Latest news with #WorldExpo
Indian Express
28 minutes ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Buddhist circuit in focus, UP looks to strengthen tourism, investment ties with Japan
The Uttar Pradesh government is exploring ways to strengthen business ties with Japan as the state Tourism Department is making extensive plans to start a tourism exchange and showcase investment opportunities with the East Asian country during the Japan Tourism Expo in September with a focus on the Buddhist Circuit. Meanwhile, a delegation led by state Finance Minister Suresh Khanna is meeting investors in Japan. Tourism Department officials said besides the Buddhist Circuit, the state is preparing an elaborate plan to showcase investment opportunities in meditation centers, hotels, and cultural infrastructure under public private partnership (PPP) mode. The foundation of the ties was laid last year during the visit of Yamanashi prefecture Governor Kotaro Nagasaki, who was accompanied by leading Japanese business delegates. They not only signed MOUs for industrial cooperation but also discussed opportunities in tourism exchange with a joint promotion of Mount Fuji and hot springs in Japan, and Buddhist and cultural destinations such as Sarnath, Shravasti and Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh. 'Familiarisation trips from Japan are being regularly organised by the state Tourism Department to showcase the Buddhist Circuit in Uttar Pradesh, which is deeply intertwined with the life of the Buddha. The idea is to showcase the significant role of UP in the global Buddhist pilgrimage trail and encourage tourism exchange with Japan,' said a senior government official. Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said, 'The state has seen a three-fold rise in tourist footfall the last eight years, and this reflects our focused strategy and global engagement. Our vision is to transform the Buddhist Circuit into a world-class spiritual and cultural gateway by integrating infrastructure, international connectivity and community involvement. We are welcoming countries like Japan to partner with us in building Buddhist temples, meditation centres, wellness retreats, and hospitality projects under PPP mode.' With Kushinagar getting much attention in the past, the focus now is on developing infrastructure and cultural centres in Kaushambi and Farrukhabad districts where the government will invest on meditation centers or developing Buddhist tourist sites. 'In 2016, nearly 28 lakh tourists visited the Buddhist sites in UP. The number nearly tripled by 2024. Kaushambi witnessed a massive jump from just over 2 lakh tourists to more than 24 lakh visitors. Kushinagar witnessed a jump to 22 lakh from 9 lakh, while Sarnath remained a leading destination with 11.8 lakh visitors in the past year,' said Mukesh Kumar Meshram, Principal Secretary, Tourism and Culture. The delegation led by Finance Minister Suresh Khanna is camping in Japan for the last three days, to participate in the World Expo in Osaka and hold B2B meetings with potential investors. On Thursday, the delegation, also comprising Principal Secretary, Infrastructure and Industries, Alok Kumar, explored tie-ups in the semiconductor sector and academics. Officials said the delegation explored semiconductor collaboration with Tokyo Electron Limited (TEL) in a meeting with the company's Executive Vice President (Global Sales Division and India Business) Takeshi Okubo. During the meeting, the TEL's possibility of collaborating in semiconductor manufacturing, skill development and establishing global capability centres (GCCs) in UP were discussed. Khanna with officials from Invest UP also visited the Osaka Prefectural Assembly to explore investment in capacity-building, youth upskilling and technology exchange. At the World Expo 2025, academic collaborations with Portugal (University of Guarda) were also discussed, it is learnt.
