# NHK WORLD RADIO JAPAN - English News at 03:00 (JST), October 16

- Show: English News - NHK WORLD RADIO JAPAN
- Published: 2026-10-16
- Canonical: https://podc.club/en/episode/141016660_405f07d772e0.html
- Audio: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20261016030000_english_1.mp3
- Source: Edited from a machine transcript of the first 30 minutes of the episode. Not an official summary.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) detained a Hokkaido Shimbun reporter on espionage charges and transferred him to Moscow, prompting Japan's Foreign Ministry to summon the Russian ambassador in protest. Abduction survivor Soga Hitomi spoke to NHK about the 12 victims still unaccounted for, including her mother, and expressed hope for a potential Trump-Kim Jong Un summit. The broadcast also covered North Korea's submarine-launched cruise missile test, a Houthi attack on a Saudi airport, and a hotter-than-expected U.S. inflation reading.

## What this episode answers

### What was the situation of the Hokkaido Shimbun reporter detained in Russia, and how did the Japanese government respond?

Russia's FSB detained the Hokkaido Shimbun's Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk bureau reporter on espionage charges and transferred him to Moscow; Foreign Ministry Director-General for European Affairs Nakamura Kimotaka summoned Russian Ambassador Nostrev to demand information disclosure and humane treatment, and strongly protested the release of detention footage without prior notice. As of Wednesday evening, Russia had issued no formal notification and the reporter's condition remained unknown.

### How did abduction survivor Soga Hitomi speak about the remaining unaccounted-for victims?

Soga, abducted from Sado Island with her mother Miyako in 1978 and repatriated in 2002, said 12 of the government-recognized 17 abductees remain unaccounted for; she said she wants to know what happened to her mother but has no choice but to wait, and expressed hope that a Trump-Kim summit would move things in a positive direction, stressing that direct Japan-North Korea leader talks are ultimately necessary.

### What were the details of North Korea's submarine-launched cruise missile test?

North Korea test-fired two types of strategic cruise missiles from a submarine in the Sea of Japan east of the Korean Peninsula on Wednesday; the Korean Central News Agency said the launches were aimed at enhancing the navy's operational capability and demonstrating nuclear deterrent reliability, with no impact on neighboring countries.

### What are the specifics of Germany's new social media restrictions for children, and what is the EU's position?

Germany's federal cabinet approved guidelines Wednesday banning children under 13 from social media platforms not certified as child-friendly, with phased restrictions for those aged 13 to 18, as a stopgap until EU-wide regulation is in place; the European Commission had already proposed legislation in September targeting those under 15.

### What were the results of the U.S. September Consumer Price Index, and how did the data affect financial markets?

The September CPI rose 3.7% year-on-year, exceeding the market forecast of 3.6%, driven mainly by a gasoline surge of more than 34%; following the Fed's first rate hike in over three years in September, the data has intensified market expectations for an earlier follow-up hike.

## Article

## Russia Detains Hokkaido Shimbun Reporter on Espionage Charges

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) arrested a reporter from the Hokkaido Shimbun's Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk bureau on espionage charges and transferred him to Moscow. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called for his immediate release, saying journalists must not be used as bargaining chips in geopolitical negotiations; the group counts at least 30 journalists currently held in Russia.

Japan's Foreign Ministry Director-General for European Affairs, Nakamura Kimotaka (中村公孝), summoned Russian Ambassador Nostrev on Wednesday to demand information disclosure, consular access, and humane treatment. Japan also strongly protested the release of detention footage by Russia without prior notice. As of Wednesday evening, Russia had issued no formal notification and the reporter's condition remained unknown.

## Abduction Issue: Soga Hitomi's 24 Years

Soga Hitomi (曽我ひとみ) was abducted from Sado Island in 1978 at age 19, together with her mother Miyako. Three unknown men bound her hands, covered her head with a bag, and transported her to North Korea by small boat. She was kept under constant surveillance and in 1980 married Charles Jenkins, a former U.S. soldier who had defected to North Korea.

Five abductees returned to Japan following a September 2002 summit between Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro and Kim Jong Il, with Soga among them. But 12 of the government-recognized 17 victims — including her mother — remain unaccounted for. "I want to know what happened to my mother, but since no information comes I have no choice but to wait," she said. The National Police Agency says more than 860 missing-persons cases cannot rule out North Korean abduction.

