, but also cloudbursts.
Our meteorologist, Yumi Hirano, walks us through this hour's weather update.
00:22:55 話者 6/Yumi Hirano
Daytime heating has been producing isolated thunder showers in the Kanto region on Thursday.
The probability of thunderstorms will get even higher on Friday, especially in Kyushu and Kanto Koshin. People could see afternoon or evening showers.
Intense downpours may cause urban flooding and affect the evening commute.
But before the showers, we may still face scorching conditions.
The highs will be 35 in Osaka and 32 in Tokyo.
Even Sapporo may see 32, the highest of the season. So please stay cool and hydrated.
Moving to the United States, moisture from the Gulf of Mexico has been bringing heavy rain to the Deep South and Texas, causing severe flooding.
Intense downpours struck southern Texas on Wednesday, forcing authorities to issue evacuation warnings.
Many streets and underpasses were flooded, leading to many rescues.
As water rose higher and higher, people were urged to evacuate to avoid being stranded.
Many homes and farmlands were surrounded by flat waters in the region.
A low-pressure system is expected to intensify downpours in Texas on Thursday, so people there should watch out for more flooding.
Thunder showers are also possible in Houston, Atlanta and Miami, but further north, hazy conditions are likely.
Smoke from wildfires in Canada is expected to spread into Chicago, Toronto and New York. But intense heat will be the biggest concern in Washington with a high of 38.
That's it for now. Stay safe.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival Reaches Climax In Fukuoka
00:26:22 話者 1
The grand finale of a centuries-old festival took place in Fukuoka in southwestern Japan.
Decorative wooden floats were raced through the streets for the most celebrated events of the Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival.
At precisely 5:059 a.m. to the sound of drums, the first float was raced into the Kushida Shrine precincts.
Seven teams carrying the heavy wooden structures later sprinted across the city while chanting "Oisa".
Buckets of water were thrown over them to keep them cool.
Cheering spectators lined the streets taking photos and videos.
00:27:13 話者 71
It was very good, very interesting.
00:27:17 話者 72
I feel like summer doesn't arrive until I see this spectacle.
00:27:23 話者 1
The Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival is over 780 years old.
It's designated as an important intangible folk cultural property of Japan and is part of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
This edition of NHK Newsline, I'm James Tengan in Tokyo.
For all of us here on the program, thanks for watching.
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00:28:01 話者 3
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