US imposes sanctions on 35 entities, vessels for transporting Iranian oils
The US Congress passed spending legislation early on Saturday in a down-to-the wire burst of activity that will avert a destabilising government shutdown ahead of the busy holiday travel season. The Democratic-controlled Senate in an 85-11 vote passed the bill to continue government funding 38 minutes after it expired at midnight (0500 GMT Saturday). The government did not invoke shutdown procedures in the interim. The bill will now be sent it to the White House, where President Joe Biden is expected to sign it into law. The package had earlier cleared the Republican-controlled House of Representatives with bipartisan support. The late-night vote capped a frantic week that saw president-elect Donald Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk defeat an initial bipartisan deal, throwing Congress into disarray. The final version stripped out some provisions championed by Democrats, who accused Republicans of caving in to pressure from an unelected billionaire who has no experience in government. Congress did not act on Trump's demand to raise the debt ceiling, a politically difficult task, before he takes office on January 20. The federal government spent roughly $6.2-trillion last year and has more than $36-trillion in debt, and Congress will need to act to authorise further borrowing by the middle of next year. The legislation would extend government funding until March 14, provide $100bn for disaster-hit states and $10bn for farmers, and extend farm and food aid programmes due to expire at the end of the year. Some Republicans voted against the package because it did not cut spending. House speaker Mike Johnson said the party will have more influence next year, when they will have majorities in both chambers of Congress and Trump will be in the White House. “This was a necessary step to bridge the gap, to put us into that moment where we can put our fingerprints on the final decisions on spending,” he told reporters after the House vote. He said Trump supported the package. A government shutdown would have disrupted everything from law enforcement to national parks and suspended pay cheques for millions of federal workers. A travel industry trade group warned it could cost airlines, hotels and other companies $1bn per week and lead to widespread disruptions during the busy Christmas season. Authorities warned travellers could face long lines at airports. THIRD ATTEMPT The package resembled a bipartisan plan that was abandoned earlier this week after an online fusillade from Trump and Musk, who said it contained too many unrelated provisions, such as a pay raise for legislators and a crackdown on pharmacy benefit managers. Republicans struck most of those elements from the bill — including a provision limiting investments in China which Democrats said would have conflicted with Musk's interests. “He clearly does not want to answer questions about how much he plans to expand his businesses in China and how many American technologies he plans to sell,” Democratic representative Rosa DeLauro said on the House floor. Trump has tasked Musk, the world's richest person, with heading a budget-cutting task force but he will hold no official position in Washington. Musk wrote on his social media platform X that he was happy with the package. “It went from a bill that weighed pounds to a bill that weighed ounces,” he posted. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said his party still achieved some of its goals and prevented Republicans from enacting a debt-ceiling hike that would make it easier to cut taxes. “We have successfully advanced the needs of everyday Americans, but there are still things to be worked on and we look forward to that fight in the new year,” he told reporters. Trump's demand to lift the debt ceiling was resoundingly rejected by the House — including 38 Republicans — on Thursday. Johnson said legislators would look at the issue in January. Representative Rich McCormick, one of 34 Republicans who voted against the Friday bill, said it did nothing to change the nation's fiscal trajectory and would only add to the debt load. “We will be the country of the past if we continue doing what we're doing,” he said. The federal government last shut down for 35 days during Trump's first White House term over a dispute about border security. Previous fights over the debt ceiling have spooked financial markets, as a US government default would send credit shocks around the world. The limit has been suspended under an agreement that technically expires on January 1, though legislators likely would not have had to tackle the issue before the spring. ReutersRuben Amorim reveals key factor behind Man United stars abandoning plans to wear LGBT rainbow jackets after Noussair Mazraoui refusal - as he insists there is 'no doubt' over the club's values
