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Talks For Gaza Ceasefire At A Standstill, No Deal Likely By Ramadan

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According to people involved with the negotiations, a ceasefire agreement in Gaza that would liberate Israeli detainees and mark the first lull in the conflict in more than three months is unlikely to be reached before the start of Ramadan, as the Biden administration had hoped.

Negotiators had planned to reach a draft deal this week following days of sessions in Cairo, “but it won’t happen,” according to one diplomat familiar with the discussions. The diplomat described the last few days of talks as “very hectic.”

Two American officials acknowledged that Israel and Hamas’ chances of reaching an agreement on a temporary truce by the start of the Muslim holy month early next week are poor.

“Hope is fading,” a US official stated.

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Talks For Gaza Ceasefire At A Standstill, No Deal Likely By Ramadan

A failure to reach an agreement in the coming days would follow weeks of US President Joe Biden and administration officials stating that an agreement must be in place by Ramadan to avoid escalation of the five-month conflict. He cautioned on Tuesday that without a ceasefire, the region may become “very, very dangerous.”

Israel has also warned that if the Israeli captives detained in Gaza do not return home by Ramadan, it will launch a military attack into Rafah, southern Gaza, where over 1.5 million Palestinians are attempting to flee the violence.

Representatives from Hamas, Egypt, Qatar, and the United States met in Cairo this week for fresh discussions, but Israel declined to send a delegation because Hamas has failed to produce a list of hostages who are living and dead, as Israel has recently demanded.

The Biden administration argues that Israel has already agreed to the general terms of a six-week truce, but Hamas refuses.

A Hamas team left Cairo on Thursday following days of talks that yielded no apparent progress in achieving a ceasefire in exchange for hostage releases. According to Egypt’s Al Qahera news, the group has left to consult on the recommendations, and negotiations will resume next week.

“It’s in the hands of Hamas right now,” Biden told reporters as he boarded Air Force One Tuesday. He had expressed hope last week that a ceasefire could be in place by this past Monday, which he later recognized was improbable.

The administration and Hamas agree on one thing: they want a temporary, six-week truce to turn into a permanent ceasefire with no resumption of combat. Biden officials have stated that they believe the halt could lead to a more lasting peace, while Israel has stated that they intend to continue operations to dismantle Hamas, notably in Rafah.

The diplomat cautioned that hope is still possible for a first phase to begin soon, stating that an agreement may be reached in the first week or two of Ramadan.

However, the terrible episode last week in Gaza City, in which more than 100 Palestinians were killed when an aid convoy was surrounded and Israeli forces opened fire, “took us back 10 steps,” according to the diplomat. Hamas subsequently provided mediators with a response to a negotiated framework that “no one is happy about.”

If a deal is successful, it is likely to have several phases. During the first stage, when the violence is likely to stop for at least six weeks, around 40 Israeli-old, female, sick, and injured prisoners will be released. Concurrently, Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian inmates from Israeli prisons.

According to CNN sources, Hamas had relaxed some of its more rigorous demands, but following last week’s “Flour Massacre,” the group pressed for further assurances. According to the diplomat, the Israeli force would pull back from Gazan cities in the first phase and then completely withdraw from the enclave in the second.

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Talks For Gaza Ceasefire At A Standstill, No Deal Likely By Ramadan

Not only do Palestinians from northern Gaza need to be able to return to what remains of their homes, Hamas has said in the discussions, but they must do so without passing through IDF checkpoints. According to the diplomat, Hamas has requested specific machinery for moving rubble, as well as field hospitals and clinics.

Hamas claimed its delegation left Cairo on Thursday “to consult with the movement’s leadership, as negotiations and efforts continue to stop the aggression, return the displaced, and bring relief aid to our Palestinian people,” according to a statement.

On Wednesday, Hamas claimed that it had “shown flexibility” while Israel continued to “evade the obligations of the agreement” under consideration.

