Toronto instead of New York City: Top alternatives to US destinations
The number of visitors to the US has dropped in recent months, with tighter border policies under US President Donald Trump impacting tourism. In February, the number of overnight visitors from Arab countries fell by 9.5 per cent compared to the same month last year, according to the US International Trade Administration. With the US losing its appeal, other cities around the world with similar cultural, dining and other tourism attractions are becoming more popular. Here are a few options. Edinburgh makes a strong case as an alternative to Boston, offering a similar blend of academic prestige, historic charm and a walkable city centre. It's a city deeply rooted in history, with centuries-old architecture, literary landmarks and top-tier universities. Edinburgh has a vibrant arts festivals and a slightly slower, more romantic pace. For big-city buzz, Toronto is a solid alternative to New York City. It has skyscrapers, diverse neighbourhoods, a vibrant food scene, a passionate sports fan base and a laid-back vibe. Toronto has a cosmopolitan atmosphere with a mix of cultures and languages that reflects its global character. Tokyo Disney Resort has its own distinct charm. The Japanese attraction is often praised for its exceptional attention to detail, cleanliness, outstanding customer service and variety of food and shopping options. Tokyo Disneyland has classic attractions, while Tokyo DisneySea is known for its elaborate storytelling and appeals to an older audience. Lisbon can be a compelling alternative to San Francisco because it offers many of the same scenic and cultural draws, such as hilly streets, waterfront views and a strong creative arts scene. Both cities have trams, vibrant neighbourhoods and a blend of old-world charm with modern innovation. Lisbon is more affordable and has a Mediterranean climate that's generally milder year-round. Panama City is a good alternative to Miami, offering a similar tropical climate, coastal lifestyle and vibrant skyline. It's a city known for international business and finance, with a mix of modern high-rises and lively nightlife. Panama City also adds a unique blend of cultures, a growing culinary scene and access to natural wonders like rainforests and the Panama Canal. Macau is often seen as the 'Las Vegas of the East,' but has a different take on the gaming and entertainment experience. It has massive resorts, luxury shopping and nightlife, a fascinating blend of Portuguese-Chinese heritage and Unesco-listed architecture. The city also offers historic sites and top-notch dining options. Jeju Island in South Korea is a great alternative to Hawaii, with volcanic landscapes and beautiful beaches. Like Hawaii, Jeju is known for its natural beauty, with features such as lava tubes, waterfalls and Hallasan, a dormant volcano that's the highest peak in South Korea. There's a slower, laid-back pace and a unique local culture.
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Khaleej Times
4 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Auto companies 'in full panic' over rare-earths bottleneck
Frank Eckard, CEO of a German magnet maker, has been fielding a flood of calls in recent weeks. Exasperated automakers and parts suppliers have been desperate to find alternative sources of magnets, which are in short supply due to Chinese export curbs. Some told Eckard their factories could be idled by mid-July without backup magnet supplies. "The whole car industry is in full panic," said Eckard, CEO of Magnosphere, based in Troisdorf, Germany. "They are willing to pay any price." Car executives have once again been driven into their war rooms, concerned that China's tight export controls on rare-earth magnets – crucially needed to make cars – could cripple production. US President Donald Trump said Friday that Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to let rare earths minerals and magnets flow to the United States. A US trade team is scheduled to meet Chinese counterparts for talks in London later on Monday. The industry worries that the rare-earths situation could cascade into the third massive supply chain shock in five years. A semiconductor shortage wiped away millions of cars from automakers' production plans, from roughly 2021 to 2023. Before that, the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 shut factories for weeks. Those crises prompted the industry to fortify supply chain strategies. Executives have prioritized backup supplies for key components and reexamined the use of just-in-time inventories, which save money but can leave them without stockpiles when a crisis unfurls. Judging from Eckard's inbound calls, though, "nobody has learned from the past," he said. This time, as the rare-earths bottleneck tightens, the industry has few good options, given the extent to which China dominates the market. The fate of automakers' assembly lines has been left to a small team of Chinese bureaucrats as it reviews hundreds of applications for export permits. 