A global citizen rooted in Indian ethos, Ustad Zakir Hussain blazed a trail when he carved evocative stories out of the percussive sound of the humble drum set creating music to bind a fractious world in harmony. His conversational style buzzed with a spark of spontaneity. Natural flow defined his music and personality. Mr. Hussain would impress the purists, enthral the seekers of world music, and handhold the fans of cinematic music into his creative ecstasy with equal felicity. Like his carefully designed free-flowing hairstyle, the versatile artist would execute complex rhythms, intricate patterns, and nuanced dynamics and move on to items like the sound of traffic signals and deer’s walk without a pause. In tune with technology, he experimented with frequencies to highlight the subtle shades of the instrument to establish that tabla is not just a rhythmic instrument but also has a distinct melodic quality. Ustad Alla Rakha, credited with taking Indian classical to foreign shores along with Pandit Ravi Shankar believed that every instrument has a distinct spirit. Mr. Hussain befriended the tabla at the age of three and by the time he hit teenage, the instrument had become his muse for life and perhaps an extension of his personality. It came through in his stage performances when his demeanour switched between a devotional artist and a rock musician. After watching him play, one couldn’t see playing tabla as a chore in classical music. Mr. Hussain took his father’s legacy to the next level by adding a touch of showmanship and expanding the riches he inherited from the Punjab gharana. A keen learner and listener, Mr. Hussain was like a responsive satellite in orbit as an accompanist, shone like a blazing star in his solos, and reserved the adventurous streak of a meteor for creating fusion music. A child prodigy, Mr. Hussain was not regimented by his teacher-father. He was allowed to develop wings and explore new shores. By 19, Mr. Hussain was teaching at the University of Washington before joining Ustad Ali Akbar Khan’s music college in San Francisco where he met his soulmate Antonia Minnecola. Another fortuitous meeting in New York led to a lifelong bond with the iconic English guitarist John McLaughlin. Their friendship led to the formation of the groundbreaking Shakti band in 1973 which included violinist L. Shankar and percussionist T.H. Vinayakram. They blended Hindustani and Carnatic classical music with Western jazz influences. Mr. Hussain’s desire to experiment led to rewarding collaborations with George Harrison, Irish singer Van Morrison, American percussionist Mickey Hart, Latin Jazz percussionist Giovanni Hidalgo, and Jerry Garcia, the lead vocalist, and guitarist of the Grateful Dread. He accompanied his father contemporaries Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan and shared a special bond with santoor maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, flautist Hari Prasad Chaurasia, and sarangi stalwart Ustad Sultan Khan. Their jugalbandis would start as melodic banter and then turn meditative. Fusion was never exotic for Mr. Hussain as he had grown up listening to stories of how Amir Khusrau blended the Indian traditions of Dhrupad and Haveli sangeet with Sufi Qaul to create Khayal . As a young musician, he saw his father and colleagues contributing to Hindi film music that liberally drew from diverse musical streams. Mr. Hussain had his brush with film music when he played tabla for Laxmikant Pyarelal’s maiden venture Parasmani . Later he composed music for Ismail Merchant’s films like Muhafiz , Aparna Sen’s Mr. And Mrs. Iyer , Rahul Dholakia’s Parzania, and Nandita Das’s Manto . The meaningful sound of his tabla lent layers to storytelling in international productions like Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now and recently Dev Patel’s Monkey Man . He also acted in Merchant-Ivory productions like Heat and Dust and Sai Paranjpye’s Saaz . However, it was a television commercial that made him a household figure in the late 1980s when he brought classical music to the mainstream by promoting a tea brand by playing tabla at the Taj Mahal. The combination of “ Wah Taj !” and young Mr. Hussain’s curly locks and charming smile accompanied by the resonance of his playing ensured brand immortality. Fame didn’t diminish his humility and age didn’t wilt his curiosity. Music was an endless journey for Mr. Hussain. Every time someone would toss the word perfection, he would riposte, “I haven’t played good enough to quit.” Published - December 17, 2024 03:23 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit music / classical music

Dallas plays Winnipeg after Marchment's 2-goal performance

By JILL COLVIN and STEPHEN GROVES WASHINGTON (AP) — After several weeks working mostly behind closed doors, Vice President-elect JD Vance returned to Capitol Hill this week in a new, more visible role: Helping Donald Trump try to get his most contentious Cabinet picks to confirmation in the Senate, where Vance has served for the last two years. Vance arrived at the Capitol on Wednesday with former Rep. Matt Gaetz and spent the morning sitting in on meetings between Trump’s choice for attorney general and key Republicans, including members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The effort was for naught: Gaetz announced a day later that he was withdrawing his name amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations and the reality that he was unlikely to be confirmed. Thursday morning Vance was back, this time accompanying Pete Hegseth, the “Fox & Friends Weekend” host whom Trump has tapped to be the next secretary of defense. Hegseth also has faced allegations of sexual assault that he denies. Vance is expected to accompany other nominees for meetings in coming weeks as he tries to leverage the two years he has spent in the Senate to help push through Trump’s picks. Vice President-elect JD Vance, still a Republican senator from Ohio, walks from a private meeting with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., center, and Vice President-elect JD Vance, left, walk out of a meeting with Republican Senate Judiciary Committee members, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, departs the chamber at the Capitol in Washington, March 15, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, center speaks during a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, right, speaks with Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, before testifying at a hearing, March 9, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, arrives for a classified briefing on China, at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, arrives for a vote on Capitol Hill, Sept. 12, 2023 in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance R-Ohio speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Feb. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) Vice President-elect JD Vance, still a Republican senator from Ohio, walks from a private meeting with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) The role of introducing nominees around Capitol Hill is an unusual one for a vice president-elect. Usually the job goes to a former senator who has close relationships on the Hill, or a more junior aide. But this time the role fits Vance, said Marc Short, who served as Trump’s first director of legislative affairs as well as chief of staff to Trump’s first vice president, Mike Pence, who spent more than a decade in Congress and led the former president’s transition ahead of his first term. ”JD probably has a lot of current allies in the Senate and so it makes sense to have him utilized in that capacity,” Short said. Unlike the first Trump transition, which played out before cameras at Trump Tower in New York and at the president-elect’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, this one has largely happened behind closed doors in Palm Beach, Florida. There, a small group of officials and aides meet daily at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort to run through possible contenders and interview job candidates. The group includes Elon Musk, the billionaire who has spent so much time at the club that Trump has joked he can’t get rid of him. Vance has been a constant presence, even as he’s kept a lower profile. The Ohio senator has spent much of the last two weeks in Palm Beach, according to people familiar with his plans, playing an active role in the transition, on which he serves as honorary chair. Vance has been staying at a cottage on the property of the gilded club, where rooms are adorned with cherubs, oriental rugs and intricate golden inlays. It’s a world away from the famously hardscrabble upbringing that Vance documented in the memoir that made him famous, “Hillbilly Elegy.” His young children have also joined him at Mar-a-Lago, at times. Vance was photographed in shorts and a polo shirt playing with his kids on the seawall of the property with a large palm frond, a U.S. Secret Service robotic security dog in the distance. On the rare days when he is not in Palm Beach, Vance has been joining the sessions remotely via Zoom. Though he has taken a break from TV interviews after months of constant appearances, Vance has been active in the meetings, which began immediately after the election and include interviews and as well as presentations on candidates’ pluses and minuses. Among those interviewed: Contenders to replace FBI Director Christopher Wray , as Vance wrote in a since-deleted social media post. Defending himself from criticism that he’d missed a Senate vote in which one of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees was confirmed, Vance wrote that he was meeting at the time “with President Trump to interview multiple positions for our government, including for FBI Director.” “I tend to think it’s more important to get an FBI director who will dismantle the deep state than it is for Republicans to lose a vote 49-46 rather than 49-45,” Vance added on X. “But that’s just me.” While Vance did not come in to the transition with a list of people he wanted to see in specific roles, he and his