Insurgents' stunning march across Syria gained speed on Saturday with news that they had reached the suburbs of the capital and with the government forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by an opposition war monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including two provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. Download the CTV News App for breaking news alerts and video on all the top stories The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. As they have advanced, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. The UN’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands rushed the Syria border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those that remained open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some shops were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reach the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. Assad's status Amid the developments, Syria’s state media denied rumors flooding social media that Assad has left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. Follow the CTV News channel on WhatsApp Assad's chief international backer, Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine, and Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up his forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran, meanwhile, has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. Pedersen said a date for the talks in Geneva on the implementation of U.N. Resolution 2254 would be announced later. The resolution, adopted in 2015, called for a Syrian-led political process, starting with the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. The insurgents' march Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were also marching from eastern Syria toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. Syria’s military, meanwhile, sent large numbers of reinforcements to defend the key central city of Homs, Syria’s third largest, as insurgents approached its outskirts. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama, the country’s fourth largest city. HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani told CNN in an interview Thursday from Syria that the aim is to overthrow Assad’s government. The Britain-based Observatory said Syrian troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces and are sending reinforcements to Homs, where a battle is looming. If the insurgents capture Homs, they would cut the link between Damascus, Assad’s seat of power, and the coastal region where the president enjoys wide support. The Syrian army said in a statement Saturday that it has carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists.” The army said it is setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area,” apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. After the fall of the cities of Daraa and Sweida early Saturday, Syrian government forces remained in control of five provincial capitals — Damascus, Homs and Quneitra, as well as Latakia and Tartus on the Mediterranean coast. Tartus is home to the only Russian naval base outside the former Soviet Union while Latakia is home to a major Russian air base. Diplomacy in Doha In the gas-rich nation of Qatar, the foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey met to discuss the situation in Syria. Turkey is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Complete coverage of conflicts in the Mideast Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity.” He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. After the fall of the cities of Daraa and Sweida early Saturday, Syrian government forces remained in control of five provincial capitals — Damascus, Homs and Quneitra, as well as Latakia and Tartus on the Mediterranean coast. On Friday, U.S.-backed fighters of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces captured wide parts of the eastern province of Deir el-Zour that borders Iraq as well as the provincial capital that carries the same name. The capture of areas in Deir el-Zour is a blow to Iran’s influence in the region as the area is the gateway to the corridor linking the Mediterranean to Iran, a supply line for Iran-backed fighters, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah. With the capture of a main border crossing with Iraq by the SDF and after opposition fighters took control of the Naseeb border crossing to Jordan in southern Syria, the Syrian government's only gateway to the outside world is the Masnaa border crossing with Lebanon. Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria and Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad contributed to this report.Prediction: Roku Will Soar Over the Next 2 Years. Here's 1 Reason Why.Dump the dumps: New waste project sweeps incasino super win 。

On Wednesday, at Sednaya, a political prison in Syria, hundreds of people prowled the grounds. It was the third day after an astonishing rebel offensive deposed Bashar al-Assad, who had ruled as a tyrant during thirteen years of vicious civil war. After the rebels swept into Damascus, the jailers had fled Sednaya, and the prisoners had been set free. The visitors on Wednesday were relatives of men who were known to have been held there but had not reappeared. On the grass outside, burned black in places by recent fires, groups of them camped out in a grim limbo. That morning, a Turkish search-and-rescue team in blue coveralls was busy with shovels inside the darkened administration block, working at a small rectangle of dirt where a concrete slab had been torn away. Rumors persisted that there was a buried hatchway to a “red prison”—a secret underground facility where hundreds, or even thousands, of prisoners might still be alive but dying of hunger, thirst, or asphyxiation. Whether or not the rumors were true, most everyone at Sednaya seemed to believe them, and several relatives approached me to ask whether, as “a Westerner,” I could provide the technology to peer through the floors. The leader of the Turkish team told me that his group had nothing but shovels. “We are here because we want to show solidarity,” he explained, gesturing at the desperate people around him. Being entombed alive is an apt metaphor for a populace that had its civic freedoms squashed by the Assad dynasty for half a century. Hafez al-Assad, a secular nationalist from the minority Alawite sect, ran Syria tyrannically from 1971 until his death, in 2000. He was succeeded by his son Bashar, a former ophthalmologist who proved no less repressive than his father. The civil war erupted in 2011, after Bashar responded to a peaceful demonstration with deadly force. Since then, it has been estimated that six hundred thousand Syrians have been killed; some six million, nearly a third of the population, have fled into exile. Throughout the decades of the Assads’ rule, resistance of any kind was brutally quashed, and offenders were detained and tortured in a network of dozens of facilities across the country. Sednaya was the most infamous. Built in the late eighties, on a barren limestone hilltop forty minutes from downtown Damascus, it acquired such a fearsome reputation that many Syrians refused to utter its name aloud. In the first days of the war, I visited the hills nearby and spotted the complex. When I asked my driver what it was, he shook his head. Asked again, he whispered, “Sednaya” but would add only that it was a “terrible” place. Since then, as the war intensified, the prison became, by all accounts, even more terrible. In 2021, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights calculated that as many as thirty thousand people had been executed there since the war began. But the number of people who survived within the prison’s walls was, like most everything else about it, impossible to know. When Sednaya was liberated, last weekend, some of those freed had been there for decades. One inmate had reportedly been imprisoned since 1981; he had entered as a young man of twenty-seven and emerged, a ghastly Rip Van Winkle, at seventy. The searchers who gathered on Wednesday morning, moving through dank stairwells and across the flat prison roof, were traversing a place that they could have seen only in their horrified imaginations. A militiaman in camouflage played me a cell-phone video—sent, he claimed, by a former jailer—that purportedly showed the layout of the prison and of a set of tunnels. The militiaman held out his hands uncertainly; even with the video, no one could find the tunnels. No one had even found a registry of prisoners who had been held there. I met an elderly couple from Aleppo—a man in a red-and-white-checked kaffiyeh and a woman in a dark hijab. “Where are the lists?” the man asked, and then answered himself: “There are no lists.” Moving away, he said, “All I want to know is if they are alive or dead.” For the family members who have come to Sednaya—after enduring years with no news about their fathers, brothers, sons, and nephews—any bit of evidence stirs a despairing hope, which shows plainly in their body language and on their faces. The crowd that gathered around the Turks shovelling at the floor resembled relatives of people buried in earthquakes; they watched avidly, helplessly, for any indication of life. Other visitors wandered through cellblocks, some stooping to examine the documents on prison stationery that lay everywhere. I asked one dazed-looking man about a paper in his hands. Studying it as if for the first time, he said that it had to do with food allocation—not for the prisoners but for the guards. “It says the guards have been transferred, so they don’t need the food anymore,” he said. Another visitor thrust his phone in my face. It was playing a video of a young man in shorts being beaten in a cell at Sednaya. There were vicious red welts on his body; he whimpered in fear and pain as guards struck him. For years, as reports of atrocities filtered out, Bashar