Champions Cup: Castres 16 Munster 14 Munster’s hopes of putting a foot in the door of the Champions Cup knockout rounds at the earliest opportunity were dashed in France on Friday night as they narrowly succumbed to Castres at Stade Pierre Fabre. Having beaten Stade Francais in round one six days earlier, a win on the road against the Top 14 side would have given Munster’s European qualification hopes a huge boost with just two more pool games to play but it was not to be, despite Castres losing three players to the yellow cards across 80 minutes. Munster lost a string of players to injury, prop Dian Bleuler, scrum-half Craig Casey withdrawn during a first half that saw the home side take a 10-0 lead before John Hodnett’s try and Jack Crowley’s penalty made it 10-7 at half-time. Peter O’Mahony, Thaakir Abrahams and replacements Dave Kilcyone and Diarmuid Barron were second-half casualties but a second Hodnett try on 69 minutes, again converted by Crowley, edged the visitors within 11 minutes of a famous victory at 14-13, only to concede a scrum penalty on 72 minutes. Trailing 16-14 and with the 80 minutes up, Munster still had the opportunity to sneak victory, only for Crowley’s penalty from inside his own half to be batted back into play by a Castres player and the chance to evaporate. Everything that could have gone wrong did just that for Munster in a challenging opening 40 minutes yet somehow they found themselves just three points in arrears at half-time, John Hodnett’s try off a lineout maul, converted by Crowley handed Costello’s side a lifeline at 10-7. The game had started badly for the visitors as they failed to find any fluency through a series of poor skill executions, not least in terms of tactical kicking and poor discipline. A high tackle by Stephen Archer led to a close-range lineout from which former Connacht No.8 Abraham Papali’I scored the opening try on 13 minutes, while it was the same player who created the second for Castre on the half-hour, his quickly taken penalty inside the Munster 22 clearing a path for prop Quentin Walcker to make it 10-0. Crowley missed a penalty attempt on 18 minutes and then Munster lost loosehead prop Dian Bleuler to a Head Injury Assessment, pre-empting the early introduction of Dave Kilcoyne after almost 12 months sidelined by injury. And their woes were further compounded by the loss to injury of Ireland scrum-half Craig Casey in the sequence of play leading to the home side’s second try. Yet as Casey was being carried down the tunnel for treatment, Walcker turned from hero to villain, guilty of head-on-head contact on Brian Gleeson, the No.8 making his first Champions Cup start for Munster. It was a red-card offence from the upright tackler but Gleeson fell into the collision enough for English referee Christophe Ridley to downgrade the offence to a yellow card on 32 minutes. It was the opportunity Munster needed at the end of a disjointed opening half and a scrum penalty provided the platform, the visitors kicking upfield and striking from their lineout drive, Hodnett breaking off the front from 10 metres out to score an excellent try and as the Castres fans jeered and whistled, Crowley cooly slotted over the conversion to set up the potential for a second-half upset. Munster were gifted another window of opportunity shortly after Walcker’s return from the sin-bin on 42 minutes when right-wing Geoffrey Palis was handed a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on as Castres defended inside their 22. Yet the resulting penalty did not produce the necessary response from Munster, the ball bobbling out of the lineout maul and Tadhg Beirne knocking on at the try line. Castres won the ensuing scrum penalty and then another upfield to allow scrum-half Jeremy Fernandez to extend their lead to 13-7 with a penalty kick with Munster failing to score in the 10-minute sin-bin period and their scrum conceding another penalty to the delight of the home crowd. Munster introduced hooker Diarmuid Barron and tighthead prop Oli Jager on 55 minutes in the hopes of shoring up their under-pressure set-piece, Jager making his return from nine weeks out with a neck injury. Yet there were fresh injury issues to deal with Munster losing both Peter O’Mahony and Thaakir Abrahams to knocks. Castres had a chance to turn the screw further with a Julien Dumora penalty on 63 minutes, but the full-back screwed his kick wide and Munster gladly accepted both that gift and a third yellow card from the home side as tighthead replacement Nicolas Corato was next in the bin. Now it was Munster’s turn to apply pressure, and they laid siege to the Castres try line, winning a penalty advantage at a ruck but scoring without needing it, Hodnett this time striking as play continued. Crowley’s kick was nerveless to edge Munster in front at 14-13 with 10 minutes to play but then Munster handed the initiative straight back to 14-man Castres, conceding a scrum penalty from which fly-half Louis Le Brun regained the lead at 16-14 on 72 minutes. Munster’s ill luck hit again as replacement front-rowers Barron and Kilcoyne were forced off in the final 10 minutes. A penalty close to their own 10-metre line gave hope, only for Crowley’s kick for touch to be bundled back into play to the delight of a noisy home crowd. CASTRES: J Dumora (T Chabouni, 66); G Palis, J Goodhue, A Cocagi (A Seguret, 63), R Baget; L le Brun, J Fernandez (S Arata, 51); Q Walcker (W de Benedittis, 63),G Barlot (L Zarantonello, 63), W Collier (N Corato, 66); G Maravat, L Nakarawa (P Jedrasiak, 63); M Babillot - captain, T Ardron, A Papalii (W de Benedittis (YC), 35-42; F Tukino, 63). Yellow cards: Q Walcker 32-42, G Palis 43-53, N Corato 67-77. MUNSTER: M Haley; C Nash, T Farrell, A Nankivell, T Abrahams (R Scannell, 58); J Crowley, C Casey (P Patterson, 31); D Bleuler (D Kilcoyne, 22 – HIA; S Archer 75), N Scannell (D Barron, 55; N Scannell, 76), S Archer (O Jager, 55); F Wycherley, T Beirne - captain; P O’Mahony (T Ahern, 51), J Hodnett (A Kendellen, 70), B Gleeson (J O’Donoghue, 49). Referee: Christophe Ridley (England).US President-elect Donald Trump's proposals to impose sweeping tariffs on imports could counter earlier efforts to cool inflation, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Tuesday, warning that consumer prices could rise. Her comments at the Wall Street Journal's CEO Council Summit come as Trump has vowed broad tariffs of at least 10 percent on all imports, and