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India Today
28-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
California changes track rules to include more girls amid trans athlete row
The governing board for California high school sports is changing its competition rules at this weekend's state track-and-field championships to allow more girls to take part amid controversy over the participation of a trans California Interscholastic Federation said it was extending access for more 'biological female' athletes to participate in the championship meet. The group announced the change Tuesday after President Donald Trump posted on his social media site about the participation of a trans athlete in the this pilot entry process, any biological female student-athlete who would have earned the next qualifying mark for one of their Section's automatic qualifying entries in the CIF State meet, and did not achieve the CIF State at-large mark in the finals at their Section meet, was extended an opportunity to participate in the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships,' the federation said in a statement. 'The CIF believes this pilot entry process achieves the participation opportunities we seek to afford our student-athletes.' The move comes amid a nationwide battle over the rights of transgender youth in which states have limited transgender girls from participating on girls sports teams, barred gender-affirming surgeries for minors and required parents to be notified if a child changes their pronouns at school. At least 24 states have laws barring transgender women and girls from participating in certain sports competitions. Some of the policies have been blocked in recent AP-NORC poll found that about 7 in 10 US adults think transgender female athletes should not be allowed to participate in girls and women's sports at the high school, college or professional level. That view was shared by about 9 in 10 Republicans and roughly half of federation didn't specify whether the change applies to all events or only events where a trans athlete has qualified for the final. The change only applies to this weekend's competition. The organisation didn't say how many students will be affected by the rule change may be the first attempt nationally by a high school sports governing body to expand competition when trans athletes are THREAT TO WITHDRAW FEDERAL FUNDINGTrump threatened Tuesday to pull federal funding in California if the state did not bar trans students from participating in girls sports. The post referenced AB Hernandez, a trans athlete who is scheduled to compete in the girls varsity triple jump, high jump and long jump in the state finals. She won the Division 3 girls long jump and girls triple jump and placed seventh in the high jump at the Southern Section Division Finals on May 19, according to CIF IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS,' Trump wrote on Truth also criticised Maine's Democratic governor after she said the state would take the president to court over his effort to keep trans girls from competing in girls Trump administration launched an investigation earlier this year over a California law that says districts can't force teachers and staff to notify parents if a student changes their gender identity at PRAISES CHANGECalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom recently said on his podcast that it's 'deeply unfair' for transgender girls to participate in girls sports. Charlie Kirk, the conservative commentator and podcast guest, referenced Hernandez when asking Newsom about the said he planned to talk to Newsom about it Tuesday. The governor's office did not confirm the call but said the California Interscholastic Federation rule change was a 'thoughtful approach.''CIF's proposed pilot is a reasonable, respectful way to navigate a complex issue without compromising competitive fairness — a model worth pursuing,' Newsom's spokesperson Izzy Gardon Lorey with the conservative California Family Council, which has protested Hernandez competing in girls sports, said the rule change was 'damage control.'advertisement'Girls who were unfairly eliminated are suddenly back in for State this weekend,' Lorey said. 'This is a step in the right direction, but let's be real: this never should've happened. Boys don't belong in girls sports.'Democratic state lawmakers blocked bills last month that would have barred transgender girls from participating in girls California, an LGBTQ+ advocacy organisation, said the Trump administration was 'bullying a child' and called on CIF to uphold its 'inclusive, evidence-based policies.''Our community is watching, and we are counting on the CIF to uphold its policies, adhere to California law, protect its athletes, and reaffirm that everyone deserves to compete safely and authentically,' the group said in a joint statement with several other AND DISTRICT'S RESPONSESParents and conservative advocates opposed to transgender girls competing in girls sports have criticised Hernandez's participation and heckled her during postseason losing to Hernandez in long jump at the sectional final, student Katie McGuinness urged the CIF to change its policy during an interview on Fox News.'I have nothing against this athlete as a person and I have nothing against the trans community,' McGuinness said. 'My message today is really specifically to CIF and for them to act quickly and in a timely manner, because this is a really time-sensitive issue.'advertisementHernandez told the publication Capital & Main earlier this month in response to verbal attacks from adults that 'there's nothing I can do about people's actions,' so she is focused on what she can control.'I'm still a child, you're an adult, and for you to act like a child shows how you are as a person,' she an email, Hernandez's mother declined to comment on Tuesday's rule Jurupa Unified School District, which includes Hernandez's high school in Southern California, said it would continue to follow state law allowing trans student-athletes to compete on sports teams that align with their gender identity. IN THIS STORY#United States of America#Donald Trump
