7 up & 7 down poker game Bashir puts up 27, Monmouth knocks off Fairfield 88-74

The Reds ultimately left St James’ Park with only a point after Fabian Schar snatched a 3-3 draw at the end of a pulsating encounter, but Salah’s double – his 14th and 15th goals of the season – transformed a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead before the Switzerland defender’s late intervention. The 32-year-old Egypt international’s future at Anfield remains a topic of debate with his current contract running down. Asked about Salah’s future, Slot said: “It’s difficult for me to predict the long-term future, but the only thing I can expect or predict is that he is in a very good place at the moment. “He plays in a very good team that provides him with good opportunities and then he is able to do special things. “And what makes him for me even more special is that in the first hour or before we scored to make it 1-1, you thought, ‘He’s not playing his best game today’, and to then come up with a half-hour or 45 minutes – I don’t know how long it was – afterwards with an assist, two goals, having a shot on the bar, being a constant threat, that is something not many players can do if they’ve played the first hour like he did. “That is also what makes him special. If you just look at the goals, his finish is so clinical. He’s a special player, but that’s what we all know.” Salah did indeed endure a quiet opening 45 minutes by his standards and it was the Magpies who went in at the break a goal to the good after Alexander Isak’s stunning 35th-minute finish. Slot said: “The shot from Isak, I don’t even know if Caoimh (keeper Caoimhin Kelleher) saw that ball, as hard as it was.” Salah set up Curtis Jones to level five minutes into the second half and after Anthony Gordon has restored the hosts’ lead, levelled himself from substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold’s 68th-minute cross. He looked to have won it with a fine turn and finish – his ninth goal in seven league games – seven minutes from time, only for Schar to pounce from a tight angle in the 90th minute. Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe was delighted with the way his team took the game to the Reds four days after their disappointing 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace. Howe, who admitted his surprise that VAR official Stuart Attwell had not taken a dimmer view of a Virgil van Dijk shoulder barge on Gordon, said: “It’s mixed emotions. “Part of me feels we should have won it – a big part of me – but part of me is pleased we didn’t lose either because it was such a late goal for us. “Generally, I’m just pleased with the performance. There was much more attacking output, a much better feel about the team. “There was much better energy, and it was a really good performance against, for me, the best team we’ve played so far this season in the Premier League, so it was a big jump forward for us.”Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Several communal posters were found pasted on the walls in several areas under Bhanwarkuwan Police Station on Wednesday. The responsibility of pasting these posters has been taken by Hind Rashtra Sanghatan associated with Hindu Jagran Manch. The posters bear the words “Not 'Ghazwa-e-Hind' now it will be ‘Bhagwa-e-Hind”; “Ek Hai Toh Safe Hai” and “Batonge Toh Katonge”. Posters have been pasted outside 8 to 10 houses in Indrapuri area. Along with this, posters in support of Pandit Dheerendra Shastri were also put up. Bhawar Kuan Police Station incharge Rajkumar Yadav said that we have not received any such information, if received police will take action appropriately. Gazwa-e-hind controversy Recently, on November 4, BJP’s city vice president Eklavya Gaur posted a photo on social media. In the post, he claimed it to be controversial and demanded legal action. The poster was hanging on a mosque in Khazgipura Area which shows a scene of war. Claims were made that it shows the army in the front, which is carrying saffron flags. And it hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindu Community. Immediately after the controversy, the poster was removed from the mosque by the Shia community. State spokesperson of All India Shia Samaj Syed Dilshad Ali Naqvi stated that the poster was put up on the mosque 4 months ago during Muharram. He claimed that it shows the scene of Karbala. Hazrat Imam Hussain was martyred in Karbala. Such posters are put up every year on Muharram.

