Trans rallies in Brisbane, Cairns protest Queensland’s puberty blocker pause
Trans rallies in Brisbane, Cairns protest Queensland’s puberty blocker pause
Trans youth and their families are expected to protest in Brisbane, Cairns and across the country today against the Queensland government’s decision to pause the delivery of puberty blockers and hormone therapies to minors.
The rallies, booked for 10am, will call on Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls to reconsider his decision last week to pause the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapies for children with gender dysphoria pending a fresh review of the controversial treatment pathways.
Brisbane mum Hannah said the change in policy had been “incredibly stressful” for her family.
“My 15-year-old has been on puberty blockers for four years and was just days away from going on HRT,” she said.
“Now that can’t happen. Like all teenagers, she just wants to look like her friends at school and express who she really is.”
“We’ve already had to jump through a lot of hoops, working with a large team of experienced medical professionals, to get our daughter the care she needs.”
Mr Nicholls said the move had been sparked by “clinical governance issues” in the Cairns health service.
“There is contested evidence surrounding the benefits of stage 1 (puberty blockers) and stage 2 hormone therapy for children and adolescents with gender dysphoria emerging from studies throughout the world,” Mr Nicholls said in announcing his decision.
Camera IconThe rallies are expected to protest Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls’ decision to pause the delivery of puberty blockers to children.
NewsWire / Glenn Campbell Credit: News Corp Australia
“France, Finland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden have all tightened regulations around prescribing hormone therapy to children and adolescents.
“More recently, the United Kingdom has changed legislation to restrict the prescription and supply of puberty blockers to children … Queensland has not yet undertaken its own review of the evidence for stage 1 and stage 2 hormone therapy.”
As of June 2024, 547 children and adolescents were actively receiving care at the Queensland Children’s Gender Service.
“There is a need to maintain confidence in public health services, particularly those delivered by Queensland Health for children,” Mr Nicholls said.
RACGP immediate past chair of specific interests transgender and gender-diverse healthcare Michelle Dutton has expressed alarm about Mr Nicholls’ decision.
“This decision is being framed as being about protecting young people, but this kind of blatantly political decision, and the media coverage that results, significantly increases hostility towards trans people in the community,” she said.
“This will be a very hard time for GPs who look after trans young people in Queensland.”
The federal government has also announced a fresh independent review into trans healthcare, with interim advice on the use of puberty blockers expected in the middle of 2026.
The reviews coincide with a petition from Women’s Forum Australia, an advocacy group that is critical of transgender beliefs, calling on the federal government to launch a public inquiry into youth gender medicine in Australia and pause all medical gender transitions for children and young people until the end of the inquiry.
“Recent developments globally have exposed serious concerns about the ‘gender-affirming’ approach to treating gender-confused youth and there is now a bipartisan consensus in many countries that major changes to practice in this area are needed,” the petition states.
“Medical interventions including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgeries can cause irreversible harm, including physiological damage, issues concerning brain development and social and relational difficulties.
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Week of tremors exposes dangers of Santorini’s construction *****
Week of tremors exposes dangers of Santorini’s construction *****
STORY: Hundreds of small quakes in Santorini this week have renewed concerns about the safety of decades-long cliffside construction.
Experts have long questioned the sustainability of Santorini’s tourism *****.
And that’s particularly true of the caldera – the rim of an ancient, sunken volcano whose sides plunge into the clear waters of the Aegean.
A 2021 report found that many buildings there had no permits, nearly a quarter of which were tourism businesses.
Efthymios Lekkas is an expert in dynamic, tectonic and applied geology.
“Those that have occupied the caldera and built on morphological discontinuities, those buildings are particularly vulnerable, so we cannot foresee the behavior of those buildings.”
Scientists have warned that the seismic activity could last for weeks and they have not ruled out the possibility of a larger quake to come.
The tremors prompted the government to declare a state of emergency on Thursday.
It shut schools and deployed the army.
Meanwhile, thousands of people left on planes and ferries.
Authorities announced landslide warnings for five areas, including Santorini’s main port.
They also cordoned off areas along the caldera where the environment ministry had halted construction in November.
Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged calm when he visited the island on Friday, saying that Greece has a very strict building code.
Many residents have become used to earthquakes over the years.
But for hoteliers like Mathaios Kourialis, there are fears for the upcoming holiday season.
“If we continue for another couple of months with this situation, the season will be lost, surely. If there is a decrease in the event, and there is less media attention, and the seismic activity calms down, we are in a timeframe where we will be able to recover.”
Millions visit Santorini’s whitewashed cobbled streets and blue-domed buildings each year.
In recent years, excessive tourism has raised concerns about shortages and overcrowding across Greece.
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Oscars Consider Requiring Films to Disclose AI Use After ‘The Brutalist’ and ‘Emilia Pérez’ Controversies – Variety
Oscars Consider Requiring Films to Disclose AI Use After ‘The Brutalist’ and ‘Emilia Pérez’ Controversies – Variety
Oscars Consider Requiring Films to Disclose AI Use After ‘The Brutalist’ and ‘Emilia Pérez’ Controversies VarietyFelicity Jones Talks ‘The Brutalist’ AI Controversy, Finally Finding “Distinctive” Work With Brady Corbet & Plans For Her F1 Series DeadlineAdrien Brody Doesn’t Want AI Controversy to Detract from ‘The Brutalist’: “We All Know the Truth” Vanity FairAI’s Film Invasion – Saint Xavier University Student MediaWas 2024 the tipping point for AI and Hollywood? Verdict
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Barry Humphries’ personal items head to auction
Barry Humphries’ personal items head to auction
From Dame Edna Everage’s outlandish dresses and snazzy spectacles to paintings and books, items from the personal collection of late *********** comedian Barry Humphries head to auction next week.
A household name in Australia and Britain, Humphries, who died in 2023 aged 89, was best known for his persona Dame Edna Everage, an instantly recognisable character with lilac hair, curly or diamante glasses and zany frocks.
Humphries’ other well known characters was drunk and coarse diplomat Les Patterson and the elderly, rambling Sandy Stone.
