Canada spat exposes widening rift between Merz and von der Leyen
Berlin’s effort to reserve associate status for Kyiv has collided with the Commission president’s Ottawa initiative.
· Nicholas Vinocur
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Sure, California voters overwhelmingly backed Democrats. But they refused to punish success.
California voters showed their pragmatic side on Election Day by rejecting Proposition 40, the so-called “billionaire tax.”
· CA Post Editorial Board
Elon Musk’s nearly half a billion dollars in midterms spending was a flop
The tech billionaire set spending record as he poured $446m into campaigns for failed Republican candidatesElon Musk set a record for election spending this year after pouring nearly half a billion dollars into backing Republicans in the US midterm elections. It turned out to be a poor investment.The SpaceX and Tesl…
· Nick Robins Early
‘Burn the witch,’ and slap a mileage tax on the blue wave
This week, Republicans lost, well, everything, including the House, Senate, and many competitive gubernatorial races, meaning unfortunately, you’re not getting those $5,000 checks from Daddy Trump.
· Pirate Wires
California’s biggest election loser is Dave Regan, union boss who blew $47M on two failed ballot props
Labor boss Dave Regan tried unsuccessfully to tax billionaires this election season, earning a humiliating, if unofficial, title: California’s biggest election loser.
· Josh Koehn
Inside India newsletter: India weighs a tax cut to win over foreign investors. Will it work?
Foreign investors are losing their appetite for Indian equities, with their holdings touching an all-time low of 14%.
· Priyanka Salve
What Wall Street billionaires are saying about Democrats' midterm sweep
Billionaire political spending met criticism from ... billionaires in the wake of Tuesday's blue wave election.
· Luke Fountain
Sara impeachment foes in Congress get scraps in proposed 2027 budget
Tweny-eight of the 36 district lawmakers who are poised to get the smallest public works budgets for 2027 either objected to the impeachment of the Vice President or abstained from the vote
· Dwight de Leon
Where California Propositions stand as votes are tallied: Prop 40 wealth tax, home loan funds and more
The California Post is taking a look at the most important Golden State propositions today and how each prop presently stands
· Nikki Dobrin
Mamdani’s controversial pied-à-terre tax rollout scores major legal win
While other challenges against the controversial second-home tax remain, Mamdani said he was “heartened” by the ruling.
· Peter Senzamici
Hochul under pressure from DSA to ‘tax the rich’ immediately after winning second term
Socialists are moving immediately to squeeze Hochul on taxes -- even as political insiders argue her victory is owed more to an anti-Trump backlash than to the left.
· Carl Campanile, Vaughn Golden, Craig McCarthy, Haley Brown
Five takeaways from US midterms as Democrats sweep Congress and Trump faces Iran reckoning
A Democratic victory that reached from Texas to Kansas changed the terms of Donald Trump’s final two years in office. When the new US Congress convenes in January, Democrats will control both chambers. They can block his legislation, challenge spending on the war in Iran and scrutinise the deals he strikes with Beij…
· Teresa Elena Frontado
Debt relief and aid no replacement for slavery reparations, UK told
Leading figures in Caribbean reparatory justice movement speak out after UK PM announced infrastructure packageOffers of debt relief and development assistance from the UK cannot be a replacement for reparations for centuries of slavery, leading figures in the Caribbean reparatory justice movement have said.Their co…
· Natricia Duncan
Food Network star Alex Guarnaschelli shares secrets to holiday entertaining
Chef Alex Guarnaschelli shares her top holiday entertaining tips, from budget-friendly natural decor to smart, day-before kitchen prep.
· Realtor.com
Major Steakhouse Chain's Largest Franchisee Files For Bankruptcy As Debt Explodes
Major Steakhouse Chain's Largest Franchisee Files For Bankruptcy As Debt Explodes The casual dining industry has suffered another major blow following the bankruptcy filing of Outback Steakhouse's largest U.S. franchisee after years of soaring costs, declining customer traffic, and mounting debt.San Diego-based Out …
· Tyler Durden
California voters overwhelmingly reject union-backed Prop. 44 crackdown on community health clinics
The landslide defeat marks another election setback for SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West, the powerful labor union behind the initiative.