MELVILLE, N.Y. and DAVIDSON, N.C. , Dec. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- MSC Industrial Supply Co. (NYSE: MSM) , a premier distributor of Metalworking and Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) products and services to industrial customers throughout North America , today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.85 per share. The $0.85 dividend is payable on January 29, 2025 to shareholders of record at the close of business on January 15, 2025 . Contact Information Investors: Media: Ryan Mills, CFA Zivanai Mutize Head of Investor Relations Head of Corporate Communications Rmills@mscdirect.com Zivanai.mutize@mscdirect.com About MSC Industrial Supply Co. MSC Industrial Supply Co. (NYSE:MSM) is a leading North American distributor of a broad range of metalworking and maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) products and services. We help our customers drive greater productivity, profitability and growth with approximately 2.4 million products, inventory management and other supply chain solutions, and deep expertise from more than 80 years of working with customers across industries. Our experienced team of more than 7,000 associates works with our customers to help drive results for their businesses - from keeping operations running efficiently today to continuously rethinking, retooling and optimizing for a more productive tomorrow. For more information on MSC Industrial, please visit mscdirect.com . Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that MSC expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including statements about results of operations and financial condition, expected future results, expected benefits from our investment and strategic plans and other initiatives, and expected future growth, profitability and return on invested capital, are forward-looking statements. The words "will," "may," "believes," "anticipates," "thinks," "expects," "estimates," "plans," "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by these forward-looking statements. In addition, statements which refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, statements involving a discussion of strategy, plans or intentions, statements about management's assumptions, projections or predictions of future events or market outlook and any other statement other than a statement of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. The inclusion of any statement in this press release does not constitute an admission by MSC or any other person that the events or circumstances described in such statement are material. In addition, new risks may emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict such risks or to assess the impact of such risks on our business or financial results. Accordingly, future results may differ materially from historical results or from those discussed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, the reader should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: general economic conditions in the markets in which we operate; changing customer and product mixes; volatility in commodity, energy and labor prices, and the impact of prolonged periods of low, high or rapid inflation; competition, including the adoption by competitors of aggressive pricing strategies or sales methods; industry consolidation and other changes in the industrial distribution sector; the applicability of laws and regulations relating to our status as a supplier to the U.S. government and public sector; the credit risk of our customers; our ability to accurately forecast customer demands; customer cancellations or rescheduling of orders; interruptions in our ability to make deliveries to customers; supply chain disruptions; our ability to attract and retain sales and customer service personnel; the risk of loss of key suppliers or contractors or key brands; changes to trade policies or trade relationships; risks associated with opening or expanding our customer fulfillment centers; our ability to estimate the cost of healthcare claims incurred under our self-insurance plan; interruption of operations at our headquarters or customer fulfillment centers; products liability due to the nature of the products that we sell; impairments of goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets; the impact of climate change; operating and financial restrictions imposed by the terms of our material debt instruments; our ability to access additional liquidity; our ability to realize the desired benefits from the reclassification of our Class B Common Stock to Class A Common Stock; the significant influence that our principal shareholders will continue to have over our decisions; our ability to execute on our E-commerce strategies and maintain our digital platforms; costs associated with maintaining our information technology ("IT") systems and complying with data privacy laws; our ability to remediate a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting and to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and our disclosure controls and procedures in the