Latest news with #federal government
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Trump administration urges federal workers to talk religion at work
Federal employees can display religious items at work, pray in groups while not on duty and encourage co-workers to adopt their faith, according to guidance released Monday by the Office of Personnel Management, which manages the federal civilian workforce. In a memo titled 'Protecting Religious Expression in the Federal Workplace,' OPM Director Scott Kupor said that government employees 'must be allowed to engage in private religious expression in work areas to the same extent that they may engage in nonreligious private expression.' Kupor outlined various activities that should not warrant disciplinary action, noting that federal employees 'may engage in conversations regarding religious topics with fellow employees, including attempting to persuade others of the correctness of their own religious views, provided that such efforts are not harassing in nature.' 'Employees may also encourage their coworkers to participate in religious expressions of faith, such as prayer, to the same extent that they would be permitted to encourage coworkers participate in other personal activities,' Kupor stated in the memo. However, agencies may 'reasonably regulate the time, place and manner of all employee speech, provided such regulations do not discriminate based on content or viewpoint (including religious viewpoints),' he added. The OPM would also not seek to restrict federal employees' expressions of faith in interactions with the public, such as a national park ranger leading a tour group in prayer, or a doctor with the Department of Veterans Affairs praying over a patient for their recovery, Kupor said in the memo. The guidance builds on the Trump administration's moves to advance faith's presence in the federal workforce. In February, it issued an executive order geared toward 'Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias' and established the White House Faith Office, which aims to bolster the capacity of faith-based organizations' to 'better serve families and communities.' Then, in mid-July, the OPM released guidance stating that telework could be considered a religious accommodation for some federal employees, including those engaging in fasting or observing religious holidays. Federal workers can also adjust their schedules around time-specific religious practices, such as prayer times, the guidance said. Employers, including the federal government, are barred from discriminating on religious grounds under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This requires employers to accommodate religious beliefs of major faiths such as Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Christianity, as well as 'beliefs that are new, uncommon, not part of a formal church or sect, or only held by a small number of people.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Why does the White House want to redesign gas cans? Explaining the situation
The White House says it wants to 'Make Gas Cans Great Again.' Under a plan announced July 24 by President Donald Trump's Environmental Protection Agency, the federal government is encouraging manufacturers to add vents to portable fuel containers, also known as gas cans. It would effectively reverse a 2009-rule by federal environmental officials at the time that required portable gas cans - used for lawnmowers, chainsaws, ATVS and stranded vehicles - to have special vents that stop the vapors from escaping. Proponents of that rule - which was finalized in 2007 - said the vapors that escape contributed to ozone pollution. But the 2009 rule created an online market for pre-ban gas cans among buyers dissatisfied with the new cans. Why does Trump want to redesign gas cans? 'Gas cans used to pour gas,' Trump's head of the EPA, Lee Zeldin, said on X, formerly Twitter. 'Now they just dribble like a child's sippy cup.' But many modern designs are often infuriatingly ineffective at actually filling tanks because the vents work so poorly, critics argue. Instead of stopping vapors from flowing out the complicated spouts and relief valves, the new designs often cause gasoline spills, which some critics say are far worse than a tiny amount of vapor escaping from an older design. Some rules for gas cans will still remain in place Other rules for gas cans have to remain in place under federal law, like making sure they're child-resistant and limiting the risk of flash fires. What happens next for gas cans? The EPA's announcement is non-binding for manufacturers and doesn't prohibit the vents. Rather, the EPA is asking manufacturers to redesign the gas cans to have vents 'to facilitate fast and smooth fuel flow.' This article contains material from USA TODAY Daniel Munoz covers business, consumer affairs, labor and the economy for and The Record. Email: munozd@ Twitter:@danielmunoz100 and Facebook This article originally appeared on Gas can redesign considered by Trump White House. Here's why
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
AICPA survey shows US tax relief need post-natural disasters
