Latest news with #withdrawal
Fox News
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Blake Lively withdraws emotional distress claims against Justin Baldoni
Blake Lively has requested to withdraw her claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress against "It Ends With Us" costar and director Justin Baldoni. Shortly after Baldoni's lawyers requested relevant medical information pertaining to Lively's claims – including therapy notes and identification of the actress' mental health providers – on Monday, the 37-year-old actress filed to dismiss her original claims. "Instead of complying with the Medical RFPs, Ms. Lively's counsel recently advised us, in writing, that Ms. Lively is withdrawing her [infliction of emotional distress] Claims," Monday's filing stated. "However, Ms. Lively has refused the Wayfarer Parties' reasonable request that the withdrawal of such claims be with prejudice. She is only willing to withdraw her claims without prejudice. In other words, Ms. Lively wants to simultaneously: (a) refuse to disclose the information and documents needed to disprove that she suffered any emotional distress and/or that the Wayfarer Parties were the cause; and (b) maintain the right to re-file her [infliction of emotional distress] claims at an unknown time in this or some other court after the discovery window has closed… Ms. Lively cannot have it both ways." In a statement to Fox News Digital, Lively's lawyers Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb said, "Once again this is a routine part of the litigation process that is being used as a press stunt. We are doing what trial lawyers do: preparing our case for trial by streamlining and focusing it; they are doing what they do: desperately seeking another tired round of tabloid coverage." "The Baldoni-Wayfarer strategy of filing retaliatory claims has exposed them to expansive new damages claims under California law, rendering certain of Ms. Lively's original claims no longer necessary," the statement continued. "Ms. Lively continues to allege emotional distress, as part of numerous other claims in her lawsuit, such as sexual harassment and retaliation, and massive additional compensatory damages on all of her claims." Lively originally filed her lawsuit against Baldoni and "It Ends With Us" film producer Jamey Heath for sexual harassment, retaliation and emotional distress. She first filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights department and later filed one in federal court in December. In response, Baldoni filed a $400 million lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of civil extortion and defamation. In addition to releasing a website detailing the timeline of events that allegedly occurred, Baldoni's team has shared unedited footage from the set of "It Ends With Us." Both Lively and Baldoni have claimed the footage bolsters their respective claims. After the release, Lively's legal team demanded a gag order be issued against Baldoni's lawyer, Bryan Freedman. On Jan. 23, Baldoni's lawyers filed a response, calling Lively's gag order attempt an "intimidation tactic" and "tactical gamesmanship." A judge later ordered that both sides follow the New York Rules of Professional Conduct, which limit speaking to the press. In April, Lively opened up about how this past year has brought the "lowest lows" during an appearance on "Late Night with Seth Meyers." "What I can say without going too into it is that this year has been full of the highest highs and the lowest lows of my life, and I see so many women around afraid to speak, especially right now, afraid to share their experiences." She continued, "And fear is by design, it's what keeps us silent, but I also acknowledge that many people don't have the opportunity to speak, so I do feel fortunate that I've been able to. And it's the women who have had the ability to use their voice that's kept me strong, and helped me in my belief in my fight for the world to be safe for women and girls." "It's a pretty simple thing," she added. The legal conflict is currently set to head to trial before a New York court in March 2026. Fox News Digital's Lauryn Overhultz contributed to this post.
The Independent
29-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
Thai and Cambodian armies agree to seek peaceful solutions at disputed border after deadly clash
The army chiefs of Thailand and Cambodia agreed on Thursday to a withdrawal and to seek a peaceful solution to the disputed border area where a brief clash a day earlier killed one Cambodian soldier, Thai officials said. Cambodian troops were conducting a routine patrol along the border when the Thai side opened fire, Cambodia said Wednesday. The Thai army said that the Cambodian soldiers entered a disputed area and opened fire when Thai soldiers approached to negotiate. The clash lasted about 10 minutes until local commanders spoke to each other and ordered a ceasefire, the Thai army said. Gen. Pana Claewplodtook, the Thai army chief, met with Cambodian counterpart Gen. Mao Sophan at a border checkpoint and expressed his condolences over the death of the Cambodian soldier, Thai army spokesperson Winthai Suvaree said. Winthai said both sides agreed to a withdrawal and will seek peaceful solutions together through special joint committees on border situations between the two countries in the coming weeks. He said that the troops from both sides had already stepped back from the area of the clash to their usual positions. A statement from the Cambodian army that was released later said that the two countries would work together to resolve the situation peacefully. However, the statement said that Cambodia wouldn't 'retreat or stand unarmed at the point of conflict,' although it wasn't clear from which position the army was referring to. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said on Thursday before the talks that she was confident of a positive development for the border situation, and that both sides agreed that they don't wish for violence. Prime Minister Hun Manet of Cambodia posted on his Facebook that officials of the two countries wanted to prevent further clashes and normalize the situation. But he also said Cambodia has sent troops and weapons as reinforcement to the disputed border. 'I do not want to see any fighting between armies that does not bring any benefits to our two countries and peoples, especially those who are fighting directly on the front lines," he said. Neighboring Thailand and Cambodia have a long history of land disputes. The most prominent involved the Preah Vihear promontory, an area around a 1,000-year-old temple that was listed as a UNESCO world heritage site in 2008. The U.N.'s International Court of Justice granted sovereignty over the area to Cambodia in 2013. There have been recent border incidents between the two countries, including in February when Cambodian troops and their family members entered an ancient temple along the border and sang the Cambodian national anthem, leading to a brief argument with Thai troops. ___ Sopheng Cheang reported from Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Forbes
27-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Should You Withdraw Your 401(k) Funds Before Retirement?
