'War on wee' and volunteers wanted for town spring clean
Here's our daily pick of stories from across local websites in the West of England, and interesting content from social media.
"The grim sight we don't want to see" during Race Week at Cheltenham – people peeing in public, as Gloucestershire Live reports on the 'war on wee'. The additional measures brought in by the local council this year include extra toilets and more police.
A meeting with residents about plans for the 'Western Harbour' in Bristol led to "raised eyebrows", according to Bristol 24/7.
And new powers for North Somerset Council mean it is one of eight local authorities which can auction off leases for commercial properties which have been empty for a long time. That is being reported by Somerset Live.
Gardener wins case against Paddy Power over £1m prize
Mother admits causing son's death in car crash
Rare hazel dormouse filmed foraging at night
Bristol City FC has started Robyns Round, which is a supporter group for female fans in both the men's and women's game. They meet for the first time on Saturday.
There are some dramatic pictures of a car being lifted out of a river, which has been popular in the Winton Chat group. Sounds like it has been there a long time from the comments.
Frome Town Council is running a Great British Spring Clean and is looking for volunteers ahead of its Kindness Festival which starts next month.
And enjoy this creative reading of Flashing Fire Engines told by Avon Fire & Rescue to mark World Book Day.
Follow BBC West social channels in Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.
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New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
EU to accept 10% flat tariffs on exports to US in hopes of placating Trump: report
The European Union is reportedly prepared to accept a flat 10% tariff on all exports to the United States in a bid to prevent steeper duties on critical sectors like automobiles, pharmaceuticals and electronics. The proposal, described by the German-language business daily Handelsblatt as a strategic concession, would be pitched to Trump administration officials under specific conditions and would not be intended as a permanent arrangement. 'The offer to US counterparts would come only under certain conditions and would not be billed as permanent,' the paper reported, citing senior EU negotiators. 3 A general view of production lines at the Mercedes-Benz assembly plant in Rastatt, Germany on June 4. Getty Images The development comes as President Trump and other world leaders meet in Canada this week for the annual G-7 summit. The gathering is expected to be dominated by escalating Israel-Iran war, as well as ongoing trade disputes. Trump has already levied a 10% universal tariff on imports from the EU, as well as 25% on steel and automobiles. He has threatened to impose tariffs of up to 50% on all imports on the 27-member bloc. Last week, Trump warned that the US could soon act unilaterally if progress in trade talks stalls. 'At a certain point, we're just going to send letters out. And I think you understand that, saying this is the deal, you can take it or leave it,' the president said. European officials appear increasingly concerned about the threat of escalating tariffs on high-value goods and are attempting to preempt further economic strain amid ongoing trade tensions. Accepting a uniform 10% tariff may serve as a way to stabilize transatlantic trade while sparing individual sectors — especially the auto industry — targeted punitive measures. While details of the proposed conditions were not disclosed, the move signals a shift in Brussels' approach to trade talks, particularly as the Trump administration has favored aggressive tariff strategies to pressure allies and rivals alike. 3 The 'Cosco Shipping France' container ship is moored at the Long Beach Container Terminal in Port of Long Beach, Calif. on April 15. AP European automakers and pharmaceutical companies have been especially vulnerable to such tactics. The Post has sought comment from the White House and the European Commission. The potential tariff deal would represent a significant compromise on the EU's part, which has traditionally pushed for multilateral rules-based trade and lower tariffs. However, with global trade tensions on the rise and election-year politics complicating negotiations, EU officials appear willing to consider short-term measures to avoid more damaging outcomes. Start and end your day informed with our newsletters Morning Report and Evening Update: Your source for today's top stories Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters Reuters noted that no official announcement has been made, and the European Commission has not confirmed the Handelsblatt report. The proposed deal, if pursued, would likely require further negotiation and political approval within both the EU and the United States. The EU's willingness to accept a broad-based 10% tariff signals that Brussels may be aiming to trade flexibility for predictability — hoping to insulate key industries from future tariff spikes while keeping the broader relationship with Washington on stable ground. Although the White House had recently paused some of its harshest tariffs, the administration has sent mixed signals about whether the reprieve, which expires on July 9, will continue. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Congress that it is 'highly likely' the pause would be extended for countries negotiating 'in good faith.' 3 President Donald Trump (right) and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in January 2020. REUTERS Trump's trade fight with Europe has been escalating for months. On Feb. 2, he announced plans to impose new tariffs on the EU, prompting urgent meetings among European trade ministers. The EU responded with proposals to lower its car import tariffs and increase purchases of US liquefied natural gas and military equipment. By early April, Trump had imposed a 25% tariff on all car imports and a 20% tariff on all EU goods, which was later reduced to 10% following negotiations. In response, the EU suspended its planned retaliatory measures. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned that if no agreement is reached by the end of the 90-day window, the EU would unleash what she called 'trade bazooka measures' targeting US services and redirected Chinese exports. Tensions flared again in late May when Trump proposed a 'straight 50% tariff on the European Union,' only to delay it two days later after a call with von der Leyen.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Tesla hit with shocking sales news in major market: 'Nowhere near the level we are used to'
In Norway, where 97% of new car sales are electric vehicles, Tesla has lost its title as the bestselling EV brand. As The Driven reported, Volkswagen now sells over twice as many EVs in Norway as Tesla. Tesla sales have declined not only in the United States but also in Europe. Analysts attribute this trend, at least partly, to Tesla CEO Elon Musk's polarizing involvement in politics and with the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency, potentially making the ownership of a Tesla feel like a political statement to some drivers. Meanwhile, Volkswagen took over 20% of the market share of new car sales in April, compared with just 8.6% for Tesla. Three of the five bestselling cars in Norway are Volkswagens: the ID.4, ID.7, and ID.3. Although Tesla sales in Norway are down, the Tesla Model Y still topped the chart as the bestselling car model in April. According to Øyvind Solberg Thorsen, the director of Norway's Road Traffic Information Council, "Tesla is nowhere near the level we are used to, you can't pretend otherwise," per The Drive. "It may be a sign that many people now find that other brands are just as interesting and have just as much to offer in roughly the same price segment," he added. While this news from Norway may be discouraging for Tesla, it's positive news for EVs in general. The overall number of electric cars on Norwegian roads is increasing, and tax law changes have made EVs even more enticing and accessible for drivers over the years, according to El País. However, regardless of where you live, when you make your next car an EV, you can also save money on gas and maintenance while eliminating exhaust pollution. EVs are a cleaner, greener way to drive, and they are more affordable than ever before. If you were going to purchase an EV, which of these factors would be most important to you? Cost Battery range Power and speed The way it looks Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. You can make EV ownership even more cost-effective by charging your vehicle with solar power you generate at home. Powering your EV with solar energy is cheaper than paying for public charging stations and more self-sufficient than relying on the overstrained grid. EV drivers can save as much as around $10,000 on solar panel installations by comparing trusted installer quotes through a free online tool from EnergySage, which primarily operates in the U.S. If the upfront cost of solar installation is out of your budget, leasing panels may be an option. Palmetto's LightReach solar panel leasing program helps EV drivers get a solar setup for no money down while locking in low energy rates. Regarding Norway's EV momentum, one adviser and investor in Norway commented in a LinkedIn post, "As Norway continues to lead by example, the collaboration between policymakers, industry stakeholders, and #CPOs like Recharge remains crucial in paving the way for a greener future. Other countries have a lot to learn here!" "I'm looking forward to seeing how the new and fairly affordable smaller BEV models get on in Norway," a CleanTechnica writer commented. "I'm also interested to see whether tax policy regarding the residual powertrains will turn to tackling diesel and HEV sales." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Trump's Auto Tariffs Strike at the Heart of Japan's Economy
