PRIME TIME PICK: Niners running back injuries catch up to them against RamsFox News senior congressional correspondent Chad Pergram reports on the efforts of President-elect Trump’s Cabinet nominees to gain support from senators. Roughly half of Americans approve of how President-elect Trump is handling his transition to a second term in the White House, according to two new national polls. Fifty-five percent of Americans said they largely approve of how the president-elect is handling the transition from the Biden to Trump administrations, according to a CNN poll released Wednesday. That's a higher percentage compared to eight years ago, when Trump first won the White House, but it's still well behind other recent presidents, according to CNN polling. TIDE TURNS FOR HEGSETH AS TRUMP'S DEFENSE SECRETARY NOMINEE GOES ON OFFENSE Meanwhile, 47% of people questioned in a Marist Poll also released Tuesday gave the former and future president a thumbs up when it comes to how he's handling the transition, with 39% disapproving and 14% unsure. Not surprisingly, the Marist survey indicates a massive partisan divide on the question, with 86% of Republicans approving of how the GOP president-elect is handling the transition. But 72% of Democrats disapproved. Among independents, 43% disapproved and 38% approved. President-elect Trump attends the America First Policy Institute Gala at Mar-a-Lago Nov. 14, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. ( Joe Raedle/Getty Images) "Although more people support Trump’s transition than oppose it, more independents are taking a wait-and-see position than more partisan voters," Marist Institute for Public Opinion Director Lee Miringoff said. Miringoff added that "a note of caution for President-elect Trump is that fewer voters approve of the transition than gave a thumbs up to either Biden or Obama at this point." GET TO KNOW DONALD TRUMP'S CABINET: WHO HAS THE PRESIDENT-ELECT PICKED SO FAR? Marist questioned 3,131 adults nationwide from Dec. 3-5 for its survey, which had an overall margin of error of plus or minus 2.1 percentage points. The CNN poll was conducted Dec. 5-8, with an overall sampling error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points. The release of the polls came as Trump's cabinet picks continued to meet with senators on Capitol Hill ahead of confirmation hearings starting next month. Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump's nominee to be defense secretary, gives a thumbs-up as he walks with wife Jennifer Hegseth, left, to meet with Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, at the Capitol in Washington Dec. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Trump named his nominees for his cabinet and his choices for other top administration officials at a faster pace than he did eight years ago after his first White House victory. HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FROM FOX NEWS ON THE TRUMP TRANSITION But his transition has already faced some setbacks, including his first attorney general nominee, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, ending his bid for confirmation amid controversy over allegations he paid for sex with underage girls. President-elect Trump (left), French President Emmanuel Macron (center) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pose before a meeting at The Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris Dec. 7, 2024. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Poo /AFP via Getty Images) Trump last weekend made his first international trip since defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in last month's election, and he was courted by world leaders during a stop in Paris. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Trump will be inaugurated Jan. 20. According to the CNN poll, 54% of Americans say they expect Trump to do a good job as president once he takes over the White House.NoneBlue Ivy's Best Fashion Looks Since Birth, Haters React to Blue's 'Mufasa' Premiere Dress, Blue Ivy Shuts Down 'Wicked' Movie Premiere, The Inside Scoop of Blue Ivy's Role in 'Mufasa,' Hollywood's Most Fashionable Celeb Kids, All the Rage About Blue Ivy's Blowout, and More
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WHEELING, W.Va. , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- WesBanco, Inc. ("WesBanco") (Nasdaq: WSBC) and Premier Financial Corp. ("Premier") (Nasdaq: PFC) today announced that WesBanco's shareholders and Premier's shareholders have each voted overwhelmingly to adopt and approve, as applicable, all proposals relating to the previously announced merger agreement for WesBanco to acquire Premier. The votes were held at the respective special meetings of WesBanco's shareholders and Premier's shareholders today. Approximately 85% of the votes cast at WesBanco's special meeting voted to approve the merger and to approve the proposal to issue shares of WesBanco common stock as described in the joint proxy statement/prospectus for the special meeting, and approximately 68% of the outstanding shares of Premier common stock voted to approve the proposal to adopt the merger agreement. "Shareholder approval is a key milestone that reflects strong confidence in the opportunities this merger creates for our communities, customers, employees and shareholders," said Jeff Jackson , President and Chief Executive Officer of WesBanco. "With this step complete, we look forward to receiving the required regulatory approvals and then scheduling the closing of the merger, so we can bring our community commitment and the resources of a stronger organization to all of our communities." With the completion of this critical milestone, the companies believe the merger is on track to close during the first quarter of 2025. The transaction remains subject to the completion of customary closing conditions, including the receipt of required regulatory approvals. The merger will create a regional financial services institution with approximately $27 billion in assets, significant economies of scale, and strong pro forma profitability metrics. With complementary and contiguous geographic footprints, the combined company would be the 8th largest bank in Ohio , based on deposit market share, have increased presence in Indiana , and serve customers in nine states. About WesBanco, Inc. With over 150 years as a community-focused, regional financial services partner, WesBanco Inc. (NASDAQ: WSBC) and its subsidiaries build lasting prosperity through relationships and solutions that empower our customers for success in their financial journeys. Customers across our eight-state footprint choose WesBanco for the comprehensive range and personalized delivery of our retail and commercial banking solutions, as well as trust, brokerage, wealth management and insurance services, all designed to advance their financial goals. Through the strength of our teams, we leverage large bank capabilities and local focus to help make every community we serve a better place for people and businesses to thrive. Headquartered in Wheeling, West Virginia , WesBanco has $18.5 billion in total assets, with our Trust and