higher rates on goods from China, Canada and Mexico. Imposing broad-based tariffs could "raise prices significantly for American consumers and create cost pressures on firms" which rely on imported goods, Yellen said when asked about Trump's plans. She cautioned that this could weigh on the competitiveness of certain sectors and increase costs to households. "This is a strategy I worry could derail the progress that we've made on inflation, and have adverse consequences on growth," she said. But she defended efforts by President Joe Biden's administration to impose targeted tariffs on Chinese goods to counter unfair trade practices by Beijing. She has previously raised concern over China's industrial overcapacity -- which risks a flood of underpriced goods into global markets and could undermine the development of key US industries. On Tuesday, Yellen also expressed regret that the United States has not made more progress on the country's deficit, saying she believes it "needs to be brought down, especially now that we're in an environment of higher interest rates." She stressed the importance of an independent Federal Reserve too, saying that countries perform better economically when central banks are allowed to exercise their best judgment without political influence. Trump has said that he would like "at least" a say over setting the Fed's interest rate. "I think it's a mistake to become involved in commenting on the Fed and certainly taking steps to compromise its independence," said Yellen. "I believe it tends to undermine the confidence of financial markets and, ultimately, of Americans in an important institution," she added. Yellen noted that she has spoken with Trump's Treasury chief nominee, billionaire hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, congratulating him on his nomination. bys/bjt
MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski makes bizarre social media move after defending her controversial Trump meeting Follow DailyMail.com's politics live blog for all the latest news and updates By JOE HUTCHISON FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 21:55 GMT, 22 November 2024 | Updated: 22:02 GMT, 22 November 2024 e-mail View comments Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski has backed away from using social media platform X despite defending her meeting with president-elect Donald Trump and encouraging fans to 'speak to everyone'. Brzezinski, 57, made what appears to be her final post to the platform, owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk , opting to move to left-leaning site Bluesky . 'I’ve decided to leave X, but I’d love to keep the conversation going. Join me on BlueSky!', linking her new profile on the site. It's a far cry from the open-mindedness she has been preaching since her meeting with Trump. On Monday, Brzezinski and her husband and co-host Joe Scarborough said on their show that they had visited Trump at his Florida home after a years long feud. Things came to a boil earlier this year after Scarborough likened Trump to Adolf Hitler , with their visit sparking fury amongst their liberal viewers and show staff. Speaking about the visit for the first time with The Daily Beast podcast with hosts , Brzezinski said they met with Trump due to people being 'really scared'. 'The way I look at it is people are really scared, that's one of the reasons we went in there. People are really scared about Trump's comments about political adversaries. A lot of people are scared because of what has happened with abortion.' Speaking about the visit for the first time with The Daily Beast podcast, seen here, Brzezinski said they met with Trump due to people being 'really scared Brzezinski has now moved her social media presence to left-leaning site Bluesky instead of X ' I was trying to think through it, I think everyone is so scared. Whether they are in the media or citizens of this great country. 'I think everybody is scared, disorientated, fearful of the future, and I think just for a quick moment I might the punching bag for that. Read More Morning Joe suffers humiliating loss after they were roasted for secret meeting with Trump 'I'd like to believe we are going to get through this and I have a lot of questions too though, and I want the chance to ask them.' Her comments don't square with her leaving X, which is owned by Trump's closest ally, Elon Musk. When asked if the meeting made her more hopeful , she said: 'No, I would have no illusions about that. I am glad it happened. The fact that it happened is good.' 'I am deeply, deeply, upset and fearful for the woman of this country, and not just the women of child-bearing age. I'm going to be looking for ways to work on this issue.' Revealing the meeting on Monday, Brzezinski said they decided to reach out to Trump due to their viewers expressing fear over his election win . She added: 'My father [diplomat Zbigniew Brzezinski] often spoke with world leaders with whom he and the United States profoundly disagreed. That's a task shared by reporters and commentators alike. 'Joe and I realized it’s time to do something different and that starts with not only talking about Donald Trump, but also talking with him.' Brzezinski shared that Trump was cheerful during their meeting and seemed interested in finding common ground with Democrats. Revealing the meeting on Monday, Brzezinski said they decided to reach out to Trump due to their viewers expressing fear over his election win. She is seen here with Scarborough in 2015 Brzezinski shared that Trump was cheerful during their meeting and seemed interested in finding common ground with Democrats However, Scarborough concluded by telling viewers they will not stop their criticism of the president-elect. He said: 'Don’t be mistaken. We are not here to defend or normalize Donald Trump. Read More Glum Joe and Mika return to penthouse amid cuts as Rachel Maddow's shock new salary is revealed 'We are here to report on him and to hopefully provide you insights that are going to better equip all of us in understanding these deeply unsettling times.' Trump told Fox News that he took the meeting in order to 'Make America Great Again, it is very important, if not vital, to have a free, fair and open media or press.' 'I am not looking for retribution, grandstanding or to destroy people who treated me very unfairly,' he added. 'Many things were discussed, and I very much appreciated the fact that they wanted to have open communication,' he said. 