Primeflix4all

Author: Contributor

  • State Farm® Announces 2024 Financial Results

    State Farm® Announces 2024 Financial Results

    In 2024, State Farm continued to fulfill its mission of helping people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected and realize their dreams. We maintained our commitment to helping more customers and, in turn, saw an increase of more than one million policies and accounts. While auto and fire insurance companies within the State Farm group of companies reported underwriting losses, results improved over prior year. The State Farm life insurance companies reported $817 million in dividends to policyholders and issued a record $122 billion in new policy volume bringing the year-end 2024 individual life insurance in force to $1.2 trillion.

    “After another year of catastrophe events, State Farm was there to help our customers recover from the unexpected and will continue to do so as we focus on our customers impacted by the devastating wildfires in California. As of February 26, we’ve received more than 11,750 total fire and auto claims related to the fires and have paid nearly $2.2 billion to our customers,” said Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Mark Schwamberger. “Our customer-centered approach leads us to measure success in the number of promises kept. The financial strength of each affiliate is critical to our ability to keep those promises, and we will continue to take a state-specific approach in the way in which we operate.”

    The net worth for State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company ended the year at $145.2 billion compared to $134.8 billion at year-end 2023. The change during 2024 includes an increase in the value of the P-C companies’ unaffiliated stock portfolio, driven by increases in the U.S. equities market, partially offset by the P-C group of companies pre-tax operating loss. The State Farm P-C group of companies reported earned premium of $103.0 billion and a combined underwriting loss of $6.1 billion. This result compared to an underwriting loss of $14.1 billion on earned premium of $87.6 billion in 2023. The change over 2023 reflects significant improvement in auto lines underwriting results which was partially offset by an increase in homeowners incurred catastrophe claims. The 2024 underwriting loss, combined with investment and other income of $6.0 billion, resulted in a P-C pre-tax operating loss of $111 million, which compares to the $8.5 billion loss reported in 2023. Total revenue, which includes premium revenue, earned investment income and realized capital gains (losses) was $123.0 billion for 2024 compared to $104.2 billion for 2023. State Farm reported a net income of $5.3 billion in 2024 compared to a net loss of $6.3 billion in 2023. The reported net income for 2024 includes the impact of $3.0 billion of realized capital gains, net of tax.

    The financial strength of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and each of its affiliates is key to fulfilling our promises to customers in the future and expanding and enhancing the way we serve customers. We are committed to investing in our business, expanding our digital capabilities to enhance our customers’ experience, and providing an offering that makes us the first and best choice in the market. We remain focused on growing our customer base, which supports our ability to invest in our products and services to enhance the overall customer experience through better customer service, more innovative insurance products and better technology solutions (such as user-friendly apps and online tools).

    The State Farm insurance operations consist of fourteen P-C companies and two life companies, each of which is managed on an individual affiliate level. The P-C companies are primarily engaged in automobile, health, homeowners, commercial multiple peril (CMP) and reinsurance lines of business. The life companies are primarily engaged in individual life insurance and annuity business. The State Farm group of companies provides insurance and financial services products across over 96 million policies and accounts. In addition, the State Farm group makes third party products available to meet a variety of customer needs including, but not limited to, annuities, banking, health, mutual funds and pet medical.

    Auto – The State Farm auto insurance business represented 65 percent of the P-C companies’ combined net written premium. Earned premium was $67.5 billion. Incurred claims and loss adjustment expenses were $56.2 billion and all other underwriting expenses totaled $14.0 billion. The underwriting loss was $2.7 billion.

    Comparable 2023 figures were: earned premium, $56.1 billion; incurred claims and loss adjustment expenses, $53.4 billion; all other underwriting expenses, $12.4 billion; underwriting loss, $9.7 billion.

    Homeowners, CMP, Other – The net written premium for the remainder of the State Farm P-C business represented 34 percent of the P-C companies’ combined net written premium. Earned premium was $34.5 billion. Incurred claims and loss adjustment expenses were $30.1 billion and all other underwriting expenses totaled $7.9 billion. The underwriting loss was $3.6 billion.

    Comparable 2023 figures were: earned premium, $30.5 billion; incurred claims and loss adjustment expenses, $28.0 billion; all other underwriting expenses, $7.1 billion; underwriting loss, $4.7 billion.

    Life – In 2024, State Farm Life Insurance Company and State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company reported premium income of $6.7 billion and $817 million in dividends to policyholders. Net income for 2024 was $1.7 billion. There was $1.18 trillion in individual life insurance in force at the end of 2024. 

    Comparable 2023 figures were: premium income, $6.5 billion; dividends to policyholders, $725 million; net income, $1.2 billion; individual life insurance in force, $1.15 trillion.

    Health – The individual health insurance operations for State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company reported an underwriting loss of $130 million, excluding the change in the premium deficiency reserve. Net written premium was $731 million.

    Comparable figures for 2023 were: underwriting loss, $106 million; net written premium, $729 million.

    Investment Planning Services – Total assets under management for the Investment Planning Services operation at the end of 2024 were $15.2 billion. State Farm VP Management Corp. and State Farm Investment Management Corp. reported a combined net loss of $33 million in 2024.

    Comparable figures for 2023 were: total assets under management, $13.8 billion; net loss, $40 million.

    Although financial information is presented on a group/line of business basis, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and each of its affiliates must meet solvency and regulatory requirements on an individual entity-by-entity basis without regard to the solvency or financial condition of any other affiliated entity.

    Securities distributed by State Farm VP Management Corp.

    State Farm VP Management Corp. is a separate entity from those State Farm entities which provide banking and insurance products. Neither State Farm nor its agents provide investment, tax, or legal advice.

    ';

  • Microsoft to Shut Down Skype: Farewell to the ‘Rotary Phone’ of Communications

    Microsoft to Shut Down Skype: Farewell to the ‘Rotary Phone’ of Communications

    Microsoft is shutting down Skype, the service that once helped put video calling on the map. The company announced on Friday it is retiring Skype in May as part of a broader effort to focus on Microsoft Teams, its conference call service, and to streamline its free consumer communications offerings.

