Latest news with #BabyBonus
Ammon
3 days ago
- General
- Ammon
'The village will die' - Italy looks for answers to decline in number of babies
Ammon News - Winding down the narrow main street of his north Italian town, Giacomo de Luca points to the businesses that have closed: two supermarkets, a barbershop, restaurants – all with shutters drawn and faded signs above their doors. The pretty town of Fregona at the foot of the mountains is emptying out like many here, as Italians have fewer children and increasingly migrate to bigger places or move abroad. Now the local primary school is at risk and the mayor is worried. "The new Year One can't go ahead because there are only four children. They want to shut it down," De Luca explains. The minimum class size to get funding is 10 children. "The drop in births and in the population has been very, very sharp." The mayor calculates that the population of Fregona, an hour's drive north of Venice, has shrunk by almost a fifth in the past decade. By June this year there were just four new births and most of the 2,700 or so remaining residents are elderly, from the men drinking their morning prosecco to the women filling their bags with chicory and tomatoes at the weekly market. For De Luca, closing the school reception class would be a tide-turner: if the children leave Fregona to study, he fears they will never look back. So he's been touring the surrounding area, even visiting a nearby pizza factory, trying to persuade parents to send their children to his town and help keep the school open. "I'm offering to pick them up with a minibus, we've offered for children to stay at school until six in the evening, all paid for by the council," the mayor told the BBC, his sense of urgency obvious. "I'm worried. Little by little, if things keep going like this, the village will die." Nationwide problem Italy's demographic crisis extends far beyond Fregona and it is deepening. Over the past decade, the population nationwide has contracted by almost 1.9 million and the number of births has fallen for 16 consecutive years. On average, Italian women are now having just 1.18 babies, the lowest level ever recorded. That's under the EU average fertility rate of 1.38 and far below the 2.1 needed to sustain the population. Despite its efforts to encourage childbirth, and much talk of family-friendly politics, Giorgia Meloni's right-wing government has been unable to stop the slide. "You have to think a lot before having a baby," Valentina Dottor admits when we meet on Fregona's main square, her 10-month-old daughter Diletta cooing in a pushchair. Valentina gets an allowance of around €200 (£175) a month for Diletta's first year, but just missed out on the government's new Baby Bonus of €1,000 for children born in 2025. There are new tax breaks, too, and longer parental leave. But Valentina now needs to return to work and says accessing affordable childcare is still very tough. "There are not many babies, but not many kindergarten [places] either," she says. "I am lucky to have my grandmother take care of my daughter. If not, I don't know where I would leave her." That's why her friends are wary of motherhood. "It's difficult - because of work, schools, the money," Valentina says. "There is some help, but it's not enough to have babies. "It won't solve the problem." BBC
Independent Singapore
03-07-2025
- Business
- Independent Singapore
‘It's their money': SG dad invests all Baby Bonus & ang bao money for kids' future; aims to give children S$50K each at 25
SINGAPORE: While it's pretty common for parents to dip into their children's Baby Bonus funds or ang bao money to cover daily expenses, one dad has taken a completely different approach. He's saving every cent and planning to give each of his kids a lump sum when they turn 25. Sharing his thoughts on the r/singaporefi subreddit on Wednesday (July 2), the father of two young children (both under three years old) explained that he's been diligently setting aside money from government cash gifts and festive red packets received every Chinese New Year and birthdays. So far, his older son has about S$21,000 stashed away, while his younger one has around S$6,000. 'I consider this their money, so I haven't used it for household expenses. Instead, I've invested it in low-risk financial products such as Treasury Bills (T-Bills) since I'm prioritising safety over high returns,' he wrote. Based on his estimates, by the time each child hits 25, they'll each have about S$50,000. 'While that amount might not be a huge sum in the future, it's still much better than starting from zero,' he added. See also 'It is bittersweet' — Kit Chan says as The LKY Musical ended He ended his post by asking fellow parents if they're doing something similar and whether they have suggestions for other low-risk ways to grow their kids' savings. 'Put them into the kid's CPF account and let it compound.' In the comments, one Redditor shared that her father did this for her as well. She said, 'He took all the money that had been collected over the years, along with his own savings that he added to the fund for me, and invested it in options trading. 