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00:12Welcome to Newsroom Tokyo. I'm Yamasawa Rina and I'm Raja Prada. Here are the headlines.
00:18The U.S. president warns Iran it'll face devastating consequences if it blocks the
00:23flow of oil in the Strait of Hormuz. Countries in Southeast Asia are feeling the effects of the
00:30oil supply disruption forcing them to take various measures to conserve stocks and we
00:37look at how worker shortages are affecting efforts to decommission the stricken
00:41Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. It's been 10 days now since the U.S. and Israel
00:49launched military strikes against Iran. U.S. president Donald Trump says the
00:53operation has been largely successful but warns this country will hit back hard
00:58if Tehran blocks the flow of oil. We're achieving major strides toward
01:04completing our military objective and some people could say they're pretty well
01:10complete we've wiped every single force in Iran out very completely.
01:18Trump claimed U.S. forces have struck more than 5,000 targets and sunk over 50 Iranian naval ships.
01:24He also said Iran now has 90 percent fewer missile launchers and Iranian drone attacks have dropped by
01:31more than 80 percent. The conflict has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for oil
01:38transport. But Trump said the Strait will remain safe and even suggested temporarily lifting oil-related
01:44sanctions on some countries. We have a lot of Navy ships there. We have the best equipment in the
01:51world inspecting for mines. Again most of their ships are down at the bottom of the sea but we will
01:59we will hit them so hard. The president also warned on social media if Iran does anything to stop the
02:07flow of
02:07oil within the strait, the U.S. will hit the country 20 times harder. But a senior official with Iran's
02:14Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Tuesday showed no sign of backing down. In a statement to Tasneem
02:20news agency, he said Iran's armed forces will not permit the export of even a single liter of oil.
02:27The Red Crescent Society says more than 13,000 houses, schools and other civilian sites have been damaged by the
02:34airstrikes nationwide. An investigative group says the U.S. military was likely responsible for last
02:42month's attack on elementary school in Iran that killed over 160 people. Bellingcat released analysis
02:50of video footage that purportedly captures the exact moment of the strike. The group says it studied
02:58footage posted online by an Iranian news agency. It shows a tomahawk missile striking an Islamic
03:06Revolutionary Guard Corps facility near the school. Iran's education ministry earlier said the attack
03:13in the Homosgan province killed 168 people, most of them children. Bellingcat says the U.S. is the only
03:23participant in the conflict that is known to have tomahawk missiles. The group's analysis appears to
03:30contradict Trump, who on Saturday accused Tehran of being responsible. Australia has granted visas to
03:39five members of the Iranian women's soccer team, who Trump said risked losing their lives if they
03:44returned home. Reuters and other media say the team was criticized at home for refusing to sing Iran's
04:02national anthem before an Asian Cup match in Australia. A host on Iranian state TV reportedly
04:08called the players wartime traitors. The five squad members are said to have left their accommodations
04:14on Monday night. They're now under Australian police protection. In a social media post Monday,
04:21Trump urged the Australian government to give the players asylum. He called it a humanitarian mistake
04:26to allow the team to be forced back to Iran, saying they would most likely be killed.
04:34Meanwhile, a second group of Japanese nationals has been evacuated from the Middle East.
04:40A flight chartered by the Japanese government landed near Tokyo on Tuesday.
04:46The plane departed from Saudi Arabia with 281 people on board. The government has been helping
04:54to repatriate Japanese nationals from Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
05:03I'm relieved. Many are still there and I'm worried about their situation.
05:14Another Japanese flight carrying 107 passengers arrived from Oman on Sunday. The government plans
05:23to charter two more planes from Saudi Arabia and the UAE to evacuate those who want to leave.
05:31The conflict in the Middle East continues to drive sharp swings in energy prices.
05:37Yannaka Marie from our business team is here with the latest.
05:41Marie, oil prices managed to ease off quite a bit from their high on Monday. So tell us what happened?
05:46While markets see more cause for hope, you've already touched on one reason,
05:51Trump's comment that the war is almost over. But that's not all.
05:56The world's major powers have agreed to coordinate efforts to support the global energy supply.
06:02Japanese finance minister Katayama Satsuki revealed G7 countries will take necessary measures,
06:09including the release of energy reserves.
