LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lynne Roberts wasn’t looking to leave the Utah women’s basketball team. Then she got a call from Los Angeles Sparks general manager Reagan Pebley that changed her thinking. Roberts was introduced Thursday as coach of the Sparks, becoming the second coach to make the leap from college to the WNBA this month. Karl Smesko of Florida Gulf Coast got the Atlanta Dream job last week. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
AP News Summary at 3:50 p.m. EST
In recent years, Virginia has become the epicenter of America’s struggle between two possible future paths on climate policy, Citizens Climate Lobby's Chris Wiegard writes in a guest column. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on X (Opens in new window) Most Popular Underground fire at Williamsburg Premium Outlets extinguished Underground fire at Williamsburg Premium Outlets extinguished Fire crews begin extinguishing underground fire at Williamsburg Premium Outlets Fire crews begin extinguishing underground fire at Williamsburg Premium Outlets New restaurant owner keeps tradition of serving community Thanksgiving feast in Hampton New restaurant owner keeps tradition of serving community Thanksgiving feast in Hampton Newport News council to consider banning guns from government buildings Newport News council to consider banning guns from government buildings Friday/Saturday high school scoreboard: Maury, Oscar Smith capture football region championships Friday/Saturday high school scoreboard: Maury, Oscar Smith capture football region championships 757Teamz football live scoreboard: 5 region championship games slated for tonight 757Teamz football live scoreboard: 5 region championship games slated for tonight Let it burn: Days-old underground fire at Williamsburg outlet mall could smolder for a week Let it burn: Days-old underground fire at Williamsburg outlet mall could smolder for a week UVA and Virginia Tech meet in a Commonwealth Cup with higher stakes this season UVA and Virginia Tech meet in a Commonwealth Cup with higher stakes this season In era of NIL and transfer portal, coaches accept reality of tampering as ‘unacceptable acceptable practice’ In era of NIL and transfer portal, coaches accept reality of tampering as ‘unacceptable acceptable practice’ Indoor skate park coming to Newport News Indoor skate park coming to Newport News Trending Nationally What to watch: ‘Senna,’ ‘Little Secret’ offer made-to-order holiday home viewing ‘Beatles ’64’ captures the Fab Four charming a grieving nation How to use up every one of your Thanksgiving leftovers Crazy cleaning fees have caused once-loyal Airbnb travelers to consider hotels Why did the chicken with a broken wing cross a Chicago road? To be rescued, it turns out
‘I Was Stunned’: DNC Official Says Harris Took No ‘Responsibility’ For Blowing Billions During Campaign Donor CallThe Titans have issues to fix and hope to keep slim playoff hopes alive when they host the Jags
Microsoft EVP Takeshi Numoto sells $1.12 million in company stockCEO killer suspect: golden boy who soured on US health systemGitLab CFO Brian Robins sells $675,895 in stock
Lucknow bride’s banarasi bikini sparks outrage: is it real or fake?The Titans have issues to fix and hope to keep slim playoff hopes alive when they host the JagsBreaking News Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News. A Sydney mother has been killed while an apprehended violence order was in place. Police discovered the body of Kholoud Bakkour at a home in the suburb of Belmore about 8am on Wednesday. Her husband, Terrance Howot, was arrested about 30km away a short time later. Campsie police area Superintendent Sheridan Waldau confirmed the incident was being investigated as domestic violence-related. Kholoud Bakkour was found dead in her Belmore unit on Wednesday morning. Picture: Facebook Forensics combed over the scene after Ms Bakkour’s body was discovered. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard “Crime scene (police) are investigating and it does look like it is a very violent murder scene,” she told media on Wednesday afternoon. “We expect that he will be charged with murder later on this afternoon. “We expect that we will have more answers later this afternoon.” Terrance Howot is expected to be charged on Wednesday. Picture: Supplied Police forced their way into the Knox St apartment to discover the body of the mother of five after a triple-0 call from a family member from a separate location. Ms Bakkour is believed to be aged in her 30s. Mr Howot is 35 years old. Superintendent Waldau said there was an apprehended violence order in place “which was in force until February 2025”. Wellwishers brought flowers to the scene on Wednesday. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard Superintendent Sheridan Waldau described the incident as ‘very violent’. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard The man in custody had “minimal interactions” with police in the past year, Superintendent Waldau said. Mr Howot was arrested in the suburb of Denham Court a short time later. He was taken to Campbeltown Police Station where police said he was co-operating. According to the Australian Femicide Map database, Ms Bakkour is the 98th female killed by violence in this country this year. Originally published as ‘Very violent’: Police expect to charge husband with murder after Sydney woman found dead More related stories Breaking News Tamil migrants reach UK after ‘darkest’ time in Chagos camp Tamil migrants reach UK after 'darkest' time in Chagos camp Read more Business Breaking News ASX falls to three week low A sharp sell-off in information technology and energy stocks dragged the Australian markets down during Wednesday’s trading. Read more
On paper, Luigi Mangione had it all: wealth, intellect, athleticism, good looks. But the child of a prominent Maryland family may have spurned it all in a spasm of violence, in a killing that has mesmerized Americans. The 26-year-old was arrested Monday and charged with the murder of Brian Thompson, a health insurance chief executive and father of two who was gunned down in Manhattan last week by someone who, evidence suggests, has endured his own debilitating health crises and grew angry with the privatized US medical system. The cold-blooded killing has laid bare the deep frustration many Americans feel toward the country's labyrinthine health care system: while many have condemned the shooting, others have praised Mangione as a hero. It has also prompted considerable interest in how a young engineer with an Ivy League education could have gone off the rails to commit murder. News of his capture at a Pennsylvania McDonald's triggered an explosion of online activity, with Mangione quickly amassing new followers on social media as citizen sleuths and US media tried to understand who he is. As Americans have looked for clues about a political ideology or potential motive, a photo on his X account (formerly Twitter) includes an X-ray of an apparently injured spine. Mangione lived in Hawaii in 2022 and, according to his former roommate R.J. Martin, suffered from back pain, and was hoping to strengthen his back. After a surfing lesson, Mangione was "in bed for about a week" because of the pain, Martin told CNN. Earlier this year, Martin said, Mangione confirmed he'd had back surgery and sent him photos of the X-rays. Police said the suspect carried a hand-written manifesto of grievances in which he slammed America's "most expensive health care system in the world." "He was writing a lot about his disdain for corporate America and in particular the health care industry," New York police chief detective Joseph Kenny told ABC. According to CNN, a document recovered when Mangione was arrested included the phrase "these parasites had it coming." Meanwhile, memes and jokes proliferated, many riffing on his first name and comparing him to the "Mario Bros." video game character Luigi. Many expressed at least partial sympathy, having had their own harrowing experiences with the US health care system. "Godspeed. Please know that we all hear you," wrote one user on Facebook. Mangione hails from the Baltimore area. His wealthy Italian-American family owns local businesses, including the Hayfields Country Club, according to local outlet the Baltimore Banner, and cousin Nino Mangione is a Maryland state delegate. A standout student, Luigi graduated at the top of his high school class in 2016. A former student who knew Mangione at the elite Gilman School told AFP the suspect struck him as "a normal guy, nice kid." "There was nothing about him that was off, at least from my perception," the person said. Mangione attended the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, where he completed both a bachelor's and master's degree in computer science by 2020, according to a university spokesperson. While at Penn, Mangione co-led a group of 60 undergraduates who collaborated on video game projects, as noted in a now-deleted university webpage. On Instagram Mangione shared snapshots of his travels, and shirtless images of himself flaunting a six-pack. X users have scoured Mangione's posts for potential motives. His header photo includes an X-ray of a spine with bolts attached. Finding a political ideology that fits neatly onto the right-left divide has proved elusive, though he had written a review of Ted Kaczynski's manifesto on online site Goodreads, calling it "prescient." Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, carried out multiple bombings in the United States from 1978 to 1995, in a campaign he said was aimed at halting the advance of modern society and technology. Mangione has also linked approvingly to posts criticizing secularism as a harmful consequence of Christianity's decline, and retweeted posts on the impact mobile phones and social media have on mental health. ia/abo-mlm/nroThe world must reshape its technology infrastructure to ensure artificial intelligence makes good on its potential as a transformative moment in digital innovation. New technologies, such as generative AI, need huge amounts of processing power that will put electricity grids under tremendous stress and raise sustainability questions. But pioneering technologists are working on a potential game changer that goes some way to address these issues: photonics. John Gallant, CIO.com’s Enterprise Consulting Director and Vito Mabrucco, NTT Corp. Chief Marketing Officer, recently engaged in an extensive discussion on exactly how photonics technology could help meet the power demands of AI. Mabrucco first explained that AI will put higher demands on networks to move large data sets. He said: “We know the current infrastructure that we have can’t possibly support all of the new innovations that are going to result from the very wide and broad and deep implementation of AI.” The demands of AI call for an entirely new approach – a paradigm shift that replaces electronics-based computing and networking with photonics-enabled computing and networking. Photonics addresses a variety of issues and concerns: first, because photonics uses less energy than electronics, it can reduce the amount of power needed to do the same amount of work. This is vitally important because there are legitimate concerns that AI will outpace the capacity of the power grid. Photonics technology also delivers exponentially higher bandwidth rates with lower latency. This enables use cases such as near real-time disaster recovery over photonics-based links in industries like banking and finance, vehicle-to-vehicle communication in an autonomous vehicle scenario, and real-time edge-to-data center connections for robotics applications in factories, or at remote sites in mining or oil and gas industries. Mabrucco explained that NTT is working to take fiber-optic technology, which has been used for decades to transmit data over long distances (think undersea cables) and shrink it down for deployment inside computers and networking gear, even down to the chip level. He also says that photonics can “change the paradigm of computing” by enabling a disaggregation of the traditional computing stack. With photonics-based interconnects, organizations will be able to create efficient pools of processing units for specific use cases, such as large language model (LLM) data processing in one location, data storage in another location, and a high-speed link between the two. NTT is taking a leadership role on a variety of fronts, Mabrucco said. NTT created, alongside Sony and Intel, the IOWN Global Forum. Over 150 leading organizations are involved in it, with the aim of achieving early and successful uses cases that can then be scaled. Mabrucco also encouraged CIOs to get involved in the IOWN Global Forum. NTT has its own internal set of principles that guide its approach to AI. NTT believes that AI should respect human rights and diversity; that it be fair, unbiased and transparent; that it protects personal data; that it be secure; and that it will not only create new business opportunities, but also benefit people and the planet. Speaking of NTT’s AI Charter, Mabrucco said NTT was looking to take a leadership role in AI governance and ethics. It’s clear that the technology firms must understand how this technology will impact if it is to deliver on the promise of a secure and trustworthy AI. View the entire discussion here: @font-face{font-family:”Cambria Math”;panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;mso-font-charset:0;mso-generic-font-family:roman;mso-font-pitch:variable;mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}@font-face{font-family:Calibri;panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;mso-font-charset:0;mso-generic-font-family:swiss;mso-font-pitch:variable;mso-font-signature:-469750017 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}@font-face{font-family:Georgia;panose-1:2 4 5 2 5 4 5 2 3 3;mso-font-charset:0;mso-generic-font-family:roman;mso-font-pitch:variable;mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal{mso-style-unhide:no;mso-style-qformat:yes;mso-style-parent:””;margin:0in;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:”Calibri”,sans-serif;mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}.MsoChpDefault{mso-style-type:export-only;mso-default-props:yes;font-family:”Calibri”,sans-serif;mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}div.WordSection1{page:WordSection1;}
Days Global Advisors to Change Listing Exchange of HF ETF to NYSE
, the son of icon , turned heads during a courtside appearance at the vs. game on Wednesday night. Accompanying him was Instagram model , sparking conversations about their growing connection. and appeared to enjoy the lively atmosphere at the as they cheered on the . Both showcased a casual yet fashionable vibe, with donning a sporty outfit and Nara opting for a sleek, modern look that drew admiration from fans. The duo's appearance fueled speculation about their relationship, as they seemed comfortable and close during the game. , a rising model known for her vibrant Instagram presence, added a touch of glamour to the event, complementing relaxed demeanor. Social Media Reacts Photos of the pair quickly circulated online, with fans buzzing about the potential romance. While is no stranger to the public eye, this marked one of his first prominent appearances with . " and make a great pair," a fan tweeted after spotting them courtside. has built a reputation for her stunning modeling portfolio and engaging social media presence, making her an ideal companion for , who frequently attracts attention as part of the legacy. Bulls Struggle as Celtics Dominate While and Nara enjoyed their time on the sidelines, the had a challenging night on the court. The secured a commanding 124-104 victory, with star player leading the charge with 35 points. Despite the team's struggles, the atmosphere remained electric, thanks to the high-profile attendees and the competitive spirit of the game. New Romance in the Spotlight As continues to step out with fans are eager to see where their relationship might lead. The combination of legacy and growing fame has made them one of the most intriguing duos in the sports and entertainment worlds. Their courtside appearance was more than just a night out it was a statement, proving that and are ready to embrace the spotlight together.AP Trending SummaryBrief at 6:41 p.m. EST
(The Center Square) - The Spokane City Council adopted its 2025 Rules of Procedure on Monday, amending several changes that the conservative minority believed would silence their downtown constituents. Councilmember Michael Cathcart, who sits among the minority with Councilmember Jonathan Bingle, said he anticipated voting against the rules when he walked into city hall; however, after a long, diplomatic conversation with his peers, all seven voted unanimously in support. While initially drafted by the progressive majority, which routinely rules against the minority, the council proposed 14 amendments, 12 of which came from the conservatives. Ultimately, the governing body set aside policy and ideological differences for the sake of their constituency. “I just want to say it’s an honor to be on this side of the 5-2,” Bingle said after some of the majority joined him and Cathcart to approve one of the eight amendments passed. Tensions grew leading up to Monday as the community caught word of the initial proposal that would limit public testimony to two minutes, require three sponsors to move legislation out of committee for a vote and move council meetings to Tuesday instead of Monday. Cathcart and Bingle argued last week that the changes, among others regarding decorum, council commentary and more, would silence their dissent. Both represent District 1, which encompasses downtown and some of the most