Strapped for time but looking for a quick morning update? Well, we've got it.
Here are the five things you need to know this Tuesday: a Canadian is coming home, five years after being captured by the Taliban; the CEOs of Canada's biggest banks are set to discuss the Canadian economy in light of the oil crash; U.S. President Barack Obama is scheduled to give his final State of the Union address; Canadians may be able to pocket more if they win the U.S.' Powerball lottery; and mid-life crises may be a myth, according to a new study.
1. Canadian freed: Colin Rutherford is coming home five years after he was taken by the Taliban while in Afghanistan on a tourist visa. The federal government said little about how his release was secured, leading to questions including about whether a ransom was paid.
2. Stock shock: The plummeting price of oil continues to play havoc on the Canadian economy as it shifts from energy exports to manufacturing, and the Toronto stock market keeps falling. The CEOs of Canada’s biggest banks are delivering speeches at a conference today as investors look for answers.
3. State of the Union: U.S. President Barack Obama is due to give his final State of the Union address, with an effort on focusing on optimism.
4. Taxing question: Canadians can legally purchase Powerball tickets in the United States, and they may actually be able to pocket more money than Americans, according to a lottery expert. It all boils down to how lottery winnings are taxed. But if you’re buying a ticket, keep in the mind the odds of winning are one in 292.9 million.
5. Mid-life myth? A study that tracked people for as long as 25 years has found they are, on average, happier in their early 40s than they were in their late teens and early 20s. The University of Alberta-led research appears to contradict the widely-held belief that mid-life is a time of crises, while earlier stages are more carefree.
