US President Joe Biden to 'propose hiking tax on rich'
US President Joe Biden is reportedly set to propose a tax hike on the wealthiest Americans.
The proposal would raise the top marginal rate and increase taxes on investment gains for the rich.
The tax rise would help pay for childcare and education, but would not be used for healthcare, according to reports.
The news triggered a selloff on Wall Street, with major indexes slipping during Thursday's trading session.
The White House said the American Family Plan, which Mr Biden is expected to lay out in full next week, will not affect any family earning less than $400,000 a year.
Rafael Nadal WINS 12th Barcelona Open title
Rafael Nadal won his 12th Barcelona Open title, saving a match point in a thrilling three-set victory over Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Nadal trailed 4-2 in the opener but recovered, breaking twice to take it.
World number five Tsitsipas showed great grit in the second set, saving two match points in game 10 game before levelling the match on a tie-break.
In a tight third set, Nadal faced a match point before piling on the pressure to win 6-4 6-7 (6-8) 7-5.
The victory, which took three hours 38 minutes, gave the 34-year-old his 61st clay court title and came against an in-form opponent who had won his maiden Masters crown in Monte Carlo last week.
"Winning the trophy here means a lot," said Nadal, who had only lost one set in 11 previous finals in the Spanish city.
"His view is that that should be on the backs... of the wealthiest Americans who can afford it and corporations and businesses who can afford it," said White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.
The proposal would increase the top marginal income tax rate to 39.6% from 37%, according to the New York Times and Bloomberg.
The move would effectively reverse Donald Trump’s 2017 income tax cut for highest income earners.
The plan would also nearly double taxes on capital gains to 39.6% for people earning more than $1m.
The 93rd Oscars for 2021
In a brief acceptance speech on Instagram Monday following his Best Actor win for The Father at the 93rd Annual Academy Awards Sunday night, Anthony Hopkins thanked the Academy, and paid tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman, whom most thought would win the award.
"Here I am in my homeland in Wales," a pleased but surprised Hopkins began. "At 83 years of age, I did not expect to get this award, I really didn't. I'm very grateful to the Academy."
"I want to pay tribute to Chadwick Boseman, who was taken from us far too early," Hopkins continued. "I really did not expect this, so I feel very privileged and honored."
His post was met with congratulations and well-wishes from many of Hopkins' 2.8 million Instagram followers, including Kate Beckinsale, his The Edge co-star Alec Baldwin, and Hugh Jackman.
The Oscars snub of Boseman was the talk of the Internet last night. The Ma Rainey's Black Bottom star, who lost a private battle with cancer last year, had been posthumously honored by the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild, and the Critics Choice Awards.
The Oscars ceremony shifted its Best Actor and Actress categories to the end of the night, instead of capping the festivities with Best Picture, per usual practice, so it seemed to be designed to close with what would have been a touching Boseman win.
Hopkins' Best Actor win Sunday was his second. His first came in 1992 at age 55, for The Silence of the Lambs.
Here are the winners:
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah
Best Animated Feature Film
Soul
Best Costume Design
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Best Original Score
Soul
Best Adapted Screenplay
The Father
Best Original Screenplay
Promising Young Woman
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Yuh-Jung Youn, Minari
Best Animated Short Film
If Anything Happens I Love You
Best Live-Action Short Film
Two Distant Strangers
Best Documentary
My Octopus Teacher
Best Documentary Short
Colette
Best International Feature Film
Another Round
Best Sound
Sound of Metal
Best Production Design
Mank
Best Film Editing
Sound of Metal
Best Cinematography
Mank
Best Visual Effects
Tenet
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Best Original Song
"Fight For You," Judas and the Black Messiah
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Anthony Hopkins, The Father
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Frances McDormand, Nomadland
Best Director
Chloé Zhao, Nomadland
Best Picture
Nomadland
Successful Interception of an Illegal Migrant Vessel
The Ministry of Immigration and Immigration Department is pleased to report the interception of an illegal migrant vessel within the waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands in the “Lil Bluff” area of Providenciales.
