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Farmers Bring Their Demands to Athens as Costs Surge

Greek farmers with their tractors rally in front of the Greek parliament, over unsolved issues after weeks of blockades. Greek farmers converged on Athens in a powerful display of frustration over rising production costs that they say are pushing them to the brink. Driving tractors, carrying banners, and gathering in Syntagma Square, they demanded stronger government support to keep their farms viable. The protesters argue that soaring fuel prices, higher electricity bills, and increased costs for animal feed and fertilizers have made it nearly impossible to sustain their livelihoods. Many also want long‑term structural reforms, including better access to water resources and more predictable subsidies. Government officials have acknowledged the pressure on the agricultural sector and signaled willingness to negotiate, but farmers insist that previous promises have not been enough. Their message in the capital was clear: without meaningful relief, Greece risks losing a vital part of ...

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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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