US added 139,000 jobs in May
The US Labor Department says job gains in May slightly exceeded market expectations, pointing to continued steady improvement in the employment market.
The Labor Department said on Friday that nonfarm payrolls grew by 139,000 jobs from April.
Market analysts had forecast a figure of around 126,000.
The unemployment rate was 4.2 percent, the same as the previous month.
The focus is now shifting to the possible impact of President Donald Trump's tariff measures.
Amid swirling uncertainty, concerns are rising that Trump's trade levies and other policies may dent the job market and slow the US economy.
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Japan Times
20 minutes ago
- Japan Times
Republican lawmakers try to dodge Trump-Musk crossfire
U.S. Republican lawmakers are trying to dodge the crossfire between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, with members saying they hope the billionaire brawl will subside without hurting their chances to protect their majority in the 2026 midterm elections. "It's just not helpful. When you have division, divided teams don't perform as well," Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican whose Nebraska district is perennially among the most competitive House of Representatives races. "I'm a military guy. I commanded five times. If you have division in your team it's not good," said Bacon, who served in the U.S. Air Force for 30 years. Musk, the world's richest person and CEO of Tesla, was the biggest donor in the 2024 election cycle and a prominent fixture in Trump's White House as he ran a controversial campaign to slash the federal government before stepping down last week. Their buddy-movie dynamic evaporated this week as Musk and Trump openly feuded over a sweeping tax-cut and spending bill that Musk blasted as likely to add significantly to the federal government's $36.2 trillion in debt. He called for Trump's impeachment — something the Republican-controlled Congress is unlikely to take up — and mused publicly about the creation of a new political party. While Republican lawmakers did not regard that as a serious prospect, they signaled concern about the rift as they look to defend narrow majorities in the House and Senate next year. "I don't think lashing out on the internet is the way to handle any kind of disagreement, especially when you have each other's cell phones," said Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican who runs a Musk-inspired government efficiency subcommittee. "So I hope this gets worked out," said Greene, who has a history of posting inflammatory rhetoric on social media that is often aimed at Democratic opponents. Greene represents a solidly Republican district, but Republicans will need to break with historical precedent in 2026 if they are to win the roughly three-dozen competitive seats that determine the House majority. Their path is easier in the Senate, where Democrats have fewer opportunities to win seats, according to nonpartisan analysts. Throughout Musk's tirade, he also took credit for both Trump's win and the Republicans' 220-212 House majority and 53-47 Senate edge. He made nearly $300 million in political donations, with most of the money going to his own super PAC which was focused on helping Trump return to the White House. He played a smaller role in down-ballot races, which accounted for about 10% of his America PAC's spending. Musk also gave $10 million to a super PAC that backs Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate. Musk is a divisive figure and his track record on elections is not unblemished. Earlier this year, Musk and political groups tied to him poured more than $21 million into a Wisconsin Supreme Court race. The Republican he supported was soundly defeated. "Elon Musk is free to spend his money however he so chooses to do so," said Rep. Rob Bresnahan, a Republican who unseated an incumbent Democrat in Pennsylvania, "If you do the right thing and fight for your district, I'm not really worried about much." Lawmakers signaled little concern over Musk publicly toying with the idea of a third political party. "I think he'll find that a very hard thing to do, but he's spent a lifetime doing very hard things," said Rep. Tom Cole, an Oklahoma Republican. They were more worried about Musk succeeding in killing the tax-cut bill, stung by the memory that he had succeeded in December in blocking the first version of a bill meant to avert a government shutdown. Deficit hawks welcomed his efforts to push for deeper spending cuts. "I welcome people like Elon Musk that try to hold our feet to the fire. I'll take as much air cover as I possibly can get," Rep. Eric Burlison, a Missouri Republican, who voted for the House version of the bill despite spending concerns. "We often disappoint our voters when we don't do the cuts that we campaign on, when we're not fiscally responsible." Many Democratic lawmakers, faced with their own questions on how to win back congressional power, have watched the Trump-Musk fight with glee. "My heart goes out to both of them," Rep. Sarah McBride, a Delaware Democrat, said. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, asked whether the Republicans' infighting could help their political prospects, said, "I can tell you for certain that the extreme and reckless budget, the GOP tax scam, Trump's one big ugly bill, will be a central part of the contrast that exists between House Democrats and House Republicans in the context of the midterm elections."
