Latest news with #Trumpian
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
In Bonn, the pursuit of elusive climate finance
The Bonn climate conference — the mid-year climate review — serves as a prelude to the annual Conference of Parties (CoP) . To that end, the stormy start to the ongoing mid-year review in the German city is not good augury. On the first day, developing nations clashed with developed nations — Donald Trump-governed US is absent from the talks — over two inclusions to the conference agenda proposed by the former: discussions on climate finance under Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement, and on unilateral trade measures with climate goals in mind. The Like Minded Developing Nations (LMDC) bloc that includes India had demanded that climate finance as well as trade measures such as the carbon border adjustment mechanism be taken up at the conference. Predictably, the EU and other rich nations and blocs strongly resisted this, delaying the adoption of the agenda for the conference to the second day. Climate finance, more than other differences on climate action being debated by the global community, has become the leitmotif of the limited success at recent climate talks. The developed world resists any binding obligations on quantum, duration, and conditionality of funding that they must provide to the developing nations to undertake necessary climate action. The window for any meaningful action to contain warming within 1.5 degree C is likely closed (or quite narrow). Generating consensus in a Trumpian world will need reviving trust in multilateral climate action, and the responsibility lies squarely with the developed nations to demonstrate that they are willing to work with developing nations on climate by making greater concessions than they have agreed to in the past and, indeed, working to offset the damage from the US's abdication of climate responsibility. One of the areas where they can demonstrate this is climate India said earlier this month, without the money, even preliminary climate pledges won't be met, let alone ambitious ones articulated and pursued.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Modi In G7: Resets In The Rockies
Modi In G7: Resets In The Rockies Ajay Bisaria Jun 18, 2025, 22:13 IST IST His message to Trump & thaw in India-Canada relations say three things about his foreign policy: engage when interests align, push back when sovereignty is challenged, put national interest above global validation The G7 Summit in Kananaskis, deep in the Canadian Rockies, unfolded this week amid global tumult – from an escalating Iran-Israel conflict to intensified Russian missile strikes on Kyiv, to tariff wars. Yet beneath the crisis headlines, the summit also saw critical course corrections in some rocky bilateral relationships. Among other disturbed dyads, India and Canada quietly signalled a thaw in their 21-month-long diplomatic freeze, turning the margins of a multilateral gathering into a moment of bilateral reset. Fractured world, fractured club | As always, G7 served a dual purpose: dealing with immediate global crises and addressing the global commons – climate, trade, security – while also functioning as a venue for private reconciliation and realignment, in an era of Trumpian disruption.
Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Editorial: The tax changes in the U.S. Senate are a mixed bag
As is its right and duty, the U.S. Senate now has messed with the Trump administration's 'big, beautiful,' tax-and-spending bill that just squeaked through the House. Here's our hot take on some of the Senate's work in progress, as viewed not in terms of what is ideal but in the context of what the House already passed. We're all for limiting the 'no-tax-on-tips' deduction to $25,000 per person. We didn't like the campaign promise in the first place and its application to servers at fancy joints who make very good money is especially unfair on those employees who don't receive tips. Same deal with the smart idea to limit 'no tax on overtime' to $12,500 (or $25,000 per couple). That's not fair either, but it's certainly better to make sure only lesser paid folks get the benefit. It's more justifiable for servers at Denny's than Alinea. And while plenty of seniors do not need a bigger $6,000 tax break (in lieu of Trump's promises not to tax social security), that amount is pegged about right to make a difference in the lives of the people who need it without offering anything of life-changing significance to wealthier Americans. We suspect that will be expensive but can live with that. And it made sense for the Senate version to limit another wacky Trump giveaway, no tax on car loans, to vehicles. It limits the cost of the $10,000 tax break, helps workers in dealerships and factories, and gets more cars with advanced safety features and gas mileage on the road. It also will be harder to game than the House version, applicable to any car. We're all for a modest increase in both the standard deduction and the child tax allowance (the Senate would make it $2,200), being as temporary increases with expiry dates invariably represent sleight of hand to our minds. We're all for reducing the tax on university endowment income (to 8%); the House version, which went as high as 21%, was mere Trumpian punitiveness and would have harmed the sector immeasurably. Arguably, the current 1.4% rate for endowments is too low, given the legitimate concerns about the expansion of the national debt. But we'd be happier if a more comprehensive look at all non-profit tax breaks was taking place; there's no reason to single out universities beyond ideology or revenge, neither of which should be part of tax policy. The Senate should consider that. Regular readers know that we favor raising the cap imposed by Trump in the so-called SALT deduction, not least on the grounds of fairness, given that nobody should have to pay taxes twice on the same money earned. Property taxes have been rising in cities like Chicago, where many homeowners now pay more than $10,000 a year in property tax alone and some tax relief is only reasonable. In the House, the cap went to $40,000, albeit with income restrictions, but the Senate draft kills that increase. Trump's initial actions were about punishing blue cities and he caught up too many middle-class Americans in his dragnet. That needs to change and we're confident a compromise can be found. Finally, here's something else to like in the Senate version. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) has been pushing a plan to claw back revenue from the $15.2 billion litigation finance industry, wherein investors finance lawsuits in order to get a piece of any future award or settlement. This can be a really nice ca-ching for investors, even in downtimes in other markets, but it is deeply problematic for cities like Chicago as it encourages lengthy lawsuits and also drives up the cost of settlements at taxpayer expense since the actual injured party inevitably gets less of the payout. Given the whole parking meter morass, we've had more than enough of Chicagoans' hard-earned money landing in these kinds of hands. We're all for the Senate's proposed 41% levy on litigation finance profits—if only because it should curtail this practice by making it less attractive.
