fb jili777 login

fb jili777 login Visualizing the Future: Transforming Decisions Through Data5 male grooming trends that shaped 2024, plus what to look out for in 2025

Debt Ceiling Drama: Trump's Take on Political Missteps

Brett Vance, Test Pilot and Host of 'Jet Jockeys,' Takes on Current Leadership Challenges and Lessons From the FieldQamishli, Dec 25 (AP) The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said Tuesday they have launched a counter-offensive against the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army to take back areas near Syria's northern border with Turkey. The SDF is Washington's critical ally in Syria, targeting sleeper cells of the extremist Islamic State group scattered across the country's east. Since the fall of the totalitarian rule of Bashar Assad earlier this month, clashes have intensified between the U.S.-backed group and the SNA, which captured the key city of Manbij and the areas surrounding it. The intense weekslong clashes come at a time when Syria, battered by over a decade of war and economic misery, negotiates its political future following half a century under the Assad dynasty's rule. Ruken Jamal, spokesperson of the Women's Protection Unit, or YPJ, under the SDF, told The Associated Press that their fighters are just over seven miles (11 kilometers) away from the center of Manbij in their ongoing counter-offensive. She accused Ankara of trying to weaken the group's influence in negotiations over Syria's political future through the SNA, “Syria is now in a new phase, and discussions are underway about the future of the country,” Jamal said. “Turkey is trying, through its attacks, to distract us with battles and exclude us from the negotiations in Damascus.” A Britain-based opposition war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, says since the SNA's offensive in northern Syria against the Kurds started earlier this month, dozens from both sides have been killed. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke on Tuesday with Turkish Minister of National Defense Yasar Güler, according to Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder. He said they discussed the ongoing situation in Syria, and Austin emphasized that close and continuous coordination is crucial to a successful effort to counter IS in the country. They also discussed the importance of setting the conditions to enable a more secure and stable Syria. Ankara sees the SDF as an affiliate of its sworn enemy, the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, which it classifies as a terrorist organization. Turkish-backed armed groups alongside Turkish jets for years have attacked positions where the SDF are largely present across northern Syria, in a bid to create a buffer zone free from the group along the large shared border. While the SNA was involved in the lightning insurgency — led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham — that toppled Assad, it has continued its push against the SDF, seen as Syria's second key actor for its political future. On Monday, the SDF spokesperson Farhad Shami said the group's forces pushed back the Turkish-backed rebels from areas near the Tishrin Dam on the Euphrates, a key source of hydroelectric power. He said the SDF also destroyed a tank belonging to the rebels southeast of Manbij. The British-based war monitor said on Tuesday that the Kurdish-led group, following overnight fighting, has reclaimed four villages in the areas near the strategic dam. Turkish jets also pounded the strategic border town of Kobani in recent days. During Syria's uprising-turned-conflict, the Kurds carved out an enclave of autonomous rule across northeastern Syria, never fully allying entirely with Assad in Damascus nor the rebels trying to overthrow him. Even with the Assad family out of the picture, it appears that Ankara's position won't change, with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's landmark visit to Syria maintaining a strong position on the Kurdish-led group in his meeting with de facto leader Ahmad al-Sharaa of HTS. “It has turned the region into a cauldron of terror with PKK members and far-left groups who have come from Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Europe," Fidan said in a news conference after the meeting. “The international community is turning a blind eye to this lawlessness because of the wardenship it provides (against IS).” With the ongoing fighting, SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi has expressed concern about a strong IS resurgence due to the power vacuum in Syria and the ongoing fighting, which has left the Kurdish-led group unable to carry out its attacks and raids on the extremist group's scattered sleeper cells. Tens of thousands of children, family members, and supporters of IS militants are still held in large detention centers in northeastern Syria, in areas under SDF control. (AP) AS AS (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)

By REBECCA SANTANA WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has promised to end birthright citizenship as soon as he gets into office to make good on campaign promises aiming to restrict immigration and redefining what it means to be American. But any efforts to halt the policy would face steep legal hurdles. Birthright citizenship means anyone born in the United States automatically becomes an American citizen. It’s been in place for decades and applies to children born to someone in the country illegally or in the U.S. on a tourist or student visa who plans to return to their home country. It’s not the practice of every country, and Trump and his supporters have argued that the system is being abused and that there should be tougher standards for becoming an American citizen. But others say this is a right enshrined in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, it would be extremely difficult to overturn and even if it’s possible, it’s a bad idea. Here’s a look at birthright