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00:15The U.S. and Iran have agreed on a ceasefire, promising relief from missile attacks and
00:21the prospect of a reopened Strait of Hormuz.
00:25Tokyo stocks surge following the ceasefire announcement, with the main index marking
00:29its third largest gain ever, and a U.N. official warns of a growing food crisis arising from
00:36the unsettled conditions in the Middle East.
00:40The United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire, bringing some reprieve
00:45to a region that's been battered by missiles over the last six weeks.
00:49U.S. President Donald Trump said he would pause attacks just hours before his deadline for
00:54Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
00:56He had earlier warned, a whole civilization will die tonight if the sea passage were to
01:02remain closed.
01:03Trump wrote online he agreed to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks.
01:09He said the U.S. had received a 10-point proposal from Tehran, and he saw it as a workable
01:15basis
01:15for negotiations.
01:17Trump also wrote, a two-week period will allow the agreement to be finalized and consummated.
01:24Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Arochi, responded on social media, saying if attacks were halted,
01:30Iran's forces would cease their defensive operations.
01:33He also said ships would be able to safely navigate the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks
01:38by coordinating with the Iranian military.
01:41Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who's been serving as a mediator, suggested the idea.
01:48Sharif said in a social media post, Iran and the U.S., along with their allies, had agreed
01:53to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon.
01:57He said he had invited representatives from Washington and Tehran to hold talks in the
02:02Pakistani capital of Islamabad on Friday with the aim of ending the fighting.
02:06In a statement, the office of the Israeli Prime Minister offered support for Trump's decision
02:12to suspend strikes.
02:13It stresses the pause is subject to Iran immediately opening the straits and stopping all attacks
02:19on the U.S., Israel, and countries in the region.
02:23Notably, it says the ceasefire does not include Lebanon, hinting at continued attacks on the
02:29Iran-backed Shia Muslim group Hezbollah.
02:33Now, Japanese Prime Minister Takahichi Sanae spoke with Iranian President Masud Pejesusky-yan
02:39by telephone on Tuesday.
02:41Takahichi spoke to reporters after the phone conversation.
02:48The most important thing going forward is that de-escalation is actually achieved, including
02:55ensuring safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
02:58I called for the prompt and swift assurance of safe navigation for vessels of all countries,
03:05including those associated with Japan.
03:11Takahichi went on to say the two had agreed to continue close communication going forward.
03:17The ceasefire agreement with Iran is having a major impact on financial markets.
03:22Yoshikawa Ryuichi from our business team brings us up to speed.
03:25So, Ryuichi, what do you have for us?
03:26Thanks, Raja.
03:26Japanese stocks surged on Wednesday after the U.S. announced the ceasefire with Iran.
03:32Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index finished with its third largest gain ever, more than 2,800 points.
03:40The benchmark soared nearly 5.4 percent to a one-month high of 56,308.
03:47It jumped soon after the opening and investors kept on buying throughout the day.
03:53The rally followed a sharp drop in crude oil futures in New York.
03:58Other benchmarks across the Asia-Pacific region also climbed.
04:02Seoul's Kaspi was the best performer, jumping 6.8 percent.
04:07Mumbai's Sensex added 3.9 percent.
04:11Japanese Prime Minister Takahichi Sanai has reassured the public that the government should be able to secure enough crude oil
04:18to last beyond this year.
04:24Japan has enough oil reserves to meet eight months' demand.
04:29We've got a clear idea now that alternative procurement and curbing the release of reserves will help secure supply into
04:36next year.
04:39Takahichi said on Tuesday, the government has been purchasing crude oil from the Middle East and the United States for
04:45delivery through routes other than the Strait of Hormuz.
04:49She said that based on last year's figures, purchases from alternative sources in April are expected to account for more
04:57than 20 percent of the total.
04:59In May, the percentage is projected to exceed 50 percent.
05:05Takahichi spoke with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayyad al-Nayan over the phone.
