NoneSterling gained against the dollar on Tuesday after dovish comments from Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller and was steady against the euro as political turmoil in France kept investors on edge. The pound was last up 0.16% at $1.2678, recovering some of Monday’s 0.7% loss. In the last three months, the pound has fallen 3.33% against the dollar. Waller, a U.S. rate-setter, said on Monday that with inflation still forecast to fall to 2%, he is inclined “at present” to support another interest rate cut later this month. Markets are now pricing in a 70% likelihood of a 25 basis point rate cut at the Fed’s next meeting on Dec. 18, compared to about 50% just over a week ago. In Europe, investors remained cautious after French opposition parties from both the far-right and the left-wing submitted no-confidence motions against Prime Minister Michel Barnier on Monday. Barnier will likely face the vote on Wednesday after fierce opposition from across the political spectrum to his budget, which contains painful tax rises and spending cuts aimed at repairing the country’s precarious finances. The pound traded flat against the euro at 83 pence after gaining 0.12% on Monday. Investors are largely expecting the Fed and the European Central Bank (ECB) to cut interest rates this month but anticipate that the Bank of England (BoE) will leave UK rates unchanged on Dec. 19. Fiona Cincotta, senior market analyst at City Index, said the BoE is not showing signs of moving quickly on rate cuts, benefiting the pound, while the ECB might have to cut rates more rapidly. “There’s political stability (in the United Kingdom) that is just not present in major economies in the euro zone,” Cincotta added. Earlier on Tuesday, the British Retail Consortium said UK retailers reported lacklustre sales in November, based on industry data. The timing of the Black Friday shopping event this year meant it fell beyond the scope of the November data and will show up instead in the December numbers, which partly accounted for the weakness in consumer spending, according to the BRC. Source: Reuters (Reporting by Greta Rosen Fondahn; Editing by Amanda Cooper and Kirsten Donovan)
Ruben Amorim says he is “the smiling one” but Manchester United’s new head coach warned he can be ruthless when he needs to be. The 39-year-old takes charge for the first time in Sunday’s Premier League trip to promoted Ipswich having been confirmed as Erik ten Hag’s successor at the beginning of November. Amorim has made a positive impression since starting work at the United in an international fortnight that ended with an impressive first appearance in front of the media. 🆚 Ipswich Town.🏟️ Portman Road.⏰ 16:30 GMT. 🫡 We will be there. #MUFC pic.twitter.com/0eHCSDYmhE — Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 21, 2024 The Portuguese was gregarious, engaging and smiley throughout Friday’s press conference but that warmth comes with a ruthlessness edge if players do not adhere to his approach. “You can be the same person,” head coach Amorim said. “Be a positive person that can understand this is one place to be, then there is the dressing room, there are some places to have fun, there are some places to work hard. “So, I can be ruthless when I have to be. If you think as a team, I will be the nicest guy you have ever seen. If there is someone just thinking about himself, I will be a different person. “I’m not that type of guy that wants to show that he is the boss. “They will feel it in the small details, that I can be the smiling one but then when we have a job to do I will be a different person, and they understand that.” ‘The Smiling One’ follows ‘the Special One’ as United’s second Portuguese manager, with Jose Mourinho one of five managers to try and fail to reach the heights scaled by Sir Alex Ferguson. The Scot retired as a Premier League champion in 2013 and the Red Devils have failed to launch a sustained title bid since adding that 20th top-flight crown. Asked about whether he will lean on Ferguson to understand the history of United and whether he has met him, Amorim said: “No, not yet. I didn’t have that opportunity. “It’s hard to copy someone, so I have to be me. Of course I’m not the best person in here to show the history of Manchester United. “It should be the club first and also me because I’m always paying attention on those details and try to focus our players in the history of the club, not the recent history. “You have to be very demanding. This is a club that needs to win, has to win, so we have to show that to our players but it’s a different time. “I cannot be the same guy that Sir Alex Ferguson was. It’s a different time. “I have to have a different approach, but I can also be demanding with a different approach, so that is my focus.” Like Ferguson in 1986, Amorim starts life at United in the November of a season that started with a paltry points tally. The 39-year-old acknowledges the timing makes “it’s so much harder” for him to imprint his style at a club whose youth foundations look in safe hands. “It’s the project of Manchester United,” Amorim said. “Nowadays, you need young guys, guys from the academy for everything. “To bring that history of the club because they feel the club in a different way. “And also because you have all these rules with financial fair play, when a player from our academy is so much different to the players that we bought and then we sell. “So, everything is connected. I will try to help all the players, especially the young ones.” Amorim’s first match will be a fascinating watch for onlookers, who have kept a particularly close eye on his work during his farewell to Sporting Lisbon. The Portuguese managed three final matches after being confirmed as United head coach, including a 4-1 Champions League win against Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s side have dominated English football in recent years and the City boss this week signed a new deal until 2027. “I think it’s a problem for everybody here, but we have so much to do, we cannot focus on anyone,” Amorim said. “We just have to focus on our club, improve our club and not focus on the other clubs, so let’s focus on Manchester United. “It’s amazing (the test) – if you can beat that team it’s a good sign but, like I said, we are focused on Manchester United.”College Football Playoff's first 12-team bracket is set with Oregon No. 1 and SMU in, Alabama outBy Mai Fukuda and Takahito Higuchi / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writers 7:00 JST, December 4, 2024 Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who is the president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, on Monday signaled clearly that he is