Walter Carter
We Need to Invest in the Heartland Here's why the Midwest is uniquely suited to lead the next wave of American renewal.

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Kyodo News
28 minutes ago
- Kyodo News
U.S. asked Japan to raise defense spending to 3.5% of GDP
KYODO NEWS - 12 hours ago - 20:15 | All, Japan, World U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has asked Japan to raise its defense spending to 3.5 percent of gross domestic product, a request that will likely prompt Tokyo to call off a planned high-level meeting with Washington, a Japan-U.S. diplomatic source said Saturday. The request was made recently by Elbridge Colby, U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy, the Financial Times has reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Colby, a seasoned strategist, had previously pressed Japan to increase its defense spending to 3 percent of its GDP. The increased demand will likely lead Japan to cancel a planned meeting of the countries' foreign and defense chiefs, which was scheduled in Washington before Japan's House of Councillors election, expected on July 20. The meeting would have been the first since Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Trump took office in October and January, respectively. Kyodo News reported in late May that Japan and the United States were considering holding the so-called two-plus-two security talks in Washington this summer. Japan and the United States had not formally said such talks, as held in July last year in Tokyo, would take place. In 2022, after Trump's first term, Japan decided to double its annual defense budget to 2 percent of GDP by 2027, a dramatic move in postwar security policy under the country's war-renouncing Constitution. But Trump continues to complain that the U.S.-Japan security treaty is one-sided, with his administration apparently planning to ask Tokyo to pay more for American troops based in the Japanese archipelago once bilateral negotiations over his tariffs proceed.

USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Huckabee: State Department is evacuating Americans from Israel amid Iran conflict
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also posted actions people can take to remain safe including learning the location of the nearest bomb shelters. The State Department has begun evacuating American citizens and permanent residents from Israel and the West Bank, U.S Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee announced on social media as the Israel-Iran war enters a second week. 'The Department of State has begun assisted departure flights from Israel,' Huckabee wrote in a post on X on June 21 asking people seeking government assistance to fill out a form. Huckabee also posted actions people can take to remain safe including learning the location of the nearest bomb shelters, avoiding large gatherings and monitoring local media. The State Department did not immediately respond to questions asking about the number of Americans it expects to retrieve from Israel. The conflict started a week ago when Israel began conducting airstrikes against Iranian nuclear and military sites, primarily targeting uranium enrichment facilities to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The two countries have been engaged in aerial strikes while President Donald Trump is mulling over the possibility of U.S. involvement to help Israel destroy Iranian nuclear facilities. Hundreds of Americans have left Iran in the last week, according to an internal State Department cable seen by Reuters. Trump is expected meet his national security team on the evening of June 21 to discuss possible U.S. involvement in the conflict .


RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
Rory McIlroy inside top ten as Tommy Fleetwood leads Travelers
Rory McIlroy remains inside the top ten, however, he sits nine shots off the lead ahead of the final day at the Travelers Championship. McIlroy actually moved up the leaderboard following his third round 68, now into a share of eighth place, but is unlikely to challenge for the title on Sunday as Tommy Fleetwood heads the field on 16-under-par. The five-time major winner enjoyed the perfect start on Saturday as he played a flawless front nine in four under par following birdies on the second, fourth, sixth and eighth holes, however, his round began to unravel on the 12th hole as he made double bogey. McIlroy got one shot back on the 15th but handed it right back on the following hole before finishing with a couple of pars to sign for a two-under round and sit on seven under for the tournament. Shane Lowry also moved up the leaderboard, following an impressive four-under 66 to end the day on one-over-par. Five birdies and just the solitary bogey for the former Open champion who ended the day in a share of 51st place. Fleetwood, who is still searching for his maiden PGA Tour victory, put himself in prime position for Sunday's final round by posting a seven-under 63 to lead by three shots from American duo Russell Henley and Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley.