Hello and welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Yoshikawa Ryuichi in Tokyo.
Musk to Co‑Direct US Study on Future of Warfare
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the entrepreneur Elon Musk will co-direct a government study on the future of warfare.
He says the team will examine what's needed to secure US military superiority.
Hegseth announced the creation of an autonomous warfare command.
It will be in charge of operations using drones and artificial intelligence to swiftly adapt to changes in warfare.
00:00:46 話者 11/Pete Hegseth
Drone warfare supercharged by SI-enabled targeting is the biggest battlefield revolution in generations.
00:00:54 話者 1
Hegseth also announced Project Meridian, an initiative to maintain military superiority by identifying the capabilities needed for technological dominance.
The project will involve experts from a range of fields, directors include Elon Musk and the founder of a US defense technology startup.
Hegseth directed the project to be completed within 120 days of its establishment.
He said American warriors will be armed with absolute technological superiority from under the earth to beyond the moon.
Trump, S.Korea Differ on Details of Energy Announcement
US President Donald Trump says South Korea has agreed to invest in energy infrastructure projects in the United States including a liquefied natural gas pipeline in Alaska.
But Seoul's account for the projects differs on some details.
00:01:50 話者 21/Donald Trump
Today we're thrilled to announce one of the largest energy infrastructure investments in American history thanks to the agreements my administration has secured with the Republic of Korea.
00:02:03 話者 1
He said the South Korean government has decided to invest in the construction of a gas-fired power plant in Texas and eight nuclear power plants in the US, in addition to the Alaska pipeline.
It's the first round of 350 billion dollars worth of investments Seoul has pledged to make in the US.
That's part of a deal clinched last year in exchange for Washington lowering its additional tariffs on South Korean imports to 15 percent.
But South Korean media are pointing to some differences in understanding between the two sides over the projects.
The South Korean government says it is still considering the Alaska pipeline project and a final decision is yet to be made.
Iran Conflict: Iran Receives US Response to Hormuz Reopening Plan
The Iranian government says it has received a US response to its proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran made the announcement on Wednesday.
Iran had put forward a seven-day plan for reopening the strait.
Officials from the US and Iran are holding a series of indirect talks with the help of Qatari mediators.
Iranian media outlets report that Foreign Minister Abbas Arachi presented the US response to President Masoud Pejashkian. Details of the response have not been disclosed.
But Reuters news agency on Wednesday quoted an official as saying the document describes a process for returning to an enhanced version of the memorandum of understanding agreed in June.
The report added the official said this includes concrete steps on Iran's nuclear program.
Netanyahu: Pilot Tried to Crash Israel‑Bound Flight
A flight from the United Arab Emirates to Israel made an emergency landing after it sent a distress signal indicating a possible hijacking.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a serious security incident.
00:04:14 話者 32/Benjamin Netanyahu
Almost all the passengers on the flight were Israelis.
During the flight, as they approached the country, one of the pilots stabbed the other pilot. He apparently tried to crash the plane with its passengers.
00:04:29 話者 1
Netanyahu said a passenger and a crew member restrained the attacker on the Flydubai flight.
He said other crew members entered the cockpit and managed to regain control of the plane.
The plane was diverted to Saudi Arabia and Saudi authorities took the attacker into custody.
According to local media, flight data shows the aircraft took an abrupt nosedive, descending more than 5,000 meters in about a minute.
Reuters has released footage filmed by a passenger.
00:05:05 話者 33
We are here in the plane now. We control the terrorists.
Whoever is hearing me, we need help. We are in the Tabuk area of Saudi Arabia.
00:05:15 話者 1
FlyDubai says all passengers and crew are safe and that the motives remain under investigation.
An Israeli official reportedly says the government is treating the case as a potential terror incident.
Burnham Hints UK Could Rejoin EU
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has indicated that his country could rejoin the European Union.
Burnham told the BBC on Wednesday that Britain's withdrawal from the EU has done more harm than good.
00:05:48 話者 41/Andy Burnham
The question is what do we do about that? And I'm not doing the usual politician thing.
I'm being honest about facing up to that and give people options that they can look at and judge.
00:05:58 話者 1
Burnham raised one option under which Britain would stay as it is.
He said another possibility would be rejoining the single market, allowing the free movement of goods, capital, services and people. But he added we could go all the way.
