North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein signed a $34 billion state budget into law on Tuesday, marking the first time the state has enacted a comprehensive spending plan in over 1,000 days. The legislation, which follows roughly a year of negotiations between Republican legislative leaders, includes a 3% raise for all state employees and a reduction … Read more
The Indonesian government is scaling back President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship free nutritious meal programme following weeks of nationwide protests demanding its complete suspension. Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa confirmed the decision, stating that the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) initiated the reduction to ensure budget security, though he noted the programme remains a “good programme” that … Read more
Queensland Treasurer David Janetzki has formally accused energy retailer Origin Energy of increasing electricity prices despite a recent Australian Energy Regulator (AER) benchmark that could lower bills by up to 7.2 per cent. Mr. Janetzki, also serving as the state’s energy minister, described the retail price hikes as “playing games” and warned that further retailers … Read more
European Council President António Costa faces internal backlash from EU leaders following his outreach to the Kremlin. While Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the contact “understandable,” nine diplomats told POLITICO that behind-the-scenes discontent is high, with some officials comparing Costa’s independent actions to the controversial leadership style of his predecessor, Charles Michel. Why are … Read more
Capital Gains Tax Reform: Industry Leaders Push for Lower Rates Davy and PwC Ireland have formally requested that the Government implement significant cuts to the Republic’s 33 per cent capital gains tax (CGT) rate in the 2027 Budget. Both firms argue that reducing the tax burden is essential to stimulate entrepreneurship, boost domestic investment, and … Read more
The Punjab Assembly Secretariat has released a formal schedule for the province’s legislative agenda, setting a clear path for the 2025–26 budget session through July 2. According to the official document, the assembly will conduct debates, hold budget votes, and process the Finance Bill before concluding with a series of private members’ sessions. What is … Read more
EU member states are negotiating a €2 trillion long-term budget for 2028–2034, facing a standoff between “frugal” nations seeking spending cuts and “Friends of Cohesion” seeking more agricultural and regional aid. The Cypriot presidency has proposed a €32.8 billion reduction to bridge this gap before a 2026 deadline. Why are EU member states divided over … Read more
Mamdani Administration Outlines Plan for City-Owned Grocery Stores The Mamdani administration is moving forward with a new initiative to establish city-owned grocery stores, a project officials describe as a cornerstone of the mayor’s broader affordability agenda. Emily Marcus, a senior vice president at the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC), emphasized that the program … Read more
The Rising Cost of Wellness in Tasmania In Tasmania, the intersection of economic strain and public health is creating a growing crisis. For residents like Hobart teacher Mary Holton, the financial burden has forced difficult choices: skipping physiotherapy sessions, avoiding fitness classes, and delaying health appointments. “Going out for just fitness alone was a bit … Read more
Australia has reached a record high in its billionaire population, with 178 individuals currently identified. This represents an increase of 17 over the past year, according to new analysis based on the 2026 Australian Financial Review Rich List. The collective wealth of these individuals now exceeds $686 billion, having grown by $25.67 billion in the … Read more