Samuel Choy/iStock via Getty Images President Donald Trump has threatened to impose 100% tariffs on all Canadian goods if Ottawa pursues a trade agreement with China, escalating tensions just days after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney criticized the U.S. for “rupturing” the global order. In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump accused Carney of attempting to turn Canada into “a drop off port...
Samuel Choy/iStock via Getty Images President Donald Trump has threatened to impose 100% tariffs on all Canadian goods if Ottawa pursues a trade agreement with China, escalating tensions just days after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney criticized the U.S. for “rupturing” the global order. In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump accused Carney of attempting to turn Canada into “a drop off port” for Chinese goods destined for the United States. The threat marks a potential end to months of relative calm in North American trade relations. “If Canada makes a deal with China, it will immediately be hit with a 100% tariff against all Canadian goods and products,” Trump wrote. The warning comes after Carney met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing last week, where the two countries agreed to remove trade barriers on electric vehicles and canola. Canada agreed to accept imports of 49,000 Chinese electric cars with a 6.1% tariff, reduced from the previous 100 percent rate. Canadian officials moved quickly to defuse the situation. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc stated on social media that “there is no pursuit of a free trade deal with China,” characterizing the Beijing meetings as resolving “several important tariff issues.” The threat follows a pattern from Trump’s first year back in office, where he announces punitive tariffs—often when markets are closed—before eventually offering exemptions or backing down entirely. Tensions between the two leaders flared at Davos last week, where Carney delivered a speech widely interpreted as criticism of Trump’s erratic foreign policy. Trump responded sharply: “Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.” Business leaders are urging restraint. “There are lines that are being crossed here,” said Goldy Hyder, president of the Business Council of Canada. “We need our leaders to de-escalate this situation.” Dear readers: We recognize that politics often intersects wit...
This forever holding could still keep climbing as Berkshire Hathaway cuts its Apple stake. Warren Buffett may have left his seat as chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A 0.72%) (BRK.B 1.14%), but the investment portfolio he left to newly appointed CEO Greg Abel isn't likely to see major changes overnight. In fact, some stocks Buffett bought more than 30 years ago could remain in Ber...
This forever holding could still keep climbing as Berkshire Hathaway cuts its Apple stake. Warren Buffett may have left his seat as chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A 0.72%) (BRK.B 1.14%), but the investment portfolio he left to newly appointed CEO Greg Abel isn't likely to see major changes overnight. In fact, some stocks Buffett bought more than 30 years ago could remain in Berkshire's portfolio forever -- Buffett's preferred holding period. But not every stock gets (or deserves) that treatment. Buffett isn't shy about selling stocks when he believes their valuation has climbed too high or the investment thesis has fallen apart. Over the last few years, he's sold hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of equities from Berkshire's portfolio. That includes cutting Berkshire's stake in Apple (AAPL 0.13%) by nearly three-quarters. With the sale of Apple shares and the rise of one of Buffett's forever holdings, up 150% in three years, Berkshire Hathaway could have a new top equity position for the first time since 2017. Picking Apple profits Buffett's decision to plow more than $30 billion into Apple stock between 2016 and 2018 may go down as one of his best investments in history. During the shareholder meeting in May, he jokingly thanked Apple CEO Tim Cook for making more money for Berkshire shareholders than he ever did. By the end of 2023, Berkshire's stake in Apple was worth about $174 billion, accounting for half of its marketable equity portfolio. But during the past two years, Buffett trimmed the position, slashing Berkshire's stake by roughly three-quarters. There's a simple reason Buffett has been selling Apple shares. He believes the stock price has climbed well above its intrinsic value. When Buffett initiated Berkshire's position in Apple, the stock was trading at a remarkable value. In 2016, the stock traded for a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of around 11. Given the enormous amounts of cash the company was already generating and its pla...
Key Points Apple has been one of the greatest investments Warren Buffett ever made. The stock has grown expensive lately, and Buffett slashed Berkshire's stake by three-fourths. This other long-time holding is executing well and stands in a strong competitive position. 10 stocks we like better than Berkshire Hathaway › Warren Buffett may have left his seat as chief executive officer of Berkshire H...
