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00:12Welcome to Newsroom Tokyo. I'm Kumei Ayako and I'm Yoshikama Ryuichi. Here are the headlines.
00:19April 1st is the start of the business year in Japan, but traditional ceremonies to mark the day are changing.
00:27U.S. President Donald Trump says he stopped Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Will he end the military campaign?
00:36The conflict in the Middle East is imposing a change on the way Indonesians work to save fuel.
00:45April 1st is the start of the business year for many firms in Japan, marked by traditional ceremonies to welcome
00:52new hires known as new shashiki.
00:55But changes are creeping into these long-held rituals, a reflection of shifts in society.
01:08At one of many ceremonies held on Wednesday,
01:13President Ishii Keita at trading house giant Itouchu Corporation addressed new employees.
01:21It is important to watch trends carefully and respond flexibly to change.
01:31But not all the ceremonies were formal.
01:35At an aquarium in the central prefecture of Mie,
01:38new employees in business suits and air tanks ventured into a fish tank on Tuesday
01:43today to receive waterproof letters of appointment.
02:10In some cases, the ceremonies reflect social changes.
02:15The number of foreign workers has risen amid labor shortages caused by Japan's aging and shrinking population.
02:23At the end of October, the number stood at over 2.5 million, according to the Labor Ministry.
02:30That's 4.1 percent of the total workforce.
02:36At a Tokyo company that operates social media services,
02:40New Shashiki was streamed online for the families of foreign employees,
02:45allowing parents living in Myanmar to take part remotely.
02:53I'm very happy to be able to show my parents this special moment of mine.
02:58And they're happy for me as well.
03:01It also gives them a sense of the kind of company I work for, so I'm very grateful.
03:09I think I was able to explain how I feel about taking responsibility for her.
03:13That's something we can't fully convey through photos.
03:16I want this to be a company that her family supports.
03:21Another key solution to labor shortages is the use of AI.
03:26Taking part in one ceremony was an AI named Mira Nina, modeled after a woman.
03:33Nina received her letter of appointment from the company president, along with eight other new hires.
03:40This company has sometimes been unable to secure enough customer service staff in recent years due to labor shortages.
03:48It plans to use AI employees to operate unstaffed showrooms in the future.
04:04You know, an aquarium, an AI, no matter what the company or their employment style,
04:11it's interesting how people still find it important to actually gather and hold a ceremony to mark the start of
04:18a new life.
04:18Yes, indeed. When I went to school in the U.S., we didn't have entrance ceremonies, only graduation.
04:26So Japan really seems to value belonging to a group or organization, especially when you're starting something new.
04:33That's indeed. And speaking of which, Ayako-san, let me take this opportunity to formally welcome you to our team
04:41here at Newsroom Tokyo.
04:42Thank you very much, Uichi. I'm very happy to be here, too. And I'm looking forward to working with you.
04:58U.S. President Donald Trump says he has prevented Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
05:04He also suggested the military campaign may end soon, with or without a deal.
05:12The White House announced Trump will give a speech at 9 p.m. Wednesday, Washington time.
05:18That's Thursday morning in Japan. This comes after he said the campaign would end very soon.
05:25I had one goal. They will have no nuclear weapon. And that goal has been attained. They will not have
05:32nuclear weapons.
05:34The U.S. will be gone or done with the war until three weeks.
05:36I think we're two or three weeks. We'll leave.
05:40Trump also said potential talks wouldn't affect his decision.
05:46No, they don't have to make a deal with me. Whether we have a deal or not is irrelevant.
05:52Iranian Foreign Minister Abbasarachi gave an interview to Al Jazeera Tuesday.
05:57He confirmed Tehran has exchanged messages with Washington.
06:01But he said that doesn't mean they are negotiating.
06:05He reiterated that Iran wants an end to all attacks in the region rather than a ceasefire.
06:12The conflict has had a huge impact on the world economy.
06:15Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed to a trickle.
06:18Now, Iranian media say officials have approved a plan to impose tolls on vessels passing through.
06:25It would also include regulating navigation and prohibiting ships linked to the U.S. and Israel.
06:34Meanwhile, China and Pakistan are calling for an immediate ceasefire in Iran.
06:40Their foreign ministers met in Beijing and presented a five-point plan for peace.
06:47Wang Yi and Ishak Dar held talks on Tuesday.
06:52Pakistan, which borders Iran, has emerged as a mediator between the United States and Iran.
06:58Wang said Beijing wants to work with Islamabad to achieve an end to the fighting and create opportunities for peace.
07:07Dar said his country hopes to coordinate with China to push for talks to restore regional peace.
