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☆ Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will not run for party reelection
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-14 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced Wednesday he will not be running in the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election due next month. He added that he felt the need to step down in order for the LDP to regain the public's trust. The prime minister also pledged to fully support the new leader. Kishida's decision to not run for reelection effectively means he would step down as prime minister when the party elects a new leader. According to the latest opinion poll by NHK, the number of people who "support" the Kishida cabinet stands at 25%, while 55% do not.

Persons: Fumio Kishida, Kishida Organizations: Japan's, Liberal Democratic, LDP, Kyodo, NHK

☆ Self-managed abortions have become more common in the US post-Dobbs, study shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( Deidre Mcphillips | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Self-managed abortions happen outside of the formal health-care system and without the formal supervision of a doctor or nurse. The new study suggests that self-managing an abortion with abortion pills has become more common, rising from about 18% of attempts pre-Dobbs to 24% post-Dobbs. Other research has found that abortions within the formal health care system have increased in the US post-Dobbs, driven by a spike in medication abortions, especially those provided through telehealth. “As barriers to facility-based abortion grow, (self-managed abortion) may increasingly become an individual’s only or preferred option to end a pregnancy,” the researchers wrote. “These findings suggest the need to expand access to alternative models of safe and effective abortion care and ensure those seeking health care post-(self-managed abortion) do not face legal risks.”

Persons: Dobbs, underreporting, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, ” Organizations: CNN, JAMA, underreporting, CNN Health Locations: United States, telehealth

☆ Covid-19 is an unwelcome attendee at the Paris Olympic Games
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Jacqueline Howard | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for Covid-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris. Five players on Australia’s women’s water polo team have tested positive for Covid-19 as of Wednesday. Although the world is no longer under a public health emergency due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Olympic Games come as a wave of Covid-19 infections has hit the United States. The French capital is expected to welcome about 15 million tourists while it hosts the Olympic Games. “Attending a mass gathering event increases your chances of being exposed to respiratory diseases, including whooping cough and COVID-19.

Persons: “, Lucia Mullen, ” Mullen, Anna Meares, ” Meares, “ We’re, ”, Joe Biden, Dr, Sanjay Gupta Organizations: CNN, Olympic, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, Australian Olympic, US Centers for Disease Control, Paris, CNN Health, Paralympic, WHO, French Ministry of Health, European Centre for Disease Prevention Locations: Paris, ”, France, Australian, Tokyo, United States, Europe

☆ Same-sex behavior among animals is being underreported, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Rosa Rahimi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Same-sex sexual behavior has been observed in more than 1,500 animal species, but a new study has found that it is massively underreported by researchers. Observations of this same-sex behavior in animals, such as sexual mounting and genital touching, date back to the 1700s and 1800s. In a study published Thursday in the journal PLOSOne, a team of researchers at the University of Toronto, Northwestern University and the University of Warsaw found that experts who study animal behavior are underreporting and rarely publishing their observations of same-sex sexual behavior. The study surveyed 65 experts and found that 77% of them observed same-sex sexual behaviors in the species they studied. Davis added that there have been other obstacles that get in the way of documenting same-sex behaviors among animals.

Persons: –, ” Karyn Anderson, “, Anderson, cuddle, David Hecker, Josh Davis, it’s, ”, Davis Organizations: CNN, University of Toronto, Northwestern University, University of Warsaw, Bremerhaven Zoo, DDP, Getty Locations: Bremerhaven, Swedish, London, esculentus, Luisenpark, Germany

The answer explains why Congress is racing to wind down what is known as the employee retention tax credit. Lawmakers aim to use the savings to offset the cost of three business tax breaks and a more generous child tax credit for many low-income families. Households benefitting from the changes in the child tax credit would see an average tax cut of $680 in the first year, according to an estimate from the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center. Under current law, taxpayers have until April 15, 2025, to claim the employee retention credit. But in this case, the employee retention tax credit appears to have few friends left on Capitol Hill.

