at 18:00 (JST), April 28

20250428180000_english_1.mp3

 Glad to have you with us on NHK Newsline. I'm Yuko Fukushima.

An international group of journalists released a survey on the cross-border repression of Chinese dissidents. They claims Beijing is targeting those speaking out overseas.
International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, or ICIJ, released the report Monday. It says it interviewed 105 victims in 23 countries and regions.
The ICIJ says it includes political dissidents from mainland China and Hong Kong, as well as Uighur and Tibetan minorities. The respondents said they were followed and threatened. Some say there were attempts to hack their devices. Half said the harassment extended to family back home who were intimidated and interrogated by police.
The report says the methods are allegedly consistent with investigative guidelines they say they found in internal Chinese government documents. The Chinese embassy in Washington rejected the allegations.
It said they are groundless and fabricated by those who want to slander China.

Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and his Vietnamese counterpart have agreed to strengthen security ties amid growing regional uncertainty. They also vowed to work together to overcome the impact of US President Donald Trump's tariffs.
Ishiba is visiting Vietnam as part of a two-nation tour of Southeast Asia.

We'd like to work to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific and strengthen relations between Japan and Vietnam.

Ishiba said he would listen to Vietnam on how to respond to the Trump tariffs, as the issue affects many Japanese businesses operating in the country.
The two also exchanged views on the East and South China Seas, where China is increasing its maritime activities. They agreed to strengthen security ties by launching a framework for discussions between their foreign affairs and defense officials. The inaugural meeting will be held in Japan later this year. They exchanged views on regional issues, including North Korea's nuclear and missile development and deepening military ties with Russia. They also discussed Myanmar, which was devastated by a massive earthquake last month. Ishiba said after the talks that Vietnam is a country with great geopolitical importance and Japan must work with it to contribute to regional stability and prosperity.

US President Donald Trump has commented positively about his recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Vatican. It was their first face-to-face talk since their meeting in February at the White House ended in a heated argument.

I think the meeting went well. We'll see what happens over the next few days. We'll probably learn a lot.

Trump described Zelenskyy as calmer and said he thinks the Ukrainian president wants to make a deal. Trump also referred to Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukraine that occurred while ceasefire talks were underway.

Russia had been surprised and disappointed, very disappointed that they did the bombing of those places after discussions.

Asked if he would act to punish Russia, Trump said he was not looking to do it, but that he has a lot of options.

North Korea has confirmed for the first time that leader Kim Jong-un made the decision to send troops to fight for Russia in the conflict with Ukraine.
This comes from a statement by the ruling party's military commission carried on state-run media on Monday. It said North Korean soldiers had joined the fighting in the western Russian region of Kursk against cross-border incursions by Ukrainian forces. The statement said the troops had helped liberate the Russian territory and that their participation was basedon a strategic partnership treaty between Pyongyang and Moscow.
There was also a comment attributed to Kim. He referred to a monument of battle feats being erected in Pyongyang and flowers placed before the tombstones of fallen soldiers. This was taken to be confirmation of North Korean casualties in the fighting. 

The militaries of the US and the Philippines have, for the first time, conducted drone interception exercises on the South China Sea. The shoot-down exercises take place on the western part of the Philippine island of Luzon on Sunday. It was part of joint drills by the two countries involving more than 14,000 personnel. In the anti-drone exercises, the US military deployed a new mobile air defense system developed to shoot down drones flying at low altitudes. Reporters were invited to observe this being done by vehicles equipped with an autocannon and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles. The US military says the drills are also coordinated with the Philippine military's surface-to-air missile system.

This was a good step forward as far as integrating both capabilities.

The joint exercises are due to continue until May 9th. Remote islands in the Philippines north, close to Taiwan, are also expected to be the venue for landing training, amid China's increasing maritime activities in the area.

The Swedish Research Institute says last year's world military expenditures topped 2.7 trillion dollars, up 9% from the year before, and the largest single-year increase since 1989. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute says thatWith the conflict in Ukraine in its third year, military spending kept rising across Europe, including Russia.
It says Russia's spending rose 38% to an estimated 149 billion dollars, Ukraine's climb 2.9% to 64.7 billion. The institute says Ukraine shouldered the largest military burden of any country in 2024, as its spending made-up 34% of its gross domestic product. NATO is working to reinforce its deterrence against Russia. The institute says all 32 member countries of the alliance boosted their military spending last year. In Germany, Poland and Sweden, it surged about 30%. The institute says the United States was the largest spender at 997 billion dollars. It rose 5.7% and accounted for nearly 40% of the global total. China came second with an estimated 314 billion, up 7%.
Japan ranked 10th with its defense spending up 21% to 55.3 billion dollars. That's the largest percent increase for a year by the country since 1952.
It warns that governments increasingly prioritizing military security could have significant effects on societies for years to come.
The institute says China's military buildup has influenced the policies of its East Asian neighbors, prompting many to hide spending. The institute also says more than 100 countries around the world raised their military spending in 2024.

Well, Monday marks one month since a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck central Myanmar. In the worsted areas, many people are still having to live outdoors with no sense of when they will next have a proper roof over their heads.

In Mandalay, Myanmar's second largest city, the quake reduced many buildings to rubble. Food and medicine are in short supply.

I can't sleep at home, as I'm scared another quake could hit. I'm reliant on food aid, and I don't know what I'll do if it runs out. 

The country's military junta says the quake left more than 3,700 people dead and destroyed or damaged around 60,000 homes.
In the northwestern region of Zagiing, near the epicenter, ongoing fighting between the military and pro-democracy forces makes the full extent of the damage hard to assess.
Comparing satellite images from before and after the quake shows buildings that have fully collapsed. The yellow dots indicate structures believed to have been damaged.
Just in an area of around 3 square kilometers, there are more than 100.
This 27-year-old man says he fled to Mandalay six months ago to escape fierce fighting in the northern state of Kachin. But the quake claimed the lives of his wife and 18-month-old son.

I want to go back, but it's difficult now. I'm suddenly all alone. Everything's changed.

Over 3.5 million people have been internally displaced by the fighting. For many, the earthquake has dealt them a second low.

My sadness over their deaths hasn't gone away, but there are other people who are suffering even more. I think for now, we need to help each other, but I hope the day will come when we can live in peace again.

Japanese medical workers are taking part in relief efforts. They include Tomabe Chinoriko, who has spent about two weeks working in the worst-hit areas. She's worried that the coming rainy season could cause infectious diseases to spread, but she says some foreign aid workers are already starting to head back to their home countries.

For people affected by the disaster, it doesn't matter if one month, two months, or a whole year have passed. Putting their lives back together is an ongoing process. I hope many people around the world will continue to take an interest in Myanmar.

In areas devastated by the quake, reconstruction still feels a long way off, and residents will need all the help they can get, as he tried to rebuild their lives.

Now let's get to the latest in business. Ramin Mellegard has the details. Ramin.

Thank you very much indeed.
Now, about half of Japan's rice wholesalers say there's been no change in the country's rice shortage, even after the government began releasing national stockpiles in mid-March. NHK questioned 13 members of the National Rice Wholesalers Cooperative Association. It asks about their transactions since the release. Now, seven said there has been no improvement in the recent shortage, just four said the situation has improved. All 13 said their purchase prices haven't fallen or remain nearly the same. Five said they've notified clients, including supermarkets, of plans to raise wholesale prices this month. Some wholesalers said that they're adjusting the amount of rice they sell to make sure there's enough to last until a new harvest hits the market later this year. Now, a wholesaler in Kyushu, southwestern Japan, said prices remain high and will certainly rise for this year's harvest over last year.
An expert on agricultural policy said prices will only fall if a big production increase is expected this year, but that does not seem likely at the moment.

Production capacity in Japan has been falling. Raising production depends on how much more can be harvested in the rice producing areas of eastern Japan.
But that is unclear and concerns persist as so many farmers are quitting due to old age.

Ando says the size of this year's harvest should give a clear picture of how much more rice can be produced in the country.

And tax free shopping at Japanese department stores fell in March for the first time in three years. That was as the stronger yen discouraged foreign visitors from splashing out on luxury items. The Japan Department Stores Association says overall sales for the month came to about 495 billion yen or $3.4 billion. That was down 2.8% from a year earlier in yen terms and the second straight month of decline. Cool weather caused people to hold off from buying spring clothing.
Now, duty-free sales dropped at a much faster pace, down 10.7% to around $307 million. Aside from the stronger yen, China's economic slowdown also played a role. Demand for watches and other luxury goods was especially weak. The Department Store Association says the outlook going forward is unclear, but there are reasons for optimism. They include higher wages here in Japan and the World Expo in Osaka, which should draw in more overseas tourists.

And, the Bank of Japan will hold a regular monetary policy meeting this week to decide on Interest rates. But there isn't anything regular in the challenge policymakers face in trying to assess how new US import tariffs will affect businesses and the broader economy.
BOJ board members meet for two days from Wednesday and we'll discuss the outlook for the economy and prices for the current and next fiscal years.
As of January, the central bank's median forecast for economic growth stood at 1.1% for fiscal 2025 and 1% for fiscal 2026. The median outlook for consumer inflation was 2.4% and 2%. For the same two years, however, most policymakers now believe the tariffs introduced by President Donald Trump this year will dampen exports and reduce capital investment. This is expected to lead to lower projections for both the economy and price growth. Now, considering the uncertainties, most analysts expect the BOJ to leave its interest rate unchanged this week.
BOJ Governor Ueda Kazuo last week said the bank will continue to carefully monitor economic and price data in relation to interest rate policy. The governor will hold a press conference after the policy meeting, and his comments are likely to be of special interest to investors.

