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Toronto Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- Toronto Sun
SNOBELEN: Horse sense, taxes and the art of dealing with Donald Trump
People participate in a protest as part of the 'Good Trouble Lives On' national day of action against the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump in New York on July 17, 2025. Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP via Getty Images Experienced horse traders will tell you some folks make horse buying an especially frustrating experience. Those would be the folks who, when asked to price their horse, offer up a number. If the buyer meets that number, they suddenly want more. 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 These folks are particularly frustrating because you can never completely close a deal. If buyer and seller eventually arrive at a price, the pain isn't over. When the horse trailer is hooked up and the chequebook comes out, the seller will want you to throw in a saddle, two bottles of whisky and your dog. It just never ends. Watching the United States upend the global trading system reminds me of those frustrating horse owners. It seems like the U.S. just doesn't know what it wants except, of course, more. For a couple of decades, I've wondered when our southern neighbours would get around to establishing a national sales tax. Most developed countries collect taxes from citizens on a combination of their earnings and spending. Spending is often a heck of a lot easier to collect. 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. But the U.S. has no federal sales tax and a big hole in its budget. The last president to see a budget surplus was Bill Clinton, the result of a tax increase he passed in his first term. That temporary flare of fiscal sanity was extinguished when George W. Bush passed tax cuts and restored deficit budgeting. For a quarter of a century, America has plugged along, building massive debt and driving the annual deficit to nearly $2 trillion. The debt clock is rising so fast it looks like a jet turbine. President Donald Trump is no stranger to debt. He did his part to contribute to the fiscal mess in his first term with a big tax cut and some even bigger spending. Heck, if you can borrow a little, why not borrow a lot? The second era of Trump came with the promise of more tax cuts (i.e. tax cuts on tips and overtime), paid for with a slash of excess spending on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), plus something called the External Revenue Service. By golly, foreign governments would pay for tax cuts, just like Mexico paid for the wall. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It turns out that while harassing Harvard, cutting foreign aid and firing bureaucrats is fun, the resulting savings won't cover the cost of detaining and deporting Spanish-speaking workers. Trump needs more taxes. I'm no expert on the art of the deal, but the art of taxing is deception. Under the guise of fighting unfair trade policies, Trump is imposing a tax on American consumers. And it's working. Tariffs are bringing in significant tax revenue as Americans pay more for imported goods. So far, so good (unless you are an American consumer). But there are unintended consequences to the nasty rhetoric necessary to disguise the tax on imports. The horse sellers who frustrate horse traders with their antics often find it hard to find anyone who wants to buy from them. Life is too short and there are lots of horses. The American market is huge, but it's not everything. Who wants to buy from a country that disses its best friends? In the coming months, Americans will find out if Trump is a master dealmaker or just a loud, unprofessional trader who overvalues his horse. Either way, taxes in America are going up. MMA Toronto & GTA Tennis Celebrity Sunshine Girls
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fluminense vs. Chelsea live updates: Score, highlights, analysis as Club World Cup semifinals kick off
Chelsea's Cole Palmer has been involved in more shot-creating actions than any other player in the 2025 Club World Cup. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images) In the first of the three remaining matches of the 2025 Club World Cup, all at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Fluminense faces Chelsea in Tuesday's semifinal. The Brazilian side enter on an 11-match unbeaten run in all competitions, having eliminated Inter Milan and Al Hilal in the knockout rounds. Their most recent win came via a late goal from Hércules, following a second-half equalizer by Marcos Leonardo. Defensive discipline has defined Fluminense's run, with just one second-half goal conceded across their last nine matches. Advertisement Chelsea arrives after narrow wins over Palmeiras and Benfica. Cole Palmer has emerged as a key figure, while Pedro Neto's creative output has stood out. This is Chelsea's third match against Brazilian opponents in this tournament. The winner will advance to Sunday's final, with a potential meeting against another European giant. Wednesday's semifinal between PSG and Real Madrid will determine the other finalist. Tuesday, July 8 Fluminense vs. Chelsea (3 p.m. ET, TNT/DAZN) Follow along with Yahoo Sports for live updates, highlights and more from the 2025 Club World Cup semifinal in New Jersey:


Forbes
08-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
FIFA Forced To Slash Club World Cup Ticket Prices Amid Weak Demand