future; disruptions or breaches of our IT systems or violations of data privacy laws, including such disruptions or breaches in connection with our E-commerce channels; risks related to online payment methods and other online transactions; the retention of key management personnel; litigation risk due to the nature of our business; failure to comply with environmental, health, and safety laws and regulations; and our ability to comply with, and the costs associated with, social and environmental responsibility policies. Additional information concerning these and other risks is described under "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Annual and Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, respectively, and in the other reports and documents that we file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/msc-industrial-supply-co-declares-regular-quarterly-dividend-302335377.html SOURCE MSC Industrial Supply Co.Aurora City Council approves renovation of fourth floor of City HallASPI Stock News: Shareholder Rights Law Firm Robbins LLP Urges ASP Isotopes Inc. Stockholders with Large Losses to Seek Legal Counsel in Connection with the Class Action Lawsuit

NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Javon Small scored five of his 31 points in overtime and Tucker DeVries added key free throws late in regulation and finished with 16 points as West Virginia beat No. 3 Gonzaga 86-78 in the Battle 4 Atlantis on Wednesday. Small's layup with under 2 minutes left in OT gave West Virginia a 79-75 lead. After a Gonzaga miss, Sencire Harris hit two free throws to make it a six-point lead. With 27.1 seconds left, Harris made a steal and scored on a dunk for an eight-point lead, putting the game out of reach. Amani Hansberry scored a career-high 19 points and Toby Okani added 10 for West Virginia (3-2). Braden Huff scored 19 points and Khalif Battle 16 for Gonzaga (5-1). Gonzaga showed its depth, outscoring the West Virginia bench 30-2. West Virginia’s only loss was by 24 points at Pitt, but the rebuild under Darian DeVries is showing promise. Gonzaga turned it over at midcourt late in regulation when Tucker DeVries poked it away from Nolan Hickman and raced the other way before getting fouled. DeVries made two free throws with 5.9 seconds left to tie it at 71-all. Battle inbounded the ball and got it back, but lost control on a drive as time expired. The shorter Mountaineers outrebounded Gonzaga 42-36 and shot 50% in the second half, battling the Zags to a draw in the paint. Nembhard had 12 assists and just one turnover in 43 minutes, but was 1 of 10 from the field. West Virginia will play Louisville on Thursday in the winner's bracket. Gonzaga faces No. 14 Indiana on the consolation side. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Mueller Water Products Announces Update on Board Refreshment PlanAs U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher looked ahead to the next Women's World Cup in 2027, she calculated what that would look like at her age. Now 36, she already has a World Cup title and won an Olympic gold medal this year in France. She considered the mental, physical and emotional toll of a new cycle and decided it was time to step away . “Honestly, I think I’ve been somebody that has given everything I’ve had to this team. I don’t do anything halfway. It’s kind of, if you can give 100% to it, then keep going," she said. “With that in mind, I kind of just felt like this was the right time coming off of the Olympics, having the year that we had, entering into a new cycle, a new stage for this team.” Naeher is the latest veteran to announce she's stepping down from the national team as the next generation takes over under coach Emma Hayes. Among those who have wrapped up their soccer careers in the past couple of years include World Cup winners Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Kelley O'Hara and Ali Krieger. Naeher will be with the team for two more matches in the coming week. The Americans play England at Wembley Stadium on Saturday and then the Netherlands in The Hague on Tuesday. Naeher said she's excited about the next generation of goalkeepers. In addition to Naeher, Mandy Haught of the Utah Royals and Phallon Tullis-Joyce of Manchester United are on the roster for the upcoming matches. Other goalkeepers who have been on recent rosters include Casey Murphy and Jane Campbell. “I think the beauty of goalkeeping is that it’s not really a one-size-fits-all kind of position," she said. "The more that you can understand — that's going to be the challenge any young goalkeeper coming up, is really taking the time to understand what your strengths are and make them really, really elite and separate yourself.” Naeher spoke on Wednesday from London after announcing her retirement on social media Monday . Naeher made her senior debut with the national team in 2014 and was a backup to Hope Solo at the 2015 World Cup, which the United States won. She became the team’s regular starter following the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and was on the squad that repeated as World Cup winners