Persons: Danny Werfel, ’ ”, Sen, Ron Wyden, Elizabeth Warren, Ron Johnson, ” Johnson, “, ” Warren, Wyden, Jan, Larry Gray, Gray, ”, ” Gray, preparer, Werfel, Mark Warner Organizations: WASHINGTON, Senate, IRS, —, Center, Senate Finance, Capitol Locations: Rolla , Missouri, America, New Jersey

☆ Phones Track Everything but Their Role in Car Wrecks
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Matt Richtel | More About Matt Richtel | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Cellphones can track what we say and write, where we go, what we buy and what we search on the internet. But they still aren’t being used to track one of the biggest public health threats: crashes caused by drivers distracted by the phones. Safety experts say that current estimates most likely understate a worsening problem. Car crashes recorded by the police rose 16 percent from 2020 to 2021, to 16,700 a day from 14,400 a day, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or N.H.T.S.A. But those figures do not capture all cellphone distraction; they include only crashes in which a police report specifically mentions such distraction.

Persons: ”, David Strayer, It’s, Jake Nelson, “ Organizations: National, Traffic Safety Administration, University of Utah, Traffic, Research, AAA, The New York Times, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation's largest Christian university says it's fighting a $37.7 million fine brought by the federal government over allegations that it lied to students about the cost of its programs. Grand Canyon University, which enrolls more than 100,000 students mostly in online programs, said it's filing an appeal with the U.S. Education Department on Thursday. In a 40-minute speech, university President Brian Mueller called the fine “ridiculous” and questioned whether the school is being targeted because of its faith affiliation. He noted that the nation's second-largest Christian university, Liberty University, is reportedly being threatened with a $37 million fine over alleged underreporting of crimes. It had 80,000 students in online programs as of 2021.

Persons: it's, Brian Mueller, ”, Mueller, Trump, It’s Organizations: WASHINGTON, Christian, Canyon University, U.S . Education Department, Liberty University, Education Department, Washington , D.C, Internal Revenue Service, Associated Press, Carnegie Corporation of New, AP Locations: Phoenix, Washington ,, Arizona, Carnegie Corporation of New York

☆ X, formerly Twitter, tests charging new users $1 to tweet, retweet
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

X, formerly Twitter, will begin a test that charges new users $1 annually in order to "post & interact with other posts," the company said in a recent post. The social media platform said Tuesday evening the move is part of its efforts to combat spam and bot activity. Elon Musk previously said the company planned to move to a subscription fee model in September. Excess bot activity has been a consistent rallying cry for Musk since before he acquired the company in October 2022. Bot activity has reportedly worsened under Musk's ownership.

Persons: Elon Musk, Porte, X, Musk Organizations: SpaceX, Tesla, Viva Technology, Porte de, Twitter, CNBC Locations: Paris, New Zealand, Philippines

☆ As Turkey intensifies war on Kurdish militants, Iraqi civilians suffer
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Lena Masri | Amina Ismail | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +23 min

Seventeen-year-old Samir Saado was finishing his cleaning shift at the village medical centre when an airstrike hit the building. Four members of the PKK-allied Sinjar Resistance Units (YBS), who were guards at the clinic, were killed, local officials said. All five said the medical centre was hit by at least three strikes about three minutes apart. Reuters showed Zwijnenburg the footage of the red crescent symbol on the wall of the medical centre. Across northern Iraq, local people say they are powerless to prevent armed groups setting up in their villages and districts.

Persons: Samir Saado, ” “, “, ACLED, Tayyip Erdogan, Iraq’s, Mustafa al, ”, Tatyana Eatwell, Jonathan Lord, ” Lord, Saeed Hasan, Isa Khoudeda, Turkey’s, wailed, Wim Zwijnenburg, Zwijnenburg, Saado, Yazidis, Saado’s, ” Saado, Schlier Namiq, Tuta Qal, Aram Kakakhan, Kakakhan, Ismail Ibrahim, Namiq, Saddam Hussein, Namiq’s, Ryam Ziad, Ziad Khedr, Hassan Kashmoula, Ryam, Mustafa Anwar, Khedr’s, ‘ neutralised, Nidal Mahmoud, Khedr's, ” Mahmoud Organizations: Turkish, Turkish Defence Ministry, Kurdistan Workers ' Party, European Union, Syrian Democratic Forces, Islamic, Turkey’s Defence Ministry, Reuters, Anadolu, Human Rights, Defence Ministry, Unit, Justice, United Nations Human, NATO, Pentagon, ISIS, ., Coalition, United Nations, Mission, Middle East Security, Center, New, New American Security, Military, Islamic State, Tuta, Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government, SDF, ” Reuters, International Crisis Group, Crisis, “ Locations: Iraq’s, Sinjar, Turkish, Saado, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Kurdistan, Ankara, Northern Iraq, United States, PKK, U.S, Islamic State, Skeiniya, Germany, Turkish Government, Washington, New American, ”, Iran, Istanbul, Gaziantep province, Sabah, Europe, Greece, Iraq’s Sulaimaniya, Kurdish, Tuta, Ibrahim, Chamchamal, Chicago, Mosul, Iranian, Khedr

