¶ Intro / Opening
From our studios in Tokyo, this is NHK Newsline. I'm Ross Mihorov.
¶ Japan's Final H-2A Rocket Launch
Japan's flagship H-2A rocket has launched for the final time. It successfully placed a greenhouse gas-observing satellite into orbit on what was its 50th flight. Vino! The H-2A lifted off from Tanegashima Space Center in the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima early Sunday. It shed its booster rockets and first-stage engine before placing a GO-SAT GW satellite into its scheduled order. orbit. The device can measure greenhouse gas levels and collect other kinds of data.
The H-2A has been Japan's flagship model and has carried satellites into space for over two decades. Its launch success rate is around 98 percent. The only failure was on the sixth attempt in 2000. But it has been phased out due to high launch costs. It will now be completely replaced by the H-3 rocket.
¶ Nagasaki Ceremony and US Fed
Israel's ambassador to Japan says he is looking forward to attending this year's peace ceremony marking 80 years since the U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. Gilad Cohen made the remarks. during a news conference on Friday at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan in Tokyo.
Describing the ceremony as important, Cohen said, This shows the respect of the Israeli people to the Japanese people in this very difficult moment of remembrance and mutual understanding of the importance of peace. Last year, the western Japanese city chose not to invite Israel's envoy to the annual event. Officials said they wanted to hold the ceremony in a peaceful and solemn atmosphere.
Ambassadors from other Group of Seven Nations also skipped last year's event. But this year, the city of Nagasaki has invited all countries and regions with representatives in Japan. Russia's ambassador to Japan, Nikolai Nozdryev, is also expected to attend the ceremony in August. Russia and its ally Belarus had been excluded since the invasion of Ukraine in 2014.
Britain's ambassador to Japan, Julia Longbottom, was absent last year, but during her visit to Nagasaki earlier this month, she also expressed her intention to attend. The United States may be getting a new chairman of the Federal Reserve sooner than expected. Treasury Secretary Scott Besson says President Donald Trump has indicated he will decide on the future of current Fed Chair Jerome Powell, whose term ends next May in the autumn.
Besant made the remarks in an interview with U.S. business channel CNBC. The president nominates the Fed chair from among seven members of its board of governors. The term of one of the members is coming to an end in January. Besant says Trump would first need to get congressional approval to appoint a nominee. to the outgoing board member's seat.
The Treasury Secretary criticized the Fed's monetary policy. He said it failed the American people in 2022, letting inflation get away when it should have been hiking interest rates sooner. He said the Fed may once again make a mistake by delaying rate cuts. When asked about himself standing as a candidate, Besant said he has the best job in Washington, but he will do what the president wants. you
¶ Myanmar Quake, Iran Nuclear Site
People in central Myanmar are still struggling exactly three months after a powerful earthquake. More than 3,700 people died in the disaster and thousands of others were injured. One of the hardest hit areas was the country's second largest city of Mandalay. Workers are sparing no effort to clear rubble and rebuild infrastructure. Many residents are living in tents and makeshift shelters. One survivor told NHK about how difficult it was trying to get by with her husband and two children.
life is really tough here we need financial help to rebuild our home we want to return to our normal lives as soon as possible The quake flattens scores of offices and factories. Smaller firms have been unable to resume operations due to a shortage of funds and workers. I need money to rebuild my factory, which was destroyed. I've had no income for the past three months and have been living off my savings.
The head of the United Nations Development Program in Myanmar says he is worried that international concern has waned. Myanmar, unfortunately, I refer to it as not a forgotten crisis, but I would call it a neglected crisis. Mitra is urging the international community to step up its assistance. U.S. firm Maxar Technologies has released satellite imagery of Iran's Fordo nuclear site that shows new activity around the area.
The imagery captured on Friday shows vehicles and equipment near holes believed to be craters from airstrikes. The vehicles and equipment were not seen in imagery taken last Sunday right after the United States bombed the site. The company says several excavators and bulldozers are seen moving dirt. It says efforts are underway to repair the main access road to the nuclear facility.
Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed victory on state television on Thursday. It was his first address to the public since the ceasefire with Israel was announced. Trump called the statement a lie in a social media post on Friday. He claimed he had saved Khamenei by stopping Israel or U.S. forces from killing him. Trump warned that Iran has to get back into what he called the world order flow, or things will only get worse for the country.
¶ Pandas Depart Japan, Heatwave
Four female giant pandas have left a theme park in western Japan for their new home in China. The pandas are being transferred from Adventure World in the town of Shirahama in Wakayama Prefecture. The contract for a bilateral joint conservation project is set to expire shortly. The pandas were not shown to the public on Saturday to ensure their well-being as they were put in cages. The operator of the park said they were in good shape and were munching on bamboo as usual.
One of the keepers who has taken care of the pandas for eight years said she has no concerns because the staff are closely coordinating with her Chinese counterparts. i feel so sad i can't believe those pandas are gone i miss them so much i hope they will do well in china Around 300 people, including staff and their families, gathered at the park to see the pandas off. They will be sent to a breeding facility in Sichuan province on a chartered flight.
Sweltering heat gripped much of Japan on Saturday with temperatures soaring to 35 degrees Celsius or higher, especially in western parts of the country. The hot weather is expected to continue on Sunday, prompting heat stroke warning. A daytime high of 36.4 degrees was recorded in the town of Akiota in Hiroshima Prefecture. The mercury reached nearly 34 degrees in central Tokyo and Osaka City.
Tokyo Fire Department officials say that as of 9 p.m. on Saturday, 43 people in the capital had been taken to hospital with symptoms of heat stroke. It's so intense, I feel dizzy. It's overwhelming. Whether I wear a hat or use a parasol, it's hot either way. Temperatures are likely to remain high, mainly from the Kinki to Kyushu regions in the west.
Heat stroke alerts have been issued for Sunday in prefectures in western Japan, as well as Okinawa's main island and Yaeyama regions. People are advised to take precautions against the intense heat. which is expected to continue for the coming month. Those were the stories for this hour. I'm Ross Bihara in Tokyo. We thank you for joining us on NHK Newsline.