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Nearly half of American teenagers say they are online “constantly” despite concerns about the effects of social media and smartphones on their mental health, according to a new report published Thursday by the Pew Research Center. As in past years, YouTube was the single most popular platform teenagers used – 90 percent said they watched videos on the site, down slightly from 95 percent in 2022. Nearly three-quarters said they visit YouTube every day. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Tens of thousands of Spaniards marched in downtown Barcelona on Saturday to protest the skyrocketing cost of renting an apartment in the popular tourist destination. Protesters cut off traffic on main avenues in the city center, holding up homemade signs in Spanish reading “Fewer apartments for investing and more homes for living" and “The people without homes uphold their rights.” The lack of affordable housing has become one of the leading concerns for the southern European Union country, mirroring the housing crunch across many parts of the world, including the United States . Organizers said that over 170,000 had turned out, while Barcelona’s police said they estimated some 22,000 marched. Either way, the throngs of people clogging the streets recalled the massive separatist rallies at the height of the previous decade’s Catalan independence movement. Now, social concerns led by housing have displaced political crusades. That is because the average rent for Spain has doubled in last 10 years. The price per square meter has risen from 7.2 euros ($7.5) in 2014 to 13 euros this year, according to the popular online real estate website Idealista. The growth is even more acute in cities like Barcelona and Madrid. Incomes meanwhile have failed to keep up, especially for younger people in a country with chronically high unemployment. Protester Samuel Saintot said he is “frustrated and scared” after being told by the owners of the apartment he has rented for the past 15 years in Barcelona’s city center that he must vacate the premises. He suspects that the owners want him out so they can renovate it and boost the price. “Even looking in a 20- or 30-kilometer radius outside town, I can’t even find anything within the price range I can afford,” he told The Associated Press. “And I consider myself a very fortunate person, because I earn a decent salary. And even in my case, I may be forced to leave town.” A report by the Bank of Spain indicates that nearly 40% of Spaniards who rent dedicate an average of 40% of their income to paying rents and utilities, compared to the European Union average of 27% of renters who do so. “We are talking about a housing emergency. It means people having many difficulties both in accessing and staying in their homes,” said Ignasi Martí, professor for Esade business school and head of its Dignified Housing Observatory. The rise in rents is causing significant pain in Spain, where traditionally people seek to own their homes. Rental prices have also been driven up by short-term renters including tourists. Many migrants to Spain are also disproportionately hit by the high rents because they often do not have enough savings. Spain is near the bottom end of OECD countries with under 2% of all housing available being public housing for rent. The OECD average is 7%. Spain is far behind France, with 14%, Britain with 16%, and the Netherlands with 34%. “I think it’s impossible to make prices fall to what they were a few years back. It makes me cry,” said protester Laia Pizjuán. “It's so upsetting. I know so many people who are in a bad situation. I have relatives living together in crowded apartments because they can’t afford to live on their own.” Carme Arcarazo, spokesperson for Barcelona’s Tenants Union which helped organize the protest, said that renters should consider a “rent strike” and cease paying their monthly rents in a mass protest movement. “I think we the tenants have understood that this depends on us. That we can’t keep asking and making demands to the authorities and waiting for an answer. We must take the reins of the situation,” Arcarazo told the AP. “So, if they (the owners) won’t lower the rent, then we will force them to do it." The Barcelona protest came a month after tens of thousands rallied against high rents in Madrid. The rising discontent over housing is putting pressure on Spain’s governing Socialist party, which leads a coalition on the national level and is in charge of Catalonia’s regional government and Barcelona’s city hall. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez presided over what the government termed a “housing summit” including government officials and real estate developers last month. But the Barcelona’s Tenants Union boycotted the event, saying it was like calling a summit for curing cancer and inviting tobacco companies to participate. The leading government measure has been a rent cap mechanism that the central government has offered to regional authorities based on a price index established by the housing ministry. Rent controls can be applied to areas deemed to be “highly stressed” by high rental prices. Catalonia was the first region to apply those caps, which are in place in downtown Barcelona. Many locals blame the million of tourists who visit Barcelona, and the rest of Spain, each year for the high prices. Barcelona’s town hall has pledged to completely eliminate the city’s 10,000 so called “tourist apartments,” or dwellings with permits for short-term rents, by 2028.
