Trump is expected to sign his huge bill of tax and spending cuts at the White House July 4 picnic
Against odds that at times seemed improbable, Trump achieved his goal of celebrating a historic — and divisive — legislative victory in time for the nation's birthday. Fighter jets and stealth bombers are to streak the sky over the annual White House Fourth of July picnic where Trump plans to sign the bill.
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Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Suriname's parliament elects the country's first female president amid economic turmoil
PARAMARIBO, Suriname (AP) — Suriname 's parliament Sunday elected physician Jennifer Geerlings-Simons as the troubled country's first female president. The South American country's National Assembly chooses the president by a two-thirds vote. Geerlings-Simons, a congresswoman, ran unopposed after her party formed a coalition aimed at ousting the country's current leader following a May election with no clear winner. The coalition was formed as the troubled country prepares for an influx of wealth following the discovery of major offshore oil deposits, with the first production expected by 2028. Geerlings-Simons, who leads the National Democratic Party, will be inaugurated as president of the Dutch-speaking country of more than 646,000 people on July 16. 'I am aware that the heavy task I have taken on is further aggravated by the fact that I am the first woman to serve the country in this position,' she said after the election. The five-year term of President Chandrikapersad Santokhi has been riddled with corruption scandals, and he was forced to call on the International Monetary Fund to get Suriname's economy back on track. As a result, the country's public debt was largely restructured and government subsidies significantly reduced. Macroeconomically, Santokhi achieved success, but people groaned under the austerity measures, which sparked violent protests. Geerlings-Simons, 71, and her running mate, Gregory Rusland, on Sunday told reporters they will prioritize stabilizing the country's finances. She had previously indicated an interest in increasing state revenues by, among other things, improving tax collections, including in the small-scale gold-mining sector. Winston Ramautarsingh, former chairman of Suriname's Association of Economists, said Geerlings-Simons will face serious challenges in the years before the country produces its first barrels of oil, in part because it must repay about $400 million annually in loans and interest. 'Suriname does not have that money,' he said. 'The previous government rescheduled the debts, but that was only a postponement.'
Toronto Sun
an hour ago
- Toronto Sun
ELDER: Other presidents complained, but Trump made NATO step up
President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a rally at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, Thursday, July 3, 2025, in Des Moines, Iowa. Photo by Charlie Neibergall / AP President Donald Trump joined a long line of presidents who complained that NATO countries fail to pay their fair share and therefore take advantage of the United States. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account In 2014, the European NATO countries agreed to a target of spending 2% of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defence by 2024. In 2014, only the United States, the U.K. and Greece were spending at least 2%. In a recent interview, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said just 23 of NATO's 32 countries met the 2024 target of 2%. President Barack Obama complained. In March 2014, the AP reported, 'President Barack Obama says he's concerned that some NATO allies are reducing their spending on defence.' In February 2015, Defence News wrote, 'U.S. President Barack Obama warned British Prime Minister David Cameron against allowing defence spending to slip below NATO's target of 2% of gross domestic product …' President George W. Bush complained. In an April 2008 speech in Romania, he said: 'Building a strong NATO Alliance also requires a strong European defence capacity. So, at this summit, I will encourage our European partners to increase their defence investments to support both NATO and (European Union) operations.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Trump not only complained. He raged. At the 2018 NATO breakfast meeting in Brussels, Trump delivered a beatdown: 'Just look at the chart. Take a look at the chart. It's public. And many countries are not paying what they should. And, frankly, many countries owe us a tremendous amount of money for many years back, where they're delinquent, as far as I'm concerned, because the United States has had to pay for them. So, if you go back 10 or 20 years, you'll just add it all up. It's massive amounts of money owed. The United States has paid and stepped up like nobody. This has gone on for decades, by the way. This has gone on for many presidents. But no other president brought it up like I bring it up. So, something has to be done …' Trump was just getting warmed up. He continued: 'And I think that these countries have to step it up not over a 10-year period; they have to step it up immediately. … So, we're going to have to do something because we're not going to put up with it. We can't put up with it. And it's inappropriate.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Fast forward to the June 2025 NATO summit. The BBC reported: 'NATO allies promised to raise defence-related spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. … NATO's chief Mark Rutte heaped praise on Trump and gave him the credit: 'America expects European allies and Canada to contribute more. And that is exactly what we see them doing.'' Several factors pressured the NATO countries to go from dragging their feet to hit 2% to agreeing to the much larger target of 5%. President Joe Biden's abrupt and chaotic pullout from Afghanistan raised questions about America's competence, leadership and willingness to stick to its commitments. The Russian invasion of Ukraine brought to Europe's doorstep the possibility of Russian aggression. But the biggest factor was Trump himself. When Rutte praised Trump's decision to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities, he admitted NATO deserved Trump's kick in the pants for not spending a larger percentage of their GDP on defence. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Rutte, in a private message Trump made public, said: 'Donald, you have driven us to a really, really important moment for America and Europe, and the world. You will achieve something NO American president in decades could get done. Europe is going to pay in a BIG way, as they should, and it will be your win.' Not only did Trump demand and obtain a commitment from the NATO countries to spend 5% of their GDP on defence, but he also said the United States need not do so. Trump said, 'I don't think we should, but I think they should. We've been supporting NATO so long. So, I don't think we should, but I think that the NATO countries should, absolutely.' Apparently neither George W. Bush nor Barack Obama was available for comment. Toronto Raptors Columnists Toronto & GTA Toronto Maple Leafs World
Toronto Star
an hour ago
- Toronto Star
Suriname's parliament elects the country's first female president amid economic turmoil
PARAMARIBO, Suriname (AP) — Suriname 's parliament Sunday elected physician Jennifer Geerlings-Simons as the troubled country's first female president. The South American country's National Assembly chooses the president by a two-thirds vote. Geerlings-Simons, a congresswoman, ran unopposed after her party formed a coalition aimed at ousting the country's current leader following a May election with no clear winner.