The vessel was detected at approximately 11:24 pm by the Border Force Unit (formerly Coastal Radar), to which 911 for informed. This led to a pursuit of the vessel by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force Marine division and it was successfully intercepted shortly thereafter.
The vessel was brought into the Port at South Dock, Providenciales, where it was met by additional officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, personnel from the Ministry of Health, Customs and Immigration Department’s Enforcement Unit, who were on scene to conduct the necessary processing.
The vessel had a total of two hundred and fifty-two persons (252) onboard, comprising of one hundred and eighty-four (184) males, sixty-eight (68) females including two (2) minors.
Hon Arlington Musgrove in commenting stated, “I wish to thank all officials involved for their continued hard work and vigilance, we are truly grateful for this. Please let us all remain safe as we continue to do our part in protecting our borders.”
Hon. Arlington Musgrove added, “over the past month there has been four (4) successful interceptions where seven hundred and seventy-one (771) illegal migrants were apprehended. This is staggering and we must and will put a stop to this.”
The repatriation of the two and fifty-two (252) illegal migrants will commence today, to ease the numbers at the Detention Center.
As such, the public is also requested to provide the Police with tips, or any information related to this or any other illegal landing. We encourage the public to submit information or tips anonymously in English, French or Spanish either to www.crimestoppers.tc or on Facebook as a fan of Crime Stoppers Turks & Caicos. Crime Stoppers tips are received in the USA on 1-800-84477.
Police Marine Branch Intercepts Illegal vessel
RTC News has learned that as of 12:16 a.m., on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, Officers onboard M/V Sea Guardian and M/V Sea Pursuit whilst on patrol responded to reports by the Coastal Radar Officials of suspicious activity in the North West Point area.
Upon that intel, the Marine Branch Officers later intercepted a 45 FT wooden vessel close to land with 251 irregular migrants on board.
The overloaded vessel brought severe challenges, and a critical decision was made to transfer several migrants onto M/V Sea Pursuit. At the same time, the M/V Sea Guardian towed the migrant vessel to the South Dock Port.
Officers on board M/V Sea Pursuit completed the transfer process via several trips to the South Dock Port to ensure the safety of life at sea and enforcement of the COVID-19 protocols.
During the count, it was reported to us that 183 males and 68 females were handed over to the Immigration Task Force for processing and repatriation.
Our news desk was told that the operation was conducted with no major incident.
Jury finds Derek Chauvin guilty on all charges in the death of George Floyd
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been found guilty on all three charges he faced in the death of George Floyd.
The sequestered jury of six white people and six people who are Black or multiracial deliberated a total of ten-and-a-half hours before informing Judge Peter Cahillthat they’d reached guilty verdicts on each of the three charges Chauvin faced in the May 25, 2020 death of George Floyd: second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
To secure convictions on the charges, prosecutors had to convince the jury that Chauvin caused Floyd’s death and that his use of force was unreasonable. The jury could have found Chauvin guilty of all of the charges, some of them, or none.
Chauvin faces a total of up to 40 years in prison, perhaps more, when sentenced, which Cahill said would likely happen in six to eight weeks.
Floyd, 46, died on May 25, 2020 while under arrest for allegedly passing a counterfeit $20 bill at a Minneapolis, Minnesota convenience store. After handcuffing Floyd’s hands behind his back, Chauvin placed Floyd face-down on the ground and knelt on his neck for nine-and-a-half minutes, as Floyd repeatedly protested that he couldn’t breathe and then died. Floyd's death sparked protests across America and around the world and ignited the Black Lives Matter movement.
Chauvin and three other officers involved in Floyd’s arrest were fired the day after Floyd’s death. Chauvin was arrested May 29 and ultimately charged with second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, with the third-degree murder charge reinstated just before Chauvin’s trial began. The three other former officers who were at the scene have been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, and face trial later this year.
