It's a Wednesday evening here in Japan. I'm James Tengan in Tokyo.
Welcome to NHK Newsline.
3 Arrested Over Alleged Illegal Organ Transplant Deal
Japanese police have arrested three people on suspicion of illegally brokering an organ transplant in Cambodia.
The 3 suspects include Kikuchi Hiromichi, a former director of a non-profit organization supporting patients with rare diseases.
and Ando Takaki, an executive of an international medical consultation service.
The three are alleged to have arranged organ transplant surgery for a man in his 70s between November 2025 and this January.
They are thought to have received around $74,000 from the man.
Police say the man underwent blood tests and other examinations at a medical facility in Osaka before traveling to Cambodia.
According to investigators, the suspects asked the director of the facility to write a referral letter for the man to another facility in Cambodia and paid the director a fee in return.
Investigators say the letter was later sent to a Chinese medical team that performed the surgery by way of a Chinese coordinator based in Cambodia.
The man reportedly underwent a kidney transplant there in January.
Police have not disclosed whether the suspects have admitted to the allegations.
Hungarian Public TV Off Air Amid Post-Orban Reforms
Hungary's public TV broadcaster is temporarily off the air.
It's believed to be part of the new prime minister's bid to overhaul the public media.
The station's channels switched to a black screen on Tuesday.
A message says that public media must not lie and apologizes for having done so for so many years.
And it says the public media is undergoing a transformation to ensure it is independent and credible.
It comes after the new prime minister, Peter Magyar, took office in May.
He had vowed to reform Hungary's media landscape after defeating longtime leader Viktor Orban.
Observers say the Orban administration had long put pressure on media outlets.
Magyar says that's going to change.
In a social media post, he says, This marks the end of propaganda on public airwaves.
Some in Budapest welcomed the move.
00:02:30 話者 2
They have lied regularly to people for many years. They alleged untrue things.
The public media has become totally a party media financed by the money of the Hungarian taxpayers.
They only broadcast the messages of one party and they completely twist reality.
00:02:47 話者 1
The public radio broadcaster was also temporarily off the air.
US Attacks Iran, Revokes Oil License Despite Memorandum
The US Central Command says it launched a series of powerful strikes against Iran on Tuesday.
It says they're in response to attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM says it hit over 80 targets with what it calls precision munitions.
That includes Iranian air defense systems.
coastal radar sites, anti-ship missile capabilities, and more than 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps boats.
At the same time, the US Treasury Department says it has revoked a license authorizing the sale of Iranian oil.
It's effectively a reversal of the memorandum of understanding the two sides signed last month.
Speaking to NHK, a White House official reaffirmed that the memorandum is based entirely on performance.
and said Iran's actions in the strait are unacceptable and will be met with consequences.
But Iran says it is the US violating the memorandum.
Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Karibabadi says the strikes and the revocation go against the agreements.
And he issued what he called a serious warning.
He says Iran will take decisive actions to safeguard its national interests and security.
The news sent crude oil prices rising again.
The benchmark WTI futures spiked in New York on Tuesday, briefly topping $72 per barrel.
That's about 5%, up compared to the day before.
Trump Criticizes NATO as Summit Opens
Leaders of NATO have gathered in Tokyo, Turkey, rather, for a two-day summit.
US President Donald Trump expressed strong dissatisfaction with the group ahead of the meeting.
Turkish President Recep Terep Erdogan welcomed the leaders.
He hosted a banquet on the first day.
He also held a meeting with Trump before the start of the summit.
I was very disappointed with NATO.
And frankly, if it weren't held in Turkey, where my friend happens to be a very strong leader, a very strong person, I think it's possible that I wouldn't have attended.
Trump says NATO allies have failed to support the US in its conflict with Iran, and he spoke about the situation in Ukraine.
He says leaders on both sides want to make a deal and get it settled.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was invited to the summit.
He spoke at a defense forum on the sidelines.
00:05:27 話者 11
While this war continues, please help us get more air defense missiles.
This is our top priority right now. We are capable of doing everything else ourselves.
00:05:41 話者 1
He added that Europe itself needs effective anti-ballistic missiles and systems.
He's scheduled to meet with Trump on Wednesday.
Ukraine Strikes Russian Oil Refinery
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy's remarks come a day after the Ukrainian military announced that it had carried out a drone strike on a Russian oil refinery.
The attack took place about 2,500 kilometers from Ukraine's border.
highlighting its upgraded long-range attack capabilities.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces announced on Monday that drones struck the target in Oms Oblast, western Siberia.
It added that the facility is the largest refinery to be struck by Ukraine and that it supplies the Russian army.
The Ukrainian president asserted that strikes are inflicting heavy personnel losses on Russia.
He said nearly 28,000 Russian soldiers were killed in June alone, mostly by drone attacks.