    The company said customers will have access to many of the same core features found in Skype, such as one-on-one and group calls, messaging and file-sharing, via its free Teams option. The free tier also offers features such as hosting meetings, managing calendars and building and joining communities.

    “This is obviously big news for us and our customers,” Jeff Teper, president of Microsoft 365 Collaborative Apps + Platforms, told CNET. “Skype did pave the way for audio video calling on the web, and we learned a lot from [it] that we reflected in Teams in the last seven years.”

    He added: “We felt it was the right time to give our customers more simplicity and more innovation by really putting our focus behind Teams.”

    From Skype to Teams

    Skype, first released in 2003, played a major role in video and voice-over-IP calling, particularly in an era when international calls were costly. From long-distance chats with friends and families to virtual classroom field trips and media companies like CNN using it to remotely bring on guests, Skype played a major role in making the technology a part of daily lives. But its role in the market evolved as consumers shifted to mobile minutes or other video-calling solutions, such as Microsoft Teams and FaceTime. 

    Microsoft introduced Teams in 2017 as a hub for communication and collaboration with chats, calls and file-sharing. Its usage picked up during the COVID-19 pandemic, and so did the ways it was used. Notably, during NBA games, virtual fans – including Shaquille O’Neal and Barack Obama – were featured on displays via Teams technology. 

    Adoption continues to rise. The company said Teams now has four times the meeting minutes of consumer calls compared to two years ago.

    Teper said the uptick in Teams usage over the past few years gave the company validation to make the change now. The company continues to add more features, such as emojis and filters.

    What Skype users should do

    Skype retains a fan base, according to Microsoft – likely those who’ve been using the 22-year-old service since the beginning. The company declined to share specifics about its user base.

    Users will have the choice of exporting their data to retain their Skype call logs and chats or upgrading to Teams via the free offering. Users will still be able to log into their Skype account to see past calls and chats.

    Carolina Milanesi, an analyst at market research firm Creative Strategies, said the move isn’t surprising, given Microsoft’s increasing focus on Teams.

    “To be honest, I thought it might have happened sooner,” she told CNET. “From a consumer perspective, it feels like those still using Skype are doing so more out of habit than because it offers something particularly unique.”

    ‘The rotary phone of communications’

    Whether Skype represents the end of an era may dependon the age of the person you ask. 

    “It almost feels like the rotary phone of communications, something younger generations wouldn’t know how to use,” Milanesi said. “It does mark the end of an era, though, in terms of how we communicate and the role that social media plays in messaging and calling.”

    The move also aligns with Microsoft’s history of phasing out older technologies, such as the Windows Phone.

    “As with the sunsetting of any technology platform, there will be groups of people who are saddened by this move,” said J. P. Gownder, an analyst at research firm Forrester. “But Skype’s heyday is in the past. This decision makes sense because the world Skype thrived in no longer exists.”

  • Hilton Honors Amex Aspire card review: Full details

    Hilton Honors Amex Aspire card review: Full details

    Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card overview

    The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is a premium hotel credit card loaded with top-tier benefits. Key perks include complimentary Hilton Diamond elite status, bonus points on Hilton stays and valuable statement credits. This card is an excellent option for Hilton loyalists. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

    *Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

    It’s no surprise that the Hilton Aspire was named the Best Hotel Cobranded Credit Card at the 2024 TPG Awards.

    Even with the card’s significant $550 annual fee, the benefits easily outweigh the cost, including an annual free night reward valid at nearly any Hilton property. Your chances for approval are best if you have a credit score of 700 or higher.

    Here’s everything you need to know about the Hilton Amex Aspire.

    The information for the Hilton Amex Aspire card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

    Hilton Aspire pros and cons

    Pros Cons
    • Up to three reward nights annually
    • Complimentary Diamond status
    • Valuable statement credits
    • Travel protections
    • High annual fee
    • Dynamic pricing for redemptions
    • Hilton points less valuable than other currencies

    Hilton Aspire welcome offer

    With the Hilton Amex Aspire’s current welcome offer, new applicants can earn 175,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in their first six months of card membership. Offer ends April 29.

    Those 175,000 points are quite valuable — worth $1,050, according to TPG’s February 2025 valuations.

    THE POINTS GUY

    This is just 5,000 points short of the best offer we’ve seen, and it meets our criteria for when to apply for the card.

    Daily Newsletter

    Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter

    Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts

    Remember that Amex only allows you to earn one bonus per card in a lifetime, so it’s important to apply for a card when it has its best-ever welcome offer (or close to it).

    Related: Hilton Honors: Everything to know about the loyalty program

    Hilton Aspire benefits

    There are a lot of perks and value packed into this cobranded card:
    HILTON ROSE HALL RESORT AND SPA JAMAICA/FACEBOOK
    • Up to $200 in annual airline fee credits each calendar year: You’ll receive up to $50 in statement credits each calendar quarter for airfare purchases on flights purchased directly from the airline or through AmexTravel.com.
    • Up to $100 Hilton on-property credit: When you book at least a two-night paid stay at participating Waldorf Astoria or Conrad properties through hiltonhonorsaspirecard.com (or over the phone at 855-292-5757), you’ll receive a credit of up to $100 for incidentals during your stay.
    • Clear Plus membership: You’ll receive up to $199 in statement credits per year when you sign up for a Clear Plus membership and pay with your Hilton Aspire card.
    • Rental car elite status: You’ll receive complimentary National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status after enrollment in the Emerald Club program (terms apply).
    • Cellphone protection*: Cardmembers can be reimbursed for repairing or replacing a damaged or stolen device for a maximum of $800 per claim when the wireless bill for the specific cellphone line is paid using the Hilton Aspire card. There is a limit of two approved claims within a 12-month period, and each claim has a $50 deductible.

    Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.

    The card also carries some travel protections, including trip delay insurance* (when your flight is delayed by more than six hours) and trip cancellation and interruption insurance.*

    Finally, the Hilton Aspire has no foreign transaction fees.

    *Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

    Earning points on the Hilton Aspire

    The card makes it easy to accumulate a high points balance in your Hilton Honors account, which you’ll need if you want to stay at luxury properties with Hilton Honors award nights.

