Three long days of counting in the General Election finished late on Monday night when the final two seats were declared in the constituency of Cavan-Monaghan. Fianna Fail was the clear winner of the election, securing 48 of the Dail parliament’s 174 seats. Sinn Fein took 39 and Fine Gael 38. Labour and the Social Democrats both won 11 seats; People Before Profit-Solidarity took three; Aontu secured two; and the Green Party retained only one of its 12 seats. Independents and others accounted for 21 seats. The return of a Fianna Fail/Fine Gael-led coalition is now highly likely. However, their combined seat total of 86 leaves them just short of the 88 needed for a majority in the Dail. While the two centrist parties that have dominated Irish politics for a century could look to strike a deal with one of the Dail’s smaller centre-left parties, such as the Social Democrats or Labour, a more straightforward route to a majority could be achieved by securing the support of several independent TDs. For Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and current taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris, wooing like-minded independents would be likely to involve fewer policy concessions, and financial commitments, than would be required to convince another party to join the government benches. Longford-Westmeath independent TD Kevin “Boxer” Moran, who served in a Fine Gael-led minority government between 2017 and 2020, expressed his willingness to listen to offers to join the new coalition in Dublin. “Look, my door’s open,” he told RTE. “Someone knocks, I’m always there to open it.” Marian Harkin, an independent TD for Sligo-Leitrim, expressed her desire to participate in government as she noted that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael were within “shouting distance” of an overall majority. “That means they will be looking for support, and I certainly will be one of those people who will be speaking to them and talking to them and negotiating with them, and I’m looking forward to doing that, because that was the reason that I ran in the first place,” she said. Meanwhile, the Social Democrats and Irish Labour Party both appear cautious about the prospect of an alliance with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. They will no doubt be mindful of the experience of the Green Party, the junior partner in the last mandate. The Greens experienced near wipeout in the election, retaining only one of their 12 seats. Sinn Fein appears to currently have no realistic route to government, given Fianna Fail and Fine Gael’s ongoing refusal to share power with the party. Despite the odds being stacked against her party, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald contacted the leaders of the Social Democrats and Labour on Monday to discuss options. Earlier, Fianna Fail deputy leader and outgoing Finance Minister Jack Chambers predicted that a new coalition government would not be in place before Christmas. Mr Chambers said planned talks about forming an administration required “time and space” to ensure that any new government will be “coherent and stable”. After an inconclusive outcome to the 2020 election, it took five months for Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Greens to strike the last coalition deal. Mr Chambers said he did not believe it would take that long this time, as he noted the Covid-19 pandemic was a factor in 2020, but he also made clear it would not be a swift process. He said he agreed with analysis that there was no prospect of a deal before Christmas. “I don’t expect a government to be formed in mid-December, when the Dail is due to meet on December 18, probably a Ceann Comhairle (speaker) can be elected, and there’ll have to be time and space taken to make sure we can form a coherent, stable government,” he told RTE. “I don’t think it should take five months like it did the last time – Covid obviously complicated that. But I think all political parties need to take the time to see what’s possible and try and form a stable government for the Irish people.” Fine Gael minister of state Peter Burke said members of his parliamentary party would have to meet to consider their options before giving Mr Harris a mandate to negotiate a new programme for government with Fianna Fail. “It’s important that we have a strong, stable, viable government, whatever form that may be, to ensure that we can meet the challenges of our society, meet the challenges in terms of the economic changes that are potentially going to happen,” he told RTE. Despite being set to emerge with the most seats, it has not been all good news for Fianna Fail. The party’s outgoing Health Minister Stephen Donnelly became one of the biggest casualties of the election when he lost his seat in Wicklow in the early hours of Monday morning. Mr Donnelly was always predicted to face a fight in the constituency after boundary changes saw