A Japanese government survey has found that 20% of companies based in the country say the Trump administration's tariff measures could affect their business. Now, companies in the auto industry are the most likely to feel an impact. The Development Bank of Japan got responses from roughly 230 companies across a range of businesses, including the automotive, transportation, and machinery sectors.
Nearly 40% of firms in the auto sector said the tariffs could influence their business. Some said many of the products they export to the United States are made in Japan and Mexico. They said it's difficult for them to relocate production bases and replace supply chains. Meanwhile, a separate survey conducted by the Agriculture Ministry found that green tea producers are concerned about lower demand in the US due to price hikes there. The survey also found that beef exporting firms have heard from some of their clients that they don't want to receive any more products for now. The government has already decided on an emergency package that provides support for financing and helping companies maintain their workforce. It plans to compile other support measures if necessary.

OK, let's get a check on the markets.

♪

And that is it for business news.

Today's In Focus is all about the upcoming grand sumo tournament. Here's NHK World Shibuya Aki with Raja Pradhan.

The action gets underway in less than two weeks. NHK World's in-house sumo expert, Raja Pradhan, is here to talk about the May tournament. So which wrestler are you tipping for big things?

Hi Aki, I'll be watching this man over here, Ono Sato. He won the previous tournament in March. He's currently in Ozeki, sumo's second highest rank, and is now gunning for promotion to the very top, Yokozuna.

Onosato.

The 24-year-old comes from Ishikawa Prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast.
In the ring, his imposing frame gives him a huge advantage. He weighs about 180 kilograms and can overwhelm his opponents in a flash.
Onosato was already a phenomenon in college.  Thanks to his illustrious amateur career, he made his grand sumo debut from the third highest division, Makushita. He didn't disappoint after turning pro, rising to the top division, Makunoji, in just over half a year.
Onosato went on to claim his first championship in May 2024 in record-breaking fashion.
His second championship came in September. He was then promoted to the sport's second highest rank, Ozeki.
Onosato did it in just nine tournaments since his debut, a feat not seen in 100 years.

(Japanese)

But his form dipped over the next two tournaments. 

(Japanese)

Onosato was determined to turn things around. On the final day of the March contest, he faced off against former ozeki Takayasu and sealed his third championship.

For an ozeki to be promoted to the top rank, they must win back-to-back tournaments or have an equivalent record.

(Japanese)

So Raja, the next tournament is really important. Can Onosato become a Yokozuna?

I think he's the favorite if he stays fit.

Well, he's 192 centimeters and weighs 183 kilograms. What more can you tell us about his style?

Ohh Well, he has an extremely effective signature move, and it's like a lifeline when he's on the ropes. When Onosato uses his right hand to get an inside position on his opponent, he's virtually unstoppable. He used the technique in March to bulldoze his ozeki counterpart, Kotozakura. Look here, how Onosato quickly slides his right hand just under the armpit to take full control. And if that fails, Onosato has a plan B. He uses his left hand to execute a forearm attack called otsuke. He's refined that technique this past year and has taken his game to new heights.
What's more, Aki, I think Onosato's mentality is top-notch. Starting off strong will be vital in May, but also not hitting the deck on consecutive days. If Onosato avoids that, I think we'll see the fastest ever rise to Yokozuna.

And if he does make it to Sumo's pinnacle, he won't be alone.

Exactly, because we have this man over here, Yokozuna Hoshoryu. The Mongolian is a Sumo thoroughbred, whose uncle Asashoryu was a Yokozuna, too.
Hoshoryu debuted as the top-ranked wrestler in March, but he aggravated an elbow injury and pulled out from day 10. In fact, that was the first time in 39 years a new Yokozuna withdrew from competition.

So let's assume he stays fit in May. Could you see him winning the championship?

For sure. Hoshoryu will be looking to channel that frustration from March, and if he stays injury free, he'll no doubt be a front runner and Hoshoryu's versatility.
That's what makes him such an exciting fighter. He doesn't actually rely on a specific move, and instead he uses all sorts of pushes, throws, leg tricks, you name it.

So, OK, Raja, depending on what happens, the sumo world could soon see two yokozuna. Is there room for two at the top?

Good question. Actually, there hasn't been a pair of yokosuna for about three and a half years. But two is indeed better than one. And I'll explain why by showing you the official listing of ranks over here. This is called the banzuke.
The list is prepared by the Japan Sumo Association about two weeks before each tournament. And this one over here is from March.

Well, it's packed with names.

Yes. It's actually the job of referees to write them all out by hand. And it's a very delicate process. The higher-ranked wrestlers, you can see at the very top, their names are much bigger. And those in the lower divisions are so small, they're almost impossible to read, right? Yes. And the banzuke has two sides, East over here and West. And interestingly, East is superior.

Well, I can see Yokozuna Ho Shoriu's name on the east, and he doesn't have a counterpart on the west.

That's right. The highest ranked Rikishi, the wrestler on the west, right now is an ozeki. So if Onosato becomes a Yokozuna, he'll bring the balance and the box office back to the banzuke. And because nothing gets the heart pumping quite like a final day duo between two grand champions.

Ohh Thanks, Raja.
So, will Onosato earn promotion? Or will Hoshoryu claim his first title since becoming a Yokozuna himself?
Only one way to find out. Don't miss the Gran Sumo tournament in May. That's all from us.

♪

It's time for a check on the weather with our meteorologist, Jonathan Oh. So, Jonathan, we're seeing some changes. Uh Changes in Tokyo's after a dry start to Monday. How are things looking for Tuesday?

Hello, it looks like we're going to be dealing with some wet weather as we go through the overnight period into the day on Tuesday. And the areas to the north are going to get more of the rain, while the Pacific side will wrap up and we'll even see a warm and drier day as we go through Tuesday. A couple low pressure systems, one down toward the south, one toward the north. The one down toward the south is going to be the main rainmaker for places like Tokyo and Osaka overnight into the day on Tuesday.

Up to the north, this low is going to bringing rain to Hokkaido and the Tohoku region. So in general, if you're going out during the overnight period, you're going to need the umbrellas. On Tuesday, the focus of the rain will be up toward the north, the next 24 hours showing us that rain pushing on through. So from Sendai points northward, we'll be seeing more of that wet weather. Sendai looking at 17, 7 Sapporo, 15 Niigata.

But, once the morning hours, you know we'll be seeing things clear out. So Tokyo back toward the West, we'll be seeing the drier weather up to 24 on Tuesday. Now folks, for those of you who may not be familiar with the weather in Tokyo, 24 is not normal for this time of year. It's still quite warm. So if you're going to be outdoors, make sure you stay hydrated and make sure you take the proper precautions because these temperatures are more like summer like temperatures.
Meanwhile, we're talking about a powerful spring storm that's starting to light up the skies in the northern portions of the plains states, and as we go through Monday, this lows are pushing toward the east and we're looking at the possibility of seeing some severe weather that could lead to some strong tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds, especially for those of you around the southern portion of Minnesota from the Twin Cities down South into Wisconsin into northern portion of Iowa. That's the focal point where you have the most elevated risk of severe weather. But even all on the cold front down toward the central and southern plain states, you're looking at the possibility of seeing some strong thunderstorms. So be on the lookout as you go. today on Monday and a much cooler temperature pattern coming in behind that front as we head toward Tuesday and Wednesday.

Quick note on Europe, low down for the South bringing some thunderstorms into places like Italy. Warm with highs in the 20s up toward the central northern portion of continent for Monday.

Hope you have a good day wherever you are.

♫～

And that's it for this hour on NHK Newsline. I'm Yuko Fukushima. Thanks for joining us.

at 18:00 (JST), April 27

20250427180000_english_1.mp3

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

Russian security authorities say they have detained a Ukrainian special services agent suspected of involvement in a car explosion in a Moscow suburb. A Russian general was killed in the incident on Friday.
Russia's Federal Security Service said it had detained a man in his 40s in connection with the bombing. The FSB said the suspect obtained the components for the explosive device from a cache set up by Ukrainian special services in the Moscow region. It said the car bomb was detonated remotely from Ukraine when Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskelik left his home.
Russia's state-run television aired a video released by the FSB.
It shows a man alleged to be the suspect, saying he bought the car in February. He said he took a video camera and a bomb from a hiding place and installed them in the back of the vehicle. A series of explosions have occurred in Russia since it launched its invasion of Ukraine.
Last December, two Russian military officials were killed in a blast in Moscow.

