at 18:00 (JST), March 31

20250331180000_english_1.mp3

Welcome back to NHK Newsline. Here's the latest we have for you at this hour.

Search teams in Myanmar are racing against time to rescue any trapped survivors after a devastating earthquake. At least 1,700 people have already been confirmed dead. And the chance of survival for anyone still buried under the rubble is dropping fast.
The magnitude 7.7 quake struck central Myanmar around midday Friday after near rather the country's second largest city, Mandalay. Around 3,400 people have been injured. There are also fears of dangerous aftershocks after a tremor of more than magnitude 5 struck on Sunday. More seismic activity could threaten rescuers efforts to reach people trapped in damaged structures.

My sister is inside. I called her right after the quake and haven't been able to get in touch with her yet.

Widespread damage has been seen in other areas, including Myanmar's capital Nepido, about 250 kilometers from the quake's epicenter. The country has been controlled by a military junta since 2021, and that political situation is complicating relief efforts.
The quake has caused extensive damage in places where troops have been waging ongoing battles against pro-democracy forces. Some of those forces have promised to pause fighting for two weeks and cooperate with international support groups, allowing aid to reach disaster-hit areas.

In neighboring Thailand, crews are still combing through the remains of a Bangkok high-rise that was under construction and collapsed from the tremors. At least 11 people are dead. More than 70 are missing. Earlier, I spoke with NHK World's Takaoka Chikashi, who was at the site.
Chikashi, what is the latest on the operation there? 

Such efforts have been going around the clock. But we are now entering a very critical stage. It's now been roughly 72 hours since the collapse. That means the probability of survival for anyone buried under the rubble is becoming much slimmer. Rescuers here have a very difficult task. They are digging through a mountain of debris. They do have tools to detect signs of life, like the heat signatures of buried survivors, but they have to be very careful. Only a limited number of workers can enter the site.
Authorities want to prevent a further collapse. They are also concerned whether too many workers may affect oxygen levels in air pockets beneath the rubble. It's a delicate process, and it's agonizing for people waiting to hear if their missing loved ones are still alive.

Well, Chikashi, this was very, very shocking for people in Bangkok. There are so many tall buildings in the city, so why was this one the only one that collapsed?

That has been the big question being asked in Thai media and among residents here for the past few days. This 33-story building began construction in 2020. It was a joint venture between a Thai company as well as a Chinese state-owned construction firm, which was hailing this as its first high-rise project outside China. It's still too early to know what caused this, whether it was a fault in the construction or the design itself.
We also know other buildings in Bangkok suffered cracks and other damage from the earthquake. Those towers are going to be inspected, but so far, this is the only one that fell down. Thai Prime Minister Peto Tan Chinawat has openly questioned why that is.
Her government has assembled a team of experts to examine what what went wrong.
It's worth mentioning that major quakes are rare in Thailand, and officials want to know what they can do to prevent more collapse before the next onestrikes.

An independent panel has determined that a female employee of Fuji Television became a victim of sexual violence by a popular TV personality, and is criticizing how the company handled the matter. Fuji TV and its parent, Fuji Media Holdings, appointed the panel of lawyers earlier this year.
The group submitted its report to the board of directors of the two companies on Monday. Nakai Masahiro is at the center of the scandal. It broke out last year when a magazine reported that he had some kind of trouble with a woman in 2023 and paid her a settlement. The magazine initially said a senior Fuji official invited the woman to a party where the problem happened. It later corrected the article, saying that it was Nakai who invited her.
The report says the panel did not confirm the fact that the senior official played a part in the invitation. It does say the handling of the matter by the two media companies did not live up to the standards for management decisions. It accuses then Fuji President Minato Koichi and two other executives of failing to understand the grave nature of sexual violence and the need to provide support. The report also refers to Hieda Hisashi, who has exercised influence on the media group for decades.
He recently stepped down as executive managing advisor at Fuji TV and will do the same at his parent. The report says Hieda has a strong influence on the group's management due to his achievements and involvement with the top management. It also says he had a great influence in creating the corporate culture. However, it argues that Hieda is not solely to blame for the lack of awareness of sexual and other forms of harassment. The report says that the atmosphere was created through words and actions of all senior officials. The report says the board directors bear huge responsibility.

Japanese government panel says a mega earthquake in the Nankai trough along the country's Pacific coast in the next few decades could kill nearly 300,000 people. They say more needs to be done to reduce the death toll ahead of such a disaster. The panel submitted its report to Disaster Management Minister Sakai Manabu on Monday.

I think damage can be reduced if measures are implemented and action is taken.
We'll try to do what we can to promote these measures.

Experts believe there is a roughly 80% chance of a magnitude 8 or 9 quake striking the area in the next 30 years.
The report says the seismic intensity would reach the maximum 7 on the Japanese scale in 10 prefectures. It also says tsunami of at least 10 meters would hit Tokyo and 12 other prefectures. Some areas would see waves higher than 30 meters. The panel predicts a worst case death toll of 298,000, with most of the deaths coming from tsunami. A previous study from a decade ago put the number at 320,000. The panel also estimates up to 52,000 people could die from disaster related causes, about 13 times the figure for the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan. They say this highlights the need to improve the living conditions of evacuees before another massive quake.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Iran if it does not make a deal on its nuclear program.
Trump made the comment in a phone interview with NBC News on Sunday. He said if Tehran does not reach an agreement with the US, there will be, in his words, bombing the likes of which they have never seen before. Trump said US and Iranian officials are talking, but his comment appears aimed at stepping up pressure on Tehran to negotiate.
Iran's president said the same day that his country had responded to a letter from Trump which calls for talks on the nuclear program. Masoud Pazeshkian said Iran rejects the idea of direct negotiations, but stressed that the path for indirect talks remains open.
Tehran signed a nuclear agreement with a group of world powers in 2015.
It agreed to restrict its nuclear program in exchange for a lifting of international sanctions. The Iranian side has strong distrust toward the US administration, as Trump unilaterally pulled out of the agreement in 2018 in his first term.

♪

Tokyo is out in force celebrating Japan's top spotlight season. The cherry blossoms here are now officially in full bloom, NHK World's Johnson Oh went to Meguro War to check out one of the city's top Sakura spots.

I'm here on the banks of Megaro River. Even though it's a bit cloudy, you can see that the flowers are absolutely popping today. It's a far cry from last year when the first bloom came several days late, but this time right on schedule with a full bloom before the end of March. And that's attracted people from all over.
Let's just say the blossoms are making quite a splash.

You have to watch them and and feel and feel inside how you feel because it's just so unique.

We've been sort of chasing cherry blossoms everywhere we went. Last day, last day here. We live in five hours.
Yes. 

I was here six years ago, 2019, and that was it was a good time, too. But it was still better this year. One of the best things you can see in Japan. Definitely.

