Japanese manufacturers are slightly more optimistic despite Trump tariff worries

Japanese manufacturers are slightly more optimistic despite Trump tariff worries

TOKYO (AP) — Business sentiment among large Japanese manufacturers has improved slightly, according to a survey by Japan's central bank released Tuesday, although worries persist overPresident Donald Trump's tariffs. The Bank of Japan's quarterly tankan survey said an index for large manufacturers rose to plus 13 from plus 12 in March, when it marked the first dip in a year. The survey is an indicator of companies foreseeing good conditions minus those feeling pessimistic. Major manufacturers include auto and electronics sectors, whoseexports to the U.S.drive the Japanese economy. U.S. autotariffsare a worry for major manufacturers likeToyota Motor Corp., but some analysts note global auto sales have held up relatively well in recent months. The U.S. has imposed 25% tariffs on auto imports. Japanese automakers have plants in Mexico, wherePresident Donald Trumphas announced a separate set of tariffs. The U.S. has also imposed 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum. Japanese officials have been talking frequently with the Trump administration, stressing that Japan is a key U.S. ally. Trump posted on his social media site Monday that Japan wasn't buying enough rice from the U.S. "They won't take our RICE, and yet they have a massive rice shortage," the president wrote, adding that a letter to Japan was coming. Also on Monday, National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett told reporters at the White House that Trump "is going to finalize the frameworks we negotiated with a whole bunch of countries after the weekend." The Bank of Japan, which has kept interest rates extremely low for years to encourage growth, is expected to continue to raise interest rates, but some analysts expect that to wait until next year. The central bankraised its benchmark rate to 0.5%from 0.1% at the start of this year and has maintained that rate. The next Bank of Japan monetary policy board meeting is at the end of this month. The tankan findings work as important data in weighing a decision. The weak yen has raised the cost of materials for Japan at a time when the U.S. dollar has been trading at around 140 yen, up considerably from about 110 yen five years ago. A weak yen is a boon for Japan's exporters by boosting the value of their earnings when converted into yen. The tankan showed sentiment for large non-manufacturers fell to plus 34 from plus 35. That was better than some forecasts, which projected a deeper decline. The Japanese government reported last week that the nation's unemployment rate in May stood at 2.5%, unchanged from the previous month. ___ Yuri Kageyama is on Threads:https://www.threads.net/@yurikageyama

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June 30, 2025

Japanese manufacturers are slightly more optimistic despite Trump tariff worries

Japanese manufacturers are slightly more optimistic despite Trump tariff worries TOKYO (AP) — Business sentiment among large Japanese manufa...

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Bob Vylan Banned From U.S. Over Glastonbury Controversy