06:15It is essential to maintain information sharing among G7 finance ministers as the situation in the
06:22Middle East remains fluid. I said at the meeting that we should work closely together to roll out
06:28the necessary messages and measures in a timely manner. Meanwhile, Japan's government is considering
06:34utility subsidies to help smaller companies and households. That's amid a higher energy price outlook
06:41due to the elevated futures prices for crude oil and natural gas.
06:47Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae outlined potential measures at a diet session.
06:52These include support for gasoline and diesel prices, as well as electricity and gas bills.
06:57She said the government began looking at ways to cushion the impact of higher energy costs early
07:03last week, and that her administration will act before it's too late.
07:09Those words of assurance from G7 nations came as relief to investors. Crude oil prices came off their
07:17recent highs, with benchmark WTI futures dropping to the $81 level per barrel at one point.
07:24Just one day earlier, the index had soared through $119 per barrel, a level last seen in 2022.
07:33Traders feared that the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz could lead to a prolonged disruption
07:39of oil supplies. But with talk of a release of oil reserves and that comment from Trump,
07:46prices churned around sharply.
07:49Now what might happen if oil stays at current highs?
07:53Moody's Analytics chief economist Mark Sandy crunched the numbers on a price scenario of $85 to $90
08:00per barrel. He estimates it would shave up to 0.4 percentage points of global GDP expansion in
08:08the coming year.
08:10The impact of the higher oil energy prices is not only just the dollars and cents involved,
08:15which are obviously considerable, but it's the impact on sentiment and psychology. I mean,
08:20I think globally sentiment is already pretty weak. Consumers and business psychology is very fragile.
08:27Zandi added that Asia would take some of the hardest hits given its dependence on energy imports.
08:33But he also sees reason for hope, pointing to U.S. President Trump's assessment that the war is
08:38pretty much complete.
08:41Hopefully it means that the conflict is going to wind down here pretty soon. I mean, I think that's
08:46the most likely scenario. I mean, the president has been very sensitive to the stock market,
08:52to bond yields, to what's going on with gasoline prices, and all those things would suggest that
08:55he would bring this conflict to an end quickly.
08:58Zandi noted that crude oil prices also surged after Russia invaded Ukraine. But he said one of
09:05the biggest differences this time is that the conflict was started by the U.S. and Israel,
09:10who can end it whenever they feel it's appropriate.
09:14Last, a check on the stock markets. Major benchmarks in the Asia-Pacific all bounced back. Investors had sold
09:21off sharply on Monday as they worried steeply higher oil prices would crank up inflation.
09:28Tokyo's Nikkei average posted a recovery of 2.9%. That was after tumbling 5.2% in the previous session.
09:36Seoul's Kospi jumped over 5% from a near 6% loss on Monday. The extreme volatility seems to reflect
09:44how
09:45vulnerable these countries are to tensions in the Middle East. Japan imports 95% of its oil from the
09:52region and South Korea's 63%. Though markets in Asia had what looks like a strong session,
09:59analysts warn that investors are still on high alert given all the uncertainty around the situation in
10:05Iran. And that's the biz for this Tuesday. Thank you very much for that update, Marie.
10:11Now, the disruption of oil supplies is also affecting countries in Southeast Asia. Rosalyn Devavalia at our
10:17bureau in Bangkok has the details. Rosalyn.
10:22Vietnam is facing fuel shortages, forcing some gas stations to stop operations. The country relies on oil
10:29imports from the Middle East. Local media cited officials in the capital, Hanoi, saying that 14
10:36gas stations have temporarily halted sales, and seven others are limiting amounts. The government
10:42says it has secured enough fuel to meet demand through the end of March. But some residents are
10:49worried their daily lives will become difficult if the situation continues.
10:56Gas price hikes like this one directly affect my life and income. I'm worried the price will rise further.
11:03Myanmar's junta is restricting car traffic to curb gasoline consumption. Both private and commercial
11:10vehicles with license plates starting with even and odd numbers can only be used on alternate days.
11:17Public buses, taxis, fuel trucks, and electric vehicles are exempt.
11:21The junta has warned that violators will face legal action. It's not said how long the measure will
11:28remain in place. Thailand has instructed staff at government offices and state-owned firms to start
11:35working from home to conserve energy. It's also proposed other measures such as setting air conditioners
11:42at around 27 degrees Celsius and wearing half-sleeved shirts instead of formal suits. The Thai government
11:49says it will use state funds to stabilize retail gasoline and diesel prices through March 17.