And this year is one of the best times to see it. And that's ironically thanks in part to the crazy weather we've been having. Climate change is contributing to some of the extreme swings in the weather pattern. I mean, just a couple of weeks ago we saw snow flying around Greater Tokyo and then whack, we get slammed suddenly with what felt like June 25 degrees. And guess what?Now it's cold, like winter all over again. One tourist here told me she never knew what to wear.
It took the Sakura for a bit of a wild ride. But here's the thing. When there's that deep chill that's followed by extreme heat, it really helps to wake up the blossoms and they unfold. Now, if you take a look at the sakura around the country, you can see that Tokyo's full bloom kicked off on Sunday along with a few other places as well. But many other locations are still in their first bloom stage, so the Sakura not quite fully out yet, but we'll see the full bloom unfolding over the next few days. But with these colder than average temperatures, it might bring a bit of a mixed bag because it's gonna wake up the blossoms, but then also kind of slow down their unfolding pace. Now here's what we can expect. The first blossoms over in northeastern Japan will start around early April. Hokkaido, the northernmost prefecture, will have to wait just a little bit longer. Their blossoms popping up late April into May. Now, if you're hoping to still catch the Sakura, we can help you now. NHK World website has all the info on where the flowers are blooming and when they might be blooming. But. That's not the only section you need to check out. The weather is also you need something you can check out on the NHK World Japan website because as I mentioned, the temperature is all over the place. So if you want to check out the views, you'll probably need to brave some chill, maybe even a little bit of rain this coming week.

Now let's see what's happening in the world of business. Here's Ramin Mellegard from the biz desk.

Thank you very much indeed. Now Tokyo's benchmark stock index plunged on Monday. The broad sell off was sparked by worries the US, the latest US tariffs on auto imports will slow the global economy. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell more than 1500 points, or 4%, for the biggest one day slide so far this year. It ended at 35,617.
The drop followed Friday's sharp declines on Wall Street, led by fears inflation may accelerate in the US. Automakers and chip related issues led the declines in Tokyo. Now other Asian stock markets retreated. Taiwan's main index slumped 4%, while the Kospi a benchmark in South Korea lost 3%.
Investors are concerned the trade policies of US President Donald Trump could lead to a global trade war. Trump has threatened to slap reciprocal tariffs on trading partners later this week.
Market sources say traders are starting to position themselves for a wave of retaliatory tariffs that could damage the entire global economy.
And consumers in Japan reeling under food inflation will face even higher grocery bills in April. A private research firm says the number of items set for markups will top 4,000 for the first time in 18 months.
Teikoku Databank surveyed 195 major domestic food and beverage makers and says price hikes are planned for 4,225 items in April. Seasonings account for the largest number at 2,034. This is followed by 1,222 liquor and beverage products. Canned beer and canned Chuhai spirits are set to cost more, along with coffee. Another 659 items are in the processed food category, including frozen foods, ham and sausages. Now, prices are rising faster than last year. The research firm says producers are not only passing on higher ingredient prices, they're also adding the rising costs of labor and distribution. Teikoku says the price increases are likely to continue intermittently, at least through the summer.

Now there are only two weeks left until the Expo 2025 in Osaka kicks off. The months long festivities will include a local university group dedicated to creating a truly global music ensemble. NHK World's Tashiro Kyoko reports.

Students from around the world have come together for this live performance.

My name is Fuji. I'm from Vietnam.  ...   Hello.   ...

A student group from Osaka University called a-tune organized the concert.
It has been dedicated to creating musical international exchanges for four years.

We wanted to use music, a communication tool that doesn't rely on language, to connect to the world.

Performing together with people across the world is not easy. Local internet conditions create sound lags, making it hard for musicians to match. To solve this, a-tune has created a timing system.
It uses this simple keyboard. Using this guide screen that looks like a video game, performers can play along relatively easily, even those with no musical background.
To perform, overseas participants first register their performance start time. The system then sets the perfect timing to start playing in their region, making it possible to match musically with the orchestra in Japan.

I feel closer to overseas countries through these performances. I would be happy if the audience could see that we are actually playing together with people in other countries at the same time.

The orchestra's latest concert was its biggest yet, with members in about 30 countries and regions providing a mix of live and pre-recorded performances.
Before they can perform an original song, trouble arises. There is a problem with the timing system. The hosts ask the audience for three minutes of patience. Meanwhile, the technical team rushes to fix the issue.
After they solve the problem by resetting the system, the team tells the performers overseas to do the same.
The show ends with the audience joining it. Very interesting. You can connect people from all around the world to place with it together. The orchestra is set to perform at the Expo in September, aiming to feature performers from around 50 countries and regions, its biggest global jam yet. Tashiro Kyoko NHK World Osaka.

And that is it for business news.
Next, let's go to my colleague Shibuya Aki for Newslines in Focus, with a look at how life in Russia is changing behind the scenes of the invasion of Ukraine.

Even though Western countries have imposed severe sanctions on Russia, its GDP grew at a rate of 4.1 percent last year. Nightclubs in Moscow are crowded with many young people every day. Behind the boom is military spending of about 160 billion US dollars a year, more than 30% of the national budget. This huge influx of government funds is boosting the economy by creating new jobs at military factories and facilities.
This money is also used to recruit new soldiers and as compensation for bereaved families of those who die on the front lines.

Condominiums recently built in a city in the Russian Far East. Currently, property purchases by the families of soldiers participating in the invasion in Ukraine are on the rise.
Tatyana Litvinova is the wife of a career military man. Last December, she purchased a condo as an investment. It cost about 83,000 US dollars.
If you put an armchair and a small table on the balcony and drink coffee while watching the sunset, it can make you feel very happy.
Tatyana says she got a loan for more than half of the payment. Interest rates for housing loans can exceed 20%.
But she's paying only 2%.
The Putin administration is giving preferential treatment to soldiers taking part in the invasion.

It probably would have been impossible to buy this condo without the special loan.
I might have chosen a cheaper option.

A real estate agent points out that the administration's preferential policy is expanding the housing market.

Soldiers taking part in a special military operation are very active in purchasing properties. We plan to build seven more condo complexes in the near future.

As the Putin administration has been facing a shortage of soldiers, it's spending a lot of money on recruitment.
This sign board in Moscow appeals for volunteer soldiers. It offers a payment equivalent to five years of the average monthly income.
But many of those who go to the battlefield don't simply get a cash reward, they also pay a price. It has been reported that more than 97,000 Russian soldiers have died.
Russian economist Vladislav Inozemtsev is keeping an eye on the large compensation paid to bereaved families.
He says it could exceed 160,000 US dollars and points out this money is changing the nature of the Russian economy.
If soldiers die in the war, their families will receive as much money as they would usually earn over 20 years.
Monetization of people's lives is taking place. People can earn more money by dying than living. The money paid to the soldiers bereaved family members drives the economy faster than if they survived the conflict.
Many of the soldiers are believed to be from poor rural areas. We have a first hand account from a man who left Russia. Andrei Amanov is from the Sakha Republic in Siberia, which has a high poverty rate. He used to earn

 

at 18:00 (JST), March 30

 

20250330180000_english_1.mp3

Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Gene Otani in Tokyo.

