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The U.S. hosted Japan’s prime minister
President Biden welcomed Fumio Kishida, Japan’s chief, for a state go to yesterday in Washington. Just a few hours after we ship this text, the 2 will sit down for a state dinner in Kishida’s honor, a distinction the U.S. reserves for less than its closest allies.
The ceremony was meant to point out Japan’s significance to the U.S. It’s all a part of a broader regional outreach meant to counter China, which included latest conflict video games with South Korea. Later as we speak, each will meet with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines for talks that characterize a extra aggressive effort by the U.S. and its allies to isolate China.
Biden and Kishida introduced a variety of strikes to reinforce army, financial and different kinds of cooperation. Biden stated the U.S. and Japan would create an expanded protection structure with Australia, take part in army workout routines with Britain and discover methods for Japan to hitch a U.S.-led coalition with Australia and New Zealand. He additionally stated the U.S. would come with a Japanese astronaut on a visit to the moon as a part of NASA’s Artemis program.
Officers additionally stated that Biden is attempting to solidify the U.S.-Japan relationship as a lot as doable earlier than the election in November. Many in each Washington and Tokyo are frightened that Donald Trump, whose unpredictability had stored many world leaders on edge, might return to energy.
A metal deal: Looming over the state go to is Biden’s opposition to a $14 billion bid by Nippon Metal, a Japanese company, to accumulate the Pennsylvania-based U.S. Metal. Union employees within the state are in opposition to the deal, and their votes will likely be essential to Biden’s re-election bid.
The state dinner: There will likely be a stylized California roll and steak with sesame sabayon on the menu for the official meal, with a “bounty of spring” theme. Paul Simon will carry out.
Large losses projected for South Korean chief’s social gathering
The polls have closed in South Korea’s basic election and official outcomes are anticipated this morning. However exit polls recommend that President Yoon Suk Yeol and his social gathering are headed for a crushing defeat.
Exit polls by three main TV stations predicted that Yoon’s Folks Energy Social gathering and an affiliate would win not more than 105 of the 300 seats within the Nationwide Meeting. The opposition chief Lee Jae-myung’s Democratic Social gathering and a associate had been projected to garner as many 197. A separate ballot predicted an identical end result.
Lee’s social gathering portrayed the election to South Korean voters as a possibility to punish Yoon for points that vary from rising client costs to accusations of corruption and abuse of energy. The technique appears to have paid off. A loss this dramatic would make Yoon a lame duck for the remainder of his five-year time period.
Xi met with Taiwan’s former chief
Xi Jinping met with Ma Ying-jeou, Taiwan’s former president, in Beijing yesterday. It was the primary time {that a} Chinese language chief had met a former president of Taiwan on Chinese language soil. The transfer despatched a sign that China was prepared to interact with Taiwan, however solely on its phrases.
In remarks, Xi praised Ma as a patriot who had promoted “peaceable growth” throughout the Taiwan Strait, and expressed Beijing’s place that Taiwan should acknowledge that it is part of China. Ma reaffirmed the stance that either side ought to settle for that they’re a part of one China, even when they differ on what which means.
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A free soccer ticket experiment
Paris F.C., a second-division French soccer membership, stopped charging for many tickets late final 12 months. The transfer, which can price the membership about $1 million, is an effort to herald larger crowds and nurture long-term loyalty.
The tactic appears to have labored: Crowds are up by greater than a 3rd. Video games which have been scheduled at instances that attraction to school-age children have been the very best attended, indicating that the membership is succeeding in attracting a youthful demographic.
However the experiment might have broader implications for the world of sports activities, which is now largely a tv enterprise. If sports activities are content material, then a part of that content material is supplied by cheering followers in stadiums.
How then, my colleague Rory Smith wonders, ought to followers be categorized? Are they observers required to pay for the privilege? Or ought to they be thought-about a part of the manufacturing, and even perhaps be paid to attend?
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