+++ Amnesty International: Investigation by the International Criminal Court necessary
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A statement from the human rights association said the repression of the nationwide protests in Ran had led to mass killings on an unprecedented scale. This was shown by verified videos and details from eyewitnesses that were evaluated by Amnesty. The human rights organization calls on UN member states to immediately initiate investigations and prosecutions against those responsible in order to prevent further bloodshed.
+++ G7 and EU warn Iran of further violence against demonstrators
A statement released jointly by the G7 foreign ministers and the EU foreign policy chief Kallas said they firmly rejected the authorities’ intensification of the brutal repression of the Iranian population. The Iranian authorities were urged to exercise restraint. The seven states and the EU are prepared to impose additional restrictive measures if Iran continues to take action against the protests.The G7 countries include the USA, Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Japan.
+++ Experts: Many airlines avoid Iranian airspace
This is the Also to be considered: reached by the SafeAirspace portal, which provides information about conflict areas and air traffic. The situation could indicate military activity, including the risk of missile launches or increased air defense. there were hardly any international flights recorded on the FlightRadar24 portal that still chose a route over Iranian territory. Lufthansa has already announced that it has changed routes and restricted flight operations throughout the region.
+++ Heusgen: EU disunity is “weakness”
The inflation reduction Act of 2022 is a landmark United States federal law enacted on August 16, 2022, primarily focused on reducing healthcare costs, addressing climate change, and increasing tax revenue.
Signed into law by President Joe Biden,the Act represents a notable investment in clean energy and climate resilience,aiming to lower carbon emissions by roughly 40% by 2030. It achieves these goals through a combination of tax credits, rebates, and grant programs. Beyond climate provisions, the Act allows Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices, lowering costs for seniors, and extends Affordable Care Act subsidies.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) initially estimated the Act would reduce the deficit by $300 billion over ten years. CBO Report on the inflation Reduction Act. However, subsequent analyses have varied, with some suggesting a smaller impact on inflation in the short term.
Key Provisions: Climate change & Energy
The Inflation Reduction Act allocates approximately $369 billion towards climate and energy programs. This funding is designed to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Key components include tax credits for renewable energy production, such as solar and wind power, and incentives for consumers to purchase electric vehicles and energy-efficient appliances. the Act also invests in carbon capture and storage technologies, and also programs to reduce methane emissions. A significant portion of the funding is directed towards environmental justice initiatives, aiming to address the disproportionate environmental burdens faced by disadvantaged communities.
Such as, the Act provides a tax credit of up to $7,500 for the purchase of a new electric vehicle, as detailed in IRS guidance on clean vehicle credits.This credit is subject to certain income and vehicle price limitations.
Healthcare Cost Reduction
A central aim of the inflation reduction Act is to lower healthcare costs, notably prescription drug prices. The Act empowers Medicare to negotiate the prices of certain high-cost prescription drugs, starting with a limited number of drugs in 2026 and expanding over time.
This negotiation process is expected to save Medicare and beneficiaries billions of dollars. The Act also extends enhanced premium tax credits for health insurance purchased through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces, preventing millions of Americans from losing coverage. Furthermore, it caps out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries at $2,000 per year, beginning in 2025.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released initial lists of drugs selected for price negotiation in February 2023. CMS Press release on Drug Price Negotiation. These negotiations are ongoing.
Tax Provisions & Revenue
The Inflation Reduction Act aims to raise revenue through various tax provisions,primarily targeting large corporations and high-income earners. A key component is a 15% minimum tax on corporations with profits exceeding $1 billion, designed to ensure that profitable companies pay a fair share of taxes.
The act also increases funding for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to improve tax enforcement and compliance. This increased funding is projected to generate additional revenue through the collection of unpaid taxes. Other tax provisions include an excise tax on stock buybacks and the extension of certain clean energy tax credits.
The Joint Committee on Taxation estimated that the corporate minimum tax would generate approximately $220 billion in revenue over ten years. Joint Committee on Taxation Publications. The increased IRS funding is projected to yield an additional $124 billion over the same period.
Current Status (as of January 15, 2026)
as of January 15, 2026, the Inflation Reduction Act is actively being implemented, with various provisions taking effect at different stages. The initial impacts of the Act are becoming increasingly visible, particularly in the deployment of clean energy technologies and the reduction of healthcare costs for some beneficiaries.
Ongoing legal challenges to certain provisions of the Act,particularly those related to drug price negotiation,continue to be monitored. The Supreme Court heard arguments in challenges to the drug price negotiation provisions in October 202