Myanmar's powerful earthquake has claimed the lives of more than 1,600 people and left more than 3,400 others injured. Rescue efforts continue in widespread areas searching for survivors in collapsed buildings.
The US Geological Survey says the magnitude 7.7 quake struck near Mandalay on Friday afternoon. Another jolt with a magnitude of 6.7 followed about 10 minutes later. Areas hit areas hard hit by the quake also include the capital, Nepedal. Japan's Foreign Ministry says one of its nationals, who lived in a collapsed building, remains unaccounted for. Two other Japanese were injured in Mandalay. Footage from Mandalay shows areas outside a hospital, NHK talked to the local resident who took the video. He said many of the injured received treatment outside as the facility was incapable of taking in so many people. Another clip shows volunteers distributing food and water to patients on Saturday morning. The man who filmed the video says many stores have collapsed and food and water are in short supply. The military in Myanmar has held power since a coup in 2021. Earthquake torn areas include parts where frequent fighting has been reported between the military and pro democracy forces, complicating efforts to assess the damage. Neighboring Thailand is also facing severe damage. Local authorities say at least nine people are dead and more than 70 others are missing. A high rise building under construction collapsed in the capital, Bangkok.
Rescuers are working around the clock, desperately searching for the missing.

The economy ministers of Japan, China and South Korea have agreed to further promote trade based on international rules. Their trilateral meeting in Seoul was the first of its kind in about five years. Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Muto Yoji noted the three countries are a driving force for the global economy, accounting for about 25 percent of the world's GDP.

It's very important to maintain and strengthen the order of the rules-based global economy, as the international environment is rapidly changing and becoming increasingly unstable. A joint statement says the ministers agree to continue promoting multilateral free trade based on the rules of the World Trade Organization. It also says they agreed to speed up negotiations for a trilateral free trade agreement. The three countries began talks on the matter in 2012. The ministers are also believed to have discussed the
Trump administration's attempts to raise tariffs on many fronts.

US President Donald Trump has indicated that his country will buy icebreakers from Finland, a major producer of the ships used to navigate in the Arctic. It appears to be part of his administration's engagement in the Arctic region.
Trump made their mark on social media after playing golf on Saturday in Florida with Finnish President Alexander Stub.
Trump says the two look forward to strengthening the partnership between their countries, including developing and purchasing a large number of icebreakers for the US. Trump's Vice President JD Vance visited Greenland the day before. It is a self governing territory of Denmark, he said that the Trump administration is really interested in Arctic security. Vance added that the issue will be increasingly important in coming decades. Trump has insisted that the US should acquire Greenland. His administration has cited the increasing presence of Russia and China in the Arctic region, including Greenland.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the US has proposed. A new deal for access to Ukraine's mineral resources. He says it is entirely different from the previous deal that was never signed.
Zelenskyy says the proposal contains many things that were not discussed, as well as some things already rejected by the parties involved. However, he says that he doesn't want to make waves, suggesting that Ukraine intends to examine the new draft. with legal experts instead of immediately rejecting it. Last month, Zelenskyy and US President Trump met for talks, but failed to agree on a mineral deal. Since then, arrangements have been underway on a new framework. The Financial Times says, has a copy of the new draft and call it a dramatic escalation of the Trump administration's efforts to seize control of Ukraine's lucrative natural resources.
Trump said on Monday that he expected a mineral rights deal to be signed soon.
However, the Financial Times quotes several Ukrainian officials as saying that the signing is unlikely to happen, with one calling the new draft unfair.

A large crowd of protesters has rallied in Istanbul, Turkey. They are demanding the release of the city's mayor, who was arrested for alleged corruption.
The gathering on Saturday was in response to a call from Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP, Istanbul Mayor. Ekrem Imamoglu has denied the corruption allegation. He was detained on March 19th and was later arrested. After his detention, Imamoglu was elected as the CHP's candidate for the next presidential election slated for 2028. At the rally, CHP leader. Ozgur Ozel criticized President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's administration. He called the mayor's arrest a coup against our will.
The party says it is determined to keep fighting until Imamoglu is released.

I want the injustice to end. We want today to be the day of revolution, a new beginning.

Erdogan has denounced the recent protests as street terrorism. Turkish authorities have detained about 1,900 demonstrators so far. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc stress that the ongoing investigations into the alleged corruption are appropriate and are based on law.

♪

America's National Cherry Blossom Festival is drawing crowds in Washington.
The annual event celebrates friendly relations with Japan.
The National Park Service declared on Friday that the trees were in full bloom.
Park along the Potomac River is home to 3,800 Japanese cherry trees, making it one of the most famous places for cherry blossom viewing in the country. The trees were gifted to the US Capitol in 1912 by the then mayor of Tokyo.

I think it was a nice gesture from Japan to be able to provide, you know, our country with such beauty. I just hope our countries can continue that that bond together.

Events featuring Japanese food and traditional culture are scheduled through April 13th.

Those were the main stories for this hour.

♫～

And that's the news this hour. I'm Gene Otani. From all of us here at NHK Newsline to all around the world, thanks very much for joining us.

at 18:00 (JST), March 29

 

20250329180000_english_1.mp3

Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Gene Otani in Tokyo.

Myanmar's state-run media says the death toll from Friday's powerful earthquake has risen to at least 1,000. More than 2,300 are injured. The temblor toppled buildings and destroyed roads across the country.
Strong jolts were felt across Southeast Asia, with neighboring Thailand also suffering extensive damage.
The US Geological Survey says the initial magnitude 7.7 quake happened at around 12:50 p.m. local time Friday at a depth of about 10 kilometers. The epicenter was near Myanmar's second largest city, Mandalay.
Another jolt with a magnitude of 6.7 followed about 10 minutes later.

Ohh

One video captures the residential quarters of a temple collapsing. Footage from communities near the epicenter are revealing the scale of devastation.

... ...

Other footage shows extensive damage to roads and infrastructure. The Japanese embassy in Myanmar says two of its citizens were injured in Mandalay and received medical treatment at a hospital. Officials say the two were not hospitalized and their injuries are not life-threatening. Powerful shaking was felt in Bangkok, 1,000 kilometers from the epicenter. Building swayed and water poured down from rooftop pools.
The quake leveled a skyscraper under construction. Thai authorities say at least five people at the site were killed.
The building collapsed just as construction workers were returning from lunch. I'm so shocked. I still haven't accepted what happened.
Rescue operations are still underway, with authorities saying about 100 people remain trapped.
Offers to help Myanmar cope are arriving from around the world.
A rescue team from China has arrived in Myanmar's largest city, Yangon. The 37 members from the border province of Yunnan are reportedly there to assist search efforts and provide medical aid. China's state-run Xinhua news agency says another team of 82 members departed from Beijing on Saturday bringing relief supplies. Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent condolences to Myanmar's military leader Ming Aung Lin. He said in a message that the two countries are a community of shared prosperity and adversity. Xi also said they enjoy a deep fraternal friendship.
Neighboring India has also sent aid. Indian Air Force aircraft arrived at Yangon Airport on Saturday, they brought 15 tons of relief supplies, including tents, blankets, sleeping bags, food and hygiene kits.
Russia's emergency ministry says it has sent a rescue team of around 120 people to Myanmar. Russia in Myanmar have recently been bolstering ties. Myanmar's junta leader met with President Vladimir Putin earlier this month.

US President Donald Trump said his country will be providing help.

It's terrible what's happened. It's a real bad one, and we will be helping. We've already spoken with the country.

A US State Department spokesperson said disaster expert teams will provide immediate assistance if they receive a formal request.

