Welcome back to NHK Newsline. I'm Kanako Sachno.
Two Storms to Bring More Downpours to Rain‑Lashed Japan
People in Japan are being warned to take extra caution against landslides and other disasters as torrential rains pummel the country's west and east.
Weather officials also say two approaching major storms could bring even more downpours across the country this weekend.
A local man took this footage from the 2nd floor of his home in Ikoma City, Nara Prefecture.
It shows a river overflowing and water inundating a suburban Rd. at around 6.30am on Friday.
The man said the water reached his front door before eventually receding.
Piles of mud and debris were left in front of the house.
In Osaka, the flood water forced large cracks to open in the pavement around 3 manhole covers.
The person who shot this video shortly before 6am said they became alarmed at the gushing water and hurried home.
Warm, damp air is flowing toward a seasonal rain front currently sitting over Japan.
A level 4 urgent warning for landslides is in place for areas in Hiroshima and Yamaguchi prefectures.
Level 4 is the second highest warning, which means a disaster could happen at any time and people should evacuate immediately from dangerous areas.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Mekkhala is moving over the seas west of Amami City in Kagoshima Prefecture, bringing strong winds to the broader Okinawa and Amami regions.
The storm is expected to speed up and draw closer to land, moving eastward along Japan's Pacific coast.
Tropical Storm Higos is also expected to approach eastern Japan and could make landfall on Saturday.
The 2 storms would bring more warm, humid air to the seasonal rain front, which will likely intensify the downpours.
In the Tokai region, as much as 300 millimetres of rain is forecast to fall by noon on Saturday.
The regions of Kinki and Shikoku could see up to 200 millimetres and Kantokoshin up to 150.
The Japan Meteorological Agency is warning of landslides, flooding in low-lying areas and swollen and overflowing rivers.
They say people should also be on their guard against lightning and strong wind gusts, including tornadoes.
Transport is being disrupted, with bullet trains likely to be affected.
Services on the Tokaido Shinkansen line on Saturday may be cancelled or delayed.
Venezuela Dealing With Aftermath of Twin Quakes
Venezuela is dealing with the devastating aftermath of two massive back-to-back earthquakes.
The government says at least 188 people are dead and more than 1,500 people have been injured. The 2 quakes struck Wednesday evening within a minute of each other.
They both had a magnitude of more than seven.
The epicentres were about 160 kilometres west of Caracas.
Officials say the damage is severe there and in the country's northern states.
One man told NHK, people are staying outside because they're afraid of collapsing buildings.
Officials say over 200 buildings have been damaged or destroyed, mainly in the northern coastal state of La Guaira.
They say over 200 people are trapped beneath the rubble in the affected areas.
Rescue operations are still underway. The international community is rushing to help.
The United States military says it will deploy troops to support relief operations.
That includes aircraft and an amphibious ship to transport personnel and supplies.
Mexico and El Salvador have also dispatched rescue teams.
Many people reportedly remain unaccounted for.
A privately run website says tens of thousands are missing.
It allows people to post about their loved ones in an attempt to find them, but the full extent of the damage remains unclear.
Japan Govt. Panel Urges Vigilance After M7.2 Quake
Following the strong earthquake that struck northern Japan Thursday morning, a government panel is urging people in the area to be prepared for more potential quakes.
They say seismic activity in the region is intensifying.
The Earthquake Research Committee held a special meeting on Thursday following the magnitude 7.2 quake.
00:04:26 話者 12/Obara Kazushige/Earthquake Research Committee chairperson
It's hard to think Thursday's quake will lead to a major one occurring immediately, but it is safe to argue that the risk of a major earthquake could gradually grow through a series of such seismic activity.
00:04:45 話者 1
The panel says the quake was located around the western edge of the focal region of a magnitude 7.6 quake in 1994.
Japan Draws With Sweden, Advances to Knockout Stage
In the Men's Soccer World Cup, Japan drew 1-all with Sweden in their final group stage match.
The result means the Japanese team finished second and advanced to the knockout stage.