“We have affirmed our conditions for a ceasefire: complete [IDF] withdrawal from the sector, the return of displaced persons to the areas they left, especially in the north, and the provision of sufficient aid, relief, and reconstruction,” Hamas senior leader Osama Hamdan told a news conference in Beirut on Tuesday.

Ramadan, a month of fasting and piety for Muslims, is a “period in which you have calm and you’re able to do the essential humanitarian work,” according to a senior administration official speaking to reporters over the weekend.

According to the United Nations, around one-quarter of Gaza’s population is on the verge of hunger. The Biden administration has stepped up its criticism of Israel’s refusal to open more border crossings to let aid into Gaza, particularly to meet needs in the north.

“There are no excuses,” wrote Biden on X.

Even in the absence of a truce, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Tuesday that it is crucial to “dramatically increase the humanitarian assistance that is reaching people inside of Gaza” because the situation with children, women, and adults caught in the crossfire that Hamas has created inside Gaza is untenable and unsustainable.

Blinken made the remarks before a meeting with Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, a key actor in the ceasefire negotiations. According to a person acquainted with the meeting, Blinken recognized that the pause and hostage arrangement are unlikely to occur before Ramadan begins.

According to the same person, CIA Director Bill Burns, who has been driving the administration’s efforts in the negotiations, met with Thani for an extended period during his visit to Washington.

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Talks For Gaza Ceasefire At A Standstill, No Deal Likely By Ramadan

According to a US official and another person familiar with the trip, Bill Burns has returned to the Middle East.

According to sources, Burns visited Egypt on Wednesday before heading to Qatar on Thursday. According to a US official, Burns is not anticipated to visit Israel during this trip, nor is a “quad” format meeting with Egyptian and Israeli intelligence chiefs, as well as the Qatari Prime Minister, planned, as it was in Paris two weeks ago.

“We continue to believe that the obstacles are not insurmountable and that a deal can be reached,” State Department spokesman Matt Miller said Wednesday when asked about the lack of progress. “The pact benefits Israel. It is in the interests of the Palestinian people. And it is in the best interests of the entire area, so we will continue to fight for one.”

SOURCE – (CNN)

Kiara Grace is a staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. Her writing focuses on technology trends, particularly in the realm of consumer electronics and software. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics.

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The IRS Will Give a Million People Up To $1,400. Their Identity—And Why Now?

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(VOR News) – The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will be able to give almost one million people who have already filed their tax returns additional incentives of up to $1,400 during the next several weeks.

Those qualified to get the cash will either be placed straight into their bank accounts or get a physical cheque delivered by mail.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) would refund individual taxpayers who omitted a Recovery Rebate Credit on their tax returns for 2021 around $2.4 billion.

Those qualified for the credit were those who had either not gotten a COVID stimulus payment or one that was less than the whole amount. Conversely, the Internal Revenue Service declared on Friday that it had discovered a considerable percentage of eligible candidates had not.

“After reviewing our internal data, we came to the conclusion that one million taxpayers failed to claim this complicated credit when they were actually eligible,” said Danny Werfel, Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service in his statement.

This taxpayer group may shortly be getting unexpected payments; the accompanying data provides specifics:

Could you kindly inform me about my chances of receiving a check from the IRS?

I’m sorry, but it most likely isn’t precisely that high. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reports that most qualified taxpayers—originally referred to as Economic Impact Payments—have already gotten their government stimulus money.

Those taxpayers who filed a tax return for the year 2021 but either left the Recovery Rebate Credit data box blank or entered $0 when they were actually eligible for the credit are qualified to get the special reimbursements announced by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The way this is going to be carried out?

Those eligible taxpayers are not required to perform any chores to be qualified. The funds are expected to be received either by cheque or direct deposit account by the end of January 2025. Automatic distribution of them is set for this month. The Internal Revenue Service will deliver them to either the bank account shown on the taxpayer’s 2023 return or the address the taxpayer keeps on file.