in 2019. Naeher won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 before the U.S. earned gold this year in Paris. She made a key one-handed save in stoppage time to preserve the Americans’ 1-0 victory over Brazil in the Olympic final. For her career, Naeher has appeared 113 games with 110 starts, 88 wins and 68 shutouts. She had four shutouts over the course of the Olympic tournament in France. While she's leaving the national team, she'll play one more year for her club team, the Chicago Red Stars in the National Women's Soccer League. “I hope that I can be remembered as a good teammate, as a competitor, as somebody that was looked on as someone that could be relied upon on the field and supported those players around me,” she said. “I think it’s just been a really special team to be a part of. And I’m very proud of what we have been able to accomplish over the years.” AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

A high-altitude unmanned balloon once operated by Loon, formerly an Alphabet subsidiary and now registered to Raven Aerostar as "N254TH," traveled just north of the Baltimore-Washington, DC, airspace at 64,500 feet, moving east at 34 mph towards New Jersey. Data from FlightAware indicates that N254TH launched from Dangel Airport in South Dakota on Monday and has since traversed the eastern half of the US, now making its way into Delaware and soon New Jersey Zooming in... Balloon website Stratocat provided more details about the balloon under Loon's prior ownership: Project Loon was an initiative to establish a network of high altitude unmanned balloons to provide Internet connectivity in underserved parts of the world or during disaster recovery efforts. The project started in 2011 and became public in 2013 as part of Google's research and development of new technologies carried out through X Development LLC. Loon, formerly an Alphabet subsidiary, was shuttered in 2021—the project aimed to provide high-speed internet to remote parts of the world. However, Elon Musk's Starlink has largely taken over that role with its low Earth orbit satellites. Meanwhile, on X... Oh JFC... HBAL714 is registered in the US to Raven Aerostar as N254TH. It’s not a fucking Chinese balloon. pic.twitter.com/C5xyhY61ea This is not a Chinese balloon. Do some fucking research. This is a Raven Aerostar balloon registered in the US as N254TH. They’re a DoD contractor researching the uses of balloons. In addition to drones, residents of New Jersey will now have a giant balloon to speculate about.Radiation levels in New York spike as mysterious drones terrorize the Northeast READ MORE: Here's what happened when I tried to fly near NJ's mystery drones By MATTHEW PHELAN FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 23:56 GMT, 18 December 2024 | Updated: 23:56 GMT, 18 December 2024 e-mail View comments Radiation levels have spiked in New York City , fueling conspiracy theories that the drones terrorizing the Northeast are searching for a missing nuclear warhead. The emissions, clocked by GQ Electronics' Geiger Counter World Map, were detected near the Bronx and Upper West Side Wednesday. The application shows a radiation reading of 1048 counts-per-minute (CPM), i.e. how many particles were detected, in the Bronx: higher than normal background radiation. The average person is typically exposed to background radiation that measures around five to 60 CPM, though CPM varies with sensor devices, according to NASA . And, on the the Upper West Side, the app's reading measured a still high 175 CPM. Now, an attorney and long-time critic of China claims that the spikes are a clue that the northeast's mystery drones might be a secret US government effort to identify 'an implanted nuclear weapon' hidden somewhere in the city by America's enemies. 'This is not something which is just wild speculation,' that lawyer and author, Gordon G. Chang, told reporters Monday. 'For more than a decade,' Chang explained, 'US officials have been worried about the North Koreans taking apart a [nuclear] device, smuggling the parts into the United States and reassembling it in the location of their choice.' A publicly accessible tool - GQ Electronics' Geiger Counter World Map - uncovered two spots in New York City that saw a spike in radioactive particle emissions (in counts-per-minute) this week. Some linked the radiation events to the region's wave of mystery drone sightings 'When you talk about radiation, clearly this could be one of the things that the drones are doing,' Chang told Forbes Newsroom , 'and that would explain why they're over residential areas because the device could be planted in one of those places' Citizens, law enforcement and government officials have all put forward theories as to who or what is behind this recent wave of drone reports — from mass hysteria to foreign espionage , to space aliens , to the testing of an top secret military aircraft . While Chang's account echoes rumors that New Jersey 's mystery drones were US government aircraft equipped with High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) radiation detectors on the hunt for a nuclear bomb , the story has faced serious criticism. For starters, it runs counter to the official stance issues jointly by the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI , the FAA and the Pentagon who all claim that the drones 'do not' currently present 'a national security or public safety risk.' Some former Pentagon officials and military vets have also reported that their own current sources within the government have denied these 'nuke hunt' claims. 