Social Responsibility

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 holidays. Despite Monday's modest performance, European stocks are on track to end the year with moderate gains.…

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, drivers 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…

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…

John Thune's political career has been defined by resilience, strategic thinking, and the ability to tackle complex challenges. After ousting Sen. Tom Daschle, the influential Democratic majority leader, in 2004, Thune quickly faced one of his toughest battles: preventing the closure of Ellsworth Air Force Base, a key economic pillar in his home state of South Dakota . Successfully fending off that threat not only ensured his political future, but also taught him lessons that would shape his rise to the Senate. Now, as Thune takes over as Senate majority leader, he faces another formidable test. Leading a chamber of…

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…

President Joe Biden announced a bold plan to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by more than 60% by 2035, reaffirming his administration's commitment to fighting global warming. This move comes as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office next month, vowing to dismantle much of Biden's climate agenda in favor of policies that promote fossil fuel production. Biden's updated goal, which exceeds his previous commitments, aims to keep the United States on track to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in all sectors of the economy by 2050. The formal commitment, known as a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), it will be submitted…