Japan Seeks Stronger Ties With NATO
The Japanese government is seeking closer cooperation with NATO.
It made the call at a meeting of the alliance and its four Indo-Pacific partners on the sidelines of the summit.
Participants included NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung.
Japan was represented by Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu and Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro.
Ruta expressed hope to forge deeper ties with NATO's Indo-Pacific partners to effectively address challenges facing the international community.
Motegi said the security of the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions is inseparable, while Koizumi said the need for cooperation with the alliance is greater than ever.
The participants concluded their talks by agreeing to expand collaboration between NATO and the four partners in areas that include the defense industry and cybersecurity.
Japan, US, S. Korea Discuss China’s Missile Launch
Meanwhile, top diplomats from Japan, the US and South Korea also held talks in Turkey.
They shared concerns over a recent Chinese missile launch and agreed to deepen cooperation on regional challenges.
Japanese Foreign Minister Moteki Toshimitsu met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on Tuesday.
Among the topics were China's increasing military activities.
Beijing announced on Monday that its navy launched a strategic missile carrying a dummy warhead from a nuclear-powered submarine.
The three leaders agreed that their countries need to unite and keep demonstrating their strategic cooperation as the security environment is getting tougher.
They also reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait...
and exchanged views regarding North Korea.
The leaders confirmed they would work together toward its complete denuclearization.
People in Western Japan Remember Deadly 2018 Rain Disaster
Eight years have passed since devastating torrential rains struck western Japan.
More than 300 people lost their lives or went missing, including disaster-related deaths.
For those who lived in the hard-hit areas, it's important to honor those who lost their lives and pass on the lessons that came from the disaster.
NHK World's Kadotani Naohiro has more on this story.
00:09:14 話者 4/Kadotani Naohiro
A memorial service was held in a town in Eshime Prefecture on Tuesday, one of the areas hit hardest by the disaster.
Children laying flowers were only between two and four years old back then.
Many of them have little or no memory of what happened.
Iseki Megumi is among those working to ensure that the disaster is not forgotten by younger generations.
She was working at the civic hall when the rains struck and recalls how shocked she was to see the building engulfed by floodwaters.
00:09:56 話者 5/Iseki Megumi
At the time, all the facilities were flooded.
Water was moving around like a washing machine.
00:10:09 話者 4
Iseki held a tour for local elementary school students last month.
She explained the extent of the damage their town suffered.
00:10:21 話者 5
We want people to know how high the water reached.
That's why these markers are placed here, so residents can see it.
00:10:33 話者 4
Flood waters more than two meters deep inundated homes and businesses throughout the area. Markers indicating flood levels can still be seen across the town.
00:10:49 話者 5
I walked here at around seven in the morning on that day.
By then, the water was already up to my knees.
My home wasn't in a flood-prone area, so I had no idea something like that could happen.
00:11:04 話者 4
Iseki says she could have easily been swept away by the ranging waters.
By sharing her experience, she hopes children will understand that disasters can affect anyone at any time.
00:11:19 話者 24
I learned it's important to be prepared and talk with my family about what to do in an emergency.
00:11:26 話者 5
We hope such a disaster never happens again, but if it does, I want people to be able to take action based on what they've learned.
It's important not to let these memories fade away.
00:11:40 話者 4
Eight years after the torrential rains, an increasing number of people have no first-hand memory of the disaster.
But Isek and others remain committed to ensuring that its lessons are passed on to future generations.
Kadotani Naohiro NHK World.
00:11:57 話者 1
Naohiro, thanks.
Business
00:12:03 話者 1
Here with business and financial news is Ramin Mellegard.
00:12:08 話者 3/Ramin Mellegard
Thank you very much indeed.
Japan Pushes for Bigger Catches at Bluefin Tuna Conference
Now, an international conference on the management of Pacific bluefin tuna stocks is now underway in Nagasaki City.
Japan is pushing to expand catch limits as hauls of the prized fish surge.
Japan wants to expand the quota of bluefin tuna weighing 30 kilograms or more in the western and central Pacific by 25 percent.
The US and other countries have expressed their understanding of Japan's desire to raise this limit.
But for tuna weighing less than 30 kilograms, the US side is expected to call for a 20 percent reduction in the quota. Japan is hoping for a 6 percent cut.
Last year's conference did not lead to an agreement.
Now, Japan's bluefin Tuna hauls have surged this fiscal year and are already nearing the annual cap.
Some regions have been forced to suspend fishing or apply voluntary restrictions.
The conference will wrap up Tuesday.
Japan Household Spending Dips for 6th Month in May
Japan's household spending fell for the sixth straight month in May.
Government officials cited as one trend travelers becoming budget-conscious due to a weaker yen and higher fuel surcharges for flights amid the Middle East conflict.