'They assured me that's not the case,' Navy veteran and former fighter pilot Lt Ryan Graves told podcaster Joe Rogan in a recent episode . 'There is not a "loose nuke" or any other type of weapon of mass destruction that these objects — whatever they are — are pursuing right now,' Lt Graves stated. The Navy vet told Rogan that his sources were part of the team that would normally leap into action to deal with an imminent nuclear threat to the domestic United States, adding that swarms of aerial drone technology would be a poor system for the job. Some former Pentagon officials and military vets - including former senior Pentagon security official Chris Mellon and retired US Navy Lt Ryan Graves (pictured) - have reported that their own current sources within the government have denied these 'nuke hunt' claims 'Having hundreds of drones trying to identify these isn't necessarily the best way,' Lt Graves explained. 'Gamma radiation is typically well-shielded in weapons.' 'And, at high altitudes — or even moderate altitudes, like we are seeing these drones — it would be pretty difficult to detect them [gamma rays],' he continued, echoing comments by nuclear emergency experts with the Department of Energy. 'The Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration's Nuclear Emergency Support Team does not employ drones for nuclear/radiological detection missions,' a department spokesperson told ABC News . DOE's Nuclear Emergency Support Team, the spokesperson added, 'is not currently conducting any aerial operations in that region.' Former senior Pentagon security official Chris Mellon, no stranger to stories of mysterious UFOs in the sky , corroborated these claims, posting to X.com , 'My own discussions with federal officials track with this as well.' The FBI and other agencies are investigating the alleged drones, but a representative from the Department of Homeland Security said Wednesday, Dec. 11: 'We have no more information as to where these drones are coming from, where they're launching from, where they're landing' 'At this point we really need the president of the United States to actually address the American people,' an attorney and long-time critic of China, Gordon Chang (above), told the business publication Forbes. 'Tell us what the federal government knows and what it doesn't know' Read More EXCLUSIVE Dozens of SUV-sized drones as fast as 120mph terrorized our town's livestock Stories linking the still as-yet-unexplained drone sightings to loose radioactive material gained an injection of interest this Tuesday, when Belleville Mayor Michael Melham went public with news of a very real, damaged shipment of a medical device. 'There is an alert that's out right now that radioactive material in New Jersey has gone missing on December 2nd,' Mayor Melham told Fox 5 New York . 'There was a shipment. It arrived at its destination. The container was damaged, and it was empty.' But the damaged device, which had been shipped from the Nazha Cancer Center in Newfield, New Jersey, was declared to be a 'non-emergency' by authorities. The 'Event Notification Report' issued by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission 's Operations Center on December 13, 2024 found that the device was 'very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals.' The medical device in question, an Eckert & Ziegler model HEGL-0132, only contains trace amounts of the radioactive isotope Germanium-68. But, regardless of the purpose of the drones, Chang emphasized to Forbes that the US government's vague assurances of safety were insufficient, a point also echoed by Mellon, Lt Graves and others. 'At this point we really need the president of the United States to actually address the American people,' Chang told the business publication, 'and tell us what the federal government knows and what it doesn't know.' Pentagon Share or comment on this article: Radiation levels in New York spike as mysterious drones terrorize the Northeast e-mail Add comment

Trump seeks to have Georgia election case dismissed, citing presidential immunityWhile major institutions worldwide are gradually embracing , recognizing its potential as a transformative asset and even integrating it into their corporate treasuries, the perception of the cryptocurrency remains far from universally positive. Amid this growing institutional adoption, the Bank of Italy has taken a notably critical stance. In its Economic and Financial Occasional Paper, it labeled Bitcoin peer-to-peer (P2P) services – widely celebrated for their accessibility – as “crime-as-a-service.” A report from November 2024 highlighted the growing role of Bitcoin peer-to-peer (P2P) services as tools for money laundering in jurisdictions with weak regulations. These services, described as “crime-as-a-service,” exploit regulatory loopholes, allowing illicit actors to obscure the origins of illegally obtained funds. The 131-year-old financial institution targeted unregulated P2P platforms and informal exchange networks, in particular, that evade traditional Know-Your-Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) protocols and end up creating pathways for illegal activities. These methods enable criminals to bypass the scrutiny of centralized financial intermediaries by leveraging the pseudonymity of blockchain transactions.The Bank of Italy’s report also highlighted the challenges posed by decentralized financial (DeFi) systems in combating money laundering. While centralized finance (CeFi) platforms can be regulated similarly to traditional financial institutions, their decentralized counterparts, on the other hand, operate without intermediaries, making oversight far more complex. The pseudonymity inherent in blockchain technology allows users to engage in transactions through unlinked addresses, effectively concealing their identities. This has sparked a debate between those who praise blockchain for its transparency and immutability and critics who highlight its potential for abus We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

Can Ozempic make America slim again? RFK Jr and Musk are at oddsSoutheast Asian Stocks Seen Offering Shelter Amid Trump ThreatThe recent 25-year renewal of Meralco’s contract to serve the Filipino people as its electricity provider—despite its current agreement being valid until 2028—raises critical questions about the necessity and transparency of such a prolonged extension. These critiques are not an assessment of Meralco’s capabilities, but rather a pressing call for transparency in its compliance with legal policies and ethical standards—much-needed scrutiny of its operational performance throughout the years. As a monopoly, Meralco’s limited competition raises concerns about prioritizing profits over public needs, leading to high electricity rates, questionable billing practices, and insufficient accountability. The lack of transparent public hearings during its franchise renewal process further fuels distrust in its commitment to serve the public interest. The questions posed are not intended to hinder Meralco’s operations, nor are they focused solely on the extension of the franchise, as this process aligns with the guidelines set by the House committee on legislative franchises under Section 24, which specifies that the proper time to seek a franchise extension is five years prior to expiration. Stronger oversight is essential to ensure fair practices, accountability, and consumer protection. While concerns regarding Meralco’s monopolistic position and its potential for overpricing are valid, the company’s significant infrastructure investments suggest a commitment to improving service quality and contributing to national development. The company has enhanced its distribution network, integrated advanced technologies, and contributed to crucial government projects like the Metro Manila Subway. Moreover, eligible consumers are granted the opportunity to select purely renewable energy sources through the Green Energy Option Program (GEOP), which is an integral component of the Renewable Energy Act (Republic Act No. 9513). This program enables consumers to exercise greater control over their energy expenses and usage, promoting a more sustainable and responsible approach to energy consumption. These efforts show that Meralco is focused not only on profit but also on fostering economic growth and long-term sustainability for the public. Despite the commendable GEOP, Meralco’s monopolistic status continues to limit competition, leading to high electricity prices, billing issues, and lack of transparency. Gabriela party list Rep. Arlene Brosas highlighted that 7.63 million Filipinos suffer from steep rates and unstable power supply, underscoring the need for a thorough performance review. Existing laws, like RA 9209, mandate providing electricity at the least cost and ensuring open, non-discriminatory access. However, noncompliance persists, with Congress empowered to revoke franchises for violations, highlighting the need for stronger accountability and adherence to legal mandates. While Meralco’s investments and initiatives, such as the GEOP, reflect a commitment to improving service and sustainability, its monopolistic position demands rigorous scrutiny and stronger accountability. The lack of competition and transparency and persistent issues like high rates and billing discrepancies call for urgent reform. We must advocate for greater oversight, transparency, and competition in the energy sector to safeguard the public interest, uphold legal standards, and ensure fair energy practices. Filipinos deserve a fair, accountable, and sustainable energy future—one where public welfare takes precedence over profit. KabaTanglaw, UST SHS 12ABM-07 Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy .Kevin Kisner named NBC's lead golf analyst