'In many ways, it's too bad that it wasn't done long ago.' Trump said that both of the hosts, 'congratulated me on running a 'great and flawless campaign, one for the history books.' 'The meeting ended in a very positive manner, and we agreed to speak in the future,' he said. Following the big reveal on Monday, their ratings have tanked 15 percent overall and a whopping 41 percent in the 25-54 year old demographic. Trump appeared on the show dozens of times before the pair fell out spectacularly during the 2016 election cycle The show went from 770,000 viewers on Monday, to 680,000 Tuesday, to 647,000 Wednesday, per Variety. Trump used to be routine contributor to Morning Joe, and Scarborough was an early cheerleader for the billionaire's maverick bid for the GOP nomination in 2016. But relations soured as Trump pulled off a surprise victory in the Republican primaries and began to look like a serious challenger to the Democrats' Hillary Clinton. Read More Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough addresses claims he 'killed' intern who died in his office The four-hour morning show became a bastion of the Democratic establishment after Trump's first term, with President Joe Biden routinely tuning in while doing his morning exercises to see his acolytes promote the party's talking points. With Trump in the White House and Scarborough engaged to co-host Brzezinski he began cementing his show's identity as an outpost of opposition to the new administration. The couple even recorded a Christmas album called 'A Very Drumpf Christmas' with children's songs portraying the president as Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. It eventually attracted the attention of the president himself, who delivered a series of withering put-downs, labeling Scarborough 'Psycho Joe' and his then-fiancée as 'low IQ Crazy Mika', while mischievously claiming she had been 'bleeding badly from a face-lift' during a visit to his Mar-a-Lago estate. Brzezinski later confirmed she'd been recovering from cosmetic surgery during the trip. And the feud deepened when the president revived long-debunked claims that Scarborough had been involved in the death of his former congressional staffer who was found dead on his office floor in 2001. An autopsy found that Lori Bolterstein Klausutis, 28, had hit her head on a desk after collapsing from an undiagnosed heart-valve irregularity but Trump called for a fresh investigation into the case. The allegations earned Trump his first rebuke from Twitter, which would eventually kick him off the platform altogether in January 2021. 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Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 7 years of experience covering metro, government policy, and international events PAY ATTENTION: Follow our WhatsApp channel to never miss out on the news that matters to you! Bauchi state - The Secretary to Bauchi State Government (SSG), Ibrahim Kashim, has resigned from his position with immediate effect amid rumour that he wants to run for the 2027 governorship race in the state. However, there is no official confirmation that Kashim is interested in running for the office of the governor of Bauchi state. Governor Bala Mohammed’s spokesperson, Mukhtar Gidado, said the Chief of Staff, Government House, Aminu Gamawa, has been directed to take over from Kashim in an acting capacity. Gidado made this known in a statement made available to newsmen on Friday, December 13. PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app! The statement read in part: “Governor Bala Mohammed, on behalf of the government and the people of Bauchi State, thanked him (Ibrahim Kashim) for the services he rendered to the State and wished him well in his future endeavours.” Read also Rivers crisis: Akpabio throws jibe at Fubara at Wike’s birthday lecture Kashim won the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial ticket in 2023 before he later withdrew from the race. The PDP was forced to hold another governorship primary election where Governor Mohammed won unopposed after losing the party’s presidential ticket to Atiku Abubakar . PDP Crisis: Gov Bala Makes U-Turn on Damagum's Fate Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that Governor Mohammed and chairman of the PDP governors' forum, has made a U-turn on his campaign against Umar Damagum, the PDP acting national chairman. The PDP governor has been moving to ensure that the Damagum is replaced and the party holds a national convention to set the pace for new leadership in the party. But at the PDP stakeholders meeting on Tuesday, October 23, Mohammed said the party would not relax and watch Nigeria digress to one-party state. PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy! Source: Legit.ng
FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup
Health Initiative Reveals Alarming Hypertension Rates Among Mallam Market TradersWAG Coleen Rooney is poised to sign a £1million TV deal after leaving the I’m A Celebrity jungle. McFly pop star Danny Jones is also being courted by ITV bosses for big new shows, insiders have revealed. The pair went head-to-head in tonight's finale after the Rev Richard Coles finished third. But before the show, insiders said if Coleen lost out on being crowned Jungle Queen, she was still on course to become one of the show’s most successful celebs. A source said: “She is poised to sign a huge new TV deal, worth around £1million.” It came as her mum, Colette, revealed her daughter asked her, “Have I been boring?” as they hugged during a camp visit this week with the Wag’s sons, Kit, eight, and Cass, six. READ MORE ON COLEEN ROONEY Colette said: “It broke my heart hearing that, but I said, ‘No, you’ve been yourself — and that’s all that matters’.” Coleen also got emotional after making the final three, saying: “It’s very rare I’m proud of myself, so it means a lot. It’s very rare that I put myself first. So, yeah, these are happy tears.” On her upcoming megabucks offers, a source told The Sun: “Coleen’s return to public life following the Wagatha Christie trial was carefully orchestrated — and it has more than paid off. “When she was in the jungle, she was being touted as ITV’s next Holly Willoughby and the offers have already started flooding in. Most read in I’m A Celebrity 2024 “But there is one deal on the table that has really piqued her team’s interest. “Given Coleen’s love of the Loose