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Defending the run has been one of the Green Bay Packers’ weaknesses over the last several years. Not so much lately, though. Green Bay limited San Francisco to 16 carries for 44 yards in a of the 49ers on Nov. 24, with two-time All-Pro Christian McCaffrey gaining 31 yards on 11 attempts. Four nights later, the by holding the Dolphins to 39 yards on 14 carries. It was the first time since 1995 — and only the second time since 1950 — that the Packers had allowed fewer than 45 yards rushing in back-to-back games within the same season. “I think we’re playing harder and harder each week,” first-year defensive coordinator said. “And that’s how you play good defense.” That defense needs to be at its best Thursday as the Packers (9-3) close a stretch of three games in 12 days by visiting the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions (12-1), who have the NFL’s highest-scoring offense thanks in part to a rushing attack featuring the speedy Jahmyr Gibbs and the physical David Montgomery. “Gibbs is a great running back,” defensive lineman Kenny Clark said. “I really think the offense really starts with him, honestly. He can do everything — receive, in-and-out runner, can do stretch, duo plays. We’ve got to have all hands on deck with Gibbs. And then Montgomery, he’s a great complement to him. He can do everything, also.” The Lions were the first team since the 1975 Miami Dolphins to rush for at least 100 yards and a touchdown in each of their first 11 games. The streak ended on Thanksgiving when the Lions rushed for 194 yards but didn’t have a touchdown on the ground in a over the Chicago Bears. Green Bay outrushed Detroit 138-124 in the to the Lions on Nov. 3 at Lambeau Field. Montgomery rushed for 73 yards while Gibbs ran for 65 yards and a touchdown. Gibbs has 973 yards this season, which ranks fourth in the NFL. Montgomery ran for a combined 192 yards and four touchdowns in the Lions’ two games against the Packers last season. Green Bay’s run defense has come a long way since. The Packers have allowed 106.6 yards rushing per game this season, which ranks eighth in the league. The Packers haven’t closed a season in the top 10 in run defense since 2016 and have finished outside the top 20 in four of the last six years, including 26th in 2022 and 28th in 2023. “I think Haf’s doing a good job of mixing up the fronts and some of the coverages, but really it’s ultimately about tackling, swarming, getting many hats to the football,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “And our guys have really embraced that style of play.” The Packers are yielding 4.2 yards per carry to rank seventh in the league after finishing 22nd or worst in that category each of the last three seasons. They haven’t closed a season ranked in the top 10 in yards allowed per carry since 2017. Hafley says the improvement starts up front. “The interior part of our D-line has done such a good job these last few games,” Hafley said. “They really have. They’re hard to block. They’re staying in their gaps. They’re tearing off of blocks, and it’s the same thing with those defensive ends. They’re setting edges, they’re forcing the ball back inside, they’re getting off blocks and then we’re tackling and we’re running to the ball and there’s multiple people to the ball. “And when you turn on our tape right now and when you freeze it, you see that. You see a lot of guys around the football. And then you’re not afraid, right? Like if I have an open-field tackle and I know eight other guys are coming, I’m going to take my shot because I know if I miss, it’s going to be, ‘Bang, bang, bang,’ we’ve got three or four other guys there, and we’re starting to play faster.” Green Bay's defense has the Lions’ attention. “They’ve been playing well,” Detroit coach Dan Campbell said. “I mean, they have, really, all season, and nothing has changed.” ___ AP Sports Writer Larry Lage contributed to this report. ___ AP NFL: Steve Megargee, The Associated PressBanking's Digital Evolution: Merging Mainframe Legacy with Cloud Innovation
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An American graduate degree continues to be highly sought after by Indian students despite worries about a rising number of them returning home after failing to secure decent jobs and the costly fees, this trend is likely to continue in 2025 as well, according to experts. Economic uncertainties in the US are weighing on job opportunities. However, consultants say the allure of an American degree persists among Indian students, largely due to US policies that provide clarity on the return on investment of a graduation degree, American universities casting a wider net by offering best-in-class scholarships, and alternative destinations tackling their own issues of tighter immigration policy and geopolitical tensions. With tuition fees ranging between $30,000 and $80,000 annually, US graduation school education comes with a hefty price tag. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Although 65-70% of graduating students secured jobs in 2022, the figure declined to 60% in 2023, with projections for 2024 even more sombre at 55%, notes Adarsh Khandelwal, cofounder of Collegify, a study abroad company. 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He however believes that the scenario is unlikely to change despite Donald Trump's victory in the US Presidential poll. Trump has made known his anti-immigrant stance during the poll campaign, giving rise to fears about visa rule changes and post-study job opportunities for graduates. But most study abroad consultants are optimistic of little impact on Indian students heading to the US. "They may stagnate due to stricter visa policies, limited optional practical training extensions and slower economic recovery," said Khandelwal. Nikhil Jain, founder of ForeignAdmits, a study abroad platform, highlighted how American policies introduced under the Biden administration such as the Gainful Employment Rule and Financial Value Transparency Framework aimed at establishing safeguards against unaffordable debt or insufficient earnings for postsecondary students will help reshape decisions for those seeking to study in the US. "Now, universities will have to be transparent about