it reduced from five to four seats. If it is to be a reprise of the Fianna Fail/Fine Gael governing partnership of the last mandate, one of the major questions is around the position of taoiseach and whether the parties will once again take turns to hold the Irish premiership during the lifetime of the new government. The outcome in 2020 saw the parties enter a coalition on the basis that the holder of the premier position would be exchanged midway through the term. Fianna Fail leader Mr Martin took the role for the first half of the mandate, with Leo Varadkar taking over in December 2022. Current Fine Gael leader Mr Harris succeeded Mr Varadkar as taoiseach when he resigned from the role earlier this year. However, this time Fianna Fail has significantly increased its seat lead over Fine Gael, compared with the last election when there were only three seats between the parties. The size of the disparity in party numbers is likely to draw focus on the rotating taoiseach arrangement, raising questions as to whether it will be re-run in the next coalition and, if it is, on what terms. On Sunday, Simon Coveney, a former deputy leader of Fine Gael, said a coalition that did not repeat the rotating taoiseach arrangement in some fashion would be a “difficult proposition” for his party. Meanwhile, Fine Gael minister Paschal Donohoe said he would be making the case for Mr Harris to have another opportunity to serve as taoiseach. On Monday, Mr Chambers said while his party would expect to lead the government it would approach the issue of rotating the taoiseach’s role on the basis of “mutual respect” with Fine Gael. “I think the context of discussions and negotiations will be driven by mutual respect, and that’s the glue that will drive a programme for government and that’s the context in which we’ll engage,” he said. On Monday, Labour leader Ivana Bacik reiterated her party’s determination to forge an alliance with fellow centre-left parties with the intention of having a unified approach to the prospect of entering government. Asked if Labour was prepared to go into government with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael on its own, she told RTE: “No, not at this stage. We are absolutely not willing to do that. “We want to ensure there’s the largest number of TDs who share our vision and our values who want to deliver change on the same basis that we do.” The Social Democrats have been non-committal about any potential arrangement with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, and have restated a series of red lines they would need to achieve before considering taking a place in government. Leader Holly Cairns, who gave birth to a daughter on polling day on Friday, said in a statement: “The party is in a very strong position to play an important role in the next Dail. In what position, government or opposition, remains to be seen.” Fianna Fail secured the most first preference votes in Friday’s proportional representation election, taking 21.9% to Fine Gael’s 20.8%. Sinn Fein came in third on 19%. While Sinn Fein’s vote share represented a marked improvement on its disappointing showing in June’s local elections in Ireland, it is still significantly down on the 24.5% poll-topping share it secured in the 2020 general election. The final breakdown of first preferences also flipped the result of Friday night’s exit poll, which suggested Sinn Fein was in front on 21.1%, with Fine Gael on 21% and Fianna Fail on 19.5%.GENEVA -- Saudi Arabia’s growing influence and massive spending in global sports ahead of being confirmed by FIFA as the 2034 World Cup host was detailed on Monday in a report that cited risks to good governance off the field. More than 900 sponsor deals — more than one-third traced to the $925 billion Saudi sovereign wealth fund — and a network of officials with overlapping state, business and sports roles were cited by Play The Game, a publicly funded sports ethics institute in Denmark. The oil-rich kingdom’s investment of tens of billions of dollars in soccer, golf, boxing, tennis, the Esports Olympics and a yet-to-be-built ski resort will get its most coveted prize next week from FIFA, the 2034 World Cup in men’s soccer. The close ties between FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman were built since 2018 amid global criticism of the kingdom’s record on human rights , including for women, migrant workers and freedom of expression. “Saudi Arabia’s sports strategy seeks to divert attention from these realities, revealing the tension between the ideals of sport and the realities of power, money, and politics,” Play The Game’s Stanis Elsborg said in the report. FIFA passed a mandatory step toward the 2034 decision by publishing at the weekend an in-house evaluation of the World Cup hosting plan that offered more praise than critical analysis , including labor issues for how most of the 15 stadiums will be built. On Dec. 