impoverished areas in Spokane. District 1 often faces the brunt of the homelessness crisis and related crime. The conservatives have attempted to push legislation emphasizing enforcement and other reforms, but the measures usually fail, with Bingle and Cathcart dissenting from the progressive majority. “You can make arguments that these procedural changes are different than what you experienced at STA,” resident Erik Lowe wrote in testimony, “but to outside observers, it is the same: trickery to prevent dissenting voices on the council from being heard.” Lowe said he initially got involved with the Spokane Transit Authority because of attempts from conservatives to silence the progressives from the council who sit on the STA board; now the tables have flipped, and he said the majority has a duty to protect the right to fair representation. Requiring three sponsors would prevent District 1 from pushing legislation that affects their constituents without the support of another. Bingle has also never been able to attend Tuesday meetings due to a scheduling conflict, limiting the ability to represent his constituency. “I cannot tell you the amount of emails I got that were like, ‘Listen, we will never vote for you, but we think it’s important that your voice is heard,’” Bingle said. While the council ultimately passed the amendments to preserve public testimony, Monday meetings and the requirement for two sponsors instead of three, the public came prepared. Community members filled the council chambers on Monday, even late into the evening, before adjourning close to midnight. One group that goes by Save Our Spokane, or SOS, put together a rally and protest leading up to the vote, even gaining support from residents who often disagree with conservatives. The message from each was clear: protect the right to dissent. Resident H.T. Higgins, who donated to Mayor Lisa Brown’s 2023 campaign but then paid for billboards criticizing her, was among those in attendance. While an advocate for the homeless, who are often at odds with District 1, he noted the importance of a fair playing field. He said the initial changes seemed like actions to fortify what he called a “blue silo.” Higgins also referenced the Board of County Commissioners’ conservative majority standing as the opposing red silo, adding that neither should stand for silencing the voice of the minority. “After watching briefing sessions and legislative meetings for the last eight months, it’s very clear to me that the public input has no value,” Higgins told the council. “We all know the decisions to bring legislation forward come from the connected and usually political donors of both parties. In the city of Spokane, that means you better have enough money or connection to get into the mayor’s office; the leader of the blue silo is what I would say."
NEW YORK — The holiday shopping season is about to reach full speed with Black Friday, which kicks off the post-Thanksgiving retail rush later this week. The annual sales event no longer creates the midnight mall crowds or doorbuster mayhem of recent decades, in large part due to the ease of online shopping and habits forged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hoping to entice equivocating consumers, retailers already have spent weeks bombarding customers with ads and early offers. Still, whether visiting stores or clicking on countless emails promising huge savings, tens of millions of U.S. shoppers are expected to spend money on Black Friday itself this year. Industry forecasts estimate that 183.4 million people will shop in U.S. stores and online between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, according to the National Retail Federation and consumer research firm Prosper Insights & Analytics. Of that number, 131.7 million are expected to shop on Black Friday. At the same time, earlier and earlier Black Friday-like promotions, as well as the growing strength of other shopping events (hello Cyber Monday), continue to change the holiday spending landscape. Here’s what you need to know about Black Friday’s history and where things stand in 2024. Black Friday falls on the Friday after Thanksgiving each year, or Nov. 29 this year. The term “Black Friday” is several generations old, but it wasn’t always associated with the holiday retail frenzy that we know today. The gold market crash of September 1869, for example, was notably dubbed Black Friday. The phrase’s use in relation to shopping the day after Thanksgiving, however, is most often traced to Philadelphia in the mid-20th century — when police and other city workers had to deal with large crowds that congregated before the annual Army-Navy football game and to take advantage of seasonal sales. “That’s why the bus drivers and cab drivers call today ‘Black Friday.’ They think in terms of headaches it gives them,” a Gimbels department store sales manager told The Associated Press in 1975, while watching a police officer try to control jaywalkers the day after Thanksgiving. Earlier references date back to the 1950s and 1960s. Jie Zhang, a professor of marketing at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, points to a 1951 mention of “Black Friday” in a New-York based trade publication — which noted that many workers simply called in sick the day after Thanksgiving in hopes of having a long holiday weekend. Starting in the 1980s, national retailers began claiming that Black Friday represented when they went from operating in the red to in the black thanks to holiday demand. But since many retail companies now operate in the black at various times of the year, this interpretation should be taken with a grain of salt, experts say. In recent decades, Black Friday became infamous for floods of people in jam-packed stores. Endless lines of shoppers camped out at midnight in hopes of scoring deep discounts. But online shopping has made it possible to make most, if not all, holiday purchases without ever stepping foot inside a store. And while foot traffic at malls and other shopping areas has bounced back since the start of the pandemic, e-commerce isn’t going away. November sales at brick and mortar stores peaked more than 20 years ago. In 2003, for example, e-commerce accounted for just 1.7% of total retail sales in the fourth quarter, according to Commerce Department data. Unsurprisingly, online sales make up for a much bigger slice of the pie today. For last year’s holiday season, e-commerce accounted for about 17.1% of all nonadjusted retail sales in the fourth quarter, Commerce Department data shows. That’s up from 12.7% seen at the end of 2019. Beyond the rise of online shopping, some big ticket items that used to get shoppers in the door on the Black Friday — like a new TV — are significantly cheaper than they were decades ago, notes Jay Zagorsky, a clinical associate professor at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business. “There is less need to stand in line at midnight when the items typically associated with doorbuster sales are now much cheaper,” Zagorsky told The Associated Press via email. He pointed to Bureau of Labor Statistics data that shows the average price for a TV has fallen 75% since 2014. While plenty of people will do most of their Black Friday shopping online, projections from the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights indicated that a majority of Black Friday shoppers (65%) still planned to shop in stores this year. It’s no secret that Black Friday sales don’t last just 24 hours anymore. Emails promising holiday deals now start arriving before Halloween. “Black Friday is no longer the start of the holiday shopping season. It has become the crescendo of the holiday shopping season” during what now feels like “Black Friday month,” Zhang said. Some retailers have updated their official marketing to refer to “Black Friday week.” Retailers trying to get a head start on the competition and to manage shipping logistics helps explain the rush, Zhang said. Offering early holiday deals spreads out purchases, giving shippers more breathing room to complete orders. Zhang therefore doesn’t expect the five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year to cause significant strain because retailers would have taken them into account. Linking pre-Thanksgiving sales with Black Friday is also a marketing technique since it’s a name consumers recognize and associate with big, limited-time bargains, Zhang said. Multiple post-Thanksgiving sales events keep shoppers enticed after Black Friday, including Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, which the National Retail Federation’s online arm designated in 2005. U.S. consumers spent a record $12.4 billion on Cyber Monday in 2023, and $15.7 million per minute during the day’s peak sales hour, acccording to Adobe Analytics. On Black Friday, they spent $9.8 billion online, Adobe Analytics said. Enough people still enjoy shopping in person after Thanksgiving that the activity is unlikely to become extinct, Boston University’s Zagorsky said. While Black Friday’s significance “is being slightly diminished” over time, the shopping event is still “a way to connect with others,” he said. “This social aspect is important and will not disappear, ensuring that Black Friday is still an important day for retailers.”MONCTON, New Brunswick, Dec. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Major Drilling Group International Inc. (“Major Drilling” or the “Company”) (TSX: MDI), a leading provider of specialized drilling services to the mining sector, today reported results for the second quarter of fiscal 2025, ended October 31, 2024. “For Q2 of fiscal 2025, Major Drilling’s globally diversified operations and reputation as the driller-of-choice enabled us to maintain our revenue run rate relative to fiscal Q1, despite challenging conditions in certain markets,” commented Mr. Denis Larocque, President & CEO of Major Drilling. “We were pleased once again by our Australasian and Chilean operations, which continue to offset lower activity levels in North America, primarily driven by lower junior exploration expenditures.” “The Company delivered solid financial results for the quarter, supported by an adjusted gross margin of 30.5%. This represented an increase from 28.9% in fiscal Q1 and is in line with the 31.0% achieved over the same period last year as the Company remains focused on profitable operations and our best-in-class specialized drilling services,” commented Ian Ross, CFO of Major Drilling. “As previously disclosed, our 2021 McKay acquisition successfully met all of the EBITDA milestones in the earnout period, with the final contingent payment of $9.1 million made during the quarter. We also continue to modernize our drill fleet, having spent $20.1 million in capex, which includes the addition of 5 new drills and support equipment, while disposing of 4 older, less efficient rigs, bringing Major Drilling’s total fleet to 610 drills. Given another strong operational performance, our net cash position increased to $100.4 million at quarter end, while we continue to retain an industry leading balance sheet, enabling the acquisition of Explomin in early fiscal Q3,” concluded Mr. Ross. “With McKay continuing to demonstrate strong results in Australasia since its acquisition in 2021, our focus now turns to the integration of Explomin – a leading South American driller with operations in Peru, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Spain. I am excited to welcome Explomin and its employees to the Major Drilling team. Their long-standing reputation, strong base of senior mining customers, and focus on specialized drilling, with its well-maintained fleet of rigs, complement our existing operations and offer further potential growth opportunities in South America,” said Mr. Larocque. “As Peru has been on our radar for quite some time given its status as the second largest copper producer, Explomin solidifies our South American presence, supplementing our existing operations in Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and throughout the Guyana Shield.” “Looking ahead to our seasonally slower third quarter of fiscal 2025, we are expecting programs in North America to pause for the holiday period slightly earlier than in prior years, although this is expected to be partially offset by ongoing strength in Australia and Chile. While we will be adding revenue from the Explomin operations, we expect them to have the same usual seasonality as the rest of our South American operations. Demand from senior customers for calendar 2025 is expected to remain robust, while we are optimistic regarding the activity levels of juniors following a slight increase in financing activity. The combination of elevated commodity prices, translating to increased free cash flow generation for mining companies, coupled with depleted reserve bases, should lead to increases in demand for drilling services over the years to come.” “Our well-maintained fleet ensures that we retain utilization capacity which, combined with our optimal inventory levels and experienced crews, puts us in an excellent position to capitalize on these increased levels of demand for our drilling services. Our core strategy is to remain the leader in specialized drilling as new discoveries are made in increasingly challenging and remote locations. Our solid foundation, supplemented by ongoing technological innovation, puts us in an ideal position to take on these new and exciting challenges.” “I’m extremely proud to announce that our Canadian team was recently awarded the Safe Day Every Day Gold Award by the Association for Mineral Exploration, Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada, and Canadian Diamond Drilling Association. Our Canadian team achieved over 1,146,000 hours without a lost time injury, an achievement that demonstrates our ongoing dedication to maintaining high safety standards across all projects around the world,” concluded Mr. Larocque. Finally, Major Drilling announces the resignation of Mr. Robert Krcmarov from the Board of Directors effective December 5, 2024, to focus on his new role as Chief Executive Officer of Hecla Mining Company. Kim Keating, Chair of the Board, commented: “On behalf of the Board and the leadership team at Major Drilling, I would like to congratulate Rob on this appointment, and thank him for his significant contributions during his tenure on the Board. Rob’s experience and insights were of great benefit to Major Drilling’s Board and leadership team. He was instrumental in the development of Major Drilling’s Decarbonization Action Plan and in strengthening the Company’s health and safety program, as well as his timely advice regarding the most recent acquisition of Explomin Perforaciones earlier this month. We thank Rob for his invaluable advice and wish him all the best in his new role leading Hecla Mining Company.” Total revenue for the quarter was $189.3 million, down 8.6% from revenue of $207.0 million recorded in the same quarter last year. The foreign exchange translation impact on revenue and earnings, when comparing to the effective rates for the previous year, was minimal. Revenue for the quarter from Canada – U.S. drilling operations decreased by 20.0% to $85.4 million, compared to the same period last year. While senior and intermediate activity levels increased slightly, this only partially offset the decline in demand from juniors relative to the same period last year as they continued to face challenging financing opportunities. South and Central American revenue decreased by 6.5% to $49.1 million for the quarter, compared to the same quarter last year. While operations in Chile remain robust, this was offset by slowdowns in other parts of the region. Australasian and African revenue increased by 14.4% to $54.7 million, compared to the same period last year as demand for specialized drilling services in Australia and Mongolia continue to drive growth in the region. Gross margin percentage for the quarter was 23.4%, compared to 25.3% for the same period last year. Depreciation expense totaling $13.4 million is included in direct costs for the current quarter, versus $11.8 million in the same quarter last year. Adjusted gross margin, which excludes depreciation expense, was 30.5% for the quarter, compared to 31.0% for the same period last year. Adjusted gross margin remained relatively unchanged as the Company remains disciplined with respect to pricing. General and administrative costs were $18.4 million, an increase of $0.8 million compared to the same quarter last year. This increase primarily relates to inflationary wage adjustments. Other expenses were $2.5 million, down from $3.2 million in the same quarter last year due primarily to lower incentive compensation expenses given the decreased profitability. Foreign exchange gain was $0.5 million, compared to a loss of $0.9 million for the same quarter last year. While the Company’s reporting currency is the Canadian dollar, various jurisdictions have net monetary assets or liabilities exposed to various other currencies. The income tax provision for the quarter was an expense of $6.5 million, compared to an expense of $7.4 million for the prior year period. The decrease from the prior year was driven by reduced profitability. Net earnings were $18.2 million or $0.22 per share ($0.22 per share diluted) for the quarter, compared to net earnings of $23.7 million or $0.29 per share ($0.29 per share diluted) for the prior year quarter. The Company’s financial data has been prepared in accordance with IFRS, with the exception of certain financial measures detailed below. The measures below have been used consistently by the Company’s management team in assessing operational performance on both segmented and consolidated levels, and in assessing the Company’s financial