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It’s Official! Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Step Out for Their First Public Appearance Together

September 24, 2017 by  
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It took more than a year, but Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have made their first public appearance together as a couple — even if they were separated by a couple rows.

The Suits star, 36, star showed her support for the royal, 33, at his Invictus Games in Toronto, which runs from Saturday through Sept. 30.

Markle, who films the hit legal drama in the Canadian city, was all smiles as she cheered on the athletes in the Paralympic-style Invictus Games for wounded service members from around the world. Meanwhile, Harry sat a few rows away next to First Lady Melania Trump whom he met with earlier in the day.

Markle wore a purple dress with a purple leather coat over her shoulders as she sat with friend Markus Anderson. She stood along with the rest of the crowd during the Canadian national anthem and clapped heartily as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (her acquaintance and a friend of Harry) made his welcome address.

She also applauded as Mike Meyers — an official ambassador of the games — gave a rousing speech, talking about his parents who served in World War II.

Meyers said his father “would talk about the unbreakable bond” between comrades. “He’d remember the names of all the soldiers he served with,” he added.

And he told the competitors taking part in the coming week of competition, “never give in, never give up. Never. Never. Never.”


BACKGRID

Markle frequently leaned into Anderson as they enjoyed The Tenors performance, sometimes pulling the purple leather jacket that was loosely around her shoulders around her.


Stephen Lock/i-Images via ZUMA

Toronto has become a special place for the couple. Harry made a secret detour from the Caribbean to spend time with Markle in her adopted hometown in December. The royal couple also spent Easter weekend together in Toronto. Harry also called Toronto a “home away from home” when he met with Governor General David Johnston.

“Despite the distance, the media attention and everything else, there’s a real ease to their relationship,” a source previously told PEOPLE. “It just works. They are deeply happy.”


Pool/i-Images via ZUMA


 

Last month, the couple set off for a short getaway at Queen Elizabeth II’s Scottish highlands estate. The big question, of course, is whether Harry introduced his girlfriend to the Queen — a key step on the road to engagement. (Neither Harry’s office at Kensington Palace nor Buckingham Palace would comment.)


Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Markle recently opened up about her royal boyfriend, telling Vanity Fair: “I can tell you that at the end of the day, I think it’s really simple. We’re two people who are really happy and in love.”

RELATED VIDEO: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s History (So Far)

All eyes have been on the high-profile couple since their romance was revealed last October. 


Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Invictus Games

“It has its challenges, and it comes in waves — some days it can feel more challenging than others,” Markle said. “And right out of the gate it was surprising the way things changed. But I still have this support system all around me, and, of course, my boyfriend’s support.”

Both Harry and Meghan share a commitment to supporting the troops. The prince, who served 10 years in the Army, has long been a champion of causes that benefit servicemen and women. In addition to the Invictus Games, he has inspired veterans with the Walking with the Wounded charity and his Endeavour Fund. Meghan, meanwhile, traveled to Afghanistan in December 2014 on a USO tour.

In gratitude to our troops, and the opportunity to thank them personally for their sacrifice and service. Such an honor and feeling very very blessed. #USOtour @usotour #afghanistan

A post shared by Meghan Markle (@meghanmarkle) on Dec 9, 2014 at 2:52pm PST

That’s it! DC–Spain–Italy– Turkey–Afghanistan–UK– DC– home….all in seven days. Thank you to our troops for their service, and thank you to @theuso for the opportunity!

A post shared by Meghan Markle (@meghanmarkle) on Dec 12, 2014 at 6:06am PST

“In gratitude to our troops, and the opportunity to thank them personally for their sacrifice and service,” she captured a photo from the trip. “Such an honor and feeling very very blessed.”

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Trump to See Tax Plan That Targets 20% Corporate Rate

September 24, 2017 by  
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Republican tax negotiators are targeting a corporate tax rate of 20 percent, according to two people familiar with the matter. That would be higher than President Donald Trump wants — setting up a key decision for the president on a top legislative priority.

Trump has called for cutting the corporate rate to 15 percent, down from the current 35 percent. The plan he’ll see this week is also expected to recommend cutting the top individual tax rate to 35 percent, down from 39.6 percent, two people familiar with the matter said.

Trump will travel to Indiana on Wednesday for a speech on tax issues that’s expected to be more substantive than recent rallies that were intended to raise enthusiasm for an overhaul, a person familiar with the planning said.

While members of Trump’s own administration have suggested that Trump’s position on the corporate rate might be subject to compromise, the president may yet resist a plan with a rate higher than 15 percent, one person familiar with the matter said.

The people asked not to be identified because details of the tax plan and Trump’s schedule have not been publicly announced. Trump said Friday night during a campaign rally in Huntsville, Alabama that a tax plan would be released this week, and described it as “massive tax cuts.”

The White House and congressional Republican leaders are preparing for a push in the next few months to pass tax legislation, after a series of defeats since Trump’s inauguration, including their continuing failure to repeal Obamacare. Cutting the corporate tax rate is one of Trump’s core principles for an overhaul.

20 to 24 Percent

House Speaker Paul Ryan and other congressional leaders have discussed a corporate tax rate in the low to mid-20s. Based on recent discussions, the GOP will probably aim for a rate in the range of 20 to 24 percent, said Ryan Ellis, a Republican tax lobbyist who previously worked as chief tax policy director for Grover Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform.

Ellis said he also expects the so-called “Big Six” negotiators to seek a top individual rate of 35 percent. The Big Six are Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn, Ryan, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the chairmen of the congressional tax-writing committees.

Ellis also said he expects the framework will call for doubling the standard deduction claimed by many middle-class tax filers, and for repealing the estate tax, which applies only to estates worth more than $5.49 million.

It’s unclear how detailed the framework will be — or whether it will represent the unified approach that the president and GOP leaders have sought.

No ‘Rubber Stamp’

Senate Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch, a member of the Big Six, has said that he’ll regard the document as a guide, but his panel won’t be bound by it. Nor will his panel be a “rubber stamp” for any particular plan, Hatch said.

The Washington Post reported that Republicans were “targeting” a corporate rate of 20 percent, citing three unnamed people. But the plan remains fluid, those people told the paper. The news website Axios reported on Saturday that the Big Six had already agreed to a 20 percent rate.

House Republicans plan to hold a conference meeting Wednesday, and public information about the plan is expected shortly afterward.

Spokeswomen for Ryan and for House Ways and Means Committee chairman Kevin Brady declined to comment Saturday when asked about the reported details of the emerging plan.

While the corporate tax rate will be one of the key decisions, Trump and congressional Republicans have also proposed condensing the existing seven tax rates to three, and cutting the top rate to 35 from 39.6 percent.

In recent weeks, Trump had suggested that he might abandon the plan to cut the top individual rate, and focus instead on a middle-class tax cut. Brady and others, however, have said they’d prefer to see across-the board tax cuts.

— With assistance by Steven T. Dennis

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