As well as Dame Edna’s glasses and outfits, the February 13 “Barry Humphries: The Personal Collection” ***** includes a variety of artwork, lead by Charles Conder’s painting “Sand dunes, Ambleteuse”.
Also on offer are plenty of books, including a first edition copy of “The Importance of Being Earnest” signed by Oscar Wilde to his publisher.
“Barry Humphries was obviously best known for his comedic personas but behind that was a really passionate, intelligent and curious man,” Benedict Winter, associate director, private & iconic collections at Christie’s London, told Reuters.
“He was a passionate art collector who collected throughout his life, and this auction is around 240 lots of works of art and books that he lived with, he loved and he really cherished.”
The total ***** was estimated at two to four million pounds ($A8 million).
Proceeds from the ***** of some Dame Edna items will go to Britain’s Royal Variety Charity, which helps those who have worked in the entertainment industry.
A pre-***** exhibition is open to the public at Christie’s London showrooms from Friday until February 12.
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Everything You Need to Know
Everything You Need to Know
EV Range: Everything You Need to Know Car and Driver
When it comes to electric vehicles, range is the all-important stat. Whether or not you make it to the next public charging spot, are able to complete your daily commute, or are instead stranded on the side of the road depends on it.
Range is so heavily scrutinized because EVs can travel on average barely half the distance of gas-powered vehicles before they require a “fill-up,” and because gas pumps are far more ubiquitous than public fast chargers. Most EV range discussions are centered around the EPA combined range, as that’s the one that’s published prominently on the window sticker. For the 2025 model year, 256 EVs have EPA ratings (this includes multiple variants of the same vehicle), and the EPA’s combined-range figures span from 141 miles for the Fiat 500e to 512 miles for the Lucid Air Grand Touring on 19-inch wheels and tires.
What is EPA Range and How is It Determined?
As with fuel-economy figures for gas-powered vehicles, EV’s range figures are determined by running the vehicle inside a test lab on a dynamometer—think of it like a treadmill for cars—on the EPA’s drive cycles.
These tests result in separate city and highway figures, which are weighted 55 percent city and 45 percent highway to arrive at the combined figure that’s shown on an EV’s window sticker. Unlike gas-powered vehicles, whose highway efficiency almost always exceeds the city figure, most EVs have higher city range ratings than highway. Part of electric vehicles’ magic in low- and variable-speed scenarios is their ability to recapture energy when decelerating by slowing the vehicle using the electric motor (or motors) rather than the traditional brakes.
Another way EVs are different is that range and efficiency aren’t directly related. That’s because of charging losses; roughly 85 to 90 percent of the total energy that comes from the wall makes it into the battery pack. That’s why there are two terms used: efficiency, which can be expressed in MPGe, includes charging losses, while consumption, the energy use while driving, doesn’t include them.
Story continues
How We Test EV Range at Car and Driver
Our EV range test is done at a steady 75 mph, because highway driving is where range matters most. If you’re looking to cover 500 or 1000 miles in a day, it necessarily has to be done at high speeds. There are just not enough hours in the day to do otherwise. Even the shortest-range EV can manage more than seven hours of slogging through city traffic at an average speed of, say, 15 mph. Also, unlike a gas-powered vehicle, an EV’s consumption increases dramatically as speeds rise. Of course, as with all cars, aerodynamic drag inflates with the square of speed, but EVs are particularly affected as most do without multiple gears. So, a higher vehicle speed means the electric motor is spinning at a faster and less efficient point.
Included below is a subset of the data from our EV range testing and how it compares to the EPA range figure. Unlike with gas-powered cars, which tend to meet or exceed their EPA fuel-economy figure in our 75-mph highway test, EVs on average only achieve roughly 85 percent of their label value. However, some vehicles, typically those from ******* automakers, have outperformed their EPA label value in our highway test. It seems that those automakers in particular rate their vehicles’ range much more conservatively than some others. For example, Lucid, which makes some of the longest-range EVs, is far more aggressive in its EPA range values. Although the 410 miles we achieved in a Lucid Air Grand Touring is the longest result of all of the EVs we’ve tested, its only 80 percent of its 516-mile EPA range.
Car and Driver
You’ll notice that the biggest underperformer is the electric Mercedes-Benz G-wagon, which achieved a mere 67 percent of its EPA range in our test (160 miles to its 239-mile EPA range). But it makes sense that this brick-shaped vehicle would do comparably worse at the higher speed of our test.
If you want to dive deeper into this topic, we co-authored a technical paper for SAE International outlining this difference between internal combustion vehicles and electrics using our test data.
What Factors Affect EV Range?
Two major factors are speed and ambient temperature. Traveling at a steady high rate of speed, as in our 75-mph test, is the worst case for EVs. Aerodynamic drag increases dramatically at higher speeds and when maintaining those speeds there’s no opportunity to recapture energy while slowing.
Cold weather can also affect range dramatically. One of the many reasons for that is that using the heater to warm the cabin—particularly on EVs that have resistive heaters—sucks a lot of juice. In a test with our long-term Model 3 we found that using the heat can increase consumption by as much as 35 percent and kill 60 miles of range, a significant chunk of the Model 3’s 310-mile EPA rating.
How to Maximize EV Range
If you’re driving in cold weather, it will help dramatically to pre-condition the vehicle while it’s plugged in before you leave. This will warm both the cabin and the battery using energy from the grid rather than from the battery pack, which will preserve more energy to use for driving. Another simple way to improve range is to simply keep your speed modest.
You should consider our real-world highway range figures the absolute maximum possible in high-speed highway conditions and, as with our zero-to-60-mph times, it will be difficult to achieve them with any regularity. That’s because it involves charging the battery all the way to 100 percent, which is not the EV norm. Topping off the last 10–15 percent is when the rate of charging using a Level 3 DC fast charger slows considerably, and it also leads to increased degradation in battery capacity over time. For example, Tesla recommends limiting charging to 90 percent for daily use. Even on long-distance trips, the stops are determined more by the charging infrastructure than anything else, and the most expeditious method is to top up the battery just far enough—to maybe 80 or 90 percent, keeping it in the speedy part of the charge-rate curve—to get to the next charger.
Range is critical; range is complicated. And if you want to drive an EV long distances and you live in a place where it gets cold, plan on a large buffer between the EPA combined rating and what you actually will be able to use.
