(260416) — TOKYO, April 16, 2026 (Xinhua) — This undated photograph exhibits a knife carried by Kodai Murata, a 23-year-old second lieutenant within the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force who broke into the Embassy of China in Japan on March 24, 2026. TO GO WITH “Chinese embassy urges Japan to investigate threats, ensure safety of personnel” (The Embassy of China in Japan/Handout by way of Xinhua)
How rail-based commerce, journey deepen China-Vietnam ties
NANNING, April 16 (Xinhua) — On the night time of April 10, a cross-border freight practice departed from the Nanning International Railway Port in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, carrying a cargo of electronics and industrial elements destined for Southeast Asia.
The practice, a central hyperlink within the China-Vietnam railway community, left at midnight for the 14-hour journey south. The cargo arrived the next afternoon at Yen Vien station, a sprawling rail terminal on the northern outskirts of Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital.
The route, which started with not more than 5 journeys in a month in 2017, has since matured right into a crucial commerce artery, shifting Chinese equipment to Vietnamese factories and contemporary produce again north.
Over the previous decade, Chinese rail authorities have steadily upgraded this rail hall into a contemporary logistical spine, utilizing elevated practice frequency and streamlined customs clearance to shorten transit instances.
Statistics mirror an explosion in demand. In 2025, freight trains originating from Guangxi dispatched 37,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equal models) to Vietnam, a year-on-year leap of 86 p.c, a brand new document, in line with railway information.
The number of cargo has additionally diversified, increasing from a handful of primary commodities to 455 product classes, together with high-end circuit boards and specialised metal plates. Over the course of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) interval, rail exports from Guangxi to Vietnam grew over sixfold in comparison with the earlier five-year cycle.
A achieve in effectivity has additionally performed an enormous function on this surge in commerce. In 2025, the China Railway Nanning Group Co., Ltd. scaled up hauling capability on the Pingxiang-Dong Dang phase, boosting border throughput by 30 p.c. With Nanning Customs now providing round the clock clearance by appointment, the weekly schedule has been expanded, elevating the variety of trains from three to 14.
At the Nanning International Railway Port, a brand new freight consolidation system which permits a number of distributors to “pool” shipments, has turn into a serious draw for small and medium-sized enterprises. The follow has reportedly slashed delivery prices for foodstuffs by roughly 400 yuan (about 58.3 U.S. {dollars}) per container.
“The trains are punctual and cost-effective, exactly what we need for our exports to ASEAN,” mentioned Zou Desong, deputy common supervisor of Guangxi Guitong Sinotrans Customs Clearance Co., Ltd. His firm witnessed a 180-percent rise in container quantity final 12 months.
Beyond freight, the resumption of passenger companies in May 2025 after the pandemic restored an important cultural and tourism hyperlink.
Official information present that since its resumption, greater than 25,000 vacationers have crossed the border through this service, with passengers together with Vietnamese college students and European backpackers.
For Zong Jianhui, a Chinese businessman who repeatedly shuttles between Nanning and Hanoi, the in a single day sleeper is now his most popular selection.
“If I drive across the Youyiguan Pass in the city of Pingxiang, the whole day is lost to exhaustion,” Zong mentioned. “On this train, I leave Nanning in the evening, sleep through the border, and step off in Hanoi ready for afternoon meetings.”
The attraction can also be environmental for some. Lise Dubos, a French traveler, selected the route to reduce her carbon footprint. “It’s much less polluting than flying,” she famous. “We’re excited to see Vietnam this way. It feels like a proper journey.”
According to rail authorities, a brand new longer-haul sleeper service now connects Beijing to Hanoi. Passengers board within the Chinese capital on Thursday or Sunday afternoons, change trains in Nanning, and get up in Vietnam, a laid-back overland various to crowded flights that has quietly gained reputation amongst budget-conscious enterprise vacationers and households.
This rail hall additionally performs a key function within the grand nationwide technique. For China, the hall serves as a southern spoke of the Western Land-Sea New Corridor, linking inland Chinese provinces to ASEAN markets.
