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Badenoch to vow to scrap public sector equality duty in effort to fend off Reform

In speech on Tuesday, Tory leader will claim obligation to consider equality being used to advance ‘divisive agendas’ Kemi Badenoch will vow to scrap the duty on public bodies to consider how they can promote equality as she seeks to head off the challenge from Reform UK by presenting her party as responsible but also in tune with populist anger. Badenoch, who was Conservative minister for equalities between 2020 and 2022, will commit to scrapping the public sector equality duty (PSED), a legal requirement obliging those bodies to think how they can improve society and promote equality in their day-to-day business. Continue reading...

Daily Mail (News)

Kemi Badenoch pledges to end identity politics in the public sector, saying: 'Let's sweep away this rubbish and bring back common sense'

In a major intervention, the Conservative leader will commit to scrapping the 'public sector equality duty' which has been blamed for the spread of identity politics throughout the public sector.

India scraps tax on overseas bond investors in bid to attract foreign capital and shore up the rupee

India has announced several measures to boost capital inflows, including the scrapping of capital gains tax for foreign investors in government bonds.

Lizzo: Bitch review | Alexis Petridis's album of the week

(Atlantic) After scrapping an album and starting anew, Lizzo still sounds lost amid these weak genre-hopping songs. Perhaps the zeitgeist has simply left her behind Just over a year ago, Lizzo appeared on Saturday Night Live, announcing a new album called Love in Real Life in grandstanding style. Wielding an electric guitar, clad in a Trump-baiting T-shirt that read Tariffied, she performed its title track and two other new songs, Still Bad and Don’t Make Me Love U. As with her appearance earlier the same week on a late night talkshow – during which she ran into the audience to high-five fans who were yelling “we love you Lizzo!” – it looked very much like a defiant comeback, fit to drag her out of the controversy that erupted at the end of her hugely successful 2023 world tour. Three former backing dancers and a costume designer filed lawsuits against the singer alleging harassment and discrimination: damaging claims given how Lizzo’s songs have preached a message of inclusivity, body positivity and self-confidence. Some of the allegations were dismissed by a judge but others are ongoing; Lizzo has refused to settle out of court, saying: “I’m fighting the case because I know that it’s not true.” But the Love in Real Life single, a pivot towards rock that owed a little to Tom Petty’s American Girls – or the Strokes’ American Girls-indebted Last Nite if you prefer – failed to make the charts, a far cry from the period between 2018 and 2022 when Lizzo’s singles seemed to go multi-platinum as a matter of course. The same fate befell Still Bad, a track much more in the vein of her big hits, prompting a rethink. The album was pulled, Lizzo apparently taking control of her own destiny – “I need to do shit my way”. A mixtape that returned her more-or-less to where she started, before pop stardom came calling – punchy hip-hop, albeit tricked out with guest appearances from Doja Cat and SZA – appeared in its place: My Face Hurts from Smiling received mixed reviews and underwhelming streaming figures. Continue reading...

Free Malaysia Today

Trump confirms mass rally, scrapping US 250th concerts

The US president said he did not want 'singers with no talent' after artists pulled out over politicisation concerns.

Trump confirms mass rally, scrapping US 250th concerts

US President Donald Trump announced a mass rally in Washington on 24 June to celebrate America's 250th anniversary.

ABC News (US)

Washington Times (Politics)

Jan. 6 defendants still eyeing payouts, despite scrapped $1.8B fund

Despite the DOJ saying it is scrapping plans to launch a $1.8 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund," many Jan. 6 defendants are still eying payouts using other legal paths.

Trump refuses to commit to dropping $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund

President Trump declined to commit to scrapping plans for a $1.8 billion fund that would have compensated his allies and Jan. 6 rioters, one day after the Justice Department's top official said they were retreating from the program that sparked a political backlash on both sides of the aisle.

The Download: Trump’s new AI order, and smart glasses for warfare

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. 5 key points in Trump’s new AI order Less than two weeks after scrapping an executive order on AI, President Donald Trump signed a new one on Tuesday. Promising to promote…

NDTV Top Stories

Cabinet Okays Rs 9,585 Crore Scheme To Replace Old Trucks, Buses In Delhi-NCR

For BS-III or older vehicles, scrapping at Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities is mandatory.

PBS NewsHour

중도 성향

Justice Department scraps Trump's 'anti-weaponization fund' after pushback from Congress

Acting Attorney General Blanche told lawmakers Tuesday that the Justice Department is scrapping plans to create a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund." It's a setback for Trump, after Republican senators made clear they did not have the votes to advance a Homeland Security funding bill unless the White House either scaled back or eliminated the fund. Lisa Desjardins has more.

Quartz

중도 성향

Trump's DOJ is scrapping its $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund after a court blocked it

The Justice Department said it will abide by a federal court order pausing the fund, which also faced fierce Republican opposition in the Senate

Le Monde (English)

중도 성향

사회

Far-right leaders Bardella and Le Pen diverge on pension reform: 'It's the party's explosive issue'

Rassemblement National leader Jordan Bardella, who may end up being the party's presidential candidate, has shifted to advocating for scrapping the pension system's fixed legal retirement age and possibly adding a share of capitalization.