Women show too, the team want her secured on their guest roster, with a view to finding something more permanent for her. “It isn’t just TV deals — lifestyle and nutritional brands have all been sending lucrative contracts her way, as well as high street retailers. They all want a piece of Coleen. The sky’s the limit.” The mum of four, 38, will be reunited with hubby Wayne — the former England and Man United striker — this week when she flies back to the UK. He is now manager of Plymouth Argyle. Insiders said her family would be throwing a huge party to welcome her home. But while Coleen wades through the offers, those close to the her said she would not be rushing into making decisions and would wait until the New Year before deciding what she wants to do next. A source added: “Nothing will be agreed with any interested parties until Coleen sits down with her management team. “Her priority when she comes out the jungle will be spending time with family but these conversations will be had when the time is right.” Throughout I’m A Celeb, ITV has been heavily plugging her Real Wagatha Story documentary in ad breaks and at the end of the show, as part of a plan by execs to get her on board. This year, she won a libel battle with fellow Wag Rebekah Vardy , who she accused of leaking stories about her. Coleen had a tearful reunion with Kit and Cass, plus parents Tony and Colette as she crossed the jungle bridge. A source added: “Coleen is a mum first and foremost. Her children mean everything to her. “Doing the jungle was the first proper solo venture she has done in a long time so her next move will be chosen very carefully. “She will only take the deal that is right for her and her family.” After entering the jungle as the show’s highest-paid contestant ever — with a deal worth around £1.5million — Coleen won the hearts of the nation by showing how down-to-earth she is and by getting stuck into grim Bushtucker Trials. Doing the jungle was the first proper solo venture she has done in a long time so her next move will be chosen very carefully Meanwhile, ITV bosses are keen to secure McFly’s Danny long-term as one of the channel’s main players, alongside favourites including Joel Dommett and Bradley Walsh . The singer and guitarist, 38, had an emotional reunion with his wife Georgia and their six-year-old son Cooper as he crossed the famous bridge. He is already a judge on The Voice UK, alongside his bandmate Tom Fletcher , but insiders said telly bosses are keen to sign him up for more shows. A source said: “Danny is the embodiment of everything ITV loves. He’s fun, family-friendly and incredibly popular. Watching how popular he was on I’m A Celeb made him a key target for other shows they have coming up. “Danny’s a brilliant musician, but he is also great on telly. ITV bosses want to see if they can sign him on for another series of The Voice UK and there are other shows they think he could be perfect on.” Danny won over I’m A Celeb viewers early on as he opened up on his struggles with mental health . During the first week, he broke down in tears as he revealed he started having therapy for anxiety aged 19 after suffering a panic attack during a live TV interview. He also spoke about his estrangement from his dad Alan, 72, who he has not seen for 18 years after he left his mum, Kathy. Danny said: “He doesn’t speak to me. I just don’t think I’ve really . . . healed with it, maybe. I had a good relationship with my dad. He was my best mate until he left.” All of this year’s I’m A Celebrity stars joined the finalists for a wrap party at the JW Marriott hotel on the Gold Coast. It came a day after ex-Strictly Come Dancing pro Oti Mabuse was evicted from camp, leaving just three contestants to battle it out. READ MORE SUN STORIES Only pop star Tulisa Contostavlos was absent, after flying home to the UK amid struggles with her mental health . Yesterday, she shared photos online and said: “Sorry I can’t be there to celebrate with you all.” i'm A Celebrity is back for its 24th series, with a batch of famous faces living in the Aussie jungle. The Sun's Jake Penkethman takes a look at the stars on the show this year.. Coleen Rooney - Arguably the most famous name in the camp, the leading WAG, known for her marriage to Wayne Rooney , has made a grand return to TV as she looks to put the Wagatha Christie scandal behind her. The Sun revealed the mum-of-four had bagged an eye-watering deal worth over £1.5million to be on the show this year making her the highest-paid contestant ever. Tulisa - The popstar and former X Factor judge has made her triumphant TV comeback by signing up to this year's I'm A Celeb after shunning TV shows for many years. Known for being a member of the trio, N-Dubz , Tulisa became a household name back in 2011 when she signed on to replace Cheryl on ITV show The X Factor in a multi-million pound deal. Alan Halsall - The actor, known for playing the long-running role of Tyrone Dobbs on ITV soap opera Coronation Street , was originally signed up to head Down Under last year but an operation threw his scheduled appearance off-course. Now he has become the latest Corrie star to win over both the viewers and his fellow celebrities. Melvin Odoom - The Radio DJ has become a regular face on TV screens after rising to fame with presenting roles on Kiss FM, BBC Radio 1 and 4Music. Melvin has already been for a spin on the Strictly dancefloor and co-hosted The Xtra Factor with Rochelle Humes in 2015 but now he is facing up to his biggest challenge yet - the Aussie jungle . GK Barry - The UK's biggest social media personality, GK, whose real name is Grace Keeling, has transformed her TikTok stardom into a lucrative career. Aside from her popular social media channels, she hosts the weekly podcast, Saving Grace, and regularly appears on ITV talk show, Loose Women . She has even gone on to endorse popular brands such as PrettyLittleThing, KFC and Ann Summers. Dean McCullough - A rising star amongst this year's bunch of celebs , Dean first achieved notability through his radio appearances on Gaydio and BBC Radio 1. He was chosen to join the BBC station permanently in 2021 and has featured prominently ever since. He has enjoyed a crossover to ITV over the past year thanks to his guest slots on Big Brother spin-off show, Late & Live. Oti Mabuse - The pro dancer has signed up to her latest TV show after making her way through the biggest programmes on the box. She originally found