· Erica Andrews
‘DEI is back!’ screams California Dem after whining about losing tax vote he backed
“Tonight, DEI is back as America celebrated diversity and inclusion,” the progressive Silicon Valley congressman bizarrely boasted.
· Sheetal Banchariya
California voters approve $11.25B housing bond, saddling state with decades of new debt
Written by state lawmakers, the measure aims to provide up to 40,000 multifamily rental units and assist another 40,000 households in buying a home.
· Titus Wu
Florida approves sweeping property-tax breaks — but New Yorkers planning a move face a catch
Florida voters have approved sweeping property-tax breaks that could save homeowners thousands of dollars a year.
· Emily Fu
How economists think Victoria can put its finances back on track
Before a state election in which economic management is a major concern for voters, four leading economists have explained how the next government can repair the budget.
· Angus Delaney
Under pressure on inflation, PM seeks cuts to bypass Shoebridge, Taylor veto
Several people told this masthead Labor did not want spending cuts that would create protracted brawls, only to be torpedoed in the Senate anyway.
· Paul Sakkal, David Crowe
Global travel could hit record levels despite wars and rising fuel costs
The World Travel Market global report says tourists are likely to spend 23.9 billion nights on vacation in 2026, with total visitor spending of $7.8 trillion.
· AfricaNews
BARMM accelerates budget hearings
COTABATO CITY — The Bangsamoro Parliament has launched an intensive legislative blitz to pass the proposed General Appropriations Act of the Bangsamoro (GAAB) and enact key fiscal continuity measures before adjourning in December, heading off potential budget impasses and ensuring uninterrupted funding for major inf…
· Nonoy Lacson
California voters lock in permanent tax on high earners to bankroll schools with Prop 3
The measure, a constitutional amendment, does not raise taxes.
· Zain Khan
Fast-growing budget airline launches 6 nonstop flights to orphaned Spirit routes — including international hotspots
The low-cost carrier is ramping up service to reconnect orphaned airports left in the lurch by Spirit’s collapse and is adding tropical getaways to Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.
· Andrea Palladino
Analysis: The Democrats have one chance to extract concessions from Trump. Markets will hate it
The next debt-ceiling confrontation could reverse Washington's traditional political roles, raising the possibility of spending concessions, market volatility and a damaging default.
· Matt Peterson
‘Minions’ producer becomes latest Hollywood exec to flee LA over Billionaire Tax threat
Page Six Hollywood hears that Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri quietly left California as just the latest mogul to flee the state, and one knowledgeable source says the exec relocated “to escape the billionaire tax."
· Tatiana Siegel
Senegal's National Assembly rejects key budget bill after heated disputes
Senegal's National Assembly, which is dominated by the opposition, rejected a key budget bill Tuesday, a text that was seen as crucial to restoring public finances as the country finalises an IMF bailout.
· AfricaNews
Bad to worse? Europe’s relief over US midterms tempered by prospect of Trump backlash
Follow the SCMP’s live coverage here After almost two years in which the transatlantic alliance verged on collapse, a Democratic landslide in the US midterm elections was welcomed in Europe on Wednesday, even if few believed it would be a panacea for ailing ties. The Democratic Party swept both chambers of the US Co…
· Finbarr Bermingham
Elon Musk jokes about Republican election defeat after spending record sums on party
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tech billionaire Elon Musk joked on Wednesday about Republicans' defeat in US midterm elections after spending hundreds of millions of dollars to help the party.
· Agence France-Presse
Children spending too long on maths app TT Rockstars, MP warns
The makers of the popular times table game say they are bringing in curfews and limits to screen time.
· Bbcnews
DaouKiwoom-CJ consortium to sign deal to acquire JoongAng Ilbo this week
A consortium comprising CJ, Shinsegae and two other companies will sign a deal Thursday to acquire debt-laden South Korean newspaper publisher JoongAng Ilbo Co., the company said Wednesday. Under the deal, the DaouKiwoom-CJ consortium will purchase 520 billion won ($388 million) worth of new shares in JoongAng Ilbo,…
· Yonhap
At China’s annual import fair, EU firms test Beijing’s promise to open up its markets
European firms are heading to this year’s China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, China’s biggest annual import fair, in search of new trade opportunities, with many treating the event as a test of Beijing’s promise to open up its market as frictions persist between Beijing and Brussels and the EU’s defi…
· Xiaofei Xu
Can Rescene sustain its breakout success with ‘Pulse?'
