Welcome back to NHK Newsline. I'm Kanako Sachno.
MIXED MESSAGES ON HOW LONG MILITARY CAMPAIGN WILL LAST
US President Donald Trump claims his military campaign against Iran has been a big success, but he also said he doesn't want to pull out of the operation too soon.
00:00:24 話者 2/Donald Trump
We don't want to leave early, do we? We got to finish the job, right.
00:00:30 話者 1
At a rally in Kentucky, Trump spoke about the campaign.
He had earlier suggested his objectives in Iran have been largely accomplished in a phone call with the US media outlet Axios. He told Axios the campaign will end soon because there is practically nothing left to target.
The media outlet also quoted Trump as saying, any time I want it to end, it will end.
But the report also cites US and Israeli officials who say there has been no internal directive on when the fighting might stop.
Those officials say they're preparing for at least two more weeks of strikes.
Meanwhile, a British marine organization says two tankers were attacked off southern Iraq on Wednesday.
It's the latest in a series of incidents involving damage to ships in the Persian Gulf amid the conflict. Reuters news agency reports the attack killed one crew member.
It says an investigation by Iraqi authorities found that small boats laden with explosives had hit the tankers.
G7 MULLING PROVIDING ESCORTS FOR SHIPS
France, the current chair of the Group of Seven Nations, says G7 leaders are considering providing escorts for ships in the Middle East.
France released a statement after the G7 leaders held an online summit meeting on Wednesday.
The statement says the leaders agreed to coordinate efforts to prepare for the restoration of freedom of navigation in the region.
It goes on to say work is underway to explore the possibility of escorting ships once security conditions are met.
The leaders said they encourage energy production in countries that can replace blocked capacity. They also reaffirmed their determination to maintain sanctions against Russia.
JAPANESE GOVT. AIMS FOR TAKAICHI-TRUMP SUMMIT ON MARCH 19
Japan's government has told the ruling parties that Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae is aiming for a summit with Trump next Thursday.
Officials say she'll leave Japan on March 18 for a four-day trip to the US.
They say Takaichi wants to meet with Trump to reaffirm their two countries' unity.
She hopes to promote more cooperation in a wide range of fields, including diplomacy, economy and security.
The government added Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu and Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akazawa Ryosei will accompany Takaichi on her visit.
BUSINESS
Now for business stories, here's Gene Otani.
00:02:58 話者 3/Gene Otani
Kanako, thanks. At our top business story this hour,
IEA TO RELEASE RECORD OIL STOCKPILE
the International Energy Agency is planning the largest ever release of oil from its strategic reserves.
It's an attempt to stabilize global oil prices, which have surged in recent weeks following US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
The IEA is made-up of 32 members, including Japan, the US, and a number of European countries.
They say they'll release 400 million barrels of oil. The last time they tapped into their reserves was following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The IEA says oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz have plunged more than 90% since the attacks began.
00:03:48 話者 4/Fatih Birol/IEA Executive Director
The most important thing for a return to stable flows of oil and gas is the resumption of transit through the state of Hormuz.
00:04:00 話者 3
The agency says they're keeping a close watch on developments.
Many drivers in Japan are rushing to the pumps to fill their tanks ahead of regular gas price hikes. This comes amid a surge in crude oil futures driven by the Iran conflict.
Eneos says Japan's largest oil wholesaler. Sources say it has informed gas stations of a sharp rise of 26 yen per liter for a week starting from Thursday.
Retail prices are also expected to jump from the same day.
JAPAN TO RELEASE RESERVES AS SOON AS MONDAY
Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae announced on Wednesday that the government will release 15 days' worth of oil from private reserves to domestic oil refiners as soon as possible.
One month's worth of national reserves will then follow.
The total amount is set to reach a record high of around 80 million barrels.
The release will begin as early as Monday. The government said that it will attempt to keep retail gasoline prices at around 170 yen per liter. That's about $1.
The program will apply to shipments from March 19.
US TO RELEASE 172 MIL. BARRELS OF STOCKPILED OIL
Meanwhile, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced on Wednesday that 172 million barrels of oil will be released from the Strategic Reserve to combat surging energy prices.
The statement says President Donald Trump authorized the Energy Department to start the move next week. Delivery will take about 120 days.
It also touched on the IEA's decision earlier to release oil reserves.
It notes that member nations unanimously agreed to the president's request to lower energy prices with coordinated action.
Trump welcomed the IEA's move. He said the decision would substantially reduce oil prices to end the threat to America and the world.
NEW US TRADE INVESTIGATION COULD LEAD TO MORE TARIFFS
The Trump administration says it has launched an investigation into its trading partners.
The outcome could lead to new tariffs from Washington.
The Office of the US Trade Representative said on Wednesday that it will examine the policies and practices of certain trading partners.