    The Hilton Amex Aspire card offers 14 points per dollar spent at hotels in the Hilton portfolio. According to TPG’s February 2025 valuation of Hilton points at 0.6 cents per point, that’s equivalent to an 8.4% return on spending.

    LUKE SHARRETT/BLOOMBERG/GETTY IMAGES

    You’ll also earn 7 points per dollar spent (a 4.2% return) on flights booked directly with airlines or through AmexTravel.com, car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies and on dining at U.S. restaurants.

    Finally, you’ll earn 3 points per dollar spent (a 1.8% return) on all other spending with the card.

    Related: Best Hilton American Express credit cards

    Redeeming points on the Hilton Aspire

    Hilton gives you many options when it comes time to use your points. We suggest using them for standard award nights to get the best value, but you can also redeem them for merchandise, gift cards, premium room redemptions and airline transfers (at a roughly 10:1 ratio).

    Although you can’t be entirely sure how many points an award night will cost thanks to Hilton’s variable award charts, you can use Hilton’s Points Explorer to get a rough idea of how many points your desired property will cost.

    You can also use your points to subsidize paid stays with the Points & Money option, which could get you up to 1 cent per point off your total room bill when choosing expensive Hilton properties.

    JEFF JOHNSTON/THE HIGGINS HOTEL NEW ORLEANS, CURIO COLLECTION BY HILTON

    TPG director of travel content Eric Rosen utilized the fifth-night-free benefit to maximize the value of his points for a stay at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal. Standard award nights were available for 120,000 points each at the time of his stay.

    Utilizing his fifth-night-free benefit, he paid just 480,000 points for his five-night stay there and saved $720 worth of Hilton points, according to TPG’s February 2025 valuations.

    Related: Ways to redeem points with the Hilton Honors program

    Which cards compete with the Hilton Aspire?

    If you want a card that carries a lower annual fee or earns a different type of rewards, one of these options might be a better fit:

    For additional options, check out our list of the best hotel cards.

    Related: Hilton Surpass vs. Hilton Aspire: Do you want Gold or Diamond status?

    Bottom line

    The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card provides incredible value to even a semi-frequent Hilton customer. This is a great premium product if you don’t already have a top-tier hotel card.

    While its $550 annual fee might seem steep, it comes with a valuable welcome offer, annual free night certificates, automatic elite status and multiple statement credits (enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply). If you can utilize all or most of these benefits, you’ll easily justify the Hilton Aspire’s annual fee.

    However, if you don’t stay at Hilton properties often enough to get much value from these benefits, you might be better off with a general travel rewards card.

    Related: How to choose a hotel credit card

    For rates and fees of the Hilton Surpass Card, click here.
    For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.

  • A Kenyan Health Worker Explains The Toll Of Slashed US Funds To Fight HIV

    A Kenyan Health Worker Explains The Toll Of Slashed US Funds To Fight HIV

    The last five weeks have been turbulent for Margaret Odera—not to mention the many people who depend on her work.

    This is due to a series of shock decisions coming out of the new Trump administration regarding foreign aid, including for global health. On January 20, shortly after being inaugurated, President Trump signed an executive order freezing and reviewing nearly all U.S. foreign assistance. Four days later, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) specified that stop-work orders had been issued for existing projects. In other words, people around the world who worked on aid programs had to down tools, even in humanitarian and medical emergencies.

    Odera was immediately worried about how she would be affected as an HIV-positive mother, who takes medicines every day. She lives and works in Mathare, a bustling and densely populated slum area of Nairobi.

    Her life was transformed in 2009, when USAID started providing free antiretrovirals (ARVs) to Kenyans living with HIV. It was the only organization doing so in her area, Odera says.

    Before then, as a woman who had become infected with HIV by her first partner, she was bedridden and living in despair. “I was useless,” she reflected. Being able to access medicine overhauled her health and her motivation. She went to college, became passionate about singing as a stress reliever, married a carpenter, and started a family. (All three of her children are HIV-negative, following treatment preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV.)

    Odera also found a vocation as a community health worker: a person who helps link their community with health and social services, including the care of doctors and nurses. This came about through a USAID-funded project training mothers to counsel HIV-positive pregnant women. Odera became passionate about sharing her story as a person combatting HIV stigma, which showed up in insults like “rotten blood,” and proving that HIV was no longer a death sentence.

    But the freeze on U.S. aid programs, including funding for the ARVs she collects every three months, sent her back to a dark place. “I just flashed back and rewound; it’s like a video from 2006 and the stigma and the body bags and all that…I started thinking about living without seeing my children being grownups and having their own families,” Odera explained on January 31. She could not afford to buy ARVs herself, on her small and unpredictable stipend as a community health worker at a government health center, even if the medication could be found somewhere. And her current supply was due to run out sometime in February. “We are going to choose now between food and drugs,” she predicted grimly.

    For a few days after the U.S. announcement, Odera felt paralyzed. She was unable to talk about it. But her fear and sadness turned to anger when she heard a U.S. politician say that people like her don’t pay taxes to the U.S. “These political leaders are rich, and maybe their children aren’t infected,” she thought. As she wrote on LinkedIn, “Saving lives does not make you poorer.”

    She understood that the U.S. needed to review its aid programs. But suddenly cutting off funds, without allowing for any preparation, was a shock. “When you just cut off abruptly, you’re killing that person.” It should be a gradual process, she firmly believed.

    Apart from the moral argument, Odera wanted to share the clear scientific rationale for continuing support. With people like her having to skip doses of ARVs, this could lead to drug-resistant HIV, which is more dangerous, expensive, and difficult to combat. And, of course, infectious diseases, HIV and others, cannot be contained within borders. “So when a multidrug-resistant TB [tuberculosis] is detected in Kenya, nobody will be safe,” Odera said. “It puts the whole world at stake.”

    There was some hope after Secretary of State Marco Rubio, apparently responding to the outcry, announced a waiver for lifesaving assistance on January 28. This was soon followed by a waiver for some activities under PEPFAR, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS. This bipartisan program is one of the flagships of the U.S. global health architecture.