India Today
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Japanese crowd vibes to Tunak Tunak Tun in a 'civilised manner'. Video goes viral
A video of a group of Japanese people vibing politely to the beats of Daler Mehndi's high-energy Punjabi classic Tunak Tunak Tun at the World Expo in Osaka has delighted the internet. The now-viral video shows a stage performance led by a Punjabi singer and accompanying dancers, while the Japanese audience responds with quiet head bobs and gentle claps - a stark contrast to the usual foot-stomping energy the song evokes in India. Shared by X user Jahazi, the video was captioned: ' Japanese log Punjabi songs pe bhi itne civilised way mein vibe karte hain (Japanese people even vibe to Punjabi songs in such a civilised way).' Watch the video here: Social media users, meanwhile, admired the composed response of the Japanese audience at the event. 'Most civilised country for a reason,' a user said. Several users also celebrated the moment as an example of music's global reach — and Japan's signature politeness, even on the dance floor. - Ends
Hindustan Times
11 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Trump's New Trade Standard Takes Shape With 15% Tariff Deal
President Trump's push to introduce a new standard for global trade is coming into sharper focus as U.S. and EU officials converge on a possible 15% tariff deal, which could come on the heels of a similar agreement with Japan . Taken together, the two developments represent a turning point in months of global trade negotiations that have stoked uncertainty among investors and America's biggest trading partners. Much remains unsettled one week before President Trump's self-imposed Aug. 1 deadline for reaching trade deals with other countries. Deals with two of the U.S.'s largest trading partners, Canada and Mexico, haven't been reached and those countries face getting slapped with 35% and 30% tariffs, respectively, if deals aren't struck before next week. Tariffs of 25% currently apply to both countries, with exemptions for certain products. A 90-day truce with Beijing has already brought additional tariffs on Chinese exports to the U.S. this year down to 30%, an amount that includes 10% levies on all U.S. imports. Tariffs on the country could soar again on Aug. 12. The developments with Japan and the EU offer some clarity to businesses and the global economy after months of turmoil. Businesses have held back on major investments and decisions amid Trump's back-and-forth tariff announcements and uncertainty over whether countries could reach trade deals with his administration. 'When you have these framework agreements, that takes the risk of more damaging tit-for-tat trade wars off the table,' said Brett Ryan, senior U.S. economist at Deutsche Bank. The 15% levy on goods for the most part represents the highest tariff level on Japan in decades, and is higher than the 10% on most U.S. imports Trump implemented starting April 5. But in a sign of how much expectations have changed, markets seemed to welcome the news—an acknowledgment that the rate isn't as severe as the 25% he had threatened. Still, the higher tariffs are set to push up prices of goods for U.S. consumers, say economists. That could weigh on a domestic economy that so far has shown resilience amid Trump's trade wars. A ceremony Saturday at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan. Fifteen percent 'is a huge number for tariffs. If that is what we see for other countries, we're in a new and costlier world,' said Gene M. Grossman, international economics professor at Princeton University. The 15% on Japanese autos represents a reduction from the 25% tariff Trump put in place for most car and car parts coming into the U.S. American automakers hope that similar tariff reductions will follow for their vehicles and auto parts imported from Canada and Mexico, which currently face 25%, with exemptions depending on the origins of the components. The U.S. automotive industry criticized the 15% tariffs as giving Japanese automakers an unfair advantage. 'Any deal that charges a lower tariff for Japanese imports with virtually no U.S. content than the tariff imposed on North American-built vehicles with high U.S. content is a bad deal for U.S. industry and U.S. auto workers,' said Matt Blunt, head of the American Automotive Policy Council, on Wednesday. The body represents GM, Ford and Stellantis. Thomas Simons, chief U.S. economist at Jefferies investment bank, said even 15% tariffs will likely result in more expensive cars for American consumers. The fate of the automotive sector has been a sticking point in U.S.-EU trade discussions, with the bloc trying to secure relief from the U.S.'s current 25% tariffs on the sector. From left, European Council President António Costa, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at a press conference in Tokyo on Wednesday. European officials expect that a potential deal with the U.S. would apply a 15% baseline tariff as a flat rate for most EU exports to the U.S., said people familiar with their thinking. That amount wouldn't be added on top of levies that existed before Trump started raising tariffs this year. That is different from the U.S.'s current 10% blanket tariff, which was layered on top of existing tariffs. As a result, the 15% tariff rate currently being discussed wouldn't be much higher, on average, than the actual level the EU currently faces, the people said. The 15% baseline tariff would apply to cars, though it is not expected to apply to steel and aluminum, which currently face 50% tariffs. EU officials are discussing those terms as part of a potential deal with their U.S. counterparts, who appear to be on board with the 15% level, the people said. But they emphasized that a deal wasn't certain and any agreement would need President Trump's signoff. The U.S. and EU have also discussed creating exemptions from the baseline tariff for certain sectors, including aircraft, the people said. Trump appeared to suggest on Wednesday that he was open to a deal with the EU that could be similar to Japan's. After touting the agreement with Japan, he said the U.S. plans to put a simple tariff on countries that will range from 15% to 50%. 