科技企业家Elon Musk在德国重要议会选举前在一份主流报纸上公开支持德国极右翼政党，引发了轩然大波，并导致该报纸观点编辑辞职以示抗议。 Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk sparked controversy by publicly supporting Germany’s far-right party in a major newspaper ahead of the country’s key parliamentary elections, prompting the resignation of the paper’s opinion editor in protest. 由于总理Olaf Scholz的三党执政联盟上月因关于如何振兴国家停滞经济的争论而瓦解，德国将于2月23日举行提前选举。Musk在《Welt am Sonntag》发表的客座评论文章引发争议。这是本月他第二次支持德国选择党（AfD）。该报纸为Axel Springer集团旗下媒体，与《POLITICO》是姐妹刊物。 Germany is set to hold an early election on February 23 following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party coalition last month over a dispute on revitalizing the stagnant economy. Musk’s guest commentary for Welt am Sonntag, a sister publication of POLITICO owned by the Axel Springer Group, marked his second endorsement of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) this month. Musk在翻译后的文章中写道：“德国选择党是这个国家最后的希望之光。”他还表示，这一极右翼政党“能够引领国家迈向经济繁荣、文化完整和技术创新不仅是愿景而是现实的未来。”特斯拉首席执行官还指出，他在德国的投资使他有权对该国的状况发表评论。 In the translated article, Musk stated, "The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is the last spark of hope for this country." He further argued that the far-right party “can lead the country into a future where economic prosperity, cultural integrity, and technological innovation are not just aspirations but achievable realities.” The Tesla CEO also justified his remarks by citing his investments in Germany. 尽管德国选择党民调支持率强劲，但其总理候选人Alice Weidel由于其他政党拒绝与极右翼政党合作，几乎没有成为总理的可能性。作为美国总统当选人Donald Trump的盟友，这位科技亿万富翁在文章中对该党派的公众形象提出了质疑。 While the AfD is polling strongly, its chancellor candidate, Alice Weidel, has little chance of assuming the role as other parties refuse to collaborate with the far-right faction. An ally of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, Musk challenged the public portrayal of the party in his commentary. “将德国选择党描绘为右翼极端分子显然是错误的。考虑到党派领导人Alice Weidel有一位来自斯里兰卡的同性伴侣！这听起来像希特勒吗？拜托！”Musk在文章中说道。 “Labeling the AfD as far-right extremists is clearly mistaken. Alice Weidel, the party leader, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka! Does that sound like Hitler to you? Come on!” Musk wrote in his piece. Musk的评论引发了德国媒体对言论自由界限的讨论，《Welt am Sonntag》的观点编辑在Musk的社交平台X上宣布辞职。“我一直很喜欢领导《WELT》和《WAMS》的观点版块。今天，Elon Musk的文章刊登在《Welt am Sonntag》上。我在文章付印前一天递交了辞呈。”Eva Marie Kogel写道。 Musk’s remarks spurred debate in German media over the boundaries of free speech, with the opinion editor of Welt am Sonntag announcing her resignation on Musk’s social media platform, X. “I always enjoyed leading the opinion section of WELT and WAMS. Today an article by Elon Musk appeared in Welt am Sonntag. I handed in my resignation yesterday before it went to print,” Eva Marie Kogel wrote. 《Welt》集团未来的主编Jan Philipp Burgard在评论Musk文章时写了一篇批评性文章。“虽然Musk的诊断是正确的，但他提出的只有德国选择党才能拯救德国的治疗方法是致命错误的。”Burgard写道。 The future editor-in-chief of the Welt group, Jan Philipp Burgard, penned a critical article accompanying Musk’s commentary. “While Musk’s diagnosis is accurate, his remedy—that only the AfD can save Germany—is fatally flawed,” Burgard wrote. 在回应德国新闻社dpa的评论请求时，《Welt》集团现任主编Ulf Poschardt和即将于1月1日上任的Burgard在一份联合声明中表示，对Musk文章的讨论“非常有启发性”。“民主和新闻业依赖于言论自由。这将继续成为‘世界’未来发展的指针。我们将更加坚定地将《Die Welt》发展为此类辩论的论坛。”他们在给dpa的声明中写道。 In response to a query from the German Press Agency, dpa, the current editor-in-chief of the Welt group, Ulf Poschardt, and Burgard, who is set to take over on January 1, issued a joint statement describing the discussion around Musk’s article as “very insightful.” “Democracy and journalism thrive on freedom of expression. This will remain the guiding principle for ‘Welt’ moving forward. We will develop Die Welt more decisively as a platform for such debates,” they stated to dpa.