Investment Services holding $6.1 billion of assets under management and securities account values (including annuities) of $1.9 billion through our broker/dealer, as of September 30, 2024 . Learn more at www.wesbanco.com and follow @WesBanco on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. About Premier Financial Corp. Premier Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: PFC), headquartered in Defiance, Ohio , is the holding company for Premier Bank. Premier Bank, headquartered in Youngstown, Ohio , operates 73 branches and nine loan offices in Ohio , Michigan , Indiana and Pennsylvania and also serves clients through a team of wealth professionals dedicated to each community banking branch. For more information, visit Premier's website at www.PremierFinCorp.com . Matters set forth in this press release contain certain forward-looking statements, including certain plans, expectations, goals, and projections, and including statements about the benefits of the proposed Merger between WesBanco and Premier, that are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this press release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ materially from those contained or implied by such statements for a variety of factors including: the effects of changing regional and national economic conditions, changes in interest rates, spreads on earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, and associated interest rate sensitivity; sources of liquidity available to WesBanco and its related subsidiary operations; potential future credit losses and the credit risk of commercial, real estate, and consumer loan customers and their borrowing activities; actions of the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Institution Regulatory Authority, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, the Securities Investors Protection Corporation, and other regulatory bodies; potential legislative and federal and state regulatory actions and reform, including, without limitation, the impact of the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act; adverse decisions of federal and state courts; fraud , scams and schemes of third parties; cyber-security breaches; competitive conditions in the financial services industry; rapidly changing technology affecting financial services; marketability of debt instruments and corresponding impact on fair value adjustments; and/or other external developments materially impacting WesBanco's operational and financial performance, the businesses of the WesBanco and Premier may not be integrated successfully or such integration may take longer to accomplish than expected; the expected cost savings and any revenue synergies from the proposed Merger may not be fully realized within the expected timeframes; disruption from the proposed Merger may make it more difficult to maintain relationships with clients, associates, or suppliers; the required governmental approvals of the proposed Merger may not be obtained on the expected terms and schedule; changes in economic conditions; movements in interest rates; competitive pressures on product pricing and services; success and timing of other business strategies; the nature, extent, and timing of governmental actions and reforms; and extended disruption of vital infrastructure; and other factors described in WesBanco's 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Premier's 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and documents subsequently filed by WesBanco and Premier with the SEC. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on information available at the time of the release. Neither WesBanco nor Premier assumes any obligation to update any forward-looking statement. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wesbanco-inc-and-premier-financial-corp-announce-shareholder-approvals-of-merger-agreement-302329433.html SOURCE WesBanco, Inc.Elon Musk to kill Elmo? A look at DOGE's plans as Tesla CEO aims for ‘drastic’ cuts after becoming efficiency tsarBrock Purdy will miss Sunday's game for the 49ers with a shoulder injury
Sir Keir Starmer has been warned by a trade union not to impose “blunt headcount targets” for the size of the Civil Service but Government sources insisted there would be no set limit, although the number “cannot keep growing”. Departments have been ordered to find 5% “efficiency savings” as part of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ spending review, potentially putting jobs at risk. The size of the Civil Service has increased from a low of around 384,000 in mid-2016, and the Tories went into the general election promising to reduce numbers by 70,000 to fund extra defence spending. Any reduction under Labour would be more modest, with the Guardian reporting more than 10,000 jobs could be lost. A Government spokesman said: “Under our plan for change, we are making sure every part of government is delivering on working people’s priorities — delivering growth, putting more money in people’s pockets, getting the NHS back on its feet, rebuilding Britain and securing our borders in a decade of national renewal. “We are committed to making the Civil Service more efficient and effective, with bold measures to improve skills and harness new technologies.” Mike Clancy, general secretary of the Prospect trade union said: “We need a clear plan for the future of the civil service that goes beyond the blunt headcount targets that have failed in the past. “This plan needs to be developed in partnership with civil servants and their unions, and we look forward to deeper engagement with the government in the coming months.” A Government source said: “The number of civil servants cannot keep growing. “But we will not set an arbitrary cap. “The last government tried that and ended up spending loads on more expensive consultants.” The Government is already risking a confrontation with unions over proposals to limit pay rises for more than a million public servants to 2.8%, a figure only just over the projected 2.6% rate of inflation next year. Unions representing teachers, doctors and nurses have condemned the proposals. In the face of the union backlash, Downing Street said the public sector must improve productivity to justify real-terms pay increases. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “It’s vital that pay awards are fair for both taxpayers and workers.” Asked whether higher pay settlements to staff would mean departmental cuts elsewhere, the spokesman said: “Real-terms pay increases must be matched by productivity gains and departments will only be able to fund pay awards above inflation over the medium-term if they become more productive and workforces become more productive.” TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “It’s hard to see how you address the crisis in our services without meaningful pay rises. “And it’s hard to see how services cut to the bone by 14 years of Tory government will find significant cash savings. “The Government must now engage unions and the millions of public sector workers we represent in a serious conversation about public service reform and delivery.”
