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NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 4, 2024-- Figure Technology Solutions (“Figure”), a technology platform powering a more efficient and liquid marketplace for financial products, today announced that Macrina Kgil, a seasoned finance executive, joined as Chief Financial Officer. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241204327766/en/ (Photo: Business Wire) “Macrina is the perfect fit for Figure, given her industry expertise and deep background in public markets and public company finance functions,” said Michael Tannenbaum, Chief Executive Officer of Figure. He continued, “We recently surpassed $1.5 billion in quarterly originations, record revenue, eighty percent year over year growth, and one hundred fifty percent EBITDA growth. Our metrics reflect three primary drivers: the widespread adoption of our increasingly liquid lending marketplace, Figure Connect, coupled with both a diversified product suite and a growing network of embedded lending partners. Our steady growth and ambitious plans called for a CFO of Macrina’s caliber; her financial stewardship will be pivotal to helping Figure achieve our goals.” “I’m thrilled to join Figure and have the opportunity to work alongside a deep executive bench and lead a talented finance team,” said Kgil. ‘’Particularly given my extensive experience in the fintech and blockchain sectors, I am eager to drive our growth and nurture investor confidence. Figure operates at the forefront of innovation, and I believe that we can unlock significant value for all of our stakeholders as we continue our momentum.” Kgil joins Figure from Flow, a residential real estate startup, where she led the finance function globally. Prior to Flow, Kgil was CFO of OneMain Holdings (NYSE: OMF). While there, she helped manage the acquisition of OneMain Holdings from Citigroup, and successfully led the company (as Springleaf Finance) through an IPO, managing the public markets debut as well as subsequently guiding the company as a public filer. Previously, she served as CFO of Blockchain.com and its affiliate Blockchain Ventures Fund I, where she built a robust finance infrastructure across numerous global entities with a strong regulatory and compliance focus. Earlier, she served as VP in the private equity group at Fortress Investment Group and started her career at PwC in the capital market advisory and audit teams. Kgil holds an engineering degree from Seoul National University. She’s a founding member of the F Suite, an executive community of leading CFOs. Kgil reports to Tannenbaum in this newly created role for Figure, following its spin-off earlier this year as a stand-alone company independent of Figure Markets Holdings. Her hiring follows September’s appointment of Ron Chillemi as Figure’s first Chief Legal Officer. About Figure Technology Solutions Founded in 2018, Figure Technology Solutions (“Figure”) is a disruptive and scaled technology platform built to enhance efficiency and transparency in financial services. Its subsidiary, Figure Lending LLC, is the largest non-bank provider of home equity lines of credit; its software has been used to originate more than $12B of home equity lines of credit. Figure’s technology is embedded across a broad network of loan originators and capital markets buyers, and is used directly as well by homeowners in 49 states and Washington, DC. With Figure, homeowners can receive approval for a HELOC in as fast as five minutes and receive funding in as few as five days. To date, Figure has embedded its HELOC in more than 135 partners, including Rate (formerly Guaranteed Rate), CrossCountry Mortgage, Movement Mortgage, Goodleap and many other fintechs, depositories and independent mortgage banks. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241204327766/en/ press@figure.com KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA NEW YORK INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COMMERCIAL BUILDING & REAL ESTATE CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY FINANCE CONSULTING BANKING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FINTECH RESIDENTIAL BUILDING & REAL ESTATE SOURCE: Figure Technology Solutions Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/04/2024 03:00 PM/DISC: 12/04/2024 03:02 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241204327766/en

The Winnipeg Jets had a Merry Christmas, with the first-place club enjoying a three-day hockey hiatus that allowed for some quality time with family and friends away from the rink. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * The Winnipeg Jets had a Merry Christmas, with the first-place club enjoying a three-day hockey hiatus that allowed for some quality time with family and friends away from the rink. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? The Winnipeg Jets had a Merry Christmas, with the first-place club enjoying a three-day hockey hiatus that allowed for some quality time with family and friends away from the rink. Now the focus turns to what needs to be done to ensure 2025 becomes a Happy New Year. “I think there’s some more urgency,” Jets captain Adam Lowry said Friday of what he’s expecting to see when it comes to the post-holiday schedule that begins Saturday night with a visit from the Ottawa Senators. NATHAN DENETTE / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Jets captain Adam Lowry and his teammates look to pick up where they left off before the Christmas break which they entered on a two-game winning streak. “Obviously the playoff picture starts to shake out. Sometimes in October, April seems real far away and you might feel like you have time to make up some of those points. I think the hockey gets better, generally, as teams get to their structure. They’ve kind of ironed out the kinks or some of their weaknesses earlier in the year, so ice is harder to come by, it’s harder to generate some chances.” The 25-10-1 Jets will play 10 of their next 11 games at the downtown rink, and 14 of 20 before they get an even longer break for the 4 Nations Face-Off starting Feb. 8. “All the grinding we had to go through on the road, our road trips, some of the long ones, all the stuff we were talking about two months ago, now we get to sort of reap a little bit of the benefits,” said head coach Scott Arniel following an hour-long practice. “But we have to take advantage of these games at home here. There is another push that happens, from now to the break. Now it’s jockeying for position. Because March and April they’ll be coming quick, and they’ll be coming heavy. So 20 games here, again sort of refocus, get ourselves taking advantage of this home ice and continue to build on what we’ve been doing.” Winnipeg will be looking to pick up where it left off following back-to-back wins last Saturday (5-0 over Minnesota) and Monday (5-2 in Toronto) before players scattered for a short but sweet break. “Guys got to take off from Toronto to kind of cover both the U.S. and Canada and get to see family and now we’re back. We had a good workday (Friday), which hopefully leads into (Saturday) and gets all of the Turkey and rust out of us and ready to go,” said Arniel. Half the league (16 of 32 teams) returned to action Friday night in a chaotic day that involved the eight visitors having to fly early in the morning (the collective bargaining agreement doesn’t allow for activities to resume until Dec. 27), rather than the day before a game which is the standard. Winnipeg had to do that last year and ultimately laid a bit of an egg, losing 2-1 in overtime to the Chicago Blackhawks. In that sense, the schedule maker did them a bit of a favour this year. “This is one of the first ones where we can have a practice and then have a morning skate. I’d expect it to be a little sharper than last year’s game in Chicago,” said Lowry. “You travel and go to the morning skate, and those days usually feel a little jammed, feeling your way through the first period. You know, both teams are playing well. I’d expect it to be a pretty well played game. I think having a practice day helps that.” Indeed, the Senators also went into Christmas feeling rather jolly, having won six of their previous seven to climb into an Eastern Conference playoff spot. “Watching them over the last couple weeks, they’re a great team. They’ve got a lot of depth,” said Lowry. “We’re going to have to be ready. They skate well, they’ve got some real high-end skill and they’ve got some big bodies that like to go to the net. There might not be the rivalry that we have with some other teams, but it’s still going to be a hard-fought game.” Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is expected to make his 29th start of the season, while Arniel has some decisions to make on what his blue-line looks like. Haydn Fleury suffered a lower-body injury against the Maple Leafs last Monday and is now considered week-to-week. Logan Stanley missed the last two games with an ailment but was a regular participant in practice Friday, so he could be an option to return. The Jets also called up Dylan Coghlan from the Manitoba Moose as added insurance. It appears Colin Miller will move up to take Fleury’s spot beside Neal Pionk, meaning two of Stanley, Coghlan and Ville Heinola would form the third pair with the other being a healthy scratch. Ottawa is expected to be without No. 1 goaltender Linus Ullmark (12-7-2, 2.38 GAA, .915 save percentage), who is dealing with a back injury. Backup Anton Forsberg (4-6-0, 2.95 GAA, .889 save percentage) will likely get the call. “I think the structure and what we did well in both those games (before Christmas) is going to be important moving forward,” said Lowry. After facing Ottawa, the Jets will host the Nashville Predators on Monday night, then travel to Denver immediately after to face the Colorado Avalanche on New Year’s Eve. An eight-game homestand will then follow starting next Thursday. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. The Jets are a sizzling 12-3-1 at home this season and could really start to pull away from some divisional rivals if they can keep that up over this next stretch of schedule. “Home ice is critical. You want to take advantage of these games where you can control the matchups. You want to perform well in front of the fans,” said Lowry. “I think for the most part we’ve played pretty well. There’s been a couple games we haven’t loved at home but for the most part, we’ve been able to get to our game plan, get to our forecheck and our power play has been red hot at home. Having this stretch where you don’t have to travel as much, you get some more practice time, it’s going to be invaluable for us.” mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the before joining the in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. . Every piece of reporting Mike produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the before joining the in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. . Every piece of reporting Mike produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Advertisement Advertisement

Shares of voice assistant technology company SoundHound AI ( SOUN 14.30% ) skyrocketed 85.1% during November, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence . The company did report financial results for the third quarter of 2024 during the month. But oddly enough, this didn't serve as a catalyst to send the stock higher. To the contrary, the stock actually dropped following its Q3 report. In Q3, SoundHound's revenue soared by 89% year over year to a record $25 million. But acquisitions hit the company's profit margins. Its gross margin dropped to 49% compared to 73% in the prior-year period. Therefore, while revenue was skyrocketing, its gross profit was up a less impressive 26%. And its net loss actually widened. Immediately following the report, SoundHound stock dropped. But it was up sharply many of the other days that the market was open, as the chart below shows. SOUN data by YCharts There's reason to believe that as hype builds for artificial intelligence (AI), traders are piling into SoundHound stock to force it higher. This has been a common occurrence in recent years and explains why the stock rose for most of the month even though investors didn't appear to like the company's Q3 results. Could SoundHound be an up-and-coming company? It's clear that SoundHound is becoming a polarizing investment, with short-sellers betting it goes down whereas traders are piling in to make it go up. But is there an actual business here to take notice of? Indeed there is. SoundHound makes voice assistant technology powered by AI and it has an impressive list of customers that includes Honda Motor , Chipotle Mexican Grill , and Block . And it importantly continues to add new customers, which is key in reducing risk for this small company. Consider that last year, its top five customers accounted for a whopping 90% of its business -- losing any of those customers would have been devastating. But thanks to new customer wins, its top five customers now only account for less than 33% of its business. That's huge. Winning so many important customers shows that SoundHound is a leader in this space. And that's important considering the market is estimated to be worth $140 billion. By comparison, SoundHound only expects $150 million in revenue next year, positioning it for robust long-term growth. What should investors do now? A polarized investor community could lead to volatility with SoundHound stock. Anyone who buys shares today needs to have a long-term focus while being comfortable with short-term volatility. That said, trading at 46 times sales , I believe there's some room to be patient with SoundHound stock, especially considering how its margins have dropped. Management says that issue will correct as it integrates recent acquisitions into its business. For now, I would patiently watch to see if that's indeed the case before buying.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and a Hamas military leader, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The announcement came as health officials in the Gaza Strip said the death toll from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000. The warrant marked the first time that a sitting leader of a major Western ally has been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity by a global court of justice. The ICC panel said there were reasonable grounds to believe that both Netanyahu and his ex-defense minister bear responsibility for the war crime of starvation and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts. Israel’s war has caused heavy destruction across Gaza, decimated parts of the territory and driven almost the entire population of 2.3 million people from their homes, leaving most dependent on aid to survive. Israel launched its war in Gaza after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250 . Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Here’s the Latest: Food deliveries across Gaza are grinding to a halt, UN warns UNITED NATIONS -- The U.N. humanitarian chief for Gaza is warning that the delivery of critical food, water, fuel and medical supplies is grinding to a halt throughout the territory and “the survival of two million people hangs in the balance.” Muhannad Hadi said in a statement Thursday that Israeli authorities have been banning commercial imports for more than six weeks and at the same time thefts from humanitarian convoys by armed individuals have surged. “In 2024, U.N. trucks have been looted 75 times –- including 15 such attacks since Nov. 4 alone –- and armed people have broken into U.N. facilities on 34 occasions,” he said. Last week, one driver was shot in the head and hospitalized along with another truck driver, Hadi said. And on Saturday 98 trucks were looted in a single attack which saw the vehicles damaged or stolen. The Gaza humanitarian coordinator said bakeries are closing because of lack of flour or fuel to operate generators. “Palestinian civilians are struggling to survive under unlivable conditions, amid relentless hostilities,” Hadi said. He demanded the immediate improvement of security and conditions throughout Gaza to allow the safe and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid “through lawful means.” Israel says it puts no limit on the supplies permitted into Gaza, and it blames the U.N. distribution system. But Israel’s official figures show the amount of aid it has let in has plunged since the beginning of October. The U.N has blamed Israeli military restrictions, along with widespread lawlessness that has led to theft of aid shipments. Biden administration rejects ICC arrest warrants for top Israeli leaders WASHINGTON — The White House fundamentally rejects the International Criminal Court’s decision to issue arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday. She said the Biden administration was “deeply concerned by the prosecutor’s rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision.” The Biden administration has increased its warnings and appeals