For Vietnam, the hall has already pushed down freight prices and tightened the hyperlink between its northern manufacturing zones and world provide chains, with ongoing standard-gauge rail upgrades set to additional improve connectivity.
Guangxi, China’s solely provincial-level area with each land and sea borders with ASEAN, has positioned itself as a logistical hub.
Nanning, the autonomous area’s capital metropolis, operates 17 cargo routes from its airport to Southeast Asia, whereas its rail port serves as a group level for items from 25 Chinese provinces.
In 2025, town’s international commerce hit 104.4 billion yuan, together with 54.9 billion yuan of export and 49.5 billion yuan of import, up 19.3 p.c and 5.7 p.c, respectively, 12 months on 12 months, in line with official information.
From working simply as soon as per week as a trial service to working every day journeys carrying numerous kinds of cargo, this rail route on the frontier has turn into a concrete signal of how two economies and their persons are rising extra related.
TANAKA Group’s Subsidiary Gains Certification for Disability Employment Initiatives – Japan Industry News
TANAKA PRECIOUS METAL GROUP Co., Ltd. has introduced that its newly established subsidiary, TANAKA PRECIOUS METAL NEXT Co., Ltd., has been licensed as a particular subsidiary below Japan’s Act to Facilitate the Employment of Persons with Disabilities. This certification, obtained on March 30, 2026, marks a big step in TANAKA’s dedication to fostering an inclusive work surroundings.
Established in January 2026, TANAKA PRECIOUS METAL NEXT focuses on making a supportive office for workers with disabilities, aiming to leverage their particular person strengths and increase employment alternatives. The subsidiary offers recruitment and retention assist for workers with disabilities throughout the TANAKA group and engages in inside coaching to advertise understanding of incapacity employment.
In collaboration with authorities businesses, assist organizations, and particular wants schooling colleges, TANAKA PRECIOUS METAL NEXT is creating employment assist techniques and coaching strategies. The subsidiary can be exploring new enterprise ventures that promote the employment of individuals with disabilities, specializing in back-office operations akin to administrative assist duties.
Tomohiro Toi, CEO of TANAKA PRECIOUS METAL NEXT, expressed gratitude for the assist acquired in acquiring the certification and emphasised the significance of the milestone in strengthening the corporate’s initiatives. He famous the rising societal demand for the employment of individuals with disabilities and reiterated the corporate’s dedication to creating a snug and thriving work surroundings for its staff.
TANAKA PRECIOUS METAL NEXT will make the most of its certification to increase employment alternatives and promote retention for individuals with disabilities, aligning with TANAKA’s broader technique of range, fairness, and inclusion. The subsidiary’s efforts are half of a bigger initiative to create ongoing employment via collaboration inside and outdoors the group.
The management staff of TANAKA PRECIOUS METAL NEXT contains CEO Tomohiro Toi and administrators Koichiro Tanaka and Kazuharu Yoshida, with Akihito Sato serving because the Audit Supervisory Board Member. The firm is headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo, with a capital of 10 million yen.
Hokkaido man, 79, accused of stealing 3 packs of eggs – TokyoReporter
HOKKAIDO (TR) – Police in Asahikawa City have arrested a 79-year-old man for allegedly shoplifting three packs of eggs from a neighborhood grocery store.
The crime was foiled by an eagle-eyed, off-duty police officer, stories Fuji News Network (Apr. 16).
The incident came about at round 2:10 p.m. on April 11 at a grocery store within the metropolis’s Toyooka district. The aged suspect is accused of stealing three packs of eggs, with a complete retail worth of 1,053 yen.
According to police, an off-duty officer who occurred to be outdoors the shop noticed the person performing suspiciously, stuffing objects into the belly space of his jacket. When the officer confronted him, the hid eggs have been found hidden inside his clothes.
Because it was initially unclear whether or not the person had simply taken the eggs from the institution, investigating officers reviewed the grocery store’s safety digicam footage. After confirming the theft on video, police formally arrested the suspect on April 12.
