Now that December has finally reared its chilly head, join the Jingle Bell Run in Richmond, Virginia, this Saturday to ring in the holiday season – literally. On December 6, runners will flaunt their winter spirit through 5 kilometers of jingle-jangle fun.Richmond’s annual Jingle Bell Run has been voted “one of the Most Incredible Themed Races nationwide,” and just one look at the crowd will show you why. Forget about those nice running tights and fancy sweat-wicking shirt: Santa hats and elf costumes take the stage instead. The dress-code calls for your best holiday costume, so leave your athletic gear at home and suit up! Plus, celebrate with every step by tying jingle bells to your shoelaces and give those 3.15 miles a special soundtrack.In addition to spreading some good holiday cheer, the Jingle Bell Run has yet another good deed up its sleeve. Proceeds from the event go toward Arthritis aid, in the form of research funding, scholarships, trainers, medical fees, and public education. With a huge goal of $45,000 nationwide, every dollar makes a difference. Plus, if you raise $100 on top of your registration, you’ll walk away with both a Sport Tec wicking shirt and a coveted “Fundana”. We’re sure that the Jingle Bell Run itself is incentive enough for BRO’s , but hop on board with these extras and give the Arthritis Foundation even more of a boost! Santa’s watching…The race begins at 7 a.m. on Saturday, December 6, at Stony Point Fashion Park just outside the city. Register online anytime before race day, or on-site the morning of, for just $30. Bring the kids and your pets, too – the event is stroller- and leash-friendly, and children can run themselves for half-price. Release some cabin fever, get a head start on your New Year’s goals, or just come have fun at the Jingle Bell Run!
Indonesia’s loan growth fell to a more than 10-year low in February as a cooling economy due to the COVID-19 pandemic hit credit demand across business sectors.The country’s banking industry recorded a 5.93 percent loan growth in this year’s second month, the lowest expansion since November 2009, according to Financial Services Authority (OJK) data. The figure is lower than 6.1 percent booked in January.Non-performing loans (NPL) jumped to nearly 2.8 percent, the highest since May last year. “The slow loan growth was caused by weak demand in line with the economic cycle, which has been slowing since 2019’s fourth quarter,” said Bank Permata economist Josua Pardede on Thursday.Read also: Avoiding quarantine will inflict greater economic harm, says survey“Considering that the COVID-19 pandemic will slow down the domestic economy, particularly household spending and private investment, loan growth in 2020 is estimated to continue to be weak,” he added.The spread of the coronavirus has forced the government to call on citizens to stay home to contain the disease contagion, causing business disruptions and hitting people’s purchasing power. Official data show that COVID-19 had infected more than 1,986 people with 181 fatalities as of Friday afternoon. The government projects Indonesia’s economy to grow 2.3 percent this year under the baseline scenario, which would be the lowest rate since 1999, or contract by 0.4 percent in the worst-case scenario as the pandemic batters activity.Josua said the pandemic had significantly hit six sectors, namely the transportation, warehousing and communication sector, the accommodation, food and beverage sector, wholesale and retail trade, the agriculture, plantation and forestry sector, the mining sector and the processing industry sector.He projected Indonesia’s loan growth to reach between 4 and 6 percent this year compared to 6.08 percent in 2019. The OJK and Bank Indonesia previously set a loan growth target of around 11 percent this year. The central bank recently slashed its projection to between 6 and 8 percent.State-owned Bank Mandiri president director Royke Tumilaar said in a teleconferenced press briefing on Wednesday that the country’s second-largest bank by assets value would revise its loan growth, which was initially penciled at between 8 and 10 percent this year. However, he stopped short of mentioning the new figure.Read also: State firms to focus on ‘slimming down’ while avoiding layoffs“But this doesn’t mean there are no loan expansions. At certain times, [loan disbursements] will be very selective,” he said.He expressed hope that the bank could still maintain collectibility and keep NPL in check following a new OJK regulation that eases bank loan restructuring.The OJK relaxed debt quality assessment and restructuring requirements for debtors. Banks now only assess the quality of a loan worth up to Rp 10 billion (US$594,282) based on a debtor’s timeliness in paying the loan’s principal and interest. Previously, the banks also assessed the debtor’s business prospects and financial condition.Debtors who restructure their loans will get an improvement in their loan quality after the process and banks can implement such a policy for any loan amount, among other policies.The central bank, on the other hand, has also cut its benchmark interest rate twice so far this year by a total of 50 basis points (bps) to 4.5 percent to cushion the economy from impacts of the disease.While the benchmark rate cuts could potentially push down bank interest rates, its impact on loan growth would be limited as risks tended to increase, Josua argued.“Therefore, government stimulus like social safety nets, cash transfers and stimulus for the affected sectors, coupled with counter-cyclical and cyclical policies from the OJK as well as relaxations from BI, will boost economic activities after the COVID-19 pandemic ends,” he said, adding that all of these would ultimately push up loan growth.Meanwhile, Bank Mandiri chief economist Andry Asmoro was of the view that the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak on the economy and banking industry remained uncertain.“Hence, banks will remain cautious about the affected sectors and will focus on managing asset quality,” he wrote in a statement made available to The Jakarta Post on Thursday.Topics :
Hogan has applied for an Irish passport, and could be added to Martin O’Neil’s squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Serbia. Photo © Pixabay Scott Hogan could be back in the Aston Villa team to play Norwich at Villa Park tomorrow.The Manchester born striker, who has declared for the Republic of Ireland, suffered an ankle injury against Reading on Tuesday.The problem is not as bad as initially feared though.