citizenship, what Trump has said about it and the prospects for ending it: During an interview Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Trump said he “absolutely” planned to halt birthright citizenship once in office. “We’re going to end that because it’s ridiculous,” he said. Trump and other opponents of birthright citizenship have argued that it creates an incentive for people to come to the U.S. illegally or take part in “birth tourism,” in which pregnant women enter the U.S. specifically to give birth so their children can have citizenship before returning to their home countries. “Simply crossing the border and having a child should not entitle anyone to citizenship,” said Eric Ruark, director of research for NumbersUSA, which argues for reducing immigration. The organization supports changes that would require at least one parent to be a permanent legal resident or a U.S. citizen for their children to automatically get citizenship. Others have argued that ending birthright citizenship would profoundly damage the country. “One of our big benefits is that people born here are citizens, are not an illegal underclass. There’s better assimilation and integration of immigrants and their children because of birthright citizenship,” said Alex Nowrasteh, vice president for economic and social policy studies at the pro-immigration Cato Institute. In 2019, the Migration Policy Institute estimated that 5.5 million children under age 18 lived with at least one parent in the country illegally in 2019, representing 7% of the U.S. child population. The vast majority of those children were U.S. citizens. The nonpartisan think tank said during Trump’s campaign for president in 2015 that the number of people in the country illegally would “balloon” if birthright citizenship were repealed, creating “a self-perpetuating class that would be excluded from social membership for generations.” In the aftermath of the Civil War, Congress ratified the 14th Amendment in July 1868. That amendment assured citizenship for all, including Black people. “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside,” the 14th Amendment says. “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.” But the 14th Amendment didn’t always translate to everyone being afforded birthright citizenship. For example, it wasn’t until 1924 that Congress finally granted citizenship to all Native Americans born in the U.S. A key case in the history of birthright citizenship came in 1898, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Wong Kim Ark, born in San Francisco to Chinese immigrants, was a U.S. citizen because he was born in the states. The federal government had tried to deny him reentry into the county after a trip abroad on grounds he wasn’t a citizen under the Chinese Exclusion Act. But some have argued that the 1898 case clearly applied to children born of parents who are both legal immigrants to America but that it’s less clear whether it applies to children born to parents without legal status or, for example, who come for a short-term like a tourist visa. “That is the leading case on this. In fact, it’s the only case on this,” said Andrew Arthur, a fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, which supports immigration restrictions. “It’s a lot more of an open legal question than most people think.” Some proponents of immigration restrictions have argued the words “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” in the 14th Amendment allows the U.S. to deny citizenship to babies born to those in the country illegally. Trump himself used that language in his 2023 announcement that he would aim to end birthright citizenship if reelected. Trump wasn’t clear in his Sunday interview how he aims to end birthright citizenship. Asked how he could get around the 14th Amendment with an executive action, Trump said: “Well, we’re going to have to get it changed. We’ll maybe have to go back to the people. But we have to end it.” Pressed further on whether he’d use an executive order, Trump said “if we can, through executive action.” He gave a lot more details in a 2023 post on his campaign website . In it, he said he would issue an executive order the first day of his presidency, making it clear that federal agencies “require that at least one parent be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident for their future children to become automatic U.S. citizens.” Related Articles National Politics | Trump has flip-flopped on abortion policy. His appointees may offer clues to what happens next National Politics | In promising to shake up Washington, Trump is in a class of his own National Politics | Election Day has long passed. In some states, legislatures are working to undermine the results National Politics | Trump taps his attorney Alina Habba to serve as counselor to the president National Politics | With Trump on the way, advocates look to states to pick up medical debt fight Trump wrote that the executive order would make clear that children of people in the U.S. illegally “should not be issued passports, Social Security numbers, or be eligible for certain taxpayer funded welfare benefits.” This would almost certainly end up in litigation. Nowrasteh from the Cato Institute said the law is clear that birthright citizenship can’t be ended by executive order but that Trump may be inclined to take a shot anyway through the courts. “I don’t take his statements very seriously. He has been saying things like this for almost a decade,” Nowrasteh said. “He didn’t do anything to further this agenda when he was president before. The law and judges are near uniformly opposed to his legal theory that the children of illegal immigrants born in the United States are not citizens.” Trump could steer Congress to pass a law to end birthright citizenship but would still face a legal challenge that it violates the Constitution. Associated Press reporter Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed to this report.