Upon questioning, the person absolutely admitted to the allegations. He defined his motive by stating, “I had no money.”
Authorities are persevering with their investigation to find out if the suspect has been concerned in every other related crimes.
The Rise of Aika: India’s Pioneering Anime Okay-Pop Star Makes Her World Debut
SMPL
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 16: Some tales do not start – they rise. Her identify is Aika – which means love track in Japanese and echoing unity in Hindi – and he or she is the protagonist of the Official Anime Music Video for Shine Bright, voiced by 12-year-old singer Alithea Jake and created by her father Jake Joss, beneath the Original Sing enterprise.
Aika is the world’s first AI-generated Indian-origin anime Okay-Pop star – a pioneering determine on the intersection of three of the world’s strongest fandoms: anime, Okay-Pop, and Indian music.
The Girl within the Room
Aika’s story begins in essentially the most relatable of locations: a quiet bed room at daybreak. We first meet her not as a star, however as a dreamer. The early mild catches a room crammed with books, a keyboard, and a guitar – the instruments of a lady quietly constructing a world of her personal. She represents each younger creator working within the shadows, fueled by nothing however a spark of ambition.
The Transformation
As the Okay-Pop-inspired pulse of Shine Bright kicks in, Aika’s world undergoes a shift. Through a panoramic sequence of sunshine and vitality, she strikes from the protection of her room right into a magical futuristic world.
But Aika just isn’t a typical on the spot celebrity. The story makes a deliberate emotional selection: even after she dons her shimmering stage costume, we see her return to her devices. She is again on the keyboard. She is again at her guitar. She is again in singing class and within the recording studio. This is the center of her narrative – that even once you attain the celebs, the work and the training by no means cease.
The climax of Aika’s story isn’t just the second she realises her potential and steps into her mild – it’s the confidence she carries again into her on a regular basis life. Her message is obvious: fly until your wings take you – however at all times preserve your self grounded.
A New Era of Storytelling
When Shine Bright launched in December 2025 as an Official Lyric Video, it went past the format – introducing a visible id that captivated audiences worldwide. The anime music video is the subsequent chapter of that journey, bringing Aika totally to life as a star with a narrative, a stage, and a soul.
She bridges cultures, applied sciences, and storytelling in a single, cohesive imaginative and prescient. The rap part options exhausting panning that the creator says is finest skilled with headphones.
She is a reminder that whereas AI can construct scale and spectacle, it takes human intent – and a human voice – to offer a narrative its which means.
‘Aika is a reminder that mastery is not a vacation spot, however a steady cycle of development.’
‘In the anime world, she rises. In the actual world, she evokes.’
Watch the Official Anime Music Video: https://youtu.be/AYdCKwI46wc
About Original Sing
Original Sing is an unbiased music enterprise based by Jake Joss, constructed on the assumption that creativity has no guidelines and intent leads expertise. The enterprise has delivered three consecutive world-firsts in AI music inside a single yr: Daddy (World’s First Fully AI-Generated Music Video Using Prompt Engineering), Azaadi (World’s First Human-AI Collaborative Patriotic Album), and Shine Bright (World’s First Human-AI Collaborative English-Korean Pop Song by a 12-Year-Old Indian).
To comply with the journey, go to https://originalsing.net or discover Original Sing on Instagram at @authentic.sing.
(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press launch has been supplied by SMPL. ANI is not going to be accountable in any approach for the content material of the identical.)
Bangladesh seeks USD 2 billion from improvement companions to satisfy power demand
Dhaka [Bangladesh], April 16 (ANI): Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has sought a USD 2 billion fund from improvement companions to satisfy the nation’s speedy power wants and safeguard its financial stability, state-run BSS news company reported.
‘The state of affairs earlier than us calls for urgency, solidarity, and decisive motion. Immediate help for essentially the most susceptible nations have to be on the prime of our collective agenda,’ Tarique mentioned in the course of the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Plus Online Summit.
‘We urge the intentional group to reply swiftly and positively to this name,’ he added.