Last year, Burnham said he hoped to see Britain rejoin the EU in his lifetime, but he later indicated he would respect the result of the 2016 referendum that led to Brexit.
One opposition party leader criticized the latest comments, saying Burnham must stop with all the maybes and start negotiating a better deal for Britain today.
The BBC said a possible move to rejoin the EU could set up a huge dividing line at the next general election.
Business
And now for business stories, here's Ramin Mellegard.
00:07:01 話者 3/Ramin Mellegard
Thank you very much indeed.
Anti‑Customer Harassment Mandate for Japan Firms Takes Effect
Now, companies in Japan are required from October 1 to take measures to protect their workers from harassment or abuse by customers or business partners.
So-called customer harassment is defined as behavior that goes beyond socially acceptable norms.
It includes making demands unrelated to products and services, forcing workers to kneel and bow in apology, as well as intimidating them by shouting.
A revision of the labor policy promotion law mandates companies to respond firmly to such abuse and make their policies to protect staff public.
They are also required to inform staff of steps to be taken, such as not allowing a worker who's being harassed to deal with the situation alone.
Firms also have to set up consultation booths and provide psychological care for victims.
One possible penalty that companies which fail to implement measures could face is having their names made public.
BOJ: Sentiment Improves at Large Manufacturers on AI Demand
Business sentiment improved at large Japanese manufacturers in the three months through September.
According to the Bank of Japan, Tankan survey confidence picked up for the sixth straight quarter supported by AI-related demand.
Now, in the Bank survey released on Thursday, the sentiment index came in at +24 or up 2 points from the previous quarter.
A positive number shows more companies are optimistic than pessimistic.
The central bank polled about 9,000 companies.
Sentiment improved especially in the non-ferrous metals production machinery and electrical machinery sectors on the back of semiconductor demand.
However, sentiment at large non-manufacturers fell two points to plus 35 in the same period.
rising personnel and raw material costs, as well as bad weather dented confidence at retailers, along with accommodation and restaurant services.
Now, some respondents said A.I.-related and semiconductor demand is helping to support the economy.
Others voiced concerns about the prolonged Middle East conflict and rising costs.
For the three months ahead, confidence at major manufacturers is forecast to decline 3 points, is projected to fall 5 points at large non-manufacturers.
BOJ Summary: Pace of Rate Hikes Should Accelerate
The BOJ's summary of opinions from its latest meeting shows policymakers indicated the pace of interest rate hikes may need to accelerate.
They cited the rising risk of higher inflation.
The bank raised its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 points to around 1.25% at the meeting on September 18th that's the highest in 31 years.
The summary released on Thursday states there has been a shift in the phase of monetary policy one board member says the bank should shift from encouraging a rise in inflation and demonstrate to the market its determination to prevent upward deviations in prices.
Now, another board member said if signs of an upward deviation in prices are observed, the bank will need to accelerate the pace of rate hikes.
The central bank's next two-day policy meeting starts on the 29th of this month.
And the central bank's next two-day policy starts on the 29th of this month.
Just to repeat that.
China's National Holiday: Fewer Visitors to Japan Expected
Now Thursday marks the start of China's week-long holiday to celebrate the country's national day.
It's a period when hundreds of millions of Chinese travel, but the number visiting Japan is expected to decline due to worsening bilateral relations.
Now, this railway station in the southern city of Guangzhou was already crowded on Wednesday.
People appeared to have taken a day off ahead of the official start of the holiday week.
Many were heading back to their hometowns.
The Chinese government estimates that people will make more than 2.1 billion journeys during the holiday period.
00:11:32 話者 52
I'm heading to my parents' home to spend time with them because it's a long holiday.
00:11:38 話者 3
And China's major travel agency says popular travel destinations during this period are South Korea, Southeast Asia and Europe.
Now Japan was previously highly popular with Chinese tourists.
but is not included in the top list this year.
Chinese airlines have suspended services on several routes to Japan amid worsening bilateral relations.
And there were no exhibitors from Japan this year at a large scale international travel fair held annually in Guangzhou around this time.
Shifting a Quiet Town into High Gear
And Japanese automakers have carved out a unique position in the global sports car market.
They build machines known for sharp handling and great value cars for drivers who want thrills without the luxury car price tag.