People in Ukraine gathered to remember those who died in the Chornobyl power plant accident, marking 39 years of the nuclear disaster.
Participants laid flowers at a cenotaph and observed a moment of silence during a memorial ceremony. Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Svitlana Grynchuk and workers at the facility were among the participants. The accident that occurred on April 26, 1986, took the lives of about 30 firefighters and others who were exposed to a large amount of radiation while battling the fire.
Many others near the plat in northern Ukraine suffered lasting health problems.
Ukraine still faces nuclear threats amid Russia's ongoing invasion. In February, the Ukrainian government said a Russian drone attack hit Chornobyl, seriously damaging a radiation shelter designed to block radioactive substances from flowing into the atmosphere. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry referred to the February attack in a statement on Saturday, and called on the international community to intensify efforts to protect nuclear plants from Russian threats.

The United States and Iran are continuing talks on Tehran's nuclear program, with senior officials signaling possible progress towards an agreement. The third round of the high-level talks took place on Saturday in Oman. US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi led the delegations.
Working-level representatives participated for the first time to discuss more specific content of an agreement. The US is seeking to limit Iran's nuclear program. Iran maintains that the program is for peaceful use and is demanding the US lift sanctions. A US official called the latest talks positive and productive, adding that there is still much to do, but progress had been made. Arakchi said differences remain on both major and minor issues, but added that both sides are gradually moving from generalities to detailed discussions.
He noted that the next round will probably begin on Saturday next week.
Observers say making progress in the upcoming detailed negotiation may not be easy, considering the big differences that remain between the two sides.

A massive explosion at a port in southern Iran has killed at least 14 people and injured more than 700 others. The Iranian government says containers of chemical materialswere the probable source of the blast.
The explosion occurred at a port in Bandar Abbas on Saturday, damaging and collapsing buildings near the site.

I heard a huge explosion. It was very loud. Then we saw that, unfortunately, there was a fire. You can see how the car is damaged. Grooves and windshields of all cars were shattered.

President Masoud Perezhkin issued a statement on Saturday expressing deep regret and sympathy for the victims. He said he ordered an investigation into what caused the accident. Strong winds are set to be fanning fires started by the explosion, and firefighters are reportedly struggling to contain the blaze. The government says the exact cause would not be known until the fire was fully extinguished.

US President Donald Trump says that American vessels should be able to navigate through the Panama and Suez Canals free of charge.
Trump wrote on social media that US military and commercial ships should be allowed through without paying fees. He added that the canals would not exist without the US and that he has asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to take care of the matter. The Panama Canal in Central America connects the Pacific and the Atlantic, while the Suez in the Middle East links the Mediterranean with the Red Sea. The Trump administration insists that the US will take back control of the Panama Canal, which he considers to be under the influence of China. The administration has also proposed collecting fees from Chinese ships at US ports. This would join existing tariffs as part of measures targeting China. Media outlet Bloomberg reports that the measures against Chinese commercial shipping and shipbuilding are aimed at reviving US shipbuilding by targeting China's dominance.

North Korean state-run television reports that leader Kim Jong-un attended the launch of a new type of destroyer.
A broadcast on Saturday showed Kim participating in the ceremony the day before at a dockyard in the western city of Nampo. Friday also marked a military anniversary. The vessel is reportedly a 5,000 ton destroyer.
Kim delivered a speech saying it will be equipped with supersonic strategic cruise missiles and tactical ballistic missiles. The broadcast showed radar, air defense and vertical launch systems. South Korean media quotes an expert as saying the vertical launch systems have a combined 74 cells for missiles.
Media in South Korea also reported speculation that the destroyer could be equipped with missiles carrying nuclear warheads. Kim expressed his desire to launch a fleet that operates far offshore. He also stated that his country will proceed with building nuclear-powered submarines. That is one of the goals in its five year National Defense plan.

An operator of a flying car vehicle at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka canceled scheduled demo flights on Sunday due to problems with some components.
Japanese trading firm Marubeni is one of the three operators demonstrating the flying cars without passengers during the expo period. The company is currently in charge of the attraction through July. Marubeni said some parts fell off during a demo flight on Saturday afternoon with a single pilot aboard. The incident occurred as it flew over an area with no spectators. Nobody was injured and the vehicle landed safely. The company later found that part of a frame and one of the propellers had broken. It says it will resume the demo flights after identifying the cause of the mishap and ensuring the vehicle is safe to operate.

 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), April 26

 

20250426180000_english_1.mp3

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

People from around the globe have gathered for the funeral of Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday. They include world leaders such as US President Donald Trump, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. People have flocked to Vatican's St. Peter's Square hours before the start of the funeral mass. Local media report that hundreds of thousands of people from around the world are expected to visit.
The Vatican estimates that at least 160 foreign delegations, including heads of state, are likely to attend. Japan will be represented by Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi.
Some observers are watching to see whether Trump, Zelensky and other leaders will speak about a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine on the sidelines of the funeral. Pope Francis appealed for resolving global conflicts through dialogue. Even on the day before his death, he called for a fair and lasting peace in Ukraine.

(Italian) Penso a tanti paesi che sono in guerra. Preghiamo per la pace, facciamo del nostro tutto. Non dimenticatevi che la guerra è una sconfitta.

The Pope's body will be laid to rest at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome in accordance with his will Unlike those of many of his predecessors who were buried at St. Peter's Basilica, the will had also asked that the Pope's tomb be simple.

Trump has sent a special envoy for yet another round of talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The meeting lasted 3 hours. A Kremlin aide says they discussed resuming direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
And he says Moscow and Washington are getting closer in their positions. Ahead of the talks, Ukrainian and European officials had their own meeting. They pushed back on US proposals that would allow Russia's annexation of Crimea.
The discussions come one day after President Trump criticized a Russian missile and drone attack. The strike on the capital, Kyiv, killed at least 12 people. A Ukrainian government spokesperson provided more details. He or he tihi says Russian forces used a ballistic missile made in North Korea. He says cooperation between Russia and the North has improved the accuracy of such weapons. He pointed out that the missiles used components made in the West and called for tighter sanctions.

The United Nations World Food Program says it has run out of food stocks in the Gaza Strip. Israel has been blocking aid from entering the area for almost 8 weeks. WFP officials said on Friday they had delivered their last remaining supplies to kitchens serving hot meals. They say all bakeries they were supporting had closed by March 31. They also say food prices have surged up to 1,400% since January when a ceasefire was in place.
Israel launched airstrikes across Gaza on Friday. Local health authorities said 84 people had died in the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to more than 2,000 since March 18.
That's when Israeli troops resumed attacks after cease-fire negotiations with Hamas stalled. Israel has been blocking the flow of aid supplies into Gaza since March 2.
A WFP official is urging all parties to immediately allow aid deliveries to resume.

To meet the basic needs of population in Gaza, it is critical that we are able to resume food deliveries into Gaza immediately.

The WFP says it's ready to supply enough food assistance to feed 1 million  people in Gaza for up to four months.

Britain's Financial Times and other Western media outlets say US tech giant Apple. Plans to shift production of iPhones sold in the United States to India from China. The move is an apparent bid to mitigate risks related to higher tariffs. The media said Apple aims to assemble all or most of the iPhones it sells in the US at factories in India by the end of 2026. The company sells more than 60 million iPhones a year in the United States. A survey shows around 80% of them are made in China, reflecting Apple's heavy dependence on the country as its main production base.
The administration of President Trump has imposed additional tariffs of 145% on imports from China, except for smartphones and other electronic devices. Washington says it will impose other levies on such products after investigating potential risks to national security.
The Financial Times said the push builds on Apple's strategy to diversify its supply chain. but goes further and faster than investors appreciate.

Japan's spring holiday season has begun.
Narita Airport near Tokyo is crowded, with many travelers heading overseas.
Over 54,000 people are expected to fly abroad from this airport on Saturday alone. The airport's operator says it expects to serve around 1.2 million travelers from Friday to May 6.
It also says this figure is almost the same level as 2019, before the spread of the coronavirus. Popular travel destinations include resort areas such as Hawaii and Guam, as well as various parts of Asia, including South Korea.

(Japanese)

Narita Airport is expected to be packed on May 6, with travelers returning to Japan.

The city of Ofunato in northeastern Japan is making gradual progress in rebuilding two months after it was hit by massive wildfires.
The fires that erupted in Iwate Prefecture on February 26 killed one person and damaged 222 structures, including homes. The blaze burned more than 3,000 hectares before being declared extinguished on April 7.
Some 193 residents were in evacuation centers or elsewhere as of Friday after their homes were damaged in the fires. The evacuees have begun relocating to public housing. Temporary units are expected to be completed early next month at two locations in Ofunato. But the approaching rainy season poses new challenges as the fires diminish the water holding capacity of soil. In the burned areas, prefectural officials plan to take steps such as piling sandbags in areas at high risk of landslides.

♪

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), April 25

20250425180000_english_1.mp3

Hello and welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Yoshikawa Ryuichi in Tokyo.

The meeting between Japan's finance minister and the US Treasury Secretary in Washington on Thursday seems to have eased recent concerns about the strengthening yen.
Finance Minister Kato Katsunobu says the US did not bring up currency targets in the meeting, which lasted about 50 minutes.

There was no talk from the US side about currency levels, targets, or any framework to manage exchange rates.