After spending the second half of 2026 climbing music charts with older releases, girl group Rescene is now finding success with a new release. Rescene’s fourth EP “Pulse,” released Tuesday, made an immediate impact, with its main track “With” reaching No. 1 on Melon’s Top 100 chart just two hours after release, acc…
· Lee Jung-joo
Treasurer faces mounting pressure after record rate rise
Pressure is mounting on the treasurer to find savings in the budget after the Reserve Bank hiked rates to an 18-year high.
DPP leader rejects food tax cut bill in current form
Yuichiro Tamaki indicated the DPP's decision to back the legislation would depend on if the ruling coalition accepts its alternative proposal.
· No Author
Midterm Takeaways: Tech billionaires suffer horrible night as Democrats drub Republicans
Elon Musk's spending may have become a liability as voters in exit polls raised concerns about government corruption and the growing influence of billionaires.
· Garrett Downs, MacKenzie Sigalos
Bay Area voters jack up taxes to pay for struggling public transit systems
Voters in five Bay Area counties — San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Contra Costa and Alameda — decided to throw a lifeline to the region’s public transportation after approving two tax measures Tuesday intended to help raise money for the bus and rail systems. The Regional Transit Measure — a half-cent sales t…
· Titus Wu
LA taxes look set to rise as votes tallied for Measure FD
Measure FD would raise the city’s sales tax from 10.25% to 10.75%.
· Zain Khan
Parties clash over 2027 budget, 'future fund' from chip tax windfall
Rival parties on Wednesday clashed over the proposed 820.9 trillion won ($613 billion) 2027 annual budget and a 162.3 trillion won fund drawn from the tax surplus from the chip industry boom. At the plenary session of the National Assembly's Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, the government defended the need …
· Son Ji-hyoung
California’s controversial billionaire tax looks headed for defeat
Prop 40 has attracted a lot of attention from California's uber-wealthy who are fleeing the state and spending money against it.
· Titus Wu
Dow soars as Democrats sweep both chambers of Congress | The National
Big Tech results mixed and dollar falls as traders expect new Congressional leadership to rein in government spending
· Kyle Fitzgerald
Uber pays its drivers ‘wages’ and is liable for $81m payroll tax bill, Australia’s high court rules
Rideshare company unsuccessfully argued it didn’t employ workers and claimed money paid was not wages under NSW lawThe rideshare behemoth Uber has suffered a bruising loss in Australia’s high court that will cost it more than $80m in unpaid taxes.The court on Wednesday dismissed Uber’s claim it was not liable to pay…
· Australian Associated Press
DPWH backs Senate removal of 295 projects from 2027 budget
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has thrown its support behind the Senate's decision to strip P8.8 billion in funding for 295 projects from the proposed 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP).
· Arlie O. Calalo
Debt costs curb growth for developing nations, Rockefeller official says
US philanthropic foundation calls for better financing coordination with creditors
· YUIYA SHIBATA
Debt fears swirling around state giant shine a light on China’s post-property reality
As concerns over the financial health of a state-owned conglomerate rattled China’s bond market over the past week, analysts said its challenges reflected the lasting toll of the country’s prolonged property crisis, with local governments struggling to find sustainable alternatives beyond real estate to support thei…
· Ji Siqi
Graduates are managing AI - but are they learning much else?
Graduates are spending more time managing AI, but are they missing out on other work experience?
· Bbcnews
Blac Chyna hit with staggering tax debt years after Rob Kardashian’s $20k-a-month child support payments end
The reality star’s latest financial setback comes after past public clashes with her children’s fathers over child support and shared expenses.
· Nate Grant
Uber to pay $81m in payroll tax after High Court ruling
The High Court of Australia has determined rideshare company Uber owes payroll tax in NSW, in a decision likely to spark reaction from the broader gig economy.
· Jade Toomey
Pangilinan calls for online dashboard to track El Niño funds
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Francis Pangilinan on Wednesday urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to establish an online public accountability dashboard to track government spending and monitor the delivery of interventions as the country braces for the potentially devastating effects of a strong El Niño.
· Catherine S. Valente