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
US consumer sentiment slumps, households brace for inflation surge
Live Events PRICE HIKES LOOMING (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel U.S. consumer sentiment deteriorated further in May, with one-year inflation expectations soaring to levels last seen in late 1981 amid escalating fears over the economic impact of President Donald Trump's trade University of Michigan's Surveys of Consumers on Friday showed a significant decline in morale among Republicans, suggesting that even Trump's base was becoming concerned with the president's sweeping tariffs, which this week led retail giant Walmart to warn that it would start raising prices at the end of month because of increased costs from import was the first time that sentiment dropped among Republicans since Trump's November 5 electoral victory. The continued slump in overall sentiment and jump in inflation expectations suggested a retrenchment in consumer spending was probably underway that could temper economists' expectations for a rebound in economic growth this economy contracted in the first quarter for the first time in three years amid a flood of imports as businesses tried to beat the higher costs associated with tariffs. Retail sales were almost flat in April."The consumer is plainly worried and reading between the lines it is not just price increases that are worrying, it is the fact that many goods may be impossible to find as the reduction in port activity means shortages could develop within months," said Christopher Rupkey, chief economist at FWDBONDS."The outlook continues to darken and one wonders how long this can continue before the economy actually slips over the edge into recession."The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index dropped to 50.8 this month, the lowest level since June 2022, from a final reading of 52.2 in April. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the index would rise to dropped 7% among Republicans, offsetting an improvement among independents. The mood remained gloomy among survey was conducted between April 22 and May 13, wrapping up two days after the U.S. and China de-escalated their trade war. Duties on Chinese imports were slashed to 30% from 145% for 90 days as part of the deal reached last weekend by Washington and University of Michigan said the initial reaction mirrored the minor improvement in sentiment seen following the delayed implementation in April of Trump's country-specific duties until July."Tariffs were spontaneously mentioned by nearly three-quarters of consumers, up from almost 60% in April; uncertainty over trade policy continues to dominate consumers' thinking about the economy," said Joanne Hsu, the Surveys of Consumers director. "Consumers continue to express somber views about the economy." Consumers' 12-month inflation expectation soared to 7.3%, the highest level since November 1981, from 6.5% in April. Both Democrats and Republicans anticipated higher near-term inflation. The jump pointed to higher prices in the months ahead despite benign consumer prices in April, which economists attributed to businesses still selling inventory accumulated ahead of manufacturers also have announced price increases, and economists expect inflation to pick up by the middle of this year. Long-run inflation expectations increased to 4.6% in the University of Michigan data, the highest level since March 1991, from 4.4% in April amid a large jump among Republicans. Rising inflation expectations could complicate matters for the Federal Reserve as it weighs its next monetary policy move. "The key idea to remember here is that inflation expectations are the primary transmission mechanism, along with external retaliation, that turns tariffs into a sustained increase in the price level or inflation," said Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at RMS US. "The idea that the Federal Reserve is going to hike rates anytime soon should be summarily dismissed." Fed Chair Jerome Powell warned on Thursday that "we may be entering a period of more frequent, and potentially more persistent, supply shocks - a difficult challenge for the economy and for central banks. The U.S. central bank left its benchmark overnight interest rate in the 4.25%-4.50% range earlier this inflation was flagged in a separate report from the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics that showed prices for imported capital goods jumped 0.6% in April, while those of consumer goods excluding motor vehicles increased 0.3%. Overall import prices, which exclude tariffs, gained 0.1% after falling 0.4% in March. The reading confounded economists' expectations for a 0.4% decline."Our tariff pass-through analysis indicates that costs are still largely being borne by U.S. importers," said Pooja Sriram, an economist at Barclays. That is at odds with the White House's are also weighing on activity in the housing market. A separate report from the Commerce Department's Census Bureau showed single-family housing starts, which account for the bulk of homebuilding, dropped 2.1% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 927,000 units last month, the lowest level in nine months. Permits for future construction of single-family housing declined 5.1% to a rate of 922,000 units, suggesting the weakness might persist. There is also a glut of unsold new homes on the a National Association of Home Builders survey on Thursday showed sentiment among single-family homebuilders plunged to a 1-1/2-year low in May, with 78% of builders reporting "difficulties pricing their homes recently due to uncertainty around material prices.""Builders are hitting the brakes this year in response to high uncertainty for costs and future demand," said Ben Ayers, a senior economist at Nationwide. "We expect starts to fade further over the summer as conditions remain challenging for builder profitability."