It says their excess capacity and production have led to huge US trade deficits.
Sixteen countries and regions are the focus of the investigation, including Japan, China, and the European Union.
Regarding Japan, the USTR says the country has a trade surplus in sectors such as automobiles, auto parts, and precision instruments.
It adds that Japan's trade surplus with the US is heavily focused on the automotive sector.
The administration says it's initiating the investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act.
It grants the USTR authority to investigate potential unfair trade practices and take punitive measures.
The move comes after the US Supreme Court struck down Trump's sweeping global tariffs in February.
The US president has since imposed a new 10% tariff on imports from a wide range of countries under another section of the Trade Act.
But in principle, the levies are only allowed to stay in place for 150 days.
NISSAN, UBER, WAYVE TIE UP FOR ROBOTAXIS IN TOKYO
Nissan Motor is partnering with Uber Technologies and British start-up Wave Technologies to launch a robo-taxi service. It's planning to begin with a pilot in Tokyo later this year.
Nissan said on Thursday that it will provide the ride-hailing giant with vehicles based on its Leaf electric model. They will be powered by AI technology.
The car maker has been developing with Wave that enables autonomous driving.
Nissan's CEO praised the new partnership.
00:08:15 話者 2/Ivan Espinosa/President and CEO, Nissan Motor
The collaboration has huge potential. Scalability is very possible, as I said.
So I think this is an excellent opportunity for us three companies together to show what we can do.
00:08:29 話者 3
Meanwhile, Uber's CEO said Japan is well positioned for the next generation service.
00:08:36 話者 12/Dara Khosrowshahi/CEO, Uber Technologies
World-renowned companies like Nissan and a government focused on ensuring that new technologies are adopted responsibly
The country is incredibly well positioned to lead in autonomy as well.
00:08:50 話者 3
The companies plan to start a test deployment in Tokyo in late 2026 with drivers at the wheel. The firms ultimately hope to expand the service worldwide.
PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THE AGE OF AI
Artificial intelligence is quickly entering our daily lives.
This is raising questions about how children should learn to use the new technology, especially as AI can make mistakes.
A US nonprofit that focuses on AI education is tackling the problem.
We spoke with its CEO during his visit to Japan.
00:09:28 話者 5/Reporting Kajihara Sari
An event to explore innovative technology was held in January in Nagoya.
On the final day, Alex Kotran, CEO of the NPO, spoke about the necessity of AI education.
00:09:48 話者 22/Alex Kotran
In the US, it's one in five students have an AI companion. The average user on character AI spends more time than they do on TikTok, two hours a day on average.
This is going to transform the world. It is going to transform your jobs.
It is going to transform your kids' jobs.
00:10:05 話者 5
His organization was founded in 2019.
It provides free educational materials for students from elementary through high school.
In the US, it is estimated that last year, more than 1 million students used the curriculum.
The materials are available in English and Japanese and are designed to help students understand how AI works, its benefits, limitations, and risks.
The most important thing is to develop the ability to critically engage with AI.
For example, the curriculum is designed to prompt children to ask questions like: Was fact-checking done? What risks are involved?
00:10:54 話者 22
Almost the best compared to any of the benchmark, it's persuasion.
AI is very, very good at persuading people to think a certain way.
The instinct that everybody needs to have, but certainly kids, is, you know, why is it saying that? You know, should I actually think that?
00:11:12 話者 5
Generative AI, which automatically creates content, like text, images, audio, and video, targets users aged 13 and older. However, it's quickly spreading to younger age groups.
00:11:27 話者 22
We really do not understand the implications.
So we need to be very careful, right, about like, you know, generally when people ask, when people ask, well, what age should kids be using AI?
It's like, basically not until you're in late middle school, early high school.
So for us, it's like, 13, 14.
00:11:47 話者 5
Kotran says, adults must understand AI and take proactive measures to teach students how to use the technology correctly.
00:11:58 話者 22
Our work is really about how do you build this infrastructure so that students are being guided onto that path.
It's more about how do you build the capability within the education system, within households within society to ensure that there is sort of the guidance and the curiosity and sort of the learning that needs to be happening.
MARKETS
00:12:23 話者 3
All right, let's have a look at the markets.
♪
And that's a look at business news. Kanaka, I'm going to hand it back to you.
00:12:55 話者 1
Thanks, Gene.
ANALYSIS: KEY POINTS FROM CHINA'S NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS
Many political observers are keeping an eye on China's National People's Congress, which concludes Thursday.
This annual meeting brings thousands of delegates together to reveal policy priorities for the year. It also offers insight into China's economic policies.
For more on this, I spoke earlier with NHK World's senior commentator, Okutani Ryuta.