Eighteenth ranked Japan faced off against the 38th ranked Sweden at Dallas Stadium in the United States on Thursday.
Japan created several scoring opportunities early on, but failed to take advantage and the first half ended goalless.
Japan finally broke through in the 56th minute when Maida Daizen converted a pass and beat Sweden's goalkeeper.
But Sweden pulled even just six minutes later on a blast from the top of the area by Anthony Alanga.
Japan finished second in Group F, while the Netherlands was first.
In the round of 32, Japan will face five-time winners Brazil, 6th in the world rankings.
Team Japan Looks Ahead After Series of Setbacks
This is the third straight time Japan has advanced out of the group stage.
The team has looked in good shape since the last World Cup four years ago, but it has had to overcome some difficult situations in the last few months.
00:06:11 話者 3
Japan shocked the world during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, finishing the group stage on top. It defeated former champions Germany and Spain on the way.
Japan has kept the momentum ever since, delivering impressive results in international competitions.
A year after Qatar, the team dominated Germany, winning 4-1 during a friendly match, proving once again the World Cup result was not a fluke.
Japan went on to defeat England at Wembley Stadium this past March with a lone goal by Mitoma Kaoru. But then came the injuries.
Japan suffered a series of blows to some key players, including Mitoma, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Minamino Takumi, another star player, was ruled out after undergoing knee surgery in January.
Head coach Moriyasu Hajime announced in May that their names were not on the World Cup roster.
00:07:12 話者 24/Moriyasu Hajime/Head Coach, Japan National Team
Of course, not having certain players means we miss their talent.
But I hope we can show how we win through our overall strength as a team.
00:07:25 話者 3
But the bad luck continued.
Injuries plagued the team until just days before Japan's opening match in the US.
Captain Endo Wataru traveled with the team to his training base in Tennessee, but he had yet to fully heal from a left foot injury.
As a result, he abruptly announced his immediate retirement from the national team just three days before the opening match.
During that match against the Netherlands, Kubo Takefusa, who had been central to Japan's attack, suffered a knee injury. He has been out ever since.
Japan will now face powerhouse Brazil on Monday in Houston, Texas.
In a friendly match last October, Japan upset Brazil with a come-from-behind 3-2 victory.
This was Japan's first ever victory against Brazil.
The next knockout match will be a tough battle, where the true grit and determination of Team Japan will be put to the test.
Millions of fans in and out of the country will be watching to see if they can continue their World Cup success.
War in Ukraine: Japan to Strengthen Business Ties for Reconstruction
00:08:37 話者 1
The Japanese government has proposed stepping up business ties with Ukraine and Poland to help with Kyiv's recovery efforts.
The plan was presented at an annual conference on Ukraine's reconstruction, held this year in the Polish city of Gdansk.
The meeting brings together government officials as well as representatives of international organizations and businesses.
Delegates from the governments of Japan, Ukraine and Poland held an event.
00:09:05 話者 32/Yamada Kenji/Japanese State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry
Japan aims to promote sustainable medium to long-term reconstruction through concrete projects involving public and private sector from both countries.
00:09:18 話者 1
Yamada presented documents about cooperation projects signed between Japanese companies and firms from Ukraine or Poland.
He said Japan is committed to strengthening support for sectors such as housing and energy.
00:09:32 話者 33/Andrii Teliupa/Ukrainian senior official
We really wanted to be practical, you know, like not just like some giving money to Ukraine, but to make it more reliable and stable, so to have like great direct cooperation between Ukraine and the Japanese companies.
00:09:48 話者 1
The Ukrainian government expects new agreements worth over $11 billion will be signed during the conference.
Iran Conflict: Rubio: US, Gulf Nations Reject Strait Transit Fees
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been touring the Middle East to shore up support from Gulf allies.
He says they're all opposed to Iran's plan to charge tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, and he warned that the US will not tolerate it.
Rubio made the remarks after meeting with members of a group called the Gulf Cooperation Council.
They issued a joint statement rejecting all payments for using the strait and claiming control of the waterway.