willing to work with opposition parties in implementing political reforms, except for the abolition of donations from companies and organizations, in the first Diet debates since the LDP suffered heavy losses in the House of Representatives election in October. Ishiba hopes to revise the Political Funds Control Law during the current Diet session so that he can have some closure on the money and politics issue. But for the LDP, the road back to being trusted will be long and steep. “Political parties should avoid letting donations distort their policies. In that sense, there is no difference between donations from individuals and those from companies and organizations,” Ishiba said, answering a question from Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leader Yoshihiko Noda. In response, there was a chorus of boos from the opposition. Ishiba stopped talking for a moment and looked sternly at the Diet chamber. Then he again stressed his opposition to abolishing donations from companies and organizations, saying they were not inappropriate in themselves. Criticizing Ishiba, Noda said, “Even though many opposition parties are seeking to abolish donations from companies and organizations, you did not mention the issue in your policy speech at all.” However, Ishiba would not change his position. The LDP has taken a consistent stand on the issue. “The LDP does not assume that donations from companies are bad and donations from individuals are good,” said Kisaburo Tokai, who leads the LDP’s political reform headquarters. Their stance is based on a 1970 Supreme Court ruling that stated a private company is generally free to make political donations. On Sunday, LDP Election Strategy Committee Chairman Seiji Kihara, who is also a senior member of the party’s political reform headquarters, and former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited the Prime Minister’s Office. They are believed to have discussed the issue and agreed that they would not accept the demand to abolish donations from companies and organizations during the Diet session. The LDP plans to call for medium- to long-term talks on the issue that will involve experts, rather than hurriedly trying to reach a conclusion during the current Diet session, a position shared by LDP coalition partner Komeito. “If reaching an agreement before the end of this year is impossible, then it is important to take enough time to thoroughly discuss the issue,” LDP Secretary General Hiroshi Moriyama said at a press conference Monday. On other political reform issues, Ishiba kept a low profile. As the leader of the minority ruling bloc, he is in a difficult situation, since he can only move forward on policies for which there is agreement with the major opposition parties including the Democratic Party for the People, which the LDP wants to cooperate with. Criticizing political activity funds that are given to individual lawmakers by parties, Noda said, “It’s no exaggeration to say that the funds are legal slush funds.” Ishiba replied that he aims to abolish the funds. Along with the abolition of the funds, the LDP has proposed creating a third-party organization to oversee the spending of political funds that need to be examined before they can be disclosed. Ishiba showed his willingness to discuss the issue sincerely with opposition parties and political groups. Answering a question from Satoshi Asano, a member of the DPFP, with which the LDP is currently discussing changes to the so-called ¥1.03 million barrier, Ishiba said, “The LDP shares the same views as your party on basic issues such as the abolition of political activity funds.” Ruling and opposition parties plan to resume discussions on political reforms in the near future, and the LDP plans to propose the outline of a bill to revise the Political Funds Control Law, a demand of the opposition bloc. The LDP aims to revise the law during the current extraordinary Diet session. However, the issue of members of the LDP’s Abe and other factions underreporting revenue in political funds reports is still unresolved. On Monday, Noda called on LDP lower house members who failed to report funds they received in their political funds reports to attend the lower house’s Deliberative Council on Political Ethics, together with 27 House of Councillors members who had already agreed to attend it. In response, Ishiba said he would urge the offending members to fulfill their responsibility. However, LDP members are increasingly concerned that the CDPJ will continue to raise questions about the political funds issue and argue that deliberations at the council are not enough, so that they can make the issue a major focus of the upper house election next summer.
A lawsuit filed by a conservative legal group against California voting officials takes aim at the state’s “make-it-easy” approach to voting. In May, Judicial Watch , on behalf of the Libertarian Party of California , sued California Secretary of State Shirley Weber and the state itself — and listed 27 registrars, including Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties — claiming that officials violated federal law between 2020 and 2022 by not adequately purging voting rolls of so-called irregular voters. Specifically, Judicial Watch argues that officials haven’t lived up to rules established by the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, the “motor voter” law aimed at making voter registration easier and voter rolls more accurate and up-to-date. Though the lawsuit doesn’t cite any evidence showing significant numbers of votes being illegally cast or counted — and no evidence exists to support widespread voter fraud — Judicial Watch argues that officials upped the odds for voter fraud by not expunging the names of irregular voters in the manner required under federal law. Purging ineligible voters from state voter rolls was a hot topic during the just concluded election season, sparking debates about ballot security and voter access. Conservative groups have fueled doubts of the legitimacy of recent elections, particularly after President Joe Biden defeated former President Donald Trump in 2020. And this year, prior to the November election in which Trump beat Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump claimed without evidence that his opponents were engaged in cheating . One of the related efforts, taken up by conservative groups including the Republican National Committee , has been the challenge of voter roll maintenance. Robert Popper, an attorney for Judicial Watch, said the group has never alleged fraud in its lawsuits but that outdated voter rolls create opportunities for it. “The point isn’t fraud, but these removals do affect the