friend, Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who is also a member of the transition team, were eager to see former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. find roles in the administration. Trump ended up selecting Gabbard as the next director of national intelligence , a powerful position that sits atop the nation’s spy agencies and acts as the president’s top intelligence adviser. And he chose Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services , a massive agency that oversees everything from drug and food safety to Medicare and Medicaid. Vance was also a big booster of Tom Homan, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who will serve as Trump’s “border czar.” In another sign of Vance’s influence, James Braid, a top aide to the senator, is expected to serve as Trump’s legislative affairs director. Allies say it’s too early to discuss what portfolio Vance might take on in the White House. While he gravitates to issues like trade, immigration and tech policy, Vance sees his role as doing whatever Trump needs. Vance was spotted days after the election giving his son’s Boy Scout troop a tour of the Capitol and was there the day of leadership elections. He returned in earnest this week, first with Gaetz — arguably Trump’s most divisive pick — and then Hegseth, who has was been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2017, according to an investigative report made public this week. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing. Vance hosted Hegseth in his Senate office as GOP senators, including those who sit on the Senate Armed Services Committee, filtered in to meet with the nominee for defense secretary. While a president’s nominees usually visit individual senators’ offices, meeting them on their own turf, the freshman senator — who is accompanied everywhere by a large Secret Service detail that makes moving around more unwieldy — instead brought Gaetz to a room in the Capitol on Wednesday and Hegseth to his office on Thursday. Senators came to them. Vance made it to votes Wednesday and Thursday, but missed others on Thursday afternoon. Vance is expected to continue to leverage his relationships in the Senate after Trump takes office. But many Republicans there have longer relationships with Trump himself. Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, said that Trump was often the first person to call him back when he was trying to reach high-level White House officials during Trump’s first term. “He has the most active Rolodex of just about anybody I’ve ever known,” Cramer said, adding that Vance would make a good addition. “They’ll divide names up by who has the most persuasion here,” Cramer said, but added, “Whoever his liaison is will not work as hard at it as he will.” Cramer was complimentary of the Ohio senator, saying he was “pleasant” and ” interesting” to be around. ′′He doesn’t have the long relationships,” he said. “But we all like people that have done what we’ve done. I mean, that’s sort of a natural kinship, just probably not as personally tied.” Under the Constitution, Vance will also have a role presiding over the Senate and breaking tie votes. But he’s not likely to be needed for that as often as was Kamala Harris, who broke a record number of ties for Democrats as vice president, since Republicans will have a bigger cushion in the chamber next year. Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.The Scholar Who Redefined India's Economics: Remembering Manmohan SinghServe Robotics Inc. ( NASDAQ:SERV – Get Free Report ) saw some unusual options trading activity on Thursday. Stock investors bought 15,550 call options on the stock. This represents an increase of 71% compared to the typical daily volume of 9,103 call options. Insider Activity at Serve Robotics In other news, Director James Buckly Jordan sold 64,408 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $8.57, for a total value of $551,976.56. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 449,052 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,848,375.64. This represents a 12.54 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Also, CEO Ali Kashani sold 9,719 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $8.77, for a total value of $85,235.63. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 3,355,238 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $29,425,437.26. This represents a 0.29 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 207,422 shares of company stock worth $2,374,854. Insiders own 21.40% of the company’s stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Larson Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Serve Robotics during the 3rd quarter worth $26,000. Bfsg LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Serve Robotics during the third quarter valued at about $38,000. Gordian Capital Singapore Pte Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Serve Robotics in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $68,000. Quantum Private Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of Serve Robotics during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $80,000. Finally, PFG Investments LLC purchased a new stake in Serve Robotics during the second quarter valued at approximately $110,000. Analyst Ratings Changes Check Out Our Latest Research Report on SERV Serve Robotics Trading Down 7.7 % NASDAQ SERV opened at $16.29 on Friday. Serve Robotics has a 52-week low of $1.77 and a 52-week high of $24.09. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $10.83 and its 200-day moving average price is $8.73. About Serve Robotics ( Get Free Report ) Serve Robotics Inc designs, develops, and operates low-emission robots that serve people in public spaces with food delivery in the United States. It builds self-driving delivery robots. The company was formerly known as Patricia Acquisition Corp. and changed its name to Serve Robotics Inc in July 2023. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Serve Robotics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Serve Robotics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Advisors Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ( NASDAQ:CRNX – Free Report ) by 56.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,806 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 1,008 shares during the period. Advisors Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Crinetics Pharmaceuticals were worth $143,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Driehaus Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Crinetics Pharmaceuticals by 17.0% during the 2nd quarter. Driehaus Capital Management LLC now owns 6,112,173 shares of the company’s stock valued at $273,764,000 after acquiring an additional 885,876 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in Crinetics Pharmaceuticals by 2.1% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 3,575,076 shares of the company’s stock valued at $167,349,000 after purchasing an additional 72,624 shares during the last quarter. Jennison Associates LLC boosted its stake in shares of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals by 0.5% during the third quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 2,793,614 shares of the company’s stock valued at $142,754,000 after purchasing an additional 13,470 shares during the period. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. grew its holdings in shares of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals by 0.6% in the second quarter. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. now owns 546,234 shares of the company’s stock worth $24,466,000 after purchasing an additional 3,526 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Affinity Asset Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals by 9.6% in the second quarter. Affinity Asset Advisors LLC now owns 515,000 shares of the company’s stock worth $23,067,000 after purchasing an additional 45,000 shares during the last quarter. 98.51% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Insider Transactions at Crinetics Pharmaceuticals In other news, COO Jeff E. Knight sold 501 shares of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $56.52, for a total transaction of $28,316.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 51,653 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,919,427.56. This trade represents a 0.96 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website . Also, CFO Marc Wilson sold 25,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.11, for a total value of $1,277,750.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 111,092 shares in the company, valued at $5,677,912.12. The trade was a 18.37 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 40,911 shares of company stock valued at $2,144,675 in the last three months. 6.00% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Crinetics Pharmaceuticals Stock Performance Crinetics Pharmaceuticals ( NASDAQ:CRNX – Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 12th. The company reported ($0.96) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.91) by ($0.05). During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned ($1.01) earnings per share. On average, equities analysts forecast that Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. will post -3.75 EPS for the current fiscal year. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages have weighed in on CRNX. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $90.00 price target on shares of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Monday, September 16th. JMP Securities reiterated a “market outperform” rating and set a $80.00 target price on shares of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals in a report on Friday, September 27th. Oppenheimer restated an “outperform” rating and set a $73.00 price target (down previously from $74.00) on shares of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals in a report on Friday, August 9th. Citigroup upped their price target on Crinetics Pharmaceuticals from $70.00 to $74.