Figures from the Internal Affairs Ministry show that outlays by households of two or more people dropped 0.4% from a year earlier, adjusted for inflation.
The average stood at just over 320,000 yen, or nearly $2,000.
spending on culture and recreation, including domestic and overseas travel, fell 3.1%.
In contrast, expenditures on furniture and household goods jumped 23% as consumers stocked up on petroleum-derived products such as wraps and plastic bags.
outlay on food took an upturn, rising 2.4 percent.
People increased spending on dining out and ready-made meals since May had more national holidays compared to a year ago.
Asahi Group Net Profit for 2025 Tumbles Due to Cyberattack
Asahi Group Holdings says its net profit for last year tumbled over 36 percent from the previous 12 months.
The beverage giant attributed the drop largely to a cyberattack last September.
The attack caused a system failure, forcing many factories to suspend production.
Output later recovered, but deliveries were limited because of the compromised system.
The company fully resumed shipments of all its products in April.
The turmoil also forced it to delay, announcing 2025 consolidated financial results until Wednesday, about five months late.
Revenue came to roughly 2.9 trillion yen, or around $18 billion.
That translates to a fall of 1.5% in yen terms from the previous year.
Net profit plunged over 36% to about $750 million.
Asahi said the costs of dealing with the cyber attack were more than $100 million.
Japanese Firms To Test Biodiesel for Long-Haul Trucking
Three Japanese companies have announced plans for long-haul test runs of biodiesel fuel trucks.
This comes as logistics firms are increasingly turning to the fuel as an eco-friendly alternative.
Truckmaker Isuzu Motors, autonomous driving system developer T2, and energy firm Idemitsu Kosan are involved in the project.
The test runs will begin this summer on a 500-kilometer-long route between Kanagawa and Hyogo prefectures.
The companies are looking to determine how biodiesel affects the fuel efficiency and durability of trucks compared to light oil.
The firms say thereby biodiesel is made from used plant-based cooking oil and other materials. There the fuel can help mitigate carbon dioxide emissions.
00:16:09 話者 6/Kametani Naoki/T2
We want to show that biodiesel is beneficial and broaden our network of partners in the logistics industry.
00:16:17 話者 3
A growing number of logistics firms in Japan have been adopting biodiesel.
Convenience store operator 7-Eleven Japan has been using it for delivery trucks in some areas.
The companies are now looking for ways to expand the use of the fuel in order to cut its relatively high costs.
Microsoft Pares 4,800 Jobs, 2% of Global Workforce
Microsoft says it is eliminating around 4,800 rolls, or roughly 2% of its global workforce.
An executive adds that engineering teams across the firm will evolve their structure and priorities to meet customer needs and innovate for the future.
The company on Monday released a message sent to employees by its Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, Amy Coleman.
She noted the job cuts were mostly at the commercial and Xbox units.
Competition in the home gaming console industry remains tough.
Coleman denied the jobs were being filled by artificial intelligence, but did say what is true is that AI is changing how work gets done.
Coleman also acknowledged that some daily tasks can now be automated, but she urged all employees to keep learning, keep building new skills, and keep adapting as the work evolves.
Startup’s New Solar Cells Could Power Snowy Regions
Generating solar power is a challenge in snowy areas due to reduced sunlight and blankets of snowfall. Now, one such region is the Sea of Japan coast.
But with the innovation of next-generation solar cells, local people are hopeful the development will become a game-changer.
NHK World's Takashima Hiroshi has more.
00:17:58 話者 7/Takashima Hiroshi
A pilot project for a new solar cell is underway in the Niigata Prefecture Office Building.
The project is the first of its kind, funded by the local government in regions along the Sea of Japan. The solar cells, called calcopyrite, are taped to the glass.
The panel weighs about 800 grams or less than one-tenth that of conventional units.
As you can see, I can lift up the panel with no problem.
It's also flexible and can be easily bent. Niigata is known for its heavy snowfall in winter.
With little sunlight and snow carpeting roofs, the area has been considered unsuitable for solar power generation. The new panels can be installed on walls and other surfaces.
It is expected that even light reflected of snow can be used to generate electricity.
Kuriyagawa Satoru is the president of the company that developed the cells.
He says their power output wibles conventional panels.
00:19:26 話者 26/Kuriyagawa Satoru/President, PXP
I don't think there's any other firm that's producing products at the same level as ours.
We're moving quickly on commercialization.
00:19:34 話者 7
Kuriyagawa founded the start-up six years ago with several other researchers.
Before that, he worked at a major company conducting research on solar cells.
But it was tough to compete with China, which holds a large share of the market.
00:19:58 話者 26
Even if we kept competing with Chinese manufacturers on cost, there was a limit.
Unless we develop a new type of solar cell, there is no chance to win in the market.