'We've offered such a deal to the European Union,' Trump said, without referencing Japan directly. 'We're in serious negotiations, and if they agree to open up the union to American businesses, then we will let them pay a lower tariff.' A White House spokesman said any discussion of possible deals should be considered speculation unless announced by Trump. The EU had thought it was close to a deal with the U.S. several weeks ago that would have put baseline tariffs at 10%, with some sectors exempted. But that was thrown into question when Trump posted a letter threatening to impose 30% tariffs on the bloc beginning Aug. 1. Since then, the EU has continued talks with the U.S. Officials told the EU's trade chief, Maros Sefcovic, last week that they expected Trump to demand a baseline tariff of 15% or more to get an agreement. After the Japan deal was announced, it became easier for European officials to accept the idea that they might also have 15% baseline tariffs, people familiar with their thinking said. The Japan deal represented a signal that 15% is the level that could be established for most major U.S. trading partners. The bloc is also continuing to prepare countermeasures against the U.S. in case a deal can't be reached. Member states on Thursday are expected to approve a package of potential tariffs on U.S. goods worth more than $100 billion, in a sign that the bloc doesn't view its hoped-for agreement with the U.S. as a done deal. Those tariffs wouldn't take effect before Aug. 7. The deal agreed upon by Japan and the U.S. also contains a novel financial commitment that the administration says will involve Japanese banks and financial institutions contributing $550 billion to a fund that the administration can then direct to infrastructure projects of its choice. 'The Japanese are going to give America the ability to choose the projects, decide the projects and execute the projects,' Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Wednesday on Bloomberg TV. 'The Japanese will finance the project and then we'll give it to an operator who will run it and the profits will be split—90% to the taxpayers of the [U.S.] and 10% to the Japanese.' It remains unclear how the investment fund would be structured. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said that it would consist of loan investments and guarantees, but Lutnick said it would also involve equity. 'The Japanese are the financier, the banker,' he said on Bloomberg. Republican senators briefed on the deal praised the new investment fund as a way to deliver on critical national-security investments like semiconductors, minerals and energy production. 'It's a structure that I haven't seen before,' said Sen. Bill Hagerty, Trump's first-term ambassador to Japan. 'They're going to put a massive financing package together. So it's not foreign investment, it's a financing package, and we will pick the best [projects], and we'll let people compete for these projects.' Democrats said they are skeptical of a pot of money that some labeled a 'slush fund' that they fear will be spent on political priorities favored by Trump, and not only strategic projects. Earlier Tuesday, the U.S. also reached a pact with the Philippines and gave details on its trade framework with Indonesia, building on an initial announcement last week. Write to Chao Deng at Kim Mackrael at and Gavin Bade at Trump's New Trade Standard Takes Shape With 15% Tariff Deal
Indian Express
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Civilised way mai vibe': Japanese crowd's calm reaction to Daler Mehndi's ‘Tunak Tunak Tun' goes viral
A video showing a group of Japanese people calmly grooving to a high-energy Punjabi song has sparked a wave of reactions online. The clip, filmed at the World Expo in Osaka, features a stage performance of Daler Mehndi's iconic Tunak Tunak Tun song, complete with dancers and a Punjabi singer leading the show. What stole the show was the audience's reaction to the song. Instead of the usual jumping and dancing one might expect, the Japanese crowd vibed to the beat in a measured, synchronised manner, clapping with enthusiasm. The contrast was so striking that one X user, @Oye_Jahazi, posted the video with the caption: 'Japanese log Punjabi songs pe bhi itne civilised way me vibe karte hain (Even when Japanese people vibe to Punjabi songs, they do it in such a civilised way).' Japanese log Punjabi songs pe bhi itne civilised way me vibe karte hain 😭 — Jahazi (@Oye_Jahazi) July 18, 2025 The post quickly gained traction, with thousands of views and plenty of comments. 'Most civilized country for a reason,' one user remarked. Another quipped, 'Bechare bachpan se shant log hai (They've been calm since childhood). One of the nicest human breed on earth.' Meanwhile, a Japanese travel vlogger recently stirred discussion with a video reflecting on his interactions with Indians he met during his travels abroad. Unlike the viral Osaka clip, this one carried a more reflective, and somewhat critical, tone. The vlogger questioned a recurring pattern he noticed: 'I met so many amazing Indians while travelling abroad. But almost all of them said the same thing.' He said many Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) told him they left because they felt 'the system holds back those who want to do something big in India.' Another comment that kept coming up, he added, was: 'India is too hard to live in.' His video has since led to debate online, with viewers reacting to what some see as a harsh reality and others defending their homeland against generalisation.
