Japan reshuffles cabinet, keeping key ministers while adding a JIP member.
日本は内閣を改造し、主要閣僚を続投させつつ維新系の新任を加えた。
Saudi Arabia halts oil loadings after a pipeline attack, raising global supply concerns.
サウジはパイプライン攻撃後に積み出しを停止し、世界的な供給不安が高まっている。
Middle East tensions grow as Houthi rebels expand control and China urges restraint.
フーシ派の勢力拡大で中東緊張が高まり、中国は自制と対話を呼びかけている。
Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Yamaguchi Hiroaki in Tokyo.
Takaichi Reshuffles Cabinet, Keeps Key Members in Place
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has reshuffled her cabinet.
She kept certain core ministers in place, but has also appointed a new member from her coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party or JIP.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Minoru unveiled the new cabinet lineup Thursday.
Of the 18 members, eight will remain in their posts.
They include Kihara himself as well as Finance Minister Katayama Satsuki.
Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu and Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro.
And for the first time, there is a member from the JIP.
Former Secretary General Nakatsuka Hiroshi has been named minister in charge of regulatory reform. Takaichi will address reporters Thursday evening.
She will likely explain her picks and discuss the future direction of her administration.
Reuters: Saudi Arabia Suspends Oil Loadings at Red Sea Port
Saudi Arabia has reportedly suspended oil loadings at a Red Sea port after an attack on a key pipeline. The move is adding to growing concerns about the global oil supply.
The country was forced to shut the pipeline which carries crude oil to the port of Yeombu after it was damaged in a drone attack last Thursday.
The pipeline had been used as an alternative export route to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.
And now, Reuters says Saudi Arabia has suspended oil loadings at Yambu.
This comes as Houthi rebels in neighboring Yemen ramp up their offensive against the Saudi-backed interim government.
The fighters have expanded their control of areas around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, an important Red Sea shipping waterway.
The Iran-backed Houthis said in a statement on Wednesday they had shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet.
They also claim to have damaged an oil-related facility in Yambu with ballistic missiles and other weapons. The Saudi side has not commented on these developments.
The closure of the pipeline and attacks on Saudi oil-related facilities are fueling worries that a disruption to global supply will drive up prices.
WTI crude oil futures remain above 100 dollars per barrel.
Reuters: US Met with Houthi Leaders
Meanwhile, US officials have reportedly held talks with the leaders of the Fouthis.
Reuters news agency quoted sources as saying that US officials met with representatives of the Fouthis at the US embassy in Oman's capital, Muscat, over the weekend.
The Fouthis side apparently said that it has no intention of attacking US vessels and it will not attack Israeli ships or other commercial vessels, excluding Saudi Arabian ships.
US news outlet Axios attributed sources as saying that Trump is due to hold talks with Gulf leaders.
They will reportedly meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly next Tuesday.
The talks are expected to focus on US ideas for a post-war strategy.
China, Iran Foreign Ministers Hold Talks
China's foreign minister has called on the US and Iran to hold talks and he's urged the two sides to remain rational and restrained.
Wang Yi made the remarks during a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Arakchi in Beijing.
China's foreign ministry said Wang expressed eagerness to develop relations between Beijing and Tehran.
He said China is willing to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with Iran to safeguard its legitimate rights.
Wang says China does not want Middle East tensions to spread to Yemen and the Red Sea.
He urged relevant parties to negotiate.
Arakchi said Iran does not want the fighting to continue and seeks a diplomatic resolution while protecting its interests.
He said Iran believes its memorandum of understanding with the US remains valid and Washington should fulfill all its commitments.
The meeting comes ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's summit with US President Donald Trump, set to take place in the US later this month.
It's believed that China aims to demonstrate its influence over the situation in the Middle East.
Business
Now let's see what's happening in the world of business.
Ramin Mellegard joins us from our biz desk. Ramin.
00:04:55 話者 2/Ramin Mellegard
Thank you very much indeed.
Investors Await Outcome of BOJ Meeting
Now, Tokyo's benchmark stock index moved in a narrow range, as you can see on my screen here on Thursday, as I saw mixed trading ahead of decisions at the central bank's policy meeting.
The Nikkei 225 closed out Thursday's session up 0.3% at 64,136, analysts say issues were bought across the board.
Crude oil futures somewhat stabilized after the recent surge, helping to lift sentiment.