'After I got married, he gave me a choice: either liquidate the fund and I manage it myself or let him keep managing the investments. I chose to let him continue investing. He did this for both my siblings as well.' Another commented, 'This was what my parents did for me and my lil bro. Though they were more traditional in the sense of just pure savings and occasional fixed deposits. See also Kendall Jenner's secret twin brother has his own TV show 'They used the funds to pay off my poly fees, first three years of my uni fees, then surrendering about $15k of what's left in cash when I reached my final year in uni.' A third suggested, 'Put them into the kid's CPF account and let it compound. Perhaps there will be sufficient in there for them to finance their education later on. If they managed to get a scholarship, then the $ untouched and therefore an easier start for their BTO?' In other news, a son took to Reddit to share that his father is in the final stages of stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and to make matters worse, there are several unpaid bills piling up. Posting on the r/askSingapore forum on Tuesday (Jul 1), the son explained that his father has been warded and bedridden in the hospital since early June. He is heavily sedated with painkillers like fentanyl and morphine, and has become increasingly delirious, with little awareness of what is happening around him. See also What Are Singapore Treasury Bills and Are They a Good Investment? Read more: 'I'm really at a loss': Son worried as father with stage 4 cancer leaves behind unpaid loans and bills Featured image by freepik (for illustration purposes only)
AsiaOne
28-04-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
'Not an easy sandwich to bite': Pasir Ris-Changi GRC new face Valerie Lee to advocate for caregivers of parents and children, Singapore News
Singapore's sandwich generation needs more support, said People's Action Party's (PAP) Pasir Ris-Changi GRC candidate and newcomer Valerie Lee, expressing her intention to advocate for caregivers of ageing parents and children. Speaking at a rally for the constituency held at Tampines Meridian Junior College on Monday (April 28), Lee said: "Today, I don't just come before you as a political candidate. I stand here as a daughter, a parent, and a working Singaporean just like you. "So who do I want to advocate for? The sandwich generation. Caught in the middle caring for both ageing parents and young children, you hold everything together — often invisibly — juggling family, career, caregiving and so much more." "But the truth is, this is not an easy sandwich to bite into. Our family structures have changed. Family sizes have gotten smaller over time, and meeting these demands are increasingly challenging," she added. Lee continued that in speaking to residents, she has gathered that while the government has good initiatives that have improved over time, people need more support. Citing the Baby Bonus scheme, monthly caps for childcare fees and the Proximity Housing Grant among other support systems that have been rolled out and enhanced to reduce the burden of parents and caregivers alike, Lee said: "But we can do better, and we must go further because the situation is evolving." She said that more flexibility is needed at workplaces, not just in terms of policies but also a culture "where it's okay to say I need to bring my child to the doctor and not feel guilty about it". Lee also stressed the importance of having more affordable and accessible elder care and child care near homes as well as mental health support. "Helping the often-overlooked sandwich class is not a selfish move, it's strategic. It's how we build a Singapore that sustains itself across generations," she said. "Let's build a future where caregiving is respected and not hidden, where parenting and elder care is not a lonely road, but a shared journey, where being sandwiched doesn't mean being squeezed, it means being supported." Maliki Osman cautions against 'greater divisiveness' in politics The rally also saw speeches by the rest of PAP's slate for Pasir Ris-Changi GRC — consisting of Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah, Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Desmond Tan and Sharael Taha. Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, who helmed the former Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, and former East Coast GRC MP Maliki Osman were also present at the event. Both have also recently announced their retirement from politics. Indranee thanked SM Teo in her speech for his guidance and openness to her ideas during the former's early days in politics, recalling various anecdotes. "This is what the PAP does. It is willing to work with people, to be open, to hear your ideas and then to implement [them] so that there is something better for everyone," she said. Dr Maliki and SM Teo also addressed residents and supporters during the rally. SM Teo spoke in Malay, Mandarin and English, drawing a huge crowd to the barricade in front of the stage which erupted into cheers. Dr Maliki touched on the recent discussion about race and religion mixing with politics, stating that race and religion entering Singapore's political space will only lead to "greater divisiveness" amongst communities. The PAP's team for the constituency will be going up against a Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) slate helmed by chairman Desmond Lim, comprising Abu Mohamed, Harminder Pal Singh and Chia Yun Kai. Chia had previously introduced himself, largely online, as part of a new Most Valuable Party but was revealed as a member of SDA's slate for Pasir Ris-Changi on Nomination Day (April 23). For our GE2025 microsite, visit here [[nid:717339]]
Fox News
24-04-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Trump ‘Blinks,' the Media Say, Softening Rhetoric on Tariffs and the Fed
Howie Kurtz on Trump softening his tone trade tariffs and Fed Chairman, Sec. Hegseth denying he ordered a Pentagon 'makeup' studio and Trump blaming Ukraine again for no peace deal. Follow Howie on Twitter: @HowardKurtz For more #MediaBuzz click here Baby Bonus? John Toldi
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Baby Bonus in the U.S.: How much could it cost and will eligibility extend beyond new mothers?
A Response to Demographic Decline Live Events Financial Impact: Could Reach Nearly $18 Billion Annually Eligibility Criteria Remain Undefined Broader Policy Push on Family Growth FAQs What is the Baby Bonus proposal? Who would receive the $5,000 bonus? A proposed 'Baby Bonus' of $5,000 per child is under consideration by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump , as the government explores incentives to counter the country's record-low fertility initiative, though in its preliminary stages, could have significant fiscal implications, potentially costing the federal government billions annually if widely proposed bonus would provide $5,000 to American mothers upon childbirth, functioning either as a direct payment or as a supplement to the existing child tax credit Trump, when asked about the initiative on Tuesday, responded positively, stating, 'It sounds like a good idea to me', as quoted in a report by U.S. recorded just over 3.59 million births in 2023, the lowest number in recent history, as per the Centers for Disease Control and administration sees the proposed incentive as a possible countermeasure to the ongoing demographic decline, particularly among women aged 20 to 39—a group that has seen sharp fertility rate reductions in recent years due to economic pressures, delayed family planning, and healthcare the proposal become law and apply universally, estimates suggest the Baby Bonus could cost the U.S. government approximately $17.9 billion per year, based on the 2023 birth the final cost would vary annually, directly tied to the national birth funding source for the program remains unclear. Officials have floated the idea of reallocating resources from the Department of Government Efficiency, which has enacted deep cuts across federal economic advisers have raised concerns about potential inflationary effects and long-term budgetary present, no formal guidelines have been released detailing eligibility standards for the is presumed that the primary condition would be U.S. citizenship and the act of giving birth, but officials have not confirmed whether there would be income thresholds, residency durations, or citizenship verification protocols Speaker Mike Johnson referred to the concept as a 'creative idea,' emphasizing the need for further legislative President JD Vance, who has long advocated for expanded child tax credits, endorsed the $5,000 amount in principle, stating that Congress would be responsible for determining the final framework, as mentioned in the USA Today isn't the first time the Trump administration has hinted at financial incentives for families. In early 2025, the president backed a proposal to provide $5,000 payments to taxpaying households, though it did not his 2024 campaign, Trump often called for a 'new baby boom,' tying population growth to national advisor Elon Musk, who has voiced concerns about 'civilizational collapse' due to falling birth rates, is believed to be a key influence behind the push. Musk, himself a father of over a dozen children, has framed the bonus as part of a broader cultural and economic Baby Bonus is a proposed initiative by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration that would provide a $5,000 benefit for each newborn child. It's designed as a financial incentive to encourage higher birth rates in response to the country's demographic specific eligibility criteria have not been finalized, it is expected that American mothers who give birth would be the primary recipients. The bonus could be distributed as a direct payment or added to the existing child tax credit.
