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Three Smart Levers to Cut Your 2025 Tax Bill

Taxes are inevitable, but overpaying them isn’t. With new rules and opportunities in 2025, smart planning can help you keep more of your hard-earned money. Here are three effective levers to reduce your tax liability this year: 1. Maximize Retirement Contributions Contributing to retirement accounts such as RRSPs (Canada) or 401(k)/IRAs (U.S.) remains one of the most effective ways to lower taxable income. Contributions qualify for tax relief at your highest marginal rate, meaning every dollar you save reduces your tax bill significantly. Employer-matching programs make this even more attractive, and withdrawals in retirement can be structured for lower tax exposure. 2. Leverage Tax Credits and Deductions Common deductions include childcare expenses, education costs, and home office claims. Tax credits, unlike deductions, directly reduce the amount you owe, making them especially valuable. Temporary tax breaks introduced in 2025 can be maximized before they expire. 3. Use...

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Europe Scorched: Deadly Heatwave Grips Continent in Record-Breaking June


A blistering early summer heatwave has swept across Europe, claiming at least eight lives and setting new temperature records in multiple countries. The extreme weather has triggered widespread health alerts, wildfires, and even forced the shutdown of a nuclear reactor in Switzerland.

Spain has been hit particularly hard, with four fatalities reported—two from wildfires in Catalonia and two more in the regions of Extremadura and Córdoba. France and Italy each reported two deaths, including elderly individuals who succumbed to the heat on beaches in Sardinia.

Temperatures soared above 40°C in parts of Germany, marking the hottest day of the year so far. Red alerts were issued across 18 Italian cities and several regions in central France, where hundreds were hospitalized due to heat-related illnesses.

The heatwave has also disrupted infrastructure. Violent storms triggered by atmospheric instability caused mudslides in the French Alps, halting rail traffic between Paris and Milan. Meanwhile, Switzerland’s Beznau nuclear power plant reduced operations due to overheated river water used for cooling.

Scientists attribute the early and intense heat to a "heat dome" effect, exacerbated by warming seas and climate change. With greenhouse gas emissions continuing to rise, experts warn that such extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe.

This deadly start to summer serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for climate resilience and adaptation across Europe.

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