Here in Japan, it's a Friday evening.
I'm James Tengan in Tokyo. Welcome to NHK Newsline.
Japan Introduces New Rules for Imperial Family Membership
Japan has taken a major step to reshape the future of the imperial family.
The Diet has passed a bill to revise the Imperial House Law, changing rules concerning both marriage and adoption.
It's the first revision to the main body of the law in more than 75 years.
The imperial family consists of Emperor Naristo and 15 others.
Under the original law, women leave the imperial household when they marry outside the family.
There are concerns that one day there will not be enough members to support the emperor's official duties.
Another issue is ensuring stable succession to the imperial throne.
By law, the throne is succeeded by a male child of the paternal line belonging to the imperial lineage.
At present, only three members are eligible.
Under the new law, female members will remain in the imperial family after marriage.
It also enables adoption of male descendants in the paternal line of former imperial family branches.
In addition to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party,
The bill passed the upper house with support from several opposition parties.
Those include the Democratic Party for the People, Komeito, and Sanseito.
A supplementary resolution was also adopted at both upper and lower house committees.
It calls for continued studies on ways to ensure stable imperial succession based on developments in the number of household members.
New Law Changes Imperial Rules for Marriage, Adoption
So what changes under the revised imperial house law?
Under one revision, women will stay in the imperial family after marriage.
But the law does not include a provision that grants imperial status to their spouses or children.
Current female members will be able to request to leave the imperial family upon marriage.
Another key revision concerns adoption.
The previous imperial house law did not allow the emperor or other imperial family members to adopt children.
But the new law enables adoption of male descendants of the paternal line of 11 former imperial family branches.
These branches lost their imperial status in 1947, and descendants now live as ordinary citizens.
Adoptees must be 15 or older, unmarried and childless.
They would not be able to succeed to the throne, but their male offspring would be eligible.
Opinion Divided on Imperial Family Rule Changes
For a closer look at what all of this means, I spoke earlier with our senior political correspondent, Oikawa Jun.
So Jun, this seems to be a pretty significant change for such a historic institution.
How is the public reacting?
00:03:14 話者 2
My impression is that this law was passed quite quickly before real agreement was reached.
NHK conducted a public opinion poll earlier this month asking whether people thought that imperial house law should be amended during the current diet session.
38% of respondents answered that it should.
41% answered that there is no need to amend it.
So there still seems to be a division of opinion among the public.
00:03:48 話者 1
What have been the main points of debate?
00:03:51 話者 2
One of the key issues has been the role of female members of the imperial family.
These women have many roles, such as visiting areas hit by disasters, international goodwill trips, and attendance at public events.
People have a lot of interest in them, and the media cover their activities extensively.
The rule change that would keep them in the imperial household after marriage has strong public support.
But opinion is divided on the nature of the families these newly married women would establish.
Under the new system, they retain their status as members of the imperial family,
but their spouse and children stay commoners.
In other words, both imperial family members and ordinary citizens would exist within the same household.
Public opinion polls have shown divided views on this.
And another big point of contention has been whether to allow a female emperor.
Some opposition parties argued that would ensure stable imperial succession.
But for now, it's still only men that can inherit the throne.
00:05:13 話者 1
Jung, there's also the new provision for adopting male descendants of former imperial branches.
How is this being received?
00:05:21 話者 2
Public opinion is quite divided on this one.
And one former imperial family member also feels that it could be difficult for otherwise ordinary citizens to enter the imperial family in this manner.
00:05:39 話者 3
Those eligible for adoption are essentially just ordinary people.
They are pursuing their own dreams and trying to realize them.
Can they adapt to a life that would be flipped 180 degrees?
I wonder whether there are really people who would return to the imperial family and become loved by the public.
00:06:20 話者 1
So, Jun, given all of that division of opinion, why was the bill passed so quickly?
00:06:26 話者 2
One reason may be Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae's political power.
She really solidified her grip on the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in her landslide victory in this February's general election.
Some veteran LDP lawmakers did criticize the bill, but they were effectively drowned out.
The main deliberations on the amendments only lasted about three hours, each in both the lower and upper house committees.
That is an extremely short amount of time for such a major bill.
But the opposition parties had to concede it.
So while the bill has now passed, it's clear that there are still a lot of disagreements, both among politicians and the public.
Ultimately, it will be up to future generations to judge whether this law reshapes the relationship between the imperial family and the Japanese people for the better.
Japan's Diet Enacts Bill to Punish Desecration of Flag
00:07:28 話者 1
The Japanese Diet has also passed a bill to penalize the act of damaging the national flag.