potential for fraud in several ways,” he said. Popper argued that outdated registrations, such as those for people who have moved or died, open the door to potential voter fraud, including voter impersonation or double voting — both of which are felonies in California . “All of the opportunities for these kinds of fraud diminish when you conduct voter list maintenance and get rid of outdated registration,” Popper said. The problem Popper’s group hopes to stamp out is almost non-existent. In California, a state with about 22.6 million registered voters, there were 64 known cases of voter impersonation or double voting over the past two decades, according to research by the Heritage Foundation. Legal experts say the claim that counties are endangering election integrity by having more registered voters than voting-age citizens — a key to the Judicial Watch lawsuit — is based on flawed methodology. “It compares apples to oranges,” said Justin Levitt, a Loyola Law School professor. “It’s a little like complaining that your odometer doesn’t align with your speedometer — they exist to measure two different things.” Levitt also noted that leaving inactive voters on the rolls serves as a safeguard to make sure eligible voters aren’t removed by mistake. The specific complaints in the lawsuit regarding voter rolls for Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties in the lawsuit are as follows: Judicial Watch alleged Orange County is among 19 California counties that did not report any data about the number of voter registrations canceled from November 2020 to November 2022. According to a letter from the state Department of Justice, Orange County did report removing 77,691 voter registrations during that time. However, because the county couldn’t identify the exact number of voters removed who didn’t respond to notices asking them to confirm their address or those who hadn’t voted in two consecutive federal elections — a rule known as Section 8(d)(1)(B) of the NVRA — the registrar reported that the data was unavailable. That answer is consistent with the federal Election Administration and Voting Survey, which is conducted by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission as a way to gather data from election jurisdictions across the country. The federal voting survey allows counties to report certain data as “unavailable” if necessary and to provide an explanation why that is the case. That option explains why Orange County marked the data on the Section 8(d)(1)(B) removals as “unavailable.” Bob Page, the county registrar, said he cannot speak to the merits of the claims made by Judicial Watch since the county is not a direct party to the lawsuit. But he pointed to an explainer on the registrar’s website that details how the the office maintains its voter registration file. Page and Keith Bogardus, the chief assistant district attorney, also said in a briefing to reporters before Election Day that since Page took control of the office in 2022 there have been no cases of individuals prosecuted for trying to vote multiple times or impersonate other voters. It was the same situation in Riverside County , where the registrar was unable to determine the total number of removals under Section 8(d)(1)(B) using the county’s existing data system and reported that the data was unavailable. According to the justice department, the county estimated that during the two-year window listed in the lawsuit 750 voters were removed under Section 8(d)(1)(B). When reached for comment, Riverside County spokesperson Elizabeth Florer referred inquiries to the secretary of state’s office, which said it doesn’t comment on ongoing litigation to “protect the integrity” of the process. According to the justice department, San Bernardino County follows a “general program” of notifying inactive registrants under Section 8(d)(1)(B) and removes records when people move or sit out two consecutive elections or don’t contact the registrar to correct their address. In the 2020-2022 reporting period, however, the county was unable to remove registration records because it determined that its notices did not use the specific language required under the federal motor voter law. San Bernardino County, which has 1.2 million registered voters, issued more than 200,000 new notices in 2023, according to the justice department. When reached for comment, registrar spokesperson Melissa Eickman said the county cannot comment on the specific allegations contained in the lawsuit, but that the registrar is “in compliance with the law.” While the secretary of state’s office declined to comment for the story, it said in a letter sent Sept. 27 to all county clerks and registrars that mass challenges of voter eligibility recently submitted to election offices are “not authorized.” “First, we are well into the 90-day quiet period where such activities are prohibited,” the letter said, alluding to a blackout period mandated by federal law that limits when election officials can change their voter rolls unless a registrant requests asks to be removed. Another issue raised in the letter is that information submitted by any third party, including Judicial Watch, can’t be the sole reason to expunge a registered voter. Information submitted by a third party does not constitute a “removal at the request of the registrant,” the secretary of state’s office wrote. Levitt said private parties don’t have the ability to legally contest voter registration data that has been reported to the Election Assistance Commission. “Even if there’s been a violation of a mandate, that’s not the sort of thing that private parties can enforce,” he said. Popper said there should be no debate about his group’s claims in the lawsuit, which he said are “uncontroversial.” “We look at voter rolls every year .. and they should just be following the law,” he said. The state recently asked U.S. District Judge Mark C. Scarsi to dismiss the case, a move that is typical in civil lawsuits. If that request is denied, Popper said his group will seek a settlement similar to deals it has struck in previous lawsuits. In 2019, Judicial Watch sued Los Angeles County over similar questions raised in the current legal tussle, and that litigation resulted in the state and county agreeing to purge more than 1 million inactive voter registrations. Related Articles