al-Assad remained in power, propped up by Russian and Iranian allies. As I entered one hallway, a woman in a robe began shouting, “Now you come to look. Why didn’t you come before? Why didn’t you believe us? Why didn’t you hear us when we said they were killing us!” After a moment, she moved on, but a nearby man began shouting, too. He wanted revenge, nothing less or more. He would get a weapon and kill the Alawites—Assad’s sect, which some members of Syria’s Sunni majority see as complicit in his repression. The man vowed to kill every man, every woman, and every child he saw. A boy in a turban stood inside the barred steel door of a cell. He was looking for his brother, who had been taken, at the age of fifteen, from their family’s home in the northeastern city of Deir ez Zor. He had been gone for nine years, which would make him twenty-four now, the boy calculated. The cell floor, like all the others, was covered with unidentifiable stains and strewn with grimy gray blankets and bits of clothing. The boy looked intently at the refuse, as if expecting to see something that would help him find his brother. Up on the roof, three men pointed at a reinforced hatchway, from which a pipe protruded. Perhaps, they suggested, it was an air vent to the secret underground prison. There was a rank smell seeping from it, but it seemed like the stench of sewage, not of bodies. As I prepared to climb back down into the prison through a hole bashed through the concrete, they called out again, pointing to a hatch at the far end of the roof. Another vent there had an even worse smell—but that, too, seemed like nothing more than waste. The men went on, aimlessly looking for whatever they could find. Everywhere I went in Sednaya, it was the same story. The Syrian people had been so terrorized and disenfranchised, so thoroughly cut off from their missing relatives, that they were reduced to a kind of ad-hoc forensic anthropology. One man, who had lost two brothers and three cousins to Sednaya, told me that he had been able to visit them once, back in 2016. But he was told afterward that he could not return, and since then there had been only silence. I asked if he had tried to come back, despite the order, to check on his family members. He replied, with a stricken look, “My relatives told me not to ask about them, that it could be bad for them, and so I stopped.” As I walked down a stairwell, a young man beckoned to me, cupping his other hand over his mouth and nose. A friend of his had made a hole in the wall about six feet up and was crouched in the opening. “Please smell,” the young man asked me. This time, I thought, it did possibly smell like death. The man in the hole began tearing at the masonry and hurling aside debris. A knot of onlookers gathered, looking up through the bars of a locked doorway below. For the moment, their faces were hopeful. ♦ New Yorker Favorites A man was murdered in cold blood and you’re laughing ? The best albums of 2024. Little treats galore: a holiday gift guide . How Maria Callas lost her voice . An objectively objectionable grammatical pet peeve . 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Delhi Transport Commissioner Prashant Goyal has issued a letter to Chief Minister Atishi , categorically denying allegations made by AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal that an inquiry is being planned against her in connection with the free bus ride scheme for women . "My attention is drawn to news reports on television and social media wherein former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is seen alleging that an inquiry is being contemplated in the Transport Department implicating your good self. I would like to place on record that no such inquiry has even been contemplated by the Transport Department," he said in the letter dated December 26. ET Year-end Special Reads What kept India's stock market investors on toes in 2024? India's car race: How far EVs went in 2024 Investing in 2025: Six wealth management trends to watch out for No communication has been received from the Vigilance Department, GNCTD, in this regard and the aforesaid claim is absolutely misplaced and misleading, the letter added. Addressing a press conference earlier on December 25, Kejriwal, flanked by Atishi, alleged that the BJP-led Central government is pressuring the investigative agencies to frame Atishi in a fabricated case. "We got to know from our sources that a meeting was held and the investigative agencies have been ordered by the BJP to arrest CM Atishi in a fake case. They are trying to distract the AAP from campaigning for the upcoming assembly polls," he claimed. Kejriwal asserted that the free bus ride scheme for women, a flagship initiative of the AAP government, would continue. Artificial Intelligence(AI) Java Programming with ChatGPT: Learn using Generative AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrows Innovations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Generative AI for Dynamic Java Web Applications with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Master in Python Language Quickly Using the ChatGPT Open AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Performance Marketing for eCommerce Brands By - Zafer Mukeri, Founder- Inara Marketers View Program Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Marketing Modern Marketing Masterclass by Seth Godin By - Seth Godin, Former dot com Business Executive and Best Selling Author View Program Astrology Vastu Shastra Course By - Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu Shashtri View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Office Productivity Mastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance Analysis By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program "I will not let the scheme of free bus rides for women stop till I am alive," said Kejriwal, who is currently out on bail in a case related to the alleged excise policy scam. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )

New York Mortgage Trust, Inc. ( NASDAQ:NYMTZ – Get Free Report ) announced a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, December 10th, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, January 1st will be given a dividend of 0.4375 per share on Wednesday, January 15th. This represents a $1.75 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.13%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 31st. New York Mortgage Trust Stock Up 0.7 % NYMTZ opened at $19.17 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $19.99 and a 200-day moving average price of $19.88. New York Mortgage Trust has a 1 year low of $16.60 and a 1 year high of $21.74. About New York Mortgage Trust ( Get Free Report ) See Also Receive News & Ratings for New York Mortgage Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for New York Mortgage Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .RFK Jr.'s surprising defense of leaked audio calling the president-elect Hitler and MAGA supporters 'idiots'

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SkyViewTek Strengthens European Expansion with Key Hires and NIS2 Compliance Seminar in ViennaIn a rapidly evolving digital age, one name is emerging as a beacon of hope within Nigeria’s tech landscape—Obie Okoye. This dynamic entrepreneur from Anambra State, raised in Enugu, is not only revolutionizing how technology is integrated into local businesses but also setting new standards for community engagement and education. Okoye embarked on his entrepreneurial journey fueled by a desire to help local enterprises overcome technological barriers. He founded his first startup, creating bespoke software that streamlined operations and solved real-world challenges for small to medium-sized businesses. Understanding that local entrepreneurs often lacked access to advanced technological resources, Okoye tailored his solutions to meet their specific needs. As his reputation grew, so did his ambition. Okoye transitioned into Software as a Service (SaaS), launching platforms that provided scalable solutions for companies at every stage of their growth. His innovative approach garnered significant attention from investors, resulting in successful acquisitions and solidifying his position as a leading figure in Nigeria’s tech community. However, what truly distinguishes Okoye is his commitment to giving back. Recognizing that technological advancement should benefit all layers of society, he has dedicated considerable resources to developing educational programs aimed at empowering youth. His partnerships with local educational institutions focus on implementing tech literacy initiatives that prepare the next generation for successful careers in technology. “Empowering our youth with technology is essential for building a prosperous future,” Okoye stated at a recent community event. “We must equip them with the skills needed to navigate and thrive in a digital economy.” Okoye’s impact reaches beyond just technical mentorship; he has also launched a scholarship fund to support underprivileged students pursuing careers in technology. This initiative has opened doors for several young talents who may otherwise have never had the opportunity to study tech-related fields. With numerous awards celebrating his contributions to both the tech sector and community development, Obie Okoye is not just an entrepreneur—he is a movement. His vision for an inclusive and tech-savvy Nigeria is driving change and inspiring countless individuals to embrace technology as a tool for personal and professional growth. As he continues to innovate and uplift communities, Obie Okoye stands as a testament to the positive influence that one person can have in shaping the future of technology and education in Nigeria. His journey underscores the belief that technology, when paired with social responsibility, can create endless possibilities for empowerment and growth.

