# NHK WORLD RADIO JAPAN - English News at 03:00 (JST), October 21

- Show: English News - NHK WORLD RADIO JAPAN
- Published: 2026-10-21
- Canonical: https://podc.club/en/episode/141016660_7e28b3fc636e.html
- Audio: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20261021030000_english_1.mp3
- Source: Edited from a machine transcript of the first 30 minutes of the episode. Not an official summary.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed U.S. engagement in brokering an end to the war in Ukraine, but President Trump publicly vented frustration at President Zelensky and suggested he should be replaced, deepening the rift between Washington and Kyiv. Ukraine is facing near-exhausted Patriot interceptor stocks and a sweeping blackout that left more than 500,000 households without power, intensifying a humanitarian and security crisis ahead of a harsh winter. Other stories include nationwide riots in France, cuts to UN food aid in Gaza, a cyberattack on Japanese firms linked to a Chinese AI system, and a wildlife crossing bridge set to open near Los Angeles in December.

## What this episode answers

### What position has the Trump administration taken on the Ukraine conflict, and what is the state of its relationship with President Zelensky?

President Trump has criticized Zelensky publicly, saying he could have had a far better deal if he had listened, claimed the U.S. has given Ukraine a great deal and received nothing in return, and again suggested Zelensky should be replaced. Secretary of State Rubio has separately stated the U.S. will continue doing everything it can to broker an end to the war.

### What security crises is Ukraine currently facing, and what is its top priority?

Zelensky has announced that interceptor missiles for the Patriot air-defense system are nearly exhausted, and a Russian ballistic-missile barrage damaged more than ten energy facilities and cut power to more than 500,000 households. He plans to meet U.S. officials in Norway to negotiate additional supplies.

### What triggered the large-scale riots in France, and how did the government respond?

Students and residents angry over rising prices and deteriorating school conditions staged weeks of protests that escalated into riots over the weekend, damaging more than 3,000 businesses; Prime Minister Sébastien Le Cornu called on local authorities to impose curfews, and Paris banned movement in certain areas from 11 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday and prohibited gatherings after 8 p.m., while the Louvre was forced to close for the day.

### Why did the UN World Food Programme cut food aid to Gaza, and how significant were the cuts?

WFP cut the number of people receiving food aid in Gaza from 1.6 million to 1.1 million this month because funding in 2026 has fallen to less than half the usual annual level; rations for those still receiving aid have also been reduced, with about 1.4 million people — roughly 70 percent of Gaza's population — facing severe food insecurity and around 200,000 in emergency need of immediate assistance to prevent death.

### What is the wildlife crossing bridge being built near Los Angeles?

The bridge spans Highway 101 about 50 kilometers from central Los Angeles, is approximately 76 meters long and 53 meters wide, cost more than $114 million to build, and is designed to reconnect the habitats of more than 45 mammal species including mountain lions; it is due to open in December this year and will be planted with more than 55,000 native plants grown from seeds collected within an 8-kilometer radius.

## Article

## U.S.-Ukraine Relations and the Prospects for Peace Talks

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States will "keep doing everything we can to mediate an end to the war," but President Trump struck a sharply different tone, publicly venting frustration at President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump said Zelensky could have reached a far better deal if he had listened, complained that the U.S. has given Ukraine a great deal and received nothing in return, and again floated the idea that Zelensky should be replaced.

U.S. media reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed holding a trilateral summit with the United States and China on the sidelines of next month's APEC summit in China. Trump said he had not agreed but was open to the idea, adding that nuclear disarmament would be the central topic.

## Ukraine's Security Crisis — Depleted Interceptors and Massive Blackouts

Zelensky publicly disclosed that interceptor missiles for the Patriot air-defense system are nearly exhausted, criticizing the Pentagon for delaying delivery of munitions that partner nations had already paid for. He said he plans to meet U.S. officials in Norway soon to discuss military assistance.

On the same day, Russian ballistic missiles struck in multiple waves, hitting more than ten energy facilities and cutting power to more than 500,000 households. Ukraine said it received no advance warning from partner nations.

NHK World correspondent Eri Takasu (高須絵里), reporting from Kyiv, said that access to a satellite communications service used by Ukrainian forces to counter Russian drones was partially restricted last week — a restriction that coincided with the large-scale missile attack. She reported that the word "betrayal" toward the United States is now being heard in Kyiv. Russia appears to be using the opening to press its diplomatic offensive, proposing a trilateral summit that would leave Ukraine on the sidelines while shaping the postwar order to Moscow's advantage. Zelensky is said to have offered to halt Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries for 30 days in exchange for a U.S. supply of Patriot interceptors.

## Nationwide Riots in France and Curfew Orders

Protests over the cost of living and deteriorating school conditions escalated into riots across France over the weekend. Prime Minister Sébastien Le Cornu called on local authorities to impose curfews. Paris banned movement in certain areas from 11 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday and prohibited gatherings and demonstrations after 8 p.m. Similar measures were introduced in Lille, Nice, and several other cities. Students blockaded the entrance to the Louvre, forcing the museum to close for the entire day. The government said more than 3,000 businesses have been damaged in the riots so far.

## Gaza: UN WFP Cuts Food Aid to 500,000 People

The UN World Food Programme announced it has reduced the number of people receiving food assistance in Gaza this month from 1.6 million to 1.1 million due to a funding shortfall. WFP has continued monthly food distributions since the Israel-Hamas ceasefire in October 2025, but contributions in 2026 have fallen to less than half the usual annual level. Rations have also been reduced for those still receiving aid. WFP said approximately 1.4 million people — about 70 percent of Gaza's population — are facing severe food insecurity, and around 200,000 are in an emergency state requiring immediate assistance to prevent death. Israel has continued military activity since the ceasefire, and many residents are living in temporary shelters.

## Cyberattacks on Japanese Firms — Chinese AI Involvement

A cybersecurity researcher at a subsidiary of GMO Internet Group published findings on a blog detailing cyberattacks against Japanese companies that resulted in personal data leaks. The attacks are said to have involved a Chinese AI system — reportedly the same AI identified as having attacked a South Korean financial institution at the end of last month. Targeted sectors included retail, logistics, insurance, and finance, with eight companies acknowledging damage in September and October.

## World's Largest Wildlife Crossing Near Los Angeles to Open in December

A wildlife crossing bridge spanning Highway 101, about 50 kilometers from central Los Angeles, is scheduled to open this December. The structure is approximately 76 meters long and 53 meters wide, at a total construction cost of more than $114 million. The region is home to more than 45 mammal species, including mountain lions and deer, but the ten-lane freeway — carrying roughly 300,000 vehicles a day — has split their habitat in two. Nine mountain lions were killed by traffic over four years, and inbreeding caused by restricted movement has been linked to congenital abnormalities such as kinked tails. Experts warn that without intervention, mountain lions could disappear from the area within decades. More than 55,000 native plants grown from seeds collected within an 8-kilometer radius will be planted on the bridge, with the goal of "stitching" the ecosystem back together.

## Takeaways

- Trump's public criticism of Zelensky and suspected satellite communication restrictions have deepened Ukrainian distrust of Washington, while depleted Patriot interceptors and a massive blackout accelerate the crisis ahead of a harsh winter.
- The UN WFP cut food aid recipients in Gaza by 500,000 due to a funding shortfall, leaving roughly 70 percent of the population facing severe food insecurity in an ongoing humanitarian crisis.
- A wildlife crossing bridge spanning Highway 101 near Los Angeles, costing more than $114 million, is set to open in December with the primary goal of protecting mountain lions threatened with local extinction through inbreeding.