to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to do more to spare civilians in airstrikes and other attacks, and to allow more aid to reach Gaza. However, a 30-day Biden administration deadline came and went earlier this month for Israel to meet specific U.S. targets to improve its treatment of Palestinian civilians in Gaza trapped in the war. U.S. demands included that Israel lift a near-total ban on delivery of aid to hard-hit north Gaza for starving civilians there. Israeli strike in Gaza kills 9 people, including 3 kids playing outside KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — The three children were playing outside a cluster of tents housing displaced people in the Gaza Strip when an Israeli airstrike killed them, along with six other people. It’s become a grim, near-daily ritual more than 13 months into the Israel-Hamas war, which local health authorities said Thursday has killed over 44,000 Palestinians. Israel carries out frequent strikes against what it says are militants hiding in civilian areas, and women and children are nearly always among the dead. Wednesday’s strike killed Hamza al-Qadi, 7, his brother Abdulaziz, 5, and their sister Laila, 4, in a tent camp in the southern city of Khan Younis. Areej al-Qadi, their mother, says they were playing outside when they were killed. “All that’s left of them are their notebooks, their books and a blood-stained jacket,” she said as she broke into tears. “They were children who did nothing.” The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment on the strike. Gaza’s Health Ministry said Thursday that 44,056 Palestinians have been killed and 104,268 wounded since the start of the war, which was ignited by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack into Israel. Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people that day, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250 people. The Health Ministry does not say how many of those killed in Gaza were fighters but says women and children make up more than half the fatalities. Israel, which rarely comments on individual strikes, says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. Hours after the ministry announced the latest toll, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and a Hamas military leader. Mahmoud bin Hassan, the children’s father, said he buried them on Thursday. He asked when the international community would take action to stop the war. “When the entire Palestinian population has been killed?” he said. Rights group applauds ICC arrest warrants NEW YORK — Human Rights Watch applauded the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants issued Thursday against both Israeli and Hamas officials. The warrants “break through the perception that certain individuals are beyond the reach of the law,” the associate international justice director at Human Rights Watch, Balkees Jarrah, said in a statement. The New York-based rights group earlier this month released a report saying Israel has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip, including massive forced displacements that amount to ethnic cleansing. Israeli prosecutors charge a former Netanyahu aid of leaking classified documents JERUSALEM — Israeli prosecutors have charged a former aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with leaking classified documents to international media, apparently to protect the Israeli leader from criticism as a hostage deal was collapsing. Eli Feldstein, a former media adviser to Netanyahu, was charged Thursday with leaking classified information with the intent of harming state security and obstruction of justice. The leaked documents are said to have formed the basis of a widely discredited article in the London-based Jewish Chronicle — which was later withdrawn — suggesting Hamas planned to spirit hostages out of Gaza through Egypt, and an article in Germany’s Bild newspaper that said Hamas was drawing out the hostage talks as a form of psychological warfare on Israel. Critics say the leaks were aimed at giving Netanyahu political cover as the case-fire talks ground to a halt. Some have accused Netanyahu of resisting a deal in to preserve his governing coalition, which includes hard-line members who have threatened to bring down the government if he makes concessions to Hamas. The leaks came at a time of public uproar over the deaths of six hostages who were killed by their Hamas captors as Israeli soldiers were closing in. The indictment said the leaks were meant “to create media influence on the public discourse in Israel in regards to the handling of the hostage situation, after the news of the murder of six hostages.” The indictment identified two other Netanyahu aides as being connected to the scheme, but only Feldstein and an unidentified reservist in Israeli military intelligence were charged. Netanyahu, who denies the accusations, has not been identified as a suspect in the burgeoning investigation. Israeli media say if convicted, Feldstein could potentially face life in prison. Israeli military opens probe into death of a man in Hezbollah ambush JERUSALEM -- The Israeli military has launched an investigation into the death of a 70-year-old Israeli man who entered Lebanon with Israeli forces and was killed in a Hezbollah ambush. Investigators are trying to determine, among other things, who allowed Zeev Erlich into the combat zone with the forces and why he was permitted to enter. According to Israeli media reports, Erlich was not on active duty when he was shot, but was wearing a military uniform and had a weapon. The army said he was a reservist with the rank of major and identified him as a “fallen soldier” when it announced his death. Erlich was a well-known West Bank settler and researcher of Jewish history. Media reports said Erlich was permitted to enter Lebanon to explore a local archaeological site. The army said a 20-year-old soldier was killed in the same incident, while an officer was badly wounded. The army announced Thursday that the chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, has appointed a team of experts “to examine and strengthen operational discipline and military culture” following the incident. It said its commander for northern Israel, Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin, would launch a separate “command inquiry,” while Israeli military police conduct a separate probe. Such investigations can lead to criminal charges. At least 29 killed by Israeli strikes across Lebanon, state media reports BEIRUT — At least 29 people were killed Thursday in Israeli strikes on different towns and villages across Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry and state-run media. In eastern Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes killed 26 people in six different towns in Baalbek province, the health ministry and the National News Agency said. In Tyre province, southern Lebanon, three people were killed in an Israeli strike, the health ministry said. The health ministry Wednesday said that over 3,550 people have been killed in the 13-month war between Hezbollah and Israel, the majority following Israel’s escalation in late September. EU foreign policy chief says ICC arrest warrants are binding on all bloc members The European Union's foreign policy chief has underlined that the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas officials are a legal and not political matter, and that they are binding on all 27 EU member countries and other signatories to the ICC to implement. “The tragedy in Gaza has to stop," Josep Borrell told reporters during a visit to Jordan. “It is not a political decision. It is the decision of an international court of justice, and the decision of the court has to be respected, and implemented.” “This decision is a binding decision on all state parties of the court, which include all members of the European Union," he added. Turkey's ruling party welcomes warrant against Netanyahu ANKARA — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling partyhas welcomed the decision by the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamn Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, calling it a judgement made for the sake of “humanity.” Omer Celik, spokesman for the Erdogan’s party, said on the social media platform X that Netanyahu and Gallant would “eventually be held accountable for genocide.” Celik also criticised Israeli officials who described the ICC decision as antisemitic. Turkey is among the most vocal critics of Israel’s military actions in Gaza and has submitted a formal