Car and Driver
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Trump Says Nippon Steel Will Make Major Investment in U.S. Steel
Trump Says Nippon Steel Will Make Major Investment in U.S. Steel
President Trump said on Friday that Nippon Steel was planning to make a major investment in U.S. Steel after the Biden administration moved to block the Japanese company’s $14 billion takeover bid last month on the basis that it was a threat to national security.
Such an investment, if it moves forward, could be a breakthrough for a transaction that ran into U.S. political opposition.
Former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Mr. Trump agreed that U.S. Steel should remain American owned and operated. Mr. Biden’s decision last month to block the deal left the fate of U.S. Steel in limbo, with the company saying it would need to close mills and lay off workers.
The rejection also cast a cloud over relations between the United States and Japan, which are traditionally close allies.
“The concept, psychologically, was not good,” Mr. Trump, speaking at a news conference on Friday, said of Nippon Steel’s plan to buy U.S. Steel.
U.S. Steel is based in Pennsylvania, a key electoral battleground state, and the powerful United Steelworkers union adamantly opposed the deal. The union reiterated those concerns on Friday.
“Our union has had no contact with either company or the administration regarding reports of a Nippon investment in U.S. Steel,” said David McCall, president of United Steelworkers International. “However, our concerns regarding Nippon’s continued interest in U.S. Steel remain unchanged.”
He added: “While we await the details of the proposed investment, we encourage President Trump to continue safeguarding the long-term future of the domestic steel industry by instead seeking American alternatives.”
Mr. Trump said on Friday that he remained opposed to Nippon’s owning the company but that an investment was “very exciting.” He spoke during a news conference with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba of Japan at the White House, where the two leaders discussed trade, tariffs and investment in the United States.
Mr. Trump did not describe the details of the investment, including how much Nippon might put into U.S. Steel and how such an arrangement would be structured. He said he would “mediate and arbitrate” the terms.
Mr. Ishiba also spoke optimistically about the notion of an investment.
“Japanese technology will be provided, and the better-quality products will be manufactured in the United States,” he said.
A spokesman for Nippon declined to comment, and a spokeswoman for U.S. Steel did not immediately return a request for comment.
After Mr. Biden blocked the deal, the companies filed a lawsuit, arguing that the review process, which was conducted by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, was corrupted by politics. They claimed that American steelworkers and the steel industry were being harmed because the transaction was blocked.
Lauren Hirsch contributed reporting.
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What RFK, Jr.’s financial disclosures may teach us about managing debt
What RFK, Jr.’s financial disclosures may teach us about managing debt
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. President Trump’s nominee to be secretary of Health and Human Services, testifies before a Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., Jan. 29, 2025.
Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters
Credit cards have become a ‘de facto emergency fund’
Yet in recent years, as prices have climbed, carrying credit card debt has been difficult for some borrowers to avoid.
“With inflation being so powerful and so stubborn, it’s just shrunken a lot of people’s financial wiggle room down to zero,” said Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree. “Americans look at credit cards as kind of a de facto emergency fund.”
Those balances can be costly.
Because the disclosures are essentially snapshots, it’s not clear if he pays off his balances in full each month, experts say.
If Kennedy pays $50,000 per month toward the lower estimated $610,000 credit card balance, it will take him an estimated 15 months to pay off the debts. Notably, that will cost him approximately $93,000 in interest, according to a Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas calculator.
If instead he pays the same $50,000 per month on a $1.2 million balance, it will take 33 months to pay off, and cost roughly $434,000 in interest.
To reduce those costs, experts say it would be wise for Kennedy to accelerate the paydown of those balances.
“He has a lot of income, so I don’t even know why you’d have all that debt if you have that much income,” said Carolyn McClanahan, a certified financial planner and founder of Life Planning Partners, who reviewed Kennedy’s filing.
That same advice may apply to the average household, for whom credit card debt can also be costly.
The average debt per credit card borrower was $6,380 as of the third quarter of 2024, according to TransUnion. Currently, the average credit card interest rate is 20.13%, according to Bankrate.
Those borrowers may also be paying for other debts. Average unsecured debt — excluding balances tied to real property like cars or homes — climbed 8% to $29,364 in 2024, according to Money Management International.
Paying off debts provides ‘guaranteed risk-free’ return
With interest rates that high, it usually makes the most sense to prioritize debt paydown over other priorities like investing or saving, according to experts.
“If you’re paying down credit card debt at 20%, that’s a guaranteed risk-free, tax-free return,” Rossman said. “You’re unlikely to get that much from your investments.”
Bankrate’s research has found higher-income individuals are more likely to carry long-term credit card debt, with 59% of borrowers who earn $100,000 or more having been in debt for at least a year. That includes 24% who have been in credit card debt for at least five years, Rossman said.
“Higher-income people often get higher credit limits, and sometimes that gets people into trouble,” Rossman said.
While wealthy borrowers may face substantial interest charges, they may be tempted to use credit cards for certain perks. For example, the American Express Centurion Card, also known as the ****** Card, comes with a $10,000 one-time fee, as well as an annual $5,000 fee. In return, borrowers, get access to airport lounges, elite status at hotels and help finding tables at restaurants, among other rewards.
Nevertheless, credit cards usually are not the most effective way for the wealthy to borrow money, according to Charlie Douglas, a certified financial planner who works with ultra-high net worth families.
For wealthy investors to avoid having to sell investments and incur capital gains taxes when they want to make a big purchase like real estate, it makes sense to have a line of credit already established, Douglas said. Importantly, that comes with no costs on an ongoing basis.
It may also make sense to have up to one years’ worth of expenses in cash as a buffer, he said.
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Confusion, tears and 'Hunger Games' at USAID as agency prepares to go dark – ABC News
Confusion, tears and 'Hunger Games' at USAID as agency prepares to go dark – ABC News
Confusion, tears and ‘Hunger Games’ at USAID as agency prepares to go dark ABC NewsRecall of USAID’s global workforce causes havoc and distress The Washington PostOpinion | An Uproar as Trump and Musk Wreak Havoc The New York Times
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Tunisia’s Rich Christian Heritage: Home to Early Church Fathers and Famous Martyrs of the Faith
Tunisia’s Rich Christian Heritage: Home to Early Church Fathers and Famous Martyrs of the Faith
CARTHAGE, Tunisia – The African country of Tunisia is deeply rooted in Christianity, with a rich heritage dating back centuries. Despite its predominantly ******* population, Tunisia’s faith history, including the legacy of ancient Carthage and early Christian martyrs, continues to shape its spiritual identity.