US President Trump told reporters he wants to solve the issue of Iran's nuclear program, saying he intends to work it out with the country.
Trump had sent a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei calling for talks to curb the country's nuclear program. On Thursday, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Iraq, she responded by saying indirect talks can continue if they are brokered by a third party.

Iran is very high on my. my list of things to watch. My big preference is we work it out with Iran. But if we don't work it out, bad, bad things are going to happen to Iran.

But Trump didn't mention the timing or format of the proposed talks. Trump's previous administration unilaterally walked away from the nuclear agreement with Iran in 2018. The next administration, led by President Joe Biden, held indirect talks with Iran in an effort to restore the nuclear agreement, but failed to narrow the gap.

President Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney have held their first telephone talks. They both described the conversation as productive.

We had a very good conversation. Mark called me today at 10:00. We put out a statement. We had a very, very good talk.

The talks were arranged at Washington's request, Trump said afterward he would meet Carney in person following Canada's general election on April 28.
Carney told reporters the conversation was cordial and substantive.
Ottawa says the two agreed to arrange ministerial level talks to address tariffs and other immediate concerns, Carney reportedly told Trump.
His government would implement retaliatory duties if the US announces tariffs and other trade actions on April 2. Trump's trade threats are part of an aggressive approach toward Canada, which he has repeatedly suggested should be should become America's 51st state. He referred to former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as governor. But he is apparently taking a softer stance toward Carney, calling him Prime Minister, and Mark in social media posts.

Details continue to emerge about how key members of the US Trump administration used a public app to discuss military plans. The Wall Street Journal is now reporting their messages contain sensitive intelligence provided by Israel. This scandal came to light earlier this week when The Atlantic magazine published messages sent by members of Trump's national security team. They discussed details of planned strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen.
They were sent on the commercial messaging app Signal. The Atlantic saw them after its editor-in-chief was mistakenly invited to the chat. The Wall Street Journal cites US officials as saying,The Israeli intelligence contained in the messages was about a Houthi missile expert. US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz described him in the chat as the Houthi's top missile guy. The Wall Street Journal says Israel obtained the information from a source in Yemen. It says Israeli officials complained privately to the US after Waltz's text was published. Trump is downplaying the group chat controversy, claiming no classified information was discussed. But some observers say the issue will affect how military intelligence is shared by US allies and partners.

♪

Those were the main stories for this hour.

♫～

And that's the news this hour. I'm Gene Ohtani. From all of us here at NHK Newsline to all around the world, thanks very much for joining us.

at 18:00 (JST), March 28

20250328180000_english_1.mp3

Thanks for joining us on NHK Newsline. I'm Yamaguchi Hiroaki in Tokyo.

The US Geological Survey says a magnitude 7.7 earthquake has struck Myanmar.
3:20 p.m. Japan time, with strong tremors also felt in neighboring countries.
USGS says the quake's epicenter had a depth of nearly 10 kilometers and was located near Myanmar's second largest city, Mandalay. The area is known for its many Buddhist temples and historic sites. We're waiting for details on any damage or casualties from Myanmar, which has been controlled by a military junta since 2021. The quake also caused tall structures to sway in Thailand's capital, including NHK's local bureau, located on the 17th floor of a building. Office workers present streaming into the streets.

Earthquake is scary. This is my first time to experience this. 

Experience earthquake. Where are you?

In the 10th floor.

10th floor?

Yes. Rain is swinging very clearly, so we decide to run.

Bangkok is located more than a thousand kilometers away from the quake's epicenter. We'll have more details on this story as it develops.

Two major wildfires in western Japan finally seem to be under control.
Rainfall has helped to turn the tide in both Imabari and Okayama. The latter now says its fire is officially contained. The recent downpour was the first rain to hit the areas since the fires broke out Sunday.

This is the blessed rain I was waiting for.

Water was seen pooling in Imabari city Friday morning. Wet winds have also blown away the smell of the wildfires.
City officials said Friday they have not confirmed any flames or smoke in the area. But they said drones did identify some heat sources that could be the remnants of some fires.
Over 440 hectares have been burned as of Thursday. At least 21 structures, including houses and warehouses, have been damaged. The city issued evacuation orders to nearly 6,000 of its residents.
Officials say they will consider gradually lifting those orders as they confirm the situation on the ground. In Okayama, the mayor announced the fire was completely contained Friday. The news came shortly after the city lifted all its evacuation orders.
Meanwhile, South Korea is also grappling with the worst wildfires in its history.
At least 28 are dead and another 30,000 were forced to evacuate.
As of Friday morning, about 94% of the fire in the hard-hit North Gyeonsan Province has been extinguished.

The number of schoolchildren in Japan who took their own lives rose to record levels in 2024. This has prompted the government to seek measures to prevent suicides by minors.
The Health and Welfare Ministry says 529 elementary, junior high and high school students committed suicide last year. The figure exceeded the previous record of 514 reported in 2022. The ministry also compiled reasons or motives for the suicides, allowing multiple factors per case. Problems at school, such as poor grades or anxiety about the future, resided in the largest number of cases at 272.
Health problems, such as depression, resided in 164 cases.
Family issues, such as tensions with parents, were seen as contributing to 108 cases.
Mihara Junko, the minister in charge, expressed her extreme regret over the situation.

If children have worries or problems, we want them to feel free to seek help. This is the kind of society we should create.

The Children and Families Agency promotes measures to prevent suicides by children.
Officials say they will analyze the factors behind the incidents and work to encourage minors to talk more freely about their problems. They say they will also advise adults and the community on ways to support troubled children.

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called a general election for May 3, but it's unclear whether his ruling Labor Party can retain power amid growing discontent over the economy.

And at a time where it's never been more important for Australia to stand on our own two feet, only Labor is building an economy where we make more things here.

The Prime Minister's remarks come as US President Donald Trump's tariffs cast a shadow over Australia's economic outlook.
The central-left Labor Party returned to power for the first time in nine years in the 2022 general election. but it's facing challenges amid frustration with inflation and soaring housing prices. A recent poll shows a tight race between the Labour Party and the Conservative coalition led by the largest opposition, Liberal Party.
The two-party preferred vote is tied at 50/50 percent. About half of the upper house seats will also be contested in the May election.

NHK has learned that a cybersecurity firm has uncovered a fake website offering tickets for the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka. The company is calling on people to exercise caution when buying passes online.
Trend Micro says it made the discovery this month. The website appears to host information in English about ticket sales for the expo and more. But the firm says it actually seems to be designed to steal people's personal information. The company also says it found multiple attempts to acquire domain names similar to the expo's official site. And it has seen fake accounts claiming to be official ones for the event on social media.
The company advises people make sure they only buy tickets through official channels.

There are often moves to create fake web pages before events that attract global attention. People should be aware of this and check that they're using legitimate sites.

The six month long Expo 2025 in Osaka begins April 13.

Working at a hot spring or a ski resort? It may seem like a young person's game, but there's a shift underway in Japan. A growing number of people in their 50s or older are working part-time jobs in resort areas, offering new careers, as well as a variety of new benefits.

