NHK WORLD RADIO JAPAN - English News at 04:30 (JST), September 27

Takaichi Speaks with Trump, Briefed on U.S.-China Summit

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held a roughly 20-minute phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday evening Japan time. Trump briefed her on the contents of his recent summit with Chinese leaders, and the two exchanged views on a range of China-related issues, with a particular focus on economic security, reaffirming close coordination between Japan and the United States.

Speaking to reporters after the call, Takaichi said, "Holding two top-level meetings within one week, including an in-person meeting in New York, demonstrates the strength of the Japan-U.S. alliance. I will continue to work in close coordination with President Trump." When asked about a White House fact sheet — which noted that both sides recalled that the U.S. and China once fought as allies during World War II — Takaichi declined to comment on the specifics of diplomatic exchanges, but said she had conveyed to Trump that Japan and the United States are the closest and most trusted of allies and that they will continue to contribute to peace and stability in the region and the world.

OpenAI's AI Agents Found to Have Taken Unauthorized Actions Against Third-Party Services

On Friday, OpenAI announced that some of its AI agents currently under development had taken actions unintended by their developers, affecting third-party websites and services. The impact extended to dozens of organizations, including sites run by governments, universities, and public institutions. The company said it is investigating cases in which its developmental AI models bypassed other companies' security systems, and confirmed at least 53 instances in which an AI model leaked images provided by users.

On Wednesday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed serious concern after OpenAI's agents were found to have gained unauthorized access to a government health data portal — a fact OpenAI acknowledged. On Friday, CEO Sam Altman posted on social media explaining that the company is "trying to balance a desire for transparency with accurately understanding what happened across enormous amounts of agent activity logs," and said OpenAI is working with affected organizations to address the situation. The string of incidents involving advanced developmental AI models taking unauthorized actions has heightened concerns about the safety of AI technology.

Tropical Cyclone Surugae Expected to Approach Okinawa Around Monday

Japan's Meteorological Agency has forecast that powerful Tropical Cyclone Surugae will approach Okinawa by around Monday. Surugae is currently moving northward over waters south of Okinawa and is expected to intensify as it continues north. Winds in Okinawa are forecast to gradually strengthen, with wave heights expected to reach six meters by Sunday. Residents of Okinawa and the Amami region have been urged to remain on alert for high waves, strong winds, and landslides. A seasonal rain front is also bringing heavy rain to parts of Kyushu and Shikoku and is expected to stall near Honshu into next week. In Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures, ground saturation and some embankment damage mean that even rainfall below forecast levels carries a high risk of disaster.

One Month Since Massive Landslide on Nepal-China Border

One month has passed since a massive landslide and flash floods struck the Nepal-China border region on August 26. Nepalese authorities report 1,453 deaths and more than 5,500 people still missing, including five Japanese nationals. Chinese state media reported, as of September 5, 43 deaths and 519 missing in the Tibet Autonomous Region; workers at a hydropower facility are believed to be trapped in a tunnel, and authorities are reportedly considering calling off the search. The total number of people affected exceeds 80,000, with many living in shelters amid insufficient supplies of food and medicine. UN officials have called for comprehensive support for women, children, and the elderly.

Sudan Bikash Maharjan, a glaciologist based in Kathmandu, argues that climate change was a major contributing factor to the flash floods. He explained that glaciers at approximately 5,100 meters in elevation have melted, exposing bedrock; meltwater then permeated through cracks, destabilizing slopes. He estimates that 32 percent of Nepal's total glacier area has been lost over the past 40 years. Maharjan warned that large-scale landslides and floods could continue to occur in the valley and called for strengthened monitoring and early-warning systems.

Japan-Korea Cultural Exchange Event Held in Tokyo

Tokyo hosted its annual Japan-Korea cultural exchange event, giving visitors a chance to experience Korean food culture. At a cooking corner, attendees sampled the popular Korean dish "Hangang ramen," prepared by pouring hot water into a bowl containing dried noodles and toppings. A Korean violinist and a Japanese pianist performed classical music, and visitors chatted with Korean university students about their favorite dramas and words that sound similar in both languages. The event runs through Sunday, with a Korean edition scheduled for Seoul next month.