Highlighting the continuing world power disaster, the Bangladesh PM mentioned the disaster is a stark reminder of their shared vulnerability and interdependence.
‘No nation, no matter its measurement or power, can overcome this problem in isolation’, he mentioned, including that it calls for a coordinated and forward-looking Asian response to strengthen regional power safety, handle speedy provide disruptions, and help essentially the most susceptible nations.
Tarique Rahman mentioned the power disaster has already disrupted Bangladesh’s economic system. ‘In response, we have now taken a spread of short-term measures to include the affect,’ Tarique mentioned.
He mentioned the measures embrace demand-side administration via the rationing of presidency workplace and market hours; stabilisation of gasoline provides via emergency imports and diversification of sourcing; and consumption controls, together with gasoline rationing and limits on retail gross sales to forestall hoarding and panic shopping for via initiatives akin to ‘Fuel App’.
He mentioned that Bangladesh is worried that the size and penalties of this disaster might exceed these of the 1970’s oil shock, which triggered a decade of stalled improvement within the Nineteen Eighties.
Since gaining independence in 1971, he mentioned, Bangladesh has labored relentlessly to drive financial development, elevate thousands and thousands out of poverty, and enhance the standard of life for its individuals.
‘Today, these hard-earned good points are at risk, dealing with the true menace of reversal,’ he added.
Tarique mentioned Bangladesh shouldn’t be alone in dealing with this danger, ‘nor can we overcome it via nationwide effort alone’.
‘This second requires a decisive and coordinated world motion to include the affect of the continuing power disaster, notably to guard susceptible nations, together with the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), from its extreme financial and social affect,’ he mentioned.
Tarique Rahman appreciated Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for convening this well timed and essential Summit.
Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and heads of the federal government and states of Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Timor Leste and representatives of various nations took half within the on-line summit.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivered concluding remarks on the assembly. (ANI)
EV purchases could also be deferred in close to time period however see sharp uptick in gross sales after EV coverage implementation: Axis Direct
New Delhi [India], April 16 (ANI): Delhi’s draft EV Policy 2024-2030 lays out certainly one of India’s most aggressive state-level roadmaps to push electrification, combining heavy incentives, strict mandates, and scrappage advantages. With a proposed outlay of Rs 40,000 Cr, the coverage might reshape demand patterns and authentic gear manufacturing methods properly past the capital, in response to Axis Direct.
100% electrical registration for three-wheelers by January 2027 and for two-wheelers by April 2028. To get there, incentives are closely front-loaded to drive early adoption. Electric two-wheelers will get Rs 10,000 per kWh in Year 1, capped at Rs 30,000, earlier than tapering to Rs 6,600 in Year 2 and Rs 3,300 in Year 3. Axis Securities notes this construction targets Delhi’s automobile base, the place 67% contains 2Ws. High-utilisation segments additionally get mounted assist: e-autos Rs 50,000 in Year 1, and N1 items carriers Rs 1,00,000.
For passenger automobiles, direct subsidies have been withdrawn. Instead, the coverage shifts to scrappage-linked payouts and tax advantages to enhance fiscal effectivity. E-cars can stand up to Rs 1,00,000 for scrapping older BS-IV automobiles, capped at 1,00,000 candidates. N1 vehicles get Rs 50,000. Road tax and registration stay totally waived for many EVs, however e-cars above Rs 30 lakh are excluded to maintain advantages mass-market targeted. Strong hybrids get a 50% highway tax minimize under Rs 30 lakh, signaling their transitional position.
The coverage additionally tackles ecosystem bottlenecks. Delhi Transco Limited would be the nodal company for public charging, dealing with demand aggregation and grid readiness. OEMs should arrange at the very least one public charging station per vendor, with particular charging-point necessities for 2W/3W and 4W. On the recycling entrance, the Environment Department and DPCC will implement strict Extended Producer Responsibility and battery traceability guidelines.
Axis Direct sees the coverage favoring gamers with early investments and scale. In two-wheelers, Bajaj Auto, TVS Motor, and Ather Energy are properly positioned. In passenger automobiles, Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra lead, whereas Japanese OEMs ‘might must speed up EV methods to stay aggressive.’ The three-wheeler market stays extremely consolidated, and mandates will probably strengthen dominant gamers.