Bob Vylan Banned From U.S. Over Glastonbury Controversy

British punk-rock and hip-hop duo Bob Vylan will not be able to perform in the U.S., where they were scheduled to open for American singergrandson's tour in October and November, after a controversial performance at the Glastonbury Festival in England over the weekend. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landaupostedon X on Monday that the Department has revoked the duo's visas "in light of their hateful tirade at Glastonbury, including leading the crowd in death chants." Landau added: "Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country." At the Glastonbury Festival, which is aired annually on BBC, one of the group's members, Bobby Vylan, led the crowd on Saturday to chant, "Death to the IDF," referring to theIsrael Defense Forces, to the shock of organizers and onlookers. The duo has faced a firestorm of criticism in the U.K., and British policesaidthey are examining videos of the incident for possible criminal violations. The Israeli embassy in the U.K.saidit was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage" and that "when such messages are delivered before tens of thousands of festivalgoers and met with applause, it raises serious concerns about the normalisation of extremist language and the glorification of violence." "We are appalled by the statements made from the West Holts stage by Bob Vylan yesterday," Emily Eavis, the co-organizer of Glastonbury and daughter of the festival's founder, said in astatement. "Their chants very much crossed a line and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the Festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence." U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned Vylan's actions on the Glastonbury stage,saying, "There is no excuse for this kind of appalling hate speech." He also demanded that the BBC answer questions about streaming the controversial remarks. In a statement, the BBCsaidVylan's expressions "were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our airwaves." It explained that the performance was aired on its channels because the BBC team was dealing with "a live situation" but added that "with hindsight we should have pulled the stream during the performance." Starmer had previously said that it was "not appropriate" for Irish rap trioKneecap, who have accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and accused the U.S. and U.K. of enabling it, to be performing at the festival, and the BBC haddecidedin advance not to broadcast Kneecap's performance live to "ensure that our programming meets our editorial guidelines." Bob Vylan performed before Kneecap's set, where festival attendees had gathered in anticipation with Palestinian flags. Singer Bobby Vylan first led the crowd to chant, "Free, free, Palestine!" Then he interjected: "Alright, but have you heard this one though?" before leading a chant of "Death, death to the IDF!" The chant recalled the phrasing of "Death to Israel" and"Death to America" chants by Iraniansas well as"Death to Arabs" chants by Israelis. Following the controversy that ensued, Bobby Vylan wrote "I said what I said"on Instagram, where he shared a statement that explained: "Teaching our children to speak up for the change they want and need is the only way that we make this world a better place." Here's what to know. Bob Vylan is composed of singer-guitarist Bobby Vylan and drummer Bobbie Vylan, and they collectively refer to themselves as "the Bobs." The two have used stage names reportedly to maintain privacy, but some U.K.mediahave since identified Bobby Vylan as 34-year-old Pascal Robinson-Foster. The duo, which formed in Ipswich in 2017 and has more than 200,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, is known for its politically charged music and performances. According totheIndependent, their songs "often speak out against racism, homophobia, toxic masculinity and far right politics," and in past performances Bobby would preface their song "Pretty Songs" by saying "violence is the only language that some people understand." The paper also said that Bobby has been deliberately provocative in past performances, such as by swinging a baseball bat at the crowd or wearing the soccer jersey of the rival team of where they were performing. Last year, Bobbytold theIrish Timesthat he was infuriated by bands that didn't speak up more about Gaza. The U.K. and U.S. governments' response, he said, "but also the people's response – the people of these countries … will be remembered forever. It will be documented throughout history. If you're asking yourself, 'Oh, what would you have done during slavery? What would you have done throughout the Holocaust?' You're doing it now – right now. With what it is happening over there in Palestine, you're doing it." Since the Glastonbury performance, the duo wasreportedlydropped by United Talent Agency. Sen. Ted Cruz (R, Texas)repostedvideo of the incident on X, and commented: "Truly sick. Thousands of people screaming 'Death to the IDF.' This is the base of the Democrat Party." StopAntisemitism, an advocacy group in the U.S.,flaggedon X that the duo has scheduled performances in the U.S. later this year and said of Bobby Vylan: "This antisemite must have his visa denied/rescinded - his hate is not welcome here." Republican Rep. Randy Fine of Floridarespondedto the post, saying "On it." Leo Terrell, who chairs the Justice Department's task force to combat antisemitism, also responded to StopAntisemitism's post, which he was tagged in. "These abhorrent chants, which included calls for the death of members of the Israeli Defense Forces, are abhorrent and have no place in any civil society," Terrellpostedon X. "We understand that Mr. Vylan is planning to travel to the United States as part of the Inertia Tour. In response, Mr. Terrell's Task Force will be reaching out to the U.S. Department of State on Monday to determine what measures are available to address the situation and to prevent the promotion of violent antisemitic rhetoric in the United States." After Landau's announcement, Terrellthankedthe State Department for "moving so fast on this." Bobby Vylan "is a person who wants to incite violence and we're not going to allow that under the Trump Administration," Terrell said on Fox News. "The Trump Administration is not going to allow antisemitism to exist in this country." A State Department spokesperson told TIME before Landau's announcement that it does not publicly discuss the details of individual cases but that the Department "is committed to protecting our nation and its citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety." The spokesperson added that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been clear that "a U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right." Trump Administration immigration officials announced in April that they would screen visa applicants' social media accounts for "antisemitic" content. "There is no room in the United States for the rest of the world's terrorist sympathizers, and we are under no obligation to admit them or let them stay here,"saidDepartment of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin at the time. The Administration has also claimed to reject censorship at home and abroad, with the State Departmentannouncingvisa restrictions in May for foreign officials who restrict "protected expression" in the U.S. "Free speech," Rubio said in the announcement, "is among the most cherished rights we enjoy as Americans." Contact usatletters@time.com.

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June 30, 2025

Bob Vylan Banned From U.S. Over Glastonbury Controversy

Bob Vylan Banned From U.S. Over Glastonbury Controversy British punk-rock and hip-hop duo Bob Vylan will not be able to perform in the U.S.,...

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Tiny Tuvalu seeks assurance from US its citizens won't be barred

