Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Ramin Mellegard in Tokyo.
Protesters across the United States have taken to the streets to voice their opposition to President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk.
Mass rallies were held on Saturday as the Trump administration continues to lay off federal workers and cancel programs with the aim of cutting government spending.
Musk leads the Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE. Critics say he was not elected or approved by Congress.
He should be trying to run his companies, leave the government alone.
He's trying to destroy it.
They have taken significant cuts to programs that Americans rely on.
Everybody, everybody in America is upset.
Trump has praised Musk's achievements, but he has also indicated that Musk will likely leave the administration in a few months to focus on his companies.
And Japan's Prime Minister Ishibashigedu says he wants to discuss trade issues with US President Donald Trump over the phone as early as this week. The US has announced tariffs on Japan and many other countries.
Just having a conversation is not enough. Our country needs to respond to issues raised by President Trump. I want to present proposals as a package, so it may take some time, but I will achieve success.
Ishiba says that telephone talks should be held when it's convenient for both leaders. Ishiba said at a meeting of leaders from the ruling and opposition parties on Friday that he will strongly urge the United States to review its latest tariff measures.
Nintendo earlier announced it would start pre-orders for its new Switch 2 console on April 9 and released the product in June. Officials at the company's office in the US told NHK that the product's pre-order start date would be delayed due to the need to evaluate the potential impact of tariffs and changes in market conditions. The follow-up to the smash hit Switch console is the company's first such release in eight years. Officials say the new date for pre-orders will be announced later, but the release date of the June 5 will remain unchanged.
A spokesperson for the car maker said in an e-mail statement on Saturday. As we work to address the new trading terms with our business partners, we're enacting our planned short term actions, including a shipment pause in April as we develop our mid to longer term plans.
Now the official also said the US is an important market for the company's luxury brands. The new 25% tariff is expected. To have a major impact on the company's performance, the firm's financial report for the year through March 2024 shows that the US accounts for nearly a quarter of its sales, the largest by region.
And protesters in Israel are urging the Israeli government to negotiate with the Islamic group Hamas for the release of all the remaining hostages.
Israeli forces restarted their airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza on March 18, amid stalled negotiations for an extended ceasefire. On Saturday, health authorities in Gaza said Israeli offensive had killed 60 people in the previous 24 hours.
Daily protests have continued in Israel by citizens who fear the attacks might put the hostages at risk. At a rally in Tel Aviv on Saturday, demonstrators called for cease-fire negotiations.
The only way to bring them home is to finish the war. We absolutely need to do negotiations.
Polls released by local media last month show 69 percent of Israelis support ending the war in exchange for a hostage deal. A US media outlet says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with US President Donald Trump on Monday.
Observers say a ceasefire in Gaza is likely to be on the agenda.
Now, the United Nations humanitarian affairs chief says an estimated 17 million people in Myanmar have been affected by last month's massive earthquake. A Japanese medical team is providing much needed treatment in the country's second largest city, Mandalay.
The initial magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck central Myanmar on March 28. The Southeast Asian country is run by a military junta, which says at least 3,455 people have been killed. Another 214 are still missing beneath the rubble.
Now, Tom Fletcher heads the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. He spoke to NHK on Saturday after visiting Mandalay and the capital, Nepido.
People need shelter urgently. They need tents, especially with the monsoon coming. They need water.
Fletcher noted that one group he met had already been displaced. They escaped the fighting between the military and pro-democracy opposition forces, but the place they escaped to has been destroyed by the earthquake. The UN official said they have suffered enormous amounts of trauma. Fletcher is making appeals for international aid for the quake survivors.
We're massively underfunded compared to what we need to really reach as many people as possible.
Meanwhile, a Japanese medical team began providing treatment at a makeshift clinic in Mandalay on Friday. A staff member says that for two days through Saturday, about 120 people, including those who sustained injuries, have visited the clinic. The team is cooperating with a local hospital to conduct treatment such as surgeries for those with broken bones.
And a huge cherry tree, thought to be 1,000 years old, is in full bloom in the western Japanese city of Maniwa Okayama Prefecture.
The Daigo-zakura cherry tree is 18 meters high and measures about 9 meters around the trunk. It stands alone on high ground. Its name is said to have come from Emperor Godaigo, who reportedly praised this beauty on his way into exile in the early 1300s.
Visitors took pictures of the flowers against the blue sky and enjoyed a spring walk.
I came to see it for the first time. I'm glad I came. It was very powerful and beautiful.
Local residents say the blossoms can be enjoyed for another week.
The tree will be illuminated every night from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM until the blossoms fall.
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And those are the top stories for this hour.
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And that is a wrap for this edition of NHK Newsline. I'm Ramin Mellegard. Thank you very much for joining us.
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