request to join a genocide case that South Africa has filed against Israel at the U.N.’s International Court of Justice. Dutch minister says his country would arrest Netanyahu if he visits Dutch foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp, whose country hosts the International Criminal Court, has confirmed The Netherlands would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he arrived on Dutch soil. “The line from the government is clear. We are obliged to cooperate with the ICC ... we abide 100% by the Rome Statute,” he said in response to a question in parliament Thursday. Other European officials were more cautious. In France, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said he supported the International Criminal Court's prosecutor but declined to comment when asked more specifically if France would arrest Netanyahu if he were to step on French soil. “Today, combating impunity is our priority. We ratified the ICC Statute in 2000 and have consistently supported the court’s actions. Our response will align with these principles,” Christophe Lemoine told reporters at a press conference. Lemoine added that the warrants were “a complex legal issue ... It’s a situation that requires a lot of legal precautions.” In Italy, the foreign and justice ministries didn’t immediately respond to emails seeking comment about whether Italy, an ICC member which hosted the Rome conference that gave birth to the court, would honor the arrest warrant. Premier Giorgia Meloni hosted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in March 2023 and has strongly supported Israel since Oct. 7, while providing humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza. Israeli president says arrest warrants signal “dark day for justice” JERUSALEM — Israel’s mostly ceremonial president, Isaac Herzog, has called the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “a dark day for justice. A dark day for humanity.” In a post on X, he said the international court “has chosen the side of terror and evil over democracy and freedom, and turned the very system of justice into a human shield for Hamas’ crimes against humanity." Israel Katz, Israel’s new defense minister, said the decision was “a moral disgrace, entirely tainted by antisemitism, and drags the international judicial system to an unprecedented low.” He said it “serves Iran, the head of the snake, and its proxies.” Benny Gantz, a retired general and political rival to Netanyahu, also condemned the decision, saying it showed “moral blindness” and was a “shameful stain of historic proportion that will never be forgotten.” Hamas welcomes warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant Hamas has welcomed the decision by the International Criminal Court to issue warrants against Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant, calling it an “important and historic precedent” after what it said was decades of injustice at the hands of a “fascist occupation.” The statement did not refer to the warrants issued for the militant group’s own leaders. Hamas called on all nations to “cooperate with the court in bringing the Zionist war criminals, Netanyahu and Gallant, to justice, and to work immediately to stop the crimes of genocide against innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip.” Bakeries reopen in central Gaza after flour shortages DEIR AL-BALAH, The Gaza Strip — Bakeries have reopened in the central Gaza Strip after being closed for several days because of flour shortages. The shortages appear to have been linked to the looting of nearly 100 truckloads of aid by armed men in southern Gaza last weekend. Associated Press footage showed a crowd of hundreds pushing and shouting outside a bakery in the central city of Deir al-Balah on Thursday. The day before the reopening, the price of a bag of 15 loaves of pita bread had climbed above $13. “In my house, there is not a morsel of bread, and the children are hungry,” said Sultan Abu Sultan, who was displaced from northern Gaza during the war. The amount of aid entering Gaza plunged in October as Israel launched a major offensive in the isolated north, where experts say famine may be underway . Hunger is widespread across the territory, even in central Gaza where aid groups have more access. Humanitarian organizations say Israeli restrictions, ongoing fighting and the breakdown of law and order make it difficult to deliver assistance. Israel’s offensive, launched after Hamas’ October 2023 attack, has displaced around 90% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million people. Hundreds of thousands are crammed into tent camps with little in the way of public services and are reliant on international food aid. Cyprus says EU must no longer stand by as an observer to the MidEast NICOSIA — The president of Cyprus says the European Union must play a bigger role in the Middle East as it can no longer stand by as an observer. President Nikos Christodoulides said the 27-member bloc needs to establish closer ties with countries that bolster regional stability like Egypt, Jordan and the Gulf states. “The conflict in the Middle East is taking place on the EU’s doorstep, in an area of vital interest to the bloc’s interests, where any escalation or regional spillover will have significant consequences on its security and stability,” Christodoulides told an Economist conference in the Cypriot capital. Christodoulides said EU member Cyprus for years has tried to get this message across to Brussels. The island nation earlier this year was the staging ground for a maritime corridor delivering some 20,000 tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The EU is wracked by members’ divisions over how peace should come about in the Middle East International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Hamas officials THE HAGUE — The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and Hamas officials, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity over the war in Gaza and the October 2023 attacks that triggered Israel’s offensive in the Palestinian territory. The decision turns Netanyahu and the others into internationally wanted suspects and is likely to further isolate them and complicate efforts to negotiate a cease-fire to end the 13-month conflict. But its practical implications could be limited since Israel and its major ally, the United States, are not members of the court and several of the Hamas officials have been subsequently killed in the conflict. Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders have previously condemned ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan’s request for the warrants as disgraceful and antisemitic. U.S. President Joe Biden also blasted the prosecutor and expressed support for Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas. Hamas also slammed the request. Death toll in Gaza surpasses 44,000, local officials say The death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000, local health officials said Thursday. The Gaza Health Ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count, but it has said that more than half of the fatalities are women and children. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The Health Ministry said 44,056 people have been killed and 104,268 wounded since the start of the war. It has said the real toll is higher because thousands of bodies are buried under rubble or in areas that medics cannot access. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250 . Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Most of the rest were released during a cease-fire last year. Around 90% of Gaza's population of 2.3 million people have been displaced, often multiple times, and hundreds of thousands are living in squalid tent camps with little food, water or basic services. Israel says it tries to avoid harming civilians and blames their deaths on Hamas because the militants operate in residential areas, where they have built tunnels, rocket launchers and other military infrastructure. Rocket from Lebanon kills 1, wounds 2 others in northern Israel JERUSALEM — A rocket fired from Lebanon killed a man and wounded two others in northern Israel on Thursday, according to the Magen David Adom rescue service. The service said paramedics found the body of the man in his 30s near a playground in the town of Nahariya, near the border with Lebanon, after a rocket attack on Thursday. Israel meanwhile struck targets in southern Lebanon and several buildings south of Beirut, the Lebanese capital, after warning people to evacuate.