Though there will be several possible payments, the highest amount any one person can pay will be $1,400. The Internal Revenue Service has made available on the internet information on eligibility and the process used to ascertain the payment amount.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will send separate letters to taxpayers qualified for the special payment notifying of the payment.

Conversely, what would happen should I not yet have my 2021 tax return turned in?

You still might be able to turn around the money. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) claims, however, that individuals must file a tax return and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit before April 15, 2025.

This is still the case whether or not a job, business, or any other source of income earned had any bearing on it.

How many financing rounds did the COVID stimulus program have?

Households impacted by the epidemic alone received compensation totaling $814 billion overall; this was divided across three rounds of payments. These figures were calculated by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considering the taxpayer’s income, tax filing status, and the count of dependents or children entitled for the tax deduction.

The CARES Act, which became operative in March of 2020, makes qualified persons eligible for a maximum of $1,200 per income tax filer and $500 each child.

Those qualified could get up to $600 for each child and $600 for each individual who submitted their income tax return according to the Consolidated Appropriations Act in December of 2020.

Those qualified under the American Rescue Plan Act received a maximum of $1,400 per child and $1,400 per person who paid their income taxes during the month of March in 2021. very

SOURCE: YF

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Cases Of The US Flu Season Are Rising, While Vaccinations Are Behind Schedule.

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Cases Of The US Flu Season Are Rising, While Vaccinations Are Behind Schedule.

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Flu Season
(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

(VOR News) – The U.S. flu season has begun, according to health experts, who also noted a sharp rise in cases countrywide on Friday.

Significant increases were noted by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in a number of indicators, such as laboratory tests and ED visits. “For the past few weeks, it has been increasing steadily.” “Yes, we are in flu season right now,” CDC’s Alicia Budd said.

Last week, flu-like sickness was reported at elevated or very elevated levels in 13 states, roughly twice as many as the week before. Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University, says Tennessee is seeing a spike in sickness in the Nashville area.

Schaffner said, “Influenza cases have been increasing, but they have increased significantly in the last week.” He noted that up to 25% of patients in a nearby clinic, which is a gauge of illness trends, have flu-like symptoms.

An early focal point was Louisiana.

Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Centre, the largest private hospital in the state, in Baton Rouge, has infectious diseases specialist Dr. Catherine O’Neal, who said, “This week is a significant turning point as individuals are affected by the flu.” “Parents frequently say, ‘I have the flu and can’t go to work,’ and ‘Where can I get a flu test?'”

Fever, cough, sore throat, and other influenza-like symptoms are caused by a variety of viruses. COVID-19 is one of them. Another flu season common disease that causes cold-like symptoms but poses serious hazards to infants and the elderly is respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Recent CDC numbers indicate a decline in COVID-19 hospitalisations since the summer. According to CDC wastewater data, COVID-19 activity is modest nationwide but elevated in the Midwest.

Although RSV hospitalisations are still marginally more common than flu admissions, they started to rise before flu season cases and currently show signs of perhaps stabilising. RSV activity is low nationwide, but wastewater data shows that it is high in the South.

Based on a number of indicators, such as laboratory results from hospitalised patients and outpatient clinics, as well as the percentage of ED visits that resulted in an influenza diagnosis at discharge, the CDC declared the start of the flu season.

According to Budd, it is too early in the season to determine the effectiveness of the influenza vaccine, and no type of virus seems to be more common.

The flu season last winter was classified as “moderate” overall, but it continued for 21 weeks, and the CDC estimates that 28,000 people died from the virus. With 205 paediatric deaths reported, the situation was particularly dangerous for kids. It was the largest number ever recorded for a conventional influenza season.

The prolonged flu season was probably one of the reasons, Budd added.

The lack of influenza vaccinations was one of the contributing factors. The CDC reports that 80% of children who passed away and had verified vaccination status and were of the right age for flu shots were not completely immunised.