NonePokémon Go habitat hour schedule and every habitat Pokémon for Go Wild Area 2024

The New England Patriots have had one of the worst offensive line units in the league this season, and that was on full display again on Sunday in their 34-15 loss to the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. On the Tuesday after the loss, the Patriots announced a pair of roster moves on the offensive line, as they've released left guard Michael Jordan and claimed Lester Cotton off waivers. New England originally signed Jordan back in January, but he started the 2024 season on the team's practice squad. After he was elevated for their first two games, he was signed to the active roster. He started 11 games this year (all at left guard), receiving a 51.5 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. Cotton, 28, was waived on Monday by the Miami Dolphins. He originally entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2019 out of Alabama. After appearing in 15 games (starting one) for the Raiders from 2019-22, he appeared in 28 (starting eight) for the Dolphins from 2022-24. It will be very interesting to see what New England does with their line next week. They could slide in Sidy Sow or Layden Robinson, who have both been on the bench. Former first-round pick Cole Strange is also nearing his return and could get back to his original position. Cotton is also another option, as he's played both left and right guard in his career. MORE PATRIOTS NEWS Where Patriots sit in Week 13 NFL power rankings Patriots PFF grades from loss vs. Dolphins Winners and losers from Patriots’ Week 12 matchup vs. Dolphins Takeaways from New England’s loss to Miami

Trump promises to end birthright citizenship: What is it and could he do it?Veralto Co. (NYSE:VLTO) Plans Quarterly Dividend of $0.11HOULTON – Katahdin Bankshares Corp. (OTCQX: KTHN), parent company of Katahdin Trust Company, announced that it has declared a cash dividend of $0.175 per share for the fourth quarter of 2024. The dividend will be payable on December 20, to shareholders of record as of December 13. This dividend represents a 15.1 percent increase over last year’s fourth-quarter dividend. Katahdin Bankshares Corp. is the bank holding company of Katahdin Trust Company. Founded in 1918, Katahdin Trust is a community bank based in Houlton, Maine with 16 locations and more than $1.05 billion in assets. Katahdin Bankshares Corp. common stock is quoted on the OTC Markets (OTCQX) under the symbol KTHN. Learn more about the Company and its subsidiary bank at www.katahdintrust.com and follow Katahdin Trust on social media.’s former foreman has opened up about his experience on and revealed why he decided to step back this year. The carpenter and builder, often referred to as ‘The Blockinator’, starred on 16 seasons as chief foreman but only made a handful of appearances this season. While he previously said he chose not to appear on 2024 in a full-time position so he could spend more time with his two daughters, he’s now revealed that his decision also had to do with the contestants. Speaking on this month, Keith admitted that he had grown tired of dealing with difficult cast members who didn’t respect his authority. “Imagine you’re a builder and you’ve got some contestants who’ve got no idea about building, and you’re giving them an instruction and they tell you to get stuffed,” he remarked. “All these amateurs have got no idea what they’re doing. We’re building beautiful homes for people, and I never got why people would argue with me. It just didn’t make sense. If I’m a subbie [subcontractor] going on site and I’ve got a foreman giving me instruction, you’ve just gotta follow it. There’s no ifs or buts, otherwise, you’re off.” He continued: “I used to get grumpy on telly, but there was a reason for it. [I had] some d**khead just giving me grief, and it wasn’t warranted.” Keith famously clashed with several contestants during his time on the show, including 2023 couple . He “spat the dummy” after the Queensland couple repeatedly asked for feedback on their build, with Keith arguing that his job wasn’t to “hold every builder’s hand for every piece that goes in”. Elsewhere in the interview, Keith admitted he had fond memories of and described the experience as a “big adrenaline rush”. “I must admit, when I was doing initially, I was actually doing other projects, and when I was on those other projects it was quite boring,” he said. “One thing we did learn was how to do things quickly, and we had to work hard.” While he is yet to announce whether he will return for , he admitted he’s been enjoying his time away from the show and “not having the stress of working 24 hours a day”. This year’s season saw , who previously competed on the show in 2012 and 2013 before joining as a foreman in 2015, step up to take over Keith’s role. fans when he made a brief appearance on this year’s season of , with the 50-year-old sporting a brand new set of teeth. Keith underwent a dental transformation earlier this year and shared videos on social