If you’re looking for an adventure destination off the beaten path, look no further than Tunisia. “Tunisia is a wonderful nation,” Elijah, a resident of Tunis told CBN News. “We like to call it the ‘Pearl of the Mediterranean.’ It overlooks the entire Mediterranean Sea and is like a beautiful window to our desert.”
Bordered by Algeria, Libya, and the Mediterranean Sea, Tunisia offers a diverse range of landscapes, from beautiful beaches to the vast Sahara Desert. And for certain movie fans, Tunisia is the home of Star Wars. The North African country was the filming location for the first six Star Wars movies, with sets still visible in the desert.
The nation also boasts a rich Christian history.
“There is this sort of idea that Christianity is a new religion that is coming from the West. No, we are talking about 200 A.D. when there was a vibrant church here,” said American William Brown who has lived here for 22 years. He pastors the Reformed Church of Tunisia.
Drive 20 minutes northeast of the capital, Tunis, and you’ll arrive at the ancient Roman ruins of Carthage. “The ruins, at least for people of faith, are very powerful,” Brown told CBN News.
Carthage served as a significant center of early Christian thought and home to influential church fathers.
“You have Cyprian, his work on the unity of the church. You have Augustine who was not from Carthage but was from modern-day Algeria who came over and was a teacher here,” Brown explained. “You had Tertullian, and Tertullian was very significant because he was a Tunisian lawyer who came to Christ, and he came up with new vocabulary to try and explain Christian concepts. So even this word ‘trinity’ that we have is actually, originally came from him.”
American Frank Bernardi pastors St. George’s Anglican Church in Tunis. He points to Carthage as an important center of Christianity in the 2nd and 3rd centuries—a thriving hub for the faith that served as the seat of the Christian Church for all of North Africa.
“What it produced was this really significant, what I like to call, high-octane church, that had a reputation throughout the world because of how serious they took their faith, and how willing they were to die for their faith,” Bernardi told CBN News.
Dr. Corne Bekker, dean of the School of Divinity at Regent University, says Christianity faced resistance from the Roman Empire, suspicious of this flourishing new faith.
“Carthage was really a hotbed of persecution, so Christianity comes to Carthage at the beginning of the 2nd Century, and right at the beginning of that there are a number of martyrs,” said Bekker.
Among the more famous martyrs are Felicitas and Perpetua, two women brought to the amphitheater on March 7, 203 A.D., to face punishment for following Christ.
According to historical accounts, Felicitas and Perpetua were led out of the gates, down a narrow portion of the lower level of the amphitheater. On that March 7th day, tens of thousands of people had presumably gathered on the upper level anticipating that two Christian women would be eaten alive by wild animals. Instead, the accounts show that the emperor of the day commanded that the two women be put to death by sword.
“Their extraordinary commitment to Christ in the face of public scourging, being thrown to wild animals and finally being killed by the sword would become a witness, not only to North Africa but to the rest of the world,” said Bekker.
Moufida is a member of the Christian community here, and we’ve taken precautions to protect her identity. “The Christians back then who accepted the truth sacrificed themselves and they did not deny Christ and their beliefs,” said Moufida.
She tells CBN News their story of Christianity is one of resilience.
“I’m related to these martyrs who were among the first Tunisian Christians in my country,” Moufida told CBN News. “My identity is related to them. I belong to something historic and deep rooted in Tunisia and that makes me feel even more proud to belong to Christ.”
Elijah, a Christian leader here, says that, even though the country’s Christian community is small, it stands as a living testimony to the enduring power of faith. “It’s a challenge to be a believer in Tunisia but at the same time it is a pleasure to live the Christian life and share this with others,” said Elijah.
The rough estimates are that there are about 30,000 Christians today who reside in Tunisia, 80 percent of whom are foreigners. Local Tunisian believers number around 5,000.
Although a predominantly ******* country, Tunisia recognizes freedom of religion. Since the Arab Spring uprising almost 14 years ago, the government has embraced more democratic values.
“It used to be very hard for Christians to speak openly about Christ and to share their faith,” said Moufida. “Some were beaten and died in jail. There was so much danger and restrictions. But now, slowly with the openness of the environment, things are changing.”
Bernardi says Tunisia’s spiritual legacy is not only in ancient ruins but also in the memories of martyrs and theologians.
He longs for a resurgence of faith that mirrors the powerful, world-changing Christianity once defined by this region.
“I would like for Christians to pray that the blessing of Carthage returns to this land,” said Bernardi. “At one time, this high-octane Christianity, which defined the church, changed the world and I would like that to happen again.”
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Plaque relocated to honour life of former Kalgoorlie Primary School principal
Plaque relocated to honour life of former Kalgoorlie Primary School principal
A plaque which honours the life of a well-known Goldfields writer, historian and school principal has been relocated.
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Here’s the average payment through Jan. 31
Here’s the average payment through Jan. 31
Hispanolistic | E+ | Getty Images
Tax season has kicked off, and the IRS has issued roughly 3.2 million refunds this year as of Jan. 31, the agency reported.
This represents current-year returns filed.
The average refund was $1,928 over the first four days of the filing season.
However, the IRS expects more than 140 million individual filings through the April 15 deadline, so the average refund could change throughout the season.
Typically, you can expect a refund when you overpay taxes throughout the year via paycheck withholdings or estimated payments.
More from Personal Finance: Your tax return could be ‘flagged for audit’ without these key forms ‘Where’s my refund?’ How to check the status of your federal tax refund Lower earners can see ‘five-figure refunds’ from these tax credits
As of Dec. 27, the average refund for the 2024 season was $3,138, which is about 1% lower than the average payment in 2023, according to the IRS.
You can check the status of your refund for the 2025 season via the “Where’s My Refund?” tool or the IRS2Go app.