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. Finally, HC Wainwright lifted their price objective on Crinetics Pharmaceuticals from $69.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $70.18. Get Our Latest Stock Report on CRNX Crinetics Pharmaceuticals Company Profile ( Free Report ) Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel therapeutics for rare endocrine diseases and endocrine-related tumors. The company's lead product candidate is paltusotine, an oral selective nonpeptide somatostatin receptor type 2 agonist, which is in Phase 3 trial for the treatment of acromegaly; and Phase 2 trial for treating carcinoid syndrome associated with neuroendocrine tumors. Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Crinetics Pharmaceuticals 3 Fintech Stocks With Good 2021 Prospects The Latest 13F Filings Are In: See Where Big Money Is Flowing Which Wall Street Analysts are the Most Accurate? 3 Penny Stocks Ready to Break Out in 2025 Airline Stocks – Top Airline Stocks to Buy Now FMC, Mosaic, Nutrien: Top Agricultural Stocks With Big Potential Receive News & Ratings for Crinetics Pharmaceuticals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Crinetics Pharmaceuticals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Fifth tourist dead after suspected Laos drink poisoning

ODENTON, Md. – The Maryland Black Bears tallied two goals each in the first and third periods to begin a two-game series with a 4-1 victory over the Johnstown Tomahawks Friday night in NAHL East Division play. Johnstown’s five-game winning streak ended to put it at 12-10-2. The Tomahawks swept Maryland Nov. 15 and 16 at home. Maryland (15-8-1) received one goal each from Kareem El Bashir, Josh Frenette, Thomas Holtby and Tyler Stern. Frenette and Holtby scored in the first period to lead 2-0. Johnstown’s Cullen Emery tallied a power-play marker off a feed from Lukas Klemm to cut the deficit down to 2-1 at the end of the first. There was no scoring in the second period. In the third, El Bashir and Stern scored within 59 seconds to set the final. Maryland outshot Johnstown 43-17, which included edges of 16-6, 13-5 and 14-6 in the first, second and third periods, respectively. Johnstown was 1-for-4 on the power play. Maryland was 0-for-2 with the man advantage. Zack Ferris made 39 saves for the Tomahawks. Benji Motew stopped 16 shots. The teams meet again at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. (c)2024 The Tribune-Democrat (Johnstown, Pa.) Visit The Tribune-Democrat (Johnstown, Pa.) at www.tribune-democrat.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Special counsel moves to dismiss election interference and classified documents cases against TrumpBeware of fake scams relating to cottage booking in Mahakumbh 2025. There are several scams going on in the name of cottage booking in Mahakumbh 2025. According to reports, the government warned people not to trust fake letters given by fake operators. The government further urged people only to trust on official portals and verified mediums for correct information and booking. There will be as many as 2000 tents. People can book the tents in advance. A tent city of 400 tents will be made in another area also. There will be all facilities inside the tent city like those of a 5-star hotels. “People who are coming here can book the tents and avail all the facilities,” Vivek Chaturvedi ADM Mela told ANI. In this mela, millions of devotees take a holy bath in the Ganga river. The upcoming Mahakumbh 2025 in Prayagraj is expected to draw an overwhelming crowd of 40 crore pilgrims. This will surpass the previous record of 25 crore attendees during the 2019 event. The significant increase in expected pilgrims has prompted authorities to undertake extensive preparations. The preparation includes enlarging the event area and enhancing essential facilities. “The 2025 Maha Kumbh will be spread over an extensive area of 5,000 hectares. To ensure the safety and security of the pilgrims, the mela will be divided into 25 sectors. Each sector will be equipped with a dedicated police station. Over 100 police outposts will be established across the event area,” said Mela Adhikari, Vijay Kiran Anand. To accommodate the expected four lakhs vehicles daily, several parking lots will be set up both within the city and near the Mela area. Multiple entry and exit points will be designated for the mela area to facilitate easy access for the multitude of pilgrims. The tent city in Kumbh Mela will be a major attraction for tourists. The Uttar Pradesh government will use artificial intelligence-based technologies and tools for crowd management at the upcoming Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the state police department to embrace the technology for the mega event. (ANI) | Prayagraj, UP: Preparations underway for Kumbh Mela 2025; tents and huts being constructed. — ANI (@ANI)