Tiny Tuvalu seeks assurance from US its citizens won't be barred

By Kirsty Needham SYDNEY (Reuters) -Tuvalu, a tiny Pacific nation that scientists predict will be submerged by rising seas, said it is seeking written assurance from the United States that its citizens will not be barred from entry after being apparently mistakenly included in a list of 36 countries facing visa bans. An internal diplomatic cable signed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio showed the United States, which has already barred entry for citizens from 12 countries, was considering expanding travel restrictions to the 36 countries, including three Pacific Island states, Reuters and other media reported last month. Nations on the list would have 60 days to take corrective action, the cable showed. The news had caused significant concern in Tuvalu, whose population of 11,000 is at risk from rising sea levels, and where a third of residents have applied to an Australian ballot for a landmark climate migration visa. Tuvalu's ambassador to the United Nations, Tapugao Falefou, said he had been told by a U.S. official that Tuvalu's inclusion on the list was "an administrative and systemic error on the part of the U.S. Department of State". In a statement on Tuesday, Tuvalu's government said it had not received any formal notification that it was on the list, and had also been assured by the United States embassy in Fiji it was "an error within the system". "The Embassy has provided verbal assurances that there are no current restrictions on Tuvaluan nationals entering the United States, and that the matter is being reviewed with authorities in Washington," the statement from Tuvalu's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Labour and Trade said. It added Tuvalu was seeking a "formal written confirmation to that effect and continues to engage the U.S. Government to ensure Tuvaluans are not unfairly affected". The embassy did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. A U.S. official familiar with visa policy who is not authorized to speak publicly told Reuters "no decisions have been made, and any speculation is premature". "Tuvalu's public statement mischaracterizes and omits some of the valid concerns the United States has with travelers from that country," the official added. The other Pacific Islands listed in the cable were Vanuatu and Tonga. Tonga's government had received an official U.S. warning, and was working on a response, Tonga media reported. Vanuatu's government did not respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney; Editing by Saad Sayeed)

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June 30, 2025

Tiny Tuvalu seeks assurance from US its citizens won't be barred

Tiny Tuvalu seeks assurance from US its citizens won't be barred By Kirsty Needham SYDNEY (Reuters) -Tuvalu, a tiny Pacific nation that...

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Bombs Now or Nukes Later: The New Moral Dilemma

Bombs Now or Nukes Later: The New Moral Dilemma

Every Philosophy 101 student knows the dilemma. If given the chance to kill Adolf Hitler years before his tyrannical ambitions unleashed death and destruction, would you be willing to pull the trigger and end the life of the innocent Austrian art student he seemed to be? For most of us, the answer was clear. Given what you know now - that Hitler would be responsible for the deaths of millions - the life of that aspiring but not very talented art student would be a small price to pay to at least attempt to prevent the Holocaust and World War II. Of course, there would be unforeseen and unintended consequences. No war means no war heroes, for instance. Cancel the presidencies of Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy. But that would just be the beginning. There would be no way to gauge whether the death of Hitler before he came to power would actually improve the world or not. Still, considering the 70 million to 85 million deaths caused by WWII, most of us would probably roll the dice. But that was yesterdays moral dilemma. Cue the Iranian nuclear bomb scenario. For the past three weeks, every social influencer, Hollywood celebrity, cable TV news panelist, and Twitter user has weighed in on the wisdom of the United States going to war on the side of Israel in order to eliminate the Iranian nuclear threat. The arguments against it have ranged from the vacuity of "orange man bad" to the more reasoned approach of "show me the evidence." But when confronted with the awful possibility of Irans "Death to America" mullahs having access to nuclear weapons, almost everyone agreed thats just not a good idea. But before we ever got to that point, it was amusing to watch otherwise sane people twist themselves into pretzels in order to justify doing nothing when the alternative could likely lead to death and destruction just as widespread as Hitlers war. My favorite twisted thinking was the argument that proposed that as long as Iran wanted a nuclear bomb, it should have the right to get one - consequences be damned - because we have no right to interfere with the decisions of a "sovereign nation." Of course, there was a legitimate concern that a United States attack on Iran could lead to a long-term ground war, and if any other president had made the decision, it very likely could have. President Trump, on the other hand, has a long track record of avoiding war, using American military power to end conflicts, not to begin them. Yet even many of Trumps allies seemed to walk away from him in the buildup to the B-2 bombers dropping "bunker busters" on Irans nuclear facilities. Tucker Carlson and Steve Bannon were convinced that Trump was being manipulated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or by so-called neo-con commentators such as Mark Levin or by the Murdoch media empire or the invisible deep state into committing to a brand-new "forever war." With friends like those, Trump was right to keep his own counsel. Or keep to the position he had held for years - Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. What about MAGA? Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green and other self-righteous conservatives claimed for weeks that President Trump, the inventor of MAGA, had betrayed the movement and violated his own campaign promises. But wait a minute. MAGA is Make America Great Again, not Make America Grovel Again. A large portion of that slogans appeal is restoring Americas greatness abroad. Under Presidents Obama and Biden, the American profile in foreign affairs shrank to a slim shadow of its former greatness. Whether it was Obama airmailing pallets of U.S. dollars to Tehran or Bidens disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, everyone knew that America had become a handmaiden to globalist interests. Under Trump 2.0, those days are over. Trump never said he was against foreign military engagement. He said he would protect American soldiers and American interests from foolish foreign entanglements, the same warning that George Washington issued in his farewell address. And Trump has been good to his word. The result so far has been magnificent. Not only did President Trump deliver a significant blow to the Iranian nuclear ambitions, but he also forced Israel and Iran to accept a ceasefire after 12 days of war (and decades of bellicose propaganda and terrorist activity). Following Trumps negotiation of a peace deal between India and Pakistan, two nuclear-armed enemies, the Iran operation made Trump the heads-on favorite for the Nobel Peace Prize (were it decided by honest judges). And just last week, in a clear victory for MAGA and America First, Trump was hailed by our European allies as a conquering hero, not for his Iran policy, but for finally convincing NATO countries to pay their fair share of our common defense costs. No wonder Democrats are remaining mostly silent about Trumps foreign policy successes. As for history, hopefully it will speak loud and clear in praise of this presidents willingness to take action to protect future generations when others have dithered and doddered. And every patriotic American should be rooting for him, because its not a philosophy quiz this time; its real life. Frank Miele, retired editor of the Daily Inter Lake in Kalispell, Mont., is a columnist for RealClearPolitics. His book"The Media Matrix: What If Everything You Know Is Fake"is available from his Amazon author page. Visit him atHeartlandDiaryUSA.comor follow him on Facebook @HeartlandDiaryUSA and on X/Gettr @HeartlandDiary.