media in collaboration with in February documenting his journey. Dr Belinda Feldman explained in one of the that they used a procedure called DSD Direct, an evolution of an injectable resin guide technique, to reshape Keith’s teeth and give him a brand new smile. “I didn’t like my teeth and my smile, and being a TV presenter, it’s very important to have a good smile and good teeth,” he said in the video. “I was finding I was actually hiding my teeth from the camera.” Keith’s transformation certainly didn’t go unnoticed on social media, with one person commenting: “Keith has new teeth!” “Yes! They look great,” another replied, while a third said, “Yes, they are very noticeable”. “Looking good Keith,” someone else shared, followed by a different user who remarked, “Living for this transformation of Keith”.

Former US president Jimmy Carter has died aged 100. (Neil Hall/PA). The King and the Prime Minister have paid tribute to Jimmy Carter following the former US president’s death on Sunday aged 100. In a message to the American people, the King expressed “great sadness” at the news of Mr Carter’s death, describing him as “a committed public servant” who “devoted his life to promoting peace and human rights”. He added: “His dedication and humility served as an inspiration to many, and I remember with great fondness his visit to the United Kingdom in 1977. “My thoughts and prayers are with President Carter’s family and the American people at this time.” Mr Carter, a former peanut farmer, served one term in the White House between 1977 and 1981 and spent his post-presidency years as a global humanitarian, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Jimmy Carter made a state visit to the UK in 1977 and received a private congratulatory message from the King on his 100th birthday. (PA) Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Carter had “lived his values in the service of others to the very end” through “decades of selfless public service”. Praising a “lifelong dedication to peace” that saw him win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, Sir Keir added: “Motivated by his strong faith and values, President Carter redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad.” Tributes to Mr Carter followed the announcement of his death by his family on Sunday, more than a year after he decided to enter hospice care. His son, Chip Carter, said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love.” We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. US President Joe Biden, one of the first elected politicians to endorse Mr Carter’s bid for the presidency in 1976, said the world had “lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian”. He said: “Over six decades, we had the honour of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend. But, what’s extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well. “With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us.” Other UK politicians also paid tribute to Mr Carter. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said he was “an inspiration” who “led a truly remarkable life dedicated to public service with a genuine care for people”. Scottish First Minister John Swinney described the former president as “a good, decent, honest man who strove for peace in all that he did”, while Welsh First Minister said he was “a remarkable man” and “a humanitarian and scholar”. Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair said Mr Carter’s “life was a testament to public service”. He added: “I always had the greatest respect for him, his spirit and his dedication. He fundamentally cared and consistently toiled to help those in need.” Mr Carter is expected to receive a state funeral featuring public observances in Atlanta, Georgia, and Washington DC before being buried in his hometown of Plains, Georgia. Jimmy Carter’s presidency was characterised by troubles at home and abroad, including the 444-day hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran, but was also marked by the conclusion of the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel. (AP) A moderate democrat born in Plains in October 1924, Mr Carter’s political career took him from the Georgia state senate to the state governorship and, finally, the White House, where he took office as 39th president in the wake of the Watergate scandal and the Vietnam War. His presidency saw economic disruption amid volatile oil prices, along with social tensions at home and challenges abroad including the Iranian revolution that sparked a 444-day hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. But he also brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, which led to a peace treaty between the two countries in 1979. After his defeat in the 1980 presidential election, he worked more than four decades leading The Carter Centre, which he and his late wife Rosalynn co-founded in 1982 to “wage peace, fight disease, and build hope”. Under his leadership, the Carter Center virtually eliminated Guinea Worm disease, which has gone from affecting 3.5 million people in Africa and Asia in 1986 to just 14 in 2023. Mrs Carter, who died last year aged 96, had played a more active role in her husband’s presidency than previous first ladies, with Mr Carter saying she had been “my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished”. Earlier this year, on his 100th birthday, Mr Carter received a private congratulatory message from the King, expressing admiration for his life of public serviceJoe Depa named as EY Global Chief Innovation Officer to lead its global innovation strategy