美国前总统Jimmy Carter于周日去世，享年100岁，《The Carter Center》发表声明证实了这一消息。 Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter passed away on Sunday at the age of 100, according to a statement from The Carter Center. Carter是美国历史上最长寿的总统，于12月29日去世。去年2月，他在家乡乔治亚州Plains市接受了一系列短期住院治疗后，开始接受家庭临终关怀，此后已超过一年。 Carter, the longest-living American president, died on December 29. He had been in home hospice care since February last year following several short hospital stays in his hometown of Plains, Georgia. Carter出生于1924年，当时正值Calvin Coolidge当选总统前一个月。他曾表示希望能活到2024年大选投票的那一天——这一愿望他实现了。 Born in 1924, just a month before Calvin Coolidge was elected president, Carter expressed a desire to live long enough to cast his vote in the 2024 election—and he fulfilled that wish. Carter的去世紧随他77年伴侣Rosalynn于去年11月以96岁高龄去世之后。尽管身体状况恶化，Carter仍出席了在亚特兰大举行的葬礼。 Carter's death comes shortly after his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn, passed away at age 96 in November. Despite his declining health, Carter attended her funeral in Atlanta. Carter的孙子Jason Carter曾在8月对《Atlanta Journal-Constitution》表示，Carter曾提到自己“只想撑到11月投票给Kamala Harris”。 Carter's grandson, Jason Carter, shared with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in August that his grandfather had mentioned he was "just trying to make it to vote for Kamala Harris" in November's presidential election. Carter健康状况的消息引发了各界对他的祝福和怀念，这表明Carter在其混乱的单一任期和几十年的总统后生活中进行的倡导工作，使他的声誉得到了提升。 News of Carter's health struggles prompted widespread well-wishes and tributes, reflecting how his reputation had grown since his tumultuous single term in office and his decades of advocacy in his post-presidential years. Carter在宣布竞选1976年总统选举民主党提名时，还是一位鲜为人知的乔治亚州州长。他利用这种局外人身份，搭上了因越南战争、水门事件和Richard Nixon辞职而对华盛顿产生的不满情绪的浪潮，以微弱优势击败了时任总统Gerald Ford。 Carter was a little-known governor of Georgia when he declared his bid for the Democratic nomination in the 1976 election. He leveraged his outsider status to ride a wave of public discontent over the Vietnam War, Watergate, and Richard Nixon's resignation, narrowly defeating President Gerald Ford. 尽管他在国内外取得了一些成就，Carter的总统任期却笼罩在两位数的通胀和严重的能源危机中，这导致了汽油短缺和配给。 Although he achieved some successes at home and abroad, Carter's presidency was overshadowed by double-digit inflation and a severe energy crisis, which led to gasoline shortages and rationing. 1979年的伊朗人质危机进一步削弱了他的支持。这场危机导致52名美国外交官和公民在德黑兰的美国大使馆被扣押长达444天。Carter下令进行的营救行动失败，导致8名美国军人死亡。这一事件发生在1980年大选的7个月前，几乎注定了Carter被共和党人Ronald Reagan以压倒性优势击败。 The 1979 Iran hostage crisis further undermined his presidency. Fifty-two American diplomats and citizens were held hostage at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran for 444 days. A rescue mission ordered by Carter failed, resulting in the deaths of eight American servicemen. The event, occurring seven months before the 1980 election, effectively sealed Carter's landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan. 然而，Carter在离开白宫后或许对社会的影响更大。他和Rosalynn于1982年创立了《The Carter Center》，专注于全球范围内的外交、人权和民主倡导。他的工作包括监督发展中国家的选举和调解国际争端，这为他赢得了2002年的诺贝尔和平奖。 However, Carter arguably made a greater impact after leaving the White House. He and Rosalynn founded The Carter Center in 1982, focusing on diplomacy, human rights, and democracy worldwide. His efforts, including monitoring elections in developing countries and mediating international conflicts, earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. 他还积极参与了《Habitat for Humanity》的志愿工作，每年与Rosalynn一起帮助建造房屋。这对夫妇在八九十岁时仍继续为志愿和倡导工作旅行。 He also volunteered extensively with Habitat for Humanity, making annual trips with Rosalynn to help build homes. The couple continued traveling for their volunteer and advocacy work well into their 80s and 90s. Carter直到过去几年才开始明显减缓活动节奏，主要是由于COVID-19疫情限制了他的公开露面。 Carter only began to slow down in recent years, primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic limiting his public appearances. Carter在10月与家人和朋友在Plains庆祝了他的最新一次生日，这座小镇是他和Rosalynn的出生地。这对夫妇于1946年结婚，育有四个孩子。 Carter celebrated his most recent birthday in October with family and friends in Plains, the small town where both he and Rosalynn were born. The couple married in 1946 and had four children.

一名温哥华男子因在一起中国房地产项目的欺诈案件中被判欺诈罪，被卑诗省最高法院法官勒令赔偿超过50万美元。 根据本周早些时候发布并于周五在线公开的判决，法官尼娜·夏尔玛裁定Christopher Lee需向海南德鸿房地产开发公司和海南金豪斯房地产开发公司赔偿因“欺诈和/或欺诈性失实陈述”造成的损失。 事件背景 上述两家公司将Christopher Lee以及一家抵押贷款经纪公司及其一名承包商告上法庭，指控其在为海南岛一块土地开发项目筹集1亿美元融资的过程中实施欺诈。 开发项目介绍 判决文件描述，这两家公司是由Cexen Fu经营的“家族企业”，其女儿Julie Fu居住在温哥华，并代表原告出庭。 2014年，Julie Fu通过一名名为Frank Lee的抵押贷款经纪人（与Christopher Lee无亲属关系）帮助，以6500万加元的价格为家族公司之一购置了位于列治文Alderbridge Way的一块商业用地。 2015年初，Julie Fu再次联系Frank Lee，寻求海南岛项目的融资支持。该项目计划建成一个“购物中心和娱乐综合体”。 Frank Lee表示自己无资质为卑诗省以外的交易提供抵押贷款经纪服务，但仍同意以某种身份提供协助。随后，他联系了其熟人Christopher Lee。 Christopher Lee自称是Westbay Partners Services Ltd.公司的加拿大代表。在与Julie Fu和Frank Lee一系列会面后，他说服Fu的公司与Westbay签订了一项关于“联合贷款”的协议。 根据协议，Westbay将从“私人股本基金、房地产投资信托基金和高净值个人”筹集1亿美元，并分两笔向Fu的公司发放贷款，每笔5000万美元。 作为筹资服务的费用，Westbay要求支付一笔50万美元的“承诺费”，并承诺如果未能筹得资金将全额退款。 然而，2015年11月，Westbay通知Fu公司无法筹资并承诺退款，但款项始终未退还。 判决结果 根据判决文件，银行记录显示承诺费在存入Westbay账户的次日即被转入Christopher Lee个人账户。 法官夏尔玛指出，这笔交易的协议是“骗局”，Christopher Lee是整个欺诈计划的主谋，设计诱骗Fu支付承诺费，而他明知这笔钱不会被退还。 夏尔玛判决Christopher Lee需向原告赔偿50万美元以及判前和判后利息。 对其他被告的指控被驳回 Fu公司对Frank Lee及其合作的抵押贷款经纪公司提起了疏忽责任的指控，但被法院驳回。 法官认为，Frank Lee并未以抵押贷款经纪人的身份行事，而是作为顾问协助交易，因此不承担抵押贷款经纪人的责任。此外，由于Frank Lee是独立承包商而非该公司的雇员，经纪公司也无需对其行为承担连带责任。

