From our studios in Tokyo, this is NHK Newsline. I'm Ross Mihara.
TUVALU DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY OVER FUEL SHORTAGE
We start in the South Pacific, where one of the smallest countries in the world is feeling an outsized impact from the conflict in Iran.
Tuvalu has declared a 14-day state of emergency due to power generation and distribution instability. The order was made Monday for the main island of Funafuti.
The island is home to the capital, where more than half of the country's population of 10,000 lives.
The government says the order will enable immediate action to safeguard public welfare, ensure equitable access to critical services, and maintain national stability.
Tuvalu reportedly spends about a quarter of its GDP on imported petroleum for fuel and power supply.
New Zealand's public broadcaster says the measure will allow the government to control supplies and services, including fuel and electricity use and transportation.
Tuvalu isn't the only country suffering from an energy shortage.
The Philippines declared a national energy emergency last month, saying the country faced a crisis.
TRUMP: NEGOTIATIONS MAY RESTART IN 'NEXT TWO DAYS'
Negotiators from the US and Iran have been trying to strike a deal before a ceasefire ends next week.
They met last weekend in Pakistan, and they may be getting ready for another round.
US President Donald Trump suggested Tuesday that they could start over the next two days. Trump made the comments to the New York Post.
He didn't say who would represent the US, but sources told CNN Vice President JD Vance is expected to lead the country's delegation again if talks are held.
Pakistan is stepping up its mediation efforts.
The AP reports it has proposed hosting another round of talks before the ceasefire ends.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is also visiting Saudi Arabia and Turkey this week to promote the peace efforts.
US negotiators have reportedly been focused on Iran's nuclear program.
The New York Times says they proposed a suspension of activities for 20 years.
It says the Iranians countered with an offer for up to five years.
US forces are maintaining pressure through a naval blockade on Iranian ports.
The US Central Command says during the first 24 hours, no ships made it past.
It says 6 merchant vessels followed orders to return to an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman.
The Central Command says the mission involves more than 10,000 service members and more than a dozen warships, as well as over 100 fighter jets and surveillance aircraft, are taking part.
Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron will host a video conference with their European counterparts on Friday.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday they are expected to discuss plans to secure navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the report, this would include providing logistics support so stranded ships can leave the strait, as well as mine-clearing operations.
Reportedly, they would only be carried out after the end of the war.
According to sources, there are still differences in opinions on whether the US would be involved.
ITALY SUSPENDS RENEWAL OF DEFENSE PACT WITH ISRAEL
Italy will not renew a years-long defense pact with Israel.
The move comes with bilateral ties believed to be under strain.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made the announcement on Tuesday.
Italy ratified the agreement in 2005. It covers the exchange of military equipment and technological research and was designed to be automatically renewed every five years.
The next renewal was scheduled for this month.
Israeli Foreign Minister Guido Ansar responded on social media.
He called the agreement a memorandum of understanding that never contained any real substance. He said Israel's security would not be harmed.
Meloni is widely seen as a close ally of US President Donald Trump, but she has been clear that Italy would not get involved in the military operation against Iran.
And last month, US military aircraft were reportedly denied permission to land at an airbase in Italy.
Earlier this week, Meloni described remarks Trump made about Pope Leo XIV as unacceptable. The US leader called the pontiff weak on nuclear weapons.
Trump also spoke to an Italian news outlet about Meloni on Tuesday.
He said, She's the one who's unacceptable because she doesn't care if Iran has a nuclear weapon. He added, I thought she was brave, but I was wrong.
CHINA, RUSSIA LOOK TO BOLSTER TIES
China and Russia are pushing for closer coordination on the world stage as global tensions continue to simmer.
Chinese President Xi Jinping met Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for talks Wednesday in Beijing.
00:05:14 話者 11/Xi Jinping
In the face of the turbulent and changing international situation, the stability and certainty of China-Russia relations are particularly valuable.
00:05:24 話者 1
China's state media say Xi called for stronger strategic coordination to defend shared interests.
Lavrov reportedly echoed that message, saying their countries should maintain high-level exchanges and work together to uphold what he called international fairness and justice.
The meeting took place a day after Lavrov met his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi.
They are believed to have discussed plans for a summit in China.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit China in the coming weeks.
Russian media is reporting it will happen before July.
One Hong Kong outlet says it could be as early as May.
NORTH KOREA CELEBRATES FOUNDER'S BIRTHDAY
Now we turn to North Korea, where people are celebrating the country's biggest national holiday, the birthday of the country's founder, Kim Il-sung.
On Wednesday, many people gathered at the statue of Kim Il-sung in the capital, Pyongyang.
There, they laid flowers and showed their respect to the founder who ruled the country from its inception until his death in 1994.
The front page of the ruling party's newspaper lauded Kim Il-sung's achievements.
It said his ideology of putting the people first remains the enduring political philosophy of the party and the state.
For more on this, earlier I spoke with NHK World's senior international correspondent and former Seoul bureau chief Aoki Yoshiyuki.
First of all, how important is April 15th to people in North Korea?
00:07:06 話者 3/Aoki Yoshiyuki
It's far more important than other holidays, like New Year holidays.
April 15th is called the Day of the Sun.
The founder in the country, he's so sacred in the country that he's likened to the sun.
But it's now rare for the country's media to use those words now.
The reason is not clear, but some experts say that the current leader Kim Jong-un is trying to get out of his predecessor's image so he can pave his own way.
00:07:35 話者 1
And what is the latest on North Korea's foreign relations? What has stood out to you?
00:07:40 話者 3
Well, the most impressive development is improved relations with China.
Railway services and flights between the two countries have now resumed.
Last week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Pyongyang for the first time in six and a half years.
North Korean media quoted leader Kim as saying, It's important to have more exchanges at every level for sustainable development of bilateral relations.
A South Korean expert I spoke to says one's visit this time is definitely related to the US
president's visit to China, scheduled for May.
00:08:18 話者 14/Cheong Seong-chang/Vice President, Sejong Institute
North Korea will be on the agenda at the summit between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
I think Kim wanted to hear directly from Wang how Beijing will deal with the issue.
00:08:32 話者 3
For the past several years, Pyongyang has strengthened relations with Moscow as well.
North Korea sent its troops to Russia to support the country's invasion of Ukraine.
A South Korean think tank says North Korea could earn up to 14.4 billion dollars from the military's support.
But it remains to be seen how far this relationship extends when it comes to tourism.
A major Russian newspaper reports there are very few tourists on direct flights to Pyongyang.
00:09:02 話者 1
What about the relationship with South Korea? The North seems to be hostile lately.
00:09:07 話者 3
That's right, Ross. Now, Pyongyang calls the South the most hostile country.
North Korea tested its latest weapon system last week.
They include a surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missile armed with a cluster bomb warhead. South Korea's military says one missile flew for 700 kilometers.
That's a range that covers the entire Korean peninsula.
Regarding the cluster bomb warhead, North Korean media say it demonstrated that a target area of 6.5 to 7 hectares can be devastated.
That's almost the same size as 10 sacre fields.
At the same time, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is calling for dialogue with the North.
00:09:54 話者 14/Lee Jae Myung
I hope that North Korea will have a dialogue with us at an early date and move forward to a new future while looking back on the dark past.
00:10:05 話者 3
While the previous administration placed top priority on denuclearization, Lee's government stresses peaceful coexistence and joint growth.
But North Korea remains very cold.
A senior foreign ministry official rejected Seoul's request and said, Forget silly dreams.
00:10:25 話者 1
And one of the most talked-about topics now is Kim's daughter.
She has frequently been seen accompanying him. Could she be a successor?
00:10:34 話者 3
Well, I don't know yet.
She seems to be a teenager, has not even become a member of the ruling Workers' Party.
But from recent photographs and videos from the country's media, it seems like she's very special. At the end of February, Kim gave rifles to senior officials and tested them together.
And there she was, yes, shooting a rifle.
And she was almost photographed at another event in the Capitol earlier this month.