Titans' 1st-year coach Brian Callahan focused on future, not job security after latest lossMilitary families with loved ones in Children's Hospital Colorado can perhaps breathe a little easier this Christmas knowing their insurance will still be accepted in the new year. Children's Hospital had planned to move to a “non-network participating provider” with the TriWest Healthcare Alliance on Jan. 1, 2025, after negotiations between the hospital and the insurance provider broke down. The agreement reached in recent days will allow the hospital to remain in network with TRICARE, the health care insurance program for military service members, veterans and their families. TriWest will replace Healthnet in the western half of the United States on Jan. 1 as the new benefits administrator for TRICARE, the Gazette reported previously . "Under the new agreement, TRICARE patients will maintain full access to our care and services across Colorado," a Christmas Eve news release from Children's Hospital said Tuesday. The new agreement prevents military families from needing to seek prior authorization from the insurance provider for services, such as lab work or specialty visits. With five military installations and tens of thousands of veterans in El Paso County, the Colorado Springs hospital sees numerous patients who would have been impacted by the change. Last year, Children’s Hospital Colorado cared for 15,000 TRICARE patients, 10,300 of whom received services in southern Colorado, according to officials. The hospital shared the good news with impacted families on Christmas Eve. "Our patients are at the center of everything we do, and it was important to us to work with TriWest to achieve improvements in the new contract that will help us maintain access to care," said Greg Raymond, president of Children’s Hospital Colorado’s Southern Region in a written response to questions. Colorado Sens. John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet urged TriWest and Children's Hospital to come to an agreement last week to preserve care for those families when negotiations broke down. The potential loss of coverage stemmed from a disagreement over the Defense Health Agency cutting TRICARE reimbursement rates last year for children’s hospitals around the nation. Children's Hospital Colorado estimated at the time the it would see around $17 million cut from its Tricare reimbursements each year because of the changes that lowered reimbursements for outpatient services, according to a lawsuit the hospital filed against the Department of Defense. The TRICARE cuts have reduced outpatient reimbursements by 60%, amounting to losses of $2.4 million per month, said Greg Raymond, president of the hospital network's southern region that's based in Colorado Springs. He spoke to the Gazette for an earlier story . The nonprofit pediatric health system has lost money at its Colorado Springs location since it opened in 2019, but TRICARE's changes have deepened those losses, officials said. At $2.5 million a month, the hospital system would lose $30 million in a year. The hospital has discussed making substantial changes, such as cutting services as a result of lost revenue in the past. But it has not yet made any changes or made decisions about changes, Raymond said, in response to Gazette questions Tuesday. The hospital lost its case against the DOD in April with a judge ruling in favor of the governments' change in reimbursement. The new methodology focuses on hospitals' actual costs — rather than their historic reimbursements, Colorado Politics reported previously . The newly reached agreement will allow Children's Hospital Colorado to maintain care, the news release said. Although the hospital will need to work on additional long-term changes to the contract. “While we are optimistic about this first step in ensuring our military families continue to receive the care they need, TRICARE reimbursement rates remain well below the cost of providing care,” said Jena Hausmann, president and CEO of Children’s Colorado, the region’s nonprofit pediatric hospital system. "... If the federal TRICARE program does not fundamentally change the way it values children and child health, our healthcare system will struggle and access to pediatric care for military children will continue to be at risk in Colorado and across the country.” The government pointed out in its ruling that other children's hospitals across the country were expected to see increases in reimbursements.