Electricity prices in the Philippines have a real risk of rising even further without additional or expanded coal plants in the near term. Why? It is all about going to the next best option for more baseload power, which in this case is gas or nuclear energy. Power demand is projected to grow by over 5% annually, and this needs to be met by a growing pie of dispatchable capacities like coal, gas, and/or nuclear. As the whole energy pie expands, phasing out coal immediately deprives us of today’s most viable and more affordable option for continuous power reliability. Less coal and more gas in the baseload will be more expensive for electricity users. Looking at some of Meralco’s recent competitive selection process, the lowest of two winning bids for a 600-megawatt baseload power requirement was P5.6015/kWh from a coal plant. Had Meralco sourced that requirement from the spot market instead, consumers would have spent about P9.9 billion more. In comparison, in a separate bid for a capacity of 1,200 megawatts, a natural gas plant won at P7.0718/kWh. Gas was more expensive by P1.47/kWh. On the other hand, with nuclear, the investment risk is still high, and there is a hefty price tag for high risks even if it is high reward. For one, there is yet to be a policy framework for nuclear power generation in the Philippines. Second, touted small- and medium-sized modular reactors are “first-of-a-kind” uncommercialized technologies that might put initial investors at a first mover disadvantage. Third, considering the existing bottlenecks in the Philippine energy sector, it is still quite difficult to assure investors that nuclear projects can progress on budget and on time. We needed the additional baseload power yesterday and we still need them now. “But what about solar and wind power?” one might ask. “Aren’t they getting cheaper? Isn’t battery storage getting cheaper as well?” While solar and wind projects can be scaled, their power generation isn’t consistent and reliable, much less dispatchable, and can’t be baseload power. The power generation of these variable renewable energy capacities swings depending on the weather or the time of day (no sun at night), requiring a “firming” resource like battery storage or dispatchable capacities. While coupling battery storage to solar and wind can address the intermittency, the resulting cost simply isn’t economically viable. J.P . Morgan’s 13th annual energy paper cited an analysis from Rice University which computed the total system cost if just one source plus storage served 95% of total demand in Texas. It was found that onshore wind + storage was at $131/MWh, solar PV + storage was at $177/MWh, while coal was just at $72/MWh. Coal has less need of support from a firming source and, relatively, renewable energy plus storage could be twice more expensive. We all want more indigenous renewable energy in our power mix. But, as shown by a slew of recent articles on local banks ceasing coal financing, it isn’t clear to some of us how without additional coal, we risk higher power prices. The economics of fossil fuels are more equitable right now than the economics of rushing into net zero or, worse for lower income earners, the phasing out of coal power plants entirely from the power mix. We should be comfortable with the fact that one can co-exist with the other. Maximizing all sources of energy leads to cheap power, which benefits all — from the rich to the poor — and fuels businesses and jobs in the economy. Putting all our eggs in the emissions reduction basket will have very little effect on the total stock of greenhouse gas emissions but will have a sizable negative impact on Philippine economy and society. Equity demands not rushing into a more expensive energy system that will further burden those with low to modest incomes (see: “The pressing needs of Filipinos” and “Push for renewable energy should be balanced with pressing needs of people” ). We need dispatchable coal power until such time that there is a more economic baseload alternative. No more coal would mean haphazardly expanding our baseload exposure to gas, which is more expensive, or to nuclear like small- and medium-sized modular reactors, which are still risky and yet to be commercially available. Nuclear energization is not even likely to happen in the near term, so this doesn’t address the baseload power that we need now and into the rest of the 2020s. Meanwhile, variable renewable energy like solar and wind aren’t baseload sources to begin with and become expensive when coupled with battery storage. Timely and strategic exposures, or a well-calculated, flexible, and balanced energy mix, as articulated by the Philippine Energy Plan, is the way to go. And coal still has a role to play in the future of the Philippine energy mix. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . To naysayers, be careful what you wish for.Michigan football fires offensive coordinator amid disappointing season
The 39-year-old takes charge for the first time in Sunday’s Premier League trip to promoted Ipswich having been confirmed as Erik ten Hag’s successor at the beginning of November. Amorim has made a positive impression since starting work at the United in an international fortnight that ended with an impressive first appearance in front of the media. 🆚 Ipswich Town.🏟️ Portman Road.⏰ 16:30 GMT. 🫡 We will be there. #MUFC pic.twitter.com/0eHCSDYmhE — Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 21, 2024 The Portuguese was gregarious, engaging and smiley throughout Friday’s press conference but that warmth comes with a ruthlessness edge if players do not adhere to his approach. “You can be the same person,” head coach Amorim said. “Be a positive person that can understand this is one place to be, then there is the dressing room, there are some places to have fun, there are some places to work hard. “So, I can be ruthless when I have to be. If you think as a team, I will be the nicest guy you have ever seen. If there is someone just thinking about himself, I will be a different person. “I’m not that type of guy that wants to show that he is the boss. “They will feel it in the small details, that I can be the smiling one but then when we have a job to do I will be a different person, and they understand that.” ‘The Smiling One’ follows ‘the Special One’ as United’s second Portuguese manager, with Jose Mourinho one of five managers to try and fail to reach the heights scaled by Sir Alex Ferguson. The Scot retired as a Premier League champion in 2013 and the Red Devils have failed to launch a sustained title bid since adding that 20th top-flight crown. Asked about whether he will lean on Ferguson to understand the history of United and whether he has met him, Amorim said: “No, not yet. I didn’t have that opportunity. “It’s hard to copy someone, so I have to be me. Of course I’m not the best person in here to show the history of Manchester United. “It should be the club first and also me because I’m always paying attention on those details and try to focus our players in the history of the