05:12She asked the country to help Japan with stable oil supplies.
05:17The UAE can ship from its eastern port without using the Strait of Hormuz.
05:23And that's the business news for this Wednesday.
05:26Ryuji, thank you very much for that.
05:28Now, while political efforts continue toward de-escalation in the Middle East,
05:31the humanitarian situation remains harsh.
05:34Growing instability is leaving more families uncertain about their next meal across the region and beyond.
05:41At the center of global food relief efforts is the United Nations World Food Programme.
05:46In 2024, the WFP provided food assistance to 124 million people worldwide.
05:53In an exclusive interview with NHK World, its assistant executive director, Rania Dagesh Kamara,
06:00warns the crisis is having a direct impact on people already struggling to feed their families.
06:05Higher fuel prices and disrupted supply routes are making food unaffordable for many.
06:11Our analysis says that an extra 45 million people will be acutely hungry if this crisis continues.
06:20We had 318 million people acutely hungry.
06:24That means their next meal is unknown to them.
06:27So can you imagine adding another 45 million to that?
06:31It just puts us in the realm of unprecedented numbers of people who are hungry
06:37and could become even more vulnerable.
06:43And we're now joined by NHK World's Sumino Hiroshi, who's been covering this story.
06:47Hiroshi, conditions on the ground seem to be deteriorating rapidly
06:51as a result of the current situation in the Middle East.
06:53How is the crisis affecting ordinary people?
06:56The crisis is fueling displacement across the region, far beyond Iran.
07:02In Lebanon, 1 million people have been forced out of their homes.
07:07The WFP is providing food to around 300,000 people.
07:13But demand is growing faster than it can be met.
07:17Dagesh says some Syrian refugees living in Lebanon
07:21are now returning to Syria to look for safety.
07:24That makes things more complicated.
07:28Afghanistan has also been affected.
07:31She says 17 million people in Afghanistan are already in need of help.
07:38The number continues to rise as more people return from Iran.
07:42That places more strain on systems that are already fragile.
07:48In crisis, we're always ready to respond.
07:51And we have been able to reach a third of those displaced in Lebanon.
07:55We're able to reach some of those who've crossed in Syria.
08:00But to reach the entire number, we just need more resources to come into us
08:06so that we are able to respond to the whole number.
08:08We need resources from everyone to enable us to respond to this sudden situation.
08:14And that's in Afghanistan, where we are short of funds.
08:18And that is in Syria.
08:20And that is, of course, in Lebanon itself.
08:23And also in Yemen.
08:26So, Hiroshi, what is the broader impact of the conflict on humanitarian operations?
08:32Dagesh says that rising tensions are forcing eight groups to change how they transport food.
08:38The impact is being felt worldwide.
08:42Afghanistan is one example.
08:46The WFP operates a major hub in Dubai.
08:50It normally relies on the path through the Strait of Hormuz.
08:54That route is currently unavailable.
08:58Surprises are instead being sent over land.
09:01They are going through at least seven countries, including Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
09:08This new route adds about three weeks to delivery times.
09:12It also triples the cost of transport.
09:17The longer journey means food supplies are waiting in Dubai.
09:21They are being moved in stages, slowing down help to people in need.
09:27A similar problem is unfolding with aid to Sudan.
09:33Normally, supplies are shipped from India through the Bab El-Mandeb Strait.
09:40Deliveries are now going all the way around Africa instead.
09:45They are taking up to a month longer to arrive where they are needed.
09:51The ripple effects of the conflict, combined with rising energy and transport costs,
09:57are now confined to one region.
10:00They could gradually undermine global aid overall.
10:05And it's happening after some governments already started reducing aid funding.
10:12The importance of continuing to provide humanitarian assistance is critical.
10:19Humanitarian assistance creates stability in a lot of these countries.
10:23It creates dignity for people who are extremely vulnerable and need it.