11 in Zurich, FIFA will host an online meeting to ask more than 200 member federations to acclaim Saudi Arabia as the 2034 host, 14 months after shaping a fast-tracked and narrow-focused contest that produced just one candidate. Nearly 50 of those voters have signed working agreements with the Saudi soccer federation, while the soccer bodies for North America, Africa and Asia separately struck cooperation deals or tournament sponsor deals with the sovereign Public Investment Fund (PIF), state oil firm Aramco and the planned megacity project Neom. “The awarding of the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia is merely the culmination of years of strategic investments and behind-the-scenes manoeuvring,” said the report, called “Saudi Arabia's grip on world sport.” FIFA itself signed Aramco in April to an elevated World Cup sponsor category of “major worldwide partner,” worth a reported $100 million each year through 2027. The chairman of Aramco, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, also is governor of the PIF which has a goal to "deliver a strategy focused on achieving attractive financial returns and long-term value for the country.” He is chairman also of the LIV Golf project, new airline Riyadh Air, and English Premier League club Newcastle. “Aramco and FIFA intend to leverage the power of football to create impactful social initiatives around the world,” FIFA said in April. Saudi state and sports officials have consistently cited the crown prince's Vision 2030 program to diversify the economy beyond dependence on oil and modernize the traditionally conservative society while giving opportunities to a young population. Infantino has not taken questions from international media, nor held a news conference, in the 14 months since the Saudi candidacy was declared. No news conference is scheduled on Dec. 11 at FIFA headquarters after the closed-doors meeting. More Saudi commercial deals are expected after the 2034 World Cup decision, either for the 2026 edition being played in North America or the revamped Club World Cup being staged by the United States next year. “It’s very complex — there’s lots of interlinked parts,” Dan Plumley, sports finance expert at Sheffield Hallam University, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview on Monday. “We are living in a utopia if we think that sport and politics can be separated in the modern world because that’s impossible,” Plumley said. “There is always power, influence and money, which ultimately dictates the direction of travel.” ___ AP Sports Writer Steve Douglas contributed. ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
I worked at Ralph Lauren during college breaks and the one thing I still regret after all these years (besides never talking to J.Lo, who shopped in our store) is that I didn’t stock up on workwear. That’s why I’m especially excited for Ralph Lauren’s Cyber Monday sales this year. The site is 40% off just about everything (meaning they have some of the best Cyber Monday clothing deals out there, and you can also find stellar Ralph Lauren finds at Bloomie’s and Nordstrom , FWIW). When I was employed at RL 20 years ago, my hack was to buy cashmere from the kids’ section (much cheaper) and size way up. It stayed in great shape for over a decade, but now that some options are $100 off, I may just splurge (though I still have my eye on that boys’ Polo Bear sweater). While my discount was slightly better at the time, these deals come close to as good as they get. The best Ralph Lauren Cyber Monday deals, at a glance 25% off: Best Polo Sweater : Ralph Lauren Cable Knit Cashmere Sweater , $ 498 $374 30% off: Best Gift for Men : Ralph Lauren Arctic Holiday Bear Assorted 3-Pack Cotton Blend Crew Socks Gift Box , $46 $32 40% off: Best Gift for Women : Ralph Lauren Cable Knit Pop Top Mittens , $ 48 $28 25% off: Best Kids’ Deal : Ralph Lauren Polo Bear Crewneck Sweater , $ 175 $131 40% off: Best Men’s Jacket : Ralph Lauren The Colden Packable Jacket , $245 $149 20% off: Best Women’s Coat : Ralph Lauren Plaid Wool Blend Reefer Coat , $ 250 $200 40% off: Best Dress : Ralph Lauren Cotton-Blend Polo Dress , $ 145 $87 Need a stylish present for him ? The plaid pullover below is giving cozy Cotswold fantasy vibes. Just add scotch, and you’ve got yourself quite a gift set. I’m also enamored with those cute socks (the two-pack is marked down to $24, and as insane as this sounds, that’s actually a steal for anything with that cute teddy face on it). Plus, those gloves are a total no-brainer, and I’m treating myself to that hat. If you’re looking for a solid Cyber Monday deal on coats, the wool topper below is the one I’m personally considering investing in. You also can’t go wrong with the iconic polo shirts . The price doesn’t get lower. Without further ado, here are the most timeless pieces to pick up from the Ralph Lauren Cyber Monday sale.A stroke changed a teacher’s life. How a new electrical device is helping her move