Five new driving laws you need to know in 2025 – including car tax changes Several drivers will be affected by new law changes (stock) (Image: Getty Images ) UK motorists are set to face a set of new rules and regulations from 2025, including major changes to car tax, Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), and others. Fees are due for a significant overhaul from spring, affecting drivers across the country. VED, also known as road tax, car tax or the road fund licence, is a tax that drivers must pay to legally drive or park a vehicle on public roads. The Office for Budget Responsibility predicts that VED will generate £9.4 billion by 2027/28, up from £7.3 billion collected for the 2022-23 tax year, or £5.8 billion in the year before the VED car tax changes in 2017. However, this isn't the only change drivers should prepare for as we approach the new year. New legislation will bring about a range of changes for drivers, some of which could be expensive for car owners who have previously been exempt from certain laws. Drivers will be faced with several new laws in 2025 (stock) (Image: Getty Images ) 1. Green vehicle discount will be cancelled The cleaner vehicle discount will cease on 25 December 2025. This means that if you renew your discount after 24 December 2024, you will receive less than 12 months of discount and the £10 renewal fee will still apply. If you can provide TFL with all your cleaner vehicle discount documents you can apply online now. You can... Claudia Trotman , James Rodger , Steve BagnallDean McCullough ‘looks fuming’ as Ant McPartlin takes another swipe at him after fans spot I’m A Celeb feud
Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president, has died at 100
Former President Jimmy Carter dies at age 100AP Trending SummaryBrief at 2:51 p.m. ESTIf you are looking for ASX dividend stocks to buy, then it could be worth listening to what Bell Potter is saying about the three in this article. They have been named on the broker's Australian equities panel for December, which are the stocks it believes offer attractive risk-adjusted returns over the long term. Here's what it is saying: ( ) The first ASX dividend stock that has been named on the broker's Australian equities panel is Eagers Automotive. It is the leading player in the automotive retail market in Australia, with a market share of greater than 10%. Bell Potter believes that it is well-positioned to pay big dividends thanks to a combination of revenue growth and margin expansion. It said: APE should continue to grow revenue via a mix of inorganic and organic growth. The company is also looking to drive margin expansion by buying existing dealership properties (to reduce rent), increasing penetration in finance and insurance (F&I) (higher margin) and through productivity initiatives (technology). Together, management are expecting ~200bps of margin improvement from these initiatives, which would be extremely material (pre-COVID margins of 2.9%). Bell Potter expects a fully franked 5.8% in FY 2025. ( ) Another ASX dividend stock that could be a buy according to Bell Potter is retail giant JB Hi-Fi. The broker believes that JB Hi-Fi could be a big winner from the artificial intelligence (AI) boom. It said: JBH is well positioned to benefit from an upgrade cycle of consumer electronics, specifically mobile phones and personal computers (PC), driven by AI enhancements. We see incremental revenue growth to JBH from the AI-driven upgrade cycle, where we estimate that the AI opportunity could add up to ~12% to the company's topline mid-long-term and presents significant upside to JBH's highly efficient earnings base. Its analysts expect this to underpin a fully franked 2.9% dividend yield in FY 2025. ( ) Bell Potter also has this youth fashion retailer's shares on its Australian equities panel this month. The broker likes Universal Store due to its attractive valuation and positive growth outlook. It explains: Universal Store Holdings is a leading youth focused apparel, footwear and accessories retailer in Australia. UNI will continue to increase store numbers over the next few years, supporting earnings growth of 12% p.a. over (FY25-27). Valuation looks attractive, trading on a fwd P/E of ~14x. UNI is a quality small cap (ROE ~25%) that is executing on its rollout strategy. Bell Potter is forecasting a fully franked 3.9% dividend yield in FY 2025.
Loo-less town's battle illustrates national problem
The inauguration of the New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA) has been delayed for the third time due to ongoing security concerns in the region. ET Year-end Special Reads What kept India's stock market investors on toes in 2024? India's car race: How far EVs went in 2024 Investing in 2025: Six wealth management trends to watch out for Originally scheduled to begin operations on January 1, 2025, the airport, which is a key part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), will now remain closed indefinitely, the Balochistan Post reported. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has also cancelled its first commercial flight, which was set to coincide with the opening, according to reports from The Balochistan Times. The NGIA, a major infrastructure project funded by China at a cost of USD 250 million, is designed to accommodate large aircraft such as the Airbus A380. The airport's original opening date of August 14, 2024, was planned to coincide with Pakistan's Independence Day celebrations but was postponed due to protests organised by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC). 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This latest delay highlights the growing security risks posed by Baloch separatist groups that oppose Chinese investments in the region. The BLA, a major armed group advocating for Baloch independence, has repeatedly targeted Chinese projects and nationals in Pakistan. Notable attacks include a 2018 suicide bombing on a bus carrying Chinese engineers, assaults on the Chinese Consulate in Karachi, and a 2023 attack in Gwadar that killed 13 people, including four Chinese nationals. The BLA has also warned foreign nationals to avoid Balochistan, calling it a "war zone," according to The Balochistan Post. In response to these threats, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Balochistan government have decided to review security arrangements before proceeding with the airport's opening. The BLA's Majeed Brigade has vowed to continue its campaign against Chinese interests, further complicating Pakistan's efforts to maintain stability and attract foreign investment to the region. 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Berry Global: Middle Innings Of A Turnaround (Rating Upgrade)