Kim seemingly spoke to officials, look at this photo, but she was distracted by cats.
And the next photo, she was touching her father's chest with her finger.
I've never seen Kim's wife or his younger sister acting in the same way.
There's also a video from an army base where his daughter was on the tank.
South Korea's National Intelligence Service believes that it's a reminder that Kim himself rode on a tank in the past, just as she did.
The NIS top official reportedly said at the South Korean parliamentary committee that he thinks it's reasonable to expect her to be Kim's successor.
The expert believes we will see her activities much more often.
00:11:55 話者 14
I think she will more actively show herself, as if she is the number two position in the country.
It's not just accompanying her father, but giving instructions to officials on the scene.
00:12:11 話者 3
Other experts are more hesitant to say Kim's daughter will succeed him, saying that she has no official position or title, and most notably, her name has not been made public.
A South Korean media call her Kim Ju-ae, but Pyongyang has not confirmed that.
There are many mysteries in the North, but that's why it's very interesting to keep watching.
00:12:33 話者 1
Thank you for your insight. That was NHK's former Seoul bureau chief, Aoki Yoshiyuki.
BUSINESS
Let's go to Ramin Mellegard for the latest business stories.
00:12:52 話者 5/Ramin Mellegard
Thank you very much indeed.
JAPAN'S NIKKEI 225 RISES ON PROSPECT OF PEACE TALKS
Now, Tokyo's Nikkei 225 stock index rose for a second straight session on Wednesday.
Buying kicked in on views that the US and Iran will resume peace talks soon.
The benchmark ended at 58,134, up 0.4%.
It recovered to the 58,000 mark for the first time since March 2.
Analysts say investors picked up shares such as semiconductor-related firms, but some locked in profits.
The rally followed a plunge in New York crude oil futures overnight.
WTI briefly dropped to a three-week low in the $86 a barrel range, but it's still about 30% higher than that before the US and Israel began attacking Iran at the end of February.
The International Energy Agency said attacks on infrastructure and other disruptions in the Middle East caused global oil supplies to plunge in March.
IEA: GLOBAL OIL SUPPLY PLUNGED IN MARCH
The IEA report released on Tuesday says the daily supply fell by 10.1 million barrels to 97 million in the month.
The agency also said shipments through the Strait of Hormuz remained severely restricted in early April, with loadings including crude oil and refined products averaging around 3.8 million barrels a day.
In February, before the crisis emerged, loadings averaged more than 20 million barrels A day.
The IEA noted that Asian petrochemical producers have reduced operating rates as feedstocks ran short.
It estimates global oil demand will decline by 80,000 barrels a day on average this year.
The IEA says prospects for the US and Iran to reach an agreement remain unclear.
It adds that if the conflict is prolonged, the world will still need to brace for significant energy supply disruptions in the months to come.
OIL SQUEEZE THINS OUT SOLVENT SUPPLY FOR PAINTING CONTRACTORS
Now, painting contractors in Japan are another industry hit by shortages of petrochemicals from the falloff in oil supply.
The industry says it's running out of solvents used as paint thinner and has asked the government for help.
An association representing painting contractors delivered a written request for assistance to the Land and Infrastructure Ministry on Tuesday.
The group says a survey of its members in April shows more than 90% faced shortages of solvents. Some said supply had dried up entirely.
More than a third of its members, or 850 companies, responded to the survey.
00:15:45 話者 16/Kato Noritoshi/Chairperson, Japan Painting Contractors Association
We want to make sure that the needs of paint manufacturers, distributors and contractors are considered in the release of oil stockpiles and other alternative oil supplies.
We ask the government to ensure that supply is fairly distributed between industries.
00:16:03 話者 5
Industry Minister Akazawa Ryosei says he asked manufacturers in Japan to inform the ministry if they have difficulties getting raw materials.
He says the ministry will help coordinate supply chains to resolve bottlenecks and ensure materials get to where they are needed.
TOKYO TAXI FARES TO GO UP NEXT WEEK
Central Tokyo taxi fares are set to rise on Monday.
