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Washington D.C. – In a significant blow to former President Donald Trump’s trade policies, the Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that his imposition of tariffs on billions of dollars worth of goods under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 was unconstitutional. The decision effectively dismantles a key component of Trump’s economic agenda, which aimed to protect domestic industries through protectionist measures. Yet, the former president has already signaled his intent to circumvent the ruling, vowing to implement a new 10% global tariff if re-elected.
The court found that the tariffs, enacted in 2018, exceeded the authority granted to the president by Congress. The case centered on whether the tariffs were legitimately imposed to address national security concerns, as the Trump administration claimed. The justices determined that the administration had improperly used the 1962 Act, which was intended for specific, targeted trade actions, to enact broad, sweeping tariffs impacting a wide range of imports. This ruling has implications for international trade relations and could lead to challenges to other tariffs imposed during the Trump presidency. The decision is expected to boost the South African rand and benefit some South African exporters, according to News24.
Supreme Court Decision Details
The Supreme Court’s ruling effectively strikes down tariffs imposed on steel and aluminum imports, as well as subsequent tariffs on goods from China and other countries. According to
Berlin – A potential shift in Germany’s retirement age is sparking debate, with discussions centering on raising the standard retirement age to 70. The German Pension Commission is scheduled to meet on February 23rd to discuss the proposal, which could significantly impact future generations of workers. Although no decisions have been made, preliminary calculations suggest that those born in 1982 could be the first to regularly retire at age 70, as early as 2052, if a pattern of incremental increases continues.
The debate over raising the retirement age comes as policymakers grapple with the long-term sustainability of the German pension system. A gradual increase, mirroring the recent rise from 65 to 67, would see those born in 1970 retiring at 68 in 2028, and individuals born in 1976 reaching retirement age at 69 in 2045. The potential changes have significant implications for individuals planning their retirement, particularly those considering early retirement options.
Commission Weighs Options for Retirement Age
The Pension Commission, led by Professor Constanze Janda of the University of Speyer, will not only discuss the target age of 70 but also potential adjustments to early retirement penalties and incentives for continuing to work beyond the new retirement age, according to reports from zdfheute.de. The commission, comprised of eight scientists, three politicians, and two chairs, is tasked with finding solutions to ensure the financial stability of the pension system.
Currently, individuals with at least 45 years of contributions can retire at 65 without penalty, a benefit previously known as “Rente mit 63.” Early retirement is also possible at age 63, albeit with reductions in benefits. However, the average actual retirement age in Germany was 64.7 years in 2024, up from 64.3 years the previous year, according to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, as reported by Focus Online. For each month of early retirement, benefits are reduced by 0.3 percent – a reduction that is permanent.
Potential Impact on Future Retirees
The discussion within the commission extends beyond simply raising the retirement age. Martin Werding, a member of the Expert Council and part of the commission, has proposed linking the retirement age systematically to life expectancy. His model suggests that the retirement age could increase by six months every ten years, reaching 70 in 2091. Werding believes this approach could lead to higher pension levels and lower contribution rates in the long term, as the period of pension receipt would be more closely aligned with the working life.
However, the proposal faces political opposition. Annika Klose, a Social Democrat member of the commission, has reportedly called any further increase in the retirement age a “red line,” according to zdfheute.de. Alternative proposals include adjusting the retirement age based on the age of entry into the workforce, with those starting their careers later retiring later as well. The Linke party has suggested shifting a greater share of pension contributions to employers, increasing their contribution from 50 percent to 60 percent.
The potential financial consequences of early retirement are significant. For example, a pension of €1800 gross could be reduced by over €190 per month for each year of early retirement.
The debate surrounding the retirement age underscores the complex challenges facing Germany’s pension system. The commission’s upcoming meeting on February 23rd will be a crucial step in determining the future of retirement for generations to come. The outcome will likely shape not only when people can retire but also the financial security they can expect in their later years.
What comes next will depend on the commission’s recommendations and the subsequent political negotiations. The discussion highlights the necessitate for a comprehensive and sustainable solution to ensure the long-term viability of the German pension system.
Share your thoughts on this important issue in the comments below.
Friday brings a mix of remembrance, athletic competition, and fresh television offerings. General Hospital honors a beloved figure, the Winter Olympics move toward their conclusion, and several new series debut or continue their runs. A compelling Italian drama explores a case of mistaken identity and the perils of a flawed justice system.
The entertainment landscape is diverse this week, ranging from long-running daytime dramas paying tribute to iconic actors to thrilling new series and the excitement of international sporting events. A new mockumentary sitcom also joins the fray, offering a comedic look at the pressures of collegiate cheerleading. These varied offerings provide a broad spectrum of viewing options for audiences.
General Hospital Pays Tribute to Anthony Geary
General Hospital is dedicating a special episode to the memory of Anthony Geary, the actor best known for his portrayal of Luke Spencer. Geary passed away in December, but his impact on the show and its fans remains significant. The episode will feature Laura (Genie Francis) leading a gathering of Luke’s closest friends – Lulu (Alexa Havins Bruening), Tracy (Jane Elliot), Sonny (Maurice Benard), Carly (Laura Wright), and Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst) – to share memories and celebrate his life. Though the character of Luke died on the show four years ago, Lulu is still grappling with her grief, having been in a coma at the time of his passing. The tribute promises to be a poignant and heartfelt homage to a daytime television legend.