club, not the recent history. “You have to be very demanding. This is a club that needs to win, has to win, so we have to show that to our players but it’s a different time. “I cannot be the same guy that Sir Alex Ferguson was. It’s a different time. “I have to have a different approach, but I can also be demanding with a different approach, so that is my focus.” Like Ferguson in 1986, Amorim starts life at United in the November of a season that started with a paltry points tally. The 39-year-old acknowledges the timing makes “it’s so much harder” for him to imprint his style at a club whose youth foundations look in safe hands. “It’s the project of Manchester United,” Amorim said. “Nowadays, you need young guys, guys from the academy for everything. “To bring that history of the club because they feel the club in a different way. “And also because you have all these rules with financial fair play, when a player from our academy is so much different to the players that we bought and then we sell. “So, everything is connected. I will try to help all the players, especially the young ones.” Amorim’s first match will be a fascinating watch for onlookers, who have kept a particularly close eye on his work during his farewell to Sporting Lisbon. The Portuguese managed three final matches after being confirmed as United head coach, including a 4-1 Champions League win against Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s side have dominated English football in recent years and the City boss this week signed a new deal until 2027. “I think it’s a problem for everybody here, but we have so much to do, we cannot focus on anyone,” Amorim said. “We just have to focus on our club, improve our club and not focus on the other clubs, so let’s focus on Manchester United. “It’s amazing (the test) – if you can beat that team it’s a good sign but, like I said, we are focused on Manchester United.”The new, 12-team College Football Playoff brings with it a promise to be bigger, more exciting, more lucrative. Perfect or 100% fair? Well, nobody ever believed that. The first expanded playoff bracket unveiled Sunday left a presumably deserving Alabama team on the sideline in favor of an SMU squad that finished with a better record after playing a schedule that was not as difficult. It ranked undefeated Oregon first but set up a possible rematch against Ohio State, the team that came closest to beating the Ducks this year. It treated underdog Boise State like a favorite and banged-up Georgia like a world beater at No. 2. It gave Ohio State home-field advantage against Tennessee for reasons it would take a supercomputer to figure out. It gave the sport the multiweek tournament it has longed for, but also ensured there will be plenty to grouse about between now and when the trophy is handed out on Jan. 20 after what will easily be the longest college football season in history. All of it, thankfully, will be sorted out on the field starting with first-round games on campuses Dec. 20 and 21, then over three succeeding rounds that will wind their way through traditional bowl sites. Maybe Oregon coach Dan Lanning, whose undefeated Ducks are the favorite to win it all, put it best when he offered: "Winning a national championship is not supposed to be easy.” Neither, it turns out, is figuring out who should play for it. The Big Ten will lead the way with four teams in the tournament, followed by the SEC with three and the ACC with two. The lasting memory from the inaugural bracket will involve the decision that handed the ACC that second bid. Alabama of the SEC didn't play Saturday. SMU of the ACC did. The Mustangs fell behind by three touchdowns to Clemson before coming back to tie. But they ultimately lost 34-31 on a 56-yard field goal as time expired. “We were on pins and needles,” SMU coach Rhett Lashley said. “Until we saw the name ‘SMU’ up there, we were hanging on the edge. We're really, really happy and thankful to the committee for rewarding our guys for their total body of work." The Mustangs only had two losses, compared to three for the Crimson Tide. Even though SMU's schedule wasn't nearly as tough, the committee was impressed by the way the Mustangs came back against Clemson. “We just felt, in this particular case, SMU had the nod above Alabama,” said Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel, the chairman of the selection committee. “But it’s no disrespect to Alabama’s strength of schedule. We looked at the entire body of work for both teams.” Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne was gracious, up to a point. “Disappointed with the outcome and felt we were one of the 12 best teams in the country,” he said on social media. He acknowledged — despite all of Alabama’s losses coming against conference opponents this season — that the Tide’s push to schedule more games against teams from other major conferences in order to improve its strength of schedule did not pay off this time. “That is not good for college football," Byrne said. Georgia, the SEC champion, was seeded second; Boise State, the Mountain West champion, earned the third seed; and Big 12 titlist Arizona State got the fourth seed and the fourth and final first-round bye. All will play in quarterfinals at bowl games on Dec. 31-Jan. 1. Clemson stole a bid and the 12th seed with its crazy win over SMU, the result that ultimately cost Alabama a spot in the field. The Tigers moved to No. 16 in the rankings, but got in as the fifth-best conference winner. The conference commissioners' idea to give conference champions preferable treatment in this first iteration of the 12-team playoff could be up for reconsideration after this season. The committee actually ranked Boise State, the Mountain West Champion, at No. 9 and Big 12 champion Arizona State at No. 12, but both get to skip the first round. Another CFP guideline: There’s no reseeding of teams after each round, which means no break for Oregon. The top-seeded Ducks will face the winner of Tennessee-Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. Oregon beat Ohio State 32-31 earlier this year in one of the season’s best games. No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Texas, Dec. 21. Clemson is riding high after the SMU upset, while Texas is 0-2 against Georgia and 11-0 vs. everyone else this season. The winner faces ... Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. Huh? No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Penn State, Dec. 21. The biggest knock against the Mustangs was that they didn't play any big boys with that 60th-ranked strength of schedule. Well, now they get to. The winner faces ... Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. Yes, SMU vs. Boise was the quarterfinal we all expected. No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Notre Dame, Dec. 20. Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti thought his team deserved a home game. Well, not quite but close. The winner faces ... Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. The Bulldogs got the No. 2 seed despite a throwing-arm injury to QB Carson Beck. But what else was the committee supposed to do? No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State , Dec. 21. The Buckeyes (losses to Oregon, Michigan) got home field over the Volunteers (losses to Arkansas, Georgia) in a matchup of programs with two of the biggest stadiums in football. The winner faces ... Oregon in the Rose Bowl. Feels like that matchup should come in the semifinals or later. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 21, 2024-- TFS Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: TFSL) (the “Company”), the holding company for Third Federal Savings and Loan Association of Cleveland (the “Association”), today announced that the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.2825 per share, payable on December 17, 2024, to stockholders of record on December 3, 2024. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241121020268/en/ Chairman and CEO Marc A. Stefanski (Photo: Business Wire) Third Federal Savings and Loan Association of Cleveland, MHC (the “MHC”), the mutual holding company of the Company and owner of 227,119,132 shares, or 80.9% of the Company’s common stock outstanding, has waived its right to receive the dividend on its shares. On July 9, 2024, the MHC received the approval of its members (depositors and certain loan customers of the Association) with respect to the waiver of dividends, and subsequently received the non-objection of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, to waive receipt of dividends on the Company’s common stock the MHC owns up to an aggregate amount of $1.13 per share during the twelve months subsequent to the members' approval (ie., through July 9, 2025). The MHC previously waived the receipt of dividends paid by the Company in an aggregate amount of $0.2825 per share during the quarter ending September 30, 2024. Third Federal is a leading provider of savings and mortgage products, and operates under the values of love, trust, respect, a commitment to excellence and fun. Founded in Cleveland in 1938 as a mutual association by Ben and Gerome Stefanski, Third Federal’s mission is to help people achieve the dream of home ownership and financial security. It became part of a public company in 2007 and celebrated its 85th anniversary in May 2023. Third Federal, which lends in 27 states and the District of Columbia, is dedicated to serving consumers with competitive rates and outstanding service. Third Federal, an equal housing lender, has 21 full service branches in Northeast Ohio, two lending offices in Central and Southern Ohio, and 16 full service branches throughout Florida. As of September 30, 2024, the Company’s assets totaled $17.09 billion. This news release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is subject to the safe harbors created therein. The forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, the Company’s plans regarding its dividends. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company’s results to differ materially from management’s current expectations. The Company’s risks and uncertainties are detailed in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of our management and on currently available information. The Company undertakes no responsibility to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241121020268/en/ CONTACT: TFS Financial Corporation Jennifer Rosa (216) 429-5037 KEYWORD: FLORIDA OHIO UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BANKING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FINANCE SOURCE: Third Federal Savings and Loan Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/21/2024 04:20 PM/DISC: 11/21/2024 04:20 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241121020268/enChina, US have much to learn from each other
World News Live Today December 24, 2024: Prince Harry's role as ‘royal family joker’ for Christmas taken over by...
Transcript: Kyle Shanahan, Brandon Allen discuss 49ers-Packers Week 12 matchup
Rates of infection for respiratory viruses are currently low in the U.S. but are starting to rise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Flu, COVID-19 and RSV spread more in fall and winter, especially during gatherings, travel and time spent indoors. Dr. Robert Jacobson, medical director of Mayo Clinic's Primary Care Immunization Program, says there are tools to help reduce the risk of becoming severely ill from these respiratory infections. "We're all at risk for getting the flu, and we can actually get (it) more than once a year. Every year, about 10% to 20% of us get the flu," Jacobson says. Along with the flu, COVID-19 and RSV are among the most common respiratory illnesses. These viruses share similar symptoms, risks and prevention strategies. Jacobson's No. 1 tip: Get vaccinated. People are also reading... "This is specific protection your body can make to protect you and your loved ones," he says. Experts recommend washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds several times a day. Adobe Stock Hand hygiene Along with vaccination, Jacobson stresses the importance of hand-washing. Wash your hands with soap and water to help prevent the spread of germs. "Especially before you eat, when you come home from work, when you come home from bringing your child from day care — both of you should go to the sink — wash your hands with soap and water after using a bathroom, before serving other people food, after being with a group of people, shaking hands with people, wash your hands," he says. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts Wash your hands well and often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water aren't available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Make sure friends and family whom you're around regularly, especially kids, know the importance of hand-washing. RSV: Who should get vaccinated and what else to know about the virus Additional strategies Tactics to avoid respiratory infections: 1. Avoid touching your face: Keeping your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth helps keep germs away from those places. 2. Cover your coughs and sneezes: Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow. Then wash your hands. 