☆ Some of America's richest people are just not paying their taxes — and millionaires alone could owe up to $34 billion
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

New IRS data shows that some of America's highest earners are just not paying taxes. Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon requested data from the IRS on taxpayers who are not filing returns. Nearly 1,000 taxpayers making over $1 million aren't paying up and could owe billions. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe average American taxpayer pays $16,615 in income taxes annually — but for some of the wealthiest Americans, that number is zero. Nearly 1,000 taxpayers who make over $1 million annually didn't file taxes multiple times from 2015 to 2020, according to an IRS memo viewed by Insider.

Persons: Sen, Ron Wyden, —, they're, they've, Wyden, Danny Werfel, you'll Organizations: IRS, Service, Finance, Congressional Republicans, Treasury Department, Department of, Treasury, Harvard University, University of Sydney, Biden, Republican Locations: Oregon

☆ Trump's 'gobbledygook' math has lowballed, for a decade, how many fish he kills to cool his Chicago tower: AG
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Trump Tower uses millions of gallons of Chicago River water a day to heat and cool its 98 floors. Illinois Attorney General's Office/InsiderThe Illinois EPA responded to the apparent discrepancy by issuing Trump Tower a violation notice on August 31. The two groups are parties to the state's ongoing, 2018 environmental lawsuit against the tower, Trump's tallest building worldwide. Trump Organization lawyers have resisted changing how Trump's Chicago tower heats and cools. Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago has used "gobbledygook" math to lowball its impact on the Chicago River, state officials and environmentalists say in court papers.

Persons: —, Donald Trump's, Trump, general's, Trump –, Albert Ettinger, Kwame Raoul's, Trump's, It's, Charles Rex Arbogast, Ettinger, Nam, Huh Trump, Jack Darin, Darin, Donald Trump, AP, IEPA, Alan Garten, Peter Alan Henderson, Henderson, Donald Trump , Jr, Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump, Christopher Wiggins, he'd, John Arranz, Wiggins, Kiichiro Sato, Margaret Frisbie, Frisbie Organizations: Trump, Service, Trump International Hotel, Tower, Illinois Environmental, Agency, Wabash Venture, Trump Organization, General's, EPA, Sierra Club, Friends, Chicago Sun, federal, Hotel, AP, Chicago Tribune, Illinois Sierra Club, Chicago's Trump International Hotel, AP Trump, Sun, Times, Ecologist Locations: Chicago, Illinois

Anti-Black hate crimes peaked in 1996 at 42% of all hate crimes, then began a steady decline until 2020. June of that year was the worst month for anti-Black hate crimes since national record-keeping by the FBI began. “We generally see increases in hate crimes in election years and around catalytic events,” said Levin. “We’re talking about almost 500 to 700 more hate crimes in an election year. Domestic terrorism will not prevail in America.”In 2021, Biden signed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act to address the spike in anti-Asian hate crimes seen at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