10:27It saves children's lives.
10:30Can you imagine with me that in this century, today, we saw two concurrent famines happen at the same time?
10:39Last year, we saw a famine in Gaza and a famine in parts of Sudan in Darfur.
10:45It is not normal that famines happen in a world of so much abundance.
10:53Donor countries, including the U.S., are reducing contribution to the World Food Programme.
11:00So it has been forced to change its priorities and scale back some operations.
11:06If the crisis in the Middle East continues, the need for help will increase.
11:12At the same time, funding is shrinking and costs are growing up.
11:18The WFP warns that the world needs to keep supporting people facing hunger,
11:25so the situation doesn't get even worse.
11:29Hiroshi, thank you for all your insight.
11:30NHK World's Sumino Hiroshi.
11:33Next, we go to Cholopansa Nauru ladder bureau in Bangkok
11:36for reactions to the U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement from Asia-Pacific nations.
11:41Cholopansa.
11:43Thai Deputy Prime Minister Sopaji Sutanpan welcomed the move.
11:47Saying it was a positive development.
11:50She also told reporters on Wednesday that authorities in the country
11:53are continuously monitoring the situation
11:56to ensure sufficient supplies of oil and other essential products.
12:03It's good.
12:04If there is such certainty,
12:05we can take care and control the source of the products well.
12:13Indonesia and Malaysia also hailed the two-week ceasefire.
12:16An Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said
12:19Jakarta sees the latest development as an effort by the parties involved
12:23to keep diplomatic channels open to promote de-escalation.
12:27She added that Indonesia supports efforts towards a permanent solution.
12:31And the Malaysian government issued a statement saying
12:34the country urges all parties to fully respect the ceasefire
12:38to prevent any return to hostilities.
12:40It also called on parties to avoid any provocative actions
12:44or unilateral measures that could jeopardize global economic and energy security.
12:49Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
12:51criticized Trump's rhetoric as extraordinary while welcoming the ceasefire.
12:56Trump earlier made a warning that a whole civilisation will die tonight
13:00if his demands were not met.
13:03I don't think it's appropriate to use language such as that
13:09from the President of the United States.
13:12And I think it will cause some concern, which is there.
13:19Meanwhile in Thailand, the Iran crisis is having an impact
13:22on the country's vital tourism sector
13:24as inbound traveller numbers slump and sightseeing spots struggle.
13:34The number of visitors to Thailand has fallen
13:36amid few price hikes that have forced airlines to race fares and cut flights.
13:41The result is clear at places such as
13:43the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ayutthaya.
13:46This elephant-riding facility, usually popular with tourists,
13:50has seen 70% fewer customers than normal.
13:53It has a stable of 35 elephants, but only 15 of those are currently at work.
14:00The most important thing is that we can't leave the elephants
14:04and can't dismiss our employees.
14:06Our income is down, but our way of life continues.
14:09It's a fight we're in together.
14:11Soaring logistic costs are another factor weighing on business.
14:15Each elephant eats about 300 kilos of vegetables a day, which still has to be shipped in.
14:21A new Thai government forecast says the number of international visitors this year may reach
14:26just 30 million, up to 18% short of its initial estimate.
14:32In Pakistan, deep-rooted social norms have long discouraged women from riding motorcycles.
14:37Women on two wheels have long been seen as unfeminine.
14:41But a growing number of women are challenging that mindset,
14:43learning to ride and reshaping what freedom looks like on the streets.
14:47NHK World's Nizar O. Islam has a story.
15:0028-year-old Ruby Islam is a motorcycle instructor.
15:05Her students are all women.
15:09She's part of a project called Women on Wheels,
15:13an initiative run by a private foundation offering free training for women.
15:21This is the accelerator.
15:23It controls your speed.
15:28In conservative cycles, Muslim women riding motorcycles is often seen as inappropriate.
15:34So how do women feel about it?
15:42Yes, of course.