their graduates' outcomes-what kind of jobs they're getting, what salaries they're commanding. This helps students make much more informed decisions about their investments," he explained. For Indian students, the US remains the top destination for postgraduate education, especially in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. Highlighting the role of the OPT visa, Khandelwal said it gives students with up to three years of work authorisation in STEM fields, easing their transition into the workforce. "Graduates from US universities often secure roles in cutting-edge industries like AI, healthcare, and fintech, with starting salaries exceeding $90,000 annually," he said. Technology-driven fields dominate Indian students' choices. "Over 70% of Indian applicants are opting for technology-based courses like AI, data science, and information systems," says Jain at ForeignAdmits. Computer science alone attracted 108,438 Indian students in 2023. Business and management courses also remain popular, offering steady career opportunities in areas like fintech and consulting. The prestige of a US degree also accelerates career growth globally.
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NoneKnicks vs. Pelicans Injury Report Today – December 1A growing number of U.S. colleges and universities are advising international students to return to campus before President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated, over concerns that he might impose travel bans like he did during his first administration. Related video above: Can birthright citizenship be repealed? Breaking down Trump’s proposal More than a dozen schools have issued advisories, even though Trump's plans remain uncertain. At some schools, the spring semester begins before Trump will take office, so students may have to be back in class anyway. But for anyone whose ability to stay in the United States depends on an academic visa, they say it's best to reduce their risks and get back to campus before Jan. 20. Here's a look at what Trump has said and done and how schools and students are preparing for his second term: Trump issued an executive order in January 2017 banning travel to the U.S. by citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries — Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. Travelers from those nations were either barred from getting on their flights or detained at U.S. airports after they landed. They included students and faculty as well as business people, tourists and visitors to friends and family. Trump later removed some countries and added others to the list — 15 nations were affected at some point during his presidency. More than 40,000 people were ultimately refused visas because of the ban, according to the U.S. State Department. President Joe Biden rescinded the orders when he took office in 2021. More than 1.1 million international students were enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities during the 2023-24 school year, according to Open Doors, a data project partially funded by the U.S. State Department. Students from India and China have accounted for more than half of all international students in the U.S., and about 43,800 come from the 15 countries affected by Trump's travel restrictions. Jacky Li, a third-year environmental studies major at the University of California, Berkeley, will be traveling home to China on Dec. 21 and returning Jan. 16. Though he made his plans months before Berkeley officials sent the advisory, he said worry is growing among international students. "There's a fear that this kind of restriction will enlarge into a wider community, considering the geopolitical tensions nowadays around the world, so the fear is definitely there," said Li, who urged Trump to support, rather than thwart, important academic research. "If the U.S. is really a champion of academic freedom, what you should do is not restrict this kind of communications between different countries of the world," he said. Trump's transition team did not respond to questions on the topic this week, but in the past, he has said he'll revive the travel ban and expand it, pledging new "ideological screening" for non-U.S. citizens to bar "dangerous lunatics, haters, bigots and maniacs." "We aren't bringing in anyone from Gaza, Syria, Somalia, Yemen or Libya or anywhere else that threatens our security," Trump said at an October 2023 campaign event in Iowa. Trump also vowed to "revoke the student visas of radical anti-American and anti-Semitic foreigners at our colleges and universities" in response to campus protests. School officials have advised international students heading home for winter break to return before Inauguration Day and to prepare for possible delays at immigration control. The list includes Ivy League universities such as Harvard and Brown, Boston schools such as Northeastern University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and other schools around the country, from Johns Hopkins University to the University of Southern California. Some offer classes that begin the day after Inauguration Day. Cornell University told its students that a travel ban involving the 13 nations Trump previously targeted "is likely to go into effect soon after inauguration" and that new countries could be added to the list, particularly China and India. It advised students, faculty and staff from those countries to return to campus before the semester starts Jan. 21. Other schools didn't go so far as to say a ban is likely but instead advised students to plan ahead and prepare for delays.
