Biden’s tax-hike plan would cost the US economy nearly 800K jobs

Biden's tax-hike plan would cost the US economy nearly 800K jobs

President Biden has proposed tax hikes targeting corporations and wealthy Americans to reduce the national debt. The Tax Foundation found that these tax increases could reduce economic output by 2.2% in the long run, slash wages by 1.6%, and kill about 788,000 full-time equivalent jobs. Biden’s proposal includes a 25% minimum tax rate on households worth more than 0 million, raising the capital gains tax rate, quadrupling the corporate stock buyback tax to 4%, raising the corporate tax rate to 28%, increasing the Medicare tax paid by wealthy Americans, implementing a global minimum tax on multinational corporations, and closing the carried interest loophole used by private equity and hedge fund managers. The tax increases would reduce the federal deficit by about trillion and help fund new programs like a monthly tax credit for homeowners, child care subsidies, and lower prescription drug costs. The corporate income tax proposal is considered the most harmful to economic growth, with higher taxes on corporations alone potentially reducing GDP by 0.9%, wages by 0.8%, and full-time equivalent jobs by 192,000. The proposals are unlikely to gain support in Congress, especially from Republicans who control the House.

Hong Kong LGBTQ activists upset at revised ID card gender rules

Hong Kong LGBTQ activists upset at revised ID card gender rules

Hong Kong will now allow transgender individuals who have not undergone full sex reassignment surgery to change their gender on their ID cards. The new policy comes after a court ruling in February that deemed the previous requirement a violation of transgender rights. The revised criteria include surgical and hormonal requirements, which some activists find too extreme and a violation of individuals’ rights.

No change in policy on Cyprus issue, Tatar says

No change in policy on Cyprus issue, Tatar says

Ersin Tatar, the Turkish Cypriot leader, stated that negotiations will not begin without acceptance of sovereign equality and equal international status. He emphasized that talks will not start from where they left off in Crans Montana and clarified that reports of proposals from the UN Secretary-General do not correspond to reality. Tatar also mentioned consultations with Turkey and reiterated the need to lift isolation and embargoes imposed on Turkish Cypriots. He expressed opposition to resolution 186 of 1964 and emphasized the support of Turkey in their policy.