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Japan had to find alternative suppliers, and by 2018, China accounted for only 58 per cent of its rare earth imports. "China has had a rare-earth card to play whenever they wanted to," said Mark Smith, CEO of mining company NioCorp, which is developing a rare-earth project in Nebraska scheduled to start production within three years. Across the industry, automakers have been trying to wean off China for rare-earth magnets, or even develop magnets that do not need those elements. But most efforts are years away from the scale needed. "It's really about identifying ... and finding alternative solutions" outside China, Joseph Palmieri, head of supply chain management at supplier Aptiv, said at a conference in Detroit last week. Automakers including General Motors and BMW and major suppliers such as ZF and BorgWarner are working on motors with low-to-zero rare-earth content, but few have managed to scale production enough to cut costs. The EU has launched initiatives including the Critical Raw Materials Act to boost European rare-earth sources. But it has not moved fast enough, said Noah Barkin, a senior advisor at Rhodium Group, a China-focused U.S. think tank. Even players that have developed marketable products struggle to compete with Chinese producers on price. David Bender, co-head of German metal specialist Heraeus' magnet recycling business, said it is only operating at 1% capacity and will have to close next year if sales do not increase. Minneapolis-based Niron has developed rare-earth free magnets and has raised more than $250 million from investors including GM, Stellantis and auto supplier Magna. "We've seen a step change in interest from investors and customers" since China's export controls took effect, CEO Jonathan Rowntree said. It is planning a $1 billion plant scheduled to start production in 2029. England-based Warwick Acoustics has developed rare-earth-free speakers expected to appear in a luxury car later this year. CEO Mike Grant said the company has been in talks with another dozen automakers, although the speakers are not expected to be available in mainstream models for about five years. As auto companies scout longer-term solutions, they are left scrambling to avert imminent factory shutdowns. Automakers must figure out which of their suppliers – and smaller ones a few links up the supply chain – need export permits. Mercedes-Benz, for example, is talking to suppliers about building rare-earth stockpiles. Analysts said the constraints could force automakers to make cars without certain parts and park them until they become available, as GM and others did during the semiconductor crisis. Automakers' reliance on China does not end with rare earth elements. A 2024 European Commission report said China controls more than 50% of global supply of 19 key raw materials, including manganese, graphite and aluminum. Andy Leyland, co-founder of supply chain specialist SC Insights, said any of those elements could be used as leverage by China. "This just is a warning shot," he said.
Khaleej Times
4 hours ago
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Investors keep close watch as bitcoin prices find support
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Gulf Today
4 hours ago
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Trump's new travel ban goes into effect against citizens of 12 nations
President Donald Trump's sweeping new travel ban came into effect early on Monday immediately after midnight, barring citizens from a dozen nations from entering the United States and reviving a divisive measure from his first term. The move is expected to disrupt refugee pathways and further restrict immigration as the Trump administration expands its crackdown on illegal entries. Many of the nations covered by the restrictions have adversarial relations with the United States, such as Iran and Afghanistan, while others face severe crises, like Haiti and Libya. In announcing his restrictions last week, Trump said the new measure was spurred by a recent "terrorist attack" on Jews in Colorado. The group had been protesting in solidarity with hostages held in Gaza when they were assaulted by a man the White House said had overstayed his visa. That attack, Trump said, "underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted" or who overstay their visas. The move bans all travel to the United States by nationals of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, according to the White House. Trump also imposed a partial ban on travelers from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela. Some temporary work visas from those countries will be allowed. New countries could be added, Trump warned, "as threats emerge around the world." Mehria, a 23-year-old woman from Afghanistan who applied for refugee status, said the new rules have trapped her and many other Afghans in uncertainty. "We gave up thousands of hopes and our entire lives... on a promise from America, but today we are suffering one hell after another," she told AFP. World Cup, Olympics, diplomats excluded The ban will not apply to athletes competing in the 2026 World Cup, which the United States is co-hosting with Canada and Mexico, or in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Trump's order said. Nor will it apply to diplomats from the targeted countries. United Nations rights chief Volker Turk warned that "the broad and sweeping nature of the new travel ban raises concerns from the perspective of international law." US Democratic lawmakers and elected officials blasted the ban as draconian and unconstitutional. "I know the pain that Trump's cruel and xenophobic travel bans inflict because my family has felt it firsthand," congresswoman Yassamin Ansari, who is Iranian-American, posted Sunday on X. "We will fight this ban with everything we have." Rumours of a new travel ban had circulated following the Colorado attack, with Trump's administration vowing to pursue "terrorists" living in the United States on visas. US officials said suspect Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian national according to court documents, was in the country illegally having overstayed a tourist visa, but that he had applied for asylum in September 2022. Trump's new travel ban notably does not include Egypt. His proclamation said Taliban-ruled Afghanistan and war-torn Libya, Sudan, Somalia and Yemen lacked "competent" central authorities for processing passports and vetting. Iran was included because it is a "state sponsor of terrorism," the order said. For the other countries, Trump's order cited an above-average likelihood that people would overstay their visas. Agence France-Presse
