Latest news with #federal government
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Trump faces backlash as 69% believe Epstein details were concealed
Jeffrey Epstein was facing charges of sex trafficking minors when he died by suicide in 2019. (AFP pic) WASHINGTON : Most Americans think president Donald Trump's administration is hiding information about accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and give it poor marks on the issue after pledging to make public documents in the case, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found. The two-day poll, which closed yesterday, showed 69% of respondents thought the federal government was hiding details about Epstein's clients, compared to 6% who disagreed and about one in four who said they weren't sure. Epstein, a wealthy financier and convicted sex offender, was facing federal charges of sex trafficking minors when he died by suicide in jail in 2019. He had pleaded not guilty, and the case was dismissed after his death. The case has captivated swathes of Trump's political base who were expecting lurid details after some of Trump's top law enforcement officials said they would be releasing documents that would lead to major revelations about Epstein and his alleged clientele. The Trump administration last week reversed course on its pledge, enraging some of the president's followers. Close to two-thirds of Republicans think the administration is hiding details on Epstein's business, the Reuters/Ipsos poll found. Just 17% of Americans approve of Trump's handling of the case, a weaker rating than the president received on any other issue in the poll. Among Republicans, 35% approved, compared to 29% who disapproved and the rest who said they weren't sure or didn't answer the question. Reuters reported yesterday that Trump and White House officials were weighing a range of options including unsealing new documents, appointing a special prosecutor and drafting executive actions on issues such as paedophilia. Trump, however, has been defiant, describing supporters hung up on the issue as 'weaklings' who were helping Democrats. 'I don't want their support anymore!' Trump said in a social media post. The beliefs following Epstein's death were part of a range of conspiracies that have taken hold in US politics, including 'QAnon', a far-right fringe belief that a cabal of cannibalistic child molesters inside the US government have conspired against Trump. Behind the scenes Trump and senior aides have also reached out to key MAGA-aligned influencers, urging them to dial down their criticism of the administration's handling of the Epstein investigation and shift focus to broader priorities for the America First movement. The backlash over the Epstein case has laid bare tensions inside Trump's coalition and is testing one of Trump's most enduring political strengths: His ability to command loyalty and control the narrative across the right. The outcry comes amid discontent among parts of Trump's base over the US strikes on Iran, continued involvement in Ukraine and any hint of backsliding on the administration's hardline immigration promises. Trump knew Epstein socially in the 1990s and early 2000s. During the 2021 trial of Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell, the financier's long-time pilot, Lawrence Visoski, testified that Trump flew on Epstein's private plane multiple times. Trump has denied ever being on the plane and has not been accused of any wrongdoing. The Reuters/Ipsos poll, which was conducted online, surveyed 1,027 US adults nationwide and had a margin of error of about 3 percentage points.
Bloomberg
a day ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Indian Government Needs More Data Access, Says Key Statistician
A senior Indian statistician is urging greater data-sharing with the federal government, including access to mobile payments and official records, to improve the accuracy and reliability of key economic indicators. Many institutions — including banks, payments companies, transport providers, and even government departments such as tax and railways — are reluctant to share data with the federal government due to privacy and legal concerns, said Rajeeva Laxman Karandikar, chairman of the National Statistical Commission, the top advisory body to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, in an interview Wednesday.
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Debt Demands Rise in Canada as Carney Prepares More Spending
The supply of Canada's government debt is set to hit a record this fiscal year as Prime Minister Mark Carney pledges to use the federal balance sheet to make investments in the economy. Gross issuance — the amount of government of Canada bonds and treasury bills put to market — is expected to rise to C$612 billion this fiscal year, according to an updated debt management strategy released by the Department of Finance on Wednesday.
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
House passes first major regulation for crypto industry
The U.S. House on Thursday passed the first major piece of nationwide legislation to regulate cryptocurrencies, a move widely expected to bring the once-obscure payment technology further into the mainstream economy. For years, regulators have wrestled with how to treat the crypto industry, whose value has swelled to $3.7 trillion but has largely remained a niche investment undertaken by investors with an appetite for risk. The House's vote, however, means the federal government is close to cementing its first rules for how financial institutions can issue crypto tokens — specifically, a less volatile class known as 'stablecoins,' which are typically pegged to the value of the U.S. dollar.
Gulf Business
2 days ago
- Business
- Gulf Business
UAE launches 2027–2029 federal budget cycle to boost financial sustainability
Image: Dubai Media Office The UAE The new cycle is designed to enhance fiscal sustainability, support innovation, and strengthen alignment with national development goals. It coincides with the unveiling of the federal government's strategic planning cycle, 'Towards Achieving We the UAE 2031′, and forms part of the UAE's broader strategy to boost flexibility and integration across federal entities. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Finance, said the budget will now serve as a strategic tool for achieving mega national objectives, such as strengthening global competitiveness, accelerating digital transformation and reinforcing the UAE's position as a global financial hub He added that achieving the UAE Centennial 2071 goals requires a financial system that is agile, data-driven, and capable of reallocating resources toward high-impact opportunities. The ministry is investing in smart tools and advanced analytical models to ensure financial efficiency, optimise the impact of public spending, enable data-driven decision-making and these tools aim to improve planning accuracy, execution speed, and the quality of government services. Focus on key sectors impacting lives of citizens The 2027–2029 budget will prioritise spending in areas that directly affect citizens and residents, including education, healthcare, social welfare and core government services. This focus aligns with the UAE Centennial 2071 vision and the evolving needs of society, while promoting sustainable development and institutional excellence. The ministry highlighted that this cycle builds on four earlier strategic cycles, during which: The federal budget reached approximately Dhs900bn Public debt was maintained at Dhs62.1bn as of June 2025 Federal government assets grew to Dhs464.4bn by end-2024 These figures underscore the UAE's stable fiscal position. Institutional reforms streamline budgeting process Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, noted that the new cycle represents a full redesign of the budget experience. Reforms include reducing budget preparation steps from 50 to 10 and cutting procurement cycles from 60 days to under six minutes He said the ministry now functions as an enabler, supporting federal entities through a digitised and customer-focused approach to budgeting. The 2027–2029 cycle adopts a performance-based and results-driven model, key features include the integration of artificial intelligence to create predictive financial scenarios, unified access to high-accuracy data across entities and faster, more effective financial decision-making. This transformation positions the federal budget as a forward-looking tool for operational efficiency and financial resilience. Read:
