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Economic Times
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- Politics
- Economic Times
The real reason Brigitte Macron allegedly slapped French President Emmanuel Macron — here's what reports say
Reasoning For Brigitte Macron Slapping Emmanuel Macron Caught on Camera Live Events No Hand-Holding — A Sign of Tension? A Long-Standing Relationship FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel A moment between French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, has sparked headlines and gone viral as video footage appeared to show the First Lady slapping her husband while disembarking from a presidential plane after the pair were reportedly seen "bickering", as per a the Élysée initially rejected the video but later confirmed the news, describing it as "playful teasing," according to The Express. An express close to Macron told The Express called it a "harmless scuffle" and accused the negative reaction on "pro-Russian circles," as per the to the report, an official from the Macron team mentioned that, "It was a moment when the president and his wife were relaxing one last time before the start of the trip by having a laugh. It was a moment of closeness," quoted The READ: Nvidia to report quarterly results on Wednesday — here's what investors should watch for As per the viral video of the incident, it can be seen that Macron was taken aback when Brigitte's hands hit Macron in the face as they arrived in Vietnam for a tour in Southeast Asia, as per the the 47-year-old president touched his face before waving towards the crowd waiting for them, and his 72-year-old wife, wearing a red blazer, took position behind him as they began to exit the plane, reported The the pair started to descend the airstairs side by side to the concrete of the runway, as per those who were present, the president and his wife did not hold hands while walking down, and Brigitte preferred to use the handrail rather than clasp the palm of her beloved, reported The to the report, Macron was only 15 years old when he began a relationship with his future wife more than 30 years ago, and she was then a mother of three and also his French literature to Macron's team, no. Officials described it as 'playful teasing' and a moment of personal humor between the described some 'bickering,' but there's no suggestion of a serious argument.
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Credit cards are feeding young Canadians more than actual food; As wages stagnate and rent soars, debt becomes the only thing they can afford
TIL Creatives With the cost of living outpacing incomes, a growing number of young Canadians are turning to debt to cover daily basics As the cost of living continues to rise and job prospects remain uncertain, an increasing number of young Canadians are finding themselves ensnared in a cycle of debt they struggle to data from Equifax Canada reveals a troubling trend, individuals aged 18 to 25 have experienced a 15.1 percent increase in delinquency rates compared to the previous year. Specifically, 90-day or more delinquencies on credit cards for this age group have surged by 21.7 percent, reaching a delinquency rate of 5.38 percent, significantly higher than the overall population's rate of 3.76 percent. Also Read: Canada's economy grows by only 1 percent in 2025, unemployment hits 7 percent "Being able to balance the cost of living with debt levels is more difficult and more challenging, which is why through the numbers we are seeing that stress come through," said Kathy Catsiliras, vice-president of analytical consulting for Equifax Canada. "They are finding it more challenging to stay current on their debt obligation, married with the fact we're seeing unemployment rates increase." Canada's unemployment rate rose to 6.9 percent in April, according to Statistics Canada. This uptick in unemployment, coupled with stagnant wages, has left many young Canadians without sufficient income to manage their debts. Consequently, some are resorting to credit cards or loans to cover essential expenses like food and rent. The challenges are further compounded by a stagnating job market, partly attributed to the ongoing trade tensions with the United States. Due to President Donald Trump's tariff policies, some companies have had to scale back hiring plans or lay off Terrell, a personal finance expert with NerdWallet, highlighted the multifaceted pressures facing young Canadians:"All of these factors combined can definitely make for a challenging financial situation in which your credit card is being used to bridge the gap, especially if you're someone who's living paycheque to paycheque," she said. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that many young individuals are new to credit and may lack the financial literacy to manage it effectively. Matt Fabian, TransUnion Canada's director of financial services research and consulting, noted:"They're getting used to the fact if they charge a lot, those payments go up and they're going to owe a balance. Some of them, they're able to adapt and do just fine. Some of them, it's a bit of trial by fire, so we do see sometimes heightened delinquency."However, Fabian also pointed out a silver lining:"We do see a high 'cure' rate, however, with youth who may have a 'trip and fall' eventually understanding how debt works and not missing payments."A TransUnion Canada report showed youth are among two groups driving up the total debt of Canadians, with the group seeing their outstanding balances grow by 30.6 percent compared to the previous experts suggest that young Canadians facing debt challenges should consider developing a debt repayment strategy, exploring options like balance transfer credit cards or debt consolidation loans, and seeking guidance from financial advisors. Budgeting is also crucial; ensuring that one can afford more than the minimum payment can prevent interest from accumulating and making debt repayment more difficult.
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Science
- Economic Times
Three 'invisible' city-killer asteroids could strike earth within weeks, scientists warn- here's all about them
Three huge asteroids could hit Earth, and a group of astronomers is sounding the alarm. They could cause destruction on a scale never seen before. These asteroids are almost invisible because of the sun's glare. Scientists say that three asteroids are orbiting Venus and could hit Earth in a matter of weeks because their paths are unstable. The three city-killer asteroids that Venus is hiding could cause catastrophic damage before we can respond, as per a report by The NY Post. The authors of the arockcalyptic study, which was published in the journal "Astronomy & Astrophysics," cautioned that there are currently 20 co-orbital asteroids of to the Daily Mail, at least three of the asteroids that orbit the sun in tandem with our twin planet, 2020 SB, 524522, and 2020 CL1, have unstable orbits that bring them dangerously close to Earth, according to the international research team headed by Valerio Carruba of São Paulo University in to the study, the asteroids might be put on a collision course with Earth if this unstable trajectory is only marginally altered by a slight change in gravity or another force. A collision with one of these intergalactic gravelstones would be bad. They could release energy millions of times stronger than the Hiroshima bomb and would produce a crater more than two miles in diameterWith diameters ranging from 330 to 1,300 feet, asteroids 2020 SB, 524522, and 2020 CL1 have the potential to completely destroy cities and trigger devastating fires and tsunamis, according to the Daily to the Daily Galaxy, the researchers cautioned that while co-orbital status shields these asteroids from near-close encounters with Venus, it does not shield them from coming into contact with simulating a variety of potential outcomes over 36,000 years using imitation space rocks, Carruba & Co. arrived at this conclusion. They discovered that a significant population of low-eccentricity asteroids, which were previously believed to be harmless, could be driven toward Earth by gravitational shifts and other orbits of the cosmic rocks make them nearly invisible to Earthly detection equipment, which exacerbates the sun's glare acts as a cosmic cloaking device, preventing the telescopes from detecting rocks in a suborbital path with Venus, even though NASA and other space agencies regularly track potentially dangerous near-Earth asteroids, according to WION. ALSO READ: Kylie Jenner feels jealous and insecure about her Kardashian sisters, fears they might snatch away boyfriend Timothée The Chilean Rubin Observatory would only have two to four weeks to detect deadly asteroids because of this interstellar blind spot, which would leave us little time if they were headed straight for typically takes years to plan a mission to engineer something that could deflect a killer space authors concluded that "Low-e Venus co-orbitals pose a unique challenge because of the difficulties in detecting and following these objects from Earth." The authors stated that they thought that the only way to map and find all of the still "invisible" PHAs (potentially hazardous asteroids) among Venus' co-orbital asteroids would be to conduct a focused observational campaign from a space-based mission close to the planet. Will these asteroids actually hit Earth soon? Yes, scientists believe three Venus-orbiting asteroids could strike Earth in weeks due to their unstable orbits. Why don't we see them coming? The sun's glare obscures them from Earth-based telescopes, making early detection difficult.
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
'A beacon in the darkness': Paul Simon returns to Canada after seven years, defying hearing loss with grace and music
Paul Simon, at 83, returned to the Canadian stage after seven years, performing at Toronto's Massey Hall as part of his "A Quiet Celebration" tour. He delivered his 2023 album "Seven Psalms" and reimagined classics, with Edie Brickell joining him. Simon, who addressed hearing loss challenges, concluded the night with a moving rendition of "The Sound of Silence." Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Who is Paul Simon? In a return to live performance in Canada after 7 years, Paul Simon graced Toronto's Massey Hall on May 27. The 83-year-old singer-songwriter, renowned for his evocative storytelling and musical innovation, is embarking on his "A Quiet Celebration" tour, a series of intimate performances across North casually in jeans, a ball cap, and a purple jacket, Simon opened his second set with the 1968 classic "America." Before starting his song, he reflected on its themes of division and the search for identity, drawing parallels to contemporary times. "I wrote that song many years ago," he shared, noting its relevance today. He then offered a poignant observation: "I'm happy to report that I've found it. It's here in Canada. You really are a beacon in the darkness at this point."The evening commenced with a full performance of his 2023 album, "Seven Psalms," a contemplative piece exploring spirituality and human by a chamber ensemble featuring harmonium, flute, strings, and intricate percussion, Simon delivered the seven-movement composition with a blend of spoken word and song. His wife, singer-songwriter Edie Brickell, joined him for "The Sacred Harp," adding depth to the introspective second half of the concert celebrated Simon's extensive catalog, offering reimagined versions of beloved tracks. Highlights included "Graceland," "Rene and Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After the War," and "The Late Great Johnny Ace," the latter accompanied by visuals of John Lennon, John F. Kennedy, and Johnny Ace. Brickell returned for a whistling solo on "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard," adding a playful touch to the encore featured fan favorites "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" and "The Boxer ," culminating in a solo performance of " The Sound of Silence ." The audience was visibly moved as Simon softly sang, "Hello darkness, my old friend, I've come to talk with you again," bringing the night to a poignant who had previously retired from touring in 2018 due to hearing loss, collaborated with the Stanford Initiative to Cure Hearing Loss to adapt his performances for optimal "A Quiet Celebration" tour continues with additional dates in Toronto on May 29 and 30, followed by performances in Vancouver, New York, Los Angeles, and other Simon is an iconic American singer-songwriter known for his poetic lyrics, innovative music, and enduring hits both as a solo artist and as half of the legendary duo Simon & Garfunkel. With classics like 'The Sound of Silence,' 'Graceland,' and 'Bridge Over Troubled Water,' he has shaped popular music for over six decades.
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Business
- Economic Times
US stock market today: S&P 500, Nasdaq, Dow Jones end in red, all eyes on Nvidia earnings results
Live Events FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel U.S. stock indexes closed lower on Wednesday as investors digested minutes from the last Federal Reserve meeting and awaited results from AI bellwether Nvidia. Nvidia and Salesforce reports are due after the closing bell.S&P 500 lost 31.59 points, or 0.53 per cent, to end at 5,889.95 points, while the Nasdaq Composite lost 91.27 points, or 0.47 per cent, to 19,107.89. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 237.24 points, or 0.56 per cent, to 42, S&P 500 is still down from its record closing high, reached on February 19. It fell as much as 18.9 per cent below that level in the wake of Trump's erratic tariff announcements that have whipsawed markets for much of his second term.A poll of strategists and analysts conducted by Reuters showed that many market participants expected the benchmark index to finish the year near current of sportswear retailer Dick's Sporting Goods gained after its first-quarter results beat estimates.A1. Key indexes of US Stock market are S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow Jones.A2. Nvidia results will be out on Wednesday at 5 pm (ET).