Now, a museum showcasing rare Japanese models hopes to put fresh fuel into a region long linked with car culture.
00:12:42 話者 4
This building in Hiroshima Prefecture was an elementary school until it closed six years ago due to a lack of students.
Today the classrooms aren't filled with desks, but with dream cars.
Nine rare models are parked inside, including race-ready machines and a prototype that never made it to the showroom floor.
The museum is the brainchild of Kijima Takao.
He once worked as an engineer for a major automaker based in Hiroshima.
He helped develop the Roadster, or Mazda MX-5, a model that raced its way into the hearts of fans in Japan and abroad and celebrated its one millionth unit 27 years after its launch.
Because of Kijima's deep involvement in its creation, car fans affectionately call him Mr. Roadster.
00:13:44 話者 64/Kijima Takao
I hope to spread the word that the museum is a fun place.
We have to, in order to build a following.
00:13:52 話者 4
Kijima has filled the museum with tributes to his former boss, Hirai Toshihiko, who passed away three years ago.
Hirai defined the concept of the roadster as a car that's fun to drive, a machine that responds exactly the way the driver expects, as if car and driver share the same heartbeat.
00:14:17 話者 64
The fun of driving doesn't come from the body, engine or tires. It comes from the driver.
You can only feel it behind the wheel. Hirai wanted to make people feel that joy.
00:14:34 話者 4
Kijima's vision for the museum struck a chord with fellow auto enthusiast Sasaki Yoshiaki.
Not far from the school building, Sasaki runs a race track.
He has been organizing high-octane events for the past decade, hoping to rev up interest and draw more visitors to the area.
Sasaki and Kijima both see motorsports as a way to breathe new life into the region, and they've been tirelessly hunting down the rarest models to put on display.
Sasaki negotiated with Toyota to borrow this Celica Supra concept car.
00:15:25 話者 64
There are only two of these in the world and this is one of them.
00:15:30 話者 4
The two men are working on a plan to build a go-kart track on the former school grounds so younger car fans can also get behind the wheel.
00:15:40 話者 61/Sasaki Yoshiaki
We want to roll out more and more such plans. Our efforts will be worth it if we can see the gratitude of local people for contributing to the region.
00:15:52 話者 4
The shared passion of these two men and their drive to celebrate the joy of cars is helping steer visitors back to a community that once seemed to be running out of road.
Markets
00:16:05 話者 3
Okay, let's have a look at the markets.
♪
And that's it for Business News.
00:17:09 話者 1
Thank you, Ramin.
90‑Year‑Old Swimmer Chases World Record
And now, A swimming world record could be set in Japan this fall, but the athlete behind it isn't exactly a young new phenom.
NHK World's Akiba Utah reports.
00:17:28 話者 5
Powerful strokes. A dynamic, graceful motion.
Takahashi Heishiro has spent decades in the water owning these skills.
And at 90 years old, he's only getting better.
Takahashi has already broken three national records in Japan, but his latest goal is to break a world record in the 50-meter freestyle. He's just 1.1 seconds away.
00:18:12 話者 72/Takahashi Heishiro
I'm so happy I get to train with everyone here together. Even when it's tough and exhausting, I can push through and keep swimming beside them.
This is the medal I won when I set the Japanese record.
This one is from 2006, and that one is from 2001.
I've never counted them. I wonder how many there are?
00:18:38 話者 5
Takahashi learned to swim in a river as a child. He started taking the sport seriously after he retired from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force at the age of 53.
00:18:54 話者 72
Swimming is part of my life. I was always thinking about my times, times, times.
00:19:04 話者 5
These notebooks keep him motivated.
It's where he writes down the days he swims and the distance he covers.
His records began in 1980, 46 years ago.
Since then, he has gotten in the pool more than 7,800 times.
The total distance? 12 and a half million meters.
00:19:36 話者 72
I'd like to reach 15 million meters, maybe even 20 million somehow.
00:19:43 話者 5
His wife Fumiko, who's 86, is his biggest supporter.
For 70 years, she's played close attention to what he eats.
00:19:56 話者 74/Takahashi Fumiko
When he goes to bed at night, he's already thinking about what he'll eat for breakfast.
When he wakes up, he's thinking about dinner. He's always thinking about food.
I try to make sure he eats plenty of vegetables along with meat.