How to get a faster tax refund
“Filing electronically and selecting direct deposit is the best way to get your refund quickly,” former IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said in early January.
Typically, the IRS issues most refunds in less than 21 days, but several factors can impact your refund timing, according to the agency.
By law, the IRS can’t issue earned income tax credit or additional child tax credit refunds before mid-February. Those refunds should arrive by March 3 if there are no issues with your tax refund, the agency said.
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Impaired man drove 12 miles in wrong direction on I-93 during winter storm, state police say
Impaired man drove 12 miles in wrong direction on I-93 during winter storm, state police say
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways
An impaired motorist drove 12 miles in the wrong direction on Interstate 93 in New Hampshire during Thursday’s winter storm, damaging multiple vehicles, authorities said.
Troopers responding to a report of a blue pickup truck traveling north on the southbound side of the highway in Concord around 4 p.m. slowed traffic in an attempt to prevent a multi-vehicle wreck on the partially snow-covered road but the suspect drove around cruisers and a line of other vehicles, according to New Hampshire State Police.
The suspect, later identified as 33-year-old Matthew Burt, of Concord, then barreled into two southbound vehicles near mile marker 47 and continued driving in the wrong direction to mile marker 52, where troopers deployed a tire deflation device, state police said.
Three tires on Burt’s truck were deflated and he was ultimately arrested on charges including aggravated driving under the influence, two counts of felony reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, two counts of conduct after an accident, disobeying an officer, reckless operation, and driving an unregistered vehicle.
Burt was ordered held at the Merrimack County Jail pending arraignment.
The drivers of the other vehicles struck by Burt were evaluated on the scene as a precaution, state police noted.
An investigation remains ongoing.
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Trump to Kaitlan Collins: I will fire some, but not all, FBI agents who investigated January 6 rioters – CNN
Trump to Kaitlan Collins: I will fire some, but not all, FBI agents who investigated January 6 rioters – CNN
Trump to Kaitlan Collins: I will fire some, but not all, FBI agents who investigated January 6 rioters CNNFBI, DOJ strike agreement in lawsuit over January 6 agent list amid fears of retaliation Fox News
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WIN 1 of 10 family passes to see Perth Glory vs Sydney FC
WIN 1 of 10 family passes to see Perth Glory vs Sydney FC
We’re offering you the chance to win a family pass to get behind Perth Glory as they take on Sydney FC.
Each family pass includes 4 general admission tickets to Perth Glory’s home game at HBF Park on Sunday 22nd February 2025.
Check out the fixtures here.
For your chance to win, look for the code word in PLAY magazine in The West *********** and enter your details below. Entries close 12:00pm, Friday 14 February 2025. Terms and Conditions apply.
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#WIN #family #passes #Perth #Glory #Sydney
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Flagler County Sheriff’s Office new dog sniffs out crime on cellphones, flash drives
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office new dog sniffs out crime on cellphones, flash drives
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has a new deputy dog, a K-9 named Birdie who is trained to sniff out flash drives, cellphones and similar devices which may contain evidence of a crime.
Birdie is the agency’s first electronic storage detection K-9 and will work alongside Detective Corporal Mark Moy in the Digital Forensics Unit, according to a release from the sheriff’s office. Birdie and Moy have undergone extensive training.
Birdie is a ****** Labrador retriever born Nov. 24, 2022. The dog was purchased from Jordan Detection K-9 through a federal grant.
“We’re excited to welcome K-9 Birdie, who will be an incredible asset for our Digital Forensics Unit,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Electronic storage detection K-9s have become valuable tools used by law enforcement to find the evidence criminals may be hiding. Often these criminals may be exploiting children or involved in human trafficking. These dirt bags will soon learn they cannot hide electronic evidence of their crimes from Birdie or FCSO.”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Flagler Sheriff’s Office new K-9 trained to find electronic evidence
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Live poultry markets ordered shut in New York City because of avian flu outbreak – The Associated Press
Live poultry markets ordered shut in New York City because of avian flu outbreak – The Associated Press
Live poultry markets ordered shut in New York City because of avian flu outbreak The Associated PressLive poultry markets ordered shut in New York City due to avian flu outbreak NBC New YorkNew York Is Closing Live Bird Markets TIMEGov. Hochul shutters NYC, downstate live-bird markets due to avian flu GothamistGov. Hochul orders temporary shutdown of live bird markets in multiple NY areas due to cases of bird flu News 12 Bronx
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Clean-up signals new threats for flood-ravaged region
Clean-up signals new threats for flood-ravaged region
A flood-hit region looks set to battle more heavy rainfall but experts warn residents will confront another threat when their massive clean-up finally starts.
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#Cleanup #signals #threats #floodravaged #region
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Elon Musk’s poll asked if a former DOGE staffer who made ‘inappropriate’ remarks should be rehired. 78% voted ‘Yes.’
Elon Musk’s poll asked if a former DOGE staffer who made ‘inappropriate’ remarks should be rehired. 78% voted ‘Yes.’
Elon Musk conducted a poll on X asking whether a former DOGE staffer should be rehired.
The majority of respondents voted in support of rehiring the staffer.
The former employee was linked to a social media account advocating for racism, the Journal said.
Elon Musk ran a poll on his social media platform, X, asking people whether a Department of Government Efficiency staffer who he said made “inappropriate statements” should be rehired.
“Bring back @DOGE staffer who made inappropriate statements via a now deleted pseudonym?” Musk wrote.
The majority of participants voted in favor of the rehiring.
The poll expired at about 11:15 a.m. ET on Friday and had about 385,000 votes, with 78% voting yes.
Musk’s poll appeared to reference Marko Elez, a 25-year-old who previously worked for SpaceX and X before joining DOGE.
The former DOGE staffer was linked to a since deleted social media account that advocated for racism, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. The White House later confirmed to Business Insider that the staffer had resigned.
Elez is one of two Musk associates whose recent work at the Treasury Department has raised questions about DOGE’s level of access to the department’s payment systems, which contain sensitive data on millions of Americans.
