Buffalo's finance commissioner resigns to take job with city comptroller
NoneFor those on the right side of the political aisle, 2024 was a mixed bag. We had to trudge through the final year of Joe Biden’s disastrous presidency while fighting to prevent the administration from inflicting further economic carnage. Yet we also received an enormous gift with the victory of President-elect Donald Trump. Here are my top five moments of 2024. By far, this was best. Things did not look good for Trump at the start of the year, as he faced a litany of felony charges across multiple jurisdictions. But despite the legal onslaught, Trump refused to back down. (tncms-inline)9a826eb8-a769-4b71-b7ae-7e84438f7477[0](/tncms-inline) Aside from his legal problems, Trump faced several opponents as he fought for the GOP presidential nomination. In the spring, many political pundits and talking heads thought Trump could not win the Republican nomination. Yet he emerged victorious and united the GOP under the “Make America Great Again” banner. Trump then pulled off one of the biggest comebacks in political history as he cruised to victory and helped the Republican Party gain control of both houses of Congress. This election will go down in history as a turning point, considering the vast inroads Trump made among voters who traditionally voted for Democrats. Though the polls were tight heading into the debate between Trump and Biden, the absolutely pitiful performance by Biden completely changed the race. Soon after Biden flopped in front of millions of Americans, the Democratic Party pulled the plug on his reelection effort. Of course, this short-sighted move benefited Trump greatly, as it demonstrated that the sitting president was going senile. More important, it led to the rise of Vice President Kamala Harris to the top of the Democratic ticket. Considering Harris’ flip-flops on basically every central policy position, it really was a blessing in disguise that she inherited Biden’s place and was eventually destroyed by Trump. This could have easily been first or second on my list. In midsummer, Trump was crisscrossing the country, holding outdoor rallies. Unfortunately, Trump’s proclivity to engage with his supporters nearly cost him his life. But despite two would-be assassins somehow evading Secret Service detection — and one fired several shots — Trump was largely unharmed. While this was a blessing, we must never forget that one person, Corey Comperatore, died at the Butler, Pennsylvania, rally, and two others were wounded. On Oct. 14, SpaceX launched its Super Heavy Starship, the most powerful rocket in the world. Then, in an unprecedented engineering marvel, the 23-story-tall Super Heavy booster returned to the launch pad in an upright position and was “caught” without a hitch. It was like something straight out of a science-fiction movie, and it demonstrated that the age of space exploration has entered a new chapter. The department, known as DOGE, is an early Christmas present for conservatives and libertarians. For decades, we have been warning that the size and scope of the federal government is unsustainable and that big government is bad news for personal liberty. Finally, some significant spending cuts and institutional reforms are in the offing. With the national debt exceeding $36 trillion and trillion-dollar deficits the new normal, we need to downsize the federal bureaucracy and get back on sound fiscal footing before it is too late. Talgo is the editorial director at The Heartland Institute. He wrote this for InsideSources.com . Get local news delivered to your inbox!Missouri aims to cap perfect nonconference home slate vs. Alabama StateAvior Wealth Management LLC Has $245,000 Stock Holdings in DICK’S Sporting Goods, Inc. (NYSE:DKS)
Top 5 questions about investing, retirement planning under TrumpMARKET REPORT: Budget battering goes on for Britain's builders amid fears of higher interest rates By HUGO DUNCAN Updated: 17:00 EST, 2 December 2024 e-mail 2 View comments House prices may be rising, but investors continue to dump shares in the biggest builders. Upbeat figures from Nationwide show prices last month were 3.7 per cent higher than a year earlier – the largest increase since November 2022. A typical home now costs just over £268,000, according to the mortgage lender, which noted that activity in the market has been ‘relatively resilient in recent months despite the higher interest rate environment’. But it has done little for share prices with investors worried about what those higher interest rates mean for demand for new homes. While the Labour Government has pledged to boost development across the country, few believe it will achieve the 1.5m new home target for this parliament. And shares in the sector have tanked since the Budget, which has pushed up borrowing costs as markets digested Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s tax and borrowing-fuelled