Fine Gael won 35 seats in the 2020 election, but 18 of those TDs did not seek re-election in Friday’s poll. An exit poll puts the party’s support at 21%, a fraction of a percentage behind the main opposition party Sinn Fein. Mr Harris, the outgoing Taoiseach, was elected with 16,869 first preference votes, well above the quota. He celebrated with his wife Caoimhe, his parents Bart and Mary, his sister Gemma and his political team at the count centre in Greystones, Co Wicklow. Ahead of his re-election, Mr Harris told reporters he was “cautiously optimistic” about the election result and said it was “clear that my party will gain seats”. “It’s also clear that Fine Gael will top the poll in at least 10 constituencies, many more than we did the last time, that we will gain seats in constituencies where we haven’t had seats in many years, like Tipperary South and Waterford, and that we will add second seats in other constituencies as well,” he said. “I think the people of Ireland have now spoken. We now have to work out exactly what they have said, and that is going to take a little bit of time.” In one of the five consecutive broadcast media rounds he did from the Greystones count centre, he said there were a lot of areas where there were “straight shoot-outs” between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael for final seats. He described the Sinn Fein vote as “pretty significantly down”, the Fianna Fail vote as “marginally down” and the Fine Gael vote as “static” compared with its 2020 vote. He said it was “a very close, a very competitive election” and that “we haven’t seen a Sinn Fein surge or anything like it”. He said: “It was predicted by many that I would become the Taoiseach for a brief period of time, take over from Leo Varadkar, and then have to rebuild my party from the opposition benches as Sinn Fein led a government. “We don’t know what’s going to happen on government formation yet, but that is now looking less likely than it was.” He acknowledged that it was “a very difficult day” for the Green Party and paid tribute to their work in the coalition government, alongside his party and Fianna Fail. “Definitely, politics in Ireland has gotten much more fragmented,” he said. Fine Gael minister Helen McEntee said that her party’s campaign had been “positive”. “The feeling on the doors was very much that people were relatively happy with the government,” she said on RTE Radio. “It will come down to the last seats and it will come down to transfers,” she said of the final result, adding that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael were performing better than the exit poll estimated.Donald Trump's pledge to impose tariffs on Mexican, Canadian, and Chinese goods gained momentum on Monday, stirring financial markets considerably. The U.S. dollar surged, climbing 1% against the Canadian dollar and 2% against the Mexican peso, while U.S. stock futures took a downturn, with Asian shares following suit. Analysts, including KHOON GOH and TONY SYCAMORE, questioned the immediacy of Trump's actions on day one and analyzed potential impacts, especially considering Bessent's recent appointment as Treasury Secretary. (With inputs from agencies.)Patriots QB Drake Maye questionable to return after suffering head injury vs. Chargers FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye is questionable to return with a head injury after taking a blow to the helmet in the first quarter of New England’s matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers. Maye was scrambling near the sideline on third down of the Patriots’ first possession of the game when he was hit by Chargers cornerback Cam Hart. Maye stayed down on the turf for several seconds before eventually getting up and jogging off the field on his own power. He briefly sat on the bench before going to the medical tent for evaluation. Corbin Burnes and Arizona Diamondbacks agree to $210 million, 6-year deal, AP source says PHOENIX (AP) — Corbin Burnes and the Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a $210 million, six-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a successful physical. The 30-year-old Burnes was perhaps the top free agent pitcher on the market after going 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA for Baltimore last season. The Orioles acquired the right-hander in a February trade after he spent his first six major league seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers. Eli Manning and Antonio Gates are among the finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, former Defensive Players of the Year Luke Kuechly and Terrell Suggs, and prolific tight end Antonio Gates are among the finalists for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. The Hall on Saturday announced the names of the 15 modern-era finalists who advanced from a group of 25 to the final stage of voting. The selection committee will vote next month to pick the class of between three and five modern-era players that will be announced the week of the Super Bowl. NBA coaches react with dismay over firing of 2-time coach of the year Mike Brown ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Not even two years ago, Rick Carlisle publicly lauded Mike Brown for the job he did on the way to winning the NBA’s coach of the year award. And