He's our former chief Beijing correspondent and has been covering China for decades.
How should we interpret the government work report and the new five-year plan presented at this year's congress, and how effective will they be in boosting China's economy?
00:13:33 話者 4/Okutani Ryuta
Yes, the government work report and the five-year plan outline all the necessary measures to improve the Chinese economy.
Measures such as expanding domestic demand, stabilizing the real estate market, and promoting science and technology, all reasonable approaches.
The real question, however, is to what extent these measures will actually be implemented and which policies will be prioritized.
One of the main reasons domestic demand has remained weak is the prolonged slump in the real estate market.
But there are also deeper structural problems in Chinese society.
First, many experts argue that state-owned enterprises receive preferential treatment from the government, which weakens private companies.
Second, China's social security system remains underdeveloped.
As a result, many people feel uncertain about the future and are reluctant to spend.
Labor unions in China are controlled by the Communist Party, strikes are not permitted, and there are no competitive elections.
For these reasons, critics say the voices of vulnerable groups are not easily heard.
00:14:59 話者 1
Now the government work report lowered the GDP growth target compared with last year.
Is the target of 4.5 to 5% achievable?
00:15:07 話者 4
Well, in China's case, government growth targets almost never fail to be met.
They reflect the political system.
Policies of the CCP are supposed to be completely accurate.
For example, last year, China reported economic growth of exactly 5%, which was precisely the target set by the government.
At the same time, youth unemployment currently stands at around 17%, even according to official figures.
Because of this discrepancy, there has been a growing suspicion among economists that the government's GDP figures do not fully reflect the state of China's economy.
00:15:54 話者 1
Now Japan-China relations have soured over the last several months.
Was that discussed at all this week?
00:16:00 話者 4
Well, issues like this are not openly debated during the Congress, but it's likely the CCP leadership is discussing the situation behind closed doors.
During a news conference on Sunday, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi once again pointed to Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae's November comments on Taiwan.
Takaichi said in the Diet session that the Taiwan emergency involving the use of force could be considered a situation threatening the survival of Japan.
In response, the Chinese government announced measures such as restrictions on travel and cultural exchanges with Japan.
And the Japanese government repeatedly explained that Takaichi's comments do not represent a change from the country's long-standing position.
Officials have emphasized that it remains open to dialogue with China.
But China continued to step up economic pressure.
Last month, it named dozens of Japanese businesses and groups that will face export bans and stricter reviews on jaw use items.
Wang stated on Sunday that where Japan-China relationships are headed depends on the choices Japan makes, a clear warning to stay away from Taiwan.
But at the same time, his criticism of Japan was notable in that, unlike before, he did not explicitly demand a retraction of the Diet testimony.
Instead, it appears Beijing is watching how Japan will respond.
Just as China once moved to repair relations with former Prime Minister Abe's administration after realizing it would be long-lasting, experts believe Beijing could possibly seek to stabilize relations with Takaichi over time.
In that sense, it could be said that the future of Japan-China relations ultimately depends on China.
KELLOGG: PUTIN SHOULD AGREE TO NO MORE LAND GAINS
00:18:20 話者 1
Former US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg says achieving a ceasefire with Ukraine requires Russian President Vladimir Putin to acknowledge that he will not gain any more land from the country.
Kellogg served as a special envoy for Ukraine through December and was involved in peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv.
He visited Japan to attend Tokyo Conference 2026, organized by Gendron NPO, a Japanese think tank.
Kellogg said in an interview with NHK on Wednesday that a ceasefire is possible today if Ukraine and Russia freeze the current front lines.
00:18:56 話者 32/Keith Kellogg/Former US Special Envoy for Ukraine
The person who doesn't want a ceasefire is not Zelenskyy, it's Vladimir Putin.
00:19:04 話者 1
Russia wants Ukrainian forces to withdraw from the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, while Ukraine refuses to cede it.
Kellogg says sanctions are taking a bite out of Russia's economy and that the country has probably suffered 1.2 million to 1.4 million killed or wounded.
00:19:23 話者 2
For Putin to agree, that's as far as he's going to get. He's not going to gain any more land.
It's for him to realize he's got nothing to gain. So that's That's the next steps.
00:19:37 話者 1
He said Putin is concerned that he'll be another Nicholas II, referring to the last Tsar who was shot dead after his abdication.
S.KOREA HAT-MAKING CRAFT AT RISK DESPITE NEWFOUND POPULARITY
Traditional Korean headpieces are increasingly popular, but the craft of making wide-brimmed black-cut headgear is at risk of dying out.
Even as artisans dwindle in number, old-school headpieces have grown in appeal, as symbols of so-called K-style, in which tradition and modern trends intersect.
NHK World's Kim Chan-ju tells us more.