The Treasury Department later agreed to not directly share the personal financial data with DOGE. Elez and Cloud Software Group CEO Tom Krause were identified in a Wednesday court hearing as the two Musk associates seeking access to the systems. Under the agreement, the Treasury said the two men would have read-only access to the records maintained by the Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service.
In response to Musk’s poll, one X user commented that the staffer “deserves a second chance” but should “have a talk to about the racist stuff.”
“True,” Musk replied to the comment.
Vice President JD Vance also weighed in on the matter Friday, saying, “bring him back.”
“I obviously disagree with some of Elez’s posts, but I don’t think stupid social media activity should ruin a kid’s life,” Vance wrote in a post on X.
Musk has a history of conducting polls on X, including asking whether he should resign as CEO of X and whether he should bring back high-profile accounts that had been banned.
He has previously taken action in line with the results of some of his social media polls. The billionaire allowed Donald Trump to return to X after results from a November 2022 poll by Musk supported Trump’s ban being lifted.
Musk similarly restored the accounts of several suspended journalists after one of his poll’s results supported bringing them back earlier than the initial seven-day *******.
*** could not reach Elez for comment. The Journal said Elez did not respond to its requests for comment. Musk and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from ***.
Read the original article on Business Insider
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#Elon #Musks #poll #asked #DOGE #staffer #inappropriate #remarks #rehired #voted
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Search intensifies for Alaska flight that disappeared carrying 10 people near Nome. Here's what we know. – Yahoo! Voices
Search intensifies for Alaska flight that disappeared carrying 10 people near Nome. Here's what we know. – Yahoo! Voices
Search intensifies for Alaska flight that disappeared carrying 10 people near Nome. Here’s what we know. Yahoo! VoicesSearchers in Alaska scour frozen tundra and icy seas for missing plane with 10 aboard The Associated PressAviation expert on what should give searchers hope amid missing Alaska flight CNNLIVE: Officials address latest on large search for missing plane with 10 onboard near Nome Alaska’s News Source
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#Search #intensifies #Alaska #flight #disappeared #carrying #people #Nome #Here039s #Yahoo #Voices
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Ecuador chooses president against backdrop of gang violence
Ecuador chooses president against backdrop of gang violence
Ione Wells
South America correspondent
Reporting fromGuayaquil, EcuadorBBC
Security is a central issue in the presidential election as the country is plagued by gang violence
“The entire town feels like it is in a pandemic, locked up without being able to go out and enjoy our lives due to violence.”
That is how “Jorge” – not his real name – feels about his neighbourhood of Guayaquil, a city in southern Ecuador.
His father, Marcos Elías León Maruri, was kidnapped there by the Los Tiguerones gang.
A person is killed every two hours in Ecuador and seven are kidnapped daily, according to government figures.
That’s why security is the top issue for voters ahead of the first round of the presidential election on Sunday, in which incumbent Daniel Noboa is being challenged by 15 other candidates.
Whoever wins will be tasked with restoring security to the country, which has gone from being one of the safest to among the most dangerous in the region.
‘Jorge’ tells the BBC he is living in fear after his father was kidnapped and killed by a gang
The surge in violence is partly down to Ecuador’s location, and the soaring demand for ******** in the drug’s biggest markets like the US, the ***, and Europe.
Much of the world’s ********, from coca leaves grown in Colombia and Peru, leaves the continent through Ecuador’s ports, and powerful gangs battle to control this lucrative route.
Many of these gangs also engage in kidnapping for ransom.
Mr Maruri was one of their victims.
Hours after he was seized, Jorge received a text. It read: “I have your father. How much will you pay for the life of your family?”
The next morning, he received a video showing his father tied up with his finger being cut off.
The gang initially demanded $100,000 (£80,000).
Jorge didn’t have it and began negotiating: “They wanted $30,000 or they would cut off another finger.”
Jorge scrambled to offer them $5,000 and his television, PlayStation and car.
Just as the captors had agreed on a handover, police called him. They’d found a corpse resembling his father.
“They had left my father’s body with his finger in a bottle tied to his hand – as a mockery.”
Jorge’s life has since unravelled. He rarely leaves his home, now plastered with CCTV cameras he anxiously monitors.
His wife and daughter have fled the country. He doesn’t go to work any more because the gang know the location.
The government’s heavy-handed crackdown
The current government under President Daniel Noboa has responded to the surge in violence by militarising the streets, giving police heightened powers to use force and raid buildings, and by building new maximum-security prisons.
Jorge supports these measures but criticises the justice system.
“The government is working hard against corruption and equipping the police a lot. But it is of no use if the justice system sets them free. They care more about their rights than ours.”
While some, like Jorge, back Noboa’s measures, others feel they enable human rights abuses – a key tension in this election.
I put this to Major Cristian Aldaz, from the Federal Police, during a raid in the violence-wracked city of Durán, as heavily armed security forces detained a man accused of kidnap and *******.
“Human rights, yes, but what about human rights for good people? We’re in a war. Mafias use machine guns, grenades. The militarisation aims to establish peace,” he says.
Polls still have Noboa as the front-runner, but he has lost some ground in recent months to his main rival, Luisa González of the left-wing Citizen Revolution movement.
On the campaign trail, González has promised human rights training for the security forces – although she also expressed support for the militarisation and tougher policing, including pledging 20,000 new officers.
There is one case, in particular, that has made many Ecuadoreans fear the indiscriminate use of force by the security forces.
Last year, four teenagers were seized by the military over an alleged theft when coming back from playing football.
Their mutilated, burned bodies were later found.
Sixteen soldiers have been detained and charged with the boys’ “forced disappearance” and are under investigation for *******.
They deny this, saying they eventually let the boys go.
Luis Arroyo’s two teenage sons were seized by the military while returning home from football practice
The bedroom of two of the boys – Ismael and Josué Arroyo – is typical of that of many teenagers: littered with clothes and football posters.
Their father, Luis, clutches their football boots with raw grief. It’s like he cannot believe that his sons’ feet won’t fill them again.
“Ismael wanted to fulfil his dream to be a professional footballer. A dream taken away by these soldiers,” he cries.
The only identifiable remains left of Ismael and Josué were a finger and a foot.
Luis’s anger and upset at the soldiers is clear.
“It’s not like they caught and executed four dogs. They took four children away. Then went home for dinner.”