But selling of semiconductor-related shares as traders' locked in profits trimmed the Nikkei's gains. The analysts say investors will now focus on Friday's BOJ meeting.
They will be paying special attention to what Governor Ueda Kaso has to say on the pace of future rate hikes.
BOJ Discusses Raising Interest Rate
Now, policymakers in Tokyo are also taking a very close look at inflation.
The Bank of Japan kicked off a two day meeting on Thursday.
They're considering hiking their policy rate from around 1% to 1.25%.
It's believed policymakers will confirm that underlying inflation is approaching their target of 2% as prices of food and other items continue to rise.
Now, concerns are growing at the central bank that inflation could climb well above that target.
And soaring oil prices stemming from the Middle East situation are one focus of attention.
Exchange rate trends affecting the yen and strong demand related to the AI boom are other factors.
The bank's last rate increase came in June.
Another one of this week could -- would mean
Another one this week would mean accelerating the pace of tightening.
Rate hikes earlier this cycle arrive roughly once every six months.
Raising the policy rate to 1.25% would put it at the highest level since 1995, more than 30 years ago.
TEPCO: Home Power Bills to Hit Record High in October
Tokyo Electric Power Company has told customers to brace for record-high electricity bills in October.
The latest jolt for household budgets comes as the government pulls the plug on energy subsidies at the end of September.
Operating firm TEPCO Energy Partner estimates that the average fee for home use will come to just over 9,300 yen or roughly $60.
That's up 12.5% from the previous month.
Now, the projection is based on import prices of fuel in Japan's latest trade statistics.
Costs of liquefied natural gas and coal used for thermal power generation are soaring due to the supply disruption in the Middle East.
The utility says the previous record high for bills was set in the latter half of 2022 when fuel prices surged following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Robot Prototypes Articulate Push for Domestic AI
Japan's robot developers have given a glimpse of the future at an event in Tokyo.
Startups and others showed their technology as part of a government push to promote domestic artificial intelligence.
Robots at the event imitated the arm and hand movements of operators through wearable devices. Visitors watched the machines move food and drinks and even hammer nails.
Now, developers aim to eventually power the robots with AI, allowing them to make their decisions and perform tasks.
The motion data collected from these prototypes will be used to help make that happen.
A government initiative to support the development of domestic AI is being led by the AI Robot Association.
Its chairperson, Ogata Tetsuya, says real-world data is extremely valuable.
00:09:15 話者 13/Ogata Tetsuya
In addition to AI models, a crucial focal point is using robots to collect data.
Companies have built the devices needed for this imitation learning
The next phase is evaluating them.
00:09:29 話者 2
Ogata added, It is important to create a framework that allows companies to share their learnings.
Markets
Okay, let's have a look at the markets.
♪
And that is it for business news.
Zelenskyy: Conflict May Impact East Asian Security
00:10:18 話者 1
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sat down with NHK in Kyiv.
He warns that the conflict in Ukraine could impact regional security in East Asia.
and he pointed to North Korea, which is boosting ties with Russia.
Zelenskyy says North Korea has sent tens of thousands of troops to join the fighting.
00:10:39 話者 24/Volodymyr Zelenskyy
It's a big problem because it was not expensive for North Korea just to send people
And they began to learn modern war where they can do it for today.
00:10:53 話者 1
He says Russia allowed North Korea to get wartime experience without big losses.
And he believes this has increased the regional security threat in East Asia.
Zelenskyy also refers to China.
He says he's never seen Chinese missiles, but he notes that many Chinese parts are used in missiles and drones.
He also criticized Beijing's diplomatic stance on the conflict.
00:11:19 話者 24
It's a pity that China is not on our side in this war.
Politically, even it's not about weapons, it's about political will and it's a pity because this war can be started and stopped immediately by strong leaders, including China.
00:11:44 話者 1
He says the problem is that they are not in the middle and they are a little bit more with Russia.
Zelenskyy also says he wants to cooperate with Japan on defense, including in areas like cybersecurity and drones.
China Defense Chief Warns Against Militarism in Forum Speech
China's defense chief has urged participants at an international conference to exercise what he called vigilance against militarism in remarks apparently directed towards Japan.
Defense Minister Dong Jun spoke at the three-day Beijing Xianxian Forum, which opened in the Chinese capital on Tuesday.