07:15The five-point initiative calls for an immediate stop to fighting and the start of peace talks as soon as
07:22possible.
07:23It urges parties to the conflict to stop attacking civilian and non-military targets, including energy infrastructure.
07:33The plan also calls for steps to ensure the security of the Strait of Hormuz and other shipping lanes.
07:42Now, let's get an update on the economic impact of the turbulent situation in the Middle East.
07:48Ryuchi brings us up to speed.
07:50Yes, indeed.
07:51NHK has learned that the Japanese energy giant, IMPACS, will prioritize selling crude oil from Australia to Japanese companies
07:59as supplies continue to be disrupted by the Iran conflict.
08:04Government-backed IMPACS is Japan's top developer of oil and gas.
08:08It produces a type of crude oil called condensate as well as natural gas at two fields off the coast
08:17of northwestern Australia.
08:19IMPACS holds the rights to these reserves.
08:21The company has already supplied some of the Australian condensate to Japanese businesses.
08:27But it plans to increase the preferential amount sold to Japanese firms, including oil wholesalers.
08:35Condensate can be refined into gasoline as well as naphtha, a raw material for a wide range of products, such
08:43as plastic.
08:44IMPACS sources say it also plans to give Japanese firms priority access to crude oil from Central Asia.
08:52A closely watched survey of business sentiment in Japan shows a slight improvement among major manufacturers for the fourth straight
09:02quarter.
09:02But conditions are expected to worsen in the next three months as the Iran conflict clouds the picture.
09:10The Bank of Japan released its latest tankan survey on Wednesday.
09:14The sentiment index for large manufacturers came in at plus 17, that's up one point from the previous poll.
09:23A positive number indicates more companies are feeling optimistic about business conditions than those feeling pessimistic.
09:31The central bank polled about 9,000 companies.
09:34The results do not fully reflect the impact of developments in the Middle East as the responses were collected in
09:41mid-March.
09:42Higher demand for semiconductors lifted sentiment in the production machinery and non-ferrous metals sectors.
09:51For large non-manufacturers, the sentiment index was unchanged at plus 36.
09:57But many companies were cautious about the three months ahead amid rising prices of crude oil and related products.
10:06Confidence at major manufacturers is forecast to decline three points.
10:11At large non-manufacturers, it's projected to fall seven points.
10:17The mood in Tokyo's share markets took a sudden turn for the better on Wednesday as hopes emerged for a
10:24de-escalation of tension in the Middle East.
10:27The Nikkei 225 stock index surged more than 2,600 points, the largest gain this year.
10:35The benchmark climbed more than 5 percent to finish at 53,739.
10:43Remarks from both the U.S. and Iranian leaders suggested hostilities could soon end.
10:49President Trump said on Tuesday the war could finish within two or three weeks.
10:55Iranian President Massoud Pijeskian was cited as saying Tehran was willing to end the war if it gets guarantees against
11:04further attacks.
11:06Attention is now focused on what President Trump will say in an address to the nation on Wednesday.
11:11Investors are looking for further signs of where the conflict is headed next and what that means for crude oil
11:19prices.
11:20Other markets in the Asia-Pacific also saw gains on Wednesday.
11:25Seoul's benchmark COSPI climbed by more than 8 percent and the main index in Singapore rose by 1.85 percent.
11:33And that's the business news for this Wednesday.
11:44Surging crude oil prices amid the Iran conflict are taking a toll on the energy supply in the Asia-Pacific.
11:52Chola Pansan Narula at our Bureau in Bangkok has more.
11:57The Indonesian government has announced measures to curb fuel consumption in the country.
12:01It's implementing remote work for civil servants one day a week and is rolling out other changes.
12:10Under this work from home scheme, we will adjust governance to the digital workplace and push for efficient mobility,
12:19advocating for the use of public transportation while cutting official vehicle usage by 50 percent.
12:27This excludes operational and electric vehicles.
12:35Government employees will work from home every Friday for the next two months.
12:39The policy begins from Wednesday.
12:41Officials are urging private companies to offer remote work as well.
12:45Indonesia is also scaling back free school meals, a flagship policy of the current administration.
12:51Distribution will be reduced from six to five days per week.
12:55The program accounts for nearly 9 percent of the government's annual spending.
12:58The government is also limiting purchases of subsidized fuel to 50 liters a day per vehicle.
13:04This excludes vehicles from public transportation.
13:07Indonesia has long kept fuel prices low by providing subsidies to its state-owned oil company.
13:13But with international crude oil prices rising, the fiscal burden of the measure is expected to increase.
13:20Meanwhile, Malaysia has reaffirmed that it will continue the steady supply of natural gas to Japan.