Preparing meals is quite a task.
00:20:19 話者 72
My wife works hard to make sure I eat well.
I think that's a big reason why I've come this far.
00:20:28 話者 5
Takahashi trains twice a week.
Sometimes he swims short distances as quickly as possible.
Other days, it's all about endurance, swimming a kilometer and a half in two hours.
He's always looking to shape just a little more of his time.
00:20:56 話者 72
If you're aiming for a Japanese record or a world record, even one tenth of a second is enormously important. The question is how to get there.
When I think about that, I know there's only one answer. Keep training as hard as I can.
00:21:15 話者 1
Well, Takashi says he wants to keep swimming and breaking records until he is 95.
And this November, he will aim to set that world record in the men's 50-meter freestyle at a competition in Morioka City.
Japan's New Foreign Labor Program to Start in April
A Japanese foreign labor program set to launch next spring could face difficulties due to a language proficiency requirement.
Schools and other institutions say they may struggle to meet demand from the program because of a lack of Japanese teachers.
The Employment for Skill Development program is scheduled to start next April.
It will accept up to 420,000 foreign workers over a two-year period.
The program will offer work in construction, nursing care, agriculture, and other fields facing severe labor shortages, but only candidates who meet Japanese language or study requirements will be eligible.
Applicants who do not pass proficiency tests will be required to take at least 100 hours of Japanese classes before starting work, and at least another 100 during the course of the program.
The Immigration Services Agency conducted a survey earlier in the year of about 900 Japanese language schools and other institutions.
Less than 30 percent said they could provide or would consider providing such courses.
The new program will replace the technical intern training program that was in place for more than 30 years.
The old scheme aimed to provide training to foreign workers so they could contribute to development in their home countries.
But some said the program was being used to fill Japan's labor shortages and was not meeting its actual purpose.
First Birthday Bash for Emperor Penguin in Japan
An emperor penguin celebrated her first birthday with gifts of ice in the shape of a heart at a Japanese theme park.
Emperor penguins are classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.
But 19 of the birds currently live at Adventure World theme park in Shirahama Town, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan.
"Yoyo-chan" turned one on Wednesday. Park staff celebrated the occasion with gifts of ice in the shape of a heart and the number one.
Park officials say the penguin weighed 295 grams when she hatched.
(Japanese)
00:24:18 話者 86/Omori Miho/Penguin keeper
We are very happy that she has grown so well.
00:24:23 話者 1
And "Yoyo-chan" could become a big sister.
Keepers are currently monitoring a fertilized emperor penguin egg, hoping it will hatch.
World Weather
Now it's time to check the world weather.
People in parts of the US confronted devastating floods triggered by former Hurricane Polo. Our meteorologist Yuumi Hirano has the details.
00:24:57 話者 6/Yuumi Hirano
After making landfall in Mexico, Hurricane Polo changed into a low-pressure system.
Even though the storm is not a hurricane anymore, it still keeps enough moisture to cause severe flooding in the United States.
The remnants of Hurricane Polo battered parts of New Mexico with heavy rain on Tuesday causing disruptions.
Many people in small towns in the state were forced to evacuate as dams filled and roads flooded.
Many cars were stranded on roads covered with water, while some highways were littered with debris.
The weather department says much of the flooding is expected to spread to nearby states later this week.
The system is moving eastward bringing thunder showers.
The wet weather is also expected in Chicago, Oklahoma City and Houston, but sunny skies are likely in Atlanta, Washington and New York.
The temperature in Washington will be 29, which is almost 10 degrees higher than usual.
Now moving to the Pacific, a new tropical storm formed on Thursday near the Mariana Islands.
The system is expected to bring gusts of over 100 kilometers per hour and up to 200 millimeters of rain. Flooding and power outages could be a concern.
The storm may intensify into a typhoon over the weekend and approach Japan's Ogasawara Islands, so people there should get ready for high waves and strong winds.
In the bigger picture across Asia, monsoon rains possible in Manila and Bangkok.
Cloudy and wet weather may return to Tokyo with a high of only 22.
That's it for now. Have a nice day.
♫～ 3-Day Forecast ～♫
00:27:45 話者 1
And that's it for this edition of NHK Newsline.
I'm Yoshikawa Ryuichi in Tokyo thanks for watching.
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