Both sides rested their cases on Thursday of last week, with Chauvin declining the opportunity to testify in his own defense. His attorneys presented only two days of testimony, during which they called witnesses intended to show that Floyd’s drug use, heart disease and other factors are what caused his death. The prosecution presented two weeks of testimony from witnesses, medical experts and use-of-force experts to press home their contention that Chauvin’s use of force was inappropriate and caused Floyd’s death.
Employers could face charges for forcing workers to take COVID vaccine
In a story out of Jamaica, carefully being watched my many in the region, as the debate continues over the decision by some employers to demand that employees take the COVID-19 vaccine in order to keep their jobs, a local attorney is warning that criminal action could be taken against the heads of these entities.
According to attorney-at-law Michael Williams, people who are forced to take the vaccine by their employers should report the matter to the police.
“If an officer or manager of a company causes an 'innocent agent' to administer a medical procedure to someone who has not consented, the manager or officer would be committing an assault, especially if after its administration the person has an adverse reaction,” Williams told the Jamaica Observer.
He argued that no criminal action could be taken against the person who administered the vaccine as an “innocent agent” without knowing that the employee was unwilling to take the jab and was only doing so under threat. But Williams said the employer should be charged under the Offences Against the Person Act and face prosecution.
“If you can't stick it [the charge] because you cannot find that section in the legislation, it would stick at common law,” argued Williams.
The attorney said the worker could also carry a civil suit against the employer for trespass to the person, and seek financial compensation.
“It has long been established that if you administer medical treatment to someone who refuses same… you are guilty of an assault. But it goes deeper than just an assault, it is a breach of people's constitutional rights. The inviolability of the person is at stake here,” added Williams.
He also pointed to Jamaica's labour laws as he argued that to demand that employees take the vaccine or resign would be considered a technical firing.
Williams said he has a client whose employer has told her that if she does not take the COVID-19 vaccine she would be reassigned to a post that carries a lower salary.
“Administratively, the employer could reassign her but what he cannot do is punish her and that would be punishment in law. Anything that affects a worker's pecuniary interest [and] that causes a worker to get less pay because they have refused to take the vaccine would constitute forcing the worker,” declared Williams.
The issue of “jab or no job” has been hotly debated since last week when the Observer first reported that a Corporate Area-based firm had given its employees 14 days to take the COVID-19 vaccination or submit their resignations.
The company subsequently withdraw the memo and in a release said that it was committed to the well-being of all its team members and their families and strongly encouraged the team members to take the vaccine, in an effort to safeguard themselves and their families from the varying levels of damage that can be caused by COVID-19 across all age groups.
“Team members who, for medical reasons, cannot be vaccinated, can provide written exemption reports from their doctors,” the company said.
The company also declared that no one would be asked to resign if they fail to receive the vaccine.
Source-Jamaica Observer
Bank of England to consider digital money plan
The Bank of England and the Treasury have announced they are setting up a taskforce to explore the possibility of a central bank digital currency.
The aim is to look at the risks and opportunities involved in creating a new kind of digital money.
Issued by the Bank for use by households and businesses, it would exist alongside cash and bank deposits, rather than replacing them.
No decision has been taken on whether to have such a currency in the UK.
However, the government and the Bank want to "engage widely with stakeholders" on the benefits and practicalities of doing so.
The taskforce will be jointly led by the Bank's deputy governor for financial stability, Sir Jon Cunliffe, and the Treasury's director general of financial services, Katharine Braddick.
The Bank has previously said it is interested in a central bank digital currency (CBDC) because "this is a period of significant change in money and payments".
The use of cash in financial transactions has been steadily declining in recent years, while debit card payments have been on the rise. Use of credit cards and direct debits have also been increasing.
The Bank also sees having its own digital currency as a way of "avoiding the risks of new forms of private money creation", including crypto-currencies such as Bitcoin.
"If a CBDC were to be introduced, it would be denominated in pounds sterling, just like banknotes, so £10 of CBDC would always be worth the same as a £10 note," the Bank said.