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June 30, 2025

Bombs Now or Nukes Later: The New Moral Dilemma

Bombs Now or Nukes Later: The New Moral Dilemma Every Philosophy 101 student knows the dilemma. If given the chance to kill Adolf Hitler yea...

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Netanyahu will visit the White House next Monday as Trump presses for a ceasefire in Gaza

Netanyahu will visit the White House next Monday as Trump presses for a ceasefire in Gaza

WASHINGTON (AP) — PresidentDonald Trumpwill host Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahufor talks at the White House next Monday as the U.S. leadersteps up his pushon the Israeli government and Hamas to broker a ceasefire and hostage agreement and bring about an end to the war in Gaza. The impending visit was confirmed by two U.S. administration officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly on it. The trip will be Netanyahu's third visit to the White House sinceDonald Trumpreturned to office in January, and it comes after the United States inserted itself into Israel's war against Iran byattacking Iranian nuclear sites. Afterbrokering a ceasefirebetween the two countries, Trump has signaled that he's turning his attention to bringing a close to the fighting between Israel and Hamas. Trump on Friday told reporters that "we think within the next week we're going to get a ceasefire" in Gaza, but didn't offer any further explanation for his optimism. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that Trump and administration officials were in constant communication with Israeli leadership and that bringing about an end to the Gaza conflict is a priority for Trump. "It's heartbreaking to see the images that have come out from both Israel and Gaza throughout this war, and the president wants to see it end," Leavitt added. "He wants to save lives." Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer is in Washington this week for talks with senior administration officials on a Gaza ceasefire, Iran and other matters. Talks between Israel and Hamas have repeatedly faltered over a major sticking point — whether the war should end as part of any ceasefire agreement. About 50 hostages remain captive in Gaza, with less than half believed to be alive. With Netanyahu's visit, the timing of which was first reported by Axios, Trump will embrace the Israeli leader while continuing to push back against skeptical questions from Democratic lawmakers and others about how far U.S. and Israeli strikes have set back Iran's nuclear program. A preliminary report issued by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, meanwhile, said the strikesdid significant damageto the Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan sites, butdid not totally destroy the facilities. Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said on CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday that the three Iranian sites with "capabilities in terms of treatment, conversion and enrichment of uranium have been destroyed to an important degree." But, he added, "some is still standing," and that because capabilities remain, "if they so wish, they will be able to start doing this again." He said assessing the full damage comes down to Iran allowing inspectors access. Trump in recent days has also inserted himself into Israeli domestic affairs, calling for charges against Netanyahu in his ongoing corruption trial to be thrown out. He has condemned the trial as a "WITCH HUNT" and vowed that the United States will be the one who "saves" Netanyahu fromserious corruption charges. The decision by Trump toplunge himself into one of Israel's most heated debateshas unnerved some in its political class. Meanwhile, the Trump administration on Monday approved a new half-billion-dollar arms sale to Israel to resupply its military with bomb guidance kits for precision munitions. The State Department said the sale is worth $510 million. It includes more than 7,000 guidance kits for two different types of Joint Direct Attack Munitions, or JDAMs. The deal is relatively small given that the U.S. provides Israel with more than $3 billion annually in military aid. But Israel has relied on JDAMs and other related US weaponry in its war against Hamas in Gaza and its recent strikes against Iran. "The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability," the department said in a statement. "This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives." ___ Associated Press writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.

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June 30, 2025

Netanyahu will visit the White House next Monday as Trump presses for a ceasefire in Gaza

Netanyahu will visit the White House next Monday as Trump presses for a ceasefire in Gaza WASHINGTON (AP) — PresidentDonald Trumpwill host I...

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