3. Clean surfaces: Regularly clean often-touched surfaces to prevent the spread of infection from touching a surface with the virus on it and then your face. 4. Avoid crowds: The flu spreads easily wherever people gather — in child care centers, schools, office buildings, auditoriums and on public transportation. By avoiding crowds during peak flu season, you lower your chances of infection. And if you get sick, stay home to avoid spreading infection to others. How do people catch bird flu? Most US teens are abstaining from drinking, smoking and marijuana, survey says More beans and less red meat: Nutritionists weigh in on US dietary guidelines Build your health & fitness knowledgeElmhurst native Fred Lorenzen got his start in auto racing as an 18-year old, racing stock cars at Soldier Field in Chicago in the early 1950s. Success there eventually led to racing stardom in a career in which Lorenzen was credited with 158 NASCAR starts and 26 wins, including the 1965 Daytona 500 and the World 600 that same year. In 1998 he was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers and in 2015 he was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame , an accomplishment all the more remarkable given his Midwest roots at a time when the sport was dominated by Southerners. Fred Lorenzen, right, of Elmhurst, signs up to compete in the Old Dominion 250-mile stock car race to be run in Martinsville, Va. in 1966. H. Clay Earles, center, president of the track, looks happy over the entry. (Chicago Tribune archive) Lorenzen died Dec. 18, a few days before what would have been his 90th birthday, according to statements from his family and NASCAR. “The NASCAR Hall of Fame team joins the racing community in mourning the passing of Fred Lorenzen,” NASCAR Hall of Fame Executive Director Winston Kelley said in a statement, calling Lorenzen “a legend whose impact will forever be felt in the sport.” In a death notice, his family noted he had battled dementia for over 20 years. His daughter, Amanda Lorenzen Gardstrom, told the Tribune in 2015 she thought her father’s dementia might be related to long-ago crashes. Some of his memories were not so clear in 2015. But the Hall of Fame induction that January was a special time for Lorenzen and his family. “We all flew down to Charlotte,” Gardstrom said. “We were there for the whole weekend. I haven’t seen my dad so happy with a glow in his eyes and smiling for so long. “He was so happy – he recognized all his old racing buddies. What a gift to give to a man who’s given so much to NASCAR. That was the best thing.” Along with his racing success, Lorenzen’s personality helped put a face on the sport. “Fred’s nicknames personify him as well as anyone,” Kelley said. “Fast Freddie or Fearless Freddie described his penchant for driving fast and on the largest of NASCAR tracks. The Golden Boy was a nod to his Hollywood good looks. That combination made him one of the most successful and recognizable stars of NASCAR in the 1960’s and early 1970’s. His leading-man good looks and smooth driving earned him legions of fans and brought a new style and class to the sport.” Even before those early stock car races in the Chicago area, Lorenzen was speeding around the streets of Elmhurst in a lawnmower-powered go-kart he built. “He always had a passion for cars,” Gardstrom said in 2015. Fred Lorenzen, of Elmhurst, shows off his custom 1950 Ford with a 1954 Cadillac engine with 350 horse power at the All Class Auto Show held at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago on May 7, 1955. Next to Lorenzen is E.G. Braner, of Chicago, back left, and Bruce Mann, of Chicago, on right. (Phil Mascione/Chicago Tribune) Stan Kalwasinski, who writes about motor sports, called Lorenzen “a racing icon” in the Chicago area. Kalwasinski, who met Lorenzen several times, said he first heard of him around 1963 when network sports television shows included short clips or excerpts of auto races. Gardstrom said that after winning local United States Auto Club events in the late 1950s at both Soldier Field and at O’Hare Stadium — a former racing venue south of the airport — her father shifted gears. “He decided he wanted to try out NASCAR on his own,” she said, “but he went broke twice.” However, Lorenzen, also known as “The Elmhurst Express,” never gave up. He finally connected with Ralph Moody of the famed Holman Moody Ford racing group, and in late 1960 Moody offered him an opportunity to drive in NASCAR events. Lorenzen’s career with NASCAR was relatively short. Except for a brief comeback, he retired from racing in 1967, saying he was tired of the traveling and living out of hotels. He shifted gears again, transitioning into a successful career in real estate. Kelley said Lorenzen’s selection for the Hall of Fame recognized his overall success both on and off the track and his contributions to the sport. “He excelled on big tracks and big races,” Kelley said, noting that Lorenzen was the first driver to earn $100,000 in a season, doing so in 1963. Kelley also noted Lorenzen’s Elmhurst roots. “He was one of the first non-Southerners to come into NASCAR and have great success.” In addition to Gardstrom, Lorenzen’s survivors include his son Chris Lorenzen and two grandchildren. Graydon Megan is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Ruben Amorim says he is “the smiling one” but Manchester United’s new head coach warned he can be ruthless when he needs to be. The 39-year-old takes charge for the first time in Sunday’s Premier League trip to promoted Ipswich having been confirmed as Erik ten Hag’s successor at the beginning of November. Amorim has made a positive impression since starting work at the United in an international fortnight that ended with an impressive first appearance in front of the media. 🆚 Ipswich Town.🏟️ Portman Road.⏰ 16:30 GMT. 🫡 We will be there. #MUFC pic.twitter.com/0eHCSDYmhE — Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 21, 2024 The Portuguese was gregarious, engaging and smiley throughout Friday’s press conference but that warmth comes with a ruthlessness edge if players do not adhere to his approach. “You can be the same person,” head coach Amorim said. “Be a positive person that can understand this is one place to be, then there is the dressing room, there are some places to have fun, there are some places to work hard. “So, I can be ruthless when I have to be. If you think as a team, I will be the nicest guy you have ever seen. If there is someone just thinking about himself, I will be a different person. “I’m not that type of guy that wants to show that he is the boss. “They will feel it in the small details, that I can be the smiling one but then when we have a job to do I will be a different person, and they understand that.” ‘The Smiling One’ follows ‘the Special One’ as United’s second Portuguese manager, with Jose