Mint
19 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
Trump's new trade standard takes shape with 15% tariff deal
President Trump's push to introduce a new standard for global trade is coming into sharper focus as U.S. and EU officials converge on a possible 15% tariff deal, which could come on the heels of a similar agreement with Japan. Taken together, the two developments represent a turning point in months of global trade negotiations that have stoked uncertainty among investors and America's biggest trading partners. Much remains unsettled one week before President Trump's self-imposed Aug. 1 deadline for reaching trade deals with other countries. Deals with two of the U.S.'s largest trading partners, Canada and Mexico, haven't been reached and those countries face getting slapped with 35% and 30% tariffs, respectively, if deals aren't struck before next week. Tariffs of 25% currently apply to both countries, with exemptions for certain products. A 90-day truce with Beijing has already brought additional tariffs on Chinese exports to the U.S. this year down to 30%, an amount that includes 10% levies on all U.S. imports. Tariffs on the country could soar again on Aug. 12. The developments with Japan and the EU offer some clarity to businesses and the global economy after months of turmoil. Businesses have held back on major investments and decisions amid Trump's back-and-forth tariff announcements and uncertainty over whether countries could reach trade deals with his administration. 'When you have these framework agreements, that takes the risk of more damaging tit-for-tat trade wars off the table," said Brett Ryan, senior U.S. economist at Deutsche Bank. The 15% levy on goods for the most part represents the highest tariff level on Japan in decades, and is higher than the 10% on most U.S. imports Trump implemented starting April 5. But in a sign of how much expectations have changed, markets seemed to welcome the news—an acknowledgment that the rate isn't as severe as the 25% he had threatened. Still, the higher tariffs are set to push up prices of goods for U.S. consumers, say economists. That could weigh on a domestic economy that so far has shown resilience amid Trump's trade wars. A ceremony Saturday at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan. Fifteen percent 'is a huge number for tariffs. If that is what we see for other countries, we're in a new and costlier world," said Gene M. Grossman, international economics professor at Princeton University. The 15% on Japanese autos represents a reduction from the 25% tariff Trump put in place for most car and car parts coming into the U.S. American automakers hope that similar tariff reductions will follow for their vehicles and auto parts imported from Canada and Mexico, which currently face 25%, with exemptions depending on the origins of the components. The U.S. automotive industry criticized the 15% tariffs as giving Japanese automakers an unfair advantage. 'Any deal that charges a lower tariff for Japanese imports with virtually no U.S. content than the tariff imposed on North American-built vehicles with high U.S. content is a bad deal for U.S. industry and U.S. auto workers," said Matt Blunt, head of the American Automotive Policy Council, on Wednesday. The body represents GM, Ford and Stellantis. Thomas Simons, chief U.S. economist at Jefferies investment bank, said even 15% tariffs will likely result in more expensive cars for American consumers. The fate of the automotive sector has been a sticking point in U.S.-EU trade discussions, with the bloc trying to secure relief from the U.S.'s current 25% tariffs on the sector. From left, European Council President António Costa, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at a press conference in Tokyo on Wednesday. European officials expect that a potential deal with the U.S. would apply a 15% baseline tariff as a flat rate for most EU exports to the U.S., said people familiar with their thinking. That amount wouldn't be added on top of levies that existed before Trump started raising tariffs this year. That is different from the U.S.'s current 10% blanket tariff, which was layered on top of existing tariffs. As a result, the 15% tariff rate currently being discussed wouldn't be much higher, on average, than the actual level the EU currently faces, the people said. The 15% baseline tariff would apply to cars, though it is not expected to apply to steel and aluminum, which currently face 50% tariffs. EU officials are discussing those terms as part of a potential deal with their U.S. counterparts, who appear to be on board with the 15% level, the people said. But they emphasized that a deal wasn't certain and any agreement would need President Trump's signoff. The U.S. and EU have also discussed creating exemptions from the baseline tariff for certain sectors, including aircraft, the people said. Trump appeared to suggest on Wednesday that he was open to a deal with the EU that could be similar to Japan's. After touting the agreement with Japan, he said the U.S. plans to put a simple tariff on countries that will range from 15% to 50%. 'We've offered such a deal to the European Union," Trump said, without referencing Japan directly. 'We're in serious negotiations, and if they agree to open up the union to American businesses, then we will let them pay a lower tariff." A White House spokesman said any discussion of possible deals should be considered speculation unless announced by Trump. The EU had thought it was close to a deal with the U.S. several weeks ago that would have put baseline tariffs at 10%, with some sectors exempted. But that was thrown into question when Trump posted a letter threatening to impose 30% tariffs on the bloc beginning Aug. 1. Since then, the EU has continued talks with the U.S. Officials told the EU's trade chief, Maros Sefcovic, last week that they expected Trump to demand a baseline tariff of 15% or more to get an agreement. After the Japan deal was announced, it became easier for European officials to accept the idea that they might also have 15% baseline tariffs, people familiar with their thinking said. The Japan deal represented a signal that 15% is the level that could be established for most major U.S. trading partners. The bloc is also continuing to prepare countermeasures against the U.S. in case a deal can't be reached. Member states on Thursday are expected to approve a package of potential tariffs on U.S. goods worth more than $100 billion, in a sign that the bloc doesn't view its hoped-for agreement with the U.S. as a done deal. Those tariffs wouldn't take effect before Aug. 7. The deal agreed upon by Japan and the U.S. also contains a novel financial commitment that the administration says will involve Japanese banks and financial institutions contributing $550 billion to a fund that the administration can then direct to infrastructure projects of its choice. 'The Japanese are going to give America the ability to choose the projects, decide the projects and execute the projects," Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Wednesday on Bloomberg TV. 'The Japanese will finance the project and then we'll give it to an operator who will run it and the profits will be split—90% to the taxpayers of the [U.S.] and 10% to the Japanese." It remains unclear how the investment fund would be structured. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said that it would consist of loan investments and guarantees, but Lutnick said it would also involve equity. 'The Japanese are the financier, the banker," he said on Bloomberg. Republican senators briefed on the deal praised the new investment fund as a way to deliver on critical national-security investments like semiconductors, minerals and energy production. 'It's a structure that I haven't seen before," said Sen. Bill Hagerty, Trump's first-term ambassador to Japan. 'They're going to put a massive financing package together. So it's not foreign investment, it's a financing package, and we will pick the best [projects], and we'll let people compete for these projects." Democrats said they are skeptical of a pot of money that some labeled a 'slush fund" that they fear will be spent on political priorities favored by Trump, and not only strategic projects. Earlier Tuesday, the U.S. also reached a pact with the Philippines and gave details on its trade framework with Indonesia, building on an initial announcement last week. Write to Chao Deng at Kim Mackrael at and Gavin Bade at
