Suspensions

In the wake of Tuesday's report linking Alex Rodriguez to performance-enhancing drugs , the New York Yankees star could be subject to the hollowest of suspensions: a ban on playing in games he would sit out anyway. Major League Baseball could not suspend Rodriguez on the basis of a newspaper report. However, if league investigators can use the documents in the report to uncover sufficient evidence that Rodriguez used banned substances, MLB can suspend him even in the absence of a positive drug test.

WASHINGTON - House Republicans approved a temporary suspension of the $16.4-trillion ceiling on the nation's debt Wednesday, allowing the federal government to continue borrowing through spring while Washington shifts to more ambitious budget battles. Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) convinced his rebellious majority to go along with the new strategy by promising them the opportunity in the months ahead to extract deep spending cuts to Medicare and other domestic programs. The approach was a seismic political shift for Republicans who in the past had pressed for simultaneous cuts, which House Democrats dismissed as “irresponsible” and a “gimmick.” The vote was 285-144, and despite the robust support it would not have passed without Democrats -- 33 Republicans opposed it. QUIZ: Test your knowledge about the debt limit “We know with certainty that a debt crisis is coming to America,” said Rep. Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.)

JERUSALEM - As Israelis head to the polls Tuesday, most are expecting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party to secure the right to form the nation's next government. But while a third Netanyahu term appears likely, there's still some suspense about which political parties will join his coalition to create a majority in Israel's 120-member Knesset. The composition of that government will play a major role in determining Israel's stance on issues such as Palestinian statehood, relations with the U.S. and how to deal with Iran's nuclear development program.

Dwight Howard was fined $35,000 by the NBA on Thursday but was not suspended, a lucky break for the Lakers in their semi-fractured season. But in the "what else could go wrong?" department, Pau Gasol received a diagnosis of plantar fasciitis, painful swelling on the underside of his right foot. It's not the first injury Gasol has dealt with this season - he missed eight games because of tendinitis in his knees - but it wasn't expected to be as weighty. In fact, he was listed as probable for Friday's game against Portland.

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman tweeted Thursday that he won his appeal of a four-game suspension for allegedly violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs. If Sherman had lost his case, he would have missed the team's final regular season game against the Rams on Sunday and possibly three playoff games. "Thank you @nfl for upholding the truth! To the 12s Thank you your faith is rewarded! Thank you lord," he tweeted .  Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll congratulated Sherman.  "Congrats to Richard Sherman for winning his appeal!

Dwight Howard was ejected on Wednesday night after a shove to the face of Kenneth Faried of the Denver Nuggets.  A flagrant 2 was called and the Lakers went on to lose 126-114 without Howard. Under the league's flagrant foul policy, Howard has four "points" and is not subject to automatic suspension. The flagrant foul has two levels; level 2 is an automatic ejection.  This was Howard's third flagrant of the season after getting a level 1 on October 30 (Dallas Mavericks) and another on November 21 (Sacramento Kings)

The Sacramento Kings reinstated center DeMarcus Cousins after a one-game suspension for "unprofessional behavior and conduct detrimental to the team. " Cousins practiced with the Kings on Monday. Cousins and Kings Coach Keith Smart exchanged words in the locker room during halftime of Sacramento's 97-85 loss to the Clippers on Friday night at Staples Center. Smart benched Cousins for the entire second half and ordered him to remain in the locker room. The 22-year-old Cousins has been suspended two other times by the NBA this season because of his conduct.

When California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom said "Ugh!" on Tuesday, the months-long rollout of a brand-spanking new University of California logo officially became a fiasco. Today the school announced it would suspend its use. Some students had been up in arms about the redesign for a while, but then students are supposed to complain about school administration and its inevitable idiocy. But when a progressive state politician -- and UC regent -- joins more than 54,000 petitioners and a torrent of brickbats in social media thrown at the design, attention will be paid.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - The man hired to go after a nation of tax evaders jabs his finger at his laptop screen as he scrolls through a database of wealthy Pakistanis and dissects their spending habits. He stops at the name of a rich man from Peshawar. Everything's there, Ali Arshad Hakeem says: the man's photo, his home in a posh Peshawar neighborhood, his frequent trips to Abu Dhabi, his BMW and a bevy of bank accounts. "We have the universe; now how do we use that universe?"

Seattle cornerback Brandon Browner will begin serving his four-game suspension immediately and will sit out the remainder of the regular season without pay, the NFL announced Wednesday. Browner will be eligible to return for the playoffs if the Seahawks make it that far. Browner and fellow Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman were penalized for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Sherman is appealing his four-game suspension and will have his case heard next week, meaning he can play in Sunday's game against Arizona.