Fianna Fail and Fine Gael eye independent TDs as option to secure Dail majority“My young daughter had a nightmare of terrorists invading our town, and I told her not to worry, that it won’t happen again,” said Sarit Zehavi. “Then she asked me, ‘But what will happen in 20 years?’ ” In the rugged northern reaches of Israel, the echoes of war reverberate daily. While Gaza still makes headlines, Israel has shifted its focus to its northern front, where it faces a formidable threat from Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shia terrorist group in Lebanon. Israel’s ongoing fight with Hezbollah has dramatically escalated since mid-September. In addition to intensified aerial attacks on Hezbollah positions, Israel has engaged in targeted assassinations, including the killing of Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah. Israel has approved a U.S. plan for a ceasefire with Hezbollah, clearing a way for an end to the conflict that has killed thousands since it was ignited by the Gaza war over a year ago. This violence has forced over 60,000 Israelis from their homes and displaced 1.2-million people in south Lebanon. Israel is grappling with two deeply entwined conflicts — one in the south with Hamas and another in the north with Hezbollah. But would a resolution with Hamas in Gaza lead to peace on the northern front? Last month, I joined an Exigent Foundation media mission to Israel, where I witnessed what is unfolding and got an idea of what the future might hold for this lone Jewish state. Zehavi, a retired IDF lieutenant colonel who founded the Alma Research and Education Center, which conducts research into Israel’s northern border security, shared her perspective as both a defence analyst and a mother living near the border. The horrors of the October 7 attacks on southern Israel have left lasting scars, particularly on the women and children who witnessed unimaginable violence. For women living on Israel’s northern frontier, the nightmare of similar brutality at Hezbollah’s hands feels uncomfortably real. “Those of us next to the north border are living with the horrors of the south,” Zehavi said. “We cannot accept that our daughters or ourselves will face the same risks as our sisters in the south.” To this end, Israel’s new approach on its northern front is markedly more aggressive. In addition to air and artillery strikes, IDF troops have invaded Hezbollah strongholds in villages along the border, dismantling weaponry and military infrastructure the terrorist group has spent years building. Despite these extensive military maneuvers, Hezbollah remains a potent force. With an estimated 25,000 short- and medium-range rockets, the group continues to launch daily assaults — using rockets, drones and anti-tank missiles — that wreak havoc on Israeli border communities. Families have evacuated, schools are closed and roads are risky to travel due to the threat of missiles. “My life changed completely,” Zehavi said. “How do I get my daughter back to school? How do I have a normal life? How do I get a situation where I can drive on these main roads here?” The extent of this conflict reveals the limits of military strategy alone. Despite intense IDF efforts, Hezbollah remains well-armed and entrenched. Zehavi highlighted how the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) — meant to act as a peacekeeping force in the region — failed to curb Hezbollah’s military buildup. According to Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, “Hezbollah terrorists are using UNIFIL outposts as hiding places and as places of ambushes.” The core of Israel’s northern mission is clear: end Hezbollah’s threat, once and for all. But Zehavi and other security experts remain cautious, knowing that without an international framework to prevent Hezbollah’s resurgence, gains on the battlefield may prove short-lived. Israel is adamant that any ceasefire terms must include the freedom to stop Hezbollah from rearming. “A diplomatic arrangement can’t be like the last one,” Zehavi insisted. “We need a force that’s truly capable of monitoring and preventing Hezbollah from reestablishing itself along the border.” So, will peace with Hamas mean peace with Hezbollah? Unlikely. Hezbollah has its own agenda, tied to the strategic objectives of its primary benefactor, Iran. Its sustained conflict with Israel isn’t merely about Gaza; it’s about the broader ideological struggle between Iran and Israel, with Lebanon caught in the middle. According to Zehavi, a lasting peace on Israel’s northern front requires more than military victories or temporary ceasefires — it demands a radical shift in Lebanon’s political landscape. Hezbollah — which is designated a terrorist organization by Canada, the United States and many other countries — must be prevented from holding power within the Lebanese government, a position it has exploited to secure weapons and funding from Iran. In this complex regional chess game, Israel is not solely fighting to defend its borders, it’s grappling with a deep-seated ideology that threatens both Israeli and Lebanese futures. While the battles rage on, many in northern Israel are left with the grim realization that peace may still be a distant hope. “My mission for the next 20 years is to make sure Hezbollah doesn’t recover,” Zehavi concluded. “This isn’t just about securing the border — it’s about ensuring that our daughters don’t live under the same threat 20 years from now.” National PostStock market today: Wall Street gains ground as it notches a winning week and another Dow record