    However, the waivers were ambiguous, and it was not possible to simply restart stalled programs. Also confusing was the process to obtain individual waivers for specific programs. These waivers became less and less useful as staff continued to be axed, payment systems remained offline, and chaos swirled about the future of USAID. And waivers for HIV programs were very limited: they did not extend to preventive medicine, apart from mother-to-child transmission; many tests; or community monitoring, to name a few affected areas.

    Odera could see the impact of all this confusion around her. On February 13, she explained, antiretroviral medicines were available, but “no staff is there to issue the ARVs.” HIV-positive pregnant and lactating mothers had been going home without ARVs because pharmacies could not be opened. “There is a high chance that these babies will be infected” and HIV can mutate to stronger strain, Odera reported.

    She was trying to be cautiously optimistic. “We are still hoping that everything is going to be fine.”

    But starting this week, following a series of lawsuits over terminated programs and employment, the U.S. government took another extraordinary decision: ending 92% of all USAID grants, including for HIV/AIDS. Almost overnight, almost 10,000 projects were terminated.

    Today, Odera reported, it’s unclear if the health care workers who have been brought back to work will be able to return after the weekend. While medicines still exist and can be distributed, there’s an overflow of clients from other hospitals whose funding has been cut off completely. The TB section is still closed.

    “The future of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission is still uncertain, because we still fear what the U.S. funding will do if it’s going to cut off altogether,” Odera said. “The future is very dim.”

    Over 25% of Kenya’s HIV-related budget each year depends on U.S. government spending. Direct U.S. funding accounts for 29% of HIV medicines in Kenya. One estimate is that if all USAID programs end in Kenya, 54,000 healthcare workers could be out of a job.

    Overall U.S. health aid to Kenya, including for HIV/AIDS, has helped to increase Kenyan life expectancy by over a decade, an enormous leap. But this era of partnership appears to be over, for the time being. African countries will need to look elsewhere for essential funding, Odera now believes, although it will be nearly impossible to fully make up for the shortfall. In the meantime, the need is urgent, for both Odera and her patients.

    Whatever comes next, “It’s going to be messier than what we think,” Odera has predicted. “And it’s not only going to affect Kenya, it’s going to affect the whole world.”

  • Canada’s G7 presidency should prioritize health innovation

    Canada’s G7 presidency should prioritize health innovation

    Canada’s G7 presidency should prioritize health innovation

    The COVID-19 pandemic reminded the world just how tightly health and economic stability are linked. Yet beyond the immediate impacts of the pandemic, the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)—such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions—represents an escalating crisis in 2025. This burden, already significant, continues to increase with aging populations and lifestyle changes, threatening to overwhelm healthcare systems and impede economic growth. Investing in health innovation is essential to ensuring sustainable societies and economies.

    Despite an eventful start to the year—marked by the resignation of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the looming threat of tariffs that could disrupt key industries—Canada now has a unique opportunity to chart a new course. With a change in leadership coming this year and the 2025 Group of Seven (G7) presidency, Canada can seize this moment to reaffirm its commitment to fostering “economies that benefit everyone,” one of its 2025 G7 goals. Canada should use its G7 presidency, which it has held since January 1, to reaffirm its commitment to fostering such economies by placing advancements in health innovation high on the organization’s agenda. Ottawa should prioritize communicating the importance of health innovation for economic growth and societal well-being, expanding access to early screenings for NCDs, and building sustainable financing and funding models for investing in health technologies.

    Why health innovation matters

    Healthcare plays a central role in the social contract, fostering trust, cohesion, and resilience by ensuring that individuals can lead healthier, more productive lives. But advances in health innovation and improved health outcomes can also create immense economic value. Improving global health could boost the global economy by up to twelve trillion dollars by 2040, according to a 2020 report by McKinsey. More granular data highlights the socioeconomic costs of failing to address diseases like cancer. A recent study estimated the global economic cost of cancers from 2020 to 2050 to be $25.2 trillion (in 2017 US dollars), essentially an annual 0.55 percent tax on global gross domestic product.  

    The economic case for health innovation becomes even clearer when considering the economic benefits of optimal research and development spending on treatments and vaccines for known diseases. A 2024 study by the National Institutes of Health showed that the economic benefits of spending for COVID-19 vaccines and treatments ranged from $2 trillion to $60 trillion, with rates of return of 12 percent to 23 percent. Furthermore, innovative treatments for multiple sclerosis, for instance, are expected to make significant improvements over the next decade, which can reduce relapse rates and slow disease progression, leading to enhanced productivity.

    Health innovation also provides exceptional returns on investment. According to a McKinsey study, every dollar invested in health innovation yields two to four dollars in economic benefits. Beyond immediate savings, healthier populations are more active in the workforce, have lower rates of absenteeism (for both patients and their caregivers), and demand less from healthcare systems, all of which enhances overall productivity. In addition, addressing NCDs early and efficiently ensures that aging populations remain economically active for longer, offsetting the demographic headwinds many G7 economies currently face.

    Prioritizing health innovation in G7 fiscal budgets

    G7 countries must make health innovation a fiscal priority. The rising prevalence of chronic diseases and the associated economic costs demand immediate action. For example, integrating early screening and advanced treatment technologies can significantly reduce disease progression, ultimately lowering long-term healthcare costs. Mature economies like Japan and those in the European Union, where aging populations exacerbate healthcare challenges, must proactively allocate budgets toward sustainable health innovation. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has emphasized that health is not just a cost—it is a driver of wealth. Public-private partnerships are a powerful mechanism to ensure that healthcare spending is efficient and impactful. For instance, public-private partnerships enable collaboration between governments and private companies to share costs, accelerate the deployment of cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI)-based diagnostics, and improve infrastructure management, ensuring that resources are directed where they generate the highest value.

    Countries like Finland offer a blueprint for success. Finland’s investments in digital health technologies have not only fostered public trust but also built economic resilience. Drawing from such examples, G7 countries should make health innovation a cornerstone of their fiscal strategies, addressing immediate healthcare needs while preparing for future economic and demographic challenges.

    Canada’s opportunity to lead on health innovation

    With Canada leading the G7 this year, it has a unique opportunity to place health innovation at the forefront of the global agenda. While Canada’s presidency will face competing priorities—geopolitical conflicts, inflation, and economic instability—health should remain a central focus because of its foundational role in addressing these challenges. Robust health systems enhance resilience against crises, support economic stability, and strengthen societal trust.