"CBDC is sometimes thought of as equivalent to a digital banknote, although in some respects it may have as much in common with a bank deposit.
"Any CBDC would be introduced alongside - rather than replacing - cash and bank deposits."
Most of the world's central banks are looking into the possibility of creating such a currency, but the only one already in existence is China's digital yuan, which is currently undergoing public testing.
Among the objectives of the UK taskforce is monitoring international developments, "to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of global innovation".
The Bank also announced the creation of a CDBC engagement forum and a technology forum, as well as a CBDC unit within the Bank itself, overseen by Sir Jon.
No timetable was announced for the taskforce's operations.
Source-
British PM to meet football officials over European Super League
The Prime Minister of Great Britain, Boris Johnson is meeting officials from football governing bodies the FA and the Premier League, as well as fans' representatives, later to discuss the proposed European Super League.
Boris Johnson described the new league, which includes six leading English clubs, as "ludicrous".
The 12 founding members of the league faced a fierce backlash after unveiling proposals for a breakaway tournament.
One of these, Real Madrid, insisted they were doing it to "save football".
Club president Florentino Perez said the decision to create the new league was in part taken because "young people are no longer interested" in the game.
He told a Spanish TV show: "Audiences are decreasing and rights are decreasing and something had to be done. We are all ruined. Television has to change so we can adapt."
The 14 Premier League clubs not participating in the new venture are also due to discuss their response later.
One of these, Everton, has released a statement criticising the "preposterous arrogance" of the clubs involved.
"The backlash is understandable and deserved," the club said.
"We urge them all to consider what they wish their legacy to be."
The proposed tournament would see teams play one another in midweek games in an attempt to have more matches between the big-name clubs.
But fans and pundits have expressed fury at what they say would be an unfair competition that would lock many teams out of top European football.
The proposed league, which has been described as a football "closed shop" by a government minister, has united MPs from every party against it.
The plans revealed on Sunday that the 12 founding football clubs would be permanent members and never face relegation.
Critics say the new league could supplant the existing Champions League and disrupt the current football "pyramid" that sees teams rise or fall on merit.
Writing in the Sun, the prime minister said he was "horrified" at the implications for clubs across the country.
In a direct message to fans, he said: "It is your game - and you can rest assured that I'm going to do everything I can to give this ludicrous plan a straight red."
Former England captain Alan Shearer told BBC Breakfast the six English clubs should be expelled from the Premier League, which they have said they aim to remain in while also playing in the European Super League.
"It's not right what they are doing, it's not competitive, it's a closed shop - you can't have a competition where no one else is allowed in," he said.
"You can hear, feel and see the anger from almost everyone in football."
Chairman of the Commons' Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee Julian Knight, said restricting work visas for footballers who play in the proposed ESL could be one way the government could pull levers to stop the league going ahead.
Source-BBC
President Biden urges Senate to act quickly on gun reform
President Joe Biden, referencing the surge of mass shootings and gun violence in the country, said he is urging Congress to work on gun reform.
The president referenced Thursday night's shooting, where a 19-year-old killed eight people at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis.
"Yet again families had to wait to hear word about the fate of their loved ones," Biden said in a statement. "What a cruel wait and fate that has become too normal and happens every day somewhere in our nation."
Along with flags being ordered at half-staff at the White House, marking the third time during his presidency.
When asked by reporters if he will place gun reform over his push for infrastructure, President Biden said "I'm not gonna to give up till it's done."
The Democratic-controlled House recently passed two gun-control bills that now head to the Senate, with President Biden urging senators, Republican and Democrat, "to step up and act."
I strongly, strongly urge my Republican friends in the Congress who even refused to bring up the House passed bill to bring it up now," he added. "This has to end. It's a national embarrassment."
A new poll out of Quinnipiac found that 89 percent of Americans support mandating background checks for all gun buyers. Among Republicans, the number is similarly high at 84 percent.
Source-ABC