For the best experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser settings. The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has announced a new tax amnesty programme aimed at providing relief to taxpayers burdened by interest and penalties on outstanding tax debts. Under the Tax Procedures (Amendment) Act, 2024, the latest amnesty will cover the period up to December 31, 2023, and will be available from December 27, 2024, to June 30, 2025. According to KRA, taxpayers who have settled all principal taxes due by the end of December 2023 will automatically qualify for a waiver of related penalties and interest, eliminating the need for an amnesty application. For those who have not yet paid their principal taxes, the KRA has outlined a process for obtaining the amnesty. Taxpayers must apply to the Commissioner for Domestic Taxes and propose a payment plan for any outstanding amounts, which must be fulfilled by June 30, 2025. “The tax amnesty programme will run from 27th December 2024 to June 30, 2025,” said the taxman in a public notice. “A person who has paid all the principal taxes that were due by December 31, 2023, will be entitled to automatic waiver of the penalties and interest related to that period and will not be required to make an amnesty application.” The KRA added: “A person who has not paid all the principal taxes accrued up to December 31, 2023, and is unable to make a one-off payment for the outstanding principal taxes will be required to apply to the Commissioner for the amnesty and propose a payment plan for any outstanding principal taxes, which should be paid by June 30, 2025.” READ: KRA announces waiver on tax interests and penalties The move by the KRA comes as President William Ruto faces renewed pressure to reassess his administration’s revenue mobilisation strategies in the New Year with data from Treasury revealing significant shortfalls in tax collection. Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi announced in November that by the end of October, the total revenue collection by the State fell short by Sh73.7 billion against its targets for the period mainly due to a Sh48.1 billion shortfalls in ordinary revenues or taxes. The shortfall was recorded despite KRA’s recent aggressive tax collection efforts. The figures show that total revenues amounted to Sh854.5 billion as of October against a target of Sh928.2 billion. “By the end of October 2024, revenue collection amounted to Sh854.5 billion against a target of Sh928.2 billion resulting in an underperformance of Sh73.7 billion,” said Mbadi. “The underperformance was on account of shortfall registered in ordinary revenue of Sh48.6 billion and ministerial A-i-A (appropriations in aid) of Sh25.1 billion.” The KRA’s inability to meet Treasury targets comes even as President William Ruto's government pursues a rigorous fiscal consolidation plan aimed at controlling public debt and enhancing revenue collection. Expenditure trends also reflect the government’s financial challenges. Total expenditures were below target by Sh101.9 billion, primarily due to reduced disbursements in recurrent expenditure and the County Equitable share said Mbadi. “Expenditures by the end of October 2024 were below target by Sh101.9 billion on account of below target disbursements towards recurrent expenditure and County Equitable share,” said Mbadi. “Fiscal operations by the end of October 2024 resulted in an overall deficit inclusive of grants of Sh222.9 billion (1.2 per cent of GDP) against a target of Sh249.2 billion (1.4 per cent of GDP).” The underperformance in tax collections spans all major tax heads, Treasury confirmed. This has prompted the Treasury to go back to the drawing board for a comprehensive review of existing strategies to collect tax by the Kenya Kwanza administration Mbadi said. Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletter According to Mbadi, going forward, a newly revamped Kenya Kwanza government’s Medium-Term Fiscal Policy aims to support economic growth through the implementation of a “comprehensive revenue mobilisation plan.” This includes broadening the tax base, minimising unnecessary tax expenditures, and leveraging technology to enhance tax compliance. Additionally, the Ruto administration is focusing on increasing non-tax revenues from services provided by various ministries, departments, and agencies. As part of these efforts, the government plans to implement the Medium-Term Revenue Strategy (MTRS), which aims to progressively strengthen tax revenue mobilization efforts to 20 per cent of GDP over the medium term. Mbadi also said the government plans to improve governance and efficiency within state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and to explore public-private partnerships (PPPs) for commercially viable projects. Looking ahead in the New Year the Ruto government faces an uphill task as it says for the fiscal year 2025/26 budget it will aim for total revenues of Sh3.516.6 trillion, representing 17.6 per cent of GDP, an increase from Sh3.060.0 trillion or 16.9 per cent of GDP in FY 2024/25. It plans to raise Ordinary revenues or taxes to Sh3.018.8 trillion, up from Sh2.631.4 trillion in the previous fiscal year further putting pressure on KRA. President Ruto recently assented to the Tax Laws (Amendment) Bill 2024 which would enable the government to generate some of the revenue lost with the collapse of the Finance Bill 2024 while, at the same time, providing relief for employees, retirees and businesses. The principal object of the Bill, introduced by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, was to amend the provisions of four Acts of Parliament, namely, the Income Tax Act (Cap. 470), the Value Added Tax Act (Cap. 476), the Excise Duty Act (Cap. 472) and the Miscellaneous Fees and Levies Act (Cap. 469C). Among other changes, the amendments provide tax reliefs to employees and retirees; enhance benefits to employees; promote the local manufacturing sector; promote the agricultural sector and the local farmers; incentivise home ownership and promote housing and settlement; promote trade between Kenya and other States; mobilize domestic resources and enhance the taxation regulatory framework. Amendments to the Income Tax Act allow the Affordable Housing Levy (AHL) and contributions to post-retirement medical funds to be deducted from the payable tax liability. This addresses the issue of double taxation and allows taxpayers to enjoy the full benefits of their AHL and post-retirement medical funds contributions, according to a brief by Parliament. ALSO READ: KRA offers tax amnesty for interest and penalties Enactment of the Bill also means the deductible interest limit for mortgages has increased from Sh300,000 to Sh360,000 for mortgages. As a result, individuals can now deduct a higher amount of interest paid on loans for the purchase or improvement of their residential properties when calculating their taxable income. This will incentivise home ownership and is aligned with the Housing and Settlement pillar of the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). The Bill increases the amount deductible for contributions to registered pension or provident funds from the tax liability of individuals and employers to encourage a saving culture for retirement purposes while, at the same time, it enhances the benefits provided by employers to employees of meals, non-cash and gratuity and similar payments that are exempt from tax. However, to recoup some of the revenues lost when the Finance Bill 2024 was withdrawn following the Gen Z protests, Parliament has retained the National Treasury’s proposal of a Significant Economic Presence Tax at an effective rate of six per cent for non-residents. Additionally, the Bill introduces the Minimum Top-Up Tax at a minimum effective tax rate of 15 per cent. The government argues that two new taxes align the taxation of digital services with international best practice, and the taxation of multinationals with the global practice to prevent tax base erosion, respectively. National Treasury John Mbadi has initially, however, promised to retain the tax at three per cent, as was the case with the Digital Service Tax, which has now been replaced, following concerns from industry players and experts on its impact.

