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.
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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.
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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.
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