Kato says that he and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent agreed that exchange rates should be determined by the market. They also confirmed that excessively volatile or disorderly currency markets can undermine economic and financial stability. Kato says he and Bessent agreed to keep in close consultation on currency issues. The meeting came after US President Donald Trump repeatedly said the yen was too weak against the dollar. Trump on Wednesday said Japan would always fight to keep its currency low.
Trump's comments led to speculation Washington would push for a stronger yen, which prompted recent gains in the currency. The Kato-Bessent meeting appears to have deflated some of those concerns with the yen weakening in Tokyo trading on Friday.
In other markets, Tokyo's Nikkei 225 benchmark stock index gained ground, ending Friday at 35,705, up almost two percent from the previous day.

Japan is gearing up for the second round of tariff talks with the United States, planned for next week.
Japan's top negotiator Akazawa Ryosei is scheduled to visit Washington from Wednesday. He will meet with Treasury Secretary Bessent during his three day visit. Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru on Friday instructed his cabinet ministers to accelerate preparations for the talks. The ultimate goal is to achieve neutral benefits for both countries. Ishiba said the US tariffs could shake the free and fair economic order nurtured by the international community from its foundation. He also said they could have a major impact on Japanese industries, including auto and steel, as well as the global economy.

It is extremely important for Japan to urge the US to review the tariff measures by showing how Japanese companies greatly contribute to the US economy through investment and job creation.

The government is also working to address US complaints about Japan's auto exports. It is compiling a detailed report on the investments and production expansion that Japanese automakers are planning in the US. Honda and Nissan are shifting some car production for the American market to the US. Toyota has announced a new investment of $88 million to boost output in the US. The government hopes to convince the Trump administration of the continued contributions of Japanese businesses to local economies to move the negotiations forward.

South Korea has announced that it held talks with the US on President Trump's tariff policies and that the two sides agreed to continue negotiations.
The government says the meeting took place in Washington on Thursday. South Korean Deputy Prime Minister Choe Sun-mok and Industry Minister Ahn Deok-geun met with Treasury Secretary Bessent  and Trade Representative Jamison Greer.
The ministers explained that the tariffs could threaten their economic relationship. They conveyed Seoul's stance that removing the levies is vital, especially for the auto industry. The government says the two parties agreed to continue talks on tariffs and non-tariff measures, as well as economic security, investment cooperation, and currency policy.
Local media reports compared the tariff talks to those between Japan and the US, pointing out Trump's absence in the meeting with the South Korean ministers.

And now let's see what's happening in the world of business. Here's Gene Ohtani from The Biz Desk.

Yuichi, thanks. Opening our business story this hour. Tokyo's consumer inflation this month has hit its highest level in two years. The surging cost of rice is a major factor. The Internal Affairs Ministry says the Consumer Price Index for the capital rose a preliminary 3.4% compared to a year earlier. That's up one percentage point from March. The figure excludes fresh food, whose prices tend to fluctuate based on the weather. The price of rice surged 94%. That's the biggest jump since comparable data became available in 1971.
It also marks the seventh straight month of record-setting price growth for the staple crop. The inflation affected items made from rice.
Onigiri rice balls jumped nearly 16 percent and restaurant sushi more than 8 percent. Meanwhile, bird flu outbreaks across Japan pushed up egg prices 7 percent. Strong inflation was also seen in energy bills due to a reduction in government subsidies. Households paid 13 percent more for their power. City gas was up 4.8 percent. Tokyo prices are considered a leading indicator of nationwide inflation. The country's CPI figures will be released on May 23.

The incoming president of Japan Seven and I Holdings says the company wants to expand the global presence of its convenience store chain.
Stephen Hayes Dacus will officially become the first non Japanese president of 7-Eleven's operator following a shareholders meeting next month. Dacus told members of the media that the firm is eyeing Europe, where many countries have no 7-Eleven stores in South America where there are none.
He said 7 and Eye's growth strategy will focus on the convenience store business.

We don't know how much bigger we can expand our business, but there are many opportunities. Many more than we can imagine. We want to have another strong pillar outside Japan and North America.

Dacus touched on a takeover proposal from a Canadian firm, Alimentation Couche-Tard. He said two options exist. One is to optimize corporate value on its own, the other is to consider Couche-Tard's proposal. He did not say if he thinks the offer is good for Seven and I. He explained that a special committee of the firm, comprised of only outside directors, will study the options.

Canon reported strong gains in sales and profit in the January through March quarter, but cut its earnings forecast for the full year. The leading precision equipment maker says the rise in US import tariffs and the stronger yen have dampened its business outlook.

Canon on Thursday reported a year-on-year 20.5% jump in group net profit for the quarter to more than 72 billion yen, or about $500 million. Revenue in the three-month period climbed 7% to more than 1 trillion yen. That's the equivalent of $7.4 billion. However, Canon revised down its group net profit forecast for all of 2025 to about $2.3 billion.
That's a drop of almost 9%, or about $220 million from the previous forecast. Canon expects sales will decline when it raises prices in response to the new US tariffs.
It also foresees headwinds from the yen's gain against the dollar. In response, the company says it may shift production to countries facing lower tariffs or to the US.

Next, NHK World's John LaDue is here with BizPicks, looking at key business and economic stories for the week ahead.

We're expecting fresh evidence to help answer the looming question. How are US President Donald Trump's tariff gambits affecting economic fundamentals and monetary policy?
On Thursday, the Bank of Japan is due to announce its monetary policy decisions. The BOJ has been taking steps to emerge from years of ultra low and negative interest rates. Traders and investors will be pouring over Thursday's policy statement for any signs. That furious swings in financial markets and tariff driven uncertainty are prompting the central bank to alter its course.
Here's more to know ahead of the Bank of Japan's monetary policy meeting. In January, the central bank raised its benchmark rate to around half a percent and hinted it would consider another increase. Economic growth in tandem with wage hikes and inflation in line with the bank's 2% target are seen as its preconditions for higher rates. But how large does tariffs turmoil loom over the BOJ's outlook?
Executive economist Kiuchi Takahide at Nomura Research Institute suggests the central bank may not be able to take new steps for a while. Kiuchi is a former member of the central bank's policy board.
The BOJ is highly likely to hold off on additional interest rate hikes as financial markets have been severely disrupted by Trump's tariff policies. In the coming meeting, financial market players will pay attention to what kind of message Governor Ueda sends about future monetary policy and whether the bank's stance will change significantly.

Japanese share prices tumbled and the yen jumped higher this month after the Trump administration slapped a baseline 10% tariff on imports from the country, plus a 25% point increase in duties on cars. Kiuchi estimates that the levies will directly cut Japan's GDP growth rate by around 0.42 percentage points. He notes that a gradual slowdown would not change the BOJ's stance on raising rates.

If the economy and prices continue to move as the BOJ expects, the bank will gradually raise interest rates. In terms of real interest rates, current levels are very low. So I think the BOJ's stances are that the rate hike is not a tightening, but an adjustment to reduce the degree of easing and that policy normalization should continue.

Kiuchi predicts the next hike will be in September, depending on three preconditions.

The first condition is that the economic situation in Japan and the world doesn't get much worse. Second, in response to an economic downturn and public criticism, the Trump administration would significantly scale back tariffs by September. The third condition is that there is no party within the coalition government strongly opposed to the rate hike. after Japan's upper house election in July.

However, he knows the biggest risk is the US economy. He says that some conditions are in place for a broader financial meltdown that could reverberate around the world, including Japan.

Financial problems in the US that could worsen include things like massive defaults of commercial real estate and small business lending, which banks have been significantly increasing. If that happens, Japan will also suffer a serious recession and the yen will rapidly strengthen. The BOJ will not be able to raise interest rates, but would probably need to implement monetary easing again.

Kiuchi also says there are concerns about some negative outlooks for Japan's economy. He points out that with consumer spending very low, very weak amid rising prices and declines in inflation adjusted wages year on year, the hurdles to the next rate hike could be getting higher.
I'm John LaDue and that was this week's BizPicks.

John, thanks. All right, let's have a look at the markets.

♪

And that's a look at business news. Ryuichi, I'm going to hand it back to you.

Okay, Gene, thank you.

South Korea says it has told China it is deeply concerned about Chinese structures in part of the Yellow Sea.
Maritime boundaries have not yet been determined between the two countries in the area. South Korea's public broadcaster KBS reports there are three structures. It says one is 80 meters wide and 70 meters high, large enough to be used as a heliport. KBS says China has been preventing South Korean survey vessels from approaching the structures.
South Korea's foreign ministry conveyed its concern during talks in Seoul on Wednesday. China did not notify South Korea before it built the structures in the provisional maritime zone. The two nations' exclusive economic zones overlap in that area. South Korea says such installations violate a bilateral fishery agreement.
A Chinese foreign minister spokesperson said on Thursday that the structures are aquaculture facilities. He also said their construction is consistent with Chinese and international law. He said the structures do not breach the bilateral fishery agreement. The two countries' governments say they will establish a subcommittee to discuss the issue.

It's been 10 years since a deadly earthquake rocked Nepal, leaving 9,000 people dead. About 20 percent of country's buildings, nearly 900,000 of them, were damaged. Many are still working to rebuild their lives. Earlier, I spoke with NHK World's Mitamura Taro in Lalitpur, one of the city's hardest hit by the disaster.