It was approved Friday at a plenary session of the upper house.
The bill was sponsored by the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic and Japan Innovation Parties,
plus the Democratic Party for the People and Sanseito.
The law defines the flag as a tangible object that's socially accepted as being used as the national flag.
Publicly damaging, removing, or defacing the flag in a manner arousing significant discomfort or disgust can be punished with up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 200,000 yen.
That's about $1,230 dollars.
The law says whether the act in question is a violation will be decided by objectively studying the act itself and the surrounding situation.
It also says consideration is required so as not to unjustly infringe on people's constitutionally guaranteed freedom and rights, including freedom of speech.
A supplementary resolution was passed by the cabinet committees of both chambers.
It calls on the government to publicize the aim and content of the law.
So it will not lead to suppression of political comment or artistic expression.
US to Limit Student Visas to 4 Years
Foreign students in the United States have been told the clock is ticking.
Previously, they could stay in the country as long as they were enrolled in classes.
Now the Trump administration will limit student visas to four years.
The Department of Homeland Security says the aim is to address the spike in the number of students from abroad, as well as those who use their visa status to stay in the country for decades.
The head of the department, Markwayne Mullen, says the rule allows the US to properly screen, vet, and monitor people in the country.
He adds that foreign students should remain focused on, quote, completing their studies and returning home.
A group that supports foreign students says this sends the message that the US is becoming less welcoming.
It says as global competition for talent heats up, the policy harms innovation and economic growth in the US.
Foreign members of the media will also see their visas restricted to 240 days, which is about eight months.
The new limits go into effect in September.
Pentagon Announces Annual Testosterone Screening in Military
The US Department of Defense has announced it will mandate testosterone level checks for its military personnel.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the move would optimize the performance and long-term health of combat troops.
00:10:23 話者 2
We owe our warriors the absolute best medical care in the world, and this program delivers on that obligation.
00:10:31 話者 1
The screening program announced by the Pentagon on Wednesday will apply to service members aged 30 years and older
as part of annual health assessments.
Those found to have low levels of testosterone will be given the choice to receive treatment.
The department did not say if testing will apply to service women.
The US Air Force's medical department has been warning on its website since 2013 that higher levels of the hormone do not necessarily lead to better performance.
It goes on to say that tinkering with testosterone levels by taking supplements and steroids could cause serious side effects.
Iran Conflict Reports: US Hits Bridges, Airport on Sixth Day of Strikes
Hostilities continue to escalate between the US and Iran.
US Central Command says it completed its sixth straight day of strikes.
CENTCOM said Thursday it hit dozens of Iranian military targets.
That includes logistical infrastructure as well as coastal surveillance and air defense sites.
Multiple Iranian media outlets have reported on the attacks.
They say there were a series of strikes across the country through Friday.
Five bridges in the south were reportedly attacked, killing seven.
And reports say an airport in the southeast was hit by missiles.
Iran Conflict Report: Houthis Told to Be Ready to Shut Red Sea Route
Meanwhile, Tehran has reportedly asked rebels in Yemen to potentially close a key oil route.
Multiple sources told Reuters that Iran asked the Houthis to prepare to shut the Bab al-Mandab strait.
They will reportedly cut off access if the US
attacks Iranian power infrastructure.
The instability in the Strait of Hormuz has made it an important alternative oil route.
A source close to the Houthis also spoke to Reuters.
They said the group had completed their preparations by deploying missiles and drones near the strait.
War in Ukraine
Zelenskyy Names New Defense Minister, Sparking Protests
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has named his new defense minister, but the move has sparked protests from those who fear it will hurt the war efforts.
Zelenskyy announced Thursday that he tapped Yevgeny Humara, the acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine, for the job.
Zelenskyy says he played an important role in long-range operations against Russia.
and says he has what it takes to be defense minister.
Ukraine's parliament still needs to approve the nomination.
He would be taking over from Mykhailo Fedorov.
Speaking to reporters Thursday, Fedorov suggested he was canned over disagreements on military reform.
Protesters staged a large rally near Ukraine's presidential office on Thursday, demanding Zelenskyy reverse the decision.
00:13:24 話者 4
At this point, removing him from office would only play into the hands of the Russian Federation and would unfortunately be detrimental to our country.
00:13:35 話者 1
Russia's presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov touched on the issue Thursday.
He said it doesn't matter to Moscow who the defense minister is.
Business
Well, there was lots of action today, financially speaking.
Here to walk us through the details is Yuko Fukushima.