ZURICH (AFP) – Billionaires have seen their combined wealth shoot up 121 per cent over the past decade to USD14 trillion, Swiss bank UBS said, with tech billionaires’ coffers filling the fastest. Switzerland’s biggest bank, which is among the world’s largest wealth managers, said the number of dollar billionaires increased from 1,757 to 2,682 over the past 10 years, peaking in 2021 with 2,686. The 10th edition of UBS’s annual Billionaire Ambitions report, which tracks the wealth of the world’s richest people, found that billionaires have comfortably outperformed global equity markets over the past decade. The report documents “the growth and investment of great wealth, as well as how it’s being preserved for future generations and used to have a positive effect on society”, said Head of strategic clients at UBS global wealth management Benjamin Cavalli. Between 2015 and 2024, total billionaire wealth increased by 121 per cent from USD6.3 trillion to USD14.0 trillion – while the MSCI AC World Index of global equities rose 73 per cent. The wealth of tech billionaires increased the fastest, followed by that of industrialists. Worldwide, tech billionaires’ wealth tripled from USD788.9 billion in 2015 to USD2.4 trillion in 2024. “In earlier years, the new billionaires commercialised e-commerce, social media and digital payments; more recently they engineered the generative artificial intelligence (AI) boom, while also developing cyber-security, fintech, 3D printing and robotics,” UBS said. The report found that since 2020, the global growth trend had slowed due to declines among China’s billionaires. From 2015 to 2020, billionaire wealth grew globally at an annual rate of 10 per cent, but growth has plunged to one per cent since 2020. Chinese billionaire wealth more than doubled from 2015 to 2020, rising from USD887.3 billion to USD2.1 trillion, but has since fallen back to USD1.8 trillion. However, North American billionaire wealth has risen 58.5 per cent to USD6.1 trillion since 2020, “led by industrials and tech billionaires”. Meanwhile billionaires are relocating more frequently, with 176 having moved country since 2020, with Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Singapore and the United States (US) being popular destinations. In 2024, some 268 people became billionaires for the first time, with 60 per cent of them entrepreneurs. “The year’s new billionaires were mainly self-made,” said UBS. The report said US billionaires accrued the greatest gains in 2024, reinforcing the country’s place as the world’s main centre for billionaire entrepreneurs. Their wealth rose 27.6 per cent to USD5.8 trillion, or more than 40 per cent of billionaire wealth worldwide. Billionaires’ wealth from mainland China and Hong Kong fell 16.8 per cent to USD1.8 trillion, with the number of billionaires dropping from 588 to 501. Indian billionaires’ wealth increased 42.1 per cent to USD905.6 billion, while their number grew from 153 to 185. Western Europe’s total billionaire wealth rose 16.0 per cent to USD2.7 trillion – partly due to a 24-per cent increase in Swiss billionaires. UAE billionaires’ aggregate wealth rose 39.5 per cent to USD138.7 billion. UBS said billionaires faced an “uncertain world” over the next 10 years, due to high geopolitical tensions, trade barriers and governments with mounting spending requirements. Billionaires will therefore need to rely on their previous distinctive traits: “smart risk-taking, business focus and determination”. “Risk-taking billionaires are likely to be at the forefront of creating two technology-related industries of the future already taking shape: generative AI and renewables/electrification,” UBS predicted. And more flexible wealth planning will be needed as billionaire families move country and spread around the world. The heirs and philanthropic causes of baby boom billionaires are set to inherit an estimated USD6.3 trillion over the next 15 years, UBS said.
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