BRUSSELS ― The European Commission has endorsed the new French government’s updated spending plan in a boost to Prime Minister François Bayrou, two diplomats told POLITICO. Ambassadors and financial counsellors from the EU’s member countries will discuss the plan in meetings today, the diplomats said. French Finance Minister Eric Lombard publicly promised to keep the … Read more
BRUSSELS — The European Commission greenlighted Hungary’s medium-term fiscal-structural plan on Thursday after Budapest provided the bloc’s executive with updated and previously missing data. Hungary is now forecast to exit the additional surveillance regime for overspending countries in 2026. According to the new document, the country’s deficit — the difference between budget revenues and expenditures … Read more
“We are now, what, four and a half years before the next election,” Starmer said, sitting at a table for dinner in a traditional Ukrainian restaurant in Kyiv. “I remind myself that four and a half years ago, Boris Johnson was prime minister with very high ratings and most commentators were saying he’s going to … Read more
Earl LeRoy “Buddy” Carter, the US representative for Georgia’s 1st Congressional district, announced the introduction of H.R. 25, the Fair Tax Act, via a 9th January press release to replace the current US tax code. The Republican Congressman proposed abolishing income, death, gift, and payroll taxes and replacing them with a single national consumption tax. … Read more
A healthy relationship with Beijing is “squarely in our national interest,” Reeves said on Saturday as she announced agreements “worth £600 million to the U.K. economy over the next five years.” Speaking during a visit to U.K. bicycle maker Brompton’s Beijing store, Reeves insisted she would not alter her economic plans. “I have been really … Read more
After years of tension with the previous Conservative government over human rights and security concerns, Reeves has political space to take a different, more business-like approach to Beijing and try and tap China’s vast market for economic benefits. “Everything the Tories did on foreign policy was about backbench management,” said a U.K. government official, who, like … Read more
A bill to increase the National Insurance Institution tax (Bituah Leumi) passed a vote in the Knesset Welfare Committee on Wednesday morning, despite an attempt by National Security Minister MK Itamar Ben-Gvir to block it. The bill was part of the annual Economic Arrangements Bill, which accompanies the state budget and groups together all … Read more
Many US retirees above 65 are on a fixed income and are dealing with stress, figuring out how to stretch their retirement savings for the remainder of their lives. Some retirees claim Social Security too early and get locked into reduced monthly checks. The top reasons for early claims are financial and health-related concerns. At … Read more
The Irish permanent representation to the EU’s transition team initially reached out to incoming commissioners by email, rather than setting meetings or leveraging relationships with key decision-makers, three officials said. Two officials said senior diplomats should have played a larger role in negotiations, rather than leaving talks to the permanent representation and to McGrath’s team. … Read more
A Scottish local council has been condemned for its proposal to tax expectant mothers for the privilege of having their babies in a hospital. Highland Council, which may or may not be run by the Scrooge McDuck wing of the Scottish National Party, has said it plans to charge tourists a five percent levy for … Read more
