US-Israel war on Iran pushes up prices: New York residents

Residents in New York City complained that the U.S.-Israel war on Iran has driven up the price of gasoline, groceries and other necessities.

Average U.S. gas prices hit a new high at 4.23 U.S. dollars per gallon on Wednesday, their highest since 2022 and a record since the start of the war on Iran on Feb. 28, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).

New Yorkers said they have felt the impact of that rise as it pushes up the cost of living as a whole.

"It's high. Milk is expensive up here. Gas is more expensive. Rents are definitely more expensive," said a resident.

"With our cars, we're paying about 400 to 500 dollars a month of gas. Every month, every month. And we were paying about 300 before the gas prices went up and the beginning of the war. Now it has jumped 150 dollars a month," said another resident.

"It's still rising. It's been rising a couple of years, the grocery and the rent, and the tax, yeah, all rising," said a female resident.

Even the city's youth have taken note of ballooning prices.

"One cup of water, it can be like five dollars, which isn't valid," said a teenager.

Young residents even expressed an eagerness to begin working before they finish their schooling.

"We need to make bread, like now," a teen said, using a slang term for money.

Meanwhile, for some adults who voted in the last presidential election, the situation has caused them to rethink the campaign promises previously made by U.S. President Donald Trump.

"I'm for 'America First,' so anything 'America First' will help us, if he's still with that agenda, for sure," said a resident.

"I am not sure (if Trump is still with that agenda). He said he didn't want any new wars, but we're in a new war," he added.

Others are left with a lingering concern that the inflationary pressures they face today are just foreshadowing of even graver challenges.

"I think the biggest thing is that we've got just more of an impact coming that we haven't seen just yet," said another resident.

US-Israel war on Iran pushes up prices: New York residents

US-Israel war on Iran pushes up prices: New York residents

A group of Japanese peace activists gathered outside the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Friday to protest the government's push for constitutional revision and the lifting of a ban on lethal weapons exports.

The Japanese government officially revised the "Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology" and related implementation guidelines on April 21, allowing overseas sales of weapons, including those with lethal capabilities.

Kyodo News, a Japanese news agency, said the changes mark a significant shift in the country's defense policy, noting that it has long touted itself as a "peace-loving nation" under its war-renouncing Constitution since its defeat in World War II.

The protesters accused the Takaichi administration of lifting the export ban without sufficient debate or deliberation in the National Diet.

"Without full discussions in the National Diet, the government just arbitrarily decided on arms exports and made various excuses for it. Also, regarding the incident of intrusion into the Chinese embassy, the government has not issued an apology. Japan should be on friendly terms with neighboring countries, yet it engages in actions that incite confrontation. [Constitutional revision] is truly disturbing. Especially nowadays, the Liberal Democratic Party and Prime Minister Takaichi are pushing for arms exports in order to build a nation capable of waging war. This is absolutely unacceptable," one female protester said.

"As a matter of fact, it [lifting the ban on lethal weapons exports] was arbitrarily decided by the cabinet without any consideration of people's opinions. Revising the pacifist constitution will undoubtedly harm Japan's national interests. I sincerely hope that the Takaichi administration will stop this practice," a male protester said.

"Article 9 of Japan's constitution has gradually, to some extent, been distorted by various faits accomplis. While Japan is nominally a 'peaceful country,' this is not the case in reality," another female protester said.

Protesters rally in Tokyo against arms exports, constitutional revision