The draft is open for public suggestions for 30 days and can run till 31 March 2030 as soon as notified. Axis expects near-term deferral in EV purchases till coverage readability emerges. But post-implementation, ‘the coverage is predicted to drive a pointy uptick in EV gross sales over the following few months, led by pent-up demand and improved incentive visibility.’
While Delhi accounts for simply 3-4% of nationwide 2W and PV gross sales, it acts as India’s lead indicator for EV penetration. ‘The shift towards necessary electrification gives a transparent roadmap for different high-pollution city facilities,’ the be aware stated. For buyers, Axis stays selective, preferring OEMs with sturdy pricing energy and established EV portfolios. (ANI)
Isuzu and Toyota Collaborate on Next-Gen Fuel Cell Electric Truck – Japan Industry News
Isuzu Motors Limited and Toyota Motor Corporation have introduced a collaboration to develop a next-generation light-duty gasoline cell electrical truck. The automobile can be primarily based on Isuzu’s ELF EV battery electrical automobile and incorporate Toyota’s third-generation gasoline cell system.
The firms intention to start out manufacturing in fiscal 12 months 2027, enhancing applied sciences that help the high-utilization circumstances of business automobiles. The collaboration is a part of a broader effort to construct a hydrogen society and obtain carbon-neutral logistics.
Light-duty vehicles, typically used for deliveries requiring lengthy working hours and distances, will profit from the short refueling and lengthy driving vary provided by gasoline cell electrical automobiles (FCEVs). These automobiles use hydrogen as a high-energy-density gasoline, lowering refueling time in comparison with battery electrical automobiles (BEVs).
The new truck will leverage the ELF EV platform, launched in 2023, and can incorporate Toyota’s next-generation gasoline cell stack to reinforce sturdiness and lengthen service life. Both firms are working to cut back automobile prices by optimized manufacturing processes.
Isuzu and Toyota can even make the most of insights from earlier joint tasks, such because the ERGA FCV bus and the FC light-duty truck social implementation venture, to enhance gasoline cell sturdiness and management applied sciences.
As nationwide and native governments advance hydrogen utilization initiatives, Isuzu and Toyota are collaborating with regional governments and companies to advertise hydrogen mobility. The partnership goals to increase hydrogen-powered business automobile choices and help the transition to a hydrogen-based society.
Isuzu and Toyota’s efforts align with broader initiatives to cut back environmental affect and obtain sustainability objectives. Toyota emphasizes hydrogen as a key vitality supply and is working with companions throughout industries to increase its use.
Theme Parks Bet on twenty fifth Anniversary Year
TOKYO, Apr 16 (News On Japan) –
Tokyo’s and Osaka’s flagship theme parks are each marking their twenty fifth anniversaries this yr, elevating expectations that milestone celebrations might present a lift to customer numbers and earnings.
The focus first turns to the jap champion, Tokyo DisneySea, which celebrates its anniversary on September 4. Commemorative occasions, branded because the ‘Sparkling Celebration,’ started this week.
Sato Sekine, senior analyst at Daiwa Securities and a five-time top-ranked analyst in Nikkei’s leisure and amusement sector rankings, stated the occasion might assist drive attendance.
DisneySea has adopted ‘Jubilee Blue’ as its theme colour, impressed by the park’s many sights, with decorations and lighting shows throughout the resort. When Tokyo Disneyland marked its fortieth anniversary, customer numbers elevated, and Sekine expects DisneySea’s twenty fifth anniversary to have the same impact.
Higher spending per visitor can also be supporting earnings progress, he stated.
Looking additional forward, Tokyo Disneyland is scheduled to reopen its redeveloped Tomorrowland space subsequent yr, adopted by the park’s forty fifth anniversary the yr after, creating further alternatives to maintain momentum.