fame on Strictly Come Dancing but has since branched out into the world of TV judging with appearances on former BBC show The Greatest Dancer as well as her current role on ITV's Dancing On Ice . Danny Jones - The McFly star was drafted into the programme last minute as a replacement for Tommy Fury. Danny is the second member of McFly to enter the jungle , after Dougie Poynter won the show in 2011. He is also considered a rising star on ITV as he's now one of the mentors on their Saturday night talent show, The Voice , along with bandmate Tom Fletcher . Jane Moore - The Loose Women star and The Sun columnist is braving the creepy crawlies this year. The star is ready for a new challenge - having recently split from her husband . It will be Jane's first foray into reality TV with the telly favourite having always said no to reality shows in the past. Barry McGuigan - Former pro boxer Barry is the latest fighting champ to head Down Under following in the footsteps of Tony Bellew and Amir Khan . It comes after a tough few years for Irish star Barry, who lost his daughter Danika to bowel cancer . He told The Late Late Show in 2021: "She was such an intrinsic part of the family that every day we ache." Maura Higgins - The Irish TV beauty first found fame on Love Island where she found a brief connection with dancer Curtis Pritchard . Since then, she has competed on Dancing On Ice as well as hosting the Irish version of the beauty contest, Glow Up. Since last year, she has been working on building up her career in the US by being the social media correspondent and host of Aftersun to accompany Love Island USA. She even guest hosted an episode of the spin-off, Love Island Games, in place of Maya Jama last year. Rev. Richard Coles - Former BBC radio host the Rev Richard Coles is a late arrival on I’m A Celebrity , and he's ready to spill the beans on his former employer. The former Communards and Strictly star , said the BBC did not know its a**e from its elbow last year. An insider said: "Rev Coles will have a variety of tales to tell from his wild days as a pop star in the Eighties, through to performing on Strictly and his later life as a man of the cloth."'I flew to India for my wedding - but the venue didn't exist and my bride disappeared'
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes drifted lower Tuesday in the runup to the highlight of the week for the market, the latest update on inflation that’s coming on Wednesday. The S&P 500 dipped 0.3%, a day after pulling back from its latest all-time high . They’re the first back-to-back losses for the index in nearly a month, as momentum slows following a big rally that has it on track for one of its best years of the millennium . The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 154 points, or 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite slipped 0.3%. Tech titan Oracle dragged on the market and sank 6.7% after reporting growth for the latest quarter that fell just short of analysts’ expectations. It was one of the heaviest weights on the S&P 500, even though CEO Safra Catz said the company saw record demand related to artificial-intelligence technology for its cloud infrastructure business, which trains generative AI models. AI has been a big source of growth that’s helped many companies’ stock prices skyrocket. Oracle’s stock had already leaped more than 80% for the year coming into Tuesday, which raised the bar of expectations for its profit report. In the bond market, Treasury yields ticked higher ahead of Wednesday’s report on the inflation that U.S. consumers are feeling. Economists expect it to show similar increases as the month before. Wednesday’s update and a report on Thursday about inflation at the wholesale level will be the final big pieces of data the Federal Reserve will get before its meeting next week, where many investors expect the year’s third cut to interest rates . The Fed has been easing its main interest rate from a two-decade high since September to take pressure off the slowing jobs market, after bringing inflation nearly down to its 2% target. Lower rates would help give support to the economy, but they could also provide more fuel for inflation. Expectations for a series of cuts through next year have been a big reason the S&P 500 has set so many records this year. Trading in the options market suggests traders aren’t expecting a very big move for U.S. stocks following Wednesday’s report, according to strategists at Barclays. But a reading far off expectations in either direction could quickly change that. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.22% from 4.20% late Monday. Even though the Fed has been cutting its main interest rate, mortgage rates have been more stubborn to stay high and have been volatile since the autumn. That has hampered the housing industry, and homebuilder Toll Brothers’ stock fell 6.9% even though it delivered profit and revenue for the latest quarter that topped analysts’ expectations. CEO Douglas Yearley Jr. said the luxury builder has been seeing strong demand since the start of its fiscal year six weeks ago, an encouraging signal as it approaches the beginning of the spring selling season in mid-January. Elsewhere on Wall Street, Alaska Air Group soared 13.2% after raising its forecast for profit in the current quarter. The airline said demand for flying around the holidays has been stronger than expected. It also approved a plan to buy back up to $1 billion of its stock, along with new service from Seattle to Tokyo and Seoul . Boeing climbed 4.5% after saying it’s resuming production of its bestselling plane , the 737 Max, for the first time since 33,000 workers began a seven-week strike that ended in early November. Vail Resorts rose 2.5% after the ski resort operator reported a smaller first-quarter loss than analysts expected in what is traditionally its worst quarter. All told, the S&P 500 fell 17.94 points to 6,034.91. The Dow dipped 154.10 to 44,247.83, and the Nasdaq composite slipped 49.45 to 19,687.24. In stock markets abroad, indexes were mixed in China after the world’s second-largest economy said its exports rose by less than expected in November. Stocks rose 0.6% in Shanghai but fell 0.5% in Hong Kong. Indexes fell across much of Europe ahead of a meeting this week by the European Central Bank, where the widespread expectation is for another cut in interest rates. AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.