13:25It jointly hosted an industrial seminar with the country in Kuala Lumpur.
13:30Officials from government and business took part in the event on Tuesday.
13:34Energy security was a major topic.
13:38The recent heightened tensions in the Middle East have once again underscored the vulnerability of our energy supply chains.
13:49Malaysia is a major natural resource power in Southeast Asia.
13:53It's a key supplier of liquid natural gas for Japan, accounting for 15 percent of the country's total LNG imports.
14:00Malaysia's state energy giant, Petronas, noted the importance of their ties.
14:06What has evolved in terms of the partnership between Malaysia and Japan, and also between Petronas especially,
14:13with our Japanese partners, is that it's not just a one-off buyer-seller relationship.
14:18It has evolved into more of a strategic, more inclusive partnership.
14:25A Japanese economics expert highlighted the value of their partnership.
14:31Malaysia is a trusted partner.
14:34You know, there are much less risks for depending on Malaysia than in the Persian Gulf.
14:42In the Persian Gulf, there's a lot of risks.
14:44You know, the risks of straight homers, risks of the war, and risks of the monarchies.
14:54Participants also discussed how to diversify energy sources amid geopolitical risks.
14:59A Japanese biotech firm presented a biofuel refinery construction project in Malaysia.
15:05Pakistan and Bangladesh are moving closer after decades of tensions.
15:09The two Muslim-majority nations used to be the same country, but broke apart after a war in the 1970s.
15:15They're now finding common ground again, as Bangladesh's relationship with India cools.
15:20NHK World's Nazar-ul-Islam reports.
15:25It's the end of January, and the first direct flight between Bangladesh and Pakistan in 14 years is taking place.
15:35Until now, travellers had to transit through the Middle East or other hubs.
15:41The return of direct airlinx is expected to boost trade and tourism.
15:47It's been very exciting.
15:49The reason I came here is actually to explore Pakistan, the beautiful landscape that we have seen in photos.
15:58Officials from both sides are also expressing high expectations.
16:08Ongoing negotiations between our two countries will certainly move trade and diplomatic relations forward.
16:19Under its former Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh had long maintained close ties with India.
16:27However, the mood changed after India refused to extradite Hasina two years ago, after she went into exile there.
16:36Bangladesh is now seeking closer ties with India's rival, Pakistan.
16:42The improving connections between the two nations are being felt in sectors such as health care and education as well.
16:51Last December, five students from Bangladesh were welcomed at this nursing school run by a Pakistani charitable organization.
17:01The group fully covers their housing costs, living expenses and two years of tuition.
17:09One of the students is Ria Akhtar.
17:14I'm Bangladeshi.
17:16I've just come to Pakistan, so I'm studying Urdu.
17:21Ria hopes to become a midwife after completing her training, filling a critical gap back home.
17:31Midwives are a few in number.
17:34There are doctors and nurses, but not many midwives.
17:38Women have many problems, so I want to address the challenges facing women in my community.
17:48The Pakistani students welcome the five women.
18:01The head of the charity says they intend to deepen and expand such exchanges moving forward.
18:10I'm very hopeful that after a long time, the friendship has started.
18:16We can be a party as a medical personnel for education to help both the government at the level of
18:26people-to-people help.
18:28As Bangladesh and Pakistan build closer ties, the people of the two nations are overcoming their historical differences to forge
18:38a shared future.
18:40Natural Islam, NHK World, Karachi.
18:45That wraps up our bulletin.
18:47I'm Cholap Hansa, Naveela, in Bangkok.
19:01The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting after three Indonesian UN peacekeepers were killed near the Israel-Lebanon border.
19:10The UN interim force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL, is in the region amid intensifying fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, a
19:19Shia Muslim group backed by Iran.
19:22The origin of the attacks remains unknown.
19:26Indonesia's UN ambassador strongly condemned the attacks, saying they may constitute war crimes.
19:34The current escalation did not arise in vacuum.
19:37It stems from repeated incursions by the Israeli military into the territory of Lebanon.
19:46He also demanded a thorough investigation by the UN.
19:50Israel's UN ambassador blamed Hezbollah for the deaths.
19:55Regarding the attack that took place yesterday, March 30th,
19:59we can confirm today that UNIFIL forces were hit by Hezbollah explosive devices.
20:08He stressed that Israel will continue to take action as long as Hezbollah remains a threat.
20:15Other countries are also raising concerns about the humanitarian situation in Lebanon,
20:20and they have strongly condemned the attacks on UN peacekeepers.
20:27Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia has told the United States
20:32it will capture the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbass in two months
20:38and is demanding that Ukraine withdraw.