Dawn (Pakistan)

산업/기업

Govt mulls scrapping export tax in budget

• 1pc advance tax removal may bring a meagre Rs100bn relief • Textile sector pushes for broader reforms, refunds, and lower energy costs • 68pc tax burden eroding competitiveness; industry demands restoration of Final Tax Regime SLAMABAD: The government is considering abolishing the one per cent advance tax on exporters in the upcoming federal budget, a move that could provide relief of around Rs100 billion. However, no broader fiscal support for the struggling sector is currently on the table. Officials familiar with the budget discussions told Dawn on Friday that the proposal is under active consideration as part of limited, targeted measures for the export industry, particularly the textile sector, which has been pressing for wide-ranging reforms. The 1pc advance tax, charged on export proceeds, has long been criticised by exporters as a liquidity-draining measure that ties up working capital despite thin margins and delayed refunds. Industry data showed that exporters alone had paid nearly Rs200bn in excess on account of 1pc advance income tax during FY25 and FY26. “This is essentially returning a fraction of what has already been collected,” said a leading exporter, pointing to the cumulative burden of taxes, high energy costs, and blocked refunds that continue to constrain operations. The textile sector, which accounts for the bulk of Pakistan’s exports, submitted a comprehensive set of proposals ahead of the budget, including the restoration of the Final Tax Regime (FTR), a reduction in energy tariffs, clearance of over Rs327bn in pending refunds, and the revival of export incentives. However, sources indicated that most of these demands are unlikely to be accommodated in the upcoming budget, which remains constrained by revenue targets and ongoing stabilisation commitments. Industry data place Pakistan at a significant disadvantage in terms of effective taxation. Exporters face an estimated burden of over 68.27pc, exceeding regional competitors. By contrast, Vietnam maintains a corporate tax rate of around 20pc, Bangladesh ranges from 22.5 to 27.5pc, and India applies a graduated structure from 26 to 34pc. These comparatively lower and more predictable regimes enable exporters in competing countries to retain margins and reinvest in capacity expansion. The gap indicates that Pakistan’s taxation framework is not only higher but also more complex, with multiple levies contributing to the cumulative burden. Exporters pointed out that the advance tax is particularly burdensome because it is applied at the point of transaction, regardless of profitability, effectively increasing the cost of doing business in an already high-tax environment. The proposed relief of Rs100bn, while significant in absolute terms, is modest when viewed against the sector’s liquidity requirements and accumulated tax payments. Energy pricing emerges as one of the most critical constraints. Industrial electricity tariffs in Pakistan stand at approximately 11.5 cents per kilowatt-hour, compared to 6.3 cents in India, 8 cents in Vietnam, and as low as 5 cents in Uzbekistan. Gas prices show an even sharper divergence, with Pakistan at about $13.5 per mmBtu versus $6 to $7 in India and Vietnam and around $3 in Uzbekistan. In addition to higher tariffs, Pakistan faces supply reliability issues, whereas countries such as China and Vietnam offer stable supply along with preferential industrial tariffs. The combined effect is a substantial increase in production costs, directly affecting export competitiveness. Indirect taxation Pakistan’s indirect tax regime is characterised by a uniform 18pc GST on both inputs and finished goods, with refund delays extending from months to several years. In contrast, regional competitors apply differentiated rates and efficient refund systems. Bangladesh applies reduced or zero-rated value-added tax (VAT) on export inputs, India operates a structured GST system with refunds typically processed within two to four weeks, while Vietnam and China offer near-immediate or automated refund mechanisms. This divergence creates a liquidity disadvantage for Pakistani exporters, as working capital remains tied up in delayed refunds. Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) Patron-in-Chief Khurram Mukhtar, in a statement, said Pakistan’s export sector and the entire textile value chain are unfortunately fighting against a mindset that appears bent on penalising the very ecosystem that earns foreign exchange, creates jobs and sustains documented economic activity. The harsh reality today is that the more exporters grow, the more they are burdened. In many cases, the more you export, the more you lose, he said. The government’s own documented figures reveal that the shift from the FTR to the Normal Tax Regime (NTR) has resulted in an estimated additional revenue extraction of approximately Rs90bn. Exporters should have the option to remain under FTR or to voluntarily opt for NTR. This was perhaps one of the rare moments in Pakistan’s history when the entire textile chain converged on a concrete and balanced proposal. Unfortunately, even this unified recommendation does not appear to be receiving serious consideration, he added. The Export Facilitation Scheme (EFS) was one of the few excellent reforms introduced in recent years. It was fully digitalised, bringing transparency and efficiency to the system. However, the exclusion of domestic commerce from EFS significantly increased the burden on exporters and disrupted the integrated textile value chain, he remarked. “We have repeatedly stressed that the super tax should be abolished in a phased manner along with Minimum Turnover Tax (MTR), inter-company dividend taxation and taxation on bonus shares, particularly when bonus shares are a non-cash item and do not represent actual income generation”, he said. Similarly, exporters proposed a progressive GST framework: raw materials may be taxed at 5pc, fabrics at 10pc, and finished products at the standard GST rate, thereby ensuring that primary revenue collection occurs at the finished product stage rather than trapping capital throughout the manufacturing chain. Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2026

Al Jazeera English

What’s next after scrapping the ‘Black Code’ in France?

French MPs vote to repeal law that governed slavery in colonies.

Bolivia’s Austerity Shock Triggers Nationwide Revolt

Politics, Geopolitics & Conflict Austerity measures in Bolivia have gone too far, too fast, putting the president’s political longevity in question. Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz, who came into office six months ago, backed by Washington and promising market-oriented reforms during a severe economic crisis, is now facing nationwide unrest after scrapping fuel subsidies, pursuing austerity measures, and attempting land reforms that triggered fears of consolidation by larger agricultural interests. What began as protests from small farmers…

The Hindu National