Hello, a very warm welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Yamamoto Miki in Tokyo.
US BEGINS TALKS WITH RUSSIA, CHINA ON NUCLEAR ARMS CONTROL
The US is holding talks this week with Russia and China over a potential multilateral nuclear arms control treaty.
This comes after the last nuclear reduction pact between Washington and Moscow expired this month.
The New START Treaty established a cap on the number of deployed warheads on each side. It expired on February 5.
US President Donald Trump has indicated that any future nuclear arms control agreement should include China, which is rapidly expanding its nuclear capabilities.
So far, China has not embraced the idea.
Reuters news agency reported that a US delegation met with its Russian counterparts in Geneva on Monday and is set to meet with a Chinese delegation on Tuesday.
Reuters quoted a senior US State Department official as saying it was the next logical step to hold talks with all the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.
The official said the US has already met with the U.K. and France over the issue.
Whether the discussions lead to concrete steps toward a new treaty remains to be seen.
Differences persist between the US and China over their nuclear arsenals and whether Beijing should join such an agreement.
CHINA TO BAN EXPORT OF DUAL-USE ITEMS TO 20 MORE JAPANESE GROUPS
China says it will ban exports of dual-use items with both civilian and military applications to more buyers in Japan.
The latest ban applies to 20 additional Japanese companies and organizations, including the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
China's commerce ministry said on Tuesday the entities are involved in enhancing what it called Japan's military capabilities.
Some of those entities are linked to machinery manufacturers involved in the defense business.
They include Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and IHI.
Also on the list was the National Defense Academy.
It is not clear whether the items subject to the export controls include rare earth minerals.
The ministry also announced that it is imposing tighter export controls on dual-use items on a separate group of 20 Japanese entities, including automaker Subaru.
It said Beijing cannot confirm the end-use purposes of the products.
A spokesperson for China's commerce ministry said the measures aim to deter Japan's re-militarization and nuclear ambitions, and that they are completely reasonable and lawful.
BUSINESS
Now let's see what's happening in the world of business.
Here's Gene Otani from The Business. Gene.
00:02:58 話者 2/Gene Otani
Miki, thanks. In our top business story this hour,
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IMPOSES NEW TARIFFS AFTER COURT DEFEAT
new US trade tariffs came into effect at midnight Tuesday, Eastern Standard Time, and will affect a wide range of countries.
The move follows a Supreme Court ruling that struck down most of President Donald Trump's previous levies on imports.
The order signed by Trump on Friday initially set the new tariffs at 10 percent, but he later said on social media that this would increase to 15 percent.
President Trump made the decision after the nation's top court said he had exceeded his authority in imposing the earlier tariffs.
They were enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
The new tariffs use a different authority under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act, which allows them to stay in place for up to 150 days.
Additionally, the White House has instructed the Office of the US Trade Representative to investigate alleged unfair trade practices by other countries.
Such findings could lead to retaliation and tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act.
AKAZAWA ASKS US TO STICK WITH PREVIOUS AGREEMENTS
Japan's Trade Minister Akasa Mario says he asked his US counterpart to make sure the latest development will not affect existing agreements between the nations.
A deal reached last July imposed a 15 percent tariff on imports from Japan, also agreed, was that levies on Japanese automobiles and auto parts under a different law would be lowered from 25 percent to 15 percent.
A further element of the trade relationship was revealed last week.
That was the first set of projects in Japan's $550 billion investment in the American economy.
Akazawa and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed in a phone conversation they will work closely for the early and smooth implementation of the projects.
ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF US TARIFF SHIFT ON JAPAN'S ECONOMY
What impact will President Trump's new tariffs have on Japan's economy?
We asked Kyuuchi Takahide. He is an executive economist at the Nomura Research Institute.
00:05:32 話者 12/Kyuuchi Takahide
Rising uncertainty over the new tariffs will have a negative impact on corporate investment plans. But I think this period of uncertainty will only last for the short term.
00:05:49 話者 2
The latest tariffs are set to expire in 150 days.
The Trump administration is looking at various legal tools to extend the levies.
But Kyuuchi points out that the recent court ruling suggests the tide is shifting in a different direction.
00:06:11 話者 12
When imposing tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act, it is a rule to carry out rigorous investigations.
In the case of reciprocal tariffs, all countries and all products are subject to investigation.
I think it's difficult to thoroughly investigate them in 150 days.
In this case, a smaller number of countries and products could come under tariffs.
There's a possibility that the new tariffs will be scrapped.
00:06:41 話者 2
Kyuuchi maintains that uncertainty will continue for a while.
But he says, on the other hand, a scrapping of the 15 percent reciprocal tariff would increase Japan's GDP by 0.375 percent a year.