On reports that President Trump may meet Kim Jong Un during an Asia visit next month, Soga expressed hope that it would "become a catalyst for things to move in a positive direction," stressing that direct Japan-North Korea leader talks are ultimately necessary. Japan is also working with Thailand and other countries to keep international attention on the case of Anocha Panyoo, a Thai woman believed to have been abducted in 1978 who reportedly lived in the same building as Soga.

## North Korea and Middle East Security

North Korea test-fired two types of strategic cruise missiles from a submarine in the Sea of Japan on Wednesday. The Korean Central News Agency said the launches aimed to enhance the navy's operational capability and demonstrate nuclear deterrent reliability, adding there was no impact on neighboring countries. South Korea believes the series of missile tests this month — including medium-range and tactical ballistic missiles — is intended to showcase a diverse arsenal.

Yemen's Houthi movement claimed Wednesday night that it fired ballistic missiles at King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh and at Saudi military positions in the southwest. The Houthis said Saudi forces had carried out 42 airstrikes on Sanaa and other locations in the previous 24 hours, placing the responsibility for escalation on Saudi Arabia. A fire also broke out at a Saudi Aramco administrative building in Dhahran in the Eastern Province.

## Social and Regulatory News

**Germany bans under-13s from most social media.** Germany's federal cabinet approved guidelines Wednesday prohibiting children under 13 from accessing social media platforms not certified as child-friendly, with phased restrictions for those aged 13 to 18. The measure is a stopgap pending EU-wide unified regulation; the European Commission had already proposed legislation in September targeting under-15s.

**Japan eyes mandatory GPS monitoring for stalkers.** The National Police Agency will begin reviewing mandatory GPS device attachment for stalkers starting next week. Stalking consultations in 2025 exceeded 22,000 nationwide. South Korea and Spain already operate similar systems in which hard-to-remove devices relay offenders' locations to police. The review panel will include psychiatrists and bereaved family members.

**Pakistan school collapse kills 33.** A roof collapse at a private school in Peshawar on Thursday killed at least 33 people — all aged 14 or under — and injured more than 40. More than 100 students were believed to be in class at the time. Authorities cited the building's structural weakness, and the school's owner has been detained.

**Indonesia wildfires.** El Niño-driven drought has sparked the worst wildfires in years in Central Kalimantan, turning skies orange. Indonesia's Ministry of Environment classified the health risk at the highest of five levels. Smoke haze spread to Singapore, where the government began distributing masks to vulnerable groups; East Timor suspended in-person classes for three days.

## Economy: Semiconductors, Inflation, and Fuel Surcharges

GlobalFoundries announced plans to build two semiconductor fabrication plants in New York State in partnership with Tokyo Electron and Renesas Electronics, valued at up to $21 billion. The project is part of a Japan-U.S. agreement reached during July 2025 tariff negotiations, under which Japan committed to invest a total of $550 billion in the United States. Construction is set to begin before year-end, with operations targeted for 2029, producing chips for automotive and communications infrastructure applications.

The U.S. September CPI rose 3.7% year-on-year, above the market forecast of 3.6%, and accelerated 0.3 percentage points from the prior month. Gasoline prices surged more than 34% year-on-year; clothing rose 3.4% and housing costs 3.2%. The core index, excluding food and energy, gained 2.6% year-on-year. The Fed hiked rates in September for the first time in over three years, and market expectations for an earlier follow-up hike have now intensified.

ANA (All Nippon Airways) and JAL (Japan Airlines) will raise international fuel surcharges on tickets issued from November 1 through end of December. One-way surcharges for North America and Europe routes will be approximately $393 — up $44 for ANA and $76 for JAL. China and Taiwan routes will be approximately $96 for ANA and $101 for JAL, excluding some routes. Surcharges have risen sharply since May against a backdrop of Iran-related tensions.

## Takeaways

- Russia's FSB detained a Hokkaido Shimbun reporter on espionage charges and transferred him to Moscow; Japan summoned the Russian ambassador to demand information disclosure and humane treatment.
- Abduction survivor Soga Hitomi urged action for the 12 still-missing victims including her mother, and called for direct Japan-North Korea leader talks, expressing hope for a Trump-Kim summit.
- The U.S. September CPI came in at 3.7% year-on-year, above forecast and driven by a gasoline surge, intensifying market expectations for an earlier Fed rate hike.