00:10:23 話者 45/Marco Rubio
Fees and tolls are the same thing to me. If you're paying someone to go there, I don't care if you call it a fee or a toll or a donation, it's a toll.
That's how we're going to define it. That's international waterway.
There isn't a nation on earth that supports having to pay money to go through the straits.
00:10:39 話者 1
Iran agreed in a deal with the US to work to ensure free passage for 60 days.
The agreement calls for Oman to take part in discussions on managing the strait after that.
Oman Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi reportedly said no fees will be introduced in any future agreement.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqji wrote on social media that he spoke with al-Busaidi.
He says the two sides will continue dialogue on managing and servicing the strait.
Japan Eases Travel Advisories for 7 Middle Eastern Nations
Japan's foreign ministry has eased travel advisories for seven Middle Eastern countries.
The move comes after the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran aimed at ending the fighting.
The ministry on Thursday lowered its level 3 advisory to level 2 for the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar.
Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia's Riyadh and eastern provinces and parts of Jordan were also on the list.
Level 2 advises cancelling non-essential travel, while Level 3 urges Japanese nationals to avoid all travel.
The Ministry had previously raised the advisory level in phases, urging Japanese nationals planning to travel to or stay in Iran and other Middle Eastern nations to exercise caution as the Iran situation intensified.
The ministry continues to urge travellers to take appropriate safety measures, even in areas where advisories have been lowered, warning that unexpected developments may still occur.
Alcohol Sales, Public Drinking Banned in Paris Amid Heat Wave
People in Paris will be banned from drinking alcohol in public during certain hours from Friday through Sunday.
Officials say the measure is intended to prevent health issues as Europe swelters under a record-breaking heatwave.
Alcohol sales will also be banned during the same period, with exceptions for restaurants and bars. Officials say hospitals are reaching their limits amid the heatwave.
Cities like Paris and Bordeaux saw highs of 40 degrees on Thursday.
The temperature hit 42.6 degrees in Piso, in the country's southwest.
Temperatures have been hitting 35 degrees or more in Britain, Germany, Switzerland and other European nations.
Many residential buildings, schools and hospitals in those countries do not have air conditioners.
Business
Now for more business stories, here's Ramin Mellegard.
00:13:13 話者 6/Ramin Mellegard
Thank you very much indeed.
Nikkei 225 Skids to Post 3rd Biggest One‑Day Point Slump
Now, the Nikkei 225 stock index fell sharply on Friday.
AI and chip-related shares faced a sell-off as investors took profits from a recent run-up in those sectors. The benchmark fell 4.15% to end at 69,360.
That represents a loss of 3,000 points, the third biggest one-day drop on record.
Analysts say the retreat raised almost all of the surge on Thursday when buying of semiconductor-related shares lifted the index to a record close.
Helping the AI slide was a US media report suggesting OpenAI will delay the initial public offering of its shares until next year.
Honda President Apologizes to Shareholders for Record Loss
The president of Honda Motor used a shareholder meeting on Friday to apologize for the company's first several annual loss since its stock listing.
Some shareholders criticized management for the 423.9 billion yen net loss in fiscal 2025.
That's equivalent of $2.6 billion.
President Mibe Toshihiro added that hefty losses from its EV business led to to the deficit.
00:14:32 話者 55/Shareholder
It was unfortunate that Mibe and other directors didn't seem regretful about the loss.
They didn't give us convincing enough explanations.
00:14:47 話者 6
Now, despite the criticism, Mibe and 10 other directors were elected to the board at the meeting.
Tokyo Inflation Up for First Time Since October
Tokyo's consumer prices were up in June, with inflation rising for the first time since October, but the rate did stay below the Bank of Japan's 2% target for a fifth consecutive month. Tokyo's inflation rate is seen as a leading indicator of the nationwide trend.
Preliminary figures from Japan's internal affairs ministry show the consumer price index for the capital rose 1.6 percent from a year earlier. Food rose 3.9 percent.
The CPI excludes the prices of fresh items, which fluctuate based on weather.
