Investments and Business

One was the resilient, conference-champion team that stormed into the College Football Playoff with determination, a breakout season fueled by star running back Ashton Jeanty, and a legacy of excellence among Group of 5 programs. The other was a team outmatched, overwhelmed and wracked by mistakes in a 31-14 loss to Penn State. For Broncos fans, the outcome was bittersweet. Boise State's improbable run to the CFP quarterfinals deserves to be celebrated, but the loss also underscored the challenge of competing at the highest level against a stronger, more talented team. Penn State, the Big Ten's runner-up and No. 6…

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…

This year marks a significant milestone for Panama as the nation celebrates 25 years since it assumed full control of the Panama Canal. On December 31, 1999, the canal was officially transferred to Panama by the United States under the terms of the Torrijos-Carter treaties signed in 1977. The historic transfer symbolized a triumph of sovereignty and national pride for the Panamanian people, who see the canal as vital part of their identity and economic backbone. President José Raúl Mulino presided over the anniversary celebrations, underlining the importance of the canal to Panama's sovereignty and development. In a message shared…

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…

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…

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.…

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…

Rohit Chopra, Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), testified before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs in late November 2023, addressing ongoing consumer financial protection issues. A few weeks later, the CFPB stepped up its efforts by filing a lawsuit against Zelle, a major peer-to-peer payments network, and its three largest operators – JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo – for failing to fight fraud. and adequately compensate victims. The lawsuit marks a significant step in the CFPB's broader campaign to hold financial institutions accountable for fraud-related customer losses. Customers of the…

Neuralink, the brain technology startup founded by Elon Musk, announced that it has received approval to launch a new feasibility study using its experimental brain implant and robotic arm technology. This initiative, called FIRST studywill evaluate the safety and functionality of the company's wireless brain-computer interface (BCI) and its surgical robot. The study is specifically aimed at helping people with tetraplegia-a severe form of paralysis: controls external devices using only their thoughts. The announcement was made via Neuralink's social media channels, where the company described the study as a significant step toward advancing its technology. “This is the first step…

November brought an unexpected rise in wholesale prices, casting doubt on the pace of inflation's decline, according to data released Thursday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The producer price index (PPI), a key measure of what manufacturers charge for goods and services, rose 0.4% on the month, beating the Dow Jones estimate of 0.2%. On a year-over-year basis, PPI rose 3%, the biggest annual gain since February 2023. Excluding food and energy price volatility, core PPI increased 0.2%, in line with market expectations. Furthermore, excluding commercial services, the monthly PPI increase fell to just 0.1%. However, the core…