spending spree. Property market: Upbeat figures from Nationwide show house prices last month were 3.7% higher than a year earlier – the largest increase since November 2022 Analysts at RBC believe the shares have been ‘oversold’ and say the underlying picture is not as bleak as all that. But while they upgraded Barratt Redrow and Crest Nicholson, they cut their ratings on Persimmon, Vistry and MJ Gleeson. Persimmon shares fell 1.3 per cent, or 16.5p, to 1241.5p, taking losses since the Budget to 22 per cent. Vistry – whose own problems have been highlighted by two recent profit warnings – dropped another 3.9 per cent, or 25.5p, to 630.5p. It is down more than 50 per cent since mid-September. Taylor Wimpey (down 1.4 per cent, or 1.85p, to 129.15p) was caught up on the sell-off and has fallen 18 per cent since the Budget. Gleeson lost 1 per cent, or 5p, to 501p while Barratt inched up 0.3 per cent, or 1.3p, to 429p and Crest advanced 3.8 per cent, or 6.3p, to 171.6p. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Gold miner Metals Exploration closes in on £90m deal to buy... Cinemas boom as ticket sales soar: Brits shrug off the... Share this article Share HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP How to choose the best (and cheapest) stocks and shares Isa and the right DIY investing account With political uncertainty in France in the headlines, it was a jittery start to the week, with the FTSE 100 adding just 0.3 per cent, or 25.59 points, to 8312.89 and the FTSE 250 edging down 0.01 per cent, or 2.52 points, to 20769.05. Direct Line remains in focus after it last week turned down a £3.3billion bid from insurance giant Aviva. Over the weekend, Direct Line founder Sir Peter Wood told The Mail on Sunday that Aviva boss Amanda Blanc would have to rise the bid by ‘several hundred million pounds’ to succeed. He bemoaned what has happened to the company since he left saying ‘it’s sad it’s been run so badly’, and added that chief executive Adam Winslow needs more time. ‘He is trying to do a good job but it’s a three- or four-year job,’ said Wood. Winslow was also making representations, telling The Sunday Times the group ‘is making excellent progress in the early stages of a significant turnaround’. Having jumped 48 per cent in two days after the bid became public last week, Direct Line shares fell 1.2 per cent, or 2.8p, to 232p yesterday and Aviva slid 0.1 per cent, or 0.5p, to 483.2p. Shares in British telecoms firm Spirent Communications rose 3.8 per cent, or 6.5p, to 177.8p as its proposed takeover by US firm Keysight moved a step closer with regulatory approval in the UK, France and Germany. Stock Watch - Mothercare Baby products brand Mothercare slipped to a half-year loss after another significant slump in sales. The retailer said it was knocked by tough trading in the Middle East and efforts by franchise partners to work through old inventory. Turnover dropped by 27.5 per cent to £21million in the 26 weeks to September 28. It reported a £1.8million pre-tax loss for the half-year, swinging from a £1.7million pre-tax profit a year earlier. Shares slid 4.1 per cent, or 0.17p, to 3.98p. DIY INVESTING PLATFORMS AJ Bell AJ Bell Easy investing and ready-made portfolios Learn More Learn More Hargreaves Lansdown Hargreaves Lansdown Free fund dealing and investment ideas Learn More Learn More interactive investor interactive investor Flat-fee investing from £4.99 per month Learn More Learn More Saxo Saxo Get £200 back in trading fees Learn More Learn More Trading 212 Trading 212 Free dealing and no account fee Learn More Learn More Affiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. These deals are chosen by our editorial team, as we think they are worth highlighting. 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After the recent correction in Indian equity markets, investors should expect "some undercurrent back in the market", given BJP's lead in Maharashtra and Haryana elections, Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd. said. The brokerage expects the election outcome to start a mini-risk-on rally with Maharashtra, one of the most important states politically and economically, being comfortably won by BJP, it said. A risk-on rally is when investors have a high-risk appetite and commonly drive up some asset prices. In this environment, stocks outperform bonds. With elections now behind and BJP getting a strong boost from Haryana and Maharashtra elections, both capex and consumption could see a bounce-back, according to Motilal Oswal. While midcaps and smallcaps are still trading at expensive valuations, according to the brokerage firm, it said given the recent correction, valuations for large-caps are quite reasonable now. The brokerage's preferred sectors include Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (private as well as PSU and non-lending NBFCs), capital goods, real estate, manufacturing, consumer discretionary, IT