A recent survey by American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) has highlighted the need for improved tax relief measures for Americans affected by natural disasters. The findings suggest that American populace is in favour of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) extending its tax relief measures beyond the initial timeframe set following emergency declarations. The survey, conducted by The Harris Poll, revealed that 35% of respondents see value in a prolonged period for filing taxes and payment relief from the IRS after a natural disaster. This viewpoint is underscored by the recently revealed finding that nearly 32% of Americans have not taken measures to secure their financial interests against such calamities. Additionally, the survey suggests a room for improvement in IRS processes, with 29% of participants requesting tax filing extensions in disaster scenarios would be beneficial. Another 21% believe that the IRS could better manage the situation by setting staggered deadlines for tax relief for individuals and businesses after a disaster. The experiences of Americans who have previously faced natural disasters were also examined. Among the 43% who reported being affected by such events, a diverse range of experiences with federal tax relief was noted: 11% received assistance in under a month, 25% within one to six months, 28% in six months to a year, and 14% waited more than a year. Notably, 22% did not receive any tax relief from the federal government. AICPA tax policy & advocacy vice president Melanie Lauridsen said: 'These poll results clearly show that Americans are in need of additional and more immediate relief from the federal government during these challenging times.' Congress has passed a bipartisan law with unanimous support, which is now pending presidential approval. This legislation is intended to address the need for more relief mechanisms following state disaster declarations, potentially offering a framework for those impacted by natural disasters. Lauridsen added: 'This new law is a win for taxpayers nationwide. The timeliness of tax filing and payment relief following a disaster, especially when disasters strike close to filing deadlines, can give taxpayers one less thing to worry about as they begin the process of rebuilding.' "AICPA survey shows US tax relief need post-natural disasters " was originally created and published by The Accountant, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
WIRED
23-07-2025
- WIRED
A New Era for WIRED—That Starts With You
Jul 23, 2025 7:00 AM As of today, there are even more ways to enjoy WIRED's journalism, including premium newsletters and livestream Q&As. Join us. ILLUSTRATION: SANDRO RYBAK At WIRED, we're obsessed with how the world is transforming—and lately, there's been a lot to obsess over. From the breakneck pace of AI research to the tectonic transformation playing out across the US federal government, WIRED's journalists, producers, and editors are committed to reporting from the front lines of these changes and bringing all of you along for the ride. Our goal is to wake up every day and unearth what we describe as 'Story Zero': the story before anybody even knows there's a story to tell. We endeavor to do that work in a way that's conversational and accessible, fearless and definitive, and ultimately helps you understand what's changing, why, and how it'll affect your present and your future. I'm incredibly proud that our work this year has often achieved the lofty goals we set for ourselves: WIRED journalists have produced groundbreaking reporting on DOGE's disruption of federal agencies, unearthed ambiguities in the Jeffery Epstein video, delivered a constant drumbeat of clear-eyed coverage on AI's real-world impact (and the AI industry's outrageous talent wars), and found the time to execute on narrative stories that run the gamut, from an AI-inflected murder cult to the quantum apocalypse right around the corner. We've also had a lot of fun. Our creative team is pushing the boundaries of digital design, creating interactives like our quantum encryption calculator and evocative digital packages, including our deep dive into the Frontiers of Computing. And we're translating more and more of our journalism into new formats, including the vertical video you'll often see embedded in our stories, and our new podcast Uncanny Valley . There are so many reasons to be excited about WIRED's future. But it's important to recognize that we're doing this work within an information ecosystem that's transforming before our eyes: The platforms on which outlets like WIRED used to connect with readers, listeners, and viewers are failing in real time; Facebook traffic disappeared years ago, and now Google Search is dwindling as the company reorients users to rely on AI Overviews instead of links to credible publishers. More and more users are also skipping Google altogether, opting to use chatbots like ChatGPT or Claude to find information they once relied on news outlets for. Meanwhile, AI-generated slop and mis- and disinformation are seeping into the internet's every pore, polluting social media feeds and drowning out news and human-driven storytelling. At WIRED, our solution to this so-called 'traffic apocalypse,' and the AI sloppification of the internet, is simple: connect our humans to all of you humans. Here's the plan: We'll continue to produce top-tier journalism and