Earlier today, a memorial was held at this square just behind me. Over 3,000 people came to pay their respects. Some were local residents. Others were police and fire crews who took part in the rescue operations. They offered flowers to the victims. I spoke to one woman who lost two of her grandsons.
She told me she still wishes she could see them again. She said she hoped there will be never another tragedy like this.
This ancient city is filled with historical buildings. Many were damaged by the quake. But as you can see, now they've been repaired or reconstructed thanks to help from the international community.
The Nepali government said, that's also the case for home nationwide, for many home nationwide.
However, the country is still grappling with the idea of disaster striking again. Preparedness is still a challenge, especially when it comes to emergency care. I spoke with some doctors who are trying to change that.

This regional hospital in central Nepal holds this emergency drill every three months. It's to make sure they are ready for the next disaster.
In an emergency, doctors face a surge of patients all at once.
Triage is key to identify who needs help first. In this drill, they assess the severity of the injured before marking them with a ribbon.
It follows the green, yellow, and red system, with red being the most severe. Dr. Deepak Shrestha is supervising the drill. It comes from his own experience treating the injured in 2015.

For the last 10 years, we are doing this drill again and again. And as you can see in this hospital, that everybody is tuned up in any disaster situations.

The hospital is in Kabreplanchak, one of the regions hit hardest by the quake.
Around 10,000 patients arrived at its doors. Its surgeons performed over 500 major surgeries.
As an expert in spinal injuries, Shresta himself worked day and night.
He performed countless operations, but regrets how many lost their lives before reaching the hospital. He realized that after a disaster, patients are in a race against time.

What we call the golden hour, the six hours, so I think many patients could not be brought within the six hours, and that's why we lost the patient, and as well as I think they have not good quality of life.

But 10 years later, he feared they are still far from those golden hours.
Nepal is mostly mountains. It makes emergency response difficult, especially if you have a time limit. It's a reality this small village knows all too well. Earthquakes and heavy rain make this village prone to landslides. When the roads are cut off, emergency crews can't reach the area. 800 residents. Its only clinic has just one health worker.
He says he is struggling to make do with what they have.

We can only use what the government gives us for free, so we only have things like cold and cough medicine.

Some residents here still live in temporary housing. This man says when the quake struck, it took a long time for help to arrive.

On that day, my eldest son was injured here, here and here.
It took three days for the helicopter to take him to hospital.

Doctors are trying to expand their youth.
Right now, helicopters are used just to transport patients. The hope is to get equipment and doctors on board so the injured can also receive treatment en route.
And soon, they will be taken to a new trauma and emergency center.
Construction starts at Shresstad's hospital next month.
The Japanese government is helping to build it. The center is designed to treat over 100 patients at once.

Earthquake we cannot prevent, but what we can prevent is the damage caused by the earthquake or minimize the damage caused by the earthquake.

Nepal doctors say it's key to improve emergency care to save life when disaster finally strikes again.

So, Taro, the doctor there mentioned minimizing damage in future disasters.
So what else is Nepal doing to try to save lives?

Well, it's important to teach people the basics of disaster risk reduction, so education is key. Some schools have started teaching disaster preparedness for kids, so they know how to protect themselves and evacuate. Teachers hope it will help keep them safe.
But if Nepal wants to offer that nationwide, it will definitely need more teachers and more funding. Experts tell me the program itself also needs to be improved. It's not tailored to specific situations, like what to do if we were outside when an earthquake hits, for example.
Another issue has to do with Nepal's buildings. As I mentioned before, nearly 900,000 were damaged in the quake. While many were reconstructed, experts say they might not be earthquake-resistant.
In rural areas, there are still many houses made of stone, clay, or bricks. Those are the type of fragile buildings that crumpled in the quake.
Some people don't have the money to build more resilient homes.

So what what is the solution to that?

Well, one of the reasons Nepal is struggling is because of the brain drain.
Like other developing nations, the country is losing some of its top talent.
For example, look at doctors and nurses. They would make huge differences in post-disaster care.
But many are going abroad to seek better opportunities. Nepal is prone to many natural disasters, including heavy rains and flooding. The country will still need international support to build back better before disaster strikes again.

♪

It's now time to check the world weather. The South Central United States is experiencing rough conditions. Our meteorologist Yumi Hirano has the details.

The tornado season has just started, but on Thursday, already 16 were observed, mainly in Texas and Oklahoma. In addition, other severe events have been reported.
Severe thunderstorms hit Oklahoma State on Thursday evening, bringing large storm clouds and flashes of lightning.
Local TV cameras captured a dramatic video of the stormy skies. Some areas saw tornado-producing storms and up to 150 millimeters of rain fall in the northwestern region. The severe weather is expected to continue into the weekend. So the similar conditions are expected to persist across the same regions on Friday as ample moisture from the Gulf of Mexico will continue to flow in. There are risks of thundershowers, lightning and also tornadoes leading to possible power outages and flash flooding.
Thundershowers are also likely in Houston and Oklahoma City, but sunny skies are expected in Seattle with a high of 21.
Moving to Asia, a frontal system is bringing downpours to southern China. Over 120 millimeters of heavy rain was reported in just a day. The rain is expected to ease on Friday, but another round is likely to start from Saturday.
Even a small amount could lead to flooding, so please stay alert.
Showers will continue in Chongqing, Hong Kong and Taipei, but dry weather is expected in Beijing and Seoul.
In Japan, some people will start a long weekend. Sunny skies are expected in Fukuoka and Osaka, but in Tokyo, there is a possibility of afternoon showers on Saturday and also on Monday. That's all for now. Have a nice weekend.

♫～

And that wraps up this edition of NHK Newsline. I'm Yoshikawa Ryuichi in Tokyo.
Thanks for joining us.
 

at 18:00 (JST), April 24

20250424180000_english_1.mp3

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

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the US does not have specific currency targets in mind in trade talks with Japan. His comment in media reports come amid speculation Washington was pressuring Tokyo to allow the yen to strengthen against the dollar to aid US exporters. Reuters and Bloomberg reported Bessent's comments in Washington on Wednesday. They added that the Treasury Secretary said the US expects Japan to honor the G7 agreement. This is an apparent reference to a G7 commitment to allow markets to determine currency rates.
President Donald Trump, in comments on the US trade deficit, had said the yen was too weak against the dollar.
Finance Minister Kato Katsunobu is expected to hold talks with Bessent in Washington as early as Thursday.
The yen moved lower against the dollar on Thursday in Tokyo. It briefly weakened to the 143-yen level in morning trading.

On a possible timetable for reducing or removing tariffs, Trump has suggested China needs to make a fair deal if it wants the US to take action.
Trump on Wednesday addressed a reporter's question asking how quickly he wants to reduce the tariffs on China. Media reports have suggested he's considering a significant reduction.

Well, that depends on them. We have a situation where we have a very, very great place. It's called the United States of America, and it's been ripped off for years and years.

New levies on Chinese goods have reached 145%.
Referring to the figure on Tuesday, Trump said 145 percent is very high and won't be that high, adding that they will come down substantially, but it won't be zero.

I think what's going to happen is we're going to have great deals. And by the way, if we don't have a deal with a company or a country, we're going to set the tariff.

Trump also said his administration will set the tariffs over the next couple of weeks.

China has strongly condemned recent US trade practices at the United Nations Security Council. It says they are disrupting the global order.
An informal UN Security Council meeting was held on Wednesday at China's request to discuss the American imposition of tariffs.

This severely infringes upon the legitimate rights and interests of all countries, severely violates the WTO rules, severely undermines the rule-based multilateral trading system, and severely disrupts the global economic order.

Washington shot back. A US representative called the meeting performative and devoid of any substance or credibility.

China claims to be a developing country, while it simultaneously weaponizes its donor status and development projects to bully developing member states. No more.
President Trump is resetting the trade environment so that China can no longer take advantage.

Delegates from the Security Council's permanent and non-permanent members, as well as 15 other nations, took part in the meeting. Japan did not participate. Iran and Cuba were among those expressing support for China. Some countries, including Britain and South Korea, argued that tariffs should be discussed at other institutions, such as the World Trade Organization.

The US Central Bank says the country's tariff policy is casting a shadow over the American economy. So let's hear more from our business team, Gene Ohtani. So Gene, fill us in.

We're getting some more information on this, Erica.
The latest report by the US Federal Reserve indicates that the Trump administration's tariff measures are already beginning to have a significant impact. It says the economic outlook in the Fed's districts worsened considerably as uncertainty surrounding tariffs rose.
The central bank on Wednesday released its April Beige Book based on information, including interviews with businesses from its 12 districts across the US Most districts noted that firms expected a rise in costs resulting from the higher tariffs, and many have already received notices from suppliers saying their prices would be increasing. The Fed says most businesses expected to pass on that additional expense to customers, but there were reports about reduced margins as demand remained weak in some sectors, especially for firms that sell to consumers. The Beige Book says overall activity was little changed since the February report showed it rising slightly.
Japan is facing tough negotiations with the US over Trump's tariffs. Government sources say Washington insists it can't offer Tokyo special treatment. In the first round of talks last week, Japan's top negotiator Akazawa Yosei urged the US to review its levies on automobiles, steel and other items. But his plea reportedly got a cool reception. Akazawa told reporters on Wednesday Tokyo should quickly decide what points it will focus on.