11:56It has ordered operators of buses, taxis, and hired vehicles to keep their fares unchanged during this
12:04period. Officials have warned of possible legal action against any price gouging. Thailand says it has
12:1195 days of oil reserves. Authorities have asked energy traders to buy more crude oil from sources outside the
12:19Middle East. The first groups of Thai nationals have returned from Iran as part of Thailand's efforts to
12:28help its citizens evacuate from the deepening Middle East conflict. Government officials welcomed 29 evacuees
12:36at an airport near Bangkok on Monday. Another 23 returned on Tuesday. The foreign ministry says more than 200
12:44Thais were residing in Iran.
12:47I hope the situation returns to normal soon because people are suffering from the war.
12:54The conflict is between their leaders, but the people are the ones affected.
13:02Thailand continues to urge its nationals to leave high-risk areas across the region as soon as possible.
13:09It says it's also coordinating with airlines to open more direct flight routes. The Middle East is a major
13:16destination for Thais seeking overseas jobs. The foreign ministry says more than 100,000 Thai nationals
13:24were living in the region. Twelve years have passed since Malaysia Airlines' plane disappeared over the
13:31South China Sea with 239 people on board. Malaysian authorities released a statement on Sunday saying the
13:39latest round of searches has so far failed to find any clues to the missing aircraft's location.
13:46The Air Accident Investigation Bureau said search operations for the flight MH370 were
13:53conducted with an international marine exploration firm. The search covered over 7,500 square kilometers
14:00of seabed in 28 operational days from March last year to January. The aircraft vanished from radar
14:08shortly after taking off from Kuala Lumpur on March 8, 2014. Bound for Beijing with mostly Chinese passengers,
14:17multiple search operations over the years have failed to locate the plane.
14:21Relatives of those missing have urged Malaysia to extend the contract with the exploration firm.
14:28The government's statement did not give details on resuming the search. It said it remains committed
14:33to keeping the families informed. And that wraps up our bulletin. I'm Rosalind Abovalia in Bangkok.
15:0215 years since the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant decommissioning work
15:09still has a long way to go. High radiation levels are hampering the already difficult task of
15:15retrieving fuel debris from the damaged reactors. But companies involved in the operation now face
15:20an additional complication. They don't have enough workers.
15:26Ono Akira, head of decommissioning at plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Company, outlines the challenges ahead.
15:35Our biggest problem at the moment is that we don't have much idea of where the debris actually
15:40is and what state it is in. So I think the major issue right now is to get a proper
15:46handle on this.
15:47To remove fuel debris, workers first need to get a detailed view inside the reactor.
15:54This company in the nearby town of Naraha has developed remotely operated devices to perform such work.
16:01But they can't do it alone.
16:11Decommissioning work involves many different tasks spread over a long time frame.
16:15It is hard to plan ahead with staffing, meaning there aren't always enough workers available when needed.
16:24Labor shortages could hold things up, and there's a risk that the decommissioning work will be delayed.
16:32I'm concerned about when the peak of the work is going to come.
16:38NHK conducted a survey of companies involved in the decommissioning.
16:43All 12 of the firms that responded said they were having trouble securing sufficient personnel to do the work.
16:50Nine said an aging workforce and difficulties replacing them with younger staff were a key challenge.
16:56And eight cited uncertainties about the scale and timeline of the project.
17:02Despite these challenges, plant operator TEPCO says it still plans to finish decommissioning the reactors by 2051.
17:15This has been a huge burden and source of concern for local residents, people in the prefecture,
17:20and society at large for the past 15 years.
17:23Our resolve to fulfill our responsibility to Fukushima hasn't changed.
17:28We will continue to carry out the decommissioning work safely and steadily using various technologies from around the world and
17:35together with our partner firms.
17:43Police have conducted a fresh search for victims of the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami.
17:51They looked for remains in the city of Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture ahead of the disaster's anniversary Wednesday.
17:59Officers and other personnel searched Ajishima Island and the surrounding waters.
18:04They sifted through sand and rocks and used a specially equipped boat to look for clues underwater.
18:10Police say 1,213 people are still unaccounted for in the prefecture.
18:19It's been 15 years since the disaster and the conditions at our search sites have changed significantly.
18:25We want to uncover as many clues as possible, anything that might offer even the smallest lead for the families
18:32of those still missing.
18:35Monday's search found nothing new, but police say their efforts will continue.