    Canada can lead by encouraging the G7 to embrace four key priorities:

    1. Recognize the economic and societal value of health innovation. Health innovation offers benefits far beyond clinical outcomes. Canada should advocate for greater recognition of how investments in healthcare drive economic growth, improve workforce participation, and enhance societal well-being. This can be done by pushing for G7 targets on reducing the economic burden of specific diseases.      
    2. Adopt early screening and diagnosis. Prioritizing early detection of diseases can significantly reduce long-term healthcare costs while improving patient outcomes. Canada can push for collaborative efforts across the G7 to standardize and expand access to early screening technologies.
    3. Promote sustainable funding and financing models. Canada should champion innovative financing solutions that blend public and private funding. These models can ensure that health systems are resilient, adaptable, and capable of addressing rising costs without compromising accessibility or quality of care.
    4. Emphasize the role of digital health technologies in driving efficiency and innovation. Interoperable data systems, for example, enable better coordination of care, earlier diagnosis, and more personalized treatment plans—all critical to managing the growing burden of NCDs.

    Building a health-driven economy

    By adopting a comprehensive health agenda, G7 nations can unlock immense economic and social rewards. Health improvements alone could increase global employment growth by 0.3 percent by 2040, which would help reduce labor shortages and enhance economic resilience. These benefits extend beyond high-income countries; investments in health innovation can strengthen global partnerships, reduce health inequities, and promote shared growth.

    Health innovation is not merely a policy choice; it is an economic imperative. Under Canada’s leadership, the G7 can set a bold agenda that recognizes the broader value of health, prioritizes innovation, and builds resilient economies. By acting now, G7 nations can secure a healthier, more prosperous future for their citizens and the world.

    Carl Meacham is a consultant at the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center. He served as deputy vice president at PhRMA and as senior staffer in the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

    This article was written as part of the Atlantic Council’s partnership with Roche.

    Further reading

    Imran Bayoumi

    Thu, Jan 16, 2025

    Policy uncertainty looms in Canada as Trudeau resigns

    Freedom and Prosperity Around the World
    By
    Randall Morck

    With its prime minister of nine years stepping down and Donald Trump’s recent victory across the border, Canada faces a period of political uncertainty. In 2025, the nation must navigate contentious policy debates on immigration, healthcare, and trade relationships, all while preparing for a pivotal election.

    Imran Bayoumi

    Thu, Jan 26, 2023

    How a health attache can elevate global health diplomacy

    SouthAsiaSource
    By
    South Asia Center

    In his recently published issue brief “Health attaches are the missing link in global diplomacy,” non-resident senior fellow Dr. Edmond Fernandes argues that health attaches are the missing piece in diplomacy. To launch the brief, the South Asia Center convened a panel of experts.

    Image: Flags of member countries of Group of Seven (G7) at the fiftieth G7 summit in Brindisi, Apulia, Italy on June 13, 2024. EYEPRESS via Reuters Connect.

  • Austin measles case confirmed by health officials; unrelated to Texas outbreak

    Austin measles case confirmed by health officials; unrelated to Texas outbreak

    Most of the recent confirmed measles cases in Texas have been in the South Plains region, but this patient was exposed to the disease while traveling overseas.

    AUSTIN, Texas — Health officials say they have confirmed a case of measles in Austin.

    During a press briefing Friday, Austin Public Health confirmed that an unvaccinated infant was exposed to measles while traveling overseas. Everyone else in the child’s family is vaccinated.

    Officials said contact tracing is complete and they don’t expect additional exposures. The child and their family members are all isolated at home.

    “It certainly raises our level of concern, our level of readiness, but we’ve been ready,” Austin Travis County Public Health Authority Dr. Desmar Walkes said. “We’ve been planning for over a year for the possibility of a measles outbreak, because we’ve known that our vaccination rate has been declining. We’ve been working hard to get people vaccinated, and we’re calling for people to get vaccinated now, if they’re unvaccinated, to protect themselves.”

    Walkes said the case is not related to an ongoing measles outbreak in the South Plains region of Texas, where 146 cases have been reported as of Friday, Feb. 28. Twenty of the patients have been hospitalized, and one unvaccinated child has died, marking the first measles death in the U.S. in a decade.

    Measles is highly contagious and spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. To give you a sense of how contagious this virus is, doctors say if one person has it, up to 9 out of 10 people nearby will become infected if they are not protected.

    “The measles virus can survive in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after the infected person has left the area,” Walkes said. “People who have direct contact through coughs or sneezes should monitor for symptoms for up to 21 days after exposure.”

    Local health officials stress that there is no local outbreak, but they say now is the time to take precautions and prepare.

    The MMR – measles-mumps-rubella – vaccine is highly effective in protecting against measles. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one dose of the MMR vaccine is 93% effective against measles and two doses are 97% effective against the disease.

    “We know how to combat this, and we need that vaccination rate to increase in our community by coming together, getting vaccinated, and prioritizing public health,” Travis County Judge Andy Brown said. “We can do this together. The steps are simple. Get vaccinated if you haven’t already.”

    According to state health data, Travis County’s MMR vaccination rate among kindergarteners is just under 90%. Doctors say communities need 95% immunization rates to have “herd immunity.”

    One thing that worries local leaders is the under 90% vaccination rate among kindergarteners at some schools, which health officials said increases the risk of an outbreak by 51%.

    “We’re continuing to work with those school administrators to get vaccines in arms,” Walkes said. “We’ve been having clinics. Our mobile team has been educating families, and we’re continuing that work and that effort. It’ll be ongoing until we get the job done and get the message to parents that need to hear it.”

    Health officials said kids as young as a year old can get their first dose of the MMR vaccine and the second when they’re between four and six years old. 

    “If everybody else had their kids vaccinated at the proper ages, this would not be an issue,” Brown said. “By not vaccinating your child at the proper ages of 12 to 15 months and then again at 4 to 6 years, you’re putting other infant children at risk. You’re putting our community’s lives at risk. You’re putting our economy’s life at risk.”