Japan Times
3 hours ago
- Japan Times
Modi to attend G7 summit in Canada in sign of warming ties
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be attending the Canada-hosted Group of Seven summit later this month as ties between the two nations improve. The South Asian country is not a member of the G7, a grouping of seven of the world's richest countries, comprising the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Japan. But this will be India's 12th time participating and Modi's sixth consecutive invitation to the summit. In a post on X, Modi said Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney invited him to the G7 summit and he looks forward to their meeting. The development signals improving relations between the two nations, which have been frayed over the Modi government's alleged involvement in homicides and extortion targeting Sikhs in Canada who advocate for carving out a separate homeland for followers of the faith. The rift started in September 2023 when then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian officials of masterminding the assassination of prominent Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen. The Indian government denied any involvement, calling the accusations absurd. Carney's office said in a readout of the phone call that he and Modi discussed the longstanding relationship between Canada and India, including "deep people-to-people ties and significant commercial links.' "Importantly, there was agreement to continued law enforcement dialogue and discussions addressing security concerns,' the readout said, adding the two leaders "agreed to remain in contact and looked forward to meeting at the G7 Leaders' Summit later this month.' The invitation comes as the South Asian nation is expected to overtake Japan and become the fourth-largest economy by March next year, according to estimates by the International Monetary Fund, though it will still be among the world's low per-capita economies. Trade between Canada and India totaled at least $12 billion in 2024. That's minor compared to the U.S.-India trade relationship, which totaled almost $130 billion and U.S.-Canada trade, which topped $700 billion, according to data from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. But the barrage of tariffs being imposed by President Donald Trump means both Canada and India are looking to strengthen trade ties with nations other than the United States. This may prompt the two countries to reset their relations. Canada is a major supplier to India of potash, a fertilizer critical to the agricultural sector. It also exports timber, paper and mining products. India supplies Canada with pharmaceuticals, gems and jewelry, textiles, and machinery. The South Asian country is also a significant source of international students to Canada. The World Sikh Organization of Canada, a group that advocates for the country's large Sikh diaspora, expressed shock and hurt at Modi's invitation. It sent a letter in May urging Carney not to invite the Indian prime minister, pointing to his government's well-documented campaign of transnational repression targeting Sikhs in Canada. "This is a complete betrayal of our community. It's second-class citizenship and it's hurtful,' Balpreet Singh, legal counsel and spokesperson for the WSO, said in an interview. "This is really a line that has been crossed.' "Justin Trudeau had the respect of our community. We've seen that he had flaws, but he took a principled stand. But Mark Carney has shown that all that matters to him and his government is going to be the dollar, and that's unfortunate. That's a betrayal of Canadian values.'
Yomiuri Shimbun
3 hours ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
87 Japan Universities to Help Intl Students after Harvard Ban
Reuters file photo A view of the Business School campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., on April 15 TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Eighty-seven Japanese universities have announced support measures for international students in the United States, following an order barring Harvard University from accepting such students, the education ministry and the Japan Student Services Organization said Friday. The scope of students eligible for the support measures and the extent of such aid differ from university to university. Tohoku University said that it will accept undergraduates and graduate students enrolled in U.S. universities who face difficulties continuing their studies mainly due to the ban by President Donald Trump's administration. They will be accepted to the national university in northeastern Japan as nondegree students not required to pay tuition or enrollment fees. Many Japanese universities will accept those affected as regular students or nonregular occasional students, regardless of nationality or where they currently study. Some universities have said that such students will be exempt from tuition and be provided with lodging at dormitories. According to the student services organization, five other universities were considering support measures as of Friday. It will continue to update related information.