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 17: General view inside the stadium during the FIFA Club World ... More Cup 2025 group F match between Fluminense FC and Borussia Dortmund at MetLife Stadium on June 17, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by) FIFA has been forced to slash ticket prices for the Club World Cup semi-final between Chelsea and Fluminense as it continues to battle disappointing attendances at the tournament. The price of a standard admission ticket for the game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Tuesday fell from $473.90 to $13.40 over the weekend, as per The Athletic and The Guardian. To put the figure into context, it means fans who purchased tickets on Saturday paid less than 3 percent of the price tickets were on sale for three days earlier. The original price was also marginally more expensive than a season ticket at West Ham, which at $470 is the cheapest in the Premier League and guarantees access to all of the Hammers' 19 home games in the league. As of Tuesday morning, the cheapest tickets available on Ticketmaster, the portal FIFA uses to sell tickets for the Club World Cup, started at $62.35 for a verified resale ticket in MetLife Stadium's third tier. Ticket prices for the second semi-final between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain at the same venue on Wednesday start at $199.60. The Spanish giants have been something of an exception at the tournament, drawing crowds in excess of over 60,000 in each of their three group games and in their Round of 16 tie against Juventus. Over 76,000 fans attended Real Madrid's 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals at MetLife Stadium, which will also host the final on Sunday. Dynamic pricing has backfired on Club World Cup Fans wait amid empty benches ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 round of 16 football match ... More between Portugal's Benfica and England's Chelsea at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on June 28, 2025. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP) (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images) FIFA, which has used dynamic pricing throughout the tournament, also dropped ticket prices to $11.15 for two quarter-final ties involving Chelsea and Palmeiras in Philadelphia and Fluminese and Al Hilal at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Tickets for the quarter-final between newly-crowned European champions Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich were reduced to $44 on Saturday. The drop in prices was credited with boosting crowds over the weekend, with Lincoln Financial Field at 95 percent capacity for the fixture between Chelsea and Palmeiras. Hard Rock Stadium was approximately 70 percent full as Fluminense beat Al Hilal, while Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta was at almost 90 percent capacity with just under 67,000 fans attending PSG's 2-0 win over Bayern. Sparse attendances have blighted FIFA's latest jamboree from the start, amid a distinct lack of interest from fans. Tens of thousands of tickets were still unsold for the tournament opener between Inter Miami and Egyptian team Al-Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium last month. FIFA denied reports only 20,000 tickets had been sold at the 65,326 venue, but students at Miami Dade College are been offered the chance to buy a ticket for $20 and receive four complimentary tickets. On Ticketmaster the cheapest ticket prices dropped to $70 ahead of the tournament opener. For context, the cheapest tickets were priced at $349 after the draw was made in December and at $230 a month later. The fact both semi-finals are scheduled at 3pm ET on a weekday has also been seen as detrimental to the crowds, as it limits the number of spectators who may be able to attend. The kick-off time, however, is far from casual as it coincides with 9pm CET, the primetime slot for football across Europe. Aside from hampering attendances, the kick-off times have also been a source of concerns for fans and players due to the oppressive heat that has swept across the US. Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac called for FIFA to prioritize players' welfare over TV revenues by pushing kick-off times back when the World Cup returns to the US in 12 months. 'The tournament needs some adaptations in some areas,' he said. 'One important point, in my opinion, is the start time of the match. The players should not have to work in the midday sun when it is [so hot] you should not even leave your house. "In these conditions, these players had to bring their top performance. We will see next year [how they do it] in the World Cup. We really have to consider the players. 'We played two times in Cincinnati — the first time at 12 p.m. and the second time at 3 p.m. We had temperatures on the pitch that were around 45 C (113 F). So you can imagine, when you are running, it's not amazing. "Today it was 35 C (95 F) — not much better. I would suggest later kick off times. As a supporter, you want to see exciting, up-and-down football. When it is too hot, it is hard to play this football.' European clubs the biggest draw in Club World Cup EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JULY 05: Vinicius Junior #7, Jude Bellingham #5, and Trent ... More Alexander-Arnold #12 of Real Madrid C.F. celebrate after Fran Garcia #20 (not pictured) scores his team's second goal during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 quarter-final match between Real Madrid CF and Borussia Dortmund at MetLife Stadium on