Mourinho one of five managers to try and fail to reach the heights scaled by Sir Alex Ferguson. The Scot retired as a Premier League champion in 2013 and the Red Devils have failed to launch a sustained title bid since adding that 20th top-flight crown. Asked about whether he will lean on Ferguson to understand the history of United and whether he has met him, Amorim said: “No, not yet. I didn’t have that opportunity. “It’s hard to copy someone, so I have to be me. Of course I’m not the best person in here to show the history of Manchester United. “It should be the club first and also me because I’m always paying attention on those details and try to focus our players in the history of the club, not the recent history. “You have to be very demanding. This is a club that needs to win, has to win, so we have to show that to our players but it’s a different time. “I cannot be the same guy that Sir Alex Ferguson was. It’s a different time. “I have to have a different approach, but I can also be demanding with a different approach, so that is my focus.” Like Ferguson in 1986, Amorim starts life at United in the November of a season that started with a paltry points tally. The 39-year-old acknowledges the timing makes “it’s so much harder” for him to imprint his style at a club whose youth foundations look in safe hands. “It’s the project of Manchester United,” Amorim said. “Nowadays, you need young guys, guys from the academy for everything. “To bring that history of the club because they feel the club in a different way. “And also because you have all these rules with financial fair play, when a player from our academy is so much different to the players that we bought and then we sell. “So, everything is connected. I will try to help all the players, especially the young ones.” Amorim’s first match will be a fascinating watch for onlookers, who have kept a particularly close eye on his work during his farewell to Sporting Lisbon. The Portuguese managed three final matches after being confirmed as United head coach, including a 4-1 Champions League win against Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s side have dominated English football in recent years and the City boss this week signed a new deal until 2027. “I think it’s a problem for everybody here, but we have so much to do, we cannot focus on anyone,” Amorim said. “We just have to focus on our club, improve our club and not focus on the other clubs, so let’s focus on Manchester United. “It’s amazing (the test) – if you can beat that team it’s a good sign but, like I said, we are focused on Manchester United.”Stock futures were calm on Sunday evening, with Dow riding a seven-day losing streak into a week highlighted by a key central bank meeting. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average ticked up 31 points, or less than 0.1%. S&P 500 futures were also up less than 0.1%. Nasdaq 100 futures dipped by less than 0.1%. > Philadelphia news 24/7: Watch NBC10 free wherever you are The stock market is coming off a sluggish week. The Dow lost 1.8% last week and has lost ground in each of the last seven sessions. The S&P 500 dipped 0.64%, and has retreated in four of the past five sessions. The Nasdaq Composite outperformed, grinding out a gain of 0.34% for the week. After a broad rally following President-elect Donald Trump's November win, the stock market appears to have reverted to a narrow tech-led move in recent days. "The breadth that we're seeing is really starting to dissipate a bit. It's becoming a much more concentrated rally within a few names. And I don't know how long that can sustain, but there's a chance that carries forward through at least the end of the year," Joe Mazzola, Charles Schwab's head trading and derivatives strategist, said on Friday's " Closing Bell: Overtime ." The main draw of this week is the Federal Open Market Committee's meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday, when Federal Reserve officials are widely expected to lower the benchmark interest rate again. On Monday, investors will get some updated economic data, with preliminary purchasing managers index readings due out before the bell. And on the individual stock level, shares of MicroStrategy could be on the move after the bitcoin proxy was announced as a new addition to the Nasdaq 100 index. Traders expect Fed to cut this week, pause in January The Federal Reserve is widely expected to cut rates by 0.25 percentage points on Wednesday, but traders will be playing close attention to the updated policy statement and Fed Chair Jerome Powell's press conference for clues about what comes next. As of Sunday night, pricing in the Fed funds futures market pointed to a 95.3% likelihood of a rate cut this week, according to the CME FedWatch tool . However, traders are also betting that the Fed will pause its rate cutting cycle in January. That could be a welcome move for investors who are still uneasy with the path of inflation. Logan Moulton, portfolio manager at Intelligent Wealth Solutions, said inflation appears to be "stickier" than Fed officials previously thought and that there are risks to upward pressure on inflation when the Trump administration takes office. "Heading into 2025, I think they should at least pause," Moulton said. — Jesse Pound Nasdaq Composite up more than 32% year to date With less than three weeks left in 2024, the three major market averages are on track for a banner year. The Nasdaq Composite leads the way, with a gain of 32.74% year to date. The S&P 500 has jumped 26.86%, while the Dow is trailing but still up 16.29%. All 11 sectors are positive for the year, led by a 43.10% gain for communications services. — Jesse Pound, Christopher Hayes MicroStrategy, Palantir to join Nasdaq 100 Three new stocks are set to join the Nasdaq 100 one week from Monday. Palantir Technologies , MicroStrategy and Axon Enterprise will all join the index prior to the market open on Dec. 23, Nasdaq announced on Friday. The stocks will also be added to the holdings of the Invesco QQQ Trust , which has more than $300 billion in assets. Of those three, MicroStrategy is the most volatile. The stock has become a bitcoin proxy for investors as the former enterprise software company has added the cryptocurrency to its balance sheet, financed in part through debt sales. Illumina , Super Micro Computer and Moderna will all be removed from the index. — Jesse Pound Stock futures open little changed Stock futures were little changed at 6 p.m. ET Sunday, with the contracts for the three major averages marginally lower. — Jesse Pound
Texas, Arizona State to meet in CFP clash of old vs. new Big 12 champsBrandon Sklenar speaks out on Blake Lively's Justin Baldoni complaint