Key Points Apple has been one of the greatest investments Warren Buffett ever made. The stock has grown expensive lately, and Buffett slashed Berkshire's stake by three-fourths. This other long-time holding is executing well and stands in a strong competitive position. 10 stocks we like better than Berkshire Hathaway › Warren Buffett may have left his seat as chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B), but the investment portfolio he left to newly appointed CEO Greg Abel isn't likely to see major changes overnight. In fact, some stocks Buffett bought more than 30 years ago could remain in Berkshire's portfolio forever -- Buffett's preferred holding period. But not every stock gets (or deserves) that treatment. Buffett isn't shy about selling stocks when he believes their valuation has climbed too high or the investment thesis has fallen apart. Over the last few years, he's sold hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of equities from Berkshire's portfolio. That includes cutting Berkshire's stake in Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) by nearly three-quarters. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue » With the sale of Apple shares and the rise of one of Buffett's forever holdings, up 150% in three years, Berkshire Hathaway could have a new top equity position for the first time since 2017. Picking Apple profits Buffett's decision to plow more than $30 billion into Apple stock between 2016 and 2018 may go down as one of his best investments in history. During the shareholder meeting in May, he jokingly thanked Apple CEO Tim Cook for making more money for Berkshire shareholders than he ever did. By the end of 2023, Berkshire's stake in Apple was worth about $174 billion, accounting for half of its marketable equity portfolio. But during the past two years, Buffett trimmed the position, slashing Berkshire's stake by roughly three-quarters. There's a simple reason ...
European Council president Antonio Costa arrived in India on Sunday, as the EU and New Delhi seek to seal a free-trade pact, capping nearly two decades of negotiations between the economic behemoths. Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are chief guests for this year’s Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi on Monday before the 16th EU-India summit on Tuesday, where they ho...
European Council president Antonio Costa arrived in India on Sunday, as the EU and New Delhi seek to seal a free-trade pact, capping nearly two decades of negotiations between the economic behemoths. Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are chief guests for this year’s Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi on Monday before the 16th EU-India summit on Tuesday, where they hope to shake hands on the accord, described as the “mother of all deals”. “The summit will be an opportunity to build on the EU-India strategic partnership and further strengthen collaboration across key policy areas,” the EU Council said on social media. Advertisement India, the world’s most populous nation, is on track to become the world’s fourth largest economy this year, according to International Monetary Fund projections. While the EU eyes India as an important market for the future, New Delhi sees the European bloc as an important source of much-needed technology and investment to rapidly upscale its infrastructure and create millions of new jobs for its people. Advertisement “We are on the cusp of a historic trade agreement,” Leyen said ahead of the summit.
5 things to know about the latest Minneapolis shooting toggle caption Adam Gray/AP Tensions are escalating in Minneapolis after Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a U.S. citizen, was killed during an encounter with immigration officials on Saturday morning. Immigration officials said Pretti was shot several times shortly after 9 a.m. local time when federal officers were conducting a targeted operation against ...
5 things to know about the latest Minneapolis shooting toggle caption Adam Gray/AP Tensions are escalating in Minneapolis after Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a U.S. citizen, was killed during an encounter with immigration officials on Saturday morning. Immigration officials said Pretti was shot several times shortly after 9 a.m. local time when federal officers were conducting a targeted operation against a different man who was undocumented and wanted for assault. Here is what to know. The victim was an ICU nurse who loved the outdoors Pretti, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident and an ICU nurse, has been identified by officials as the shooting victim. The victim's father Michael Pretti told the Associated Press his son had participated in the protests because he "cared about people deeply and he was very upset with what was happening in Minneapolis and throughout the United States with ICE, as millions of other people are upset." Sponsor Message His mother, Susan Pretti, told the AP her son was passionate about the environment and "took his dog everywhere he went." Neighbors were also shocked by his death. Jeanne Wiener, who lived next door to Pretti, told MPR News that she would chat with him when he was walking his dog around their Lyndale neighborhood. "He was a calm person; he's a nurse," Wiener said Saturday. "I'm mad. I'm angry. This was a good person. This is not a violent person." Dr. Dimitri Drekonja, who worked at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center with Pretti, remembered him as an "incredibly competent person" who was good at his job. "There is no reason for a guy like that to be dead, let alone to be killed by the agents of a government that employed him," Drekonja also told MPR News, adding that Pretti was a sweet, kind man who loved the outdoors and mountain biking. Pretti's parents said they were "sickened" by Trump administration officials suggesting their son was a "domestic terrorist." Federal officials defended Border Patrol Agents Department of Homeland S...