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Retail giant Tesco also said a whiskey product promoted by Mr McGregor would be removed from its UK outlets as well as in Ireland. The move by retailers to boycott brands associated with Mr McGregor came days after a High Court jury found he had assaulted a woman in a Dublin hotel six years ago. Nikita Hand had alleged in her civil action that she was raped by the mixed martial arts fighter. He denied the claim. She was awarded €248,603. Stores that will no longer sell products linked to Mr McGregor include the Supervalu chain, Costcutter stores and Carry Out off licences. BWG Foods, a leading retail and wholesale company, said whiskey and stout products associated with Mr McGregor would no longer be listed for distribution across its network of Spar, Eurospar, Mace, Londis and XL stores. This could see brands removed from about 1,000 outlets. Separately the company that bought Mr McGregor’s whiskey brand will stop using his “name and likeness” in marketing. McGregor sold his Proper No. Twelve whiskey brand to Mexican-owned Proximo Spirits in 2021, in a deal that was said at the time to have valued the business at some $130 million (€123.9 million). The image of the mixed martial arts fighter remained visible on Proximo websites on Tuesday, and the drink remained listed among “McGregor brands” on his personal website. But Proximo has now indicated he will no longer feature in company marketing. “Since 2021, Proximo Spirits has been the 100 per cent owner of Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey,” the company said in response to questions. “Going forward, we do not plan to use Mr McGregor’s name and likeness in the marketing of the brand.” There was no immediate comment from Mr McGregor’s representative. Mr McGregor entered the brewing business in recent years with a product called Forged Irish Stout which has been sold in some off-licences, supermarkets and several pubs On Sunday the Rape Crisis Network Ireland urged retailers to stop selling products associated with Mr McGregor. Before lunchtime on Tuesday the Barry Group, which operates the Costcutter stores and Carry Out off-licences, became the first to say it was dropping Forged Irish Stout and Proper Twelve Whiskey . “This action reflects our commitment to maintaining a retail environment that resonates with the values of our customers and partners,” it said. Shortly afterwards Musgraves, which owns the Supervalu and Centra outlets, followed suit. Tesco said it would be removing Proper No 12 whiskey from sale. It does not stock Forged Irish Stout. . [ Court battle looms over who will pay legal costs in Conor McGregor case Opens in new window ] The Barry Group, one of Ireland’s leading retail food and alcohol wholesale providers which operates the Costcutter and Carry Out off-licence outlets told The Irish Times on Tuesday that it had “made the decision to remove Forged (Irish) Stout and Proper Twelve (whiskey) from circulation to our network”. Meanwhile, it is understood that BWG Foods, one of the country’s leading retail and wholesale companies, has decided to delist products linked to Mr McGregor and will no longer be distributing them across its network of Spar, EUROSPAR, Mace, Londis and XL stores. On Monday, the developer of the ‘Hitman’ video game series said it was removing content featuring Conor McGregor. IO Interactive said in a statement on social media: “In light of the recent court ruling regarding Conor McGregor, IO Interactive has made the decision to cease its collaboration with the athlete, effective immediately”. “We take this matter very seriously and cannot ignore its implications. Consequently, we will begin removing all content featuring Mr McGregor from our storefronts starting today.” A number of industry sources maintained that while Forged Irish Stout is on sale in some pubs, it is not widely available. The Press Up Group, the country’s largest hospitality group, said it “never stocked any of Conor McGregor’s brands”. One Dublin off-licence operator said on Monday that his store would not be selling McGregor products again. Damien Martin of Martin’s off-licence in Marino in Dublin said his store did not generally stock such products but had previously secured a case on request for a customer. He said in the aftermath of the court case last week, his store had no interest doing so in the future. [ ‘I know what happened in that room’: the full story of the Conor McGregor case Opens in new window ] Supermarkets Lidl and Aldi also said they did not sell any products owned by Mr McGregor. On Sunday, the Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) urged retailers to stop selling Mr McGregor’s stout and whiskey products in the aftermath of the jury’s decision in the High Court. Clíona Saidléar, RCNI executive director, said companies making money from his alcohol and other products need to look at whether they want to align themselves with a man found by a civil jury to have sexually assaulted a woman. Ms Saidléar said on Monday that she had not heard anything back from retailers on the issue. Separately the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre said following the jury decision on Friday, calls to the national helpline had almost doubled over the weekend while the number of first-time callers have increased by 50 per cent. Arthur Beesley is Current Affairs Editor of The Irish Times Martin Wall is the former Washington Correspondent of The Irish Times. He was previously industry correspondentWall Street’s holiday cheer ended abruptly today, with all three main benchmarks slumping in a broad-based sell-off affecting even tech and growth stocks that had driven markets higher through much of the shortened trading week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was 0.98% lower at 1.39 p.m. ET, falling 422.63 points to 42,903.17. The index is on course to snap a five-session winning streak following a 10-session decline, its worst losing stretch since 1974. The S&P 500 slipped 1.38%, or 83.08 points, to 5,954.51, and the Nasdaq Composite declined 1.85%, or 371.34 points, to 19,649.01. The sell-off thwarted the seasonal Santa Claus rally, in which stocks traditionally rise during the last five sessions of December and the first two of January. Since 1969, the S&P 500 has climbed 1.3% on average, according to the Stock Trader’s Almanac. “If nothing else, today is a reminder that just because a Santa Claus rally is a statistical likelihood, it is far from guaranteed,” said Steve Sosnick, chief market strategist at Interactive Brokers. Thursday’s session hinted at momentum stalling, with both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq posting marginal losses to end multi-session winning runs. Rising U.S. Treasury yields had been catching investors’ attention, with the benchmark 10-year note hitting a more than seven-month high in the previous session. The yield hovered close to that mark today, at 4.61%. Higher yields are seen as hampering growth stocks, as they raise borrowing costs for business expansion. These stocks, especially the so-called Magnificent Seven technology megacaps which had been key drivers of the market’s 2024 rally, were also caught up in Friday’s sell-off. For the second successive day, Tesla led decliners among the group, off 4.4%. Amazon.com, Microsoft and Nvidia also shed more than 2%. All 11 major S&P sectors fell. The worst performers today were the three indexes that have been 2024’s leading lights: consumer discretionary, information technology and communication services. The trio were trading between 1.5% and 2.1% lower on the day. “Tech, which has had a tremendous run, is starting to pull back. It is the beginning of a healthy correction that will get focused in on over the next four to eight weeks as we switch administrations,” said Jay Woods, chief global strategist at Freedom Capital Markets. Despite Friday’s travails, all three indexes were set for weekly gains, with the S&P 500 now about 2.3% below its all-time high of 6,099.97 points clinched on Dec. 6. News events helped some stocks to buck the market sell-off. Amedisys gained 4.7% after the home health service provider and insurer UnitedHealth extended the deadline to close their $3.3 billion merger. Lamb Weston climbed 4.1% after a filing showed activist investor Jana Partners is working with a sixth executive to push for changes at the French fry maker, a move which could result in a majority of the company’s board being replaced. Trading volumes in this holiday-shortened week have been below the average of the last six months and are likely to remain subdued until Jan. 6. The next major focus for markets will be the December employment report due on Jan. 10.

