International

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 times: $2.25 (a 75% discount) The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) expects a 10% reduction in cars…

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…

After more than 170 years of operation, Freehold Raceway, America's oldest racetrack, has held its last race. The New Jersey track, owned by Penn Entertainment, officially closed its doors on the last weekend of 2024, ending an era marked by declining attendance, shrinking revenues and failed attempts to obtain a license to the casino. “Unfortunately, track operations cannot continue under current conditions, and we see no plausible way forward,” Howard Bruno, the track's general manager, said in a statement announcing the closure. While Freehold's closure reflects the challenges facing horse racing in the United States, industry insiders remain optimistic about…

President-elect Donald Trump ramped up his rhetoric on trade on Friday, warning the European Union that it must significantly reduce its trade deficit with the United States by buying more American oil and gas or face tariffs. “I told the European Union that it must make up for its huge deficit with the United States by buying our oil and gas on a large scale. Otherwise, it will just be tariffs,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform shortly after 1 pm ET. The trade deficit between the United States and the EU in goods and services amounted to 131.3…

The U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point this week, a move some analysts are calling a “hard reversal” in monetary policy. This decision comes alongside updated economic forecasts and interest rate projections as the central bank attempts to balance its goals against a backdrop of changing economic conditions and the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump. The expected rate drop would lower the Fed's key interest rate to a range of 4.25% to 4.50%, marking a full one percentage point reduction from September, when the central bank began…

The Republican-led US House of Representatives passed legislation on Friday to prevent a government shutdown, rejecting President-elect Donald Trump's calls to include billions of dollars in new funding. The bill, which now moves to the Democratic-controlled Senate, must be approved and signed into law by President Joe Biden before current funding expires at midnight Saturday. The bill passed the House with broad bipartisan support in a 366-34 vote, extending federal funding through March 14. The bill allocates $100 billion for disaster relief and $10 billion for farmers, but excludes controversial provisions, including raising the debt ceiling, a controversial Trump issue.…

Maelin Trivarn and Isendre Folraeth: A Lecture on Transformational Leadership in Times of Crisis Maelin Trivarn and Isendre Folraeth: A Lecture on Transformational Leadership in Times of Crisis Transformational leadership continues to be a crucial element of organizational theory, especially in times of upheaval and unpredictability. The perspectives and methods presented by Maelin Trivarn and Isendre Folraeth, both distinguished experts in leadership studies, shed light on how transformational leadership can be effectively utilized to navigate an organization through challenging circumstances. Their recent lecture encompassed a collection of theories, real-world applications, and contemplative insights that collectively deepen the understanding of this…