KINGSTON:The fourth annual CB Group UWI 5K Run/Walk and Smart Eggs Kids K is all set for tomorrow.Various stakeholders will run and walk in aid of student development at the University of the West Indies (UWI). Warm-up is expected to begin at the UWI Bowl at 6 a.m., with race time scheduled for 7 a.m. sharp.Patrons are encouraged to arrive by 6 a.m. for ease of parking, which will be facilitated on the University campus.Since its inaugural staging in 2012, the CB Group UWI 5K has raised over $38 million towards student development. The event is tailored for all generations and that is further emphasised with the running of the Smart Eggs Kids K for children 11 and under.The Kids K is scheduled for 8 a.m., following the 5K, to ensure parents and friends alike can join in cheering on the younger generation as they race the circumference of the combination of cricket and football fields at the Bowl.The race will be officially timed by Running Events’ My Laps bib tag timing system.Elizabeth Buchanan-Hind, executive director for the Institutional Advancement Division in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor and head of the 5K organising committee, is expecting another well supported, safe event.”We are expecting a great turnout as the university community has really bought into the event. The clubs, societies, halls, as well as commuting and alumni body, have all shown interest and the numbers continue to grow,” she said.”The Bowl will be ready to welcome the turnout comfortably and safely. Last year was incident free, and we expect no less this year, especially with our partners Running Events managing the race and officiating it will be of international standards,” said Buchanan-Hind.The 2015 edition of the race is being held under the co-patronage of Douglas Orane, CD, and Donette Chin-Loy Chang. To date, the race has helped the University of the West Indies offer over 75 scholarships to students and from part of the 2014 proceeds donated a thermocycler machine to the Jamaica Kidney Kids Foundation.The CB Group UWI 5K and Smart Eggs Kids K will seek to double the number of participants to continue funding the scholarship initiative and student-development activities at the UWI.
Gretchen Barretto’s daughter Dominique graduates magna cum laude from California college Eugenie Bouchard’s bid for Australian Open spot ends in qualifying LATEST STORIES Phivolcs: Slim probability of Taal Volcano caldera eruption MOST READ Tom Brady most dominant player in AFC championship history That punching power was on display when he stopped frenchman Karim Guerfi in the fourth round early last year to win the IBO belt.Like Dasmariñas, Demecillo is a dangerous fighter as well.“At this point, yes, Demecillo is ready to face the best in the world. He is this era’s Navarette or Duran. He is all heart, one who’s willing to take a punch so he can dish his own,” said international judge Arnie Najera, a veteran judge of more than 400 professional fights.“I don’t think there’s anybody in his division, one up or one lower, that he fears at the moment. He takes on all comers. The Demecillos of Cebu are known to be sluggers, no reverse gear, just forward. And they are durable,” added Najera, who has personally watched Demecillo fight four times.The fight card features a total of 11 bouts including another title eliminator fight for the IBF minimumweight crown between Prodigious Rene Mark Cuarto 16-1-1, 9 KOs and unbeaten Samuel Salva, 16-0, 10 KOs.ADVERTISEMENT Ginebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup title Brothers Eric, Edward Kelly spice up ONE: Roots of Honor in Manila Rogue cops marked as Gamboa’s targets in his appointment as PNP chief Will you be the first P16 Billion Powerball jackpot winner from the Philippines? Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Filipino boxer Michael Dasmarinas (C) celebrates after defeating French opponent Karim Guerfi during the International Boxing Organisation (IBO) Batamweight world title in Singapore on April 20, 2018. Filipino boxer Michael Dasmarinas defeated French opponent Karim Guerfi seconds into the fourth round to win the International Boxing Organisation bantamweight world title in Singapore. / AFP PHOTO / Nicholas YeoThere will be no shortage of action when up-and-coming Filipinos Michael Dasmariñas and Kenny Demecillo share the ring in the main event of “Rising Stars” Saturday at Resorts World Manila.With a potential shot at the IBF bantamweight world title on the line, the two camps are not planning on leaving anything to chance.ADVERTISEMENT View comments Ginebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup title “Dasmariñas now has the chance to firmly make his mark as the No. 1 man to beat at 118 lbs. I have taken Michael from the small events to an IBO world title in three fights under the Ringstar banner,” said promoter Scott Patrick Farrell.Dasmariñas (28-2-1, 19 KOs) has the experience as one of his advantages heading into the bout. He is also on a tear, having won 10 of his last 11 fights.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSGolden State Warriors sign Lee to multiyear contract, bring back ChrissSPORTSCoronation night?SPORTSThirdy Ravena gets offers from Asia, Australian ball clubsHis most recent bout against Manyo Plange last year in Singapore ended in a split draw.“He possesses the hardest punch with snap at that weight and is a feared body snatcher with fast, accurate hands,” said Farrell. Japeth Aguilar wins 1st PBA Finals MVP award for Ginebra Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard PLAY LIST 02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next