Oriental Land, the operator of Tokyo Disney Resort, reported web revenue of 99.5 billion yen for the April-December 2025 interval, up 4% from a yr earlier. Revenue rose 5% to 530.2 billion yen.
Sekine stated larger visitor spending contained in the parks and at resorts contributed to the outcomes.
Visitor numbers had been broadly flat, reflecting sluggish progress in Japan’s home journey market, he added.
Rising ticket costs have fueled dialogue that youthful guests and households could also be turning away from Disney. Demographic information suggests the share of youngsters has fallen under that of middle-aged and older company.
Sekine stated many long-time guests aged 40 and above proceed to go to, whereas financially safe prospects are higher capable of soak up larger costs.
He additionally pointed to operational frustrations. Reservations for sights fill rapidly, and smartphone bookings have develop into important. Such components, mixed with more and more numerous leisure preferences, could also be discouraging youthful individuals and households.
From subsequent yr, company will be capable to buy Disney Premier Access for chosen sights earlier than getting into the park, a transfer anticipated to progressively ease dissatisfaction.
Inbound tourism is one other issue supporting demand. While some have expressed concern that fewer Chinese guests are touring to Japan amid strained bilateral relations, Sekine stated the influence on Oriental Land must be restricted.
Chinese guests account for under round 2% of whole company, he stated. Meanwhile, inbound guests from nations apart from China have been growing at an annual tempo of roughly 20%, cushioning the impact.
Daiwa Securities charges Oriental Land shares as ‘Outperform’ with a goal worth of three,300 yen.
The stock is at the moment buying and selling within the 2,600 yen vary, lower than half its peak degree in January 2024.
Sekine stated a number of damaging components have weighed on the shares over the previous two years, together with promoting stress associated to main shareholder holdings, fading post-pandemic restoration momentum and stagnant customer progress.
However, he stated lots of these considerations at the moment are already mirrored within the stock worth.
Risks stay, together with extended inflation and weaker client spending, however Sekine stated the draw back could also be more and more restricted.
He additionally famous a powerful pipeline of Disney movie releases, together with sequels to ‘Zootopia,’ ‘Toy Story,’ and ‘Frozen,’ which might renew enthusiasm for the model amongst youthful audiences and kids.
Source: テレ東BIZ
Honda Launches Fourth-Generation EV Insight in Japan – Japan Industry News
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is ready to launch the all-new Honda Insight, a totally electrical car, in Japan on April 17, 2026. This marks the introduction of the fourth-generation mannequin, which continues the legacy of the Insight as Honda’s pioneering hybrid car since its debut in 1999.
The new Insight is characterised by its distinctive crossover SUV design, aiming to ship a powerful presence and dynamic driving efficiency. Its exterior encompasses a sharp, flowing type, whereas the inside emphasizes consolation and high-quality supplies, providing a soothing expertise for each drivers and passengers.
With a variety of 535 kilometers per cost within the WLTC mode, the Insight is designed to fulfill numerous on a regular basis driving wants, from commuting to leisure journeys. The car is supplied with a high-power, high-torque drive unit and a large-capacity battery, which helps quick charging, lowering the ready time for an 80% cost to roughly 40 minutes.
The Insight’s inside enhancements embody an Intelligent Heating System, which optimizes vitality consumption and luxury, and an aroma diffuser with a number of perfume choices to reinforce the in-cabin expertise. A BOSE Premium Sound System with 12 audio system additional contributes to the car’s enchantment, providing an immersive audio expertise.
Safety and driver help are prioritized with the inclusion of Honda SENSING, a collection of superior security options reminiscent of Collision Mitigation Braking System, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Lane Keeping Assist System, amongst others. These options goal to offer a protected and comfy driving expertise.
The all-new Insight shall be out there in a restricted amount of three,000 items, with a producer’s recommended retail worth of 5,500,000 yen, inclusive of a ten% consumption tax. A particular restricted version with a white inside shall be offered solely by Honda ON, the corporate’s on-line car gross sales platform.
The launch of the Insight underscores Honda’s dedication to increasing its electrical car lineup and providing modern options within the evolving automotive market.
