Latest news with #Covid-19
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Senate version of Trump's Big Beautiful Bill holds ‘'unexpected' tax break up to $2,000 for nearly all Americans
The Senate version of President Donald Trump's 'One Big, Beautiful Bill' legislation includes a tax break that would benefit 90 percent of Americans, CNBC reported. The Senate Finance Committee released the text for the tax and health care aspects of the Senate's version of the bill that passed the House of Representatives last month. The House version allows people who do not itemize their taxes to deduct $150 for individuals and $300 for joint filers like married couples. But the Senate version would allow $1,000 for single filers and $2,000 for joint filers. Typically, people need to choose to itemize their taxes to receive the charitable contribution deduction. The rare exception came during the Covid-19 pandemic. But 9 out of 10 Americans use the standard deduction, meaning the $2,000 tax break could come to most Americans. 'This could provide some tax savings for folks,' Erica York of the Tax Foundation, a conservative think tank, told CNBC. 'That could be something unexpected if you're not currently deducting charitable giving.' The Senate is currently debating its version of the 'One Big, Beautiful Bill,' as Trump requested Republicans to name it. In addition to the charitable deduction, Republicans hope to extend the 2017 tax cuts that Trump signed during his first tenure in the White House, boost up money for the military, military spending and oil production in the United States. But Republicans remain split on a number of aspects of the bill, including its changes to Medicaid. Fiscal conservatives also say that the bill does not do enough to slash federal spending. Earlier this week, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released its dynamic estimate and it found that it would increase the deficit by $3.4 trillion. Other Republicans want to keep the renewable energy tax credits that then-President Joe Biden put into place in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act because many Republican states benefited from the law. Republicans have only 53 seats in the Senate. To sidestep a filibuster, they plan to use a process called budget reconciliation, which allows them to pass legislation with a simple majority as long as it relates to federal spending and taxes. Currently, the legislation is undergoing the 'Byrd Bath,' wherein Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, a career Senate employee, evaluates whether the legislation follows the rules of budget reconciliation and none of the parts of the bill are 'merely incidental' to the budget. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
AFP
41 minutes ago
- Health
- AFP
Experts say HHS document misrepresents studies on Covid-19 vaccine
Kennedy, who has a long history of promoting vaccine misinformation, is using his role as health secretary to shake up the country's approach to immunization. He has deflected questions from lawmakers about measles vaccination, despite an outbreak that has killed three children, and misrepresented the position of European health agencies regarding vaccines against chickenpox during Congressional testimony. In late May, he circumvented the usual channels for updating vaccine recommendations and announced that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which operates under his department, would stop recommending routine Covid-19 shots for pregnant and "healthy children." Image US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during a news conference to discuss health insurance at the Department of Health and Human Services Headquarters in Washington, DC, on June 23, 2025 (AFP / SAUL LOEB) Maria Velez, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Canada's (archived here), told AFP the findings of her paper, "Miscarriage after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination: A population-based cohort study," were misinterpreted in the text (archived here). "Our study shows that SARS-CoV-2 vaccine is not associated with an increased risk of miscarriage, either for remotely vaccinated or recently vaccinated women," she said in an email on June 23. AFP reached out to HHS for comment and did not receive a response, but the department previously told other publications it included Velez's research because it showed a higher occurrence of miscarriage among vaccinated individuals. Velez said the raw data included in her study showed a slightly higher incidence of miscarriage among pregnant people who received the shot, but pointed out when the results were adjusted for other variables which could result in loss of pregnancy, her findings did not show an increased risk associated with vaccination. Additionally, a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist based in New York City (archived here), told AFP her study looking at Covid-19 vaccination in people undergoing in-vitro fertilization cited in the document did not find an association between the shots and adverse stimulation or early pregnancy outcomes (archived here). "Our study provides evidence to support safety of Covid-19 vaccination in women who are trying to conceive," she said in a June 26 email. said the document misused data and incorrectly quoted findings, sowing doubt about the safety of vaccines. "The latest correspondence from HHS regarding the decision to rescind the Covid-19 vaccine recommendation for pregnant women further confirms that the decision was not made based on any new research or latest scientific evidence, Research has demonstrated that the Covid-19 vaccine is generally safe during pregnancy and a meta-analysis of 66 studies found vaccination reduced the odds of infection and hospitalization, while the most common adverse side effect was pain at the injection site (archived here and here). Children and Covid-19 vaccines The Covid-19 vaccines are estimated to have saved millions of lives (archived here). Physicians and immunology experts have continually told AFP the risks of being infected with the virus far outweigh potential, infrequent side effects from the shots (archived here). Age raises the risk of serious illness and the World Health Organization only recommends vaccination beyond an initial series for children and adolescents with comorbidities (archived here and here). According to the CDC website, the agency still recommends boosters for children who are sed and The HHS memo sent to lawmakers put a particular emphasis on myocarditis and pericarditis, inflammations of the tissue around the heart. While these are noted as possible side effects of Covid-19 vaccination, with a slightly higher prevalence of the reaction observed among younger male recipients of mRNA shots, the papers cited in the memo included a study previously featured in misleading claims debunked by AFP (archived here). The research only found the inflammatory conditions among vaccinated youth, but one of the paper's authors noted to AFP at the time that the observational study may have missed cases in unvaccinated patients which would have been picked up in a randomized trial. The study also found the cases of myocarditis and pericarditis were mild and fast resolving, while vaccination reduced hospitalization from Covid-19. Another study looking at data from the HHS run Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System claimed a strong association between vaccination and myocarditis and death (archived here), but one of the