20:43Zelenskyy posted details on social media on Tuesday of his news conference in the city of Bucha near Kyiv.
20:49He quoted Russia as saying that Ukraine has two months to withdraw,
20:55after which the war will end,
20:57but it will take the region and impose different terms if there is no withdrawal.
21:03He expressed concern that Russia aims to control Donbass
21:07and also expand the territory it occupies in Ukraine.
21:12Zelenskyy added that he has proposed a ceasefire for the duration of the Easter holidays in April.
21:20South Korea has bolstered its naval defenses with two helicopters purchased from the United States.
21:27The aircraft can purportedly be used to detect North Korean submarines.
21:33A ceremony to mark the deployment of the two MH-60R helicopters was held on Wednesday.
21:41A commander said the aircraft's higher capabilities will help protect the country's maritime sovereignty.
21:47South Korea's Navy says MH-60Rs can fly for up to four hours
21:53and detect submarines across larger areas than conventional helicopters.
21:58It also says the aircraft have improved capabilities to attack submarines and ships with missiles and torpedoes.
22:06South Korea plans to buy 10 more from Washington.
22:10The deployment comes as North Korea has been building a nuclear-powered submarine
22:15and developing submarine-launched ballistic missiles.
22:18And last month, the country fired cruise missiles from a destroyer.
22:25The world's biggest contract chipmaker will soon be producing three nanometer chips in southwestern Japan.
22:33Taiwan's economic ministry gave the project the green light,
22:36and it's expected to be significant for Japan's economic security.
22:42Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, or TSMC,
22:47is planning to manufacture the chips at its second plant in Kumamoto Prefecture,
22:52currently under construction.
22:54Upon completion, it's expected to be able to create 15,000 chips per month,
23:01with large-scale production set to start in 2028.
23:04The company has been making chips for automobiles and industrial equipment at its first plant in Kumamoto.
23:13Competition for three-nanometer chips is heating up around the world.
23:18Since they're used for AI data centers and self-driving vehicles,
23:23demand is expected to further increase.
23:41AI share the Olives doesn't have a lot of sportsland.
23:42For one of the best-owned varsity
24:04and as part-SURE City teachers
24:37And now it's time for a look at world weather with our meteorologist Jonathan Oh.
24:43Hello, we're seeing the temperatures and the mercury starting to rise around Europe and that's helping to bring some of
24:50the flowers out and about.
24:52But at the same time, it's also leading to some issues on the ground.
24:55And I want to show you some video coming out of Moscow where it's certainly feeling like spring as temperatures
25:01are hitting new records this season.
25:03The Associated Press reporting that highs rose above 70 degrees Celsius in the capital Tuesday, making March the warmest on
25:09record.
25:10However, that's causing ice to melt rapidly, which is leading to rivers flooding around Moscow.
25:15The regional emergency services said over 100 settlements have been affected.
25:19Forecasters are predicting that temperatures in the first few days of April could exceed the seasonal norm by 7 degrees
25:24or more.
25:26So it looks like we're going to be talking about that warmer pattern as we go forward throughout the next
25:31few days.
25:32Now, in other parts of Europe, down toward the south, a couple of low-pressure systems around the Mediterranean, bringing
25:36in some rain, even some thunderstorms into the region.
25:39So that's going to be the story spreading from Italy over into Turkey as we go throughout the day on
25:46Wednesday.
25:4715 in Rome, 16 in Athens, 17 in Istanbul.
25:50Sunny skies into places like Berlin, Vienna, Moscow topping off at 18 as we go through Wednesday.
25:57Meanwhile, we saw a wave of rain on Tuesday.
26:00We're seeing another wave of rain moving through on Wednesday because of a couple of low-pressure systems rolling across
26:04Japan.
26:05So you'll need to have the umbrellas nearby.
26:06The winds are going to be a part of the story overnight into the day on Thursday.
26:10And once this low just zips on toward the east, we're going to be seeing things clearing out.
26:15So we'll have a window of about a day to a day and a half of sunny air conditions late
26:20Thursday in places like Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, a couple of days of dry weather.
26:24The weekend shows up and so does the rain.
26:27I mean, more rain coming up into the picture on Saturday and Sunday.
26:29So if you're going to try to get a glimpse of the cherry blossoms, you want to try to get
26:33that through the window on Thursday into Friday.
26:35Because by the time you're going to Saturday and Sunday, it's going to get wet once again.
26:39That's the future forecast.
26:40Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
27:35and that's it for this edition of newsroom tokyo you can catch this program on our website
27:40i'm yoshikawa ryuichi and i'm kumei ayako thank you for watching please join us again tomorrow
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