00:13:51 話者 5/Yuko Fukushima
Thanks, James.
Nikkei 225 Posts 3rd-Biggest Intraday Point Drop on Record
Yes, Japan's Nikkei 225 stock index plunged for the second straight session on Friday as investors offloaded AI and chip related shares on concerns about earnings.
The benchmark lost 4,130 points at one stage, its third biggest intraday drop on record.
The index finished more than 4% lower.
Losing about 2,700 points to end at 64,141, investors are growing less optimistic about the earnings outlook for AI-related companies.
Japanese chip and flash memory giant Kyokushia Holdings knows
dived as much as 16% to its daily trading limit.
The Nikkei has been on a downtrend since late last month.
It set an all-time closing high above 72,000 on June 25, led by buying of AI-related shares.
Nichirei Restarts Some Computer Systems After Cyberattack
Japanese frozen food giant Nichide says it has restarted some computer systems after a cyberattack this week disrupted operations.
The company doesn't yet know when all operations will get back to normal.
The company on Friday said warehouse operations and some other services were partially back online.
Nichide reported the cyberattack on Wednesday, saying it affected frozen food deliveries and cold storage operations.
The shipment delays hit restaurants, supermarkets and other food businesses across the country.
Nichide is a key player in the country's logistics sector, storing and delivering products of many other companies.
Trump Administration Imposes 25% Tariffs on Brazil
The Trump administration has announced that it will charge a new 25 percent tariff on certain goods from Brazil, citing unfair trade practices.
The Office of the United States Trade Representative made a decision on Wednesday based on Section 301 of the Trade Act.
The announcement says a year-long investigation determined that certain Brazilian measures in a range of fields, from digital trade to illegal deforestation, are unfair.
It says the measures are unreasonable and restrict the business activities of American workers and exporters.
The terrorists will take effect on July 22.
Coffee and beef are among items exempted from the measure.
The office of Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva said there was no justification for what it called the unilateral US decision.
Biz Picks
And now to NHK World's Gene Otani with BizFix.
00:16:38 話者 6/Gene Otani
Let's take a look at the key business and economic stories for the week ahead.
On Thursday, the European Central Bank will announce its decision on interest rates.
Rising inflationary pressure and geopolitical uncertainty have investors watching for signals on how the central bank will respond.
Japanese Self-Driving Tech Faces Key Test
On Wednesday, a Japanese startup is specializing in autonomous driving technology using AI ,tier 4 is set to go public.
In this edition, we have the latest developments in autonomous driving in Japan and where it's headed from here.
Tier 4 develops AutoWare.
It's an open source software platform for autonomous driving.
Automakers and suppliers use it to build their own systems.
The startup supports a range of self-driving services already on the road and others still being tested.
Mitsubishi Research Institute's Miyashita Koichi says the company's market debut could mark a turning point.
00:17:36 話者 7
The industry had mainly focused on testing, research and development.
But I think it has now entered a phase where firms are aiming for mass production and growing their businesses by raising funds from the market.
00:17:49 話者 6
A shortage of drivers has become a serious problem in Japan, so autonomous driving is seen as a way to sustain public transportation.
The industry uses the term level 4 services to describe vehicles that can run without a driver under certain conditions.
The government aims to have 10,000 such buses and taxis on the roads by fiscal 2030.
A number of Japanese companies are stepping up their efforts to bring autonomous driving into everyday use.
Nissan Motor is partnering with Uber Technologies to launch robo-taxi services.
The vehicles will be powered by AI developed with British startup Wave Technologies.
The taxi hailing service Goal is conducting its own trials with the US
firm Waymo.
Miyashita believes self-driving vehicles in Japan are likely to be first introduced in urban areas where demand is high.
00:18:48 話者 7
Deployment will first go ahead in areas with strong demand within limited operating areas.
As adoption increases, both vehicle and operating costs will gradually decline.
That should allow services to expand more widely, not just in city centers, but also in suburban areas.
In the meantime, Japan's auto industry cannot focus solely on the domestic market.
It needs to develop technologies that can be deployed and compete overseas.
00:19:19 話者 6
The race for global leadership in autonomous mobility is intensifying.
Companies such as Waymo in the US and Baidu in China already have thousands of robo-taxis in service.
For Japan to compete, it needs to accelerate the pace of getting its technologies into the real world.
I'm Gene Otani, and that's this week's Biz Picks.
Markets
00:19:42 話者 5
Now let's get you a check on the markets.
♪
And that's the biz for this hour.