The first round of talks gave us a sense of Washington's interests and priorities.

Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru said the fact that Trump met with Akazawa face to face shows he views Japan with great importance.

We need you to talk about how Japan and the US can jointly bring about global benefits.

Some Japanese officials worry that the US won't discuss lowering its tariffs, but will prod Japan to increase its imports of US autos and farm produce.
Akazawa is expected to urge Washington to discuss tariff cuts during the next round of meetings. He's seeking talks with his US counterpart, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on May 1.
Toyota Motor says it will make further investments to expand production at its plant in the US state of West Virginia. The decision by Japan's biggest automaker comes amid efforts by the Trump administration to attract more spending on manufacturing in the US.
Toyota says it will allocate $88 million to build a production line for hybrid vehicle components at the facility. It is expected to be up and running in late 2026.
The factory currently produces vehicle engines, transmissions and other parts. The additional spending will bring Toyota's total investment in the plant to more than $2.8 billion. Toyota says that as part of the US business community, it will continue to contribute through providing jobs and investment.

Finance ministers and central bank governors from the Group of 20 economies have kicked off their two-day meeting in Washington. One big focus is whether they can show a united front against Trump's tariff policies.
Japan sent Finance Minister Kato Katsunobu and Bank of Japan Governor Ueda Kazuo. Participants exchanged opinions on the global economy and financial markets at the meeting, which started on Wednesday. G20 members shared the view that free trade spurs economic growth. But concerns are growing that Trump's tariffs could destabilize the system. And trade friction between the world's two largest economies, the US and China, is another worry. Stock and foreign exchange markets around the world remain volatile.
Kato spoke to reporters after the first day of the meeting. He said Japan had pointed out that US trade policies and retaliatory measures by some countries have caused uncertainty.

In order to maintain the stability of the global economy and financial markets, I urged countries to take the necessary actions, including keeping a close watch on the development, sharing information and cooperating flexibly, Kato said. Countries need constructive policy dialogues to promote free and open multilateral trade and correct inequalities and imbalances between and within them.

All right, let's have a look at the markets.

♪

And that's a look at business news. Erika, I'm going to hand it back to you.

Thank you, Gene.

Next. The auto sector has been a focal point in the tariff negotiations. Trump criticized how few American cars are on Japanese roads, citing safety standards. But some say that's not the only issue.

This company, north of Tokyo, specializes in imported cars. It brings in around 100 American vehicles every year.
Because the safety standards are different, the cars need to be retrofitted before they're sold. For example, the blinkers need to be orange.
Cars in Japan also undergo different safety tests. This one evaluates the impact an accident could have on a pedestrian, specifically their head. Over 61 countries and territories have a similar test.
But the US is in one of them. As a result, some American cars need to have their parts remodeled.

Although it looks simple, remodeling work takes time and labor.

But that's not the only reason American cars aren't popular. One expert says US automakers have failed to meet the needs of the Japanese market.

Many US cars are bulky, and are not fit for Japanese roads. Poor fuel efficiency is also a major factor.

It makes the vehicles unappealing to drivers who want to be able to drive in their own neighborhoods. Some brands have already pivoted their approach. If you look at imported car brands by sales, Jeep is the only American brand in the top 10. The cars are tailored to Japan's knees before being shipped over.
As a result, customers don't have to deal with retrofitting. They only need to register the car before hitting the road. Some models are also smaller than their American counterparts, making them easier to drive in Japan.

Large cars aren't ideal when there are other vehicles, bikes, and pedestrians sharing the road. We sell American cars to Japanese customers who want a safer version of the US models.

For more on this, earlier I spoke with NHK World's Yoshikawa Ryuichi. He's been looking into the situation on Japan's roads.
Trump claims Japan doesn't buy enough American cars. So what are the numbers?

Right. The Japan Automobile Importers Association says about 230,000 foreign cars were imported and sold last year. But that's cars from around the world.
If you only talk about cars from America, American cars only accounted for 16,000 units. Most imported car sales come from German brands. As you can see, Mercedes-Benz sold the most, topping 53,000 units, and BMW and Volkswagen were close behind. As we mentioned earlier, Jeep is the best-selling US brand among foreign automakers. It's ranked seventh, with around 9,000 vehicles sold.
As for other US companies, like Chevrolet, Kellogg, and Ford,They each sold a couple 100 units each. Overall, they're a small percentage of the Japanese market.
But that wasn't always the case. Back in 1995, US cars were about 40 percent of all imported car sales in Japan.
But 30 years later, that's down to less than 5 percent. It's at the point where in 2016, Ford withdrew its business from Japan entirely, despite operating here for decades.

Ryuichi, one of Trump's claim has gotten a lot of attention, the bowling ball test.
Can you tell us about that?

Right. So Japan's transport ministry says there's no such thing as a bowling ball test. Yes. Right. What he's probably thinking of is that pedestrian crash test that we mentioned before. And I think it is actually a really good example of how the two countries approach safety differently.
Japan is testing for the safety of the person hit by the car. Officials say a vehicle can pass the test even if the hood dents. In fact, they say that might be a good thing. If the hood can't absorb the shock without hurting the people inside, all the better. But again, the test is seeing how safe it is for those outside the car. And US safety standards, however, focus on the driver's well-being, and that's because their roads are wider than ours. And outside of major cities, you don't see very many people walking on the road.

No, which is a big difference. Actually, I learned to drive in California. So when I came back to Japan, it was so difficult to deal with the Japanese narrow streets. Yeah, that's right.
Experts say that is why American cars are not really fit for the Japanese market. And I wanted to see it for myself, so I spent this morning out in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward.
The street is busy with pedestrians and cars.
As you can see, the roads are pretty small. It can be tricky for cars just to get by each other. And I want to make it clear, this is a really normal neighborhood. Cities and towns across the country have streets just like these.
Even the more compact Japanese cars can have trouble. So you can imagine what it would be like for a bigger vehicle.
Driving isn't the only issue, though. I actually found a Ford and a Jeep in a parking lot. But the cars are so big, they're sticking out of the parking space. So even storing an American car comes with issues.
I happened to run into an American tourist. He gave me his two cents on why US cars are built that way.

America, our roads are bigger, our country is bigger, so we just have more our parking lots are bigger, so our cars can be bigger.

Hmm But ultimately, size isn't the only reason why American cars are not popular here. We mentioned the fuel efficiency, right? and that's obviously a huge factor. And But German automakers were also very quick to meet that market's needs. For example, think of where the driver's side is. If you need to get into a parking lot, umm for example, the ticket machine will be on the right, because that's where Japanese cars have the steering wheel. But many American brands have it on the left.
That puts people off. German brands, though, were quick to make right-side vehicles. If American brands don't take steps like that, then experts say it will be hard to attract Japanese drivers.

♪

A Japanese court has handed down a suspended prison sentence and a fine to two men involved in a car accident that left a young girl in critical condition. A four-year-old girl was struck by a stray tire in the northern city of Sapporo in November 2023.
She remains unconscious to this day.
The driver, Wakamoto Toyoshi, was charged with negligent driving, resulting in injury. He allegedly modified the vehicle with its owner, Tanaka Masamitsu, who was charged with violating a law on road transport vehicles. Sapporo District Court sentenced Wakamoto to three years in prison on Thursday, suspended for five years. The presiding judge said he had failed to properly inspect a vehicle and drove carelessly.
Tanaka was fined 200,000 yen, or about $1,400.
The girl's father expressed his dissatisfaction after the decision was announced.

It's as if my child had been killed. There's no way any family could accept such a decision. I don't want it to end like this.

He also said the scale of punishment did not match the pain and suffering caused.

Japan's nature might rail network is known to be fast, clean and punctual, but outside urban hubs, it's facing growing challenges. Passenger numbers are falling, facilities are aging, and natural disasters pose threats. We report on a regional railway company taking innovative steps to survive.

Oigawa Railway in Shizuoka Prefecture celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Steam locomotives built as long ago as 1930 still operate here. It's a dream for train lovers.

The train is huge. I can't wait to ride it.

However, the company has been struggling. In 2022, part of its line was buried in mudslides during a typhoon. Around 20 kilometres of track, or about half of its main route, is still out of service as a result. So the company decided to bring in the new president to help put it back on the map.

I never work for a company that's stable. There's a reason why I'm here.

Torizuka is known as a revitalization contractor. He has successfully rebuilt 2 local railway companies through novel innovations. These include requiring new train drivers to pay for their own training costs.

Some say they'll visit when the route reopens, but our business will struggle to recover if they stay away. I can offer fun experiences for people to enjoy, even if the line is not yet restored.

Torizuka first decides to transform a passenger car into a dining car. He joins forces with a company to create special bento meals featuring local specialties such as sakura shrimp. and green tea.

Landscape spices up the taste.

During the journey, Torizuka entertains passengers.

You can see a tea plantation in this area. You might think that a tea plantation has a round shape, but actually many of them are now squared. That's because farmers cut them by machines.