and healthcare. Among large caps stocks the brokerage likes Mahindra & Mahindra, State Bank of India, Larsen & Toubro Ltd., Indian Hotels Co., ABB, Dixon Technologies Ltd., Bharti Airtel Ltd., Trent Ltd., Hindalco Industries Ltd., Titan Co., and HCL Technologies Ltd. The brokerage also listed its midcap ideas in its note, which included Angel One Ltd., BSE Ltd., Amber Enterprises Ltd., Ipca Labs, Cummins India, Page Industries Ltd., Godrej Properties Ltd., Coforge Ltd., JSW Energy Ltd., and Gravita India Ltd. Motilal expects the government to spring into action and start the spending (1H FY25 government spending is flat YoY and is down 17% for Capex spending). "This, coupled with recovery in rural spending (on the back of good monsoon and expected strong Kharip output), should improve the demand narrative at the margin," it said. "Wedding season in the 2HFY25 (30% higher weddings YoY) could also provide a fillip to demand." The last two months of correction in the market, with Nifty, Nifty Midcap 100 and Nifty Smallcap 100 correcting by ~10%, is on the back of moderate corporate earnings in 1HFY25, relentless FII selling since October (FII’s have sold $17 billion since October), fragile geopolitical backdrop and strengthening dollar index post the victory of Donald Trump in US, according to Motilal Oswal. Anxiety around Maharashtra elections had further muddied the waters, it said. Last five years in Maharashtra were characterised by political instability, the brokerage said. "With this verdict, the chronic instability is over in one of the most industrialised and economically the most important state of India."With rising public sector employment and general pressure on wages, the next deal could involve an annual increase in the public pay bill of €1.66 billion, more than three times the annual increase which resulted from the current deal. In an overview setting out the fiscal context for the new Dáil, the independent Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) has identified the future public sector pay bill as one of the main six risks facing the Irish economy during the term of the 34th Dáil. The paper, which has just been published, sets out forecasts for increases in wages in the Irish economy between 2025 and 2030. It states that wages in the Irish economy are expected to grow strongly over the term of the next government, with annual increases ranging from 3.7 per cent to 4.2 per cent Noting that the current pay deal in the public sector will expire in 2026, the analysis says if a future public sector pay deal grew in line with wage increases in the private sector, and the number of workers grew in line with expected population growth, the annual increase in State spending on public pay would rise from €554.7 million in 2026 to €1.66 billion by 2027. Public sector employment has been rising fast. The report says that between 2008 and 2023 employees in the public sector increased by 22 per cent, more than a fifth. “The increase in public sector employment reflects the growing demand for public services, but it also adds to the fiscal burden.” The biggest increase was in the education sector, where employee numbers rose by a third. In marked contrast there was a decline of almost 30 per cent in the numbers employed in the defence sector. Another potential risk identified by the analysis is the State’s reliance on corporation tax, in line with other recent warnings from the Fiscal Advisory Council and the Central Bank of Ireland. The receipts from this sector are “very volatile”, the PBO warns. “From 2015 to 2023, annual growth rates ranged from a high of 48 per cent in 2022 to a low of 5 per cent in 2019,” it notes. “The top 10 companies’ contribution to net receipts peaked at 57 per cent in 2022 before slightly decreasing to 52 per cent in 2023. In the first 11 months of 2024 Corporation Tax Revenue was 59 per cent higher than the same period last year.” Another possible risk highlighted by the PBO is Ireland’s tax system’s heavy reliance on high-income earners. “Those earning €100,000 or more make up just 11.4 per cent of taxpayers but account for 66 per cent of total income tax and USC. “While this highlights a very progressive redistributive system, this concentration of tax revenue from a small segment of the population underscores the vulnerability of the tax base to economic shifts affecting high earners,” it notes. The report warns that, taking into account the volatility of these key revenue sources, there are “structural fiscal challenges that need to be addressed to ensure long-term sustainability”. Harry McGee is a Political Correspondent with The Irish TimesHail Flutie: BC celebrates 40th anniversary of Miracle in MiamiFianna Fail and Fine Gael eye independent TDs as option to secure Dail majority