Persons: Jacksonville eulogize, Al Sharpton, Angela Carr, Sharpton, ”, Brian Levin, “, Levin, ” Levin, Biden, Jacksonville , Florida —, Joe Biden, Jill Biden, “ We’re, ” Biden, Emmett Till, George Floyd’s, Damon Hewitt, James Byrd, Byrd, ” Hewitt, William Barber II, Ron DeSantis, Barber, Angela, Carr, ” Sharpton, __ Jefferson, Morrison, Nasir Organizations: African, Black Americans, Republican, Democrat, Jacksonville, FBI, Center, California State University, Justice Department, U.S, White, Justice, Conference, Civil, Human, Advancing Justice, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Inc, Defamation, ”, Buffalo, ’, James Byrd Jr, Florida Gov Locations: Jacksonville , Florida, U.S, Buffalo , New York, Charleston , South Carolina, Jacksonville, Florida, Orlando, Virginia , Mississippi, Arkansas, America, Minneapolis, Jasper , Texas, American, Chicago, New York

☆ NFL approves sale of Washington Commanders and evies $60 million fine on ex-owner
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( David Close | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The Washington Commanders will have a new ownership group as the team’s previous owner faces a $60 million fine from the league following an independent investigation finding workplace misconduct and financial improprieties. The Commanders’ new ownership group includes Basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson and billionaire Mitch Rales, Harris’ longtime sports business partner. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell congratulated Harris and his partners after the unanimous vote. Johnston told a congressional committee that the Commanders owner had put his hand on her leg under the table at a work dinner and tried to persuade her to get into his limousine. “The conduct substantiated in Ms. White’s findings has no place in the NFL,” a statement from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stated.

Persons: Josh Harris, Harris, Basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson, Mitch Rales, Harris ’, Roger Goodell, “ Josh, Josh, ” Goodell, Daniel Snyder, Snyder, Tanya, Dan Snyder, Mary Jo White, White, Tiffani Johnston, Johnston, ”, “, Ms, ” Snyder, —, “ Mr, Goodell Organizations: CNN, Washington, NFL, Apollo Global Management, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils, Basketball Hall of Famer, Street Journal, former Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, ” Locations: Washington, Minnesota

☆ Rodolfo Pizarro: As US soccer goes crazy over Lionel Messi’s arrival, one Inter Miami player suffers brutal consequence of superstar’s signing
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Fans turned out in their droves to watch Lionel Messi’s official unveiling as an Inter Miami player. When Pizarro signed for Inter, he filled one of the club’s three ‘Designated Player’ spots. The rule is also known as the ‘Beckham Rule’ after David Beckham – now Inter’s co-owner – became the first designated player when he joined LA Galaxy in 2007. So, with Messi signing a contract reportedly worth between $50 to $60 million per year, the 35-year-old Argentine fills one of Inter’s designated player spots. Either Inter can look to move one of their designated players on or they can “buy down” a player’s contract.

Persons: CNN —, Lionel Messi’s, Rodolfo Pizarro, Pizarro, Beckham, David Beckham –, –, Messi, Ira L, Matías Almeyda, “, ”, Messi’s, Sergio Busquets, – Messi, Busquets, Josef Martínez, Blaise Matuidi, Andrés Reyes, Leandro González Pirez, Nicolás, Julián Carranza, Jorge Mas, ” Mas, Chris Henderson Organizations: CNN, Inter Miami, Argentine, Inter, Major League Soccer, MLS, LA Galaxy, Messi, Philadelphia Union, AEK Athens, Mexican, Chivas, ” Inter, Soccer, Sporting, “ Inter Miami Locations: Argentine, Mexican, Instagram, Barcelona, America’s

☆ Nearly 62,000 people died from record-breaking heat in Europe last summer. It’s a lesson for the US, too
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Rachel Ramirez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Nearly 62,000 people died heat-related deaths last year during Europe’s hottest summer on record, a new study has found — more heartbreaking evidence that heat is a silent killer, and its victims are vastly under-counted. Of the nearly 62,000 deaths analyzed, heat-related mortality rate was 63% higher in women than in men. “The acceleration of warming observed over the last 10 years underlines the urgent need to reassess and substantially strengthen prevention plans,” Achebak said. Heat deaths have outpaced hurricane deaths in the country by more than 8-to-1 over the past decade, according to data tracked by the National Weather Service. Yet the United States’ heat mortality numbers would suggest that far fewer people are dying from heat than in Europe.