    If a parent is going to an area where measles is prevalent, Walkes said the child should be vaccinated earlier, at six to eleven months. Walkes said that guidance may change if we see more cases in the Austin area.

    “If we do have an outbreak where we see more than three or more cases in our area, then we will change our guidance,” Walkes said.

    According to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), of the 146 cases, 98 have been reported in Gaines County, and 21 have been reported in nearby Terry County. Most of the cases have been among children. 

    DSHS reports that 79 of the 146 patients were unvaccinated, 62 have unknown vaccination status, and five have received at least one dose of the MMR vaccine.

    While there is no local outbreak right now, Walkes said she and her team are prepared for the worst but are hoping for the best.

    “We’ve been in contact with our hospital partners and clinics and folks across our jurisdiction, and they are ready and prepared and have processes in place to handle people who may contact them saying that they have symptoms of measles,” Walkes said.

    Another primary concern for local leaders is South by Southwest (SXSW) starting next weekend. As hundreds of thousands of people descend upon Downtown Austin, they don’t want that to become a super spreader event. They are encouraging those in the community who aren’t vaccinated to get vaccinated. The city and health department say they are working with organizers on health precautions for the event.

    “We work in collaboration with Austin Special Events to help them mitigate and strategize for health precautions for events,” Walkes said. “Our team has been in contact with them and our business partners across the city.”

    Anyone looking to get the vaccine can do so at doctor’s offices and pharmacies. The health department offers the MMR vaccine at its “Shots for Tots” and “Big Shots” clinics. You can find information about those here. Children under the age of 14 do need a prescription from a doctor to get the vaccine at a pharmacy.

  • Why is the flu so bad this year? Understanding its severity, vaccine patterns and other factors

    Why is the flu so bad this year? Understanding its severity, vaccine patterns and other factors

    The U.S. is in the midst of its first “high severity” flu season in seven years.

    Since October, there have been at least 37 million infections, 480,000 hospitalizations and 21,000 deaths, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. As of last week, 98 children have died from influenza, the CDC reported. In some states, flu surges have been so bad that schools and entire districts have had to close down. 

    The U.S. has also seen the highest rate of doctors visits for flu-like illnesses overall — which include influenza, Covid and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) — in 15 years.

    While flu activity has slowed in recent weeks, experts warn that the season isn’t over yet. 

    “We may have months of disease and illness in front of us,” said Dr. Susan Donelan, an infectious disease doctor and medical director of health care epidemiology at Stony Brook Medicine in New York. 

    Although experts don’t know exactly why the flu seems so bad this year, they say several factors may be to blame. 

    The circulating strains are more severe 

    Two types of influenza A viruses — H1N1 and H3N2 — have dominated this year’s flu season, according to the CDC. Some experts, including Donelan, say these strains tend to spread more quickly and cause more severe disease, which could explain this season’s intensity so far. 

    H3N2, specifically, is known for mutating more frequently than other influenza strains, which can “make it more difficult for our bodies to recognize that particular virus even if we’ve been in contact with it or immunized against it before,” said Taj Azarian, an epidemiologist and assistant professor of genomics at the University of Central Florida. “As a result, we can be more susceptible to getting sick.”

    By default, those mutations could also make flu vaccines — which are formulated months before the beginning of the season they’re intended for — less effective, said Robert Bednarczyk, an epidemiologist and associate professor of global health at Emory University in Atlanta. 

    However, data released Thursday by the CDC suggests this season’s vaccine’s effectiveness is on par with previous years.

    Early estimates from this season found that children and teens who were vaccinated and later got the flu were 63%-78% less likely to be hospitalized; vaccinated adults were 41%-55% less likely to be hospitalized because of the flu, according to the CDC report. 

    The vaccine is “overall a very good match” this year because it protects against all three strains that are circulating, said Dr. Inessa Gendlina, an infectious disease doctor with the Montefiore Health System in New York. 

    Flu vaccination rates continue to drop

    Flu vaccines reduce the odds of severe illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths — yet vaccination rates have fallen since the Covid pandemic, according to the CDC. This alarming trend, experts say, could help explain why this flu season is so severe. 

    While vaccination rates among adults are similar compared to this time last year — around 45% — CDC data shows, the difference among children “is most striking,” Azarian said. 

    As of Feb. 15, about 46% of kids had received a flu shot; about 51% were vaccinated by this time last year. Overall, flu vaccination coverage dropped 8 percentage points from about 63% to 55% from the pre-pandemic 2019-2020 season to the 2023-2024 season. 

    “That’s a pretty significant drop,” Azarian said. 

    We may have lost some immunity to the flu over the years

    The steps we took to prevent Covid infection, such as wearing masks and social distancing, may have weakened our immunity to the flu — another potential reason influenza is hitting us so hard this year, Gendlina said.

    “We’ve been masking quite a bit in the last five years, which prevents influenza spread. So we don’t have as much immunological memory going from year to year as we’ve had in the past,” she said. “Not having that memory isn’t in our favor in terms of how this influenza season pans out.”

    Now that fewer people are wearing masks, respiratory viruses like influenza are free to spread, Gendlina said. 

    It’s not too late to get a flu shot 

    Although flu activity is decreasing, experts say there’s no telling when this flu season might end or whether there will be another surge in cases. That means there’s plenty of time to get a flu shot if you haven’t yet, Donelan said. 

    In fact, national wastewater samples are showing a “steady increase” in influenza B concentrations, according to Amanda Bidwell, the scientific program manager at WastewaterSCAN. It’s too early to say if we’ve hit a peak with this strain, she added.

    Gendlina said the threat of a new wave is reason enough to get vaccinated if you haven’t already. 

    Even if you’ve already had the flu this year, it’s still a good idea to get vaccinated if you haven’t gotten the shot, Donelan said. Because there are three flu viruses spreading right now, you can still get sick with either of the other two. 

    Donelan said people should talk to their doctors about their personal risks of a severe infection. In some cases, she said, people might be able to get a prescription for the antiviral medication Tamiflu ahead of time so they have it if they do catch the virus. (Tamiflu must be taken within two days of feeling sick.) 

    In the meantime, stay home when ill, wash your hands frequently, and wear a mask if you want to protect yourself and others when in crowded or poorly ventilated indoor spaces, Azarian said. 