Torizuka also focuses on its midnight trains. Once aboard, passengers ride on the train until the morning on three round trips, immersing themselves in the nocturnal atmosphere.

As it's night, I don't think I'll be able to see any scenery, but I think I'll be able to hear sounds clearly, such as the train or the river. I want to spend the time reading.

The tour is very popular and costs around 140 US dollars.

These days people are willing to pay a bit more for travel because they want to enjoy delicious food and unique experiences they can't find elsewhere. I want to work with the local community to provide a variety of services and make this region and railway a place that people from around the world want to visit.

Since Torizuka took over. Passenger numbers have steadily increased. The company is now steaming ahead toward its goal of fully opening the line by 2029.

♪

It's now time to check out world weather. Wildfires have become severe due to the drought in the US state of New Jersey. Our meteorologist Yumi Hirano has the details.

The area has been experiencing severe drought since the end of last year. That's for the first time in over 20 years. On Wednesday, the humidity dropped to only 32 percent, intensifying the fires.
Large plumes of smoke can be seen rising from forest fires that blocked out on Wednesday. Officials say the flames consumed more than 5,000 hectares and could continue to burn before the rain comes. Unfortunately, no injuries have been reported, and the 5,000 residents that were asked to evacuate have been permitted to return to their homes. As of Wednesday evening, local time, many wards in affected areas of Ocean County have been closed.
Unfortunately, no significant rain is expected in the area on Thursday. The next rainfall could come on Friday. But in the south, thundershowers are a concern. Intense rain, gusty winds, and even tornadoes are possible in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. But sunny weather is expected in New York and Washington. The temperatures will be 27, which is 8 degrees higher than usual.
Clear skies are also likely in the west, such as Seattle and LA.
Moving to Asia, a frontal system is bringing downpours to southern China. Up to 120 millimeters of rain is possible in Guangdong and Fujian provinces by Friday afternoon, leading to flash flooding.
Showers could be also heavy in Hong Kong and Taipei. Sunny weather is expected in Beijing and Seoul, but people there should watch out for yellow sand. It's also expected to arrive western and eastern Japan on Friday.

That's all for now. Stay safe.

♫～

That's all for this edition of NHK Newsline. I'm Morisha Erika in Tokyo.
Thank you for watching.
 

at 18:00 (JST), April 23

 

20250423180000_english_1.mp3

Hello and welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Yamamoto Miki in Tokyo.

A British Navy aircraft carrier has set sail on a mission to the Indo Pacific.
The ship is scheduled to conduct exercises with Japan's Self-Defense Forces and the forces of other countries with the aim of enhancing deterrence.
The flagship HMS Prince of Wales left Portsmouth in southern Britain on Tuesday, leading a carrier strike group.
Britain is seeking to increase its engagement in the Indo-Pacific against the backdrop of China's growing presence.
London has made the region a permanent pillar of its international policy, citing its growing importance in terms of security and economics. The carrier is scheduled to participate in joint exercises and other activities alongside 13 countries. They include Japan, the United States and Australia. It is also expected to make a port call to Japan this summer and conduct joint exercises with the SDF. The commander of the carrier strike group says he hopes the activities with Japan will lead to closer coordination. Both the carrier and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force fly the F-35 strike fighter aircraft.

It's for close integration of F-35. I think it's a shared understanding of carrier operations, and I think it's a demonstration of both of our navies to be integrated and interoperable within the Indo-Pacific region.

This is the second deployment of Britain's carrier strike group to the region. The first was in 2021, led by another carrier of the same class. And the Trump administration has vowed to strengthen deterrence in the Indo-Pacific with China in mind. Measures include drills like the US-Philippines joint military exercises, which kicked off Monday.

May this exercise embody unity in strength, and herald a promise of peace through preparedness.

A total of over 14,000 troops from the two countries are taking part in the 19-day exercise called Balikatan, or Shoulder to Shoulder in Tagalog. Both forces are conducting live-fire defense training, simulating missile attacks along the Philippine coast facing the South China Sea. They are also carrying out amphibious landing exercises on the northern coastal areas and outlying islands near Taiwan to strengthen joint operational coordination. The US side will deploy the Nemesis anti-ship missile system and unmanned surface vessels to the Philippines for the first time as part of joint training. The missile has a range of over 180 kilometers and is mounted on an unmanned car. The 40th edition of the exercise comes as the Trump administration steps up its efforts to deter China. On his visit to the Philippines last month, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that the Indo-Pacific faces increasing pressure from China and pleds to establish necessary deterrence. And for more on this, I spoke with Jeffrey Hornung. He's a senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit think tank.
What do both sides, the US and the Philippines, get out of these exercises?

So, from the Philippine perspective, their armed forces are able to improve their capabilities, improve tactics and skills that will help them to defend their country from a possible attack from an adversary. From the United States perspective, it helps build interoperability with a critical ally, and through the work together, these two forces are able to improve deterrence in the region to send a clear message to potential adversaries that if they try to take actions in the region, that there could be some difficulties if if they do that.

And more specifically, what's the significance of deploying Nemesis there?

So the United States has in the past, prior to exercises and after exercises, has brought in new kinds of systems that have not been in country before, brought them in for beyond the scope of the exercise themselves. What it does is it sends a a deterrent message, a strong deterrent message to a country like China. In the past, they did it with the Typhon last year. This year it's the Nemesis.
But these are capabilities that could be critical, for instance, in a Taiwan contingency or the South China Sea contingency. And and so having them brought in maybe beyond the scope of an exercise does just send a strong deterrent message to China.

But as you know, Trump's tariffs have impacted US relations around the world, including Asia and Europe. How is that going to affect the idea of joint deterrence?

So it's still unclear how the tariffs are going to have an impact on allies' security strategies.
We've seen a lot of US allies both increasing their their relations with the United States and with each other because of a common concern over China. So that concern is not going away. They're likely to still continue their cooperation with one another, which would help with the deterrence. However, there is always the possibility that if these tariffs start to affect defense industrial cooperation, whether that be foreign military sales or development of capabilities with with the United States and others, that could start to have an effect on. Capabilities in the region which could therefore impact the deterrent capabilities of the United States and its allies.

And that would of course include Japan.

Yes, it would. It would, it would improve. It would include Japan. Japan of course is a big importer of US military goods. And so anything that could affect the economic relations between US and Japan, I think.
It's, again, it's still unclear how that's going to have an effect in the long term on the security aspect, the the alliance side of of the relationship.
But there's always the possibility that if tariffs go on for a long time, that that could start to impact what Japan can procure from the United States, what it can develop in on its own.
That's all going to have an impact long term.

Right. Now, some have suggested that we could see military conflict in the Taiwan Strait maybe by 2027. What do you think of that timeline?

So that is a common timeframe that you hear. I'm I'm skeptical of that. For a 2027 decision on whether or not China launches an invasion of Taiwan, if you were Xi Jinping, you would have to be very confident that you will succeed.
Because any invasion of Taiwan is likely to result in a major war, and that could risk the existence of the Chinese Communist Party. If he fails in an invasion of Taiwan, that could result in either his ouster from power or even his life. And so this idea that in two years that he would have certainty that he he could defeat the United States or or have victory over Taiwan without a US involvement, it's. To me, there's there's no clarity that that sort of certainty is there. And so I'm very skeptical.
When I think of 2027, I think of it more as does the People's Liberation Army have the right capabilities?Are they assembling the right capabilities and modernizing their capabilities that they could potentially do something in the future?And so that's sort of looking at how they're modernizing their forces. by 2027, looking at how they're training and exercises. Those are the kinds of things I'm looking at, not whether or not they're going to invade Taiwan in the next two years.

And seeing the latest Chinese exercises around Taiwan, how do you assess China's military capabilities now?

So when I looked at those exercises, I think they're essentially sending two messages.
One, a political message, a very clear political message to the government of Taiwan. To not do anything that skirts on on possible independence. But there's the military message, which is very important. To me, when I looked at the exercises, it shows that the that the PLA is working at integrated operations. They're working at precision strikes. They're working at how to attack Taiwan from multiple directions. And so when you look at the kind of capabilities that they brought to those exercises, where you have ships and aircraft coordinating with missile forces and rocket forces to potentially launch attacks from multiple positions, it shows that they are developing and exercising what is necessary for anti-air campaigns, anti-ship campaigns, amphibious invasions, whether or not they can bring all that together,That's the question. But it definitely shows that they're they're working on the the things that they would need for those that type of operation.

Well, that makes it more important for other countries like the US and the Philippines to continue with these exercises. And what would you say about the significance or the importance of these deterrence?

So from a deterrence standpoint, again, it What the United States is doing with its allies in the region, whether that be Japan, the Philippines, Australia, the more that the United States and its allies work together and train together, exercise together, the more that they send a unified message to China that maybe it's it sparks uncertainty in Beijing that if they launched an invasion. They're unsure what Japan would do, what the Philippines would do, or what the United States could do from those countries. As long as the United States is able to improve the deterrent ability of its allies and improve, and as these allies improve their relationships, their security relationships with one another, it bolsters the peacetime deterrence. So hopefully we never get to a situation where war is actually anoption.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country has not received any formal peace proposal from the United States. He dismissed media reports that Washington has proposed a plan that includes US recognition of Russia's annexation of Crimea.