18:40The 2011 earthquake and tsunami left more than 22,000 people dead or missing.
18:47In Otsuchi Town, Iwate Prefecture, that figure stands at 1,200.
18:53Waves up to 22 meters high hit the area.
18:5715 years on, the town may appear peaceful again, but reminders of the disaster linger beneath the waves.
19:03NHK World's Sumida Wataru went diving to show us them up close.
19:08I'm 70 meters offshore on the seabed at a depth of 7 meters.
19:18The water temperature is 6 degrees Celsius, but it's starting to rise slightly, as it usually does at this time
19:28of year.
19:30It causes an increase in plankton, lowering visibility.
19:40Beside me lies a large piece of silver-colored metal.
19:49It was part of a ship made of aluminum.
19:56A vessel was under construction at a nearby shipyard at the time of the disaster.
20:07It's believed to have been destroyed by the tsunami and carried to this spot.
20:19The part was crossed so badly, it's hard to tell what it once was.
20:28The damage really gives us sense of the tsunami's power.
20:35It's believed to have been destroyed by the tsunami's power.
20:36Now, take a look down here.
20:40I can see a yellow line.
20:43I can see a yellow line.
20:45It's believed to be the center line of a road.
20:51This footage was taken on the seabed, about 800 meters from where I am now.
21:01A concrete bridge broke apart and sank here.
21:09There was a plate engraved with the bridge's name.
21:15It's believed to be from Nozomi Bridge, which once stood nearby.
21:24Nozomi means hope in Japanese.
21:30The total amount of debris washed into the sea is estimated at 5 million tons.
21:41Some of what remained on the seabed has been removed over the years.
21:47But anything that doesn't interfere with ship navigation or fishing operations remains here.
22:01Also looking for traces of the disaster on the seabed is Sato Hiroshi, a diver from Iwate Prefecture.
22:11Iwate Prefecture.
22:14Immediately after the disaster, he began recovering sunken objects and searching for mission people.
22:27In Otsuji town, more than 400 people are still unaccounted for.
22:37Within two months, Sato formed a non-profit organization with fellow divers.
22:47So far, they have removed roughly 1,000 tons of submerged items.
22:56I went diving after a storm the other day and found a bag.
23:02Even after 15 years, new items are still being discovered.
23:06I hope they help lead to the people still missing.
23:10I want what remains underwater, these remnants of the disaster,
23:15to serve both as a lesson to people in other regions and abroad,
23:19and as a lasting reminder for generations who have no memory of the tsunami.
23:27Even 15 years later, the remnants on the seafloor continue to bear witness
23:37to the lives of people affected by the disaster.
23:43Sumida Wataru, NHK World.
23:49NHK World will have a special program to mark the 15th anniversary of the Great East Japan
23:54earthquake and nuclear power plant accident. It starts at 2.40 p.m. Japan time on Wednesday.
24:01For Newsroom Tokyo, I'll be reporting live from Fukushima Prefecture on how the
24:06nuclear accident continues to affect the area and its people 15 years on.
24:41Registered in美味しく communities are about two months back in profound
24:41A medieval beauty of�도
24:41The Nutrient치�
24:41The wind is strong, but the fire is strong.
24:46I made a good wind.
25:23we saw some snow in parts of Tokyo today Tuesday so let's take a look at weather
25:28forecast for cities around the world
26:07you
26:28here's one more story for you before we go a sheep ranch in Hokkaido northern Japan is enjoying
26:33a baby boom with the arrival of spring the city of Shibetsu is famous for sheep breeding
26:43pekora farm is home to about 700 sheep that are raised for meat they include the Suffolk breed
26:50which has a black head and legs newborn lambs began to appear in early February this year
26:55more than 300 have been born so far lambs about two weeks old were seen staying close to their
27:02mothers drinking milk and jumping around the farm's sheep keeper says she feels happy when seeing the
27:08lambs every year there are cases in which young lambs die even for a small reason so we'd like
27:19to keep an eye on them so that they grow up healthy the lambing season at the farm is expected
27:26to
27:26continue until April farm staff say baby lambs will be separated from their mothers after about two and a
27:33half months and that's all for this edition of newsroom tokyo we can all you can always catch our
27:40program on our website as well I'm Roger Prada and I'm Yamasawa arena thank you very much for watching
27:46please join us again tomorrow
27:49you
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