Now, box lunches climbed nearly 27 percent and potato chips increased about 16 percent.
Food manufacturers are being forced to cope with higher packaging costs as a result of the Middle East conflict.
Okay, next, NHK World's Gene Otani is here with Bispicks.
Biz Picks
00:15:55 話者 7/Gene Otani
Let's take a look at the key business and economic stories for the week ahead.
On Tuesday, China will announce the Purchasing Managers Index for June.
The figure is a gauge of sentiment in manufacturing and service industries.
BOJ Survey Seen Offering Fresh Policy Signals
The Bank of Japan will release its closely watched quarterly survey of business sentiment on Wednesday.
This time, we're focusing on the Tonkan, which is one of the nation's most important economic indicators.
A key focus will be the extent to which the conflict in the Middle East and higher oil prices are weighing on corporate confidence.
Many economists expect the mood among major firms to deteriorate since the March survey in both the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors.
Among them is Kumano Hideo at Daiichi Life Research Institute.
00:16:51 話者 4/Kumano Hideo
I expect the index for large manufacturers to worsen slightly, down two points from the previous survey and down one point for large non-manufacturers.
We are seeing a semiconductor boom and the construction of data centers across the country. This is positive for sectors like electrical machinery manufacturing.
But I believe a wide range of industries face profit squeezes because of the difficulty of passing on costs, even though crude oil prices have risen.
00:17:22 話者 7
The prices of goods traded between Japanese companies rose 6.3% in May from a year earlier. That was the biggest jump since March 2023.
The surge was driven by the prices of petroleum-related products.
Economists will be looking at the Tankan report to see how much of that cost pressure is showing up in the prices companies pay and the prices they charge.
They say the balance between signs of softer growth and inflationary pressures in the survey could offer clues about the timing and pace of future BOJ rate hikes.
00:18:04 話者 4
I want to see how much purchasing costs have jumped for large firms, as well as small and medium-sized ones, and whether their selling prices are catching up.
If spikes in purchase prices outpace sales price rises, that suppresses profits.
I think the BOJ believes such a trend would negatively affect corporate earnings.
00:18:27 話者 7
The BOJ has already lifted its policy rate to the highest level in around 30 years.
Kumano says the policymakers will also be looking for signs in the survey of how corporate activity has been affected by higher borrowing costs.
00:18:46 話者 4
The bank has gradually been tightening its monetary policy after the easing done during the coronavirus crisis.
The question is how much the corporate financing environment is affected.
I don't think the tightening has been felt so much, but I believe the BOJ wants to confirm the effects of the rate hikes by looking at data.
00:19:06 話者 7
Kumano doesn't think the Tankan results alone are likely to prompt another rate hike.
But he says the case could be made for further policy tightening later this year if the survey confirms stronger inflation pressures and favorable financing conditions.
I'm Gene Otani, and that's this week's Biz Picks.
Markets
00:19:30 話者 6
Okay, let's get a check on the markets.
♪
And that is it for business news.
China's Food Delivery Sector Feels Pinch Amid Price Cutting
00:20:03 話者 1
In China, concerns are growing about the outlook for the economy amid a property slump and sluggish domestic demand.
The price-cutting competition is intensifying across a range of industries, including the food delivery sector.
00:20:19 話者 8/Narrator: Yoshino Mika/Reporter: Tamei Takanori
At this shopping mall in Beijing, food packages are being picked up for lunchtime delivery.
The meals are sent to lockers throughout the city.
More than 600 million people across China are believed to use food delivery services, which have become an essential part of daily life for many.
00:20:40 話者 62
I order delivery every day when I work. The best thing is the speed.
00:20:46 話者 63
It's wonderful. It's become convenient for many people.
00:20:49 話者 8
Orders are placed via food delivery apps on phones.
Over the past year, competition among the country's top platforms has intensified.
The companies have issued large volumes of deeply discounted coupons, often without regard for profitability.
More than $11 billion have been reportedly spent on the battle for market share, which has led to a delivery war.
At one point, some products were effectively available for free when coupons were used.
Delivery riders are among those feeling the impact.