Ex-Nurse Allegedly Killed Patient With Feces in IV Drip
00:20:27 話者 1
Police in Chiba Prefecture, neighboring Tokyo, have arrested a former nurse suspected of killing a patient with an intravenous drip contaminated with excrement.
Fifty-one-year-old Furukawa Miyuki was employed at a hospital in the prefecture's Kashiwa City at the time of the incident.
Police suspect that she injected feces into the extension tube of an IV drip given to a 75-year-old patient back in January.
The patient died the next day.
Furukawa has denied the allegations.
A colleague had reportedly instructed the suspect to keep the IV tube for inspection after noticing the fluid inside was brown.
Investigative sources said the tube was later found discarded inside the hospital.
Police believed the cause of death was likely to be multiple organ failure, caused by bacteria from suspected human feces entering the patient's bloodstream.
The hospital held a news conference on Thursday.
00:21:33 話者 4
This is an incident in which a nurse who should be providing a sense of security is threatening the life of a patient.
It is an unforgivable act as a medical worker and a human being.
It is deeply regrettable that such a situation occurred.
00:21:52 話者 1
Investigative sources said security cameras captured Furukawa entering the room where human waste is handled just before the patient's condition suddenly deteriorated.
UK Reacts to Falklands Banner Display at World Cup
The British government is urging soccer's governing body, FIFA, to investigate Argentina's team after its players posed with a banner claiming sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.
Argentina's players held up a banner in support of their country's claims after their 2-1 win over England in the men's World Cup semi-final.
The banner said, The Falklands are Argentine, in Spanish, using the Argentine name for the islands, Malvinas.
Britain remains in control of the southern Atlantic islands after clashes with Argentina in the 1982 Falklands conflict.
British Business Minister Peter Kyle reacted sharply to the display when he spoke to the British media on Thursday.
00:22:49 話者 2
Politics needs to be separate from football.
Now, that is now a matter for FIFA.
00:22:54 話者 1
I expect FIFA to do its investigation thoroughly.
A spokesperson at the Prime Minister's office released a statement saying that while the World Cup might not belong to Britain, the Falkland Islands definitely do.
The statement goes on to say that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer wishes both teams in the final well, especially Spain.
Weather
Tokyo has experienced severe cloudbursts on Friday.
Our meteorologist, Yumi Hirano, has a look at the details in this update.
00:23:27 話者 8/Yumi Hirano
Sixty-four millimeters of intense rainfall was reported in just one hour in Tokyo's Hachi-oji, setting an all-time record.
And over 80 millimeters fall in Kawasaki, the intense downpours have caused disruptions.
People across the Kanto region were hit by sudden heavy rain on Friday.
In Kanagawa Prefecture, torrential rain flooded roads and underpasses, leaving many tracks stranded.
The heavy rain also disrupted train services between Kawasaki to Yokohama.
In central Tokyo, a government rain gauge reported nearly 70 millimeters in one hour.
The rain left a riverside sports field underwater.
A high probability of thunderstorms will continue through Friday night in Kyushu and also in Ganto-goshin.
More downpours could cause urban flooding and affect the evening commute.
Meanwhile, another concern is approaching from the west.
A frontal system is stretching from the Korean Peninsula to parts of Japan.
Up to 250 millimeters of heavy rain is expected in South Korea by Sunday.
And Japan's Hokkaido may also see downpours of up to 150 millimeters by Sunday and more by Monday, so people there should watch out for floods and landslides.
Heavy rain is also likely in Seoul.
The high in Tokyo will hit 30 degrees.
Finally, in South Asia, a low-pressure system has been intensifying monsoon downpours in northeastern India and Bangladesh.
But the good news is the rain will ease intense heat in New Delhi with a high of 36.
That's it for now. Have a nice weekend.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
Elementary Schoolchildren in Tokushima Clean Sea Turtle Shells
00:26:30 話者 1
Learning came with a hands-on twist for elementary school students in Tokushima who helped clean the shells of sea turtles at a museum near Ohama Beach.
The beach is designated as a national natural monument.
About 30 local students who were learning about sea turtles visited the museum.
The children received instructions from museum officials such as not to touch the turtles' faces to avoid being bitten.
They then carefully used scrub brushes to wash algae and grime off the shells and flippers of four turtles, including 75-year-old Hamataro.
Hamataro is believed to be the world's oldest loggerhead sea turtle in captivity.
...
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And with that, we conclude this edition of NHK Newsline for all of us here on the program.
I'm James Tengan in Tokyo. Thanks for watching.
NHK World
00:28:01 話者 99
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