Senior military officials and experts from more than a hundred countries and regions are taking part in the event.
00:12:28 話者 34/Dong Jun
We must bear in mind the lessons of history and remain highly vigilant against any latent manifestations of hegemony, militarism and historical revisionism.
00:12:42 話者 1
Sources at the forum say Japanese defense attaches and experts from Japan's National Institute for Defense Studies who were invited last year were not asked to attend this year amid soured bilateral relations.
However, participants included North Korea's vice defense minister.
South Korean media report this is the first time in seven years that a vice ministerial-level official from the North has taken part.
China has been protesting a remark by Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi in the Diet last November about a possible Thailand contingency.
US Senator Sanders, MAGA Strategist Call for AI Controls
Left-wing US Senator Bernie Sanders and former Trump adviser Steve Bannon have appeared together to call for tighter controls on AI development.
US media say it's a rare show of bipartisan unity by the country's leading progressive voice and a major figure in the Trump movement.
Sanders and Bannon spoke at an event in Washington on Tuesday.
This comes amid ongoing debates in the country about AI safety.
00:13:48 話者 44/Bernie Sanders
The public has had virtually no input into the AI revolution that is transforming the world in which they live.
00:14:03 話者 1
Sanders added that virtually all the decisions on AI have been made by a handful of the richest people in the world.
Bannon served as chief White House strategist during Trump's first administration.
He remains an influencer figure within Trump's MAGA base.
00:14:21 話者 45/Steve Bannon
Obviously he and I have a quite different opinion of the president of the United States, but we're trying to raise above partisanship and we have to.
00:14:32 話者 1
The heads of major US AI firms have been urging for a slowdown in development and are pointing to a need for regulation.
But President Trump has dismissed these calls, saying the government can guarantee the safety of the technology.
EU to Limit Social Media Access for Under-15s
The president of the European Union says she will propose a bill on Thursday for member nations to restrict social media use for those under 15.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made the remarks in her State of the Union address on Wednesday.
00:15:06 話者 54/Ursula von der Leyen
Day and night, parents see the costs. Loss of sleep, anxiety, even self-harm.
And in a growing number of cases, even fatal tragedies.
00:15:21 話者 1
Under the proposal, social media will be banned for children under 13.
Those aged 13 and up to 15 are allowed to open only accounts supervised by their parents or guardians.
The proposal also says social media operators will be obliged to adopt safe design for those between 15 and 18.
Japan Mulls More Foreign Workers in Security Sector
Japan's National Police Agency has begun discussion of expanding opportunities for foreign workers in the security industry.
The security services law currently allows some foreign residents, including those with permanent residency and spouses of Japanese nationals, to work in the industry.
An expert panel will discuss the possibility of adding foreign workers under the specified skilled worker system and the employment for skill development program.
The panel, which includes a senior official at a security services association, a university professor and a lawyer, gathered for its inaugural meeting in Tokyo on Wednesday.
The group will discuss which security services can employ more foreign workers and develop a system that helps those workers build related experience and skills.
According to the police agency, the Japanese security industry faces a labor shortage and an aging workforce, with nearly half of its employees aged 60 or over.
In Focus
Japan's Senior Citizens Alive and Kicking
Close to one in three people in Japan is now aged 65 or over.
One of the biggest challenges facing them is how to maintain optimum health.
For some older people in one area of Tokyo, the answer appears to lie in kickboxing.
00:17:17 話者 5/Reporter: Chiba Ryohei/Narrator: Bill Sullivan
A gym in a residential area of Tokyo.
These fighters, working up a sweat, are all senior citizens.
(Japanese)
Namai Hiroki is a former pro kickboxer.
He opened this gym five years ago for all age groups.
There are about 150 members and half of them are over 70.
00:18:02 話者 6/Namai Hiroki
I always want people to go all out no matter how old they are.
If they do their utmost at all times, for me that's perfect.
00:18:12 話者 5
The key point Namai always emphasizes in coaching is don't let age limit your potential.
The basic training is mitt work, throwing punches and kicks nonstop for 90 seconds.
This is repeated for about 30 minutes.
Namai creates individual training programs based on each member's fitness level and physical strength. Even the height of the pads is carefully thought out.
This 76-year-old woman began coming to the gym last year.
She had been confined to her bed for a time with a herniated disc.