印度执法机构表示，他们正在调查加拿大几十所学院与孟买的两个“实体”之间涉嫌非法将学生运送到加拿大-美国边境的联系。 India's law enforcement agencies claim to be investigating links between several Canadian colleges and two entities in Mumbai accused of trafficking students to the U.S.-Canada border. 周二，印度执法局（Enforcement Directorate）发布新闻稿称，他们在多座城市的搜查中发现了“人贩子”相关的“有力证据”。印度执法局是负责调查洗钱和外汇法案的多领域组织。 On Tuesday, the Enforcement Directorate of India reported uncovering significant evidence of human trafficking during searches across multiple cities. The Directorate specializes in probing money laundering and foreign exchange violations. 这些指控尚未经过法庭审理。加拿大联邦政府、皇家骑警、驻渥太华印度高级专员公署以及多所加拿大学院的官员未立即对评论请求作出回应。美国大使馆周四表示对此事不予置评。 The allegations remain untested in court. Neither the Canadian government, the RCMP, the Indian High Commission in Ottawa, nor Canadian college representatives have commented. The U.S. embassy also declined to provide any remarks. 印度官员称，他们的调查始于2022年1月19日，当时39岁的Jagdish Baldevbhai Patel与其妻子及两个孩子被发现死于加拿大和美国边境的曼尼托巴一侧。 Indian authorities began their investigation after the tragic death of Jagdish Baldevbhai Patel, his wife, and two children near the Manitoba-U.S. border on January 19, 2022. 上个月，一家明尼苏达州陪审团裁定佛罗里达州的Steve Shand和在芝加哥被捕的印度公民Harshkumar Patel四项与非法将人员带入美国、运送并从中获利的相关罪名成立。 Last month, a Minnesota jury convicted Steve Shand from Florida and Indian national Harshkumar Patel, arrested in Chicago, on charges of smuggling and profiting from unauthorized individuals entering the U.S. 据检方称，Harshkumar Patel负责协调一个复杂的运作，而Shand则是司机。Shand原计划在明尼苏达州边境接走11名印度移民，但只有7人成功跨越边境，其余人因严寒死亡。 Prosecutors described Harshkumar Patel as the mastermind of the operation and Shand as the driver. Shand was to pick up 11 Indian migrants, but only seven survived the treacherous crossing. 周二的新闻稿称，官员根据对Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel的举报展开调查，他涉嫌安排了该家庭的旅行，并称每位家庭成员为越境支付了约93,000至102,000美元的费用。 The investigation centers around Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel, who allegedly arranged the family's trip, charging each member between $93,000 and $102,000 for their U.S. crossing. 此事件被印度称为“Dingucha案”，以该家庭来自的印度古吉拉特邦的村庄命名。执法局表示，上周在孟买、那格浦尔以及古吉拉特邦的甘地纳加尔和瓦多达拉进行了搜查。 Dubbed the "Dingucha Case" in India after the family's village in Gujarat, the Directorate conducted searches in Mumbai, Nagpur, Gandhinagar, and Vadodara. 执法局还声称，Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel涉嫌安排人员进入加拿大学院以获取学生签证，而这些人抵达加拿大后，并未实际入学，而是非法越境前往美国。 The agency alleges that Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel helped individuals enroll in Canadian colleges to secure student visas, but they never attended classes, opting instead to cross into the U.S. 执法局还指出，涉案“实体”每年向印度以外的学院推荐约25,000名学生，其中超过10,000名学生被推荐到加拿大。 According to the Directorate, the involved entities referred around 25,000 students annually to foreign colleges, including over 10,000 to Canadian institutions. 这些案件的曝光正值美印在边境安全问题上的紧张关系加剧，以及加拿大外交和移民政策面临审查之际。 The revelations come amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and India over border security and increased scrutiny of Canada's immigration and foreign relations policies.

美国总统当选人Donald Trump于周五请求美国最高法院推迟可能的TikTok禁令的生效日期，以便其新政府能够在此问题上寻求“政治解决方案”。 U.S. president-elect Donald Trump requested the Supreme Court on Friday to delay implementing a potential TikTok ban so that his administration can explore a “political resolution” to the matter. 此请求是在TikTok和Biden政府向法院提交相反意见的同时提出的。TikTok主张法院应废除可能在1月19日禁止该平台的法律，而政府则强调该法规对于消除国家安全风险是必要的。 The request coincided with TikTok and the Biden administration submitting opposing arguments to the court. TikTok urged the court to repeal a law that could ban the platform by January 19, while the government argued that the statute is essential for addressing national security risks. Trump的意见书表示，他对该争议的核心问题不持立场，仅请求法院将TikTok资产剥离的截止日期从2025年1月19日推迟，以便审查案件的实质。该意见书由Trump挑选的律师D. John Sauer撰写。 In his brief, Trump stated he does not take a stance on the dispute's merits but respectfully requested the court delay the January 19, 2025, divestment deadline to allow further examination of the case. The brief was prepared by D. John Sauer, Trump’s pick for solicitor general. 这一提交是Trump在就职前插手国家事务的最新例子。作为总统当选人，他已开始与其他国家就关税计划谈判，并在本月早些时候介入联邦政府资金计划，要求拒绝两党方案并重新协商。 This filing marks Trump’s latest intervention in national matters before assuming office. The president-elect has been negotiating tariffs with other nations and earlier this month called for rejecting a bipartisan federal funding plan, prompting further negotiations. Trump在其位于佛罗里达州的Mar-a-Lago俱乐部会见外国领导人和商界人士，包括上周与TikTok CEO Shou Chew的会面。他在竞选期间改变了对该应用的立场，从之前基于国家安全试图禁用，转而在2024年大选期间加入TikTok并用其吸引年轻选民。 Trump has been meeting with foreign leaders and business executives at Mar-a-Lago, including a meeting last week with TikTok CEO Shou Chew. During his campaign, he reversed his stance on TikTok, transitioning from attempting to ban it to using it to engage younger voters. 今年早些时候，Trump表示他仍认为TikTok存在国家安全风险，但他反对完全禁用。 Earlier this year, Trump reiterated his belief in the national security risks associated with TikTok but stated his opposition to banning the app outright. 周五的提交是在1月10日的口头辩论之前，辩论将审查该法律是否因要求TikTok与其中国母公司分离或面临禁令而违反第一修正案的言论自由条款。该法律由Biden总统于4月签署，在国会获得了广泛的两党支持。 Friday’s filings precede oral arguments on January 10 regarding whether the law mandating TikTok’s divestment from its China-based parent company violates First Amendment protections on free speech. The law was signed by President Biden in April with bipartisan backing. 本月早些时候，美国哥伦比亚特区巡回法院三名联邦法官一致维持了该法律的有效性，促使TikTok向最高法院提起上诉。 Earlier this month, a panel of three federal judges in the D.C. Circuit upheld the law, prompting TikTok to appeal to the Supreme Court. Trump的意见书表明，他反对在此阶段禁用TikTok，并希望在其就职后通过政治手段解决相关问题。 Trump’s brief indicated his opposition to banning TikTok at this time, expressing a preference to address the matter politically once he assumes office. TikTok及其母公司ByteDance的律师在周五的意见书中辩称，联邦上诉法院的裁定存在错误，并基于中国可能通过其外国附属公司施压控制TikTok美国平台的“假设风险”。 Attorneys for TikTok and ByteDance argued Friday that the federal appeals court's decision was flawed and based on speculative risks that China might exert control over TikTok's U.S. operations through foreign affiliates. Biden政府则在法庭上表示，由于TikTok与ByteDance的关联以及其依赖于中国开发和维护的专有引擎，这种企业结构本身就构成了风险。 The Biden administration countered that TikTok’s integration with ByteDance and reliance on a proprietary engine developed in China inherently pose security risks.

周四，购物者涌向商场，利用节礼日折扣以及联邦政府提供的GST免税政策。但一些人表示，即使价格下降，仍不足以缓解当前的生活成本压力。 Shoppers crowded malls on Thursday to capitalize on Boxing Day discounts, enhanced by a federal GST holiday. However, some feel the lower prices still don't adequately address the rising cost of living. 两个月内，包括儿童玩具、电子游戏及其主机、零食、葡萄酒和餐馆食品在内的一系列商品可享受GST或HST免税（取决于省份）。这一免税政策激励了一些消费者趁节礼日折扣在本地零售商购物。 For two months, items like children's toys, video games, snacks, wine, and restaurant food are exempt from GST or HST, depending on the province. This tax relief has encouraged shoppers to take advantage of Boxing Day sales at local stores. Nakul Singal周四上午与伴侣前往多伦多的Fairview Mall寻找折扣。“每年我们都能找到不错的折扣，”Singal说，他补充道自己一直在等节礼日买新耳机。“在这个时间购物很划算。” Nakul Singal visited Toronto's Fairview Mall on Thursday morning with his partner to hunt for discounts. "We usually find good deals every year," he said, noting he'd been waiting for Boxing Day to buy new headphones. "It's a great time to shop around." 他还表示，虽然免税政策在食品价格方面有所帮助，但他希望政府能采取更多措施，帮助加拿大人应对高昂的生活成本，尤其是住房问题。“我希望他们能遏制通胀，”他说。“我们现在真的很难熬。” He added that while the tax relief has helped with food costs, he wants the government to do more to tackle high living expenses, particularly housing. "I hope they can curb inflation," he said. "It's really tough right now." 加拿大零售理事会联邦政府关系副总裁Matt Poirier上周告诉《加拿大新闻社》，节礼日由于免税政策的影响预计会有所增长。然而，他表示，一些企业，尤其是支付系统较旧的企业，在短时间内实施免税政策和确定符合条件的商品时面临困难。 Matt Poirier, vice-president of federal government relations at the Retail Council of Canada, said last week that Boxing Day is expected to see a boost thanks to the tax break. However, he noted that some businesses, particularly those with older payment systems, have struggled to implement the policy and identify qualifying items. 本月早些时候，RBC Economics的一份报告显示，11月的零售支出有所放缓，黑色星期五周末的假日支出略低于2023年水平。RBC经济学家Carrie Freestone指出，自11月21日免税政策宣布以来，兴趣爱好、玩具和游戏类支出显著减少。“通常情况下，随着假期临近，热门儿童礼物的支出会增加，”Freestone写道。 An RBC Economics report from earlier this month showed a slowdown in retail spending for November, with holiday purchases during Black Friday weekend slightly below 2023 levels. RBC economist Carrie Freestone noted a significant dip in spending on hobbies, toys, and games after November 21, when the tax break was announced. "Typically, spending on popular children's gifts rises as the holidays approach," she wrote. 尽管11月支出下降，Freestone表示，加拿大第四季度人均零售支出自2022年中期以来首次有望小幅增长。 Despite November's decline, Freestone suggested that Canada may see a slight increase in per capita retail spending for the fourth quarter, marking the first growth since mid-2022. GameStop多伦多北部一家分店的助理经理Joey Comia-Orellano表示，自免税政策宣布以来，店内顾客流量有所增加。购物者热衷于利用免税优惠。“我们在节礼日之前就迎来了很多顾客，”他说。 Joey Comia-Orellano, assistant store manager at a GameStop in north Toronto, noted an uptick in customer traffic since the tax break was announced. "We've been getting shoppers even before Boxing Day," he said. Comia-Orellano补充说，他预计周四店内会更忙，因为消费者希望通过节礼日折扣和免税政策的结合来节省开支。“我注意到很多人购买更多的游戏、控制器，当然还有很多主机，”他说。 Comia-Orellano added that he expects Thursday to be even busier as shoppers take advantage of Boxing Day discounts combined with the tax break. "I've noticed a lot of people buying more games, controllers, and definitely consoles," he said. 与此同时，周四在Fairview Mall购物的Raj Jeetu表示，虽然他已经多次在餐馆利用了免税政策，但他对该政策能否长期帮助加拿大人持怀疑态度。“我不确定这是否会有多大帮助。我觉得价格确实需要下降，”他说。 Meanwhile, Raj Jeetu, another shopper at Fairview Mall on Thursday, said that while he has taken advantage of the tax break at restaurants several times, he remains skeptical of its long-term benefits for Canadians. "I'm not sure how much it will help. I think prices really need to drop," he said. 对于Comia-Orellano来说，顾客普遍反映虽然免税政策和节礼日折扣未能解决整体的可负担性危机，但仍然值得利用来节省开支。“这是必要的，假期期间确实很难，”他说。“这就像是税收方面的一小段缓解，虽然未必真正让事情变得更负担得起。” For Comia-Orellano, customer feedback suggests that while the tax break and Boxing Day discounts might not address the overall affordability crisis, they are still worth it for the savings. "It's necessary; the holidays can be tough," he said. "This is like a small tax break, even if it doesn't make things significantly more affordable."

总理Justin Trudeau在圣诞致辞中传递了一种充满希望且和解的基调，同时面临越来越多的辞职呼声和对其政治领导力的质疑。 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivered a Christmas message filled with hope and reconciliation, even as he faces mounting calls for his resignation and questions surrounding his leadership. 在周三发布于X（原Twitter）的视频中，Trudeau向大家送上圣诞祝福，并鼓励加拿大人在假日期间关心那些可能正面临挑战的人。 In a video shared Wednesday on X (formerly Twitter), Trudeau extended holiday wishes and urged Canadians to support those who may be going through tough times during the festive season. “这是一个放慢脚步、恢复活力，与所爱之人共度时光的时刻，”他说，并强调放下手机和政治分歧，专注于真正重要的事情。 “This is a time to slow down, recharge, and spend meaningful moments with loved ones,” he remarked, emphasizing the need to step away from distractions like phones and political differences to focus on what truly matters. Trudeau承认，对于那些在悲伤、焦虑或孤独中的人来说，节假日可能是“一年中最艰难的时刻”。他呼吁加拿大人关心身边那些可能需要额外关怀和关注的人。 Acknowledging that the holiday season can be especially tough for those grieving, anxious, or feeling alone, Trudeau called on Canadians to reach out to anyone who might need extra support. 他还对急救人员、Canadian Armed Forces成员、医疗保健人员和其他节日期间坚守岗位的必要工作人员表达了感谢。“你们体现了圣诞节的真正精神——为身边的人提供礼物、食物和服务，”他说。 Trudeau expressed gratitude towards first responders, members of the Canadian Armed Forces, healthcare professionals, and other essential workers sacrificing their holidays to serve others. “You embody the true spirit of Christmas—giving gifts, meals, and services to those around you,” he stated. Trudeau祝愿庆祝节日的人充满喜悦，也希望那些处于困境中的人能够找到安慰，并对来年充满光明和希望。 Trudeau wished joy for those celebrating and comfort for those in difficult situations, expressing optimism for a brighter year ahead. 总理的讲话是在Liberals经历动荡的一周后发表的，此前Chrystia Freeland于12月16日意外宣布辞去联邦内阁职务。这一事件导致了内阁重组，有8位新部长加入，另外4位现任部长被重新任命。 The Prime Minister’s message followed a chaotic week for the Liberals, highlighted by Chrystia Freeland’s unexpected resignation from the federal cabinet on December 16, which prompted a cabinet reshuffle introducing eight new ministers and reassigning four others. Freeland的离任加剧了对Trudeau的压力，多名Liberals议员公开敦促他让位，为新领导人腾出空间。 Freeland’s departure has escalated pressure on Trudeau, with several Liberal MPs openly calling for him to step down to make room for fresh leadership. 根据Global News专属的Ipsos最新民调显示，Trudeau和Liberals的支持率正在下滑。近75%的加拿大人在周五发布的Ipsos民调中表示Trudeau应该辞职，而Liberals的支持率则降至约20%的接近历史最低点。 Recent Ipsos polling conducted for Global News reveals Trudeau and the Liberals are facing declining approval, with nearly 75% of Canadians suggesting Trudeau should resign and Liberal support dropping to a near-historic low of 20%. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre也发表了圣诞致辞，称赞急救人员、必要工作人员和Canadian Armed Forces成员在节日期间的奉献精神。 Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also shared a Christmas message, commending first responders, essential workers, and members of the Canadian Armed Forces for their dedication during the holidays. New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh则在一段视频中抱着他的女儿，承认今年对许多家庭来说很困难，假日期间也不得不做出牺牲。他重申了让生活更负担得起的承诺，包括降低食品价格和建设可负担住房的努力。 New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh, appearing in a video holding his daughter, acknowledged the hardships faced by many families this year and the sacrifices made during the holiday season. He reaffirmed his commitment to making life more affordable by working to lower grocery costs and create affordable housing.

被指控枪杀UnitedHealthcare首席执行官的男子路易吉·曼吉奥尼周一对谋杀和恐怖指控表示不认罪。同时，他的律师抱怨称，纽约市市长的相关言论可能会影响其获得公正审判的机会。 Luigi Mangione, accused of killing the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges of murder and terrorism. His attorney argued that remarks by New York's mayor could jeopardize a fair trial. 26岁的路易吉·曼吉奥尼在曼哈顿法院中戴着手铐坐着，他靠近麦克风进行了答辩。曼哈顿地区检察官上周正式指控他多项谋杀罪，包括以恐怖主义行为实施谋杀的罪名。这项州案件将与其联邦案件并行进行审理。 Mangione, 26, appeared in Manhattan court, shackled as he entered his plea. He faces multiple state murder charges, including one involving terrorism, which will proceed alongside a federal case. 曼吉奥尼首次在纽约州法院出庭之前，联邦检察官已对他提起指控。联邦指控可能导致死刑，而州指控的最高刑罚是无假释的终身监禁。 Federal prosecutors had already filed charges before his state court appearance. The federal case could lead to the death penalty, while state charges carry a life sentence without parole. 