  • The rise of Sweepstake Casinos – A rewarding gaming experience – Hollywood Life

    The rise of Sweepstake Casinos – A rewarding gaming experience – Hollywood Life

    The rise of Sweepstake Casinos - A rewarding gaming experience
    Image Credit: Pexels

    Sweepstake casinos have quickly become a popular choice for players seeking a legal and exciting gaming experience in regions where traditional online gambling is restricted. Unlike conventional online casinos, sweepstake casinos operate under a unique model that allows players to win cash prizes without directly wagering real money on games. This innovative approach not only complies with legal requirements but also provides a thrilling and engaging platform for gaming enthusiasts. Often, players acquire sweepstakes entries through promotional activities or by purchasing “Gold Coins,” which they can then use within casino games to win real cash prizes. This gaming environment fosters a community-driven experience, as participants often engage in forums and online discussions to share tips, strategies, and their latest wins. As the digital gaming landscape continues to evolve, sweepstake casinos are poised to remain a significant part of the conversation, offering entertainment and rewards to a growing audience.

    Understanding the appeal of Sweepstake Casinos

    Many wonder why sweepstake casinos have garnered such widespread attention and popularity. One central appeal is the allure of winning substantial cash prizes without the need to gamble real money directly. This model attracts a diverse audience, including those who may be risk-averse but still hopeful for a chance to win big. Additionally, sweepstake casinos are often intertwined with social gaming elements, making the experience not just about gambling but also about enjoying strategic, skill-based games with friends and an online community. By participating in various online challenges and competitions, players are immersed in an ecosystem that is both rewarding and competitive. Furthermore, sweepstake casinos often incorporate advanced graphics and thematic elements that rival those of traditional online casinos, enhancing the overall gaming experience.

    Legal considerations and responsible gaming

    The legality of sweepstake casinos is a significant factor contributing to their growing popularity. These platforms operate under sweepstakes laws, allowing them to offer prize-based gaming legally across various jurisdictions. However, clarity and transparency regarding their operations are crucial, ensuring that players understand the terms and conditions associated with the games. Responsible gaming is also emphasized, with many sweepstake casinos implementing measures to prevent gambling addiction and promote fair play. This includes providing self-exclusion options and resources for players who may need support. According to a detailed overview of gambling laws, operators and the companies that provide the systems used maintain that they operate in accordance with laws governing promotions and sweepstakes. Moreover, the accessibility of sweepstake casinos enables a broader demographic to engage in gaming, including individuals from regions where traditional casino play may be restricted by law. This openness is further complemented by the operators’ commitment to providing a secure and fair gaming environment.

    The future of Sweepstake Casinos in the gaming industry

    The future of sweepstake casinos looks promising as they evolve to meet the dynamic needs of the modern gamer. With the integration of technology, these platforms are constantly developing new features, such as virtual reality experiences and live dealer games, to entice and engage players. Additionally, by maintaining a strong presence on social media and other digital platforms, sweepstake casinos reach an ever-increasing audience. As legislation around online gambling continues to change, these innovative platforms have the potential to expand their reach further, offering services to broader markets. An article discussing legal considerations in Florida and beyond highlights the evolving landscape and potential challenges sweepstake casinos may face as they seek to grow their market presence. The commitment to tradition and player satisfaction will remain central to their operations, ensuring that sweepstake casinos will not only survive but thrive in the ever-evolving gaming landscape.

  • Stefanos Tsitsipas reveals what the rest of the ATP Tour think about Felix Auger-Aliassime ahead of their Dubai Tennis Championships clash

    Stefanos Tsitsipas reveals what the rest of the ATP Tour think about Felix Auger-Aliassime ahead of their Dubai Tennis Championships clash

    Stefanos Tsitsipas had struggled during the early stages of his 2025 season and was in need of a strong week in Dubai.

    The Greek number one endured a tough loss in Melbourne, as Tsitsipas lost to Alex Michelsen in the first round, 5-7, 3-6, 6-2, 4-6.

    Looking to bounce back in the Netherlands, the world number 11 lost to Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci in the quarter-finals of the Rotterdam Open.

    His poor form continued in Doha, as Tsitsipas lost to Hamad Medjedovic in the first round of the Qatar Open, who was severely hampered by injury.

    Photo by Tnani Badreddine/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
    Photo by Tnani Badreddine/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

    Traveling to the UAE for the Dubai Tennis Championships, the 26-year-old battled past Lorenzo Sonego to secure a much-needed win.

    Tsitsipas then beat Karen Khachanov to reach the quarter-finals, where he took on an in-form Matteo Berrettini.

    After three grueling sets of action, the Greek star took down Berrettini before winning his semi-final match, as Tsitsipas now looks ahead to Saturday’s final.

    Stefanos Tsitsipas says ‘everyone is aware’ of Felix Auger-Aliassime ahead of their final in Dubai

    Tsitsipas beat Tallon Griekspoor in straight sets to reach his third Dubai Tennis Championships final, having last done so in 2020.

    He’ll face off against Felix Auger-Aliassime in the final, who has won 16 matches this year, more than any other player in men’s tennis.

    Ahead of their tenth career meeting, Tsitsipas revealed what the rest of the ATP Tour currently thinks about the Canadian number one.

    “Obviously, Felix [Auger-Aliassime] has been playing very well lately, everyone is aware on the tour,” he said.

    “I’m going to go out on the court, try my best, see what he comes up with, and I think let’s just leave it to the best player.”

    Photo by Christopher Pike/Getty Images
    Photo by Christopher Pike/Getty Images

    Auger-Aliassime beat Quentin Halys in the first semi-final to qualify for his third final of the year, having previously won titles in Adelaide and Montpellier.

    Tsitsipas is confident ahead of his match with Auger-Aliassime, after enjoying his best performance of the week against Griekspoor.

    “I feel extremely happy that I was able to do it without the drama today and play good tennis from the start,” he said.

    “It felt good, I was doing a great job from the baseline and I felt like my focus levels were at their highest from any match I’ve played this week.

    Photo by Christopher Pike/Getty Images
    Photo by Christopher Pike/Getty Images

    “I feel like every match has new teachings, something new to offer me in terms of experience and knowledge in regards to my game.