Children’s immunisation rates are drastically lower this year. About 41% of people had a flu shot as of December 7, which is similar to the percentage at the same time last year. For youngsters, the figure is steady, although it is lower than in the previous year, when 44% received an influenza vaccination, according to CDC data.

About 21% of adults and 11% of children are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, which is still a poor vaccination rate.

Influenza experts advise everyone to get vaccinated, especially as people get ready for holiday gatherings where respiratory diseases could spread widely.

“This virus also has the potential to spread from person to person at all those happy, pleasant, and heartwarming events,” Schaffner said. “flu season Vaccination remains a viable option.”

However, Louisiana’s health department announced on Friday that it was rescinding its COVID-19 and flu vaccination recommendations. According to an official, the department’s current position is that people should speak with their doctors about whether the immunisations are suitable for their situation.

The department’s spokesperson, Emma Herrock, did not respond to follow-up questions regarding the policy. Dr. Ralph Abraham, the state’s surgeon general, has expressed concerns in the past regarding the COVID-19 vaccine’s effectiveness and safety.

SOURCE: AP

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Social Security Change Approved By Senate Despite Fiscal Concerns

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(VOR News) – On Saturday, the U.S. Congress passed a plan to increase Social Security retirement payouts for some retirees who receive public pensions, a move that critics say will further erode the program’s financial stability. Among these pensioners are former firefighters and police officers.

The Social Security Fairness Act was passed by the Senate on a bipartisan vote of 76-20 just after midnight. The act may lower payments for those receiving pensions and aims to repeal provisions that have existed for 20 years.

The House of Representatives passed the bill last month by a vote of 327-75, meaning that if the Senate also approves it, it would be delivered to Democratic President Joe Biden to become law.

The White House dodged enquiries regarding Social Security’s objectives.

In order to limit government benefits for certain higher-paid employees who are also getting pensions, the measure will reverse a long-standing change to the program. It has become increasingly common in recent years for municipal employees, such as postal workers and firefighters, to face pay limitations.

The vast majority of Americans do not take part in pension plans that provide a fixed return on investment, instead relying on their own savings and Social Security. According to data from the Department of Labour, only 10% of private sector employees in the US are covered by pension plans.

The new rules apply to about 3 percent of Social Security users, or more than 2.5 million people in the United States. Legislators are heavily influenced by the workers and retirees impacted by these rules, and the powerful advocacy organisations that speak for them have been using the legislative process to push for a legislative cure.

According to retirement experts, some retirees may be able to earn hundreds of dollars more in government benefits each month as a result of the move.

According to a Congressional Budget Office analysis, the bill is expected to cost approximately $196 billion over the next 10 years. As a result, federal budget experts are worried that the change could negatively affect the program’s already fragile financial status.

In an interview with the Bipartisan Policy Centre, Emerson Sprick, associate director of economic policy, said he was frustrated by “the overwhelming support in Congress for the contrary of what policy researchers concur on is quite frustrating.”

Instead of eliminating current formulas, we could improve them.

Among these changes is the Social Security Administration’s increased disclosure of the anticipated monetary benefits for these public sector workers.

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan fiscal think tank, has voiced concerns that the additional cost will impact the program’s ability to continue.

Maya MacGuineas, the organization’s leader, made the declaration, saying, “We are hastening towards our own fiscal ruin.”

“It is noteworthy that lawmakers are in a position to shorten the timeframe by six months, as there are just nine years left before the trust fund for the biggest program in the country runs out.”

Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican, said on the Senate floor on Wednesday that the bill in its current form would “throw granny over the cliff.”

According to what he stated, “every senator who votes to impose a burden of $200 billion on the Social Security Trust Fund is opting to put the interests of senior citizens who have contributed to Social Security and earned those benefits in jeopardy.”

Those who favoured the legislation said that the question of what would happen to Social Security could be settled later.

“Those are significantly longer-term concerns that we must collaboratively address,” a supporter of the idea Senator Michael Bennett told Reuters when asked if the move would affect the government’s capacity to be viable.

SOURCE: BR

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