More than 70,000 skiers hit these slopes every month during the winter, among them 55 year old Murayama Saburo.
He retired early from his role as a public servant, but this isn't your traditional retirement life.
Murayama actually works at this resort as a part-time instructor. Between November and April, I want to ski every day, so this is perfect for me.
His wife also works with him. They live in a dormitory, including utilities. It costs them about $66 each month.
They can use the resort's cafeteria as part of their employee benefits. Their pay is about $7.60 an hour.
That adds up to a combined roughly $1,900 per month. It may not be a lot, but they find another employee perk quite enticing.

(Japanese)

They enjoy their hobby with lift tickets provided by their employer.
Muriyama started his new career two years ago when his children started working. My daughters are all grown up now, so I want to focus more on my own happiness. In that sense, being able to enjoy a different life by working part-time at a resort is appealing to me. I'm so happy.

He's not alone. An agency that connects part-time workers with businesses in resort areas, says the number of workers, 50 or older, has significantly increased in the past decade. It surveyed the workers. They say gaining experience or being challenged in a new environment was one of their top reasons for starting part-time work at a resort.
This researcher says when employees approach the end of their career with their company, they start to rethink their lives.

They ask themselves what they really want to do, and some of them start to think about choosing another option.
Middle-aged workers have experience and can help with Japan's growing labour shortage. This traditional Japanese style hotel in a hot spring resort in Shizuoka Prefecture is hiring seven of them. Because they and the customers are close in age, they find their interactions to be more pleasant.

I like to talk with customers, so I enjoy working every day.

The researcher in the story points out that despite the benefits, part-time jobs also carry risks. The workers may not be able to earn enough stable income.
He says they should also think about whether they can save enough money to sustain themselves when they're unable to work in the future. 

Now let's check out the weather. Japan has experienced warmer than usual conditions this week, although the weekend will cool down. Our meteorologist Yumi Hiono has the details.

It's only March, but we here in Tokyo had early summer-like temperatures on Friday.
These warm conditions are helping cherry blossoms to reach full bloom.
This is the fourth time this March the high temperature in central Tokyo has reached 25 degrees or higher. It's the first time on record that month has had so many high temperatures.
Meanwhile, officials announced the cherry blossoms are in full bloom in the prefectural capital cities of Kochi, Fukuoka and Kumamoto, the earliest in the country this season. It's an ideal time to view the blossoms in many places, but below normal temperatures are on the way starting this weekend. So a big change is coming. Cold air is expected to cover much of the country over the weekend. So the high in Tokyo will drop to only 10, which is as cold as mid-winter. Sapporo will see snowfall with a high of only 6.
Moving to the United States, severe weather is a concern. In southern Texas, almost 300 millimeters of heavy rainfall, gusts of over 90 kilometers per hour, and even a tornado having reported. A small but active low-pressure system near the border is causing these conditions.
The system is expected to move slowly, so the same impact will continue into Friday. People should keep watching out for flash flooding and power outages.
And another system is bringing wet weather to the Pacific Northwest. Heavy rain and windy conditions are possible along the coast. Showers are also likely in Seattle and Vancouver, but sunny and mild conditions are expected in LA with a high of 17.
That's all for the weather. Have a nice weekend.

♫～

And that's all for this edition of NHK Newsline. Thanks for staying with us.
 

at 18:00 (JST), March 27

20250327180000_english_1.mp3

Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Morishita Erika in Tokyo.

For the first time, Japan has published how it would evacuate Okinawa Prefecture's remote islands during an emergency. The plan calls for transporting more than 120,000 people by air and sea in just under a week.
Officials have been simulating how to quickly bring large numbers of residents and tourists from the Sakishima Islands to parts of western Japan.
20,000 people would be moved each day from five different municipalities. Self-defense Force and Japan Coast Guard vessels would be used, as well as private sector ferries and aircraft. Officials say they would try to keep members from the same community together as much as possible.

We'll consider how we would reopen schools, provide job support as well as medium to long-term accommodations, and make arrangements to look after those who need special assistance if the evacuation period goes beyond one month.

People in Okinawa's remote islands are expected to be evacuated in the event of the regional crisis, such as a contingency involving Taiwan.
Japan's government plans to release basic guidelines for the plan in fiscal 2026.

South Korea is dealing with its worst wildfires in its history. They've killed at least 26 people and forced tens of thousands to flee. Hundreds of structures are destroyed. Earlier, I spoke with NHK World's Kim Chan-ju to get a sense of the disaster's scale.

The situation is still intense and there's no sign it's going to improve anytime soon. But we're getting a better understanding of the damage left behind. It's massive. I'm in Ulsong County, North Gyeongsang Province. One of the wildfires passed through this village on Tuesday. This used to be someone's home, but it's just a skeleton now. It's a similar story all around this area, and many parts are still smoking, making it difficult to breathe.
On our way here Wednesday night, we saw mountain areas on fire next to the expressway. The Korea Forest Service has raised its forest fire disaster warning to the highest level nationwide. Firefighting efforts are underway in multiple wildfire zones. Officials estimate more than 36,000 hectares of forest area have been hit by the wildfires. Ulsong and Andong City are the most severely affected. About 30,000 have to evacuate. The ones who can return say they've never seen such a huge amount of destruction like this before.

More than 200 houses burned down in this district. How long will it take to restore them? It's impossible to do it in one or two days.

As of Thursday morning, about half the fires in Ulseong have been contained.

Right, so the situation is still quite difficult.
Now, we are also hearing of some major losses to the country's cultural heritage. Tell us about that.

Yes, earlier we saw that damage firsthand a short distance from here. Take a look.
This is what's left of Gun Temple. It was built around about 1,300 years ago. I spoke with the temple's deputy monk, and he says he made every effort to save cultural assets until the very last moment.

The horrific situation has left me speechless. Cultural assets, Valuable national treasures, protected for several thousands of years, have burned down.

Meantime, there is also concern for the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hawei Folk Village. It's about a 15-minute drive from here. A fire is approaching the area and residents have been advised to evacuate.

Chan-joo, why are these wildfires spreading so much?

Experts and local media say a lot of it has to do with the weather. They say the dry, strong winds have blown embers to other areas.
Trees are also a problem. Coniferous trees such as pine trees are known to contain more thermal energy and sustain flames more than twice as long as broadleaf trees.
Acting President Han Deok-soo says the government is confronting the fires with all available personnel and equipment, but the situation remains dire.
The government says about 6,000 military personnel and more than 100 military helicopters have been deployed so far to combat the wildfires. US forces in South Korea are also providing help.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has supervised a test involving military drones. He then called for a medium to long-term project to enhance their development. North Korea's state-run media reported that Kim oversaw performance tests on Tuesday and Wednesday. Those involved newly developed reconnaissance and self-destructing drones that country has been producing. A photo shows a large unmanned surveillance aircraft in flight. Other pictures show drones exploding after hitting targets.
The media said Kim supports a plan to expand production. It quoted him as saying the field of unmanned equipment and artificial intelligence should be prioritized. Photographs in the report also showed Kim inspecting what appeared to be early warning and control aircraft. Multiple sources told NHK last month that the North reached an agreement with Russia to receive technical help to jointly develop and produce multiple types of drones.