    “I’m just trying to soak it all in and use that wisdom that every match brings and use that effectively.

    “We have a great crowd here, I’ve played good so far so let’s keep it up.”

    Stefanos Tsitsipas and Felix Auger-Aliassime’s head-to-head record

    Tsitsipas and Auger-Aliassime’s clash in the final will be their tenth encounter on the ATP Tour, but who’s had the better of proceedings in their careers to date?

    Match Winner Loser Score
    2023 Paris Masters – R32 Stefanos Tsitsipas Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 7-6
    2022 Rotterdam – F Felix Auger-Aliassime Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-2
    2021 Cincinnati – QF Stefanos Tsitsipas Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-2, 5-7, 6-1
    2021 Barcelona – QF Stefanos Tsitsipas Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-3
    2021 Acapulco – QF Stefanos Tsitsipas Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-5, 4-6, 6-3
    2020 Marseille – F Stefanos Tsitsipas Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-4
    2019 Shanghai – R32 Stefanos Tsitsipas Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6, 7-6
    2019 Queen’s – QF Felix Auger-Aliassime Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5, 6-2
    2019 Indian Wells – R64 Felix Auger-Aliassime Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-2
    Stefanos Tsitsipas and Felix Auger-Aliassime’s head-to-head record

    Tsitsipas leads the head-to-head 6-3, winning their most recent encounter at the Paris Masters two years ago.

    Auger-Aliassime did, however, come out on top in their only previous meeting at an ATP 500 final, as he won in straight sets at the 2022 Rotterdam Open.

    Tsitsipas is no stranger to losing ATP 500 finals, having fallen to defeat in each of his 11 finals at the level, a trend he would no doubt love to change on Saturday.

    • 2024 Barcelona Open F – Lost to Casper Ruud
    • 2023 Barcelona Open F – Lost to Carlos Alcaraz
    • 2022 Astana Open F – Lost to Novak Djokovic
    • 2022 Rotterdam Open F – Lost to Felix Auger-Aliassime
    • 2021 Barcelona Open F – Lost to Rafael Nadal
    • 2021 Mexican Open F – Lost to Alexander Zverev
    • 2020 Hamburg Open F – Lost to Andrey Rublev
    • 2020 Dubai Tennis Championships F – Lost to Novak Djokovic
    • 2019 China Open F – Lost to Dominic Thiem
    • 2019 Dubai Tennis Championships F – Lost to Roger Federer
    • 2018 Barcelona Open F – Lost to Rafael Nadal

    Tsitsipas will take on Auger-Aliassime in the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Saturday, March 1, as he looks to improve his record in ATP 500 level finals to 1-11.

  • Trump, Vance castigate Zelensky in tense Oval Office meeting

    Trump, Vance castigate Zelensky in tense Oval Office meeting


    Washington
    CNN
     — 

    A remarkable shouting match broke out in the Oval Office on Friday between President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, an extraordinarily fractious display that only underscored the deeply uncertain future of American assistance to Kyiv.

    Never before has an American president berated his visitor like Trump did to Zelensky, leading to an almost real-time breakdown in relations between Washington and Kyiv. Trump at one point threatened to give up on Ukraine entirely.

    Castigating Zelensky for not demonstrating enough gratitude for American support, Trump and his Vice President JD Vance raised their voices, accusing the besieged leader of standing in the way of a peace agreement with Russia.

    “You’re right now, not really in a very good position. You’ve allowed yourself to be in a very bad position,” Trump said. “You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards.”

    “I’m not playing cards,” Zelensky said.

    Raising his voice, after more back-and-forth, Trump said, “You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War III.”

    At one moment, Vance accused Zelensky of being “disrespectful” toward his American hosts.

    “You’re not acting all that thankful,” Trump added.

    “Have you said ‘thank you’ once?” Vance asked Zelensky.

    Afterward, Trump and Zelensky left the Oval Office and went to separate rooms. Trump ordered the Ukrainians be told to leave, according to a White House official.

    A scheduled joint press conference was scrapped and Zelensky departed the White House in his black SUV without signing a planned agreement on providing US access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals. Trump posted online that his counterpart was not welcome back until he was “ready for peace.”

    Now, Zelensky will leave Washington with the fate of his country, and his own future as its leader, in doubt.

    Ahead of his arrival, Trump had already voiced open hostility toward Zelensky, whom he termed a dictator. Yet he seemed to moderate his tone a day earlier, declining to repeat the criticism.

    But the tense 10-minute exchange in the Oval Office went well beyond any of the usual diplomatic rifts, allowing the gulf between the men to play out publicly in front of television cameras. It was about as angry as Trump has ever allowed himself to be seen in public.

    “You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out,” the US president said, adding later: “If we’re out, you’ll fight it out. I don’t think it will be pretty.”

    Vance, who has often sat silently in Oval Office meetings during the opening weeks of his vice presidency, sparked the tension with the visiting Ukrainian leader. Before joining Trump on the ticket last year, the freshman Ohio senator was among the loudest GOP critics of assistance to Ukraine – skepticism that he has carried into the White House.

    The fiery exchanges on Friday served as a stark example of the dramatic whiplash in American foreign policy since Trump and Vance assumed office last month. The tensions escalated dramatically during a session that began with a series of pleasantries as Trump waxed aloud about his legacy.

    “I hope I’m going to be remembered as a peacemaker,” Trump said as he looked ahead to the prospect of finalizing a broader peace deal with Russia and Ukraine.

    But the acrimony that exploded into full view raised questions about the prospects of reaching a peaceful solution, raising fresh alarm across Europe, where leaders have worked for weeks to warn Trump of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s past actions and potential future intentions with Ukraine.

    Again and again, Trump has sided with Putin. But with voices raised in the Oval Office, Trump unleashed years of pent-up frustration toward Russia and Ukraine, which led to his first impeachment.

    “Let me tell you, Putin went through a hell of a lot with me,” Trump said. “He went through a phony witch hunt where they used him and Russia, Russia, Russia.”

    After the heated meeting, Trump said in a Truth Social post that Zelensky could come back to the White House “when he is ready for peace.”

    “We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure,” he said.

    “It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”