The “Bushwick Birkin” has landed in Soho. Telfar — a New York-based brand beloved by the likes of Beyoncé , Dua Lipa, Oprah and Bella Hadid — is opening its first-ever storefront downtown at Broadway and Canal Street on Saturday. Crowned a cult must-have by the fashion set for two decades, the brand will debut its 10,000-square-foot brick-and-mortar equipped with a Telfar TV studio and a fully stocked “bag bar,” with a floor-to-ceiling display of every tote Telfar has ever produced — plus a coveted limited-edition purse. The brand’s sporadic drops have caused pandemonium, but Clemens told The Post in an interview that opening the store is a “huge milestone.” “The store tells the whole story,” he said. “It’s not just bags — it’s a cultural phenomenon and it’s a total look — 20 years in the making.” With its embossed “T” logo, the faux leather bags were the hottest of 2023 , selling out within minutes of each highly anticipated drop online. But at the flagship, near which street vendors hawk fakes, customers can purchase the handbag, lovingly nicknamed the “Bushwick Birkin,” without the stress of their preferred color, size or style selling out before checkout. Plus, a new limited-edition bag — reportedly a style that consumers have been demanding in recent years — is slated to be unveiled at the opening on Saturday, which Telfar noted is the “eve of our 20th anniversary.” The brand’s “Rainbow” style debuted at a pop-up in 2022 and drew legions of eager fans, who spilled out onto the street, shutting down traffic , and exited the store with armfuls of “Shopping” totes. This time around, the fashion label urged prospective patrons not to storm the storefront on opening day, and those who can’t miss the event will be required to RSVP for a specific time slot in order to enter. As of Friday, many of the “extremely limited” tickets for general admission were sold out. “YOU DON’T HAVE TO COME TO THE OPENING,” Telfar posted on social media , where the label also warned that the wait just to get in will likely surpass two hours . “IT WILL BE OPEN FOREVER.” “That was crazy. It was beautiful but this is different,” he told The Post. “This is our Flagship Store in NYC — we want to spread that energy over the other 365 days of the year.” One moment that won’t be forever is a spectacle slated for Saturday. In the alley behind the store, Telfar will host a talent show of sorts, allowing fans an opportunity to put on a performance. Winners could cut the line and win a tote if liked by the throngs of people and the judges, composed of founder Telfar Clemens, his friends and undisclosed New York icons. “It’s going to be a show for real,” he told The Post. “A celebration and open mic — and we have some wild surprises in store. We wanted to mark the day.” At the bag bar — which creative director Babak Radboy described to Vogue Business as operating similarly to “how you get into a club” — every tote in every color will be available for purchase, regardless of online availability, and lucky shoppers will also be able to preview new launches before the bags debut online. During events, the bag bar can process up to 4,000 orders in a single day — bandwidth that seems necessary given Telfar’s track record. Devout loyalists of the brand — many of whom have taken to social media to express their excitement for the flagship — will likely want to be on line. However, the store opening will be livestreamed as a celebration on the label’s 24-hour channel, Telfar.TV . The element of community and collaboration is an intentional aspect of the interactive brick-and-mortar, which also features a space to hang out or shoot content and ‘fit checks, which can then be broadcast to the store’s LED displays. But the real reason for a permanent Telfar storefront is to experience apparel IRL, rather than URL. Despite the brand operating as an online retailer and selling products through a drop model, Clemens wants to showcase all the label has to offer from head to toe. When asked what has been the most exciting part, Telfar said it’s been doing the work. “To be honest it’s the stuff behind the scenes,” he told The Post. “We have been building an atelier for the last three years so we can return to full 360 collections on our own terms — and do it 100% independently. That’s why the store is so central — you are never going to understand TELFAR by walking into an existing store.” Produced in the brand’s 13,000-square-foot atelier, seasonal collections of garments and accessories will be available to shop as well. At the Soho flagship, customers can browse the label’s Wilsons Leather collaboration, the Telfar Denim collection, the Performance athletic wear capsule and its athleisure apparel. And though the brand has skyrocketed in fame thanks to the internet, Telfar hopes his store fosters connection IRL. “We are so excited to have that come together in one place,” he told The Post, “and have people put down their phones and feel something.”Mitesco (OTCMKTS:MITI) Stock Price Down 2.8% – What’s Next?

Serve Robotics Announces Appointment of Lily Sarafan to its Board of Directors

Previous: 90 jili777
Next: jili jili777