The South Korean military says the North has been sending more soldiers to Russia. It says Pyongyang deployed over 3,000 troops in January and Februarysupport the invasion of Ukraine.
A report by the Joint Chiefs of Staff says North Korea likely sent about 11,000 soldiers to Russia last year. It adds that about 4,000 of them have been injured or died.
The report also says Pyongyang has provided Moscow with military equipment.
That includes a large number of short-range ballistic missiles 220 self-propelled howitzers and rocket launchers. The North failed in its attempts to launch a military satellite in May last year. The report says there are no signs of a launch at that moment.

The saga around the national security group shot continues to plague the Trump administration. The Atlantic magazine released more of the messages as seen by its editor-in-chief.
The Atlantic ran a new article Wednesday.
It published screenshots from the chat, including posts by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. They detailed the planned attacks on the Houthis and the timeline of the operation. It also referred to attacks by fighter jets, drone strikes and Tomahawk missiles.
The magazine first reported about the chat Monday. He said its editor-in-chief was inadvertently invited to the group. He then watched as top US officials discussed the military operation in Yemen. In Wednesday's article, The Atlantic suggests there could have been dire consequences. He said the information could have put American personnel at risk.
President Trump is defending the group, claiming they didn't discuss classified information. He also suggested he won't punish National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, who made the chat.

There's no units, no locations, no routes, no flight paths, no sources, no methods, no classified information.

Defense Secretary Hexeth addressed reporters in Hawaii Wednesday, but didn't take any questions. Back in Washington, White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt also defended the group.
She said the app in question is approved by the US government. She said the CIA, as well as the Defense and State Departments, all have the app on government phones. She called it a secure and efficient way to communicate.
Reporters continued to press her on it, prompting her to push back.

I have now been asked an answer of the same question using different language multiple times. If anybody has another question, there's a lot of different things going on in the world.

She also said officials were working to see how The Atlantic's editor-in-chief made it into the group. She said tech billionaire Elon Musk, who works with the Trump administration, will also lend a hand.

♪

It's now time to check out the weather. As we reported, people in parts of Japan are struggling with wildfires. Our meteorologist Yumi Hirano will provide details about the upcoming rain.
Widespread showers are expected from Thursday to Friday. On Thursday, people in Yakushima experienced 180 millimeters of rainfall in just an hour. breaking its all-time record. The rain is likely to spread east. This could be welcome news for people in western Japan who are dealing with wildfires. But at the same time, caution is needed for severe weather. There are risks of thundershowers, gusty winds and even tornadoes. People in Tohoku also should watch out for avalanches and fresh fats due to melting snow.
After the rain, a big temperature change is coming over the weekend. It will be 20,16 in Tokyo on Friday, but drop to only 14 on Saturday.
Sapporo and Niigata may see snowfall on Saturday and Sunday, so please bundle up. Moving to North America, back-to-back Pacific storms are bringing wet weather to the northwest, and a couple of low pressure systems are causing severe weather in the plains. In southern Texas, total rainfall could exceed 200 millimeters by Friday, leading to flash flooding. Showers are also expected in Houston and Oklahoma City, but sunny skies are expected in Washington with a high of 16.
People should be able to see the beautiful contrast of blue skies and pink flowers.
Locals and visitors enjoyed picnics and taking pictures under the cherry blossoms in D.C. on Wednesday. Reuters reported from Family Film Philadelphia said they would definitely come back next year for the flowers. According to the National Park Service, peak bloom is usually during the last week of March and the first week of April. That's all for the weather. Have a nice day.

♫～

That's all for this edition of NHK Newsline. I'm Morishita Erika in Tokyo.
Thank you so much.
 

at 18:00 (JST), March 26

20250326180000_english_1.mp3

Hello, glad to have you with us on NHK Newsline. I'm Yamamoto Miki in Tokyo.

Wildfires ravaging western Japan still show no sign of stopping. Two of the blazes have grown while a third suddenly broke out Tuesday. The first wildfire began Sunday in Ehime Prefecture's Imabari City. More than 300 hectares have burned so far, including several homes and warehouses.
Nearly 6,000 people have been told to evacuate. Another wildfire also broke out Sunday, this time in Okayama Prefecture. It had burned more than 400 hectares across Okayama and Tamano cities. Residents of both were urged to evacuate Tuesday night. It's grown to be the largest forest fire ever recorded in the prefecture. Finally, a third blaze broke out in Miyazaki Prefecture midday Tuesday. Officials say there are no known injuries or damages so far, but 70 households have been told to evacuate. As of Wednesday, about 50 hectares have been burned. Authorities say the fire is weakening, however, it's still far from being under control.

NHK World's Kimura Miyako went to Imabari City to check out how the situation is developing. She filed this report.

The smoke has died down a little compared to Tuesday, but the fire is still spreading. Let's take a closer look. This area behind me is an under-evacuation order. It's part of the Asakura-Minami district. Winds are blowing smoke around. The situation appeared more intense the day before. I saw flames rising violently from the mountain, and the smoke filled the sky at times.
Firefighters have been working around the clock. Some have been called in from other prefectures. About two dozen people are helping respond to the emergency.
Wildfires of this scale are rare here. This is an important reminder of how quickly things can change. And thousands of people in Imabari are hoping for a change back to normal as soon as possible.

Now, Japan's neighbor South Korea is also dealing with wildfires. Authorities there say at least 18 people, including firefighters, have been killed as fast-moving flames engulf communities in the country's southeast. The fires started late last week and have intensified due to strong winds and dry conditions. Local media reports some victims have been found dead on roads, suggesting they were caught by the fires while fleeing. Others were found in their homes or gardens. Officials are scrambling to get people to safety, including hundreds of inmates who were transferred to another facility after their prison came under threat from the fires. Flames are also bearing down on a UNESCO-registered historic village in North Gyeongsan Province, putting Korea's heritage service on high alert.

It's been 80 years since US forces invaded Okinawa, beginning one of the bloodiest battles of World War II. More than 200,000 people lost their lives as fighting engulfed Japan's southern prefecture. American troops first landed on Zamami in the Kerama Islands, west of Okinawa's main island. A memorial service was held in the village on Wednesday. Residents gathered to mourn the people who lost their lives there.
About 12-hundred people died in the village in battles between Japanese and US troops. The casualties included those who died in a mass suicide.
The names of the victims are inscribed on the Tower of Peace Cenotaph. In the confusion of the fighting, more than 560 residents of the Kerama Islands, including Zamami Village, took their own lives. Some used hand grenades given to them by the now-defunct Imperial Japanese Army.
93-year-old Takae Sutoshiko is one of the survivors.

I don't want my grandchildren and great-grandchildren to experience the fear and pain I went through at that time. I pray that this peace will continue for a long time.

Locals face challenges passing down memories of the battle to future generations, as the number of living survivors dwindles each year.

Over half a million migrants welcomed into the US under a Biden administration program might be shown the door. The administration of US President Donald Trump is revoking the humanitarian parole status of about 530,000 migrants from four Central and South American countries. The Department of Homeland Security announced on Tuesday that it is terminating the parole programs forwhat it terms inadmissible aliens and their immediate family members. The migrants were allowed in from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. The system was introduced in 2022 as a humanitarian measure.
But the Trump administration has described the people in this program as illegal migrants flown into the US by former President Joe Biden using taxpayers' money. The department is giving the parole recipients 30 days to leave the country if they have no other legal basis for staying. Trump made immigration policy a key theme of his presidential campaign. A support group blasted the order, saying it will cause needless chaos and heartbreak for families and communities across the US.