Kyuuchi also says this would support corporate earnings.
NEW YORK RESIDENTS FEEL THE SQUEEZE OF SOARING COSTS
The United States economy has been growing at a steady pace, but so have living costs.
One place where people are struggling to keep up is New York City.
NHK World's Hirata Miyu spoke to people there about how they are feeling in their daily lives.
00:07:21 話者 3
My apartment five years ago was, Earlier, 10 years ago, it was like half as much as it is now.
And wages haven't gone up as much.
00:07:29 話者 2
Unfortunately, the price of eating out even a simple meal, nothing too fancy, has gone up to a point where it's much more of a luxury now.
00:07:37 話者 13/Hirata Miyu
US inflation has been cooling off since the COVID pandemic.
But for many people, prices are painfully high.
Rents nationwide have been growing at around 3% a year.
In big cities, like New York, the situation is much worse.
00:07:58 話者 13
Many young people come to New York to chase their dreams.
But today, those dreams come with a rising price tag.
00:08:08 話者 13
28-year-old Lucille Tang lives in Queens.
She moved from her hometown, Houston, last year.
Having always wanted to live in New York, she works for an IT firm making around $10,000 per month after tax. She pays $2,200 rent for a 35-square-meter apartment.
On most days, she cooks at home to save money.
00:08:37 話者 5
Usually, if I cook, like maybe dinner, it will last until the next day lunch.
But then certain things, like the salad, could last me a few days.
00:08:47 話者 13
Even when she dines out, she's thinking about costs.
00:08:52 話者 5
It's so easy to, you know, like, go to a restaurant and then maybe go to a bar later, and you end up spending, like, $100 that night.
00:09:02 話者 13
When shopping, she often buys canned food with long shelf lives to waste as little as possible.
00:09:09 話者 5
And there's two options for smaller versus larger quantities. I sometimes gravitate towards a larger one, because I know the price per unit could be cheaper.
00:09:20 話者 13
On Lucille's days off, she looks for things to do that don't cost anything, like going to museums and galleries with no admission fees.
She lives in a rent-stabilized building, preventing sharp increases. Nonetheless, she feels that if prices keep rising, it will be difficult to stay in New York long-term.
00:09:45 話者 5
The most difficult part about living in New York is definitely the affordability in terms of the fixed living costs. So the biggest cost is obviously rent.
One friend has told me that the rent increased by almost $1,000, and so having that, the landlord's just being so much in control of their market prices.
00:10:07 話者 13
Investment strategist George Burry says rents in major cities are high because many people moved there in search of work after the pandemic.
He believes housing prices won't come down anytime soon.
00:10:23 話者 2/George Burry
Healthy economic growth, low unemployment, solid personal earnings, earnings growth, you know, they all help the consumer, they help kind of burn their way into higher housing prices, and that should help demand.
But it's likely that prices remain elevated in the near term, you know, that measured over the next, say, six to 12 months.
00:10:49 話者 13
The challenge of high living costs is by no means unique to New York.
But here, the reality of people trying to get by amid soaring prices can be seen in stark relief.
Hirata Miyu, NHK World.
MARKETS
00:11:07 話者 2
All right, let's have a look at the markets.
♪
And that's it for business news.
TUG-OF-WAR CONTINUES AHEAD OF US-IRAN TALKS
00:11:47 話者 1
The United States and Tehran are preparing for a new round of talks this week amid rising tensions. Iranian officials say they will react ferociously to any act of aggression.
The White House says the third round of talks on Iran's nuclear program will be held on Thursday in Geneva.
The negotiations resumed earlier this month after a pause of about eight months.
Trump has ordered a massive military buildup in the Middle East to ramp up pressure on Tehran.
Reuters news agency has reported that a second aircraft carrier arrived at the Greek island of Crete in the Mediterranean on Monday.
Trump has hinted at the possibility of the US military conducting limited strikes against Iran.
A spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry said on Monday that there is no such thing as a limited strike.
He added that such action would be deemed an act of aggression.
00:12:45 話者 3
Any state would react to an act of aggression as part of its inherent right of self-defense
ferociously. So that's what we would do.
00:13:01 話者 1
The US news website Axios has quoted US officials as saying that the current diplomatic push is likely the last chance President Trump will give Iran before launching a massive US-Israeli military operation.
REPORTS: TOP GENERAL WARNS OF RISKS IF US STRIKES IRAN
Meanwhile, the highest-ranking officer of the US military has reportedly warned Trump and his aides of potential risks if the US were to strike the country.
General Dan Caine is the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Axios quotes informed sources as saying that he sees a major operation having high stakes, with a greater risk for entanglement and American casualties.
And the Washington Post says Caine had cautioned last week that any major operation against Iran will face challenges.