As young people continue to face difficulties finding jobs, delivery work has become an attractive option because it is easy to start.
The number of riders in China is said to exceed 10 million.
28-year-old Zhang is from a rural area. He previously worked in sales in his hometown, but became a delivery writer in hopes of earning more money.
But he says the fierce price competition has cut his pay-per-delivery by 30 to 40 percent, compared with four years ago when he started.
00:22:10 話者 64/Zhang
The pay rate has dropped significantly, so it's much tougher now.
If I don't accept an order immediately, someone else will take it right away.
00:22:18 話者 8
Though Zhang works more than 10 hours a day, he earns only about $45 to $60.
Even if he worked every day for an entire month, he would make roughly the same as a regular office worker.
(Chinese)
00:22:44 話者 8
Zhang worries that if delivery fees continue to fall, it will be difficult for him to stay in the job.
00:22:55 話者 64
This level of competition can't continue forever. There will eventually be a limit.
But given the current employment situation, there aren't many better job options.
I don't want to be dragged further into this competition.
00:23:09 話者 8
The delivery war is also hurting restaurants that receive orders through the apps.
A restaurant worker who spoke to us on condition of anonymity says she is concerned.
She says that when customers use discount coupons on app-based orders, restaurants have to bear about half of the discount cost, making it difficult to generate profits.
00:23:34 話者 64
The impact on restaurants is enormous. In this delivery war, everyone is losing.
But because everyone else is doing it, we have no choice but to keep up with the apps and the times.
00:23:46 話者 8
The price-cutting competition shows no clear winners, and the trend is casting a shadow over China's economy.
Shrine Visitors Step Through Grass Hoops in Cleansing Ritual
00:23:55 話者 1
A ritual for people to pray for good health and drive away evil spirits is underway in Japan's ancient capital, Kyoto. It involves people walking through enormous grass hoops.
Practice is called Chinoa Kuguri. It's supposed to help people cleanse themselves of impurities accumulated during the first half of the year.
The ritual is held at shrines across Japan.
Kyoto's Kitano Tenmangu Shrine set up two hoops on Thursday.
The larger one is about five meters across. It was installed at the shrine's tower gate. Visitors braved the rain to step through.
00:24:34 話者 71
It was great.
00:24:35 話者 72
I've always wanted to step through the chinoa and finally I came. I was very moved.
00:24:43 話者 1
Visitors can take part in the ritual through Tuesday.
Weather
Now it's time for a check on the weather.
As we've reported, parts of Japan have been battered by torrential rain.
Our meteorologist Yumi Hirano is here for the details.
00:24:58 話者 9/Yumi Hirano
An active rainy season front brought downpours to western Japan on Friday.
Ikoma had 76.5 millimeters of rain in just one hour, setting an all-time record.
But more downpours are still expected along the Pacific side of the country due to tropical storms.
First, Higos is expected to affect Kinki and Tokai before possibly making landfall in Kanto on Saturday morning, and then Mekkhala is likely to move along the Pacific coast, bringing additional downpours.
Total rainfall could reach 150 millimeters in Kantokoshin by Saturday and more by Sunday.
Tokai may see up to 300 millimeters just in a day, so landslides and floods could be a major concern.
Moving through Europe, a massive heat dome is still dominating the West.
One place in the UK reached 36.7 degrees, setting a new national June record.
An extreme heat wave has been affecting people across the UK.
The Met Office issued a red warning for extreme heat for Friday, the third straight day.
Children were given cool treats, while some animals were splayed with water to beat the heat.
In Germany, the heat has led to water shortages, which is affecting farmers and their crops.
The heat is expected to continue on Friday. The highs will be 36 in London and 39 in Paris.
The temperature will be 36 in Berlin and then may even hit 40 on Saturday and Sunday.
So please stay cool and hydrated.
That's it for now. Stay safe.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
00:27:35 話者 1
That wraps up this edition of NHK Newsline.
I'm Kanako Sachno in Tokyo. Thanks very much for joining us.
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00:28:01 話者 99
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