Record Number of Chinese Youth Seek Civil Service Jobs Amidst Economic Slowdown
Amidst a struggling private sector and high youth unemployment, a record 3.4 million young Chinese applied for civil service exams in 2023, tripling the number from 2014, highlighting the demand for job security despite reported wage cuts and unpaid salaries within the public sector.
Record Number of Chinese Youth Seek Civil Service Jobs Amidst Economic Slowdown
Amidst a struggling private sector and high youth unemployment, a record 3.4 million young Chinese applied for civil service exams in 2023, tripling the number from 2014, highlighting the demand for job security despite reported wage cuts and unpaid salaries within the public sector.
Progress
48% Bias Score
Canadian Gold Sector Poised for M&A Surge in 2025
High gold prices and low reserve levels are fueling a predicted surge in mergers and acquisitions within Canada's precious metals sector in 2025, with several large deals already completed in 2024, such as Gold Fields' \$2.16 billion acquisition of Osisko Mining.
Canadian Gold Sector Poised for M&A Surge in 2025
High gold prices and low reserve levels are fueling a predicted surge in mergers and acquisitions within Canada's precious metals sector in 2025, with several large deals already completed in 2024, such as Gold Fields' \$2.16 billion acquisition of Osisko Mining.
Progress
40% Bias Score
BRICS Expands Despite Key Absences
Russia concluded its BRICS chairmanship by adding nine partner countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and Cuba, but failed to secure key members like Saudi Arabia and Turkey, who are wary of antagonizing the West, while BRICS aims to create a new global payment system to bypass Western sanctions.
BRICS Expands Despite Key Absences
Russia concluded its BRICS chairmanship by adding nine partner countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and Cuba, but failed to secure key members like Saudi Arabia and Turkey, who are wary of antagonizing the West, while BRICS aims to create a new global payment system to bypass Western sanctions.
Progress
44% Bias Score
Finnish Seizure of Oil Tanker Highlights Baltic Sea Tensions
Finnish authorities seized the Cook Islands-registered oil tanker Eagle S, suspected of damaging an undersea power cable and four telecom lines in the Baltic Sea on December 25th, prompting a legal challenge by the owner and raising concerns about regional security.
Finnish Seizure of Oil Tanker Highlights Baltic Sea Tensions
Finnish authorities seized the Cook Islands-registered oil tanker Eagle S, suspected of damaging an undersea power cable and four telecom lines in the Baltic Sea on December 25th, prompting a legal challenge by the owner and raising concerns about regional security.
Progress
40% Bias Score
ETFs Offer Canadians a Simpler, Cheaper Investing Path
Despite mutual funds' greater popularity in Canada due to easier access through banks and advisors, Canadians can easily invest in lower-fee, potentially faster-growing ETFs through online brokers, with robo-advisors or DIY methods available to simplify the process.
ETFs Offer Canadians a Simpler, Cheaper Investing Path
Despite mutual funds' greater popularity in Canada due to easier access through banks and advisors, Canadians can easily invest in lower-fee, potentially faster-growing ETFs through online brokers, with robo-advisors or DIY methods available to simplify the process.
Progress
56% Bias Score
Vancouver Island Launches Construction Waste Recycling Exchange
Launched in November 2024 on Vancouver Island, the Building Material Exchange (BMEx) is a free program connecting construction companies to recycle materials, reducing landfill waste and saving money, with an online marketplace launching in early 2025.
Vancouver Island Launches Construction Waste Recycling Exchange
Launched in November 2024 on Vancouver Island, the Building Material Exchange (BMEx) is a free program connecting construction companies to recycle materials, reducing landfill waste and saving money, with an online marketplace launching in early 2025.
Progress
48% Bias Score
Rising Treasury Yields Dampen U.S. Stock Futures
U.S. stock index futures fell on Monday morning due to rising Treasury yields, threatening the typical year-end "Santa Claus" rally; the Dow, S&P, and Nasdaq futures all declined.
Rising Treasury Yields Dampen U.S. Stock Futures
U.S. stock index futures fell on Monday morning due to rising Treasury yields, threatening the typical year-end "Santa Claus" rally; the Dow, S&P, and Nasdaq futures all declined.
Progress
40% Bias Score
Supreme Court Case Could Reshape Canadian Capital Markets
The Supreme Court of Canada will decide if Lundin Mining's delayed disclosure of a 2017 rock slide at its Chilean copper mine constitutes a "material change", with implications for class-action lawsuits and the number of Canadian public companies.
Supreme Court Case Could Reshape Canadian Capital Markets
The Supreme Court of Canada will decide if Lundin Mining's delayed disclosure of a 2017 rock slide at its Chilean copper mine constitutes a "material change", with implications for class-action lawsuits and the number of Canadian public companies.
Progress
8% Bias Score
Ex-Husband Won't Appeal 20-Year Sentence in France's High-Profile Rape Case
Dominique Pelicot, Gisèle Pelicot's ex-husband, received a 20-year prison sentence for drugging and raping her, enabling others to do so; 17 of the 50 other convicted men will appeal, highlighting France's reckoning with rape culture.
Ex-Husband Won't Appeal 20-Year Sentence in France's High-Profile Rape Case
Dominique Pelicot, Gisèle Pelicot's ex-husband, received a 20-year prison sentence for drugging and raping her, enabling others to do so; 17 of the 50 other convicted men will appeal, highlighting France's reckoning with rape culture.
Progress
20% Bias Score
Canadian Stock Market: Long-Term Growth Despite Significant Downturns
The S&P/TSX Composite Index, from January 1956 to November 2024, showed a 9.2 percent average annual return (5.4 percent inflation-adjusted), with significant market downturns (41-49 percent) but consistent long-term growth across all 30-year rolling periods.
Canadian Stock Market: Long-Term Growth Despite Significant Downturns
The S&P/TSX Composite Index, from January 1956 to November 2024, showed a 9.2 percent average annual return (5.4 percent inflation-adjusted), with significant market downturns (41-49 percent) but consistent long-term growth across all 30-year rolling periods.
Progress
44% Bias Score
Canadian Home Sales Surge 26 Percent Amidst Lower Interest Rates
Fueled by five interest rate cuts and relaxed mortgage rules, Canadian home sales jumped 26 percent year-over-year in November, with economists predicting continued strong activity in 2025 despite affordability challenges; however, this boom is expected to subside in the first half of 2025.
Canadian Home Sales Surge 26 Percent Amidst Lower Interest Rates
Fueled by five interest rate cuts and relaxed mortgage rules, Canadian home sales jumped 26 percent year-over-year in November, with economists predicting continued strong activity in 2025 despite affordability challenges; however, this boom is expected to subside in the first half of 2025.
Progress
48% Bias Score
U.S. Pending Home Sales Surge 2.2% in November
U.S. pending home sales rose 2.2% in November to 79.0 on the NAR's Pending Home Sales Index, exceeding expectations and marking four months of gains due to increased inventory and adjusted buyer expectations of mortgage rates despite rates being above 6% for two years.
U.S. Pending Home Sales Surge 2.2% in November
U.S. pending home sales rose 2.2% in November to 79.0 on the NAR's Pending Home Sales Index, exceeding expectations and marking four months of gains due to increased inventory and adjusted buyer expectations of mortgage rates despite rates being above 6% for two years.
Progress
32% Bias Score