检察官表示，这两起案件将同时推进，预计州案件将率先进入审判阶段。曼吉奥尼的一名律师告诉法官，包括纽约市市长埃里克·亚当斯在内的政府官员已经将曼吉奥尼当作政治棋子，从而剥夺了他作为被告的权利，并污染了陪审团的选拔过程。 Prosecutors say the state trial will begin first. Mangione's lawyer claimed officials, including Mayor Eric Adams, have politicized the case and prejudiced the jury pool. “我非常担心我的当事人是否能获得公正的审判，”卡伦·弗里德曼·阿格尼菲洛说道。她补充说，“这是一位年轻人。他在这里被两个司法管辖区当作人类乒乓球对待。” "I'm deeply concerned about my client's right to a fair trial," said Karen Friedman Agnifilo. "He's being treated like a pawn between two competing jurisdictions." 州法院法官格雷戈里·卡罗回应称，虽然他无法控制法院外发生的事情，但他可以确保曼吉奥尼在法庭上得到公正的审判。 Judge Gregory Carro stated he couldn't control outside rhetoric but assured a fair trial in his courtroom. 当局称，曼吉奥尼于12月4日早晨在曼哈顿中城枪杀了布莱恩·汤普森，后者当时正步行前往一场投资者会议。警方表示，经过五天的搜捕，曼吉奥尼在宾夕法尼亚州的一家麦当劳被捕，当时携带了一支与枪击案使用的武器匹配的枪以及一个假身份证。此外，联邦检察官称他还带着一本表达对保险业特别是富有高管敌意的笔记本。 Authorities allege Mangione shot Brian Thompson while the CEO was en route to a Midtown investor conference on Dec. 4. Arrested at a Pennsylvania McDonald's days later, he was carrying a matching gun, fake ID, and a notebook condemning the insurance industry. 曼哈顿地区检察官阿尔文·布拉格在上周二宣布州指控的新闻发布会上表示，恐怖主义法律的适用反映了这起“令人恐惧的、精心策划的、旨在引起震惊、注意和恐吓的谋杀”的严重性。 Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg called the crime a "frightening, well-planned murder meant to terrorize and intimidate," justifying the terrorism charge. “从最基本的意义上来说，这是一场旨在引发恐惧的谋杀，”他补充道。“我们已经看到了这种反应。” "This was a killing designed to evoke terror," Bragg added, noting the shockwaves it has sent. 曼吉奥尼的律师卡伦·弗里德曼·阿格尼菲洛指责联邦和州检察官提出了相互矛盾的法律理论。上周，她在联邦法院表示，这种做法“非常混乱”且“极不寻常”。 Mangione's lawyer criticized federal and state prosecutors for conflicting legal strategies, calling the approach "confusing" and "unusual." 目前，曼吉奥尼被关押在布鲁克林的联邦监狱，与肖恩·“迪迪”·康布斯和萨姆·班克曼-弗里德等其他知名被告关在一起。 Mangione is detained in a Brooklyn federal jail alongside high-profile inmates Sean "Diddy" Combs and Sam Bankman-Fried. 这名从宾夕法尼亚被引渡到纽约的男子于周四抵达，被迅速带到纽约市。他被目击穿着橙色囚服，被重装警察和纽约市市长埃里克·亚当斯护送下直升机。 Mangione was extradited from Pennsylvania on Thursday and flown to New York, where he was escorted by armed officers and Mayor Adams. 亚当斯表示，他希望向嫌犯传递一个信息：“我想直视他的眼睛告诉他，你在我的城市实施了这一恐怖行为——纽约市民深爱的城市。”亚当斯对当地电视台表示，“我希望通过这种象征性行为表明立场。” "I wanted to look him in the eye and say, 'You committed this act of terror in my city,' a city New Yorkers love," Adams told a local station. 来自马里兰州一个显赫家庭的常春藤联盟毕业生曼吉奥尼，最近几个月似乎与家人朋友断绝了联系。他在网上论坛中频繁发帖，讲述自己与背痛斗争的经历。据UnitedHealthcare称，他从未是其客户。 An Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland family, Mangione had reportedly cut ties with loved ones and posted online about chronic back pain. UnitedHealthcare confirmed he was never a client. 而受害者汤普森是两个高中生的父亲，他在UnitedHealth Group工作了20年，并于2021年成为其保险部门的首席执行官。 Thompson, a father of two teens, worked at UnitedHealth Group for 20 years and became CEO of its insurance division in 2021. 这起杀戮事件让一些人对美国保险公司的不满浮出水面，曼吉奥尼似乎成了人们对保单拒绝和高额医疗账单怨气的化身。同时，这起事件在企业界引发了震荡，高管们表示他们收到了更多威胁。 The killing has amplified public frustration with U.S. insurers, with Mangione becoming a symbol of outrage over denied coverage and costly bills. It has also unsettled corporate leaders, many reporting a spike in threats.

专家指出，加拿大元在接下来的几个月可能面临艰难时期，其贬值趋势可能会持续。 Experts suggest that the Canadian dollar is likely to experience challenging months ahead, with its downward trajectory expected to continue. “我们确实还有下跌的空间，”  Corpay首席市场策略师Karl Schamotta表示。 “We certainly have more room to decline,” remarked Karl Schamotta, Chief Market Strategist at Corpay. 最近几周，加元兑美元汇率已跌破70美分，比9月份下跌了近4%。 The Canadian dollar has dropped below 70 cents US in recent weeks, marking a nearly four per cent decline since September. Schamotta预测，未来几个月对加拿大来说将是“非常动荡的时期”，因为即将上任的美国总统Donald Trump的政策提议引发的不确定性将影响商业投资和消费者信心，这意味着短期内加元将走弱。 Schamotta foresees a “highly turbulent period” for Canada in the coming months, as uncertainties surrounding President-elect Donald Trump’s policy proposals dampen business investment and consumer confidence, resulting in a weaker loonie in the short term. 然而，这并不是唯一的影响因素。 However, this is not the sole contributing factor. 强劲的美国经济正推高美国收益率，远高于加拿大收益率，这吸引了更多投资流向美国。此外，加拿大银行与美联储之间的货币政策差距正在扩大，Schamotta表示。 