Donald Trump pulled back from the brink on Greenland but not before causing untold damage to the Nato alliance. The US president’s sabre-rattling may also have shaken the faith of his own Republican party. Trump’s fleeting threat to conquer the Danish territory prompted the most strident Republican opposition to anything he has done since taking office a year ago. It came on the heels of challenge...
Donald Trump pulled back from the brink on Greenland but not before causing untold damage to the Nato alliance. The US president’s sabre-rattling may also have shaken the faith of his own Republican party. Trump’s fleeting threat to conquer the Danish territory prompted the most strident Republican opposition to anything he has done since taking office a year ago. It came on the heels of challenges to his authority over military powers, healthcare legislation and the Jeffrey Epstein files. The mini-rebellion suggests that a small but vocal minority of Republicans feel increasingly emboldened to speak out against a 79-year-old leader who, for all his dominance of the party, is polling dismally and could drag them down in November’s midterm elections. “You’ve never had a president with this much influence and this much political and legislative success so in that sense he’s winning but his own party is starting to question and wonder out loud at what cost?” said Frank Luntz, a political consultant and pollster. “He has been the most influential president since Franklin Roosevelt but the public and even people in his own party are starting to wonder whether it’s too much.” Speculating over Trump’s grip on the Republican party, and whether it shows any sign of slipping, has been a political sport for a decade, producing many false dawns along the way. Dissenting senators and representatives such as Liz Cheney have been ruthlessly purged or made to feel they have no alternative but retirement. Trump’s biggest crisis came with his crushing defeat in the 2020 presidential election and a subsequent insurrection by a mob of his supporters at the US Capitol, prompting even loyalists such as Lindsey Graham and Kevin McCarthy to condemn him. But not even an attempted coup was enough to break the party’s cult-like fever. Much-hyped pretenders to the crown such as the Florida governor, Ron DeSantis, could not compete and, when Trump roared back from four criminal cases to win the...
Joe Root has lavished praise on Harry Brook and Brendon McCullum after the pair celebrated their first one-day international victory abroad while in charge of England’s white-ball teams. Root’s 75 was the guiding hand in England’s five-wicket win against Sri Lanka on Saturday, ending a losing streak away from home that began in November 2024. McCullum began his reign as all-format head coach two m...
Joe Root has lavished praise on Harry Brook and Brendon McCullum after the pair celebrated their first one-day international victory abroad while in charge of England’s white-ball teams. Root’s 75 was the guiding hand in England’s five-wicket win against Sri Lanka on Saturday, ending a losing streak away from home that began in November 2024. McCullum began his reign as all-format head coach two months later in India before Brook ascended to the limited-overs captaincy in April. Both have been scrutinised in recent weeks: McCullum’s future has been questioned after England’s defeat in the Ashes while Brook has apologised for clashing with a nightclub bouncer on the eve of the third ODI against New Zealand at the start of the winter. On the Brook incident, Root said: “He’s apologised, he’s taken his punishment and he’s desperate to take this team forward. I think he’s going to be a brilliant England captain and he’s going to do wonderful things in an England shirt, both as a player and as a leader. So I’m fully behind him and want to see him, I suppose, move past it and learn from it and grow as a person and as a captain off the back of it. “I think Baz [McCullum] is one of the best coaches I’ve ever worked with. If you look at my own personal game, the time that he’s been coach, it’s improved tenfold. I think most of the players, if you look individually, all of their games have improved under his tenure as coach. Same with [Jeetan Patel] and [Marcus Trescothick] as batting coach and assistant coach. They’ve done a lot of really good things for English cricket and will do in the future as well. Obviously, we’re disappointed with the way things went out in Australia, but I still think that there’s a lot of more really exciting things to come from this group.” While claiming that he is “still having the best time” in the current England setup, Root added that he has not properly reflected on the Ashes just yet. “After this tour I’m going to get a couple of months to s...