Persons: “, Joan Ballester, Ballester, ”, Matt Dunham, —, Hicham Achebak, ” Achebak, Ricardo Rubio, David S, Jones, “ There’s, ” Jones, ” John Balbus, Greenlee Beal, Balbus, Biden, “ We’re, ” Balbus Organizations: CNN, Nature Medicine, Eurostat, Guard, Europa Press, National Weather Service, Centers for Disease Control, Harvard University, Health Equity, US Department of Health, Human Services, CDC Locations: Europe, Italy, Spain, Germany, ISGlobal, Buckingham, London, Madrid, United States, France, American, Chicago, Eagle Pass , Texas, U.S

☆ Australia inquiry says ex-PM Morrison misled cabinet on debt recovery scheme
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Renju Jose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, July 7 (Reuters) - An Australian inquiry into a programme to recover welfare debt said on Friday former Prime Minister Scott Morrison had misled the cabinet about the scheme in an earlier ministerial role. The report recommended unnamed people be referred for prosecution or civil action over the automated "robodebt" programme, designed to ensure welfare recipients were not underreporting income and over-receiving government payments. The report said Morrison, who in 2015 monitored the rollout of the programme as the social services minister, took the proposal to the cabinet without necessary information. Morrison, prime minister from August 2018 to May 2022 and still a member of parliament, rejected each finding adverse to him and critical of his involvement in "authorising the scheme". In 2020, he apologised in parliament for distress caused by the robodebt scheme but did not admit legal liability.

Persons: Scott Morrison, Anthony Albanese, Morrison, Renju Jose, Jamie Freed, William Mallard Organizations: SYDNEY, Royal Commission, Australian Federal Police, Thomson Locations: Australian, Sydney

[1/3] Paramedics display a dose of the opioid overdose reversal drug Narcan, or Naloxone Hydrochloride, in an ambulance in Peabody, Massachusetts, U.S., August 8, 2017. The figure is up 0.7% from 108,825 overdoses recorded in the 12-month period ending January 2022, according to U.S. data. The U.S. drug overdose death toll crossed the 100,000-mark for the first time in 2021, as the COVID pandemic disrupted medical care and increased mental health problems. U.S. drug overdose deaths rose 13.7% between January 2021 and January 2022 and by 31.4% in the prior 12 months at the height of the pandemic. But the surge in overdose deaths began before the pandemic took hold due to abuse of prescription opioid painkillers and illegal drugs like heroin.

Persons: Brian Snyder, Joe Biden's, Biden, Tom Britton, Stacey McKenna, McKenna, Nandhini Srinivasan, Khushi, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, American Addiction Centers, U.S, R Street Institute, D.C, CDC, Thomson Locations: Peabody , Massachusetts, U.S, China, Mexico, Washington, Bengaluru

☆ Goldman fined $7 million by ECB over credit risk reporting
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FRANKFURT, May 15 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank said on Monday it had fined Goldman Sachs' (GS.N) European unit 6.63 million euros ($7.3 million) for underreporting the risk associated with some corporate credit, thereby flattering its balance sheet. The ECB, the euro zone's top banking supervisor, said Goldman Sachs Bank Europe misclassified some corporate exposures for eight straight quarters in 2019-21, assigning a lower risk to them than the rules prescribe. Goldman Sachs did not immediately respond to a request for comment. So called risk weights determine how much capital a bank needs to cover the risk associated with an asset. By attaching lower risk weights to some assets, Goldman Sachs Bank Europe "reported higher capital ratios than it should have done", the ECB said.

☆ Fires are starting on US warships in port more often than reported, watchdog finds, and it's giving the Navy a 'false sense of security'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Fires are breaking out on Navy ships in port more often than they are reported, a government watchdog found. The GAO flagged multiple problems with the reporting system, as well as how lessons are learned from fires. It said the incomplete picture has "given the Navy a false sense of security." Fires when a ship is in port, particularly when it is undergoing repairs and maintenance, are not uncommon. "As a result," the GAO assessed, "the Navy has lost lessons learned over time—such as steps that a ship can take to improve fire safety."