Winter Olympics Reach Their Final Days
The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics are entering their final weekend, with men’s hockey taking center stage in the semifinals. The U.S. Team will face Slovakia, even as Canada will compete against Finland (10:40 am/ET and 3:10 pm/PT). A full slate of medal events is scheduled, including women’s ski cross, men’s aerials and freeski halfpipe in freestyle skiing, men’s 15k mass start in biathlon, women’s 1500m in speed skating, men’s 5000m relay and women’s 1500m in short track speed skating, and the men’s bronze medal game in curling. All events can be livestreamed and replayed on Peacock, with coverage also available on USA Network and NBC. NBC’s “Primetime in Milan” recap airs at 8/7c.
New Shows and Streaming Options
Several new and returning shows are also vying for viewers’ attention. Jennifer Garner returns in the second season of the thriller The Last Thing He Told Me, based on Laura Dave’s novel. Garner plays Hannah Hall, whose husband Owen (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) mysteriously disappeared, and whose reappearance after five years throws her and her stepdaughter Bailey (Angourie Rice) back into danger. The series also features Judy Greer, John Noble, and Luke Kirby. Episodes are released weekly on Apple TV. NBC is also debuting a new episode of the mockumentary sitcom Stumble at 10:30/9:30c, following the Olympics recap, focusing on an underdog cheer squad’s struggle to qualify for Daytona.
HBO Max is premiering Portobello, its first Italian-language original series. The drama recounts the true story of Enzo Tortora (Fabrizio Gifuni), a popular Italian television host who was wrongly accused of drug trafficking in the 1980s. The series explores the theme of being “guilty until proven innocent” within the Italian judicial system.
Other Programming Highlights
Friday’s television lineup also includes RuPaul’s Drag Race (8/7c, MTV) with Brooke Shields as a guest judge, a special exploring the rise of the UFC (8/7c, CBS), the return of Dreaming Whilst Black (9/8c, Paramount+ With Showtime), a profile of jazz musician Sun Ra (9/8c, PBS), and Real Time With Bill Maher (10/9c, HBO) featuring Paul Anka, Lauren Boebert, and James Talarico. Streaming options include Strip Law (Netflix), new additions to the Netflix library, the erotic thriller Watching You (Hulu), and the suspense film Dead of Winter (HBO Max).
As the week concludes, audiences have a wide array of choices, from honoring television history to following the excitement of the Winter Olympics and exploring new dramatic series. The coming days will likely witness continued coverage of the Olympics and the unfolding storylines in these new and returning shows.
What are your viewing plans for the weekend? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Starkville, MS – A groundbreaking study published in the prestigious journal Science is reshaping our understanding of the origins of syphilis. Researchers at Mississippi State University, led by Professor of Anthropology Molly Zuckerman and graduate student Lydia Bailey, have uncovered ancient DNA evidence pushing back the known history of diseases related to syphilis by over 5,000 years and bolstering the theory that the disease originated in the Americas, not Europe.
The research, detailed in the article available at www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.aee7963, draws on recent paleogenomic discoveries from Colombia and Mexico. This perform demonstrates the transformative power of ancient DNA research in unraveling long-standing debates surrounding human disease, evolution, and global health. The findings challenge previous assumptions about the spread of this historically devastating illness.
“This research is important because it moves us further into understanding the origins and adaptability of a disease that is harmfully resurging in human populations, especially in the U.S., and thus its potential for future change,” explained Professor Zuckerman. The resurgence of syphilis cases in recent years, particularly in the United States, makes understanding its evolutionary history increasingly critical for public health strategies.
The study highlights the importance of mentorship in scientific research. Zuckerman shared that her own career path was significantly influenced by a graduate mentor who included her in early research on syphilis origins. She described her current collaboration with Bailey as “a meaningful way to pay that mentorship forward,” providing a hands-on scholarly experience.
For Lydia Bailey, an applied anthropology master’s student from Lafayette, Novel Jersey, participation in the project underscored the value of examining infectious diseases through a historical lens. “Examining infectious diseases ‘in deep time’ can inform how we think about the roles of human mobility, environment and behavior in shaping infectious disease spread today,” Bailey stated. She added that publishing in Science provides a platform to share these insights beyond the academic community, potentially helping to destigmatize infectious diseases and promote more equitable public health initiatives.
Ancient DNA and the Shifting Narrative of Syphilis
The discovery builds upon a growing body of evidence suggesting a New World origin for syphilis. Previous research, including a 2018 study detailed in Smithsonian Magazine, recovered DNA of a bacterium related to the one that causes syphilis from 5,500-year-traditional human remains. This earlier finding, combined with the new research from Mississippi State, strengthens the argument against the long-held belief that Christopher Columbus and his crew brought syphilis to Europe from the Americas.
According to ScienceAlert, the ancient DNA analysis revealed a twisted evolutionary history, suggesting the disease evolved over millennia in the Americas before potentially spreading globally.
Implications for Public Health
The findings have significant implications for understanding the current spread and evolution of syphilis. As the disease experiences a concerning resurgence, particularly in the U.S., a deeper understanding of its origins and adaptability is crucial for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies. The research underscores the importance of continued investment in paleogenomic studies to track the evolution of infectious diseases and inform public health responses.
Mississippi State University’s College of Arts and Sciences and its Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures are committed to advancing knowledge and addressing critical global challenges. Further information about the university and its research initiatives can be found at www.msstate.edu.
The ongoing research promises to shed further light on the complex history of syphilis and its impact on human populations. Scientists will continue to analyze ancient DNA samples from across the globe to refine our understanding of the disease’s evolutionary trajectory and inform strategies to combat its resurgence.
Share your thoughts on this fascinating discovery in the comments below.