Cash in a jar marked 401k During challenging financial times, people often consider withdrawing money from their 401(k) plans. Balances in 401(k) plans are deceiving. They are not like checking accounts where what you see is what you can withdraw. If you have not been saving in the Roth portion of a 401(k) plan, the money has not yet been taxed. Roth 401(k) accounts are subject to a 5-year holding rule. For most people, withdrawing from a 401(k) before age 59½ triggers early withdrawal penalties. But there are times when it makes financial sense to tap into these retirement savings early. This article will walk you through key exceptions, smart strategies, and important IRS guidelines so you can make informed choices—without giving Uncle Sam more than you need to. Congress determined that the early retirement age was 59 ½. The associated tax breaks for 401(k) plans are due to the fact that the money is intended for your retirement. In order to disincentivize uses of the money prior to retirement they attached a penalty. Normally, if you take money out of a 401(k) before turning 59½, you'll owe: In fact, the withdrawal will be taxed at your marginal income tax rate. The withdrawal could potentially push you into a higher marginal bracket. If you're a Baby Boomer facing a layoff, a Gen Xer managing a crisis, or a Millennial weighing a career pivot, knowing the rules can help you avoid costly mistakes. With all your best intentions, you may have racked up some credit card debt, lost your job, ran through your emergency reserves, etc. You may be able to qualify under a hardship situation. Buying a car or something that does not appreciate. In that case, you are better off to simply pay payroll taxes like you do for the majority of your money. That way you avoid the 10% penalty. Matching contributions may complicate that situation, but that is beyond the scope of this article. I heard someone talking about seeing her parents balance fluctuate in the market. She recommended to them that they simply withdraw their money. There has always been and will always be fluctuations in the US and Global markets. Risk itself is part of how we are rewarded as investors. Instead, you may look at your asset allocation and see if one with less volatility will still help you retire. Only a small number of my prospects or clients ever showed me a financial plan for their retirement. Of that small number, none of them understood the assumptions that determined the conclusion. I recommend finding a Certified Financial Planner to help you have a retirement plan and then an investment strategy that does not have you making a fear-based withdrawal. Does your hardship definition meet the hardship definition of the IRS? Your 401(k) plan might allow hardship withdrawals for certain qualifying financial needs, such as: This list is not intended to be comprehensive. It is to be instructive. It is important to reach out to your Human Resources Benefits personnel to learn more about your plan's options. Some employers may be in a situation to modify plan rules to accommodate. A more complete list of hardship withdrawals that avoid the 10% early withdrawals can be found here on the IRS website. All of these withdrawals are still subject to income taxes and might have plan-specific restrictions. Often people are let down when they find out how much their balance may be reduced. When specifying a withdrawal, Payroll will withhold some percentage of the requested withdrawal for taxes. To avoid that circumstance, request a net distribution where the payroll company will take the taxes from account before the distribution is made. With all your best intentions, you may have lost your job, ran through your emergency reserves, etc. You may be able to qualify under a hardship situation. That only means that you avoid the 10% penalty, not taxes. The IRS mandates 20% tax withholding. In the future, if you were to save for an emergency into a simple savings account, you would be doing so with money that your employer had already taken out taxes. This account would not have you facing a potential 10% early withdrawal penalty. The real risk is not being able to replace the money that you have withdrawn and its impact. For example, your money cannot compound if it is not invested. You typically will then have to save more to make up for lost time. The longer it takes you to replace the money, the harder your money will have to work. That means either saving more money, taking on more market risk, or potentially lengthening the time you will have to work to achieve the same lifestyle the original contribution would have allowed you to live. Instead of working hard, you may decide to live on less. You will need to revive your financial retirement plan to see what you feel is doable. You can gather insights in my article, Retirement Planning: Income Replacement Or Lifestyle Spending Method? All of these calculations can be done by financial planning designated adviser such as a Certified Financial Planner, Chartered Retirement Counselor, etc. Likely you are reading this article because of tough times. Instead of a withdrawal, assuming you remain employed, you may be able to take a loan if your plan allows for it. A loan actually increases the potential amount of money you may be able to access compared to a penalty and taxable withdrawal. You will be able to access the lesser of half of your current balance or $50,000. In that case, there are no taxes or penalties. This allows you to keep more of your money in the plan, hopefully allowing it to grow. You