Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
Oil Prices Slip in Asia as 2026 Supply Glut Fears and Russia-Ukraine Talks Weigh on Markets 
Global Markets Slide as Tech Stocks Sink, Yields Rise, and AI Concerns Deepen 
Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
European Leaders Tie Ukraine Territorial Decisions to Strong Security Guarantees 
Thousands Protest in Brazil Against Efforts to Reduce Jair Bolsonaro’s Prison Sentence 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
Japan Business Sentiment Hits Four-Year High, Boosting Expectations of BOJ Rate Hike 
Zelenskiy Signals Willingness to Drop NATO Bid as Ukraine, U.S. Hold Crucial Peace Talks in Berlin 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
Sydney Bondi Beach Terror Attack Kills 16, Sparks Gun Law and Security Debate 
ASX Shares Slide After ASIC Imposes A$150 Million Capital Requirement 
Russian Drone Attack Hits Turkish Cargo Ship Carrying Sunflower Oil to Egypt, Ukraine Says 
Belarus Frees Opposition Leaders Maria Kalesnikava and Viktar Babaryka in U.S.-Brokered Deal 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
Trump’s Rob Reiner Remarks Spark Bipartisan Outrage After Tragic Deaths 
Special Prosecutor Alleges Yoon Suk Yeol Sought North Korea Provocation to Justify Martial Law 
President Donald Trump urged Japan to increase investment in U.S. energy and technology during Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s first White House visit. The leaders discussed Nippon Steel’s $14.9 billion bid for U.S. Steel, which Trump has opposed. Trump noted that Nippon was now considering an investment rather than an outright purchase, causing U.S. Steel shares to drop 6%. However, sources said Nippon had not withdrawn its bid.
The meeting also focused on trade, with Trump pushing Japan to reduce its $68.5 billion trade surplus. Ishiba pledged to increase Japanese investment in the U.S. to $1 trillion and purchase more American liquefied natural gas, ethanol, and ammonia. Japan, which had $783.3 billion in direct U.S. investments in 2023, is also considering a $44 billion gas pipeline in Alaska, though officials remain skeptical.
The two leaders reaffirmed their alliance, addressing concerns over China, North Korea, and Russia. Trump, who has taken a tough stance on trade, imposed a 10% tariff on Chinese imports, heightening global economic tensions. He plans to discuss tariffs with Chinese President Xi Jinping soon.
Despite trade friction, Ishiba emphasized Japan’s commitment to investing in the U.S., highlighting projects by Toyota and Isuzu. He refrained from commenting on potential tariffs. Trump, known for his unpredictable foreign policy moves, expressed confidence in strengthening ties with Japan.
Analysts see Ishiba’s early White House visit as a positive sign for U.S.-Japan relations. Danny Russel of the Asia Society Policy Institute noted that Ishiba handled Trump skillfully, securing goodwill for Japan. However, increased Japanese investment alone is unlikely to eliminate the trade imbalance.