(Bloomberg) -- US President Donald Trump's tariffs threaten to batter Japan's vital auto industry and derail the country's long-standing efforts to engineer a sustainable economic recovery. Shuttered NY College Has Alumni Fighting Over Its Future Trump's Military Parade Has Washington Bracing for Tanks and Weaponry NYC Renters Brace for Price Hikes After Broker-Fee Ban NY Long Island Rail Service Resumes After Grand Central Fire Do World's Fairs Still Matter? With the 25% US tariff now in place on cars and auto parts, Japan's major automakers — including Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co., Mazda Motor Corp. and Subaru Corp. — are bracing for a collective hit of more than $19 billion this fiscal year alone. And it's not just the household names feeling the pain. Northwest of Tokyo in Gunma Prefecture, where Subaru operates its main factory, the effects are already being felt. With costs rising, Yoshiyuki Nakajima, president of Shoda Seisakusho Co. — a supplier to Subaru — warned that his firm will be forced to slash profit margins if the tariffs persist. Worst case, layoffs will be unavoidable. 'We'll have no choice,' he said. That sentiment is emblematic of the broader turmoil rippling across Japan's industrial heartlands, where a dense web of small and mid-size suppliers form the backbone of the automotive sector — the country's largest source of exports and a key provider of jobs and investment. Two-thirds of Japan's workforce is employed by firms with fewer than 1,000 people, and many of those jobs are tied, directly and indirectly, to the auto industry. The trade shock hits just as Japan is starting to see signs of a 'virtuous cycle' — a loop of rising wages, stronger spending and higher prices that policymakers hope will lift the economy out of its decades-long stagnation. Now, with auto companies reconsidering wage hikes and pulling back on growth plans, the momentum that Japan has worked hard to build is at risk of stalling. Around 64% of polled economists see the tariffs sparking a recession in the world's fourth-largest economy. Even before the levies, companies like Shoda Seisakusho were struggling to keep up with the global shift to electric vehicles. Nakajima has had to cut staff at two factories in China and freeze new investments. He now sees pay increases for his 200 workers next year as challenging. With the US tariffs added to the mix, the outlook is grim. 'I often say that there's no bright future for us if we simply continue running our business in the same way,' Nakajima said. The Japanese government is scrambling to contain the fallout. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who's preparing for a national election next month, needs to show he can defend Japan's economic interests. His chief trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa is expected to travel to North America for the sixth time to try and win concessions ahead of the G-7 summit in Canada on June 15, where Ishiba may meet with Trump face-to-face. Analysts see Tokyo's best scenario in the negotiations as getting the auto tariffs down to 10%, which would ease, but not eliminate, the pain. Typically the cost of tariffs gets spread out — about one third falls on suppliers, another third on carmakers and a final third on consumers, according to Tatsuo Yoshida, senior auto analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. He estimates a 10% tariff could be manageable over time, with gradual price increases of 2% to 3% a year and by updating car models to keep buyers interested. But as levies get higher, the strain becomes more close to 25% would likely leave at least a couple of Japan's automakers on the ropes and in need of assistance, Yoshida said. 'Like with General Motors during the global financial crisis, Japan's carmakers are just too big to fail,' Yoshida said. The numbers behind the auto industry show why all this matters. The sector employs 5.6 million people — or about 8.3% of Japan's work force — and generates around 10% of gross domestic product, according to the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association. It's a pacesetter for wage trends in Japan, and plays an outsize role in trade. Automobiles and their parts account for a third of Japan's exports to the US, the nation's largest export market and the biggest contributor to Tokyo's trade surplus with Washington — the very imbalance that Trump has long fixated on. Out of the some 9 million vehicles built in Japan annually, 1.5 million are shipped to the US. Subaru is especially vulnerable, with 71% of its sales coming from there, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. Subaru has said it will face a $2.5 billion hit from the tariffs in the fiscal year ending March 2026. One option is to shift some production to the US, where locally built cars are taxed less. But that creates problems for the many suppliers that depend on domestic manufacturing. Chief Executive Officer Atsushi Osaki signaled a shift may be necessary. Subaru 'will continue developing our products in Japan, but it's inevitable for us to expand our capacity in US,' he said last month. Over at Daido Steel Co. in Aichi Prefecture, which makes magnets used in hybrid engines and employs about 12,000 workers, concern is rising. Although it doesn't export directly to the US, the firm supplies Honda and indirectly all major automakers in Japan, so the impact of Trump's tariffs will be significant. 'It comes down to how carmakers respond,' said Mikine Kishi, general manager of Daido Steel's corporate planning department. 'If they decide they're not going to manufacture in Japan anymore, or that they'll lower total production volumes, that would have an extremely big impact on our business.' Some carmakers have already started to adjust. Honda has postponed its $11 billion EV supply chain expansion in Canada and is moving production of the hybrid Civic model from Japan to the US. Subaru is reviewing all of its investments, including the development of EVs. Nissan Motor Co. has halted US orders for SUVs built in Mexico, and Mazda is stopping exports to Canada of a model manufactured at its Alabama joint venture with Toyota. Toyota, the world's No. 1 automaker, hasn't shifted production yet, but CEO Koji Sato said the company is consider building out its production footprint in the US in the medium to long term. The calculation is different for small firms. For Hasegawa Yuuki Co., which employs about 50 people in Gunma, where it makes plastic parts for Honda, Subaru and Nissan, a 15% tariff is the dividing line between manageable and severe pain, according to President Noriyuki Hasegawa. The company is already losing 5% of its business after Honda shifted its production to Alabama. 'I don't hold much hope for the talks,' Hasegawa said. 'Japan doesn't have much negotiating ammunition.' Hasegawa is trying to shift focus to new sectors like furniture storage. 'Our car-related business is certain to take a hit so I think we have to consider making products for things besides cars,' he said. 'We're going to need one or two other pillars to make up the loss.' For others, the strategy is survival. At Ogami Co., another Gunma plastic parts maker for Subaru and others, President Hiroaki Ogami says he's hitting the brakes on capital investment, while wage hikes next year look difficult. Larger firms may be able to weather the storm by expanding abroad, but smaller players like Ogami don't have that kind of capital and manpower flexibility. The company has a factory in the Philippines, but tariffs apply there, too. The charges could squeeze already thin profit margins of less than 10%, Ogami said. Japan's central bank is watching the situation closely. The Bank of Japan has long said stable growth and inflation depend on steady wage gains. Roughly speaking, that means wage gains of 3% to ensure price growth of 2%. For over a decade, the BOJ tried to engineer that outcome with massive stimulus, buying more government bonds and other assets than the size of the economy. Core inflation has now held above 2% for about three years, allowing the BOJ to begin normalizing policy and start raising interest rates. But it remains cautious. Japan's economy already shrank in the first quarter, partly because consumer spending is still weak, despite wages rising over 2%. Another contraction would tip the country into technical recession. BOJ officials have made their concerns clear. In a summary of opinions at their April-May meeting, board members mentioned tariffs 27 times. One warned about the disruptions to supply chains, slower growth and negative impact on wages. Just this week, Ishiba said his No. 1 pledge in next month's upper house election would be to raise wages by at least 50% over the next 15 years. That implies annual wage growth of around 2.75%, a tall order if Trump's tariffs stay in place. Like many in the auto sector, Ogami said he'll be watching tariff news closely, wondering if the new wave of protectionism will last beyond Trump's term in office. His company has made it through the setbacks of the global financial crisis, the 2011 tsunami, earthquake and nuclear disaster and the pandemic, but he's not so sure this time round. 'It's not like we can just say, 'Let's just put up with it for four years,'' Ogami said. 'If things continue like this, we won't be able to survive. We need to come up with something.' --With assistance from Yasufumi Saito and Shadab Nazmi. 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