authors has a history of spreading false information about the shots. Additionally, the journal Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety, where the study appeared, issued an expression of concern about potential issues with the methodology and conflicts of interest (archived here). Dubious evidence The misrepresentation of studies' findings in the document fits into a larger pattern of HHS overhauling health policy while citing dubious evidence. The highly anticipated "Make America Healthy Again" report released on May 22 investigating children's health was initially published citing several sources that did not exist. It was updated, but experts said it still contained errors, including the misrepresentation of research findings. Kennedy also dismissed all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), of being compromised by financial ties to pharmaceutical companies. He replaced them with several individuals known to spread vaccine misinformation, including controversial researcher Robert Malone, who has promoted the antiparastic drug ivermectin to treat Covid-19. The former ACIP members published an editorial in the JAMA medical journal, saying their removal and the reduction Image Robert Malone speaks during a first meeting of the CDC's Advisory Committee On Immunization Practices on June 25, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia (GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Elijah Nouvelage) The committee said it plans to revisit the childhood vaccine schedule and voted to bar thimerosal, a rarely used ingredient that can prevent bacterial contamination in multidose vials of influenza vaccines. ging from the anti-vaccine movement, which regularly questions shot ingredients despite no evidence of harm. Read more of AFP's reporting on health misinformation here.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Stray dog helps cops nab robber at Chennai Central
Chennai: A stray dog, which joined forces with Railway Protection Force (RPF) at Chennai Central railway station, helped police nab a mobile phone thief who attempted to flee after snatching the device from a passenger who was asleep. The stray had earned a nickname for its instincts and alertness - 'Tiger'. Tiger arrived at the station as a puppy during the Covid-19 pandemic and has since become a familiar presence among the 120 RPF staff at the station. Officers said the dog learned policing routines by closely observing patrolling teams and their interactions with commuters and suspects. According to RPF inspector Madhusoodhan Reddy, Tiger developed a strong sense of situational awareness and often followed police patrols at night. "If someone approaches the police with hostile intent, Tiger senses it and immediately intervenes," he said. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai In the latest incident, a mobile phone thief attempted to escape after snatching a phone from a passenger sleeping inside the station premises. Tiger chased the suspect and bit into his trousers, holding him until the police arrived and apprehended him. In another instance, the dog helped detain a robbery suspect who pushed an officer and tried to flee during questioning at the RPF station. Officers noted that the dog was never formally trained but picked up police routines by watching daily operations. Tiger dons an officer's role to prevent footboard travel — it chases commuters who travel dangerously on the footboard, prompting them to move safely inside the train compartment. "Tiger has become an unofficial member of the RPF team," said inspector Reddy.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Health
- Time of India
Mizoram logs 1 Covid positive case
Aizawl: The state health & family welfare department on Friday confirmed that one individual has been found to be infected with the Covid-19 virus. Officials of the integrated disease surveillance programme (IDSP) said while total number of infected people in the state stood at 3, 2 of them have already been cured. The officials said samples of 8 individuals, who were suspected to have been infected with the virus, had been tested over the past 24 hours, of which 1 person from Aizawl district was found to be positive. The officials further said that while 73 persons had tested Covid positive last year, no further cases were registered between October and mid-May this year. During the Covid-19 pandemic years (March 2020-October 2024), 734 people died in Mizoram (the largest number at 538 people during 2021). Since early 2020, at least 19,97,641 samples have been tested till Friday of which 2,39,638 have been found to be infected with the corona virus with 2,38,903 people discharged and 734 fatalities in the state.
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
Temporary sick leave scheme for health workers with long Covid extended for six months
After that, they will return to standard public service sick leave arrangements. The move comes after Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill accepted a Labour Court recommendation yesterday to extend the temporary scheme to December 31. However, the court rejected health unions' key demand that a special occupational sick pay scheme should be set up on a permanent basis for workers suffering from Long Covid. There are around 159 employees on the temporary special scheme, which was due to end on June 30. 'The minister fully supports the decision and will now move to ensure the scheme is extended as per the Labour Court recommendation,' said the department in a statement. A temporary 12-month special paid leave scheme was introduced in July 2022 for employees suffering from long Covid. The scheme aimed to support staff working in environments where they could be exposed to Covid before PPE and vaccinations were readily available. Albert Murphy, Chairperson of the Ictu Group of Healthcare Unions, said the workers get full basic pay under the temporary long Covid sick pay scheme. If the court had recommended unions' demand for a special occupational scheme, the workers be entitled to two further extensions of paid leave, and possibly further extensions subject to medical assessments. The court dismissed the creation of a special occupational scheme on the grounds that Covid-19 and long Covid are not considered occupational illnesses or an injury at work in this jurisdiction. As a result, it said it could not decide otherwise. 'The court is saying its hands are tied because long Covid is not considered an occupational illness, but we are saying the ball is back with the government and it should remove that obstacle,' said Mr Murphy. The court said there was a dispute over the scheme between the Department of Health, HSE and healthcare workers represented by Siptu, Fórsa, the IMO and INMO. It said it arose in relation to the unions' claim for an Occupational Illness Scheme, similar to a Blood Borne Disease scheme, for sufferers of long Covid. The court said the unions also want the establishment of a scheme for other long Covid sufferers who are excluded form a Special Leave with Pay Scheme. 'Any recommendation that the court makes has to be based on the fact, that at this point in time, Covid-19 and long Covid are not considered occupational illnesses or an injury at work in this jurisdiction,' it said. 'It is not within the gift of the Labour Court to determine otherwise.' The unions said as of January this year, there are 159 employees receiving a temporary scheme of paid leave. This equals less than 0.01pc of health workers.
