Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Gene Otani in Tokyo. Australian voters are casting their ballots in a general election on Saturday. The focus is on whether the ruling Labour Party can maintain its majority of seats in the House of Representatives. The Labour Party, headed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Conservative Coalition, led by the largest opposition Liberal Party, are vying for control. In Australia, the party that wins a majority in the 150-seat chamber forms the government.
The latest opinion poll shows support for labor at 52.5 percent, with the conservative coalition at 47.5 percent. In the previous general election about three years ago, Labor won a majority for the first time in nine years. Major issues this time around include inflation and higher housing costs as well as dealing with U.S. President Donald Trump. Australian public sentiment toward the Trump administration has grown increasingly negative due to his tariffs and other moves.
And the resentment has hit the approval rating of the conservative coalition. Their policies are seen as echoing those of the U.S. like prioritizing government efficiency and laying off public workers. I'm also very concerned about our environment. I think housing and, you know, overseas conflicts. And I'm really excited to hopefully see those alliances grow over the next few years rather than fall further apart. Polling stations close soon and vote counting will begin immediately.
U.S. President Trump's administration has imposed an additional 25 percent tariff on imported key auto parts. These include engines and transmissions. The levies began taking effect on Saturday. It follows his imposition of a 25% tariff last month on foreign-made vehicles. But the administration announced earlier this week it will relax some tariffs as U.S. carmakers voice their concerns. They say their production costs could rise as they were importing parts from other countries.
The government says it will partially reimburse carmakers for these costs. Data from Japan's finance ministry show the country's auto parts exports to the U.S. stood at 1.23 trillion yen or about eight and a half billion dollars. It is the second biggest item among Japan's total exports to the U.S. behind automobiles. Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has held phone talks with Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney. They spoke for about half an hour and covered the potential...
economic impact of U.S. President Trump's sweeping tariffs. Ishiba congratulated Carney on Friday for his party's victory earlier this week in Canada's general election. The talks came after Japan wrapped up a second round of tariff negotiations with the United States. Canada holds this year's Group of Seven presidency. The two leaders also confirmed that they will cooperate to tackle various challenges facing the international community.
Trump says his administration will revoke Harvard University's tax-exempt status. The move would follow a partial freeze on the institution's federal funds in April. Trump made the announcement on social media on Friday. He did not mention when the status will be canceled. The move puts even more pressure on the Ivy League university, which has so far failed to follow requests from the Trump administration. The university was subject to a partial freeze of federal grants in April.
The government cited the university's failure to protect Jewish students from anti-Semitism on campus. Harvard University issued a statement saying there is no legal basis to rescind its tax-exempt status. It noted that such an unprecedented action would result in diminished financial aid for students. It added there would be grave consequences for the future of higher education in the United States.
The university filed a lawsuit with a federal court in Massachusetts last month against the partial funding freeze. Tensions are soaring between India and Pakistan following last month's deadly attack in Kashmir. Both sides have responded with a show of military might. The Indian Air Force conducted a fly-pass and landing exercise on Friday along an expressway. The drill assumed a runway. had become unusable due to an attack.
Pakistan carried out a large-scale exercise on Thursday using long-range artillery units and war planes. A general of the chief of army staff said any military misadventure by India will be met with a swift and resolute response. Gunmen opened fire on a group of tourists in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, leaving 26 people dead. Both countries deny involvement. Observers say the focus is on whether India will conduct a cross border attack on Pakistan.
Germany's domestic intelligence agency has classified the anti-immigrant alternative for Germany party. As a confirmed right-wing extremist movement, the AFD surged in the February elections, finishing second. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution announced the decision on Friday. It cited the remarks and actions of the party's leading members against refugees and migrants as incompatible with free democratic order. Specifically, it says the AFD does not consider citizens
who have migrated from Muslim-influenced countries as equal members of the German people. The agency will step up surveillance of the party. Some members of other major political parties are now calling for the AFD to be banned. The AFD has issued a statement calling to move a serious blow to German democracy and politically motivated. People heading for hometowns and holiday destinations during the ongoing spring break are tying up traffic across Japan.
She almost like a station was filled with people early in the day. 広島に行くおばあちゃんの家に行く Japan Railway Group companies say congestion on Shinkansen bullet trains departing from Tokyo will peak on Saturday. All seats were taken on most non-reserve cars of Tōhoku and Hokuriku Shinkansen trains leaving Tokyo Station in the morning. Domestic flights are fairly crowded. Reservation rates for Tokyo departures topped 80% at both All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines.
Traffic jams on expressway lanes heading out of the capital are also expected to peak from Saturday through Sunday. Those were the main stories for this hour. And that's the news this hour. I'm Gino Tani from all of us here at NHK Newsline to all around the world. Thanks very much for joining us.