Politics

The US Congress narrowly avoided a partial government shutdown on Friday, after weeks of partisan wrangling over federal spending limits and debt ceiling extensions. The crisis came as Republicans, responding to pressure from former President Donald Trump, debated proposals to raise the debt limit while addressing broader fiscal concerns. President of the Chamber Mike Johnsona Republican, he managed to push a plan through his chamber, which is narrowly controlled by his party, while also securing enough bipartisan support to pass it in the Democratic-majority Senate. Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, Johnson expressed cautious optimism: “We have a plan. We hope to vote this morning." The deal, however, highlighted deep divisions among Republicans, particularly within the ...

No. 7-ranked Notre Dame earned a decisive 27-17 victory over No. 10 Indiana in the opening game of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff on Friday night in South Bend, Indiana. The Fighting Irish now turn their attention to their highly anticipated matchup against top-seeded Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1. This win marked a significant moment for Notre Dame, as they demonstrated their defensive supremacy and postseason readiness in front of their home crowd. . The game started with a bang as Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love stunned fans with a breathtaking 98-yard touchdown run. This first play set the tone for what would become a defensive showcase for the Irish. Indiana, despite entering the game with one of the most prolific offenses in the nation, found itself struggl...

European stock markets traded lower on Monday in the last full trading session of 2024, as investors braced for a quiet end to the year. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index fell 0.5% in early afternoon trading in London, with most sectors posting losses. Technology, industrial and media stocks led the declines, while oil and gas stocks managed to post gains. Trading volumes remained light as markets across the region prepared to close early or remain closed until January 2 for the New Year holiday. Despite Monday's modest performance, European stocks are on track to end the year with moderate gains. The Stoxx 600 is up about 5.5% in 2024, in stark contrast to the U.S. S&P 500 index, which is up about 25% over the same period. US markets also opened lower on Monday, reflecting lighte...

Cars traveling through Manhattan will face new tolls starting just after midnight on January 5, 2025, as New York City implements the nation's first congestion pricing plan. However, the plan continues to face legal challenges, particularly from the state of New Jersey, which argues that the program could lead to environmental damage and economic consequences beyond the river. Key details on congestion pricing Under the congestion pricing system, motorists entering Manhattan below 60th Street will pay: Peak times (weekdays 5am-9pm, weekends 9am-9pm): $9 Off-peak hours: $2.25 (a 75% discount) The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) expects a 10% reduction in cars and trucks entering the city, with billions of dollars in toll revenue going toward modernizing public transp...

UFC superstar Conor McGregor has revealed his plans to return to the ring, teasing a potential fight against social media influencer and WWE star Logan Paul's older brother Jake Paul. The news has sent shockwaves through the world of combat sports, with fans and pundits speculating about the bout's implications, while bookmakers are already crunching numbers for what could become one of the most-watched boxing events in history. The hype for a McGregor-Jake Paul bout isn't entirely new; Rumors about this possibility have been circulating for months. Now, according to ESPN's Salvador Rodriguez, the matchup is officially under consideration for the summer of 2025, with discussions pointing to a game in July, August or September. If the fight takes place, it will likely follow stand...

On New Year's Day, Ukraine officially cut off the flow of Russian natural gas to several European countries, marking the end of Moscow's long-standing dominance of European energy markets. The move, which had been widely anticipated, comes as the five-year transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine expired without renewal amid the ongoing war between the two nations. At around 8am local time on Wednesday, Russian state energy giant Gazprom confirmed that gas exports to Europe via Ukrainian pipelines had stopped. This development, which follows more than three decades of transit of Russian gas through Ukraine, highlights changing energy dynamics in Europe as the EU continues to push to reduce dependence on Russian supplies. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made clear last...