President Trump is standing by his national security adviser, Mike Waltz.
This comes after a journalist was added to a top secret group chat discussing war plans.

There was no classified information, as I understand it. They used a a app, if you want to call it an app, that a lot of people use, a lot of people in government use, a lot of people in the media use.

Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, made the news public Monday. He said he was added to a group with key national security officials as they planned strikes on a rebel group in Yemen. He said the post included information about targets, weapons and attack sequencing. In an interview with Fox News Channel's The Ingram Angle, Waltz admitted that he organized a group chat. He called the incident embarrassing.

I take full responsibility. I built the I built the group to meet. My job is to make sure everything's coordinated.

The Trump administration has downplayed their reported security breach. National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee Tuesday. She said there was discussion around targets in general, but she repeated Trump's claims.

There was no classified material that was shared in that.

Democratic senators have called on the administration to share their information if it is not classified. The White House released a statement on Tuesday emphasizing the success of the attack in Yemen. They suggested the leak was a coordinated effort to distract the public. The White House says it has reached agreements with Russia and Ukraine to ensure safe navigation and eliminate the use of force on the Black Sea.
The two countries have also agreed to prevent commercial vessels from being used for military purposes on the sea.
The White House made the announcement on Tuesday after engaged in separate technical level talks with the two nations. The meetings were held in Saudi Arabia from Sunday through Tuesday.
the US said the two countries also agreed to take steps to ban strikes against energy facilities in Russia and Ukraine. The US added it will help restore Russia's access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports. Washington will help Kiev achieve the exchange of prisoners of war and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children.

Russia's presidential office also made an announcement about the agreement on Tuesday, but it noted certain conditions must be met in order for the agreement to go into effect. The office said some restrictions must be lifted, such as those on trade and financial transactions. It said sanctions must also be lifted on producers and exporters of fertilizers, fishery products and other foods.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented on the agreement. He said it will be implemented immediately.
The president added he will urge Trump to impose sanctions on Russia and provide weapons to Ukraine if Moscow violates the deal.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators continue to gather in the streets of Istanbul one week after their city's mayor was detained. They're demanding Ekrem Imamoglu be released and have clashed with security services.
The government says more than 1,400 protesters have been detained. President Rajib Type Eldawan denounced the protests as street terrorism. He says more than 100 security personnel have been injured.
Imamoglu is seen as Eldawan's main rival and was likely to lead the opposition in the next presidential election. He was arrested on suspicion of corruption but has denied all charges.
An opposition leader urged people to continue fighting and says Turkey should not be controlled by what he called a few corrupt individuals.

♪

It's time for a check on the weather with our meteorologist Jonathan Oh, so Jonathan, it was a warm day on Wednesday across a good portion of Japan, but we also had some strong winds during the morning as well. What can you tell us?

Hello, we did see temperatures pushing up to around 30 degrees in some portions of Japan as it went through Wednesday, but we had an interaction between a high pressure system down to the South and a low pressure system toward the north that brought some very strong winds, especially during the morning hours. It did cause some problems on the ground and I want to show you some of that video to give you an idea how things unfolded. A truck overturned on a highway in Fukushima Prefecture Wednesday morning, causing that road to be closed. Police say it's believed to have been caused by strong winds. The windy battered the Tohoku region, forcing the suspension of bullet and local train services and the closure of highways. Fire officials also reported injuries from wind induced falls. Parts of Miyagi Prefecture saw record gusts of 126 to even 136 kilometers per hour. So yeah, we did see those winds really pushing on through. We should see things a little bit calmer when it comes to the winds.
We've already seen that pressure gradient relax as the low pushes away from the area, but we're going to exchange the warm weather with the sunny skies to more of a rainy pattern as we have a couple of lows coming in from the West. So as that pushes on through, we'll be seeing the rain increasing with the cloud also part of the story as you go through Thursday. Snow possibilities in this Sapporo showers from Niigata into Osaka and Fukuoka now high of 26. Again, partly cloudy skies for Tokyo as you go through day, but clouds will be increasing as we head towards Friday with the rain in the forecast. So we did see a lot more of the first blossoms taking place, especially on the Pacific side of Japan as we went through Wednesday. But Thursday might not be the best day to check those out as we see the rain coming into the picture.
Speaking of the rain, Quick note on the Pacific Northwest in the United States here, we're looking at a low pressure storm that could lead to some strong, possibly severe thunderstorms. And so that's going to be a bit of a problem.
And then down to the South as we head toward Thursday, we may be talking about some thunderstorms popping up into places like Texas as we go throughout the day.
Looking at the forecast here again, thunderstorms from Vancouver into Seattle, showers into Oklahoma City for Wednesday.
Hope you have a good day wherever you are.

♫～

And that is all for this edition of NHK Newsline. I'm Yamamoto Miki in Tokyo.
Thank you for staying with us.
 

at 18:00 (JST), March 25

20250325180000_english_1.mp3

Hello, a very warm welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Yamamoto Miki in Tokyo.

A Japanese court has ordered the group, formerly known as the Unification Church, to disband as a religious corporation.
The organization has been accused of financially taking advantage of its followers. The Tokyo District Court issued the order on Tuesday in response to a request made by the Education and Culture Ministry in 2023.
Japan's government claims the group has violated civil law by pressuring people into donating huge sums of money by exploiting fears around spiritual well-being. The former Unification Church was cast into the spotlight after the fatal shooting of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo in 2022.
The suspect told investigators he believed Abe had close ties to the group.
He said his mother had made large donations to it, ruining his family's finances. This is the third time that a court in Japan has ordered a religious corporation to dissolve for a law violation. One of the past cases involved the Aum Shinrikyo cult responsible for the deadly sarin gas attack on Tokyo's subway system just over 30 years ago. This is the first time a group has been ordered to disband for violating Japanese civil law.
The former Unification Church will be able to continue religious activities.
but loses religious cooperation status.
It will no longer have tax benefits and will have to dispose of assets. The group is expected to appeal the decision.

Wildfires continue to rage in two prefectures of western Japan, the evacuation order in one, Okayama, has been lifted, but some residents of Ehime are still being urged to get away.
One of the fires broke out on Sunday in Imabari City in Ehime. The city said as of early Tuesday, the fire had scorched at least 214 hectares.
That makes it the largest fall fire in the prefecture in over 30 years.
Firefighters are working hard on the ground, while helicopters from the prefecture and the self-defense forces are battling the blaze from the air. The city has issued evacuation orders to more than 1,700 people.

I just want the fire to be put out, nothing more.

Nearby, Saito City has also issued evacuation orders of its own.

The United Nations says it is reducing staff members in the Gaza Strip following the resumption of Israeli attacks. One official was killed in strikes that hit a UN compound last week.

The Secretary General has taken the difficult decision to reduce the United Nations footprint in Gaza, even as humanitarian needs soar and are concerned over the protection of civilians intensifies. Guterres said about one-third of around 100 international staff will be temporarily relocated to outside of Gaza this week.
But he stressed the UN remains committed to providing aid to people in the enclave. Israeli forces launched attacks across Gaza on March 18 amid stalled ceasefire negotiations.
Humanitarian aid supplies have not been allowed to enter the strip for more than three weeks. Guterres referred to strikes that hit a UN compound in central Gaza on March 19, killing a UN official from Bulgaria and injuring six others. He said the attack was caused by an Israeli tank.
He said Secretary General Antonio Guterres is demanding an independent investigation into the incident.

In the United States, top officials in the Trump administration are under fire for reportedly sharing plans for military strikes on a rebel group in Yemen in a message chat that included a journalist. The incident is raising concerns over how the administration handles classified information.
Editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, says he received a connection request on the Signal messaging appby someone and identifying himself as National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.
Goldberg says he was later added to a group that included key national security officials. He says a person that seemed to be Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted operational details of upcoming strikes on the Houthi group in Yemen. This reportedly included information about targets, weapons and attack sequencing. Goldberg says the March 15 attack took place roughly two hours after he received a message about the plans. Members of the chat group are said to have celebrated the operation's success. An account labeled as Waltz posted emojis of a fist, an American flag, and a fire.
The White House National Security Council acknowledged in a statement that the message thread appears to be authentic.
It added that, quote,there were no threats to our service members or our national security. Hegseth has denied the report, criticizing the journalists involved.

You're talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist who's made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again.

He maintained that no one had texted any war plans.

Thai authorities have deported a Japanese man suspected of luring a high school student to Myanmar to work for a scam operation.
Hujinuma Tomu arrived in Osaka on Tuesday morning on a flight. He and the student became acquainted through an online game.
Fujinuma allegedly convinced the youth to come to Thailand in January and arranged for him to work at a scam center in eastern Myanmar. Fujinuma had been in Thai police custody since February after his visa for Thailand was revoked.
Thai authorities escorted him to an airport near Bangkok on Monday night and handed him over to Japanese police officers. A Thai police official told NHK that Fujinuma went by the name Gen. and worked for a Chinese group. He is suspected of involvement in several similar cases.

We believe his role was to lure people to work in Myanmar. We also suspect that he was trying to do the same in Cambodia as well.

Fujinuma was arrested in connection with a different case while on the flight to Japan.

Campaigning is underway in Canada for next month's general election. It's still early days, but already top of mind for many voters as well as candidates.
Tensions with the US and a lot of people are paying attention. Earlier, I spoke with NHK World's Steve Silva for histake.
So, Steve, you spent most of your career as a journalist in Canada, where you covered several elections. As for this one, how does US President Donald Trump fit into the conversation?

Well, he's raised a lot of anger in the country and inspired what may become the ballot box question. Who is the best person suited to take on Trump?
A lot of this centers on his tariffs and calls for Canada to become the 51st US state.
The countries are each other's largest export markets. That means tariffs between the two hit especially hard, and this issue is not going away. Trump has promised more tariffs on Canadian goods next week. These measures carry a particularly unsettling tone. Many people are insulted, they're worried about their livelihoods, and some are really wondering if Canadian sovereignty is at risk. But they're also fairly united on this as well.

And how are politicians tapping into that?

They're, of course, trying to tie a lot of their messaging now to Trump. Let's hear from the incumbent Prime Minister first.

We are facing the most significant crisis of our lifetimes because of President Trump's unjustified trade actions and his threats to our sovereignty.
Our response must be to build a strong economy and a more secure Canada.

Now, Mark Carney is still a newcomer to the political scene. He needs to develop trust and familiarity with the public. As well, he recently took over for former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who led the Liberal Party to some dire poll numbers. Take a look. Just months ago, 20% versus the Conservative Party at 44. That's according to a poll tracker by Canada's public broadcaster.
And now look at the situation this week.
Both are at 37%. Liberals are just a little further ahead.
It's a stunning comeback. Like, political analysts say this is thanks to Trudeau's resignation, Carney's experience as a central banker, something especially relevant amid a trade war. And he appears to be addressing the mood in Canada better than his main competitor, and that's Conservative Party leader Pierre Pollier. A lot of his focus has been on attacking Trudeau and an unpopular tax. He has a wealth of political experience, but analysts say he's struggling to come up with new messaging.
And it doesn't seem to be helping that some see him as a Canadian Trump of sorts.

We need to put Canada first for a change, with a new Conservative government that will axe taxes, unleash our resource production, build pipelines, secure our border, rebuild our armed forces, and stand up to Donald Trump from a position of strength.

Now, of course, Mickey, it's important to emphasize that this election runs five weeks, five whole weeks. That's quite a long time for things to possibly change.

Yes, absolutely. And the fact that Canadian politics have been making headlines around the world a lot lately, why do you think people outside of Canada are paying attention?

I think underdog stories have this kind of universal appeal. You have to realize Canada has a population of basically around 40 million people. Compare that to America's 340 million people.
But also the tariff situation. It's not an isolated situation. Trump is threatening to impose them on others, including Japan. So this political drama may also offer up some lessons for others.

And it is time for a check on the weather with our meteorologist Jonathan. Oh so, Jonathan. We went from freezing and snow conditions in Tokyo last week to almost late spring temperatures today. How are things looking for Wednesday?

Hello, we're definitely seeing temperatures that are more like May as opposed to March. I mean, it's a nice contrast what we saw last week, but. It does look like they were going to be sticking around with a little bit more of the warmth as you go through this week. Now, aside from just the warm weather where a good, decent portion of Japan seeing these above seasonable temperatures. We're also seeing some issues when it comes to the yellow sand that's coming in from the West and because of that we've had some reports even to Osaka and Tokyo where the yellow sand was detected. And so that's going to be of an issue when it comes to air quality as we go into Wednesday as well. Low pressure helping to kind of usher in that zonal flow from the West to the east. So that's going to continue to be the real wind machine that helps to kind of carry that yellow sand through Japan. We're going to see also some rain from that low as it moves toward the northern portions of the country and so you'll need the umbrellas in place like Sapporo and also into Niigata. A little bit cooler compared to Tuesday, but look at this 26 for the high on Wednesday in Tokyo. Definitely need a T-shirt at that point with the warmth there. 23 to Osaka and Fukuoka. I mean we're rivaling Naha here. 27 partly cloudy skies as we go throughout the day on Wednesday. Of course, nice weather means hey, maybe you want to check out the cherry blossoms, seeing the first blossoms, especially for the Westerners. From Matsuyama, Oita, Fukuoka and Saga, but even Gifu in Yokohama also now joining in on the action as we went through the day on Tuesday. Meanwhile, across North America, we're still talking about snow into Canada, places like Ontario into Quebec and also we have. the stationary front located across the Pacific Northwest and so that's going to continue to bring some wet weather into places like Vancouver with high 50 but 21 in Seattle and in Denver but single digits into Winnipeg and Toronto.
Across Europe we do have unsettled weather down toward the South another cold front up to the north near the Scandinavian Peninsula and we're looking at clouds elsewhere into the central portion of the continent for Tuesday.
Hope you have a good day wherever youare.

♫～

That is all for this edition of NHK Newsline. I'm Yamamoto Miki in Tokyo.
Thank you for staying with us.