It will be the first such increase in three and a half years.
The new rates apply in the capital's 23 wards and two adjacent cities of Musashino and Mitaka.
The increase will be achieved by shortening fare increments rather than raising the base price.
Maximum base fare for standard-sized taxis will remain 500 yen, or about $3.10.
That will cover the first one kilometer, or about 100 meters less than under the current rules. Additional fares will also be charged at a shortage distance.
Starting next Monday, 100 yen, or around 60 cents, will be charged every 232 meters, which is about 20 meters less than the current rate.
The fare increase is to help taxi operators to cope with rising fuel costs and to pay for raises for drivers. Preparations for the hike have been underway since last July.
NISSAN'S ROADMAP TO RECOVERY LED BY AI-ENABLED VEHICLES
Nissan Motor's next step in its recovery strategy leans heavily on vehicles powered by artificial intelligence.
A long-term plan released by the struggling automaker on Tuesday says AI will be in 90% of its future models.
The Japanese company says the AI features will include autonomous driving.
It will also cut its global lineup to 45 from 56 models and reallocate investment in profitable vehicles.
00:18:00 話者 26/Ivan Espinosa/President and CEO, Nissan Motor
A year ago, we launched the Re:Nissan plan to make us more agile, leaner, and more relevant to our customers.
As we reach its midpoint, this is the right moment to sharpen our long-term vision.
not as an ambition, but as a guide for action.
00:18:19 話者 5
Nissan says the long-term strategy redefines the roles of its lead markets in Japan, the US, and China.
The company aims to increase sales in Japan to 550,000 vehicles a year by fiscal 2030.
That's up about 20% from fiscal 2024.
MARKETS
Okay, let's get a check on the markets.
♪
And that is it for business news.
SUDAN SUFFERING 3 YEARS INTO CONFLICT
00:19:23 話者 1
Wednesday marks three years since fighting broke out in Sudan between the nation's military and the paramilitary.
The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, with at least 59,000 people reported dead.
In April 2023, a dispute over military restructuring led to an armed conflict between the Sudanese Army and Rapid Support Forces, or RSF.
Clashes spread across the country. According to the United Nations, about 11.6 million people have been forced to flee their homes.
It is calling this one of the world's largest humanitarian crises.
Since the army recaptured the capital, Khartoum, in March one year ago, many of the displaced have begun to return there. But rebuilding their lives is not easy.
The city's infrastructure was severely damaged by the fighting, and many homes were rendered uninhabitable.
Returnees say it is difficult to obtain construction materials needed to rebuild and report that fuel prices have risen due to the situation in Iran.
00:20:24 話者 41/Marie-Helene Verney/UNHCR Representative in Sudan
We are still saying there is fighting going on, and we are still saying there is fresh displacement.
So, of course, the emergency humanitarian response still very much remains a priority.
00:20:36 話者 1
The military and the RSF continue to fight intermittently.
A number of neighboring countries are reported to have also become involved in the conflict, with some even supplying arms.
A-BOMB SURVIVORS URGE GOVT. TO LEAD NPT EFFORTS
A group of atomic bomb survivors and NGOs are calling on the Japanese government to lead the charge on nuclear non-proliferation.
The advocate submitted a written request to Japan's foreign ministry on Tuesday.
It calls on the country to promote the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons ahead of an upcoming review conference in New York.
Members of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization Nihon Hidankyo and NGOs visited the ministry with their letter.
In it, they say Japan should urge all treaty members to meet their disarmament obligations.
A foreign ministry official responded that strengthening the non-proliferation framework is even more essential given current global tensions.
Nihong Hidangkyo co-chair Tanaka Terumi later told reporters that while the ministry agreed on some points, its response fell short of his expectations.
00:21:45 話者 52/Tanaka Terumi/Co-Chairperson, Nihon Hidankyo
As we are the only nation to have suffered atomic bombings in wartime,
We have a big role to play, especially during these difficult times.
Unfortunately, I did not sense that kind of resolve from the government.