15:43Sometimes you want to go somewhere, but other family members are not available.
15:47It's better if you have your own ride.
15:49You can just start the engine and you're off.
15:53The project says it has trained around 30,000 women over the past decade.
15:59Having female instructors makes it more accessible,
16:03especially for those who prefer to avoid contact with men.
16:08Ten years ago, Ruby herself was a student in the same program.
16:14Now she is an avid motorcyclist,
16:17traveling across the country with fellow riders and commutes by bike.
16:23After I learned to ride, I started visiting places and thought,
16:27yes, I can go to places I like.
16:30I want to prove that if men can do it, women can too.
16:36The program also teaches women how to deal with harassment,
16:40as there have been many incidents of women being followed by men or subjected to verbal abuse.
16:49If someone is saying bad things about you or is physically touching you,
16:54you should say no and shout, you aren't allowed to touch me.
16:58Despite challenges like these, Ruby's message is spreading.
17:04The student hopes to make her mark in society in the same way as she rides her motorcycle through the
17:13streets.
17:14When many people see me riding well, they will understand that we can change society.
17:19I think many women will definitely be inspired.
17:21Change is possible in the near future.
17:26I feel that this change will come.
17:29It's my aim to ensure that every girl is able to ride whenever they like.
17:34I definitely want to continue doing this.
17:40Ruby Islam is leading the way, opening up new roads for female riders.
17:46For these women, riding is more than just transportation.
17:49It's a statement, a move toward freedom.
17:54That's really Islam, NHQ World, the whole Punjab province.
18:00That's up by Bulletin. I'm Cholop Hansa, a ruler in Bangkok.
18:04Thank you very much, Cholop Hansa.
18:06Back here in Japan, spring is when major Japanese companies hire new recruits.
18:10While prospects for fresh graduates still look fairly good,
18:14some firms are planning to cut back on their staff intake.
18:17Part of the reason is AI.
18:20Leading electronics firm Mitsubishi Electric aims to reduce intake by about 20% to around 750.
18:28The company cites improved efficiency due to digitization and AI.
18:33Central Japan Railway says it'll trim recruiting by 30% to bring its intake to around 430.
18:40And machinery maker Kubota is looking at cutting the number of new hires by about 40% to 280.
18:48The company says it has a sufficient number of employees due to active hiring over the past several years.
18:54A senior researcher at Indeido Recruit Partners says some firms are growing cautious about hiring new grads.
19:08Some companies are considering a balance between hiring new graduates and mid-career job seekers,
19:15amid the rapid advancement in generative AI and other technologies.
19:25Kurita believes future recruits will need to be able to set their own challenges and deliver on them.
19:32U.S. space agency NASA has released stunning images of the far side of the moon
19:37that have never been seen before by humans.
19:40They were taken by astronauts on the U.S.-led Artemis II mission.
19:45One of the photos shows the moon in the foreground with the Earth in the distance.
19:50It also features lunar craters that cannot be seen from Earth.
19:54Another photo shows heavily cratered terrain on the eastern edge of the South Pole-Apekin Basin.
20:01That's the largest and oldest basin on the moon.
20:04NASA says the image provides a glimpse into ancient geological history built up over billions of years.
20:11The space agency says the astronauts used a fleet of cameras to take thousands of photos.
20:17It adds it expects to release more images in the coming days.
20:23The Gengkai Sea, located south of the Sea of Japan, is fed by warm currents, making it a rich fishing
20:30ground.
20:30Even in the cold month of February, it teems with a remarkable diversity of life.
20:36NHK World video journalist Tateoka Atsushi takes us on a journey exploring these abundant waters.
20:44We head out to the Gengkai Sea, off the coast of Hukuoka City.
20:50The water temperature is around 13 degrees Celsius.
21:00This is a rockfish, known as a fish, that welcomes spring.
21:13A flounder hides in the sand.