Lana, 22 I had some messed up ideas around a woman’s role and the influence of porn on that Jake was my first. I was 17 and he was 18. I lost my virginity way later than all my friends; sex had been so far out of my comfort zone. For me it was like social currency and I put a lot of pressure on myself to get it done. Since being with Jake I’ve worked on breaking down that pressure around sex. It’s...
Lana, 22 I had some messed up ideas around a woman’s role and the influence of porn on that Jake was my first. I was 17 and he was 18. I lost my virginity way later than all my friends; sex had been so far out of my comfort zone. For me it was like social currency and I put a lot of pressure on myself to get it done. Since being with Jake I’ve worked on breaking down that pressure around sex. It’s been a difficult journey. We’ve been together for more than four years now and once in a while I find myself getting into a spiral in my head. I’ve had a couple of panic attacks and worked myself up about sex. Jake has taught me that intimacy can be cuddling and just feeling warm next to each other Part of the reason I was struggling was because I would hear a lot about other women with super high libidos. I had some messed up ideas around a woman’s role and the influence of porn on that. I’d find myself analysing my beauty next to other women’s, and it just snowballed. When Jake and I had sex, it would be in my mind and affect what I was doing – I’d hold back and not feel good enough. So in the end we’d stick to pretty basic positions. I didn’t properly communicate this with Jake until about a year ago when I had a severe panic attack. We realised that, almost four years in, we’d never had a conversation around sex. But we’ve since had a really open dialogue and both begun talking about it and during sex. We’re now asking, does this feel good? Can you maybe try this? Jake has been really open and supportive. He’s helped me with meditation and breathing techniques to help ease my anxiety. And he taught me that intimacy doesn’t just mean sex. It can be cuddling and feeling warm next to each other, him resting his head on my stomach. And I’ve found that when there’s intimacy, sex just happens. I’m not putting pressure on myself any more – the sex has been so good, and we’ve never looked back. Share your experience If you’re keen to talk to us about your sex lives you can get...
The City minister, Lucy Rigby, has been accused of snubbing taxpayers after she appeared to brush off concerns about a £2bn tax loophole benefiting big banks caught up in the car loans scandal. Rigby was urged to intervene by a member of the parliamentary Treasury committee after it emerged that lenders including Barclays, Lloyds and Santander could sidestep rules designed to ensure banks pay tax ...
The City minister, Lucy Rigby, has been accused of snubbing taxpayers after she appeared to brush off concerns about a £2bn tax loophole benefiting big banks caught up in the car loans scandal. Rigby was urged to intervene by a member of the parliamentary Treasury committee after it emerged that lenders including Barclays, Lloyds and Santander could sidestep rules designed to ensure banks pay tax on compensation linked to corporate misconduct. Rules introduced in 2015 prevent banks from deducting compensation payouts from their profits before calculating corporation tax, meaning they cannot reduce their tax bill, regardless of the financial impact of their own wrongdoing. View image in fullscreen Lucy Rigby, City minister and economic secretary to the Treasury. Photograph: Sarah Lee/The Guardian However, the Guardian revealed last month that banks will be able to exploit a loophole when they start paying compensation to victims of the £11bn car finance scandal this year. Their motor finance divisions are registered as “non-bank entities”, even though they are part of the larger banking groups, placing them outside the scope of rules. Specialist lenders involved in the scandal, including the finance arms of car manufacturers such as Honda and Ford, are also exempt. The Office for Budget Responsibility has confirmed that this would cost taxpayers £2bn over the next two years, prompting Bobby Dean, a Liberal Democrat member of the Treasury committee, to write to ministers calling for urgent intervention. But Rigby’s response, dated 29 December and seen by the Guardian, confirmed that lenders caught up in the car loans scandal would fall outside the 2015 rules. “The bank compensation restriction does not apply to companies that are not banking companies, even if they are within banking groups,” she said. She closed the letter by thanking Dean for “making me aware of these concerns”, adding that she and the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, wanted to see the redress issue “reso...