storytelling, from written stories, scoops, features, and interviews to podcasts and audio narration, to bite-size videos and livestreams. And we're inviting you to join us, directly on or in your inbox, with a new subscription offering that we think is more dynamic, more engaging, and more valuable. Most of all, we're increasingly focused on creating a community and a shared conversation between WIRED journalists and all of you—our audience of curious, brilliant, future-focused people around the world. We want to answer your questions and solicit your input and ideas. We want to know what scares you, what excites you, and what we can do to help you navigate this strange new future. As a WIRED subscriber, you will have access to a growing set of exclusive benefits. You can receive any of five new weekly newsletters, each of them written by a WIRED journalist. These newsletters, available only to WIRED subscribers, will showcase top-quality reporting and analysis, written by reporters who are deeply sourced experts in their field. You'll also have access to WIRED's new livestream AMAs: These streams, which will run at least twice a month, are designed to connect you directly with WIRED journalists, who'll answer your pressing questions about the biggest story or trend in the WIRED universe. Plus, you can join WIRED journalists and fellow subscribers in the comment sections of WIRED stories to discuss, debate, or ask and answer questions. And finally, many WIRED articles are now available in audio form, with narrated versions created exclusively for subscribers. To our existing subscribers, thank you for supporting our journalism. To our new readers, sign up today and unlock everything WIRED has to offer.
CNA
23-07-2025
- Business
- CNA
‘Important' for Johor to get back 25 per cent of tax revenue given to federal government: Regent
KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has again called for a larger portion of the state's income tax revenue that goes to federal coffers to be returned to it. This comes amid growing concerns over infrastructure development and project delays in the southern state, he said. 'When 25 per cent of Johor's income tax revenue is returned to Johor, Johor can stand on its own feet,' he wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday (Jul 22). The regent had previously said that Johor gave the federal government about RM48 to RM49 billion (US$11.36 billion to US$11.59 billion) a year in tax revenue, but received only RM1.4 billion in return. That amounts to an estimated 2.85 per cent return. Tunku Ismail's latest comments came following news of the postponement of the Pasir Gudang Hospital's phased opening. Initially scheduled for next month, it has been delayed to January 2026, much to the regent's disappointment. Tunku Ismail also pointed to the issue of autogates system disruptions at Johor's major land checkpoints - the Sultan Iskandar Building and the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex - as well as matters related to flood mitigation projects as to why more of the state's revenue should be returned to them. 'I wish to convey to Johoreans how important it is for 25 per cent of the state's income tax revenue to be returned to Johor. 'Through this tax return, we would not need to burden the federal government or submit applications to (them) and then endure a long wait for approval,' he said. Malaysia's constitution centralises revenue collection - including all forms of taxes - at the federal level. The federal government then returns a percentage of this to the states based on their population. According to a commentary posted on the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute's website in December 2023, state governments received revenue of RM926 per capita, about one-tenth of the federal government's RM8,969 per capita tax in the year 2022. In June last year, Tunku Ismail said Putrajaya should stop viewing Johor as 'belonging to Malaysia', likening the state to being a beggar for constantly having to highlight its needs. He had then also urged the federal government to consider allowing Johor to keep 20 per cent to 30 per cent of its tax revenue in the state 'Until when is Johor going to be a beggar? The system in the federal government from then until now must change, as Johor does not belong to Malaysia. We are partners, so you have to start treating us like partners,' he was quoted as saying by news portal Scoop. Tunku Ismail was appointed Johor regent at the end of January 2024 after his father ascended the throne to become Malaysia's king for a five-year term. Penang's chief minister Chow Kon Yeow had in June this year also renewed calls for the federal government to consider returning 20 per cent of tax revenue to the state for its development. He had said Penang continued to be among the top contributors to Malaysia's national coffers, but has been "shortchanged" when it comes to federal allocations. "Now is an appropriate time for the federal government to consider this seriously and not just push it aside," he was quoted as saying by the News Straits Times. Sabah has also for years also been trying to negotiate a return of its entitlement of 40 per cent of its revenue as stated in the federal constitution, which it says is crucial for economic development.