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Everything was going about as poorly as you could have asked for as an Ohio State fan in "The Game" against the Michigan Wolverines on Saturday. The offense looked out of synch with a pair of terrible interceptions thrown by quarterback Will Howard, and Michigan was finding a way to hang around and attempt to take the lead midway through the fourth quarter. But then things changed. On first and goal from inside the five-yard-line, Wolverines QB Davis Warren dropped back to pass on a play-action, but threw a terrible pass, which ended up in the hands of Ohio State defensive lineman Jack Sawyer. The Buckeyes escaped the potential scoring drive, and took over with a chance to go win the game themselves. While the play was incredible from Sawyer, the play-by-play call from Fox Sports' announcer Gus Johnson is what everyone is talking about after the fact. © Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Take a look at the play, and what everyone was saying about Johnson after the play on social media: Gus Johnson is Sylvester the cat having a stroke pic.twitter.com/mtKTd0NOOl This is a religious experience by Gus Johnson there is no other way to describe it pic.twitter.com/6NpEfTqeUv This play broke Gus Johnson pic.twitter.com/LEC1BLI9fs Gus Johnson’s voice is absolutely perfect for what’s one of the worst throws I’ve ever seen pic.twitter.com/SeQaGYUwS7 I’ve never heard Gus Johnson quite like this 😭 pic.twitter.com/tNqbXXi6dw Gus Johnson just had 6 heart attacks as Ohio State takes over pic.twitter.com/k951Y2dShD While he is polarizing to some, Gus Johnson is largely beloved in the college football world for his enthusiastic and wild style of announcing, which leaves him yelling through the television on Saturday's throughout the fall. He has called many big games, and big moments throughout the years, but this will undoubtedly go down as one of the best, and funniest calls that he has ever had. Related: Oregon vs. Ohio State Odds Shows Clear Favorite Ahead of Potential Big Ten Championship Rematch
The Liberal candidate in a federal byelection in British Columbia says she is applying for Métis membership after a local group questioned her claims of Indigenous identity. Madison Fleischer says in a written statement that she self-identifies as Métis based on what she knows about her great-grandmother’s heritage and is “collecting the necessary documentation to go through the application process” for citizenship with B.C.‘s Métis Nation. In the meantime, Fleischer, who is the candidate in the Dec. 16 byelection in Cloverdale-Langley City, says she has removed “Métis” from her social media profile descriptions to ensure there is “no confusion” about her Indigenous status. Her response comes after the Waceya Métis Society — which describes itself as a chartered community representing Métis people in the Langley and White Rock regions of B.C.‘s Lower Mainland — said in a release that it “wishes to distance itself from Madison’s claims of Métis identity.” The society says it met with Fleischer over the weekend to discuss her claims of Métis identity but was “disappointed that she could not provide any evidence to support her Métis heritage.” The attention on Fleischer comes after Edmonton Centre Liberal MP Randy Boissonnault left cabinet last week amid questions about his shifting claims of Indigenous heritage and his business dealings. In her statement, Fleischer says she has “always been vocal about not yet holding Métis Nation British Columbia citizenship.” The Waceya Métis Society says it has asked Fleischer to “properly research and verify her Indigenous heritage before making any further public assertions.” “In this meeting, Madison was unable to substantiate her claims with any documentation or historical connections to Métis communities,” the society says about their Nov. 23 meeting with Fleischer. “The integrity of Métis identity is not to be taken lightly, especially in public office, where the representation of our community must be accurate, respectful, and legitimate.” Cloverdale-Langley City was previously held by Liberal John Aldag, who resigned to run for MLA with the B.C. New Democrats. Aldag was defeated by B.C. Conservative candidate Harman Bhangu in the Langley-Abbotsford seat in the Oct. 19 provincial election. Fleischer, whose Liberal party biography calls her a small-business owner who operates a public relations firm in Langley, is going up against candidates including federal Conservative Tamara Jansen, who held the seat from 2019 to 2021 before losing a close race to Aldag. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 27, 2024.