“We want justice,” he adds. “Children continue to be taken by the military and the government does nothing.”
The anger the case has stirred may well lead some people to try and punish President Noboa at the ballot box.
Luisa González, the woman hoping to defeat Noboa, has demanded justice and government resignations over the boys’ deaths.
A lose-lose dilemma
Some voters argue that Noboa’s policies are just not working.
A public transport worker in Durán, who didn’t want to be named, says gangs are calling him to extort money even from within maximum-security prisons.
He describes how gang members force drivers to pay “vacunas” (Spanish for vaccines, the term used to refer to the daily extortion fees) to avoid attacks.
“There are colleagues who have already gone bankrupt. I haven’t worked since they almost killed me,” he tells me.
Other critics point to a poor economy, with particularly high youth unemployment making young people vulnerable to gang recruitment.
Slow responses to last year’s drought also worsened hardships across the country, which relies on hydropower for 80% of its electricity, with power outages lasting up to 14 hours.
One of those affected was Christian Guerrero.
The 40-year-old, who lives in a poorer neighbourhood of Guayaquil, says the constant blackouts broke both his refrigerator and his TV.
He agrees with the opposition that there’s “no plan” to prevent further outages.
Carlos and Laura Ipaneque’s son was shot dead when he panicked and drove off from a military checkpoint
The election comes about a year after President Noboa militarised the country through emergency decrees.
For Carlos and Laura Ipaneque it’s also about a year since their son, Carlos Javier Vega, was killed.
He’d panicked at a checkpoint when he heard gunshots and drove off, instead of stopping, causing the military to shoot him dead.
His parents illustrate the lose-lose dilemma many Ecuadoreans feel.
They live in a gated street, their house surrounded by metal bars, terrified of gang violence.
“Crime continues, robberies continue, kidnappings continue, extortions continue,” Laura explains.
But some now fear the crackdown too.
“I don’t want other people to have the pain that we have,” Laura says through tears.
For many voters, this election hinges on whether they see the problem as worse than the cure.
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How to Hedge: When to Take Profits
How to Hedge: When to Take Profits
With the recent volatility and after a few disappointing earnings reactions, some investors are exploring ways they can adapt or approach markets when volatility shifts higher. That makes sense after back-to-back years of 20%-plus gains in the and 120%-plus gains in .
How to Hedge
Investors hedge to protect their portfolios from potential losses due to market fluctuations. For instance, if an investor is long a stock or ETF, they may look for ways to mitigate their exposure for a certain ******* of time — like after a large rally or before a big event like earnings.
There are actually several ways to go about hedging.
First, “reducing exposure” can be as simple as reducing the position size. For example, selling 20% of the position keeps an investor involved in the position but lowers their exposure and moves that capital into cash — a safe-haven asset not prone to volatility.
If an investor wants to hedge but doesn’t want to sell any of their positions, there are other considerations.
For instance, inverse ETFs — which are designed to go up when the underlying asset price goes down — are available on popular funds like the S&P 500 or , as well as a handful of individual stocks. Some of these funds also have a multiplier effect, such a 3x leveraged ETF. For instance, some popular ETFs include ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ (NASDAQ:) (3x leveraged Bearish Nasdaq 100 ETF) and the Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bear 3X Shares (NYSE:) (3x leveraged Bearish Semiconductor ETF).
Warning: These ETFs do not tend to perform well over long stretches of time and are meant as short-term trading vehicles.
Finally, hedging can be done with options. For those familiar with these products, put options or put spreads can be purchased to capitalize on a move lower in the underlying stock.
For example, someone who is long Apple could purchase puts or put spreads, which could profit in the event that Apple shares (NASDAQ:) move lower. This could be a speculative play from an investor who is bearish or it could be a hedge from someone who is long.
You can find out more about options trading with our free Academy courses and more specifically, find out more about hedging here.
Don’t Forget the ******* Picture
Ultimately, don’t forget the ******* trends that are in play. Markets have done quite well over the past two years and the big catalysts — like earnings growth and the economy — remain on solid footing.
But that doesn’t mean we can’t have some periods of volatility or some pullbacks along the way. In fact, it would be weird if we didn’t!
Long-term investors can either endure these dips along the way knowing it’s part of the ride, or they can be more active and try to mitigate those losses. There are no free lunches on Wall Street, as hedging has its costs, too. But sometimes it can pay to be a bit defensive.
Managing the Trade — Costco
This example is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as advice.
I want to look at Costco Wholesale Corp (NASDAQ:), a stock we talked about in January. Shares have traded quite well since clearing downtrend resistance. This is a good look at when a trade works out well.
Notice the risk/reward tool we’re using on the right side of the chart. (On the charting page, this can be found on the left-hand side under “Projections” and the tool itself is called “Long Position”).
Chart as of the close on 2/6/2025. Source: eToro ProCharts, courtesy of TradingView.
The tool shows an entry at $920, with a stop just below the recent low of $900. In this case, the stop-loss is at $895.
Investors often target something like a 2-to-1 or 3-to-1 risk/reward ratio. Meaning that, for the $25 a share in risk the trader is taking — such as in this Costco example — they are seeking a reward of $50 a share (in a 2-to-1 situation) or $75 a share (in a 3-to-1) situation.
Of course, a trader can use whatever ratio works best for them. In this case, a move back to recent resistance near $1,000 was a little more than a 3-to-1 risk/reward ratio.
Taking Profits
If a rally of this magnitude was the trader’s goal, they could consider exiting the position completely or taking some profit off the table and potentially raising their stop-loss to protect their remaining profit.
For those that do take some but not all profits off the table, remember that the stock can keep on going — like Costco is doing right now — or it can lose momentum and pull back, potentially hitting the trader’s stop-loss along the way.
***
Disclaimer: Please note that due to market volatility, some of the prices may have already been reached and scenarios played out.
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Bathing box in Rosebud Victoria listed on Domain for $99,000
Bathing box in Rosebud Victoria listed on Domain for $99,000
A tiny bathing box measuring just 7.5 sqm in a smart beachside Victorian town has been listed for nearly $100,000.