The paper reports Caine says that's because the US munitions stockpile has been drained by Washington's defense of Israel. Israel and support for Ukraine.
Trump is pushing back, calling the reports 100 percent incorrect.
He says that Kaine would not like to see a war, but that it would be easily won.
Trump adds that it will be a very bad day for Iran and its people if it does not make a deal.
PEACE PROSPECTS UNCERTAIN AFTER 4 YEARS
Tuesday marks four years since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine and a leading US
think tank has released a report that says combined casualties may be as high as 1.8 million.
This comes as Washington is continuing to broker peace talks to bring an end to the conflict while Moscow maintains its hardline stance.
The Russian military is trying to expand its occupation mainly in the eastern Donetsk region.
The Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies says Russian forces have suffered nearly 1.2 million casualties.
And that's more losses than any major power in any war since World War II.
But Russian President Vladimir Putin has justified the invasion and continues to press ahead with it.
The latest survey in Russia found that 76 percent of respondents support the military action.
And an opinion poll in Ukraine shows that 65 percent say they are prepared to endure the war. Most of them say they should fight until they gain favorable conditions.
Senior Russian and Ukrainian officials have taken part in the US-led peace talks three times this year, but the two sides remain far apart over the Donbas region.
A senior Ukrainian official tells NHK that strong leadership by Washington is necessary to produce concrete results.
00:15:50 話者 11/Kyrylo Budanov/Head of Ukrainian presidential office
Both sides absolutely do not want to lose the United States.
That's just the truth and the fact.
00:15:57 話者 1
Sources from the Ukrainian presidential office say the next peace talks may happen as early as this week in Geneva.
FORMER UK AMBASSADOR TO US REPORTEDLY RELEASED AFTER ARREST
British media say the country's former ambassador to the United States has been released after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Peter Mandelson is said to have had ties with the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
London police announced the arrest of a 72-year-old former government minister on Monday.
An update early Tuesday said the individual had been released on bail pending further investigation.
The police have not named him, and details of the allegations remain unclear, but media reports say the person arrested was Mandelson.
Mandelson is reportedly suspected of leaking government information to Epstein between 2008 and 2010.
He was serving as a cabinet minister under then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown at the time.
The arrest came less than a week after that of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
The former prince is also believed to have formed a friendship with Epstein.
He was released, but remains the subject of an ongoing investigation.
N.KOREA REAFFIRMS KIM'S LEADERSHIP
North Korean state media say the ruling party has re-elected Kim Jong-un as its general secretary, reaffirming his position as the country's leader.
Korean Central Television reports that the vote by the Workers' Party at its party congress was unanimous.
The broadcaster says the decision reflects what it calls progress in nuclear and missile development as well as economic policy.
It claims the country has radically improved its war deterrence with nuclear forces at the center.
The broadcaster also says the party revised its rules, though it did not specify what changes were made.
The report adds that new members were selected for the party's central committee.
The list did not include some prominent figures, including Choe Ryong-hae, chair of the Supreme People's Assembly Standing Committee.
Some analysts in South Korea say the omissions could signal a shift toward younger leadership.
Observers are watching for clues on Pyongyang's approach to the United States and on its nuclear and missile development plans for the next five years.
China's foreign ministry says President Xi Jinping sent a message congratulating Kim on his re-election.
Xi says that China and North Korea support each other as socialist countries.
He says he will work with Kim to promote bilateral ties, regional stability and broader development amid what he calls an increasingly chaotic and complex international environment.
ICC OPENS PRETRIAL HEARINGS FOR PHILIPPINES EX-LEADER DUTERTE
The International Criminal Court has begun pre-trial hearings for former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who is charged with crimes against humanity.
Prosecutors allege that Duterte spearheaded an anti-drug campaign that involved the extrajudicial killings of suspects between 2013 and 2018.
The court brought the charges against him last year.
Duterte waived his right to appear in person for Monday's hearing.
Prosecutors say Duterte played a pivotal role.
They also allege that he gave perpetrators ammunition, logistical support and a cash bounty per person killed.
The defense team argues that prosecutors must show substantial proof that Duterte desired and foresaw that his language would lead to people being killed.
Pre-trial hearings will continue until Friday.
The ICC judges will then decide within 60 days whether the case should move to trial.
TURKEY, TOHOKU SHARE DISASTER LESSONS FOR THE FUTURE
This February marks three years since massive earthquakes struck Turkey and Syria, leaving more than 59,000 people dead.
As Turkey shifts its focus from recovery to preparedness, it's hoping to trade lessons from one of Japan's devastating disasters.
NHK World's Endo Yuka reports.
00:20:28 話者 5/Endo Yuka
This delegation from the Turkish Red Crescent Society came to Ishinomaki City for one reason.