IT’S A QUESTION that comes up every election cycle: How exactly does our voting system work? It’s often quickly followed by another question: Should I vote the whole way down the ballot paper? Fear not, we’ve got you covered. Ahead of Friday’s general election, let’s take a look at how the Irish voting system works. Proportional representation with a single transferable vote (PR-STV) is relatively unique, Ireland and Malta are the only countries to use it. A ‘party list’ system is So, what exactly is PR-STV and how does it work? And what will the ballot papers look like? The ballot papers will show the names of the candidates in alphabetical order, along with their photographs and their party emblem (if they have one). Voters indicate who they would like to see elected in order of preference – so, you should write 1 opposite your first choice, 2 opposite your second choice, 3 opposite your third choice, and so on. Do not make any other mark on the ballot paper. If you do, your vote may be considered . You should not write X or tick the box beside candidates, this could also spoil your vote. When you have voted you should fold your ballot paper, return and place it into the ballot box at the same station. Only one of the preferences in your vote is active at a time. Your vote stays with your first preference candidate unless and until they do not need it anymore – either because they have been elected with a surplus of votes over the quota, or eliminated from the race. If your first preference candidate is elected, your vote is transferred to your second preference. If your second choice is elected or eliminated, your vote may be transferred to your third choice, and so on. Your vote could transfer a number of times at the same election to your lower preference candidates, depending on how many people you give a preference to. If a candidate receives more than the quota on any count, the surplus votes are transferred to the remaining candidates in proportion to the next available preferences indicated by voters. As explained by , if the quota to be elected is 5,000 votes and candidate A receives 6,000 first preference votes at the first count, they are elected with a surplus of 1,000 votes. Let’s say that out of candidate A’s 6,000 total votes, 30% of voters gave their second preference to candidate B, and 20% gave their second preference to candidate C. In this scenario, B receives 300 votes (30% of 1,000) and C receives 200 votes (20% of 1,000). In a previous episode of , Virgin Media’s Political Correspondent Gav Reilly noted that your vote works a “little bit harder” in Ireland than in countries such as the US or UK “where you only get one vote, you vote for one candidate”. In Ireland, if your first choice candidate gets eliminated or elected early “and they’ve got spare votes that they don’t need... those votes can be passed on”, Reilly explained earlier this year. “Ultimately, what you have is an outcome which is slightly more representative of broader consensus, rather than just being a straightforward popularity contest,” he added. One of the perennial questions asked every time an election rolls around in Ireland is: Should you vote all the way down the ballot paper? In short, there are different schools of thought on this – . In some constituencies, it would be quite time-consuming to vote the whole way down the ballot paper but, of course, this is up to the individual. Reilly told The Explainer that voters are at liberty to “cast as many or as few preferences” as they like. He continued: “The best way to make sure that your vote is as useful as possible is for you to consider in advance how many candidates you might ultimately like to see get elected. “And indeed, in some cases, if there’s anyone that you absolutely don’t want to see getting elected.” If there are specific candidates that you “absolutely don’t want to get elected”, you should vote “for literally everybody else”. Giving an example, Reilly said if there are 10 people running in a constituency including two you really don’t want to get elected, “the best way to try and achieve that is to cast preferences 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 for the eight other candidates in your preferred order”. “But the thing that a lot of people don’t always understand or don’t realise, is that if you leave a whole slew of candidates blank and you don’t give them anything, basically what you are telling the returning officer and the count staff is that you are passive, you are meh about which of them may or may not get in. “And if that is genuinely the case, if you are completely passive about those candidates, you are at liberty to do that. “But if, of those remaining candidates, there’s some that you’d prefer to see rather than others, you should keep voting until you’ve run out of all your preferences or until you know that you’ve listed all of the candidates in the true preference of order that you have.”Summers scores 22 off the bench, Indiana State downs St. Louis Pharmacy 101-53