00:20:16 話者 6/Kim Chan-ju
Tourists can be seen in proximilies of traditional court attire at Seoul's Gyeongbokgung Palace, which dates from the 14th century.
Many of the ensembles include khat, Historically worn by men of status.
00:20:33 話者 42
Honestly, it feels pretty awesome to wear it.
It's like my fourth time being in Korea, so it's actually cool just to actually wear this outfit.
00:20:42 話者 46
I think it feels really cool because we're experiencing how the attire used to be back then oh so long ago.
00:20:53 話者 6
Dramas such as this exemplify increased worldwide interest in all things South Korean.
This, combined with the newfound cultural pride among locals, lies behind the growing popularity of the kan.
Cat are increasingly in demand as a symbol of age-old sophistication and modern-day cool.
A K-pop singer donned a look-alike to perform for world leaders at an APEC summit gathering last year.
Jung Choon-mo has been crafting cat for nearly 60 years. He's one of only four government-recognized traditional cat artisans remaining in South Korea.
Master Chung began learning the craft at around age 20, and spent nearly two decades training under more experienced craftspeople to ensure the tradition would not fade away.
00:21:55 話者 43/Jung Choon-mo/Master Artisan of Horsehair Hat Making
The craftsmen were elderly, and no one was learning gut-making from them, so there was a risk that traditional techniques would disappear.
I decided to learn and pass on this skill to future generations.
00:22:07 話者 6
Jung's creations are on a different level from most of the traditionally styled headpieces in circulation, which are often machine-made versions of handcrafted Gat.
Hats turned out by Jung's atelier, meanwhile, are often worn by people who have been designated guardians of intangible cultural heritage, as he himself has.
An authentic cad requires meticulous attention to detail and involves 51 painstaking steps, says Jung.
Helping Jung are his wife, son, and daughter-in-law, who are responsible for various parts of the process.
The bamboo used to make the brim of a true cad is split into thread-like filaments before being carefully woven.
why the head covering is crafted from strands of horsetail.
Jung's son says he once had doubts about whether pursuing the craft could provide a stable future.
But he is now determined to learn everything he can from his father.
00:23:21 話者 44/Jung Han-soo/Jung Choon-mo's son
My teacher, who is also my father, persuaded me with his deep affection and thorough explanation.
Over time, I came to understand and align with him, and now I'm completely committed to this path.
00:23:37 話者 6
Although growing interest in the Gat is encouraging, Jung says he still feels concerned.
He points out that the labor-intensive process of making a Gat can take as long as six months, which represents a vulnerability.
00:23:55 話者 43
Making a Gat takes time and skill, so they are expensive. I hope we can make more progress with efforts to reduce the price with the help of government subsidies.
This would make Gat more attainable for those who want the real thing.
00:24:13 話者 6
The cat stands out as a symbol of both age-old skill and cutting-edge style.
Chung and his fellow artisans hope that their recent popularity will help ensure they continue to be the crowning glory of Korean craftsmanship.
Kim Chan-ju NHK World.
♫
WEATHER
00:24:53 話者 1
Now it's time to check out the world weather. Spring storms, including tornadoes, are hitting parts of the United States. Our meteorologist Yumi Hirano has the details.
00:25:03 話者 7/Yumi Hirano
Powerful storms swept from the deep south to the northeast, bringing wind gusts and tornadoes. People in parts of Indiana have been experiencing disruptions.
Violent storms spawned deadly tornadoes across Indiana on Wednesday.
The twisters damaged many homes and businesses.
A local resident who endured the storms said that they took cover in the bathtub.
Several power lines were damaged, leaving more than 20,000 people without electricity.
The system is expected to stretch along the east coast on Thursday.
There is a risk of thunder showers, gusty winds and tornadoes, especially from Florida to North Carolina.
On the other side of the continent, moisture from the Pacific is bringing heavy rain to the northwest with possible flooding. Heavy snow is also likely in higher elevations.
Showers expected in Seattle and Vancouver.
The temperature in New York will be 18, but temperatures will drop down in the afternoon with some snow expected later in the day.
Sunny skies are likely in LA, with a high of 34. A heat advisory is in effect through Friday.
Now moving to Japan.
A slow-moving low-pressure system is bringing snowfall to parts of Hokkaido on Thursday.
Wet and heavy snow could lead to a risk of avalanches.
Another storm is bringing intense rain showers to southern Kyushu, but it's expected to move away from the mainland on Friday.
So cloudy weather is likely in Tokyo with a high of only 11, but warm spring conditions are expected to come back over the weekend.
That's it for now. Have a nice day.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
00:27:41 話者 1
That wraps up this edition of NHK Newsline.
I'm Kanako Sachno in Tokyo. Thanks very much for joining us.
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