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Europe Rejects U.S. Peace Framework Demanding Ukrainian Concessions

Ukraine suffered one of the worst Russian attacks in months when drones and missiles hit Ternopil.  European leaders have firmly rejected a U.S.-backed peace proposal that would require Ukraine to surrender territory and scale back its military capabilities. The plan, reportedly drafted by Washington and discussed with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has been described by European officials as tantamount to forcing Kyiv into capitulation. According to reports, the framework envisions Ukraine giving up land to Russia and partially disarming its armed forces. This approach has sparked alarm across Europe, where officials insist that any peace plan must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and involve both Kyiv and European partners in negotiations. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasized that “for any plan to work, it needs Ukrainians and Europeans on board,” underscoring the bloc’s position that decisions about Ukraine’s future cannot be made without its direct involvement. German...

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TD to slash jobs after disappointing earnings report


The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) announced that it will cut an unspecified number of jobs as part of a restructuring plan to reduce costs and improve efficiency. The move comes after the bank reported lower-than-expected earnings for the fourth quarter of 2023, amid rising expenses and higher provisions for credit losses.

According to its financial results, TD earned $3.2 billion, or $1.72 per share, in the quarter ended Oct. 31, down from $3.5 billion, or $1.87 per share, a year earlier. Analysts had expected earnings of $1.79 per share, according to Refinitiv. The bank’s revenue increased by 4 per cent to $11.8 billion, but its expenses rose by 7 per cent to $6.9 billion. The bank also set aside $1.1 billion for bad loans, up from $891 million in the same period last year.

TD’s chief executive officer Bharat Masrani said the bank is facing “a challenging and uncertain environment” due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the economy. He said the bank is taking “decisive actions” to adapt to the changing conditions and position itself for long-term growth. He did not provide details on how many jobs will be affected by the restructuring, but said the bank will offer support and transition assistance to the impacted employees.

TD’s disappointing earnings contrast with the strong performance of its peers, such as Royal Bank of Canada, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Bank of Montreal and National Bank of Canada, which all beat analysts’ estimates and raised their dividends in the fourth quarter. TD was the only one of the Big Six banks that did not increase its dividend, keeping it at 79 cents per share.

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