AP Trending SummaryBrief at 4:49 p.m. ESTTAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay’s bid for a fourth straight NFC South title and fifth consecutive playoff berth is gaining momentum. Back-to-back wins over a pair of last-place teams , combined with Atlanta’s three-game losing streak, have propelled the Bucs (6-6) to a tie atop the division. Although the Falcons (6-6) hold a tiebreaker after sweeping the season series between the teams, Tampa Bay can control its own destiny by finishing strong against a less than imposing schedule. The Bucs, who are back in the thick of the race after beating the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers, figure to be favored in four of their five remaining games. “Every week, we said it’s a playoff game, we got to take care of us. It’s not going to be easy. As it was (Sunday), it’s going to be a dog fight every week,” coach Todd Bowles said after Sunday’s 26-23 overtime win at Carolina. “We got to clean up some things, we know that, but it's hard to win in this league,” the coach said of the mistake-filled victory that lifted the Bucs back to .500. “We’ll take a win any way we can get it.” After facing Las Vegas (2-10) this week, the Bucs will finish with road games against the Los Angeles Chargers (8-4) and Dallas Cowboys (5-7), followed by home dates vs. Carolina (3-9) and the New Orleans Saints (4-8). What’s working Kicker Chase McLaughlin has been one of team’s most consistent performers, converting 21 of 23 field goal attempts. He was 4 of 5 against the Panthers, including 51-yarder to force overtime on the final play of regulation. He missed from 55 yards in OT before winning it with a 30-yard field goal on Tampa Bay’s next possession. What needs help Just when it appeared the defense was beginning to trend in the right direction, Carolina's Bryce Young threw for 298 yards without an interception against the Bucs in one of his better outings of the season. “In the first half, he did it with his feet and the second half he did it with his arm,” Bowles said. Stock up Running back Bucky Irving rushed for a career-best 152 yards and finished with 185 from scrimmage against Carolina, making him the first rookie since Miles Sanders in 2019 to have consecutive games with 150-plus yards from scrimmage. Stock down A week after playing well offensively and defensively in a 23-point rout of the New York Giants, the Bucs were sloppy against the Panthers. In addition to throwing two interceptions, Mayfield was sacked four times. Tampa Bay was penalized seven times for 54 yards, and the defense was only able to sack Young once. Injuries Mayfield (sore leg), linebacker K.J. Britt (sprained ankle) and safety Mike Edwards (hamstring) will be on the injury report this week. Bowles said he’s not sure what Mayfield's practice status will be when the team reconvenes Wednesday, however he expects the quarterback to play Sunday. Key numbers 37 and 101 — Wide receiver Mike Evans had another big day against Carolina, posting the 37th 100-yard receiving performance of his career — fifth among active players. He also moved ahead of Hall of Famers Steve Largent and Tim Brown for sole possession of ninth place on the all-time list for TD receptions with 101. Next steps The Buccaneers host Las Vegas in Tampa Bay's first home game in a month and the third consecutive outing against a last-place team. The Raiders (2-10) have lost eight in a row. ___ NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Fred Goodall, The Associated PressDETROIT -- Isaac Paredes’ reunion with the Chicago Cubs didn’t last very long. The former Detroit Tigers infielder is on the move again, traded to the Houston Astros on Tuesday as part of a package of players for outfielder Kyle Tucker . Right-hander Hayden Wesneski and prospect Cam Smith are also headed to Houston in the deal. The Cubs acquired Paredes in July from the Tampa Bay Rays . Originally signed by Chicago out of Mexico in 2015, Paredes was sent to the Tigers on July 31, 2017, along with third baseman Jeimer Candelario in exchange for left-handed reliever Justin Wilson and catcher Alex Avila. The trade involving his son turned out to be one of the best deals of former general manager Al Avila’s tenure. The decision to part ways with Paredes in 2022 -- a reaction to Riley Greene’s unexpected spring training injury -- may have been one of his worst. The Tiger sent Paredes to the Rays just before Opening Day in 2022 for outfielder Austin Meadows. Paredes played sporadically for the Tigers in 2020 and 2021 but never nailed down an everyday role. But he quickly became an important contributor for the Rays. In 2023, he hit 31 homers and had 98 RBIs in 571 plate appearances. He posted an .840 OPS (131 OPS+) while playing every position on the infield. Paredes made his first All-Star game in 2024 but struggled after the trade to Chicago. His role with the Astros is unclear. If Houston doesn’t re-sign star third baseman Alex Bregman, Paredes can slide in to replace him. But if the Astros bring back Bregman, Paredes would also fit at first base.