strength. The Company believes these non-IFRS financial measures are key, for both management and investors, in evaluating performance at a consolidated level and are commonly reported and widely used by investors and lending institutions as indicators of a company’s operating performance and ability to incur and service debt, and as a valuation metric. These measures do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other publicly traded companies and should not be construed as an alternative to other financial measures determined in accordance with IFRS. This news release includes certain information that may constitute “forward-looking information” under applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this news release that address future events, developments, or performance that the Company expects to occur (including management’s expectations regarding the Company’s objectives, strategies, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and businesses) are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by future or conditional verbs such as “outlook”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “project”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, and terms and expressions of similar import. All forward-looking information in this news release is qualified by this cautionary note. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon various estimates and assumptions including, without limitation, the expectations and beliefs of management related to the factors set forth below. While these factors and assumptions are considered reasonable by the Company as at the date of this document in light of management’s experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, these statements are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that include, but are not limited to: the level of activity in the mining industry and the demand for the Company’s services; competitive pressures; global and local political and economic environments and conditions; the level of funding for the Company’s clients (particularly for junior mining companies); the Company’s dependence on key customers; the integration of business acquisitions and the realization of the intended benefits of such acquisitions; efficient management of the Company’s growth; exposure to currency movements (which can affect the Company’s revenue in Canadian dollars); currency restrictions; safety of the Company’s workforce; risks and uncertainties relating to climate change and natural disaster; the geographic distribution of the Company’s operations; the impact of operational changes; changes in jurisdictions in which the Company operates (including changes in regulation); failure by counterparties to fulfill contractual obligations; disease outbreak; as well as other risk factors described under “General Risks and Uncertainties” in the Company’s MD&A for the year ended April 30, 2024, available on the SEDAR+ website at . Should one or more risk, uncertainty, contingency, or other factor materialize or should any factor or assumption prove incorrect, actual results could vary materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements made in this document are made as of the date of this document and the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, even if new information becomes available, as a result of future events, or for any other reasons, except as required by applicable securities laws. Major Drilling Group International Inc. is the world’s leading provider of specialized drilling services primarily serving the mining industry. Established in 1980, Major Drilling has over 1,000 years of combined experience and expertise within its management team. The Company maintains field operations and offices in North America, South America, Australia, Asia, Africa, and Europe. Major Drilling provides a complete suite of drilling services including surface and underground coring, directional, reverse circulation, sonic, geotechnical, environmental, water-well, coal-bed methane, shallow gas, underground percussive/longhole drilling, surface drill and blast, a variety of mine services, and ongoing development of data-driven, high-tech drillside solutions. Major Drilling Group International Inc. will provide a simultaneous webcast and conference call to discuss its quarterly results on Friday, December 6, 2024 at 8:00 AM (EST). To access the webcast, which includes a slide presentation, please go to the investors/webcasts section of Major Drilling’s website at www.majordrilling.com and click on the link. Please note that this is listen-only mode. To participate in the conference call, please dial 416-340-2217, participant passcode 4769038# and ask for Major Drilling’s Second Quarter Results Conference Call. To ensure your participation, please call in approximately five minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call. For those unable to participate, a taped rebroadcast will be available approximately one hour after the completion of the call until Monday, January 6, 2025. To access the rebroadcast, dial 905-694-9451 and enter the passcode 1708283#. The webcast will also be archived for one year and can be accessed on the Major Drilling website at www.majordrilling.com. Ryan Hanley Director, Corporate Development & Investor Relations Tel: (506) 857-8636 Fax: (506) 857-9211 (in thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share information) Major Drilling Group International Inc. (the “Company”) is incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act and has its head office at 111 St. George Street, Moncton, NB, Canada. The Company’s common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”). The principal source of revenue consists of contract drilling for companies primarily involved in mining and mineral exploration. The Company has operations in North America, South America, Australia, Asia, and Africa. These Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting (“IAS 34”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) and using the accounting policies as outlined in the Company’s annual Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended April 30, 2024. On December 5, 2024, the Board of Directors authorized the financial statements for issue. These Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements incorporate the financial statements of the Company and entities controlled by the Company. Control is achieved when the Company is exposed or has rights to variable returns from its involvement with the investee and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the investee. The results of subsidiaries acquired or disposed of during the period are included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations from the effective date of acquisition or up to the effective date of disposal, as appropriate. Intercompany transactions, balances, income and expenses are eliminated on consolidation, where appropriate. These Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared based on the historical cost basis, except for certain financial instruments that are measured at fair value, using the same accounting policies and methods of computation, with the exception of those detailed in note 4 below, as presented in the Company’s annual Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended April 30, 2024. The Company has not applied the following IASB standard amendment and standard that have been issued, but are not yet effective: The Company is currently in the process of assessing the impact the adoption of the above amendment and standard will have on the Consolidated Financial Statements. With the exception of the policy detailed below, all accounting policies and methods of computation remain the same as those presented in the Company’s annual Consolidation Financial Statements for the year ended April 30, 2024. Associates are companies that the Company has significant influence over and are accounted for under the equity method. Significant influence is the power to participate in the financial and operating policy decisions of the investee, but is not control or joint control over those policies. Significant influence is presumed when the Company has an ownership interest greater than 20%, unless certain qualitative factors overcome this assumption. In assessing significant influence and the ownership interest, potential voting or other rights that are currently exercisable are taken into consideration. Investments in associates are accounted for using the equity method and are initially recognized at cost, inclusive of transaction costs. The Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the Company’s share of the income or loss and equity movement of equity accounted associates. The Company does not recognize losses exceeding the carrying value of its interest in the associate. The preparation of financial statements, in conformity with IFRS, requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that are not readily apparent from other sources, which affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. Actual results may differ from these estimates. The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognized in the period in which the estimate is revised, if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods, if the revision affects both current and future periods. Significant areas requiring the use of management estimates relate to the useful lives of property, plant and equipment for depreciation purposes, inventory valuation, determination of income and other taxes, recoverability of deferred income tax assets, assumptions used in compilation of share-based payments, provisions, contingent considerations, impairment testing of goodwill and intangible assets and long-lived assets. The Company applied judgment in determining the functional currency of the Company and its subsidiaries, the determination of cash-generating units (“CGUs”), the degree of componentization of property, plant and equipment, the recognition of provisions, the determination of the probability that deferred income tax assets will be realized from future taxable earnings, and the determination of whether the Company exerts significant influence with respect to its investment in associate under the equity accounting method. The third quarter (November to January) is normally the Company’s weakest quarter due to the shutdown of mining and exploration activities, often for extended periods over the holiday season. Capital expenditures for the three and six months ended October 31, 2024 were $20,073 (2023 – $17,443) and $41,324 (2023 – $33,717). The Company did not obtain direct financing for the three and six months ended October 31, 2024 or 2023. On July 22, 2024, the Company purchased shares in DGI Geoscience Inc. (“DGI”) for $15,000 in cash consideration, a 39.8% equity interest (that provides the Company with 42.3% of the voting rights). DGI and its subsidiaries are privately held entities, headquartered in Canada, focused on downhole survey and imaging services as well as using artificial intelligence for logging scanned rock samples. In addition to the equity interest, Major Drilling’s representation on the DGI Board of Directors gives the Company significant influence over DGI. While there are special approval rights granted to the Company as part of the investment, these are more protective in nature and therefore, would not result in control, or joint control of DGI. As a result, the Company concluded that the equity method of accounting is appropriate for its investment in DGI. During the prior quarter, the Company incurred costs of $205 for this investment, relating to external legal fees and due diligence costs. These amounts have been recorded as part of the cost of the investment in associate in the Interim Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. In the current quarter, the Company’s earnings from investment in associate is $27. During the prior year, for the three and six months ended October 31, 2023, the Company repurchased 875,268 and 1,020,568 common shares, respectively, at an average price of $8.31 and $8.40, respectively, under its Normal Course Issuer Bid. Direct costs by nature are as follows: General and administrative expenses by nature are as follows: The income tax provision for the periods can be reconciled to accounting earnings before income tax as follows: The Company periodically assesses its liabilities and contingencies for all tax years open to audit based upon the latest information available. For those matters where it is probable that an adjustment will be made, the Company records its best estimate of these tax liabilities, including related interest charges. Inherent uncertainties exist in estimates of tax contingencies due to changes in tax laws. While management believes they have adequately provided for the probable outcome of these matters, future results may include favourable or unfavourable adjustments to these estimated tax liabilities in the period the assessments are made, or resolved, or when the statutes of limitations lapse. All of the Company’s earnings are attributable to common shares, therefore, net earnings are used in determining earnings per share. The calculation of diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended October 31, 2024 excludes the effect of 200,000 options for both periods (2023 – 297,000 and 205,000, respectively) as they were not in-the-money. The total number of shares outstanding on October 31, 2024 was 81,842,086 (2023 – 82,093,486). The Company’s operations are divided into the following three geographic segments, corresponding to its management structure: Canada – U.S.; South and Central America; and Australasia and Africa. The services provided in each of the reportable segments are essentially the same. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the Company’s annual Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended April 30, 2024. Management evaluates performance based on earnings from operations in these three geographic segments before finance costs, general corporate expenses and income taxes. Data relating to each of the Company’s reportable segments is presented as follows: *Canada – U.S. includes revenue of $25,695 and $34,074 for Canadian operations for the three months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively and $57,543 and $70,762 for the six months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. **General and corporate expenses include expenses for corporate offices and stock-based compensation. *Canada – U.S. includes property, plant and equipment as at October 31, 2024 of $64,041 (April 30, 2024 – $62,991) for Canadian operations. The carrying values of cash, trade and other receivables, demand credit facilities and trade and other payables approximate their fair value due to the relatively short period to maturity of the instruments. The carrying value of contingent consideration and long-term debt approximates their fair value as the interest applicable is reflective of fair market rates. Financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value are classified and disclosed in one of the following categories: The Company enters into certain derivative financial instruments to manage its exposure to market risks, comprised of share-price forward contracts with a combined notional amount of $8,654, maturing at varying dates through June 2027. The fair value hierarchy requires the use of observable market inputs whenever such inputs exist. A financial instrument is classified to the lowest level of the hierarchy for which a significant input has been considered in measuring fair value. The Company’s derivatives, with fair values as follows, are classified as level 2 financial instruments and recorded in trade and other receivables (payables) in the Interim Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. There were no transfers of amounts between level 1, level 2 and level 3 financial instruments for the three and six months ended October 31, 2024. As at October 31, 2024, 96.1% (April 30, 2024 – 95.9%) of the Company’s trade receivables were aged as current and 3.5% (April 30, 2024 – 3.5%) of the trade receivables were impaired. The movements in the allowance for impairment of trade receivables during the periods were as follows: As at October 31, 2024, the most significant carrying amounts of net monetary assets and/or liabilities (which may include intercompany balances with other subsidiaries) that: (i) are denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the respective Company subsidiary; and (ii) cause foreign exchange rate exposure, including the impact on earnings before income taxes (“EBIT”), if the corresponding rate changes by 10%, are as follows (in $000s CAD): The following table details contractual maturities for the Company’s financial liabilities: On November 5, 2024, the Company completed the purchase of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Explomin Perforaciones (“Explomin”), a leading specialty drilling contractor based in Lima, Peru. This acquisition provides Major Drilling with increased exposure to the copper market as Explomin is one of the largest South American drilling contractors, with the majority of their operations in Peru, while also servicing markets in Colombia, Dominican Republic, and Spain. The purchase price for the acquisition is valued at an amount up to US$85 million, consisting of: (i) a cash payment of US$63 million payable on closing, subject to working capital adjustments; and (ii) an earnout of up to US$22 million payable in cash over the next three years, based on the achievement of certain milestones. The cash portion of the purchase price has been funded from Major Drilling’s cash and existing debt facilities.
BEAMING Micheal Martin declared he has a “clear route back to government” as Fianna Fail aim to become the most popular party in the country. But as the count continued late into the night, Fianna Fail , Fine Gael and Sinn Fein are looking at a photo finish in the General Election . And a defiant Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald declared: “Two-party politics is now gone. It’s consigned to the dustbin of history .” Some vote counts are expected to drag on into Monday due to the tight results. The three big parties are each claiming they could hit 40 seats. The Social Democrats look to be the standout performers among the smaller parties, with sources telling The Irish Sun they believe they could double their six TDs. Labour are also confident of gains and are already being eyed up by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael as potential coalition partners to replace the Greens, who have been decimated in the polls. A delighted Mr Martin arrived at the count centre in Cork South Central, which he won easily, flanked by his family . He told reporters there was a “clear route back to government”. And Fianna Fail were tonight confirmed as taking 21.1 per cent of the first preference vote, with Fine Gael at 20.7 and Sinn Fein in third at 19.7 per cent. An earlier exit poll on Friday night had put Fianna Fail at just 19.5 per cent — with Sinn Fein marginally out in front. Mr Martin admitted: “When I saw the exit poll, I was disappointed, I said to myself ‘What the hell?’ “In the current situation, one or two per cent is massive and particularly in a multi-party situation with lots of independents and so on. “It looks like now we will exceed the exit poll, and we could be the largest party in the popular vote.” But asked if he would consider partnering with Sinn Fein, he said: “I have made it clear throughout this campaign that we don’t expect to align with their policies. “We will align with protecting the economic model we have in this country , a pro-European disposition and home ownership.” The results are a hammer blow to Sinn Fein’s hopes of forming a government. But Ms McDonald said she will reach out to the leaders of left-wing parties such as Labour and the Soc Dems to try and form a coalition. Speaking at the RDS count centre in Dublin , she said: “I think it’s fair to say that we have now confirmed that we have broken the political mould her in this state. “Two-party politics is now gone. It’s consigned to the dustbin of history and that in itself is very significant.” And asked if she believes the numbers are there for Sinn Fein to form a coalition of the left, Ms McDonald said: “I am looking to bring about a government of change and I am going to go and look at all formulations. “The bottom line is the idea of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael for another five years in our strong opinion is not a good outcome for Irish society. "Obviously I want to talk to other parties of the left and those we share significant policy objectives with. I’m going to do that first and hear their mind and thinking. Be very clear — we will be very actively pursuing entrance into government.” Taoiseach Simon Harris , elected on the first count in Wicklow tonight, was boisterous about the results and claimed Fine Gael would top the poll in at least ten constituencies across the country. But he would not be drawn on coalition options, saying he was “optimistic and excited” for the weeks ahead when government formation talks will commence. “It looks like now we will exceed the exit poll, and we could be the largest party in the popular vote.” Mr Harris said: “I think anybody who makes any projection on who is going to be the largest party or the construct of the next government they are a braver person than I am. "Our electoral system dictates that there will be many, many transfers that will go for hours, if not days, before we know the final composition of the Dail. “What I am very confident about is that my party will have a very significant role to play in the years ahead and I am cautiously optimistic and excited about what the weeks ahead hold.” The results so far mean that a return of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael in coalition with another small party or group of Independents is likely to be the make-up of Ireland’s next government. Ex-Green Party leader Eamon Ryan encouraged smaller parties to consider going into coalition, despite the Greens suffering a near wipeout of their 12 seats following their term in government. Mr Ryan said: “I would still advise any party if you have the opportunity to go in to government and represent your electorate and all the people — I think it is the right thing to do.” The Social Democrats look set to the be the biggest of the small parties. Leader Holly Cairns retained her seat , despite having to limit her canvassing due to being pregnant. “The bottom line is the idea of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael for another five years in our strong opinion is not a good outcome for Irish society." Ms Cairns gave birth to a baby girl on polling day, meaning she didn’t even get to vote. Deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan — — who will ease back into his seat in Dublin Bay North — has stepped into her role temporarily. He told us the party will speak to Labour about a possible left alliance before considering coalition talks with any of the three big parties. He said: “We certainly intend talking to the Labour Party and other parties over the coming days.” Labour leader Ivana Bacik — who will easily retain her seat in Dublin Bay South — wants to unite with the Soc Dems and the Greens to form a left block to enter coalition negotiations on a stronger footing. She said: “We must have a critical mass of numbers to deliver on the mission of change that we have. “We want a left block on a common platform to come together to deliver on the change we want.” Meanwhile, the political establishment has tonight played down gang boss Gerry Hutch’s chances of becoming a TD, with the Taoiseach arguing: “It’s not nailed on.” But as The Monk continued to hoover up transfers, Mary Lou McDonald became the first person elected in Dublin Central on the third count. The Monk was boosted by 218 votes in transfers from Mary Lou McDonald with the gang boss securing the highest portion of the Sinn Fein leader’s spare ballots. It now appears to be a fight between Hutch and Labour’s Marie Sherlock for the fourth and final seat in the constituency. And on a day of huge political shocks , some of the biggest names were in danger of being dumped out of the Dail — including Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and almost EVERY Green Party TD. But Dublin Central was the constituency to watch as the scale of support for Hutch became clear from the first tallies. The gangland kingpin landed a whopping 3,098 first preference votes — putting him fourth in the poll with Ms Sherlock chasing behind with 2,465 votes. Fine Gael’s Paschal Donohoe and Social Democrat Gary Gannon both look set to retain their seats after big turnouts. But incumbent Green Party TD Neasa Hourigan faces the chop, with former MEP Clare Daly also failing to make an impact in the constituency after deciding to run here at the last minute. Transfers will decide who wins the final seat between The Monk and Labour’s hopeful, with Hutch expected to receive transfers from right-wing Independent Malachy Steenson, while Sherlock will pick up votes from the Greens, People Before Profit and the Soc Dems. And with the final seat looking likely to go down to the wire, Taoiseach Simon Harris insisted the mobster’s audacious Dail run could still end in failure. He said: “In relation to Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch, I always buy into the very basic