☆ Chinese doctor who blew the whistle on SARS dies at 91
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Laurie Chen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BEIJING, March 15 (Reuters) - A Chinese military doctor who exposed the full extent of the SARS epidemic when it ripped through Beijing in 2003 has died at the age of 91, according to his friends and local media reports. Jiang Yanyong accused the government of deliberately underreporting the spread of the respiratory disease in an open letter sent to state media in 2003. News of his death was not reported in Chinese state media, as is the norm with politically sensitive public figures. Some media including the South China Morning Post said he died on Saturday of pneumonia, citing sources. SARS infected 8,908 people worldwide after emerging in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong, eventually killing 774, according to World Health Organisation data.

Companies Amgen Inc FollowMarch 14 (Reuters) - Amgen Inc (AMGN.O) has been sued in a proposed class action accusing the drugmaker of waiting too long to tell investors it might owe the Internal Revenue Service $10.7 billion in taxes and penalties. In a complaint filed on Monday night in Manhattan federal court, a Detroit-based pension fund said Amgen artificially inflated its stock price by concealing the dispute over its international tax strategy between July 2020 and April 2022. Though Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, it is considered a foreign country for corporate tax purposes. 149 Pension Fund, said Amgen's share price fell 6.5% on Aug. 4, 2021, and 4.3% on April 28, 2022, because the company waited until those dates to disclose its potential liabilities. 149 Pension Fund v. Amgen Inc, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No.

Even if you're not planning on lying on your taxes, make sure you're not accidentally doing anything wrong. You run the risk of being audited and facing harsh penalties when you exaggerate deductions or leave income out. While most people don't intentionally lie on their taxes, you should make sure you're not accidentally misrepresenting the facts. Editor's Rating 4.6/5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Editor's Rating 3.7/5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Editor's Rating 4.5/5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Learn more On Tax Slayer's website Learn more On Liberty Tax's website Learn more On H&R Block's website1. If a taxpayer is caught doing this, it can result in fines, penalties, and interest charges on the amount of taxes owed.

☆ China declares 'decisive victory' over COVID-19
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Jennifer LorenziniBEIJING, Feb 17 (Reuters) - China's top leaders declared a "decisive victory" over COVID-19, claiming the world's lowest fatality rate, although experts have questioned Beijing's data as the coronovirus tore across the country after largely being kept at bay for three years. China abruptly ended its zero-COVID policy in early December, with 80% of its 1.4 billion population becoming infected, a prominent government scientist said last month. Though there were widespread reports of packed hospital wards and mortuaries, China recorded only about 80,000 COVID deaths in hospitals in the two months after dropping its curbs. "With continuous efforts to optimise COVID-19 prevention and control measures since November 2022, China's COVID-19 response has made a smooth transition in a relatively short time," China's Politburo Standing Committee (PSC) said in a meeting on Thursday. The meeting stressed that China will increase the vaccination rate for the elderly, and strengthen the supply and production of medical goods.

Workers who get paid in cash, especially sex workers, face extra challenges during tax season. But people who work in cash economies — like sex workers, bartenders, servers, and side-hustlers who get paid in cash — face additional challenges during tax season. "I just remember feeling so paralyzed any time I thought about finance," sex worker and tax preparer Daisy Douglas tells Insider. Insider's Featured Tax Software Tax SlayerLiberty TaxH&R Block Tax Software Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. "Assert your rights and let them know that this is the way tip income is supposed to be reported."

☆ IRS about 3 to 5 times more likely to audit Black Americans' tax returns, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Jeffrey Coolidge | Photodisc | Getty ImagesBlack Americans are roughly three to five times more likely to face an IRS audit than other taxpayers, according to a new study. Specifically, the study examines audits of filers claiming the earned income tax credit, a tax break for low to moderate earners. The findings show Black filers claiming the earned income tax credit were more likely to be audited than non-Black filers claiming the same credit. Evelyn Smith Study co-authorSmith said the IRS has focused on specific mistakes with claiming the earned income tax credit, such as missing dependents or misreporting income, which are required for eligibility. "Focusing on these individual-level issues rather than the total dollar amount of underreporting seems to be driving these differences," she said, noting a shift to self-employed earned income tax credit filers would help address the problem.

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