will have to make loan payments. If you fail to make those payments, your loan will be deemed a distribution, and you will face the previously mentioned taxes and penalties. The IRS provides more detail on 401(k) plan loans here. Do you have a Roth IRA? You can withdraw Roth IRA contributions (but not earnings) at any time, for any reason, without tax or penalty (assuming you are above age 59½). That makes it a useful emergency backup—if you've been contributing. If you have a Roth inside of your plan, it is not a Roth IRA. It technically is a Designated Roth Account. Reach out to Human Resources Personnel to see what options you have for tapping into as it has some peculiarities compared to the Roth IRA. If you are in a position to wait, consider a systematic savings plan. This could include temporarily stopping contributions to the plan. In this case, you will avoid the 10% that will come from the 401(k) withdrawal. If you've decided withdrawing early is the right move, consider: Often the plan has designated a tax rate to be withheld. Depending on your income, that may be high or low. If it is too low, consider having it increased when completing the distribution paperwork, or have the money available by April 15 to make up for the difference. You may have deductions or changes in income where the standard withholding is appropriate. Early 401(k) withdrawals aren't always a mistake—but they should be done carefully and with the right advice. The 10% penalty exists for a reason: to protect your retirement future. But with the right strategy and knowledge, you can make choices that work for your life now and later. Before you withdraw, ask: As I noted in my Roth Conversions article, tax planning plays a huge role in preserving retirement savings. Early withdrawals reduce your future compounding growth—so the impact grows over time. Professional advice from a designated financial professional such as Certified Financial Planner™ or CPA may save you hundreds of thousands down the road. Their short-term cost could easily provide a significant return on investment.
The Guardian
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Argentina ratifies decision to withdraw from WHO as RFK Jr visits Buenos Aires
Argentina has ratified its decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) during a visit to Buenos Aires by the US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr. The decision to pull out of the WHO was initially announced in February by Argentina's president, Javier Milei, following in the footsteps of his US counterpart Donald Trump who had said in January the United States would withdraw. Milei's government justified its departure from the UN agency in a statement on Monday. 'The WHO's prescriptions do not work because they are not based on science but on political interests and bureaucratic structures that refuse to review their own mistakes,' the statement said. Buenos Aires has previously accused the agency of 'disastrous' management during the Covid pandemic with its 'caveman quarantine'. The announcement came as Kennedy and the Argentinian health minister, Mario Lugones, met to define 'a joint work agenda that will strengthen transparency and trust in the health system'. 'Together with Robert Kennedy, we believe in the future of collaboration in global health. We have similar visions about the path forward,' Lugones said. Kennedy, a controversial Trump pick for health secretary given his vaccine skepticism, is also expected to meet with Milei during his visit. In a video broadcast at the WHO's annual assembly last week, he urged other governments to withdraw from the agency and create other institutions. In his speech, Kennedy alleged that the UN health agency was under undue influence from China, gender ideology and the pharmaceutical industry. The Argentinian government also announced a 'structural review' of national health agencies to 'organize, update, and make transparent the structures and processes' of the health system 'that for years operated with overlaps, outdated regulations and limited oversight'.
South China Morning Post
27-05-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Public outrage as China woman dies outside bank after instructed to make in-person withdrawal
A bank in China is under scrutiny following the death of a gravely ill elderly woman outside one of its branches, where she was instructed to withdraw money in person. The incident occurred on May 14 at the Agricultural Bank of China branch in Zhuzhou, Hunan province. The sick customer was brought by her daughter and son-in-law to withdraw 50,000 yuan (US$7,000) to cover her medical expenses. The 62-year-old woman, known as Peng, had been suffering from diabetes for years. Recently, she had been hospitalised after falling and fracturing her leg, according to Dahe News. One of Peng's daughters arrived at the bank that afternoon with her mother's identity card and deposit book but was unable to complete the transaction due to entering the password incorrectly several times. Despite telling the bank clerk that her mother was unwell, the clerk insisted that Peng must be present in person to resolve the issue. One of the woman's daughters came to the bank that afternoon with her mother's identity card and bank book, but was unable to complete the transaction due to a password issue. Photo: SCMP composite/Sohu/X The daughter subsequently called her sister, who, along with her husband, transported Peng to the bank in a wheelchair. However, after an hour, they were still unable to withdraw the funds.
