EARTHQUAKE OF MAGNITUDE 6.19 STRIKES OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN - GFZ

A former top Japanese national security adviser, Akihisa Nagashima, has urged Japan to consider sending warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz, protecting both its vessels and those of other nations. Nagashima suggested this could be done under a special measures law, without altering Japan's pacifist constitution. He emphasized that protecting global shipping routes aligns with Japan’s national interests. Despite US pressure for greater involvement, Japan has pledged cooperation with European nations to ensure safe passage through the vital waterway.

President Trump has expressed to aides his desire for a swift end to the Iran war, aiming for its conclusion within weeks. Nearly a month into the conflict, he believes it is in its final stages and has urged advisers to follow the four-to-six-week timeline he publicly set. White House officials anticipate the war's end before a mid-May summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. However, peace talks are still in early stages, and Trump has been diverted by other issues, such as the midterm elections and immigration policies, viewing the war as a distraction.