Innovate corp.'s interim CEO Paul Voigt acquires $99,500 in stockLegendary CBS sports broadcaster Greg Gumble has died, following a battle with cancer. He was 78 years old. Gumble's family issued a statement today announcing his passing: A statement from the family of Greg Gumbel pic.twitter.com/oAkSrW8EtJ More from The New York Post: Gumbel, who missed last year’s NCAA Tournament due to what The Athletic reported as “family health issues,” spent decades at CBS across two stints, returning to the network in 1998 to pair with Phil Simms and form the No. 1 broadcast team until 2003. Then, after hosting “The NFL Today” for two seasons, Gumbel returned to calling NFL games for CBS in 2006, a role he continued to hold through the end of the 2022 season. “The CBS Sports family is devastated by the passing of Greg Gumbel,” David Berson, president and CEO of CBS Sports, said in a statement released by the network. “There has never been a finer gentleman in all of television. He was beloved and respected by those of us who had the honor to call him a friend and colleague.” Gumble's broadcasting career spanned five decades. RIP Greg Gumbel. Over 50 years in sportscasting, he left behind a great legacy between MSG, NBC, and CBS. Two Olympics. Five Super Bowl broadcasts. March Madness. MLB Playoffs. NFL Today. Even Nascar. Brother. Husband. Father. Friend. pic.twitter.com/7t7kcSkn9S Awful news: Legendary NFL broadcaster Greg Gumbel has passed away. 💔 Greg was the host of College Basketball for many years and was the voice of the NFL on CBS. No one was classier and a true professional than Greg. Greg was only 78 years old. AN ICON. REST EASY 🕊️🕊️🕊️ pic.twitter.com/pYZkz3mtrM Legendary broadcaster Greg Gumbel has passed away at the age of 78 after a battle with cancer. Thank you for all the March Madness and other sports memories. You will be missed. pic.twitter.com/olhWrxpJrR He will be. I am so sad to learn, and share this news. I worked with Greg in 1981 at ESPN in Bristol. He was so nice, fun & talented...who would share & help everyone. https://t.co/5Kvw1zaEpp Others who worked with Greg remembered him fondly: Greg Gumble was so very kind to me during my time with CBS Sports and the years since. He LOVED his family, sports and live music. RIP. Cancer Sucks https://t.co/mt6ybwX7uy Yes, cancer does suck. Oh no!! I’m so sad to hear this. I had the pleasure of working with Greg at CBS Sports many years ago. He was as kind and gracious as could be. #RIP to a class act. 😢 #GregGumbel https://t.co/t0QgqszlFx Greg is survived by his wife Marcy, daughter Michelle, brother Bryant, and sisters Renee and Rhonda. Our condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones.

President Joe Biden’s announcement on Tuesday of a couldn’t have come soon enough for Lebanon, a country in the midst of a yearslong economic crisis and intense political paralysis. The war, which began on Oct. 8, 2023, as a series of hostile exchanges across the Israel-Lebanon border and escalated into a heavy Israeli air and ground campaign in Southern Lebanon, and turned some of Beirut’s districts into a war zone. Hours before the U.S.-brokered deal was announced, Israel in what was no doubt a message to the Lebanese militia: Israel can sustain the conflict for as long as it sees fit. In the end, Israel and Hezbollah concluded that they could gain more through negotiations than they could on the battlefield. The agreement is a recitation of , which ended a previous monthlong war between the two adversaries more than 17 years ago but was viewed by all the parties involved, Israel in particular, as a lackluster initiative that wasn’t enforced. The current deal seeks to strengthen UNSCR 1701 by adding stronger monitoring. During a 60-day ceasefire, Israeli troops will withdraw from Southern Lebanon, Hezbollah will do the same, and the Lebanese army will re-deploy to the area. Meanwhile, the approximately 60,000 Israelis who have been displaced in northern Israel will get to return home. In effect, the deal allows both Israel and Hezbollah to claim victory; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can boast that Hezbollah’s military capacity has been significantly diminished; Hezbollah can claim that its resistance drove Israeli forces out of Lebanon. Over the long term, the pause in fighting is designed to give Israel and Lebanon the time and space to officially demarcate their shared border. Yet, at the risk of sounding like a pessimist, just getting to that point would be an achievement. A lot can go wrong between now and then. After all, signing an agreement means nothing if it isn’t implemented. There are any number of ways the agreement can go sideways. First and foremost, the question of whether Hezbollah will actually withdraw north of the Litani River, approximately 20 miles from the Israeli-Lebanese border, is very much in question. Southern Lebanon is Hezbollah’s support base; the militia is a core part of the social fabric in the region, its fighters have homes and families there, and the small towns and villages dotting the area have often been given the short end of the stick from the Lebanese government, which has proven incapable of delivering social services or even basic administration. Hezbollah may be willing to move their weapons caches further north, but the idea that tens of thousands of Hezbollah fighters will uproot their lives is difficult to believe. In this case, Israel will then be forced with a choice: renew military operations and risk the resumption of war, or loosen enforcement and risk Hezbollah maintaining its power base. Second, is the Lebanese army capable of patrolling Southern Lebanon to Israel’s satisfaction? While the Lebanese army is a well-respected institution inside the country and crosses the usual sectarian divisions that have defined Lebanese political life for decades, it’s also arguably the weakest military in the Middle East. , the Lebanese army is smaller than Hezbollah. The since 2006 has barely kept the Lebanese army afloat. The defense systems you would expect a modern military to possess — air defenses, fighter and bomber aircraft, patrol vessels, various air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions — . Due in large part to Lebanon’s financial crisis, some of Lebanon’s soldiers to support themselves and their families. Israel understands all this but is nevertheless unlikely to be very patient. If the Lebanese army is unable or unwilling to do the job of clearing Hezbollah forces out and confronting the remnants that remain, the Israeli army will do it for them as Netanyahu during his remarks upon announcing the ceasefire. This, in effect, would negate the ceasefire and risk plunging the country into war again. Assuming the ceasefire in Lebanon sticks, Israeli and U.S. officials are hopeful it will change Hamas’ calculations about continuing its war with Israel in Gaza. “What Hamas wanted was support from Hezbollah and others,” an Israeli official the Times of Israel. “Once you cut the connection, you have the ability to reach a deal. It’s a strategic achievement. Hamas is alone.” But this sounds more like wishful thinking than reality. Hamas has experienced the most destructive war with Israel in its 37-year history, with tens of thousands of its fighters killed, its upper echelon wiped out and its control in Gaza at its weakest since it kicked the Palestinian Authority out of the coastal territory in 2007. Even so, it’s bottom-line negotiating position remains unchanged: If Israel wants to retrieve the rest of its hostages, it must withdraw entirely from Gaza and end the war permanently. Hamas’ strategy doesn’t depend on Hezbollah, so the notion it will adopt Hezbollah’s position now that it is out of the fight is fanciful at best. If all goes according to plan, Lebanon will now have a chance to rebuild. But how long the peace will stick is another matter entirely.Sending off costly as Connacht swept aside by Bulls in URC clash at Dexcom Stadium