July 05, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by) According to FIFA, the Club World Cup has drawn an average crowd of 35,000 so far, which is approximately 12,000 higher than the average attendance for the 2024 MLS season. By comparison, the Premier League averaged a shade north of 40,000 last term and the most recent World Cup drew an average audience of 53,000 fans per game in Qatar three years ago. Just 11 of the 56 games played across the group stage and the Round of 16 were in front of stadiums at least 90 percent full, with eight fixtures taking place in venues that were less than 30 percent full. That is partly down to the size of the stadiums chosen for the Club World Cup, with eight of the 12 host venues having a capacity of 60,000 or higher. Significantly, European teams remain by far the biggest draw for fans. In terms of average capacity in matches up to the quarter-finals, Real Madrid played in stadiums that were 95 percent full. Five of the next teams on this particular list are European, with the exception of Inter Miami, who rank second with an 81 percent figure, the same as Juventus. But despite the prospect of an all-European meeting on Sunday, at the time of writing, thousands of standard admission tickets are still available for the final, starting at $264.25. FIFA had previously confirmed the same dynamic pricing structure will also be in place at next year's World Cup, which kicks off on June 11 and runs until July 19 across the US, Mexico and Canada.


Newsweek
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
The Trump Administration's Fossil Fuels Decisions Are Taking America—and the Rest of the World—Backward
No matter who's in the White House, most Americans can agree on one thing: our leaders should put the health and safety of our communities—especially our kids—first. But the Trump administration's recent decisions on fossil fuels are endangering our country, and the rest of the world. Here on the Gulf Coast, we've seen the damage caused by the petrochemical industry—including polluted air and water, oil spills, more intense hurricanes and floods, rising energy costs, and other heartbreaking impacts on our children's health. It's already been devastating, and now the Trump administration is doubling down on its fossil fuel agenda that will only leave us suffering. A person wears a face mask as smoke from wildfires in Canada cause hazy conditions in New York City on June 7, 2023. A person wears a face mask as smoke from wildfires in Canada cause hazy conditions in New York City on June 7, 2023. ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images Trump's Department of Energy (DOE)—run by a gas industry CEO—finally responded to over 100,000 comments submitted on its LNG exports studies from last year. Instead of listening to the public, this response just buries the truth and clears the way for even more exports. Trump has already handed out approvals and extensions for multiple LNG projects, including Golden Pass, Delfin, and Commonwealth LNG. He's even pushed for a fast-tracked deep-water port for more exports. We aren't making up the impacts of this dangerous expansion. Numerous reports and even former President Joe Biden's DOE proved that liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and their facilities release deadly pollution, raise energy prices, displace clean energy globally, and could cause disasters, like the explosion at the Freeport plant, due to outdated regulations. And instead of fixing those regulations, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is trying to rewrite them in favor of cost savings for industry, not safety for the public. Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency just made it easier for companies to delay or avoid pollution rules that protect our air and water. The Department of the Interior is also asking the public which environmental safeguards they should scrap—while people all across the country are already living with toxic air and contaminated water. Trump hasn't stopped there—the administration and its allies in Congress have announced that they intend to expand reckless drilling in our oceans, while also rolling back the safety measures put in place to safeguard our waters, marine life, and coastal communities from the harms of development. These short-sighted decisions on fossil fuels are part of Trump's Unleashing American Energy executive order. But this isn't about American energy independence. It's about further enriching the wealthy—the corporate polluters who bought access to Trump by giving millions to his campaign—while Americans are left to deal with the consequences: dirty air to breathe, unsafe drinking water, rising bills, and a climate crisis spinning out of control. Our elected officials have given untrustworthy fossil fuel companies far too much access to the places we know and love, all for the sake of making more money and gaining more power. As a mom, a frontline leader, and an advocate for environmental justice living in Sulphur, La., I refuse to stay quiet while our government sells out our health and well-being just to benefit a handful of politicians and fossil fuel billionaires. Will our leaders do their job of protecting our communities, or will they continue doing the bidding of a handful of CEOs? It's becoming clearer every day which side they're on. Roishetta Ozane is the founder of Vessel Project of Louisiana, a small mutual aid and environmental justice organization. The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.