Published 4:58 pm Monday, December 2, 2024 By Data Skrive Top-25 teams will be in action across six games on Tuesday’s college basketball slate. That includes the Holy Cross Crusaders taking on the UConn Huskies at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. Watch women’s college basketball, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up for a free trial. Get the latest news sent to your inbox Catch tons of live women’s college basketball , plus original programming, with ESPN+ or the Disney Bundle.In a message to the American people, the King expressed “great sadness” at the news of Mr Carter’s death, describing him as “a committed public servant” who “devoted his life to promoting peace and human rights”. He added: “His dedication and humility served as an inspiration to many, and I remember with great fondness his visit to the United Kingdom in 1977. “My thoughts and prayers are with President Carter’s family and the American people at this time.” Mr Carter, a former peanut farmer, served one term in the White House between 1977 and 1981 and spent his post-presidency years as a global humanitarian, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Carter had “lived his values in the service of others to the very end” through “decades of selfless public service”. Praising a “lifelong dedication to peace” that saw him win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, Sir Keir added: “Motivated by his strong faith and values, President Carter redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad.” Tributes to Mr Carter followed the announcement of his death by his family on Sunday, more than a year after he decided to enter hospice care. His son, Chip Carter, said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love.” US President Joe Biden, one of the first elected politicians to endorse Mr Carter’s bid for the presidency in 1976, said the world had “lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian”. He said: “Over six decades, we had the honour of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend. But, what’s extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well. “With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us.” Vice President Kamala Harris said Mr Carter “reminded our nation and the world that there is strength in decency and compassion”. “His life and legacy continue to inspire me — and will inspire generations to come,” she said. “Our world is a better place because of President Carter.” Other UK politicians also paid tribute to Mr Carter. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said he was “an inspiration” who “led a truly remarkable life dedicated to public service with a genuine care for people”. Scottish First Minister John Swinney described the former president as “a good, decent, honest man who strove for peace in all that he did”, while Welsh First Minister said he was “a remarkable man” and “a humanitarian and scholar”. Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair said Mr Carter’s “life was a testament to public service”. He added: “I always had the greatest respect for him, his spirit and his dedication. He fundamentally cared and consistently toiled to help those in need.” Gordon Brown, another former prime minister, said it was a “privilege” to have known Mr Carter, who “will be mourned, not just in America, but in every continent where human rights are valued”. Mr Carter is expected to receive a state funeral featuring public observances in Atlanta, Georgia, and Washington DC before being buried in his hometown of Plains, Georgia. A moderate democrat born in Plains in October 1924, Mr Carter’s political career took him from the Georgia state senate to the state governorship and, finally, the White House, where he took office as 39th president in the wake of the Watergate scandal and the Vietnam War. His presidency saw economic disruption amid volatile oil prices, along with social tensions at home and challenges abroad including the Iranian revolution that sparked a 444-day hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. But he also brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, which led to a peace treaty between the two countries in 1979. After his defeat in the 1980 presidential election, he worked more than four decades leading The Carter Centre, which he and his late wife Rosalynn co-founded in 1982 to “wage peace, fight disease, and build hope”. Under his leadership, the Carter Center virtually eliminated Guinea Worm disease, which has gone from affecting 3.5 million people in Africa and Asia in 1986 to just 14 in 2023. Mrs Carter, who died last year aged 96, had played a more active role in her husband’s presidency than previous first ladies, with Mr Carter saying she had been “my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished”. Earlier this year, on his 100th birthday, Mr Carter received a private congratulatory message from the King, expressing admiration for his life of public serviceBucknell 51, Youngstown State 36
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