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3 American and Canadian climbers go missing on New Zealand’s highest peak
Three mountain climbers from the U.S. and Canada are missing after they failed to return from a planned ascent of New Zealand’s highest peak, Aoraki, authorities said Tuesday, and rescue teams looking for them have found equipment belonging to the trio.
The Americans – Kurt Blair, 56, from Colorado and Carlos Romero, 50, of California – are certified alpine guides, according to the website of the American Mountain Guides Association. A statement by New Zealand’s police did not name the Canadian climber, citing the need to notify his family.
In a social media post, Silverton Avalanche School in Colorado said it had been notified by authorities in New Zealand that the climbers “appear to have taken a fatal fall from high upon the peak.”
“It is with a heavy heart that we share that our friend and colleague Kurt Blair went missing and is presumed deceased while climbing Mt. Cook in New Zealand,” the school wrote.
The men flew to a hut partway up the mountain on Saturday to begin their ascent and were reported missing on Monday when they did not arrive to meet their prearranged transport after the climb. Searchers hours later found several climbing-related items believed to belong to the men, but no sign of them, police said.
Search efforts did not resume Tuesday due to deteriorating weather conditions on Aoraki, also known as Mount Cook, with heavy rain and snow forecast. Operations were unlikely to begin again until conditions improved, expected to be on Thursday.
“Police have been working with the U.S. and Canadian embassies to inform and support the families of the three men,” police said
Sanka Vidanagama/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Aoraki is 3,724 meters (12,218 feet) high and is part of the Southern Alps, the scenic and icy mountain range that runs the length of New Zealand’s South Island. A settlement of the same name at its base is a destination for domestic and foreign tourists.
The peak is popular among experienced climbers. Its terrain is technically difficult due to crevasses, avalanche risk, changeable weather and glacier movement.
More than 240 deaths have been recorded on the mountain and in the surrounding national park since the start of the 20th century.
Getty Images/iStockphoto
If you’re a homeowner, you may have access to a large sum of money that can be accessed via a much lower interest rate than many popular alternatives. Right now, the average homeowner has around $320,000 worth of equity in their home. And that money can be accessed in a variety of simple ways ranging from reverse mortgages to home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) to home equity loans. Home equity loans, in particular, are especially attractive for owners right now.
The average home equity loan interest rate is just 8.41% right now – almost three times lower than the average credit card interest rate of 23.37%. And that rate is fixed, meaning that it won’t adjust upward if the rate climate heats up again. If the rate climate cools, however, it can be refinanced to take advantage of a better rate. So while the benefits of using a home equity loan in today’s economic climate are clear, the purposes for doing so may not be for many. To that end, below we’ve gathered three reasons why you should consider getting a home equity loan for 2025.
Start by seeing how low of a home equity loan rate you could lock in here.
Why you should get a home equity loan for 2025
Not sure if a home equity loan makes sense for you heading into the new year? Here are three reasons why you should consider using this unique funding source for 2025:
To purchase a second home
Many mortgage lenders prefer you to have a 20% down payment on any home you want to purchase. And that figure could be difficult to come by without accessing your existing home equity. But by applying for a home equity loan to purchase a second home, you may be able to qualify with ease. This second home can then be flipped for a profit, post-renovation or simply used as a rental, amid other popular uses. Still, using your current home as a funding source to buy another one requires a delicate balance. So consider speaking to a home equity loan lender or financial advisor to better determine if this is the right move for you going into 2025.
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To consolidate high-interest credit card debt
Today’s average credit card interest rate is the highest it’s ever been. So if you can consolidate your high-rate credit card debt with a home equity loan, it may make sense to do so. With the average credit card debt hovering near $8,000 right now – before an expected increase in holiday spending – it makes sense to apply now. It can take weeks to have your home equity loan funds disbursed so by shopping around for lenders and rates in December, you can potentially start using your home equity in January to make a dent in your credit card debt.
To boost your home’s value
Certain home projects, like ones highly specific to your fashion sense, are unlikely to boost your home’s value. Others, however, like kitchen and bathroom renovations and new landscaping, can. So consider using a home equity loan for the latter type in 2025. Not only can this potentially raise your home’s estimated value, but you also may qualify to deduct the interest paid on the loan when you file your tax return in 2026.