on Friday, Carlisle was among the coaches reacting with dismay that Brown was fired. The Sacramento Kings dismissed Brown on Friday, with the team off to a 13-18 start this season and mired toward the bottom of the Western Conference — despite back-to-back winning seasons, something that franchise hadn’t managed in nearly two decades. Panthers place 1,000-yard rusher Chuba Hubbard on IR for final 2 games with strained calf CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers have shut down leading rusher Chuba Hubbard for the final two games of the season because of a strained calf. He was placed on injured reserve Saturday. Hubbard was limited in practice Friday with a knee injury and was listed as questionable to play Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After practice, Hubbard complained of pain and had an MRI, which revealed a grade two calf strain, according to the team. Hubbard ran for 1,195 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. He becomes the third Panthers running back to be placed on injured reserve this season, joining Miles Sanders and rookie Jonathan Brooks. Georgia quarterback Carson Beck announces plan to enter NFL draft after season-ending elbow injury Georgia quarterback Carson Beck has announced his plans to enter the NFL draft, five days after having season-ending elbow surgery. The fifth-year senior made his NFL plans official on social media. Beck suffered a right elbow injury in the first half of the Bulldogs’ 22-19 overtime win over Texas in the Southeastern Conference championship game on Dec. 7. Beck had surgery on Monday to repair his ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow. He is expected to begin throwing next spring. Backup Gunner Stockton will make his first start in the Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame on Wednesday. Injured Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts won't play Sunday against Dallas PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Injured Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts won't play Sunday against Dallas. Hurts is still in the NFL concussion protocol. The Eagles will turn to backup Kenny Pickett on Sunday because Hurts is dealing with the lingering effects of a concussion suffered against Washington. Hurts was injured early at Washington after his head slammed against the ground on one run and he was hit in the helmet by Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu at the end of another. Hurts isn’t healthy enough to play just yet. McCord throws for 453 yards, 5 TDs in No. 22 Syracuse's 52-35 Holiday Bowl win over Washington State SAN DIEGO (AP) — Kyle McCord threw for 453 yards and five touchdowns to break Deshaun Watson’s Atlantic Coast Conference season passing record and lead No. 22 Syracuse to a 52-35 victory over depleted-yet-scrappy Washington State in the Holiday Bowl on Friday night. LeQuint Allen rushed for 120 yards and two touchdowns for his second straight 1,000-yard season for the Orange (10-3), who had their first 10-win season since 2018. Fran Brown joined Paul Pasqualoni (1991) as the only Orange coaches since World War II to win 10 game in their first season. The Cougars (8-5) lost their fourth straight game but were spirited despite losing coach Jake Dickert to Wake Forest, quarterback John Mateer to Oklahoma, both coordinators and the quarterbacks and running backs coach. Southern California overcomes 17-point deficit to beat Texas A&M 35-31 in Las Vegas Bowl LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jayden Maiava threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kyle Ford with eight seconds left to give Southern California a 35-31 victory over Texas A&M in the Las Vegas Bowl on Friday night. A graduate of Liberty High School in nearby Henderson and a transfer from UNLV, Maiava helped the Trojans (7-6) overcome a 17-point deficit. After Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed raced 19 yards for a touchdown with 1:49 remaining to regain the lead, Maiava drove Southern California 75 yards in 10 plays for the winning score.The Aggies (8-5) opened the third quarter by scoring 17 straight points to take a 24-7 lead. Taylen Green leads Arkansas to 39-26 victory over Texas Tech in the Liberty Bowl MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Taylen Green threw for 341 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 81 yards in Arkansas’ 39-26 victory over Texas Tech on Friday night in the Liberty Bowl. Green completed 11 of 21 passes and Arkansas (7-6) had 573 yards of total offense. J’Koby Williams rushed for 123 yards and a TD for Texas Tech (8-5). Will Hammond threw for 280 yards and a touchdown. The Red Raiders took a shot before game time when leading running back Tahj Brooks, who rushed for 1,505 yards, opted not to play for “personal reasons.” The first half was highlighted by big scoring plays, including a 54-yard run by Williams and a 94-yard pass from Green to receiver Dazmin James, the longest pass play in Liberty Bowl history.

Gay Couples Rush to Marry Ahead of Trump’s Second Term