The solid brick beach shack at Rosebud, about 90km south of Melbourne on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, presents a wide open view of the beach and Port Philip Bay.
“Located opposite Aldi, the foreshore is surrounded by well-maintained ranger-patrolled parkland with plenty of access for carparking,” the listing on Domain states.
Camera IconThe bathing box is located in Rosebud. Domain Credit: News Corp AustraliaCamera IconThe small boat shed is 7.5 sqm. Domain Credit: News Corp Australia
“The pearly white sands of Rosebud Beach is renowned as a child-friendly swimming beach for all to enjoy.
“This bathing box is perfect to use for a day trip with family barbecuing and swimming in the bay.
“Walk across the road and enjoy everything that Rosebud has to offer including shops, cafes, and restaurants.”
The box is listed for $90,000 to $99,000.
Camera IconThe shed looks out to Port Philip Bay. Domain Credit: News Corp Australia
Shire council fees are pegged at $1606.45.
“With Rosebud being less than an hour from Melbourne and in immediate proximity to world-class wineries, golf courses, and fantastic beaches via the toll-free Peninsula Link, this Boat Shed should be on top of your list,” the listing states.
Basso Real Estate is handling the property.
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Forget The Flash, WB Scrapping a Game on DC’s Perfect Doctor Strange Rival Superhero Is Why I’m *******
Forget The Flash, WB Scrapping a Game on DC’s Perfect Doctor Strange Rival Superhero Is Why I’m *******
The gaming industry is in a rough spot, but there are some studios, I believe, that are doing worse than others. One of the biggest examples of this is Warner Bros., which has had tons of failures in the gaming landscape over the last couple of years.
Warner Bros. gaming arm has been facing a downward spiral. (Image via Rocksteady Studios.)
Reports suggest that Warner Bros. was working on The Flash game. While that might make sense considering the failure of the movie starring Ezra Miller, I can’t understand why Warner Bros canceled a full-fledged game based on John Constantine. Seriously, this guy had all the potential to counter to Marvel’s Doctor Strange.
Warner Bros. cancelled a Flash and John Constantine game
A still from The Flash movie. (Image via Warner Bros)
Recently, Bloomberg‘s Jason Schreier shed some light on what’s been going on behind the scenes at Warner Bros. According to him, WB Games Montreal initially wanted to go ahead with a “1.5” version of the Gotham Knights game, which would fix all its issues. However, that was rejected soon.
Montreal then went ahead and thought of a working game centered around a known DC character, such as the Flash or Joker. The studio eventually decided on The Flash, but the failure of the movie led to the project being completely scrapped.
Among all this chaos, at some point, the studio also pitched an idea for a John Constantine game that initially caused some excitement. However, Warner Bros. pulled the plug due to budget and timeline issues.
With the decision to cancel a John Constantine, I am fully convinced that Warner Bros. doesn’t understand what the gamers want. If you’re unaware, the character is one of the best-known anti-heroes, just like Deadpool, from the DC comics.
As John Constantine switches between his detective and sorcerer persona, he fights off the dark forces with his skills and manipulation. Seriously, he’s a fan favorite, and gamers have been asking for a full-fledged title based on him for ages.
A John Constantine game would’ve been a direct answer to Doctor Strange, as he brings a darker and more horrifying experience. Warner Bros. could have has taken some risks by bringing RPG elements to craft a unique storyline, but at the end of the day, they just don’t like gamers having fun.
Warner Bros. hits gaming division with layoffs
Kill the Justice League was a massive failure. (Image via Rocksteady Studios)
It’s not just tragic news that The Flash and John Constantine games are getting axed; the team at WB Games Montreal has also caught up in the layoffs saga.
According to reports from CBC Radio Canada, WB Montreal Canada has decided to lay off 99 internal employees during a staff meeting. The sources state that layoffs targeted the quality assurance team that helped make the biggest flop of 2024, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
CBC Radio Canada states that a number of anonymous employees who were targeted by the layoffs stated that they were given the option of either talking with a job placement counselor or giving their names for a potential rehiring in 2026.
According to a former employee, the WB Montreal Canada had assured all team members over the summer that there would be plenty of new things to work on but then revealed a lack of such titles as the reason behind layoffs.
With that said, do you think Warner Bros. needs to reconsider the John Constantine game? Let us know in the comments below.
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Trump wants to end the ‘carried interest loophole.’ What it means
Trump wants to end the ‘carried interest loophole.’ What it means
President Donald Trump takes questions during a press conference with unseen Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 4, 2025.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds | Afp | Getty Images
Investment managers also receive management fees, subject to regular income taxes. But most earnings come from carried interest, according to tax expert Steve Rosenthal.
Bipartisan support for carried interest reform
Critics of carried interest argue these earnings should be treated like wages, taxed at regular income tax rates, rather than receiving preferential capital gains treatment.
“It’s come up again and again on a bipartisan basis,” said Garrett Watson, director of policy analysis at the Tax Foundation. But there’s been consistent pushback from industry lobbyists.
“We encourage the Trump administration and Congress to keep this sound tax policy … that supports jobs, workers, small businesses, and local communities,” said the American Investment Council, a trade group that represents private equity, in a statement.
More from Personal Finance: What to know about student loans as Trump seeks to close Education Department How the U.S. has used tariffs throughout history — and why Trump is different ‘Where’s my refund?’ How to check the status of your federal tax refund
While Trump vowed to end the tax break during his first term, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Acts of 2017 enacted a smaller change — extending the required holding ******* for long-term capital gains treatment to three years from more than one year.
A provision to extend the holding ******* to five years was considered for the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022. But in an evenly divided Senate, the change was cut amid industry pushback.
“The carried interest loophole is a fascinating challenge,” Rosenthal said. “Everyone wants to close it, except private equity executives.”
Projected revenue is a ‘drop in the bucket’
The carried interest proposal comes as Republicans debate spending priorities and seek additional ways to pay for Trump’s tax cuts.
However, revenue from eliminating the carried interest tax break is a “drop in the bucket” compared to the trillions needed to extend expiring tax breaks and pass additional priorities, Watson said.
Taxing carried interest as regular income could decrease the federal budget deficit by $13 billion over 10 years, according to a December estimate from the Congressional Budget Office.
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