Bob MacIntyre admits Scottie Scheffler is going to be hard to catch, but the Scot is heading into 2025 with his sights on getting as close as he can to the dominant American in the world rankings. Scheffler capped a sensational calendar year by landing his eighth PGA Tour win and ninth in total if you add in his gold medal in the Olympics by successfully defending the Hero World Challenge title in the Bahamas. One behind Justin Thomas heading into the closing circuit at Albany Golf Course, the 28-year-old signed off with a brilliant nine-under-par 63 to win the Tiger Woods-hosted event by six shots as he ended up on 25 under. Korean Tom Kim, who followed his best-of-the week 62 with a closing 68, finished as his closest challenger, with two-time US PGA champion Thomas having to settle for third spot after a signing for a 71 alongside Scheffler. On his debut in the 20-man tournament, MacIntyre finished seventh after a last-day 70 left him on 11 under and, after a short break back home in Oban, he’s relishing the prospect of getting his 2025 campaign underway in Hawaii next month. “I’m delighted with it,” said the left-hander of his week’s work at the end of a fairytale year that saw him win the RBC Canadian Open with dad Dougie caddying for him then became the first home player to win the Genesis Scottish Open since 1999. “Tee to green, this is as good as I ever played.” In a closing stretch of holes that encapsulated how MacIntyre plays the game, he hit the flag from a greenside bunker with an eagle attempt, hit a majestic tee shot to six feet at the short 17th then produced a brilliant recovery shot from close to the water to save par at the last. “That shot into 17 today, for example,” he added of how well he feels his long game is. “It was a 7-iron and it was the perfect golf shot for the conditions. A flat draw that is never getting out of control. It’s always holding the wind and not fighting it. It just felt like that all day and, overall, this week has been superb tee to green.” He did admit, though, that it had been a “stressful week” on the greens. “I know the area I need to work on - there is no point in me keeping on saying it,” he said of his putting. “Yeah, it is letting me down big time.” MacIntyre came into the event sitting 15th in the world rankings and, from start to finish, it was clear that he feels comfortable playing alongside the world’s top players, partnering former FedEx Cup winner Patrick Cantlay, for example, in the final round and outsourcing him by a couple of shots. “I feel like this is where I am meant to be,” he said with a smile. “I’ve got the right team around me and I’m not just sitting here thinking this is great and accepting it. “It’s taken hard work to get here and, in my team, we’ve looked at the stats to try to keep moving forward and get closer to Scheffler. He’s miles ahead of everyone, but No 2 feels as though it is within reach. That’s what is driving me and I’ve just got to keep chasing forward.”
‘Legacy planning’ for Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald involving a potential run for the Presidency next year is already underway, party sources revealed this weekend. Sinn Féin figures indicated that plans for life after Ms McDonald are already in the pipeline following the party’s disappointing general election result. Although Sinn Féin increased its seats from 35 to 37, its overall vote share dropped and the party’s TDs are resigned to another term in opposition. Ms McDonald this week approached the Social Democrats and Labour – which both doubled their seats – in an attempt to build a Sinn Féin-led left-wing alliance to take on Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in the next election. Sinn Féin and Ms McDonald were sharply criticised for failing to build such an alternative in the lead-up to the election. And speculation is growing within Sinn Féin and among its political rivals that the party’s president may not be around for the next general election battle. A Sinn Féin source told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘The process of legacy planning is starting for Mary Lou. There is a growing sense that despite all the post-election spin, the party has stagnated over the last five years.’ Referring to the series of scandals that engulfed the party ahead of the election campaign, the source added: ‘The events of the last six months caused immense reputational damage, and the buck ultimately stops at the leader’s desk.’ Throughout the election campaign, Sinn Féin and Ms McDonald were accused of going to ground and doing only short broadcast interviews. In a highly unusual move, the party’s election broadcast didn’t even feature its leader. Instead, housing spokesman Eoin Ó Broin – one of the favourites to succeed Ms McDonald – was front and centre in the video. Speculation about Ms McDonald’s leadership intensified when her predecessor Gerry Adams emerged on the campaign trail. Mr Adams also wrote an op-ed for the Irish Times while his successor dodged newspaper interviews. Another Sinn Féin source said: ‘Comparisons are being made in certain places with the Assembly elections and the performance of [Sinn Féin vice president and Northern Ireland First Minister] Michelle O’Neill. The lack of promotion of Mary Lou during the General Election was noticeable. It is as if she was, in real time, being taken out of the picture.’ They added: ‘Quiet chattering is starting in corners. The view is that there is a presidential election coming up next year. Sinn Féin, especially if Micheál Martin isn’t running, will have a real chance with a candidate of substance. ‘Even Gerry Adams, a hero of the occupation, knew there was a time to go and went when it was timely. Mary Lou needs to recognise that too.’ Sinn Féin is unique in Leinster House in that the party has never had a leadership contest. But one source noted: ‘The circumstances are different on this occasion. No one was going to take on Gerry Adams. When Mary Lou succeeded Gerry, once Pearse Doherty decided not to run, there was no competition to Mary Lou. ‘Should Mary Lou depart, the situation will be very different on this occasion.’ If Ms McDonald does stand down as leader, long-term finance spokesman Pearse Doherty will be the bookmakers’ favourite to succeed her. Sources said housing guru and Dublin Mid-West TD Eoin Ó Broin would be another early front-runner, with outspoken Cavan-Monaghan TD Matt Carthy also regarded as a contender. One source told the MoS: ‘Matt Carthy is closely connected to the hierarchy; they like how he operates. [Fingal West TD] Louise O’Reilly is undercooked – she is not ready at this point – while David Cullinane would frighten the sort of voters Sinn Féin want to take off the Social Democrats, and [Mayo TD] Rose Conway-Walsh is simply not well enough known.’ Ms McDonald’s difficulties have been exacerbated by external factors beyond her control. The Sinn Féin leader’s attempt to build a left-wing alliance with Labour and the Social Democrats is being compromised by internal disputes within Labour over whether to enter coalition with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Social Democrats interim leader Cian O’Callaghan, who also met with Sinn Féin this week, described an initial meeting with Labour as ‘positive’. But he ruled out a proposal by Labour leader Ivana Bacik for a Labour-Social Democrats platform, saying it was a ‘non-runner’. One Social Democrat TD said: ‘Labour appear to be struggling to understand that we are a growing party, in terms of seats and votes. We have more of the latter than Labour.’This is what happened when a group of children gave up their mobile phonesMaryland U.S. Rep. James Raskin, who represents Maryland’s 8th District, officially launched his campaign to be the next ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee in the 119th Congress. In a letter released on Dec. 2, the Democrat expressed concern over the future of the country in the face of a GOP-controlled Congress and White House, calling next year’s political scene the “fight of our lives.” This time the MAGA movement has not only a trifecta but a complicit Supreme Court waiting in the wings and a dominant media propaganda system parroting all the lies,” he wrote. “House Democrats must stand in the breach to defend the principles and institutions of constitutional democracy.” Congressman Raskin urged his colleagues to “strategize and organize like never before” until Democrats “win the House back in 2026,” he predicted. With Republican’s thin 220-215 majority in the House, the Democrat said lawmakers need to advance legislation that will prevent a “further descent into MAGA chaos.” “This is where we will wage our front-line defense of the freedoms and rights of the people, the integrity of the Department of Justice and the FBI, and the security of our most precious birthright possession: the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, the rule of law, and democracy itself,” he wrote. Throughout his career in politics, Congressman Raskin has leveraged his experience as a professor of constitutional law and the First Amendment for over 25 years, and his decades-long work at the Maryland State Senate, where he served as Majority Whip. During his time at the Maryland General Assembly, Congressman Raskin advocated for marriage equality, abolition of the death penalty, restoration of voting rights for former prisoners, and the passage of the National Popular Vote interstate compact. Congressman Raskin has been a member of the House Judiciary Committee since he joined Congress in 2017, and was heavily involved in the legislative aftermath of Jan. 6. Together with Congressmen Ted Lieu and Joe Neguse, Raskin successfully drafted an Article of Impeachment against president-elect Donald Trump. In the 119th Congress, the Judiciary Committee will be the headquarters of Congressional opposition to authoritarianism and MAGA’s campaign to dismantle our Constitutional system and the rule of law as we know it,” the Congressman Raskin wrote in his ‘dear colleague’ letter. “I hope to be at the center of this fight and — as someone who has battled cancer and chemotherapy — I can tell you that I will never surrender, never surrender.” The Democrat concluded the letter expressing respect and “boundless admiration” for his opponent and current Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Jerry Nadler. In response to the news on social media, political pundits were quick to weigh in. John Dedie, a political science professor at the Community College of Baltimore County, predicted Congressman Raskin would earn enough support to be selected as ranking member. “Dems want a guy who can do the theatre of TV for all the public hearings and is sharp with sound bites,” Dedie wrote on X, previously known as Twitter. “Rep. Raskin is that guy.”
US President-elect Donald Trump's proposals to impose sweeping tariffs on imports could counter earlier efforts to cool inflation, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Tuesday, warning that consumer prices could rise. Her comments at the Wall Street Journal's CEO Council Summit come as Trump has vowed broad tariffs of at least 10 percent on all imports, and higher rates on goods from China, Canada and Mexico. Imposing broad-based tariffs could "raise prices significantly for American consumers and create cost pressures on firms" which rely on imported goods, Yellen said when asked about Trump's plans. She cautioned that this could weigh on the competitiveness of certain sectors and increase costs to households. "This is a strategy I worry could derail the progress that we've made on inflation, and have adverse consequences on growth," she said. But she defended efforts by President Joe Biden's administration to impose targeted tariffs on Chinese goods to counter unfair trade practices by Beijing. She has previously raised concern over China's industrial overcapacity -- which risks a flood of underpriced goods into global markets and could undermine the development of key US industries. On Tuesday, Yellen also expressed regret that the United States has not made more progress on the country's deficit, saying she believes it "needs to be brought down, especially now that we're in an environment of higher interest rates." She stressed the importance of an independent Federal Reserve too, saying that countries perform better economically when central banks are allowed to exercise their best judgment without political influence. Trump has said that he would like "at least" a say over setting the Fed's interest rate. "I think it's a mistake to become involved in commenting on the Fed and certainly taking steps to compromise its independence," said Yellen. "I believe it tends to undermine the confidence of financial markets and, ultimately, of Americans in an important institution," she added. Yellen noted that she has spoken with Trump's Treasury chief nominee, billionaire hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, congratulating him on his nomination. bys/bjt
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