All is not smooth sailing headed into this final month of racing: There's a new race director following the firing of Niels Wittich that blindsided the Grand Prix Drivers' Association so badly that it created an Instagram account to rebuke the lack of FIA transparency. "It was a bit of a surprise, I think, for everybody," said Mercedes driver George Russell, a GPDA director. "It's a hell of a lot of pressure now onto the new race director (with) just three races left. Often, as drivers, we probably feel like we're the last to find out this sort of information." Greg Maffei, the CEO of Liberty Media, the company that holds the commercial rights to F1, said last week he was stepping down from his position. This followed months of speculation that owner John Malone was displeased with Liberty landing in two different Justice Department investigations, one surrounding F1's refusal to allow Andretti Global into the series and the other over allegations of a Live Nation concert ticket monopoly. The Andretti team is expected to receive F1 approval to join the grid, albeit without Michael Andretti, who has scaled back his role dramatically since the IndyCar season ended in September. F1 denied over the weekend that Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula One Management, was also on the move amid rumors that the Italian would take over MotoGP if Liberty's purchase of the series is approved. Renee Wilm, a longtime Liberty Media employee, CEO of the Las Vegas Grand Prix and potentially Domenicali's successor, told The Associated Press she will fulfill any role Malone tasks her with but has little desire to move from Colorado to London to replace Domenicali. Maffei's newly opened job? Who knows. Many drivers, particularly seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, have been at odds with FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem since his election following the 2021 season finale. In the GDPA statement, they reminded the sanctioning body "our members are adults" who don't need lectures and fines on foul language or jewelry bans, and simply want fair and consistent race control. There's been no response from Ben Sulayem, and won't be this weekend since he does not attend the LVGP. He will be at Qatar and the finale in Abu Dhabi next month. Hamilton doesn't think all the behind-the-scenes changes will be a fan topic as the season comes to a close. But he noted that consistency from race control is all the drivers have asked for, while throwing his support behind Domenicali and the job Maffei has done in growing F1 since Liberty took over. "I really hope Stefano is not leaving because he's been so instrumental in changes and progress to this whole thing," Hamilton said. "And he knows the sport as well as anyone. But all good things do come to an end, and whoever they put into place, I just hope they are like-minded. But sometimes you have to shake the trees." That's just what happened with the surprise departure of race director Wittich. Although drivers have been unhappy with race officiating this season and held a private GPDA meeting in Mexico City, Russell said they had no prior warning Wittich was out. The race director is the referee each weekend and Wittich has been in charge since 2022, when Michael Masi was fired following the controversial 2021 season-ending, championship-altering finale at Abu Dhabi. Now the man in charge for the final three races is Rui Marques, the Formula 2 and Formula 3 race director. Las Vegas, which overcame multiple stumbling blocks in last year's debut before putting on one of the best races of the season, is a difficult place to start. Verstappen can win his fourth title by simply scoring three points more than Lando Norris of McLaren. "It's a bit weird with three races to go to do that," Verstappen said. "It doesn't matter if you're positive or negative about certain things. I thought in Brazil there was definitely room for improvement, for example. It's still a bit weird having to now then deal with a different race director." Charles Leclerc of Ferrari wondered why the move was made with only three races to go. "To do it so late in the season, at such a crucial moment of the season, it could have probably been managed in a better way," he said. The drivers have consistently asked for clearer guidelines in the officiating of races, specifically regarding track limits and racing rules. The drivers have no idea how Marques will officiate, highlighting a disconnect between the competitors and Ben Sulaymen's FIA. "We just want to be transparent with the FIA and have this dialogue that is happening," Russell said. "And I think the departure of Niels is also a prime example of not being a part of these conversations." The GDPA statement made clear the drivers do not think their voice is being heard. "If we feel we're being listened to, and some of the changes that we are requesting are implemented, because ultimately we're only doing it for the benefit of the sport, then maybe our confidence will increase," Russell said. "But I think there's a number of drivers who feel a bit fed up with the whole situation. It only seems to be going in the wrong direction." He also said the relationship between the drivers and the FIA seems fractured. "Sometimes just hiring and firing is not the solution," he said. "You need to work together to improve the problem." Norris, who has battled Verstappen this year with mixed officiating rulings, said "obviously things are not running as smoothly as what we would want." Marques has his first driver meeting ahead of Thursday night's two practice sessions and then three weeks to prove to the competitors he is up for the job. Carlos Sainz Jr., who will leave Ferrari for Williams at the end of the season, hopes the drama doesn't distract from the momentum F1 has built over the last five years. "I think Formula 1 is in a great moment right now and all these rumors, I think in every team, every job, there's job changes," he said. "It's not big drama. I'm a big fan of the people you mentioned, they've done an incredible job in Formula 1 and Formula 1 is what it is thanks to these people. But it's just so emotional, especially the Stefano one. The only one that has a real effect is the race director. But I think if he does a good job, it should be transparent and nothing big."For survivors of strokes, the device implanted in her chest could be a game changer in recovery.