WASHINGTON D.C., DC — Jimmy Carter, the longest-lived American president died Sunday – more than a year after entering hospice care – at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023, spent most of their lives. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are among the many Americans mourning the loss Sunday. “Today, America and the world lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian,” they said in a statement . “He saved, lifted, and changed the lives of people all across the globe. He was a man of great character and courage, hope and optimism. We will always cherish seeing him and Rosalynn together.” Their statement continued to recognize the work Carter did for the country and encouraged "young people" in the country to study Carter and his life if they're in "search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning." Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world — Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation’s highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s. “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights and unselfish love,” said Chip Carter, the former president’s son, in a statement . “My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.” President Carter is survived by his children — Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy; 11 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Rosalynn, and one grandchild, according to the Carter Center . “We will miss them both dearly, but take solace knowing they are reunited once again and will remain forever in our hearts,” said Jill and Joe Biden. “To the entire Carter family, we send our gratitude for sharing them with America and the world.” President-elect Donald Trump took to his social media website Truth Social to offer the family his condolences and remember Carter. "The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude," he said. "Melania and I are thinking warmly of the Carter Family and their loved ones during this difficult time. We urge everyone to keep them in their hearts and prayers." In a statement issued Sunday, former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama said Carter’s beloved Maranatha Baptist Church “will be a little quieter on Sunday's” but added that the late former president “will never be far away — buried alongside Rosalynn next to a willow tree down the road, his memory calling all of us to heed our better angels.” Noting the “hundreds of tourists from around the world crammed into the pews” to see the former president teach Sunday school, as he did “for most of his adult life,” the Obamas listed Carter’s accomplishments as president. But they made special note of the Sunday school lessons, saying they were catalysts for people making a pilgrimage to the church. “Many people in that church on Sunday morning were there, at least in part, because of something more fundamental: President Carter’s decency.” Former Vice President Al Gore praised Jimmy Carter for living “a life full of purpose, commitment and kindness” and for being a “lifelong role model for the entire environmental movement.” Carter, who left the White House in 1981 after a landslide defeat to Ronald Reagan. concentrated on conflict resolution, defending democracy and fighting disease in the developing world. Gore, who lost the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush, remains a leading advocate for action to fight climate change. Both won Nobel Peace Prizes. Gore said it is a testament to his "unyielding determination to help build a more just and peaceful world” that Carter is often “remembered equally for the work he did as President as he is for his leadership over the 42 years after he left office.” During Gore’s time in the White House, President Bill Clinton had an uneasy relationship with Carter. Former President Bill Clinton and his wife former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, remember Carter as a man who lived to serve others. “Hillary and I mourn the passing of President Jimmy Carter and give thanks for his long, good life. Guided by his faith, President Carter lived to serve others — until the very end," they said in a statement . The statement recalled Carter's many achievements and priorities, including efforts “to protect our natural resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, make energy conservation a national priority, return the Panama Canal to Panama, and secure peace between Egypt and Israel at Camp David." After he left office, the Clinton statement said, Carter continued efforts in "supporting honest elections, advancing peace, combating disease, and promoting democracy; to his and Rosalynn’s devotion and hard work at Habitat for Humanity — he worked tirelessly for a better, fairer world,” the statement said. Biden issued an official state funeral to be held in Washington D.C. for James Earl Carter, Jr., 39th President of the United States, 76th Governor of Georgia, Lieutenant of the United States Navy, graduate of the United States Naval Academy, and favorite son of Plains, Georgia, who gave his full life in service to God and country.Surveys from two credit bureaus say consumer debt rose to a record $2.5 trillion in the third quarter, as Canadians continue to struggle with high living costs. Equifax's report says people who borrowed money for the first time in the past 12 to 36 months saw the biggest rise in missed payments , compared to the same group in 2023. TransUnion, the other credit bureau, says more gen Z consumers entering the credit market coincided with consumer credit debt rising 4.1 per cent. There are a variety of reasons Canadians born between 1995 and 2010 are being impacted, according to Marc Rouleau, the Senior Vice President of Doyle Salewski, an insolvency trustee firm in eastern Ontario. "They're the ones that are being exposed to credit, perhaps for the first time, and experiencing some of these difficulties in the market," he tells CTV News Ottawa. "We're seeing now in the market that the gen Z generation is the first generation that may not be able to buy a house because it's gotten unaffordable. Prices of houses have skyrocketed, and mortgage rates have gone up." Rouleau adds that young Canadians are entering the market at a disadvantage, because of how disciplined they need to be with spending. "If you get over your head and you're living a lifestyle that is unaffordable, it's very difficult to get behind the 8 ball," he explains. "It's very difficult to know what your limit is unless you've set one for yourself." The student life Buying a house is the furthest thing from Julian Hough's mind. The 20-year-old is attending St. Lawrence College in Brockville, Ont. to become a firefighter. He has student loans from the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), totalling $20,000. Hough will have to pay $13,000 back to the provincial government, either six months after he finishes school or six months after he gets a full-time job. "It's nice that you don't have to start paying back until you have a job and you're making some income, so that helps," he says. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. 