World

FIFA is reportedly considering the idea of a one-off, 64-team World Cup in 2030 to commemorate the centenary of the tournament, which would mark the second consecutive expansion of the tournament. The idea was introduced towards the end of a recent FIFA meeting by Ignacio Alonso, a delegate from Uruguay who read a prepared speech in English, per The New …

The European Central Bank on Thursday cut interest rates by 25 basis points and updated the language in its decision to say monetary policy was becoming “meaningfully less restrictive.” The cut brings the ECB’s deposit facility rate, its key rate, to 2.5% — a move that markets had widely priced in before the announcement. ECB President Christine Lagarde said after …

It’s official, JJ Watt won’t be coming out of retirement. For the past two months, there had been a chance that the three-time defensive player of the year was going to return to the NFL in 2025 over a bet he made, but that chance has now gone out the window.  The bet involved Watt and James Trafford, a huge …

German airline group Lufthansa is hopeful that the new U.S. administration will support Boeing in overcoming issues that have led to industry-wide delivery delays, CEO Carsten Spohr said Thursday. The company expects 2025 will be the year when it starts to recieve aircraft for which it has been “waiting for so long now,” Spohr told CNBC’s Annette Weisbach. In results …

Manchester United’s season is on the line as they head to Spain to face Real Sociedad kicking off the round of 16 of the Europa League. After being knocked out of the FA Cup, winning this competition will be United’s only chance at European soccer next season but also their form hasn’t shown that they’ll be able to turn things …

US President Donald Trump waits to greet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the entrance of the West Wing of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 27, 2025.  Carl Court | Afp | Getty Images Tensions between the U.S. and Europe have hit something of a low in recent weeks — and China could be poised to use …

The UEFA Champions League Round of 16 continues with a clash between Feyenoord and Inter Milan on Wednesday on Paramount+. The host Eredivisie side enters Wednesday’s match unbeaten in their last six matches across all competitions and aiming for a strong showing at home after narrowly getting past AC Milan in the UCL play-off round. Meanwhile, Lautaro Martinez and Inter …

China’s Minister of Finance Lan Fo’an speaks during a press conference in Beijing on Nov. 8, 2024.  Adek Berry | Afp | Getty Images BEIJING — China has more room to act on fiscal policy amid domestic and external uncertainties, Finance Minister Lan Fo’an told reporters on Thursday. He was responding to a question during China’s “Two Sessions” annual parliamentary …

Getty Images U.S. women’s national team striker and Portland Thorns FC forward Sophia Wilson (formerly Smith) announced she and her husband are expecting their first child. Her and her spouse, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson, recently celebrated their wedding and are now growing their family. The duo announced the pregnancy on social media. “Life just keeps getting sweeter,” read …

A customer is seen inside a 7-Eleven convenience store along a street in central Tokyo on September 9, 2024.   Richard A. Brooks | Afp | Getty Images Seven & i Holdings, the parent of 7-Eleven, said Thursday it will replace CEO Ryuichi Isaka with lead independent outside director Stephen Dacus, making a foreigner the top executive for the first time, …