The robust U.S. economy, driving U.S. yields significantly higher than those in Canada, is luring more investments to the U.S. Meanwhile, a growing divergence in monetary policy between the Bank of Canada and the U.S. Federal Reserve is also at play, Schamotta explained. “这意味着全球投资者对加元的吸引力大幅减少，”他补充道。 "This makes the Canadian dollar far less appealing to global investors," he added. 上周，美联储宣布四分之一百分点的降息，并预计明年将从此前预期的四次降息减少到两次。与此同时，加拿大银行本月连续第二次大幅降息，将关键利率降至3.25%。 Last week, the U.S. Federal Reserve implemented a quarter-point rate cut, projecting a slowdown in rate cuts next year from the previously estimated four to two. At the same time, the Bank of Canada enacted its second substantial rate cut this month, reducing its key rate to 3.25 per cent. Forexlive的首席货币分析师Adam Button指出，加拿大经济按人均计算持续萎缩，正是这一系列降息的背景。 Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at Forexlive, pointed out that Canada’s economy has been contracting on a per-capita basis, providing the backdrop for these rate cuts. 此外，他补充说：“2025年，政府预计人口增长将为负。过去两年，加拿大经济增长的唯一来源就是人口增长，而这一趋势即将逆转。” Furthermore, he noted, "By 2025, the government forecasts negative population growth. Population growth has been Canada’s sole driver of economic growth in the last two years, and that trend is about to reverse." Schamotta预测，明年初加元将进一步下跌，并在2025年剩余时间内逐步实现温和回升。 Schamotta predicts a further decline for the Canadian dollar in early 2025, followed by a gradual and modest recovery throughout the remainder of the year. 他说，加拿大银行的降息最终将刺激加拿大房地产市场和消费者的活动。 He stated that the Bank of Canada’s rate cuts would eventually reinvigorate activity in the Canadian housing market and among consumers. “这应该在明年年底对加元提供一定支撑，”他说。 "This should provide some support for the Canadian dollar towards the end of next year," he remarked. 然而，随着Trump关税威胁的存在，Schamotta表示，交易员们正处于“先卖后问”的模式。 However, with Trump’s tariff threats looming, Schamotta observed that traders are adopting a "sell-first-and-ask-questions-later" approach. Button指出，加元的故事实际上与美国发生的事情密切相关。 Button noted that the narrative around the loonie is closely tied to developments in the U.S. “所谓的‘加元弱势’，很大程度上是因为美元走强，”他说。 "Much of the 'Canadian dollar weakness' is actually U.S. dollar strength," he said. Button还表示：“除非美国经济出现问题，否则我看不到加元有真正反弹的机会。” "Until the U.S. economy faces a setback, I don’t see a significant opportunity for the Canadian dollar to rebound," Button concluded.

2024年12月12日，在一次关于省边境安全新措施的新闻发布会上，阿尔伯塔省省长丹妮尔·史密斯宣布，她已获得唐纳德·特朗普明年在华盛顿特区举行的总统就职典礼门票。这一消息发布之际，加拿大各省省长以及联邦政府正努力推动外交，以抵消即将上任的美国总统特朗普承诺实施的关税威胁。 特朗普关税威胁与加拿大的应对 特朗普将在2025年1月20日正式宣誓连任总统。在竞选期间，他承诺对所有从加拿大进口的商品征收25%的关税。这一举措将终结北美实行30多年的自由贸易协议，并严重打击以出口为主的加拿大经济。据ATB Financial估算，若关税生效并伴随加拿大的报复性措施，阿尔伯塔省将减少52,000个就业机会，并可能陷入经济衰退。 为应对这一威胁，加拿大政府宣布了一项重大的边境安全计划，希望以此缓和特朗普的不满。特朗普曾声称，大量非法移民和毒品通过加拿大流入美国，尽管实际数据远远低于美墨边境的规模。 史密斯的外交努力与阿尔伯塔的措施 阿尔伯塔省政府近期宣布成立一个特别小组，由阿尔伯塔治安官负责巡逻与蒙大拿州接壤的南部省边境。此外，史密斯还与美国各州州长，特别是中西部州的州长展开外交对话。这些州的大部分炼油厂依赖来自阿尔伯塔的石油。 史密斯在接受《卡尔加里先驱报》采访时表示：“我强调，如果征收25%的关税，只会导致内华达州的汽油价格上涨。在科罗拉多州也是同样的情况。整个美国这一地区的油价之所以较低，正是因为有430万桶加拿大石油的供应目标是美国的炼油厂。” 预计关税可能导致美国汽油价格每加仑上涨1美元。 特朗普就职典礼与史密斯的参与 史密斯原计划参加加拿大驻华盛顿大使馆举办的庆祝活动，但如今通过阿尔伯塔在华盛顿的贸易办公室，她已成功获得美国国会大厦举行的正式就职典礼门票。 “在参加就职典礼后，省长希望能与能源集团、国会议员以及其他相关官员会面，”史密斯办公室在声明中表示。 反对报复性关税 尽管其他省级政治领导人曾建议采取报复性关税措施（例如安大略省省长道格·福特曾提议停止向美国出口能源），但史密斯明确拒绝了这一主张。她认为，报复性关税可能进一步加剧加拿大与美国之间的贸易紧张。 加拿大是美国最大的石油和天然气供应国，而特朗普则认为两国之间的贸易逆差使得美国在“补贴”加拿大。如果关税实施，美国商品价格将全面上涨，这可能导致美国减少从加拿大的进口，从而进一步削减加拿大的收入。 阿尔伯塔省89%的出口商品销往美国，总额达1560亿加元，其中约三分之二为原油。 史密斯的外交努力和对关税威胁的应对，反映了阿尔伯塔省在保护经济利益和应对外部挑战方面的策略，同时也为未来的加美关系奠定了复杂的基调。

什么是“旗杆移民”？| What is Flagpoling? 根据加拿大边境服务局（CBSA）发布的新闻稿，从本周一午夜起，加拿大正式终止了被称为“旗杆移民”（flagpoling）的移民做法。 According to a press release from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Canada has officially ended the practice of "flagpoling" as of midnight on Monday. CBSA表示，“旗杆移民”指的是持有加拿大临时居留身份的外国人离开加拿大，短暂访问美国或圣皮埃尔和密克隆群岛后，再次入境加拿大以便在入境口岸获得移民服务的行为。 The CBSA defines flagpoling as when foreign nationals with temporary resident status in Canada leave the country for a brief visit to the U.S. or St. Pierre and Miquelon, then re-enter Canada to access immigration services at a port of entry. 过去，这种做法允许申请人在边境口岸快速办理工作许可或学习许可。然而，自12月23日晚11:59（东部时间）起，这项服务已不再对“旗杆移民”开放。 Previously, this allowed applicants to quickly obtain work or study permits at border entry points. However, as of 11:59 p.m. EST on December 23, these services are no longer available to flagpolers. 为何终止这项做法？