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Loonie tanks after Trump threatens tariffs on Canadian goods The Canadian dollar fell to its lowest level since May 2020 after Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Canadian goods shipped to the United States once he takes office in January. As Trump vows major tariff hike, a look at what the U.S. imports from Canada Some Canadian products could face huge tariffs on the first day of Donald Trump's administration in January. Here’s a quick look at what the U.S. imports from Canada. Canadian government suspends contracts with Boissonnault's former company The medical supply company co-founded by Liberal MP and former minister Randy Boissonnault has been suspended from bidding on or entering into contracts with the Government of Canada. DEVELOPING | Follow live: Notorious killer Paul Bernardo seeks parole Paul Bernardo, one of Canada’s most notorious killers, is seeking parole at the medium security La Macaza Institution in Quebec. He was transferred there from an Ontario maximum-security prison last year, to significant public outcry. Longtime member of Edmonton theatre community dies during 'A Christmas Carol' performance Edmonton's theatre community is in mourning after an actor died during a performance of "A Christmas Carol" at the Citadel Theatre on Sunday. Violence in Montreal had nothing to do with pro-Palestinian cause: police chief Montreal's police chief says it's 'impossible' for protest organizers to prevent people bent on violence from infiltrating demonstrations. They thought they'd found Amelia Earhart's plane. Instead, the search continues The disappearance of pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart more than 87 years ago has remained one of the most captivating mysteries in history, with a handful of explorers devoted to scouring the seas for any clue to her final whereabouts. DEVELOPING | Trudeau confirms premiers meeting, Poilievre calls Trump tariff threat 'unjustified' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be convening a meeting of all of Canada's premiers 'this week' to discuss U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's intent to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all products from Canada and Mexico on his first day in office, if border issues aren't addressed. Atlantic Nova Scotians head to the polls to vote in snap election; results delayed by an hour Nova Scotians are casting their votes Tuesday in a snap provincial election, but they won't learn the outcome until after 9 p.m., due to a delayed opening at a polling station. N.S. lobster buyer calls for heightened policing after shot fired into Meteghan home A lobster buyer in Meteghan, N.S., is looking for increased policing and a community-wide push aimed at organized crime after a bullet was fired into his home on Saturday night. Halifax-area residents served by Lake Major asked to continue to conserve water despite recent rain Halifax Water continues to ask residents and businesses who are served by Lake Major to conserve their water use. Toronto Ford says Trump's proposed 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods like 'a family member stabbing you right in the heart' Ontario Premier Doug Ford says a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods proposed by U.S. president-elect Donald Trump is akin to 'a family member stabbing you right in the heart.' Traveller at Toronto Pearson airport caught with 45 kg of weed in her luggage: RCMP A 21-year-old woman has been charged after allegedly attempting to conceal 45 kilograms of cannabis in her luggage. Loonie tanks after Trump threatens tariffs on Canadian goods The Canadian dollar fell to its lowest level since May 2020 after Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Canadian goods shipped to the United States once he takes office in January. Montreal Violence in Montreal had nothing to do with pro-Palestinian cause: police chief Montreal's police chief says it's 'impossible' for protest organizers to prevent people bent on violence from infiltrating demonstrations. Shipping container of teddy bears pulled out of river near Montreal A shipping container full of teddy bears that fell into the St. Lawrence River near the Port of Montreal over the weekend has been successfully removed. Legault says Trump's 25 per cent tariff would pose 'huge risk' for Quebec, Canadian economies Premier François Legault says President-elect Donald Trump's threat of a 25 per cent tariff on all imports would pose a 'huge risk' to the Quebec and Canadian economies. Northern Ontario Committee OKs rezoning for former Sudbury hospital site Greater Sudbury's planning committee approved rezoning and official plan amendment for the former hospital in Sudbury at its meeting Monday. Suspect in attempted murder in Cobalt, Ont., makes court appearance The 18-year-old suspect charged in a disturbing attack on his ex-girlfriend was in court Tuesday morning. Sudbury resident scammed out of $20K, suspect from southern Ont. charged A 21-year-old from southern Ontario has been charged with several offences after a victim from Greater Sudbury was tricked into giving him $20,000. Windsor Two suspects wanted for pharmacy break-in Windsor police are searching for two suspects after a break-in at a pharmacy on Tecumseh Road East. Lakeshore man facing more sex assault charges after second alleged victim comes forward Essex County OPP say a Lakeshore man is facing more sexual assault charges after a second alleged victim has come forward. Amicable end proposed for former Grace Hospital site The Corporation of the City of Windsor and Fairmount Properties LLC issued a joint statement about the former Grace Hospital site near downtown Windsor. London Fatal crash reported south of Ingersoll A stretch of road south of Ingersoll is expected to be closed for several hours following a crash. OPP are on scene of the two-vehicle crash on Plank Line, which is closed between McBeth Road and Salford Road. Man allegedly breaks into woman’s house, stands naked with a knife beside her bed: Sarnia police Sarnia police have issued a public safety advisory in the area of Kathleen Avenue and East Street following the report of a disturbing break and enter. Sending parents home with their healthy infants sooner, LHSC establishes permanent early discharge program The Early Discharge Program allows parents and newborns to be discharged, and have a midwife follow up with them at home to complete screening and assessments as opposed to having those take place in the hospital. Kitchener Victims' families urge parole board to keep 'sadistic' killer Bernardo behind bars The mothers of two teenage girls who were tortured and murdered by Paul Bernardo made emotional pleas at a Parole Board of Canada hearing Tuesday to keep the notorious killer and rapist behind bars, as he makes his third attempt to secure a release. Shelter in place lifted after police respond to barricaded person in Kitchener There is an increased police presence in a Kitchener neighbourhood as police respond to a call about a barricaded person. INTERPOL warns Guelph Police of concerning social media post A Guelph teenager has learned to be more careful about what she posts online after one of her Snapchat stories caught the attention of INTERPOL. Barrie One person seriously injured in collision with dump truck Emergency crews are at the scene of a serious collision between a dump truck and a minivan in Clearview Township. Multi-vehicle crash involving dump truck sends 3 to hospital Three people were hospitalized after police say a dump truck struck four vehicles in Newmarket on Monday afternoon. Midland murder trial enters final week with accused claiming self-defence The trial of a Midland man accused of murder in the fatal stabbing of his tenant three years ago is in its final week as the Crown and defence prepare to make their closing arguments to the jury. Winnipeg 'It would mean a recession': Premier Kinew speaks on Trump's tariff threat Tariffs on Canadian goods headed to the United States would mean a recession in Manitoba. That is how Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew feels about comments from president-elect Donald Trump Monday. Portage la Prairie Mall closing after 45 years A beloved retail staple in Portage la Prairie, Man., is shutting its doors at the end of the year. Steinbach man charged with child luring: RCMP A 20-year-old man from Steinbach has been charged with child luring, and RCMP have released one of his social media handles to help identify more victims. Calgary TSB orders more training following incident involving plane in Calgary The Transportation Safety Board says an incident that involved a Westjet plane hitting the runway in Calgary earlier this year was connected to an issue with pilot training on a particular model of aircraft. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says Trump's border concerns are valid as tariffs loom Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says Donald Trump’s concerns about the border are valid, as the president-elect threatens sweeping tariffs on Canadian goods. LIVE at 3:30 | Alberta to announce actions against Ottawa's proposed emissions cap The Alberta government is hitting back at the proposed federal emissions cap Tuesday afternoon. Edmonton Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says Trump's border concerns are valid as tariffs loom Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says Donald Trump’s concerns about the border are valid, as the president-elect threatens sweeping tariffs on Canadian goods. From Rogers Place to Winspear Centre, here's how accessible Edmonton concert venues are For most people buying a concert ticket, questions like “How am I going to get into a venue?” or “Where will I go to the bathroom?” aren’t top of mind, but for people with disabilities, these issues can make or break a night out. Stuff-a-Bus Week begins in Edmonton Edmonton Transit Service's stuff-a-bus campaign gets rolling Wednesday. Regina Defence-called expert says Regina chiropractor accused of sexual assault followed industry standards An expert called by Ruben Manz’s defence counsel testified the Regina-based chiropractor, who is facing several sexual assault charges, followed the industry standard of care when treating the complainants. Sask. premier says Trump tariff on products would be 'disastrous' for food security, energy, employment Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says if President-elect Donald Trump imposes a 25 per cent tariff on all products from Canada and Mexico it would have a disastrous effect on food security and energy across North America. IN PICTURES | Here are the winners of the 2024 ExploreSask photo contest The winners of Tourism Saskatchewan's annual ExploreSask photo contest have been revealed. Saskatoon Saskatoon man hospitalized after he was allegedly stabbed in the forehead A man has been taken to hospital after he was allegedly stabbed in the forehead early on Tuesday. City budget adjusted to include 5.84% property tax bump The City of Saskatoon's planned property tax increase in its proposed budget has been marginally bumped up to 5.84 per cent. Saskatoon businesses prepare for possible holiday impact amid Canada Post strike As Canada Post workers mark their second week on the picket line, some Saskatoon businesses say they’ve had to adapt to disruptions in postal services during their busiest time of year. Vancouver B.C. teen with avian flu remains in critical care, source of infection still unknown The teenager who is infected with the first human case of H5N1 avian influenza acquired in Canada remains in critical care at BC Children’s Hospital, officials said Tuesday. B.C. RCMP officer won't stand trial for on-duty shooting A B.C. RCMP officer who was charged in an on-duty shooting nearly four years ago will not stand trial, prosecutors announced Tuesday. B.C. premier says Canada will negotiate from 'position of strength' on US tariff British Columbia Premier David Eby says Canada must stand together and negotiate from its position on strength against plans by United States president-elect Donald Trump to impose a 25 per cent tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico. Vancouver Island B.C. premier says Canada will negotiate from 'position of strength' on US tariff British Columbia Premier David Eby says Canada must stand together and negotiate from its position on strength against plans by United States president-elect Donald Trump to impose a 25 per cent tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico. B.C. teen with avian flu remains in critical care, source of infection still unknown The teenager who is infected with the first human case of H5N1 avian influenza acquired in Canada remains in critical care at BC Children’s Hospital, officials said Tuesday. B.C. RCMP officer won't stand trial for on-duty shooting A B.C. RCMP officer who was charged in an on-duty shooting nearly four years ago will not stand trial, prosecutors announced Tuesday. Kelowna Man in hospital following targeted shooting in Kamloops Police are appealing for information on a targeted shooting that resulted in the hospitalization of a man in Kamloops. Police cleared of fault in fatal 2023 crash in B.C.'s Interior British Columbia's independent police watchdog has cleared officers of wrongdoing in a crash where three people were killed south of Kamloops in July of last year. B.C. woman sentenced for stealing $14K in funds raised for schoolkids A B.C. woman who stole more than $14,000 in volunteer-raised funds that were supposed to be spent on school supplies and programs – including hot meals for vulnerable kids – won't spend any time in jail. Stay Connected

Stock markets in the Gulf were mostly subdued on Sunday, weighed down by concerns that the U.S. Federal Reserve will make fewer rate cuts next year, though a cooler-than-expected inflation report kept the losses in check. Markets were jolted after the Fed forecast only two rate reductions in 2025 and raised its inflation estimate, in a nod to the economy’s continued resilience and still-high price rises. Following the November inflation data, traders raised their rate cut bets for 2025, now expecting a rate cut first in March and then again by October. The Fed’s decisions have a significant impact on the Gulf region’s monetary policy, as most currencies there are pegged to the U.S. dollar. Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index was down for a second straight session, falling 0.4%, with most sectors in the red. UAE markets gain ahead of key US inflation data Healthcare provider Dr Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Services slipped 4% and Saudi Aramco lost 1.9%. SABIC Agri-Nutrients Company gained 3% after the fertilizer and chemicals maker declared a cash dividend of 3 riyals per share for the second half of the year and said it has amended the protocol for declaration and distribution of interim dividends. The Qatari benchmark index rose 1% as it resumed trading after a two-day break for a national holiday, lifted by gains in almost all stocks. Qatar Islamic Bank climbed 1.6%, while Industries Qatar gained 0.9%. Meanwhile, Qatar’s energy minister told the Financial Times the country would stop shipping gas to the European Union if member states strictly enforce a new law cracking down on forced labour and environmental damage. Outside the Gulf, Egypt’s blue-chip index eased 0.5% with Commercial International Bank shedding 0.5% and E-Finance for Digital falling 2.5%. SAUDI ARABIA down 0.4% to 11,849 KUWAIT rose 0.2% to 7,818 QATAR gained 1% to 10,559 EGYPT down 0.5% to 30,373 BAHRAIN fell 0.3% to 1,994 OMAN lost 0.5% to 4,488None