Massive Shift: What One Firm’s Move Could Mean for Taiwan Semiconductor ManufacturingA stroke changed a teacher’s life. How a new electrical device is helping her moveBrentford boss Thomas Frank claimed Brighton forward Joao Pedro should have been sent off during his side’s goalless Premier League draw at the Amex Stadium. Pedro escaped punishment after swinging an arm at Bees substitute substitute Yehor Yarmoliuk without making contact. VAR reviewed the second-half incident but deemed there was no violent conduct. Frank and Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler disagreed about the decision. “As I understand the rules, you can’t swing your arm to try to hit someone,” said Frank. “If you hit them or not, it’s a red, that’s the way I understand the rules.” Frank spoke to the match officials, including referee Andy Madley, about the flashpoint at full-time. “They haven’t seen the situation yet, not on TV afterwards,” said Frank. “To be fair to him, I think the angle can be tricky so that’s why you’ve got VAR.” Asked about Frank’s assessment, Hurzeler replied: “Interesting opinion. I see it completely different. “For me, it’s not a red card. He tried to get free from a person.” Brighton were booed off after their winless run was stretched to six top-flight games. Albion dominated for large periods and hit the woodwork inside four minutes through Julio Enciso. Bees goalkeeper Mark Flekken made some important saves before being forced off injured in the 36th minute, albeit his replacement Hakon Valdimarsson was rarely tested on his Premier League debut. The Seagulls remain 10th ahead of Monday’s trip to Aston Villa, with Brentford a position and two points below moving towards their New Year’s Day showdown with Arsenal. Hurzeler thought the jeers at full-time were unfair. “The team doesn’t deserve that because in all the games we had in the last weeks they were all good, they were all intense, they were all where we thought we deserved more” said the German, whose team have lost to Fulham and Crystal Palace and drawn with Southampton, Leicester and West Ham in recent matches. “We try to work hard to satisfy our supporters, we try to give them what they deserve, we try to make them proud. “But the Premier League is tough. We know there will be (tough) periods we have to go through, especially with this young squad. “We try to stick together, find the positive and keep on going.” Brentford, who remain without a top-flight away win this term, had an early Yoane Wissa finish ruled out for offside following VAR intervention but barely threatened, despite an improved second-half showing. Frank, who is awaiting news on Flekken and defender Ben Mee, who also left the field injured, said: “I thought it was a fair point. “Brighton were better in the first half, no big, clearcut chances, and I thought we were better second half. “Overall, I’m happy with the performance, especially the way we defended. “We haven’t had too many clean sheets this season, so in that context I thought it was very impressive against a good Brighton team. “We know we have a lot of players out – we get two more injuries during the game. “The way the players showed their mentality and character and dug in was hugely impressive.”

Vice President-elect JD Vance is the runaway frontrunner for the Republicans’ 2028 presidential pick, according to an AmericaFest straw poll taken at the event. In one question, the straw poll took a look beyond President-elect Donald Trump’s second term, asking attendees who they would like to see as the 2028 Republican presidential nominee. The majority, 58 percent, want to see Vance as the presidential nominee in 2028. In a distant second place is Donald Trump Jr., with 17 percent. Another six percent said they want to see Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as the presidential nominee in 2028, and 11 percent remain undecided. On the reverse side, a plurality think California Gov. Gavin Newsom will emerge as the Democrat nominee in 2028 — 35 percent. Just 17 percent believe it will be Vice President Kamala Harris, and 16 percent believe it will be Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. Four percent said they think it will be Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), and 1.6 percent said it will be Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The survey also asked respondents which Cabinet nominations they are most excited about, and a plurality pointed to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., slated to head up Health and Human Services (HHS). Another 31 percent said Kash Patel, slated to head up the FBI. “When asked to rank all of Trump’s high-profile picks, Patel rose to #1,” Charlie Kirk noted. The survey’s results came shortly after AmericaFest, which took place December 19-22, 2024. Vance remains a favorite among conservatives and has backed Trump’s Cabinet picks, including Defense Secretary Nominee Pete Hegseth, who has remained the victim of a consistent smear campaign by Democrats and the swamp. “Pete Hegseth is going to get his hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, not a sham hearing before the American media,” he said , defending the nominee: We believe Pete Hegseth is the right guy to lead the Department of Defense, that’s why President Trump nominated him. We’re not abandoning this nomination. We’re not going to make it easy for people to allow the media to determine who our secretary of defense is. Donald J. Trump, who just won the election by a very significant margin with the advise and consent of the United States Senate. That’s who determines who the Secretary of Defense is. “I fully support Pete. I think Pete is going to get confirmed and we are completely behind him,” Vance added. Many surmised that DeSantis blew up his 2028 chances after a nasty primary battle against Trump, but he has remained publicly supportive of the president-elect and relatively out of the spotlight.The Seattle Seahawks placed leading rusher Kenneth Walker III on injured reserve due to an ankle injury and signed George Holani off the practice squad on Thursday afternoon. Walker had been ruled out earlier in the day ahead of Thursday's game against the host Chicago Bears. He returned from a two-game absence due to an ailing calf on Sunday before injuring his ankle in the Seahawks' 27-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Zach Charbonnet is set to shoulder the load in the backfield for the Seahawks (8-7), who have lost two in a row heading into Thursday's game against the Bears (4-11). Seattle is in a must-win situation. Even if the Seahawks can top Chicago and beat the Los Angeles Rams in Week 18, they still might miss out on the postseason because of the strength-of-victory tiebreaker. Walker, 24, leads Seattle in carries (153) and rushing yards (573) to go along with seven rushing touchdowns. Charbonnet, 23, has a team-best eight rushing touchdowns to go along with 106 carries for 453 yards. Holani, who turned 25 on Dec. 16, has three carries for 10 yards in three games this season. He is an undrafted rookie out of Boise State. The Seahawks also ruled out tight end Brady Russell (foot) and safety K'Von Wallace (ankle) for Thursday's game. Cornerback Artie Burns was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster for the contest. The Bears will be without defensive backs Elijah Hicks (ankle/foot) and Tarvarius Moore (knee), running back Travis Homer (hamstring) and offensive lineman Teven Jenkins (calf). --Field Level Media

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