00:20:09 話者 7
Kuriyagawa and his team use titanium substrates.
This makes installation easy in various places.
00:20:20 話者 26
Since you can hold it like this with one hand, you can grab a few of them at once and climb up onto the roof.
00:20:27 話者 7
Another experiment is underway at this sawmill. Even on curved roofs and tent-style fabric walls, the panels can be quickly mounted, keeping installation costs down.
The electricity generated here is mainly used to power the plant's lights.
00:20:56 話者 27/Watanabe Kazunobu/President, Sakazume Seizaisho
Because they are lightweight, we can place a large number in a broad area.
That helps save energy, which will boost our profit.
00:21:09 話者 7
The pilot program will run for the next few years.
If successful, this innovation could bring new possibilities to Japan's snowy regions.
Takashima Hiroshi, NHK World.
Markets
00:21:26 話者 3
Okay, let's get a check on the markets.
♪
And that is it for business news.
Airport in Ishikawa Prefecture Gets Pokémon Makeover
00:21:59 話者 1
World-famous pokémon characters have taken over an airport in central Japan.
The area in Ishikawa prefecture was hit by a powerful earthquake in 2024.
Wajima City's Noto Airport has now been temporarily nicknamed Noto Satoyama pokémon with You Airport.
Walls inside the airport have been decorated with illustrations of 111 pokémon characters.
A restaurant in the facility will also offer a Pokemon-themed menu.
00:22:37 話者 32/Yamano Yukiyoshi/Ishikawa Governor
I hope many visitors from the greater Tokyo area and around the world will help give momentum to the recovery of the Noto region.
00:22:50 話者 1
Ishikawa Prefecture and the pokémon Review Foundation, which support disaster areas, say the airport is the world's first to have pokémon as part of its name.
♫
Weather
Typhoon Bavi is setting its sights on the far southwestern islands of Japan this coming weekend. Our meteorologist Jonathan Oh has a look at the situation in world weather.
00:23:36 話者 8/Jonathan Oh
Hello. We continue to keep an eye out on Bavi as it makes its way away from the Mariana Islands and toward the west, setting its sights toward the Shakishima Islands on the far southwestern portions of Japan.
And in the process, also kicking up the surf in the northern areas of the Philippines and enhancing the monsoonal flow as well. Now, here's a look at what we're expecting.
This storm is still quite large and has a very strong intensity.
And as it continues to move toward the west, it will be approaching places Ishigaki and Miyakojima as we head toward Saturday.
And so that's something that we have to be on the lookout for.
And also, like Taiwan, also going to be the size of the storm, so large that the center point.
It really doesn't matter as much as the fact that the whole storm is just going to be rolling right through the area.
And so we're going to have to make those preps now, so that by the time we go to Friday and Saturday, you want to make sure that you're already prepared as this storm continues to make its way.
I mean, it is quite a large system with all that energy with it as it moves toward the north and west.
Meanwhile, in other portions of Japan, the rainy season has wrapped up into the northern portion of Kyushu, into Kinki and also into the Chugoku regions.
And it looks like that the temperatures are also going to go up in the process as well.
We're going to be seeing highs moving up into the 30s as we go throughout the next few days.
Now, an odd effect of Bavi is the fact that it's actually pushing up the rainy season in front toward the north. So that's what we're going to see a little bit more in terms of rain.
Places like Hokkaido will be seeing some of the wet weather coming up as we go forward into Thursday hIgh of 26, so 31 in Niigata, also to Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka.
Sunshine is part of the forecast and you want to make sure, yes, it is summertime, but still make sure you take the proper precautions as the humidity will also be up in the process as well.
Broadening out the view, the remnants of Mesa continues to move to the northeastern port of China and in the process bringing some rain and thunderstorms into the area as we go through Thursday.
Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
00:26:15 話者 1
A sign that summer is really here, a crowd of people has paraded through Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto to deliver freshly caught hamo, or pike conger eels, as a shrine offering.
The event is part of one of the country's most famous annual festivals, the Gion Festival.
The procession was organized by a tourist association on Awaji Island in Hyogo Prefecture.
The event centers around the ancient tradition of delivering the prized seafood caught off the island to the imperial court.
About 100 people then paraded around Yasaka Shrine before the fish were offered to Shinto deities.
The participants prayed in the main hall in a purification ritual.
In the compound, hot pot dishes featuring the eels were prepared and served to visitors.
00:27:21 話者 39
It's really delicious. It gives me energy. I'll be able to get through the summer.
00:27:27 話者 1
The head of the tourist association said he hopes the long-established relationship between Kyoto and Awaji Island will persist into the future, energizing the Gion Festival.
And with that, we end this hour's NHK Newsline.
I'm James Tengan in Tokyo. Thanks for watching.
NHK World
00:28:01 話者 10
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