21:18A school of yellow tail swings by, each about a meter long.
21:35A pair of cutting fish, each about 30 cm long.
21:39A pair of cutting fish, each about 30 cm long, is drawn to the seaweed.
21:43They will lay their eggs here.
21:52Fishes use a cage to take advantage of
21:56They attach a holly branch
21:58It attracts cattle fish looking for a place to lay eggs
22:06A cattle fish is in the cage
22:14The grey balls are cattle fish eggs
22:20A large red sea brim has approached the cage
22:26The cattle fish close in
22:36The red sea brim attacks one of the cattle fish
22:40The cattle fish season runs
22:59From February to May
23:09After the harvest, the branches covered in eggs
23:13Are returned to the sea
23:15Allowing new life to continue
23:20Spring is here
23:23How many did you catch?
23:26I didn't count them
23:30Maybe about 100?
23:33If about half the traps were full, that's not bad
23:54Now we have a quick correction to an earlier story
23:56In our segment on the WFP
23:58We said rising energy and transport costs are now confined to one region
24:03It should have been not confined to one region
24:06We apologize for the error
24:08That's how many of you have come from
24:21And we'll see you later
24:24We're looking for you
24:41Well, we saw spring conditions return to Tokyo on Wednesday,
24:45and it seems temperatures are on the rise around northeast Asia as well.
24:49Our meteorologist Jonathan O'Neill explains the outlook in our world weather report.
24:53Hello. We are starting to see temperatures trying to inch their way back up
24:57into some places like the 20s as they continue on this week.
25:01High pressure is going to help bring those temperatures up in places like Japan,
25:05and even areas back toward China also seeing temperatures in the 20s.
25:09Now, we are looking at the possibility of some rain around a stationary front
25:13that's developing around the Yangtze River Basin, and that's going to bring the wet weather,
25:16but we're still talking about the possibility of seeing temperatures in the 20s
25:19continuing on through this week.
25:20Now, the moisture will be pushing eastward and so into the Korean Peninsula
25:25as we go through Thursday and then into Friday across Japan,
25:29so you'll need the umbrellas as we go forward throughout the next few days.
25:33But for Thursday, Tokyo is staying dry, 20 with sunnier skies during the earlier hours,
25:39and then clouds pick up later on in the day.
25:40So we're looking at rain into Shanghai and Beijing as well,
25:43but notice Shanghai topping off into the upper 20s as we go through Thursday.
25:48Meanwhile, down to southwest Michigan, we've got Myla and Vianu.
25:52Vianu is weakening, but it still has a lot of momentum with it.
25:57And so for those located in the north island of New Zealand,
26:00you're going to see the impacts of this as we head into the weekend.
26:03And Myla is spinning its wheel for just a bit,
26:05but we are expecting it as we go toward the weekend
26:08to eventually get itself together and move its way down to the south and west
26:11and setting its sights for the northern portions of Queensland.
26:14So both locations need to be on the lookout for these storms.
26:17Meanwhile, looking at what's happening across North America,
26:19we have a cold front and a couple of low-purchases moving through the upper Midwest
26:23into the southern portions of Canada.
26:25And so as that pushes on through showers into the Rockies,
26:28but down toward the south, dry weather expected from Oklahoma City
26:31into Houston with highs in the mid-20s.
26:34Still chilly on the north side of that front,
26:36Winnipeg looking at some snow with a high of one as we go through Wednesday.
26:39Quick note on Europe, cut off low, stuck over the Iberian Peninsula,
26:44continue to bring some rain in the area.
26:45And a couple of low-purchases to the eastern side of Europe,
26:48bringing plenty of wet weather and even some snow into places like Kiev for Wednesday.
26:53Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
27:32And that concludes this edition of Newsroom Tokyo.
27:35Be sure to catch our program on our website as well.
27:38I'm Roger Pradhan, and from all of us at NHK World Japan,
27:42thanks for watching.
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