Former president Jimmy Carter passed away at age 100 on December 29. He is survived by his four children; Amy, Donnel, John and James and 11 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. Carter lived out the latter years of his life with his enormous family. In conversation with CNN in 2015, he said, "Our family has grown. There are 38 of us in total, including 22 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. So, we try to hold our family together and just enjoy the family life." All About Carter's Children John William “Jack” Carter is the eldest son of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter who is 77 years old. The second oldest son, James Earl "Chip" Carter III, 74, inherited his father's and grandfather's names. The youngest of the Carter brothers is 72-year-old Donnel "Jeff" Carter. The 57-year-old Amy Carter is the former president and first lady's only daughter and youngest child by 15 years. John Carter: Born in 1947, John joined the Navy in 1968 and left in 1970. Prior to following in his father's footsteps and running for the U.S. Senate in 2006, he had positions at CitiBank and the Chicago Board of Trade. James Carter: Born in 1950, James was involved in politics, having worked at the Democratic National Committee and on the Plains City Council. He was elected Friendship Force president in 2000. Donnel Carter: Born in 1952, Donnel worked as a researcher for the Carter Center's Conflict Resolution Program and cofounded Computer Mapping Consultants. He is also the author of 'Ancestors of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, a look at the Carter family history.' Amy Carter: Born in 1967, Amy gained notoriety for her political involvement, which included taking part in sit-ins and demonstrations against South Africa's apartheid and US foreign policy in Central America. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News, World and around the world., born Eleanor Rosalynn Smith on August 18, 1927, in Plains, Georgia, was a prominent American public figure and the lifelong companion of the 39th president of the United States, . From an early age, Rosalynn demonstrated a remarkable dedication to her family, especially after the death of her father when she was 13 years old, assuming significant responsibilities at home. He and Rosalynn began dating in 1945. Carter, who was 20 at the time, was attending the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and stole a kiss from Rosalynn on their first date. He later told his mother that he wanted to marry her. On July 7, 1946, she married Jimmy Carter, cementing a union that would last more than seven decades. The couple had four children - John Carter, James Carter III, Donnel Carter and Amy Carter - as well as 25 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They remained completely devoted to each other throughout their lives. The longest-serving presidential couple in the U.S. As First Lady of the United States from 1977 to 1981, Rosalynn Carter distinguished herself through her commitment to various social causes, most notably her advocacy for mental health. She was a staunch advocate for research in this area and worked tirelessly to eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness. She also represented the United States on diplomatic missions abroad, reflecting her deep commitment to public service. After her time in the White House, Rosalynn continued her humanitarian work alongside her husband through the Carter Center, an organization dedicated to promoting peace and human rights around the world. Her legacy endures as an example of dedication and service to the community, both nationally and internationally. Rosalynn died on November 19, 2023, in her hometown. In fact, former President Jimmy Carter, who died a year later on Sunday, December 29, 2024, made his last public appearance in November 2023 to mourn the loss of the love of his life at an intimate funeral in Plains, Georgia, that was limited to family and friends. "The best thing I ever did was marrying Rosa," Jimmy once said. "That's the pinnacle of my life, the best thing that happened to me."

Party City to close its stores as company files for bankruptcy LOS ANGELES (AP) — Party City announced that it's going to “wind down” its retail and wholesale operations as it prepares to shutter nearly 700 stores nationwide. The company said Saturday it has also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection "to maximize value for the benefit of the company’s stakeholders.” The New Jersey-based retailer said it will keep more than 95% of its 12,000 employees to help with the process of closing down. Customers have flocked to Party City for Halloween costumes, favors for children’s birthday parties and decorations for New Year’s Eve celebrations for nearly 40 years. It has faced growing competition from Walmart and Target and from occasion-based pop-up stores such as Spirit Halloween. A million taxpayers will soon receive up to $1,400 from the IRS. Who are they and why now? Approximately 1 million taxpayers will automatically receive special payments of up to $1,400 from the IRS in the coming weeks. The money will be directly deposited into eligible people’s bank accounts or sent in the mail by a paper check. Most people shouldn't get their hopes up about receiving the cash. The IRS says it’s distributing about $2.4 billion to taxpayers who failed to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns after missing one of the COVID stimulus payments or receiving less than the full amount. The IRS says most taxpayers eligible for the federal stimulus payments received them. Bluesky finds with growth comes growing pains — and bots Bluesky has seen its user base soar since the U.S. presidential election, boosted by people seeking refuge from Elon Musk’s X, or wanting an alternative to Meta’s Threads and its algorithms. The platform grew out of the company then known as Twitter and was eventually intended to replace it. While this is still very much a pie in the sky, Bluesky’s growth trajectory could make it a serious competitor to other social platforms. With growth, though, comes growing pains. It’s not just human users who’ve been flocking to Bluesky but also bots, including those designed to create partisan division or direct users to junk websites. 'Sonic 3' bests 'Mufasa: The Lion King' at the box office NEW YORK (AP) — In the holiday season battle of big-budget family movies, Paramount Pictures’ “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” sped past the Walt Disney Co.’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” to take the top spot at the box office. The results came just ahead of the lucrative Christmas corridor in theaters. According to studio estimates, “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” debuted with $62 million in ticket sales over the weekend. “Mufasa,” however, was humbled in its opening weekend, coming in notably shy of expectations. It returned just $35 million in domestic ticket sales. Amazon and Starbucks workers are on strike. Trump might have something to do with it Amazon delivery drivers and Starbucks baristas are on strike in a handful of U.S. cities as they seek to exert pressure on the two major companies to recognize them as unionized employees or to meet demands for an inaugural labor contract. Strikes during busy periods like the holidays can help unions exercise leverage during negotiations or garner support from sympathetic consumers. One expert says he thinks workers at both companies are “desperate” to make progress before President-elect Donald Trump can appoint a Republican majority to the National Labor Relations Board. Workers at Starbucks, Amazon and some other prominent consumer brands are fighting for their first contracts after several locations voted to unionize. Farmers are still reeling months after Hurricane Helene ravaged crops across the South LYONS, Ga. (AP) — Farmers in Georgia are still reeling more than two months after Hurricane Helene blew away cotton, destroyed ripened squash and cucumbers and uprooted pecan trees and timber. Agribusinesses in other Southern states saw costly damage as well. The University of Georgia estimates the September storm inflicted $5.5 billion in direct losses and indirect costs in Georgia alone. In rural Toombs County, Chris Hopkins just finished harvesting his ravaged cotton crop and figures he lost half of it, costing him about $430,000. Poultry grower Jeffrey Pridgen in Georgia's Coffee County had four of his 12 chicken houses destroyed and others badly damaged. Farmers say more government disaster assistance is needed. Ex-OpenAI engineer who raised legal concerns about the technology he helped build has died Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who helped train the artificial intelligence systems behind ChatGPT and later said he believed those practices violated copyright law, has died, according to his parents and San Francisco officials. He was 26. He was well-regarded by colleagues at the San Francisco company, where a co-founder this week called him one of OpenAI’s strongest contributors who was essential to developing some of its products. But he grew disillusioned with the company and told The Associated Press this fall he would “try to testify” in copyright infringement cases against it. Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge shows price pressures eased last month WASHINGTON (AP) — An inflation gauge that is closely watched by the Federal Reserve barely rose last month in a sign that price pressures cooled after two months of sharp gains. Prices rose just 0.1% from October to November. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, prices also ticked up just 0.1%, after two months of outsize 0.3% gains. The milder inflation figures arrived two days after Federal Reserve officials, led by Chair Jerome Powell, rocked financial markets by revealing that they now expect to cut their key interest rate just two times in 2025, down from four in their previous estimate. Albania to close TikTok for a year blaming it for promoting violence among children TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albania’s prime minister says the government will shut down video service TikTok for one year, blaming it for inciting violence and bullying, especially among children. Albanian authorities held 1,300 meetings with teachers and parents following the stabbing death of a teenager in mid-November by another teenager following a quarrel that started on TikTok. Prime Minister Edi Rama, speaking at a meeting with teachers and parents, said TikTok “would be fully closed for all. ... There will be no TikTok in the Republic of Albania.” Rama says the ban will begin sometime next year. Albanian children comprise the largest group of TikTok users in the country, according to domestic researchers. Stock market today: Wall Street rises to turn a dismal week into just a bad one NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to turn what would have been one of the market’s worst weeks of the year into just a pretty bad one. The S&P 500 rallied 1.1% Friday to shave its loss for the week down to 2%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped nearly 500 points, and the Nasdaq composite gained 1%. A report said a measure of inflation the Federal Reserve likes to use was slightly lower last month than expected. It’s an encouraging signal after the Fed shocked markets Wednesday by saying worries about inflation could keep it from cutting interest rates in 2025 as much as earlier thought.Terrorists targeting India to get 'muh tod jawab': PM Modi on 26/11

Enterprise Search Market Set To Surge: Key Trends And Forecasts To 2032

WACO — With a tall task to try and eliminate the No. 1 ranked South Oak Cliff in the area round, Huntsville came up short against last year's state runner-up. The Golden Bears scored 21 points in the third quarter to bust the game open as the Hornet offense was unable to keep up. South Oak Cliff waltzed its way to a 38-7 win to knock out the Hornets and continue their hopes of getting back to a state championship game. Huntsville hung around with South Oak Cliff for the start of the game. The Golden Bears opened play with a 13-play, 64-yard drive, it took nearly eight minutes off the clock and set the tone early. With an opportunity to match it, the Hornets went three-and-out and gave them solid field position after the wind kept the Huntsville punt from traveling very far. After the opening touchdown drive, SOC was held for the remaining two drives before they kicked a field goal to make it a 10-0 game at the half.Is 'Dronegate' A Chinese Psyop?President-elect Donald Trump has identified what he sees as an all-purpose fix for what ails America: Slap huge new tariffs on foreign goods entering the United States. On Monday, Trump sent shockwaves across the nation's northern and southern borders, vowing sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada , as well as China, as soon as he takes office as part of his effort to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs. In a pair of posts on his Truth Social site, Trump railed against an influx of illegal migrants, even though southern border apprehensions have been hovering near four-year lows. He said he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the country from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10% tariff on goods from China, as one of his first executive orders. He said the new tariffs would remain in place "until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!" The president-elect asserts that tariffs — basically import taxes — will create more factory jobs, shrink the federal deficit, lower food prices and allow the government to subsidize childcare. Economists are generally skeptical, considering tariffs to be a mostly inefficient way for governments to raise money. They are especially alarmed by Trump's latest proposed tariffs. Carl B. Weinberg and Rubeela Farooqi, economists with High Frequency Economics said Tuesday that energy, automobiles and food supplies will be particularly hit hard. "Imposing tariffs on trade flows into the United States without first preparing alternative sources for the goods and services affected will raise the price of imported items at once," Weinberg and Farooqi wrote. "Since many of these goods are consumer goods, households will be made poorer." High Frequency Economics believes the threats are not meant to support new trade policy and are instead a tool to elicit some changes along the borders and for imports from Canada, Mexico and China. Though Vice President Kamala Harris criticized Trump's tariff threats as unserious during her failed bid for the presidency, the Biden-Harris administration retained the taxes the Trump administration imposed on $360 billion in Chinese goods. And it imposed a 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles. Indeed, the United States in recent years has gradually retreated from its post-World War II role of promoting global free trade and lower tariffs. That shift has been a response to the loss of U.S. manufacturing jobs, widely attributed to unfettered trade and an increasingly aggressive China. They are typically charged as a percentage of the price a buyer pays a foreign seller. In the United States, tariffs are collected by Customs and Border Protection agents at 328 ports of entry across the country. The tariff rates range from passenger cars (2.5%) to golf shoes (6%). Tariffs can be lower for countries with which the United States has trade agreements. For example, most goods can move among the United States, Mexico and Canada tariff-free because of Trump's US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. Trump insists that tariffs are paid for by foreign countries. In fact, its is importers — American companies — that pay tariffs, and the money goes to U.S. Treasury. Those companies, in turn, typically pass their higher costs on to their customers in the form of higher prices. That's why economists say consumers usually end up footing the bill for tariffs. Still, tariffs can hurt foreign countries by making their products pricier and harder to sell abroad. Yang Zhou, an economist at Shanghai's Fudan University, concluded in a study that Trump's tariffs on Chinese goods inflicted more than three times as much damage to the Chinese economy as they did to the U.S. economy By raising the price of imports, tariffs can protect home-grown manufacturers. They may also serve to punish foreign countries for committing unfair trade practices, like subsidizing their exporters or dumping products at unfairly low prices. Before the federal income tax was established in 1913, tariffs were