00:22:01 話者 1
The Review Conference is scheduled to begin in late April at the UN headquarters.
The previous two meetings failed to adopt a final document.
KAGOSHIMA AIMS TO SELL MORE LOCAL PRODUCTS IN US
Growing uncertainty over the situation in Iran is spurring Japanese firms and local governments to rethink their overseas business strategies.
Officials from the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima headed to Washington to promote their local products.
US government officials and lawmakers gathered at the Japanese ambassador's residence, about 250 people, attended the special event.
00:22:37 話者 63/Yamada Shigeo/Japanese Ambassador to US
Tonight's entire purpose is to whet your appetite enough so that when you get to go to Japan, you make way to Kagoshima so that you can experience many of its charms firsthand.
00:22:52 話者 1
It showcased local items like wagyu beef, yellowtail and shochu.
The matcha booth was especially popular.
The tea is enjoying a boom in the US due to its health benefits.
00:23:04 話者 64
I just tried the matcha here, which was incredible.
I love matcha in all of its forms, basically, which I know a lot of people do here in the States these days, but I like to think I was a little ahead of the curve there.
00:23:18 話者 65
But I'm actually already planning on going to Japan later this year on a previously scheduled trip, so maybe I'll have to add this to the itinerary.
00:23:27 話者 1
The Kagoshima governor took the stage alongside people wearing locally made armor.
He led promotional campaigns in Dubai last October, but the business outlook for the Middle East has become unclear.
00:23:41 話者 67/Shiota Koichi/Kagoshima Governor
As Japan's population declines and the domestic market shrinks, securing overseas markets is becoming increasingly important.
00:23:53 話者 1
The prefecture sells many agricultural, forestry and fisheries products in the US, and they account for about half of its export value.
He says Kagoshima wants to expand its distribution channels around the entire country.
♫～
WEATHER
It's time for a check on the world weather with our meteorologist, Jonathan Oh.
So Jonathan, we've been following the typhoon that has been hitting the Mariana Islands.
What's the latest?
00:25:04 話者 7/Jonathan Oh
Hello, Sinlaku has now made its way on the western side of the Mariana Islands.
And while it's not nearly as powerful as it once was, where it was the strongest typhoon that's developed for this year so far, it certainly has had influence all around the area.
And I want to show you some video to give you an idea of the situation on the ground.
About 50,000 residents continue to take shelter indoors as powerful typhoon Sinlaku thrash the Mariana Islands.
The National Weather Service reported winds gusting over 200 kilometers per hour in Saipan Tuesday night.
And according to the Associated Press, the storm shredded roots while fleeing tree branches through the air.
In addition, those in nearby Guam, home to our 170,000 residents, also contended with fierce winds as well as flash flooding.
I mentioned the size and the influence of the storm because of how large it is, continues to be a part of the story, not only for Thursday, but possibly into Friday before we finally get this out of the area, and so it's going to take some time once again, but at least the core of the system is starting to weaken, and hopefully it'll be able to pull out relatively quickly.
Meanwhile, across northeastern areas of Asia, we're seeing rain now starting to move through Japan, starting on the western side of the country and now moving toward the east, so you'll need your umbrellas as we head into early Thursday.
Meanwhile, high pressure is going to bring dry weather and quite warm weather into places like North and South Korea as we go into Thursday.
Rain continues down to the areas of China as we have a stationary front kind of hugging the region here.
So you'll need the umbrellas coming up on Thursday as well from Shanghai with a high of 20.
Seoul, we're looking at 26 with sunny skies, rain again for the early part of the day on Thursday in Tokyo with a high of 23.
Strong to severe thunderstorms have been a part of the story across the century of the United States as we have a cold front with a low pressure system moving through.
We're going to still see the possibility of strong to severe thunderstorms as we go through on Wednesday, extending from places like Chicago down toward Oklahoma
So be on the lookout for that as we go through the middle of the work week.
Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
00:27:35 話者 1
I'm Ross Mihara in Tokyo and that's all we have for now on NHK Newsline.
Thanks for staying with us.
NHK World
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