But after starting this training, her condition improved so much, she was able to go back to playing tennis again.
00:19:11 話者 64
The other older ladies are getting so energetic. It really inspires me.
00:19:17 話者 6
Sometimes we see how much a person can do, and we're happy when they see it too.
00:19:26 話者 5
Has a long background in kickboxing.
As a college student he took first place in a national competition.
After he retired he became a traditional judo therapist and nine years ago he opened his own clinic. A year later he received an unexpected request from one of his patients.
Could you teach me kickboxing?
It all started from there.
83-year-old Hidabayashi Saiko was that person.
At the time, her legs were troubling her, and she found it difficult even to stand up.
During visits to the clinic, Hidabayashi found out about Namae's former career in kickboxing.
But nervous he might say no due to her age, it took her half a year to pluck up the courage.
00:20:27 話者 65
After watching the way he worked treating me, I thought it would be okay to ask him.
When I did, he just said, Sure.
00:20:38 話者 6
It's no exaggeration to say that she changed my life. It was a turning point for me as well.
I am where I am today, thanks to her.
00:20:51 話者 5
Given the condition of her legs, she started out with punching only.
It wasn't long before she was able to try kicking, which requires balancing on one leg.
In just a few months, she was delivering powerful kicks.
After close to two years training, her legs had recovered enough strength for her to go out walking.
00:21:22 話者 66
I didn't usually do anything that involved lifting my legs, but as I kept it up, my whole body started to feel better. It's amazing. Maybe I'll be able to do a handstand.
00:21:39 話者 5
Namai is not just building up their physical strength, but also their courage to take a new step in their lives.
00:21:47 話者 67
It may sound strange to say at my age, but I've started wanting to get good at it.
00:21:54 話者 68
My aim is to stay strong so I can keep walking because I want to go on more trips.
00:22:02 話者 6
For many people, it takes courage to come in here, especially for older people.
Even I was nervous when I first started kickboxing.
So I think it must take even more courage for an older person.
I really respect that and want to be there for them.
00:22:20 話者 5
For the older people at this gym, it's about more than just kickboxing.
They also act as a support group for each other both physically and mentally.
For More, See Our Website and Free App
♫～
00:23:50 話者 1
Please do access the NHK World Japan website for more details on those stories.
♫～
World Weather
Now let's check out the weather. People here in Japan are keeping an eye out for a severe tropical storm which is moving toward Japan.
Our meteorologist Yuumi Hirano has all the details.
00:24:37 話者 7/Yuumi Hirano
You can see a circulating system on the satellite.
Storm Dujuan is now moving northward to the Ogasawara Islands, bringing gusts of over 120 kilometers per hour.
The system is expected to approach the Tokai and Kanto regions, including Tokyo, from Sunday to Monday. Strong winds and heavy rain could be a major concern.
But before the storm approaches, we have to monitor one more system.
A front is likely to bring downpours to Kyushu on Friday and Kanto on Sunday.
Many people may travel during the long holiday weekend, so please check the latest weather and also transportation updates.
Now moving to Europe. Long-lasting heat and dry conditions could make wildfires worse.
A massive wildfire broke out in the western parts of Valencia, Spain, on Tuesday.
Firefighters battled the blaze on Wednesday as the flames consumed hundreds of hectares of land.
Crew members, including military personnel, were deployed to take on the fires.
Firefighting strategies, such as defensive fire lines and vegetation clearing, were used to stop the flames from spreading.
A low pressure system is bringing showers to eastern Spain, but they will taper off on Friday.
Further east, a frontal system is bringing severe weather, including thunder showers and strong winds. Showers are also expected in Rome, Vienna and Warsaw.
But another storm will bring thunder showers to Istanbul with a high of 25.
That's it for now. Stay safe.
♫～ 3-Day Forecast ～♫
00:27:40 話者 1
And that's all for this edition of NHK Newsline. Bye for now.
checked.
NHK World
00:28:01 話者 99
This is NHK World Japan English Radio Service.
Here's a frequency notice.
The broadcast at 14 hours UTC for Southeast Asia is on 11.800 MHz Once again The broadcast at 14 hours UTC for Southeast Asia is on 11.800 MHz For more details of our programs
nhk.jp/rj nhk.jp/rj We're always pleased to receive your comments and suggestions through our website.
