United Times | United in Changing Times

USA

California
California voters reject proposed 5% billionaire wealth tax, projections show
Proposition 40 would have imposed a one-time levy on around 200 billionaires, with campaigners estimating about $100 billion in proceeds, mostly for public healthcare.
3 min read
Michigan
Whitmer asks Trump administration to end food tariffs and reimburse Michigan residents
Michigan’s governor is seeking relief as the state agriculture department reports consumer food prices rose 3.1% from May 2025 to May 2026.
3 min read
US politics
House votes 211 to 204 to halt Hegseth impeachment push
The referral of impeachment articles to committee gives Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth a reprieve, but Democrats can revive the effort when they are expected to take control of Congress in January.
3 min read

Global

Climate diplomacy
Key EU leaders skip COP31 summit as their negotiators remain involved
European leaders’ absences put the spotlight on EU climate commitments as provisional figures show the bloc’s net greenhouse gas emissions fell by 1.6 per cent in 2025 from 2024.
4 min read

The Lead · USA

California voters reject proposed 5% billionaire wealth tax, projections show

Illustration · The United Times

Proposition 40 would have imposed a one-time levy on around 200 billionaires, with campaigners estimating about $100 billion in proceeds, mostly for public healthcare.

3 min read

US politics

Jim Jordan wins House Republican leadership vote, 106 to 73

US markets

S&P 500 closes down 0.38% as Nvidia selling and inflation weigh

Markets

Treasury yield rises as monthly core CPI gains 0.3% and Waller signals larger hike

Markets

Brent briefly falls below $90 as hopes grow for end to Iran war

USA · World · Politics

Michigan

Whitmer asks Trump administration to end food tariffs and reimburse Michigan residents

Michigan’s governor is seeking relief as the state agriculture department reports consumer food prices rose 3.1% from May 2025 to May 2026.

3 min read

Climate diplomacy

Key EU leaders skip COP31 summit as their negotiators remain involved

European leaders’ absences put the spotlight on EU climate commitments as provisional figures show the bloc’s net greenhouse gas emissions fell by 1.6 per cent in 2025 from 2024.

4 min read

US politics

House votes 211 to 204 to halt Hegseth impeachment push

The referral of impeachment articles to committee gives Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth a reprieve, but Democrats can revive the effort when they are expected to take control of Congress in January.

3 min read

US politics

Jim Jordan wins House Republican leadership vote, 106 to 73

The Ohio representative defeated Steve Scalise to become House minority leader in the next Congress as Republicans organised their leadership after the midterms.

3 min read

Markets · Investing

US markets

S&P 500 closes down 0.38% as Nvidia selling and inflation weigh

The index finished at 7,520.

3 min read

Markets

Treasury yield rises as monthly core CPI gains 0.3% and Waller signals larger hike

The 10-year Treasury yield jumped after core inflation exceeded economists’ expectations, as Waller said a 50 basis point increase should be considered for December in a conditional proposal.

3 min read

Markets

Brent briefly falls below $90 as hopes grow for end to Iran war

The oil benchmark traded below $90 a barrel for the first time since August as Trump signalled progress towards ending the conflict, while stronger-than-expected core inflation put interest rates in focus.

3 min read

Investing

OpenAI-linked contracts fall 7% as traders weigh Anthropic IPO

Hyperliquid perpetual contracts implied an OpenAI market capitalisation of $1.

2 min read

Technology · Real Estate

Gaming technology

Microsoft launches Auto SR for Xbox Ally X with 1080p support

Microsoft’s upscaling technology is now available on the Xbox Ally X in handheld mode, including with games running at 1080p.

2 min read

Real estate

Property tokenization faces weak demand beyond Clarity Act impasse

7M since January 2025, but only one deal in 2026.

3 min read

Real estate

Bridgepoint sees opportunity in repriced property as funds face strain

Higher borrowing costs, lower valuations and more defaults are putting pressure on property funds that invested in 2021, when interest rates were near zero.

3 min read

Culture · Art

Literature

M John Harrison wins Booker Prize for The End of Everything

Harrison, 81, becomes the oldest winner of the £50,000 literary award with a post-apocalyptic novel that has divided readers and won unanimous support from the judges.

3 min read

Culture

The Rings of Power and the limits of a time jump

With The Rings of Power streaming on Prime Video from November the question of a time jump invites a critical test: can narrative acceleration deliver meaningful renewal?

4 min read

Art

Shanghai art week tests the resilience of a slower-growing market

Two established fairs anchor Shanghai’s annual art week as galleries seek young artists and new collectors, while the wider art community draws on regional connections amid China’s economic slowdown.

4 min read

Japan art

Mariko Mori returns to Japan’s spotlight with first solo show in 24 years

The exhibition renews attention on Mori as Japan’s autumn art programme ranges from a 56-venue Tokyo event to a Maebashi festival linked to urban renewal.

4 min read