GOOD DAY FOR: British Prius owners, after London said it will start charging a $50-a-day carbon emissions fee in October for SUVs and other gas-guzzlers that drive in the city. For the past five years, London has levied a “congestion charge,” now set at $16 dollars a day, on private cars to reduce city traffic. Fuel-efficient cars will no longer have to pay the congestion fee. (Los Angeles Times, free registration)
BAD DAY FOR: Spreading the savings, as Capital One recently changed several of its variable-rate credit cards to fixed-rate cards, meaning new cardholders won’t see any benefit from falling interest rates. Banks prefer variable rates when interest rates are rising. “If rates continue to fall, we’re going to see more banks convert to fixed rates,” said Curtis Arnold of CardRatings-dot-com. (The Wall Street Journal)
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Oscar predictions 2025: who will win?In Depth From awards-circuit heavyweights to curve balls, these are the films and actors causing a stir
-
Magical Christmas markets in the Black ForestThe Week Recommends Snow, twinkling lights, glühwein and song: the charm of traditional festive markets in south-west Germany
-
Argos in Cappadocia: a magical hotel befitting its fairytale locationThe Week Recommends Each of the unique rooms are carved out of the ancient caves