Thousands of new Americans opt for 'ultimate act of inclusion' despite obstacles toggle caption Michael McCoy and Maansi Srivastava for NPR On a recent Tuesday in January, Florencia Paz, an immigrant from Italy and Argentina, joined the line to enter the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia. She pushed a stroller with her sleeping baby while her husband, a U.S. citizen, quieted their cr...
Thousands of new Americans opt for 'ultimate act of inclusion' despite obstacles toggle caption Michael McCoy and Maansi Srivastava for NPR On a recent Tuesday in January, Florencia Paz, an immigrant from Italy and Argentina, joined the line to enter the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia. She pushed a stroller with her sleeping baby while her husband, a U.S. citizen, quieted their crying toddler. It was biting cold outside, but Paz said all she felt was excitement and anticipation. Two hours later, she walked out of the courthouse an American citizen, having taken her naturalization oath alongside 103 others from 40 different countries. Paz said that, after 13 years living in the United States, becoming a citizen was both joyful and a profound relief. toggle caption Maansi Srivastava for NPR "I came here to this country by myself, and I became an American in my mind and my heart," Paz said. "I'm not an American by birth in the sense I have not grown up in this culture. But I realize that my path and my route is common to a lot of Americans." Sponsor Message NPR attended three naturalization ceremonies across Washington, D.C. and northern Virginia in January and spoke with more than a dozen naturalized citizens and their families. The ceremonies were largely celebratory experiences. But they took place against the backdrop of a year of unexpected hurdles and changes to the naturalization process in America. Among those, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) paused the processing of existing immigration applications , including naturalizations, for immigrants from 39 countries who now have travel restrictions to come to the U.S. "One thing we're finding is that because the journey to citizenship is slower now than it has been in the past, that there are fewer people making it here today," said Barbara Zia. She attended the ceremony in D.C. to register the new citizens to vote on behalf of the League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia...
Traders will start the week on heightened alert of Japan government intervention to halt the yen’s recent slide — possibly with rare US assistance — as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warned of action on abnormal moves. Speculation of intervention is building after traders reported during Friday’s US trading session that the Federal Reserve Bank of New York had contacted financial institutions to as...
Traders will start the week on heightened alert of Japan government intervention to halt the yen’s recent slide — possibly with rare US assistance — as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warned of action on abnormal moves. Speculation of intervention is building after traders reported during Friday’s US trading session that the Federal Reserve Bank of New York had contacted financial institutions to ask about the yen’s exchange rate. Japan’s top currency official had declined to comment earlier that day on whether a rate check was conducted on its end. “Rate checks are typically the last warning before such action takes place,” said Michael Brown , senior research strategist at Pepperstone Group Ltd., referring to intervention. “The Takaichi administration appear to have a much, much lower tolerance for speculative FX moves than their predecessors.” Reports of the rate check are likely to make the market leery of trying to weaken Japan’s currency further, squeezing yen short positions , which have seen the biggest increase in over a decade. The yen swung wildly in the final trading hours of last week, reversing a slide toward levels last seen in 2024 before gaining as much as 1.75% to 155.63 against the dollar . It was the biggest one-day rally since August. “It is not for me as a prime minister to comment on matters that should be determined by the market, but we will take all necessary measures to address speculative and highly abnormal movements,” Takaichi said during a television debate among party leaders on Sunday. She didn’t specify which market her remarks were referring to. Government officials have recently warned on both bond yields and the yen. Yields on bonds with the longest maturities had surged to records in the early part of last week before retreating. “Given the comments from Takaichi, traders should be very wary in the Monday open,” said Nick Twidale , chief analyst at AT Global Markets in Sydney. Japan’s currency may trade near 155 against the dollar...