The Tohoku region was hard hit by the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami.
The hope is that each side can learn from each other's experiences.
00:20:46 話者 4
We have common disaster cases in our country and Japan as well.
Right now, we focus on the disaster risk reduction project.
00:20:58 話者 5
The group's first stop is Kadonowaki Elementary School.
A local guide explains what students there went through.
00:21:08 話者 15
The water went up to that black line there. It reached that high.
00:21:15 話者 5
That day, tsunami waves nearly two meters high flooded the first floor.
A fire then broke out, leaving much of the building scorched and burnt.
Yet, every student and teacher there survived.
That's because the teachers quickly encouraged everyone to evacuate up a nearby hill.
The delegation retraced that route, climbing the same hill behind the school.
The guide says just a few meters was the difference between life and death.
00:21:49 話者 4
Hard to express myself when it comes to school. You know, they were just the children.
You're imagining the view. Yeah, there were fires there and the water rose up.
00:22:05 話者 5
The group also stopped by the exhibit room next to the school.
It's dedicated to preserving the memories of that day and the lessons learned from the disaster. On display are belongings from students at another school who didn't survive.
00:22:22 話者 4
How makes the past history, memory, alive and fresh? Not just a one-year annual day.
They're keeping it alive and sharing among the families.
00:22:45 話者 5
The last stop is a local high school.
There, the delegation spoke with students about Turkey's response to the 2023 quakes.
They discussed new risk reduction projects and the large-scale evacuation drills held last year. The students shared how their school is also boosting preparedness.
They talked about their own annual emergency drills and the school's disaster prevention week, where they rechecked their evacuation bags.
00:23:21 話者 16
It was interesting to hear about the kind of support that's needed in places where the infrastructure isn't in good condition.
00:23:31 話者 17
I realized There are others still suffering elsewhere. I think mutual support is important.
00:23:44 話者 4
Today's young people becoming adults of the tomorrow's or next year's.
And then they will have some occupation in the future.
They will create their own families and they will have their own children one day.
And then if they carried out that knowledge to the future, you will see the change of what Japanese community had.
00:24:18 話者 5
Disasters don't stop at borders.
But that also means the lessons can be spread far beyond a single country.
Through dialogue and shared experience, this group hopes to be better prepared for whatever the future brings.
Endo Yuka, NHK World.
WEATHER
00:24:40 話者 1
And it's time for a check on the world weather with our meteorologist Jonathan Oh.
So Jonathan, people in the northeastern US have gotten a wallop of heavy snow and strong winds. What's the latest?
00:24:53 話者 4/Jonathan Oh
Hello, over the weekend going into Monday, we saw a system that really intensified rapidly near the northeastern portion of the United States in the process dumping a tremendous amount of snow along with some very strong winds as well.
I want to show you some video that's coming out from the region to give you an idea of the situation on the ground as a massive winter storm prompted governors of four states to declare a state of emergency over the weekend.
Reuters reported that the powerful blizzard dropped more than 30 centimeters across parts of the US Northeast Monday. bringing travel to a near standstill for millions.
Officials requested that people stay off the road so that emergency crews could clear the streets.
In addition to the heavy snow, the National Weather Service was forecasting wind gusts in Philadelphia to reach as high as 70 kilometers per hour.
And Reuters also reported that thousands of homes and businesses lost power in the region due to the storm.
I mean, Even into Central Park, we're talking about mountains of 50 centimeters during this storm.
And while the low is pushing away to the north and east, another low coming in behind it.
And as that moves across the Great Lakes, we're talking about some more snow by the middle of the week. So as people try to dig out the snow, more is on the way.
Be on the lookout for that.
Back toward the west, we have some snow developing across the upper Rockies.
Showers along the west coast. Seattle looking at some room with a high of eight.
Chicago looking at some snow with a high of five.
We're going to pick down to minus 12 as we go through the day on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, we're talking about some rain in the forecast across Japan.
The western area is picking up on some rain without spread toward the east as we head into Wednesday. Some of the rainfall can be quite heavy.
We have a stationary front of the boundary, kind of like a rainy season type of setup.
And so it's going to kind of sit around and allow the rain to stay around.
And some of it can be heavy. And that's the concern that we have.
So make sure that you keep aware of the weather as you go throughout the next couple of days, because the rain is going to be sticking around for some time.
Tokyo chilling off to 11 for the high on Wednesday with the rain sticking around for the rest of the week.
Osaka Fukuoka also seeing a decent amount of rainfall as we go through the rest of this week.
Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
00:27:36 話者 1
And that is all for this edition of NHK Newsline.
I'm Yamamoto Miki in Tokyo. Thank you for joining us.
checked.