“Interest on home equity loans and lines of credit are deductible only if the borrowed funds are used to buy, build, or substantially improve the taxpayer’s home that secures the loan,” the IRS says. “The loan must be secured by the taxpayer’s main home or second home (qualified residence), and meet other requirements.”
The bottom line
The potential uses for a home equity loan are vast. Like any other borrowing option, however, there are better ways to use this financing source than others, particularly considering the risk of using your home as collateral in these exchanges. Using the funds to purchase a second home, to consolidate today’s high-rate credit card debt or to simply boost your home’s current value could all be smart choices in 2025. By using a home equity loan for these reasons in the new year, you could set yourself up for financial success in 2025 and in the years that follow.
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A Palestinian health official said at least 21 people were killed Wednesday by an Israeli strike on a camp housing displaced people in Gaza. A spokesman for Gaza’s civil defense agency said five children were killed in the strike.
Atif Al-Hout, the director of Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis, said at least 28 people were wounded.
The Israeli military said its aircraft struck senior Hamas militants involved in terrorist activities in the area. The military said that the strike had set off secondary explosions, indicating explosives present in the area were set off. It was not possible to independently confirm the Israeli claims, and the strike could also have ignited fuel, cooking gas canisters or other materials in the camp.
At least 15 bodies arrived at the hospital, but reaching a precise number was difficult because many of the dead were dismembered and some were badly burned.
The strike hit in the Muwasi area, a sprawling coastal camp housing hundreds of thousands of displaced people near Khan Younis. It came after Israeli forces struck targets in other areas of the Palestinian enclave. Earlier strikes on central Gaza killed eight people, including four children.
Bashar Taleb/AFP via Getty Images
Israel’s war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250 people. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead.
Israel’s offensive has killed over 44,500 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence.
Israel says it tries to avoid harming civilians and blames Hamas for their deaths because the militants often operate in residential areas and are known to position tunnels, rocket launchers and other infrastructure near homes, schools and mosques.
contributed to this report.
Considering a move abroad? Or being asked to relocate for work? A new ranking of international cities’ quality of life sheds light on which global locales offer the greatest appeal for expats.
A new Quality of Living City Ranking from global consulting firm Mercer lists more than 240 cities across five continents in order of their quality-of-life ratings. The report took into account living standards, cultural environment, housing, infrastructure, air quality and other features that can make a city either an attractive or uninspiring place to live.
Zurich, Switzerland, a global financial hub known for its exceptional public services, safety and vibrant cultural scene, took the top spot. Vienna, Austria, placed second, while Geneva, Switzerland, came in third.
One factor that helped propel Zurich to the top of the list is that it recently improved its airport connections, making it a practical home base for people looking to travel to or from other continents.
Of the top 10 cities, eight are located in Europe. Auckland, New Zealand, ranked fifth, while Vancouver, British Columbia, ranked seventh. Singapore was the only Asian city in the top 50, according to Mercer.
“In an era of digital nomads and flexible working, countries and cities are consistently working to attract international businesses, talent and remote workers,” Mercer said in a statement. “The most successful destinations today are those that blend flexible governance around mobile talent with a high quality of life and an affordable cost of living.”
Here are the best and worst cities for international workforces. Click here to view the full ranking.
10 best
1. Zurich, Switzerland
2. Vienna, Austria
3. Geneva, Switzerland
4. Copenhagen, Denmark
5. Auckland, New Zealand
6. Amsterdam, Netherlands
7. Frankfurt, Germany (tie)
7. Vancouver, Canada (tie)
9. Bern, Switzerland
10. Basel, Switzerland
10 worst
- (241) Khartoum, Sudan
- (240) Baghdad, Iraq
- (239) Bangui, Central African Republic
- (238) Sanaa, Yemen
- (237) Port-Au-Prince, Haiti
- (236) N’djamena, Chad
- (235) Damascus, Syria
- (234) Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
- (233) Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
- (232) Tripoli, Libya