a major revenue driver for the government. From 1790 to 1860, tariffs accounted for 90% of federal revenue, according to Douglas Irwin, a Dartmouth College economist who has studied the history of trade policy. Tariffs fell out of favor as global trade grew after World War II. The government needed vastly bigger revenue streams to finance its operations. In the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, the government is expected to collect $81.4 billion in tariffs and fees. That's a trifle next to the $2.5 trillion that's expected to come from individual income taxes and the $1.7 trillion from Social Security and Medicare taxes. Still, Trump wants to enact a budget policy that resembles what was in place in the 19th century. He has argued that tariffs on farm imports could lower food prices by aiding America's farmers. In fact, tariffs on imported food products would almost certainly send grocery prices up by reducing choices for consumers and competition for American producers. Tariffs can also be used to pressure other countries on issues that may or may not be related to trade. In 2019, for example, Trump used the threat of tariffs as leverage to persuade Mexico to crack down on waves of Central American migrants crossing Mexican territory on their way to the United States. Trump even sees tariffs as a way to prevent wars. "I can do it with a phone call,'' he said at an August rally in North Carolina. If another country tries to start a war, he said he'd issue a threat: "We're going to charge you 100% tariffs. And all of a sudden, the president or prime minister or dictator or whoever the hell is running the country says to me, 'Sir, we won't go to war.' " Tariffs raise costs for companies and consumers that rely on imports. They're also likely to provoke retaliation. The European Union, for example, punched back against Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum by taxing U.S. products, from bourbon to Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Likewise, China responded to Trump's trade war by slapping tariffs on American goods, including soybeans and pork in a calculated drive to hurt his supporters in farm country. A study by economists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Zurich, Harvard and the World Bank concluded that Trump's tariffs failed to restore jobs to the American heartland. The tariffs "neither raised nor lowered U.S. employment'' where they were supposed to protect jobs, the study found. Despite Trump's 2018 taxes on imported steel, for example, the number of jobs at U.S. steel plants barely budged: They remained right around 140,000. By comparison, Walmart alone employs 1.6 million people in the United States. Worse, the retaliatory taxes imposed by China and other nations on U.S. goods had "negative employment impacts,'' especially for farmers, the study found. These retaliatory tariffs were only partly offset by billions in government aid that Trump doled out to farmers. The Trump tariffs also damaged companies that relied on targeted imports. If Trump's trade war fizzled as policy, though, it succeeded as politics. The study found that support for Trump and Republican congressional candidates rose in areas most exposed to the import tariffs — the industrial Midwest and manufacturing-heavy Southern states like North Carolina and Tennessee.

GENEVA: Malaria mortality has fallen back to levels seen before the COVID-19 crisis, the WHO said Wednesday, but called for faster progress against the disease that killed nearly some 597,000 people last year. In a new report, the World Health Organization estimated that there were 263 million cases of malaria worldwide in 2023 - 11 million more than a year earlier - while the death toll remained relatively stable. But in terms of the mortality rate, “we have come back to pre-pandemic numbers”, Arnaud Le Menach, of the WHO’s Global Malaria Program, told reporters. In 2020, disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic led to a sharp increase in malaria-related mortality, with an additional 55,000 deaths counted that year. Since then the total number of deaths from malaria, which is caused by a mosquito-borne parasite, has gradually shrunk, as has the mortality rate. The estimated 2023 mortality rate in Africa of 52.4 deaths per 100,000 population at risk meanwhile still remains more than double the target level set by a global strategy for combating malaria through 2030, WHO said, insisting “progress must be accelerated”. Vaccine promise WHO pointed to the wider rollout of malaria vaccines as a promising development, expected to save tens of thousands of young lives each year. The two jabs currently in use, RTS,S and R21/Matrix-M, hold the promise of significantly easing the burden in Africa, which accounts for up to 95 percent of all malaria deaths. Malaria vaccines were first introduced in April 2019, first in Malawi, with Kenya and Ghana following suit. Through the end of 2023, nearly two million children in those three countries received jabs of the RTS,S vaccine, WHO said. “We saw in those three pilot countries... a 13-percent drop in mortality during the four years of the pilot program,” said Mary Hamel, who heads WHO’s malaria vaccine team. The WHO now looked forward to seeing a similar drop in other countries introducing the vaccines, she told reporters, pointing out that countries that began introducing the jabs early this year were “following a similar trajectory”. So far, 17 nations across sub-Saharan Africa have included the jabs in their routine immunization programs, she said. Another eight countries had been approved to receive funding towards introducing the vaccines through the vaccine alliance GAVI, WHO said. ‘Curb the threat’ In another promising development, new-generation dual-insecticide nets nets are becoming more widely available. These nets, which are coated in a new generation pyrrole insecticide in combination with the standard pyrethroid insecticide, have been shown to offer far better protection against malaria. The WHO estimated earlier this year that such nets had averted 13 million malaria cases and nearly 25,000 deaths over three years. Despite the successes, the WHO highlighted a number of factors slowing the battle against malaria, including a lack of funds and insufficient stocks of vaccines, as well as climate change, which is allowing a greater spread of the mosquitoes that carry the parasite that causes malaria. “Stepped-up investments and action in high-burden African countries are needed to curb the threat,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement. The Global Fund, a partnership set up to battle AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, agreed. “Progress has stagnated for several years,” its executive director Peter Sands warned in a statement. “To overcome this, we must accelerate our efforts through a dual approach: investing in new technologies while simultaneously easing the strain that climate change places on healthcare systems,” he said. — AFPJustin Thomas with big drives and a few big putts takes 1-shot lead over Scheffler in the BahamasLeipzig's real estate market 2025: trends and forecasts for buyers and investors. Report by Sven Schwarzat

NoneThese moments defined the life of Jimmy Carter

NoneThe Washington Capitals look to extend their franchise-record road winning streak to 10 games when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night. The Blue Jackets have lost four of five games, including a 5-3 defeat to the visiting Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. The rise in young business ownership across the U.S. signals a shifting entrepreneurial landscape, with younger Americans increasingly taking the leap into self-employment. Analyzing the newest data available from the U.S. Census Bureau, researchers identified the U.S. metros and states with... Click for more. Cities With the Most Business Owners Under 40