Newsweek
03-06-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
Hundreds of Thousands Told To Stay Indoors in 3 States
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Residents living across a huge area spanning three states have been warned of dangerous air pollution levels on Tuesday. Swathes of Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin are all affected by poor air quality, with an area around Minneapolis covered by one of the most severe warnings. Smoke from wildfires, combined with the current weather conditions, have contributed to the pollution. Smoke pollution from Canadian wildfires created hazy conditions in New York in 2023. Smoke pollution from Canadian wildfires created hazy conditions in New York in 2023. ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images Why It Matters Health officials warn that vulnerable populations — such as children, older adults and individuals with existing respiratory issues — face heightened risks during periods of poor air quality. Even healthy members of the general public may experience health effects when air pollution reaches dangerous levels. Minnesota has been beset by wildfires this week, adding misery to the devastation already caused by a string of blazes last month that consumed more than 35,000 acres of land. What To Know The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) AirNow map, which offers a real-time snapshot of air quality, shows that air pollution levels across swathes of Minnesota, and parts of Iowa and Wisconsin, are deemed to be "unhealthy." The Minnesota cities facing a red warning - with Air Quality Index (AQI) scores of between 151-200 - include Rochester, Willmar and Duluth. The red warning means that "some members of the general public may experience health effects," while members of sensitive groups "may experience more serious health effects." Meanwhile, a large area around Minneapolis faces a purple warning, which means air quality is "very unhealthy," with AQI scores of between 201-300. That is the second more severe reading, and indicates that the "risk of health effects is increased for everyone." The towns of Ramsey, Lakeville and Faribault are also covered by the purple warning. Meanwhile, in Wisconsin, the northwestern part of the state is affected by a red warning, including the Saint Croix Reservation and the city of Cumberland. A large part of northern Iowa is also covered by a red warning, including the cities of Spencer and Storm Lake. Newsweek has contacted the office of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for comment. What People Are Saying The National Weather Service (NWS) said: "During Unhealthy AQI (red category) conditions, some members of the general public may experience health effects and members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. Sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teenagers, pregnant women, and outdoor workers. When conditions rise to the red category, everyone is advised to avoid prolonged or heavy exertion and those in sensitive groups should consider moving activities indoors or rescheduling." The EPA said that residents should stay inside wherever possible while the air quality is so poor. "The biggest health threat from smoke is from fine particles... [which] aggravate chronic heart and lung diseases - and even are linked to premature deaths in people with these conditions," it said. It added that wildfire smoke "can make the outdoor air unhealthy to breathe," and officials usually advise people "to stay indoors during a smoke event" where the air should be safer. What Happens Next Residents in Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin should monitor their local weather reports, or check the AirNow app to keep informed about the air quality in their region. The EPA provides advice on its website about how to keep the air inside as clean as possible, such as avoiding frying or broiling food, and not using candles, or smoking cigarettes or vapes.