Ukraine wants a quick and just peace to end the war. We believe an unconditional ceasefire is a necessary step toward this goal.

Zelenskyy said he has not heard any official US proposal and stressed Ukraine will not recognize Russia's occupation of Crimea. Russia unilaterally annexed Ukraine's southern peninsula in 2014. Meanwhile, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had offered to halt his invasion along the current frontline when he met US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff earlier this month. The newspaper said Putin told Witkoff that Moscow could give up its claim to the areas of four eastern and southern Ukrainian regions it does not control.

The script of a canceled speech by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi touts lucrative opportunities for the US to do business in Iran's nuclear industry. Araghchi posted the script on social media on Tuesday following the last-minute cancellation of his address. He'd been scheduled to deliver it at a symposium organized by a US think tank the previous day.
Araghchi said the speech was canceled because it was supposed to include an open Q&A session. He said he wanted to avoid any impact the session might have on continuing US-Iran talks on Iran's nuclear program. The script says Iran plans to increase the number of its reactors from the one it has now to 20. It says this plan means tens of billions of dollars in potential contracts are up for grabs. Observers say Tehran aims to soften US opposition to Iran's nuclear program by using business-based approaches that will appeal to US President Donald Trump.

Major media outlets in India say gunmen opened fire on a group of terrorists in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir, leaving at least 26 people dead.
They say Indian nationals and foreign visitors are among the victims.
The mass shooting occurred on Tuesday in Jammu and Kashmir, an area claimed by both India and Pakistan. The site is reportedly a popular resort destination.
Footage from there shows armed security forces and military vehicles. On social media, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to those who have lost their loved ones.
He also wrote, quote, those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice, he added. Quote, our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will get even stronger. In 2019, the Indian government revoked the 70-year-long autonomous status of Jammu and Kashmir state and brought the region under its direct control.
Militants opposed to Indian rule have conducted frequent attacks in the area, although it wasn't clear who carried out Tuesday's mass shooting.

Japan's government is preparing for the next round of trade talks with the Trump administration. Tokyo's team wants to convince Washington to drop fresh tariffs before they take effect in less than 90 days. But the new US ambassador to Japan tells NHK that timetable might be a stretch.

It's so complex. That it takes quite some time to be able to examine what one effect will have on other effects down the supply chain. And so, so I think it's we have a meeting coming up at the end of this month that the Japanese negotiators are coming to Washington. I think this is a an excellent time to begin to set sort of an idea of what the time frames might be. But I think that would be extremely optimistic to think it would be in that short period of time.

George Glass spoke with us at his official residence in Tokyo in his first interview since taking his post on Friday. He claimed the Trump administration's tariff measures will have a positive impact on the national interests of Japan, as well as the United States. We had the President of the United States, who, after the first meeting of which he sat in on, came out and said this is going to be his top priority. So everybody's very incentivized to have a situation that both of our economies can grow together and to be able to use this as the example for the rest of the world that they would be able to emulate the deal which we put together.

The ambassador is a businessman from Oregon and a longtime financial contributor to Trump. The president described Glass as highly respected when he appointed him.
Glass also commented on Washington's expectations for Japan's role in terms of security in the Indo-Pacific region.

President Trump's vision of the Indo-Pacific is one that is safe and peaceful and prosperous. Japan plays the critical role in all that. And we need Japan to help with us in all the multilateral relationships that we have going on in the Indo-Pacific.

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

Thanks, Miki. Leading off this hour's business newscasts, the dollar jumped against the Japanese yen in Tokyo as investors saw signs of relief after US President Donald Trump backed away from threats to fire the head of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell.
The Japanese currency has been trading around the 142 yen level against the dollar on the Tokyo foreign exchange market on Wednesday.
Investors bought back the dollar as the sense of caution over US monetary policy management eased on Trump's shift in tone. The greenback had hit a fresh seven-month low on Tuesday at the 139 yen level.
Trump's stats also helped Tokyo's benchmark stock index rise sharply, ending the day at 34,868, up almost 1.9 percent. The Nikkei 225 also advanced amid expectations of a reduction in trade tensions between the US and China.
Trump expressed optimism on Tuesday that he would make progress with the world's second largest economy. But investors remain cautious about the impact of sweeping US tariffs on Japanese corporate earnings. They are also concerned about whether Washington would urge Tokyo to address the dollar's strength against the Japanese currency at a finance ministers' meeting scheduled for this week. 

The International Monetary Fund has revised down its outlook for global economic growth this year. It says behind the change is the growing trade friction caused by US tariffs and retaliation by some trading partners.

The IMF now expects the world economy to grow 2.8 percent. That's down from its previous projection in January by half a percentage point.
The latest forecast is based on dataup to April 4, including the announcement by the Trump administration of what it calls reciprocal tariffs. Japan's growth stands at 0.6%, down half a point. The figure for the United States is 1.8%, marking a significant drop of nine tenths of a point. This is largely due to greater policy uncertainty and a softer demand outlook. China's economy is projected to grow by four percent, down six-tenths of a point.
The IMF says that worsening trade friction might continue to depress growth, and financial conditions could further tighten.

Officials in Japan say they are considering a proposal that would increase imports of American rice as agriculture becomes a key issue between the two countries.
During last week's talks with Japan, the US reportedly listed rice, meat, potatoes and other products as trade items of interest. Japan currently imports about 770,000 tons of tariff-free rice annually, under what it calls the minimum access system.
Last fiscal year, more than 340,000 tons were imported from the US through this program. Japanese officials are considering a plan to increase US rice imports within this existing framework so the impact on Japanese rice farmers would be limited.
Some have also suggested setting import quotas, which were once agreed upon in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade negotiations. Other options suggested include increasing imports of US soybeans, corn and other farm goods. The Japanese government is expected to make arrangements in preparation for the next round of talks.

Electric vehicle giant Tesla has posted a massive drop in profit for the first quarter of this year amid the worldwide backlash against CEO Elon Musk.
Tesla reported on Tuesday that its net profit for the January through March period came in at $409 million. That's a 70% fall from the same period last year.
Total revenue stood at $19.3 billion, marking a 9% decline year on year. Operating profit also suffered, sinking 65%.
A major factor is the boycott against Tesla cars in the US, Europe, and elsewhere, and competition with EV makers from China is intensifying.
Musk's involvement in politics sparked the protests and tarnished Tesla's brand image. Musk has served as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, under President Trump. He vowed to cut back his involvement in the department and shift his focus to Tesla at the earnings call conference. Musk said his time allocation to Doge will drop significantly starting in May, as the work is mostly done. But, he added, he will spend one to two days a week on government matters for the remainder of Trump's term.

All right, let's have a look at the markets.

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And that's a look at business news. Miki, I'm going to hand it back to you.

Right, Gene. Thank you for the latest.

Survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings have embarked on a global sea voyage to call for the abolition of nuclear weapons 80 years after the end of World War II.
Passengers on the peace boat voyage spoke to reporters at the Port of Yokohama near Tokyo before departing. Ito Masao survived the bombing in Hiroshima, but lost some of his relatives. The 84-year-old said he's alarmed that nuclear weapons are being used as a threat globally.

We have a sense of mission to convey our concerns to the world again. I will do my best.

Kuramori Terumi, 81, from Nagasaki, said she wants to pass on survivor experiences to the next generation. She added she will support efforts to achieve a nuclear-free world. The survivors will speak about their experiences and mingle with local people at ports of call. There will also be an onboard exhibit about Nihon Hidankyo, a group representing atomic bomb survivors that won last year's Nobel Peace Prize.
The boat will visit 18 countries, including the United States, during its roughly three-month voyage.

Let's check out the weather with our meteorologist Yumi Hirano. Yumi, a spring storm is sweeping across Japan. Tell us more.

The system brought heavy rainfall, especially to the Tokai regions such as Shizuoka and Gifu prefectures. Over 150 millimeters have been reported in just 12 hours.
Due to the wet weather, the high in Tokyo was a bit cool, under 20 degrees for the first time in 10 days.
While the storm is expected to move away from the mainland into Thursday, the conditions will improve gradually.
So sunny skies will come back to Fukuoka and Osaka. In Tokyo, there is a possibility that rain could persist into the morning, but clear skies will return in the afternoon. The high will be 22, the seasonal average.
Moving to South Asia, India is dealing with back-to-back heat waves this month. The high hit over 46 in one location on Tuesday. Also in Pakistan, the temperatures have exceeded 43 and scorching conditions are posing a health problem.
People in Karachi are dealing with an intense heat wave as temperatures soared above 40 degrees. Weather officials say temperatures are expected to remain 5 degrees above normal for a few days.
Many walkers have been walking around with water tanks to spray and cool down people. Authorities have also asked people to avoid long exposure to direct sunlight.
The conditions are not expected to ease on Thursday. Karachi will see 43 In India, the highs will be 42 in New Delhi and Varanasi. A heat watch and alert are in effect for much of the country, at least into the weekend.
That's all for now. Stay safe.

♫～

And that's NHK Newsline for this hour.
I'm Yamamoto Miki in Tokyo. Thank you for staying with us.