Axios
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Axios
Celebrate Juneteenth in D.C. with festivals, music and history
Celebrate Juneteenth around D.C. with festivals, history and family-friendly gatherings. The big picture: Juneteenth — a new federal holiday marking the 1865 emancipation of enslaved people in Texas — has grown in popularity nationally amid Trumpian backlash. It's become a rich and history-steeped holiday in D.C. with ties to historic Black communities, special museum exhibits and plenty of music and culture. What's happening: 🎶 Backyard Band at Ivy City Smokehouse The go-go legends kick off the holiday with a Wednesday night show. 📍 Ivy City | ⏰ 9pm | 💵 $44 🎉 Scotland Juneteenth Festival Montgomery County's largest celebration honors Scotland's historic Black community with multiple days of events and a full-day festival on Thursday. 📍 Multiple locations | 📅 Ongoing through Thurs | 💵 Free 🗣️ Washington Revels in Old Town Thursday's two-part program features storytelling with David Olawuyi Fakunle and a Jubilee Voices concert of traditional songs and spirituals. 📍 Old Town Alexandria | 📅 Thurs, 1pm | 💵 Free 🌁 Anacostia Juneteenth Freedom Walk and Jubilee The Anacostia Renaissance Kollective is holding a freedom walk across 11th Street Bridge starting at 10am, continuing with activities in Anacostia. 📍 Anacostia | 📅 Thurs, 10am–5pm | 💵 Free 🎤 Juneteenth at National Harbor Festivities include a marketplace of Black creators, dancing, live music — and a waterfront screening of "Black Panther." 📍 National Harbor | 📅 Thurs | 💵 Free 📜 National Archives display See the original Emancipation Proclamation and Juneteenth order from 1865 — on view for just four days. 📍 Capitol Hill | 📅 June 19–22 | 💵 Free 🏛️ Mount Vernon "Freedom before Emancipation" programs, tours, and storytelling. A full Saturday of yoga, urban gardening, poetry, workshops, and live performances awaits at the Smithsonian museum.
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
What do Americans fear most? It's a problem close to home
That is especially true for young Americans, who have seen rates of loneliness and depression skyrocket in recent years. When we talk about America's anxiety crisis, the conversation usually defaults to politics. Many Americans are reportedly tuning out the news due to concerns about our elected officials in Washington, DC. Not only did the 2024 election lead to mass stress, but even non-election year partisanship has been linked to social anxiety. As the American Psychological Association puts it, America is "a nation in political turmoil," with stress an inevitable byproduct. And yet, the situation is far more nuanced than many believe. Americans are not simply paralyzed by politics. Our deepest anxieties reflect the grinding pressures of modern life - from rising costs to family strains. If we wish to address American anxiety, we first have to understand it. And, for that, we have to look far beyond Washington. Americans are anxious - about a lot of things Anxiety is indeed widespread, but it is actually driven more by economic, personal and societal pressures than purely political issues. According to the latest research from The Harris Poll, over three-fourths of Americans (78%) report some level of anxiety, with anxiety rising for more than half the country. The data cited in this column was collected through an online survey of 200 U.S. adults, conducted on June 3 and 4, using Census-matched quotas. Opinion: Politics stressing you out? Here's how to protect your mental health. Economic insecurity is at the core. Financial issues like inflation and the cost of living dominate today's anxieties. Nearly six in 10 Americans (57%) feel impacted by the rising cost of living, and that is by far the greatest driver of anxiety. What is second? Personal financial security (44% impacted). Third? Inflation and financial instability (43%). It is still the economy, stupid. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. Political division is a notable driver of anxiety, but it is just one piece of a much more personal puzzle. Only 27% of Americans report feeling impacted by political anxiety. Health care access, especially in terms of mental health, is more notable. In truth, many of our anxieties have always existed. They are not unique to the age of artificial intelligence, Trumpian tariffs or Democratic "wokeness." They have to do with parenting, caregiving and marital difficulties. Personal and family concerns loom large, with the future of our children weighing heavily. Technological disruption stokes fears But the times they are a-changing, and not necessarily for the better. In terms of anxiety, technological disruption is increasingly on the radar. Whether it's a parent worried about their own job prospects in a ChatGPT-dominated world or their children's future careers, many Americans are worried about the unintended consequences of automation. As is normally the case, there are multiple factors for us to consider. When most Americans report higher levels of anxiety today than in the past, sweeping generalizations or overly simplistic explanations are not helpful. Opinion: Do you often complain about the state of our country? Here's how to change it. What's helpful is analyzing all of the factors, giving extra weight to the top of the list (economic and financial considerations) while recognizing the list in its entirety. For example, in the age of institutional mistrust, 18% of Americans are anxious about community institutions breaking down without knowing if they can be repaired or what may replace them. Add that to the list, too. Reading the news, it is easy to blame today's politics for American anxiety. However, our concerns predate the Trump administration's squabbles with the Democratic Party or federal agencies, and they will outlast Trump 2.0. To the extent that Washington accelerates anxiety, we should look at pocketbook politics. Americans are anxious primarily because of their other concerns - the nonpolitical ones, the more personal ones. Perhaps there is a silver lining in Americans concerning themselves more with everyday anxieties than the bitter partisanship on Capitol Hill, but collective concern is a great concern in itself. Now, at least we know which anxieties rule the roost. Will Johnson serves as CEO at The Harris Poll.