Ares Capital has a huge 9.2% yield, but you need to understand the business' risk profile before buying the stock. The big draw for investors in Ares Capital (ARCC 0.57%) is its huge 9.2% dividend yield. To put that into perspective, the S&P 500 (^GSPC +0.03%) only offers a yield of about 1.1%, and the average financial stock is at 1.6% or so. But before you run out and buy Ares Capital, you need ...
Ares Capital has a huge 9.2% yield, but you need to understand the business' risk profile before buying the stock. The big draw for investors in Ares Capital (ARCC 0.57%) is its huge 9.2% dividend yield. To put that into perspective, the S&P 500 (^GSPC +0.03%) only offers a yield of about 1.1%, and the average financial stock is at 1.6% or so. But before you run out and buy Ares Capital, you need to understand the risks that come along with that lofty yield. What does Ares Capital do? Ares Capital operates in the finance sector. However, as a business development company (BDC), it has a very specific corporate structure and purpose. Like a real estate investment trust (REIT), a BDC can avoid corporate-level taxation if it pays out at least 90% of its taxable income as dividends. The trade-off for investors is that they have to treat the dividend as if it were earned income. Still, the entire purpose of a BDC is to pay dividends. That's the good news. BDCs like Ares make loans at high interest rates to smaller companies. Generally speaking, these companies have limited access to capital markets, so selling stock isn't an option. Banks, meanwhile, aren't inclined to lend to smaller companies because of the associated business risk. Ares steps into the void and, because of the lack of other options, it can charge high interest rates. In the third quarter of 2025, the average interest rate on its loans was a lofty 10.6%. That is how the company can support a 9.2% dividend yield. It is one of the largest players in the BDC niche and is a well-respected competitor. If you are interested in owning a BDC, Ares Capital is likely to be a strong choice right now. In fact, it is probably a solid choice most of the time. The problem with business development companies The problem with Ares Capital has less to do with the company and more to do with the BDC business model. When times are good, lending money to smaller companies can be lucrative. However, during a recession, BDCs ...
Mark Tully, the BBC's 'voice of India', dies aged 90 54 minutes ago Share Save Andrew Whitehead Share Save Getty Images Tully spent much of his journalist career covering India The broadcaster and journalist Sir Mark Tully - for many years known as the BBC's "voice of India" - has died at the age of 90. For decades, the rich, warm tones of Mark Tully were familiar to BBC audiences in Britain and a...
Mark Tully, the BBC's 'voice of India', dies aged 90 54 minutes ago Share Save Andrew Whitehead Share Save Getty Images Tully spent much of his journalist career covering India The broadcaster and journalist Sir Mark Tully - for many years known as the BBC's "voice of India" - has died at the age of 90. For decades, the rich, warm tones of Mark Tully were familiar to BBC audiences in Britain and around the world - a much-admired foreign correspondent and respected reporter and commentator on India. He covered war, famine, riots and assassinations, the Bhopal gas tragedy and the Indian army's storming of the Sikh Golden Temple. In the small north Indian city of Ayodhya in 1992, he faced a moment of real peril. He witnessed a huge crowd of Hindu hardliners tear down an ancient mosque. Some of the mob - suspicious of the BBC - threatened him, chanting "Death to Mark Tully". He was locked in a room for several hours before a local official and a Hindu priest came to his aid. How the Babri mosque destruction shaped India Will English kill off India's languages? The demolition provoked the worst communal violence in India for many decades - it was, he said years later, the "gravest setback" to secularism since the country's independence from Britain in 1947. India was where Tully was born - in what was then Calcutta in 1935. He was a child of the British Raj. His father was a businessman. His mother had been born in Bengal - her family had worked in India as traders and administrators for generations. He was brought up with an English nanny who once chided him for learning to count by copying the family's driver: "that's the servants' language, not yours," he was told. He eventually became fluent in Hindi, a rare achievement in Delhi's foreign press corps and one which endeared him to many Indians for whom he was always "Tully sahib". His good cheer and evident affection for India won him the friendship and trust of many of the top rank of the country's politicians, edito...