tenant of democracy that the people are sovereign. "Whoever the people choose to elect is entirely a matter for them. But I remain to be convinced that he will be a TD. “I think there is a long way to go and as I talk to people on the ground in Dublin Central, and as I read the mood music, I don’t think he’s nailed on at all.” And Ms McDonald — who topped the poll — said the last seat was going to be a “battle royal”. Speaking about the dramatic Dublin Central race , Ms McDonald said: “It’s a hat-trick for me in topping the poll in the constituency and I’m proud of that achievement. The last seat is in the balance. I think it’s going to be a battle royal .” “We must have a critical mass of numbers to deliver on the mission of change that we have." Pressed on whether she was surprised by Hutch’s 3,000 first preference votes, the Sinn Fein leader said: “Nothing in politics surprises me, I’m around far too long.” Fine Gael’s Paschal Donohoe said people will have to reflect on why The Monk performed as well as he has. Speaking at the RDS count centre, the outgoing Public Expenditure Minister said: “His performance was always possible in this election. I think it is worth noting that the vast majority of people in Dublin Central have not voted for him. “The vast majority of voters in Dublin Central have chosen to put their votes behind other candidates and we will have to reflect later why he performed like he did.” Soc Dem’s Gannon said Hutch’s solid vote shows how badly working class communities have been treated for years. He added: “When people are in a dark place they’ll search for very strange options and that’s what happened here. That’s a plague on all of our houses, it’s a reflection of politics as a whole.” And Clare Daly said “the political establishment should take note” of the mega Monk vote. She added: “I don’t see him being a national parliamentarian or a legislator per se, which is part of the job, but if elected he could, if the will was there, really keep a focus on an area that has been left behind and is crying out.” “I think there is a long way to go and as I talk to people on the ground in Dublin Central, and as I read the mood music, I don’t think he’s nailed on at all.” Legendary director Jim Sheridan said he was “shocked” at the strong backing that The Monk received after filming him on the campaign trail for a documentary . Speaking at the count centre in the RDS, the My Left Foot director said he was “totally surprised” at the level of support Hutch received from voters. He said: “I was thinking of just doing a small documentary about the election — that’s all. I never thought he’d get in or have a chance and I don’t know if he will still, but he has a chance.” Asked why he thought people backed The Monk at the polls, Sheridan said: “It is anger at their position. Years of drugs and nothing happening in that community. “Some people are trying to help but there has never been anyone since Independent Tony Gregory who provided a cohesive attitude towards the many problems.” The Monk’s shock election performance resulted in the Green’s Neasa Hourigan losing her seat with her party facing a total wipeout after a dismal display. The Greens had 12 TDs in the outgoing Dail, but have failed to avoid the tradition of smaller coalition parties being hammered in the polls after their stint in Government. Voters have turfed out the Greens with the party now facing an agonising wait to see if they can even return one TD to the next Dail. Leader Roderic O’Gorman, who is in a fight for the fifth seat in Dublin West, admitted it was a difficult day for his party. Speaking at the count centre in Ongar, he said: “We got a mandate in 2020 and that was a mandate to go into Government to act on climate and to support families and children all over the country. “We worked hard over four and a half years. We now have our lowest carbon emissions in the last 30 years. We’ve invested in public transport and we’ve halved the cost of childcare .” Ex-Green leader Eamon Ryan denied that the devastating result would spell the end for the party. He said: “No matter what the result today, there will be a strong Green Party in Ireland .” And Health Minister Stephen Donnelly looks to be one of the biggest names in politics that could lose his seat in the election with the Fianna Fail TD suffering a bitter defeat in Wicklow. The redraw of constituencies resulted in Wicklow becoming a four seater with Taoiseach Simon Harris topping the poll and looking likely to bring in a running mate in Edward Timmons. Asked about this blow to the party, leader Micheal Martin said: “He is still in the hunt and could potentially benefit from transfers from Simon Harris. We always felt that would be competitive.”Ange Postecoglou vowed to keep fighting to revive Tottenham’s fortunes after receiving “some direct feedback” from disgruntled fans following a limp 1-0 Premier League loss to Bournemouth. Spurs boss Postecoglou was booed and heckled by a frustrated away end at the Vitality Stadium, having seen his toothless side condemned to defeat by Dean Huijsen’s 17th-minute header. The Australian refused to go into detail about the heated exchange but said he understood the supporters’ emotional reaction. Just a couple of chill guys getting three points ? pic.twitter.com/dzZRg2x0Xn — AFC Bournemouth ? (@afcbournemouth) December 5, 2024 “I didn’t like what was being said because I’m a human being but you’ve got to cop it,” said Postecoglou, whose team have won only one of their last six games in all competitions. “I’ve been around long enough to know that when things don’t go well you’ve got to understand the frustration and the disappointment. “They’re rightly disappointed tonight because we’ve let a game of football get away from us. I’m OK with all that. “They’re disappointed and rightly so. They gave me some direct feedback, which I guess is taken onboard. “All I can say is, I’m really disappointed with tonight and I’m determined to get it right and I will keep fighting until we do.” Asked what was said by the travelling support, Postecoglou replied: “Probably not for here, mate.” Postecoglou spoke with fans at the final whistle (Adam Davy/PA) Bournemouth midfielder Ryan Christie struck a post and the impressive hosts failed to capitalise on a host of other chances to put the result beyond doubt. Spurs dropped below the Cherries, into 10th position, ahead of Sunday’s London derby at home to high-flying Chelsea following the latest setback in a patchy season so far. To compound a miserable evening for the injury-hit north London club, defender Ben Davies limped out of his 300th Premier League appearance and faces a spell on the sidelines. “It looks like he’s done his hamstring,” said Postecoglou. “He’ll obviously be out for a period of time now, we’ll just have to wait and see how long it is. “It’s kind of the consequence of us having the squad we have at the moment.” Match-winner Huijsen became Bournemouth’s youngest Premier League goalscorer by nodding in Marcus Tavernier’s corner. The Spain Under-21 defender, who is aged 19 years and 235 days, was making only his third top-flight start since a summer switch from Juventus, in place of the injured Marcos Senesi. Cherries boss Andoni Iraola said: “Dean has shown from the beginning that he is someone with confidence in himself. With the injury of Marcos, for sure he will have to play more. Dean Huijsen celebrates scoring the only goal of the game (Adam Davy/PA) “Now we will not regret it because we finished winning but when we started missing the chances in the second half it was a dangerous moment. Luckily for us, we could finish the job.” Speaking about Senesi, who sustained a quad injury in Saturday’s 4-2 win at Wolves, Iraola said: “It’s quite significant so probably he will be out for some time but we still have to do more assessment.”