| Why Was This Practice Terminated? CBSA在声明中指出：“这一做法占用了边境大量资源，使加拿大和美国边境官员无法专注于更重要的执法活动，并加剧了过境旅客的等待时间。” In its statement, the CBSA said, “This practice has taken up significant resources at the border, diverting Canadian and American officers away from important enforcement activities and contributing to wait times for cross-border travellers.” 曼尼·古普塔（Manan Gupta），一位来自安大略省布兰普顿的注册加拿大移民顾问表示，这种做法近年来变得越来越流行，尤其是在申请者需要紧急办理签证或延期时。 Manan Gupta, a regulated Canadian immigration consultant based in Brampton, Ontario, noted that flagpoling has become increasingly popular in recent years, especially for those needing urgent visa services or extensions. “比如有人刚收到工作邀请，需要尽快开始工作，他们通常会通过‘旗杆移民’来当天完成签证服务，”古普塔解释道。 “For example, if someone gets a job offer and needs to start work soon, they often resort to flagpoling to get same-day visa services,” Gupta explained. 操作过程 | How Does Flagpoling Work? 在进行“旗杆移民”时，申请者会先离开加拿大并向美国边境官员表明，他们并不打算留在美国，而是会立即返回加拿大。 When flagpoling, applicants leave Canada and inform U.S. border officials that they do not intend to stay in the United States and will return to Canada immediately. 随后，当他们返回加拿大的入境口岸时，CBSA官员会处理他们的申请。 When they return to the Canadian entry point, CBSA officers process their applications. “你只需要告诉美国边境官员你没有美国签证，他们就会拒绝你进入美国。然后你可以返回加拿大，由CBSA处理你的申请，”古普塔补充道。“想象一下，当边境交通因此被阻塞时，美国方面会多么不满。” “You can simply tell the U.S. border agent that you don’t have a U.S. visa, and they will turn you around. You can then return to Canada, where CBSA officers would process your application,” Gupta added. “Imagine how frustrating this was for the U.S. when border traffic was held up.” 美国压力促成政策改变 | U.S. Pressure Influenced Policy Change 今年5月，美国参议院多数党领袖查克·舒默曾敦促加拿大政府终止这种做法。 In May this year, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urged the Canadian government to end this practice. 古普塔认为，申请者选择“旗杆移民”是因为加拿大国内签证处理时间过长，无奈之下的“最后手段”。 Gupta believes applicants turned to flagpoling as a “last resort” due to lengthy visa processing times within Canada. 截至12月17日，加拿大境内办理工作许可的平均时间为170天，而学习许可的平均等待时间为9周。 As of December 17, the average processing time for a work permit in Canada was 170 days, while the average wait time for a study permit was nine weeks. “在这项政策结束之前，这种做法并不违法，但它反映了系统的运行效率存在问题，”古普塔说。 “This practice wasn’t illegal before this policy change, but it showed the system wasn’t functioning efficiently,” Gupta said. 政策影响 | Policy Impact 根据新规定，尝试通过“旗杆移民”申请工作许可或学习许可的申请者将被要求提交正式的申请，并通过移民部门处理。 Under the new rules, those attempting to flagpole for work or study permits will be required to submit formal applications through immigration officials. 古普塔对此政策表示支持。他认为：“这项政策实际上创造了一个双层移民系统。为什么不同人群的等待时间会不同？” Gupta supported the decision, stating, “This policy created a two-tiered immigration system. Why should wait times differ for different people?” 统计数据 | Statistics CBSA的数据显示，每年有数千人通过“旗杆移民”在加拿大边境口岸办理移民服务。自2021年以来，这一数字逐年增长。今年截至6月2日，共有32,410人通过“旗杆移民”方式申请移民服务。 CBSA data shows thousands of people use flagpoling at Canadian border points each year, with the numbers increasing annually since 2021. By June 2 this year, 32,410 individuals had used flagpoling. 2022年，这一数字为61,561人，比2021年激增90%。 In 2022, the number rose to 61,561, a 90% increase from 2021. 在2021年，由于COVID-19疫情导致非必要旅行受限，“旗杆移民”的数量下降了34%。 In 2021, flagpoling dropped by 34% due to restrictions on non-essential travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.

虽然人工智能（AI）仍是创新讨论的主角（也是风险投资的“吸金磁铁”），但关于让ChatGPT写诗的热潮已经过去了。今年，AI机器人与许多传统工具（如Google搜索、Slack等）进行了整合，但在2024年，震撼人心的AI产品发布变少了，一些公司甚至表示AI技术进步的速度可能正在放缓。 然而，进步从不止步。2024年，各种奇妙的设备、创新的医疗疗法，以及由高深学科博士们提出的概念纷纷登场，展现了科技的无限可能。 发明与创新 从脸上佩戴的电脑到更可持续的服装材料，这些产品正在拓宽人类的工具箱： 《时代周刊》评选出的2024年200大最佳发明 ，包括环保淋浴过滤器和实验室培育的棉花。 《大众科学》杂志盘点本年度50大最佳创新。 《Fast Company》聚焦最具影响力的企业创新。 《Digital Trends》评选出的最具创新性的科技产品。 《Smithsonian Magazine》挑选出的本年度消费电子展上最酷的八大发明。 年度热门应用 除了那些让人无限刷屏的常见App，今年也涌现了一些值得关注的新应用： 苹果App Store年度奖项得主。 App Store最受欢迎的应用排行。 Google Play评选出的2024年最佳应用和游戏。 MacStories评选出的年度最佳应用。 科学与技术里程碑 虽然这些不是能在Best Buy买到的热门新产品，但它们代表了推动人类进步的科学智慧： 科学作家Saloni Dattani解析五项近期医疗突破。 美国科学促进会（AAAS）总结本年度最大的科学突破。 NASA回顾2024年的成就。 数学家和物理学家为他们今年的重大成果庆功。 闪耀的企业 推动创新的不仅仅是OpenAI、SpaceX和Waymo这样的知名巨头，也包括一些低调的初创公司和传统行业的老牌企业： 搜索热度增长最快的初创公司。 顶级风险投资人评选出的85家最有前途的初创公司。 《Fast Company》评选出的最具创新力企业榜单。 总之，无论是人工智能的进步、颠覆性的发明，还是科技与科学的突破，2024年都是创新驱动的一年。让我们期待2025年的更多惊喜！