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — PGA Tour rookie Patrick Fishburn played bogey-free for an 8-under 64 for his first lead after any round. Joel Dahmen was 10 shots behind and had a bigger cause for celebration Friday in the RSM Classic. Dahmen made a 5-foot par putt on his final hole for a 2-under 68 in tough conditions brought on by the wind and cold, allowing him to make the cut on the number and get two more days to secure his PGA Tour card for next year. He is No. 124 in the FedEx Cup. "I still got more to write this weekend for sure," said Dahmen, who recently had said his story is not yet over. "But without having the opportunity to play this weekend, my story would be a lot shorter this year." Fishburn took advantage of being on the easier Plantation course, with trees blocking the brunt of the wind and two additional par 5s. He also was helped by Maverick McNealy, who opened with a 62 on the tougher Seaside course, making two bogeys late in his round and having to settle for a 70. Fishburn, who already has locked up his card for next year, was at 11-under 131 and led McNealy and Lee Hodges (63) going into the weekend. Michael Thorbjornsen had a 69 and was the only player who had to face Seaside on Friday who was among the top five. What mattered on this day, however, was far down the leaderboard. The RSM Classic is the final tournament of the PGA Tour season, and only the top 125 in the FedEx Cup have full status in 2025. That's more critical than ever with the tour only taking the top 100 for full cards after next season. Players like Dahmen will need full status to get as many playing opportunities as they can. That explains why he felt so much pressure on a Friday. He didn't make a bogey after his opening hole and was battling temperatures in the low 50s that felt even colder with the wind ripping off the Atlantic waters of St. Simons Sound. He made a key birdie on the 14th, hitting a 4-iron for his second shot on the 424-yard hole. Dahmen also hit wedge to 2 feet on the 16th that put him on the cut line, and from the 18th fairway, he was safely on the green some 40 feet away. But he lagged woefully short, leaving himself a testy 5-footer with his job on the line. "It was a great putt. I was very nervous," Dahmen said. "But there's still work to do. It wasn't the game-winner, it was like the half-court shot to get us to halftime. But without that, and the way I played today, I wouldn't have anything this weekend." His playing partners weren't so fortunate. The tour put three in danger of losing their cards in the same group — Zac Blair (No. 123), Dahmen and Wesley Bryan (No. 125). The cut was at 1-under 141. Blair and Bryan came to the 18th hole needing birdie to be assured of making the cut and both narrowly missed. Now they have to wait to see if anyone passes them, which is typically the case. Thorbjornsen in a tie for fourth and Daniel Berger (66 at Plantation) in a tie for 17th both were projected to move into the top 125. Dahmen, indeed, still has work to do. Fishburn gets a weekend to see if he can end his rookie year with a win. "I've had a lot of experience playing in cold growing up in Utah, playing this time of year, kind of get used to playing when the body's not moving very well and you've got to move your hands," said Fishburn, who played college golf at BYU. "Just pretty happy with how I played." Ludvig Aberg, the defending champion and No. 5 player in the world competing for the first time in more than two months because of knee surgery, bounced back with a 64 on Plantation and was back in the mix. Aberg played with Luke Clanton, the Florida State sophomore who looks like he belongs each week. Clanton, the No. 1 player in the world amateur ranking who received a sponsor exemption, had a 65 at Plantation and was two shots off the lead. Clanton already has a runner-up and two other top 10s since June. "Playing with him, it's pretty awesome to watch," Clanton said. "We were kind of fanboying a little it. I know he's a really good dude but to be playing with him and to see what he's done over the last couple years, it's pretty inspirational." Get local news delivered to your inbox!None
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